Archaeology News for the Week of December 11th, 2011

December 2011, Daily News

Sun, Dec 11, 2011

December 17th, 2011

Mysterious Viking-era Graves Found With Treasure

Sword at his side, the so-called Young Warrior is among the thousand-year-old discoveries in a newfound cemetery in Poland, a new study says. The burial ground holds not only a hoard of precious objects but also hints of human sacrifice—and several dozen graves of a mysterious people with links to both the Vikings and the rulers of the founding states of eastern Europe. (National Geographic)

Dig reveals treasures from 1800s

Contracting archaeologist Andrew Hoffman could hardly conceal his glee at one of the most significant archaeological finds in the Waikato. He and a group of Auckland archaeologists uncovered about 1000 historic features on the site of the former Hamilton Club building after it was moved to make way for new foundations. Among the discoveries are pre-European food storage pits and a lump of obsidian the size of a cricket ball. The volcanic glass, possibly from Mayor Island, was used by early Maori to fashion cutting tools. (Waikato Times)

Archeology of homelessness

"Archaeologists, more than dealing with the past, actually deal with material culture - how people get things, how they modify them, how they use them and, eventually, how they dispose of them. That's what archaeologists have always done, whether it's 100 thousand years ago with some of the earliest humans or very contemporary peoples." (NUVO)

Sinking Ponds Dig Yields Archeological Artifacts

Excavations at Sinking Ponds in the summer of 2011 unearthed a good deal of evidence regarding the site's former inhabitants, Dr. Douglas Perrelli of the University at Buffalo Anthropology Department told the East Aurora Village Board on Nov. 21. (East Aurora Advertiser)

December 16th, 2011

Cockerel figurine found in Cirencester Roman dig

A Roman cockerel figurine thought to have been made to accompany a child's grave has been unearthed in Gloucestershire. The 1,800-year-old enamelled object was found during an archaeological dig at one of Britain's earliest-known burial sites in Cirencester. It is thought the bronze cockerel, which is 12.5cm high, could have been a message to the gods. Archaeologist Neil Holbrook said it was a "most spectacular" find. (BBC News)

Archaeologists search for missing medieval king

Archaeologists love a good mystery, and some researchers in Sweden have themselves a big one. Earlier this year a research team opened what they believed to be the tomb of King Magnus Ladulås, who ruled Sweden from 1275-90. Magnus was a popular king with the commoners and earned the nickname "Ladulås", which means "lock the barn", for his law giving peasants the right to refuse free food and lodging to traveling aristocracy and clergy. (Gadling.com)

Buddha statue piece of cultural history

A 1,400-year-old Buddha statue, missing its head and four limbs, was excavated recently in east China's Shandong Province. It is a testament to the prosperity of Buddhism during ancient times, said the provincial archaeological authority. (People's Daily Online)

December 15th, 2011

Cradle of Maya Civilization Gets Rescue Plan

In time for the celebration of the Year of the Maya in 2012, the Global Heritage Fund (GHF), a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and development of archaeological sites in developing countries, has officially unveiled the long-awaited Archaeological Development Plan for the Mirador Cultural and Natural System. This system is an area in Guatemala that contains some of the world's largest pyramids, including La Danta, the world's largest pyramid by volume, and the large Pre-Classic Maya complex that is touted today by many archaeologists as the birthplace, or cradle, of Maya civilization in Mesoamerica. (Popular Archaeology)

Protecting Peru's ancient past

The return to Peru of the bones of 177 people taken a century ago from the Inca city of Machu Picchu has marked another important milestone in the repatriation of Peruvian antiquities. The country is the birthplace of many ancient civilisations. The most famous, the Incas, ruled the area for centuries until the arrival of the Spanish colonisers in the 1500s. (BBC News)

Archaeological Investigations at the Pace House

Vinings Historic Preservation Society (VHPS) has engaged the services of archaeologist, Garrett W. Silliman, of Terminus Archaeological Research, to conduct research at the historic Pace House on Paces Mill Road. Garrett will conduct field investigations, in association with Georgia State University, using remote sensing to detect potential archaeological features and artifact signatures on the property. (Smyrna-ViningsPatch)

Doctoral graduate explores southwestern archaeology

Archaeological evidence from the vast Cibola region of Arizona and New Mexico points to a major period of demographic and social upheaval from A.D. 1150 to 1325, says Peeples. As population shifted from dispersed hamlets, to clustered villages, and eventually to a few large towns, rapid social and demographic change produced fundamental shifts in family and community relationships. (ASU News)

Enigmatic standing stele of Al-Rajajil

On a lonely exposed hillside a few kilometers outside the capital of Al-Jouf province, Sakkaka, stand clusters of three-meter high fingers of stone. Etched with ancient Thamudic graffiti, these monuments to a long extinct culture have maintained their lonely vigil for six millennia. Many have fallen over and others lean at bizarre random angles. Al-Rajajil (“the men”), the sandstone stele weighing up to five tons each, is popularly called Saudi Arabia’s Stonehenge. They are possibly the oldest human monuments on the peninsula. (ArabNews.com)

600-year-old wall found at heritage site

A 600-year-old wall dating back to the 15th century Le So Dynasty has been discovered inside Hanoi’s Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World’s Cultural Heritage Site. The wall is located near the Van Cao – Ho Tay area. The remaining part of the construction shows that the original wall could reach 8 m in height and was well constructed, an archaeologist said. (tuoitrenews.vn)

Flood waters uncover 18th century fort

An archeological discovery was made at the Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, thanks to Tropical Storm Irene's flood waters. While the flood waters did considerable damage to the visitor’s center parking lot, it also exposed a series of stone foundations that parks archaeologists have been working to identify, document and preserve ever since. Archaeologists say that the remains make up at least two different structures associated with the British Fort Hunter, which occupied the location from the 1740s to 1770s. (hudsonvalley.ynn.com)

December 14th, 2011

Study of Orangutans Yields New Ideas about Human Evolution

Results from research conducted by a team of scholars and scientists on the dietary lives of orangutans in tropical Borneo have given possible clues to how very early human ancestors may have adapted, survived and changed millions of years ago. In addition, the results may help scientists better understand eating disorders and obesity in human populations today. (Popular Archaeology)

Yale returns ancient remains to Peru

Over 170 remains and artifacts originally found in Machu Picchu will arrive back in Cusco this Thursday, after 100 years since they were taken. The remains are the second set of pieces returned by Yale University. Cayo Garcia Miranda, a member of the International Centre for the Study of Machu Picchu and Inca Culture, said the remains would be shipped in 26 boxes, from New York to Lima on Tuesday, and would then be flown to Machu Picchu on Thursday. (Peru This Week)

Original offering found at Teotihuacan pyramid

Archaeologists announced Tuesday that they dug to the very core of Mexico's tallest pyramid and found what may be the original ceremonial offering placed on the site of the Pyramid of the Sun before construction began. The offerings found at the base of the pyramid in the Teotihuacan ruin site just north of Mexico City include a green serpentine stone mask so delicately carved and detailed that archaeologists believe it may have been a portrait. (CTPost.com)

China finds 3,600-year-old palace

Chinese archaeologists recently found a palace dating back to about 3,600 years ago at the Erlitou Bronze Age site in Henan province. It is the best-preserved palace ever found at the site and may be the prototype for places of worship during the Shang dynasty. (Peoples Daily Online)

U-M divers retrieve 8,900-year-old piece of wood from Lake Huron

University of Michigan researchers announced they have found a 5 1/2 foot long, pole-shaped piece of wood that is 8,900 years old in Lake Huron. The wood, which is tapered and beveled on one side in a way that looks deliberate, may provide important clues to a mysterious period in North American prehistory, according to a U-M news release. (AnnArbor.com)

Study of uncovered graves continues

Studies continue on several graves uncovered during an excavation project at the Terre Haute Fire Department’s training center in July. The graves were while crews digging a trench for a new waterline at the facility discovered human bones. Researchers concluded that the bones belonged to twelve graves that had been part of the cemetery for the old Vigo County Home. (WTHITV.com)

Lost artifacts from Rocheport archaeological excavation recovered 29 years later

Almost 30 years ago, several thousand years worth of Rocheport history was excavated, put into 10 boxes and forgotten. On Wednesday afternoon, several Rocheport residents met at the MU Anthropology Museum Support Center to open those boxes for the first time. (MISSOURIAN)

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December 13th, 2011

Disappearance of the Elephant Caused Rise of Modern Humans: Dietary Change Led to Modern Humans in Middle East 400,000 Years Ago

Elephants have long been known to be part of the Homo erectus diet. But the significance of this specific food source, in relation to both the survival of Homo erectus and the evolution of modern humans, has never been understood -- until now. When Tel Aviv University researchers Dr. Ran Barkai, Miki Ben-Dor, and Prof. Avi Gopher of TAU's Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies examined the published data describing animal bones associated with Homo erectus at the Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov in Israel, they found that elephant bones made up only two to three percent the total. But these low numbers are misleading, they say. While the six-ton animal may have only been represented by a tiny percentage of bones at the site, it actually provided as much as 60 percent of animal-sourced calories. (Science Daily)

Solving the Mystery of a 35,000-Year-Old Statue

Archeologists have discovered previously unknown fragments of a figurine known as the "Lion Man," and are piecing it back together. Could the 35,000-year-old statue actually represent a female shaman? Scientists hope to resolve a decades-long debate. (SpiegelOnline)

‘World’s oldest bell’ uncovered in Derry

A team of Derry archaeology enthusiasts have discovered what they believe could be the oldest known church bell in the world. Templemore Archeaology (TA) discovered the bronze bell stored in a farmyard in Shantallow, where it has remained without being studied by experts since being excavated as part of a building project in the 1930s. The artefact, which measures around one foot in height, is in good condition and shows evidence of Christian design. (Derry Journal)

Ayutthaya’s lesser known sites may be lost in the flood triage

With limited funds to repair the flood damage, some of the lesser-known sites in Ayutthaya may be completely lost as funds for repair are prioritised to more prominent sites. (SEAarch)

Interactive maps reveal London's history in unprecedented detail

Locating London's Past is a new website that lets users delve deep into the capital's past, revolutionising our understanding of London's history. The website is the first to map information from a vast array of sources, covering: crime and punishment, the distribution of wealth, poverty, and occupations the ownership of consumer goods mortality

December 12th, 2011

A DRY DEAD SEA BEFORE BIBLICAL TIMES

The Dead Sea nearly disappeared about 120,000 years ago, say researchers who drilled more than 1,500 feet below one of the deepest parts of the politically contentious body of water. The discovery looms large at a time when the Dead Sea is shrinking rapidly, Middle Eastern nations are battling over water rights, and experts hotly debate whether the salt lake could ever dry up completely in the years to come. New data from drilled deposits are also helping piece together geological history that slices through Biblical times. Further research may offer opportunities to verify whether earthquakes destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah or if Joseph stockpiled grains in Egypt to weather a real famine. (Discovery News)

US returns gold monkey head to Peru

The United States has returned a gold monkey head to Peru dating back to the Moche civilisation that flourished in northern Peru from the second to eighth centuries, officials said Friday. The gold pendant, which was returned Thursday during a repatriation ceremony at the Peruvian Embassy in Washington, had been exhibited for years at the Museum of New Mexico, Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe. It had been donated by private collector John Bourne. (Dawn.com)

3,000-year-old human remains uncovered in western Nepal

According to Monday's The Kathmandu Post, a team of national and international climbers, scientists, archaeologists, historians and anthropologists has found evidence of thousands of years of civilization in this mystical land. After beginning the first phase of its research in 2008, the team discovered human remains dating back to 3,000 years, bringing out untold stories of an " independent" civilization. (People's Daily Online)

9th-century earthenware found in possible remains of ex-aristocrat's residence in Kyoto

The Kyoto City Archaeological Research Institute said it has unearthed earthenware in an excavation site, which is believed to be the remains of a residence for Fujiwara no Yoshimi, a prominent politician and court noble in the Heian period (794 to 1185). (The Mainichi Daily News)

Gas pipe upgrade to reveal secrets of the Old Town

A MAJOR project to upgrade the gas mains system will cut “deep” through the history of the Old Town. Scotland Gas Networks (SGN) will carry out £420,000 worth of work to upgrade the gas mains on Johnston Terrace and Lawnmarket. The “essential” work will take around 15 weeks to complete and involves replacing 1050 metres of ageing iron mains with polyethylene ones. (Scotsman.com)

Ruins of ancient city plundered in southwestern Iran

An expert of the Shushtar Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Office has said that the ruins of the ancient city of Dastvar in Khuzestan Province have been repeatedly looted by groups of invaders over the past few months. “Only one man stands guard in Dastva,” the expert, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Persian service of CHN on Friday. “Groups of plunders have invaded the city repeatedly, tying the guard’s hands and feet, then calmly ransacking the ancient graves for artifacts,” he added. (Tehran Times)

Dog walker stumbles across 4,000-year-old Stone Age camp

A team of historians believe they have unearthed evidence of a 4,000-year-old Stone Age camp - thanks to a dog walker. Roger Hall was walking his pet at Cannock Wood in Staffordshire, when he discovered a handful of strange-shaped rocks. Experts later identified the rocks as flint 'flakes', which are the off-cuts from tools crafted by Stone Age Man 4,000 years ago. Read more (Dailymail.co.uk)

December 11th, 2011

Archaeologists Return to Investigate Viking Period Site in Gotland

The world’s largest silver hoard was discovered in an agricultural field on an island in Scandinavia. The hoard weighed about 67 kilos, consisting of two assemblages about 3 meters apart. Dated to the 9th century AD, the hoard boasted a pure silver assemblage of more than 14,200 coins and nearly 500 silver arm rings and other objects, placed in wooden boxes beneath the floor of a Viking Age house structure. Related to this discovery was another find of bronze objects, weighing as much as 20 kilos, also placed in a wooden box. (Popular Archaeology)

Six-thousand-year-old earth mother statuette found on banks of the Somme is named 'Lady of Villers-Carbonnel'

With a curvaceous figure and short stubby arms, the discovery of a 6,000-year-old earth mother in France shows how far the essence of beauty has changed over the centuries. The unearthing of the extremely rare statue in Northern France has been given the rather grand title of ‘Lady of Villers-Carbonnel’ and is thought to be connected to a cult who worshipped a specific fertility goddess. (dailymail.co.uk)

Naval History News

As befits one of the most legendary ship captains of all time, Sir Francis Drake was buried at sea. At the age of 55, after a lifetime of privateering, plundering, battling, and exploring, the greatest English seaman this side of Nelson died of dysentery and went to his watery grave, in full armor, in a lead coffin, off Portabelo, Panama, in 1596. (US Naval Institute)

Debt crisis strikes Greek monuments, closed monuments or curtailed trips irk tourists

At the end of a sunny day on the Acropolis last month, Svein Davoy gazed awe-struck at the columns of the Parthenon gleaming in the twilight. "It's marvelous. This is where Western civilization began. I will certainly tell my friends to come to Greece and see all this," enthused Davoy, 63, an economist from Norway. Davoy was luckier than he realized. The union representing security guards at museums and archaeological sites very nearly shut down all Greece's monuments in November in a dispute with the culture and tourism ministry over overtime pay. (ArtDaily.org)

Megalithic site in India may date back to 3300 BCE

During the works for the construction of a road on the outskirts of Obra village in Chatra district (Jharkhand state, India) Subhashis Das, a local megalith expert, came across a series of huge standing stones. This megalithic site may indicate that civilization existed here since Chalcolithic period, corresponding for India to a period of 3300-1200 BCE. (Stone Pages)

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