Archaeology News for the Week of July 3rd, 2011

December 2011, Daily News

Sun, Jul 03, 2011

July 9th, 2011

Earliest Europeans Were Cannibals, Wore Bling

Early humans wore jewelry and likely practiced cannibalism, suggest remains of the earliest known Homo sapiens from southeastern Europe. The remains, described in PLoS One, date to 32,000 years ago and represent the oldest direct evidence for anatomically modern humans in a well-documented context. The human remains are also the oldest known for our species in Europe to show post-mortem cut marks. "Our observations indicate a post-mortem treatment of human corpses including the selection of the skull," co-author Stephane Pean, a paleozoologist and archaeologist at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, told Discovery News. "We demonstrate that this treatment was not for nutritional purposes, according to comparison with game butchery treatment, so it is not a dietary cannibalism." (Discovery News)

Human Sacrifice Found in Maya City Sinkhole

The bones of six humans—including two children—jade beads, shells, and stone tools are among the Maya "treasures" recently found in a water-filled cave off a sinkhole at the famous archaeological site of Chichén Itzá (picture) in Mexico, archaeologists say. (National Geographic)

In Israel, diggers unearth the Bible's bad guys

At the remains of an ancient metropolis in southern Israel, archaeologists are piecing together the history of a people remembered chiefly as the bad guys of the Hebrew Bible. The city of Gath, where the annual digging season began this week, is helping scholars paint a more nuanced portrait of the Philistines, who appear in the biblical story as the perennial enemies of the Israelites. (TimesUnion.com)

Tomb-raider ring busted in Italy

Police said Wednesday that they had busted a big tomb-raiding ring that pillaged sites in southern and central Italy for priceless treasures. Officers carried out 50 searches in 21 towns and cities, including Rome and Naples, and seized 2,298 items, including ancient coins, medals, ceramics and statues, as well as fossils. (ANSA.IT)

Civil War Archeology at Lafayette Square

This weekend, members of the Baltimore Heritage and Friends of West Baltimore Squares will traverse the square, which is bounded by Lafayette and Lanvale Streets, with metal detectors. They’re looking for traces of the park’s mid-19th century inhabitants, U.S. Army troop regiments, who camped at the Lafayette Barracks during the Civil War. (Baltimore City Paper)

Unearthing secrets of Churchill's war

TRACES of Churchill’s secret World War Two guerilla army have been uncovered in an archaeological dig at Coleshill. They include what may be the remains of a bunker used to train ordinary British people, selected by covert recruiters, in the arts of sabotage, disruption and assassination. (SwindonAdvertiser)

Shipwreck story: treasures in watery ruins

Can you name something famous sitting at the bottom of Lake Michigan? The lakebed is actually littered with artifacts, like a WWI German U-Boat, dozens of WWII planes and more than a few noteworthy shipwrecks. (WBEZ91.5)

July 8th, 2011

Pre-Colombian Maya statues found at archaeological site in Mexico

Mexican researchers have found in the archaeological zone of Toniná, State of Chiapas, two stone sculptures representing captive warriors belonging to the allied Maya states of Palenque, Mexico and Copán, Honduras.Researchers from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) of Mexico reported that the finding took place in May 2011 at the Toniná archaeological site, located in the municipality of Ocosingo, Chiapas. The two stone sculptures have been dated to approximately 1300 years ago and the inscriptions found on them confirm previous knowledge of a war alliance that existed between the rulers of Copán in Honduras, and Palenque, not far from Toniná in the State of Chiapas, in the Southeast of Mexico bordering Guatemala. (DigitalJournal.com)

Archaeology: Black Sea's ancient coast found - report

Bulgarian scientists have found the ancient shores of the Black Sea, currently deep beneath the waves, which they claim were the original shores about 7500 years ago, when the Black Sea at the time was just a fresh water lake, the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) reported on July 7 2011.(SofiaEcho)

India: Treasure unearthed in Kerala temple

Treasure, thought to be worth billions of rupees, has been unearthed from secret underground chambers in a temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala. (BBC News)

"Tomb of the Otters" Filled With Stone Age Human Bones

Thousands of human bones have been found inside a Stone Age tomb on a northern Scottish island, archaeologists say. The 5,000-year-old burial site, on South Ronaldsay (map) in the Orkney Islands, was accidentally uncovered after a homeowner had leveled a mound in his yard to improve his ocean view. (National Geographic)

At the Feet of the Pharaohs: Capturing the Majesty of Luxor in 3D

For a while, it seemed the revolution in Egypt would end his mission before it had even begun. Thomas A. DeFanti, a research scientist and expert in data visualization at the University of California, San Diego, had been planning for months to capture spectacular 3D surround images of Egypt's temples at Luxor on his way to Saudi Arabia early in April, where he would spend a month working with colleagues at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). (UC San Diego)

July 7th, 2011

One Man's Trash: George Washington's Priceless Refuse

For George Washington, the first U.S. President and Revolutionary War hero, a broken chinese porcelain plate or teacup from his dining table or kitchen would go immediately and directly into his trash pit on the grounds just outside his mansion home, buried and forever forgotten. But as the saying goes, "one man's trash is another man's treasure", and well over 200 years later archaeologists would call them priceless artifacts for understanding and reconstructing history. Such was the case when an archaeological team discovered and excavated a trash pit, or "midden", just outside and south of George Washington's imposing Mount Vernon mansion house in northern Virginia. (Popular Archaeology)

Sidon Excavations unearth 5,000 year-old antiquities

The most important findings of the excavations, which are now in their 13th year, include a sacred musical instrument from the Iron Age, the head of a Phoenician figurine, a ring from the Roman age, and a large storage room for wheat from 3,000 BC. (The Daily Star)

Cosmeston pottery find shows a thriving medieval craft

A 13th Century pottery vessel found in the Vale of Glamorgan could indicate a thriving local craft in medieval times. Several fragments of the aquamanile, decorated with a ram's head, were discovered at the site of a manor house at Cosmeston, near Penarth. (BBC News)

Peru celebrates Machu Picchu amid tourism worries

Tourists love the enigmatic Incan city of Machu Picchu high in Peru's Andes. They may love it too much.As the country prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the rediscovery of the "Lost City of the Incas" on Thursday, archaeologists are warning that a heavy flow of visitors and poor administration are threatening one of the wonders of the world. (MSNBC.com)

Mexican archaeologists uncover 9th-century cemetery

Mexican archaeologists have uncovered a cemetery in the southeastern state of Tabasco that dates from as early as 811, the National Anthropology and History Institute, or INAH, said Tuesday.The discovery was made near the Great Acropolis of Comalcalco and holds the remains of 116 people, INAH said in a statement. (Fox News Latino)

Bulgarian Archaeologists Find Iron Labrys at Ancient Thracian Kings' Residence

Bulgarian archaeologists have dug up an iron labrys, a ceremonial doubleheaded ax, at the residence of the rulers of the Odrysian Kingdom, the state of the most powerful tribe of Ancient Thrace, located at the mount of Kozi Gramadi. (Novinite.com)

Mysterious liquid believed to be wine from Warring States period

According to the Shaanxi Cultural Relic Bureau, archaeologists have found some liquid in a bronze kettle inside a tomb dating from the Qin Dynasty in Poliu Village of Xianyang, Shaanxi province. The liquid has been sent to a research institute for further study. (People's Daily Online)

July 6th, 2011

Dorset burial pit Viking had filed teeth

During analysis, a pair of front teeth was found to have distinct incisions. Archaeologists have discovered one of the victims of a suspected mass Viking burial pit found in Dorset had grooves filed into his two front teeth. Experts believe a collection of bones and decapitated heads, unearthed during the creation of the Weymouth Relief Road, belong to young Viking warriors. During analysis, a pair of front teeth was found to have distinct incisions. Archaeologists think it may have been designed to frighten opponents or show status as a great fighter. Oxford Archaeology project manager David Score said: "It's difficult to say how painful the process of filing teeth may have been, but it wouldn't have been a pleasant experience. (BBC News)

House From Kingdom of Israel Unearthed

What may be the best-preserved "four-room house" from around 3,000 years ago has been discovered in Israel by archaeologists from the University of Haifa. Tel Shikmona was excavated in the 1970's, revealing a settlement spanning from the late Bronze Age through to the 7th century CE Muslim occupation. However, the area has since deteriorated due to debris and off-road vehicles, until new excavations began about half a year ago to turn the site into a public archaeology park. (The Epoch Times)

Two new monuments uncovered at Karnak Temple

This week, during their routine excavation work, the French-Egyptian archaeological team working at the Karnak Temple in Luxor uncovered two major monuments. The first is the wall that once enclosed the New Kingdom temple of the god Petah and the second is a gate dated back to the reign of 25th dynasty King Shabaka (712-698 BC). (ahramonline)

July 5th, 2011

Researchers Uncovering Much More Than Monuments at Ancient Maya Site of El Pilar

Archaeologists and other research scientists and academicians have been eagerly engaged in uncovering the secrets that may, at least in part, explain how ancient densely populated Maya cities and communities sustained their monumental centers and large settlements in their seemingly inhospitable jungle environments. Their work goes far beyond developing answers to this question, however. The research portends the development of a whole new paradigm for archaeological investigations and conservation, and may suggest a useful new model for global sustainability. (Popular Archaeology)

Woman’s skeleton found at Sedgeford dig sheds light on Norfolk 4,000 years ago

Curled up in her burial pit with her amber beads, an ancient woman’s remains show our ancestors farmed a lush Norfolk valley thousands of years earlier than previously believed. Archaeologists confirmed the significance of the discovery yesterday as work got under way for the summer season at Sedgeford, near Heacham. (EDP24)

Part I: Archaeology Site at Pig Point Continues to Yield Ancient Treasures

The archaeological dig site at Pig Point near the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, has continued to yield incredible artifacts and other evidence of human activity since its initial discovery in 2009. The dig began that same year and there have been a number of very interesting things found, including evidence of Algonquin wigwams, projectile points, ancient pottery and other artifacts dating back thousands of years further than anyone expected. (Edgewater-DavidsonvillePatch)

Reliving the Revolution

Putnam Park is a window into Connecticut’s integral role in the American Revolution. In the summer of 1778, Gen. Israel Putnam was seeking a place in which to encamp his division of the Continental Army for the winter. At the suggestion of Colonel Aaron Burr, Putnam scouted a tract of land in Redding. (NewtownPatch)

5,200 year-old Ancient Egyptian drawing unearthed

Egypt's Antiquities Authority says archaeologists have unearthed a 5,200-year-old rock drawing depicting a royal festival during Ancient Egypt's earliest dynasty. The ministry says the scenes were part of a series of rock drawings featuring hunting, fighting and celebrations along the banks of the Nile River. (Miami Herald)

July 4th, 2011

Discoveries at a Templar abbey in Ireland

Mourne Abbey in County Cork, Ireland, has been the focus of an archaeological excavation to discover more about the history of this medieval religious center. The abbey was built around 1199 by the Knights Templar. After the rulers of Europe turned on the Templars and destroyed the order in 1307, resulting in 700 years of conspiracy theories, the abbey was handed over to the Knights Hospitaller. (Gadling.com)

In New Mexico, blaze threatens tribes’ sacred sites

More than 1,600 firefighters were working to stop the fire in northern New Mexico as it burned through a canyon on the Santa Clara Pueblo reservation and threatened other pueblos on the Parajito Plateau. Archaeological sites at the northern end of the blaze at Bandelier National Monument hold great significance to area tribes. (www.bendbulletin.com)

Home from Biblical Kingdom Of Israel Discovered on Haifa Coast

A well-preserved, 3,000-year-old four-room house from the Biblical Kingdom of Israel has been discovered on Haifa’s southern coast by University of Haifa archaeologists. They also found remains of a Persian city, dating back 2,400 years, and of a 1,500-year-old Byzantine town. (Israel National News)

Archaeological Survey of India exhibits Chinese artefacts in Hyderabad

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is organizing an exhibition in Hyderabad showcasing 94 Chinese artefacts from 10 different museums from China. The two-month long exhibition, which started from June 23 at the Salar Jung Museum, is being organized in collaboration with the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China. (India Gazette)

July 3rd, 2011

Archaeologists puzzle over opulent prehistoric burial find-The Pharoah of Thuringia

When archeologists recently excavated a 3,800-year-old palace near the eastern German city of Weimar, they discovered about 100 valuable weapons buried next to a massive structure. Now they are puzzling over how an ancient chieftain buried nearby became so rich. In 1877, when archeology was still in its infancy, art professor Friedrich Klopfleisch climbed an almost nine-meter (20-foot) mound of earth in Leubingen, a district in the eastern German state of Thuringia lying near a range of hills in eastern Germany known as the Kyffhäuser. He was there to “kettle” the hill, which entailed having workers dig a hole from the top of the burial mound into the burial chamber below. (San Francisco Sentinel)

Apocalypse later Worried about 2012? Don’t be, says an expert on the Maya

They say it’s coming. The big one. Earthquakes that will lay the earth low. Massive tidal waves. Fire, brimstone, the end of our civilization. Just 17 months and 18 days from now: Dec. 21, 2012. The Maya predicted it all, centuries ago, crunching numbers deep in their jungle empire, abetted by a mystical understanding of the spirits of the earth, the soul of the cosmos. Or did they? Dozens of websites, books, and films celebrate next year’s catastrophe, but beyond the date, nobody seems to agree on just what the Maya said or why they said it. (Boston.com)

The Beer Archaeologist

Writing in Smithsonian magazine, Abigail Tucker profiles the "beer archaeologist" Patrick McGovern. McGovern is Scientific Director of the Biomolecular Archaeology Laboratory for Cuisine, Fermented Beverages, and Health at the University of Pennsylvania Museum; he's also the man behind Dogfish Head's Midas Touch beer, which turns out, Tucker explains, to be made using an "Iron Age-era recipe of muscat grapes, saffron, barley and honey." In fact, it's "based on decrepit refreshments recovered from King Midas’ 700 B.C. tomb." (Boston.com)

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