June 2011, Daily News

Archaeology News for the Week of August 28th, 2011

Mon, Aug 29, 2011

September 3rd, 2011

Ancient James Ossuary and Jehoash Tablet Inscriptions May Be Authentic, Say Experts

After five long years, the high profile trial of accused Israeli forgers Oded Golan and Robert Deutsch was finally over, but not without raising a multitude of testimony statements from expert witnesses for both prosecution and defense concerning the innocence or guilt of the two defenders and the authenticity of the two famous ancient antiquities that made headlines in newspapers and journals during the first decade of the 21st century. The expert opinion of most of the scientists who have examined the inscriptions on the James Ossuary and the Jehoash Tablet : They may be real, after all. But the final decision on the case has yet to be made by the court, which concluded on October 3, 2010 with a pending verdict. (Popular Archaeology)

Ah, the pirate life: Tobacco, ale -- and fine dinnerware

They smoked like the devil, drank straight from the bottle, annoyed the Spanish and had a fascination with fine pottery.

Oh, and they didn't use plates ... at least not ceramic ones.

Based in 18th-century Belize, they were real " Pirates of the Caribbean " and now new research by 21st-century archaeologists is telling us what their lives were like. (msnbc.com)

Trip to the Zhou: Remains of horses and chariots unearthed from tomb dating back to 3,000-year-old Chinese dynasty

It could have been as early as 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ that these horses were moved on to greener pastures - and no one has laid eyes on them until now.

Archaeologists have painstakingly uncovered the almost 3,000-year-old remains of horses and wooden chariots in a Zhou Dynasty tomb in Luoyang, Henan Province, China.

The completed excavation unearthed four horse-and-chariot pits, dating back as far as 770BC. (Mail Online)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

September 1st, 2011

Early Humans Made Stone Handaxes Earlier Than Previously Thought, Study Says

A major early human stone toolmaking industry has been pushed back in time as much as another 350,000 years, according to a recent study carried out by scientists at Columbia University and published this week in Nature. The discovery also revisits questions about the origins of an early human ancestor and the coexistence of disparate early human species in Africa. (Popular Archaeology)

Broch casts light on Picts' Roman contacts

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered an Iron Age broch that they believe became the seat of a Celtic chieftain and casts new light on contact between the Picts and the Roman Empire. (Herald Scotland)

Cue: Nina, Pinta set sail for Peoria

Replicas of Christopher Columbus' ships will dock in Peoria next month.

The Nina and the Pinta will dock on the Peoria riverfront Sept. 24 and remain there until departing the morning of Sept. 28.

The Nina, which was built by hand, was called by Archaeology magazine "the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built." The Pinta was recently constructed in Brazil. Both ships tour together as a "sailing museum" for the public and school children. (Journal Star)

Iron age hill fort excavation reveals 'possible' suburbia 

The most intensive investigation ever undertaken of Britain's largest iron age hill fort is expected to reveal new details of how Britons lived 2,000 years ago – and maybe even that they were almost as suburban as we are. (The Guardian)

William & Mary's Colonial-era Foundations Add to College's Mystery

Newly unearthed foundations and a mysterious box discovered at the College of William & Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia, date to the Colonial period and may be associated with enslaved 18th century staff. (Live Science)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

August 31st, 2011

Archaeologists uncover amphitheatre used to train gladiators near Vienna

Archaeologists say they have located and excavated the ruins of a huge amphitheatre used to train gladiators east of Vienna, describing it as a "sensational discovery". (The Guardian)

Ancient Egyptians used gel to style hair

Ancient Egyptians seem to be so particular about their appearance that they used fat-based gels to style their hair more than 2300 years ago, a new study on mummies has found. (The Times of India)

Roman prostitutes were forced to kill their own children and bury them in mass graves at English 'brothel'

The babies of Roman prostitutes were regularly murdered by their mothers, archaeologists have found.

A farmer's field in Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, yielded the grisly secret after a mass grave containing the remains of 97 babies - who all died around the same age - was uncovered. (Mail Online)

Bulgarian archaeologist claims he found 'the temple' of Dionysus

Top Bulgarian archaeologist Professor Nikolay Ovcharov has presented new finds from the Ancient Thracian and medieval fortress of Perperikon proving the existence of an Antiquity period sanctuary that he believes could be the ancient Temple ofDionysus. (Novinite.com)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

August 30, 2011

Holey Roman pot likely held delicate mousy morsels

A Canadian museum is seeking help from archeologists around the world to solve the mystery surrounding a bizarre, 1,800-year-old clay vessel — believed to have come from the Roman Empire — that was put back together this year after being found smashed into nearly 200 pieces at a dig site in Britain. (Canada.com)

2,000-Year-Old Burial Box Could Reveal Location of the Family of Caiaphas

Prof. Goren, who worked in collaboration with Prof. Boaz Zissu from Bar Ilan University, now confirms that both the ossuary and its inscription are authentic. The ossuary's inscription, which is unusually detailed, could reveal the home of the family of the biblical figure and high priest Caiaphas prior to their exodus to Galilee after 70 AD. Caiaphas is infamous for his involvement in the crucifixion of Jesus. (Science Daily)

The Romans threaten Tesco's Whitechurch plans

Experts believe there could be the remains of a Roman road and cremation cemetery on or near the Edgeley Park site where the retail giant wants to build a supermarket. (Shropshire Star)

Neanderthal survival story revealed in Jersey caves

New investigations at an iconic cave site on the Channel Island of Jersey have led archaeologists to believe the Neanderthals have been widely under-estimated. (BBC News)

Archaeologists find new monument, theatre masks in ancient Myra

Archeologists have found a new historical monument and nearly 20 masks thought to have been worn by actors during excavations carried out in Myra, an ancient city on the southern coast of Turkey. (Today's Zaman)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

August 29, 2011

Remarkable cave temples of China resurrected through technology

Looking at these caves, visitors were struck with awe at the beauty of the artwork that adorned them. Some may have asked, "Who even knew these were here?" The location was generally off the map in the minds of most tourists and traveling adventurers. But these same visitors would have noticed that something was missing. Rough, blank areas on great sculptures existed where once there were faces. Details were missing here and there. Massive damage was done by looters who chiseled away key portions of the limestone cave masterpieces during the first half of the 20th century and then offered them for sale on the international art market. They were not the creation that they once were. (Popular Archaeology)

Ancient Persian cairn wall found in Iran

Tehran, Aug 29: A cairn wall belonging to the Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD) in ancient Persia was discovered in northern Iran.

A coin and a copper artifact of the medieval Islamic civilization were also found at the archaeological site in Nowshahr in Mazandaran province, the Iran Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization said. (India Talkies)

Assembly of Lycians awaits grand opening

Dozens of scientists and workers are working to finish the restoration of the Lycian League’s parliament. Professor Havva İşkan Işık says Turkey will present the parliament building ‘as a gift to humanity’ as of April next year. (Turkish Daily News)

Minister relaunches centre at 'very precious' heritage site

MINISTER for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD, has officially relaunched Lough Gur Heritage Centre – the site which tells the story of Lough Gur from the coming of Neolithic man some 5,500 years ago. (Limerick Today)