Ancient Digger Archaeology

Archaeology News: January 23, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Governor Rick Scott caused quite a stir when he questioned the value of an anthropology major. His point was, with rising college costs and weak employment, students might be better off with a major that could land them a job. Not to mention that our tax dollars would be better spent in public education that's relevant to the times.

James Marquez, a White Mountain Apache and board director for MACT — a nonprofit providing services to Indians in Mariposa, Amador, Calaveras and Tuolomne counties — says his organization has both a building and a “pretty spectacular collection” of 250 Indian-made baskets and other cultural artifacts. Recognizing the enormous challenges and myriad details involved in developing, operating and curating a full-blown museum, however, he and his fellow board members are “trying to figure out whether to take the next step” into serious fundraising.

A recently discovered mysterious "winged" structure in England, which in the Roman period may have been used as a temple, presents a puzzle for archaeologists, who say the building has no known parallels.

A silver-gilt Roman cavalry helmet of international importance has been pieced together at the British Museum, from thousands of fragments of corroded metal lifted in a block of mud from a Leicestershire hillside more than 10 years ago.

The Harappan Civilization was spread over large parts of western region of the Indian Subcontinent. Its earliest roots can be found from 7000 BC in Mehrgarh but its peak urban period is around 2500 to 1900 BC.

Mexican archaeologists have discovered in the southern part of the country a kiln used by the ancient Zapotecs to make ceramics more than 1,300 years ago, the National Anthropology and History Institute, or INAH, said.

Any doubts about the existence of mass graves at the Treblinka death camp in Poland are being laid to rest by the first survey of the site using tools that see below the ground, writes forensic archaeologist Caroline Sturdy Colls.

The remains of the first HMS Victory are to be raised from the sea bed nearly 300 years after it sank, it was reported today. The vessel, predecessor of Nelson's famous flagship, went down in a storm off the Channel Islands in 1744, taking more than 1,000 soldiers to their deaths.

In the dark depths of an underwater cave in eastern Mexico, archaeologists uncovered the ancient remains of four prehistoric bears in the Yucatan Peninsula. Officials believe they could date back to the ice age.

The Mithras temple is being dismantled by a team from the Museum of London and will be rebuilt on its original site 90 metres away. One Saturday afternoon in September 1954, a handsome, faintly smiling god looked up from the London mud. His name was Mithras, and the rediscovered Roman temple to his cult became a sensation in a gloomy postwar capital pitted with bombsites and still recovering from rationing.

A group of amateur archaeologists working under the guidance of professional archaeologists discovered eight 6th century gold coins in a potato field near Biesenbrow in Uckermark, northeast Germany, last November.

Theresa McDonald, Managing Director of the Achill Archaeological Field School, voiced her objections over the Achill-Henge structure which was built at Pollagh (Achill Island, County Mayo, Ireland) in November by Joe McNamara. The archaeologist believes that a prehistoric site could be less than half a kilometer from where Achill-Henge is now standing.

‘Seeing beneath Stonehenge’ has been developed as part of the Stonehenge Riverside Project, using data gather by the combined team from the Universities of Sheffield, Manchester, Bristol, Southampton and London.

The horrors of tunnel warfare are key to Sebastian Faulks's first world war novel, Birdsong. Much of the action is set beneath no man's land in a terrifying world where soldiers dug, listened for the enemy and laid explosives in the hope of helping their compatriots above ground.

UNC Coastal Institute Explores U-701

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:58:00 +0000

You may recall my article on U-boat Museums and exhibits. Most of the U-boats from WWII were used for scrap metal. Some found themselves in the many Uboat museums around the world, and others found their home at the bottom of the ocean.

The U701 was sunk by aerial depth charges dropped from an A-29 Bomber on July 7, 1942. The remains of the vessel are located almost 30 miles offshore, in 120 feet of water near Diamond Shoals in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

This dive video was created by the UNC Coastal Institute formed in 2003, which offers educational opportunities, provides community outreach programs, and enhances communication among those concerned with the unique history, culture and environment of the maritime counties of North Carolina.

U-701 from UNC-CSI on Vimeo.

According to the UNC-CSI , the U-701 sites is well known for challenging conditions and potentially strong currents, often making it a difficult dive. It was well worth it in my opinion, as this video provides us a glimpse into the unique history of submarine warfare.

Picture

© UNC Coastal Institute

Breaking News: The Senator Burns to the Ground

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:16:00 +0000

What a shame! In August of last year I wrote an article on The Senator. The Senator at Big Tree Park is one of the largest Cypress trees in America. The Senator was used as a landmark by the Seminole Indians, as well as the other Native American tribes in the area. During the Hurricane of 1925, the top of the Senator was destroyed, lopping off 47 feet of the original 165 feet.

Today, the Senator fell to the ground in a blaze, just minutes from my home. The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that "they are awaiting a complete explanation for why investigators ruled out arson. If the fire wasn't set, how did it start? It's important to get answers because another massive cypress tree, Lady Liberty, is still standing at Big Tree Park. Though smaller and less elderly (2,000 years old instead of 3,500), it needs to be preserved and protected if security at the park is lacking."

Lats year I shot footage of my trip to the Senator, accompanied by music by Mary Gunderson. You can see it here in all its grandeur. What a sad day for Florida, as part of our history is lost

Archaeology News: January 16, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:51:00 +0000

Department of Archaeology and Heritage in Umm Al Qaiwain has announced new discoveries at al-Dur archaeological site, north eastern of the emirate.

Archaeologists will carry out a three-week excavation at Birley Fields in Hulme before a new university campus is built on the land.One aim of the project is to find remains of a farm that could date back to the late Medieval period – thought to be the first time people lived in the area.

Archaeologists from Egypt and Switzerland have unearthed the 1,100-year-old tomb of a female singer in the Valley of the Kings.

It is the only tomb of a woman not related to the ancient royal families ever found in the valley, said Mansour Boraiq, the senior official at the Antiquities Ministry in Luxor.

The Field Museum plans a rare display of mummies from its own collection, many of which haven't been seen by the public since the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893.

The complete H.L. Hunley was unveiled in South Carolina after a decade of conservation work that has kept most of it hidden from view. In 1864, the Confederate submarine torpedoed the Union warship Housatonic, but then sank, killing its crew of eight. “The submarine was a perfect time capsule of everything inside,” said archaeologist Ben Rennison.

Archaeologists are investigating the site of a future Irish Cultural Museum, which will be built in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

The Northern Tutchone people did not become dependent upon Fort Selkirk, a fur trading post in the Yukon, according to research conducted by Victoria Castillo of Yukon College and the University of Alberta. She found few First Nation artifacts at the fort, indicating that not much trade took place.

The contents of a bathroom dating to the late 1850s have been removed from Dunleith Plantation in Natchez, Mississippi, and will be reassembled in a Greek Revival mansion in Natchez National Historical Park. Jeff Mansell of the National Park Service says that there are fewer than 20 such bathrooms left in the country.

Evotourism: The New Traveler Obsession

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:26:00 +0000

If this isn't a controversial subject I have no idea what is. As if evolution isn't already a hot topic of debate, now travelers can actually experience it in firsthand through Smithsonian. Now, I have no issues with traveling to the outer reaches of the world and observing some of the most "evolved" creatures out there. There is a problem, however. I can go to my own backyard and watch many species that have evolved over centuries. So what's the angle of this new form of what my professors like to call "sexy tourism"? Well, it has a new name, that's a start.

One of my professors remarked that "So how is this new? Just new name and it is suddenly sexy tourism in our world of failing climate, deforestation and indigenous cultural destruction.Would you go because a place was evolutionarily significant?"~Anonymous

This is the basic gist of the program. Let me know what you think about this in the comments section.

Welcome to Evotourism™, Smithsonian’s new travel-information service that will help you find and fully enjoy the wonders of evolution. Whether it’s a city museum or suburban fossil trove, a historic scientific site overseas or a rare creature in your own backyard, we’ll direct you to places and discoveries that figure in the science of evolution or offer eye-opening evidence of the process of natural selection. Evotourism will present original articles by scientists and accomplished journalists offering expert background and practical advice. We’ll tell you where to go and when, and what to do when you get there. Videos and photographs will help make the findings clear. Our curated Evotourism forum will give scientists and other travelers an unprecedented meeting place for exchanging insights and tips.

Read more: Because it's time for travel to evolve (catchy!)

New Changes For Ancient Digger

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:49:00 +0000

Greetings Ancient Diggers. I'll start my last semester this Tuesday (I'm sitting here tying this in class, so terrible I know, but it hasn't started just yet) and then I'll be graduating in May. I have made several changes to the site, and some new additions are on the way. At the moment, I'm working on the Digger Archaeology Channel which will feature the latest news in archaeology, anthropology, history, paleontology, and many more fascinating topics. This new site will be strictly videos, so if in your just looking to sit back and relax and watch a short news blurb or documentary, this is the place to be.

I'm also putting together an archaeology directory, which is not live to the public just yet, but will feature scholarships, journal articles, school information, archaeology blogs, and listings for field schools.

I'm trying to implement a more interactive, so to speak, experience. As a student, I know how important it is to receive information in many different formats. It makes the learning experience much more enjoyable, and not so mundane. So if you have any suggestions for the new sites, this is the time to speak up.

Thanks again for being devoted readers of Ancient Digger!

Harrison Ford Watches Indiana Jones

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:50:00 +0000

Believe it or not, Harrison Ford has never sat down and watched himself in the Indiana Jone's movies. For most of us aspiring archaeologists, or those of you that are already living this dream everyday, the Indiana Jone's movies were the reason we went into archaeology.

Just imagine. The first Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark, came out in 1981. At that time, Harrison Ford was in his mid 30's. He probably had no idea how his movies would impact archaeologists, and students, who flocked to anthropology and archaeology programs all over the world.

If you haven't seen this video, just take a moment and watch the childlike reactions Harrison Ford has while watching it. This made my day!

PS. He's not really watching Indiana Jones, but playing Uncharted 3, a videogame about an adventure-seeking treasure hunter. He watches in absolute amazement as if he forgot he is the guy who made being an adventure-seeking treasure hunter cool.

Skull Bed For An Anthropologist?

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:45:00 +0000

Far be it from me to exclude you from the hilarious world of gift giving and gift ideas for anthropologists. This Skull Sleeping Chamber-looks more like a chair to me-comes from the ingenious mind of Joep van Lieshout from the Netherlands. It reminds me of those old egg chairs with the spinning pedestal base. It's a great conversation piece, in case any of you anthropology professors are looking for the perfect corner accessory for your office.

Evidently, this is not the only skull inspired furniture Lieshout has designed. His wellness skull has an actual bath in the neck of the skull and the head of the Skull contains a sauna. When it is working the hot steam pears out of the eye sockets. Now that's just too Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom for me!

Joep van Lieshout explains his macabre creation stating,

"The heavenly power is the big unknown, the death of the hereafter, the skull of physical shell of the mind. The earthly power is a economical power, money plays an important role on our contemporary society. Gradually the faith loses all importance and is replaced by an alternative ‘self experience’, through travelling, sporting and wellness centres.”

Archaeology News: January 4, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:36:00 +0000

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology on the Penn campus in Philadelphia dates its official founding to December 6, 1887. On that date, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania resolved to send “an exploring expedition to Babylonia”—with the stipulation that the University would build “suitable accommodations” to house any artifacts that the first expedition team, and others, would bring back.

A 400-year-old metallurgical furnace and irons for printing cylinder seals, discovered in Russia for the first time, are unique finds for Russian archaeologists in 2011. Archaeologists are convinced that these artifacts, which help us to understand life in Russia in the olden days, are interesting to everyone and not only to experts.

When two hikers came across a human corpse in the Ötztal Alps 20 years ago, speculation raged over the age of the body, and the life and death of the man who became known as Ötzi – the name coined by an Austrian journalist. The oldest, most well-preserved, frozen Neolithic mummy soon became a world sensation. Francesca Vella recently visited the special exhibition ‘Ötzi20 – Life. Science. Fiction. Reality’ at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, Italy, which was set up to mark the 20th anniversary of the discovery and which has been extended by a year

A Roman coin that was probably used by a lustful legionary has washed up on the banks of the Thames. Made from bronze and smaller than a ten pence piece, the coin depicts a man and a woman engaged in an intimate act.

"Before, China had a large number of valuable ancient tombs and although it was really depressing to see a tomb raided, it was still possible to run into a similar one in the future, said Professor Wei Zheng, an archaeologist at Peking University. "Nowadays too many have been destroyed. Once one is raided, It is really difficult to find a similar one.

Jerusalem archaeologist Gabriel Barkay announced this week that the Temple Mount Sifting Project has discovered a fragment of a seventh-century B.C.E. clay bulla impressed with the ancient Hebrew inscription [g]b’n lmlk, or “Gibeon, for the king.”

A farmer living near Vietnam’s Ru Than Mountain uncovered a bronze drum decorated with scenes from daily life. The drum is estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old.

Two teams of Michigan State University researchers -- one working at a medieval burial site in Albania, the other at a DNA lab in East Lansing -- have shown how modern science can unlock the mysteries of the past. The scientists are the first to confirm the existence of brucellosis, an infectious disease still prevalent today, in ancient skeletal remains.

The Bulgarian Government is to give 120 000 leva (about 60 000 euro) each to 14 archaeology sites along the country’s Black Sea coast for "preliminary research" into archaeological sites, it was announced on January 4 2012.

The discovery of a Stone Age temple on Orkney looks set to rewrite the archaeological records of ancient Britain with evidence emerging it was built centuries before Stonehenge.

One hundred forty-six years ago today, a violent storm lashed the Tampa Bay area, imperiling two U.S. Navy warships — tugboats with cannons — that had seen Civil War action in the Gulf of Mexico and were headed for peacetime duty after the war ended. One survived the storm. The other, the USS Narcissus, which had participated in the Battle of Mobile Bay, been sunk and refloated, did not. It ran aground on a shoal northwest of Egmont Key and sank in 15 feet of water after its boiler exploded. No one survived.

Archaeology for Kids and Adults in Marietta, Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:31:00 +0000

The Campus Martius Museum located at 601 Second St., Marietta, is inviting kids and adults to come in an learn about archaeology. On January 21, Participants will take part in an artifact identification clinic, lectures, and flint knapping demonstrations. The Marietta College Geology Club will also be showing fossils and dinosaur collections throughout the day, and private collections of historic and prehistoric artifacts will also be on display.

If you're in the area on January 21, check out the schedule at the Campus Martius Museum:

11-noon: Jerry Anderson, archaeologist for the Blennerhassett Historical Foundation, will speak on early archaic people of the Ohio Valley.
1-2 p.m.: William Picard, archaeologist for The Ohio Historical Society, will speak on recent discoveries at Pickawillany, a native village and trading post circa 1750.
2-3 p.m.: Doug Angeloni and Tom Hornbrook will speak on record keeping of historic materials from the Great Trail in the Tuscarawas Valley.

Cost

Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for students and free for children 5 and younger. For more information or if you would like your artifacts displayed, contact Bill Reynolds at 740-373-3750.

Archaeology News: January 3, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:27:00 +0000

The Ministry of Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities, announces the completion of a short season of archaeological investigation conducted by the Department of History and Archaeology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUT) at the pre-Neolithic site of Vretsia-Roudias in the Troodos mountains (Pafos District). The project is carried out under the direction of Prof. Nikolaos Efstratiou.

When it's 3,000 B.C. and your drinking water comes from the crocodile-filled Nile River, a brewed beverage can be a form of health food. That's why the ancient Egyptians got so good at making beer. Modern Milwaukeeans can learn the Egyptians' brewing secrets at a special Discovery World workshop at 6 p.m. Thursday called: "Ale through the Ages: The Anthropology & Archaeology of Brewing."

They are the jewels in Norfolk’s crown, attracting thousands of visitors every year. However, a debate has begun into exactly how Norfolk’s museums should be managed – as well as by whom – with the final decision likely to impact the way they are run for years to come. With the Norfolk Joint Museums and Archaeology Committee, made up of county, city and district councillors set to discuss the recommendation when they meet on Friday, January 13, today the EDP looks at both sides of the important issue.

The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended, is Federal legislation developed to ensure that our Nation's historical and archaeological properties are not lost through neglect or inadvertently damaged by activities permitted or funded by Federal agencies. Specifically, BOEM and BSEE, as Federal bureaus, are required under Section 106 of the Act to institute procedures to assure that Federal plans and programs contribute to the preservation and enhancement of non-federally owned sites, structures and objects of historical, architectural or archaeological significance.Archaeological sites on the OCS are most likely to be either prehistoric Native American sites dating from the time at the end of the last Ice Age when sea levels were about 200 feet lower then they are today, or historic shipwrecks.

A tsunami-damaged ancient Hawaiian stone platform used for worship has been restored. Ahuena Heiau, Inc. is a nonprofit organization of volunteers from West Hawaii serving as primary caretakers of the heiau. The group says the year-long effort to restore the heiau in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island involved 3,000 hours of volunteer service. The heiau is on the grounds of King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel, which suffered damage from the tsunami triggered by the March 11 earthquake in Japan. The heiau is also on the national and state registers of historic places. Many believe it to be one of the most culturally significant sites in Hawaii. The project was funded in part by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

There's a big controversy over a landfill scheduled to open in the new year, near one of Italy's most treasured sites, Hadrian's Villa, where a legendary emperor lived more than 18 hundred years ago. Many Romans are upset that tons of waste could be buried so close to the historic complex, and about the odors and pollution the waste could generate.

Pompeii: Back From the Dead

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:09:00 +0000

For those of you interested in Classical Archaeology and the history of the Pompeii destruction, the documentary Pompeii: Back From the Dead created by Discovery Channel presents the eruption of Mount Vesuvius as never before, including the massive earthquake which preceded it. It always fascinated me, learning about Pompeii in history classes, why the people ignored the warning signs and chose to stay.

Pompeii is an archaeological site, which was destroyed around 79 AD by Mount Vesuvius. It was a town full of aristocrats and artisans. Artisans who were previously slaves, who gained freedom in Pompeii and became wealthy merchants. Pompeii was a place for the super-rich! The Palm Beach of the Roman world.

It was a place known for sexual indiscretions, what with the vast array of sex and bath houses. Emperor Nero's second wife, Poppaea Sabina, frequented Pompeii. She owned a villa there, in which a large pool was constructed, where she indulged with females and males of all ages. Pompeii wasn't just about "sexual antics", however. Pompeii had an impressive infrastructure consisting of roads and underground waterways. Yet, all of that meant nothing, when it disappeared during Mount Vesuvius' eruption.

When archaeologists discovered the city during the 19th century, they found citizens locked in time, under a blanket of ash. Their flesh completely gone. Plaster casts were created to preserve what was left, yet the creation of those casts destroyed every bit of 1st century skeletal evidence.

University of Texas Professor and Historian John Clark explains that there were several events leading up to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that many are unaware of. Furthermore, the skeletons discovered in the cellar, where a group of citizens, including some very wealthy aristocrats, sought refuge from the pumice, gas and the thousands of tons of volcanic ash emanating from Mount Vesuvius, is now allowing archaeologists and scientists to unlock genetic secrets.

Don Wildman takes viewers on an archaeological adventure and Dr. Fabian Kanz, Forensic Anthropologist from the Medical University of Vienna, investigates the new skeletal evidence, which has allowed us to understand Pompeii's' most intimate secrets.

If you'd like to watch Pompeii: Back From the Dead, it's available on Netflix for streaming, or you can purchase it here-->Pompeii: Back From the Dead

DVD Release Date: October 11, 2011
Run Time: 43 minutes

Archaeology News: New Year's Day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:21:00 +0000

The College of Central Florida's enrollment boom has proven a boon for students interested in archaeology. Two new courses have been added, including a popular field study option. Last spring, adjunct professor Willet Boyer III submitted a proposal to the curriculum committee to expand the archaeology/anthropology program from a pair of introductory classes to a quartet of courses.

AN archaeologist who has helped promote an historic South Tyneside attraction has been honoured with an OBE. Paul Bidwell has led significant excavations at Arbeia Roman fort in Baring Street, South Shields. Mr Bidwell, who has lived in North Shields for the last 10 years, also wrote the standard guide to the site. He and his team were honoured when the fort took the title of Best Archaeological Research Project, at the 2009 Current Archaeology Awards.

Hannah Simpson, pictured, 22, from Hedge End, was given the Jack Parsons prize for local studies research as she picked up her degree from Bournemouth University, where she achieved first class honours in her BSc archaeological and forensic sciences course. Her undergraduate thesis studied the Cluniac monastery, which she discovered, in the small parish of East Holme, Dorset. It was founded around 1107 but fell into disrepair and was slowly forgotten and dismantled, and its exact location had been lost for more than 250 years until Hannah rediscovered it in 2008 using near surface geophysics. The work won Hannah an academic scholarship for a postgraduate thesis, for which she is now researching and surveying the Roman villas of Dorset. She said: “I am very proud that my hard work has been acknowledged.”

Those with an interest in Flagler County history and the rich historical traditions in St. Augustine have a lot to choose from in the coming month. Charles "Bub" Robson will give a presentation on his experience as a law enforcement officer in Flagler County from 1967 to 1990. Robson is a 1960 graduate of Bunnell High School. The U.S. Navy veteran also had a 37-year career in law enforcement with the Bunnell Police Department -- serving as chief from 1975-1978 and again from 1981-1984 -- as well as chief of the Flagler Beach Police Department from 1985 to 1990. He also had stints with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office and the Ormond Beach Police Department.

The Department of History and Archaeology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki conducted an archaeological project at the pre-Neolithic site of Vretsia-Roudias in the Pafos district of Cyprus. Under the direction of Professor Nikolaos Efstratiou, the team discovered important findings about the island of Cyprus during the end of the Pleistocene and beginnings of the Holocene period.

n 2009, during the excavations to install new storm sewers along Ohio 4 in downtown Bucyrus, a segment of a historic corduroy road was discovered. Corduroy roads were normally constructed by placing rows of logs across the width of the road. These were called the tread logs and were often laid across stringer logs which were positioned parallel to the direction of the road. Although quite bumpy to travel, a corduroy road was considered to be a great improvement when compared to the problems that a wagon mired in mud would present.

Using factor analysis or principal components analysis or measurement-error models for biological measurements in archaeology?

In late July and early August 2011, a team of almost one hundred enthusiastic volunteers from Boston in Lincolnshire got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to excavate within the town’s historic market place.

2011 Top Archaeology and Anthropology Posts in Review

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:51:00 +0000

I thought I would take some time to reflect on another year gone by. This next semester, I'll be completing my Anthropology degree. I have made the ultimate decision to get away from the warm, muggy days and palm trees of Florida and turn in my flip flops for some snow boots. That's right Ancient Diggers, the Ancient Digger is moving to the windy city.

It's taken quite some time to decide to go back up north, but I do miss it. The change of seasons and the culture is something I crave. Just think about the new stories and cultural events I'll be able to share with all of you.

I'd like to say thank you for another amazing year of support. You've followed me from the beginning of anthropology school to the bittersweet end in May when I graduate. I've received numerous emails this year from archaeology and anthropology students expressing thanks, and I've also had the privilege of reviewing several scholarly books such as Unveiling the Kings of Israel and the Histories of Peirene. I hope to keep it just as interesting over the next year, and I do hope, that all of you continue to send me feedback about making Ancient Digger as good as it deserves to be.

In Ancient Digger fashion I'd like to feature the top 20 stories of 2011, featured here on Ancient Digger.

Top Graduate Schools, Universities, and Colleges for Archaeology and Anthropology --I have compiled several lists in order to help you determine the best archaeology colleges and universities with the best programs for archaeology, as well as the top undergraduate colleges, universities and school programs for anthropology and archaeology.
The Mystery of the Pyramids Revealed in Coral Castle--Edward charged visitors 10 cents to tour the property, and while he guided them along their journey, allowed them to ask him questions about his Coral Castle. On many occasions, he would tell tourists that his castle was easy to build, if you know how to do it. His answers were vague and his demeanor bizarre, believing he held the secrets to the pyramids and he would bring them to his deathbed.
Planes used during World War I--Although Kitty Hawk North Carolina would become home to the first manned flight of human kind, the Germans would take these physical parameters into a whole new realm. As the skies offered another battlefield in which to kill and mame, countries that did not embrace this new arena were quickly left behind.
The Wilderness and Scenery of Fossil Springs in Arizona--This video of Fossil Springs in Arizona has a whole Journey to the Center of the Earth vibe. Diving off the rocky cliffs and swimming up and under this amazing geological wonder makes me really appreciate the natural processes of the earth.
The Best Schools For Nautical, Maritime, and Underwater Archaeology in the US--Typically nautical, maritime, and underwater archaeologists study artifacts in ocean or sea environments. However, specialization usually doesn't occur until graduate school after the student has received a BS in Anthropology.
Greek Architecture--The Greeks were gifted, being situated in an area with the highest quality stone. Of course the buildings that were derived from these stones were free of bronzed sculptures, polished monuments, and shrines painted with vivid colors.
U-boats after World War II--Near the end of World War II, Germany took a direct approach to hide and even completely destroy its fleet of U-boats before their surrender to the allies. Operation Deadlight was the code name for the destruction of more than 121 U-boats after World War II in abysmal water off Lisahally, Northern Ireland or Loch Ryan, Scotland in late 1945 and early 1946. The remaining 145 U- boats used during World War II were surrendered to the allies.
14 Ancient Wonders of the World --**It’s true, the ancient wonders of the world list is always being updated as new modern marvels rival ancient architecture. New steel bridges and skyscrapers reaching amazing heights are quite an accomplishment. Yet I still believe that the ancient structures which were originally included in the world wonder’s list still deserve a spot there.
Characteristics of Renaissance Art And Artists--Renaissance art has been characterized as an individualistic approach to humanism, where an eye of an artist interprets what they see everyday. The interpretations may have been realistically based and the emphasis on naturalism was used to persuade onlookers that an object was real-both living and breathing in the eyes of the artist. The standards reflected a focus of the human form and the social, political, and religious aspects of the time.
Brother-Sister and Father-Daughter Marriage in Ancient Egypt--I recently read an article by Russell Middleton titled "Brother-Sister and Father-Daughter Marriage in Ancient Egypt". Upon studying the inner workings of Egypt and the Mesopotamian kings, I stumbled upon this piece and thought I would share the main points.
Legacy of Alexander the Great--Alexander the Great assumed throne after his father Philip II of Macedonia was assassinated in 336 BC. Alexander had the philosophical ideals of Aristotle and possessed experience as a warrior which ultimately prepared him to conquer the known world.
Best Graduate Schools for Classical Archaeology--Classical archaeology is a deeply interesting subject that has enchanted researchers and students for ages. Quite simply, it is the study of archaeological excavations from Ancient Greece and Rome. However, some only consider it to be the study of the Roman and Athenian civilizations, but it can include other subjects such as Minoan and Crete civilizations.
5 Archaeological Sites That Changed The Face of History--To some, archaeology is merely the study of past worlds. Some may say that sifting through broken remains of decimated cities and exploring relics of forgotten peoples only provides us with interesting (and pointless) souvenirs from a time now inconsequential. While these artifacts and architectures are mere glimpses of the past, archeology provides us with a lens into what has been and could be.
Punic Wars--Carthage was the richest state in the area, and with the influx of Carthaginians in Sicily, this made the Romans apprehensive about Carthaginian encroachment on the Italian coast. In 264, mutual suspicions drove the two powers into a struggle for the western Mediterranean. This ultimately led to the first Punic War in 264 BC, the Second Punic War with Hannibal Barca which was provoked by the alliance made with Rome and Carthage, and the Third Punic War which was caused by the broken peace treaty Carthage had made with Rome.
30 Reasons Why You Should Become An Archaeologist--Sometimes it’s not about the school, money, or where you’ll move your family after you graduate. It takes a special individual to do what archaeologists do, and there are some perks and not so nice aspects of the field, but you have to be willing to sacrifice.
Dinosaur Exbibits in America--One of my first recollections of a dinosaur exhibit has to be the American Museum of Natural History when I was a child. Of course, you can never forget the large whale floating above your head as you peruse the natural history that surrounds you on every side, but something just draws you in to the dinosaur exhibit. I think this is the case with many natural history museums. It's a childlike fantasy to come face to face with one of these dinosaurs, and as adults, we can still understand the fascination, as we peer into the ~~eyes~~ bones of these massive creatures.
History of the Submarine and the Launching of the German U-boat Fleet--In 1620, Cornelius Drebbel, a Dutch inventor working for the English Royal Navy, tested the first submarine on the Thames River in England. Between 1620 and 1624 Drebbel successfully built and tested two more submarines, each one bigger than the last.
How Did America Cope with the Great Depression?--A major cause of the pro-longed Great Depression was unemployment, which was largely due to the government and the market. The government’s resolution was a deflationary policy of balance budgets, which included lower wages and raising tariffs to exclude other countries goods from home markets. However, this served only to worsen the economic crisis and create mass discontent within the European market.
Roman Achievements in Law and Engineering--Although the Romans had depended greatly on the ideals of the Greeks when adopting their art and literature, they still developed some of the most innovative of inventions that succeeded Western Civilization. The evolution of Roman law which brought about the idea of a systematic principle for justification, the invention of roads allowed for easier transit for soldiers and citizens, as well as the construction of Roman bridges that still stand today.
Mayan Civilizations-the Evolution--The Mayan culture may just be one of the most dynamic representations of rich cultural heritage the world has ever seen. With the civilization came invention, and although advances such as writing, epigraphy, and the calendar did not originate with the Maya, their civilization fully developed them.

Honorable Mentions

Petra and the Bible--The highly publicized area of Petra has more significance than its modern-day use as a beautiful tourist location that many refer to as the rock-built “rose red” city. Although famously portrayed in such movies as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Arabian Nights, and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, the red city has deep roots in Biblical archaeology.

A Cursed Tomb and Colin’s Mummy--Using complicated tools to open the tomb and a strict scientific approach, the mummy is unleashed. Who knew the Egyptians had cured baldness or that mummies were from Canada!

Petoskey Stones Are Archaeological Artifacts--The Petoskey Stone is just one example of how sea life through history, captured in fossilized form, can provide insight into archaeological history. More specifically, Native Indian trade and tool making.

Best Schools For Nautical, Maritime, and Underwater Archaeology in the US--Typically nautical, maritime, and underwater archaeologists study artifacts in ocean or sea environments. However, specialization usually doesn't occur until graduate school after the student has received a BS in Anthropology.

US Archaeology and Anthropology Schools and their Disciplines--created this comprehensive list of Archaeology and Anthropology Schools in the United States and their Disciplines to assist students looking into the fields of anthropology and archaeology.

U-boat Exhibits and Museums

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:27:00 +0000

So what exactly happened to the U-boats after World War II? Many u-boats were used for scrap metal, however some retired to some of the most recognizable and popular museums in the world. People like you and I can take a gander at the accommodations, walk down the tightly constructed decks, and gaze upon the operational equipment used during submarine warfare, that looks almost too complicated to understand.

U-505 at The Museum of Science in Chicago, Illinois

My first experience with a U-boat was at the Science and Industry Museum in Chicago close to 15 years ago. At that time, the German U-505 German Submarine- Type IXC Long Range Attack u-boat exhibit - was kept inside the main museum. The U-505 Submarine was commissioned in 1941 and from there on out, suffered countless malfunctions and a string of bad luck. One account speaks of a commanding officer who committed suicide on board. The crowning blo, however, came when the US boarded the vessel and took possession on June, 1944, NW of Dakar. The US officers found secret documents and confiscated equipment while on board. The U-boat Submarine is surprisingly in pristine condition, completely intact, and is amongst the few surviving U-boats in the world.

U-534 at The Historic Warships Museum, Birkenhead, United Kingdom

The U-534 German Submarine - Type IXC Long Range Attack U-Boat-was commissioned in December 1942. With only a small amount of time spent at sea, she was already spotted by a British Liberator while sailing in the Kattegat, Denmark on 5th May 1945. She was, of course, sailing on the surface along with three other U-boats, making her demise inevitable. The Liberator attacked and promptly sank her with ten depth charges, this came after the first initial nine misses and then a direct hit. There were 49 survivors.

In 1993, she was raised by a Danish consortium Aage Jensen, with the ceremony being witnessed by her own surviving crew and those of the Liberator who sank her. Rumors were swarming at the time that U-534 held a hoard of Nazi gold, prompting immense media coverage. The uboat was empty, however, much to people’s dismay.

U-995 at The Navy Memorial, Laboe, Germany (Laboe, Strandstrasse 92, Germany)

The U-995 German Submarine - Type VIIC/41i was used for submarine warfare and was commissioned in September 1943 with Oberleutnant Walter Köhntopp in command. The heavy duty “work horse”, she was called, is the last surviving of her kind. The U-995 surrendered to the Allies at the end of the war, and was handed to the British as war booty. During her hay day, the U-995 sunk three ships for 1,560 GRT, one auxiliary warship sunk for 633 GRT, one warship for 105 tons, and one ship a total loss for 7,176 GRT. In 1948, she was transferred to the Norwegian Navy before being returned to her homeland in Germany for the symbolic price of one Deutsche Mark. The U-995 is now a museum ship, as tourists can walk through the entire vessel.

U-61 - World War 1 Attack Boat at The Bayerisches Armeemuseum, Ingolstadt, Germany

The U-61- German Type U-57 submarine warfare attack vessel - was commissioned in December 1916. U-61 sank 33 allied ships, totaling 84,564 tons. She also damaged 7 ships of 23,783 tons and the US destroyer USS Cassin before fleeing the fight. After being forced to the surface by depth charge, she was rammed and sunk in March 1918 by US submarine chaser PC-51 with all hands in the Irish Sea. The 88mm deck gun is all that remains of this boat and is on display in Ingolstadt, Germany.

The U-1 at The Deutsches Museum, Munich, Germany

The U-1 German Submarine - Gasoline Powered Boat-was launched in August 1906, however it was never used for submarine warfare. It was used as a training vessel. “Testing of the U-1 resulted in a collision while on a training exercise in 1919. The U-1 was sold to the Germaniawerft foundation at the Deutsches Museum in Munich where it was restored and can be viewed on display.”

U-9 at The Naval Museum of the Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol, Ukraine

The U-9 German Submarine - Type IIB Coastal Attack U-Boat Submarine-was commissioned in August 193. The U-9 was a Type II used for coastal submarine warfare, carrying out 19 patrols and claiming 9 ships before being sunk by Russian aircraft on 20th August 1944 at Constanza, Romania. The emblem of the U-9 was the Iron Cross, welded on the conning tower in memory of the first U-9 under Otto Weddigen. You’ ll remember that on September 22, 1914, commander of the U-9 Captain Otto Weddigen, sank three English vessels in less than an hour. The Soviets raised the U-9 in 1945 and the insignia is now on display in Sevastopol, Ukraine.

Brandtaucher - World’s Oldest Diving Boat

The Brandtaucher is the world’s oldest diving boat on display at the Militärhistorisches Museum. The Brandtaucher was built in 1850 by Wilhelm Bauer and is one of the first submersibles which had all the basic elements of a functional submarine and later became a forerunner of the U-boats that we know of.

On February 1, 1851 BrandtaucherOn 5th July 1887, the boat was recovered and today it is on display in Dresden, Germany.

U-2540 at Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum (German Maritime Museum) Bremerhaven, Germany

The U-2540 German Submarine - Type XXI Elektroboat-was used as an advanced u-boat submarine, entering service in February 1945. Less than 3 months later U-2540 was destroyed by her own crew. In 1957, she was raised after spending more than ten years at the bottom of the Baltic Sea and returned to service on 1st September 1960 as the research submarine Wilhelm Bauer.

You’ll remember that in 1850, Wilhelm Bauer was asked to design a submarine for the government, incorporating all aspects of the more modern vessels. The Brandtaucher weighed 70,000 pounds, was 28 feet long, and was powered by two sailors turning a tread wheel. U-2540 served in a civilian role under various research projects before decommissioning on 15th March 1982.” On 24th April 1984, she was transferred to the Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum (German Maritime Museum) as the Technikmuseum Wilhelm Bauer. U-2540 is the only floating example of a XXI U-boat.”

UB-46 at The Turkish Naval Museum, Istanbul, Turkey

The UB-46- Type UB II Coastal Attack Boat- was commissioned in June 1916, she operated in Turkish waters and claimed 13 ships before hitting a mine in the Black Sea and sinking with all hands in December 1916. None of her 20 men crew survived. The UB-46 was a little more than 121 feet (37 m) in length and displaced between 270 and 305 metric tons (300 and 336 short tons), depending on whether surfaced or submerged. She was equipped to carry a complement of four torpedoes for her two bow torpedo tubes and had a 5-centimeter deck gun. Today, parts of her hull are on display in the Turkish Naval Museum (Demiz Muzesi) in Istanbul, Turkey.

In conclusion, if you haven't seen one yet, and let's face it, you should, it's a wonderful opportunity to experience an important aspect of our history as a nation, and all over the world.

Related Articles

History of the Submarine and German U-Boat Fleet

Cornelius Drebbel, a Dutch inventor working for the English Royal Navy, tested the first submarine on the Thames River in England. Between 1620 and 1624 Drebbel successfully built and tested two more submarines, each one bigger than the last.

Read More: History of the Submarine and German U-Boat Fleet. Part One

Planes used during World War I

Although Kitty Hawk North Carolina would become home to the first manned flight of human kind, the Germans would take these physical parameters into a whole new realm. As the skies offered another battlefield in which to kill and mame, countries that did not embrace this new arena were quickly left behind. During the first world war, the Germans would gain an early edge over most of the Allies as concerned with WWI aircraft. Planes used during World War I became designed around the many German models, which would help the Allies win many later battles of the global war. There are many WWI planes that were important during the war although some played far greater roles than others.

Read More: Planes used during World War I

Sources

U-boat 505 Source
UB-46 U-boat 11 October 2009 (© Patrick Costello / Flickr)
U-534 picture via Wikipedia page U 534

Naval Museum of Black Fleet Picture

U-2540 Pictures

U-995 Picture via Wikipedia

Brandtaucher - World’s Oldest Diving Boat Picture via Wikipedia

**This article was part of a compilation of U-boat articles that managed to get lost within the extensive details of the series. I'm presenting it again for you to enjoy!

A Film Unfinished: The Making of a Nazi propaganda film

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Last semester I watched several documentaries and films including the "The Kings Speech", "The Linguists", "The Ax Fight", "The Birdcage", amongst many others. Documentaries allow use to gain a perspective through the eyes of the filmmaker. It's true. Sometimes there is an agenda, yet sometimes, the footage is entirely raw and leaves you feeling a bit uncomfortable and perplexed. This is certainly my reaction to the documentary, "A Film Unfinished".

A Film Unfinished, by Yael Hersonski, explores the making of a 1942 Nazi propaganda film of the Warsaw Ghetto two months before its liquidation, in a Nazi operation known as the Grossaktion Warsaw. It premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the "World Cinema Documentary Editing Award".

The footage is highly disturbing. Hitler had an extensive collection of these propaganda films stashed in what appears to be a vault. It's ironic really that so much was documented, and yet, so many individuals still question the validity of the events that occurred under Hitler's turbulent reign. In this lost footage, the Nazi's have presented their subjects in such an odd way. It looks staged to be honest. They've made these people look like they were carrying on everyday tasks, not bothered by their condition of living. Pulled in rickshaws to local shops for goods and dancing on the streets.

A Jewish Council was set up in the Ghetto by the Nazis, just like it had always been done before. Adam Czerniaków, the head of the Jewish Council, was set up in the inside, to manage what was essentially "a holding pen" for the final destination. He wrote extensively about his role in the film, documenting the details in his journals.

The documentary also features many of the survivors, watching the footage in a theatre, and sighing at the staged antics of the Nazis.

One survivor remarked, "I keep thinking that among all these people I might see my mother walking".

Germans would often show up in the Ghetto, "usually for unpleasant reasons and usually shooting. So when they were filming it was much more positive".

For years, the identity of the filmmakers went undiscovered, until a lead in the 1960's lead to the name Willy Wist. Willy was one of the cameramen for Das Ghetto, but he took great pains to cover his tracks.

If I had to chose one scene or one moment in the film that stopped my heart, it was the filming of the cookies on a neatly placed tray, in the middle of a feces pile. Starving residents were handed cookies in their bed, and you could plainly see, they were near death. Starving. The sight of a cookie was all together surprising. Another facade of this staged propaganda film.

It's difficult to watch A Film Unfinished and not have an immediate reaction to the footage. You may remember where you were the day the events took place. You may have even had relatives there at the time. This is a film that certainly demonstrates a false sense of security.

If you'd like to watch A Film Unfinished, it's available on Netflix for streaming. It's also available for sale on Amazon.

Credits

Film by Yael Hersonski
Edited by Joelle Alexis

Spotlight on Alan Outram's Work on Horse History

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:10:00 +0000

Two years ago, British archaeologist Alan Outram published a paper in the journal Science that offered an important insight into how early civilizations developed.

Outram and his colleagues found evidence that horses had been domesticated 1,000 years earlier than previously thought, by the Botai people in what is now northern Kazakhstan. The researchers found differences in ancient equine bone structure, fossilized teeth that showed signs of human-made bits and the presence of mare’s milk in pottery shards – findings that were reviewed recently in the inaugural issue of National Geographic’s new quarterly magazine, Exploring History.

But Outram, who specializes in zooarchaeology (the study of ancient animal bones), also has a South Dakota connection. For the past eight summers, Outram has led a team of student archaeologists from the University of Exeter to excavate at the Prehistoric Indian Village dig site in Mitchell as part of an exchange program with Augustana College. Recent research, co-written with Landon Karr and Adrien Hannus at Augustana and published in the fall issue of the Journal of Field Archaeology, sheds new light on artifacts found between dwellings at the Mitchell site.

Source Argus Leader

Archaeology News: Is the Colosseum Collapsing?

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:26:00 +0000

The Colosseum may be a fixer-upper but it’s not collapsing according to the department of the Culture Ministry responsible for Rome’s archaeological sites. “Nothing has collapsed” at the Colosseum “since the 18th century”.

Under closer investigation, it appears that some masonry chunks and bits of plaster have
detached and fallen on Tuesday. On Christmas Day tourists found small fragments of tufo, the porous rock typical of ancient Roman monuments, on the ground. Anna Maria Moretti, the official responsible for the ancient sites, denied that any material had fallen Tuesday and noted that the tufo that detached on Dec. 25 came from a patch smaller than “five centimeters.”

The Colosseum is about to undergo an extensive 25-million euro restoration — about $33 million – sponsored by Diego Della Valle, owner of the Tod’s luxury goods brand. Work is scheduled to begin in March.

Source

AMNH Anthropologist Releases Book on Inka city of Huánuco Pampa Festivals

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:16:00 +0000

More than 500 years ago, the now-desolate Inka city of Huánuco Pampa, located high up in the Andes Mountains in Peru, periodically bustled with tens of thousands of people. But despite its large palace, temples, and public halls, the city was home to only a few hundred year-round guards, administrators, and religious specialists who prepared the massive complex for religious and political festivals that attracted swells of visitors from the surrounding area. A selection of findings from one of the most ambitious archaeological excavations of this unique type of urban center are published in a book recently released by the late Craig Morris, a former curator of South American archaeology and dean of science at the American Museum of Natural History, and his colleagues, R. Alan Covey, an associate professor of anthropology at Dartmouth College, and archaeologist Pat Stein.

Archaeology News: Archaeological Museum of Ioannina Nominated for EMYA

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:15:00 +0000

The European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) was established in 1977 under the auspices of the European Museum Forum within the framework of the Council of Europe. It was founded by Kenneth Hudson. This year, the coveted nomination has gone to the Archaeological Museum of Ioannina, which is located in Litharitsa Park in the centre of Ioannina, Greece.

The award, which seeks to promote innovative museum practices and quality services to visitors on a national and European level, will be announced in a special ceremony in Penafiel, Portugal, on May 19, 2012.

The Archaeological Museum of Ioannina showcases exhibits with a wide time- span, ranging from the first appearance of humans in Epirus during the Lower Paleolithic era, to late Roman times. In addition, artifacts from the Dodoni sanctuary feature prominently in its collections. If the Ioannina museum wins, it will not be the first time a Greek museum is awarded; the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation - Museum in Nafplio was bestowed the EMYA in 1981 while the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki received the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2005.

Congratulations to the The Archaeological Museum of Ioannina

source:http://www.greeknewsagenda.gr

Archaeology News: December 26, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:39:00 +0000

Spend the Night at the Field Museum! Sue the T. rex is having a sleepover! Join us for a night of family workshops, self-guided tours and fun activities; then spread your sleeping bag amidst some of the most popular exhibitions.

The Department of Archaeology of Pune’s Deccan College and Gujarat’s archaeology department, discovered a new Harappan archaeological site at the Kotada Bhadali village area in Nakhatrana taluka of Kutch district, which dates back to 3000 BC. A detailed excavation is planned in January to investigate further.

Officials from the archaeology department and the Hyderabad Collectorate along with the police demolished the encroachments around Badshahi Ashoorkhana at Patherghati in old city early Saturday morning.

A rare clay seal found under Jerusalem's Old City appears to be linked to religious rituals practiced at the Jewish Temple 2,000 years ago, Israeli archaeologists said Sunday. The coin-sized seal found near the Jewish holy site at the Western Wall bears two Aramaic words meaning "pure for God."

Seize the day. Less than 52 weeks are left before Dec. 21, 2012, when some believe the Maya predicted the end of the world. Unlike enthusiasts of other doomsday theories who suggest putting together survival kits, southeastern Mexico, the heart of Maya territory, plans a yearlong celebration.

Ministry of Education, Culture and Science received and encouraged citizens on December 23 to deliver rare findings to the National Museum of Mongolia and Institute of Archaeology of Mongolian Academy of Sciences. The following is an interview with S.Altantsetseg, B.Badmaanyambuu who delivered the skull of Homo erectus, which was living three million years ago, a skull of boreal fox from Ice age, and three bronze cauldrons.

If you're visiting the Smithsonian this year, don't miss Jefferson’s "The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth," which was recently conserved, together with two English editions of the New Testament that Jefferson used to clip passages and a copy of the 1904 U.S. Government Printing Office edition of the book. Visitors can explore each page of the bible at a special web kiosk and view short videos about the bible’s history and conservation.

In a memorandum to the Chief Secretary, Government of Assam, the Forum, including renowned archaeologist, Dr Pradip Sarma, noticed that the visiting archaeology team at Umananda 'Peacock' Island has damaged several archaeological artifacts, which are found lying scattered there. By their irresponsible and improper acts, the team has clearly violated the provisions of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.

New Harrapan Site Discovered in Nakhatrana taluka

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 04:10:00 +0000

As many of you know, I have a great fascination with the Gandhara and Harappan civilizations. Recently, the Department of Archaeology of Pune’s Deccan College and Gujarat’s archaeology department, discovered a new Harappan archaeological site at the Kotada Bhadali village area in Nakhatrana taluka of Kutch district, which dates back to 3000 BC. A detailed excavation is planned in January to investigate further.

“In January, extensive digging will be done on all sides of the fortification wall to understand the exact nature of construction style and its layout. This will help us understand if it is really a fortification wall. If so, what is it they were guarding their settlement from?”

Y S Rawat, the state’s director of archaeology, said, “Primary excavations have showed that the site probably belongs to late Harappan period around 3000 BC, but the data available from the excavation is too little to determine the exact period. We will carry out more studies to confirm the period and other facts.”

Source Indian Express

The Kwakiutl Tribe

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:27:00 +0000

Franz Boas’s conducted fieldwork among the Kwakiutl during the19th century, observing the Winter Ceremonial in 1895 and subsequently publishing on it and other topics in 1897. Boas’ work gives us a glimpse into Kwakiutl culture in the last decades of the nineteenth century. Boas believed “the whole problem of cultural history appears to us as an historical problem. In order to understand history, it is necessary to know not only how things are, but how they have come to be”. However, by the time of Boas’s first visit to the Kwakiutl, they had experienced almost a century of contact with Europeans. Therefore his descriptions were not in line with the evolutionary social changes that occured since his last visit.

[Read More about the Kwakiutl Tribe @ Factoidz]

Archaeology News: December 23, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:45:00 +0000

In a suburb of Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, there is a tomb complex that archaeologists found in 2007 with 14 separate units. Unfortunately, the researchers were not the first to discover the site. Over time, some significant findings have come out of the site.

A section of wall from Vietnam’s Thang Long Imperial Citadel was excavated at a construction site in Ha Noi. It will soon be covered with a road.

On this momentous occasion the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh expressed his pleasure to be present on this event to commemorate and celebrate the 150th year of the Archaeological Survey of India. He said that this historic institution has made an outstanding contribution to revealing our country’s rich historical and cultural heritage and protecting it for our posterity.

Legends of lost treasures are spurring unemployed Greeks to dig for gold. “People who look for gold are maniacs, they never give up until they find something. It’s like gambling,” said one retired treasure hunter.

A 1,700-year-old curse tablet discovered in Antioch in the 1930s has been fully translated by Alexander Hollmann of the University of Washington. Written in Greek, the curse asks the god of the Old Testament to afflict a green grocer named Babylas.

A skeleton, a Civil War uniform button, and a bullet were unearthed at a construction site in Tennessee in 2009. Archaeologists think the young man had European and American Indian ancestors, and that he may have died during troop movements or during a skirmish, since no other burials have been found in the area.

Archaeologist Garrett W. Silliman is looking for artifacts at the site of the nineteenth-century Pace House in Vinings, Georgia because members of the Vinings Historic Preservation Society want to know if the sign on the property carries the correct information about the home’s Civil War history. “Part of our mission is to educate the public,” explained executive director Gillian Greer.

A study of teeth taken from a cemetery of mass graves in Rio de Janeiro shows that enslaved Africans imported to Brazil originated from a much wider geographical area than previous thought. The cemetery was in use from 1760 to 1830.

Voicing his opposition to the often haphazard and mindless urbanization taking place in the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said even the country's archaeological heritage is being threatened. "The pressures of urbanization and population growth are now threatening our historic monuments everywhere in the country.

Archaeological zone 9UN367 at Track Rock Gap, near Georgia’s highest mountain, Brasstown Bald, is a half mile (800 m) square and rises 700 feet (213 m) in elevation up a steep mountainside. Visible are at least 154 stone masonry walls for agricultural terraces, plus evidence of a sophisticated irrigation system and ruins of several other stone structures.

Archaeologists on Thursday were assessing the damage after one of the pillars in the garden of an ancient Roman home collapsed at Pompeii. Police were also called to investigate the collapse of the pillar at Pompeii which was part of an external pergola at the house of Loreius Tiburtinus in the centre of the popular tourist site.

Most archaeologists can remember the specific moment when they fell in love with history and the process of archaeological discovery. Hebrew University archaeologist Eilat Mazar’s pivotal moment came very early in her career; she was a young girl when she accompanied her grandfather, famed Israeli archaeologist Benjamin Mazar, to his excavation near the Temple Mount. She later participated in excavations in the City of David and has, most recently, been credited with discovering a Jerusalem wall built by King Solomon. This wall from the time of King Solomon is considered to be one of her most notable achievements, though she has also made substantial headway in her excavation of the Ophel in Jerusalem, the area adjacent to the City of David where the wall was discovered.

Audio: Bones and the Bronze Age - Domestication Stratified--If you spend enough time in Serbia and with Zulu women in Africa, maybe you too can understand bones that come out of the ground in Israel. Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Manitoba, Canada, Haskel Greenfield shares his delightful route of discovery learning how man developed a relationship with animals, using technology to see what implements are used on bones. Professor Haskel Greenfield is an archaeologist whose research focuses on the evolution of early agricultural and complex societies in the Old World.

Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah and some of her colleagues in Jerusalem archaeology discovered just that when they undertook an excavation at the edge of the Western Wall plaza, across from the Temple Mount and Judaism’s holiest site. In addition to uncovering evidence in this excavation of quarries and structures and inscribed seals from the First Temple period in Jerusalem, archaeology has shed light on the fascinating period of Aelia Capitolina, as Jerusalem was called when the city was under Roman rule starting in the second century C.E.

History 101: Who Was Epicurus and the Epicureans?

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Axelrod) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:49:00 +0000

The Epicureans believed that the key to happiness was the enjoyment of pleasure, although they did not advise the life of wine, women, and song that is today associated with the term “Epicurean”.

An epicurean typically partakes in simple pleasures, yet they also abstain from bodily desires such as sex and appetites verging on denial. Epicurus argued that when eating one should not eat too heavily, for it could lead to disappointment later, such as the grim realization that one could not afford such delicacies in the future. Likewise, sex could lead to increased lust and dissatisfaction with the sexual partner.

Epicurus established his philosophy based on the foundation of his ethical system in the material world, which he said was made up of tiny atoms moving through space in accordance with natural law. Epicurus, as well as all of the epicureans, believed in the existence of the gods. However, he did declare that Gods have no place in worldly affairs. It was thought that the gods were too far away from the earth to have any interest in what man was doing; so it did not do any good to pray or to sacrifice to them. The gods, they believed, did not create the universe, nor did they inflict punishment or bestow blessings on anyone, but they were supremely happy; this was the goal to strive for during one’s own human life.

Epicurus taught that oracles, omens, and dreams have no significance and he rejected all ideals of immortality and mysticism. He believed in the soul and even suggested that the soul is as mortal as the body. Epicurus rejected any possibility of an afterlife, while still contending that one need not fear death:

“Death is nothing to us; for that which is dissolved, is without sensation, and that which lacks sensation is nothing to us.”

Bertrand Russell describes the reception of Epicureanism’s conception of death:

[T]he fear of death is so deeply rooted in instinct that the gospel of Epicurus could not, at any time, make a wide popular appeal; it remained always the creed of a cultivated minority. Even among philosophers, after the time of Augustus, it was, as a rule, rejected in favour of Stoicism. It survived, it is true, though with diminishing vigour, for six hundred years after the death of Epicurus; but as men became increasingly oppressed by the miseries of our terrestrial existence, they demanded continually stronger medicine from philosophy or religion. The philosophers took refuge, with few exceptions, in Neoplatonism; the uneducated turned to various Eastern superstitions, and then, in continually increasing numbers, to Christianity, which, in its early form, placed all good in life beyond the grave, thus offering men a gospel which was the exact opposite of that of Epicurus.

Epicurus had no regard for politial and social life. The state to him was more of a convenience and the wise man should not participate in public life. Additionally, for Epicurus and his epicureans, happiness consisted primarily of freedom from physical pain and worldly cares and fears. One can not rid themselves of the evil in this world and thus should withdraw from philosophy, enjoy the fellowship of a few friends, and savor the serenity of your mind.

Although the ideals of Epicurus and the Epicureans stressed that overindulgence in all aspects of the world was frowned upon, it was not easily avoided for some. Even today, we experience the need to partake in petty privileges to feel satisfied. Not much as changed.

Also check out:

Belief Net Quiz
Symbols of the Theosophical Society
The Unseen World
The Philosophes and Their Contributions to Economics, Politics, and Education
Rene Descartes