Archaeologists have recently uncovered a sizeable number of rare, ancient match-box size Egyptian seals in the desert outside of Cairo. The seals depict the ranks of soldiers sent out into the desert by the Pharaoh Cheops in search of red pigment to decorate the pyramids. Cheops ruled Egypt from 2551 to 2528 BC and was responsible for construction of the Great Pyramid of Cheops, well-known today by the traveling public. Read More
The search for human origins has its roots in the Theory of Evolution, taught widely in schools as part of the science curriculum. Enter the increasingly popular (and controversial) proposition that the manifestations of the evolutionary process are in fact a product of planned design by a Creator (the nature of whom or which remains undefined). Known as "Intelligent Design", the theory hangs its hat on the observation that certain processes, such as the highly complex workings of cells and living organisms, cannot be adequately explained by the hit-and-miss, random principles implicit in natural selection and evolutionary theory. These processes can be explained by a purposeful, intelligent design or plan. The assessment of many scientists, however, is that the Intelligent Design theory is not developed fully enough to be considered on a par with the traditionally accepted Theory of Evolution as an alternative body of knowledge to be taught in the schools. See a recent article for more information about this topic. As for this writer, whether we are talking about evolutionary theory or Intelligent Design, the adventure of archaeological and paleoanthropological discovery continues to fascinate.
The World Atlas of Archaeology on the Web has published a listing of no less than 52 archaeological sites in Israel, plus additional resources on related research institutions, researchers, and cultural/historical information. Israel is rich in archaeological sites and far exceeds every country in the world in hosting teams of volunteers for archaeological digs. See the website for more information. A warning: many of the links on this site are not functioning, so you will need to do a separate search for those sites.
Spain continues to be a country where groundbreaking research is being conducted on the presence and activities of prehistoric man in Europe. This summer, from July 5 to August 16, 2005, Professor Michael J. Walker will continue excavations at the famous Neanderthal sites of Cueva Negra and Sima de las Palomas in the province of Murcia. Cueva Negra is a Middle Pleistocene site with remains of Homo Heidelbergensis, a possible precursor to the Neanderthals. Both Acheulian and Levalloiso-Mousterian Paleolithic implements have been found at this site. Sima de las Palomas contains Upper Pleistocene remains of Neanderthals. Thus far, the skeletal remains of nine individuals have been uncovered as well as Mousterian implements and a fireplace dated to 35,000 years ago. New finds are sure to follow, adding yet more to the record and, very possibly, some new discoveries that will contribute to shaping the current picture of who lived in this region of Europe and how they lived so very long ago. For more information, e-mail walker@um.es, or go to AFOB Online. The listing is considered "preliminary" and the specific website for these projects is apparently not functional at this time.
A prehistoric human jaw bone excavated at Kents Cavern in Torquay, England in 1927 is now dated based on new research to between 37,000 and 40,000 years B.P. If the finding holds, it raises some intriguing questions about the advent and history of early man in the British Isles.
Constructed in 300 B.C., the ancient theatre at Nea Paphos, Cyprus, eventually measured 100 meters in length at its height and seated a capacity crowd of 8,500 spectators. Although much work has been done in terms of defining the characteristics, dimensions and context of the site, more work is needed to clear the theatre seating and excavate the orchestra. The 2005 season calls for new volunteers to focus on these areas, which may also include completing the excavation of a large mosaic. See the project website for details.
Hierakonpolis, Egypt -- A team of archaeologists led by Egyptologist Renee Friedman have uncovered a tomb complex here dated to about 3,600 years B.C.E., several centuries before the invention of hieroglyphic writing and the rise of the first pharaohs. The tomb contained four bodies and a wooden offering table. Hierakonpolis is considered to be the political center of a civilization that later extended its influence throughout the Nile area, including the Nile Delta in the north of Egypt.
As a follow-up to a posting made previously on this site -- Archaeologists have recently been given permission to extract DNA from the exhumed remains of an American founding father's sister in England in order to confirm the identity of the remains of the famous Jamestown colonist discovered during excavations at James Fort (of Jamestown) on Jamestown Island, Virginia. The DNA will be taken from what remains of Elizabeth Gosnold Tilney, buried at a church on the border of Suffolk and Essex, England. She was the sister of Captain Bartholomew Gosnold, who is largely regarded as the man who established the first permanent (enduring) English colony in the New World. More developments to come.
A cave in Thessaly, Greece, that harbors evidence of prehistoric human habitation will soon be open to visitors world-wide. Known as the Cave of Theopetra, it was inhabited by humans from the Middle Paleolithic (110,000 B.C.E.) to the Upper Paleolithic (3,000 B.C.E.). Featured are four human footprints, skeletons dated to 15,000, 9,000, and 8,000 B.C.E., stone tools, and remains of fire that took place approximately 46,330 years ago. See the website for details.
The World Atlas of Archaeology on the Web has developed and released a new, updated resource on archaeological sites and archaeological digs in Peru. Included are site descriptions and history, research institutions, researchers, and other related cultural information. See the website for more information.
The prevailing theory among scholars, based on genetic studies, is that Homo sapiens (modern humans) originated somewhere in Africa around 200,000 B.P. and then began their great migratory journey to colonize the globe around 60,000 B.P. The details of that migration are still elusive, but scientists hope to come one giant step closer to filling in the knowledge gaps by conducting a worldwide project to collect and test the DNA of diverse populations and thereby trace the pattern and directions of the migratory routes. Called the Genographic Project, it will be the largest study of its kind ever undertaken. Some of the questions the project hopes to address are rather intriguing: Was there interbreeding between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens? Is it possible to extract DNA from the remains of extinct hominids? Who is the oldest population group? What are the origins of human population differences? Did any migrations to the Americas come across the Atlantic or Pacific oceans?
The archaeological remains of a powerful ancient African kingdom that thrived between 900 and 1300 A.D. will likely become the major attraction in a proposed new conservation area currently under negotiation between South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Known as Mapungubwe, the site represents an African Iron Age kingdom, the archaeological remains of which evidences a sophisticated social organization with trading ties that extended as far as Arabia and India. For its time, it was Africa's largest and most powerful kingdom.
Tiberias, Israel -- A First Century CE marble floor was recently uncovered during excavations at the ancient site of Tiberias, near the Sea of Galilee. According to Professor Yizhar Hirschfeld, Director of the excavation, it may well be remnants of the pavement of the palace of Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great. Herod Antipas ruled the Galilee area from 4 B.C.E. to 38 C.E. He is best known from the New Testament story that recounts the event where Salome, the daughter of Herod Antipas' wife, danced in exchange for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Other finds of this season's dig include a Roman-Byzantine period street, coins with depictions of Jesus, mosaics and remains from the Islamic period.
Construction workers excavating in China's Hubei Province stumbled upon 14 pale blue fossilized dinosaur eggs while going about business as usual. Upon further investigation, scientists determined that the location in which the fossilized eggs were found was actually part of a 5,000 square meter region loaded with dinosaur eggs. Construction was stopped pending further archaeological investigation. See the story for more information.
The World Atlas of Archaeology on the Web has published a new listing of resources related to archaeological sites in both Mexico and Greece, two countries well known for their great ancient civilizations and the archaeological treasures they left behind. The listing dealing with Mexico details the research and discoveries at 45 sites, and the listing for Greece details no less than 60 sites. They also include sections addressing the relevant research institutions, current researchers, and related cultural history. Many of the sites listed have ongoing excavations. Click on the links below for more information.
Two additional dinosaur footprints have been discovered in the fossil-rich area of Kerman in Iran. This brings the number of dinosaur footprints discovered recently in the same locality to five. It is estimated that the footprints were left there between 65 and 195 million years ago. Further study of the fossil footprints and additional related research will help to identify the dinosaur type that left the mark so long ago.......
Going on a dig this summer? Have you been on a dig within the last year or two? If so, perhaps you have kept, or plan to keep, a personal dig journal recounting your experiences and discoveries. Or, lacking a journal, perhaps the significant events of that last dig are still fresh in your mind and you would like to share your experience -- get it out there for others to see.
For individuals knowledgeable about American colonial history, the town of Williamsburg, Virginia, constituted the very essence of life in the pre-Revolutionary War British colonies and conjures up images of many of the key events and figures of the historical drama that led to American independence from Britain. Today, Williamsburg presents a dual personality -- that of the modern town built around the academic community associated with the College of William and Mary -- and that of the old, meticulously restored 18th Century colonial Capital. In fact, the restored town is perhaps one of the world's best examples of an open-air living history museum, due in large part to decades of extensive and thorough archaeological research and excavation. For the United States, the field of historical archaeology has its Mecca here. For you, as a student, scholar, or volunteer, the projects and programs here will provide an opportunity in historical archaeology that is rarely matched anywhere else.
For the sea was raised by an earthquake and it submerged Helike, and also the temple of Poseidon........
Did our hominid forebears of two million years ago laugh? If the conclusions of a recent study in animal behavior are correct, the answer to that question is most likely yes............
