Top 10 Posts: July 31, 2010

Find out what articles visitors are sharing every week on Ancient Digger. These posts are the most popular and read articles for the week, starting on Sunday and ending on Saturday.

1. 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.

2. 14 Wonders of the World--It’s true, the 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.

3. The Mystery of the Pyramids--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 that he held the secrets to the pyramids and he would bring them to his deathbed.

4. 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. What is Psychic Archaeology? --Psychic archaeology, or “intuitive” archaeology, is the process of using psychic abilities to locate objects of centuries past. This recently charted path may open our possibilities to discovering new and interesting histories in the human race.

6. Brother-Sister and Father-Daughter Marriage in Ancient Egypt--Anthropologists recognize that marrying one’s sister, brother, father, or mother was quite common in Ancient Egypt. Marriage of kin functioned "to preserve the purity of the royal blood line," to keep privilege and rank rigidly within the group.

7. 30 Reasons Why You Should Be 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.

8. 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.

9. Ancient Symbols of the Theosophical Society--The Theosophical Society was originally formed in 1875 by Helena Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott, William Quan Judge and others to seek the truth using investigation, study and explanation of certain phenomena and ancient symbols.

10. 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.

Archaeology News: July 30, 2011

 

Archaeologists give tentative name to shipwreck

Professional archaeologists may have finally solved the mystery behind a sunken steamboat in Bayou Bartholomew that has intrigued local residents for decades.

Tiny treasure hunters: Camp helps kids explore archaeology

Kids playfully fought over shoebox-sized containers filled with sand and hidden artifacts before settling down to examine their treasures at the Archaeology and Ancient World day camp's Mystery Dig Friday.

Archaeological dig planned for Mountwood

Members of the public will have the chance to participate in an archaeological dig at the former home of oil and gas pioneer WC Stiles Jr. Friends of Mountwood.

Team visits ancient archaeological site in San Fulgencio

A team from the University of Alicante have once again been visiting an ancient archaeological site in San Fulgencio believed to be an important early Iberian settlement.

Crowds out in force to see the past unearthed

OVER 1000 people turned up at an archaeology open day on the site of Doncaster's Civic and Cultural Quarter, at Waterdale. Visitors were given guided tours of the archaeological site and looked at displays.

OCEANSIDE: Library offers archaeology program

The Friends of the Oceanside Public Library hosts Annemarie Cox, education program coordinator of the San Diego Archaeological Center, presenting stories and photos of archaeological sites in North County.

Lewis expert to face ‘bear necessities’ in Viking research project

An expert in North Atlantic Viking settlements, Dr MacLeod Rivett is joining the Helluland Archaeology Project at Cape Tanfield, Baffin Island, on a site occupied over 1000 years ago by Paleo-Eskimos.

From Day of Archaeology’s Bristol Office

I am amazed, really very pleased, by just how many people embraced the idea of Day of Archaeology. Right now we have just under 360 posts published, with the promise of more to come. I’m told the #dayofarch hashtag was used over 900 times on Twitter during the day.

Archaeology News: July 29, 2011

Humans Crowded Out Neanderthals

A swell of modern humans outnumbered Neanderthals in Europe by nearly 10 to one, forcing their extinction 40000 years ago, suggests a study of French archaeology sites.

Archaeology team returns to historic NY fort site

An archaeological team is back at a reconstructed French and Indian War fort in the Adirondacks to search for artifacts from the original fortification that was the scene of an infamous massacre.

Borders man's adventures in the archaeology trade

NOT every archaeologist could tell stories of Libyan soldiers trying to arrest them, flying with a Second World War ace pilot for work or being involved in one of the most significant Iron Age digs in Europe. Dr John Dent has retired after spending more than 21 years in local government in the Borders.

Museum offers a week of archaeology

The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UConn, will conduct it's fifth Annual Archaeology Field School Monday, Aug. 15 through Friday, Aug. 19, 9 am to 3 pm.

Annual Archaeology Day set for Aug. 6 at Cahokia Mounds

The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville will hold its fifth annual Archaeology Day next week. The event, which is sponsored by the Cahokia Archaeological Society, will be held from 10 am to 4 pm Aug 6. It is free and open to the public.

Sapphire ring 'belonged to Anglo-Saxon or Viking royalty'

By David Keys, Archaeology Correspondent A unique gold and sapphire finger ring, found by a metal detectorist and just purchased by the Yorkshire Museum, almost certainly belonged to Anglo-Saxon or Viking royalty.

Archaeology Dig For Youth of Oneida Indian Nation

By The Post-Standard The Nation's Youth Work/Learn Program, for more than 12 years, has given participants in the program an opportunity to learn about their past through this hands on experience - the annual Youth Archaeology Dig.

Penn State Abington College Professor Dr. Capelotti Creates Trailer For Archaeology Class

It’s your first year of anthropology classes and you’re nervous. You have no idea who to take for classes and the ratemyprofessor reviews are filled with falsified information *smile*.

What if you had another option? If every anthropology professor created a movie trailer for their classes, wouldn’t you be that much more excited about taking them? Well, one Penn State Abington College professor did just that.

“There’s only one name for archaeology!” Dr. Capelotti. Ok, with Indiana Jones subtitles, this is sure to draw a crowd of students for an archaeology class. I say job well done Dr. Capelotti.

Archaeology News: July 2011

Ancient City Mysteriously Survived Mideast Civilization Collapse

As ancient civilizations across the Middle East collapsed, possibly in response to a global drought about 4,200 years ago, archaeologists have discovered that one settlement in Syria not only survived, but expanded. Their next question is — why did Tell Qarqur, a site in northwest Syria, grow at a time when cities across the Middle East were being abandoned?

photo © Tell Qarqur Expedition

Ancient Sacrificer Found With Blades in Peru Tomb?

With ancient ceremonial knives at his side, an elite 14th-century executioner—a key player in human-sacrifice rituals—has been uncovered in a tomb at a pre-Inca site in Peru, archaeologists suggest.

USS SCORPION Project 2011 Day by Day: Week Three | Naval History Blog

Today, we were back in the Patuxent trenches continuing our efforts to delineate the boundaries of the suspected USS Scorpion wreck. So far, the team has been successful in uncovering ship timbers in test units placed on the upstream and downstream extremities of the site.

Holy Apocalypto: Ancient War Resulted in ... Civilization? UCLA Researchers Say Hooah to That

Research suggests that ancient battles of the Apocalypto variety might have spawned the earliest vestiges of civilization, namely buildings, religions and political systems.

What’s lurking under our heels in Heeley?

Heeley City Farm and Sheffield University are inviting families to take part in an archaeological project to uncover Heeley’s past.

Rebuilding Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Buddhas

German art historian Bert Praxenthaler continues the quest to rebuild Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Buddhas, destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. He says that up to half of the pieces of the statues have been recovered from the rubble.

Ancient City Mysteriously Survived Mideast Civilization Collapse

As ancient civilizations across the Middle East collapsed, possibly in response to a global drought about 4,200 years ago, archaeologists have discovered that one settlement in Syria not only survived, but expanded. Their next question is — why did Tell Qarqur, a site in northwest Syria, grow at a time when cities across the Middle East were being abandoned?

Who dug the Erdstalls of southern Germany?

Who dug the Erdstalls of southern Germany and why? These narrow dirt tunnels and galleries are thought by some to the homes of elves, gnomes, or spirits. Archivist Josef Weichenberger thinks they were medieval hiding places.

Heritage and conservation: Poor restoration practices ‘ruin monuments’

Participants at the seminar, Heritage Preservation in Pakistan- International Principles and Practices, discussed the collective responsibility to preserve social heritage.

Children’s archaeology dig at Pascack Museum

Volunteers at the Pascack Historical Society Museum, 19 Ridge Avenue, Park Ridge, are sprucing up their two raised archeology beds in their museum’s backyard in anticipation of "Stones & Bones," a children’s archaeological dig for grades two through six, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 25 from 10 .a.m. to 1 p.m.

Time team dig up the dirt: experts push back origins of farming in city’s history

ARCHAEOLOGISTS working at a Sheffield farm have dug up a mystery – the remains of a settlement which could date back 8,000 years to the Iron Age.

Isle of Wight's sunken World War II tanks studied

Maritime archaeologists have investigated ways for World War II tanks at the bottom of the sea near the Isle of Wight to be protected.

Archaeologists search for lost graves at Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site

Archaeologists from The University of Western Ontario and the Ontario Heritage Trust will begin to search for unmarked graves at Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site in Dresden.

Shower of eggs greets Moscow's chief archaeologist

Leonid Kondrashev, Moscow’s chief archeologist, had an unwelcome start to his new job when he was pelted with eggs and mayonnaise by angry political protestors on Triumfalnaya Ploshchad on Thursday.

Archaeology News: July 28, 2011

Dioramas, Ruin and Archaeology

A closer look at Lori Nix's website reveals a play on the photographic trope of ruin, something very much prevalent in the photography of archaeology.

Did warfare fuel the birth of advanced civilization?

For six centuries beginning around 500 BCE, ancient Peru was ravaged by nearly constant war. But the end result might almost have been worth it: that war seems to have been the driving force for the region's first complex civilization.

Real or fake?

The Holy Land is one of the homes of archaeology. Indeed for years, one of the main purposes of the science was to search for tangible evidence that would prove the truth of the stories of the Bible. And there has always been money in it too. ...

Digging up evidence of 12th century life in Ewyas Harold and Dulas Court

The Ewyas Harold Archaeology and History Group started work last weekend after a gravel bank and 15th century pavement were uncovered last year. Members believe a priory was established in 1130 in a field just north of Ewyas Harold.

3,500-year-old ancient treasure unearthed in Turkey

The return of a 3,500-year-old sphinx statue to Anatolia and the excavation of a 2,000-year-old racing arena in Muğla this week are part of the ongoing preservation of Turkey's rich history. Almost 4,000 years old and standing 2.8 meters tall, the sphinx originally stood on the right side of the south gate of Hattuşa, once the capital of the ancient Hittites.

Xanthos excavations turned over to Turkish archaeologists

A Turkish archaeology team has taken over excavations in the ancient city of Xanthos due to the slow progress under the guidance of French teams. The ancient site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988.

The Pre-Clovis Debra L. Friedkin site

Butter Milk Creek is a Texas archaeological site and an archaeological complex located rather symbolically a couple of hundred miles downstream from the famous Clovis site in New Mexico. It is the most recently reported alleged manifestation of a "pre-Clovis" archaeological presence.

Mexican Archaeologists Find 2,800-Year-Old Monument

A group of Mexican archaeologists have discovered a 1.5 ton stone relief from the Olmec culture created more than 2,800 years ago.

CEBA presents the Kanab Archaeology Symposium highlighting the Jackson Flat Reservoir Project

The Center for Education, Business and Arts (CEBA) presents the Kanab Archaeology Community Symposium, a free program, on August 10, at 7:30 p.m. at Southwest Applied Technology College, 690 South Cowboy Way (across the street from Kanab Middle School.)

Third bone site in Oak Harbor acknowledged, city cleared of wrongdoing

State state regulators have begun an investigation this week into a third site that might contain Native American remains.

What is Psychic Archaeology?

It’s a topic of hot debate. Many people refute any opinions of archaeologists who employ psychics to find artifacts, or history channels who perpetuate it. The science-a term used loosely my many- isn’t disappearing anytime soon. However, do you really know the history of Psychic archaeology (pseudo archaeology) and the individuals who used it as early as the 15th century?

Psychic archaeology, or “intuitive” archaeology, is the process of using psychic abilities to locate objects of centuries past. This recently charted path may open our possibilities to discovering new and interesting histories in the human race. Whereas conventional archaeology practices can draw the objects, buildings, and even people fourth, psychic archaeology can bring life and a sense of being to these discoveries and how they play into ancient people’s lives.

From these re-routed stories we can learn more about our species past, and in turn learn more about ourselves. Psychic archaeology was brought to the mainstream by J. Norman Emerson, a highly renowned Canadian Archaeologist. His interest in this new idea was looked at with a bit of snide judgment at first. But like a true scientist he kept studying, not to find the results that he was looking for, but to find a pattern. Eventually, with psychic George McMullen, J. Norman Emerson uncovered many discoveries that might not have been discovered if not for McMullen’s abilities.

There are several different methods psychic archaeologists use to uncover the past’s mysteries. Dowsing, the ancient practice of discovering earthed things such as water and metal, has been recorded as being practiced as early as the 15^th century. It is utilized by intuitive diggers to find electromagnetic photo-fields, which is said to radiate from man-made object of six months or older. This is done using either metal rods, or various types of branches. The dowsing rod or branch moves in accordance to the desired object, leading the treasure hunter to the desired object. This method was used by psychic archaeologist Karen Hunt, as she studied the practice in her Master’s thesis. This practice was even used in the military in attempts to find underground explosive devices.

McMullen, however, used the ability of psychometry, which is the knack of sensing the history of an object by holding it. By holding an object he could sense the owner, when, where, and how it was made, and whether or not the owner had passed away. Not only could he identify the history of an object, but he could also sense the culture aspects surrounding the object and its owners. Simply by standing over an unexcavated site, he knew the time period, race, and sociological aspects of the oldest remains that lied beneath him. One could see how skills like this could be extremely helpful on a site, as knowing what you are digging for and how to get to is a rarity in the craft. Other psychics used different tools, such as remote viewing, precognitive dreaming, and channeling.

J. Norman Emerson used psychic archaeology in sites such as Queen Charlotte Island, where an argillite carving was discovered, Holland Landing, in which psychometry was used on silver coins, and many other places. McMullen was said by Emerson to be roughly 80% accurate in his findings. Such a high rate of accuracy in the any field is always useful on site, as it can be supplementary to any scientific research.

Within the past century, many have been fighting to have psychic archaeology appreciated as a resourceful practice in the field. The merge of science and intuition may seem unlikely to some, but it has proven to be effective in aiding to the uncovering of ancient societies and their secrets. Many skeptics have been turned to believers after the psychic information given aligned with the cold, hard, scientific facts, and even took it a step farther, mapping out knowledge that would not have been known prior. Hopefully we can use this new source of information as a stepping stone to new and interesting discoveries.

Please leave your opinion in the comments section, as I know many of you have them.

Author Bio

This guest post was written by Hollywood Psychics, a network of psychics who harness their various psychic abilities that have been practiced for generation upon generation to utilize in today’s modern world. Experience this ancient art with the clairvoyant psychic readings provided by this talented network!

Sources

J. Norman Emerson photo

The Laetoli Footprints Explained

The Laetoli footprints are fossils of footprints that look suspiciously like human footprints of today. They appear to be the fossilized footprints of two or three hominids that walked through Laetoli, Tanzania, millions of years ago. The very idea that humanoids were walking upright for as long as these fossils suggest has sparked a great deal of controversy. Creationists typically believe that the Laetoli footprints are not millions of years old and that the footprints are not hominid, but human. Scientists tend to believe that these footprints could not have come from modern man, so it must suggest that hominids have been walking on two feet longer than previously thought.

In 1976, Dr. Mary Leakey was on an expedition in Tanzania with a group of other scientists when he found the Laetoli footprints. They were there to study ancient remains, but they found something equally, if not more, interesting. The group was walking toward Olduvai Gorge together one day during their expedition. Two of the paleoanthropologists began throwing elephant dung at one another and otherwise goofing off. During the action, the Laetoli footprints were literally stumbled upon.

The Laetoli footprints consist of two tracks of about 30 meters. One of the sets of prints is significantly larger than the other. This suggests that there were at least two hominids walking in Laetoli when the prints were made. The tracks were made by either a woman and a man or an adult and a child. There could also be a third set of tracks within the larger set. It looks as if a third hominid, that walked along behind the first two, had stepped in the larger tracks. Dr. Leakey made plaster casts of the tracks and then covered them. She marked the location so they could go back.

The fossils were dated at roughly 3.7 million years old. Most scientists agree that the Laetoli footprints must have come from a hominid species that walked bipedally, as it is obvious that the owners of these prints walked on two legs. Furthermore, it is believed that they belonged to the Australopithecus afarensis species of hominids, the same group that the Lucy Skeleton belongs to.

The Laetoli footprints probably did not come from great apes. Everything from the shape of the foot to the position of the toes suggests that hominids made the prints. The position of the foot from which the creature pushed to walk is also different. As far as being footprints from a human, the feet are much smaller than human feet and not shaped the way that you would expect a modern man’s foot to be shaped. The manner of walking that is deduced from the footprints is very similar to that of Homo sapiens. This makes them an obvious, or at least likely, link in the evolutionary chain.

Creationists, of course, do not believe in evolution. Furthermore, they do not believe that manlike creatures, or any creatures, walked the Earth millions of years ago. So, the date and type of fossils that the Laetoli footprints are, is quite unbelievable to them. They think that many of the dating techniques used by scientists are inaccurate and that the fossil record is misinterpreted by scientists. This is the mystery, or more accurately the controversy, over the Laetoli footprints.

Author Bio

Shelly Barclay writes on a variety of topics from animal facts to mysteries in history. She’s a history fanatic and spends a lot of time reading about history from all corners of the globe and all time periods. I like to spend all of my free time outdoors or in museums. I live on the South Shore in Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. This is the perfect place for someone like myself. Beautiful natural sites and historic city sites are all within a few minutes drive for me.

Sources

• Pictures © GIRLintheCAFE
• The Laetoli Footprints, retrieved 11/03/09, sain.sunsite.utk.edu/cgi-bin/textonly/0145/www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A94336
• Peterson, Chris, Laetoli: Footprints in the Past, mnsu.edu/emuseum/archeaology/sites/africa/laetoli2

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. This field involves not only excavations in the Mediterranean, but the analysis and research into the artifacts, deciphering the ancient texts, and learning about the history of the region. Completion of graduate programs for classical archaeology can mean careers in teaching and writing at major research universities, working at a museum as a curator, or even doing research and excavations.

Special Skills

Applying to graduate programs in classical archaeology can be the beginning of a very rewarding career, but it is important to have the required skills in order to be accepted to graduate programs in the classics. A strong background in Greek and Latin language, culture, and history are required for all classics programs. It is necessary to understand how to read Greek and Latin to decipher the ancient texts. Applicants must have taken previous course work in the field as undergraduates. Many people that apply to classical archaeology programs usually have undergraduate degrees in Latin, philosophy, anthropology, theology or religious studies, or art history. Even if someone has an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field, they still have an opportunity to apply to a program if they are willing to go back and take some undergraduate courses.

In order to be taken seriously by any of the programs, it is strongly recommended that an applicant have at least some experience working in the field or participating in research and study at excavation sites. Due to the fact that the excavations themselves will take place in Europe near the Mediterranean, it is very helpful to have a some language ability in Italian, German, and French. Fluency in those languages are not required, but it is recommended that applicants have a background in the languages to be prepared for professional work in the field.

Best Graduate Schools for Classical Archaeology in the United States

University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is one of America's most selective institutions and it happens to have one of the best graduate programs for classical archaeology in America. They have both PhD and masters programs available ranging from classical languages, ancient Greek or roman philosophy, or the study of the ancient Mediterranean world. There is also a joint PhD program that teaches social thought and classics. Students work closely in conjunction with faculty from the anthropology and art history departments. Current faculty research interests include the ancient Greek economy, political monuments, Roman art and architecture, and the social history of ancient cities. Recently, a faculty member received the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship and another teacher was awarded the Umhoefer Prize for Achievement in Humanities.

Website

University of Michigan

University of Michigan is "internationally renowned for its scholarly excellence and its graduate programs". The Kelsey Museum at University of Michigan is a world leader in anthropological archeology research, with particular emphasis on material collections from eastern North America and Asia. The Kelsey Museum also contains antiquities and the Papyrus Collection in the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library. The department offers a program in Museum Studies, a joint program in Anthropology and Social Work, and a Doctoral Program in Anthropology and History. The University also offers an Interdepartmental Program in Classical Art and Archeology, a doctoral-track course of study.

Website

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of America's oldest public universities with one of the most prestigious programs in classics. Their internationally known program offers both PhDs and masters for the study of the classics (with or without a historical emphasis), archaeology, and classical and medieval Latin. The program works very closely with Duke University, so there are cross registration opportunities available. Current faculty research interests include the Iron Age, Greek archaeology, Roman and Greek architecture and art.

Website

Harvard University

Harvard University is the oldest university in the country and it is one of the world's most prominent institutions, especially for graduate programs for classical archaeology. Harvard offers PhD programs in classical philology, ancient history, archaeology, Byzantine Greek, and Medieval Latin. The program works alongside the other departments like European art and architecture, history, and literature to provide multidisciplinary experience. Current faculty research interests include Greek numismatics, Homeric poetry, Greek and Latin linguistics, and science in ancient Rome and Greece. A faculty member has received a Paideia Award from the Greek Arch Diocese of America.

Website

University of California at Berkeley

The University of California at Berkeley is a major public research institution with a strong classics program. They offer both masters and PhD programs in the field with concentrations in philosophy and archaeology. Current faculty research interests include ancient metrics, Greek and Roman legal and political theory, as well as Greek mythology and religion. Faculty members have received the Charles J. Goodwin Award of Merit of the American Philological Association, the MacArthur Award, and Guggenheim Fellowships.

Website

Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr College is a small women's college in the suburbs of Philadelphia that happens to have graduate programs for classical archaeology. It has a classical studies program with a focus in archaeology and art history for both masters and PhD levels. Students are able to cross register and study alongside faculty members at surrounding institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. Faculty interests include Greek art, imperialism, and Aegean prehistory.

Website

Cornell University

Cornell University is a large ivy league college in upstate New York with an excellent classical studies program offering a PhD program in areas such as Greek and Latin languages and linguistics, classical literature and philology, ancient history, and ancient philosophy. Faculty members are currently researching ancient philosophy, classical art, Greek historiography and epigraphy.

Website

University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin is a major public research institution and the largest university in Texas. Their classics department offers both masters and PhD programs in the classics, archeology, philosophy, and language. Students have access to the other campuses of the University of Texas and work closely with faculty from other departments such Literature, Geography, Art, and Anthropology. Faculty research interests include Greek and Roman literature, Greek lyric poetry, and Aegean scripts and prehistory.

Website

Stanford University

Stanford University is an ivy league college in Palo Alto, California. It is home to a large classical studies program which offers PhD and masters programs in philosophy, ancient science, archaeology, Greek and Latin language, and ancient history. Faculty members are currently researching ancient Greece, Magna Graecia, and the visual and material culture of the Roman Empire. Faculty members have received the Neumann Prize and National Book Awards.

Website

Best Graduate Schools for Classical Archaeology in the United Kingdom

University of Kent

The University of Kent is known as the UK's European university in Kent, England. The classical studies program takes place at the Canterbury campus, which has a substantial offering of museums, libraries, and resources related to classical art, literature, and culture. They offer a masters and PhD program in the concentrations of classical literature, archaeology, and ancient history. Currently, faculty members are researching Minoan constellations and transmanche archaeology. A faculty member recently became a Fellow of The Society of Antiquaries.

Website

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is one of the best universities in the world located in Cambridge, England. Their masters and PhD programs specialize in archaeological theory and science. The faculty is currently researching Roman architecture, food globalization in prehistory, and Medieval origins of commercial sea fishing.

Website

University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is known as the best university in UK as it is home to the Rhodes Scholars program. Their classical studies program is world renowned and they also have tremendous resources and materials for students at the Sackler Library, which contains one of the largest collections of classics literature in the world. The program offers both masters and PhDs in the areas of ancient history, archaeology, languages, and Literature. Faculty members are currently researching funerary archaeology, historical linguistics, and Greek literature. A faculty member recently received the Wiseman Book Award.

Website

University of London

The University of London is a federal university and actually the largest university in the UK. It has a large department of classics, history, and archaeology that offers masters and PhD programs concentrating in ancient languages, history, and archaeology. The faculty is researching Roman law and political thought, classical Athens, and Roman Provincial Archaeology.

Website

References

1. http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~classics/programs/graduate.html
2. http://www.brynmawr.edu/gradgroup/archaeology/
3. http://www.kent.ac.uk/secl/classics/about.html
4. http://www.gradschools.com/search-programs/archaeology
5. http://classics.cornell.edu/graduate/concentrations/archaeology.cfm
6. http://www.stanford.edu/dept/classics/cgi-bin/web/programs/classical-archaeology
7. http://classics.uchicago.edu/prospective/classical-archaeology
8. http://classics.berkeley.edu/programs/graduate/archPhD.php
9. http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/classics/Graduate/Archaeology-Program.php
10. http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/courses/classical_archaeology_and_ancient_history/classical_3.html
11. http://www.greatarchaeology.com/classical_archaeology.htm
12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_archaeology
13. http://icls.sas.ac.uk/
14. http://www.classics.ox.ac.uk/
15. http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/classics/

Author Bio
Harold Smith is a professional writer and blogger.

Monday Ground Up: The Yanomamo and The Ax Fight

In a recent lecture series, which included the Yanomamo of Brazil and Venezuela, I was posed several questions for a discussion panel.

1. The Yanomamo have a reputation as being particularly "fierce." What do the events depicted in "The Ax Fight" suggest about the importance of kinship within tribal societies?
2. In your opinion, do the events depicted in "The Ax Fight" portray the Yanomamo accurately or are they merely a sensationalized account of Yanomamo life?

If you’re already an anthropology student, you're more than familiar with the Yanomamo, having studied them in more than a dozen classes. For those readers that are not familiar with this tribe, here’s a brief background of the Yanomamo.

Who are the Yanomamo?

The Yanomamo are a remarkably isolated and undisturbed tribe who live in about 250 widely dispersed villages in Brazil and Venezuela. Peters-Golden noted that the villages are situated at varying distances from one another and have differing degrees of social closeness as well. Those that harbor good relations host frequent visitors, and it is not unusual for individuals to travel several days to pay a visit [3].

The Yanomamo have been influenced by European contact as early as the seventeenth century, when Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch slave traders entered their territory.The Yanomamo have dealt with missionaries closely even after slave trading times.

The Yanomamo tribe lives in tropical forests where the environment is dense and green. Its thick floor of vines and scrub makes it difficult to traverse; on cloudy days its impenetrable canopy keeps out most light.

Chagnon posited that the Yanomamo didn’t possess the sophistication to be cultivators therefore their no portion of their diet was grown in gardens [3]. This, of course, is hardly the case. Currently, the majority of Yanomamo rely on both foraging and horticulture. The plantain is the most important domesticated crop, along with manioc, taro, and sweet potato. Cane used in arrow manufacture is grown in village gardens, as is tobacco, a crop of central importance.

Although foraging and horticulture account for the majority of subsistence, the Yanomamo still engage in game hunting, which is plentiful. During expeditions they commonly hunt wild pigs, large and small birds, monkeys, deer, rodents, anteaters, and armadillos, which are often smoked out of their burrows.

© Survival International

© Amazon-Indians

What is the Ax Fight?

The Ax Fight represents the extreme in grounding cinematic argument with empirical data. Once can achieve no more with a linear and public medium, a medium designed to be viewed collectively. The Ax Fight goes as far as is possible to satisfy the level of curiosity and forbearance that may be attributed to a large and diverse audience. Any more redundancy in the film would have served the slower and more curious viewers, but it would also have alienated the vast majority. Any more detail about protagonists and lineages would have buttressed an argument required by scholars, but would also have pressed most viewers beyond their limits of tolerance [2].

To put it plainly, The Ax Fight displays a conflict in a Yanomamo village called Mishimishimabowei-teri. There are protaganists-Uuwa, Mohesiwa, Kebowa-linked by lineage or kinship. It’s believed that the brawl broke out as a result of an incestuous relationship. This is not the case. The fight is a result of long standing hostility between a faction that lives in the village and a faction that is among a party of visitors.

Watch the Ax Fight

My Opinion on the Fierce Reputation of the Yanomamo

What do the events depicted in "The Ax Fight" suggest about the importance of kinship within tribal societies?

As sides are taken, often along kinship lines, large villages sometimes split into two over confrontations. It’s evident in the short film that many of the members of the tribe stayed clear of the confrontation, often watching like a spectator’s sport. And the others were running in with their spears and clubs to assist the attacker.

Sinabim’s husband and his brother Kebowa decided to continue the fight with Mohesiwa, who had previously attacked Sinabim. Mohesiwa’s kinswomen attempt to capture his weapon so not to aggravate the situation any further. In all actuality, and as Chagnon points out, these Yanomamo men walk around with deep gashes in their heads, even shaving them to display the thick knots they received during club fights. Like their own fight club, brothers and kinsmen walking around with these marks of violence, wear them proudly like a badge of honor. In some way it unites the kinsmen who partake in violence, and it links them to those they have no affiliation with within the community.

In your opinion, do the events depicted in "The Ax Fight" portray the Yanomamo accurately or are they merely a sensationalized account of Yanomamo life?

The 1975 textual narration, told from the perspective of Chignon, is written as if there’s a centrality of violence to the everyday life of the Yanomamo. This is simply a sensationalized account of a culture, who does partake in violent acts, but these acts do not dominate social life for any length of time.

Furthermore, The Ax Fight movie clearly doesn’t paint violence as a central part of the Yanomamo tribal community. It was clearly a sporadic fight that broke out. The Yanomamo, as posited by Chagnon, are believed to be “bloodthirsty fierce people who regularly kill each other”. His ethnographic details haven’t been supported by “anthropologists or anyone who has lived with the Yanomamo for years” [3].

Yet, we don’t really have any other perspective besides Chagnon's to base our objective on when watching the footage, and although I believe his opinion is biased, supporting the idea that violence is an everyday occurrence, I don’t think he described the actual recording out of context.

Controversy surrounding the Ax Fight

The Yanomamo, as posited by Chagnon, are believed to be “bloodthirsty fierce people who regularly kill each other”. His ethnographic details haven’t been supported by “anthropologists or anyone who has lived with the Yanomamo for years”.

The controversy surrounding Yanomamo violence escalated in 2000 when an investigative journalist, Patrick Tierney, published his book, Darkness in El Dorado. Tierney claimed that Napoleon Chagnon and James Neel, a physician and geneticist, knowingly endangered the lives and health of the Yanomamo communities they studied. Second, he asserted that Chagnon not only misrepresented the Yanomamo as "fierce people," but in fact instigated and promoted violence and warfare [1].

Anthropology students weigh in on the Yanomamo and their Fierce Reputation Portrayed in the Ax Fight

© Madzen

“First off, a minute-long video cannot capture an accurate representation of a society, by any means, but it can illustrate the importance's of individuals within a particular incidence by their actions. My study of their actions, coupled with my understanding of the text, speak to me that they hold kinship as a strong and central tie to their daily living. Also, one may notice that the underlying action which spurred this reaction, as recorded by Dr. Chagnon’s accompanying notes, dealt with one man laying hands on another man’s wife in violence”.

~Stephen Ricci-UCF

“I do not believe that “The Ax Fight” necessarily portrays Yanomamo life accurately; though the textbook also describes these club fights over women and other provocations these occurrences are not necessarily a part of daily Yanomamo life. The conflicts seen by Chagnon may have been at a particularly rough time in the Yanomamo lifestyle or could have been incentivated by the attention of an outsider observing them (Chagnon). As other observers have stated simply because these fights do occur does not mean that the Yanomamo are constantly fighting or fierce in natur”.

~Olivia Black-UCF

“The Ax Fight shows just a fraction of time for the Yanomamo. I believe it is more a sensationalized account of their lives. To an outsider not knowing what is going on, the film does make it seem as if they are extremely violent. But because kinship is so important within the tribe, it is not surprising that a fight broke out because a woman was beaten. The desire to retaliate is a natural reaction if someone's family member was hurt by another. The evidence shown in the film of the Yanomamo being "fierce" and violent in everyday life is weakened after knowing why the fight started in the first place. Other researchers suggest that the violent acts are sporadic and are not a part of everyday life”.

~Sharon Ladiero-UCF

So what’s your take?

Sources

1. Tierney, Patrick. (2000). Darkness in el dorado: how scientists and journalists devastated the amazon. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
2. Asch, Tim . The Ax Fight. http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/projects/axfight/index2.html
3. Peters Golden, Holly. (2009) Cultural Sketches: Case Studies in Anthropology.New York: The Mcgraw-Hill Companies.

Madagascar Unmasked and Mystifying

© WildJunket

See, now this is why I love Twitter. It’s amazing, the kind of people you can meet and the places they’ve been around the country.

This particular shot of a dugout boat in Madagascar was taken by Nellie Huang, the founder of WildJunket. As a professional travel writer, she travels around the world with her notebook and camera in hand, to seek out adventurous and quirky corners.

Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island after Greenland, New Guinea, and Borneo. The island of Madagascar broke away from the African continent 165 million years ago. The first settlers of Madagascar were of African and Asian origin, and 18 separate ethnic groups emerged, derived from an African and Malayo-Indonesian mixture. About 80% of the animals found in Madagascar do not exist anywhere else on Earth.

Nellie Huang just visited the island of Madagascar and here’s a snippet from her travelogue,

Over the past few days, we experienced the wilderness of Madagascar – sleeping in the forest, watching lemurs and chameleons in their natural habitat and flowing down rivers on dugout canoes. In the Kirindy forest, we saw the adorable grey mouse lemur upclose and personal and watched sifakas leap from one tree to another. At the Tsingy de Bemahara, we climbed sharp karst rock faces to get a awestriking view of the jungle from above. Back in the town of Belo-sur-Tsiribihina, we wandered through the colorful and bustling central market, taking in Malagasy culture. By the time we got to Morondava, we were thrilled to be feasting on cheap and delicious seafood at Chez Maggie.

Read more: Madagascar Unmasked: Wildlife, Nature and Beautiful People

Thanks Nellie Huang from Wild Junket

More Madagascar articles:

Dinosaurs in Madagascar

Top 10 Posts: Sunday July 24, 2011

Find out what articles visitors are sharing every week on Ancient Digger. These posts are the most popular and read articles for the week, starting on Sunday and ending on Saturday.

1. 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.

2. 14 Wonders of the World--It’s true, the 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.

3. The Mystery of the Pyramids--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 that he held the secrets to the pyramids and he would bring them to his deathbed.

4. 30 Reasons Why You Should Be 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.

5. 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.

6. Sounds of Prehistory--“The Sounds of Prehistory” is a performance that took place at the XXIV Valcamonica Symposium, using Paleolithic musical instruments.

7. Brother-Sister and Father-Daughter Marriage in Ancient Egypt--Anthropologists recognize that marrying one’s sister, brother, father, or mother was quite common in Ancient Egypt. Marriage of kin functioned "to preserve the purity of the royal blood line," to keep privilege and rank rigidly within the group.

8. Guide To Archaeology and Anthropology Graduate School 101--I recently attended a seminar featuring Dr. John Walker, Professor Peter Sinelli, and Dr.John Schultz from the University of Central Florida. The seminar focused on the Do's and Don'ts of applying to graduate school for archaeology and anthropology and was organized by Hominids Anonymous Anthropology Club.

9. 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.
   
   
10. 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.

Archaeology News: Saturday July 23, 2011

A dig into the past at Żejtun

It is midday and the July sun is scorching but none of the archaeologists working in the open field are complaining as they busily unearth the 2,000-year-old past at the site of the former Roman villa in Żejtun.

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Ancient Site in Nablus Re-excavated

“Establishing a department of archaeology was an important event. It can be viewed as a revival of the Palestinian Department of Antiquities (which) ceased to exist in 1948. In collaboration with the Palestinian Department of Antiquities, which was re-established 15 years ago, a team of international archaeologists have recommenced the excavation of the ancient site of Tell Belata, in the West Bank city of Nablus.

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Archaeology program seeks volunteers

The Archaeology Education Program at Fort Frederica has been teaching fourth grade students in Glynn County for 18 years. Now, with the first day of school approaching, the program is in desperate need of committed volunteers.

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House dating back to the period of the Kingdom of Israel

Exceptional detective-archaeological work at the first season of archaeological digs at Tel Shikmona, on the southern edge of Israel’s city of Haifa, has uncovered the remains of a house dating back to the period of the Kingdom of Israel.

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Digging for Whipple's past

“Archaeologist on Duty - Join Our Dig,” reads a new sign hanging by the door of a freshly painted Whipple Company Store & Appalachian Heritage Museum. The multi-story, octagonal coal company store dating back to the 1890s is a historical tourist attraction celebrating the cultural heritage of West Virginia coal miners and their families.

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Trebuchet – A Gravity-Operated Siege Engine: A Study in Experimental Archaeology

The most powerful weapons in the Middle Ages were catapults, the latest and technically most advanced type of which were counterweight-operated trebuchets.

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Archaeologists study area find

Thanks to an observant heavy equipment operator at the Noland Gulch Gravel Pit outside Saguache, an archaeological find will help scientists better understand the Valley as it existed some 25000 years ago. Gravel pit employee David ...

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HPU turns 42; Governor moots archeology dept, unveils anthem

On the occasion of the 42th Foundation Day function of the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Governor Urmila Singh — also the HPU Chancellor — on Friday mooted a proposal to start a department of archaeology in the university, besides introducing a ...

Pinson Mounds graduates junior rangers

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Certificates and badges were presented to 16 Junior Rangers Friday at their graduation from the first Junior Ranger Camp to be held at Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park.

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The time has come, the walrus said, to work out how my tusk found its way to ...

“I enjoy the archaeology, I enjoy the community.” Open day organiser Pauline Fogarty said there would also be tours, talks, and children's activities on offer on Sunday. “We've got a training trench up the top so children can have a go,” she said. ...

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An Empire of the Mediterranean

With no literature surviving to tell the Carthaginian side of the story, archaeology offers the next best insight into the lost world and is used extensively by Richard Miles. The Greek and Roman stories of Carthaginian child sacrifice are confirmed by ...

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Radar helps find long-buried bodies

GPR involves the transmission of high frequency radar pulses from a surface antenna into the ground. It has been employed in such fields as engineering, geology, environmental studies, and more recently, archaeology.

Archaeologists Travel to Tubuai in Search of Explorers

About 3000 years ago, the Lapita people traveled from Papua New Guinea to the western islands of the Pacific. Two thousand years ago the Micronesians populated the small islands to the northwest. But it wasn’t until the massive expansion, that peoples in east Polynesia experienced one of the greatest periods of voyaging and discovery.

In 2007 a group of archaeologists traveled to Tubuai, an archaic East Polynesian Island, to discover the remains of some of the greatest explorers in human history. This is what they discovered….

Also check out:

The Kula Ring Exchange

Hilarious Archaeology Song Improv

This Archaeology song was created at an improv club. The game is called the Pointing Song and the audience has chosen the word “archaeology”.

You’ll either find this incredibly funny or terribly stupid. I mean, when a comedian sings about digging up old poop and loving it, you can’t go wrong..*smile*.

Archaeology News: July 22, 2011

Wow, what a great day for archaeology! Ancient Digger brings you the latest archaeology news everyday of the week, and today, it’s hard to keep up. If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, several towns are celebrating archaeology festivals. Check out the headlines below!

Roman jug unearthed at site of new theatre

Archaeologists working on the site of Doncaster’s new civic and cultural quarter, believed to have previously been the site of a Roman cemetery where cremations took place, have unearthed a rare Roman glass jug dating back to around AD150.

Archaeologists Uncover Ruins of Biblical City Shekem in War-Torn Palestine

Archaeologists in Palestine are digging up the ruins of Shekem. The biblical ruin lies inside a Palestinian city in the West Bank, where modern researchers are writing the latest chapter in a 100-year-old excavation that has been interrupted by two world wars and numerous rounds of Mideast upheaval.

Materialism vs. science in archaeology, and the difference it makes

In “First Person: The Bible as a Source of Testable Hypotheses”(Biblical Archaeology Review (Jul/Aug 2011) Hershel Shanks tells a story from Biblical archaeology that explains more than I ever could about how materialism stifles science.

2,000-year-old golden bell Discovered

A tiny, 2,000-year-old golden bell was found in a drainage channel near the Old City of Jerusalem. The bell was probably sewn onto the garment of a high official.

Governor stresses for starting Archaeology Department in HPU

The Himachal Pradesh Governor Urmila Singh today stressed the need to start the Archaeology Department in the state university besides introducing tourist guide course to generate employment avenues for youth. Speaking in the inaugural function of the three day long 42nd Foundation Day celebrations of the Himachal Pradesh University here, she said the state was rich in cultural heritage and Archaeology Department could make people aware about the glorious historical background of the State. Singh, who is also the chancellor of the University, said there were plenty of employment opportunities in the tourism sector and added that introducing Tourist Guide Course could help in guiding the tourists coming to the state.

Archaeological neglect: council fined

A charge of unlawfully modifying and damaging archaeological features was brought by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust which says the council should have know a shell midden was located at Maketu the Western Bay, having earlier commissioned an archaeologist to review the archaeology of Maketu, with a report produced in 2003.

Copperopolis to rise again

The remains of ‘Copperopolis’ – once the epicentre of the world’s copper industry – are to be preserved as a major heritage complex on a currently derelict 12 acre site in Swansea, South Wales.

Tidewater Archaeology Weekend

Historic St. Mary's City's annual event will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 23 and 24. Visitors can take guided tours of archaeological sites and the archaeology laboratory and discover how researchers learn about the past.

PORTLAND: Explore the treasures of Portland Museum

The secrets and treasures of Portland Museum could be revealed during a family archaeology day.

Several test pits will be excavated in the museum garden, under the supervision of archaeologist Stella de Villiers, where everyone will get a chance to practice digging. They will be explaining how archaeologists record the things they find and there will be the opportunity to have a go at this yourself.

Slideshow: D.C.'s Ancient History

The artifacts, stored at the D.C. Archives, were unearthed as part of archaeological digs tied to the canceled Barney Circle Freeway project. While the Washington Business Journal wasn't able to see or photograph artifacts from that project, D.C. Archaeologist Ruth Trocolli shared some of the city's other antiquities.

First Nation artifacts discovered, divert highway

Archaeologists have found evidence that proves First Nations people were in New Brunswick more than 10,000 years ago.

What Was Machu Picchu For? Top Five Theories Explained

Now one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Machu Picchu's original purpose is still unknown—though many archaeologists think they are closer to finding an answer. (Take a Machu Picchu quiz.)

Scarborough's Festival of Archaeology

If you like the strange and spooky, go to Scarborough's Festival of Archaeology. It should appeal to the whole family, with interactive fun, archaeological trials and making your own reconstructed face.

Archaeology News: July 21, 2011

Ahead of Their Time: Neandertals and the First Grandparents

Today people routinely live long enough to become grandparents. But analyses of fossil teeth conducted by Caspari and her colleagues indicate that this is a relatively recent development.

For most of human evolution, our ancestors mostly lived fast and died young. Reaching grandparent age, they show, did not become common until the Upper Paleolithic, and it may explain the sudden and dramatic shift in behaviors between the Middle and Upper Paleolithic.

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Daily TWiP – Get acquainted with the history of the lollipop on National Lollipop Day

Archaeologists have discovered that people in ancient China, Egypt and the Middle East ate sticky candies made from fruit, nuts and honey, and that sticks were inserted so people could enjoy them without the indignity of sticky hands. We wonder how the archaeologists figured this out – perhaps they uncovered records from an ancient dental office.

Digital Archaeologists Excavate Chips, Not Dirt

Rather than pick and trowel, digital archaeology tools are successive acid baths, which strip away one layer after another of a chip, revealing the guts of the microprocessors that launched the personal computing revolution.

From anthropologists come new amateur archaeologists

Using shovels, square sifting boxes and their hands, University of Minnesota anthropology students slowly dug through the dirt on the banks of Spring Lake outside of Hastings, Minn.

The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Mythica

I remember when Microsoft first announced Mythica, because I thought "This is gonna be cool." Vikings, Norse mythology, gods made flesh, and a big-name studio funding limitless adventures. In the pre-World of Warcraft era, the field was wide open for a company to come up and rival Sony Online Entertainment for the crown, so why not this one? But... cold water, skittish toes, and another MMO kicked the bucket before it saw the light of its first day.

Tomb of a lord of the Lambayeque

Archaeologist Carlos Wester of the Bruning Museum in Lambayeque, and his team have unearthed the tomb of a lord of the Lambayeque culture at the temple complex of Chotuna Chornancap, Peru. Copper machetes and human offerings suggest that he had been an executioner.

The Pearl Harbor Skull

A skull has been found at the bottom of Pearl Harbor. Jeff Fong of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific thinks it may belong to one of the 55 Japanese pilots who died during the attack on December 7, 1941.

Theater at Hieropolis

The stage at the ancient theater at Hieropolis in Turkey will be restored.

Richard Engel visits ancient city of Cyrene

NBC reporter Richard Engel visits Libya and the ancient city of Cyrene in this Today Show video.

Archaeology News: July 20, 2011

Ancient Digger brings you the latest archaeology news and headlines everyday of the week! Today’s a big day for archaeology as you can see from the plethora of headlines. Grab a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee, like I have next to me, and start reading.

Enjoy your day Ancient Diggers!

'Biomolecular Archaeology: An Introduction'

Biomolecular Archaeology is the first book to clearly guide students through the study of ancient DNA: how to analyze biomolecular evidence (DNA, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) to address important archaeological questions.

Roman Toilets Were Quite Stinky, Large International Study Reveals

Yes, the Romans had toilets and sewage. No, they didn't match our idea of a clean bathroom in no way. Their toilets were stinking, disease spreading places, which gave rats and snakes an easy entrance to the house.

Archaeologists go treasure-hunting in Seattle's (very) old garbage

Archaeologists are toiling side by side with construction workers on the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Highway 520 projects. They're collecting broken bottles, peach pits and peanut shells. But instead of litter sticks and garbage bags, they are wielding trowels and shovels, and paying $342,000 for a space to preserve the junk.

Ohio History Center To Get Patriotic Facelift

OHS serves to preserve and interpret Ohio's history, archaeology, natural history and historic places. Its collections hold more than 1.8 million artifacts. OHS is responsible for 58 historic sites in 40 Ohio counties. It is the largest statewide network of sites and museums in the nation. The Society is located at the intersection of I-71 and 17^th Avenue in Columbus, OH.

Ancient Wasps Roosted in Rotting Dinosaur Eggs?

Wasps may have once roosted within rotting dinosaur eggs, an idea suggested by the discovery of exceptionally well-preserved fossils of insect cocoons.

Archaeologists show hi-tech vision of city’s historic past

Experts from construction firm Arcus and students from the Sheffield University produced the stunning image as part of an investigation into the make-up and significance of the 13th century Sheffield Castle. They drew on previous excavations and studies of contemporary castles during their research.

Historical charity site found in central China Archaeologists have have begun excavations of ruins in central China that have provided evidence for the existence of an early 20th-century non-governmental charity organization.

Mesolithic 'rest stop' found at new Sainsbury's site Archaeologists believe the remains of burned oak uncovered at the site of the first Sainsbury's in the Highlands to be evidence of an ancient "rest stop".

King’s Lynn Museum set for open day for British Festival of Archaeology

Visitors of the King’s Lynn Museum will find out about local archaeology and the museum's role in preserving the past. Members of the SHARP (Sedegford Historical and Archaeological Project) will be at the event with news of their latest finds.

Invasion of the Viking women unearthed

So much for Hagar the Horrible, with his stay-at-home wife, Helga. Viking women may have equaled men moving to England in medieval invasions, suggests a look at ancient burials.

Hawass Is Gone, Leaving Egyptian Antiquities in Crisis

The exit of Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s antiquities supremo, was as dramatic as most of his decade-long tenure. But he also leaves an empty stage at a time when the country’s archeologists and museums that stores its world-renowned treasures are badly in need of leadership.

The Bedouin

Students are a nigh-endless font of labour, but there just aren’t enough of us here to dig and haul away all the dirt at a reasonable pace. For that task, we have some of the local Bedouin in Jordan.