Ancient Digger Archaeology: July 2012

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Chambers, cairns and funerary practices in the Neolithic chambered tombs of western Europe

Presentation of the IVth meeting of the European Megalithic Studies Group by Chris Scarre, Professor and Head of the Department of Archaeology at Durham University.

Monday, July 30, 2012

The Creation of Public Spaces at Mumbai Archaeological Sites Hits a Wall

The precincts of Mumbai's six forts have been neglected, abused and encroached. The organizers of Open Mumbai, an exhibition currently on at Nehru Centre, have proposed that spaces for public leisure be created in their precincts.

In fact, the state department of archaeology as well as central Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had earlier announced similar plans to develop gardens, promenades and cafes in the precincts of the Sewri, Worli and Bandra forts. A similar plan was also in place for Vasai Fort in Thane district. But so severe was the damage to the monuments during restoration work that the larger plan to create public spaces in the precincts was truncated.

The only site where the dream took shape was in the precincts of Bandra Fort, where residents along with architect P K Das managed to create public and cultural spaces, though here too the state department of archaeology's restoration of the fort itself was a tragedy.

The six forts are at Sewri, Bandra, Worli, Mahim and Sion (two forts). Of these, Sion Fort is the largest, covering 53,810 sq m, and Kala Killa, also at Sion, is the smallest at 1,293 sq m. Architect Vikas Dilawari agrees that the precincts surrounding forts should be turned into public spaces and tourist destinations.

Indeed, all planners seem to be on common ground on certain issues, including demarcating these natural assets in the city's Development Plan (DP). It is another matter that these structures are anyway supposed to be 'protected' due to their historic status.

Dilawari suggests, "The revised DP, being prepared right now, should acknowledge these forts as our rich cultural assets, something missing in the earlier DPs. Once this is done, the restoration interventions proposed should encourage local, regional and national tourism . The easiest way to protect the historical structure is to have a recreational zone that serves the area, as in the case of Bandra Fort.”

He adds that the precinct around the fort should be regulated but residents should be allowed to perform necessary repairs. "However, there should be no highrises , which engulf the very presence and setting of the monument," Dilawari says. The ASI monuments now have a new central law to protect them, which needs to be integrated with the revised DP, he adds. Architect Chetan Raikar says the government neither has the resources nor the willingness to conserve forts, and hence "adaptive reuse" is the only viable option to maintain them. “

This is possible if these places are converted into open spaces to attract tourists and locals. Mumbai is devoid of such open spaces and the public would be more than willing to even pay if these forts are developed as parks while maintaining the identity of the ruins. This does require willingness from the government, though," he says. Dilawari says the government should also encourage small history museums as part of the adaptive reuse. The museums could have information about the forts as well as the locality. Subtle illumination could also draw attention to the structures. For instance, commuters who use the Bandra-Worli sea link pass the Worli Fort, but hardly know of its presence. The organizers of the Open Mumbai exhibit say that by connecting the fort precincts to neighbourhoods, their isolation and abuse would be halted.

Source: Times of India

Book Review: Masks of the Lost Kings

The Book Masks of the Lost Kings is an adventure into the ancient ruins of Egypt and the mysterious temples of the Mayans. There’s a romantic twist however, one that reminds me of the mummy movies. A beautiful ~~librarian~~ archaeologist named Suzy is snatched from Oxford University and thrust into a series of dangerous adventures and intrigue. All of this is happening after Ben Sanders, a treasure hunter (like Brandon Frasier) disappears in Mexico.

It’s a daring adventure book filled with imaginative far off places, renegades, assassins, and an ancient evil, which is a staple in these types of stories. Suzy joins forces with an astrophysicist named Tom Brooking, who together investigate the dark secrets of Tutankhamun’s tomb, the Holy Sepulchre and the mysterious Mayan Temple of Inscriptions.

Teaser

“Try 66.6 degrees,”

Frowning, Tom began gently shifting the transparencies. Suddenly a new image emerged, a clear picture of a green jade snake. It had friendly eyes and two feathers sprouted from its head.

“Oh my God,” Suzy said. “It’s a feathered snake.” “Yes. My father discovered it first in other Mayan sculptures. And the jade death mask is another of these Mayan transformers, as you can see, it’s like a doorway to a hidden image. I’m not sure my father worked out that the angle must be exactly 66.6 degrees though.”

My Opinion

Overall, Masks of the Lost Kings was an enjoyable read. The only inaccuracy, and this is a pretty big one, is the mention of the reversal of magnetic fields. If Suzy and Tom were taking this information into account when trying to unlock the Mayan code, then their information would be inaccurate. Reversals occur on average, every 250,000 years to 50 million year, not every 5 years. I was provided this information by a geology professor with a Ph.D whose husband works for NASA as an astrophysicist. I realize that this book is not a textbook, but I failed to see the accuracies of the solar numbers as well as the harsh solar winds, and when they actually occurred and on what timescale.

Consequently, the book does have many accurate astronomic and mathematical details that are accurate.

“Occasionally the earth’s magnetic field is not strong enough to resist the solar wind at a solar maximum or a big solar storm and that’s when we experience blackouts and satellite damage”. This is when we see the aurora borealis from many locals, instead of centralized, but it is very occasional, and very rare.

I think the field of archaeology has actually jaded my opinion, because the field is nothing like this book. I wish it were. I wish we all could have adventures while out digging ditches or postholes, but that’s why we have books. Either way, I think this book represents something deeper than just a love story based in the sun soaked desert sands. There’s a general desire to prove the legends and secrets of the Egyptians and Mayans were actually factual events and predictions. Several years of archaeology and anthropology classes, with professor who have spent their lives proving the entire Mayan 2012 end of the world synopsis is a big fat scam, has caused me to question every event that ever occurred thousands of years ago, unless I can actually hold something concrete in my hands.

My general opinion then is this: Archaeologists, historians, and even astrophysicists will question the details of the book instead of enjoying the very nature and storyline; students who actually take the time to read instead of text will get lost in words like “unlock”, “code”, “secrets”, and “double meanings”, and book lovers will appreciate the amount of details and research that went into telling such a fluid and fascinating tale.

I’m a mix of all of these I believe.

Author Bio

Tom Bane grew up in England. He studied physical chemistry at University and went on to work in the energy industry before becoming a writer. The son of an engineer and a school teacher, he has always had a fascination for the interplay between science and beliefs, and these themes provide the backdrop to his novels. He had the idea for the Suzy da Silva series one day in 2008 whilst out walking with his dog in Cornwall near Tintagel Castle. His first novel “Masks of the Lost Kings” took him over two years to write and research, visiting the ancient ruins of Egypt and South and Central America. His first novel was published in 2012, and has exceeded all expectations. Since then, he has been busy on his second novel in the Suzy da Silva series, with more novels in the series already in the pipeline. Tom appears regularly in the media and is highly rated by fans and booklovers alike. He spends his time living and writing in the USA, UK and Thailand.

Disclosure: Ancient Digger (that’s me) received Masks of the Lost Kings to review at my discretion. I was not compensating monetarily for the information provided.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

31 Early Christian Tombs Discovered in Serbia

The remains of 31 early Christian tombs have been discovered during archaeological excavations in Nis, Serbia's third largest city in the southern part of the country.

"These are the most important excavations carried out so far on the site of the early Christian necropolis of Jagodin-mala", said Toni Cerskov, who heads the team of 45 archaeologists, architects, anthropologists, photographers and workers at the site.

The tombs are located under the former textile factory Niteks, the Tanjug news agency reports. Cerskov said the tombs are among the most important findings regarding the early Christian period and can be compared to the discoveries made in the necropolis of Pecs, Hungary, Solin near Split in Croatia, Sophia in Bulgaria and Thessaloniki in Greece.

Excavation work will continue until the end of July. (ANSAmed)

Friday, July 27, 2012

Augustan Programs Which Rejuvenated the Roman State

Augustus was the Roman Empires’ first emperor and was the grandnephew of Julius Caesar and adopted son. Augustus went by the name “Octavian” and he brought an end to civil war and appeared to be restoring the republic, but in actuality, he ruled as an autocrat. He was credited as heralding the start of the Roman Empire, which would last for over four centuries. Augustus transformed Rome stating, “He found a city of bricks and left it a city of marble”. During his rule, we saw the creation of a new order, a powerful new army, a new social order and reforms, and many literary accomplishments.

In 27 BC, the senate gave him the imperial title “Augustus” and he used this position to not only create a new order, but to reform the army. Augustus created a new constitutional order, which consisted of the preceps (Augustus) and the senate. The senate now had the ability to affect the law, but not without prior consent of the preceps. In actuality the preceps had little power, but up until 23 BC, Augustus had also held the position of consul, which gave him imperium. After Augustus gave up the consulship in 23 BC, he was given maius imperium, so his position of consulship was unnecessary. Augustus’ authority insured that the senate would always be filled with officials who supported him. Augustus was well liked and highly respected. Tacitus commented, “Indeed, he attracted everybody’s goodwill by the enjoyable gift of peace…Opposition did not exist”¹ . The civil unrest was waning and Augustus was growing even more powerful, yet the crucial source of his power was the new army he created.

The Roman Army

The command of the Roman army during Caesar’s rule was an executive political office therefore its undertaking could be risky business for unscrupulous generals. Only six months after the tyrannical Caesar was murdered, Augustus sought friendly relations with his generals and friends. The Roman army was a source of upward mobility for the provinces, since the army’s purpose was also to maintain domestic order within them.

Colonies of veterans were created under Augustus, which would prove especially valuable in Romanizing the provinces. Augustus’ army maintained a standing army of twenty-eight legions. Those legionaries served twenty years and were primarily recruited from the citizenry in Italy. There was also a large contingent of auxiliary forces, serving as light infantry and cavalry. The auxiliaries during Augustus numbered close to 130,000 and they were primarily non-citizens. They served twenty-four years and they received citizenship after their term of service.

Augustus also established the Praetorian Guard. The Praetorian Guard consisted of nine thousand men and they had the main responsibility of protecting the preceps. They were recruited from Roman citizens in Italy and served for sixteen years. The Praetorian Guard would eventually play a pivotal role in making and disposing of emperors. The preceps’ relationship with the Praetorian Guard gave rise to a new distinction. When the preceps was victorious in battle, his troops bestowed on him the title imperator.

Although the army had a hand in domestic negotiations in the provinces, it was now the job of the provincial governors. The deputies were assigned by the preceps and known as legates. The legates were from the senatorial class and held office until the emperor chose to allow them. Although a dual system of provincial administration seems to have been created, in reality the greater proconsular imperium that had been granted to Augustus essentially gave him the power to overrule the senatorial governors and thus to establish a unified imperial policy ² .

Adding Territories

All provincial governors received salaries, cutting down on extortion, which had characterized the Late Republic. Augustus’ new policy allowed for a certain amount of autonomy in the cities. City councils allowed leading citizens to maintain a stable government and they were often rewarded for their successes. Military campaigns were also utilized to consolidate natural boundaries of the Roman Empire and increase revenues, thus leading to the increased size of the Roman Empire overall.

Augustus added more Roman territory to the empire than any other Roman. Augustus encouraged client kingdoms in the east, thus allowing him to use his army elsewhere. In 19 BC, after the pacification of Spain, Augustus conquered the maritime and central Alps and then expanded control over the Balkans up the Danube River. Augustus was essentially opening the doors to Germany. Around AD 6, the Romans advanced between the Elbe and Danube, but they ran into some difficulties. In AD 9, three legions under Varus were massacred by a coalition of German tribes led by Arminius. The defeat made Augustus realize that Rome’s power was limited and she should maintain her present borders, instead of expanding.

The Social Order

The social order was also altered under Augustus. One needed to possess property worth one million sesterces to belong to the senatorial order. When Augustus took charge, the senate had over a thousand members. Augustus reduced its size to six hundred but also added new men from wealthy families throughout Italy. Overall, Augustus was successful in winning the support of the senatorial class for his new order.

Equestrians were also given a share of power in the new imperial state. All Roman citizens of good standing who possessed property valued at 400,000 sesterces could now hold military and governmental offices. Citizens not of the senatorial or equestrian orders were provided with free grain and public spectacles to keep them from creating disturbances. By gaining wealth and serving as lower officers in the Roman legions, it was sometimes possible for them to advance to the equestrian order.

Public Reforms

Augustus instigated many reforms while in power. He believed that public religion had been in civil disarray since the 1st century, so he decided to restore traditional priesthoods that had fallen into disuse in the Late Republic, rebuilt many ruined temples and shrines, and constructed new ones to honor the Roman gods. Augustus also instituted a new religious cult that would serve to strengthen the Roman Empire.

Augustus promised that he would interfere with the workings in the senate, but he was driven for justice and he wanted to resurrect Rome to the glory it once was. He never considered himself to be a god, but he did permit the construction of temples to his deified adoptive father, Julius Caesar. Augustus also permitted the buildings of temples to Augustus and Roma.

Augustus also believed that the center of Rome was corrupt and that increased wealth had undermined Roman simplicity. These lack of morals led to an increase in divorce, a falling birthrate among the upper classes, and lax behavior manifested in hedonistic parties and the love affairs of prominent Romans with fashionable women and elegant boys ³. Augustus looked to restore piouty in the Roman people, so he also made adultery a criminal offense. He revised tax laws and penalized unmarried men, widowers, and married couples who had fewer than three children.

Literature

The high point of Latin literature was also reached in the time of Augustus. The most distinguished poet of the Augustan Age was Virgil, who welcomed Augustus’ rule, and wrote his greatest work The Aeneid, in the emperor's honor. Horace, another prominent literary figure during the Augustan age, wrote the Satires, a combination of poems on a variety of subjects. Additionally, paying homage to Greek culture and literature, which flowed quite deeply throughout the city, Horace used the imaginary letter in verse-to provide a portrait of his friends and society and the things he held most dear: a simple life, good friends, and his beloved countryside.

Ovid was a youth who often ridiculed Roman values. His most notable work was the Metamorphoses, but it was The Art of Love, which pushed the boundaries of upper class Roman sexual morals. Augustus was not pleased, and Ovid ignored the wishes of Augustus to resist the urge to write such trifles. He paid a price for it in AD 8 when he was exiled for supposedly having sexual relations with the emperor’s daughter.

The most famous Latin prose work, written during Augustus, was by the historian Livy. Livy's masterpiece was a history of Rome from the foundation of the city to 9 BC written in 142 books. Livy's History of Rome celebrated Rome's greatness. He built scene upon scene that not only revealed the character of the chief figures but also demonstrated the virtues that had made Rome great. He also composed dome scathing work called the Rape of Lucretia.

The Age of Augustus saw the beginnings of the Roman Empire along with grand feats of architecture and a systematic principle for justification applicable to all people and their rights as citizens. The army continued to evolve in the Roman Empire as new emperors with effective leadership and organizational skills adopted new reforms, key to the success of the army and the empire. When Augustus finally died in AD 14, he left an order, which was so highly regarded and respected that few Romans looked for an alternative. Indeed, as the Roman historian Tacitus pointed out, "Actium had been won before the younger men were born. Even most of the older generation had come into a world of civil wars. Practically no one had ever seen truly Republican government.... Political equality was a thing of the past; all eyes watched for imperial commands”⁴.

Sources

Spielvogel, Jackson J, Western Civilization. 7th Edition, (Belmonst: Thomson Higher Education, 2009).
Ibid, p 109.
Ibid, p 152.
Colin M Wells, The Roman Empire, (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1995), 30

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Facts About Julia Domna

Septimius Severus was connected with a family of remarkable Syrian women through the marriage to Julia Domna. Their family had actively pursued a leading role in Imperial politics. Julia Domna, and her sister, Julia Maesa, were well educated, shrewd, and tough. Their father was the high priest of the sun god Elagabalus (Heliogabalus) at the Arabian city of Emesa in Syria. They were accustomed to power and influence. Julia Domna was very interested in philosophy and religion and patronized pagan sophists.

Julia Domna had enjoyed great influence at the beginning of Septimius Severus’ reign but had been outflanked for a time by the ambitious Praetorian Prefect Plautianus and had devoted herself to creating a circle of influential academics and scholars. She was able to recover her former strength after the fall of Plautianus, to which she had probably contributed through Caracalla, and she had accompanied Septimius Severus to Britain in AD 208¹.

After Septimius Severus’ death, Julia Domna had tried to promote the interests of her son, Geta, but failing to prevent his murder, Julia Domna had made the best of it with Caracalla. She accompanied Caracalla to Antioch on his Parthian expedition in AD 215 and died there soon after his assassination from breast cancer. Evidently, however, Caracalla's mother Julia Domna was initially left in peace, but when Julia Domna started to conspire with the military he ordered her to leave Antioch. Macrinus then forced her sister, Maesa, to retire to Syria.

Women of prominent families received more public recognition as patronesses of their communities in Roman Africa than anywhere else in the Empire². Septimius Severus had given great public prominence, as Caligula had done with his sisters, to Julia Domna, perhaps because of his own Punic descent form North Africa.

Domna’s likeness was portrayed on several coins portraying her as Great Mother Cybele. On others, she is seated on a throne of Juno, Mother of the Augusti, Mother of the Senate, or Mother of the Fatherland.

Allen M Ward, Fritz M Heichelheim, and Cedric A Yeo, A History of the Roman People, (Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2010) 377.
Ibid, p 393.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Speed Archaeology: Now This Is How It’s Done

How did I ever miss this humorous rendition of speed archaeology. It’s not the video you are use to seeing by Eddie Izzard. This is Eddie in the actual field watching archaeology is all its glory, SLOW.

There is a grand archaeological surprise at the end so hang in there.

Have a Great Week Ancient Diggers!

Archaeology News: July 23, 2012

With several dozen rooms, the House of the

Telephus Relief was 'top-level Roman real

estate'. Photograph: Art Archive/Alamy

Buried by Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago, archaeologists at Herculaneum have excavated and carried out the first-ever full reconstruction of the timber roof of a Roman villa: House of the Telephus Relief.

For almost two millennia, the piles of wood lay undisturbed and largely intact under layers of hardened volcanic material.

Now, after three years of painstaking work, archaeologists at Herculaneum have not only excavated and preserved the pieces, but worked out how they fitted together, achieving the first-ever full reconstruction of the timberwork of a Roman roof.

Archaeologists are to dig at a Bronze Age site near Peterborough for the first time in 10 years. They are hoping to find clues about an ancient timber structure at Flag Fen. In previous digs they found the UK's oldest wheel and gold rings more than 3,500 years old.

Israeli archaeologists have recently unearthed a palace at the Tel Hatzor National Park in Upper Galilee, revealing rare findings – jugs containing scorched wheat from some 3,400 years ago.

A team of U.S. and Iranian archaeologists have recently commenced a series of underwater excavations to identify the ruins of the historical port of Siraf in the Persian Gulf. With a about an 1100-year-old history, Siraf is located in the northwestern part of Bushehr Province in southern Iran.

Prof Higham (72) has been awarded the Grahame Clark medal for 2012 by the British Academy. Awarded for the first time in 1993, it is handed out every two years by the national academy for the humanities and social sciences.

Archaeologists are finding ancient remains that might be of Native Americans beneath the reconstruction of Highway 35. Scientists from the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center have found almost two dozen likely skeletal fragments. They've also found hundreds of food and garbage pits, cooking hearths, tools and other artifacts of the Oneota people who inhabited the Onalaska area between about 1300 and 1600 A.D.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Gandhara Relics Cause Police and Archaeologists Numerical Headaches

Amid press reports that some artefacts have been stolen from the Awami Colony police station, both parties associated with the case are coming up with a different total for the statues. While National Museum’s director Mohammad Shah Bokhari claims to have photographed and documented around 330 pieces earlier, the newly posted SHO at the police station, Hatim Marwat, says there are only 308 artifacts.

The police had seized a container full of Buddhist relics on July 6 and then found some more in a Korangi warehouse on July 8. As the police were investigating the case, archaeology experts, including officials from Sindh culture department and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s archaeology department, were called in to record the details of the seized relics. Many of the Buddhist relics thought to be of the third century turned out to be fake, making it even more difficult for archaeologists to determine their exact origin. According to an antiquities officer, experts are yet to determine how many of the Buddhist relics are fake. “We need resources such as forensic analysis to determine the authenticity of each of the relic,” he said. “Right now we don’t have that facility.”

Some of the ancient relics had even been damaged due to the careless handling by police officers and labourers during shifting. The artefacts were dumped in a compound of the Awami Colony police station. Reports in the press suggested that piece by piece, the relics were being stolen due to the casual security at the police station. There were reports that three statues have gone missing, but there has been no official confirmation.

Awami Colony SHO Marwat told The Express Tribune that all of the seized relics were documented by the Sindh culture department officials and have documentation numbers on them. “It is untrue that artefacts have been stolen [from the police station],” he said. “To our knowledge, there are only 308 pieces. We don’t have information about the rest.” However, National Museum’s Bokhari told The Express Tribune that photographic evidence and records were available of 330 artefacts. If some have gone missing, it is the responsibility of the police, he added.

“The police have their custody, and we can’t keep check all day and night to see where the idols are and how they are being handled,” Bokhari said. “If they have been stolen, the police are to be blamed [for it].”

The artefacts will remain at the police station until the next court hearing on July 24. It is expected that the court will handed them over to the culture department. When asked why the Gandhara relics were dumped in the courtyard, the SHO replied: “The statues are not watermelons that need to be kept in a refrigerator. Look at their size and weight. Where else would we keep them?”

Police sources said that the former SHO was transferred as some statues had gone missing from the police station. But Marwat denied this, saying his predecessor’s posting was a routine matter.

Source: Tribune

Pharaoh's playground revealed by missing fractals

Everything from broccoli florets to riverbeds divide and branch in fractal patterns, or patterns that repeat themselves at ever-smaller scales. In Egypt, archaeologists are taking advantage of that fact to look for riverbed patterns in the Western Desert that don't appear fractal, the New Scientist reported. The Western Desert is where King Sneferu — father of the pharaoh who built the Great Pyramid of Giza — practiced his own pyramid-building. If nature loves fractals, the researchers reasoned, then non-fractal riverbeds may have been altered during Sneferu's and other Old Kingdom rulers' reigns, 4,500 years ago.

By analyzing now-dry riverbeds, archaeologists from the Freie Universität Berlin in Germany and the German Archaeological Institute in Egypt discovered that at least 2.3 square miles (6 square kilometers) of desert was altered by people, the New Scientist reported. That is a surprisingly large area, lead researcher Arne Ramisch told the magazine. Without the fractal analysis, determining the affected area would be difficult because most other signs of human activity have worn away over the millennia.

An archeologist who was not involved in the German researchers' work, Keith Challis of the University of Birmingham in the U.K., told the New Scientist that looking for fractal patterns is a new and interesting way to look for human modifications in landscapes. The German archaeologists published their findings in the July 17 issue of the journal Quaternary Internation.

Source: New Scientist

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Archaeology News: 1783 courthouse discovered

An effort to update the streets around Stafford’s government complex has helped the county discover a major piece of its past.

Archaeologists uncovered the county’s original courthouse, once occupied by federal troops in the Civil War, during five weeks of excavation work for a project to make the courthouse area more pedestrian friendly.

“There’s no question—this is the 1783 courthouse and clerk’s office. There’s no ambiguity here. We know what it is and where it is. And it’s in pretty good shape,” said Clifton Huston, principal archaeologist with Dominion Engineering Associates.

The dig was the second phase of archaeological work required by the state as part of the $2.7 million grant-funded Courthouse Area Streetscape Improvement project.

Source: Fredericksburg

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Kansas Couple Buys a Home Just to Conduct Archaeology Excavations

Really! Who doesn’t, at least where archaeologists are concern, buy a home without the the intention of digging a few holes?

Just add a video crew and the Saturday morning activity at the corner of Brookcliff and Riverland drives in Cayce, S.C., could be a pilot for a new reality show --- a combination of "Flip This House" and "The History Detectives.”

David and Modesta Brinkman bought a foreclosed house in the Riverland Park subdivision a couple of years ago primarily to do archaeological work in the yard. They have put some work into renovating the 1,050-square-foot home, but they won't be selling it until their crew of history buffs finishes cutting one-meter square holes in the yard and sifting the dirt searching for artifacts. They're finding plenty of pottery and glassware, pieces of brick and nails, and at least one pipe stem, mostly from the Revolutionary War era to the middle 19th century.

Most of the artifacts are only a couple of feet below the surface. "One of the neighbors saw what we were doing and said, 'Oh, I've been finding that in my garden. I've just been throwing it away,'" David Brinkman says. History is that matter-of-fact in the area near where Congaree Creek runs into the Congaree River.

The bluffs on the west side of the river have been public gathering places for thousands of years. Riverland Park was built on the same bluff as Saxe Gotha (1730) and Granby (1760), the original European settlements in Lexington County. Professional digs also have found plenty of Native American artifacts on higher ground not far away from the Brinkmans' house.

One wing of Gen. William T. Sherman's Union troops marched up nearby Old State Road on their way to Columbia near the end of the Civil War in 1865. David Brinkman became obsessed with the area's river history a few years ago when he found an old bridge abutment in his own Richland County, S.C., backyard overlooking the Broad River. He has researched historical bridges and ferry crossings on the Broad, Congaree and Saluda rivers. The remains of what experts believe is the dock of Friday's Ferry, a Colonial-era river crossing, has been found in the riverbank near where the Cayce Riverwalk enters Riverland Park subdivision.

George Washington crossed the Congaree at Friday's Ferry during his goodwill tour of the South in 1791. When a house across from the Riverwalk entrance showed up on the market as a repossession, Brinkman snatched it up for $46,000, thinking further proof of a ferry crossing might lurk under the topsoil. After volunteering and learning at a professional dig in Greenwood County, S.C., the Brinkmans recruited friends to help them do similar work in their Cayce yard.

Most Saturdays the past few weeks, they've been digging carefully in well-measured layers and then sifting the soil to search for artifacts. Braving the heat last Saturday with the Brinkmans were eighth-grade history teacher Dean Hunt, retired National Guard officer and history buff Fred Morrison, and Ken Banks, who like David Brinkman is a software engineer with a silly sense of humor and an appreciation for the region's past.

"It's the only place I know where you can do an archaeological dig and come inside and watch TV and get a drink of water," Hunt said during a break from the heat.

About two feet down that morning, they hit paydirt. Each shovel full of soil seemed to produce a couple of pottery shards or a nail fragment. Though a couple of holes in the back yard yielded few items, almost every hole along the front-yard fence has yielded several plastic storage bags full of artifacts. None of the breakable items are intact. Even if all of the shards don't fit together physically, they paint a vivid picture of the variety of uses of this land since the 1700s. (Few Native American artifacts have been found.)

"We are off to an amazing start," said Brinkman, who has recorded all of the finds online at http://www.historysoft.com/granby/index.html. "We are getting hotter. We really do have artifacts from the Granby period." Archaeologist Natalie Adams Pope, who coordinated a professional dig for the nearby Cayce water plant 12 years ago, has looked over some of the team's discoveries. She agrees some are from the Granby era. Some others are from as recently as the 1960s, when the Riverland Park subdivision was built. "It's near where downtown Granby was, and some of the artifacts I saw date to the right time period," Pope said.

Professional archaeologists generally discourage amateurs from doing their own digs, but Pope appreciates Brinkman's love for history. "There are two sides to it," Pope said. "We want people to look at sites in a professional manner, but at the same time, we don't want to squelch the public's enthusiasm for archaeology." In this case, "it's his own property, and he's following fairly standard measures," she said.

Brinkman's work might not meet the highest professional standards. The crew tends to use big shovels and picks more than carefully digging with trowels, a method that yields more accurate depths of artifacts to help with dating. But most of the artifacts probably already have been moved several times, either when the land was plowed to grow crops, when floods hit the area or when the precursor to Riverland Drive was cleared. David Brinkman has used computer overlays of the old Granby and Saxe Gotha maps along with individual property plats to determine his property was owned by John Matthews during the Saxe Gotha area. The 18th-century trading post of Thomas Brown was nearby.

When the digging is finally done, David Brinkman hopes to donate the artifacts to a museum, likely the Cayce Historical Museum. Then it'll be time to work on flipping the house rather than the soil. "We've had people interested in renting it," he said, "but I want to wait until we're done with digging.”

Source: Kansas City Star

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Mona Lisa's remains found in Florence?

Excavation of a grave inside the medieval Convent
of Saint Ursula in Florence on July 17, 2012, during
research for the burial site of Lisa Gherardini, wife of
the wealthy Florentine silk merchant Francesco
del Giocondo, the model who inspired Leonardo
da Vinci's painting "The Mona Lisa”.
(AFP Photo/Claudio Giovannini)

Scientists claim that they might have found the skeleton of the woman who posed for Leonardo Da Vinci’s most famous painting.

Most art historians agree that Lisa del Giocondo was the woman who inspired Da Vinci to create his iconic work. Now the archaeologists working in Florence are pretty convinced they have found the remains of the lady, merchant Francesco del Giocondo’s wife Lisa Gherardini.

The skeleton was unearthed beneath the medieval Convent of Saint Ursula in Florence. Knowing she became a nun after her husband died and lived in the convent until her death in 1542, a team of archaeologists began excavation works at the abandoned convent last year.

A female skull along with other fragments of human bones will undergo DNA analysis and compared with the DNA data in the bones of the Lisa Gherardini’s children to establish the truth. If the scientists confirm the DNA belongs to Lisa Gherardini, then specialists will try to reconstruct her face and try to solve the mystery of her smile.

“We don't know yet if the bones belong to one single skeleton or more than one,” archaeologist in charge of the excavation works Silvano Vinceti explains.

Yet in his opinion the find confirms, “that in St.Ursula convent there are still human bones and we cannot exclude that among them there are bones belonging to Lisa Gherardini.”

Mona Lisa is considered to be the most famous painting in the world, and is owned by the French government and is displayed in Louvre. Da Vinci created his masterpiece between 1503 and 1519.

Source: rt.com

Akko’s Ancient harbor Discovered

In archaeological excavations the Israel Antiquities Authority is conducting at the foot of Akko’s southern seawall, installations were exposed that belong to a harbor that was operating in the city already in the Hellenistic period (third-second centuries BCE) and was the most important port in Israel at that time.

The finds were discovered during the course of archaeological excavations being carried out as part of the seawall conservation project undertaken by the Old Akko Development Company and underwritten by the Israel Lands Administration.

The first evidence indicating the possible existence of this quay was in 2009 when a section of pavement was discovered comprised of large kurkar flagstones dressed in a technique reminiscent of the Phoenician style that is characteristic of installations found in a marine environment. This pavement, which was discovered underwater, raised many questions amongst archaeologists. Besides the theory that this is a quay, some suggested this was the floor of a large building.

Marine Archaeology Unit , “Among the finds we’ve discovered now are large mooring stones that were incorporated in the quay and were used to secure sailing vessels that anchored in the harbor c. 2,300 years ago. This unique and important find finally provides an unequivocal answer to the question of whether we are dealing with port installations or the floor of a building. In addition, we exposed collapse comprised of large dressed stones that apparently belonged to large buildings or installations, which was spread of a distance of dozens of meters. What emerges from these finds is a clear picture of systematic and deliberate destruction of the port facilities that occurred in antiquity”. Sharvit adds, “Recently a find was uncovered that suggests we are excavating part of the military port of Akko. We are talking about an impressive section of stone pavement c. 8 meters long by c. 5 meters wide that was partially exposed. The floor is delimited on both sides by two impressive stone walls that are also built in the Phoenician manner. It seems that the floor between the walls slopes slightly toward the south, and there was a small amount of stone collapse in its center. Presumably this is a slipway, an installation that was used for lifting boats onto the shore, probably warships in this case”. According to Sharvit, “Only further archaeological excavations will corroborate or invalidate this theory”.

The bottom of the ancient harbor was exposed at the foot of the installations. There the mooring stones were found as well as thousands of fragments of pottery vessels, among which are dozens of intact vessels and metallic objects. The preliminary identification of the pottery vessels indicates that many of them come from islands in the Aegean Sea, including Knidos, Rhodes, Kos and others, as well as other port cities located along the Mediterranean coast.

These finds constitute solid archaeological evidence regarding the location of the Hellenistic harbor and perhaps the military port. According to Sharvit, “It should be understood that until these excavations the location of this important harbor was not clear. Remains of it were found at the base of the Tower of Flies and in the region of the new marina in excavations conducted in the early 1980s by the late Dr. Elisha Linder and the late Professor Avner Raban. But now, for the first time, parts of the harbor are being discovered that are adjacent to the ancient shoreline and the Hellenistic city. Unfortunately, parts of the quay continue beneath the Ottoman city wall – parts that we will probably not be able to excavate in the future.

Nevertheless, in those sections of the harbor that extend in the direction of the sea and the modern harbor the excavation will continue in an attempt to learn about the extent of the ancient harbor, and to try and clarify if there is a connection between the destruction in the harbor and the destruction wrought by Ptolemy in 312 BCE, the destruction that was caused by the Hasmonean uprising in 167 BCE or by some other event.

Source: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Using Metal Detectors in Archaeology

What are the Best Practices for Using Metal Detectors in Archaeology?

Michael Bernzweig of MetalDetector.com with the
XP DEUS Wireless metal detector and the Lesche Recovery
Tool. Photo © 2011 Detector Electronics Corp.

According to the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA) “As the use of metal detectors has become generally accepted in historical archaeology, it has become clear that many professional archaeologists have not received training in how best to maximize their metal detecting experience.”

The RPA has recently certified a two-day; 16-credit course entitled “Advanced Metal Detecting for the Archaeologist” (AMDA). Through this course professional archaeologists will have the opportunity to get hands on field experience and training on the best practices to employ when using metal detectors in field research.

How to select a suitable metal detector for specific recoveries

Michael Bernzweig of MetalDetector.com said, “Consider the type of circuitry, frequency of operation and design of the detector for your application.” Modern metal detectors use either VLF or Pulse Induction designs. Lower frequencies are better for locating iron, copper and relics. Higher frequencies are best for locating gold and precious metals. Most land based metal detectors feature waterproof search coils. If your research takes you under water, select a fully submersible model. RPA Instructor Patrick Severts has utilized the multi frequency XP DEUS wireless metal detector in his field work.

How to select the best metal detector for your site

Many research sites draw archaeologists to remote locations. Mr. Bernzweig went on to say, “you should consider the weight, portability and features required for your site.” If you are hiking to a remote location choose a light weight model that collapses to a compact size. If you will be hunting in salt water, choose a waterproof detector that features a pulse induction circuit. Just like a camera, some models feature a turn on and go design. Other metal detectors allow the operator to fine tune every last setting. Are you more of a visual person or are you better with your hearing? Some models feature target identification using a visual LCD display. Other models offer tone based target identification.

How to budget for your equipment costs

Like all scientific devices, metal detectors range from entry level models to units that push the limits of technology. If your budget is restricted, you can start off with a basic model for under $500. Top models like the XP DEUS cost $1,899.00. Be sure to allocate funds in your budget for accessories like headphones, a pinpointer and optional search coils. For further research, MetalDetector.com provides detailed specifications and a comprehensive learning library online.

Biography:

Michael Bernzweig manages MetalDetector.com in Southborough, MA. He earned his degree from Babson College in Wellesley, MA and has written extensively on the subject of metal detecting since the mid 1980’s. He has traveled world-wide in his pursuit of educating, exploring and advising others in the proper use of metal detectors. Outside of the business he enjoys mentoring students, being involved in the community and spending time with his family.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Aztec-era remains found in Mexican settlement

Skeleton dating back about 700 years, discovered at
archeological site in Mexico City, Friday, July 13, 2012.
(AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)

Archaeologists in Mexico City have unearthed the skulls and other bones of 15 people, most of them the children of traveling merchants during Aztec times.

Researcher Alejandra Jasso Pena says they also found ceramic flutes, bowls, incense burners, the remains of a dog that was sacrificed to accompany a child in the afterlife and other artifacts of a pre-Columbian civilization.

Jasso Pena said Friday that construction was about to start on five buildings in a Mexico City neighborhood when the National Institute of Anthropology and History asked to carry out an excavation of the site first.

Experts suspected the site was an important ceremonial center for the Tepanec tribe between 1200 and 1300. The influential traders living there were called Pochtecas. Archaeologists say excavation is continuing at the site.

Source: Associated Press

Ancient Digger Composer Mary Gunderson Introduces Mystic Score

A few years ago, Mary Gunderson composed a theme song for a little blog, which eventually became Ancient Digger. Her music transcends the boundaries of ancient lands and mysterious characters, entrenched in passion and love, fate and understanding.

Her inspiring compositions have once again turned into a musical triumph called Mystic Score.

This new CD is compilation of cultural songs which touch on the subjects of Bollywood, Arabian Nights, the mysteries of the Egyptians temples, Indigo Nights, Native American rituals, as well as some tribal melodies which transport you to the farthest reaches of the earth.

It would be hard for me to pick a favorite song, as most of Mary’s music always helps me draw inspiration when I’m lacking in that particular department.

This CD, I believe, represents what Ancient Digger is really about, and the many subjects and cultures we try to investigate and represent.

The song "In the Courts of Pharaoh" is a fascinating trip through the hieroglyphic carved walls of Pharaoh’s tomb, and Dances with Fire is a stirring and provocative song which tempts the very nature of what we believe is sacred. Siddha Bhakti, most certainly a favorite of mine, is simply a soothing and comforting invocation of the gods, the earth, and nature.

If you draw inspiration from music like I do, and you appreciate music that embodies global cultures, then you will love Mystic Score.

Mystic Score is available at Wise Awakenings for $12.00

You may also here a sampling of Mary’s music at Soundcloud.

USC Archaeologists Teaches Students About Sport Diver Archaeology

Bobby Whiddon/ Bluffton Spotted Archaeologist
Ashley Deming shows the parts of the ship that have been
recovered so far.

University of South Carolina maritime archaeologists are planning to teach students how to dive off the state’s coast and uncover the secrets of an old shipwreck.

Spokeswoman Megan Sexton said Friday’s event in Hilton Head Island featured archaeologist Ashley Deming, who is teaching a sport diver archaeology management course. The course trains licensed scuba divers to become archaeological eyes and ears as they identify and record valuable information about the shipwreck.

Deming is using sections of a wooden vessel that was beached near Harbour Town Golf Links and has a 10-foot portion that is exposed above water. Sexton said the vessel may be from the Civil War era and has not yet been explored by archaeologists.

Source: AP

Related

The Best Schools For Nautical, Maritime, and Underwater Archaeology in the US

Sunday, July 15, 2012

This Week’s Popular Stories: Sunday July 15, 2012

Find out what archaeology news and articles visitors are sharing every week on Ancient Digger by visiting every Sunday morning. Grab a cup of espresso or tea and settle in, there are some spicy stories this week if you missed them a few weeks ago.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Need a Laugh? Funniest Archaeology Comics And Photos

We all know that archaeology is slow, dirty, and most of the time, boring. It’s not like the Indiana Jones movies we watched prior to taking 8 years out of our lives, and spending those years immersed in a pile of dirt or pit of dusty artifacts. It’s just not that exciting. Yet, there’s such a humorous side to digging, and a genuine sarcasm that many non archaeologists don’t always understand. That’s why we have comics.

Comics tell us everything we need to know about the past in the funniest and most inaccurate way possible. So without further ado, enjoy these comedic and sublime depictions of a field I like to call “the archaeology of sarcastic comedy and devilish humor”.

Have a great weekend Ancient Diggers!

Archaeologist and the Trowel

Dimension 11:11

Theosophical Ruminations

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Top Archaeology News: June 12, 2012

Archaeologists and engineers from the University of Southampton are collaborating with the British Museum to examine buried Roman coins using the latest X-ray imaging technology.

Originally designed for the analysis of substantial engineering parts, such as jet turbine blades, the powerful scanning equipment at Southampton's u-VIS Centre for Computed Tomography is being used to examine Roman coins buried in three archaeological artefacts from three UK hoards.

Archaeologists have discovered what may be among the oldest remains at the ancient site of Selinunte: an ancient temple.

Inside, fragments have been found that help explain the site's significance: an offering to Demeter, the goddess of grain and agriculture; a small flute, made of bone and dating to 570 BC; a small Corinthian vase. These findings are critically important in helping archeologists to date the temple where they were found, to around the 6th century BC - possibly the oldest in the archaeological area of Selinunte in Sicily.

If you want to find your own dinosaur fossils, Schenectady County Community College is offering a program that will give you some archaeology experience. The school is offering a certificate of proficiency in archaeology. Students can enroll in individual courses or complete the full curriculum. This summer the school is offering hands-on experiences for both adults and kids.

For more information, click here.

Shengavit District, Yerevan–Work is progressing on much-needed repairs and maintenance at the Shengavit Historical and Archaeological Culture Preserve in Yerevan. Thanks to support from the Cambridge Yerevan Sister City Association (CYSCA) and members of the U.S. Armenian community, Shengavit’s director, Vladimir Tshagharyan, is implementing critically needed maintenance and repairs at the site. Tshagharyan was appointed Shengavit’s director about two years ago.

Scientists have found that Native American populations -- from Canada to the southern tip of Chile -- arose from at least three migrations, with the majority descended entirely from a single group of First American migrants that crossed over through Beringia, a land bridge between Asia and America that existed during the ice ages, more than 15,000 years ago.

n the 1920s archaeologists discovered more than 1,000 cattle skulls buried at an early Iron Age stock enclosure at Harrow Hill in Sussex, while a huge Iron Age midden (rubbish heap) covering at least 2.5 hectares has been found at East Chisenbury in Wiltshire. Each is thought to represent the remains of vast annual feasts on grasslands shared between local communities, perhaps during the annual round-ups of their collective herds.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Mysterious artifacts uncovered in Mishawaka

It's a mystery in Mishawaka. Artifacts, more than 100 years old were unearthed by landscapers Tuesday on the edge of the city near University Drive and Fir Road.

An Indiana Conservation Officer on scene quickly identified the objects as bones and cement stones.

Archaeologists say the bones found aren't human and the monuments found date back to before 1870 making all these finds, artifacts.

"People are finding things in their yards all the time," said South Bend Archaeologist and IUSB Professor Jay Vanderveen. “The people doing some landscaping found something that looked like a headstone and some bones.”

Instinct and observation told these researchers the bones didn't look like human remains.

“The bones have been cut and there's knife marks on it, when we see that like a bone saw, that’s something that a butcher would use," said Jonathan Boyd, an Indiana Conservation Officer with the Department of Natural Resources.

"Most likely it's a cow bone, there's a long and part of rib bones," Vanderveen said.

So now the questions lie in the monuments – Vanderveen can't decipher the stones just yet.

"The first one appears to be a Bible,” he said. “That’s very common when it comes to headstones. The second could be a dove, a flame, I’m going to Google this and see what I find."

The three cement shaped objects could be old tombstones, garden décor or family markers that date back to pre-1870 … that's when officials believe this piece of land was a family farm.

There’s still a bigger piece of the stone in the ground and Vanderveen said more excavation is needed.

"This will be preserved until we can do a little more digging just to see to be sure there is not a grave or anything else," Vanderveen said.

The Department of Natural Resources in Indianapolis is helping with this investigation, trying to pinpoint who lived on that plot of land around the 1800s.

The landscapers followed perfect protocol Tuesday when they unearthed these objects … they called the DNR and police. In cases like this it could be a murder case or missing person case so it's important to have the authorities handle these situations.

And for the curious, beware … Anyone caught trespassing at the site could be charged. Conservation Officers note it is illegal to dig for artifacts.

Source: Colleen Ferreira (WSBT News)

Christian Archaeology Site Pops Up in Bulgaria

An ancient Christian burial site with preserved murals has been uncovered during excavation work for the electricity network of the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv.

The archaeological find, provisionally dated 4th c. AD, is part of the southern necropolis of ancient Philippopolis and measures 1 by 2 metres.

Its two large walls are covered with a depiction of the Resurrection of Lazarus, painted in five colours.

The two short walls are covered with a number of Christian symbols, but the Lazarus murals are believed to be unique for Bulgaria, said archaeologist Maya Martinova.

The burial site has actually been uncovered in early May, but the process of study has lasted till now due to the complicated urban infrastructure it is entangled in.

The cemetery popped up during excavations by electricity utility EVN, and is also located close to modern-day natural gas and sewerage pipes in the center of Bulgaria's second-largest city.

For now, provisional plans would see the murals removed and exhibited in one of Plovdiv's museums.

Source: Novinite

Achaemenid Swage System at Persepolis Reopened By Archaeologists

Iranian Archaeologists have begun work on unearthing the Persepolis swage system, which in ancient times diverted rainwater from the platform to prevent flooding, reported the Persian service of ISNA on Tuesday.

According to the news, apart from the sewage system, archaeologists have identified three water and irrigation systems at Persepolis, which circulated water over the platform. The sewage system, which is one of the most complex systems in the ancient world, diverted excess water flowing down from Mount Rahamt, away from the platform.

The Achaemenid engineers constructed and implemented the sewage system inside the platform before construction of the citadel. The oldest sewage system at Persepolis is dated to the reign of Darius the Great (r. 550-486 BCE).

Archaeologists believe that by unearthing and re-opening the ancient waterways and the sewage systems, they will be able to resolve the flood issue that Persepolis has been suffering from, particularly in the past few years.

Last year archaeologists warned the authorities that if no necessary measures were taken immediately to resolve the flood issue at Persepolis, the ancient edifice will cease to exit within 10 years.

Source: The News Section of the Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies (CAIS)

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Dig Reveals Even More Secrets of Roman Mayport

An even more fascinating picture is emerging of Roman Maryport as excavations reach the halfway point.

The team had already identified at least one “monumental structure” on the hilltop which overlooks the Roman fort and the Senhouse Museum.

But now archaeologists believe that they have found evidence of more than one structure, some of which would have been supported by gigantic timber pillars.

Professor Ian Haynes of Newcastle University, who is leading the excavation, said that a lot of interesting features were coming up under the trowel.

But he was not prepared to “float any hypotheses” about what the structures had been -at least not yet. He said: “We have a lot of features and suggestions of not one but multiple structures coming through.

“What is crucial from an archaeological point of view is that we can see different features inter-cutting one another.”

A closer investigation of how these features relate to one another will help experts to establish a “sequence” or chronology for the site.

At present, archaeologists don’t know which of the structures actually came first.

Prof Haynes said that the picture emerging now appeared much more “complex” than it appeared on the basis of the 2011 excavations.

“What I’m seeing in terms of character and complexity is more exciting,” he said.

However, the excavations have been somewhat hampered by rainfall.

A certain amount of moisture on the ground can make it easier to spot remains but too much can destroy archaeological evidence and delay a dig.

“We are very much at the mercy of the elements,” he added.

Meanwhile, the next crop of volunteers were yesterday gearing up for the excavations.

Graham Ryan, 67, of Beckfoot was also at last year’s Maryport dig and has been involved in excavations at the Roman fort and also the settlement of Vindolanda. He said: “Everybody is excited and perhaps we will know the full story this year.”

Last year’s excavation helped debunk an age-old myth when the team proved beyond doubt that the Roman altars found on the site had not been buried as part of a religious ritual but had been used in the foundation of the hilltop structures now being investigated.

The Senhouse Roman Museum Trust and Newcastle University started the second year of excavation of the Hadrian’s Wall Trust-owned Camp Farm last month.

The Trust-funded excavation is understood to be costing between £60,000 and £100,000.

Source: New and Star

Top Archaeology News for June 10, 2012

Monastery Deir Mar Musa (Robert Mason)

In 2009, Dr Mason was at work at the monastery when, walking nearby, he came across a series of rock formations: lines of stone, stone circles, and what appeared to be tombs. “Much more detailed examinations are needed to understand the structures,” said Dr Mason, who talked about the finds and about archaeology at the monastery at Harvard’s Semitic Museum. But that he isn’t sure when he will be able to return to Syria, if ever.

The origins of Jewish dietary or kosher laws (kashrut) have long been the subject of scholarly research and debate. Regardless of their origins, however, these age-old laws continue to have a significant impact on the way many observant Jews go about their daily lives.

Mike Foller hard at work.

The grove of trees obscured signs of civilization, but Michael Roller searched anyway. Soon he and fellow archaeologist Paul Shackel noticed depressions where foundations had settled from houses that once stood at the end of a path off Canal Street in Lattimer.

Roller, a graduate student from the University of Maryland, and students working with him this summer began digging test pits. Soon they started marking off 5-foot squares with string and scraping into the past. While sifting the dirt from each layer that they excavated, they found children's marbles, glass shards, pottery chips, buttons and bits from pipes favored by tobacco smokers.

As they dug deeper, they hit the rock foundations of homes built by coal miners as many as 120 years ago. The houses started collapsing in the 1940s and '50s. Locals remember one standing into the 1960s. Nowadays, people, if they give the grove a second look, would think nothing ever existed there.

Hernando De Soto's route through Florida is as elusive to modern archaeologists as the gold the famed Spanish explorer sought throughout the southeastern United States.

Ever since De Soto's 600 men set foot on the shores of Tampa Bay, arriving from Cuba almost 500 years ago, historians have debated the exact direction of his failed treasure-hunting expeditions as far north as Tennessee and North Carolina.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun restoration of Shore Temple at Mamallapuram, about 60 km south of Chennai, after the Pallava-era temple was hit by huge waves and inundated on June 19.

Archaeologists said restoration was required as cracks had appeared on the monument, which dates back to 7th century AD. Salt content in the sea water led to formation of cracks in the granite structure and they were being sealed using paper pulp as it absorbs salt from the structure and prevents it from becoming brittle.

Persistent rain failed to deter two budding archaeologists at the weekend as they carried out a sophisticated survey of ancient Kinloss Abbey.

Archaeologists from ORCA (Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology) taught local youngsters Owen Wheelton and Charlotte Johnson how to use specialist equipment in the hope they might unearth some of the 12th century building’s long-forgotten secrets.

Could an invasion of Ireland by Napoleon's French forces have succeeded and triggered Irish independence more than century earlier than it was actually won?

A team of experts -- led by Rubicon Archaeology -- has discovered a near pristine gun emplacement on Bere Island in west Cork.

They have also revealed tantalising hints that Britain's coastal defensive network was much more formidable than first thought -- and would have left the French facing their own 19th Century version of D-Day and Germany's Atlantic Wall.

Archaeologist Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov speaking against a backdrop
showing people dressed as Mongol warriors. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria should seriously consider inviting Mongolian shamans to "enliven" its ancient archeological sites, argues leading Bulgarian archeologist Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov.

At a press conference presenting the results of a recent expetition to Mongolia, Ovcharov said he and his team met and talked to local shamans to discuss the novel idea.

"I now have this as my cause and most probably in April and May next year we will have true shamanic rituals here in Bulgaria," said he.

Gold coins (illustrative)
Flash 90

One of the largest gold treasures ever to be discovered in Israel was uncovered last week at an archaeological dig near Herzliya. The treasure, more than 100 gold pieces and weighing approximately 400 grams (nearly one pound), is estimated at a worth of more than $100,000.

The coins were found hidden in a partly broken pottery vessel at the Appollonia National Park, where archaeologists say the former Crusader town of Apollonia-Arsuf once thrived. The dig is being carried out under the joint auspices of Tel Aviv University and the Nature and Parks Authority.

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