An entirely unique ‘winged’ structure has been discovered by archaeologist working in England, just outside of Norfolk. The building has no parallels in the Roman Empire and is clearly distinct from other structures in the Roman world (both within and outside of Britain).
“Generally speaking, (during) the Roman Empire people built within a fixed repertoire of architectural forms,” Prof Bowden
The structure appears to be connected to a villa complex nearby, but archaeologists are still unsure how the structure fits in with the urban landscape.
To learn more about the find, see the article at MSNBC and Discovery News
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Tags: Ancient Rome, Anthropology, Archaeology, Britain, Roman Britain, Roman Briton, Roman Villa, Rome
This month’s Scientific American highlights the forensic lab of Dr. Ann Helen Ross, whose lab specializes in identifying the remains, cause of death, or obtaining evidence from murder cases that boggle typical investigations.
Using what, to the lay person, might appear gruesome techniques (including removing soft tissue with harsh chemicals), Dr. Ross and her time help to provide evidence to investigators pertaining to unsolved murder cases (a disturbing number involving children).
To read more about the how forensic anthropology helps solve real life crime, read the short article at Scientific American blog or the longer version in October’s issue (requires a subscription).
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Tags: Anthropology, CSI, Forensic, Forensic Anthropology, Physical Anthropology
Archaeologists working in San Antonio have recently uncovered a hut, dating to approximately 1,500 BCE, along the San Antonio River. This find proves that the natives of Southern Texas (often characterized as ‘primitive’) were in fact living in sophisticated communities replete with permanent structures.
To read more about the find, see the article in the Washington Examiner.
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Tags: Anthropology, Archaeology, Native Americans, New World, new world archaeology, San Antonio, Texas
2012 – it’s been the subject of conspiracy theories, catastrophic predictions, and terrible, terrible films. People frequently cite the ‘ancient wisdom’ of the Maya that the end of the world is nigh. However, the 2012 phenomenon is one of the greatest fallacies of history. The Maya, in fact, never predicted the world would end in 2012
While it is true that the Mayan calendrical cycle, which spans approximately 5,125 years and begins with their creation event (in 3114 BCE) ends December 21, 2012 it does not mean dire and catastrophic world’s end. In fact, it simply means that the clock will start over (much like when the odometer goes from 999,999 it starts back over at 0).
So, don’t get all your crazy partying out now, plan for 2013. If you want to learn more about the Mayan Calendar and the consequences of 2012, see the article in National Geographic.
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Tags: 2012, Anthropology, Archaeology, doomsday, Maya, Meso America, New World, new world archaeology
When I was 19 years old, I ventured into the jungles of Central America to excavate a Mayan Site. It was a Classic, Late-Classic Site located at Chan Chich outside of Gallon Jug. It was when I fell in love with archaeology and field work (one of the few things I miss from my times in academia). It was also when I knew that I did not want to work in the jungles of Central America. Have you seen the size of their spiders? I mean, seriously? They’re huge! Also, they have one of the most poisonous snakes in the world, a Fer-de-Lance. Our site was over run with them and I killed at least two with my machete (yes – I own a machete and I know how to use it – properly). Recently, I uncovered a couple of pictures from my first field work. I have decided to post them, even though they’re incredibly unflattering (terrible clothes, no makeup, covered in sweat and grime). Still, they remind me of good times!
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Tags: Anthropology, Archaeology, Belize, Chan Chich, Dig, Excavation, Field Work, Maya
Archaeologists are arguing that fishhooks, a microlithic tool technology, have been used by humans as early as 42,000 years ago. Archaeologists working in East Timor, within the island chain of Indonesia, have produced evidence that humans were using fish hook technology for deep sea fishing much earlier than thought.
To learn more about the findings, see the article on MSNBC.
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Tags: Anthropology, Archaeology, east timor, fish hook, Fishing, Mesolithic, Microlith, Philippines
The recent uprisings and revolution in Libya has given archaeologists new hope for exploring and conserving the vast historical treasures within the country. Sites, such as the famed Leptis Magna, have largely been ignored and neglected by the Gaddafi regime in the last few decades. Budding nationalism and patriotism are expected to foster greater interest in the heritage of Libya. Still, the current instability of the nation provides dangers to those who would hope to preserve the archaeological treasures. Looting is rampant and unstabilized regions still pose a risk to those who wish to investigate.
“It is moments like these when big directions are taken by design or default, and those who care about heritage should aim for design,” William Brown, Brookings Institute
To learn more about the possibilities and dangers that face a new Libya, read this article in Nature.
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Tags: Anthropology, Archaeology, Carthage, Classical Archaeology, Gadaffi, Leptis Magna, Libya, Moamar Gadaffi, Nature, Rome
In a ghoulishly Halloween appropriate post, MSNBC reports that approximately 40% of Medieval graves were disturbed after burial. This is not the standard ‘grave-robbing’ report, rather, mortuary analysts argue that traditional looting was not the objective of these individuals. Rather, they may have had a myriad of objectives: relieving the dead of suffering, retrieving heirlooms, political propaganda, and more.
“Some researchers say in early medieval periods the cemetery may have been a place to play power games, to display the dead with very rich grave goods. It may have been an important factor when families or clans are competing with each other,” Aspock said.
To read more about this theory, see the article in MSNBC.
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Tags: Anthropology, Archaeology, Funeral, Grave, Grave Robbing, Middle Ages, Midieval, Miedeval, Mortuary
A Section of the Copiale Cipher
A team of linguists and computer scientists from America and Sweden have cracked one of the oldest, undeciphered codes in history: the Copiale Cipher. The hand-written work is more than 100 pages in length and is a combination of symbols and letters.
The linguists and computer scientists used a code-breaking technique to ‘crack’ the language – essentially viewing translation as decipherment. While the “breaking” of this linguistic code is a huge breakthrough for linguistics, it still does not solve the issues of translation of older, still-undeciphered languages.
“There are these books and ancient languages of real historical value that contain historical information that we just can’t get out yet, and that’s of interest to a lot of people,” – Dr. Knight
To learn more about this recent discover, see the article in the New York Times.
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Tags: Anthropology, Cipher, Code, Code-Breaking, Copiale Cipher, linguistics
Jennifer Barber, a Masters student at the University of Dundee, is reconstructing the face of a young boy that lived in Norway more than 500 years ago. Using forensic arts, she is reconstructing the soft tissue and features of the boy’s face based on the original skeletal features using a series of skull x-rays.
“People are drawn to faces. The Viste Boy will probably attract attention in a future exhibition at the museum, bringing the story of Vistehola, the Viste Boy and the other people who lived there more alive for visitors.”
To learn more about this project, see the article in Science Daily.
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Tags: Anthropology, Archaeology, facial reconstruction, Forensic, Forensic Anthropology, human remains, Norway, Physical Anthropology
An entirely unique ‘winged’ structure has been discovered by archaeologist working in England, just outside of Norfolk. The building has no parallels in the Roman Empire and is clearly distinct from other structures in the Roman world (both within and outside of Britain).
