The History of Archaeology: The Series
Tuesday September 30, 2003
A five-part series on the history of archaeology as a science.
Prehistoric Metallurgy in South America
Tuesday September 30, 2003
An article in Science last week, here reported in Scientific American, discusses evidence of a pre-Inca smelting process in Bolivia.
Scientific American: Lake Reveals Evidence of Pre-Incan Silver Industry
Infinite Secrets
Monday September 29, 2003
On September 30, the award-winning, terrific PBS series called NOVA is airing a special on Archimedes, including information concerning the recent palimpsest find of one of his manuscripts. The web ... Read More
Lord Acton on what makes a country truly free
Monday September 29, 2003
Quote from John E.E. Dalberg, the first (but not the last) historically-minded Lord Acton
Explorations of Dinah: The Informant
Monday September 29, 2003
A chapter in the life of fictional archaeologist Dinah Simmons, in which she discovers a reason to go back into teaching.
Kennewick Man Update
Monday September 29, 2003
Friends of America's Past has posted an official transcript of the oral arguments presented on September 10, 2003.
Friend's of America's Past: The Kennewick Man Case: Transcript of Oral Arguments'
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Human Prehistory
Monday September 29, 2003
Robert Meier's introduction to paleontology for the non-professional reader is an entertaining, painless way to learn about the fascinating subject of human prehistory.
Reports from Blackman Eddy
Monday September 29, 2003
Article in the San Antonio News reports James Garber's work at the Maya site of Blackman Eddy.
Area professor breaks new ground on Maya
Hypatia on the best preparation for tomorrow - Archaeology
Sunday September 28, 2003
A quote from the 5th century AD scientist Hypatia, daughter of the last museum director at Alexandria, and murdered for her reckless belief in science.
E. H. Thompson, b. 1856
Sunday September 28, 2003
Archaeologist Edward Herbert Thompson, born this day in 1856. Here's a bio from the eMuseum:
Edward Herbert Thompson
On Becoming an Archaeologist
Sunday September 28, 2003
Over the course of my career, I have known a few archaeologists-since-birth. Sometimes, it seems, from conception these men and women are driven to excavate, to learn about cultures, to ... Read More
Roman Amphitheatre Found in Cordoba
Sunday September 28, 2003
Article in the Independent discusses excavations uncovering a Roman amphitheatre hidden beneath Cordoba University's veterinary building:
Discovered: Europe's biggest amphitheatre after the Coliseum
Timing is Everything
Saturday September 27, 2003
How old is that? The science of archaeology has developed several ways to tell how long ago a site was occupied or an artifact used. Here's an introduction to several ... Read More
Neanderthals & Modern Humans in France
Saturday September 27, 2003
And on the other hand, coming off the recent article in the Journal of Archaeological Scienceon the French cave Grotte XVI , Donald Grayson et al, shows that at least ... Read More
Modern Humans at 35,000 BP, Romania
Saturday September 27, 2003
According to this article in the BBC news, called Human fossils set European record, discusses Erik Trinkhaus' latest publications on the "did humans and neanderthals interbreed" discussion.
Whirlwind Archaeology
Friday September 26, 2003
Archaeological fieldwork in foreign countries has a special attraction to most of us: but it's always best to learn the language before you go...
Dusty Little Secret
Friday September 26, 2003
From Christianity Today Magazine" an article about the Jerusalem Bone Box controversy and the politics beneath it.
Biblical Archaeology's Dusty Little Secret
Donner Party on Discovery
Friday September 26, 2003
Archaeologist Kelly Dixon's research into the Donner Party will be featured on the Discovery Channel in early October, according to this story in Montana Kaimin OnlineUM professor to be featured ... Read More
The Architect of Arch-L
Thursday September 25, 2003
An interview with one of the pioneers of archaeology on the Internet, David L. Carlson.
American Massacres Investigated
Thursday September 25, 2003
Interesting article this month by Alyssa Fisher in Archaeology magazine on historical and archaeological investigations to bits of shameful American past, called
A Sight Which Can Never Be Forgotten: Introduction
Playing Fair a Survival Trait
Thursday September 25, 2003
A story by Nicholas Wade in the NYT reports on Emory University investigations into primate behavior. Play Fair: Your Life May Depend on It
Time is of the Essence: Archaeoastronomy
Wednesday September 24, 2003
An introduction to the interface between astronomy and archaeology.
Preserving the Missions
Wednesday September 24, 2003
Last week, Ira Flatow's Science Friday had a program on the preservation movement to protect the Spanish missions of Texas. San Antonio Remote: Preserving The Missions
More on Xingu Civilization
Wednesday September 24, 2003
Nature has the article on Heckenberger's Amazon research this month: Amazon was settled before Columbus' time: Excavations and maps confirm forest housed advanced society.
The Origins of Agriculture Rag
Tuesday September 23, 2003
Shouldn't we all be singing? A silly song parody, based on a Wizard of Oz tune and subtitled The Origins of Agriculture Rag.
Inca Road Needs Preserving
Tuesday September 23, 2003
According to a recent EurekAlert news story, a recent study of an 8500 km route used by the Incas called the Gran Ruta Inca is in terrible shape and endangered. ... Read More
Lost Amazon Civilization Revealed
Tuesday September 23, 2003
According to a Reuters' report on Michael Heckenberger's work in the Amazon, he has identified three large cities in the Amazon of the Xingu civilization, dated between 1200 A.D. and ... Read More
The Soul of Archaeology
Monday September 22, 2003
Written without the jargon prevalent in many archaeological texts, Robert Hall's An Archaeology of the Soul is quite accessible to the interested amateur, and a resource of value to any ... Read More
A Low Danube Reveals its Past
Monday September 22, 2003
Record low water in the Danube this year has exposed part of Hitler's sunk fleet, reported in this BBC story called Danube reveals its metal graveyard.
Cupid in China?
Monday September 22, 2003
A little Bronze statue belonging to the Han Dynasty is reminiscent of the Greek Cupid, in this story from Beijing Youth Daily called 'Cupid' and the Archaeological Imagination. It's a ... Read More
Wesley Hurt
Sunday September 21, 2003
Well, I blew that. Yesterday was the anniversary of Wesley Hurt's birth. Here's his obituary, for those that don't recognize the name:
SAA Bulletin 16(5): Wesley R. Hurt, 1917-1997
The Theft of Ancient Cities
Sunday September 21, 2003
Commentary by University of Chicago archaeologist McGuire Gibson in Newsday on the costs of the war to Iraq's cultural heritage.
The Theft of Ancient Cities
Caesar's Forge?
Sunday September 21, 2003
According to this BBC news report, archaeologists in Devon believe they may have found a Roman armory.
Factory may have weapons link.
Possible Viking Canoe found in Norway
Monday September 15, 2003
According to CNN reporting work of Snorre Haukalid, a canoe dragged from Royraas lake probably dates to the Viking era or the Middle Ages: Possible Viking boat found in Norway
Paternalism an Early Trait?
Sunday September 14, 2003
According to a release describing baboon studies in Kenya suggest that baboon fathers are rather more careful of their offspring than previously thought.
Baboon Fathers Really Do Care About Their Kids: ... Read More
Hezekiah's Tunnel Dated
Sunday September 14, 2003
Public release from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on c14 dating on plaster and uranium-thorium on stalactites to date the cave traditionally known as King Hezekiah's tunnel: Dating of King ... Read More
Mazza Paleoindian Site in Vermont
Sunday September 14, 2003
An article from Eureka Alert describes recent investigations into the Late Paleoindian site called Mazza: Archaeological find provides insight into northeast 9,000 years ago
New Digital Library Considered
Saturday September 13, 2003
Using a grant from the National Science Foundation, Case Western and Vanderbilt universities are developing a digital library of archaeological data. Described in this article from Eureka Alert called Researchers ... Read More
Rock Art in Borneo
Saturday September 13, 2003
New article in Science News Online discusses the dating of cave paintings found in Borneo. Art on the Rocks: Dating ancient paintings in the caves of Borneo
Repatriation of Rosetta Stone Not to Be
Saturday September 13, 2003
According to the Art Newspaper, the British Museum is resisting the return of the Rosetta Stone to Egypt. Rosetta Stone will stay in London say trustees
Door County Wisconsin Oneota Site
Friday September 12, 2003
From the AP, a brief report on Jim Clark's research in Door County Wisconsin at a stratified Oneota site, called Site yields evidence of prehistoric farming on Door County peninsula
What Tale will Archaeologists Tell?
Friday September 12, 2003
Columnist Fisayo Adejuyigbe comments in the Nebraska Gateway on what future archaeologists might make of the way we carry on, in
What tale will the future archaeologists tell?
Medinet Habu with Israelite Barrio?
Thursday September 11, 2003
Egyptologist Manfred Bietak argues that a worker's reed huts in Medinet Habu dating to the 20th dynasty (found in the 1930s) are comparable to proto-Israelite houses in structure, in a ... Read More
WTC and DNA Studies
Thursday September 11, 2003
A story in ScienCentral this week describes how attempting to identify victims of the World Trade Center attack two years ago has pushed the limits of DNA testing. The article ... Read More
Jerusalem Bone Box
Thursday September 11, 2003
Biblical Archaeology Review has steadfastly maintained that the so-called James Ossuary is authentic. In this month's issue, they weigh in on their opinions of the findings of the Israeli Antiquities ... Read More
Stephen Jay Gould [1941-2002]
Wednesday September 10, 2003
American paleontologist (not to say one of our finest populizers of science) Stephen Jay Gould was born on September 10, 1941.
Lost World: A Book Review
Wednesday September 10, 2003
In Lost World, journalist Tom Koppel describes his experiences with archaeologists who are tracing possible pre-clovis coastal occupations of the north American coastline.
Who were the First Americans?
Tuesday September 9, 2003
An article in National Geographic on the Baja skulls gives a bit more detail on the Baja skulls.
Who Were The First Americans?
Seeking the Queen of Sheba
Tuesday September 9, 2003
A Washington Post article describes the investigations of Ricardo Eichmann, who has been working on trying to find archaeological evidence of Sabaean history. Putting the Queen of Sheba to the ... Read More
Arctic Natl Wildlife Refuge Debate
Monday September 8, 2003
This brief report on science writer Nicholas Kristof's visit to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge discusses some of the issues involved in the Bush Administration's consideration of drilling there, in
A Grizzly's-Eye ... Read More
Solnit's Vision of Wilderness Includes Humans
Monday September 8, 2003
Naturalist Rebecca Solnit's work in Yosemite National Park is discussed in this article in the NYT called, Yosemite and the Invention of Wilderness. She points out that early (white-guy) ideas ... Read More
Epigenetic Studies in Mice Might Explain Our Problems
Monday September 8, 2003
Scientists have been concerned at the recent steep increase in incidents of autism in one generation. The changes, they believe, are at the genetic level, and may be caued by ... Read More
Who Colonized America First?
Sunday September 7, 2003
Recent investigations in Baja California by Rolando González-José at the University of Barcelona have identified yet more information on why we still don't know who all colonized the New World ... Read More
Earliest Stone Sculpture
Sunday September 7, 2003
Excavations at Hohle Fels in Germany have recovered a sculpture of a combined lion-man in levels dated to 30,000 years ago, according to this article in Nature,
Lion man takes pride ... Read More
Advantage: Humans
Sunday September 7, 2003
According to a recent article in New Scientist, describing the investigations of Peter Ungar, Homo sapiens had sharper teeth than Australopithecus afarensis, allowing us to eat meat more efficiently. See ... Read More
Report from Baghdad
Friday September 5, 2003
John M. Russell, part of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Mission to Baghdad, made a report to the Archaeological Institute of America on his work there, including details from his personal ... Read More
More of Ft Des Moines
Thursday September 4, 2003
More information about the science center in Des MoInes. Please feel free to weigh in on the discussion on the board
Inuit/Viking connection sought
Thursday September 4, 2003
A news story on the research of Icelandic anthropologist Gisli Palsson promises to raise eyebrows as he compares DNA from Inuit people in Nunavut and Greenland to medieval Viking genetic ... Read More
Ramesses the Great
Wednesday September 3, 2003
Archaeology Odyssey has an article on Ramesses the Great, better known to you poetic types as "Ozymandias", in
"Look on My Works!" The Many Faces of Ramesses the Great
Watery Graves
Wednesday September 3, 2003
From Canada's Exploration Network, some video and audio clips from shows on the Titanic, Kursk, Bismarck, and the Marie Celeste.
Zeugma
Wednesday September 3, 2003
A brief article in the Turkish Daily News on results of Zeugma called New Mosaics And Frescos Excavated From Ancient Zeugma City
Ernst Curtius 1814-1896
Tuesday September 2, 2003
German archaeologist Ernst Curtius was born this day, September 2, 189 years ago. Think of that!
HMS Sussex
Tuesday September 2, 2003
Article in Wired magazine this month, and a hefty bit in the online version is on Odyssey's salvage operations on the HMS Sussex. Sigh. While archaeological science gets less and ... Read More
Virtual Dig brings Grand Forks to the Sudan
Monday September 1, 2003
A program at the Dakota Science Center lets students pretend they are interns on a dig into a Nubian site in the Sudan, according to this article in the Grand ... Read More
Not Nefertiti?
Monday September 1, 2003
Zahi Hawss, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and a famous guy in his own right, says he thinks Joanne Fletcher is wrong, in this Reuter's article:
Doubts cast on ... Read More
Louis Leakey Centennial Tribute
Monday September 1, 2003
The Leakey Foundation is putting togethr a two-day meeting to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Louis Leakey, father of paleontology. This is a public release from the foundation ... Read More