City of Troy treasures to be housed in Turkish museum

The city of Troy. Some question whether this city was real at all, like the fabled city of Atlantis. The city of Troy is more than real, and now Turkey is taking the steps to share the priceless treasures of Troy from countries scattered around Europe by creating a museum to house the artifacts in the ancient city in the country’s northwest. Construction of the museum began just last year, and works will be accelerated for the repatriation of the Troy treasures from some European countries and Russia.

Located in Tevfikiye village, the Troy Museum is set to be finished by the end of next year. The ancient city receives more than 500,000 visitors every year.

“With a new $25 million tender that will be made in the coming days, we will focus on the ‘fine work’ of the museum. The ministry is also working on projects to bring back the Troy treasures in other countries. When the museum is finished, it will pave way for their return,” Culture and Tourism Director Kemal Dokuz recently said.

© Hurriyet Daily News

Most parts of the museum construction has been completed. The building will have a closed area of 10,000 square meters, including exhibition halls on a 3,000-square-meter area. Artifacts unearthed in Troy and other archaeological sites in Çanakkale will be displayed at the museum.

Ancient Troy, which received UNESCO world heritage status in 1998, will grow in importance once the museum project is done, according to officials.

It is expected that the number of visitors will exceed 1 million and that Trojan artifacts that were smuggled abroad will return to the country.

According to data from the Culture and Tourism Ministry, Troy ranked ninth on a Turkish list of most-visited museum and ancient sites and eighth on a list of most-profitable sites, Dokuz said. “Troy is a very important brand of Çanakkale. Everyone knows Troy in the world.”

Dokuz said this important brand should be promoted in the best possible way, adding that the ministry had initiated the museum project to promote the treasures of Troy.

The official said the main goal in Troy was to attain the status of the Hagia Sophia Museum, which tops the list of visitor numbers to Turkey, or at least to grab one of the top three places.

The museum is critical in Troy’s efforts to reach the goal, Dokuz said. “When the artifacts return to the country and are put on display at the museum, we believe that Çanakkale will have more importance in Turkish tourism.”

Dokuz said the ancient city’s entrance gates, the surroundings of the Trojan Horse and walking routes had been rearranged. “Three million liras was spent for this rearrangement. Now visitors will be more comfortable when walking around the ancient site. They will get more information about the region.”

Trojan Treasures were smuggled abroad in the 1870s by amateur German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemannn, and they are now in 44 countries, especially Russia.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News

Mystery of Mummy Conservation at University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

The Penn Museum is unwrapping the mystery of mummy conservation, giving the public an unusual close-up of researchers' efforts to preserve relics from ancient Egypt.

AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma

Human and animal mummies, as well as an intricately inscribed coffin, are among the items undergoing treatment and repair at the Philadelphia institution's newly installed Artifact Lab.

Housed in a special gallery, the glass-enclosed workspace lets visitors share in "the thrill of discovery," museum director Julian Siggers said.

"It demonstrates to you the work that's actually being done behind the walls of these galleries," Siggers said.

Visitors can watch staff members use microscopes, brushes and other tools of the trade to inspect, study and preserve items including the mummy of a 5-year-old girl, several human heads, a colorful but damaged sarcophagus, and a painting from a tomb wall. Flat-screen monitors display magnified views of the relics as they are being examined.

Conservators will also set aside time twice a day to answer questions from the public. The archaeology and anthropology museum has identified 30 objects from its 42,000-piece Egyptian collection to be conserved during the evolving project. Many of the lab items have not been exhibited before because of their poor condition, said conservator Molly Gleeson. Among Gleeson's first projects are preserving the mummies of a cat, falcon and ibis. She described the falcon's linen wrappings as frayed and powdery, and noted its precariously attached head would need to be stabilized before the mummy could be displayed. Also undergoing study are hieroglyphic-inscribed slabs of wood that comprised the coffin of an Egyptian named Ahanakht, circa 2000 B.C.

"Conservation efforts led researchers to discover hidden inscriptions on the seams", said David Silverman, curator-in-charge of the Egyptian section. Head conservator Lynn Grant said staff members continuously experience a sense of wonder as they work with historical artifacts. "It is a delight, with this new space, to be able to share that with our visitors and give people an idea of what's going on behind the scenes," Grant said.

Source © artdaily.org

Castle of Marmaris to be Restored

Officials have approved the restoration of the 500-year old Marmaris Castle and its accompanying museum, rebuilt by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman (Süleyman the Magnificent) during his campaign for the Greek island of Rhodes in 1522.

The Culture and Tourism Ministry has allocated 300,000 Turkish Liras for the restoration of the castle and museum, which is visited by some 60,000 people each year. The cost for the preparation of the restoration project was 40,000 liras and was financed by the Marmaris Port Management.
The museum has a very rich archaeological collection that includes objects unearthed during excavations as well as ones purchased through sales, Marmaris Museum Director Esengül Yıldız Öztekin said.

The museum’s existing arrangement was not in line with contemporary museum design and did not illuminate its visitors, Öztekin said. “The directorate has developed a project for a new arrangement. The project works were finished last year and approved by the Cultural Beings and Museums General Directorate. The project was included in the investment program this year,” the director said.
Öztekin said that the project had been prepared considering the characteristics of the historic castle and that besides merchandising work, new storage would be constructed for the protection of artifacts against a possible earthquake.

Öztekin said that the Cultural Beings and Museums General Directorate closed the Marmaris Museum to visitors from Oct. 18 to April 30, 2013. “Our goal is to display the artifacts in the museum in more appropriate conditions and welcome our guests as a contemporary museum,” she said.
Following the restoration, the museum, home to nearly 12,000 artifacts, will be renamed the Marmaris Archaeology Museum.

The Marmaris Castle was first built by the Ionians in 1044 B.C. and later repaired during the era of Alexander the Great. Süleyman the Magnificent used the Marmaris castle as a military base for his troops. There are 18 houses, a fountain and an arc inside the castle area. The castle was restored between 1980 and 1990 and became a museum in 1991. It has seven indoor areas, two of which are organized as archaeology museums and one as an ethnography museum. The remaining areas are used as art galleries and storage.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News

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.

History of the Korean War

The Korean War lasted from June 25, 1950 until the signing of an armistice on July 27, 1953. Although the fighting only lasted three years, the events leading up to the war in Korea go back several decades earlier.



The history of the Korean War is long and complex, involving several decades of foreign rule prior to the conflict, and the involvement of dozens of nations during the actual fighting.

Some could argue the history of the Korean War began in 1876, when the Japanese first got involved in the region by forcing the Koreans to sign the Treaty of Ganghwa. Japan made Korea its protectorate in 1905, and officially annexed the peninsula in 1910. Japan then officially ruled the Korean peninsula until September 2, 1945, when they were forced to give up rule by the Allied Powers for losing World War II. Korea was then divided into North and South along the 38th parallel. The Soviet Union occupied North Korea after World War II, while the United States occupied South Korea. Under Allied rule, North and South quickly became divided, and the Korean War became imminent soon after.

War in Korea inched closer to reality in 1948, when a failure to hold democratic elections led to the North installing a Communist government. Tension intensified between North and South, even during reunification talks. The 38th parallel increasingly became a political border, as both sides conducted skirmishes and raids on targets just over the border. Finally, the North invaded the South on June 25, 1950, and the Korean War officially began. It was the first armed conflict of the Cold War.

The Korean War was a "war by proxy" between the United States and the Soviet Union, in which both sides backed opposing forces in a war, instead of fighting each other directly. In the history of the Korean War, however, Soviet and American troops did not fire on each other.

South Korea was officially backed by the United Nations, who aided the effort in repelling the North. The United Nations forces backed the North behind the 38th parallel, nearly to the Yalu River, until the Chinese officially entered the war in Korea. With Chinese aid, the U.N. forces were pushed back near the 38th parallel in 1951. From 1951 to 1953, little ground was gained by either side in the Korean War.

United States involvement in the war in Korea occurred primarily because of the American view of Korea as a strategic ally against the communist Chinese and Soviets. President Truman also viewed non-action in Korea as the beginning of the downfall of the United Nations, where Communism would be free to spread unchecked across the globe. Final approval to send US forces came when an intercepted communication from the Soviets stated that it would not act against US ground troops during the war in Korea. The United States officially entered the Korean War in July 1950.

Both sides ceded territory to the other quite often early in the war, until the front stabilized in 1951 near the original border at the 38th parallel. From then, very little ground was gained by either side and casualties kept rising with little to show for it. American officials raced to discuss an armistice with the North, fearing that increasing tensions with China and the Soviet Union would lead into World War III. The Korean War officially ended on July 27, 1953, after more than two long and frustrating years of negotiations.

The war in Korea led to more than 5 million combat and civilian casualties all told. The history of the Korean war is somewhat forgotten in American history, being sandwiched between the two biggest US conflicts-- World War II and Vietnam. However, the Korean War claimed the lives of more than 54,000 American troops, on par with Vietnam although in a much shorter time. Chinese and Korean casualties were nearly 10 times that of the United States. The war in Korea led to tensions between the North and South which persist to this day, although the history of the Korean War is remembered differently by each side. All-out warfare has not occurred between North and South since the end of the original conflict.

Author bio: This history of the Korean War was written by Erik Allermann. Erik lives in Watertown, Wisconsin with his wife and son. He is a 2004 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Museum Exhibits: Largest Exhibit On Blacks In Civil War

The African-American Civil War Museum in Washington has been going through a major revamping as 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the north and south's bitter battle between 1861-1865. To learn about the museum's grand re-opening, which is scheduled for July, and the history of African-Americans in the Civil War, guest host Tony Cox speaks with the museum's founding director Frank Smith.

The African-American Civil War Museum in Washington, D.C. is gearing up for a major festival to mark the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. The museum's interactive exhibits tell of the sacrifices that African-Americans have made for freedom. Many of us have been taught about the history of the Civil War, including the Union's bloody victory at Antietam in September of 1862.

Read More: Largest Exhibit On Blacks In Civil War @NPR

Egyptian Museums Reopen after Limited Theft and Damage

After the uprising in Egypt that precipitated the unexpected downfall of the Hosni Mubarak regime, much of the country was left in chaos. Though the protests were generally peaceful, and the world over is celebrating the victory of the Egyptian people's mass protests, many archeologists, anthropologists, and cultural and art enthusiasts feared the worst for what is one of the most established museum sites of ancient history in the world.

After conflict in Iraq in 2003, looters devastated the country's museums and artifact collections, and it would not have been surprising if the same had happened in Egypt. Astonishingly, however, museums suffered little damage, and while some artifacts were stolen, Egyptian Antiquities Minister Zahi Hawass said in an interview with the German newspaper Spiegel International that many items were returned.

Hawass noted:

(Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass during the Feb. 16 press conference. He says that many of the items that were stolen on the night of Jan. 29 have now been recovered.) AFP


"Imagine a city with millions of residents where complete lawlessness reigned for several hours. Where the prisons were opened and there were actually no more police. That is what happened in Cairo on the evening of Jan. 29. A lot more could have been robbed and destroyed in this horror scenario What happened in Cairo could also have happened in New York, in London, in any museum in the world. As I said, considering the circumstances it is a miracle that more was not stolen."

According to an AOL news article, much damage and looting was mitigated because protesters and military both conscientiously joined together to protect Egypt's many museums and historical sites, in one instance forming a human shield around the Egypt Museum. The director of another historical hotspot, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, sent a special thanks to the country's demonstrating youth, who played a big role in the protection of the library's historical collection.

Hawass reports that only about 18 items were missing from the Egypt Museum, and some objects were found scattered in different places in the city. Tombs at Saqqara and Abusir, as well as storage areas at Cairo University, had also been broken into, although the total accounting of lost or damaged items has not yet been reported. An earlier Washington Post article noted that antiquities experts were working hard to restore the damage done to some 70 items in the Victorian-era Egypt Museum.

According to Hawass, the most important item damaged was a statue of King Tutankhamen standing on a panther. Removed from the panther, the figure of the boy king was also missing its arm.

It will certainly take some time for tourism, among Egypt's most lucrative industries, to pick up to the levels it had experienced before the uprising. However, as of Sunday, February 19th, the Egypt Museum along with many others throughout the country, have officially reopened, with understandably poor attendance.

Wilczy Szaniec: Hitler's War Time Headquarters

The ruins of the Wolf's Lair (Wilczy Szaniec), are all that remain of Adolf Hitler's WWII headquarters near Ketrzn in the Mazurian region of Poland, now a museum.

The Wolf's Lair consisted of a complex of buildings and a nearby airfield situated on 67 acres of woodland. There are seven massive concrete bunkers measuring in some areas 26 feet high. Although hidden in the woods, Hitler still believed it wasn't enough. As history shows, he was extremely suspicious of anyone around him, and he had right to be. He urged his followers to safeguard the site even more by way of artificial greenery suspended on wires and protected by rings of barbed wire and a minefield.

Read More: Travel to the Wilczy Szaniec"Wolf's Lair" in Poland via TravelSphere

The TravelSphere combines fascinating travel with historical destinations. The site focuses on the more educational side of travel, rather than the exotic hotels or mixed drinks.

Picture: Source

Musical Stones of Skiddaw in North Cumbria, England

Do all of you remember playing around in music class on an instrument called the xylophone? Well this historical instrument, using the Musical Stones of Skiddaw, makes me look at the modern day piano or xylophone from a completely different perspective.

Around 1785, Peter Crosthwaite, an eccentric inventor, was walking around the area of Skiddaw in North Cumbria, England when he made a startling discovery. He found "hornfels" rock that produced sound. He spent months and months looking for more rocks that made the desired sound he was looking for.

The result was a type of xylophone, in which he set up to attract visitors to his museum. With the help of his daughter and an old woman, they formed an impromptu welcoming party to the Keswick Museum.



According to the Musical Stones of Skiddaw Blog, the updated instrument is a 14 foot-long 1.5 ton stone xylophone made in 1827 by Keswick stonemason Joseph Richardson out of rare 'hornfels' rock found between the mountains Skiddaw and Blencathra in North Cumbria, UK.

Also check out:

Ancient Digger: Leoninus and Perotinus: The First Polyphonic Music

Sources

Picture Credit from Wikipedia