Top 10 Posts: August 21, 2011

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

1. The Wilderness and Scenery of Fossil Springs in Arizona--This video of Fossil Springs in Arizona has a whole Journey to the Center of the Earth vibe. Diving off the rocky cliffs and swimming up and under this amazing geological wonder makes me really appreciate the natural processes of the earth.
2. Top Graduate Schools, Universities, and Colleges for Archaeology and Anthropology --I have compiled several lists in order to help you determine the best archaeology colleges and universities with the best programs for archaeology, as well as the top undergraduate colleges, universities and school programs for anthropology and archaeology.
3. Mysterious Roman Jar Presents a Riddle For Archaeologists--The Roman jar discovered measures 40 centimeters tall and was found shattered into an unrecognizable 180 pieces. Even if the jar is fully restored, scientists still have nothing comparable to the artifact to even venture a guess about its history or significance.
4. The Mystery of the Pyramids--Edward charged visitors 10 cents to tour the property, and while he guided them along their journey, allowed them to ask him questions about his Coral Castle. On many occasions, he would tell tourists that his castle was easy to build, if you know how to do it. His answers were vague and his demeanor bizarre, believing that he held the secrets to the pyramids and he would bring them to his deathbed.
5. Best Schools For Nautical, Maritime, and Underwater Archaeology in the US--Typically nautical, maritime, and underwater archaeologists study artifacts in ocean or sea environments. However, specialization usually doesn't occur until graduate school after the student has received a BS in Anthropology.
6. Profit motive, Exchanges, and Kapauku society--Kapauku society is heavily influenced by a singular need for power and recognition. A sense of individualism which ultimately sets each member, mostly the males, of Kapauku society apart.
7. Unveiling the Kings of Israel Review--Unveiling the Kings of Israel by David Down is clearly written in an unbiased fashion. Although contemporaries may argue this notion, it seems abundantly clear in the introduction. Down explains that when “Correctly interpreted, the historical records of Egypt and Israel show a remarkable consistency with the Bible records which we can accept as not only inspiring but entirely reliable”.
8. Jericho Unearthed - Bible Confirmed Once Again--Can archaeology prove the accuracy of the Bible? In this video, we hear from archaeologists about what is required to make an honest and intelligent assessment about the accuracy about the Bible. The video begins in Jericho.
9. Greek Architecture--The Greeks were gifted, being situated in an area with the highest quality stone. Of course the buildings that were derived from these stones were free of bronzed sculptures, polished monuments, and shrines painted with vivid colors.
10. Brother-Sister and Father-Daughter Marriage in Ancient Egypt--Anthropologists recognize that marrying one’s sister, brother, father, or mother was quite common in Ancient Egypt. Marriage of kin functioned "to preserve the purity of the royal blood line," to keep privilege and rank rigidly within the group.
    

Archaeologists Do NOT Do Dinosaurs

The problem with archaeology is that most people have no idea what it is or what it entails. There are no fedoras or leather whips and no dinosaurs chasing us around dinosaur alley. So what is the difference? Well, before I let you lose on this hilarious video, I’ll clue you in on the differences between paleontologists and archaeologists.

First I’ll ask you one question. How many of you have seen or heard the Payless commercial about being a paleontologist? You may have noticed those large skeletal beasts in the background. Those are dinosaurs and archaeologists don’t study them, paleontologists Do.

Paleontology is the study of the history of life on Earth, as reflected in the fossil record. They don’t just study dinosaurs, however.

Like Indiana Jones, archaeologists study artifacts. Artifacts are things like tools and pots and other implements made and used by people. Ecofacts are the remains of plants or animals that were used by or eaten by people. Archaeologists also study landscapes, and there is a particular field called Landscape Archaeology, which allows the study of the modified landscapes and the behavior put forth to alter it.

Without further ado, here’s “We Don't Do Dinosaurs!” (The Archaeology Song). Raise your Trowels or a pint a beer, because this is a great ending to a hectic week.

Happy Friday!

Mysterious Roman Jar Presents a Riddle For Archaeologists

It’s always a surprise to find an artifact packed safety away in museum storage for later investigation. However, what happens when an archaeological piece, such as the 1800 year old Roman Jar discovered in a storage room at the Museum of Ontario Archaeology, turns up broken into dozens of pieces?

The Roman jar discovered measures 40 centimeters tall and was found shattered into an unrecognizable 180 pieces. Even if the jar is fully restored, scientists still have nothing comparable to the artifact to even venture a guess about its history or significance.

"Everyone's stumped by it," Katie Urban, one of the researchers at the London, Ontario, museum, told LiveScience. "We've been sending it around to all sorts of Roman pottery experts and other pottery experts, and no one seems to be able to come up with an example."

The jar was given to the museum in the 1950s by William Francis Grimes. Grimes' team had dug them out of a World War II bomb crater in London, England, not far from an ancient temple dedicated to Mithra, an Iranian god who was popular throughout the Roman Empire.

Read the full story at Live Science

Archaeology News: August 17, 2011

Sunken Treasure Found in the Seas Of Sicily

More than 3,000 bronze coins dated between 264 and 241 B.C. were discovered off the coast of the small Sicilian island of Pantelleria. “Since all coins feature the same iconography, we believe that the money served for an institutional payment,” said Leonardo Abelli, director of the excavation.

Archaeology: Finds from work on Bulgaria's Maritsa Highway on display

Archaeological finds uncovered during 14 years of work on the Maritsa motorway have gone on display at the museum in Chirpan, a town in south-central Bulgaria in the Stara Zagora region.

Archaeologists call for funds to save Kabash Road in Luxor

Archaeologists and tour guides in Luxor on Sunday demanded that Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud, general secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, launch an international campaign for saving Kabash Road.

Iron Age road link to Iceni tribe

A 2,000-year-old, well-preserved timber road has been found in eastern England. Archaeologists think that the road was built by an Iceni tribe before the arrival of the Romans. “This particular track way is very interesting to us because we have tools… which may actually tie in with some of the tool marks and methods of construction we are turning up in the investigation,” said John Davies of the Norwich Castle Museum.

Co Loa: Fighting the Han in Iron Age Vietnam

Co Loa is an important archaeological site of the Iron Age Dong Son culture of Vietnam. It was the capital of the Bac Bo region, and occupied from the 3rd century BC and into the first century AD.

Human precursors went to sea, team says

Early manlike creatures may have been smarter than we think. Recent archaeological finds from the Mediterranean show that human ancestors traveled the high seas. A team of researchers that included an North Carolina State University geologist found evidence that our ancestors were crossing open water at least 130,000 years ago.

Senseless vandalism of archaeological monument in Polonnaruwa

A team of officials of the Archeological Department has initiated a separate inquiry, in addition to police inquiries into the damages caused by an unidentified group to an archeological site in an islet in the Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa.

Montpelier digs up slaves' stories

NICOLE Esposito had already found one unusual artifact while working as an archaeology intern at James Madison's Montpelier this summer, a button decorated with an eagle and 12 stars.

Native American remains unearthed at Santa Cruz housing development site; protesters rally for halt to construction

The discovery of Native American remains at a site slated for new houses prompted a protest Sunday to demand the developer stop construction out of respect to the area's history.

'Spoonful by spoonful,' Moku'ula slowly returns

The Friends of Moku'ula Inc. hopes to present to Maui County planners next month the first phase of its archaeological restoration and information center along Front Street, said Executive Director Shirley Kaha'i on Saturday.

UMass Lowell, Queen's continue to unearth secrets of settlers

As part of an ongoing study of the Irish who found their way to Lowell, Massachusetts before and after Ireland’s Great Famine, students from Queen’s University, Belfast traveled to Lowell last week to join their UMass Lowell counterparts in continuing to excavate the area around St. Patrick’s Church on Suffolk St.

The St. Michael Line: a Straight Story?

The St. Michael Alignment is arguably the most prominent and intriguing of the many ley lines that criss-cross Britain. It runs in a straight line between Land's End, England's southwestern extremity, and Hopton-on-Sea, on the Norfolk coast.

City celebrates Independence Day

Director of archaeology and museums P Chenna Reddy hoisted the national flag at a function held at the office and appealed to the staff to rededicate themselves to preservation of India’s priceless heritage for posterity. He wanted them to draw inspiration from freedom fighters who did not care for their properties, families or their own lives in their fight for the nation.

Shorne Woods Community Archaeology Project, Gravesend, Kent

From the 9th to the 31st of July, schools, volunteers, members of the public, local archaeology groups and societies worked on the excavations taking place at Randall Manor.

Hercules Statue Found in Northern Israel

A well-crafted, headless statue depicting the Greco-Roman hero Hercules was found this week during a salvage excavation in northern Israel’s Jezreel Valley. Found at the site of Horvat Tarbenet, the finely sculpted, 1.5-foot-tall, white marble statue shows the muscle-bound Hercules leaning on a club with a lion skin draped over his shoulder.