Archaeology

Archaeology and related sciences

Pre-Iron Age findings in Edinburgh Castle

Submitted by margaretc on Mon, 2007-05-28 13:19
A team of archaeologists working at Edinburgh Castle believe they have discovered traces of the sites original castle.

Tomb of King Herod found

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-05-27 14:07
For several decades, Israeli archaeologist Ehud Netzer has been looking for the tomb of King Herod. Now he believes he has found it at Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert.

Osteological measurement database online

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2007-05-26 07:07
The Museum of London's Centre for Human Bioarchaeology hosts a database of osteological measurements from human remains during the medieval and post-medieval periods.

Celtic temple discovered near Tara

Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2007-05-18 16:03
In an interview with Conor Newman, an archaeology professor at the National University of Ireland, Galway, Melissa Block of NPR's All Things Considered learns about the recent discovery of a celtic temple near Ireland's Tara.

4th century Roman remains discovered in Croatia

Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2007-05-11 20:17
Roman remains and artifacts were discovered recently in Vinkovci during excavations to construct a new sports hall including a fibula, a Roman ornamental clip, dating to the 4th century C.E.

Archaeologist to speak on La Grava manorial and monastic excavation

Submitted by Vallawulf on Sun, 2007-05-06 23:04
On May 9, 2007, Evelyn Baker, former manager of the Bedfordshire County Archaeological Survey, presents "La Grava: Bedfordshire's Best Kept Secret," about the 13-year project described as "the most important and extensive manorial and monastic excavation of the 20th century."

Finding your Viking roots

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2007-05-05 22:35
A new exhibit at the Jorvik Viking Centre in York, England allows visitors to study new scientific techniques used to determine what Viking life was like. The exhibit also includes a "3-dimensional walk-through Viking riverside scene, graphics and interactive activities."

Dig set for Edinburgh's Cowgate

Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2007-05-02 22:18
Archaeologists are preparing to begin a major dig at the site of the 2002 Old Town fire in Edinburgh's Cowgate district. They hope to find the remains of buildings dating as far back as the 12th century.

Lincoln aqueduct was functional Roman water source

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2007-04-21 08:23
Archaeologists working on the Lincoln aqueduct in England now believe that underground water source was actually used by the Romans. For centuries it was believed that the aqueduct was built but never used by the Romans.

Roman fort destroyed by modern construction team

Submitted by Milica on Thu, 2007-04-19 07:37
The Daily Express reports that the Roman fort at Caister, near Yarmouth, England, along with hundreds of artifacts, was destroyed when permission was given for builders to excavate on an archaeological site.

Medieval windmill found in Burwell

Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2007-04-17 18:41
An unused plot of ground near Burwell, England, which was being tested for possible development, has revealed the remains of a medieval windmill dating as far back as the 13th century.

Rib bone NOT Joan of Arc's

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-04-15 13:08
John Leicester of the Globe and Mail reports on the ongoing controversy over the remains of Joan of Arc. The verdict: It is a rib bone, but it did not belong to Joan of Arc.

St. Clare Friary remains to be analyzed

Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2007-04-13 18:42
Researchers will soon begin analysis of remains from 30 medieval graves discovered in February, 2007 in Preston, England's city center, believed to have once been the site of a friary dedicated to St. Clare.

Viking remains prove Black Sea ancestory

Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2007-04-09 20:08
DNA evidence from the remains of a Viking woman seems to point to the fact that her ancestors originated in the area of the Black Sea. The woman was buried in a grave in Norway's Oseberg Viking ship, one of the country's most famous burial sites, but her roots were in the Black Sea region, according to Professor Per Holck of the University of Oslo.

"Lost" Islamic kingdom discovered

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-04-08 08:16
A team of French archaeologists have discovered three towns in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia which they believe are part of the "lost" Islamic kingdom of Shoa. The Muslim stronghold was an important stop on the trade route from the 10th to the 16th centuries.

Easter Island archaeologists conclude statues are petrified peeps

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-04-01 11:05
Archaeologists working at Easter Island have determined that the large statues are not volcanic rock, as once believed, but are, in fact, petrified peeps. Says project head Rock Newton, "Yes, we have verified that the statues are actually petrified Easter candy."

TaraWatch strives to save sacred site

Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2007-03-27 15:22
An online campaign to save the historic Hill of Tara in Ireland has been created. TaraWatch is hoping to collect enough money to pay for a professional archaeological assessment of the M3 motorway at the site.

Viking Age journal online

Submitted by Milica on Thu, 2007-03-22 14:52
Ceinan of House Kraken reports that the November 2000 edition of the archaeological journal Acta Archaeologica is available online. The issue is dedicated to articles on the Viking Age.

Roman village discovered in Wiltshire

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-03-18 14:20
Silbury Hill in Wiltshire, England may contain more than a Neolithic mound. It may also be the site of a first century Roman village. "English Heritage geophysicist Dr Neil Linford said: 'We are really excited by this discovery because we had no idea that a Roman village of such a size lay this close to Silbury Hill.'"

1500-year-old Saxon burial promises more discoveries to come

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2007-03-17 13:33
Archaeologists working at a recreational site near Oakington, England have discovered a 1500-year-old Saxon burial. They believe there is also evidence of a settlement.

Medieval graveyard found in Icelandic basement

Submitted by JaneStockton on Mon, 2007-03-12 08:56
At least ten graves believed to date back to the Middle Ages were found in a basement of a house in Rangá in Hróarstunga, east Iceland.

Bones of Saint Philipp for sale in Russia

Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2007-03-05 21:35
The skull and bone purported to be holy relics of Saint Philipp are for sale by a private owner on a Russian website. The Russian Orthodox Church has called the sale "blasphemous."

Coventry pub renovation reveals dark past

Submitted by Milica on Thu, 2007-03-01 12:19
Renovations on the Four Provinces Pub in Coventry, England have unearthed human remains dating to the 12th century. The bones show evidence of leprosy.

Medieval priory found beneath Somerset barn

Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2007-02-28 12:55
Researchers working on artifacts found beneath a 16th century barn near Dunster, England believe they belong to the Benedictine Priory of Dunster which dates to 1127 CE. Archaeologists have so far discovered two walls, paving and glazed tile fragments.

Roman burial ground a surprise for Lincolnshire archaeologists

Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2007-02-27 09:00
Water company workers in Lincolnshire, England were surprised recently to uncover a very large Roman cemetery dating to the 1st century CE. So far the graves have yielded artifacts as well as 30 skeletons.

Stonehenge village archaeologist interviewed

Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2007-02-26 12:12
Australia's ABC Radio National recently broadcast an interview with Mike Parker Pearson, one of the archaeologists who discovered the ancient settlement near Stonehenge. Stephanie Kennedy conducts the interview. (Transcript and podcast available)

The truth about Cleopatra's good looks.

Submitted by agnarr on Sun, 2007-02-25 12:50
A silver denarius minted in 32 B.C. shows that the fabled image of Cleopatra is not what she really looked like.

York grave holds Roman murder victim

Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2007-02-23 00:10
Archaeologists working on a large Roman cemetery in York, England have discovered, among the remains of wealthy and poor alike, the bones of a murder victim. "She was stabbed seven times in the throat from the front," said Osteo-archaeologist Malin Holst.

Bones in chains

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2007-02-17 13:16
A shackled skeleton thought to date from between the 13th and 16th centuries C.E. has been discovered in Ávila, Spain.

Viking Discovery Programme offering courses

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-02-11 20:21
Viking archaeologist Dan Carlsson reports that the Viking Discovery Programme is now accepting applications for field courses to take place during the summer of 2007. The courses will include excavations at the Viking Port of trade at Frojel.