Archaeology Sitemap - Page 18 2013-05-24
A Walking Tour of Monte Albán
Monte Alban is the capital of the Zapotec culture, and this walking tour of its architecture will give you an introduction to the buildings and the people who built them.
Book Review: Anthropology Graduate's Guide from Student to a Career
It's no secret: the downturn of the global economy has affected the number and availability of archaeology jobs in the world. Historically, the majority of
The Environment of Easter Island Moai
A photo essay of a handful of the 900+ moai on Easter Island, showing the variety of environments in which they are located.
Vitrified Forts
Vitrified forts are a type of archaeological site dated to the European Iron Age.
Alfred Maudslay [1850-1931]
A biography of Alfred Maudslay
Archaeology in Action: Toucan House Photo Essay
A photo essay illustrating the process of excavating the archaeological ruins of an elite residence in Belize, part of the Maya Research Program.
Tianluoshan: Wet Rice Domestication in China
A site on Hangzhou Bay in China provides new evidence of the history of paddy rice domestication
Co Loa: Fighting the Han in Iron Age Vietnam
An introduction to Co Loa, an important site of the Iron Age Dong Son culture in Vietnam
Norse and Thule in Greenland
Recent excavations at the site of Sandhavn in Greenland give us insight into trading by colonizing Vikings and their relationship with the indigenous people of Greenland
Hittite Capital City of Hattusha - A Walking Tour
The ruins of the Hittite capital of Hattusha are explored in this photo essay and walking tour.
Buffalo Soldiers, the Apache Wars, and Archaeology
In Guadalupe Mountains National Park of West Texas lie the archaeological remains of the Pine Springs Camp, a site which has been investigated by Howard
The Bonampak Murals Photo Essay
The Bonampak murals are a detailed record of the battles and courtly life of a Maya king; this photo essay details the events and shows how the Maya lived.
Coconuts
A new paper on the domestication of coconuts is illustrated in this photo essay describing coconut types, coconut origins and how they came to be dispersed throughout the world
Mayan Jade
The term Mayan Jade refers to jadeite, a true jade used to make personal orgnaments by the elites of all Mesoamerican civilizations.
History of Bananas
The history of bananas is very old, in fact one of the oldest domesticated crops in the world; and research into its background has recently blossomed.
Stephens and Catherwood: Maya Explorers
John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood traveled Mesoamerica, recording the ancient ruins for posterity, as this biography illustrates.
The Statues That Walked: Easter Island Reconsidered
A book review of a new book on Easter Island by scholars Terry Hunt and Carl Lipo
Terra Preta
Terra Preta, or Amazonian Dark Earths, is soil enhanced by charcoal, human waste and other organic materials. Its history supported the growth of village agricultural life in the Amazon rainforest, and the growth of the biochar movement in the world today.
The Popol Vuh
The history and stories of the Popol Vuh, the ancient Mayan book of the creation.
Elixir: A History of Water and Humankind
A book review of Brian Fagan's Elixir, on the history of water control.
Chultun
A chultun is an ancient storage facility, constructed by the Maya to hold water, food, and possibly make chichen beer...
Dama de Elche
The Dama de Elche is a piece of statuary art from the 4th-5th century BC in Spain
Vindolanda
Vindolanda was a series of Roman forts on the Stanegate Road, approximately the border of Scotland and England. It's wet conditions allowed the preservation of over 1300 pieces of everyday writing.
Fray Diego de Landa
Discussion of why Fray Diego de Landa is among the most reviled and forgiven members of the Spanish conquest of Mexico.
Paleodemography
Paleodemography is a method used by archaeologists to reconstruct the population make up of prehistoric communities
Ake (Mexico)
Ake is a very old Mayan site in the Yucatan peninsula, first occupied in the 4th century BC
Rano Raraku Quarry on Easter Island
One of two main quarries on Easter Island, where the huge stone statues called moai were carved, is Rano Raraku.
Castillo de Teayo (Veracruz Mexico)
The Castillo de Teayo is a modern town in Veracruz, with a pyramid in its town square
Social Ranking at Cuello
The rise of wealthy and powerful people is documented at the Maya site of Cuello, Belize.
Maya Cave Paintings at Naj Tunich
Naj Tunich is a cave painting site in Guatemala, used by the ancient Maya for ritual purposes and holding 94 separate drawings of Maya ritual life.
Itzamná, Maya God of Creation
The Maya God of creation was Itzamna, who created all the other gods, and invented writing and divination. Whew! busy guy...
Lake Dwellings and Otzi the Iceman
Lake dwellings, houses built on stilts at the shores of Alpine lakes between 4000-3000 BC, have been used to learn more about the lifestyles of Otzi the Iceman.
Tatiana Proskouriakoff
Epigrapher and Mayanist Tatiana Proskouriakoff is featured in a biographical sketch.
Australopithecus sediba: New Ancestor?
A new species of Australopithecus may upset much of what we understand of the human evolutionary tree.
Exploring the Northern Maya Lowlands
One way to experience the past is to design vacation travel around archaeological ruins. Nicoletta Maestri recommends we start our Maya explorations with the northern Maya lowlands.
Oxkintok
Oxkintok is a pre-classic and classic period Maya site located on the northern Yucatan peninsula, and well worth a visit.
Coatepec - Sacred Mountain of the Aztecs
Coatepec is an ancient Aztec symbol for the mythical Serpent Mountain, but it comes from an older tradition in Mesoamerica.
World's Oldest Acheulean Handaxe - And What it Might Mean
An Acheulean handaxe suggests to some researchers that we may need to rethink our ideas about who-did-what in ancient times.
Mesoamerican World View
The ancient people of Mesoamerica shared many cultural traits, not the least of which was a broad notion of what the world was truly like.
Domestication of Pearl Millet
The history of the domestication of pearl millet is tied to climate change in west Africa about 45 hundred years ago.
Islamic Cities
An introdution to some of the fascinating cities of the Islamic civilization.
Guide to the Moche
The Moche civilization on the Pacific coast of Peru built huge temples and extensive canals, lived in cities and rural farmsteads, and made fabulous pottery.
Ancient Road Systems
Ancient road systems are of fascination, because they are engineering feats which were built for a variety of reasons, from the mundane of crossing a wet place, to the imperial of keeping your cities under control.
Actun Tunichil Muknal (Belize)
The Classic Maya cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal, or ATM Cave, is a fascinating glimpse into the ritual mind of the Maya.
100,000 Year Old Paint Pots at Blombos Cave
Two toolkits for producing red pigment were discovered in a cave off the Indian Coast of South Africa, used some 100,000 years ago. This photo essay looks at the finds in detail, as reported in Science.
Yana Rhinoceros Horn Site
The Yana Rhinoceros Horn site is a Siberian arctic archaeological site, some 27,000 years old. It holds part of the puzzle to the original American colonization
Archaeology and the History of Alcohol
The history of alcohol is tied up with the social evolution of society. Of course archaeologists are fascinated by the substance!
Mesoamerican Caves
Caves were of great ritual importance to the Maya and other Mesoamerican people, as reported in a new article by Nicoletta Maestri.
The Piazza dei Cavalieri Blacksmith Shop
Blacksmiths had shops in the Piazza dei Cavalieri for some 500 years, and although you can't see them any more, archaeological evidence has uncovered the evidence.
Ruins of the Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya is known for many things, not least of all for the Maya ruins you can visit there. Here's some suggestions for your visit.
Burnum - The Roman Empire in Croatia
The Roman encampment of Burnum was a strategically important site for the Romans; and a site of great interest to archaeologists.
Viking Houses
Houses of the ancient Vikings were built to last, because it turns out that those wild, adventurous young men had quiet, industrious descendants.
Iron Age Barley Beer
Beer making in the Iron Age of Europe was something that had to be done quickly and near the point of consumption. Archaeological studies of beer making processes in central Europe show us how that was done.
Pushing Back Pottery's Invention
The invention of pottery occurred at least some 15,000 years ago, perhaps in the Yangtze river valley of China.
Chicomoztoc and Origin Myths of Mesoamerica
The origin myths of Mesomerica have much in common: one of the common elements is Chicomoztoc, a subterranean place of origin for Aztec and Toltec groups in Mesoamerica.
The Real Mound Builders
Building a Native American mound is far more complex and ritually significant that we knew.
Etowah Mounds
Etowah mounds is a Mississippian period site located on the Etowah River of northwestern Georgia, and well worth a visit. Here's why.
Pre-Clovis Megafaunal Hunters
The Manis mastodon site illustrates the diversity of the founding populations of the Americas
Identifying the Effects of Landnám
Landnam is the name of an agricultural method used by the Vikings and their Norse descendants outside of the
The Temples of Malta - A Photo Essay
Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to watch a video on the Malta Temples, 6,000-year-old ancient temples located on the islands of Malta and Gozo, out in
E-Group
E-Groups are arrangements of buildings on Maya archaeological sites that are, at least in part, solar observatories for tracking the passing of time.
Obsidian and the Lapita at Teouma
The Lapita culture colonized the parts of the Pacific Ocean called Remote Oceania beginning about 1200 BC. Most recently, their vast voyaging has been traced through their use of obsidian.
Thule Tradition and Climate Change
To learn about how to adapt to climate change, we can visit the Thule tradition, a cold-adapted culture that had more than its fair share of dealing with inclement weather.
When Did Early Modern Humans Get to Europe?
New research at Kent's Cavern and Grotta del Cavallo have added to recent controversy concerning the innovative capabilities of Neanderthals.
Nabta Playa and the Predynastic of Egypt
The Nabta Playa-Kiseiba region in southern Egypt is where pottery, astronomy and plant and animal domestications were among the innovations developed by the ancestors of the pyramid builders.
Human Sacrifice at Royal Cemetery of Ur
A recent investigation into the deaths of the servants in a Mesopotamian royal cemetery coincides with a reopening of Penn Museum's exhibition.
The Neolithic Lake Dwelling of La Draga
La Draga is an early Neolithic lake dwelling, where about 100 people lived on the shores of Lake Byoles in Catalonia about 7,000 years ago.
Salt Production in Prehistory
Salt is an everyday condiment with a bad reputation, and a past that suggests that the expression
The Aurignacian at Franchthi Cave
New research in the lowest levels of Franchthi cave has shoved back the earliest dates of the Upper Paleolithic occupations in Greece
Dating Upper Paleolithic Cave Paintings
Dating Upper Paleolithic cave paintings is a tricky business, as was identified with the dating of Chauvet and Cosquer caves
Sites to Know: Nazlet Khater
Nazlet Khater is a site in Egypt, quite important for understanding the movement of early modern humans out of Africa and into Eurasia.
Göbekli Tepe: Houses, Shrines or Both?
Is Gobekli Tepe really just a cultic center, or are we seeing the trees and missing the forest?
Montanissell Cave - Bronze Age Catalonia
Deep within Montanissell Mountain in Catalonia, Spain, a group of eight people were buried some 3200 years ago, giving researchers insight into Middle Bronze Age customs.
Manioc among the Maya
Manioc is an important root drop, domesticated in South America some 8,000 years ago; recently, a field where it was planted was discovered at the Maya site of Ceren, El Salvador
Aztec Xaltocan
Xaltocan was an independent polity first before falling to the Aztec empire in 1428. Its history makes for great scholarly insights into the changes wrought by the Aztecs
Saffron
Saffron is ludicrously expensive, and has been used as a spice, pigment and painkiller for some 4,000 years.
Papyrus
Papyrus is the oldest writing paper we know of, made from the pithy interior of its stem.
Climate Change and the Collapse of Angkor
The Khmer Empire collapsed in 1431, for a number of reasons: but the biggest one was an inability to adapt to climate change.
Hibabiya Recovered from Photographs
The early Islamic village of Hibabiya was identified by aerial photography back in the 1920s, and researchers are repiecing its history together from the photographs.
European Paleodogs and Domestication
The discovery of a canid skull with wolf and dog characteristics in a collection from a cave in Siberia adds more to the dog domestication story.
Mongooses in Iberia
Mongooses are small mammals with voracious appetites for smaller mammals and birds. They arrived in the Iberian peninsula along with the Islamic civilization in the 8th century AD....
Egyptian Medicine
The ancient Egyptians are renowned for many scientific advances, including medicine, as seen in two ancient manuscripts from the Middle Kingdom
Roads of the Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire, or Angkor Civilization, of the 13th century AD had a vast road system that offered comfort and supplies to travelers to the capital city of Angkor Wat.
Winter Solstice at Stonehenge
Winter solstice is a time when most of the great religions of the world celebrate the middle of winter, and hope that the spring may come. Photographers generally document the sunrise on the solstice at Stonhenge, and this year is no different.
Mapungubwe - Iron Age Capital in Africa
Mapungubwe, important Iron Age capital in South Africa
Recumbent Stone Circles
Recumbent stone circles are a subset of megalithic monuments, known only from parts of Scotland and Ireland.
Great Zimbabwe's Rulers
Great Zimbabwe, an African Iron Age capital dated between the 13th-16th centuries AD, is the subject of some ongoing debate considering where the rulers lived.
Ideologies in Archaeology - A Review
Ideologies in Archaeology is a new book on the philosophy of archaeology, from University of Arizona Press
Tobacco and the Maya
Scientific analysis of the microscopic leftover contents of a 1300-year-old ceramic vessel confirms that it was used to carry tobacco snuff for its Mayan owners.
Panama's Golden Chiefdoms
National Geographic features excavations at the chiefdom level site of El Cano in central Panama, where thousands of gold artifacts attest to the power of these 10th century AD chiefs
Sites You Should Know: Shillourokambos
The archaeological site of Shillourokambos on Cyprus holds 10,000 year old evidence of animal management and the processes of domestication
25 Centuries of Architecture at Butrint
Butrint in Albania has one of the most diverse extant architectures in the world--probably second only to Constantinople.
Fish Traps and Archaeology
Fish traps, or fish weirs, are structures built to catch fish--and archaeologists tell us they were invented at least 6,000 years ago
Making Faience
Faience is the first 'high tech ceramic', and its manufacturing process will convince you of that, even if it was created over 5,000 years ago.
Broomcorn Millet and the Origins of Farming
Broomcorn millet is just one of several domesticated crops that have a lag time between domestication and full-blown farming.culture
Upper Paleolithic Site of Abri Pataud
The Upper Paleolithic cave site of Abri Pataud contains evidence of human occupation dated between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago.
Camelids of South America: Llama and Alpaca
Llamas and alpacas are two South American domesticates which together made living in the high altitudes of the Andes mountains possible 6,000 years ago.
The Original Jerky
One original form of what we now call jerky, comes from the Andes Mountains of Peru in South America
Bolomor Cave
The Middle Stone Age site of Bolomor Cave is located in the beautiful Valencia region of Spain.
Chenopodium
Chenopodium is a plant with some 250 different species, several of which were domesticated in many different places in the world, including North America.
Early Houses in the Azraq Basin of Jordan
Archaeological investigations have uncovered the remains of two 20,000 year old hut structures, at a site in the Azraq basin of Jordan.
Mammoth Bone Settlements
Mammoth bone settlements are Paleolithic homes, built of extinct elephant bones by humans at least as long ago as 40,000 years. Or so it seems.
Steppe Societies - Revisiting the Andronovo Culture
Steppe societies is what archaeologists use to refer to the broad sweep of horse-back riding nomads who owned a large hunk of Asia during the Late Bronze Age.
Yanghai Tombs of the Turpan Basin
the Yanghai Tombs, located in the desert of the Turpan Basin of western China, preserved plants, wood, clothing and mummies of the people buried there some 2500 years ago.
The Wild History of Beans
Beans are among the most important foods on earth, and given our needs to find plants that adapt well to climate change, they may just be what we need in the future.
The Three Sisters
The ancient farming style called Three Sisters involves planting maize, beans and squash together in the same field: and the benefits of doing that are the subject of many an article by crop scientists.
Huaca Prieta
Huaca Prieta is a monumentally large temple located on the arid coast of Peru, and built beginning between 7500 and 6500 years ago...
Jerf el Ahmar
Jerf el Ahmar is 10,000-year-old village in Syria, where wild barley was consumed, and used as building material, on the Euphrates River in Syria.
Areni-1: a jug of wine, a pair of shoes?
Areni-1 is a site in Armenia, where early versions of footwear and wine, wine production, have been identified between 5000 and 3000 BC.
The Harbor at Ostia Antica
Ostia Antica is a Roman harbor, located only 15 miles away from the city of Rome. Built by the Emperor Claudius in the first century A.D., Ostia is still remarkably preserved, and well worth a visit if you're in Italy.
Abu Hureyra
Abu Hureyra is an important prepottery Neolithic site located in Syria. Its importance is based on evidence of the transition from hunting to agriculture, beginning 13,000 years ago.
Maple Sugaring
Maple sugaring is a sweet treat practiced in eastern North America in the early spring. But was it invented by Native Americans or Europeans? Here's the scoop.
Debt Slavery and Colonial Plantations in the Yucatán
Hacienda Tabi is an archaeological sites and a colonial plantation, located in the Puuc region of Yucatán Peninsula. Archaeology there provides insight into debt slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries
Classic Maya Astronomical Mural
A new article in Science this week reveals information concerning the archaeoastronomical skills of the Classic Period Maya
Time Team: Unearthing the Roman Invasion
a new DVD box set of 12 episodes from the madly popular British reality TV series Time Team provides the viewer and entertaining and educational introduction to the archaeology of the Roman invasion of what is today the United Kingdom
Re-Sculpting Our Planet: Megafaunal extinctions
megafaunal extinctions, along with climate change and the movement of human populations, re-sculpted our planet beginning about 50,000 years ago.
The (Revised) History of Rice
scientific research into the domestication history of rice has made terrific inroads into how rice became one of our most widely used staple crops.
Bering Strait and Climate Control
new computer models of oceanic currents through the Bering Strait seem to suggest that it has the potential to strongly affect the global climate
Will Durant and Geological Consent
a quotation found off the Internet in 1998 and attributed toWill Durant is finally corrected.
The History of Wheeled Vehicles
Wheeled vehicles are the history of the invention of the wheel, at least at its most useful. They are about 5500 years old, and nobody knows who invented them first
The Moche Site of Huaca Colorada
Huaca Colorada is a Moche archaeological site in Peru, where archaeologist who discovered evidence for the manufacturer of copper tools at the Temple, for the practice of ceremonies held there
Where Did the First Farmers of Sweden Come From?
DNA analysis of 5000 year old burials from southern Sweden allow researchers to shed light on an old problem: from whence came the farmers of Europe?
Exchange Systems and Trade Networks
Exchange systems describe the way consumers and producers of goods, ideas and services meet together. Archaeologists and anthropologists have studied exchange systems 150 years or more
Ancient Roadside Inns
The date of the first roadside inn is unknown, but they start at least 2500 years ago in Mesopotamia. This article describes archaeological ruins of roadside inns along the Inca Trail, the Roman Road, and the Silk Road
Horses from the Western Steppes
According to new genetic research, horses were first domesticated in the western steppe region of Eurasia.
Reassessing Abri Castanet
New excavations at the site of Abri Castanet have identified its artwork as among the oldest in the world, similar in age to the amazing Chauvet cave.
Ancient Sports Arenas - Mesoamerican Ballcourts
Archaeological evidence of ancient sports in the Americas include the ballcourt, a structure built to play ball beginning ca. 1400 BC
History of Invention: A Top Ten List
A list of ten top innovations in human history should include writing, don't you think?
Conserving Wood Artifacts from Oseberg
Wooden artifacts from the 9th century Oseberg Viking Boat Grave are the focus of a research study to identify a way to halt and repair the deterioration of old preservation techniques.
Old Smyrna and Homer
Old Smyrna, an ancient town in what is today Turkey, is one of seven possible birth cities for the ancient Greek poet, Homer.
Ancient Flutes and the Kulturpumpe Model
Two ancient flutes from a site in Germany may help explain the blossoming of technological innovation at the onset of the Upper Paleolithic
Photo Essay from Abri Castanet
A photo essay of recently discovered images from the 35,000 year old Abri Castanet rockshelter.
Adzes, Isotopes and the LBK
A recent study examines evidence of social stratification of the First Farmers of Europe.
New Dates on European Paleolithic Art
New dates on a series of Paleolithic cave painting sites begs the question of Neanderthal artistry.
Toba Super Eruption
A super eruption of the Toba volcano occurred some 74,000 years ago in Indonesia. But did it change the course of human history?
New Evidence for the Pacific Coastal Migration Theory
New evidence supporting the entry of humans into the New World along the Pacific coast is reported.
Shieling and the Viking Colony Failures
Shieling as a practice of moving cattle from winter to summer pasturages may have mitigated--but ultimately not solved--the problems of environmental degradation for the Viking colonies on Greenland.
The Oldest Pottery in the World
New dates from Xianrendong Cave push the invention of pottery back to 20,000 years ago.
A Visit to Tula de Hidalgo
A photo essay of Tula de Hidalgo, thought to have been Tollan, the capital of the Toltec Empire.
The Dian Kingdom
The Dian Kingdom was a Bronze Age polity in Yunnan province of China, when the Han Dynasty conquered it in 109 BC, according to the Shiji.
Traveling to America, More than 15,000 Years Ago
Comprehensive investigation of genetic data from Native Americas lends support to multiple waves of migrations into the Americas.
Clovis, Western Stemmed and Paisley Caves
Western Stemmed Points found at Paisley Caves in Oregon lead researchers to confirm the pre-Clovis migration into the New World.
Dust Veil of AD 536
The dust veil of AD 536 was the natural effect of a volcanic eruption or a cometary impact that devastated parts of the northern hemisphere.
The History of Ivory
Ivory is one of those beautiful substances that ancient people were quick to recognize, use, and shepherd.
Archaeology in High School?
Caleb G writes: Two years from now I will be in college and I was hoping to get a major in history. Once I have completed college, how would I find a job
Columbus, Silver, and Failure
The first European town in the New World was established by Christopher Columbus after his second voyage across the Atlantic, in 1494. Samples of galena, a
West African Adobe Architecture in Danger
The traditional ephemeral architecture in the countries of West Africa known as Butabu is built of perishable fired mud brick or adobes. Ginna House, Ogol
Ancient Herbal Wines of Egypt and Palestine: A Photo Essay
Patrick McGovern at the University of Pennsylvania has been studying the origins of wine making for a very long time. Recently, his work with the excavators of
Art of the Islamic Civilization: Lustreware Pottery
One of the many inventions of the great Islamic civilization was lustreware, a metallic pottery decoration technique. When the lustreware technique is done
Research Paper Topics: A Library
Research paper topics are something we all need at some point. Fortunately, archaeology can deliver.
Border Cave and Cultural Continuity in the Later Stone Age
Findings at Border Cave in South Africa extends the history of hunter-gatherers in South Africa to more than 40,000 years ago.
Dilmun: Trading with Mesopotamia
Dilmun was an important trade center between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley some 4,000 years ago.
Date Palm History
Date palms are terrifically useful resources in the arid subtropical regions of the world, and that is probably why they were domesticated so long ago.
Chinchorro Mummies and the Environment
Chinchorro mummies may have been the result of unstable climatic events, say scholars.
Distinguishing Wild from Domestic Pigs
Distinguishing wild from domestic pigs in archaeology is not a simple matter, as scholars propose a variety of methods.
The Archaeological Imagination: A Book Review
Michael Shanks' The Archaeological Imagination is an experiment in broadening the definition of an archaeologist.
The Mississippians
The Mississippians were a group of loosely connected chiefdoms who shared about one-third of what is today the United States between about 1000-1500 AD.
Meeting the Denisovans
A complete DNA sequence of the Denisovan hominid remains from Siberia leads some surprising information to human evolution.
Art of the Azilian: 14,000 year old Amber Elk Figurine
An elk cow sculpted in amber 14,000 years ago represents the cultural change required for people to survive the end of the last Ice Age.
1540 Battle at Mabila, Alabama
The site of Mabila in Alabama is where the conquistador Hernando de Soto and Chief Tascalusa met in a mighty battle. We just don't know where it is.
Minos' Palace at Knossos
Theseus fighting the Minotaur, Ariadne and her ball of string, Daedalus the architect and doomed Icarus of the wax wings; how many of us dream Minoan dreams
Archaeology Dating Methods: A Short Course
Modern methods of archaeological dating are described in a six-day online short course.
The Venus of Laussel
The Venus of Laussel is a sculpture recovered from a 25,000-year-old cave in France, that has created numbers of interpretations as to its meaning.
More on the Iceman
A few additional details of the last days of Otzi the Iceman appeared in the academic press over the last few months.
Ozette
Although American archaeology doesn't have a Pompeii, where a volcanic calamity preserved ancient ruins in a spectacular way, there are a couple of examples
The Coosa Polity
The Coosa polity was a thriving social system in the U.S. states of Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama when Hernando de Soto dropped in for a visit.
The De Soto Chronicles
The De Soto Chronicles refers to three personal narratives and a literary masterpiece, describing the 1538-1544 Hernando de Soto expedition to North America.
A Walking Tour of Comalcalco
Comalcalco is a Maya archaeological site in the Mexican state of Tabasco, with an unusual architectural feature.
Garcilaso de la Vega (the Inca)
The Inca, Garcilaso de la Vega, was the first Spanish American writer of note, historian of the Inca civilization
Underwater Village of Atlit-Yam
Atlit-Yam is annine thousand year old underwater archaeological site, located off the coast of Israel
Photo Essay of Moundville
Moundville is one of the largest capitals of the Mississippian culture, located in the Black Warrior river valley of Alabama, in the southeastern United States.
Radiocarbon Calibration News
Japan's Suigetsu Lake holds the potential to sharpen and refine radiocarbon calibration dates to the feasible limits of the technique.
Archaeology of Natural Disasters
Natural disasters such as floods, eruptions, and earthquakes, have affected past cultures significantly. Here's a sample of what archaeological studies have
Turning Lead into Gold: the Alchemy of Lustreware
The decorative ceramic style known as lustreware is a shiny metallic visual effect that flickers back and forth when light is played on it. Small cup.
The Maya Plaza: A Photo Essay
The best known archaeological sites in North America to the public are probably the temples of the classic Maya civilization (~AD 250-900). Uxmal, Bonampak,
Pinnacle Point
Pinnacle Point is an important Middle Stone Age site, located on the southern coast of South Africa
Megamiddens of South Africa
Mussel shell heaps amassed over 1200 years and located on the coasts of South Africa are the focus of much hotly-debated archaeological study
Neolithic Canoes of Bercy
The Neolithic site of Bercy is known best for its ancient canoes, found on the banks of the Seine river in Paris, France.
Motul de San José: A Book Review
Motul de San Jose is a Maya center located in the Peten region of Florida, and subject of a new book from the University Press of Florida
A Plant Eating Ancestor: Australopithecus bahrelghazali
koro-toro, australopithecus, stable isotope analysis, archaeology, paleontology
500,000 Year Old Spearpoints at Kathu Pan
Kathu Pan, an archaeological site in South Africa, has revealed evidence that people have been making spearheads for half a millennium
Swahili Coast Town of Songo Mnara
During the Medieval period, Songo Mnara was an important trading town for those international trade experts along the Swahili Coast.
Human Ancestors You Should Know: Toumaď
Toumai is possibly an ancient human ancestor, who lived some 7 million years ago.
Wild Emmer Wheat
The cracking of the breadwheat genome represents the beginning of more information concerning the domestication processes of wheat (Triticum spp). Emmer is the progenitor of nearly all modern wheats.
Kilwa Chronicle: Oral History of the Swahili Culture
The Kilwa Chronicle consists of two written versions of the oral history of the founding dynasty of the sultans at Kilwa Kisiwani, largest of the communities of the Swahili Culture
Ancient Marvels: A NOVA Video Collection
Ancient Marvels is the name of a collection of six videos from the PBS science program NOVA, exploring ancient construction methods, and the methods archaeologists use to discover how they were built.
Nostalgia for the Light - Video Review
Nostalgia for the Light is an award-winning documentary from Patricio Guzman and Icarus Films, on the awe-inspiring Atacama Desert of Chile.
Color Pigments
A guide to ancient pigments describes the archaeology, history and chemistry that goes into making the ancient world a little more colorful.
Hvalsey Farm and Church
The Norse farmstead on Greenland called Hvalsey, was the site of the last documented event of the colony: a wedding
Ancient Art of Cheese-Making
A new study provides evidence of making cheese back to 7500 years ago.
Swahili Towns
The medieval towns along the eastern coast of Africa called the Swahili culture, were a mix of stone, coral and thatch structures.
Solstice, Stonehenge and the Maya
The Winter Solstice passed at Stonehenge again, despite rumors of an apocalypse which was never, I'm afraid, foretold by any Maya.
Feasting
A fabulous feast is an important part of any celebration, and we humans have been conducting them for some 12,000 years.
Hilazon Tachtit
Hilazon Tachtit is a 12,000 year old burial site in what is today Israel, where scholars believe a shaman was buried.
Biographies of Archaeologists and Related Scientists
Archaeologists do live interesting lives, at least some of us. Here's a collection of recent biographies to sink your teeth into; and some other historically
Movies and Cinematic Explorations of Archaeology
Any archaeological fan of movies today knows about the Indiana Jones films; but for the true afficionado, that's only the beginning of a slew of great (and not
Alexander the Great
This Thanksgiving, Oliver Stone's new biopic, Alexander the Great, finally arrives in movie theatres. Alexander was the Macedonian fellow who set out and
New P and Q Terms
This weekend, it's the end of the P terms (Pylos, Pyramid Texts, Pyramids) and all of the Q terms (for the moment, anyway: Qandahar, Qinglian'gang Culture,
Archaeology Books Designed for Children
While there are not many books for children on archaeology or archaeological topics, some very excellent samples are available.
Pylos Regional Archaeological Project
The internet edition of the work of the joint American-British-Greek-German project provides a wealth of information on their investigations into the history of
Sakkara Pyramid Texts
Samuel Mercer's translation of the pyramid texts at Sakkara dated 1952 and entirely on the web, which may or may not be an infringement of Mercer's copyrights
Ancient Conqueror, Modern Devotees
In what sounds like a post-modernist critique, Emily Eakin in the NYT points out that what we might learn from the Alexander the Great movie has more to do with
Kandahar of the Arab Conquest
From a special issue of World Archaeology on Islamic Archaeology published in 1983, an article on the Islamic site of Qandahar from S. W. Helms, on the Khyber
Toulouse in Paperback
Just heard you can get a copy of the classic Bottle Makers and their Marks by Julian Toulouse for $70US at Blackburn Press, which is a steal: . Bottle Makers
Archaeology Glossary: R Terms
The first of the R terms includes: Ras Hafun, Ras Mkumbuu, Ranking and social inequality, David Randall-MacIver, Johan Georg Ramsauer, the Ramasseum,
Is the Bible Fact or Fiction?
In honor of the new Discovery Channel program on Rameses II, the Pharaoh mentioned in the Bible, here's a little bit of the History of Archaeology, on how
Estopadas Arqueo(b)logicas
From long-time news collector Pedro Barros, an archaeology news blog; in Portuguese.
China Before China
The book China before China describes the history of the archaeological investigations of Swedish geologist Johan Gunnar Andersson and Ding Wenjiang,
ARENA
Another wonderful resource from the Archaeological Data Service, ARENA includes an abundance of information and original documents of sites all over Europe. In
Mystery of Great Zimbabwe
From the American Public Broadcasting Service, a special website on the great Iron Age site of Great Zimbabwe.
The Caves of Benin
A joint Danish-Beninoise project in Benin, where nearly a thousand subterranean caves have been identified, seventy of which contain archaeological sites. From
Kephallenia
The island of Kephallenia has the ruins of four Greek cities, Pale (near Lixouri), Krane (at Argostoli, the modern capital), Same (today's Sami), and Pronnoi,
Little Lady's Feud
I truly hate this story, but I've seen several versions, so you'd better know about it. A disagreement has developed concerning whether the new species found in
Archaeology Glossary: R Terms
Remedello culture, remote sensing, religion in archaeology, George Andrew Reisner, Paul Reinecke, Maria Reiche, the Red Tower, Red Bay, Recuay culture,
The Early Upper Paleolithic Beyond Western Europe
The edited volume Early Upper Paleolithic Beyond Western Europe presents data from over 100 sites throughout eastern Europe and Asia on the transition period of
Cave of Letters
From the American Public Broadcasting Service's NOVA website, a report on the 2000 year old scrolls of a Jewish woman who hid her public documents from the
Valley of the Golden Mummies
Looking for more information on the Discovery Channel special? Check out Zahi Hawass's home page at the Guardian website: Valley of the Golden Mummies - Dr.
The Architecture of Islam
From Muslim Heritage, a collection of papers on the Islamic architectural sites in the world, including the Taj Mahal, the Kutubiya Mosque, abd Topkapi.
Biskupin, Poland
Papers and documents relating to Biskupin, known as the 'Polish Pompeii, a Bronze and Early Iron Age settlement, from Archaeological Records of Europe.
Dipilio, Greece
Excavations at this Neolithic lake side village near Kastoria Lake in Greece have been undertaken since 1992 by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The web
Protector of the Past
Thomas Hales Eubanks, president of the National Association of State Archaeologists, discusses his career as the State Archaeologist of Louisiana. In a new
Tom King's CRM Plus
Surely the best known practioner of the witchccraft of Cultural Resource Management, Tom King now has a weblog. His first article is a practical but edgy look
Archaeology Glossary: New R Terms
Apparently there are a whole lot of archaeologists whose name begins with the letter 'R': Frank H. H. Roberts, Jr., Michael Rix, William Ritchey, David Rindos,
The Giza Archives Project
The Giza Archives Project provides historical documents from excavations directed by George Reisner in the Giza Pyramid area between 1905 and 1942. The website
GIS with a View
Volume 16 of the online journal Internet Archaeology is themed GIS with a View, edited by Ulla Rajala and Doortje Van Hove and dedicated to the intersection
CHRONO Centre
The CHRONO Centre at Queen's University, Belfast, conducts radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology and stable isotope dating.
Chaco Canyon: Ancient Observatories
From the Exploratorium, a teaching resource about climate and astronomy based on Chaco Canyon. Well worth a trip; takes Macromedia Flash.
Archaeological Books for Beginners
Whether you're interested in getting your feet wet about the science of archaeology or longing to take an amateur passion to the next level? Here's a collection
2005 Field School at Tell es-Safi, Israel
July 10-August 5, 2005. Bar Ilan University. Tell es-Safi (Hebrew Tel Tsafit) is a commanding mound located on the border between the Judean foothills (the
Ancient Nemea
From the Classics Department at the University of California at Berkeley, ongoing excavations at the classic site of Nemea.
Archaeology Glossary: R Terms
Clive Ruggles, Marc Armand Ruffer, Rudabanya, John Howland Rowe, Rougiers, Walter Edmond Roth, Rossen culture, Rosetta Stone, Rome, Rock Art, K.S.R. Robinson,
The Ancient Astronomical Observatory of Rujm el-Hiri, Israel
The 5,000 year old megalithic building in the Golan Heights called Rujm el-Hiri was apparently intended for star-watching in Israel; that certainly seems like
Open Archaeology
Sebastian Heath's experiment in XML databases called Open Archaeology contains a wealth of bibliographic information on late Roman pottery in the Mediterranean
Chinchawas, Peru
Chincawas is a Recuay culture site in highland Peru, being investigated by George F. Lau of the University of East Anglia.
Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage
A website on the history of the provinces on the east coast of Canada. English and French.
Testwood Lakes Bridge
On-going excavations by Wessex archaeology have recovered substantial information about the oldest bridge detected yet in England, dated to the MIddle Bronze
Archaeology Glossary: R Terms
The last of the R terms includes Rugm el Hiri and Runic writing.
Bone Box on 60 minutes
Why this is showing up this week on 60 minutes is beyond me, but maybe CBS is planning an expose of the supposed Burial Box: CBS News | The Stone Box |
Archaeology Glossary: S Terms
Sa Huynh culture, Marshall Sahlins, Fuad Safar, Sahul, Sunda, St. Albans, St. Augustine, St. Catherine's, and St. Cesaire. Also, Eridu for the E's.
Bengal Bay Disaster
For the latest information about the terrible devastation caused by the earthquake and tidal wave south of the Andaman Islands, see our Asia for Visitors home
Help with Tsunami Disaster Relief
As the tragedy in South Asia continues to unfold, the fastest and best way for individuals to help is to donate money to support relief efforts. In this
Sister Stories
From Rosemary Joyce, Carolyn Guyer, and Michael Joyce, a fascinating exploration of the flavor of Aztec society, and one of my favorite experiments on the
Is that You, Will?
Hmmm. Several years ago I found this tasty quote attributed to Will Durant on 'geological consent', but faithful reader Peter Blau tells me I am wrong, wrong,
Review of Survival by Hunting
New book by George Frison called Survival by Hunting: Prehistoric Human Predators and Animal Prey is reviewed by Lawrence Guy Straus in American Scientist this
Berkeley's Ancient History and Mediterranean Archaeology Group
The Graduate Group in Ancient History and Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of California, Berkeley is focused on interdisciplinary interests in the
University of California Berkeley Near Eastern Studies
The Near Eastern Studies Department of the University of California at Berkeley offers the study of languages, literatures, and civilizations of the ancient,
Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin - Archaeology Graduate School
The Winkelmann Institute at Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin provides MA degrees specializing in classical archaeology, particularly Roman and Greek, and North
Archaeology Glossary: S Terms
Sampling strategies, Samnite culture, Ali Sami, Sambor Prei Kuk, Samarra, Merrilee H. Salmon, Salvage Archaeology, Salawusu, Saladoid, Saint-Blaise, St.
Binghamton University - Archaeology Graduate Schools
Binghamton University's anthropology department offers MA, MS and PhD degrees, with faculty support in North America (Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest,
The Goddess and the Bull: An Archaeological Journey
Michael Balter's book The Goddess and the Bull may be seen primarily as a biography: of the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük, of the site excavators, and of the
Grassy Island, Nova Scotia
From Canada's Digital Collection, an exploration of the historic and prehistoric archeaology of the Grassy Island site.
Archaeology Glossary: S Terms
Saqqara Plateau, Karl Sapper, Sanxingdui, Sant'Angelo Muxaro, Santa Luisa, Santa Elena, Sanskrit, Sangiran, Sanghao Cave, Sandia Cave, William T. Sanders, San
Sangro Valley Project
Archaeological investigations in the ancient Samnite region of Italy have been undertaken by a multinational force from Italy, the UK, and the US for a number
Coral Dating in Maui
A news story in the Honolulu Advertiser discusses P.V. Kirch's investigations on Maui, using uranium thorium dating on corals: Coral dating tells story of
The Windover Bog Site
At the Early Middle Archaic Windover Bog site, a pond cemetery on Florida's Atlantic coast near Cape Canaveral, site conditions have preserved a wealth of
The Archaeology of Puerto Vallarta
From Joseph Mountjoy and University of North Carolina at Greesboro, information on several sites in Jalisco, Mexico, near the community of Puerto Vallarta.
Equine Mysteries of Qin Dynasty
The Chinese government has decided to send horse skeletons from a Qin dynasty tomb for DNA studies; this will be the first time there are any such studies on
Mono y Conejo
Mono y Conejo (translates as Monkey and Rabbit) is a journal from the Mesoamerican Archaeological Research Laboratory at the University Texas can be downloaded
Sandia Cave, New Mexico
From Keith Littleton and published on Doug Weller's wonderful Skeptics site, an article on the controversy around the Sandia Cave site.
Sanskrit Documents
A comprehensive site on the language and texts, including learning tools such as an online dictionary.
Site Recorder
A complete surveying, drawing and finds recordation software program, all GIS based, for use on underwater archaeology sites.
Sampling Strategies
From the University of Texas, a terrific description of different sampling techniques used in archaeological survey.
Archaeology Glossary: S Terms
New S terms on the site include Claude Schaeffer, J.J. Scaliger, E.V. Sayrer, E.B. Sayles, A.H. Sayce, Saxons, Marshall H. Saville (check the Sa file)
Damage in Babylon
The Guardian has a depressing article on the damage wrought on the archaeological and other cultural resources of Babylon by the ongoing war in Iraq: Guardian
Excavations at Hierakonpolis On Line
Renée Friedman continues her excavations at the pre- and proto-dynastic town of Hierakonpolis in Egypt, presented online at Archaeology magazine. Past
Bilkent University - Archaeology Graduate School
The MA program at Bilkent is focused on archaeology and art of Turkey from the Prehistoric to the Medieval periods, within its Near Eastern and Mediterranean
Archaeology Glossary: A Terms
Newly freshened glossary entries for the A list include: Anglo-Saxon, A.D. Abu Hureyra, Abu Ghurab, Aboriginal peoples, CC Abbott, Abbasid Dynasty, Abydos,
Iraq and China
This online exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution investigates the effects of trade between Iraq and China created during the Abbasid Dynasty.
Historic Glass Bottle Identification
From Bill Lindsey of the the US Bureau of Land Management, the Historic Bottle Glass Identification and Information Website located on the Society for
Journal of Marine Archaeology and Technology
New in 2005, the JMAT is only online, and will include peer-reviewed articles on deep water excavation projects, amapping techniques, and other topics of
Aerial Surveys of Persepolis and Iran
During the mid-1930s, Erich F. Schmidt of the Oriental Institute conducted some of the earliest planned photographic surveys taken from an airplane. This site
Lost Race Myth
The lost race or moundbuilder myth is one created by incoming European settlers of the North American continent who could not, or did not want to, believe that
Megiddo, Israel
The archaeological site of Megiddo, known as Tell el-Mutesellim, has at least thirty urban settlements within its layers, the earliest about 3500 BC.
Mehluha: the Indus Civilization
In the vast plains of the Indus and Sarasvati valleys of northwest India and Pakistan, a great urban civilization arose between about 2500 and 2000 BC.
Archaeology Glossary: S Terms
All kinds of S terms this week: Sea Peoples, Scythians, Science Fiction, Scientific Method, Gottleib Schumacher, Henry Schoolcraft, Heinrich Schliemann, Michael
Archaeological Dig Blog
From Paul McLerran, an archaeology weblog focused on the latest excavations going on.
Egyptology Blog
Mark Morgan's weblog concentrates on news in the world of Egyptology and ongoing research.
The Egnatia Way
The Egnatia Way (or Via Egnatia) was a major Roman thoroughfare, built in the second century BC as a military road connecting the southern Adriatic coast to the
Field Schools and Scheduled Excavations in Africa
New dates for the 2005 field season in the Limpopo River Valley and Koobi Fora, Kenya.
Hermuda,China
Hemuda is a Neolithic archaeological site and the type site of the culture of the Yangtse River valley in China
Association for Environmental Archaeology
The AEA includes 400 research scientists who study everything from paleontology to zoology, and its website contains resources for faunal, floral and geological
Seasonality
Seasonality Archaeologists use the term 'seasonality' to mean the part of a year a particular activity takes place.
2005 Field Schools in Europe Outside the UK
So far (but look for more in the near future), excavations are scheduled for Castanheiro do Vento, Portugal (U Portugal), Iklaina, Greece (Iklaina
Sechin Alto, Peru
The archaeological site called Sechin Alto is the capital of a pre-incan culture located on the northwest coast of Peru, occupied between approximately 1800-900
Secondary Products Revolution
When archaeologists speak of a 'secondary products revolution,' they refer to a change in strategies for using animals and plants, in the general evolution of
Shell Middens in Archaeology
What's for dinner? Archaeological studies of shell middens throughout time, including an extensive review of the published literature.
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is an independent political body of the United States government created under the National Historic Preservation
Field Schools in Asia for 2005
New excavation sessions scheduled this year include Baga Gazryn Chuluu Survey in Mongolia (CSEN), Kazakl'i-yatkan in Uzbekistan (University of Sydney) and the
Dirt and Yarn Don't Mix
An experiential weblog from Melanie, who knits up a storm while working as a CRM archaeologist in Virginia (her URL is Runs With Trowels) but doesn't list
Jerash, Jordan
The ancient town of Jerash, located 48 kilometers north of the Jordanian capital of Amman, is one of the best preserved Roman towns in the world.
2005 Field Schools in Central America
So far, dates have been set for the Blue Creek Project (Maya Research Project) and the Programme for Belize Archaeological Project (U Texas at Austin) in
Seljuk Dynasty
The Seljuk Dynasty was an Islamic empire which occupied central Asia and the middle east between the 11th and 14th centuries AD.
2005 Field Schools in the United Kingdom
2005 field schedules scheduled so far include Achill Island, Ireland (Achill Folklife Centre), Bishopstone (Sussex Archaeological Society); Knowlton Henge
Seleucid Empire
After Alexander the Great died, his empire fractured into numerous satrapies, one of which was the Seleucid Empire
2005 Field Schools in the Middle East
Field schools scheduled for the 2005 year so far include Dhra', Jordan (U Edinburgh), Petra, Jordan (AEP), Tel Dor, Israel (Hebrew University), Tell es-Safi,
Ernst Mayr [1904-2005]
After a long and incredibly productive life, ornithologist and evolution scientist Ernst Mayr died February 3, 2005.
Ulrich Jasper Seetzen [1767-1811]
German explorer Ulrich Seetzen was most interested in natural history, but he spent much of his explorations in the trans-Jordan area of the middle east.
Adam Sedgwick [1785-1873]
Adam Sedgwick was a geologist teaching at Cambridge University in the 1830s when he hired a new field assistant named Charles Darwin.
Archaeology
Archaeology is the study of the human past, including everything from yesterday's garbage in the landfill to the impressions of footprints in the mud at
2005 Field Schools in Africa
Field schools this year are scheduled in the Limpopo River Valley (U of Witswatersrand), and Koobi Fora, Kenya (Rutgers and the National Museums of Kenya. There
Sedentism
Sedentism is the term archaeologists use to describe the process of settling down.
Kansas City Hopewell
From the University of Kansas, a web page on five sites (Kelley, Young, Quarry Creek, Aker, and Trowbridge) of the Middle Woodland period of the American Middle
Seddin, Germany
An urfield cemetery site at Seddin near Pritzwalk in northeastern Germany has a single burial in a large mound called the King's Grave.
Ernst Franck Max Sellin [1867-1935]
German scholar Ernst Sellin was interested in biblical archaeology, and although not a trained archaeologist, excavated at Jericho, Tell Ta`annek and Tel
Körösladány-Bikeri, Hungary Field School
June 27-August 5, 2005. Körös Regional Archaeological Project. A long-term, multidisciplinary, regional research project aimed at understanding the later
Alice Kober [1906-1950]
Alice Kober's awesome abilities made it possible for Michael Ventris to decipher the complex writing system known as Linear B.
Louisbourg, Nova Scotia Field School
August 14-September 2, 2005 (two sessions). Louisbourg Public Archaeology Program. The 2005 season will focus on field study at the De la Valliere property
Ernst Mayr [1904-2005]
German ornithologist and paleontologist Ernst Mayr is probably best known for his seminal work begun in the 1940s combining the works of Charles Darwin and
Ziyaret Tepe, Turkey
An international team has been excavating at the late Iron Age site of Ziyaret Tepe since 1997, and researchers believe the site is the ancient Assyrian
Betty Jane Meggers [b. 1921]
American archaeologist Betty Meggers is probably best known for her extensive work conducted in association with her husband Clifford Evans in the South
Indiana University: Archaeology Graduate School
Indiana University has a large, diverse organization that provides specialized degrees in archaeology, paleoanthropology, and archaeology and social context.
Neanderthals and Humans: Paleolithic desire?
Today's NYT has a story from J.N. Wilford describing what scholars currently understand about the difference between Neanderthal and humans--and of, course,
Disney and Cannibals
According to the CAC Review, Disney's new sequel to Pirates of the Caribbean shows the Carib Indians as cannibals, something that comes as a huge surprise to
Ethics of the Curation Crisis
This month's RPA news has an important article on the curation crisis in Cultural Resource Management archaeology. An interview of Cindy Stankowski by Jeffrey
MIT Institute in Material Culture
June 67-17, 2005. NSF-funded short course at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to encourage and assist faculty at liberal arts colleges in introducing
New Dates for Omo
According to an article in Nature today, the Homo sapiens materials at Omo Kibish in Ethiopia are dated to 195,000 years ago, not 125,000 as previously
The Acropolis of Athens
The Acropolis of Athens is located on the top of a steep rock outcrop in the middle of the ancient city, which covered with Classical Period temples and
Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda [1494-1573]
The Spanish priest Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda is best remembered an a participant in what must be among the most important debates in history, at least with regard
Serabit el-Khadem, Egypt
The archaeological site of Serabit el-Khadem is on the Sinai peninsula, on a small plateau north of the modern town of al-Tor.
Jia Lanpo [1908-2001]
Chinese paleontologist Jia Lanpo was one of the founders of scientific archaeology in China and was instrumental in the founding of the Institute of Vertebrate
Seriation
The technique of dating archaeological sites and materials by seriation was invented by William Flinders-Petrie.
Sepphoris, Israel
The site of Sepphoris (known as Zippori in Hebrew) was the capital of the Galilee region at the time of the Roman occupation.
Shirley Plantation (Virginia)
May 23 - June 23, 2005. Virginia Commonwealth University. This summer, excavation will focus on the Hill House, the earliest 17th-century occupation at Shirley.
Semitic Tribes
The term Semitic tribes (or Semites) refers to several groups of nomads and camel pastoralists who spoke related Semitic languages and included Arabs,
Université Michel de Montaigne Bordeaux Archaeology Graduate School
The Université Michel de Montaigne at Bordeaux has a large teaching and research staff with diverse interests. They also have a strong program in 3d computer
Amelia Earhart's Shoes
A new updated edition of the book written by members of TIGHAR Thomas F. King, Randall Jacobson, Karen Ramey Burns, and Kenton Spading, Amelia Earhart's Shoes
Settefinestre (Italy)
The archaeological site of Settefinestre is located in the Tuscany region of Italy, and contains a 15th century villa built on top of the ruins of a Roman
Sepphoris, Israel
The site of Sepphoris (known as Zippori in Hebrew) was the capital of the Galilee region at the time of the Roman occupation.
Some Thoughts about Programmatic Agreements
Tom King has a new entry on his website on programmatic agreements, for them what's on the peculiar side (okay, and that category does include me)... Some
University of Massachusetts at Boston: Archaeology Graduate Schools
The M.A. program at UMass Boston plays a key role in training students to participate in the field of historical archaeology.
Boston University, Archaeology Graduate School
Boston University is one of the few stand-alone Archaeology departments in the Americas (rather than within an Anthropology department), and has a large
Seriation
he technique of dating archaeological sites and materials by seriation was invented by William Flinders-Petrie.
Revised Glossary Terms Beginning with A
Well, it had to be done one day, and I might as well start now. New versions of the following terms may be found in the A pages of the glossary: Akan, Ainu,
Serovo-Glazkovo Culture
The Serovo-Glazkovo culture refers to a Siberian Late Neolithic to Bronze Age culture (4200-3200 BP) located in the Baikal area.
Thracian Gold Fever
Archaeology Magazine reports on the problematic findings in the Valley of the Thracian Kings, Bulgaria Thracian Gold Fever
Along the Silk Road
The Silk Road was a web of caravan tracks that connected China to Rome during the Han Dynasty of the 2nd century BC; archaeological investigations at sites
Serpent Mound (USA)
The Serpent Mound, located in southern Ohio in the American midwest, is a large earthen spiral structure in the shape of a coiled serpent (or at least that's
Women in Archaeology: New Listings
Ruth Benedict, Barbara Bocek, Mildred Mott Wedel, Susan Kent, Lynn Ceci, Deborah Pearsall, Barbara Mertz, Linda Schele, Susan Shennan
Fish Creek Field School, Canada
May 12-August 19, 2005 (two sessions). University of Calgary. Students will work at the John Glenn Building (site of the earliest European settlement in the
Settlement Patterns
One of the core concepts of the study of archaeology is settlement pattern studies. Click on the link to read more about Settlement Patterns
Crepeele Site Field School, Canada
May 23-July 1, 2005. Brandon University. The Crepeele site is a multicomponent site with a significant Late Woodland component located in southwestern Manitoba
Cucuteni culture
The Cucuteni culture is a Neolithic/Chalcolithic civilization dated to 5400-2750 BC.
AN300ON Field School, Canada
May 16-June 24, 2005. Trent University. Located on the edge of the Canadian Shield the site contains numerous small clusters of artifacts believed to represent
Elman Rogers Service [1915-1996]
American anthropologist Elman Service's 1962 book, Primitive Social Organization, contained what would become a blueprint for the cultural evolutionary
Shawnee Minisink (USA)
The deeply buried, stratified Shawnee Minisink archaeological site is located on the Delaware River in northeastern Pennsylvania in the United States.
Wadi ath-Thamad Field School, Jordan
June 16-August 1, 2005. Wilfrid Laurier University. Excavating the Iron Age town and Nabataean buildings at Khirbat al-Mudayana regional survey of the Wadi
Ferry Farm Field School, Virginia, USA
May 31-July 8, 2005. George Washington's Fredericksburg Foundation and University of South Florida. Students will excavate at Ferry Farm, a National Historic
Kapova Cave (Russia)
Kapova cave is a Paleolithic rock art site in Bashkortotstan in the southern Ural Mountains of Russia
Jamestown Field Schools, Virginia USA
June 6-July 15, 2005. APVA, the University of Virginia, and the National Park Service . Excavations on Jamestown Island, the site of the first permanent English
Susan E. Shennan
In the mid 1970s, British archaeologist Susan Shennan conducted excavations at Unétice cemetery at Branč, Hungary.
Poplar Forest Field School, Virginia USA
June 5-July 8, 2005 (3 sessions). Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest and the University of Virginia. In the summer of 2005, field school participants will
Shen Kua [1031-1095]
The 11th century Chinese scholar, engineer, mathematician, astonomer, cartographer, politician, writer, and Go player Shen Kua was a phenomenal character.
Little Lady, Again
News about the Little Lady of Flores is that the remains will be returned (if they aren't already) shortly to the finders. This link is to a transcript of an
Maritime Archaeology
The study of ships and sea-faring is often called maritime archaeology.
West Point Foundry Field School, New York USA
May 9-June 23, 2005. Michigan Technological University. 2005 will be MTU's fourth summer field season on the site and excavations will explore the furnace, the
Cow Cove Field School, Canada
June 27-August 10, 2005. Memorial University of Newfoundland. Testing and excavation of prehistoric sites on the Baie Verte Peninsula. The focus of the field
Shizhaishan (China)
The Shizhaishan site, located in Yunnan Province, is a cemetery site dated between 250 BC-250 AD, and belonging to Dian people of the Warring States and Han
In the Maw of the Earth Monster: Mesoamerican Ritual Cave Use, A Review
In the new book In the Maw of the Earth Monster, James Brady and Keith Prufer have provided us non-specialists with a survey of the research into caves in and
Kampsville Field Schools, Illinois USA
Summer 2005. Center for American Archaeology. Field schools scheduled for 2005 are scheduled for middle school (ages 12-14) and high school (ages 15-17)
Shona Chiefdoms
The chiefdoms of the Shona were located between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers in southern Africa between 1100 and 1500 AD, where they built Great Zimbabwe.
Sican Culture
The Sican culture is the name archaeologists have given to one of several gold-working people who predated the Inca in what is now Peru between about 900-1300
Utah Pottery Project, Utah USA
June 27-August 11, 2005. Michigan Technical University. Excavations at the site of Frederick Petersen's second pottery shop in Salt Lake City (operated
Camp Grafton Field School, North Dakota USA
June 6-July 15, 2005. University of North Dakota. Archeological sites located within two National Guard training areas in eastern North Dakota, including
Sidun (China)
Sidun is an archaeological site in Jiangsu province, China, belonging to the Liangzhu culture and dated between 3300-2200 BC.