Here are the top archaeological headlines for the period of February 16th to March 1st 2010 | Voici les nouvelles archéologiques pour la période du 16 février au 1er mars 2010.

Presented by Matt Thompson.

Sponsor: The Trowel Shop – Great archaeology tools and equipment at great prices!

In this episode:

• CANADA| Victoria suburb yields 850 BC archeological site
• UNITED STATES| Scientists turn migration theory on its head
• USA| Palmetto Bluff site might hold early American octagonal house
• MEXICO| Circular Aztec temple found in Mexico
• IRELAND| What the abbot ate for dinner
• IRELAND| Ring fort may have held Bronze Age sports arena
• UNITED KINGDOM| Tyrannical English king ‘buried in Scotland’
• UNITED KINGDOM| Roman remains in York are ‘elite’ African woman
• UNITED KINGDOM| Researchers hold breath as they lift lid on history in quest for Archbishop Wichmann
• UNITED KINGDOM| Archaeologists pinpoint long-disputed site of Battle of Bosworth
• FINLAND| Finnish Archaeology Journal Goes On-Line
• SWEEDEN| Putative Skull of St. Bridget Probably Not Authentic
• ITALY| Prince’s Palace Found in Volcanic Crater
• ITALY| Lasers lift dirt of ages from artworks
• ITALY| Golden Bough from Roman mythology ‘found in Italy’
• GREECE| Important archaeological finds at Knossos
• ISRAEL| Herodian-era aqueduct unearthed near Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate
• ISRAEL| Ancient Arabic inscription found in Jerusalem
• ISRAEL| Archaeological Dig Uncovers Support for Old Testament Account
• GHANA| Ghana dig reveals ancient society
• INDIA| ASI to restore Mundeshvari temple
• CHINA| China Discovers Old Bricks Made 7,000 Years Ago
• CHINA| 18 ancient tombs unearthed in N China
• JAPAN| Pieces of armor owned by ancient emperors unearthed
• AUSTRALIA| Archaeologists Explore Canberra’s Space History
• NEW ZEALAND| Radar confirms old human remains at tavern site

Here are the top archaeological headlines for the period of February 2nd to 15th 2010 | Voici les nouvelles archéologiques pour la période du 2 au 15 février 2010.

Presented by Matt Thompson.

THIS JUST IN: New tests on famed mummy show King Tut died of broken leg, malaria (Inserted at end of episode prior to events listing)

Sponsor: The Trowel Shop – Great archaeology tools and equipment at great prices!

In this episode:

• THIS JUST IN: EGYPT| New tests on famed mummy show King Tut died of broken leg, malaria (Inserted at end of episode)

• MEXICO| Wall with Maya Seignior Glyphs Discovered at Archaeological Zone
• MEXICO| Extinct Ethnic Group Vestiges Discovered in Chihuahua
• PERU| Peru to resume archaeological excavations at Huaca Rajada-Sipan site in April
• GREENLAND| Stone Age Siberians Settled in Greenland
• UK| 3,000-year-old shipwreck shows European trade was thriving in Bronze Age
• UK| Archaeologist uncovers evidence of encircling hedges
• UK| Race to revive UK’s sole Roman chariot circuit
• UK| Search for Columba’s monastery
• ITALY| DNA Testing on 2,000-Year-Old Bones in Italy Reveal East Asian Ancestry
• ISRAEL| Israel archaeologists unearth 1,400-year-old wine press
• ISRAEL| Archaeological findings unveil 1,500-year-old Jerusalem road
• EGYPT| Temple fragment returns to Egypt and its place
• EGYPT| Egypt unveils renovations at oldest Christian monastery, touting coexistence with Muslims
• IRAN| Achaemenid K’aba of Zoroaster On The Verge Of Collapse
• BANGLADESH| 1,500-yr old city gate discovered
• CAMBODIA| Cambodia Discovers Drainage System at Bayon Temple
• NEW ZEALAND | Canoe unearthed at beach
• NEW ZEALAND| Century-old whisky found in Antarctic

MEXICO| Extinct Ethnic Group Vestiges Discovered in Chihuahua
More than a dozen dwelling, ritual and funerary sites, some of them more than 1,000 years old, were located inside shallow caves at Sinforosa Gully in Chihuahua Mexico.  According to preliminary studies, vestiges could correspond to the Tubar people, an indigenous group that isolated itself in Tarahumara Mountain Range during Colonial times to avoid evangelization, and extinguished in late 19th century.  Nine dwelling sites, 2 ceremonial and 2 of funerary character were found in Ohuivo, Chorogue, Zapuri and Güerachi localities of Guachochi municipality in Chihuahua.  Archaeologist Enrique Chacon, from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), added that according to first explorations, 3 types of sites were identified, which, according to architecture, burial system and regional research references, are dated in 16th-17th centuries, while others could go as far back as the 11th century CE.

MEXICO| Wall with Maya Seignior Glyphs Discovered at Archaeological Zone
A wall with a rich glyphic text that includes the complete name of the ruler that founded one of the most important Maya military seigniories was discovered in Tonina Archaeological Zone, in Chiapas Mexico. Épigraphists point out that the finding will bring in new information regarding Maya grammar, since it shows linguistic features yet to be deciphered.   The wall – dated to 708CE was discovered at El Palacio; a stucco portrait of K’inich B’aaknal Chaahk, the most powerful seignior of the ancient Maya city, was found as well.  Two vaulted rooms found with the wall and portrait are part of El Palacio or of the House of Fireflies,  an architectural complex at the Acropolis. Behind the stuccoed wall with hieroglyphs that represent 2 dates corresponding to March and June of 708 AD, is located the seat of a throne, the only of 4 found at El Palacio placed in a very private and restricted location.

The discovery followed the recent find of a sarcophagus uncovered by specialists of the INAH – it measures two metres long, 70 cm wide and 60 cm deep, and it is similar to the “Red Queen” discovered in 1994 in Palenque. Archaeologists added that the object dates from 840 to 900 CE, the period when the last known Maya inscription was made. It is hoped the sarcophagus will contribute new elements on the collapse of the ancient Maya civilisation.
PERU| Peru to resume archaeological excavations at Huaca Rajada-Sipan site in April
Huaca Rajada-Sipan museum director Luis Chero Zurita recently announced that archaeologists will resume excavations at the famous Peruvian archaeological site in April. According to the researcher, the final report of the previous excavation campaign is being drafted and will be submitted to the National Institute of Culture (INC).  The excavation campaign will focus on the archaeological monument of Huaca Rajada, including the cemetery and the surrounded area of the site. Chero Zurita added they will further explore architecture and the relationship between these areas and the archaeological monument.

GREENLAND| Stone Age Siberians Settled in Greenland
Hair preserved in permafrost for 4,000 years has shed light on a tribe of Stone Age hunters who crossed from Siberia to Greenland. Unearthed at a site in western Greenland, the hair provides a vivid portrait of a man who died four millennia ago and overturns a mainstream theory about how humans colonized the Arctic New World. Greenland’s first known settlers were not Inuit or Native Americans as widely believed, but the direct descendants of Siberians who somehow crossed the Bering Strait to Alaska and then headed east – this is according to the report, published by Nature. The tuft of hair and four pieces of bone, uncovered at Qeqer-tasussuk, are the only human remains ever found of Saqqaq culture, an enigmatic coastal-dwelling community that lived in western Greenland for some 1,700 years.

UK| 3,000-year-old shipwreck shows European trade was thriving in Bronze Age
Last year the South West Maritime Archaeological Group, a team of amateur archaeologists, brought the cargo of a 3000 year old shipwreck to the surface. The vessel, carrying copper and tin ingots used to make weapons and jewellery, sank off the Scotish coast near Salcomb in Devon and is thought to date from 900BCE. The discovery was announced at this month’s International Shipwreck Conference, in Plymouth. It is thought that the goods – 259 copper ingots and 27 of tin – were destined for Britain but collected from several different sources in Europe. The discovery reveals the high level of sophistication maritime trade in Europe had reached, even in ancient times. This is the first time Tin ingots from this period have been found in Britain. Experts at the University of Oxford are analysing the cargo to establish its exact origins.

UK|  Archaeologist uncovers evidence of encircling hedges

According to a new study, Stonehenge may have been surrounded by a hedge that blocked onlookers from seeing secret rituals. Evidence for two encircling hedges—possibly thorn bushes—planted some 3,600 years ago was uncovered during a survey of the site by English Heritage, the government agency responsible for maintaining the monument in southern England. The archaeologists didn’t find any physical evidence of vegetation, but the shallow features resemble former hedge banks that are seen around formerly hedged fields. While there’s no firm evidence for a British prehistoric landscape-gardening tradition, there’s evidence for tree cultivation at the time Stonehenge was in use.  The latest finds are reported in the March/April edition of British Archaeology magazine.

UK|  Race to revive UK’s sole Roman chariot circuit
Britain’s only known Roman chariot-racing circuit, described as one of the most important sites in the country, risks being lost under a housing project unless campaigners can raise the cash to preserve it in time. Traces of the huge track were unearthed by archaeologists in the ancient city of Colchester, once the capital of Roman Britain, in Essex, 90 km northeast of London in late 2004. They discovered the elliptical track and key parts of the structure which would have held rows of tiered stone seating, during a routine survey for builders seeking to redevelop a Victorian army barracks and associated garden. “The circus in Colchester is the only one in Britain, explained Philip Crummy, director of Colchester Archaeological Trust, who made the discovery – adding it is one of only a handful of chariot-racing tracks ever to be found in the former northwestern provinces of the empire, and the first to be found in the last 20 years.

UK|  Search for Columba’s monastery
ARCHAEOLOGISTS are hoping to find the exact location of the original monastery built by St Columba when he arrived in Scotland in 563CE. A team from Orkney College is carrying out a series of geophysical tests in the fields around Iona Abbey, searching for evidence of a monastery built by the Irish monk. The last geophysical survey of the area was carried out in the 1970s, with relatively primitive equipment. A spokeswoman said the results of the old search had given the archaeologists an idea where the wall might be. They hope the current survey, which is using far superior equipment, will reveal the real shape of the structures. They might even be able to create a 3D reconstruction. Results from the survey will be published this spring.

ITALY| DNA Testing on 2,000-Year-Old Bones in Italy Reveal East Asian Ancestry
Researchers excavating an ancient Roman cemetery made a surprising discovery when they extracted ancient mitochondrial DNA from one of the skeletons buried at the site: the 2,000-year-old bones revealed a maternal East Asian ancestry. According to Tracy Prowse, assistant professor of Anthropology, and the lead author on the study, the isotopic evidence indicates that about 20% of the sample analyzed to-date was not born in the area around Vagnari. The mtDNA is another line of evidence that indicates at least one individual was of East Asian descent. The results will be presented at the Roman Archeology Conference at Oxford, England, in March, and published in the Journal of Roman Archaeology.
ISRAEL| Israel archaeologists unearth 1,400-year-old wine press
Israeli archaeologists announced that they’ve discovered an unusually shaped 1,400-year-old wine press that was exceptionally large and advanced for its time. The octagonal press measures 6 by 16 meters and was discovered in southern Israel, about 40 kilometers south of both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The size of the wine press attests to the fact that the quantity of wine that was produced in it, during the 6th and 7th centuries, was not meant for local consumption but rather for export to Egypt or to Europe. An identical wine press was previously uncovered 20 kilometers away, north of Ashkelon. The shape of the press’ collecting vats was impractical because sediment would collect in the corners – leading researchers to submit that they were built in this manner, and not in the customary circular or square shape, for aesthetic reasons.  The entire apparatus originally measured 15 by 16.5 meters and included a central treading floor with a mosaic pavement where the grapes would be trod on. The juice produced from the grapes would flow from the treading floor to a distributing vat and from there through holes into two collecting vats located on either side.

ISRAEL| Archaeological findings unveil 1,500-year-old Jerusalem road
Archaeologists in Israel have announced the discovery of a 1500 year old road. Researchers knew of the possible existence of the road due The Madaba map, the oldest surviving depiction of Jerusalem dating back to the 6th to7th centuries CE. Made of ancient mosaic and found in a Jordanian church in Madaba, it depicts the land of Israel during the Byzantine period. According to the map, the entrance to Jerusalem from the west was via a large gate that led to a single, central thoroughfare on that side of the city. Until recently, archaeological excavation was not permitted at the site, as it serves as a crossroad in the Old city, and the entrance into one of the city’s most popular markets. However, due to digging in the area carried out by the Jerusalem Development Authority in recent months, the Antiquities Authority was able to excavate and confirm the maps’ findings. Approximately four and half meters below the street, they discovered the meter-long stone blocks that the ancient road was built from.

EGYPT| Temple fragment returns to Egypt and its place
A piece of red granite belonging to an ancient Egyptian temple has been returned to its rightful place – the base of Amen-emhat the first’s naos – Amen-emhat reigned from 1991 to 1962 BCE. The naos piece was returned to Egypt last October by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, after it was purchased by the Museum from an antiquities collector in New York – the first time a museum has bought an object for the purpose of returning it to its country of origin. The naos fragment was presented to the Metropolitan Museum by a collector, who claimed he bought it in the 1970s. Dr. Dorthea Arnold, the curator of the Egyptian section at the Metropolitan Museum made the discovery that the fragment joined with the naos in Karnak.

EGYPT| Egypt unveils renovations at oldest Christian monastery, touting coexistence with Muslims
Egypt’s antiquities chief unveiled the completion of an 8-year, $14.5 million restoration of the world’s oldest Christian monastery.  St. Anthony, widely revered as the founder of Christian monasticism, settled in the remote mountainous area at the end of the 3rd century to live in isolation. Upon his death, his followers built the monastery, which was completed around 350 CE and remains in use today. In the government-sponsored project, workers renovated the fortress-like ancient wall surrounding the monastery and the walls of its two main churches – the 14th century Church of the Apostles and the 6th century Church of St. Anthony. They also renovated monks’ quarters and a 6th century tower into which monks would retreat during attacks by marauding Bedouin tribes throughout the Middle Ages. Amid the renovations, archaeologists from the American Research Center in Egypt discovered the remains of the original monks’ cells dating back to the 4th century under the Church of the Apostles.

IRAN| Achaemenid K’aba of Zoroaster On The Verge Of Collapse
The Achaemenid dynastic structure known as the Ka’aba of Zoroaster is on the verge of collapse due to escalating earth sinkage at the ancient site of Naqsh-e Rostam in Iran’s Fars Province. The measured earth sinkage previously reported by experts was five centimetres, but a new survey shows that this amount has increased over the past few days. Experts believe that the occurrence may lead to the damage or even the destruction of the nearby 2500 year-old structure – barely 5 meters away. Drilling numerous wells by the Islamic Republic and consequent reduction in the level of water tables in the region is the proposed main factor. A number of experts believe the cause of the sinkage is also related to a recently constructed railroad which connects Isfahan to Shiraz and is located only 1km away from the ancient site – where the train vibrations can easily be felt.

BANGLADESH| 1,500-yr old city gate discovered
Archaeologists in Mahas-than-garh archaeological site, in Bangladesh, have recently discovered an ancient city gate, used as the city’s entrance at least 1,500 years ago. A joint archaeological excavation team of France and Bangladesh found the ancient city gate on the south-western side of the site.  French archaeologist Ernelle Berliet said that several types of stone including sandstones were used along with brick to construct the floor of the gate. The width of the gate was at least 2.95 metres.. The joint team started the excavation in mid-January in the south part of the city wall. This is however not a remnant of the sites odest occupation period – for example a few years ago, a joint team found a mud stove dating as far back as 400 BCE.

CAMBODIA| Cambodia Discovers Drainage System at Bayon Temple
A team of Cambodian and Japanese archaeologists said it has uncovered an ancient man-made drainage system at the site of the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom. The temple, built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries during the reign of King Jayav-arman the 8th, has been the subject of three digs since 1999, but this is the first time such a drainage system has been discovered. The drainage system served for rainwater flow from the first and second levels. The ongoing dig, which began in January, is being carried out under the auspices of UNESCO and the Apsara Authority, which manages the Angkor Wat temple complex. The dig is expected to conclude by the end of March.

NEW ZEALAND | Canoe unearthed at beach
A full-length Maori waka was unearthed at Muri-wai Beach –in New Zealand – after a member of the public spotted it sticking out from the sand.  A canoe used for fishing and river travel, the waka tikai was discovered at the southern end of the beach.  It took a couple of days to plan its excavation so that the seven-metre waka would not be damaged.   Finding the whole length of a waka is fairly rare, as usually only sections are found, such as the prow or stern.  Auckland Regional Council parks staff and locals carefully moved the waka on to a truck, which took it to a temporary home at the regional council depot.  Although the waka has parts of its sides missing, it can potentially be preserved through treatment.  Conserving the waka is the first priority and its future will be decided after consultation with local iwi.

NEW ZEALAND| Century-old whisky found in Antarctic
Lastly in the news, also out of New Zealand – Five crates of Scotch whisky and two of brandy have been recovered by a team restoring an Antarctic hut used more than 100 years ago by famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton. Ice cracked some of the bottles that had been left there in 1909, but the restorers told reporters they are confident the five crates contain intact bottles “given liquid can be heard when the crates are moved.”

Finally This just in : You might have noticed that we are rather late putting out this week’s podcast – we were hoping to get in the results of DNA Testing and CAT scans performed on King Tut’s Mummy before going online – well thanks to time zones were are able to include preliminary info now. So far the Los Angeles times has reported this much: The new research indicates that Tut’s cause of death was probably due to complications from a broken leg and malaria. Using a new approach for analyzing mummies called molecular Egyptology, an international team of researchers found DNA traces of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in Tut’s brain and three other mummies, including his grandmother, suggesting the disease was a fairly common problem among the Egyptian royalty. Examination of Tut’s body and his genes confirmed that he suffered from a cleft palate and clubfoot, and showed he had a degenerative bone condition called Kohler disease II. That infection, combined with necrosis, or death of bones, caused by Kohler disease could have weakened him severely. The broken leg, possibly from a fall, could then have been the final event that led to his death. But he did not suffer from Marfan syndrome or other diseases that would have feminized his appearance, as many researchers have speculated from observing busts from the period.  By matching Tut’s DNA to samples from other mummies, the team was able to identify one — previously known only as KV55 — as the pharaoh Akhenaten and the probable father of Tut; another as Tiye, Akhenaten’s mother and Tut’s grandmother; and a third as a sister of Akhenaten who was probably Tut’s mother.

Here are the top archaeological headlines for the period of January 19th to February 1st 2010 | Voici les nouvelles archéologiques pour la période du 19 janvier au 1er février 2010.

Presented by Matt Thompson.

Sponsor: The Trowel Shop – Great archaeology tools and equipment at great prices!

In this episode:

1.    CANADA| Terracotta Army to Conquer Canada from 2010 – 2012
2.    UNITED STATES| Chimp and human Y chromosomes evolving faster than expected
3.    GUATEMALA| ‘Huge head’ discovered in ancient Mayan city in Guatemala
4.    PERU| Peru Airlifts Tourists From Machu Picchu After Floods
5.    UK| Lost Roman law code discovered in London
6.    FRANCE| Joan of Arc ‘Relics’ Confirmed to Be Fake
7.    FRANCE| Evidence of Stone Age amputation forces rethink over history of surgery
8.    FRANCE| Fromelles Scots soldiers to be reburied
9.    GERMANY| Bones of Early English Princess Found in Germany
10.    ITALY| Mona Lisa could be Da Vinci in drag
11.    ITALY| Two thousand year old Roman aqueduct discovered
12.    ITALY| Birthplace of Roman emperor ‘found’ in Lazio
13.    ISRAEL| Stable climate and plant domestication linked
14.    EGYPT| Queen’s Cat Goddess Temple Found in Egypt
15.    EGYPT| Egypt to Reveal the Results of DNA Testing on King Tut’s Mummy
16.    MOZAMBIQUE| Archaeologist Unearths Earliest Evidence of Modern Humans Using Wild Grains and Tubers for Food
17.    CHINA| Rare Bamboo-Strip Books Discovered in Chinese Tomb
18.    MOON| Apollo 11 moon items ‘cultural artifacts’

CANADA| Terracotta Army to Conquer Canada from 2010 – 2012
The Government of China has named the ROM – the Royal Ontario Museum as the Organiser of the Canadian tour of The Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Army Exhibit.The national tour, will encompass four venues across the country. Following the ROM’s engagement, commencing in late June 2010, the exhibition will travel to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Glenbow Museum in Calgary and the Royal BC Museum in Victoria.  The Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Army will over 250 artifacts, dated to the first millennium BCE. Among them – an impressive 16 human figures and 2 horses. Also included are six life-sized warrior heads and three half-sized kneeling servants. The exhibit will also include numerous stellar objects making their North American debut. Loaned by more than a dozen of the most important archaeological institutes and museums in Shaanxi Province, nearly thirty per cent of the featured objects have never before traveled outside China.

UNITED STATES| Chimp and human Y chromosomes evolving faster than expected
Contrary to a widely held scientific theory that the mammalian Y chromosome is slowly decaying or stagnating, new evidence suggests that in fact the Y is actually evolving quite rapidly. By conducting the first comprehensive interspecies comparison of Y chromosomes, Whitehead Institute researchers have found considerable differences in the genetic sequences of the human and chimpanzee Ys-an indication that these chromosomes have evolved more quickly than the rest of their respective genomes over the 6 million years since they emerged from a common ancestor. Jennifer Hughes, first author on the Nature paper and a postdoctoral researcher in Whitehead Institute Director David Page’s lab explained that The region of the Y that is evolving the fastest is the part that plays a role in sperm production,” say. “The rest of the Y is evolving more like the rest of the genome, only a little bit faster. The findings are published online in the journal Nature.

GUATEMALA| ‘Huge head’ discovered in ancient Mayan city in Guatemala
ARCHAEOLOGISTS have discovered a huge Mayan sculptured head in Guatemala that suggests a little-known site in the jungle-covered Peten region may once have been a significant city. The stucco sculpture, which is more than three metres wide by four metres high, was found at the Chilonche ruins, close to the border with Belize. The recent discovery which dates from the early Classic period between 300 to 600 CE would seem to indicate that the site is much older than previously thought – The Maya often constructed new buildings using older ones as foundations. Polytechnic University of Valencia professor Gaspar Munoz, part of the team of archaeologists that found the head told reporters that – It could be an imaginary being, something from the underworld, perhaps linked to a Mayan deity. Unlike Guatemala’s famous Mayan cities of Tikal and El Mirador, little excavation has been carried out at Chilonche.

PERU| Peru Airlifts Tourists From Machu Picchu After Floods
Peru’s government evacuated by helicopter at least 260 tourists stranded near the Machu Picchu archaeological site after flash flooding in the region left at least 10 people dead. Torrential rains caused mudslides and swelled the Urubamba River on Sunday, stripping away long sections of the railway that is the only transportation in and out of the area around the Inca citadel. The road to the ruins from the village at the end of the train line also washed away. An Argentine tourist and her Peruvian tour guide were killed and three people were injured after a landslide on the Inca Trail. Another eight people have been killed by landslides in the Cuzco region. Juan Garcia, director of the regional National Culture Institute, which administers the Machu Picchu park, told the AP that the site will stay closed until train service resumes. But he added that officials will consider opening the park to travelers who hike in after the first rail section is repaired in three weeks. Garcia added that the citadel itself was not damaged by rains. Perurail said in a statement late Thursday that it will take at least eight weeks to complete repairs.  AP reported that in 2008 over 850,000 tourists visited the citadel, where foreigners pay $43USD to enter.

UK| Lost Roman law code discovered in London
Part of an ancient Roman law code previously thought to have been lost forever has been discovered by researchers at University College London’s Department of History. Simon Corcoran and Benet Salway made the breakthrough after piecing together 17 fragments of previously incomprehensible parchment. The fragments were being studied at UCL as part of the “Projet Volterra” – a ten year study of Roman law in its full social, legal and political context. Reserchers found that the text belonged to the Codex Gregorianus, or Gregorian Code, a collection of laws by emperors from Hadrian to, which was published sometime around 300CE. Little was known about the codex’s original form and there were, until now, no known copies in existence.

FRANCE| Joan of Arc ‘Relics’ Confirmed to Be Fake
The so-called “relics of Joan of Arc,” overseen by the Archbishop of Tours in Chinon, France, do not contain the charred remains of the Catholic saint. Rather, the artifacts consist of a mummified cat leg bone and human rib, both dating to the 6th and 3rd century B.C.E, according to a new study. The “relics,” which have fooled onlookers for decades, did resemble burnt bones, in keeping with historical accounts of the death of Joan of Arc in 1431 – who was convicted of heresy and executed by burning. The bottle containing the bones first surfaced at a pharmacy in 1867. Its label read: “Remains found under the pyre of Joan of Arc, maiden of Orleans.” Different techniques, including DNA analysis, several forms of microscopy, chemical analysis and carbon dating, were used to examine the bottle’s contents. Medical examiners, pathologists, geneticists, biochemists, a radiologist, zoologist and archaeologist all participated in the extensive study, which was accepted for publication in the journal Forensic Science International.

FRANCE| Evidence of Stone Age amputation forces rethink over history of surgery
Scientists unearthed evidence of medical surgery at an Early Neolithic tomb discovered at Buthiers-Boulancourt, about 65km south of Paris. They found that a remarkable degree of medical knowledge had been used to remove the left forearm of an elderly man about 6,900 years ago. The patient seems to have been uh-nes-thi-ties-zed, the conditions were aseptic, the cut was clean and the wound was treated, according to the INRAP – the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research. The revelation could force a reassessment of the history of surgery, especially because researchers have recently reported signs of two other Neolithic amputations in Germany and the Czech Republic. It was known that Stone Age doctors performed trephinations, cutting through the skull, but not amputations.  The discovery followed research on the tomb of an elderly man who lived in the Linearbandkeramik period, when European hunter-gatherers settled down to agriculture, stock-breeding and pottery. The patient was important: his grave was 2m (6.5ft) long — bigger than most — and contained a schist axe, a flint pick and the remains of a young animal, which are evidence of high status.

FRANCE| Fromelles Scots soldiers to be reburied
The remains of 250 World War I soldiers who were killed in the 1916 Battle of Fromelles have now been recovered. They will be reburied with full military honours at a new cemetery close to the site in northern France. Work to recover the British and Australian soldiers buried there by German forces, began in 2008. DNA samples were taken from each soldier and specialists in the UK have attempted to extract DNA strands to help with the identification process. Every soldier recovered, will be reburied with an unnamed headstone in the new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. If the soldiers can be identified their relatives will be able to add a personalised inscription on the headstone at a later date.

GERMANY| Bones of Early English Princess Found in Germany
An international team of scientists say they think they’ve found the body of Princess Eadgyth — a 10th-century noblewoman. Mark Horton, an archaeology professor at Bristol University in western England is one of a team of experts working to verify the identity of some bones found bundled in silk at Mag-deburg Cathedral in Germany. Should the skeleton be positively identified as belonging to Eadgyth, it would be the oldest remains of any English royal discovered to date.  The skeleton was uncovered as part of a wider research project into Mag-deburg Cathedral, about 150 kilometers west of Berlin.  The elaborate 16th-century monument in which the body was found was long thought to be empty – yet when archaeologists opened the monument in 2008, they found a lead coffin bearing her name and carrying a nearly complete set of bones wrapped in silk.  Eadgyth was destined for Duke Otto of Saxony, a warlord’s son who would eventually rise to become the first ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. Eadgyth bore Otto at least two children, but died young, at age 36.

ITALY| Mona Lisa could be Da Vinci in drag
Scientists are hoping to exhume the body of Leonardo Da Vinci to determine if his Mona Lisa is actually a self-portrait. The woman in the renowned sixteenth century oil painting has never been identified, leading members of the Italian National Committee for Cultural Heritage to speculate that Da Vinci,  motivated by his presumed homosexuality, painted himself as a woman. Italian anthropologist Giorgio Gruppione, who is seeking permission to dig up the body, said his proposed study could throw new light on the portrait. The tomb of Da Vinci is believed to be at Amboise Castle in France, where he died in 1519. If archaeologists manage to find his skull, they could rebuild Leonardo’s face and compare it with the Mona Lisa. Scholars have also argued the Mona Lisa is Da Vinci’s mother or that of a Florentine merchant’s wife.

ITALY| Two thousand year old Roman aqueduct discovered
A pair of British amateur archaeologists believe they have found the hidden source of a Roman aqueduct 1,900 years after it was inaugurated by Emperor Trajan.   The underground spring lies behind a concealed door beneath an abandoned 13th century church on the shores of Lake Bracciano – north of Rome. Exploration of the site has shown that water percolating through volcanic bedrock was collected in underground grottoes and chambers and fed into a subterranean aqueduct which took it all the way to the city. Centuries later, it provided water for the very first Vatican. It was only when modern bore pumps started directing the supply to the nearby town of Bracciano that the water level dropped dramatically and the subterranean complex became accessible. The vaulted ceiling was decorated with a rare type of paint known as Egyptian Blue, which led the Father and son documentary makers Edward and Michael O’Neill, who made the discovery – to speculate that the grotto was a Roman nymphaeum – a sacred place believed to be inhabited by water gods.  The documentary makers hope to raise funds to pay for the site to be excavated by professional archaeologists.

ITALY| Birthplace of Roman emperor ‘found’ in Lazio
An international team of archaeologists claims to have unearthed the 2000-year-old birthplace of the Roman emperor, Vespasian. Archeologists believe they have located his birthplace in the Falacrinae valley – 130 km northeast of Rome.  During recent excavations, the archaeologists uncovered sumptuous marble floors and mosaics at the site of the 3,000 to 4,000 square metre Villa of Falacrinae. The team of 30-60 archaeologists recovered pots, numerous coins, ceramic and metal artefacts from the site. The archeologists are hoping to recover more items in fresh excavations in July and August. The villa lies on a major Roman road, Via Salaria, which connects Rome, to the northeastern Italian Adriatic coast.

ISRAEL| Stable climate and plant domestication linke
Sustainable farming and the introduction of new crops relies on a relatively stable climate, not dramatic conditions attributable to climate change. Basing their argument on evolutionary, ecological, genetic and agronomic considerations, Dr. Shahal Abbo, from the Levi Eshkol School of Agriculture at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and colleagues, demonstrated why climate change is not the likely cause of plant domestication in the Near East. Rather, the variety of crops in the Near East was chosen to function within the normal east Mediterranean rainfall pattern, in which good rainy years create enough surplus to sustain farming communities during drought years. Climate-based explanations for the beginning of new agricultural practices give environmental factors a central role, as prime movers for the cultural-economic change known as the Near Eastern Neolithic or Agricultural Revolution which occurred sometime around 8500 B.C.E.  In the authors’ view, climate change is unlikely to induce major cultural changes. Their thesis is published online in Springer’s journal Vegetation History and Archaeobotany.

EGYPT| Queen’s Cat Goddess Temple Found in Egypt
A limestone feline is among some 600 cat  statues from a newfound temple dedicated to the Egyptian cat goddess Bastet. The ancient temple was recently discovered under the streets of modern-day Alexandria. Egyptian Archaeologists who found the temple say it was built by Queen Berenike II, wife of Greek King Ptolemy III, who ruled Egypt from 246 to 221 B.C.E.  Cats were important house pets in ancient Egypt and were often depicted in private tombs. In some cases, cats were mummified in the same way as humans and buried at temples. The excavated Bastet temple currently measures 60 meters tall by 15 meters wide—and archaeologists think they’ve found only half of the temple so far. In addition to the findings from the Ptolemaic period, the temple ruins include a Roman water cistern made up of several 14-meter-deep wells, stone water channels, and the remains of a bath area.

EGYPT| Egypt to Reveal the Results of DNA Testing on King Tut’s Mummy
Egypt’s antiquities department made the announcement that they will soon reveal the results of DNA testing conducted on the world’s most famous ancient king, Pharaoh Tutankhamun, which was undertaken to answer lingering mysteries over his lineage. Archaeology chief Zahi Hawass said at a conference that he would announce the results of DNA tests and CAT scans on February 17. The results will be compared to those made of King Amenhotep III, who may have been Tutankamun’s grandfather. The testing of Tut’s mummy is part of a wider program to check the DNA of hundreds of mummies to determine their family relations and identities. The identity of Tutankamun’s parents is not definitively known, though many experts believe that he is the son of Akhenaten, the 18th Dynasty pharaoh who tried to introduce monotheism to Egypt 3,500 years ago. His mother is believed to be one of Akhenaten’s queens, Kiya. Others, however, suggest that Tut was the son of a lesser known pharaoh that followed Akhenaten.

MOZAMBIQUE| Archaeologist Unearths Earliest Evidence of Modern Humans Using Wild Grains and Tubers for Food
The consumption of wild cereals among prehistoric hunters and gatherers appears to be far more ancient than previously thought, according to a University of Calgary archaeologist who has found the oldest example of extensive reliance on cereal and root staples in the diet of early Homo sapiens more than 100,000 years ago. Julio Mercader, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Tropical Archaeology in the U of C’s Department of Archaeology, recovered dozens of stone tools from a deep cave in Mozambique showing that wild sorghum, the ancestor of the chief cereal consumed today in sub-Saharan Africa for flours, breads, porridges and alcoholic beverages, was in Homo sapiens’ pantry along with the African wine palm, the false banana, pigeon peas, wild oranges and the African “potato.” This is the earliest direct evidence of humans using pre-domesticated cereals anywhere in the world. Mercader’s findings are published in the December 18 issue of the research journal Science.

CHINA| Rare Bamboo-Strip Books Discovered in Chinese Tomb
Archaeologists in China have discovered a trove of rare bamboo-strip books uncovered within an excavated tomb in Yancang, a village near Jingmen in Hubei province. Experts believe the site dates back to the Warring States Period (475 BC to 221 BC) and hope that the books will reveal the name of the entombed owner; it is possible that the strips contain a written introduction by the owner of the tomb, “like a letter of recommendation the deceased would carry with them to the underworld to give Yanluo, the god of death. Excavation of the tomb should be completed this week -  before any attempt is made to read the bamboo strips.

TRANQUILITY BASE| Apollo 11 moon items ‘cultural artifacts’
A California panel announced items made in the Golden State and left on the moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts are a state historical resource. The California State Historical Resources Commission says more than 100 items abandoned at Tranquility Base in July 1969 are valuable cultural artifacts. Other states with connections to NASA’s Apollo program have made similar announcements in hopes of having the discarded items named a United Nations World Heritage site. Under international treaties, nations cannot make claims of sovereignty to the moon, but for man-made objects it’s different. Scientific equipment, tools, empty containers and waste products were left behind by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to lighten the lunar module for takeoff. They were told to jettison things that weren’t important eplained Beth O’Leary, professor of anthropology at New Mexico State University and a leader in the emerging field of space heritage and archaeology.

Here are the top archaeological headlines for the period of January 5th  to 18th 2010 | Voici les nouvelles archéologiques pour la période du 5 au 18 janvier 2010.

Presented by Matt Thompson.

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In this episode:

1. USA| Genome Study Provides a Census of Early Humans
2. MEXICO| 1000-Year-Old Monument with Image of Mayan Ruler Found
3. BRAZIL| Ancient Amazon Civilization Revealed
4. UK| Radiocarbon Daters Tune Up Their Time Machine
5. UK| Salisbury Cathedral experts uncover hidden gothic text
6. SPAIN| Treasure Found Off LaManga
7. GREECE| Ancient Hominids Took to the Seas
8. GREECE| Laminated Linen Protected Alexander the Great
9. GREECE| Mound of Ash Reveals Shrine to Zeus
10. ISRAEL| Artifact suggests Bible written centuries earlier
11. EGYPT| Cleopatra’s Eye Makeup Warded Off Infections?
12. IRAQ| Dutch return plundered 4,000-year-old clay tablet to Iraq
13. NEW ZEALAND| Antarctic “Time Capsule” Hut Revealed

Here are the top archaeological headlines for the period of December 8th to 21st 2009 | Voici les nouvelles archéologiques pour la période du 8 au 21 décembre 2009 – anglais seulement.

Presented by Matt Thompson.

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In this episode:

MEXICO| Ancient Mayans were nature lovers, not destroyers
HONDURAS| Ancient Maya king shows his foreign roots
BAHAMAS| Atlantis in the Caribbean? It’s not the first time
PERU| Naylamp’s temple discovered in Lambayeque
UNITED KINGDOM| 4,000-year-old flowers found at Bronze Age dig
TURKEY| First archaeological survey of Paphlagonia published
ISRAEL| Burial cloth found in Jerusalem cave casts doubt on authenticity of Turin Shroud
ISRAEL| Human Ancestors Were Homemakers
EGYPT| Sunken artifact reveals Pharaonic influence
INDIA| Indians were ancestors of Asians
SOUTH KOREA| An underground treasure trove
CHINA| Great Wall ruins discovered in NE China’s Jilin Province, archaeologists say

Here are the top archaeological headlines for the period of November 22nd to December 7th 2009 | Voici les nouvelles archéologiques pour la période du 22 novembre au 7 décembre 2009 – anglais seulement.

Presented by Matt Thompson.

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In this episode:

CANADA| Rare Gold Rush Shipwreck Found
USA| 3-year study reveals Lake Superior’s ancient past
PERU| Hair Reveals Ancient Peruvians Were Stressed Out
UK| Birmingham Archaeology quest to find William Shakespeare’s junk
SWEEDEN| Archaeologists celebrate ancient Scandinavian settlement find
GERMANY| Controversial Signs of Mass Cannibalism
ITALY| Google Street View Reveals Ruins of Pompeii
ITALY| Close-Up of Latest Shroud of Turin Claim
GREECE| Archaeologists Discover Wall of Ancient City of Vergina
ISRAEL| Discovery of world’s oldest church may turn prison into tourist site
EGYPT| Bad teeth tormented ancient Egyptians
LYBIA| BURIED CITY FOUND BY ITALIANS IN LIBYA
IRAQ| Google Chief Announces Plan in Baghdad to Put Iraqi Artifacts Online

Here are the top archaeological headlines for the week of November 15th to 21st 2009 | Voici les nouvelles archéologiques pour la semaine 15 au 21 novembre 2009 – anglais seulement.

Presented by Matt Thompson.

Sponsor: GotoMeeting Hold your meetings online for just $49/mo. Try GoToMeeting FREE for 30 days

In this episode

1. CANADA| Skeletons reveal life in Montreal centuries ago
2. USA| Cannon to be raised from Texas City Ship Channel
3. USA| Archaeologists Plead for Import Restrictions on Common Coins
4. COSTA RICA| Archaeologists Find pre-Columbian Cemetery in Costa Rica
5. UK| So that’s what the Romans gave us – more historic camps than anywhere
6. UK| Ancient Weapons Dug Up by Archaeologists in England
7. ITALY| Italy collector finds Galileo’s lost tooth, fingers
8. BULGARIA| Bulgaria Archaeologists Present Unique Thracian Tomb Finds
9. GREEK| Ancient Greek worshippers showed inclination towards the Sun
10. NEPAL| “Shangri-La” Caves Yield Treasures, Skeletons
11. JAPAN| Ancient pond remains found in Japan

Here are the top archaeological headlines for the week of November 8th to 14th 2009 | Voici les nouvelles archéologiques pour la semaine 8 au 14 novembre 2009 – anglais seulement.

Presented by Matt Thompson.

Sponsor: GotoMeeting Hold your meetings online for just $49/mo. Try GoToMeeting FREE for 30 days

In this episode:

1. PERU| Archaeologists find mummy of young priestess from 300-450 AD in Peru
2. PERU| Incas Practiced Ritual Decapitation of Enemies, Archaeologists Say
3. UK| Archaeological evidence of a Roman villa in Ceredigion
4. FRANCE| Caesar rises: several millennia’s artefacts from the bed of the Rhone
5. NORWAY| Man finds 3,000-year-old sword
6. CZECH REPUBLIC| Czech archaeologists uncover Europe’s largest rondel enclosures
7. ALBANIA| Archaeologists Discover Remains of British Military Ship in Albania’s Waters
8. BULGARIA| Archaeologist Unearth More Valuable Finds in Nesebar’s Necropolis
9. BULGARIA| Project to Recover Archaeology Site from Under Bulgaria’s Koprinka Dam Put on Hold
10. ISRAEL|Remains of a Minoan-style painting discovered during excavations of the Canaanite palace at Tel Kabri
11. ISRAEL| Israel displays coins from ancient Jewish revolt
12. EGYPT| Archaeologists uncover ‘lost desert army’
13. EGYPT| Secrets from a sunken Egyptian city
14. EGYPT| King Tut’s tomb set for 5 year renovation project
15. PAKISTAN| Indus civilisation reveals its volumetric system
16. PACIFIC USA| Samurai Subs” Found — Carried Aircraft

Here are the top archaeological headlines for the week of October 25th to 31st 2009 | Voici les nouvelles archéologiques pour la semaine du 25 au 31 octobre 2009 – anglais seulement. Presented by Matt Thompson.

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In this episode:

1.    USA| Restoration of Elizabeth church digs up Revolutionary-era past
2.    MEXICO| Archaeologists find skeletons at Mexico ex-convent
3.    TRINIDAD & TOBAGO| UWI team finds proof of ancient people
4.    UK| Mysterious carved stone from medieval era unearthed in Scotland
5.    UK| Details of St Neots lost priory revealed
6.    SPAIN| Spain starts exhuming purported Garcia Lorca grave
7.    SWEEDEN| Unique Stone Age burial items unearthed in central Sweden
8.    MONTENEGRO| British holidaymaker discovers lost underwater ‘city’
9.    SYRIA| Burial Jars Dating Back to Third Century Found in Palmyra
10.    SYRIA| Archaeologists unearthed a residential place back to the Greek era
11.    EGYPT| MET agrees to return Pharoanic relic to Egypt
12.    EGYPT| Austrian archaeologists make Babylonian find in Egypt
13.    NORTH KOREA| DPRK unearths 2000-year-old tomb

Here are the top archaeological headlines for the week of October 18th to 24th 2009 | Voici les nouvelles archéologiques pour la semaine du 18 au 24 octobre 2009 – anglais seulement. Presented by Matt Thompson.

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In this episode:

USA| Comets Didn’t Wipe out Sabertooths, Early Americans?
SWITZERLAND| eBay to limit sale of cultural artefacts
DENMARK| Archaeologists may have unearthed beer hall of ancient Viking kings in Denmark
ITALY| Archaeologists unveil ancient auditorium in Rome
ITALY| Roman temple discovered in Tuscany
BULGARIA| Archaeologists ‘Strike Gold’ by Finding Quarries of Greatest Bulgarian Tsar
GREECE | Pavlopetri — the world’s oldest known submerged town
ISRAEL| Dig reveals weapons cache from 1950s
ISRAEL| Ancient Mosaic Reveals Artisans’ Footprints
EGYPT| ‘Ida’ was distant kin, not ancestor: scientists
MALAWI| Humans may call Karonga home
CHINA| Archeologists announce new finds at Zhoukoudian site
JAPAN| Ancient tomb unveiled in Nara
KIRIBATI| Earhart’s Final Resting Place Believed Found