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Pieces of St. Mary’s are returned for a visit in a temporary exhibit

archaeologicalnews:

They are mostly just bits and pieces of things — rocks, broken pottery, fragments of old tools — all collected in St. Mary’s County.

But the items included in the County Archaeology Collections Exhibit, or CACE, at Lexington Park library since early February each tell a story about St. Mary’s, according to Patricia Samford of Lexington Park. Samford is director of the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab in St. Leonard, where the items are normally stored. Read more.

Racetracks in Arizona – it’s not what you think

archaeologicalnews:

The talk is titled “Recent Advances in Central Arizona Racetrack Research,” but it doesn’t involve horses.

Instead, during the free lecture at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at Arizona State University’s Deer Valley Rock Art Center, Will G. Russell will talk about linear ground features that were built in central Arizona in the mid-13th century.

Russell, a doctoral student in ASU’s archaeology program, notes that over time, scores more of these ground features were built, but the vast majority were placed atop Perry Mesa. Read more.

commonunity: the removal of long-dead hman bodies from view in museums for reburial is based on a warped notion of respect. “No one disputes that the bodies of the dead should be treated with respect and in a dignified manner. And no one disputes that bodies of indigenous people have often been removed from their place of burial in ways that resemble theft.”  “For a body that was not stolen from an indigenous group the relevant question becomes: “Are any of the things we are doing to this body showing a lack of respect?” We can only answer this question based on our own understanding of respect. It is easy to come up with examples of actions that show a lack of respect, such as playing football with a skull. But none of these examples relate even remotely to the kinds of scientific exploration archaeologists perform, or to what goes on in modern museums.” “What, then, about a stolen indigenous body? Here we again need to distinguish between identified and anonymous bodies. Descendants may have a strong claim to have their “grandmother” repatriated, but it is much less obvious that a culturally affiliated group’s claim for repatriation of an anonymous body is of the same strength.” complete article posted in the new scientist
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commonunity:

the removal of long-dead hman bodies from view in museums for reburial is based on a warped notion of respect.

“No one disputes that the bodies of the dead should be treated with respect and in a dignified manner. And no one disputes that bodies of indigenous people have often been removed from their place of burial in ways that resemble theft.”

 “For a body that was not stolen from an indigenous group the relevant question becomes: “Are any of the things we are doing to this body showing a lack of respect?” We can only answer this question based on our own understanding of respect. It is easy to come up with examples of actions that show a lack of respect, such as playing football with a skull. But none of these examples relate even remotely to the kinds of scientific exploration archaeologists perform, or to what goes on in modern museums.”

“What, then, about a stolen indigenous body? Here we again need to distinguish between identified and anonymous bodies. Descendants may have a strong claim to have their “grandmother” repatriated, but it is much less obvious that a culturally affiliated group’s claim for repatriation of an anonymous body is of the same strength.”

complete article posted in the new scientist

commonunity: egypt releases ilustrated list of 54 objects missing from egyptian museum “The website of Egypt’s Supreme Council on Antiquities (which still lists Zahi Hawassas its “secretary general”) has now posted a link to what it says is the final list, with (mostly grainy) photographs, of 54 objects missing from the Egyptian Museum, which was looted on Jan. 28, during the people’s uprising in Tahrir Square.”“Until now, the only other authoritative illustrated list was the much shorter one compiled, from the fragmentary information available, by the Penn Cultural Heritage Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn’s list included photos of three possible candidates for the missing Amarna princess, now blurrily documented in the photo above.” posted in the blog culturegrrl
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commonunity:

egypt releases ilustrated list of 54 objects missing from egyptian museum

“The website of Egypt’s Supreme Council on Antiquities (which still lists Zahi Hawassas its “secretary general”) has now posted a link to what it says is the final list, with (mostly grainy) photographs, of 54 objects missing from the Egyptian Museum, which was looted on Jan. 28, during the people’s uprising in Tahrir Square.”

“Until now, the only other authoritative illustrated list was the much shorter one compiled, from the fragmentary information available, by the Penn Cultural Heritage Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn’s list included photos of three possible candidates for the missing Amarna princess, now blurrily documented in the photo above.”

posted in the blog culturegrrl

Tamil-Brahmi script found at Pattanam in Kerala

archaeologicalnews:

The Tamil-Brahmi script with the letters “a ma na,” meaning Jaina, found at Pattanam in Kerala. The letters are followed by two megalithic graffiti symbols which could not be identified.

CHENNAI: A Tamil-Brahmi script on a pot rim, reading “a ma na”, meaning a Jaina, has been found at Pattanam in Ernakulam district, Kerala, establishing that Jainism was prevalent on the west coast at least from second century CE (Common Era). The script can be dated to circa second century CE. The three Tamil-Brahmi letters are followed by two symbols generally called Megalithic graffiti and these two symbols could not be identified. This is the third Tamil-Brahmi script to be found in the Pattanam excavations. Read more.

Antikythera mechanism

bestofwikipedia:

The Antikythera mechanism is an ancient mechanical computer designed to calculate astronomical positions. It was recovered in 1900–01 from the Antikythera wreck.  Its significance and complexity were not understood until decades later. Its time of construction is now estimated between 150 and 100 BCE. The degree of mechanical sophistication is comparable to a 19th century Swiss clock. Technological artifacts of similar complexity and workmanship did not reappear until the 14th century, when mechanical astronomical clocks were built in Europe. (via Jason Hall)

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