2008 in Review

The years principle discoveries:
Worlds oldest temple:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/09/worlds-oldest-temple-disc_n_142417.html

the bridge of a Lord:
http://thearchaeologicalreview.blogspot.com/2008/06/lord-ramas-bridge.html

Tomb of a Chinese King:
http://www.china.org.cn/culture/2008-12/12/content_16937985.htm

The remains of a Russian Czar:
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=588&art_id=nw20081206082636365C493794

even Copernicus found:
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/11/20/copernicus-tomb.html

Oracle bones in Shaanxi:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/12/content_7195425.htm

a President found:
http://news.bbc.cop://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/12/content_719542.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7764852.stm

A Wari mummy:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/08/080827-tomb-video-ap.html

the Antikythera mechanism:
http://www.nature.com/nature/videoarchive/antikythera/

a $100 000 000 Davinci:
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article4407175.ece

and out of the stone age:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7758986.stm

X-rays reveal Van Gogh portrait:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7535574.stm

and a fake icon:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7499469.stm

The recovery of stolen antiquities:

A farmers hoard:
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/12/22/treasure-of-satricum.html

Hey whats going on at the Peabody museum?
http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/25598

a botanist who may have faked his discoveries!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article4863866.ece

with restorations:
http://thearchaeologicalreview.blogspot.com/2008/10/raphael-restored-461-years-later_27.html

Axum obelisk returned:
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/09/04/axum-obelisk-ethiopia.html

and even medical discoveries:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081001-hiv-aids-africa.html

Gold coins in Jerusalem:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/22/israel.rare.coins/

and a potential farce erupts on Israel's antiquities laws:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-burleigh29-2008nov29%2C0%2C1546620.story

and some snakes and ladders:
http://thearchaeologicalreview.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-10-15T11%3A20%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=20

Never Open!

The theft of gold artifacts from the UBC museum of anthropology in August have required the museum to upgrade its security.

You would almost have to be a robber to get into this museum, the museum has a long and notorious reputation for being closed. Over the years every attempt I have made to see this museum have been thwarted.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2008/12/23/bill-reid-theft.html

Punic Tombs

The fate remains unknown of eight tombs discovered during construction of a hospital. All the tombs had been robbed and may have been damaged in the 1960's when a milk factory was built on the spot.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081231/local/still-too-early-to-tell-fate-of-punic-tombs

Spanish Galleon

An ancient ship has been found during construction work in Buenos aires.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4BT57S20081230

Biskupin; A World of Wood...

The most recent post on Theoretical Structural Archaeology talks about an ancient community discovered on the edge of a lake in Poland and the perversion of the Nazi's desire to read its value into its master race theories but more important the theoretical reasons for the sites original construction and today its significance to the Polish people.

http://structuralarchaeology.blogspot.com/

Bring Back the Wall

China's famous wall is disappearing in inner Mongolia due to weather and human activity.

http://www.china.org.cn/china/local/2008-12/30/content_17034131.htm

Live from Krakow

An Ancient Celtic village has been found near Krakow Poland.

http://www.krakowpost.com/articles/2008/12/30/1214.html

The Dead and the Spry

The new Olympic sailing center will have to wait while an ancient cemetery in Dorset England is removed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/7804287.stm

In the Name of a Godess

Her name carved on a lid is one of the oldest representations of the Macedonian language.

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/4915/2/

Madoc's Walls

A very interesting site in Alabama with a legend that walls built there were erected by Welsh settlers hundreds of years before good old Christopher Columbus.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/251/story/558887.html

Fake Viking Swords

None to pleased to have ones sword shatter during battle and I guess that would be the end of you.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/dec/27/archaeology-vikings-sword

Older Than the Hills

The 5000 year old tomb at Newgrange has its burial chamber lit by the sun through a window box.

http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/science-technology/newgrange-older-than-the-pyramids-and-stonehenge-but-still-subject-to-irish-weather-9024.htm

Carved Roman Sarcophagus

Archaeologists have found a Roman stone sarcophagus in Syria the sarcophagus when found was open and contains a skeleton and a gold ring.

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2008/12/24/Stone_sarcophagus_uncovered_in_Syria/UPI-50881230147128/

Ancient China

Here is another video from our friends at the Archaeology channel

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/index.asp

A Mans Cave is His Castle

A group of Canadian archaeologists have discovered a cave in South Africa which was inhabited nearly two million years ago.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=24dde43c-16f9-4abb-8287-33e72c2dfa51

Farmers Collection

This is a continuation of the farmer charged with trafficking in antiquities in Italy. The collection of 2600 year old pots is impressive and there is a picture that accompanies this article.

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/12/22/treasure-of-satricum.html

Golden Hoard

Archaeologists excavating in Jerusalem have discovered a magnificent hoard of gold coins in a wall of a collapsed building. The coins date to the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius 610-641 A.D.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/22/israel.rare.coins/

Pompeii on Display

This exhibition will be taking place until April 2009.

http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/21/pompeii-on-display/

Bronze Hoard

A hoard of bronze objects have been excavated near Cuzco.

http://www.andina.com.pe/Ingles/Noticia.aspx?id=6KnV5zLC+pI=

Top Ten in Archaeology

This is National geographic top ten list for 2008 though personally I feel the list is weak this year.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081219-top-ten-archaeology.html

The Holy Unmentionable

It mystifies the mind why the fact that the wrong Bethlehem is being marketed today as the birth place of Jesus and if that's not fake enough lets take a tour of the Via Dolorosa, I guess no one will know the difference or care and then there is the fist fighting idiot monks at the church of the "Holy" sepulcher, yeah right holy land.

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article5372763.ece

Benedict XVI Hard at Work

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has established "The Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology".

http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=253834

A Half Shekel Tax

A boy has found in dirt excavated from Jerusalem's temple mount a decade ago a coin which may have been used to pay taxes to the second temple which in the bible mentions taxes to the temple as being a half shekel.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1048260.html

Nasca Trophy Heads

The surprise find is that the heads probably belong to the Nasca people and not their enemies. The other big find was the lack of mothers in law in the group!

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/39475/title/Taking_trophy_heads_close_to_home

Tomb of Cyrus Restored

I assume that we are talking about Cyrus the great and not Billy Rae. I of course no nothing however of what people in Tehran like.

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8709290873

Aztec Calender Stone

The rediscovery of the massive stone of the Aztec calender.

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/12/dayintech_1217#

The Wari

This article is on the Wari people and in particular on sexual sacrifices.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5361471.ece

Looting Italy

A farmer has dug up hundreds of artifacts and was trying to sell them when he was arrested for trafficking in antiquities.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28278047/

Classy Teeth

Two decorated jaw bones which probably came from the graves of Mayan elites have been returned anonymously to the Honduran embassy in the Netherlands.

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=323586&CategoryId=23558

Wari City

Here we have an article on the recent discovery of a lost city in Peru once occupied by the Wari culture people who succeeded the Moche culture.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7787053.stm

Mass Dead and Babies Too

A mass grave has been found in Italy, the grave contains babies and soldiers who fought the Carthaginians.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081217-himera-mass-grave.html

Pathetic!

When the Texas ranger hall of fame wanted to expand they found they were located on a cemetery. The cemetery was supposed to have been removed years before but instead it appears that only the headstones were removed the cadavers remained only to be found during the museums expansion. I think instead of removing the bodies that the headstones should be returned and the museums name changed to The Texas ranger hall of fame museum and cemetery.

Perhaps it is time for the museum to leave consecrated ground?

Good old Waco Texas!

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/12/16/12162008wacrangergrave.html

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame:

http://www.texasranger.org/

The Gladiators of Pompeii

At the archaeological museum of Naples is having an exhibition on gladiators and the objects found including bronze weapons.

http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2008-12-16_116307148.html

The Fat Lady of Catalhoyuk

A recent study on the famous clay figurines found in Turkey has found that not all are the fat lady some are of men and animals and also that the figurines were not found in temple deposits but rather middens and household fill.

http://archaeology.about.com/b/2008/12/16/figurines-at-catalhoyuk.htm

Three Marble Heads

Ancient Macedonia has a rich history and here we see some beautiful examples of it even though the picture is in miniature.

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/4792/2/

Roman Battlefield

A Roman period battlefield has been discovered in Germany and it appears to be from late in the Roman period.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iY8SwRu6dheaLnRSctQr8uOG-lAgD95399Q01

This Guys Got Brains

More zombie love for this one it may only be a bit but it will have to do.

http://www.freep.com/article/20081214/NEWS07/812140461/1009/NEWS07

Monstrously Ugly Painting Close to Goal

I know it is by the great artist Titian but please this monstrosity is the ugliest thing I have seen in years. I am like sure it must be on black velvet and lets hope they keep it in Scotland.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article5342139.ece

WWII Graveyard

The wrecks of WWII are poisoning the waters of Micronesia and many other places.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081210-pacific-shipwrecks-missions.html

Dagger-board Schooneer Found In Lake Ontario

The 200 year old schooner was found upright and in remarkable condition on the bottom of lake Ontario. This article has a lot of good pictures of the wreck.

http://www.shipwreckworld.com/story/shipwreck-explorers-discover-dagger-board-schooner.aspx

The Jomon Culture

From Japan's prehistoric comes the people of the Jomon period who created stone circles which probably delineated cemeteries separated from the living.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20081214x3.html

Fit for a King

Image courtesy of Wuhan Morning Post








Here we have just one of the many chariots with two horses found in a tomb in China. The tomb is believed to be the burial of the last king of Chu during the Warring states period.

http://www.china.org.cn/culture/2008-12/12/content_16937985.htm

Top Ten Discoveries for 2008

Well it is that time again where we start deciding what was important in the world of archaeological discoveries for the last year.

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/12/12/1713325.aspx

Holocaust Guilt

Palestinian homes are being demolished in east Jerusalem to make way for Jewish settlers and as usual in Jerusalem archaeology is more often than not a means for the Israeli's to destroy the homes and lives of Palestinians thanks to the United states of America and the United nations.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Several-Arabs-Homes-In-East-Jerusalem-Have-Been-Bulldozed-To-Make-Way-For-Jewish-Settler-Families/Article/200812215178682?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_3&lid=ARTICLE_15178682_Several_Arabs_Homes_In_EasEas

The Antikythera Mechanism

This wonderful ancient Greek device is a marvel of technology.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026861.600-archimedes-and-the-2000yearold-computer--.html?full=true

This 14 minute film on the mechanism is excellent.

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/content/videoguide.asp

Bronze Hoard

In Greece recently a hoard of bronze tools were discovered.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081211/ap_on_re_eu/eu_greece_prehistoric_treasure

Fourteenth Century Knight

This article is on the recent discovery in a crypt in Poland of three skeletons found inside wooden coffins draped in expensive silks, sadly this article which is interesting has no picture.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap_on_re_eu/eu_poland_teutonic_knights_1

The Good and the Dead

The disaster that struck Pompeii in AD 79 here claimed the life of a family and there staff.

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/12/11/pompeii-vesuvius-escape.html

See I Do Have a Brain

A feast fit for a zombie is Britain's oldest brain. Brains, brains!

http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART63321.html

Everyone but Noah

Good old Noah, I wonder how many people drowned themselves rather than live in a world with him! Oh Lord now he's talking to God.

Obviously they lost their clothes first.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728130015&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Yeah Jesus Sure

Sometimes the leap as ridicules as it may be inspires awe in those watching the leap. Very colourful!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/3702883/Vase-discovery-linked-to-Mary-Magdalene.html

The Lost Church

Three graves of great age have been found and they may mark the location of a long lost church.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/7775313.stm

Roman World

This article about recent excavations on a Roman period bath and the finds discovered has a number of good pictures.

http://in.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idINTRE4B94VX20081210

Blackbeards Ship

The question is whether Blackbeard sank his ship "Queen Anne's revenge" in order not to split the loot.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3628233/Shipwreck-clues-could-clear--Blackbeard-of-sinking-his-ship-to-swindle-his-crew.html

Mystery Pyramid

In central Mexico objects including a pyramid have been found which do not correspond to any of the known cultures in the area.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081208-mexico-pyramid.html

Terracotta Warriors in Atlanta

The exhibition of terracotta warriors from the tomb of China's first emperor 210 bce heads to the American city of Atlanta.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122877766995389461.html#articleTabs_slideshow%26project%3DSLIDESHOW08%26s%3DSB122876228939588667%26articleTabs%3Darticle

String Technology

Some prehistoric string has recently been found and this story is a composite of finds dating the use of string several hundreds of thousands of years back.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1092711/Stone-Age-string-Unearthed-twine-twisted-shape-8-000-years-ago.html

War Booty

Six Medieval stained glass windows have been returned to a church in Poland where they were taken from as war booty at the end of WWII.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jCL9C3M0x_UHXoVEM6xe8UDv0A4A

Last Tsar's Remains Authenticated

The remains of Nicholas II have been confirmed through DNA.

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=588&art_id=nw20081206082636365C493794

Parthenon Restoration Complete

The scaffolding is being removed as the latest restoration is complete.

http://www.ana.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=7102990&maindocimg=4647208&service=100

Filling the Acropolis Museum

Here we have another fragment of the Parthenon returned by the heir of the Austrian soldier who collected it during WWII.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97843993

Christie's Withdraws Earrings

Christies auction house has withdrawn a pair of controversial earrings possibly stolen from Iraq. I have posted this story because it shows the earrings.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1204/p07s02-wome.html

Old Stoner Found

Here is a great slide show of that 2700 year old pot head and his stash of weed.

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/slideshows/marijuana-stash.html

Enough Already!

After 125 years of construction of the Sagrada Familia people are saying enough already!

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/architecture_and_design/article5289525.ece

Otzi's Last Day

The iceman who's mummy was found a few years back was nursing wounds with mosses before he died.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081204-iceman-moss.html

Afghanistan's President Found

The body of Afghanistan's first President has been found in a mass grave on a military base. The President was identified by dental moulds and a golden Koran found with the body which had been a gift to the President from the King of Saudi Arabia.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7764852.stm

Ancient Peruvian Citadel

A pre Inca citadel has been found in the amazonian rain forest in north eastern Peru. The article has good pictures.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1091550/Ancient-lost-city-discovered-deep-Amazonian-rainforest-linked-legendary-Cloud-People-Peru.html

Abolitionist Reburied

The lost grave of nineteenth century abolitionist Reverend Stephen Cloucester has been found and his remains as well as that of his wife and a parishioner have been reburied.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20081203_Dust_to_dust__Phila__abolitionist_reburied.html

Out of the Stone Age

An amazing group of artifacts from the late stone age have been found in Russia. I suggest the unknown object is perhaps a spindle.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7758986.stm

Mummies Galor

Here is a video on that recently discovered Peruvian mummy surrounded by ceremonial objects. The mummy appears to be not well preserved.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081201-machudiscovery-video-ap.html

Where Did That Vase Come From?

A very interesting article about museum acquisitions in the past and the right of the museums to keep objects which were taken without permission or with dubious permission.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/opinion/01waxman.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=opinion

Bronze Age Necklace

This beautiful and rare necklace is believed to be 4000 years old it is made of amber and was found in a burial.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/7758075.stm