Archaeology is a fascinating study of people in the past. But there are also archaeologists who study the present, and some who use their skills to dig through modern-day garbage bins.
One of the best places to follow archaeology news is Current World Archaeology, which shares discoveries and in-depth articles on its website. A subscription costs about $50 a year, but you can read some content for free.
Archaeological Discoveries
Archaeology news is a scientific endeavor that analyzes the past through artifacts, whether million-year-old fossils or 20th-century buildings. Sometimes these artifacts provide a glimpse into the dark side of human history. From the gruesome finds of a mummified mummy to a crypt that was discovered containing only bones, archaeologists often discover things that leave a lasting impression on us.
A good many of these discoveries involve unearthed relics from ancient civilizations, though modern archaeology can be found in fields as diverse as forensics and geology. The father of modern archaeological recording, William Flinders Petrie, made a number of monumental discoveries in Egypt that ushered in the era of modern archaeology. He developed a system of dating layers based on pottery and ceramic findings that revolutionized Egyptian archaeology.
One of the most famous archaeological discoveries involved a little boy who would eventually become known as King Tutankhamun. A tomb laden with beautiful objects propelled this short-lived pharaoh into the historical record.
Other discoveries include the remains of a Viking temple in Denmark, a long-lost ship that was found inside an English burial mound, and hordes of ancient coins that were unearthed by metal detectorists (and even a badger). Archaeology also makes connections with current events, such as when a construction project uncovered a 1,600-year-old treasure in Syria or when skull fragments presumed to be Ludwig van Beethoven’s were returned to Vienna, Austria.
Other archaeological discoveries are more esoteric and less obvious, like a mummy that was unwrapped in 1886 and had its hands and feet bound, leading the head of Egypt’s antiquities department at the time to refer to him as “Mr. Man E” and describe how the discovery was a shock.
Biblical Archaeology
Biblical archaeology relates to the archaeological exploration of sites in the Middle East that have a relationship to Biblical history. This includes not only sites within Israel but also Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and Cyprus. This branch of archaeological study is highly partisan, often being used as an instrument to promote political and religious ideologies, especially with regard to claims that Israel rightfully belongs to the Jewish people, or that the Bible is historically accurate.
In the 19th century, archaeological excavations of Biblical relevance began to become popular with both secular and religious scholars. Many foundations were established to promote and fund these projects, including the Palestine Exploration Fund founded in 1865. While these excavations were not meant to prove the truthfulness of Biblical narratives, they did help to elucidate them by understanding the cultures that produced, received, and transmitted the texts.
The field of biblical archaeology came into its own in the 1960s with the outstanding work of Y. Yadin at Hazor (1955-58, 68-69), Megiddo (1960-71), and the Herodian and Zealot fortress at Masada (63-64). In the 1970s, several Israeli scholars, such as M. Dothan at Ashdod (1962-72), A. Biran at Dan (1962-78), and Y. Aharoni at Beersheba (1969-75) helped to solidify the reputation of Israeli archaeological digs as being firmly rooted in scientific precision and scholarly teamwork.
Today, the sad reality is that 150 years of secular evolutionary theory and theological renunciation have resulted in the widespread and institutionalized rejection of the Bible as a historical source. This anti-Bible bias is particularly pronounced at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which was once considered the world’s leading establishment for biblical archaeology. Nevertheless, some archaeologists still take the Bible seriously and utilize it as a source of information and illumination.
Shipwrecks
In a world that’s littered with shipwrecks, some are treasure troves. But even the most mundane vessel can have a profound impact on marine life after it sinks, runs aground or is otherwise abandoned in the sea.
The life of a sunken ship doesn’t stop when the waves carry it away or the metals it’s made of turn to rust and the wood to decay. Instead, depending on what the ship was made of and what it was carrying, a wreck can become something of a chemical warehouse for the deep ocean.
For example, a recent discovery in the northern Gulf of Mexico includes a remarkably intact steam-powered luxury yacht that sank nearly 4,000 feet down. Marine microbial ecologist Leila Hamdan says the remains host communities of microbes that are completely different from those on land. And the reason may have to do with a ship’s construction materials. Steel, for example, will attract iron-oxidizers. Wood will draw the cellulose-destroying microbes.
Then there are the cargo ships that carried gold, jewels and other precious items on their voyages. Hamdan’s research shows that these microbial communities can have an effect on the metals and organic material preserved at the bottom of the sea, determining whether or not they’ll break down.
That’s one of the reasons maritime archaeologists want to know more about what conditions determine how fast a wreck is corroded and how quickly concretion, a plaster-like casing, forms on it. They also need to understand how to preserve these relics. Eventually, such work could help researchers and the public more accurately understand our ancestors and their journeys. It could also help us figure out how to better protect our own fleets of boats that travel the world’s oceans.
Leg Amputations
When a team of archaeologists brushed sediment away from the floor of a cathedral-size cave in Borneo, they uncovered a human skull, a perfect right foot and a leg. But the left leg was missing. That missing bone fragment turned out to be a surgically amputated leg that predates the next oldest case of such a surgery by 20,000 years.
This new discovery challenges the notion that modern medicine came late to human history. Performing an operation like this on someone back then would have required an advanced understanding of anatomy and a high level of skill. It was likely a highly-involved medical procedure that involved cleaning and protecting the wound, ensuring proper blood flow, controlling pain, and even administering anesthesia.
Researchers found the buried remains of a young hunter-gatherer who had the distal third of his lower left leg surgically removed, probably as a child, at least 31,000 years ago in the Indonesian island of Borneo. The finding, published this week in Nature, is the oldest known evidence of such a complex medical act and predates other examples found across Eurasia by tens of thousands of years.
The researchers dated bits of charcoal on the grave site and a tooth from the skeleton to estimate when the person died and when the surgery took place. They also used a technique to date the ossified bone fragments from the upper leg and ankle and a bit of the heel that showed signs of wear. The results suggest that the amputation occurred in childhood and that the patient survived for six to nine years before dying of natural causes. The ossified bone didn’t show the marks of a crushing injury, so it was unlikely the limb was lost in an accident or animal attack.
Ancient Poop
A poopy find can reveal much about an animal. For example, a fossil pile of partially digested plants and bones is a treasure trove called a coprolite, and it can give archaeologists clues about what an ancient creature ate.
Scientists have a special interest in coprolites because they tell us about prehistoric diets and predator-prey relationships. One of the most valuable discoveries ever made with coprolites was a dinosaur dung sample from 65 million years ago that showed how a species of lungfish was an important part of that dino’s diet.
Fossilized feces are also helpful in determining when humans first arrived in North America. A study from last year showcased a find in Oregon’s Paisley Caves that dates back 14,300 years, or about 1,000 years before the so-called Clovis culture. Its occupants were related to people in Siberia and East Asia, according to DNA found in the poo.
Another recent discovery came from the 2,500-year-old toilets of a wealthy household in ancient Jerusalem. The poo contained the earliest evidence of dysentery-causing parasites, Giardia duodenalis. Giardia is also known to have affected the populations of Roman-era Turkey and medieval Israel.
Researchers recently developed a new method to scan for human-specific traces in prehistoric poop. Until now, scientists have been held up by a peculiar fossil phenomenon: human and dog feces look nearly identical in petrified form. That has finally changed.
A team of researchers analyzed eight coprolites from different geographic locations and time periods, and they were able to pinpoint their origins thanks to the presence or absence of Treponema spirochetes in each sample. Industrial-type modern humans have zero of these bacteria, while nonindustrial folk are awash in the stuff. It turns out that Treponema spirochetes can be an important indicator of climate change, and they may have played a role in the demise of the famed prehistoric city of Cahokia.
Conclusion
In summary, the recent developments in archaeology have showcased remarkable discoveries from various civilizations, shedding light on our ancient past. The field continues to evolve with advanced technologies and interdisciplinary approaches, enhancing our understanding of human history. These breakthroughs open up new avenues for exploration, inspiring future generations of archaeologists.
FAQs:
- What is archaeology? Archaeology is the scientific study of past human societies through the recovery, analysis, and interpretation of material remains such as artifacts, structures, and environmental data. It aims to reconstruct and understand human behavior, culture, and development over time.
- What are some notable recent archaeological discoveries? Recent archaeological discoveries include ancient cities like Pompeii, submerged settlements off the coasts, well-preserved fossils of early human ancestors, and deciphering lost languages from ancient scripts. These findings provide valuable insights into the lives of our ancestors and the complex tapestry of human history.
