Archaeology

Posted by Natasha Sheldon

Athens’s expanded metro system not only allows sightseers to reach the city's attractions quicker than before; it allows them to appreciate history as they travel.

During the construction of the new stations and lines, much of the city's previously undiscovered past was unveiled to the modern world. Pottery, graves and everyday objects have been found in quantities. Although the finds may seem mundane when compared to the Parthenon, they are none the less impressive and offer a glimpse of everyday life in ancient Athens.

The way the finds are displayed is unique too. Station entrances are turned into mini museums with cases displaying pottery, tools, even statues. Inside, between platforms each station has a wall set aside as a display case. Behind a clear Perspex window, the stratigraphy of the site is perfectly preserved, with key finds labelled and in situ, allowing commuters to view a cross section of time.

The station of Monastiraki is particularly effective. Commuters literally walk over history. A clear, Perspex floor has been set over a Roman sewer, workshops and an ancient river bed that have not seen the light of day for a couple of millennium.

Posted by Natasha Sheldon

A new museum is planned to house the preserved remains of Henry VIII favourite ship.

The aim is to build over the existing museum. On its anticipated completion, it will allow visitors a real experience of life on a Tudor war ship. Built in the shape of the ship, it will house the real hull on one side with a replica hull on the other. Here, finds from the ship will be displayed, recreating their positioning on the ship at the time of its rediscovery.

Unique and innovative, this imaginative re modelling will allow visitors to see 70% of the ships finds compared to the current 6%. It will also allow them to experience the finds in context rather than in isolation in a display case, making the whole Mary Rose experience more meaningful.

Finds include many mundane items from the period whose survival is unique such as staved wood tankards, ointment canisters, and even a velvet flat cap of a similar style to the one famously worn by Henry VIII.

The museum is still in the planning stages but it is hoped that work will begin in 2009 for a 2011 completion date.

Posted by Natasha Sheldon

Well the excavations are over and now the analysis begins. It seems that archaeologists are hoping not only to establish the exact date that the bluestones were erected but also how the site was used after its prehistoric abandonment.

Carbon datable material from the site is now undergoing analysis. The aim is to establish whether animal bones on the site are just evidence of discarded rubbish or if they are evidence of ritual activity. Soil samples will be used to help identify what Neolithic flora and fauna was present to help establish environmental conditions during the various stages of the megalith’s development whilst it is hoped that carbon dating will help establish more conclusively the various construction dates.

Without waiting for the results, it seems that evidence has been found to suggest the bluestones were moved more frequently than previously supposed. Examinations of the sockets have revealed constant re-cutting through and into each other, suggesting the site was in a constant state of transition rather than being construction being in fixed phases

What’s more, there is evidence to support the healing stones theory. Fragments of chipped bluestones in the virgin excavation area were quite intense, leading the archaeologists to deduce that people were hacking off fragments to take away with them. This seems to have happened well into the Roman period suggesting the meaning of Stonehenge continued long after its construction ceased.

Posted by Natasha Sheldon

At first glance, there isn’t much left of ancient Carthage. The original Phoenician city was destroyed by the Romans in 146BC. Later they rebuilt. But today, the city they re-established is gone. All that appears to remain is a residential suburb of modern Tunis.

But fragments of ancient Carthage do remain. Excavations in the 1970s around the Byrsa hill have revealed the remains of the Punic city under the Roman forum. The Punic ports also survive with their harbours clearly visible. And amongst the modern villas, there is the tophet cemetery where the remains of young children were interred alongside emblems of the City’s guardian deities Baal and Tanit. Human sacrifice or a children’s cemetery? The debate continues.

Then there are the remains of Roman Carthage; its forum, the Antonine baths and along a roadside hidden amongst the trees, the amphitheatre.

Put these fragments together and a sense of the cities ancient glories can be recreated.

Posted by Natasha Sheldon

Stonehenge is being excavated for the first time since 1964 by a team of British archaeologists. The dig covers some ‘old ground’, re visiting areas of the site previously excavated in the ‘60s ad the 1920s. However, it’s also excavating previously untouched areas of the site in an attempt to discover more about this iconic henge monument.

The finds have been fascinating. Highlights for me from the ‘virgin’ trenches include a hammer stone of non local material found with fragments of smashed up bluestones Does this imply that the builders of certain phases of the monument were incomers too? It’s an intriguing idea and entirely possible although proving it is another matter.

Then there is the evidence of the sites continued use beyond the Neolithic into the historic era. Previously undiscovered bluestone sockets have been found to been carved into the bedrock during the 4th c AD. How do they know the date? Well a coin depicting the emperor Constantine was found in the socket. This raises all sort s of interesting questions about the continued use of pre historic sites.

It's the last day of the dig today.

Posted by Natasha Sheldon

Situated in western Turkey, Allianoi is rare and wonderful in so many ways. The visible Roman remains represent the peak of the development of the spa complex. However Allianoi was functioning as a Spa for centuries before. The threat of destruction by the waters of the Yortanly Irrigation Dam means its full significance may never be fully understood.

The Hadrianic spa complex survives in places up to two stories high, with well preserved floor mosaics and colonnaded courtyards. Its baths, situated over still active thermal springs are an example of one of the few rural bath sites to survive from the Roman world.

In addition, archaeologists have discovered evidence of glass and pottery production, paved streets and a temenos to Demeter, suggesting the existence of a settlement of some considerable significance. With only 20% of the site uncovered, there is so much more this unique site could tell us about the development and social and religious significance of ancient thermal spas.

Discoveries are being made even in the last days of the site. It would be a tragedy if this site was lost under water. Europa Nostra certainly thinks so and they are organising a petition to try and hold back the tide and prevent Allianoi from being lost beneath the waters.

Posted by W. Hommel

In an exciting turn of events, archaeologists believe they have located a graveyard for Roman gladiators. This is the first time in history a graveyard has been discovered containing the bones of these fallen fighters.

The excavations, which began to take place during the month of May, have provided insight into the medical history and lifespan of gladiatorial warriors.

The graveyard itself, which is located in the city of Ephesus, was a major settlement during the Roman period. Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of 67 individuals so far, many of which have healed wounds. It is believed this evidence supports the theory they are indeed gladiator remains. On three gravestones, gladiator motifs are clearly depicted.

Many gladiators were prisoners of war. They were considered slaves in Roman society, and were deemed part of the lower class. Despite their popularity or fame inside the arena, gladiators were not considered part of the upper class of Roman society. This recent discovery is very important, because it was believed most gladiator graves were not marked.

Posted by W. Hommel

Museums in the United States are undergoing a huge project. Contrary to popular belief, dinosaurs (such as the Tyrannosaurus rex) did not stand upright carrying their tails on the ground in a bipedal position. Instead, they moved with their bodies parallel to the ground, with their tails in mid-air. This might be old news to some, but ABC news recently reported that a lot of museums in the United States still have outdated representations on display. Smaller museums that struggle to gain funds are only beginning to have massive reconstruction done.

There is also a great deal of speculation concerning "feathered dinosaurs," other than the few species already believed to have them. T-Rex didn’t stand vertically, as Godzilla, but was he also covered in a coat of luxurious multi-colored feathers? This image is so far remote in our minds, it seems completely bizarre. Maybe one day out beloved plastic museum shop lizards will be artifacts themselves. Think dinosaurs had feathers? Check out our poll below!

Posted by Gail Bellenger

To the ancient Egyptians, religion wasn't just something you did one day a week, it was a way of life. There were many gods who were worshipped for various reasons, but during the dynastic period, Osiris took center stage. Osiris protected the dead, once you were deemed worthy, of course, so making offerings to him and celebrating him were excellent ways to assure your place in the after life.

In Upper Egypt, the city of Abydos, was dedicated to Osiris. The city was started in pre-dynastic times, but continued through the dynasties up until the Greeks conquered. The site was believed to be the burial site of Osiris himself, which of course gave it a mystical aspect.

The legend of Osiris is a reflection of the holy trinity. He was killed by his jealous brother and resurrected by his sister/wife, Isis. Isis was impregnated by Osiris in a mystical/magical way and she gave birth to Horus. Since Osiris was, at one time, dead, he could no longer walk among the living. Therefore, he became the ruler of the underworld.

For this reason, the Egyptians paid homage to Osiris for protection in the next life. Abydos was constructed and continued in adoration of the god. There were temples, tombs and chambers that were used for offerings. As fabulous as all of this is, perhaps the most important aspect of Abydos is the Table of Abydos. This list contains the cartouches of all the dynastic kings and has been valuable to archaeologists in reconstructing the pharaonic kings.

Even though Abydos fell into disrepair after the Greeks, it remains one of the most incredible historic sites ever found.

Posted by Gail Bellenger

Not too much is really known about the Aztecs, because nothing was written down. Everything has to be gleaned from their buildings, burials and decorations. Of course, it's difficult to make educated guesses, so archaeologists must be careful to remain as non-ethnocentric as they can. It's easy, however, to draw conclusions about another culture by judging it with your own. The eight square mile ancient city of Teotihuacan near Mexico City has revealed numerous interesting things. Most notably, the burials. There are two major pyramid structures, the Ppyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. Extensive excavations of the Moon Pyramid have provided a lot of burials, almost certainly sacrifices due to decapitations and bound hands, around the structure. The bodies were decorated with jewelry and left with offerings, presumably to satisfy the gods.

What we can't tell, however, is what the day to day life was like. Archaeologists have told us that the city subsisted on agriculture and had a rain water channel beneath the main avenue, so we can tell the residents were knowledgable about farming. Examination of the skeletons can tell more about their diet and health, but once again, care must be taken. What if these sacrifice victims were either starved for a while or fed really well? That might give a false indication of the average citizen.

It's always far easier to have something written down, but by using deduction, common sense and experience, can still give insight into a lost culture.