This is great news for anyone hoping to visit the ancient Inca ruins at Machu Picchu (stunning as they are). Looks like the site will reopen on the 1st of April, this is a lot sooner than was expecting.
The following is an extract from the linked article: “Martin Pérez, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism for Peru have announced that the popular UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu will again be open for visitors on 1st April 2010. The ruins of Machu Picchu have been closed for two months since the torrential downpours in January resulted in large numbers of tourists being stranded as a result of the railways being unable to reach the ancient Inca ruins due to the mudslides washing away the tracks.”
Read the story at http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prweb.com%2Freleases%2F2010%2F03%2Fprweb3670094.htm&usg=AFQjCNHqDluBG4Nh_zfU7vt2wQz5wHVNyg
This article is about the conflict between Israel and Palestine over the ancient city of Jerusalem. It also gives a perspective of the ruins of the old city from that of archaeologists that visit and work there. We all know the political turmoil that engulfs the region and the city in particular. That the Palestinians want part of the city as their capital while Israel claims the entire city. It is of course never going to be a fair fight with both sides having god on their side. One side has an advanced US backed/sourced military armed with nuclear weapons (which has apparently never been confirmed, but that everyone knows), the other side has suicide bombers, home made rockets and forces acting within from other parties that seem to delight in causing strife.
Read the story at http://www.topix.net/science/archaeology/2010/03/archaeology-jerusalem-struggle?fromrss=1
Here is a video of Dr Zahi Hawass being handed the 3,000 year old sarcophagus that was confiscated in Miama not too long ago.
From the article: “A stolen ancient Egyptian sarcophagus is returning home.
The sarcophagus, nearly 3,000 years-old was seized by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or I.C.E , during a routine shipments inspection at the Miami International Airport in 2008 Agents became suspicious when they noticed inconsistencies in the shipment’s documentation.
Customs investigated the importer and the seller in Spain and concluded the sarcophagus was indeed stolen property.
An Egyptologist verified that the sarcophagus is an authentic Egyptian artifact.”
Read the story at http://feeds.nationalgeographic.com/click.phdo?i=aa72b5e81fd2e520ccca9ec3a8837f7d
From the article: Michael A. Malpass, professor of anthropology at Ithaca College, recently co-edited “The Distant Provinces in the Inka Empire: Toward a Deeper Understanding of Inka Provincialism,” a book that explores the ways that the ancient Incan people controlled their large empire.
Malpass has traveled to Peru 10 times since 1980 for archeological research. He maintains an active program in Peru where he is involved in studies of the early occupants of the southern Andes.
Staff Writer Lauren Barber spoke to Malpass about his experiences as an anthropologist and author.
“This weekend Hadrian’s Wall will be put in the spotlight – quite literally – when approximately 500 beacons will illuminate the 84 mile wall in its entirety. It will surely be a memorable sight (and one to capture on video, in pixels, and in Tweets)! As we’re all anxiously awaiting the weekend, let’s have a look at how Hadrian’s Wall, and the bridge and fort complex nearby called the Pons Aelius, might have looked in 200AD!”
Read the story at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/hkblogs/~3/Xt7VaBriUvg/hadrians-wall-and-newcastle-roman-fort-3d-reconstruction
The Oriental Institute Museum Archives Photographic Database is now available for public access. As of February 2010, there are more than 70,000 entries from our photo catalogue in the database, 35,000 of which have an image scanned and attached.
Click on the link that says ‘Oriental Institute Museum Photographic Database.’ At the login page, click the ‘Guest Account’ radio button and then click ‘Login.’ Use the left and right hand buttons on the screen to scroll through the database, or use the magnifying glass to search.
Thanks to Charles at AWOL.
Read the story at http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2010/03/oriental-institute-museum-photo.html
“Archaeologists excavating the tomb complex of China’s first emperor, famed for its ’terracotta army,’ have discovered a gate to the imperial tomb’s outer city, verifying historical accounts referring to four gates.
The People’s Daily Online says the north gate is huge, some 93 metres (about 280 feet) tall by seven (21 ft) metres and was built in the north facing wall of the tomb’s outer city, and is more than 400 metres (about 1,200 feet) from the east and west walls.Archaeologists excavating the tomb complex of China’s first emperor, famed for its ’terracotta army,’ have discovered a gate to the imperial tomb’s outer city, verifying historical accounts referring to four gates.”
Read the story at http://www.acagle.net/ArchaeoBlog/?p=8741
Syrian archaeologists working for Damascus Countryside Governorate has announced the unearthing of 5 archaeological graveyards in old Darya City near Damascus, dating back to the 3rd and 4th Century AD.
The discovered graveyards, mostly dating back to the roman and byzantine era, contain tens of skulls, Mahmoud Hamoud, Damascus Countryside archaeology director told local news and media.
Hamoud disclosed that some other findings were also found as part of burial materials, including clay and glass tools, bracelets, rings, ring-bells, beads, eardrops, made of bronze, iron, glass, wood, and precious stones, as well as eardrops made of gold.
Read the story at http://www.acagle.net/ArchaeoBlog/?p=8739
Add plumbing to the mysterious arts of the ancient Maya, investigators report. In a Journal of Archaeological Science study, anthropologist Kirk French and civil engineer Christopher Duffy of Penn State report on a conduit designed to deliver pressurized water to Palenque, an urban center in southern Mexico, more than 1,400 years ago.
“The ancient Maya are renowned as great builders, but are rarely regarded as great engineers. Their constructions, though often big and impressive, are generally considered unsophisticated,” say the study authors. However, they add, “(m)any Maya centers exhibit sophisticated facilities that captured, routed, stored, or otherwise manipulated water for various purposes.”
Read the story at http://www.acagle.net/ArchaeoBlog/?p=8737
Here is some information about an upcoming talk about modding commercial games to provide educational tools.
Shawn Graham, “Rolling your own: On Modding Commercial Games for Educational Goals”
Making modifications to existing commercial games is a strong and vibrant sub-culture in modern video gaming. Many publishers now provide tools to make this easier, as part of their marketing strategy. In this paper, I look at the nature and quality of the discussions that occur on the fan mod sites as a form of participatory history. I also reflect on some of my own forays into modding commercial games in my teaching of ancient history: what works, what hasn’t, and where I want to take things next.
Read the story at http://electricarchaeologist.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/the-games-the-thing/
