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Archive for March 11th, 2010

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.

Read the story at http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheithacan.org%2Fam%2Fpublish%2Fnews%2F201003_Book_reveals_Incan_life.shtml&usg=AFQjCNHIh4RsBysfNVCwoohah-Kdzdvt1Q

“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