Bones of elephant ancestors discovered in Oman

Geologists from the Sultan Qaboos University discovered the remains "of the oldest ancestors of elephant (Barhtyerium)".

Fossil discovered in Dhofar region in south of Oman [Credit: Gulf News]

For more information and source:
http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2011/05/bones-of-elephant-ancestors-discovered.html

An Introductory Workshop in Archaeology (South Africa)

Funny Friday

Egyptian pyramids found by infra-red satellite images

Just for illustration purposes

Credit: NOAA/NASA GOES Project
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4954228868/

Seventeen lost pyramids were found in a new satellite survey of Egypt. Also more than 1,000 tombs and 3,000 ancient settlements. Excavations have already shown this to be true.

This is a fascinating discovery and you can read more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13522957
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13522957

List of Archaeology Journals

Here is a great List of Archaeology Journals: http://nicolaslaracuente.visibli.com/share/xfDf0l

7 New Kingdom Tombs to be Opened at Saqqara

For more info: http://www.drhawass.com/blog/7-new-kingdom-tombs-be-opened-saqqara

School of Museology to open in Cairo

"Egypt’s first ever academic institute for Museology will be established in Cairo by the Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA). The institute will be set up in Casdagli Palace in the Down Town area with an initial intake of 60 students. "

More on this and source: http://www.drhawass.com/blog/school-museology-open-cairo

Shag an Archaeologist Day 2011

For some laughs:
http://www.diggingthedirt.com/2011/05/20/shag-an-archaeologist-day-2011/

Funny Friday

What Is Archaeology?

So You Wanted to Be an Archaeologist...

A funny article to read:

So You Wanted to Be an Archaeologist... BY Scott C. Reynolds

Lecture at Wits, 19 May

The Impact of the horse on the hunter-gatherers of southern Africa: rock art evidence from the Maloti-Drakensberg

Dr Sam Challis

Together with the Branch Annual General Meeting (agenda enclosed)

Date:      Thursday 19 May      AGM starts at 19:30

Venue:   The auditorium, Roedean School, 35 Princess of Wales Terrace, Parktown

Charge:  Members free     Non-members R30

Horses were first brought into the Drakensberg by people of mixed descent - especially San and Nguni - who were escaping the eastern Cape frontier, but many of whom had ancestral ties to southern KwaZulu-Natal. They had gone to the eastern Cape during the Mfecane and had become subjects of Hinsta. No sooner had they arrived, however, than they became embroiled with the frontier wars of the Xhosa and colonists. Some of these Natal Nguni acquired horses and guns and opted to join groups of 'skelmbasters' who comprised of many San, Khoe and coloured people. One large band - the AmaTola - removed themselves from the frontier and established themselves in the southern Drakensberg from where they raided colonists and black farmers. They used horses. One vital clue as to the mixed nature of the AmaTola lies in their rock art. They painted themselves, not colonists, on horseback with hats and guns. They also painted themselves undergoing transformation in their trance dances, not into eland or rhebok, but into baboons. Baboons, it was agreed by members from all cultural backgrounds, were the manifestation of protective powers. Such powers were vital for survival in frontier conditions and vital to enable one to raid one's neighbours and escape unharmed.

Sam Challis is a rock art specialist at the Rock Art Research Institute. He lectures for the Department of Archaeology, University of the Witwatersrand. He has a doctorate from Oxford University, and has also undertaken expeditions to find and publish Saharan rock art.

Some great fake pics!

Some great fakes of Nephilim. Its amazing what techonology can do.

This has been doing the rounds for years, but I'm sure they can do better these days.

Ancient Toothache

The world's first known toothache has been found in an elderly reptile around 275 million years old.

"The question then arises, 'Did it die because of the infection?' We cannot tell. But it probably was a contributing factor," Reisz said. (Source)

"It looks like the animal broke its tooth and because it doesn't replace its tooth, that became a hole — and through that hole, oral bacteria probably entered the inside of the jaw and then gradually the jaw was closed up," Reisz told LiveScience. He added that it was likely a pretty bad infection. "The infection raveled about four or five teeth into the area where the jaw is quite thin, and that's where it went into the mouth area and the outside of the jaw," Reisz said. "As a consequence, that area of the jaw is really damaged." (Source)

The study is detailed online in the journal Naturwissenschaften - The Science of Nature.

For more information and pictures:
http://www.livescience.com/13759-oldest-toothache-reptile-fossils.html

Funny Friday

Heritageworx

A great new company that is worth checking out!

Heritageworx
Services in Education, Archaeology, Research, Conservation and Heritage.

You can find them here:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/HeritageworX/207645059256749