Excavate!

AIA TALKS: Mesopotamian Women and Neo-Assyrian Palaces 13 February 2012

2012-02-05T11:59:00.000-06:00

Dr. Allison Thomason of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville completed her PhD at Columbia University. She is author of Luxury and Legitimation: Royal Collecting in Ancient Mesopotamia. She will share her knowledge of women in Mesopotamian culture, showing how many women were literate and had wealth and power. In her second talk she will explore the luxurious decorations of Neo-Assyrian palaces.

EVENT SCHEDULE:
February 13 (Monday) 2012
“Women and Material Culture in Mesopotamia”
2:20 p.m. Wilson Hall 168, UAHuntsville

“Banquets, Baubles and Bronzes:
Material Comforts in Neo-Assyrian Palaces”
7:30 p.m. Wilson Hall Theatre, UAHuntsville

Latest news in Excavate! Spring 2012

2012-02-05T11:33:00.000-06:00

Thanks Tim and Lillian for writing, linking, and organizing!

Excavate! Number 24

Pictures: Civil War Sub Finally Revealed

2012-02-03T14:52:00.001-06:00

Pictures: Civil War Sub Finally Revealed

Following genetic footprints out of Africa: First modern humans settled in Arabia

2012-01-27T13:57:00.001-06:00

Following genetic footprints out of Africa: First modern humans settled in Arabia

Istanbul Yields a Treasure Trove in Ancient Bathonea

2012-01-25T09:50:00.001-06:00

Istanbul Yields a Treasure Trove in Ancient Bathonea - NYTimes.com

Athens Journal: Debt-Ridden Greece Turns to Sacred Sites for Help

2012-01-24T05:18:00.001-06:00

Athens Journal: Debt-Ridden Greece Turns to Sacred Sites for Help: Officials dealing with budget cuts plan to make monuments and archaeological sites more attractive to foreign film crews, advertising firms and publishing houses by reducing the cost of permits.

Ancient Popcorn Found—Made 2,000 Years Earlier Than Thought in Peru

2012-01-19T22:33:00.001-06:00

Ancient Popcorn Found—Made 2,000 Years Earlier Than Thought in Peru

Sumerian Beer May Have Been Alcohol-Free | Beer Brewing

2012-01-19T05:31:00.001-06:00

Sumerian Beer May Have Been Alcohol-Free | Beer Brewing | Archaeology | LiveScience

Stonehenge rocks Pembrokeshire link confirmed

2012-01-18T14:34:00.001-06:00

BBC News - Stonehenge rocks Pembrokeshire link confirmed

Singing mummy found in Valley of the Kings

2012-01-17T22:26:00.002-06:00

Short Sharp Science: Singing mummy found in Valley of the Kings

First physical evidence of tobacco in Mayan container

2012-01-13T14:50:00.001-06:00

First physical evidence of tobacco in Mayan container

Hallaton helmet unveiled after nine-year restoration

2012-01-11T07:58:00.001-06:00

BBC News - Hallaton helmet unveiled after nine-year restoration

Archaeologists Use Modern Tools to Reconstruct Ancient Life

2012-01-10T11:07:00.001-06:00

Archaeologists Use Modern Tools to Reconstruct Ancient Life - NYTimes.com

BBC Radio 4 Programmes on history of "The Written World"

2012-01-08T07:23:00.001-06:00

BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - In Our Time: The Written World

Porn yesterday: Roman brothel tokens and the rise of erotic art

2012-01-06T06:35:00.001-06:00

Porn yesterday: Roman brothel tokens and the rise of erotic art | Art and design | guardian.co.uk

In ancient Pompeii, trash and tombs went hand in hand

2012-01-05T12:22:00.001-06:00

In ancient Pompeii, trash and tombs went hand in hand

Reaching Back 2,000 Years to Unravel a Curse

2012-01-04T12:49:00.000-06:00

Reaching Back 2,000 Years to Unravel a Curse - NYTimes.com

Stanford archaeologist questions the role of human rights in site preservation

2012-01-04T08:29:00.001-06:00

Stanford archaeologist questions the role of human rights in site preservation

Model unlocks human impact on Africa's fire regimes

2012-01-03T21:15:00.001-06:00

BBC News - Model unlocks human impact on Africa's fire regimes

Emmett L. Bennett Jr. Dies at 93 - Helped Decipher Linear B

2012-01-03T15:28:00.001-06:00

Emmett L. Bennett Jr. Dies at 93 - Helped Decipher Linear B - NYTimes.com

Case Closed? Columbus Introduced Syphilis to Europe: Scientific American

2011-12-28T11:43:00.001-06:00

Case Closed? Columbus Introduced Syphilis to Europe: Scientific American

Disappearance of the elephant caused rise of modern humans: Dietary change led to modern humans in Middle East 400,000 years ago

2011-12-13T14:18:00.001-06:00

Disappearance of the elephant caused rise of modern humans: Dietary change led to modern humans in Middle East 400,000 years ago

'Witch's cottage' unearthed near Pendle Hill, Lancashire

2011-12-08T10:13:00.001-06:00

BBC News - 'Witch's cottage' unearthed near Pendle Hill, Lancashire

The Secrets of Ancient Rome’s Buildings

2011-12-07T12:17:00.001-06:00

The Secrets of Ancient Rome’s Buildings | History & Archaeology | Smithsonian Magazine

Ancient dry spells offer clues about the future of drought

2011-12-05T22:16:00.001-06:00

Ancient dry spells offer clues about the future of drought

Massive Population Drop Found for Native Americans, DNA Shows

2011-12-05T22:10:00.001-06:00

Massive Population Drop Found for Native Americans, DNA Shows

Stonehenge Reveals New Clues of Ancient Worship

2011-12-01T10:20:00.001-06:00

Stonehenge Reveals New Clues of Ancient Worship : Discovery News

Mayan tablet does not predict end of the world in 2012, says expert

2011-12-01T09:53:00.001-06:00

Mayan tablet does not predict end of the world in 2012, says expert | World news | The Guardian

Sex With Humans Made Neanderthals Extinct?

2011-11-29T13:20:00.001-06:00

Sex With Humans Made Neanderthals Extinct?

Anarchy in archaeology as Sex Pistols’ graffiti is rated alongside cave art - Telegraph

2011-11-28T20:59:00.001-06:00

Anarchy in archaeology as Sex Pistols’ graffiti is rated alongside cave art - Telegraph

Archaeologists land world's oldest fish hook : Nature News & Comment

2011-11-28T20:49:00.001-06:00

Archaeologists land world's oldest fish hook : Nature News & Comment

Archaeologist traces Pocahontas wedding site

2011-11-27T12:28:00.001-06:00

AFP: Archaeologist traces Pocahontas wedding site

Ancient DNA provides new insights into cave paintings of horses

2011-11-15T08:40:00.001-06:00

Ancient DNA provides new insights into cave paintings of horses

"Lost" Fortresses of Sahara Revealed by Satellites

2011-11-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

"Lost" Fortresses of Sahara Revealed by Satellites

AIA Talk: Uncorking the Past 10 November 2011

2011-11-01T19:24:00.001-05:00

Dr. Patrick McGovern, author of Uncorking the Past: The quest for Wine, Beer, and Other Alcoholic Beverages, is going to talk about the history of beer, wine, and extreme fermented beverages. Dr. McGovern, a biomolecular archaeologist, will be giving a beautifully illustrated synopsis of the findings in his book.Copies of the book will be available for purchase and the author's signature.

Huntsville Times: Built with Beer

As always, the event is free and open to the public. Please bring a friend!

Chan Auditorium, Administrative Science Building, UAH Campus

7:30 PM Thursday November 10

Google Earth's New Layer: Archaeological Sites in the United States and Canada - Archaeological Institute of America

2011-10-27T10:29:00.001-05:00

Google Earth's New Layer: Archaeological Sites in the United States and Canada - Archaeological Institute of America

Alarm raised as part of Great Wall collapses amid mining

2011-10-22T07:09:00.001-05:00

Alarm raised as part of Great Wall collapses amid mining

First North American hunters 1,000 years earlier than previously thought, speared mastodon fossil shows

2011-10-20T19:11:00.001-05:00

First North American hunters 1,000 years earlier than previously thought, speared mastodon fossil shows

Staffordshire Gold Hoard

2011-10-18T11:32:00.001-05:00

Staffordshire Gold Hoard - Pictures, More From National Geographic Magazine

Ancient 'paint factory' unearthed

2011-10-13T13:06:00.001-05:00

BBC News - Ancient 'paint factory' unearthed

NYTimes

Ancient road found at Maya village buried by volcanic ash 1,400 years ago

2011-10-10T20:40:00.001-05:00

Ancient road found at Maya village buried by volcanic ash 1,400 years ago

Taj Mahal in peril: Indian historian Ram Nath

2011-10-10T20:33:00.001-05:00

Taj Mahal in peril: Indian historian Ram Nath

How Psychology Solved The Mystery Of A Lost Shipwreck : NPR

2011-09-27T09:55:00.001-05:00

How Psychology Solved The Mystery Of A Lost Shipwreck : NPR

Aboriginal Australians: The first explorers

2011-09-23T14:12:00.001-05:00

Aboriginal Australians: The first explorers

DNA study suggests Asia was settled in multiple waves of migration

2011-09-23T13:59:00.001-05:00

DNA study suggests Asia was settled in multiple waves of migration

Continents influenced ancient human migration, spread of technology

2011-09-23T13:57:00.001-05:00

Continents influenced ancient human migration, spread of technology

Black Death bacterium identified: Genetic analysis of medieval plague skeletons shows presence of Yersinia pestis bacteria

2011-09-23T13:54:00.001-05:00

Black Death bacterium identified: Genetic analysis of medieval plague skeletons shows presence of Yersinia pestis bacteria

Earliest Homo Erectus Tools Found in Kenya

2011-09-23T13:51:00.001-05:00

Earliest Homo Erectus Tools Found in Kenya - NYTimes.com

China's Reluctant Emperor

2011-09-23T13:49:00.001-05:00

China's Reluctant Emperor - NYTimes.com

Archeologists unearth evidence of zombie scare in medieval Ireland

2011-09-23T13:32:00.001-05:00

Archeologists unearth evidence of zombie scare in medieval Ireland - CBS News

AIA Talk: European Iron Age -- 22 September

2011-09-16T12:29:00.002-05:00

Dr. Bettina Arnold of the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee will discuss the European Iron Age. The human body in many prehistoric societies wasa kind of walking billboard. Thanks to new technology, many elements of dress andornament can be reconstructed. You could tell whether someone was male, female, achild, was married, occupied a certain role in society and much more from whatthey were wearing. Iron Age Celtic populations in central Europe are describedby Greek and Roman authors as being especially fond of flashy ornament andbrightly striped and checked fabrics. Unfortunately, until recentlyarchaeological confirmation of this claim was hard to come by because theevidence consists mainly of perishable material like cloth or leather. The"Landscape of Ancestors" excavation project focuses on mound burialsof the early Iron Age in an area of southwest Germany known as Swabia. Two burialmounds contained 23 burials, including six women wearing elaborate bronzedecorated leather belts and head ornaments and three men with daggers, swords, and spears. These fascinating objects and their re-constuction are the focus of Dr. Arnold's talk.

When: 22 September 7:30 pm
Where: UAH Chan Auditorium

Free public talk! Please bring a friend!

Huge Gladiator School Found Buried in Austria

2011-09-13T11:19:00.001-05:00

Huge Gladiator School Found Buried in Austria

New Fossils May Redraw Human Ancestry

2011-09-08T21:39:00.001-05:00

New Fossils May Redraw Human Ancestry - NYTimes.com

AIA TALKS: Ramesses and Egyptian Gold -- September 8 & 9

2011-08-28T10:07:00.005-05:00

Many of you will remember Peter Brand from our wine tasting last November where he gave an engaging talk on the Egyptian evidence for the early Israelites. Dr. Brand, who has appeared in numerous documentaries sponsored by the History Channel and National Geographic, continues his fieldwork at the great temple in Karnak with the aid of a $200,000 NEH grant. In particular Dr. Brand has been working on the inscriptions in the Hypostyle Hall, Ramesses II’s grand addition to the Egypt's most important temple complex.

Drawing on the latest research for his first talk, Dr. Peter brand reveals Ramesses the Great as a gifted politician, canny elder statesman, and tenacious warrior. He built vast temples and colossal statues throughout his Empire, more than any other Pharaoh.

Thursday, Sept. 8
"Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh"
Chan Auditorium, 7:30 PM

In his second talk, Dr. Brand will discuss Egyptian gold. Like all peoples, the ancient Egyptians were mesmerized by gold, which they called "the flesh of the gods." Pharaohs jealously guarded the means and rights to extract gold from mines in the eastern deserts and from Nubia. The kings used gold to enhance their power and splendor. This illustrated lecture explores the spectacular golden objects the pharaohs used to impress their subjects, foreign peoples, and even the gods themselves.

Friday, Sept. 9
"Power Tool: Political Uses of Gold in the New Kingdom"
Wilson Hall 168, 2:00 PM

Excavate! Our latest newsletter

2011-08-28T09:07:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Tim and Lillian, here is the 23rd edition of our newsletter

BBC News - Neanderthal sex boosted immunity in modern humans

2011-08-26T15:11:00.001-05:00

Neanderthal sex boosted immunity in modern humans

DNA study deals blow to theory of European origins

2011-08-25T12:42:00.001-05:00

BBC News - DNA study deals blow to theory of European origins

Archaeologists uncover 3,000-year-old lion adorning citadel gate complex in Turkey

2011-08-14T14:53:00.000-05:00

Archaeologists uncover 3,000-year-old lion adorning citadel gate complex in Turkey

ScienceDaily (2011-08-09) -- Archaeologists in southeastern Turkey have unearthed the remains of a monumental gate complex adorned with stone sculptures, including a magnificently carved lion. The gate complex provided access to the citadel of Kunulua, capital of the Neo-Hittite Kingdom of Patina (ca. 950-725 BCE), and is reminiscent of the citadel gate excavated by British archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley in 1911 at the royal Hittite city of Carchemish.

Marco Polo 'never reached China' and picked up tales of the Orient from others, Italians claim

2011-08-14T14:49:00.001-05:00

Marco Polo 'never reached China' and picked up tales of the Orient from others, Italians claim: "
One of history's greatest explorers, may in fact have been a conman, it was claimed yesterday.
"

A Brief Dry Spell for the U.S.S. Monitor’s Ironclad Turret

2011-08-08T22:50:00.001-05:00

A Brief Dry Spell for the U.S.S. Monitor’s Ironclad Turret - NYTimes.com

The Sign of an Advancing Society? An Organized War Effort

2011-08-03T11:56:00.001-05:00

The Sign of an Advancing Society? An Organized War Effort - NYTimes.com

BBC News - 3D interactive journey into the Great Pyramid of Khufu

2011-07-30T08:54:00.001-05:00

BBC News - 3D interactive journey into the Great Pyramid of Khufu

NY Mummy Smugglers Reveal Vast Antiquities Black Market

2011-07-27T13:55:00.001-05:00

NY Mummy Smugglers Reveal Vast Antiquities Black Market | Egyptian Antiquities & Artifacts Theft | Art Crimes | LiveScience

Drinking Ernest Shackleton’s Whisky

2011-07-25T14:19:00.001-05:00

Drinking Ernest Shackleton’s Whisky - NYTimes.com

Hiram Bingham's April 1913 National Geographic article on Machu Picchu

2011-07-24T14:33:00.002-05:00

Rediscovering Machu Picchu - Pictures, More From National Geographic Magazine

What Was Machu Picchu For? Top Five Theories Explained

2011-07-22T11:17:00.001-05:00

What Was Machu Picchu For? Top Five Theories Explained from National Geographic

Stone Age erotic art found in Bavaria

2011-07-21T10:19:00.001-05:00

Stone Age erotic art found in Bavaria - The Local

Heavy metal hardens battle

2011-07-20T09:51:00.001-05:00

The French may have had a better chance at the Battle of Agincourt had they not been weighed down by heavy body armour, say researchers.

Heavy metal hardens battle