Case Closed? Columbus Introduced Syphilis to Europe: Scientific American

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

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

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

The Secrets of Ancient Rome’s Buildings

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

Ancient dry spells offer clues about the future of drought

Ancient dry spells offer clues about the future of drought

Massive Population Drop Found for Native Americans, DNA Shows

Massive Population Drop Found for Native Americans, DNA Shows

Stonehenge Reveals New Clues of Ancient Worship

Stonehenge Reveals New Clues of Ancient Worship : Discovery News

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

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

Sex With Humans Made Neanderthals Extinct?

Sex With Humans Made Neanderthals Extinct?

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

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

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

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

Archaeologist traces Pocahontas wedding site

AFP: Archaeologist traces Pocahontas wedding site

Ancient DNA provides new insights into cave paintings of horses

Ancient DNA provides new insights into cave paintings of horses

"Lost" Fortresses of Sahara Revealed by Satellites

"Lost" Fortresses of Sahara Revealed by Satellites

AIA Talk: Uncorking the Past 10 November 2011

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

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

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

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

Staffordshire Gold Hoard

Staffordshire Gold Hoard - Pictures, More From National Geographic Magazine

Ancient 'paint factory' unearthed

BBC News - Ancient 'paint factory' unearthed

NYTimes

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

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

Taj Mahal in peril: Indian historian Ram Nath

Taj Mahal in peril: Indian historian Ram Nath

How Psychology Solved The Mystery Of A Lost Shipwreck : NPR

How Psychology Solved The Mystery Of A Lost Shipwreck : NPR

Aboriginal Australians: The first explorers

Aboriginal Australians: The first explorers

DNA study suggests Asia was settled in multiple waves of migration

DNA study suggests Asia was settled in multiple waves of migration

Continents influenced ancient human migration, spread of technology

Continents influenced ancient human migration, spread of technology

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

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

Earliest Homo Erectus Tools Found in Kenya

Earliest Homo Erectus Tools Found in Kenya - NYTimes.com

China's Reluctant Emperor

China's Reluctant Emperor - NYTimes.com

Archeologists unearth evidence of zombie scare in medieval Ireland

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

AIA Talk: European Iron Age -- 22 September

Dr. Bettina Arnold of the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee will discuss the European Iron Age.  The human body in many prehistoric societies was a kind of walking billboard. Thanks to new technology, many elements of dress and ornament can be reconstructed. You could tell whether someone was male, female, a child, was married, occupied a certain role in society and much more from what they were wearing. Iron Age Celtic populations in central Europe are described by Greek and Roman authors as being especially fond of flashy ornament and brightly striped and checked fabrics. Unfortunately, until recently archaeological confirmation of this claim was hard to come by because the evidence consists mainly of perishable material like cloth or leather. The "Landscape of Ancestors" excavation project focuses on mound burials of the early Iron Age in an area of southwest Germany known as Swabia. Two burial mounds contained 23 burials, including six women wearing elaborate bronze decorated 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

Huge Gladiator School Found Buried in Austria

New Fossils May Redraw Human Ancestry

New Fossils May Redraw Human Ancestry - NYTimes.com

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

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

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

BBC News - Neanderthal sex boosted immunity in modern humans

Neanderthal sex boosted immunity in modern humans

DNA study deals blow to theory of European origins

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NY Mummy Smugglers Reveal Vast Antiquities Black Market

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

Drinking Ernest Shackleton’s Whisky

Drinking Ernest Shackleton’s Whisky - NYTimes.com

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

Rediscovering Machu Picchu - Pictures, More From National Geographic Magazine

What Was Machu Picchu For? Top Five Theories Explained

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

Stone Age erotic art found in Bavaria

Stone Age erotic art found in Bavaria - The Local

Heavy metal hardens battle

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

Inca Paradox: Maybe the pre-Columbian civilization did have writing.

Inca Paradox: Maybe the pre-Columbian civilization did have writing. - By Mark Adams - Slate Magazine