Archeology Headlines of February 2009

This month, headlines that involve new archeological research projects and discoveries in Egypt have hit the news. In this article, you will encounter information about some of the latest happenings to occur in the lower Danube River, Egypt, and Taiwan.

“The End of Antiquity” Project

Permission has been granted for a collaboration between two archeological teams (Bulgarian and British), who are interested in researching the lower Danube River region, as part of an European project that is dubbed the “The End of Antiquity.” One of the main sites that researchers will pay attention to a region called Nikopolis ad Istrum, where other surrounding areas will be explored as well. These locations have a past that dates back to the end of 5th and the beginning of the 7th century CE.

Involved in the joint project are Bulgarian scientists from the National Archaeological Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and British researchers from the Department of Archaeology of the University of Nottingham (located in the United Kingdom). The project is initially set to take place over the course of five years with a concentration on the way lifestyle and social interaction changed throughout the transitional period marked from antiquity to the Middle Ages.

Important Egyptians Statues Uncovered

In Egypt, archeologists have discovered two interesting finds in the southern city of Luxor , the statue of a pharaoh named Amenhotep and the bust of Hatshepsut, a rather well known female pharaoh. The statue of Amenhotep measures three meters long and was recovered with damage to the nose and in the teeth, but was otherwise, pretty remarkable in its state of preservation.

In the past, Amenhotep served as the ninth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty during ancient Egyptian times. He ruled from 1411 BC to 1375 BC, following in his father’s footsteps (Thutmose IV). As for Hatshepsut, she earned the reputation as one of the most prosperous of pharaohs. She served as the fifth monarch of the 18th dynasty , a time that dates back to 15th century BC. Because she was a female, she donned a fake beard so that she could solidify her position as an authoritative figure.

As for the site in Luxor, additional antiquities are waiting in the wings for discovery.

Historic Archeological Gesture

It’s been six decades since Beijing and Taiwan have played nice with one another after the two entities separated due to a civil war. Today, they both celebrate the first major exchange of culture since the adversity in the past, as Beijing has decided to lend 29 Qing Dynasty relics to Taiwan’s National Palace Museum. In the end, a joint exhibition will be held this coming fall.

According to the China Daily, headlines offered information on the lending of several portraits depicting the Qing Dynasty’s 18th century Emperor Yongzheng from the Forbidden City (better known as the Beijing Palace Museum). Over the course of three months, the portraits will delight visitors at a Taipai showing set to start in October.