From the discovery of a burial location dating back to the 4th century in Hungary to unearthed a piece of an underwater city linked to Cleopatra, November and December headlines of 2009 also made mention of a Canaanite palace and Neolithic artifacts.
Rebirth of Archeology Sites
Just when archeologists lamented over the tsunami destruction of an archeological site located on the main island of Tutuila, they rejoiced at the discovery of new sites that had been exposed. Despite a total of 40 sites that suffered damage, the researchers connected to the Samoan Studies Institute at the American Samoa Community College will be able to create a better understanding of their culture by taking a look at the newly discovered past.
Heart Disease Found in Egyptian Mummies
In November, the ScienceDaily reported that Egyptian mummies were victims of heart disease, where the hardening of the arteries takes place. The discovery shows that the disease is not just a modern concern, but also affected ancient peoples. If you are interested in learning more about the find, check out the November 18th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
A Find in a Canaanite Palace
In November, it was revealed that after searching the excavation site of a Canaanite palace at Tel Kabri, the remains of a Minoan-style wall painting is now the first of its kind to be found in Israel. Researchers note that the rulers of the city were interested in becoming associated with the Mediterranean culture. The city being excavated thrived during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1550 BC), which served as one of the most important places in the region.
Neolithic Age Stonewares Discovered
December headlines for 2009 included information on stonewares uncovered in Medog County, Nyingchi Prefecture (located in southeastern Tibet) are belived to date back to the Neolithic Age. Out of the 34 stonewares found, the researchers gathered 28 of them, which included an assortment of axes, adzes and chisels. Experts belonging to the Shaanxi Provincial Archeology Research Institute and the Tibet Autonomous Regional Cultural Relics Research Institute believe that the positioning of the artifacts suggest that humans during the ancient times frequently visited the river banks.
A Piece of Cleopatra’s Underwater City
Bringing the 9-ton temple monument out of the Mediterranean waters has archeologists jumping at the thought that they have uncovered a piece of the palace complex connected to the infamous Cleopatra that thrived before it became an underwater dream in the harbor of Alexandria. In December, it was noted that the pylon would have decorated the entrance to a temple of Isis, which is thought to have fell victim to an earthquake that took place during the 4th century.
