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News

Researchers Map Out Ice Sheets Shrinking During Ice Age


A set of maps created by the University of Sheffield have illustrated, for the first time, how our last British ice sheet shrunk during the Ice Age.


Link below with some graphics
http://www.archnews.co.uk/featured/5322-researchers-map-out-ice-sheets-shrinking-during-ice-age.html

Sheffield Uni press release at:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/mediacentre/2011/1842-ice-sheet-age-melt-maps.html

More details and graphics at:
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-ice-sheets-age.html

Norway (Country)

New rock art finds in Norway


Looks a lot different from UK rock art of the same period but interesting to compare these finds with what we see when out and about.

Given the site of these finds (west coast of Norway) and the period (late Iron Age) I can't believe there wasn't some form of cultural exchange across the North Sea to Shetland/Orkney?

http://www.pasthorizons.com/index.php/archives/02/2011/norways-secret-petroglyphs

News

Aboriginal Sundial Pre-Dates Stonehenge


Interesting news article on research from Oz on local "sundial" that pre-dates stonehenge.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/sci-tech/ancient-aboriginal-eyes-were-on-the-skies/story-fn5fsgyc-1226000523978

More information on the site here:

http://www.atnf.csiro.au/research/AboriginalAstronomy/Examples/WurdiYouang.htm

Stonehenge and its Environs

English Heritage photo rights trawl getting wider publicity


I know this has been covered before and affects wider than Stonehenge but it's interesting to see that EH's approach to photo rights is getting wider exposure (pun intended).

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101020/04044411496/english-heritage-organization-claiming-it-holds-effective-copyright-on-any-and-all-photos-of-stonehenge.shtml

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/10/21/0019257/All-Your-Stonehenge-Photos-Are-Belong-To-England

News

"Out of Africa" date being revised from stone tool finds?


BBC carrying news item on new stone tool finds that potentially point to an earlier date for the spread of human ancestors from Africa.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11327442

Australian Rock Art may be 40,000 years old


Interesting article at link below - "An Australian Aboriginal rock art may depict a giant bird that is thought to have become extinct some 40,000 years ago, thereby making it the oldest rock painting on the island continent. "

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/05/australian_aboriginal_rock_art.php

Cut Hill (Stone Row / Alignment)

Date for Cut Hill stone monument set at 3,500 BC


Guardian on-line has details of Carbon Dating of peat at Cut Hill showing the monument was raised around 3,500 BC.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/apr/19/ancient-stones-devon-dartmoor

Scotland (Country)

Mathematical analysis of Scottish Stone Art points to lost language?


At New Scientist web site:

"Elaborate symbols and ornate depictions of animals carved in stone by an ancient Scottish people have given up their secret – to mathematics. Statistical analysis reveals that the shapes are a forgotten written language. The method could help interpret many other enigmatic scripts – and even analyse animal communication....."

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18725-mathematics-of-ancient-carvings-reveals-lost-language.html

Full research article available at:

http://rspa.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/03/26/rspa.2010.0041.full.pdf+html

News

Marked Egg Shells Oldest Form of Symbolism?


BBC web site reports findings of 60,000 year old egg shells with clear circular markings.

Finds come from Western Cape area of South Africa.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8544332.stm

Most Europeans descended from Early Farmers


Interesting news item on the BBC web site.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8467623.stm

Claim is that:
"Most men in Europe can trace a line of descent to early farmers who migrated from the Near East, a study says."

Link to research paper mentioned in news item
http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1000285

Orkney

Pre-historic Stone Structures Found Underwater


Discovery of man-made structures on the seabed off Orkney - the well preserved structures are near the island of Damsay and some of the structures may date back thousands of years.

One structure found was a stone "table" with 4 legs.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8416600.stm

Perth and Kinross

Bronze Age burial ritual shown to have flowers in grave goods


Dig in Scotland has discovered a bunch of meadowsweet blossoms in a Bronze Age grave at Forteviot, south of Perth.

More at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/8412938.stm

News

UK Geology Maps Available Online


The BGS has set up a web service to allow free access to Geology Maps.

BBC News article here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8398451.stm

BGS Web service here

http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/

7,000 year old evidence of mass cannibalism in Germany


BBC carrying this news story on findings from a site in South West Germany

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8394802.stm

Antiquity link article link at

http://antiquity.ac.uk/ant/083/ant0830968.htm

The BBC have obviously gone for the "big headline" story here (as I have) but there is strong debate around this as evidence cannibalism vs processing of bodies as part of a death ritual.

Highland (Mainland)

Bronze Age Cist found in Strath Oykel, Sutherland


Skeleton found in a substantial stone cist, partially wrapped in animal/furs with a wicker basket over the skull area.

Links to BBC story with photo

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8261343.stm

and Scotsman article

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/39Whicker-Man39-tomb-to-yield.5661633.jp

News

Europe's first farmers were segregated, expert incomers


Article in National Geographic seems to show clear genetic differences between the first farming communities (circa 5500 BC) found and local hunter gatherer groups in the same regions.

Hypothesis is that the earliest farming communities were incomers who arrived with pre-existing farming skills and domesticated animals in tow.

Link
http://news.nationalgeographic.co.uk/news/2009/09/090903-europe-first-farmers.html

Kent's Cavern (Cave / Rock Shelter)

New dig in Kents Caverns near Torquay


A new dig at Kents Cavern neat Torquay starts next week to continue excavations looking for more evidence of Neanderthal occupation.

The cavern will be open from September 10 and visitors will be able to view the dig.

Link to article
http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/Caves-secrets/article-1291040-detail/article.html

News

Oldest "Musical Instrument" Found - 35,000 years old


BBC web site has coverage of a 35,000 year old "Flute" made from bone. Found in Hohle Fels cavern in southwest Germany:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8117915.stm

Part of Neanderthal Skull dredged up from North Sea


Well known that there must be lots of ancient archeology under the North Sea but first evidence of Neanderthals dredged up.

BBC web site article at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8099377.stm

Exciting new dating method for pottery


BBC web site has details of a new dating method for pottery based on the rate that it takes up water since firing.

If this works as stated here then it offers significant dating opportunities for sites where other dating approaches aren't possible.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8058185.stm

Royal Society Link at http://royalsociety.org/news.asp?id=8527

Paper by authors from 2008 outlining the processes involved
http://www.mace.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/staff/academic/profile/publications/journal_pdfdownload.php?id=1766
Previous 20 | Showing 21-40 of 40 news posts. Most recent first
Based in Argyll but spend a lot of time in Northumberland I've always been interested in things Iron Age and earlier.

I now have the time to combine this interest with walking and taking photos so I hope to add content where I can.

My TMA Content: