Humans may have started wearing shoes 10,000 years earlier than previously thought, according to a new study of foot bones by Erik Trinkaus of Washington University in St. Louis. He noticed that skeletons from 40,000 years ago had strong, thick leg bones, but their toes had gotten smaller. “They had wimpy toes. I tried to figure out what would take away stresses on the toes, but not the legs, and the answer was shoes,” he said. Others think the change in bone reflects a change in human culture. “If the foot bones are smaller, this probably reflects less walking and physical activity, rather than the invention of supportive footwear,” said Susan Cachel of Rutgers University.

In Washington, a former Yakama Indian museum curator and her daughter were given prison sentences for stealing beaded bags and other artifacts from the museum.  

The site of Kincaid Mounds was looted recently. “The criminal disturbance of these human burials in Kincaid Mounds is unconscionable,” said Jan Grimes, director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.   A local television story on the looting of Kincaid Mounds is also available. Click on the link above the photograph at News Channel 6 WPSD.   

Gravedigger Malcolm Smith uncovered a Pictish stone dating to 700 A.D. in Shetland. “We are extremely grateful to Mr. Smith for having such an eagle eye and for not just putting the soil back over it. He took it to us in his Land Rover instead,” said Ian Tait, curator at the Shetland Museum and Archives.  

Marine archaeologists will soon map the sunken medieval city of Dunwich, off the coast of Suffolk, England, with acoustic imaging technology.    

Menkauhor’s “Headless Pyramid” is in the news again today. This article from National Geographic News has some more photographs of the tomb in Saqqara.   

The tale of German businessman Augusto Berns has also reappeared. New research suggests that Berns reached Machu Picchu 44 years before Hiram Bingham, and that he looted gold objects from the citadel to sell to European museums and universities.   

Here’s one more repeated news story-this one on the new guidelines from the Association of Art Museum Directors. 

This entry was posted by Jessica E. Saraceni on Friday, June 6, 2008. Discussion of this blog entry is now closed.

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