The Tongan fishing village of Nukuleka is said to be the oldest settlement in Polynesia. Lapita pottery at the site has been dated to 2,900 years ago.

There is evidence from the site of Pattanam, on the southwest coast of India, of maritime trade with cultures near the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the South China Sea dating back to 500 B.C.

Blogger K. Kris Hirst has some comments on Gregory Jaynes’ article, “The Mummy’s Curse: An Archaeological Dispute,” in the January issue of Harper’s. She also suggests that mummy’s curses on archaeologists may actually be having journalists drop by their sites.

Recent reports of lead and mercury in makeup prompted this short history of cosmetics.

This entry was posted by Jessica E. Saraceni on Thursday, January 10, 2008. Discussion of this blog entry is now closed.

Comments posted here do not represent the views or policies of the Archaeological Institute of America.