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Archaeology Magazine News Archive
2008-2012


Visit www.archaeology.org/news for the latest archaeological headlines!

Monday, October 20
by Jessica E. Saraceni
October 20, 2008

In an article published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, Quetta Kaye of University College London, and Scott Fitzpartrick of North Carolina State University, say that the bowls and tubes they found on the Caribbean island of Carriacou were used to inhale hallucinogenic drugs between 400 and 100 B.C.

Construction of Fort Phillip began in New South Wales in 1804, but with only three of the six walls finished, all work stopped in 1806. Guns mounted on the walls facing the town of Sydney indicate that the colonial rulers “were more worried about an attack from inside the colony,” said archaeologist Caitlin Allen.  

Examination of the pump in the H.L. Hunley suggests that the hand-cranked Confederate submarine was not taking on water when it sank in 1864. “Whatever occurred, occurred quickly and unexpectedly. It appears they were either unconscious because of the concussion (from the attack on the Housatonic) or they were unconscious because of a lack of oxygen,” explained South Carolina state Senator Glenn McConnell.  

A fragment of an eleventh-century spindle inscribed with runes was unearthed near the Althingi parliament building in Reykjavik, Iceland. “This find could tell us a lot about the development of runes in Iceland because it can prove to be an important piece of the puzzle. One could even say that we’ve discovered the missing link,” said archaeologist Vala Gardarsdóttir.  

South Korean and American officials will search the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea for the remains of 15,000 troops believed to be buried there.  

A piece of sandstone carved with three figures holding musical instruments was found on the bank of a pond near Sura Masjid in Bangladesh. The artwork is thought to date to the Gupta era, between 300 and 500 A.D.  

Five historic shipwrecks have been spotted along the proposed route of an underwater natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, along with everything from refrigerators to old cars.  

An archaeologist working at St. Kilda in Scotland found a slab of stone inscribed with a cross that probably came from a chapel or cemetery. “I was literally just watching where I was putting my feet, and there it was, clear as daylight,” said Strat Halliday.  

A Japanese team of researchers claims to have found yeti footprints on Dhaulagiri IV in the Himalayas. “We remain convinced it is real. The footprints and the stories the locals tell make us sure that it is not imaginary,” said team leader Yoshiteru Takahashi.  

Jefferson High School in Marshall hosted the 2008 Texas Bigfoot Conference over the weekend. Students sold raffle tickets to raise money for the prom and other projects.

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