A sword and its scabbard were found within a tomb from the Spring and Autumn Period (770 to 476 B.C.) in eastern China’s Jiangxi Province. “It is reckoned as the oldest ever excavated in the country,” said archaeologist Xu Changqing.

Iraqi archaeologists are excavating three sites in southern Iraq, and have sent some 700 artifacts to the Iraq Museum in Baghdad.

A late-eighteenth-century “time capsule” was discovered in a bell tower at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City. The lead box contained items intended to protect the building from lightning strikes and storm damage.

The Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site is now managed by the Texas Historical Commission. State officials hope the new management will increase visitation to the site.

Catch up on the recent excavations at Karnak Temple in Luxor. Last month, archaeologists uncovered clues to how the temple’s landscape and facade changed over time.

National Geographic News tackles Egypt’s intent to copyright the pyramids and other iconic antiquities. The article also discusses parts of the Egyptian legislation that have not been widely covered: stiffer penalties for looting and smuggling; new rules for foreign archaeologists; and provisions for creating restricted zones at tourist sites.

This entry was posted by Jessica E. Saraceni on Wednesday, January 16, 2008. Discussion of this blog entry is now closed.

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