A few of Pakistan’s flood victims have taken refuge on the high ground at the ancient city of Amri. “There are no shady places on the road and here it’s safe, it’s high up,” explained a man named Achar.

A study of mitochondrial DNA suggests that a maternal ancestor to all living humans lived some 200,000 years ago. “There is always some other female that predated mitochondrial Eve, whose DNA didn’t make it up to modernity,” said Marek Kimmel of Rice University.  

A 2,000-year-old shipwreck has been discovered off the coast of Sri Lanka, near Godavaya Port, a stop on the ancient silk route.  

James Delgado leads the team creating a 3D map of the RMS Titanic. This profile of the maritime archaeologist also mentions some of the other ships he’s explored. “Being underwater, there are times when it’s magic. Sometimes, the water is crystal clear and warm … but ships are often wrecked in waters that are not conducive to divers,” he said.  

When Washington’s state department of transportation began a construction project in Port Angeles, the workers uncovered the ancient Klallam village of Tse-whit-zen and its accompanying burial ground. The construction has stopped, but Lower Elwha Klallam tribal members and archaeologist Bill White are still sifting through soil that was disturbed for artifacts.  

Seven archaeological sites at Luke Air Force Base will be excavated before 50,000 solar panels are installed, and leaders of 16 Arizona tribes have been invited to tour them. “The tribes do need to be a part of the process. They take that very seriously,” said John R. Lewis of the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona.  

Ground-penetrating radar was used to locate the remains of the unique slave village at Best Farm, located in Monocacy National Battlefield in Maryland, and now archaeologists and students are excavating the buildings. “That’s why we’re excited about this, in spite of the adversity, they made lives for themselves,” said Joy Beasley of the National Park Service.

This entry was posted by Jessica E. Saraceni on Friday, August 20, 2010. Discussion of this blog entry is now closed.

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