Mike Waters of Texas A&M University claims that some of the stone tools and flakes he has unearthed in central Texas, along Buttermilk Creek, are up to 15,500 years old. “They would leave the site and come back, and each time leave behind evidence of their activities. They slowly but surely built up these deposits. Dating them shows they range from 15,500 years ago, then just keep going until the Clovis material,” he explained. Other scientists are concerned that creek flooding and rain could have mixed the sediment layers at the site. 

This report in The Telegraph Kolkata states that 1.5 million-year-old tools have been found on India’s southeastern coast, at the site of Attirampakkam. The tools resemble those discovered in western Asia and Africa, and are thought to have been made by Homo erectus. 

Trench diggers in southern Peru discovered what turned out to be 37 pre-Inca tombs containing ceramics, depictions of boats, wooden harpoons, and copper fishing hooks. 

Intense x-ray beams from sources known as synchrotrons can be used by archaeologists to learn more about artifacts. 

What causes a human brain to be preserved? 

An old well filled with nineteenth-century garbage has been uncovered during tunnel construction in Auckland, New Zealand. A 124-year-old hotel was moved from the site for the project. 

Here are new photographs from Allianoi, a 1,800-year-old Roman spa complex in Turkey that is being engulfed by waters from the Yortanli Dam. “Allianoi is as significant at the Roman baths at Baden Baden in Germany, Bath in England, and some big baths in Italy, but it was the only one that was very well preserved. We couldn’t make the government understand this significance,” said Ahmet Yaras, who was head archaeologist at Allianoi. 

In Scotland, green-glazed pottery has been unearthed near the site of the Battle of Bannockburn. Archaeologists think Robert the Bruce may have set up his army camp here in 1314.

This entry was posted by Jessica E. Saraceni on Friday, March 25, 2011. Discussion of this blog entry is now closed.

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