An international team of archaeologists has uncovered 14,000-year-old stone tools on the Greek island of Limnos. This is now the oldest-known settlement in the Aegean.

Stains from post holes could mark the oldest structures in Maryland. “We have three or four wigwams, built on top of each other, as early as 1290, and maybe older,” said county archaeologist Al Luckenbach. A tiny, intact pot was also found.  

A new analysis of 6,000-year-old cart models or toys, and the development of wheeled transportation, has been published in Russian. The first carts were pulled by bulls, but as the climate in Turkmenistan, southeastern Iran, and southern Afghanistan became more arid, early drivers were likely to have switched to single camel power. “It is very difficult to use a pair of camels. They are too malicious,” said author Lyubov Kircho.  

The National Park Service has awarded 33 grants for the preservation and protection of significant, endangered battlefields from King Philip’s War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Second Seminole War, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, World War II, and various Indian Wars.  

The search for the tombs of Cleopatra and Marc Anthony at Taposiris Magna has been suspended until Egypt’s searing summer is over. “The appearance of snakes and scorpions to the surface in the summer season, with 40 plus centigrade temperatures, makes it impossible and risky to continue the excavation,” said archaeologist Kathleen Martinez, who is part of the Dominican-Egyptian excavation team.  

Utah’s  Salt Lake Tribune has more information on the alleged involvement of accused artifact traffickers in a Ponzi scheme.  

The Wall Street Journal offers photographs of the Acropolis Museum in Athens and some information about its construction.  

Meanwhile, researchers at the British Museum say they have found traces of blue pigment on the Parthenon Marbles.

This entry was posted by Jessica E. Saraceni on Friday, June 26, 2009. Discussion of this blog entry is now closed.

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