DNA analysis of the bones and teeth of 27 individuals has been used to determine that those who had been buried together in chullpas, or funereal monuments in southern Peru, were related. The scientists from the University of Warsaw and the Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria say that their research also supports the idea that the ancient Peruvians lived in ayllu, family groups in which men retained land. Chullpaswere probably used for several generations.

An ancient, frescoed wall at Pompeii has reportedly collapsed in an area of the archaeological park that is closed to the public. “Without a continuous state program for the conservation and restoration of our archaeological sites, extraordinary and sporadic intervention with European or private funds risks being ineffective,” said Italian politician Giulia Rodano.

Bulgarian archaeologist Dimitar Nedev has uncovered fragments of a Greek vase in the city of Sozopol on the coast of the Black Sea. A preliminary analysis of the vase’s erotic decorations suggests that it was painted in Apollonia. The vase dates to the sixth or seventh century B.C.

A team of students is searching for the wreck of the Loch Sloy  and the graves of 11 of the 30 people who died after the ship ran into rocks in 1899 off Kangaroo Island, near the coast of South Australia. They think they have found the ship during their search of the area with a magnetometer, but the graves remain elusive. “The Loch Sloy is one of four historic shipwrecks on the west coast of Kangaroo Island and between those four ships 82 people lost their lives, making the stretch of coast one of the most treacherous in South Australia. Yet the Loch Sloywas particularly important because public opinion after the incident resulted in the construction of another lighthouse,” said Lynda Bignell of Flinders University.

Officials from English Heritage are standing by as 37 volunteers sift through the dirt piles left behind by moles at the Roman fort site of Epiacum in Northumberland, England. The molehills have yielded a bead from a jet necklace, pottery, nails, and a dolphin-shaped piece of bronze that may have been used in a plumbing system. “The Samian ware is the sort of thing the Romans used to keep up with the Joneses and we found a quarter-inch flat, round piece of it,” added Elaine Edgar, who lives on the property.

This entry was posted by Jessica E. Saraceni on Monday, April 23, 2012. Discussion of this blog entry is now closed.

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