The name of a previously unknown 17^th Dynasty pharaoh has been discovered at Egypt’s Karnak Temple Complex.

Scientists have examined the more than 9,000 coins and other artifacts that were confiscated by police earlier this week, when they broke up a suspected antiquities smuggling network and made more than 40 arrests. Most of the artifacts are thought to have originated in northern Greece, but some were found to be fakes. The police also confiscated metal detectors, weapons, money, and books about ancient coins.

The Livistona mariae, or the Palm Valley Palm, is found in central Australia and has been thought to be a separate species. But a new genetic study of the tree has shown it to be nearly identical to a palm found in the far north of Australia. Biologists speculate that migrating people may have carried the seeds and established the plants in central Australia between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago.

Graduate student Shankari Patel of the University of California-Riverside examined artifacts associated with women from Cozumel, Mexico, that are housed in the British Museum. She thinks that Maya women have been overlooked in archaeological research, despite the powerful roles they held in society. “The popular belief would be that women stay at home, they didn’t really participate in the rituals that were very important in Maya society,” she explained.

BBC News offers photographs of artificial limbs, showing the development of limb technology over a period over 3,000 years.

This entry was posted by Jessica E. Saraceni on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. Discussion of this blog entry is now closed.

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