Greek archaeologists have unearthed the fortifications of a 2,350-year-old city marked by extensive signs of siege on the southern island of Crete, officials said on Wednesday.
The archaeologists discovered the remains of a fortified tower, a city gate and a 3.5-kilometer (2.2-mile) wall surrounding the ancient city of Aptera, near the northwestern town of Chania and dating from the mid-fourth century BC, the culture ministry said in a statement.
The remains of weapons and sling bullets have also been discovered in the vicinity, in addition to funeral monuments, vessels, coins and oil lamps.
Short article.
Also from Crete Update 1: Roman-Era Benefactors' Tomb Unearthed
A well-preserved underground tomb belonging to a prominent Roman-era family has been unearthed on the island of Crete, archaeologists said Wednesday.
The large first or second century A.D. structure beside one of the main gates to the walled city of Aptera was looted during Christian times, archaeologist Vanna Niniou-Kindeli said.
It still yielded a wealth of finds, including 10-inch pottery statuettes of the ancient Greek love deity Eros, glass and pottery vases and lamps.
Warning, Will Robinson, Greek shipwreck!
Robot spots ancient Greek shipwreck
Vessel laden with wine and oil went down 2,300 years ago
The remains of an ancient Greek cargo ship that sank more than 2,300 years ago have been uncovered with a deep-sea robot, archaeologists announced Thursday.
The ship was carrying hundreds of ceramic jars of wine and olive oil and went down off Chios and the Oinoussai islands in the eastern Aegean Sea sometime around 350 B.C.
Archaeologists speculate that a fire or rough weather may have sunk the ship. The wreckage was found submerged beneath 200 feet (60 meters) of water.
I've commented on this before, but deep sea shipwrecks -- even though this one isn't all that deep -- is the next frontier in archaeology, especially in anoxic conditions.
Bone discovery points to Indian graves
State officials are examining bones found on the site of a new home being built in Onslow County, which they believe may be from an American Indian burial ground.
Workers first found a skull and then enough bones for two people, along with pieces of pottery and part of a pendant made from animal bones. The find was about 10 feet behind the home on Chadwick Bay.
Lawrence Abbott, a state archaeologist, estimates they were buried between the years 600 and 14-hundred.
Abbott says the landowner would be contacted if the bones came from an American Indian site, which would be protected by state law. The remains would be studied by specialists and preserved.
Lord of the Ring: The Return of the Ring Professor returns ring from Lost Colony dig to East Carolina U.
The retired head of East Carolina University's coastal archaeology office has returned to the school a 16th-century ring he found while exploring ties between native people and the doomed English colonists who first tried to settle the Outer Banks.
Experts believe the ring discovered in 1998 by former archaeologist David S. Phelps during his last dig before retiring may offer evidence of early contact between the Indians and the first English colony in the Americas.
Phelps had kept the ring at his Florida home since 2000 along with other artifacts found near Croatan, the only permanent Indian community on the Outer Banks. The site is in Buxton on Hatteras Island.
Artifacts found near library site
Artifacts found during water line work across from the new library site probably should have been reported for evaluation of their significance, said James McConaha, a state historic preservation officer.
He said the city has a memorandum of agreement with the state that requires reporting of any resources found, so their significance can be determined.
If the state finds the artifacts to be of historical significance, it has the authority to temporarily halt the library project.
Good stewardship
Anyone who visits the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park should know about it.
So should any archaeologist who digs on national park land, as well as those who toil in the field of historic preservation.
"It," in this case, is three different anniversaries being marked this year and noted next week during the annual Saving Places conference in Denver sponsored by Colorado Preservation Inc.
The conference, which begins Wednesday, is expected to attract more than 600 people who work in preservation, whether making policy or keeping bricks and mortar together.
Good article.