NORTH AMERICA, U.S.A, WORLD

Ice Age Footprints Uncovered in Utah

Ice Age Footprints Uncovered in Utah

Human footprints believed to date from the end of the last ice age have been discovered on the salt flats of the Air Force’s Utah Testing and Training Range (UTTR) by Cornell researcher Thomas Urban in forthcoming research.

Ice Age Footprints Uncovered in Utah
Footprints discovered on an archaeological site are marked with a pin flag on the Utah Test and Training Range.

Urban and Daron Duke, of Far Western Anthropological Research Group, were driving to an archaeological hearth site at UTTR when Urban spotted what appeared to be “ghost tracks” – tracks that appear suddenly for a short time when moisture conditions are right, and then disappear again.

Stopping to look, Urban immediately identified what to him was a familiar sight: unshod human footprints, similar to those he has investigated at White Sands National Park, including the earliest known human footprints in the Americas.

“It was a truly serendipitous find,” said Urban, a research scientist in the College of Arts and Sciences and with the Cornell Tree Ring Laboratory.

The researchers returned to the site the next day and began documenting the prints, with Urban conducting a ground-penetrating radar survey of one of the two visible trackways.

Since he previously refined the application of geophysical methods, including radar, for imaging footprints at White Sands, Urban was able to quickly identify what was hidden.

“As was the case at White Sands, the visible ghost tracks were just part of the story,” Urban said. “We detected many more invisible prints by radar.”

Duke excavated a subset of the prints, confirming that they were barefoot and that there were additional unseen prints. Altogether, 88 footprints were documented, including both adults and children, offering insight into family life in the time of the Pleistocene.

“Based on excavations of several prints, we’ve found evidence of adults with children from about five to 12 years of age leaving bare footprints,” Duke said in an Air Force press release. “People appear to have been walking in shallow water, the sand rapidly infilling their print behind them – much as you might experience on a beach – but under the sand was a layer of mud that kept the print intact after infilling.”

Since there haven’t been any wetland conditions in at least 10,000 years that could have produced such footprint trails in this remote area of the Great Salt Lake Desert, Duke said, the prints are likely more than 12,000 years old.

Additional research is being done to confirm the discovery.

“We found so much more than we bargained for,” Anya Kitterman, the Air Force Cultural Resource Manager for the area, said in a statement.

Urban was working at the request of Duke, who had previously found two open-air hearths in the UTTR dated to the end of the Ice Age. At one of these hearth sites, Duke found the earliest evidence of human tobacco use. Those hearths were about a half-mile from the newly discovered footprints.

The site has broader significance, according to Urban. “We have long wondered whether other sites like White Sands were out there and whether ground-penetrating radar would be effective for imaging footprints at locations other than White Sands since it was a very novel application of the technology,” he said. “The answer to both questions is ‘yes.’”

While the Utah site is not as old and may not be as extensive as White Sands, Urban said there might be much more to be found.

AFRICA, EGYPT, WORLD

Researchers Have Just Reconstructed a 2,300-Year-Old Egyptian Mummy’s Face

Researchers Have Just Reconstructed a 2,300-Year-Old Egyptian Mummy’s Face

Australian researchers have reconstructed the face of an ancient Egyptian mummy, using a 3D printer to create a replica skull and forensic sculpting techniques to bring it to life.

While the sculpture is awesome in its own right and allows us to get a glimpse into an ancient culture, the team says the reconstruction will also teach students about diagnosing pathologies in former populations.

“The idea of the project is to take this relic and, in a sense, bring her back to life by using all the new technology,” said team member Varsha Pilbrow, from the University of Melbourne.

“This way she can become much more than a fascinating object to be put on display. Through her, students will be able to learn how to diagnose pathology marked on our anatomy, and learn how whole population groups can be affected by the environments in which they live.”

The funny thing is that the mummy – which is just a wrapped head with no body – was found by accident inside the university’s collections area where a curator was performing an audit.

The team suspects the head might have been brought to the university by Frederic Wood Jones, an archaeologist turned anatomy professor, who taught there in the early 1900s.

“Her face is kept upright because it is more respectful that way,” said museum curator Ryan Jefferies. “She was once a living person, just like all the human specimens we have preserved here, and we can’t forget that.”

The decision to reconstruct the face was prompted when Jefferies grew concerned that the skull was starting to rot from the inside. This is a unique problem, because the team can’t unwrap the mummy to check if everything is okay, and risk further damaging the specimen.

Instead, they used a CT scan to see what was going on inside. “The CT scan opened up a whole lot of questions and avenues of enquiry and we realised it was a great forensic and teaching opportunity in collaborative research,” Jefferies said.

To help reconstruct the face based on what they now knew of the skull, the researchers called in a team of forensic experts from Monash University.

Based on the CT scans of the skull, the Monash team estimated that the head once belonged to a woman – who the team has named Meritamun – who likely lived around 300 BC.

There’s still a lot to learn about the exact timeframe through radiocarbon dating, though, which will hopefully get underway soon.

With the CT scans, imaging specialist Gavan Mitchell was able to use a 3D printer to create an exact replica of the skull:

With that, the team turned the skull over to Jennifer Mann, a forensic sculptor, who painstakingly reconstructed the mummy’s face using clay and all of the data gathered by the forensic team.

“It is incredible that her skull is in such good condition after all this time, and the model that Gavan produced was beautiful in its details,” Mann said. “It is really poignant work and extremely important for finally identifying these people who would otherwise have remained unknown.”

The end result was a completely reconstructed face that offers a unique way to see an ancient Egyptian:

The team’s work has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, so the technique awaits proper scrutiny, though publication will likely be forthcoming after more analysis is done on the head using radiocarbon dating techniques.

Check out the video below to see the reconstruction in action:

WORLD

The Jericho Skull – Face of 9,500-Year-Old Man Revealed for the First Time

The Jericho Skull – Face of 9,500-Year-Old Man Revealed for the First Time

Archaeologists at the British Museum have accurately reconstructed the face of a man who lived 9,500 years ago in the ancient city of Jericho, allowing us to actually see what he looked like for the first time.

The reconstruction was done using plaster after a CT scan revealed new details about his skull. Known as the Jericho Skull, it was found in the region that used to be Jericho – now the West Bank region of Palestine – in 1953.

While the man’s true identity is unknown, the team thinks the man was someone of great importance in his day, based on the amount of care people took to fill his skull with plaster when he was buried.

Though that seems odd, plastered skulls are an early form of ritual burial. The practice involved removing the skull from the deceased person’s corpse, filling it with plaster, and then decorating it by adding a layer of paint and inserting shells into the eye sockets.

These remains were then likely displayed while the rest of the body was buried under the family’s home, a tradition that was very common way back in 8200-7500 BCE.

The Jericho Skull was found buried alongside several other plastered skulls but is the best known of the remains because of how well preserved it is.

It’s thought to be one of the best examples of these early burial practices, though not much more about the man is truly known. It is, after all, 9,500 years old.

Here’s what it looked like before the reconstruction:

“He was certainly a mature individual when he died, but we cannot say exactly why his skull, or for that matter the other skulls that were buried alongside him, were chosen to be plastered,” curator Alexandra Fletcher, from the British Museum, told Jen Viegas at Seeker.

“It may have been something these individuals achieved in life that led to them being remembered after death.”

To better understand the practice, researchers sent the skull to be scanned at the Imaging and Analysis Centre at the Natural History Museum, where a complete micro-CT scan revealed a ton of new details and allowed researchers to create a 3D model as well.

According to Viegas, the team found that the skull was missing a jaw under the plaster, he had decaying teeth (from what they saw on the upper section of his mouth), he suffered a broken nose at some point in his life, and he also shows signs of head binding – a practice where the head is artificially shaped in infancy to elongate it.

“Head binding is something that many different peoples have undertaken in various forms around the world until very recently,” Fletcher told Seeker.

“In this case, the bindings have made the top and back of the head broader – different from other practices that aim for an elongated shape. I think this was regarded as a ‘good look’ in Jericho at this time.”

The team then was able to create a very accurate reconstruction of the man’s face from all of these newly gathered details, providing a new way to see what the man might have actually looked like. Here’s what they reconstructed:

Trustees of the British Museum

While the new details have definitely provided insights into what the man looked like, there’s still a lot of work to be done if the team ever hopes to fully understand the culture that he came from.

One of the best bets is to hopefully gather information from a DNA sample, though the process used to potentially gather that DNA could damage the skull and isn’t guaranteed to yield any results.

“If we were able to extract DNA from the human remains beneath the plaster, there is currently a very slight chance that we would be able to find out this individual’s hair and eye colour,” Fletcher explained.

“I say a slight chance because the DNA preservation in such ancient human remains can be too poor to obtain any information.”

The hope is that a new option will present itself in the future, allowing the team to understand more about the man. Until then, though, we at least have a new way of seeing him.

Reconstructed faces are becoming more popular as scanning technologies continue to become better. Earlier this year, researchers from the University of Melbourne in Australia reconstructed the face of a 2,300-year-old Egyptian mummy.

You can check out the newly created reconstruction yourself at the British Museum, where it will be on display from mid-December to mid-February. 

EUROPE, SCOTLAND, WORLD

Abandoned Metalworking Site Found in Scotland

Abandoned Metalworking Site Found in Scotland

A metal-working site uncovered in Moray may have helped arm Caledonian tribes against the Romans, before being burned down by the invaders. Archaeologists have described the site at Lochinver Quarry, near Elgin, as fascinating and unusual.

Abandoned Metalworking Site Found in Scotland
Archaeologists have found evidence of extensive metal production near Elgin

Evidence has been found of metal production over a period of up to 2,000 years from the Bronze Age through the Iron Age.

Archaeologists believe they could end up excavating as many as 40 iron smelting sites.

Prior to these discoveries around 25 such sites have been found in the whole of Scotland. Lochinver appears to have been abandoned suddenly and homes and other structures burned down.

Archaeologists suggest one possible explanation could be that it may have been the actions of Roman soldiers following their victory over Caledonians at the Battle of Mons Grapius around AD 83.

The site may have been used over a period of 1,500 to 2,000 years

Dr Clive Waddington, of Archaeology Research Services Ltd, said the evidence being found at Lochinver made it different from Moray’s other Bronze Age and Iron Age sites.

He said the later metal-working could possibly have been in response to the Roman invasion of Scotland, with iron needed for weapons.

Dr Waddington added: “Something happens on this site that removes any further activity.

“We have got these burnt timbers and abandoned pits for making charcoal.

“We have got pits with roasted ore – a valuable commodity – ready for smelting but just abandoned.”

Two cauldrons have also been found buried, possibly by the Lochinver’s residents in an effort to hide the highly valued items.

Dr Waddington said it was possible Lochinver was abandoned in the aftermath of Mons Grapius which saw Roman troops and cavalry defeat 30,000 Caledonians.

Suggested locations of the battle include Dunning in Perthshire, Carpow in Fife, Bennachie in Aberdeenshire and Culloden in the Highlands.

Dr Waddington said: “The battle was a big victory for the Romans and could explain why some sites were burned down, with Romans torching sites as they came through after the battle.”

Archaeologists have described Lochinver Quarry as fascinating and unusual

Archaeological Research Services Ltd and Aberdeenshire Council are investigating the site supported by funding from building materials company Tarmac.

The work has been further supported by various universities including radiocarbon dating at the University of Glasgow, specialist artefact conservation at the University of Durham and expert knowledge from the National Museum of Scotland.

MEXICO, NORTH AMERICA, WORLD

Secret Tunnel Under Teotihuacan Pyramid May Lead To Royal Tombs

Secret Tunnel Under Teotihuacan Pyramid May Lead To Royal Tombs

Mexican archaeologists have announced that a years-long exploration of an underground tunnel beneath the ancient city of Teotihuacan in Mexico has yielded thousands of artefacts and may lead to royal tombs.

According to a news release on Reuters, the entrance to the 1,800-year-old tunnel was first discovered in 2003, and an extensive project involving both human researchers and remote-control robots has been ongoing ever since.

The tunnel is located approximately 18 meters below the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, the third largest pyramid at Teotihuacan, which flourished between 100 BC and 750 AD.

The ancient city of Teotihuacan, which is located about 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Mexico City, is one of the largest and most important sacred cities of ancient Mesoamerica, whose name means “the city of the gods” in the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs.

Secret Tunnel Under Teotihuacan Pyramid May Lead To Royal Tombs

It once supported an estimated population of 100,000 – 200,000 people, who raised giant monuments such as the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon.

However, much about Teotihuacan remains unknown, including the origin and language of the people who lived there, as they did not leave behind any written records.

The entrance to the tunnel was found beneath the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.

Project leader Sergio Gomez said researchers recently reached the end of the 340-foot (103-meter) tunnel, within which they found an estimated 50,000 objects, including finely carved stone sculptures, jewellery, shells, and animal bones, seeds, obsidian blades and arrowheads.

The tunnel was full of remnants of pyrite or magnetite, a metal not found in the area, which was brought to Teotihuacan and milled. It was used to paint the roof, giving it a sparkling effect.

They also found more than 300 metal spheres, of unknown purpose.

Inside the tunnel under the ancient city of Teotihuacan.

“The Tunnel is the metaphorical representation of the conception of the underworld,” said Gomez. In the middle of the tunnel, three chambers were found that could hold more important finds. A large offering found near the entrance to the chambers, suggests they could be the tombs of the city’s elite.

“Due to the magnitude of the offerings that we’ve found, it [royal tombs] can’t be in any other place,” said Gomez, who speculates that they may find some of the most powerful rulers of the pre-Hispanic world. 

Archaeologists have never found any remains believed to belong to the rulers of Teotihuacan.

Such a discovery would be monumental, as it would lead light on the hierarchical structure of the city and whether the rule was hereditary.

The chambers have not yet been excavated; the full exploration will take at least another year.

ASIA, EUROPE, RUSSIA, WORLD

The Mysterious 1,300-Year-Old Siberian Lake Fortress

The Mysterious 1,300-Year-Old Siberian Lake Fortress

It is one of the most mysterious archaeological sites in Russia – an ancient complex engulfing a small island in the centre of a remote lake in the mountains of southern Siberia. At first glance, it appears to be an ancient fortress, its perimeter of high walls constructed to keep out enemies.

However, others have proposed the 1,300-year-old structure may have been a summer palace, monastery, memorial complex, ritual centre, or astronomical observatory.

According to the Siberian Times, more than a century after its rediscovery, experts are no closer to understanding the secrets of these enigmatic ruins.

The Mysterious 1,300-Year-Old Siberian Lake Fortress

The archaeological site is known as Por Bajin (also spelt Por-Bazhyn), meaning ‘clay house’. It is located on an island in the middle of Tere-Khol Lake in Tuva, Siberia, just 20 miles (32 km) from the Mongolian border. 

First explored in 1891, the site was not excavated until 1957-1963. However, it was not until 2007-2008 that the first large-scale research was undertaken, carried out by the Por Bajin Cultural Foundation.

What they discovered presented a conundrum – the structure is located in a very remote place on the outskirts of what was the Uighur nomad empire, built with Chinese features, but with no sign of permanent habitation, and abandoned after only a short period of use.

Why was it built? How was it used? And why was it abandoned? These are the questions that have continued to both fascinate and frustrate experts ever since its discovery.

Inside the complex of Por Bajin.

The Construction of Por Bajin

Believed to have been constructed in 757 AD, the ancient complex has outer walls that still rise to 40 feet (12 meters) in height and inner walls of 3-5 feet (1 – 1.5 meters), some still covered with lime plaster painted with horizontal red stripes. The main gate was discovered, opening into two successive courtyards connected by another gate.

The walls enclose an area of about seven acres containing the remains of more than 30 buildings, but with a two-part central structure linked by a covered walkway, which once had a tiled roof and was supported by 36 wooden columns resting on stone bases.

Laser mapping of the site prior to the first major excavation in 2007 helped experts build a 3D model of what the complex might have looked like.

Por-Bajin reconstruction seen from the east.

Only a small number of artefacts were ever recovered from the site – if it had been permanently inhabited one would expect to find a much greater number of items.  There was also no evidence of any kind of heating system, which would have made it impossible to stay there, at 2,300 meters above sea level, in winter conditions.

The main finds include clay tablets of human feet, faded coloured drawings, fragments of burnt wood, roof tiles, an iron dagger, a stone chalice, one silver earring, and iron construction nails. None of the artefacts provides a definitive answer as to why the structure was built, and how it was used.

One of the tiles was found at Por Bajin.

Since the end of the 19th century, Por-Bajin has been linked to the Uighur Khaganate nomadic empire (744 – 840 AD), composed of nomadic Turkic-speaking people held together by forces of warriors on horseback. The empire spanned Mongolia and southern Siberia, however, the location of Por Bajin was still well away from settlements and trade routes.

Why would they build in such a remote location? Could it have been the site of a palace or a memorial for a ruler? The unique layout, more ornate than that of other Uighur fortresses of the period, has led some scholars to suggest that it might have had a ritual role.

Still, there are some other puzzling features. The architecture reflects a distinctive Chinese style, as evidenced by the use of Chinese building materials, such as certain types of roof tiles, and the use of Chinese construction methods.

The layout, with its axial planning, dominant central building, and residential quarters is consistent with styles seen in other Buddhist monasteries. But Por-Bajin shows no evidence of religious practice.

Small yards (left) running along Por-Bajin’s walls each had a building in the centre. A digital reconstruction (right) based on excavations shows that each building could have functioned as a dwelling, perhaps for monks if the site were a monastery.

Why was it abandoned?

Not only has Por Bajin presented a mystery regarding its purpose, but archaeological evidence suggests it was abandoned after only a short period of use.

No evidence has been found to suggest the complex came under attack from an opposing force. Political changes in the region may offer one possible explanation, although nothing concrete has been presented to support this theory. 

According to Dmitriy Subetto, from the Department of Physical Geography RGPU, the structure may have been abandoned prior to completion due to the builders’ lack of familiarity with the permafrost.

For now, Por Bajin remains one of Russia’s enduring mysteries.

PERU, SOUTH AMERICA, WORLD

5,500-Year-Old Circular Pyramid Discovered In Peru

5,500-Year-Old Circular Pyramid Discovered In Peru

Archaeologists in Peru have discovered an ancient ceremonial centre and a circular-shaped pyramid in Miravalles, in the region of Cajamarca in northern Peru.

According to a news report in The Epoch Times, the site dates back an incredible 5,500 years. Until now, it was believed that the Norte Chico civilization of Supe, Peru was the earliest civilization in the Americas.

Their capital was the Sacred City of Caral – a 5,000-year-old metropolis complete with complex agricultural practices, rich culture, and monumental architecture, including six large pyramidal structures, stone and earthen platform mounds, temples, amphitheatre,  sunken circular plazas, and residential areas.

5,500-Year-Old Circular Pyramid Discovered In Peru

However, the latest discovery suggests that the Norte Chico civilization may not be the oldest after all.

The discovery was announced by researcher Victor Colan at a Peruvian press conference on 21st October. Colan revealed that the research team found a ceremonial centre and a circular step-pyramid (known in Peru as Huacas), with three platforms 30 meters in diameter.

The ancient city of Caral

The pyramid resembles two other circular Huacas found in Jaen, also in the Cajamarca region. 

The structure had large semi-circular walls built with a mixture of mud mortar and stones up to 200 kg in weight.

Foundations of a circular Huacas found in Jaen, Cajamarca

“The archaeological site of Miravalles in the province of San Miguel in Cajamarca with 5,500 years, is 500 years more ancient than the sacred city of Caral,” said Colan.

“Not only Caral is the original centre of the civilization of Peru but so is Cajamarca, in northern Peru.”

The researcher concluded that “Peru is the oldest civilization in the world along with Mesopotamia and Egypt,” and asked the Ministry of Culture to continue financing the excavations.

AFRICA, EGYPT, WORLD

Computer Scans Reveal King Tut’s Appearance And New Possible Cause Of Death

Computer Scans Reveal King Tut’s Appearance And New Possible Cause Of Death

The name “King Tut” gives birth to images of powerful royal families of Egypt, of course, it does. Tutankhamun was the last great king of his lineage before the military rule took over the land, and one of the youngest rulers at that. However, the way we visualize this young king is quite different from the way he really looked.

It has also been found that his cause of death is incorrect as well.

So, who was “King Tut”? How did this young king meet his demise? The truth may surprise you!

Computer Scans Reveal King Tut’s Appearance And New Possible Cause Of Death

The truth

Tutankhamun took the throne at the age of 9 years old. This child-man ruled Egypt until the age of 19, receiving respect above all in the land.

The popular consensus about his death, says that King Tut was killed in a chariot accident while riding out with his officials. This sounds like a normal incident for that day and age, but unfortunately, it is not true.

The truth is, Tutankhamun had a club foot. Within his tomb, there were countless walking sticks and even a pair of orthopaedic sandals, it is true!

Albert Zink, head of the Institute of Mummies and Icemen in Italy, had a strong opinion on this theory. He believed there was no way a child king could have stood upon that chariot and driven his horses.

It is also said that the leg on the same side had been broken previously as well. It would have been terribly uncomfortable, if not impossible, for Tutankhamun to be upon that chariot at all. It is quite apparent that death took him in some other way.

Zink told this opinion to the U.K. daily, the Independent, and was followed by other researchers who felt the same way.

“Apparently, King Tut had Koehler’s disease, ‘Death of the bones’, and Malaria”, said Ashraf Selim, an Egyptian radiologist. 

These are probably the culprits that took the young king from the throne.

More tests

The club foot was found by virtual autopsy. This same procedure of using over 2000 computerized tomography scans of the king’s face and body, also discovered that Tutankhamun wasn’t all that attractive either.

According to the evidence, King Tut had a pronounced overbite and lips like a woman. Wow! It seems that we were way off in our idea of Egyptian royalty. It seems that they were no less flawed than we are today.

One more fact

To top it off, Tutankhamun’s parents were siblings. Although this may not have been frowned upon at that time, it did contribute to the young king’s birth defects and obvious shortcomings.

Because his parents were siblings, “King Tut” was born with two doses of the royal lineage of flaws. Yes, the blood was pure, but the result was a young and weakening child to rule the land.

The rule of Tutankhamun ended in the 18th dynasty and gave way to military rule. Although there have been many facts discovered about this ruler, it is clear that his royal lineage was the greatest among Egypt’s royal families throughout history, despite its shortcomings.

All In One Magazine