/r/Archaeology

Photograph via snooOG

For when you really want to know who found whose mummy and where!

This is the subReddit for people who like do dig, and are concerned about archaeological issues.

Articles that belong here:

  • Excavation reports/discoveries

  • Artifact studies regarding human material culture

  • Professional inquiries/What's it like to be an Archaeologist?

  • Ethics and Morality in Archaeology ("IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!!!")

What does not belong here:

  • Identification posts

  • MEMES (I have gotten too many reports of terrible meme creeping into this community, therefore, I beg you, if they show up - report them)

  • Sociobiology

  • Faunal or Botanical studies/excavations unrelated to human culture

  • Paleo-Diet articles

  • Mysticism/Aliens/Conspiracy Theories

Picture and video submissions require a comment of 25 words or more (about 2 sentences) about your submission. Submissions that do not leave a comment within an hour of being posted will be removed. Please see this announcement for more information.

Our partners in redditdom are:

r/Anthropology

r/AncientWorld

r/History

r/PaleoNews

r/AskAnthropology

If you have a question about an object, please message us first for approval. Professional inquiries only

/r/Archaeology

181,883 Subscribers

10

Join us Apr. 3 as we look at ancient nighttime activity ... even though history could get us banned in some U.S. states

https://preview.redd.it/r27fev6tsqqc1.png?width=1350&format=png&auto=webp&s=61798ce091e10d1dc32a37386b5e0dcc7b6c3122

Nighttime activity is nothing new. Some nightlife in ancient times was quiet and private. Some activity was community-based and quite lively.

On April 3, 2024, 24HourNation does something we have not done before. We are going to look at the past to see what we can learn about our present nighttime economy.

Join us for our free and live one-hour webinar "Nights of Yore." Details and registration: 24hournation(dot)com

2 Comments
2024/03/26
21:00 UTC

1

EAA Volunteering

Hey everyone,

I applied to be a volunteer at the next conference of the European Association of Archaeologists in Rome this year. The website says that both accepted and rejected volunteers will be informed by March 25th. Did anyone of you get an Email alread? I‘ve been waiting…

2 Comments
2024/03/25
21:23 UTC

35

We want to hear more about the Mayan 'midnight botanists' though...

https://preview.redd.it/eahb2h7r0iqc1.jpg?width=841&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=74eb2f7bddc98cfbdb4d6fceb8e77ca4a8c1caef

"Archaeology of the night reveals feasting royals, laboring craftspeople, midnight botanists, visionary astronomers, and menacing supra-human beings."

In other words, nightlife hasn't changed for centuries. 😏 Sounds like last Saturday night.

FULL ARTICLE: "Ancient Maya Nights," Anthropology News, November/December 2022, https://www.anthropology-news.org/articles/ancient-maya-nights/

Join Nancy Gonlin, the author of this Anthropology News article, two other respected archaeologists, and us for 24HourNation's next free and live one-hour webinar, "Nights of Yore." Wed., Apr. 3, 2024.

Details and registration at: https://24hournation.com/nights-of-yore/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

24HourNation is a non-commercial project that produces free webinars and a podcast. We also curate news and information for nighttime economy advocates around the world.

0 Comments
2024/03/25
15:33 UTC

340

Founded in the 4th century BC, the Mizdakhan Necropolis was once the second largest city of the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan. It’s now a “City of the Dead,” with thousands of tombs and mausoleums spanning two millennia, and according to local legend, the burial site of Adam.

9 Comments
2024/03/25
14:13 UTC

1

Question about Tanzanian/Swahili Archaeology

Hi I recently read some articles about coastal Archaeology in Tanzania. They Mentioned EIW(early Iron Working tradition) and TIW( probably Tanzanian Iron Working?). As far as I unverstand they range from 200 BC too 400 AD (EIW) and 400/600- unclear(TIW), is that right? And does anybody have the last date? Also does anybody have good articles for a bester overview? I still have some articles from tanzanian Archaeologists like F. Chemi and A. Kwekason so hopefully I can clear most questions myself. But any help is welcome.

Greetings from Germany

0 Comments
2024/03/24
20:13 UTC

538

The Khndzoresk cave city in southern Armenia, once the largest village in the region. First mentioned in the 13th century, though likely much older, they were inhabited up until the 1950’s.

14 Comments
2024/03/23
13:08 UTC

9

This week's archaeological news: Human interaction with dino fossils, long-distance Rapa Nui connections, and a heated Gunung Padang retraction

Hi folks! Here are this week's Top 5 ancient headlines:

  • Obsidian Blades with Food Traces Reveal 1st Settlers of Rapa Nui Had Regular Contact with South Americans 1,000 Years Ago — Analysis of obsidian blades from Rapa Nui (AKA Easter Island) revealed starch grains from not just Polynesian plants, but also plants from South America (2,300 miles away), indicating that the island's first settlers had contact with South Americans around 1,000 years ago. This discovery supports theories of pre-European trans-Pacific communication and the introduction of South American crops to Polynesia.
  • Archaeologists Find an Assemblage of Petroglyphs Alongside Dinosaur Tracks in Brazil — At the Serrote do Letreiro site in Brazil, researchers discovered petroglyphs alongside early Cretaceous-period dinosaur tracks. The petroglyphs, characterized by circular motifs with radial lines, were made using an abrasive instrument. They were placed with care, ensuring that there was no damage to the dinosaur tracks. Radiocarbon dating of nearby burials suggests these petroglyphs could date from 9,400 to 2,620 years ago. I wonder what they thought of these strange tracks in the stone.
  • Study Reveals 'Cozy Domesticity' of Prehistoric Stilt-House Dwellers in England's Ancient Marshland — A detailed report on a Bronze Age stilt village, Must Farm, destroyed by fire around 850 BCE, offered insights into the surprisingly comfortable lives of England's prehistoric fenlanders. The findings include well-preserved artifacts and structures, suggesting advanced domestic layouts, diverse diets (including honey-glazed venison), and evidence of textile making. The settlement provides a unique view into the circular architecture and domestic life of those who lived in the fenland of East Anglia centuries before the Romans arrived in Britain.
  • Israeli Archaeologists Reveal Huge Ancient Hiding Complex in the Galilee — A large and intricate hiding complex, possibly linked to the Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans in 132 CE, has been excavated in Huqoq, Galilee. This complex, initially discovered 50 years ago but not excavated until now, is significantly larger than expected, featuring tunnels connecting eight chambers. It includes findings like a ring and a knife from the period. This discovery adds to evidence of Jewish resistance outside Judea and suggests extensive planning against Roman reprisals. It is one of at least 83 hiding complexes found to date in the Galilee.
  • Study About Purported Ancient ‘Pyramid’ in Indonesia Is Retracted You might remember that I covered a study claiming that Indonesia’s Gunung Padang was the world's oldest pyramid, potentially dating back 27,000 years. I also covered a lot of the pushback that the researchers were getting for their claims. Well, the study has now officially been retracted. Critics argued the dating was based on soil samples that were not related to artifacts, meaning that the dates were not related to human activity. The authors are calling the retraction “unjust”. According to Danny Hilman Natawidjaja, “The rock-construction layers, identified as Units 1, 2, and 3, from which the soil samples were extracted, have been unequivocally established as man-made constructions or archaeological features, rather than natural geological formations. These layers are accompanied by numerous small portable artifacts, providing tangible evidence of their anthropogenic origin.” You can see the retraction here and Danny’s statement here. Grab some popcorn while you’re at it. 🍿

Hope you enjoyed this abridged version of Ancient Beat. Have a great weekend!

1 Comment
2024/03/23
12:43 UTC

2

Course combinations for a one year general science program applicable to archaeology

Hi all

I am completing my bacherlors in archaeology this spring. I have a range of interests in archaeology, but my main interest is methodology, as my thesis is very method oriented.

Which is why I have applied for a general science program before I do my masters degree. It lasts one year and I am free to choose whatever I want as long as it's STEM related

For my masters, I am thinking applying to a method based program in Germany where I can do archaeometry, but I haven't made up my mind yet

I am looking for possible combinations to "fit" into my current knowledge bank: Rstudio, GIS, Raman Spectroscopy, 3D-scanning, and Soil P analysis being most relevant in this case.

So my question is, any recommendations for potential course combinations? Something that is very in demand right now? I can only take upto 3 courses per semester so 6 courses total. So I should focus it towards a particular direction. I want courses where I can apply what I learn into my potential master thesis. For example, I know for sure I am going to take another stat class because that I can use for basically everything.

0 Comments
2024/03/23
05:01 UTC

5

Job Opportunities in Archaeology

Throwaway. I am a 26M engineer pretty much ready to marry a 25F girl, we have a great relationship in many ways. One thing that has created quite some friction has been our professional careers. I am an engineer with almost two years of experience, no debt and doing great. She is 1.5 years away from finishing her master's in Archaeology, specializing and Andean textiles. Quite some student loans to get this done.

My concern here is that as an immigrant my parents need quite some support from my end, specially as they're nearing retirement, as well as my financial goals. I am somewhat of a money oriented person. I also carry most of the weight when it comes to our couples' expenses like going out, as I'm the only one with a solid salary. Overall I live riddled with pressure and responsibilities while she's more laid back even though she has considerable student loans. Her parents support her in all this.

I am being pulled from all directions and it's a lot of pressure. She is putting a lot of love into this but I don't really know how the outlook is in terms of jobs for her, I've heard horror stories here on Reddit. She has told me she could be a professor and then do a PhD or work like in land surveying using GIS, though she doesn't know how to program. Any thoughts?

12 Comments
2024/03/22
13:31 UTC

2

A question about degrees

I am a current MTSU student and was thinking of changing my major to Archeology. I was wondering if anyone here had went through Mtsu’s Archeology program or if anybody had heard anything good or bad about it. Also any tips or knowledge from people in this career field would be appreciated. Thank ya’ll.

4 Comments
2024/03/22
12:55 UTC

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