Bronze Age droppings reveal health of ancients

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have found rare 3000-year-old human fossilised droppings revealing the healthy diet of Scotland's ancient inhabitants.

Work on a Bronze Age farmhouse in Catpund, Shetland, has unearthed the coprolites, which give clues on the population, health and wealth distribution of the former islanders.

The research has provided data on prehistoric diseases and may shed more light on the environments and evolution of plants and animals.

The Herald

Cornish Heritage Website Launched

The County Council's Environment and Heritage Service has launched a new website detailing Cornwall's natural environment, historic environment, countryside and archives. It contains extensive information and has more than 1,400 pages which have been collated by relevant experts and officers. The address is:

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/Environment/envhome.htm

Cornish Heritage Website Launched

The County Council's Environment and Heritage Service has launched a new website detailing Cornwall's natural environment, historic environment, countryside and archives. It contains extensive information and has more than 1,400 pages which have been collated by relevant experts and officers. The address is:

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/Environment/envhome.htm

New Website for Cornish Heritage

The County Council's Environment and Heritage Service has launched a new website detailing Cornwall's natural environment, historic environment, countryside and archives. It contains extensive information and has more than 1,400 pages which have been collated by relevant experts and officers. The address is:

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/Environment/envhome.htm

Archeologist Believes He Has Found St. Paul's Tomb

Vatican archeologist believes he has rediscovered the tomb of St. Paul, buried deep beneath the main altar of the Rome basilica dedicated to the apostle.

The sarcophagus, which lay hidden for centuries, had a hole into which the faithful could stick pieces of cloth to make secondary relics, said Giorgio Filippi, the archeologist and inscriptions expert at the Vatican Museums who carried out the studies.

The tomb lies directly beneath a historic inscription that reads: "Paul Apostle Martyr." The marble sarcophagus was apparently first placed there during reconstruction of the basilica in 390 AD.

Catholic Herald

Roman hoard unearthed

A metal detector has discovered a hoard of Roman treasure in West Norfolk.
Stephen Brown was on farmland when he stumbled across 25 second century bronze coins and a gold ring dating from the fourth century.

The piece of jewellery, which measures 3mm across, was slightly "squashed" when Mr Brown discovered it last March.

It is currently being analysed by experts at the British Museum in London.
The coins, which were found in November last year, have pictures on them of Hadrian, the Roman Emperor who ruled from 117 AD to 138 AD.

The hoard was declared treasure trove at an inquest in Lynn's St Margaret's House on Thursday.

Kings Lynn Today

ST PATRICK’S/CHRISTIAN HERITAGE TOURISM SIGNATURE PROJECT LAUNCHED

Plans for the St Patrick’s/Christian Heritage tourism signature project, which aims to develop the tourism package in the Armagh/Down area into an internationally recognised visitor attraction, were launched today in Armagh.

Launching the plan to an audience of local tourism providers in Armagh’s Market Place Theatre, Northern Ireland Tourist Board Chairman, Tom McGrath, said: "The qualities of the Armagh/Down tourism product, with modern visitor facilities and interactive interpretation are very impressive, but even more inspiring is the unique story of St Patrick and the legacy across the whole region."

"This action plan will ensure that public and private sector tourism providers will work together to develop a competitive product that will attract and keep many more visitors to this region."


The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Any skeletons in your closet? Well, 42 actually

SKELETONS in the closet were a real-life problem for Ashford Price when he opened a cupboard in his late aunt's bedroom to be confronted with dozens of human remains.
The grand Georgian townhouse in the stately sweep of Swansea's leafy St James's Crescent had hidden a secret for decades until its owner, Brenda Morgan, 84, passed away.

Police were immediately called after the discovery, but suspicions were dampened when it was noticed all the bones had been carefully cleaned and numbered.

The remains were in fact 42 human skeletons dating back over 3,000 years to the Bronze Age. They had been discovered at Dan yr Ogof caves by the Morgan family 80 years ago.

I C Wales

Neanderthals sang like sopranos

Neanderthals had strong, yet high-pitched, voices that the stocky hominins used for both singing and speaking, says a UK researcher.

The theory suggests that Neanderthals, who once lived in Europe from around 200,000 to 35,000 BC, were intelligent and socially complex.

It also indicates that although Neanderthals were likely to have represented a unique species, they had more in common with modern humans than previously thought.


News in Science

Neanderthals Sang at High Pitch?

Neanderthals possessed strong, yet high-pitched, voices that the stocky hominins used for both singing and speaking, according to recent British news reports.

The theory suggests that Neanderthals, who once lived in Europe from around 200,000 to 35,000 B.C., were intelligent and socially complex. It also indicates that although Neanderthals likely represented a unique species, they had more in common with modern humans than previously thought.

Discovery Channel

Neanderthals Sang at High Pitch?

Neanderthals possessed strong, yet high-pitched, voices that the stocky hominins used for both singing and speaking, according to recent British news reports.

The theory suggests that Neanderthals, who once lived in Europe from around 200,000 to 35,000 B.C., were intelligent and socially complex. It also indicates that although Neanderthals likely represented a unique species, they had more in common with modern humans than previously thought.

Discovery Channel

Neanderthals Sang at High Pitch?

Neanderthals possessed strong, yet high-pitched, voices that the stocky hominins used for both singing and speaking, according to recent British news reports.

The theory suggests that Neanderthals, who once lived in Europe from around 200,000 to 35,000 B.C., were intelligent and socially complex. It also indicates that although Neanderthals likely represented a unique species, they had more in common with modern humans than previously thought.

Discovery Channel

Tara and the two-leaf shamrock

THE royal estate of Tara is Ireland’s premier national monument, encapsulating over 5,000 years of extraordinary history and mythology.

WB Yeats wrote: “Tara is, because of its associations, probably the most consecrated spot in Ireland.” Both of the Irish national symbols, the harp and the shamrock, originate at Tara.

These emblems have been promoted for decades throughout the world by the Irish Tourist Board to identify something unique about Ireland, and with great effect: Tara and its symbols have become readily recognisable motifs for Ireland and what it is most prized for internationally, its culture, rich history and beautiful landscape.

Yet there are plans to build a four-lane tolled motorway, the M3, at the foot of the Hill of Tara, with a major floodlit flyover-interchange only 1,200 metres from the summit.

Motorways are generic, and can be seen everywhere; the entire landscape of Tara is one of a kind, unique in the world.

Irish Examiner

See also the SAVE TARA / SKRYNE VALLEY CAMPAIGN

Gallic skeleton more than 2100 years old found in Geneva cathedral

A skeleton of a Gaul more than 2,100 years old was discovered under Geneva's cathedral and is believed to be that of military or religious dignitary from the Allobroges tribe, the Swiss press reported.

The body of a man aged about 45, buried around 120 BC, was found some 10 meters (35 feet) underneath the church's choir, the weekly Le Matin said.

Only the legs, pelvis, arms and half of the lower spinal cord have been exposed, as the rest of the body was covered by rocks that were difficult to move.

"I would not be surprised if it is the remains of a great military leader," said Charles Bonnet, the archeologist who made the discovery, who is known for having found the statues of the black pharaohs in Sudan in 2003.

Yahoo News

Castle plans face village buy-out

The fate of a historic north Derbyshire castle is uncertain after people living nearby said they want to buy the site from a property developer.
Protesters believe it is the only way to stop housing being built on the site of Riber Castle near Matlock.

They say plans to build apartments and houses in the grounds will lead to more traffic and pollution.

The developer has already been granted planning permission but the scheme still must go before a public inquiry.

BBC News

TOURISM BAROMETER: Historical pros and cons

EVIDENCE that the Government is keen to make Bulgaria’s cultural and historical heritage a focus of tourism was unveiled on March 3.

Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg performed a ground-breaking ceremony for a project near Kazanluk related to the so-called Thracian “Valley of the Kings”. The ceremony took place at the tomb, found last autumn of Seuthes III, who ruled in the 4th century BCE.

Saxe-Coburg called the Thracian tombs “more than unique and incredible”, comparing them to the ancient finds in Greece.

“We should develop this sector very carefully and try really hard because competition in cultural tourism is rather stiff,” Saxe-Coburg said.

Sofia Echo

Archaeologists tackle chess puzzle

A grubby green cousin of the world's most famous chessmen is puzzling archaeologists.

The little knight on horseback, recently found by an amateur using a metal detector on farmland in north Nottinghamshire, is startlingly similar to chesspieces found hundreds of miles away in 1831, on a beach on the isle of Lewis.

The find is being announced today at a British Museum conference to mark the government's agreement to keep funding a scheme to encourage the reporting of all finds.

The Guardian

Ancient skeleton found under Geneva cathedral

A skeleton of a Gaul more than 2 100 years old was discovered under Geneva's cathedral and is believed to be that of a military or religious dignitary from the Allobroges tribe, the Swiss press reported on Sunday.

The body of a man aged about 45, buried at around 120 BC, was found 10m underneath the church, the weekly Le Matin said.

Only the legs, pelvis, arms and half of the lower spinal cord have been exposed, as the rest of the body was covered by rocks that were difficult to move.

"I would not be surprised if it is the remains of a great military leader," said Charles Bonnet, the archeologist who made the discovery, who is known for having found the statues of the black pharaohs in Sudan in 2003.

IOL Discovery

Earthworks site cleared for archaeologists

A mystery which has remained unsolved on Dartmoor (England) could soon be resolved, thanks to volunteers who have cleared scrub from earthworks on Roborough Down. Volunteers from the Dartmoor Preservation Association and Roborough Commoners Associations have worked with school groups to clear the area of scrub and gorse for approximately two days a month. The clearance had to be complete by Sunday, February 27, to enable archaeological work to take place.

The scrub has hidden the site for centuries and DPA development officer Dru Butterfield said clearing it was 'a massive task'. "We had to work quickly to clear the scrub before the bird nesting season started," she said. Dru said they had managed to complete the work on time, with around 25 volunteers turning up on Sunday to finish it. "We uncovered a smaller site which is part of the earthworks, and we're excited to find out what it's all about," she said. "No-one knows for sure exactly what 'The Earthworks' are. They are one of the remaining mysteries of Dartmoor's past. Hopefully, clearing the site will enable archaeologists from the Dartmoor National Park Authority and English Heritage to solve the puzzle at last."

Archaeologists will be examining the site and it is hoped the survey of the area will be carried out over the next four to six weeks.

Stone Pages

Talk will unveil Iron Age secrets

People in Swindon (England) will have the chance to re-live the Iron Age thanks to archaeologist Dr J D Hill, from the British Museum. In a series of talks at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, he will take people back more than two thousand years and give an insight into how archaeology is producing a different image of this 800-year period of history. Dr Hill will also talk about some of Wiltshire's Iron Age sites such as Barbury Castle. The talk, 'New views on Iron Age Britain', will be held at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, Bath Road, Old Town on Friday, March 18. The talks will begin at 7.30pm and tickets are priced at £4.50 and £3 for members. Call 01793 466556.

Stone Pages