10 HAN DYNASTY TOMBS UNCOVERED DURING CONSTRUCTION WORK

Construction work at the site of a future apartment complex in South Beijing revealed at least 10 ancient tombs, thought to be from the Han Dynasty. Song Dachuan, head of the Beijing Cultural Relic Institute, told Chinese media on Monday that the tombs had been dated to the Han Dynasty based on the results of the initial excavation.

Archaeologists working on the site commented that the group of tombs could possibly belong to one family, based on the comparable sizes and styles of both the tombs and burial goods. The site is now being guarded by security while construction resumes in other parts of the area.



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LOCATION OF PHARAOH USERKARE'S LONG-LOST TOMB POSSIBLY DISCOVERED

A professor of archaeoastronomy has tentatively discovered the location of 6^th Dynasty pharaoh Userkare’s long-lost tomb near Saqqara. Giulio Magli, of Milan’s Polytechnic University, will publish his research in the next issue of Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry. By connecting lines between the tombs of the rulers of Egypt’s 6^th Dynasty, Professor Magli has identified a location in South Saqqara where Userkare’s tomb may be located. "We are talking of meridian and diagonal alignments, with pyramids raised at their intersections. The only missing piece in this sort of grid is the pyramid of Userkare," he said. "Diagonal axes -- generally oriented northeast by southwest -- governed Giza, Abusir and the Saqqara central field. But we have a different pattern with some 6th dynasty kings: their funerary monuments in South Saqqara appear to have been  planned according to meridian, north-south axes.”

Pharaoh Userkare is known only from Egypt’s king lists. He was the second ruler of the 6^th Dynasty, between Teti and Pepi I. "When Pepi I took control a few years later, Userkare disappeared from history. Finding his tomb might help understand those obscure years. The walls in his burial might also contain intact copies of the Pyramid Texts," said Magli.

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NEWLY DISCOVERED MYCENAEAN TOMBS COULD BE EVIDENCE OF CLASSLESS SOCIETY

Five chamber tombs were recently opened near Mycenae which date to 1350-1200 BC – the time of the Mycenaean Golden Age. Archaeologists have not yet found any elite burials, despite a wealth of human remains. One of the directors of the excavation project, Professor Angus Smith, discussed the findings recently, noting that the existence of the tombs is “no doubt related to the growth of Mycenae.” The absence of elite burials, though, has been proposed as tentative evidence of an ancient egalitarian society.

The Mycenaeans were known for their rich elite burials. The grave goods discovered at Ayia Sotira, the site of the recently uncovered tombs, were “modest finds.” There is a “distinctly different character to those around Mycenae. The wealthy and very wealthy tombs are missing,” Smith said. Various theories regarding this absence include grave robbing, undiscovered elite burials, and the aforementioned egalitarian society. “It does seem to be a community of agriculturalists who don’t seem to have a clear leader or clear elite mixed in amongst them,” Smith added. “Were they governed by the palace at Mycenae which sort of oversaw them? Or were they removed enough that they had their own system of politics and government but one that didn’t produce clear elites?”

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LEAD SARCOPHAGUS FOUND NEAR ROME COULD CONTAIN "SOMEBODY OF SUBSTANCE"

A lead sarcophagus discovered in Gabii, outside Rome, could contain a gladiator or Christian dignitary, archaeologists say.

The 1,700 year old sarcophagus was discovered last year in a pit sealed with cement and is preparing to undergo lab testing. The find is unusual for a number of reasons. Romans generally cremated their dead. Among the uncommon Roman burials in sarcophagi, only a few hundred have been discovered in lead coffins. Of these lead coffins, most are rectangular in shape. The one found in Gabii has been described as having a burrito shape.

Archaeologists have not made much progress so far with the find. The coffin was not discovered with any grave goods, and x-ray and CT scans are not able to penetrate the lead. It is being transported to the American Academy in Rome for further testing, where scientists hope to get a glimpse inside without having to open the coffin completely.

Researchers hope the sarcophagus will lead to new insights into the Gabii civilization. Jeffrey Becker, a Roman archaeologist, notes that the lead "is a sure marker of somebody of some kind of substance," since lead was highly valuable during the time of the burial. Previous such sarcophogi have held elite clerical members, soldiers, and gladiators.

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NEW ANCIENT SCOTTISH WRITTEN LANGUAGE IDENTIFIED

Scotland’s Pict society, which existed between 300 and 843, created elaborate rock engravings, known now as Pictish Stones. The engravings, once thought to be a form of art, have recently been identified as a written language.

"We know that the Picts had a spoken language to complement the writing of the symbols, as Bede writes that there are four languages in Britain in this time: British, Pictish, Scottish and English," said Rob Lee, who worked on the report in the Proceedings of the Royal Society. "We know that the three other languages were -- and are -- complex spoken languages, so there is every indication that Pictish was also a complex spoken language.”

Lee and his colleagues Phillip Jonathan and Pauline Ziman, of the University of Exeter, studied the engravings using a mathematical process in order to analyze order and direction in each stone. The data was compared with various other written languages, including Egyptian hierolgyphs, Chinese, and Old Norse; the results showed that the Pictish Stones contained characteristics of writing based on a spoken language.

"It is unclear at the moment whether the [other surrounding] imagery, such as the knots, form any part of the communication," Lee said. He also added that what they have discovered so far "does not amount to deciphering” the ancient Pictish writing. "We will have to wait for the discovery of what would be the Pictish equivalent of the Rosetta Stone, which made possible the cracking of the Egyptian hieroglyphic code," he said. "This may or may not ever happen."

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RUINS OF EASTERN HAN CITY FOUND IN CHINA

Archaeologists in China have discovered the ruins of a 2,000 year old city dating to the Eastern Han Dynasty. The site is about 18,000 square meters and is located in the Jiangxi province. Part of the city wall is still intact, and a moat was discovered surrounding the entire city.

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TWO LARGE STATUES UNEARTHED IN LUXOR

Two large statues, one of Thoth and another of Amenhotep III standing next to Re-Horakhty, have been discovered in Luxor near Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple. The discovery comes as archaeologists work to reduce underground water around temples in the area in order to help preserve them. Amenhotep III ruled during Egypt’s 18^th dynasty; the statues are approximately 3,400 years old.

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MASS GRAVE IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND CONFIRMED TO CONTAIN EXECUTED VIKINGS

Fifty bodies discovered in a burial pit last year in Dorset, England, have been identified as executed Vikings. The find dates to between 910 and 1030 AD. Researchers were able to identify the victims as Scandinavian based on isotopes taken from teeth, with one man possibly originating north of the Arctic Circle.

"Any mass grave is a relatively rare find, but to find one on this scale, from this period of history, is extremely unusual and presents an incredible opportunity to learn more about what is happening in Dorset at this time,” said project manager David Score, who is with Oxford Archaeology.

Further tests are planned to hopefully develop an understanding of the diets, lifestyles, and demographic makeup of the Norse warriors.

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GATE DISCOVERED AT TERRACOTTA ARMY TOMB IN CHINA

Archaeologists have discovered a northern gate at the tomb of China's first emperor, famous for his massive terracotta army. The gate, which is the fourth discovered, leads to the tomb's outer city and confirms historical accounts that attest to the tomb possessing four gates.

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TOMBS OF PRIESTESS DYNASTY EXCAVATED IN CRETE

A report was recently released in Archaeology Magazine detailing the discovery last summer of tombs in Crete containing a high priestess of Zeus and three acolytes. Previous findings included cremated remains of other priestesses buried together in pithoi jars. According to the report, all of the women appear related and formed a sort of dynasty in the area for 200 years.

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MAYAN FOUNTAIN DISCOVERED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN PALENQUE

Archaeologists working at the Mayan urban center of Palenque have discovered a pressurized water system constructed 1,400 years ago. Palenque, located in southern Mexico, flourished in the 7^th century AD. An anthropologist and civil engineer working on the site noted that "The ancient Maya are renowned as great builders, but are rarely regarded as great engineers. Their constructions, though often big and impressive, are generally considered unsophisticated.” However, they point out, "many Maya centers exhibit sophisticated facilities that captured, routed, stored, or otherwise manipulated water for various purposes." An archaeologist from the University of Illinois also notes Palenque’s unique water systems.

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"VAST" HARAPPAN SETTLEMENT EXCAVATED IN INDIA

A “vast” Harappan settlement has been excavated in India’s Kutch district. It is believed to be about 4,500 years old, and is surrounded by a large mudbrick fortification.


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BRONZE BOX CONTAINING 250 HELLENISTIC COINS DISCOVERED IN SYRIA

A local Syrian man discovered a bronze box on his land, which contained approximately 250 Hellenistic coins. The collection is a mixture of silver drachma and tetra-drachma coins, with inscriptions varying from "King Phillip" to "Alexander" to "King Alexander." The coins have been turned over to the Aleppo Department of Archaeology and Museum.

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