For those who are not professional Americanist archaeologists, Dunnell is probably unknown to you and my linking to this book should probably have no discernible impact on that state. After all, there are no pictures of artifacts, no plan drawings of temples, tombs or hieroglyphs, just several figures and tables relating to the text. This is pure
archaeological method and theory, the kind of text that archaeologists (and poor suffering grad students) slog through on a regular basis. If you're thinking about getting into archaeology, this is what you're in for.
Many of us here at ArchaeoBlog studied under Dunnell (now retired from the University of Washington) and this was our first "textbook" upon entering the program. The book is basically a primer for Dunnell's later work attempting to utilize Darwinian evolutionary theory for archaeological explanation. Dunnell recognized that the tedious practice of "systematics" or unit classification is key to developing scientific theory. That is, one cannot simply borrow any old theory from another discipline and plug it in to your existing data sets because the units of analysis won't necessarily work. Theory building works by a collaborative process of creating theory, coming up with hypotheses to test the theory (requiring appropriate units with which to measure the objects of inquiry), refining the theory, etc. This book began the long process (still ongoing) of constructing appropriate archaeological measurement units.
It's tough reading. At first glance, Dunnell's writing seems horribly obtuse and difficult to follow. But it is, in fact, very concise and straightforward, so be patient and give it time.
Interview with Ashraf Okasha of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Egypt.
Also, Restoration plans for the Ramesseum temple (Egypt).
The Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA) is working out a plan to restore the Ramesseum temple on the west bank in Luxor.
The temple, however, has been subject since 1959 to a registration process.
The SCA Secretary General Dr. Zahi Hawass said that a team from the Louvre Museum has been co-operating with SCA experts in registering all elements of the temple, even the inscriptions on the walls.
Registration includes photography, architectural surveying and sketching.
It's a tough life Archaeology study underway at Coco Palms Resort grounds
Cultural-survey experts from O‘ahu and Kaua‘i have been scouring the Coco Palms Resort property in Wailua over the last month, looking for ancient-Hawaiian burial sites, trails and anecdotal information to include in a cultural impact statement (CIS). But so far, the archeologists have come up empty in the search for artifacts.
"We haven't found any burials," said David Shideler, supervising archeologist with O‘ahu-based Cultural Surveys Hawaii, Inc. "It's really kind of disappointing."
"But we did find numerous errrmmmm. . .bodies (mostly female) in a variety of recumbent positions with various decorative clothing options. These are in desperate need of further study, preferably over a margarita or two."
Archaeologist Confirms Ancient Indo-Roman Site in Kerala
Southampton, April 21: A historical mystery surrounding Indo-Roman trade routes may have been solved, says a report by Southampton University archaeology research fellow Roberta Tomber.
Armed with an Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB) grant to investigate Indo-Roman trade, and with the guidance of David Peacock who heads Archaeology at the University of Southampton, Tomber worked with local archaeologists in Kerala where she identified the first fragments of Roman wine amphorae found on the south-west coast of India.
The striking archaeological evidence suggests that the legendary seaport of Muziris, which was a bustling Indo-Roman trading center during the early historic period between the first century BC and the fifth century AD, could have been located at Pattanam, near Paravur on the south of the Periyar river delta.
Stockbroker Belt's 'A Bronze Age Settlement'
A unassuming hilltop paddock in the heart of the Home Counties’ “stockbroker belt” was once an ancient fortified settlement, archaeologists believe.
A dig on the site of a new £30 million water main near Taplow in Buckinghamshire has uncovered a string of artefacts dating from the Bronze and Iron ages as well as Roman and mediaeval times as well as evidence of ancient oneupmanship.
The archaeologists, called in by Thames Water, found pieces of pottery, flint, and burnt bone thought to date back to the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age. The finds indicate that the site would have been a fortified hilltop settlement on a key route from the Thames Valley to the centre of the country between 700BC and 400BC a period of significant transition.
Underwater archaeology. . . .in Idaho Experts study ancient boat found on lake bottom
SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) -- Archeologists and divers are studying what may be an ancient dugout canoe found submerged under 40 feet of water in Lake Pend Oreille.
Matthew Russell, an underwater archaeologist with the National Park Service headquartered in Santa Fe, N.M., said it may take several weeks to determine the canoe's age and origin.
"This could be the only known find of its kind in Idaho," said Mary Anne Davis, assistant archaeologist with the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office in Boise. "It's pretty exciting -- we really don't know what we have."
Heh. "It looks like Barney Rubble's car with no wheels," Obviously prehistoric then.
