The four-story Casa Grande Ruins, the hand-built centerpiece of a prehistoric Hohokam Indian village, have baked under Arizona's desert sun and withstood its rains for perhaps seven centuries.
But now, even as the ruin made of concretelike clay becomes an island surrounded by urban development, those walls face an unlikely threat from the air and ground: birds and squirrels.
Cooing pigeons roost in round holes that once held ceiling and floor beams hauled at least 30 miles from the nearest mountaintops.
This happens in Egypt a lot in our experience. Birds love love love mud brick walls for nesting so whenever you uncover a wall, within a year it's full of holes.
Antiquities Market update UK hands over 30 Iranian ancient artifacts
Customs officials of London's Heathrow Airport handed over 30 ancient artifacts to the Iranian Embassy in London on Wednesday. The artifacts were being smuggled into Britain but were confiscated by customs agents.
Over 100 artifacts from the 5000-year-old Jiroft site in Iran's Kerman Province were discovered in two packages at Heathrow Airport last summer.
CSI: Ötztal Alps
Theory: Oetzi Murdered in Power Play
Ötzi the Iceman, the world's oldest and best-preserved mummy, might have been murdered in a struggle for power, according to a new theory that identifies the 5,300-year-old mummy as the powerful leader of a Neolithic community.
Discovered in 1991 in a melting glacier in the Ötztal Alps — hence the name — by the German hiker Helmut Simon, Ötzi is thought to have died at about 45.
He was hit by an arrowhead while being assaulted by his enemies, some of whose blood was found on the mummy's cloak and weapons.
We are, shall we say, unconvinced. Nice story though.
More from Mehr? 7000-year-old artifacts discovered in Bushehr region
A joint Iranian and British archaeological team recently discovered 7000-year-old artifacts and ruins dating back to the Chalcolithic era (7000? to 3500? B.C.) in northern Bushehr.
The Iranian director of the team, Hossein Tofiqian, said on Tuesday that the team began the first stage of their activities last month and made significant finds.
“The team began their work with the aim of discovering the social and economic status of the historical site during the Chalcolithic era in the fifth and sixth millennia B.C., while the previous excavations at the site mostly focused on the Elamite, Achaemenid, and Islamic eras,” he added.
Obviously the new mecca for archaeology.
Just doesn't have the same caché Ancient henge discovered near city
WILTSHIRE may have Stonehenge but now Cheshire has a wooden henge after archaeologists made the discovery near Chester.
Researchers working at Poulton, on the Duke of Westminster's land, were amazed to find the Bronze Age burials they had been investigating were preceded by a much earlier 'ritual' presence.
A circle of holes indicated the existence of the wooden henge together with a large hole in the centre which was potentially a form of 'totem pole'.
Well, that's a relief Mystery of ancient broch unlocked after 2000 years
A TEAM of archaeologists has helped unlock 2000-year-old secrets of an ancient tower described as one of the wonders of European archaeology.
Mousa Broch, located on the island of Mousa in Shetland, is one of the finest examples of an Iron Age tower or broch.
The impressive structure was used as a fortification when the islands were racked by warfare but was also mentioned in the sagas as an eloping lovers' hideout.
We jest, but it's a good article.
New Desert Coffins Unearthed in Xinjiang
Archeologists found the first wooden coffins with mud cover at Lop Nur Desert in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to the regional archeology institute.
Excavation of Xiaohe tomb complex began in October in 2003, leading to the discovery of 108 tombs so far. The most recent excavation yielded 33 tombs, including 25 for adults and eight for children.
Those buried in coffins with mud cover may be of relatively high social status. But the conclusion can only be made after the coffins are opened, according to scientists with the institute.
Archeologists have unearthed two coffins covered with mud at the deepest burial layers. The coffins were surrounded with wooden stakes. The head of cow was hung from the top of each stake.
Before the discovery, all wooden coffins were made from the wood of a poplar tree, endemic to the desert areas in northwest China. Usually the coffins had no bottoms and were covered with cowhides.
Xiaohe tomb complex was first discovered in 1934.
That's the whole thing.
Now this is cool Builders find chariot race track
A Roman-style chariot race at the Puy du Fou themepark
Chariot racing was very popular in the Roman world
The remains of the only known Roman chariot racing track in Britain have been found under an army barracks being redeveloped in Colchester.
New homes are going up on a 209-acre site where builders preparing the groundworks excavated what they believe is a race track nearly 2,000 years old.
Developers Taylor Woodrow said they are delighted at the find and will include it as a feature in their development.
Archaeologists say it was built around the 2nd century.
Update on Norte Chico New insight into ancient Americans
New research has shown that the oldest civilization in the Americas was far more complex than previously imagined.
Ancient Americans settled in the Norte Chico region of Andean Peru more than 5,000 years ago, abandoning hunter-gathering and quickly developing a society that featured monumental architecture, agriculture, housing and a barter-based economy, recent archaelogical excavations have revealed.
More later.
Update: Another article here.