To an historical journey of discovery. Across Australia, the ruins of dozens of towns lie buried in the dust, with very little evidence that large communities once thrived there.
After the gold ran out or the timber was felled, these towns with their hotels, factories, libraries, schools and even tramway systems, simply vanished.
But today a team of archaeologists is kicking up the dust on the empty streets of one of these ghost towns in Queensland, trying to piece together what life was like in the long-forgotten settlement called Mill Point.
It's a transcript of a radio program.
$$$$$ for artifacts Cash Boost For National UK Archaeology Scheme
The future of the UK’s most popular community archaeology project has been secured with new funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) was set up in 1997 to help identify and record archaeological items found by members of the public. Every year many thousands of objects are discovered by metal detector users and by people out walking, gardening or going about their daily work. The Portable Antiquities Scheme’s network of Finds Liaison Officers work with finders to research and record their objects for public benefit. Since the Scheme was set up more than 100,000 objects have been recorded on its online database, ranging from Prehistoric flints to Post-Medieval buckles.
Field between Tecate, Ensenada yields tools
For the first time in Baja California, archaeologists have found significant evidence of hunters who settled the region between 7,000 and 10,000 years ago.
Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History, known as INAH, announced the recent recovery of more than 150 stone knives, spearheads, cutting utensils and other carved items from an open field between Tecate and Ensenada.
The items are being linked to the San Dieguito people acknowledged as the earliest settlers of the region.
Kennewick Man update Tribes appeal Kennewick Man ruling, seek role in future finds
Indian tribes that failed to block the scientific examination of the 9,400-year-old remains known as Kennewick Man are appealing a court ruling in hopes of gaining a role in future discoveries.
The appeal of a ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was brought Monday by the Nez Perce Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and Yakama Indian Nation, which claim Kennewick Man as an aboriginal ancestor.
"It's a fundamental right to protect the grave of your ancestor," said Audie Huber, intergovernmental affairs manager for the Umatilla Reservation's Department of Natural Resources.
This doesn't really say much and we are at a loss as to what this appeal hopes to accomplish.
CHTO experts rescue Izeh’s stone lions
Experts of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (CHTO) were able to save the stone lions and tombstones in a graveyard in Khuzestan which were in danger of being submerged by the rising waters of the reservoir of the Karun-3 Dam.
The stone lions and tombstones of the Zir Pass in the Izeh region of Khuzestan Province, symbols of the bravery of Bakhtiari heroes 200 years ago, were finally transferred to a safe place.
Coffin update Discovering the secrets of city's ancient stone coffin
A STONE coffin containing a mummified body was lifted from a grave yesterday, more than 1,600 years after it was buried.
Archaeologists said the body had been so well preserved that it might be possible to make out its facial features.
The late-Roman coffin was uncovered by contractors carrying out development work on a car park in Mill Mount, York, for Shepherd Homes.
Jerk. (if true, of course) State: Builder ravaged trust land
It's gone and, in this case, not forgotten: priceless scientific information and ancient artifacts smeared across the desert by great earthmovers.
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard alleges that Scottsdale developer George H. Johnson illegally bulldozed 270 acres of state trust land in and near Ironwood Forest National Monument, north of Marana.
The area was thick with native desert vegetation and home to many Hohokam archaeological sites, including the Los Robles Archaeological District, which is in the National Register of Historic Places.
Whoops Marine's mementos turn out to be 5,000 years old
In 2003, a marine at a U.S. military base in southern Iraq bought eight carved stones from a trinket vendor for several hundred dollars. When he returned to New York, he took the stones to an archaeology professor at Columbia University, who concluded they were ancient artifacts, some dating back 5,000 years.
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The FBI, which has recovered the stones, will return them on Wednesday to the Iraqi authorities at a ceremony at the University of Pennsylvania's archaeology museum, which plans to display the pieces - before they are returned to Iraq - as an example of the continuing threat to the country's cultural heritage.
Well, at least he returned them.
Put one in your garden!
NZ unveils Stonehenge replica
The NZ Stonehenge aims to help people rediscover astronomy
Nestled into the verdant hills of the New Zealand region of the Wairarapa is the world's newest "Stonehenge" but this henge is no mere pastiche.
Instead, Stonehenge Aotearoa, which opened this weekend, is a full-scale adaptation of its Salisbury Plain ancestor, built to work for the Antipodes.
The aim of the Kiwi Stonehenge is to help people rediscover the basics of astronomy.
And finally, this story brought to our attention by Ann Althouse on Peter V. Bianchi. Sayeth Ann: "What I find so strange about the picture is that it looks like an absolutely normal human being with the top of his head shorn off. He looks awfully pouty and sad. Who wouldn't be? So our caveman's please-help-me expression was really Leakey pleading for support?"
We're wondering if the inspiration isn't a bit more prosaic:
You decide.