ALTHOUGH PRACTICED BY other civilizations, mummification is most popularly associated with the ancient Egyptians. Our modern fascination with the mummy is only too apparent in the crowds that flock to the Egyptian Museum to gawp at the wizened remains of long dead pharaohs, or the enduring popularity of certain B-rate horror movies of which they are the spine-tingling focus.
Apparently the human mummy is only just part of the story, for not only did the ancient Egyptians also mummify their animals, they did so in industrial quantities. Animal cemeteries at places such as Tuna al-Gebel, Saqqara, Bubastis and numerous other sites have yielded animal mummies that number in the millions and yet have received relatively little attention. Divine Creatures Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt, edited by American University in Cairo (AUC) Egyptology Professor Salima Ikram, does much to redress this imbalance though it remains, in the most positive sense, very much still a work in progress.
Mostly positive book review of Salima Ikram's latest on animal mummies. No doubt a thoroughly enjoyable read though we must admit, with the amount of time we spend singing Salima's praises here you'd think the least she could do is convince her publisher to send us a review copy. . . . .
Genetic fingerprinting connects Native Americans with an antecedent who lived more than eight centuries ago.
Human bones turned up by earthmovers grading for an Antelope Valley housing development have produced a DNA link between living Native Americans and an ancestor who died some 800 to 1,000 years ago.
It's been about 15 years since DNA matching was undertaken on remains found in ancient burial sites, but scientists say the Palmdale discovery is unusual to unprecedented.
Members of the San Fernando Band of Mission Indians, made up of three different groups, hope the find will bolster their claims to federal recognition as a sovereign nation. Seven different criteria must be met before that goal can be achieved.
Good long article describing the work done on the site and some of the forensic analyses performed thus far. This seems like a great thing to do as a matter of course on any remains, that Amerindian groups should, we think, get behind. Building up a database of genetic data on all discovered remains, along with those of existing tribal members would go a long way towards establishing patrimony.
How a woman's death ended 4,000 years of human history on St Kilda
There is still a quiver of emotion in the voice of Norman Gillies, 80, as he recalls the last time he saw his mother. As a five-year-old, he stood on the shore of the most remote island of the British Isles and waved goodbye to her as she was taken by boat to hospital in Glasgow with appendicitis.
His pregnant mother, Mary, had been ill for several days but storms lashing St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides delayed a rescue. By the time she reached hospital it was too late and she died, along with the baby she was carrying.
Not really an archaeological story, but interesting nonetheless.
News from Mehr Stronach to guide Iranian archaeologists’ search for Parthian city
British archaeologist David Stronach is to come to Iran in early September in order to give a report on the studies he has carried out in search of Hecatompylos in the area of modern-day Shahr-e Qumis near Damghan, Iran over the years, the director of the Damghan Cultural Heritage and Tourism Office said on Friday.
“Iran’s Archaeological Research Center has invited Stronach to travel to Iran to give the report and guide Iranian archaeologists in searching for the Parthian city,” Masumeh Davudian added.
“Due to old age, he will not be able to directly take part in the operation, but his guidance will be very effective for upcoming excavations,” she noted.