Egyptian boy Pharaoh King Tutankhamen whose death has intrigued
archaeologists, historians and medical experts alike, through three millenniums,
seems to have died of infection from a wound in his left knee.
Eduard Egarter Vigl, caretaker of Ötzi the Iceman, and Paul Gostner, head of
radiology at Bolzano General Hospital, members of the Egyptian-led research team
that conducted study on the Pharaoh’s CT scan images said Tutankhamen suffered
from a deadly infectious disease in his left knee.
Three dimensional examination of the images of the left knee and foot revealed
that Tutankhamen’s kneecap as well as his left foot was broken, and the
embalming liquid had entered spaces within the knee fracture, a clear sign that
the pharaoh was mummified when the wounds were still open.
Politics at ArchaeoBlog Leave archaeology to the archaeologists
HB139 is working its way through committee in the Utah Legislature.
The archaeological and cultural conservation communities in this state hold
grave concerns about the potential ramifications if this becomes law.
Among the alarming results of the bill would be to deteriorate the quality of
science performed on state lands by transferring authority to the Public Lands
Policy Coordinating Office (PLPCO) that is currently held by the antiquities
section of the Division of State History.
As I sat down to write this, I contemplated the audience I was speaking to,
and the one I hoped to reach. I had considered visiting how cultural
preservation and the state's archaeological resources benefit the state
financially through tourism and visitation. I could have listed myriad fiduciary
benefits of this resource, and the detrimental impacts of this legislation.
This is an opinion piece on some legislation in Utah that removes some authority
on land use restrictions.
Now that ArchaeoBlog has entered the political realm, I fully expect the hit
count to go through the roof and have hundreds of emails per day accusing me of
being a *&%$@%$ shill for the $(^$@^ [insert interest group here].
News article here.
And more controversy! Archaeologist stands by rock art book
A Kimberley archaeologist involved in the research for a
controversial book on the northern Western Australian region's rock art has
defended the publication.
Lee Scott Virtue guided author Ian Wilson to rock art sites while he was
researching his book Lost World of the Kimberley, which provides theories on the
Gwion Gwion paintings, also known as "Bradshaws".
The author has been criticised by the Kimberley Land Council and traditional
owner Donny Woolagoodja for not consulting native title holders.
Archaeologial studmuffin corner
Yes, you read that right. I anxiously await the coming apocalypse at having put
those two words together in a sentence. Well, strictly speaking, I suppose
Indiana Jones and perhaps even Alan Quatermain (sp) could be conceived of as
'studmuffins'. . . .but I digress. Leave it to say that when most people think
of archaeologists the first thing that leaps to mind is Harrison Ford. The
second thing that leaps to mind is. . . .well, probably someone with a beard and
jeans and something of a pot belly showing us this EXCITING ARTIFACT HE'S JUST
FOUND that most people would think of as kind of a neat little arrowhead.
But now there's Josh Bernstein:
WIDTH=250>Chatty Host Who Makes Archaeology Glamorous
An Ivy-League educated guy who grew up on the Upper East Side would not necessarily seem to fit the bill to be the next Indiana Jones. But Josh Bernstein, the chatty, photogenic host of "Digging for the Truth" on the History Channel could be the best thing for archaeology's image since Harrison Ford cocked his hat and starred in "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Mr. Bernstein's show is the channel's highest-rated series, bringing younger viewers to a network whose average armchair adventurer is 50-something. Beginning today, there will even be a comic-book promotion for the show featuring Mr. Bernstein as a superhero.
The 34-year-old Mr. Bernstein, who is also the president of a wilderness survival school, is back for the second season of "Digging," which is broadcast on Monday nights at 9. The show takes viewers to archaeological sites all over the world — searching for the Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia or the Holy Grail in southern France.
I was going to blog about this program because I watched the one last night
about the mound builders. Based on that one, I was a bit disappointed because I
thought it sacrificed information for cool camera shots of Josh trudging through
the woods, Josh scuba diving, and Josh paragliding. These aren't bad things
necessarily, since they allow us to live it vicariously through the host. But
still, there is a lot that these scenes could add other than lots of cool but
MTV-jerky camera shots.
It seems to be quite popular, and a studly host can't help but project a good
image on the profession. Plus it's obvious he's not an airhead, which is a plus.
You know, I really tried, but could not find any more suitably beefcake pictures
of young Josh to put up to get a bit more traffic from all those lust-crazed
female fans out there. Josh, if you're reading this, send a couple of those
pictures WE KNOW YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE that you just did for money back in college.
*nudge nudge wink wink* Say no more.