Arcadia Discussion Zone

JERUSALEM — Israel displayed for the first time Wednesday a collection of rare coins charred and burned from the Roman destruction of the Jewish Temple nearly 2,000 years ago.
About 70 coins were found in an excavation at the foot of a key Jerusalem holy site. They give a rare glimpse into the period of the Jewish revolt that eventually led to the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple in A.D. 70, said Hava Katz, curator of the exhibition.

A bunch of meadowsweet blossoms were discovered in a Bronze Age grave at Forteviot, south of Perth.
The find is reported in the journal "British Archaeology", out this week.
Pollen found in earlier digs had been thought to have come from honey, or the alcoholic drink mead but the latest find may rule that theory out.
Dr Kenneth Brophy, from the University of Glasgow, said the flowers "don't look very much. Just about three or four millimetres across."
"But these are the first proof that people in the Bronze Age were actually placing flowers in with burials."
The dark brown heads were found, along with a clump of organic material which archaeologists now say is the stems of the flowers.
The bunch had been placed by the head of the high-status individual known to have been buried in the grave.
Diggers also found pieces from a birch bark coffin in the grave, and a bronze dagger with a gold hilt band.
"In burials we're used to finding metalwork", said Dr Brophy.
"But to find these very human touches is something very rare, if not unique. It brings it home to you that what you're looking at is not just a series of abstract remains, but actually these are people that you're dealing with."
The finds all come from a bronze age grave - or cist - excavated by the Universities of Aberdeen and Glasgow.
The site was marked by an avenue of oak posts, and large earthworks.
More digs are planned in the area next year, when archaeologists will try to confirm if a sandstone slab found nearby was part of a stone circle.
The excavations are all part of the Strathearn Environs and Royal Forteviot Project (Serf).

Previously undiscovered ancient city found on Caribbean sea floor....

Researchers have revealed the first images from the Caribbean sea floor of what they believe are the archaeological remains of an ancient civilization.


http://www.heralddeparis.com/previously ... loor/65855

Archeologists believe they have discovered the coffin and skeleton of Queen Eadgyth, the sister of King Athelstan and granddaughter of Alfred the Great, who died in 946.
It was thought that her actual remains were lost when they were last moved in 1510 and that a monument built in Magdeburg Cathedral in southern Germany, was a cenotaph in her honour.
But when the tomb was investigated as part of a wider research project, a lead coffin was found inside bearing her name and inside that the nearly complete skeleton of a woman aged between 30 and 40.
Queen Eadgyth, the old spelling of Edith, died aged 36.
Now the University of Bristol are going to carry out tests on the bones to see if they can prove beyond doubt they are those of England's oldest regal ancestor.

Richard, Do you know much about lead(metal)coffins.I have searched online quite a bit and can not find any info on such things other then they did have them.I am interested in finding out it any type of coffin could last 450 years buried in moist ground and still be intact.Of course a stone or concrete one could but the one I am interested in has a flexible top.If you do not maybe you know somebody who does. Bill

From the UK Telegraph:

Oldest Remains of English Royalty Unearthed

The oldest surviving remains of the English Royal family have been unearthed for the first time in more than 500 years, scientists claim.


Quote:
Archeologists believe they have discovered the coffin and skeleton of Queen Eadgyth, the sister of King Athelstan and granddaughter of Alfred the Great, who died in 946.
It was thought that her actual remains were lost when they were last moved in 1510 and that a monument built in Magdeburg Cathedral in southern Germany, was a cenotaph in her honour.
But when the tomb was investigated as part of a wider research project, a lead coffin was found inside bearing her name and inside that the nearly complete skeleton of a woman aged between 30 and 40.
Queen Eadgyth, the old spelling of Edith, died aged 36.
Now the University of Bristol are going to carry out tests on the bones to see if they can prove beyond doubt they are those of England's oldest regal ancestor.


The whole Richard Alleyne article can be read here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/scie ... rthed.html

thanks Rain....i hadn't read the original post....sorry guys, Richard had already posted it up.....i really musn't stay up past my bedtime.

But when the tomb was investigated as part of a wider research project, a lead coffin was found inside bearing her name and inside that the nearly complete skeleton of a woman aged between 30 and 40.

I've heard of lead lined coffins, but not coffins made of lead.

Scientists and historians from Italy’s National Committee for Cultural Heritage have sought permission to open the artist’s tomb at Amboise Castle in the Loire valley.
While the identity of the Mona Lisa has been debated for centuries, some scholars have suggested that da Vinci may have painted himself as a woman in the masterpiece due to his love of riddles.
Experts believe that if they find the Renaissance painter’s skull, they can recreate his face and compare it to the Mona Lisa.
The Italian research team said talks about the exhumation with French cultural officials and the owners of the chateau have resulted in an agreement in principle.
The project could receive formal permission this summer.

Archaeologist and broadcaster Mike Pitts delves into the sometimes murky world of the metal detector, from harmless amateur history buffs to criminal nighthawkers, and discovers how metal detecting is changing our national heritage. He hears stories of in-fighting within the metal detecting community, bust-ups between landowners and detectorists and battles inside the archaeological establishment. Mike hears from the man who found a multi-million pound Saxon hoard and the farmer who has been threatened and attacked for the treasures beneath his farm.

If you follow the link and read the article it includes a picture of an Anglo-Saxon village. Simple huts with thatched roofs, corse looking home-spun clothes.

Now, take the items found in the horde and place them in the picture. Something just doesn't add up.

The home-spun outfits just don't go with the buttons, etc. that were found.

Just one of those things that's been nagging at the back of my wee lil head.

The trading vessel was carrying an extremely valuable cargo of tin and hundreds of copper ingots from the Continent when it sank.
Experts say the "incredibly exciting" discovery provides new evidence about the extent and sophistication of Britain's links with Europe in the Bronze Age as well as the remarkable seafaring abilities of the people during the period.
Archaeologists have described the vessel, which is thought to date back to around 900BC, as being a "bulk carrier" of its age.
The copper and tin would have been used for making bronze – the primary product of the period which was used in the manufacture of not only weapons, but also tools, jewellery, ornaments and other items.
Archaeologists believe the copper – and possibly the tin – was being imported into Britain and originated in a number of different countries throughout Europe, rather than from a single source, demonstrating the existence of a complex network of trade routes across the Continent.
Academics at the University of Oxford are carrying out further analysis of the cargo in order to establish its exact origins.