Into the Dust Archaeology
Archaeology news, travel reviews, interviews and basic terminology, designed to get you as jazzed up about archaeology as we are. Explore the latest headlines, learn the ABCs of archaeology, and hear from seasoned and amateur archaeologists alike.
Into the Dust Archaeology
Episode 3 – C for Chaîne Opératoire, Lepenski Vir Site Visit, and Archaeology News
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqhzcSU9s4w&list=PLcH4-BWqVM6KHP2Ih6UEq4_G1qRq8MgSn&index=8
1) ABCs of Archaeology – C is for Chaîne Opératoire
Chaîne Opératoire is a French term translating into English as “operating chain.” It describes the whole set of processes from making to depositing (i.e. throwing away) an artefact and can teach us quite a bit.
2) Living Archaeology Site Visit – Jason takes you to the bizarre and internationally little-know site of Lepenski Vir, a neolithic village in the Iron Gates region of Serbia. Some claim it to be the oldest ‘urban’ site in Europe.
· References:
o https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-31884-7
o https://www.nature.com/articles/nature25778
o https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370208494_THE_SUMMER_SOLSTICE_SUN_AT_LEPENSKI_VIR
3) Archaeology News – The potential origins of Multiple Sclerosis, hidden ancient cities of the Amazon, and Early Medieval Anglo-Saxon fashion accessories from Africa…the wonders of archaeological science, which seems to bring new discoveries to the headlines every day.
· Multiple Sclerosis
o A study of ancient and modern European and Eurasian genomes reveals a prevalence of Yamnaya DNA among Northern Europeans, leading to their susceptibility to multiple sclerosis.
o Sources
§ https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00024-9
§ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06618-z
§ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04800-3
§ https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm4247
· Lost Amazonian cities
o A LIDAR survey of the Upano Valley in the Amazon region of Ecuador revealed some startling finds.
o Sources
§ https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi6317
§ https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67940671
§ https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/jan/11/amazon-archaeology-lost-cities-ecuador
· Anglo-Saxon ivory rings
o Ivory rings found on the belts of women in Early Medieval England and northern Germany were found to have originated with African elephants!
o Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X23001189#:~:text=The%20radiocarbon%20dating%2C%20strontium%20analysis,fifth%20and%20sixth%20centuries%20AD
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