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T.R. Hummer
London's earliest timber structure found during Belmarsh prison digLondon's oldest timber structure has been unearthed by archaeologists from Archaeology South-East (part of the Institute of Archaeology at UCL). It was found during the excavation of a prehistoric peat bog adjacent to Belmarsh Prison in Plumstead, Greenwich, in advance of the construction of a new prison building. Radiocarbon dating has shown the structure to be nearly 6,000 years old and it predates Stonehenge by more than 500 years. Jacobs Engineering UK Ltd acted as the managing consultants, on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, and the work was facilitated by Interserve Project Services Ltd.
The structure consisted of a timber platform or trackway found at a depth of 4.7m (about the height of a double decker bus) beneath two metres of peat adjacent to an ancient river channel (image available). Previously, the oldest timber structure in Greater London was the timber trackway in Silvertown, which has been dated to 3340-2910 BC, c. 700 years younger.
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T.R. Hummer
University of Toronto archaeologists find cache of tablets in 2,700-year old Turkish templeExcavations led by a University of Toronto archaeologist at the site of a recently discovered temple in southeastern Turkey have uncovered a cache of cuneiform tablets dating back to the Iron Age period between 1200 and 600 BCE. Found in the temple's cella, or 'holy of holies', the tablets are part of a possible archive that may provide insights into Assyrian imperial aspirations.
"The assemblage appears to represent a Neo-Assyrian renovation of an older Neo-Hittite temple complex, providing a rare glimpse into the religious dimension of Assyrian imperial ideology," says Timothy Harrison, professor of near eastern archaeology in the Department of Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations and director of U of T's Tayinat Archaeological Project (TAP). "The tablets, and the information they contain, may possibly highlight the imperial ambitions of one of the great powers of the ancient world, and its lasting influence on the political culture of the Middle East." The cella also contained gold, bronze and iron implements, libation vessels and ornately decorated ritual objects.
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World's oldest map: Spanish cave has landscape from 14,000 years ago - Telegraph
Archaeologists have discovered what they believe is man's earliest map, dating from almost 14,000 years ago.
A stone tablet found in a cave in Abauntz in the Navarra region of northern Spain is believed to contain the earliest known representation of a landscape.
Engravings on the stone, which measures less than seven inches by five inches, and is less than an inch thick, appear to depict mountains, meandering rivers and areas of good foraging and hunting.
A team from the University of Zaragoza spent 15 years deciphering the etched lines and squiggles after unearthing the artefact during excavation of the cave in 1993.
"We can say with certainty that it is a sketch, a map of the surrounding area," said Pilar Utrilla, who led the research team.
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BBC NEWS | UK | England | Devon | Cannibalism theory over bone-findA human bone found in Devon with tool-cut marks thought to have been made during a ritual ceremony 9,000 years ago may be evidence of cannibalism.
The arm bone was identified by Torquay Museum staff documenting animal remains discovered in Kents Cavern in Torquay.
Some archaeologists have suggested the marks, thought to have been made by a stone tool, are a sign of cannibalism, the museum said.
The caves are the oldest Scheduled Ancient Monument in Britain.
Evidence of human occupation dates back 500,000 years.
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