09 JANVIER 2018 : Lakhisarai - Duolun - Anatolie - Bikrampur - Poprad -
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INDE – 
Lakhisarai - The excavation team from Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, has confirmed the discovery of a large Buddhist monastery at Jainagar Lali Pahari in Lakhisarai township, which British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham had mentioned in 1842. Late on Saturday, the team found a broken Buddha tablet and other artefacts, from the site where excavation has begun from December last year. Excited team members said the discovery of such structural evidence below the earth could unfold the ancient history of this area, where Buddha had spent three monsoons as mentioned in Buddhist texts. The team till now has discovered nine cells at the excavation site, which are interconnected and have lime-brick floors. The frontal structure of a black-stone portico has also been found along with a platform used by monks to perform rituals. The cells are mainly for meditation and the recovery of Buddha-related items and some pottery used in performing rituals has further substantiated such claims.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/bihar/excavation-points-to-monastery-199338
CHINE - Duolun - Archaeologists in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have discovered the ruins of a summer palace that was owned by the imperial family of the Liao Dynasty (916-1125). The 1,000-year-old royal palace is in a basin surrounded by mountains in Duolun County and consists of 12 building foundation ruins, according to Ge Zhiyong, a researcher with the regional institute of archaeology. Archaeologists excavated one of the foundation ruins, which covers an area of 240 square meters. They found more than 100 building components such as tiles made of colored glaze and gray pottery, copper nails and iron building components. "Based on these items, we estimate that the ruins date back to the mid-Liao Dynasty," said Ge. The Liao Dynasty was founded by the nomadic Khitan and ruled the northern part of China. Between mid April and mid July every year, the emperors brought the royal family and officials to the summer palace to avoid the summer heat. Ge said the new discovery will help research on the customs and architecture at the time. Archeologists will conduct extensive excavation of the ruins in the future.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/08/c_136880481.htm
TURQUIE – 
Anatolie - The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded Turkish scientists to analyze the DNA of 1,500 people who used to live in the Anatolian region – the Asian part of present-day Turkey – during the Neolithic period. Mehmet Somel, a professor of biological sciences at the Ankara-based Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ), told Anadolu Agency on Jan. 8 that archaeologists, biologists and anthropologists would participate in the project, which is named “Neogene.” The study will cover the period from 10,000-7,000 BC. He said DNA analysis and archaeological data pertaining to the Neolithic period – a term scientists use to refer to the final stage of the Stone Age – would be evaluated together. It was during this period that humans transitioned from hunter-gatherer societies to societies where animals were domesticated and crops cultivated. The transition process took 3,000 to 4,000 years, according to Somel. “During the study, genetic samples, which belong to almost 1,500 people from 20 Neolithic Anatolian settlements, are set to be scanned using a DNA sequencing method.” The study will then narrow down its research to focus on 350 people, whose samples will be subject to deeper analysis. The second stage of the study will devote itself to bioinformatics analysis to determine genetic proximity and gene flow among communities.
BANGLADESH - Bikrampur - The site contains the remains of a Buddhist town and temple at Nateshwar, the present day location of which is in the Bikrampur area of Bangladesh's Munshiganj district, 30 km south of the capital city of Dhaka. The archeological site is the remains of temple and city thought to be 1,000 years old. The old ruins, still being excavated by the joint team of Bangladeshi and Chinese archaeologists, are one of the major recent archaeological discoveries in Bangladesh. The Buddhist historical site featuring unique architectural elements has been discovered about seven meters beneath the ground. Atish Dipankar, known as a venerated Buddhist scholar and philosopher, is thought to have spent his early life here. The excavation has already unearthed several valuable artifacts from this renowned archaeological site, including a prayer hall, mortar floor, octagonal stupas, pot shreds, baked clay materials and burnt bricks.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/08/c_136880174.htm
SLOVAQUIE – 
Poprad - Slovakia has another unique archaeological object, an ancient game found in 2006 when researching the tomb of a Germanic prince in Poprad. After its conservation and further research, experts found the game has no parallel in Europe. The game, over 1,600 years old, consists of chess-like squares with green and white playing pieces of different sizes that have also been preserved. “There were plenty of board games in ancient times with many variants, but reconstructing the playing technique is a very complicated process that only top experts can solve,” said the deputy of director of the Archaeological Institute in Nitra, Karol Pieta, as cited by the SITA newswire. Pieta lead the research on the tomb in Poprad. Games of this type were found in Greek and Roman temples on the floors or in the streets of ancient towns, carved into stone pavement. This portable wooden board game from Poprad is unique. An analysis of the playing pieces revealed that it is ancient glass from the east Mediterranean, probably from Syria. “So the game was apparently brought from the territory of the Roman empire to under the Tatras,” added Pieta for SITA. Experts succeeded in finding much information about the German prince during the research. Archaeologists now know that he was born in the area where he was also buried, he was about 30 years old and he stayed in the Mediterranean for some time. “It’s highly probable that he served in the Roman army as a prominent officer that corresponded with his social status. He was strongly influenced by the developed ancient culture, as demonstrated by his favourite game being placed in his tomb,” said Pieta for SITA. The tomb from the year 375 AD was discovered by accident while doing construction work twelve years ago in the industrial zone of Poprad – Matejovce. A bed from yew wood decorated with silver sheets and a desk belong among the most significant discoveries in the tomb.
https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20730977/ancient-board-game-has-no-parallel-in-europe.html