19 AVRIL 2023 NEWS
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GIBRALTAR - A new study has shed light on the close genetic links between the Neanderthals who lived on the Rock and those who lived in France - some 42 to 50 thousand years ago. Genomic analysis of a Neanderthal from the Rhone Valley showed the man - nicknamed Thorin - was genetically closer to Gibraltar's own Forbes Quarry skull than any other known Neanderthal. The Director of the Gibraltar Museum says this shows Gibraltar's Neanderthals were more closely connected to those from Mediterranean France than to those from Western Europe - some of whom probably lived closer to the Rock. Professor Clive Finlayson says they seem to have been part of a late-surviving and fragmented population.
VIDEO = https://www.gbc.gi/news/new-study-finds-close-links-between-neanderthals-lived-rock-those-france
INDE - Sirkazhi - Inscriptions in Sangam Tamil language on many as 462 copper plates dug up during an excavation at the Shri Sattainathar Temple in Sirkazhi, on Sunday, will be studied to gain information on the date of its origin. A team of archaeologists from the HR&CE department inspected the copper plates, which were part of an array of artefacts, dug up from Sunday’s excavation, on Monday. On Sunday, hundreds of artefacts were discovered during an excavation - as part of a consecration festival - on the southern side of the temple complex. The items unearthed included 22 Panchaloha idols, 55 pedestals used to place idols, 462 copper plates with inscriptions of songs by Shaivite saints and miscellaneous temple worship items.
ESPAGNE – 
Badajoz - Five busts, damaged but two of which maintain a great degree of detail, are the first human and facial representations of the Tartessian people that the modern world has ever seen. Archaeologists representing Spain’s National Research Council (CSIS) on Tuesday presented the incredible findings of an excavation carried out at Casas de Turuñuelo dig in Badajoz, in southwest Spain. The Tartessians, believed to have lived in southern Iberia (present-day Andalusia and Extremadura) are considered one of the first Western European civilizations, and perhaps the first to have thrived in the Iberian Peninsula. Given how few Tartessian archaeological findings there have been so far, this ancient society is shrouded in mystery. In historical records from Ancient Greece, Tartessos’ port was located at the mouth of the Guadalquivir river in what’s now Cádiz. Greek historian Ephorus described it in the 4th century BC as a wealthy civilization centred around the production and trade of tin, gold and other metals. What isn’t known is where the Tartessians originated from, if they were rather an indigenous tribe with influences from the East, or a Phoenician colony which settled beyond the Pillars of Hercules (the Strait of Gibraltar). The team from the Institute of Archaeology of Mérida behind this latest excavation believes two of the busts that have been unearthed in what is thought to be a shrine or pantheon represent Tartessian goddesses, whereas previously it was understood that Tartessian religion was aniconic (opposed to the use of idols or images). The facial depiction of the stone busts, as well the inclusion of jewellery (hoop earrings) and their particular hairstyles, resemble ancient sculptures from the Middle East and Asia. Archaeologists believe that together with the other three sculptures that were considerably more damaged, the two goddesses formed part of a stone mural depicting four deities watching over a Tartessian warrior, as one of the defaced busts has a helmet. The ornate effigies, which initial findings suggest are around 2,500 years old, also represent an important discovery for art historians, as Ancient Greece and Etruria (an ancient civilization in modern-day central Italy) were previously recognised as the epicentre of sculpting in this period in time.
EGYPTE – 
Taposiris Magna - Underneath a temple in the ancient ruined city of Taposiris Magna on the Egyptian coast, archaeologists have uncovered a vast, spectacular tunnel that experts are referring to as a "geometric miracle". During ongoing excavations and exploration of the temple, Kathleen Martinez of the University of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and colleagues uncovered the structure 13 meters (43 feet) below the ground. The 2-meter tall tunnel had been hewn through an incredible 1,305 meters (4,281 feet) of sandstone. Its design, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, is remarkably similar to the 1,036-meter Tunnel of Eupalinos – a 6th century BCE aqueduct on the Greek island of Samos. Often referred to as marvel of engineering, the conduit was unprecedented in design and construction in its day. While the Taposiris Magna tunnel isn't without equal, its engineering is nonetheless just as impressive. Martinez, who has been working in Taposiris Magna since 2004 in search of the lost tomb of Cleopatra VII, believes that the tunnel could be a promising lead. Previously, the excavations have yielded clues that seem to point to the famous queen and the last of the Ptolemies. Taposiris Magna was founded around 280 BCE by Ptolemy II, the son of Alexander the Great's renowned general and one of Cleopatra's forebears (she herself ruled from 51 BCE until her death by suicide in 30 BCE). The temple, the team believes, was dedicated to the god Osiris and his queen, the goddess Isis – the deity with whom Cleopatra courted a strong association. Coins bearing the names and likenesses of Cleopatra and Alexander the Great have been found there, as well as figurines of Isis.
FRANCE – x
Paris - Enterrés au coeur de Paris, ces morts n'avaient pas été vus depuis l'Antiquité: une nécropole implantée au sud de Lutèce, avec de nombreuses sépultures et offrandes, a été mise au jour lors de travaux du RER, une découverte qui aidera à mieux comprendre la vie des "Parisii". Une cinquantaine de squelettes étaient enfouis là depuis le IIe siècle, à quelques mètres de l'entrée de la station Port-Royal sur la rive gauche de la capitale. La fosse avait échappé aux multiples travaux de voierie, dont la construction du RER B dans les années 1970. Jusqu'à la création d'une nouvelle sortie pour les usagers et la prescription d'une fouille archéologique préventive. "Il y avait une forte suspicion car on se trouve tout près de la nécropole sud de Lutèce", a expliqué Camille Colonna, responsable des recherches archéologiques et anthropologue à l'Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives (Inrap), lors d'une visite de presse du chantier. Cette nécropole dite de Saint-Jacques, la plus grande de la cité gallo-romaine, était connue car elle avait été partiellement fouillée au XIXe siècle. Mais trop rapidement, les méthodes de l'époque ne s'intéressant qu'aux objets précieux, délaissant les squelettes et toutes les autres données permettant de comprendre le contexte. On était très contents: lors du sondage on a trouvé un premier squelette avec une pièce de monnaie dans la bouche, ce qui nous a permis de dater la sépulture, au IIe siècle de notre ère", raconte Camille Colonna. Les fouilles démarrent en mars. Une cinquantaine de sépultures sont mises au jour, toutes à inhumation - et non à incinération comme cela se pratiquait aussi. Les défunts étaient placés dans des cercueils en bois, eux-mêmes mal conservés mais que les archéologues ont pu restituer grâce aux clous toujours présents. Y gisent des hommes, des femmes et des enfants, allongés sur le dos. Il s'agit très probablement de Parisii, le peuple gaulois installé à Lutèce, sous domination romaine, selon Dominique Garcia. Un peu plus de la moitié des inhumations est accompagnée de dépôts: récipients en céramique (cruches, gobelets, vases...) ou en verre. Plus rarement, une pièce a été déposée dans le cercueil, ou dans la bouche du défunt, "une pratique courante dans l'Antiquité qui constitue probablement l'obole du passeur des enfers, Charon", précise l'Inrap. "De façon récurrente on retrouve des chaussures subsistant par la présence des petits clous formant la semelle. Elles sont soit aux pieds du défunt, soit déposées à côté de lui, comme une offrande", décrit Camille Colonna. Des objets liés à l'habillement (bijoux, épingles à cheveux, ceintures) ont aussi été trouvés. Et une unique fosse contenant le squelette d'un porc entier, ceux d'un autre petit animal, avec deux récipients en céramique: sans doute une "fosse à offrandes". D'ici la fermeture prochaine du chantier de fouilles, tous ces indices vont être prélevés - sans exception cette fois - et envoyés en laboratoire."Cela nous permettra de comprendre la vie des Parisii à travers leurs rites funéraires, ainsi que l'état sanitaire des personnes grâce à l'étude de leur ADN", selon l'anthropologue. Ces fouilles ouvrent "une véritable fenêtre sur le monde funéraire de Paris dans l'Antiquité", alors que l'histoire antique de la capitale "est globalement mal connue", souligne Dominique Garcia. "Ce qu'on retrouve dans les tombes, on le retrouve aussi dans l'habitat, et cela nous en apprendra davantage sur les lieux d'approvisionnement des Parisiens de l'époque", se réjouit-il.
INDE – 
Belagavi - When farmer Rangappa Holagyar was tilling his farmland last Sunday morning, little did he realise that his name was about to make it to the headlines for a rare ‘discovery’ – entirely by default! While at work, Holagyar stumbled upon rare brass sculptures bearing the Hoysala dynasty’s emblem – Sala (the king) and a lion. The lion carving found on the emblem is 90cm wide and 70cm tall. According to historians, based on their stylistic aspects, these sculptures are believed to be from 12th-13th century AD.
INDE – 
Khairwada - When q 25-year-old PhD student from Pune set out for field work to Khairwada in Maharashtra’s Wardha district for his dissertation, little did he imagine that his journey would lead to a discovery that would make headlines: a 2,600-year-old megalithic site. “It was during my ethnographic field survey in Khairwada, for the MA dissertation in March 2022, that I was informed by some locals about the presence of distinct circular structures in Yesamba. The use of large stones and boulders — mainly identified as burial sites — are one of the typical characteristic features of the Megalithic period. As some of this period coincided with the Iron Age, communities living close to these sites practiced agriculture using basic iron tools. In India, central India regions, especially Vidarbha, have abundant megalithic sites. For instance, Khairwada has over 1,500 megalithic burial sites. Today, Yesamba is a gram panchayat in Wardha taluka — the present-day village seems to have settled upon the ancient habitation, according to a recent paper about Yesamba by Bamb that was published in the Journal of History, Archaeology and Architecture. As many as 60 stone circles, with sizes varying from 4-40 m in diameter, were found here. However, due to overgrown bushes and grass covering most of these circular structures, the presence of the megalithic rural site is nearly indistinguishable and hence could have remained unnoticed, Bamb said. “Within an expanse of 2 km, there exist more than 60 stone circles with round boulders placed in their periphery, indicating the population that lived here. Probably for hygiene purposes, the stone circles were located away from their settlements, but not far away. The stone circles, many located close to one another, were located on low lying rising hills,” Bamb, who hails from Wardha, said. Besides, a mound along with potsherds in red and black coloured clay, a broken saddle piece and ceramic assemblages were unearthed from this site. Advanced studies applying carbon dating techniques and other analysis would be needed to fully unravel about Yesamba’s past, the researcher said . These pottery and ceramic remains could offer clues that this site could have been a favourite and inhabited for a long period, Bamb said.
FRANCE – 
Montbartier - Localisée sur la commune de Montbartier, sur les coteaux molassiques de la rive gauche du Tarn, l’emprise prescrite atteint une surface globale de 19 700 m². Cette intervention visait la mise en évidence d’occupations médiévales et moderne, apportant ainsi des données inédites pour ce secteur du Tarn-et-Garonne. Un travail cartographique et toponymique a permis d’établir que les sites de Mazel et Massaset se situent en bordure méridionale de la forêt d’Agre, connue depuis au moins la fin de l’Antiquité, et à proximité de plusieurs villages dont les noms sont mentionnés dans des chartes des XIe et XIIe siècles. Le cadastre napoléonien donne des renseignements complémentaires concernant la période moderne en offrant un état des lieux du parcellaire au début du XIXe siècle (1808-1839), sur lequel on relève la présence d’un bâti qui jouxte l’emprise de fouille de la Zone D. L’occupation médiévale se matérialise par la présence principalement de silos, mais aussi de fosses, de fours domestiques, d’un puits et de fossés. Ces vestiges, plus ou moins arasés par les labours et l’érosion, sont répartis sur chacun des cinq secteurs de fouilles mais selon des quantités et une organisation différentes. Le mobilier céramique récolté dans le comblement d’abandon de ces structures, assez homogène, recouvre une chronologie entre le XIe et le XIIe siècles. Ces concentrations de fosses creusées dans le sol et dédiées au stockage des céréales, constituent de petites aires d’ensilage. Dans les secteurs Massaset 1, Massaset 2 et Zone B, ces silos sont associés à des fours domestiques qui ont pu servir soit à des cuissons culinaires soit au séchage et/ou grillage des grains. La chronologie relative entre les fours, parfois recoupés par des silos, suggère plusieurs phases de fonctionnement. Ces vestiges témoignent d’une activité humaine centrée sur la gestion des ressources agricoles. Chacune de ces aires s’inscrit dans un terroir structuré ou en cours de structuration comme l’indique la présence de plusieurs fossés parcellaires de cette période. Plus particulier, sur le site de Massaset 2, les silos sont ceinturés par un fossé subcirculaire qui a été réutilisé, suite à son comblement, pour l’aménagement des fosses de travail des fours. Chacune de ces petites aires d’ensilage, constituée de quelques structures à une quarantaine de silos, pourrait correspondre à une unité d’exploitation agricole. Bien que l’habitat de la communauté paysanne exploitant ces sols n’ait pas été retrouvé, le mobilier recueilli témoigne d’activités domestiques sur ces sites : pots culinaires (oules), vases à liquides (pégaus), fusaïoles, faune domestique …
MOLDAVIE – 
Căușeni - “As is known, many of the archaeological vestiges, some of which are of special or even exceptional scientific and patrimonial value, represent accidental discoveries, made especially during soil excavation works”, indicates the Agency. For example, most of the more than 50 necropolises from the IV attributed to the Sântana de Mureș-Cerneahov culture identified so far on the territory of the Republic of Moldova were discovered by chance, among which are the representative cemeteries from Budești and Dănceni, both sites were later researched and provided extremely valuable data and materials for the knowledge of archeology the period of the migration of the Goths in the north-Pontic and north-Danube area, according to the cited source. Advertisement “Among the more recent fortuitous archaeological discoveries, to which the specialists of our institution promptly intervened for their documentation, recovery and research, there is also a burial tomb from the Roman era (2nd century AD) from Fârlădeni (Căușeni district), attributed to nomadic Sarmatians of eastern origin”, emphasizes the National Archaeological Agency.
https://www.weeklyblitz.net/news/a-tomb-from-the-late-roman-era-was-discovered-in-causeni/