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CHYPRE – Hala Sultan Tekke - Archaeologists from the University of Gothenburg have been digging at the site of the Bronze Age city’s graveyard since 2010, seven seasons in a row. At last, they uncover rich Cypriot graves. According to the scientists, it is one of the richest discoveries from this epoch made on Cyprus. Swedish archaeologists uncovered several graves of the rich Cypriots who lived in the years 1600 B.C. to 1150 B.C. The excavation site is situated close to the Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus. The city Hala Sultan Tekke astonished the archaeologists by its finest burial goods. Professor Peter Fischer from the University of Gothenburg calls this uncovered cemetery just sensational discovering for the science. Professor Fischer explained that this is one of the richest discoveries from this epoch made on Cyprus, they researcher team, at last, has uncovered an unbelievable cemetery with the rich ancient graves. The old Cypriot grave keeps a lot of artefacts, which help to archaeologists to understand better the life of an elite of Cyprus. Normally, the ancient Cypriots were buried inside their settlements and often beneath their own family dwellings. Scientists could find such a sensational discovering of the Bronze Age city using the georadar. Professor Fischer told his research team uncovered 140 pots and vessels made of ceramic and decorated with fantastic images.
http://www.politicallore.com/archaeologists-uncover-rich-cypriot-graves/5643
USA – Boston - Boston archaeologists this week got one step closer to discovering what life was like for European immigrants in the 1800s, as the city unearthed a treasure trove of artifacts buried near the Old North Church. The artifacts mostly include ceramic pottery, children’s toys, religious figurines and medicine bottles, the city of Boston said in statement. One of the most notable finds is a clay tobacco pipe engraved with an Irish shamrock design.
https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2016/09/16/city-unearths-artifacts-from-1800s-near-old-north-church
ARMENIE – Artsakh - Armenians have had four viceroy seats, one of them in Artsakh. Archaeologists have discovered four viceroy bronze wands during excavations at Karmir Blur, archaeologist Hakob Simonyan, Deputy Head of the Research Center of Historical-Cultural Legacy under the Ministry of Culture, told reporters Thursday. The excavations that resumed in 2015 have revealed that back in the Urartian period Armenia was divided into provinces, each ruled by a viceroy. After the death of the latter the highest symbol of power – the scepter– has also been laid at the mausoleum. “What’s most important is that it’s now proven that Artsakh was part of the United Kingdom of Van in the 8th to 7th centuries BC. The excavations come to refute all assertions that Artsakh has never been part of Armenia,” the archeologist said. According to him, another importance of the findings is that they come to disperse the uncertainty regarding the origin of Urartians. “The Urartians were natives of the Ararat Valley,” he noted. “I’m deeply confident that Urartu is an Armenian kingdom with its multi-layer population, where the Armenian element has been dominant,” Hakob Simonyan said. A number of different interesting items have been unearthed during the expedition. These include jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, cufflinks, buttons), also as a whole arsenal of weapons. The findings comprise a huge material for anthropological research. With DNA tests it’s possible to reveal the illnesses the locals suffered from, calculate their life expectancy, study their beliefs and rituals.
http://asbarez.com/154990/archaeologists-trace-artsakhs-origins-to-7th-century-bc/
ISLANDE – Stöðvarfjörður - A recent archaeological find in Iceland suggests that the country may have been inhabited as early as the year 800, or 74 years earlier than its official settlement date, Vísir reports. Four weeks of excavation in Stöðvarfjörður, the East Fjords, under the direction of archaeologist Bjarni F. Einarsson, have revealed some of the most interesting signs of human presence found i the country. They suggest a longhouse was built there shortly after 800, but until now, Iceland’s first permanent Nordic settler, Ingólfur Arnarson, is said to have arrived in 874. “The C-14 dating method shows a date shortly after the year 800,” Bjarni explained. “I have no reason to doubt that analysis.” Signs of human presence from a similar time have been discovered before in Kvosin, Reykjavík, in Hafnir, Reyjanes, and in Húshólmi by Krýsuvík.“We’ve started detecting a longhouse-shaped structure with thick floor layers,” Bjarni stated. The long-fire is missing, but a fireplace is coming into view by one of the gables, by the wall. The Stöðvarfjörður location is interesting, because the fjord has a good harbor and is the country’s closest location to Norway and the British Isles. “The house structure is typically Nordic. The items are of the same kind as has been found in the whole Nordic area, which spans, of course, all the way to the British Isles. But whether it came from the British Isles, Norway or North Norway, we cannot tell, not yet,” Bjarni stated. Several noteworthy tiny items have been found, such as a sharpener, pearls and washers. A ring and silver coin, discovered before the weekend, have been sent to the National Museum of Iceland for conservation. A chalcedony discovered at the site proves that the people made utensils out of stone. Those people were no Stone Age men, Bjarni clarifies, but knew how to carve rocks: “Those were people who came from an environment where that was the custom, for example in North Scandinavia.” Bjarni believes there are many indications this was not the farm of settlers, but an outpost that served as a predecessor to settlement, such as has been discovered in Hafnir, Reykjanes. “What stands out is also the lack of bones, just like in Hafnir. Therefore, I suspect people did not keep animals here, but used this as a seasonal residence in order to exploit the natural resources the area offered,” Bjarni speculated. The excavation ended last weekend, but it’s Bjarni’s hope that funding will be provided to continue the project in coming summers. This is a project which will take many years.
http://icelandreview.com/news/2016/09/15/major-archaeological-find-iceland
ROYAUME UNI – Tamworth - A suspected medieval pit has been found beneath a car park in Staffordshire. It was discovered by archaeologists excavating the Corporation Street car park in Tamworth. Around the edge of the pit they found three small pieces of pottery, which have been sent away for analysis. The site is near St Editha's Church - believed to be the heart of a development where a possible Saxon palace was located. Archaeologist Stephen Dean said the find could reveal more about the history of Tamworth. "The pit is quite a large feature and the pottery found at the edges is very dark," he said. "It looks like it could be medieval or earlier, but it will now be sent off for dating and analysis to establish its origin." Experts believe the pit may have been used as a place for people to keep rubbish. Tamworth has a rich history as the ancient capital of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia and the area around St Editha's Church is believed to have been a significant site at that time, so it will be interesting to find out what the pottery is and whether there is anything else down there.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-37378188