29 MARS 2018: Okayama - Houghton - Datchet - Anse Bellay -
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JAPON – 
Okayama - Archaeology students have discovered an ancient bronze mirror from an undisturbed tomb from the early Kofun period (late third to fourth centuries) here in western Japan. Okayama University’s archaeological research lab announced March 14 that the mirror, about 14 centimeters in diameter but broken in half, was spotted by the group of master students on March 11 when they were working at one of two stone burial chambers at the Tsukura burial mound in the city’s Kita Ward The researchers have been conducting excavation work at the mound since 2015, and it had never been previously opened by grave robbers. The artifacts were found exactly how they were originally buried, providing important information about ancient burial customs and rituals. It is hoped studying the tomb will help unravel the mysteries of the ancient Kibi kingdom that existed in the area, covering much of today’s Okayama Prefecture and the eastern parts of Hiroshima Prefecture. The mirror is probably of the“daryukyo” type, one that holds reliefs of imaginary beasts holding sticks in their mouths, according to Jun Mitsumoto, associated professor of archaeology at Okayama University. Daryukyo mirrors were made in Japan. Only 71 daryukyo had been discovered in Japan before this one was unearthed. It is the fourth in the prefecture, but the first found in its original position in the tomb.
VIDEO = http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201803280004.html
ROYAUME UNI – 
Houghton - Workers upgrading a stretch of the A14 near Cambridge have uncovered an abandoned medieval village. A team of almost 250 archaeologists, who are working on Highways England’s £1.5bn scheme to improve the 21-mile section of road between Cambridge and Huntingdon, are investigating 350 hectares of archaeology. This is equivalent to around 800 small football pitches, and discoveries to date include a village abandoned in the 12th century. The remains of 12 medieval buildings cover an area of six hectares, and the entire layout of the village is discernible. The earlier remains of up to 40 Anglo Saxon timber buildings are also identifiable, with alleys winding between houses, workshops and agricultural buildings. It is thought to have been occupied from the eighth to the 12th centuries. Their other discoveries include a Roman trade distribution centre which would have played a pivotal part in the region’s supply chain, and was linked to the surrounding farmsteads by trackways as well as the main Roman road between Cambridge and Godmanchester. The discovery of artefacts at the site relating to the Roman army indicates that this trade was controlled centrally. Three prehistoric henge monuments, which are likely to have been a place for ceremonial gatherings and measure up to 50 metres (164 ft) in diameter, have also been found. Other monuments include 40 Roman industrial pottery kilns along Roman roads, seven prehistoric burial grounds, eight Iron Age to Roman supply farms, two post-medieval brick kilns and three Saxon settlement sites. Artefacts have also been uncovered, including a rare Anglo Saxon bone flute from the fifth to ninth century, an ornate Roman jet pendant depicting the head of Medusa, and a Middle Iron Age timber ladder.
ROYAUME UNI – 
Datchet - A Neolithic causewayed enclosure has been unearthed at Riding Court Farm, near Datchet. While only part of the site has been excavated so far, the 5,500-year-old monument appears to be oval in shape, with an estimated perimeter of 500m – 265m of its outline is currently traced. As excavations continue, archaeologists on site are confident that they will be able to uncover the entire circuit of the enclosure – a promising opportunity, as the excavation of complete monuments of this type is rare. Finds from the site so far include finely worked flint arrowheads, knives, serrated blades, and decorated pottery sherds, as well as bones from both humans and animals. One pit was also found to contain a carefully ground flint axe. Early indications suggest that this causewayed enclosure may have been used seasonally, possibly as a gathering place for different communities to share in feasting and the exchange of goods. As the monument lies on slightly raised terrain, it is possible that the surrounding area may have been marshy, or at least seasonally wet, during the enclosure’s use, lying as it does within the Thames floodplain.
https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/neolithic-causewayed-enclosure-discovered-in-berkshire.htm
MARTINIQUE - 
Anse Bellay - Des fouilles archéologiques sur un site du Conservatoire ont permis de découvrir des vestiges amérindiens mais aussi un cimetière d'esclaves. En 2013, suite à la découverte fortuite d'os humains et fragments de céramique amérindienne par des randonneurs à cause de l'érosion marine de cette partie de cordon littoral, le Conservatoire du littoral a autorisé le service régional de l'archéologie de la DRAC à procéder à une fouille archéologique d'urgence à Anse Bellay sur la commune des Anses D'Arlet; dans la perspective d'une sauvegarde de ces vestiges. Cette opération financée par la DRAC et réalisée par l'INRAP a permis la découverte en 2013 puis en 2015, d'un cimetière d'esclaves (d'époque coloniale) et d'occupation amérindienne. En novembre 2017, le SRA a repris les fouilles archéologiques dans le cadre d'une opération pluriannuelle programmée de 2017-2019. La zone fouillée en 2017, soit environ 25m2 sur 80cm de profondeur, a révélé la présence de 12 nouvelles sépultures datant de la fin du 18ième. Il s'agit de 12 squelettes d'enfants (de nouveaux nés jusqu'à 14 ans). Depuis 2013, il a été retrouvé 35 sépultures datant de la période coloniale. Il s'agit d'esclaves enterrés à même la terre, sans cercueil. La plupart sont en assez bon état de conservation. Ces ossements sont actuellement au SRA pour leur conservation et analyses complémentaires.