30 MAI 2016 NEWS: Aspendos - Pudukkottai - Grèce - Bagasara - Shikarpur -

INSTITUT SUPERIEUR D'ANTHROPOLOGIE

INSTITUTE OF ANTHROPOLOGY

ONLINE COURSES / COURS A DISTANCE

SUMMER TERM : JULY 2016

REGISTER NOW

TURQUIE –  Aspendos - An inscription has been discovered in the ancient city of Aspendos in the southern province of Antalya, according to the head of excavations in the ancient city, Hacettepe University Archaeology Department Professor Veli Köse.  Excavations are continuing on two-story stores and a basilica in the area. “We worked in the southwestern part of the field and made some findings there. Also, we found a significant inscription which dates back to 235-270. The inscription relates the erection of a sculpture. The reason why we worked on the basilica was to examine its architecture. During the excavations there, we discovered the sculpture of Aspendos. It is almost in human size. We’re calling it Apollon right now, but we will know for sure after we find its head.” The ancient city of Aspendos was first established in the 10th century B.C. in what is today Antalya’s Serik district. Aspendos is known for having the best-preserved theater of antiquity, the Aspoendos Ancient Theater, which has seating for 7,000 people.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Default.aspx?pageID=238&nid=99753&NewsCatID=375

INDE - Pudukkottai -  A stone pillar dating back to CE 13th Century found near Gandarvakottai in Pudukkottai district could finally unravel the mystery about the existence of 'Meepozhi Nadu' around Pudukkottai, says an archaeology enthusiast. The 2.5 feet tall rectangular pillar was found while desilting the Periyakulam tank near Pichanathur. This second record, if proved to be correct, would certainly confirm the existence of Meepozhi Nadu. "It was the stone inscriptions in Agatisvara temple near Varappur in Pudukkottai district which was the first finding that had the mention of Meepozhi Nadu," says science teacher in a government school, A Manikandan. An archaeology enthusiast, Manikandan was the first who went along with his team to interpret the Tamil script in the pillar. "The existence of Meepozhi Nadu, with Kovil Nallur as its capital, could be read in the stone inscriptions at the temple but there was hardly any other record until now. The fact that Gandarvakottai is known as Kovilur in the revenue records, there are chances that Kovilur would have been known as Kovil Nallur," he said. He further said that there could have been 15-20 villages under the Meepozhi Nadu, which could be the present Gandarvakottai. "The inscription narrates the story on how an intruder named Sengulatharayan destroyed Kovil Nallur. The villager then approached Kadungolan, a warrier to face Sengulatharayan," said Manikandan. The stone inscription is learned to have been carved in the early 13th century which was part of a temple. Two holes on both side of the pillar show that it was later also used as a sluice gate for the tank which eventually got buried.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/13th-C-artefact-may-solve-ancient-mystery/articleshow/52486303.cms

GRECE –  - An incredibly rare gold crown believed to be more than 2,000 years old has been discovered under a bed in a Somerset cottage. The delicate Greek myrtle wreath, which is thought to date to 300BC, was found in a tatty cardboard box in the modest Taunton property. Stylistically it belongs to a rarefied group of wreaths dateable to the Hellenistic period and the form may indicate that it was made in Northern Greece. 'It is eight inches across and weighs about 100 grams. It's pure gold and handmade, it would have been hammered out by a goldsmith. Gold wreaths like the one found were meant to imitate the wreaths of real leaves that were worn in Ancient Greece in religious ceremonies and given as prizes in athletic and artistic contests. They usually depicted branches of laurel, myrtle, oak and olive trees, which were symbolic of concepts such as wisdom, triumph, fertility, peace and virtue. Many were dedicated to the Gods in sanctuaries or placed in the graves of royal or aristocratic people as funerary offerings. Bits of dirt embedded on the wreath suggest this one was buried at some point. Most date to the Hellenistic period (323BC to 31BC), which this one is also thought to date from, and show the exceptional skill of goldsmiths at that time. Some were made during earlier periods but the wreaths became more frequent after Alexander the Great's Eastern conquests, when gold was more available in Greece.

INDE -  Bagasara / Shikarpur - It is believed that Bagasara village in Morbi district and Shikarpur village of Kutch are few of the settlements in Gujarat surrounded by fortified structures with a width of around 7 to 10 mt. These settlements belonging to the Harappan civilization are over 4500 years old. The excavations at Bagasara and Shikarpur indicated these villages as rich industrial towns of the Indus Valley civilization that date back to 2350 BC to 1800 BC," said head of the department professor K Krishnan, one of the members of the excavation team. He added that walls of their houses were also made of mud bricks. During the excavations at Bagasara, various materials were explored. "We found a large number of shell bangles which indicated the presence of bangle industry in the village. They used to travel to the other regions of Harappan civilization to procure raw materials for its production," added Krishnan. "Settlements in both the villages were affluent. Shikarpur village housed stone blade industries, semi-precious stones such as carnelian, agate and faience were also found in abundance in the region along with copper metal," said S Pratapchandran, one of the researchers. Raw materials including stones essential for the blade industry were imported from Baluchistan. "Remains unearthed from Shikarpur showed that the blades were as long as 10 to 15 cms," said Pratapchandran. Krishnan pointed out that the presence of similar materials in both the villages showed exchange of goods, limiting its production to one region. Archaeologists are still in the process of identifying the reasons of building fortifications in both the regions. "Fortifications are generally built for defense. Analyzing the fortification pattern, these walls could be for safety from natural calamities or to reinforce the social hierarchy," added Pratapchandran.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/Two-Harrapan-era-craft-hubs-discovered/articleshow/52459001.cms