Prehistoric cache found in Minnesota puzzles archaeologists

In the late 1930s, Adolph Schumann was plowing a corn field on his family's Olmsted County (Minnesota, USA) farm when he hit a rock. What he had unearthed looked like an arrowhead. And there were more. Adolph came back with his younger brother, Alfred, and they filled a gunny sack. It was a cache of stone tools left behind 12,000 years earlier by the land's first inhabitants, one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the region. The boys would be old men before anyone knew the significance of their find.
     Little is known about North America's first settlers, but archaeologists believe they were nomadic hunter-gatherers, moving in groups of 25 or so, using spear points, knives and other tools flaked from hard 'sugar quartz' sand stone found in only a few places in this area. One such outcrop was near Black River Falls. There, archaeologists discovered, people chipped out rough tool blanks that could later be shaped for specific uses. They carried these stone forms on their hunting forays and buried caches they could return to as they needed to retool. On a knoll above the creek, a band of hunters stashed about 20 pounds of stone tools tools they had carried nearly 100 miles through rugged bluff country, across a raging Mississippi River.
     Over the years, the Schumann boys found more artifacts in their field, and added them to the sack. Neither gave much thought to the pile of rocks until one day in the mid 1960s, when Al read a newspaper story in which an expert said there were no Indian artifacts found in Olmsted County. "I called him up and said, Hell, I've got a gunny sack full.'" Schumann brought the sack to the Olmsted County Historical Society, where the artifacts were cataloged and added to the collection. They sat on a shelf for more than 40 years before anyone noticed.
     In 2007, a University of Wisconsin-Milwakuee graduate student named Andy Bloedorn landed a summer internship at the historical society. His job was to inventory the collection. Bloedorn came across a cardboard box. On the side, in magic marker, was written 'sugar quartz specimens.' "I knew that sugar quartz was pretty important material throughout prehistory," said Bloedorn. "I looked inside, and my jaw kind of dropped. There were 65 pieces, all from the same site."
     Bloedorn, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, sent some photos to Robert Boszhardt, the regional archaeologist for the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center at UW-L. Boszhardt knew right away what he was seeing. "These are 12,000 years old," he said. To be sure, they had the pieces analyzed by lithic experts. Dillon Carr, a doctoral candidate at Michigan State University who did his undergraduate work at UW-L, helped confirm the find. He calls it 'spectacular.'
     The Schumann cache is now part of the Native American collection at the History Center of Olmsted County, where it is on display. It is a time capsule, one of only about 20 from that period found in North America, and likely the oldest in this region. As much as the Schumann cache reveals, it also raises questions. Some of the pieces were heat-fractured, others tinted by red ochre, suggesting they were left in a ritual. "What does that mean?" Boszhardt asks. "Why would anybody do that?" Boszhardt hopes to get a grant so that archaeologists can properly excavate the site.

Source: LaCrosse Tribune (29 November 2008)

  Fishermen find ancient boat in Black Sea

A well-preserved wooden dugout canoe - probably dating back to the prehistoric age - has been discovered at the bottom of the Black Sea, scientists said. The vessel was discovered by fishermen trailing nets along the sea bottom some 15 miles off the coast, said Dimitar Nedkov, head of the Archaeological Museum in the port city of Sozopol (Bulgaria). "The dugout is 2.6 meters (8.5 feet) long and 70 centimeters (27.5 inches) wide, and it is made most probably of oak," Nedkov said.
     Bulgarian explorers have found four ancient vessels in remarkably good condition in the Black Sea, whose oxygen-depleted deep water preserves wrecks without the worm damage and deterioration that normally affects wooden vessels. "Nowhere else can you find similar dugouts, as well as any kind of wooden vessels over 300 years old, because water rots the wood away," said Bozhidar Dimitrov, head of the National Museum of History. "In the Black Sea, however, there is dissolved hydrogen sulfide below a certain depth which preserves all organic materials."

Sources: Associated Press, The Mercury News, Focus (29 November 2008)

  Another busy year for archaeology on Orkney

The 2008 summer archaeological season in Orkney was full of activity. Excavations included the continuation of investigations at Stronsay, Wyre, Ness of Brodgar, The Cairns, Notland Links and Skaill Bay and a 'rescue excavation' in Eday. Trenches were re-opened from a previous dig at the Ring of Brodgar and an initial investigative season at the Brough of Deerness was undertaken.
     The Mesolithic site at Links House, Stronsay funded by Historic Scotland; Orkney Islands Council; Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA) through field walking and excavation, has produced over 10,000 pieces of flint, including tools and evidence for on-site knapping activity. Naomi Woodward (Site Director/ORCA) says: "The Links House flint assemblage represents the largest collection of material for this period in Orkney and also the nature and extents of the feature evidence at the site is unparalleled within this region." A further season of excavation is planned for 2009.
     Excavation at the early Neolithic site on Wyre continued and Antonia Thomas (Site Director/Orkney College) describes the extent of the large site, which has yielded eight polished stone axes so far and thousands of pieces of pottery, flint and stone tools. "Fieldwork has uncovered a series of dwellings and an extensive working area spread over several hundred square metres, all apparently dating to the Early Neolithic," said Antonia. "Although there are only 17 people living on Wyre today, this is the lowest the population has ever been in historic times, and it would seem that the island was home to a thriving farming community several thousands of years ago."
     The re-opening of previous trenches at the Ring of Brodgar (directed by Dr Jane Downes, Orkney College and Dr Colin Richards, Manchester University) provided insight into the construction of the ditch surrounding the standing stone circle. The results of scientific dating of the ring, assumed to be Neolithic, are awaited. Nearby the Neolithic settlement at the Ness of Brodgar (directed by Nick Card, ORCA) was under continued excavation and each season adds to the understanding of the 'Heart of Neolithic Orkney' World Heritage area.
     At Links of Notland on Westray an excavation (directed by Graeme Wilson and Hazel Moore, EASE Archaeology) continued on the prehistoric site whilst at the Cairns excavation on South Ronaldsay, a large Iron Age settlement thought to be occupied between 400 BCE to 400 CE was further explored. Martin Carruthers (Site Director, Orkney College) explains: "This season's work focussed on later Iron Age buildings that have been constructed into and over the top of the remains of a very substantial 'Atlantic roundhouse' or broch-like building. Finds have included copper alloy pins, weaving combs, spindle whorls, large pottery sherds and a stone mould for casting metal ingots."

Source: Janis Mitchell for 24 Hour Museum (28 November 2008)

  Oldest-ever stash of marijuana found in China

Researchers say they have located the world's oldest stash of marijuana, in a tomb in a remote part of China. The cache of cannabis is about 2,700 years old and was clearly 'cultivated for psychoactive purposes,' rather than as fibre for clothing or as food, says a research paper in the Journal of Experimental Botany.
     The 789 grams of dried cannabis was buried alongside a light-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian man, likely a shaman of the Gushi culture, near Turpan in northwestern China. The extremely dry conditions and alkaline soil acted as preservatives, allowing a team of scientists to carefully analyze the stash, which still looked green though it had lost its distinctive odour. "To our knowledge, these investigations provide the oldest documentation of cannabis as a pharmacologically active agent," says the newly published paper, whose lead author was American neurologist Dr. Ethan B. Russo.
     Remnants of cannabis have been found in ancient Egypt and other sites, and the substance has been referred to by authors such as the Greek historian Herodotus. But the tomb stash is the oldest so far that could be thoroughly tested for its properties. The 18 researchers, most of them based in China, subjected the cannabis to a battery of tests, including carbon dating and genetic analysis. Researchers also could not determine whether the cannabis was smoked or ingested, as there were no pipes or other clues in the tomb of the shaman, who was about 45 years old.
     The large cache was contained in a leather basket and in a wooden bowl, and was likely meant to be used by the shaman in the afterlife. The tomb also contained bridles, archery equipment and a harp, confirming the man's high social standing. The substance has been found in two of the 500 Gushi tombs excavated so far in northwestern China, indicating that cannabis was either restricted for use by a few individuals or was administered as a medicine to others through shamans, Russo said.
     Russo, who had a neurology practice for 20 years, has previously published studies examining the history of cannabis. "I hope we can avoid some of the political liabilities of the issue," he said, referring to his latest paper.

Source: The Canadian Press (28 November 2008)

  Paleolithic Chinese people may have worn red clothing

The color red, which represents luck, happiness and passion in China, could have been used in clothing 15,000 years ago. Li Zhanyang, a researcher with Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, said in an interview. Li has been leading an eight-member archaeological team doing excavation and related research on lake-based ruins in Xuchang, central China's Henan Province, in recent years.
     According to Li, their excavation team found from the soil strata dating back 15,000 years, or the late Paleolithic Era, at the Xuchang ruins more than 20 pieces of hematite, one of iron oxides commonly used as a dyestuff, alongside three dozen thin instruments made of animal tooth enamel, plus seven needles made of the upper cheek tooth enamel of a rhinoceros sub-species now extinct. It is the first time in China that iron oxide of such high concentration has been excavated from the ruins of the late Paleolithic Era, claimed Li.
     "Through excavation, we are confident that these hematite were deliberately brought to the Xuchang ruins from afar by ancient people, as Xuchang does not produce such minerals," said Li. The ruins used to be the location of a lake where activities such as clothes making, food preparing, water drinking were clustered, said Li. "I believe the people who lived there might have used hematite to dye clothes, which was quite different from Upper Cave Man at Zhoukoudian of Beijing who used hematite as a sacrifice to the dead, or from Europe, where ancient people there used hematite to draw cave murals."
     Li said lab work proved the thin tools made of animal tooth enamel might have be used as articles similar to buttons in present times. "There has been evidence suggesting people dating back 15,000 years could have made advanced fur apparel. If that is true, the most popular color might have been red," said the Chinese archaeologist.
     The Paleolithic site at Xuchang was discovered in 1965, when Chinese scientists found animal fossils and stone artifacts from soil dug for a well. The most recent large scale excavation started in June 2005.

Source: China Daily (26 November 2008)

  Ancient pathway found in Vietnamese cave

Traces of a pathway used by ancient people 21,000 years ago have just been discovered at the Xom Trai Cave in the northwestern province of Hoa Binh's Lac Son District (Vietnam). Scientists from the Centre for Southeast Asian Prehistory recently made the discovery during an on-going preservation project at the site. "This is the first discovery of such an ancient road in the Southeast Asian region and a rare discovery in the world," Nguyen Viet, PhD, centre director said.
     The Xom Trai Cave represents a typical residence of the Hoa Binh civilisation (from 34,100 years ago until 2,000 BCE) in the ancient Muong Vang region, which is today's Tan Lap Commune, Lac Son District in Hoa Binh Province. The cave was discovered in 1974 and went through various stages of excavation in 1981, 1982, 1986 and 2004. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism listed it as a national archaeological relic in 2005.
     The Hoa Binh Museum has co-ordinated with the centre to preserve the site since 2004. Since then, researchers have discovered traces of approximately six metres of a road at the south end of the cave's mouth. The ancient pathway lies 60-70cm deeper than the Hoa Binh civilisation layer. The traces are believed to date back 8,000-9,000 years ago and remain in good preserved condition. Another four metres below the Hoa Binh civilisation layer, a route presumed to be used by the earliest cave dwellers has also been discovered. The route had been hidden by several layers of stones and debris that have fallen over time due to landslides and other geological events. Also, portions of the route have been covered by hard water resulting from rain water and local limestone. One month ago, researchers discovered 10m of another route linking the cave's mouth to the foot of the mountain.
     The excavation has also uncovered a tomb from about 17,000 years ago. The remains were buried in the typical style of the Hoa Binh civilisation, leaning towards the right with legs folded. The body's hips were placed over 25cm of coal and the tomb was covered with soil and large stones. An oval pestle, two carving tools and a horn pointed hook were buried with the remains. Many human bones had been found scattered about the cave before the complete tomb was discovered.
     "Six clear traces of the road are being solidified by hard water", Viet said. "It is likely that more traces will be found. A larger number of worn- out stones indicate that the newly discovered road was used more often and for a longer period of time than the route at the southern end of the cave's mouth. I guess the route was used between 10,000 and 21,000 years ago." The researchers plan to make silicon moulds of the traces and preserve them using the most modern techniques.

Source: Vietnam News Agency (26 November 2008)

  Research sheds light on Ohio's ancient earthworks

High Bank Works is an ancient earthwork built along the Scioto River Valley in Ross County (USA) nearly 2,000 years ago by the Ohio Hopewell culture. It consists of an enormous 20-acre circle connected to an octagonal enclosure that is nearly as large. Originally, the walls of the earthwork were 12 feet tall, but after decades of plowing, they have been reduced to a few bumps in a cornfield. The remnants of the earthwork are preserved as part of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park.
     High Bank Works was featured in two presentations given this month at the fall meeting of the Ohio Archaeological Council. N'omi Greber, of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, described her recent investigation of the earthwork using archives, geophysical remote sensing and test excavations.
     William Romain, a research affiliate with the Ohio State University's Newark Earthworks Center, included High Bank Works in a survey of Ohio earthworks using lidar, a remote sensing technology somewhat like radar that gives us startlingly accurate images even when the earthworks have been plowed to apparent oblivion. The complementary conclusions of these studies demonstrate the complexity of the earthworks and how the ancient architects incorporated a remarkable knowledge of geometry, astronomy and local topography. These monumental compositions give us insight into the spiritual beliefs of these too-often underappreciated people. These studies add to our understanding of the ancient earthworks and affirm the wisdom of preserving such sites, even when there might not appear to be much left to save.
     In anticipation of the increase in tourism that will follow from the nomination of several Ohio mound sites, including High Bank Works, to the World Heritage List, the Center for the Electronic Reconstruction of Historical and Archaeological Sites at the University of Cincinnati is working with several partners to develop the Ancient Ohio Trail.

Source: The Columbus Dispatch (25 November 2008)

  5,500-year-old settlement found near Nazca, in Peru

A team of Peruvian and German archaeologists has discovered the remains of a human settlement 5,500 years old near the southern town of Nazca, south of Lima. The archaeologists, who are members of the Nazca-Palpa project, said that the discovery was made in a sector known as Pernil Alto, some 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Palpa.
     The project is headed by Peruvian archaeologists Johny Isla Cuadrado and Elsa Tomasto, and by Germany's Markus Reindel. The find consists of a group of homes in which 19 graves were found, including the remains of a child younger than 1 year old with possible evidence of having been mummified. The find is the first discovery in southern Peru of an inhabited site corresponding to the late portion of the archaic period some 3,500 BCE.
     One of the project researchers said that the excavations made at the site since last October enabled the team to find the remains of eight small oval-shaped and circular homes made by digging deep pits in the ground. Also found were up to 19 graves of children and adults interred individually inside the homes, which would seem to indicate that they were buried there after the homes were abandoned. In some of the graves, archaeologists found carved bones and snail-shells, deer horns, necklaces and bracelets made from shells, but there was no concrete evidence of offerings to the dead or to dieties.
     The researchers are seeking to expand their knowledge about the culture of southern Peru in the early epochs from about 5,500 years ago up to the Inca civilization in the 16th century.

Source: Latin American Herald Tribune (24 November 2008)

  Stone circle moved into a suburban estate

John and Suky Burton imported 13 stones - possibly of prehistoric origin - from their former Weymouth mansion when they downsized to a detached house in Dorchester (Dorset, England). The ancient history of the 13 mossy chunks is lost but they are reputed to have originated from Portland. Early last century they were bought by a member of the Burberry family for their mansion, Abbotts Court, overlooking Radipole Lake at Weymouth. Thomas Burberry, founder of the famous clothing firm lived at Abbotts Court during World War I. When Mr and Mrs Burton bought Abbotts Court in 1980, they discovered the stone circle in the overgrown grounds, together with a large collection of fossils. When they moved to the house in Dorchester the took the stones with them.
     Neighbours watched in bewilderment as druid John and hereditary witch Suky used a crane and a huge truck to transport the 6ft stones to their new abode. The couple - both antique dealers - aligned the stones at special points along what they believe is a ley line around the garden to encircle themselves with positive energy. Suky then invited 20 witches from her coven to dedicate the stone circle during a special night-time ritual. Mrs Burton said: "We had a blessing of the stones and we brought the energy back. We feel they are a place between worlds. It's hard to describe the feeling you get when you are near these stones - but it is something extremely powerful."
     Mrs Burton added: "It was a really big job bringing the stones with us. We had to employ about a dozen rather burly men and a crane to transport it all - but it was well worth it. We are so happy to have finally have it all sorted. We were very upset at the thought of these stones just being dumped - but couldn't think of how we could get them with us."
     
Sources: Western Daily Press (23 November 2008), Telegraph.co.uk (24 November 2008)

  The enigma of Lake Ontario's 11,000-year-old footprints

In the fall of 1908, while building a waterworks tunnel east of Hanlan's Point in Toronto Bay (Canada), a work crew came across 100 footprints in a layer of blue clay. The prints appeared to have been left by people wearing moccasins – 11,000 years ago. It was an astounding discovery, perhaps the first evidence of human habitation on Lake Ontario, but few recognized its significance.
     "It looked like a trail ...," city inspector W. H. Cross said about what he saw that November day. "You could follow one man the whole way. Some footprints were on top of the others, partly obliterating them. There were footprints of all sizes, and a single print of a child's foot, three and a half inches..." He went on to describe the way the clay had shot up under the imprints of the heels, how the prints appeared to be heading north, and how he had tried to lift a piece of the clay to preserve the prints, but it broke away in his hand.
     The group – likely a family, judging by the different sized prints – could have been walking from a hunting camp on the shore of Lake Ontario to what is now downtown Toronto. Back then, the shoreline would have been more than a kilometre further south. The story is told in a new book, 'Toronto: A Short Illustrated History of its First 12,000 Years'.
     Tragically, the prints were not preserved. The tunnel workers were in a hurry to complete the job, and simply poured concrete over the clay. "If they were found to be authentic, it would have been the only discovery of footprints of the first people of Ontario," says archaeologist Ron Williamson, who edited the book and wrote the chapter on pre-European contact. "It would have been amazing." Though it seems shocking that a find of such potential importance was unceremoniously buried, a similar attitude toward the archaeological history of First Nations people prevails, he says. Without seeing the prints, it's difficult to evaluate their authenticity, Williamson says, though there's no reason to believe that Cross and company were exercising a hoax.

Source: The star.com (23 November 2008)