Archaeology: Yana Rhinoceros Horn Site

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Yana Rhinoceros Horn Site Oct 3rd 2011, 09:07 The Yana Rhinoceros Horn Site, or Yana RHS, is a 27,000 year-old site above the Arctic Circle in Siberia, if you can imagine. And it might hold the key (or one of them) to the first colonization of the Americas. Location of the Yana RHS site in eastern Siberia. Base map: Norman Einstein Located on the Yana River 1200 kilometers west of the Bering Strait, the site is the oldest site within the Arctic circle--and I fully admit the notion of being in the arctic circle at all is daunting, let alone without polar fleece. Found within the site are redeposited mammoth, bison and horse bones showing butchering marks; stone tools including scrapers and a hammerstone; and bone tools including a beveled foreshaft. The site is pretty old, not to mention pretty cold: but its location in eastern Siberia may represent evidence that human migration into Beringia during the early parts of the Last Glacial Maximum was possible. Yana Rhinoceros Horn Site Last Glacial Maximum Beringia Guide to the First American Colonization

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Archaeology: What's Hot Now: Pigs

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Pigs Oct 3rd 2011, 10:02 Pigs were first domesticated in central Asia, at least as long ago as 9000 years, and perhaps a couple thousand years older. They were part of the original suite of domesticates, including sheep, goats, wheat and barley, that were spread into Europe via the Linearbandkeramik. Archaeological sites with evidence for early pigs include Hallam Çemi, Çayönü Tepesi, and Neval Çori in eastern Turkey. Domestication of Pigs, more sources and information History of Farming Table of Animal Domestications How do we know an animal from an archaeological site is domesticated?

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Archaeology: What's Hot Now: Aztec Empire

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Aztec Empire Oct 3rd 2011, 10:02 Important Archaeological Sites of the Aztec Empire Tenochtitlan - Capital city of the Mexica, founded in 1325 on a swampy island in the middle of Lake Texcoco; now underneath the city of Mexico city Tlatelolco - Sister city of Tenochtitlan, known for its huge market. Azcapotzalco - Capital of the Tepanecs, captured by the Mexica and added to the Aztec hegemony at the end of the Tepanec War Cuauhnahuac - Modern day Cuernavaca, Morelos. Established by Tlahuica ca AD 1140, captured by Mexica in 1438. Malinalco - Rock cut temple built ca 1495-1501. Guiengola - Zapotec city on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca state, allied with the Aztecs by marriage More Aztec Empire Articles Guide to the Aztec Gods Aztec Calendar Stone Aztec Creation Myth The Maguey Plan Aztec Calpulli Roman Empire Figurine in Mexico Aztec Steam Bath at Teotihuacan Study Guide Menu Overview Timeline and King List Important Facts Archaeological Sites of the Aztecs Study Questions and Further Sources

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Archaeology: What's Hot Now: Anthropology Definitions

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Anthropology Definitions Oct 3rd 2011, 10:02 The study of anthropology is the study of human beings: their culture, their behavior, their beliefs, their ways of surviving. Here is a collection of other definitions of anthropology from anthropologists.-Kris Hirst Anthropology Definitions [Anthropology] is less a subject matter than a bond between subject matters. It is in part history, part literature; in part natural science, part social science; it strives to study men both from within and without; it represents both a manner of looking at man and a vision of man-the most scientific of the humanities, the most humanist of sciences.-Eric Wolf, Anthropology, 1964. Anthropology has traditionally attempted to stake out a compromise position on this central issue by regarding itself as both the most scientific of the humanities and the most humanistic of the sciences. That compromise has always looked peculiar to those outside anthropology, but today it looks increasingly precarious to those within the discipline.-James William Lett. 1997. Science Reason and Anthropology: The Principles of Rational Inquiry. Rowman and Littlefield, 1997. Anthropology is the study of humankind. Of all the disciplines that examine aspects of human existence and accomplishments, only Anthropology explores the entire panorama of the human experience from human origins to contemporary forms of culture and social life.-University of Florida Anthropology is Answering Questions Anthropologists attempt to answer the question: "how can one explain the diversity of human cultures that are currently found on earth and how have they evolved?" Given that we will have to change rather rapidly within the next generation or two this is a very pertinent question for anthropologists.-Michael Scullin Anthropology is the study of human diversity around the world. Anthropologists look at cross-cultural differences in social institutions, cultural beliefs, and communication styles. They often seek to promote understanding between groups by "translating" each culture to the other, for instance by spelling out common, taken-for-granted assumptions.-University of North Texas Anthropology seeks to uncover principles of behavior that apply to all human communities. To an anthropologist, diversity itself-seen in body shapes and sizes, customs, clothing, speech, religion, and worldview-provides a frame of reference for understanding any single aspect of life in any given community.-American Anthropological Association Anthropology is the study of people. In this discipline, people are considered in all their biological and cultural diversities, in the present as well as in the prehistoric past, and wherever people have existed. Students are introduced to the interaction between people and their environments to develop an appreciation of human adaptations past and present. Portland Community College Anthropology explores what it means to be human. Anthropology is the scientific study of humankind in all the cultures of the world, both past and present.-Western Washington University The Human Experience of Anthropology Anthropology is the study of humans in all areas and in all periods of time.-Triton College Anthropology is the only discipline that can access evidence about the entire human experience on this planet.-Michael Brian Schiffer Anthropology is the study of human culture and biology in the past and present.-Western Kentucky University Anthropology is, at once, both easy to define and difficult to describe; its subject matter is both exotic (marriage practices among Australian aborigines) and commonplace (the structure of the human hand); its focus both sweeping and microscopic. Anthropologists may study the language of a tribe of Brazilian Native Americans, the social life of apes in an African rain forest, or the remains of a long-vanished civilization in their own backyard - but there is always a common thread linking these vastly different projects, and always the common goal of advancing our understanding of who we are and how we came to be that way. In a sense, we all "do" anthropology because it is rooted in a universal human characteristic -- curiosity about ourselves and other people, living and dead, here and across the globe.- University of Louisville Anthropology is devoted to the study of human beings and human societies as they exist across time and space. It is distinct from other social sciences in that it gives central attention to the full time span of human history, and to the full range of human societies and cultures, including those located in historically marginalized parts of the world. It is therefore especially attuned to questions of social, cultural, and biological diversity, to issues of power, identity, and inequality, and to the understanding of dynamic processes of social, historical, ecological, and biological change over time.- Stanford University Anthropology department website (now moved) More Definitions This feature is part of the Guide to Field Definitions of Archaeology and Related Disciplines.

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Archaeology: What's Hot Now: Nok Art

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Nok Art Oct 3rd 2011, 10:02 Definition: Nok art describes the sculpted ceramic art of northern Nigeria of west Africa between 500 BC and AD 200. The distinctive coil-built terracotta sculptures are of human beings and animals, sometimes life-sized. The Nok people who created the sculptures were agriculturalists who smelted iron and lived in villages on the Jos plateau between the Benue and Niger rivers. Sources This glossary entry is a part of the Guide to the African Iron Age, and part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst. Examples: Taruga, Samun Dukiya

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Archaeology: What's Hot Now: Aztec Origins and the Foundin

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Aztec Origins and the Foundin Oct 2nd 2011, 10:02 Aztec Tenochtitlan, in the Valley of Mexico, now under the modern Mexico City, was the capital of the Aztec empire. According to native sources, it was founded in 1325, after the Aztecs wandered for years in search of a new homeland. The Origins of the Aztecs The Aztecs-who called themselves Mexica -- were not originally from the Valley of Mexico, but migrated from the north, from a mythical island called Aztlan, "The Place of Herons". Historically, the Aztecs/Mexica were the last of many tribes-collectively known as Chichimeca -- who migrated towards south from what is now Northern Mexico and the Southwest of the United States due to a period of great drought. In many codices (painted folding-books) the Aztecs are shown carrying with them the idol of their patron deity Huitzilopochtli. After almost 2 centuries of migration, at around A.D. 1250, the Mexica arrived in the Valley of Mexico. The Valley of Mexico: An Occupied Land The Valley of Mexico lies ~7000 feet above the sea level and is surrounded by high mountains and volcanoes. Today this area is almost completely covered by the monstrous expansion of Mexico City, but in antiquity, water coming down from these mountains created a series of shallow, marshy lakes that were intensely exploited for fishing and hunting, collecting plants, salt and water for cultivation. Because of its wealth of natural resources, the Valley of Mexico has been continuously occupied for millennia. Before the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico other societies developed there and exploited this rich environment. Teotihuacan: Almost 1000 years before the Aztecs, the city of Teotihuacan (between 200 BC and AD 750) flourished there. Today Teotihuacan is a main archaeological site a few miles north of modern Mexico City and every year attracts thousands of tourists. The word Teotihuacan is a Nahuatl term -- the language spoken by the Aztecs -- and means "The Birthplace of the God". We don't know its real name, but the Aztecs gave this name to the city because it was a sacred place, associated with the legendary origins of the world. The Legend of the Fifth Sun: The legend of the Fifth Sun is a famous Aztec myth about the creation of the universe and the origins of the world. According to the myth, the Gods, after the destruction of humankind during the era of the Forth Sun, met at Teotihuacan to decide which gods had to sacrifice themselves in order for a new era to start. They performed ceremonies at the pyramids of the Moon and the Sun, and finally threw themselves in a great fire. But the sun and moon were still immobile. So Ehecatl, the wind god, blowing at the sun, could finally move it through its way: the Fifth Sun -the era in which the Aztecs lived- was born. Tula: Another city that developed in the Valley of Mexico before the Aztecs was the city of Tula. This, between AD 950 and 1150, was the capital of the Toltecs. The Toltecs were considered by the Aztecs to excel in the arts and science and to be brave warriors. This place was so revered by the Aztecs, that the king Motecuhzoma (aka Montezuma) sent people to dig up Toltec objects to be placed in temples at Tenochtitlan. The First Settlement on Chapultepec ("Grasshopper Hill"), and the Princess' Sacrifice When the Aztecs/Mexica finally arrived in the Valley of Mexico Teotihuacan and Tula had been abandoned from centuries, but they found other groups settled on the best land. Those were groups of Chichimecs who had migrated in earlier times. The Mexica were, therefore, forced to settle on the inhospitable hill of Chapultepec. They later became vassals of the city of Culhuacan, a prestigious city whose rulers were considered heirs of the Toltecs. As acknowledgment for their help in battle, they obtained by the Culhua king one of his daughters to be worshipped as a goddess/priestess. However, when the Colhua king arrived to attend the ceremony, he found one of the priest dressed with the flayed skin of her daughter: Hutzilopochtli asked for the sacrifice of the princess. This provoked a clash and the defeat of the Mexica who had to leave and moved to some marshy islands in the middle of the lake. Tenochtitlan, "The place of the Fruit of the Prickly Pear Cactus" According to the myth, after weeks of wandering, Huitzilopochtli appeared to the Mexica leaders and guided his people to a place where a great eagle perched on a cactus killing a snake. This was the place elected for them by the god, the place where they will found their capital Tenochtitlan. The year was 2 Calli (Two House) or A.D. 1325. Tenochtitlan rapidly grew as a commercial and military center. The Mexica were skillful and fierce soldiers and created solid alliances with the surrounding cities. The apparently unfortunate position of their city, actually facilitates economic connections using canoes and boats across the lakes and at the same time helped against military attacks. The city grew rapidly, with palaces and well organized residential areas and aqueducts that provided fresh water to the city from the mountains. At the center of the city stood the sacred precinct with ball courts, schools for nobles, priests' quarters and the ceremonial heart of the city and of the whole empire: the Great Temple of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, the Huey Teocalli (the Great House of the Gods). This was a stepped pyramid with a double temple on top dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, the main deities of the Aztecs. The temple, decorated with bright colors, was rebuilt many times during Aztec history, the 7th and last version was the one seen and described by Hernan Cortés and the Conquistadors. When, on November 8 1519, Hernan Cortés and his soldiers entered the Aztec capital, they were entering one of the largest cities in the world, many of them had never seen a city like that before. Sources Smith Michael, 2003, The Aztecs, Second Edition, Blackwell Publishing

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Archaeology: What's Hot Now: Maya Bloodletting Rituals

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Maya Bloodletting Rituals Oct 2nd 2011, 10:02 Bloodletting--cutting part of the body to release blood--is an ancient ritual used by many Mesoamerican societies. For the ancient Maya, bloodletting rituals constituted a way to communicate with the gods and royal ancestors. This practice was usually performed by nobles through the perforation of body parts, mainly, but not only, tongue, lips, and genitals. Both men and women practiced these types of sacrifices. Ritual bloodletting, along with fasting, tobacco smoking and ritual enemas, were pursued by the royal Maya in order to provoke trance-like state and supernatural visions and therefore communicate with dynastic ancestors or underworld gods. Bloodletting Occasions and Locations These rituals were usually performed at significant dates and state events, such as beginning or end of calendar cycles, when a king ascended to the throne, and at building dedications, as well as at other important life stages of kings and queens, such as births, deaths, marriages, and war. Bloodletting rituals were usually carried out in secluded temple rooms on the top of pyramids, but public ceremonies were organized during these events and people attended them, crowding in the plaza at the bottom of the pyramid. These public displays were used by the rulers to show their ability to communicate with the gods in order to obtain advice on how to balance the world of the living and to ensure the natural cycles of the seasons and stars.    Bloodletting Tools Piercing of body parts during bloodletting rituals involved the use of sharp objects such as obsidian blades, stingray spines, carved bones, perforators, and knotted ropes. Equipment also included bark paper and copal incense, the first one used to collect the blood and then burnt with copal to provoke smoke. Blood was then collected in recepticals made out of ceramic or basketry. Cloth bundles were probably used to carry around all the equipment. Bloodletting Imagery Evidence of bloodletting rituals comes primarily from scenes depicting royal figures on carved monuments and painted pots. Stone sculptures and paintings from Maya sites such as Palenque, Yaxchilan, and Uaxactun, among others, offer dramatic examples of these practices. The Maya site of Yaxchilan, Chiapas, offers a particularly rich gallery of images about bloodletting rituals. In a series of three door lintels from this site, a royal woman, Lady Xook, is portrayed performing bloodletting, piercing her tongue with a knotted rope, and provoking a serpent isionduring the throne accession ceremony of his husband. Read about Lintel 24 at Yaxchilan Sources This glossary entry is a part of the guide to Maya Civilization, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. Adams, Richard E. W. , 2005 [1977], Prehistoric Mesoamerica. Third Edition. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. Mc Killop, Heather, 2004, The Ancient Maya. New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. Santa Barbara, California Schele, Linda, and Mary Miller, 1986. The Blood of Kings: Dynasty and Ritual in Maya Art. George Braziller, New York.

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