Egyptology News

One of my favorite blog directories, Alltop.com, now covers Egyptology news, and blogs. You can find current news about new discoveries, papyrology, and Egyptian monuments and pyramids.


Alltop - Top Egyptology News

Univ. of North Dakota 2009 Archaeological Field School

The Department of Anthropology, University of North Dakota, invites students to attend its Archaeological Field School in May and June, 2009. The 6-week course is being offered in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the USDI Bureau of Reclamation. The first 2-3 weeks of the field school will involve survey work at the Elkhorn/Ebert Ranch in the western North Dakota Badlands, where Theodore Roosevelt had a cattle operation in the 1880s. One week will be spent mapping the remains of the Elkhorn Ranch headquarters. The final 2-3 weeks will be spent conducting test excavations at multiple prehistoric sites at Shadehill Reservoir, SD.

Field school students will learn standard archeological field techniques, such as proper excavation methods, record keeping, site mapping via digital means (GPS, total station) and by paper, profiling and soil descriptions, photography, and so on. Students will receive up to six semester hours of undergraduate credit in Anthropology 380, Field Techniques in Archeology (one credit hour per week of participation). The application deadline is April 17, 2009. Enrollment is limited so please apply early.

If funds are available, field school students will be paid minimum hourly wages as student interns while working on the field school. This allows students to earn some income while getting first-hand experience in field archeology and earning valuable university credits. Basic living expenses (room and board) will be provided from field school project funds, and not from student fees.

UND Anthropology Research anticipates a busy schedule of archeological fieldwork this summer after the field school is over. There is a distinct possibility that we will be able to hire students to work as professionals on various field research projects during the rest of the summer.

Please see our website for additional information:

http://www.und.edu/dept/undar/fieldschool/fieldschool.html

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best regards,
Mike Jackson
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Michael A. Jackson, M.A.
Associate Research Archeologist

Anthropology Research
University of North Dakota
Babcock Hall Room 301
236 Centennial Drive Stop 7094
Grand Forks ND 58202-7094

701-777-4081 (phone)
701-777-2435 (fax)
701-740-1621 (cell)
michael_jackson@und.nodak.edu
www.und.edu/dept/undar

Recent Firing of Archaeology Researchers at Univ. of PA's Museum

Dear colleagues,

You may have heard that on 19 November 2008 University of Pennsylvania Museum's 18 Research Specialists in Archaeology have been fired from their positions while their associated laboratories and centers such as MASCA (Museum Applied Sciences Center for Archaeology) have been shut down. Senior researchers such as Patrick McGovern, David G. Romano, Simon Martin, Barbara J. Hayden, Philip G. Chase, and Naomi Miller are among the fired.

There is now an online petition requesting the Museum and University administrators to reconsider their decision.

I would like to encourage all to sign and support the cause, and distribute as widely as possible in the archaeological community.

Petition

Nota bene: When signing the petition, please enter your affiliation in the
box labeled "optional" (It is not clearly labeled as "affiliation").

Let us stand for the future of archaeological research in academia!

Many thanks, and best wishes
Ömür

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Ömür Harmansah
Assistant Professor of Archaeology
and Egyptology and Ancient Western Asian Studies
Brown University

Archaeology Online now on Blog Directories

Image by Stitch via FlickrArchaeology Online is now on the blog directories Alltop and Regator! Both of these directories are extremely useful in finding other anthropology and archaeology websites and blogs, and I suggest you explore them.

Archaeology Magazine's Top 10 Discoveries of 2008

Archaeology Magazine lists their top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2008, including the earliest shoes in China, the oldest oil paintings in Afghanistan, and the earliest human coprolites (look it up). They also have a list of endangered archaeological sites.

Ancient Egypt Themed PC Game

Image via WikipediaInterested in games with an archaeological theme (sort of)? Codeminion has created a fantastic one called The Ancient Quest of Saqqarah. The graphics are wonderful, the music is nice, and it runs on both PC and Mac. The game is a series of puzzles, and anyone can do it.


Codeminion - creators of Saqqarah, Magic Match and StoneLoops!

The James Ossuary

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeApparently, the forgery trial over the James Ossuary is collapsing on itself. The Israel Antiquities Authority has been trying to prove that the inscription that reads, "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" was a fake. But their witnesses have been unable to present good evidence to support their claim.


Supporters of James Ossuary Inscription’s Authenticity Vindicated!

The Harris Matrix

Image via WikipediaA lot of archaeologists in the Eastern part of the U.S. use the Harris Matrix, which is a stratigraphy system. Here is the website with more information and, you can download (FREE!) a copy of Dr. Harris's Principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy.

The Harris Matrix

Mapping Ancient Tombs with GPS

Image via WikipediaAn archaeology graduate student from Michigan State University is using GPS digital photo mapping software to study the positioning of tombs in Oman.


Researcher Maps Ancient Tombs in Oman with GPS-Photo Link Software

Metal ornaments on horse leather

Image by wednesday181 via FlickrThis is from the Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland website, and allows you to see the various metal ornaments that were used on leather horse equipment (but not furniture).

Leather Ornaments