Archaeology news for June 23-July 9

[archersangel]

Evidence for Scotland’s earliest farming

An archaeological dig next to the Perthshire village of Dunning has revealed traces of human activity dating back 10,000 years. This included evidence of what experts believe is the earliest farming activity recorded in Scotland, and also remains of hunter-gathering activity dating back thousands of years before farming began.

The discoveries were made by archaeologists from the University of Glasgow, as part of the ten year, Strathearn Environs and Royal Forteviot (SERF) project. This year the project received an archaeology grant of £100,000 from Historic Environment Scotland to carry out geophysical survey, excavation, archival research and reporting.

Ancient Brazilians occupied the same houses for centuries

New research suggests the pit house dwellers of Brazil's southern highlands occupied the same houses for centuries, maintaining their in habitability though regular repairs.

The evidence, compiled by researchers from Europe and Brazil, is the first of its kind.

Previous radiocarbon dating attempts suggested the proto-Jê pit houses of southern Brazil were intermittently occupied. But new analysis, including AMS radiocarbon dating and Bayesian modelling, proves a pit house in Campo Belo do Sul was occupied continuously from 1395 to 1650.

Japanese expert conservators come to rescue of King Tut’s trove

Terrorism, political uprisings and the crash of a flag carrier plane have devastated Egypt’s tourism industry, but a plan is in motion to attract vacationers by unveiling a trove of treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb--with Japan’s help.

The Egyptian government will bring out previously unseen artifacts from the ancient king’s mausoleum it has kept in storage for almost a century. King Tutankhamun ruled ancient Egypt in 14th century B.C. The discovery of his undisturbed tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, by Egyptologist Howard Carter (1873-1939) in 1922 became one of the most significant finds of the 20th century, as the tomb held numerous funeral accessories that gave a detailed picture of how the pharaoh lived more than 3,000 years ago.