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But what saddens me the most is that there is so much government lethargy in Australia when it comes to documenting and protecting Australia's rock art.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Australian rock art threatened by a lack of conservation\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-ai3Uwu9NuzI\/VEU2BiejteI\/AAAAAAABJEo\/S4XF4JE8rms\/s1333\/Australia_01.JPG\" title=\"Australian rock art threatened by a lack of conservation\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMany threats – the lower paintings at this site at Malarrak in Arnhem Land are\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;being removed by feral animals rubbing against the wall [Credit: Paul Tacon]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Weekend Australian reported that 1,700 engraved boulders were removed to make way for the North West Shelf gas plant on Western Australia's Burrup Peninsula in the early 1980s were relocated to a ridge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey sat in a fenced compound for 30 years alongside others damaged due to neglect. Although the original landscape context of the art was destroyed at least they are now out of what was called the \"the graveyard\".\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut now, impending changes to the Aboriginal Heritage Act by the Western Australian government means Aboriginal heritage will be worse off than ever before. This is because one person, possibly without relevant expertise, will be given the power to say yes or no to site destruction for development rather than a committee of experts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur article last week on the discovery of Indonesian rock paintings and hand stencils almost 40,000 years old generated much interest. Many comments focused on the need to better conserve and look after our shared rock art heritage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Australian rock art threatened by a lack of conservation\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-tv8mGk0-IFg\/VEU2McyjHrI\/AAAAAAABJEw\/q0PjmAEc02s\/s1333\/Australia_02.jpg\" title=\"Australian rock art threatened by a lack of conservation\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERock art at this site in Arnhem Land was almost destroyed\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;by fire in July 2013 [Credit: Paul Tacon]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe importance of rock art\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERock art sites are museums and art galleries embedded in natural landscapes, with ongoing cultural connection for contemporary Indigenous peoples. Despite this, and unlike built museums and galleries, the ability to continue to care for many of these important places is limited.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome well known sites include Djulirri, in Arnhem Land, Eagle's Reach in Wollemi National Park in New South Wales and the famous Laura-Quinkan sites of far north Queensland. But none of them have high security, protection from the elements or lots of financial support like built art galleries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAustralian rock art is extremely significant for Indigenous peoples of Australia, with its preservation important for Indigenous well-being. But it also should be a part of Australian national identity and World Heritage pride.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe earliest Australian rock art has been dated to almost 30,000 years ago and there may be older rock art given the new dates from nearby Indonesia. As many as 100,000 rock art sites lie across Australia and new discoveries are made each year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut Australia has never had coordinated approaches to rock art documentation, conservation and management so the full extent of rock art is unknown.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERock art is in peril because of development pressures, graffiti, vandalism, poor tourist management and several natural impacts. Some rock art sites have already been vandalised such as the rock engravings on the Burrup Peninsula, in Western Australia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Australian rock art threatened by a lack of conservation\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-iZ3nEEEJh0U\/VEU2U9HSnZI\/AAAAAAABJE4\/S9k6egjTCkg\/s1333\/Australia_03.jpg\" title=\"Australian rock art threatened by a lack of conservation\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArchaeologist Wayne Brennan points to graffiti and vandalism at the Emu Cave\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Erock art site in the Blue Mountains, NSW [Credit: Paul Tacon]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EConservation failing\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECurrent conservation methods fail because of a lack of a coordinated approach, lack of cultural context, reactionary methods, lack of training, minimal research and mismanagement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPart of the problem is that rock art sites are key components of cultural landscapes and Indigenous Australians argue for a cultural landscape approach to their preservation so that development will have minimal impact on sites.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENon-Indigenous Australians prefer a more site-specific approach so that heritage preservation can have minimal impact on development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERock art sits in an ambiguous place – is it art, part of the environment, heritage, archaeology or is it something else? This lack of clear classification has allowed rock art to slip through the cracks of government portfolios.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor instance, although it is \"art\" it is not in generously funded arts portfolios. It usually is considered \"heritage\" but is always the poor second cousin of the natural and built heritage of Australia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProf Paul Taçon (PERAHU, Griffith University) discusses the\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;importance of rock art conservation.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAustralia's National Heritage Strategy has recently been under review by both Labor and Liberal-led federal governments but rock art barely gets a mention in draft documents. Australia has never had a national rock art research or conservation strategy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecent and impending changes to legislation to reduce so-called \"green tape\" and new development plans for northern Australia could impact severely on rock art.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth the final report from Inquiry into the Development of Northern Australia, released in September, and the Cape York Regional Plan for Northern Queensland, released in August, fail to say much, if anything, about the risks to rock art, let alone how these will be minimised.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERock art attracts tourists\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETourists are interested in rock art and there are a number of sites open to the public across Australia. And many Indigenous communities would like to develop well-managed rock art tourism ventures.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut we need to study rock art sites already open to tourists to see what is working and what is not, as well as to develop new inexpensive and sustainable rock art experiences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Australian rock art threatened by a lack of conservation\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-qbCWTSUzYx0\/VEU2fgvgPQI\/AAAAAAABJFA\/rTSpPN3ZQEc\/s1333\/Australia_04.jpg\" title=\"Australian rock art threatened by a lack of conservation\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERecent damage by miners below rock paintings and engravings at a r\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eock art site in Chillagoe, Queensland [Credit: Paul Tacon]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnfortunately, rock art conservation research has difficulty attracting Australian funding because many people do not see this as \"sexy\" research or research at all.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut rock art should never be destroyed or removed to compounds to make way for any new development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo I am working with a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to develop Australia's first national rock art conservation strategy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis follows from a 10-day workshop in Kakadu National Park in August during which many Aboriginal participants became visibly emotional talking about threats to their sites. The strategy and an associated implementation plan will be available early next year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it can only be undertaken with widespread government and community support, and significant funding.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Paul S.c.tacon | Source: The Conversation [October 17, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2972561120084703303"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2972561120084703303"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-australian-rock-art-threatened.html","title":"Australian rock art threatened by lack of conservation"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-ai3Uwu9NuzI\/VEU2BiejteI\/AAAAAAABJEo\/S4XF4JE8rms\/s72-c\/Australia_01.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5791570827254200607"},"published":{"$t":"2022-01-31T07:27:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-01-31T07:27:37.672-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Medieval court to be rebuilt in Wales"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EWork to reconstruct one of the medieval courts of the Princes of Gwynedd has begun at St Fagans National History Museum, near Cardiff.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Medieval court to be rebuilt in Wales\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-Fk4Qv85JuM4\/VCQ04zMjPHI\/AAAAAAABH0E\/Ri0QNisfW_s\/s1333\/UK_medieval_01.jpg\" title=\"Medieval court to be rebuilt in Wales\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWork on rebuilding the Llys Rhosyr great hall is under way\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: National Museum Wales]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERebuilding the great hall from Llys Rhosyr on Anglesey will be one of the most challenging archaeological projects attempted in Wales, said the museum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPart of its original stone structure recovered from Angelsey will be used. Once complete, schools and groups will be able to stay overnight.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project will see the building's nine-metre high (29.5 ft) stone walls and thatched roof rebuilt and is part the wider renovation of St Fagans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Medieval court to be rebuilt in Wales\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-dYa_PQ-6cm4\/VCQ1EEG2niI\/AAAAAAABH0M\/DZKlrDjQIk4\/s1333\/UK_medieval_02.jpg\" title=\"Medieval court to be rebuilt in Wales\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn artist's impression shows how the Llys Rhosyr settlement might have looked\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: National Museum Wales]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe redevelopment, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Welsh government, includes a new building to illustrate the story of Wales from 230,000 BC and an Iron Age settlement Bryn Eryr, also from Anglesey.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe revamp has provided two apprenticeships with the museum's historic buildings unit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETrainee stonemasons Matthew Roberts and Brett Burnell will join the team after funding was granted by the People's Postcode Lottery.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: BBC News Website [September 25, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5791570827254200607"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5791570827254200607"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/uk-medieval-court-to-be-rebuilt-in-wales.html","title":"Medieval court to be rebuilt in Wales"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-Fk4Qv85JuM4\/VCQ04zMjPHI\/AAAAAAABH0E\/Ri0QNisfW_s\/s72-c\/UK_medieval_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5376441096281477482"},"published":{"$t":"2021-11-28T05:48:00.001-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-11-28T05:55:31.069-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Africa"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Early Mammals"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tanzania"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: International team to advise Tanzania on protection of ancient footprints"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EA University of Colorado Denver researcher has been appointed to an international team of advisors dedicated to creating a museum complex in Tanzania showcasing perhaps the most important collection of hominin footprints in the world today.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"International team to advise Tanzania on protection of ancient footprints\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-vc-dcn0wdk4\/VEFGvzw8NBI\/AAAAAAABI_U\/vmMDRVRRC-w\/s1333\/Tanzania_01.jpg\" title=\"International team to advise Tanzania on protection of ancient footprints\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECU Denver students dig at the Laetoli fossil site during the 2013\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETanzania Field School [Credit: Chris Casey]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"This project is close to my heart,\" said Associate Professor of Anthropology Charles Musiba (left), PhD. \"I have always thought the site should be accessible to everyone, not just scientists.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe roughly 70 footprints are 3.6 million years old. They were discovered in a layer of sediment in 1976 by anthropologist Mary Leakey in the Laetoli area of Tanzania. For years, scientists thought they were made by two adults and a child but now believe four individuals created them. The footprints are considered the earliest example of bipedalism among hominins.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERetired CU Denver Professor of Geology Martin Lockley, an expert on fossils and dinosaur prints, is also on the six-member advisory panel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"International team to advise Tanzania on protection of ancient footprints\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-Y49B8Ysq7YU\/VEFG4wsHyzI\/AAAAAAABI_c\/bhG7VY8CvF0\/s1333\/Tanzania_02.jpg\" title=\"International team to advise Tanzania on protection of ancient footprints\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThis is an overview rendering of what the museum and research complex at the\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Laetoli fossil site will look like upon completion.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E [Credit: Chris Casey]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn many ways the museum is the brainchild of Musiba, a Tanzanian-born anthropologist who has been studying the footprints since 1996 and has long championed protecting them while making the collection available to the public. Currently, the footprints are preserved by keeping them buried.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Right now the footprints are covered up and the only way to study them is to re-excavate them, which could be damaging,\" he said. \"We would like to excavate half of the site and build the museum over it. We can then control the ambient air, the moisture and pH levels inside to protect the prints.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMusiba and Lockley will advise Tanzania's Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism on how best to protect the Laetoli Conservation Project. The $35 million project will develop the Laetoli World Heritage Site into a state-of-the-art complex that will include a museum, research facility with labs and accommodation for 35 scientists and an education center that can host 50 students and six teachers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"International team to advise Tanzania on protection of ancient footprints\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-g9brFeM6bhc\/VEFHDhqcJGI\/AAAAAAABI_k\/LciXG9UzEs4\/s1333\/Tanzania_03.jpg\" title=\"International team to advise Tanzania on protection of ancient footprints\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECU Denver anthropology students examine a fossil found at the Laetoli site\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eduring the 2013 Tanzania Field School [Credit: Chris Casey]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new facility is expected to be completed in about five years and will have a laboratory dedicated specifically for students and researchers from CU Denver, the premier public research university in Denver.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs director of CU Denver's Tanzania Field School, Musiba takes groups of students each year to get hands-on experience working at Laetoli and the famed Olduvai Gorge where some of the earliest remains of our ancient ancestors have been found.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast summer, he and his students discovered footprints of lions, rhinos and antelopes near those of the early hominins. They were made in about the same time period.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"International team to advise Tanzania on protection of ancient footprints\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-umzLVFH8CkI\/VEFHLy7aPdI\/AAAAAAABI_s\/MXqCDkKnLoM\/s1333\/Tanzania_04.jpg\" title=\"International team to advise Tanzania on protection of ancient footprints\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EModel of the proposed museum [Credit: University of Colorado Denver]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The museum will feature exhibits of human origins, wildlife and geology while providing information about the current inhabitants of the region such as the Masai people,\" Musiba said. \"We would like to offer summer research opportunities to scientists from all over the world.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpecifically, Musiba and his colleagues will develop plans to ensure the long-term survival of the hominin footprints. That will include doing site visits, reviewing plans for the museum and monitoring the safety of the footprints.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe museum site is near some of Africa's premier tourist areas including the Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"When you go inside this museum,\" Musiba said, \"you will go back in time 3.6 million years and reflect on the fact that your earliest ancestors walked here.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: David Kelly | Source: University of Colorado Denver [October 16, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5376441096281477482"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5376441096281477482"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-international-team-to-advise.html","title":"Heritage: International team to advise Tanzania on protection of ancient footprints"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-vc-dcn0wdk4\/VEFGvzw8NBI\/AAAAAAABI_U\/vmMDRVRRC-w\/s72-c\/Tanzania_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6797195107151890007"},"published":{"$t":"2020-04-23T00:39:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-04-23T00:39:03.220-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Spain"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Roman site in Andalucia in jeopardy"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"One of Andalucia’s most important cultural sites, the Roman ruins at Acinipo, has been added to a ‘red list’ of at-risk assets by non-profit association Hispania Nostra.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Roman site in Andalucia in jeopardy\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-LeJhws1tdhY\/VDbW02lfmII\/AAAAAAABIfY\/zKh6Ta3Qjh4\/s1333\/Spain_Roman_01b.jpg\" title=\"Roman site in Andalucia in jeopardy\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Roman theatre of Acinipo [Credit: joguero\/Flickr]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDating back to the first century BC, Acinipo was a city created for retired soldiers from Caesar’s Roman legions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust 20km from Ronda, the Ibero-Roman settlement – which includes a Roman theatre still in use today – is known locally as Ronda la Vieja, or Old Ronda.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut constant pillaging, progressive deterioration and no conservative action from the Junta is said to be putting the site in jeopardy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIsabel Maria Barriga, Ronda’s Councillor for Tourism, has again urged the Junta to take urgent action to save the site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We have presented an incredible variety of ideas for how to rescue the ruins, but the Junta seems to have other priorities that are not Ronda,” she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are currently 605 monuments in a similar situation across Spain, according to Hispania Nostra, which was created in 1976 to preserve Spanish cultural heritage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut with 72 ‘at-risk’ sites, Andalucia has the dubious honour of leading the pack.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Olive Press [October 08, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6797195107151890007"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6797195107151890007"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/southern-europe-roman-site-in-andalucia.html","title":"Roman site in Andalucia in jeopardy"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-LeJhws1tdhY\/VDbW02lfmII\/AAAAAAABIfY\/zKh6Ta3Qjh4\/s72-c\/Spain_Roman_01b.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-8443440136162188271"},"published":{"$t":"2020-04-23T00:33:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-04-23T00:33:07.620-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Italy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Italian police unveil recovered art"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Stolen art including a painting of Rome's historic Pantheon by Giovanni Paolo Pannini, and the Lamentation of Adam and Eve over the body of Abel, by Giovanni Battista Caracciolo (il Battistello) were among works worth about 15 million euros recovered by special art police and presented Thursday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Italian police unveil recovered art\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-E8jGkJQWEd4\/VDgjOEx_7QI\/AAAAAAABIjw\/uDpuSUqiMEY\/s1600\/Italy_04.jpg\" title=\"Italian police unveil recovered art\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Pannini was recovered from a bank vault and the Lamentation from an antique shop in Cagliari by a special unit of the national military Carabinieri that also discovered two sarcophagi dating from the first and third centuries after Christ.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome 1,300 archaeological finds dating from as far back as the sixth century BC were among the treasures presented by the Carabinieri unit for the protection of cultural heritage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of the items recovered will be returned to the owners as Carabinieri continue their investigation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Our artistic heritage is continually attacked,\" said Giancarlo Capaldo, deputy prosecutor of Rome.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cobject id=\"BLOG_video-1036e67912135f28\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\" codebase=\"http:\/\/download.macromedia.com\/pub\/shockwave\/cabs\/flash\/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"\u003E\u003Cparam name=\"movie\" value=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/get_player\"\u003E\u003Cparam name=\"bgcolor\" value=\"#FFFFFF\"\u003E\u003Cparam name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\"\u003E\u003Cparam name=\"flashvars\" value=\"flvurl=https:\/\/redirector.googlevideo.com\/videoplayback?id%3D1036e67912135f28%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dblogger%26requiressl%3Dyes%26app%3Dblogger%26cmo%3Dsecure_transport%3Dyes%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%3Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1485619814%26sparams%3Dip,ipbits,expire,id,itag,source,requiressl%26signature%3D5EEA6529B86083BBC58DA5C839599FE8F17A80D2.06BC7A0908EAFE4B0D13C0977380F6D40295EA2F%26key%3Dck2\u0026amp;iurl=http:\/\/video.google.com\/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D1036e67912135f28%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DdIi6buLDzkSAtTjZs7gjIF1LR8c\u0026amp;autoplay=0\u0026amp;ps=blogger\"\u003E\u003Cembed src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/get_player\" type=\"application\/x-shockwave-flash\" bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" flashvars=\"flvurl=https:\/\/redirector.googlevideo.com\/videoplayback?id%3D1036e67912135f28%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dblogger%26requiressl%3Dyes%26app%3Dblogger%26cmo%3Dsecure_transport%3Dyes%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%3Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1485619814%26sparams%3Dip,ipbits,expire,id,itag,source,requiressl%26signature%3D5EEA6529B86083BBC58DA5C839599FE8F17A80D2.06BC7A0908EAFE4B0D13C0977380F6D40295EA2F%26key%3Dck2\u0026iurl=http:\/\/video.google.com\/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D1036e67912135f28%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DdIi6buLDzkSAtTjZs7gjIF1LR8c\u0026autoplay=0\u0026ps=blogger\" allowFullScreen=\"true\" \/\u003E\u003C\/object\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\"We are the country with the greatest number of art works in the world, but fortunately we also have the best specialized police in the world,\" he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInvestigators patiently tracked the Caracciolo, starting with the antique dealer in Cagliari who said he had purchased the massive oil painting for 60 million lire.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, the work had been stolen in the 1980s from D'Ayala Castello of Valva near Salerno in southern Italy and investigations are continuing into how it wound up with the Cagliari dealer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Pannini was traced through Switzerland after it had disappeared during restoration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: ANSA [October 09, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8443440136162188271"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8443440136162188271"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/italy-italian-police-unveil-recovered.html","title":"Italian police unveil recovered art"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-E8jGkJQWEd4\/VDgjOEx_7QI\/AAAAAAABIjw\/uDpuSUqiMEY\/s72-c\/Italy_04.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-4670464932064054683"},"published":{"$t":"2020-04-23T00:16:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-04-23T00:16:11.050-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"British Museum director says \"No\" to return of Parthenon Sculptures"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"MacGregor said that the efforts of the Greek government to claim the return of the Elgin marbles is not going to bear any fruitful results.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"British Museum director says \u0026quot;No\u0026quot; to return of Parthenon Sculptures\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-PUTqFlgXxnk\/VGDfs5NG3KI\/AAAAAAABKgs\/BUFBpSsR7WQ\/s1333\/Parthenon_01.jpg\" title=\"British Museum director says \u0026quot;No\u0026quot; to return of Parthenon Sculptures\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDisputed: The Parthenon Sculptures, which reside\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;in the British Museum [Credit: TOC]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a very provocative way, the Director of the British Museum in London, Neil MacGregor reiterated today to British media that there is absolutely no intention from the British side to return the Parthenon marbles to Greece.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpeaking today, “he repeated the museum's long-held position that the acquisition of the famous sculptures by Lord Elgin at the start of the 19th century was legal and that there was 'maximum public benefit' in them remaining in London where they were seen in the context of world culture,” the Evening Standard, a British newspaper reports.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the newspaper, MacGregor said that the efforts of the Greek government to claim the return of the Elgin marbles is not going to bear any fruitful results.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Yet the museum is coming under the most sustained attack for decades from the Greek government whose call for the works to be repatriated is now being fought by a team including the lawyers Geoffrey Robertson and Amal Clooney,” it mentions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe newspaper further mentions that approximately one third of the marbles from the Parthenon marbles is in London, while about the same number remains in Greece.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Quite a lot of them no longer exist. So there's no possibility of recovering an artistic entity and even less of putting them back in the ruined building from which they came,\" he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Times of Change [November 07, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4670464932064054683"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4670464932064054683"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/more-stuff-british-museum-director-says.html","title":"British Museum director says \u0026quot;No\u0026quot; to return of Parthenon Sculptures"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-PUTqFlgXxnk\/VGDfs5NG3KI\/AAAAAAABKgs\/BUFBpSsR7WQ\/s72-c\/Parthenon_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5630770278448133551"},"published":{"$t":"2018-04-19T12:21:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-04-19T12:21:01.228-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ancient temple to be buried under apartment block"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EResidents of Thessaloniki (northern Greece) are outraged by a decision to build an apartment block on top of a recently discovered ancient Greek temple in the heart of the city, as GreekReporter online writes today.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient temple to be buried under an apartment block\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-d0MJ1lkptFg\/U8yoQqMrSsI\/AAAAAAABEMA\/DvS6gby4qto\/s1333\/Greece_Thessaloniki_07.jpg\" title=\"Ancient temple to be buried under an apartment block\" \/\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient temple to be buried under an apartment block\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-VHb41Do6wC0\/U8yoWOjSBTI\/AAAAAAABEMI\/lB_cyf7Bwug\/s1333\/Greece_Thessaloniki_08.jpg\" title=\"Ancient temple to be buried under an apartment block\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient temple to be buried under an apartment block\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-xq7MpLGKEDc\/U8yoa8A315I\/AAAAAAABEMQ\/ZPsc5aZuupY\/s1333\/Greece_Thessaloniki_09.jpg\" title=\"Ancient temple to be buried under an apartment block\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERemains of the Aphrodite temple in Thessaloniki\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Temple of Venus]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe temple of goddess Aphrodite, which was brought to Thessaloniki from the city of Aenea in the 6th century B.C., is said to be priceless in value thus the locals named it 'Parthenon of Thessaloniki.' The temple lies in an area now called Dioikitirio (administrative centre).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient temple to be buried under an apartment block\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-Gi7j8B0vKJo\/U8yoiUepCkI\/AAAAAAABEMc\/wntMEzt85hk\/s1333\/Greece_Thessaloniki_04.jpg\" title=\"Ancient temple to be buried under an apartment block\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient temple to be buried under an apartment block\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-S-nHOv8Csvo\/U8yowjRSVII\/AAAAAAABEMk\/9sFjW_IaNjo\/s1333\/Greece_Thessaloniki_03.jpg\" title=\"Ancient temple to be buried under an apartment block\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArtist's rendition and diagram of the Temple of Aphrodite in relation to it's urban\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Esetting in the Square of Antigoninon, near the central circular fountain\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Temple of Venus]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Roman times the area was known as the Square of the Sacred Ones, as most of the city's temples were concentrated there. The \u003Ca href=\"\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/06\/heritage-ancient-temple-to-be-buried.html\"\u003Eancient Greek temple\u003C\/a\u003E was brought to light in 2000 after the demolition of a two-storey building. The archaeologists found the eastern part of the temple's 'krepis', statues of Greek and Roman times, and numerous fragments of architectural parts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient temple to be buried under an apartment block\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-X0OVeE8EApc\/U8yo-hz3kyI\/AAAAAAABEMo\/kklnSn0y61E\/s1333\/Greece_Thessaloniki_02.jpg\" title=\"Ancient temple to be buried under an apartment block\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETemple of Aphrodite exhibit in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Temple of Venus]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile most of the temple remains in Dioikitirio, some parts including the columns of the temple, as well as many of the other remains, are currently being exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the school of Architecture of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Antigonidon square can be reformed in two levels, so that the temple would be rebuilt and become visible in its entirety.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: ANSA [July 16, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5630770278448133551"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5630770278448133551"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2018\/04\/ancient-temple-to-be-buried-under.html","title":"Ancient temple to be buried under apartment block"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Best Reader"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/03066504419119504248"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"22","src":"\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-t32Yws_Tg-0\/WJXHmidh9uI\/AAAAAAAADZ4\/I09fMGa3K8IKF68Cxkc_kq6T1O5vcrluwCK4B\/s150\/97249744b2b9b9016220278777f2df58_s-114.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-d0MJ1lkptFg\/U8yoQqMrSsI\/AAAAAAABEMA\/DvS6gby4qto\/s72-c\/Greece_Thessaloniki_07.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-8529247171380204014"},"published":{"$t":"2018-03-19T15:29:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-03-19T15:29:15.161-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Derveni Papyrus candidate for UNESCO List"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The Derveni Papyrus is the only readable papyrus that has survived in Greece and the most ancient manuscript in Europe. Now it is a candidate for the UNESCO list of documented Heritage Monuments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Derveni Papyrus candidate for UNESCO List\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-uOHqFWv1CcQ\/VGDekcYDMII\/AAAAAAABKgg\/k0HMkJxtb7U\/s1333\/Greece_Derveni_01.JPG\" title=\"Derveni Papyrus candidate for UNESCO List\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Derveni Papyrus is of immense importance not only for the study of Greek religion\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eand philosophy, which is the basis for the western philosophical thought, but also\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;because it serves as a proof of the early dating of the Orphic poems offering a\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Edistinctive version of Presocratic philosophers. The text of the Papyrus, which\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eis the first book of western tradition, has a global significance, since it reflects\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;universal human values: the need to explain the world, the desire to belong to a\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;human society with known rules and the agony to confront the end of life\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: © Photographic Archive of the Archaeological Museum\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;of Thessaloniki\/Orestis Kourakis]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to archaeologists, the Derveni papyrus was written around 340-320 B.C. and it is a copy of an older version written at the end of the 5th century B.C.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo enter the UNESCO list, the ancient manuscript should be exhibited in its totality. At the moment, not all sections of the papyrus are exhibited at the Archaelogical Museum of Thessaloniki. The International Council of Museums is discussing the exhibition of the full manuscript.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the moment, only one panel out of nine is exhibited at the Thessaloniki museum. The nine panels hold a total of 266 fragments of the ancient papyrus. The papyrus was never exhibited in its totality as it was stored in the museum’s storage for preservation purposes. Last year, it was the first time the manuscript was exhibited as a whole for the 4th Biennale of Contemporary Art. It was found that the humidity and lighting conditions are good for its preservation, so its exhibition as a whole is feasible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe papyrus is an ancient Greek manuscript that was found on January 15, 1962 in Derveni in Macedonia, northern Greece. It was found in the ashes atop of an ancient tomb, presumably that of a nobleman. Experts say that it survived because it was not affected by humidity as it was carbonized by the funeral pyre.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe text is a philosophical treatise that is an allegorical commentary on an Orphic poem about the birth of the gods. It was written by someone in the circle of the philosopher Anaxagoras in the second half of the 5th Century B.C. It “the most important new piece of evidence about Greek philosophy and religion to come to light since the Renaissance” (Janko 2005). It dates to around 340 BC, during the reign of Philip II of Macedon, making it Europe’s oldest surviving manuscript.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe text was published 44 years later after the extensive work of a group of philosophers led by A.L. Pierris and the use of multispectral imaging techniques.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAutho: Philip Chrysopoulos | Source: Greek Reporter [November 07, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8529247171380204014"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8529247171380204014"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/heritage-derveni-papyrus-candidate-for.html","title":"Heritage: Derveni Papyrus candidate for UNESCO List"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-uOHqFWv1CcQ\/VGDekcYDMII\/AAAAAAABKgg\/k0HMkJxtb7U\/s72-c\/Greece_Derveni_01.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-8673661838885540172"},"published":{"$t":"2018-01-03T23:47:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-01-03T23:47:50.775-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"France"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: France to return 239 artefacts to Egypt"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EFrance will return to Egypt 239 archaeological artifacts which were illegally smuggled out of the country, Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh al Damati said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"France to return 239 artefacts to Egypt\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-oL67Gc0WbMg\/VHdaY3ZQPgI\/AAAAAAABLlc\/cILUH4AgEvo\/s1333\/Egypt_loot_01.jpg\" title=\"France to return 239 artefacts to Egypt\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"France to return 239 artefacts to Egypt\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-jnpNSMIeImQ\/VHdaTnckFTI\/AAAAAAABLlY\/jaZMavOlA0U\/s1333\/Egypt_loot_02.jpg\" title=\"France to return 239 artefacts to Egypt\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESome of the artefacts to be returned to Egypt by France\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Egyptian Antiquities Ministry]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAl Damati said in a statement that experts from the Louvre Museum had confirmed the authenticity of 239 of the 302 archaeological pieces illegally taken from Egypt to France.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Egyptian authorities have requested the return of the remaining 63 pieces for examination.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe statement pointed out that the recovery of the artifacts is part of the ministry’s efforts to recover archaeological objects stolen from the country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAl Damati said the Egyptian Government is preparing an agreement with France to reduce antiquity smuggling, which has spread recently.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAntiquities Department head Ali Ahmed said in the statement that the recovered pieces date back to different Pharaonic eras.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey include wooden painted statuettes of sailors which were part of a funerary boat and a piece of limestone with drawings showing offerings to the god Osiris and the goddess Isis.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pieces also include a number of amulets, pots made of stone and ceramic and a set of coins of the Roman, Byzantine and Islamic eras.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Latin American Herald Tribune [November 25, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8673661838885540172"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8673661838885540172"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/heritage-france-to-return-239-artefacts.html","title":"Heritage: France to return 239 artefacts to Egypt"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-oL67Gc0WbMg\/VHdaY3ZQPgI\/AAAAAAABLlc\/cILUH4AgEvo\/s72-c\/Egypt_loot_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5928361802038123357"},"published":{"$t":"2017-07-08T02:12:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-07-08T02:12:19.678-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Japan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Japan: Museum finds original drawings by Schliemann"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA Japanese museum said it has confirmed 28 original drawings from German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann’s report on ancient Greek ruins that could shed light on the excavation of a fabled palace.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Museum finds original drawings by Schliemann\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-i6QiiyHWZQg\/VHoe5B2dJjI\/AAAAAAABLn4\/FktxnMvtbbE\/s1333\/Schliemann_01.jpg\" title=\"Museum finds original drawings by Schliemann\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA painting of a mural unearthed at the remains of the Tiryns palace is used\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eas the front cover of Heinrich Schliemann’s report released in 1885\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;[Credit: Tenri University Sankokan Museum]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchliemann (1822-1890), who won fame for his discovery of the legendary city of Troy in Greek mythology, is also known for his unearthing of the remains of a Greek palace named Tiryns.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Tenri University Sankokan Museum said Nov. 26 the original drawings contain notes handwritten by Schliemann.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA report on the discovery of Tiryns featured drawings and other materials and was released in 1885. However, journals and other information describing the excavation of the ancient palace do not exist.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMuseum officials said the drawings they possess are precious primary historical materials that can explain what happened during the excavation process.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The drawings depict the remains and relics with extreme accuracy in terms of scale and other aspects. Their quality reaches the most advanced level in the 19th century, a developing era for archaeology,” said Yoshiyuki Suto, a professor of Greek archaeology at Nagoya University Graduate School.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Because they include detailed instructions for publishing the report, we can learn what processes the drawings underwent until the release of the report,” he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe largest drawing is 49 centimeters by 68 cm.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Museum finds original drawings by Schliemann\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-vVt8-8FfeH4\/VHofAx8ZXNI\/AAAAAAABLoA\/TveSG69xYiI\/s1333\/Schliemann_02.jpg\" title=\"Museum finds original drawings by Schliemann\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA picture of earthenware shaped like animals. Names and publishing instructions\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;in the margin were written by Heinrich Schliemann\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Tenri University Sankokan Museum]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen Tiryns, located on the Peloponnesus Peninsula, was unearthed by Schliemann in 1884 and 1885, his German assistant, Wilhelm Doerpfeld, drew accurate ground plans for the remains.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to the ground plans, the original drawings contain paintings of a mural featuring a performer riding a cow, as well as relics, such as earthenware shaped like animals. They were all painted with ink and watercolors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ancient palace is famous for its castle walls dating to the Mycenaean Culture (late 17th century B.C.-12th century B.C.), and has been designated a World Heritage site along with the remains of Mycenae. Ancient Greek poet Homer praised the massive walls in his work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShozen Nakayama, the founder of Tenri University who was an avid collector, bought 30 original drawings from Schliemann’s report around 1960 at a secondhand bookshop in London.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA friend of Nakayama’s donated two of the drawings to Tokyo’s Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan. The remaining 28 are currently owned by the Tenri University Sankokan Museum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Nara museum in 2008 asked the museum of prehistory and early history in Germany for a handwriting analysis of the 28 drawings. The study confirmed that some notes in the margins of the drawings were written by Schliemann.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe drawings will go on display from April through June at the Tenri University Sankokan Museum, together with the Tenri Central Library’s first edition of Schliemann’s report on the discovery of Troy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Yoshiko Aoyama | Source: The Asahi Shimbun [November 27, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5928361802038123357"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5928361802038123357"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/japan-museum-finds-original-drawings-by.html","title":"Japan: Museum finds original drawings by Schliemann"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-i6QiiyHWZQg\/VHoe5B2dJjI\/AAAAAAABLn4\/FktxnMvtbbE\/s72-c\/Schliemann_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1868978724971069432"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-14T09:00:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.330-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Eastern Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Siberia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Ukok Princess to find final resting place in Altai"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"First sketches of a would-be burial mound for the ancient mummy of a mysterious young woman, known as the Ukok Princess, have been presented in the Republic of Altai, Altai Kine, the president of the Kin Altai Turkic Spiritual Centre, a regional public organization, told TASS.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ukok Princess to find final resting place in Altai\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-h1zCr3IAl1U\/VI8FFXv8u0I\/AAAAAAABMuw\/OseR3V89nzg\/s1333\/Altai_Ukok_Princess_02.jpg\" title=\"Ukok Princess to find final resting place in Altai\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe 25-century-old mummy of the Princess of Ukok\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: WikiCommons]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“It is supposed that the mummy will be buried at its original burial place, in the Ukok plateau, from where it was unearthed by archaeologists in 1993. A burial monument will be erected above the grave, a kind of mausoleum. Now we have several designs,” Kine said, adding that so far there was no government resolution allowing to re-burry the mummy. “But we do believe this young woman will finally rest in peace. Some time ago, few people believed the princes will come back to the republic \/the mummy was kept in Novosibirsk till 2012\/. It’s up to us to decide what the mausoleum will look like.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe noted that all the designs of the would-be mausoleum provided for possible access to the mummy for researchers. All of them are based on ethnic and religious rules and rites. Thus, under one of them, it will be a tumulus with a nine-layer white mausoleum on the top. Stone idols of Altai deities will be placed around the tumulus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ukok Princess to find final resting place in Altai\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-0y976AZ7gQQ\/VJLp15j95zI\/AAAAAAABMxY\/PwHUtn6ESyo\/s1333\/siberia_01.jpg\" title=\"Ukok Princess to find final resting place in Altai\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPlans have been put forward to build a permanent monument and final resting\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eplace for the ice maiden, who was uncovered by archaeologists in 1993\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Spiritual Centre of the Turks Kin Altai]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 25-century-old mummy of the Princess of Ukok was brought to the National Museum of Altai in 2012 after about 20 years spent at a Novosibirsk-based research institute. The mummy, an object of worship for the indigenous Altai people, was excavated in 1993 along with six saddled and bridled horses from the frozen earth of Altai's Ukok plateau near the border with Mongolia. The mummy has since been kept at the Archaeological and Ethnographic Institute of Novosibirsk, where it was studied by researchers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENothing is known of her actual history, but DNA tests and the reconstruction of her face indicate she was of European, not Asian, origin. Found ot the border of China and Mongolia, she was initially thought to have been of Scythian extraction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Altai people believe the Princess was the ancestress of the humankind. Ever since she was discovered they have insisted she should be brought back to her homeland, Altai.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: TASS [December 14, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1868978724971069432"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1868978724971069432"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/heritage-ukok-princess-to-find-final.html","title":"Heritage: Ukok Princess to find final resting place in Altai"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-h1zCr3IAl1U\/VI8FFXv8u0I\/AAAAAAABMuw\/OseR3V89nzg\/s72-c\/Altai_Ukok_Princess_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5362854507015008183"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-14T08:00:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.351-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Egypt unveils colossal statue of Amenhotep III "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Archaeologists on Sunday unveiled a restored colossal statue of Amenhotep III that was toppled in an earthquake more than 3,000 years ago at Egypt's famed temple city of Luxor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Egypt unveils colossal statue of Amenhotep III \" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-BPDmstYalwk\/VI8C64W8L8I\/AAAAAAABMuk\/dK9tYO6C5do\/s1333\/Egypt_colossus_02.jpg\" title=\"Egypt unveils colossal statue of Amenhotep III \" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA tourist takes a picture of two colossal statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III in Egypt's\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;famed temple city of Luxor on December 14, 2014. Luxor, a city of half a million on\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ethe banks of the River Nile in the south, is an open-air museum of temples and tombs\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;from ancient Egypt [Credit: AFP\/Radwan Abu-Elmagd]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe statue showing him in a striding attitude was re-erected at the northern gate of the king's funerary temple on the west bank of the Nile.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe temple is already famous for its existing 3,400-year-old Memnon colossi -- twin statues of Amenhotep III whose reign archaeologists say marked the political and cultural zenith of ancient Egyptian civilisation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 12.92-metre (43-foot) statue unveiled on Sunday stands west of an existing effigy of the king, also depicting him walking, which was unveiled in March.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"These are up to now the highest standing effigies of an Egyptian king in striding attitude,\" said German-Armenian archaeologist Hourig Sourouzian, who heads the project to conserve the temple.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe world-famous twin Memnon colossi are 21 metres tall but show the pharaoh seated.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe restored statue now stands again for the first time since its collapse 3,200 years ago, Sourouzian told AFP from Luxor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConsisting of 89 large pieces and numerous small fragments and reassembled since November, the monolith weighs 110 tonnes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt had lain broken in pieces after the earthquake in 1200 BC, Sourouzian said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe statue shows the king wearing the white crown of Upper Egypt, and each hand holding a papyrus roll inscribed with his name, like the one standing next to it that was unveiled earlier this year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis belt, holding a dagger with a falcon-head handle, is fastened with a rectangular clasp bearing the names of the king.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWork to conserve the Amenhotep III temple is entirely funded through private and international donations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPharaoh Amenhotep III inherited an empire that stretched from the Euphrates to Sudan, archaeologists say.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 18th dynasty ruler became king aged around 12, with his mother as regent.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmenhotep III died in around 1354 BC and was succeeded by his son Amenhotep IV, widely known as Akhenaten.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELuxor, a city of some 500,000 people on the banks of the Nile in southern Egypt, is an open-air museum of intricate temples and pharaonic tombs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: AFP [December 14, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5362854507015008183"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5362854507015008183"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/heritage-egypt-unveils-colossal-statue.html","title":"Heritage: Egypt unveils colossal statue of Amenhotep III "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-BPDmstYalwk\/VI8C64W8L8I\/AAAAAAABMuk\/dK9tYO6C5do\/s72-c\/Egypt_colossus_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-895901586526967554"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-13T12:00:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.375-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cyprus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"USA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Southern Europe: Sotheby’s sells two Cypriot heads despite objections"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Walk of Truth demanded the withdrawal of two ancient Cypriot heads that were scheduled for auction at Sotheby’s on December 12 in New York, until their provenance was clarified.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Sotheby’s sells two Cypriot heads despite objections\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-h0JJQesfX1A\/VI8BINNejKI\/AAAAAAABMuY\/0BVtVqcabn4\/s1333\/auction-USA%2B-%2B%CE%91%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%AE.jpg\" title=\"Sotheby’s sells two Cypriot heads despite objections\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELeft: Cypriot limestone head of God, Priest, or Votary, ca. 490-450 BC;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERight: Cypriot limestone head of a Kore, ca. late 6th c. BC\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Sotheby's]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERequested in writing by the non-governmental organization, Walk of Truth (WOT)\u0026nbsp; who took this initiative following information given to it by Mr. Stelios Perdikis, Curator of the Kykkos Monastery Museum in Cyprus. The two heads are made of limestone: As mentioned in the Sotheby’s catalogue, one is “The head of God, Priest or Votary” and is dated between 490-450 B.C. and valued at $6.000-8.000 and the other is “The head of Kore” of the 6th century B.C. valued between $8.000-12.000.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWalk of Truth, in its letter, demanded the withdrawal of these antiquities until their provenance has been determined because Cyprus has been a victim of looting and the destruction of its cultural heritage ever since 1974, when Turkey invaded the island.\u0026nbsp; The occupied area of Cyprus (by Turkey) has endured unprecedented looting of its churches, ancient monuments and religious artifacts, which are illegally sold abroad.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESotheby’s, in its reply, informed WoT that “they believe these heads were exported from Cyprus before 1974 and were not “illegally sold.” The WoT organization is raising serious issues with the auction house in their request to “investigate the provenance of the artifacts thoroughly and prove with certificates and other relevant information, the dates these pieces were exported from Cyprus. As mentioned in the letter of WoT founder, Tasoula Hadjitofi, “the auction houses must be transparent in their actions and should be responsible for investigating what they auction and what they place on sale.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe illegal trade of art is providing funds to other criminal acts, including funding terrorist and extremist groups and we must all work towards its elimination.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEditor's Note\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe auction took place as scheduled and the two heads were sold for 20,000USD and 25,000USD respectively.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Walk of Truth [December 13, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/895901586526967554"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/895901586526967554"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/southern-europe-sothebys-sells-two.html","title":"Southern Europe: Sotheby’s sells two Cypriot heads despite objections"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-h0JJQesfX1A\/VI8BINNejKI\/AAAAAAABMuY\/0BVtVqcabn4\/s72-c\/auction-USA%2B-%2B%CE%91%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%AE.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6086276024703896375"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-12T05:00:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.483-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tunisia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Tunisia adopts measures to safegaurd ancient Carthage"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The Tunisian Minister of Culture announced a series of special measures to safeguard the archaeological site of Carthage, classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1979.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tunisia adopts measures to safegaurd ancient Carthage\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-N_elmr8Cmds\/VIyJftCA0KI\/AAAAAAABMiM\/Mv-Q6yTWBBo\/s1333\/Tunisia_01.jpg\" title=\"Tunisia adopts measures to safegaurd ancient Carthage\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGorgon mask displayed at Carthage Museum,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECarthage, Tunisa [Credit: ANSA]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the basis of directives and recommendation stemming from the International Conference titled \"The site of Carthage, shared world heritage\" organised by the National Institute of Tunisian Heritage the ministry promised it would be actively involved in the protection of the site before the government both halting illegal construcion in the area and also promoting the site among the Tunisian cultural and touristic destinations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, according to a press report new funds are necessary to procede with restoration efforts at Carthage and the active participation of citizens in the preservation of the sight is equally called for.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: ANSA [December 12, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6086276024703896375"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6086276024703896375"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/more-stuff-tunisia-adopts-measures-to.html","title":"More Stuff: Tunisia adopts measures to safegaurd ancient Carthage"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-N_elmr8Cmds\/VIyJftCA0KI\/AAAAAAABMiM\/Mv-Q6yTWBBo\/s72-c\/Tunisia_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6606090457464806599"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-10T08:00:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.546-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"India: Quarrying destroys megalithic dolmens in Thrissur"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Large scale-quarrying has destroyed megalithic dolmens situated in forest area in Muniyattukunnu of Varantharappilly near Thrissur.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Quarrying destroys megalithic dolmens in Thrissur\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-T8kd5n0lAJ0\/VInZZGFvwvI\/AAAAAAABMY8\/N7_MCC677y8\/s1333\/India_dolmens_01.jpg\" title=\"Quarrying destroys megalithic dolmens in Thrissur\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe only dolmen that stands intact at Muniyattukunnu. The rest have been\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Edestroyed by quarrying in the area [Credit: The Hindu]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Muniyattukunnu was famous for its dolmens, which were declared as protected monument as per Government proceeding dated 13-10-1937 RDIS 1894-2-1112 development department and in accordance with Cochin Government Ancient Monument Preservation Regulation Act XI of 110,” said Muniyattukunnu Protection Forum, which tries for the protection of the remaining dolmens.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese monuments are mostly in reserved forest of Vellikulanagara range under Chalakudy forest division.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EForest pattayam (title deed) has been used to encroach up on forest land by quarry mafia, alleged the protesters. The forest land assignment pattayam, where only agrarian activities are permitted is widely used for quarrying activities here, noted the forum led by the Kerala Shastra Sahithya Parishath.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs per the document available with Archaeological department only one out of 11 dolmens in the area is remaining now.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA study by the Kerala Shastra Sahithya Parishath shows that Rs. 36 crore has been generated by quarrying from this area.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA team from the district administration led by sub collector carried out a joint inspection on June 21. The team found widespread violations of rules and issued instant stop memos to quarries functioning in Muniyattukunnu, the forum noted. There was also an order for a joint survey by the revenue and forest departments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, stop memos were vacated within two weeks by a court order. The joint survey is still pending. Quarry and crusher owners are extending their premises.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Muniyattukunnu Protection Forum headed by the KSSP has once again approached the district Collector seeking the protection of this valuable historical site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe forum urged the authorities to issue stop notice to all the quarries running in the area.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The stone quarrying is now being carried out in the land where pattas are issued as per the Kerala Land Assignment Special Rules 1993. According to Rule 3 the land cannot be used for quarrying purpose. So the authorities should take action to cancel the pattas for the land in which quarries are operational,” it demanded.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Mini Muringatheri | Source: The Hindu [December 10, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6606090457464806599"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6606090457464806599"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/india-quarrying-destroys-megalithic.html","title":"India: Quarrying destroys megalithic dolmens in Thrissur"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-T8kd5n0lAJ0\/VInZZGFvwvI\/AAAAAAABMY8\/N7_MCC677y8\/s72-c\/India_dolmens_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3608397259721527036"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-09T12:30:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.582-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Destinations"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Travel: Unique Roman-era bath in Central Anatolian town"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"An ancient bath in the Central Anatolian province of Yozgat’s Sarıkaya district is one of the rare early Roman-era artifacts that still survive. The bath, called Basilica Therma, was a thermal center in the Roman era. Work has continued to open the bath to tourism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Unique Roman-era bath in Central Anatolian town\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-HWf2BC8LWo4\/VIx91-x2LlI\/AAAAAAABMgM\/jj3H2n0KA8U\/s1333\/Turkey-bath_01.jpg\" title=\"Unique Roman-era bath in Central Anatolian town\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWork has continued to restore a unique structure, a rare Roman bath called the Basillica\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETherma in the Central Anatolian province of Yozgat, to be opened to tourism\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYozgat Governor Abdulkadir Yazıcı said the bath is a significant historical artifact for Turkey. “This place was also a center from where the eastern part of the empire was administered. Roman soldiers used this place to take a rest before setting sail,” Yazıcı said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe said the figure of a snake “sticking out its tongue” in the Roman bath was the one and only of its kind among other Roman-era artifacts, representing a symbol of health and medicine.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Thermal sources all around the country were used in the Roman era and thermal baths were built over some of them. The Sarıkaya bath is one of the rare thermal baths from the Roman era in Anatolia. In this structure, the hot water was sourced and used directly from underground. According to findings revealed during the excavations, hot water was used in some parts of the structure as a floor heating system. The buildings which stand in front of the historical structure have been expropriated and removed by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, while some parts of the structure are still underground.\u0026nbsp; Then the big pool was unearthed,” Yazıcı added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAn Olympic-sized pool\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe governor said the excavations in the Roman bath also revealed unused pools from the Seljuk and Ottoman eras.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The unique characteristic of the Sarıkaya bath is that water is still coming to the surface. Such baths are rare even in Europe. As we excavated, we found an Olympic-sized pool. A section was unearthed in the center of it; it was probably used as a baptism stone. Two other pools were also found in two different places. Work is continuing here; we are waiting for the relief and restoration projects to be prepared by the Yozgat Museum Directorate. After a rough cleaning, we will apply to academics for the more detailed work,” Yazıcı said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We are working to protect this world heritage location. The Sarıkaya Roman bath was a thermal treatment center in ancient ages. The friezes in the top part of the structure depict a bull head figure and snake figures. The snake figure is the symbol of Asklepios, the god of medicine and health in mythology,” he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [December 09, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3608397259721527036"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3608397259721527036"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/travel-unique-roman-era-bath-in-central.html","title":"Travel: Unique Roman-era bath in Central Anatolian town"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-HWf2BC8LWo4\/VIx91-x2LlI\/AAAAAAABMgM\/jj3H2n0KA8U\/s72-c\/Turkey-bath_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2232683407790347346"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-08T05:30:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.613-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"India: Prehistoric rock art sites under threat in India"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"One of the rarest art form of rock paintings discovered in South India is in a nondescript village, Kilvalai, located at around 55km from Puducherry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Prehistoric rock art sites under threat in India\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-N3DkxqrS3tk\/VIWIUoDto9I\/AAAAAAABMOU\/-gM8Z-62udQ\/s1333\/India_rockart_01.jpg\" title=\"Prehistoric rock art sites under threat in India\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOne of the rare paintings on the rock at Kilvalai village\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ein Villupuram district [Credit: The Hindu]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExpressing concern over such rare arts of early mankind in Kilvalai and adjoining places in Villupuram district facing destruction due to various activities of vandalism, art lovers and researchers call for early steps by authorities to preserve them for the benefit of posterity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe paintings on the small rock called ‘Rattapparai’ are in four sets. In the first set, three persons with a man mounted on a horse, another pulling that horse with a rope fastened to the animal while the third man is depicted with stretched hands welcoming others. The fourth group is a painting of six men standing and few others with outstretched hands.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESuch paintings are found in the neighbouring villages -Setavarai, Alampadi, Nayanur, Pollur, Padiyanenthal, Thengunam and Siruvalai.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EK.T. Gandhirajan, an independent art researcher said, “The paintings on rocks of Kilvalai are found in three rocky areas and painted in red-ochre. That might be 3000 years old. It is believed that a few symbols of paintings are similar to that found in the Indus Valley civilisation. This must be an ideal shelter for hunter-gatherer community. Among the three rocks, two are facing destructions due to vandalism such as mining in the nearby areas. Due to rampant mining in the nearby-areas and development of microorganisms, the pigment of painting is peeling off. ”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a heritage rich site situated near Puducherry, where tourists troop in the weekends, art lovers also suggest that these sites can be promoted under heritage tourism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ER. Rajarajan, Assistant Professor of Painting, Bharathiar Palkalai Koodam said, “Several paintings are destroyed due to rampant illegal mining in nearby areas. Kilvalai and other two places are under the protection of the Department of Archaeology, Tamil Nadu but no staffs are deployed there either to protect or guide the visitors.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EQuarrying threatens paleolithic rock art in Palakkad\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndiscriminate quarrying activity in the downhill areas of Nelliyampathy in Palakkad district is threatening the existence of two rock surfaces with unique paleolithic-age cup markings (cupola).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Prehistoric rock art sites under threat in India\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-H1m-1e5UK4k\/VIWIfK7xWFI\/AAAAAAABMOc\/93onuUZTNko\/s1333\/India_rockart_02.jpg\" title=\"Prehistoric rock art sites under threat in India\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe two sites of cupolas on the down-hill areas of\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENelliampathy mountains [Credit: K.K. Mustafah]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese cup markings are deemed important in the study of primitive paleolithic people of the subcontinent. Such sites are rare in the country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the State, such rock surfaces are found at Vellaramkunnu, near the Chulliyar dam, Muthalamada grama panchayat; the adjacent Chappakkad tribal colony; and Parouli in Thrissur district.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVellaramkunnu and Chappakkad also faces imminent destruction due to large-scale quarrying.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArchaeological investigator Suvarna Nalappatt told The Hindu that the conservation of the cupolas were vital to research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Experts call them the oldest art form of humankind. It is believed that human beings started experimenting with fine arts in the beginning of the upper paleolithic era,” Dr. Nalappatt, the managing trustee of the Nalapat Trust of Education and Research, said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECupolas are scattered across the world, except Antartica. The cupolas of Nelliyampathy could help trace the ancient history of the region, she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The cup markings in Muthalamada are fairly big and uniform in size. The series in each site bears resemblance to crocodiles,” Dr. Nalappat said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The cupolas need protection and preservation by the government. Already, some have been destroyed by local people as they are unaware of the importance of these. Now, the quarries are posing a severe threat,” K. Saravanakumar, an activist, said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthors: R. Sivaraman \u0026amp; K.A. Shaji | Source: The Hindu [December 08, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2232683407790347346"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2232683407790347346"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/india-prehistoric-rock-art-sites-under.html","title":"India: Prehistoric rock art sites under threat in India"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-N3DkxqrS3tk\/VIWIUoDto9I\/AAAAAAABMOU\/-gM8Z-62udQ\/s72-c\/India_rockart_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2228645279576959863"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-07T08:00:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.631-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Israel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Israel: Antiquities robbers caught red-handed in Dead Sea Cave"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"An indictment was handed up against antiquities robbers who tried to loot Dead Sea scrolls from the Judean Desert. This comes in the wake of a dramatic capture carried out last weekend by inspectors of the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery of the Israel Antiquities Authority, with the assistance of the Arad Rescue Unit. The apprehension of the robbers was part of a complex operation to locate the Dead Sea scroll robbers, which lasted more than a year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Antiquities robbers caught red-handed in Dead Sea Cave\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-J85258dBW2M\/VIV4t1XOX1I\/AAAAAAABMNo\/KDvyf9Cyrrw\/s1333\/Israel_01.jpg\" title=\"Antiquities robbers caught red-handed in Dead Sea Cave\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Cave of the Skulls and the damage inside it; members of the Unit for the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrevention of Antiquities Robbery on their way to the cave\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEarly in the morning hours members of the Arad Rescue Unit, which were undergoing routine training at the time, identified suspicious movement in a cave in the northern cliff of Nahal Ze’elim, in the region of the Leopard’s Ascent.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInspectors of the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery of the Israel Antiquities Authority were called to the scene and they placed the cave under surveillance utilizing observation and photographic equipment. The suspects were observed in the cave carrying out an illicit excavation while using a metal detector and a large amount of excavating equipment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe suspects dug in an ancient cave which is known in archaeological circles as “The Cave of the Skulls”. They caused tremendous damage in the cave by digging through layers of earth while destroying archaeological strata and historical evidence from the Roman period c. 2,000 years ago and the Chalcolithic period c. 5,000 years ago.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe cave is located in the side of the cliff, 150 meters above the bottom of Nahal Ze’elim and some 70 meters below the top of the cliff. It can only be reached on foot via a narrow goat’s path on top of rock fall, that passes upright bedrock walls and is extremely dangerous.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe suspects – all young men from the village of Seir in the vicinity of Hebron – demonstrated considerable expertise in reaching the cave by climbing and rappelling from the cliff while using special equipment they possessed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter observing and documenting the suspects in action, the suspects began climbing to the top of the cliff during the evening while carrying on their back ancient finds (such as a 2,000 year old lice comb from the Roman period) and all of the digging equipment that included excavation tools, break-in equipment, two sophisticated metal detectors, lighting equipment and ropes, as well as large amounts of food and water, which indicate their intention to remain in the cave for many days. Inspectors of the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery awaited the suspects at the top of the cliff. Upon arrival the suspects were immediately caught by the Israel Antiquities Authority personnel. They were detained and taken for questioning to the Arad police station where, with the assistance of the Arad police and investigators, they were interrogated for many hours and gave their version of events.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Antiquities robbers caught red-handed in Dead Sea Cave\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-dQqdVVGO3sI\/VIV5BwRbYXI\/AAAAAAABMNw\/51y2kKGInFA\/s1333\/Israel_021.jpg\" title=\"Antiquities robbers caught red-handed in Dead Sea Cave\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Roman-era lice comb found on the suspects\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe suspects were arrested and brought for arraignment before a judge in the Be’er Sheva‘ Magistrates Court. Their detention was extended twice and an indictment was handed up today by the Southern District Attorney's Office.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Amir Ganor, director of the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery in the Israel Antiquities Authority, \"For many years now gangs of antiquities robbers have been operating along the Judean Desert cliffs. The robbers attempt to locate and find Dead Sea scrolls, pieces of ancient texts and unique artifacts that were left in the caves, particularly during the Great Revolt against the Romans in 66–70 CE and the Bar Kokhba Revolt in 132–135 CE, when Jewish fighters fearing the Roman army sought refuge in the desert. These finds are sold for large sums of money in the antiquities markets in Israel and around the world. What makes the Judean Desert so unique is its dry climate that enable the preservation of rare leather, bone, and wooden objects, including the Judean Desert scrolls, pieces of parchment and papyrus, on which various texts were written, among them the Holy Scriptures, books of the Bible, legal contracts and historical stories. Over the years many of the plundered finds reached the antiquities markets in Israel and abroad, but it has been decades since perpetrators were caught red-handed. This is mainly due to the difficultly in detecting and catching them on the wild desert cliffs”.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFollowing the recovery of some unique artifacts that had been plundered by antiquities robbers in this region, the then director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the late Shuka Dorfman, decided the Judean Desert would receive special treatment, enforcement would be increased and an attempt would be made to identify the caves in which the rare finds were being looted. The task was assigned to the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery which began operating in the Judean Desert both openly and covertly.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the main groups of robbers that operated in the Judean Desert in recent years has now been apprehended. The group was found in possession of unique archaeological relics that had been plundered from the cave. The Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery reported that in the coming weeks additional suspects will be investigated who are connected to the theft and destruction of the antiquities sites in the region.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Israel Antiquities Authority invests a vast amount of resources and effort in order to safeguard and protect the heritage values of the State\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Israel Antiquities Authority [December 07, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2228645279576959863"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2228645279576959863"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/israel-antiquities-robbers-caught-red.html","title":"Israel: Antiquities robbers caught red-handed in Dead Sea Cave"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-J85258dBW2M\/VIV4t1XOX1I\/AAAAAAABMNo\/KDvyf9Cyrrw\/s72-c\/Israel_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6655711589360304093"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-06T19:00:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.654-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Southern Europe: Parthenon sculpture leaves Britain for the first time"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The decision of the British Museum to lend one of the Parthenon sculptures to an exhibition at the Hermitage Museum in Russia, has created a storm of reactions. This is how The Telegraph tells the story:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Parthenon sculpture leaves Britain for the first time\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-XBmRqyILo_s\/VISrIuDIOhI\/AAAAAAABMKM\/wDwV_E7aY6A\/s1333\/Parthenon_01.jpg\" title=\"Parthenon sculpture leaves Britain for the first time\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe statue of Ilissos at the British Museum\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Telegraph]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The British Museum has allowed one of the Elgin Marbles to leave London for the first time after lending a sculpture to a Russian museum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe headless statue of a Greek river-god will be unveiled in the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg on Friday as part of the celebrations for the institution’s 250th anniversary.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe move comes despite fears of a new Cold War between the Kremlin and the west.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe artwork’s arrival there after a top secret journey, is likely to further inflame one of the world’s longest-running cultural heritage disputes: the Greek government’s claim to the 2,500-year-old sculptures that were removed from the Parthenon in Athens in the19th century by Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENeil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, told The Times: “The politics of both museums have been that the more chilly the politics between governments the more important the relationship between museums.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;Four years ago he took the Cyrus Cylinder, a small Persian clay tablet often described as the earliest charter of human rights, back to Iran for an exhibition at which it was seen by nearly 500,000 people.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis museum has used history to improve cultural links with China, Afghanistan, Africa and the Middle East. In this case there were “two sets of politics” to contend with, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGreece refuses to recognise the British Museum’s ownership of the sculptures, which make up about 30 per cent of the surviving decoration from the Parthenon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe museum maintains that the sculptures’ reputation as art rather than decoration was forged in London and that they can best be understood in the context of Western civilisation by remaining in the museum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAthens has contended for almost 40 years that they belong in Greece alongside the other remaining fragments. The Greek possessions are displayed in a museum with a view of the Acropolis, where the ruined Parthenon stands.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The Greek dimension is much more about where the sculpture belongs on a permanent basis,” Mr MacGregor said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough the trustees of the British Museum have made clear that any part of the collection is available to travel, subject to concerns about its conservation and safe return, there has never been a conversation with the Greek government about a possible loan.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“To date they have always made it clear that they would not return them. That rather puts the conversation on pause.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Parthenon sculpture leaves Britain for the first time\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-pBZD1DgwslU\/VISrP2C4D0I\/AAAAAAABMKU\/yZvbrnWzRHA\/s1333\/Parthenon_02.jpg\" title=\"Parthenon sculpture leaves Britain for the first time\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA visitor walks past by an empty plinth (L) of the Ilissos statue part of collection\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eof The Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles in the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBritish Museum in London, Britain [Credit: ANA MPA]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe loan to Russia was finally approved only 15 days ago. Sir Richard Lambert, the chairman of the British museum’s trustees, said that they wanted to “leave room for flexibility if the political relationship between western Europe and Russia changed”.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr MacGregor said that after the provisional decision to lend in October “the politics had looked very uncertain.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat period included Russia voicing “respect” for flawed elections held by pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine and the growing death toll in the conflict.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a blog on the British Museum's website, Mr MacGregor added: \"The British Museum is a museum of the world, for the world and nothing demonstrates this more than the loan of a Parthenon sculpture to the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg to celebrate its 250th anniversary.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Hermitage was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great to enable Russia to participate in the European Enlightenment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe figure of the god Ilissos will go on public display there until January 18. It is a “very big and important gesture” Mikhail Piotrovsky, the director of the museum, said, “the most exciting thing and the most important thing” that could have come to the Hermitage to celebrate its 250th anniversary. He hoped that any political fallout from the announcement would not affect his relations with Greek museums. \"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Greek Prime Minister lashes out \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, the Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said on Friday in a statement that the decision of the British Museum to “loan” a sculpture of the Parthenon Marbles to an exhibition held in St. Petersburg \"was a provocation to the Greek people.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The British dogma according to which the Parthenon Marbles are immovable is no longer applicable,\" Samaras said, noting that the argument had been contested in the past by the construction of Athens' Acropolis Museum in response to British authorities' claim that the Greeks' have no acceptable venue for hosting the Sculptures.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The Parthenon and its sculptures have been looted. The value of the sculptures is inestimable,” the Prime Minister said adding that \"Greeks identified with their history and civilization, which cannot be fragmented, lent or conceded.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Sculptures belong to the World... or rather,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eto the British Museum \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Telegraph continues with an article titled: 'The Greeks can have the Elgin Marbles any time they like - if they play by the rules' \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Parthenon sculpture leaves Britain for the first time\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-MfkmtfWOwF4\/VISxmVvH2-I\/AAAAAAABMK0\/CnC2UmQUpbQ\/s1333\/Elgin_01.jpg\" title=\"Parthenon sculpture leaves Britain for the first time\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe not so honourable Lord Elgin\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: WikiCommons]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The decision to lend a piece of the Elgin Marbles to Russia has nothing to do with Greece's absurd campaign for their return.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Today, everyone should be celebrating, including the Greeks. The Trustees of the British Museum have lent Russia’s stupendous State Hermitage Museum the statue of Ilissos, one of the jewels of the Parthenon sculptures. It is a new chapter in the history of these amazing sculptures, and one that underscores the promotion of education, culture, and understanding that the British Museum has always undertaken with its collections. Now citizens of Russia can also experience the wonder of this exquisite ancient art. This is a great day for Britain, Russia, and Greece.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe decision to lend the sculptures to Russia should not be seen as having anything to do with Greece’s claims over them. Despite the ongoing barrage of emotive complaints from supporters of the repatriation of the sculptures to Greece, the fact is that there is nothing that puts the British Museum’s Parthenon sculptures into a special heritage category. World museums routinely hold and exhibit artefacts from other countries. It is what they are there for, and is at the heart of their educational purpose. Stolen or illegitimate antiquities are required to be returned. Legitimate acquisitions can remain. No one seriously doubts that the Parthenon sculptures are the legal possession of the British Museum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat being the case, why is there a media clamour for their repatriation to Greece? The National Archaeological Museum in Athens owns a large and famous collection of Egyptian antiquities, and the imposing Benaki Museum in Athens has Chinese, Islamic, and South American collections. Has Greece volunteered to return these? Is anyone suggesting it should?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Trustees of the British Museum have always been clear that they will lend any of their artefacts to anyone who acknowledges that they belong to the British Museum, and who will return them. These are not mere words. Last year the British Museum lent over 5,000 artefacts. There are no black lists of artefacts that cannot be loaned. As today has shown, even the Elgin Marbles are available to museums which abide by the code. Whenever Greece is ready to swallow its pride and play by these rules, they will be there.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe 180-year-old battle to reclaim the Parthenon Sculptures\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 7th Earl of Elgin, Thomas Bruce (photo above), forcibly removed the Parthenon Marble pieces from the Acropolis, causing a great deal of damage to the site in the process. He claimed to have obtained a permit from the Ottoman authorities in 1801, however many doubt the authenticity of this document that has been lost. The illegal excavation and removal was completed in 1812 and the sculptures were shipped to Britain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Parthenon sculpture leaves Britain for the first time\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-l7WEel_jEwc\/VISwo6hWm4I\/AAAAAAABMKs\/m_2XCGo2a6U\/s1333\/MELINA_01.jpg\" title=\"Parthenon sculpture leaves Britain for the first time\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMelina Mercouri during her campaign for the return\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eof the Parthenon Sculptures [Credit: Protothema]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe British Museum’s signs may claim that the marbles were “saved” by Lord Elgin but the truth is they were nearly destroyed forever in 1802 when one of the ships chartered by the British aristocrat sank off the coast of the southern Peloponnese. The sunken ship, the Mentor, sank off Cape Tainaro and the precious cargo was trapped in the wreckage for two years. Lord Elgin paid exorbitant amounts to Kalmynos sponge divers to reach the depths of over twenty meters to salvage the marbles from the sea bed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost of the cargo was recovered, however some believe that the two-and-a-half year salvage project may have been responsible for Elgin’s financial ruin that led to his decision to sell the Parthenon Marbles to the British Museum in 1816 for a very low price.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Greece, the aristocrat was immediately accused of looting and vandalism. Formal efforts for their repatriation had begun by the first king of Greece, Otto of Bavaria. A green folder titled “Akropolis von Athen” contains 223 formal documents calling for the return of the marbles from 1834 to 1842 proving that Greece had sought their return for 180 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn more recent times, actress-turned-politician Melina Mercouri launched a restitution campaign.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EState archaeologists from the Greek Ministry of Culture had asked to borrow the Parthenon Marbles prior to the 2004 Athens Olympics in exchange for a pick of 32,000 statues and vases dating back to the 5th century B.C. but the offer was rejected.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe latest bid for the return of the Parthenon Marbles is being handled by human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and her colleagues from the Doughty Street Chambers. \u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEditor's Note\u003C\/b\u003E:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe British Museum also holds additional fragments from the Parthenon sculptures acquired from various collections that have no connection with Lord Elgin. The collection held in the British Museum includes the following material from the Acropolis:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EParthenon: 247 ft (75 m) of the original 524 ft (160 m) frieze; 15 of the 92 metopes; 17 pedimental figures; various pieces of architecture\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EErechtheion: a Caryatid, a column and other architectural members\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPropylaia: Architectural members\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETemple of Athena Nike: 4 slabs of the frieze and architectural members\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAlso stolen by the British is the famous Bassae Frieze, also known as the Phigalean Marbles, which comprises 23 panels 31m in length, and which once decorated the interior of the cella of the Temple of Apollo Epikourios at Bassae. The frieze was bought at auction by the British Museum in 1815 where it is now on permanent display. Eight fragments believed to belong to the frieze are in the National Museum, Athens.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESee also: Squalid saga of Parthenon marbles loan to Russia, published by The Guardian.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESources: The Telegraph\/ANAMPA\/Protothema [December 07, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6655711589360304093"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6655711589360304093"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/southern-europe-parthenon-sculpture.html","title":"Southern Europe: Parthenon sculpture leaves Britain for the first time"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-XBmRqyILo_s\/VISrIuDIOhI\/AAAAAAABMKM\/wDwV_E7aY6A\/s72-c\/Parthenon_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-525653245284654922"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-06T10:00:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.677-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"East Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Japan"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Imperial Household Agency loosens up on access to Osaka burial mound"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"As part of measured steps toward greater openness, a department of the Imperial Household Agency on Friday guided academics and reporters around a hitherto off-limits megalithic burial mound near Osaka Bay.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Imperial Household Agency loosens up on access to Osaka burial mound\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-Jv7Ksz2-nYQ\/VIV6PKD43JI\/AAAAAAABMN8\/4WIGF7NA714\/s1333\/Japan_01.jpg\" title=\"Imperial Household Agency loosens up on access to Osaka burial mound\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe ancient Tannowa Nisanzai Kofun burial mound is seen in the\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;town of Misaki, Osaka Prefecture [Credit: Japan Times]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDating from the late fifth century, Tannowa Nisanzai Kofun is an earth mound surrounded by a moat and measuring 170 meters long. Seen from the air, it has the shape of a keyhole.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt has been largely out of bounds to visitors until now because it is classed as a royal burial site. The Imperial Household Agency designates it as “Udonohaka,” or the grave of Inishiki Iri Hikono Mikoto, the son of 11th Emperor Suinin Tenno.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Kofun,” as the massive burial mounds are called, were built in considerable numbers between the early third and early seventh centuries. The Imperial family and other members of the ruling classes constructed them as symbols of their power.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe tombs are valuable resources for historians studying the ancient history of Japan, as important cultural properties such as clay pots and accessories buried with the body for ceremonial purpose are often found during excavation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Imperial Household Agency loosens up on access to Osaka burial mound\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-MuCoI8QWeXc\/VIV6bLEd_LI\/AAAAAAABMOE\/mDg_-xcsY-w\/s1333\/Japan_02.jpg\" title=\"Imperial Household Agency loosens up on access to Osaka burial mound\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA man points to pots excavated at Tannowa Nisanzai Kofun burial mound\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;in the town of Misaki, Osaka Prefecture [Credit: Japan Times]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut tombs built for the Imperial family are designated by the Imperial Household Agency as “ryobo.” It prevents entry by the general public to conserve the grave’s “serenity and dignity.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe agency has been conducting its own maintenance work on tombs nationwide since 1967. Amid criticism from academics about their exclusion, it recently eased the restrictions on archaeological research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome academics dispute the agency’s designation of Tannowa Nisanzai Kofun as an Imperial grave. They believe it was built for a chief in the Kii area, present-day Wakayama Prefecture, who was believed to be the contemporary equivalent of a maritime shipping magnate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe agency believes Tannowa Nisanzai Kofun may need preservation work to protect it from erosion around the moat.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Japan Times [December 05, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/525653245284654922"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/525653245284654922"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/heritage-imperial-household-agency.html","title":"Heritage: Imperial Household Agency loosens up on access to Osaka burial mound"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-Jv7Ksz2-nYQ\/VIV6PKD43JI\/AAAAAAABMN8\/4WIGF7NA714\/s72-c\/Japan_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-8606040952338371482"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-05T10:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.692-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Community"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Conferences"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Redefining the Conflict over the Parthenon Marbles"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Almost everyone in Greece and the United Kingdom has heard about the conflict over the Parthenon marbles. This diplomatic dispute between these countries is a textbook case of how restitution claims should not be handled. Up until now the discussion has focused on finding the ‘truth’.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Redefining the Conflict over the Parthenon Marbles\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-XJlRm4v4tmw\/VISuCffZl9I\/AAAAAAABMKg\/tZQ8Fy0bm3g\/s1333\/Parthenon_04.JPG\" title=\"Redefining the Conflict over the Parthenon Marbles\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECavalry from the Parthenon Frieze, West II, 2–3\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: British Museum]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis has escalated the conflict into a stalemate. Rather than a truth-finding mission, the conflict should be understood as what political scientists call a ‘framing’ conflict: each party tells their story with its own inner logic and these stories are mutually exclusive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ‘facts’ are not the point in a conflict like this. When Greece and the United Kingdom eventually reach the negotiation table, the question is how this conflict may be handled effectively.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStephanie Kramer, MSc MA (University of Amsterdam) will give a lecture on “Redefining the Conflict over the Parthenon Marbles” at the NIA \/ Athens, attempting to redefine the conflict as a ‘framing’ conflict and will discuss the best negotiation strategy for all concerned.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhere and when: Netherlands Institute at Athens, Makri 11, 117 42 Athens. Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at 7.00 p.m.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Archaiologia Online [December 05, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8606040952338371482"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8606040952338371482"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/heritage-redefining-conflict-over.html","title":"Heritage: Redefining the Conflict over the Parthenon Marbles"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-XJlRm4v4tmw\/VISuCffZl9I\/AAAAAAABMKg\/tZQ8Fy0bm3g\/s72-c\/Parthenon_04.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7391093015048643233"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-03T08:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.712-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Road tunnel to run under ancient Greek city"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The ancient Greek city of Paleo Gargara near the northern Aegean coast of Turkey will be crossed with a tunnel after a highway project was stalled by a first-degree archaeological site, where no construction is permitted by law, in its path.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Road tunnel to run under ancient Greek city\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-LZMW-h8OarE\/VIBtAi788pI\/AAAAAAABMAw\/ln-txWRgmqM\/s1333\/Turkey_PaleoGargara_01.jpg\" title=\"Road tunnel to run under ancient Greek city\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELocated near the ancient cities of Troy and Assos, not much is known about\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPaleo Gargara due to a lack of excavations [Credit: haberlink]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFaced with the challenge of not transgressing the law, Turkey’s highways authority has approved the construction of a tunnel passing beneath Paleo Gargara, which will connect the coastal town of Ayvacık with the small resort village of Küçükkuyu.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter the work is completed, Paleo Gargara may possibly become the only ancient city that sits atop a tunnel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwo of the three companies constructing the highway, Kolin and Kalyon, are also partners in the consortium that won the right to build Istanbul’s contentious third airport. Kolin İnşaat has also been the focus of controversy recently for felling trees prior to a definitive judicial ruling on construction of a coal plant project near the Aegean coal capital of Soma.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough a very small project comparatively, the highway between Ayvacık and Küçükkuyu has also managed to garner some controversy of its own. Experts have pointed out that there are often historical artifacts deep underneath the surface of archaeological sites.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“As no excavation has been conducted on the site before, we don’t know whether there are historical artifacts there or not. The city was located in the area according to ancient documents,” said Reyhan Körpe, an archaeologist from Çanakkale’s March 18 University.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe construction of such a large roadway, with double lanes on each side, undertaken by companies which usually carry out larger-scale projects has also raised a few questions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The master plan to build such large roads was prepared with the passion to construct. This area is not only an archaeological site but also a nature reserve. So, there is no need for such a large road that will put the historical and natural assets at risk,” urban planner Hakan Karademir was quoted as saying by daily BirGün.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe mandatory requirement of an environmental impact assessment report does not apply, because the project was first drafted in 1993. The Highway Administration’s tunnel proposal was eventually approved by Çanakkale’s Board for the Protection of Cultural Assets without the additional obstacle of submitting an environmental report.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe head of the Environment Engineers Chambers, Baran Bozoğlu, called for an extension in the scope of the environmental impact assessment procedure for all projects. “Çanakkale is a region with significant biodiversity. But because there won’t be an environmental assessment report, we will not know the impact of such projects on the environment,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELocated near the ancient cities of Troy and Assos, not much is known about Paleo Gargara due to a lack of excavations. Historians believe the town was inhabited between the seventh and fourth centuries B.C.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [December 03, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7391093015048643233"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7391093015048643233"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/near-east-road-tunnel-to-run-under.html","title":"Near East: Road tunnel to run under ancient Greek city"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-LZMW-h8OarE\/VIBtAi788pI\/AAAAAAABMAw\/ln-txWRgmqM\/s72-c\/Turkey_PaleoGargara_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-227208660034534304"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-02T09:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.728-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Tomb of Amenhotep-Huy to be opened to the public"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"After three years of restoration, the tomb of Huy, Nubia Viceroy during the reign of King Tutankhamun, is to be opened to the public for the first time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-3NYb7QywZUg\/VH8zEGFZdUI\/AAAAAAABL7Q\/z2-5bdCTuws\/s1333\/Egypt_Huy_04c.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFarming scene depicted on one of the wall paintings\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Ahram Online]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe tomb is located at Qurnet Marei on Luxor's west bank, and it includes a court and a burial chamber.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb of Amenhotep-Huy to be opened to the public\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-Ot_vyTkiI_s\/VH8zuis4KKI\/AAAAAAABL7Y\/RLRSHQUU88c\/s1333\/Egypt_Huy_07.jpg\" title=\"Tomb of Amenhotep-Huy to be opened to the public\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDetail of a painting from the Tomb of Amenhotep called Huy\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: © Sandro Vannini\/Corbis]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Although it is a small tomb it has very distinguished wall paintings,” Aly El-Asfar, head of the central administration of Upper Egypt, told Ahram Online.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb of Amenhotep-Huy to be opened to the public\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-6r5gEE2Pa6k\/VH8uWxS63dI\/AAAAAAABL60\/95nBefpwCHo\/s1333\/Egypt_Huy_01.jpg\" title=\"Tomb of Amenhotep-Huy to be opened to the public\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDetail from wall painting depicting Nubians\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Ahram Online]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe explains that the images depict figures painted in Nubian attire walking behind a chariot driven by a light brown figure, a black rider painted in traditional Nubian garb, and pulled by a cow. Walking before the chariot are more Nubian figures.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb of Amenhotep-Huy to be opened to the public\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-12AQ3kWwtDQ\/VH8s03Ck0zI\/AAAAAAABL6U\/G0hDsAAJK9c\/s1333\/Egypt_Huy_05.jpeg\" title=\"Tomb of Amenhotep-Huy to be opened to the public\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Tomb of Amenhotep Huy\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: TourEgypt]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHunting scenes similar to those found in Tutankhamun’s tomb are also depicted on walls as well as scenes showing Huy being greeted by high priests and among his family.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHuy was the successor of Tuthmosis, who served under Akhenaten. He was succeeded by his son Paser I.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Nevine El-Aref | Source: Ahram Online [December 02, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/227208660034534304"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/227208660034534304"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/11\/heritage-tomb-of-amenhotep-huy-to-be.html","title":"Heritage: Tomb of Amenhotep-Huy to be opened to the public"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-3NYb7QywZUg\/VH8zEGFZdUI\/AAAAAAABL7Q\/z2-5bdCTuws\/s72-c\/Egypt_Huy_04c.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5943454470398537947"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-27T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.788-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Another Byzantine structure rescued in Istanbul"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The traces of a large cistern have been found during the construction of a hotel on land owned by the Armenian Catholic Mıhitaryan Monastery and School Foundation in Istanbul’s Şişli Halaskargazi neighborhood.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Another Byzantine structure rescued in Istanbul\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-FYjmRqCpDSU\/VHohZasww7I\/AAAAAAABLoM\/NYZ78XfBQNA\/s1333\/Turkey_Byzantine_01.jpg\" title=\"Another Byzantine structure rescued in Istanbul\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Byzantine-era cistern, which was about to be buried by construction vehicles, was\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Erescued at the last minute after being noticed by an observer [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe historical structure, which was about to be buried by construction vehicles, was rescued at the last minute after being noticed by an observer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen they arrived in the area, archaeologists from the Istanbul Archaeology Museum found the structure, which is thought to be a Byzantine cistern, was about to be destroyed and buried.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConstruction work was halted and a criminal complaint against the construction officials was made to the Cultural and Natural Heritage Preservation Board.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStating that construction workers should have informed the board or the nearest museum when they originally discovered the historical structure, the museum officials said there might be other historical structures on the land and further construction would be against the law.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecently, a cistern-like, Byzantine-era structure was unearthed during the renovation of an underpass in Istanbul’s Beyazıt neighborhood. The construction company had tried to cover up the entrance to the structure to continue its work, but thanks to the keen eyes of a local citizen, it was rescued from being buried underground.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [November 27, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5943454470398537947"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5943454470398537947"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/near-east-another-byzantine-structure.html","title":"Near East: Another Byzantine structure rescued in Istanbul"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-FYjmRqCpDSU\/VHohZasww7I\/AAAAAAABLoM\/NYZ78XfBQNA\/s72-c\/Turkey_Byzantine_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6794173221834845151"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-26T11:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.743-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Did the British loot the Amphipolis tomb in 1916?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Mr. Michalis Lefantzis, the architect who penned the schematics of the Kasta Tomb at Amphipolis for the Greek Ministry of Culture made a shocking revelation today, during the announcements dedicated to excavation results.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Did the British loot the Amphipolis tomb in 1916?\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-mY-JJFXEtys\/VH3OSW0GVkI\/AAAAAAABLzQ\/7gDBzxpqKGk\/s1333\/Amphipoli_04.jpg\" title=\"Did the British loot the Amphipolis tomb in 1916?\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBritish soldiers of the 2nd King’s Shopshire Light Infantry posing with skulls\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eexcavated during the construction of trenches and dugouts in the\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;area of Amphipolis [Credit: Protothema]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECiting historical evidence, Mr. Lefantzis told the journalists attending the presentation that a British brigade was planning to transfer to London 1,000 pieces of the monument precinct, along with the statue of the lion.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the day of the transfer, Austrian and Bulgarian troops attacked the British convoy and, as a result, the barges sunk in the river Strymonas and the ancient artefacts were “saved”.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr. Lefantzis also revealed that several local residents have been secretly returning parts of the precinct which they kept as mementos in their homes!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Protothema [November 29, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6794173221834845151"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6794173221834845151"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/heritage-did-british-loot-amphipolis.html","title":"Heritage: Did the British loot the Amphipolis tomb in 1916?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-mY-JJFXEtys\/VH3OSW0GVkI\/AAAAAAABLzQ\/7gDBzxpqKGk\/s72-c\/Amphipoli_04.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7338805463188093578"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-24T11:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.893-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South East Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Thailand"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"USA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Thailand: Looted Thai artefacts from prehistoric sites returned by US"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"For years, more than 500 artefacts including pottery, bronze tools, sandstone moulds and glass ornaments, have been offering a visual but illegal treat to visitors at the Bowers Museum in Santa Anna, California.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Looted Thai artefacts from prehistoric sites returned by US\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-UFB7oVH7kqg\/VHcCqkrXk8I\/AAAAAAABLeU\/bGnXH70EZS4\/s1333\/Thailand_01.jpg\" title=\"Looted Thai artefacts from prehistoric sites returned by US\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESomchai na Nakhonphanom, archaeology expert from the Fine Arts Department\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Elooks at the returned artefacts [Credit: The Nation\/Asia News Network]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow these items, almost all of them looted from Ban Chiang, an archaeological site in Thailand's Northeast, have been returned to their rightful home.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 554 artefacts, some of which date back 5,000 years, were handed over to Thailand by the US government last Wednesday following almost a decade of investigation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is the most-significant return of ancient treasure since the Art Institute of Chicago returned the Narai Stone lintel 26 yeas ago.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll the artefacts have huge historical value.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Cultural artefacts help form national identity. All of our countries are subject to these crimes. It's our priority to set that right. Today, nearly 700 artefacts have come back home, delivered into the hands of their rightful owners - the people of the Kingdom of Thailand,\" commented W Patrick Murphy, charge d'affaires of the US Embassy, during the hand-over ceremony at the National Museum Bangkok.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"All around the world, countries are open to these criminals, who steal and perpetuate this kind of cultural trade. Even in the United States we have been targetted by such crimes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the past seven years, nearly 7,000 items have been returned to some 30 countries around the world, including this region. It's very good news that today Thailand has joined those countries, retaking the ownership of artefacts that should never have left the Kingdom.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Looted Thai artefacts from prehistoric sites returned by US\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-QNKjqwWUX1A\/VHcCzXFq9JI\/AAAAAAABLec\/PEMEo9JeTbI\/s1333\/Thailand_02.jpg\" title=\"Looted Thai artefacts from prehistoric sites returned by US\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAmong the returned artefacts are bronze-aged tools and ornaments\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: The Nation\/Asia News Network]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFour pottery pieces, dozens of glass bracelets, earrings and some bronze tools were on display at the ceremony. All were stolen from Ban Chiang, Udon Thani, a World Heritage Site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pieces date back to as early as 1,500 BC.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBan Chiang-style pottery is unique in appearance, with its characteristic brownish orange hue and circular, stylised pattern the most recognisable feature of the sophisticated civilisation of the earliest producers in Southeast Asia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECulture Minister Vira Rojpochanarat explained that the returned artefacts are made up of 222 pieces of pottery, 197 bronze ornaments, 79 bronze instruments, 35 beads, 11 stone instruments and stone axes and 10 sandstone moulds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey were returned following the signing of a non-prosecution agreement with the US district attorney and are now being kept at the Kanjanapisek National Musuem in Pathum Thani.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"On behalf of the people of Thailand, I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to the US government for their kind support in delivering the artefacts back to their rightful place. I would also like to extend our gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the United States for their collaboration and affiliation which highly contributed to the success of the mission,\" Vira said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBiravej Suwanpradhes, deputy director general of the Department of Information, added that the hand-over process began in mid-2009.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Looted Thai artefacts from prehistoric sites returned by US\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-zOYAsZmXmIE\/VHcC9mnCWtI\/AAAAAAABLek\/b_oTRXGaz30\/s1333\/Thailand_03.jpg\" title=\"Looted Thai artefacts from prehistoric sites returned by US\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThai and US officers look at the returned artefacts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: The Nation\/Asia News Network]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The Royal Thai Consulate General in Los Angeles informed the Cultural Relations Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the US Government's request that Thailand's Fine Arts Department sent experts to inspect and screen the artefacts at Bowers Museum,\" Biravej recalled.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn response, Biravij led two senior curators and a senior scientist from the Fine Arts Department to the US in September 2009 to inspect the artefacts together with archaeologists and officials from the US Attorney's Office. Results indicated that the artefacts were the cultural property of Thailand.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"During the three days of investigation, experts from both countries worked hard to identify a very large number of artefacts,\" Biravej explained, adding that the some items had probably been smuggled from other countries in Southeast Asia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESatisfied that the artefacts did indeed belong to Thailand, the museum finally shipped them home in eight containers. They departed the US on August 24 and arrived in Thailand on October 2.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Each and very one of these artefacts symbolises the rich history of the Thai people. While our historians are mostly aware of their origins and architectural style, their discovery allows us to study the style, technique of production, material and age which will greatly benefit archaeological art research,\" Vira noted.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Fine Arts Department, through its Office of the National Museum, has checked the condition of the artefacts and has found that most of pottery vessels are damaged and cracked. Bronze equipment and tools have not been preserved and stains of dirt and rust have been found on the objects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of the tools have broken into separate parts and require repair by preservation scientists.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn initial inspection has indicated that most of the utensils, pottery, tools, tool moulds and ornaments made of earthenware, bronze, stone, glass and animal bones are from Ban Chiang but it is believed that some 25 to 30 per cent may have come from other prehistoric sites in the Northeast and the Central region.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"After conservation work, we will be taking some of them back to their place of origin,\" the culture minister concluded.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Strait Times [November 24, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7338805463188093578"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7338805463188093578"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/thailand-looted-thai-artefacts-from.html","title":"Thailand: Looted Thai artefacts from prehistoric sites returned by US"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-UFB7oVH7kqg\/VHcCqkrXk8I\/AAAAAAABLeU\/bGnXH70EZS4\/s72-c\/Thailand_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-698337121552545538"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-20T14:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.948-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indonesia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South East Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Indonesia: Buddhas to be reunited with their heads"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The Federal Republic of Germany has provided a grant of ¤100,000 through UNESCO and the Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry to finance a project to reattach the heads of 56 Buddha statues at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Buddhas to be reunited with their heads\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-847epXqusHU\/VHIZfpfQcwI\/AAAAAAABLS4\/j1ip83_xYIw\/s1333\/Java_Buddhas_01.jpg\" title=\"Buddhas to be reunited with their heads\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStone cold: Researcher Esther Von Plehwe Leisen demonstrates how to measure\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;the temperature of a relief carving on Borobudur Temple in Magelang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Central Java [Credit: JP\/Bambang Muryanto]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project is part of the long-term Borobudur conservation project for third-stage restoration and conservation work and capacity building at the Borobudur temple compound.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The generous support of the government of Germany over this four-year period has created a critical mass of young heritage professionals in the Borobudur Conservation Office [BCO] who are now better equipped with tools and the latest conservation methods and knowledge to implement best conservation practices at this world heritage site,” UNESCO Jakarta office’s cultural unit head Bernards Allens Zako told the media at Borobudur on Monday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe explained that the German government had been providing aid for the conservation of Borobudur since 2011.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZako said this year’s grant amounting to ¤100,000 would be used to train BCO staffers this month in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The money would also be used for scientific research, advanced training and temple conservation led by German experts Hans Leisen and Esther von Plehwe Leisen.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The German experts in stone conservation will support the development of a methodology for identification through macroscopical and ultrasound techniques, matching through the surveying of fragment forms and modeling of fragments and reattachment of the Buddha heads by using the best conservation methods,” said Zako.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBCO head Marsis Sutopo said there were currently 250 sitting Buddha statues at the temple missing their heads, but the BCO only had 56 statue heads.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Many Buddha statue heads are still missing after the major restoration of Borobudur in 1973. We are currently trying to restore them to their original condition,” said Marsis.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe added that all the Buddha statue heads had the same facial expression. What differentiates the statues is the position of their hands.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, German expert Leisen said refitting the heads to the original statues would be a challenging task and required thorough research. The necks of the Buddha heads have been leveled so the former cuts do not match those of the bodies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“It is not easy to work out but we will use technology to make it easier. We will use photography to look at the structure and minerals in the stone and we will use ultrasound testing to gauge the quality and structure of the stone,” said Leisen, who has 20 years of experience in the conservation of the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt will take a long time to match all of the Buddha statue heads to their original bodies. Leisen expressed hope that BCO employees would continue the efforts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko director Laily Prihatiningtyas expressed her support for the conservation efforts. She said the temple reliefs were full of moral lessons important for the future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The conservation of Borobudur is vital, as it is part of the nation’s pride and can stimulate the local economy,” said Laily.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Bambang Muryanto | Source: The Jakarta Post [November 20, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/698337121552545538"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/698337121552545538"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/indonesia-buddhas-to-be-reunited-with.html","title":"Indonesia: Buddhas to be reunited with their heads"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-847epXqusHU\/VHIZfpfQcwI\/AAAAAAABLS4\/j1ip83_xYIw\/s72-c\/Java_Buddhas_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-873873052531956944"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-20T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.966-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Underwater Archaeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Underwater Archaeology: Solent's Stone Age village 'washing away'"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"In 1999, a team of divers off the Isle of Wight came across a lobster busily digging out its burrow. To their surprise they found it was kicking out flints from the Stone Age. However, archaeologists now fear artefacts dating back more than 8,000 years are simply being \"washed away\".\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Solent's Stone Age village 'washing away'\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-O7_q7kkTwTw\/VG4KjK-vggI\/AAAAAAABLNc\/vSWaUdjjAu4\/s1333\/UK_Solent_01.jpg\" title=\"Solent's Stone Age village 'washing away'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDiver recovering flint [Credit: Michael Pitts]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBouldnor Cliff is a submerged Stone Age settlement off the coast of Yarmouth which was covered in silt as great sheets of ice melted at the end of the last Ice Age.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is an important site because the muddy conditions have helped preserve organic materials from the distant past that do not normally survive on dry land.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe materials date back to a time when the Isle of Wight did not exist and it was possible to walk from Britain to what is now France.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"This is an element of our history that is being lost from a unique site. It can add new insights into our human journey from nomad to settler,\" said Garry Momber, director of the Maritime Archaeology Trust.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Solent's Stone Age village 'washing away'\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-rvQYHY08el8\/VG4Kp_bwYYI\/AAAAAAABLNk\/BpB6mPUmoKc\/s1333\/UK_Solent_02.jpg\" title=\"Solent's Stone Age village 'washing away'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHazelnuts found at the site [Credit: Maritime Archaeology Trust]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHazelnuts, perfectly preserved leaves and a piece of string which dates to 8,000BP (6,000BC) have been found in the multi-layered sandwich of peat and silt.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHundreds of flint tools have also been found - some still sharper than razor blades - which would have been used as \"the disposable knife and fork of the day,\" Mr Momber added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOther discoveries include a hearth with oak charcoal and flints, which it is thought would have been heated and dropped into water for cooking.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe trust says pieces of timber found also show some of the earliest evidence of wood-working.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Solent's Stone Age village 'washing away'\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-Dn8XWMMCeZg\/VG4K98OXZBI\/AAAAAAABLN0\/74rTD0L-YW8\/s1333\/UK_Solent_04.jpg\" title=\"Solent's Stone Age village 'washing away'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFlints recovered from the site [Credit: Maritime Archaeology Trust]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut Mr Momber, who has concerns for the site which was once dubbed \"Stone Age Atlantis\", said time was running out to excavate the area as storms - together with powerful undercurrents - were \"ripping it apart\" with artefacts just washing out of the layers of mud.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It's an untapped treasure chest - but artefacts are literally falling out of the cliff,\" he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"In some areas the erosion is up to 50cm (20ins) per year. If this continues in the sensitive sites we might only have a few years left before sites are completely lost,\" he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe trust said measurements had shown up to 3m (9ft 10ins) had eroded from the site in the past 10 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Solent's Stone Age village 'washing away'\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-Z0e6nnz3e4E\/VG4LDWJpUTI\/AAAAAAABLOA\/MK-L4K8HEXM\/s1333\/UK_Solent_05.jpg\" title=\"Solent's Stone Age village 'washing away'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWorked wood items [Credit: Maritime Archaeology Trust]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA full excavation of the landscape to record the remains before they are lost for good is estimated will cost in excess of £200,000.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAbout £20,000 would enable rescue excavations to be carried out to save the elements of the site that are most at risk.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr Momber said: \"All it would take to help recover answers from this drowned and forgotten world is a single weekly fee for a Premier League football player. There will be another match. There will not be another Bouldnor Cliff.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe site, which is older than the pyramids, which are about 3,000 years old, and Stonehenge, built around 5,000 years ago, shows evidence of people living in a sheltered valley surrounded by trees around a lake and river.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Solent's Stone Age village 'washing away'\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-XzNgkgOuEj4\/VG4NkOY_HvI\/AAAAAAABLOI\/0FT2ge-WI08\/s1333\/UK_Solent_06.jpg\" title=\"Solent's Stone Age village 'washing away'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA sketch shows how the area may have looked before it became submerged by\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;the melting ice\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E [Credit: Maritime Archaeology Trust]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe site shows the possibility that Mesolithic man, who was thought to be nomadic, may have lived and worked in the area.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr Momber said: \"There appears to be evidence of a boat building yard and tools more advanced than anything we've found on land - on a level of 2,000 years ahead all preserved perfectly in the silt underwater.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The sea level would have fluctuated and then at a certain point they have had to leave.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoxes of gathered material from the site are being held at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, with some interconnecting timbers from a possible long boat or structure being preserved at the Mary Rose museum in Portsmouth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: BBC News Website [November 20, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/873873052531956944"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/873873052531956944"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/underwater-archaeology-solent-stone-age.html","title":"Underwater Archaeology: Solent\u0026#39;s Stone Age village \u0026#39;washing away\u0026#39;"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-O7_q7kkTwTw\/VG4KjK-vggI\/AAAAAAABLNc\/vSWaUdjjAu4\/s72-c\/UK_Solent_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1045998957679859164"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-20T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.984-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Exhibitions"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: 'Promakhos': The movie inspired by the struggle for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The saga of the Parthenon Marbles inspired the creation of directors\/writers Coerte and John Voorhees “Promakhos”. The courtroom drama and love story, premieres on November 25, and focuses on two Athenian attorney’s pursuit for the litigation of the return of the Parthenon Marbles. The name of the film is inspired by the bronze statue of Athena Promakhos that used to stand guard in front of the Parthenon, that is somehow linked with the lawyers’ courage in standing in defense of what they love.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"'Promakhos': The movie inspired by the struggle for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-ebVg3SHEk0E\/VG3-GXxt5HI\/AAAAAAABLK8\/cmyspDQRozw\/s1333\/promakhos_01b.jpg\" title=\"'Promakhos': The movie inspired by the struggle for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe film was partly shot at the Athens Acropolis and aims to teach people the facts concerning how the Parthenon marbles were removed from the site and also give information about the legal struggle underway for their return and reunification in Athens.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"'Promakhos': The movie inspired by the struggle for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-x1b35Bj5iZg\/VG39vwHpO7I\/AAAAAAABLK0\/Cwpj41NGkQE\/s1333\/promakhos_02.jpg\" title=\"'Promakhos': The movie inspired by the struggle for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EGeorges Corraface, who plays Michel, the architect in charge of conservation of the Acropolis, states that the release of the film so close to the visit to Athens by Amal Clooney and senior members of the Doughty Street Chambers law firm to discuss the legal challenges of the marbles’ return was a “remarkable coincidence” that echoed the plot of the film.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cdiv align=\"center\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FTaVShdDS2U?rel=0\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe movie, budgetted at $700,000 was filmed under the aegis of the Greek Culture Ministry and has the support of the “Alliance for Greece”, the Acropolis Museum, the Greek-British Chamber, the Greek-German Chamber, the Greek-Spanish Chamber and the Greek-Italian Chamber, as well as cooperating with the groups “Return, Restore, Restart”, “Bring them Back”, “Marbles Reunited” and “International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures”.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cdiv align=\"center\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/miHwv25C9tQ?rel=0\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe movie stars Pantelis Kodogiannis, Kassandra Voyagis, Giancarlo Giannini, Paul Freeman, Michael Byrne, Yorgo Voyagis, Spiros Focas and Karim Kassem amongst others.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Greek premier takes place at the Village Cinemas in ‘The Mall’ shopping centre in Maroussi and will be preceded by an event and a screening at the Acropolis Museum on November 24.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Protothema [November 20, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1045998957679859164"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1045998957679859164"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/more-stuff-movie-inspired-by-struggle.html","title":"More Stuff: \u0026#39;Promakhos\u0026#39;: The movie inspired by the struggle for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-ebVg3SHEk0E\/VG3-GXxt5HI\/AAAAAAABLK8\/cmyspDQRozw\/s72-c\/promakhos_01b.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1167035662696812666"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-19T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:19.998-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Denmark"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Southern Europe: 'Greek Heritage belongs in Greece' says Danish paper"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The Danish newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad has published an extensive article calling for the return to Greece of the Parthenon Sculptures exhibited in the British Museum .\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Greek Heritage belongs in Greece says Danish paper\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-igAqcG8Qb7g\/VG37Jl068GI\/AAAAAAABLKg\/LkBqtQxz8Ck\/s1333\/Parthenon_02.JPG\" title=\"Greek Heritage belongs in Greece says Danish paper\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDetail of relief showing the battle between a Lapith and a Centaur, located in Britain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe heads are in the National Museum of Denmark [Credit: Ethnos]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe catalyst for this article was provided by the exhibition 'Transformations: Classical Sculpture in Colour' on view at the Glyptotek in Copenhagen, in the context of which a video provided by the British Museum presents a metope which is in Britain from which the two heads are missing and are in fact displayed by the National Museum of Denmark .\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"This relief depicts a struggle between a Lapith and a Centaur\" reports the newspaper. \"In ancient Greek mythology the first epitomizes a civilised people, while the second represents the primitive Centaurs, whose body was half man and half horse\" and which, says the article, symbolizes the Greeks fighting against the Persians.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe article continues with the story of the theft of the Parthenon marbles by Elgin, at a time when Greece was under Ottoman occupation, adding that Greece has repeatedly called for their return, but England has not responded.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe article calls on Denmark to set a \"good example\" by returning the two heads (acquired by Morosini's Danish officer, Moritz Hartmann, in 1687\", who participated in the infamous bombardment of the Parthenon) so that they can be restored to their original position, adding: \"the copies will have the same value for us, but not the same for the Greek state, and their return would send an additional message to the British Museum.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe article also stresses that, since the independence of Greece, there has been ongoing maintenance of the monuments on the Acropolis and that the sculptures would be \"better displayed at the Acropolis museum rather than at the British Museum\".\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe British Museum, of course, holds the lion's share, but fragments of the pediments, the frieze and metopes of the Parthenon are also to be found in the Louvre, Munich, Copenhagen, Palermo, the Vatican etc.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome of the sculptures were completely destroyed in the shelling by Morosini and all that survives of these are but a few sketches made by Carey and others.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDetailed information about what is where is provided by Greek archaeologist Alexandros Mantis in his book titled 'Disjecta membra: The looting and dispersal of the ancient artworks of the Acropolis'.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The sculptural decoration of the Parthenon survived until the time of the explosion almost intact except for some damage caused by the Christians when the temple was converted into a Christian church\", writes Mantis. \"The destruction and abandonment of the monument was also the starting point for the looting and pillaging of its sculptural decoration.\" Thus, \"on September 27, 1687 the civilized West, in an attempt to destroy the Asiatic Barbaric forces barricaded on the Acropolis, the Parthenon suffers the most severe blow in its history, transforming the long majestic colonnades of the monument into voluminous ruins, consigning some its most prominent architectural sculptures to oblivion.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Ethnos [November 18, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1167035662696812666"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1167035662696812666"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/southern-europe-heritage-belongs-in.html","title":"Southern Europe: \u0026#39;Greek Heritage belongs in Greece\u0026#39; says Danish paper"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-igAqcG8Qb7g\/VG37Jl068GI\/AAAAAAABLKg\/LkBqtQxz8Ck\/s72-c\/Parthenon_02.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3678300436937739454"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-17T12:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.029-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Israel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Israel: Funds needed to preserve ancient synagogue in Israel"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"At least $60 million will be needed to refurbish a historic synagogue from the 1st century, which was discovered on a land owned by the Vatican a while ago in northwestern Israel during the construction of a hotel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Funds needed to preserve ancient synagogue in Israel\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-fimvb5HdlCk\/VGuIM57e0xI\/AAAAAAABLC0\/LMgAHT_orGg\/s1333\/vatican_syananogue-1.jpg\" title=\"Funds needed to preserve ancient synagogue in Israel\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe ruins of the synagogue were found near Lake Galilee in northwestern Israel\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eduring construction of a five-star hotel [Credit: AA]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAppointed by the Vatican to Jerusalem, the priest Juan Maria Solana told The Anadolu Agency that more than $40 million has been spent and hundreds of volunteers had been working in the area to preserve the synagogue.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother $60 million are needed for work to continue, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ruins of the synagogue were found near Lake Galilee in northwestern Israel, when construction workers began digging in order to build a five-star hotel at the edge of the lake, Juan Maria Solana told the Anadolu Agency.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The Vatican began the construction of a hotel for Christian pilgrims coming to Jerusalem and came upon a historic synagogue, while digging,” said Juan Maria Solana.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESolana, while showing AA correspondent around the site, said that the Israeli government had told the Vatican to preserve the synagogue and to communicate their findings.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“While excavating, we found two rocks with a symbol of Judaism and a seven-branch menorah, in what later turned out to be a part of the hall of a synagogue,” the priest said. “Jews would open and read the Torah on these rocks.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESolana said coins from the times of King Herod, from 29 A.D., had also been found onsite. “We had no doubt it was a synagogue from the 1st century,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Israeli government has allowed the Vatican to continue with the construction of the hotel, as long as it would preserve the synagogue and open a museum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: AA [November 17, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3678300436937739454"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3678300436937739454"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/israel-funds-needed-to-preserve-ancient.html","title":"Israel: Funds needed to preserve ancient synagogue in Israel"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-fimvb5HdlCk\/VGuIM57e0xI\/AAAAAAABLC0\/LMgAHT_orGg\/s72-c\/vatican_syananogue-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6060110768653084783"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-17T11:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.044-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Bulgaria"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Bulgaria losing war against illicit artefact trafficking"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Bulgaria is losing an estimated EUR 250 million a year from illegal trading in archaeological artifacts due to inconsistent legislation, a local NGO announced on Monday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Bulgaria losing war against illicit artefact trafficking\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-qxOOO77hECQ\/VGuFXYczJQI\/AAAAAAABLCo\/v8NB1jU4OCs\/s1333\/bulgaria-1.jpg\" title=\"Bulgaria losing war against illicit artefact trafficking\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAccording to Shteryo Nozharov, a member of Bulgarian NGO Forum Association, about 5,000 treasure hunters are known to operate in the country. Authorities are aware of at least eight treasure hunters securing protection to illegal trafficking of artifacts via Austria and Germany to Canada, the US, the UK and sometimes Russia and Japan.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile Bulgarian police uncover about a third of crimes involving illegal trading in artifacts or their illegal export, the number of pre-trial criminal proceedings launched against suspected illegal traders and traffickers is just 130 a year, Nozharov told Darik radio station.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat’s more, just one of the suspects in those criminal proceedings had been found guilty and sentenced to a jail term over the past year, while 50-60 other suspects had been issued\u0026nbsp; suspended sentences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInconsistent legislation is the main reason why art theft and illegal trafficking in artifacts are prospering, according to Nozharov.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnder Bulgaria's legislation, if a trafficker succeeds in illegally exporting an artifact and then imports it back – already accompanied by a certificate of origin putting its price at just a fraction of its real value – the artifact is exempt from mandatory identification and registration in Bulgaria.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn this way, even artifacts that belong to the world’s cultural heritage can be declared as having only minor value.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFormer Culture Minister Petar Stoyanovich said in March Bulgaria will set up a special police force tasked with combating art theft, treasure hunting and illegal exports of artifacts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Novinite [November 17, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6060110768653084783"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6060110768653084783"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/heritage-bulgaria-losing-war-against.html","title":"Heritage: Bulgaria losing war against illicit artefact trafficking"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-qxOOO77hECQ\/VGuFXYczJQI\/AAAAAAABLCo\/v8NB1jU4OCs\/s72-c\/bulgaria-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7256106133312585227"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-14T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-07-08T02:12:46.338-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Byzantine cistern filled with cement"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA cistern-like Byzantine-era structure has been unearthed during renovation of an underpass in Istanbul’s Beyazit neighborhood. The construction company had tried to cover up the entrance to the structure to continue its work, but thanks to the keen eyes of a local citizen it has been rescued from being buried underground, according to daily Hurriyet.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Byzantine cistern filled with cement\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-1FR2GgEIa7M\/VGZQ0PQiCyI\/AAAAAAABK1w\/VvFKv6jhuGM\/s1333\/byzantine_structure-1.jpg\" title=\"Byzantine cistern filled with cement\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality initiated a tender for renovation work on the Darulfunun underpass in August. The tender was won by an Isildak Construction and Mak. Is. Construction consortium, and the renovation began after the project was approved by the Istanbul Preservation Board No: 4.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring work by subcontractor Vizyon, the covers of two tombs in the area were found in August. The tomb covers, estimated to date back to the early Christian era, were badly damaged by a digger. After the covers were taken to the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, the museum became aware that it had not been informed about construction work in the area, but work nevertheless restarted a short time later.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn unidentified person later also informed the museum that the entrance to a Byzantine cistern hundreds of square meters in size had been unearthed during the construction, which the company had attempted to fill with cement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOfficials of the Istanbul Archaeology Museum sent two archaeologists to the construction site to examine the entrance of the cistern and work was halted. A report will now be sent to Istanbul’s 4th Cultural Heritage Protection Board, which will make a decision on whether the construction can continue.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpeaking to Hurriyet, Istanbul Archaeology Museum officials said they had not been informed about the remains by the municipality, but learned of it only thanks to a “responsible” citizen. “The Forum of Theodosius, which is made up of Byzantine shops, is in this area. Examinations will reveal if this is the ruins of a shop or a cistern,” the officials said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [November 14, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7256106133312585227"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7256106133312585227"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/near-east-byzantine-cistern-filled-with.html","title":"Near East: Byzantine cistern filled with cement"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-1FR2GgEIa7M\/VGZQ0PQiCyI\/AAAAAAABK1w\/VvFKv6jhuGM\/s72-c\/byzantine_structure-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-128927695739860207"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-12T05:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.134-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Recommended Reading"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Art historian cracks the code of an ancient temple"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"For 13 centuries, the Virupaksha Temple in Pattadakal has been one of the most recognizable landmarks in Indian art -- a towering layer cake of elaborate, hand-carved friezes populated by a bevy of Hindu deities and symbols.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Art historian cracks the code of an ancient temple\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-OZhEjKq3tWI\/VGY3WNdL5wI\/AAAAAAABKxo\/V3BZdtOEaqM\/s1333\/decoding-temple_01.jpg\" title=\"Art historian cracks the code of an ancient temple\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENow Cathleen Cummings, Ph.D., an associate professor in the UAB Department of Art and Art History who specializes in Asian art history, has shown that these figures are more than just architectural decoration. \"For a long time, there was an assumption that the sculptures on the outside of Hindu temples didn't necessarily mean anything as a group,\" she says. But \"it seemed to me right away that there were certain, very conscious choices being made as to where deities and specific forms of deities were placed.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore than a decade of work and 11 trips to India led to her recent book, Decoding a Hindu Temple: Royalty and Religion in the Iconographic Program of the Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal (South Asian Studies Association: 2014). Her discoveries identify images that glorify the king by referencing his family, conquests, and accomplishments, as well as other sculptural elements that offer religious guidance. Cummings describes one series of sequential inscriptions that depicts taking refuge in a deity, showing faith and then salvation. \"It seemed like a clear sequence for devotees to follow,\" she says. \"It didn't seem to be random images. There was a particular message that they could take away from it.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESimilar types of religious and royal imagery adorn centuries-old churches across the world, Cummings notes. \"The idea of iconographic programs has been accepted in the context of Christian art for quite a long time.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Art historian cracks the code of an ancient temple\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-6zt5fUqzVwo\/VGY4Hu9tJYI\/AAAAAAABKxw\/d098AhgGsys\/s1333\/decoding-temple_02.jpg\" title=\"Art historian cracks the code of an ancient temple\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ECummings's research on the temple also sheds new light on the important role that women played in ancient Indian politics and culture. Queen Lokamahadevi, the chief wife of the king, Vikramaditya II, led the construction of the temple to the Hindu god Shiva during the early Chalukya dynasty, around the year 733. The queen wanted a temple \"dedicated to the king's reign and victory in wars with three other dynasties,\" Cummings explains. Though women were part of the king's inner circle, Cummings found the queen's prominent placement in the temple's iconography intriguing. \"Women have a very prominent role as temple patrons and probably also controlled resources much more than we tend to believe or know,\" Cummings says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The dynasty that built Virupaksha was among the earliest to participate in the tradition of building large temples in stone,\" she says. \"This particular temple is the best preserved and probably the most elaborate one that they built.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe builders didn't leave many clues for Cummings to follow, however. \"Apart from a few, very terse inscriptions on this and other Early Chalukya monuments, historians have not recovered much primary source documentation for this dynasty,\" she says. Consequently, Cummings followed a scientific path, developing a hypothesis and following her instincts to find evidence to make her case. She pored over the placement of statues, studied Sanskrit inscriptions and ancient court documents from contemporary South Indian dynasties, investigated the temple's rituals, and traveled to other Indian holy sites to build upon her findings. Teasing out the meanings behind the iconography was like an unfolding detective story, says Cummings, who is pleased that her work \"fleshes out the Chalukya dynasty a lot more.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECummings, whose interest in Indian and Asian art began during her own undergraduate years, is eager to continue her research and share her knowledge with UAB art history students, especially the detailed work that led to her findings. UAB's $1-billion Campaign for UAB could potentially fund comprehensive research trips for her students, she says. \"One of the things that nobody really teaches is how to do field work,\" she notes. \"I was able to reach my conclusions without having to physically chip away the temple.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Williesha Morris | Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham [November 12, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/128927695739860207"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/128927695739860207"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/more-stuff-art-historian-cracks-code-of.html","title":"More Stuff: Art historian cracks the code of an ancient temple"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-OZhEjKq3tWI\/VGY3WNdL5wI\/AAAAAAABKxo\/V3BZdtOEaqM\/s72-c\/decoding-temple_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6557375368019420795"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-10T08:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.148-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Destinations"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: National Trust plans trail for Iron Age hill fort find"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"A tourist trail is being planned for an Iron Age hill fort that has been rediscovered by Herefordshire residents.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"National Trust plans trail for Iron Age hill fort find\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-MYK9F0OoD_g\/VGNEidnBG3I\/AAAAAAABKj0\/EJ7afmFvwC0\/s1333\/iron_age-2.jpg\" title=\"National Trust plans trail for Iron Age hill fort find\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe National Trust plans to help visitors find the fort by introducing a new trail\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Eaton Camp Historical Society]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExcavations have been taking place at Eaton Camp, in Ruckhall, since 2012, led by community archaeology group Eaton Camp Historical Society.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe group won £28,500 Heritage Lottery funding for two digs and discovered finds dating back to 700-500BC. The National Trust, which owns the site, is creating a trail to the fort.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECaroline Hanks, deputy chair of the society, said many residents did not even realise the fort existed, even though it lies in the heart of Ruckhall.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We started the society because we wanted to find out more about it,\" she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"National Trust plans trail for Iron Age hill fort find\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-3_5ByOQTqpM\/VGNEwuKYK6I\/AAAAAAABKj8\/5uZvxIz7DVI\/s1333\/iron_age-1.jpg\" title=\"National Trust plans trail for Iron Age hill fort find\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe finds from the fort, which date back to 700-500BC are with Hereford Museum\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Eaton Camp Historical Society]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe group worked closely with Herefordshire Archaeology to apply for funding and carry out geophysical surveys of the site, prior to the dig.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the dig, the group found pottery fragments, iron objects, animal bones and the remains of a human skull, as well as evidence of a communal roundhouse. Many of the finds have been given to Hereford Museum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe group hopes to continue its excavations once further funding has been secured.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"National Trust plans trail for Iron Age hill fort find\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-C0IHAhLilE4\/VGNE_bGy90I\/AAAAAAABKkE\/so0zcYU15vM\/s1333\/iron_age-3.jpg\" title=\"National Trust plans trail for Iron Age hill fort find\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe group hopes to continue its excavations to determine how old the fort is\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Eaton Camp Historical Society]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We now understand a lot more about the hill fort and we hope people will enjoy it more and realise it's there,\" said Ms Hanks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We would like to look for further evidence to see how far it dates back. There's a theory it may go back to Neolithic times - there are lots of Neolithic sites in Herefordshire, such as Dorstone Hill - but we currently have no evidence for that.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe National Trust, which owns the Brockhampton Estate, on which the fort is situated, is working to clear the land of scrub and install a path to promote the fort's accessibility.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: BBC News Website [November 10, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6557375368019420795"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6557375368019420795"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/uk-national-trust-plans-trail-for-iron.html","title":"UK: National Trust plans trail for Iron Age hill fort find"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-MYK9F0OoD_g\/VGNEidnBG3I\/AAAAAAABKj0\/EJ7afmFvwC0\/s72-c\/iron_age-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5629377742940374255"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-10T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.162-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Destinations"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Egypt to open Sphinx area to tourists again"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Egypt will soon open to tourists the courtyard in front of the Sphinx, the colossal monument which has been under restoration for nearly four years, officials said on Nov. 10.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Egypt to open Sphinx area to tourists again\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-tSaanfOkJC8\/VGNHBhRSzgI\/AAAAAAABKkY\/cqbb55C7Dok\/s1333\/egypt-2.jpg\" title=\"Egypt to open Sphinx area to tourists again\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe sphinx is pictured near the pyramids of Menkaure (R) and Khafre in Giza,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eduring its reopening ceremony November 9, 2014 [Credit: Reuters]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECarved from a single ridge of stone, the Sphinx is one of the most visited monuments in the world, and has been regularly restored following from air pollution and underground water damage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe limestone half-man half-lion sits in a quarry below the level of the plateau where the pyramids of Giza stand on the outskirts of Cairo.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The Sphinx courtyard will be opened for the first time since the restoration\" of the monument, Antiquities Minister Mohammed al-Damati told reporters on a tour of the site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, a date for the opening has not yet been set, said Mohammed al-Saidi who supervised the restoration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis mainly involved replacing some slabs on the left side of the statue \"where there were cracks\", and refurbishing the chest and neck of the monument with a new coating to prevent further erosion, Saidi said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Once the courtyard is opened, tourists can walk around the Sphinx,\" he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Sphinx was built in the 4th dynasty by the pharaoh Khafre, known as Chephren by the Greeks. Archaeologists are still puzzled over its exact purpose, with most believing it was constructed for religious and astronomical reasons.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDamati said a small temple built next to the Sphinx by pharaoh Amenhotep II of the 18th dynasty will also be opened to the public for the first time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe added that the Menkaure pyramid -- the smallest of the three Great Pyramids of Giza -- will be reopened on Monday after three years of restoration work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: AFP [November 10, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5629377742940374255"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5629377742940374255"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/more-stuff-egypt-to-open-sphinx-area-to.html","title":"More Stuff: Egypt to open Sphinx area to tourists again"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-tSaanfOkJC8\/VGNHBhRSzgI\/AAAAAAABKkY\/cqbb55C7Dok\/s72-c\/egypt-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2894702257192376134"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-05T12:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.213-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Mosaics in Hadrianopolis open to tourists"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Unique floor mosaics that have been unearthed in a church in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in the Turkish Black Sea province of Karabuk’s Eskipazar district have been opened to visitors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Mosaics in Hadrianopolis open to tourists\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-0z24QHzAZ8w\/VFuolz7fFpI\/AAAAAAABKQM\/qNayWJ5QUP8\/s1333\/mosaics-1.jpg\" title=\"Mosaics in Hadrianopolis open to tourists\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHadrianopolis was established in the first century AD and served as a settlement\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Euntil the eighth century AD [Credit: AA] \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The church is home to mosaics which are as good as the ones in the ancient city of Zeugma in Gaziantep\u0026nbsp; Within the scope of the restoration works, the mosaics in Church B were covered and opened to tourism. They can be visited now,” Karabuk Culture and Tourism Director Ibrahim Sahin said, referring to the ancient place of worship, which is merely known as Church B.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ancient city was established in the first century A.D. and served as a settlement until the eighth century A.D.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESahin said the excavations had been headed by Samsun Ondokuz May?s University Archaeology Department Professor Vedat Keles.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“There are the earliest church examples of Anatolia in the area. We will hosts tourists there after taking some protective measures there,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOfficials in Gaziantep recently stunned the cultural world with the revelation of three massive mosaics in Zeugma.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [November 05, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2894702257192376134"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2894702257192376134"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/near-east-mosaics-in-hadrianopolis-open.html","title":"Near East: Mosaics in Hadrianopolis open to tourists"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-0z24QHzAZ8w\/VFuolz7fFpI\/AAAAAAABKQM\/qNayWJ5QUP8\/s72-c\/mosaics-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5861008307104986722"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-05T07:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.226-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Byzantine treasures of Mount Athos to be digitized"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"An important and invaluable collection of manuscripts, codes and printed documents that have been stored for centuries in the Holy Mountain of Athos and faced the danger of destruction due to aging, will be stored in digital form, secured for many years to come — announced the secretary-general of Telecommunications and Hellenic Post Office, Menelaos Daskalakis, on the online system “Di@vgeia.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Byzantine treasures of Mount Athos to be digitized\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-gFpjHiJ8UEM\/VFuzGApFsFI\/AAAAAAABKRQ\/Maxr4DesGwE\/s1333\/Athos_05.jpg\" title=\"Byzantine treasures of Mount Athos to be digitized\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrescoes and manuscripts from Mount Athos are to be digitized under\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;the program \"Digital Ark\" [Credit: Ethnos]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs part of the project “Digital ark” the transformation of Mount Athos’ treasures into digital form will cost 8.5 million euros and its aim is to ensure their existence, even if the original prototypes ever get destroyed. The documents\u0026nbsp; to be stored electronically include collections of handwritten ecclesiastic codes that are stored in the monasteries. Up until today, students and researchers interested in their study could only access the documents in person.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Furthermore, the need to protect such sensitive material necessitates their electronic storage with the use of sophisticated technology,” Mr. Daskalakis underlines in his statement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project envisages the creation of eight access services to the digital archives of the monasteries, while for improved information and the accommodation of the public, a new portal will also be created along with the Holy Mountain Library and relevant documentaries. In detail, the archive will consist of 900,000 manuscripts, 450,000 printed documents, 550,000 historic archives of documents, 146,000 pieces of ecclesiastic art, 25,000 architectural sketches and 2,500 hours of video and sound documents.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Aggelos Skordas | Source: Greek Reporter [November 05, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5861008307104986722"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5861008307104986722"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/heritage-byzantine-treasures-of-mount.html","title":"Heritage: Byzantine treasures of Mount Athos to be digitized"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-gFpjHiJ8UEM\/VFuzGApFsFI\/AAAAAAABKRQ\/Maxr4DesGwE\/s72-c\/Athos_05.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-4594371576188566919"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-03T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.280-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Despotiko island soon to become open museum"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The small island of Despotiko, west of Antiparos in the Cyclades, will soon be an open museum, rich with archaeological findings.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Despotiko island soon to become open museum\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-90srj9eatQk\/VFfVYahADvI\/AAAAAAABKFs\/DK4kbIT2kmE\/s1333\/Despotiko_02.jpg\" title=\"Despotiko island soon to become open museum\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERuins of Despotiko [Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Ministry of Culture is planning to make Despotiko an archaeological site that will be open to the public, combining the natural beauty with the archaeological findings. The marble ancient temple of Apollo will be the focal point. The way Despotiko will operate will be like the open museum of Delos, near Mykonos.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExcavation chief Yiannis Kouragios, archaelogist for the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cyclades, spoke to the press saying that the first stage of restoration is almost complete.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExcavations in Despotiko have been going on for 17 years. The archaeological findings show that the ancient temple was built by the people of nearby Paros island. They also show that the navy of Miltiadis had attacked the island and later on, the island was burned by avenging pirates.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInscribed shells show that the ancient islanders worshipped Apollo, Artemis and goddess Hestia. In ancient times, the island was called Prepesinthos and the reasons the people of Paros chose to build their temples there were political and financial and had to do with the rivalry between Naxos and Paros over the rule of that part of the Aegean Sea.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe most lavish building of the island is the temple of Apollo. Built with Paros marble, it was famous throughout all of Greece. The facade of the temple has seven columns 3.8 meters high and along with the gable it is estimated that it was six meters long. Next to the temple there are auxiliary facilities for the priests and worshippers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Philip Chrysopoulos | Source: Greek Museum [November 03, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4594371576188566919"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4594371576188566919"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/heritage-despotiko-island-soon-to.html","title":"Heritage: Despotiko island soon to become open museum"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-90srj9eatQk\/VFfVYahADvI\/AAAAAAABKFs\/DK4kbIT2kmE\/s72-c\/Despotiko_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6762107231419151528"},"published":{"$t":"2016-10-01T10:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.316-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: Iron Age battle site in Gloucestershire preserved"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"An Iron Age battle site containing the remains of a hill fort has been plucked from the precipice of destruction through erosion.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Iron Age battle site in Gloucestershire preserved\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-BiIj9vBjt2M\/VFe4n1EWZbI\/AAAAAAABKCk\/l2cp35QI5q8\/s1333\/crickley_hill-1.jpg\" title=\"Iron Age battle site in Gloucestershire preserved\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe archaeological remains at Crickley Hill suggest a battle took\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;place there in around 3600 BC [Credit: BBC]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYears of erosion at Crickley Hill in Gloucestershire had threatened the archaeological remains of a fort dating back to about 3600 BC.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever it was given legal protection by English Heritage which placed it on an at risk register. This helped secure enough funding to see conservation work completed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe National Trust carried out the project which included back-filling extensive rabbit burrows, re-turfing and fencing off some areas which have been eroded.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOther eroded areas have been covered with gravel but left open to allow visitors to walk through the area.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: BBC News Website [November 01, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6762107231419151528"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6762107231419151528"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/10\/uk-iron-age-battle-site-in.html","title":"UK: Iron Age battle site in Gloucestershire preserved"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-BiIj9vBjt2M\/VFe4n1EWZbI\/AAAAAAABKCk\/l2cp35QI5q8\/s72-c\/crickley_hill-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1067484634733419808"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-28T13:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.435-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Central Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pakistan"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Tampering with ancient statues at Jualian stupa alleged"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The archaeology department Taxila has started tampering with centuries-old Buddha statues at the Jualian stupa, sources in the department told Dawn. The site is enlisted on the UNESCO world cultural heritage list, giving it an international recognition.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tampering with ancient statues at Jualian stupa alleged\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-QG91hJVMDC0\/VFJ6mexlFlI\/AAAAAAABJyU\/8utByvyxwWI\/s1333\/Statues_Jualian-1.jpg\" title=\"Tampering with ancient statues at Jualian stupa alleged\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA worker reconstructs the face of Buddha at the Jaulian stupa [Credit: Dawn]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe sources said without taking an approval from the international organisations, the officials had initiated a “restoration and preservation” project by hiring private labourers to fix newly-made heads on the statues of the Buddha. The original heads were removed and placed in the Taxila Museum more than eight decades ago.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe sources added that the officials had hired private masons who were using plaster of Paris for placing the new heads on the Buddha’s statues. Originally, these heads were made of stucco, they added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe officials said under the UNESCO charter on conservation and restoration of ancient sites known as “World Heritage Convention 1972”, of which Pakistan was a signatory, mortar, as used originally, should be used to renovate any site.” But with the addition of the new heads, the authenticity of the Buddha has been lost.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow no one can realise what is original and what is fake as its authenticity is lost.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe sources said due to the lack of knowledge and technical expertise, the masons had also reduced the hallo of the Buddha to adjust the newly-made heads on it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The heads attached to the statues also do not conform to the style and shape used in the ancient times,” said a senior archaeologist of the federal department of archaeology, who wished not to be named.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParts of the heritage, because of their exceptional qualities, can be considered to be of outstanding universal value and as such worthy of special protection, said Asim Meer, the president of an NGO.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt may be mentioned that article 6(3) of the World Heritage Convention states: “...not take any deliberate measures that directly or indirectly damage the heritage.” Article 4 of the convention adds: “Each state party to this Convention recognises that the duty of ensuring the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage belongs primarily to that State.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to section 172, “The world heritage committee invites the state parties to the convention to inform the committee of their intention to undertake or to authorise in an area protected under the convention major restorations or new constructions which may affect the outstanding universal value of the property.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt may be recalled that UNESCO stopped the unauthorised reconstruction of Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan in December 2013 by renowned German archaeologists.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe international community reacted furiously to news that a German-led team of archaeologists was reconstructing the feet and legs of the smaller of the two Bamiyan Buddhas, the monumental Afghan sculptures blown up by the Taliban in 2001. The team of archaeologists from the German branch of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), led by Michael Petzet, spent most of last year rebuilding the smaller Buddha’s lower appendages with iron rods, reinforced concrete and bricks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the situation in Jualian is more dangerous as ordinary masons are installing fake and new heads on Buddha’s statues. Moreover, other than original mortar was utilised on making the Buddha’s heads. The project was being carried out without any intimation or permission from UNESCO or ICOMOS.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen contacted, the in-charge of the restoration work, Massihullah Khan, said the intact statues were not tampered with but “restored” with replicas. He said some Buddha heads were shifted to the Taxila Museum for display in 1928. Now the heads are made as per the original heads put in the museums in the light of pictures and sketches, he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDirector Department of Archaeology Dr Abdul Sammad told Dawn that the third method of archaeology to protect the ancient sites had been utilised for the treatment of the intact Buddha statues. He said the first method was conservation, the second restoration and the third preservation. He said the objective of the work was to save the Buddha statues from further crumbling besides giving them the originality.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn reply to a a question about the hiring of non-official persons, he said the department lacked trained manpower and had to hire the services of private artists.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAbout the use of mortar in violation of UNESCO charter, he said the best available material was being utilised.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr Sammad said the UNESCO officials concerned were doing nothing in the preservation and restoration work in Pakistan. He said since 1982 no single ancient site had been put on the world cultural heritage list while every year the list was updated.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite repeated attempts, the UNESCO Islamabad office representative Jawad Aziz and spokesman Riaz Khan could not be contacted for comments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Dawn [October 28, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1067484634733419808"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1067484634733419808"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-tampering-with-ancient-statues.html","title":"Heritage: Tampering with ancient statues at Jualian stupa alleged"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-QG91hJVMDC0\/VFJ6mexlFlI\/AAAAAAABJyU\/8utByvyxwWI\/s72-c\/Statues_Jualian-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-8770730961330360032"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-28T09:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.449-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South East Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Underwater Archaeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vietnam"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Underwater Archaeology: Vietnam salvager says ancient coins looted from shipwreck"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Around two tons of ancient coins have disappeared from a sunken boat yet to be salvaged off Quang Ngai Province on Vietnam's central coast and locals held the blame of stealing them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Vietnam salvager says ancient coins looted from shipwreck\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-e94a1s33UdA\/VFIUkieclII\/AAAAAAABJus\/TB9cnO7735c\/s1333\/Vietnam_01.jpg\" title=\"Vietnam salvager says ancient coins looted from shipwreck\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAncient pottery recovered from a shipwreck off Quang Ngai Province\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Thanh Long\/Vietnam News Agency]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENguyen Dang Vu, director of the province’s culture department, said many people have taken advantage of the rough weather that delayed salvaging efforts to steal from the shipwrecks at night, Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArcheologist Nguyen Tuan Lam from Ho Chi Minh City company Doan Anh Duong, which is hired to recover ancient boats from the province’s waters, said locals have stolen around two tons of coins from the 9th to 11th centuries from a recently-discovered boat around 100 meters off Binh Chau Commune, Binh Son District, the paper said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECulture officials have asked the police and border guards and heighten security in the area.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVietnam’s heritage laws require residents to hand over relics they find to authorities for a cash reward of 15-30 percent of the artifact’s value.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the government usually fails to obtain many relics because dealers offer finders much better prices.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExperts have said that the government also loses out because it was never the one finding the boats.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Seabed Exploration, an excavation company of shipwrecks relics in Southeast Asia, estimated Vietnam’s waters have around 40 old sunken ships.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut Vietnam has only excavated five over the past ten years, and always after local fishermen found and exploited them first.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETen ships dating to between the 8th and 18th centuries have been spotted in Quang Ngai alone since 1999.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Quang Ngai | Source: Thanh Nien News [October 28, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8770730961330360032"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8770730961330360032"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/underwater-archaeology-vietnam-salvager.html","title":"Underwater Archaeology: Vietnam salvager says ancient coins looted from shipwreck"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-e94a1s33UdA\/VFIUkieclII\/AAAAAAABJus\/TB9cnO7735c\/s72-c\/Vietnam_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3439531743780058045"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-27T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.330-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Italy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Italy: Ben-Hur villa at risk of demolition in Rome"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The remains of an ancient Roman villa linked to one of the principal characters in the legend of Ben-Hur could be obliterated by a modern housing development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ben-Hur villa at risk of demolition in Rome\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-VplvwQBUL5k\/VFUUJr34CLI\/AAAAAAABJ8U\/TCVjYDvLRmo\/s1333\/ben_hur-2.jpg\" title=\"Ben-Hur villa at risk of demolition in Rome\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe remains of the villa are along the Appian Way, the old Roman road\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eleading out of the capital [Credit: Telegraph]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe first century BC villa, on the outskirts of Rome, is believed to have been owned by Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, a Roman general who features as the nemesis of Ben-Hur in the original book, written by an American author in 1880, and the subsequent Hollywood blockbuster starring Charlton Heston.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile Ben-Hur was a fictional character dreamt up by author Lew Wallace, Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus was a real-life figure in antiquity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe played a leading role at the battle of Actium, fighting for Octavian against Mark Antony. He was also a patron of the arts and counted among his circle Ovid, Horace and Cicero.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are plans to build 10 apartment buildings on the remains of his villa, located in the Ciampino area, close to one of Rome's two international airports.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe local council says the site is of no longer great archaeological significance, after seven statues were unearthed and retrieved from the villa two years ago.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe statues are believed to have adorned an elaborately-decorated, 60ft-long outdoor swimming pool built by Messalla and were described as a spectacular find by archaeologists.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe villa site is now of \"modest archaeological worth\", the council has said. \"The only things of great importance were the statues.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArchaeologists are fighting to prevent the development plan, along with a local residents' group called Ciampino Bene Comune.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The entire area should be declared a no-build zone,\" said Alessandro Betori, a cultural heritage official for the region of Lazio, which encompasses Rome.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the 1959 MGM film, Judah Ben-Hur is a Jewish prince and merchant from Jerusalem who is wrongly consigned to the slave galleries, while Messalla, his former childhood friend, is a tribune and commander of a Roman garrison.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is Messalla who races against Ben-Hur, played by Charlton Heston, in a spectacular chariot contest. The race, one of the most lavish set-piece events to be made by Hollywood at the time, is won by Ben-Hur, while Massalla is fatally injured after falling from his chariot and crushed by horses' hooves.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Nick Squires | Source: The Telegraph [October 30, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3439531743780058045"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3439531743780058045"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/italy-ben-hur-villa-at-risk-of.html","title":"Italy: Ben-Hur villa at risk of demolition in Rome"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-VplvwQBUL5k\/VFUUJr34CLI\/AAAAAAABJ8U\/TCVjYDvLRmo\/s72-c\/ben_hur-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5976914690131409852"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-27T08:45:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.343-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Jordan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Jordan: Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The tomb-raiders no longer even wait for night to fall before they loot the ancient crypts. In recent weeks, grave-robbers here dug into 2,000-year-old tombs right in front of a house rented by archaeologists. Dozens of shallow pits now mark the spot. The field is littered with cracked, carved stones that once covered the dead.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-e62kgxkBLOI\/VFUZmKtt1QI\/AAAAAAABJ8s\/OYxKW5C7sqc\/s1333\/jordan-1.jpg\" title=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMembers of the Department of Antiquities and Tourism stand amidst Byzantine\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;ruins at the Umm El-Jimal archaeological site in Al Mafraq, Jordan\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;[Credit: Warrick Page\/The Washington Post]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“They did this in broad daylight,” said Muaffaq Hazza, project archaeologist at Umm el-Jimal, known as the Gem of the Black Desert, one of the best-studied and most-protected archaeological projects in Jordan. “There is no shame.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Jordan, there is a long tradition of “treasure hunting.” But the gold fever driving a surge in tomb-raiding in the Hashemite Kingdom is the worst in years. No one knows exactly how they started, but rumors have been flying from rough kebab shops to fancy dinner parties of buried treasure, of Ottoman gold and Byzantine jewels, of jars heavy with Roman coins.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt sounds nutty. But it is destroying Jordan’s rich cultural heritage, piece by piece, one looted Bronze-era funerary relic at a time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-pR4ZK0xpoTA\/VFUZyUk1QII\/AAAAAAABJ80\/SLZfJYixTB4\/s1333\/jordan-2.jpg\" title=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMembers of the Department of Antiquities and Tourism inspect a looted site at the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUmm El-Jimal archaeological site in Al Mafraq, Jordan\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Warrick Page\/The Washington Post]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe looters are looking not only for gold but for ceramics, glassware, lamps, masonry and bits of jewelry, all of which quickly find their way into the global antiquities trade. Once grave-robbers disturb a site, it becomes impossible for archaeologists to bring order to the finds. It’s as if someone pressed the “delete” button in one of most archaeologically rich countries on Earth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHow bad is the gold fever? Late last month, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour called an extraordinary news conference to dispel rumors that an area around the city of Ajloun, which had been declared off-limits by the military, was a treasure find.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPeople assumed the late-night explosions and mysterious excavations meant the buried riches of Alexander the Great had finally been unearthed. Looters — and whole families of enthusiasts — descended on the area. Taxi drivers in Amman confidently told visiting journalists the booty was worth billions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-HP4A188sBz4\/VFUZ8VzKoZI\/AAAAAAABJ88\/Dg269nV-Xws\/s1333\/jordan-3.jpg\" title=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EByzantine-era ruins are seen at the Umm El-Jimal archaeological site in Al Mafraq,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Jordan [Credit: Warrick Page\/The Washington Post]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETurns out it wasn’t treasure that the Jordan military was digging for, but Israeli spy equipment buried there in 1969, during the War of Attrition. The news conference did little to break the fever.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“You hear these ridiculous stories all the time, how someone found enough gold to buy a block of apartments in Amman,” Hazza said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHazza was born and raised at the edge of Umm el-Jimal’s walled city, which was occupied in waves by Nabateans, Romans and Byzantines between the 1st and 8th centuries. It was laid to waste by an earthquake in A.D. 749.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Every night, there is digging here now,” he said. “In the morning, men in Hummers come to buy what they find.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-qlLLncAptQs\/VFUaE440vqI\/AAAAAAABJ9E\/UHKaaRH3VXA\/s1333\/jordan-4.jpg\" title=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESkeletal remains are seen inside a Byzantine tomb after it was\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;looted for possible valuables in Al Mafraq, Jordan\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Warrick Page\/The Washington Post]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHazza thought about the absurdity of that image for a moment. “It’s like a drive-through,” he said, searching for an American metaphor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EImagine what damage a tomb-raider like Indiana Jones could do. Now imagine that Indy has a lot of underemployed cousins with pneumatic drills and a basic knowledge of archaeology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We are facing big problems. Every week, every day, we get a telephone call saying, ‘They’re digging again,’ or the police saying they have captured some artifacts,” said Monther Dahash Jamhawi, general director of the Hashemite Kingdom’s Department of Antiquities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJamhawi said scholars estimate there are more than 100,000 archaeological sites in Jordan, some 20,000 of which have been documented. But only a few have guards, the very same guards who may indulge in off-hours pillaging, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-ZgdfZt8lq7k\/VFUaNM-x1kI\/AAAAAAABJ9M\/rY42jO4EofA\/s1333\/jordan-5.jpg\" title=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn employee of the tourism department inspects a looted site\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eat Umm El-Jimal archaeological site in Al Mafraq, Jordan\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Warrick Page\/The Washington Post]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We are faced with amateurs who possess some knowledge, who have some talent. They know where artifacts may lie and what their values are,” Jamhawi said. Some, he said, learned how to find graves while working as excavators for professional archaeologists.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese thieves target archaeological sites and may conspire with shadowy middlemen, who employ consultants to appraise the value of, say, a burnished redware pot from the late Roman period or a 7th-century Umayyad painted jar.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYears ago the culprits sold to museums. Since Jordan passed an antiquities law in 1988, things have tightened up some. Now they sell to private collectors — not just easily smuggled trinkets, such as a pair of earrings from a Byzantine tomb, but Greek-inscribed tombstones weighing hundreds of pounds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-pVKy4MqkbfY\/VFUaWZIK9LI\/AAAAAAABJ9U\/A3QK48WxE_Q\/s1333\/jordan-6.jpg\" title=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe names of angels are written in Greek on a fortress tower\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eat Umm El-Jimal archaeological site in Al Mafraq, Jordan\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;[Credit: Warrick Page\/The Washington Post]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe middlemen sell to some of the most influential families in Amman, experts say. They launder antiquities — often with dubious documents of authenticity — through dealers in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, then move them on to the international auction houses, to satisfy a global demand for “biblical objects.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJamhawi said he was recently shown a pair of Roman-era capitals — the carved stone that sits at the top of a column — that a family in Amman wanted to register. The owners told him the pieces were an inheritance, conveniently collected before Jordan’s antiquities law was passed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Of course this claim was highly dubious,” Jamhawi said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFascinated by the trade, Morag Kersel, an archaeologist at DePaul University in Chicago, and colleagues recently launched the “Follow the Pots Project,” to track how antiquities in Jordan are purloined and where they go.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-2AZup9aP55g\/VFUad9EPKEI\/AAAAAAABJ9c\/RzeeZNWR76k\/s1333\/jordan-7.jpg\" title=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EByzantine-era ruins are shown at the Umm El-Jimal archaeological site in\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAl Mafraq, Jordan [Credit: Warrick Page\/The Washington Post]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“What is driving the looting is demand,” she said. High unemployment and the regional upheaval that has further fed the marketplace for black-market antiquities are also factors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIraq was stripped of ancient relics in the decade of unrest that followed the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. Similarly, Islamic State militants are now funding their self-proclaimed caliphate with “blood antiquities” from Syria.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKersel and her team have flown a drone over archaeological sites to take photographs. The aerial images are striking. In Fifa, by the Dead Sea, the area looks like it has been very thoroughly, very neatly, bombed. There are more than 10,000 tombs looted.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-dxcN56MWdmI\/VFUalJ79WpI\/AAAAAAABJ9k\/sdgYRuRwGtY\/s1333\/jordan-8.jpg\" title=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMuaffraq Hazza, the Umm El-Jimal site director, inspects looted\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EByzantine tombs in a grave site in Al Mafraq, Jordan\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Warrick Page\/The Washington Post]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaiders have hit Umm el-Jimal equally hard. Archaeologists count as many as 5,000 tombs plundered. In fields just outside the fence are row after row of conical dirt piles, each one beside a gutted grave.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Why are they digging and digging and digging when I know their chance of finding anything is almost zero?” asked Bert de Vries, lead archaeologist at Umm el-Jimal and a professor emeritus at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“There’s always the next time,” he said, answering his own question. “There’s always the chance that the next shovel down, they will hear the clink, and they think it will be a box of gold.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-eTu6eeDmXec\/VFUatYFXDdI\/AAAAAAABJ9s\/7rY7vEDn95g\/s1333\/jordan-9.jpg\" title=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe entrance to a looted Byzantine family’s tomb is shown in Al Mafraq, Jordan\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;[Credit: Warrick Page\/The Washington Post]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMohammad Abu Khader is a 50-year-old day laborer in Umm el-Jimal. This month, he was burrowing in a neighbor’s back yard.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We dug for 17 nights,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen he saw it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The tops of three jars,” he said, nervously, but sticking to his story. The jars were capped with blue stones he assumes were precious gems. There was strange writing and what appeared to be an entrance to a secret passageway.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-r__El79e_WI\/VFUa5HzIEkI\/AAAAAAABJ90\/sKPsSOGJGjw\/s1333\/jordan-10.jpg\" title=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EByzantine era ruins are seen at the Umm El-Jimal archaeological site\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Warrick Page\/The Washington Post]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen Khader went to have a cup of tea — and the jars vanished.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“I was so close,” he said. “Then the treasure was snatched from my hands.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELater he swore on a Koran before the local imam to what he had seen. It matters not that the story seems improbable, because people believe it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new mayor of Umm el-Jimal, Hassan Al Rahibh, is working hard to spruce up the town, plant palm trees and provide a little infrastructure — maybe a restaurant and a guesthouse — for pilgrims who may want to visit the ruins of 17 Byzantine churches on the site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe has heard all the stories.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-hrTrXDv9wH8\/VFUbLv6hdQI\/AAAAAAABJ98\/GwXF8U0nlnM\/s1333\/jordan-11.jpg\" title=\"Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EByzantine era ruins are seen at the Umm El-Jimal archeological site\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Warrick Page\/The Washington Post]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“You combine unemployment and ignorance and this is what happens,” the mayor said. “In reality, there is no treasure.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd yet — the mayor lit a cigarette and began his own story. He has a cousin, you see. Who was digging. Just eight months ago. Who found a golden cross, he said. A big one. Very old, very valuable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere was a little glint in the mayor’s eye.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: William Booth | Source: The Washington Post [October 28, 2914]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5976914690131409852"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5976914690131409852"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/jordan-tomb-raiders-in-jordan-descend.html","title":"Jordan: Tomb raiders in Jordan descend on ancient crypts"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-e62kgxkBLOI\/VFUZmKtt1QI\/AAAAAAABJ8s\/OYxKW5C7sqc\/s72-c\/jordan-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7030602908412693804"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-26T14:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.395-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pakistan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Pakistan: Artefacts stolen from Balochistan recovered in Italy"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Antique artifacts stolen from the archaeological site of Mehargarh, Balochistan have been recovered from Rome, according to a statement issued by the provincial government.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Artefacts stolen from Balochistan recovered in Italy\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-z_T0htQ-IhM\/VFSnBjHomMI\/AAAAAAABJ38\/XB-t_azyvAw\/s1333\/balochistan-1.jpg\" title=\"Artefacts stolen from Balochistan recovered in Italy\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe statement, issued late Tuesday, stated that the antiques were recovered from Rome, Italy by the law enforcing authorities. The antiques, stolen from Mehargarh area of Bolan district of Balochistan, are thousands of years old and carry a heavy price in the international market.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has issued directive to the Secretary Archives to make contact with the Pakistani embassy in Rome for the return of the artifacts back to the country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMehargarh, s one of the most important Neolithic (6500 BCE to c. 2500 BCE) sites in archaeology, according to UNESCO.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt lies on the Kacchi Plain of Balochistan, Pakistan. It is one of the earliest sites with evidence of farming and herding in South Asia\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Pakistan Today [October 29, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7030602908412693804"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7030602908412693804"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/pakistan-artefacts-stolen-from.html","title":"Pakistan: Artefacts stolen from Balochistan recovered in Italy"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-z_T0htQ-IhM\/VFSnBjHomMI\/AAAAAAABJ38\/XB-t_azyvAw\/s72-c\/balochistan-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-8036725158061773161"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-26T10:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.408-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Locals busted digging up temple under house in Giza"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Seven residents of a Giza district have been arrested after they illegally excavated the area beneath their home and found the remains of an ancient Egyptian temple.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Locals busted digging up temple under house in Giza\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-euoMV1LT7HI\/VFJ4YkEH7LI\/AAAAAAABJyA\/r8if30RiOuM\/s1333\/giza-3.jpg\" title=\"Locals busted digging up temple under house in Giza\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe huge limestone blocks, engraved with hieroglyphic texts, date from the reign of the New Kingdom's King Tuthmose III, and were found in the Hod Zeleikha area of Al-Badrasheen district.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe find was made two weeks ago, according to Major General Momtaz Fathi, an aide to the interior ministry and a director in the tourism police.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA unit from the tourism and antiquities police heard of the illegal excavation work and arrested the seven men – two of whom are Palestinian, Fathi said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe police also found diving costumes, oxygen cylinders and diving masks with the detainees.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Nevine El-Aref | Source: Ahram Online [October 29, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8036725158061773161"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8036725158061773161"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-locals-busted-digging-up.html","title":"Heritage: Locals busted digging up temple under house in Giza"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-euoMV1LT7HI\/VFJ4YkEH7LI\/AAAAAAABJyA\/r8if30RiOuM\/s72-c\/giza-3.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-4019207068466854695"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-25T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.462-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: Google turns up Bronze Age site in south Devon"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"A treasure hunter has stunned archaeologists by locating an historic Bronze Age settlement – using the internet.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Google turns up Bronze Age site in south Devon\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-PPPo4aHd_9c\/VE_DchPLRaI\/AAAAAAABJlI\/B8NZ_qRVR2M\/s1333\/UK_Google_03.jpg\" title=\"Google turns up Bronze Age site in south Devon\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe fields in south Devon where Howard Jones found\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ethe Bronze Age site [Credit: SWNS]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHoward Jones shunned his usual methods of finding ancient communities – and simply used the mapping website Google Earth instead.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe trawled satellite images for the sort of terrain that would have offered food, water and shelter for a prehistoric settlement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr Jones used Google's overhead mapping site to zoom in on fields and farmland before pinpointing a spot in the South Hams, Devon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Google turns up Bronze Age site in south Devon\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-tcCK7_10jU4\/VE_Dr2kD_sI\/AAAAAAABJlQ\/B4A8u9yjk3k\/s1333\/UK_Google_01.jpg\" title=\"Google turns up Bronze Age site in south Devon\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHoward Jones [Credit: SWNS]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe former Royal Marine then sought permission from the local landowner before heading there to scour for remains.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo his amazement he soon unearthed old flint tools, pottery shards and scraps of metal thought to date back 5,000 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr Jones called in Devon county archaeologist Bill Horner who carried out a geophysical survey using ground-penetrating radar equipment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Google turns up Bronze Age site in south Devon\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-l6HqKOkpW1M\/VE_D0niNBMI\/AAAAAAABJlY\/SLuo25hz-FM\/s1333\/UK_Google_02.jpg\" title=\"Google turns up Bronze Age site in south Devon\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESome of the Bronze Age discoveries made in a Devon field\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eby Howard Jones [Credit: SWNS]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe two men soon found two large buried structures that they believe are farm buildings dating back to the bronze or iron age.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr Jones, a commercial diver from Plymstock, Devon, said: \"Night after night I looked at Google Earth asking myself the question, 'if I was alive 3,000 years ago where would I live?' After a few weeks I put an X on the map – that was where I would live.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Western Daily Press [October 24, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4019207068466854695"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4019207068466854695"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/uk-google-turns-up-bronze-age-site-in.html","title":"UK: Google turns up Bronze Age site in south Devon"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-PPPo4aHd_9c\/VE_DchPLRaI\/AAAAAAABJlI\/B8NZ_qRVR2M\/s72-c\/UK_Google_03.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-4447088410397376784"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-24T13:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.490-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: Kingsmead Quarry finds declared 'treasure'"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Gold beads found in a rare Beaker grave found during excavations at Kingsmead Quarry, Horton, Berkshire, have now been declared as Treasure by H.M. Coroner. The beads were discovered in 2011 in a small grave and may have formed part of a necklace. Other grave goods also found with the gold beads were a number of amber and jet\/shale beads, a Beaker vessel and the poorly preserved bones of an adult, possibly a woman.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Kingsmead Quarry finds declared 'treasure'\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-n6Q-HT1mpYk\/VE_RQhPBfpI\/AAAAAAABJnw\/yx_cxx5g2fw\/s1333\/quarry-2.JPG\" title=\"Kingsmead Quarry finds declared 'treasure'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArchaeological excavation at Kingsmead Quarry\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Wessex Archaeology]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese items are more than 4000 years old and the gold beads are composed of more than 10% precious metal, and therefore considered as ‘Treasure’ under the terms of the Treasure Act 1996.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Beaker burial is without close parallel in Britain. Each of the five ornaments comprises a strip of thin sheet gold rolled to form a tubular ‘bead’. Only small numbers of Beaker graves, both in Britain and continental Europe, contain gold ornaments and tubular beads of this sort are rare.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Kingsmead Quarry finds declared 'treasure'\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-daWHplStbAc\/VE_SGV4sLRI\/AAAAAAABJoA\/LKXeo6rEkVY\/s1333\/quarry-1%2B-%2B%CE%91%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%AE.jpg\" title=\"Kingsmead Quarry finds declared 'treasure'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Kingsmead Quarry finds declared 'treasure'\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-UOTyA6-iQWY\/VE_SNNRWbCI\/AAAAAAABJoI\/qivocCb1pDA\/s1333\/quarry-1.jpg\" title=\"Kingsmead Quarry finds declared 'treasure'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGold beads and beaker vesselfound at \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKingsmead Quarry\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Wessex Archaeology]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFurther examples are known in copper or bronze, but again they are far from common finds. The indications are that Kingsmead Quarry is an Early Beaker context making the ornaments some of the earliest goldwork from Britain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow declared as treasure, the gold objects will be inspected at the British Museum before returning to the Windsor \u0026amp; Royal Borough Museum for display.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe inquest was attended by Wessex Archaeology Project Manager Gareth Chaffey and CEMEX UK archaeological consultant Adrian Havercroft (The Guildhouse Consultancy).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Karen Nichols | Source: Wessex Archaeology [October 24, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4447088410397376784"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4447088410397376784"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/uk-kingsmead-quarry-finds-declared.html","title":"UK: Kingsmead Quarry finds declared \u0026#39;treasure\u0026#39;"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-n6Q-HT1mpYk\/VE_RQhPBfpI\/AAAAAAABJnw\/yx_cxx5g2fw\/s72-c\/quarry-2.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6313580764521105224"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-24T13:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.503-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Medusa to gaze once more from mosaic"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"She may no longer turn people into stone, but Medusa continues to arrest onlookers; now, even more people will have a chance to glimpse at mythology’s most famous gorgon with completion nearing on the restoration of a mosaic at the ancient city of Kibyra in southern Turkey.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Medusa to gaze once more from mosaic\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-UUfCjmZsIOE\/VE_Kjs6fDdI\/AAAAAAABJm8\/319TdSqe6EQ\/s1333\/medusa-1.jpg\" title=\"Medusa to gaze once more from mosaic\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Medusa to gaze once more from mosaic\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-CMlxjDsLKFQ\/VE_Kt_oKz7I\/AAAAAAABJnA\/U7Zgd8TZ1KA\/s1333\/medusa-2.jpg\" title=\"Medusa to gaze once more from mosaic\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA mosaic of Medusa, the terrible creature of Greek mythology who turned\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eall those who looked her to stone, is being restored in the southern\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETurkish province of Burdur [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe mosaic of Medusa, the female mythological creature with snake hair and sharp teeth who turned all that gazed upon her to stone, was discovered in 2009 in Kibyra in the southern province of Burdur’s Golhisar district. About 95 percent of the mosaic remains despite being around 1,800 years old.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuzgun Tarkan, an academic from Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Archaeology Department, who is member of the archaeology team in the region, said the Medusa mosaic covered the orchestra ground of a 3,600-person capacity Odeon structure in the ancient city.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe said the mosaic had been covered upon advice from Culture and Tourism Ministry experts so as to protect the artifact from winter conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“This year, after getting the necessary allocation from the ministry, we decided to work on the mosaic so as not to lose more time,” Tarkan said, adding that an Istanbul-based company had been working on the restoration of the mosaic for two months, with one month remaining.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe said they believed that the mosaic had suffered from a large fire in the ancient era. “In its original, it was covered with a wooden roof. This is why we believe that the timbers that fell during the fire burned the mosaic for days. The marble pieces that form the mosaic received great damage. Now we are merging them and the broken pieces are being attached to the mosaic.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe mosaic was built as a protection mechanism, as many believed that even the face of Medusa could turn one to stone, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“This is the first time we have seen it in Kibyra. It is made of marble and this is why it is different. It is unique in the world in terms of its creation technique,” he said, noting that it was also remarkable that the mosaic had survived in its original location, something that rarely occurs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“They are generally protected as a few broken pieces. Medusa is in its original place and this is very important for the country’s archaeology and culture,” he said, adding that the mosaic would be surrounded with glass after the restoration and displayed for visitors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe mosaic is 11 meters in length and its widest part is 4.35 centimeters, according to Tarkan.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003EArchaeological excavations in Kibyra have been continuing since 2009, unearthing artifacts and relics of historical significance. The city, which was a regional power in the Hellenistic period, was founded in 330 B.C.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMedusa in mythology\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Greek mythology, Medusa was a monster, generally described as having the face of a hideous human female with live venomous snakes in place of hair. Gazing directly upon her would turn onlookers to stone. Most sources describe her as the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. Medusa was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who used her head as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield. In classical antiquity, the image of the head of Medusa appeared in a device that fends off evil known as the Gorgoneion.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [October 24, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6313580764521105224"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6313580764521105224"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/near-east-medusa-to-gaze-once-more-from.html","title":"Near East: Medusa to gaze once more from mosaic"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-UUfCjmZsIOE\/VE_Kjs6fDdI\/AAAAAAABJm8\/319TdSqe6EQ\/s72-c\/medusa-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-961554233929254451"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-24T12:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.557-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Denmark"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Northern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Grave robbers plunder ancient Danish burial sites"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Grave robbers have dug up and plundered four ancient burial sites in 'Mangehøje' north of Grindsted near Billund in Jutland. It is believed the sites date back to the Stone Age some 4,000 years ago.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Grave robbers plunder ancient Danish burial sites\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-Z7KMG1GT6hc\/VE1DdgIhxeI\/AAAAAAABJjs\/XfMK3NXJHCU\/s1333\/Danish-loot_01.jpg\" title=\"Grave robbers plunder ancient Danish burial sites\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArchaeologists and the police inspect the plundered burial mounds today\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Enear Grindsted, Jutland [Credit: Scanpix]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELars Bjarke Christensen, an archaeologist from the Culture Ministry, is gutted over the theft and the loss of Danish history.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E”It's a disaster. The grave robbers have ruined part of Denmark's history,” Christensen told DR Nyheder.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E”The things we could have learned from the burial mounds have now been erased from history. We can no longer investigate how ancient life was in this area of Jutland.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFirst grave robbing in a century\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe archaeologists have not excavated the burial mounds either since they are protected, but they do know that other mounds from the same era contained artefacts – such as stone axes, jewellery and pottery – that were buried with the dead for use in the afterlife.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Christensen, the last time graves were plundered in Denmark was back at the end of the 1890s. He estimates the plundered artefacts won't net more than 15,000 kroner on the black market.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe police in southeast Jutland are investigating the incident.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Copenhagen Post [October 24, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/961554233929254451"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/961554233929254451"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-grave-robbers-plunder-ancient.html","title":"Heritage: Grave robbers plunder ancient Danish burial sites"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-Z7KMG1GT6hc\/VE1DdgIhxeI\/AAAAAAABJjs\/XfMK3NXJHCU\/s72-c\/Danish-loot_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-4426070489086186040"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-24T10:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.577-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Young experts bring fresh ideas to Egypt. archaeology"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Five years ago, if archaeologists digging up pharaonic ruins in Egypt found any human bones, they would usually throw them away. “Most Egyptian archaeological missions looked at human remains as garbage,” said Afaf Wahba, a young official at Egypt’s antiquities ministry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Young experts bring fresh ideas to Egypt. archaeology\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-iUsYpOPopWU\/VE_OZoZdcwI\/AAAAAAABJnM\/EVEdNsSE4xs\/s1333\/egypt-1.jpg\" title=\"Young experts bring fresh ideas to Egypt. archaeology\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETourists at the Pyramids of Giza. Until recently, few Egyptian experts had\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Esignificant field training [Credit: Steven Allan\/Getty Images]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut osteology, the study of bones, is standard practice on digs outside Egypt – and Wahba wants Egyptian teams to follow suit. After a five-year campaign, each Egyptian province is now meant to have an osteologist, and Wahba hopes the ministry will found its own osteology department. But, as she put it: “I am struggling to inform people in the SCA [the ministry’s governing body] that human remains are very important.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWahba’s mission is one example of a generational shift that optimists hope can slowly reform Egypt’s bureaucratic state institutions, not least its ministry of state for antiquities (MSA). The MSA has ultimate jurisdiction over arguably the planet’s most impressive collection of monuments and museums, hundreds of sites including the tomb of Tutankhamun, the mosques of medieval Cairo, and – in the Giza pyramids – the last remaining wonder of the ancient world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“It’s a bit like English Heritage, the British Museum and a university research department rolled into one,” said Chris Naunton, the head of the Egypt Exploration Society (EES), a British charity that supports Egyptian archaeology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYet despite its power and potential, the ministry – like many Egyptian institutions – is often accused of being a quagmire of paperwork. Foreign archaeologists complain they sometimes can’t import the equipment they need, or export rock samples for analysis. Taking such samples to foreign laboratories is banned and, as a result, local digs are overlooked by international donors, who prioritise projects with access to the latest research techniques. “Bureaucracy is such a monster in Egypt,” said Giulio Lucarini, an archaeology professor whose digs are among those affected by the ban based in Cambridge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELocal archaeologists have their own frustrations. Many want better field training, more opportunities for promotion, and say their ideas for reform are rarely listened to. “If you want to do something, you go to your boss, and from his boss to another boss – and so on to get permission,” said Moamen Saad, another young ministry official, of the process of starting a new project.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Young experts bring fresh ideas to Egypt. archaeology\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-g0Rw2ZSmqVM\/VE_OkIxiI8I\/AAAAAAABJnU\/4c05B-CaUHI\/s1333\/egypt-2.jpeg\" title=\"Young experts bring fresh ideas to Egypt. archaeology\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOfficials look at the golden sarcophagus of the Tutankhamun after the mummy of the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eboy king was taken out of its sarcophagus and displayed to the public in 2007\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Mike Nelson\/EPA]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDecision-making is opaque. Activists say Egypt’s oldest pyramid, the Djoser at Saqqara, has been ruined by a ministry-sponsored restoration effort. The ministry denies the charge – but without independent arbitration, no one can know who is right.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Naunton, “there is very little mechanism for criticising the ministry for what it does. And that’s not very healthy”. When you’re talking about a big government institution, you should be able to say: maybe there’s another way of doing that.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut hope is on the horizon. A new generation of officials, a new approach to archaeology at Egypt’s leading state university and a new ministry leadership has given archaeologists hope that things may gradually change. Wahba and Saad personify the new broom. Wahba’s enthusiasm for osteology could shake up the ministry’s approach to research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESaad wants to improve the practical education given to young ministry employees. Archaeology courses at Egyptian universities are theory-based, so new recruits arrive at the ministry with no experience of archaeological digs. Apart from a week-long course in the Sinai desert, the MSA does little to beef up their skills.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESaad wants to change all that. In 2012, while working at the temples of Luxor, he and local colleagues set up their own field training school, giving 100 officials a new set of skills they would have found hard to come by elsewhere.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow Saad wants to replicate the scheme elsewhere. “This is my dream project – to do it again and again,” he said. “Lots of colleagues gave me a hand. Now I want to give a hand to my colleagues.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Young experts bring fresh ideas to Egypt. archaeology\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-EpLTbpi9iCI\/VE_OtGBGaVI\/AAAAAAABJnc\/kdmz3KiKM1c\/s1333\/egypt-3.jpeg\" title=\"Young experts bring fresh ideas to Egypt. archaeology\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA member of the Egyptian special forces stands guard in the Egyptian Museum\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;in Cairo in January 2011 after would-be looters broke in\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Tara Todras-Whitehill\/AP]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen there’s 33-year-old Mohamed Gamal, formerly a curator at the Grand Egyptian Museum – one of two unfinished Egyptology museums that are being built to supplement the cluttered, decades-old Egyptian museum in Tahrir Square. Like many observers, Gamal feels it isn’t yet clear how the three museums will complement each other – so he is developing a masterplan that, if adopted, may finally give each of the trio a clear and unique mandate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“A very simple question that is always asked is: why do you have two new museums in the same city? What will you do with the [old] Egyptian museum? During the last few years, no one from the Egyptian side had a good answer,” said Gamal. “So the proposal I’m working on I hope will have the answer.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGamal, Saad and Wahba are not alone. They reckon they are part of a group of about 60 up-and-comers, all intent on helping the ministry reach its potential. “They have an awareness,” said the EES’s Naunton, “that there is an opportunity – if they and others like them can get into the right positions in the ministry – to genuinely reform things, to make sure that the ministry is dealing in the best way with all the challenges it faces.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGroups including the EES are giving them a hand. In partnership with the ministry, the EES awards scholarships to some of the MSA’s high flyers, taking six young officials – including Gamal and Wahba – to Britain for workshops with leading British curators, conservators and archaeologists, and access to some of the world’s best archaeological libraries. In Egypt itself, the Ancient Egypt Research Associates (Aera), an American conservation group, has spent the past decade giving field training to Egyptian archaeologists – providing the latest generation, including Moamen Saad, with an unprecedented set of field skills. This year, this change in approach spread to Cairo university, where the new head of conservation, Mostafa Attia, introduced field training for the first time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EForeign groups such as Aera and EES are aware of the balance they, as foreigners, must strike while intervening in an industry in which colonialism casts a long shadow. But they argue the guidance they give makes Egypt less dependent on foreign expertise. Foreign archaeologists say that five years ago, before Aera’s workshops had made much headway, you wouldn’t have been able to staff a dig exclusively with competent local archaeologists – most Egyptians didn’t have the training.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Young experts bring fresh ideas to Egypt. archaeology\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-9BnUuW-HSAU\/VE_O2E97c-I\/AAAAAAABJnk\/R1QW7aZImZI\/s1333\/egypt-4.jpeg\" title=\"Young experts bring fresh ideas to Egypt. archaeology\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe British archaeologist Howard Carter at the tomb of Tutankhamun, in 1923\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Hulton-Deutsch Collection\/CORBIS]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow that’s changing: for the first time, digs are being staffed by Egyptians alone. “And that’s how it should be,” said Naunton. “It should be people like Moamen and Afaf who are running the foremost archaeological projects in Egypt – but until recently that hasn’t been possible, which has given the whole thing a very colonial feel.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor its part, the ministry says it wants to modernise. It positively welcomes projects such as the Aera field schools, and the EES scholarships, according to Hisham Elleithy, who heads a department within the MSA. “When they come back from their scholarships,” he said, “they can transfer their experience to their colleagues in the museums and the sites.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf there are failings, they’re often caused by problems beyond the ministry’s control, Elleithy added. The 2011 uprising caused a collapse in tourism, which reduced the ministry’s revenuesby 95%. As a result, it has struggled to pay its 44,000 employees, let alone embark on grand projects of reform. The looting of hundreds of archaeological sites, meanwhile, is due to a security vacuum caused by the uprising.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe newly appointed antiquities minister, Mamdouh Damaty, is said to be refreshingly open to new ideas, and has already appointed fresh faces to key positions. “Professor Damaty has a lot of great ideas,” said Elleithy. “[He’s] encouraging the younger generation … choosing the right persons for the right places. Their age doesn’t matter – it’s their experience and ideas.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYoung officials hope this early promise results in real change. “Trust the new generation,” saidSaad, in an appeal that will resonate across post-revolutionary Egypt. “Be flexible, listen to them and their ideas … Let’s test it and if it’s OK, let’s continue with it. But don’t from the beginning say no.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Patrick Kingsley | Source: The Guradian [October 23, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4426070489086186040"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4426070489086186040"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-young-experts-bring-fresh.html","title":"Heritage: Young experts bring fresh ideas to Egypt. archaeology"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-iUsYpOPopWU\/VE_OZoZdcwI\/AAAAAAABJnM\/EVEdNsSE4xs\/s72-c\/egypt-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6033935023813365750"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-24T10:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.612-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"China"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"East Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"East Asia: 120 arrested, 1,300 relics seized in Zhejiang's ‘biggest ever’ tomb-raiding case"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Police in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province have arrested more than 120 people and seized around 1,300 relics in relation to 144 cases of tomb raiding.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"120 arrested, 1,300 relics seized in Zhejiang's ‘biggest ever’ tomb-raiding case\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-WfW0al-kM5U\/VE0etdm9utI\/AAAAAAABJgc\/crFMsm_qR4k\/s1333\/China_loot_01.jpg\" title=\"120 arrested, 1,300 relics seized in Zhejiang's ‘biggest ever’ tomb-raiding case\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArchaeologists repair a terracotta portrait discovered in China's Inner Mongolia\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAutonomous Region. It is unknown how many artifacts have been stolen\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eby grave robbers [Credit: Xinhua]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAuthorities there described it as the “biggest ever” case of tomb raiding and artefact trafficking in the province’s history.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShaoxing plays host to hundreds of ancient tombs, some of which are thousands of years old. Archaeologists researching the burial sites first tipped off police to the tomb raiders’ activity, after which a task force was set up to track them down.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore than 800 officers from across Zhejiang took part in the investigation, which eventually resulted in the arrest of 124 people and the recovery of 1,335 cultural relics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne such relic was a large bronze mirror, dating back to the Jin dynasty over 1,800 years ago.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“There may still be some pieces of national heritage in the relics, identification of them is still ongoing,” an investigator told the Qianjiang Evening News.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe majority of the tomb raiders were from the nearby area, police told reporters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"120 arrested, 1,300 relics seized in Zhejiang's ‘biggest ever’ tomb-raiding case\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-Wsc5qeIpFGg\/VE0eyw0jbBI\/AAAAAAABJgk\/bCf36WlToX4\/s1333\/China_loot_02.jpg\" title=\"120 arrested, 1,300 relics seized in Zhejiang's ‘biggest ever’ tomb-raiding case\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPolice in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, seized around 1300 relics in reltion to\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E144 cases of tomb raiding [Credit: Xinhua]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“They tend to have a good understanding of the history of Shaoxing, they know where to find the tombs,” an officer with the Shaoxing municipal public security bureau told the Evening News.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPolice said thieves used the so-called ‘Luoyang shovel’ to find the graves. Invented in 1923 by a grave digger from Luoyang, Henan province, the shovel allows for its user to extract a long section of earth without disturbing the soil structure or digging a large hole. This allows the grave robber to analyse the soil for any bits of pottery, metal or masonry that might indicate an underground tomb.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGrave robbery is endemic across China; posing what experts say is a very real risk that priceless historical artefacts will be lost or stolen. One researcher estimated in 2012 that as many as 100,000 people across the country were involved in the crime.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We used to say nine out of 10 tombs were empty because of tomb-raiding, but now it has become 9.5 out of 10,” Professor Lei Xingshan, an archaeologist at Peking University, told the Guardian earlier this year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: James Griffiths | Source: South China Morning Post [October 24, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6033935023813365750"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6033935023813365750"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/east-asia-120-arrested-1300-relics.html","title":"East Asia: 120 arrested, 1,300 relics seized in Zhejiang\u0026#39;s ‘biggest ever’ tomb-raiding case"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-WfW0al-kM5U\/VE0etdm9utI\/AAAAAAABJgc\/crFMsm_qR4k\/s72-c\/China_loot_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-106450759365154490"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-24T09:15:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.624-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Destinations"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Italy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Nero’s Domus Aurea to reopen on Sunday in Rome"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The remains of the Domus Aurea, or Golden House, the opulent villa that the Emperor Nero built for himself in the center of Rome, will reopen to guided visits on Sunday six years after it was closed because of collapses and safety concerns.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Nero’s Domus Aurea to reopen on Sunday in Rome\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-3ayV6hnHAC0\/VE1K2tO5xlI\/AAAAAAABJkU\/GXdCbCwc1vo\/s1333\/Italy_Nero_01.jpg\" title=\"Nero’s Domus Aurea to reopen on Sunday in Rome\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPart of the Domus Aurea in Rome, which will reopen to guided tours on Sunday\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit Fabio Campana\/European Pressphoto Agency]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe visits will take place on weekends so that archaeologists and restorers can continue to work on the four-year project, which will open new areas of the monument. Visitors can tour the work site and learn about techniques used in the restoration, which can be followed online. Culture Ministry officials on Friday announced a campaign to help raise the 31 million euros ($39 million) needed for the restoration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnly a small amount of the villa remains visible; it once covered an area as large as three soccer fields. “This has been a tenacious and silent restoration,” the culture minister, Dario Franceschini, told reporters on Friday. “As people strolled in the gardens above, below ground, dozens of people continued the restorations.” The villa first opened to the public in 1999, but it was closed several times after collapses. It then closed for the long term in 2005 but restorations continued, stymied partially by infiltrations of water and roots from the garden that covers the structure. In the new project, the garden would be redesigned to safeguard the building.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We don’t want people to think that we’ve resolved all the problems of the Domus Aurea,” said Fedora Filippi, the scientific director of the site. “But we wanted to explain to people what we’re doing so that they can participate.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Elisabetta Povoledo | Source: Arts Beat\/NY Times [October 24, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/106450759365154490"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/106450759365154490"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/more-stuff-neros-domus-aurea-to-reopen.html","title":"More Stuff: Nero’s Domus Aurea to reopen on Sunday in Rome"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-3ayV6hnHAC0\/VE1K2tO5xlI\/AAAAAAABJkU\/GXdCbCwc1vo\/s72-c\/Italy_Nero_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7843188430763964988"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-20T10:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.687-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Egypt recovers ancient artefacts from London"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"After a year of legal and diplomatic negotiations, Egypt is to receive Tuesday a collection of 15 ancient Egyptian objects from London.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Egypt recovers ancient artefacts from London\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-T8qb7zKzr8Y\/VEbE5DkRONI\/AAAAAAABJQg\/LrKiKzFYbpI\/s1333\/Egypt_loot_02.jpg\" title=\"Egypt recovers ancient artefacts from London\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERed Granite engraving [Credit: Al Ahram]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAli Ahmed, head of the Antiquities Recuperation Section of the antiquities ministry said that these objects were monitored last year by the section as they were on the selling lists of Christie’s and Bonham's auction halls in London.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter examining the photos of these objects and comparing them with the ministry’s registry, archaeologists of the Recuperation Section approved their authenticity. All legal procedures were then taken immediately to stop their sale and remove them from auction halls.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Egypt recovers ancient artefacts from London\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-HMUwDlvImnc\/VEbFDClHJCI\/AAAAAAABJQo\/1F9IENm7vqA\/s1333\/Egypt_loot_03.jpg\" title=\"Egypt recovers ancient artefacts from London\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHuman-shaped glaze piece [Credit: Al Ahram]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAhmed told Ahram Online that the objects include a red granite engraving depicting a captive that was a part of king Amenhotep III's statue found at his funerary temple at Kom Al-Hittan on Luxor's west bank as well as a collection of limestone women busts from the New and Middle Kingdoms. A New Kingdom painted limestone of a cobra head is also among the recovered items as well as six amulets depicting different ancient Egyptian deities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwo painted cartonnages, which were stolen from the storage of the French archaeological mission of the Louvre at Saqqara during the lack of security that overwhelmed the country in the aftermath of the January 2011 Revolution are also among the recovered objects. A human-shaped piece of glaze dated to the Graeco-Roman era stolen from the archaeological galleries at Al-Qantara East area was also recovered.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUpon its receipt, the items will be sent to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir where they will be subject to restoration before being shown in a temporary exhibition at the museum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Nevine El-Aref | Source: Al Ahram Online [October 20, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7843188430763964988"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7843188430763964988"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-egypt-recovers-ancient.html","title":"Heritage: Egypt recovers ancient artefacts from London"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-T8qb7zKzr8Y\/VEbE5DkRONI\/AAAAAAABJQg\/LrKiKzFYbpI\/s72-c\/Egypt_loot_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-902906218945296509"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-18T09:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.732-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Bulgaria"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Graeco-Thracian Temple in Starosel is falling apart"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The Graeco-Thracian temple near the village of Starosel in central Bulgaria is falling apart and may not survive the winter, warned the village Mayor Ivan Zhutev, quoted by the Nova TV national channel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Graeco-Thracian Temple in Starosel is falling apart\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-BWeJ9dDYPRs\/VEU4bSZzkRI\/AAAAAAABJFM\/hX22bZXpWc8\/s1333\/Bulgaria_01.jpg\" title=\"Graeco-Thracian Temple in Starosel is falling apart\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDetail of the entrance to the temple [Credit: Hristina Dimitrova]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe temple, uncovered by archaeologist Georgi Kitov and his team 15 years ago, is the largest on the Balkan peninsula and is visited by more than 30 000 tourists each year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Zhutev the wooden supports at the anteroom are rotting and the dome of the temple is being destroyed by humidity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Zhotev's estimates the restoration and conservation of the temple would cost BGN 500 000. He said he had sent numerous letters to the Culture Ministry, which was supposed to set aside the sum five years ago.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Novinite [October 18, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/902906218945296509"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/902906218945296509"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-graeco-thracian-temple-in.html","title":"Heritage: Graeco-Thracian Temple in Starosel is falling apart"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-BWeJ9dDYPRs\/VEU4bSZzkRI\/AAAAAAABJFM\/hX22bZXpWc8\/s72-c\/Bulgaria_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-653482558756844092"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-16T11:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.778-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Meidum Pyramid site under restoration in Upper Egypt"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Egypt's Antiquities minister Mamdouh El-Damaty embarked on Thursday on an inspection tour around the different archaeological sites and monuments in the upper Egyptian city of Beni Suef escorted by the city’s governor Magdi El-Batiti and Youssef Khalifa, head of the ancient Egyptian section.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Meidum Pyramid site under restoration in Upper Egypt\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-4aFHy9iXD-U\/VEFQ6RVM5wI\/AAAAAAABJAk\/7gFFnYwQ-a4\/s1333\/egypt_01.jpg\" title=\"Meidum Pyramid site under restoration in Upper Egypt\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Meidum Pyramid’s archaeological site in Beni Suef is being restored\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eby the Egyptian government in an attempt to attract tourists\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Ahram Online]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe area of Meidum Pyramid was the first site to be visited. During the tour, El-Damaty announced that a comprehensive restoration project is to begin immediately to make the site more tourist friendly.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe development project will include the establishment of a sound and light show on the ancient history of Beni Suef and the construction work of Meidum pyramid.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA new lighting system powered by solar energy is to be installed as well as a visitor’s centre equipped with a cinema, bookstore, gift shops and cafeteria.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEl-Damaty also gave the go ahead for the ministry’s excavation works at Ehnasia site to conduct further exploration in addition to the restoration project that is already underway. The site is to be developed into an open-air museum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Meidum pyramid consists of large mud-break mastabas which were originally built for the last third dynasty king Huni. Construction continued during the reign of his successor King Senefru.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe architect who continued Meidum construction was the successor to well-known ancient Egyptian architect Imotep, who built the Djoser step pyramid. However, the modification made Imotep’s design and attempts to extend the structure led to its partial collapse.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Meidum Pyramid site under restoration in Upper Egypt\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-A-cFZ5hejLw\/VEFRCQnWnaI\/AAAAAAABJAs\/aM3tEJrchdM\/s1333\/egypt_02.jpg\" title=\"Meidum Pyramid site under restoration in Upper Egypt\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Ehnasia archaeological site [Credit: Ahram Online]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Arab historian Al-Maqrizi described the Meidum pyramid during his visit to Egypt in the 15th century AD, as “looking like a five-stepped mountain.” However, in 1788 during Napoleon Bonaparte’s expedition to Egypt, French explorers observed only three of its mastabas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The unusual appearance of Meidum pyramid led to Beni Suef inhabitants calling it Al-Haram Al-Kadam (Pseudo Pyramid),” Khalifa told Ahram Online.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKhalifa added that the Meidum pyramid originally consisted of several mastabas connected to each other to give it the pyramid shape, the ancient Egyptians filled the gaps between every mastaba with limestone casing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the 19th century British Egyptologist Flinders Pertrie, succeeded in locating the ruins of the pyramid’s mortuary temple. The temple is 65 metres high, and its entrance is aligned north-south, with the entrance in the north, 20 metres above present ground level. The steep descending 57 metre-passage leads to another horizontal passage, just below the original ground level that then leads to a vertical shaft 10 metres high which finishes at the corbelled burial chamber itself. The chamber is unlikely to have been used for any burials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENeighbouring the pyramid complex is the mastaba tomb of an unknown noble. It has a spacious burial chamber and hallway, and contains the first example of a red granite sarcophagus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Nevine El-Aref | Source: Ahram Online [October 16, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/653482558756844092"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/653482558756844092"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-meidum-pyramid-site-under.html","title":"Heritage: Meidum Pyramid site under restoration in Upper Egypt"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-4aFHy9iXD-U\/VEFQ6RVM5wI\/AAAAAAABJAk\/7gFFnYwQ-a4\/s72-c\/egypt_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7288260707492836053"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-16T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.906-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Church in ancient Laodecia to open to tourism "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"One of the “Seven Churches of Asia” mentioned in the Bible, the Laodicean Church in the ancient city of Laodicea will be opened to tourism at the end of this year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Church in ancient Laodecia to open to tourism \" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-TWPej_54_94\/VEALsLW9IOI\/AAAAAAABI6I\/U_6h4L0YR_8\/s1333\/Turkey_laodicea_01.jpg\" title=\"Church in ancient Laodecia to open to tourism \" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe early church at Laodicea [Credit: Dr. Celal Şimşek\/\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELaodikeia excavation]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe head of the excavations at the ancient site in the western Turkish province of Denizli, Professor Celal Şimşek, said this year’s excavations continued in the northern part of the holy agora, a special area of the temples.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EŞimşek said works had been conducted in a structure called the “C structure.” “We have completely opened the peristillium (courtyard) of the structure. There is both a settlement and a graveyard from the early Bronze Age in the western side. This area dates back 5,000 years and we excavated there. This year we also restore the Septimius Severus fountain.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe added that the Laodicean Church was also one of the most important restoration areas in Anatolia as it was one of the Seven Churches of Asia mentioned in the Bible. He said they had unearthed the church and were carrying out detailed and unique restoration work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“This project is set to be finished by the end of the year. The world is really waiting for this church to be opened, because it is one of the seven oldest churches in Anatolia. The church is a very special structure with wall coverings, wall paintings and geometrical mosaics. When works are done, it will be one of the first in Turkey in terms of its restoration and roof,” Şimşek said, adding that they had started covering the 2,000 square meter roof of the church with a project approved by the Aydın Regional Board of Protection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe excavations head said he expected 80 percent of visitors coming to Laodicea to be pilgrims. “The opening of this church to the world tourism will bring more visitors to the region. Especially 2 million people visiting Pamukkale will also come here to see the church,” he added, touching on the importance of faith tourism to such ancient sites in Turkey.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs part of the project, a church book and brochures about the ancient city in seven languages are set to be completed within two months.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The opening of this church is very important because it is nearly a 1,700 year-old unique structure. The city completely collapsed in an earthquake in the 7th century A.D. and was abandoned. The church has survived so far because there were no settlements around it,” Şimşek also added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [October 16, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7288260707492836053"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7288260707492836053"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/near-east-church-in-ancient-laodecia-to.html","title":"Near East: Church in ancient Laodecia to open to tourism "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-TWPej_54_94\/VEALsLW9IOI\/AAAAAAABI6I\/U_6h4L0YR_8\/s72-c\/Turkey_laodicea_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7504595862777894687"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-14T12:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.949-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Destinations"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Menkaure Pyramid to be opened for public"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The 4,300-year-old pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest of the trio at Giza will be re-opened to the public in November after the completion of its renovation, said director of the Archaeological Sites Development Department Ahmed Mutawa Monday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Menkaure Pyramid to be opened for public\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-93I-m75PN6c\/VD_-hgQYx9I\/AAAAAAABI44\/H7aor4US4js\/s1333\/Egypt_01.jpg\" title=\"Menkaure Pyramid to be opened for public\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Pyramids of Giza [Credit: Youm7]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“More than 20 Egyptian and European conservators along with three professional archaeologists have participated in the two-year renovation and cleaning project with a cost estimated at 3.5 million EGP ($493,000),” Mutawa told The Cairo Post.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Mutawa, the restoration of the pyramid of Menkaure comes in light of the Antiquities Ministry’s policy to set a balance between the demands of tourism and the need for conserving Giza pyramids.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The policy involves a rotation schedule whereby each one or two years, one pyramid is to be closed for cleaning and renovation work, while the other two pyramids remain open to visitors,” said Mutawa, adding that the pyramid of Khafra will be closed for routine cleaning and restoration at the same day of opening the Pyramid of Menkaure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInterior ancient structures, which have not been exposed to sunlight such as tombs and pyramids until recently, usually suffer from the elevated levels of carbon dioxide and humidity, which are produced by the tourists visiting the tombs and damage the inner wall paintings, Head of Giza archaeological site, Kamal Waheed told The Cairo Post Tuesday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The restoration work at the pyramid of Menkaure included the removal of graffiti which visitors left on the walls of the pyramid’s passageways and burial chamber, removal of the salt deposits from its walls and the replacement of the outer stairs leading to the Pyramid. It also included the installation of a special lighting system which does not damage the drawings and inscriptions and at the same time providing a clear view for visitors,” said Waheed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Rany Mostafa | Source: The Cairo Post [October 14, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7504595862777894687"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7504595862777894687"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-menkaure-pyramid-to-be-opened.html","title":"Heritage: Menkaure Pyramid to be opened for public"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-93I-m75PN6c\/VD_-hgQYx9I\/AAAAAAABI44\/H7aor4US4js\/s72-c\/Egypt_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1345484834541605996"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.983-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Dracula’s prison to become 'tea garden'"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Tokat Castle, where Wallachian Prince Vlad III 'the Impaler', the inspiration behind Bram Stoker's Count Dracula, is said to have been held captive in the early 15th century, will be turned into a tea garden.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Dracula’s prison to become 'tea garden'\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-JU3DylnNzg8\/VD5v7ZI2xII\/AAAAAAABIyw\/K1qVm-71nYI\/s1333\/Turkey_Tokat_01.jpg\" title=\"Dracula’s prison to become 'tea garden'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrince Vlad III 'the Impaler', who inspired Bram Stoker's Count Dracula, is believed to\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehave been kept in the dungeons of Tokat Castle, which is undergoing a restoration\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;process to become a tea garden [Credit: AA]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProvincial Culture and Tourism Director Abdurrahman Akyüz said the Roman-era castle was believed to have been built in the fifth or sixth century, adding that the castle served as a prison during Ottoman times.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Tokat Castle is built on sheer slopes for defense and overlooks the city. Later in the Ottoman period, it was used as a prison. Notable prisoners were kept here. It is also rumored that Count Dracula stayed in the dungeon there for seven years,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAkyüz said restoration works had been initiated on the castle some time ago with the support of Tokat Gov. Cevdet Can and were still continuing. When the works are done, the castle, located in the Black Sea province of Tokat, will serve as a tourist attraction, he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAkyüz said the walls and bastions of the castle would be reinforced to prevent falling stones. “We are working to reinforce the wall.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe said the castle would serve as a tea garden and that visitors would be able to drink their tea overlooking the centuries-old museums in Sulusokak, Arastalı Bedesten, Yağıbasan Madrasah, Takekciler Mosque and Alamescit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVlad III lived between 1431 and 1476. Most historians say he was kept in captivity in Romania. The exact length of his period of captivity is open to debate, though indications are that it was from 1462 to 1474.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [October 13, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1345484834541605996"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1345484834541605996"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/near-east-draculas-prison-to-become.html","title":"Near East: Dracula’s prison to become \u0026#39;tea garden\u0026#39;"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-JU3DylnNzg8\/VD5v7ZI2xII\/AAAAAAABIyw\/K1qVm-71nYI\/s72-c\/Turkey_Tokat_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1907936267957959412"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-10T11:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:20.998-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: Burnt Magna Carta read for first time in 283 years"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"More than 280 years after it was damaged in a fire, one of the original copies of the Magna Carta is legible again.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Burnt Magna Carta read for first time in 283 years\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-pik6f-6a_Sc\/VD4mf_fJ88I\/AAAAAAABIsw\/UoXbdRarTFE\/s1333\/Magna_Carta_01.jpg\" title=\"Burnt Magna Carta read for first time in 283 years\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUsing ultraviolet light, British Library scientists were able to photograph the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Etext of the 1215 Burnt Magna Carta that is invisible to the human eye\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: British Library]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWritten in 1215, the Magna Carta required the king of England — King John — to cede absolute power. Today, the Magna Carta is seen as a first step toward constitutional law rather than the hereditary power of royalty. There were four copies of the document created at the time. One, held by the British Library, was badly damaged in a fire in 1731.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, researchers have used a technique called multispectral imaging to decipher the text of the \"Burnt Magna Carta\" without touching or further damaging the delicate parchment. This imaging allowed conservation scientists to take pictures of the document that virtually erase the damage and show details of the parchment and text.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It was in such a terrible state, we couldn't read any of it, really,\" said Christina Duffy, a British Library imaging scientist. \"It was actually quite a surprise that so much text was recovered.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDamaged document\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe imaging is part of the preparations for the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta, when King John imprinted his royal seal on the document and was bound by oath to abide by its demands. The British Library holds two of the original copies of the Magna Carta from 1215, including the burnt version. The other two copies are held at Lincoln Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Burnt Magna Carta read for first time in 283 years\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-9K4nuU-Bwyw\/VD4mmIEh-II\/AAAAAAABIs4\/pAHDT5DPj7g\/s1333\/Magna_Carta_02.jpg\" title=\"Burnt Magna Carta read for first time in 283 years\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA full view of the Burnt Magna Carta, one of the four surviving manuscripts from 1215.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA 1731 fire damaged this copy, rendering much of the text illegible\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: British Library]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn Feb. 3, 2015, the four copies will be displayed side-by-side at the British Library in London for the first time ever. The public can enter a lottery for free tickets to the viewing, which will be available to 1,215 winners. Registration is available on the British Library website.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Burnt Magna Carta has not been examined for decades, Duffy told Live Science. In the 1970s, it was set in a very secure frame, she said. That out-of-date frame has been removed in anticipation of the February 2015 anniversary, giving scientists the chance to get a closer look at the document.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERevisiting the text\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe British Library team had no interest in trying to restore the smoke-damaged document, Duffy said, but wanted to preserve it as-is.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Burnt Magna Carta read for first time in 283 years\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-3h_kphfrOi8\/VD4mrQ2pBCI\/AAAAAAABItA\/obWnw4YgMB8\/s1333\/Magna_Carta_03.jpg\" title=\"Burnt Magna Carta read for first time in 283 years\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe \"Burnt Magna Carta\" is positioned for multispectral imaging. This noninvasive technique\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eallows conservation scientists to photograph the document under a range of light conditions,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;including parts of the spectrum outside of human vision. The result is a series of images\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ethat can reveal more than the naked eye can see alone\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: British Library]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"There are different ways you can treat it,\" she said. \"But a lot of them would be wet processes, so you might have to dampen certain areas, and we don't want to introduce any moisture at all to the charter.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead, the scientists used multispectral imaging, essentially photographing the burnt parchment in a variety of LED lights, spanning the spectrum from ultraviolet to infrared — outside the range of human vision.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"If you're interested in the ink, the ultraviolet light gives you the best information. If you are interested in the actual texture of the parchment itself, the infrared would be better,\" Duffy said. \"You end up with multiple images of essentially the same thing, but giving you different information.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn these images, text that is invisible to the naked eye is suddenly visible. The Burnt Magna Carta is basically identical in text to the other three copies from 1215, Duffy said. The team is still processing the multispectral imagery and will conduct the same process on other old documents related to the Magna Carta, she said. Both the British Library's original Magna Carta manuscripts will be displayed between March 13, 2015 and Sept. 1, 2015, in an exhibit called \"Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Stephanie Pappas | Source: LiveScience [October 10, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1907936267957959412"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1907936267957959412"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/uk-burnt-magna-carta-read-for-first.html","title":"UK: Burnt Magna Carta read for first time in 283 years"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-pik6f-6a_Sc\/VD4mf_fJ88I\/AAAAAAABIsw\/UoXbdRarTFE\/s72-c\/Magna_Carta_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6020470248803846688"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-10T06:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.012-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Ancient Assyrian port at dam site to be relocated"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"A nearly 1,700-year-old ancient port, located in the eastern province of Siirt’s Çattepe village, will be moved to a cultural park in the new settlement of Hasankeyf, rather than remaining under water at Ilısu Dam.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient Assyrian port at dam site to be relocated\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-L5ZJ8XIwQk8\/VD47Gdg0yYI\/AAAAAAABIuY\/9ANccvs9fmI\/s1333\/Turkey_port.jpg\" title=\"Ancient Assyrian port at dam site to be relocated\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe ancient port, which has been unearthed at the junction of the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETigris River and the Botan stream, will be displayed at the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHasankeyf Cultural Park [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoving the ancient port, which was excavated in the Çattepe tumulus, at the junction of the Tigris River and the Botan stream, to its new location will be a joint project of the Culture and Tourism Ministry and Ankara University’s Research Center for Maritime Archaeology (ANKÜSAM).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EANKÜSAM’s director, Professor Hayat Erkanal, said the reservoir that will be created by Ilısu Dam was too wide, encompassing Diyarbakır, Batman, Şırnak, Siirt and Mardin. “Our goal is to prevent the port from remaining underwater. Boats will be constructed for the ancient port. According to the Assyrian sources, there were five types of river boats in that era. We will construct these five types of boats in İzmir and display them in Hasankeyf. We hope to finish the project this winter.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe head of the Çattepe excavations, Haluk Sağlamtimur, said the ancient port was one of the few rare ports in Anatolia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe explained that it was first constructed as a cistern before turning into a port. “The port will be moved with its original pieces and established there,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [October 09, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6020470248803846688"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6020470248803846688"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/near-east-ancient-assyrian-port-at-dam.html","title":"Near East: Ancient Assyrian port at dam site to be relocated"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-L5ZJ8XIwQk8\/VD47Gdg0yYI\/AAAAAAABIuY\/9ANccvs9fmI\/s72-c\/Turkey_port.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2075581220555070546"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-10T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.025-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indonesia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South East Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Indonesia: Indonesia pledges to protect ancient cave paintings"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Indonesia pledged Thursday to step up protection of ancient cave paintings that researchers say show that Europe was not the birthplace of art as many had long believed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Indonesia pledges to protect ancient cave paintings\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-tLfb5UzNsJ0\/VD4qr-KIfUI\/AAAAAAABItY\/rCTNyBwtp2c\/s1333\/indonesia_01.jpg\" title=\"Indonesia pledges to protect ancient cave paintings\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThis handout picture released by the journal Nature, on October 8, 2014, shows a\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;fat-bellied Babirusa \"deer-pig\" and a hand stencil found in the Maros karst on the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIndonesian island of Sulawesi. The silhouette of a hands on a cave wall is 40,000 years\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;old, showing that Europe was not the birthplace of art as long believed, researchers\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Esaid. Created by spraying reddish paint around an open hand pressed against rock,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ethe stencil was made about the same time -- and possibly before -- early humans were\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eleaving artwork on cave walls around Europe that was long thought\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eto be the first in the world [Credit: AFP\/Nature\/ Kinez Riza]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAuthorities plan to place the caves, on the central island of Sulawesi, on a list of the nation's official \"cultural heritage\" and are applying to have them included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, a senior official told AFP.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"This is certainly something that Indonesia can be proud of. Of course, we must do our best to protect them,\" said Andi Muhammad Said, head of the cultural heritage conservation office in South Sulawesi province, where the caves are located.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong the paintings was the silhouette of a hand on a cave wall that is 40,000 years old, which was created by spraying reddish paint around an open hand pressed against rock.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe stencil was made about the same time -- and possibly before -- early humans were leaving artwork on cave walls around Europe that was long thought to be the first in the world, the Indonesian and Australian team reported in the journal Nature.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the same cave, a painting of a pig was dated to about 35,000 years ago, they said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESaid said that the area around the caves had already been designated a \"special zone\" in a bid to protect them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We are now working towards establishing these historic caves as part of our national cultural heritage,\" he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the moment, officials are responsible for looking after 138 historic caves in Maros, South Sulawesi province, but Said said the current arrangement was disorganised with no central database of the individual sites.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOfficial recognition as part of the nation's \"cultural heritage\" would prompt more central government involvement, and lead to better organisation and protection, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAuthorities had already put the caves forward in 2005 to be included the UNESCO World Heritage List but the application was at an early stage, said Said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe added that the discovery was \"good for tourism in Indonesia. The cave art will surely attract visitors\".\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers say the discovery throws up two theories, both of which challenge the conventional wisdom around the history of human artistic expression.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArt either arose independently but simultaneously in different parts of the world -- or was brought by Homo sapiens when he left Africa for a worldwide odyssey.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team said it means that Europeans can no longer exclusively claim to be the first to develop an abstract mind anymore.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: AFP [October 09, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2075581220555070546"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2075581220555070546"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/indonesia-indonesia-pledges-to-protect.html","title":"Indonesia: Indonesia pledges to protect ancient cave paintings"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-tLfb5UzNsJ0\/VD4qr-KIfUI\/AAAAAAABItY\/rCTNyBwtp2c\/s72-c\/indonesia_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5104770959677396269"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-09T13:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.038-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: The Erechtheion soon to open to visitors"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The Erechtheion, famous for its iconic 'Porch of the Maidens' or 'Caryatids', which sits on the north side of the Athenian Acropolis, will soon be revamped with a new floor that will give visitors the opportunity to enter the temple.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"The Erechtheion soon to open to visitors\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-WD_aPa6H9gY\/VDgngRC2zXI\/AAAAAAABIj8\/P4H5l-HmCgA\/s1333\/Greece-Erechtheion_01.jpg\" title=\"The Erechtheion soon to open to visitors\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPorch of the Caryatids on the south side of the Erechtheion\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: To Vima]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new design is based on recommendations of the Acropolis Monuments Preservation division approved by the Central Archaeological Council. It involves installing 14-centimetre thick floor plaques over a removable metal construction to make the Erechtheion even more accessible to the public.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Ionic style temple was constructed between 421 and 405 BC, probably by the architect Mnesicles, and replaced an earlier temple dedicated to the city's patron goddess, Athena.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnfortunately, it was destroyed in the first century BC after its catastrophic burning by the Roman general Sulla, but was restored in the first century AD. The temple was altered decisively during the early Byzantine period, when it was transformed into a church dedicated to to the Virgin Mary. It was also used as a palace during the Frankish occupation (1204-1456) and later housed a harem during the Ottoman occupation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"The Erechtheion soon to open to visitors\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-XnGddw-fw1I\/VDgn3zm6AxI\/AAAAAAABIkE\/F-Vynf7ak5Y\/s1333\/Greece-Erechtheion_02.JPG\" title=\"The Erechtheion soon to open to visitors\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOnce the section of the Erechtheion's floor has been paved, it will allow visitors\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;to enter the temple [Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 1801 one of the caryatids and the north column of the east porch together with the overlying section of the entablature were removed by Lord Elgin in order to decorate his Scottish mansion, but were later sold to the British Museum (along with the pedimental and frieze sculpture taken from the Parthenon). During the Greek War of Independence the building was bombarded by the Ottomans and severely damaged.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEfforts to restore the temple from 1979 through to 1987 won Greece a conservation prize by Europa Nostra. In 1979, the five original Caryatids were moved to the Old Acropolis Museum and replaced \u003Cstrong\u003Ein situ\u003C\/strong\u003E by exact replicas. The Caryatids have been transferred from the old Acropolis Museum to the New Acropolis Museum, where they have since been cleaned by laser and are currently on display.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Acropolis Museum was awarded for its innovative program of the conservation and the restoration of the Caryatids by the International Institute for Conservation (IIC) in Vienna, with the Keck Award 2012.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: To Vima [October 09, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5104770959677396269"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5104770959677396269"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-erechtheion-soon-to-open-to.html","title":"Heritage: The Erechtheion soon to open to visitors"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-WD_aPa6H9gY\/VDgngRC2zXI\/AAAAAAABIj8\/P4H5l-HmCgA\/s72-c\/Greece-Erechtheion_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1424603343681501273"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-07T05:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.123-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Community"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: ‘The Histories’ by Herodotus: An open enquiry"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Sometime in the middle of the 5th century BC, Herodotus, a Greek, living in a city called Halicarnassus (modern-day Bodrum, Turkey) set out to explain the origins of the Great War from a generation before. This war was waged between his peoples, the Greeks, and the Persians.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"‘The Histories’ by Herodotus: An open enquiry\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-8OH7ktfI9Fg\/VDWCPGn5p_I\/AAAAAAABIc8\/DKQnFTrY-84\/s1333\/Herodotus_02.png\" title=\"‘The Histories’ by Herodotus: An open enquiry\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMarble bust of Herodotus [Credit: Open University]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the resulting work, ‘The Histories’, Herodotus explores the world of his own time, offering a narrative discourse that reflects on conflicts in the past that had given rise to its present organisation. He remarks on noteworthy deeds of Greek and non-Greek people, placing his narrative in the context of towns and cities that had risen and fallen. In ‘The Histories’, Herodotus is carrying out one of the earliest known ethnographic descriptions, as well as historical enquiry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E‘Publishing’ in this period did not just involve the production of a written text, but the reading of that text out loud before an audience, and it’s claimed ‘the Histories’ were read aloud, in full, at the Olympic Games. Herodotus is described by some as the ‘Father of History’, but his fantastic stories have also given rise to the name ‘Father of Lies’.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor generations, ancient historians have been grappling with the challenge of sorting out the ‘truth’ of Herodotus’ stories. By exploring this Herodotus OpenLearn Collection, we can all join that grand tradition, and become research historians.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cdiv align=\"center\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-A5UEbHWMxc?rel=0\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOur word for ‘history’ comes from the Greek word historia (or historiê in some dialects), meaning ‘enquiry’, which Herodotus uses right at the beginning of his narrative. In these activities, we try to show that history is really a matter of ‘open enquiry’. If you want to really understand the past, you have to research it, not just take someone’s word for it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHerodotus structures his account as discourse: this group said this, the other group said that, I for one cannot say for sure . . . In this way, he reproduces the ‘enquiry’ effect, with the result that to be a reader of Herodotus is to become an historian. Find out how by following the links in the menu below.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Hestia Project\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Open University in collaboration with the Hestia project have developed a short OpenLearn programme which enables users to respond to the challenge of Herodotus’s enquiry and explore a number of the Histories’ key themes using the resources developed by the Hestia project: a) to search the database of place names, b) to view the Histories in GoogleEarth, c) to read the text alongside maps of the places mentioned.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIntroducing 'The Histories' by Herodotus:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHerodotus 'The Histories': a timeline\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUnderstanding Classical terms\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EClassical studies: it's more than the words\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHestia Project map and partners’ resources\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E'As rich as Croesus'\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBattle of Thermopylae\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E‘Lydios logos’: the story of Croesus\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EConsulting the oracle at Delphi\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECrowdsourced annotation: what do you think?\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESolon upsets the wealthy Croesus \u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003EFor more information visit the Hestia Project Website\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Open University [October 07, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1424603343681501273"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1424603343681501273"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-histories-by-herodotus-open.html","title":"Heritage: ‘The Histories’ by Herodotus: An open enquiry"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-8OH7ktfI9Fg\/VDWCPGn5p_I\/AAAAAAABIc8\/DKQnFTrY-84\/s72-c\/Herodotus_02.png","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-524001774816921416"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-06T11:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.149-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Community"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Recommended Reading"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Underwater Archaeology"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Recommended Reading: Tracing our ancestors at the bottom of the sea"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"New European Marine Board report recommends exploration of sea-submerged settlements abandoned by our ancestors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tracing our ancestors at the bottom of the sea\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-nt9wFY5bvBw\/VDVTmpeeGlI\/AAAAAAABIZ0\/WnfCotBRXTY\/s1333\/ancestors_sea-2.jpg\" title=\"Tracing our ancestors at the bottom of the sea\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDiving archaeologist using an air-lift suction device to remove sediment cover over\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Elarge pottery jars buried on the sea floor at the Early Bronze Age submerged town\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;of Pavlopetri, southern Greece [Credit: J. Henderson]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA specialist group of European researchers are studying the remains of prehistoric human settlements which are now submerged beneath our coastal seas. Some of these drowned sites are tens of thousands of years old. From the progressive discovery and analysis of these prehistoric remains, a new scientific field has emerged, combining the expertise from many disciplines including archaeology, oceanography and the geosciences. The new field is called Continental Shelf Prehistoric Research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis rapidly evolving research field is the focus of a new European Marine Board (EMB) position paper titled ‘Land Beneath the Waves: Submerged Landscapes and Sea-Level Change.’ The paper describes how during the successive ice ages of the last 1 million years, the sea level dropped at times by up to 120m, and the exposed area of the continental shelf added 40% to the land area of Europe; a terrain occupied by vegetation, fauna, and people. Consequently, many of the remains and artefacts of Europe’s prehistory are now underwater. Considering that pre-humans inhabited the Black Sea coast 1.8 million years ago, the coast of northern Spain over 1 million years ago and; the coast of Britain at least 0.8 million years ago, the drowned land includes some of the earliest routes from Africa into Europe, and the areas where people survived during the multiple Ice Ages.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tracing our ancestors at the bottom of the sea\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-dZYA5kl83mI\/VDVT0hIxYcI\/AAAAAAABIZ8\/dyzRdXi1u0w\/s1333\/ancestors_sea-1.jpg\" title=\"Tracing our ancestors at the bottom of the sea\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEMB Report on sea-submerged settlements abandoned by our ancestors\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore than 2,500 submerged prehistoric artefact assemblages, ranging in age from 5,000 to 300,000 years, have been found in the coastal waters and open sea basins around Europe. Only a few have been properly mapped by divers, or assessed for preservation or excavation. These remains contain information on ancient seafaring, and the social structures and exploitation technologies of coastal resources before the introduction of agriculture some 10,000 years ago. To understand how prehistoric people responded to changing sea level, researchers combine examinations of these deposits with palaeoclimate models, reconstructions of ice-cap and sea level curves, and sophisticated survey and excavation techniques.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe EMB paper reports that seabed prehistoric remains are being destroyed by natural erosion and industrial disturbance. The paper stresses that Europe’s submerged prehistory needs to be studied at a sea basin scale, and integrated at European level, which cannot be funded adequately by universities and national agencies alone. Compliance with the UNESCO convention on Underwater Cultural Heritage, and other treaties and directives, can only be ensured by collaboration and funding at European level.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe existing research community is sparse and scattered, and a new emphasis is needed for training marine archaeologists in Continental Shelf Prehistoric Research, while promoting collaboration with engineers, climate change experts and numerical modellers. Many initial findings are made by industrial operations, whose role can be strengthened by improving collaboration with national cultural heritage agencies and academics, both to encourage the reporting of findings and to map, protect, and where appropriate, excavate the archaeological materials such as hut foundations, hearths, food remains, skeletons, shaped flint tools, hand axes, and paddles for canoes embedded in the sediments on the sea floor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe EMB Working Group, comprising experts from 11 European nations and chaired by Dr. Nicholas Flemming of the UK National Oceanography Centre, presented their recommendations after discussions over a 12 month period. The new position paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in the study of our submerged cultural heritage and sets out key research questions and policy priorities needed to support this research in the future. It is an invaluable resource for policy makers, research funders and scientists alike. Professor Jan Mees, Chair of the European Marine Board, explains its importance: “our submerged cultural heritage is not a renewable resource; it is a unique irreplaceable cultural asset which can provide answers to many research questions about our prehistoric ancestors, landscapes and climate.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: European Science Foundation [October 06, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/524001774816921416"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/524001774816921416"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/recommended-reading-tracing-our.html","title":"Recommended Reading: Tracing our ancestors at the bottom of the sea"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-nt9wFY5bvBw\/VDVTmpeeGlI\/AAAAAAABIZ0\/WnfCotBRXTY\/s72-c\/ancestors_sea-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1362337808334465875"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-06T10:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.163-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Italy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Italy: Ancient cities and new politics in southern Italy "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Having razed the city, in 510 B.C. its enemies flooded its ruins by – Strabo writes – diverting the waters of a nearby river onto them. 2,523 years later, other enemies caused the same river to flood the same ruins, leaving a thick layer of mud and debris throughout.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient cities and new politics in southern Italy \" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-yjfv4kFATpU\/VDUPEiaql7I\/AAAAAAABIXM\/C6lSi_-jkYc\/s1333\/Italy_Sybaris_02.jpg\" title=\"Ancient cities and new politics in southern Italy \" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeneral view of ancient Sybaris, an ancient Greek city\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ein Calabria of Italy [Credit: epirotica]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe city is rich, refined and – legend has it – dissolute. The city is Sybaris, which gave us the adjective ‘sybarite’. Founded as an Achaean colony in the VIII century, it lies on the Ionian coast of present-day Calabria, in southern Italy. In 510 B.C. its enemy was Pythagoras’ Croton, a rival Greek city laying further south on the same coast. Two and a half millennia later its enemies were illegality and administrative paralysis, which allowed the embankments of the river to deteriorate and its floodplains to be filled with illegal orchards and citrus groves: provoked by heavy rains in January 2013, the flooding of one of the Mediterranean’s most important archaeological sites was as devastating as it was predictable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe plain that Sybaris controlled was fertile, though, and the trade routes at whose juncture it stood, profitable. Hence in 443 B.C. Athens decided to found a new city on the same site. The expedition that Pericles dispatched included the philosopher Protagoras and the architect Hippodamus of Miletus: the limpidly rational urban plan he designed is noted in classical literature and is now partly visible, closely resembling that which Hippodamus himself conceived for the Piraeus, in Athens. The new city, named Thurii after a nearby source, flourished. The orator Lysias moved there, for instance, and the historian Herodotus, who signed himself as a Thurios and according to legend was buried at the edge of the main square (the agora, yet to be excavated). The city declined after Hannibal took it during the second Punic war, but rose again as a Roman colony, named Copia (‘plenty’) by reason of the wealth of the plain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn contrast, since January 2013 Italy’s public institutions have only managed to remove the mud from part of the archaeological site: intolerably, not one cent of the €5 million allocated shortly after the flood to repair the embankments and floodplains of the river has yet been spent. Next winter the Krathis – now named Crati – could flood Sybaris yet again.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESuch disregard for a site of capital importance for the study of antiquity, and a crucial resource for a vast area of one of Italy’s poorest regions, has prompted a group of volunteers to organize a response. The group, which the authors are part of, is led by the archaeologist who conducted the main excavations at Sybaris – Pier Giovanni Guzzo, formerly superintendent at Pompeii – and includes academics and intellectuals from Calabria, and outside experts. The aim is to exercise public pressure on the institutions responsible until they secure the river and restore the site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe catalyst for this programme was a recent proposal by Fabrizio Barca, who was minister of national cohesion in the 2011–13 Monti cabinet, at the end of whose mandate the flood occurred and the €5 million emergency plan was approved. The ideas he outlined depict an attempt at reforming politics in Italy. The aim of the work we undertook at Sybaris is broader that the restoration of the site, in fact, and runs parallel to ten other projects across Italy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient cities and new politics in southern Italy \" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-r1E7BNYdY-E\/VDUPRyrlGsI\/AAAAAAABIXU\/2VKMXkOqndc\/s1333\/Italy_Sybaris_01.jpg\" title=\"Ancient cities and new politics in southern Italy \" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERemains of the port facilities of Sybaris\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: WikiCommons]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis effort stems from the hypothesis that Italy’s public institutions are inefficient chiefly because they have become ever more isolated from society. Their isolation, in turn, is due to the fact that political parties have largely lost their ability to coordinate and even collect the policy demands and proposals that are dispersed across the nation, as well as their capacity to exercise pressure on the institutions in the name of the public interest (rather, of their own declination of the public interest, in competition with those of other parties).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EItaly’s political parties have mostly become centralized electoral machines, subservient to their leaders holding public office and unable to hold them to account. Centred on the lowest local articulations of the Partito Democratico, therefore, this initiative seeks to equip this party with the means and the incentive to turn its attention back towards society and resume the work of politics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Sybaris project was promoted by the local sections of the party, and began last May (our strategy is available here, in English, and donations can be made here). We are now close to completing an extensive programme of hearings – led by Antonello Pompilio, who coordinates the local party sections, and by the economist Domenico Cersosimo –, through which we collected the analysis and suggestions of national and local administrators and politicians, entrepreneurs, trade unionists, civil society representatives, intellectuals and other citizens.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn this basis we shall select a few actions – beside securing the archaeological site – on which Calabria’s Partito Democratico pledged to concentrate its efforts over the next months. They shall disseminate information about the performance of the public institutions, through a dedicated website, and then use this to organize political actions, such as public pressure or petitions. We thus aim also at strengthening the networks through which civil society’s vital forces can cooperate and become a more effective and demanding interlocutor for public institutions: indeed, our long-term objective is to stimulate an acceleration in the democratic and economic development of the plain of Sybaris.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis territory hosts a promising agrifood sector, specialized mainly in the production of high-quality peaches and citrus fruit. Remarkable hilltop medieval villages rise below the massif that closes the plain from the north, whose white gorges and rare autochthonous pine trees (the Pinus leucodermis) are protected by a national park. And at the centre of the plain lie the 500 hectares of the archaeological site, most of whose wealth is yet to be unearthed, and a national museum exhibiting the findings.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat prevents this potential from flourishing, as it did in antiquity, is bad politics, administrative inefficiency, corruption, organized crime. These are forbidding obstacles, common in varying degrees to the whole country. Our conviction is that organized political action by the many vital forces that have an interest in democratic and economic development can overcome them in the long run: our project seeks to move a step in that direction. If we fail, we shall have learnt more about Italy’s problems. If we succeed, we shall be able to look at its prospects with greater optimism. Do come and see Sybaris: dissolute, perhaps, but interesting.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthors: Andrea Capussela \u0026amp; Pier Giovanni Guzzo | Source: Open Democracy [October 06, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1362337808334465875"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1362337808334465875"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/italy-ancient-cities-and-new-politics.html","title":"Italy: Ancient cities and new politics in southern Italy "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-yjfv4kFATpU\/VDUPEiaql7I\/AAAAAAABIXM\/C6lSi_-jkYc\/s72-c\/Italy_Sybaris_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5345008633998940640"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-03T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.205-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Greece: the Acropolis is not in danger of collapse!"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Greece is doing damage control in the face of widespread media reports suggesting that the Acropolis is under threat from rockfalls. One article went as far as to claim that “Greece’s Acropolis will soon be gone.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Greece: the Acropolis is not in danger of collapse!\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-3eQBqeS0o8U\/VC7alwXjWPI\/AAAAAAABISA\/5B25NLzk-Sg\/s1333\/acropolis.jpg\" title=\"Greece: the Acropolis is not in danger of collapse!\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe London “Times” published a headline exclaiming that the “Acropolis is crumbling and will need work to shore it up, archaeologists in Greece have warned.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETeams from the Central Archaeological Council did in fact find “instability over quite a wide area” after investigating an Acropolis rockfall in January. A boulder of “considerable size” tumbled down from the sacred hill.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, Constantinos Kissas, the deputy director of the First Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, responded to the “Times” allegations by insisting that reports of widespread damage were wide off the mark.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe explained that a rock with a diameter of 60 centimeters had come unstuck from the southwestern slope of the Acropolis during heavy rain last winter.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Ephorate has organized a technical survey to ascertain whether any work needs to be carried out to prevent further such incidents.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEditor's Note:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne wonders if this is not meant to sabotage the upcoming UNESCO conference to be held in Athens this month on the question of the repatriation of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece? \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Greek Reporter [October 03, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5345008633998940640"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5345008633998940640"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-greece-acropolis-is-not-in.html","title":"Heritage: Greece: the Acropolis is not in danger of collapse!"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-3eQBqeS0o8U\/VC7alwXjWPI\/AAAAAAABISA\/5B25NLzk-Sg\/s72-c\/acropolis.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1167982123675536721"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-02T07:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.234-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: 'Nighthawks' stealing British history"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Under the cover of night, criminals using sophisticated metal detectors are plundering historic sites on private or protected land across the UK. Known as nighthawks, the offenders remove antiquities and other objects of value, which are either sold on or kept in private collections.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"'Nighthawks' stealing British history\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-FcP8qKZwAGk\/VC6yM-WnXkI\/AAAAAAABIQ0\/Z9p3iJyqmVM\/s1333\/uk_loot.jpg\" title=\"'Nighthawks' stealing British history\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn a case just this week at Basildon Crown Court, a 52-year-old man from Essex pleaded guilty to stealing Roman coins from a site at Castle Acre in Norfolk.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMark Harrison, National Policing and Crime Advisor for English Heritage, says one of the biggest problems is that the nighthawks disturb and destroy archeological sites and so stories and crucial knowledge about our past are lost forever.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA former chief inspector at Kent police, Mr Harrison is co-ordinating efforts between the police, English Heritage, the British Museum and the National Council of Metal Detecting to gather evidence on the extent of the problem.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Most nighthawkers work places local to them. But there is a hardcore who will travel hundreds of miles to dig up a site. Sometimes these are little- or even unknown historical sites and the lost knowledge is uncalculable.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe nature of the crime – in remote places and at night – means bringing a prosecution is difficult. “You’ve either got to catch them in the act – which is when you rely on landowners, walkers or other passers-by to contact the police quickly if they spot something suspicious. Or you find evidence of nighthawking and begin an investigation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Sometimes a farmer will go out one morning and find lots of holes across a particular field and livestock spooked. Occasionally we can trace nighthawkers when they try to sell their finds.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe National Council of Metal Detectors (NCMD) works closely with Mark Harrison and the police and none of its members have ever been implicated in a crime. “These aren’t hobbyists,” stresses the NCMD’s Steve Critchley, “they are criminals who use metal detectors as their tool of choice.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECritchley stresses that the vast majority of metal detectorists are responsible and follow a strict code of conduct – always gaining landowners’ permission and reporting any finds to the Portable Antiquities Scheme. The nighthawkers bring “bad publicity and embarrassment” to his hobby.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“In places where our members are regular visitors, you seldom see criminal activity,” Critchley adds. “It’s the places where metal detecting is banned that are most vulnerable to nighthawkers. The presence of legitimate metal detectors acts as extra eyes on the land to prevent unwarranted access.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Fergus Collins | Source: CountryFile [October 02, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1167982123675536721"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1167982123675536721"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/uk-stealing-british-history.html","title":"UK: \u0026#39;Nighthawks\u0026#39; stealing British history"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-FcP8qKZwAGk\/VC6yM-WnXkI\/AAAAAAABIQ0\/Z9p3iJyqmVM\/s72-c\/uk_loot.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-572894726982502371"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-02T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.249-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Falling rocks from the Acropolis raise alarm bells"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Engineers have discovered that part of a huge flat-topped rock on which the 2,500 year-old ancient Parthenon sits is starting to crumble. The Central Archaeological Council found “instability over quite a considerable area” after it examined an area where a boulder of considerable size had tumbled on January 3.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Falling rocks from the Acropolis raise alarm bells\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-GIOv16MZPoc\/VC2Lwe5DQlI\/AAAAAAABIN0\/0vBpNRVXFZA\/s1333\/Acropolis_03.jpg\" title=\"Falling rocks from the Acropolis raise alarm bells\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EView of the Acropolis from the South and East Slopes\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Google Earth]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan id=\"goog_832994085\"\u003E\u003Cspan id=\"goog_832994086\"\u003E“A section of the boulder of large dimensions fell in a region where people were passing through from the southern slope towards the entrance of the Acropolis, that is located near the sloped passageway near the guard’s fort,” says Dimosthenis Svolopoulos, the chief of the Ancient Monuments Restoration Department.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPipes from the old Acropolis Museum are blamed for some of the damage that requires work to shore up the southern slope of the hill, according to General Secretary of the Ministry of Culture Lina Mendoni. She also said that a program for the conservation of the Acropolis has been studied for the last year and a half.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Falling rocks from the Acropolis raise alarm bells\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-1zTODF-kMeE\/VC2KDCdYVSI\/AAAAAAABINo\/kfpDqfImklk\/s1333\/Acropolis_02.jpg\" title=\"Falling rocks from the Acropolis raise alarm bells\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe sanctuary of Asclepius, which is located on the south slope of the Acropolis,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehas been covered to protect it from falling rocks [Credit: Ta Nea]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearcher Dimitris Englezos outlined some of the problem areas and measures that are being considered when he addressed to the Central Archaeological Council. These include cleaning the slope and unhinging and refixing the unstable rocks at select locations, the construction of passive anchors and drainage holes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the same meeting, Professor Manolis Korres addressed the issue of maintaining the authenticity of the sacred rock by ensuring that the ancient streets remain intact as well as the retention of geological formations such as the “dry caves” found at an altitude of 127 metres.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: ANA-MPA [October 02, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/572894726982502371"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/572894726982502371"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/heritage-falling-rocks-from-acropolis.html","title":"Heritage: Falling rocks from the Acropolis raise alarm bells"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-GIOv16MZPoc\/VC2Lwe5DQlI\/AAAAAAABIN0\/0vBpNRVXFZA\/s72-c\/Acropolis_03.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2470190644469493509"},"published":{"$t":"2016-09-02T04:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.264-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Community"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Conferences"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: International Conference on the Repatriation of the Parthenon Sculptures"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Club for UNESCO of Piraeus and Islands organizes The International Conference: “ACROPOLIS – A Unique World Heritage Monument - The Return of the Marbles”. The conference is under the aegis of Melina Mercouri Foundation, the World Federation of Clubs, Centres and Associations UNESCO (WFUCA), the European Federation of Clubs, Centres and Associations of UNESCO (EFUCA) and the Greek Section of ICOMOS. It occurs on Monday, October 6, 2014 in “ATHINAIS” Cultural Center at Kerameikos. Mr Pandelis Kapsis, reporter and ex-Minister will coordinate. The aim of the conference is to strengthen the awareness of the local community about the cultural importance of the return of the Parthenon's sculptures.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-m4TsezPCOIk\/VC7XEattVyI\/AAAAAAABIRs\/buzAkvwVVV8\/s1333\/parthenon-marbles1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Conference will be introduced by the Vice President of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations (WFUCA) and President of the Club for UNESCO Piraeus and Islands Mr Ioannis Maronitis.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere will be presented in world premiere the \"Ode on the Return of the Parthenon Marbles\" by musician composer Mr. Zorze Katris with the accompaniment of the Choir of the Municipality of Athens. It is a Symphonic Anthem based on the relation of mathematics of Pythagoras and the ancient alphabet. Narration by Mr Kolasis Vyron.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe conference constituted with Art Exhibition. Graduate students and artists of the Fine Arts Department of the University of Western Macedonia, artists - members of the Club for UNESCO of Piraeus and Islands and also students from elementary and secondary education will participate. Curator of the exhibition, Mr Stathis Androutsakis.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-2Xr6nqgkN74\/VC7XQK-OmZI\/AAAAAAABIR0\/-cxjBNEgSgU\/s1333\/Acropolis_UNESCO_EN.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EProminent personalities in the field of culture, diplomacy and academia from Greece and abroad, members of the European parliament and Greek, researchers, and journalists from the British and Greek press will also attend.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore than 15 embassies are going to support the Conference with their presence. Among others, there are going to attend Ambassadors and Representatives of the following countries : Finland , Ukraine , Turkey , Slovakia , India , Venezuela , Chile , Romania , Hungary , Pakistan , Peru , Philippines , Libya etc\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EINFO:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EINTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE:\u003Cbr \/\u003E“ACROPOLIS – A Unique World Heritage Monument - The Return of the Marbles”\u003Cbr \/\u003EMonday October 6, 2014\u003Cbr \/\u003EOpening: 5:30 PM (registration 4:45 - 05:15pm)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECultural Center \"ATHINAIS\"\u003Cbr \/\u003EKastorias 34-36, Botanikos, Athens, 104-47\u003Cbr \/\u003EMetro Station Kerameikos\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFREE ENTRANCE\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECertificates of attendance will be provided\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOrganized by:\u003Cbr \/\u003EClub for UNESCO Piraeus \u0026amp; Islands\u003Cbr \/\u003Ewww.unescopireas.gr - unescop@otenet.gr\u003Cbr \/\u003EContact\u003Cbr \/\u003EPR \u0026amp; Communication: Mrs Founti Antonia \u0026amp; Mrs Chrisouli Angeliki\u003Cbr \/\u003ECultural Manager: Mrs Economidou Cleopatra\u003Cbr \/\u003ETel: 2104967757 - 2104979797 Fax: 2104944564\u003Cbr \/\u003EAddr: Petrou Ralli 210 \u0026amp; Theseus 1, Nikea,18454\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Club for UNESCO of Piraeus \u0026amp; Islands [October 02, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2470190644469493509"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2470190644469493509"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/09\/more-stuff-international-conference-on.html","title":"More Stuff: International Conference on the Repatriation of the Parthenon Sculptures"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-m4TsezPCOIk\/VC7XEattVyI\/AAAAAAABIRs\/buzAkvwVVV8\/s72-c\/parthenon-marbles1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-500468160706367431"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-27T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.338-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Central Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pakistan"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Archaeological heritage remains vulnerable in Swat due to govt disinterest"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Locals say God has been generous with his blessings in the Swat Valley. Known as the Switzerland of Asia, the valley is home to snow-capped mountains, roaring waterfalls, lush forests of cedar trees, abundant fruit orchards and crystal clear lakes as well as the Swat River.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeological heritage remains vulnerable in Swat due to govt disinterest\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-VCXTSoFHKtM\/VCrUtglqscI\/AAAAAAABIA0\/rrtF_QKJQ44\/s1333\/Pakistan_Swat_01.JPG\" title=\"Archaeological heritage remains vulnerable in Swat due to govt disinterest\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA stupa from the 3rd century at Amluk Dara, Swat\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Fazal Khaliq]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is no wonder that tourism is the valley’s backbone and more than 60 per cent of the local population is directly or indirectly connected with the industry. However, these people do not say they are helping tourists – they believe they are helping ‘guests’, an indicator of their welcoming nature.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBetween 1988 and 2004, tourism thrived here. According to the All Swat Hotel Association, 500 hotels mushroomed in the valley during this period as well as 600 restaurants, all catering to the valley’s ‘guests’.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESwat Valley is believed to be the site of the Uddiyana Kingdom (the sacred land of ancient Buddhism), where Padmasambhava (Lotus-Born) or the ‘Second Buddha’ is believed to have been born. Padmasmabhava is known to have transmitted Vajryana Buddhism in the 8th century to Tibet, Bhutan and other neighbouring countries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApart from hosting the second largest rock carved sculpture of Lord Buddha, the Bazira (citadel or fort) of Alexander the Great, and the 11th century mosque of Mahmud Ghaznavi, one can find numerous ancient archaeological sites in Swat by following a maze of passages amid lush green meadows, rocky ascents, medicinal springs, trickles and streams, wild berries and fruit trees.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“This is one of the first areas of the Hindukush-Kakakoram-Himalaya to show human presence in Paleolithic times,” explains Dr. Luca Maria Olivieri, an Italian archaeologist who has spent 27 years studying Swat. “It was one of the first places where the domestication of rice was introduced from China in Neolithic times. As a strategic bulwark for Achaemenians, Mauryans, Indo-Greeks, Parthians, and Hindu Shahi during the Kushan Empire, Swat became one of the most important Buddhist regions,” he elaborates. Olivieri says the heritage in Swat is ‘almost intact’, which ranks it among the top 50 most important archaeological areas in the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, despite the valley’s historic foundations, tourists and scholars say the Pakistani government’s lack of interest means the cultural and archaeological heritage here is not being protected.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeological heritage remains vulnerable in Swat due to govt disinterest\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-xx9Kr3mAOoc\/VCrU9Jujq-I\/AAAAAAABIA8\/guDqICj5sOo\/s1333\/Pakistan_Swat_02.JPG\" title=\"Archaeological heritage remains vulnerable in Swat due to govt disinterest\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA rock-carved sculpture dating back to the seventh century in Jahanabad, Swat\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Fazal Khaliq]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“If nothing is done the sites will disappear either by natural causes or by willful destruction by those who consider them a remnant of a past, idolatrous culture,” says Shehla Anjum, who has been a visitor to Swat since the 1970s.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnjum compares the Balo Kaley, Amluk Dara stupa, Shingardar stupa, Butkara, Najigram and Bazira to sites such as Cambodia’s Angkor Wat or complexes of temples in Thailand and Cambodia. “With careful planning, these could be world-class destinations for tourists,” she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We need better access to the area, basic facilities at the sites, such as restrooms, and most importantly, the people must take ownership and pride in the remnants of Buddhist culture here. The heritage and culture of Gandhara is theirs. It defines them, and its influences are still evident in the architecture, arts, and handicrafts created today,” she adds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETourism here took a hit in 2007, when Mullah Fazlullah challenged the writ of the government and began preaching his own version of Sharia law via an FM radio station. “During the Taliban insurgency in Swat, those employed by the tourism industry were left jobless,” says Abdul Ali, a hotel owner.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen in 2010, the floods washed away an estimated 128 hotels and destroyed infrastructure. Nearly 43 bridges were swept away and 663 kilometers of road ruined.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The government did not help us as we expected it to,” says Amjad Ali, a local activist. “The most important sector to maintain the tourism industry – the road links to Swat – were destroyed.” He jokes that the 45 kilometer road from Bahrain to Kalam is now only fit for ‘adventure seekers’.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA grant of Rs2.5 billion from the Asian Development Bank was allocated for the reconstruction of the Kalam Road, but the road continues to be unusable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, an injection of Rs6.5 billion from the Saudi government was set aside to fix the Chakdara-Bahrain road, which has almost been completed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, while local business owners say the lack of safe access to the Valley has cut off their livelihood, Deputy Commissioner Swat Mahmood Aslam Wazir insists tourism has begun to thrive once more in Swat. “In this season alone, 600,000 tourists visited the valley,” he says. “That’s a record turnout and indicates that people feel confident returning here.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Fazal Khaliq | Source: The Express Tribune [September 27, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/500468160706367431"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/500468160706367431"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/heritage-archaeological-heritage.html","title":"Heritage: Archaeological heritage remains vulnerable in Swat due to govt disinterest"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-VCXTSoFHKtM\/VCrUtglqscI\/AAAAAAABIA0\/rrtF_QKJQ44\/s72-c\/Pakistan_Swat_01.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-130945730899766578"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-26T12:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.309-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Central Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pakistan"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Thousands of archaeological sites in northwest Pakistan yet to be registered"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (one of the four provinces of Pakistan, located in the north-west of the country) is compiling a data of sites, believed to be around 6,000 according to different researches, that exist in various districts but have not been registered by the government.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Thousands of archaeological sites in northwest Pakistan yet to be registered\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-vUu562vjNpY\/VCwe_84xb1I\/AAAAAAABIEw\/RKJeIDPCpvw\/s1333\/Pakistan_KP_01.jpg\" title=\"Thousands of archaeological sites in northwest Pakistan yet to be registered\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA rock-carved sculpture dating back to the seventh century\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ein Jahanabad, Swat [Credit: Dawn]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe registration of these sites in the gazetteer form would help to protect and preserve these. “A bill is also on the anvil to protect such registered archaeological sites,” officials said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDirector of Archaeology and Museums Dr Abdul Samad, who has initiated compilation of the archaeological sites scattered all over the province in July this year, says that these sites would be enlisted along with its details in a gazetteer form.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are around 100 sites listed as ‘protected sites’ under the Antiquities Act of 1997 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but the archaeologists say that it is not a true picture of this region, which is rich with sites of Gandhara civilisation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOwing to lack of attention even the less older buildings , which are included in the list of protect sites, have fast vanished unnoticed by the authorities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Falak Sair Cinema hall, which was a 75-year-old building, exists as a protected site in documents only,” says Dr Samad, who with his like-minded conservationists has also prepared a bill to protect the archaeological sites from fading away.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFalak Sair Cinema was demolished few years ago to build a commercial plaza at that valuable property. There are thousands of years old archaeological sites, which are still unprotected and endangered.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are about 100 protected sites but only 60 actually exist in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The efforts to compile data of the scattered archaeological sites, surveyed and mentioned in different researches from time to time by archaeologists, are meant to show that the province has at least 6,000 such sites which need to be included in the list of protected sites. These 6,000 sites have been published in different research journals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“In July this year, the compilation of these 6,000 sites started and so far details of some 3,000 sites have been collected,” the official says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA district-wise gazetteer of archaeological sites would prepared by collecting information from the publications. It would also act like an inventory of the archaeological sites of the province in each district.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDr Samad says that not only compilation but protection of these sites through replacing the current Antiquities Act 1997 by a new one to better tackle the issues arising in the recent years can really help to preserve and protect archaeological sites in the province.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter passage of 18th Amendment, the province needs a new antiquities law. Dr Samad says that a bill called Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Antiquities Act 2014 is in process. Besides the registered sites, this bill focuses on protection of important sites, which are on the way to qualify for inclusion in the list of protected sites list.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We are going to register these 6,000 sites in the gazetteer so that the new law can be applied on these for their protection,” says Dr Samad.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe official says that it would be the first ever law to incorporate all clauses in it that would ensure protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Sadia Qasim Shah | Source: Dawn [September 29, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/130945730899766578"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/130945730899766578"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/heritage-thousands-of-archaeological.html","title":"Heritage: Thousands of archaeological sites in northwest Pakistan yet to be registered"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-vUu562vjNpY\/VCwe_84xb1I\/AAAAAAABIEw\/RKJeIDPCpvw\/s72-c\/Pakistan_KP_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-438855280006301105"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-26T06:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.352-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: Treasure hunter discovers 22,000 Roman coins"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"A hoard of 22,000 Roman coins has been unearthed on land near Seaton in East Devon. The “Seaton Down Hoard” of copper-alloy Roman coins is one of the largest and best preserved 4th Century collections to have ever been found in Britain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Treasure hunter discovers 22,000 Roman coins\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/--Nrsc2dHnmY\/VCWrCv7rCDI\/AAAAAAABH88\/QTIFv2qQCbQ\/s1333\/UK_Coin-hoard_03.jpg\" title=\"Treasure hunter discovers 22,000 Roman coins\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Seaton Down hoard of treasure during excavation [Credit: APEX]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe hoard was declared Treasure at a Devon Coroner’s Inquest on 12th September 2014 which means it will be eligible for acquisition by a museum after valuation by the Treasure Valuation Committee, a group of independent experts who advise the Secretary of State. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter, which already houses a large collection of local Romano-British objects, has launched a fund-raising campaign.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe discovery was made in November 2013 by East Devon builder and metal detector enthusiast Laurence Egerton who was operating under licence on private land near the previously excavated site of a Roman villa at Honeyditches in East Devon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr Egerton, 51, immediately reported the find in accordance with the Treasure Act 1996 to the landowner Clinton Devon Estates, Devon County Council’s County Archaeologist and the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) who informed the Coroner. The hoard was then carefully removed in its entirety by a team of archaeologists and over the past 10 months the coins have been lightly cleaned and the process of identification and cataloguing has begun by experts at the British Museum, revealing an important part of Britain’s history.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to County Archaeologist Bill Horner, the Roman copper-alloy coins date back to between AD 260 and AD 348 and bear the images of Emperor Constantine, his family, co-Emperors and immediate predecessors and successors.Mr Horner said: “Our archaeologists and the team at the British Museum have reported that the majority of the coins are so well preserved that they were able to date them very accurately. This is very unusual for Devon because the county, as a whole, has slightly acidic soil which leads to metals corroding. The soil in this area is chalky which is why they’ve survived so well.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBuried together in an isolated pit, the lozenge shape of the hoard suggests the coins were in a fabric or leather bag which has not survived. Experts believe the coins could have been the savings of a private individual, a soldier’s wages or a commercial payment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Treasure hunter discovers 22,000 Roman coins\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-JoOFt6sTbkg\/VCWqxDbTOBI\/AAAAAAABH80\/g7O9nfkQx34\/s1333\/UK_Coin-hoard_01.jpg\" title=\"Treasure hunter discovers 22,000 Roman coins\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe box of unearthed Roman coins found in Seaton [Credit: APEX]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite the number of coins found, the financial value, however, would not have been great, amounting to four gold coins (solidi) which would have provided the ration of two soldiers for one year or a worker’s pay for two years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr Horner explained: “There were no High Street banks, so a good, deep hole in the ground was as secure a place as any to hide your savings in times of trouble, or if you were going away on a long journey. But whoever made this particular deposit never came back to retrieve it.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELaurence Egerton who lives at Colaton Raleigh in East Devon said: “Initially I found two small coins the size of a thumbnail sitting on top of the ground. I decided to dig the earth at that spot and immediately reached some iron ingots which were laid directly on top of the coins. The next shovel was full of coins – they just spilled out over the field. I had no idea how far down the coins went so I stopped immediately and phoned my wife to come to the site with a camera.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Under the terms of my licence, I contacted Clinton Devon Estates and Danielle Wooton (PAS Finds Liaison Officer and archaeologist) and Bill Horner (County Archaeologist) and was instructed to take away what was loose and then fill in the hole. Between finding the hoard and the archaeologists excavating the site I slept alongside it in my car for three nights to guard it!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“It’s by far the biggest find I’ve ever had. It really doesn’t get any better than this! It is so important to record all of these finds properly because it’s so easy to lose important insights into our history,” added Mr Egerton.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Treasure hunter discovers 22,000 Roman coins\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-QL-rHn9m5vQ\/VCWrTaLAu7I\/AAAAAAABH9E\/W_-PcXC2eWU\/s1333\/UK_Coin-hoard_02.jpg\" title=\"Treasure hunter discovers 22,000 Roman coins\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELaurence Egerton with his metal detector [Credit: APEX]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EClare James, Estate Surveyor for Clinton Devon Estates said: “Only three people are licenced to use metal detectors on Clinton Devon Estates land to ensure that anything and everything that is discovered is properly reported and removed. The way in which the Seaton Down Hoard has been handled throughout has been textbook and it is really exciting to see how this has led to the piecing together of a whole story by experts over the past 10 months.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUniversity of Exeter archaeologist Danielle Wootton praised the actions of the finder. She said; “Having realised the significance of his discovery, Laurence acted responsibly in reporting the find to both the landowner and the Portable Antiquities Scheme. This ensured that the remainder of the coins were properly excavated by a team of archaeologists funded by Devon County Council. Thereby enabling the hoard of coins to be examined in detail by a team of conservators and Roman coin experts at the British Museum.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday (26th September 2014), the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) has announced that a single coin in the Seaton Down Hoard, dating to around AD332, was the one millionth find recorded since the PAS was founded in 1997.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnder the Treasure Act 1996, now that the hoard has been declared Treasure by a coroner, it has to be offered to an accredited museum to acquire. The finder and landowner are normally entitled to a reward equal to the market value of the hoard, as determined by the Treasure Valuation Committee.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) has said it would love to keep the hoard in Devon so that it can be seen by the public for the first time in over 1500 years. The museum hopes to be able to raise the necessary funds and is organising a fundraising campaign.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExeter City Councillor Rosie Denham with responsibility for Culture Media and Sport said: “This extraordinary hoard will add greatly to our picture of life in Roman Devon. It would be a wonderful addition to RAMM’s collection of local Romano-British objects which includes finds from nearby Honeyditches. Adding it to RAMM’s world-class collections will let the people of Devon share in one of the most significant archaeological finds to have been made in Britain for many years.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Western Gazette [September 26, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/438855280006301105"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/438855280006301105"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/uk-treasure-hunter-discovers-22000.html","title":"UK: Treasure hunter discovers 22,000 Roman coins"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/--Nrsc2dHnmY\/VCWrCv7rCDI\/AAAAAAABH88\/QTIFv2qQCbQ\/s72-c\/UK_Coin-hoard_03.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-4165428353888176799"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-25T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.381-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: UNESCO seeks answers from Egypt on 'damaged' pyramid"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"UNESCO has asked Egypt for a detailed report on restoration work carried out at the Djoser pyramid following reports the more than 4,600-year-old monument had been damaged.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"UNESCO seeks answers from Egypt on 'damaged' pyramid\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-zsOj7vP35yQ\/VCQ13A6KjjI\/AAAAAAABH0U\/x_ZY7TiXG5M\/s1333\/Egypt_01.jpg\" title=\"UNESCO seeks answers from Egypt on 'damaged' pyramid\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA file picture taken on September 16, 2014 shows a policeman standing near the step pyramid\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eof Djoser at the ancient Egyptian Saqqara necropolis some 20 kilometres south of Cairo.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUNESCO has asked Egypt for a detailed report on restoration work carried out\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eat the Djoser pyramid following reports the more than 4,600-year-old\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;monument has been damaged, an official of the UN agency said today\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: AFP\/Mohamed El-Shahed]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEgyptian media reported earlier this month that the pyramid, which dominates the necropolis of Saqqara, south-west of Cairo, had been damaged during the restoration work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The UNESCO World Heritage Centre sent a letter to the ministry of antiquities requesting a detailed technical report on the work,\" said Tamar Teneishvili, a senior official from UNESCO in Cairo.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"This request was made after information gathered from the media.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe said UNESCO would wait for the ministry's report to decide on its future plans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUNESCO has also asked if its own 2011 recommendations on the restoration of the pyramid had been followed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeveral Egyptian experts have criticised the restoration work, saying the monument's original facade had been altered.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome specialists also said the company hired to do the restoration work, Al-Shurbagy, did not have the necessary experience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAntiquities minister Mamdouh al-Damati said the criticism was \"baseless\".\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast week he told a group of journalists invited to see the ongoing restoration that the \"work is underway without a problem\".\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe executive director of the project, Michel Ghobrial Farid, also rejected the criticism, saying the pyramid's appearance was restored the way it was at the time of its construction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project started in 2006 but was interrupted in February 2013 due to a lack of funding.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe tomb, built by the master architect Imhotep for the pharaoh Djoser, originally stood 62 metres tall and is considered the oldest building in the world built entirely of stone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: AFP [September 25, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4165428353888176799"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4165428353888176799"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/heritage-unesco-seeks-answers-from.html","title":"Heritage: UNESCO seeks answers from Egypt on \u0026#39;damaged\u0026#39; pyramid"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-zsOj7vP35yQ\/VCQ13A6KjjI\/AAAAAAABH0U\/x_ZY7TiXG5M\/s72-c\/Egypt_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3622483237672659494"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-25T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.408-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"India: Unearthed idols dated to the 15th century"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The two-and-a-half-foot-high ‘panchaloha’ idol and a part of another idol damaged below waist, seized by police after they were unearthed by workers of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme while desilting a water tank at Thalirmarundoor near Thondi on September 15, belonged to the 15th century and should be more than 500 years old, said K. Sakthivel, Curator of the district unit of the Department of Archaeology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Unearthed idols dated to the 15th century\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-yxo_qrdjBWU\/VCRPWHVP3HI\/AAAAAAABH2Q\/05X0lEkOt9o\/s1333\/India_01.jpg\" title=\"Unearthed idols dated to the 15th century\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe idols unearthed near Thond in Ramanathapuram district\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: The Hindu]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr. Sakthivel, who inspected the idols and the pedestals recovered along with them, said they were ‘panchaloha’ idols with the composition of gold, silver, copper, iron and lead, but the proportion of the five metals used in the idols was not known.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe four pieces weighed about 50 kilograms. “The metal value of the idols and pedestals could be around Rs.60,000, but they had great antique value,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe idols and pedestals were presently kept at Thiruvadanai Tahsildar’s office, sources said, adding once they were brought to the Collectorate, they would be shifted to the museum in Chennai.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe idols were that of Devi, but it could not ascertained whether they were of Valli, Deivanai or Sri Devi as their consorts, Lord Muruga and Vishnu, were missing at the site, Mr. Sakthivel said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey should belong to the Nayak period as indicated by certain features such as pointed nose, highly decorated ornaments and dress, body muscles and micro-level carving, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe said the two pedestals did not match with the idols, suggesting that there could be two more pedestals (belonging to the unearthed idols) and two more idols matching with the recovered pedestals, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe said there were no markings in the pedestal to determine their period. “They should be 200 to 300 years old,” he said. The upper portions of the square type pedestals were round and global, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe idols could have been thrown into the waterbody, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen idols were preserved against invasions, they would be buried in a pit filled with sand, he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Hindu [September 25, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3622483237672659494"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3622483237672659494"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/india-unearthed-idols-dated-to-15th.html","title":"India: Unearthed idols dated to the 15th century"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-yxo_qrdjBWU\/VCRPWHVP3HI\/AAAAAAABH2Q\/05X0lEkOt9o\/s72-c\/India_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1023092715587677809"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-24T10:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.434-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Hadrianopolis mosaics restoration nears completion"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Unique floor mosaics that have been unearthed in a church, called Church B, in Hadrianapolis’ ancient city in the Eskipazar district, will be opened to visitors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Hadrianopolis mosaics restoration nears completion\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-ZRpieEibGPI\/VCQoLCvk1wI\/AAAAAAABHzk\/dQIwkCuiA5E\/s1333\/Turkey_Hadrianopolis.jpg\" title=\"Hadrianopolis mosaics restoration nears completion\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe mosaics are considered as magnificent as those in Gaziantep’s\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;ancient city of Zeugma [Credit: AA]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe mosaics are considered as magnificent as those in Gaziantep’s ancient city of Zeugma. They depict many animals, such as horses, elephants, panthers, deer and even griffons, mythical creatures. The mosaics are protected and have been undergoing restoration since their discovery.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKarabük University archaeologist Ersin Çelikbaş said that work for the mosaics’ protection had been continuing since 2010, in order to prevent their destruction. Restoration has also been focused on Church B, one of the earliest churches in Anatolia, he said, noting that its roof was covered and the mosaics were restored and cleaned. Çelikbaş said the production method of the mosaics was the same as that used in Zeugma. The area is now ready to be opened to tourism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EÇelikbaş explained there were four figures in the mosaics. “The figures depict the rivers of Euphrates, Tigris and Nile, as well as a fourth river, but we have not proven its existence yet. The figures carry the horn of plenty, which is the symbol of abundance, and fish are seen in these rivers. These are the only examples in Anatolia,” he said, citing other examples in Tunisia and Libya.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also noted a cattle figure in the church, whose face is reflected in the water from which it drinks. “This is the only example,” he said. “Therefore the mosaics here are unique in the world. This is why we are focused on their protection.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [September 24, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1023092715587677809"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1023092715587677809"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/near-east-hadrianopolis-mosaics.html","title":"Near East: Hadrianopolis mosaics restoration nears completion"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-ZRpieEibGPI\/VCQoLCvk1wI\/AAAAAAABHzk\/dQIwkCuiA5E\/s72-c\/Turkey_Hadrianopolis.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-8115710252926447647"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-23T04:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.447-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Destinations"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Italy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Diocletian's Baths reopen to public after restoration"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Part of the ancient Roman Baths of Diocletian reopened to the public Tuesday following a 6.5-million-euro restoration project lasting six years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Diocletian's Baths reopen to public after restoration\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-KFwXWtV84Y4\/VCQhnDGVB-I\/AAAAAAABHy8\/0YFKrLUfxOI\/s1333\/Diocletian_05.jpg\" title=\"Diocletian's Baths reopen to public after restoration\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERoman Diocletian's Baths reopen to public after restoration\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: RomeNet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVisitors can now admire the natatio, or open-air swimming pool, at the heart of the baths and the small cloister of the late 16th-century Carthusian charterhouse of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which was built on its ruins.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere in the portico important marble sculptures are on show depicting ancient cults revived by Augustus, Rome's first emperor, as part of his religious policies and to enforce his own authority.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition, there is a frescoed lunette never seen before.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommissioned in honour of the emperor Diocletian in 298 AD, the baths are the most imposing thermal complex ever built in Rome.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe natatio and small cloister reopened to the public as part of a programme of events to mark the 2,000th anniversary of the death of Augustus in 14 AD.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: ANSA [September 23, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8115710252926447647"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8115710252926447647"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/more-stuff-diocletian-baths-reopen-to.html","title":"More Stuff: Diocletian\u0026#39;s Baths reopen to public after restoration"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-KFwXWtV84Y4\/VCQhnDGVB-I\/AAAAAAABHy8\/0YFKrLUfxOI\/s72-c\/Diocletian_05.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6900282934371718793"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-18T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.516-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"India: Plan to develop Buddhist site at Chebrolu"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"As part of its endeavour to develop ancient sites in the region, the Archaeology and Museums Department has decided to transform the old Bhimeswara temple at Chebrolu in Guntur district into a tourist spot as precious Buddhist remains belonging to the first or second century A.D. were found adjacent to the temple.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Plan to develop Buddhist site at Chebrolu\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-P8ZZYDLI4GE\/VB3F0Gem7LI\/AAAAAAABHeM\/wAvgrn_MPFU\/s1333\/India_Chebrolu_01.jpg\" title=\"Plan to develop Buddhist site at Chebrolu\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOfficials inspecting the site where a Buddhist remains were unearthed at\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBhimeswara Temple at Chebrolu in Guntur district [Credit: The Hindu]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESix railing posts of Buddhist Stupa each measuring five-foot high and 60 cms width along with several other precious remains were unearthed while carrying out digging works on southern side of the temple as part of the temple renovation works by the department a few weeks ago.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter further excavation, officials have found the railing posts depicting Lotus Medallions and a row of animals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA few sculptures made of lime and marble stone carvings and an image of a mystical animal and ‘Yaksha’ were also found along with large bricks used for constructing the site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We have shifted sculptures to the Guntur museum for display while the railing posts would be put up near the temple to indicate that there was human habitation since second century A.D.,” said Archaeology Department Assistant Director K. Chitti Babu on Wednesday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe villagers also wanted the department to erect the posts adjacent to the temple where Buddhist remains were found. Considering all these aspects, the department is planning to develop the area into a tourist site. The renovation of three temples, including Bhimeswara temple, was taken up at a cost of over Rs.1.4 crore. Plans have also been chalked out to construct a compound wall at the temple, said Mr. Chitti Babu.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe said Chebrolu was a territorial capital during Kakatiya dynasty and commander chief Ganapathi Deva was in-charge of the area. The site is 20 kms from Guntur, while over 70 kms from Vijayawada.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: M. Srinivas | Source: The Hindu [September 18, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6900282934371718793"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6900282934371718793"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/india-plan-to-develop-buddhist-site-at.html","title":"India: Plan to develop Buddhist site at Chebrolu"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-P8ZZYDLI4GE\/VB3F0Gem7LI\/AAAAAAABHeM\/wAvgrn_MPFU\/s72-c\/India_Chebrolu_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3460342289150318731"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-16T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.559-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Egypt's Marina El-Alamein to open in April"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Marina Al-Alamein is a well-known summer resort on Egypt's north coast where holidaymakers can enjoy sun, sand and sea in the summertime.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Egypt's Marina El-Alamein to open in April\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-eVwl5jvb-qw\/VBsGSfTMBJI\/AAAAAAABHUc\/r_oOcZShUnI\/s1333\/Egypt_Al-Alamein_01b.jpg\" title=\"Egypt's Marina El-Alamein to open in April\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReconstructed pillar-tombs in the town's necropolis [Credit:. Rafal \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECzerner\u003C\/strong\u003E]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, another tourist attraction can be added as the antiquities ministry has resumed restoration work at the archaeological site of Marina Al-Alamein, which was a major Graeco-Roman town and port known as Leucaspis 2000 years ago.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELeucaspis was probably destroyed by an earthquake in the late third century AD, but was partially inhabited again in the fifth and sixth centuries AD. A small basilica church uncovered in the eastern sector is considered to be the best evidence of this later occupation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe recent site includes the remains of more than 50 different structures in the town and necropolis. A commercial quarter was also found as well as the town centre with its baths, markets and a civic basilica.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Egypt's Marina El-Alamein to open in April\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-8u8OrmIz8pA\/VBsGZSsC0mI\/AAAAAAABHUk\/J-qOnnkuCVc\/s1333\/Egypt_Al-Alamein_02.jpg\" title=\"Egypt's Marina El-Alamein to open in April\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMausoleum T21 after restoration [Credit: Rafal Czerner]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to the restoration of some of the authentic buildings and columns found, a new parking lot for tourists is to be established and the existing mounds located next to the site entrance will be relocated and reshaped into a panoramic hill. The tourist itinerary will be updated and a trial run of the tourist walk traced in the field. Completion of the site presentation project together with signage and lighting on site and a tourist guidebook in English will be also among the development works.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Polish Archaeological Institute in Cairo and the American Research Center in Egypt carried out excavation and restoration works since the 1980s when Egypt's government started development of the north coast and archaeological traces appeared during construction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Egypt's Marina El-Alamein to open in April\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-37M9LXIRD-U\/VBsGfD6drcI\/AAAAAAABHUs\/eMOG2odTxHY\/s1333\/Egypt_Al-Alamein_04.jpg\" title=\"Egypt's Marina El-Alamein to open in April\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESouthern baths, general view (latrine 12 and courtyard 4) after conservation\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Rafal Czerner]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Polish excavations yielded a vast collection of findings, including lamps, glass vessels and pottery from Cyprus, the Aegean, Asia Minor and Italy. Several sculptures were also found and among the most remarkable discoveries were a lead coffin and mummies in one of the side chambers of a tomb.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMinister of Antiquities Mamdouh Eldamaty gave the go-ahead for the restoration and development work yesterday during his inspection tour around the site. He promised to officially inaugurate the site in April.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Nevine El-Aref | Source: Ahram Online [September 16, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3460342289150318731"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3460342289150318731"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/heritage-egypt-marina-el-alamein-to.html","title":"Heritage: Egypt\u0026#39;s Marina El-Alamein to open in April"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-eVwl5jvb-qw\/VBsGSfTMBJI\/AAAAAAABHUc\/r_oOcZShUnI\/s72-c\/Egypt_Al-Alamein_01b.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1786776119469887627"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-15T05:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.572-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Americas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"North America"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"USA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"North America: Ancient Native American burial mounds get state historical marker"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The ancient Native American burial mounds near Franklin’s Westhaven subdivision will get a state historical marker this weekend.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient Native American burial mounds get state historical marker\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-Zeq9hkNKiQA\/VBhRJ7ha8aI\/AAAAAAABHRs\/5sD6xq3dOD8\/s1333\/USA_01.jpg\" title=\"Ancient Native American burial mounds get state historical marker\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMTSU anthropology student Mark M. Crawford carefully excavates one of two ancient Indian\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;burial sites in Franklin’s Westhaven community in 2013. The dirt he removes is then\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Esifted through a screen by Zack Whitehead and Elizabeth Glass, at left\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Steven S. Harman\/The Tennessean]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOfficials from Westhaven developer Southern Land Co. and state historical experts will officially unveil the new sign at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHistorians believe Woodland Indians built four burial mounds around 200 A.D. in a spot that today adjoins the Westhaven Golf Course near Highway 96 West.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnly two of the four burial mounds remain today. The largest mound stands about 20 feet tall.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe mounds were considered a sacred site by Native Americans who once buried their dead and their loved ones’ belongings in the mounds, experts say.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArchaeologists and historians named the mounds the Glass Mounds after the property’s former owner, Samuel F. Glass, who lived on the property in the 1800s.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough the years, archaeologists and others have excavated Native American antiquities from the mounds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThree items have been kept at Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of American Archeology and Ethnology since 1878-79.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExperts say the largest remaining Glass Mound is the largest Native American burial mound east of the 72-foot-tall mound at Pinson Mounds, a state archaeological park near Jackson, Tenn.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVolunteers cleaned up the site in 2012, and Middle Tennessee State University students performed a small-scale excavation of a portion of the site in 2013.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESouthern Land Co. officials and state historical officials protected the mounds from future potential development by finalizing an easement in 2012 to protect them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Kevin Walters | Source: The Tennessean [September 15, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1786776119469887627"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1786776119469887627"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/north-america-ancient-native-american.html","title":"North America: Ancient Native American burial mounds get state historical marker"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-Zeq9hkNKiQA\/VBhRJ7ha8aI\/AAAAAAABHRs\/5sD6xq3dOD8\/s72-c\/USA_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3400512222144819413"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-09T11:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.840-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Jaw-dropping mosaics abandoned to the elements"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The mosaic reliefs in the ancient town of Anemurium (Greek Anemourion), designated as a historical zone by the Culture and Tourism Ministry of Turkey, are in pitiful condition, as rags protect the 1,500 to 1,700 year old mosaics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Jaw-dropping mosaics abandoned to the elements\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-XYDSolRr_hM\/VBAVwuGwCzI\/AAAAAAABG70\/FilvnqyL3i8\/s1333\/Turkey_Med-2.jpg\" title=\"Jaw-dropping mosaics abandoned to the elements\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnamur locals recount that all of the houses in the settlement had floor mosaics\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ebut that most of them were stolen [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are neither security cameras nor warning signs for the mosaics prone to every kind of physical harm. Some of the mosaics have disintegrated, while some of the tesseras (small pieces of stones that form the mosaic) are plastered with concrete to stop their disintegration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnemurium is one of the oldest settlements in the mountainous Cilicia region. The centuries-old settlement, which still stands tall on Anamur Point, the southernmost point of the Mediterranean, has not received necessary attention and protection. One of the most important features of the ancient town is the ground mosaics. However, most of the mosaics are gone, stolen or destroyed by natural elements.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We visited the fourth-century church at the entrance of the Anemurium during a recent trip to Anamur. Only the foundations and a piece of the dome structure remain from the church. While I took photographs, a section covered with rags drew my attention. Usually archaeologists who find fresh mosaics and paintings during excavations use this as a protection measure before commencing scientific research. I opened a small piece of the rags, guessing there was a mosaic underneath.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Jaw-dropping mosaics abandoned to the elements\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-aEjsZwogtxE\/VBAWKvPkjII\/AAAAAAABG78\/U4o2w61z12M\/s1333\/Turkey_Med-2b.jpg\" title=\"Jaw-dropping mosaics abandoned to the elements\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnemurium is one of the oldest settlements in the mountainous Cilicia region,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ebut despite being home to priceless mosaics, there is little oversight\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eto protect the breathtaking relics [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe saw a mosaic of incredible beauty. If we had lifted the mosaic a little more, we might have seen a mosaic with a bird figurine or a depiction of a mythological god. But afraid to expose the mosaic, we only lifted the corner of the rags.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was heartbreaking to see such beautiful mosaics being protected in such a way. There were no warning signs, no information panels and not even protective bands. Although the settlement is guarded, no one came to see what we were doing with the mosaics, even after standing there for more than an hour. It is not hard to understand how mosaics were stolen from this haphazardly protected ancient town, which is easily accessible from both land and sea.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe scenery was far worse while we visited the other parts of the settlement. The mosaics of a third-century Graeco-Roman basilica were left out in the open, even without any protective rags. The visitors were dwelling on the mosaics. The tesseras of the mosaics were plastered by concrete – probably – to protect them from the forces of nature. But the tesseras were already in a bad state due to their exposure. We could not understand why people were barbarically destroying such a beautiful city instead of opening it to tourism and contributing to the science of archaeology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Jaw-dropping mosaics abandoned to the elements\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-JLB5Y5GA3To\/VBAWpIPbtMI\/AAAAAAABG8E\/TdYq8bSpIMc\/s1333\/Turkey_Med-3.jpg\" title=\"Jaw-dropping mosaics abandoned to the elements\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\"The tesseras of the mosaics were plastered by concrete – probably – to protect\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;them from the forces of nature\" [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnemurium was first known by the West, thanks to Francis Beaufort, a 19th-century British explorer. Elisabeth Alfoldi Rosenbaum of the University of Toronto started its first excavations in the 1960s, and Canadian Professor James Russel continued the excavations until 2000. No archaeological research has taken place in the settlement for almost 15 years. After it was taken over by the Turkish Travel Agencies Union (TURSAB), only wild weeds were cleansed from the settlement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe locals we spoke with in Anamur said they were happy because the town was covered in weeds and foliage until last year. Locals older than 40 also recounted that all of the houses in the settlement had floor mosaics but that most of them were stolen. They indicated that these looters came from the sea and stole the findings with their yachts.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan id=\"ctl00_ctl01_ctl00_lblAuthor\"\u003E Ömer Erbil | Source: Hurriyet Daily News [September 09, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3400512222144819413"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3400512222144819413"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/near-east-jaw-dropping-mosaics.html","title":"Near East: Jaw-dropping mosaics abandoned to the elements"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-XYDSolRr_hM\/VBAVwuGwCzI\/AAAAAAABG70\/FilvnqyL3i8\/s72-c\/Turkey_Med-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7598577653195115980"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-08T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:01:21.854-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Greek archaeology hit hard by austerity measures"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"About seven years ago, just as Greece was falling into its worst recession in a half-century, veteran archaeologist Xeni Arapogianni made an important find in a forest of olive trees above the city of Kalamata, in the southern Peloponnese.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Greek archaeology hit hard by austerity measures\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-KyUuia8U7ak\/VA9U4CPwaQI\/AAAAAAABG5U\/8tkhWh3vZLk\/s1333\/Greece-funding_01.jpg\" title=\"Greek archaeology hit hard by austerity measures\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe youths of Ancient Messene once trained at this Doric stadium, which cost more than\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E$3 million to restore. It's one of the most impressive and popular ancient sites in Greece,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;in part thanks to an infusion of private funds [Credit: Joanna Kakissis\/NPR]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It was an asclepio, an ancient healing center, but one that has not been recorded in any ancient or modern source,\" says Arapogianni on a recent day, as she walks on the bone-white stone foundation. \"It's an entirely new discovery. And it tells us a lot about the ancient city that it came from.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat city, Ancient Thouria, was notable enough to be referenced by Homer. Yet Arapogianni, who has excavated in Greece for more than 37 years, is struggling to finance her work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We don't have any support from the state or the Greek archaeological society,\" she says. \"So we have to get all of our support from private sources,\" including a tobacco heiress and local donors from Kalamata.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's enough to pay for a couple of workers. Arapogianni, who was forced into early retirement in 2011 because of austerity measures, works without pay.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe glories of the ancient past remain perhaps the greatest source of national pride in Greece. And in the past, the government could support archaeological research and digs. But the debt crisis and subsequent austerity budget have slashed the Ministry of Culture's budget in half since 2010. So more and more Greek archaeologists are scrambling for private funding to underwrite their work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey face strict laws mandating national ownership of the country's 19,000 archaeological sites. And these days, it's also hard to find sponsors, who have been hit by the recession. Arapogianni says she is looking to another site, Ancient Messene, about 18 miles north of Ancient Thouria, for inspiration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Theban general Epameinondas founded Ancient Messene in 369 B.C. after defeating the Spartans. Petros Themelis began excavating there in 1986, almost exclusively with private money. It's now one of the most popular sites in Greece.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Greek archaeology hit hard by austerity measures\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-nuEs46fv4UE\/VA9VBQAZKMI\/AAAAAAABG5c\/3w9YU6MJD8A\/s1333\/Greece-funding_02.jpg\" title=\"Greek archaeology hit hard by austerity measures\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArchaeologist Xeni Arapogianni made an important discovery at Ancient Thouria,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ea city-state referenced by Homer and located near the southern city of Kalamata.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBut, facing austerity budget cuts, she is struggling to finance her work\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Joanna Kakissis\/NPR]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"You can't excavate without private money,\" says Themelis, a high-energy septuagenarian who navigates the 400-acre site in a tiny, red electric vehicle. \"And often, you can't restore without it, either. So as far as I'm alive, this [site] will be a private affair, a private project. The system I follow for fundraising, it's all private.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERunning the site costs more than 500,000 euros ($660,000) a year. Half of the funds come from the European Union, but the rest comes from bank foundations and ship owners courted by Themelis.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"They come here during the summer, they visit me here,\" he says, passing an ancient road and an early Christian basilica. \"I guide them, they are very enthusiastic.\" Then he sends them applications to fund excavations and restorations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThemelis is also partnering with Costa Navarino luxury resorts so tourists can pay to work as \"archaeologists for a day\" at Ancient Messene. And he rents out the ancient theater for events, such as a recent staging of The Woman of Zakynthos by Greek writer Dionysios Solomos.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter the play, a tall, bearded olive-oil exporter named Giorgos Dinardakis walked out of the theater impressed with its condition.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"I've been at other sites, such as Sparta, and they're abandoned,\" he said. \"This site looks alive.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDinardakis said he'd even like to see private companies managing sites, especially those that aren't as well-known. But he says most Greeks don't trust the private sector, even as their faith in the state is at an all-time low after the economic crisis.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"They think a private company would hike up prices on admission or allow inappropriate activities or generally disrespect the antiquities in favor of profit,\" he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Greek archaeology hit hard by austerity measures\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-1LWrrr1mlZI\/VA9VJk-RqyI\/AAAAAAABG5k\/sjuh8J1Dg1M\/s1333\/Greece-funding_03.jpg\" title=\"Greek archaeology hit hard by austerity measures\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArchaeologist Petros Themelis (standing in front of the Doric stadium at Ancient Messene)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehas excavated at the site since 1986 and is considered a master at private fundraising\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Efor antiquities [Credit: Joanna Kakissis\/NPR] \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's also the line of the Central Archaeological Council of Greece, which essentially enforces the country's laws on antiquities. Earlier this year, the Union of Greek Archaeologists condemned a detailed privatization plan by Stephen Miller, a renowned American archaeologist who runs the Ancient Nemea site in the northeastern Peloponnese. Like Themelis, Miller has also spent years raising private money to support his site but has long been frustrated by the lack of state resources for antiquities. Miller proposed allowing private companies to develop, promote and secure underused sites in exchange for tourism-generated revenue.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThemelis says resources are scarce, and the Greek state should encourage more private involvement in the management of archaeological sites.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"I think it's the only way for these huge sites to live and have profit for our state,\" he says. \"And if the site of Messene manages to live with its own money, then the rest of it[the funds] can go to some other sites that suffer, that are very poor.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBack at Ancient Thouria, Xeni Arapogianni drives out to one of those troubled sites along with local farmer Antonis Tsaglis. They stop in the thick of Tsaglis' olive grove, near a row of what look like giant underground vaults.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"These are tombs,\" Arapogianni says, \"the tombs of noblemen from Ancient Mycenae,\" a civilization from the Bronze Age that was a military powerhouse in southern Greece.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArchaeologists discovered these 16 tombs, which date to 1400 B.C., more than 20 years ago. Arapogianni was the last person to excavate there, back in 2005. But the state still hasn't paid Tsaglis for the land.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"There isn't any money,\" she says. \"That's why.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow the tombs are abandoned. The farmer is the only one guarding them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERead Prof. Stephen Miller's proposal in the latest volume of AncientPlanet Online Journal..\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Joanna Kakissis | Source: npr [September 08, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7598577653195115980"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7598577653195115980"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/heritage-greek-archaeology-hit-hard-by.html","title":"Heritage: Greek archaeology hit hard by austerity measures"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-KyUuia8U7ak\/VA9U4CPwaQI\/AAAAAAABG5U\/8tkhWh3vZLk\/s72-c\/Greece-funding_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5401943551875058488"},"published":{"$t":"2016-08-06T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.430-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: 135 artefacts transferred to Grand Egyptian Museum"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"One hundred and thirty-five artifacts have been transferred from the Egyptian museum in Tahrir Square to the under-construction Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in preparation for the latter’s inauguration in August 2015, according to Ahmed Sharaf, head of the Museums Sector at the Ministry of Antiquities Thursday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"135 artefacts transferred to Grand Egyptian Museum\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-dxsCXhXpMXA\/VAyRmFcWO8I\/AAAAAAABGwo\/M5wQaFN9w9Y\/s1333\/tutankhamen-1.jpg\" title=\"135 artefacts transferred to Grand Egyptian Museum\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn Egyptian conservator cleans a papyri sandal from the collection\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eof King Tutankhamun [Credit: AP\/Amr Nab]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe transferred artifacts, which date back to different Egyptian historical periods, include diorite stone palettes, papyrus scrolls, painted pottery, cosmetic palettes, a painted wood figure of an official, coffin fragments, a wooden sarcophagus mask and bronze statues of the goddess Isis and god Horus, Sharaf told The Cairo Post.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“So far, 14,820 artifacts have been transferred to the GEM from other museums and archaeological sites across Egypt,” said Sharaf, who pointed out that eventually 100,000 pieces will be transferred to the GEM.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA winged scarab pectoral brooch and a royal scepter from Pharaoh Tutankhamen are also among the transferred items, Basem Hamad, a member of the GEM’s artifacts transfer committee, told The Cairo Post Thursday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe artifacts will be renovated and prepared for display in bigger sections operated with the most updated technology systems, Hamad added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe GEM is being built over an area of 117 acres and is considered the largest Pharaonic museum ever built. Its foundation stone was laid in February 2002.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnder the supervision of UNESCO and the International Union of Architects (UIA), an international architectural competition to design the GEM was launched in 2002. A design from Irish architecture firm Heneghan Peng was chosen.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe cost of the project is estimated at $550 million and is being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and a fund raising campaign. It is expected to be inaugurated in mid-August 2015.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Rany Mostafa | Source: Cairo Post [September 05, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5401943551875058488"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5401943551875058488"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/08\/heritage-135-artefacts-transferred-to.html","title":"Heritage: 135 artefacts transferred to Grand Egyptian Museum"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-dxsCXhXpMXA\/VAyRmFcWO8I\/AAAAAAABGwo\/M5wQaFN9w9Y\/s72-c\/tutankhamen-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1440250634345271986"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-26T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.646-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Construction work damages ancient tombs in Istanbul"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Two ancient sarcophagii covers, which were found during the rehabilitation of an underpass in Istanbul’s historical peninsula, have been delivered to Istanbul Archaeology Museum, but only after being damaged in the construction work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Construction work damages ancient tombs in Istanbul\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-yHiHPr5Dw40\/U_4VjmirujI\/AAAAAAABGFQ\/Gj2JOGqF6DQ\/s1333\/Turkey_Istanbul_01.jpg\" title=\"Construction work damages ancient tombs in Istanbul\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIstanbul Archaeology Museum officials denied that there were any archaeologists\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Epresent at the site during the work [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe tomb parts were discovered while a bulldozer was working to remove asphalt on the Vezneciler Underpass, next to the main door of Istanbul University, as part of a project which started Aug. 5. The Istanbul Archaeology Museum was informed when the tombs were found, albeit after they were damaged due by the heavy construction vehicle.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe area was defined as a “necropolis” in the ancient era of the city.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe company conducting the construction reportedly should have informed the museum before the work began.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHüseyin Işıldak, the site chief, told Radikal that the work was halted when ruins were found on early Aug. 18, while adding that archaeologists were participating in the construction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Construction work damages ancient tombs in Istanbul\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-0qUdZX7G4Sk\/U_4WDB9RHxI\/AAAAAAABGFY\/wrCW7GZrX_4\/s1333\/Turkey_Istanbul_02.Jpeg\" title=\"Construction work damages ancient tombs in Istanbul\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOne of the damaged sarcophagus lids [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“After a couple hours, museum officials came and the tombs were removed. We worked carefully, and that’s why our works were delayed for a few days. It was not a deep dig. We have only removed asphalt so far,” Işıldak said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, Istanbul Archaeology Museum officials denied that there were any archaeologists present at the site during the work, adding that the museum directorate was not informed about the construction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe owners of nearby workplaces said the ruins were found before Aug. 18 and kept there for a week.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Eİzzet Umut Çelik, an instructor at Şişli Vocational School Architectural Restoration Program, who took and shared photos of the tomb pieces on social media, said there were some white marks on the ruins which suggested fresh damage probably caused by construction tools.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The standard understanding of construction site must not be used in Istanbul,” Çelik said, referring to the city’s millennia-old history.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“No more construction should be permitted in the historic peninsula,” he said, adding that firms were disrespecting the city’s history.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECompanies are skipping preliminary examinations to determine whether archaeological artifacts are present in sensitive areas out of a rush for profits, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Fundanur Öztürk | Source: Hurryet Daily News [August 26, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1440250634345271986"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1440250634345271986"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/near-east-construction-work-damages.html","title":"Near East: Construction work damages ancient tombs in Istanbul"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-yHiHPr5Dw40\/U_4VjmirujI\/AAAAAAABGFQ\/Gj2JOGqF6DQ\/s72-c\/Turkey_Istanbul_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5557911037903225879"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-25T11:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.665-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Afghanistan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Central Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Central Asia: Archaeologists still scrambling to save Mes Aynak"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"More than a decade ago, the world was outraged when the Taliban destroyed two massive Buddha statues in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Valley in a vendetta against all non-Islamic art. Today, an even larger and older collection of artifacts is under threat, but this time the conflict has more to do with economics than religion.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeologists still scrambling to save Mes Aynak\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-JoElGTkbChY\/U_4ZmiK81XI\/AAAAAAABGFk\/siNrq5HRiWM\/s1333\/mes-aynak_01.jpg\" title=\"Archaeologists still scrambling to save Mes Aynak\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Buddha statue discovered at the Mes Aynak archaeological site in the eastern\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eprovince of Logar, in Afghanistan. The ancient city sits on top of one of the world’s\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;largest known copper deposits, which is currently on lease to a state-owned\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChinese mining company [Credit: Brent Huffman]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMes Aynak is a 9,800-acre archeological site in Afghanistan’s Logar Province. It was once a major city on the ancient Silk Road and is home to structures dating back more than 2,600 years. Archaeologists say it’s a cultural goldmine, but others are more concerned with what lies beneath it -- 5.5 million metric tons of high-grade copper ore.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESix years ago, China’s largest mining company signed a $3 billion agreement with the Afghan government for rights to the site, a move cheered for its potential to boost jobs and the country’s struggling economy. But the decision left archeologists scrambling to recover what cultural heritage they could before work on the mine began. Even though the company has delayed its project for other reasons, tight budgets and a lack of assistance from the Afghan government mean the ancient city is far from safe.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“It was very clear since the beginning that the provisional schedule for mining was overly optimistic,” said Philippe Marquis, an archaeologist at the French Archeological Delegation in Afghanistan, which started working at Mes Aynak a year after the deal was inked.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe area itself, less than an hour’s drive from Kabul, is home to some of the oldest Buddhist artifacts in Central Asia. So far, archeologists have identified more than 70 sites in the valley, including a handful of monasteries, monuments and more than 1,000 statues.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExperts have called the site “one of the most intriguing ancient mining sites in Central Asia, if not the world,” noting the city’s religious and economic significance over the millennia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeologists still scrambling to save Mes Aynak\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-qXgc_JJ327k\/U_4aAY9Y0mI\/AAAAAAABGFs\/JmB3Z771DSc\/s1333\/mes-aynak_02.jpg\" title=\"Archaeologists still scrambling to save Mes Aynak\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn ancient Buddhist stupa uncovered at the Mes Aynak\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Earchaeological site [Credit: Brent Huffman]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFunded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afghan archeologists received more than $1.5 million worth of equipment and guidance for the project, according to Marquis. A year later, the World Bank asked the group to assess the site and propose a working timeline. Since then, the plan has been amended at least 20 times.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The main problem of this excavation is the very low level of local expertise and the lack of infrastructure,” Marquis said. “The quality of excavation is not very high, but the biggest problem is the management of what has been found.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArchaeologists are currently using a strategy known as “rescue excavation,” which is similar to the way looters operate. While traditional methods would require workers to painstakingly uncover, document and preserve the site as it is, archaeologists are trying just to record what they find and remove anything valuable before it's too late.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2008, the China Metallurgical Group Corp. promised $3 billion to the Afghanistan Ministry of Mines for a 30-year lease on the site, with plans to start digging within five years, and build railways and other infrastructure projects to support the mine.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“As Afghanistan emerges from conflict and transitions from an economy supported by large amounts of foreign aid to a self-sustaining economy, it needs to use its natural resources to help fuel growth,” World Bank researchers wrote in a report on the project at the time, adding the country has an estimated $1 trillion in natural resource assets.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeologists still scrambling to save Mes Aynak\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-9_VxXEbmBPE\/U_4aHEFekfI\/AAAAAAABGF0\/wwzGmrWtLCU\/s1333\/mes-aynak_03.jpg\" title=\"Archaeologists still scrambling to save Mes Aynak\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA gold-plated Buddha head is just one of many artefacts found at the Mes Aynak site,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;as archaeologists scramble to preserve what they can with limited time\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;and resources [Credit: Brent Huffman]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey also projected the Mes Aynak project in particular would create 12,000 direct jobs and 62,500 “induced” jobs while adding $250 million in annual revenues once the mine hits capacity -- no small thing considering more than 90 percent of Afghanistan’s current economy depends on aid and military spending.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The Aynak project represents the largest private sector project in the country’s history, and it will generate more jobs, revenues and enhancements to Afghanistan’s infrastructure than any other single project to date,” the Afghan Ministry of Mines wrote in a 2012 statement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut not everyone was as pleased. The Afghan government has never published details of the agreement despite widespread criticism from watchdog organizations such as Global Witness, which investigates economic networks behind conflict, corruption and environmental destruction. In the 2012 report “Copper Bottomed?” Global Witness researchers outlined the various problems with the deal’s transparency.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Since the whole contract has never been published, it’s hard to evaluate what exactly has been promised,” said Jodi Vittori, the firm’s Afghan policy adviser. She explained that the lack of data amid a swirl of rumors has made it difficult to determine whether advantage is being taken of any party. Meanwhile, many are worried the country could be experiencing a “resource curse.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile the site would provide necessary jobs and an economic boost, she and others said they fear the Chinese deal, shrouded in mystery, could put Afghanistan at risk of a “resource curse,” in which foreign investors take advantage of its massive mineral stores without much help to the country. Indeed, it wouldn’t be the first time China would be accused of such things. The vast majority of Chinese investment in other developing regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, is focused on resources, which has led to a great deal of criticism and claims the economic heavyweight is exploiting low-income countries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeologists still scrambling to save Mes Aynak\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-bCL5vIQ0iMM\/U_4aNQ5GRAI\/AAAAAAABGF8\/uy_0Neiuhss\/s1333\/mes-aynak_04.jpg\" title=\"Archaeologists still scrambling to save Mes Aynak\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELocals from nearby villages work at the site, assisting archaeologists by removing\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Edirt and rocks to expose the artifacts beneath [Credit: Brent Huffman]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“My fear is that people won’t really care about this until after the fact,” said Brent Huffman, a documentary filmmaker and professor at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, who has been recording the excavation process since 2011.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis documentary “Saving Mes Aynak” follows the local Afghan archaeologists working at the site. In January the film was awarded a MacArthur Foundation Grant and was recently picked up by Kartemquin Films.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“My fear is that this is just another way Afghanistan is going to lose. With Chinese and Indian companies taking valuable resources out of the country, Afghanistan is left with these toxic craters. My fear is that Mes Aynak is a stepping stone toward that,” Huffman said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Afghanistan, “China is generally viewed in the region as a benign power, because it doesn’t get involved politically,” said Marvin Weinbaum, political science professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who formerly worked for the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“That said, it doesn’t want the place to become chaotic,” he said, referring to this year’s election, which, fraught with charges of fraud and corruption, has only served to increase tensions in the country as it plans a transition to a self-sustaining economy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmid the instability, MCC moved to renegotiate its contract, delaying the dig in the face of a slowing Chinese economy, falling copper prices and increased instability. But while the development should have given archaeologists more time to work, that isn’t exactly the case. In the face of budgetary mismanagement and growing insecurity, recovery work on the site has ground to a halt.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeologists still scrambling to save Mes Aynak\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-lB4p5xcPDT8\/U_4aUKrFqeI\/AAAAAAABGGE\/VfRw5Cae3m4\/s1333\/mes-aynak_05.jpg\" title=\"Archaeologists still scrambling to save Mes Aynak\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbdul Qadeer Temore, one of the lead Afghan archaeologists on the project, works on one\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;of the standing Buddha statues at Mes Aynak [Credit: Brent Huffman]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“All budget for archaeology got stuck somewhere between the ministries of Finance and Mines,” Marek Lemiesz, an archaeologist with the Afghan Ministry of Mines, told International Business Times. “It seems to be now clear to everybody that Mes Aynak should be, in normal circumstances, excavated for at least 20 years and we have been given a maximum three years.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe said all archaeological activities were cut off in May on orders from the Ministry of Mines for a variety of reasons, including that Afghan archeologists had not been paid for more than seven months and finally went on strike. But money isn't the only reason: Workers are also worried about their safety. This year’s Afghan election was fraught with fears of fraud and corruption that have only increased tensions, especially in the rural areas where local groups can pose a threat to foreign workers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Another serious issue is significantly decreased security in Logar,” Lemiesz said. “In the past months we were faced with a series of serious incidents such as rocket attacks, IEDs [improvised explosive devices] set inside the so-called ‘Security Zone’,” he said, adding he was “seriously concerned” about the safety of expats on the ground.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe region is an important one for China. “There are so many factors that make Chinese investment of economic, political and strategic capital in the region a logical posture,” Kendrick Kuo, China and foreign policy specialist and author of the Asian Crescent blog. He said that Chinese interest in the region goes as far back as the 1980s. While its largest competitor there is Russia, its advantage is greater economic clout.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The delay on the Mes Aynak mine is arguably a wait-and-see tactic to see how the chips fall,” Kuo said. “China can’t help but to be involved in Afghanistan, especially economically, but it is also not as risk-tolerant as some may think,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe city is still likely doomed to be demolished and replaced with a copper mine, but for now, that fate may be delayed for a bit longer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Kathleen Caulderwood | Source: International Business Times [August 25, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5557911037903225879"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5557911037903225879"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/central-asia-archaeologists-still.html","title":"Central Asia: Archaeologists still scrambling to save Mes Aynak"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-JoElGTkbChY\/U_4ZmiK81XI\/AAAAAAABGFk\/siNrq5HRiWM\/s72-c\/mes-aynak_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-4136562915284770152"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-25T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.688-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Syria"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Archaeologists fight to save Syria’s artifacts"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"In 2011, after three decades of working in Syria, the archaeologist Glenn M. Schwartz was unable to return to his dig at the Bronze Age city of Umm el-Marra. The intensifying civil war had made work in the country impossible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeologists fight to save Syria’s artifacts\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-JFjL_Nn2ac0\/U_2CNWMOFDI\/AAAAAAABF_M\/BwnIRgtlr2E\/s1333\/Syria_01.jpg\" title=\"Archaeologists fight to save Syria’s artifacts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESyrian rebel fighters in a damaged section of the Umayyad Mosque, a UNESCO\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eworld heritage site in Aleppo that has been heavily damaged in fighting\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit Dimitar Dilkoff\/AFP\/Getty Images]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike many archaeologists of the Middle East, Mr. Schwartz, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, is watching the news from the region with deep concern and, he said, a feeling of impotence.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“It’s heartbreaking to see what’s happened in Syria in terms of cultural heritage and more so for the country at large,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe upheavals and conflicts sweeping the Middle East in recent years have caused untold human suffering, and they have resulted in deep losses to the heritage of the region.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScholars can do little to stop the fighting and looting, but they have created blogs, websites, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts to monitor the destruction and raise awareness about it. By sharing excavation records, scholars outside the Middle East have helped their counterparts in the Arab world to compile online lists of missing or stolen objects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECheikhmous Ali, an archaeologist at the University of Strasbourg, in France, founded the Association for the Protection of Syrian Archaeology, which relies on an underground network of activists and journalists to document damage to historical sites in Syria. The Syrian authorities are often suspicious of people taking photos, so the association’s volunteer informants sometimes use hidden devices, such as tiny digital cameras inserted into pens, to accomplish their goals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter photos have been taken and other data sent back to the association, scholars abroad verify the reports and provide historical details. The goal is to create an up-to-date record of Syria’s losses and, Mr. Ali said, to “sensitize the international community” to it. The project is “based entirely on the Internet, social media, YouTube,” he said. “It would not be possible to provide visual documentation without these means.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Egypt, Monica Hanna, an archaeologist, began posting on Twitter about threats to her country’s heritage more than three years ago, when the Egyptian Museum was broken into as the uprising against President Hosni Mubarak began. As political upheaval and violence continued in Egypt, Ms. Hanna’s work has expanded. She has become a well-known social media activist with nearly 35,000 followers on Twitter.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProtecting cultural heritage “is not on the agenda, and it’s not getting the attention it deserves, and we’re pushing ’til that stops,” said Ms. Hanna, an independent scholar who has taught at the American University in Cairo.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeologists fight to save Syria’s artifacts\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-rvxjwn8bRj0\/U_2CU_nBs-I\/AAAAAAABF_U\/xSH1HEi-tlA\/s1333\/Syria_02.jpg\" title=\"Archaeologists fight to save Syria’s artifacts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Egyptian archaeologist Monica Hanna has become a well known social media activist\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ewith nearly 35,000 followers on Twitter [Credit Karsten Moran\/The New York Times]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEgypt’s Heritage Task Force, a Facebook group founded by Ms. Hanna, has 50 volunteers and hundreds of supporters and informers, she said. They send in photos and reports of remote archaeological sites that are being damaged by looters or squatters. Ms. Hanna travels to these sites as often as she can. Gangs of looters have twice fired warning shots at her, she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast summer, she traveled to the town of Mallawi, about four hours south of Cairo, during protests over the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi, a museum of Pharaonic antiquities was broken into and looted. Ms. Hanna said she had been able to save a few of the museums’ remaining objects, carrying them to safety with the help of local residents and police officers while rioting and gunfire continued nearby.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECarol Redmount, an associate professor of Egyptian archaeology at the University of California, Berkeley, is one of Ms. Hanna’s supporters. Ms. Redmount said that it was frustrating not to be able to do more to help but that scholars outside the region can “keep shining the light of publicity on the problem, then can provide expertise.” The key, she said, is to “support grassroots efforts as much as possible.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Middle East lost many of its ancient treasures in colonial times, when priceless artifacts were carried off to European collections and museums. It is now witnessing “a new wave of loss” associated with wars and conflicts, said Tamar Teneishvili, a program specialist for culture at the Unesco regional bureau in Cairo. Many archaeologists are experiencing flashbacks to the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, when Baghdad’s national museum was looted and sites across the country were ransacked.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We looked on in horror,” said Mr. Schwartz, the Johns Hopkins University professor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, Iraqi heritage faces new threats from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, the Islamist extremists who have taken over much of northern Iraq, including the city of Mosul, where they have already destroyed ancient shrines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe situation in Syria is equally dire. Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj is a Syrian architect who in the 1990s worked on the restoration and redevelopment of the Old City of Aleppo — an area that was devastated when it ended up “on the dividing line between rebels and regime forces,” he said. The Islamist militants, Mr. Hallaj said, have “absolutely no reverence” for the country’s antiquities and view them as a source of cash.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“On the regime side, it hasn’t been much better,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong archaeologists, Ms. Redmount said, “there is a collective depression at the moment regarding the whole situation in the Middle East, not only regarding antiquities.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“It’s an area where many of us have lived and worked for years,” she said, “and it’s terrible to see the suffering that’s going on.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScholars have adapted as best they can. After being forced to leave Syria, Mr. Schwartz said he did not want to give up field work and was able to find a site in Iraqi Kurdistan, which he has visited twice. Ms. Redmount said she hoped to return to Egypt next year to continue work on the ancient buried city of El Hibeh, which she describes as a “poster child for looting.” Her team will “switch to a different kind of archaeology,” she said, adding, “We’ll be dealing with what’s left, mitigating the damage.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the spring in the United States, thanks in part to her social media presence, Ms. Hanna testified before a congressional committee in favor of a request by the Egyptian government to impose restrictions on the import of Egyptian artifacts to America, a move many American archaeologists support. Ms. Hanna said she hoped that more support from the Egyptian authorities and foreign governments would mean that she could scale back her activism, which has become a distracting “full-time job.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“I haven’t been able to keep up with academic publications,” she said. “I don’t have the time to do proper research as before. It’s having a negative effect on my academic career. But this is more important.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy raising their voices online and off, Ms. Hanna and other scholars of the Middle East’s past hope to save as many relics as they can for a less turbulent future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Ursula Lindsey | Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education\/NY Times [August 24, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4136562915284770152"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4136562915284770152"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/near-east-archaeologists-fight-to-save.html","title":"Near East: Archaeologists fight to save Syria’s artifacts"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-JFjL_Nn2ac0\/U_2CNWMOFDI\/AAAAAAABF_M\/BwnIRgtlr2E\/s72-c\/Syria_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-756878376007386533"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-24T06:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.735-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Police foil 'underwater' antiquities theft attempt"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Egypt's Tourism and Antiquities Police (TAA) foiled an unprecedented attempt to loot an archaeological site where the would-be thieves dove into the Nile River and began to dig a tunnel underneath the adjacent site of Houd Zelikha, south of Giza, TAA investigation department head Maj. Gen. Osama el-Nawawy told The Cairo Post Saturday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Police foil 'underwater' antiquities theft attempt\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-32kS7faHH_o\/U_one0HNPoI\/AAAAAAABF-I\/ApGoxyI8rI8\/s1333\/Egypt_01.jpg\" title=\"Police foil 'underwater' antiquities theft attempt\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPreliminary investigations by TAA policemen revealed that armed gangs had conducted several illegal excavations in the Houd Zelikha archaeological site in the town of Al-Badrashin, 40 km south of the Giza pyramids, Nawawy said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey planned to reach the foundation of the archaeological site through an underwater tunnel that they started to dig, he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Members of the gang, including a 40-year-old lawyer, a farmer and four Palestinian nationals, were arrested in possession of waterproof wireless drills, diving suits, underwater breathing apparatuses, and depth gauges,” Nawawy said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELimestone fragments, small statues and a rose granite pillar base, most likely a part of a temple colonnade, were found in the house of the farmer for future sale, said Nawawy, adding that an antiquities committee has examined the damaged objects and suggested they are ruins of a temple dating back to the Middle Kingdom (2055 B.C. – 1650 B.C.)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince the outbreak of the January 25 Revolution in 2011 and its consequent security lapse across Egypt, the TAA, in coordination with Cairo Airport authorities, has thwarted several attempts to smuggle Egyptian antiquities out of the country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFormer Antiquities Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said in a statement that since the outbreak of the 2011 revolution, over 1,524 artifacts were stolen from several museums and archaeological sites across the country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Rany Mostafa | Source: The Cairo Post [August 23, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/756878376007386533"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/756878376007386533"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/heritage-police-foil-antiquities-theft.html","title":"Heritage: Police foil \u0026#39;underwater\u0026#39; antiquities theft attempt"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-32kS7faHH_o\/U_one0HNPoI\/AAAAAAABF-I\/ApGoxyI8rI8\/s72-c\/Egypt_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-740682434344126939"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-23T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.761-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Byzantine Emperor's tomb turning into garbage dump"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"To the left of the Silivrikapı Walls in Istanbul’s Fatih neighborhood, there lies a tomb from the fourth century A.D., which is now in ruins. Known as the Silivri Crypt, the tomb, which has been suffering since its discovery in 1988, is now in its worst state.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Byzantine Emperor's tomb turning into garbage dump\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-GlWfkxXq6II\/U_jME1haXZI\/AAAAAAABF7s\/WR-bEyv4DN0\/s1333\/Turkey_Theodosius_01.jpg\" title=\"Byzantine Emperor's tomb turning into garbage dump\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Silivrikapı Crypt dates back to the fourth century A.D. at the time of the eastern\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERoman Emperor Theodosius [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Silivrikapı Crypt, which was found by Professor Ümit Serdaroğlu, dates back to the fourth century A.D. at the time of the eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius. The tomb was restored in 1989 by the Istanbul Municipality but has been looted many times since its restoration. The reliefs that cover the crypt were stolen in 1993, only to be rediscovered and given to the Istanbul Museum of Archeology. The frescoes which were also restored were damaged over time. The historical Byzantine tomb is now no different than a junkyard.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Silivrikapı Crypt and the surrounding gardens are home to a number of homeless people. Atilla, who has lived in Silivrikapı for almost 40 years, is one of them. “Yes, I admit polluting this place but I am not ashamed of it because I didn’t steal anything from here. The looters and the officials who are responsible for this place should be ashamed,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAtilla is witness to the damage given to the tomb. “I have been living here for 40 years. I spent my childhood playing around these walls but even we did not know what was in there, because it was covered by rubble. Someday they came and took whatever was inside. There was even a murder between the restoration workers because of a rumor about a hidden treasure. The Yenikapı area was restored but this place remains untouched. Every two years, the mayor visits this place, but he only looks at it without doing anything,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also refutes that most people think that the homeless people are the reason for this. “When Bedrettin Dalan was the mayor, everything here was looted. Ask anyone in the neighborhood and they will tell you the same thing. Yes, I do pollute this place and I disrespect history, but thankfully I did not loot anything,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are many historical artifacts like the crypt in the area. It is thought that they were all part of the necropolis before the reign of Theodosius II. “Recently a few people came here, saying they were going to dig in this garden. I sent them away. They came back a few days later and dug up the whole place. I doubt they found anything. I saw some looters climbing the cemetery walls with hammers in hand,” said Mustafa, a local shopkeeper.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven the measures taken by the municipality could not stop the looters. “The municipality installed a door to the crypt to stop the looters. They took the door the same night,” Mustafa said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Fundanur Öztürk | Source: Hurriyet Daily News [August 23, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/740682434344126939"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/740682434344126939"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/near-east-byzantine-emperor-tomb.html","title":"Near East: Byzantine Emperor\u0026#39;s tomb turning into garbage dump"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-GlWfkxXq6II\/U_jME1haXZI\/AAAAAAABF7s\/WR-bEyv4DN0\/s72-c\/Turkey_Theodosius_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5090709126690660909"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-22T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.777-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Ancient city of Metropolis opens to tourism "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The ancient city of Metropolis, a premier caravan site of yesteryear that was located on major trade routes, will soon begin drawing in visitors from near and afar thanks to significant investments to open the location up to tourism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient city of Metropolis opens to tourism \" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-wTFSS4wj680\/U_hwEbT3q6I\/AAAAAAABF2s\/VhXhLI9TcQc\/s1333\/Turkey_Metropolis_01.jpg\" title=\"Ancient city of Metropolis opens to tourism \" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMetropolis, an important Greek trade city situated in western Turkey, was incorporated\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;into the Hellenistic kingdom of Pergamum [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExcavations in the ancient city, which is located in İzmir’s Torbalı district, have been carried out by Culture and Tourism Ministry, Celal Bayar University, Sabancı Foundation and Torbalı Municipality. The historic structures in the ancient city have been preserved to a great extent, while necessary investments have been completed for Metropolis to gain the status of an ancient site. The ancient city is expected to open this year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECelal Bayar University Archaeology Department Professor Serdar Aybek said Metropolis was established in the third century B.C. and was an important city of trade along with Ephesus and Smyrna. It was known as the “Mother Goddess City” in mythology, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough the city was not particularly large, its structures were more aesthetic when compared to other cities of the same era, while the marble workmanship used in the public buildings was also unique, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The artistic style of the theater, assembly building and baths in Metropolis is very important. Structures were built like a sculpture. Excavations show us that the city is bigger than we estimated. For example, excavations are continuing on the third biggest bath in the city. It covers an area of some 6,000 square meters and is a magnificent structure. We see that the infrastructure of the Roman-era bath has survived so far to a great extent,” Aybek said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe said the baths not only functioned for cleaning but also served as a space for socialization, and that people spent most of their time in the baths during the day. Cold and hot water, massage rooms, restrooms and areas for political discussion were all offered at the baths, he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“There were also service corridors used by servants who served royal people at the bath. These baths are engineering wonders,” Aybek said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAybek said that even the ash from wood and olive residues, which were used to warm up the baths, were revealed during the excavations. “Those who want to get information about daily life in the ancient age should definitely visit Metropolis.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAybek also said visitors would be able to travel through history at Metropolis using modern technology as part of the investments to open the ancient site up to contemporary tourism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDiscovered in 1972\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ancient city of Metropolis was first inspected through archaeological field work in 1972 by Professor Recep Meriç from Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExcavations at the site, which feature Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman traces, began in 1989. The earliest known settlement at the site is from the Neolithic Age, and there is evidence of contact and influence from the Troy I littoral culture.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA still-undeciphered seal written in hieroglyphics similar to those of the Hittites has also been found in Metropolis’ acropolis. The Hittite kingdom of Arzawa had its capital, Apasas (later Ephesus), roughly 30 kilometers to the southwest.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMetropolis was a part of the Hellenistic kingdom of Pergamum, and during this period, the city reached a zenith of cultural and economic life. A temple dedicated to the war god Ares, one of only two known such temples, was also located there.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [August 21, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5090709126690660909"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5090709126690660909"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/near-east-ancient-city-of-metropolis.html","title":"Near East: Ancient city of Metropolis opens to tourism "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-wTFSS4wj680\/U_hwEbT3q6I\/AAAAAAABF2s\/VhXhLI9TcQc\/s72-c\/Turkey_Metropolis_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1678933684833511435"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-20T13:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.796-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Climate Change"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Denmark"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greenland"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Northern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Rising temperatures threaten Greenland's archaeological treasures"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"There is an increasing risk that wooden and bone implements from the first people on Greenland will be consumed by the sea, destroyed by fungi or pierced by willow scrub roots in the future. This is partly happening, because the average temperature has risen by two to three degrees.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Rising temperatures threaten Greenland's archaeological treasures\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-1eIyWxXJVgk\/U_iv6D4GyHI\/AAAAAAABF4s\/ioiVNXmG4DE\/s1333\/Greenland_01.jpg\" title=\"Rising temperatures threaten Greenland's archaeological treasures\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGreenland's many kitchen middens sites consist of several layers of bones, worn-out\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Etools and other items that the prehistoric people considered to be garbage\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: National Museum of Denmark]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo secure the many archaeological finds, which have not yet been excavated, the National Museums of Denmark and Greenland have started a new project that, among other things, will result in an interactive map showing which places are most threatened by future climate change.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"To safeguard the more than 6,000 archaeological sites on Greenland, it is important that we map the threats and find the places, where the situation is worst,\" says Jørgen Hollesen, senior researcher in geography at the National Museum of Denmark's Conservation department. \"The ultimate aim is a tool that can give us an idea of where to focus first.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe threats come from land, water and air\u2028\u2028\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong other things, it is the many kitchen middens from the early settlers on Greenland, that researchers, archaeologists and the Greenland National Museum and Archives are interested in preserving, as they give insight into the conditions of life throughout thousands of years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe greatest problem is the rising temperature. This leads to:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThawing of the protective permafrost. This thawing leads to the archaeological material rotting, especially if the soil dries out afterwards. When this happens, the amount of oxygen rises and the decomposition processes accelerate. \u2028\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMelting water from snowdrifts can wash protective layers of soil away from the kitchen middens. \u2028\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWillow scrub and other plants grow on the kitchen middens, because the soil contains nutrients.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u0026nbsp;Rising water levels wash the kitchen middens into the sea.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\"The purpose of the project is to find out what the threats are,\" says Henning Matthiesen, a senior researcher at the Conservation department. \"For example, in these northern parts of Greenland, we have not yet found fungi that decompose wood. These fungi are currently only found in southern areas, and the question is whether they will gradually migrate northwards in line with climate changes. That's just one of the threats that must be assessed.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Rising temperatures threaten Greenland's archaeological treasures\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-cQuDnqRlF5o\/U_iwBbjveiI\/AAAAAAABF40\/01POrU5roq4\/s1333\/Greenland_02.jpg\" title=\"Rising temperatures threaten Greenland's archaeological treasures\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe red lines outline the area of the Qajaa settlement\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: National Museum of Denmark]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EQajaa's deep-freezer might melt\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the places, where the scientists have conducted their studies, is in western Greenland, at Qajaa. Here lies one of the best-preserved settlements, a time capsule in the permafrost, going back more than 4,000 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere the scientists have drilled for and extracted specimens, which they have analysed and carried out oxygen consumption tests on.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Qajaa is extremely valuable as it is one of the very best preserved settlements,\" says Matthiesen. \"It's been known since 1870, but most of it remains unexcavated. It will be necessary to excavate it if it becomes threatened — for instance, if we can see suddenly foresee that it will be gone in ten years' time.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough the permafrost, which works as a deep-freezer, presently preserves Qajaa, is it likely that the rising temperatures will become a problem in the long-run.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"If the temperature changes continue, it will be threatened,\" says Hollesen and adds \"Our models predicts that the frozen archaeological layers will start to thaw in 2050 – and that is a big problem.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA freezer full of bones\u2028\u2028\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo find out which conditions are the most threatening for the ancient archaeological treasures, the scientists have taken specimens from several kitchen middens on Greenland and measured the oxygen consumption of the various finds.\u2028\u2028\"For instance, We have study the oxygen consumption of a piece of wood from a tree. When bacteria and fungi decomposes wood, they use oxygen. If we can measure how quickly the oxygen disappears, then we have a strong indicator, of how soon the tree will disappear.” explains Matthiesen.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the National Museum of Denmark's Conservation department there are several freezers full of wood from trees, bones and other things from Greenland, which the scientists have been allowed to study. Hollesen explains, that organic matter found in the permafrost decomposes quite quickly, and must therefore be kept under the same cold conditions, that they came from.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"If we let this piece of wood from a tree lie here at room temperature, its rate of decomposition will rise by two to four times every time the temperature rises by ten degrees,\" he says. \"In fact, decomposition of organic material will be even quicker here in Denmark, because we have a lot of fungi-spores in the air.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Rising temperatures threaten Greenland's archaeological treasures\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-kGpm4Ny0-CA\/U_iwOPIbQBI\/AAAAAAABF48\/Pbh2a4sXyhU\/s1333\/Greenland_03.jpg\" title=\"Rising temperatures threaten Greenland's archaeological treasures\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESome of the kitchen midden layers in Qajaa are nearly 4,000 years old \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: National Museum of Denmark]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore measurements provide a better scale\u2028\u2028The purpose of measuring oxygen consumption is to give the scientists an overview of how materials such as wood, bone and metal decompose under different temperatures and moisture conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy taking hundreds of samples, it will become possible to create a scale, that shows how quickly various materials decompose, and thereby find out how soon the archaeological areas will lose their organic content.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe many measurements are to be stored in a geographic information system and combined with maps over future soil temperatures, moisture conditions, plant distribution and the risk of coastal erosion. In this way, scientists in the future will be able to use the interactive map to see which threats are the worst in which areas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E”When we've gone a bit further with the project, it won't be necessary to take large specimens from all sites,\" says Matthiesen \"we will be able to make do with a few samples from new archaeological sites, and use the scale to know, whether any given location is in a risk zone.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGreenland cannot excavate everything by itself\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Hollesen and Matthiesen, Greenland really needs a tool to give a better overview of the locations of the archaeological sites and their conditions. A database with information on some of the areas exists already, but the information is not systematised.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The Greenland National Museum and Archives receives many approaches from researchers who want to carry out excavations on Greenland. The museum would like to have a tool, that can be used, to direct excavations to threatened sites, that are expected to disappear in the near future,\" says Matthiesen. \"They do not have the resources to excavate all of these sites by themselves\".\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It's not a question of whether climate is changing or not,\" Hollesen says. \"The consequences can be seen quite clearly today — and that's why we have to act now.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can read more here about some of the projects at Qajaa. The article is in Danish, but a summary and the captions are in English.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Anne Marie Lykkegaard | Source: Science Nordic [August 20, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1678933684833511435"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1678933684833511435"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/heritage-rising-temperatures-threaten.html","title":"Heritage: Rising temperatures threaten Greenland\u0026#39;s archaeological treasures"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-1eIyWxXJVgk\/U_iv6D4GyHI\/AAAAAAABF4s\/ioiVNXmG4DE\/s72-c\/Greenland_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2317462717916645498"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-18T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.828-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Ancient monuments poorly restored in Turkey"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"While nodern Turkey is enriched by the historical sites of 206 ancient amphitheaters, most of which are left from Roman and Byzantine times, they are being mistreated by poor and haphazard restoration methods.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient monuments poorly restored in Turkey\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-S-iv1TJ0psk\/U_Ru79AdguI\/AAAAAAABFpc\/VivrnFbjnpE\/s1333\/Turkey_01.jpg\" title=\"Ancient monuments poorly restored in Turkey\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETurkey’s rich collection of ancient amphitheaters do not receive proper attention and are\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eoften restored using cheap methods [Credit: Cihan, Abrurrahman Büyükkeskin]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETurkey is fortunate to sit astride lands which were once part of the Greek, Roman and Byzantine empires. By virtue of this fact, the country has the world's richest collection of ancient amphitheaters. According to some sources, there are 206 such ancient theaters in Turkey that are left from the Graeco-Roman period. This figure is much greater than in any other country. However, the attention these precious monuments receive from the authorities is scant, while the recent restoration work carried out at these cultural sites shows obvious signs of the mistreatment to which they have been subject.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ancient amphitheater of Antiphellos in Kaş, a small tourist town near Antalya, is an example which has drawn the greatest reaction, as concrete was reportedly poured into the ground of this precious antiquity. It is not yet clear which authority permitted restoration workers to pour concrete into the ground and, thus, damage the theater. No comments have yet been made by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETelmessos, the ancient town that was the first residential area in Fethiye, is another one of these antique treasures that has been severely mishandled. The restoration, which began in September 2012, is ongoing. It is clear when comparing older photos of Telmessos with photos of it from the present day that this ancient town and its antiquities have lost much of their historical character. The 2,300-year-old ancient town of Troas, a precious site of antiquity dating back to the Hellenistic period, which includes the Apollon Temple, has also experienced ill treatment as heavy trucks were driven onto the Apollon Temple, a move which resulted in damage to the monument.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Taraf daily reported on Monday that the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKİ) is planning to build houses at the ancient town of Bathonea, located next to Lake Küçükçekmece in İstanbul. After seeing archeological reports in 2013 the Ministry of Culture and Tourism decided to nationalize the site, giving it historical status to prevent its ruin.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExperts have expressed alarm, saying that a board of scholars should be set up so that they are able to supervise and inspect the restoration being carried out at the country's ancient sites. According to them, the inspections that they receive are carried out after the restorations are done and these inspections are carried out by unqualified people, a fact which results in more botched restorations. The protection boards of these ancient sites should be autonomous and out of the reach of political pressure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to experts in the field, the Cultural Sites Protection Board, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Natural Assets Commission, affiliated with the Ministry of Environment, should draw its members solely from universities and these members should be removed from politics. Professionalism should count rather than relationships in the decision-making processes involved in protecting the precious heritage which has been left to this country, they note.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Todays Zaman [August 18, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2317462717916645498"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2317462717916645498"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/near-east-ancient-monuments-poorly.html","title":"Near East: Ancient monuments poorly restored in Turkey"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-S-iv1TJ0psk\/U_Ru79AdguI\/AAAAAAABFpc\/VivrnFbjnpE\/s72-c\/Turkey_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-83820560828198832"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-17T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.861-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Italy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Italy: Stables of Emperor Augustus to be reburied due to lack of funding"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"He was Rome's first and arguably greatest emperor, a fine soldier and wise administrator who boasted that he found Rome built of bricks and left it cloaked in marble.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Stables of Emperor Augustus to be reburied due to lack of funding\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-fuyEmw4CHMc\/U_XK9-ZounI\/AAAAAAABFyU\/k6Srk0LhhsU\/s1333\/Italy_Augusts_-1.jpg\" title=\"Stables of Emperor Augustus to be reburied due to lack of funding\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECircus Maximus and Palatine Hill [Credit: Alamy]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut as the city prepares to celebrate the 2000th anniversary of Augustus's death on Tuesday with a series of events and exhibitions, officials have admitted that extensive stables built by the emperor and recently discovered during excavations are to be reburied due to lack of funding.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe reinterring of the stables, which once hosted horses raced at the Circus Maximus, is another blow to anniversary plans after Rome failed to find funds in time to restore Augustus' mausoleum, a city block-sized monument which has been used as a toilet by tramps since falling into disrepair, and now stands mouldering behind fences in the centre of Rome.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe fate facing Augustus' monuments contrasts with his glittering rule over the burgeoning Roman empire, which expanded into Africa, Germany and Spain during his 41 year reign.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe adopted son of Julius Caesar, who defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra and built roads to span his new empire, Augustus was honoured by having a month named after him.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;Now, to mark the two millennia since his death in 14AD, a successful exhibition has been staged in Rome and Paris, while on Rome's Palatine Hill newly restored rooms at Augustus' house and elaborate frescoes in a dining area will go on display for the first time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut at a large excavated site off Via Giulia, in the heart of the city, workers will start covering the remains of Augustus's marbled stables with waterproof cloths, ready for reburial, left for future generations to rediscover.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDescribed as \"extremely important\" by Rome's archaeological authority when they were first found in 2009 by a firm excavating to build an underground car park, the buildings gave a unique glimpse of how imperial stables were built, adding to shreds of information provided by digs at Roman military camps and mosaics found in North Africa.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGraffiti on the walls boasting of victories in races at the Circus Maximus provided a fascinating insight into the four racing teams that shared the stables and divided the fierce loyalties of Roman race fans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2011, archaeologists celebrated when it was announced the stables would be preserved and open to visits, only for city officials to cancel the plans this year due to budget cuts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECataloguing discoveries before burying them is standard practice \"when there are no funds to guarantee the work needed to safeguard the finds,\" said Federica Galloni, a culture minister official.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExperts believe that once reburied, artefacts and remains do not risk erosion by the elements or the thefts they might endure if left exposed and unprotected, and can be re-excavated when funding permits.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe fate of the stables and Augustus's mausoleum contrasts with other monuments in the city which have benefited from a new trend for restoration work paid for by Italian fashion companies. Shoe maker Tod's is sponsoring a clean-up of the Colosseum while Fendi is funding repairs to the Trevi Fountain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOfficials have said the city of Rome did seek a sponsor to help restore Augustus' mausoleum in time for the 2014 celebrations, but found no takers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith just two million of a required four million euros available, work will now be finished in 2016.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, yards from the mausoleum, Augustus's excavated and restored Ara Pacis – or \"temple to peace\" – is in much better shape and now hosting an exhibition devoted to the emperor. After it was discovered buried beneath a cinema in central Rome, fascist dictator Benito Mussolini decided in 1937 to excavate the temple at all costs in time to celebrate Augustus' 2000th birthday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESparing no expense, experts dug down to retrieve the monument using innovative techniques to freeze the foundations beneath the cinema to ensure the modern building did not collapse.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHistory unearthed - and reburied\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReinterring ancient sites to protect them from the elements and thieves rather than leaving them exposed is becoming more frequent as funds for archaeology become a luxury in cash strapped economies like Italy and Greece.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn important thermal bath dating to the first century AD reign of the Roman emperor Titus, discovered close to the Colosseum in Rome in the 1990s, has been reburied until money is found for its preservation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the outskirts of Rome, experts are campaigning for cash to save from reinterring the stunning tomb of Marcus Nonius Macinus, the Roman general whose 2nd century AD campaigning helped inspire Russell Crowe’s Gladiator.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Greece, an early Christian basilica, discovered in 2010 during the construction of an underground railway in Thessaloniki was reportedly reburied.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Tom Kington | Source: The Telegraph [August 17, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/83820560828198832"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/83820560828198832"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/italy-stables-of-emperor-augustus-to-be.html","title":"Italy: Stables of Emperor Augustus to be reburied due to lack of funding"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-fuyEmw4CHMc\/U_XK9-ZounI\/AAAAAAABFyU\/k6Srk0LhhsU\/s72-c\/Italy_Augusts_-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2617713908735512953"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-14T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.891-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Treasure hunters destroy mosaics in Central Anatolia"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Treasure hunters in a field in the Central Anatolian province of Karaman’s Sarıveliler district have damaged unique ancient mosaics underground, after using a caterpillar excavator in their hunt. The scandal was revealed by a teacher who had returned to his village during the holiday period.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Treasure hunters destroy mosaics in Central Anatolia\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-PY5rt1Q0cUU\/U--dDcw1GSI\/AAAAAAABFbs\/_tnkeXscPR4\/s1333\/Turkey_loot.jpg\" title=\"Treasure hunters destroy mosaics in Central Anatolia\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExcavating an area of 150 square meters and found a mosaic structure one meter\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;underground, suspects caused considerable damage to the mosaics\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;[Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe suspects recently began excavating an area of 150 square meters and found a mosaic structure and walls one meter underground. After the discovery, they continued digging four meters underground, causing considerable damage to the mosaics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen the teacher, Yücel Özyurt, and his relatives saw the excavated area, they informed the Karaman Museum Directorate about the situation. The museum director Abdülbari Yıldız and Associate Professor Ercan Aşkın of Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University Archaeology Department then came to the village to examine the area.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYıldız said the structure could date back to the Roman Empire in the 3rd or 4th centuries, adding that the excavated area was most probably the entrance of the structure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The main center of the structure is deeper underground. Its upper part has been damaged since ancient times. There are lots of Roman ceramics in the surface. The mosaics were made in the garden or courtyard of the structure. It might be a religious structure or the house of a notable person at the time, because these mosaics are unique ones that we have never seen before. They were made on thick Khorasan mortar. The motifs are very different; they are geometrical and in the shape of a fish. Some were damaged during the excavation. The mosaic structure is in layers underground and a legal excavation should be carried out as soon as possible. The necessary process will be begun to start excavations,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYıldız added that the mosaics discovered had never before been seen around Karaman, and said the area could be turned into a touristic site after further excavations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [August 14, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2617713908735512953"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2617713908735512953"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/near-east-treasure-hunters-destroy.html","title":"Near East: Treasure hunters destroy mosaics in Central Anatolia"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-PY5rt1Q0cUU\/U--dDcw1GSI\/AAAAAAABFbs\/_tnkeXscPR4\/s72-c\/Turkey_loot.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3918842192530888461"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-11T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.919-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Israel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Israel: Jerusalem's Western Wall wearing away"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem investigated erosion in the different kinds of limestone in the Western Wall at the foot of Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Stones made up of large crystals were almost unchanged in 2000 years, while limestone with small crystals eroded much faster and in some places had receded by tens of centimeters, potentially weakening the wall's structure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Jerusalem's Western Wall wearing away\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-MpXHZ-Y0CMM\/U-tRPehPLCI\/AAAAAAABFO0\/NbRMYYpZMes\/s1333\/Israel_western_wall_01.jpg\" title=\"Jerusalem's Western Wall wearing away\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPart of the Western Wall showing highly eroded blocks alongside well preserved stones\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Dr. Simon Emmanuel\/Hebrew University)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers describe an accelerated erosion process that explains why some rocks are more weathered than others, and showed that chemo-mechanical erosion extends down to the tiny micron scale. The findings could have important implications for regional and global carbonate weathering, and could help guide the development of effective preservation techniques that slow the rate of erosion in order to protect cultural heritage sites around the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVisitors to the Western Wall in Jerusalem can see that some of its stones are extremely eroded. This is good news for people placing prayer notes in the wall's cracks and crevices, but presents a problem for engineers concerned about the structure's stability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Western Wall is a remnant of the ancient wall that surrounded the courtyard of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. It is located in Jerusalem's Old City at the foot of the Temple Mount.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo calculate the erosion in the different kinds of limestone that make up the Western Wall, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem used a laser scan to create an accurate three-dimensional computer model. The researchers are Dr. Simon Emmanuel, the Harry P. Kaufmann Senior Lecturer in Environmental Water Technology, and PhD student Mrs. Yael Levenson, at the Hebrew University's Institute of Earth Sciences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Jerusalem's Western Wall wearing away\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-0ml7dLItAEU\/U-tRa9TASkI\/AAAAAAABFO8\/LeTunlg3_eY\/s1333\/Israel_western_wall_02.jpg\" title=\"Jerusalem's Western Wall wearing away\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA microscope image of Jerusalem limestone made up of tiny crystals\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Dr. Simon Emmanuel\/Hebrew University]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs reported in an article accepted for publication in the journal Geology, they found that stones made up of relatively large crystals were resistant to wear, so that they were almost unchanged in the 2000 years since they were originally put in place. By contrast, limestone with very small crystals (about one thousandth of a millimeter in size) eroded far more quickly.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn some cases, extreme erosion rates in fine-grained micritic limestone blocks were up to 100 times faster than the average rates estimated for the coarse-grained limestone blocks. In some places these stones had receded by tens of centimeters, potentially weakening the overall structure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo understand what causes the two types of rock to behave differently, the researchers collected samples from ancient quarries thought to have supplied the stones for the Second Temple. Using a powerful atomic force microscope, they were able to see how the rocks disintegrated when they came into contact with water. During the experiments on rocks made up of small crystals, tiny particles rapidly detached from the surface of the rock. These experiments simulated the way in which rain water interacts with limestone in nature.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EObserved for the first time in Dr Emmanuel's lab, this process of accelerated erosion can explain why some rocks are more weathered than others. While mechanical weathering is thought to act on blocks and chips of rock at the visible outcrop scale, the researchers showed for the first time that chemo-mechanical erosion extends down to the tiny micron scale. The findings could have important implications for regional and global carbonate weathering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Dr. Emmanuel, \"Understanding such weathering processes could help guide the development of effective preservation techniques. For example, it may be possible to develop materials that slow the rate of erosion by binding the tiny crystals in the rock together. Advanced engineering techniques like this should assist efforts to protect not only the Western Wall, but other cultural heritage sites in Israel and around the world.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hebrew University of Jerusalem [August 11, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3918842192530888461"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3918842192530888461"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/israel-jerusalem-western-wall-wearing.html","title":"Israel: Jerusalem\u0026#39;s Western Wall wearing away"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-MpXHZ-Y0CMM\/U-tRPehPLCI\/AAAAAAABFO0\/NbRMYYpZMes\/s72-c\/Israel_western_wall_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-8012697564710297521"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-11T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.935-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Concerns raised over Suez Canal expansion project"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh el-Damaty has made assurances that the construction and digging associated with a new planned 72-kilometer expansion of the Suez Canal will not harm archaeological sites in the area, Al-Watan reported Saturday, but that hasn’t silenced all criticism of the project from the archaeological community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Concerns raised over Suez Canal expansion project\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-c8rk3lD9j7c\/U-tQMhHc-sI\/AAAAAAABFOk\/h2cJcbYPsM8\/s1333\/Egypt_Suez_02.jpg\" title=\"Concerns raised over Suez Canal expansion project\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA ship crossing the Suez canal [Credit: YOUM7]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a phone call to CBC TV channel’s “Momken” talk show Wednesday, Damaty said the digging of the new artificial waterway is “far away” from the archaeological sites in the Suez Canal area.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArchaeologist Monica Hanna said that the Suez Canal area has been Egypt’s “gateway from the east” and that the surrounding area contains several significant archaeological sites.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The proposed area intersects several archaeological sites, including four ancient forts along with Tell Habua, which houses the remains of a 2,000-year-old Roman fortress and is situated on the eastern bank of the Suez Canal,” Hanna said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETell Habua is also the seat of ancient Egyptian administrative and religious buildings, with palaces and domestic structures, a fortified city, storehouses, silos and bread ovens, with serpentine walls and ox burials, she added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDamaty countered that several studies and archaeological surveys on the digging range of the new waterway were carried out during the tenure of former Antiquities Minister Mohamed Ibrahim.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, Ibrahim, who resigned following the inauguration of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi in June, denied Damaty’s claim, and speaking to Al-Watan, said that no permits for digging in the Suez Canal area were issued during his tenure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Concerns raised over Suez Canal expansion project\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-UyGfWdbD3h4\/U-tQRxCXqQI\/AAAAAAABFOs\/TwAOCeXVSzg\/s1333\/Egypt_Suez_01.jpg\" title=\"Concerns raised over Suez Canal expansion project\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESuez Canal construction [Credit: YOUM7\/Mohamed Awad]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Digging permits for such gigantic projects are usually issued by the ministry’s Antiquities Standing Committee after specific studies to determine whether or not the area is an archaeological site,” Ibrahim was quoted as saying by Al-Watan.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAbdel Rehem Rehan, head of the Archaeological Documentation Unit of the Antiquities Ministry told The Cairo Post Sunday that it is possible to protect sites near the proposed digging—if there are any—by surrounding them with cofferdams to obstruct the flow of water.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESisi announced the Suez Canal expansion project Tuesday, and Suez Canal Authority head Mohab Memish said the cost of the project is estimated at $4 billion, Al-Watan reported.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new branch of the canal will be 72-kilometers long, 35 of which will be dug afresh, and the remaining 37 kilometers as part of an expansion and deepening of the current canal. According to Memish, it will double Egypt’s revenue from the canal to $12 billion a year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Rany Mostafa | Source: The Cairo Post [August 10, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8012697564710297521"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8012697564710297521"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/heritage-concerns-raised-over-suez.html","title":"Heritage: Concerns raised over Suez Canal expansion project"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-c8rk3lD9j7c\/U-tQMhHc-sI\/AAAAAAABFOk\/h2cJcbYPsM8\/s72-c\/Egypt_Suez_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-967686501607400304"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-10T11:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.949-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Archaeological coalition says Aswan tombs robbed"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Archaeological activists said that some western Aswan archaeological sites have been robbed in recent months.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeological coalition says Aswan tombs robbed\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-bwoRXy_K_2s\/U-tNV2HzCqI\/AAAAAAABFOI\/H9Q7nxxtD6Y\/s1333\/Egypt-Aswan_01.jpg\" title=\"Archaeological coalition says Aswan tombs robbed\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Tombs of the Nobles on the west bank of the Nile at Aswan have\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ebeen looted by armed gangs [Credit: Al Ahram]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Ten tombs were stolen recently,\" the ‘Non-stop Robberies’ coalition said. \"The Ministry of Antiquities did nothing for one year, until the thieves completely robbed it.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArtifacts and tombs are discovered continuously, without being declared officially, the group added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe coalition added that the thieves had been searching for the tombs for years, but only discovered them in recent months.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAround 16 mummies and four coffins were rescued during a recent robbery attempt in Aswan.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAl-Masry Al-Youm learned that the ministry asked for help from the presidency, because confronting the robbers requires additional police troops.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Al-Masry Al-Youm\/Egypt Independent [August 10, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/967686501607400304"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/967686501607400304"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/heritage-archaeological-coalition-says.html","title":"Heritage: Archaeological coalition says Aswan tombs robbed"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-bwoRXy_K_2s\/U-tNV2HzCqI\/AAAAAAABFOI\/H9Q7nxxtD6Y\/s72-c\/Egypt-Aswan_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6627032462511520283"},"published":{"$t":"2016-07-07T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:23.976-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: UK's National Trust acquires 2,600-year-old Iron Age fort"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"One of Britain’s most important archaeological sites – a vast Iron Age hill fort at Hambledon Hill, Dorset – has been acquired by the National Trust.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"UK's National Trust acquires 2,600-year-old Iron Age fort\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-9QVa4OC1F3I\/U-SYyyg43uI\/AAAAAAABFHI\/E-aW6wqhYQY\/s1333\/UK_Hambledon_Hill_01.jpg\" title=\"UK's National Trust acquires 2,600-year-old Iron Age fort\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHambledon Hill, in Dorset, has been bought by\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ethe National Trust [Credit: Telegraph]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is the organisation’s most significant archaeological acquisition for more than 30 years. With £450,000 from bequests and from Natural England, the Trust has purchased the 2,600-year-old monument from a local family charitable trust which had owned it since the early 1980s.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETogether with a neighbouring National Trust-owned hill fort, Hod Hill, the monuments constitute the organization’s most important archaeological complex after the Stonehenge landscape and Avebury.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt’s now planning to protect its newly-acquired Hambledon Hill site from being damaged by encroaching scrubland and other vegetation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe vast triple-banked hill fort – one of the largest and most impressive in Britain – covers 67 acres and has four miles of grass-covered earthen ramparts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIts defensive ditches – up to 21 metres deep – are among the most impressive in the world. Inside the hill fort, which is in reality a fortified Iron Age town, visitors can still see some 300 Iron Age hut platforms and walk along the long-abandoned prehistoric streets.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe newly acquired site includes not only the Iron Age hill fort, but also two 5,500-year-old neolithic ritual enclosures, a huge neolithic communal tomb and Bronze Age burial mounds. A full archaeological survey of the monuments will be carried out by the National Trust next year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe site, already a national nature reserve, is also exceptionally important from a natural history perspective, and is home to nine rare orchids, at least a dozen rare and endangered butterflies, mammals and birds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“This acquisition is extremely significant because of the site’s rare flora and fauna and because the Iron Age hill fort is among the three most important such archaeological monuments in the country. Together with the Neolithic and Bronze Age earthworks on the site, it covers 3,500 years of British prehistory,” said a National Trust spokesperson.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: David Keys | Source: Independent [August 07, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6627032462511520283"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6627032462511520283"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/07\/uk-uk-national-trust-acquires-2600-year.html","title":"UK: UK\u0026#39;s National Trust acquires 2,600-year-old Iron Age fort"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-9QVa4OC1F3I\/U-SYyyg43uI\/AAAAAAABFHI\/E-aW6wqhYQY\/s72-c\/UK_Hambledon_Hill_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-4556731405022789531"},"published":{"$t":"2016-06-28T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.082-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Work accelerated at Ephesus for UNESCO"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The ancient city of Ephesus in Izmir has yet to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List due to the site failing the meet the required standards, with work being accelerated in order to meet these requirements.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Work accelerated at Ephesus for UNESCO\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-YwTP2eVCpSk\/U-Cip-zr15I\/AAAAAAABE0U\/RI-a4OFjOcQ\/s1333\/Turkey-Ephesus_01.jpg\" title=\"Work accelerated at Ephesus for UNESCO\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDating back to the 6th century B.C., Ephesus hosts around 2 million tourists every year.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOfficials are now trying hard to meet UNESCO requirements [Credit: AA]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDating back to the 6th century B.C., Ephesus hosts around 2 million local and international tourists every year. The first application for the city to be included in the world heritage list was made in 1994 and although it has been added to the UNESCO tentative list, along with 37 other sites in Turkey, it has failed to be included in the main list.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESelcuk Mayor Zeynel Bak?c? said that the value of Ephesus was known to everybody in the world, but some work was still required before it could be added to the elite list. “Foreigners ask for Ephesus to be included in the [UNESCO] list more than we [Turkey] do,” he said, adding that the biggest deficiency in the ancient city was how the site was managed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We have been working on improving the way that Ephesus is managed. There is no problem with Ephesus. Internal administrative protocols have been ignored so far and when they are completed, it will be easier for us to be added to the [UNESCO] list. The UNESCO committee that will visit the ancient city have some expectations. We will get a positive result when we offer them what they want. I believe that Ephesus will enter the list in 2015,” Bak?c? said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt has been reported that the UNESCO committee will go to the ancient city in September and a decision on whether Ephesus is added to the list will be announced in March 2015.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [July 29, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4556731405022789531"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4556731405022789531"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/06\/near-east-work-accelerated-at-ephesus.html","title":"Near East: Work accelerated at Ephesus for UNESCO"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-YwTP2eVCpSk\/U-Cip-zr15I\/AAAAAAABE0U\/RI-a4OFjOcQ\/s72-c\/Turkey-Ephesus_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6631301662036397394"},"published":{"$t":"2016-06-23T11:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.184-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Germany"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Stolen 18th dynasty relief returns from Germany"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Egypt on Wednesday received from Germany a painted limestone relief that was stolen in the last century from the tomb of 18th dynasty high priest Sobekhotep in the Nobles necropolis on Luxor’s west bank.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Stolen 18th dynasty relief returns from Germany\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-hf_LKNQOJ18\/U9E3-PmsZ_I\/AAAAAAABEfA\/SwIdWFZY3VQ\/s1333\/Egypt_01.jpg\" title=\"Stolen 18th dynasty relief returns from Germany\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe painted limestone relief that was stolen and illegally smuggled to Germany\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eduring the last century has arrived back in Egypt [Credit: Ahram Online]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMinister of Antiquities and Heritage Mamdouh El-Damati told Ahram Online that the recovery of the relief started a few months ago when he was Egypt’s cultural attaché in Germany and curators at Bonn University Museum were working hard to organise a temporary exhibition there.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring preparations, a curator at the museum spotted the relief and it was confirmed that it was stolen and had been taken from the 18th dynasty tomb of Sobekhotep, a high priest during the reign of King Tuthmose IV.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe limestone relief is in very good condition. It is 30cm tall and 40cm wide. It depicts two figures of Sobehotep standing and making offerings to deities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe owners of the relief, a German couple, did not know it was stolen because they brought from a British private collection in 1986 and offered it to Bonn University Museum so it could be displayed at the temporary exhibition.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen they found out it was a stolen and illegally smuggled artefact, said El-Damati, they admitted Egypt’s possession of the relief but asked for it to remain in Germany at the Friderish Museum for Ancient Egyptian Artefacts in Al-Rin area in Bonn. Egypt rejected the demand and said it should be returned under antiquities law 117 of 1983 and its amendment in 2010.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHence the couple agreed to return the relief after putting it on display for three weeks at the exhibition in Bonn.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEgypt’s embassy in Germany stated on its website that Ambassador Mohamed Hegazy held a celebration on the occasion of returning the artefact and praised the couple for returning it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHegazy called on antiquities collectors to return the Egyptian artefacts they own voluntarily to where they belong.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also called on German authorities to cooperate with Egyptian authorities to protect its cultural and archaeological heritage in accordance with the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing Illicit Import.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Nevine El-Aref | Source: Ahram Online [July 23, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6631301662036397394"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6631301662036397394"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/06\/heritage-stolen-18th-dynasty-relief.html","title":"Heritage: Stolen 18th dynasty relief returns from Germany"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-hf_LKNQOJ18\/U9E3-PmsZ_I\/AAAAAAABEfA\/SwIdWFZY3VQ\/s72-c\/Egypt_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-4469421571576521869"},"published":{"$t":"2016-06-22T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.212-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: The Cheimarros Tower on Naxos to be restored"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"One of the most important monuments on the island of Naxos and one of the most remarkable in the Aegean Sea, Cheimarros Tower, will be restored following the approval of the Central Archaeological Council.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"The Cheimarros Tower on Naxos to be restored\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-ffjzXyvSnRk\/U87FJo--9AI\/AAAAAAABEX0\/ZZ3k3rFdBXU\/s1333\/Greece_Naxos_02.jpg\" title=\"The Cheimarros Tower on Naxos to be restored\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe circular tower turret of Naxos [Credit: GTP]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 15m high circular double-walled tower of Cheimarros is one of the best preserved monuments of its type. It was constructed at the end of the 4th century BC for defence purposes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was made of the local white marble without a binding agent and with great skill that indicated the high quality of stone carving in the classical antiquity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Cheimarros Tower was declared archaeological site in 2011 along with two adjacent Byzantine churches, a part of an ancient road and part of the Tower's fencing wall.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: ANA\/MPA [July 22, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4469421571576521869"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4469421571576521869"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/06\/heritage-cheimarros-tower-on-naxos-to.html","title":"Heritage: The Cheimarros Tower on Naxos to be restored"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-ffjzXyvSnRk\/U87FJo--9AI\/AAAAAAABEX0\/ZZ3k3rFdBXU\/s72-c\/Greece_Naxos_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-199650024661757536"},"published":{"$t":"2016-06-20T11:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.223-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Restoration of Frankish Tower on Acrocorinth"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The restoration works of the Frankish Tower on the Acrocorinth in the Peloponnese, southern Greece, are rapidly progressing. The restoration is funded by the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) and is held by the 25th Byzantine Antiquities Ephorate working group.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Restoration of Frankish Tower on Acrocorinth\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-3oDhLC82Pkw\/U86j3AhYrBI\/AAAAAAABEVg\/Oalrylo4iSE\/s1333\/Greece_acrocorinth.jpg\" title=\"Restoration of Frankish Tower on Acrocorinth\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe walled gates of Acrocorinth, as rebuilt by the Venetians\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: WikiCommons]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcrocorinth, the acropolis of ancient Corinth, was first a Greek acropolis, then a Roman citadel, while it later became a Byzantine fortress. The Franks captured it in 1210 and it then fell into the hands of one of Naples’ rulers. It was later owned by an arms manufacturer and banker, followed by the Knights of Rhodes, the Turks, the Venetians, then the Turks again, and finally the Greeks once more.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe castle’s walls are connected with the walls of the city of Corinth and the important ancient harbour of Lechaion. It was declared a Byzantine monument in 1922.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Greek Reporter [July 20, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/199650024661757536"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/199650024661757536"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/06\/heritage-restoration-of-frankish-tower.html","title":"Heritage: Restoration of Frankish Tower on Acrocorinth"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-3oDhLC82Pkw\/U86j3AhYrBI\/AAAAAAABEVg\/Oalrylo4iSE\/s72-c\/Greece_acrocorinth.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2445566029975894236"},"published":{"$t":"2016-06-13T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.302-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Mine pits damage ancient city of Labranda"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Archaeological excavations have started in the ancient city of Labranda, located in Turkey's western province of Muğla’s Milas. Excavations in the ancient city were initiated in 1948 by Swedish academics. Now works are being carried out by Milas Museum Directorate officials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Mine pits damage ancient city of Labranda\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-BEdCDuzc2Z8\/U8bQtPaKLBI\/AAAAAAABED4\/yCDolJ1AVn8\/s1333\/Turkey_Labranda_01.jpg\" title=\"Mine pits damage ancient city of Labranda\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe ancient city of Labranda hosts excavations teams\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Efrom the world [Credit: AA]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcademics and workers from Colombia, the U.S., France, England, Sweden, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, India and Turkey are working for the excavations this year and the first ancient fountain, discovered in the ancient city last year, is being unearthed under the observation of Associate Professor Olivier Henry from the French Institute of Anatolian Studies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpeaking about the project, Henry said it would continue in the Hellenistic memorial fountain, which was estimated to date back to the 4th century B.C., the Roman bath, andron (a historic building), the mausoleum and acropolis.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHenry also complained about the mine pits around the ancient city, saying they were damaging the city. He said one of the four mine pits in the area helped them and supported their work, but the other three damage the ancient city.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe said the trucks used in the mine were carrying feldspar metal and they had to breathe this metal during their work. “Also, dynamite used by the mine companies changed the parameters of the ancient city,” he said, adding he would organize a meeting in the coming days to the change the road that the trucks used for mining take.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [July 13, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2445566029975894236"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2445566029975894236"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/06\/near-east-mine-pits-damage-ancient-city.html","title":"Near East: Mine pits damage ancient city of Labranda"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-BEdCDuzc2Z8\/U8bQtPaKLBI\/AAAAAAABED4\/yCDolJ1AVn8\/s72-c\/Turkey_Labranda_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-524787097223292648"},"published":{"$t":"2016-06-09T10:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.405-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Search to find missing pieces of Greek statue started"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"A Greek statue was unearthed during an illegal excavation in Turkey's western province of Kütahya’s Simav district last April. The statue, which is 610 kg in weight and 2.8 meters in height, is thought to be in the image of the goddess Demeter, from Greek mythology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Search to find missing pieces of Greek statue started\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-clZipEEySW0\/U8LExIXIouI\/AAAAAAABD8U\/ONHqVweEWB4\/s1333\/Turkey_Demeter_02b.jpg\" title=\"Search to find missing pieces of Greek statue started\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Demeter statue unearthed in Simav is 610 kg in weight\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;and 2.8 meters in height [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecently, the Kütahya Museum Directorate kicked off archaeological excavations in the same area in collaboration with the Simav Municipality, in order to search for other pieces from the statue.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe excavations, which have been ongoing for three days, have so far unearthed a cremation center, where the dead people were burned and buried. This center is estimated to date back to the Roman era.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKütahya Museum Director Metin Türktüzün said the excavations were going on an area of 40 square meters, and some more pieces from the Demeter statue had been discovered.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Search to find missing pieces of Greek statue started\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-1L970elX6Aw\/U8KnWZLwo2I\/AAAAAAABD4c\/x6tamtaPytY\/s1333\/Turkey_Demeter_01.jpg\" title=\"Search to find missing pieces of Greek statue started\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWorkers dig at the site where the statue of Demeter was\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;illegally excavated [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“In this area there is a structure with a niche. We found three meters of the wall of this structure, but have not been able to reach the other wall yet … Since treasure hunters caused destruction in the region, we have not been able to identify the entrance yet. We have unearthed a few more pieces of the Greek goddess Demeter. We don’t know the relation of Demeter to this place yet,” Türktüzün said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe added that they thought the structure was a religious site, as they had found oil lamps and burned bones there.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The structure probably dates back to the 2nd and 3rd century. The Demeter statue dates back to this era too, and it was brought here from one of the other nearby ancient cities. As it is a first-class statue, it is not possible that it was made in this region … We also expect to find other pieces of the statue,” Türktüzün said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [July 08, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/524787097223292648"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/524787097223292648"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/06\/near-east-search-to-find-missing-pieces.html","title":"Near East: Search to find missing pieces of Greek statue started"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-clZipEEySW0\/U8LExIXIouI\/AAAAAAABD8U\/ONHqVweEWB4\/s72-c\/Turkey_Demeter_02b.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2793772392512181830"},"published":{"$t":"2016-06-09T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.418-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Germany"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Large number of Neolithic artefacts returned to Greece"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"A low-key event was held in downtown Athens on Monday with Greek and German officials to mark the successful return of over 10,600 Neolithic objects taken out of Greece illegally during World War II.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Large number of Neolithic artefacts returned to Greece\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-W9BhAZhsu1E\/U8KmemGM8TI\/AAAAAAABD4M\/2EOuKMnT9rU\/s1333\/Greece_Loot_01.jpg\" title=\"Large number of Neolithic artefacts returned to Greece\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPhoto released today showing some of the ancient artefacts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;repatriated from Germany [Credit: Ta Nea]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe objects include pot shards, stone tools, obsidian and flint blades and bone material that were dug up illegally between June and December 1941 by Nazi occupation troops, in an effort to claim that northern peoples, ancestors of Greeks, had an established presence in Europe from prehistoric times.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event at the Culture ministry's Directorate of Registration and Protection of Cultural Material was attended by the German ambassador, the director of the Pfahlbaumuseum - which was instrumental in the return - and Greek and German archaeologists. Culture and Sports Minister Konstantinos Tassoulas also attended and spoke of the efforts of archaeologist Angelica Douzougli to locate the missing artefacts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDouzougli, an honorary ephor of antiquities whose doctoral dissertation led to the discovery of the material, spoke of how her search began in the 70s, from a prehistoric archaeology seminar at the University of Nuremberg, Germany, where she was studying and where her interest focused on agricultural and animal breeding communities of Thessaly.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe materials repatriated on Monday come from several sites in Thessaly, an area in central Greece that has yielded a richness of Neolithic material. Most of it can be traced to the Visviki Magoula, or tumulus, dated to between 5,000 and 8,000 years ago. The Visviki material was packed in 28 boxes, 5 of which were returned to Greece in the 50s.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe material will be housed for now at the National Archaeological Museum, which also has the material from the 50s. The study of the material will be augmented by photographs from the 40s showing modern lake communities of Thessaly in and around Lake Karla (no longer extant) which resemble those of Lake Constantia, in Germany, recreated by Germany's Pfahlbau Museum Unteruhldingen - focusing on Stone and Bronze Ages - which assisted in the repatriation of the material. \"Unfortunately, the most important material, 8 boxes that remained in Volos in 1941, is now lost,\" museum director Gunter Schoebel said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMinistry officials reviewed the directorate's efforts to repatriate material stolen during the WWII occupation, including 26 cases handled by the bureu involving 1,158 objects, 41 boxes with Hebrew manuscripts and other paleolithic findings. Director Suzanna Houlia-Kapeloni said that of all the cases, objects were returned to Greece by Germany (12 instances), Austria (3), Switzerland (3), Italy (2), United States (2), Britain (2), Australia (1) and Bulgaria (1).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ministry's director of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage, Maria Vlazaki, said the repatriation of the material was \"a double cause of joy...as German, Greek and Austrian archaeologists worked closely together to make this happen.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMinister Tassoulas referred to the symbolism of the gesture, noting that such moves contribute decisively to the strengthening of bilateral ties.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA more formal ceremony for the return of the antiquities was held at the Pfahlbaumuseum in Unteruhldingen last Wednesday, according to the Culture ministry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: ANA-MPA [July 08, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2793772392512181830"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2793772392512181830"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/06\/heritage-large-number-of-neolithic.html","title":"Heritage: Large number of Neolithic artefacts returned to Greece"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-W9BhAZhsu1E\/U8KmemGM8TI\/AAAAAAABD4M\/2EOuKMnT9rU\/s72-c\/Greece_Loot_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7138722219050802515"},"published":{"$t":"2016-06-08T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.450-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Australasia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Australia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indigenous Cultures"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Oceania"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Indigenous Cultures: Digital technology helping preserve Native Australian culture"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Digital models are being made of significant Aboriginal sites in WA's Murchison region in an effort to keep traditional Wajarri culture alive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Digital technology helping preserve Native Australian culture\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-_-5OirYG_eI\/U766tNNkoPI\/AAAAAAABDwM\/KuTgUGPQPtI\/s1333\/Australia_01.jpg\" title=\"Digital technology helping preserve Native Australian culture\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA three dimensional computer model of Yallabilli Mindi rockshelter in the Weld Range,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMidwest region, WA, automatically generated solely from a series of photographs\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eas part of The Weld Range Web of Knowledge Project -- a collaborative project between\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Earchaeologists from The University of Western Australia and the Wajarri\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETraditional Owners to reveal the heritage values of the area\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: University of Western Australia]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeveral sites which are threatened by erosion or disturbance in the Weld Range have been archaeologically surveyed, filmed and transformed into digital three-dimensional models as part of the University of WA (UWA) program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUWA archaeologist Vicky Winton said local Indigenous people had been involved in the federally funded project, which would ultimately lead to a range of educational and heritage management programs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe said the project allowed future generations of Wajarri people to learn about the culture of their ancestors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"At the moment we haven't got scientific dates from when people first started using the area,\" Dr Winton said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"One of the things our project is trying to do is find more early dates from the area going back tens of thousands of years and generally we want to know more about how people were living in the area in the past.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EScience answering questions of the past\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Weld Range, south west of Meekatharra, is home to the nationally heritage-listed site of Wilgie Mia, an Aboriginal ochre mine.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cdiv align=\"center\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rWwzAM6jxjw\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\"We think Wilgie Mia has been used for many tens of thousands of years and we know ochre from Wilgie Mia was transported over thousands of kilometres,\" said Dr Winton.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We want to start getting some scientific documentation for this.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDr Winton said Wajarri and Yamatji people had conducted post-fieldwork analysis on the data collected during the archaeological surveys, at UWA.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMurchison man Brendan Hamlett said the study helped him learn how charcoal fragments could be identified as coming from specific tree species.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"You can tell what wood people have been burning just by looking through a microscope and then find out how old it is using radiocarbon dating,\" he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We use hardly any mulga when we cook, don't even think of using it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We use miniritchie because it stays hot, gidgee which goes to ash but is hot underneath and doesn't smoke much.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"But the charcoal down here [from the Weld Range] shows that it was different in the past.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It was a surprise - why would they use mulga?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Old boy [his father, Colin Hamlett] and I, we'll have to try that wood out.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr Hamlett said he would use the information to train the younger generation of Wajarri people, including his nephew Liam Bell.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Liam is one of the youngest ones who has come down here now and learnt this stuff,\" he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Now he can pass it on to his kids and their kids so it's never lost.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Gian De Poloni | Source: ABC News Website [July 07, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7138722219050802515"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7138722219050802515"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/06\/indigenous-cultures-digital-technology.html","title":"Indigenous Cultures: Digital technology helping preserve Native Australian culture"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-_-5OirYG_eI\/U766tNNkoPI\/AAAAAAABDwM\/KuTgUGPQPtI\/s72-c\/Australia_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5843592637991194767"},"published":{"$t":"2016-06-02T07:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.478-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cambodia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South East Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Study reveals global criminal trafficking network for ancient Cambodian art"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"In the first ever empirical study of a statue trafficking network, researchers at the University of Glasgow have unveiled the structure of the network of criminals needed to illegally traffic antiquities from ancient archaeological sites to museums and collections around the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Study reveals global criminal trafficking network for ancient Cambodian art\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-Xdf4_03B_Mk\/U7WYhg2yhxI\/AAAAAAABDb0\/ojQBssOUn1E\/s1333\/Cambodia_03.jpg\" title=\"Study reveals global criminal trafficking network for ancient Cambodian art\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFeet of a looted statue, Koh Ker Cambodia\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: D. Schearf]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA study by criminologist Simon Mackenzie and lawyer Tess Davis, both of the University of Glasgow, traced the figures involved along the trafficking chain, beginning with the theft of the antiquity - in this study from Cambodian temples - and ending with its sale to a legitimate buyer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearch showed there were as little as three to four mediators separating the looters from a legitimate collector.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the study, which was carried out by the Trafficking Culture research group in the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, based at the University of Glasgow, researchers interviewed people involved in the looting and trafficking, which took place at various archaeological sites in north-west Cambodia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey explored six major archaeological sites, including Angkor (including the Roulous grouping and Banteay Srei), Banteay Chhmar (including Banteay Torp), Koh Ker, Phnom Banan, Preah Khan of Kompong Svay (the Bakan) and Sambor Prei Kuk.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Study reveals global criminal trafficking network for ancient Cambodian art\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-axm_iOl745I\/U7WYnGkC-wI\/AAAAAAABDb8\/dmPIl_Fre28\/s1333\/Cambodia_01.jpg\" title=\"Study reveals global criminal trafficking network for ancient Cambodian art\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECambodia's Banteay Chhmar temple was famous for its wall carvings. Looters hacked one\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ewall into pieces [Credit: Kris Leboutillier\/National Geographic Creative]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir research began with the locals who lived around the temples - some of whom had been involved in the looting themselves - rather than taking the approach of other research which has often begun with antique dealers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team interviewed elders and religious leaders, along with ordinary members of the communities, then worked up the chain toward the international cultural property dealers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study is funded by the European Research Council and the aim of the wider project is to examine the entire chain from the antiquity theft to its public sale.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe looting would begin with a regional 'broker', who would organized the looting of statues and deliver them to towns with connections where they would then be transported to the Thai border.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Study reveals global criminal trafficking network for ancient Cambodian art\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-JQt1fnfjgUw\/U7WYr4d4fHI\/AAAAAAABDcE\/KWpWS5vG6_s\/s1333\/Cambodia_02.jpg\" title=\"Study reveals global criminal trafficking network for ancient Cambodian art\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThis 10th-century Cambodian statue of a temple wrestler was displayed at the Norton\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Simon Museum in California [Credit: Jae C. Wong\/Associated Press]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA 'receiver' on the Thai side of the border would take delivery of the statues and move them to Bangkok, where they were delivered to an internationally connected dealer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe dealer, as the connection between illicit and licit trades, would then sell them on to collectors around the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProfessor Simon Mackenzie commented: 'This is an important study, adding to our very limited knowledge of the early stages of trafficking networks in looted cultural heritage. The research shows how looting of temples connects to the public international market in cultural objects, and we found there were in this case relatively few steps between collectors and the looters. It raises serious questions for collectors of Khmer antiquities, who may not have been aware of the illicit origins of the artefacts they have bought. Encouraging stringent provenance checking of prospective acquisitions by buyers in the market is key to preventing the criminal side of the antiquities trade from flourishing.’\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: University of Glasgow [July 02, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5843592637991194767"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5843592637991194767"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/06\/heritage-study-reveals-global-criminal.html","title":"Heritage: Study reveals global criminal trafficking network for ancient Cambodian art"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-Xdf4_03B_Mk\/U7WYhg2yhxI\/AAAAAAABDb0\/ojQBssOUn1E\/s72-c\/Cambodia_03.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-8485019754076956585"},"published":{"$t":"2016-06-01T11:45:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.490-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Fixing Egypt's Stepped Pyramid with... socks"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The company, Cintec, have a team of experts, specializing in stabilising and restoring historic buildings, in charge of stabilising a neglected 3,500 Egyptian step Pyramid of Djoser, located in Saqqara, a sacred burial ground, after the pyramid suffered major earthquake damage. In charge of the seemingly impossible task is Dennis Lee and his team, who are currently trying to save the Third Dynasty Pyramid, considered the first large stone building in the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Fixing Egypt's Stepped Pyramid with... socks\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-QzIKSJUwnbc\/U7WbehThsAI\/AAAAAAABDcM\/AArzyub6vPE\/s1333\/Egypt_Pyramid_01.jpg\" title=\"Fixing Egypt's Stepped Pyramid with... socks\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOne of the world's oldest pyramids in Saqqara is crumbling, and one company has a\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Enew revolutionary technique to fix it; using socks [Credit: Cairo Scene]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELead Cintec engineer Dennis said: “It was nerve-wracking. It’s not a crumbling wall in front of you, it’s right over your head.” He added, “It’s also very historic so you have to take everything very slowly. When I drilled the first hole there were 50 archeologists and people from the department of Egyptian antiquities watching. That made me nervous!”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe task at hand is very dangerous, considering that temperatures rise above 40 degrees celsius within the pyramid, and that it could collapse at any time. Fixing a pyramid has never been attempted before, especially when the plan is to stabilize the monument with grout-filled “socks”.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo reach the crumbling ceiling, Dennis placed air bags on a 28m scaffold, before drilling holes in the ceiling’s stones. The team inserted steel rods into the holes, each wrapped in a fabric “sock”. The method, invented by Cintec, has also been previously used to stabilise other well-known structures like Buckingham palace, mosques, and bridges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Fixing Egypt's Stepped Pyramid with... socks\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-KZ5ulSEaZRs\/U7WbuFFzQ2I\/AAAAAAABDcU\/7Rw-ZbCZrcw\/s1333\/Egypt_Pyramid_02.jpg\" title=\"Fixing Egypt's Stepped Pyramid with... socks\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELead Cintec engineer Dennis Lee is\u0026nbsp; in charge of stabilising a neglected 3,500\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEgyptian step Pyramid of Djoser [Credit: Cairo Scene]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWork on the pyramid began just after the revolution, but Dennis and his team were forced to stop due to rising unrest earlier this year. According to Dennis there are still three months worth of work left, and he is very eager to resume the project.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“There are catacombs and tunnels going on for 12km. It is a bit claustrophobic down there, but it is exciting. They found new tunnels while I was there and there are beautiful blue tiles in the burial chambers and hieroglyphics on the tomb doors.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is still no word on when the site will be safe enough for tourists to venture within, but hopefully this team will return to finish the job so that Egyptian have yet another opportunity to learn more about its ancient origin.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Cairo Scene [June 30, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8485019754076956585"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8485019754076956585"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/06\/heritage-fixing-egypt-stepped-pyramid.html","title":"Heritage: Fixing Egypt\u0026#39;s Stepped Pyramid with... socks"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-QzIKSJUwnbc\/U7WbehThsAI\/AAAAAAABDcM\/AArzyub6vPE\/s72-c\/Egypt_Pyramid_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7659078504816117786"},"published":{"$t":"2016-06-01T11:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.504-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Community"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Exhibitions"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Virtual flashlight reveals secrets of ancient artefacts"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Have a look at any ancient artefact and there's probably something there that you cannot see: stone corners that have long since chipped off; carvings rubbed away by time; or once-glorious colours that have faded. Now those missing features can be brought back to life, thanks to Revealing Flashlight, a system that projects computer-generated models on to real objects, filling in missing details wherever its spotlight lands.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Virtual flashlight reveals secrets of ancient artefacts\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-xI8TWEfkbg8\/U7U3_mIsd_I\/AAAAAAABDY4\/6dt2oB9j_2s\/s1333\/Virtual-flashlight_01.jpg\" title=\"Virtual flashlight reveals secrets of ancient artefacts\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA new way to reveal points of interest [Credit: Brett Ridel]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe system has been piloted at the Allard Pierson Museum at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where it illuminated lost pigmentation on a fragment from an Egyptian tomb. It has also been used to highlight the contours of a 3D-printed replica of a statue of Isis from the Lighthouse of Alexandria, and to help viewers decipher inscriptions on an Egyptian stela.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We have more and more virtual objects available, either from real objects that have been scanned or virtually created objects that have been 3D printed,\" says Patrick Reuter, the project's lead researcher at the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation in Bordeaux.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"But there's information missing. Sometimes you get more from virtual objects, and other information from physical objects.\" The project was borne out of the desire to combine these two worlds. Using common scanning techniques like structured-light 3D scanning or photogrammetry, Reuter's team creates a computer model of an object. This helps identify important curves and ridges in the object, or missing elements, that could be important to emphasise in the virtual, projected version.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPoint, it's slick\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen a museum visitor wants to look at an ancient artefact with the aid of the Revealing Flashlight, a LeapMotion gesture-sensing controller tracks where the viewer is pointing by analysing their hand in 3D. A projector on the floor in front of the artefact uses this information to direct the flashlight's projection on to the correct spot.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBesides enhancing museum visits for amateurs, the team also reckons the flashlight could be a valuable tool for archaeologists. By projecting computer-modelling information directly on to objects, it might help researchers piece broken artefacts together or connect hard-to-read engravings.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It's a great application for use in museums, particularly for visitors who may not have detailed knowledge of the exhibit or artefact,\" says Susan Yoon at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe system will next appear at exhibits on the Roman Empire at the Amsterdam museum and the Museum of Imperial Forums in Rome, Italy, in September.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Aviva Rutkin | Source: New Scientist [June 30, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7659078504816117786"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7659078504816117786"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/06\/heritage-virtual-flashlight-reveals.html","title":"Heritage: Virtual flashlight reveals secrets of ancient artefacts"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-xI8TWEfkbg8\/U7U3_mIsd_I\/AAAAAAABDY4\/6dt2oB9j_2s\/s72-c\/Virtual-flashlight_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-4459474158538066580"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-28T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.562-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Central Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pakistan"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: 50 per cent of Lahore Mughal baths excavated"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The Walled City Lahore Authority (WCLA) has completed around 50 per cent excavation of Shahi Hamam, which was originally built in 1634 AD in the period of Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan and later buried under mud during the British rule.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"50 per cent of Lahore Mughal baths excavated\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-rCdv_QB6c6w\/U6_8TleiylI\/AAAAAAABDQg\/ZIDodkKlvLo\/s1333\/Pakistan_Shahi_Hamam_02.jpg\" title=\"50 per cent of Lahore Mughal baths excavated\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"50 per cent of Lahore Mughal baths excavated\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-o2y-6PgMdZI\/U6_8ZNB1FVI\/AAAAAAABDQo\/ryiga6wkTxY\/s1333\/Pakistan_Shahi_Hamam_01b.jpg\" title=\"50 per cent of Lahore Mughal baths excavated\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe project is attempting to undo hundreds of years of neglect\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;and damage [Credit: Rahat Dar]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe monument will be like a jewel in crown of Lahore and, after complete excavation, restoration and conservation it can be the most visited tourist attraction, claimed the officials of WCLA. They said the authority was spending four million rupees on the restoration of the monument and the amount was donated by Royal Norwegian Embassy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Shahi Hammam is located just inside the Delhi Gate and was originally built around 1634 AD by Hakim Ilmuddin Ansari, the Governor of Lahore during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1628-58 AD). It was designed as a public bath house to service both visiting travelers as well as inhabitants of the city. A caravanserai was also located nearby which no longer exists.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHakim Ilmuddin Ansari, who was granted the title of Wazir Khan, was also responsible for the construction of the famous mosque inside the Walled City which now bears his name.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExcavation of Shahid Hamam was started by WCLA in November 2013 in collaboration with the Agha Khan Trust for Culture and international excavators started working on the project. WCLA officials said in 1955, Shahi Hammam was recognized as a cultural asset and declared a protected monument by the Department of Archaeology. The entrance gateway on the west and the main hall in the northern part of the building are exquisitely decorated with frescoed panels depicting angels, animals, birds, floral and geometric designs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA detailed report compiled by WCLA on the project revealed that having been covered for decades, if not centuries, with successive layers of whitewash, the frescoes were uncovered in 1991 and found to be unaltered specimens of Mughal era wall paintings, although a little provincial in execution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESometime during its history, the building had gone into oblivion and was taken over by the municipality to be used as a boys’ primary school, a girls’ vocational school, a dispensary and as offices for some of its functionaries. Makeshift structures to provide residential accommodation for some of the staff were added to the roof. The northwestern rooms were rented out as shops by the Department of Auqaf whilst additional shops were allowed to “grow” on the lengths of the building’s northern, western and southern façades.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Hammam is a single storey building covering an area of over 1000 square metres. Built on the pattern of Turkish and Iranian bathing establishments of its time (which consisted of hot, warm and cool plunges, sweat rooms and related facilities), Shahi Hammam is a collection of 21 inter-connected rooms offering all the facilities found in a public bath and an additional room set at an angle facing towards Mecca for offering prayers, the report said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe report quoting to some historical accounts said the Hammam was used extensively by the public during Mughal times and was reserved for the exclusive use of women on a specific day of the week. The Shahi Hammam is the only monumental public bath from that period which still survives in the entire South Asian subcontinent.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the exterior of the buildings, the removal of commercial encroachments has already been achieved and its façade on the northern side in the Delhi Gate Bazaar has already been conserved to a certain extent by the Walled City of Lahore Authority. In general, the building is structurally sound but its exterior walls have been badly defaced due to past encroachment. It has suffered misuse of interior spaces and partial, fragmented and, at times, inappropriate restoration and conservation efforts and the absence of a proper management plan have led to loss of its authentic values and significance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe repair and conservation works carried out in 1991 had stopped short of fully realizing the original configuration of the bath house, its water works and its floor finishes, and the hurried covering up of the base of the building with a marble floor equaled the loss of the opportunity to know the building in depth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWCLA’s report on Shahi Hamam said the primary objectives for conservation of the Shahi Hammam are to re-establish the conserved monument as witness to a tradition of the bath house as a space of social interaction and the bathing activity as a socializing discourse in the lives of the citizens of Lahore of the times before the decline of Mughal rule in the Sub-continent.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWCLA wanted to preserve this unique Hammam by conserving and restoring its structural fabric and decorations, presenting its original baths and related waterworks, and integrating the Hammam into its urban context in conjunction with the WCLA’s Shahi Guzargah Project. The Hammam would thus become a part of the larger ensemble of Delhi Gate, the rehabilitated Delhi Gate Bazaar and the Visitors’ Center being developed at the latter location.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the report, upon exposing, conserving and presenting the original bath structures, pools and cisterns, the various rooms and spaces of the bath houses will be either part of a museal display, or be integrated into the re-use function. It is likely that some of the less important spaces would be adapted to serve as display galleries and congregational areas for holding talks, mushairas or traditional story telling activities. Support activities and spaces like public toilets and related visitors’ facilities, souvenir shops and a kitchen to serve an outdoor restaurant are proposed to be developed in the open area adjacent to the Hammam on its eastern and southern sides.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWCLA officials said the project is planned to be completed by the last quarter of 2014.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWCLA director general Kamran Lashari, while talking with The News, said the authority takes pride in carrying out this project. “It is a unique project and upon its completion we will encourage people to visit this place,” he said. This is a piece of art and tourists will surely have a wonderful experience here, he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn future, WCLA plans to restore many other parts of the Walled City and unique monuments like this, he maintained.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Ali Raza | Source: The News [June 28, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4459474158538066580"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4459474158538066580"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/heritage-50-per-cent-of-lahore-mughal.html","title":"Heritage: 50 per cent of Lahore Mughal baths excavated"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-rCdv_QB6c6w\/U6_8TleiylI\/AAAAAAABDQg\/ZIDodkKlvLo\/s72-c\/Pakistan_Shahi_Hamam_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-172644365962563396"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-27T11:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.605-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Africa"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Nigeria"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: American Museum transfers eight illicitly trafficked antiquities to Nigeria"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), has reached an agreement with the National Commission of Museums and Monuments, Nigeria (NCMM), transferring to the Commission eight antiquities of Nigerian origin that are believed to have been the subject of illicit trafficking.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-60iEilEJbZo\/U6_q50kp-3I\/AAAAAAABDOc\/XAv-Pg8phuc\/s1333\/Nigeria_01.jpeg\" title=\"American Museum transfers eight illicitly trafficked antiquities to Nigeria\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERepresentative image from the collection of the Boston Museum of Fina Arts:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMale figure (ikenga), Igbo peoples, Aguleri-Nteje region, Nigeria, about 1910\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe antiquities include two Nok terracotta figures and a terracotta Ife head, archaeological materials that are known to be at high risk for theft and looting. The group also includes an ekpu, or ancestral figure dating to the 18th or 19th century, which was part of the collection of the Oron Museum, near Calabar, Nigeria, as late as the 1970s; and a bronze altar figure of about 1914, which was likely stolen from the Royal Palace in Benin City in 1976. Two terracotta heads produced in the Kingdom of Benin and a group of Kalabari screen figures appear to have been illegally exported.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe MFA received the objects in the bequest of a local collector of African art, who acquired all eight objects in good faith in the 1990s from dealers in the United States and Europe.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Museum began the process of researching the provenance (or history of ownership) of the objects after receiving notification of the bequest. Recognizing that these eight objects were probably illegally removed from Nigeria in recent years, and that their export would have been regulated by Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments Act (chapter 242) of 1990, the MFA contacted the NCMM to seek its authorization before proceeding with their acquisition. The NCMM swiftly responded that the export of these objects had not been approved; and, indeed, that several documents which purportedly authorized their sale and export were forged. Upon receipt of this information, the MFA began to arrange for the return of the objects to Nigeria, which were received by Nigerian authorities earlier this month.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe objects transferred to Nigeria from the MFA are:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHead, African, Edo peoples, Nigeria, Benin kingdom, about 1750\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMemorial screen (duen fubara), African, Ijaw Kalabari peoples, Nigeria, late 19th century\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHead, African, Nok peoples, Nigeria, About 500 B.C.–A.D. 200\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHead of an Oba, Edo peoples, Benin Kingdom, Nigeria, 19th century\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMale Figure, African, Nok peoples. Nigeria, About 500 B.C.–A.D. 200\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPortrait head, African, Yoruba peoples, Ife Kingdom, Nigeria, 12th–14th century\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOron Ancestral Figure (Ekpu), Oron peoples, southeastern Nigeria\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAltar figure, Benin peoples, Nigeria\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Teel Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe MFA received the eight Nigerian objects as part of the bequest from the late William E. Teel. The Teel bequest includes more than 300 African and Oceanic works, along with several Ancient American and Native American pieces and a small group of European and American works on paper. Teel and his wife Bertha, who passed away in 1995, were enthusiastic collectors who fostered appreciation of the art of sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania in Boston and beyond. The Teels built an outstanding collection, and played a significant role in placing such works in the domain of fine art in the city.\u0026nbsp; As a result of their long-term support, including the endowment of a curatorial post for African and Oceanic art, the MFA has been able to significantly build its collection of African art.\u0026nbsp; A selection of works from the bequest, mostly from west and central Africa, is now on view in the MFA’s recently refreshed Arts of Africa Gallery.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston [June 27, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/172644365962563396"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/172644365962563396"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/heritage-american-museum-transfers.html","title":"Heritage: American Museum transfers eight illicitly trafficked antiquities to Nigeria"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-60iEilEJbZo\/U6_q50kp-3I\/AAAAAAABDOc\/XAv-Pg8phuc\/s72-c\/Nigeria_01.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2744844948192414081"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-27T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.620-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Australasia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Australia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Oceania"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Aboriginal cave art 'only few years old'"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"A piece of cave art resembling an ancient Aboriginal hand stencil, found near a controversial Australian coalmine project, has turned out to be less than four years old, it's been reported.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Aboriginal cave art 'only few years old'\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-sqp0KcTvi60\/U6_ivbaEHmI\/AAAAAAABDN8\/2XuU3pT6hho\/s1333\/Australia_cave-art_01.jpg\" title=\"Aboriginal cave art 'only few years old'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAboriginal hand stencil [Credit: The Australian]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe drawing was found by environmentalist Chris Jonkers in a cave in the Ben Bullen forest west of Sydney in April. Mr Jonkers is non-committal on the possible origins of the painting. \"We're not experts on Aboriginal heritage,\" he told The Australian newspaper. \"We're sort of plant people, interested in water quality and environment, but the Aboriginal heritage stuff is not our forte.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Australian coal-mining company Coalpac is trying to expand the operations of the Invincible Colliery and Cullen Valley Mine in the area, a project opposed by some environmentalists and Aboriginal groups. The Lithgow Environment Group, which has Mr Jonkers as its vice-president, says it has serious concerns that the proposed highwall mining practices would destabilise the cliffs and lead to a \"permanent loss of irreplaceable cave art\" and yet-to-be-discovered archaeological sites.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe report assessing the stencil as a modern replica was written by the engineering consultancy firm Aecom Australia for Coalpac. It says the \"questionable\" hand stencil has none of the hallmarks of genuine traditional stencils, and that its colour pigment has been applied too thickly and is easy to see.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \"now obvious\" rock stencil was not there when the site was previously inspected by archaeologists in December 2010, the paper reports. But Mr Jonkers says he did not think the stencil would be so young. \"I didn't think anyone would do such a thing,\" he says. \"I must admit I didn't look all that carefully.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: BBC News Website [June 24, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2744844948192414081"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2744844948192414081"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/heritage-aboriginal-cave-art-few-years.html","title":"Heritage: Aboriginal cave art \u0026#39;only few years old\u0026#39;"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-sqp0KcTvi60\/U6_ivbaEHmI\/AAAAAAABDN8\/2XuU3pT6hho\/s72-c\/Australia_cave-art_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5313229009782788464"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-26T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.548-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: The Monemvasia Restoration Project"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Monemvasia’s unconquered Upper Town which hosted nobles and aristocrats during the Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods in southern Greece, is now ruined, dilapidated and covered with vegetation. However, the Peloponnesian town is about to regain its lost glory after restoration works started recently.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"The Monemvasia Restoration Project\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-zEH6cxww2rw\/U7LUUUAboaI\/AAAAAAABDTk\/DapUsWevBMs\/s1333\/Monemvasia__03.jpg\" title=\"The Monemvasia Restoration Project\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAghia Sofia (12 c. AD) Byzantine church at Monemvasia [Credit: © Greek Ministry of\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Culture and Tourism, Directorate of National Archive of Monuments]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the news, the Greek Ministry of Culture has conducted research to determine the needs and cost of the town’s restoration and has included the working projects in ESPA funding.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe restoration procedures are moving at a quick pace and the Temple of Panagia Hodegetria in the Upper Town has been cleaned already. The contracts for the projects “Restoration and Lightening of Chrisafitsa Square” and “Restoration of the Church of Agia Sofia, or the Holy Temple of Panagia Hodegetria” have been assigned recently.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"The Monemvasia Restoration Project\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-qYCKznBBsfQ\/U7LUvuJC3qI\/AAAAAAABDTs\/PrzHW6r7Dg4\/s1333\/Monemvasia__01.jpg\" title=\"The Monemvasia Restoration Project\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETraditional houses in Monemvasia [Credit: WikiCommons]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe restoration of the East Side Wall is also in progress alongside the works aiming to promote the central gate and the region around Agia Sofia church. At the same time, the restoration of the Holy Churches of Panagia Myrtidiotissa and St Anna is taking place in Monemvasia town.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe restoration work includes the removal of vegetation to reveal the road network and the buildings’ outlines, as well as plenty of research and excavation projects to establish the initial forms of the buildings and repair the most significant landmarks of the town.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECulture Ministry’s Secretary General Lina Mendoni stated that “the completion of the project is essential to protect and highlight cultural heritage and give a boost to the local and peripheral economy and growth.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information on Monemvasia, see Wikipedia\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Theodora Matsaidoni | Source: Greek Reporter [June 29, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5313229009782788464"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5313229009782788464"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/heritage-monemvasia-restoration-project.html","title":"Heritage: The Monemvasia Restoration Project"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-zEH6cxww2rw\/U7LUUUAboaI\/AAAAAAABDTk\/DapUsWevBMs\/s72-c\/Monemvasia__03.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7775158725090748181"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-24T12:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.658-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Americas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Colombia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South America"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Spain"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"South America: Spain returns stolen archaeological pieces to Colombia"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"pain returned to Colombia on Tuesday 691 archaeological pieces including 3,000-year-old ceramics that were seized in 2003 in a drug-trafficking and money-laundering case.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Spain returns stolen archaeological pieces to Colombia\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-MjFEIe3LzkI\/U6wxXEYlMsI\/AAAAAAABDHU\/bqsd0tVAHlM\/s1333\/Spain_Colombia_02.jpg\" title=\"Spain returns stolen archaeological pieces to Colombia\" \/\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Spain returns stolen archaeological pieces to Colombia\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-MzVU3K06xmo\/U6wxiX8nwdI\/AAAAAAABDHc\/T571uU85VpY\/s1333\/Spain_Colombia_01.jpg\" title=\"Spain returns stolen archaeological pieces to Colombia\" \/\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Spain returns stolen archaeological pieces to Colombia\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-P2pW6Q7ajts\/U6wxrKSDl4I\/AAAAAAABDHk\/yjmef2zr-jk\/s1333\/Spain_Colombia_03.jpg\" title=\"Spain returns stolen archaeological pieces to Colombia\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Spain returns stolen archaeological pieces to Colombia\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-sc7y9RUQy0U\/U6wx4H6EUXI\/AAAAAAABDHs\/WrKNJkWDeOs\/s1333\/Spain_Colombia_04.jpg\" title=\"Spain returns stolen archaeological pieces to Colombia\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPre-Colombian archaeological art pieces displayed at the Museum of America\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;in Madrid June 24, 2014. Spain has returned to Colombia about 691 pieces that were\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;brought illegally to Spain [Credit: Reuters]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pieces - including busts, statues and stone jewelry - were housed for 11 years in Madrid's Museum of America while courts decided who their rightful owner was after they were illegally exported from Colombia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe South American country made an official petition to repatriate the objects and Spain's High Court ruled on June 10 that they be turned over to the Colombian government's archaeological authorities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"In addition to economic value, the pieces' greatest value comes from their roots, which is an expression of history itself, of culture and of every nation's soul,\" Police General Director Ignacio Cosido said during a ceremony at the museum to turn the objects over to Colombian officials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpanish officials are still trying to determine which Latin American countries are the rightful owners of an additional 300 archaeological pieces seized in the 2003 raid.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Reuters [June 24, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7775158725090748181"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7775158725090748181"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/south-america-spain-returns-stolen.html","title":"South America: Spain returns stolen archaeological pieces to Colombia"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-MjFEIe3LzkI\/U6wxXEYlMsI\/AAAAAAABDHU\/bqsd0tVAHlM\/s72-c\/Spain_Colombia_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6613120712190956068"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-24T10:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.670-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Americas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Caribbean islands"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Haiti"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Underwater Archaeology"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: UNESCO to send experts to examine possible wreck of 'Santa Maria'"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced today that it will provide technical assistance requested by the Government of Haiti and send a mission to the site of an underwater shipwreck, which may be that of the Santa Maria, the flagship of Christopher Columbus’s first voyage to America.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"UNESCO to send experts to examine possible wreck of 'Santa Maria'\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-X74MrduYQVQ\/U6wvCXbS1qI\/AAAAAAABDG8\/mRcZteks-Ck\/s1333\/Haiti_01.jpg\" title=\"UNESCO to send experts to examine possible wreck of 'Santa Maria'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESurvey of underwater site [Credit: UNESCO\/D. Frka]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a letter dated 12 June, Haitian Culture Minister Monique Rocourt asked for the support of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body of UNESCO’s 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, requesting that a mission of experts be sent to the site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe agency said in a press release that it will send a mission in the coming months to examine the wreck located off the town of Cap-Haïtien, in the north of the country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIrina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, expressed concern about the risk “of looting of underwater heritage sites off the shores of Haiti. We stand by the authorities in fighting illicit trafficking in underwater cultural heritage objects and urge States to join Haiti’s efforts to find artefacts stolen from these underwater archaeological sites, notably the one that will visited by UNESCO’s mission.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn 14 May this year, Bill Clifford, an American underwater explorer, said he identified the wreck of the Santa Maria, one of the three ships Christopher Columbus led on his first crossing of the Atlantic. The Santa Maria sank on 25 December 1492, after drifting onto a reef off the northern coast of Haiti the previous day.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExplorers, including Bill Clifford’s team, already visited the wreck in 2003 and identified a cannon believed to date from the 15th century. It has since disappeared.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUNESCO’s Underwater Heritage Convention, adopted 2001, aims to ensure the safeguarding of underwater heritage and support research and international cooperation in this field. The States that have ratified it — 48 to date, including Haiti — undertake to preserve this heritage, prevent commercial exploitation of sites and fight the illicit trafficking in stolen artefacts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Scientific and Technical Advisory Body of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage is composed of 12 internationally recognized experts who are elected during the meeting of States Parties to the 2001 Convention.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: UN News Centre [June 23, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6613120712190956068"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6613120712190956068"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/heritage-unesco-to-send-experts-to.html","title":"Heritage: UNESCO to send experts to examine possible wreck of \u0026#39;Santa Maria\u0026#39;"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-X74MrduYQVQ\/U6wvCXbS1qI\/AAAAAAABDG8\/mRcZteks-Ck\/s72-c\/Haiti_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2120996026136597202"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-21T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.711-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: Carwynnen Quoit rebuild completed"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Work to rebuild a collapsed ancient Cornish monument has been completed on the day of the summer solstice.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Carwynnen Quoit rebuild completed\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-L3ovlmWhwDU\/U6lsalrAkFI\/AAAAAAABC8c\/MINd0pglquQ\/s1333\/UK_Carwynnen_01.jpg\" title=\"Carwynnen Quoit rebuild completed\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe capstone measuring 3.3m (11ft) long, 2.5m (8ft) wide and 30cm (1ft) thick was\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;dropped into position by crane [Credit: BBC]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECarwynnen Quoit, or Giant's Quoit, a 5,000-year-old burial chamber near Troon, collapsed in 1966.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe burial chamber had fallen apart but, with help from archaeologists, it is standing proud once again.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReplacing the capstone was the last piece of work carried out by owners the Sustainable Trust, which bought the site in 2009.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Carwynnen Quoit rebuild completed\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-dqq1j7XrFUU\/U6lsrDd8tsI\/AAAAAAABC8k\/MvvNfAFIR7c\/s1333\/UK_Carwynnen_02.jpg\" title=\"Carwynnen Quoit rebuild completed\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArchaeological digs established how the monument should\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;be rebuilt [Credit: BBC]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELeading architect on the project, Jacky Nowakowski said: \"It's a magical moment to get to this stage in the project. I feel exhilarated to bring the capstone home and make the monument complete again. A lot of people have come together to bring an ancient monument back to life, so today's a real celebration of that amazing achievement.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ancient granite monument is believed to date as far back as the Neolithic period.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Cornwall Sustainable Trust and Cornwall Heritage Trust employed professional archaeologists to help research and rebuild it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Carwynnen Quoit rebuild completed\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-3m2AUg-G8ec\/U6lszpLazHI\/AAAAAAABC8s\/2jDJ3HmNm_s\/s1333\/UK_Carwynnen_03.jpg\" title=\"Carwynnen Quoit rebuild completed\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECarwynnen Quoit before the collapse in 1966\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;[Credit: BBC]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInitial work saw two support stones replaced in their original Neolithic footings but the third stone had to be adjusted to comply with health and safety regulations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe main capstone measuring 3.3m (11ft) long, 2.5m (8ft) wide and 30cm (1ft) thick was dropped into position by a large crane.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the trust, Carwynnen Quoit is among 12 similar monuments around the county.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: BBC News Website [June 21, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2120996026136597202"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2120996026136597202"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/uk-carwynnen-quoit-rebuild-completed.html","title":"UK: Carwynnen Quoit rebuild completed"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-L3ovlmWhwDU\/U6lsalrAkFI\/AAAAAAABC8c\/MINd0pglquQ\/s72-c\/UK_Carwynnen_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6987384694417957509"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-21T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.723-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: Deserted medieval villages designated 'Ancient Monuments'"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"A series of deserted and shrunken medieval villages in Northamptonshire have been designated as scheduled monuments by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, on the advice of English Heritage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Deserted medieval villages designated 'Ancient Monuments'\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-yXfZw4kGuwU\/U6lvbEj5E7I\/AAAAAAABC84\/xABixOyK2cQ\/s1333\/UK_medieval_03.jpg\" title=\"Deserted medieval villages designated 'Ancient Monuments'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELittle Oxenden: the long groove, or hollow way, running left to right formed the main\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;route through the settlement, and the rectangular closes either side were\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;occupied by houses [Credit: © English Heritage]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey are amongst the best-preserved lost villages in the county and have been chosen for special protection because of the exceptional survival of their earthworks and buried remains, revealing the layout of the settlements as well as the ways in which their shape and size changed over the centuries. The sites include: Little Oxendon, Walgrave, Steane, Clipston, Horton, Ashby St Ledgers and Kirby.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAerial photography of the earthworks and buried features in the villages, along with archaeological surveys and documented discoveries of artefacts tell us much about life in medieval Northamptonshire.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe earthworks have lain largely undisturbed by later occupation, since the villages were deserted and then often used for grazing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Deserted medieval villages designated 'Ancient Monuments'\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-i3MoPTNi-RY\/U6lv1H4m05I\/AAAAAAABC9A\/wM78FksXGZ4\/s1333\/UK_medieval_02.jpg\" title=\"Deserted medieval villages designated 'Ancient Monuments'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAerial view of Little Oxenden [Credit: © English Heritage]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir archaeological remains have the potential to reveal many more details about the social and economic development of these communities, and the physical earthworks themselves allow us to experience the spaces in which medieval people farmed and made their homes in the English landscape. Most of the villages were first settled in the 9th or 10th centuries, possibly earlier, and are mentioned in the Domesday Book.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHeritage Minister Ed Vaizey said: \"Preserving these medieval villages for the future will help us understand our past, and I am pleased that these ancient monuments are being added to the schedule of protected sites. They are wonderful examples of the hidden heritage that exists across the UK, and will allow us to uncover the secrets of medieval society going back centuries.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Deserted medieval villages designated 'Ancient Monuments'\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-QcfN1GN3v64\/U6lwDRPPYDI\/AAAAAAABC9I\/ELQjutJUFx8\/s1333\/UK_medieval_01.jpg\" title=\"Deserted medieval villages designated 'Ancient Monuments'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClipston: surrounding both the existing and abandoned areas of the village are the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eundulating lines of medieval ploughing, known as ridge\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eand furrow [Credit: © English Heritage]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESarah Gibson, English Heritage designation team leader for the east said: \"Northampton's abandoned villages are repositories of information about the past and archaeologists will be able to use the remains of the villages to tell us more about the social life and economy of Northamptonshire many hundreds of years ago.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of these villages have been occupied continuously to the present day, though some have declined in size or were deserted during the medieval or post-medieval periods. The most rapid rate of decline was in the 14th and 15th centuries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Deserted medieval villages designated 'Ancient Monuments'\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-4ZqpqqJl9sQ\/U6lwPvJahJI\/AAAAAAABC9Q\/8dTJopgBgrs\/s1333\/UK_medieval_04.jpg\" title=\"Deserted medieval villages designated 'Ancient Monuments'\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe village of Kirby [Credit: © English Heritage]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe reasons were varied: declining economic viability, the enclosure of common land, and a shift from arable farming to sheep rearing which needed more land for grazing and a smaller labour force. Contrary to popular opinion, the Black Death of 1348 was rarely responsible for the complete abandonment of a village.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe deserted medieval villages were assessed as a defined area survey which drew on surveys and research carried out since the 1980's and recent aerial photographic reconnaissance and site inspections. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: English Heritage [June 20, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6987384694417957509"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6987384694417957509"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/uk-deserted-medieval-villages.html","title":"UK: Deserted medieval villages designated \u0026#39;Ancient Monuments\u0026#39;"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-yXfZw4kGuwU\/U6lvbEj5E7I\/AAAAAAABC84\/xABixOyK2cQ\/s72-c\/UK_medieval_03.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-34630010409047020"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-20T10:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.734-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Egyptian police recover looted royal mummy"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Policemen at Upper Egypt’s governorate of Minya arrested two locals in possession of illicit antiquities including a royal mummy during a covert operation on Friday, Al-Ahram reported.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Egyptian police recover looted royal mummy\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-soe62VcS2x0\/U6cBvzF82oI\/AAAAAAABC64\/giJXe-Cidzg\/s1333\/Egypt_mummy.jpg\" title=\"Egyptian police recover looted royal mummy\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMummy [Credit: YOUM7]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHead of the Department for Tourism and Antiquities in Minya Kamal al-Kalawy received a tip that two suspects were reportedly seen with antiquities most likely stolen from Malawy museum that was looted mid-August in 2013.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInvestigations indicated that the suspects, a 32-year-old agricultural engineer and a laborer, hid the antiquities in the latter’s house in Minya’s northern town of Beni Mazar.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey were arrested in possession of a well-preserved royal mummy inside a wooden coffin carved with hieroglyphic inscriptions, Kalawy said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeveral pharaonic statues, amulets, silver dagger, kohl stick dating back to the Islamic era, along with a pedestal, and seven coins dating back to the Greco-Roman period, were among the seized artifacts, he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Investigations are being carried to identify the source of the looted mummy and the other artifacts,” Kalawy said and that initial investigations revealed the two suspects were planning to sell the looted artifacts to an antiquity trader to be smuggled outside Egypt.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA police report was filed and the Supreme Council of Antiquities was notified to examine the busted artifacts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The variety of the busted antiquities, spanning several eras of ancient Egyptian civilization, emphasizes that they are the outcome of an illicit digging that was carried out by armed gangs,” former head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Abdel Halem Nour el-Din told The Cairo Post.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENour el-Din praised the efforts of the Tourism and Antiquities Department policemen and called on the stakeholders to create severe legislations for looting and smuggling antiquities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEgypt’s turmoil led to a security lapse at archaeological sites and storerooms nationwide, leaving Egypt’s treasures vulnerable to attack.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThieves broke into Malawi museum in August and made off with more than 1,000 artifacts out of which only 42 have been repatriated, according to the statement of the Antiquities Ministry in November.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey also broke into the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and made off with over forty artifacts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Rany Mostafa | Source: The Cairo Post [June 20, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/34630010409047020"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/34630010409047020"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/heritage-egyptian-police-recover-looted.html","title":"Heritage: Egyptian police recover looted royal mummy"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-soe62VcS2x0\/U6cBvzF82oI\/AAAAAAABC64\/giJXe-Cidzg\/s72-c\/Egypt_mummy.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7926725530645772164"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-20T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.748-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Germany"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Antiquities looted by Nazis to be repatriated to Greece"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Antiquities that were unearthed in Greece and ended up in Germany during WWII will soon be repatriated, the culture ministry announced on Thursday. Among them are 10,600 fragments of clay vessels, stone artifacts, and osteological material that were unearthed during excavations carried out between June and December 1941 by the Nazi occupation forces.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Antiquities looted by Nazis to be repatriated to Greece\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-wdbpFIFbJZg\/U6b7SWpFACI\/AAAAAAABC6g\/VR8jL989vhA\/s1333\/Greece_loot_01.jpg\" title=\"Antiquities looted by Nazis to be repatriated to Greece\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E10,600 antiquities kept in German museums since WWII will be\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Erepatriated to Greece [Credit: To Vima]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe formal ceremony for the return of the antiquities was held at Pfahlibau Museum in the German city of Unteruhldingen on Wednesday, the culture ministry said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECulture \u0026amp; Sports Minister Konstantinos Tassoulas referred to the symbolism of the gesture and to incidents of antiquity smuggling and destruction recorded across Greece during the Nazi occupation. He also referred to the recent repatriation of archaeological material unearthed at the site of Magoula Visviki and neolithic sites in Thessaly, central Greece, noting that such moves contribute decisively to the strengthening of bilateral ties.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe National Archaeological Museum will be the first stop of the repatriated antiquities before they are transferred to local museums.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: ANA\/MPA [June 20, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7926725530645772164"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7926725530645772164"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/heritage-antiquities-looted-by-nazis-to.html","title":"Heritage: Antiquities looted by Nazis to be repatriated to Greece"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-wdbpFIFbJZg\/U6b7SWpFACI\/AAAAAAABC6g\/VR8jL989vhA\/s72-c\/Greece_loot_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6174306310072570754"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-17T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.813-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Israel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Israel: 'Smoking gun' ancient coins looted from excavations"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Millions of ancient looted coins from archaeological excavations enter the black market yearly, and a Baylor University researcher who has seen plundered sites likens the thefts to stealing \"smoking guns\" from crime scenes. But those who collect and study coins have been far too reluctant to condemn the unregulated trade, he says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"'Smoking gun' ancient coins looted from excavations\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-tYBhB8IA5h4\/U6FVKpt5D4I\/AAAAAAABCpg\/zTi-2Bra_bQ\/s1333\/lootedcoins_02.jpg\" title=\"'Smoking gun' ancient coins looted from excavations\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAncient Constantinian coins [Credit: Nathan Elkins]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Archaeologists are detectives. When something has been taken away from a historical site, the object is divorced from its relationship with other objects, and its utility for the writing of history -- much like solving a criminal case -- is diminished,\" said Nathan Elkins, Ph.D., assistant art professor in Baylor's College of Arts \u0026amp; Sciences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElkins is the staff numismatist at the excavations of an ancient synagogue from the Roman\/Byzantine period in Huqoq, Israel. He has written an article, \"Investigating the Crime Scene: Looting and Ancient Coins,\" that appears in the current issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENumismatists -- those who study or collect such currency as coins, tokens, paper money and even such trade objects as shells or lambskins -- must not condone or, worse, encourage that destructive behavior, Elkins said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECoins are among objects stolen and sold through the multi-billion-dollar black market in antiquities. The New York Times recently reported looting in Spain and also in Egypt, where looters have taken advantage of political upheaval to steal thousands of objects from unprotected sites and even a national museum. The U.S. market alone imports \"hundreds of thousands of earth-encrusted coins annually that are smuggled from Balkan nations such as Bulgaria,\" Elkins says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe saw up close and personal the results of thefts at a site he previously worked -- a Roman Empire-era fort in Israel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"One season we arrived and found one area that had been looted by someone with a metal director. Pits were dug into the floors and walls, and the soil dug out was greenish, indicating they had removed copper coins and perhaps other metal objects,\" he said. \"It caused a lot of damage to the site and destroyed information.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECoins taken in such illegal and secretive excavations and touted with fake histories are easy to find in auction catalogs and online storefronts -- and inexpensive to boot, he said. \"'Common' coins such as these may sell for the price of a fast-food lunch, but they're invaluable sources to archaeologists and historians,\" he said. When discovered beneath floors, foundations or wells, they provide information about how people lived and behaved in the past and can date occupation levels and monuments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElkins noted that there is \"a widespread demand for biblical coins on account of their associations with Judaism, Christianity and the Bible, which of course exacerbates the looting problem. And the intellectual and material consequences of looting biblical coins are equally severe as that of Roman imperial coins and Greek coins.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong such biblical coins are those used to pay temple taxes, tribute coins to Romans rulers and the \"widow's mite,\" a small coin of little value mentioned in the Gospel of Mark.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor some coin collectors, obtaining coins of questionable origin is a matter of short-sightedness, he said. The origin and history of a coin may be irrelevant to them if their interest is merely in its image, rarity and method of production.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome scholars and collectors may be hesitant to question a coin's background for fear of alienating dealers or other collectors, Elkins said. And, to be fair, some coins are in public or private collections with no recorded history rather than having been illegally obtained and passed off with a fake history, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElkins said that most collectors have \"a genuine passion\" for ancient history, but they must be more assertive and conscientious in reporting suspected illegal activity, insisting on the provenance of coins and avoiding giving money to those who buy from looters and smugglers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElkins became fascinated with ancient coins as a teen who was interested in Roman history. \"Those (coin) images tended to be politicized, commemorating an imperial virtue or referring to a recent military victory, for example,\" he said. \"As much of the ancient population was illiterate, and the majority of people lived outside of Rome, coins were a primary vehicle for the communication of political ideology in the Roman Empire.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The study of coins lies at the intersection of multiple fields, including archeology, art history, Classics, ancient history and economics,\" Elkins said. \"Coins are the 'smoking guns,' the definitive evidence -- and it's important to preserve as much evidence as possible.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Baylor University [June 16, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6174306310072570754"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6174306310072570754"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/israel-gun-ancient-coins-looted-from.html","title":"Israel: \u0026#39;Smoking gun\u0026#39; ancient coins looted from excavations"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-tYBhB8IA5h4\/U6FVKpt5D4I\/AAAAAAABCpg\/zTi-2Bra_bQ\/s72-c\/lootedcoins_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-4729540015383335417"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-12T11:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.857-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Destinations"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Peru"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Peru: Peru to improve Otuzco archaeological site for tourism"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The improvement of tourism services, provided at the archaeological site of Otuzco in northern Peru, will be undertaken as part of the recently signed agreement between the State and private sector, it was reported on Wednesday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Peru to improve Otuzco archaeological site for tourism\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-j_CySOwr7SI\/U5snksUECLI\/AAAAAAABChE\/2uVga5qS2i4\/s1333\/Peru_03.jpg\" title=\"Peru to improve Otuzco archaeological site for tourism\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Ventanillas de Otuzco in Cajamarca is a rocky area with interesting little windows\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;carved into the rock, but the area doesn’t have a solid tourism infrastructure\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Victor Miguel Ponce]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe agreement was signed between the Cajamarca Chamber of Commerce, the Decentralized Cultural Department of the Ministry of Culture, and the Association Los Andes de Cajamarca (ALAC), said Proturismo project manager Luis Reyna.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“These works were demanded by the tourism sector and will be possible thanks to the joint effort of several public and private institutions, which will contribute to boosting tourism and economy of Cajamarca,” he told Andina news agency.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe public-private partnership will invest S\/.48,000 as part of the proposed improvement works at the archaeological site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The major problem at the archaeological site of Otuzco considered one of the main attractions in Cajamarca is that tourist facilities are not well equipped with everything required by the visitors,” he pointed out.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Luis Reyna, the project involves the installation of public toilets, drainage, access arrangements, among other modern amenities that will make visitors feel welcome and comfortable at the tourist attraction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust about 8 km from the city of Cajamarca, in the district of Los Baños del Inca, the Ventanillas de Otuzco stand out amidst the countryside. The site is a pre-Inca cemetery which pre-dates the Caxamarca culture, probably influenced by the Wari empire.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Andina [June 11, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4729540015383335417"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4729540015383335417"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/peru-peru-to-improve-otuzco.html","title":"Peru: Peru to improve Otuzco archaeological site for tourism"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-j_CySOwr7SI\/U5snksUECLI\/AAAAAAABChE\/2uVga5qS2i4\/s72-c\/Peru_03.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-8649946893814738398"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-09T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.924-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Germany"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: German museum returns two Cycladic artefacts to Greece"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Two masterpieces of early Cycladic art were returned to Greece from Germany on Friday - including one of the largest surviving marble Cycladic idols and a rare example of the Cycladic \"frying-pan\" vessels made of stone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"German museum returns two Cycladic artefacts to Greece\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-6SztNUvrjvQ\/U5cwYiQRMQI\/AAAAAAABCSM\/Jas4velTrvs\/s1333\/Greece_loot_02.jpg\" title=\"German museum returns two Cycladic artefacts to Greece\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Cycladic 'frying-pan' and marble figurine returned to Greece from the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EState Museum of Baden in Karlsruhe [Credit: To Vima]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir return was officially sealed on Friday at an event held at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, in the gallery where they will be on display, which was attended by Culture and Sports Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos, culture ministry officials, representatives of the German government and the German museum returning the artifacts, as well as reporters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn statements, Panagiotopoulos said the return of the two ancient artifacts was a \"victory of legality and a hopeful European future,\" as well as a defeat for the illegal antiquities trade. He then signed a cooperation agreement between the culture ministry and the Baden state museum ((Badisches Landesmuseum), announcing the start of period of close cooperation involving chiefly exhibitions but also exchanges of expert scientific staff and know-how.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The traditionally close friendship of the two peoples has been tested in recent years by the economic crisis and in many cases become trapped in stereotypes or 'shadows' cast by the economic crisis. Through today's event we send a message of friendship, harmonious cooperation and a common course for the two people,\" he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth artifacts date back to the early Cycladic period in the 3rd millenium B.C. and belong to an era that deeply influenced the 20th century but was also ruthlessly looted by the illegal antiquities trade, with smugglers seeking profits at the same time as museums and private collectors in Europe and America sought to enrich their collections.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe two artifacts returned on Friday were \"victims\" of this underground trade, bought in 1975 by the Baden state museum in Baden in Karlsruhe, Germany. They remained there as exhibits for 38 years and only in the last three years did negotiations for their return begin between Greek and German authorities, after the National Archaeological Museum refused to collaborate in an exhibition due to their presence there.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause of their clandestine origins, much valuable information about them is lost but they are believed to have originated on the islands of either Naxos, Keros or Amorgos, where similar finds have been uncovered.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe marble idol depicts a standing female form with folded arms, while its large size (0.89 m) indicates that it may have been an object of worship. There are also traces of colour around the hair and eyes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \"frying pan\" is richly carved and one of the few examples of this form of art that is not ceramic but made of stone, while it is the only known example made of chlorite schist stone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ [June 09, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8649946893814738398"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8649946893814738398"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/heritage-german-museum-returns-two.html","title":"Heritage: German museum returns two Cycladic artefacts to Greece"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-6SztNUvrjvQ\/U5cwYiQRMQI\/AAAAAAABCSM\/Jas4velTrvs\/s72-c\/Greece_loot_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3614153837467719696"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-08T10:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.940-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Afghanistan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"India: ‘Buddha’s’ begging bowl probably 500 years old"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"A begging bowl on display in an Afghanistan museum is not associated with Lord Buddha, Indian officials have concluded belying the initial perception that it belonged to the founder of Buddhism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"‘Buddha’s’ begging bowl probably 500 years old\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-747F7TIIyOQ\/U5Wt3hztDSI\/AAAAAAABCOI\/R5-uDVUE26Q\/s1333\/Buddha_bowl_01.jpg\" title=\"‘Buddha’s’ begging bowl probably 500 years old\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe begging bowl in a museum in Afghanistan, which is believed to\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;be that of Buddha's [Credit: The Hindu]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe conclusion has been reached after a team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials studied the bowl, sources told PTI here on Sunday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe bowl has Arabic characters etched on it and cannot be associated with Lord Buddha, they said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The reported claims of Lord Buddha’s association with the bowl is unlikely as the inscriptions on the vase are in Arabic script that never existed during his (Buddha) era. Moreover, Buddha’s messages were written in Pali language using Brahmi characters,” one of the sources said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the sources, the inscriptions on the 400-kg bowl has been written in Persian language using Arabic script.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Arabic script came into existence only during the fifth century AD, whereas Lord Buddha’s life dates back to second and third century BC. If at all the messages of Buddha would have been written, it would be inscribed only in Pali and not in Arabic,” the source underscored.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe sources further observed that the inscription on the mysterious bowl could have been made about 500 years ago, around 15th century AD or a century later.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe bowl created controversy after a strong demand for bringing it back and installing it at its original place at Vaishali in Bihar was made by former RJD MP Raghuvansh Prasad Singh in the Lok Sabha last year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaising the issue in Parliament, Mr. Singh had said that Buddha, who was on his way to attain nirvana (salvation), had presented the bhikshapatra (begging bowl) to the people of Vaishali.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe bowl was later taken away to the capital of Kanishka, Purushputra (now Peshawar), by invaders and then further to Kandahar (then Gandhar), Mr. Singh, who had represented Vaishali constituency, said, adding several noted historians have written about the historicity of the vase.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe huge greenish-grey granite bowl has a diameter of about 1.75 metres, height of almost four metres and thickness of 18 centimetre at its rim. The vessel is currently displayed at the National Museum of Afghanistan.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr. Singh had also urged the External Affairs Ministry and the ASI to take steps to bring it back to India and install it at its “original place in Vaishali.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAgainst this backdrop, a team of ASI officials — P K Mishra, Director, Heritage Bye-laws, Kolkata and G.S. Khwaja, Director, In-charge, Epigraphy Branch, Nagpur (Arabic and Persian) — was sent.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Hindu [June 08, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3614153837467719696"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3614153837467719696"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/india-buddhas-begging-bowl-probably-500.html","title":"India: ‘Buddha’s’ begging bowl probably 500 years old"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-747F7TIIyOQ\/U5Wt3hztDSI\/AAAAAAABCOI\/R5-uDVUE26Q\/s72-c\/Buddha_bowl_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5326149829381461857"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-08T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:24.967-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Ancient site in Upper Egypt targeted by looters"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"During a routine security inspection tour carried out Friday around Akhmim archaeological site in Sohag, personnel of the Tourism and Antiquities Police stumbled upon three excavated pits with artefacts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient site in Upper Egypt targeted by looters\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-QT-zRAc04is\/U5WqBUj7c9I\/AAAAAAABCNE\/0UlHKCtNdP0\/s1333\/Egypt+looting.jpg\" title=\"Ancient site in Upper Egypt targeted by looters\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERamses II temple in Akhmim [Credit: Ahram]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMinister of Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim told Ahram Online that the pits were deep, reaching seven metres. They include limestone blocks, some of which are engraved with ancient Egyptian and Graeco-Roman scenes. Plain mud-brick blocks from the Graeco-Roman period were also found, as well as granite blocks and clay fragments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“This site could house a great Middle Kingdom temple,” Ibrahim told Ahram Online. He went on to say that the huge granite blocks found, each 1.5 metre in diameter, could be the foundation or base of a temple column.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe archaeological committee verified that the unearthed objects are authentic. An Egyptian excavation mission is to embark on digging the site to discover what lies beneath the sands.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPolice are searching for those who illegally excavated the site, to press charges against them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAkhmim in Ancient Egypt was capital of the ninth nome of Upper Egypt and includes several ancient Egyptian and Coptic monuments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of the ancient Egyptian structures were dismantled to be used in later periods. Today, little exists in its original form.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong the most important monuments found in Akhmin is the remains of a Graeco-Roman temple dedicated to god of fertility Min, a temple built by King Ramses II, and the Akhmim necropolis.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Nevine El-Aref | Source: Ahram Online [June 07, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5326149829381461857"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5326149829381461857"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/heritage-ancient-site-in-upper-egypt.html","title":"Heritage: Ancient site in Upper Egypt targeted by looters"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-QT-zRAc04is\/U5WqBUj7c9I\/AAAAAAABCNE\/0UlHKCtNdP0\/s72-c\/Egypt+looting.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2147951972590088877"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-04T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.032-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Libya"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Libya: Prehistoric rock art in Libya vandalised"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Vandals have destroyed prehistoric rock art in lawless southern Libya, endangering a sprawling tableau of paintings and carvings classified by UNESCO as of \"outstanding universal value.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Prehistoric rock art in Libya vandalised\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-lEqZxI4QcYA\/U5CrrhmMWDI\/AAAAAAABB7A\/JKw8q4CHAH4\/s1333\/Libya_01.jpg\" title=\"Prehistoric rock art in Libya vandalised\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVandalised rock art is pictured at Tadrart Acacus, in Ghat, Libya.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Stringer\/Reuters]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELocated along Libya's southwestern tip bordering Algeria, the Tadrart Acacus mountain massif is famous for thousands of cave paintings and carvings going back up to 14,000 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe art, painted or carved on rocks sandwiched by spectacular sand dunes, showcase the changing flora and fauna of the Sahara stretching over thousands of years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Prehistoric rock art in Libya vandalised\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-oVwHK_4fhFw\/U5Cr9AxOm-I\/AAAAAAABB7I\/TiCoQIsh-Eo\/s1333\/Libya_02.jpg\" title=\"Prehistoric rock art in Libya vandalised\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERock art at Tadrart Acacus, in Ghat, Libya\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Stringer\/Reuters]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHighlights include a huge elephant carved on a rock face as well as giraffes, cows and ostriches rendered in caves dating back to an era when the region was not inhospitable desert.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut in a visit to Libya's remote far south, Reuters found many paintings destroyed or damaged by graffiti sprayers or people carving in their initials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETourist officials in Ghat, the nearest large town, said the vandalism started around 2009 when a former Libyan employee of a foreign tour company sprayed over several paintings in anger after he had been fired.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Prehistoric rock art in Libya vandalised\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-zKyDOvDhdJs\/U5CsQNZxD9I\/AAAAAAABB7Q\/3FA_UZywvSY\/s1333\/Libya_03.jpg\" title=\"Prehistoric rock art in Libya vandalised\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERock art at Tadrart Acacus, in Ghat, Libya\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Stringer\/Reuters]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the destruction has accelerated since the 2011 civil war which ousted dictator Muammar Gaddafi and then plunged the sprawling North African country into widespread armed anarchy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith tourist and archaeologists staying away on safety grounds, hunters have taken over the Acacus massif, shooting much of the wildlife across the arid, rugged landscape.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Prehistoric rock art in Libya vandalised\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-A5Ys9Vls7YY\/U5CsoMRgQJI\/AAAAAAABB7Y\/RQGS0IAMFqY\/s1333\/Libya_04.jpg\" title=\"Prehistoric rock art in Libya vandalised\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERock art at Tadrart Acacus, in Ghat, Libya\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Stringer\/Reuters]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWeapons are available anywhere these days in a country where the central government based in Tripoli on the northern Mediterranean coast exerts scant authority and the nascent armed forces are no match for armed tribesmen and militias.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The destruction is not just affecting the paintings but also the natural reserve. Hunters are to blame,\" said Ahmed Sarhan, a tourist ministry official in Ghat.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It's even a problem in Algeria. Authorities are too weak to stop it,\" he said, adding that wildlife such as gazelles and wolves had been almost extinguished by local hunters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-NyRX_n1H8CU\/U5Cs1uvoSfI\/AAAAAAABB7g\/e0QBCN-uTMM\/s1333\/Libya_05.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERock art at Tadrart Acacus, in Ghat, Libya\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Stringer\/Reuters]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It (Acacus) contains some of the most extraordinary scenery in the world and has its unique natural wonders,\" UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency, said on its website. UNESCO has listed Acacus as a World Heritage site, one of 981 worldwide recognized for their outstanding universal value to humanity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Many tourists (once) visited the area, in particular Acacus since it is one of the best touristic locations in Libya,\" said al-Amin al-Ansari, a local tour operator. \"The destruction of paintings is regrettable,\" he said, standing in front of a cave with desecrated paintings of camels and other animals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Reuters [June 03, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2147951972590088877"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2147951972590088877"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/libya-prehistoric-rock-art-in-libya.html","title":"Libya: Prehistoric rock art in Libya vandalised"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-lEqZxI4QcYA\/U5CrrhmMWDI\/AAAAAAABB7A\/JKw8q4CHAH4\/s72-c\/Libya_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2458867187858552599"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-03T10:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.060-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Italy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Italy: The case of the vanishing da Vinci"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"One of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpieces, drawn in red chalk on paper during the early 1500s and widely believed to be a self-portrait, is in extremely poor condition. Centuries of exposure to humid storage conditions or a closed environment has led to widespread and localized yellowing and browning of the paper, which is reducing the contrast between the colors of chalk and paper and substantially diminishing the visibility of the drawing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"The case of the vanishing da Vinci\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-7J78WP7VvA0\/U49csi4vvGI\/AAAAAAABB0w\/p5dIYFpVks0\/s1333\/da-vinci_01.jpg\" title=\"The case of the vanishing da Vinci\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThis is Leonardo da Vinci's self-portrait as acquired during diagnostic studies carried out at the Central Institute for the Restoration of Archival and Library Heritage in Rome, Italy [Credit: M. C. Misiti\/Central Institute for the Restoration of Archival and Library Heritage, Rome]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA group of researchers from Italy and Poland with expertise in paper degradation mechanisms was tasked with determining whether the degradation process has now slowed with appropriate conservation conditions—or if the aging process is continuing at an unacceptable rate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo do this, as they describe in Applied Physics Letters, the team developed an approach to nondestructively identify and quantify the concentration of light-absorbing molecules known as chromophores in ancient paper, the culprit behind the \"yellowing\" of the cellulose within ancient documents and works of art.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"During the centuries, the combined actions of light, heat, moisture, metallic and acidic impurities, and pollutant gases modify the white color of ancient paper's main component: cellulose,\" explained Joanna Łojewska, a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. \"This phenomenon is known as 'yellowing,' which causes severe damage and negatively affects the aesthetic enjoyment of ancient art works on paper.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChromophores are the key to understanding the visual degradation process because they are among the chemical products developed by oxidation during aging and are, ultimately, behind the \"yellowing\" within cellulose. Yellowing occurs when \"chromophores within cellulose absorb the violet and blue range of visible light and largely scatter the yellow and red portions—resulting in the characteristic yellow-brown hue,\" said Olivia Pulci, a professor in the Physics Department at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo determine the degradation rate of Leonardo's self-portrait, the team created a nondestructive approach that centers on identifying and quantifying the concentration of chromophores within paper. It involves using a reflectance spectroscopy setup to obtain optical reflectance spectra of paper samples in the near-infrared, visible, and near-ultraviolet wavelength ranges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce reflectance data is gathered, the optical absorption spectrum of cellulose fibers that form the sheet of paper can be calculated using special spectroscopic data analysis.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen, computational simulations based on quantum mechanics—in particular, Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory, which plays a key role in studying optical properties in theoretical condensed matter physics—are tapped to calculate the optical absorption spectrum of chromophores in cellulose.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Using our approach, we were able to evaluate the state of degradation of Leonardo da Vinci's self-portrait and other paper specimens from ancient books dating from the 15th century,\" said Adriano Mosca Conte, a researcher at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. \"By comparing the results of ancient papers with those of artificially aged samples, we gained significant insights into the environmental conditions in which Leonardo da Vinci's self-portrait was stored during its lifetime.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir work revealed that the type of chromophores present in Leonardo's self portrait are \"similar to those found in ancient and modern paper samples aged in extremely humid conditions or within a closed environment, which agrees with its documented history,\" said Mauro Missori, a researcher at the Institute for Complex Systems, CNR, in Rome, Italy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the most significant implications of their work is that the state of degradation of ancient paper can be measured and quantified by evaluation of the concentrations of chromophores in cellulose fibers. \"The periodic repetition of our approach is fundamental to establishing the formation rate of chromophores within the self-portrait. Now our approach can serve as a precious tool to preserve and save not only this invaluable work of art, but others as well,\" Conte noted.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: American Institute of Physics [June 03, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2458867187858552599"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2458867187858552599"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/italy-case-of-vanishing-da-vinci.html","title":"Italy: The case of the vanishing da Vinci"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-7J78WP7VvA0\/U49csi4vvGI\/AAAAAAABB0w\/p5dIYFpVks0\/s72-c\/da-vinci_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-535192957210688061"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-03T09:30:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.074-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Finland"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Northern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: \"Pot hunters\" targeting archaeological sites in Finland"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Acting on a tip from the public, Finland's National Board of Antiquities has found a number of pits dug and then covered over in one of the graveyards associated with Rapola Castle, a prehistoric hill fortress in the municipality of Valkeakoski in Pirkanmaa.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"\u0026quot;Pot hunters\u0026quot; targeting archaeological sites in Finland\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-X8SmDX8u6Q4\/U5CdtStTwxI\/AAAAAAABB6s\/xxsXyuzgN5E\/s1333\/Finland_01.jpg\" title=\"\u0026quot;Pot hunters\u0026quot; targeting archaeological sites in Finland\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBurial mound near Rapola Castle, a prehistoric hill fortress\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Miinu Mäkelä\/Pirkanmaan maakuntamuseo]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEarlier this spring, similar illicit digging was discovered at another hill fortress known as Hakoinen Castle in Janakkala. In both cases, there was damage to the archaeological integrity of the sites.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoard of Antiquities archaeologist Vadim Adel told Yle that an inspection at the Rapola site revealed about half a dozen pits that had been dug and covered over. It is uncertain if there are more.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It is impossible to fully inspect such a large site. The ones we found are in an area where we were informed they would be. According to the report we received, an individual with a metal detector was seen moving about the area,”said Adel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Rapola site covers an area almost two kilometres in length and hundreds of metres wide and includes the remains of one of the country's largest prehistoric hilltop fortresses. There are also remains of Iron Age dwelling sites, cemeteries, farmed fields and sacrificial altar stones in the same vicinity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe National Board of Antiquities has not yet decided whether or not the police will be called in to investigate and possibly track down the culprit or culprits. Experts have stressed, however, that these sites form a unified cultural milieu that is damaged by unauthorized digging or removing objects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn mid-May, National Board of Antiquities reported a similar incident of dozens of pits having been dug at the Hakoinen site in Janakkala.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Yle [May 30, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/535192957210688061"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/535192957210688061"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/heritage-hunters-targeting.html","title":"Heritage: \u0026quot;Pot hunters\u0026quot; targeting archaeological sites in Finland"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-X8SmDX8u6Q4\/U5CdtStTwxI\/AAAAAAABB6s\/xxsXyuzgN5E\/s72-c\/Finland_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3414820223438696952"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-03T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.088-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ireland"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: Rare Irish Stone Age site 'badly damaged' "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"An investigation is under way into claims that a rare Stone Age site near Belfast has been badly damaged.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Rare Irish Stone Age site 'badly damaged' \" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-8r9r2aRdiEo\/U49XbNegGXI\/AAAAAAABB0g\/qKBQksZO89w\/s1333\/Ireland_01.jpg\" title=\"Rare Irish Stone Age site 'badly damaged' \" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStone Age sites are the source of archaeological material dating back\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Enearly 9,000 years [Credit: BBC]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Department of Environment (DoE) is working to establish if planning restrictions at the Ballymaglaff construction site in Dundonald were broken.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe NI Environment Agency (NIEA) is also inspecting the site amid concerns about the access road.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut site builders, Lagan Homes, said they complied fully with regulations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Lagan Homes complied fully with - and exceeded - the archaeological conditions attached to these works,\" the construction company said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The company is fully committed to safeguarding areas of archaeological interest and appointed an archaeological consultant - working under licence from NIEA Historical Monuments - to undertake trial evaluations at the site. These trials did not reveal any archaeological material.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The nature of this work is highly technical and the company strongly refutes any suggestion that it did not comply with planning conditions.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHistorian Peter Carr, who discovered the Ballymaglaff site in 1984, said it dated from the Early Mesolithic period, 8,800-9,800 years ago\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Although the site is on the Department of the Environment's sites and monuments record, it is unclear what protective archaeological measures were attached to the planning permission,\" he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Some time before development commenced, archaeologists acting for the developers conducted what is described as a 'test evaluation'. Nothing was found. 'Nothing was found' then seems to have become 'There is nothing there to find', and road construction went ahead.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The archaeological layer, which contained worked Early Mesolithic flints and possibly other material, was torn up and left in spoil heaps by the river. These have not been protected and soil from the heaps has subsequently been redistributed.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr Carr said that, nevertheless, it was still possible to salvage important material from the heaps.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a statement, DoE planners said that the most recent planning permission was granted on 20 November 2013 for housing and an access road in Dundonald.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"When assessing the application, DoE planning consulted with the NIEA who recommended conditions requesting a written scheme and programme of archaeological work to be prepared by a qualified archaeologist for approval by the department. These conditions were placed on the planning approval,\" the DoE said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The applicant carried out a test evaluation of lands near the road. This was conducted under licence from NIEA (AE\/13\/178). No archaeological material was identified during this evaluation.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe DoE and the developer have scheduled a meeting for Wednesday to discuss the Ballymaglaff site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: BBC News Website [June 03, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3414820223438696952"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3414820223438696952"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/uk-rare-irish-stone-age-site-damaged.html","title":"UK: Rare Irish Stone Age site \u0026#39;badly damaged\u0026#39; "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-8r9r2aRdiEo\/U49XbNegGXI\/AAAAAAABB0g\/qKBQksZO89w\/s72-c\/Ireland_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7666538707402441326"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-03T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.102-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Archaeologists warn of a 'pillaged Egypt' in 25 years"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Looters will strip Egypt of most of its archaeological heritage within the next quarter century, an archaeologist warned at a U.S. State Department hearing this week.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeologists warn of a pillaged Egypt in 25 years\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-XTPy_NFyyNQ\/U49L5pM9_CI\/AAAAAAABBzs\/Ho4wlu_lgRQ\/s1333\/Egypt_02.jpg\" title=\"Archaeologists warn of a pillaged Egypt in 25 years\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooters dig for artifacts at Antinopolis\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Ann HermesGetty Images]\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Wholesale looting is occurring all over Egypt, and we are seeing a big spike that came after the revolution,\" says archaeologist Sarah Parcak, who testified on Monday, opening a three-day hearing at the State Department. \"If we don't do something to stop it, most sites in Egypt will be gone in 25 years.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESatellites, including some that are part of a program spearheaded by Parcak, have revealed that the illicit digging in Egypt is widespread.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELooting of archaeological sites and thefts from museums have afflicted Egypt since the political upheaval of 2011. In March, Egypt requested that the U.S. adopt new rules that would empower U.S. Customs officials to seize looted antiquities from that country, the subject of this week's hearing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWorld Heritage sites are among the looters' targets, said Parcak, of the University of Alabama-Birmingham, who is also a National Geographic fellow.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer satellite survey project, funded in part by the National Geographic Society, examines more than 4,000 archaeological sites in Egypt using Google Earth satellite imagery. Although preliminary, the survey finds tens of thousands of looting pits dotting the landscape, Parcak says, many of them recent.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHome of fabled pyramids, tombs, and ancient treasures, Egypt harbors the ruins of one of the world's most storied civilizations, a cradle of mankind. At the hearing, antiquities experts faced off with coin dealers, largely over whether the import restrictions requested by Egypt will help halt the pillaging.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven before it began, the hearing attracted hundreds of public comments from both sides, most of them from coin collectors calling for an exemption from the proposed restrictions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EU.S. Demand Fueling Antiquities Trade\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFueling the digging is burgeoning demand from the U.S., which in 2013 imported some ten million dollars' worth of Egyptian antiquities, according to experts such as Erin Thompson of City University of New York.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeologists warn of a pillaged Egypt in 25 years\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-XvOiMCcDgvc\/U49MDtbH1hI\/AAAAAAABBz0\/m15LY4rFxyg\/s1333\/Egypt_03.jpg\" title=\"Archaeologists warn of a pillaged Egypt in 25 years\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeologists warn of a pillaged Egypt in 25 years\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-19-2Yarj3dY\/U49MHGEet3I\/AAAAAAABBz8\/JsmfXmt6gZI\/s1333\/Egypt_04.jpg\" title=\"Archaeologists warn of a pillaged Egypt in 25 years\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooting holes can be seen from space at a South Dashur, Egypt, archaeological\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;site in 2011 (above) and two years later [Credit: Sarah Parcak]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPapyrus fragments of interest to biblical scholars are already being sold online from looted sites, according to testimony at the hearing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We'll never stop looting. We can only slow it down,\" says Egyptian art expert David O'Connor of the American Research Center in Egypt, who also testified at the hearing. His group supports the import restrictions, which he called \"a significant way of inhibiting the pillaging in Egypt.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore 2011, Egyptian officials saw about 1,200 looting cases every year, according to government data. The number has since doubled, spurred in part by economic hard times. The tourism industry, which supported roughly 10 percent of the Egyptian economy, was particularly hard-hit after the revolution, making archaeological sites more attractive and vulnerable to looters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECoin dealers such as Wayne Sayles of Gainesville, Missouri, who testified at Monday's hearing, argued for exemption from new import rules for coins. He noted that coins were meant to be traded and were already in wide circulation, and he said that the threat of U.S. Customs impoundments would hurt small businesses. \"You are going to have a situation where small coin collectors are pushed out.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFrom Shovels to Bulldozers\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAncient coins, fragments of papyrus, or broken jars often seem inconsequential compared to wares from royal tombs, said Brown University's Laurel Bestock. But experts must study antiquities in their original setting and groupings to gain any insights into the ancient world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeologists warn of a pillaged Egypt in 25 years\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-6nhzi-uAcgA\/U49MfkSnL8I\/AAAAAAABB0E\/5gJOYaeqz9U\/s1333\/Egypt_01.jpg\" title=\"Archaeologists warn of a pillaged Egypt in 25 years\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPottery sherds litter the ground at the site of ancient Antinopolis, which is threatened\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;by looting in Egypt [Credit: Ann HermesGetty Images]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEgyptian archaeologist Monica Hanna testified at the hearing that organized looters are using bulldozers to pillage some sites. Egypt employs about 1,200 guards at archaeological sites, but most make only about $40 a week.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe committee asked coin and art dealers at the hearing what prevented them from better documenting their wares to prove they are legal, a sticking point often raised about the proposed import restrictions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the same time, archaeologists were questioned sharply about the true extent of the damage, whether Egypt is doing enough to halt the looting, and whether the proposed restrictions would actually affect the market for looted antiquities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe advisory committee considering the proposal, headed by DePaul University antiquities law expert Patty Gerstenblith, is scheduled to continue discussing the Egyptian request until Wednesday, when it will make a recommendation on the new law to the State Department.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEgyptian officials will testify about the request in closed sessions later this week.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Dan Vergano | Source: National Geographic [June 03, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7666538707402441326"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7666538707402441326"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/05\/heritage-archaeologists-warn-of-egypt.html","title":"Heritage: Archaeologists warn of a \u0026#39;pillaged Egypt\u0026#39; in 25 years"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-XTPy_NFyyNQ\/U49L5pM9_CI\/AAAAAAABBzs\/Ho4wlu_lgRQ\/s72-c\/Egypt_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-1684471393563162370"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-28T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.196-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Eastern Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Georgia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Georgia: Plan to develop Georgia's ancient gold mine criticised"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"What is worth more: a unique historic site or gold that lies within it? That is a question Georgians have been grappling with since their government gave permission for industrial excavation to start at what scientists claim is the oldest known gold mine in the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Plan to develop Georgia's ancient gold mine criticised\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-E9gXtleJf4c\/U42AspQoLpI\/AAAAAAABBpE\/iIFfF4OGMgk\/s1333\/georgia-1.gif\" title=\"Plan to develop Georgia's ancient gold mine criticised\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe gold in Sakdrisi hill is too much of a temptation for\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;the government [Credit: BBC]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe archaeological area, known as Sakdrisi, is a small grassy hill in the Bolnisi region, in the picturesque foothills of south-eastern Georgia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor 10 years Professor Thomas Stoellner, a leading specialist in mining archaeology from the University of Bochum, Germany, has been studying the archaeological record at Sakdrisi together with his Georgian colleagues.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"When we went to do the first survey we found hammer stones - typical mining tools - thousands of them,\" says Prof Stoellner, who believes that tunnels inside the hill date back 5,400 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"At once I realised the importance of the site. When we got the first value carbon dates, and they were around 3,000 BC, it was clear that this was an exciting find which had never occurred in pre-historic mining.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecently discovered artefacts including a unique set of spiral gold earrings found in neighbouring Azerbaijan can be traced to Sakdrisi, according to Prof Stoellner.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E'No proof'\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgian government used to share this excitement and Sakdrisi was a protected cultural heritage site. But that status has been removed, and Professor Stoellner's views are being challenged.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Plan to develop Georgia's ancient gold mine criticised\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-XS_Jbv2HNEs\/U42CGzlxSpI\/AAAAAAABBpQ\/4Mdyrkpyi8A\/s1333\/Georgia_1.jpg\" title=\"Plan to develop Georgia's ancient gold mine criticised\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArchaeologist Thomas Stoellner shows some of the artefacts that\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehave been found in the mine [Credit: BBC]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It's not proven that Sakdrisi is an ancient gold mine - it's just an assumption,\" Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili recently said at a meeting with university students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDoes that change in position have much to do with the mine's potential as a source of employment and revenue in the region?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESakdrisi sits on prime territory licensed to a commercial gold mining company, RMG Gold. The Russian-owned company is a major investor in the Georgian economy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMr Garibashvili was keen to emphasise this: \"The investor has already invested $300m [£178m; 219m euros] in the Georgian economy. This company has 3,000 employees and those people represent 3,000 families.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to RMG's commercial director, Soso Tsabadze, their products, which include copper concentrates and gold alloys, make up about 10% of Georgia's total exports.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough Sakdrisi hill occupies only nine hectares out of 193 hectares of licensed territory, RMG says it is vital for their operation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We estimate the area holds a deposit of 14 tonnes of gold, 30% of which lies immediately under the hill.\" says Mr Tsabadze.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Initially Sakdrisi was cut out of the licensed territory because of the archaeological site,\" he explains.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We sent experts to study how far from the site we could mine. They concluded that we would not be able to use drill and blast methods within one kilometre of the protected site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey then posed a question: is this really an ancient archaeological site? This was a legitimate question because there was no scientific evidence.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo study the issue, the government appointed a commission, which ruled that there was no scientific proof that Sakdrisi was a gold mine and that its historic status had been granted in \"gross violation\" of Georgian law.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProtest camp\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECivil society activists in Georgia have staged protests against the site's destruction. A few dozen young students have been camped out near Sakdrisi since mid-April.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Plan to develop Georgia's ancient gold mine criticised\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-BX99CX0z0jA\/U42CQBYgxTI\/AAAAAAABBpY\/MwaACA64P7k\/s1333\/georgia-5.gif\" title=\"Plan to develop Georgia's ancient gold mine criticised\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProtest camp near the proposed mine in Georgia [Credit: BBC]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOrganisers of the protests want the government to invite an independent panel of international experts to decide on Sakdrisi.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarina Mizandari was formerly deputy culture minister. She claims she was fired for criticising the decision to allow mining to proceed at Sakdrisi, and believes there are other ways to develop the region.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"If this archaeological heritage is maintained, it could become an educational scientific centre,\" she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"We have other ancient settlements nearby from the same epoch. We can follow the gold processing step by step, develop cultural tourism and contribute towards the sustainable development of this region.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EActivists have also been seeking to attract attention to the mining industry's \"disastrous\" environmental record in the region, and have highlighted what appears to be poor environmental practice.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA 2012 study by researchers at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University found that heavy metal pollutants from mining processes were entering the river system in Bolnisi.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Mining is the biggest industry in our country and it's also the biggest pollutant,\" says Kakha Bakhtadze from the Caucasus Environmental NGO Network.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The problem with Bolnisi region is that it's one of the main suppliers of agricultural produce to the capital Tbilisi. There are lots of farms here and they use water from heavily polluted local rivers to irrigate their crops.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPriorities\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut, RMG director Soso Tsabadze admits, dealing with environmental issues is not a priority. He says the company has already encountered losses due to delays in production over Sakdrisi.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Plan to develop Georgia's ancient gold mine criticised\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/--XG7l7IFWfc\/U42CywiFIDI\/AAAAAAABBpg\/I3O71l72Tl0\/s1333\/georgia-6.gif\" title=\"Plan to develop Georgia's ancient gold mine criticised\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWork inside the hill [Credit: BBC]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd so, the work is under way. Mud tracks have already been formed in the ground by trucks and digging equipment passing back and forth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo see the historic site destroyed will be a loss for the scientific community, says Prof Thomas Stoellner. He believes the oldest stages of mining have yet to be discovered: \"In Western Europe we solve such problems by doing commercial rescue archaeology - excavate everything, study the details and then, okay, if there is a decision of the government, exploit the field.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe government may have already made its decision but protesters have vowed to stay on. They are hoping an independent panel of experts will be invited to judge whether this ancient mine is worth more than the gold that lies within it. ?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Rayhan Demytrie | Source: BBC News Website [May 29, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1684471393563162370"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/1684471393563162370"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/georgia-plan-to-develop-georgia-ancient.html","title":"Georgia: Plan to develop Georgia\u0026#39;s ancient gold mine criticised"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-E9gXtleJf4c\/U42AspQoLpI\/AAAAAAABBpE\/iIFfF4OGMgk\/s72-c\/georgia-1.gif","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-6005707031921632267"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-27T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.277-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: Ancient Egyptian pot found in Cornish garage"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Battered pot found in Cornish garage unlocks Egypt excavation secrets Pot sheds light on the work of archeologist Flinders Petrie whose finds scattered across the world in the late 19th century\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient Egyptian pot found in Cornish garage\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-jpLU46qXNMY\/U4cbmRxZzHI\/AAAAAAABBbo\/mAvW5uG3HjA\/s1333\/pot.jpg\" title=\"Ancient Egyptian pot found in Cornish garage\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe vessel will be reunited with other tomb offerings 120 years\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eafter excavation [Credit:: The Petrie Museum]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA battered pot found in a garage in Cornwall, broken in antiquity and broken again and mended with superglue some 5,500 years later, was treasure – but the scruffy little cardboard label it held is now unlocking a lost history of finds from excavations in Egypt scattered across the world in the late 19th century.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pot came with an odd family legend that back in the 1950s it was accepted in lieu of a fare by a taxi driver in High Wycombe. Alice Stevenson, curator at the Petrie Museum in London, which among its 80,000 objects has the original excavation records and hundreds of pieces from the same Egyptian cemetery, believes the story is true and may even have identified the mysterious passenger.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"I got the email from them on my second week in this job,\" Stevenson said. \"I could hardly believe what they'd found. I literally jumped up and down in excitement. The pot is wonderful, a rare find indeed. The label is absolutely fantastic.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen Guy Funnell and Amanda Hawkins found the pot while clearing a garage stacked with his father's possessions, they made the connection with a BBC documentary they had recently seen, The Man Who Discovered Egypt, about the archaeologist Flinders Petrie.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPetrie's meticulous records and scientifically based excavations in the region transformed archaeology, and he created a timeline still in use today through sorting thousands of pots by date, enabling tombs, temples and entire towns to be dated from the fragments of broken pottery on the sites.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe little black and red pot was one of the few occasions when he was not only completely wrong, but admitted that, mortifyingly, a French rival was right.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPetrie, like his 19th-century contemporaries, sent back tons of material from Egypt to universities and museums funding his excavations, and later sold a huge collection that became the basis of the Petrie Museum – the most difficult to find in London, \"temporarily\" housed in an old stables on the UCL Bloomsbury campus alleyway since the 1950s, but with the finest collection of material from the region outside Egypt.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was known that he gave pieces to individuals, at a time when a visit to a celebrity archaeologist's dig was the highlight of any tourist or VIP trip down the Nile. The little label proves this was done on a systematic basis not previously guessed at. It is a neat commercially printed card, with an Egyptianate border, boasting that the \"Libyan Pottery\" from 3,000 BC was discovered by Prof WM Flinders Petrie in 1894-5. The card was clearly one of many, but pot, card, and excavation record are linked by the faintly pencilled number 1754.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"There were obviously many such cards, but I have never seen or heard of one before – there must be more out there, which would help us trace the distribution of this material through museums and private collections,\" Stevenson said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pot is now being conserved for display at the museum, on loan for a year. Funnell dimly remembers it in childhood, and his mother remembered the story that his grandfather, Charles Funnell, was given it to settle not just one but several unpaid taxi fares.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStevenson believes the mystery customer may have been a curator at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Joseph Grafton Milne, who died in 1951, but was recorded as visiting Petrie in Egypt in the 1890s. The link between the distinctive pots: the Ashmolean has a bowl from Milne's collection from the same grave as Funnell's pot, and she thinks it is probable Milne obtained both from Petrie.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Petrie has some tiny shells, pierced as beads, and a piece of rock crystal from the same grave, but the records show many more pots came from the same grave, and thousands from the cemetery, and the card may help to trace them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPetrie was wrong about the pots: they were Egyptian, not Libyan. He was fooled because their distinctive black fire-scorched rims were so different from the others he found. However, a French scholar, Jacques de Morgan, established that they were Egyptian but pre-Dynastic, 600 years older than Petrie first believed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It was one of the few occasions when Petrie was not only wrong, but admitted it publicly,\" Stevenson said, \"a very unusual occurrence.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter conservation work, the treasure from the Cornish garage will go on display next month, a scruffy star of the museum's Festival of Pots.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Maev Kennedy | Source: The Guardian [May 26, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6005707031921632267"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/6005707031921632267"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/uk-ancient-egyptian-pot-found-in.html","title":"UK: Ancient Egyptian pot found in Cornish garage"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-jpLU46qXNMY\/U4cbmRxZzHI\/AAAAAAABBbo\/mAvW5uG3HjA\/s72-c\/pot.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5447464401337080777"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-27T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.295-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Ancient Anatolian sites abandoned to their fate"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Two historical areas in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir are in danger of falling into greater disrepair after three watchmen at the site were forced to leave due to unpaid wages stemming from a budget shortfall.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient Anatolian sites abandoned to their fate\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-QllT1kBJK70\/U4TJcR3N8PI\/AAAAAAABBao\/IEfG-yPTZlw\/s1333\/Turkey_ancient-1.jpg\" title=\"Ancient Anatolian sites abandoned to their fate\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient Anatolian sites abandoned to their fate\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-FQqrsyGJsLY\/U4TKW6ml14I\/AAAAAAABBaw\/1TFtePFpb0g\/s1333\/Turkey_ancient-4.jpg\" title=\"Ancient Anatolian sites abandoned to their fate\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDiyarbakir’s Hilar Inns and the Cayonu Hill are registered as first-degree archaeological\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;sites but they are in danger of becoming no more than a rubbish dump after the\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;departure of the area’s watchmen [Credit: DHA]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The Archaeology Museum Directorate was paying our salary. We had to leave the job because we were not paid for four months,” said one of them, Kadri Yildirim, who worked at the Hilar Inns and Cayonu Hill area in the province’s Ergani district for four years as a guide, security official and cleaner.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe two historical structures, which were first revealed during excavations in 2006 and opened to tourism, are registered as a first-degree archaeological site but they are open to all dangers. Now, however, the stone gates of some Roman-era rock graves have been broken, while some tombs have been turned into a dumpsite.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile they were open, the sites were attracting as many as 50,000 tourists a year. Visitors were not even allowed to enter the rock graves but after the workers left, the graves rapidly became a repository for garbage. The lightning system of the main inn was disassembled, while graffiti was scrawled on the walls.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Cayonu settlement, located to the north of the inns, was also vandalized, as the fences around the settlement were ruined while the signboards along the walking route were removed. Yildirim said the trio’s salaries were cut at the end of 2013 but that they continued serving in the area voluntarily until April 23.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Cigarette stubs are thrown inside the inns, some stones have been broken. The area is miserable. We cannot stop worrying about it,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAbbas Yorulmus, who worked in the area for seven years, said nobody was taking an interest in the historic place at the moment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“It is an abandoned place now. We were cleaners, workers and guards here for 24 hours a day. We were introducing the region to tourists. We were fired in December last year but we waited until April 23, thinking that the problem could be solved. This area looks like a garbage dump now. We are very sorry. The museum told us that the special provincial administration budget was cut this year. We wrote a letter to the ministry and the governor’s office. But in the end, we had to leave this place,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVillager Tarik Aslan said village guards had replaced the three watchmen, but added that visitors did not like them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Watchmen were giving information to visitors but village guards don’t do anything. You see the current situation. The state constructed a road here for 1.5 million Turkish Liras but could not find salaries for the watchmen,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EErgani District Gov. Erdin Yilmaz said the Diyarbakir Archaeology Museum should protect historical places but added that workers’ salaries were not paid because of the budget shortfall.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We provide for the security of historical places with village guards and gendarmes. But the responsibility [for watchmen] belongs to the museum directorate. We are working to prevent this problem here,” Yilmaz said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [May 27, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5447464401337080777"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5447464401337080777"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/near-east-ancient-anatolian-sites.html","title":"Near East: Ancient Anatolian sites abandoned to their fate"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-QllT1kBJK70\/U4TJcR3N8PI\/AAAAAAABBao\/IEfG-yPTZlw\/s72-c\/Turkey_ancient-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5455834139737580698"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-26T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.225-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Americas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Caribbean islands"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Central America"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Underwater Archaeology"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Haiti creates commission to monitor possible Santa Maria wreck"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The Haitian government plans to create a high-level commission to monitor the possible discovery of the 500-year-old remains of Christopher Columbus's flagship off the country's north coast, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe said on Wednesday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Haiti creates commission to monitor possible Santa Maria wreck\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-CU1ZxTltK7s\/U4oN_JSwZcI\/AAAAAAABBlI\/S_8BMG9a8jY\/s1333\/Haiti_Santa_Maria+_01.jpeg\" title=\"Haiti creates commission to monitor possible Santa Maria wreck\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA replica of Christopher Columbus' caravel Santa Maria is shown in this circa 1892 photo\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eprovided by the United States Library of Congress on May 13, 2014\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Reuters\/U.S. Library of Congress]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe announcement, made via Twitter, came as Haitian officials were meeting in the capital Port-au-Prince with U.S. marine explorer Barry Clifford, the leader of a team that claimed two weeks ago to have discovered the wreck of the Santa Maria.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELamothe said the commission would be composed of experts from the United Nation's cultural arm, UNESCO, the ministries of culture and tourism, specialists from the Haitian National Pantheon Museum (MUPANAH), as well as Clifford.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"I am confident that a full excavation of the wreck will yield the first-ever detailed marine archaeological evidence of Columbus's discovery of America,\" Clifford told a press conference in New York two weeks ago.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe wreck was discovered in about 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) of water near a reef, and matches the length of the Santa Maria's 115-foot (35-meter) keel, according to the exploration team.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Haiti creates commission to monitor possible Santa Maria wreck\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-Hcw-OaXUZM0\/U4oIlyk24fI\/AAAAAAABBkk\/80Wu007X2AQ\/s1333\/Haiti_Santa_Maria+_02.jpeg\" title=\"Haiti creates commission to monitor possible Santa Maria wreck\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMarine investigator Barry Clifford speaks during a news conference at the Explorers\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClub in New York May 14, 2014 [Credit: Reuters\/Brendan McDermid]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHaitian officials remain skeptical, saying it was unlikely that any trace of the wooden ship remains after so many years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Santa Maria was one of a fleet of three vessels that left Spain in 1492 to look for a shorter route to Asia. The ship, after arriving near the Bahamas, drifted onto a reef on Christmas Day and had to be abandoned.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe MUPANAH, located in the center of Port-au-Prince, has for many years exhibited as its main attraction what is believed to be one of the anchors of the Santa Maria, recovered more than 300 years ago in good condition.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EClifford is hoping for official backing of his recovery effort a few miles offshore, including protection of the wreck site from looters, arguing that it could provide a boost to Haiti's struggling tourism industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EClifford has said he would like the ship to stay in Haiti as part of a permanent exhibition to help the country's struggling tourism industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Amelie Baron | Source: Reuters [May 28, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5455834139737580698"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5455834139737580698"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/more-stuff-haiti-creates-commission-to.html","title":"More Stuff: Haiti creates commission to monitor possible Santa Maria wreck"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-CU1ZxTltK7s\/U4oN_JSwZcI\/AAAAAAABBlI\/S_8BMG9a8jY\/s72-c\/Haiti_Santa_Maria+_01.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-8179192233225262990"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-25T12:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.309-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Egypt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hungary"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Five stolen Egyptian artefacts located in Europe"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The Egyptian antiquities ministry has located five ancient artefacts that were smuggled out of the country in 2002, it announced on Saturday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Five stolen Egyptian artefacts located in Europe\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-cli1HhqGHFA\/U4N7GZzx9tI\/AAAAAAABBUk\/tvdn8_JgM_k\/s1333\/Egypt_loot_01.jpg\" title=\"Five stolen Egyptian artefacts located in Europe\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESection of the lintel depicting the priest Hunefer\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Ahram Online]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAntiquities Minister Mohamed Ibrahim announced that the artefacts were stolen during illegal excavations at the Saqqara necropolis, 25 kilometres south of the Giza pyramids.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThree of these objects, he told Ahram Online, are on display at the Fine Arts Museum in Budapest in Hungary, while the other two are listed on the brochure of an auction hall in Paris.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIbrahim explained that the three objects in Budapest are parts of the upper lintel of the temple of an Old Kingdom priest named Hunefer, who was a high priest during the reign of king Pepi I (from 2332 to 2283 BC).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe temple was discovered in 2001 in the Tabet Al-Geish area of Saqqara by a French archaeological mission.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Five stolen Egyptian artefacts located in Europe\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-3lzeIxmte44\/U4N7KV0BQWI\/AAAAAAABBUs\/vGKVp5cG45g\/s1333\/Egypt_loot_02.jpg\" title=\"Five stolen Egyptian artefacts located in Europe\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe three parts of the lintel combined\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Ahram Online]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe artefacts on display in Budapest are parts of the upper part of the lintel of the chapel entrance, depicting the priest alongside hieroglyphic text.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIbrahim told Ahram Online that according to the documents of the Fine Arts Museum in Budapest, the three objects were bought by the museum in 2002 from an auction house. The museum was informed that the objects were bought in 1974.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut, he went on, by asking the French mission, the three objects were shown to be stolen from the site via illegal excavations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition, Ibrahim asserted, excavation works at the Tabet Al-Geish area did not start before 2000, when the French mission began its excavation there.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Ali Ahmed, the head of the antiquities recovery division of the ministry, the other two objects, currently on display in the brochure of a French auction house, are part of the western lintel of Hunefer’s chapel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ministry is taking all legal procedures to return the objects to Egypt.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Nevine El-Aref | Source: Ahram Online [May 24, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8179192233225262990"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8179192233225262990"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/more-stuff-five-stolen-egyptian.html","title":"More Stuff: Five stolen Egyptian artefacts located in Europe"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-cli1HhqGHFA\/U4N7GZzx9tI\/AAAAAAABBUk\/tvdn8_JgM_k\/s72-c\/Egypt_loot_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-8246489039672299303"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-16T10:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.366-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"China"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"East Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heritage: Discoveries at Hong Kong rail link site left in limbo"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The fate of one of the largest archaeological finds in Hong Kong - and the Sha Tin-Central rail link - was left undecided last night after the man in charge of studying the dig stopped short of a recommendation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Discoveries at Hong Kong rail link site left in limbo\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-hTHK_YwYWCw\/U3sllAGaiwI\/AAAAAAABA9A\/AHsLcbOc1Vs\/s1333\/China_01.jpg\" title=\"Discoveries at Hong Kong rail link site left in limbo\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConstruction on the Sha Tin to Central rail link has been stalled by the\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Song-dynasty discoveries [Credit: SCMP]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDr Liu Wensuo, of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, the lead archaeologist in a study of the relics found in To Kwa Wan, was asked at a meeting of the Antiquities Advisory Board whether he considered the relics should be preserved on site, or removed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe replied: \"There are both pros and cons of in situ preservation. It is not a question that I can answer, but is a matter to be discussed with the board, the Antiquities and Monuments Office and even residents.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELiu spoke in public for the first time on the Song-dynasty discoveries, which have sparked controversy over heritage conservation versus building progress of the Sha Tin to Central rail link.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe dilemma was summed up by Chinese University archaeologist Professor Tracey Lu Lie-dan. \"I always tell my students that archaeology itself is destruction,\" she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The difference between grave robbers and us [archaeologists] is that we record our findings in detail. The reconstruction of history through the discovery of relics is the ultimate goal of archaeology.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEarlier, Lu and some members of the Antiquities Advisory Board expressed concern over structures already removed, after the MTR Corporation presented a proposal on protecting a Song-era well and nearby remains of house structures and a nullah that would allow construction nearby to go ahead.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe archaeological excavation in and around the site of the planned To Kwa Wan railway station started in late 2012.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe well that dated only partly to the Song dynasty was removed in two halves for safety reasons and for analysis of its structure, Raymond Ng Chun-lam, an archaeologist on Liu's team, said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe process was known as dissection of the well, Lu said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhether the relics should be preserved in situ should be discussed after the archaeological survey ended, she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EActivists from the Sacred Hill Monument Concern Group petitioned the board for in situ preservation. \"We hope the works for the Sha Tin-Central link will be halted and the public consulted on ways to conserve the relics after the archaeological study is completed,\" group member Katty Law Ngar-ning said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother petition came from residents in the area. \"Can't the well be moved next to the Sung Wong Toi boulder?\" Leung Ming-biu asked. Leung disagreed with delaying the railway.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWong Wai-kwong, the Highways Department's senior engineer responsible for the MTR's construction of the link, has said a delay beyond the 2018 completion date would cost \"millions\" a day.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Fanny W. Y. Fung | Source: South China Morning Post [May 16, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8246489039672299303"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/8246489039672299303"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/heritage-discoveries-at-hong-kong-rail.html","title":"Heritage: Discoveries at Hong Kong rail link site left in limbo"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-hTHK_YwYWCw\/U3sllAGaiwI\/AAAAAAABA9A\/AHsLcbOc1Vs\/s72-c\/China_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5971305212897438474"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-16T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.380-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greater Middle East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Near East"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Turkey"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Near East: Ancient sarcophagus seized in northern Turkey"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"An illegal excavation in Turkey's northern Anatolian province of Corum’s Sungurlu district has unearthed a 1,900-year-old sarcophagus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient sarcophagus seized in northern Turkey\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-33Udiu-UX5k\/U3ZMNut1IWI\/AAAAAAABA5E\/0-tTjOv_TqY\/s1333\/Turkey_02.jpg\" title=\"Ancient sarcophagus seized in northern Turkey\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe sarcophagus, which dates back t 1,900 years ago, has been unearthed during an\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;illegal excavation in Corum’s Sungurlu district. The tomb cover were broken by smugglers\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;who wanted to enter it [Credit: Hurriyet]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe sarcophagus has been removed from the excavation area by archaeologists and moved into the Corum Museum for display.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe tumulus in Turgutlu village, where the sarcophagus was found, was illegally excavated in 2012 before the region was registered as a first-degree archaeological area, said Gov. Sabri Baskoy, adding that some public officials were involved in the illegal excavations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA new illegal excavation was also carried out on the tumulus in March this year, the governor said, adding that they were informed that the tomb was unearthed during this excavation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The tomb adds a value to Corum’s underground richness. It is the largest tomb found in the province. We hope that it will contribute to the promotion of Corum,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA female body\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExaminations showed that the sarcophagus dates from 96-98 A.D., Baskoy said, adding that those involved in the illegal excavations were being investigated.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBaskoy said they were certain the sarcophagus was 1,900 years old. “We believe that there was a female body inside the tomb. It was sent to Ankara for tests. The gender and age of the body will be identified,” he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpeaking about the features of the sarcophagus, Corum Museum Director Onder Ipek said: “The tomb cover is 240 centimeters. It is 120 centimeters in width and 58 centimeter in height. The two long sides of the tomb cover were broken by smugglers who wanted to enter it. One of the acroteria was also broken. Some pieces of this acroterion were found by experts and attached to their place by the conservator of the museum. Eros, the god of love in Greek mythology, is embroidered on the surface of the tomb. The head of Eros received damage because of smugglers.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to the pieces of human skeleton, a silver coin, a gold earring and a ring were also found inside the sarcophagus, Ipek said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hurriyet Daily News [May 16, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5971305212897438474"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5971305212897438474"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/near-east-ancient-sarcophagus-seized-in.html","title":"Near East: Ancient sarcophagus seized in northern Turkey"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-33Udiu-UX5k\/U3ZMNut1IWI\/AAAAAAABA5E\/0-tTjOv_TqY\/s72-c\/Turkey_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-5195074854618508883"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-13T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.439-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Thera fresco conservation lab closed"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The fresco conservation laboratory, housed within the archaeological site at Akrotiri, Thera (Santorini) since 1967, has been closed due to lack of financial means that would keep it open and operating.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Thera fresco conservation lab closed\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-qpduUXNoBkA\/U3N-cq9I_nI\/AAAAAAABAtw\/KMBjokJiMq8\/s1333\/Greece_Thera-1.jpg\" title=\"Thera fresco conservation lab closed\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe fresco conservation lab at Akrotiri, Thera (Santorini)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Enet.gr]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Prof. Christos Doumas, the excavation project’s director and direct successor of Spyridon Marinatos (who revealed the world-famous site during the late sixites),\u0026nbsp; the fresco fragments are now under constant danger to be transformed into “nests for mice”.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was Marinatos who began excavating at Akrotiri back in 1967. “Since then and till 3-4 years ago, the Ministry of Culture was giving a special fund to the Archaeological Society in Athens for this dig. Then, it stopped. They just stopped sending money”, says Doumas, who spoke to Greek website Enet.gr.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrescoes as a group consist some of the dig’s most important finds which make the excavation unique in the world, being the subject for a hundred-title-long bibliography in many languages. “These frescoes are in fragmentary condition. However, our conservators have managed to gather these fragments and to gradually join them together, so that today we are in position to see large murals dating back in 1600 BC”, Doumas explains.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe frescoes lab, which operates since 1967, was set up by leading conservators such as Tassos Margaritof and Stavros Baltoyannis and became the “cradle” for three generations of high profile conservators. In its ‘glory’, the lab was reminiscent of an operation theatre where experts were performing delicate interventions, completing three thousand-old, delicate puzzles. “Till last years, we managed to operate the lab through funds from private donors, friends of the project”, says Doumas. “But for the first time this year, the lab closed. Two girls found a job in Egypt and they emigrated. How could they live here? I am losing my conservators, and if this situation continues, I will lose them for good. The lab has to operate again!”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Enet.gr, the monthly costs for the lab are approximately 5 to 6,000 euros, “equal to the salary earned by each of those, virtually non-working, minister consultants…”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDoumas still remembers a 1977 meeting with Constantinos Trypanis, a remarkable scholar serving as Minister of Culture back in the day, who had said: “This excavation project has to remain in Greek hands. It is unique worldwide and I don’t believe it is going to be any Greek government that will not support it”. Unfortunately, he was wrong. “The dig is failed by a government whose both the President and its Vice-president have served as Ministers of Culrure”, says Doumas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Enet via Archaiologia Online [May 13, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5195074854618508883"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/5195074854618508883"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/more-stuff-thera-fresco-conservation.html","title":"More Stuff: Thera fresco conservation lab closed"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-qpduUXNoBkA\/U3N-cq9I_nI\/AAAAAAABAtw\/KMBjokJiMq8\/s72-c\/Greece_Thera-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2766163601312015146"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-08T12:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.484-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greece"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Greece’s Caryatids getting extreme makeover"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The Acropolis’ famed Caryatids, Greece’s most celebrated ancient beauties, are currently undergoing an extreme makeover to clean the century-old statues from pollution, smoke, and whatever else has settled on the statues for over more than a century.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Greece’s Caryatids getting extreme makeover\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-X7oBs-bdN98\/U2ylbyL9a1I\/AAAAAAABAm8\/766z1ku7L_s\/s1333\/Greece_04.png\" title=\"Greece’s Caryatids getting extreme makeover\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe restoration and conservation process is conducted using an innovative technique\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Edeveloped by the Acropolis Museum and the Institute of Electronic Structure \u0026amp; Laser\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;at the Foundation for Research and Technology in Crete\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;[Credit: Acropolis Museum]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Caryatid statues, which until the late 1970s propped up a section of the Erechtheion Temple on the Acropolis hill in Athens, are being meticulously cleaned inside the Acropolis Museum where they’re now housed, hence avoiding the potential hazards of moving them, and offering tourists the spectacle of the restoration process. “We want to offer visitors a backstage peek,” Museum director Dimitris Pantermalis said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe restoration work, which started in 2011 and is expected to finish in June, is surrounded by a white fabric screen to protect visitors from eye-harming laser beams, as three goggle-wearing conservators use custom-designed lasers to zap away soot and grime from the marble maidens.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Greece’s Caryatids getting extreme makeover\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-seXmKuxsKl8\/U2yliY68I6I\/AAAAAAABAnE\/iohI-trDgSY\/s1333\/Greece_01.jpg\" title=\"Greece’s Caryatids getting extreme makeover\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECostas Vassiliadis cleans one of the striking statues which were\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;created in 420 BC [Credit: AP]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The fact that it was in sight, taking place in the museum, brings home the actual level of care needed to revive them,” an impressed visitor of the museum mentioned. “It’s like cosmetic surgery for statues, isn’t it?”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt takes about seven months to cleanse each of the larger than life-sized statues, which were carved around 420 BC. Conservators use a technology developed especially for the Acropolis sculptures, employing two infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths so as to avoid causing discoloration or abrasion, while leaving intact the patina, that orange hue that the statues took on with the passage of centuries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cdiv align=\"center\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwCNfQh8Woo\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E“The laser beam hits the black crust formed on the surface of the statues over the years, and that absorbs energy and disintegrates,” head conservator Kostas Vassiliadis mentioned. “The crust has a much lower resistance threshold than the marble, which is not affected.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the six Caryatid figures, removed by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, is now exhibited in the British Museum in London. The Acropolis Museum houses the other five original figures, which are replaced on-site by replicas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Konstantinos Menzel | Source: Greek Reporter [May 08, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2766163601312015146"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2766163601312015146"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/more-stuff-greeces-caryatids-getting.html","title":"More Stuff: Greece’s Caryatids getting extreme makeover"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-X7oBs-bdN98\/U2ylbyL9a1I\/AAAAAAABAm8\/766z1ku7L_s\/s72-c\/Greece_04.png","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-4595472931717179187"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-04T06:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.560-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: 92 archaeological sites 'missing' across India "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The megalithic site near Chapparkallu near Devanahalli that dates back to 8 B.C. to 6 B.C. is not the first such pre-historic site near Bangalore to have been vandalised.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"92 archaeological sites 'missing' across India \" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-xKbpkumVLy0\/U2e0ecDTLII\/AAAAAAABAR8\/mV9aV4UXDSw\/s1333\/rapid_urbanisation-2.jpg\" title=\"92 archaeological sites 'missing' across India \" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThough the burial ground of the megalithic period at Koira near Devanahalli town is an\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EASI protected area, unregulated mining has destroyed it [Credit: The Hindu]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESuch sites at Chikkajala and Kannur have gone missing because of rapid urbanisation in the past two decades. While a residential layout occupies the megalithic site in Chikkajala, a road has been laid over the site at Kannur. Another megalithic site listed as “protected” in Hejjala (which the ASI officials say could be Doddajala since there is no protected site at Hejjala) has also been listed as missing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) report that was placed before Parliament last August identified the pre-historic sites at Chikkajala, Hejjala and Kittur (in Mysore district that submerged in the Kabini backwaters) as missing archaeological sites in Karnataka. They are among the 92 such sites identified as missing across India.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA senior ASI official said that most of the cultural vestiges are located on private properties, and that makes their protection difficult. Besides, the ASI is short-staffed making it difficult to protect such vestiges spread across several acres. “Unfortunately, the local population also does not understand the importance of these sites and implications of its damage,” the official pointed out.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"92 archaeological sites 'missing' across India \" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-f4eAcuW28r0\/U2e0ja5nItI\/AAAAAAABASE\/R4wUdYUt-3I\/s1333\/rapid_urbanisation-1.jpg\" title=\"92 archaeological sites 'missing' across India \" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnother megalithic site listed as “protected” in Hejjala has also been\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Elisted as missing [Credit: The Hindu]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcknowledging that urbanisation has affected archaeological sites, S.K. Aruni, Deputy Director of Indian Council for Historical Research, Southern Regional Centre, said there were at least 100 megalithic burial sites around Bangalore. However, he said, a large number of them have been lost. Megalithic sites were also found in Lalbagh Botanical Gardens and also Ragigudda in Jayanagar in Bangalore, he pointed out.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOutside Bangalore, megalithic sites are also found in Savandurga, Jadigenahalli and other places. Protection of megalithic sites is a matter of concern as destruction will erase a piece of history, said Smriti Haricharan, a post doctoral associate at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. “Most of these sites are not well documented and once the burial sites are opened, information is lost forever. Though protection of these sites is difficult, it is also important to keep them intact.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMs. Smriti said thousands of megalithic sites have been documented in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Sharath S. Srivatsa | Source: The Hindu [May 04, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4595472931717179187"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/4595472931717179187"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/more-stuff-92-archaeological-sites.html","title":"More Stuff: 92 archaeological sites \u0026#39;missing\u0026#39; across India "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-xKbpkumVLy0\/U2e0ecDTLII\/AAAAAAABAR8\/mV9aV4UXDSw\/s72-c\/rapid_urbanisation-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3654133385239395188"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-03T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.587-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Spain"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Southern Europe: Thieves destroy ancient rock painting in Spain"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"A 5,000 year-old rock painting in southern Spain has been destroyed by thieves who tried to steal the Unesco World Heritage-listed artwork by chipping it off the cave wall where it was housed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Thieves destroy ancient rock painting in Spain\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-vevXR1XmFWY\/U2ep7iy3XBI\/AAAAAAABAQw\/L4svqxx3yLA\/s1333\/thieves_spain-1.jpg\" title=\"Thieves destroy ancient rock painting in Spain\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAncient rock art near the town of Quesada in Spain's southern\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndalusia region [Credit: YouTube\/gualayriver]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResidents of the Santa Elena in Spain's southern Jaen province are reeling after news of the damage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELocal mayor Juan Caminero said the painting was now \"irreparable\" and condemned the act of vandalism as \"heartless\", Spanish daily La Vanguardia reported on Monday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENews of the attempted theft first emerged on Saturday after visitors to the Los Escolares Cave noticed the damage to the zoomorphic painting of a person resembling a swallow.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter noticing what looked like evidence of someone having tried to chip away at the image with a pick, they spotted fine dust and rock fragments on the floor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPolice are now investigating the incident.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJaen province is home to 42 sites with UNESCO-listed rock paintings, many of them freely accessible to the public and without not properly protected, according to the Speleology Federation of Andalusia (Fae).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese paintings are part of a significant group of several hundred sites along Spain's Mediterranean seaboard, and are the largest group of rock sites in Europe, according to Unesco.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"A lot of these places are abandoned and need greater supervision,\" Fae president Jose Antonio Berrocal told The Local.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Although there is legislation protecting these sites in theory, there is a lack of political will,\" he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Obviously you can't have policemen stationed in every cave, but we need a system of continuous monitoring with officers coming around periodically to monitor the situation,\" the cave expert explained.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"In some cases, closing off those caves may be the only option to protect world heritage paintings,\" he added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Spanish rock sites display \"a critical phase of human development...in paintings whose style and subject matter are unique,\" UNESCO says on its website.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: George Mills | Source: The Local [April 21, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3654133385239395188"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3654133385239395188"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/southern-europe-thieves-destroy-ancient.html","title":"Southern Europe: Thieves destroy ancient rock painting in Spain"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-vevXR1XmFWY\/U2ep7iy3XBI\/AAAAAAABAQw\/L4svqxx3yLA\/s72-c\/thieves_spain-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3127313156093841834"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-02T08:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.601-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indonesia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Java"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South East Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Archaeologists call for protection of Javanese megalithic site"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Experts have called on the government to do more to protect the Gunung Padang archaeological site in Karyamukti village in Cianjur regency, West Java, where a prismatic structure considered to be older and larger than the Borobudur temple in Central Java is currently being excavated.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Archaeologists call for protection of Javanese megalithic site\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-KYCg_uwzF1k\/U2PdXPDeZzI\/AAAAAAABAOI\/JxZyhmkNRJM\/s1333\/Indonesia_Java_02.jpg\" title=\"Archaeologists call for protection of Javanese megalithic site\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGunung Padang site [Credit: Gudang Arkeologi]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to several experts from the Gunung Padang independent and integrated research team (TTRM), the site could potentially be Indonesia’s oldest and most important prehistoric landmark and should be given priority in conservation efforts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) researcher Danny Natawidjaja said that even without government support, excavation and conservation work would continue.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“We’ll foot the bill ourselves until everyone comes to their senses that this is a national asset,” said Danny at a discussion held by the Center for Information and Development Studies (CIDES) in Jakarta on Wednesday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAli Akbar, the head of the research team, revealed that US$25 million had been raised for the funding of the Gunung Padang project in 1979, a quarter of which came from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAli said the project required experts from a variety of fields given its complexity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Discoveries like this only occur every other century,” said Ali.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAli referred to the discovery of Borobudur temple as the last time such a historical heritage site was unearthed in the country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also called on the government to campaign to stop efforts to sell the location as a tourist destination.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The site should be fenced off from the foot of the hill so that it can be protected,” said Ali, who is also the manager for research and community services at the University of Indonesia’s (UI) School of Humanities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAli said the structure covered the entire hill, and may possibly house manmade chambers deep within.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDanny, who spearheaded an exploration of the site in 2011, said that geological methods to determine the age of the site found that the structure could be older than any other discovered in the country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Using carbon dating, a method for calculating the age of a mineral, we found the first layer excavated to be between 2,500 to 3,600 years old, although the structure may have been built more recently than that,” said Danny.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also said the site could be used to prove the nonlinear progression of human population growth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn keeping with current beliefs, Danny suggested that primitive man would not have had the ability to build something as complex as Gunung Padang, yet the site could date back to a historical period when population growth and technological development were stagnant.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe insisted that there was a missing part to the solution that was worth researching.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArchitecture expert Pon Purajatmika corroborated the claim by pointing out the use of a knowledge system in the construction of the site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Without the help of astronomy or knowledge about the surrounding area, the site could not have been built with such precision,” Pon revealed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPon suggested that Gunung Padang was not only a monotheistic site because of the absence of idolatry but that it was also built in orientation to the stars and the Sun.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe likened the construction of the megalithic site to the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, except that Gunung Padang predated the Incan site by some 2,000 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“The mountain is sloped on all sides, even symmetrical,” Pon told The Jakarta Post, adding that many relics were found within a radius of 5 kilometers, suggesting that the site used to be a hub of activity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the site’s information center, visitors are told that the terraced site was first recorded by Dutch researcher NJ Krom in 1914 before being rediscovered by local farmers in 1979.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScientists have agreed to categorize the prismatic structure as a stepped pyramid that has an area of 3,094 square meters consisting of five levels. It stands more than 100 meters high and is believed to be the center of a 25-hectare megalithic site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe geological structure of the stone onsite is meticulously layered and arranged by columnar jointing, with each stone varying in size.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince 1985, only the top layer, which was considered to be a sacred ritual arena, has been fenced off by the government for preservation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPreviously, the West Java provincial administration called on the Cianjur regency administration and the local community to help protect the megalithic site, especially from vandalism, as well as to attract more tourists.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Jakarta Post [May 02, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3127313156093841834"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3127313156093841834"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/more-stuff-archaeologists-call-for.html","title":"More Stuff: Archaeologists call for protection of Javanese megalithic site"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-KYCg_uwzF1k\/U2PdXPDeZzI\/AAAAAAABAOI\/JxZyhmkNRJM\/s72-c\/Indonesia_Java_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3152923543441250054"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-02T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.616-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UK"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Western Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UK: Carwynnen Quoit to be rebuilt"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Work to rebuild a collapsed ancient Cornish monument is due to start later. Carwynnen Quoit, or Giant's Quoit, a 5,000-year-old burial chamber near Troon, collapsed in 1966.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient monument Carwynnen Quoit to be rebuilt\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-atgVk399tKA\/U2Pa2K0hhCI\/AAAAAAABAN0\/Ni7iEzQ61uY\/s1333\/UK_Carwynnen_Quoit_02.jpg\" title=\"Ancient monument Carwynnen Quoit to be rebuilt\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArchaeological digs have established how the monument\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eshould be rebuilt [Credit: BBC]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe first stones are due to be re-erected by owners the Sustainable Trust which bought the site in 2009. The cap stone will be replaced on 21 June.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERestoration follows a series of archaeological digs to establish how the scheduled ancient monument should be reassembled.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ancient monument Carwynnen Quoit to be rebuilt\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-6UgQ2W4Ka-A\/U2Pa754wkvI\/AAAAAAABAN8\/ESvtOsafaIg\/s1333\/UK_Carwynnen_Quoit_01.jpg\" title=\"Ancient monument Carwynnen Quoit to be rebuilt\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECarwynnen Quoit before the collapse in 1966\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;[Credit: BBC]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the trust, Carwynnen Quoit is among 12 similar monuments in Cornwall.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe burial chambers, also known as dolmens, are thought to have been covered in earth which has eroded over the years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: BBC News Website [May 02, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3152923543441250054"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3152923543441250054"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/uk-carwynnen-quoit-to-be-rebuilt.html","title":"UK: Carwynnen Quoit to be rebuilt"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-atgVk399tKA\/U2Pa2K0hhCI\/AAAAAAABAN0\/Ni7iEzQ61uY\/s72-c\/UK_Carwynnen_Quoit_02.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-3235526111300929852"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-28T10:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.674-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Italy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Southern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Rome's Colosseum gets a much needed facelift"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Rome's Colosseum will soon look a little more like it did in the bad old days two millennia ago, when it first hosted gladiator fights, mock naval battles and public executions carried out by wild animals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Rome's Colosseum gets a much needed facelift\" src=\"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-B18cePtjTWk\/U2CwlnZYC9I\/AAAAAAABABA\/Hs-VKqhCF8g\/s1333\/Colosseum_03.jpg\" title=\"Rome's Colosseum gets a much needed facelift\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA view of the Colosseum facade under restoration. Nearly 2,000 years after its birth, the Colosseum,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;one of the most famous -- and neglected -- monuments in the world, is undergoing an\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehistorical scrubdown [Credit: Giulio Napolitano\/The Wall Street Journal]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe $35 million project—the first full cleaning in the Colosseum's history—aims to return it to its former splendor, while also strengthening the overall structure. Earthquakes, the pillaging of pieces of its outer frame, heavy car traffic and Rome's nearby subway have damaged key parts. The scrubdown should also reveal secrets of how one of the world's most famous, and often neglected, monuments remained standing for 20 centuries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome surprises have already emerged during the project's first six months. The restorers expect to uncover the first five arcades this summer. Visitors will find that the monument's Travertine limestone is once again a vibrant dark ivory—what Rossella Rea, the Colosseum's director, calls \"yellow ivory.\" Pollution had turned the stone a variety of colors from dirty cream to jet black.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen the first five arcades are revealed, five others will be covered as the scaffolding makes its slow clockwise trip around the monument. There are 80 arcades in all.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile this is the first full cleaning in the Colosseum's history, for centuries cement and other substances have closed fissures in the Travertine limestone. For the first time, thanks to the scaffolding, \"we had the chance to examine past restorations closely and see how the philosophy of shoring up the structure has evolved through the centuries,\" said Ms. Rea, who has worked at the Colosseum for 30 years, including the past six as director.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA 1990s cleaning of four arcades gave restorers the confidence that they had developed the least invasive method to remove centuries of gunk.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Rome's Colosseum gets a much needed facelift\" src=\"\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-lmWhyYB07DE\/U2CxBWHkhaI\/AAAAAAABABI\/-I94QlCIwTA\/s1333\/Colosseum_01.jpg\" title=\"Rome's Colosseum gets a much needed facelift\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Rome's Colosseum gets a much needed facelift\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-ZEsJIreW7Q8\/U2CxFvnN-rI\/AAAAAAABABQ\/WdjBcDJrb8M\/s1333\/Colosseum_02.jpg\" title=\"Rome's Colosseum gets a much needed facelift\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECompare a column covered in gunk (above), and a different column (below), after the\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Escrubdown treatment [Credit: Giulio Napolitano\/The Wall Street Journal]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBehind the scaffolding's tarp that obstructs the views of passersby, hundreds of jets of water lightly spray each piece of Travertine limestone for a period ranging from one to four hours. The duration increases at the lower levels that are more exposed to car exhaust and consequently have accumulated more dirt.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring breaks in the spraying, 10 workers dressed from head to toe in yellow waterproof outfits scrub the Travertine with soft-bristled brushes and toothbrushes. In particularly difficult spots where the accumulated gunk refuses to come lose, they use compresses of ammonium bicarbonate. Keeping the water on long enough would also do the job, but too much water can damage the Travertine and turn it an artificial white. Restorers use hammers and chisels to chip away at poorly done past interventions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"When you have the chance to put up scaffolding on an ancient monument and look closely while you're cleaning, you discover things you would never otherwise see such as frescoes, stucco work, inscriptions and graffiti,\" said Clementina Panella, a professor of Roman archaeology at Rome's La Sapienza university.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMs. Rea says she expects major surprises like those to emerge when the scaffolding makes its way to the south and west sides of the Colosseum. That section lacks an extra row of outer arcades, which began to be dismantled in the sixth century to provide material for new structures. The outer arcades block close-up looks at the inner structure. In January last year, a small-scale cleaning not connected to the current project revealed frescoes, graffiti and drawings on an internal passageway. The project could also afford the first look at how the Romans built key sections of the world-famous monument.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cdiv align=\"center\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OISeAzzSTfY\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe cleaning, slated to end in 2016, started in October after years of bureaucratic wrangling and a national debate about whether the cleaning of a national monument should be funded by a private company or individual—in this case, Diego Della Valle, the billionaire owner of leather-goods maker Tod's. Mr. Della Valle's donation will also cover some restoration inside the Colosseum and the building of a visitors' center.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile the arena has been decaying for centuries due to a lack of proper upkeep, it is not in the dire straits of Pompeii, the ancient Roman town buried by Vesuvius in 79 A.D., just three years before the Colosseum's completion. In 2010, a building in Pompeii collapsed, and since then several walls in other structures have crumbled.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile Ms. Rea insists there is no danger of any pieces of the Colosseum falling off, she says she'd probably need close to triple what Mr. Della Valle has donated to be able to carry out all the needed restoration. In particular, she would like to fix up an unstable and abandoned tunnel filled with frescoes and stucco and marble works; it was once used by the emperor to arrive in the Colosseum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDarius Arya, an American archaeologist who is chief executive and co-founder of the American Institute for Roman Culture, said of the Colosseum, \"People think it's been here for 2,000 years and so it will be here another 2,000, but the reality is: No, it won't, if you don't take care of it.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor: Eric Sylvers | Source: The Wall Street Journal [April 25, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3235526111300929852"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/3235526111300929852"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/03\/more-stuff-rome-colosseum-gets-much.html","title":"More Stuff: Rome\u0026#39;s Colosseum gets a much needed facelift"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-B18cePtjTWk\/U2CwlnZYC9I\/AAAAAAABABA\/Hs-VKqhCF8g\/s72-c\/Colosseum_03.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2238934634002884471"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-27T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.690-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Americas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ecuador"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Italy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South America"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Italy returns over 4,000 artefacts to Ecuador"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa hailed the return to his country of thousands of archaeological pieces from Italy, the European nation where he broadcast Saturday his traditional weekly activity report, which was retransmitted to this Andean country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Italy returns over 4,000 artefacts to Ecuador\" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-XR83mgeLyt8\/U15437-wAxI\/AAAAAAAA_9o\/ubGigwdlRSk\/s1333\/ecuadorartifacts.jpeg\" title=\"Italy returns over 4,000 artefacts to Ecuador\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E“Returning from Italy is the greatest return in history, more than 4,600 archaeological pieces,” Correa said, adding that the items being returned came largely from the Tolita culture.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe head of state said that these elements of national heritage were plundered from Ecuador because “there was no control,” so that “tens of thousands of archaeological pieces” were lost, but said that now, under his administration, “thousands of these pieces are coming back.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECorrea attended a ceremony Saturday at which the mayor of Genoa, Marco Doria, presented him with a symbolic example of the 4,858 archaeological pieces recovered in three cases where the illicit trafficking of national heritage goods was detected.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Ecuadorian president expressed his gratitude to Genoa city hall and to the Italian government for the repatriation of this cultural heritage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: Hispanically Speaking News [April 27, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2238934634002884471"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2238934634002884471"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/03\/more-stuff-italy-returns-over-4000.html","title":"More Stuff: Italy returns over 4,000 artefacts to Ecuador"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-XR83mgeLyt8\/U15437-wAxI\/AAAAAAAA_9o\/ubGigwdlRSk\/s72-c\/ecuadorartifacts.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-7531147233439283478"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-27T07:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.703-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Central Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pakistan"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Ruins of ancient Sirkap left ‘unprotected’ "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Despite being protected under the Antiquities Act and listed in Unesco’s “world cultural heritage site,” Sirkap, the second ancient city of Taxila, is in a shambles owing to the apathy of the archaeology department.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ruins of ancient Sirkap left ‘unprotected’ \" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-PzeGUhBMqe4\/U1528qDsW_I\/AAAAAAAA_9M\/da6LqIJcgAY\/s1333\/Sirkap_01.JPG\" title=\"Ruins of ancient Sirkap left ‘unprotected’ \" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERuins of ancient City of Sirkap, the Indo-Greek archaeological site, located near ancient\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETaxila in Punjab Province, Pakistan [Credit: Dawoodmajoka\/WikiCommons]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe signboards for tourists’ information are almost unreadable, and if tourists visit the area they are greeted by wild grass and broken benches. A large number of local and foreign tourists visit the ruins of this important city of the ancient Taxila civilisation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, they are stunned to see the poor condition of the site and lack of tourist facilities as almost 70 per cent of the ruins are covered with wild grass and bushes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwo boards have been installed at the site for the information of the tourists.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the boards shows the map plan of the city and the other, written in both English and Urdu languages, mentions the historical background of the remains.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Ruins of ancient Sirkap left ‘unprotected’ \" src=\"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-B_zyE3TICjo\/U153GRjfSvI\/AAAAAAAA_9U\/eROnEoosWhc\/s1333\/Sirkap_02.JPG\" title=\"Ruins of ancient Sirkap left ‘unprotected’ \" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStupa from first century BC [Credit: Dawoodmajoka\/WikiCommons]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, even these two boards have not been maintained and have become unreadable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother information board on Pena flex is also in tatters and needs urgent repair.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt may be mentioned that the remains of Sirkap belonged to four distinct periods of pre-Greek, Greeks, Scythians and Parthians. The city was founded approximately in the first quarter of the 2nd century BC by the Bactrian Greek king Menander.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe city was well planned and fortified. The builders introduced their ionic and Corinthian orders of architecture at Sirkap.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Greek influence enhanced further under their successors Scythians and Parthians.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Gulf Today [April 26, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7531147233439283478"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/7531147233439283478"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/03\/more-stuff-ruins-of-ancient-sirkap-left.html","title":"More Stuff: Ruins of ancient Sirkap left ‘unprotected’ "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-PzeGUhBMqe4\/U1528qDsW_I\/AAAAAAAA_9M\/da6LqIJcgAY\/s72-c\/Sirkap_01.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1612170210343118511.post-2989463145208788504"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-26T09:00:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T15:02:25.661-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archeology"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Breakingnews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cultural Legacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Denmark"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Historical Heritage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"More Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Northern Europe"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More Stuff: Metal detectorists unearth Viking gold"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"After hours of searching through the mud with metal detectors, treasure hunters Frank Pelle and Bent Gregersen made the discovery of their lives on a ploughed field in the Danish island of Bornholm earlier in April.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Metal detectorists unearth Viking gold\" src=\"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-4um2KxAQtCA\/U2DMIPc_hjI\/AAAAAAABAEA\/CjrcCbPojiE\/s1333\/denmark-viking_01.jpg\" title=\"Metal detectorists unearth Viking gold\" \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EX-ray scans revealed 250 gold and silver coins dating back to Viking days\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E[Credit: Bornholms Museum]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe two lucky gold-diggers found an ancient Viking gold treasure hidden in the ground.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It was an amazing feeling, for we had searched for hundreds of hours without luck,\" Pelle told Ekstra Bladet.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter studying x-rays of collected earth samples, Bornholms Museum, the local archaeological museum, estimated that the treasure of 250 gold and silver coins was buried in the ground in the 1080s.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome of the coins were brought to Denmark from Egypt and Tunisia and are extremely unique.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"That includes two Arabic gold dinars minted in 1040 in Egypt and in 1060 in Tunisia during the Fatimid dynasty respectively,\" said Rene Laursen from Bornholms Museum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Both are unique discoveries. We've never found Arabic gold dinar in a Viking treasure in Denmark.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe gold coins, which mostly remain in a clod of earth, are currently on display on Bornholm, but will soon be moved to the National Museum in Copenhagen to be totally extracted from the dirt and cleaned.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource: The Copenhagen Post [April 29, 2014]\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2989463145208788504"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1612170210343118511\/posts\/default\/2989463145208788504"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/cloverpostcards.blogspot.com\/2016\/03\/more-stuff-metal-detectorists-unearth.html","title":"More Stuff: Metal detectorists unearth Viking gold"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-4um2KxAQtCA\/U2DMIPc_hjI\/AAAAAAABAEA\/CjrcCbPojiE\/s72-c\/denmark-viking_01.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"}}]}});