Fossil and Archaeology News - September 2009 Archives

Did Tyrannosaurus rex suffer from a common bird disease? (9/30/2009)

Paleontologists Ewan Wolff (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Steve Salisbury (University of Queensland), Jack Horner (Museum of the Rockies) and David Varricchio (Montana State University), published new research in the open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal PLoS ONE that found the Tyrannosaurus rex and its close relatives suffered from a potentially life-threatening infectious disease similar to one that occurs in living birds known as trichomonosis. ...> Full Article

T. rex body plan debuted in Raptorex, but 100th the size (9/19/2009)

A 9-foot dinosaur from northeastern China had evolved all the hallmark anatomical features of Tyrannosaurus rex at least 125 million years ago. University of Chicago paleontologist Paul Sereno and five co-authors describe the newly discovered dinosaur in the September 17 Science Express, the advanced online edition of the journal Science. ...> Full Article

A rare discovery: An engraved gemstone carrying a portrait of Alexander the Great (9/17/2009)

A rare and surprising archaeological discovery at Tel Dor: A gemstone engraved with the portrait of Alexander the Great was uncovered during excavations by an archaeological team directed by Dr. Ayelet Gilboa of the University of Haifa and Dr. Ilan Sharon of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "Despite its miniature dimensions the engraver was able to depict the bust of Alexander on the gem without omitting any of the ruler's characteristics." ...> Full Article

Caistor skeleton mystifies archaeologists (9/16/2009)

A skeleton, found at one of the most important, but least understood, Roman sites in Britain is puzzling experts from the University of Nottingham. ...> Full Article

Figurines of Aphrodite from the era of the Roman Empire discovered in Hippos (9/15/2009)

An ancient treasure comprising three figurines of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, which was buried underground for over 1,500 years, was uncovered duriong excavations carried out by researchers of the University of Haifa ...> Full Article

Ancient oceans offer new insight into the origins of animal life (9/12/2009)

New geochemical data reveals how animals first got a foothold on earth. ...> Full Article

Archaeologists discover oldest-known fiber materials used by early humans (9/11/2009)

Scientists have discovered the oldest-known fiber materials that could have been used by humans for making clothing, shoes, and other items for domestic use. The fibers are flax, and are over 34,000 years old. Discovered in a cave in the Republic of Georgia, the excavation was led by a Harvard archaeologist. ...> Full Article

Largest-ever collection of coins from Bar-Kokhba revolt found (9/10/2009)

The largest cache of rare coins ever found in a scientific excavation from the period of the Bar-Kokhba revolt of the Jews against the Romans has been discovered in a cave by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Bar-Ilan University. ...> Full Article

Underwater expedition delivers key findings in search for evidence of early Americans (9/6/2009)

In NOAA's signature expedition for submerged evidence of early Americans off Florida's Gulf Coast, Mercyhurst College archaeologists Jim Adovasio and Andrew Hemmings traced two ancient river systems in what they believe is the most extensive delineation of submerged prehistoric river systems ever done. They also identified chert, a stone used by prehistoric peoples in toolmaking, at three sites. Scientists believe they are on the threshold of delivering evidence of human habitation along those inundated rivers. ...> Full Article

Ancient connection: New evidence points to Shawnee lookout as oldest continuously occupied site (9/4/2009)

Evidence unearthed by UC students working this summer at Shawnee Lookout park builds the case in the strongest way yet for a direct connection between the Native American cultures of the ancient Hopewell and the modern Shawnee societies. ...> Full Article