Archaeology is a fascinating field that covers everything from lost cities to ancient cheese. This year, researchers revealed a wide range of discoveries that expanded our understanding of human history.

NPR’s Insider highlighted many of these findings, including a 3,300-year-old mummy portrait and evidence of the oldest known limb amputation. But there were 12 discoveries that stood out above the rest.

Mummy Portraits

Mummy archaeology news, those eerily lifelike paintings of the dead attached to mummies during Egypt’s Roman era, have long posed mysteries that researchers are just starting to solve. A new exhibition at Harvard Art Museums, “Funerary Portraits from Roman Egypt: Facing Forward,” takes a closer look at how scientific investigations of these panels and plaster masks reveal clues about mummies’ burial and post-mortem lives.

Among the most important discoveries is that mummy portraits can be analyzed for details about the deceased’s condition and even diagnosed by comparison with a corresponding mummy. In addition, the way a portrait is viewed influences its perceived proportions. When a mummy portrait is displayed in front of a mirror, a system of horizontal reference lines appears to have been established. These appear to divide the face into ten equally spaced divisions. When the face is viewed at an angle, these are offset from one another, altering how much the facial features seem to overlap and compress in the center. This effect is also apparent when the mummy portrait is tilted.

The exhibition’s most striking portrait, that of a young girl found at Hawara, is the focus of one of these studies. The girl was about five years old at the time of her death and is shown wearing a cloak and necklaces, which were actually retrieved from her mummy. X-radiography and other techniques show that the image was added to the mummy in the 19th century, probably by an art dealer, according to curators.

Although mummy portraits were a luxury for upper-class people, the variety of materials and quality of painting reflect differences even within the privileged ranks. For example, the expert painting and expensive pigments in this encaustic panel of a woman named Isidora reveal that she was a person of great wealth and social standing.

Other portraits, like that of a man from the city of Philadelphia, are more difficult to analyze. But by using non-invasive techniques such as high-resolution imaging, chemical analysis of paint layers and a scanning electron microscope, the team hopes to shed further light on these mysterious portraits.

Leg amputation

Archaeologists are often surprised by the things they find in the archaeological record. This year we saw a number of significant discoveries, from the discovery of a palace door threshold in ancient Nimrud after it was destroyed by ISIS to the rediscovery of a sprawling pre-Hispanic mural. But one discovery in particular caught archaeologists’ attention, and that was the skeleton of a man who lost his leg.

The bones were found in a cave in Borneo and date back to 30,000 years ago. Their condition allowed them to reveal details that would be hard to work out from other remains, including the fact that the person’s lower leg was amputated and had healed well. The amputation was likely the result of injury and not, as previously thought, due to disease.

The team was also able to see that the amputation had been performed carefully and with care. The bone ends do not show signs of trauma and are not ragged, suggesting that the bones were cut rather than being broken off by a forceful blow. The fact that the wound healed without infection suggests that there was excellent post-operative care, too.

Although it is difficult to determine what was actually done during an amputation from skeletal remains, the fact that this surgery was carried out successfully 31,000 years ago shows that people had advanced medical knowledge far earlier than previously thought. The fact that the person survived so long after the operation shows that people understood that post-amputation care is essential to survival, particularly in the face of serious injuries.

Evidence of prehistoric surgeries is still rare, but the amputation in Borneo shows that people were capable of performing complex surgical procedures at least ten thousand years ago. This discovery suggests that the advent of farming around this time stimulated major innovations in medical practices, and amputations were among them. The fact that this amputation worked so well also implies that the patient was a man of good social status, as indicated by his robust body and the presence of osteoarthritis in his knees.

Ancient Poop

Archaeologists are always stoked when they find fossilized feces—or coprolites, as they call them—because these little turds are archaeological treasure troves. They can tell us a lot about what our ancestors ate, where they lived and how their ecosystems functioned. But poop decomposes pretty quickly, so it doesn’t last very long, and it can be difficult for researchers to get a clear picture of ancient diets from the remains.

Until now, the best information we had on early humans was from their bones and teeth, but fossil feces has turned out to be just as valuable. For example, a recent study published in Science Advances analyzed dung samples from pit toilets at two archaeological sites in Oregon’s Paisley Caves. The researchers found traces of four different types of animals and three different plants in the samples, showing that these hunter-gatherers ate a wide range of foods. The findings flipped the prevailing view that these early humans subsisted on a narrow menu of berries and other fruits.

The samples also contained intact whipworm eggs, which could indicate that these people had a problem with parasites. Whipworms are more common among people living in close settlements, so the presence of these turds suggests that the ancient residents were dealing with intestinal parasites similar to those experienced by modern day city dwellers. The scientists believe that this suggests the arrival of a new, settled way of life that was more conducive to health problems like gastrointestinal discomfort.

Other discoveries made from analyzing the coprolites included evidence of diarrhea caused by the pathogen Giardia lamblia. This parasite can be spread by contaminated water and food, so it’s important to know whether an ancient population had a good handle on it. The team used a new technique called ELISA to scan the feces for Giardia, and they were able to detect it in samples from both latrines. The results confirmed earlier mitochondrial DNA analysis that the feces were indeed from humans, and they dated the turds to about 14,000 years ago—about 1,000 years before the Clovis culture, traditionally thought of as the first Americans.

Shipwreck

In a world where thousands of ships have been lost at sea, discovering a sunken wreck can reveal important information about the ship and its crew. The study of shipwrecks and their artifacts is a whole discipline known as maritime archeology. The study of ancient shipwrecks is particularly popular because they provide clues about a culture, the people who lived there and their daily lives.

Across the globe, historic shipwrecks serve as prime diving destinations for snorkelers and scuba divers. Many of these historic wrecks are the result of battles between warring nations and are encrusted with valuable items like weapons, jewelry and furniture. Some are even the site of famous historic events, such as the Titanic, which sank in 1912 and killed about 1,500 people.

The ocean floor is also home to many modern-day shipwrecks, some of which are scuttled to help spur reef growth and others, such as the oil tanker Prestige or the Erika, are sunk to prevent environmental harm. In some cases, contemporary wrecks are studied by marine archaeologists for their potential to shed light on seafaring and shipbuilding techniques.

While some shipwrecks are found as they drift away from shore, others wash up on beaches or are submerged by advancing tides. These discoveries can open windows to the past, providing information about the cargo they carried and the cultures that sailed them. One of the newest finds was uncovered by a storm that washed up a wreck on North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

Corolla’s mystery wreck is a fascinating window into a past that has vanished. The ship is believed to date back to the early 17th century and could have been a merchant vessel, privateer or warship. Brown is sifting through the sand, attempting to determine its history by looking at the type of wood used for its construction and scouring records to find out where it might have been headed.

As with all wrecks, it’s important not to disturb a shipwreck and report any suspicious activity. Disturbing a wreck can destroy it and ruin any future archaeological studies. It’s also against the law to remove any artifacts from a wreck, as it can lead to serious legal and health problems.

Conclusion

Archaeology continues to be an exciting field of study, unveiling the mysteries of our past. Recent discoveries shed light on ancient civilizations, cultural practices, and human evolution. These findings enrich our understanding of history and contribute to preserving our heritage for future generations.

FAQs:

1. What is archaeology? Archaeology is the scientific study of human history and prehistory through the excavation and analysis of artifacts, structures, and other physical remains. It aims to reconstruct past societies, cultures, and lifestyles to better comprehend human evolution and development.
2. Why is archaeology important? Archaeology is crucial for understanding our past and how it has shaped the present. By studying ancient civilizations, their technology, art, and beliefs, we gain insights into human achievements and mistakes, helping us make informed decisions for the future. It also aids in preserving cultural heritage and fostering a sense of identity and belonging among modern societies.