The year 2009 in archaeology [edit] Explorations [edit] Excavations [edit] Publications - January: The remains of a female mummy thought to be Queen Sesheshet are found in a recently discovered pyramid in Saqqara, Egypt.[7]
- January: Malaysian archaeologists report the discovery of seven stone axes possibly dating back 1.8 million years, which would make these the oldest stone axes known.[8]
- January: An archaeologist from the University of Pennsylvania reports the discovery of traces of a ritual dating back to 1200 BCE at Mount Lykaoin, in Greece.[9] The finds could indicate continuous worship of Zeus from Mycenaean Greece through to later periods such as Classical Greece.
- January: Archaeologists in China report the discovery of the oldest cave-houses known. The houses were discovered near Xi'an, date back some 5,500 years and were created by the Yangshao culture.[10]
- January: A study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science claims the discovery of the oldest human hairs in coprolites found in South Africa. The hairs are between 195.000 and 257.000 years old.[11]
- February: Over 20 mummies are discovered at Saqqara, in Egypt. The tomb is remarkably intact, and dates to the seventh century BCE.[12]
- February: New finds at an Indus Valley Civilization site in Pakistan, dated to about 4000 years ago through radiocarbon dating done at the Dutch University of Groningen, link the site to the city of Mohenjo-daro. The finds seem to indicate that Mohenjo-Daro flourished longer than previously thought.[13]
- February: Archaeologists in Mexico City report the late 2008 discovery of an Aztec mass grave dating to the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. The site, Tlatelolco, is unusual because the grave seems to have been dug by Aztecs, acting on the orders of Europeans.[14][15]
- February: British archaeologists report the discovery of one of the oldest watermills known in the country. The mill, dating to the late 12th century, is located along the Thames.[16][17]
- February: Researchers announce the discovery of a large amount of fossils near the La Brea Tar Pits in the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. Among the finds is a mammoth skeleton, much more complete than earlier mammoths encountered at the pits.[18]
- February: Previously unpublished fragments of the Turin King List are discovered in the basement of the Museo Egizio in Turin, Italy. The fragments may shed more light on the history of Ancient Egypt. A new, more complete, publication of the papyrus is expected.[19][20]
- March: A Belgian expedition reports the rediscovery of an Egyptian tomb dating to the 18th dynasty. The tomb belongs to a high ranking official in the court of the powerful Pharaoh Thutmose III. While previously discovered in 1880, the site was subsequently lost under the sand.[21]
- March: The discovery of a royal tomb at Saqqara, Egypt is announced by a Japanese team of archaeologists. The grave is suspected to have belonged to Isisnofret, the granddaughter of Pharaoh Ramesses II of the nineteenth dynasty of Egypt.[22][23]
- March: While searching for debris caused by Hurricane Ike, contractors using sonar discover the shipwreck of what is believed to be the Carolina in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship sank in 1864.[24]
- June: Archaeologists in Groningen, the Netherlands, unearth circa 400 silver coins from the early 16th century. The discovery is one of the largest coin treasures ever found in the Netherlands.[25][26]
- June: Archaeologists in the Dutch city of Utrecht discover a 17-meters long Roman wall under the square in front of the Dom Tower of Utrecht. It is the largest extant wall of a castellum discovered in the Netherlands.[27]
- June: The Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Ronald Plasterk, unveils "Krijn". This is the first Neanderthal fossil discovered in the Netherlands. The find was made in the North Sea and announced at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities. The discovery prompted numerous scientists and institutions to express hope for better government protection of archaeological remains in the North Sea.[28][29]
[edit] Awards [edit] Miscellaneous - January: A new analysis of old excavation reports, combined with newly done fieldwork, leads researches to conclude that the Sassanid Persian besiegers used poison gas against the Roman defenders during the Fall of Dura Europos.[30] The gas, made by adding sulfur crystals and bitumen to prepared fires, was used in tunnels undermining the walls. Almost two dozen Roman soldiers were killed.
- February: Egypt renews its request for the return of the famous bust of Nefertiti from the Egyptian Museum of Berlin in Germany, after an article by Der Spiegel reports that German archaeologists deceived Egyptians about the worth of the piece after its initial discovery.[31]
- February: Bulgarian archaeologists report that looters have plundered a partially excavated Roman site near Rousse.[32]
- February: Experimental archaeology on replicas of the cannons found on a sunken Elizabethan warship indicate that the British employed revolutionary naval tactics at the time, explaining the rise of British marine power during the 16th century.[33]
- February: An auction at Christie's in Paris, France, makes a record-breaking 370 million euros (US$490 million). The auction sells of the private collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, which includes Greek and Roman sculptures. The selling of two Chinese bronze pieces is controversial. They were looted in the 19th century, prompting China to demand restitution.[34][35]
[edit] Deaths [edit] References - ^ Mammoth-killing comet questioned, by the BBC retrieved 23 February 2009.
- ^ Team in Germany maps Neanderthal genome, by the Associated Press retrieved 14 February 2009.
- ^ Prints Are Evidence of Modern Foot in Prehumans, by the New York Times retrieved 26 February 2009.
- ^ Horses first domesticated 5,000 years ago, by the Associated Press retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ^ Hoe het paard tot ons kwam, by de Volkskrant retrieved 8 March 2009. Archived 2009-09-11.
- ^ St. Francis Basilica Frescoes Bound With Milk, by Discovery News retrieved 11 March 2009
- ^ Mummy of female pharaoh uncovered, by the BBC retrieved 9 February 2009
- ^ Malaysia says 1.8 million-year-old axes unearthed, by the Associated Press retrieved 11 February 2009
- ^ New evidence of the cult of Zeus is 3,200 years old, by The Philadelphia Inquirer retrieved 14 February 2009
- ^ China Exclusive: Archaeologists unearth earliest man-made cave houses, by the Xinhua News Agency retrieved 14 February 2009
- ^ Oldest Human Hair Found in Hyena Poop Fossil?, by National Geographic retrieved 11 February 2009
- ^ Chamber of mummies found in Egypt, by the BBC retrieved 9 February 2009
- ^ 3,960 yr old organic material found in Pakistan points to continuity of Indus Valley civilization, by Thaindian News retrieved 14 February 2009
- ^ Aztec 'warrior' mass grave found, by the BBC retrieved 14 February 2009
- ^ Mexico mass grave may be Aztec resistance fighters, by the Associated Press retrieved 14 February 2009
- ^ Uncovered: Archaeologists unearth remnants of a giant medieval watermill, by the Daily Mail retrieved 18 February 2009
- ^ Archaeologists dig up rare medieval waterwheel, by the East London Advertiser retrieved 18 February 2009
- ^ Major cache of fossils unearthed in L.A., by the Los Angeles Times retrieved 18 February 2009
- ^ Fragments of Ancient Egyptian Papyrus Found, by Discovery News retrieved 27 February 2009
- ^ I faraoni scomparsi nel buco, by La Stampa retrieved 27 February 2009
- ^ Ancient tomb rediscovered under sands of Egypt, by the Associated Press retrieved 2 March 2009
- ^ ‘Royal granddaughter’s tomb’ found near Cairo, by The Times retrieved 4 March 2009
- ^ Des archéologues japonais affirment avoir découvert le tombeau d'une princesse égyptienne, by RTL retrieved 4 March 2009
- ^ Civil War-Era Shipwreck Uncovered by Hurricane Ike, by Fox News Channel retrieved 11 March 2009. Archived 2009-09-11.
- ^ (Dutch) Grote muntschat gevonden in Groningen, by De Telegraaf retrieved 5 June 2009. Archived 2009-09-11.
- ^ (Dutch) Oude Groningse vuilstort geeft muntschat prijs, by Nederlands Dagblad retrieved 5 June 2009
- ^ (Dutch) Romeinse muur ontdekt onder Utrechts Domplein, by NU.nl retrieved 7 June 2009. Archived 2009-09-11.
- ^ Sea gives up Neanderthal fossil, by the BBC retrieved 16 June 2009
- ^ (Dutch) De eerste Nederlandse Neanderthaler, by Leiden University retrieved 16 June 2009. Archived 2009-09-11.
- ^ Earliest Chemical Warfare Felled Roman Fort, by Discovery News retrieved 9 February 2009
- ^ Egyptian Queen in Berlin: Cairo Demands Clarification on Nefertiti Bust, by Der Spiegel retrieved 14 February 2009
- ^ Roman fortress near Rousse ravished by treasure-hunters, by The Sofia Echo retrieved 14 February 2009
- ^ 'Superguns' of Elizabeth I's navy, by the BBC retrieved 21 February 2009
- ^ Yves of destruction: Paris queues ahead of great Saint Laurent sell-off, by The Guardian retrieved 2 March 2009
- ^ Record-breaking YSL art auction shrugs off crisis, by Reuters retrieved 2 March 2009
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