Archaeology News I have always felt one of the most interesting branches of science is archaeology. I felt this way because there is so much for us to learn about our ancestors and how they lived. I also felt there was a possibility, no matter how remote, we might find a civilization which was more advanced than our own. One of the most amazing things which have been found were all the different types of ancient humans which existed. We seem to just keep finding more every year. This raises a question, at least in my mind, which if people believe evolution is true, why did so many different types of humans exist in such a relatively short time? I am not a believer of evolution being involved with every type of animal species including humans. I thought it might be true in some instances but not all. For example I just don’t believe we came from monkeys. I think there is more of a chance we came from somewhere else and settled or were put on this planet as homosapiens. So, you might think how would I explain the other traces of human like people who were found here? I would say they may have been here when we arrived or already have gone extinct by then. Taking bones and putting them back together in such a way as to prove evolution doesn’t seem to me to be that reliable, but since there is no way of proving these progressions are wrong since the older creatures are long gone, science accepts this theory. Someday we might have better methods to detect if animals and humans progressed into other animals and more advanced beings and it could prove what we believe today is wrong or verify scientists were right, we will just have to wait and see. A settlement has been found in Scotland which is over 5,000 years old. It is being called the Scottish Pompeii. Scientists were shocked when they found the remains of the settlement on the Orkney Islands. The Orkney islands are composed of over 70 islands which are located about 880 miles from the end of land. People have been living in Orkney for about 6,000 years and maybe even longer. A settlement known as Skara Brae had been found. It is located on the island known as Mainland. It was discovered in 1850 after a storm. It is the most complete Neolithic village ever found in Europe. The area is still being investigated by archaeologists. The skull of a child which belongs to a race of humans scientists named Homo Naledi was found in Africa. It had been placed in a narrow chamber in a cave, this brought scientists to the conclusion these people honored their dead. The skull has been dated between 236,000 to 335,000 years old. Scientists didn’t know what to think when the skull was discovered because the skull combined features of modern humans and apes. The brain cavity was less than half the size of ours. It is felt this species lived for a period of time with modern humans. There seem to be quite a few ancient stone carvings which are so precise they cannot be explained when we realize the period of time they were made in. One of the most mysterious places is Puma Punku in Tiwanaku, Bolivia. A series of large stones were carved in such a way as to be duplicates of each other and contain precise notches and elaborate designs which contain edges so sharp you cannot run your finger along them without getting a cut. It was as if an assembly line was used to create them. Even more strange is the fact there are no tool lines and the stones were carved before the invention of the wheel. No mortar was used, yet you cannot slip a piece of paper between the stones. There are also examples of precision in drilling holes through the blocks. Some people believe Puma Punku is extremely ancient and was built far before the ancient flood the bible talks about. Puma Punku is not the only place with ancient precision stone cutting. Another area is San Miguel, Lxtapan, Mexico. Some of the stones bear amazing similarities to the methods used to cut the Puma Punku stones, whatever those methods were. There is an incredible pyramid located in the area. The stone carvings cannot be precisely dated. It is always exciting with an ancient treasure is found and I would like to tell you about one which was found in Norfolk, England. People with metal detectors have found a treasure buried in a field. It was a hoard of Anglo-Saxon coins. It took a period of 30 years to get to what archaeologists think might be all the treasure. So far 131 precious coins and other objects have been found. Under British law, when treasure is found people have to give a chance to a museum to buy the treasure before they can keep it. The price is evaluated by the Treasure Valuation Committee. Not every find might be declared treasure so then you can keep it. You can also keep it if the museum doesn’t want it. If the museum wants it, you have to sell the treasure to them for what it was valued for. It seems ancient battles have taken place all over the planet. When I heard about a newly discovered battle site, I was a little surprised however. The reason was it took place in what is now Switzerland. It is believed to be the site of a great battle between the Romans who fought a local Rhaetian tribe around the year 15 B.C. The site was discovered when a person with a metal detector found a dagger, slingshot stones, coins, nails and a piece of a shield. Many people, including me, are interested when ancient swords are found. Archaeologists have discovered a sword dating back to the bronze age. They had discovered several burial chambers in a Mycenaean necropolis which dated back to the 14th century B.C. In these graves were bronze swords, statues, jewelry and other objects. The objects proved there had been trade going on with other countries in the area. Two important sets of ruins have been found in Saudi Arabia. They are of the kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan. The ruins are located in the mountains of Al-Ula. The area has been a tourist destination for a couple of years since the opening of the site due to the discovery of tombs of an ancient city known as Madain Saleh which is 2,000 years old. It is believed the people who built Petra in Jordan also built Madain Saleh.
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