Lana Shehadeh’s Post

Submissions are now open for our session Rivers for Generations at The World Archaeological Congress being held in Darwin this year. Please spread the word on any an all how may be interested in submitting a paper. Session Abstract: Rivers and waterways are the life blood of humanity. From the Murray-Darling Basin in south-eastern Australia, to the Nile Valley in Africa and the sprawling systems of Eurasia, people’s lives are controlled by rivers. The rivers define, create, conserve and destroy the archaeological record. This session calls for papers relating to the archaeology of rivers and waterways. We seek submissions from all time periods and regions, but especially those locations that highlight long-term river use. Discussions focusing on the intersections between modern land use (including development), aspirations for stewardship of land and water, cultural heritage management, river health, the discovery and conservation of archaeological sites and the reinvigoration or preservation of cultural traditions are highly encouraged.

Just released: Local Voices, Global Debates: The Uses of Archaeological Heritage in the Caribbean, edited by Joseph Sony Jean, Ph.D and Eduardo Herrera Malatesta (PhD). With contributions by Island(er)s Ph.D. student Harold Kelly, affiliated researched Andrea Richards, former science communication and community coordinator Tibisay Sankatsing Nava and many excellent colleagues! What is the role of local Caribbean individuals and communities in creating and perpetuating archaeological heritage? How has archaeological knowledge been integrated into education plans in different countries? This book aims to fill a gap in both archaeological scholarship and popular knowledge by providing a platform for local Caribbean voices to speak about the archaeological heritage of their region. To achieve this, each chapter of the book focuses on identifying and developing strategies that academics, heritage practitioners, and non-scholars from the insular Caribbean can adopt to stimulate a necessary dialogue on how archaeological heritage is used and produced on various academic, political, and social levels. The publication is freely accessible here: https://lnkd.in/eGzsXAz4

I hope some will be interested in if not amused by my new book: Archaeological Incidents and Accidents David Frankel 2025 ISBN 9780645634396 Archaeological Incidents and Accidents exposes some of the challenges, realities and pleasures of research. The work may be serious but we should never take ourselves too seriously. This book doesn't. It looks behind the scenes in an odd miscellany of memories of activities rather than a memoir in an assortment of 30 profusely illustrated general stories about archaeological and historical research projects carried out by the author over the last 50 years. Some of the tales are longer, others shorter and a few taller, but all are more-or-less true. Most incidents stem from excavations carried out on historical sites and Indigenous places in Australia, on Bronze Age cemeteries and settlements in Cyprus and in prehistoric villages in Papua New Guinea, but there are also one or two ring-ins. The stories are as much about the unexpected accidents that prompted or affected who did what, and how and why, as they are about the results, interesting though they are in giving insights into different worlds and how they can be discovered and understood. You will find some information and lots of questions, but perhaps fewer answers. Nothing can be taken for granted and you can choose which you want to believe.

2015 has opened with an archaeological survey of Dikibin, in Mangu LGA of central Plateau. In addition to discovering lower grinding stones, potsherds and deposits of potash, our findings have the potential to add fascinating layers to the historical narrative of the area. According to oral tradition, the area was once home to numerous hornless bulls resembling hippopotamus, drawn to the area due to the presence of potash deposits. It is evident that beyond the shifts in culture and tradition, the environment has undergone substantial transformations over time. Archaeological evidence,historical information and oral tradition paints a vivid picture of the dynamic interplay between human activity, natural resources and the evolving landscape of central Plateau.

Another exciting session to be hosted by members of AACAI - Just a reminder that AACAI are convening a session for this year's Australian Archaeological Association (AAA) Conference in Cairns (3-6 December 2024) entitled 'Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists Inc. (AACAI) - Shared Heritage in the Consulting World.' Part of the session abstract is as follows: 'This session presents consulting projects that seek to push the boundaries of Cultural Heritage Management practice, recognising that these boundaries are somewhat different between the states and territories. We explore how these changes have worked in placing a greater emphasis on First Nations’ voices and discuss how this shift in focus might affect a broader change in the public perception of Indigenous cultural heritage where traditional scientific approaches have failed to do so.' Submissions for paper abstracts close this Friday, 21st June. You can submit here: https://lnkd.in/gbiFAHF6

Archaeological finds - how will we be remembered? As an archaeologist I often wonder this. What fabric will survive? What finds will distinguish us? What will our time period be known as? The plastic period? The finds are often what the general public are most interested in. In fieldwork terms this is termed the finds assemblage and it will eventually end up in an archive/museum. A discard policy is often agreed to make sure that our museums are not overwhelmed. Early discussions on this or a pre-emptive retrieval policy deployed on site can reduce costs to clients and pressures on archive space. At SLR Consulting we can organise archaeological fieldwork for our clients and manage associated costs. #archaeology #slrconsulting #whitbyabbey #archaeologicalfieldwork

The Kostyonki–Borshchyovo archaeological complex is an area where numerous Upper Paleolithic archaeological sites have been found, located around the villages of Kostyonki (also Kostenki) and Borshchyovo (also Borshchevo). The area is found on the western (right) bank of the Don River in Khokholsky District, Voronezh Oblast, Russia, some 25 km south of the city of Voronezh.[1] The 26 Paleolithic sites of the area are numbered Kostenki 1–21 and Borshchevo 1–5. It is known for its high concentration of cultural remains of anatomically modern humans from the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic era, before 40,000 years ago.[2][3] Finds are on exhibit in situ, at the State Archaeological Museum–Reserve Kostyonki built atop the mammoth bone circle Kostenki 11.[4][5] Kostyonki is considered as belonging to the Aurignacian culture.

Historic England have recently published updated guidance on the reburial of archaeological sites as an appendix to the 2016 Preservation of Archaeological Remains guidance. See appendix 5 ⬇️ Headline takeaways are that reburial schemes need: - An assessment of significance (of the material being reburied) - A condition assessment (state of preservation of the materials) - An assessment of impacts (threats and risks to the materials being buried) The guidance also includes a separate checklist to guide you through these steps, as well as 4 case studies to show how the process works in practice. Of course, you can continue to consult with your friendly neighbourhood Science Advisor in your region about this stage of your project. The updated guidance can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eRuUfSUg

Lothal, a prominent Harappan site discovered in 1954 by archaeologist S.R. Rao, holds immense significance in ancient maritime history. Known as the world’s earliest dockyard, it remains a focal point due to the ongoing National Maritime Heritage Complex project. Recently, the tragic death of a PhD student from IIT-Delhi has brought Lothal back into public focus. Why should UPSC aspirants study Lothal? What does it reveal about maritime trade in prehistoric times? #UPSC #Lothal #Harappa https://lnkd.in/g2a5nAS5

I am happy to announce the publication of our latest article, titled "The Fortified Site at Lanaken near Maastricht (Belgium/the Netherlands): New Insights on Early Medieval Military and Elite Strategies in the Middle Meuse Valley", now available for early access at Early Medieval Europe! Authored by Wim De Clercq, Elke Wesemael, and myself, this article describes the archaeological evidence concerning an early medieval fortified site in Lanaken, near Maastricht, excavated in 2017 by ARON bvba. While only a portion of the site could be excavated, it became evident that it featured a significant defensive system. Radiocarbon dating places the construction and initial utilization of the fortified site around 650-750/800 CE. Although a complete understanding of the site remains elusive, our study yields several new insights, that add to our understanding of Early Medieval society in the northern regions of Francia: 👉 The site represents the earliest known construction of a fortified site in the lowlands of northern Francia, showing that the construction of newly-built defensive structures in this area began much earlier than previously thought. 👉 The defensive layout closely mirrors Roman military practices, evidenced by the utilization of Roman measurement units in the planning of defensive works. This underscores the survival, adaptation and application of Roman military techniques into the 7th-8th centuries and beyond. 👉 Situated adjacent to a secondary road leading to Maastricht, the site likely served as a strategic point for controlling traffic en route to Maastricht and its vital Meuse crossing. Together, this suggests the possibility of a broader network of 'checkpoints' regulating the roadways around Maastricht. In March, Flemish Minister of Immovable Heritage Matthias Diependaele designated the site as a 'protected archaeological site,' ensuring the preservation of its heritage values for future generations. Interested in delving into the details of our findings? Read the article through the following link: https://lnkd.in/e3CaZ_92 or download a copy if you (or your institution) is subscribed to Early Medieval Europe: https://lnkd.in/ez9A44je