Siddharth Raja’s Post

The role of children’s toys in adaptation during Greenland’s Little Ice Age A study published in the European Journal of Archaeology by Mathilde Vestergaard Meyer and Dr. Felix Riede examines how children’s toys influenced the adaptability of two cultures, the Norse and the Inuit, during the Little Ice Age in Greenland. This research reveals the unexpected role of childhood play in societal survival under extreme climatic conditions. Greenland, one of the world’s largest islands, has a narrow inhabitable strip of land. During the Little Ice Age (ca. 1458–1552 CE), both the Norse settlers, who arrived around CE 986, and the Inuit, who migrated from northern Alaska via Canada during the eleventh century, faced the harsh environmental challenges of colder and drier climates. While the Inuit adapted and thrived, the Norse disappeared. Traditional theories attribute the Norse decline to factors such as overgrazing, reliance on unsustainable agriculture, increased sea ice hindering trade, and violent storms. However, this study introduces a new perspective—children’s toys as a proxy for societal adaptability. More information: https://lnkd.in/efqVCGPy #archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #iceage #greenland #norse #inuit

BC has certainly had its share of intense interactions between wildfires and cultural resources over the years. As awareness increases about the devastation wildfires can have on cultural resources, it’s clear that more work needs to happen to bring the two disciplines of wildfire science and archaeology together. For those who might be interested in this very topic, the School for Advanced Research has scheduled a very cool hybrid event on December 10. Abstract and link below: ABSTRACT Wildfires of uncharacteristic size, severity, and frequency pose a significant risk to cultural resources on public lands. Cultural resources, such as archaeological sites and landscapes, are irreplaceable and non-renewable. They have cultural or religious significance for living peoples and are protected by an extensive body of legislation. Despite the urgency of this situation, significant gaps exist between the fire ecology and archaeological research communities. New scientific approaches are needed to enhance how we contextualize fire’s role in preserving cultural resources for generations to come. Dr. Grant Snitker explores how new approaches to data collection, synthesis, and modeling can amplify our ability to effectively manage and research cultural resources alongside fire ecologists. He focuses on the intersection between archaeological research and fire management in the context of wildfire across the US and provides a blueprint for cooperative and applied research that has implications for agencies and academics alike. https://lnkd.in/ghH746Jp

✍️ “The oldest ship known to archaeology is called the Pesse Canoe. Resembling a three-meter-long cigar, it was hauled in the 1950s from bogs in the Netherlands. The lumpy pine hull has been carbon-dated to about 10,000 years old. Without question, humans were crossing open waters long before that. Daredevils floated to Australia, for example, at least 50,000 years ago. Some experts believe that this passage from Southeast Asia to Oceania took pace aboard bamboo rafts. The classic story of the colonization of the Americas, involving mammoth hunters plodding across the Bering Land Bridge between Siberia and Alaska, is being updated, meanwhile, with new evidence suggesting that inshore canoe migrations also played an important role. I’ll plumb these antique seafaring migrations in the years ahead, as I inch my way to the Out of Eden Walk’s final ocean: the bitter Antarctic waters off Tierra del Fuego.” —Paul Salopek 🔗 Read Paul’s most recent story from the trail, “Bookend Oceans,” a 12-year walk between big waters here: https://lnkd.in/g--S-Dkw

As some people know, I am currently spending a week on Orkney Mainland, with the principal objective of learning as much as I can about the most important archaeological dig in northern Europe in the past 20 years. Based around the Ness of Brodgar (https://lnkd.in/eWRXaWud) this huge but strangely informal research project has, over a 20 year period, revealed the massive scale and extraordinary age of neolithic culture on what we think of now as remote northern islands. Among the discoveries (and the leaders of the project estimate 90% of all material remains to be found) are: 1. A well ordered civilisation at least 6000 years old. 2. The start of religious and cultural beliefs that spread from here to the south (in other words, the Stonehenge builders learned from Orkney, not the other way round). 3. Trading links of extreme antiquity, in which ships travelled a long way across long distances. 4. A diet that was as high in calories and variety as that of modern people. This Neolithic culture changed dramatically about 4000 years ago and then rapidly turned into a more brutal Iron Age, with fortresses, endless little wars over now scarce resources and the final end to a golden age. What happened and why should we care? The answer is climate change. The temperatures in the Northern Isles were higher in the Neolithic. Crops grew, cattle thrived, the fishing was good. Then it became colder, trees died out and much land became unable to grow food crops. So the remaining people fought to survive. Is there a lesson, I hear you ask? Well, I wouldn't be writing this if not. The impact of archaeology is to remind us that everything changes, all the time. Climate, access to resources, all the factors that make life possible. And it can be sudden. As with bankruptcy, it happens little by little, then all at once. We are like the cultures of the past, with the sands shifting under our feet, trying to keep upright and finding it harder to do so. Our choices are limited to how we respond. Civilisation does not survive the most dramatic forms of climate change- archaeology from Yucatan to the Indus Valley, from the Nile to Orkney teaches us that. War follows shortage of resources- this we know also- and war just accelerates collapse. I wouldn't want to spoil anyone's week, but when we look at topics most explored on Linked In, it is really strange that business people don't think of this one vast, overwhelming issue a little bit more seriously. It's not just life or death to their businesses- it's, well, life or death for us all.

I’ve just returned from an incredible workshop on Western African archaeology hosted by Eleanor Scerri and team at the Max Planck Institute of GeoAnthropology in Jena, Germany. Over two days, researchers from West Africa, Europe, UK, US, etc gathered to advance our understanding of human evolution, archaeology, and palaeoclimate in this critical region. A big thank you to Eleanor for the kind invitation to present our work on the Western African Palaeoclimate Project. It was inspiring to collaborate with fellow researchers, share insights, and engage in many vibrant discussions including how high-resolution palaeoclimate data can inform archaeological research in the region. Importantly, I learned a lot about the science behind world-class archaeology! The workshop highlighted a critical aspect of our high-resolution stalagmite palaeoclimate research: it will provide data at the scale of human lifespans (e.g., seasonal rainfall patterns impacting food security), complementing existing, lower-resolution marine and lake sediment records from the region. Looking forward to pushing this research forward and contributing to a deeper understanding of how environmental factors shaped human evolution in this important region. (Photo: keynote by inspiring palaeolithic archaeologist Khady Niang) #Palaeoclimate #Archaeology #WesternAfrica #HumanEvolution #MaxPlanckInstitute #ResearchCollaboration #PalaeoResearch #ClimateChange #WaterResources #Stalagmites

🔬 Preserving History Against Climate Change: The Urgency of Archaeological Conservation 🌎   I recently came across a fascinating article shedding light on the impact of climate change on archaeology, specifically the challenges faced by the team excavating the Knowe of Swandro site on Rousay, Orkney Islands. This archaeological site, rich in Iron Age and Norse history, is under threat due to rising sea levels and increased storm activity.   The article highlights the race against time that archaeologists are facing to preserve these invaluable historical remnants before they are lost forever. It serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for conservation efforts in the face of climate change.   As professionals in our respective fields, let's reflect on the broader implications of climate change on our world's cultural heritage. How can we contribute to the preservation of our past for future generations? Join me in discussing strategies and initiatives to safeguard our history in the face of environmental challenges.   #Archaeology #ClimateChange #Conservation #PreservingHistory #CulturalHeritage https://lnkd.in/efrSfQcM

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.

🌍 Archaeologists Confirm: Vikings in Americas Long Before Columbus! 🛶 Columbus Day Special: Research from the University of Iceland reveals that Vikings arrived in the Americas as early as 1000 AD, well over 500 years before Christopher Columbus set foot on the New World's shores. This groundbreaking study highlights the significant maritime capabilities of the Norse explorers and their impact on both sides of the Atlantic. 🤔 What You Need to Know: 1️⃣ Evidence of Early Exploration: Tree ring analysis has shown that tree species such as Hemlock and Jack Pine, which are not native to Northern Europe, were imported from the Americas. This suggests that the Vikings not only explored but also established trade routes that included the transportation of wood and other resources back to Europe. 2️⃣ The Vinland Connection: The findings support the existence of Vinland, believed to be located along the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Nova Scotia. Historical texts, such as the Saga of Erik the Red and the Saga of the Greenlanders, recount the voyages of Leif Erikson and other Norse figures, further validating these archaeological discoveries. 3️⃣ Ongoing Maritime Activities: The research indicates that Norse Greenlanders had the means and knowledge to traverse the Davis Strait to North America well into the 14th century. This challenges previous assumptions about the duration and extent of Viking exploration and regional trade. 🔗 To learn more about this significant archaeological discovery and its implications for our understanding of Viking exploration, read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gUjAWdHX 🗣️ #questionforgroup: How do you think these findings about Viking exploration will influence our understanding of pre-Columbian history? What other historical narratives could be challenged with further research? #vikings #archaeology #culture #exporation #columbus #columbusday #education #woodcentral #woodcentralau1 #treedating #dating #research #wood #timber #science

The archaeological record is at risk. Without swift and informed consensus, archaeology will lose the majority of its research data legacy to a digital Dark Age. How can research networks help? The COST Action Saving European Archaeology from the Digital Dark Age (SEADDA) was established five years ago to mitigate the loss of primary archaeological data by developing common understandings on data stewardship, building new best-practice to support preservation, opening dissemination of archaeological data, and creating more inclusive research partnerships. Discover the impact and results of this network and their follow-up legacy through via the SHADE COST Innovators Grant and ARIADNE Research Infrastructure 🔗 https://lnkd.in/etHnKteS With Julian Richards, Holly Wright, Hella Hollander, & Ivana Sukalo Pandzic #COSTactions #COST_CIG #ArchaeologicalData #ResearchData