Greatest archaeological finds of the year

[redqueen]

A millefiori stud, which was part of an Anglo-Sazon hoard found by Terry Herbert, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, as he searched a field near his home.

Greatest Finds of the Year

It’s been another fascinating and prolific 12 months in archaeology, with discoveries - ranging from a multi-million pound medieval gold hoard to a lost Roman city, a “missing link” in human evolution and a prehistoric erotic figurine - coming thick and fast from the four corners of the globe.

They’ve been made by all from hard-working heritage experts, after years of slaving at the archaeological coal-face, to fluky amateurs on their very first treasure hunt.

Here we give our run down of what we believe are the top ten major discoveries of 2009. All of them have enriched our knowledge of the past in some way – either by offering fascinating glimpses of past civilizations, or challenging preconceived notions about ancient history or opening up a heated debate that has seen important questions asked, if not always answered.

[xchrom]

1. Recommend -- that gold hoard was fascinating. Nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Contentious that they've put in 'Ida' the early primate, but not 'Ardi' the earliest hominid

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/science/02fossil.html?_r=1&em

Since many scientists have now decided that Ida wasn't a human ancestor after all - http://heritage-key.com/blogs/malcolmj/missing-link-ida-may-not-be-human-ancestor

[FSogol]

3. Cool. Thanks for posting. n/t

[Irish_shark]

4. That's one old flute

If i'm not mistaken the flute was from the paleolithic age. It's amazing that music already being performed back then.

[redqueen]

5. Yes, 35,000 - 45,000 years old.

I wonder what the music sounded like...

Welcome to DU! :)

[Dogmudgeon]

6. A paleolithec flute was reconstructed a few years ago

It was found in a cave dwelling in Basque Country in Spain -- near Altamira, I think. One company http://www.ancientmusic.co.uk/ancientinstruments/">makes and sells reproductions with an average price of £75.

IIRC, It was a pentatonic instrument. The Basques have a traditional flute called a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Txistu">txistu that is quite a bit like it. Of course, they are much better made these days. And there is no conclusive link between the txistu and the paleo flute.

--d!

[redqueen]

7. Neat!

I was wondering more what the style of the music might have been like moreso than the actual sound itself... whether it was already melodic or more of an imitation of nature... that kind of thing. :)