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The World Before Us

The MixJuly 10

What was going on at the Rising Star cave complex?

Thirteen years ago, the basic building blocks of human evolution seemed to be in place.
What was going on at the Rising Star cave complex?
What was going on at the Rising Star cave complex?
The MixJuly 3

Wheat fields hid goddess

Ashwell is a small village with a deep history.
Wheat fields hid goddess
Wheat fields hid goddess
The MixJune 26

Indo-European language spread started with horses

We take so much for granted, but sometimes, it is fascinating to look back to try and find out about transitions long before writing helped our inquiries.
Indo-European language spread started with horses
Indo-European language spread started with horses
The MixJune 19

Immovable object meets unstoppable force

In September, 89 AD, three Roman legions were destroyed at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
Immovable object meets unstoppable force
Immovable object meets unstoppable force
The MixJune 12

The roads not taken, the mounds not dug

In 1961, I spent the summer in Macedonia, excavating a Neolithic village occupied about 8000 years ago.
The roads not taken, the mounds not dug
The roads not taken, the mounds not dug
The MixJune 8

Jesus took centuries to grow a beard

May 29, 1453 was a momentous day.
Jesus took centuries to grow a beard
Jesus took centuries to grow a beard
The MixMay 30

Be it ever so humble

Entering someone’s house uninvited is not to be taken lightly.
Be it ever so humble
Be it ever so humble
The MixMay 22

The genius of metal

Sometimes we can take technological breakthroughs by genius ancestors for granted.
The genius of metal
The genius of metal
SouthlandMay 21

A tale of giant men and birds

The world has saluted Sir David Attenborough on his 100th birthday.
A tale of giant men and birds
A tale of giant men and birds
The MixMay 15

Sorting which came first

The world has saluted Sir David Attenborough on his 100th birthday.
Sorting which came first
Sorting which came first
The MixMay 8

Wrapped up in a mystery

Last December, a remarkable discovery in Egypt jogged my memory on two counts.
Wrapped up in a mystery
Wrapped up in a mystery
The MixMay 1

There but for a quirk of DNA go we

The discovery of DNA has had a massive impact on our understanding of human evolution.
There but for a quirk of DNA go we
There but for a quirk of DNA go we
The MixApril 10

Teeth hold diet secrets

How do you reconstruct the diet of prehistoric people?
Teeth hold diet secrets
Teeth hold diet secrets
The MixApril 3

When mozzies sniffed blood

Last month, a new genetic study of mosquitoes in Southeast Asia led by Catherine Walton, of the University of Manchester, came to a remarkable conclusion. It found that about 1.8million years ago, these nasty insects developed a taste for human blood. Until then, they had feasted on the blood of monkeys that lived in the rainforests of the Far East.
When mozzies sniffed blood
When mozzies sniffed blood
The MixMarch 27

Ancient warning of climate calamity

I always read what Gwynne Dyer has to say. Recently, it was a sobering account of how the Trump regime has decimated the American National Centre for Atmospheric Research.
Ancient warning of climate calamity
Ancient warning of climate calamity
The MixMarch 20

Gypsum proves to be a remarkable preserver of Roman history

Liquid gypsum is used today to improve the quality of clay soil, but in Roman times, it had a quite different application.
Gypsum proves to be a remarkable preserver of Roman history
Gypsum proves to be a remarkable preserver of Roman history
The MixMarch 13

Recognising the impact of female archaeologists

As I am writing this it is International Women’s Day, and how appropriate to look back on the many contributions that women have made to understanding our human past.
Recognising the impact of female archaeologists
Recognising the impact of female archaeologists
The MixMarch 6

Virtual museums make finds more accessible

When I began studying archaeology nearly 70 years ago, my professor illustrated his lectures with the aid of glass slides projected through an antediluvian machine known as an epidiascope.
Virtual museums make finds more accessible
Virtual museums make finds more accessible
The MixFebruary 27

Honouring our animal companions in death

In a recent "Faith and Reason" column, David Tombs wrote about Gravedigger Bob, a Brazilian dog that so missed its master that it camped out in his cemetery and was ultimately buried there.
Honouring our animal companions in death
Honouring our animal companions in death
The MixFebruary 20

The Dian are cast

When I tell colleagues I am involved in a research project at Shangri-La, they think I am teasing.
The Dian are cast
The Dian are cast
The MixFebruary 14

Tempestuous travels

The recent Waitangi Day celebrations remind me of how a copy of the Treaty came to Otago.
Tempestuous travels
Tempestuous travels
The MixFebruary 6

Thinking big 50 years on

Gold is in the news, with opinion divided over the proposed Bendigo mine near Tarras.
Thinking big 50 years on
Thinking big 50 years on
The MixJanuary 30

Art colours in the story

It was 10 years ago, on a balmy warm evening in Greece, that I yarned with Mike Petraglia during a gathering to celebrate our son Tom and Katerina’s wedding.
Art colours in the story
Art colours in the story
The MixJanuary 24

Wonders of warrior’s grave revealed

King Nestor features prominently in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, as his drama of the Trojan wars unfolded.
Wonders of warrior’s grave revealed
Wonders of warrior’s grave revealed
The MixJanuary 16

Up close and mesmerised

The Shanghai Archaeological Forum is held biannually and I have been fortunate to have attended all six.
Up close and mesmerised
Up close and mesmerised