I have a story that just went up on the Science magazine website. I’ll have much more to say about it on my site over the weekend. UPDATE: I didn’t see this editorial in the Salt Lake Tribune until after my story was published in Science. Here’s an excerpt: Puzzling out the real reason why…Continue Reading…
You know I do. I’m also a fan of this blog, whose author is a young archaeologist committed to engaging with the public. Check out her latest project: The Maeander River, now known as the Büyük Menderes, flows through southwestern Turkey, connecting the ancient cultures of Anatolia with the Aegean, its twists and turns documented…Continue Reading…
What are the chances that someone could make a compelling movie about 30,000-year old rock art? Incredibly, Werner Herzog pulls it off with Cave of Forgotten Dreams, which I saw this weekend on the big screen. The archaeologists in the movie are terrific, and Herzog does a nice job answering all the basic questions a general…Continue Reading…
Being in the moment.
Given the politicization of climate science in the public sphere, I’m not sure it makes sense to mention climate blogs in the same breath as archaeology blogs. Still, there are familiar challenges (and rewards) to blogging for both climate scientists and archaeologists. So I advise any climate scientists lurking at my blog to read a…Continue Reading…
If you’re looking for Sunday brain food on a taboo subject (it may go down better after brunch), head over to Gambler’s House for some smart, straight talk on cannibalism. I’ve been meaning to note Teofilo’s recent meditations on the topic, and now he’s helpfully collected them all in one post. I loved his headline…Continue Reading…
Some ancient evidence for Fido being more than just man’s best friend.
Of a field archaeologist in Qatar: In the desert, sitting against a ruined wall, wind ripping through my context sheets, salty sand on my lips, skinned knuckles and bruised knees, I feel like myself again…I’m sure the sand and wind and sun will wear me down soon enough, but for now I’m relishing being back…Continue Reading…
Here’s some sobering context from an archaeologist: If you look broadly at human history, failure is the norm. What’s amazing is when things last. That observation was made in reference to the Cahokia, a little known and little appreciated pre-Columbian empire that gets the full National Geographic treatment in its current issue.
Yesterday, Justin Gillis published an excellent front page NYT article on climate change and sea level rise. Of course, the tone wasn’t catastrophic enough for this guy, but he’s never happy unless the story pummels the reader into “hell and high water” submission. Today, Gillis blogs on an interesting side note to his main piece:…Continue Reading…