10 NOVEMBRE 2016 NEWS: Rajgir - Agrigente - Samalghan -
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INDE - 
Rajgir - Archaeologists are planning to use high-end lasers to map Bihar’s ancient city of Rajgir. The plan is a part of their inter-disciplinary Rajgir Archaeological Survey Project (RASP), which includes surveying the archaeological evidence and the flora and fauna of the area. To achieve the same, archaeologists are planning to make use of a remote-sensing technique, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), which uses laser light to survey the earth’s surface. Located in Bihar’s Nalanda district, Rajgir is one of India’s most significant tourist places for Buddhist pilgrims. It was the first capital of the Magadha Empire. Gautama Buddha spent many years of his life in the city and delivered several sermons as well. The city was also the venue of the first Buddhist Council. Aside from Buddhism, the ancient city is also known for its association with Jainism, as its founder Lord Mahavira spent fourteen years of his life there.
ITALIE – 
Agrigente - Archaeologists digging in the Sicilian town of Agrigento may have discovered a system of squares typical of ancient Greek cities, experts said on Tuesday. "This series of squares constitute the monumental elements; you move from one square to another without a road," said archeologist Luigi Caliò of Catania university. The Imperial Forums in Rome use the same system, he added. "It is the Hellenistic scenography," Caliò explained. "There is a crucial point that needs to be studied," he continued. "We don't know exactly what shape this square had, the differences in ground level tell us there is terracing, there is a 6-7 m difference in level between one side and the other so there must have been slopes, stairs, terraces," Caliò said. The discovery currently lies buried but may see the light alongside the ancient Greek theatre currently under excavation, which archaeologists believe could date to the third century BC.
IRAN – 
Samalghan - Radiocarbon dating by Carbon-14 indicates Samalghan site in Khorasan has been settled from Iron II down to Islamic periods. Mohammad Javad Jafari, the head of an expedition to two archaeological sites, Rivi 1 and 2 in Samalghan plain in North Khorasan told Mehr News local correspondent that the site had been uncovered first by Iran’s most famous archaeologist Dr. Ezzatollah Negahban in 1967; “the Rivi covers an area of 110 hectares (290 acres), with dominant archaeological features being 3 collection of hills, designated as A, B, and C; a serious expedition dug deep into the history of the site for the first time in 2012 with demarcation and stratigraphic study of hill A; in 2014, a second excavation addressed hill B, and a third season of work in June 2016 was a regular study of the surface features and geophysical properties of the site,” he told the press. Jafari added that findings and a radiocarbon dating of the charcoal found in the site revealed stratigraphic evidence of settlement from Iron II down to Islamic period; “the archaeological work on Rivi and subsequent study of Iron Age material will contribute to improve the site status as a major Iron Age treasury in the northeast, favorite to lovers and students of archaeology of the Middle East,” he said. “The expedition seeks to shed light to the history of the settlement during historical period in Samangan (Samalghan) with an emphasis upon developments during the major settlements since Iron Age down to historical periods.” Judith Thomalsky, head of German Archaeological Institute, Eurasia Department was second to speak to the press; “during the third expedition to Rivi, the team repaired and restored to original form three stoneware crocks and the objets trouves during past excavations; the expedition installed 15 landmark posts to raise public awareness about the Rivi historical site and to subscribe the potentials of government support to preserve the site in its intact form,” she concluded.
http://en.mehrnews.com/news/121178/New-Iron-Age-site-emerges-in-Khorasan?