21 – 22 FEVRIER
FRANCE – Quéven- Depuis plusieurs années, la ville de Quéven envisage de réaliser un «éco-quartier» sur le site de Croizamus, à proximité de la route de Pont-Scorff. Un site archéologique ayant été repéré, des fouilles préventives ont dû être réalisées- Cette fouille préventive, à la demande de la direction régionale des affaires culturelles, a permis de mettre au jour un certain nombre de vestiges. Mais il faudra attendre plusieurs mois avant de connaître plus précisément leur histoire. C'est en 1995 que la société d'archéologie du pays de Lorient, suite à un survol du site, y avait repéré la présence d'un ensemble de construction. La Drac, ayant pris connaissance du projet d'urbanisme de la ville a souhaité y réaliser un premier diagnostic en 2009 sur les 13ha de parcelle concernée. Finalement, c'est en novembre2010 que le bureau d'études rennais Evea a obtenu le marché de ces fouilles préventives sur une superficie de 1,3ha. L'équipe d'archéologues a mis au jour une enceinte fortifiée importante au coeur de laquelle se trouvait un bâtiment carré. La fortification possédait une entrée monumentale. Cet ensemble date de l'époque romaine. En cherchant dans la strate archéologique plus profonde, ilsont mis en évidence une occupation gauloise, puis une occupation de la fin de l'Âge du bronze. Il reste à préciser la datation du mobilier trouvé dans ces fouilles. Céramiques, tessons de verre, quantité de coquillages, quelques clous, fragments de meules, silex taillés et haches polies, tous ces objets seront répertoriés, puis analysés à Rennes afin d'en savoir un peu plus sur le site etson fonctionnement. Dans quelques jours, l'ensemble du chantier sera recouvert de terre et, à la fin de l'année, le chantier d'aménagement de la première tranche de 80 logements sera lancé.
http://lorient.letelegramme.com/local/morbihan/lorient/couronne/queven/archeologie-les-fouilles-de-croizamus-s-achevent-16-02-2011-1209179.php
SUISSE – Monthey - «L’enquête suit son court. Tout ce que l’on peut dire pour l’heure, c’est que ces ossements datent d’avant 1960.» Du côté de l’Office du juge d’instruction du Bas-Valais, on se montre avare en commentaires sur la découverte macabre, faite l’été dernier par un commerçant montheysan. Le 11 juillet, Thierry Paccard, patron du Petit Marché, avait eu la surprise de découvrir deux squelettes, alors qu’il réalisait des travaux de terrassement dans sa cave. François Wiblé confirme pourtant que ces vestiges sont antérieurs à 1960… Et pas qu’un peu: «On peut estimer qu’ils remontent à la fin du premier millénaire ou au début du deuxième, précise l’archéologue cantonal valaisan. Il est très difficile d’articuler une fourchette plus précise. Le site est très perturbé et on ne trouve pas de matériel qui permette de dater ces tombes.» Deux ardoises déposées verticalement et formant un angle droit autour des squelettes avaient été mis au jour par Thierry Paccard. «Ce détail semble indiquer la présence d’un coffre - d’un cercueil - en dalle, explique François Wiblé. On n’est donc vraisemblablement pas dans une affaire criminelle.» L’Office du juge d’instruction ne donne cependant aucune précision quant à l’âge ou au sexe des deux personnes qui reposaient depuis des siècles sous le Petit marché. Les deux corps ont-ils été enterrés simultanément? Reposaient-ils dans la nécropole liée à l’église voisine? Difficile de répondre à ces questions. «A cette époque, les cimetières n’étaient pas forcément organisés comme ceux que l’on connaît de nos jours.»
http://www.24heures.ch/vaud-regions/actu-vaud-regions/squelettes-retrouves-monthey-1000-ans-2011-02-21
ROYAUME-UNI - Eddisbury – Archaeologists have discovered that an artefact found during last year’s dig at Eddisbury Hill is a decorated sandstone boulder dated between the late Neolithic and late Bronze Age. The old red sandstone boulder, which has multiple engravings on one of its surfaces, was found in the entrance area of Eddisbury Hillfort. The series of motifs are usually associated with Neolithic or Bronze Age burial ritual found in or close to cairns and barrows. Experts say its size and shape suggest it could be moved around the immediate landscape. The rock has cupmarks and a larger mark, which may have been used as a mortar for grinding ingredients. Dr George Nash, from the University of Bristol, said: “In my view, the date of the Eddisbury Hill boulder is probably middle to late Bronze Age – although one cannot discount an earlier date. “This assumption is based on many decorated boulders with cupmarks found elsewhere, in particular from northern Britain. “In comparison to other decorated boulders and stones, the Eddisbury Hill boulder can be considered one of a group of portable stones that contains simple multiple motifs of varying size, a rare occurrence in the northern marches. “These earlier sites appear to have commanded respect by Iron Age fort builders and users. “If this is the case, it is conceivable that further decorated stones from Eddisbury Hillfort await future discovery.”
http://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/8862816.Decorated_sandstone_boulder_found_after_dig/
MEXIQUE – Mexico City - During the Conquest period between 1524 and 1529, Spaniards constructed 68 churches on sacred Prehispanic buildings of Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco. 20 of these structures raised to develop the evangelization work among Mexica people, are still standing, while 5 are partially on foot. In Tlatelolco, those dedicated to San Francisco Mecamalinco, Santa Ana Atenantitch, Santa Clara Acozac (Nuestra Señora de los Angeles), San Miguel Nonoalco and La Concepcion Atenantitlan remain. n what once was Tenochtitlan, today Historical Center of Mexico City, are the temples of Santa Cruz Soledad Guaucontzinco, San Jeronimo Atlixco, Candelaria de los Patos, Magdalena Mixhuca, Santa Cruz Acatlan, San Lucas Quescontitlan, San Pablo Teopan, Santa Maria Tlaquechiuhca, San Sebastian Atzacalco, San Antonio Tomatlan, San Cristobal Aztacalco, Soledad Campo Florido Amanalco, Niño Jesús Tepetitlan y Concepcion Xoloco. The specialist from the Seminar of Indigenous Historiography at UNAM remarked that “such Colonial constructions present an outlook of how neighborhoods were integrated, the architectural crossbreeding and the reuse made by Spaniards of these areas for the Catholic cult, which remains until now”. Saul Perez mentioned that from the 68 referred constructions, 50 were edified in Tenochtitlan and 18 in Tlatelolco, representing the beginning of current Mexican religious architecture. He mentioned that the evangelization process was gradual and its first stage took place at the teocallis, temples dedicated to Mexica deities, reused by the friars to teach Catholicism, according to documents by Pedro de Gante. Later, these Mexica constructions –which occupied a privileged space at the Prehispanic neighborhoods - were destroyed to build the new architectural spaces of evangelization. “In this sense, it is important to remark that Catholic invocations of churches did not correspond to specific Prehispanic deities, since in that period friars had little knowledge of the Mexica pantheon, and their intention was only to convert naturals to their religion”, pointed out the architect.
Regarding architectural styles of churches constructed during the first years after the Conquest, Saul Perez mentioned that the single nave without vault outstands, as well as the atrium, element originated parting from the teocalli plaza, squared most of the time. These features account for the architectural crossbreeding in Mexico, since the nave of the church is from Europe, while the atrium is Prehispanic, “revealing the fusion between both cultures”. Other peculiarity of these constructions is that they were created reusing the rocks that integrated Prehispanic temples. Almost all these churches were approximately 25 meters long and 8 to 10 meters wide. Architect Saul Perez commented that his study has the objective of knowing the organizational scheme that Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco had, as well as identifying where roadways, irrigation ditches and teocallis, “with the aim of understanding the urban context of Prehispanic cities”. This way, the researcher achieved to consult diverse Colonial maps and locate the churches built between 1524 and 1529. This research has been fruitful, since it has provided the location of teocallis and the rising of churches on them, some of them still standing, which explains the process of evangelization during the first years after the Conquest, one o the most interesting periods in Mexico”, concluded the specialist.
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=45151
ROYAUME-UNI – Colchester - The remains of a 900-year-old abbey, destroyed on the orders of King Henry VIII have been uncovered. Archaeologists have discovered the site of the foundations of the former Abbey of St John while digging trenches in the grounds of the former Colchester Garrison Officers’ Club.
http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/8867489.Archaeologists_discover_900_year_old_abbey/
ROYAUME-UNI – Windsor - Two American archaeologists have asked the Queen of England for permission to dig up Henry VIII and use the latest techniques to reconstruct his face. Bioarchaeologist Catrina Whitley and anthropologist Kyra Kramer popped the question because they're interested in seeing how accurate the royal portraits of the famous king really are. They also want to perform DNA tests to see if he suffered from a rare illness that might have driven him insane.
Facial reconstruction on skulls is nothing new and has been steadily improving over the years. It's used in archaeology to study ancient people and by CSI teams to identify murder victims. Drs. Whitley and Kramer would like to open Henry VIII's grave in St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle and measure his skull. They can then create an accurate image of what he looked like in real life While this is interesting and is sure to make lots of headlines, of more historic importance is their plan to analyze the king's DNA to test for McLeod Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that can lead to schizophrenia. Historians have long wondered why an intelligent, level-headed leader became an erratic tyrant in later life. His wives must have wondered too. No word yet from Queen Elizabeth on whether she'll allow her predecessor to be exhumed.
http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/21/archaeology-team-tells-queen-we-want-to-dig-up-henry-viii/