While constructing a road in southern England, road builders’ retrieved remains of what was later established by archaeologists to be 51 Vikings who were mass buried dating back 1000 AD. Based on the archaeological evidences, it is believed that the Vikings mostly teens in their ealy 20s were beheaded in front of spectators (Quinn 2010). Further reports stated that, they came from Scandinavia with one man travelling from north of the Arctic Circle. Archaeologists believe that these is the biggest mass grave of foreigners ever found in Britain, it is further believed that these Vikings were executed by local Anglo-Saxons who had been beleaguered by the Vikings at the time (Quinn 2010).
The findings subsequent to the discovery of 51 Vikings closely relates to the nature of punishments imposed to foreigners particularly in Britain hence there culture. As learned in class, culture is the entirety of believes, images arts and poetry. In relation to the mass grave of 51 headless Vikings, it is apparent that the people of southern Europe in 1000 AD had the believe that, any person who plagued the society was to be punished mercilessly by being killed in front of an audience and buried with his or her fellow members. This archaeological incident also shows how Vikings were perceived during the 1000 AD in Europe, essentially, the culture of southern Europe was that where men were the ones to carry the burdens while women and children were to be spared.
This discovery not only makes apparent the believes of those people who lived in southern Britain but also offers us a picture of how things have changed for the better and how things have changed for the better. Unlike the past, particularly that time of history when Vikings were buried in mass grave, people in the contemporary times embrace cultural pluralism. This discovery is also significant because it offers a framework under which further discoveries that relates to it can be searched.
Olduvai George
Olduvai George that runs through Eastern Africa and possibly the most profound archaeological location on earth was established to contain the remains of million year old humans, since this location was recurrently occupied by people dating back million years ago, it shows how evolution took place overtime (Frater 2012). Alongside the remains, tools and rock earth formations were uncovered during the discovery. This site also contains fossils that in essence portrays the nature of physical appurtenance of man and also the bone structures (Frater 2012).
This discovery relates to many aspects in class, to begin with, as discussed in class, tools and rock formations basically defines the nature of human interactions, economic activities, and finally the evolution of man. Essentially, the tools discovered basically shows how humans interacted and the socio-economic activities. In relation to evolution, this discovery offers a framework under which we can relate the past activities and human’s physical characteristics. Apart from learning the evolution of man, such discoveries make it apparent that man indeed went through many physical transformations that can be compared with the current physical characteristics exhibited by human in the contemporary times, a fact that concurs with the calls teachings.
This discovery is essentially important particularly to archaeologists because it offers them a framework under which they can relate the various archaeological discoveries and arrange them in a chronological manner to deduce the gradual evolution of man. Additionally, this can then be compared to the current nature of man in an effort to predict future transformations likely to take place based on the trends in which the evolution took in the subsequent years. This discovery essentially relates the present and the past but directly comparing the features of the present man and the ancient man, it also adds the knowledge by explaining why some physical characteristics are present in the present man.
Petroglyphs Rock Art in Nevada
Yet another fascinating archaeological findings are the North American Rock Art in Nevada. This one has fascinating petroglyphs that could date back to almost 14, 800 years to the first people in America. The petroglyphs carved on the soft limestone range from simple pits, lines and swirls to ambiguous and complex shapes resembling trees, diamonds, veins in a leaf and flowers (Ker 2013). The lead geochemist Larry Benson together with his team concluded that the petroglyphs at Winnemucca Lake could be at least 10,500 years old or perhaps more than 14,800 years old. This result was achieved through clues from carbonates and the studies explaining the evolution of the Lake from its past full water capacity to its present day dry status. The boulders etched with the petroglyphs were possibly then submerged, and as the water levels slowly dropped the carbonate, crusts gradually formed the boulders. From radiocarbon testing of the carbonate layers, the age range was revealed to be about 10, 300 to 14,800 years old (Ker 2013). Comparison of the findings with analyses from the surrounding sediment cores of the Pyramid Lake, suggest that the boulders must have been exposed at around 10, 500 to 11,300 years ago.
This article relates to the class findings in that, the methods used in determining the age of the fossils discovered is among those discussed in class. Additionally, it ascertains the historical data of America’s first settlers or rather the first wave of migrants that started crossing America from Asia through the coasts. Congruent with the class discussions, the exact age of the glyphs can only be achieved through sampling the carbonates from the inside of the etchings.
The knowledge acquired from the archaeological findings is important in that, it offers a profound knowledge on how the peoples that crossed the Bering Strait into Alaska and through an ice-free corridor into Canada during the second wave of migration looked like and of what physical appearance were they. Considering that the findings postulates that these people could be responsible for the rock arts in Lake Winnemucca, this discovery offers a framework under which future analysis and discoveries will be made in line with these archaeological findings hence contributing a lot to the knowledge regarding the same.
Works Cited
Frater, Jamie. 2012 “Top 10 Incredible Archaeological Discoveries: Olduvai Gorge” List
Verse. Internet Source < http://listverse.com/2012/10/29/top-10-incredible-archeological-discoveries/> accessed November 16, 2013
Ker, Than. 2013 “Oldest North American Rock Art May Be 14,800 Years Old. 20. National
Geographic. Internet Source, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/08/130815-lake-winnemucca-petroglyphs-ancient-rock-art-nevada/#close-modal, accessed November 16, 2013
Quinn, Rob.2010 “Brits Uncover Mass Grave of Headless Vikings” Newser. Internet Source.
< http://www.newser.com/story/83082/brits-uncover-mass-grave-of-headless-vikings.html> accessed November 16, 2013
