Coolest Archaeological Discoveries of 2014 [CHEESE!]

www.livescience.com ^ | December 25, 2014 06:10am ET | by Megan Gannon, News Editor

[Red Badger]

Thanks to the careful work of archaeologists, we learned more in the past year about Stonehenge's hidden monuments, Richard III's gruesome death and King Tut's mummified erection. From the discovery of an ancient tomb in Greece to the first evidence of Neanderthal art, here are 10 of Live Science's favorite archaeology stories of 2014.

1. An Alexander the Great-era tomb at Amphipolis

[snip]

2. Stonehenge's secret monuments

[snip]

3. A shipwreck under the World Trade Center

[snip]

4. Richard III's twisted spine, kingly diet and family tree

[snip]

5. A teenager in a "black hole"

[snip]

6. Syria by satellite

[snip]

7. Jesus' wife?

[snip]

8. Mummy cheese

The world's oldest known cheese was found this year, tucked away on the bodies of 3,800-year-old mummies in northwest China's Taklamakan Desert. Scholars had previously uncovered archaeological clues suggesting that cheese making began as early as the sixth millennium B.C., but actual samples of ancient cheese are hard to come by.

Archaeologists found clumps of a yellowish substance on the chests and necks of mummies during recent excavations in China's Xiaohe Cemetery. A chemical analysis showed that these blobs were really cheese. These dairy treats would have been nutritious, easily digestible and quite similar to yogurtlike kefir, according to the study in the Journal of Archaeological Science. The cheese was presumably left in the graves as a snack to be enjoyed in the afterlife.

9. King Tut's 3,300-year erection

[snip]

10. Artists like us?

[snip]

[Red Badger]

For the other stories go to link..................

[DannyTN]

They just discovered Cheese this year? Thank goodness for time machines.

[MaxMax]

#9 is scary, and I thought four hours was bad.

[Norm Lenhart]

Depends ;)

[Red Badger]

Apparently they had some really good Viagra back in those days!.................

[Norm Lenhart]

This is the part where Mel Brooks says “Hey Marie! It’s good to be the king!” ;)

[TurboZamboni]

Really old,dead Packers fans.

[Pollster1]

3,300-year erection ping

[SunkenCiv]

9. King Tut's 3,300-year erection [snip]

Ouch. Thanks Pollster1! Happy New Year, all!

[blam]

Oh! It was in 2013.

I'll post anyway now that I've found it.

400,000-Year-Old Hominin DNA Throws Everything We Know About Human Evolution Into Disarray

[SunkenCiv]

1. An Alexander the Great-era tomb at Amphipolis
   • Have archaeologists discovered the grave of Alexander the Great?
   • Mystery over massive Alexander-era tomb unearthed in Greece
   • Greek tomb at Amphipolis is 'important discovery'
   • Greek archaeologists enter large underground tomb [Amphipolis update]
   • Historian Claims The Louvre Museum Holds Ancient Amphipolis Tomb Treasures
   • Fever mounts as stunning statues found at ancient Greek tomb (Amphipolis)
   • Have they found Alexander the Great's tomb? Or maybe his mother's?
   • Remains of Alexander the Great's Father Confirmed Found
   • Large mosaic in ancient tomb uncovered in Greece [Amphipolis update]
   • Amphipolis skeleton from Alexander's time found in Greece
2. Stonehenge's secret monuments
   • Stonehenge dig finds 6,000-year-old encampment
   • The Most Disappointing Travel Destinations on Earth
   • Underground map reveals mysteries of Stonehenge (+video)
   • Stonehenge 'complete circle' evidence found
   • Why was Stonehenge built? 'Groundbreaking' discovery of 15 new monuments suggests the answer...
   • Archaeologists compare Neolithic Kent site to Stonehenge, find Bronze Age funerary monument
   • Archaeologists say Stonehenge was "London of the Mesolithic" in Amesbury investigation
   • UK's Oldest town revealed: Amesbury dates back more than TEN millenia
3. A shipwreck under the World Trade Center
   • Origins of Mysterious World Trade Center Ship Revealed
   • Second Piece of Historic Ship Discovered at WTC Site
   • WTC Ship Gives Up Lucky Coin
   • Ancient Buried Ship Found at Ground Zero Site
   • Experts work to free buried ship hull at WTC site
   • Boat From 1700s Found At World Trade Centre
4. Richard III's twisted spine, kingly diet and family tree
   • Richard III keyword
5. A teenager in a "black hole"
   • North America's Oldest Skeleton Discovery: 13,000-Year-Old Body of 'Naia' Discovered in Mexico
6. Syria by satellite
   • Ancient Stone Circles in Mideast Baffle Archaeologists
   • Spy Satellites Reveal Ancient Archaeological Sites
   • Study Confirms Ancient River Systems in Sahara 100,000 Years Ago
   • Declassified spy photographs reveal lost Roman frontier
   • Ancient network of rivers and lakes found in Arabian Desert
   • Spotting ancient sites, from space
   • Mideast riddle: Strange stone structures caught on camera
   • Visible Only From Above, Mystifying 'Nazca Lines' Discovered in Mideast
   • Google helps find ancient Roman remains
   • Stone Circles In Saudi Arabia
7. Jesus' wife?
   • keyword
8. Mummy cheese
   • Ancient mummies found buried with world's oldest cheese
9. King Tut's 3,300-year erection
   • King Tut's Mummified Erect Penis May Point to Ancient Religious Struggle
   • [2006] King Tut, Totally Intact -- King Tut's Penis Rediscovered
   • [2013] Tutankhamun's replica tomb to be re-erected in Luxor
   • [2011] Half of European men share King Tut's DNA
10. Artists like us?
    • Scientists say Indonesia cave drawings the same age as those in Europe
    • Indonesian Cave Art Among Science's Top 10 Breakthroughs of 2014