Posted on 12/27/2011 6:52:39 AM PST by decimon
The recent discovery of a pendant at the Irikaitz archaeological site in Zestoa (in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa) has given rise to intense debate: it may be as old as 25,000 years, which would make it the oldest found to date at open-air excavations throughout the whole of the Iberian Peninsula. This stone is nine centimetres long and has a hole for hanging it from the neck although it would seem that, apart from being adornment, it was used to sharpen tools. The discovery has had great repercussion, but it is not by any means the only one uncovered here by the team led by Álvaro Arrizabalaga: Almost every year some archaeological artefact of great value is discovered; at times, even 8 or 10. It is a highly fruitful location.
Irikaitz lies behind the bath spa in Zestoa, on the other side of the river Urola, 14 metres from the river bank. The archaeologist from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) has been carrying out excavations here summer after summer, together with students and researchers from this and other universities and in cooperation with Aranzadi Science Society. Since 1998 they have uncovered 32 square metres; nothing compared to the eight hectares (at least) that this gigantic open-air site covers. This is archaeology, demanding a lot of patience, but the results are worth it: You feel as if you have found something that has been waiting to fall into your hands for 200,000 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at basqueresearch.com ...
Basquet case ping.
Thanks.
It’s funny how we still use objects of the same shapes.
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GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
Thanks decimon. |
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