Whispers

Whispers are starting to spread from the latest archaeological excavations and research on the island of Flores, Indonesia. Hominin specimens found on the island, dubbed Homo floresiensis, more affectionately referred to as the ‘hobbits’ were first reported in 2004. The archaeology of Flores is enigmatic for several reasons; one of the main concerns is that if dating is correct, the hobbits present an archaeological anomaly. If the Flores hominins did coexist for an extensive period after colonisation by modern humans, it would suggest that not all indigenous hominins were replaced by anatomically modern humans.
Coexistence with modern humans has been found in the archaeological record. Evidence from Neanderthals suggests a relatively short coexistence with modern humans, but archaeological research suggests that the Hobbits may have been extant for a far longer period than any other species.
There are also arguments against the assignment of the fossils to Homo floresiensis. Some suggest that the fossils may be diseased moderns or erectus specimens.
The latest whispers are that the new excavations have found evidence that would suggest beyond a doubt that the hominins are in fact a new species, forcing the academia to rethink our models of human evolution and the human story.



After the stories I’ve heard from the AAA conference this year…let the shit fight begin.

'Tis the Season to be Distasteful: 'Osama Bin Lego'

It’s that time of year again folks, the season to be jolly…and by jolly I mean eat and drink until the cows come home. I never really understood that saying when I was little, where did the bloody cows go anyway? The local Milko? Anyway, with the joyful season comes the gift shopping period, or the “I would rather have bamboo thrust under my fingernails than go shopping” period as I like to call it. But if your find yourself in a spot of bother trying to find the perfect gift for that special person*, then look no further!

OSAMA BIN LEGO - proudly brought to you by BrickArms, now available in the UK.

The new collectable is:

"The masked follower of 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden comes with a rocket
launcher, assault rifle and grenades….

They also include a Nazi
major, bearing the chilling SS insignia, and a stormtrooper brandishing two
grenade launchers."

As would be expected, the product has been slammed by religious and political groups across the globe. It has been argued that the products glorify terrorism and send mixed messages to children. Lego UK has strongly denied any affiliation with the BrickArms Company and released the following statement in relation to the new product:

“…BrickArms is not licensed by LEGO UK to customise LEGO figures and has no
links to the LEGO brand. LEGO UK is committed to developing toys which enrich
childhood by encouraging imaginative and creative play - and does not endorse
products that do not fit with this philosophy..."

If the Osama Bin Lego collection doesn’t seem a bit distasteful to you then I suggest a strong hit of wheatgrass and a “what the hell is wrong with you?!” followed by your best mate slapping you on the forehead.

*We all have that one person on our Christmas lists that makes you stop and think “Oh [insert four letter word here] what on earth do I get for this clown?....And why is he/she even on my list?”

P.S. I DO NOT ENDORSE THIS PRODUCT.

I've been Warholed!

Look! Look at me!!! I'm a Warhol! And a Dandy Warhol at that!...even if I do say so myself.

But wait! What have we here?!

Gah! I'm wanted by Azkaban prison?!!! I swear that spell....ah i mean,....hey someone put graffiti on my wanted poster!

I'm famous! Jealous? Well never fear my envy riddled friends for you can be a famous Warhol or a target for those nasty Dementors too! A website has basically put up some photo/image backgrounds, which, using some very weird and wonderful technological manoeuvres, puts you in the photo. So, if you have ever wanted to be Superman, Marilyn Monroe, a Jedi or just loved by Victoria (Posh) Beckham (I haven’t any idea why, I imagine it would be like hugging a bunch of spiky sticks that make a very high pitched squealy sound when you ask them "how you doin'?"), then this is the site for you! Also, I think that no one should ever go through life without seeing their own face on the Mona Lisa…or on a television set.

P.S. Someone should let Robbie Buck know about this website, so then he can make pictures of himself on the TV to make up for not hosting his own TV show.

P.S.S. I mean no offence to Mr. Robbie Buck, he’s a lovely gent…and to the person who wrote on a wall in Graffiti “Robbie buck is an f---head” I say “No he isn’t, you…you…big poo head!” (shakes fist)

P.S.S.S. If you are reading this and thinking ‘who is Robbie Buck’, I say shame on you! Triple J 6-9am weekdays.

P.S.S.S.S. 2 x Double shot latte = Bad Idea.

Meeting solo

Hi, Have you met solo?

This is, well, part of the fossil I’ll be working on over the next few weeks. He is quite handsome really, this picture does not do him justice. I'll arrange for a photograph of the entire skull to be taken and posted on the site.
Anyway, I'll be spending the next few weeks getting acquainted with solo, taking measurements, describing and researching him in detail.
He does have quite the personality, you can see it in his eyes hahahahaha....no?

And that my friends, is how you know that you have spent way too much time in the lab.

Mossy Otzi

I don’t know what it is about this guy, but I do find him quite fascinating. Recent studies have found that Otzi has not one, not two, but six different types of moss in his gut. Six different varieties!
This has genuinely surprised archaeologists and scientists working with the Ice mummy, for several reasons, but principally because moss tastes bad. And how do they know this? Remember my Frank and Bob scenario? I told you it was real!
Considering that the mosses tasted disgusting and shared the same nutritional value as cardboard, it has been suggested that they may have been ingested accidentally. Researchers have found that:

“…One type of moss could have been used to wrap food;
another was likely swallowed when the Iceman drank water during the
last few days of his life; and yet another would have been used as a wound
dressing.

The food-wrapping moss is called Neckera complanata. And the
Iceman probably accidentally ingested a moss called Hymenostylium recurvirostrum
along with some drinking water before he died.

And he could have applied the bogmoss Sphagnum imbricatum as
a wound dressing. That particular bogmoss does not grow, at least today, within
about 30 miles (50 km) of the site where Ötzi was found, the researchers say,
suggesting the Iceman must have been a traveler…”

He just grows more interesting by the second. I’m hoping that they will make another documentary with Sir David Attenborough as the narrator, thus combining my two greatest loves on this planet into one super-fantastical-fun-documentary!…

I need to get out more.

For more details, you can find the mossy article here.

The 86th Anniversary

Okay, I know I said I wouldn’t write another blog, but I forgot to mention the other day that Howard Carter opened Tutankhamen’s tomb 86 years ago last Wednesday. I won’t say anymore though because after about fifty words that actually becomes a blog and before you know it I’ve started delving into procrastination again.

….oops, I Fail.

Hiatus

In the vain hope that people actually read this little blog, I feel that I should tell you that things are going to be a bit quiet over the next five weeks or so.
Yes, a hiatus in blogging.
Why?
Well, I am a crazy person, and what do crazy people do?
That’s right! They enrol in intensive university courses over summer semester a.k.a. the Christmas holidays.
But it’s Human Evolution?! How could I pass up that opportunity?
I get to spend hours in the lab examining all sorts of fossils! eeeeek!
I think I’m hyperventilating.
So, I’m banning myself from all forms of procrastination, including blogging! If you see me even so much as thinking about writing a blog, write me a comment starting with the words “Procrastination leads to….” And then invent a disease or something that will scare the pants off me and force me back to the study books.
I’m glad we’ve reached this point in our relationship.
Soon we’ll be sending each other bonbons…and banana shoes…and origami scientists…

Popcorn: Quantum of Solace

Okay, I admit it, I’m a bit of a James Bond fan, so when Quantum of Solace was released I was a tiny bit excited. In accordance with the David Attenborough Accord (Don’t ask, I just love him), I went to see the new Bond flick with my lovely family. It was during this exercise that I realised two things;
1) Going to see a movie at the local cinema is quite expensive.
2) Going to see a movie at the local cinema is bloody expensive actually!

Anyway, back to the point, Daniel Craig.
I was a little harsh when it was announced that new Bond would be a Blonde (haha alliteration)…in fact I believe that exact phrase was something along the lines of “What?! What a load of [insert 4 letter word here]!” - Yes that’s right people, I’m keeping this site PG.

But Mr. Craig surprised me…he was pretty good in Casino Royale, so I had high expectations for Quantum of Solace. First though, I think it’s important to note that this film is a continuation of the Casino Royale storyline. I don’t think many people realised this when they went to see it, partly because the only recognisable continuity in past Bond films was the characters professional occupation, alcoholic beverage of choice and the fact that he was a bit of a man-whore….oops! I just violated my PG rating. Apologies.

Craig puts on another epic performance as Bond, he’s cold, surly and as tough as nails. The action sequences have been stepped up a notch, probably in response to the Bourne films. However, at times, it is very hard to follow what is actually happening in the scene but this is compensated by the rush you feel while actually watching it. Although I do think that some sequences are a bit far fetched, I particularly object to the jumping out of the plane incident, as if they wouldn’t have sustained some serious injuries there! But it was still good!

I think I appreciate this film, and Casino Royale far more than past films because of the performance Craig delivers. He does actually get hurt and bleed and yes, I am looking at you Brosnan! There is a far more human element to the Bond character with Craig at the reins, and not just this superficial and egotistical idea of masculinity.

But what about the Bond Girls? Well I rather liked Camille/Olga Kurylenko, but really didn’t like Strawberry Fields/Gemma Arterton…I don’t know what it was but Ms. Fields just annoyed me and I didn’t feel sad that she…..oops, sorry I’ll try not to spoil anything else for you if you haven’t seen the film yet.

The storyline reflects contemporary issues and what terrorism could eventually lead to. In that sense it was a bit confronting and scary to think about really, but overall I liked the film. And ultimately, it serves its purpose; it provided entertainment and left you with more questions that will lead viewers to the box office again for the next instalment.

'Death = Weird' Revisited

Recently I published a blog titled ‘Death=Weird’ in which I, perhaps a little to intensely, ranted about my aversion of the article title ‘Top Ten Weird Ways to Deal with the Dead’.
First of all, On Being Unexceptional is just a place for me to get the crazy talk out of my system so my head doesn’t explode. Given that I was particularly surprised to see that someone, and let’s be honest, other than close friends and family, actually made a reference to my blog!
Just to refresh your memories, I argued that using the word “weird” to refer to mortuary practices of different cultures across the world wasn’t exactly appropriate (In my opinion anyway).

A blog which featured on Remote Central does however raise some interesting points about the ‘Top Ten’ article. In the 'Dead=Weird' blog, I stated that:

“To call the article Top 10 WEIRD ways to deal with the dead, implies blatant disrespect for practices of non-western communities. In this day and age, you’d think we’d all be able to respect the beliefs and values of other cultures!”

In retrospect, I think blogging and six cups of coffee really don’t mix. Anyway, Remote Central responded to my caffeinated rant with:

“It might be argued that it is precisely this modern day and age which has done more to destroy, eradicate and oppress the beliefs and values of other cultures…”

In some ways I agree, but I believe it’s important to remember how academia has developed in regard to the interpretations of other cultures. While we do have the big black “Darwinism” and “Cultural Evolutionism” clouds hovering over us, many have tried to examine cultures within their own context, rather than providing another stereotypical account of the ‘exotic’ and ‘primitive’, which was the dominant theme presented in past research.

The author also noted that the title itself was a commercial ploy to grab the attention of the reader. I agree with this wholeheartedly. I would also like to reiterate that it is precisely this kind of commercial ploy that is supporting the parochial mind-set of modern society.

Despite the fact that I felt like a bit of a twit after reading the Remote Central blog, I do stick by my original argument. I feel that using ‘weird’ to elements of different cultures leads to alienation and misconceptions. And yes, I guess I was being a little too pro-extreme-political-correctness, but everyone is entitled to an opinion I say, and this one just happens to be mine.

UNDERWORLD COUNTDOWN

I know what I’m about to do is frowned upon by many in the archaeological community…but I’m going to do it anyway! Look at me man! I’m a hardcore rebel!

Three words for you ladies and gents…and no, it is not “World of Warcraft”…

It’s TOMB RAIDER: UNDERWORLD!!!

Eeeeekkk! Tomb raider tomb raider tomb raider eeeekkkk!


Okay, so I may be a little bit excited about the new Tomb Raider game, which is set for release on the 21st of November 2008...or if you are a bit of a fan of the action-adventure game genre…its only 8 more sleeps!

Now I think I should explain why I’m getting so worked up over this release.
1) The original Tomb Raider game was genius!
2) The Angel of Darkness game really tainted the series image for a while there…it was like tomb raider fathered a freaky love child with CSI, as Lara stalked the streets of Paris searching for a serial killer, broke into the Louvre and shot at the Mona Lisa…okay maybe that last bit was just me.
3) Archaeology is NEVER this much fun!
4) Archaeologists are never this fantastically hot or amazingly skilled in combat.


Yes, unfortunately Archaeology, despite how it has been portrayed in popular culture, hardly ever involves re-animated corpses trying to bite your arms off or explosive gun battles in art museums. In fact, most archaeological work is done in the lab, yes the lab.
We dress ourselves in those ridiculous white coats and look at stuff under microscopes…and for the record, stuff is a technological term in the archaeological discipline.

So the reason I’m so excitable over this game is because, and let’s face it, Archaeology can be tedious and boring at times. It’s not that I want to be Lara Croft…I mean the only thing we have in common is cup size…and no I’m not referring to a schooner or middy.

And unlike me, Lara never wears a lab coat, which means she’s never had that awkward moment where she realises that having substantial breast tissue gets in the way of the second button, so you have to leave that one open and try to ignore the fact that the dorky asthmatic nincompoop sitting across from you is drooling all over his microscopic specimen as he catches glimpses of your cleavage…all because the stupid lab coats don’t fit! I wonder whose idea that was!….anyway, moving on…

It’s not that I don’t find archaeology exciting and fun; in fact it’s the opposite! I was doing volunteer work and nearly wet myself when I found a fossilised fish scale in the sample I was sorting! But I do wish that once I finally get my degree, my life will have a Lara Croft/Tomb Raider-esque action-adventure feel to it.
You know, travel around the world, uncovering ancient ruins and saving the world from certain doom at the hands of an evil and twisted ex-espionage/military gent with an unfortunate looking scar across his balding head and “Mummy? Why don’t you love me?” issues…Dream big I say.

The game is supposed to be going back to its roots, with more of a focus on outdoorsy adventuring through archaeological sites across the world, giant spiders and octopi, Norse mythology, heaps of explosions, great graphics and a character who can juggle whilst contorting herself into a pretzel.

So if you were a fan of Tomb Raider: Legend, strap yourselves in because Underworld is said to blow ones mind!

Eeeeekkk! Tomb raider tomb raider tomb raider eeeekkkk!

I myself may be a little bit biased toward this type of game because I'm one of those people who looks at a mysterious lever protruding from an ancient monument and thinks "I wonder what happens when i pull this?" without evaluating the cost/benefits first! WOO! Step back! I'm a Wild Child!

But if you’re a bit of a Tomb Raider/Action-Adventure gaming fan…or you just dream of Lara Croft’s hot body lathered in white chocolate, contorted into a pretzel and juggling on your dining table, then check out the website for all sorts of gaming goodies!!!

Eeeeekkk! Tomb raider tomb raider tomb raider eeeekkkk!

BLAST YOU SCAVENGER SCUM!

In a story a wee bit closer to home…I believe that the Western Australian Museum is with me when I say “BLAST YOU MARITIME SCAVENGERS!” Documented artefacts have been disturbed and stolen from maritime historical sites in Fremantle, Western Australia.

Museum acting chief executive Diana Jones said Long Jetty was declared an historic site in 1988 and was protected under the WA Maritime Archaeology Act 1973.“Long Jetty was recognised as a site of historical significance after the museum’s maritime archaeologists surveyed the area and found a wealth of objects dating as far back as the 1840s,” Ms Jones said.Thousands of bottles and jars, cutlery, lumps of coal, sheep bones and other items were surveyed and documented. Among the personal belongings recovered were watches, toys, shoes, costume jewellery and coins.

Essentially I’m reporting this for two reasons:
1) To promote awareness of the site and the need to protect the local history it represents
2) Provide me with an excuse to say “blast you maritime scavengers” and rant on about bottle collectors.

Bottle collectors essentially go around and dig up archaeological sites to find different types of glass bottles. Fair enough, we all need a hobby...however, from an archaeological perspective, can i just say:

PICK ANOTHER FREAKEN HOBBY! LEAVE THE BOTTLES ALONE!!!

I don’t care how valuable the bottles are, they are a part of the archaeological record and as such reveal a heap of information about past human cultures and activity. AND we can date sites by using bottles, that’s pretty cool right?!

Now I’m hoping you, lovely readers, will all be able to connect the dots and understand what I mean when I say it’s extremely irritating and infuriating when you find that bottle collectors have been active at your site!

They’re basically taking away potential information you can gather from the site! GRRRRRRRR!

Please excuse me while I count backwards from 100.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,27574,24615274-2761,00.html

The Artemis Project

To build or not to build, that is the question.

Now, I just want to clear the air now and state that I for one, as a student of archaeology, am not a fan of rebuilding or reconstructing Ancient monuments.

WAIT!

I know that most of you reading this are thinking “Boo! What a buzz kill! They should call you Ebenezer ‘parochial traditionalist’ scrooge!


So I’d just like to take this moment to say, NO! I’m not partial to reconstruction of Ancient Monuments for a few reasons:

1) They are usually done really, really badly! I love in situ monuments and am grateful that they have survived through time and stand as these undeniable tangible manifestations of past events. But I do not like to visit sites where you can see modern materials tacked onto ancient monuments. That really does just spoil the whole experience, for me anyway.

2) The art and stylistic features of the ancient remains can be quite different in modern reconstructions.

3) The chauvinism of the selected artists and architects employed to reconstruct the damn thing…talk about god complexes!

Anyway, the Selçuk Artemis Culture, Arts, and Education Foundation in conjunction with the University of Vienna announced plans to rebuild the Temple of Artemis.

I can only a assume that this was a massively complicated decision to make, what with archaeological ethics, the global financial crisis, the fact that the temple was formally one of the seven ancient wonders of the world…

WHAT?!
Yes that’s right! The temple of Artemis was once one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World.
And it is now set for reconstruction!

Personal biases aside, the project should hopefully be done well if the process for selecting the sculptors is anything to go by:

To find the best sculptures to adorn the restored temple, a lottery will be held to form a selection committee chosen from representatives of 196 U.N. member countries.
Each selected representative will then select two sculptors from the nation they represent. The selected sculptors will then take part in workshops run by the Artemis Culture, Arts and Education Foundation.
The sculptors will first begin work on the cubic bases for the columns, with sculptures to be inspired by either of two sayings attributed to Heracleitos of Ephesus: “War is the father of everything” and “Everything flows and nothing abides.”
An international jury will then choose two sculptures from all the pieces produced by artists to be featured in the temple. One of the winning sculptures will be displayed on one of the cubic circles and the other will be displayed in the temple's yard.

You can find the rest of the article here

Now…is it just me, or does this project just sound like a very elaborate and very expensive version of Antiques Roadshow with somewhat of a renovation rescue-esque twist?

Just me?...how unusual…I’m just going to go and play with my fossil collection now…

http://www.voicesnewspaper.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2401

297 vs. 139 The Democrats Ding!

297 - 139

Yes, Ladies and Gents, the new president elect of the United States of America is Barack Obama.

I’d like to wish President Obama congratulations and good luck for the future.

I am a little miffed that the results of the election weren’t a bit closer though. A friend of mine announced on national radio that he would get the McCain haircut if Obama lost the election…I would have liked to have seen him freak out a little before Obama rode home to the White House on a last minute surge of democratic votes.

But I’m still very happy that Obama has dinged, and I congratulate everyone who voted in the states. It was the greatest turn out since 1960.


I also want to know if Sarah Palin intends to throw in her political hat and pursue the glittery life of a porn star.

DEATH = WEIRD?

I came across this article when I was adventuring around the interwebs, while the content of the article was very interesting, I do object to the title: Top 10 Weird Ways to Deal with the Dead.

I think it’s important to understand that death is a very traumatic event for any society, regardless of time period or cultural beliefs. Mortuary practices often result from the needs of the living and as such, can tell us about the culture of a community, rather than just information about the individual who was buried.
Mortuary practices, no matter how different from what is perceived as “normal” westernised burials, all serve a social function: to help the living cope with the feelings of loss and grief for the deceased. These practices often hold a community together in times of social desperation. To call the article Top 10 WEIRD ways to deal with the dead, implies blatant disrespect for practices of non-western communities. In this day and age, you’d think we’d all be able to respect the beliefs and values of other cultures!

Anyway, enough of my little rant, I’ve got the flu and a migraine = grumpy!
Below is a list of the rituals that made the list of the Top 10 Weird Ways to Deal with the Dead.

Enjoy!

Number 10: Towers of Silence
The body of the deceased was taken to an exposed area, usually a stony outcrop and exposed to the elements and animal activity. After the body was reduced to bones, bleached from exposure to weather conditions, they were gathered up and either redeposited somewhere else or destroyed. Such practices have been recorded in Indigenous groups around the world, but particularly by peoples that followed the Zoroastrianism doctrine.

Number 9: Tree Burials
Heavily documented in Indigenous American populations, the deceased person was often wrapped in a shroud and placed in a tree or hung from the tree to decompose. After decomposition reached its final stages, the bones where often reburied.

Number 8: Viking Ship Burials
Although not a uniform trend, many Vikings where placed in a ship after death with their personal belongs, items of value and food, and then sent out to sea, buried or even cremated. The grave goods associated with bodies are said to be items needed for the afterlife.

Number 7: Tibetan Sky Burial
The deceased was placed on an exposed outcrop and left to be devoured by animals, usually birds of prey. There has even been a ritual documented where the deceased was bathed in some form of food products to encourage animals to feast on the corpse.

Number 6: Bog Bodies
There are two types of bog body burials, those which preserve the soft tissue and those that don’t. These types of burials are strictly bounded to areas of Europe where the ideal conditions for preservation occur. Bog burials are very mysterious; some bodies are shown to be treated with respect, while others have endured post-mortem practices that indicate some form of social contempt for the deceased.

Number 5: Neanderthal Cave Burials
The deceased was interned in a dark niche of a cave or crevasse and left to decompose. Ritualistic displays such us the deposition of flowers with the deceased have been documented at Shanidar cave, however, the archaeological record and stratigraphy show that this could be a taphonomic factor, cause by animal activity within the cave.

Number 4: Plastination
Made famous by scientist Gunther von Hagens, this practice involves the dissection of the body of the deceased in several different layers, which are then coated with a hardening preservation agent. The bodies, which have been donated for scientific research, are often then used for education purposes.

Number 3: Balinese Cremation
The body of the deceased is carried to a burning ground where it is then placed in a receptacle, and cremated. These ceremonies celebrate the life of the individual and are often very exuberant and energetic.

Number 2: Cryonics
The deceased in interned in a vat of liquid nitrogen solution shortly after death, and will remain frozen until such a time that science enables a cure for disease/death.

Number 1: Mummification
Most famous of all mummification practices are those of the Ancient Egyptians, which involved the removal of vital organs from the deceased and pouring salt into the body, before interning the deceased into a sarcophagus and laid to rest in a tomb. However, there are other forms of mummification which occur all over the world, including those bodies found on the Canary Islands and those in the Andes.

http://www.livescience.com/history/top10-after-death.html
http://www.abm-enterprises.net/artgall2/vangogh_skull_cigarette.jpg

Pony Pony Pony Pony Pony Pony

Yes, its that time of year again folks!

Melbourne Cup Day!

Yes, it’s the race that stops the nation! And the race that is usually followed by cries of joy and yelps of dismay as we lay our hard earned shrapnel down on a Pony or two at the local TAB. Now, as Melbourne Cup has put everybody in a betting frenzy, I thought I offer up some tips on how to pick a winner.

“But what experience do you have?” did I hear you ask?

Well last year, in a stoke of what I would call my pure brilliance...and what others would call pure ass and luck…I picked the winner and won myself a handsome sum of moolahs.

So you can spend all day looking at the statistics and analysing weight/age ratios

Or

You can be like me and just pick the names you like!

This year I’ve gone with:
Ice Chariot (because that sounds like me, cold and bitter)
Alessandro Volta (because let’s face it, the guy was a legend!)

I also have a suggestion for future cup carnivals regarding Fashions on the field.
Yeah ok, picking the best dressed person at the cup is all fine and dandy, but I’m thinking it could be better…like, what if the contenders actually had to have running race in their frocks!
Imagine!

So that concludes my magical tips for this year’s race.
Now, I’m just going to sit back and watch as the rest of Australia splurges over 8 million on our Equine friends.

Mummy Madness!

In extremely exciting news this week, mitochondrial DNA analysis has revealed that the Tyrolean mummy, known as Otzi, has a different phylogenetic structure than that of contemporary Human populations!

Mito-what? Phylo-huh? And who the hell is Ozti!!!

Okay, I’ll go back a step.

Tyrolean Mummy = Otzi the Iceman, a mummy found in the Alps on the Austrian-Italian border, dated to the Neolithic period. Interestingly, Otzi was found to have a number of Tattoos, an arrow in his back and cranial trauma, clearly not a popular man before his death. I know right! How totally punk rock was Otzi!

Anyway...
Bored in a lab one day:
Frank: Hey Bob…
Bob: Yes, Frank?
Frank: In a fight between the Pope and the Dalai Lama, who do you think would win?
Bob: Frank, have you been watching Fight Club again?!
Frank: I’m Bored!
Bob: Why don't you do some work then?
Frank: Gah! Fine…

(a few minutes later)

Frank: Hey Bob…
Bob: Yes Frank?
Frank: Say you were going to die, what would be your last meal?
Bob: Jeez Frank! Morbid much?!
Frank: Sorry, but I was just looking at the “O-Dawg” and I was wondering what his last meal was…
Bob: Hey! I know! Let’s examine his stomach contents and re-create the meal!!
Frank: Great idea!

The Frank and Bob scenario did actually occur and the scientists involved found that:
a) Ozti ingested a number of things before he died including meat, roots, grains and fruit.
b) It tasted disgusting!

Bored in the lab on another day:
Bob: You look a bit like him you know.

Frank: Huh? Look like who? Brad Pitt? Edward Norton?

Bob: No Frank! I'm not talking Fight Club.

Frank: Oh, sorry.

Bob: You look a bit like our friend here...
Frank: the "O-dawg"? Really?
Bob: Yeah, you’ve certainly got his nose.
Frank: Hey! Here’s a wacky idea!
Bob: Well you are well aware of my fondness for wacky ideas Frank, do continue!
Frank: Let’s extract some DNA and map his phylogenetic heritage!
Bob: What a brilliant Idea Frank!

And Bob was right; it was a brilliant idea, Frank.

Okay, let's talk science:
DNA = Deoxyribonucleic acid

DNA = the building blocks of life. Essentially, DNA is like an instruction manual for the development and function of all forms of life – from us humans to viruses.

To keep it simple, there are a few different types of DNA, the ones relevant to this story are:

Nuclear DNA = found in the nucleus of a cell, if you’re a CSI fan, this is the DNA they always jabber on about. This type of DNA does not however preserve very well in the archaeological record.

Mitochondrial DNA = (mtDNA) found in the mitochondria of a cell and is passed down from mother to child in a matrilineal relationship. This type of DNA is more commonly preserved in the archaeological record.

mtDNA is therefore used to map genetic links between populations of the past and also present. Essentially, the mapping of mtDNA has shown that modern populations have all evolved from a few different genetic branches, all of which are believed to have been passed down from a single apical ancestor – referred to by scientists as ‘Eve’ or 'mitochondrial Eve'.

A book written by Bryan Sykes entitled “The Seven daughters of Eve” details the theories and principles of human evolution and genetic inheritance. It also traces the genetic inheritance of modern human populations to seven genetically different groups. It’s a pretty good read actually.

Anyway, the DNA mapping of Otzi the Iceman found that he belonged to Group K, who shared the apical ancestor tentatively dubbed “Katrina”. However, each group has several sub-groups.
What was interesting about this case is that Otzi does not belong to any of the previously documented sub-groups of the K-group!!

He’s a totally new genetic sub-group!!!!

I know some of you are sitting there saying “Maybe he was just retarded”, but leading scientists studying Otzi suggest that he represents a now extremely rare if not extinct genetic group.

Is that not the single, most fantastical-cool thing you’ve heard this week?!

Anyone?

No?

Okay, clearly just me then.

Well screw you guys!! I’m still going to have my “Ozti has no friends” party!

http://www.archaeology.org/news/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/127631.php
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081030/sc_nm/us_iceman_children;_ylt=AhfN5sqzdi8yU9DBgx7D8kwhANEA
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/06_01/otzi_468x368..jpg

Romanov Resurrection

As of February 2008, the Romanov case was stamped with an official “case closed” label and filed on a shelf to collect dust. However, an article released by the RIA Novosti; Russian news and information agency, has announced that additional excavations are planned for next year.

The Romanov’s are more famously remembered as the Tsar of Russia and his family. After the Rebellion in 1918, Tsar Nicholas and his family, along with a few servants and the family doctor were killed by the Bolsheviks. The bodies were then stripped and discarded into a grave, dosed in sulphuric acid and buried. Another two bodies were located in a grave near the main burial.

Recent DNA testing of the Tsar and Tsarina’s living relatives has confirmed the identities of those found in the main grave as being the Romanov’s (excluding two of the five children) and their servants. The two bodies in the second grave were identified as Maria and Alexi, the two children missing from the main grave.

There isn’t anything funny about this story; I’m just very interested in this case.

And I’m more than a little bit happy that archaeology was able to say “AAHA! In your face Disney and other silly people who suggested that Anastasia escaped! You are INCORRECT!”…or something like that…

For more info on this amazing story check out the article by Peter Gill (et. al) 1999 – Identification of the Romanov family by DNA analysis - you can find it in the Nature Genetics journal, or at http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081027/117976408.html

Old Habits Die Hard

We all know how hard it is to break a habit, smoking, excessive drinking, messing with information pages on Wikipedia…etc. But I think this one takes the cake.

Photo: http://ded-i.deviantart.com/gallery/

An American Civil War re-enactor was shot in the shoulder during a documentary last month.
While injuries would not appear to be uncommon, (if you ask me, carrying around firearms and swords is just an accident waiting to happen) authorities have stated that it does reiterate the importance of “safety first” procedures for all re-enactment enthusiasts.

But, this story does get a little better, the gentleman who was shot was re-enacting a Union Soldier. The Isle of Wight Sheriffs office launched CSI: Virginia, using the film footage of the battle re-enactment to narrow down the list of suspects.

It was found that the shooter was indeed a confederate re-enactor.
Yeah, you wanted realism Hollywood you got it!

I don’t know about you, but if I was the currently hospitalised 78 year old Union soldier, I would be asking some questions…or use my nerdy knowledge and powers of seduction to find out the shooters name and place of residency and then...I'll let you use your imagination.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081025/ap_on_re_us/re_enactors_safety

Tiwanaku = Junkies!

That’s right Ladies and Gents, the Tiwanaku were Junkies! Archaeologists have discovered the first solid evidence of Ancient drug use in the Andes.

Trace amounts of a chemical known to have hallucinogenic properties has been found on the hair of two mummies found in the Apaza Valley, Chile.

The Tiwanaku are believed to be the precursor civilisation to the Inca, and have a rich but somewhat enigmatic cultural history. However, 'Snuff Kits' are some of the most common finds associated with the Tiwanaku mummies.

Ergo, ANCIENT DRUG USE!

Some archaeologists argue that the drug itself may have been used for medicinal purposes, such as pain relief.

Others suggest that the skull damage identified on cranial X-rays of the recovered mummies is evidence of continued ritualistic drug use.

To fully understand if the latter is a legitimate possibility, I suggest a cranial X-ray comparison of the Tiwanaku mummies and Kate Moss.

For more information see http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081022-drug-mummies_2.html

The first and a story of the last.

Hello and welcome to on being unexceptional...

The purpose of 'on being unexceptional' is not to make particularly well informed judgements and recommendations about current issues in society. Rather, it provides me with an outlet to:
a) Splurge my insane nerdy rants,
b) Procrastinate from things i should be doing, like being an adult etc.
c) Take the piss,
d) Report on the many weird and wonderful events that take place in my life on a daily basis.

Although I can't promise hard hitting political commentary or socio-cultural exposes, on being unexceptional will give great insight to the mind of a slightly chemically unbalanced individual with a unique outlook on life. There is every chance that this will be hilarious...but maybe not.


My advice - Remember your seatbelts!


I feel that blogging is quite a lonely little pastime. We are very much faceless and indiscernible entities in the big virtual pool known as the inter-web. To rectify this situation I have decided to spin a little tale that will reveal a bit more about myself.

I’m a student in Archaeology at the University of Queensland.
I’m Nineteen.
I’m weird, stubborn, argumentative, shy, optimistic (usually), honest and competitive…otherwise known as a pain in the ass.
Therein lies my problem.
After several years of obscure situations, I’ve come to accept the fact that all sorts of weird and wonderful situations happen to me on a daily basis.

Today I wish to share with you my latest…and sadly last adventure in a humble antique store.

One fine afternoon, a few of my University amigos and I decided to go on a little antique store scavenger hunt. We were visiting such store when I came across a lovely dinner set. It was beautiful! Well designed, elegant, only missing a few bits and pieces.

Let us call the antique dealer Fred.

Fred: It’s a lovely collection, isn’t it?
Me: Beautiful!
Fred: Yeah, it’s Chinese porcelain too, very lovely.
Me: Really? It is pretty, but unfortunately, I’m only a poor uni student, I can’t afford that price and still eat this week hahahaha….(Haggling)
Fred: Aw, that’s too bad. (Walks away)

First I couldn’t believe my haggling attempt had failed, where was his heart?!
And secondly, I had a really hard time believing that the set was porcelain. The pieces were quite heavy, I don’t know, it just didn’t feel like Porcelain.

I asked a friend for her car keys, which, ever so conveniently has one of those LED laser lights on them, you know the ones – they can interfere with the navigation systems in aeroplanes.

Anyway, my point is, porcelain is a translucent ceramic.

What does that mean? It means light will pass through it, so if I shine a laser through one side of the piece, I should be able to see it from the other side.
I did so, using the Laser.

No light!

The beautifully crafted ceramics were NOT PORCELAIN!

Me: Um, excuse me…(to Fred)
Fred: Change your mind about the set?
Me: It’s not porcelain
Fred: Yes it is.
Me: No, it isn’t.
Fred: YES! It is. I know porcelain when I see it!
Me: If that were true, then you wouldn’t call that set porcelain!
Friends: (Maybe we should stop here, I think we should go, damn it Jordan why can’t you just let it go?)
Fred: And what the hell would you know?!
Me: Well obviously a hell of a lot more than you! Porcelain is translucent, that set is not! Therefore, NOT PORCELAIN!
Fred: I have been in this business for years!…
Me: Clearly not long enough for you to learn to distinguish between types of ceramics then!
Fred: If you don’t like the price you can go elsewhere! That is an authentic…
Me: Yeah! An authentic fake!

By that point, my friends were dragging me out by my arms and Fred was shaking his fist as we drove off.

A life time ban was my punishment.