Archaeology [Sticky] Archaeology by Prau123

What to expect in the next few decades in archaeology?  Perhaps underground archaeology with an emphasis on man-made tunnels. The first time I've read of underground tunnels were in the epic stories found in Greek and Roman mythology. The classic myth story that struck me the most was The Minotaur.  The Minotaur, a mythical creature from the island of Crete resided in a labyrinth maze. Like many Greek tales, a hero from Athens is brave enough to take up the challenge. Alone and frightened he dueled this half man and half bull until he was able to slay down the beast by his sword.  The story of the Minotaur turned out to be a fictional classic by Ovid.  The city of Knossos does exist but the notorious Minotaur and the inescapable elaborate maze did not. This story and others lead me to believe that there were actual man-made tunnels during the Age of Antiquity.  Many of these tunnels have not been found and only time will tell if they will ever be discovered.  There are possibly hundreds of tunnels found throughout the Mediterranean Sea but also further and beyond the known world at the time such as in Peru. 

The Inca and Pre-Inca people in Peru have been known by archaeologist for constructing tunnels underneath their cities. Like the Roman and Greek classic myth stories, the Incas have their amusing epic tales for us to be delighted with. Depending on the story, several are actually real and some needs to be verified.  However the tunnels do exist and archaeologist and people in general are eager to know where they are located and where do these tunnels lead to. The tunnels are long and narrow and they eventually connect to another section found elsewhere in the city.  The tunnels have also been described to have reached beyond the outskirts of where the locals reside.  It's possible that they've constructed tunnels reaching other major developed sites such as Saqsaywaman, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and plus more. Who really knows how far down the rabbit hole goes?  Since they were known for their excellent engineering ability to build roads and aqueducts throughout their civilization, then why not believe that they were capable of building a network of tunnels connecting from one city to the next?  They probably spent as much time and effort developing their building and cities on top of the surface as they did at the bottom.  Peru has been proactive in the archaeological excavation on the subsurface area for awhile now and they have discovered some new tunnels recently.  We will probably see more archaeological news concerning tunnels in the years to come. 

The Minotaur

Peruvian Tunnel

Rapa Iti Island is renown for having a dozen mounds that sits on top of peaks that were built by the Polynesians in the 13th century.  This remote island also contains a few effigy artifacts that are reminiscent of some statues found around the world. The effigy appears to be a Polynesian who is sitting down with his hands and arms wrap around his waist while his legs are tucked on the side of his belly. At first, the effigy reminds us of a few Moai statues found on Easter Island.  However the difference is the size, the nose shape and the absent of the Pukao headdress which are found on Moai statues of Easter Island.  The effigy is actually more in common with Tukuturi statue located at Ranu Raraku area of Easter Island. Both the effigy of Rapa Iti and the Tukuturi statue at Easter Island are either kneeling down or sitting down.

The effigy appears similar to the statues found in Bada Valley in Sulawesi/Celebes Islands of Indonesia.

The effigy remotely remind of us of carved wooden sculptures found in Hawaii referred to as tikis or Native American Indian totem poles found throughout the Northwest coast. However the effigy found in Rapa Iti contained only minimal artwork. 

The effigy appears to have some similarities with the Monolito Ponce in Tiwanaku in Bolivia.

There are several more similarities that could be found on other ancient sites around the world.

I'm unable to post the effigy picture but you'll be able to click on the website.

Here are two statue pics from Easter Island that resembles the effigy.  It is evident that there are similarities in their appearance which may suggest that they had contact in the remote past and may likely have shared a common culture and belief system.

Rapa Iti effigy site

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22484/lot/91/?category=list

Easter Island Moai statues and Tukuturi statue

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rano_Raraku#Tukuturi

Prau123 posted

Rapa Iti Island is renown for having a dozen mounds that sits on top of peaks that were built by the Polynesians in the 13th century. This remote island also contains a few effigy artifacts that are reminiscent of some statues from around the world. The effigy appears to be a Polynesian who is sitting down with his hands and arms wrap around his waist while his legs are tucked on the side of his belly. At first, the effigy reminds us of a few Moai statues found on Easter Island however the difference is the size, the nose shape and the absent of the Pukao headdress which are found on a Moai. The effigy is actually more in common with Tukuturi statue located at Ranu Raraku area of Easter Island. Both the effigy of Rapa Iti Island and the Tukuturi statue at Easter Island are either kneeling down or sitting down.

The effigy appears similar to the statues found in Bada Valley in Sulawesi/Celebes Islands of Indonesia.

The effigy remotely remind of us of carved wooden sculptures found in Hawaii referred to as tikis or Native American Indian totem poles found throughout the Northwest coast. However the effigy found in Rapa Iti Island contained only minimal artwork.

The effigy appears to have some similarities with the Monolito Ponce in Tiwanaku in Bolivia.

There are several more similarities that could be found on other ancient sites around the world.

I'm unable to post the effigy picture but you'll be able to click on the website.

Here are some statue pics from Easter Island that resembles the effigy. It is evident that there are similarities in their appearances which may suggest that they had contact in the remote past and may likely have shared a common culture and belief system.

Rapa Iti Island effigy site

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22484/lot/91/?category=list

Easter Island Moai statues and Tukuturi statue

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rano_Raraku#Tukuturi

When people wonder off the beaten path they see structures that were mistaken as man made.  Here's a few dwelling structures that people in the past have actually thought that it was built by someone to live in only to find out that it was constructed by wild animals.

Beaver Lodges

Beavers homes comes up first in my mind as semi-aquatic structures that were mistakenly recognized to be built and housed by humans. Beavers are known to build large houses referred to as lodges that averages around 8 feet wide and 3 feet high. The dome-shaped homes are partly submerge where the entrance is located at. Some beaver homes get upgraded to the size of a hotel for several beavers to stay in. The size is large enough to resemble a dam that blocks off or veers off the water flow redirecting the river or stream elsewhere creating a new river path.   A big beaver home or multiple beaver homes in a close proximity will flood the place creating a pond or lake. The largest beaver home could be seen in outer space and it was measured at 2,790 feet long in Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta, Canada.

The Vogelkop Gardening Bowerbird Huts

This house structure makes people believe that someone is camping overnight only to find out that a small bird from Western New Guinea, Indonesia made this straw house all by himself/herself that resembles a native hut built by the local indigenous people.

European Red Wood Ant Mounds

The European red wood ants built earthen mounds that resembles miniature sized man made mounds. The first impression is that it was built to house a single person only however without an actual entrance to enter, the shelter could have only been made by an animal or insect.

Sociable Weaver Birds Tree Houses

Do you want the stay at a tree house instead?  Perched high above several tree lines, anyone we'll get a bird's eye view wherever they look. At this height you may get acrophobia or even a cold.  You would rather freeze up here then be attack by a lion from South Africa.

Cathedral Termite Mounds

This 30 foot house made of dirt contains high ceiling roofs in Kakadu National Park, Australia. You're actually better off living here with termites instead then at a wooden house that will eventually be eaten away by termites.

Genetics will remain paramount in this decade as it was in the previous decade. Genetics as a subject permeates throughout different fields whether the pupil is involved in anthropology, biology, chemistry and plus more.  Genetics is directly connected to our understanding of ourselves, our biology which is what most of us encounter first growing up in grade schools and also what many of us have chosen to continue to be involved in as an adults.   I'm not asking for archaeology to be it's equal however there has to be a sizeable population of people involved in archaeology whether they are on the field unearthing artifacts or just visiting the site as a tourist.  Reading articles and books, watching educational tv programs and movies at the theater, visiting museums and exhibits, attending seminars or live presentations and discussions and touring archaeological sites are amazing ways to be involved in this subject matter. Some of you are probably acquainted that a number of archaeologist do rely on geneticist when it comes to identifying unknown species or fossil artifacts.  In other words, both professions are making themselves intricately involved with one another to find a solution.  Archaeology was unrivaled as a subject not too long ago however it still continues to grow since those prominent periods. It would be wonderful to see archaeology to take the scene again but right now and on it belongs to genetics.