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A Recent Archaeological Find in Istanbul

Here’s a link to an article in Hurriyet, an English language Turkish newspaper, describing a recent archaeological discovery of an 8,000 year old skeleton in Istanbul, the oldest human remains yet found in Turkey. While digging a tunnel under the Marmara Sea, an extraordinary array of archaeological finds have been uncovered, but this is the oldest and most remarkable. In addition to the skeletal remains and their DNA, which will tell us a great deal about where early peoples in Anatolia came from, the wooden cover of the coffin was found intact because the black clay below current sea level preserved it. That might not sound so interesting, but wood decays in 15 or 20 years, so an 8,000 year old block of wood, especially one that shows the exact burial practice, is pretty amazing!

If you are interested in modern political conflict and the long term ugliness between peoples, old international grudges, etc., read the comments below the article. Apparently even archaeology brings out such feelings. I found the range of these sentiments and the many misunderstandings and misapplications of history almost as interesting as the article about the ancient bones and wood.

7 thoughts on “A Recent Archaeological Find in Istanbul”

  1. Having just returned from a wonderful visit to Turkey; I think this will create lots of controversy with the Greeks. A remarkable find tho…

    1. Actually the archaeology is completely uncontroversial and has nothing to do with the Greeks–it's only that everything gets perceived through the lens of that old and bitter discord. I'm glad you enjoyed learning about the find. I don't remember seeing hem working on this tunnel when I was there, but I think they must have started.

  2. Thanks for the link. I understand the caskets were covered by wood and then clay. Was the casket itself a different material? As for wet clay being a preservative, I think in view of this latest find that I will go back to using a clay facial.

    1. I don't know more than what this article says since it's too early for a scholarly publication of the finds, so I can't really answer your question. Happy clay facials to you!

  3. Apparently 36 shipwrecks have also been uncovered in this fabulous sweep of discovery! There’s a wonderful application of goldfish in the process of slowly preserving the wood, to save it from bacteria and from mosquito larvae (since these insects love to lay in wet wood: the fish eat them!
    This recent interruption in the transit construction in this ancient city is going to expose a wealth of history.
    Please keep reporting on it!

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