Episode 10 - J for …?, Easter Island Site Visit, and Archaeology News

In this episode, Jason goes through 3 segments – The ABCs of Archaeology, Archaeology News, and a Site Visit to Easter Island  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjPGoA3GzOQ&list=PLcH4-BWqVM6KHP2Ih6UEq4_G1qRq8MgSn&index=9ABCs of Archaeology – J is for …?As there seems to be no prominent archaeology terms beginning with J, I'm just giving a brief update about my favorite topic: ME, Jason. Site Visit – Easter Island / Rapa NuiWow, I have never done such an extensive site visit – a whole island! Rapa Nui – known as Easter Island to the outside world due to its siting by Europeans on Easter Sunday – is home to some of the most recognizable faces on earth: the elongated mugs on those megalithic statues. While a lot of the details of the history of Rapa Nui and its eponymous people remain a mystery, a combination of archaeological data, oral, and written history are bringing a lot of this lost culture back to life. And why is it ‘lost’? Rapa Nui was absolutely devastated by the predations of outsiders and colonization since the 1800’s and its own internal problems before that. Thanks to recent research and local control of the heritage sites, the Rapa Nui are reclaiming their own narrative. However, challenges to true political autonomy, environmental problems, and corruption remain obstacles to the islands’ flourishing. Regardless, if you can afford the time and effort it takes to get there, it will be the experience of a lifetime! Archaeology News – Microplastics: A threat to archaeology?Not only are microplastics, a newly developed term, found in our waters and oceans, new research from Northern England reveals that they are also seeping into the soil, potentially altering its chemistry. Though more tests need to be done, this may pose a threat to preservation in situ of archaeological – especially organic – remains, which require an anaerobic environment. Sources: ·       https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2024/research/microplastics-archaeology-remains/#:~:text=Professor%20John%20Schofield%20from%20the,with%20plastics%2C%20and%20that%20this·       https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/microplastics-are-contaminating-ancient-archaeological-sites-180984049/ ·       https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724000755?via%3Dihub  #archaeology #history #science