Top 10 Archaeological Stories Of 2008

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oi-Staff

By Staff

Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 10:50

Ten most viewed archeology stories of 2008 have been outlined by National Geographic News. The list includes lost cities, baffling pyramids, and ancient graveyards.

The top 10 archaeological stories are:

10. Inca skull surgeons were "highly skilled": Dangerous skull surgery was commonly and successfully performed among the Inca, likely as a treatment for head injuries suffered during combat, a May study found.

9. Ancient "Lost City" discovered in Peru: Stone ruins discovered in Peru this past January could be the ancient "lost city" of Paititi, according to claims that sparked serious but cautious responses from experts.

8. New pyramid found in Egypt: Long buried by deep sands, the newly discovered 4,300-year-old Queen"s tomb is a testament to a pharaoh"s reverence for his mother.

7. Alexander the Great"s "crown," shield discovered: An ancient Greek tomb once thought to have been that of Alexander"s father is more recent than thought and may contain treasures belonging to Alexander himself.

6. Mystery pyramid built by newfound ancient culture: The Huapalcalco pyramid in central Mexico may be the work of a previously unknown culture of ancient people, the Huajomulco.

5. Rare Egyptian "Warrior" tomb found: Feathered arrows lying near a well-preserved coffin suggest that the mummy inside, when alive, may have been a mercenary for an Egyptian king.

4. Stonehenge was cemetery first and foremost: From the start 5,000 years ago, the site was a burial ground—perhaps for prehistoric rulers—and it remained so for centuries.

3. Maya may have caused civilization-ending climate change: A satellite program designed to improve environmental policies in Central America found evidence of ancient, self-induced climate change—offering lessons on how to combat today"s warming.

2. Great pyramid mystery may be solved by hidden room: A sealed space in Egypt"s Great Pyramid may help solve a centuries-old mystery: How did the ancient Egyptians move two million 2.5-ton blocks to build the ancient wonder?

1. Portal to Maya underworld found in Mexico: An underground labyrinth filled with stone temples and pyramids, found in August, likely relates to Maya myths of the afterlife, according to archaeologists. AGENCIES