Archaeology

Archaeologists identify spear tips used in hunting a half-million years ago

Sub-title: 
Findings suggest hunting with stone-tipped spears began much earlier than previously believed
Author: 
Sean Bettam
Picture: 
photo of researchers examining spear points

 A University of Toronto-led team of anthropologists has found evidence that human ancestors used stone-tipped weapons for hunting 500,000 years ago – 200,000 years earlier than previously thought.

“This changes the way we think about early human adaptations and capacities before the origin of our own species,” says Jayne Wilkins, a PhD candidate in U of T's department of Anthropology and lead author of a new study in Science.

Posted Friday, November 16, 2012

Ron Williamson and the Curse of the Axe

Sub-title: 
U of T archaeologist unearths mysterious find
Author: 
Gavin Au-Yeung
Picture: 
photo of Huron Wendat artefact

Today it’s the peaceful, suburban landscape of Ontario’s Whitchurch-Stouffville. But in 1500 AD it was an ancient city known as Mantle – wielding all the significance of a bustling modern metropolis.

“[Mantle] is the largest, most complex, cosmopolitan village of its time,” says Ron Williamson, adjunct professor in the University of Toronto’s Department of Anthropology.

Posted Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Archaeologists unearth extraordinary human sculpture in Turkey

Sub-title: 
A "vivid glimpse" into Iron Age, says U of T's Tim Harrison
Author: 
Kim Luke
Picture: 
photo of statue

A beautiful and colossal human sculpture is one of the latest cultural treasures unearthed by an international team at the Tayinat Archaeological Project (TAP) excavation site in southeastern Turkey.

The discovery also includes a large semi-circular column base, ornately decorated on one side. Both pieces are from a monumental gate complex that provided access to the upper citadel of Kunulua, capital of the Neo-Hittite Kingdom of Patina (ca. 1000-738 BC).

Posted Monday, July 30, 2012

Archaeologists discover surprising mosaic

Author: 
Faculty of Arts and Science staff
Picture: 
photo of mosaic from synagogue in Israel

An international team of archaeologists from Canada, Israel, Slovakia, and the United States have discovered a stunning mosaic floor decorating the interior of a monumental synagogue dating to the Late Roman /Byzantine period in Israel.

"It's a bit complicated and technical but the bottom line is we had absolutely no expectation of finding a mosaic floor," said Shaun McKinnon (pictured below). The U of T undergraduate student was working on the dig the day of the discovery.

Posted Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Permanent exhibition in the lobby of the Anthropology building

Photograph: 
Gallery: 
Uncovering our past: First Nations in Toronto

The objects featured in the permanent exhibit comprise evidence from archaeological research that provide information about the lives of First Nations ancestors and reveal how their knowledge and beliefs shaped Toronto. (Photo by Jon Horvatin)

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Viewing an artifact

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Gallery: 
Uncovering our past: First Nations in Toronto

Luc Lainé, chargé d'affaires, Huron-Wendat Nation (right) and Joanne Thomas, consultation point person, Six Nations (left) are looking at a fired clay pot from 700 - 600 years ago. (Photo by Jon Horvatin)

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Pot: fired clay

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Gallery: 
Uncovering our past: First Nations in Toronto

A pot of fired clay from 700 - 600 years ago. (Photo by Caz Zyvatkauskas)

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Pottery sherd

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Gallery: 
Uncovering our past: First Nations in Toronto

A rim sherd of fired clay from 1500-600 years ago (Photo by Caz Zyvatkauskas)

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Wampum

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Gallery: 
Uncovering our past: First Nations in Toronto

"Le Chemin des Hommes," by Manon Sioui. Wendake Quebec (Photo by Caz Zyvatkauskas)

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Casts of fluted points

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Gallery: 
Uncovering our past: First Nations in Toronto

Various casts of fluted points from Palaeo-Indian period, 10,000 - 6000 years ago (Photo by Caz Zyvatkauskas)

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012
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