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Hmmm.....Science Strikes Another Blow for Archaeology
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:58 pm
by Minimalist
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060601/ap_ ... MlJVRPUCUl
Last month, experts from Brigham Young University in Utah used multi-spectral digital analysis to create enhanced pictures of the text, which will be studied by Oxford University papyrologist Dirk Obbink and Pierris, and published by the end of 2007.
"We were now able to read even the most carbonized sections, as there were pieces that were completely blackened and nobody could make out whether there were letters on them," Veleni said.
The scroll contains a philosophical treatise on a lost poem describing the birth of the gods and other beliefs focusing on Orpheus, the mythical musician who visited the underworld to reclaim his dead love and enjoyed a strong cult following in the ancient world.
The Orpheus cult raised the notion of a single creator god — as opposed to the multitude of deities the ancient Greeks believed in — and influenced later monotheistic faiths.
"In a way, it was a precursor of Christianity," Pierris said. "Orphism believed that man's salvation depended on his knowledge of the truth."
Interesting.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:03 pm
by Minimalist
And, yet again.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5038116.stm
Ancient figs found in an archaeological site in the Jordan Valley may represent one of the earliest forms of agriculture, scientists report.
The carbonised fruits date between 11,200 and 11,400 years old.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:09 pm
by Beagle
Whew - just got my computer back on line. We get some bad storms around here.
I read those articles last night. Interesting. The new technique that allows thes ancient documents to be finally read is beyond neat.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:21 pm
by Minimalist
The first time I heard of it being used was in Pompeii. A number of carbonized scrolls were found in a home library of a rich Roman and although they essentially looked like logs after Vesuvius got through with them, scientists are able to begin peeling away sections and reading them.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:12 pm
by Beagle
Ahh, modern technology. We have an awful lot of archeaology coming at us now because of it. Ground penetrating radar, aerial archeaology, and now this. Fantastic.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:18 pm
by Guest
what amazes me is that people will take the information from this scroll as fact and not apply any standards to it. it is as if all ancient writeers were so moral non of them ever lied, embellished or wrote fiction.
there is no way, since this is the oldest book found in the westernworld, to compare with to other thoughts of the time to see if this guy is a wingnut or not.
he may have been plagerizing,(harvard has proventhat recently that it happens in the best of places), he may have been like Os or Hancock, on the outer fringe and oh wait, we have scientists who have spent a long time working onthese documents who are going to read them, that is just so objective and honest. (sarcasm implied) how do we know what they say is said is correct? we don't.
too many things to consider to be jumping up and down with joy.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:19 pm
by Minimalist
if all ancient writeers were so moral non of them ever lied, embellished or wrote fiction.
Now do you understand my opinion of your precious bible writers?