May 29th News

There's lots of news, with two big stories today as well as a number of smaller ones. The two big stories are that of the Viking DNA and also the stories of Stonehenge.

New stories as of 10:47 AM:

Researchers Retrieve Authentic Viking DNA From 1,000-Year-Old Skeletons
E! Science News
Although “Viking” literally means “pirate,” recent research has indicated that the Vikings were also traders to the fishmongers of Europe. Stereotypically, these Norsemen are usually pictured wearing a horned helmet but in a new study published in the journal PLoS ONE this week, Jørgen Dissing and colleagues from the University of Copenhagen, investigated what went under the helmet; the scientists were able to extract authentic DNA from ancient Viking skeletons, avoiding many of the problems of contamination faced by past researchers...
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/05/27/researchers.retrieve.authentic.viking.dna.1000.year.old.skeletons

Evidence Of Authentic DNA From Danish Viking Age Skeletons Untouched By Humans For 1,000 Years
PLoS One
Given the relative abundance of modern human DNA and the inherent impossibility for incontestable proof of authenticity, results obtained on ancient human DNA have often been questioned. The widely accepted rules regarding ancient DNA work mainly affect laboratory procedures, however, pre-laboratory contamination occurring during excavation and archaeological-/anthropological handling of human remains as well as rapid degradation of authentic DNA after excavation are major obstacles...
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0002214

DNA Retrieved From 1,000-Year-Old Vikings
LiveScience
Strands of 1,000-year-old DNA from 10 Viking skeletons have been retrieved, a team of scientists claims...
http://www.livescience.com/history/080528-viking-dna.html

Study: For Centuries Stonehenge Was A Burial Site
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — England's enigmatic Stonehenge served as a burial ground from its earliest beginnings and for several hundred years thereafter, new research indicates...
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iqofgTOoY9jVxd8Vir3t2lq-yfowD90VDFA82

Chichester Roman Baths Unearthed For New Museum Project
24 Hour Museum
Work has begun in Chichester to temporarily uncover the remains of the city’s Roman baths, which are currently buried under a car park...
http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART57757.html

Ancient Egyptian Temple Entrance Found In Nile River
National Geographic News
Archaeologists have discovered a portico, or covered entryway, of an ancient Egyptian temple beneath the surface of the Nile River...
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080527-egypt-temple.html

Video: New View On Stonehenge Burials
National Geographic News
May 29, 2008—Radiocarbon dating of human remains indicate that the mysterious stone monument was used as a cemetery longer than previously thought...
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080529-stonehenge-video-vin.html

Stonehenge Was Cemetery First And Foremost, Study Says
National Geographic News
The standing stones of Stonehenge were akin to giant tombstones, archaeologists announced today. The circle of massive stones may mark the cemetery of a ruling prehistoric dynasty, the experts added...
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080529-stonehenge-cemetery.html

PHOTOS: Stonehenge Was "Domain Of The Dead"
National Geographic News
May 29, 2008—Stonehenge stands out against night clouds set aglow by nearby Amesbury town in an undated photo...
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/photogalleries/Stonehenge-photos/index.html

Ancient Egyptian City Unearthed In Sinai
Yahoo News
CAIRO, Egypt - Archaeologists exploring an old military road in the Sinai have unearthed 3,000-year-old remains from an ancient fortified city, the largest yet found in Egypt, antiquities authorities announced Wednesday...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080528/ap_on_re_mi_ea/egypt_ancient_city;_ylt=AuP3J0bS0sSLP9xqjy2NOsFvieAA

Thousand-Year-Old Lombard Warrior Skeleton Discovered Buried With Horse In Italy
Telegraph.co.uk
Italian archaeologists have discovered a perfectly preserved skeleton of a 1400-year-old Lombard warrior, buried with his horse...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2041811/Thousand-year-old-Lombard-warrior-skeleton-discovered-buried-with-horse-in-Italy.html