“Archaeology holds all the keys to understanding who we are and where we come from.”
– Sarah Parcak
Each week on To the Point we share a few articles from the world of archaeology (and its many interconnected fields).
Historic England to Offer Virtual Flights Over Ancient Landscapes
theguardian.com | October 8, 2021
A digital aerial archaeology tool, Aerial Archaeological Mapping Explorer, will allow people to discover previously unknown features about landscapes through virtual flights over England. While able to satisfy the public’s curiosity, it will be able to help decide where to plant trees to tackle climate change.
The Earliest Evidence of Tobacco Use Dates to Over 12,000 Years Ago
sciencenews.org | October 11, 2021
Excavations in Utah’s Great Salt Lake Desert uncovered charred seeds of wild tobacco plants. Radiocarbon dating revealed North Americans began using tobacco around 12,500 to 12,000 years ago, making this the oldest direct evidence of human use of tobacco anywhere in the world.
Oldest Footprints of Pre-Humans Identified in Crete
phys.org | October 11, 2021
Footprints from fossilized beach sediments found in 2017 have been identified to be at least six million years old. Using geophysical and micropaleontological methods, researchers have been able to place them as the oldest direct evidence of a human-like foot used for walking.
