We have two offerings this month in the Strata series that look into how culture evolves. In “Islands of Darkness” we see that Vanuatu has unusually high cultural diversity compared to other Pacific islands outside of New Guinea. As proof, we witness dancing on Ambrym Island, ruins on Malekula Island and a violent volcanic eruption on Tanna Island. Continue reading
Tag Archives: The Archaeology Channel
Strata, Portraits of Humanity, Episode 16, “Islands of Darkness” and “Louisiana Plantation Site”
Strata, Portraits of Humanity, Episode 15, “American Revolutionary War Fort”
In this episode of Strata, Dan Elliot of the LAMAR Institute set out to document Carr’s Fort, a fortified farmstead used during the American Revolutionary War. The fort originally was commanded by Captain Robert Carr and housed his 100 patriot troops. In February of 1779, the woods of north Georgia were bristling with small skirmishes between the patriots and the British. The battles helped determine the outcome of the Revolutionary War. Carr’s Fort and its sister sites are part of the fabric of the history of America. Continue reading
Strata, Portraits of Humanity, Episode 14, “Youth Diving on Shipwrecks” and “Saving Cyprus Frescoes”
Next up in the video news-magazine series Strata: Portraits of Humanity, produced by AntiquityNOW’s partner, Archaeological Legacy Institute, is a segment on a group of young people learning the ins and outs of marine archaeology, and a report on the wonders revealed by restorers of a Renaissance fresco in Cyprus.
The first video shows how Biscayne National Park and the NPS Submerged Resources Center partnered with Youth Diving With a Purpose for a project on shipwreck archaeology. Biscayne Bay offers a challenging and intriguing introduction for these young people into the mysteries of the deep and the role of marine archaeology in preserving the past. The second video reveals how restorers are peeling back the layers of time to decipher a painting representing a tragic study in faith. For 500 years, an exquisite Renaissance fresco, the “Forty Martyrs of Sebaste,” has remained hidden, forgotten and neglected in a 14th Century church in Famagusta, Cyprus. The video charts the painstaking work of rescuing the fresco from obscurity and ruin, a pioneering project that puts heritage above politics. After decades of neglect, saving Famagusta’s forgotten frescoes begins. Continue reading
Posted in Art, Blog, Culture, Science and Technology, Strata Curricula
Tagged ancient art, ancient fresco, AntiquityNOW, Archaeological Legacy Institute, archaeology, art restoration, Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, Strata Portraits of Humanity, The Archaeology Channel, underwater archaeology, Youth Diving With a Purpose
Strata: Portraits of Humanity, Episode 12, “Ruins of Nan Madol”
The latest offering in the video news-magazine series Strata: Portraits of Humanity, produced by AntiquityNOW’s partner, Archaeological Legacy Institute, examines an elaborate structure of more than 90 small coral islands often called the “Venice of the Pacific.” Much of the construction and purpose of these islands is shrouded in mystery, but their unique beauty continues to inspire a reverence today for the impressive talents of ancient lives. Continue reading
DON’T MISS OUT! Call for Entries for 2016 LegacyQuest International Children’s Film and Video Festival
Letter of Intent Deadline- December 11, 2015
Final Entry Submission Deadline- February 26, 2016
Not sure how to get started with your LegacyQuest video submission? We’re here to help! First, check out our page called Tips for Making a Video for LegacyQuest. Next, think about what interest and excites you. Do you like art, science, cooking, video games, reading…? Whatever your passion, there’s a fascinating link to the past that you can explore. Feel free to contact us for help getting inspired to make the best video ever!
View our invitational video below and visit our webpage for details about the festival and how your students can get involved!
Call for Entries for 2016 LegacyQuest International Children’s Film and Video Festival
Letter of Intent Deadline- December 11, 2015
Final Entry Submission Deadline- February 26, 2016
View our invitational video below and scroll down for details about the festival and how your students can get involved!
Posted in AntiquityNOW News, Art, Blog, Culture, Education, Kids Blog, LegacyQuest, Public Life
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, Archaeological Legacy Institute, cultural preservation, film festival, international children's film and video festival, LegacyQuest, social studies, The Archaeology Channel
Strata: Portraits of Humanity, Episode 11, “James Madison Slave Quarters,” “Iron Age Mirror” and “HMS Fowey Shipwreck”
Three new features in the video news-magazine series Strata: Portraits of Humanity, produced by AntiquityNOW’s partner, Archaeological Legacy Institute, examine how the past continues to inspire us today.
“James Madison Slave Quarters” looks at the reconstruction of the South Yard, the slave quarters at the fourth U.S. president’s mansion, which marks the beginning of a new chapter at Montpelier and the history that unfolds. “Iron Age Mirror” depicts a beautiful mirror found by a metal detectorist in Oxfordshire, UK. It is a remarkable piece of craftmanship used more than 2,000 years ago. “HMS Fowey Shipwreck” reveals the story of the British frigate that struck a coral reef and sank in 1748, coming to rest within the boundaries of Biscayne National Park. The National Park Service conducted underwater excavations on the site. Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Blog, Culture, Public Life, Science and Technology, Strata Curricula
Tagged ancient mirror, AntiquityNOW, Archaeological Legacy Institute, British frigate, HMS Fowey, Iron Age, James Madison, mirror, Montpelier, shipwreck, slave quarters, Strata Portraits of Humanity, The Archaeology Channel
Strata: Portraits of Humanity, Episode 10, “In and Near Istanbul” and “The Mountain Wars of Fiji”
Two new features in the video news-magazine series Strata: Portraits of Humanity, produced by AntiquityNOW’s partner, Archaeological Legacy Institute, examine the complex elements of a culture’s past that continue to influence modern times.
“In and near Istanbul” tours the region surrounding Turkey’s Sea of Marmara, including the storied capitol city Istanbul, which is renowned for its visible reminders of antiquity. This is an archaeological and historical wonderland that draws visitors from all over the world. “The Mountain Wars of Fiji” relates a horrifying piece of Fijian history. Across the islands of Fiji, hilltop fortresses tell a tale of a warfare and cannibalism going back a thousand years, when the war gods demanded tribute or revenge. Yet people have been on these islands far longer and things have not always been the same. Continue reading
Strata: Portraits of Humanity, Episode 8, “Betty’s Hope”
“Betty’s Hope,” the latest entry in the video news-magazine series Strata: Portraits of Humanity, produced by AntiquityNOW’s partner, Archaeological Legacy Institute, considers what we learn about past lives when we peel back the layers of history. Sugar plantations were incredibly important to the New World’s trade and expansion, and gave rise to certain political, social and economic institutions that we may find unusual or even repulsive today. The Caribbean island of Antigua sat at the crossroads of the first transatlantic economy. This documentary is about how a sugar plantation, called Betty’s Hope, was started in 1650 during colonial rule and gave many Antiguans economic support. This plantation was owned by Sir Christopher Codrington, the governor of the Leeward Islands, and lasted from 1674 to 1944. Today, the plantation is no longer operational and archaeologists use meticulous methods to uncover stories that would otherwise be silent forever. Strata: Portraits of Humanity is a monthly half-hour video series available online and on select cable channels. Strata is a showcase for unique and diverse stories about the world’s cultural heritage. Stories come from across the globe with segments produced by Archaeological Legacy Institute and dozens of producer and distributor partners around the world. Click on the image below to view the program on The Archaeology Channel and scroll down to see the curriculum developed by AntiquityNOW to accompany this episode’s video. Continue reading
Strata: Portraits of Humanity, Episode 7, “Historical Archaeology in Downtown Boise” and “South Carolina Pottery Kiln Excavation”
Episode 7 of the new documentary series Strata: Portraits of Humanity, produced by AntiquityNOW’s partner, Archaeological Legacy Institute, considers what we uncover about a society through the remnants of its existence. In this two-part episode we observe how discarded items become touchstones for past lives—relics that capture times, places, memories, social status, gender roles and cultural attributes. And we ponder how future generations will remember us when they come upon what we in the 21st century have left behind. Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Art, Blog, Culture, Education, Public Life, Strata Curricula
Tagged AntiquityNOW, Archaeological Legacy Institute, Archaeology in Boise, cultural heritage film, cultural preservation, pottery excavation, South Carolina kiln, Strata Portraits of Humanity, The Archaeology Channel