Time Sifters Archaeology Society Newsletter March 2022

MARCH-2022 PRESERVATION  EDUCATION  RESEARCH  INSPIRE Dear Member: On March 12, we will be hosting the Science Table at the Sarasota Farmer’s Market. We will be talking archaeology and meeting new friends. Please come join us. We were saddened to learn that a long time friend and Time Sifters Board Member, Rob Bopp, passed away. He will be missed by all. We have added two new speakers to our Calendar … Michael Jorden will give us an “Update on the CSS Georgia and the Further Excavations in the Savannah River” on April 20 and Professor David Jacques will tell us about his work at “Blick Mead: The Cradle of Stonehenge” on May 18. Please join us. Thank you for being a Time Sifters member. Darwin “Smitty” Smith, President [email protected] March 16 - at 6:00 PM – ZOOM. Mocama Indians & Spanish Missions: Life Beneath the Bell Dr. Keith Ashley Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of North Florida When we think of Spanish San Juan del Puerto and Keith Ashley holds a Ph.D. in Missions, we think of California, Santa Cruz de Guadalquini Anthropology from the University New Mexico, or even Texas. in Jacksonville, Florida. of Florida. His current research What many do not realize is focuses on the histories and that the Spanish Mission system cultures of Native Americans in La Florida occurred earlier in Florida before and after the and lasted longer than it did in European invasion. Beyond any of those other areas. research and teaching, his aim is to draw UNF students into Among the Mocama-speaking “hands-on” archaeology Timucua of northeastern through fieldwork and laboratory Florida, missions existed analysis in an effort to prepare between1587 and1702. But, in them for graduate school and a Florida, missions were Indigenous career in archaeology. communities typically with only one European resident, a friar. This lecture centers on Mocama life under the mission bell, with emphasis on archaeological excavations at Instructions for real time viewing: Register in advance for this meeting: Go to the Time Sifters website, www.timesifters.org and click on the registration url. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Notes from a Time Sifter Anything you can do, I can do better! By Evelyn Mangie, Time Sifters Board Member Historians often credit the crashing ocean waves. All photos: Wikipedia ancient Romans for the invention The Romans built the of many technologies that changed 2000 BCE were the world. However, rather than Colosseum with four levels equipped with ce- inventors, the Romans were and 80 arches, 2000 years ramic drainage pipes, innovators. That is, they took ago. It still stands today, as and the Minoans at ideas already invented by someone does the amazing Pantheon Knossos had very else, and made them better. For whose unreinforced dome has sophisticated cov- example, the Romans have been no internal support. Roman ered stone sewers in credited with inventing concrete aqueducts, marvels of engineer- 1800 BCE. when it actually occurs in nature ing skills with arches upon But the Romans took it further. spontaneously. arches, survive still in They expanded the existing France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Etruscan sewer system to Archaeologists have found Turkey, and North Africa. drain the marshes on which that people were using it long the Roman Forum was built. before the Romans did. The Another “invention” credited That evolved into a very complex Minoans, the Mycenaeans, the to the Romans was a sewer system of gutters, canals, and Chinese, and central Europeans all system, but they did not invent it. huge underground drains that used some form of concrete to Mesopotamian cities were using they named Cloaca Maxima harden their structures as early clay pipes to remove wastewater (super sewer). It was so important as the 6th & 5th millenniums as early as 3200 BCE. The to the city that the Romans BCE. Desert Bedouins Egyptians were using copper delegated an Etruscan goddess, (Nabataeans) were building piping in 2400 BCE, an Cloacina, (from the Latin, cloaca, waterproof cisterns in the desert underground network of brick “drain”) to protect it. before 700 BCE. pipes served the residents of The Romans didn’t invent Lothal in the Indus Valley in paved roads either. Stone But the Romans took it further. 2300 BCE, Chinese cities in paved streets were used in the They realized that it was cheaper to ancient city of Ur in 4000 BCE use a concrete foundation un- and the Egyptians paved roads der a marble veneer than using that led to the pyramids at Giza all marble as the Greeks did, (ca. 3000 BCE). But Roman so they developed a new recipe engineers improved paved using volcanic ash that made roads by using multiple layers, concrete more durable than even always beginning with packed our modern concrete. They thick- native earth covered with gravel, ened it to build ramps and then tamped rubble and terraces, they poured it into topped with flat rectangular molds to build bridges, arches rocks curved for drainage, all and domes, and made magnificent held together with small retaining buildings that survived thousands walls on either side to keep the of years of weathering, earth- quakes, lightning strikes, and Continued on page 4 ...

UNESCO World Heritage Sites #4 - Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (Ethiopia) By Smitty, Time Sifters Board Member. Sources: Wikipedia, World Heritage Site, African World Heritage Sites. Photo: Venture-Ethiopia; fineartamerica; aminoapps & sekais. The Rock-Hewn Churches The space inside each church cut into the rock or pass of Lalibela Ethiopia were added to is the result of excavating all through a tunnel from a the list in 1978. They are the rock within, except a few neighboring church. located in a remote and sturdy pillars necessary to mountainous area of northern support the roof. The blocks There are two main groups Ethiopia some 400 miles from were further chiseled out, forming of churches – to the north of Addis Ababa. The area is doors, windows, columns, the river Jordan: Biete known as “New Jerusalem”. various floors, roofs etc. This Medhani Alem (House of the gigantic work was further Saviour of the World), Biete There are 11 medieval completed with an extensive Mariam (House of Mary), Biete churches built in the 13th system of drainage ditches, Maskal (House of the Cross), century. They were not trenches and ceremonial Biete Denagel (House of Virgins), constructed in a traditional passages, some with openings Biete Golgotha Mikael (House way; each was carved out of to hermit caves and catacombs. of Golgotha Mikael); and to the solid rock and free standing in south of the river, Biete Amanuel its own cavernous hole created To reach the entrance of (House of Emmanuel), Biete through the excavation and each church, people have to removal of surrounding rock. descend through a steep channel Continued on page 4 ... In Memoriam Robert “Rob” Bopp By Sherry Svekis, Time Sifters Board Member. Time Sifters recently received and counting his life. word that Rob Bopp had died, out tickets. He He built the 40 foot sloop about a year ago, in January 2021. was always the first one in the room and had that he lived on in Sarasota Rob joined Time Sifters in everything set up by the time Bay, and when he was younger 1995 and was a dedicated the rest of us arrived. he ran a charter with it for day member of the Board of Directors Rob was a unique individual. sailing out of Mystic Seaport. until his health began to As I learned more about him decline three years ago. over the years, I was amazed But he was also an open water at the many places he had captain familiar with many Always reading and learning, been and things he had oceans and as a professional Rob haunted used bookstores experienced. He had many captain he delivered new boats looking for gems about archae- interests in addition to for others. He crafted teak kayaks ology to entice members with archaeology, such as astrono- and dinghies, and traveled our monthly raffle; many will my, traveling, and learning around the U.S. and Canada in remember him as a gruff but about history and other cultures. a hand built “gypsy caravan” that friendly soul collecting money But it was sailing and boat was as beautiful as it was building that really defined functional. RIP, friend. - Sherry

Continued from page 2 ... All photos: Wikipedia recognized that a solar calendar with a leap day every four … I can do better! and building hospitals. No further years was much more efficient significant progress in medical than a lunar calendar. Romans roads dry and durable. They knowledge was made after the fall did not invent the grid lay- built ca. 55,000 miles of these of Rome until the Renaissance. out of cities. The ancient efficient paved roads across cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Europe and the Mediterranean There are many more examples -Daro in the Indus Valley were basin giving them the ability to of Roman innovation rather built in grids as early as 2600 unite their enormous empire. than invention. They did not BCE. Romans just expanded invent aqueducts, but Roman and redeveloped the idea by The ancient Romans are innovation made their aqueducts crisscrossing the street layout also credited with the inven- far superior to those of the that created central squares tion of surgical tools, but Egyptians, Assyrians, and for trading. That facilitated the archaeologists find that surgical Babylonians. Romans did not economy throughout the empire. tools were being used as early invent the calendar, but they They didn’t invent them, but as 10,000 BCE. Sharks’ teeth they did make them better. were used for venesection Continued from page 3 ... probably used as churches (bloodletting); thumbnails have from the outset, but Biete been used for newborn … #4 Churches Mercoreos and Biete Gabriel circumcision. A stone or metal Rafael may formerly have been knife would have been needed Qeddus Mercoreus (House of royal residences. Several of the for the great number of trepanned St. Mercoreos), Biete Abba interiors are decorated with skulls found from the late Libanos (House of Abbot mural paintings. Neolithic (7000 -5,000 BP). Libanos), Biete Gabriel Raphael (House of Gabriel Raphael), According to local tradition, The ancient Greek physicians and Biete Lehem (House of the churches are said to have were the first to establish clinical Holy Bread). The 11th church, been built during the Zagwe medicine as a profession. Biete Ghiorgis (House of Dynasty and under the rule of Greek doctors learned by St. George), is isolated from King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela dissecting corpses, something the others, but connected by a (1189-1227CE). the Romans were hesitant to system of trenches. do. Hippocrates described the The site remains in use by many surgical tools available Biete Medhani Alem, with the Ethiopian Orthodox to him in the 4th century BCE. its five aisles, is believed to be Christian Church to this day, The Romans borrowed them all the largest monolithic church and it remains an important through Greek physicians that in the world, while Biete place of pilgrimage for Ethiopian they welcomed into Roman Ghiorgis has a remarkable Orthodox worshipers. society. Surgical instruments cruciform plan. Most were were found in the ruins of Pompeii from the 3rd century BCE, but the Romans were really dependent on Greek doctors. The Romans got more practice in using surgical instruments by treating the constant stream of wounded soldiers and gladiators. The practical Romans observed that good health was beneficial to society, so they improved public health through cleanliness, sanitation, Board of Officers: Lifetime: $350 Pay online at: Directors Darwin \"Smitty\" Smith, President Individual: $25 WWW.TimeSifters.org Sherry Svekis, Vice President Family: $35 Or mail checks to: Mary S. Maisel, Secretary Student: $10 Time Sifters, Inc. Laura Harrison, Treasurer Supporting $50 PO Box 5283 Karen Jensen, Membership Sarasota, FL. 34277 Marion Almy Jean Louise Lammie Evelyn Mangie Copyright © 2022 Time SiftersArchaeology Society,Inc., All rights reserved.