Archaeology in the News : 29/3/2010

DPRK Displays Archaeological Gains (People’s Daily Online)

A collection of ancient relics and fossils is currently on display at the Kim Il-Sung University’s Nature Museum in Pyongyang. The collection is comprised of thousands of artifacts and fossils which have been unearthed in the Taedong river basin and includes hand axes dating from the palaeolithic era, fossils from over 30 different animals, over 2,000 pieces of stoneware and jawbones from humans who lived in the region between 20,000 and 60,000 years ago.

Remains of Ancient Village Found in Yeoncheon (Yonhap News Agency)

Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient residential site in Yeoncheon, South Korean, which is believed to be around 2,000 years old. The site lies close to the DMZ and is home to nearly 80 residential buildings and 9 stone tombs dating from the Goguryo Era.

Silk Road Treasures (The Los Angeles Times)

An exhibition featuring mummies and artifacts unearthed in the Taklamakan Desert has recently opened at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California. This is the first time that the bodies of the Taklamakan mummies have been on display in the United State and one of the mummies on display is the so-called “Beauty of Xiaohe”, who is believed to have lived in the region over 3,800 years ago. The exhibition “Secrets of the Silk Road : Mystery Mummies of China” will be running until July 25, 2010.

Taiwan Applies for Heritage Status for Ancient Chinese Writing (Focus Taiwan)

Taiwan’s National Cultural Association is currently campaigning to have the ancient oracle bone script listed as a UN world cultural heritage item. Taiwan’s Academic Sinica is home to the world’s largest collection of oracle bone artifacts and is hoping to join forces with China so that the two nations can compile an online database which can be used for the study of this ancient writing system.

Ancient Chinese Bronze Vessels Together on Mainland (CCTV)

Nine bronze vessels dating from the Shang, Western Zhou and Spring and Autumn Periods are on display in mainland China for the first time in recent history. Chinese collectors have spent over $44 million to purchase them from overseas collections and have them returned to China. One of the items on display is a bronze tripod dating from the Spring and Autumn Period and which may have belonged to the King of Wu.

Royal Texts of Joseon Found in Japan (JoongAng Daily)

A Korean journalist from the JoongAng Daily gained access to some of the Korean royal texts believed to be in Japanese possession. The South Korean government claims that thousands of royal texts were stolen by the Japanese during their colonial rule and are currently being held by Japan’s Imperial Household Agency. This year marks the centenary of Japanese occupation and Korean legislators and diplomats will no doubt be stepping up their efforts to have the texts returned to South Korea.

East Asia Blog Roundup : 28/3/2010

Here is this week’s East Asia blog roundup :

• Aeri’s Kitchen – Aeri shares a recipe for sundubu jjiagae (순두부찌개), a spicy tofu stew which is popular in Korean households.
• Busan Mike – Mike escapes from the yellow dust storm (황사) to get some fresh air at Songjeong Beach (송정해수욕장).
• Digital East Asia - Doug writes about South Korea’s plans for dealing with internet addicts.
• Fili’s World – Fili takes a peek at some thanksgiving cards he came across in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park.
• Just Another Day in Japan – Paul samples some raw horse meat, or basashi (馬刺し), in Kumamoto (熊本).
• Korean Graduate Studies Prep – Matthew gives a brief introduction to the history and use of hanja (한자) in Korea.
• Pinyin News - The author posts a step-by-step guide for creating your own pinyin subtitles.
• Sake, Kimono & Tabi – Ichibay visits an antique izakaya (居酒屋) at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum (江戸東京たてもの園).
• Soju and Sake – The author posts a review of the Barbara Demick’s book, Nothing to Envy : Ordinary Lives in North Korea.
• Speaking of China – Jocelyn gives some advice to a reader who wants her Chinese boyfriend’s parents to accept her.
• The China Beat – Kate interviews Kevin Nadolny, author of Capturing Chinese : Short Stories from Lu Xun’s Nahan.
• The View from Here – The author spends the day strolling through the streets of Bukchon (북촌) and Samcheong-dong (삼청동) in Seoul (서울).
• Tsukublog – Avi talks about the custom of eating ohagi (おはぎ) on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.
• Wandering Taiwan – Micki and Kristen visit Anping Fort (安平古堡) in Tainan (台南).

That’s all for this week. The next blog roundup will be on April 4, 2010.

Delicious Nippon : Episode 6 – Gifts from the Forest

It’s been a few days since the last Delicious Nippon update. Today’s episode takes a look at Japanese mushrooms and charcoal.

Synopsis : A brief look at the function of the hearth, or irori (居炉裏), in the traditional Japanese home; the various types of mushroom found in forests around Japan; the harvesting of wild mushrooms; modern techniques used for growing mushrooms; a visit to the forests of the Izu Peninsula (伊豆半島); a visit to a shiitake (椎茸) wholesale vendor;  the cultivation and harvesting of shiitake mushrooms; the techniques used for drying shiitake mushrooms; a look at some of the ways of serving shiitake mushrooms; the manufacture of Bincho charcoal (備長炭).

Recipes : Chirashi-zushi (starts at 16:30); shiitake hotpot (starts at 27:00)**

** I’m not sure there actually was a recipe for the shiitake hotpot. I might have to watch this episode again to be sure.

Eight Children Die in Chinese Primary School Massacre

Anyone who has been following the Chinese news sites today will no doubt have read about the massacre at a primary school in Nanping, Fujian Province. Eight children were stabbed to death within minutes and five were seriously wounded in an attack that is sadly occurring all too often in today’s world. The attacker is believed to be a former doctor with a history of mental illness and has since been taken into custody.

Here is an excerpt of an article from The Times Online :

Eight children were killed and five seriously wounded when a former doctor brandishing a knife attacked pupils as they stood outside the gates to their school in southeasterern China this morning.

Shouting “They won’t let me live, they are driving me mad. I won’t let anyone live”, the man grabbed at children waiting in line for the start of classes at the Nanping City Experimental Elementary School in Fujian province at 7.20am.

Within seconds the former doctor at a community clinic had stabbed to death eight children with a 10in (25cm) knife. Another five lay bleeding on the ground. Wounded children tried to crawl away and then fell as they tried to escape.

One woman had just dropped her son off at school and barely had time to turn round before he had been slashed to death by the attacker.

Cai Luyan, a teacher at the school, said: “The children had no way to defend themselves.”

You can read the full article here.

There are no words to describe the deep sense of loss and heartache that these childrens’ mothers and fathers must be feeling. My thoughts are with those who have lost a loved one today.

Archaeology in the News : 22/3/2010

A Host of Mummies, a Forest of Secrets (The New York Times)

The New York Times has published an interesting article about a cemetery recently discovered in Xinjiang’s Taklamakan Desert which is believed to be almost 4,000 years old. Many of the bodies which have been discovered show that this unknown group of people had European features and were among the first cultures to inhabit the desert region. The discovery of long wooden poles and life-size wooden phalluses have led some of the researchers to conclude that the community attached great importance to fertility and that the cemetery is awash with blatant sexual symbolism. Sometimes a pole is just a pole..

Changsha to Restore Porcelain Site (Global Times)

Plans are under way to restore the ancient porcelain kiln in Changsha. The kiln is believed to have been built and used extensively throughout the Tang Dynasty. Tang porcelain was highly sought after and porcelain items have been found as far afield as North Africa and Indonesia . The renovation work will focus on restoring the kiln to its former glory and is expected to last three years.

Museum of Longtan Opens in Beijing (CCTV)

A new museum housing hundreds of artifacts pertaining to the Neolithic Hongshao culture has recently opened in Beijing. The Museum of Longtan is Beijing’s first museum dedicated to the study and exhibition of Hangshao artifacts, many of which are some 5,ooo years old. The artifacts on display include pottery, jade carvings, and utensils carved from stone.

East Asia Blog Roundup : 21/3/2010

Here is this week’s East Asia blog roundup :

• China Hope Live – Joel gives readers a little taste of what it’s like to travel in the hard sleeper carriage (硬卧车) of a Chinese train.
• China Hush - An article about Zhang Lu (张璐), a high-ranking interpreter who has caught the attention of countless Chinese netizens.
• Danwei - The author takes another trip with Li the Soy Sauce and learns a little about marketing techniques employed within Chinese supermarkets.
• Just Another Day in Japan – Paul writes about the mischievous Japanese water imp, or kappa (河童).
• Maangchi – Maangchi shares her recipe for hoddeok (호떡), a type of sweet pancake with a brown sugar syrup filling.
• Okonomiyaki – Laurel goes shopping for pickles and dashi kombu at Kyoto’s Nishiki food market (錦市場).
• On the Fringe – Global Gal enjoys a cup of chatang (茶汤), a type of seasoned flour gruel popular in Beijing (北京) and Tianjin (天津).
• Roboseyo – Rob pays a visit to Jagalchi Market (자갈치시장) in Busan (부산).
• Speaking of China – Jocelyn lists some more blogs written by Western women who have Chinese partners.
• The Gaijin Gourmet - Louis shares a recipe for niwatori kushi (鶏串), or chicken skewers.
• Wandering Taiwan – Micki and Kristen spend the day exploring the small town of Lingjiao (嶺腳).
• Xinjiang : Far West China – Josh shares his thoughts on other blogs which focus on Xinjiang (新疆) and the Uyghur people.
• 四海为家 – Maria posts a summary of her recent trip to Dali (大理).

That’s all for this week. The next blog roundup will be on March 28, 2010.

Delicious Nippon : Episode 5 – Fruit

Today’s episode of Delicious Nippon explores the wonderful world of Japanese fruit.

Synopsis : An introduction to the various fruits native to Japan; the cultivation of Japanese apples; a visit to an apple orchard in Aomori Prefecture (青森県); the storage, packaging and export of Japanese apples; a brief look at persimmons or kaki (柿); the cultivation of Japanese strawberries.

Recipes : Apple and persimmon with sesame dressing (starts at 15:10); fried chicken with apple sauce (starts at 18:20).

Delicious Nippon : Episode 4 – Vegetables

Today’s episode of Delicious Nippon takes a look at some of the vegetables used in Japanese cuisine.

Synopsis : An introduction to Japanese vegetables; the cultivation and harvesting of nagaimo yams (長芋); a visit to a nagaimo farm in Aomori Prefecture (青森県); various ways that nagaimo can be prepared and served (e.g. juice, fries, dumplings, suiton soup); the cultivation of daikon (大根).

Recipes : Simmered duck meatballs with nagaimo (starts at 14:40); nagaimo salad (starts at 19:30).

Delicious Nippon : Episode 3 – Seafood

Today’s episode of Delicious Nippon takes a look at the wide variety of seafood and fish used in Japanese cuisine.

Synopsis : Introduction to Japanese fish and seafood; the seasonality of Japanese seafood dishes; preparation and significance of yellowtail; a visit to a yellowtail fish farm in Kagoshima Bay (鹿児島湾); various ways to serve yellowtail (e.g.sashimi, tataki, zukedon, sukiyaki); the harvesting of scallops.

Recipes : Yellowtail in teriyaki sauce (starts at 17:10; teriyaki sauce (starts at 17:50); yellowtail hotpot (starts at 21:10).

Delicious Nippon : Episode 2 – Rice

Today’s episode of Delicious Nippon focusses on Japan’s staple food, rice.

Synopsis : The history of rice cultivation in Japan; the difference between japonica and indica rice grains; the cultivation and harvesting of rice; the preparation of rice for steaming; rice products (e.g. pre-washed rice, pre-cooked and packaged rice).

Recipes : Steamed rice (starts at 16:05); gyuudon (starts at 21:45).