Rare Viking-era shield found in Denmark

(AP) -- Danish archaeologists say they have found a well-preserved Viking shield that is more than 1,000 years old.

Archaeologist Kirsten Christensen says the wooden shield has a diameter of 32 inches. It was found Tuesday during excavations near Viking-age castles, some 60 miles west of Copenhagen.

Christensen said Thursday it is the first time such a shield has been found in Denmark. She said the moist soil in the area is "ideal to preserve wood."

The fir shield is believed to date from the late 10th century.

Danish Vikings launched bloody raids along the coasts of Western Europe about 1,000 years ago and even occupied parts of England.

©2008 The Associated Press.
http://www.physorg.com/news140943434.html

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Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek

Rare Viking-era shield found in
Denmark
(AP) -- Danish archaeologists say they have found a well-preserved
Viking shield that is more than 1,000 years
old.Archaeologist Kirsten Christensen says the...

Updated Three-Stage Model for the Peopling of the Americas
Connie J. Mulligan1, Andrew Kitchen1, Michael M. Miyamoto2

1 Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America,
2 Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America

Abstract
Background
We re-assess support for our three stage model for the peopling of the Americas in light of a recent report that identified nine non-Native American mitochondrial genome sequences that should not have been included in our initial analysis. Removal of these sequences results in the elimination of an early (i.e. ~40,000 years ago) expansion signal we had proposed for the proto-Amerind population.

Methodology/Findings
Bayesian skyline plot analysis of a new dataset of Native American mitochondrial coding genomes confirms the absence of an early expansion signal for the proto-Amerind population and allows us to reduce the variation around our estimate of the New World founder population size. In addition, genetic variants that define New World founder haplogroups are used to estimate the amount of time required between divergence of proto-Amerinds from the Asian gene pool and expansion into the New World.

Conclusions/Significance
The period of population isolation required for the generation of New World mitochondrial founder haplogroup-defining genetic variants makes the existence of three stages of colonization a logical conclusion. Thus, our three stage model remains an important and useful working hypothesis for researchers interested in the peopling of the Americas and the processes of colonization.

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Source: PLoS One [Open Access]
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0003199

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Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek

A Reevaluation of the Native American MtDNA Genome Diversity and Its Bearing on the Models of Early Colonization of Beringia
Nelson J. R. Fagundes1,2, Ricardo Kanitz1, Sandro L. Bonatto1

1 Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil,
2 Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract
The Americas were the last continents to be populated by humans, and their colonization represents a very interesting chapter in our species' evolution in which important issues are still contentious...