1972 in archaeology

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009)

The year 1972 in archaeology involved some significant events.

Excavations

• National Institute of Anthropology and History excavations at Maya site of Coba begin under direction of Carlos Navarrete.
• Tell Abu Hureyra, in Syria.
• Varna necropolis, in Bulgaria.
• At Mesa Verde National Park, the Wetherill Mesa Archeological Project is completed, with excavation of three cliff dwellings (Long House, Mug House, and Step House), including a survey of Wetherill Mesa and excavation of selected mesa-top sites (begun in 1959).
• A geographer and an aerial photographer studying the Campeche region of the Yucatan peninsula prove that the Maya practiced intensive agriculture in raised, narrow, rectangular plots that they built above the low-lying, seasonally flooded land bordering along rivers.
• Excavations at Skara Brae under D. V. Clarke begin.

Discoveries

• Ciudad Perdida, in Colombia.
• Riace bronzes are discovered in the Ionian Sea.
• Tamatsuzuka mural discovered in Asuka, central Nara, Japan.
• Vindolanda tablets discovered by Robin Birley.

Publications

• March: The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology and Underwater Exploration first published, under the auspices of the Council for Nautical Archaeology in the UK.
• Lewis R. Binford - An Archaeological Perspective. New York: Seminar Press. ISBN 0-12-807750-6
• R. A. Buchanan - Industrial Archaeology in Britain. Harmondsworth: Penguin. ISBN 0-14-021413-5.
• Arthur Raistrick - Industrial Archaeology: an historical survey. London: Eyre Methuen. ISBN 0-413-28050-0.

Miscellaneous

• March 30–September 30 - The Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibition is first shown, at the British Museum in London.
• November 16 - Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO, paving the way for the adoption of World Heritage Sites.

Births

Deaths

• October 1 - Louis Leakey, archaeologist

See also

• List of years in archaeology
• 1971 in archaeology
• 1973 in archaeology