William Atkins
Friday, 19 September 2008 20:43
Science -
Biology
Page 1 of 3
British archeologist Thomas Cucchi has discovered what is believed to be the earliest known rodent to stow away on a ship. The 3,500-year-old mouse jaw helps to directly prove for the first time how rodents spread around the world.
The wreck of the cargo ship that sank during the Late Bronze Age (metalworking age between 3300 and 1200 B.C.) is called by the name “
Uluburun Shipwreck.”
The fourteenth century B.C. ship was discovered off the south coast of Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea in 1982.
Over the next twelve years, underwater excavation of the shipwreck, off the coast of Turkey near the city of Kas within the province of Antalya, found numerous artifacts on the ship including a precious cargo of gold, silver, ebony, and ivory.
One very valuable artifact found on the ship during these underwater excavations was a gold scarab containing the name of Egyptian queen Nefertiti.
And, Dr. Cucchi found something very valuable to the archeology community.
Dr.
Thomas Cucchi, who is associated with the Department of Archeology, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom, wrote the article “
Uluburun shipwreck stowaway house mouse: molar shape analysis and indirect clues about the vessel's last journey,” which appeared online June 27, 2008 in the
Journal of Archaeological Science (volume 35, page 2953),
In his article Dr. Cucchi summarizes his discovery of the mouse species
Mus musculus domesticus.
Read more about Cucchi's mouse and his ancient discovery on page two.
