Editor’s Selections: Plants, Ancient Homes, Amazonia, Stick Figures, Death, And The Plague

By Krystal D'Costa | March 2, 2012 |

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Featured in my ResearchBlogging.org column this week:

First, a fantastic discussion that encompasses our relationship to the environment and the importance of local knowledge: visit Safari Ecology to learn about the importance of the plant Commelina to the Maasai.

The hop over to Originus to learn how archaeologists identify dwelling sites in the absence of physical remains.

While we’re talking about space, Up and Down in Moxos investigates new claims that pre-Columbian Amazonia was a pretty happening place.

Now is a good time to pause and play a game — of pictionary! And while you’re atInkfish, you’ll learn how researchers evaluate cave drawings and assign meaning to the images.

There are no fun and games at Bones Don’t Lie, but there is a great discussion on dressing for the after life — you might want to carry your own make-up brushes though.

While your mindset is dark, stop at Contagions and learn how the plague became so deeply linked to the atmosphere and ethos of the period.

I’ll be back next week with more from anthropology, philosophy, and research.

About the Author: Krystal D'Costa is an anthropologist working in digital media in New York City. You can follow AiP on Facebook. Follow on Twitter @krystaldcosta.

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The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

Tags: Amazonia, archaeology, plants, ResearchBlogging

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