Dr Paul M Willette

  Latin America is home to numerous archaeological sites. With carvings, rock paintings, ruins, and statues, the continent is easily a favorite among archaeologists and enthusiasts. Its archaeological destinations are witnesses to the incredible empires of history and great ancient American cultures. Dr. Paul M. Willette .  Image source: whc.unesco.org Image source: lonelyplanet.com    The epicenter of the most intellectual and sophisticated Mayan city, majority of Copan, Honduras Nazca Lines in Peru have been a source of puzzlement for archaeologists and tourists for more than eight decades. To get a good sight of the world-famous geoglyphs, travelers are encouraged to take short flights or climb a few elevated platforms. Dr. Paul M Willette . Argentina’s Cueva de las Manos is a marble cave with thousands of hands that are believed to have been painted on it close to ten thousand years ago. Cueva de las Manos contributes to Latin America’s many oldest and m...

  Archaeology is the study of the human past. Divided into prehistoric archaeology and historical archaeology, the study offers a record and heritage to many different cultures. The study requires a systematic approach to the discovery of material remnants of past cultures. Artifacts—big and small—are objects recovered and analyzed to connect the present to the past. Dr. Paul M. Willette.  Image source: directexpose.com Image source: projects-abroad.org    To know how and why human behavior has changed throughout history is the objective of archaeology. Archaeologists dig through patterns in the advancement of important cultural events like the innovation of farming, the birth of cities, and the fall of major civilizations in order to gather data on the reasons such events took place. Fundamentally, archaeologists are trying to come up with ways to foresee how cultures will develop and how societies can be prepared for the future. Some significant elements...

Dr. Paul M. Willette . Most people are only familiar with ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. However, many other ancient civilizations existed before and after these popular civilizations. Get to know some of them here: Image source: Wikimedia.org Image source: Ancientpages.com Etruscan Dr. Paul M. Willette . According to researchers, this group of people existed from 700-500 B.C. The Etruscans lived in what is now known as Northern Italy. However, they were soon absorbed by the Roman Empire. Before the Romans took over, the Etruscans had their own language, a system of writing, and religion. As a society, they were a theocracy. They valued religion and incorporated it into every aspect of their lives. Archeologists have discovered thousands of artifacts, but there's still a lot left to uncover when it comes to this civilization. Mittani Kingdom Dr. Paul M. Willette . The ancient kingdom of Mitanni came into existence between the 16th and 13th ...

There's so much to discover and enjoy in Asia. Get to know more about the rich history of the region when visiting ancient ruins, religious sites, and other places of heritage. A trip to Asia won't be complete without a fun history lesson. Here are some of the must-see destinations. Dr. Paul M. Willette. Image source: Telegraph.co.uk Image source: Jakartapost.com Angkor (Siem Reap, Cambodia) No photo or video can capture the beauty of the ancient city. It's better to see the hidden city in person to understand why many consider it as one of their favorite destinations. Angkor also houses Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, which has some of the most impressive Buddhist displays that survived the test of time. Dr. Paul M. Willette . Candi Prambanan and Borobudur (Central Java, Indonesia) Take a trip to Central Java to see two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On the one hand, Candi Prambanan is an ancient Hindu temple complex in Yogjakarta and one of the la...

Dr. Paul M. Willette . There's still so much to discover about ancient civilizations that existed in different parts of the world. The Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan shows the rich legacy left behind by various groups of people thousands of years ago. While most people credit the Mayans for the city's rich culture, the Aztecs were the ones who gave the place the name many remember up to this day. Image source: Wikimedia.org Image source: Livescience.com Teotihuacan means "place of the gods" in the Aztec language. Other experts suggest that the name could also mean "a place where people become like gods." For such a grand city, one would really think that it was indeed it was a place meant for the divine. Up to this day, experts are still debating about the original builders of the city. Archeologists and historians still have no concrete proof as to who established the city. While some credit the Toltec culture, some studies sugge...

Dr. Paul M. Willette . All over the world, many places serve as a testament to the wonders of nature and human creativity. From well-known to undiscovered sites, these places that deserve to be protected. However, not all-natural and man-made wonders get on the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. What does it take for a site to have this title? Here are some of the criteria. Image source: Cnn.com  Image source: Rd.com It should have 'outstanding universal value for humanity.' Dr. Paul M. Willette . According to the organization, this should come from the perspective of history, art, or science. Whether it's a cultural or a natural site, it should be significant not just to one nation but even to the rest of the world. The site must 'represent a masterpiece of human creative genius.' Dr. Paul M. Willette. Places like the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, and the pyramid complex in Giza are living proofs of human skill and creativity. T...