The Arrowhead Walker Case

The FBI and another big federal bureaucratic behemoth raid dozens of homes of unsuspecting citizens thinking they are actors in a Indiana Jones meets John Grisham novel where the bad guys are running an extensive black-market network dealing with American Indian antiquities. Of course it was all was based on what looks like the fantasy of one man:

All 24 of the government's cases hinged on the work of Gardiner, an artifacts dealer who secretly recorded more than $335,000 in purchases over two years from people later accused of digging, collecting, selling or trafficking in artifacts taken from federal and tribal lands.

In March 2010, three weeks before the 52-year-old Gardiner was scheduled to testify, he committed suicide at his home near Salt Lake City.

You would think that at least one adult at the FBI or the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) would have said "Maybe we should have more than just the word of a former substance abuser with a history of mental health issues who needed a government paycheck before we commit lots of government resources and raid the homes of prominent local citizens." But maybe asking any government official to think like a responsible adult is asking too much these days.

Collapse of Nasca Civilization Human Induced or Oncler Induced?

Very interesting post over at Sexy Archaeology.

As the paper explains, however, the huarango was more than just a tree – it was a crucial part of the desert’s fragile ecosystem, which enhanced soil fertility and moisture and helped to hold the Nasca’s narrow, vulnerable irrigation channels in place.

Eventually, they cut down so many trees that they reached a tipping point at which the arid ecosystem was irreversibly damaged. The authors do not dispute that a major, El Niño-style event then occurred – finding hard evidence for this for the first time. But they also find that the impact of this flood would have been far less devastating had the forests which protected the delicate desert ecology still been there.

If only the Nasca had a Lorax around to speak for the trees.

Blogroll

I'm adding a couple of links to my blogroll.

First up is Jeff Pearlman. I don't always agree with his takes but he's writes in an interesting, intelligent manner that makes it worth the read whether you agree with him or not.

Second is Sexy Archaeology. I think if Dirk Pitt was a real person that he'd read Sexy Archaeology. I'm adding Sexy Archaeology to the blogroll because Dirk Pitt would want it.

If you can think of any sites you think I'd like - please let me know about them in the comments.

Also just a reminder - you can also follow me on Twitter @ALargeRegular