Change of Blog Group Name

There is so much going on in the Thrace area of Turkey (the European side) of Turkey that I have been impelled to expand the scope of this web site.  What inspired me was an article in mybyantine. Ruins of Forgotten Byzantine Port Yield Some Answers, Yet Mysteries Remain. 

With this discovery and others related to excavations in central Istanbul, there has rarely been a time when Byzantine archeology has been as active. 

Guest bloggers welcome

If you are interested in the Anastasian Wall and want to write something about it, please feel free to submit a guest blog entry.  Comments on postings are always welcome.

Oppose SOPA and PIPA

Millions of Americans oppose SOPA and PIPA because these bills would censor the Internet and slow economic growth in the U.S.

Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA.

Reposted from Google

Video Segment about Justinian I

This is a very good video on the reign of Justinian.  Absolutely nothing was mentioned about Anastasius who preceded and appointed the Emperor Justin who then appointed Justinian the new Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire.

This video is part of a series concerning the engineering marvels of the Late Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire), but says nothing about the Anastasian Wall, also an engineering wonder.  Justinian also restored the Anastasian Walls.

Why do we know more about Justinian than Anastasius? Much can be attributed to an excellent biographer, Procopius, who sang his praises until he was caught supporting  the wrong side, allying himself with Justinian's general Belesarius.

The documentary about the Anastasian Wall (in progress) , which has been praised by experts, provides the background of this period, which was one of turmoil and one of the most interesting in Late Ancient history. 

Amateur Video of Northen Portion of Anastasian Wall

This is an interesting amateur video along the northern portion of the wall.  This is one of the sections that is better preserved.  One can clearly see that this was not merely a wall made of rubble, but carefully constructed. It is amazing that it has survived for over a thousand years. However, it could be destroyed by development and treasure hunters in a matter of years. It is a relatively unknown treasure of the Late Roman period, but very important as an indicator of the separation and dissolution of the Western Roman Empire and the accession of the Eastern Roman Empire (referred to by historians as the Byzantine Empire) that would not collapse until 1453.  If you are interested in donating to the completion of the documentary on the Anastasian Wall, please contact me at michaelamcadams@yahoo.com and I can direct you  where to send donations. Other non-monetary donation  such as editing, comment, promotion and screening opportunities would also be appreciated.

Ecosystem of the Anastasian Wall

Recently, I came across some images posted on the website Adventure Rider (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=443811) which demonstrates the diversity of human activities and vegetation near the wall. It is important not only to protect the wall from further damage by treasure hunters, but to have a special protection corridor for other historic sites, the environment and culture near the wall. Of particularly importance are wetland areas which provide feeding grounds for pelicans which annually migrate in this region.

For further information about the environment surrounding the wall, go to an earlier blog entry by Franziska Zemmer titled “Report on the natural environment around the Anastasian Wall” (http://anastasianwall.blogspot.com/2009/05/report-on-natural-environment-around.html  ) and a follow up blog entry filed by Ms. Zemmer on proposed management strategies for the area surrounding the Wall (http://anastasianwall.blogspot.com/2009/05/wall-management.html .)

Looking for 'Angels" for Funding of The Long Anastasian Wall

We are still continuing work on the documentary. However, funding is crucial to complete this unique project. Any level of funding is appreciated, but larger amounts are greatly needed. This could also be in terms of non-monetary services such as video editing, promotion, acccomondation etc. Please contact Dr. Michael A. Mcadams at michaelamcadams@yahoo.com if you would like to make a donation. A PayPal payment address can also be supplied. This is a serious project done by professionals. Supporting documentation can be suppplied, if requested. If it is a significant donation, over $2,000, the person(s) or organization(s) would be prominantely listed in the credits of the film, given a private tour of the filming locations by the team and a special invitation to its premier in Istanbul. Logos can be included in the credits if for an NGO or private firm. Short advertisement clips may also be considered for very large donations (i.e., $4,000 or more.)