If you follow developments in archaeological study of ancient Mediterranean cultures you’re likely familiar with the excitement surrounding the so-called “Antikythera mechanism.” Originally discovered by Greek divers over 100 years ago, it appeared to be a mere concretion – a… Continue Reading
A 2,000-year-old pet cemetery has been discovered near a trash heap at the archaeological site of Berenike, a remote Roman port town on the Red Sea. The remains of dogs, monkeys, and cats have been unearthed. Some of the carcasses… Continue Reading
Seven hundred and two years ago Robert the Bruce defeated the forces of the English monarch Edward II, leading to Scottish independence. Interest in Robert the Bruce has only increased through the years. Researchers from the University of Glasgow and… Continue Reading
Five artifacts seized by federal agents have been handed over to Egyptian officials in a ceremony at the Egyptian embassy in Washington D.C. by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to a report from ABC news objects, including a child’s… Continue Reading
Western Digs reports that Mark Chenault of Westland Resources found a cache of clay figurines at a pre-contact village site in the Sonoran Desert. Only a few similar objects have been found in the Southwest. It had been proposed that… Continue Reading
A circular platform unearthed at a construction site in Mexico City was part of a temple dedicated to Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl, the god of wind, according to a report in The Guardian. The white stucco temple, built by the Mexica-Tlatelolca people some… Continue Reading
Some scholars have suggested that glassmaking originated in Mesopotamia some 3,600 years ago, but conservation scientist Katherine Eremin of Harvard Art Museums and archaeologist Andrew Shortland of Cranfield University think that glassmaking may have been invented in Egypt. Science News… Continue Reading
An excavation on a hilltop on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu has found evidence of a seventh-century fortification, complete with castles and large-scale earthworks, according to a report in The Asahi Shimbun. The site is thought to have been part… Continue Reading
The Sofia Globe reports that a Greek inscription found in a stairwell at the theater in the ancient city of Philippopolis suggests it was built earlier than had been previously thought. The theater was believed to date to A.D. 116,… Continue Reading
Atlas Obscura just published a piece on phallic amulets utilized as prophylactics for children. The piece is illustrated with photos of antique specimens of same from the British Museum that in the 19th century fueled the imaginations of mystic theorists… Continue Reading