A dictionary of the extinct language of ancient Mesopotamia has been completed after 90 years of work. Assyrian and Babylonian – dialects of the language collectively known as Akkadian – have not been spoken for almost 2,000 years. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13715296
For the first time in history, a combination of drought and overconsumption of water have pushed the river in India, the Shamala river in Karnataka to its limits, revealing under its bank secrets that have shocked the archaeological community. The… Continue Reading
A couple years ago, Vice posted a thought provoking article about the Middle Eastern people known as the Yazidi. Most are familiar with their basic religious beliefs which centers on worship on Melek Taus the “Peacock Angel” who was God’s… Continue Reading
The “Grand Pompeii Project,” was created to preserve Pompeii’s “intricate mosaic tiles, bathhouses and even graffiti.” As part of the initiative, six newly restored villas reopened to the public last week, reports Jareen Imam for CNN. The villas offer a peek into the past at the Unesco… Continue Reading
A copper knife handle depicting a couple having sex and an animal bone carved into the shape of a penis with wings are among thousands of artefacts unearthed across Britain by amateur treasure hunters. The erotic art is part of… Continue Reading
They gave us the word “person” and invented a symbol of iron rule later adopted by the fascists. Some even argue it was they who really moulded Roman civilisation. Yet the Etruscans, whose descendants today live in central Italy, have… Continue Reading
The Great Sphinx, the pyramids at Giza, the temples at Luxor—if you’ve been to Egypt, you’ve probably seen them. Next time, you might try putting the Lighthouse of Pharos on your Egyptian bucket list, and don’t worry that it’s at… Continue Reading
A species of squash believed to be extinct has been grown from 800-year-old seeds found at an archaeological dig. A group of students in Winnipeg, Canada, proved that heirloom seeds can be viable even if they have been buried for… Continue Reading
England’s Daily Mail reports: “The remains of six women who appear to have been killed in ritual sacrifice at a secret compound beneath a 1,200-year-old ceremonial temple have been unearthed. The women are thought to have come from a variety… Continue Reading
This year’s Top 10 Discoveries reach us from vastly different cultures and across eons. Some raise new questions about what it means to be human and what separates us from our species’ relatives. Others bring us face to face with… Continue Reading