When a grave was discovered in Wels 20 years ago, the find was thought to be an early medieval double burial of a married couple and a horse due to its unusual features. Only now could the biological gender and family relationships of those buried be clarified using the most modern archaeological technologies. Under the … Read more
A group of archaeologists, led by researchers from the University of Tokyo, announce the discovery of a part of a Roman villa built before the middle of the first century. This villa, near the town of Nola in southwestern Italy’s Campania region, was found beneath a more recent, but still ancient building from the 2nd … Read more
A groundbreaking collaboration between Simon Fraser University (SFU) and the National Archaeological Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM Foundation) in Curaçao has extended our understanding of the earliest human settlements in the Caribbean, shedding new light on pre-Colombian history in the region. Since 2018, an international team of researchers has been engaged in the Curaçao Cultural Landscape … Read more
The Grauballe Man, one of the most famous bog bodies ever discovered, is an incredibly well-preserved Iron Age mummy found in a peat bog near the village of Grauballe in Jutland, Denmark. This ancient individual has captivated the imagination of archaeologists, historians, and the public alike, offering valuable insights into the lives, rituals, and beliefs … Read more
The Saltmen of Iran, also known as the Salt Men of Zanjan, are a remarkable archaeological discovery that sheds light on ancient mining practices, human preservation techniques, and the cultural history of Iran. These well-preserved human remains were unearthed in the Chehrabad salt mines, located near the city of Zanjan in northwestern Iran. The discovery … Read more
The Chinchorro mummies are one of the most fascinating and ancient forms of mummification in human history. These mummies, dating back over 7,000 years, represent some of the earliest examples of intentional mummification practiced by prehistoric societies along the coast of what is now Chile and Peru. The Chinchorro mummies provide valuable insights into the … Read more
The Tollund Man stands as one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. His remarkably preserved remains, unearthed from the peat bogs of Denmark, offer a rare glimpse into the life and death of a prehistoric individual who lived over two millennia ago. The Tollund Man’s discovery not only sheds light on … Read more
The “Screaming Mummy” is a mysterious and intriguing figure from ancient Egyptian history that has captured the imagination of scholars and enthusiasts alike. The term “Screaming Mummy” refers to a mummified individual whose facial expression appears to convey a sense of anguish, pain, or terror. While several theories have been proposed to explain the origin … Read more
Excavation at the Anciens Arsenaux site in Sion, Switzerland, archaeologists unearthed a groundbreaking discovery that reshapes our understanding of early agricultural practices. Contrary to previous beliefs, the findings unveil a pioneering use of animal traction in plow agriculture, pushing back the timeline of this technological innovation by nearly a millennium. Nestled within the picturesque landscape … Read more
Archaeologists differentiate between different periods of human prehistory through a combination of chronological dating methods, material culture analysis, stratigraphy, and interdisciplinary research. Human prehistory encompasses vast spans of time, ranging from the emergence of our earliest ancestors millions of years ago to the advent of written records around 5,000 years ago. During this long and … Read more
Carbon dating, also known as radiocarbon dating, is a revolutionary scientific technique that has transformed the field of archaeology by providing researchers with a powerful tool for dating organic materials and determining the chronology of archaeological sites and artifacts. Since its development in the 1940s by Willard Libby and his colleagues, carbon dating has become … Read more
In the backdrop of a Mesolithic landscape, one would encounter a panorama teeming with natural wonders and ecological diversity. Picture rolling hills adorned with lush forests, interspersed with pristine lakes and meandering rivers. The air would be filled with the symphony of wildlife—birds chirping melodiously, the rustle of leaves as small mammals scurry through the … Read more
Fish was not on the menu of the hunter-gatherers of southern Europe 27,000 years ago. Surprisingly, people on the Iberian Peninsula in the Late Gravettian period mostly ate plants and land animals such as rabbits, deer and horses. An international team of researchers has been able to determine this for the first time on the … Read more
The recent unearthing of a potential Celtic monastery at the site of a 12th-century abbey in Wales has sparked fervent excitement among both archaeologists and historians alike. Situated near the picturesque Cambrian Mountains close to Pontrhydfendigaid village, the site, known as Mynachlog Fawr at the Strata Florida site, has unveiled tantalizing hints suggesting the existence … Read more
An international team of scientists has unveiled the ancient secrets hidden within the caves of Patagonia, reshaping our understanding of early human culture in South America. Published in the prestigious journal Science Advances, their study unveils cave art that surpasses any previously known in the region, dating back a staggering 8,200 years. Nestled within the … Read more
A collaborative team comprising philologists, chemists, environmental physicists, and engineers from various European institutions has unveiled a compelling revelation regarding the ancient wooden tablets of Easter Island. Published in the esteemed journal Scientific Reports, their groundbreaking study sheds new light on the enigmatic Rongorongo script, a previously undeciphered writing system believed to be indigenous to … Read more
Two professors at the University of Wyoming, renowned for their expertise in anthropology, have unearthed a remarkable archaeological discovery in the heart of Andean South America. Nestled within the picturesque Cajamarca Basin of northern Peru lies the Callacpuma archaeological site, where Associate Professor Jason Toohey and Professor Melissa Murphy have unveiled one of the earliest … Read more
Following the arrival of the first farmers in Scandinavia 5,900 years ago, the hunter-gatherer population was wiped out within a few generations, according to a new study from Lund University in Sweden, among others. The results, which are contrary to prevailing opinion, are based on DNA analysis of skeletons and teeth found in what is … Read more
A genetic analysis of bone fragments unearthed at an archaeological site in central Germany shows conclusively that modern humans—Homo sapiens—had already reached Northern Europe 45,000 years ago, overlapping with Neanderthals for several thousand years before the latter went extinct. The findings establish that the site near Ranis, Germany, which is known for its finely flaked, … Read more
Isotopes and allotropes are two distinct concepts within the realm of chemistry, each addressing different aspects of the behavior and structure of elements and compounds. Understanding the difference between isotopes and allotropes is fundamental to grasping the diverse nature of chemical elements and their various forms. Let’s begin with isotopes. Isotopes are variants of a … Read more