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5 Major Ancient Egyptian Discoveries in 2024: Rare Artefacts, Rituals, Ancient Medical Insights, and More
Throughout 2024, Egypt's archaeological sites revealed groundbreaking discoveries, including the first known astronomical observatory, evidence of hallucinogenic rituals, and ancient medical practices. Highlights include the intact tomb of Idi, a governor’s daughter, gold tongues believed to aid afterlife communication, and a 4,500-year-old skull...
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Genetic Analysis Reveals Family Sacrifices in 1,500-Year-Old Moche Tomb in Peru
A genetic study of a 1,500-year-old Moche tomb in Peru has revealed a unique sacrificial ritual involving family members. Two teenagers, one a boy sacrificed to his father and a girl to her aunt, were found buried alongside high-status individuals in a tomb at the Huaca Cao Viejo temple. This discovery, reported in PNAS, challenges previous assumpt...
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New Magnetic Survey Unveils Hidden Structures in Ancient Assyrian Capital of Khorsabad
A recent magnetic survey of the ancient Assyrian capital of Khorsabad has revealed several hidden structures, including a villa with 127 rooms, royal gardens, and a water gate. These findings, which were made without excavation, challenge previous assumptions that the city, founded by Sargon II, was incomplete and largely abandoned. The survey was ...
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1,800-Year-Old Silver Amulet Found in Germany, Challenges Early Christian History
An 1,800-year-old silver amulet discovered in a German grave is the earliest known evidence of Christianity north of the Alps. The amulet features a Latin inscription invoking Saint Titus and Jesus Christ, shedding light on the spread of Christianity beyond its early centres. Researchers believe this discovery may shift the timeline of Christianisa...
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A Lost Waltz, Hidden Picasso And Statue Of Hermes: Top Discoveries Of 2024
The year 2024 saw extraordinary archaeological and art discoveries, from ancient cave paintings and statues to forgotten masterpieces by Chopin, Picasso, and Dali
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Rare Cave Pearls with Ancient Pottery Discovered in Jerusalem’s Joweizeh Tunnel
A remarkable discovery in Jerusalem's Joweizeh Spring Tunnel has revealed 50 cave pearls, including 14 embedded with ancient pottery fragments and plaster. The artefacts span historical periods, from the Iron Age to the Byzantine era. This unique find showcases the interplay of human activity and natural mineral formation, shedding light on ancient...
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Marble Bust Found in Egypt Sparks Debate Over Cleopatra VII’s Depiction
A marble bust discovered beneath a temple wall at Taposiris Magna in Egypt is believed by archaeologist Kathleen Martinez to represent Cleopatra VII. The statue, wearing a royal diadem, has drawn scepticism from experts, with Zahi Hawass suggesting a Roman-era origin instead. Found alongside the bust were 337 coins, oil lamps, a bronze ring, and ot...
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15 Stone Age Skulls Found in Italy’s Neolithic Village, Unveiling Ancient Rituals
A recent discovery of 15 Neolithic skulls in the Masseria Candelaro site in Italy offers new insights into ancient rituals. The skulls, dating back to 5618-5335 B.C., suggest they were part of a unique ancestor practice. Found inside a structure, the skulls show no signs of violence, hinting that they were handled over generations in symbolic ritua...
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Gold and Silver Jewellery Found in 1,600-Year-Old Aristocratic Burials in Crimea
Archaeologists have excavated ancient aristocratic burials in Crimea's Almalyk-dere necropolis, dating back 1,600 years. The discoveries include gold and silver jewellery such as earrings, fibulas, belts, and gold foil appliqués. The findings, tied to a Christian Gothic principality, suggest the burials were for elite women. Additionally, a cosmet...
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2,100-Year-Old Temple Discovered in Egypt Hidden in Cliff Face, Reveals Carvings of Ancient Gods
A 2,100-year-old temple has been unearthed at Athribis near Sohag, Egypt. Reliefs show King Ptolemy VIII making offerings to the goddess Repit and her son Kolanthes. Rare carvings of decans with animal heads were also found at the entrance of a chamber that once held temple utensils. Scholars suggest further analysis is needed to understand its his...
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Mysterious 4,000-Year-Old Fishing Canals Unearthed In Belize
The research used 26 radiocarbon dates from test excavation sites in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary (CTWS) the largest inland wetland in Belize.
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Researchers Find Evidence of Embalming Practices in 16th-Century France
A team of bioarchaeologists from the Austrian Archaeological Institute, Université de Bordeaux, and Aix-Marseille Université has made a groundbreaking discovery in France, revealing the long-term embalming practices of an aristocratic family spanning nearly two centuries. The team, led by experts in bioarchaeology, uncovered 12 sets of remains, i...
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Mystery Behind Neanderthals’ Usage of Tar Might Have Been Solved With the Discovery of a Hearth
A fire pit from 60,000 years ago has revealed the innovative techniques Neanderthals used to produce tar. Scientists determined that tar, derived from rockrose (Cistus ladanifer), was created in a layered fire pit designed specifically for this purpose. The tar was used to bind stone tools to wooden shafts, demonstrating resourceful adaptation to a...
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Researchers Find Evidence of the Oldest Alphabetic Writing in Human History in Syria
Clay cylinders bearing alphabetic inscriptions have been discovered in a 2400 BCE tomb at Tell Umm-el Marra, Syria. The find challenges prior beliefs about the origin and timeline of alphabetic writing, previously thought to have emerged around 1900 BCE in Egypt. The artefacts, unearthed by Johns Hopkins University researchers, include Early Bronze...
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123 Bodies Found in England's Ancient Leicester Cathedral: What You Need to Know
In Leicester, archaeologists uncovered a mass burial pit containing 123 bodies, dating back to the early 12th century. The cause of death remains unclear, though theories point to famine or pestilence. Radiocarbon dating revealed the bodies predated the Black Death, further deepening the mystery. The find offers a glimpse into medieval life and dea...
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5 Major Ancient Egyptian Discoveries in 2024: Rare Artefacts, Rituals, Ancient Medical Insights, and More
Throughout 2024, Egypt's archaeological sites revealed groundbreaking discoveries, including the first known astronomical observatory, evidence of hallucinogenic rituals, and ancient medical practices. Highlights include the intact tomb of Idi, a governor’s daughter, gold tongues believed to aid afterlife communication, and a 4,500-year-old skull...
-
Genetic Analysis Reveals Family Sacrifices in 1,500-Year-Old Moche Tomb in Peru
A genetic study of a 1,500-year-old Moche tomb in Peru has revealed a unique sacrificial ritual involving family members. Two teenagers, one a boy sacrificed to his father and a girl to her aunt, were found buried alongside high-status individuals in a tomb at the Huaca Cao Viejo temple. This discovery, reported in PNAS, challenges previous assumpt...
-
New Magnetic Survey Unveils Hidden Structures in Ancient Assyrian Capital of Khorsabad
A recent magnetic survey of the ancient Assyrian capital of Khorsabad has revealed several hidden structures, including a villa with 127 rooms, royal gardens, and a water gate. These findings, which were made without excavation, challenge previous assumptions that the city, founded by Sargon II, was incomplete and largely abandoned. The survey was ...
-
1,800-Year-Old Silver Amulet Found in Germany, Challenges Early Christian History
An 1,800-year-old silver amulet discovered in a German grave is the earliest known evidence of Christianity north of the Alps. The amulet features a Latin inscription invoking Saint Titus and Jesus Christ, shedding light on the spread of Christianity beyond its early centres. Researchers believe this discovery may shift the timeline of Christianisa...
-
A Lost Waltz, Hidden Picasso And Statue Of Hermes: Top Discoveries Of 2024
The year 2024 saw extraordinary archaeological and art discoveries, from ancient cave paintings and statues to forgotten masterpieces by Chopin, Picasso, and Dali
-
Rare Cave Pearls with Ancient Pottery Discovered in Jerusalem’s Joweizeh Tunnel
A remarkable discovery in Jerusalem's Joweizeh Spring Tunnel has revealed 50 cave pearls, including 14 embedded with ancient pottery fragments and plaster. The artefacts span historical periods, from the Iron Age to the Byzantine era. This unique find showcases the interplay of human activity and natural mineral formation, shedding light on ancient...
-
Marble Bust Found in Egypt Sparks Debate Over Cleopatra VII’s Depiction
A marble bust discovered beneath a temple wall at Taposiris Magna in Egypt is believed by archaeologist Kathleen Martinez to represent Cleopatra VII. The statue, wearing a royal diadem, has drawn scepticism from experts, with Zahi Hawass suggesting a Roman-era origin instead. Found alongside the bust were 337 coins, oil lamps, a bronze ring, and ot...
-
15 Stone Age Skulls Found in Italy’s Neolithic Village, Unveiling Ancient Rituals
A recent discovery of 15 Neolithic skulls in the Masseria Candelaro site in Italy offers new insights into ancient rituals. The skulls, dating back to 5618-5335 B.C., suggest they were part of a unique ancestor practice. Found inside a structure, the skulls show no signs of violence, hinting that they were handled over generations in symbolic ritua...
-
Gold and Silver Jewellery Found in 1,600-Year-Old Aristocratic Burials in Crimea
Archaeologists have excavated ancient aristocratic burials in Crimea's Almalyk-dere necropolis, dating back 1,600 years. The discoveries include gold and silver jewellery such as earrings, fibulas, belts, and gold foil appliqués. The findings, tied to a Christian Gothic principality, suggest the burials were for elite women. Additionally, a cosmet...
-
2,100-Year-Old Temple Discovered in Egypt Hidden in Cliff Face, Reveals Carvings of Ancient Gods
A 2,100-year-old temple has been unearthed at Athribis near Sohag, Egypt. Reliefs show King Ptolemy VIII making offerings to the goddess Repit and her son Kolanthes. Rare carvings of decans with animal heads were also found at the entrance of a chamber that once held temple utensils. Scholars suggest further analysis is needed to understand its his...
-
Mysterious 4,000-Year-Old Fishing Canals Unearthed In Belize
The research used 26 radiocarbon dates from test excavation sites in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary (CTWS) the largest inland wetland in Belize.
-
Researchers Find Evidence of Embalming Practices in 16th-Century France
A team of bioarchaeologists from the Austrian Archaeological Institute, Université de Bordeaux, and Aix-Marseille Université has made a groundbreaking discovery in France, revealing the long-term embalming practices of an aristocratic family spanning nearly two centuries. The team, led by experts in bioarchaeology, uncovered 12 sets of remains, i...
-
Mystery Behind Neanderthals’ Usage of Tar Might Have Been Solved With the Discovery of a Hearth
A fire pit from 60,000 years ago has revealed the innovative techniques Neanderthals used to produce tar. Scientists determined that tar, derived from rockrose (Cistus ladanifer), was created in a layered fire pit designed specifically for this purpose. The tar was used to bind stone tools to wooden shafts, demonstrating resourceful adaptation to a...
-
Researchers Find Evidence of the Oldest Alphabetic Writing in Human History in Syria
Clay cylinders bearing alphabetic inscriptions have been discovered in a 2400 BCE tomb at Tell Umm-el Marra, Syria. The find challenges prior beliefs about the origin and timeline of alphabetic writing, previously thought to have emerged around 1900 BCE in Egypt. The artefacts, unearthed by Johns Hopkins University researchers, include Early Bronze...
-
123 Bodies Found in England's Ancient Leicester Cathedral: What You Need to Know
In Leicester, archaeologists uncovered a mass burial pit containing 123 bodies, dating back to the early 12th century. The cause of death remains unclear, though theories point to famine or pestilence. Radiocarbon dating revealed the bodies predated the Black Death, further deepening the mystery. The find offers a glimpse into medieval life and dea...
