Experts In China Discovered A Perfectly Preserved 2,400 Year Old Weapon

In central China, an archaeology team is looking into a network of underground tombs. The experts then discover an intriguing object: an ancient water-damaged casket. After prying open the object, the group discovers a human skeleton and a sealed wooden box inside.

But there's more. A kind of exquisite instrument that no one has seen in about 2400 years is contained within that box. Additionally, the archaeologists will ultimately discover that the weapon once belonged to a significant figure in the country's history. If archaeologists in china found a weapon that was perfectly preserved for 2400 years, it's perhaps no surprise that the sword is so old.

However, as such blades have long represented power in human societies. For warriors of so many different cultures and dira. The weapons have been seen to symbolize strength, chivalry and masculinity as well as war. And this is reflected in the plethora of hero myths that have survived through the ages from the tale of king arthur and excalibur to the greek fable of perseus. The far east too has much to offer in this arena.

The sword discovered in the chinese tomb in 1965, meanwhile, has proved to be an incredible cultural treasure. The so called sort of gaussian is not just exceptional for its outstanding workmanship, but also for its extraordinary physical properties. And the weapons on near thing in modern times has allowed historians to take a look back into an ancient world. More specifically, the sword was uncovered in the province of hubei, that name translates to north of the lake, a reference to the expansive daunting lake in hunan province during neolithic times, the hue bay area was inhabited by humans, and it is considered to be one of the birthplaces of chinese civilization.

Given its rich history, then naturally hubei province has an intriguing archaeological record, and you bay is geographically significant to at its heart, the province hosts of sprawling ultra fertile alluvial plain called jangan. This stretch of land is itself surrounded by the jing dhaba wu and wu tang mountain ranges with the highest peak among them all climbing to more than 10,000 feet.

When An Italian Guy Went To Repair His Toilet, He Unearthed An Ancient Underground Complex

Yano and his sons look through the floor of their property in the historic Italian city of Lex Luciano faggy for a broken pipe. On the other hand, as the members of the family remove shovels full of debris, they discover something unexpected. A false floor, and the men and the rest of the city will be astonished by what lies beneath this structural layer.

When an Italian man went to fix his toilet, he found an old underground structure. Italy is home to an incredible collection of ancient ruins because the country has been inhabited for approximately 40,000 years. For instance, Rome was founded in 753 BC, and a visit to the eternal city would not be complete without seeing its numerous ancient ruins, which are evidence that the civilization ever existed. The Colossian architectural achievement, which was completed in Ada D., may be the most well-known Roman artifact.

The circular amphitheater hosted audiences of up to 80,000 people at a time in bygone days. In addition, inside, these spectators were able to witness anything from gladiator fights and public executions to battles in which the venue was, yes, occasionally flooded. The forum, which was once the center of daily life in Rome, can be found close to the Colossians. The people of the time could hear public speeches, watch criminal trials, and learn about election results here. Even though many of the monuments and buildings on this site have fallen down over the past two thousand years, millions of tourists still flock to see them and try to imagine how life was there 200 years ago.

However, these types of architectural relics aren't just found in Rome; there are also examples in other Italian cities. Lonely Planet, for instance, ranked Pompeii's ruins as one of the world's most engaging archaeological experiences.

Scientists Examining A Medieval Skeleton Discovered A Rare Pigment That Rewrites History

A community of women flourished in rural germany and a monastery at dal haim 1,000 years ago. After several centuries, a group of researchers at the site are diligently examining medieval artifacts. However, while examining the remains of one former resident, the group uncovers a shocking and incredible secret that has the potential to rewrite human history. A rare pigment that rewrites history was discovered by scientists while studying a medieval skeleton. And for anita rodini and her coworkers, the eye-opening moment is one that few could have predicted when their research began.

Initially, the team planned to study teeth on earth at the location analyzing any buildup of plaque to learn more about the diet and oral hygiene of women who lived so long ago, however, the specialists ended up finding so much more. You see, the researchers discovered something strange when looking at the plaque under the microscope.

The substance was flecked with a brilliant blue pigment. And this flash of color understandably grabbed attention. But what was the cause of this shade? Amazingly, the answer appears to reveal incredible truths about the women who lived at dal haim and their important role in medieval society. Even with all the technology that we have on offer today, the past still contains many mysteries that are yet to be revealed. And while ruined buildings and forgotten texts can tell us much about the world that came before us. There are many other ways to learn what life was like in ancient times. Fascinatingly, one of these avenues is the study of bones. Indeed, we can discern a great deal about people by investigating their skeletal remains.

For example, the position and location of bones can tell us how and where communities lived and worked. A skeleton's condition can also give us valuable insights into an individual's death. Now, though, researchers are applying a different type of analysis to ancient remains with fascinating results, and that takes us back to the ancient monastery that once stood in the Dal Haim region of Western Germany.

Viking warrior found in Sweden was a woman, researchers confirm

More than a thousand years ago, a Viking woman was laid to rest with the full honors of a mighty warrior, including weapons, armor and two horses. But when researchers discovered her remains in 1880s, the weaponry led them to assume this mighty she was a he. Now, over 130 years later, DNA tests have shown that this high-ranking Viking warrior was actually a woman.

"Though some Viking women buried with weapons are known, a female warrior of this importance has never been determined and Viking scholars have been reluctant to acknowledge the agency of women with weapons," the researcher write in the study published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

Much of the history of women warriors has been passed as legend or myth—mere stories of s0-called "shieldmaidens," or women who fought alongside the men.​ The warrior Brynhildr, for example, appears in several epic poems and sagas, and was later memorialized in Richard Wagner's "Ring Cycle" operas. Yet many believe that these myths are rooted in some truth. One example is the long-raging debate around the existance of the legendary Amazon women of Greek mythology, who have risen to fame with the Wonder Woman comics and movie.

This latest study of the Viking warrior, found in a grave in the Swedish town of Birka, is the first strong evidence that these legendary high-ranking women warriors actually existed, writes Louise Nordstrom for The Local. "What we have studied was not a Valkyrie from the sagas but a real life military leader, that happens to be a woman," archaeologist Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson, lead author of the study, says in a statement.

The grave in question contains the trappings of a Viking officer, including a full set of gaming pieces that were used to strategize battle tactics, writes bioarchaeologist Kristina Killgrove for Forbes. The warrior was around 30 years old at death, and relatively tall for the time, standing at five and a half feet. Because of its burial setting, archaeologists had simply long assumed that the skeleton found in this grave was from a man, but Anna Kjellström noticed that the skeleton seemed to have more physical characteristics of a female rather than a male skeleton.

To test the sex of the individual, researchers extracted DNA of the canine tooth and upper arm. Analysis of this genetic material showed that the individual had X chromosomes and lacked a Y chromosome, which indicates the remains belonged to a woman. Analysis of isotopes found in the bones also suggests that the woman likely lived an itinerant lifestyle before settling down in Birka later in life.

More than 3,000 Viking graves are known to exist at Birka, with many yet to be excavated and studied, Killgrove writes. This latest discovery suggests that archaeologists should not let preconceived notions of gender and modern tradition cloud their analysis of future finds.

"Similar associations of women buried with weapons have been dismissed, arguing that the armaments could have been heirlooms, carriers of symbolic meaning or grave goods reflecting the status and role of the family rather than the individual," the researchers write in the study, noting that remains from male individuals with such elaborate burials are often not questioned. "The results call for caution against generalizations regarding social orders in past societies," they write.

Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/...

Scans Reveal Archangel Michael Tattoo on Mummy's Thigh

In 2014, a team of scientists in London carried out high-tech scanning on eight Egyptian mummies from the British Museum, uncovering fascinating information about them, including the revelation that one of the female mummies apparently has a tattoo symbolizing Archangel Michael on her inner thigh.

Mummies of All Ages and Walks of Life

The eight mummies lived during different eras and came from different walks of life, from royalty to citizens living along the Nile . One of the mummies was only around two years of age when he died, while others lived to see their 50th birthday. The oldest mummy tested is more than 5,500 years old, while the most recent lived around 1,300 years ago.

The mummies underwent computerized tomography scans (CT scans) and infra-red reflectography at London hospital, which revealed what lay underneath their wrappings for the first time. The scans enabled the scientists to build up a 3D image of the ancient remains, revealing bones, tissue, and vital organs.

An Archangel Michael Tattoo

The results revealed that the Egyptians suffered from some of the same health issues that plague us today, including high cholesterol, fatty diets, heart problems , and dental issues . But most fascinating of all was the discovery of a tattoo on a female mummy, aged between 20 and 35, which Dr. David Antoine, curator of physical anthropology at the British Museum, described as “truly a unique and remarkable find”.

The 1,300-year-old female mummy was different from the others in that her remains were found in Sudan and she had been naturally-preserved by the hot and arid environment. Her tattoo represents the symbol of the Archangel Michael , who features in both the Old and New Testaments, and who was the Patron Saint of medieval Sudan.

“The tattoo on her right inner thigh represents a monogram that spells Michael in ancient Greek,” said Dr Antoine. “We have found other examples of the monogram, but never in the form of a tattoo.”

Who was Archangel Michael?

Michael is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. In the New Testament Michael leads God's armies against Satan's forces in the Book of Revelation. He defeats Satan during the war in heaven.

Christian sanctuaries to Michael appeared in the 4th century, when he was first seen as a healing angel. Over time he became regarded as a protector and the leader of the army of God against the forces of evil . By the 6th century, devotions to Archangel Michael were widespread both in the Eastern and Western Churches.

Questions of Respect

The mummies and the detailed results of the scans were displayed in an exhibition titled “Ancient Lives: New Discoveries.” The exhibition drew controversy as many protested that the display of deceased individuals is disrespectful, and not in accordance with what they would have wished.

The issue of respecting deceased individuals has long been associated with the treatment of their mummified remains. One of the biggest examples of what is generally considered the desecration and disrespect of mummies took place during Victorian times in England. A public obsession with ancient Egypt and mummies was at an all-time high and many people gathered and paid to watch the unwrapping of mummies in public or private events. They were told the mummified individuals were princesses or high-ranking officials, but in the end the ‘success’ of unwrapping parties came down to the host’s showmanship skills.

Eventually the macabre practice died out. As Wu Mingren explained in a previous Ancient Origins article :

“One of the reasons for this is the realization that carrying out such an activity in the name of ‘science’ was unjustifiable, and that it would be better to preserve the past. Another reason is provided by John J. Johnston, an Egyptologist, who is of the opinion that the Victorians eventually grew bored of these mummy unwrapping parties, as Pettigrew’s performance was more or less the same each time, and the thrill gradually waned.”

In 1908, Margaret Murray , the first woman appointed as a lecturer in archaeology in the UK, undertook the last known mummy unwrapping ‘party.’

Source: https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-histo...

What Historical Figures Might Look Like If They Lived Today

Have you ever wondered what historical figures might look like if they lived today? Well, a digital artist named Hidreley Diao, from Brazil, had a similar question and he used modern AI tools to figure it out. He created a realistic depiction of some of history's most iconic figures, capturing their main facial characteristics, while keeping in mind that if they lived in this day and age, modern lifestyle would have created a slightly twisted version of them. Let's have a look at a few amazing examples of his work, bringing historical figures to life, with a little AI animation thrown in the mix.

Farmer discovers huge hoard of more than 4,000 ancient Roman coins in Switzerland

A Swiss farmer made an incredible find in his cherry orchard when he spotted something shimmering in a molehill and subsequently discovered a trove of 4,166 bronze and silver Roman coins. The hoard has been described as one of the biggest treasures ever found in Switzerland.

The Agence France Press reports that the finding occurred in Ueken, in the northern canton of Aargau in Switzerland, a short distance away from an ancient Roman settlement in the nearby town of Frick. The Swiss fruit-and-vegetable farmer contacted the regional archaeological service, which took several months to carefully excavate all the coins, some of which were buried in small leather pouches.

In total, the trove weighs an incredible 15kg (33lb) and consists of ancient Roman coins stretching from the reign of Emperor Aurelian (270 – 275 AD), known for restoring the Empire’s eastern provinces after his conquest of the Palmyrene Empire, to the reign of Maximian (286 – 305 AD), who carried out campaigns to relieve the Rhine provinces from the threat of Germanic invasion. The most recent coin discovered in the hoard dates to 294 AD.

"As an archaeologist one rarely experiences something like this more than once in your career," Swiss archaeologist Georg Matter told Spiegel Online .

The coins are in excellent condition with the prints still legible, leading experts to suspect that the coins were taken out of circulation shortly after they were minted, but retained for the value of the bronze and silver.

The region in which the coins were found has a long history, and is believed to have been the location of a large Roman settlement between the 1 st and 4 th century AD. Remains of a 2 nd century Roman estate have been found along the main road in the town of Frick, and a 4 th century fort was discovered below the church hill. The Roman era name for Frick (Latin: Ferraricia) refers to a Roman iron ore mine in the area.

The farmer who discovered the treasure will receive a finder’s fee, but according to Swiss law, the coins will remain public property and are set to go on display at the Vindonissa de Brugg Museum in Aargau.

Source: https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-histo...

Origin of the Germanic Tribes

This video covers the origin hypothesis, culture, religion, society, economy, and military of the ancient Germanic peoples and their first clashes with Rome - the Cimbrian War and the battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Enjoy!

9 Most Amazing Recent Discoveries

From new species of animals to what space sounds like, here are 9 amazing recent discoveries. Watch the video to find out more!

The Antikythera Mechanism

More than 21 centuries ago, a mechanism of fabulous ingenuity was created in Greece, a device capable of indicating exactly how the sky would look for decades to come -- the position of the moon and sun, lunar phases and even eclipses. But this incredible invention would be drowned in the sea and its secret forgotten for two thousand years.

This video is a tribute from Swiss clock-maker Hublot and film-maker Philippe Nicolet to this device, known as the Antikythera Mechanism, or the world's "first computer". The fragments of the Mechanism were discovered in 1901 by sponge divers near the island of Antikythera. It is kept since then at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, Greece.

For more than a century, researchers were trying to understand its functions. Since 2005, a pluridisciplinary research team, the "Antikythera Mechanism Research Project", is studying the Mechanism with the latest high tech available.

The results of this ongoing research has enabled the construction of many models. Amongst them, the unique mechanism of a watch, designed by Hublot as a tribute to the Mechanism, is incorporating the known functions of this mysterious and fascinating ancient Mechanism.

A model of the Antikythera Mechanism, built by the Aristotle University in Greece, together with the mechanism of the watch and this film in 3D are featuring in an exhibition about the Mechanism that is taking place in Paris, at the Musée des Arts et Métiers.

The original fragments of the Mechanism, its main models and the watch designed by Hublot are on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, Greece.

10 Mummy Discoveries That Scared Archaeologists

Here are 10 mummy discoveries that scared archaeologists! The history of ancient Egypt has left many scientists confused. Mummies in Egypt have also been a hot topic between Egypt archaeologists.

A Day In the Life of a Medieval Executioner

The daily life of a medieval executioner was not easy. They did more than simply chop off heads and break prisoners on the wheel. Trying to uphold justice and set an example for their community was only one part of an executioner's duties; they also served as medical professionals and sometimes as spiritual guides, helping the condemned accept their fate and beg forgiveness before God. Occasionally, other villagers ostracized executioners for having a grim job, and yet, as they say, “It’s a job and somebody has to do it.”

What are the secrets behind Antarctica?

What do you know about Antarctica which is a desolate place covered with thick ice? The continent is one of the world's least explored and most mysterious places with blood falls beside the singing ice phenomenon. As such, it lends itself to many conspiracy theories. Find out all you really need to know about exploring Antarctica in this video.