A reexamination of 1,200-year-old wooden Viking shields excavated in Norway in 1880 have been used to assert that these round protective devices could very well have been used in hand-to-hand combat at some point. They may also have been used to add a layer of protective armor to Viking ships engaged in naval battles.
Horses arrived in the American West in the early 1600s, according to a new study
The horse is symbolic of the American West, but when and how domesticated horses first reached the region has long been a matter of historical debate. A new analysis of horse bones gathered from museums across the Great Plains and northern Rockies has revealed that horses were present in the grasslands by the early 1600s, earlier than many written histories suggest.
Ancient Cities That are Waiting to Be Discovered in Turkey
Turkey is one of the countries that witnessed important historical events in the past. Thanks to its geopolitical location and fertile lands, Anatolian lands have been the birthplace of many civilizations.
These lands which host the major ancient civilizations from Hittites to Ionians, Lydians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans have very historical and cultural aspects.
In fact, it is known that the first known human settlement is at Çatal höyük/Konya circa 6200 BC to 7400. Besides, Göbeklitepe, located in the northeast of Şanlıurfa and built 12,000 years ago, is known as one of the oldest ruins in the world.
The temples in Göbeklitepe, which led to the rewriting of the transition to settled life, are from the stone age. The fact that these lands host different civilizations and being on the route of important trade routes caused many cultures to unite in these lands.
Amazing Ancient Ruins Around The World That You Need To See
The world is littered with ancient ruins of man-made cities and settlements dating back thousands of years. We have compiled for you 20 ruins represented, from South America to Mesopatamia, embodying some of the extraordinary achievements of humanity across various cultures and civilizations.
Turkish researchers use AI to read cuneatic Hittite tablets
Thanks to a project implemented in Türkiye, 1,954 ancient Hittite tablets are being read for the first time using artificial intelligence.
The project’s initial phase, which involved reading, scanning, and digitizing Hittite cuneiform tablets kept in the collections of the Çorum Museum, the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, and the Ankara Anatolian Civilizations Museum, has been finished.
This outstanding project will aid researchers in quickly and easily analyzing ancient documents, speeding up the process of decipherment within the framework of the project run in collaboration with Ankara University and the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums.
500 Hittite cuneiform tablets were translated at the start of the project by photographing them in high resolution and scanning them with 3D technology. According to the results of the testing, the Artificial Intelligence’s success rate was 75.66%.
Amazing Ancient Ruins Around The World That You Need To See
The world is littered with the ancient ruins of man-made cities and settlements that stretch back thousands of years. Represented are 20 ruins that embody some of the outstanding achievements of humanity across various cultures and civilisations.
Evolution of Music
In the following video we will be going through the evolution of music from 40,000 BC to the 17th century AD. Enjoy!
Ancient Greeks consumed those foods and had such bodies as a result
It is known that people in ancient Greece and in general in ancient times did not eat the way they do today. The quality of food has changed for the worse, while many others have either mutated or disappeared. Nothing is the same as it was in the past.
The ancient Greeks are known for their impressive physiques, which were largely a result of their diet and physical activities. The Mediterranean diet, which was the primary diet of ancient Greeks, is considered one of the healthiest diets in the world. Here are some key components of the ancient Greek diet and how they contributed to their physical fitness:
Cereals: The ancient Greeks consumed cereals such as barley and wheat, which provided them with carbohydrates and fiber. These grains were used to make bread, porridge, and other staple foods.
Olive oil: Olive oil was a primary source of healthy fats in the ancient Greek diet. It was used for cooking, dressing salads, and as a dip for bread. The monounsaturated fats in olive oil are known to support cardiovascular health.
Vegetables and fruits: The ancient Greeks consumed a variety of fresh and cooked vegetables and fruits, which provided essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These foods promoted overall health and helped to maintain a healthy weight.
Fish and seafood: Ancient Greeks lived near the Mediterranean Sea, so they had access to a variety of fish and seafood. These sources of lean protein were rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for heart health and brain function.
Legumes: Beans, lentils, and chickpeas were common in the ancient Greek diet. They provided a good source of plant-based protein and fiber, which helped with digestion and maintaining a healthy body weight.
Dairy: Ancient Greeks consumed dairy products such as cheese and yogurt, which provided calcium and protein. However, the consumption of dairy was generally lower than in modern Western diets.
Wine: Wine was consumed in moderation by ancient Greeks, usually diluted with water. When consumed in moderation, wine can have some health benefits due to its antioxidant content.
Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds were consumed as snacks and added to dishes for extra nutrition. They provided healthy fats, proteins, and various micronutrients.
In addition to their diet, ancient Greeks placed a high value on physical fitness and athleticism. They participated in sports and physical activities such as wrestling, running, and gymnastics. This combination of a healthy diet and regular physical activity contributed to the impressive physiques of the ancient Greeks.
What is the Leviathan? and What can it tell us about Ancient Religions?
In this video we will discuss the biblical sea monster named Leviathan. The Leviathan is often claimed by creationists to be a description of a dinosaur or prehistoric extinct reptile... however Leviathan's true nature is far more fascinating, giving insight into the mysterious extinct religion and mythology of the Proto-Indo Europeans and the connections between cultures throughout the ancient world.
What Really Happened During Operation Barbarossa?
In today’s video we will be explaining what really happened during the operation Barbarossa. Enjoy!
The secret of the girl from the crystal coffin! It's just incredible!
Some of the finds are truly amazing. For instance, a family from America was doing construction work on their house when they stumbled upon a frightening secret that was kept by the earth under their house.
Experts Found A Curious Black Goo On Egyptian Coffins – And Now They May Have Figured Out Why
The name Tutankhamun conjures for many people the image of a glittering, golden representation of a pharaoh after death, laid to rest in a magnificent sarcophagus. So famous is the long-dead ruler that his coffin informs most of our ideas about what an Ancient Egyptian burial should look like. In the case of many mummies, though, precious metal and jewels came a close second to a mysterious jet-black covering that completely obscured those fine details. But now a team of British scientists has decoded the mystery of the sombre-looking caskets.
Romeo and Juliet Buried in the Grave, Embracing Lovingly, in the Bronze Age
Archaeologists recently opened a Late Bronze Age (c 1,200 BC) tomb at the huge Metsamor site in Armenia. Inside was a cornucopia of small gold artifacts, including dozens of loose pieces from three gold necklaces that must have been spectacularly beautiful when they were joined together. But even more remarkably, the tomb contained the bodies of a man and a woman who’d been buried side by side, locked in each other’s arms in a loving embrace that was obviously meant to last for eternity.
Were these two individuals star-crossed lovers, who like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet met a tragic fate that prevented them from spending their lives together in this world? Did one die unexpectedly, provoking the other to commit suicide (as Romeo and Juliet did) so they could join their beloved in the afterworld?
Sabaean Inscription Points to Connections between King Solomon’s Israel and Kingdom of Sheba
Archaeologists deciphered the Sabaean inscription on a clay jar finds link between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
Archaeologists deciphered a partially preserved inscription that was found on the neck of a large jar dated back to the time of King Solomon.
Dr. Daniel Vainstub of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was able to decipher an ancient South Arabian script used at the time in the southern Arabian Peninsula (current-day Yemen region) when the Kingdom of Sheba was the dominant kingdom.
The jar was originally discovered together with the remains of six other large jars during excavations carried out in 2012 in the Ophel area south of the Temple Mt., led by the late Dr. Eilat Mazar from the Institute of Archeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Re-exploring the Neanderthal site in Jersey
A collection of artifacts from a Neanderthal site will be used by archaeologists to investigate the Ice Age history of Jersey.
Experts say the site suggests that Neanderthals lived and hunted in Jersey 250,000 years ago
The objects were discovered at La Cotte à la Chèvre, a tiny cave on the north coast close to Grosnez. The site, according to experts, may indicate that Neanderthals hunted and lived in Jersey 250,000 years ago. A total of 16,000 stone tools, animal bones, and sediment samples will be cataloged by the researchers.
Olga Finch, curator of archaeology at Jersey Heritage, will collaborate with the archaeologists during their three weeks on Jersey.
Since they were unearthed in the early 20th century and the 1960s, the majority of the artifacts have been kept in bags or crates, according to Jersey Heritage.
The team will be led by Dr Josie Mills, who has studied Palaeolithic sites in Jersey since 2010
Dr. Josie Mills, who has researched Paleolithic sites in Jersey since 2010, will serve as the team's leader. He stated: “Understanding Jersey's Ice Period past requires visiting La Cotte à la Chèvre. We intend to learn more about how Neanderthals used this site and how it contrasts with the bigger and more well-known La Cotte de St Brelade at Ouaisné by repackaging and cataloguing the artifacts. I'm thrilled to be working in Jersey again after a lengthy absence due to the pandemic.”
Both a free discussion on May 4 at Sir Francis Cook Gallery and a free guided walk around the neighborhood on April 16, 2023 will give people the opportunity to learn more about La Cotte à la Chèvre.
Welsh medieval court that has lain dormant for centuries is auctioned for £17,000
The Welsh Government paid £17,000 for a medieval court used by the last native ruler of Wales, and they intend to raise awareness of the site's archeological significance. Last week, the Welsh Government revealed that it had acquired Llys Rhosyr on Anglesey, which will be maintained and made available for public viewing.
The Welsh Government announced it had purchased Llys Rhosyr on Anglesey this week
Although though Llys Rhosyr in Newborough is adjacent to popular tourist attractions and is free to visit, few people are aware of it. Llywelyn the Last, also known as Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, used the location as his administrative center.
It is the only court of the medieval Welsh rulers with observable remains, and it is thought to have been in use between 1237 and 1314. Llys (court in English) Rhosyr was taken over by the English after Edward I's conquest of north Wales in 1282, and it ceased to serve as an administrative body.
The site’s importance to Welsh history saw the reconstruction of its 29.5 ft-high thatched hall at St Fagans National History Museum, known as Llys Llywelyn
A sandstorm covered the court in 1332. Three-quarters of the enormous complex are still buried beneath the ground despite being partially excavated by the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust (GAT) in the 1990s after being submerged for more than six centuries.
Inside the thatched hall at St Fagans National History Museum, based on what is known about Llys Rhosyr
The restoration of the site's thatched hall, known as Llys Llywelyn, at the St. Fagans National History Museum signaled the significance of the location. Llys Rhosyr still has “huge archaeological potential,” according to deputy minister for arts and sport Dawn Bowden, who announced the purchase this week while visiting St. Fagans. “Visiting Llys Llywelyn in St. Fagans has provided a fascinating insight into what the original site on Anglesey could have looked and felt like—and how crucial it was to the history of Wales,” she said.
“Of course, the Llys Rhosyr site itself still has a lot of archaeological potential. With vistas toward the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) across the Menai Strait, which the Princes of Gwynedd utilised to their advantage during times of assault, it also has a significant sense of location.”, she continued.
Gwilym Hughes Head of Cadw and the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport Dawn Bowden
The site “tells a very important part of our history from perhaps eight or nine hundred years ago," according to Gwilym Hughes, the head of Cadw.
Llywelyn the Great “rallied soldiers, collected taxes, handled disputes, hosted fetes, danced with his bride, or devised a scheme to invade Ceredigion or assault Shrewsbury,” according to Visit Anglesey, at Llys Rhosyr.
Gwilym Hughes, head of Cadw
The princes controlled by traveling throughout their “commotes,” which were essentially mini-courts. Courts in Aberffraw and Llys Rhosyr, where Llywelyn the Great issued a charter in 1237 awarding territory to the Augustinian community of Ynys Lannog, served as the administrative centers for South Anglesey (Puffin Island).
The local llys would receive farm products from tenants in nearby communities. Also, they would construct and restore regal buildings. At Llys Rhosyr, it is known that they built an enclosure wall, a chapel, a great hall, stables, and the lord's ty ro (privy).
Llys Rhosyr is free to visit
There have been found to be ovens, and archaeologists think that there may also be food storage areas, barns, kilns, and dormitories. Pottery and silverware were found at the site, indicating that people of high social standing may have used it.
The Scottish Stone of Destiny has Roman numerals, according to archaeologists
Roman numeral signs on the ancient Scottish Stone of Destiny were discovered by researchers that had previously gone unnoticed, according to a report this week in Ancient Origins.
Scotland's renowned "Stone of Destiny"
Ahead of the stone's anticipated use in the coronation of King Charles III of the United Kingdom, recent research of this stone revealed this intriguing fact.
It was initially used in crowning rituals of monarchs in Scotland more than a thousand years ago and is also known as the Stone of Scone. King Charles III had no intention of breaking with the myriad customs that had revolved around the stone in the past. The 700-year-old enormous stone, which was hauled to Westminster Abbey in advance of his coronation ceremony in May, will be put inside a specially made chair.
Roman numerals are found on the Stone of Destiny ahead of the King’s coronation after 3D-printed replica of the sacred royal relic was examined by experts
The stone will be transported from Edinburgh Castle to London and needs particular handling to maintain its integrity. At a unique location called the "Engine Shed," which is a component of Scotland's national building conservation center, Historic Environment Scotland's efforts have utilised comprehensive digital and scientific research of the stone.
The stone measures 335 pounds in weight. The stone's rough and uneven surface can be seen in detail in 3D renditions of the artefact.
One of the most intriguing elements is the use of Roman numerals. Although experts were able to recognize the symbols by their shapes, it is regrettable that the precise value of the numerals has not yet been established.
The details were discovered when a 3D-printed replica of the stone, created as part of preparations for the King’s enthronement next month, was examined by experts
A number of tool marks on the stone were discernible by those involved in the preservation efforts, providing context for how the stone acquired its shape over the course of its centuries of use. Yet, the marks varied and allowed experts to pinpoint the exact location of the stone's original cut marks. This established a link between the stone and a quarry in the Scottish village of Scone. Some of the traces were more recent, indicating that the stone had been worked on in the early 1950s.
When year was the Stone of Destiny created?
The stone, according to archaeologists, was utilized in royal procedures at least 200 years ago. Prior to the invasion of Scotland by the English in 1076, the Stone of Destiny belonged to the local Scottish authorities. The stone was taken out, relocated to London, and stayed in Westminster Abbey there until 1996 before returning to its original location in Scotland.
Within a Giza pyramid, a scan reveals a sealed, 30-foot-long passageway
The Great Pyramid at Giza, just outside of Cairo, contains a recently found, sealed-off chamber that dates back 4,500 years. This information was made public on Thursday by Egypt's antiquities authorities.
Modern scanning techniques were used to find the passage, which is located on the northern side of the Pyramid of Khufu. It stands above the pyramid's main entrance and is almost 30 feet long and over 6 feet broad.
Policemen are silhouetted against the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt, in 2012.
The compartment is inaccessible from the outside, therefore archaeologists are unsure of its purpose. In 2017, archaeologists found a second, similarly-sealed passageway inside the Pyramid of Khufu, measuring 30 meters (98 feet) in length.
At an unveiling ceremony outside the pyramid on Thursday, Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass and the nation's minister of tourism, Ahmed Eissa, declared the discovery. The discovery was attributed to the Scan Pyramids project, a global initiative that uses scans to investigate at unknown areas of the ancient building.
The event was attended by scientists from the project, which got underway in 2015.
According to Christian Grosse, a key project participant and professor of non-destructive testing at the Technical University of Munich, the chamber was located using a variety of scanning techniques, including ground penetrating radars and ultrasonic measurements. He anticipates that these methods will result in additional discoveries inside the pyramid.
At the end room, there are two sizable limestones; the matter at hand, according to Grosse, is what lies beneath the chamber and behind these stones.
The Pyramid of Khufu is one of three pyramids that make up the Great Pyramids at Giza complex. It is named after a Fourth Dynasty pharaoh who ruled from 2509 to 2483 B.C. The only remaining example of the original Seven Wonders of the World are the Egyptian pyramids.
Even even insignificant finds are of great interest since experts disagree on how the pyramids were built. To increase tourism, a key source of foreign currency for this cash-strapped Middle Eastern nation, authorities frequently publicly highlight finds.
Following the political unrest and bloodshed that followed the 2011 uprising that toppled the nation's longtime autocratic President Hosni Mubarak, as well as additional setbacks as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Egypt's tourist industry saw a protracted decline.
See the 12,500-year-old ancestral cave in Ghana
The oldest cave known to have been inhabited by humans in Kwahu more than 12,500 years ago is located in the Abetifi Stone Age Park, which is currently the only park in Ghana.
According to the University of Ghana's Archaeology Department, people lived in the caverns around 12,500 years ago.
It implies that humans inhabited the caves for more than 10,500 years prior to the birth of Jesus Christ.
The caverns are currently a component of the 52-acre Abetifi Stone Age Park in Ghana's Eastern Region.
The Park was founded by Ben Addo, a native of the area.
In 2013, the University of Ghana's Archaeology Department used carbon dating techniques to determine the time period in which people lived in the cave.
The oldest evidence of people using stone tools was discovered about 2.6 million years ago, and the Stone Age continued until the beginning of the Bronze Age around 3,300 B.C.
The Paleolithic Period, Mesolithic Period, and Neolithic Period are the three main divisions used to describe it.
The Christian Missionaries from Basel established their own "new Switzerland" in Kwahu, which is Ghana's highest inhabited location. The rocky green plateau of Kwahu exudes fresh air.
There are various dramatic stories for the origin of the word Kwahu, which is used to refer to both the people and the region. One explanation for this is that it was granted to a tribe who chose to fight the Ashanti Empire's growing dominance by fortifying itself on a high ridge overlooking the Afram River (Now part of the Volta Lake).
Outsiders gave the region the nickname "Kwahu"—go and die—because these peaceful people were able to defend their territory by threatening to hurl pebbles down on anyone who tried to overtake them.
How the Roman Colosseum Was Built
One of the world's most notable feats of architecture is the Colosseum in Rome. Opened in 80 CE by Emperor Titus, this massive structure existed solely to entertain the masses with gladiator fights, animal skirmishes, and, at some point, miniature naval conflicts. While it only took the Romans less than a decade to construct the Colosseum, careful calculation and planning were required. Architects and workers put extensive thought into every detail, from the amphitheater's architectural symmetry to its complex underground maze of corridors and capstans.
For centuries, we have tried to imagine what occurred in the Colosseum, fleshing out a gory fantasy in film and media. For instance, the movie Gladiator, for all its inaccuracies, attempts to create an image of how Romans lived and fought. What we don't see is the grueling work - typically done by enslaved people - it took to put on one of the Colosseum's gruesome shows. Like sex in Ancient Rome, gladiator fights were about power, both of the Roman empire and of individuals. The complexity and grandiosity of the Colosseum's construction helped to assert that power all the more.
