There are stories and people in the Bible that are easy to take for granted. The question is, do these narratives describe real events or are they (as the critics claim) merely legends? Take a front-row seat as Jeremy Dehut & Barry Britnell travel to Israel and talk to archeologists and connect the geography, history, and archeology to the events surrounding Israel's first kings in this epic documentary series from Appian Media. “Searching for a King: Israel's United Kingdom" is a 5 part docu-series that will being perspective to the Biblical account like you've never seen before!
New Robots to Explore the Great Pyramid
The Great Pyramid of Giza continues to surprise us with hidden secrets and intriguing anomalies that have yet to be properly investigated. The visual inspection of the North Face Corridor announced on March 2, 2023 is hopefully the beginning of many more revelations to come.
The ScanPyramids ‘Big Void’ above the Grand Gallery is now more promising than ever before, but reaching this space will be a significant challenge.
Since drilling into the core of the pyramid for 7+ meters to reach the Big Void is a daunting proposition, there are other methods of investigation that can occur which are minimally invasive.
New soft-bodied robots powered by compressed air have the ability to investigate previously-inaccessible areas of the Great Pyramid. Near the Queen’s Chamber a drilling from 1986 by Gilles Dormion hit a large cavity of anomalous sand that has never been explained. Innovative and inexpensive robots can now easily burrow through this sand to determine the physical parameters of this hidden area.
These robots can also be used within the ScanPyramids North Face Corridor, and even the Big Void if an access point is ever found or created.
Scientists Reject Finds of Archaeologists, Which Contradict the Official Ones
In this video, the finds of archaeologists are waiting for you, which the official science denies. Why scientists are doing this is difficult to say, and there are many reasons for this. One of the first - that all these finds are really fake. Therefore, scientists have no desire and time to study and confirm these remains or artifacts. But there are findings that scientists purposefully reject, and soon they even disappear!
Divers Scouring The Pacific Discovered A Wreck Containing Billions Of Dollars’ Worth Of Treasure
A research team just off the coast of Colombia is awaiting confirmation of a monumental discovery. And as the images finally come back from a camera nearly 2,000 feet below the surface of the Caribbean Sea, the group finally know that they’ve found something special. Yes, the “Holy Grail” of sunken treasure ships lies beneath them – one that hasn’t been seen for 300 years. Welcome to the final resting place of the San José.
Illustration by Dimosthenis Vasiloudis
The Evolution of the Holy Tomb: From a Simple Tomb to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located in Jerusalem's Old City, is one of the most revered and significant sites in Christianity. It houses the Holy Tomb, also known as the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus Christ is believed to have been buried and resurrected. The history of this sacred site spans centuries, marked by destruction, restoration, and architectural marvels. In this article, we will explore the historical structure process of the Holy Tomb, from a simple tomb to the magnificent Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Rocío Espín Piñar, Collaboration for National Geographic magazine, December 2017.
The Early Years: A Simple Tomb
Rocío Espín Piñar, Collaboration for National Geographic magazine, December 2017.
The story of the Holy Tomb begins around 30-33 AD when Jesus Christ was crucified and subsequently buried in a new tomb, hewn out of rock. Located just outside the walls of Jerusalem, the tomb was believed to be owned by Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man who had become a follower of Jesus. Initially, the tomb was a simple, modest structure with a burial chamber and a rolling stone to seal the entrance.
The Roman Period: The Temple of Venus
In 135 AD, following the Bar Kokhba Revolt, the Roman Emperor Hadrian sought to suppress Jewish and Christian religious activities in Jerusalem. He ordered the construction of a temple dedicated to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, on the site of the Holy Tomb. This act of desecration obscured the tomb's location for almost two centuries.
Rocío Espín Piñar, Collaboration for National Geographic magazine, December 2017.
The Constantinian Era: Rediscovery and the First Church
In 325 AD, Emperor Constantine the Great embraced Christianity and embarked on a mission to locate the Holy Tomb. His mother, Helena, traveled to Jerusalem and ordered the demolition of the Temple of Venus. Excavations at the site uncovered the tomb, which was identified as the Holy Sepulchre. In 326 AD, Constantine commissioned the construction of the first Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The church complex included the Rotunda, an octagonal structure housing the tomb, and the Martyrium, a basilica for worship.
Rocío Espín Piñar, Collaboration for National Geographic magazine, December 2017.
The Early Islamic Period: Preservation and Modifications
In 614 AD, Jerusalem was conquered by the Persian Empire, and many Christian sites were destroyed. However, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was spared, thanks to a letter of protection reportedly signed by the Prophet Muhammad. The Islamic Caliphates that ruled Jerusalem after the Persians made some modifications to the church, but the Holy Sepulchre remained largely unaltered.
The Crusader Period: Reconstruction and Expansion
In 1099, during the First Crusade, the Crusaders captured Jerusalem and set about restoring and expanding the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. They added several chapels, enlarged the Rotunda, and connected the church to the city's walls. The Crusader-era church was a magnificent structure, reflecting the wealth and power of Western Christendom.
Rocío Espín Piñar, Collaboration for National Geographic magazine, December 2017.
The Ayyubid and Mamluk Periods: Decline and Disrepair
Following the Crusaders' defeat by the Muslim forces of Saladin in 1187, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre fell into decline. While the site remained a pilgrimage destination, the church itself suffered from neglect, vandalism, and damage caused by earthquakes and fires.
The Ottoman Era: Restoration and the Status Quo
Rocío Espín Piñar, Collaboration for National Geographic magazine, December 2017.
In the 16th century, under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was extensively repaired and restored. A decree issued by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent established the Status Quo, a set of rules governing the shared custody and use of the church by the various Christian denominations. This agreement, which remains in effect today, has preserved the delicate balance between competing religious factions and has ensured the continued conservation and maintenance of the church.
The Modern Era: Preservation and Ongoing Challenges
In the 19th and 20th centuries, various international stakeholders took an interest in the preservation and restoration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The British Mandate authorities carried out important structural work during the 1920s and 1930s, while in 1959, the Orthodox, Catholic, and Armenian Apostolic communities agreed to a major restoration project, which included the removal of centuries-old layers of accumulated debris and the installation of a new marble cladding on the exterior of the tomb.
Rocío Espín Piñar, Collaboration for National Geographic magazine, December 2017.
More recently, in 2016, a multinational team of experts carried out an extensive restoration of the Edicule, the small chapel that encloses the Holy Tomb. The project involved the removal of a supporting iron cage, which had been in place since the early 20th century, as well as the cleaning and consolidation of the original stone surfaces.
The history of the Holy Tomb, from a simple tomb to the magnificent Church of the Holy Sepulchre, reflects the complex and often turbulent history of Jerusalem itself. Over the centuries, the site has been a symbol of unity and division, a place of worship, and a battleground for competing religious, political, and cultural forces. Today, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre stands as a testament to the resilience of faith and the power of cooperation among diverse communities, as well as a reminder of the importance of preserving our shared heritage for future generations.
How 99% of Ancient Literature was Lost
During the Middle Ages, all but a tiny fraction of Greek and Roman literature disappeared. In the video below we will be explaining why. Enjoy!
Bizarre Genetic Disease Found In Royalty
In this video we will be exploring the bizarre genetic disease found in royalty. Watch the video to find out more!
Ukrainian Origins | A Genetic and Cultural History
The Eurasian region north of the Black Sea and Sea of Azov has long been a crossroads of history, conquest, and migration. The Steppe nations that have formed on the doorstep to Central Asia have built their identities and cultures over millennia. This vast territory has been ruled by a multitude of peoples over the ages. It has always been a challenge to define Ukraine and its surrounding countries.
Modern Ukraine is the largest country located fully in Europe. Its current population is the result of millennia of different populations arriving from every corner of the world. And yet, in the world of genetic research, Ukraine remains woefully understudied. 97 Ukrainian individuals currently living in Ukraine comprise the genome study’s dataset. The specific genetic groups, or haplotypes, that these people possess can be traced back through history, across the Steppe, and back into Africa, from which all our ancestors emerged 60,000 years ago. These first modern humans perhaps displaced or replaced the Denisovan populations of pre-modern humans who lived in caves. Denisovan remains have been found in Central Asia, specifically in a Siberian cave called Denisova, that are over 110,000 years old.
Linguistic and genetic evidence suggests that the Yamnya were the first speakers of Proto-Indo-European languages to arrive on the Steppe. Along with Hittite elements from Anatolia and Maykop from the Caucasus, these cultures forged the backbone of most modern languages spoken from India to Ireland, from Hindi to Persian to Gaelic to Latin. For a thousand years the speakers of Proto-Indo-European dwelled on the Steppe before charging outward, usually to the west and south, in a series of waves known as the Indo-European Expansion from c. 2000-1000 BCE.
Today, while ethnic Ukrainians comprise over 75% of the population of modern Ukraine, the genomes of many other ethnicities are present. The Russian genetic minority is approximately 20%, with a concentration in the southeast of the country, along with other smaller minority groups historically present in different parts of the country: Belarusians, Bulgarians, Crimean Tatars, Greeks, Gagauz, Hungarians, Jews, Moldovans, Poles, Romanians, Roma (Gypsies), and others.
The modern world is shaped by more than just a collection of ancestral peoples and events. Yet we can never escape our past. As genetics are used more and more to individualize medicine and discover the roots of our past migrations, it is imperative that we identify actual distinct populations whose genetics may respond differently to treatment than others. In the study Genome Diversity in Ukraine, the authors conclude that there are very specific genetic signatures that define the Ukrainian genome. As the authors state, “To our knowledge, this study provides the largest to-date survey of genetic variation in Ukraine, creating a public reference resource aiming to provide data for medical research in a large understudied population.”
This is the ancient history of the land of modern Ukraine. It is a tale of endless migration and conquest, of mixing cultures and ethnicities from every corner of the globe into a unique identity. These layers of history are the rich legacy of the peoples of the mighty rivers, endless Steppe, and Black Sea.
The 400-Year-Old Turtle Shaped Ancient City Yongtai Fortress
Yongtai Fortress is a village and turtle-shaped historical fortress town in Gansu, China.
Built in 1608 by the Ming dynasty rulers to defend against attacks from northern minorities, it stationed 2000 infantrymen and 500 cavalry units. The entire fort is enclosed by a rammed earth wall including defensive towers. Due to desertification, the village is now mostly abandoned, dropping from 1500 people in the 1950s to around 100 today.
The influence of the ancestors and grandsons of Yue Zhenbang, Yue Shenglong and Yue Zhongqi on the Turtle City has made Yongtai Turtle City famous. Movies and TV dramas such as Beautiful Big Feet and Snow Flakes Gone were filmed here.
Euphrates River Finally Dried Up and Giant Gilgamesh is Found
Are you prepared to hear the shocking reality? What if we tell you that the disappearance of one of the world's most historic rivers coincided with a surprising discovery? An ancient river that has been flowing for thousands of years has suddenly dried up, and a mythical ancient giant has been uncovered in the area. Stay tuned as we investigate the shocking finding of Gilgamesh, the hero of Mesopotamian mythology, and the puzzling disappearance of the Euphrates River. What mysteries will be exposed? You will regret it if you miss out on this one, so let's get started!
The Tigris River and the Euphrates River come together to form the Shatt al-Arab River, which eventually empties into the Persian Gulf. The Euphrates River travels through Syria and Iraq on its way to its meeting with the Tigris River. Its origins can be found in Turkey. It is the longest river in Western Asia, stretching for approximately 1,740 miles (2,800 km) in total length.
12 Most Incredible Ancient Artifacts Finds
What sets apart an ordinary archaeological discovery from an extraordinary one? Is it its monetary worth, its ability to explain the secrets of the past, or perhaps something more intangible? It's hard to say for sure, but we do know that we can't help but feel awestruck when we come across an incredible archaeological find. In this video, we've compiled some of the most remarkable discoveries that we believe fit the bill.
Exploring The World's Oldest Rainforest In Australia | Ray Mears Wild Australia
Presenter Ray Mears travels to Australia exploring the landscape and wildlife of the beautiful country. Traveling deep into Queenslands Wet Tropics rainforest, he searches for the prehistoric flightless bird the cassowary and the tree kangaroo.
What a Wild West Duel Really Looked Like
What were Wild West duels actually like? Today, we look at how common the “classic” quick-draw duel was. We also touch on rates of violence in Old West frontier towns and explain what kind of day-to-day violence most closely mirrored the Wild West gunfights we see in films and books. Enjoy!
The Messed Up Origins of Brok and Sindri | Norse Mythology Explained
In the following video we will be explaining the messed up origins of Brok and Sindri. Watch the video to find out more about the Norse mythology!
Geopolymer or Natural Rocks? The Geological Truth of Sacsayhuaman, Peru
Situated next to Cusco in the Inca heartland of Peru, Sacsayhuaman is one of the most incredible ancient structures in the world. It’s truly mind-boggling how such enormous blocks of stones can be so randomly shaped yet so perfectly put together. The origins of the megalithic blocks of Sacsayhuaman, Peru, have long been a source of debate because it really feels like a genuine mystery.
These are large blocks of limestone, sometimes huge, most of which seem to pillow or bulge out instead of having straight, sharp cut faces. Some blocks seem to curve around corners, others have scoop marks on the surface and a number have the famous nubs. There are many other seemingly bizarre and unnatural features. Each block is irregular and each is unique yet the joints between these limestone blocks are perfect. So how is this even possible?
I’ve speculated in the past that maybe some kind of stone softening agent was applied, possibly some kind of acid. At the end of the day, we can stare at pictures and speculate forever; what we have to do is look at the science. I’ve always said that samples need to be taken and the geology needs to be analysed and that will tell us everything we need to know about Sacsayhuaman.
Well, little did I know that such investigative work was done back in 2012 and in this study and take a detailed look at the geology of the blocks of Sacsayhuaman and so, once and for all, we should be able to answer the question - are they artificial geopolymer or natural rocks? This video is the geological truth of Sacsayhuaman.
The 3 Strangest Borders on Earth
In the following video we will be talking about three specific border regions. Each of them are remarkably unique - but they also have a massive impact on the communities that live nearby.
Where is the Tomb of Jesus?
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located in the Old City of Jerusalem, is one of the holiest sites for most Christians worldwide. It is believed to house the site of Jesus's crucifixion and burial. But what can archaeology tell us about the church and its surrounding area? Is it a plausible location for the Tomb of Jesus?
Uncovering the Secrets of Ancient Egypt: Exploring the Most Famous Temples
In this enthralling video, we embark on a journey to explore the most famous temples in Egypt, home to some of the most unique and incredible structures in the world. From the majestic Temple of Karnak and the hidden secrets of the Temple of Seti I, to the incredible "light box" in the Temple of Hathor, and the mysterious "hidden library" in the Temple of Edfu, we will uncover the amazing stories and secrets that these ancient temples hold. Join us on an adventure through Egypt's past to discover the engineering feats, religious beliefs and cultural richness of these remarkable temples that have stood the test of time. If you're interested in learning more about Egypt's ancient history and the amazing people that built these temples, then this video is definitely for you!
What Montezuma's Aztec Sounded Like - and how we know
The Aztecs didn't call him Montezuma. Nor Moctezuma. They didn't call chocolate "chocolate". Heck, they didn't even call themselves Aztec! Though they were an oral culture, we have an idea of what their language really sounded like. Here's why.
A tomb filled with preserved cats, mice, and other creatures is found in Egypt
The latest find, a preserved double gravesite comprising the bones of a man, his wife, and mummified animals, including cats and mice, was made public by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.
Egypt discovers a new tomb with a perfectly preserved colored walls and dozens of mummified animals.
The discovery, which was made public on Friday, is thought to date back more than 2,000 years to the Ptolemaic period. About four kilometers from Sohag, in the city of Akhmim, was where the tomb was discovered.
According to Dr. Mustafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, "it's one of the most exciting discoveries ever in the area."
The tomb is made of two rooms covered in colored pictures and inscriptions.
The finding of 50 animals and a human mummy was the most impressive. In the tomb, mummified versions of eagles, falcons, ibex, cats, and mice were discovered.
The ministry claims that after a gang was apprehended trying to smuggle antiquities out of the side of a hill, the entrance to the burial ground was found. The site was given to Waziri and his group for archaeological excavation following an examination.
Archeologists found about 50 mummified animals in the tomb, including cats and mice.
The grave is thought to be that of TuTu, a high-ranking official, and his wife T-Cheret Isis. The names of the deceased's family members are written in inscriptions that have been perfectly preserved on the walls. The two-room tomb's vibrant colors have been astonishingly preserved.
The discovery of two limestone jars containing human remains and a collection of stuffed animals during excavations, according to the ministry, shows that the tomb was reused at a later time.
One preserved human mummy was also found in the tomb.
