The Impeccably Preserved 2000-year-old Ancient Roman City of Timgad in Algeria

The ruins of Timgad lie on the slopes of the Aures Massif, about 35 km east of the town of Batna, in modern-day Algeria. Built nearly 2,000 years ago, by the Roman Emperor Trajan, the city is laid out in great precision and is one of the best surviving examples of the grid plan used by the ancient Roman city planners.

Timgad is one of the best surviving examples of the grid plan used by the ancient Roman city planners.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Timgad was abandoned and forgotten. It wasn’t until 1,000 years later that its ruins, primarily preserved by the desert, were rediscovered. Indeed, the ruins of Timgad are so well-preserved that some visitors call it the Algerian Pompeii.

The city’s original design was a perfect square, 355 meters long on each side, with an orthogonal design highlighted by the decumanus maximus (east-west-oriented street) and the cardo (north–south-oriented street) lined by a partially restored Corinthian colonnade. The plan was to provide space for 15,000 residents, but the city quickly outgrew that number and spilled beyond the orthogonal grid in a more loosely but organized fashion. The city grew for the next 300 years as new quarters were added to the original ground plan leading to a quadrupling of the original size.

The ruins of Timgad are so well-preserved that some visitors call it the Algerian Pompeii.

Timgad’s construction served two purposes. First, the Roman colony housed veterans of Trajan’s mighty armed forces. Secondly, it functioned as a show of Roman power against the Indigenous Berber tribes that populated the northern and western regions of the continent. After its founding, Timgad quickly became an important center of commerce and trade. Its residents enjoyed peace and prosperity for several centuries.

All these centuries lying under the sand of the Sahara, Timgad remained exceptionally well preserved. At the west end of the decumanus maximus still stands a 12-meters-high triumphal arch, called the Arch of Trajan, which was partially restored in 1900. There is a temple dedicated to Jupiter that is of approximately the exact dimensions as the Pantheon in Rome. A large Byzantine citadel stands to the southeast of the city. There are also a 3,500-seat theater in good condition, a library, a basilica, and four public bathhouses.

Subsequent excavations of the city led to its designation as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Many Timgad ruins still stand today, including its signature arch known as the “Arch of Trajan” and its theater, which still hosts the occasional concert.

10,000 Rare Artifacts from Gobeklitepe to Amazon Women are Being Discovered

From Göbeklitepe to Amazon Women, rare artifacts of Şanlıurfa Archeology Museum are being discovered.

The Sanlıurfa Archaeology Museum building involves many main attributes, such as the largest enclosed space and exhibition hall museum in Turkey, the largest museum in Turkey, and among the known museums in the world as Number of Animations. It has the longest promenade route in Turkey and a 4.5 km long Promenade route.

Opened in 2015, Unique historical artifacts and mosaics, including those unearthed from the UNESCO heritage ancient site of Göbeklitepe, are carefully being cleaned by expert teams at the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.

The finds unearthed during the excavations in many parts of the city, including, Göbeklitepe, and the unique mosaics depicting amazon women are being examined by restorers.

Visitors to the museum will be able to see the world’s oldest statue in Şanlıurfa, the imitation Göbeklitepe D temple, the original Nevali Çori temple, numerous regular animations, animations of the Prophet Abraham, and the world’s most beautiful mosaic museum.

About 10.000 artifacts are being exhibited at Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.

Gobekli Tepe & the Younger Dryas: why did we start farming?

Why did humans, after thousands of years of nomadic existence, hunting and gathering, decide to settle down and begin farming? This is perhaps one of, if not the, greatest question that archaeologists have been attempting to answer for the past century and a half. Going along with the development of agriculture and the Neolithic Revolution, there is another mystery. Watch the video for more!

English Knights Vs French Knights (The battle of Crecy)

Join us as we delve into the history of one of the most significant battles of the Hundred Years' War - the Battle of Crécy. Witness the tactics and strategies employed by King Edward III of England as he faced off against the superior French army and learn about the role of the longbow and the impact it had on the outcome of the battle. Enjoy!

Lost Secrets of the Aztecs: Uncovering the Mysteries of the Mexica Grandmaster Triple Alliance

The Aztecs are one of the most iconic and fascinating ancient civilizations in the world. Their origins, rise to power, and eventual downfall are shrouded in mystery, making them a subject of great interest and study for historians and archaeologists alike. One of the most significant events in Aztec history was the formation of the Triple Alliance, which propelled them to become one of the most dominant powers in Mesoamerica.

The origins of the Aztecs are a matter of debate among scholars, with different theories and hypotheses proposed over the years. According to Aztec mythology, their ancestors were a group of people who migrated from a place called Aztlan in search of a new homeland. After years of wandering, they finally settled in the Valley of Mexico, where they founded the city of Tenochtitlan in the 14th century.

However, some scholars believe that the Aztecs were not originally from Aztlan, but rather from the region around the Valley of Mexico itself. They argue that the Aztecs were one of several ethnic groups that lived in the area and that they gradually rose to power over time, eventually becoming the dominant force in the region.

Regardless of their origins, the Aztecs were a formidable force by the time they formed the Triple Alliance in the 15th century. The alliance was a military and political pact between the Aztecs, the Texcocans, and the Tepanecs, which allowed them to pool their resources and expand their territories.

Under the leadership of the Aztec emperor Moctezuma I, the Triple Alliance went on a massive military campaign, conquering neighboring states and expanding their empire. The alliance was also a key factor in the Aztecs' ability to resist the Spanish invasion in the 16th century, as their combined forces were able to repel the Spanish armies for several years.

The concept of the Triple Alliance was based on the idea of mutual benefit and cooperation, with each member state contributing to the alliance in their own way. The Aztecs provided military might and resources, the Texcocans provided knowledge and culture, and the Tepanecs provided political influence and leadership.

The legacy of the Aztecs and the Triple Alliance continues to fascinate and inspire us today. Their achievements in architecture, art, and culture are still visible in the ruins of their ancient cities, and their story serves as a reminder of the power of cooperation and unity in the face of adversity.

What Scientists Just Discovered In Canada Terrified Them

Do you know that 80% of the land in Canada is inhabited? Despite having stunning mountain views, and breathtaking lakes, forests, and prairies, the Canadian lands are unpopulated. It's the second largest country in the world which is inhabited due to its geography and extremely unsuitable climate for humans.But what if we told you that recently, something shocking was discovered in Canada that left the Scientists reeling? Join us as we dive into the intriguing details of what shook them to their core and let’s uncover the mystery as to why most of the area is abandoned like the ugly duckling!

9 Strange Deep Ocean Creatures Found by Japan's ROVs

Japan's waters are home to rich and diverse marine ecosystems: today we take a look at just nine of the many bizarre animals that live deep below in unique ROV (remotely operated vehicle) encounters. Enjoy!

3 True Extremely Weird Oceanic Historical Stories That'll Creep You Out

The modern era of ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) has revolutionized mankind's ability to view natural environments of deep bodies of water, however, there are plenty of strange occurrences in oceanic history that must be remembered. These are three true stories of bizarre incidents in sea history:

• The USS Stein Giant Squid/Unidentified Sea Creature Attack (1978)

• St. Augustine Florida Blob Washed Ashore (1896)

• USS Scorpion Disappearance (1968)

These stories are meant to both inform and entertain you on some of the ocean's eeriest and absolute weirdest histories.

Three highly bizarre sea histories to fall asleep to-- scp creepypasta vintage retro horror creepy old school giant octopus cephalopod narration history thalassophobia military navy submechanophobia veteran memorial sailor submariner

Vikings vs Native Americans

In this video, we explore the story of Leif Erikson and his journey to North America. As the son of the famous Norse explorer Erik the Red, Leif inherited a love of adventure and a desire to discover new lands. In the year 1000, he set out with a group of fellow Vikings on a journey that would lead them across the Atlantic and into the unknown.

After a long and treacherous voyage, Leif and his crew landed on the shores of present-day Newfoundland, Canada. They called the land "Vinland" and established a settlement there, making them the first Europeans to permanently reside in North America.

But the settlement was short-lived, as the Vikings encountered hostile Native American tribes and struggled to survive in the harsh, unfamiliar environment. Despite the challenges they faced, Leif and his men persevered and left a lasting legacy as the pioneers of the New World.

Join us as we delve into the history of Leif Erikson and the Vikings' journey to America. Stick around to learn more about this fascinating chapter in history.

10 Animals You're So Glad Are Extinct

Whether they were dangerous, creepy, or just plain weird, their absence is generally considered a good thing for humans and the environment. By studying the reasons behind their extinction, we can better understand the impact that humans have on the natural world and the importance of conservation efforts to protect endangered species.

Ancient and Medieval Japan, Korea, and Vietnam: A Complete Overview

Ancient and Medieval Japan, Korea, and Vietnam is a complete overview of these 3 East Asian states from their formation until around 1500. We will go through the Japanese Ancient (Jomon, Yayoi, and Kofun), Classical (Asuka, Nara, Heian), and Feudal (Kamakura, Muromachi) periods, before heading to Korea and Vietnam, and the links they all had with China.

Discovered a Mysterious Object That Could Change History

Get ready for an exciting journey as we explore the world of mysterious objects and unearthed treasures that could potentially change the course of history. In this captivating video, we delve into the stories of mystic discoveries and the dedicated archaeologists who have unveiled them. From the enigmatic "Pascaline" invented by Blaise Pascal, to an astounding find in the desert, to the fabled Stone of Destiny, and the hidden treasures of the Vikings - we cover it all!

First modern human remains discovered in Europe

Bone remains of the earliest Homo sapiens to walk the European continent have been found by researchers digging in a cave in Bulgaria. This new record holder beats the previous one by 2,500 years and dates back to 45,000 years. The inhabitants of Bacho Kiro Cave don't seem to have been in Europe for very long, yet they might have left a lasting impression.

One of the more well-liked theories for how anatomically modern humans left Africa contends that they crossed into the Middle East 50,000 years ago before starting to expand into Europe. This finding supports that hypothesis because it would perfectly fit the chronology.

There were numerous stone ornaments and utensils inside the cave as well. These provided additional proof of the precise time in which these people lived since they were crafted from high-quality flint that they had traveled significant distances to acquire and had been honed in ways unique to the Early Upper Paleolithic.

The authors hypothesized that these early visitors from the Middle East may have affected the Neanderthals based on the similarities between some of the decorations discovered, including jewelry made from animal teeth, and objects discovered in Neanderthal sites thousands of years later.

Of course, it's important to remember that Neanderthals were already independent for a time, producing tools and jewelry among other things. They might have been impacted by the arrivals, but that doesn't guarantee it. This new civilisation may have been merely a blip on their Paleolithic radar, as the Neanderthals were eventually supplanted by later arriving Homo-Sapiens, known as the Aurignacian culture.

The highly debatable assertion that a 210,000-year-old skull belonged to an anatomically contemporary human was discovered in Greece some time ago is another. That discovery, however, was unable to definitively identify the species to which the skull in question belonged.

The discovery in Bulgaria also adds a puzzling chapter to the history of humanity because, despite some interbreeding with their neighbors, the people who made up this group were not among the modern humans that eventually displaced the Neanderthals. The inhabitants of Bacho Kiro Cave were a few thousand years late to the party because that latter group only emerged 43,000 years ago at most.

For whatever reason, their endeavor to colonize Europe either failed, was too small in scale and scope to contribute to the extinction of the Neanderthals, or was unsuccessful in some other way. Future study will be very intriguing in trying to figure out why this is.

Source: https://bigthink.com/the-past/first-humans...

Filthy Secrets of Ancient Greece’s Greatest Leaders

Ancient Greece was in many ways a pretty amazing place. It was the birthplace of democracy, home to many architectural wonders. The philosophy of Aristotle and Plato helped push the boundaries of how we understood the world. Math and science flourished, and so did theater and the arts. But it also had a seedy underbelly that isn’t talked about so often, and rulers who were less savory than many people think. Let’s dive into some of their filthy secrets!

The Most Evil Scientists Throughout History

In the darkest recesses of history, where the shadows of human curiosity intertwine with the chilling specter of immorality, lie tales of brilliant minds corrupted by their insatiable thirst for knowledge. These are the stories of the most evil scientists throughout history, whose twisted experiments and unhinged ambition left a chilling legacy on humanity's collective conscience. Join us on this terrifying journey as we explore the macabre secrets lurking beneath the veneer of scientific progress and delve into the minds of those who dared to cross the thin line between genius and madness.

Mysterious Underwater Cities That Were Found

Many cities around the world are in the process of sinking, making their way closer and closer to the depths of the ocean, however, some places and towns are already beneath the water just waiting to be explored. These are the Top 10 Mysterious Underwater Cities That Were Found!

Australia Discovers a Rare 95-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Skull

In Australia, researchers have unearthed the first nearly complete sauropod skull ever discovered. The long-necked creature, known as "Ann," is just the fourth specimen of the Diamantinasaurus matildae species to be discovered.

An illustration of Diamantinasaurus matildae Elena Marian / Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History

Such a discovery is "quite rare," lead researcher Stephen Poropat of Curtin University in Australia told Donna Lu of the Guardian. Finding a skull at all was "really amazing, but getting so much of one that had been preserved was even more amazing."

The 95-million-year-old fossil is now providing new information about how dinosaurs might have crossed continents. Poropat and his coworkers highlight the similarities between Ann and another sauropod found in Argentina and detailed in 2016 in a paper released last week in Royal Society Open Science. The authors speculate that during the middle Cretaceous, these dinosaurs might have crossed Antarctica to get from South America to Australia.

"The window between 100 and 95 million years ago was one of the warmest in Earth's geologically recent history, meaning that Antarctica, which was more or less where it is now, had no ice," adds Poropat in a release. At the time, a southern landmass known as Gondwana united Australia, Antarctica, New Zealand, and South America. Antarctica was forested and may have made a desirable home or travel route for roving sauropods in that environment.

The new skull of D. matildae resembles Sarmientosaurus musacchioi, an Argentinian dinosaur, almost exactly. According to the statement, the new fossil supports the theory that these two dinosaurs were close relatives because of similarities in the region of the skull that surrounds the brain, the bones at the back end of the jaw joint, and the curved and conical teeth.

Matthew Lamanna, a paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History who was not involved in the current study but contributed to the description of S. musacchioi in 2016, says of the paper, "This is a remarkably detailed and information-packed paper." The skulls of Sarmientosaurus from southern South America and Diamantinasaurus, which are both of similar age, share some startling similarities.

These two reptiles were titanosaurs, which were large sauropods that existed between 66 and 145 million years ago. Some titanosaurs may reach lengths of 123 feet, making them among the biggest land animals to have ever lived. D. matildae, on the other hand, was medium-sized, reaching a height of around 65 feet and a maximum weight of about 27 tons (54,000 pounds). Ann, according to researchers, was about 50 feet long from head to tail.

More information about D. matildae is being uncovered thanks to Ann's finding. One benefit is that researchers may now make a rough reconstruction of the dinosaur's face. According to the Guardian, paleontologists believe the animal browsed for vegetation at various heights because of its rounded nose, as opposed to always grazing close to the ground.

According to the announcement, Ann is not only the first Diamantinasaurus fossil discovered with a well preserved skull, but it is also the first fossil of the species with a preserved rear foot. Large titanosaur limb bone fossils can mostly withstand degradation, but their relatively diminutive skulls are much more difficult to find. According to Poropat in the Conversation, sauropod skulls may have made excellent prey for predators since they are made of delicate bones held together by soft tissue.

The skull's fragments and the animal's back leg bones were discovered during Ann's excavation in 2018, which covered an area of around 100 square feet. However, Poropat told the Guardian that after a volunteer discovered a bone that turned out to be a component of the brain case, "that then made all the other bits fall into place."

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