The rise and fall of the Mongol Empire

Trace the rise and fall of the Mongol Empire which, under the leadership of Genghis Khan, became the largest contiguous land empire in history.

It was the largest contiguous land empire in history— stretching from Korea to Ukraine, and from Siberia to southern China. And was forged on the open plains. In the 12th century, the East Asian steppe was home to scattered groups of nomads who, by 1206, would be united under the innovative leadership of a man named Temujin. Anne F. Broadbridge details the rise and fall of the Mongol Empire.

12 Most Incredible Underwater Finds

Water has a way of keeping secrets. Not everything that falls into the water gets out again. When something gets lost in the deep, that might be the last than anybody sees of it for hundreds of years - sometimes even longer. Underwater discoveries make for great stories, though, and we’ve got some outstanding ones in this video.

Experts Can't Explain What They Found Underwater

The deep - it’s a real mystery. There’s just so much…deep water out there. Really, a lot of it. And we’ve barely managed to explore the tiniest part of it so far. One thing about the ocean is that it is teeming with life, so every time we go somewhere new, we find fascinating unknown species. But sometimes we also find things that just don’t make any sense. From the long lost warship to the strange anomaly that has everyone freaked out, here’s the 20 Strangest Things Found By Deep Sea Divers.

5 Underwater Discoveries That Cannot be Explained

The oceans of the Earth hold many secrets. Throughout the history of mankind, some stunning, scary, and sometimes simply inexplicable things have accumulated on the ocean floor. Scientists have discovered ancient cities, cemeteries of sculptures, even those abnormal zones where the laws of physics don’t work. The mysterious and frightening ocean can not only be a peaceful surface that gives life, but also an enraged devourer of civilizations! Now, we will try to figure out the most interesting and mysterious discoveries!

Scientists Have Just Found Thousands Of Untouched Island In The Middle Of The Amazon Jungle

Islands are often thought of as idyllic escapes from the pressures of the modern world, with sun-kissed beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush green landscapes. However, some islands around the world have a darker, more mysterious side to them. Whether shrouded in legend, hidden from view, or steeped in strange and unexplained phenomena, these islands offer a glimpse into the unknown and the unexplained. From a new island born in the southern coast of Iceland from underwater volcanic eruptions to the last uncontacted places left on earth Today we take a look at 15 of the World's Mysterious Islands.

A 1,000-year-old sea lord's tomb discovered in Peru with unique artifact

An undetected sea lord's skeleton slept among the comforts of the afterlife beneath the tan-brown Peruvian earth. The aristocratic figure was forgotten despite being surrounded by sacrifices and offerings—until now.

Archaeologists in Huaral found elaborate Chancay culture tomb, with wooden oar, belonging to elite figure with ties to the sea, photos show Screengrab from National Major University of San Marcos' YouTube video

The huge tomb was discovered by archaeologists digging the Macatón cemetery in Huaral, according to a news release from the National Major University of San Marcos on May 15, 2023.

According to the press release, the 1,000-year-old tomb measured around 23 feet wide and 23 feet deep. Archaeologists discovered an important person inside together with five other persons, four llamas, and numerous clay jars.

According to the press announcement, the grave was left by the Chancay culture, a pre-Incan culture that emerged between 1000 and 1500 A.D.

Some of the skeletons and broken pottery vessels found in the tomb. Screengrab from National Major University of San Marcos' YouTube video

Lead archaeologist Pieter Van Dalen Luna revealed to EFE that the sea lord was the tomb's prominent aristocratic figure. This identification was made possible by the discovery of a wooden oar, the first relic of its sort discovered at the Macatón cemetery, according to the news source.

According to Van Dalen, the sea lord was probably devoted to fishing, shellfish hunting, or some other aquatic pursuit.

Part of the wooden oar found in the tomb. Screengrab from National Major University of San Marcos' YouTube video

The National Major University of San Marcos uploaded video footage of the magnificent tomb to YouTube. The pile of bones and shattered ceramics at the bottom of the pit is visible in photographs.

Another image shows the wooden oar's top resting against the tomb's side.

The other skeletons discovered in the tomb were probably family members and servants who were sacrificed, according to the BBC.

An intricate pottery vessel found in the tomb. Screengrab from National Major University of San Marcos' YouTube video

25 earthenware urns with food offerings for the dead's afterlife were also included in the burial, according to EFE.

The Chancay society held that living people who passed away had a number of transformational stages on their way to the afterlife before becoming guardian ancestors, according to the specialists quoted in the press release.

According to EFE, the Chancay culture began to decline around 1500 A.D., around the same time as the Incan empire began to expand.

According to the BBC, the excavation location is about 165 feet from a residential area. However, the dwellings also kept robbers from disrupting the region, archaeologists told the site, potentially preventing archaeologists from discovering additional tombs.

The Macatón cemetery as seen from above. Screengrab from National Major University of San Marcos' YouTube video

Of the roughly 80 graves that have been discovered in the Macatón cemetery so far, the BBC said that the sea lord's tomb is the oldest and largest.

In order to better understand the burial, archaeologists will keep examining the deceased's remains, according to the press release.

Northwest of Lima, in Haural, there are around 45 miles.

Source: https://www.macon.com/news/nation-world/wo...

Megalania was probably first met by the native Australians more than 40,000 years ago

Megalania, a very huge Australian lizard that lived at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch and whose name means "Giant Romer" in Greek, was once common. Richard Owen, an English naturalist, is credited with finding the first Megalania fossil, which he named Megalania prisca. The species was later placed in the Varanus genus and given the name Varanus priscus, though the term "Megalania" persisted in popular culture.

The cast fossil of Megalania from Queensland Australia in Melbourne Museum. It is an extinct giant goanna or monitor lizard.

We can compare our appearance to that of the Komodo dragon and the Perentie, two animals believed to be Megalania's closest living cousins.

These animals could have ranged in length from 15 to 26 feet, according to fossil evidence. Depending on which of the lizards stated above Megalania is closest to in the phylogenic tree, the question of Megalania's length is in question. Megalania's larger tail would enable her to grow up to 26 feet long if she were closer to the monitor lizard.

Megalania definitely occurs within the Varanidae genus, although its exact location within the genus is unclear. Similarities in the shape of the skull point to a connection to the Prentie.

Additionally, studies have suggested that the Komodo dragon belongs to a sister taxon. This indicates that the two species are equally removed from their first common ancestor, in this example, the earliest varanus.

These inquiries also reveal a discrepancy in the animal's reported weight. Megalania would weigh well over 4,200 pounds at her tallest (23–26 feet). The lizard may have weighed slightly more than 700 pounds at its lightest.

Megalania belongs to the Toxifera genus, which includes all venomous reptiles. We can predict that Megalania's venom would enhance the blood flow from wound sites, startling victims and making them more vulnerable, based on its evolutionary cousins.

According to estimates, Megalania resembled a monstrously enormous Komodo dragon because she had strong limbs, a crested cranium, and a full mouth of serrated fangs.

Megalania Behavior

Based on the behavior of other Varanidae family members, we may make an educated guess about Megalania's behavior.

The majority of Varanidae spend a lot of time close to shallow water. Additionally, they have powerful swimming abilities and are skilled divers, occasionally making it out to sea. If the trees were sturdy enough to support Megalania's enormous body, you might have also seen it lazing on rocks by the water or stretched out horizontally.

If you venture far enough from the water, you might witness Megalania scavenging the waterside nests of potential prey or scavenging for other ancient Megafauna to consume. They would move about at a speed of about 5 or 6 miles per hour, which is about the same as a freshwater crocodile.

The majority of the Varanus family spends the day sleeping. Notably, the time needed to heat and cool Komodo dragons depends on their size. Larger people take longer to heat and cool than smaller people.

If Megalania is included, they would have to spend a lot of time trying to regulate their temperature by basking in the sun or the shade, respectively.

What Did Megalania Eat?

Given its size, Megalania would have been a powerful apex predator in its prehistoric ecology. Megalania would have been a carnivore, preferring to eat medium-sized to big animals. The monitor lizards of today are severe carnivores as well.

The many marsupials living in Australia at the time may have made up a significant portion of their diet. Large marsupials like Diprotodon and Procoptodon, which were found in Australia, were prey for many other fearsome hunters like Thylacoleo. Diprotodon was around the size of a hippopotamus.

Other animals that Megalania hunted included birds (and their eggs), other lizards, and a few smaller mammals of different sorts.

These people would have hunted heavily, but they wouldn't have been the main predators in the region. There are known predators of a comparable size that once roamed all of Australia. Furthermore, the fact that so few Megalania fossils have been found indicates that the population was probably rather limited.

Habitat – When and Where It Lived

Megalania lived on the Australian plains, preferring to settle near streams, rivers, the sea, or other trustworthy bodies of water. Nevertheless, these adaptable Megafauna might be found in a range of habitats.

As long as they had a reliable source of food, they could probably survive anywhere in Australia. There were several options, including forests, grasslands, woodlands, caves, and more. Most fossil finds are made along river or tributary beds in eastern and southeast Australia.

Threats and Predators

Megalania was what is referred described as a "apex predator." They were at the top of the food chain, according to this. But because they inhabited a variety of settings, it's impossible to predict what additional apex predators they may have come across.

The only potential dangers to Megalania would have been comparable huge animals that existed in Australia at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch. The aforementioned "marsupial lion," Thylacoleo carnifex, would have been a possible adversary.

Similar to Megalania, other apex predators would probably flock to the same areas. The two species would therefore have justification for conflict over the food source. That being said, this, the biggest known terrestrial lizard of all time, wouldn't have faced many predators or hazards.

Finds & Fossils: Where They Were Found

Megalania was first discovered in 1859. The bones' discovery is attributed to Sir Richard Owen.

Only a few vertebrate bones were found in the discovery, which also included many additional marsupial bones. All of these fragments were lying at the bottom of a branch of the Condamine River, which flows close to Australia's east coast.

The majority of additional Megalania fossils have been found somewhere close to Australia's eastern or southeastern shores.

When Did It Go Extinct?

It is estimated that Megalania went extinct between 40,000 and 50,000 years ago. About 65,000 years ago, humans first set foot on the Australian continent.

Megalania's demise likely had something to do with humans, like many other animals that perished towards the end of the Pleiocene Epoch. Although they may have, it wasn't necessarily the case that people hunted Megalania; rather, they engaged in widespread prey hunting.

There would have been fewer species for Megalania to consume as a result. Other apex predators would have been impacted by the scarcity as well, which would have decreased the available food and increased competition. Homo sapiens, a new apex predator, significantly altered the ecology, especially for species like Megalania that were extremely sluggish.

Climate Change

The Pleistocene Epoch's end was characterized by a dramatic increase in glacial activity and a change in the planet's climate. Extreme environmental changes may have caused Megalania to go extinct.

The epoch would have gradually changed temperatures, animals, predators, and prey, reaching a peak around 11,000 years ago. Sea levels began to recede about that period, revealing the land bridges that early humans had originally utilized to reach Australia.

These components working together undoubtedly caused Megalania to disappear.

Source: https://a-z-animals.com/animals/megalania/

Recent Archaeological Discoveries | Evidence of Legio X Fretensis found in Georgia

Archaeologists conducting excavations at the Roman fort of Apsaros in Adjara, Georgia, have uncovered evidence of the Legio X Fretensis.

The Legio X Fretensis “Tenth legion of the Strait”, was a legion of the Imperial Roman army formed around 41/40 BC.

The legion was centrally involved in the Great Jewish Revolt (AD 66–73), the first of three major rebellions by the Jews against the Roman Empire.

Around AD 70, most of Roman rule was restored in Judea except for several fortresses and Jerusalem. The city was placed under siege by the X Fretensis, in conjunction with the V Macedonica, XII Fulminata, and XV Apollinaris.

After several battles, Jerusalem and the Second Temple was destroyed, with contemporary historian, Titus Flavius Josephus, stating: “Jerusalem, was so thoroughly razed to the ground by those that demolished it to its foundations, that nothing was left that could ever persuade visitors that it had once been a place of habitation.”

Ancient Structures Are Reconstructions? | Alternative History Timeline

What if the ancient structures in Europe, for instance the megalithic tombs, the dolmens and henge monuments are reconstructions of older monuments?

We would never be able to fully uncover the older dates with our current dating methods, but I personally find it extremely unlikely that we have a 7000 year gap in construction between the Tas Tepeler sites in Turkey and the oldest stone structure in Northern Europe at the Carrowmore cemetery.

It is possible that we had burial mounds, or passage tombs, dolmens or henge monuments created from wood, that kept being rebuild for a very long time, possibly thousands of years, that eventually got reconstructed by stone, either a very long time ago, or not as great as they may have not been very skilled working with stone yet, who knows..

Eventually about 5600 years ago the Neolithic builder culture started to develop and they could have possibly discovered the ruins of these ancient structures and eventually these stone structures were reconstructed by them.

12 Most Amazing Finds That Scare Scientists

Are you ready to dive into the world of archaeology and unravel some of the most baffling mysteries of the ancient world? Join us on an adventure to explore the most enigmatic and unusual archaeological discoveries from around the globe. From unusual ancient artefacts to strange and unexplained structures, these finds challenge our understanding of history and have puzzled experts for years. It's no wonder some of them find these discoveries scary!

This Discovery Will Give You Nightmares

Even though we’ve got a pretty good understanding of what’s mostly going on here on Earth, we haven’t learned absolutely everything. And that’s obvious from some of the incredible discoveries we’ve made and keep making relating to our past. Isn’t life full of surprises? From a masterpiece in a mountain to a beached behemoth, here are 20 strangest objects recently discovered.

12 Most Mysterious Things Scientists Still Can't Explain

The science of archaeology can tell us a lot of things about an ancient artifact, or even a whole ancient city. It might be able to tell us the age of what we're looking at, how it was built, and what it was used for. It can't always tell us all of those things, though. Sometimes even the best archaeologists are left just as confused by the things they discover as we are. We love it when that happens because it means we can make great mystery-filled videos like this one!

A day in the life of a Roman soldier

The year is 15 CE, and the Roman Empire is prospering. Most of the credit will go to the emperor, but this success wouldn’t have been possible without loyal soldiers like Servius Felix. Robert Garland illuminates what life was like for a solider in the Roman army. Watch the video below for more!