A Two Million Year Old Fossil Has Totally Overturned What We Know About Our Human Ancestors

Richard Curtis uncovers a bone fragment at an archeological site in South Africa. He thinks it’s probably nothing more exciting than the remains of a baboon. Two colleagues, Jesse Martin and Angeline Leece, examine the fragment and 150 others from the site and attempt a reconstruction. And what they ultimately finish up with transforms our understanding of human evolution.

12 Most Mysterious Archaeological Finds Scientists Still Can't Explain

They say that ‘seeing is believing,’ and perhaps that’s true, but seeing definitely isn’t understanding. Just because we can see something doesn’t mean we truly know what we’re looking at. This is a common problem encountered by scientists and archaeologists when they find relics of our world’s distant past. They might know a little about who built it, or when it was built, but they don’t always understand the how or the why. All the discoveries in this video left the experts with more questions than answers!

Retracing The Real Great Viking Army

In 865 AD, England was invaded by the Great Heathen Army. The Great Viking Army, as it was also known, was made up of a coalition of Scandinavian warriors mainly from Denmark and, legend has it, four of the five sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, including Halfdan Ragnarsson, Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironeside and Ubba.

This was an army that would change Britain forever. It would lay siege to towns and cities like York, attack monasteries and kill kings - the most famous of course being St Edmund, who was brutally beheaded by the Norse warriors in 869 AD.

Dan Snow was recently joined by bioarchaeologist and Viking specialist Cat Jarman on a road trip across England to retrace the path of this conquering Viking Army.

The Insane Biology of: Humans

In the video below we will be explaining the insane biology of humans. Watch the video for more and enjoy!

Archaeologist Team Uncovers Bronze Age Mound Cemetery Near Stonehenge

The Cotswold Archeology team excavating at the site of a planned housing development near Salisbury, England, has unearthed a giant barrow cemetery that could be between 3,500 and 4,000 years old.

Wiltshire is well known for its Bronze Age barrows, particularly those found within the World Heritage site of Stonehenge and on the chalklands of Cranborne Chase. In contrast, little is known about similar sites near the medieval city of Salisbury.

These barrows were installed 1,000 years or more after the monuments at Stonehenge were built on the Salisbury Plain just 10 miles to the north. The archaeologists discovered enough evidence to conclude that these barrows had been made during the latter period.

12 Most Amazing Ancient Artifacts Finds

You don't need to be a professional archaeologist to make remarkable discoveries. Incredible finds can be made by anyone, anywhere, at any time. The thrill of unearthing history knows no bounds, and it doesn't matter who makes the discoveries as long as they're made. Let's explore some discoveries that illuminate the wonders of our shared history, reminding us that the past is still alive and waiting to be unravelled.

The Mysterious Ancient Weapon With Power To Conquer The World: The Spear Of Destiny (Holy Lance)

Among the most powerful relics of Christian history, the fabled Spear of Destiny is one of the most prized and sought-after. From its origin in the fabled tale of a Roman soldier piercing the side of Jesus Christ to the myth of the spear granting world-conquering invincibility to its owner, the legends surrounding the Spear of Destiny have been obsessed over by many. Even infamous leaders like Napoleon were known to be deeply fascinated by the spear and its powers, wishing to possess it at all costs.

But what is the truth behind this fascinating legend? And why do four different versions of the spear exist?

In the Gospel of John, Jesus was arrested by Roman authorities, tried, and sentenced to death by crucifixion, which involved nailing a person to a cross and leaving them to die slowly. As Jesus hung on the cross, the soldiers guarding him planned to break his legs to hasten death. This would allow his followers to bury him before the Sabbath began and they were prohibited from manual labor including burials.

Jesus, however, already appeared to be dead. To confirm, one of the Roman soldiers, later identified as Longinus, used his lance to pierce the side of Jesus as he hung on the cross causing a miraculous mix of blood and water to flow from his body. Some accounts suggest that Longinus was blind and that some of the blood and water from the wound splashed onto his eyes, restoring his sight and leading to his conversion to Christianity.

Jesus was removed from the cross and entombed, but what happened to the spear used by Longinus? The Bible makes no further mention of the spear, though interest in the spear and other Christian relics begins to grow as the Church expands and becomes a geopolitical force.

This renewed interest ultimately gives rise to four main contenders claiming to be the true lance that pierced the side of Jesus, each with fascinating tales and powers assigned to them. As the legends of each grew, the lance came to be known as The Holy Lance the Spear of Destiny, or the Holy Spear...

The Mysterious Sealed Tomb of Mount Nemrut

In today’s video we will be exploring the ancient site of Mount Nemrut. Soaring 7,000 feet into the sky, this lofty mountain top is home to a mysterious and ancient ruin. A massive grave and cultic complex commissioned by the Persian and Greek leader Antiochus I. The tomb is flanked by enormous stone reliefs of gods that highlight a mix of influences that met in this area at the time showing Greek gods wearing Persian clothes.

The most striking feature of this site is the enormous burial mound. An unopened tomb that remains a mystery to archaeologists and historians alike.

Join us as we work to uncover the secrets of the ancient temple of Mt. Nemrut.

When Ancient Greece Destroyed Atlantis 12,000 Years Ago

In today’s video, we’re going to dive into the story of the lost city of Atlantis. More than eleven thousand years ago the nations of the Mediterranean were attacked by a dominant naval power, hailing from outside the Pillars of Heracles. These invading Atlanteans sought to enslave all peoples within the pillars, only to be thwarted at the final hour by the Hellenes, the virtuous ancestors of the ancient Greeks who trace their lineage back to Athena herself. Though the Mediterranean was freed from subjugation, the conflict was not punctuated by a resounding victory but by the opening of the earth’s cavernous and gnashing jaws - this unleashing sundering quakes and swallowing floods. In the resulting cataclysm, all the fighting men of the Hellenes sank into the earth, and:

“…in a single day and night of misfortune… the island of Atlantis in like manner disappeared into the depths of the sea.”

The story of Atlantis is preserved in the form of two dialogues by Plato, the Timaeus and the Critias, written circa 360 BC. The dialogues contain nested narratives passed down orally for over 200 years, and we’ll read from the core narrative today. It follows Solon, a law-maker and poet of ancient Athens, who traveled to Egypt around 600 BC, and there learned of his own people’s history from an agéd Egyptian priest. Solon’s account of these teachings, which are the earliest references to Atlantis in the literary record, are summarized in the "Timaeus" and detailed in the "Critias", though the latter dialogue survives only in part.

In the "Timaeus", the story of Atlantis is introduced, albeit briefly. Both dialogues feature Socrates in conversation with three interlocutors - Timaeus, Critias, and Hermocrates. (Interlocutor, if you didn’t know, is a formal word that denotes a participant in a conversation or dialogue.) Timaeus, a Pythagorean philosopher, is the primary speaker in the first dialogue, though he does not speak on Atlantis, instead presenting a complex and allegorical account of the creation of the universe, the Earth, human beings, and the cosmos.

The Gate To The Garden Of Eden Just Found In Israel

An ancient gate said to represent the elusive entrance to the famous Garden of Eden, was discovered just three minutes ago. Scholars, archaeologists, and thrill-seekers rush to the site, their hearts hammering with the weight of history. Whispers of unknown wonders and forbidden knowledge swirl in the wind, luring anyone daring enough to cross the mysterious threshold of the gate. The world holds its breath as the clock ticks, eager to see what lies beyond, without any further delay let's get into the video.

God created the Garden of Eden during the week of Creation as a place for humanity's first man, Adam. It served as the prototype for the Tabernacle, the temple, and the ultimate "New Jerusalem," becoming the location where the first man and woman would experience the presence of God Himself. The Garden was filled with a wide variety of trees, the most notable of which were the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

What Drugs Were Like In Ancient Egypt

As one of the most advanced civilizations in the ancient world, the Egyptians were among the best medical practitioners in history.

That might’ve been because Egyptians were all for using drugs: for medicine, for religion, and even for fun! Opiates, cannabis, henbane, blue lotus - think of any narcotic, and the pharaohs tried them at some point.

But why were they so open about drug use in society, and where did they even find them? Most of these don’t even grow near the Nile!

The Psychology of The Fool

The fool is one of the most relatable, intriguing and recurring figures in the world. There have been fools who have caused surprise and laughter since time immemorial. We worship folly by seeing it in people and in the world and by willingly displaying it in ourselves. It is one of the timeless archetypes, which we all inherit at birth.

Many of us suffer from the absence of the fool in our lives. Frenetic and upright, we take ourselves too seriously. As William Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” Forgetting that playfulness is a basic human need, we wonder why we so easily become bored and exhausted, losing all capacity for spontaneity, authenticity, and passion. The antidote to this would be to give the fool archetype some space in our lives.