A Rare Ancient Sword Was Found in The Talas Region of Kyrgyzstan

An ancient saber (heavy military sword with a long cutting edge and, often, a curved blade) was found by three brothers in Amanbaev, a village in the Talas Region of Kyrgyzstan.

The discovery of the ancient saber was announced by Siyatbek Ibraliev, a researcher at the Kyrgyz national complex Manas Ordo.

The find was made by three brothers, Chyngyz, Abdylda, and Kubat Muratbekov, along with Nurdin Jumanaliev, who have been actively involved in archaeology. Three brothers, over the past year, have contributed around 250 historical artifacts to the museum fund.

The sword was discovered on June 4, 2023, and it is a gorgeous example of medieval art, making it a unique find not just in Kyrgyzstan but also in all of Central Asia. Its excellent craftsmanship and condition demonstrate the skill of blacksmiths from that time.

The saber consists of various parts, including a pommel, hilt, blade, and guard. This type of sword originated in Iran in the 12th century and then spread from Morocco to Pakistan. Its curved shape suggests it may belong to a Muslim country, similar to “shamshir” sabers found in the Indo-Iranian region.

Known to Europeans as the scimitar, the shamshir is the quintessential long sword of the horsemen of Persia (Iran), Moghul India, and Arabia. It scales primarily with Strength and Dexterity and is a good Weapon for high-dexterity characters who can excel at slashing attacks while spinning. A curved sword with a thin blade of ample length. Light of weight despite its larger size, its slicing attacks come in rapid succession. Such sabers were renowned for their sharpness and lethality.

The brothers also found a 5 cm diameter vessel for melting metal and a coin with Arabic inscriptions on both sides. Such coins were used in Kyrgyzstan in the 11th century when the Karakhanid state developed.

According to Sıyatbek Ibraliyev, the tools used to melt metal and coins indicate that there were workshops for minting coins in the area.

It is hoped that more swords resembling this one may be discovered in the area in the future as the discovery offers fresh opportunities for archaeological research.

Full History of the Ancient Britons: Origins to Post Rome Documentary

In today’s documentary we will talk about the Ancient Britons, as we discuss the origins of the inhabitants of Britain and Ireland, talk about their early history, their invasion by Caesar and then Claudius, the Boudicca rebellion, Roman invasions of Scotland and Ireland, the role Britain played in the politics of the Roman empire, how the Romans left the island, starting the Sub-Roman Britain period and how the southeastern portion of Britain was conquered by the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. Enjoy!

An Expert Claims To Have Unraveled The Mystery That Shrouds King Tutankhamun’s Death

The death of Tutankhamun – also known as King Tut – has long been shrouded in mystery. The larger-than-life ancient Egyptian leader only lived 17 short years before his life came to an abrupt end. Experts have tossed around a slew of theories regarding his mysterious demise, and as it turns out, the moments leading up to his death were nothing short of traumatic. And now experts think they’ve pinpointed the real reason why his light went out so early.

Top 5 Greatest Ancient Greek Athletes and Their Extraordinary Feats

Join us as we uncover the legends behind some of the greatest athletes of ancient Greece. We will delve into the awe-inspiring tales which straddle the world of history and mythology. From Ancient Olympic boxers, to wrestlers, to runners, physical prowess was revered in ancient Greek society, and these five exceptional individuals stood at the pinnacle of physical excellence.

Peru's Geography is Crazy

Take a look at this exaggerated relief map. The Andes mountains cover the western side of the country, leaving little room between them and the ocean. Yet this strip of land is where Peru’s largest cities are located. Such as Lima, which has more than 10.5 million people in its metropolitan area.

Researchers Stumbled Across A Priceless Egyptian Find – And It Solved A Globe Spanning Mystery

It seemed like just another day for researchers at Los Angeles’ Getty Research Institute. But then one individual stumbled across a set of images that would see the team collaborating with experts on the other side of the world. They rapidly became part of a shared investigation into the same strange puzzle – and it all focused on the death cults of Ancient Egypt.

The Titanic Mummy: The Truth Behind the Legend

On April 15th, 1912, four days into her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, the Titanic – the unsinkable ship – sank In the North Atlantic Ocean. The ship hit as iceberg at 11:40pm on Sunday, April 14th and by 2:20am the following day, she was gone.

More than 1,500 people lost their lives whilst the survivors were eventually picked up and taken to America, where their stories were published in local and national press.

But on May 12th 1912, less than a month after the Titanic sank, the Washington Post ran this peculiar headline: “Ghost of the Titanic. Vengeance of Hoodoo Mummy Followed Man Who Wrote Its History.”

The associated article starts by asking:: “Was the avenging spirit of an Egyptian priestess who died in the holy city of Thebes 1,600 years before the birth of Christ present upon the Titanic, pursuing with immortal malevolence those who had desecrated her tomb and her memory?”

It's a bizarre claim in a major newspaper less than a month after the disaster, a claim that has been exaggerated and elaborated more and more over the past century. In this video we will uncover the truth behind the legend and find out if there was cursed mummy on board the Titanic.

The Mysterious Tribes of Northern Britain

The Celts of Great Britain are an enigmatic group, whose Celtic language and Celtic culture have fascinated many people for centuries, both within England, Scotland, and Wales, and in the outside world.

The history of these Celtic tribes is often left unsaid, but this video aims to change that. Here I will show a brief overview of the Britons and their Brythonic tribes in the north of Great Britain, tying them into English history, Scottish history, and even showing their connections to the history of Wales.

The tribes being discussed in this video include, in England: the Brigantes, with their queen Cartimandua, king Venutius, and king Vellocatus, the Gaul-connected Parisii, the enigmatic Gabrantovices and Sentantii, the mysterious Carvetii of Northern England, and the barely-mentioned Lopocares, Tectoverdi, and Corionototae.

In Scotland, the Celtic tribes include the wealthy, Roman-favoured Votadini (later Gododdin of Welsh poetry), the rebellious Selgovae, and the less-mentioned Novantae and Damnonii in the south-west. While to the north, in Caledonia, they will include the Epidii, Creones, Carnonacae, Caerenii, Cornavii, Lugi, Smertae, Decantae, Vacomagi, Taezali, Venicones, and finally the puzzling Caledonii.

Göbekli Tepe - The First Temple On Earth? 10,000 BC

Göbekli Tepe, located in modern-day Turkey, is an archaeological site of significant importance due to its immense age and sophisticated structure. It dates back to the 10th millennium BC, making it one of the oldest known megalithic structures in the world. The site consists of a series of circular and oval-shaped structures set atop a hill, with large T-shaped stone pillars that are decorated with intricate carvings of animals and abstract symbols.

The question of whether Göbekli Tepe is the "first temple" on Earth depends on the definition of what constitutes a temple. If a temple is defined as a structure dedicated to religious or ritual activities, then Göbekli Tepe could indeed be considered one of the earliest, if not the earliest, known examples of such a site. The complex nature of the site, with its apparent lack of domestic use, suggests that it was used for ceremonial or religious purposes rather than as a dwelling or a defensive structure.

The discovery of Göbekli Tepe has challenged traditional ideas about the development of complex societies. Prior to its discovery, it was widely assumed that the construction of monumental religious buildings began after the advent of agriculture and settled life. However, Göbekli Tepe predates the known development of agriculture, which suggests that religious belief systems and ritualistic practices could have been a driving force in the organization of communal efforts and social stratification, possibly even contributing to the later development of settled agricultural societies.

It is important to note that Göbekli Tepe is just one of many significant archaeological sites around the world, and new discoveries could potentially alter our understanding of the history of religious structures. Nonetheless, with current knowledge, Göbekli Tepe stands out as a site of remarkable antiquity, providing valuable insights into the spiritual lives of the early hunter-gatherer societies at the end of the last Ice Age. Its unique features and early date certainly make it a prime candidate for being one of the first temple-like structures known to us, marking an important phase in the development of human societies.

Archaeologists are Afraid to Open The Tomb of China's First Emperor Because of Traps

Even 2,200 years after his passing, avoid tampering with Qin Shi Huang.

In an ordinary field in the Shaanxi province of China, farmers made one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of all time in 1974. They unearthed pieces of a clay human figure while digging. Simply put, this was the tip of the iceberg.

The field was discovered to be perched above a number of pits that were crammed with thousands of life-size terracotta figurines of soldiers and war horses, as well as acrobats, esteemed officials, and other creatures.

Then, according to reports, he wrapped himself around a 2,000-year-old Chinese warrior statue, took a photo, and snapped off its thumb as a memento.

We can only presume that alcohol was consumed in some form.

A week later, museum workers reported the missing digit. Rohana was identified as the perpetrator by the FBI using surveillance footage. Why? In part because Rohana's thumbprints were all over the crime scene. sitting above a series of pits filled with tens of thousands of life-size terracotta replicas of soldiers and war horses, not to mention acrobats, prestigious officials, and other creatures.

The Affidavit claims that on January 23, federal officers visited Rohana's home. He displayed the missing finger, which is worth more than $5,000 and was hidden in a drawer for almost three weeks, to the authorities.

New Archaeological Discoveries Challenge Theory of Human Evolution in Africa

At the Dawn of the Stone age, hominins commenced the production of stone tools, and they began the transition from being mere animals engaged in the pursuit of other animals to becoming human. Newly Discovered Fossils Raise Major Doubts About Out of Africa Theory. Similar to Homo naledi in South Africa, the hobbit is a hominin characterized by its diminutive physical stature and limited cranial capacity, distinguishing it from the large-brained human species. In fact, they are not considered "human" although the species is placed in our genus. The presence of fire usage by the Hobbit lacks empirical evidence, albeit this is subject to ongoing debate.

Indeed, throughout an extensive period spanning hundreds of thousands of years, early human populations sustained themselves by relying on simple stone tools. Their sustenance was likely obtained through a combination of hunting and scavenging for the remains of deceased animals. Notably, the tools employed by these ancient humans were relatively basic, consisting primarily of rudimentary blades crafted from stone that had been skillfully chipped to achieve razor-sharp edges. Lee Berger, Chris String, Stefan Milo have commented on this topic as well.

However, recent evidence indicates that mysterious early human populations traversed significant portions of the Earth, long before the previously established timeline. This predates the existence of modern humans by a significant margin, far preceding their emergence in history. The discovery implies that there were multiple instances in which ancient humans migrated out of the Cradle of Africa, although the outcomes of these migratory events were not uniformly successful.

For example, The diminutive Indonesian hominin is postulated to have originated from a lineage that departed from Africa, approximately 2 million years in the past. The current understanding of the enigmatic Homo floresiensis, commonly referred to as the hobbit, has once again undergone a significant revision. Recent research indicates that the diminutive hominin species underwent evolutionary development, originating from an unidentified precursor, which represents the earliest known instance of migration beyond the African continent.

Similar to Homo naledi in South Africa, the hobbit is a hominin characterized by its diminutive physical stature and limited cranial capacity, distinguishing it from the large-brained human species. In fact, they are not considered "human" although the species is placed in our genus. The presence of fire usage by the Hobbit lacks empirical evidence, albeit this is subject to ongoing debate.

Archaeologists Discovered A Perfectly Preserved 2,400 Year Old Weapon In China

Archaeologists discovered a perfectly preserved 2,400 year old weapon in central China, and a team of archaeologists are exploring a network of subterranean tombs. Then the experts locate something intriguing: an ancient, water-logged casket. Prizing the object open, the group find both a human skeleton and a sealed wooden box contained within. But that isn’t all. Inside that box is a sword – a beautifully crafted instrument that no one has set eyes on for around 2,400 years. And the weapon was once in the possession of one of the country’s important historical figures, as the archaeologists will ultimately find out.

The Great Pyramid’s Lost Temple of Isis

Not everybody is aware that in the immediate vicinity of the Great Pyramid is a temple dedicated to the Ancient Egyptian goddess Isis, first excavated by Auguste Mariette in 1858, and then again by George Reisner and also Selim Hassan in the early 20th century.

The temple sits next to the Great Pyramid’s satellite pyramid of Henutsen, the second or third wife of Khufu. The temple was originally a funerary chapel associated with this pyramid and its status as a Temple dedicated to Isis, wasn’t established until the 18th dynasty, or possibly as early as the Middle Kingdom.

So although there is no evidence of an Old Kingdom Isis Temple at Giza, we do know that in later times, Isis was worshipped here and that she was known as the Mistress or Lady of the Pyramid, and was revered in such a way right up to the Roman period. The full name of the temple is ‘Temple of Isis Mistress of the Pyramid” and there is evidence that the local cult of Isis also had its own priesthood.

Watch this video to learn more about the Temple of Isis, whether it could be an Old Kingdom structure, also also how it ties in with the 18th dynasty depiction of Rostau, the Ancient Egyptian underworld that was ruled by Sokar. Does this explain why Isis is the Mistress of the Pyramid?

Ancient Greece Was a Lot More Violent Than You Think. Here’s Why.

BY THE ARCHAEOLOGIST EDITOR GROUP

Beyond the Acropolis: Warriors, Games, and City-States, The Many Faces of Violence in Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece, often celebrated for its philosophical inquiries, stunning architecture, and being the birthplace of democracy, was also a society rife with violence. Violence permeated numerous aspects of Greek life, from the intimate arenas of domestic spaces to the broad theaters of war and athletic competition. This article will delve into various facets of violence in Ancient Greece, aiming to provide a holistic view of its cultural, social, and political implications.

Warfare and Militarization

Greek history is punctuated by a series of conflicts, both internal and external. The two most prominent wars were the Persian Wars (500–449 BCE) and the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE). In these wars, city-states like Athens, Sparta, and others clashed, and they fought for dominance, resources, or ideological reasons.

Hoplite Warfare: The mainstay of Greek armies was the hoplite, heavily armored infantry soldiers. They fought in phalanxes, tight formations that presented a wall of shields and spears. The intense, face-to-face nature of this form of warfare meant a brutal and close-quarters style of combat.

Siege Warfare: Siege warfare became increasingly common, especially during the Peloponnesian War. Cities would be surrounded, starved out, and sometimes subjected to treachery or direct assault.

Naval Combat: Especially significant for maritime powers like Athens, naval warfare in the form of trireme battles became central during various wars.

Athletic Violence

The Ancient Greeks took their sports seriously, and many of their most famous games involved intense physical violence.

Pankration: An ancient martial art combining wrestling and boxing. It was a no-holds-barred combat sport with very few rules. Strikes, joint locks, and chokes were all legal.

Boxing: Ancient Greek boxing was brutal. Contestants wrapped their hands in leather straps, sometimes with metal inserts, leading to bloody and, at times, deadly contests.

Domestic Violence

While most of our sources from Ancient Greece come from male authors writing about public affairs, there are still hints and evidence of domestic violence. Wives, children, and slaves were often at the mercy of the male head of the household. Plays, poems, and legal texts occasionally refer to physical punishments and abuses.

Social and Institutionalized violence

Slavery: Slavery was deeply entrenched in Greek society. Slaves, often captured in wars or bought, were at the whims of their masters. They faced physical punishment, sexual exploitation, and grueling labor.

Ritual Violence: Some ancient rituals involved violent aspects, such as animal (and occasionally human) sacrifices. The pharmakos ritual in some cities involved expelling or even killing a human scapegoat during times of crisis.

The Ideological Perspective

Greek literature and philosophy were not oblivious to the pervasive violence. Tragedies by playwrights like Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides often revolved around violent themes, exploring the consequences of vengeance, war, and human hubris.

Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle also discussed the nature of violence, warfare, and the ideal state. They grappled with the balance between ideal and reality and the place of violence in the polis (city-state).

While Ancient Greece is remembered for its unparalleled contributions to the arts, sciences, and politics, it was a society deeply familiar with violence. This duality serves as a reminder of the multifaceted nature of civilizations and the complex interplay of culture, ideology, and societal norms. By understanding the violence of Ancient Greece, we can better appreciate the nuanced tapestry of its history and legacy.

REFERENCES

  • Pritchett, W. Kendrick, "The Greek State at War" (in multiple volumes)

  • Hanson, Victor Davis. "The Western Way of War: Infantry Battle in Classical Greece."

  • Kagan, Donald. "The Peloponnesian War."

  • Lendon, J.E., "Soldiers and Ghosts: A History of Battle in Classical Antiquity."