After 2,000 years, the New Testament location where Jesus is alleged to have healed a blind man was discovered

In Jerusalem, a recent excavation effort uncovered stairs that had been hidden for more than 2,000 years near the spot where the New Testament says Jesus treated a blind man.

An excavation project in Jerusalem, Israel has uncovered the biblical site the Pool of Siloam.

Early this year, it was reported by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Israel National Parks Authority, and the City of David Foundation that the Pool of Siloam, a holy place revered by both Christians and Jews, will soon be accessible to the general public for the first time in more than two thousand years.

Archaeologists made tremendous headway in their dig in recent weeks, finding eight stairs that led into the Pool and hadn't been seen in 2,000 years, or roughly the time that Jesus was on Earth.

“The ongoing excavations within the City of David — the historic site of Biblical Jerusalem — particularly of the Pool of Siloam and the Pilgrimage Road, serve as one of the greatest affirmations of that heritage and the millennia-old bond Jews and Christians have with Jerusalem,” Ze’ev Orenstein, director of International Affairs – City of David Foundation told Fox News Digital.

“Not simply as a matter of faith, but as a matter of fact,” he continued.

A rendering of the Pool of Siloam site thousands of years ago.

A non-profit organization called the City of David Foundation was founded in 1986, and it is "dedicated to the preservation and development of the City of David and its environs, and is committed to connecting people of all faiths and backgrounds to ancient Jerusalem."

The most important half-mile on earth, according to Orenstein, is the one that runs through the City of David from the Pool of Siloam in the south up to the steps leading up to the Western Wall, Southern Steps, and Temple Mount.

“There is no half-mile anywhere on Earth which means more to more people – not to millions, but to billions — than the half-mile that is the City of David,” he added.

In the seventh century B.C., the pool was initially constructed as a component of Jerusalem's water system, about 2,700 years ago.

Jesus Christ healed a blind man at the pool, according to the Bible.

The two Israeli organizations and the City of David Foundation concur that the construction took place during the reign of King Hezekia, as described in the Bible's Book of Kings II, 20:20.

The Pool of Siloam reportedly underwent numerous construction phases before reaching a 1.25-acre size.

A story from the Gospel of John claims that Jesus healed a man who was born blind at the Pool of Siloam.

The public has had access to a tiny portion of the fully excavated pool for a number of years.

The pool is now being excavated in its entirety, and will either be opened in sections or all at once.

The Congress of Christian Leaders' president, Rev. Johnnie Moore, said in January on Fox News Digital that "In the Pool of Siloam, we find evidence of history preserved for us, revealed at just the right time."

“Theologically, it affirms Scripture, geographically it affirms scripture, and politically it affirms Israel’s unquestionable and unrivaled link to Jerusalem. Some discoveries are theoretical. This one is an undeniable. It is proof of the story of the Bible and of its people, Israel,” he mentioned.

The original pool was first built roughly 2,700 years ago.

In 2004, the Hagihon water company's infrastructure construction found portions of the pool's steps, which by chance led to the discovery of the pool.

Under the direction of professors Roni Reich and Eli Shukron, the Israel Antiquities Authority started a survey.

As a result, the Pool of Siloam's northern and a tiny portion of its eastern perimeters were exposed.

Jerusalem's Biblical legacy is being attacked, whether it be in UN halls, ongoing Palestinian leadership initiatives, or on college campuses, claimed Orenstein.

Orenstein predicted that, in a few years, people visiting the City of David will be able to "see with their own eyes, touch with their own hands, and walk with their own feet upon the very stones their ancestors walked thousands of years ago, as they made their way to Jerusalem on pilgrimage."

'Find of the century': Metal detector-wielding man stumbles onto trove of gold jewelry dating to 500 AD

A Norwegian using a recently purchased metal detector discovered rare 6th-century gold jewelry, which archaeologists described as Norway's "gold find of the century" on Thursday. The Norwegian went out strolling on the recommendation of doctors.

Norwegian man Erlend Bore discovered 6th-century gold jewelry while he was walking with a metal detector.

“At first I thought it was chocolate coins or Captain Sabertooth coins,” said 51-year-old Erlend Bore, referring to a fictional Norwegian pirate. “It was totally unreal.”

The cache included three gold rings, nine Norwegian gold medallions, and gold pearls that originally made up an elaborate necklace.

Archaeologists say the find is unique because it contains a design of a Norse mythological horse.

The design on the medallions, which is said to be a species of horse from Norse mythology, makes the discovery special in the eyes of archaeologists.

Erlend Bore bought the metal detector because his doctors told him to get more exercise.

After purchasing a metal detector on the advice of his doctors, Bore, who as a child wanted to be an archaeologist, made the discovery in August on a farmer's field close to Stavanger.

After a day of looking, he was about to return home when the device started beeping suddenly on a hillside.

Erlend Bore made the discovery near a farmer’s land.

He made a call, and archaeologists took charge of the hunt.

The diamonds, which have a weight of a little over 100 grams, are thought to have been made around 500 AD.

The jewels date back to around 500 AD.

“It’s the gold find of the century in Norway,” said Ole Madsen, the head of the University of Stavanger’s Museum of Archaeology. “To find that much gold all at once is extremely unusual.”

Experts are calling it “the gold find of the century.”

The newest comparable discovery in Norway is from the 19th century.

Experts say that finding this much gold in one location is very rare.

“Given the location of the discovery and what we know from other similar finds, this is probably a matter of either hidden valuables or an offering to the gods during dramatic times,” Professor Hakon Reiersen said.

According to Norwegian legislation, a reward will be given to both Bore and the landowner, albeit the amount has not yet been decided.

Ancient attire: 3,200-year-old Chinese mummy's pants resemble current jeans

The pattern was just as detailed and strong as the modern, factory-made denim jeans. Ancient people had style.

Fashion designers untangled the world's oldest pair of trousers (Credit: M. WAGNER ET AL/ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN ASIA 2022)

Chinese archaeologists discovered the mummified remains of 500 people who had been buried in the Yanghai cemetery in the Tarim Basin in the early 1970s. The Tarim Basin is a large region in northwest China that has produced many significant discoveries regarding the history of ancient humans, from the remains of the earliest-known settlers to the origins of fashion.

The researchers were particularly drawn to one person since it had not only been flawlessly preserved but was also still flawlessly dressed after all this time. The Turfan Man, so named for the nearby Chinese city of the same name, had entered the grave dressed to the nines, donning a poncho, soft leather boots, and a woolen headband embellished with bronze discs and shells.

Even compared to the Egyptian pharaohs, this mummified corpse had quite the wardrobe. The Turfan Man's trousers, which had two tapering leg sections joined at the top by a crotch piece that appears to have given the wearer enormous mobility, were the most amazing of all. The pattern was just as detailed and strong as the modern, factory-made denim jeans.

The original cause of Fashion Week

The Turfan Man's trousers, which have been dated to at least 3,200 years old, are thought to be the earliest pair of trousers ever found, providing experts with a general idea of when this now-essential article of clothing was initially created. Science News states that in the past, "Europeans and Asians wore gowns, robes, tunics, togas or — as observed on the 5,300-year-old body of Ötzi the Iceman — a three-piece combination of loincloth and individual leggings."

A significant part of human history is fashion, yet its roots and importance are frequently ignored. This is somewhat a result of our own biases. When compared to things like economics, politics, science, philosophy, or the fine arts, clothing is frequently viewed as being less significant because it is "synonymous with frivolity, excess, and luxury," according to costume scholar Olivia Warschaw in an article on the philosophy of fashion studies.

Additionally, most fabrics don't typically retain as well as bones do, which makes it extremely difficult for archaeologists to paint a clear image of how fashion evolved in the ancient world. However, fashion is a cultural universal, and the development of prehistoric clothing reveals much about the similarly prehistoric people who wore it, from the concepts underlying their cultural and religious activities to their travels across different parts of the world.

Untangling the oldest pair of pants in the world through fashion studies

It turned out to be far simpler to determine when the Turfan Man's trousers were manufactured than how they were made. However, the atoms themselves do not tell anything about the methods or influences that ancient craftsmen used to join them together to construct a pair of pants. Carbon dating and other sorts of study can give us reasonably accurate age estimations.

The Turfan Man’s trousers were recovered from China’s Tarim Basin, a hotbed for the remains of ancient humans. (Credit: NASA / Wikipedia)

The German Archaeological Institute's Eurasia Department's scientific director, archaeologist Mayke Wagner, put together a team of geologists, chemists, and fashion designers to investigate the Turfan Man's rumored attire. In order to reenact the original manufacturing procedure and unravel the garment's greatest mysteries, their goal was to research the weaving techniques.

In the March 2022 edition of Archaeological Research in Asia, Wagner's team discussed the results of their investigation. They discovered, in essence, that the Turfan Man's trousers were woven by a single machine and that up to four different weaving methods were employed by its artisans. It was discovered that two of these were exclusive to this particular pair of pants. These textiles were referred to as "Yanghai weft twining" and "Yanghai dovetailed twill tapestry."

Wagner's team hypothesized that the Turfan Man's trousers were woven rather than sewn together since the fabric of the pants exhibited no traces of cutting or knitting. Their assumptions turned out to be accurate; a preliminary study of the antique clothing indicated that the trousers were constructed using the twill weave method, which is a method of weaving.

The fabric is less rigid and more elastic thanks to the twill weave type, which creates a diagonal pattern of parallel ribs, giving the wearer more mobility. This revelation is not all that shocking given that the people buried at Yanghai belonged to a society of herders and horse riders.

What is surprising, though, is that when the Turfan Man's pants were constructed, twill weave was still a novelty. The earliest known fossil examples of twill weave, according to textile archaeologist Karina Grömer of the Natural History Museum Vienna, were found on pieces of woven cloth that were discovered in an Austrian salt mine, thousands of miles from China's Tarim Basin. The Turfan Man's trousers were thought to be at least 200 years younger than these textiles.

Like today's jeans

Because twill weaving is so uncommon, significant concerns must be asked regarding the cultural influences that may or may not have influenced these early Chinese artisans. It was also evidence of their competence. The same method is used in contemporary denim jeans, which are renowned for their durability. "This is not a beginner's item," Grömer, who looked at the garment previously but wasn't involved in Wagner's study, told Science News. "It's like the Rolls-Royce of pants," someone said.

The fabric around the knees was woven using a separate technique called as tapestry weaving. When compared to twill weaving, tapestry weaving produces a layer of fabric that is thicker, which in this case would have protected the wearer's joints while mounting a horse. A strong yet surprisingly flexible waistband was made using a third weaving technique on the upper border of the pants to keep them in place.

Fashion designers were able to identify the weaving patterns with ease, but they had no idea what tools the craftsmen would have used. Archaeologists have no clue what an ancient loom from this area might have looked like, and no weaving implements have ever been discovered at or close to Yanghai. Wagner speculates that the artisans might have employed a loom that could be operated while seated, but this is all conjecture.

According to Wagner's research, their best chance is to create additional reproductions using various historic and modern weaving techniques, then identify which of these replicas is most similar to the original. The researchers hired a skilled weaver to create their duplicate, who used the same material as the ancient Chinese artisans: yarn spun from coarse-wooled sheep. Future duplicates would be made of the same material.

Putting the past back together one fiber at a time

"Clothes make the man," as the saying goes, takes on new significance in textile archaeology. We may learn a lot about ancient civilizations, especially those without their own writing systems, by studying the methods used to make clothing and the purposes for which it was worn. In just a few decades after his passing, mobile populations all over Eurasia were donning trousers, proving how influential The Turfan Man was in setting fashion trends.

According to other archaeological investigations, the rise in popularity of trousers and the development of horseback riding are related. Little wonder. As previously indicated, the Turfan Man's trousers' twill weave and flexible crotch piece coupled a snug fit with enhanced mobility—garment attributes that are helpful when you have to climb and ride horses on a regular basis.

Before the Turfan Man, ancient humans like Ötzi the Iceman wore tunics and togas. (Credit: Andre Schade / Wikipedia)

The crotch piece has been expertly crafted by Yanghai artisans. The Turfan Man's crotch piece was different from other Central Asian trousers in that it was wider in the middle than it was at the ends. Wagner's team tested the replica on a man riding a horse bareback to better understand the purpose of the design and discovered that the trousers fit comfortably while yet allowing the rider to firmly wrap his legs around the animal.

Ancient style

The designs on the clothing can provide insight on the cultural and economic ties in the Turfan Man's community, just as the shape of the crotch piece can provide information about his way of life. According to Wagner's research, ceramics from Siberia and Kazakhstan, as well as bronze containers from China, have the same interlocking T-pattern embellishing the knees.

The simultaneous emergence of this odd pattern in both Central and East Asia suggests that despite their geographical separation, the two regions were closely linked by long-term communication. This happened at the same time as West Eurasian herders entered Asia on horses, which after domestication made it simpler to move to and from remote areas.

The stepped pyramid pattern on the Turfan Man's trousers is similar to another pattern found on pottery from the Petrovka culture of Central Asia, which flourished between 3,900 and 3,750 years ago, as well as to the architectural styles of societies in southwestern Asia and the Middle East that date back more than 4,000 years.

The migration of Eurasian herders eastward and the potential origins of twill weaving in Eastern Europe, among other archeological findings, all point to the idea that the development of the world's first pair of pants was the result of a cultural and economic exchange between groups of people who, up until that point in history, had hardly interacted with one another.

Because of this, anthropologist Michael Frachetti of Washington University in St. Louis has described the Turfan Man's trousers as "an entry point for examining how the Silk Road transformed the world." Wagner wholeheartedly concurs. Eastern Central Asia "was a laboratory where people, plants, animals, knowledge, and experiences from different directions and sources came... and were transformed," the archaeologist told Science News.

A Fresh Perspective on One of the Oldest Weapons

Alexander Langlands only recently began to whittle sticks. The archaeologist had a subconscious need for the activity. In his 2017 book Craeft: An Inquiry Into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts, he states, "It's addictive." Evidently, it runs in my blood.

Langlands couldn't recall a period when his father wasn't carving beautiful designs into walking sticks when he was a child. But Langlands had no idea that he would be enjoying the activity in his father's place.

In regards to moulding logs or branches into tools or weapons, Langlands has a fascinating notion. "Sticks are probably where the story of craft begins—the point at which our very distant ancestors progressed from animalistic existences to lives materially enhanced by the objects around them," he adds.

Langlands began to question if stick-making hadn't been passed down from our earliest ancestors after developing a newfound love for the craft of whittling, which his father had taught him. In fact, he questioned whether creating sticks wasn't just as "sophisticated" for early man as making stone tools—that is, well planned out and requiring a lot of expertise.

It’s “almost inconceivable that Australopithecus, Homo habilis, erectus, neanderthalensis, and sapiens did not develop this technology to the same degree of sophistication as they had stone-tool technology,” Langlands writes. “But because of wood’s inability to survive in the archaeological record, it will forever be a story that remains untold and one merely hypothesized by the daydreaming of experimental archaeologists such as myself.”

However, the tale is now being told. It is true that wood decays (thanks to fungi). However, there are exceptions, and scientists are starting to closely examine them. The 300,000-year-old Schöningen spears, discovered in Germany in the 1990s, predate modern humans. After being buried for so long and avoiding any exposure to oxygen, the weapons, which include a few exquisitely carved tiny double-pointed "throwing sticks," show "outstanding preservation," according to Nature.

A recent investigation undertaken by University of Reading archaeologist Annemieke Milks centers on one of the Schöningen throwing sticks. She and her colleagues examined the stick, which was carved from a branch of a spruce tree, both figuratively and literally. Milks and associates also employed a microcomputed tomography, or microCT, scanner to produce a 3-D model of the stick. The wood was then chemically evaluated, its tree rings were inspected, and numerous microcuts and areas where the wood had higher compression were observed. This assisted the researchers in determining the throwing stick's "cultural biography"—its origins, methods of production, maintenance, and disposal.

GET TO THE POINT: One of the 300,000-year old double-pointed “throwing sticks” uncovered at the Schöningen excavation site, in Germany. Photo courtesy of Milks, A., et al. A double-pointed wooden throwing stick from Schöningen, Germany: Results and new insights from a multianalytical study. PLOS One (2023).

The branch's difficult-to-work-around knots were carefully attended to by the original stick carver, who shaped "all but two of them down to be flush with the surface," Milks and her coworkers write. "The aim of this was likely to improve handling for ergonomic purposes, and to improve aerodynamics by reducing drag. An absence of significant surface or internal drying cracks suggests the wood dried slowly and evenly. Cut wood loses its natural moisture until it is in equilibrium with the surrounding environment, and if freshly cut and debarked wood is allowed to dry too quickly it can develop significant cracks and can also warp."

The Schöningen spears demonstrate how well developed stick-making technique was. The throwing sticks may be simpler to use than larger wooden spears because they are lightweight, suitable for pursuing rabbit-sized game. The Schöningen hominins "had the capacity for remarkable planning depth, knowledge of raw materials, and considerable woodworking skill, resulting in an expertly designed tool," wrote Milks and colleagues.

The throwing sticks are currently on display at the Forschungsmuseum in Bonn, which is close to the Schöningen excavation site. The weapons considerably contribute to our understanding of Homo heidelbergensis, the early human species that existed between 700,000 and 200,000 years ago, according to museum scholars, who share the researchers' conclusions. The museum tells us that among his skills were "planning, communication, technological skills, sophisticated hunting strategies, and a complex social structure were among his abilities."

Langlands may need to reevaluate his stick-making technology hypothesis. The Schöningen sticks provide evidence that our ancestors were skilled woodworkers as well as stone carvers.

A terrible destruction of an ancient Roman city. Its enormous plaza has now been discovered

Recently, in Spain, the ruins of a sizable Roman square that was there approximately 2,000 years ago were discovered.

A large Roman forum has been unearthed in Spain, archaeologists said. It is the oldest known plaza on the Iberian Peninsula. Photo from the University of Zaragoza

According to a press statement from the University of Zaragoza, it is the oldest public square that has ever been discovered in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula, which includes Spain, Portugal, and some of France.

According to academics, the excavation took place in La Cabaeta, an archaeological site near the Ebro River in northeastern Spain.

It is home to the ruins of a strange, tragic Roman city that was built around 200 B.C. A civil conflict less than a century later resulted in the horrific destruction of the unnamed city.

In July, archaeologists returned to the location after an almost ten-year absence. The central region, where the remnants of a sizable square were discovered, was the focus of their excavation.

According to specialists, a portico with tiles that had been painstakingly built around the buried square. Additionally, there were a number of rooms that were probably utilized for business.

The size and intricate architecture of the discovery make it extremely significant. It will aid researchers in understanding how the Iberian Peninsula, where the Roman Empire previously had several provinces, has adopted Roman architectural styles.

According to co-director of the excavation Borja Daz, the grid-organized city presumably previously operated as a transportation center for traders transporting commodities up and down the river.

However, burned remnants suggest that the city met its demise around the year 70 B.C., Daz told the publication, adding that he hadn't ruled out the prospect of coming across human remains.

According to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Roman Archaeology, the city was destroyed during the Sertorian War, a terrible struggle in contemporary Spain related to the First Roman Civil War.

The study found that confrontations were marked by "assaults and sieges of towns that habitually ended with them being burned to the ground or destroyed, and with severe punishments meted out to the populations."

Numerous large Roman constructions have been discovered all across the Mediterranean. According to information from McClatchy News, a vast Roman-period edifice with hot baths was found in France earlier this year, while a stadium-lake construction from the Roman era was found in Greece in 2022.

Stone balls were made deliberately by early humans 1.4 million years ago

According to an examination of ancient stone balls, early people were creating spherical shapes on purpose around 1.4 million years ago and were aware of geometry and symmetry.

Limestone spheroids found at ‘Ubeidiya in Israel (Leore Grosman/The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

'Ubeidiya, an archaeological site in the Jordan Rift Valley in Israel, produced 150 limestone balls, or spheroids, which were examined by specialists from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The process used to build these spheroids was recreated by the researchers, and they discovered that the patterns on the artifacts were designed with "a preconceived goal to make a sphere" in mind.

The theory that the spheroids were accidental byproducts of other efforts, according to the researchers, is called into question by their findings, which were published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

The fundamental significance of the finds, according to Antoine Muller, a researcher at The Institute of Archaeology at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is that these spheroids from 'Ubeidiya appear to have been built deliberately in order to achieve a spherical.

“This suggests an appreciation of geometry and symmetry by hominins 1.4 million years ago.”

Nearly two million years ago, early humans used spheroids in their daily lives, but it is still unknown exactly what they were used for.

Based on the markings and geometry of the spheroids, the researchers employed 3D analytic techniques and other cutting-edge technology to reconstruct how these perplexing objects were made.

The team surmises that these items may have been purposefully "knapped"—a process that involves striking stone to form it.

The bits of limestone, according to the researchers, were "reduced" to form spherical shapes.

The researchers said that this metamorphosis into a perfect sphere requires extraordinary knapping abilities and a well-defined objective.

The spheroids' function, however, is still unknown.

We still can't be certain of what they were used for, according to Mr. Muller.

“A lot of work needs to be done to narrow down their functionality.”

Ancient Siberian Ice Maiden - Mysterious Mummy of the 2500-year-old Princess of Ukok

Who was the Princess of Ukok? The Princess of Ukok, also known as the "Siberian Ice Maiden", was a woman of high status who lived in Siberia around the fifth century BC. Her remarkable mummified remains, adorned with ornate tattoos, were found next to a bag of herbs.

What do the tattoos on the Princess of Ukok represent?

The intricate tattoos on the Princess of Ukok depict mythical creatures and animals that reflect the values and status of Pazyryk culture. These tattoos served as forms of identity and were believed to help in the afterlife.

What caused the death of the Ukok Princess?

In 2010, MRI scans showed that the Ukok Princess probably died of breast cancer in her mid-twenties. Despite her advanced cancer, her skeletal remains showed no signs of physical trauma.

Why was the Princess of Ukok buried with cannabis?

Scholars speculate that the Princess of Ukok may have used cannabis for medicinal or shamanistic purposes, possibly to ease her pain. Her funeral and the presence of horses suggest that she played an important role in her community.

Why was the Ukok Princess' relocation controversial?

The relocation of the Ukok Princess led to natural disasters and disagreements between the Altai Republic and larger authorities. The Altai people believed that disturbing sacred lands led to disasters.

12 Most Amazing Ancient Technologies Scientists Still Can't Explain

Our ancient ancestors had access to some pretty incredible technology. In fact, their technology was so incredible that we can’t adequately explain how they came up with it. Scientists don’t like to talk about it, but you can find evidence of this high technology everywhere if you know where to look. Fortunately, we do - and we’ll share it with you in this video!

Truth about the Irish - First slaves brought to the Americas

Slavery is perhaps one of the oldest profit making endeavors in human history and the Irish were a special target for a thousand years, persecuted by one faction or another, to include enslavement and indentured servitude. But were they the first slaves in the Americas? Watch the video to find out!

Historical Figures Recreated And Brought To Life

In this video we present curated list of historical figures, recreated, restored and brought to life as never seen before. Enjoy!

Vlad the Impaler: The True Story of Dracula (History Documentary)

In the following video we will be saying the incredible story of Vlad the Impaler from his youth in Wallachia and childhood as a hostage to his wars against the Ottoman Turks and his great passion for impaling his enemies.

Vlad Dracula was born into a time of great conflict between the Christian kingdoms of the Balkans and Central Europe and the Ottoman Turks who were determined to conquer them. Vlad III Dracula was the son of a Voivode of Wallachia yet he had to fight all his life for his throne and his people. Watch the video for more!

10 Most Amazing Recent Archaeological Finds

These are the most amazing recent archeological finds that will blow your mind. Every day, archaeologists dig up more and more artifacts, ancient buildings, the remains of people and animals in order to study our history thoroughly.

In 2022, archaeologists continue to find amazing and unusual finds at a variety of ancient monuments. Unusual wooden figurines, most likely used for ritual purposes. Australopithecus, which turned out to be much older than all humanoid creatures on our planet. Scraps of skin with real traces of human teeth. As well as the remains of ancient people who survived after the most difficult injuries suffered in their youth.

Pocahontas: Facial Reconstructions & History Documentary

Pocahontas is a very famous figure from the era of European settlement in Virginia. However, her story is immensely shrouded in myth and legend. Did she really save John Smith's life? Who was the John Rolfe that she later married? And how did she help the colonists and her tribe find peace during her lifetime? Finally, we'll take a look at how she really looked. Enjoy!

Amazing Rare Historical Photos

In the following video we will go through a collection of amazing rare historical photos. Enjoy!

Abritus 251 - Crisis of the Third Century

In this video we will talk describe the early portion of the Crisis of the Third Century in the Roman empire, as the Year of the Six Emperors heralded by the coming to power of the first soldier emperor Maximinus Thrax takes the throne. Rome is beset by the barbarian incursions from all sides and one of them - Gothic invasion of 250 leads to the battle of Abritus of 251 between the Gothic leader Cniva and the Roman emperor Decius Trajanus.

How Early Female Hunters' Experience Was Modified by Ancient Dart Launchers

One throw at a time, a female archaeologist is disproving the notion that men are hunters and women are gatherers.

Atlatls use leverage to launch spears faster and farther than hand-thrown javelins. METIN EREN

Men have long struggled to understand the intricacies of women. anthropologist William Webb, for example. When he discovered hunting tools in the ancient graves of women in the 1940s, he was momentarily baffled. Webb, who was in charge of the University of Kentucky's archaeology and anthropology department at the time, was looking into the Late Archaic (5,000 to 3,000 years ago) Indian Knoll site. He came to the conclusion that the hunting equipment—in this example, an atlatl, or spear-thrower—had either been left there by husbands or because they constituted attractive hair accessories.

“It is hardly to be supposed that … women would have any practical use in life for an atlatl … such occurrences represent true burial offerings to the dead of artifacts primarily intended for the use of men,” Webb wrote in 1946.

Webb, a white cis-man, was working under the long-held presumption that hunting was a male-dominated activity.

“There’s a lot of assumptions about gender roles in archaeology that really aren’t supported,” says Metin Eren, an experimental archaeologist at Kent State University in Ohio. “The reason why we have assumptions about gender roles is because it was males over the 20th century that made those assumptions. It’s important to give preeminence to evidence and not assumption.”

An ornately carved atlatl from Peru. There is evidence of atlatl use on every continent except Africa. LOMBARDS MUSEUM/WIKIMEDIA/CC

There is no reason to believe that ancient women didn't employ hunting equipment to lethal effect, according to recent research, including a new study published in Science Reports. Communities of hunters on all continents, with the exception of Africa, switched from throwing spears like javelins to using the atlatl, a type of handle that uses leverage to propel a spear farther and faster, as early as 22,000 years ago (though this may be due to a lack of archaeological evidence on what would be a much older timeline). For the current study, 108 participants were asked to throw spears in a variety of methods. Males were superior to females at javelin-style throwing. But when an atlatl was involved, that distinction virtually vanished. The results are consistent with the "atlatl equalizer hypothesis," put forth by scholars John Whitacker and Kathy Kamp at Grinnell College in Iowa, which postulates that using strategic leverage, hunting may have been a common activity in an ancient community.

“This and other research seems to be all converging on the idea that there’s much more diversity in how we organized labor in the past, and it doesn’t always fall along the gender lines that we see in the present,” says archaeologist Randall Haas of the University of Wyoming, who was not involved in the study.

Petroglyphs at Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada depict early atlatl use. JOEL ZATZ/ALAMY

2020 saw the discovery of a 9,000-year-old corpse in the Andes by Haas, his colleagues, and members of the Mulla Fasiri village in southern Peru. This site turned out to be the earliest known female burial with big-game hunting equipment neatly arranged around her body and enormous mammal bones dispersed throughout. The team determined that 30 to 50% of ancient big-game hunters in the tribes they studied were female after looking at the remains of an additional 429 individuals from 107 locations throughout the Western Hemisphere. This result was shocking to preconceived notions about the gender roles of the earliest hunters and gatherers. Thereafter, a flurry of studies into women's hunting roles emerged. According to Haas, "we stand to learn something about a huge section of humanity throughout the world and into our deep evolutionary past" if we can comprehend how these technologies mix with gender dynamics.

These concepts are frequently tested in Kent State's experimental archaeology lab. A loadable lever composed of wood, bone, or antler is known as an atlatl. According to lead author Michelle Bebber, an experimental archaeologist at Kent State, think of it as a tennis ball launcher for a dog. An atlatl has a tiny spike at the end opposite the handle that is roughly two feet long but might be as little as five inches. For the study, a six-foot-long, strong spear-like dart's butt end can be notched there. The thrower employs essentially a standard throwing action while holding the handle rather than the dart. Leverage handles the rest.

Bebber encouraged students—as well as their parents, partners, and anybody else who happened to turn up—to try their hand at both throwing styles at an abandoned sports field on the outskirts of school. She "countless hours" on the field in the pouring rain and the snow. Coauthor Eren comments, "It's a testament to her dedication to this project." There has never been anything like this done before since she was out there throughout the winter when it was chilly and she launched over 2,100 weapons.

Lead author and experimental archaeologist Michelle Bebber holds an atlatl loaded with a six-foot dart. METIN EREN

The effort was worthwhile. Males were found to throw javelins at speeds between 26 and 52 feet per second and females between 16 and 38 feet per second, which is faster than females. But when it came to throwing darts, sex didn't matter as much; grip strength, which isn't as closely related to sex, was more crucial. In essence, the researchers came at the conclusion that women have the same atlatl capacity as men. "If you're picking teams for the javelin on the playground, you'll pick teams with powerful males. Eren quotes colleague and University of Tulsa anthropologist Briggs Buchanan who adds, "For the atlatl, you will only pick strong."

"I think that narrative is really important to see, that women weren’t just passive and that they were able to fully participate in hunting activities," claims Bebber. They were probably inventive and perceptive, and they might have even developed this kind of technology.

According to the researchers, the atlatl's "equalizing opportunities" might transcend sex and gender stereotypes. Bebber is considering a broader spectrum of ages. Haas wants to know how much talent counts and whether it holds true in comparison to other primitive hunting tools. It seems to support certain earlier suggestions, and “I think it’s a solid analysis and it seems to bear out some earlier hypotheses,” he says. The results, in my opinion, are persuasive and it does a wonderful job of thoroughly examining. It would be interesting to see similar tests with archery technology, as well as some extensions with people who have more experience.

Haas concurs that this research adds crucial subtlety to our understanding of gender roles, both historical and contemporary. "Understanding the extent to which we engaged in sexual division of labor, or any kind of division of labor in the hunting and gathering context can help us better understand any disparities, unification, or divisions that we see between sexes or in different gender roles today," he claims. "I won’t say [this study] confirms, but it supports, this idea that our previous understanding of gender and labor practice in the past was at least off the mark by quite a bit," the author says.

Large Neolithic monument found by researchers on the Isle of Arran

On the Scottish island of Arran, a team of archaeologists unearthed what is thought to be a full Neolithic cursus placed within a magnificent prehistoric landscape.

This monumental structure, which is enormous and is 1.1 km long and 50 m broad, is among the earliest of its kind constructed by farmers in Neolithic Britain.

An enormous Neolithic structure made up of one or more rectangular enclosures is known as a cursus. A substantial stone, earth, and turf bank encircling the entire enclosure serves to delineate the cursus on Arran. This monument's construction would have required enormous labor, completely altering the nearby environment.

Researchers estimate that this monument type may have existed as early as 3500 BC. It is the most comprehensive example of this site type that can be found in Britain, and it is incredibly uncommon and thrilling to have the chance to explore a cursus bank.

The same area has also yielded the remains of prehistoric field boundaries, clearance cairns, and round huts, some of which may have existed at the same time as the monument and were all preserved by peatland, which sealed the archaeological layers. An unrivaled opportunity to comprehend how contemporary farming practice and settlement interacted with the cursus monument and how early farmers changed this place is provided by ancient soils that represent the original Neolithic land surface in combination with cultivated soils from the Bronze Age.

The landscape geoarchaeology and environmental science study at the site was co-led by Dr. Emma Jenkins, Associate Professor in Archaeology at Bournemouth University, with assistance from Dr. Sarah Elliott, Deputy Head of Department, Life and Environmental Sciences (LES), and Harry Manley, Demonstrator in LES.

Excavations were made nearby the cursus into Neolithic and Bronze Age field systems, allowing for the collection of material for dating and other environmental evidence. Having a better understanding of how people have used and maintained this significant environment will help the team develop a more effective rewilding approach.

Dr Jenkins mentioned, “The Isle of Arran is well known for Machrie Moor with its Prehistoric stone and timber circles; standing stones and burial cairns but the discovery that these may be part of a much larger complex which included this enormous cursus elevates this into a region of global significance on a par with other ceremonial landscapes like Stonehenge. As an environmental archaeologist I am particularly excited by the discovery of well-preserved soils, contemporary with the creation of the cursus which means we can investigate how people used and modified this landscape from the time of the first farming communities in Britain.”

The Northwoods Rewilding Network, landowner David Bennett, and the Arran Geopark's larger efforts will all benefit from the invaluable information about the history of the environment and previous ecosystems that will be gleaned from this research. Additionally, the team encouraged community members to participate in the research process, and they are investigating potential future learning and creative opportunities in response to the studies. North Ayrshire Council and Arran Theatre and Arts Trust gave local artists funding to investigate the excavation.

Professor Nicki Whitehouse, Professor of Archaeological Science, University of Glasgow, said: “The initial discoveries reveal a highly unusual combination of a ceremonial monument within a prehistoric farming landscape. It is part of a continuum that likely linked to the ritual site at Machrie Moor, probably forming part of something much more extensive. The science work will allow us to understand about the animals and plants people farmed, how people impacted the landscape and its ecosystems and transformed their soils for cultivation – and what we may learn from this today.”

It is exceedingly unusual to combine the investigation of all these factors at once, and experts from the universities of Birkbeck, Reading, Coventry, Birmingham, and Southampton as well as archaeologists from Archaeology Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland have contributed to this effort.

'Archaeological sensation': Swiss Alps ancient wall discovery

In the foothills of the Alps in Switzerland, archaeologists have unearthed the ruins of Roman fortifications that date back 2,000 years.

Wall discovery in Swiss Alps called an 'archaeological sensation'ADA Zug, David Jecker

The walls that previously shielded a Roman building complex were discovered in Cham, a canton or state in central Switzerland, during the excavation of a gravel pit. Archaeologists have also discovered other artifacts, such as a plaster wall, iron nails, and bits of gold. Along with things like bowls, grinding millstones, glassware, crockery, and amphorae, which are ceramic jugs.

The Office for the Preservation of Monuments and Archeology described the discoveries as a "archaeological sensation" for the area and said they may provide information about Roman involvement in central Switzerland.

Roman structures of a similar size were last uncovered in Cham-Heiligkreuz nearly a century ago, according to Gishan Schaeren, head of the Prehistory and Protohistoric Archaeology Department. The fact that the top bricks could even be seen above ground astounded us as well.

The walls cover at least 5,300 square feet (500 square meters) of space. It is unknown how the Romans used the location, including whether it was a "villa with a view or a temple building," according to Christa Ebnöther, professor of archaeology of the Roman provinces at the University of Bern.

According to the study, evidence of Roman dinnerware known as terra sigillata, or "sealed earth" in Latin, was discovered, indicating the location was frequented by affluent individuals. The amphorae, which ordinarily contained liquids like wine, olive oil, and fish sauce, are proof that Roman traders in the area conducted business with people in the Mediterranean.

Several copper and bronze coins were also discovered by archaeologists, as well as a Julius Caesar-minted silver denarius from the first century B.C.

The Roman fortifications were not the only antique artifact found there. In the past, researchers have discovered the remnants of a middle Bronze Age settlement, late Bronze Age burials, and a handful of Celt-era coins.

Roman swords dating back 1,900 years were discovered in an amazing Dead Sea cave find

According to researchers, Jewish rebels during an insurrection placed the weapons in the desert cave where they had been stored for nearly two millennia.

The weapons were found with part of a javelin Pic: AP

After 1,900 years, four wonderfully preserved Roman swords were discovered in a cave close to the Dead Sea.

Israeli archaeologists discovered the swords, along with their wooden hilts, scabbards, and steel blades, during an excavation two months ago, it was revealed on Wednesday.

The blades, which were discovered with a pilum, the head of a javelin, are thought to have been hidden in the grotto by Jewish insurrectionists during a rebellion against the Romans in the 130s CE.

The artifacts weren't radiocarbon-dated; rather, their typology was used to determine their age.

While returning to a cave close to the oasis of Ein Gedi to record an inscription discovered decades earlier, archaeologists discovered the swords.

Asaf Gayer, an archaeologist at Ariel University, said, “At the back of the cave, in one of the deepest parts of it, inside a niche, I was able to retrieve that artefact - the Roman pilum head, which came out almost in mint condition.”

“Each one of them can tell you an entire story”, according to Guy Stiebel, an archaeologist at Tel Aviv University who specializes in Roman military history.

“They also reflect a much grander narrative of the entire Roman Empire and the fact that from a small cave in a very remote place on the edge of the empire, we can actually shed light about those mechanisms is the greatest joy that the scientist can have.”

Experts have dated the swords to the second century Pic: AP

Only a few other examples of the high-quality preservation of Roman weaponry are known to exist, he added.

While the swords were discovered on the fringe of the Roman Empire, Mr. Stiebel continued, it is likely that they were made in a distant European province and transported to Judea by soldiers.

Future research will be done to ascertain the materials utilized and how they were created.

The find was a result of the Judean Desert Survey, a project that aimed to catalog and explore Dead Sea caverns in order to protect priceless artifacts from looters.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient parchment fragments that have been preserved in excellent shape thanks to the cave's cool, dry environment.

Archeologists Learn about 3,700-year-old human brain remains.

The well-preserved brain and skin remains of humans who lived in Turkey some 3,700 years ago have been found by a team of researchers.

Stock image: An archaeologist excavating a set of human remains. Researchers have discovered the well-preserved brain and skin remnants of people who lived around 3,700 years ago.

The remains were discovered in the Tavşanlı Mound (or Tavşanlı Höyük) in Turkey's Kütahya region, which is situated in the western part of the Anatolian peninsula. They belonged to two Bronze Age people.

The mound is known as the "Heart of Western Anatolia" because from above it looks to have a heart shape.

The unusual brain and skin remnants were uncovered at the site during recent excavations that were directed by scientists from Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University.

According to the Anadolu Agency (AA), the remains belonged to a young man who was between the ages of 15 and 18 when he passed away and another middle-aged male who was between the ages of 40 and 45.

These people, according to researchers, perished during an attack some 3,700 years ago when their dwellings were set on fire and they were unable to escape.

The research's principal investigator, archaeologist Erkan Fidan from Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, claims that the mound is the oldest village in the area and was probably the region's capital during the Bronze Age.

Evidence indicates that the city was the target of a significant assault that left the entire settlement completely destroyed circa 1700 B.C.

According to Yılmaz Selim Erdal of Hacettepe University's Anthropology Department, the fact that both skeletons appeared to have been subjected to intense heat is what caused the brain tissue to be preserved inside the skull.

In one of the skeletons, between the chest and the abdomen, the archaeologists discovered skin fragments that had also been carbonized by heat.

Carbonization is the process of turning a substance into carbon, usually through burning or heating or during the fossilization process.

The most recent discoveries mark the first time in the nation that such skin remains have been discovered during archaeological investigations. On the other hand, the preserved brain material has been discovered four or five times before, according to the researchers.

The archaeologists are now looking into the motive for the attack on the community and possible suspects.

The most recent research was presented at a conference put on by the European Association of Archaeologists between August 30 and September 2 of this year in Belfast, Northern Ireland.