Rare Iron Age battle trumpet discovered in West Norfolk excavation

A rare Iron Age battle trumpet, known as a carnyx, has been uncovered in west Norfolk during routine archaeological work ahead of a new housing development.

The nearly complete bronze instrument was part of a hoard discovered last summer on privately-owned land. One of only three carnyces known in Britain, it is among the most intact examples found in Europe, according to Historic England.

The trumpet, featuring an animal head, would have been used by Celtic warriors to rally troops and intimidate enemies, and it also captivated the Romans, who often depicted such instruments as war trophies.

The rare near-complete carnyx which dates back to the Iron Age discovered in West Norfolk.

The hoard also contains a sheet-bronze boar’s head, likely from a military standard, along with five shield bosses and an iron object of unknown purpose.

Mark Hinman, chief executive of Pre-Construct Archaeology, which conducted the excavation, said: “Before this dig began our project manager had a feeling that this site would be special. We are so impressed with the team responsible for this find. They discovered something completely unexpected, paused for breath, then followed best excavation practice to recover these rare and fragile objects.”

To protect the delicate items, experts removed them encased in a block of soil before initial examination. Conservation and further research are being undertaken by Historic England, Norfolk Museums Service, and the National Museum of Scotland, a leading authority on carnyces.

Initial investigation work on the bronze Iron Age trumpet, known as a carny, which was discovered in West Norfolk.

Dr Tim Pestell, senior curator of archaeology at Norfolk Museums Service, said: “This find is a powerful reminder of Norfolk’s Iron Age past which, through the story of Boudica and the Iceni people, still fascinates the British public. The Norfolk Carnyx Hoard will give archaeologists an unparalleled opportunity to study several rare objects and ultimately reveal how they came to be buried in the county 2,000 years ago.”

Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, co-chief executives of Historic England, described the hoard as a “remarkable discovery” and said it would be “hugely significant for our understanding of ancient British culture.”

A coroner is expected to decide the legal status of the hoard early this year, and its long-term location has yet to be determined.

The hoard will be featured in the new series of Digging for Britain on BBC Two, in an episode airing at 9 pm on 14 January.

Hominin fossils from Morocco may be close ancestors of modern humans

Jawbones and vertebrae belonging to a hominin that lived around 773,000 years ago have been discovered in North Africa. These fossils could represent a shared ancestor of Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, and Denisovans.

The jawbone of an ancient hominin found at Grotte à Hominidés in Morocco

Fossils from North Africa, dating back nearly 750,000 years, may belong to a common ancestor of Neanderthals, Denisovans, and modern humans, living just before these lineages diverged.

Scientists estimate that this last shared ancestor existed between roughly 765,000 and 550,000 years ago, though its exact time and location remain key mysteries in human evolution.

Massive Roman grave revealed in A66 excavation

Further evidence of ancient funerary practices has emerged at one of the largest Roman cemeteries ever excavated in the UK.

Excavations began last year along the A66, ahead of plans to widen the road between Penrith and Scotch Corner. While archaeologists had been aware of a Roman grave on the site near Penrith since the 1960s, this is the first time such extensive digging has been possible.

Dr Lauren McIntyre of Oxford Cotswold Archaeology said the team has so far uncovered around 340 graves. The excavations have revealed that both cremation and inhumation were practiced, suggesting that individuals had a degree of choice in how to conduct funerary rites for their loved ones.

McIntyre also noted that the cemetery is likely much larger than the area currently excavated. “It’s pretty massive,” she said.

Several ceramic pots were found at the site near Penrith

McIntyre added that, given the site’s proximity to a Roman fort and settlement, it likely served both civilians and soldiers.

“There’s no indication that civilians were buried anywhere else,” she said.

Archaeologists also uncovered several ceramic pots, which may have held either cremated remains or grave goods such as wine or oil. Among the finds was a Cupid figurine, probably buried alongside cremated ashes.

The team’s next step is to analyse the collected ashes to determine the origins of the soldiers buried at the site. McIntyre noted that Roman soldiers were typically recruited from regions far from where they were stationed. She explained that isotopic analysis could help identify the areas where these individuals likely grew up.

Near-complete bronze carnyx among Iron Age hoard discovery

A remarkable hoard of Iron Age metalwork, dating to around 2,000 years ago, has been uncovered in West Norfolk, offering new insight into the ceremonial and military practices of Britain’s Celtic communities.

The find was made during a routine archaeological excavation by Pre-Construct Archaeology, carried out as part of the standard planning process ahead of residential development.

What at first looked like a compact mass of soil was soon identified as one of the most significant Iron Age discoveries made in Europe in recent decades.

Central to the hoard is a near-complete bronze carnyx—a battle trumpet noted for its striking animal-headed design—alongside fragments from a second instrument.

Carnyces were used by Iron Age warriors across Europe to inspire their own forces and intimidate opponents, and were often portrayed by Roman writers and artists as exotic trophies of war. Only three examples have been found in Britain to date, and the Norfolk carnyx ranks among the most complete ever discovered.

Also included in the hoard is a sheet-bronze boar’s head, thought to have once decorated a military standard and to have symbolised power and ferocity in Celtic culture. Five shield bosses and a mysterious iron object of unknown purpose complete the assemblage, making the discovery exceptional not only within Britain but also in a wider European context.

Because of the objects’ extreme fragility, the entire group was carefully removed from the ground encased in a single block of soil. Senior conservator Jonathan Clark of Norfolk Museums Service is overseeing the meticulous micro-excavation process, which involves removing soil a few millimetres at a time, stabilising the metalwork, and recording each stage to ensure no archaeological information is lost.

“The condition of the carnyx and the associated objects is extraordinarily delicate,” Mr Clark said. “Every element has to be secured and documented before it can be safely separated from the surrounding soil.”

Conservation specialists at Norfolk Museums Service are now carrying out initial assessments, although extensive stabilisation will be required before detailed academic analysis can begin. Historic England is coordinating the project in collaboration with Pre-Construct Archaeology, Norfolk Museums Service and the National Museum of Scotland, drawing on expertise from across the UK.

The discovery will feature in an upcoming series of the BBC programme Digging for Britain, airing from 7 January 2026, giving viewers an early look at a hoard already being described as one of the most important Iron Age finds of the century.

Archaeologists Uncovered a Strange Carving of a Terrifying Mythical Figure

The more welcoming side of Medusa turns typical mythology upside down, with the smile likely designed to represent peace and prosperity.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this story:

• Archaeologists excavating an ancient Roman forum in what is now Turkey uncovered an unusual depiction of Medusa.

• The columned forum featured ceiling panels carved with her image, but instead of a fearsome expression beneath her snake-like hair, Medusa is shown smiling.

• This gentler portrayal challenges traditional mythology, with the smile likely symbolizing harmony and prosperity.

Medusa is typically portrayed as intimidating, defined by her serpentine hair and threatening gaze. However, a recently uncovered carving from an ancient Roman forum presents a strikingly different interpretation. Archaeologists found ceiling panels above marble columns depicting Medusa with a childlike smile.

“Our Medusa was fashioned much like Eros, with the face of a very young child and a smiling expression,” said Fatma Bağdatlı Çam, a professor at Bartın University, as quoted by Turkey Today.

The distinctive image was discovered during excavations in the ancient city of Amastris—modern-day Amasra—while researchers were uncovering a monumental Roman forum with a columned gallery and decorated ceiling tiles. The work forms part of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Heritage for the Future project, carried out in collaboration with the university’s Archaeology Application and Research Center. So far, excavations across a 30,000-square-foot area have revealed marble columns reaching heights of up to 30 feet.

BBC crews film Digging for Britain in Broadway after discovery

BBC crews have filmed an episode of a well-known television programme in Broadway following an archaeological discovery made ahead of planned development.

The village will appear in an episode of BBC Two’s Digging for Britain after excavations revealed evidence of 8,000 years of human activity.

Among the finds attracting national attention was a carved bone box recovered from the grave of a young woman, dating to the late Roman period.

The excavation was carried out by Worcestershire Archaeology and was commissioned and funded by Wychavon District Council in advance of development plans.

Jamie Wilkins, who led the excavation, described the discovery as “extraordinary,” noting not only the craftsmanship and preservation of the box, but also the insight it offers into the community that once lived there. He said he had never encountered an object like it before and quickly realised its significance.

Cllr Emma Kearsey, Wychavon’s executive board member for planning, infrastructure and urban design, said the work at Milestone Ground is transforming understanding of Broadway and Worcestershire’s history. She highlighted the bone box as a particularly compelling find and welcomed its inclusion on Digging for Britain so a wider audience can share in the discovery.

She added that further discoveries are expected at the site and that work is ongoing with Worcestershire Archaeology and Broadway Museum to share the story locally.

The new series of Digging for Britain, presented by Professor Alice Roberts, will be broadcast on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from 7 January 2026.

A spokesperson for Wychavon District Council said the finely decorated box is believed to date to the late Roman period, based on its decorative style, a date that has since been confirmed through radiocarbon analysis of the associated burial.

Specialist analysis has also revealed an unexpected detail: the box was made from roe deer bone and may originally have been used to hold an ointment.

Its careful placement within the grave suggests it was a valued or deeply personal item for the individual who was buried there and for those who laid them to rest.

Although the bone box is the most striking discovery, archaeologists have also uncovered evidence of substantial prehistoric, Roman and Saxon activity at the site. This reinforces Broadway’s long-standing importance as a settlement located along a key route across the Cotswolds escarpment.

A multi-year programme of specialist study is now set to begin. Once completed, all finds and records from the excavation will be deposited with the county museum, in accordance with archaeological best practice.

Iron Age battle trumpet found on site for new Norfolk homes

A near-complete Iron Age battle trumpet and a bronze boar’s head that once decorated a military standard are among a hoard of “remarkable” artefacts uncovered in Norfolk.

The discoveries were made in the west of the county during archaeological investigations carried out ahead of a planned housing development.

The bronze trumpet, known as a carnyx, is exceptionally rare: it is only the third example ever found in Britain and ranks among the most complete specimens discovered anywhere in Europe.

The Carnyx

The animal-headed instruments were used by Celtic tribes across Europe to rally warriors in battle and intrigued the Romans, who often portrayed them as captured trophies of war.

The internationally significant hoard also includes a sheet-bronze boar’s head that once formed part of a military standard.

Stacks of shield bosses covering the head of the carnyx

Five shield bosses and an enigmatic iron object that has baffled archaeologists were also uncovered on privately owned land last summer, though the exact location has not been disclosed.

After the discovery, the items were removed encased in a block of soil and later scanned to determine their original positions within it.

Senior conservator Jonathan Clark, carefully removing the hoard from its soil block

Conservation experts at Norfolk Museums Service then carefully extracted each object.

Because the finds are extremely fragile, they will require extensive stabilisation before detailed research can begin.

Dr Tim Pestell, from Norfolk Museums Service

Dr Tim Pestell, senior curator of archaeology at Norfolk Museums Service, said the discovery is a striking reminder of Norfolk’s Iron Age heritage which, through the story of Boudica and the Iceni, continues to capture public interest in Britain.

He added that the Norfolk Carnyx Hoard offers archaeologists a rare opportunity to study several exceptional artefacts and, ultimately, to understand why they were buried in the county around 2,000 years ago.

As the discovery includes two or more base metal objects from the same site, it may qualify as treasure trove.

A coroner will decide the hoard’s legal status later this year, a ruling that will determine the next steps.

New Fossil Analysis Suggests This Seven-Million-Year-Old Primate Walked on Two Legs, Potentially Making It the Oldest Known Human Ancestor

Fresh findings about arm and leg bones advance the debate over whether Sahelanthropus tchadensis was bipedal, but not everyone is convinced

Bones from a chimpanzee on the left, Sahelanthropus tchadensis in the center, and an Australopithecus species on the right

New Analysis Suggests Sahelanthropus tchadensis Walked Upright

In the early 2000s, researchers discovered roughly seven-million-year-old primate bones in Chad’s Djurab Desert. Belonging to the extinct species Sahelanthropus tchadensis, these fossils have sparked decades of debate among paleontologists over whether the species walked on two legs—a trait that would make it the oldest known member of the human lineage, or hominin.

A new study, published January 2 in Science Advances, adds to this debate by analyzing fragments of arm and leg bones, offering evidence that S. tchadensis may indeed have been upright.

The species was first described in 2002 based on a skull, teeth, and jaw fragments. These suggested upright posture, but without leg bones, firm conclusions about bipedalism were impossible. Later, researchers identified a nearby femur and two ulnae as belonging to the species, though interpretations of their meaning for walking remained contested.

In the new analysis, scientists examined the bones’ fine anatomical details and compared them with those of living primates and other fossils. One key finding was a rounded bump on the femur, called the femoral tubercle. Study co-author Scott Williams, an evolutionary morphologist at New York University, explains that this is the attachment point for the largest and most powerful ligament in the body, which tightens when standing and helps stabilize the torso during walking—a feature previously only identified in bipedal hominins.

The researchers also confirmed other traits linked to bipedalism: a twist in the femur that aids upright walking, buttocks muscles modeled for walking and running like those of ancient hominins, and a femur-to-ulna length ratio more similar to Australopithecus than to apes, which typically have shorter legs and longer arms for quadrupedal movement. These proportions suggest a significant evolutionary step toward human-style walking.

Williams concludes, “Sahelanthropus tchadensis was essentially a bipedal ape with a chimpanzee-sized brain, likely spending much time in trees, yet adapted to upright posture and movement on the ground.”

Not all experts are fully convinced. John Hawks, an anthropologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, supports the findings but emphasizes the gradual and complex nature of early hominin evolution, noting that Sahelanthropus likely displayed a mix of ape-like and human-like traits.

Marine Cazenave of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, however, calls the evidence “weak” due to the fossil’s poor preservation, making it difficult to determine the full structure of the femoral tubercle and its implications for bipedalism.

The debate continues, highlighting the challenges of interpreting some of the earliest steps in human evolution.

And finally… gilt trip

Archaeologists in Lower Saxony have confirmed the discovery of a significant Roman-era hoard near Borsum, comprising 450 silver coins, several silver bars, a single gold coin, and a gold ring.

Early Roman Hoard Unearthed in Lower Saxony

A significant early Roman Imperial hoard was recently recovered in Borsum, Lower Saxony, under the supervision of Sebastian Messal, regional head of the State Office for Monument Preservation. Messal described the find as one of the largest hoards uncovered in the region.

The discovery underscores the delicate balance between amateur detecting and professional archaeology. While metal detecting is regulated and requires permits in Lower Saxony, initial improper digging at the site damaged the archaeological context—the precise positioning of items that helps researchers understand the burial. Messal’s team conducted a controlled secondary sweep of the woodland, recovering additional coins and working to reconstruct the deposit’s history.

Experts classify the find as a hoard, suggesting the valuables were deliberately buried for safekeeping during a period of unrest. The presence of silver bars points to the conversion of loose metal into portable currency, common in frontier economies. A single gold coin and a ring indicate either ownership by a high-status individual or a “piggy bank” approach, where prestige items were saved alongside standard currency.

Scientific analysis is now underway to clean the artifacts and examine wear patterns, mint marks, and metallurgical composition. Non-destructive tests on the silver alloys aim to trace the metal to its source mines, while coin inscriptions will provide a terminus post quem, the earliest possible date for the hoard’s burial. This information is key to understanding northern Germany’s turbulent Roman-era history, where Roman forces and local tribes interacted near the Rhine.

Researchers hope the Borsum hoard may be linked to the aftermath of the Varus Battle of 9 AD, offering evidence of the movement of people, goods, and power along the empire’s frontier. Whether it represents Roman military pay, Germanic tribute, or a merchant’s hidden savings, ongoing study aims to map ancient economic and social networks with precision.

Powick Old Bridge delay over removing driftwood and trees

Repairs to Powick Old Bridge Delayed

The fate of the medieval Powick Old Bridge will have to wait, as the trees and driftwood piled against its partially collapsed structure will not be cleared until next week.

Workmen were on site on Monday, but Worcestershire County Council confirmed that the main debris removal will now take place on Monday, January 12. Preparatory work will be carried out in advance to ensure the site is ready. A council spokesperson explained that a larger excavator will be brought in from the Powick Mill side, and the field and riverbank are being prepared under an archaeological watching brief.

Residents have expressed concern about the buildup of debris in the River Teme near the bridge, worried it could worsen damage in the event of flooding. While the council said the bridge is not currently believed to be at risk of collapse, the structure is partially unstable.

Powick Old Bridge is historically significant, having witnessed both the opening skirmish and the final battle of the English Civil War in the 17th century. Nearly two years ago, on January 31, 2024, a wingwall partially collapsed into the river. Some parts of the bridge date back to before 1447, and the site was immediately closed to pedestrians and cyclists.

The bridge has been added to Historic England's 2025 Heritage at Risk Register, highlighting its serious risk from neglect and decay. Worcestershire County Council has approved £5 million for repairs and is seeking additional funding to restore the historic structure.

The dinosaur secrets found in the archives of a natural history museum

What goes on behind the scenes of a dinosaur exhibit? Short Wave host Regina Barber got a firsthand look at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. In the museum’s basement, she spoke with a paleobiologist, examined fossils discovered on farmland, and even handled a 67-million-year-old bone. It turns out that a museum basement can be full of fascinating science.

From Mycenaean Frescoes to Hellenistic Sculpture: Women’s Research in the Early Years of the ABSA

Women in the Annual of the British School at Athens, 1895–1930

The first volume of the Annual of the British School at Athens (ABSA) was published in 1895, nearly a decade after the British School in Athens (BSA) was founded in 1886. The Annual was designed to report on archaeological work in Greece and to provide “more popular accounts of travel and research” alongside the Journal of Hellenic Studies. In the early volumes, almost all articles were written by directors and students of the School; producing an article was considered a standard outcome of a session in Greece.

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the BSA was largely male-dominated, so most early articles were authored by men. Women, however, were admitted as early as 1890, and by the 1900s, a steady stream of women archaeologists came to Greece to conduct research at local sites and museums. This online collection highlights their contributions, gathering all articles written or co-written by women in the ABSA between 1895 and 1930. Together, these works provide a microhistory of women’s early contributions to archaeology in Greece.

Early Contributors
The earliest article in the collection was by Caroline Amy Hutton, who joined the BSA in 1896 to study Greek terracottas and later served as ABSA co-editor from 1906 to 1926. Her 1897 article argued for the importance of bronze statuettes in reconstructing Classical Greek marble sculpture. In 1916, Hutton also published articles on Greek inscriptions from Petworth House in England and Suvla Bay in Gallipoli, the latter in her capacity as editor.

In the same 1897 volume, Helène Triantaphyllides, an English-speaking Greek woman and BSA associate since 1896, published a study of modern Greek folklore and customs. Her research drew praise from Cecil Harcourt Smith, then Director of the School, who emphasized its value and the need for further work.

Jane Ellen Harrison, a scholar of ancient Greek religion at Newnham College, Cambridge, published in the ABSA in the early 1900s. Described by Mary Beard as “the first woman in England to become an academic,” Harrison was a member of the BSA Managing Committee from 1888 to 1919 and mentored women visiting Athens for research. Her ABSA articles cover Hellenistic relief sculpture and the identity of the Kouretes, and she also published extensively in the Journal of Hellenic Studies.

Women Students in the Early 1900s
The early twentieth century saw more women admitted as students. Notable contributors include:

• Margery Welsh (later Daniel), Newnham College, Cambridge, admitted in 1903 to study Greek sculpture.

• Gisela Richter, Girton College, Cambridge, admitted in 1904, later curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

• Mary Hamilton (later Dickins), University of St Andrews, admitted in 1905, studying ancient and modern incubatio practices.

• Dorothy Lamb, Newnham College, admitted in 1910, who worked on the Acropolis Museum catalogue in Athens.

Their ABSA articles, based on research conducted in Athens, covered topics from honorary statues and ancient ceramics to Christian saint names.

Funded Positions and Excavations
In 1911, Margaret Hardie (later Hasluck) became the first woman granted a funded position at the BSA, following advocacy from Jane Harrison. Her ABSA article explored the cult of Dionysus at Smyrna; she later conducted extensive work on Albanian society and folklore.

The 1920s brought more women into funded positions and allowed them to reside in the BSA hostel alongside male students. Women increasingly participated in excavations, reflected in ABSA publications. For example, Margaret Hobling reported on excavations at Sparta, while Winifred Lamb published on work at Sparta, Mycenae, and Thermi in Lesbos. Lamb went on to direct excavations in Greece and Turkey, serve as curator of Greek antiquities at the Fitzwilliam Museum (1920–1958), and co-found the British Institute at Ankara.

Collaborative Work
Some women co-authored articles with their husbands. Jacobus Johannes Ewoud Hondius and Magdalena Agathe Hondius-Van Haeften co-wrote on Laconian topography after their joint studies at the BSA. Hilda and John Pendlebury, who met at the BSA in 1927, published together on the 1930 excavations of two Protopalatial houses at Knossos.

Legacy of Early Women Archaeologists
This collection documents women’s research across the first decades of the BSA and ABSA, covering diverse periods and topics, from Mycenaean frescoes to Hellenistic sculpture to Spartan bronzes. It highlights the research achievements of these women and encourages interest in their travels, roles within British universities, and lives beyond academia. Some pursued celebrated archaeological careers, while others married and left the field—but in both cases, their work laid important foundations for archaeological research in Greece throughout the twentieth century.

Decoding the First Farmers: A 12,000-Year-Old DNA Map Emerges from Çayönü in Türkiye

On a low rise overlooking the upper Tigris River, archaeologists are revisiting one of humanity’s most transformative periods. At Çayönü Tepesi, a 12,000-year-old settlement in southeastern Türkiye, human remains buried for millennia are now providing genetic insights that could reshape understanding of how the world’s earliest farming societies developed, organized themselves, and interacted across wide regions.

Long recognized as a pivotal site in the shift from foraging to farming, Çayönü is now the focus of a major interdisciplinary project combining archaeology, physical anthropology, and ancient DNA analysis. Researchers aim not only to reconstruct daily life at the site, but also to uncover who its inhabitants were, where they originated, and how connected they were to neighboring regions such as Mesopotamia and the Caucasus.

A Landmark Site in the Birth of Sedentary Life
Located near the modern town of Ergani, Çayönü was first noted during surface surveys in 1963 and excavated from 1964 by Halet Çambel and Robert J. Braidwood. From the beginning, the site stood out. Unlike the temporary camps of mobile hunter-gatherers, Çayönü displayed long-term occupation, planned architecture, and early evidence of plant cultivation and animal management.

These findings positioned the site among a select group of Neolithic settlements that challenged previous ideas about the origins of agriculture. Rather than pointing to a single “birthplace,” Çayönü revealed a complex network of innovation, experimentation, and cultural exchange across Upper Mesopotamia and southeastern Anatolia.

After a lengthy pause due to security concerns in the 1990s, excavations have resumed in recent years with modern analytical techniques and a broader scientific focus.

Human skeletal remains discovered at Çayönü Tepesi in the Ergani district of Diyarbakır are being analyzed at Hacettepe University to investigate the genetic makeup of Neolithic and Bronze Age communities.

Scientific Leadership and Fieldwork
The current excavation at Çayönü Tepesi is led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Savaş Sarıaltun of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, with anthropological and bioarchaeological studies coordinated by Prof. Dr. Ömür Dilek Erdal of Hacettepe University. The project involves specialists from ten universities across Türkiye and operates under the authorization of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Since May 2025, teams have carried out intensive excavations across more than 3,200 square meters, revealing a remarkably continuous sequence of occupation spanning the Pre-Pottery Neolithic, Pottery Neolithic, and into the Early Bronze Age.

Among the most notable discoveries are grid-planned buildings from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B phase (c. 9000–8500 BCE), a large communal structure likely used for gatherings or collective activities, and a carefully engineered Bronze Age water channel. These features suggest a settlement that was deliberately planned and socially coordinated rather than organically developed.

Burials, Objects, and Social Signals
Excavations have also uncovered an Early Bronze Age cemetery dating to around 2900–2750 BCE. So far, eight graves have been examined: seven from the Early Bronze Age and one from the Neolithic period. The burials contained pottery vessels, copper and bronze items, tools, daggers, and two seals found nearby.

According to Sarıaltun, the seals are particularly important, indicating early economic networks and potentially reflecting social roles or group identities within the community. Despite these material markers, the overall burial evidence does not suggest the presence of strict social hierarchies.

By analyzing ancient DNA, researchers are reconstructing kinship patterns, mobility, and population dynamics over thousands of years.

From Excavation House to Laboratory
All skeletal remains from Çayönü are first documented at the excavation house and then, under official permits, transferred to Hacettepe University’s anthropology laboratories. There, Prof. Erdal and her team conduct detailed cleaning, restoration, and analysis following international standards.

So far, approximately 255 individuals have been studied, making Çayönü one of the most thoroughly analyzed Neolithic populations in the region. The findings reveal a highly heterogeneous community, both biologically and culturally.

Skeletal markers indicate a physically demanding lifestyle. Even children show signs of early involvement in agricultural and daily labor. Differences between individuals buried in larger versus smaller houses do not show clear biological evidence of inequality, suggesting that workloads and burial customs were largely shared across the settlement.

Gender-based divisions of labor are evident but balanced: men show skeletal markers associated with herding and outdoor work, while women exhibit patterns linked to repetitive indoor production. Both roles were crucial for the community’s survival.

DNA and Long-Distance Connections
The project’s most transformative aspect is its genetic research. Ancient DNA analysis is allowing researchers to reconstruct kinship networks, mobility patterns, and population dynamics over millennia.

Preliminary results indicate that Çayönü was far from isolated. Genetic signatures reveal sustained connections with Mesopotamia and the Caucasus, showing that individuals from outside regions settled at the site and integrated into the community.

“These connections are not theoretical,” Erdal explains. “We can observe them directly in the genome. People moved, mixed, and formed new social bonds here.”

The DNA research is ongoing, with comprehensive results expected to be released to the public between 2026 and 2027.

The DNA research is ongoing and expected to continue for several years, with comprehensive results planned for public release between 2026 and 2027.

Rethinking Early Societies
The combined archaeological and genetic evidence from Çayönü challenges simplified views of early civilization. Rather than a linear progression toward hierarchy and inequality, the site reveals a community that was organized, cooperative, and closely connected to the wider region.

By tracing the genetic footprints of some of the world’s first farmers, Çayönü is helping scientists explore a question that remains relevant today: how did humans learn to live together in permanent communities, and what were the gains and costs of that transformation?

The Story of Carthage Isn’t Necessarily What the Romans Committed to History

A new book by historian and archaeologist Eve MacDonald paints a more complete portrait of the once-great African society destroyed by Rome

A vision of ancient Carthage, attributed to the painter William Linton

Around 310 B.C.E., Carthage came under siege by Agathocles of Syracuse and his forces. According to the ancient historian Diodorus, the Carthaginians, believing their gods had abandoned them, became so desperate to regain divine favor that they sacrificed 200 children. However, no archaeological evidence has ever confirmed such an event. In her new book, Canadian-British historian and archaeologist Eve MacDonald argues that this horrific account was likely “an imagined scene by a hostile ancient source.”

That source, of course, was Rome, which would later destroy Carthage in the Third Punic War from 149 to 146 B.C.E. Roman leaders sought to depict Carthage and its citizens not as real people, but as a savage enemy, MacDonald writes, using the city’s image to bolster Roman morale. In Carthage: A New History of an Ancient Empire, she draws on archaeological work from the past two decades, including her own, to offer a fuller, more nuanced portrait of the city and its inhabitants.

MacDonald traces Carthage’s story from its Phoenician founding in the ninth century B.C.E. to the myths—and possible truths—surrounding Dido, the political figure from Tyre who became its legendary queen. She explores the city’s rise as a naval power, its eventual destruction, and the first century after its fall, when Punic language and culture continued to influence North Africa. “It is believed that Africa was never so Punic as it was after Carthage was destroyed,” she notes, as surviving Carthaginians formed a kind of Punic diaspora.

“New archaeology and old literature present a different Carthage in the postwar years,” MacDonald writes. Recent isotopic analyses, for instance, show that Carthage could draw on substantial local resources, such as lead-silver mining, even when trade was restricted during wartime.

Her book is ambitious, focusing as much on sailors and soldiers as on generals and aristocrats. “The Roman memories only ever told one side of the story,” she observes. “The complexity of this once-great, sophisticated, and multicultural African city—with its innovative technologies, courageous warriors, and deep religious beliefs—was lost.”

Roots of medieval migration into England uncovered in new study

Migration into England was ongoing from the Roman period through to the Norman Conquest, with people moving from different regions at varying rates, a new study finds.

Researchers discovered that early medieval migrants came to England not only from nearby regions but also from as far afield as the Mediterranean and the Arctic Circle.

The large bioarchaeological study offers fresh insights that complement early medieval texts and ancient DNA evidence. Analysis of human tooth enamel also revealed information about past climate events, including the Late Antique Little Ice Age and the Medieval Climate Anomaly.

New Research Methods and Findings
The study, led by the Universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge, represents the first large-scale analysis combining isotopic and ancient DNA data from early medieval English cemeteries to assess population movement. The results are published in Medieval Archaeology.

The team traced population movements into England during the early medieval period, spanning from the end of Roman rule around 1600 years ago to the arrival of the Normans over 900 years ago.

Chemical signatures in the teeth of more than 700 human skeletal remains from AD 400 to 1100 showed that migration was a persistent feature of England during this period. These findings were compared with ancient DNA from 316 individuals to distinguish between movement and ancestry.

Climate Events and Migration Patterns
Tooth enamel, which records the chemical composition of food and water consumed in early life, also captured climate fluctuations, including the Late Antique Little Ice Age of the 6th–7th centuries, as well as evidence of migrants from colder regions.

Migration was continuous rather than tied to isolated events, with a notable increase in the seventh and eighth centuries. Male migration was more pronounced overall, though there was also significant female mobility, particularly into the North East, Kent, and Wessex.

Evidence indicated migration from Wales and Ireland, as well as from northwest Europe and the Mediterranean.

Historical Sources and Broader Implications
The team compared their findings with historical sources, including Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, to see how documented mobility matched bioarchaeological evidence.

Dr. Sam Leggett of the University of Edinburgh said, “The study took a ‘big data’ approach to examine narratives around early medieval migration. We see that migration was a continuous feature rather than a series of one-off events, with communities in ongoing cross-cultural contact, linked into extensive networks that likely influenced the major socio-cultural changes of the period.”

Dr. Susanne Hakenbeck of the University of Cambridge added, “Migration to Britain occurred throughout the first millennium. We were surprised to find a spike in mobility in the 7th and 8th centuries—long after the so-called Anglo-Saxon migrations. This study also highlights that Britain was never isolated from the continent.”

Bradford-led project to explore Roman Empire’s northern edge

Archaeologists from the University of Bradford will carry out cutting-edge work at Scotland’s biggest Roman complex after being selected as a pilot for a national funding scheme.

The University’s project, Romans at the Tweed: Returning to Trimontium to examine a crossing point at the northern limit of the Roman Empire, is one of five initiatives selected under the Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) Access Fund Catalyst Projects.

This spring, scientific surveys will be conducted at Trimontium, an important Roman frontier site, using advanced survey methods to deepen understanding of how the Roman Empire managed movement across the River Tweed at its northern edge. The work is being carried out in collaboration with the Trimontium Trust and AOC Archaeology.

Dr Kayt Armstrong, Facility Manager of the RICHeS-funded mobile laboratory From Land to Sea – a facility for prospection, landscapes and people at the University of Bradford, said: “I am pleased that our partnership with AOC Archaeology and the Trimontium Trust has been chosen as an Access Fund Catalyst Project, as it allows us to apply state-of-the-art geophysical equipment to explore key questions about the fortifications at Trimontium and the interactions between the Romans, local communities, and the River Tweed.”

More on Romans at the Tweed
In 2022, the Trimontium Trust and AOC Archaeology carried out ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys at the fort for the first time, training volunteers and relaunching fieldwork at the site.

That work used a high-resolution Mala MIRA system—the first time such equipment had been deployed at a Roman fort in Scotland. However, the system is no longer available in the UK, leaving sections of the site unexplored. To move the research forward, the University of Bradford’s compact Mala MIRA unit, along with newly RICHeS-funded equipment such as drone-mounted GPR, will now be used to complete surveys of the fort and to investigate the location of a Roman crossing point on the River Tweed.

Conducted through the Uncovering the Tweed project, the research brings together technical experts, archaeologists, and volunteers. It places public participation at the centre of frontier studies while ensuring that newly gathered data is widely shared.

More on Trimontium
Situated in the Scottish Borders, Trimontium is the largest Roman fort and settlement in Scotland and one of the richest sites in the UK for Roman military-related finds.

Covering around 370 acres, the fort and its associated settlement include a combined military and civilian complex with a fort, a bridge over the River Tweed, roads, shrines, and a cemetery. The site also contains the northernmost amphitheatre in the Roman Empire.

Heritage Science Support
Five new projects have been awarded funding through the RICHeS Access Fund Catalyst scheme to explore how heritage science can support research, conservation, and public engagement across the UK.

These projects will test new ways of widening access to advanced facilities and specialist expertise, helping to safeguard nationally important heritage for the future.

Running until March 2026, the Catalyst Projects mark the first phase of activity for the RICHeS Access Fund. From 28 January 2026, the fund will provide researchers and other eligible users with access to specialist equipment, collections, and expert advice.

This project reflects the University of Bradford’s strategic focus on innovation, collaboration, and social impact. By combining advanced heritage science technologies with public engagement, the research supports the protection and understanding of a significant historical site.

Through partnerships with national organisations and local volunteers, the University demonstrates its commitment to producing knowledge that benefits communities and strengthens cultural heritage, in line with its goal of making a positive impact both regionally and globally.

Iron Age DNA Reveals a Herpesvirus That Still Infects Humans Today

Learn how ancient DNA from human remains provided the first direct evidence that a common childhood virus has been part of the human genome since the Iron Age.

Ancient human remains, not associated with the study.

Human herpesvirus 6 is now almost universal, with most people becoming infected in early childhood. New evidence suggests that this relationship is much older than previously demonstrated—and in some cases far more permanent than once believed.

A study published in Science Advances presents the first direct genetic proof that this relationship dates back thousands of years. By reconstructing ancient genomes of human herpesvirus 6A and 6B (HHV-6A/B) from archaeological remains across Europe, researchers show that these viruses have infected humans—and in rare cases permanently integrated into human chromosomes—since at least the Iron Age.

The results confirm that some herpesviruses did more than coexist with early humans; they became part of the human genome itself.

“Modern genetic data suggested that HHV-6 may have been evolving with humans since our migration out of Africa,” said lead researcher Meriam Guellil in a press release. “These ancient genomes now provide the first concrete evidence of their presence in the deep human past.”

From Childhood Infection to Inherited Virus
HHV-6B typically infects children within their first two years of life and causes roseola infantum, a common childhood illness and the leading cause of febrile seizures in young children. Together with its close relative HHV-6A, the virus usually remains dormant in the body after the initial infection.

What distinguishes these viruses is their ability to insert their DNA into human chromosomes. When this occurs, the viral DNA can be passed from parent to child and is present in about one percent of people today.

Tracing Human Herpesvirus Across Millennia
For the study, researchers screened nearly 4,000 human skeletal remains from archaeological sites across Europe for traces of viral DNA. From these samples, they reconstructed eleven ancient HHV-6 genomes, including the oldest from a young girl who lived in Italy during the Iron Age, between 1100 and 600 B.C.E. Additional genomes came from individuals in medieval England, Belgium, Estonia, Italy, and Russia.

“While HHV-6 infects nearly 90 percent of people at some point in their lives, only about one percent carry the virus inherited from their parents in all of their cells,” Guellil said. “These cases are the most likely to be detected using ancient DNA, which makes identifying viral sequences particularly difficult.”

Several individuals from England carried inherited forms of HHV-6B, making them the earliest known humans with chromosomally integrated herpesviruses. One site in Sint-Truiden, Belgium, stood out for producing the highest number of cases, with both HHV-6A and HHV-6B present in the same population.

“Based on our data, the evolution of these viruses can now be traced across Europe for more than 2,500 years, from the 8th–6th centuries BCE to the present,” Guellil added.

How a Virus Became Part of the Human Genome
By comparing ancient viral genomes with modern ones, researchers identified where HHV-6 integrated into human chromosomes and how long those integrations persisted. Some events occurred thousands of years ago and continued across many generations, providing dated records of long-term interactions between viruses and humans.

The analysis also showed that the two closely related viruses did not evolve in parallel. HHV-6A appears to have lost its ability to integrate into human DNA relatively early, while HHV-6B retained this ability, showing how closely related viruses can diverge as they adapt to the same host.

Rather than relying solely on patterns in modern genomes, the study provides direct genetic evidence of when—and how—a common childhood virus transitioned from temporary infection to inherited presence.

Archaeologists Discover ‘Sumptuous’ Frescoes at Ancient Villa Preserved by Mount Vesuvius’ Eruption

Fragments of a peahen, a comedic theatrical mask and other intriguing finds are providing new insights into the history of the Villa of Poppaea

Archaeologists unearthed a fresco depicting a peahen that mirrors a peacock found on another part of the same wall.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 C.E., ash and volcanic debris blanketed Pompeii, freezing the ancient Roman city in time for centuries to come. Yet the destruction extended well beyond Pompeii itself, as smoke, gases, and pumice spread across the wider Campania region of Italy.

Archaeologists have continued to advance their work in the areas surrounding Pompeii, with recent excavations concentrating on an opulent residential villa near the modern town of Torre Annunziata, just south of Naples. According to a statement from the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, this site has become the latest focus of intensive study.

Known as the Villa of Poppaea, the residence may once have belonged to Poppaea Sabina, the second wife of the Roman emperor Nero. Constructed in the mid–first century B.C.E., the villa featured lavish decoration, private thermal baths, and expansive gardens. Offering sweeping views of the Bay of Naples, the complex was enlarged around the middle of the first century C.E. to include a swimming pool, winter gardens, guest apartments, and additional rooms. Situated in Oplontis, a fashionable seaside retreat for Rome’s elite, the villa was likely unoccupied when Vesuvius erupted.

In a spacious and refined room known as an oecus, archaeologists recently uncovered richly decorated frescoes showing a peahen and a theatrical mask. The peahen mirrors a peacock depicted elsewhere on the same wall. The mask represents a character from Atellan Comedy, a form of improvised farce popular in ancient Rome. Specifically, it portrays Pappus, a stock figure described as an aging fool who attempts to appear youthful but is inevitably ridiculed. This comic image stands in contrast to the other masks found in the room, which appear to draw their inspiration from Roman tragic theatre.

Researchers unearthed a theater mask from a Roman comedy of a character called Pappus.

Archaeologists have examined the villa’s oecus in the past, but its exact layout—and that of the surrounding spaces—remained uncertain. According to Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the archaeological park, the current phase of research may help resolve these questions while also uncovering new decorative elements with exceptional detail and colour, of which only an intriguing glimpse has so far been revealed.

The excavations have led to the discovery of four additional rooms, including one that may have formed part of a bathing complex, raising the total number of identified rooms in the villa to 103. Researchers also uncovered traces of a seasonal stream, believed to have developed after the eruption of Vesuvius in 1631.

By using plaster casts, the team was able to identify the positions of trees that once lined the villa’s garden. These plantings followed a carefully planned ornamental scheme that echoed the rows of columns supporting the south portico. Comparable garden layouts have been documented in the residences of Pompeii’s elite.

As Zuchtriegel notes, the early findings open up valuable new opportunities to deepen understanding of the villa’s overall design, as well as the long-term relationship between human habitation and the surrounding natural landscape.

While excavations continue, workers are also restoring two small bedrooms at the villa.

As excavations continue, restoration teams have also been working to conserve two small bedrooms overlooking the southwest section of the villa. These rooms are richly decorated, featuring stucco work, frescoes, mosaic floors, and painted vaulted ceilings in a vibrant palette that includes Egyptian blue.

One of the bedrooms appears to have been in the midst of renovation when Vesuvius erupted, showing multiple stages of work, some left unfinished. Its more restrained decorative programme remains incomplete and includes floral designs set against plain, monochromatic backgrounds, according to Artnet’s Jo Lawson-Tancred.

Researchers have created plaster casts of the shutters that once covered the doors and windows, preserving impressions of the original wooden elements. The ongoing restoration—which involves cleaning surfaces, removing damaged material, and retouching paint—has also brought to light colours and details that had previously gone unnoticed.

Ancient Mosaic Room Featuring “Solomon’s Knot” Unearthed in Smyrna to Ward Off the Evil Eye

Archaeologists excavating in central İzmir have uncovered an exceptional mosaic-floored room in the ancient city of Smyrna. At its center is a striking Solomon’s Knot motif, thought to have functioned as a protective symbol against envy and the “evil eye” during Late Antiquity. The find was made along the North Street of the Smyrna Agora as part of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s year-round Heritage for the Future Project.

The mosaic floor, measuring approximately 3 by 4 meters, is composed of interwoven geometric panels and vegetal patterns, with the symbolic knot placed prominently at the centre. Excavation director Prof. Dr. Akın Ersoy of İzmir Katip Çelebi University noted that this is the first mosaic pavement discovered at the site in almost 70 years, underscoring both its rarity and its scientific importance.

A Planned City of the Hellenistic World
Rebuilt according to a new urban plan after the time of Alexander the Great, Smyrna became one of the eastern Mediterranean’s most significant port cities. Now known as İzmir, it prospered under Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine rule, developing into a major centre of trade, culture, and civic activity. The Smyrna Agora, the focus of current excavations, served as the city’s political, commercial, and administrative heart.

Recent archaeological work has concentrated on the Agora and the ancient theatre, uncovering architectural layers that trace Smyrna’s uninterrupted urban life over many centuries. The newly discovered mosaic room is located along one of the city’s principal streets, which appears to have remained in use well into the Late Roman period, between the 4th and 6th centuries CE.

Excavations in Smyrna revealed the site’s first mosaic pavement discovered in nearly 70 years, under the direction of Prof. Dr. Akın Ersoy of İzmir Katip Çelebi University.

Protective Symbols Against Envy and Misfortune
Prof. Ersoy explains that the building’s original function whether it served as a private home or a public space has yet to be clearly determined. Even so, the mosaic’s imagery offers valuable insight into the cultural beliefs of the period. In Late Antiquity, mosaics often featured protective symbols thought to guard occupants or visitors against jealousy, bad luck, or malicious intent. At the centre of this floor is the Solomon’s Knot, an ancient geometric design formed by two interlaced closed loops. Appearing in Roman villas, synagogues, early Christian churches, and later Islamic and Byzantine art, the motif is commonly understood to represent eternity, harmony, wisdom, and spiritual protection. Across Mediterranean cultures, it was also associated with the idea of binding or neutralising harmful forces, much like amulets used to ward off the “evil eye.”

In the Smyrna example, the knot is surrounded by smaller cross-like forms and decorative patterns. Ersoy notes that many such motifs began as purely ornamental designs but gradually acquired religious and cultural meanings as new belief systems spread through the region. Whatever their specific interpretation, he stresses that “they were understood as protective signs meant to safeguard either the building itself or the people who used it.”

A Space Reused 1,500 Years Later
Among the most striking aspects of the find is evidence of the building’s later reuse. Archaeological traces show that the mosaic floor was reopened and put back into use during the 19th century, probably by nearby residents or a non-Muslim hospital that once operated in the area. Mortar from later walls was found directly on top of the mosaic, suggesting that the ancient floor was deliberately preserved and incorporated into newer structures some 1,500 years after it was first laid.

This reuse reflects Smyrna’s long-standing tradition of urban continuity, in which successive communities adapted and reoccupied earlier buildings rather than abandoning them. Ersoy adds that further excavations planned for 2026 may uncover additional rooms or adjoining architectural spaces connected to the mosaic area.

Measuring roughly 3 by 4 meters, the mosaic floor features interlaced geometric panels and vegetal designs, with the symbolic knot positioned prominently at its center.

Cultural Legacy Beneath Modern İzmir
The find highlights Smyrna’s character as a deeply layered archaeological landscape, where traces of ancient urban life lie beneath the modern city. From its Hellenistic street grid to Roman roads, Byzantine churches, Ottoman neighbourhoods, and 19th-century civic buildings, Smyrna is one of the few Mediterranean cities in which millennia of architecture coexist within a single urban space.

Excavations continue today with the support of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, the Yaşar Education and Culture Foundation, the İzmir Chamber of Commerce, and Güzel Enerji. Each new discovery such as the mosaic room centred on the enduring Solomon’s Knot adds another chapter to the story of a city where art, belief, and everyday life have remained closely intertwined over time.

The First People Who Tried to Measure Time

Time as a Sacred Force
Early humans viewed time not as an abstract measurement but as a living cycle governed by celestial forces. Tracking time meant understanding the will of the gods and the rhythms of nature.

Solar and Lunar Observations
Stone circles, shadow markers, and horizon alignments allowed ancient observers to track solstices, equinoxes, and lunar cycles with remarkable accuracy.

Calendars and Agriculture
Timekeeping was essential for planting and harvesting. The earliest calendars linked celestial events to seasonal changes, ensuring survival.

Priests as Timekeepers
Those who understood time gained immense power. Priest-astronomers regulated festivals, rituals, and royal ceremonies, controlling society’s rhythm.

The Birth of History
Once time could be measured, it could be recorded. This transition transformed myth into chronology and marked humanity’s first step toward written history.