There may be some truth to the myth of Merlin. On Tuesday, archeologists in Scotland revealed evidence of the legendary wizard’s death in Drumelzier between the 6th and 7th centuries — and the findings could change the way we tell Merlin’s tale. Merlin was said to have been a loyal advisor to King Arthur amid … Read more
Archaeologists have discovered an “extremely rare and unusual” ancient stone amulet in Jerusalem that could change our understanding of reading and writing in antiquity. “The seal, made of black stone, is one of the most beautiful ever discovered in excavations in ancient Jerusalem,” Yuval Baruch and Navot Rom, directors of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), said in … Read more
A doorway that could have been used by famous playwright William Shakespeare was discovered in the United Kingdom’s oldest working theater. The discovery in St. George’s Guildhall in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, which has been undergoing major conservation efforts, was sparked when the Guildhall’s creative director, Tim FitzHigham, noticed a “weird shape in the wall,” according to … Read more
This discovery is anything but Tutan-khamun. Archeologists in Egypt have discovered “the first and largest astronomical observatory,” nearly half a mile long, dating to the 6th century BC. A sundial and other items were found inside a building that was designed with slanted architecture to measure shade and solar movement, according to the Egyptian Ministry … Read more
Located at Mount Hotzvim in Jerusalem, a large quarry has been under excavation, exposing more information on the Second Temple time period when Jesus walked the Holy Land. Archaeologists with the Israel Antiquities Authority excavated the area that covers about 3,500 square meters, forming part of a large field of quarries, according to a press … Read more
Den-mark’s the spot. A young archeology student in the Scandinavian nation discovered seven “spectacular” silver artifacts significant to the Viking rule of centuries past, The Associated Press reported. The Danish Moesgaard Museum announced Monday that 22-year-old researcher Gustav Bruunsgaard found seven silver arm rings — a material significant to Viking currency circa 800 Common Era … Read more
It’s a bone-chilling discovery. Archeologists at Pompeii have recovered well-preserved skeletal remains of a man and woman who died clutching treasures of the time. The woman was found on a bed surrounded by gold, silver and bronze coins, along with jewelry that included pearl and gold earrings, and the man was not far from her. … Read more
Why would a humble Chinese noodle maker be buried in a tomb fit for an emperor? And why would a Westerner – complete with blonde hair – be important enough to commemorate on its walls? Archaeologists in northern China have unearthed a small but richly decorated 1,200-year-old tomb on a mountain outside Taiyuan, the capital of China’s … Read more
It’s a deep dive into ancient Egypt. Archaeologists discovered hieroglyphic-inscribed rock carvings of several significant pharaohs — including an ancestor of King Tutankhamun — at the bottom of the Nile River. The find provides “new historical information” on their legendary rules over several eras, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Ancient rock carvings of … Read more
It’s a new testament to modern technology. Archeologists in Israel discovered a biblically significant moat that divided Jerusalem into two parts hidden beneath a parking lot in the City of David. The manmade trench — researchers have sought answers on its existence for 150 years — was “one of the monumental fortifications that protected the … Read more
We’re shook. Earthquake activity as damaging as the eruption of Mount Vesuvius bears part of the blame for the total devastation of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in 79 A.D., new research suggests. The significant seismic stirring — which align with recovered, descriptive writings of shaking ground by Roman upper echelon Pliny the Younger … Read more
They’re digitally raising the dead. Scientists put the “animation” in “reanimation” after virtually reconstructing the face of a mysterious mummy who lived 1,500 years ago, as detailed in the journal “Anthropologie – International Journal of Human Diversity and Evolution.” Known as the gilded lady because of her golden headdress, the mummy belonged to a woman … Read more
The oldest known surviving picture story in the world has been found in a cave in Indonesia. The painting, which depicts three human-like figures interacting with a wild pig, was discovered in a limestone cave called Leang Karampuang on the island of Sulawesi, and is at least 51,200 years old, according to archaeologists. The international … Read more
An ancient cemetery with more than 300 tombs of mummies has been unearthed in Egypt in a discovery that scientists have since dubbed the “City of the Dead.” Archaeologists have spent five years digging at a site once located on the hill near the modern Mausoleum of Aga Khan III. The burial grounds reportedly span … Read more
This archeological finding redefines “full-bodied” wine. The oldest vintage is people? The oldest wine ever discovered in liquid form harbored an unlikely ingredient — cremated human remains, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Archaeological Science. “This was the first time something like this had been discovered,” José Rafael Ruiz Arrebola, an … Read more
The examination of an ancient “portal to the underworld” that has perplexed archaeologists has finally ended, officials say. The Mexican artifact, called the Olmec Cave Mask, was stolen from the Chalcatzingo archaeological site in Mexico’s Central Highlands in the 1960s. Smugglers broke the millennia-old mask into several pieces and circulated them around several museums and private collections … Read more
A man walking his dog in the United Kingdom inadvertently helped archaeologists and geologists make surprising discoveries at a local beach, officials say. Northumberland Coast National Landscape officials published a blog post about the recent discoveries last week. The dog walker was on a stroll at Foxton Bay in Northumberland, located in North East England, when he spotted unusual … Read more
Archaeologists at George Washington’s Mount Vernon have discovered dozens of glass jars filled with fruit preserves in the cellar of the historic Northern Virginia home that “likely haven’t seen the light of day since before the American Revolution.” Twenty-nine of the 35 bottles remain intact, and all contain either cherries, gooseberries or currants, the home and museum … Read more
Can you dig it? Archeologists in Spain have recently uncovered an ancient rock slab with an alphabet inscribed that predates the Rosetta Stone by roughly 400 years. The discovery in southwest Spain is believed to be associated with the ancient, Paleo-Hispanic civilization of Tartessos and is only the third piece of evidence of an alphabet … Read more
Workers in Central Asia made a “mammoth” discovery earlier this month. Laborers came across the bones of an ancient mammoth while quarrying on June 2. In a press release, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Culture explained that the remains were found in “the sandy areas of the ancient floodplain of the Jyrgalang River.” Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country surrounded by Uzbekistan, … Read more