Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II’s ‘handsome’ face revealed in striking reconstruction
Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II’s ‘handsome’ face revealed in striking reconstruction The face of the ancient Egyptian ruler Ramesses II — possibly the pharaoh of the biblical Book of Exodus who persecuted Moses and the Israelites — has been reconstructed from his mummified remains. And although the pharaoh died in his 90s, his visage has …
Roman-Era Sarcophagus Uncovered in Istanbul
Roman-Era Sarcophagus Uncovered in Istanbul A sarcophagus determined to belong to the Roman era has been unearthed during the excavation works of an apartment demolished within the scope of the urban transformation project in Istanbul. The sarcophagus came to light during the foundation excavation of the demolished building in the Büyükçekmece district. It was determined …
3,000-year-old wishing well uncovered in Germany. Take a look at the items left inside
3,000-year-old wishing well uncovered in Germany. Take a look at the items left inside Whether it’s Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain or a water feature at the nearby mall, wish-filled waterworks are common — but perhaps not a new phenomenon. Archaeologists in Germering unearthed a 3,000-year-old wooden wishing well, the Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection …
Ancient Water System Unearthed in Central China
Ancient Water System Unearthed in Central China The ancient capital Luoyang site in today’s Henan Province has recently discovered over 80 meters of water channels dating back to the Wei and Jin dynasties (220-420). It indicates the mature techniques of building water conservancy facilities and the dynasties’ capability of water resource utilization and environmental upgrade …
Byzantine Woman’s Remains Found at a Castle in Turkey
Byzantine Woman’s Remains Found at a Castle in Turkey Archaeological excavations in the historical Kadıkalesi Castle in the western province of Aydın have unearthed the skeleton of a woman, which is believed to date back to the 13th century. The excavation team said that the female skeleton found in a tomb in the church section …
Londoner solves 20,000-year Ice Age drawings mystery
Londoner solves 20,000-year Ice Age drawings mystery Ancient cave paintings, like animal figures and handprints, are generally thought to have meanings, however, the specifics of these drawings have long eluded experts. But now, British scientists have claimed to have decoded why Ice Age hunter-gatherers drew cave paintings. Independent researcher Ben Bacon took an interest in …
Digital Reconstruction Depicts Face of Jericho Skull
Digital Reconstruction Depicts Face of “Jericho Skull” A famous, 9,000-year-old human skull discovered near the biblical city of Jericho now has a new face, thanks to efforts by a multi-national team of researchers. The so-called Jericho Skull — one of seven unearthed by British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon in 1953 and currently housed in the British …
Fragments of Crocodile Skulls Found in Ancient Egyptian Tombs
Fragments of Crocodile Skulls Found in Ancient Egyptian Tombs Polish archaeologists working in the North Asasif necropolis (West Thebes) near the Temple of Hatshepsut discovered 9 crocodile heads deposited in two elite tombs. “This is a unique discovery, because until now no graves containing crocodiles were known in Egypt. Mummies of these dangerous reptiles have …
Lasers reveal sites used as the Americas’ oldest known star calendars
Lasers reveal sites used as the Americas’ oldest known star calendars Olmec and Maya people living along Mexico’s Gulf Coast as early as 3,100 years ago built star-aligned ceremonial centers to track important days of a 260-day calendar, a new study finds. The oldest written evidence of this calendar, found on painted plaster mural fragments from …
2,000 years of genetic history in Scandinavia elucidates Viking age to modern day
2,000 years of genetic history in Scandinavia elucidates Viking age to modern day A new study published in the journal Cell on January 5 captures a genetic history across Scandinavia over 2,000 years, from the Iron Age to the present day. This look back at Scandinavian history is based on an analysis of 48 new …