Ancient Civilizations - Part 2
71 reports
Puma-Headed Pottery Sheds Light on Rituals at Marcahuamachuco
Archaeologists at Marcahuamachuco in northern Peru have uncovered a unique puma-headed ceramic vessel and animal remains, offering new evidence for ceremonial practices and daily life at the site between 850 and 950 CE
How Solar Eclipses Shaped Ancient Views of the Cosmos
William Sheehan's new book examines the earliest recorded solar eclipses, including Archilochus's eyewitness account, and explores how these rare events influenced ancient astronomy and religious thought
Ancient Gordion Tomb Likely Built for King Midas' Father, Not Midas
Archaeologists at Gordion in central Türkiye have re-examined the so-called Midas Tumulus, concluding that the monumental burial mound was likely constructed for Gordias, the father of the legendary King Midas, based on new analysis of its structure and contents
3,000-Year-Old Spelt and Pottery Found in Submerged Italian Settlement
Archaeologists working beneath Lake Bolsena have recovered Late Bronze Age ceramics, preserved spelt, and wooden structures, offering new insight into prehistoric occupation and environmental preservation at Gran Carro di Bolsena
Aspendos Grave Yields Ancient Skeleton and Wrestler Coins
Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered a 2,400-year-old stone sarcophagus near Aspendos containing a human skeleton and silver coins depicting wrestlers, offering new evidence for the role of athletics in Classical-period society while raising questions about individual identity
Etruscan Ritual Well With Bronze Offerings and Skeletons Uncovered
Archaeologists at Kainua, near Marzabotto in northern Italy, have excavated a remarkably preserved Etruscan ritual well containing bronze figurines, a bronze plate, and two adult skeletons, offering new evidence for religious practices and urban foundation ceremonies
Roman Jupiter Altar Fragment Recovered from Danube Riverbed
Archaeologists have recovered a limestone altar fragment dedicated to Jupiter from the Danube near Dunaújváros, Hungary, after low water levels exposed rarely accessible riverbed areas. The find offers new evidence for Roman religious activity on the Pannonian frontier
Roman Villa With Mosaic and Bathhouse Unearthed in Devon
Excavations in Devon have revealed a Roman villa complex with a polychrome mosaic, bathhouse, and evidence of industrial activity, offering new insight into rural elite life and architectural change in southwest Britain during the Roman period
Moche Pottery Workshops Uncovered at Cerro Mayal in Northern Peru
Excavations at Cerro Mayal in Peru's Chicama Valley have revealed extensive evidence of Moche ceramic production, including molds, pottery waste, and workshop-house structures, offering new insight into the organization of ancient craft specialists
Maya Household Gardens Reveal Ancient Strategies for Food and Water
Archaeologists analyzing soils and settlement patterns in the Northern Maya Lowlands have identified evidence that ancient Maya households organized their domestic plots to support agriculture and manage rainwater, offering new insight into daily life beyond monumental centers
Early Classical Marble Statue Found at Sardis Reveals Lydian Traditions
Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,500-year-old marble statue at Sardis in western Turkey, offering rare evidence of early Classical monumental sculpture and highlighting the interplay of local Lydian and wider Mediterranean artistic traditions
Kazakhstan Burials and Artifacts Reveal Ancient Steppe Trade Links
Recent excavations in Kazakhstan have uncovered Bronze Age and medieval burials, artifacts, and evidence of long-distance trade, offering new insight into the region's prehistoric communities and their connections across Eurasia
LiDAR Reveals Monumental Earthworks of Ancient Amazonian Society
Aerial LiDAR mapping in southwestern Amazonia has identified thousands of previously unknown monumental earthworks, expanding the known scale of pre-Columbian landscape engineering and challenging assumptions about ancient Amazonian population density
LiDAR Uncovers Hundreds of Ancient Geoglyphs in Amazon Rainforest
Aerial laser scanning has revealed nearly 400 previously unknown earthworks beneath the Amazon rainforest canopy, offering new evidence for the scale and organization of the Aquiry society that flourished in western Brazil over two millennia ago
Early Roman Defenses and Rare Finds Unearthed at Vindonissa Camp
Archaeologists at Vindonissa, Switzerland's key Roman legionary camp, have uncovered the first confirmed section of its original defensive wall, a legionary barracks, and a rare gold coin, offering new evidence for the site's earliest military occupation
Ancient Egyptian Relief Fragment Shows Pharaoh Overcoming Foreign Foes
A painted sandstone relief from Luxor, created during the reign of Amenhotep II, depicts an Egyptian pharaoh defeating western Asian soldiers. Later reused in a temple foundation, the artifact offers insight into royal iconography and material reuse
Byzantine-Era Twin Infant Burial Discovered Near Temple of Artemis
Archaeologists have identified a 1,200-year-old grave containing two premature infants near the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Turkey, revealing rare evidence of twin burial and a genetic anomaly in one skeleton
Submerged Roman Port at Puteoli Reveals Ancient Trade Infrastructure
Archaeologists are mapping the underwater remains of Puteoli, Rome's early commercial port, using advanced survey methods to document warehouses, workshops, and a rare Nabataean temple preserved beneath the Bay of Naples
Earliest Maya Calendar Writing Identified at Calakmul Mural
Archaeologists have reconstructed a deteriorated mural from Calakmul, Mexico, revealing the earliest known calendrical inscription at the site. The find offers new evidence for early Maya writing traditions and ritual practice in the Late Preclassic period.
Roman Military Camp in Slovakia Reveals Unusual Soldier Burials
Archaeologists have identified a large Roman military camp near Šurany, Slovakia, containing hastily buried remains of soldiers and military equipment, offering new evidence for Roman campaigns during the Marcomannic Wars
Assyrian Royal Stele Discovered at Nineveh's Sun Gate
Archaeologists working at the Sun Gate of ancient Nineveh have uncovered a monumental Assyrian stele inscribed with records of King Ashurbanipal's building projects, offering new evidence for royal activity in the seventh century BCE
Hellenistic Ritual Dining Complex Uncovered at Gradište in North Macedonia
Archaeologists have identified a rare Hellenistic ritual dining complex at Gradište, North Macedonia, revealing evidence of elite religious practices, imported ceramics, and extensive trade connections during the fourth and third centuries BCE
Chancay Mummy Mask Reveals Ancient Funerary Practices in Peru
A wooden mask with human hair and cinnabar pigment, crafted by the Chancay people between 1000 and 1450 CE, offers new insight into pre-Inca mortuary traditions and the use of symbolic 'false heads' in Andean burial bundles
Cypriot Gold Ornaments Reveal Ancient Mediterranean Connections
Archaeologists have analyzed a cache of 3,400-year-old gold ornaments from chamber tombs at Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus, uncovering evidence of local craftsmanship influenced by Egyptian, Mycenaean, Minoan, and Near Eastern traditions
How Archaeologists Trace the Oldest Known Weapons in Human History
Archaeologists have identified several contenders for the world's oldest weapon, including wooden spears and stone points from sites in Africa and Europe. Careful analysis of context, material, and wear patterns helps distinguish weapons from other ancient tools
Roman Female Farm Managers Oversaw Wine and Oil Production
A new analysis of Roman-era texts and archaeological evidence reveals that women known as vilicae managed large-scale wine and olive oil production, challenging the long-held view that their roles were limited to domestic tasks
Gold Tongues in Egyptian Tombs and a New Monkey in Congo
Archaeologists have uncovered 18 tombs in Egypt containing gold tongue amulets, while researchers in the Congo rainforest have identified a new monkey species. These discoveries highlight both the complexity of ancient mortuary practices and the ongoing potential for finding new species.
Ancient Egyptian Princesses Show Evidence of Skilled Archery
Bioarchaeological analysis of Middle Kingdom royal women from Dahshur reveals skeletal adaptations consistent with regular archery and hunting, challenging assumptions that weapons in their tombs were only symbolic
Muscle Marks on Egyptian Royal Women Suggest Weapon Use, Study Debated
Analysis of nearly 4,000-year-old skeletal remains from Egypt's Middle Kingdom reveals pronounced upper-body muscle attachments in several royal women. Researchers propose these changes may reflect archery or weapon training, but experts urge caution
Survey Reveals Monumental Maya City at El Yesal in Campeche
Archaeologists have mapped and documented El Yesal, a major Maya settlement in Mexico's Balam kú Biosphere Reserve, using field survey and excavation to clarify its origins, architecture, and occupation history
Bronze Elamite Helmet Reveals Ancient Deities and Battlefield Symbolism
A rare bronze helmet from southwestern Iran, dated to 1500-1100 BCE, features gold-plated divine figures and a raptor motif. Researchers analyze its construction, iconography, and uncertain archaeological context to interpret its significance.
Iron Shackles at Allonnes Reveal Evidence of Celtic Slavery
Archaeologists have identified five pairs of iron restraints at a third-century BCE settlement in France's Loire Valley, providing rare direct evidence for the use of shackles and the possible presence of enslaved people in pre-Roman Gaul
Early Maya Mural at Calakmul Depicts Mythical Hero Juun Ajaw
A mural from Structure II at Calakmul, Mexico, has been identified as one of the earliest known depictions of the Maya figure Juun Ajaw. Researchers used digital reconstruction to analyze the mural's iconography and its architectural context
Eighth-Century Maya Astronomer's Name Found at San Bartolo-Xultun
Researchers have identified the name of a Maya mathematician and astronomer in wall inscriptions at the San Bartolo-Xultun site in Guatemala, revealing new details about scientific activity in the region during the eighth century CE
Excavation Reveals Urban Planning at Pre-Inca Huaylas Settlement in Peru
Archaeologists have uncovered a pre-Inca Huaylas settlement in Peru's Cordillera Negra, revealing evidence of urban planning, specialized craft production, and later Inca occupation through pottery, architecture, and workshop remains
Part 2 of 3