50,000 soldiers believed buried by a cataclysmic sandstorm in 525 B.C
The remains of a mighty Persian army said to have drowned in the sands of the western Egyptian desert 2,500 years ago might have been finally located, solving one of archaeology's biggest outstanding mysteries, according to Italian researchers.
Bronze weapons, a silver bracelet, an earring and hundreds of human bones found in the vast desolate wilderness of the Sahara desert have raised hopes of finally finding the lost army of Persian King Cambyses II. The 50,000 warriors were said to be buried by a cataclysmic sandstorm in 525 B.C.
"We have found the first archaeological evidence of a story reported by the Greek historian Herodotus," Dario Del Bufalo, a member of the expedition from the University of Lecce, told Discovery News.50,000 soldiers believed buried by a cataclysmic sandstorm in 525 B.C
The remains of... more
Not bad for a first-timer, as four neck ornaments worth an estimated £1m, dating from 1st to 3rd BC, was unveiled to the media Wednesday at the National Museum of Scotland.
David Booth discovered the ornaments in a field in Stirlingshire with a metal detector, which he only working it for a few weeks. Under law, Scotland as a whole claim any archaeological objects found in that area. It will be valuated in London, but it'll be the most important hoard of Iron Age gold in Scotland to date.
Parts of the great hall described by Suetonius have been uncovered in the Domus Aurea, on the Palatine hill in RomeParts of the great hall described by Suetonius have been uncovered in the Domus Aurea,... more
Exhibition of seals from the prestigious Magnarini Collection: 429 of the most important exemplars in EuropeExhibition of seals from the prestigious Magnarini Collection: 429 of the most... more
An exhibition of everyday life in Rome, characterised by a joie de vivre that entailed nurturing both mind and body, is being held in TurinAn exhibition of everyday life in Rome, characterised by a joie de vivre that entailed... more
A Roman mosaic floor filled with scenes depicting pagan rites and oriental gods has emerged from the ground of a Catholic church in Italy, archaeologists announced.
The mosaic pavement, which measures 140 square feet and dates to the fourth century A.D., was unearthed at a depth of about 13 feet below the the ground's surface during archaeological investigations in the crypt of the Cathedral of Reggio Emilia, in central-northern Italy.
"The size and design of the mosaic pavement suggest that it formed the floor of a huge room. We believe this was the residence of a wealthy Roman," Renata Curina, the archaeologist in charge of the dig, told Discovery News.
The fact that depictions of pagan gods had lain for hundreds of years just a few meters under the cathedral doesn't come too much as a surprise, according to the archaeologist.
"The church was built on top of preexisting building structures. This is rather normal in Reggio Emilia. We can see that little care was taken of the mosaic floor, since pillars are built on top of it," Curina said.
Made up of small tesserae — tiny tiles — of different materials, which include colored stones, glass cameos and golden leaves, the intricate mosaic floor features geometric designs of circles and squares with little figures of dancers, flowers and birds such as magpies and peacocks.
What makes the mosaic unique, however, are three large mythological scenes.
"So far all scenes show naked figures. We are still trying to figure out their meaning. I believe that more clues might come to light as we continue to dig," Curina said.
The scenes are rather unusual. One shows a naked man falling into someone's arms, another displays two naked figures — a man and a woman — wearing jewels. The woman holds a just caught fish, while the man holds two live ducks.
Another extraordinary scene shows a naked man wearing an ivy crown and holding a lotus flower in his right hand.
In his left hand, the mysterious character holds a lituus. This is a crooked cane which in ancient Rome was used by the augurs as a cult instrument. The cane was regarded as a symbol of a priestly group.
The augurs were religious officials who observed natural signs, such as the flight of birds, in order to interpret them as indications of divine approval or disapproval.
"Symbols such as the lotus flower and the ivy crown might hint that this was a private room dedicated to the cult of oriental gods," Curina said.
According to Luigi Malnati, superintendent of archaeological heritage in Emilia Romagna, such pagan scenes must have been pieced together before 380 A.D., the year when the emperor Theodosius proclaimed Christianity the state religion. Indeed, a series of decrees in 391-392 A.D. banned and punished pagan cult practices within the empire.
"This is one of the most important and interesting mosaics in northern Italy. It stands out for its size, design and refined technique," Malnati said.
Roger Ling, a professor of classical art and archaeology at the University of Manchester, U.K., and the author of "Ancient Mosaics," agreed. "It's a sensational discovery," Ling told Doscovery News.
Once fully detached and restored, the mosaic will be put on display at a local museum...A Roman mosaic floor filled with scenes depicting pagan rites and oriental gods has... more
Originally posted by MbuhirThe only problem is, the only explanation is that the water level was once much lower. Japan didn't break off of Asia, it was formed by volcanic activity and the smashing of two plates. Last time the water would have been low enough would have been somewhere around the ice age (not sure if before, during, or after).
I also remember, from my Asian history class, that the first Chinese emperor (First ever, Qin dynasty) introduced a lot of advanced technology to China. Perhaps something bad happened in the region of Korea and Japan, resulting in the fall of an empire (or the splitting) and the first emporer of China was from that empire.Originally posted by MbuhirThe only problem is, the only explanation is that the water... more
LONDON - Archaeologists have discovered a smaller prehistoric site near Britain's famous circle of standing stones at Stonehenge.
Researchers have dubbed the site "Bluehenge," after the color of the 27 Welsh stones that were laid to make up a path. The stones have disappeared but the path of holes remains.LONDON - Archaeologists have discovered a smaller prehistoric site near Britain's... more
An exhibition dedicated to the art of painting during the Empire being held at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome compares artworks created using various techniques which have produced artefacts and styles unlike those to have come out of Pompeii and HerculaneumAn exhibition dedicated to the art of painting during the Empire being held at the... more
WASHINGTON – The story of humankind is reaching back another million years as scientists learn more about "Ardi," a hominid who lived 4.4 million years ago in what is now Ethiopia. The 110-pound, 4-foot female roamed forests a million years before the famous Lucy, long studied as the earliest skeleton of a human ancestor.
This older skeleton reverses the common wisdom of human evolution, said anthropologist C. Owen Lovejoy of Kent State University.
Rather than humans evolving from an ancient chimp-like creature, the new find provides evidence that chimps and humans evolved from some long-ago common ancestor — but each evolved and changed separately along the way.WASHINGTON – The story of humankind is reaching back another million years as... more
The largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found has been unearthed on farmland in Staffordshire by a metal detector enthusiast, archaeologists revealed today.
Terry Herbert, 55, from Burntwood, came across the huge treasure estimated to be worth more than £1 million as he searched a field near his home. The exact location of the discovery has not been disclosed but it is understood to be near the Lichfield border in South Staffordshire, in what was once the independent Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia.
Experts said that the collection of more than 1,500 military artefacts, including helmet, sword pommel and sword hilt ornaments possibly looted on the field of battle 1,400 years by a victorious warlord, may have belonged to Saxon royalty.
The hoard contains around 5kg of gold and 2.5kg of silver, far bigger than previous finds such as the Snettisham hoards. Some of it was lying in the open on top of the ploughed field.The largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found has been unearthed on farmland in... more
Two concurrent exhibits, one at the Archeological Park of Scolacium and one at the MARCA of Catanzaro, display works by the U.S. artist who contributed to changing the lexicon of contemporary art. Sculptures, models and installations play off of the surrounding environment and make for an unusual vision of the areaTwo concurrent exhibits, one at the Archeological Park of Scolacium and one at the... more
Stephen Brusatte, from the American Museum of Natural History in New York, who worked on the finds, said: "Much of what we thought we knew about tyrannosaur evolution turns out to be simplistic or out and out wrong."Stephen Brusatte, from the American Museum of Natural History in New York, who worked... more
The Artea project, part of the wider Diarcheo plan, includes Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan and 14 Italian Regions. The goal is to preserve and promote Italy's theatrical sites through new theatrical productionsThe Artea project, part of the wider Diarcheo plan, includes Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia,... more
This is an engraved gemstone carrying a portrait of Alexander the Great. The gemstone was found in the course of recent excavations at Tel Dor. No'a Raban-Gerstel, University of HaifaThis is an engraved gemstone carrying a portrait of Alexander the Great. The gemstone... more
In terms of our civilization and history, we ("we" in the so-called western world) need to keep in mind while reading this article is that our chidlren are still taught today that first came the Egyptians, followed by the Greeks and then the Romans and - poof - here we are. Roughly speaking, 12,000 years ago is about the timeframe when Plato said Atlantis disappeared. It is also the timeframe of mass catastrophes, sparked by astronomical impact, which caused the glaciers to melt rather quickly and form massive glacial lakes, whose mile-high ice dams eventually collapsed, sweeping into the ocean all before them.In terms of our civilization and history, we ("we" in the so-called western world)... more
Archaeologists in Ireland have uncovered a 3,000 year old barrel of what was once butter (now adipocere, yummy) in a bog.
I think this is pretty cool, in a vaguely gross sort of way. (Especially the part where someone has tasted bog butter---um, ew.)Archaeologists in Ireland have uncovered a 3,000 year old barrel of what was once... more
Rich with marble and mosaics, a vast, newfound ruin near Rome is likely the 2,000-year-old birthplace of Emperor Vespasian, who commissioned the Colosseum, archaeologists say.Rich with marble and mosaics, a vast, newfound ruin near Rome is likely the... more
Archaeologists in Italy say they have unearthed the remains of a sumptuous villa thought to be the birthplace of the Emperor Vespasian.Archaeologists in Italy say they have unearthed the remains of a sumptuous villa... more
The summer villa of Roman Emperor Vespasian has been found in the Sabine hill country northeast of Rome, Italian archaeologists announced today.The summer villa of Roman Emperor Vespasian has been found in the Sabine hill country... more
