Archaeology: Pharaoh who ruled in Egypt more than 3,500 years ago was caught in battle and executed 

A pharaoh who ruled southern Egypt 3,576 years ago was captured in battle against a foreign dynasty occupying the north and ceremonially executed, a study found. Experts from Egypt CT-scanned the mummy of pharaoh Seqenenre Tao — known as ‘the Brave’ — and revealed new details about the injuries that led to his death. He appeared to have been … Read more

Archaeology: Iron Age pottery discovered on St Kilda, the remote Scottish archipelago

St Kilda was inhabited 2,000 YEARS ago! Archaeologists discover Iron Age pottery on Scotland’s remote archipelago, indicating a community was ‘well established’ there Experts excavated a site in Village Bay, on the island of Hirta, from 2017–2019 The work was undertaken prior to the refurbishment of a military tracking base Radiocarbon dating indicated the island was inhabited … Read more

Archaeology: Ancient Chinese noblemen used cosmetics made from animal fat and cave ‘milk’ 

Chinese noblemen were using cosmetics made from animal fat and cave ‘milk’ on their faces some 2,700 years ago, a study has reported. Experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences excavated a nobleman’s tomb — filled with assorted grave goods — at the Liujiawa site in northern China. During the so-called ‘Spring and Autumn’ period (771–476 … Read more

Archaeology: Ancient purple thread found in Israel is of shade said to be worn by Biblical royals

Scraps of dyed thread unearthed in Isreal that date back 3,000 years match the descriptions of the purple garments worn by royalty like King Solomon in the Bible. Researchers from Isreal found remnants of woven fabric, a tassel and fibres of wool dyed in so-called ‘royal purple’ from a dig site in the Timna Valley. … Read more

Archaeology: Early humans used flint chopping tools to break animal bones 2.6 million years ago

Flint chopping tools were used by early humans beginning 2.6 million years ago to break animal bones and release the high-calorie marrow inside, a study has found. Researchers led from Germany and Isreal analysed the function of 53 similar chopping tools found at the 400,000-year old site of Revadim, east of Ashdod. Each chopping tool … Read more

Archaeology: Thousands of beads and brooches unearthed from Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Northamptonshire

Excavations of a massive Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Northamptonshire have revealed thousands of beads and brooches, along with weapons, textiles and other goods. Experts from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) uncovered the burial site at Overstone Gate amid preparations of the 15 hectare area for construction. Over the course of 12 months, the team identified 154 Anglo-Saxon … Read more

Archaeology: Ritual bath from the time of Jesus is found at the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem

Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a ritual bath, dating back to the time of Jesus, at Gethsemane — the place where Christ is said to have spent his last night. Isreal Antiquities Authority experts unearthed the remains — complete with the steps that would have led down into the water — at the foot … Read more

Archaeology: Neanderthals DID bury their dead, new analysis of a 41,000-year-old skeleton reveals

The remains of a two-year-old Neanderthal who died some 41,000 years ago had been lain carefully in a grave that was covered with fresh soil, a study has concluded. The poor child’s skeleton was unearthed in 1973 from a rock shelter at the La Ferrassie dig site in Savignac-de-Miremont, Dordogne, southwest France.  Researchers from France re-examined the … Read more

Archaeology: Ancient Amazons laid out their villages like a clock face to represent the cosmos

Ancient Amazonians laid out their settlements in circles 700 years ago — with radiating mounds and roads as may have represented the cosmos — a study found. Experts led from Exeter used lidar-based sensing equipment mounted on helicopters to see below the canopy of the overlying rainforest in south Acre State, Brazil. The 35 mounded … Read more

Archaeology: Stone Age dog buried with his master in Sweden revealed after months of excavation

After months of painstaking excavation work, the remains of a faithful dog of a long-vanished breed who was buried more than 8,400 years ago beside his master in a grave in Sweden have been revealed in their full glory. The Stone Age hound was unearthed by archaeologists in the Ljungaviken neighbourhood of Sölvesborg, Blekinge County back in late … Read more