11.
Arca Ferrata
Archaeologists in Spain recently hit the jackpot when they found the remains of a wooden safe
in a Roman villa.
Known as an arca ferrata it is an actual ark- you know, like the ark of the covenant!
Rich people in Roman times would use them to keep their valuables safe just like you
would today.
These types of chests were typically used for storing clothes, jewelry, money, important
documents, and other objects of monetary and sentimental value.
To prevent the boxes from being stolen, families nailed them to the walls of their homes.
This Ark Ferrata is a large, four-legged wooden chest covered in gold, bronze, and iron measuring
3.1 by 2.9 feet (98 x 95 cm) and is adorned with ancient symbols including laurel branches,
a horn of plenty, a Roman dish called a patera, a Greek sun hat called a petaso, and of course
Greek and Roman deities, including Cupid, Apollo, and Mercury.
The discovery of this box came as quite the surprise because there are not many artifacts
like this preserved from the Roman Empire, with just only 4 others found in Spain and
most of the rest in Pompeii.
The ark was excavated from the ruins of a luxurious villa.
It appears as though the villa caught fire, forcing its occupants to flee.
Sadly, part of the house collapsed onto the box, and it was found in pretty bad shape.
However, archaeologists are pretty confident they can restore it and are slowly working
little by little to bring it back to its former glory!
10.
Lost Monastery
Historical records mentioned the presence of an Anglo-Saxon monastery in Berkshire,
England that was run by a powerful Mercian Queen (Cynethryth).
But until recently, nobody knew where it was.
Historians knew Queen Cynethryth became this monastery’s abbess after her husband, King
Offa, died in 796 A.D.
As the wife of the man who ruled over the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Mercia, she was one
of the most powerful women of her time.
The site was part of a larger network of monasteries along the Thames, which prospered at a time
when the river was part of an important trade route.
Archaeologists from the University of Reading finally discovered and excavated the monastery
last summer, 2021!
They located it on a gravel island that serves as the grounds of the Holy Trinity Church
in the village of Cookham.
At the site, which is situated near the Thames River, the team found the remains of wooden
buildings that once housed those who lived at the monastery.
Another part of the site appears to have been used for metalworking.
The team also discovered some of the former residents’ personal belongings, including
pottery, cooking vessels, clothing, and jewelry.
Experts know very little about what life was like at the monastery, making the breakthrough
discovery especially important.
They plan to study the artifacts found at the site in hopes of gaining some insight
into the daily lives of the people who lived here, and especially the life of one of the
most powerful women of the Early Middle Ages.
The next step is trying to locate her final resting place.
9.
Embracing Lovers
While excavating an ancient cemetery in northern China’s Shanxi province last year, archaeologists
discovered the well-preserved skeletons of two lovers embracing.
The pair were found lying on their sides with their arms wrapped around one another and
the woman’s face buried into the man’s shoulder.
It’s the first time a couple has been found buried like this in China.
According to a recently published report, the couple most likely lived during the Northern
Wei dynasty that occupied much of the country’s northern and central regions and lasted from
386 to 534 A.D.
Based on signs of trauma on the male skeleton, the paper speculates that the man passed away
first, and that the woman may have committed suicide so she could be laid to rest with
him.
It’s also possible that they died together in some sort of conflict or from an illness.
People living under the Northern Wei dynasty increasingly valued the concept of an afterlife
as Buddhism became more popular, according to study co-author Qun Zhang.
This could explain why the couple was positioned the way they were since ideals about love
were constantly changing and perhaps this couple believed they were going to be together
in the afterlife.
Researchers were intrigued to find a simple metal ring on the woman’s left hand.
While experts typically hesitate to associate discoveries like this with love and marriage,
the overall context of the grave suggests that perhaps the jewelry symbolized the pair’s
commitment to each other.
Material displays of love are rarely found in ancient burials, making the discovery of
the intertwined lovers especially surprising.
8.
Bronze Age Treasure
A farmer in Poland recently uncovered some ancient treasure in his field!
He found an entire collection of some mysterious ancient objects while removing some rocks
so he stopped his work and contacted local experts, who excavated the site.
The artifacts include bronze daggers, an axe, a chisel, a hatchet, and several ornamented
staffs called scepters.
It turns out that they belonged to the enigmatic Únětice culture of central Europe.
This culture was around from roughly 2300 to 1800 B.C., near the beginning of the region’s
Bronze Age.
Around 1,400 archaeological sites from various subgroups have been found in the Czech Republic,
Poland, Germany, Austria, and Ukraine.
Researchers said it’s extremely rare to find any artifacts from these ancient people,
let alone a whole collection of them together!!
These bronze Age people may have hidden this collection of artifacts during times of war,
and someone was probably hoping to come back for it later!
This was not the only recent surprising archaeological discovery in the region either!!
Earlier this year, nearby residents found a bronze bracelet and notified local authorities.
Archaeologists traveled to the site and unearthed hundreds of items, including bronze ornaments,
jewelry, parts of a horse harness, and a broken vessel.
The variety and amount of objects made the find especially valuable.
These artifacts were traced to the Lusatian culture, which existed from 1300 B.C. to 500
B.C. during the Late Bronze and Early Iron ages.
Who knows what other treasures from little-known cultures might be popping up soon!?
7.
Ancient Coin Hoard
When one family decided to go camping at Habonim Beach in northern Israel recently, they probably
didn’t expect to stumble upon any archaeological artifacts.
To their surprise, they found a 13-pound (6 kg) mass of ancient coins that had become
stuck together after sitting in the water for centuries!!
Yotam Dahan, who discovered the coins, posted photos of the fascinating find on social media.
The post caught the attention of staff members from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA),
who contacted Dahan and asked him to lead them to the exact site where he found the
coins.
An expert dated the clumped currency to the fourth century.
Yaakov Sharvit, who heads the IAA’s marine archaeology department, told the Jerusalem
Post that the coins may have come from an ancient ship that was sailing in the Mediterranean.
He further explained that it was sadly common for vessels and their cargo to wash ashore,
and that there are many archaeological sites along the beach.
Whoever lost their huge coin stash was probably not very happy about it, and maybe got in
big trouble!!
Dahan turned the coins over to the IAA and received a certificate of appreciation in
return.
6.
Graves in Poland
As Germany faced imminent defeat in 1945 toward the end of World War II, Nazis scrambled to
hide evidence of their war crimes.
Hundreds of prisoners were marched into the woods of northern Poland and shot to death
at close range.
Their remains were buried in shallow mass graves.
There were a few witnesses of these killings and another massacre that had occurred several
years earlier in 1939, but while the locals knew this tragedy had occurred no one really
knew where this had happened.
And a lot of people kept quiet.
Finally, excavations near the village of Chojnice yielded physical evidence of the atrocities.
In addition to finding human bones, archaeologists unearthed jewelry, cigarette lighters, bullet
casings, and more.
Many things like this occurred in the forests but these sites are rarely studied out of
respect for Jewish beliefs that prohibit disturbing human remains.
The creepy discoveries were made in an area nicknamed “Death Valley,” where Nazis
murdered hundreds of priests, intellectuals, disabled people, and Jewish families.
While people have long known about the horrific acts, the study yielded rare archaeological
insight into this dark chapter in history.
Personal effects found at the site have helped to identify many of the victims, but it’s
unlikely that every person will be identified due to the sheer number of remains.
Experts are performing DNA tests in an effort to name more victims and bring closure to
their surviving relatives.
5.
White-Haired Skeleton At Pompeii
Archaeologists working at Pompeii recently discovered the exceptionally well-preserved
skeleton of a wealthy former slave named Marcus Venerius Secundio.
The remains are so intact, they contain the man’s white hair, a portion of his ear,
and clothing fragments.
After being freed from slavery, Secundio became a priest and helped stage performances in
Greek, according to an inscription on his tomb.
He achieved a high social standing and died at around 60 years old, several decades before
Mount Vesuvius erupted and encased the ancient city in ash.
In an official statement, Pompeii Archaeological Park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel explained
that the burial provides the first solid evidence of the Greek language being used alongside
Latin.
He further stated that the findings reflect the city’s “lively and open cultural climate.”
Secundio’s body remained in its remarkable state because his tomb was hermetically sealed.
The burial is surprising because at the time, adults were usually cremated.
Only small children were typically buried.
Alongside the man’s body, the team found two urns that were used for holding cremated
human remains.
One bears the inscription “Novia Amabilis,” which means “kind wife.”
Experts are currently working to determine if Secundio’s remains were deliberately
preserved.
They plan to analyze the fabric fragments for traces of embalming chemicals.
In the meantime, park staff are considering the possibility of making the area the tomb
was found in accessible to the public.
4.
Rare Fighting Blade
While searching for a lost battlefield site in north-central Poland earlier this year,
archaeologists unexpectedly discovered a rare langsax long knife in nearly perfect condition.
The blade was found in the Wdecki Landscape Park, where experts believe a battle may have
occurred during the Polish-Pomeranian conflict of 1091 A.D.
But the knife likely had nothing to do with the skirmish.
It appears to be a so-called “loose find,” according to archaeologist Mateusz Sosnowski,
who explained in a statement that there’s no evidence that the artifact has a “wider
connection” to its surroundings.
He described the size of the blade as “impressive,” adding that it “could easily measure up
against double-edged swords from that period.”
So how did such a valuable ancient weapon end up here?
Maybe someone dropped it??
The weapon could date as far back as the 8th century, and that it may be Norwegian, pointing
toward possible Viking origins.
The tip of the blade is slightly bent, but it otherwise contains no visible damage.
The team plans to perform metallographic tests on the knife in hopes of learning more about
it.
3.
Fireproof Shingles
Colonial Williamsburg once consisted of 89 original buildings including the Powder Magazine,
an octagonal building that was built in 1715.
It was originally used for storing gunpowder and firearms and later functioned as a stable
and then a church.
In 1930, the structure was restored as part of the site’s living history museum.
Researchers long believed that the Powder Magazine was originally equipped with flammable
wooden shingles, but they recently learned otherwise.
While excavating near the building, a team led by archaeologist Jack Gary found several
small clay roof tiles.
The discovery, which happened just weeks into a three-month excavation project, highlights
the fact that there’s still a lot experts don’t know about the former capital of Virginia.
Speaking with The Virginia Gazette, Gary explained that the shingle warrants a “major reinterpretation”
of the Powder Magazine.
He hopes to find more fascinating artifacts throughout the remainder of the dig, which
will help to paint a more accurate picture of the original building and any changes that
need to be made to the restored version.
Have any of you visited this site?
Let me know in the comments below!
2.
Ancient Body Modification
People have been getting piercings and tattoos and practicing body modification for thousands
of years!
Gabon is a country located along the Atlantic coast of central Africa.
While excavating a cave filled with human remains in Ngounié Province, archaeologists
found evidence that during ancient times, people practiced body modification techniques
that were unique to the area.
The team determined that the remains belong to at least 28 people who lived during the
14th and 15th centuries.
They were both male and female and varied in age.
Their bodies were dropped or lowered into the cave along with valuable metal grave goods
like axes and jewelry, indicating that the deceased were of high social ranking.
The adults’ incisor teeth had been removed earlier in their lives, drastically altering
the shape of their face.
This may have been done to identify them as belonging to a certain group or status.
While dental modification was common in ancient Africa, this particular practice has never
been seen before.
Reaching the site is no easy task.
Because the cave is only accessible through a hole in the ceiling, the team had no choice
but to rappel 82 feet (25 meters) to the bottom.
They plan to return for further investigation and hope to obtain DNA from the remains.
1.
The Size Of Humans
In a recent study, researchers measured and examined the body and brain size of 300 fossils
from the Homo genus found in various places throughout the world.
They analyzed the data in combination with a reconstruction of regional climates over
the last million years and came to some surprising conclusions!
It looks like the climate and the weather really impacted the size of early people.
The research encompassed various species, including Neanderthals, Homo habilis, and
other extinct members of the human family tree.
Generally speaking, however, the Homo genus has demonstrated a trend of developing larger
bodies and brains over time.
But the team found that early people evolved to have larger bodies in colder regions.
It’s thought that a bigger size protects against frigid temperatures because bigger
bodies lose less heat.
Study leader Andrea Manica attributes these changes directly to climate and temperature.
He cited living evidence of this in the fact that people who are native to warm regions
tend to be smaller than those who live in colder climates.
Brain size, on the other hand, seems to have nothing to do with climate.
The researchers found that ancient humans with larger brains tended to live in habitats
that lacked vegetation but were ecologically stable.
Manica believes that people who lived in places like grasslands and open steppes may have
developed bigger brains as a result of hunting large animals for food, which was an arguably
complex task that demanded ample brain energy.
The researchers did say that you shouldn’t worry too much about the study to see how
our bodies might change in the future.
There’s other things to worry about!