Archaeologists have uncovered a Roman arena in Turkey that was ‘just like Rome’s Colosseum’ and would have hosted gladiator fights for some 20,000 spectators. The find, a national first, was revealed as part of excavations of Mastaura, an ancient city in Aydin Province. The arena was partly buried and hidden by vegetation. Its remains are well preserved … Read more
After vanishing for 62 years and ending up as a coffee table, a mosaic that adorned the bridge of one of Emperor Caligula’s lavish pleasure barges has returned to Italy. The 2,000-year-old, 5 sq. foot red, green and white pattern was recovered from the bottom of Lake Nemi — 19 miles south of Rome — … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
Ancient Maya water purification system developed over 2,000 years ago in Guatemala ‘would still work today’, study shows By Ian Randall For Mailonline Published: 12:00 GMT, 26 October 2020 | Updated: 12:05 GMT, 26 October 2020 The ancient Maya people of Mesoamerica developed one of the world’s oldest water purification systems — and it would … Read more
Osteopetrosis is a bone disease that makes bones abnormally dense and prone to breakage. Researchers have described several major types of osteopetrosis, which are usually distinguished by their pattern of inheritance: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or X-linked. The different types of the disorder can also be distinguished by the severity of their signs and symptoms. … Read more
Fire was used to make tools by our early human ancestors some 300,000 years ago, an analysis of flint blades unearthed in a cave east of Tel Aviv has revealed. Researchers from Israel studied stone blades, flakes and pot-lids from the Qesem cave — and discovered evidence that they had been exposed to controlled fires. Exposing … Read more