Ancient Places

Ancient places can be found all over the world. Their fascinating histories and impressive artifacts open intriguing glimpses to times past, and visiting such ancient places in the world can be an unforgettable experience.

Science is constantly discovering new archaeological places and uncovering more evidence into what we once thought we knew about our history, therefore offering new pieces to the ever changing puzzle of humanity’s past and altering how we interpret it. This section will present the most interesting archaeological sites all over the world, as well as new discoveries of ancient places that are worth paying a visit.

Spiegelrei canal at sunrise, Brugge, Flanders, Belgium. Source: JFL Photography/Adobe Stock

16 December, 2023 - 19:53 Robbie Mitchell

Secrets of the Best-Preserved Medieval City in Europe (Video)

Bruges, Belgium is a living reminder of medieval splendor, stands as a UNESCO World Heritage site , its charm echoing through well-preserved buildings and winding streets. As the gateway to the North...

A computer-generated image of the battle that is thought to have taken place on a remote mountainside south of Chur around 15 BC between Roman troops advancing northwards through the Alps and local Suanetes. Source: Courtesy of Leona Detig

15 December, 2023 - 21:52 ashley cowie

Lost Roman Battlefield in Switzerland Discovered Through Thousands of Artifacts

In 2019, a spectacular Roman dagger was metal detected in a remote region of the Swiss Alps. Now, a team of scientists and students have mapped a 2,000-year-old Roman battlefield representing the...

Copan Maya ruins in Honduras. Source: Rafal Cichawa/Adobe Stock

15 December, 2023 - 16:04 Robbie Mitchell

The Ancient Maya: How Did Such An Advanced Society Collapse? (Video)

In 1839, John Lloyd Stevens embarked on a challenging expedition into the dense jungles of Honduras, fueled by tales of a magnificent Maya city, Copan . The ruins he discovered presented an enigma: a...

Drawing of male Pict. Source: Public Domain

14 December, 2023 - 19:55 Robbie Mitchell

The Picts, the Scottish Tribe That Gave the Romans Hell (Video)

The Picts , a group dwelling north of the Forth–Clyde isthmus, in what is now Scotland, remain shrouded in mystery despite their historical notoriety. The term "Pict" emerged around the third century...

Andriamamelo cave art panel. Madagascar cave art is leading to curious conclusions. Source: Author provided

13 December, 2023 - 21:56 ancient origins

Madagascar Cave Art Reveals Captivating Africa-Asia Connections

David Burney / The Conversation Unique, prehistoric rock art drawings have been discovered in the Andriamamelo Cave in western Madagascar. I was part of a team that discovered and described these...

Great Zimbabwe wall and tower. Source: Jan Van Der Voort/Adobe Stock

13 December, 2023 - 19:58 Robbie Mitchell

Reclaiming African History- The Lost City Of Zimbabwe (Video)

In the heart of southern Africa lies Great Zimbabwe , a silent witness to the intricate tapestry of an ancient civilization. Initially dubbed the work of a mythical white society by colonialists, the...

Plague in an Ancient City by Michiel Sweerts. Source: Public Domain

13 December, 2023 - 00:54 Robbie Mitchell

Most Common Causes of Death in Ancient Rome and Greece (Video)

Life in ancient Greece and Rome was far from the glamorous tales we envision. High mortality rates were fueled by childbirth perils, with poor sanitation contributing to infant mortality. Malaria, an...

Archaeological excavations at the Interamna Lirenas site in central Italy's Lazio region have revealed the prominent remains of a theater. Source: Alessandro Launaro

12 December, 2023 - 21:57 Nathan Falde

Interamna, An Obscure Roman Village Escaped 3rd Century Decline of Empire

Two thousand years ago, the ancient Roman settlement of Interamna Lirenas in central Italy’s Lazio region was a typical remote Empire town. It was believed to have suffered the same fate as so many...

Ancient mud-brick city of Timbuktu, the most important center of the Malian Empire. Source: Uolir/Adobe Stock

12 December, 2023 - 16:00 Robbie Mitchell

The Malian Empire and the Richest Man in History (Video)

In 1235 AD, the Malian Empire emerged from the shadows of the fallen Ghanan Empire, its epic origins recounted in the oral tradition of West Africa. Sundiata Keita , the Lion King, plays a central...

Red Fort is a historic fort and UNESCO World Heritage Site at Delhi, which served as the residence of the Mughal Empire. Source: anjali04/Adobe Stock

11 December, 2023 - 19:58 Robbie Mitchell

How and Why Did the Mughal Empire Fall? (Video)

The Mughal Empire , once a formidable force, met its demise through a series of internal and external challenges. Originating from the Barlas tribe, the Mughals blended Mongolian roots with Persian...

The oldest fortified settlement sits atop a section of land overlooking the Amnya River. Source: Nikita Golovanov/Antiquity Publications Ltd

10 December, 2023 - 17:42 ashley cowie

World’s Oldest Fortress Discovered in Siberia Challenges Traditional Archaeology

The world's oldest fortress has been discovered in Siberia, dating to 8,000 years ago. This defensive complex reveals an ancient class structure, and like Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, it challenges...

AI generated illustration of Port Royal's Sunken City. Source: Declan Hillman/Adobe Stock

10 December, 2023 - 15:00 Robbie Mitchell

Pirates and the Earthquake that Destroyed Port Royal (Video)

Port Royal, once a den of pirates, faced divine retribution 325 years ago. The infamous city, labeled the 'Sodom of the West,' met its demise on June 7, 1692, at 11:43 a.m., when a powerful...

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 5, 2023 showing the archaeological site of a tomb dating back to the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-25 AD) in Wulong District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Source: Chongqing Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute/ Xinhua News

9 December, 2023 - 13:37 Gary Manners

2,200-year-old Tomb Packed With Artifacts and History Unearthed in China

On December 5, 2023, a major archaeological discovery was made in the Wulong District of Chongqing Municipality, located in Southwest China. A tomb dating back to the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-25...

Ancient China’s historic tradition and culture in a classic wall drawing in watercolor Asian style. Source: Matrioshka/Adobe Stock

8 December, 2023 - 16:00 Robbie Mitchell

Ancient China History Unveiled: Dynasties and Inventions (Video)

Ancient China's rich history, dynasties, and innovative spirit have left an enduring impact. From the mythical creation stories to scientific evidence of Homo erectus settling two million years ago,...

The impressive, restored 3,400-year-old pyramid mausoleum found in Kazkhastan. Source: Dr. Aibar Kassenali/Arkeonews

7 December, 2023 - 21:56 Nathan Falde

Stunning 3,400-Year-Old Pyramid in Kazakhstan Was a Monument to a Deceased Leader

In 2016 the remains of a fascinating pyramid-shaped monument were discovered in the windswept and largely deserted Karaganda region of central Kazakhstan . This five-layered stepped structure was...

Rakau Momori Moriori tree carvings. Source: Royston Vasey / CC BY-SA 3.0

5 December, 2023 - 21:51 Aleksa Vučković

Endangered Heritage: The Rakau Momori Tree Carvings of the Moriori

Wood carving, or whakairo , has a long and rich history in Maori culture. Traditionally, Maori artisans, utilizing woods like totara, kauri and pohutukawa, crafted intricate designs laden with...

Walls of the royal Tudor palace at Collyweston being excavated. Source: CHAPS

5 December, 2023 - 13:54 ashley cowie

A Lost Royal Palace in England Linked to Henry VIII Discovered by ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’

A group of amateur historical sleuths have spent the best part of the last decade searching the English countryside for a long-lost Tudor palace, that was famously visited by Henry VIII. Now they...

Aerial view on the Roman Colosseum in Italy. Source: dimabucci/Adobe Stock

3 December, 2023 - 19:54 Robbie Mitchell

This is What the Roman Colosseum Looked Like Back Then (Video)

The Colosseum , an emblem of ancient Rome, silently narrates the grandeur and brutality of a bygone era. Crafted under Emperor Vespasian's astute vision, it replaced Nero's opulent Domus Aurea,...

A depiction of the Great Library of Alexandria, a symbol of the intellectual epicenter of the ancient city of Alexandria. Right: Detail of Raphael's (1509–1511) impression of Euclid, teaching students Source: Microgen / Adobe Stock

2 December, 2023 - 18:00 Robbie Mitchell

What Made Alexandria the Intellectual Capital of the Ancient World?

The ancient city of Alexandria, nestled on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, held a unique and enduring status as the intellectual capital of its time. Its remarkable legacy as a hub for knowledge...

Archaeologists excavating at the site in Tainiaro forest, Finland. Source: Aki Hakonen/Antiquity Publications Ltd

2 December, 2023 - 13:59 Nathan Falde

6,500-Year-Old Arctic Site Might Be World’s Northernmost Ancient Cemetery

Signs of human use and occupation have been found at a lonely Artic outpost known as Tainiaro, which is located in the far-northern Finnish region of Lapland, just 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of...

Al Khazneh (The Treasury) in Petra. Source: Volodymyr Shevchuk/Adobe Stock

1 December, 2023 - 19:56 Robbie Mitchell

The Fascinating Hidden History of Petra (Video)

Nestled in a secluded valley surrounded by towering mountains, Petra reveals an intriguing narrative of architectural brilliance and cultural depth. The Siq, a narrow fault serving as the city's...

Modern Carthage sea view with ancient Carthage ruins in foreground. Source: Valery Bareta /Adobe Stock

1 December, 2023 - 01:00 Robbie Mitchell

How Carthage Became One of History’s Greatest Empires (Video)

Carthage's rise, often eclipsed by its tragic fall during the Punic Wars against Rome, unfolds as a tale of strategic brilliance and adaptability. Founded in modern-day Tunisia , the city...

Illustration based on osteobiography generated through analyses of remains excavated at cemetery of Cambridge hospital which offered what was, in essence, a medieval social benefit system Source: Mark Gridley / After the Plague

1 December, 2023 - 00:00 Nathan Falde

Cemetery Reveals Medieval Equivalent of Social Benefits System

Archaeologists from several universities in England teamed up to analyze the skeletal remains of more than 400 individuals who were buried in a medieval cemetery that belonged to St. John the...

A recent study, outlining what archaeologists consider the oldest known footprints in the United States, is giving rise to new inquiries and overturning established beliefs. Source: YouTube Screenshot/PBS NewsHour

30 November, 2023 - 19:58 Robbie Mitchell

Footprints in New Mexico - The First Humans in North America? (Video)

In the arid expanses of New Mexico's White Sands National Monument, a groundbreaking discovery challenges established notions of human history in North America. Archaeologists, led by David Bustos...

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