All  

Store Banner Mobile

Store Banner Mobile

Primary tabs

Joanna Gillan's picture

Joanna Gillan

Joanna Gillan is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. 

Joanna completed a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) degree in Australia and published research in the field of Educational Psychology. She has a rich and varied career, ranging from teaching children with autism in an early intervention program, owning and operating an online English teaching business, working as a research and project officer in the office of TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall and assistant in the office of Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as co-owning a website design and development company.

Joanna co-founded Ancient Origins with Dr Ioannis Syrigos. Together they immersed themselves in their personal passion for ancient history, mythology and human origins.  She loves learning about and experiencing other cultures and has spent time living in Australia, UK, Greece, Ecuador and Ireland and travelling to hundreds of historic sites around the world.

Joanna has written over 1,000 articles for Ancient Origins, some of which have been mentioned in the New York Times, CNN, Fox News, The Guardian, Peru Weekly, International Business Times, Spiegel and The Daily Mail. She has contributed as a guest writer for other media organizations, including The Epoch Times and iSpectrum Magazine, and has been interviewed on historical subjects on ten radio shows, including the BBC in the UK, and Newstalk in Ireland. She has also appeared on Ireland’s national TV channel, RTE, on the Today Show

History

Member for
6 years 1 day
Opt-in to Ancient Origins Newsletter (AC): 
No

Posts

Restaurante Botín. Source: Tamorlan / Adobe Stock.

Have a Seat at the Oldest Restaurant in the World (Video)

Dive into a portal to the past at the world's oldest continuously operating restaurant. With doors that first opened in 1725, Restaurante Botín boasts an impressive 293-year legacy. The restaurant's...
Deer Dance, Mexico. (Public Domain)

Guatemala’s Ancient Deer Dance of the Gods (Video)

Mayan dances hold a significant place in Guatemalan history and religion, with the ancient ritual of the deer dance playing a particularly pivotal role. Celebrated on the Feast of Corpus Christi, a...
Meena Raghavan, oldest practitioner of Kalaripayattu martial art. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Great Big Story.

At 74, This Woman is The Oldest Practitioner of an Indian Martial Art

Meena Raghavan embodies perseverance and determination in the world of Indian martial arts . At 74, she represents both history and tradition while also challenging age and gender barriers. Beginning...
Japanese carpentry miyadaiku. Source: Fergus Coyle / Adobe Stock.

Repairing Temples in Japan Without a Single Nail (Video)

In historical Japan , the luxury of using metal for construction was a costly endeavor out of reach for many carpenters. As a workaround, the ingenious "miyadaiku" carpenters, specialized in temple...
Dimitrios Katsikis pictured with one of his Greek armor creations. Credit: Dimitrios Karvountzis / Dimitrios Katsikis / Hellenic Armors.

Forging Forgotten Ancient Greek Armor (Video)

Dimitrios Katsikis, a self-taught master of the forgotten art of forging ancient Greek armor, is a time-keeper for the relics of yore. With his handcrafted tools and keen understanding of history, he...
Wuling Mountain Temples. Source: Weiming / Adobe Stock.

China’s Extraordinary Wuling Mountain Temples (Video)

Nestled in China's biodiverse Wuling mountain range is the majestic Fenjingshan, the highest peak in Guizhou province , towering about 8,000 feet above sea level. Believed to have formed between 2...
An ancient automata replica, Switzerland. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Great Big Story.

Building Ancient Robot Automata in Switzerland (Video)

Dwelling in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland, François Junod has dedicated his life to crafting animated sculptures, or automata . His fascination with mechanics started during his childhood and grew...
Giant panda cub in a tree in China. Source: Yoreh / Adobe Stock.

Giant Panda Skeleton Found in Ancient Royal Tomb in China

The skeletal remains of a giant panda have been unearthed from a royal tomb in China dating back approximately 2,000 years to the Western Han Dynasty . This find, not only sheds light on the...
Towards the rock-hewn church of Abuna Yemata Guh in Tigray Ethiopia. Source: Reto Ammann / Adobe Stock.

Abuna Yemata Guh: Ethiopia’s Chapel in the Sky (Video)

Northern Ethiopia's Tigray Region is renowned for its collection of rock-hewn churches , the most incredible of which is Abuna Yemata Guh, carved out of sandstone and perched 650 feet above a steep...
Two Japanese Kendo fighters. Source: Karramba Production / Adobe Stock.

How This Ancient Martial Art Helps Japanese Police Fight Crime (Video)

Mitsuru Hamasaki, a seasoned practitioner of the ancient Japanese martial art of kendo, has spent nearly 60 years honing his skills. A former police officer, Mitsuru has a unique perspective on the...
8,000-Year-Old footprints in Wales. Source: YouTube Screenshot / BBC.

The 8,000-Year-Old Footprints of Britain’s Ancient Hunters (Video)

In this insightful exploration, the presenter ventures to the coast of South Wales to unravel the fascinating story of an ancient group of hunters who lived there 8,000 years ago. Beneath the waves...
traditional medicine, Cambodia, healers, ingredients, healthcare

Reviving Ancient Healing Arts: Cambodia's Groundbreaking Approach to Healthcare (Video)

Traditional healers, with their deep knowledge of nature's bounty, have long played a pivotal role in providing healthcare in Cambodia . They use an array of natural ingredients, including dried...
Abandoned Indian village on the Columbia River. Source: Bob / Adobe Stock.

The Ancient Religion of the Columbia River (Video)

The Columbia River has played an indispensable role in the lives of Native American communities for thousands of years, serving not only as a source of sustenance but also as a spiritual and cultural...
Deserted ksar (representational). Source: Tupungato / Adobe Stock.

Mystery of the Desert: The Lost Cities of the Sahara (Video)

Deep within the desolate expanse of the Sahara in Niger , the mystery of lost civilizations becomes tantalizingly tangible in the form of ancient ksars or fortified villages. Located in Fachi, among...
The prehistoric Siberian bear. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Reuters.

3,500-Year-Old Bear Found in Siberian Permafrost Dissected (Video)

A unique discovery was made in early 2023, that has no known precedents worldwide: the fully preserved carcass of a 3,460-year-old brown bear , found in the Siberian permafrost. Before this, only...
Benin Bronze plaque. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.

Western Reactions to the Controversial Benin Bronzes (Video)

In the closing years of the 19th century, an extraordinary exhibit in London showcased the art of a culture considered foreign and "savage" by the prevailing Western mindset. This exhibit consisted...

Pages