Africa

Ancient places can be found all over Africa. Their fascinating histories and impressive artifacts open intriguing glimpses to times past, and open up a window on African history. Visiting such historical places in Africa 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 ancient African history articles, highlighting the most interesting archaeological sites all over Africa, as well as new discoveries of ancient places that are worth paying a visit.

Amazing street and architecture of Chefchaouen, Morocco, North Africa By Balate Dorin / Adobe Stock

8 August, 2020 - 13:58 Riley Winters

Chefchaouen: Morocco's Blue Pearl City

Chefchaouen (also known as Chaouen), Morocco's Blue Pearl city, is renowned for its old, traditional blue rinsed structures, casting the city in a luminescent colored hue. Situated high in the Rif...

Temple of Edfu passage with glowing walls of Egyptian hieroglyphs on either side. Source: Konstantin / AdobeStock

30 July, 2020 - 18:56 dhwty

Decrypting the Temple of Edfu and the Edfu Texts

Edfu city is located between Luxor and Aswan in the southern area of Egypt. The city, which is situated on the west bank of the Nile , is world famous for its temple, which was built during the...

Is Cleopatra's tomb at Taposiris Magna's temple?

14 July, 2020 - 22:15 Alicia McDermott

‘Sensational’ Find is NOT Cleopatra’s Tomb, But May Be a Clue

Taposiris Magna was just another archaeological site in Egypt until a rumor arose that the tomb of the famous Queen Cleopatra and her lover Mark Antony may be there. This location rises and fades...

Statuette of a woman from predynastic Egypt, 4th millennium BC (CC by SA 2.0)

29 June, 2020 - 23:02 Aleksa Vučković

Predynastic Egypt: Life Before the Pyramids

The history of Ancient Egypt spans several millennia and is filled with wonders and achievements which are veiled in mystery and the enigmatic secrets of distant times. For decades, the...

Ahmose I against Hyksos. Source: Public Domain

24 June, 2020 - 02:04 Aleksa Vučković

Ancient Egyptian Wars – Navigating the Millennia of Bloodshed

In the histories of great ancient empires there was one thing that was always a certainty: war. To maintain power, to achieve wealth, and to ensure the prosperity of the people, war had to be waged:...

Entrance to the Luxor Temple at sunset showing the obelisk and statues of pharaohs

4 May, 2020 - 14:02 dhwty

Luxor Temple: The Sacred Sanctuary With An Eternal Legacy

Luxor Temple is one of the most famous temple complexes in Egypt. This temple complex is situated on the east bank of the Nile River, in Luxor, the main city of Upper Egypt’s fourth nome. Luxor...

Reunification Monument, Yaoundé, Cameroon Source: Ngnogue.Z

23 April, 2020 - 01:30 Ed Whelan

Reunification Monument for a Divided Cameroon

Throughout Africa, many impressive monuments have been raised to commemorate the struggle for independence. Particularly striking is the Reunification Monument in Cameroon. It symbolizes the...

Beyond the Pyramid Ramp: Unravelling Egypt’s Most Elusive Enigma

4 April, 2020 - 13:47 Jonathon Perrin

Beyond the Pyramid Ramp: Unravelling Egypt’s Most Elusive Enigma

The mystery of how the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt were built continues to elude scholars, even in the 21 st century. As famed Egyptologist Flinders Petrie records in his The Pyramids and Temples of...

Top 15 interesting facts about ancient Egypt. Source: Maurizio / Adobe stock

31 March, 2020 - 18:59 Aleksa Vučković

Top 15 Interesting Facts About Ancient Egypt That You May Not Know

One of the greatest civilizations in our history belonged to the ancient Egyptians. It flourished in the fertile valleys of the world’s longest river - the Nile, where a magnificent civilization rose...

The inside of measuring shaft of the Roda nilometer. (Baldiri / CC BY-SA 3.0)

21 March, 2020 - 18:15 dhwty

Nilometers: Ancient Egypt’s Ingenious Invention Used Until Modern Times

For thousands of years, nilometers measured the water level of the Nile River during the annual flood season. This, in turn, was used to predict the fortunes of the annual harvest, the taxes to be...

The minaret of the Great Mosque of Kairouan. Source: robnaw / Adobe Stock.

20 March, 2020 - 00:57 dhwty

Minarets: The Lighthouses of Spiritual Calling

The minaret is one of the most recognizable elements of Islamic religious architecture. Essentially, the minaret is a tower attached to a mosque. In the past, the minaret served mainly as the from...

The Egyptian egg ovens are still in use by farmers still over 2,000 years later. Source: Lenny Hoferwerf / Courtesy of Food And Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2006) / Reproduced with permission

9 March, 2020 - 18:01 Aleksa Vučković

Ancient Egyptian Egg Ovens That Are Better Than Modern Tech

It is no secret that the ancient Egyptians left a lasting and impressive heritage. The relics of their time dot the world and are marveled by many - from the pyramids to the mummies, from imposing...

Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara now open

6 March, 2020 - 22:55 dhwty

The Magnificent Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara – Now Open!

The Great Pyramid of Khufu in Giza is arguably the most famous of all pyramids in Egypt, or in the world for that matter. Yet, this was not the first pyramid that was built by the ancient Egyptians...

Zinder old town Source: CC BY 2.0

3 March, 2020 - 01:40 Ed Whelan

Zinder Old Town, Celebrated Cultural Capital of Niger

The history of the Sahel in Africa is a rich and exciting one. Many remains of great empires and cultures have been found in the region, but one of the most remarkable sites is the old town of Zinder...

Remaining wall of Manyikeni, Mozambique Source: eduviajante

2 March, 2020 - 02:55 Ed Whelan

The Fascinating Links between Manyikeni and Great Zimbabwe

Until recently, relatively little of the great civilizations of sub-Saharan Africa has been known. The archaeological site at Manyikeni in Mozambique has provided remarkable insight into the culture...

The archeological site of Antongona Source: Photo by Tom Brouns

28 February, 2020 - 01:30 Ed Whelan

Antongona and the Mystery of the Early Madagascans

Madagascar is an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa and is most famous for its exquisite environment and unique wildlife, especially lemurs . It is the 4 th largest island in the world...

Nyanza Royal Palace, Rwanda Source: Photo by Momaa

26 February, 2020 - 01:47 Ed Whelan

The Contrasting Royal Palaces of Rwanda

Rwanda, known as the land of a thousand hills, is one of the best countries to spot gorillas in their natural habitat. It is emerging from a bloody past and is now one of the most dynamic societies...

Bunce Island, Sierra Leone, West Africa Source: robertonencini/Adobe Stock

11 February, 2020 - 01:53 Ed Whelan

Bunce Island and the Gate of No Return

One of the greatest atrocities committed against humanity throughout history was the slave trade which involved the enslavement of millions of men, women, and children. Many monuments have been...

Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, in the night sky. Source: Aliaksei / Adobe stock

5 February, 2020 - 18:19 Jonathon Perrin

Were Egypt’s Pyramids Megalithic Machines or Magical Mausoleums?

Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza were always my favorite ancient mystery growing up. I was forever debating whether they were high-tech super machines or massive tombs of the pharaohs. Their odd angled...

The Lost Labyrinth of Ancient Egypt

13 January, 2020 - 16:21 Joanna Gillan

The Lost Labyrinth of Ancient Egypt – Part 1

This I have actually seen, a work beyond words. For if anyone put together the buildings of the Greeks and display of their labours, they would seem lesser in both effort and expense to this...

Oshun, African Goddess of Love

25 December, 2019 - 12:28 dhwty

Oshun: African Goddess of Love and Sweet Waters

Across many ancient civilizations throughout the world, love was placed under the domain of a certain deity, usually, but not in all cases, a goddess. In the Classical world, for instance, there were...

A depiction of Ahmose fighting back the Hyksos from Egypt. Source: Public domain

19 December, 2019 - 13:45 dhwty

Did the Hyksos Pull Off a Peaceful Invasion of Egypt?

The Hyksos were a dynasty of kings who ruled over the northern part of Egypt during the 2 nd millennium BC. They were not native Egyptians, but came from the East, most likely Western Asia...

Tiya Stones, Intricately Carved Monoliths of Ethiopia

12 December, 2019 - 00:41 mrreese

The Intricately Carved Tiya Megaliths of Ethiopia

The Tiya stones are part of an archaeological site located in central Ethiopia, in an area known as the Gurage Zone. The 46 large, decorated Tiya megaliths have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage...

The stunning temple of Seti I in Abydos - Egypt

29 November, 2019 - 21:15 dhwty

The Stunning Temple of Seti I in Abydos, Egypt

Seti I is one of the lesser-known pharaohs of the New Kingdom period of ancient Egypt. However, his temple in Abydos is among the most famous, cited by many as the most impressive religious structure...

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