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.

Hide tanning in Morocco. Source: Jorge / Adobe Stock.

7 May, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

Ancient Tradition of Hide Tanning is a Foul and Dirty Job (Video)

In the ancient alleys of Fez , Morocco lies a 600-year-old tannery infamous for its foul stench. The tannery is a place where animal hides go through a filthy and smelly process to be transformed...

A reconstruction of Lucy, an Australopithecus afarensis. Source: procy_ab / Adobe Stock.

5 May, 2023 - 16:49 Robbie Mitchell

The Life and Death of ‘Lucy’ on The Prehistoric Savanna (Video)

Imagine a world vastly different from ours, teeming with creatures long extinct, and ancient human ancestors struggling to survive against all odds. That was the African savanna roughly 3.5 million...

Egyptian mummy. Source: esebene / Adobe Stock.

4 May, 2023 - 21:01 Robbie Mitchell

The Accidental Mummy: How Did Mummification Begin? (Video)

Mummification has long been an area of interest in history, and the potential origins of this practice have been a subject of discussion for some time. A possible explanation was discovered in the...

Detail of the 1,900-year-old statue of the Buddha found at Berenike, an ancient port city in Egypt by the Red Sea. Source: Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities

3 May, 2023 - 18:43 Sahir

Statue Reveals Buddhists Likely Mingled with Roman’s In Egypt

Ancient history is replete with examples of cross-cultural ties that have transcended all kinds of boundaries, even before telecommunications and travel existed the way we know today. A reminder of...

Egyptian pharaoh. Source: Ivan / Adobe Stock.

3 May, 2023 - 02:00 Robbie Mitchell

How Egyptian Pharaohs Projected Divine Power (Video)

For centuries, the imposing monuments of Giza have fascinated people from all over the world. From the Great Sphinx of Giza, with its massive stature and enigmatic smile, to the sun temple of Pharaoh...

Ancient Koumbi Saleh, a busy center of trade. Source: dasom/Adobe Stock

30 April, 2023 - 18:16 Lex Leigh

Gold, Salt, and Islam: The Story of Koumbi Saleh

Koumbi Saleh was one of the most important economic centers in West Africa during its peak around the 9th century. This wealthy trade city was once a hub of economic activity, with trade, agriculture...

What Was Daily Life in Ancient Egypt Really Like? (Video)

29 April, 2023 - 20:55 Robbie Mitchell

What Was Daily Life in Ancient Egypt Really Like? (Video)

The ancient civilization of Egypt has long been a source of intrigue and fascination for people around the world. From the monumental pyramids to the mysterious hieroglyphs , the culture and history...

Ancient Egypt hieroglyphics. Source: Andrii Vergeles / Adobe Stock.

26 April, 2023 - 20:58 Robbie Mitchell

15 Incredible Discoveries from Ancient Egypt (Video)

Egypt is a civilization that continues to fascinate, enlighten, and puzzle people to this day. Archaeologists are constantly discovering new artifacts and learning more about this ancient...

Vanilla beans. Source: ankreative / Adobe Stock.

22 April, 2023 - 21:03 Robbie Mitchell

The Plight of Madagascar's Vanilla Farmers: A Battle Against Theft and Poverty (Video)

Vanilla, the second most expensive spice in the world, is worth its weight in gold . Its unique flavor and fragrance are highly sought after by chefs and food enthusiasts around the globe. However,...

African king. Source: Aleksandr Borisenko / Adobe Stock.

16 April, 2023 - 17:02 Robbie Mitchell

The Life and Times of Mansa Musa: The Richest Man in History

Mansa Musa , the ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century, is believed to be the wealthiest person in history, with a net worth of $400 billion in today's dollars. For reference, that’s four...

The Bansa, or residence of the King of Kongo, and capital of the Kingdom of Kongo was called St. Salvador or Mbanza-Kongo, seen here in 1745. (Public domain)

10 April, 2023 - 14:55 Robbie Mitchell

The Rise and Fall of Central Africa’s Mighty Kingdom of Kongo

Nestled between the Congo River and the Atlantic Ocean lies a hidden gem of African history: the Kingdom of Kongo. Despite its vast territory spanning modern-day Angola, Congo and Gabon, this...

Moses parting the Red Sea. (pozitivo / Adobe Stock)

28 March, 2023 - 22:59 Annette Duckworth

Why Mount Sinai is in Egypt and Other Exodus Enigmas

Historians have dedicated significant efforts to authenticating the biblical narratives of the Exodus. Despite their best efforts, the actual locations of the events described in the account remain...

Amazing African elephant with dust and sand and large ivory tusks. Source: byrdyak/Adobe Stock

26 March, 2023 - 18:39 Robbie Mitchell

Blood-Stained Ivory: The Dark History of the Trade in Elephant Tusks

The ivory trade is a story as old as human civilization, filled with tales of adventure, greed, and exploitation. For millennia, ivory has been prized for its beauty, rarity, and versatility, making...

Old ruined Ottoman harbor of Suakin, Sudan. Source: robnaw/AdobeStock

24 March, 2023 - 00:40 Lex Leigh

The Forgotten Ghost Town of Suakin: A Journey Into Its Thriving Past

Once a thriving port filled with bustling commerce and stunning architecture, the abandoned town of Suakin, Sudan now sits as a crumbling remnant of its past. This town was once known as one of the...

Representation of decans, zodiac signs used to measure the twelve hours of the night, on the ceiling of the Temple of Esna. On the left pre-restoration and on the right post-restoration. Source: Ahmed Emam / Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

22 March, 2023 - 17:56 Sahir

Archaeologists Discover Rare Zodiac Carvings at Egypt's Temple of Esna

Archaeologists engaged in restoration and re-coloring work at the Temple of Esna in Egypt have succeeded in uncovering a remarkable representation of celestial bodies together with all 12 signs of...

Male figure, 14th-17th century and female figure, 13th-–15th century. Source: Sailko/CC BY 3.0 /Musée du quai Branly/CC BY-SA 3.0

17 March, 2023 - 13:53 Lex Leigh

Clay Wonders: The Handmade Figurines of Djenne-Djenno

Amidst the vast expanses of the Malian region, there once flourished a remarkable civilization. How do we know? The unique terracotta figurines of Djenne-Djenno give historians a glimpse into the...

Khufu pyramid from the northeast view. Source: dynamofoto/Adobe Stock

17 March, 2023 - 00:54 Niels Bjerre Jo...

Is There More to the Mechanics of the Great Pyramid?

At the beginning of March, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities (MOTA) announced a newly discovered chamber above the main (North) entrance to the Pyramid of Khufu, also known as the Great...

Nikola Tesla Revealed an Astounding Theory About the Pyramids (Video)

15 March, 2023 - 16:00 Joanna Gillan

Nikola Tesla Revealed an Astounding Theory About the Pyramids (Video)

Nikola Tesla was a brilliant inventor whose contributions to the fields of electrical engineering and physics revolutionized the modern world. However, in addition to his many groundbreaking...

Unique monolithic rock-hewn Church of St George, Lalibela, Ethiopia. Credit:Dmitry Chulov / BigStockPhoto

12 March, 2023 - 21:53 johnblack

The Astonishing Architecture of Lalibela’s Monolithic Rock-Hewn Churches

In the heart of Ethiopia, there lies a town of unparalleled beauty and wonder. Lalibela is home to eleven monolithic rock-hewn churches, the largest of their kind in the world, which have been...

Terracotta statues made by the Nok. (Public Domain)

5 March, 2023 - 21:53 Joanna Gillan

The Highly Advanced and Mysterious Ancient Civilization of the Nok

The remarkable civilization of the Nok was first discovered in 1928 when a wealth of unique terracotta artifacts was unearthed by tin miners in the southern part of Kaduna state in central Nigeria...

Montage showing the famous Nefertiti bust in Berlin, over images of sunrise over the Nile in Middle Egypt, near Amarna, (background), and the Valley of the Queens, West Bank, Luxor. Source: Giovanni from Firenze/ CC BY 2.0, background; © Jonathon A. Perrin

3 March, 2023 - 21:58 Jonathon Perrin

“Nefer Say Nefer” - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens?

She may be ancient Egypt’s most famous face, but the quest to find the eternal resting place of Queen Nefertiti has never been hotter. Thanks to the now-iconic limestone/plaster bust of her found in...

East-West cut view of the Great Pyramid and front view of the North face Chevron area. Source: Scan Pyramids/ Nature

3 March, 2023 - 13:54 ashley cowie

Egyptologists Reveal a Lost Chamber in the Great Pyramid With Cosmic Rays

Egyptologists have announced the discovery of a secret chamber located right above the main entrance to the Great Pyramid of Egypt. However, what it was created for is still a mystery. On Thursday,...

Representational image of a fake Egyptian tomb interior. Source: Amith / Adobe Stock

22 February, 2023 - 17:45 ashley cowie

Fake Egyptian Tomb Fraudsters Almost Pull Off Legendary Hoax

Egypt’s Public Prosecution office just issued an arrest warrant for a group of crafty criminals who cooked up an ingenious scheme to swindle antiquities traffickers. These daring fraudsters went all...

Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III. Source: Asta/Public Domain

17 February, 2023 - 18:00 Aleksa Vučković

The Majestic Medinet Habu and the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III

Usermaatre Meryamun Ramesses III was one of the last great Ancient Egyptian pharaohs of the New Kingdom period. The second ruler of the Twentieth Dynasty, Ramesses III was a notable warrior pharaoh,...

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