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16 April, 2017 - 18:46 ancient-origins

The Very Strange History of the Easter Bunny

While you’re biting the heads off your chocolate bunnies this weekend, you might wonder how rabbits became so central to our Easter celebrations. It’s tempting to assume that because there’s no...

1 March, 2017 - 15:42 MartiniF

Gods, Goddesses and… Rabbits? The Surprising Ancient Myths of the Moon

Before the first moon landing in 1969, the Chinese moon goddess Chang'e was mentioned in the Apollo 11 Air-to-Ground Voice Transcription between the Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas and the Apollo...

Myths & Legends

The Disturbing True Story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin

When, lo! as they reached the mountain-side, A wondrous portal opened wide, As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed; And the Piper advanced and the children followed, And when all were in to the very last, The door in the mountain-side shut fast.

The Real Story of Medusa: Protective Powers from a Snake-Haired Gorgon

Cupid and Psyche: True Love Conquers All

Ivar the Boneless: Viking Warrior, Ruler and Raider

The Powerful Symbol of the Swastika and its 12,000 Year History

Lilith: Ancient Demon, Dark Deity or Sensual Goddess?

Human Origins

The human skull that challenges the Out of Africa theory

This is the account of the discovery of a skull that has the potential to change what we know about human evolution, and a suppression and cover-up which followed. In 1959, in an area called...

Rh-Negative Blood: An Exotic Bloodline or Random Mutation?

Ancient Infant DNA Rewrites the History of Humans Entering North America

The Outstanding Story of Osiris: His Myth, Symbols, and Significance in Ancient Egypt

The origins of human beings according to ancient Sumerian texts

Asherah: God’s Forgotten Wife

Ancient Technology

Secrets Behind the Creepy Plague Doctor Mask and Costume

The plague doctor mask is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Black Death. Though the image is iconic the relationship may be a little anachronistic. While plague doctors have been plying their trade since the Middle Ages, it was only after this period, during the 17th century, that they acquired their creepy trademark costume. But what does it mean?

Han Purple: A 2,800-year-old artificial pigment that quantum physicists are trying to understand

Taking a ‘Knapp’ With Our Ancient Ancestors - Stone Tools Through the Ages

Ten amazing inventions from ancient times

Ancient Trap Ideas to Protect Your Tomb or Catch Your Lunch

Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked!

Ancient Places

Why Isn’t This Map in the History Books?

By the age of 10, most children in the United States have been taught all 50 states that make up the country. But centuries ago, the land that is now the United States was a very different place...

Anglo-Saxon Abbey where Lusty King Edgar was Crowned, Found!

Greby Grave Field: Final Resting Place of Scottish Warriors Theory Debunked

The Rarely Told Story of Pre-Colonial Philippines

L'Anse aux Meadows: Discovery of Norse settlement in Canada Proved Viking Sagas Contain Real History

The Buried Secret of Tu Duc’s Tomb, Vietnam

Opinion

Naupa Iglesia: An Egyptian Portal in the Andes?

Halfway up a near-vertical ravine in the Andes, someone carved an inverted V-shaped entrance into the mountainside. Then they sliced the bedrock with great precision to create a shallow door that...

The Nephilim: Giant Offspring of the Sons of God and the Daughters of Man?

Mount Shasta: Spirits and Danger on a Sacred California Mountain

Mysterious Worlds: Travels to the Faerie and Shamanic Realms

Pharaoh Akhenaten: An Alternative View of the Heretic King

Changing Colors and Scampering Across the Night Sky: What Did the Ancients Say about Sirius?

Our Mission

At Ancient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there exists countless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts that have yet to be discovered and explained.

The goal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe.

We’re the only Pop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives.

By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings.