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Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ

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Europe

Ancient places can be found all over Europe. Their fascinating histories and impressive artifacts open intriguing glimpses to times past, and open up a window on European history. Visiting such ancient places in Europe 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 Europe, as well as new discoveries of ancient places that are worth paying a visit.

Pompeii. Source: dbvirago / Adobe Stock.

Pompeii Unveiled: Discovering the City's Most Amazing Secrets (Video)

Pompeii is one of the most fascinating and unique archaeological sites in the world. Buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the city lay hidden for centuries until its rediscovery in the...
Canoes have long occupied a special place in the tradition of the indigenous tribes of the Americas, particularly in the northern half. All along the Pacific Northwest, masterfully crafted canoes of many shapes, sizes and forms, were the main mode of transportation until long after European colonization. Adding to this rich history, a team of archaeologists, neighbors and members of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe successfully recovered a nearly 1,000-year-old canoe from the depths of Lake Waccamaw in south-easte

The Macuahuitl: An Aztec Warrior’s Lethal and Sacred Weapon (Video)

The Macuahuitl was an ancient Aztec weapon that could be used by both shamans and warriors. It was a devastating weapon that was feared by those who encountered it on the battlefield. Made of...
Prehistoric monument Newgrange. Source: MNStudio / Adobe Stock.

Inside the Sacred Tomb of Newgrange: A Fascinating Look at Prehistoric Ireland (Video)

In County Meath, Ireland , stands one of the most mysterious ancient structures in the world - Newgrange . This massive stone tomb, built around 3200 BC, predates famous monuments like Stonehenge and...
Colosseum underground. Source:  Lukasz Janyst / Adobe Stock.

Beneath the Arena: A Journey Through the Colosseum’s Subterranean World (Video)

In 83 AD, Emperor Domitian ordered a major renovation of the Colosseum in Rome to create a hypogeum , a vast labyrinth beneath the arena floor. With the help of skilled master builder Haterius and...
Beltane pagan celebration. Source: Karrrtinki / Adobe Stock.

5 Pagan Traditions That Will Leave You Spellbound (Video)

Beltane is an ancient Gaelic festival celebrating the beginning of summer and the renewal of life. The pagan traditions associated with it have survived through the centuries, with many still...
Underwater archaeologists during excavations of the sunken Nabatean temple. Source: The Ministry of Culture of Italy

Submerged Secrets: Sunken Nabatean Temple Discovered Off Italian Coast

Underwater archaeologists searching just off the western Mediterranean coast of the city of Pozzuoli in central Italy discovered the remains of a submerged 2,000-year-old Nabatean temple dedicated to...
An assassin holding a falchion sword. Source: jaysen / Adobe Stock.

Blood on the Blade: The Deadly Efficiency of the Falchion (Video)

In the realm of medieval weaponry, few weapons were as brutally efficient as the falchion . A curved sword with a wide blade that tapered towards the tip, the falchion was designed to deliver maximum...
Remains of columns at the Cave di Cusa quarry in Sicily. (Davide Mauro / CC BY-SA 4.0)

Hidden Gems of Sicily: The Abandoned Temple Columns of Cave di Cusa

If someone told you that you could effortlessly travel back in time to classical antiquity, you would think that they were crazy, right? But at Cave di Cusa, in Sicily, this is actually possible...
Underwater archaeologist exploring the ancient remains of Baiae. Source: Naumacos / Campi Flegrei Archaeological Park

Stunning Roman Villas Unearthed in Underwater Ruins of Ancient Baiae

Underwater archaeologists working in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Naples, off Italy’s western coast, recently discovered the ruins of spectacular Roman villas. Built 2,000 years ago, or possibly...
Xuazang crossed the Gobi Desert and through Central Asia. Source: peerasit/By Adobe Stock

Suited for Battle: The Elaborate Ritual of Donning Medieval Knight Armor (Video)

In the Middle Ages, donning armor was an essential part of preparing for battle . The process of putting on armor was a ritual that required time, effort, and assistance from squires. The medieval...
Medieval peasant. Source: master1305 / Adobe Stock.

What did Medieval Peasants Eat? (Video)

Picture a medieval knight , weary from a long day's ride on his trusty steed, arriving at a humble roadside inn. As he dismounts and enters the rustic establishment, he's greeted by the aromas of...
Was Stonehenge a giant calendar, or not? Source: Pawel Pajor / Adobe Stock

Disrupting Dogmatic History - Stonehenge Wasn’t a Calendar!

A study conducted by a pair of physicists has criticized past research which claimed that Stonehenge was created to function like a giant calendar. They assert that astronomical associations...
Left, The Castle Eden Claw beaker, courtesy of the British Museum. Right, The atrium roof at Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum & Distillery. Source: Ad Gefrin

Ad Gefrin Museum: A Must-Visit Destination for History Buffs and Whisky Lovers

The little-known history of a Northumbrian Anglo-Saxon royal court is to be unveiled with the opening of Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery in Wooler, Northumberland, England on March...
Being able to travel back in time to view ancient Greece in the flesh is the dream of many a historian. Thanks to modern technology and digital recreations we’re closer than ever before.

15 Incredible Facts About Ancient Rome (Video)

The ancient civilization of Rome has had an enduring impact on human history, shaping modern Western society in countless ways. From its legendary founding by Romulus and Remus to its eventual...
The panel of prehistoric engravings found in Cova de la Vila, Catalonia, Spain. Source: Arnau Pascual Monells / Departament de Cultura

“Exceptional” Prehistoric Engravings Found in Lost Spanish Cave

Lost for over 50 years, a Spanish cave has revealed over 100 "exceptional" prehistoric artworks that have astonished archaeologists. The Cova de la Vila cave, located in the Tarragona province of...
Aerial image of the excavations in progress showing the scale of the Roman megastructure uncovered in Reims, France. Source: Yoann Rabaste / INRAP

Massive Hidden Roman Megastructure Unearthed in Reims Cemetery

Archaeologists digging in Reims, France have discovered a monumental ancient Roman complex dating back to the second to third century AD. The Roman megastructure uncovered in Reims was found complete...
The Moors left behind a legacy of culture and architecture, such as the Alhambra palace complex in Granada, Spain. Source: lunamarina / Adobe Stock

15 Facts About the Moors You've Probably Never Heard

The Moors left a significant mark on medieval Europe, especially with their conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in 711 AD. They ruled over Spain for several centuries, transforming it culturally,...
Copper slag excavated at Hala Sultan Tekke. Source: University of Gothenburg / CC BY 4.0

Copious Copper Supplies Made Cyprus a Trading Center 3,500 Years Ago

In the earliest period of international trade in the Mediterranean region, the island of Cyprus was a surprisingly busy trading hub. Its exalted status during the Late Bronze Age (1,500 to 1,150 BC)...
'Dwarfie Stane' (Dwarf's Stone) on the Island of Hoy, Orkney Islands, Scotland  Source: Grovel at English Wikipedia/CC BY 3.0

The Enigma of the Dwarfie Stane, Ancient Tomb of Orkney

There is something about Orkney that inspires great mystery in any visitor. It is an ancient place - situated just a “stone’s throw” north of Scotland - and it boasts a rich history that reaches far...
A ghost island, representational. Source: Bernadett / Adobe Stock

The Haunted Plague Island of Poveglia: A Dark and Twisted Past

There are a lot of ghost stories from history, but have you heard of the haunted island of Poveglia? Poveglia is a small island located between Venice and Lido in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy, and is...
Details at Sedlec Ossuary Interior, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic. Source: diegograndi / Adobe Stock

The Eerie Charm of Sedlec Ossuary: A Gothic Masterpiece of Human Bones

Deep beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints in Sedlec, Czech Republic, a chilling monument to human mortality has been carefully crafted over the centuries. Decorated with the bones of over 40,000...
Surrounding moat at the entrance of Cardiff Castle in Cardiff in Wales. Source: Roman Babakin/AdobeStock

9 Myths About Medieval Moats and the Truth Behind Them

Medieval moats have long been shrouded in mystery and misinformation, with tales of alligators and impenetrable walls. But the truth about these ancient structures is far more fascinating and complex...
The Eleusinian Mysteries. Source: AI Generated

From Ancient Mystery School to Culture Capital: Eleusis’ Secret Past is Recognized

The ancient city of Eleusis in Greece was the site of one of the most mysterious and revered religious rites of ancient Greece, the Eleusinian Mysteries . The exact nature of the rituals performed...
The Carnac Stones, Brittany, France. Source: guitou60 / Adobe Stock

Unraveling the Mystery of the Carnac Stones: An Ancient Puzzle of Epic Proportions

The Carnac stones are an exceptionally dense collection of megalithic sites around the French village of Carnac, in Brittany, consisting of more than 3,000 prehistoric standing stones and erected by...

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