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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.

The temple of the Capitolium
16 September, 2019 - 01:50 Ed Whelan

Ancient Capitolium Temple in Brescia Pleased the Roman Gods

Because Italy is so rich in archaeological and historical sites , visitors often do not have the time to visit as many as they wish. One site which should not be missed is the remarkable Capitolium...
The Apennines in central Italy are part of the shaved-off remnants of the ancient continent of Greater Adria. (Travel Wild / Adobe Stock)
12 September, 2019 - 13:59 ashley cowie

Ancient Continent Discovered Hiding Beneath Europe

A mega-continent has been discovered that slid beneath Europe hundreds of millions of years ago. While today we experience extreme weather patterns and the effects of the changing climate there has...
The 'banqueting hall' chamber beneath Joseph Williamson's house, excavated by Friends Of The Williamson's Tunnels. Credit: Friends of Williamson’s Tunnels.
1 September, 2019 - 19:01 Nathan Falde

The Mystery of the Williamson Tunnels

Beneath the Edge Hill neighborhood in east-central Liverpool lies a sprawling network of arching bricked tunnels that lead nowhere and serve no obvious purpose. They are known as the Williamson...
Entrance to the Ancient Thracian tomb Heroon in Pomorie, Bulgaria. Source: Ekaterina Senyutina / Adobe Stock
27 August, 2019 - 19:18 Aleksa Vučković

The Valley of the Thracian Rulers: Hidden Beauty of the Barbarians

In ancient times, before Bulgaria’s Turkic and Slavic history , on the territory of this country lived a unique and almost mythical people . They were called the Thracians, and their history spanned...
Victory over the Muslims at the Battle of Tours marked the furthest Muslim advance and enabled Frankish domination of Europe for the next century. Source: Bender235 / Public Domain.
20 August, 2019 - 14:05 Aleksa Vučković

The Franks, Charlemagne, and the Forging of Europe

The earliest histories of many European nations are firmly rooted in the ancient periods of migrations – when all sorts of tribes traveled from their homes in search of new grounds for settlement...
Lady of Baza, famous Iberian sculpture from a style that was developed by the Iberians of the Bronze age. Source: Juan Aunión / Adobe Stock.
18 August, 2019 - 14:05 Aleksa Vučković

The Restless Peninsula: The Proud and Colorful History of Iberia

Over the ages, the Iberian Peninsula was a melting pot of diverse cultures and civilizations, a piece of Europe that saw numerous migrations and many nations that rose and fell on its soil. Being the...
Archeologists have identified about 40 previously unknown monuments near Newgrange. The Boyne to Brodgar Project is examining connections between the Boyne Valley and the Orkney Islands. Source: Dr. Davis / UCD School of Archaeology.
8 August, 2019 - 01:13 Ed Whelan

Survey Identifies Neolithic Monument Aligned With the Winter Solstice at Brú na Bóinne

The Newgrange Stone Age monument in Ireland is of great archaeological importance and it’s extent keep reaching new bounds. In recent years many historic remains have been identified in the area...
Viking Drinking Hall Unearthed On Orkney Provides ‘Unparalleled’ Insights Into Chieftain’s Life
7 August, 2019 - 18:42 ashley cowie

Viking Drinking Hall Unearthed On Orkney Provides ‘Unparalleled’ Insights Into Chieftain’s Life

Archaeologists excavating on a tiny island off the north coast of Scotland have discovered an 800-year-old Viking ‘Bu’, or drinking hall , once serviced by a high-ranking Orcadian Norse chieftain...
Ancient Greek warrior fighting in the combat. Credit: Fotokvadrat / Adobe Stock
4 August, 2019 - 14:01 Aleksa Vučković

The Peloponnesian War: Intrigues and Conquests in Ancient Greece

When speaking of ancient Greece, most of us tend to think of their sprawling city states, iconic classical culture, philosophers, and myths – and rightly so. Classical Greece was certainly a...
The Acropolis of Athens. Source: moofushi / Adobe Stock.
3 August, 2019 - 14:06 Sarah P Young

The Acropolis Of Athens: A Golden Age Legacy

The Acropolis of Athens is the most famous of the many acropolises from ancient Greece. The Acropolis we know today was initially constructed in the 5th century BC under Pericles , a governor of...
The steps of the ancient Bomarzo Pyramid. (marcovarro / Adobe Stock)
27 July, 2019 - 17:43 Aleksa Vučković

The Mysterious Pyramid of Bomarzo: Discovering The Etruscan’s Enigmatic Past

The ancient and far-reaching history of Europe is often veiled in mists of mystery. Enigmatic peoples , diverse cultures , and strange legends are all left in the past, with not a lot left behind...
Amphitheater, Xanten Archeological Park
21 July, 2019 - 01:03 Ed Whelan

Xanten Archaeological Park – Step Back and Experience the Romans

Open-air archaeological parks or museums are increasingly popular as they bring the past to life. One of the largest in the world, if not the largest, is Xanten Archaeological Park in Germany . This...
Hagia Sophia built by Emperor Constantine of the Byzantine Empire. Source: feferoni / Adobe Stock.
20 July, 2019 - 02:01 Aleksa Vučković

A Millennium of Glory: The Rise and Fall of the Byzantine Empire

Late antiquity was one of the most dramatic periods in our history – a turbulent time in which nations and peoples rose and fell, vying for power and territory in a merciless fight for prominence...
Plastico di Roma imperiale at the Museum of the Roman Civilization. Source: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY-SA 2.0.
14 July, 2019 - 23:05 Sarah P Young

The Plastico di Roma Imperiale Wasn’t Built in a Day: Accurate Mini Rome Model Took 35 Years

The Roman Empire dominated most of Europe and parts of Africa and the Middle East for over thousand years, evolving from a monarchy to a democracy and finally a militaristic dictatorship. The empire...
Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii. Source: dbvirago / Adobe Stock.
7 July, 2019 - 01:40 Sarah P Young

Pompeii: The Ancient Roman City Frozen in Time

In the Campania region of Italy near the modern day city of Naples , there was once a prosperous Roman city - Pompeii. As a thriving center for trade, the inhabitants of the city were a mixture of...
One of the best ‘Green Man’ carvings in Rosslyn Chapel.
3 July, 2019 - 20:44 dhwty

The Rosslyn Chapel Carvings: Facts, Mysteries, and Conspiracies

The exquisite carvings of Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland are among the best in Europe and portray scenes not found in any other 15th century chapel. Much of the mystery and intrigue surrounding this site...
Khachkars of Noratus, old cemetery. The oldest khachkars (Armenian cross-stones) are of 9-10th centuries, but the most of them are from 13-17th centuries.
1 July, 2019 - 23:04 Sarah P Young

The Khachkar Stones of Noratus and a Peculiar Resistance of the Invasion of Tamerlane

The ancient village of Noratus, in the Gegharkunik region of Armenia , is a hidden gem with a number of historical monuments. The modern village was established in 1829, but it was first declared a...
Civita di Bagnoregio an ancient, dying city atop a crumbling rock. Source: JethroT / Adobe Stock.
14 June, 2019 - 18:59 dhwty

Civita di Bagnoregio - Italy’s Most Enchanting and Surreal Ancient Town Is Dying

Civita di Bagnoregio is a small town located in Viterbo , a province in the central Italian region of Lazio . The town is situated about 120 kilometers (75 miles) to the north of Rome . Due to its...
Eltz Castle in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
13 June, 2019 - 02:01 dhwty

Eltz Castle: A Majestic Medieval Pile Owned by the Same Family for 800 Years

Eltz Castle is a majestic castle situated on the top of a rock within a small wooded valley in Germany. Be it through luck or strategy, the castle has been mostly spared from the ravages of war...
Glamis Castle, Angus, Scotland.
8 June, 2019 - 02:03 Kerry Sullivan

The Dark Secret Behind the Hidden Room of Glamis Castle

If you could even guess the nature of this castle’s secret, said Claude Bowes-Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore, you would get down on your knees and thank God it was not yours. Glamis Castle, one of the...
The Yamnaya came to Europe from modern-day western Russia or the Ukraine. Source: katiekk2 / Adobe Stock.
6 June, 2019 - 19:00 Caleb Strom

How A Handful of Yamnaya Culture Nomads Became the Fathers of Europe

The origins of modern Europeans are shrouded in mystery and wracked by controversy. Archaeologists and linguists have long debated the origins of the Indo-European language family as well as the...
Conway Castle, a fine medieval castle in Wales. Source: Pecold / Adobe Stock
26 May, 2019 - 14:06 Ed Whelan

Conwy Castle: This Fine Medieval Welsh Castle was Built for a Ferocious English King

Wales is famous for many things - its singers, sports, incredible scenery and of course its many great castles. One of the most famous of these is Conwy (Conway) Castle, which is widely regarded as...
Aeneas carrying his father Anchises from the burning city of Troy’ (1627-1664) by Daniel van Heil. Details in the Iliad cast doubt on the generally accepted location of Troy. Source: Public Domain
20 May, 2019 - 19:01 Bernard Jones

Homer’s Iliad Casts Doubt on the Aegean Location of Troy

Historian Bernard Jones has spent more than three decades researching the ‘Story of Troy’ and he maintains that Homer’s Iliad is the greatest reference work on the Bronze Age world. Homer describes...
Guédelon Castle in France has been constructed from scratch using only medieval techniques.
6 May, 2019 - 18:57 Ed Whelan

Can Medieval Artisans From Guédelon Help Rebuild Notre-Dame?

The world was shocked by the sight of Notre Dame Cathedral burning . It prompted many people to think about their heritage and reminded them of how we take the great works of the past for granted...

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