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History & Archaeology

We bring you all the latest historical news and archaeological discoveries relating to ancient human history. Read more history news from around the world here at Ancient Origins.

A black llama.
25 May, 2019 - 18:52 ashley cowie

Moche Cauldron Contained Llama Face Death Stew, With A Mild Chili Crab Bisque!

An archaeologist excavating at a Moche culture site in northern Peru dating to between 600-850 AD discovered a cooking pot containing a selection of bizarre ingredients including part of a “llama's...
The bark shield is made from green bark that has been stiffened with internal wooden laths. Source: (University of Leicester / Fair Use)
24 May, 2019 - 19:37 Ed Whelan

First Bark Shield Uncovered in England is Changing Celtic History

Archaeologists in England have announced the findings from their study of an ancient shield that was made from tree bark. The shield was unearthed in 2015 and is around 2,300 years old. The experts...
Close up of the revealed ancient trees of the sunken kingdom. Source: Wayne Lewis / Fair Use
24 May, 2019 - 16:59 Ed Whelan

Storm Reveals 4,500-Year-Old Forest of a ‘Sunken Kingdom’ in Wales

A storm has revealed an amazing sight on a beach in Wales. High gusts of winds have exposed an ancient forest of dead trees that are 4,500 years old. These submerged trees are believed to have...
Nan Madol: Ceremonial Center of the Eastern Micronesia: Pohnpei Island.
23 May, 2019 - 23:05 Joanna Gillan

Nan Madol: The Mysterious Ancient Coral Reef City

Nan Madol is the only ancient city ever built upon a coral reef. It is comprised of a set of almost 100 stone and coral filled platforms atop artificial islands separated by narrow channels and...
Runes close-up. The Swedish government is considering a ban on the runes and some ancient Norse symbols. Source: Pshenichka /Adobe
23 May, 2019 - 19:15 Alicia McDermott

Claims Viking Symbols and Runes May Be Banned – The Fuller Picture

This week reports emerged claiming that depictions of the runes and Norse symbols such as Thor’s hammer may soon be banned in Sweden. Hate groups have been using many of these symbols for years and...
Ancient beer from biblical times and beyond has been brewed in Israel. Source: 9parusnikov / Adobe Stock
23 May, 2019 - 01:08 Ed Whelan

Researchers Brew Biblical Beer Using Yeast From Ancient Pottery

A multidisciplinary team in Israel believe that they have brewed ancient beers similar to those once drunk by Biblical characters such as David and Goliath . They were able to extract yeast, a key...
Source: Lumppini / Adobe Stock
22 May, 2019 - 18:50 ancient-origins

Intentional Forest Fires Shaped Forests in the USA More than Climate Change

New research suggests that the Eastern United States’ forests have been transformed more by Native American intentional forest fires in the past than by current climate change. But the ‘fire-adapted...
Ceramics give evidence of Peru’s first empires Source: Andina / Juan Carlos Guzmán Fair Use
22 May, 2019 - 13:57 Ed Whelan

Study of Ceramics Provides New Thinking on Origins of First Peruvian Empire

The Andean nation of Peru has been the home of many important pre-Columbian societies. But their origins and development still holds many questions. Now a number of ceramic pieces are throwing light...
Charred food remains from hearths were discovered, left by ancient humans eating starch. Source: PetarPaunchev / Adobe.
21 May, 2019 - 01:41 ancient-origins

Earliest Evidence for a Cooked Starch Paleo Diet

New discoveries made at the Klasies River Cave in South Africa's southern Cape, where charred food remains from hearths were found, provide the first archaeological evidence that anatomically modern...
The ancient Crusaders' DNA can help us understand historical events. Source: Alessandro Cristiano / Adobe.
19 May, 2019 - 18:58 ancient-origins

A History of the Crusades As Told by Crusaders' DNA

History can tell us a lot about the Crusades , the series of religious wars fought between 1095 and 1291, in which Christian invaders tried to claim the Near East. But the DNA of nine 13th century...
Khafra and Cheops pyramids in Giza, Egypt
19 May, 2019 - 16:41 Ed Whelan

Terror Attack at the Giza Pyramids Injures 16

In Egypt, security sources have announced a suspected bomb attack on a tourist bus near the world-famous Giza pyramids . Initial reports indicate that 16 people were hurt in the attack, but that...
Medieval Queen, her King and knights in castle.
18 May, 2019 - 14:07 Ed Whelan

Bones of Powerful Medieval Queen Identified at Winchester Cathedral

Archaeologists have potentially made a very important discovery after tests on human remains from early medieval mortuary caskets in England. They examined a large number of human bones and believe...
Gheorghe Tattarescu’s ‘Nemesis.’ / Theater of Mytilene, Lesbos.
17 May, 2019 - 22:12 Alicia McDermott

Temple of Nemesis Found Under A Greek Theater. And Here is Why

The Greek goddess Nemesis dealt out retribution against people who were arrogant before the gods, had received undeserved good fortune, or who had committed certain evil deeds. That’s why the...
A piece of animal bone used for fortune-telling excavated at the Makimuku ruins in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture. It has three burn marks in the middle.
17 May, 2019 - 20:27 Mark Miller

Ancient Japanese Queen Himiko may have Burned Animal Bones to Tell the Future

Archaeologists believe that a burnt boar scapula found in the ruins of Makimuku in Japan in 2015 may tie the ancient shaman Queen Himiko and leaders of the Yamataikoku ruling establishment with the...
Skeleton found at the Nikolyskoye nomad burial site
17 May, 2019 - 18:50 Ed Whelan

Farmer Unearths Elite Nomad Burials and ‘Laughing Man’ Elongated Skull

In Southern Russia, an elite nomad burial site has been unearthed. While working on his lands, a farmer stumbled across burials that appear to have belonged to a nomadic culture. Archaeologists have...
The passage of carts over decades could cause ruts (like the one shown), particularly in high-traffic areas of Pompeii.
17 May, 2019 - 12:37 Ed Whelan

Romans in Pompeii Repaired the Roads with Molten Iron

The buried city of Pompeii continues to provide many insights into Roman society , economy, and culture. The ash and pumice , that fell on Pompeii from Mount Vesuvius , froze the city in time. A...

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