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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.

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.

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

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...
Large pillar anchor and amphora found on sea bottom off Levitha island in shipwreck. Source: Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.

World’s Largest Stone Pillar Anchor From Archaic Period Found In Aegean Shipwreck

Five major shipwrecks dating to more than 2,000 years old have been found to contain a subaquatic archaeological treasure hoard at the bottom of the Aegean Sea near Greece. The Research Project...
The gravestone of the woman thought to be the source of the Snow White tale is on display in Lohr am Germany.       Source: Mireia Llum / Adobe Stock

Long Lost Gravestone of the ‘Real Snow White’ Emerges In Germany

A German museum has put on display the gravestone of a woman who has been put forward as the model for Snow White . It is the marker of a German lady who lived in the 18th century and had a very...
Large Gilded Coffin of King Tut

Large Gilded Coffin of King Tut Is Moved For The First Time

The Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt has announced that the outer coffin of Tutankhamun has been removed from its tomb - for the first time since it was uncovered. Urgent restoration work needs to be...
Inscribed stone from a monument at Witzna with scorching dated to 697.      Source: Francisco Estrada-Belli / Nature Magazine

‘Total Maya Warfare’ Happened Much Earlier Than Scientists Believed

Archaeologists studying the fate of the flame engulfed ancient Maya city of Witzna believe that in AD 697 an army of Naranjo ’s, from a kingdom in what is now Guatemala , caused the catastrophic...
Bronze scepter from the Nahal Mishmar. Source: Poliocretes / CC BY-SA 3.0.

Earliest Writing System May Have Been Developed by Ancient Metalworkers 6,000 Years Ago

An Israeli academic has claimed to have found the earliest writing in the world. He claims that a proto-writing system was developed by ancient metalworkers over 6,000 years ago in the southern...
Pont des Trous in Tournai. Credit: Francois / Adobe Stock.

13th Century Pont des Trous Bridge Demolished: Archaeological Vandalism or Economic Progression?

Angry Belgians and a minister of that countries federal government have voiced their distain towards politicians and counselors who ordered the dismantling of Tournai’s gothic “Bridge of Holes” so...
One of the skeletons found beneath Coleg Menai in Llangefni, Wales. Credit: Archaeology Wales.

Mysterious Mass Grave Found in Wales May Contain Bodies of Vikings’ Slaves

Archaeologists have uncovered a mysterious mass grave dating back 1,600 years in Wales containing the remains of 86 individuals. Researchers are now attempting to explain strange characteristics...
The Abora IV, based on the ancient Egyptian reed boat. Source: Mission ABORA

Oceanic Indiana Jones Attempts to Sail the Black Sea in an Ancient Egyptian Reed Boat

Described by the New York Times as “part P. T. Barnum and part Indiana Jones” an eccentric former German school teacher, Dominique Goerlitz, has told reporters at AFP that he has assembled a team of...
Beaubec excavation of the Norman Monastery. Source: Beaubec Excavations / Fair Use.

Norman Artifacts Indicate Long-lost Monastery Has Been Found in Ireland

In Ireland a long-lost 13 th century monastery has been found along with a large number of medieval artifacts . Monastic farms and other buildings that belonged to French and Norman monks who had...
Example skull of Neolithic people. Source: (Author provided/ The Conversation)

Who Were the Mysterious Neolithic People That Enabled the Rise of Ancient Egypt?

By Joel D. Irish , Czekaj- Zastawny Agnieszka , and Jacek Kabacinski / The Conversation To many, ancient Egypt is synonymous with the pharaohs and pyramids of the Dynastic period starting about 3,100...
Top of a Roman helmet from the Battle of the Egadi Islands

Fascinating Artifacts from the Battle of the Egadi Islands are Pulled from the Depths

Underwater archaeologists have recovered a treasure trove of artifacts off the coast of Sicily from the site of the first ancient naval battle ever discovered , including warship rams, helmets, armor...
View of the 2019 construction site and the alignment of steles, standing stones. Source: © SBMA - ARIA SA.

Rare Stone Steles With Unknown Figures Found At Neolithic Site in Switzerland

A remarkable series of standing stones have been found near one of the most important Neolithic sites in Switzerland , and indeed in the entire Alpine region of Europe. The unearthed stones are...
Reconstruction of the Celtic woman’s burial in a tree. Source: Zurich archaeology department

Ancient Celtic Woman Emerges from Zurich Tree Coffin In Elegant Dress

2,200 years ago an Iron Age woman was buried in what is today Zurich and in her 'Tree Coffin’ she was dressed and draped for a ball…in the afterlife. The ancient Celtic woman’s remains were excavated...
The rich double burial contained the skeletons of a male and female, who may have been a prince and princess. Source: Tengri News

Touching 4,000-Year-Old Royal Double Burial Found in Kazakhstan

Archaeologists working in a desolate and remote area of the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan have made a remarkable discovery. They found the remains of an adolescent couple from 4000 years ago in...
The 350-year-old gold signet ring found on the lakeshore of Loch Lomond in Scotland.

Detectorist Finds Falsely Executed 17th-Century Courtier’s Gold Signet Ring

Metal detectorists have made a number of extraordinary finds in recent years. A detectorist on vacation in Scotland discovered a ring that belonged to a 17th-century English courtier who was unjustly...
Stylus with old Roman joke found in London.

Roman Pen Inscribed With Precursor to Modern Classic Joke Found in London

An expert on inscriptions has deciphered some Roman writing on a pen as a witticism left by its owner, with a sentiment remarkably similar to those found on tongue in cheek souvenirs of today...
Ancient Buddhist text discovered near Mes Aynak, Afghanistan

Rare Ancient Buddhist Text Discovered In Doomed Temple Super-Complex Near Kabul

Archaeologists in Afghanistan have discovered exceptionally rare pieces of an ancient Buddhist manuscript dated to around the seventh century AD at an ancient settlement near Kabul. In the spring of...
Ancient 1,000 year old Shawala Teja Singh Hindu Temple. Source: Junaid Syed / YouTube Screenshot

1,000-Year-Old Temple in Pakistan Reopens After Seven Decades Delighting Minority Hindus

This magnificent ancient Hindu temple in Sialkot, in Pakistan’s Punjab province, was built by Sardar Teja Singh and has been closed for worship for 72 years, recently becoming a den of drug addicts...
Representational image of dinosaur eggs. Credit: KtD / Adobe Stock

Chinese Boy Accidentally Found 66-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Eggs

In 2019, a 10-year-old boy in China who was out playing near a lake accidently unearthed a fossilized egg that led to the discovery of a very rare dinosaur nest that is 66 million years old. The find...
Medieval woman. Credit:  grape_vein / Adobe Stock

The World’s Oldest Talking Vagina is Discovered…in an Austrian Abbey!

The Vagina Monologues is a play written by Eve Ensler which featured on an Off-Broadway run in 1996 at Westside Theatre exploring consensual and nonconsensual sex, body image, genital mutilation, and...
St Finan’s Bell. Credit: Seakayaphoto.com

Ancient Scottish Church Bell Stolen from Sacred Island Leaving Locals Devastated

A sacred symbol of Scottish identity, a late medieval bell, has been stolen from a remote ruined chapel on an uninhabited Scottish isle which featured as the ‘Black Lake’ in the Harry Potter films...
The Pictish man’s skeleton. (NOSAS)

Medieval Murder Victim in Scotland may have been a Pictish Royal

Researchers in Scotland believe that they are closer to understanding a man who was brutally killed 1,400 years ago. His body was placed in a most unusual position in a cave and investigators believe...

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