mummy

14 January, 2019 - 18:51 Ed Whelan

When the Identity of this Madrid Mummy Was Finally Established, One of the Surprises Was a Swift Gender Reassignment

Often it takes many years before the full significance of an archaeological discovery can be established. This was the case with an enigmatic mummy that had been on display at Madrid’s National...

One of eight brightly decorated sarcophagi discovered at the Dahshur necropolis, Egypt

29 November, 2018 - 22:35 Ed Whelan

Eight Remarkable But Glaringly Out of Place Mummies Found At Dahshur Necropolis

The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities have announced a visually stunning find at a well-known archaeological site. Experts have discovered eight limestone sarcophagi with mummified remains in each...

A mock up for the only mummy with a passport

3 November, 2018 - 17:14 ancient-origins

Mummy of Pharaoh Ramesses II Issued a Passport to Travel to France

Ramesses II is often called one the greatest pharaohs of ancient Egypt. He reigned for over 60 years and accomplished much during his lifetime. His achievements were not matched by the pharaohs who...

26 October, 2018 - 18:59 Veronica Parkes

Mummy À La Mode: Elaborate Treatment of the Square-Faced Mummy with Intricate Décor

Everybody knows the traditional wrappings of a mummy; long strips of fabric are wrapped around the body from head to toe. But this mummy from the Louvre has an intricately woven square design on its...

Photograph of human hand that was imaged shows palmar (left) and dorsal (right) views.

2 October, 2018 - 23:01 ancient-origins

CT Technique Massively Expands Imaging Soft Tissue of Ancient Remains

Researchers in Sweden using computed tomography (CT) have successfully imaged the soft tissue of an ancient Egyptian mummy's hand down to a microscopic level, according to a study published in the...

13 September, 2018 - 19:00 ashley cowie

The Quest For The Golden Rings Of An Eccentric Mummified Philosopher

Scientists are calling out for help as they try to solve the mystery of 20 missing gold rings issued upon the death of an eccentric 19th century English philosopher, just before he was mummified and...

Turin Mummy, known as ‘Fred’, Egypt Museum of Turin.

16 August, 2018 - 18:56 ashley cowie

Prehistoric UV Cream Discovered on Mummy Makes Him the Oldest Embalmed Egyptian By Far

The Turin mummy, or “Fred,” as it has become known to archaeologists, has been housed in Turin's Egyptian Museum since the early 1900s and remained unstudied by scientists. Dating to 3,600 years ago...

These two Incan mummies were found with a toxic substance in their grave.

29 July, 2018 - 18:49 Alicia McDermott

Dressed to Kill: The Vibrant Textiles Adorning these Incan Mummies Have a Lethal Secret

Scientists have encountered a toxic substance on textiles buried with two Incan mummies sacrificed in Chile. Since making the find, they’ve warned other researchers to be wary of handling any similar...

27 July, 2018 - 02:00 ancient-origins

Study of Atacama Skeleton Slammed as Scientifically Flawed and Unethical

University of Otago-led international collaborative research calls into question the ethics of skeletal and genomic analysis surrounding research into the much publicized "Atacama mummy." University...

The black sarcophagus was found to contain three skeletons and lots of sewage.

24 July, 2018 - 18:56 Alicia McDermott

Over 20,000 Have Petitioned to Drink the ‘Pharaoh Punch’ of the Black Sarcophagus

The strange story of the black sarcophagus found in Alexandria continues… In an unexpected turn of events, over 20,000 people who have signed an online petition requesting permission to drink the red...

The silver facemask gilded with gold found on the face of the mummy.

15 July, 2018 - 13:02 ashley cowie

2,000-Year-Old Egyptian Mummy Workshop and Goldmine of Treasures Unearthed in Saqqara

A team of Egyptian-German Archeologists announced to the world’s media yesterday that their recent dig in Saqqara, Egypt, led to the unearthing of “a rare mummification workshop containing mummies...

Student looks at millennia old mummy at Sanna University Mudeum, Yemen.

8 July, 2018 - 22:38 Theodoros Karasavvas

Civil War in Yemen Threatens Millennia-Old Mummies and Other Cultural Treasures

It is estimated that the civil war in Yemen has caused the death of thousands of people and has pushed millions to the brink of famine during the past two years. Now it’s starting to damage the...

Skull exhibiting evidence of cancer. Source Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities

26 June, 2018 - 13:57 Ed Whelan

Cancer Deaths Were Far Less Prevalent in Ancient Egypt

Researchers in the deserts of Egypt have made a remarkable discovery while studying the bones of ancient Egyptians. In total, they were able to identify six cases of cancer at a burial site at an...

The ancient woman was buried wearing a silk skirt with a funeral meal.

25 June, 2018 - 18:56 ancient-origins

2,000-Year-Old Mummified ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Dressed in Silk Emerges from Siberian Reservoir

By The Siberian Times reporter Archeologists have hailed the find of suspected ‘Hun woman’ with a jet gemstone buckle on her beaded belt as extraordinary. The ancient woman was buried wearing a silk...

23 June, 2018 - 05:28 Mark Miller

Silver cups from ancient Peruvian civilization change Chachapoya history

Two decorated silver cups found in the Chachapoyas region of Peru may rewrite the history of the enigmatic ancient people, who had never been known to do metalworking before this discovery. Though...

Ötzi Memorial, Austria (GFDL), Ötzi Arrow (Wierer et al), Ötzi Reconstruction (CC BY SA 3.0 )

22 June, 2018 - 02:00 ancient-origins

The Final Days of Otzi: Stone Tools Reveal What the Iceman Endured

Stone tools found with a 5,300-year-old frozen mummy from Northern Italy reveal how alpine Copper Age communities lived, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Ursula...

Pages

Myths & Legends

Tracing the origins of the Serpent Cult

In mythology, the serpent symbolises fertility and procreation, wisdom, death, and resurrection (due to the shedding of its skin, which is not akin to rebirth), and in the earliest schools of...

Magu: The Hemp Goddess Who Healed Ancient Asia

The symbol of the Swastika and its 12,000-year-old history

Lilith: Ancient Demon, Dark Deity or Sensual Goddess?

Legendary Locks: Can Hair Act as a Sixth Sense, Protecting us from Danger?

The Diverse Nature of Elves in Norse Myth: Beings of Light or Darkness?

Human Origins

Illustration of Dante’s Paradise by Giovanni de Paulo.

What is Heaven?

When a family member or a friend passes away, we often find ourselves reflecting on the question “Where are they now?” As mortal beings, it is a question of ultimate significance to each of us.

The origins of human beings according to ancient Sumerian texts

Legendary Locks: Can Hair Act as a Sixth Sense, Protecting us from Danger?

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

Research Confirms that Neanderthal DNA Makes Up About 20% of the Modern Human Genome

A Snapshot of Our Mysterious Ancestor Homo erectus

Ancient Technology

Stone of the Pregnant Woman, an example of ancient high-tech stonework in Hajar al Hibla at Baalbek in Lebanon.

The High-Tech Stonework of the Ancients: Unsolved Mysteries of Master Engineers

There are many stone artifacts from the ancient world made from the hardest stone on the planet such as granite and diorite, which have been cut and shaped with such quality, precision and accuracy that the standard explanations of their manufacture are simply inadequate.

Ten amazing inventions from ancient times

Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword?

Geometric Stone Spheres of Scotland: Part 1 – More Than A Projectile - What Possible Purpose 5,000-years Ago?

6 Advanced Ancient Inventions Beyond Modern Understanding

Mysterious GodSelf Icon Found Worldwide: Lost Symbol of an Ancient Global Religion?

Ancient Places

Were the Women of Petra More Important Than the Men?

The Nabataeans were a society who inhabited Arabia and the Southern Levant from the 3rd century BC to approximately 106 AD when the Nabataean kingdom was annexed by the Roman Empire.

Mount Athos – Garden of the Mother of God and Holiest of Holy Mountains to Some

Sacred Powers Fade Along With the Rock Art of the San People at Ha Baroana

Khajuraho: The Sexiest Temples in India

Neo-Romans Revive Classical Worship Ceremonies at New Iuppiter Perunus Temple

The Mysterious Prehistoric Triple Burial of Dolni Vestonice

Opinion

The astronomical ceiling at the Pronaos, Detail of the first Band west from the center. From left to right: two wind creatures (the winged ram with four heads personifies the south wind), the snake- and frog-headed eight goddesses and gods of the Ogdoad who ruled the cosmos before the creation of the world and Osiris seated on a throne sails across the sky as personification of the full moon accompanied by the seated goddesses Nephtys (left) and Isis on the right (Maat stands near the bow of the ship). Siri

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

In Egypt, Sirius was the Star of Isis, Isis being the companion and rescuer of the god Osiris. In a very deep way, Osiris was Egypt.

Cracking the Code to Discover Ancient Tarot Symbolism and Forgotten Universal Knowledge

The Secret Strategic Plans of Darius the Great

The Secrets of the Kabbalists Garden

Alchemy and Generating Lifeforce —Global Temples Made in the Shape of Lingams: Shaivite Bull Cult Part II

From Green Man to Bull Son, The Universal Shaivite Bull Cult – Part I

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.