Ancient Origins | (Page 785)Reconstructing the story of humanity's past

A traditional yurt in the Eurasian Steppe. The Yamnaya culture used yurts as their temporary dwellings as they moved across the steppe.

16 February, 2015 - 00:08 Mark Miller

Europeans share more language and genes with Asia than previously thought

Scholars have long tried to ascertain the birthplace of the mother tongue of the Indo-European languages of parts of Europe, the Mideast and western and central Asia. This family of modern languages...

15 February, 2015 - 01:16 mrreese

Marguerite de La Rocque: 16th Century Noblewoman Stranded on the Isle of Demons

Marguerite de la Rocque was a French noblewoman who is well-known for surviving several years alone on a deserted island known as the Isle of Demons. Marguerite was marooned on the island by her...

Remains of an embracing couple found near the entrance of the Alepotrypa Cave.

14 February, 2015 - 22:36 aprilholloway

Greek archaeologists find 5,800-year-old skeleton couple in loving embrace

Archaeologists have found the remains of a young Neolithic couple embracing each other at an archaeological site near the Diros Caves in the Peloponnese region of Greece. According to ekathimerini...

Unravelling the Mysteries of Ancient Artifacts - Ebook

14 February, 2015 - 10:08 ancient-origins

Unravelling the Mysteries of Ancient Artifacts - Free Ebook

On 22nd February, Ancient Origins will be celebrating Two Years since its launch. To mark the occasion, we will be giving all our subscribers a Free Ebook titled 'Unravelling the Mysteries of Ancient...

13 February, 2015 - 22:59 ancient-origins

Historic Indian sword was masterfully crafted

The master craftsmanship behind Indian swords was highlighted when scientists and conservationists from Italy and the UK joined forces to study a curved single-edged sword called a shamsheer. The...

13 February, 2015 - 09:43 aprilholloway

Ancient Origins 2nd Anniversary Prize Giveaway

On 22nd February, we celebrated the Two Year Anniversary of Ancient Origins. To mark this happy occasion, and as our way of saying thank you to all our loyal readers, we held a book prize giveaway,...

A woman and her partner walking on Sanday Island in the Orkneys came across the skeleton of a child who died about 4,000 years ago.

13 February, 2015 - 00:29 Mark Miller

Storms wash away sand revealing 4,000-year-old child skeleton in Orkney

The 4,000-year-old remains of a child, aged around ten years, exposed on a beach by a storm in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, are prompting archaeologists to ponder how the child died. A hiker, Carrie...

The famous abandoned city of Machu Picchu. Incan architecture, c. 1450 A.D.

12 February, 2015 - 22:31 lizleafloor

Conquistadors caused Toxic Air Pollution 500 years ago by changing Incan Mining

Scientists studying ice core samples from Peru have discovered a variety of trace elements, indicating that Spanish colonial mining caused toxic air pollution over South America approximately 240...

11 February, 2015 - 23:38 lizleafloor

Ancient skull was drilled and harvested for medicine in the 18th century

The skull of a man who was beheaded in the 15 th century was at the center of a mystery until experts revealed the cranium was harvested to be used as medicine. Within the crypt of Italy’s Otranto...

Stone worked in the shape of vulvas (top) and penises from neolithic cult sites in the Eilat Mountains

11 February, 2015 - 21:27 Mark Miller

8,000-year-old fertility stone works found in Israel linked to ancestor cult

About 8,000 years ago, Stone Age people built a large number of what seem to be ancestor and fertility cult sites in the Negev Desert in Israel. A new archaeological survey of 95 sites has turned up...

Camino de Santiago – The Ancient Pilgrimage Route to Santiago de Compostela

11 February, 2015 - 12:52 mrreese

Walking the footsteps of ancestors, the ancient pilgrimage of Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago is a series of ancient Spanish pilgrimage routes that are still used to this day. Also called “The Way of St. James,” the routes all lead to the Cathedral of Santiago de...

Ancient relief carving depicting drug use

11 February, 2015 - 00:27 Mark Miller

Archaeological study explores drug-taking and altered states in prehistory

Neanderthals on speed 60,000 years ago; Paleolithic art inspired by psilocybin or Amanita muscaria mushroom trips; and alcohol-fueled religious worship all over the world down through the ages –...

10 February, 2015 - 11:16 dhwty

The Book of Abramelin the Mage, Esoteric Grimoire of Kabbalistic Knowledge

Western esoteric thought has its roots in the Late Antique period in the Eastern Mediterranean. This was an area of the world where east met west. Consequently, this was also an area where the...

10 February, 2015 - 00:37 mrreese

Tragic Accident or Mass Murder? The Sinking of the White Ship leads to Disaster for England

Many year ago, before modern air travel, the only way to travel across large bodies of water was by ship. Many passengers would crowd onto a large vessel for a lengthy journey to their destination...

James Balme found this stone on sale as a garden ornament in England

9 February, 2015 - 00:36 Mark Miller

Ancient stone with strange carvings, possibly Anglo-Saxon, turns up in garden shop

A stone with mysterious carvings, possibly dating from the Anglo-Saxon or Viking era, had been on sale as a garden ornament when television host and archaeologist James Balme bought it recently,...

Newly-discovered Mycenaean tomb near Amfissa, Greece

8 February, 2015 - 00:41 aprilholloway

3,300-year-old Mycenaean tomb and precious artifacts found in Central Greece

Archaeologists have announced the discovery of a vaulted Mycenaean tomb near Amfissa, central Greece, containing human remains and a hoard of treasures. The 3,300-year-old tomb is the first of its...