sea monsters

Orcas attacking a whale, from Carta Marina (1539)

18 August, 2017 - 01:50 aprilholloway

Mapping the Menacing Sea Monsters in Medieval and Renaissance Cartography

Until a few years ago, no serious consideration had been made of the many and varied representations of monsters found on world maps from the 10th century through to medieval and Renaissance times...

7 September, 2013 - 00:21 aprilholloway

The Evolution of Sea Monsters on Medieval Maps

A recently published book published by the British Library charts the evolution of iconic sea serpents, mermaids and other mythical creatures found on world maps from the 10 th century through to...

Myths & Legends

Quetzalcoatl, detail. Source: Manzanedo/Deviant Art

The Real Story of the ‘Bearded God’ Named Quetzalcoatl

Many myths have cropped up in the centuries since Columbus landed upon the shores of Hispaniola. While some of these myths have come to be seen for what they are, many more persist in the zeitgeist as fact.

Archaeologists May Have Discovered the Birthplace of King Arthur: Legends Come to Life?

Batman Existed in Mesoamerican Mythology and His Name Was Camazotz

The Myth of Sisyphus: Lessons in Absurdity

The Sumerian King List still puzzles historians after more than a century of research

Adventist Adventurer Claimed to Have Found Ark of the Covenant Beneath Crucifixion Site

Human Origins

"David with the Head of Goliath," circa 1615–16 by Valentin de Boulogne (French, Coulommiers-en-Brie 1591–1632 Rome) Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid.

The Theory of ‘Three Human Species’

The Old Testament tells a story in which a diminutive David defeats the giant Goliath. Using just a sling to slay his enormous foe, this unlikely victor became the second Hebrew monarch.

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

The origins of human beings according to ancient Sumerian texts

The Nephilim: Giant Offspring of the Sons of God and the Daughters of Man?

Radical new documentary claims Copernicus and four centuries of science is wrong

Reconstructing Jesus: Using Science to Flesh out the Face of Religion

Ancient Technology

Secrets Behind the Creepy Plague Doctor Mask and Costume

The plague doctor mask is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Black Death. Though the image is iconic the relationship may be a little anachronistic. While plague doctors have been plying their trade since the Middle Ages, it was only after this period, during the 17th century, that they acquired their creepy trademark costume. But what does it mean?

The Evidence is Cut in Stone: A Compelling Argument for Lost High Technology in Ancient Egypt

The Indian Sage who developed Atomic Theory 2,600 years ago

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

Beyond the Pyramid Ramp: Unravelling Egypt’s Most Elusive Enigma

150,000-Year-Old Pipes Baffle Scientists in China: Out of Place in Time?

Ancient Places

Has the Function of the Great Pyramid of Giza Finally Come to Light?

About 150 years after the establishment of Egyptology as an academic field, there still appears to be no agreement between scholars on the function of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Yet several different...

Enigmatic Carvings on Underwater Ruins in China Mystify Investigators

The Haunted Ruins of Khara Khoto, The Black City of Mongolia

Archaeologists May Have Discovered the Birthplace of King Arthur: Legends Come to Life?

The Theopetra Cave and the Oldest Human Construction in the World

The Casa do Penedo: A Portuguese Flintstones House

Opinion

3 Problems to Remember When Trying to Find Atlantis

It is perhaps the greatest unsolved mystery of all time: Did the lost city of Atlantis actually exist? And if it did once exist, where was it located before its watery demise? Fortunately, the...

Naupa Iglesia: An Egyptian Portal in the Andes?

The Nephilim: Giant Offspring of the Sons of God and the Daughters of Man?

Mount Shasta: Spirits and Danger on a Sacred California Mountain

Mysterious Worlds: Travels to the Faerie and Shamanic Realms

Pharaoh Akhenaten: An Alternative View of the Heretic King

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.