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Ed Whelan

My name is Edward Whelan and I graduated with a PhD in history in 2008. Between 2010-2012 I worked in the Limerick City Archives. I have written a book and several peer reviewed journal articles. At present I am a full-time freelance writer and researcher and live in Gillogue, County Clare.

I am from Limerick in the Republic of Ireland. I have a lifelong love of history and have been fascinated by the subject from an early age. I attended the University of Maynooth 2003-2008 and studied history and classical studies. I obtained a BA from Maynooth and was admitted to the History PhD program. Based on my BA results I was awarded two scholarships and during my post-graduate studies I worked as a tutor.

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Ancient German Tomb With Circle Of Female Skeletons Found

22 September, 2020 - 22:07 Ed Whelan

Ancient German Tomb With Circle Of Female Skeletons Found

In Germany, a spectacular, mysterious tomb has been found. Archaeologists uncovered what they believe to be the ancient German tomb of a 1500-year-old German lord . Six female skeletons arranged in a...

Man drinking alcohol. Credit: Rainer Fuhrmann / Adobe Stock

21 September, 2020 - 13:56 Ed Whelan

Infamous Ancient Irish Spirit Is Now Legal and Sales Are Booming!

An Irish spirit that was until recently illegal is making a big comeback. Poteen which is pronounced as potcheen is a potent alcoholic drink and was notorious because it was so strong. Distillers in...

19 September, 2020 - 21:56 Ed Whelan

Shadows of the Dead: Anglo-Saxon Burials are Spooky Sand Silhouettes

Archaeologists in Britain have uncovered a remarkable Anglo-Saxon burial ground that dates back to the 6th or 7th century AD. This Anglo-Saxon burial site is rather unusual as it consists of spooky...

The discovery of an upper canine milk tooth that belonged to a Neanderthal child, aged 11 or 12, is believed to be about 48,000 years old. The discovery could help understand some of the last Neanderthals in Europe and why they became extinct. Source: Journal of Human Evolution.

18 September, 2020 - 22:59 Ed Whelan

48,000-Year-Old Tooth Belonged to One of the Last European Neanderthals

The discovery of a milk tooth from a Neanderthal child has been hailed as a major breakthrough. The tiny tooth possibly belonged to one of the last Neanderthals to have lived in Europe and is...

The shipwreck found in the Gulf of Mexico has been identified as being the wreck of La Unión, a steamship used to take Maya slaves to Cuba in the aftermath of the War of the Castes. In the image a marine archaeologist inspects the detail of the seesaw steam engine off the coast of Sisal, Mexico. Source: Helena Barba / INAH

18 September, 2020 - 18:04 Ed Whelan

Wreck of Maya Slave Ship Found in Gulf of Mexico

A shipwreck identified in the Gulf of Mexico has thrown a light on a forgotten and dark episode in Mexican history. Archaeologists have identified a 19th-century slave ship. Before it sank, this...

The Titanic sinking involved an iceberg but what else went wrong? Source: Michael Rosskothen / Adobe Stock , Felix Pergande / Adobe Stock

17 September, 2020 - 21:51 Ed Whelan

Researcher Shows Northern Lights May Have Led to Titanic Sinking

The sinking of the Titanic has been the subject of many books, articles, and motion pictures. We are all familiar with the fact that it sank when it collided with an iceberg. However, an American...

Human and animal footprints found in Tabuk, northern Saudi Arabia. Source: Heritage Commission Press Release

17 September, 2020 - 15:56 Ed Whelan

Footprints Reveal Passage of Early Humans From Africa Through Arabia

In Saudi Arabia , an astonishing discovery has been made in the north-western desert. A team of archaeologists have found evidence of the oldest human habitation in the Arabian Peninsula . Several...

Dust deposits carried by the wind to other places created fertile soils in the Fertile Crescent. Source: Lukasz Janyst / Adobe Stock

16 September, 2020 - 21:41 Ed Whelan

New Study Proves How Desert Dust Deposits Created The Fertile Crescent

We consider dust to be a nuisance and worse, but without it, the history of humanity may have been very different. This is because dust deposits played a crucial role in creating an important fertile...

The location of early settlements to hot springs has led researchers to wonder if early humans used them as a cooking resource long before they discovered fire. A research team has analyzed samples from Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania and believes to have found the answer. Source: Tom Björklund / MIT

16 September, 2020 - 14:03 Ed Whelan

Did Early Humans Cook Their Food in Thermal Springs?

A study of some of the oldest remains associated with early humans from the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania has produced some intriguing results. A microbial study of sediments from 1.7-1.8 million years...

Carnyx, a Celtic war trumpet found in the Gallic sanctuary of Tintignac. Source: Harrsch, M / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

16 September, 2020 - 01:46 Ed Whelan

Tintignac, Where the Gauls’ Favor of the Gods Couldn’t Last Forever

Like many countries in western Europe, France was deeply influenced by the Romans and the Celts who left remarkable monuments that today are major archaeological and historic sites. Because the area...

The perfectly preserved snout of the adult Ice Age bear recently found in Russia. Source: North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk (NEFU)

15 September, 2020 - 22:18 Ed Whelan

World’s First Perfectly Preserved Ice Age Bear Found in Russia

The frozen wastes of Russia have long preserved ancient animals and have yielded many important Ice Age finds. Recently, reindeer herders came across a preserved Ice Age bear . This is the first...

One of the carved goat bone objects, depicting two fish, face to face, recently found in an ancient Greek garbage dump in western Turkey. Source: Hurriyet Daily News

14 September, 2020 - 22:39 Ed Whelan

Ancient Greek Goat Bone Objects Found in Turkey Tell A Deeper Story

Archaeologists working in a site have uncovered carved objects that are made out of goat bones . These carved goat bone objects were turned into ornaments in an ancient Greek colony over 2500 years...

The ruins of the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, Italy

13 September, 2020 - 22:49 Ed Whelan

When in Rome, Even the Christian Pilgrims Enjoyed the Baths of Caracalla

When we think of the city of Rome, we can easily picture the wealth of ancient monuments from its imperial past. The Baths of Caracalla are perhaps as popular today as they were when they were used...

Main: Medieval Woman. Source: moredix / Adobe Stock Inset: The medieval seal of a young woman was found in Buckinghamshire, England. Source: Oxfordshire County Council

13 September, 2020 - 13:58 Ed Whelan

Silver Signature: Medieval Seal Brings a Woman’s Life to Light

Sometimes a small archaeological find can provide really important insights into our past. A metal detectorist found a tiny artifact that belonged to women who lived in the 14th century in Britain. A...

Overhead view of the Canaanite palace excavations in Tel Kabri, Israel. Source: Timothy Pierce

12 September, 2020 - 19:00 Ed Whelan

When the Earth Shook, A Famous Canaanite Palace Collapsed

A mystery concerning the destruction of an important Canaanite palace may have been solved. Experts now believe that an earthquake destroyed Tel Kabri in Israel over 3000 years ago. This site was...

Petroglyph of the archaeological landscape of Tamgaly Source: victor21041958 / Adobe Stock

12 September, 2020 - 02:06 Ed Whelan

Tamgaly Petroglyphs: Rituals, Shaman and Nomad’s Treasures

Tamgaly in Kazakhstan, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, provides evidence of the rich history and diverse cultural heritage of Central Asia. The area has been traversed by countless nomadic...

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