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John Black

Dr John (Ioannis) Syrigos initially began writing on Ancient Origins under the pen name John Black. He is both a co-owner and co-founder of Ancient Origins.

John is a computer & electrical engineer with a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, a lecturer, explorer and researcher.

He has a personal passion for Ancient History, Mythology, Anthropology and Astronomy and in his spare time he investigates these subjects in depth. John currently undertakes expeditions and research in remote areas of Ecuador, where he is currently based, but also throughout South America.

He has recently been involved in explorations of the Tayos Cave system in Ecuador, a legendary vast natural underground network of caves spanning many kilometers, very little of which has been officially explored, as well as La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City) in Colombia, and is particularly interested in the history and mythology of ancient sites as relayed by the local indigenous people of these regions.

History

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Posts

Masuda No Iwafune - Japan Asuka

The mysterious monoliths of Asuka Nara and the Rock Ship of Masuda

The village of Asuka is located in the Takaichi District of the Nara Prefecture in Japan. Asuka is an ancient land with historical interest. It has its origins in the Tumulus Period (250-552 AD),...
Ancient extinct species

Could we see the return of ancient extinct species?

As gene technology develops, scientists move ever closer to the possibility of bringing extinct species back to life . The Long New Foundation in California is on the front line of research...
Underground Chamber - Phidias

Incredible underground chamber with 130 ancient Greek statues awaiting investigation

An underground chamber containing 130 ancient Greek statues was discovered in Athens 25 years ago. But no one, apart from the finders, has cared enough to battle the bureaucracy that has prevented...
Moulay Ismaïl of Morocco

How the Sultan Moulay Ismail of Morocco Sired 1,000 Children

Sultan Moulay Ismaïl of Morocco, "The Bloodthirsty," was the second ruler of the Moroccan Alaouite dynasty and reigned from 1672 to 1727. Like others of the dynasty, he claimed to be a descendant of...
1,000-year-old tooth plaque

1,000-year-old tooth plaque sheds light on ancient lives

Researchers from the University of Zurich and the University of Oklahoma have analysed the dental plaque from 1,000-year-old skeletons in a medieval cemetery in Germany. They had the idea that the...
Disease in ancient Mesopotamia

Unravelling the mystery of disease in ancient Mesopotamia

Despite intensive research over many decades on one of the most famous kingdoms of the ancient world , scientists still know little about the diseases which plagued the people of Mesopotamia. An...
Ancient treasure in Biblical city - Israel Tell Abil el-Qameh

Archaeologists reveal ancient treasure in Biblical city

Archaeologists who have been excavating in an ancient city located in present-day Israel have revealed a host of treasures they have uncovered during the dig, including a 3,200-year-old jug...
Danube Valley Civilization Artefacts

Is the Danube Valley Civilization script the oldest writing in the world?

The Danube Valley civilization is one of the oldest civilizations known in Europe. It existed from between 5,500 and 3,500 BC in the Balkans and covered a vast area, in what is now Northern Greece to...
Sasquatch - Bigfoot

Another Human Hybrid? The Controversy Continues One Year Later

Last year, we reported on the results of genetic research which revealed that the genome of one of our ancient ancestors, the Denisovans, contains a segment of DNA that seems to have come from...
Petralona Cave - Greece

The controversial Petralona skull and Greek government suppression of information

Recently, we posted an article about the discovery of a skull that has the potential to challenge what we know about human evolution. We have now received an update directly from the head researcher...
Samos Artefact

Ancient Samos and the museum of mysterious artifacts

The island of Samos in Greece is an island about 1.5 km from the shores of Turkey, which has a long history dating back to 4,000 BC. The name ‘Samos’ is thought to have Phoenician origin and...
Trophy Skulls - Headhunters in London

Gruesome evidence of ancient Roman head hunters in London

A report in the Journal of Archaeological Science published earlier this year revealed grisly evidence of beheadings and brutality inflicted upon the Roman Empire’s gladiators, criminals and war...
The Food of the Gods and the Elixir of Life

Immortality, the Elixir of Life and the Food of the Gods

When we look into the accounts of many different mythologies and religions, it becomes clear that the gods are either immortal or live a life of many thousands of years. What is rarely mentioned is...
Father Crespi

Father Crespi and the missing golden artifacts

The story of father Crespi is one of the most enigmatic stories ever told - an unknown civilization, unbelievable artifacts, massive amounts of gold, depictions of strange figures connecting America...
El Cano in Panama

The Spectacular Tombs of El Cano in Panama

In 2011, in the province of Cocle in Panama, a major discovery was made. A pre-Columbian cemetery was discovered with the remains of bodies, weapons and artefacts made of gold that dated back to...
Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni

The Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni and an unknown race with elongated skulls

Many ancient megalithic structures exist in Malta and one of them is the ‘Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni’, a subterranean structure with magnificent properties that is more than 5,000 years old. The...

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