History

[CaaC (John)]

History buff finds ships that sank in 1878 in Lake Michigan

© Provided by The Associated Press In this Aug. 24, 2019, photo provided by John Janzen, diver John Scoles manoeuvres around the wreckage of the schooners Peshtigo and St. Andrews, lost in 1878 near Beaver Island in northern Lake Michigan. A group of maritime history enthusiasts led by Boyne City, Michigan diver and explorer, Bernie Hellstrom have announced the discovery of the schooners. The site was located in 2010 by Hellstrom during one of his many trips to explore the Beaver Island archipelago. (John Janzen via AP)

A diver and maritime history buff has found two schooners that collided and sank into the cold depths of northern Lake Michigan more than 140 years ago.

Bernie Hellstrom, of Boyne City, Michigan, said he was looking for shipwrecks about 10 years ago when a depth sounder on his boat noted a large obstruction about 200 feet (60 meters) down on the lake bottom near Beaver Island.

"I've made hundreds of trips to Beaver Island and every trip I go out the sounder is on," he told The Associated Press on Friday. "But if you happen to see something that's not normal, you go back. A lot are nothing but fish schools. This was 400 feet of the boat. There's nothing out there that big that's missing."

© Provided by The Associated Press This Aug. 24, 2019, photo provided by John Janzen, shows part of the wreckage of the schooners Peshtigo and St. Andrews, lost in 1878 near Beaver Island in northern Lake Michigan. A group of maritime history enthusiasts led by Boyne City, Michigan diver and explorer, Bernie Hellstrom have announced the discovery of the schooners. The site was located in 2010 by Hellstrom during one of his many trips to explore the Beaver Island archipelago. (John Janzen via AP)

He returned to the area in June with a custom-made camera system and discovered the Peshtigo and St. Andrews about 10 feet (3 meters) apart with their masts atop one another. The hull of one of the ships has a huge gash.

It had been believed the ships sank in 1878 farther to the east in the Straits of Mackinac in Lake Huron. But only one ship could be found and that was thought to be the St. Andrews.

"They never found the second boat," said Hellstrom, 63.

Hellstrom brought technical divers in to record video of the wrecks. Madison, Wisconsin-based marine historian Brendon Baillod was recruited to help solve the mystery.

Baillod said he searched through old news reports and learned that the Peshtigo and St. Andrews did hit each other and sink between Beaver and Fox islands, northwest of Charlevoix, Michigan.

The Peshtigo was 161 feet (49 meters) long and carrying coal. The St. Andrews was 143 feet (43 meters) long and carrying corn. The collision was blamed on confusion in signal torches, he said.

Two of the Peshtigo's crewmen were lost. Survivors from both ships were rescued by another passing schooner, according to Baillod.

Wayne Lusardi, Michigan's state maritime archaeologist, calls finding the actual resting place of the Peshtigo and St. Andrews a "fantastic discovery."

"You can argue that any new discovery is important because it really gives you a first-time look at something that has been lost and missing for such a long time," Lusardi said.

He added that the Peshtigo and St. Andrews "had been mistakenly identified as two vessels up in the Straits for decades."

"Now, it begs the question: What are those wrecks?" he said.

An estimated 6,000 shipwrecks sit on the bottoms of the Great Lakes, according to Cathy Green, executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.

"If you think about it, cities like Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee would never have been able to develop without the water highway," Green said. "When material remains of that history is found, it's a big deal to historians and archaeologists."

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/history-buff-finds-ships-that-sank-in-1878-in-lake-michigan/ar-AAHDkts

[CaaC (John)]

Archaeologists pull 'incredibly well-preserved' 3,200-year-old sword from a rock near megalith site in Majorca

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Archaeologists working on the Spanish holiday island of Majorca (Mallorca) have accidentally stumbled across a 3,200-year-old sword, one of only a few weapons from the Bronze Age found on the island better known for its sunny beaches.

The sword was found near a stone megalith known locally as a talayot (or talaiot), which were built by the mysterious Tailiotic culture that flourished on the islands of Majorca and Menorca some 1000-6000 BC. 

The team was preparing the location for a museum site when two archaeologists picked up a rock and saw something protruding from the ground. To their amazement, a sword emerged after they carefully removed mud and earth from the item.

'It was a huge surprise. We did not expect to find anything like this because the area had already been excavated,' Jaume Deya one of the head archaeologists told CEN.

The megalith had been looted in the ancient past, by Romans and others, and has been thoroughly excavated since the 1950s, so no one expected to find any further remains.

Apart from a broken tip, the sword is in good condition despite being over 3000 years. The team thinks it dates to around 1200 BC.

They believe the sword was deliberately left at the site, possibly buried as an offering from a noble or an aristocratic family at the megalith which is thought to had been an important religious and ceremonial site. 

What was the Talayotic culture?

The prehistoric Talayotic civilization existed in the Balearic island in the Bronze age

It is a prime example of a pre-Roman culture from this time, comprising building sites, pottery, and weaponry

The word ‘talayotic’ is related to one of the most typical elements of this culture, buildings in the form of a tower and known by the island's inhabitants as ‘TALAYOT’

Talayotic Culture of Minorca, which it is made up of 25 archaeological sites, has been proposed for inclusion in the tentative list of World Heritage of the Spanish State

Talayots in nearby Majorca and Minorca are similar, but also differ in technical building solutions: for example, the Minorcan ones had inner chambers crowned with a false dome, something not present in Majorca 

The sword could have also been left there for defence; experts believe that the weapon was buried was made when the Talaiotic culture was in serious decline.

Only around ten such weapons from the Talaiotic culture have been found before, mostly by farmers and builders who typically unearthed them by accident and then handed over to authorities. This meant that experts were unable to properly research the artefacts as they did not know where and how they had been found'.

The fact that the sword was found at an archaeological site, researchers now know the context in which it was found, which is essential to understand the origin of the sword and its possible symbolic role in the Talaiotic civilization.

For example, the find seems to demonstrate that weapons were used as offerings and it also underscores the role of the talaiots as places of religious worship rather than as signalling towers or defensive strongholds as some have suggested.

The sword is expected to be on display soon at the Museum of Majorca.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/archaeologists-pull-incredibly-well-preserved-3200-year-old-sword-from-a-rock-near-megalith-site-in-majorca/ar-AAHDE5J?ocid=chromentp#image=5

Edited September 21, 2019 by CaaC (John)
Spelling corrections

[CaaC (John)]

Scientists find 125 million-year-old fossilised remains of superpterosaur with 20ft wingspan that could have been one of the biggest species ever to take to the skies

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With a 20-foot wingspan and weighing a colossal 650lbs, the giant pterosaur cast an imposing figure swooping through the skies of the Jurassic Age.

And 125 million years later, the beast's massive size continues to marvel scientists who have discovered the remains of one of the beasts wedged deep into the cliffs of the Isle of Wight.

The Hatzegopteryx fossil has shed new light on this magnificent species which some believe was the biggest flying creature of the period.

These winged monsters are believed to have ruled the skies for roughly 150 million years, during which time they evolved from rodent-sized to a figure akin to a modern-day fighter jet. 

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited With a 20-foot wingspan and weighing 300kg, the giant pterosaur cast an imposing figure swooping through the skies of the Jurassic Age

The find was made by British Fossils chief Robert Coram who said: 'It might have been the largest flying creature that had ever lived up to that time,' according to the Sunday Times.

The Isle of Wight is rich with fossils and is flocked to by dinosaur enthusiasts who comb the south side for remains.

Mr Coram added: 'We think this is one of the first superpterosaurs. The Isle of Wight is incredibly heavily prospected by people almost on a daily basis, so it's a matter of being able to spot the little things that they can't.'

Equipped with an extended jaw, the giant pterosaur - which hunted dinosaurs - would snap up and kill its prey. 

In a paper co-authored with Professor David Martill of Portsmouth University, he wrote: 'A morphometric analysis suggests an original wingspan of approximately 5.6m.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited The Hatzegopteryx fossil found on the south-west coast of the Isle of Wight (pictured) has shed new light on this magnificent species which some believe was the biggest flying creature of the period.

'With an early Barremian age, this pterosaur would have been a giant for its time.'

Pterosaurs - sometimes known as pterodactyls - co-existed among at the same time as, but were not classed as, dinosaurs.

Because of their mammoth size, paleobiologists have long wondered how the creatures managed to take off, as their mass would suggest generating enough momentum would be impossible.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited These flying monsters are believed to have ruled the skies for roughly 150million years, during which time they evolved from rodent-sized to a figure akin to a modern-day fighter jet

But 3D modelling has now revealed that bulging leg muscles and flexible wing structure allowed the giant pterosaur to vault itself into the air.

Michael Habib, from the University of Southern California, wrote: 'Unlike birds, which walk and jump into the air using only their hind limbs, pterosaurs walked on all fours.

'Mathematical modelling indicates that launching from a quadrupedal stance — pushing off first with the hind limbs and then with the forelimbs — would have provided the leaping power giant pterosaurs required for takeoff.' 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/scientists-find-125-million-year-old-fossilised-remains-of-superpterosaur-with-20ft-wingspan-that-could-have-been-one-of-the-biggest-species-ever-to-take-to-the-skies/ar-AAHGFiJ#image=1

Edited September 23, 2019 by CaaC (John)

[CaaC (John)]

Scientists discover one of the world's oldest bird species: Ancient seabird with a bony serrated beak used to catch fish 62 million years ago is found in New Zealand

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The discovery of a toothed seabird with a serrated beak that lived 62 million years ago is forcing scientists to rethink theories of the bird's evolution.

A fossil of a protodontopteryx was found at the Waipara Greensand site near Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island last year.

The petrified remains delighted amateur palaeontologist Leigh Love, who found and named the species 'protodontopteryx ruthae' after his wife Ruth, for indulging his interest in the field.

It is one of the oldest named bird species in the world, and the oldest 'bony-tooth bird', or pelagornithid, to be found south of the equator.

Canterbury Museum curator Paul Scofield said the bony, tooth-like projections on the beak turned over commonly-held views on the development of seabirds.

'Until we found this skeleton, all the really old pelagornithids had been found in the Northern Hemisphere, so everyone thought they'd evolved up there,' Dr Scofield said.

Gerald Mayr, of the Frankfurt-based National History Museum, declared the find 'truly amazing and unexpected'.

'Not only is the fossil one of the most complete specimens of a pseudo-toothed bird, but it also shows a number of unexpected skeletal features that contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of these enigmatic birds,' he said.

Scientists believe the ancient beaks were designed for catching fish, and soft-bodied prey like squids.

The bony-tooth birds would evolve to boast wingspans greater than six metres long, the length of an average modern-day elephant.

The last pelagornithid species died before modern humans evolved, around 2.5 million years ago.

The Waipara Greensand site has also yielded fossils of an ancient penguin, which stood 1.6 metres tall, and the world's oldest tropicbird fossil.

The fossils - along with the latest discovery - are being prepared to be displayed in an exhibition at the Canterbury Museum later this year.

The find was published today in the journal Papers in Palaeontology.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/scientists-discover-one-of-the-worlds-oldest-bird-species-ancient-seabird-with-a-bony-serrated-beak-used-to-catch-fish-62-million-years-ago-is-found-in-new-zealand/ar-AAHInHL

[CaaC (John)]

Old lady discovers a Renaissance masterpiece in her kitchen

An early Renaissance masterpiece by the Florentine master Cimabue has been discovered in an old lady's kitchen in a town near Paris, art experts said Monday.

"Christ Mocked", by the 13th-century artist who taught Giotto, is estimated to be worth between four and six million euros ($4.3 million $6.6 million), according to the Old Masters specialists Turquin.

They said the work was owned by an old lady in the northern French town of Compiegne, who had it hanging between her kitchen and her sitting room.

It was directly above a hotplate for cooking food.

The painting is thought to be part of a large diptych dating from 1280 when Cimabue painted eight scenes depicting Christ's passion and crucifixion.

Two other scenes from the work hang in the National Gallery in London -- "The Virgin and Child with Two Angels" -- and the Frick Collection in New York ("The Flagellation of Christ").

The scene in the National Gallery was also lost for centuries and only found when a British aristocrat was clearing his ancestral seat in Suffolk.

It was given to the nation in 2000.

The French painting's elderly owner thought it was just a rather old religious icon when she took it to her local auctioneers to be valued.

Early Renaissance art was hugely influenced by Byzantine art, which is still produced in a similar style today on a background of gold paint.

However, tests using infrared light found that there was "no disputing that the painting was done by the same hand" as other known works by Cimabue, said art expert Eric Turquin.

It will now go under the hammer at the Acteon auction house in Senlis, north of Paris, on October 27.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/old-lady-discovers-renaissance-masterpiece-in-her-kitchen/ar-AAHJQky

[CaaC (John)]

Ancient Roman copper objects unearthed in Shropshire are actually cosmetic pendants designed to decorate the eyes

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Roman 'pendants' excavated in Shropshire have been revealed to actually be ancient eye make-up and jewellery, English Heritage has said.

The copper alloy objects were excavated in the early 20th century at Wroxeter Roman City and catalogued at the time as 'lunate' or crescent pendants.

But a re-examination by researchers at English Heritage, which looks after the site, has revealed the items were used to grind minerals for make-up.

They were shaped for the specific purpose of being used on the eyes for applying liner and eye-shadow.

The 'cosmetic grinders' will go on display at Wroxeter for the first time on Wednesday, the heritage charity said.

The small pestle and mortar sets, which were developed in the first century AD, had loops to allow them to be carried on a cord.

Previously, this led people to think they were pendants.

Experts also said sets were exclusive to Britain, though they were a response to the import of cosmetics and personal beauty ideas coming from the Mediterranean and Roman provinces as far away as Egypt.

They show how thriving, prosperous and metropolitan Wroxeter Roman City was 2,000 years ago, English Heritage said.

Cameron Moffett, English Heritage curator, said: 'Being able to re-identify these pendants as cosmetic sets is hugely important to our understanding of the women who lived and worked at Wroxeter Roman City - these small objects literally changed the face of Britain.

'When we think of the Roman period, a conversation is often dominated by the masculine realms of influence, from Emperors and politics to battle tactics, but of course, women played a key role.

'It's these functional, everyday items that really paint a picture of relatable women, to whom make-up was wholly accessible, following the trends of the time and using tools so similar to the ones we use today.'

To mark the items going on display, English Heritage has released a new 'Roman History Inspired Make-Up Tutorial' as part of a series which has also recreated looks from history including Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria and the 1930s.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/ancient-roman-copper-objects-unearthed-in-shropshire-are-actually-cosmetic-pendants-designed-to-decorate-the-eyes/ar-AAHtjDB

[CaaC (John)]

Ancient kingdom presumed to be Bible story 'could be real'

© Other Researchers excavated an ancient copper mine. Pic: E Ben-Yosef and the Central Timna Valley Project

Scientists have discovered evidence of an ancient kingdom previously thought to have been a mythical creation in the Bible.

The Old Testament described Edom as a neighbouring enemy state of Judea, located southeast of the Dead Sea where explorers would now find parts of Jordan and Israel.

It was spoken of extremely harshly, with some biblical texts indicating that it was complicit in the destruction of Judea and the holy city of Jerusalem.

Edom has been described as a place "where kings reigned before any Israelite king reigned", but is later said to have been defeated and plundered by King David of Israel.

Such tales have been scoffed at by plenty of historians down the years, but discoveries by a team of scientists and archaeologists in the area where it would have stood have raised new questions about its possible existence.

Researchers from the University of California and Tel Aviv University have been working at the supposed site in what is now known as the Arabah Valley.

There they excavated a copper production site dubbed Slaves' Hill, dating back more than 6,000 years, which yielded layers of smelting waste that have helped reconstruct a time when the region enjoyed a "technological leap".

Using a process called radiocarbon dating, which helps determine how old an organic object is, the researchers were able to put a date on the smelting waste - better known as slag.

© Getty The modern-day Arabah Valley. File pic

Analysis of the minerals and metals within the slag was then used to work out how smelting techniques changed over the centuries, with lower concentrations of copper indicating that more had been extracted.

Efficiency improved dramatically in the second half of the 10th century BC and the techniques also became common across various sites in the region - indicating that other workers were picking them up.

Detailing the findings in the journal PLOS ONE, team leader Erez Ben-Yosef said the technological leap played a key role in the move from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age.

"Our study sheds new light on the emergence of the archaeologically elusive biblical kingdom of Edom, indicating that the process started much earlier than previously thought," he said.

"That said, the study's contribution goes beyond the Edomite case, as it provides significant insights on ancient technological evolution and the intricate interconnections between technology and society.

"The results demonstrate that the punctuated equilibrium evolutionary model is applicable to ancient technological developments and that in turn, these developments are proxies for social processes."

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/ancient-kingdom-presumed-to-be-bible-story-could-be-real/ar-AAHPCCX

[CaaC (John)]

Somerset human remains 'as old as Cheddar Man'

Two boxes of human remains rediscovered after 55 years have been found to be as old as the Cheddar Man - Britain's oldest complete skeleton.

The bones were discovered in a cave in Cannington Park Quarry near Bridgwater, Somerset, in the 1960s.

Soon after they "disappeared", and were recently found at Somerset Heritage Centre near Taunton, Cotswold Archaeology said.

Radiocarbon dating has shown them to be more than 9,000 years old.

Osteoarchaeologist Sharon Clough, of Cotswold Archaeology, said the results were "very surprising" as the bones were originally thought to be Roman and from a cemetery near to where they were discovered in 1964.

They were placed in boxes and transferred between museums, including London's Natural History Museum, before they were misplaced.

"It was a bit of a mystery, I'd assumed they had been archived with the rest of the dig from the post-Roman cemetery," Ms Clough said.

"But they'd been picked out of the rubble in the cave and weren't seen as part of the main dig so they were only mildly interesting and were archived and forgotten about."

They were eventually tracked down to Somerset before undergoing carbon dating.

Ms Clough described the remains, from at least seven individuals, as "some of the oldest known humans to inhabit this country".

She said two thigh bones, from an adult and an under 18, were found to be more than 9,000 years old "which places both of the bones very clearly in the early Mesolithic".

Cheddar Man lived in the Somerset area 9,000 years ago and was buried in Cheddar Gorge, where his skeleton was discovered in 1903.

Ms Clough said Mesolithic human remains are "extremely rare discoveries" in this country.

"Cheddar man has all the bits but we only have a lot of long bones, a few cranial parts and a couple of pieces of the pelvis," she said of the latest discovery.

"But it's very exciting to find human remains of this date."

She added the cave was "completely destroyed" by quarrying in the 1990s, so the bones are the "only surviving evidence for what now appears to have been a rare Mesolithic burial site".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-49739955

[CaaC (John)]

Incredible footage reveals more than 100 'perfectly preserved' Roman amphorae used to store olive oil and wine in a 1,700-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Majorca

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Incredible footage reveals a Roman shipwreck containing more than 100 perfectly preserved amphorae that underwater archaeologists are painstakingly recovering.

The wreck — which experts have dated back to around 1,700 years ago — was found off of the coast of Mallorca back in July 2019.

Based on some of the inscriptions on the long, two-handled jars, the archaeologists believe that the amphorae were used to store fish sauce, oil and wine.

However, researchers will not be able to open them to check until they have finished preservation work that will stop the salt in the seawater cracking the jars.

The wreck was found off of the coast of Mallorca's Can Pastilla Beach in July after local resident Felix Alarcón and his wife spotted pottery shards on the seabed.

After investigating, archaeologists found the Roman boat buried in the seabed mere feet from the shore. 

In a press conference, archaeologist Sebastian Munar of the Balearic Institute of Maritime Archaeology Studies said that the amphorae were perfectly conserved in the ship's hold.

The vessel is around 33 feet (ten metres) long and 16 feet (five metres) wide. 

The merchant ship is thought to have been carrying its wares between Mallorca and the Spanish mainland.  

Experts think that the Roman vessel sank around 1,700 years ago — although likely not as a result of a storm, given the excellent preservation of its fragile cargo.  

With the assistance of the Spanish navy and national police divers, archaeologists have removed the jars, however, the wreck itself is to be left on the seafloor.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited The wreck was found off of the coast of Mallorca's Can Pastilla Beach in July after local resident Felix Alarcón and his wife spotted pottery shards on the seabed

The amphorae on-board the vessel have been transferred to the Museum of Mallorca, where experts will be analysing and restoring the spectacular artefacts.

'The amphorae are now in swimming pools where they are being desalinated and we think this process will last about four months,' Mallorca council heritage director Kika Coll told CEN.

'This process is important because the salt crystallises and can break the amphorae.'

'The amphorae have spent 1,700 years underwater and we do not want to make mistakes.'

'Once we are able to translate the inscriptions, we will learn more about the merchants, the products they transported and where they came from.'

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/incredible-footage-reveals-more-than-100-perfectly-preserved-roman-amphorae-used-to-store-olive-oil-and-wine-in-a-1700-year-old-shipwreck-off-the-coast-of-majorca/ar-AAHZ3ho#image=1

[Carnivore Chris]

 

A photo of Battle Abbey(that I took when down South), which was built on the site where the battle of Hastings in 1066 took place.

 

[CaaC (John)]

Uncovering secrets of mystery civilization in Saudi Arabia

A team of researchers is carrying out the first in-depth archaeological survey of part of Saudi Arabia, in a bid to shed light on a mysterious civilisation that once lived there. The Nabataean culture left behind sophisticated stone monuments, but many sites remain unexplored.

The rock-strewn deserts of Al Ula in Saudi Arabia are known for their pitch-black skies, which allow stargazers to easily study celestial bodies without the problem of light pollution.

But the region is becoming even more attractive for archaeologists.

A long-lost culture known as the Nabataean civilisation inhabited the area starting from around 100 BC and persisted for some 200 years.

While the Nabataeans ruled their empire from the stunning city of Petra in Jordan, they made Hegra (the modern Mada'in Saleh) in Al Ula their second capital.

Now, archaeologists are planning to carry out the first in-depth survey of a chunk of land here that's roughly the size of Belgium.

The large international team of more than 60 experts has started work on an initial, two-year project to survey the core area of 3,300 sq km in north-western Saudi Arabia.

This is the first time such a large area of more or less scientifically uncharted territory has been systematically investigated.

FULL REPORT

[CaaC (John)]

Ancient 45,000-year-old quartz tools 'used to hunt animals up trees' are found in Sri Lanka - making them the oldest human-made implements ever found in South Asian rainforest

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The oldest known tools from South Asian rainforests have been found in Sri Lanka — tiny, retouched stones called microliths that date back around 45,000 years.

Archaeologists had previously thought that rainforests presented a barrier to the early spread of humankind.

In comparison with the environments of Europe and Africa, these dense tropical surroundings are considerably more challenging to both travel through and inhabit.

However, the discovery of these tools, which are believed to have been weapons to kill animals hiding in trees, suggests humanity spread more diversely than was thought.

The tools — along with the formation of complex social structures — may have been key in letting humans adapt to life in the rainforest and nearly every habitat beyond.

Archaeologist Oshan Wedage of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany and colleagues analysed microliths, from the west Sri Lankan cave of Fa-Hein Lena, that date back to around 48,000–45,000 years ago.

The formation of microlithic tools are often associated with the production of composite, projectile weapons like spears, which are used by cultures with advanced hunting strategies.

While these tools were common in Europe at this time, similar-aged microliths had not previously been found in South Asia or in a rainforest setting.

'We undertook detailed measurements of stone tools and reconstructed their production patterns at the site of Fa-Hien Lena Cave,' said Mr Wedage.

This, he added, is 'the site with the earliest evidence for human occupation in Sri Lanka.'

'We found clear evidence for the production of "miniaturised" stone tools or "microliths" at Fa-Hien Lena, dating to the earliest period of human occupation.'

While further research will be needed to determine exactly how these stone tools were used, the team believe that they were likely employed to hunt, capture and kill tree-dwelling prey like monkeys and tree squirrels.

In addition, the researchers note that the tools found in the Fa-Hein cave bear a considerable similarity to those used by the local cultures as recently as around 4,000 years ago — suggest a long-term technological stability in the region.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/ancient-45000-year-old-quartz-tools-used-to-hunt-animals-up-trees-are-found-in-sri-lanka-making-them-the-oldest-human-made-implements-ever-found-in-south-asian-rainforest/ar-AAId4bS#image=6

[CaaC (John)]

Has a biblical anchor been discovered? Researchers say they have identified the anchor belonging to St Paul's 60 AD shipwreck near Malta

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Archaeologists believe they have identified an anchor from a biblical shipwreck dating back to 60 AD, which could have belonged to the vessel that once carried St. Paul.

The anchor was one of four discovered in the 1960s in St. Thomas Bay on Malta's southern coast, which contests the long-standing legend that the event happened in St. Paul's Bay located on the northern region.

Because the anchor dates back to the first-century era of Roman shipping and was laying in an area that represents the recordings of Luke in Acts 27, the team is sure they have made a true discovery. 

However, critics have argued that there is lack of evidence to confirm that the anchor is remnants of the ancient ship mentioned in scripture, as others have come forward claiming to have found the same artefact in the past.

The new claims come from the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration (BASE) Institute, which relayed the biblical story on their website to announce their findings.

'In approximately 60 A.D., a ship carrying 276 men and a cargo of grain shipwrecked off the coast of Malta,' BASE wrote.

'Two of the passengers on that ship were the biblical writers Paul and Luke, who were on their way to Rome–Paul as a prisoner, and Luke as his attending physician and friend.'

'Through Luke's meticulously-detailed account of the voyage and shipwreck, as recorded in Acts chapter 27, we can today undertake a journey back in time to find the remains of that shipwreck.'

'And, even more precisely, we can attempt to find the four anchors described in the Bible that were abandoned in the sea.'

This journey of discovery began when four anchors were pulled from the depths of the St. Thomas Bay in the 1960s, but, at the time, no one had linked any of them to St. Paul's ship.

'The legend of Paul shipwrecking in St. Paul's Bay had existed for so long that it was indelibly etched in the Maltese culture, and consequently anchors produced from any other bay could not be seen as being from Paul's ship,' Bob Cornuke, the leader of BASE, explained to Fox News in an email.

All four anchors were found to date back to the first-century era of Roman shipping -- at the time when Paul's shipwreck occurred.   

And the was laying in an area that represents the recordings of Luke in Acts 27, which is the biblical passage mentioning the shipwreck.   

'Could this, verifiably, be an anchor from Paul's ship, which lay alongside three others for nearly two thousand years until they were recovered just a few years ago?' writes BASE, on its website. 

'As with any historical claim, the best we can do is examine the evidence in terms of probability. But the evidence for the anchors of Paul's shipwreck is virtually overwhelming.'

Critics, however, have said that there is a lack of evidence to support BASE's theory, as many have come before the group claiming to have found the same artefact in the past

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/has-biblical-anchor-been-discovered-researchers-say-they-have-identified-the-anchor-belonging-to-st-pauls-60-ad-shipwreck-near-malta/ar-AAIj9PW?MSCC=1570278324&ocid=chromentp#image=2

Edited October 5, 2019 by CaaC (John)

[CaaC (John)]

Rare 800 million-year-old rattling diamond with 'gem-inside-a-gem' found in Siberia

© The Siberian Times It is believed to be at least 800 million years old

A unique "gem-inside-a-gem" diamond thought to be over 800 million years old has been found in Siberia.

The "priceless" jewel weighs just 0.62 carats and is the first diamond of that nature to ever be found.

Inside, a tiny nested diamond moves freely and has an estimated weight of 0.02 carats.

The so-called "Matryoshka" diamond is named because it resembles traditional Russian nesting dolls.

The find - visible on X-ray - was announced by Russian diamond giant Alrosa and was made at the Nyurba diamond mind in the Sakha Republic, also known as Yakutia

© The Siberian Times The so-called 'Matryoshka' diamond is named because it resembles traditional Russian nesting dolls, one inside the other

No value has been put on the one-of-a-kind discovery, which is likely to be 800 million years old.

Alrosa’s Oleg Kovalchuk told The Siberian Times: "As far as we know, there were no such diamonds in the history of global diamond mining yet.

"This is really a unique creation of nature, especially since nature does not like emptiness. 

"Usually, some minerals are replaced by others without cavity formation."

© The Siberian Times Nyurbinsky diamond mine where Matryoshka diamond was found

This isn't the first time a rare discover has been made by the diamond mining group.

In July 2018, an unusual football-shaped diamond was found at the diamond mine belonging to Alrosa.

Experts described the unusual shape and pattern on the diamond as a "bizarre" natural creation 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/rare-800-million-year-old-rattling-diamond-with-gem-inside-a-gem-found-in-siberia/ar-AAIkAwh?ocid=chromentp

[CaaC (John)]

Construction Workers Accidentally Find 2,200-Year-Old Egyptian Temple

Long lost for 2,200 years, an Egyptian temple was finally found.

Archaeologists discovered a tomb believed to belong to Pharaoh Ptolemy IV.

According to CNN, construction workers were drilling a sewage drain in a village in Sohag, Egypt, when they accidentally stumbled upon the temple.

After drilling work was suspended, archaeologists found a north-south wall, an east-west wall, and the southwestern corner of the limestone structure. At this point, they are trying to carefully preserve what is left.

It is believed that Ptolemy IV ruled Egypt from about 221 B.C. to 204 B.C. Historians believe he built the largest human-powered ship ever made. Named the Tessarakonteres, meaning “forty,” the galley had 40 banks of oars run by 4,000 oarsmen.   

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/construction-workers-accidentally-find-2200-year-old-egyptian-temple/ar-AAIlje1

[CaaC (John)]

Ancient 'New York': 5,000-year-old city discovered in Israel

The remains of a 5,000-year-old city have been discovered in Israel - the largest and oldest such find in the region.

The city was home to 6,000 people and included planned roads, neighbourhoods, a ritual temple and fortifications.

An even earlier settlement, believed to be 7,000 years old, was discovered beneath the city.

Israeli archaeologists said the discovery was the most significant in the region from that era.

FULL REPORT

[CaaC (John)]

Rare Ancient Tomb of Rich Minoan Woman Discovered at Monumental Archaeological Complex in Crete

The rare ancient tomb of a wealthy Minoan woman has been discovered at a monumental archaeological complex on the Greek island of Crete.

The cist grave—a small, coffin-like grave built using stone—contained an almost complete and intact skeleton of a woman, as well as several valuable objects, according to the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports.

These objects include a bronze mirror with an ivory handle, bone and bronze garment pins, and a necklace consisting of several gold beads shaped like olives or olive pits.

Archaeologists say that these types of burials are rare on Crete. In fact, they are only found at the city of Chania and Knossos—the most important ancient Minoan settlement on the island.

The fact that the woman was buried with valuable objects, suggests she was a wealthy person in life.

The find came during excavations conducted in the municipality of Sissi by the Belgian School at Athens (EBSA) in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Lasithi. This work involved more than 100 archaeologists from around the world.

These excavations—led by Jan Driessen from the EBSA and the University of Louvain in Belgium—uncovered a large monumental complex on a hill in Sissi, which is located on the island's northern coast.

Furthermore, the archaeologists identified remains in the western part of the complex which indicated the presence of an Early Minoan settlement dating back to around 2,600 B.C.

The archaeologists say that a monumental building was constructed to the east of the settlement after the village was abandoned by its inhabitants.

This building was later destroyed by a fire in 2,500 B.C., however, its remains were subsequently incorporated almost entirely into the monumental complex, which was constructed in 1,700 B.C.

The team's excavations at the complex uncovered a floor coated with fine quality mortar and covered with dotted decorations, as well as a ceramic pipeline built to carry water from the 108-foot long courtyard towards the east slope of the complex.

The researchers also made several other notable finds, including a house which may have been destroyed between 1,700 and 1,650 B.C. by an earthquake and the previously-mentioned cist grave from the Neopalatial Period (1,750 to 1,500 B.C.)

The Minoan Civilization flourished on Crete and other islands in the Aegean Sea from around 3,000 B.C. to 1,100 B.C. It is considered by many to be the birthplace of "high culture" in Europe, bringing numerous cultural and artistic achievements.

Peaking around 1,600 B.C., the Minoan civilization was known for its great cities and architectural complexes, sophisticated artwork, its written script, and extensive trade routes which spread out across the Mediterranean.

The Minoan woman's tomb is not the only grave to be uncovered recently in Greece. In August, the Ministry of Culture and Sports announced the discovery of two ancient chamber tombs in southern Greece which date back to the Late Mycenaean Period (1,400-1,200 B.C.)

The Mycenaean culture was the first advanced civilization to develop on the Greek mainland, centred around the capital of Mycenae. The Mycenaean period spanned the years between around 1,600 and 1,100 B.C. and during this time, they developed a syllabic script which represents the earliest form of Greek.

Also in August, Russian archaeologists said they had uncovered the 1,500-year-old crypt of a warrior who was buried with his wife and children in an ancient city.

The remains were found in the eastern necropolis at Phanagoria—a coastal settlement founded by the Ancient Greeks located in what is now the Krasnodar Krai administrative region of Russia on the shores of the Black Sea.

Phangoria was founded in the mid-sixth century B.C. by Greek settlers who were largely fleeing conflict in Asia Minor—where modern-day Turkey is located. The settlement eventually developed into the most influential city in the Black Sea area and one of the largest Greek metropolises before being abandoned in the 9th and 10th centuries due to unknown reasons.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/rare-ancient-tomb-of-rich-minoan-woman-discovered-at-monumental-archaeological-complex-in-crete/ar-AAIvuFq

[CaaC (John)]

Egypt unveils 3,500-year-old industrial district on the west bank of the Nile

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Egypt, as part of a larger effort to ramp up tourism, has unveiled a 3,500-year-old industrial area, a first-of-its-kind collection of artefacts, on the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor.

The discovery in the Western Valley, also known as the Valley of the Monkeys, dates to the New Kingdom's 18th Dynasty, approximately 1543–1292 B.C., the antiquities ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, who spearheaded a two-year excavation in the area, said the site includes 30 workshops where funeral furniture for royal tombs was made.

The team also discovered an oven used to produce clay products, a water storage tank, two silver rings and objects used to decorate royal coffins, Hawass said at a press conference in Luxor, according to the statement.

Hawass' team also uncovered a royal tomb that contained tools used in tomb construction.

A mission launched by Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 19th century discovered a few items at this site, which otherwise remained untapped until a new excavation in 2011. That mission was halted, and Hawass returned to the site in 2017.

Work is currently underway in the Western Valley to find the tombs of Queen Nefertiti and the wife of boy-king Tutankhamun, Hawass added.

In April, archaeologists unveiled an expansive tomb on Luxor's west bank that also dates to the 18th dynasty, believed to have belonged to a nobleman named Shedsu Djehuty.

The west bank of the Nile in Luxor also is home to the Valley of the Kings, a major site where pharaohs and nobles of the New Kingdom were buried.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/egypt-unveils-3500-year-old-industrial-district-on-west-bank-of-the-nile/ar-AAICUa2#image=AAICUa2_1|1

[CaaC (John)]

Huge new 'shark-toothed' dinosaur found

Today, the land near Ban Saphan Hin in central Thailand is dusted with thin reddish soil where local farmers plant corn and tapioca. But more than 113 million years ago, this region hosted ancient floodplains that were terrorized by a fearsome dinosaur with shark-like teeth.

Described today in the journal PLOS One, the newfound predator—called Siamraptor suwati—is the most complete dinosaur of its type and age ever found in Southeast Asia. The bones of the 25-foot beast add to a string of major dinosaur finds from the region, and they reveal new insight into how a major group of predatory dinosaurs spread across the ancient world.

“It's one of the most important Thai dinosaurs ever found,” Steve Brusatte, a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh who reviewed the study for publication, says in an email.

For instance, a team led by Duangsuda Chokchaloemwong, a researcher at Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, pored over the bones and found that the skeleton is shot through with air sacs. This would have made the dinosaur’s frame lightweight and perhaps helped it breathe faster, an idea that future scans of the bones could put to the test.

“It would have been a fierce, fast, dynamic beast,” Brusatte says.

Teeth like a shark's

Tens of millions of years before giant tyrannosaurs such as T. rex arrived on the scene, another group of large predatory dinosaurs reigned: the allosauroids. Among these meat-eating heavyweights was a group called the carcharodontosaurs (kar-KA-ro-DON-toe-SORES), which were the top predators for most of the Cretaceous. 

“It was only with the decline of the carcharodontosaurs that small tyrannosaurs got big and moved into the apex predator role,” Brusatte says.

FULL REPORT

[CaaC (John)]

Ancient images of gladiators unearthed at the city of Pompeii

Archaeologists have uncovered a well-preserved fresco of two fighting gladiators in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii.

It depicts two gladiators in action, one wielding a short sword, the other cowering as blood spurts from wounds all over his body.

The defeated soldier is lifting his finger to beg for mercy.

Dario Franceschini, Italy’s culture minister, said the discovery showed Pompeii was “an inexhaustible mine for research and knowledge for archaeologists”.

The city is undergoing a new phase of excavation, the “Great Pompeii” project, funded by the European Union and Italy. It has already unearthed villas decorated with frescoes and mosaics as well as the remains of human skeletons trapped beneath the rubble.

The fresco was found in what had been a basement that could have been used as a shop, and there may have been a tavern and brothel above.

The painting, which is 1.5 metres wide, suggests the place was frequented by gladiators.

It was found at Regio V, a 54-acre site near an archaeological park not yet open to the public.

A fresco depicting the mythological hunter Narcissus admiring his own reflection in a pool was discovered in February.

“It’s very probable that this place was frequented by gladiators,” said Massimo Osanna, director-general of Pompeii’s archaeological park.

“Of particular interest in this fresco is the very realistic representation of wounds on the wrist and chest of the unsuccessful gladiator … we don’t know the outcome of the fight, he could have died or was given grace.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/ancient-images-of-gladiators-unearthed-at-city-of-pompeii/ar-AAIFSMa#image=2

[CaaC (John)]

Ancient Egyptian 'industrial zone' uncovered in Luxor's 'Valley of the Monkeys'

New archaeological discoveries have been made in Luxor, Egypt, -including an "industrial zone," according to the Egyptian  Ministry of Antiquities.

Archaeologists found 30 workshops in an area "composed of houses for storage and the cleaning of the funerary furniture with many potteries dated to Dynasty 18," reports Reuters.

One finding was in the West Valley, also referred to as the Valley of the Monkeys, reports Ahram Online, and the other was in the East Valley, which is home to the country's famous pharaonic tombs.

Well-known Egyptologist Zahi Hawass told Ahram Online that the area contains an oven used for clay products, a water storage tank used by thirsty workers, and hundreds of inlay beads and golden objects that were used to decorate royal coffins.

The excavation is reportedly looking for overlooked tombs, and for those of the wives and sons of the kings of the eighteenth dynasty buried in the Valley of the Kings.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/ancient-egyptian-industrial-zone-uncovered-in-luxors-valley-of-the-monkeys/ar-AAIIeKi

[CaaC (John)]

What the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World would look like today

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[CaaC (John)]

Archaeologists unearth 20 well-preserved wooden coffins in Egypt deemed to be the 'biggest most important discovery' in years

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Archaeologist have stumbled upon what is deemed the 'biggest and most important' discovery in years near the Egyptian city of Luxor.

At least 20 well-preserved, vividly painted wooden coffins have been unearthed in the ancient town of West Thebes.

The treasure trove includes tombs dating back to the Middle, New Kingdom and the Late Periods, which took occurred in the years 1994 B.C. to 332 B.C.

Experts have provided few details of the discovery, but have shared stunning pictures of the vibrant coffins with their vivid inscriptions and paintings, according to AP.

The coffins which are considered one of the 'biggest and most important' discoveries in recent years are found in the Asasif Necropolis.

The area is called the Asasif Tombs because it is surrounded by burials.

It sits between the Deir al-Bahri and the Tombs of the Nobles, and next to the Temple of Hatshepsut on the West Bank of Luxor, reports AncientPages.com

And earlier discoveries had found tombs belonging to Anch-Hor, Kheru-Ef, Montuemhet, and Pabasa. 

Beneath the sandy grounds are underground rooms and a gallery leading to the tomb of Kheru-Ef during the reign of Amenhotep III. At first, this period in Egypt was first ruled by

The ministry says it will release further details at a news conference on Saturday.  

Less than a week ago, archaeologists made a discovery inside a coffin that was also astounding -- the oldest copy of a 'map for the soul to attain eternal life'. 

'The Book of Two Ways' was supposed to help the deceased navigate through a dangerous landscape of fiery lakes and knife-wielding demons to make it to the realm of Osiris. 

The burial shaft housing the coffin was unearthed in 2012 but has now been found to have been constructed 4,000 years ago. 

The engravings have also revealed the coffin’s inhabitant is not an overlord, but an elite woman.

‘The Book of Two Ways’ refers to two paths that zig-zag a dangerous route through obstacles and demonic entities towards ‘Rostau’ or the realm of Osiris. 

It was believed that anyone who laid on the body of Osiris would never die.

And now it is determined that the etching found on the side of the coffin is the oldest copy known to man.

The ancient map for the dead is etched in two wood panels and although versions have been found on other coffins, this is the oldest in history.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/archaeologists-unearth-20-well-preserved-wooden-coffins-in-egypt-deemed-to-be-the-biggest-most-important-discovery-in-years/ar-AAIRGbu

[CaaC (John)]

Discovery of Bronze Age Warrior’s Kit Sheds New Light on an Epic Prehistoric Battle

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A knife, chisel, arrowheads, and other gear belonging to a Bronze Age warrior have been uncovered on a 3,300-year-old battlefield in Germany.

New research published today in Antiquity highlights some of the military equipment that was in use during the Nordic Bronze Age (2000 to 1200 BCE). Over 30 items belonging to a single warrior were found clumped together under a riverbank in Germany’s Tollense Valley—the site of a violent conflict involving potentially thousands of warriors some 3,300 years ago. The new evidence suggests the battle wasn’t a local affair, but rather a multiregional conflict that transpired on a wider scale than previously appreciated.

The Tollense site in northeastern Germany has undergone steady excavations since its discovery in 2008, during which time archaeologists have pulled out an assortment of items and fossils associated with the conflagration—including 12,000 bits of human bone, so far traced to more than 140 individuals.

These individuals were almost exclusively young males who exhibited signs of fresh and/or past trauma inflicted by weapons. Isotopic and genetic data gleaned from the bones suggested many of the men were local to the region, but some of the warriors came from parts unknown. The Bronze Age warrior’s kit, found in 2016, is helping to fill in this important gap.

The 31 items were likely stored together in a cloth pouch, or perhaps a wooden case, that is now gone, having rotted away after so many years. The kit was somehow missed during the looting that typically happens after a battle, and it’s believed to contain the “typical personal belongings of a warrior who probably originated from southern Central Europe,” according to the new paper. The new analysis was led by Joachim Krüger from the University of Greifswald and included researchers from the University of Göttingen and the State Agency for Cultural Heritage in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The assemblage included a bronze awl with a birch handle, which the warrior would have used to puncture holes in a variety of materials. The birch handle was radiocarbon dated to 1300 to 1250 BCE, which nicely matches the age of the battle site. A knife, chisel, decorated belt box, three dress pins, arrowheads, and bronze fragments were among the other items analyzed. 

“This is the first discovery of personal belongings on [the] battlefield and it provides insights into the equipment of a warrior,” said Terberger in a press release, adding that the “fragmented bronze was probably used as a form of early currency.”

The warrior’s kit also included three thin bronze metal cylinders. These sheets were pierced with bronze nails which were still attached at the ends, and they were rolled up in a manner reminiscent of wristbands. The authors speculate that these cylinders were fittings used for the cloth bag or wooden box, which has since disintegrated.

While seemingly innocuous, these cylinders, along with other items found in the warrior’s stash, are consistent with equipment found elsewhere in Bronze Age Europe, including in southern Germany and Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). This is a potential clue that the battle drew men from far away. This “further supports the interpretation that the finds in the Tollense Valley testify to a large violent conflict of supra-regional scale,” the authors wrote in the study, adding that the “conflict should be interpreted in the framework of the social and economic development that characterised Central Europe” in the 13th century BCE.

These clues are certainly intriguing, but more evidence will be needed to solidify these claims, such as more isotopic data from the warrior’s bones and teeth, which can be used to pinpoint the geographic origin.

As to what prompted this bloody battle, the authors can only speculate, but its location next to Tollense River is probably an important clue. A causeway nearby “probably became an important focus for trade routes,” the authors wrote, and a likely “starting point for the battle” which may have involved upwards of 2,000 combatants. Archaeological evidence of violence uncovered elsewhere along the river bank backs up the claim that this area was a hotbed of conflict.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/discovery-of-bronze-age-warriors-kit-sheds-new-light-on-an-epic-prehistoric-battle/ar-AAIRB4Z?ocid=chromentp

Edited October 17, 2019 by CaaC (John)

[CaaC (John)]

Hand-drawn sketch by Admiral Lord Nelson outlining his plan to defeat the French and Spanish navies at Trafalgar is found tucked into a scrapbook for almost 200 years

A sketch hand-drawn by Admiral Lord Nelson showing his plan to defeat the French and Spanish navies at Trafalgar has been discovered tucked inside the pages of a scrapbook where it's been concealed for nearly 200 years.

The map was found by Nelson historian Martyn Downer in the scrapbook dating from the 1830s which was recently sold at auction.

The drawing was found alongside an address leaf-bearing Nelson's signature and is dated September 5 1805.

The sketch, which has been donated to the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, shows Nelson's plan to split his fleet into three divisions to break and destroy the enemy line coming out of Cadiz harbour.

FULL REPORT