Localized climate change contributed to ancient southwest depopulation
Washington State University researchers have detailed the role of localized climate change in one of the great mysteries of North American archaeology: the depopulation of southwest Colorado by ancestral Pueblo people in the late 1200s.
Dirt provides new insight into Roman burials
A team of archaeologists led by the University of Bradford has unveiled the first scientific evidence of frankincense being used in Roman burial rites in Britain. The findings – published today in the Journal of Archaeological Science – prove that, even while the Roman Empire was declining, these precious substances were being transported to its furthest northern outpost.
Oldest ever engraving discovered on 500,000-year-old shell
Not only Homo sapiens made engravings.
Archaeologists reveal layout of medieval city at Old Sarum
Archaeologists from the University of Southampton have revealed for the first time the plan of a network of buildings in a once thriving medieval city at the historic site of Old Sarum, near Salisbury.
King Richard III — case closed after 529 years
King Richard III: DNA and genealogical study confirms identity of remains found in Leicester and uncovers new truths about his appearance and Plantagenet lineage
Research team discover the world’s largest ancient stone block in Baalbek
In the summer of 2014, the Oriental Department of the German Archaeological Institute led excavations in the quarry of Baalbek Heliopolis, in Lebanon and discovered the world's largest ancient quarried stone block.
Excavating WWI practice trenches in Cumbria
Excavations and surveys of the First World War practice trenches on Walney Island on the western coast of Cumbria have been carried out by a team of archaeologists from the University of Bristol.
Macabre skeletal finds shed new light on the Sandby borg massacre
During the excavation of Sandby borg ringfort on the island of Öland, Sweden, a number of macabre finds were made. Skeletal remains from a small child were found in one of the houses in the ringforts central block.
OU Professor and team discover first evidence of milk consumption in ancient dental plaque
Led by a University of Oklahoma professor, an international team has uncovered the very first evidence of milk consumption in the ancient dental calculus – a mineralised dental plaque – of humans in Europe and western Asia. The team discovered direct evidence of milk consumption preserved in human dental plaque from the Bronze Age to the present day.
Post-medieval Polish buried as potential ‘vampires’ were most probably local
Potential vampires in the 17th-18th century buried with rocks and sickles to ward off evil.
Ancient rock art discovery across Asia
Latest research on the oldest surviving rock art of Southeast Asia shows that the region’s first people, hunter-gatherers who arrived over 50,000 years ago, brought with them a rich art practice.
Bronze Age dirk dagger used as doorstop saved with grant from the NHMF
A rare Middle Bronze Age weapon, one of only six known from Europe, has been saved for the nation with a grant of almost £39,000 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF).
Evidence of domestic cereals in Sudan as early as 7,000 years ago
Humans in Africa already exploited domestic cereals 7,000 years ago and thus several centuries earlier than previously known.
Excavations of the Pafos Agora Project 2014
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works, announces the completion of the fourth season of excavations within the framework of the Pafos Agora Project, which aims to explore and study the Agora of the ancient city of Nea Pafos, the capital of Cyprus in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Oxford team shed light on Philae obelisk
History was made this month as the robotic Philae lander completed the first controlled touchdown on a comet. The European Space Agency-led project was set up to obtain images of a comet’s surface and help scientists to understand what a comet is made of.
