A 3,800-year journey from classroom to classroom
Thirty-eight hundred years ago, on the hot river plains of what is now southern Iraq, a Babylonian student did a bit of schoolwork that changed our understanding of ancient mathematics.
How robot explorers are making the finds of the future
Gone are the days when archaeology was just a whole load of sand, dust and bones. These days the real explorers are all about the robotics.
Digital modelling of human skull from Culloden
The top section of a skull of what is thought to be someone who met their demise on the battlefield has been on display at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh’s Hall Museums in Nicolson Street for many years.
How ancient horse-dung bacteria is helping us determine where Hannibal crossed the Alps
Despite thousands of years of hard work by brilliant scholars, the great enigma of where Hannibal crossed the Alps to invade Italy remained unsolved.
But...
Neanderthal bone found using novel fingerprinting technique
An international team of scientists has used a new molecular fingerprinting technique to identify one Neanderthal bone from around 2,000 tiny fragments found in Russia.
From Stonehenge to Nefertiti: how high-tech archaeology is transforming our view of history
A recent discovery could radically change our views of one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Metallic ink revealed in Herculaneum papyri
An international team of scientists has discovered the presence of metal in the ink of two Herculaneum papyrus fragments proving that metals were used in ink several centuries earlier than previously believed.
First successful extraction of ancient DNA from a southern African mummy
Researchers have presented one of the first computerised tomography (CT) scans of a mummified individual from southern Africa, and also completed the first successful aDNA (ancient DNA) extraction from such remains.
Science sheds new light on the life and death of medieval King Erik
The saint's legend speaks of a king who died a dramatic death in battle outside the church in Uppsala, Sweden, where he had just celebrated mass. But what can modern science tell us about his remains?
Neanderthals collected manganese dioxide to make fire
Manganese dioxide is abundant in nature, and owing to their colour, these oxides have been used as pigments since the Stone Age.
Japanese earthenware time capsules contain 4,300-year-old cockroach egg case impressions
Impressions of cockroach egg cases from 4,300 year old Japanese potsherds (broken pottery fragments) have been found in southern Japan.
Eternal 5D data storage could record the history of humankind
Scientists at the University of Southampton have made a major step forward in the development of digital data storage that is capable of surviving for billions of years.
Light and manganese to discover the source of submerged Roman marble
The Roman Emperors used to spend their summers in the city of Baia, near Naples. With the passage of time, however, the majority of their luxury villas became immersed under water.
New digital tools could help speed up cultural heritage work
Archaeologists will soon have access to new digital tools for reassembly and erosion, while advances in predictive scanning could open up new market opportunities.
CSI Medieval: researchers to uncover forensic secrets of Britain’s historic wax seals
Historical research using forensic fingerprinting techniques on the wax seals of thousands of medieval documents will reveal new insights into 12th to 14th century British society, help determine how unique fingerprints truly are, and uncover medieval crime.
