Archeology

June 8, 2024

Gardener Discovers Rock With Ancient Irish Writing System in His Yard

Gardening is good for the soul, its fans argue, but it also can be as adventurous as a journey through time. In May 2020, during the isolated times of the COVID-19 quarantine, an Englishman named Graham Senior was digging in his garden in Coventry when he encountered a rock. Typically, rocks in gardens are more annoying than exciting, but Senior noticed unusual markings on the stone once he unearthed it.

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May 17, 2024

Stunning Facial Reconstruction of a Mummy Found in an Australian High School

A mummy in an Australian high school? It sounds unlikely, but it's actually true. While there are differing accounts as to why Grafton High School owns a mummified head, the artifact is certainly genuine. And now, thanks to forensic sculptor Jennifer Mann, we are able to see what this woman, who researchers estimate lived in Egypt between 332 BCE and 395 CE, looked like.

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May 11, 2024

250-Year-Old Bottled Cherries Discovered at Mount Vernon

When archeologists start rooting around at historical sites, there's no telling what they might find. Among the most fascinating, instructive discoveries are ephemeral items that have somehow managed to stand the test of time and decay. These include the tragic casts of ancient Romans buried under the ash of Pompeii and preserved snacks discovered beneath the Roman Colosseum. Other times, it's uncovering a scrap of tartan fabric in a Scottish peat bog.

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April 28, 2024

Ancient Rock Art Depicts Psychedelic Music and Dance in Peru

Rock art always presents fascinating—sometimes mysterious—insight into the lives of ancient humans. What did they value enough to carve into stone? What do the patterns and designs mean? Some things, such as paintings or etchings of game and hunters, tell a clearer story. Others may raise questions with more ephemeral implications. Feelings, magic, and music might all lurk behind the engravings of prehistoric hands.

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