Archeology

June 2, 2025

1,600-Year-Old Mosaic Unveiled for the First Time Ever in Western Negev

In northwestern Negev, the 1,600-year-old Be’er Shema mosaic has been unveiled to the public for the first time. Dating back to the Byzantine period (324–638 CE), the mosaic has since undergone significant conservation efforts and will now be on permanent display at the Merhavim Regional Council headquarters. The mosaic was originally discovered in 1990, nestled inside a monastery near Kibbutz Urim and the Gaza Strip.

Read Article

May 26, 2025

Ancient Egyptian Drawing Now Theorized To Represent the Milky Way’s Great Rift

New research suggests that ancient depictions of the Egyptian sky goddess Nut may contain an early representation of the Milky Way galaxy. According to Dr. Or Graur, an astrophysicist and associate professor at the University of Portsmouth, a recurring dark, zigzagging band across Nut’s back could symbolize the Great Rift, a dense dust lane that cuts through the Milky Way.

Read Article

May 10, 2025

New Studies Paw at the Prevailing Theory of How Cats Became Domesticated

Calling a house cat domesticated could be seen as a stretch. With their famously aloof demeanor and unpredictable moods, cats have never quite surrendered their wild streak. Our feline friends are notoriously temperamental and may tolerate us, at best, but they are nonetheless important figures in the homes of many families around the world. Cats are equally mysterious and charming in their own right.

Read Article

April 29, 2025

Bite Marks on Gladiator Bones Are First Physical Proof of Human-Animal Combat in the Roman Empire

The image of a gladiator fighting with animals in the Colosseum is one of the top things people associate with the ancient Roman empire. But while this event was widely documented in official records and inspired art across many mediums, archaeologists had not found physical evidence of this practice—until now. The clue lied in the marks found on the skeleton of a gladiator who was mauled by a lion.

Read Article

My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.