A 3,300-year-old bronze helmet discovered in central Turkey provides insights into the Hittite Empire's military prowess, religious beliefs, and craftsmanship. Found in Şapinuva, it served both as military protection and a religious offering to the Storm God.
Archaeologists have discovered a 5000-year-old piece of bread in Turkey and are working with a local bakery to recreate it, using ancient grains and techniques.
This article details how recent advancements in ancient DNA (aDNA) research are challenging long-held beliefs in archaeology and potentially rehabilitating a previously discredited historical model. For much of the 20th century, archaeological interpretations favored gradual cultural shifts driven by trade and intermingling, downplaying the role of large-scale migrations and distinct ethnic groups. This was partly a reaction against the work of Gustaf Kossinna, a 19th/20th-century archaeologist whose “culture-history” model – linking archaeological cultures directly to specific peoples and their movements – became tainted by association with Nazi ideology.
However, the aDNA revolution, beginning in the late 2000s, has revealed a more dynamic and often disruptive picture of prehistory. Genetic analysis confirms that significant population movements did occur, particularly with the spread of Indo-European languages across Europe and into India. This supports Kossinna’s core idea that cultural changes often accompanied the movement of peoples, though it doesn’t endorse his problematic racial theories.
However, the aDNA revolution, beginning in the late 2000s, has revealed a more dynamic and often disruptive picture of prehistory. Genetic analysis confirms that significant population movements did occur, particularly with the spread of Indo-European languages across Europe and into India. This supports Kossinna’s core idea that cultural changes often accompanied the movement of peoples, though it doesn’t endorse his problematic racial theories.
Excavations on the island of Paros, Greece have revealed an ancient sculpture workshop from the Hellenistic period, complete with unfinished statues and a social space for men called an 'androna'. The findings provide insight into the creation of marble statues in ancient Greece.
The Thesaurus Linguarum Hethaeorum Digitalis (TLHdig) is a digital tool providing online access to Hittite cuneiform texts. Version 0.2 contains over 98% of published sources and offers advanced search capabilities, along with a submission pipeline for new texts.
Archaeologists have discovered hundreds of administrative tablets from the ancient Sumerian city of Girsu, revealing the surprisingly detailed and extensive bureaucracy of the Akkadian empire (2300-2150 BC). These tablets represent the earliest physical evidence of imperial control and provide insight into daily life, governance, and even the roles of women in Mesopotamian society.
Machine Learning models can now accurately replicate cuneiform characters from photos of ancient tablets, facilitating the reading of complex scripts. The ProtoSnap approach aligns a prototype character with individual variations on tablets, enabling precise reproduction. This method enhances optical character recognition, improving the identification of rare and varied characters. The advancement could significantly increase the availability of ancient texts for analysis.
Archaeologists have unearthed an unusual collection of ceramics at Megiddo, which they believe may be linked to Pharaoh Necho's army that killed King Josiah.
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of the Egyptian army that killed King Josiah of Judah at Megiddo around 609 BCE. The discovery includes a large collection of Egyptian and Greek pottery in a newly excavated building at Megiddo, suggesting the presence of Necho's army, possibly accompanied by Greek mercenaries. This find provides new insights into the cultural and ethnic makeup of Megiddo during this period and sheds light on the biblical account of Josiah's demise, which has significant implications for Jewish and Christian apocalyptic traditions.
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of the Egyptian army that killed King Josiah of Judah at Megiddo around 609 BCE. The discovery includes a large collection of Egyptian and Greek pottery in a newly excavated building at Megiddo, suggesting the presence of Necho's army, possibly accompanied by Greek mercenaries. This find provides new insights into the cultural and ethnic makeup of Megiddo during this period and sheds light on the biblical account of Josiah's demise, which has significant implications for Jewish and Christian apocalyptic traditions.
Jericho, known as the oldest inhabited city in the world, has a rich history dating back over 11,000 years. UNESCO recently recognized its historical importance. Archaeological excavations have revealed significant findings, including the Tower of Jericho and prehistoric houses.
* Jericho, with over 11,000 years of history, is the oldest inhabited city in the world.
* UNESCO recognized Jericho's historical importance in 2023 by inscribing it on the World Heritage List.
* Archaeological excavations at Tell es-Sultan, led by Kathleen Kenyon in the 1950s, uncovered significant findings, including the Tower of Jericho.
* The ancient city of Jericho, situated in the Judean desert, offers a unique glimpse into the earliest human civilizations, with around 70 prehistoric houses and over 20 successive settlements.
* The city's transition from a nomadic lifestyle to a sedentary one, with the development of agriculture and food technologies, marked a significant evolution in human history.
* Notable archaeological discoveries in Jericho include ceramic utensils with prehistoric inscriptions, skulls with gypsum and shells, and the ruins of Tell es-Sultan, which provide insight into life in antiquity.
* Jericho, with over 11,000 years of history, is the oldest inhabited city in the world.
* UNESCO recognized Jericho's historical importance in 2023 by inscribing it on the World Heritage List.
* Archaeological excavations at Tell es-Sultan, led by Kathleen Kenyon in the 1950s, uncovered significant findings, including the Tower of Jericho.
* The ancient city of Jericho, situated in the Judean desert, offers a unique glimpse into the earliest human civilizations, with around 70 prehistoric houses and over 20 successive settlements.
* The city's transition from a nomadic lifestyle to a sedentary one, with the development of agriculture and food technologies, marked a significant evolution in human history.
* Notable archaeological discoveries in Jericho include ceramic utensils with prehistoric inscriptions, skulls with gypsum and shells, and the ruins of Tell es-Sultan, which provide insight into life in antiquity.
