The Minoan culture was the first highly complex society on modern European soil, with palaces, writing, stunning art – and even flushing toilets. The article explores how this pioneering European civilization influenced western culture and how Minoan culture has been reconstructed and re-imagined in museum displays and modern representations.
An international team analyzed ancient DNA from 230 individuals in Georgia and Armenia, revealing a largely stable local gene pool from the Bronze Age to 500 CE, with some migration from Anatolia and the Eurasian steppe. The study also found that cranial deformation, initially introduced by migrants, became a local tradition.
The article discusses the Bronze Age civilizations of Greece, particularly focusing on the Minoan civilization in Crete, its achievements in architecture, craftsmanship, and astronomical knowledge, including the discovery of the 'Gate of Heaven' observatory on Papoura Hill near Knossos. It highlights the conflict between modern Greek authorities and scientists over the preservation of this ancient site, which is at risk due to plans for an airport expansion. The author argues that the Greek government, influenced by foreign powers, is neglecting and potentially destroying its own heritage, leading to a loss of national identity and historical continuity. The piece also touches on the broader context of Greece's historical struggles and foreign influence.
Archaeologists in Azerbaijan have discovered a 3,800-year-old kurgan burial containing the remains of a warrior estimated to be over 2 meters tall, along with rare bronze weapons and artifacts, providing insights into Bronze Age elite society and burial practices.
Hollywood is set to produce “The Man from Hattusha,” a historical epic based on a novel by Turkish archaeologist Ahmet Çelik, detailing a pivotal diplomatic mission between the Hittite and Egyptian empires around 3,350 years ago. The film, backed by “Avatar” producer Shawn Anthony Sequeira and Emmy-winning director Nazim Hajiyev, aims to bring the little-known history of the powerful Hittite civilization to a global audience and potentially mark a breakthrough moment for Turkish cinema. The story centers on an envoy sent to negotiate a marriage alliance following the death of Tutankhamun, promising a narrative rich in political intrigue and cultural exchange.
Archaeological analysis of waste from Bronze Age Troy reveals insights into daily life, economic shifts, and social organization over nearly two millennia. Layers of refuse, including animal bones, pottery, and production debris, document changes in trade, technology, and urban planning.
A newly deciphered Hittite tablet offers potential connections between Bronze Age Anatolia and the epic tradition of Homer’s Iliad, including references to figures and places associated with the Trojan War and a Luwian poetic fragment echoing the Iliad's opening.
The Minoan civilization of Crete thrived in the Bronze Age, but its original name remains unknown as the Minoans left no written record of it. Though called “Minoan” today—a name coined by Sir Arthur Evans—neighboring cultures used similar terms like “Eteocretans” (Greek), “Caphtorim/Caphtor” (Biblical/Middle Eastern), and “Keftiu” (Egyptian). This consistency suggests the Minoans likely called themselves something similar, possibly “Caphtorim,” despite their undeciphered Linear A script. These external names offer clues to their self-identified origins.
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.
- Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and Sichuan University in China have traced the roots of cultural interactions across the Tibetan Plateau to prehistoric times, as early as the Bronze Age.
- The study found that ancient mobility and subsistence strategies of farmers and herders influenced the settlement pattern and the transfer of ceramic styles among distant prehistoric communities.
- The researchers used advanced geospatial modeling to compare environmental and archaeological evidence connecting ancient mobility and subsistence strategies to cultural connections forged among farmers and herders in the Bronze and Iron Ages.
- The study found that ancient mobility and subsistence strategies of farmers and herders influenced the settlement pattern and the transfer of ceramic styles among distant prehistoric communities.
- The researchers used advanced geospatial modeling to compare environmental and archaeological evidence connecting ancient mobility and subsistence strategies to cultural connections forged among farmers and herders in the Bronze and Iron Ages.
