Dario Radley writes that archaeologists in Azerbaijan uncovered a 3,600-year-old burial site containing artifacts of a high-ranking Bronze Age warrior. The burial, located in Kurgan No. 4 within the Sariyokhush area of the Keshikchidagh State Historical and Cultural Reserve, includes a rare stone mace head, a bronze dagger, and several arrowheads. The burial dates to the Middle Bronze Age, around the 17th to 16th centuries BCE. The mace head, made from diorite, weighs between 400-500 grams and features a drilled center, suggesting advanced stoneworking skills. The artifacts indicate the individual's high social and military status, with the mace head symbolizing leadership and authority. Radiocarbon dating and further analysis are planned to refine the findings.
Bill Giannopoulos writes that archaeologists near Aigio, in western Greece, have discovered an intact Mycenaean tomb dating back over 3,000 years. The undisturbed site contains various funerary objects, including jewelry, bronze artifacts, and ceramics, providing a unique opportunity to study the burial customs and social structures of the Late Bronze Age.
- Researchers are analyzing remains to determine biological relationships between the deceased.
- Nearby excavations have revealed an even earlier settlement from approximately 2000 BC.
- Future research will focus on the ancient city of Rhypes, specifically its agora and a heroon.
- Researchers are analyzing remains to determine biological relationships between the deceased.
- Nearby excavations have revealed an even earlier settlement from approximately 2000 BC.
- Future research will focus on the ancient city of Rhypes, specifically its agora and a heroon.
Guillermo Carvajal writes Michael Schumann analyzed a Linear A libation table from Mount Juktas, IO Za 2, preserving a Minoan ritual formula. The text invokes the Father of the Bull Contest of Dikte, calls for lamentation and libation, and names the sanctuary of Tinu and Ida-Mate, linked to archaic Dionysus and Demeter. The find connects the Juktas cult with Dikte and suggests continuity from Minoan to later Greek religion.
- Small dark green serpentinite table with central depression.
- Found by Karetsou in 1970s-1980s near a monumental altar with votive deposits.
- Schumann revises signs A301 and AB013 to ZA for a coherent reading.
- Catalogued as HM L3557, archaic paleography in Neopalatial deposition.
- Small dark green serpentinite table with central depression.
- Found by Karetsou in 1970s-1980s near a monumental altar with votive deposits.
- Schumann revises signs A301 and AB013 to ZA for a coherent reading.
- Catalogued as HM L3557, archaic paleography in Neopalatial deposition.
A new study analyzing ancient DNA has revealed that Bronze Age Britain underwent a dramatic population shift, with a large-scale migration from continental Europe fundamentally altering the genetic makeup of the island. Researchers found that around 90% of the ancestry of people living in Britain during the Bronze Age came from migrants who arrived from the continent, bringing with them new technologies, practices, and potentially even languages.
An exploration of the Yamnaya culture, their origins on the Pontic-Caspian Steppe, their expansion into Europe, and their impact on language, genetics, and culture.
New evidence reveals horses were present in Bronze Age Sicily earlier than previously thought, and played a role in the diets and rituals of early communities. Proteomic analysis of pottery fragments confirmed horse meat consumption.
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.
