Volunteers participating in Kazakhstan’s nationwide Taza (Clean) Kazakhstan environmental campaign have uncovered petroglyphs dating back to the Bronze Age in the Zhambyl region. Newly discovered petroglyphs dating back to the Bronze Age. Credit: Department of Internal Policy of the Akimat of the Zhambyl Region The discovery made approximately 3.5 kilometers from Aktogay village in the Sarysu district, was a result of the campaign’s focus on landscaping efforts around historical and cultural monuments. The petroglyphs, totaling over 100, were found at the base of towering ridges. These ancient ..read more

Archaeologists, in collaboration with the Museum of Vojvodina in Novi Sad (Serbia), the National Museum Zrenjanin, and the National Museum Pančevo, have unearthed a previously unknown Late Neolithic settlement near the Tamiš River in Northeast Serbia. This finding represents one of the few large Late Neolithic settlements identified in the Serbian Banat region. Results of the geophysical survey of the previously unknown site of Jarkovac (Serbia). Credit: Cluster ROOOTS/Museum of Vojvodina Novi Sad/National Museum Zrenjanin/National Museum Pančevo Situated near the modern village of Jarkovac in ..read more

A new study conducted by an international team of scientists challenges long-held beliefs about the dietary habits of prehistoric human populations in Northwest Africa. The site of Taforalt. Credit: Nicolas Perrault III/Wikimedia Commons Led by Zineb Moubtahij from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, an international team of scientists conducted a comprehensive analysis of human and animal remains from the Late Stone Age (LSA) cave burial site of Taforalt in present-day Morocco. This site, associated with the Iberomaurusian culture, provides a window int ..read more

Researchers at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań have discovered a treasure trove of literary history, discovering 27 original volumes from the private library of the Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm. Portrait of the Brothers Grimm, by Elisabeth Baumann, 1855. Credit: Wikimedia Commons These renowned German academics, celebrated for their collection and publication of traditional folklore, including classics like “Hansel and Gretel” and “Little Red Riding Hood,” also made significant contributions to Germanic philology throughout their lives. Considered lost since World War II, these volum ..read more

Archaeologists conducting excavations near Oppin, Germany, have uncovered an ancient grave dating back approximately 4,200 years. The burial site, labeled a “zombie grave” by experts, was found during excavations preceding the expansion of the Südostlink direct current line, a project spanning 93 miles through Saxony-Anhalt, scheduled for archaeological examination until 2025. 4,200-year-old “zombie grave.” Credit: State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, Anja Lochner-Rechta The grave, discovered by archaeologists from the State Office for Heritage Management and Arc ..read more

Archaeologists in Narbonne, France, have concluded an extensive excavation project revealing a significant ancient Roman cemetery dating back from the late 1st century BCE to the early 3rd century CE. The excavation spanned over seven years and yielded 1,430 graves. Drone view of the ancient necropolis of Narbonne. Credit: Pascal Druelle, Inrap The cemetery, known as the Robine necropolis, lies in southern France and was discovered during excavations preceding construction work in the area. The meticulously organized burial plots, enclosed by high stone walls erected around CE 50, reflect the ..read more

Archaeologists from the Jönköping County Museum have uncovered a 12th-century grave during an archaeological excavation at Brahe Church on the Swedish island of Visingsö. The coins date back to the 12th century, Swedish archaeologists say. Credit: Åsa Rosén, Jönköping County Museum A team led by project manager Anna Ödéen stumbled upon the grave during monitoring work for a geothermal installation. Ödéen recounted the initial discovery: “On the very first day, my colleague Kristina Jansson and I found two skeletons in the trench where the cables were to be laid. We cleared the bones from the b ..read more

In the heart of ancient Maya territories, the significance of ballcourts transcended mere entertainment, revealing deep-seated rituals and cultural practices. Recent excavations at Yaxnohcah, an ancient Maya city in Mexico, conducted by archaeologists from the University of Cincinnati, in collaboration with various institutions, unveiled compelling evidence of ceremonial offerings beneath the ballcourt platforms. A limestone Maya panel found in Guatemala depicting ball players. Credit: Ada Turnbull Hertle Fund; Art Institute Chicago Through innovative environmental DNA analysis, researchers un ..read more

Archaeologists from the University of Warwick are embarking on an ambitious underwater expedition to explore the submerged Mesolithic site of Bouldnor Cliff, located in the Solent between the Isle of Wight and the southern coast of England. The urgency of the study stems from the imminent threat of erosion that could result in the loss of invaluable historical evidence. Credit: University of Warwick The site, first discovered in 1999 by divers who observed lobsters discarding worked flint tools, presents a unique opportunity to delve into the prehistoric past of Britain. At a time when rising ..read more

Researchers in Valencia have finally unraveled the age-old mysteries surrounding a historic sword, affectionately dubbed “Excalibur.” Discovered upright in 1994 at an archaeological site nestled within Valencia’s ancient town, this iron sword has long captivated scholars and enthusiasts alike, with its enigmatic origins shrouded in the annals of time. The sword unearthed in Valencia in 1994 dates back 1,000 years. Credit: Valencia City Council Archaeology Service (SIAM) The artifact was initially unearthed in the north of the ancient Roman Forum. Over the past three decades, the sword’s actual ..read more