ASIA, CHINA, WORLD

1,800-Year-Old Tombs Excavated in Eastern China

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1,800-Year-Old Tombs Excavated in Eastern China

An ancient family in eastern China constructed three underground tombs, filled them with treasure and laid their loved ones to rest. Century after century wore on the burials. Thieves broke in. Eventually, the site was forgotten.

But not anymore.

Archaeologists in Rizhao city dug up a partially damaged mound ahead of the expansion of a nearby park, the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said in a May 11 news release shared via the China Archaeology Network.

Underneath, archaeologists found three tombs from the Han dynasty, a period that, according to Britannica, lasted from 206 B.C. to 220 A.D.

1,800-Year-Old Tombs Excavated in Eastern China
A view looking into the 1,800-year-old tomb known as M2, one of the robbed burials.

Uncover more archaeological finds

What are we learning about the past? Here are three of our most eye-catching archaeology stories from the past week.

The 1,800-year-old tombs were similar in style, with two burials in each and sloping tomb passageways to the entrances, the institute said. Inscriptions in two of the tombs had the same surname, Huan, indicating the complex likely belonged to a family.

Tomb M3 as seen before archaeologists removed its wooden cover.

Two of the ancient tombs had been robbed, archaeologists said. The wooden coffins were left in the graves but very few artifacts remained.

The third ancient tomb, however, was well-preserved and relatively untouched, the institute said. A photo shows this tomb, known as M3.

A view into the 1,800-year-old tomb M3.

The main burial chamber of the M3 tomb had two rooms connected with miniature windows and doors. A photo shows these unique wooden windows. Archaeologists said the residential style suggested the tomb contained a husband and wife.

A miniature wooden window found in the M3 tomb.

Archaeologists also found over 70 artifacts inside the tomb. Photos show some of these treasures, including an iron sword, bronze mirrors and stacks of several different types of pottery.

A rusty sword found in the 1,800-year-old tomb.

Around one of the wooden coffins, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a coffin carriage, a structure used to transport the coffin into the tomb, the institute said. They described it as exquisitely crafted and an uncommon find.

Several red pottery artifacts found at the ancient family’s tombs.

Archaeologists described the 1,800-year-old family tombs as a significant and important discovery. Finding the same last name inscribed in several tombs is rare, the institute said.

Some of the pottery artifacts found at the 1,800-year-old tomb complex.

The excavation in Rizhao started last December and ended in January. Rizhao, sometimes translated as Jihchao, is a city in Shandong province along the eastern coast of China, a roughly 400-mile drive southeast from Beijing.

WORLD

Roman Gold Coin Discovered on Island of Alderney

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Roman Gold Coin Discovered on Island of Alderney

An ancient gold coin dating back to the late 4th Century AD has been unearthed by archaeologists in Alderney

Archaeologists carrying out a dig at a Roman site in Alderney have discovered an ancient gold coin.

The coin dates back to the late 4th Century when Valens was emperor, experts said.

The Romans came along after the Iron Age, with numerous examples of Roman pottery and human and animal bones from that era also unearthed.

States archaeologist Phil de Jersey said the coin was helpful in pinning down the date when the Romans occupied the site.

States archaeologist Phil de Jersey said the coin would help the team determine when the Romans occupied this site in Guernsey

The coin was unearthed by Dig Alderney as part of an excavation of the western end of Longis Common.

The dig also includes an Iron Age site.

Mr de Jersey said the relic was “a coin of Valens, who was an emperor towards the end of the 4th Century AD”.

“It’s all adding to the picture of the intensive Roman settlement that was here,” he added.

The Iron Age specialist said he hoped now to be able to continue the dig to go beyond the Roman settlement and find evidence of settlers from the Iron Age on the site.

He said they had so far uncovered evidence of what looked like an Iron Age burial found nearby.

An Iron Age site was previously discovered during construction of the golf course in the 1960s.

A large amount of pottery was found which is now on display in Alderney Museum.

Former Guernsey Museums director Dr Jason Monaghan said they wanted to explore beyond their original trenches to try to establish the size of the Roman building on site, and what its function was.

He said they also hoped to find more Frankish material as this was a period of Channel Island history they knew very little about.

The excavations continue until Friday 24 May.

Ancient Roman gold coin unearthed in Alderney dig

Archaeologists carrying out a dig at a Roman site in Alderney have discovered an ancient gold coin.

The coin dates back to the late 4th Century when Valens was emperor, experts said.

The Romans came along after the Iron Age, with numerous examples of Roman pottery and human and animal bones from that era also unearthed.

States archaeologist Phil de Jersey said the coin was helpful in pinning down the date when the Romans occupied the site.


The coin was unearthed by Dig Alderney as part of an excavation of the western end of Longis Common.

The dig also includes an Iron Age site.

Mr de Jersey said the relic was “a coin of Valens, who was an emperor towards the end of the 4th Century AD”.

“It’s all adding to the picture of the intensive Roman settlement that was here,” he added.

Ancient Roman gold coin unearthed in Alderney dig
The ancient gold coin helped archaeologists determine when the Romans would have occupied the site

The Iron Age specialist said he hoped now to be able to continue the dig to go beyond the Roman settlement and find evidence of settlers from the Iron Age on the site.

He said they had so far uncovered evidence of what looked like an Iron Age burial found nearby.

An Iron Age site was previously discovered during construction of the golf course in the 1960s.

A large amount of pottery was found which is now on display in Alderney Museum.

Former Guernsey Museums director Dr Jason Monaghan said they wanted to explore beyond their original trenches to try to establish the size of the Roman building on site, and what its function was.

He said they also hoped to find more Frankish material as this was a period of Channel Island history they knew very little about.

The excavations continue until Friday 24 May.

EUROPE, WORLD

A 1,600-year-old indoor pool, the first of its kind, discovered in Albania

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A 1,600-year-old indoor pool, the first of its kind, discovered in Albania

A 1,600-year-old indoor pool, the first of its kind, discovered in Albania

In the Albanian port city of Durrës, archaeologists have uncovered a 1600-year-old Roman indoor pool, the first of its kind.

Durrës is Albania’s oldest economic and historic center, having emerged as a permanent gate between the east and the west. The city was known as Epidamnus by the Illyrians in the seventh and sixth centuries BC. The Greeks colonized the city in 672 BC and called it “Dyrrhachium,” or “The city between the two hills.”

The Romans took over the city around 230 BC. The city was known to the Roman historian Catullus as “Dyrrhachium Adria e Taberna,” or “The Adriatic Tavern.” Cicero, who took refuge in Durrës circa 57 BC, described the city as “admirable,” mainly because of his colorful and active lifestyle.

The archaeologists of the city of Durres are familiar with Roman remains, but the latest discovery surprised even them.

An archaeologist excavates a 1,600-year-old indoor pool at an ancient Roman villa in Durrës.

Prior to a school being built, archaeologists were excavating a site in Durrës when they discovered an aristocratic ancient Roman neighborhood, according to a May 9 Facebook post from Albania’s National Institute of Cultural Heritage.

The National Institute of Cultural Heritage said that the archaeological excavations, which cover an area of 1,200 m2, at this stage, have provided a unique panorama of the urban organization of the area, which is thought to have been a part of the city.

Among the ruins of an ancient Roman villa were traces of an indoor pool decorated with well-preserved mosaics, the institute said.

Photo from Albania’s National Institute of Cultural Heritage

“From the excavations, the remains of an indoor swimming pool of a Roman period residence were discovered, the first of its kind discovered in Albania. It is decorated on its entire surface with colorful frescoes of a high artistic level.”

The Institute underlined that the most important feature of the building is that it has a very well-preserved mosaic floor with geometric motifs made of marble, stone, glass, and ceramic tiles.

Archaeologists estimated that the Roman ruins were between 1 and 400 A.D. old, and at least 1,600 years old.

According to the institute, excavations at a different part of the site revealed several walls and a sizable brick floor that may be the remnants of a two-story ancient Roman bathhouse. Other fragments of walls, ceilings, and tile mosaics were also uncovered.

The two bathtubs found in the ancient Roman villa.

Excavations at the construction site are ongoing.

The Facebook post from Albania’s National Institute of Cultural Heritage was translated using Google Translate.

EUROPE, HUNGARY, WORLD

Lost 14th Century Church Discovered under a Tennis Court in Hungary

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Lost 14th Century Church Discovered under a Tennis Court in Hungary

Lost 14th Century Church Discovered under a Tennis Court in Hungary

During an archaeological excavation in Visegrád, a fortified medieval castle on a hill overlooking the Danube in northern Hungary, the ruins of the Church of the Virgin Mary, built during the reign of King Sigismund, were found under a tennis court.

Traces of a clash from hundreds of years ago were also discovered in the area surrounding the crypt in front of the excavated high altar.

Sigismund of Luxembourg founded a Franciscan monastery that included the Church of the Virgin Mary, which was constructed next to his palace.

Charles IV’s son, Sigismund, ruled as king of Germany, Bohemia, Hungary, and Croatia before ascending to the throne as Holy Roman Emperor in 1433 and dying in 1437.

“No doubt, most promising for archaeologists was the excavation of the tennis court next to the royal palace, where the Franciscan monastery founded by Sigismund of Luxembourg once stood.”

The former tennis court became a development area of the Visegrad Renaissance program.

On the first day, the church’s remnants were discovered, and in front of the high altar, a crypt was discovered. Among the debris of the collapsed crypt lay the remains of three bodies.

The objects found beside them, such as a spur and several shots (pellets made of lead), suggested that they were soldiers. There was a copper bowl near them, which may have been used for defense, as its surface shows indentations made by weapons.

This could suggest that the church was not only the scene of looting, but also of a bloody clash.

After the beginning of the archaeological work, the foundation of the buttress of the sanctuary of the church belonging to the monastery was found.

After the Ottomans captured Visegrád in the sixteenth century, the building is believed to have collapsed. The lower, fortified part of Visegrád also revealed traces of an Ottoman settlement, including coins, an Ottoman cemetery, and an oval-shaped oven.

In 2021, the Visegrád Renaissance Development Program was initiated with the goal of revitalizing Visegrád Castle and its environs.

The Royal Palace, the Visegrád Citadel, and Solomon’s Tower will all be rebuilt in the upcoming years in addition to the Lower Castle.

The lower, fortified part of Visegrád also revealed traces of an Ottoman settlement, including coins, an Ottoman cemetery, and an oval-shaped oven.

The castle system’s upper and lower levels will be connected, and the complex will be made pedestrian-friendly. In order to allow for visits to the citadel, lower castle, and portions of the Royal Palace during the reconstruction, the work will be done in stages.

ENGLAND, EUROPE, WORLD

Bronze Age burial chamber discovered on Dartmoor, England

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Bronze Age burial chamber discovered on Dartmoor, England

Excitement has been felt among archaeologists over the discovery of a Bronze Age burial chamber on Dartmoor, which may provide fresh light on Devon’s prehistoric past.

This “enchanting” discovery could rival the significance of the 2011 find at Whitehorse Hill, where the remains of a young woman dating to circa 1700 BC were discovered.

The previous discovery was hailed around the world for its revelations about life in the early Bronze Age, and there are high hopes that the latest find will be just as enlightening.

Found in a secluded area to prevent tampering, the site’s exact location remains undisclosed. Peat erosion allowed for the discovery, which revealed what appears to be a Bronze Age cist or type of ancient coffin.

Dr. Lee Bray, a leading archaeologist involved in the excavation commented, “We have every potential for this to be something quite special,…. We don’t know for certain if this is a cist, but it certainly looks like one. All the evidence we have points to it being a cist from the early Bronze Age,” reports Devon Live.

The peat around it is waterlogged, meaning any clothing or artifacts inside could be very well preserved.

The Whitehorse Hill burial was preserved in this manner, and precious artifacts including the pelt of a brown bear, 200 beads, a copper alloy pin, and a variety of other grave goods were discovered, explains the Dartmoor National Park page.

Dr Bray said there were three options – to leave it where it is and let nature take its course, to try to halt the erosion or to excavate.

He dismissed the first option as irresponsible archaeology and noted that simply halting erosion wouldn’t eliminate the risk of air exposure damaging the contents. “They are deteriorating slowly as we speak,” he warned.

The Dartmoor National Park Authority is backing the excavation efforts, having set aside £90,000 from its reserves.

Given the site’s remote location, away from accessible roads, specialized equipment such as helicopters and laser scanning tools are required to safely remove and transport the burial chamber.

Also, this project is not only a significant step forward for local archaeology, but it could also benefit the larger historical community by providing a rare glimpse into the lives of those who walked these moors thousands of years ago.

ASIA, RUSSIA, WORLD

Oldest Known Human Viruses Discovered In 50,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Remains

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Researchers from the Federal University of São Paulo have managed to uncover the oldest known human viruses in a set of Neanderthal bones dating from over 50,000 years and they could soon recreate them.

Two Neanderthals had their DNA tested, and the results showed traces of the papillomavirus (a sexually transmitted virus) and the adenovirus (adenovirus, which causes cold sores), as well as other viruses.

The two prehistoric humans were male and their remains were found in a cave in Russia. Experts have long speculated that viruses may have caused the extinction of Neanderthals, and this most recent discovery could support that theory.

This suggests that Neanderthals may have been infected with the same viruses that affect humans today, according to the authors of a preprint that has not yet undergone peer review. It also shows that it was possible to identify portions of viral genomes in archaeological samples.

Adenoviruses, for example, can cause a wide range of illnesses from the pain in the butt that is the common cold, to a nasty bout of acute gastroenteritis. The overwhelmingly prevalent Epstein-Barr virus that can trigger mononucleosis and multiple sclerosis belongs to the herpesviruses. Papillomaviruses are perhaps best known for their association with cervical cancer.

The team who made the discovery now plan to try and synthesise the “Jurassic Park-like viruses” to see how they compare to modern ones.

“These Jurassic Park-like viruses could then be studied for their reproductive and pathogenic traits and compared to present-day counterparts,’ Marcelo Briones, the study’s lead author told NewScientist.

Neanderthal man reconstruction, Natural History Museum, London

“I am sceptical that this could be achieved given the lack of full understanding of how the viruses’ DNA is damaged and how to reconstruct the recovered pieces into a full viral genome,” he added. “’Also, the host-virus interaction, especially in a completely different environment, is something to consider.”

The remains were found in Russia’s Altai mountains in Siberia, in the Chagyrskaya cave. The remains were among a group of nine, found in 2022, who all shared DNA, meaning they were related.

Researchers were able to sequence genome data from the Neanderthals giving an astonishing glimpse into their DNA. They were able to ascertain that the viral traces in the remains did not get there from animals or modern humans contaminating them.

“Taken together, our data indicate that these viruses might represent viruses that really infected Neanderthals,” study author Marcelo Briones told New Scientist.

That is not to say that viruses alone could have led to the extinction of the Neanderthals—as the authors make clear in the paper—but it does lend support to the theory put forth by some scientists that viruses could have been involved in some way.

“To support their provocative and interesting hypothesis, it would be necessary to prove that at least the genomes of these viruses can be found in Neanderthal remains,” said Briones. “That is what we did.”

EUROPE, GREECE, WORLD

Historic 3,000-year-old olive tree still producing olives to this day

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Historic 3,000-year-old olive tree still producing olives to this day

The oldest olive tree in the world is located in the village of Ano Vouves of Kissamos in Chania, Crete, Greece. The ancient tree is 3000 years old, as determined by the international scientific community.

Historic 3,000-year-old olive tree still producing olives to this day
The most ancient olive tree in the world, in Crete, Greece.

The ancient olive tree in Vouves has a trunk with a circumference of 12.5 meters (41 feet), and a diameter of 4.6 meters (15 feet). It belongs to the local tree variety of tsounati and was grafted at a height of three meters onto a wild olive tree.

Because of the grafting, its trunk has been so beautifully shaped by nature that it resembles a sculpture. In 1990, after a unanimous decision in the prefecture of Chania, the Vouves Olive Tree was declared a Natural Monument of great importance due to its status as the world’s oldest tree of its kind.

The oldest olive tree still produces high-quality olives

The fruits of the ancient olive tree produce the best olive oil in the world, making the area the cradle of olive cultivation on the island of Crete. The trunk of the tree is now hollow as there is no heartwood, so the olive is renewed outward and the heartwood gradually rots away.

Since the olive tree is constantly renewing its wood, it has served as a a symbol of immortality since ancient times.

Thousands of tourists visit the stunning tree every summer to marvel at it and learn its history. They are mainly impressed by its enormous shape and the imposing volume of the trunk but also by the fact that it has remained alive and fruitful for 3000 years.

The site of the olive tree, including the entire hill on which several villages are situated, has thousands of olive trees and the villages are widely believed to produce the best olive oil in the world.

Why is the Olive Tree Important in Greece?

The olive tree has been associated with Greece for millennia.

It symbolizes peace and prosperity, as well as the hope of resurrection and prosperous life. The typically Mediterranean Greek landscape is dotted with these trees, and Greeks throughout the centuries have been inextricably linked with this plant.

For Ancient Greeks, the olive tree was one of two of the most respected mythical trees, along with the oak.

The deeply rooted love and respect shown to this tree by Greeks has survived throughout the centuries.

Greek olive oil

Greek olive oil, or “Liquid Gold,” as Homer called it, has been part of Greece’s history since antiquity. It is an irreplaceable nutritional component of the Greek diet.

Ancient Greeks also used olive oil as part of their efforts to enjoy a healthy life and to promote longevity, and used it as a cosmetic for the skin and hair. Today, Greek olive oil is considered by most as the best in the world.

The history of humanity’s use of the olive dates back to ancient history. In his work “Origine des plantes cultivées,” botanist Augustin Pyrame de Candole writes that our cultivation of the tree started some time around 4000 BC—and that its origin is from the coasts of Asia Minor.

Today, throughout the world, there are approximately 800 million olive trees—of which approximately 95 percent are cultivated in the Mediterranean basin, which has the best soil and climatic conditions for olive cultivation.

The olive is widely grown all over in Greece. Its cultivation, which is greater than any other type of fructiferous tree, occupies approximately 15 percent of cultivated agricultural land and 75 percent of arboraceous cultivations in the country.

EUROPE, NORWAY, WORLD

Norway Couple Find Viking Age Grave Under house.

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Norway Couple Find Viking Age Grave Under Their House

Norway Couple Find Viking Age Grave Under Their House
When the couple removed the floor, they began to find stones and pieces of iron. Archaeologists believe they are from the Viking Age.

A Norwegian couple got quite the shock when renovating their old family house near Bodø in northern Norway this month.

After removing the floorboards and some sand with the intention to install insulation, the couple discovered several rocks. They continued digging and spotted something glittering in the light.

A Viking Age discovery

According to TV2 they first believed it was the wheel from a toy car, but as the floor had never been lifted since the house’s construction in 1914, it had to be something else. The item turned out to be a glass bead.

A glass bead was among the first objects discovered by the couple in northern Norway.

The couple also found a large iron axehead and several other iron objects. They contacted the Nordland county authority which has responsibility for cultural heritage. Experts from Tromsø museum visited the house the following day.

By Norwegian law, any cultural monuments that show traces of human activity prior to 1537 are automatically preserved.

A full excavation

Archaeologists have now started a full excavation of what they believe is a grave from the Viking Age. While such burial sites are not uncommon in Norway, this would be the first example of one found under a house.

Archaeologist Martinus Hauglid said that the glass bead and iron items are likely from the late Viking Age, when Norway transitioned to Christianity and became one kingdom.

“We assume it dates back to the 9th century, probably a grave from the Viking Age. Now there is a group of archaeologists from Tromsø doing a survey, and they will bring all the finds north,” he told Bodø Nu. The iron items and bead are already at Tromsø University for further study.

These stones formed the top of what archaeologists believe is a Viking burial ground

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