All posts by Archaeology World Team

DENMARK, EUROPE, WORLD

5,000-year-old Stone-Paved Cellar Surprisingly Discovered under a Neolithic Dwelling in Denmark

5,000-year-old Stone-Paved Cellar Surprisingly Discovered under a Neolithic Dwelling in Denmark

5,000-year-old Stone-Paved Cellar Surprisingly Discovered under a Neolithic Dwelling in Denmark

An excavation of a 5,000-year-old Neolithic dwelling on the Danish island of Falster surprisingly revealed a stone-paved cellar.

Railroad construction through a farm on the Danish island of Falster has revealed a site hiding advanced technology. The stone-paved root cellar measures roughly 6.5 feet by 5 feet, which may not be a huge find in size, but historically, it could be massive.

The stone-paved cellar just over a foot below ground level dates to the Middle Neolithic period. It challenges preconceived notions about the era’s social sophistication and building expertise.

Archaeology researchers from the Museum Lolland-Falster, along with Aarhus University, Denmark, have analyzed the site in a paper, published online in the journal Radiocarbon.

The first shift to agriculture and domesticated animals (sheep, goats, and cattle) in the Scandinavian region occurred with the rise of the Funnel Beaker Culture approximately 6,000 years ago, resulting in a more sedentary way of life.

The area began building houses, megalithic tombs (dolmens), and landscape-altering structures along with the new way of life, marking a significant departure from the highly mobile hunter-gatherer strategy of the Late Mesolithic.

The team located two housing construction phases linked to the Funnel Beaker Culture near the beginning of the Neolithic period, and the cellar, lined with pebble stones for paving, sat under one of them.

(a) Reconstruction drawing of the house. (b) Overview photo of the cellar feature (seen from the east, about the same orientation as the reconstruction drawing). (c) Detailed photo of the cellar wall, marked by red lines, seen from the west.

Both structures were built using a common Funnel Beaker Culture design (the Mossby-type), where interior posts provide support for a large double-span roof. Phase one included 38 post holes, while phase two had 35, indicating that a significant amount of architectural planning was involved.

The fact that the site is situated on an elevated area of land and is not close to any bogs or streams suggests that care was taken. It would have been advantageous from a defensive as well as practical standpoint because it offered the benefits of being above flood zones and offering a broad view of the surrounding area.

More than a thousand artifacts were discovered in and around the houses, offering more insight into daily life in Neolithic Denmark. These artifacts included fossilized sea urchins, pottery fragments, and flint tools.

“The presence of this paved cellar challenges our understanding of the construction capabilities of Neolithic societies,” the authors wrote. “It forces us to reconsider the complexity of their domestic structures and, by extension, their social organization.”

The discovery of a stone-paved, underground structure that is thought to be a root cellar is the site’s most noteworthy feature. While the use of such cellars is well documented in later periods, this is the first known example from Neolithic Denmark. This would be a major technological advance for food storage in the area if it is indeed a root cellar.

Root cellars are the perfect place to store food because of their constant temperature because they are underground.  In an agricultural society, this would have been needed for preserving crops and other resources through harsh winters and between harvests. A technological advance in resource management during the Neolithic era, food preservation of this kind would have substantially improved the inhabitants’ chances of survival.

The discovery changing the narrative about the people, who were thought to be highly primitive at the time. “The discovery forces us to reevaluate our assumptions about the technological capabilities of Neolithic societies,” the authors wrote.

“The presence of a paved cellar implies not only advanced construction skills but also long-term planning and a sophisticated understanding of storage and food preservation.”  This insight could redefine the social fabric of the Stone Age.

EUROPE, TURKEY, WORLD

Archeologists Unearthed Ruins of 7th century BC Phrygian Religious Site

Archeologists Unearthed Ruins of 7th century BC Phrygian Religious Site

Archeologists Unearthed Ruins of 7th century BC Phrygian Religious Site

Archeologists unearthed ancient ovens and hearths, thought to be belonging to Phrygian who inhabited the region around the seventh century BC, during excavations at Midas Castle in  Eskisehir in northwestern Türkiye.

It was determined that the hearths and ovens unearthed were used by the Phrygians to bake bread with the meat of cattle and sheep sacrificed for religious rituals.

Archaeological excavations at the Midas Castle in Yazılıkaya Midas Valley in the Han district of  Eskişehir started again after 71 years with the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Anadolu University.

Since 2022, important findings were reached in the 26-hectare (88-acre) Midas Castle area during the excavations carried out under the direction of associate professor Yusuf Polat, a faculty member of the Department of Archaeology at Anadolu University.

Head of the excavation Assoc. Prof. Dr. Polat said that this year they mainly worked in the area called ‘Agdistis sanctuary’ in the upper part of the rocky plateau.

Explaining that they obtained important results in the study around the rock altar dated to the Phrygian period, Polat gave the following information:

‘For the first time, thanks to the extensive excavations carried out in front of a Phrygian altar, we have determined the existence of places where the preparations for the rituals performed in front of the altar were carried out, where there were hearths, with a simple stone foundation and wooden construction.

According to the first determinations we made, in the sanctuary dated to the 8th-7th century BC, that is, the Middle Phrygian Period, at the same time, Lydian ceramics of the 7th-6th century BC, and ceramics and finds belonging to the Roman Period dated to the 1st and 2nd centuries in the upper layers were found.’

A rock idol with abstract depictions of the mother goddess Matar was discovered

The team found four rock basins carved into the rocky platform, along with a rock idol representing the “mother goddess Matar.“

Matar Kubileya was the Mother Goddess extensively worshipped and adored in ancient Phrygia. The word Matar means ‘mother’ in the ancient Phrygian language.

She was the most important divinity in the ancient Phrygian religion. She represented hunting, war, and prosperity and was symbolized by the lion and hawk that accompanied her.

She was associated with mountains and her altars and temples have been mostly found either just outside the city walls or far away from human habitation, in mountains and forested places.

Explaining that they found four rock basins carved into the rocky platform and quadrangular planned hearths suitable for burning from above, Polat said, ‘The rock bowls and the presence of the idol found near the bowls were concrete evidence that this area was consecrated by the mother goddess for abundance and fertility rituals.’

Researchers also determined the area had been inhabited for 250,000 years. The team found Lower Paleolithic stone tools during surface surveys.

ASIA, INDIA, WORLD

Indian archaeologists unearthed over 4,000-year-old war chariots in Royal Tombs, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh

Indian archaeologists unearthed over 4,000-year-old war chariots in Royal Tombs, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh

Indian archaeologists unearthed over 4,000-year-old war chariots in Royal Tombs, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh

In July 2018, India’s state-owned Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team unearthed war chariots, swords, and helmets more than 4,000 years old at Sinauli in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Researchers have recently dated the discovery, which comprises royal burials along with chariots, weapons, and ritual artifacts, to approximately 4,000 years before the present, or 2000 BCE.

The discovery of chariots in the Indian subcontinent is a first, according to the researchers. Researchers say that similar weapons were also possessed by people in this subcontinent when the Mesopotamians used chariots, swords, and even helmets in battle in 2000 BC.

The archaeological site of Sinauli has been subject to archaeological excavations since 2005 and has revealed the existence of a necropolis with more than 120 burials, some of which belonged to high-status individuals, probably warriors or leaders.

The most striking aspect of the excavation was the discovery of three complete war chariots. The archaeologists also found a slew of, a torch, an antenna sword, highly decorated coffins, helmets, and an impressive variety of copper artifacts The astonishingly well-preserved remains are similar to those found in the late Harappan phase.

Studies have shown that the artifacts from Sinauli are associated with the Ochre-Colored Pottery (OCP) Culture, which flourished between 2000 and 1500 BCE in the area where the Yamuna and Ganges rivers converged. This period roughly corresponds with the late phase of the Indus Valley Civilization.

War Chariot exposing the wheels and copper pillar. Photo: Archaeological Survey of India

Sinauli is the first archaeological site in the Indian subcontinent to provide evidence for chariots, royal tombs, and chariots with elements of warfare during the OCP/Copper Treasure culture in the Ganga-Yamuna doab, indicating that the Sinaulians were involved in warfare activities.

The finding of war chariots is particularly noteworthy because it puts this culture on par with other contemporary civilizations where chariot use is known, like Mesopotamia and Greece.

Interestingly, most wooden artifacts were layered with copper sheaths, inlays, and wires,  which prevented them from decomposing for nearly 4,000 years. The recovered antiquities of this culture indicate their high degree of sophistication in wood and copper craftsmanship.

Copper geometric motifs, such as triangles arranged on the wheel spokes, adorn the chariots discovered at Sinauli, indicating that these carriages served as both practical and symbolic representations of authority and prestige.

Another important discovery at the site is a royal burial containing a wooden coffin decorated with copper anthropomorphic figures, all wearing double-horned helmets and sacred fig leaves (Ficus religiosa).

Two complete chariots, two copper decorative staffs, an ornamented whip, gold and steatite beads, and numerous pieces of pottery were discovered in this same burial. All of this points to a high-ranking individual—possibly a commander or military chief—being interred in this tomb.

Earlier evidence of wooden coffins from the Indian subcontinent was recorded at Harappa, the site of the Indus civilization in present-day Pakistan, the researchers wrote in their paper.

The radiocarbon dating of the wooden remnants from the coffins and chariots, along with the organic remains discovered in the funerary vessels, supports this dating, which situates the Sinauli culture in the region during a transitional phase between the Copper and Bronze Ages.

The research was published in the Journal Radiocarbon. (An International Journal of Cosmogenic Isotope Research)

WORLD

Iran Police Seize 2 Golden Elamite Masks More than 2000 Years Old

Iran Police Seize 2 Golden Elamite Masks More than 2000 Years Old

Iran Police Seize 2 Golden Elamite Masks More than 2000 Years Old

The Bushehr provincial police chief seized some holy relics, including two more than 2,000-year-old golden masks, in an operation against antiquities smugglers.

The experts of the Cultural Heritage Department estimated that these objects are more than 2000 years old, dating back to the pre-Achaemenid period and the late Elamite period.

“The seized artifacts include two gold masks, a bowl, statues, and several pottery items,” Esmaeel Sajjadi-Manesh stated on Sunday. “Which experts from the provincial office have dated back to the Parthian and Elamite periods.”

He further elaborated that the smugglers were tracked and monitored closely, leading to their capture in Fars province, just as they attempted to sell the artifacts.

Iran’s police spotted the smugglers in Ganaveh Port, Bushehr province, and arrested them during the transaction in Shiraz city, Fars Province.

Sajjadi-Manesh added that the recovered artifacts have been returned to Bushehr.

“Among the items recovered, one of the most valuable is the gold mask, estimated to be over 2,000 years old,” he noted, “The mask was reportedly being sold for several billion tomans (about 50.000 USD) during the illegal transaction.”

The Elamite Empire is where Bushehr originated, according to research conducted in 1913 by a French excavation team. The Elamite civilization was an ancient culture located in what is now western Iran, existing roughly from 3000 to 500 BCE. Elamites are known for their rich artistic traditions and complex social structures.

Typically, Elamite period golden masks were used in burial rituals as a symbol of the passage to the afterlife. These masks often featured intricate designs and served as representations of the human face, imbued with religious or ritual significance.

The craftsmanship of Elamite gold masks showcases detailed workmanship, often incorporating various symbols that reflect their beliefs and values.

These artifacts are very important for the understanding of Elamite culture and for obtaining information about social and religious practices.

Sajjadi-Manesh emphasized that relics are vital components of the nation’s history and culture. “Anyone attempting to exploit or damage this heritage would inevitably face the full force of the law,” he said.

EUROPE, SPAIN, WORLD

Gender Bias in 5,600-year-old cemetery of Panoria, with burials of women occurring at twice the rate of men

Gender Bias in 5,600-year-old cemetery of Panoria, with burials of women occurring at twice the rate of men

Gender Bias in 5,600-year-old cemetery of Panoria, with burials of women occurring at twice the rate of men

A multidisciplinary research team made a remarkable discovery at the megalithic necropolis of Panoría (Granada, Spain). There was a startling disparity between the entombments—twice as many women as men!

They found that the number of women buried was double that of men, with an even more pronounced disparity among juveniles, where the ratio stood at 10 females for every male. This raised questions about the demography of the ancient region.

The research, a multidisciplinary research team, led by the Archaeometry group from the University of Tübingen and the GEA group from the University of Granada, has focused on analyzing the bone remains found in nine graves of this necropolis, where twice as many women as men were buried.

The necropolis of Panoría is located at the easternmost end of Sierra Harana, in the town of Darro (Granada). It consists of at least 19 graves, 9 of which have been excavated between 2015 and 2019.

They are collective burials from which more than 55,000 human skeletal remains were recovered. The dating of these remains shows that the first burials took place 5600 years ago with discontinuous funerary use until 4100 years ago.

“The Panoría population shows a clear sex ratio imbalance in favour of females, with twice as many females as males,” scientists wrote in the study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Human skeletal remains from phase A of tomb 11. Photo: M. Díaz-Zorita Bonilla et al.

Researchers surmised that prehistoric society probably had a social structure centered on women, with burial customs primarily determined by maternal lineage.

In the study, the use of new bioarchaeological methods has allowed the identification of chromosomal sex from the study of DNA and the analysis of a protein known as Amelogenin present in the tooth enamel.

In this way, it has been possible, for the first time, to obtain a precise demographic profile of the biological sex of the people who were buried in these megalithic monuments.

For the research team, the gender ratio bias is what has drawn the most attention. Generally speaking, this distribution is fairly balanced; notable imbalances are only seen in extremely specific situations, like mass migrations, natural disasters, or wars. But in Panoría’s case, this prejudice has persisted for over a millennium, indicating that it is a deeply embedded social practice rather than a singular or transient occurrence.

This means that family relationships and social belonging are established through the maternal line.  This would account for the preference for women and the lack of young men who could have joined other kin groups—a practice known as male exogamy in anthropology.

In any event, the disproportionate number of women would point to a social structure that was centered on women, and where gender would have shaped cultural customs and funeral rites.

In any event, the study’s findings point to a complex social structure where gender was a major factor in determining a person’s chances of survival in this part of the Iberian Peninsula.

ASIA, SAUDI ARABIA, WORLD

Artificial intelligence is detecting new archaeological sites in the Arabian Desert

Artificial intelligence is detecting new archaeological sites in the Arabian Desert

Especially in areas that are unsuitable for human exploration, archaeologists are increasingly coming up with inventive ways to use satellite imagery and artificial intelligence in their hunt for secrets that lay hidden.

 Researchers at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi have developed a high-tech solution to searching huge, arid areas for potential archaeological sites — a desert spanning 250,000 square miles on the Arabian Peninsula.

Archaeologists from Khalifa University are using AI in combination with satellite imagery and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to detect new archaeological sites beneath the ever-shifting sands of the Empty Quarter desert.

The conventional method used by archaeologists to identify possible sites of interest is ground surveys, but in arid environments like the desert, this can be a laborious and challenging process.

Sand and dust storms in the desert can make it difficult to identify potential sites, and dune patterns can further complicate matters.

Nevertheless, in recent years, remote sensing—which uses optical satellite images from websites like Google Earth—has become more and more popular as a means of scouring large areas for unusual features.

In order to get beyond these obstacles, the group developed a machine learning algorithm to examine pictures obtained through the use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR), a satellite imaging method that employs radio waves to find objects hidden beneath surfaces like ice, sand, and vegetation.

Data from Saruq Al-Hadid, a settlement in the desert outside of Dubai with signs of 5,000 years of activity, which is already well-known to archaeologists, was used to train the algorithm.

A view over the central sector of Saruq al-Hadid, showing the dark surface layer of copper slag that distinguishes the site from the surrounding desert landscape.

Once the algorithm was trained, it gave the team an indication of other potential areas nearby that are still not excavated.

The technology is precise to within 50 centimeters and can create 3D models of the expected structure that will give archaeologists a better idea of what’s buried below. This innovative approach could revolutionize archaeological research in remote and hard-to-explore areas.

In collaboration with Dubai Culture, the government organization that manages the site, the team conducted a ground survey using a ground-penetrating radar, which “replicated what the satellite measured from space,” says Diana Francis, an atmospheric scientist and one of the lead researchers on the project.

Now, Dubai Culture plans to excavate the newly identified areas — and Francis hopes the technique can uncover more buried archaeological treasures in the future.

SAR imagery has been in use since the 1980s, and machine learning has been gaining traction in archaeology. But the use of the two together is a novel application, says Francis, and to her knowledge, is a first in archaeology.

If successful, the project will broaden the applications of AI in the field of archaeology. Some experts have urged caution against “over-reliance” on the technology, however.

A satellite view of the Saruq al-Hadid site shows the western zone that was under excavation (right) and the eastern zone which is not excavated yet.

Hugh Thomas, an archaeology lecturer at the University of Sydney, told CNN that there remains nothing better than a “trained archaeological eye” to detect sites.

“The way that I would like to use this kind of technology is on areas that perhaps have either no or a very low probability of archaeological sites, therefore allowing researchers to focus more on other areas where we expect there to be more found,” he said.

The technology’s real test, and hopefully its validation, will take place when excavations at the Saruq Al Hadid complex start next month.

According to Dubai Culture, only about 10% of the complex’s 2.3 square mile area has been fully excavated. By using the technology, Dubai Culture hopes to uncover more sites if archaeologists discover the structures that the algorithm has predicted.

The team plans to continue training the machine learning algorithm to improve its precision, before expanding its use to other areas, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the deserts of Africa.

Recently A.I. was instrumental in discovering over 300 new Nazca petroglyphs in Peru, showcasing its global potential in archaeological exploration. Arkeonews reported on the findings by researchers at Japan’s Yamagata University last week.

EUROPE, TURKEY, WORLD

Massive Roman Mosaic Floor Discovered in Türkiye

Massive Roman Mosaic Floor Discovered in Türkiye

Massive Roman Mosaic Floor Discovered in Türkiye

A massive floor mosaic of 84 square meters, which is thought to belong to the Late Roman or Early Byzantine period, was discovered by chance while a farmer was excavating for planting saplings in the Salkaya village of Elazığ, located in the Eastern Anatolia region of Türkiye.

The mosaic depicting dozens of animals, trees, and plant species is considered to be the first of its kind in Turkey with its size, borders, and geometric patterns.

Mehmet Emin Sualp, who planted saplings in his field about a year ago in Salkaya village, 14 kilometers away from Elazığ city center, noticed a mosaic-patterned structure with various patterns on it by chance.

Thinking that the structure he found could be a historical relic, the field owner reported the situation to the Elazığ Museum Directorate and the gendarmerie.

As a result of the investigations carried out in the area, the floor mosaics of a historical building, which is thought to belong to the Roman or Early Byzantine Period, were identified.

Excavation and rescue works were initiated by the Elazığ Museum Directorate under the coordination of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

As a result of the excavation and rescue works spread over a wide area, a floor mosaic of 84 square meters was unearthed in one piece.

The floor mosaic, which is in one piece and depicts animal figures such as lion, mountain goat, duck, greyhound, deer, pheasant, pig, bear, goose, Anatolian leopard, bird, tree, and plant species, is considered to be the first of its size in Türkiye. On the other hand, a church and a wine cellar were also unearthed in the region.

Elazig Governor Numan Hatipoglu, who inspected the area, said: ‘It is in one piece and is an enormous artifact. As a result of our researches in the region, if areas where we need to carry out excavation work again emerge, we will also work on them.

As a result of our studies, if there are historical artifacts suitable for exhibition and display in the region, we will develop a different strategy for this place. If not, we will prepare this historical artifact for exhibition in Elazığ Center.’

Governor Numan Hatipoğlu also thanked the citizen who found the mosaic.

ASIA, CHINA, WORLD

World’s oldest cheese found in necklaces on 3600-year-old mummies in China

World’s oldest cheese found in necklaces on 3600-year-old mummies in China

World’s oldest cheese found in necklaces on 3600-year-old mummies in China

A mysterious white substance about 20 years ago found on Bronze Age mummies in western China has proven to be the world’s oldest  cheese.

Researchers discovered three ancient mummies in Xinjiang in northwestern China. When the 3,600-year-old coffin of a young woman was excavated, archeologists discovered a mysterious substance laid out along her neck like a piece of jewelry.  It was made of cheese, and scientists now say it’s the oldest cheese ever found.

Scientists have successfully extracted DNA from a 3,600-year-old cheese. Identified as kefir cheese, the discovery provides new insights into the origins of kefir and the development of probiotic bacteria.

It has been long suspected that the substance may have had a fermented dairy origin, but only now have molecular tools become powerful enough to confirm their make-up.

Qiaomei Fu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and her colleagues have identified the substance as a type of kefir cheese based on the presence of lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and proteins from ruminant  milk in the samples.

“This is the oldest known cheese sample ever discovered in the world,” says co-author Qiaomei Fu, a paleogeneticist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in a statement from the journal Cell.

 “Food items like cheese are extremely difficult to preserve over thousands of years, making this a rare and valuable opportunity. Studying the ancient cheese in great detail can help us better understand our ancestors’ diet and culture.”

Examples of the 3,600-year-old kefir cheese found on the mummies. Credit: Y, Liu et al., Cell, 2024

Since the woman’s coffin was covered and buried in the dry climate of the Tarim Basin desert, Fu said, it was well preserved, as were her boots, hat, and the cheese that laced her body.

Ancient burial practices often included items of significance to the person buried alongside them. The fact that those items included chunks of kefir cheese alongside the body showed that “cheese was important for their life,” she added.

The cheesy bits are, in fact, pieces of kefir cheese, a dried and fermented dairy product made with the same type of bacteria, yeast, and fungal complex as modern kefir, which is typically consumed as a sour liquid akin to thin yogurt, according to genetic analysis of the microbes within. Instead of using rennet, which is frequently used in the production of cheese in Europe, kefir granules ferment the milk.

The latest research also reveals that the necklaces included at least two different kinds of cheese, one made from goat milk—more precisely, from a kind of goat that was common in Bronze Age Eurasia—and the other from cow’s milk.

Additionally, the kefir granules have genetic signatures that are quite similar to those of some East Asian kefir strains and contemporary Tibetan dairy products. Microbes from the Caucasus region, which has long been believed to be the birthplace of dairy, are more closely related to other strains from East Asia, Europe, and the Pacific Islands.

Altogether, the analysis points to two different geographic origins of kefir-making: one in Xinjiang and one in the Caucasus, says Qiaomei Fu. “Our observation strongly suggests the distinct spreading routes of two [kefir microbe] subspecies,” Fu tells Popular Science, which she adds is likely the result of wide-ranging nomadic groups traveling across the dry grassland of Eurasia.

The evolution of human activities spanning thousands of years also affected microbial evolution, the study found, citing the divergence of a bacterial subspecies that was found to have been facilitated by the spread of kefir across different populations.