Category Archives: EUROPE

EUROPE, GERMANY, WORLD

New Study Reveals Ancient Secrets of the 3,600-year-old Nebra Sky Disc

New Study Reveals Ancient Secrets of the 3,600-year-old Nebra Sky Disc

New Study Reveals Ancient Secrets of the 3,600-year-old Nebra Sky Disc

Discovered in 1999 in Germany, the  Nebra Sky Disc is the oldest known depiction of the cosmos. A recent examination of the Bronze Age artifact revealed the intricate methods used in its creation, which UNESCO described as “one of the most important archaeological finds of the twentieth century.”

 The Nebra Sky Disc is a product of the Únětice culture, which originated in the Bronze Age of Central Europe. It reflects a sophisticated ancient understanding of both metalworking and astronomy and was created sometime between 1800 and 1600 BCE.  Clusters of stars, a sun, and a crescent moon are among the celestial bodies depicted by golden inlays covering the blue-green patina of the Nebra Sky Disc.

The angle between the solstices is thought to be indicated by two golden arcs that run along the sides of the disc, one of which is now absent. It is thought that a boat is represented by another arc at the composition’s base. Only a few millimeters thick, the disc has a diameter of around 12 inches.

The Nebra Sky Disc is one of the best-investigated archaeological objects. The origin of the raw materials it is made of is well known The disc is made from copper, tin, and gold—materials whose origins have been traced to Cornwall, England. The rich blue-green patina of the disc’s bronze today results from chemical changes over time. Originally, it would have been a deep bronze hue.

The design and astronomical significance of this bronze disc are astounding, but so are the technical mysteries that surrounded its creation. The intricate processes that shaped this artifact have been revealed in fascinating detail by recent metallographic analyses.

Previous studies determined that the disc could not have been made simply by casting due to its material composition and physical structure. The most recent discovery confirms that the disc was made using an extremely complex hot-forging process, which adds yet another level of complexity.

The Nebra Sky Disc with the marked sample extraction point. Image Credit: J. Lipták, Munich, Reproduced with permission by State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt—State Museum of Prehistory

The new research, published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports, utilized modern metallographic analyses to reveal that the disk was produced using an elaborate warm forging process.

The research team used light microscopy and more sophisticated techniques like energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron backscatter diffraction to perform microstructural analyses on color-etched surfaces. These investigations focused on how the finished bronze disk was made from a cast piece, shedding light on techniques that had not been completely clarified until now.

The results show that Early Bronze Age artisans were not only exceptional casters but also highly skilled in intricate bronze processing methods. About ten work cycles were required to produce the disc, each of which included heating the metal to roughly 700 degrees Celsius, shaping it with a hammer, and then annealing it to relax the material’s internal structure. With a final diameter of about 31 centimeters and a thickness of only a few millimeters, this technique enabled the disc to attain the necessary strength and thinness.

Famous coppersmith Herbert Bauer used a cast blank to make a replica of the  Sky Disc in order to better understand the craftsmanship. According to Bauer’s experiments, the original artifact needed fewer forging cycles than the replica, indicating that it was both thinner and larger.

These discoveries highlight the extraordinary abilities of Bronze Age metalworkers, who were skilled in both sophisticated processes like hot forging and casting.

Pictures of the different replicas. Image Credit: Dieck, S., Michael, O., Wilke, M. et al. Sci Rep 2024

The fact that, more than 20 years after the recovery of the Sky Disc, research has yielded such significant new findings once again underscores the extraordinary nature of this unique discovery of the century and the advanced level of metallurgical knowledge already developed in the Early Bronze Age, stated state archaeologist Prof. Dr. Harald Meller.

 The Nebra Sky Disc is also an impressive testament to how important it is for the advancement of knowledge to reexamine even well-known and supposedly well-researched discoveries when new methods become available, said Meller.

A group of experts from Saxony-Anhalt’s Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie (LDA) joined forces with the Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg and DeltaSigma Analytics GmbH to look into these procedures.

State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt

Dieck, S., Michael, O., Wilke, M. et al. Archaeometallurgical investigation of the Nebra Sky Disc. Sci Rep 14, 28868 (2024). doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80545-5

ENGLAND, EUROPE, WORLD

One of the largest mass burial pits ever discovered in the UK has been unearthed next to Leicester Cathedral

One of the largest mass burial pits ever discovered in the UK has been unearthed next to Leicester Cathedral

One of the largest mass burial pits ever discovered in the UK has been unearthed next to Leicester Cathedral

While excavating the gardens of Leicester Cathedral for the future construction of a learning center, archaeologists uncovered one of the largest mass burial pits ever discovered in the UK.

Archaeologists initially suspected that this 12th-century burial pit containing the remains of 123 people were victims of the Black Death, but radiocarbon dating revealed that the graves predate the disease by about 150 years.

Researchers questioned whether famine or disease was to blame for the deaths because, despite the size of the burial, no signs of violence were discovered. They are now trying to figure out what led to such an abrupt mass casualty incident.

The team, led by Mathew Morris, Project Officer at the University of  Leicester Archaeological Services, concluded that the pit was filled rapidly in three successive deposits.

Morris, in an interview published by The Guardian, stated that the bodies appear to have been brought in cartloads and dropped into the shaft within a short period. He estimated the buried individuals represented about 5 percent of Leicester’s medieval population.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles repeatedly mention great pestilences and fevers, severe mortality, and miserable deaths from hunger and famine in England from the mid-10th century through to the mid-12th century, said Morris. “This mass burial fits within this timeframe and provides physical proof of what was then occurring across the nation.”

To find the pathogens that could be responsible for the mass deaths, samples have been sent to the Francis Crick Institute in London. The lack of clothing remnants indicates that the bodies were prepared consciously, and burial customs allude to civic organization even in emergencies.

The burial pit was discovered during work for a heritage learning center, which followed the unearthing of Richard III’s remains in 2012.

The identity of  Leicester Cathedral as a house of worship, a destination for pilgrims, and a tourist destination was drastically altered when King Richard III’s remains were found in a parking lot in Leicester. His body was reburied in a purpose-built tomb at Leicester Cathedral in 2015, triggering an increase in the number of visitors to the church.

To keep up with the influx of guests, officials approved plans to build a heritage learning center in the cathedral’s gardens. Archaeologists were brought in to excavate the site ahead of construction — and they revealed nearly 1,200 burials spanning over eight centuries, offering a unique glimpse into Leicester’s past.

ENGLAND, EUROPE, WORLD

A section of one of Britain’s most important Roman roads unearthed under Old Kent Road in south-east London

A section of one of Britain’s most important Roman roads unearthed under Old Kent Road in south-east London

Old Kent Road uk

Archaeologists have found a section of a Roman road under Old Kent Road in south-east  London, part of one of the most important roads built during the Roman period.

The 2,000-year-old road, known as Watling Street, was part of a route from the ancient Roman port at Dover through London to the West Midlands.

Considered one of Britain’s most important Roman roads, the accidental discovery was unearthed as a result of excavation work by Southwark Council and utilities company Veolia to install a low-carbon heat network.

Built shortly after the Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD, it proved very difficult for archaeologists to pinpoint evidence of the route it took, despite Roman roads typically being straight.

“In the planning for this project, we’d expected to solve this question but the extent of survival of the road is remarkable. We hope this project will answer some other archaeological questions in the borough,” explained Southwark Council’s in-house archaeology officer, Dr. Chris Constable, to BBC.

The road was discovered by a team of archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), with Dr. Constable providing invaluable advice and assistance.

Southwark Council says the discovery reveals is the first physical proof that sections of it still survive directly beneath its modern counterpart the Old Kent Road.

The ancient route lies directly beneath the modern Old Kent Road.

The well-preserved road segment, which is located south of the intersection of Old Kent Road and Ilderton Road, is roughly 19 feet (5.8 meters) wide by nearly 5 feet (1.4 meters) high.

Southwark Council said distinct layers could be seen and showed a solid foundation of compacted gravel sealed by two layers of chalk, before it was topped with another layer of compacted sand and gravel.

The original surface of the road would likely have been made from the same material and sat at a similar level to the modern road, but this has been lost, says Southwark Council. The base of the modern road was built directly on the Roman fabric.

Gillian King, director of archaeology at RPS Consulting Ltd, described the discovery as “a key finding for archaeological research for London”.

“The discovery of an intact section of Roman Wating Street directly under the current Old Kent Road has redrawn the Roman road map for Southwark and informs on Roman construction techniques generally,” she said.

Dave Taylor, MOLA’s project manager, said: “It’s amazing this section of road has survived for almost 2,000 years.”

He added: “There has been so much activity here over the past few hundred years, from sewers to power cables, tramlines and of course the building of the modern road, so we’re really excited to find such a substantial chunk of Roman material remaining.”

The discovery will be marked by a sign on the nearby Old Kent Road bridge. Find out more about the renewal of Old Kent Road at www.oldkentroad.org.uk

Cover Image Credit: Layers of chalk, sand, and gravel can be visible on the road. Southwark Council

EUROPE, FRANCE, WORLD

For the first time, researchers discovered bioarchaeological evidence of familial embalming in early modern France

For the first time, researchers discovered bioarchaeological evidence of familial embalming in early modern France

For the first time, researchers discovered bioarchaeological evidence of familial embalming in early modern France

A unique discovery has revealed new insights into the burial rituals of early modern Western Europe: For the first time, researchers have been able to provide bioarchaeological evidence of the familial embalming of infants and adults in early modern France.

For a long time, embalming practices were considered exotic rituals associated primarily with the ancient Egyptians or cultures in South America.

New finds at the Château des Milandes in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Dordogne, France, now prove that these techniques were also used in Europe.

The remains of seven adults and five children discovered in a cellar, as well as the remains of a single mummified buried woman, all belonging to the aristocratic Caumont family, provide researchers at the Austrian Academy of  Sciences (ÖAW) with valuable information. About embalming practices in the 16th and 17th centuries.

‘These finds provide unique insights into embalming techniques,’ says Caroline Partiot from the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

‘Our examinations of a complete individual and the almost 2,000 fragments show a careful and highly standardized technical treatment of the deceased, which is similar for adults and children. This reveals expertise that has been handed down over two centuries,’ says Caroline Partiot from the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Using the skeleton of the individuals in the crypt and the individual female body, which was buried alone, the researchers were able to examine the modus operandi of embalming based on the cut marks on the entire skeleton.

Particularly noteworthy is the precise skinning, which covered the entire body, including the upper and lower limbs down to the fingertips and toes.

Steps of the embalming procedure and selection of bone parts showing signs of the operation.

These methods are similar to the procedures described in 1708 by the then-leading French surgeon Pierre Dionis.

Research has now shown that this was used in an 18th-century autopsy in Marseille. “It is remarkable that the tradition has persisted for at least two centuries,” explains the archaeologist.

The discovery of the tomb and the analysis of the skeletons show that this practice was a deeply rooted tradition within the Caumont family, which enjoyed high social status at the time. Partiot explains: ‘The treatment indicates that embalming was not so much for long-term preservation, but rather to be able to display the corpse during funeral ceremonies.’

This is because multiple embalmings in one and the same family are rare, and the only known case in medieval Western Europe in which multiple embalmings were carried out in one and the same family with children is the Medici family in Italy in the 15th century. “The application to family members, regardless of age at death and gender, also reflects the acquisition of this status by birth,” emphasizes Partiot.

Partiot, C., Bessou, M., Kacki, S. et al. First bioarchaeological evidence of the familial practice of embalming of infant and adult relatives in Early Modern France. Sci Rep 14, 27075 (2024).

ENGLAND, EUROPE, WORLD

A section of one of Britain’s most important Roman roads unearthed under Old Kent Road in south-east London

A section of one of Britain’s most important Roman roads unearthed under Old Kent Road in south-east London

A section of one of Britain’s most important Roman roads unearthed under Old Kent Road in south-east London

Archaeologists have found a section of a Roman road under Old Kent Road in south-east London, part of one of the most important roads built during the Roman period. The 2,000-year-old road, known as Watling Street, was part of a route from the ancient Roman port at Dover through London to the West Midlands.

Considered one of Britain’s most important Roman roads, the accidental discovery was unearthed as a result of excavation work by Southwark Council and utilities company Veolia to install a low-carbon heat network.

Built shortly after the Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD, it proved very difficult for archaeologists to pinpoint evidence of the route it took, despite Roman roads typically being straight.

“In the planning for this project, we’d expected to solve this question but the extent of survival of the road is remarkable. We hope this project will answer some other archaeological questions in the borough,” explained Southwark Council’s in-house archaeology officer, Dr. Chris Constable, to BBC.

The road was discovered by a team of archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), with Dr. Constable providing invaluable advice and assistance.

Southwark Council says the discovery reveals is the first physical proof that sections of it still survive directly beneath its modern counterpart the Old Kent Road.

The ancient route lies directly beneath the modern Old Kent Road. Image Credit: Southwark Council

The well-preserved road segment, which is located south of the intersection of Old Kent Road and Ilderton Road, is roughly 19 feet (5.8 meters) wide by nearly 5 feet (1.4 meters) high.

Southwark Council said distinct layers could be seen and showed a solid foundation of compacted gravel sealed by two layers of chalk, before it was topped with another layer of compacted sand and gravel.

The original surface of the road would likely have been made from the same material and sat at a similar level to the modern road, but this has been lost, says Southwark Council. The base of the modern road was built directly on the Roman fabric.

Gillian King, director of archaeology at RPS Consulting Ltd, described the discovery as “a key finding for archaeological research for London”.

“The discovery of an intact section of Roman Wating Street directly under the current Old Kent Road has redrawn the Roman road map for Southwark and informs on Roman construction techniques generally,” she said.

Dave Taylor, MOLA’s project manager, said: “It’s amazing this section of road has survived for almost 2,000 years.”

He added: “There has been so much activity here over the past few hundred years, from sewers to power cables, tramlines and of course the building of the modern road, so we’re really excited to find such a substantial chunk of Roman material remaining.”

The discovery will be marked by a sign on the nearby Old Kent Road bridge. Find out more about the renewal of Old Kent Road at www.oldkentroad.org.uk

Cover Image Credit: Layers of chalk, sand, and gravel can be visible on the road. Southwark Council

EUROPE, TURKEY, WORLD

1800 Years Old Roman Milestone Used as Seat at Turkish Mosque

1800 Years Old Roman Milestone Used as Seat at Turkish Mosque

1800 Years Old Roman Milestone Used as Seat at Turkish Mosque

A milestone from the Roman Emperor Gordianus III period, which dates to 239 AD, was discovered in the Fatsa district of Ordu province in northeastern Türkiye.

Roman milestones, or “milliarium,” were significant landmarks along the extensive road system of the Roman Empire. These stone markers made it easier for travelers to find their way through the extensive and intricate network of Roman roads by showing the distance to the closest town or city.

These milestones, which were typically placed one Roman mile apart (1,480 meters or 4,850 feet), were marked with details like the road’s name, the distance to the next destination, and occasionally the name of the emperor or the official in charge of building it. Many of these milestones have survived and provide valuable insights into the engineering, culture, and history of ancient Rome.

It was determined that the 1800-year-old milestone was used as a seat by the mosque congregation and citizens for years.

The stone discovered near the Laleli Central Mosque in the Bolaman neighborhood of Fatsa district was noticed by Aydın Bal, a literature teacher at Fatsa Cahit Zarifoğlu High School.

The authorities who took action upon Bal’s notification were Fatsa Municipality Culture Director Cevat Erbil and Ordu University Art History Department Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seçkin Evcim examined the stone and determined that it was a milestone from the Roman period.

The inscription on the stone was translated by Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Sami Öztürk, an epigraphy and linguistics expert from Marmara University. The emperor’s name was honored and this road was rebuilt by him, according to the translated stone inscription.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seçkin Evcim stated that they think that the stone was erected for the construction of a natural harbor road between Bolaman and Yalıköy during the Roman period and said, “The stone found in the second mile of this road was erected for the construction of a natural harbor road between Bolaman and Yalıköy. Unfortunately, the stone was not in its original place; it was found in the 1970s while the mosque’s foundation was being laid and then it was tilted on its side and used for seating.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Evcim stated that a milestone was discovered for the first time in Ordu and that the stone was taken to the Ordu Museum with the support of Fatsa Municipality. Since the stone is not in its original position, additional research will be evaluated in the future.

The history of Fatsa goes back to antiquity, when the coast was settled by Cimmerians, and Pontic Greeks in the centuries B.C. Under Nero, the kingdom became a Roman province in A.D. 62.

In about 295, Diocletian (r. 284–305) divided the province into three smaller provinces, one of which was Pontus Polemoniacus, called after the Roman client-king Polemonium I, which was its administrative capital.

EUROPE, WORLD

2,300-year-old Punic tomb complex found during works on car park for staff

2,300-year-old Punic tomb complex found during works on car park for staff

2,300-year-old Punic tomb complex found during works on car park for staff

A 2,300-year-old Punic tomb was discovered during work in a car park near Mater Dei Hospital in Msida, Malta.

The archaeological discovery was made during trenching works near Mater Dei Hospital while preparing the site for the installation of a new potable water line.

The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) has been overseeing the site since the start of the project, ensuring the protection and study of any potential discoveries during development works.

An excavation revealed a chamber hewn out of solid natural rock. After additional examination by the SCH’s on-site archaeology monitors, it was found that the chamber was a component of a larger burial complex.

The discovery consists of three burial chambers, each accessed through a central shaft, characteristic of Punic and Roman tombs. It is thought to have been used for multiple inhumations during the Punic and Roman periods. Remarkably, the entrance to each chamber was sealed with original slabs, and the contents inside included human remains and grave goods.

The burial chambers were meticulously excavated over two weeks by a committed team of SCH archaeologists and osteologists. The human remains were primarily inhumations, with some cremated remains stored in urns.

The fact that many of the bones were arranged in a methodical manner raises the possibility that earlier remains were moved to make room for later burials. There were several inhumations in each chamber, with at least six in Chambers 2 and 3 and at least two in Chamber 1. A small collection of grave goods and cremation urns were also discovered, offering important new information about the burial customs of the time.

A team of experts, has been working on site to excavate, document, and interpret the remains, some of which have been transferred to the laboratory of the superintendence for further analysis.

Researchers will examine the remains for evidence of the age, sex, and health of the individuals, and conduct DNA analysis.

“The findings, which include skeletal remains, cremation urns, and other funerary artifacts, provide valuable insight into the ancient community that once inhabited the region.

Preliminary analysis indicates a Punic timeline, although some artifacts suggest an extended period of use into the early Roman era,” the Foundation for Medical Services and SCH said.

Efforts are underway to ensure the tomb is retained in its entirety, with plans for permanent controlled access to allow for continued study and preservation of this significant archaeological site.

EUROPE, GREECE, WORLD

Alexander the Great’s Sacred Purple Tunic Found in a 2,400-year-old Macedonian Tomb?

Alexander the Great’s Sacred Purple Tunic Found in a 2,400-year-old Macedonian Tomb?

Alexander the Great’s Sacred Purple Tunic Found in a 2,400-year-old Macedonian Tomb?

Archaeologists have found a sacred chiton (tunic) in a 2400-year-old royal tomb in the Macedonian city of Vergina in northern Greece, and it could belong to Alexander the Great!

Archaeologists have known for decades that Alexander the Great’s family has a close connection to the three royal tombs located in Vergina. However, it has been more than fifty years since they were able to agree on who they belonged to.

The inhabitants of the 4th century BC Royal Tombs were the subject of another study earlier this year. According to the results of the research, the tombs contained the remains of Alexander’s father, stepmother, half-sisters, and son.

Under the direction of Antonis Bartsiokas of Democritus University of Thrace, a team of archaeologists identified a purple-dyed cotton cloth that corresponds to historical accounts of the sarapis, a ceremonial garment worn by the great Persian kings that Alexander took after defeating Darius III of Persia.

The sacred “chiton” was found in the golden ossuary of Tomb II alongside the remains of a man and a gold wreath.

Through in-depth analysis of the tunic, the tombs, and historical records, researchers have finally been able to link this royal garment to Alexander the Great.

Additionally, huntite, a bright white mineral used in ancient Persia, was found between the layers of the textile, reinforcing the idea that this garment has an eastern origin.

The remains of a royal cloak discovered in Tomb II may have belonged to Alexander the Great, according to a study published in The Journal of Field Archaeology.

An international team of archaeologists and osteologists set out to identify the tomb’s occupants after it was found inside a golden ossuary that contained male remains that were initially thought to be those of Philip II.

Façade of Vergina’s Tomb II.

This finding has significant ramifications because it may indicate that many of the items discovered in Tomb II belonged to Alexander the Great rather than Philip II, as was previously thought.

Research suggests that Tomb II, located in the Great Tumulus of Vergina, does not house the remains of Philip II, Alexander’s father, but rather those of his half-brother, Philip III Arrhidaeus, who inherited several symbols of power from Alexander after his death.

A golden diadem, a scepter, and a golden oak wreath are among the items discovered in the tomb; these items are all referenced in historical accounts as being a part of Alexander’s royal attire. But because the sarapis had such symbolic meaning in the Persian court, their discovery is especially significant.

The sarapis was a purple tunic with a white stripe down the center, reserved exclusively for Persian kings, and Alexander’s adoption of it marked his dominance over the vast Persian Empire.

A figure, most likely Alexander, is shown hunting in a purple sarapis with two white stripes on a frieze in Tomb II. The conclusion that the tunic belonged to Alexander the Great is further supported by the fact that it matches historical accounts, as do other relics, such as a golden oak wreath discovered in Tomb II.

A garment of such immense value would likely have been inherited by a close family member. After Alexander’s death, the Macedonian army crowned his half-brother, Philip III Arrhidaeus, as king. According to The Greek Reporter, he most likely brought Alexander’s belongings back to Greece, including the royal scepter and tunic.

This new study provides answers to lingering questions surrounding the Royal Tombs of Vergina. It confirms that Alexander the Great was not buried there. Instead, Tomb I holds the remains of Philip II, his wife Cleopatra, and their newborn child.

Based on royal symbols and osteological data, Tomb II contains the remains of King Philip III Arrhidaeus and his wife Adea Eurydice, while Alexander IV is buried in Tomb III.