Category Archives: EUROPE

ENGLAND, EUROPE, WORLD

Seven metal detectorists found 2,584 silver coins in a southwest England field “the most expensive treasure ever found in the United Kingdom”

Seven metal detectorists found 2,584 silver coins in a southwest England field “the most expensive treasure ever found in the United Kingdom”

Seven metal detectorists found 2,584 silver coins in a southwest England field “the most expensive treasure ever found in the United Kingdom”

In early 2019, seven metal detectorists found a cache of 2,584 silver coins dating to the Norman Conquest that had lain in the ground for almost 1,000 years in a field in the Chew Valley in southern England.

Now, the silver pennies have sold for $5.6 million—making them the most expensive treasure ever found in the United Kingdom.

Adam Staples and the other detectorists reported their “unprecedented” discovery to officials using the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme, a record of archaeological finds made by members of the public, according to a statement from the museum.

“It’s fantastic, unbelievable,” said Staples. “It has definitely changed my life. It was like holding history in your hand. And, obviously, the financial side of it is brilliant as well.”

The coins are a mix of Saxon and Norman currency, showing a turning point in English history and covering the transition from Saxon to Norman rule (between 1066 and 1068).

Experts believe that the coins were likely buried for safekeeping during the turmoil of the conquest.

Michael Lewis, head of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, said in the statement that the find is “incredible.”

Lewis said the coin hoard will help deepen understanding of the most famous date in English history: 1066, the year William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, replacing England’s Saxon monarchs with Norman French rulers.

Amal Khreisheh, curator of archaeology at the South West Heritage Trust, with some of the conserved coins.

Though the invasion marked a historic schism, the coins in the hoard are remarkably similar whether they were minted before or after the conquest.

Just under half the coins depict Harold II of 1066, the last crowned Saxon king of England. Just over half feature William I (also known as William the Conqueror), the first Norman king. Other than the ruler they depict, the two types of coins are quite similar.

The AP notes that each has an emblem on one side and a picture of a king’s head in profile on the other, while Harold’s has the word “peace,” which is written as “pax,” and William’s has an ornate cross.

“The hoard symbolizes a pivotal moment in English history, and we are delighted to have made this acquisition so that it may be enjoyed by generations to come,” Sam Astill, chief executive of the South West Heritage Trust, said in the statement.

Named for the rural region in which it was discovered, the Chew Valley Hoard was purchased for the country using funds from the charitable division of the British National Lottery. It will have a permanent home at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton, 130 miles southwest of London, after being on exhibit at the British Museum and other museums across the United Kingdom.

EUROPE, WORLD

Archaeologists Discovered a Luxury Roman Village in Southeastern Sicily

Archaeologists Discovered a Luxury Roman Village in Southeastern Sicily

Archaeologists Discovered a Luxury Roman Village in Southeastern Sicily

In the province of Catania, archaeologists have excavated the remains of a Roman house with a mosaic floor dating from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD.

The house was part of a whole Roman village and was situated close to the town of Vizzini in southeastern Sicily, at an elevation of almost 500 meters above sea level.

Archaeologists from the University of Göttingen have been researching how people lived and traded in ancient times in Sicily. for more than 20 years. Now, they have made another significant discovery: a Roman village with an area of about 15 hectares.

Since 2022, the Göttingen team has been conducting research here under the direction of Prof. Dr. Johannes Bergemann from the Archaeological Institute.

First, possible ancient archaeological sites were inspected throughout the Vizzini region. In 2023, a geophysical survey was carried out following surface investigations of the sites that were identified.

This survey detected anomalies in the Earth’s geomagnetic field and created detailed images of the subsurface without the need for excavation.

These geophysical measurements led the research team to the remains of the buildings that have now been excavated.

The building extended 30 by 13 meters, and its remains are just below the current surface. Inside, there is a representative room of nearly 100 square meters, with a floor covered in mosaics. Unfortunately, parts of the mosaic were destroyed by plowing, says Bergemann.

Göttingen excavations in Sicily in the province of Catania near the town of Vizzini.

There were other comparable structures nearby, according to the geophysical measurements. Between the 2nd and around the 6th century AD, people lived here at a high level: there were columns built with rounded bricks, coated with stucco, and probably painted, similar to what you see in Pompeii, says Bergemann. We have found remains of fountains with marble ponds, as well as luxury Roman ceramics known as Terra Sigillata.

It is a Roman village that is roughly 15 hectares small. Large rural settlements and villas, as well as Roman agricultural production facilities that frequently produced significant yields, replaced the ancient Greek cities during the Roman era. Long-distance trade in the globalized Roman Empire made this possible.

Numerous small storage sites emerged along the southern coast of Sicily for this purpose. ‘This new settlement system, which was connected to the interior by long-distance roads, only existed for a few centuries. The house we discovered near Vizzini is an important testimony to this era,’ says Bergemann.

The archaeology team presented its findings for the first time on 16 October 2024 in Vizzini Town Hall. At the University of Göttingen, Bergemann and other members of the research team will present their findings on 3 February 2025 as part of the public archaeological lecture series in the Old Auditorium.

EUROPE, HUNGARY, WORLD

A 2700-year-old collection of more than 60 bronze and iron objects found in Bükk in north-western Hungary

A 2700-year-old collection of more than 60 bronze and iron objects found in Bükk in north-western Hungary

As a result of research involving volunteers and students carrying out an excavation project led by a university team specializing in the Bronze and Iron Ages at Bükk in north-western Hungary, they have uncovered a rich collection of extremely interesting items, including more than 60 bronze and iron objects.

The research focuses on an ancient village located on the mountaintop of Verebce-bérc. Before being destroyed by an attack, this village flourished in the seventh and sixth centuries B.C. This year is the sixth year of field searches and the third season of excavations.

In three research events this year, the team identified buildings burnt down during the previous siege and continued to survey the area with metal detecting equipment.

The treasure before being unearthed. Péter Mogyorós PhD student, Nikolett Dienes, and Angéla Farkas archaeology students.

Metal detector surveys conducted in the region revealed an astounding array of metal artifacts, offering fresh perspectives on the cultural ties within this area.

The most outstanding discovery is a collection of over 60 bronze and iron objects, primarily jewelry and horse harness parts, likely buried during the siege.

This treasure is especially noteworthy because of its ties to the cultures of southeast Europe, especially the Balkan region. Researchers believe this assemblage was interred to ward off the assault, rendering it invaluable documentation of the village’s past battles, commerce, and cross-cultural exchange.

Excavations at the discovery site

Numerous eminent experts from different universities have been drawn to the project, and they have worked together on various facets of the project, including research and logistics. Berlin-based archaeologist Bernhard Heeb and University of Olomouc professor Martin Golec are among the guests.

The Bükk National Park staff has also assisted the team, with assistance from specialists such as Bartha Attila, Ézsöl Tibor, and Holló Sándor.

Members of the Hungarian National Museum’s National Research Institute, including Fullár Zoltán and Bakos Gábor, have also provided support.

EUROPE, POLAND, WORLD

Archaeologists Just Unearthed A 6,000-Year-Old Neolithic Longhouse In Poland

Archaeologists Just Unearthed A 6,000-Year-Old Neolithic Longhouse In Poland

Remnants of a longhouse built by the Linear Pottery culture around 5000 B.C.E.

Archaeologists excavating a Neolithic site in southeastern Poland discovered artifacts spanning thousands of years, including a rare longhouse from the Linear Pottery culture that was constructed around 5000 B.C.E.

Recent excavations of a Neolithic site in Sandomierz-Mokoszyn, Poland, uncovered something completely unexpected. An archaeological team that was originally trying to confirm the existence of a settlement dating to 3500 B.C.E. found evidence of an even older village.

Researchers unearthed the remnants of a longhouse built by the Linear Pottery culture between 5300 and 4900 B.C.E. These people were early farmers who were known for the unique designs they carved into the ceramic vessels they crafted. The longhouse is the first of its kind ever found in the region, and it’s providing new insight into this Neolithic culture.

Archaeologists Unearth A Neolithic Longhouse In Poland

A team of archaeologists in Sandomierz-Mokoszyn in southeastern Poland recently set out to confirm the existence of a settlement connected to the Funnelbeaker culture.

They found what they were looking for, including large storage pits dating to between 3700 and 3200 B.C.E. containing clay vessels, flint tools, and animal bones. However, they also found much more than they expected.

Archaeologists Just Unearthed A 6,000-Year-Old Neolithic Longhouse In Poland
Cellars from the Funnelbeaker culture found at the site

During excavations, researchers unearthed the remnants of a longhouse that was 1,500 years older than the Funnelbeaker artifacts. It belonged to the Linear Pottery culture, early farmers who lived in the area between 5500 and 4500 B.C.E.

The longhouse was about 20 feet wide and more than 65 feet in length. It was constructed using a post-and-beam technique, and its walls were built with material from nearby clay pits.

As reported by Ancient Origins, Dr. Marek Florek from the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments in Sandomierz stated, “The discovery of the longhouse is the first of its kind in the Sandomierz Upland.”

A piece of pottery featuring the namesake designs of the Linear Pottery culture.

Alongside the longhouse, researchers found ceramics decorated in the traditional Linear Pottery culture style, flint tools, and objects made from volcanic glass. Now, they’re working to analyze these artifacts to learn more about the Neolithic people they once belonged to.

New Insights Into The Linear Pottery Culture

Historians believe the people of the Linear Pottery culture group migrated to Poland from Transcarpathia, near modern-day Slovakia and Hungary. It’s known that they excelled in farming and animal husbandry, but the discovery of their longhouse is revealing new information about the way they lived.

Fragments of ceramic vessels from the Linear Pottery culture.

Similar longhouses have been found elsewhere in Poland, but as Florek stated, this is the first uncovered near Sandomierz-Mokoszyn.

“This is an interesting discovery that indicates that in the early Neolithic period there was a settlement with permanent buildings, not a makeshift camp,” Florek noted. “Moreover, it also confirms the continuation of settlement in this area over several thousand years.”

The tools archaeologists found are also providing insight into the lives of the Neolithic people. The obsidian artifacts were imported, suggesting the Linear Pottery culture traded with other ancient civilizations.

An obsidian scraper found near the longhouse.

As these artifacts make their way to the Sandomierz Castle Museum for preservation and future public display, they promise to shed even more light on the region’s rich Neolithic heritage.

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.

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.

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.