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Mysteries of Archeology and History, New York, NY (2025)

08/13/2025

258 bronze axes

The Bronze Age is a time of great changes, revolutionary technological discoveries and relocations of peoples. It was marked by the spread of bronze foundry metallurgy, copper, gold and silver processing skills.
Tom Pierce was really surprised when his metal detector started beeping loudly after only a few minutes he went out into the field. And at a depth of 25 cm, Tom dug up an axe. And then two dozen more of them. The next day, Tom brought friends into the field, and they found 500 bronze artifacts: 258 solid axes and 152 debris. These axes were made around 700 BC and they were in excellent condition. It was one of the biggest finds of its kind in England. Perhaps the objects were buried as a sacrifice to the gods.

08/12/2025

The Huxley Hoard

The land of Scandinavia, where the Vikings lived, was covered with forest and mountains and could not provide much for life. Therefore, the ancestors of Icelanders, Norwegians, Danes and Swedes were forced to for war and plunder with other nations which lived in the northern region because they had nothing to offer for the exchange or trade.
The Huxley Hoard is a Viking “collection” of 21 silver bracelets, one silver ingot and lead shards, weighing approximately 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs), dating back to the early 10th century. The Viking silver jewelry was discovered by Steve Reynolds in November 2004, during a gathering of members near the village of Huxley in Cheshire County, England. The treasure was valued at £45,000,000, purchased and housed in the Liverpool Museum.

08/12/2025

Four golden torques

The metal circle around his neck seemed to the ancient man to be a reliable barrier, capable of preventing the soul from leaving the body. Such circle was the favorite decoration of the most different people of Western and Eastern Europe, as well as the Near and Middle East, and was called the hryvnia in the Eastern Europe or the torque in the Western Europe.
David Booth just went for a breath of fresh air, grabbing a metal detector. On that day, he found four necklaces of gold at a depth of only 15 centimeters underground. Historians then said it was one of the most important treasures found in Scotland. These neck hryvnias were made between 300 and 100 BC. Two hryvnias were created in the local Scottish style, one in French style, the last one in Mediterranean style. The National Museum of Scotland bought the treasure for $570,000.

08/11/2025

Roman coin

The Roman conquest of Britain began by Caesar (55-54 BC) and ended in the reign of Domitian. In the conquered territories, roads were drawn through forests and marshes, cities were built and colonies of Roman citizens were founded.
The treasure hunter Phil Kirk once discovered a Roman coin on the English field and decided to dig into it more thoroughly. Soon he found some jugs and a bronze dish. Then, of course, Kirk called the experts and they found a bunch of artifacts, as well as bones. The most interesting findings were fragments of mosaic glassware from Alexandria (Egypt) which were found.

08/11/2025

Cross from Denmark

The history of Viking baptisms is very complicated. Many kings tried to bring a new religion to the Vikings, but they did not want to renounce the faith of their ancestors. The first success of Norwegian Christianization came during the reign of Olaf I Tryggvason. Sigurd I, the Crusader, finally established Christianity in Norway by establishing a bishopric and establishing a church tithe.
Dennis Fabrizius Holm made an amazing discovery in Denmark, near the village of Aunslev. With the help of a metal detector, she discovered an ancient golden cross depicting Jesus with open arms. The cross was small, only four centimeters long. Holm posted a photo of the discovery on his page, which caused a furor in the media and among scientists. It turned out that this cross is from the 10th century, and is the one of the oldest Christian symbols found in Denmark. The discovery changed known history: Christianity came to this country earlier than historians thought.

08/10/2025

Roman cavalty helmet

The history of Roman conquests in the era of the republic can be divided into three periods. In the first period, which covered the second half of the fourth century and the first half of the third century, the Romans conquered all of Italy south of Rubicon. The second period started from the middle of the III to the middle of the II century and known mainly by the Punic wars of Rome with Carthage, the victory over Carthage made Rome the lord of the entire western part of the Mediterranean. Finally, from about the middle of the second century, the third period began, during which the Romans gradually conquered other territories. Therefore, it is not surprising that war became an integral part of the culture of Ancient Rome.
The first incredible find made with metal detector become an 1800-year-old helmet with a mask. It was found in the field, however, it was necessary to collect all the pieces to restore the item. After the restoration, the helmet became as good as new. Such masked helmets with perfect Roman features were worn by Roman cavalry during performances in which great battles were repeated. The helmet was sold for $3.6 million.

08/10/2025

One of its kind, 1,500-year-old Roman ‘Lorica Squamata’ legion armor restored

The 1,500-year-old Roman ‘Lorica Squamata’ legion armor, the only known example in the world, found in the ancient city of Satala in the village of Sadak in the Kelkit district of Gümüşhane in the Black Sea region of Türkiye, was restored.

Archaeological excavations continue in the ancient city of Satala, the only surviving castle on the eastern border of the Roman Empire and the only Roman Legion castle in Anatolia that can be excavated. and this unique artifact was unearthed during the 2020 excavation season.
The ancient city of Satala, where the 15th Legion of the Roman Empire, also known as the Apollinaris Legion, ruled for 600 years, is a well-known castle visited by Rome’s five emperors.

In a remarkable feat of preservation, the only known example of a “Lorica Squamata” model Roman legionary armor, dating back 1,500 years, has been successfully restored in Türkiye.
The completion of the restoration was announced by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism on its social media account.

The armor was first found and removed from the location in 2021 with assistance from the Ankara Regional Laboratory. It was then moved to the Erzurum Restoration and Conservation Regional Laboratory. Erzurum Atatürk University carried out a thorough examination, which included tomography and X-rays, to record the armor in its soil-encrusted state.

X-ray results revealed that almost the entire armor was intact. Micro CT imaging of a three-plate block taken from the edges helped determine the armor’s full measurements and partial metallurgical properties.

The conservation and restoration procedures were finished after three years of painstaking labor by the Erzurum Regional Directorate of Restoration and Conservation Laboratory. The armor was then resewn, returning it to its original form.

According to the ministry’s statement, the armor dates back to the Late Roman Period. It is a significant example of the Lorica Squamata type, noted for being the first known to the world.

08/09/2025

An unexpected discovery in Pompeii: A Roman Tomb Reveals the Existence of an Unknown Imperial Position in Hispania

A surprising discovery in Pompeii gives us new information about the history of Spain between the 1st century B.C. and the 1st century A.D. The inscription on the tomb tells us of a brilliant military career followed by a quiet retirement in Pompeii, now a symbol of world archaeology, at the time a town in Campania renowned for the beauty of its landscape and views of the Gulf of Naples.

The discovery was announced in the E-Journal of Pompeii Excavations, the online magazine that reports “in real-time” on discoveries and ongoing research at the archaeological site.

Maria Chiara Scappaticcio, Full Professor of Latin Language and Literature at the University of Naples Federico II, and Alberto Dalla Rosa, Full Professor of Roman History at Université Bordeaux Montaigne, contributed to the reading and interpretation of the inscription.

First, the construction revealed the two ends of a semicircular tomb—known as a “schola” tomb. In Pompeii, schola tombs were previously discovered. They are composed of a semicircular volcanic tufa stone bench with terminals shaped like lion paws. Following excavation, a sizable inscription with remnants of the original red paint inside was discovered on the bench’s curved back. The inscription was expertly carved in extremely regular letters.

The tomb was so old and neglected when the eruption occurred in 79 A.D. that the monument was buried up to the bench. Even so, when Vesuvius covered the city in death, the inscription remained clear and readable, even after it had been ignored and forgotten.

The inscription on the back of the bench revealed who the deceased was, reserving more than one surprise for those in charge of the work, The inscription reads in large letters:

N(umerius) AGRESTINUS N(umerius) F(ilius) EQUITUS PULCHER TRIB(unus) MIL(itum) PRAEF(ectus) AUTRYGON(um) PRAEF(ectus) FABR(um) II D(uum)V(irus) I(ure) D(icundo) ITER(um) LOCUS SEPULTURAE DATUS D(ecreto) D(ecurionum)

To Numerius Agrestinus, son of Numerius, Just Knight, military tribune, prefect of the Autrygoni, prefect of engineers, twice Duumvir by the jurisdiction (i.e., holder of the highest magistracy in the city of Pompeii), the burial place was given by decree of the city council.

One startling finding is that the same person is identified by another funerary inscription found in the Porta Nocera necropolis, where the man’s wife, Veia Barchilla, had placed a cylindrical memorial for the two of them. Only later did the Council of Decurions decree to honor Numerius Agrestinus with a monument on public land.

08/09/2025

Mystery of the 1,700-year-old Mosaic Solved: The Medallion in the Mosaic uncovered to be the Symbol of a Roman Military Unit

The mystery of the 1,700-year-old mosaic, which was found during excavations in Amasya province in northern Turkey 11 years ago and started to be exhibited last year, has been solved. The research revealed that the Greek inscriptions ‘KTI – CIC’ and ‘ΠAPEM – BOΛH’ on the medallion with god figures in the center of the mosaic symbolize the Roman military unit.

The 80-metre floor mosaic was found in 2013 during a rescue excavation carried out by the Amasya Museum authorities near a high school at the entrance of the city. The artifact, which had two figures inscribed ‘KTI – CIC’ and ‘?APEM – BO?H’ and various geometric shapes, which were not seen in previous excavations, were covered and taken under protection after detailed examinations.

Stating that the central medallion stands out in naming the mosaics, Amasya Museum Director Celal Özdemir said, “The central medallion provides the name of the mosaic. In our research, there are Greek expressions ‘ΠAPEM-BOΛH’ around the figure of God Priapos. These expressions symbolize the Parem-Bole military unit.”
A mosaic of a military unit has never been found before.

08/08/2025

A Hoard of Gold and Silver Roman Coins Dating Back to the Reign of Emperor Nero was Found in Worcestershire

A hoard of Roman and Iron Age silver coins dating back to Emperor Nero’s reign has been found during building works in Worcestershire, western England. The treasure, consisting of 1,368 coins, includes the largest collection from the emperor’s reign ever found.

The coins span two centuries from 157 BC to AD 55, and date the hoard to the very beginning of Roman Britain – barely a decade after the Claudian invasion in AD 43.

Worcestershire Heritage, Art & Museums said the hoard was discovered in the Leigh and Bransford area, west of Worcester, in late 2023 and dubbed the Worcestershire Conquest Hoard.

Research into the hoard is being led by Murray Andrews who has been working closely with colleagues from Museums Worcestershire, Worcestershire Archives and Archaeology Service, and the Portable Antiquities Scheme to process the find in accordance with the Treasure Act 1996.

08/08/2025

A First in Denmark: Rare 4th Century Roman Helmet and Chainmail Found

Archaeologists have recently unearthed a massive stockpile of weapons near Hedensted, Denmark, buried 1,500 years ago by an ancient chief. In addition to many weapons and unique chainmail, fragments of a Roman helmet from the 4th century have also been found.

During recent archaeological excavations at Løsning Søndermark in Hedensted, Denmark, a significant discovery has been made that sheds light on the region’s Iron Age history, dating back 1,500 to 2,000 years. Archaeologists unearthed a burial site containing an extensive array of weapons, sufficient to equip a small army, alongside a remarkable chainmail shirt and other valuable artifacts. This find suggests that the site belonged to a powerful chieftain, and the manner of the burial indicates that these war implements may have been offered to higher powers.

The excavation was prompted by the Danish Road Directorate’s ongoing project to expand the motorway to three lanes, leading to the unearthing of these extraordinary artifacts just northwest of Hedensted, situated between Vejle and Horsens.

In addition to the extensive weapon deposits, archaeologists have discovered two unusual iron plates, each approximately the size of a human palm. Initially, the origins of these plates were uncertain. However, through the application of X-ray imaging technology, conservators and archaeologists were able to pe*****te the thick layers of rust that obscured the objects.

The imaging results revealed an extraordinary and rare discovery: the remnants of a Roman helmet. The two plates identified consist of a neck guard and a intricately decorated cheek guard, which are components of a crest helmet—a type commonly utilized during the 4th century within the Roman Empire.

08/07/2025

Ancient Roman Fast Food: Songbirds Were a Popular Snack in 1st-Century Mallorca

Roman fast food, ancient Roman cuisine, song thrush consumption, Roman street food, Mallorca archaeology, Pollentia findings, Roman bird bones, ancient cooking techniques, thrush birds in Roman diet, Roman taberna, Roman popina, Roman culinary history, Roman food culture, ancient street food, Mediterranean archaeology, Roman-era fast food, archaeological bird remains, Turdus philomelos, Roman recipes, Roman urban diet

A fascinating new study published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology reveals that song thrushes — small migratory birds — were once a popular form of Roman street food, challenging the long-held belief that they were an elite delicacy reserved for luxury banquets.

Archaeologists analyzing a 1st-century BCE cesspit in the ancient Roman city of Pollentia, located on the island of Mallorca, Spain, discovered 165 thrush bones (Turdus philomelos) among food remains such as pig bones, sea shells, and fish. These findings emerged from a latrine attached to a taberna—an ancient Roman food shop similar to modern-day fast food joints.

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