Mysteries of Archeology and History

Mysteries of Archeology and History From mass tragedies to horrifying rituals - researchers have the first possibility to look at the eve

Book of Kells: exploring the evidence that points to Pictish origins in north-east ScotlandWriting in the early 20th cen...
10/06/2025

Book of Kells: exploring the evidence that points to Pictish origins in north-east Scotland

Writing in the early 20th century, the celebrated author James Joyce noted that the Book of Kells – an illuminated manuscript depicting the four gospels of the New Testament in Latin – was “the most purely Irish thing we have”.

By this time, the unique and intricate designs of the approximately 1,200-year-old manuscript were instantly recognisable, having been replicated on everything from embroidered clothing to tea sets coveted by nationalists and the Irish diaspora alike. These designs were deemed symbolic of “pure” Irish visual identity, created before the coming of the Vikings and the Anglo-Normans to Irish shores.

For well over a century, debate has raged as to whether the manuscript was made at Iona on the west coast of Scotland, the northern English monastery of Lindisfarne or indeed a different Columban monastery in Ireland. Now, a new contribution to the debate, The Book of Kells Unlocking the Enigma, soon to be published by archaeologist and art historian Victoria Whitworth, adds further food for thought on the topic.

Ponte da Misarela, in the Peneda-Gerês National Park (Portugal)Tucked away in one of Portugal's most beautiful nature pa...
10/05/2025

Ponte da Misarela, in the Peneda-Gerês National Park (Portugal)

Tucked away in one of Portugal's most beautiful nature parks, the Ponte da Misarela rises above the tumultuous Rio Rabagão. According to legend, a runaway with soldiers on his tail made a pact with the devil to cross the river. The fugitive promised him his soul in exchange for the devil’s help. However, once the devil had helped him, he was freed from his deal by a priest who blessed the bridge, thus breaking the curse. This stone bridge, built in the Middle Ages, is surrounded by beautiful forests and waterfalls at the bottom of a steep canyon.

The mystery of Yanshan Mountains Along the slope of Yanmenshan Mountain, located twenty kilometers east of Nanjing, Chin...
10/05/2025

The mystery of Yanshan Mountains

Along the slope of Yanmenshan Mountain, located twenty kilometers east of Nanjing, China, is the legendary Yangshan Stone Quarry. Although it is believed to have been used at least since the Six Dynasties (220-589 A.D.).
One particularly strange aspect of this place is how much stone has been carved and after that moved. And the one that remains forms a fantastic landscape of multi-toned monoliths, the movement of which is not in control even of a modern person. But the most interesting thing is that the surface of these monoliths is decorated with patterns very similar to those left by mining equipment!

Kachinas: Messengers of the gods in Hopi legends The Hopi Nation are a native American tribe who live in Arizona for tho...
10/04/2025

Kachinas: Messengers of the gods in Hopi legends

The Hopi Nation are a native American tribe who live in Arizona for thousands of years, near the famous Grand Canyon.
Hopi worship benevolent spirits called "kachinas". For those who believe in the theory of paleocontact, the legend of kachinas has real meaning...
The Pueblos Nation celebrate the arrival of the Kachinas on Earth by holding a ceremony when they dress in traditional costumes. The colorful masks they wear during the ceremony symbolize the kachinas and kachinas also called the ones that bring life. According to supporters of paleocontact theory, masks and suits of kachins resemble a variety of suits that reflected the appearance of those guests from the unknown.

Assyria: Land of Demons For the archaeologists themselves, the significance of Assyria is twofold: first, the Assyrian s...
10/04/2025

Assyria: Land of Demons

For the archaeologists themselves, the significance of Assyria is twofold: first, the Assyrian state ruled for some time the largest and most powerful empire in the world. They ruled with the edge of the sword, and the stories of their shocking inhumanity towards the defeated enemies are still capable of terrifying even the harshest imagination.
Clay tablets of Sumerians and Babylonians... tell that the people who inhabited Mesopotamia from about 3000 BC onwards considered magic as great importance to all its manifestations, and that they used the services of a magician for every possible reason. Much of this ancient magic included defending against the numerous demons that haunted humans, from the spirits of the angry dead to the archistratigan Lamashtu, a female demon who lived in the mountains and rushy water meadows and preyed on pregnant women and children.

Colossal Assyrian Winged Bull Unearthed in Iraq: Largest Ever at Six MetersIraq’s cultural authorities have revealed a d...
10/03/2025

Colossal Assyrian Winged Bull Unearthed in Iraq: Largest Ever at Six Meters

Iraq’s cultural authorities have revealed a discovery that could redefine the scale of Assyrian art: a six-meter-tall winged bull, or lamassu, recently uncovered in Mosul. The find, announced by Culture Minister Ahmed Fakkak al-Badrani on Iraqia News, dates to the reign of King Esarhaddon in the 7th century BCE (681–669 BCE), when the Neo-Assyrian Empire stretched from the Persian Gulf to Egypt

Situated within the ruins of Esarhaddon’s throne hall at the Nabi Yunus site in Mosul, part of ancient Nineveh, the colossal sculpture is believed to be the largest lamassu ever recorded. More than an archaeological marvel, it is a rare emblem of Assyria’s imperial grandeur and a potential turning point in the study of Mesopotamian heritage.

Storeroom and Soup Kitchen Unearthed in Ancient Timbriada: New Clues to Pisidia’s Forgotten CityArchaeologists have unco...
10/03/2025

Storeroom and Soup Kitchen Unearthed in Ancient Timbriada: New Clues to Pisidia’s Forgotten City

Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,200-year-old storeroom and soup kitchen in the ancient city of Timbriada, located in Isparta’s Aksu district. The discovery, made just west of the city’s central church, offers important clues about food storage, communal dining, and agricultural practices in antiquity.
The find comes from Pisidia, a rugged mountainous region of southwestern Anatolia known in antiquity for its fiercely independent cities, religious diversity, and resistance to outside control. While often overshadowed by neighboring Lycia and Pamphylia, Pisidia played a crucial role as a cultural and strategic frontier zone of the Hellenistic and Roman worlds.

The newly uncovered structures—part storeroom, part soup kitchen—point to the growing significance of the church during the Late Antique period. Archaeologists also recovered charred seeds and grains, offering rare evidence of the city’s food economy. Özcan emphasized that such finds are “crucial for understanding ancient dietary culture, ecological adaptation, and economic life,” while also noting their potential value for modern agricultural genetics.

Archaeologists unearthed structures believed to have served as a storeroom and soup kitchen in the 2,200-year-old ancient city of Timbriada, located in Isparta’s Aksu district.

One of Andalusia’s Most Monumental 5,000-Year-Old Prehistoric Tombs Unearthed in Teba (Malaga)A team of archaeologists f...
10/02/2025

One of Andalusia’s Most Monumental 5,000-Year-Old Prehistoric Tombs Unearthed in Teba (Malaga)

A team of archaeologists from the University of Cádiz has uncovered one of Andalusia’s most monumental and best-preserved prehistoric tombs: Dolmen I of the La Lentejuela necropolis in Teba (Málaga, Spain). Measuring 13 meters in length and dating back more than 5,000 years, this extraordinary discovery sheds light on the funerary practices, long-distance trade, and social structures of the Iberian Peninsula during the 3rd millennium BC.

The excavation, carried out over four archaeological campaigns, was led by Dr. Eduardo Vijande and Dr. Serafín Becerra of the University of Cádiz’s Thalassa Research Group. The project, titled Monumentality, Time and Society. The Megalithic Phenomenon in the La Lentejuela Necropolis was authorized by the Andalusian Ministry of Culture and Historical Heritage and funded by the Municipality of Teba.

What makes this dolmen remarkable is not only its sheer scale but also its extraordinary state of preservation. Inside, archaeologists documented several ossuaries, along with an impressive collection of prestige grave goods crafted from exotic and locally rare materials. These include ivory, amber, marine shells, and intricately worked flint artifacts such as arrowheads, large-format blades, and an exceptional halberd.

Rare Roman Articulated Terracotta Doll Unearthed at Torreparedones Archaeological ParkArchaeologists working at the Torr...
10/02/2025

Rare Roman Articulated Terracotta Doll Unearthed at Torreparedones Archaeological Park

Archaeologists working at the Torreparedones Archaeological Park in Baena, Córdoba, Spain, have made a remarkable discovery: a rare Roman-era articulated terracotta doll. Unearthed in the eastern baths of the site, this fragile yet extraordinary find offers new insights into the daily lives of children in Hispania nearly 1,700 years ago.

The jointed doll, dating from the 3rd to the 5th centuries AD, is missing its head and arms but still reveals intricate craftsmanship. Alongside it, researchers also uncovered other doll fragments — including a right leg, a left foot, and an unidentified limb — suggesting that multiple toys may once have been discarded in the area. According to archaeologists, these items were found in a large refuse dump that formed after the public baths were abandoned in the late 2nd century AD.

While Roman history often highlights emperors, armies, and monumental architecture, this discovery sheds light on an often-overlooked group: children. Play was an essential part of childhood in antiquity, just as it is today. Dolls such as the one found at Torreparedones were not only toys but also objects that allowed children to imitate adult life, practice social roles, and develop creativity.

Articulated dolls are particularly significant because of their scarcity in the Iberian Peninsula. Known examples from Hispania are few, with most being isolated finds from funerary contexts. The Torreparedones specimen, discovered in a non-funeral urban setting, provides an even more valuable piece of evidence for how Roman children spent their leisure time.

From Toy to Treasure: Detectorist’s ‘Lucky Mistake’ Reveals 2,000-Year-Old Roman Brooch in DorsetWhat looked like a chil...
10/01/2025

From Toy to Treasure: Detectorist’s ‘Lucky Mistake’ Reveals 2,000-Year-Old Roman Brooch in Dorset

What looked like a child’s lost trinket turned out to be a rare Roman brooch nearly 2,000 years old, uncovered by metal detectorist Martin Williams in a ploughed field near Dorchester. The 54-year-old estate maintenance manager, who has been metal detecting for just four years, initially tossed the object into his bag of scrap before realizing its true significance.

Williams explained that at first glance the find resembled a child’s badge or toy car. “It was only when I cleaned it at home that I saw the bronze material and thought, ‘thank God I didn’t break it,’” he said. The brooch, identified as dating between 1,800 and 2,000 years ago, likely belonged to someone living during the period of Roman rule in Britain (43–410 AD).

Local experts confirmed that the brooch is an “unusual item for Dorset” and not a common type nationally. Its discovery adds to the growing evidence of Roman presence in the region, even though no Roman road directly crosses the field. Williams believes an abandoned medieval church nearby may have been connected to the object’s history.

Dinnerware, England In fall 2022, a rare hoard of late Roman pewter plates, octagonal bowls and a cup was found stacked ...
10/01/2025

Dinnerware, England

In fall 2022, a rare hoard of late Roman pewter plates, octagonal bowls and a cup was found stacked neatly in a pit and buried in the grounds of what is now Euston Estate in the English county of Suffolk. Two millennia after they were hidden, either for safe-keeping or as an offering to the gods, a local metal detectorist uncovered the items during the East of England Rally, a popular detecting event. The high-profile discovery was later temporarily displayed at the West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, near Bury St Edmunds.

Sponsian coin, RomaniaFor years, this coin was nothing but a laughing stock. Originally found in 1713 in Transylvania (a...
09/30/2025

Sponsian coin, Romania

For years, this coin was nothing but a laughing stock. Originally found in 1713 in Transylvania (a former outpost of the Roman Empire) but declared a terrible fake by coin experts in 1863, it was locked in a museum cupboard and dismissed by history. But in 2022 new analysis of the ancient piece of gold, which bears the name and portrait of Sponsian – an emperor long written off by historians as a fictional character, suggested it was actually once valid currency and therefore that Sponsian himself was a real ruler.

Address

New York, NY
10001

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Mysteries of Archeology and History posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share

Category