LB On Fire, 1139 S Hill St (2025)

12/10/2025

Ancient Jar of Burnt Figs – Ekron, in modern-day Israel 🇮🇱

Archaeologists uncovered a 3100 year-old jar from Ekron, dating to 12th Century BC, containing burnt figs tied together with threads. This rare find offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient food preservation, storage practices, and daily life in the Late Bronze Age.

The careful threading of the figs suggests intentional preparation or ritual significance, while the charred state may indicate accidental fire or deliberate cooking. Artifacts like this provide valuable insight into diet, agriculture, and domestic practices of ancient Levantine societies, connecting us directly to the culinary and cultural habits of people over three millennia ago.

12/10/2025

In Yambol region of Bulgaria 🇧🇬, archaeologists uncovered a remarkable 4th Century BC golden ring from the tomb of a Thracian king. Thracians, an ancient people who inhabited parts of Southeast Europe, were known for their warrior culture, vibrant artistry, and elaborate burial practices. Discoveries like this ring highlight the wealth and craftsmanship that surrounded Thracian elites during the height of their power.

The golden ring is not only a symbol of royal prestige but also a testament to the advanced metalworking skills of Thracian artisans. Gold was often used in Thracian burial sites to emphasize status, with jewelry and treasures intended to accompany rulers into the afterlife. The intricate detail and durability of such objects reflect both artistic mastery and the importance of gold as a cultural and spiritual symbol.

This find sheds light on the Thracians’ close ties with neighboring Greek and Macedonian cultures, as their art often blended local traditions with Hellenistic influence. The tomb and its treasures serve as a rare glimpse into a civilization that left no written records but expressed its identity through monumental burial sites and finely crafted objects. Today, the golden ring stands as a powerful reminder of the Thracian legacy in Southeast Europe.

12/10/2025

The Battle of Himera in 480 BC was a pivotal clash between Greek Sicilian forces and Carthaginian army...

Recent archaeological excavations near Palermo have uncovered the skeletal remains of soldiers who perished in this brutal conflict. These bones offer a haunting glimpse into ancient warfare, revealing injuries consistent with close combat and the ferocity of the struggle.

The Greek victory at Himera not only secured their dominance in Sicily but also marked a significant setback for Carthaginian expansion in the region. These silent witnesses from the past provide invaluable insight into the human cost of history’s defining battles.

12/10/2025

Dibs on the Girl Blowing Bubbles is a captivating work by Luis Masriera, a master of the Art Nouveau movement.

Born in Barcelona in 1872, Masriera inherited his artistic roots from his father, Josep Masriera, a celebrated painter and silversmith who, along with his brother Francesc, led the family’s prestigious jewelry house founded by José Masriera i Vidal.

Luis began his career in the family workshop, where he developed an extraordinary eye for technical precision and refined craftsmanship. His early works mirrored the workshop’s flawless aesthetic but offered limited creative freedom something he later transformed through his own artistic vision.

Girl Blowing Bubbles beautifully reflects Masriera’s evolution as an artist who seamlessly blended fine art and jewelry design, capturing lightness, beauty, and the fleeting charm of youth in exquisite detail.

© The Archaeologist

12/10/2025

A Mummy Mask of an Egyptian lady - a Roman-era mummy mask of a woman, likely from Meir, Egypt, dating to around 60–70 AD. It is a finely crafted funerary mask that shows a blend of traditional Egyptian and Roman styles.

The mask is made of plaster (gypsum and calcite) and features a gilded face, which was a common practice for the wealthy to symbolize the golden skin of the gods and represent the deceased as a transfigured being.

The woman is depicted with a long, dark, Egyptian-style wig made of plant fibers and adorned with a gilded wreath. The mask also features jewelry, including earrings and a necklace with a crescent pendant.

The back of the head rests on a decorated support, and the mask's sides feature symbols of Egyptian deities like Isis, Osiris, and Horus.

Today, it is preserved at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

12/10/2025

A miniature bone carving of a monkey from the Erlitou culture of ancient China...

The carving is approximately 3,600 years old. It measures just 2.2cm tall. The artifact was discovered in a child's burial site.

It is believed to have served as a protective charm or a cherished symbol for the afterlife.

12/10/2025

Roman Slave Collar with an inscribed tag, dating from 4th-6th Century AD...

The collar was used to identify a person as a slave and to deter them from escaping. The inscription on the tag reads, "I have fled, seize me and return me to Zoninus for 1 gold coin".
The collar is a rare artifact that provides insight into the harsh realities of slavery in ancient Rome, where slaves were considered valuable property.

This specific collar is on display at Museo Nazionale Romano–Terme di Diocleziano in Rome 🇮🇹

12/10/2025

Just outside Cusco 🇵🇪, Qenqo Temple stands as one of the Inca Empire’s more enigmatic sites, likely built around 500 to 600 years ago. Carved directly into a massive stone, Qenqo’s design is unique and intentional. Its name, meaning ‘labyrinth’ or ‘zigzag,’ comes from a winding channel etched into the rock, likely meant to carry a liquid. Some think it channeled chicha, a ceremonial corn beer, while others suggest it could have carried water or even blood, hinting at a role in rituals around death or purification.

Q'enqo, which means "labyrinth" or "zigzag" in the Quechua language, is a large limestone rock carved with various channels, altars, and chambers. The site is believed to have been a ceremonial center for the Incas, possibly used for rituals, sacrifices, and astronomical observations.

One of the most notable features is a zigzag channel carved into the rock, which may have been used for liquid offerings like chicha (corn beer) or blood. The site also contains an underground chamber and an altar, which some believe were used for mummification ceremonies.

Qenqo’s structure is just as curious, with an underground chamber, an altar, and surrounding niches that may have been used for gatherings or ceremonies honoring the Inca gods. While its purpose isn’t entirely clear, Qenqo’s design and age suggest it held a significant place in Inca spiritual practices centuries ago.

12/10/2025

Roman Theatre Mask developed from that of Greek tradition has become the de facto symbol of modern interpretative arts. Symbol of comedy and tragedy it is a frequent element of ancient art...

Roman Theatre Mask enabled a synchretism of the individual actor with the character they embodied. Resonant chambers acoustically projected the actor’s voice and mental state to the audience. The Romans made great use of masks – also in other situations such as military masks, in particular those of the equestrians. Roman theatre mask is a distinctive characteristic of ancient interpretative arts. Wearing the mask played a significant role in the actor’s mental state and physical character embodiment. At its best the theatre masks enabled a metamorphosis of the actor’s individuality and linking it with that of the audience.

Ancient literature, such as Cicero’s “De Oratore” tells us of the great efforts and methodologies used by orators, (and hence we can presume poets and actors), to strengthen and train their memories to learn the script, and modulate their voices as part of “actio” or “pronunciatio” in order to transmit not only clarity but also intent. Equally as important as a modern microphone for a singer the mask and its particularly large mouth and resonance chambers were designed to project the actor’s trained voice across to the audience. Furthermore the interchangeable mask enabled the same actor to assume multiple roles within the same play, whilst minimising the interfering effect of their personal traits as single actor.

📷 : A close-up of a Roman white marble sculpture (2nd Century BC), depicts the forearm, hand, and a comedic theatre mask cradled in the hand, with a wig attached.

12/10/2025

Theatre of Segesta, Sicily, Italy 🇮🇹; built in 2nd Century BC, theatre had a capacity of up to 4000 spectators. Segesta with Greek Doric temple, Hellenistic theater and numerous archaeological excavations have recently brought to light important other buildings, an extra attraction to know history of the past.

Segesta (Egesta), located in north-west corner of Sicily, was an important trading town from 7th Century BC onwards. Situated on strategically advantageous slopes of Mt. Barbaro, yet still close enough to coast to support a trading port, Segesta established itself as most important regional town of Elymi people. Flourishing in 5th Century BC, Segesta continued to hold important status as trading center into Hellenistic and Roman times.

Today, the site has two of best-preserved Classical monuments anywhere and they are impressive testimony of Segesta's one-time prosperity - a 5th Century BC Doric temple which, at least externally, is reasonably intact and an equally well-preserved 3rd-2nd century BC theatre which provides its audience with a stunning view towards nearby Gulf of Castellamare.

According to Thucydides in his History of the Peloponnesian War, Egesta and nearby Eryx were founded by colonists from Troy who came sometime in 2nd Millennium BC and who called themselves Elymi and who spoke their own language, Elymian and later also Greek. Other possible early colonists include peoples from Liguria in northern Italy and Puglia in south of Italian mainland.

From 7th Century BC Segesta, became an established Greek polis or city-state and regional political capital. Trade flourished, Doric architecture from Greece was assimilated, there was an independent army and even a mint. An emporium on coast allowed for trade and export of locally produced goods such as wine, corn, wool, walnuts, wood, and olives. Segesta did not have everything her own way, though. Construction of fortification walls suggests a significant threat from enemy city-states and between 580-576 BC, rivalry with Selinus (Selinunte) on southern coast of Island finally broke out in war.

📷 : Credit to the Owner

12/10/2025

The ruins of the ancient megalithic wall on Arwad Island, Syria...

The Arwad megalithic wall once enclosed the entire island of Arwad with massive stones stacked so precisely that modern engineers still debate how it was built. This ancient fortress, long forgotten, holds clues to a lost civilization’s power, mystery, and technological skill.

Off the Mediterranean coast of Syria lies the island of Arwad—also known historically as Aradus or Ruad—a place that once served as a thriving hub of maritime power. Though small, just a few kilometers from the port city of Tartus, Arwad stands out in history as the only inhabited island along Syria’s Mediterranean coast. But what truly sets it apart is a nearly vanished yet awe-inspiring structure: the Arwad megalithic wall.

In ancient times, this wall spanned the entire island, forming a formidable barrier that shielded Arwad from sea and invaders alike. Constructed from massive stone blocks, many weighing several tons, the wall’s cyclopean architecture has stunned scholars. Today, only fragments of this once-mighty structure survive—but they continue to stir questions that remain unanswered.

How were such colossal blocks be transported and stacked with such precision on a small island over 3,000 years ago?

The Arwad megalithic wall joins this list of global enigmas. Despite limited access to modern tools or heavy machinery, ancient people constructed walls, temples, and fortresses with stone blocks that modern cranes would struggle to lift. And Arwad, isolated and small, somehow played its part in this worldwide phenomenon.

© Merike Joosep

12/10/2025

Have you ever seen a gun that is attached to a book? This Bible has a chamber for a gun and it was made in Venice for Doge Francesco Morosini in the second part of the 17th Century....

From 1688 until 1694, during the height of the Great Turkish War, Francesco Morosini served as Doge of Venice. While the bible was still unopened, the owner of the bible can pull out the silk bookmark to shoot. The gun book is now on exhibit in Venice’s Museo Correr.

Lorenzo Cittone writes in his book Venise, L’hiver Et L’ete, De Pres Et De Loin, about this incredible gun-book: “I’ve found in a display case of the Correr museum, in Venice, Morosini’s prayers book that I used to love so much as Apart from a few prayers, this beautiful book features a buttless gun. Of course, the binding is stunning. And it’s difficult to get the gun out once the book is closed.”

© The Archaeologist

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