Latest news with #ancientcivilization
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Royal Tomb, Relics Belonging to Relative of King Midas Found in Turkey
Archaeologists have found a 2,800-year-old royal tomb located near King Midas's former home in Turkey, the country's news agency, Anadolu Ajansı, reported. Scientists excavating a site in Gordion discovered a royal tomb dating back to the eighth century B.C., which they believe belonged to one of King Midas's relatives. Within the tomb were dozens of rare relics as well as cremated human bones which belonged to an elite member of the ancient kingdom of Phrygia. "Based on these artifacts, we estimate that the person in the tomb chamber may be a member of the royal family associated with Gordion and Midas," Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the Turkish minister of culture and tourism, said at a news conference on June 3. Gordion was the capital of the Phrygian kingdom, which reigned from 1200 to 675 B.C. The kingdom's first ruler, Gordias, was succeeded by his son, Midas, who, in mythology, can make anything he touches turn to archaeologists are somewhat baffled by Gordion's timeline, as it was occupied by so many different rules throughout its history. The largest tomb discovered at the site is known as the 'Midas Mound' and was erected around 740 B.C. to bury a high-status member of the society, potentially Gordias himself. The most recently discovered tomb is the 47th mound excavated at the site (out of 120 total mounds) and features the oldest cremation yet found at the site. "This shows the burial customs of the Phrygians," said archaeologist Yücel Şenyurt, co-director of the Gordion excavation. He added that the find "clearly shows us that the person buried here was not an ordinary person." Further analysis of the remains and the relic discovered within the tomb will hopefully identify the deceased's remains , as well as details of their life before Tomb, Relics Belonging to Relative of King Midas Found in Turkey first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 15, 2025
Sustainability Times
6 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Lost City Rises Again': Submerged Indian Metropolis Stuns Archaeologists and Forces a Rethink of All Human Civilization Timelines
IN A NUTSHELL 🌊 The discovery of a submerged city in the Gulf of Khambhat challenges established historical timelines. challenges established historical timelines. 🗺️ Researchers found artifacts like skeletons and pottery dating back to about 7000 BC , predating known civilizations in the region. , predating known civilizations in the region. 🧩 The site has sparked intense debate, dividing the scientific community over its origins and significance. 🔍 This finding encourages further exploration and analysis, with the potential to reshape our understanding of ancient civilizations. In the depths off the Indian coast, a fleeting glimmer seems to brush against the silent remnants of a mysterious civilization. The contours of a submerged city emerge in the Gulf of Khambhat, challenging everything we thought we knew about India's origins. As fragments of pottery, forgotten skeletons, and submerged avenues come to light, the puzzle slowly takes shape. This discovery progresses at the pace of passionate debates, cautious researchers, and the call of legends. Here, every find appears capable of reshaping our understanding of the past. A Shocking Underwater Discovery: An Entire Civilization Sleeps in the Gulf of Khambhat Imagine the moment when certainties vanish. Off the coast of India, the silhouette of a forgotten city emerges from the depths, potentially dating back nine thousand years. Such a prospect sends shivers down the spine. For a team of Indian archaeologists, the discovery of a submerged site changes everything. Have we underestimated a complete chapter of the subcontinent's history? The question arises: could a great lost civilization be on the verge of rewriting our vision of India's origins? This revelation has prompted a reevaluation of ancient timelines. As the exploration continues, the implications of such a discovery could be profound. The potential for reshaping our understanding of early human civilizations is immense. With every artifact uncovered, the story of our past becomes richer and more complex. The coming years will undoubtedly be filled with further exploration and analysis, as researchers strive to uncover the full significance of this underwater find. 'Bible Battle Confirmed': Archaeologists Uncover Shocking Evidence of Ancient War at Megiddo, the Real Site of Armageddon When the Sea Reveals Its Secrets: The Emergence of an Ancient City Years of research, often fraught with frustration, teetering on the edge between legend and reality, finally bore fruit in December 2000. The team from the National Institute of Ocean Technology scrutinized the depths of the Gulf of Khambhat on India's northwestern coast, expecting nothing extraordinary. Yet, over a span of nearly five miles, sonar technology revealed the outline of a vast urban complex, almost the size of a metropolis, lying 120 feet below the surface. Not mere stones this time. Skeletons, tooth fragments, pottery—all surfaced, causing a stir. Each analysis yields surprising results: dating suggests origins around 7000 BC, significantly earlier than the first official traces of civilization in the Indus Valley. It's essential to note that in archaeology, using multiple dating methods often helps mitigate certain biases. While these results appear impressive, caution is advised. 'I Held Her Skull in That Ceremony': Oxford's Shocking Use of Enslaved Woman's Remains Sparks Global Outrage In the Shadows: A Mystery Dividing the Scientific Community An echo from the past presents a genuine conundrum for researchers. Each object found raises new questions. Are the artifacts truly from the site? Could sediments have transported pottery and skeletons from the mainland as sea levels rose at the end of the Ice Age? The debates are intense: some envision the thrilling tale of a lost city, while others advocate for caution, considering the fragile analyses and the complexities of radiocarbon dating for objects exposed to saltwater. It is impossible to separate these ruins from myths, like the legend of Kumari Kandam, thought to have once linked India to Madagascar and Australia. Can we already speak of a great lost civilization? The investigation must continue, with more analyses and cross-referencing of evidence. Two decades of research have not unraveled everything, and the mystery remains thick. As one researcher put it, 'Every great discovery begins with an unsettling detail. Only after long confrontations of ideas, methods, and occasional setbacks does the puzzle gradually reveal itself.' 'Archaeologists Couldn't Believe It': 20,000-Year-Old Stone Tools Found on South African Cliff Rewrite Everything About Early Humans A Site That Challenges Everything—Or Not What unfolds in the Gulf of Khambhat offers archaeology a rare opportunity: to explore, probe, and perhaps reshape our understanding of Indian prehistory. The ripple effect is assured: a sonar detection today, and tomorrow? Perhaps entire chapters to add to our history. Navigating this strange submerged laboratory means accepting surprises. Nothing is predetermined. The quest continues for archaeologists and for all those who hold hope for new revelations: sometimes, at the bottom of the sea, the most discreet anomaly can illuminate an entire chapter of history, or simply remind us that science loves to challenge its own limits. Explorer's Tip: In the face of the unexpected, remain open-minded and remember that sometimes, the most astonishing discoveries are as valuable as the questions they raise. As we delve deeper into this underwater world, we are reminded that history is not a static narrative but a dynamic and ever-evolving story. Each new find in the Gulf of Khambhat adds another layer of intrigue and complexity. What other secrets lie hidden beneath the waves, waiting to reshape our understanding of the ancient world? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (25)
Forbes
07-06-2025
- Forbes
Silversea Cruises Comes Ashore To Bring Music To Ancient Aegean Ruins
For cruise ship lines, providing an outstanding passenger experience on-board is job one. Because of this focus, shore excursions are typically handed off to trusted vendors, who pick up the passengers near the dock and transport them to the bus tour, bike ride, restaurant tasting, museum or other activity. But sometimes, cruise companies put together their own special events for guests. We experienced this on in an ancient amphitheater on the west coast of Anatolia, modern-day Turkey. Silversea put on a concert and special event for its passengers at the ancient city of Ephesus that blended the best in ancient and modern culture. At the end of April, my wife and I took a Silversea Aegean cruise from Athens to some storied outposts of Greek civilization, including Rhodes, Crete, Mykonos and Ephesus on the Turkish coast. I had been somewhat concerned about visiting Turkey with the turmoil in the Middle East but felt secure on our one-day visit. Ephesus is on the west coast of the Turkish mainland, about 11 miles from the present-day resort and port town of Kusadasi, the 'place of birds.' Ephesus is considered one of the most significant archeological sites in the world. Once a thriving port city, Ephesus is thought to have been originally settled around 1200 BCE, towards the end of the Bronze age. From its Greek founding to its Roman take-over, its thousands of meters of stone blocks, column and tiles tell a compelling story of families and empires rising and falling. A walk along its long stone road takes you past the Library of Celsus, a well-preserved library with a reconstructed façade (no books, of course), and the Roman Temple of Hadrian from the 2nd century, put back together from fragments. Ephesus is primarily known as a Ionian Greek city, but it was later conquered and rebuilt by the Romans. For many years a major city in Asia Minor, Ephesus was an important city for early Christianity, as the apostle Paul's 'Epistle to the Ephesians' I found the Terrace Houses, a complex of six Roman residences, fascinating. The wealthy homes were unrestored, but the unearthed mosaics and frescos were beautiful. Excavations showed that Ephesus boasted two agoras, one as a marketplace, the other for state business. Ephesus also includes the remains of the Temple of Artemis (or Diana) a huntress and goddess of fertility. The temple was built by Croesus, famed for his wealth, about 550 BCE. This Greek and later Roman temple was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World for its enormous size and magnificent artwork. It was destroyed by invading Goths in 262 and never rebuilt. The area also includes the Basilica of St. John, believed to be the burial site of St. John the Apostle, and the Virgin Mary's House, thought to be the last residence of Mary. The ancient city also had a Great Theater on the slope of Mt. Pion. The theater was 100 feet high and held up to 25,000 people. Much of the theatre survives. If you look at it, then close your eyes, you can imagine actors on the stage, a gladiator battle, or even the Apostle Paul, preaching to the Ephesians condemning pagan worship. We spent four hours on an expertly-guided tour of the area during the day, dodging the occasional stray cats and dogs. The Ephesus Museum just outside the excavated city held many of the artistic and sculptural treasures salvaged from the ruins, kept safe from local tombaroli inside. As part of our tour we walked by the Odeon of Ancient Ephesus, also known as the Small Theater, without paying too much attention. What we did not realize that the Odeon would be the site of a classical concert, staged by Silversea under the stars and amongst the ruins. After the tour, we had a couple of hours on the ship. We were running late for our show, but as in exclusive restaurants, the managers would adjust the dining schedule to accommodate guests. We arrived late for dinner at 6:40PM as we had to run out for the Silversea concert at Ephesus at 7PM. Nonetheless, the crew managed to feed us a mahi-mahi and a healthy stuffed cabbage along with a beautiful Caprese salad. Well-fed, we disembarked to the buses with our fellow 21st century voyagers. We returned to the ancient city as the light started to fail. In the ruins of Ephesus, well-dressed 21st century passengers departed from their advanced cruise ship, equipped with the most modern technology for navigation and passenger comfort. They were guided by Silversea employees to a spot for a photograph that would later be presented to them as a beautiful print. A few steps away Silversea crew had set up a red-carpet reception with wine and snacks. After we drank and walked among the ruins, we were ushered into the Odeon. The intimate crowd of about 100 fit snugly on the lower level of an amphitheater built for 1500. The Odeon was built in the 2nd Century for musical events and meetings of the aristocratic council. We sat on the stone benches in the gathering darkness, like audiences had for 19 centuries. In front of the steeply raked seats, a group of smartly-dressed musicians from Turkey played the music of another century, the greatest hits of Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi and other classical composers. Flickering candles revealed the shapes of columns and stone walls as they provided light for the intimate concert in the ancient city. 'At Silversea, we're focused on creating memorable experiences that let our guests explore the world in new and exciting ways,' says Bert Hernandez, president of Silversea. 'Whether it's exploring historic sites or enjoying exclusive events through our unique land programs, our broad land experience offerings bring guests closer to the heart of every destination.' The concert was romantic and special. In the chill of the evening, we held hands and headed back to the ship, lost in our thoughts.
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Grim ‘cone-headed' skull that was BASHED IN 6,200 years ago found among mass grave as experts probe brutal death
SCIENTISTS have uncovered a mass grave dating back 6,200 years - and one of the dead met their end in a particularly grim way. A woman's head appears to have been brutally bashed in by a broad-edged object. 2 2 Experts noticed a very prominent triangular fracture on the left side of the head. But they're stumped about whether it was a deliberate act of murder or a tragic accident. The skeleton was part of a major haul unearthed in Iran. Archaeologists also spotted something strange about the woman's head shape too. The skull is cone-shaped which suggests it was deliberately modified when she was a child in a process known as cranial bandaging. This is where fabric is wrapped around the head tightly around the skull of young ones when it's much softer. Others with the same type of skull were buried alongside the woman. Researchers studying the remains say the skull in question would have been weaker at withstanding such a harsh blow to the head. However, the strike was so tough that it still would have killed her even if she had an unmodified skull. "It should be noted that the blow was so severe that it would have fractured a normal, unmodified skull as well," Professor Mahdi Alirezazadeh, from Tarbiat Modares University in Iran, told LiveScience. Grave of decapitated 'vampire' discovered in Knights Templar fortress "So we cannot attribute cranial fractures solely to modified skulls." He continued: "We know this woman experienced the fracture in the final moments of her life, but we don't have any direct evidence to say that someone intentionally struck her." Their research was published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Los Abuelos: Experts discover 3,000-year-old lost Mayan city
Archaeologists say they have unearthed the remains of a 3,000-year-old Mayan city in the south American country of "Los Abuelos," which translates from Spanish as "The Grandparents," researchers say it once stood around 13 miles from the important archaeological site of Uaxactun, in the north of the Mayan civilization began around 2000 BC, in what is present-day southern Mexico and Guatemala, as well as parts of Belize, El Salvador and say Los Abuelos, which contains pyramids and monuments, point to its significance as an important ceremonial site. What did experts find? The new site is dated to what is known as the "Middle Preclassic" period, which took place from about 800 to 500 covers an area of around six square miles, and was discovered by Guatemalan and Slovak archaeologists in previously little-explored areas of the Uaxactun to Guatemala's government, Los Abuelos is believed to have been "one of the most ancient and important ceremonial centres" of the Mayan civilization in the jungle area of Peten near the Mexican a statement, it added that the site's pyramids and monuments are "sculpted with unique iconography from the region."Nearby, experts found a 33-metre high pyramid ( longer than a swimming pool) with murals from the Preclassic period and also "a unique canal system," according to the statement. Los Abuelos takes its name from two human-like sculptures of an "ancestral couple" which were found at the site. Who were the Mayans? The Maya first developed their civilisation in around 2000 lived in a place called Mesoamerica, an area of land made up of Mexico and part of Central are known for amazing creations including the spectacular buildings they built, their art, folklore, legends and also invented ground-breaking ideas which have helped shape the way we live our lives today. For example, it's thought that the Maya invented the idea of 'zero'.In around 1600 AD the Maya were conquered and destroyed by the Spanish the Maya civilisation, Britain went through the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages, including Stonehenge, to Roman Britain, Anglo-Saxon, Medieval and Tudor England.
