601 CE and Earlier

Spartans on a plane

Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2007-06-20 09:56
OK, it's out of our time period and politically-incorrect in so many ways, but oh, is it funny! 300 Spartans on a Plane!

Scientists Study Why No Unicorns Exist

Submitted by Vallawulf on Sat, 2007-06-02 08:00
Scientists at the John Innes Centre and the University of Calgary asked "Why are there no unicorns?" To answer the question, they are studying the evolutionary biology of flower branching displays.

Using Science to Authenticate Lost Gospel of Judas

Submitted by Vallawulf on Thu, 2007-05-31 15:38
The National Geographic Society, the Maecenas Foundation for Ancient Art and the Waitt Institute for Historical Discovery have been working together "to authenticate, conserve, and translate a 66-page...codex."

Skeleton found in Trafalgar Square

Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2007-05-30 22:15
Skeletal remains discovered recently in London's Trafalgar Square have not triggered the British equivalent of CSI. The remains are of a wealthy Roman man who was buried in the 5th century beneath what is now the busy city center.

Life of luxury in Roman forts

Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2007-05-28 03:48
Recent excavations of a Roman fort on Tyneside have revealed that some centurions led a life of relative luxury with indoor plumbing, painted walls and comfortable furniture.

Tomb of King Herod found

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-05-27 14:07
For several decades, Israeli archaeologist Ehud Netzer has been looking for the tomb of King Herod. Now he believes he has found it at Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert.

Star Wars mythology finds roots in ancient Greek and Roman tales

Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2007-05-25 07:20
Carl Rubino, a classic professor at Hamilton College, feels that classical themes are the basis for the popular Star Wars movies, a concept he explains in an upcoming History Channel documentary Star Wars: Legacy.

Earliest dental prosthesis found in Roman grave

Submitted by Milica on Thu, 2007-05-24 17:40
Archaeologists have discovered in the grave of an unidentified Roman woman a gold wire used to hold together a set of artificial teeth. The dental prosthesis is believed to be the earliest such device ever discovered.

The story of a flea

Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2007-05-21 07:44
In a review for The Guardian, Ian Pindar discusses a new book about bubonic plague: Justinian's Flea by William Rosen, an "impressive study of the bubonic plague and its impact on history."

2,700-Year-Old Fabric Found in Greece

Submitted by dov on Sun, 2007-05-20 10:33
Archaeologists in Greece have discovered a rare 2,700-year-old piece of fabric inside a copper urn from a burial they speculated imitated the elaborate cremation of soldiers described in Homer's "Iliad."

Celtic temple discovered near Tara

Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2007-05-18 16:03
In an interview with Conor Newman, an archaeology professor at the National University of Ireland, Galway, Melissa Block of NPR's All Things Considered learns about the recent discovery of a celtic temple near Ireland's Tara.

Work of Aristotle, Archimedes Discovered Behind 10th-12th Century Manuscript

Submitted by Vallawulf on Thu, 2007-05-17 20:07
Writings by the Greek philosopher Aristotle have been discovered on the Euchologion (or Archimedes Palimpsest) beneath the 10th-12th century prayers written upon the parchment.

4th century Roman remains discovered in Croatia

Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2007-05-11 20:17
Roman remains and artifacts were discovered recently in Vinkovci during excavations to construct a new sports hall including a fibula, a Roman ornamental clip, dating to the 4th century C.E.

Gladiators' graveyard discovered

Submitted by Karen on Wed, 2007-05-09 10:50
Scientists believe they have, for the first time, identified an ancient graveyard for gladiators. Analysis of the remains, found in Ephesus (in present-day Turkey), gives new insight into how they lived, fought, and died.

6th century embossing die found in Sweden

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-04-22 08:18
An amateur archaeologist working at a burial mound near Sättuna on the outskirts of Linköping, Sweden, has discovered a 6th century patrix, a die used to emboss gold, portraying "a woman who resembles a troll."

Lincoln aqueduct was functional Roman water source

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2007-04-21 08:23
Archaeologists working on the Lincoln aqueduct in England now believe that underground water source was actually used by the Romans. For centuries it was believed that the aqueduct was built but never used by the Romans.

Roman fort destroyed by modern construction team

Submitted by Milica on Thu, 2007-04-19 07:37
The Daily Express reports that the Roman fort at Caister, near Yarmouth, England, along with hundreds of artifacts, was destroyed when permission was given for builders to excavate on an archaeological site.

Roman house found in Cotswold gravel pit

Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2007-04-11 19:03
A 4th century Roman home has been discovered during excavation of a gravel pit near Stow-onthe-Wold, England. The house is believed to have been the "big farm house" of a Roman settlement.

Proper Latin pronunciation

Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2007-04-09 08:27
In an article for Great Britain's The Oldie, Peter Jones "gets to the Bottom of How Julius Caesar really spoke", to the ire of some traditionalists.

Study claims "dead languages" detrimental to modern language learning

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2007-04-07 11:24
A recent "secret report" by the Dearing Languages Review in Great Britain warns that the study of ancient languages may be detrimental to the study of modern languages because they "contribute nothing to 'intercultural understanding'."

Easter Island archaeologists conclude statues are petrified peeps

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-04-01 11:05
Archaeologists working at Easter Island have determined that the large statues are not volcanic rock, as once believed, but are, in fact, petrified peeps. Says project head Rock Newton, "Yes, we have verified that the statues are actually petrified Easter candy."

Ready, set go: starting gates from Colchester's Roman Circus found

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-03-25 09:23
Twelve starting gates from the Roman Circus at Colchester, England have been discovered by archaeologists who have been working on the site since 2004. The gates operated like "greyhound traps, unleashing the charioteers on to the quarter-mile long opening stretch of the track."

Scholar believes St. Patrick in Ireland earlier than 5th century

Submitted by Milica on Thu, 2007-03-22 11:33
Celtic scholar and linguist Daniel Melia believes that St. patrick may have preached his message to the Irish 50 years earlier than previously believed. The earlier time period would place the saint within provincial Roman society rather than during tribal invasions.

Merovingian treasures displayed in Russia

Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2007-03-20 18:06
The Pushkin Museum of Fine art in Russia will display a collection of Merovingian artifacts. The museum is located in Moscow.

Roman village discovered in Wiltshire

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-03-18 14:20
Silbury Hill in Wiltshire, England may contain more than a Neolithic mound. It may also be the site of a first century Roman village. "English Heritage geophysicist Dr Neil Linford said: 'We are really excited by this discovery because we had no idea that a Roman village of such a size lay this close to Silbury Hill.'"

6th century book restored in Ethiopia

Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2007-03-14 16:02
In an article for the Spring 2007 issue of Skin Deep, a publication for bookbinders, Mark Winstanley discusses Tsbook [Tigrinya for Good] - The Gospel of Abba, a 6th century Ethiopian Gospel and its repair project.

View of ancient Britons changed by discovery of Roman coin

Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2007-03-12 18:46
The discovery of a 2nd century BCE coin in Cornwall may change how pre-Roman Britons are viewed. The pre-Roman Republic silver coin proves that active trading took place with the inhabitants of Britain before Rome conquered the island.

Lost Stonehenge altar stone found

Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2007-03-09 18:51
Archaeologist Dennis Price believes he has located the lost altar stone from Stonehenge. First identified in the 17th century, the stone by architect Inigo Jones, the altar may now lie, in two sections, along a Wiltshire village road.

Roman burial ground a surprise for Lincolnshire archaeologists

Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2007-02-27 09:00
Water company workers in Lincolnshire, England were surprised recently to uncover a very large Roman cemetery dating to the 1st century CE. So far the graves have yielded artifacts as well as 30 skeletons.

Stonehenge village archaeologist interviewed

Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2007-02-26 12:12
Australia's ABC Radio National recently broadcast an interview with Mike Parker Pearson, one of the archaeologists who discovered the ancient settlement near Stonehenge. Stephanie Kennedy conducts the interview. (Transcript and podcast available)