UK gold coin from days before the Romans

A Celtic quarter stater was found in Ulverston last year. It is from the period of around 115 to 100BC and could have been lost or buried at a time of approaching military and political turmoil. Julius Ceaser was the first to bring a Roman army to Britain in 55 and 54BC but he got no further than Kent and the Thames Valley. It was followed by a permanent conquest begun by Cladius from 43AD which led to the building of forts, ports, towns and farms which were to last for hundreds of years. The Guildhall Museum at Rochester in Kent has a hoard of 11 gold staters which was found packed inside a hollow fossil flint sponge which had been buried in Kent.

The museum display noted: "Staters can be described as coins but are not currency - they do not have a uniform, recognized monetary value. They were a way of storing treasure and of rewarding people."

Roman emperors assassinated often

Ancient Rome was a dangerous place to be an emperor. During its run from 27 B.C. to its end in A.D. 476, about 20 percent of Rome's 82 emperors were assassinated while in power. So, what led to their downfall? Some are blaming the lack of rain. In drought there's more probability of assassinations as soldiers go hungry. Using ancient climate data, researchers analyzed thousands of fossilized tree rings from France and Germany and calculated how much it had rained there for the past 2,500 years. This area once comprised the Roman frontier, where military troops were stationed.

Many factors can lead to an assassination. Correlation does not equal causation.

Mystery children buried with elite Germanic warriors

In 1962, the bodies of 13 people—10 adults and three infants—were discovered in a 7th century burial site in Niederstotzingen, Germany. The individuals were high status, and some of the adults were warriors because their graves were stuffed with weapons, armor, jewelry and equestrian gear. But details remained a mystery. A team of researchers analyzed DNA from the bones and studied isotopes from their teeth. The Niederstotzingen bodies belonged to the Alemanni, a confederacy of ancient Germanic tribes that were sprinkled across modern-day Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria. The Alemanni clashed periodically with the Roman Empire, but were ultimately brought down by the Franks, another Germanic group, in 497 A.D.

Six of the individuals appeared to be from northern and eastern European populations, and five of these were directly related to one another. Seven bodies were unrelated. Two seemed to come from southern Europe. Folklore from the time has tales of tribes exchanging hostage children that are raised as their own. In addition to containing people of diverse origins, the Niederstotzingen burial site was filled with diverse grave goods: some were Frankish, some were Byzantine, and some were Lombard.

The Oracle of Delphi - Pythia

Dating to 1400 BC, the Oracle of Delphi was the most important shrine in Greece. Built around a sacred spring, Delphi was considered to be the omphalos - the center of the world.

Delphi was inhabited since Mycenaean times (14th - 11th c. B.C.) by small settlements who were dedicated to the Mother Earth deity. The worship of Apollo as the god of light, harmony, and order was established between the 11th and 9th centuries. Slowly over the next five centuries the sanctuary grew in size and importance. During the 8th c. B.C. Delphi became internationally known for the oracular powers of Pythia.

The ancient people of the Mediterranean had such faith in Pythia's view of the future that no major decision was made without consulting the Oracle of Delphi first. Greek and foreign dignitaries, heads of state, and common folk made the pilgrimage to the Delphi sanctuary, and paid great sums for Pythia's oracles. Since the sanctuary only served the public a few days over nine months out of the year, great sums were paid by the more affluent to bypass the line of pilgrims.

Pythia entered the inner chamber of the temple, sat on a tripod and inhaled the light hydrocarbon gasses that escaped from a chasm on the porous earth. After falling into a trance, she muttered words incomprehensible to mere mortals. The priests of the sanctuary then interpreted her oracles in a common language and delivered them to those who had requested them. The oracles were always open to interpretation and often signified dual and opposing meanings. In 356 B.C. the Spartans captured the sanctuary of Delphi, and stripped the temples. In 338 B.C. Philip of Macedon defeated the combined armies of the Athenians and the Spartans. In 191 B.C. the sanctuary of Delphi fell into Roman hands. The Oracle of Delphi lost its influence over the next few centuries as Apollo's worship was replaced by a new religion imported from the East: Christianity.

Ptolemy, son of Lagos

Bust of Ptolemy in the British Museum.

Of all the successors of Alexander the Great, the family of Ptolemy, son of Lagos, was the most successful, ruling Egypt for nearly three centuries (305 – 30 BCE). The story of that success begins with a hijacking. When Alexander died in Babylon on 10 June 323 BCE, his corpse, embalmed by a team of Egyptian morticians, was placed in an elaborate cart for travel back to Macedon in northern Greece for burial. Ptolemy was one of Alexander’s boyhood companions and trusted bodyguards. He seized the body and diverted it to Memphis, capital of Egypt, where he had been appointed satrap (governor). Alexander’s body became a trophy and symbol of legitimacy for Ptolemy’s dynasty.

The prolific dynasty share just three names – at least seven Cleopatras, four Berenikes and four Arsinoës.

The earliest coins of Ptolemy I followed the pattern of Alexander’s coinage, using the immense hoard of bullion captured from the defeated Persian empire. At an uncertain date (c. 316 – 312), Ptolemy issued a new type of silver tetradrachm bearing a portrait of the deified Alexander wearing an elephant head-dress (symbolizing his conquest of India). On the reverse, the goddess Athena, wearing an elaborately pleated chiton, advances holding spear and shield. Ptolemy had three official wives and numerous liaisons, fathering at least 11 children. In 289 BCE he appointed his son, Ptolemy II as co-ruler. He died in 283 or 282, aged 84, the only one of Alexander’s successors to die peacefully in his own bed.

New research on Ancient Burials in Panama

In 1954, archaeologist Samuel Lothrop described an ancient burial site he'd excavated in Panama. Hacking, mutilation, sacrifice, people buried alive, cannibalism, flesh stripped from bones, decapitation for the purpose of trophy-taking - it was all there. The only trouble is the evidence for it doesn't exist. The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have conducted a review of the remains and concluded that the bones show no evidence of trauma at or near the time of death.

The cemetery at Playa Venado, or Venado Beach dates to between 550 and 850 CE. Lothrop recovered 202 skeletons and grave goods, with 167 skeletons recovered by others at later times. Lothrop's evidence for perimortem violence - occurring around the time of death - was focused on the manner in which the bones were found. Open mouths, he said, were evidence of having been buried alive. Such thinking is ridiculous.

Almost no evidence of perimortem violence was found.

Excavation uncovers rich Ancient Minoan graves on Crete

Two burials with rich grave goods were found in a pit from the Middle Minoan IA era in Siteia, NE Crete. The cemetery of Petras is dated to 2800-1700 BC. A primary burial of a man included the first weapon found in Petras, a bronze short sword. The first burial also included a “secondary burial of a woman with a large number of gold beads of very fine workmanship.” They were made of silver, crystal, carnelian, and jasper.

The Petras cemetery has proven to be by far the largest on Crete. It belonged to elite family members related to the palace in the area. In antiquity, Petras had a large port and served as the entry gate to eastern Crete.

Bronze hand found in 3,500 yo burial

The bronze hand features a gold cuff, and was found in the 3,500-year-old burial of a man along with a bronze pin used to secure a cloak, fragments from the gold cuff, a bronze spiral hair ornament and a dagger. The find was originally uncovered in 2017 near Lake Biel in the western canton of Bern. Researchers didn't know what to make of it. Radiocarbon dating determined the object was very old – dating back to the middle Bronze Age, or between 1,400 and 1,500 B.C. Metal objects in Bronze Age burials are rare, and gold is almost never found. The sculpture could have adorned a statue or been mounted on a stick and wielded like a scepter.

Ancient Maxims of Delphi

There are some 147 apophthegmata — words of wisdom — inscribed upon a stone monument at Delphi. Some are non-starters these days. "Rule your wife" and "Admire oracles" are ones we can do without. "Keep deeply the top secret" and "Beget from noble routes" aren't helpful. "Exercise nobility of character," "Pray for things possible," "Look down on no one" seems like good advice. There's a wise quartet ... "As a child be well-behaved," and "As a youth be self-disciplined," "As of middle age be just," and "As an old man be sensible." The ancient sages still provide guidance in the human effort to live wisely.

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are described in the last book of the New Testament of the Bible, called the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ to John of Patmos, at 6:1-8. The chapter tells of a book or scroll in God's right hand that is sealed with seven seals. The Lamb of God opens the first four of the seven seals, which summons four beings that ride out on white, red, black, and pale horses. The four riders are often seen as symbolizing Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. The Christian apocalyptic vision is that the four horsemen set a divine apocalypse upon the world as harbingers of the Last Judgment.

Albrecht Dürer, Knight, Death and the Devil, 1513

The first horseman is called Pestilence, and is associated with infectious disease and plague. "They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine, plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth." (Revelation 6:7-8). It is a matter of debate as to whether this passage refers to the fourth rider, or to the four riders as a whole. "When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him."  (Revelation 6:3-4)

The rider of the second horse is taken to represent War. His horse is red. The color red, and the rider's possession of a great sword, suggests blood.

The third horseman rides a black horse and is understood to be Famine as the horseman carries a pair of balances or weighing scales, indicating the way that bread would have been weighed during a famine. "When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand." (Revelation 6:5-6)

The fourth and final horseman is named Death. Of all the riders, he is the only one to whom the text explicitly gives a name. Unlike the other three, he is not described carrying a weapon or other object, instead he is followed by Hades. Illustrations commonly depict him carrying a scythe. When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8)

German exhibit - ancient battles, religion, migration

The exhibition showcases more than 1,000 major archaeological finds from the past 20 years and reveals how Germany has been at the heart of European trade, migration, and conflict since the Stone Age. The exhibit is at the Martin-Gropius-Bau museum in Berlin.

Skull unearthed in the Tollense Valley

A river God mask from Roman-era in Cologne

The Nebra sky disk is dated to around 1600 B.C. It is a plate-size object of gold and bronze, depicting the sun, moon phases and the Pleiades star cluster. It is considered one of the first astronomical depictions in history.

Three spectacular hats made from sheet gold believed to have been worn by early Celtic priests.

Perfectly preserved gravestone of a trader named Sextus Haparonius Iustinus, who sold cosmetics and perfumes.

A stone memorial of a deceased Roman cavalryman.

See ----->Secrets of Europe's most ancient battlefield - Tollense Valley

Mystery Mummy found in Aswan

Archaeologists have discovered new mummies in Aswan, southern Egypt. One well-preserved example has intrigued archaeologists. Carefully wrapped in linen bandages for its burial, it was placed inside of an unmarked sandstone sarcophagus. Because there was no writing on the sarcophagus, the individual is a mystery.

Researchers have tentatively concluded that the Aswan mummies most likely belonged to the Late Period of Egypt which dates from 712 to 332 BC. It's hoped artifacts found inside of the tombs as well as the hieroglyphic texts from nearby communal burials may shed light on the mystery. All the tombs contained the remains of amulets made of faience (glazed pottery).