Friday, December 16, 2016

Hundreds of Historic Texts Hidden in ISIL-Occupied Monastery

Over 400 texts, dating as far back as 800 years, were saved from the Mar Behnam monastery in Iraq after more than two years of ISIL occupation. Just weeks before ISIL occupied the monastery a priest put the 400 texts in metal containers and built a wall to conceal them.

http://www.livescience.com/57240-historic-texts-hidden-isis-occupied-monastery.html

http://www.livescience.com/57239-photos-historic-texts-hidden-christian-monastery.html

Monday, December 12, 2016

ISIL Members May face war crimes charges

ISIL members may face war crime charges for the destruction of heritage sites. Photographs show that a number of fighters were captured at Mar Behnam (an ancient monastery that was heavily damaged and vandalized), near the site of Nimrud (which was largely destroyed) and even a few in Mosul (where numerous sites were destroyed). The propaganda videos created by ISIL may help convict those who destroyed the sites.

http://www.livescience.com/57173-isis-war-crime-charges-for-heritage-destruction.html

Friday, December 9, 2016

Surviving Inscriptions from Nimrud Revealed

Several surviving inscriptions from Nimrud have been revealed. One inscriptions which ISIL tried (but failed) to destroy tells about how Ashurnasipral II founded a monkey colony at Nimrud "I brought them [the monkeys] to my land Aššur. I bred herds of them in great numbers in Calah [and] displayed [them] to all the people of my land."


Wednesday, November 30, 2016

US to Restrict Imports of Egyptian artifacts

Secretary of State John Kerry will sign an agreement with Egypt's foreign minister that will impose restrictions on the import of Egyptian artifacts into the US. Since 2011 over $143 million worth of Egyptian artifacts have been imported into the US from Egypt. Both governments hope that the restrictions will help curtail the looting that has plagued Egypt since the 2011 revolution.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Thousands of Inscriptions & Petroglyphs Discovered in Jordan's Black Desert

Thousands of inscriptions & petroglyphs dating back around 2,000 years have been discovered in the Jebel Qurma area of Jordan's Black Desert. They tell of a time when the area was more hospitable.

http://www.livescience.com/56944-ancient-inscriptions-found-in-black-desert.html

Monday, November 14, 2016

Ancient 300 Acre Stone Complex Discovered by Caspian Sea

A stone complex, covering 120 hectares and dating back around 1,500 years has been discovered near the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan. Stone Carvings and the remains of a silver saddle are among some of the discoveries.

http://www.livescience.com/56855-ancient-stone-monuments-discovered-along-caspian.html

Monday, October 31, 2016

3,800 year-old Tableau showing 120+ Egyptian boats Discovered

Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered a tableau containing over 120 Egyptian boats in a building built near the tomb of Senwosret III. It dates back more than 3,800 years. 

http://www.livescience.com/56695-ancient-egypt-boat-tableau-discovered.html 

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Newly Revealed 2,700 year-old Papyrus may be Modern Day Forgery

A 2,700 year-old Hebrew papyrus revealed today in Jerusalem may be a modern day forgery.

http://www.livescience.com/56653-hebrew-papyrus-seized-from-looters.html

Monday, October 17, 2016

Hidden Voids in Great Pyramid? Scientists cast Doubts

Scientists are raising doubts about the claim of two newly discovered voids in the Great Pyramid.

http://www.livescience.com/56512-great-pyramid-chambers-may-not-exist.html 

Friday, September 23, 2016

Circular geoglyphs mapped in Peru

Dozens of circular geoglyphs have been mapped near the ancient town of Quilcapampa in Peru. One of the largest geoglyphs has at least six intertwined rings forming an irregular pattern that looks like a swirl.

http://www.livescience.com/56232-ancient-circular-geoglyphs-discovered-in-peru.html

Monday, September 19, 2016

$283 million Flow of Artifacts from Turkey to US Revealed

A Live Science investigation revealed that $283 million worth of artifacts have been successfully exported to the US from the Turkey since 2003. This included thousands of golds coins weighing 169 lbs (77 kg). The flow of artifacts increased after the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the 2011 Syrian Civil War. 

http://www.livescience.com/56141-looting-artifacts-from-syria-to-us.html

Friday, August 19, 2016

Statistically Proven- 5,000 Year-old Stone Circles have Astronomical Alignments

A new study provides statistical proof that two 5,000 year-old stone circles in Scotland have alignments with the solstice sun and major lunar standstill (an event that occurs every 18.6 years). 

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

3,000 Year-Old Mausoleum Discovered in Kazakhstan

Archaeologists in Kazakhstan have discovered a mausoleum that dates back over 3,000 years. While it's not the world's first pyramid, as some media outlets claim, it is an interesting archaeological discovery.

http://www.livescience.com/55796-ancient-mausoleum-not-worlds-first-pyramid.html

Fantastic Jewelry Discovered in 1,500 Year-Old Tomb in China

A pair of fantastic earrings and a necklace made of about 5,000 beads have been discovered in the tomb of a woman named "Han Farong" in China. 

http://www.livescience.com/55790-ancient-bling-found-in-chinese-tomb.html

Monday, August 8, 2016

Blood & Gold: Children Dying As Egypt's Treasures Are Looted

-Children in Egypt getting killed working in shafts while being employed to loot artifacts

-Over $143 million of artifacts have been exported from Egypt to US since 2011 revolution census bureau docs reveal. This includes a massive surge in gold coins.

http://www.livescience.com/55687-children-dying-in-egypt-looting.html

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Has the only known Philistine cemetery been Discovered?

Archaeologists are weighing in on the recent announcement that the first (and only known) Philistine cemetery has been discovered. 

http://www.livescience.com/55402-first-philistine-cemetery-draws-criticism.html

Monday, July 11, 2016

"Primitive Machine" that Protected King's Chamber from Tomb Robbers Reconstructed

A system of grooves and blocks within the Great Pyramid that protected the King's Chamber from tomb robbers has been reconstructed using computer animation. Egyptologist Mark Lehner says that the system was sophisticated for its time calling it "a very primitive machine."

Thursday, June 30, 2016

1,000 Year-Old Stupa Model containing Buddhist Relics Discovered in China

A 1,000 year-old model of a stupa, which contains Buddhist relics inside, has been discovered in China.

http://www.livescience.com/55243-buddha-skull-bone-found-in-crypt.html

Monday, June 20, 2016

Great Pyramid of Giza is (very slightly) off base

Results of a project trying to determine the dimensions of the Great Pyramid when it was first built have been published. 

http://www.livescience.com/55118-great-pyramid-giza-is-slightly-lopsided.html

Friday, June 17, 2016

GJW is a Forgery King Concedes

My story on the GJW forgery. I've included a number of links to archived web pages. They include an Arabic text with strange red spots and a page written by the owner's wife which tells of the restoration of a 2nd century Coptic gospel that left part of it in fragments.

http://www.livescience.com/55110-gospel-of-jesus-wife-a-fake.html

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Mounds Arrange in Grid Patterns Discovered in Cambodian Cities

Fields of earthen mounds arranged in grid patterns were discovered in 1,000 year-old Cambodian cities during recent LIDAR scans. The results were published yesterday in the Journal of Archaeological Science. 

http://www.livescience.com/55068-mysterious-earthen-mounds-discovered-cambodia.html

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Solstice Alignments Discovered in 19th-century White House Garden

A physics professor has discovered a series of solstice alignments involving five statues in a 19th century White House garden. 

http://www.livescience.com/54951-white-house-garden-aligns-with-solstice-sun.html

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Archaeologists Doubt that Aristotle's Tomb has Been Discovered

The claim that Aristotle's tomb has been discovered is probably not true many archaeologists say.

http://www.livescience.com/54923-archaeologists-doubt-aristotle-tomb-discovery.html

Friday, May 20, 2016

1,700 Year-Old Love & Subjugation Spells from Egypt Deciphered

Magical spells of love and subjugation written on papyri in Egypt around 1,700 years ago have been translated. The names of those targeted are left blank to be inserted. One text invokes the gods to "burn the heart" of a woman until she loves the caster. Another, targeted at males, tells how to "subject" a man.

http://www.livescience.com/54819-ancient-egyptian-magic-spells-deciphered.html

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Jainted Human Jawbones Discovered at 1,300 year-old Site in Mexico

Painted human mandibles (jawbones) have been discovered at a site dating back around 1,300 years in Mexico. They may have been worn around the neck in rituals involving ancestor veneration.

http://www.livescience.com/54783-painted-human-jawbones-used-as-ancient-jewelry.html

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

No Hidden Chambers in Tutankhamun's Tomb

Scans carried out by a National Geographic team show no hidden chambers in Tutankhamun's tomb. The ministry plans more tests, the scientists who conducted the scans are not allowed to talk to the media or release their report.

http://www.livescience.com/54708-nefertiti-missing-no-chambers-in-king-tut-tomb.html

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

US restricts Import of Syrian Antiquities

US President Barack Obama signed a bill into law that restricts the import of antiquities from Syria. Many of Syria's archaeological sites have been heavily looted, the sale of looted artifacts helping fund the fighting.

http://www.livescience.com/54698-obama-signs-syrian-antiquities-import-restrictions.html

Friday, April 29, 2016

1,700 Year-Old Sculptures Discovered in Bazira

Sculptures dating back around 1,700 years have been discovered in a shrine and its courtyard in the ancient city of Bazira in Pakistan.

http://www.livescience.com/54599-buddha-sculptures-discovered-in-ancient-shrine.html

Monday, April 18, 2016

Searching for the Vikings: 3 Sites Possibly Found in Canada

Archaeologists are investigating three sites in Canada that may have been used by the Vikings. Two are located in Newfoundland - at Sop's Arm & Point Rosee - while a third is on Baffin Island.

http://www.livescience.com/54439-three-possible-viking-outposts-discovered.html

The map below shows Sops' Arm, Point Rosee and the Nanook site on Baffin Island. It also shows L'Anse aux Meadows, the only confirmed Viking site in the New World. Credit: map by Schuyler Erle, modified by Owen Jarus, CC Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported


Thursday, April 7, 2016

Where's the Money Going? $26 million in Syrian 'antiques' imported to US since 2011

Documents reveal that 'Antiques' from Syria, with a declared value of over $26 million, have been imported to the United States since 2011.

http://www.livescience.com/54343-are-antiques-imported-from-syria-funding-terrorists.html


Monday, April 4, 2016

Five Cruse Tablets Discovered in Athens Grave

Five lead curse have been discovered in a young woman's grave in Athens. They date back around 2,400 years.

http://www.livescience.com/54285-curse-tablets-uncovered-in-greece.html

Friday, April 1, 2016

Egyptian Officials Cautious about Hidden Chambers in Tutankhamun's Tomb

Egyptian officials are dialing down the hype about the possibility of hidden chambers in Tutankhamun's tomb. 

http://www.livescience.com/54263-hidden-king-tut-chambers-may-not-exist.html

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Radar Experts Doubt Claims of 'Hidden Chambers' in Tutankhamun's tomb

Radar experts not affiliated with the project have reviewed the data released so far and are doubtful that the hidden chambers exist.

http://www.livescience.com/54218-experts-doubt-hidden-chambers-king-tut-tomb.html

Friday, March 25, 2016

1,900 Year-Old Apartment Discovered at Hadrian's Villa

A 1,900 year-old apartment, filled with art, has been discovered at Hadrian's Villa. It is part of a larger unexcavated complex.

http://www.livescience.com/54173-emperor-hadrian-villa-yields-posh-apartment.html

Friday, March 18, 2016

Goths vs Greeks- Third Century Battles Revealed

Fragments from a third century text have been discovered recently in the Austrian National Library. They tell of an invasion of Greece by the Goths during the third century A.D.

http://www.livescience.com/54092-goth-greek-battle-revealed-in-ancient-text.html

Friday, March 4, 2016

Ancient Necropolis Discovered Near Bethlehem

An ancient necropolis that originally contained over 100 tomb has been discovered near Bethlehem.

http://www.livescience.com/53939-ancient-burial-ground-found-near-bethlehem.html

Monday, February 29, 2016

New Radar Scans of Tutankhamun's Tomb to be Performed on April 2nd

New radar scans of Tutankhamun's tomb will be performed on April 2 Egypt's antiquities ministry says. The scans will try to determine of a hidden burial chamber exists.

http://www.livescience.com/53881-scans-of-king-tut-tomb-hidden-chambers.html

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

"Love" & "Rome" - Brooch with Palindrome Discovered on Isle of Wight

Read left to right the monogram means "Roma" the name of Rome and its deity. Read right to left it means "Amor" the Latin name for Cupid the god of love. It has additional meaning if you attach a second brooch with another monogram beside it.

http://www.livescience.com/53663-ancient-roman-brooch-contains-lovely-palindrome.html

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Samurai Train Police in 19th century Martial Arts Book

Samurai train police in a newly translated 19th century martial arts book. In the intro to the book a samurai named Ohara Shigeya wrote that.

"Life is precious. One should walk the road of charity and benevolence. The crime should be hated, not the person. Everything should be based on the law."

http://www.livescience.com/53582-samurai-martial-arts-manual-for-cops-revealed.html


Tuesday, January 19, 2016

5,000 Year-Old Drawings & Hieroglyphs Discovered in Sinai Desert

About 60 drawings and hieroglyphic inscriptions have been discovered at the site of Wadi Ameyra in the Sinai Desert. 

http://www.livescience.com/53406-early-egyptian-queen-revealed-in-hieroglyphs.html

Monday, January 11, 2016

2,200 Year-Old Prosthetic Leg Discovered in China

A prosthetic leg dating back 2,200 years has been discovered in a tomb in China. It was used by a man who had a left knee that was fused at an 80 degree angle.

http://www.livescience.com/53321-ancient-prosthetic-leg-with-hoofed-foot-discovered.html

Monday, January 4, 2016

Archaeologists Return to Northern Iraq

As ISIL is pushed back from Northern Iraq archaeologists have resumed work in the region. At Shanidar Cave several discoveries have been made include new Neanderthal skeletal remains.

http://www.livescience.com/53248-archaeologists-return-to-iraq.html