Archaeology News Online Magazine

11th-century coin hoard discovered at Sizewell C site in England A unique hoard of 321 silver coins from the 11th century has been unearthed during archaeological work at the Sizewell C nuclear power station site in Suffolk, England. These coins, surrounded by lead and once wrapped in a cloth that has since decayed, are part of a “perfect archaeological time capsule,” said Andrew Pegg of Oxford Cotswold Archaeology (OCA), which is excavating the site. The coins, issued from 1036 to 1044, span the reigns of Harold I, Harthacnut, and Edward the Confessor. Most were minted in London, but others came from regional mints, including at Thetford, Norwich, and Ipswich, and even smaller places like Langport and Axbridge in southwest England... More information: https://lnkd.in/eMCTKu_v #archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #Harold #harthacnut #edwardtheconfessor #Suffolk #SizewellC #AncientNumismatics #numismatics

Study reveals Roman Empire’s expansion following volcanic eruption and plague Why empires fall is a question that fascinates many. But in the search for an answer, imagination can run wild. Suggestions have emerged in recent decades that attribute the rise and fall of ancient empires such as the Roman Empire to climate change and disease. This has prompted discussions over whether “536 was the worst year to be alive”. That year, a volcanic eruption created a dust veil that blocked the sun in certain regions of the world. This, combined with a series of volcanic eruptions in the following decade, is claimed to have caused a decrease in the global temperature. Between 541 and 544, there was also the first and most severe documented occurrence of the Justinianic plague in the eastern Roman Empire (also referred to as the Byzantine Empire), in which millions of people died. There are still many in academia who claim that changes to the climate and the outbreak of plague were catastrophic for the eastern Roman Empire. New research shows that these claims are incorrect... More information: https://lnkd.in/eCYqHc5R #archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #justinianicplague #plague #anthropology #medieval #romanempire #byzantineempire

Roman stone coffin unearthed during roadworks in UK Archaeologists in Britain have uncovered a large hand-carved Roman stone coffin, one of the most unique burial finds of the year. The coffin, weighing 750 kg, lay untouched for over 1,500 years until a team from Headland Archaeology dug it up. Archaeologists found this amazing artifact during roadworks on the A47 in Cambridgeshire, part of the old Roman road that linked key areas of Roman Britain. As National Highways works to turn the single-lane road into a dual carriageway, they stumbled upon a Roman cemetery near the road... More information: https://lnkd.in/erguSgjt #archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #romanbritain #romancoffin #anthropology #romanempire

13th-century spinning whorl with swastika symbols discovered in Norway During excavations at a 13th-century weaving mill in Tønsberg, a town in Vestfold County, Norway, archaeologists from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) uncovered a spinning whorl—an essential tool in the textile production process—carved with swastika symbols. The artifact, made of red sandstone, features four swastikas: three right-facing and one left-facing. It was found among various other tools used for spinning and weaving, including loom weights, thimbles, and even a decorated antler object, possibly part of a woven sword... More information: https://lnkd.in/eV5p_K-U #archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #spinningwhorl #WeavingMill #tønsberg #swastika

First known medieval female burial with weapons unearthed in Hungary Archaeologists have identified the first-known instance of a woman buried with weapons in Hungary’s Carpathian Basin, which dates back to the 10th century CE. The discovery was published in PLOS ONE by a research team led by Dr. Balázs Tihanyi of the University of Szeged. The burial, which is named Grave No. 63 (SH-63), is part of the Sárrétudvari–Hízóföld Cemetery in eastern Hungary, a site containing 262 graves from the Hungarian Conquest period. The epoch is symbolized by the migration of Magyars to Carpathian Basin and the beginning of their power in that part of Europe. The cemetery was explored in the 1980s and ever since it has been demolished by agricultural activity. Nonetheless, extensive research on the remains has given excellent information... More information: https://lnkd.in/e3mJ2Z_5 #archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #anthropology #carpathianbasin #sárrétudvarihízóföld #medievalhistory #medieval

Ancient genomics reveal the origins of Italo-Celtic and Graeco-Armenian languages A new study revealed key insights about Mediterranean language families’ origins, including Italo-Celtic and Graeco-Armenian branches of Indo-European. An international team of geneticists and archaeologists conducted this research. They examined how ancient migrations influenced the emergence of linguistic groups that shaped Mediterranean civilizations. The team published their findings on the preprint server bioRxiv. They analyzed genetic data from 314 ancient individuals who lived in the Mediterranean 5,200 to 2,100 years ago. The researchers used advanced genome sequencing and strontium isotope analysis. This revealed significant genetic and cultural differences between eastern and western Mediterranean populations... More information: https://lnkd.in/e7PvGE6Y #archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #indoeuropean #italoceltic #graecoarmenian #ancientlanguage #linguistics #dnaanalysis

UK’s largest dinosaur footprint site unearthed in Oxfordshire quarry A unique discovery has brought to light the largest dinosaur trackway site known in the UK, found in Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire. More than 200 well-preserved dinosaur footprints, which are around 166 million years old and are from the Middle Jurassic Period, have been uncovered. The footprints were first identified by quarry worker Gary Johnson while clearing clay from the quarry floor. The tracks belong to two distinct species of dinosaurs. Four trackways were created by enormous herbivorous sauropods, likely Cetiosaurus, which could reach lengths of up to 18 meters. Their rounded, elephant-like footprints are a testament to their immense size. The fifth trackway is attributed to a carnivorous theropod, Megalosaurus, a predator that measured up to nine meters in length and left distinct three-toed, tridactyl tracks... More information: https://lnkd.in/ecj-Dn8f #archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #oxfordshire #dinosaur #paleontology #cetiosaurus #megalosaurus #dinosaurfootprints #jurassic

Rujm el-Hiri mystery: Golan stone circle may not be an astronomical observatory Rujm el-Hiri is a mysterious megalithic monument in the Golan Heights known as the “Wheel of Ghosts” or the “Stonehenge of the East.” Long believed to be a kind of astronomical observatory, new research published in the journal Remote Sensing has put that idea in doubt and proposes alternative reasons for its existence. The findings indicate that tectonic displacements, occurring over 150 million years at a rate of 8–15 millimeters per year, have significantly altered the walls and entrances of the structure. These movements, which rotated the site counterclockwise and shifted it by tens of meters, undermine the long-held belief that Rujm el-Hiri’s design was aligned with celestial phenomena such as solstices and equinoxes... More information: https://lnkd.in/enCYB_np #archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #stonehenge #megalithic #astronomy #archaeoastronomy #rujmelhiri

2nd-century Roman figurine from Bracara Augusta reveals possible case of Crouzon syndrome Archaeologists in northern Portugal have uncovered a unique bronze figurine dating back to the 2nd century CE in the ancient Roman city of Bracara Augusta, now modern-day Braga. The artifact, depicting a female figure with unique facial structures, has led experts in archaeology, art history, and medicine to speculate that it may provide evidence of Crouzon syndrome, a rare genetic disorder.... More information: https://lnkd.in/eAPMRRRr #archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #bracaraaugusta #anthropology #romanart #romanempire #CrouzonSyndrome

Advanced Stone Age architecture in the Near East: new study rewrites archaeological history Traditional theories about the origins of building in the Near East have been overturned by a landmark study, which shows that advanced building techniques and diverse architectural forms emerged much earlier than previously thought—dating back to the Natufian period (15,000–8,500 years ago). Earlier interpretations of early architecture in the Near East described a straightforward evolution from circular to rectangular structures during the Neolithic period. These views were based primarily on qualitative methods, which often oversimplify historical trends. In contrast, the new study, published in Archaeological Research in Asia, utilized a digital approach to examine the two-dimensional morphology of nearly 120 structures from 23 archaeological sites across the Mediterranean region and Jordan Valley... More information: https://lnkd.in/e_VSCVBe #archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #jordanvalley #Natufian #neolithic