Just when you think we’ve discovered all that there is to know, we stumble across an archeological discovery that changes how we perceive our history. And given that we’ve been walking the earth for a few millennia, but only have been recording history for the past few, there’s a lot of shit we don’t know.
Grab your fedora kids, we’re gonna do some learnin’
The Bubonic Plague is older than we think
Originally, epidemiologists and historians believed that most of the plagues that decimated Europe came about in the Middle Ages, or perhaps as early as the 6th century. These skeletons, recovered in Russia, prove that the strain of Bubonic plague that killed millions, actually existed as far back as 1800 B.C.
Originally, epidemiologists and historians believed that most of the plagues that decimated Europe came about in the Middle Ages, or perhaps as early as the 6th century. These skeletons, recovered in Russia, prove that the strain of Bubonic plague that killed millions, actually existed as far back as 1800 B.C.
Which means the amount of plagues that have hit us since humanity began is really unknown, as no one was recording history that far back. Perhaps there were more near-extinction-level events that we don’t even know about.
The oldest known cave drawing was discovered in South Africa
On a stone flake in South Africa’s Blombos cave, they found a series of ochre lines inscribed on a stone flake. The fragment itself is less than 2 inches long and half an inch wide, so historians believe that this was a deliberate attempt at writing. Microscopic and chemical dating puts the original art at being done 73,000 years ago.
On a stone flake in South Africa’s Blombos cave, they found a series of ochre lines inscribed on a stone flake. The fragment itself is less than 2 inches long and half an inch wide, so historians believe that this was a deliberate attempt at writing. Microscopic and chemical dating puts the original art at being done 73,000 years ago.
This predates what we thought was the oldest drawings in Europe, by 30,000 years.
The worlds oldest intact shipwreck was found in the Black Sea
A Greek merchant ship, dating back more than 2,400 years was found off the Bulgarian coast. This type of ship has only been seen on the sides of Greek pottery and has never been found intact, but the type of water that the ship rests has very little oxygen, which helped preserve it.
A Greek merchant ship, dating back more than 2,400 years was found off the Bulgarian coast. This type of ship has only been seen on the sides of Greek pottery and has never been found intact, but the type of water that the ship rests has very little oxygen, which helped preserve it.
This is legitimately a cool find and shows us the cool design elements of Classic world ships.
A strange blade and glove was found in Prêles, Switzerland
Swiss archaeologists were puzzled when they unearthed this bronze hand with a gold foil bracelet.There’s also a dagger from the same time period (mid-2nd millennium BC), but no other artifacts were found nearby.
Swiss archaeologists were puzzled when they unearthed this bronze hand with a gold foil bracelet.There’s also a dagger from the same time period (mid-2nd millennium BC), but no other artifacts were found nearby.
At the site, however, they did unearth a man’s skeleton, along with a missing hand. I’m just gonna come out and say it; I’m gonna say Bronze Age assassin from the AC gaming series. It’s all real.
Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.
A mummy workshop with gilded masks in Saqqara, Egypt
In a vast necropolis in the desert, researchers found a type of ancient funeral parlour. There’s evidence that they provided mummification services as well as display and burial chambers for the dead. They also found large vats where bodies and linens used to be stored, and an embalming chamber with hundreds of ceramic bowl and cups, that were still labelled. They even found evidence of various oils and substances, as well as instructions on how they should be used.
In a vast necropolis in the desert, researchers found a type of ancient funeral parlour. There’s evidence that they provided mummification services as well as display and burial chambers for the dead. They also found large vats where bodies and linens used to be stored, and an embalming chamber with hundreds of ceramic bowl and cups, that were still labelled. They even found evidence of various oils and substances, as well as instructions on how they should be used.
They also found a priest’s mask, made of gilded silver, with inlaid stones and gems. Whoever owned this mask, was tantamount to being a god of the living and the dead, according to Egyptian lore.
A black sarcophagus with ‘mummy juice’ was found in Alexandria, Egypt
When a group of archeologists were inspecting a site of land prior to construction, they found this black granite coffin. At 9 feet long x 5 feet wide x 6 feet tall, it’s the largest ever found in Alexandria. Even spookier, it was sealed and covered in mortar, before being buried.
When a group of archeologists were inspecting a site of land prior to construction, they found this black granite coffin. At 9 feet long x 5 feet wide x 6 feet tall, it’s the largest ever found in Alexandria. Even spookier, it was sealed and covered in mortar, before being buried.
They decided to open it on-site, and when it was cracked open, they found a mix of sewage and the remains of skeletons and gold jewelry. Of the bodies inside, one was a woman between 20-25, and two men in their 30s-40s. Even spookier, one of the two men had a hole drilled into his skull.
Oh, and there was a bidding war on who got to drink the mummy juice.
Even though the Pompeii site has been under exploration for the past 250 years, a full third of the city was still buried. This past year, that changed. In the recently discovered sections, they’ve found frescoes and mosaics as well as great glimpses into what the life of the Pompeii resident was like.
Archeologists discovered bread that predates agriculture by 4,000 years
At a site in Northeastern Jordan, researchers have found the charred remains of a flatbread that was baked by hunter-gatherers over 14,400 years ago.
At a site in Northeastern Jordan, researchers have found the charred remains of a flatbread that was baked by hunter-gatherers over 14,400 years ago.
This means we’ve been cultivating wheat and cereals for far longer than anyone knew and making snacks with them.
The first traces of a ‘microbrew’ were discovered in Israel
Archeologists and historians believe that the world’s oldest beer may have been from a funeral 13,000 years ago.
Archeologists and historians believe that the world’s oldest beer may have been from a funeral 13,000 years ago.
In a graveyard cave, they found traces of mashed wheat and barley in bits, as well as evidence of starch which strongly suggests they were brewing something.
Sounds like a hell of a goodbye party.
A Roman decapitated and crushed by a rock flung by Mount Vesuvius
Within the vein of discovering new parts of Pompeii, is this poor guy. Based on evidence, he survived the initial blast and was seeking shelter, when this rock came out of nowhere and crushed his head.
Within the vein of discovering new parts of Pompeii, is this poor guy. Based on evidence, he survived the initial blast and was seeking shelter, when this rock came out of nowhere and crushed his head.
That sucks.
Signs of early Americans in Florence, Texas
Originally, scientists suspected that the earliest people in America were those from the Clovis culture, who came from Siberia over 13,000 years ago. However, a new discovery from this past year, changes that assertion.
Originally, scientists suspected that the earliest people in America were those from the Clovis culture, who came from Siberia over 13,000 years ago. However, a new discovery from this past year, changes that assertion.
Archeologists found tools (projection points, blades and flake tools) that date to earlier than the Clovis and are of a different tool tradition – going back 16-20,000 years. So who were they?
A rare German U-boat was found in Skagerrak, Denmark
The Sea War Museum just announced the discovery of the German U-3524, which was sunk by depth bombs by a British B24 Liberator in 1945.
The Sea War Museum just announced the discovery of the German U-3524, which was sunk by depth bombs by a British B24 Liberator in 1945.
Had this U-boat gone into mass production, it would have changed the tide of the war, as it could stay submerged longer and travel further. Fortunately, only 2 were made and it was towards the end of the war, they launched.
It’s rumoured that this boat was on the run when the war ended, but so far, no one’s gone into see if there was any contraband cargo or the rumoured lost Nazi gold.
No comments:
Post a Comment