A round up of history news stories that have been making the headlines. These history news stories cover all those items that feature news about historic sites and stories of archaeological and historical interest. If you know of a history news story which you think should be featured then you can e-mail us now.
Top Story:
New Ancient Site to open in Turkey
21st August 2012
Turkish authorities are soon to open a new archaeological park in the northwestern province of Bursa’s Nilüfer district. The site will include finds from the ancient sites of Miletepolis, Apollonia ad Ryndacum and Lapadion and will examine finds from as much as 5,500 years ago.
Further Information: Hürriyet Daily News
Ancient Greek Artefacts Stolen
A number of priceless historical artefacts have been stolen from the Archaeological Museum of Olympia. Dozens of small ancient statues were taken in the raid as well as a number of other smaller objects.
Further Information: CNN | Back to History News Home
Europe’s Terracotta Army?
Archaeologists in Sardinia have pieced together the remains of an amazing collection of ancient warrior statues believed to date back to at least the middle of the first millennium BC. The statues represent elite ancient fighters and it is thought they were destroyed during the Carthaginian conquest of the island. They will go on show at Cagliari museum in the summer.
Further Information: The Independent | Back to History News Home
Stonehenge Revealed As Prehistoric Sun Worship Spot
One of the world’s most mysterious sites may be revealing its secrets. According to joint archaeological research by the universities’ of Birmingham, Vienna and Bradford, it is now thought that the site of Stonehenge was not only a place of sun worship, but that it was seen as sacred long before its famous stone circles were erected, perhaps even 500 years earlier or more.
Further Information: The Independent | Back to History News Home
Ancient Tomb Discovered in North East China
Archaeologists in Northeast China have found a tomb dating back to the Warring States era, some 2,000 years ago. Unearthed in the Liaoning province, the tomb is the largest of its kind to be discovered north of the Great Wall and thus challenging previously held beliefs about the ancient cultures in this area.
Further Information: Xinhua | Back to History News Home
Potential New Machu Picchu on the Horizon
Peru may soon have another impressive historic attraction, perhaps even to rival the wonders of Machu Picchu. The country’s government together with the Global Heritage Fund are working towards opening up the site of Marcahuamachuco to eco-tourism. Described by Peru’s chief government archaeologist as the “most important pre-Inca center in the Andes”, Marcahuamachuco has suffered from neglect and plundering, but now holds hope as the “new” ancient star on the rise.
Further Information: AFP | Back to History News Home
Libyan Sahara Reveals Sophisticated World of Little Known Civilisation
Satellite imagery of a Libyan portion of the Sahara desert has revealed an impressive array of ancient fortified villages, complete with castles, homes and walls up to a height of 13 feet. Equated by the project’s leader to discovering all of England’s Medieval castles at once, the finds reveal the world of the Garamantes people, an ancient people about whom there has been relatively little information to date.
Further Information: MSNBC | Back to History News Home
Matchbox-Sized Byzantine Find Represents a Big Discovery
In a Jerusalem car park, archaeologists have uncovered a small Byzantine prayer box carefully decorated with the images of two figures, thought to be Jesus and Mary. Despite its diminutive size, this ceremonial item represents a big discovery, not just because it may be the oldest of its kind, but also due to its potential to reveal vital information about the rituals of Christians at the time.
Further Information: Haaretz | Back to History News Home
Torquay Museum Found To Have Rare Egyptian Coffin
A coffin donated to the seaside Torquay Museum in the 1950s has been identified as belonging to a young member of ancient Egyptian nobility, perhaps even royalty. Whilst originally donated with the body of a young boy, it is now thought that the coffin is much older than its 2,500 year old inhabitant. The discovery, made by Bristol University Egyptologist Aidan Dodson, reveals that the coffin probably belonged to a young monarch, making it extremely rare, especially in the UK.
Further Information: International Business Times | Back to History News Home
The Middle East’s Answer to the Nazca Lines?
Developments in technology have allowed archaeologists to reveal thousands of enormous shaped stone structures which span much of the Middle East. Just like the famed Nazca Lines in Peru – which are geolyphs or earth drawing –the deliberate, often wheel-like, shapes of these vast constructs can only be seen from the air, meaning that their extent has only been uncovered with increasing use of aerial photography and satellite imaging. Spanning up to 230 feet across, both the purpose and age of these incredible finds remains a matter of research, although they are at least 2,000 years old.
Further Information: CBS News | Back to History News Home
Bridge to the Past as Works Uncover Roman Baths
Works to build a railway bridge across Borough High Street have resulting in the discovery the ruins of a Roman bathhouse. Located where London Bridge Street meets Borough High Street, the baths are said to have comprised of several rooms and Network Rail, who are responsible for the project, are said to be working to preserve the remains as part of the new building planned for the site.
Further Information: London SE1 | Back to History News Home
Roman Style Bath in Islamic Fort Surprises Experts
Archaeologists in Israel have been surprised to find Roman style bathhouse in an Islamic period fort. Unearthed at the Yavneh-Yam dig, the lavish duplex bathing complex was built sometime during the 9th century in the early Islamic era, long after the demise of the Romans. The discovery has prompted some experts to speculate that this may have been the work of a “Don Juan” style commander from the time.
Further Information: Jerusalem Post | Back to History News Home
Akko’s Crusader Treasures Unearthed
The beautifully preserved Crusader remains of the historic city of Akko are slowly being uncovered, revealing everything from medieval graffiti to shopping precincts. Destroyed in 1291, the city was later built over by the Ottomans in the 18th century. Now newly uncovered, several parts of the Crusader town are due to be opened to the public.
Further Information: Ynetnews | Back to History News Home
Roman City Unearthed During Construction of Sofia Metro
The remains of the Roman city of Serdika are slowly being discovered under the Bulgarian capital of Sofia. The finds, some of which date back to the reign of the Emperor Constantine, come as a result of the construction of the city’s metro system. One site which is still being searched for is the emperor’s palace.
Further Information: Standart News | Back to History News Home
Ancient Coin Discovery Pushes Known Boundaries of Roman Conquest
Archaeologists are rethinking current theories about the extent of the Roman conquest of the south west of Britain, after some 100 coins from the era were found further than the known boundaries of the Empire. Until now, Exeter in Devon has been the furthest known place to have been conquered, but this discovery was made several miles west of there, challenging existing orthodoxies.
Further Information: Daily Mail | Back to History News Home
Tomb of Apostle Unearthed At Ancient Turkish Site
Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Hierapolis in Turkey have discovered what is believed to be the tomb of one of the twelve original disciples of Jesus, St. Philip the Apostle. The find, which includes wall writings indicating its origins, was unearthed amidst the remains of church and may make the site a place of pilgrimage.
Further Information: Fox News | Back to History News Home
Archaeologist stumbles upon possibly the earliest known rock art in Britain
A member of Bristol University’s Archaeology and Anthropology Department may have discovered Britain’s earliest example of rock art while on a visit to the Gower Peninsula caves in Wales. Archaeologists are currently verifying the date of the find, which displays a hunting scene and which may have it origins as early as 14,000 years ago.
Further Information: University of Bristol | Back to History News Home
Bronze Cross Among Important New Finds at Ancient Bulgarian Site
A bronze cross dating to the 10th or 11th centuries is among a series of important new discoveries at the famed Thracian archaeological site of Perperikon in Bulgaria. The other finds included Runes symbols and a swastika-engraved lead medallion.
Further Information: Novinite.com | Back to History News Home
UNESCO Adds Nine Historic Sites to its World Heritage List
A series of prehistoric pile-dwellings and 40 Syrian ancient villages are amongst nine sites newly added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Further new members include Turkey’s Selimiye Mosque, the Persian Garden in Iran, Ethiopia’s Konso cultural landscape, Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates and Serra de Tramuntana in Spain.
Further Information: UN News Centre | Back to History News Home
Construction Project in York Reveals Roman Baths
The construction of a new council building in York has resulted in the discovery of a Roman baths complex from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Described as a “very significant” find, it is believed that these baths would have been used by Roman York’s civilians, while military personnel would have had separate ones.
Further Information: BBC News | Back to History News Home
500-Year-Old Fortresses Reveal pre-Columbian Battle Lines
The discovery of over 20 stone fortresses in northern Ecuador has led archaeologists to uncover a previously unknown war between the Inca and an Ecuadorian people known as the Cayambe. Found along the Pambamarca volcano, these fortresses - 20 belonging to the Inca, 20 to the Cayambe - are evidence of a long war.
Further Information: Fox News | Back to History News Home
Vast Statue Discovery Depicts Ancient Pharaoh
A vast statue discovered near Luxor has been identified as depicting King Amenhotep III (1390-1352 BC), the ancient Egyptian pharaoh who is thought to have been Tutankhamun’s grandfather. Found at the king’s funerary temple, the statue has been praised for its excellent proportions and intricate carving.
Further Information: Discovery News | Back to History News Home
Satellite Imagery Reveals Ancient Egyptian Wonders
Combining satellite imagery with infra-red technology that identifies underground structures, a survey has highlighted an array of ancient sites in Egypt. Counted amongst these are over 3,000 settlements, 1,000 tombs and even 17 pyramids, all of which were previously hidden.
Further Information: BBC News | Back to History News Home
Extensive Maya Finds Announced In Mexico
Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History have announced an extensive new set of finds from the Maya civilisation which may actually alter the chronology of the Maya. Located in Mexico’s Yucatan state, the discoveries include seven archaeological sites as well as what are being described as 75 important pre-Columbian burial sites.
Further Information: Fox News | Back to History News Home
Ancient Temple Discovered in Sozopol
An ancient temple dating to the 4th or 5th century BC has been discovered in Sozopol, a Bulgarian coastal resort town. Dedicated to the harvest goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone, queen of the underworld, the temple is currently being excavated but has already revealed several finds.
Further Information: Sofia Echo | Back to History News Home
Ancient Egyptian Temple Open to the Public
Egypt’s Faiyum region has added a new site to the tourist trail with the opening of the 19th century BC temple of Sobek. Worshipped as a half-man half-crocodile, Sobek was an ancient Egyptian god who was believed to have created the planet. The temple included a space for the sacred hatching to crocodile eggs.
Further Information: Gadling | Back to History News Home
Largest WWII German U-Boat Yard to Open to the Public
The Valentin Submarine Yard, the largest of its kind in Germany in World War II, is to open as a public museum. A bomb-proof yard where prisoners and forced labourers built and repaired U-Boats, it was left incomplete after it was bombed by the Allies in 1945.
Further Information: iol Travel | Back to History News Home
Renovations Announced For Plovdiv Roman Stadium
The Roman Stadium at Plovdiv is about to undergo a revamp. Dating back to the 2nd to 3rd centuries AD, to the time of Septimus Severus, the intention is to strip back the stadium to maximise the visibility of its original materials. The project is due for completion by 15th December 2011.
Further Information: Sofia Echo | Back to History News Home
“Chance Finding” Reveals Prehistoric Cave Paintings in Spain
In what archaeologists have described as a chance finding, prehistoric cave paintings have been discovered in northern Spain. The 25,000 year-old red paintings include hand depictions as well as those of horses.
Further Information: Reuters | Back to History News Home
Modern Technology Pinpoints Mysterious Maya Site
An ancient Maya city dating back as far as 600BC has been found by archaeologists in Guatemala, thanks to their combined use of 3D mapping, GPS navigation and satellite technology. Hidden by the jungle, this remarkable site had been unknown by all but the locals, but has now been identified as Holtun. It is home to an array of structure including a Maya temple pyramid of more than seven levels as well as over a hundred buildings.
Further Information: Gadling | Back to History News Home
Ancient Ship Flank Discovered Near Rome
A 36-foot long flank of an ancient ship has been unearthed not far from the Italian capital and near the once thriving Roman port of Ostia Antica. Still very well-preserved, this magnificent discovery is not just an archaeological treasure, but proof that the coastline in the area has receded by over 2 miles since ancient times.
Further Information: The Canadian Press | Back to History News Home
Roman Grave Discovered Under Illegal Dump
Police in Italy have uncovered a 2nd Century AD Roman tomb while clearing an illegal waste site in Pozzuoli near Naples. As the rubbish was removed from the area the entrance to an underground tunnel was revealed and a team of local archaeologists later confirmed the find.
Further Information: The Independent | Back to History News Home
Roman Burial Site Unearthed In Syria
Archaeologists in Syria have announced the discovery of a Roman burial site. Housing six ancient graves in a layered formation, the tomb has suffered from looting.
Further Information: Global Arab Network | Back to History News Home
Macedonian Treasures on Display at Oxford Museum
The Ashmolean Museum of Oxford has announced an exhibit that will explore one of history’s most intriguing empires, the Macedonians. Containing over 500 artefacts, many from The Museum of the Royal Tombs at Aegae, it includes pieces from the tomb of Alexander the Great’s immediate family.
Further Information: Culture 24 | Back to History News Home
Discovered Maya Tomb Is Earliest Known Royal Burial
Archaeologists in north-eastern Guatemala have uncovered a Maya tomb dating back to 350BC. Whilst this is not the earliest tomb ever found, it contains significant evidence suggesting it belonged to a male monarch, which would make it the oldest royal Maya tomb.
Further Information: Daily Mail | Back to History News Home
Stratford Skeleton May Hold DNA Clues about Modern Britons
A 1,700-year old skeleton, thought to have been an African Roman soldier, may offer insight into the ethnic history of Britons today. Unearthed in Roman cemetery, he is said to be Warwickshire’s earliest African and further tests are being carried out to learn more about him and whether he forms part of the nation’s ethnic origins.
