Latest

Posted On: Jan 9th, 2018 at 12:12

Turkey My question is a rhetorical one. Göbekli Tepe is by far the oldest site in the world. Dating to around 12,000 years ago, it is also the weirdest site in the world. Sinister, bizarre, and even paranormal to the extent that fundamental questions raise serious issues regarding the time we are living in today … Read More

Posted On: Jan 7th, 2018 at 14:22

Myanmar The site of Mrauk U (pronounced Mrau-oo) is definitely worth a mention, if not for this appalling piece of journalism from the Guardian. One always has to be cautious of archaeology stories that appear in mainstream media publications. Firstly there’s the line, “…following in the footsteps of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and the pyramids of … Read More

Posted On: Jan 2nd, 2018 at 15:04

Dear All, It’s been a long while since I wrote a personal message. I have to say 2017 was a bizarre and difficult year and just about everyone I know has experienced the same. Unfortunately since 2012 it seems each year gets worse so I’m not particularly optimistic about this one, but I shall keep … Read More

Posted On: Dec 8th, 2017 at 13:49

Jordan It wasn’t just a crude dwelling place made from wooden posts, this site near Amman in Jordan contained a carefully put together stone floor and walls, a fire pit, various works of art and stone tools. Dating to 12600 to 10000 BC, the site known as Shubayqa 1 is stretching the imagination of all … Read More

Posted On: Dec 7th, 2017 at 11:22

England Excavation of the 6,000-year-old “Cat’s Brain” long barrow in the Vale of Pewsey is offering a new insight into these ancient structures. Long thought to be places where tribal leaders and their families were buried – a conclusion I was never happy with due to the sheer number of them around the Stonehenge area … Read More

Posted On: Dec 5th, 2017 at 13:48

China Once again the subject of giants appears in the news – ancient human beings who should not have been as tall as they were, and this is often brushed aside as a dietary issue, a conclusion I do not agree with. I have followed the fascinating work of Jim Vieira and spoke with him … Read More

Posted On: Dec 4th, 2017 at 13:44

Europe This news is of no surprise to anyone I should expect, but viewing the data really brings this to life. A study of bones from females from the Neolithic period shows they were up to 30% stronger in their upper arms. This result is somewhat similar to medieval archers who had much stronger arms … Read More

Posted On: Dec 3rd, 2017 at 14:25

Peru Without comparison the darkest culture I have ever come across in all my years travelling is that of the Moche in northern Peru, whose vast territory stretched for several hundred miles along the desert coast. Huaca de la Luna (The Pyramid of the Moon) is definitely the most sinister temple I have ever visited, … Read More

Posted On: Dec 1st, 2017 at 13:30

India All ancient cultures, and thus later modern cities, sprung up because of running water. In other words, they were originally built next to rivers. Natural fresh, running water is a vital element of every day life, and the bigger the settlement, the bigger the water supply that is required. A small stream is not … Read More

Posted On: Nov 30th, 2017 at 14:02

**Breaking News** England Matching historical records with physical discoveries is one of the most rewarding elements of archaeology, so it goes without saying that the discovery of Julius Caesar’s landing base is one of the most significant in British history. The invasion of Albion by the Romans, who subsequently called it Britannia, is arguably the … Read More

Posted On: Nov 27th, 2017 at 11:56

Peru El Volcán lies in the Nepeña Valley in north-western Peru, and like most other constructions in the desert it’s made of mud (brick). It wasn’t identified as man-made until the 20th Century because it looks like the tip of a volcano. Of course, lying at ground level it couldn’t be a volcano, but certainly it … Read More

Posted On: Nov 12th, 2017 at 00:24

Greece (Crete) Dr. Gareth Owens had been working alongside Professor John Coleman for six years trying to decipher the Phaistos disc. Coleman, an Oxford university professor of phonetics, and Owens, an expert on the Minoan language, combined forces to solve the riddle of the disc. Found nearly 110 years ago the Phaistos disc has baffled … Read More

Posted On: Nov 4th, 2017 at 12:56

**Breaking News** Egypt Not so breaking now as I was supposed to post this two days ago but I fell asleep instead! The chamber found in the so-called Khufu pyramid is so large it reminds one of the Grand Gallery, which brings all kinds of thoughts and possibilities. I do not agree with the idea … Read More

Posted On: Oct 20th, 2017 at 20:12

The World / Germany Please, please, PLEASE can we finally stop this “out-of-Africa” nonsense. It’s time to wake up. It’s time to grow up. Darwin’s theory of evolution is utter nonsense. Every idea about human evolution is equally as invalid. Please can those clinging onto these ideas, and the peers who promote this baloney in … Read More

Posted On: Oct 10th, 2017 at 14:15

The World The domestication of cats goes back to at least 10,000 years. A huge amount of research has been carried out into how and when cats were domesticated, and these latest findings are backing up previous research – that cats interacted with humans at least 10,000 years ago, most likely because rodents were attracted … Read More

Posted On: Oct 8th, 2017 at 12:38

Libya A hoard of over 500 coins, statues, and elaborate mosaics have been discovered in ancient Ptolemais in Libya. Founded in the 4th Century BC by the Greeks, it was around 600 years later that the Romans built the recently excavated villa. The mosaics show scenes of Dionysus and Ariadne, among other images, and were … Read More

Posted On: Oct 1st, 2017 at 14:21

Nigeria Very little archaeology seems to come out of Africa if one excludes Egypt, so I am happy to report that this and my next report comes from the huge continent. Whether this lack of reporting is due to the lack of archaeology, or whether it’s to do with a lack of interest in Africa … Read More

Posted On: Sep 30th, 2017 at 11:29

India I have to say this is quite extraordinary news. The migration of humans into, out of, and within India, has been hotly debated for a very long time. Despite the fact I am certain “civilisation” started with the Indus Valley culture, I have not been involved too much in the migration debate, simply because … Read More

Posted On: Sep 24th, 2017 at 13:00

Jordan Archaeologists have discovered King Herod’s mikvah (or mikveh – a large ritual bathing pool) in his palace in Jordan. The discovery is unique in that mikvahs of this style were only previous found in Qumran, on the other side of the Dead Sea. Machaerus, the name of the palace, was actually built in 90 … Read More

Posted On: Sep 9th, 2017 at 13:14

Egypt Most likely they were used, yes, but I do not see the revelation in such a conclusion. And neither did they “build” the city. They may have been used as labourers, but certainly not builders. Perhaps using children as young as seven is a bit harsh, but certainly teenagers being involved in hard labour … Read More