Near the center of the Roman city of Pompeii lies a large area known to archaeologists and researchers as Regio IX. This area is largely unexcavated, overlooked in favour of the grander public buildings which were prioritized as the city gave up her secrets. But, as recent discoveries have shown, there is much hidden beneath
A new paper tells of a discovery in northern Galilee: a Roman boundary stone dated to the Roman 3rd century, and a surprise for researchers. The boundary stone, used to denote territorial limits and to act as a signpost, contains inscriptions relating to hitherto unknown people and places. The boundary stone was originally discovered in
Something long rumored but hitherto unknown has been found in the heart of the Incan empire. For centuries stories existed of a secret tunnel network, an Incan labyrinth underneath their mountain capital of Cusco. Now, archaeologists Jorge Calero and Mildred Fernández have announced that they have turned rumor into reality. Using ground penetrating radar they
A study of ancient mummies in Peru has revealed a new layer to the social and cultural complexity of the Chancay culture. Researchers have been studying the mummies of the Chancay, using laser stimulated fluorescence to reveal the intricate but faded tattoos that often adorn them. The study, headed by Michael Pittman from the Chinese
The Old Cathedral of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, has given up one of her enduring secrets. The burial regalia of monarchs of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth has been rediscovered, hidden behind a wall in a crypt. The treasure, which includes crowns, chains, medallions and rings, was originally hidden during the Second World War to prevent the
In 1929, archaeologists excavating an octagonal monument at the heart of the ancient Greek city of Ephesus in modern day Turkey found a well preserved skeleton in a sarcophagus inside. In the hundred years since there has been much speculation about who this person was. The prime candidate is also perhaps the most exciting: since