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  11. <title>Archaeology Magazine</title>
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  14. <description>A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America</description>
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  23. <title>Previously Unknown South American Group Revealed by DNA Study</title>
  24. <link>https://archaeology.org/news/2025/06/02/previously-unknown-south-american-group-revealed-by-dna-study/</link>
  26. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Urbanus]]></dc:creator>
  27. <pubDate>Mon, 02 Jun 2025 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  28. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  29. <category><![CDATA[Altiplano]]></category>
  30. <category><![CDATA[Ancient DNA]]></category>
  31. <category><![CDATA[Bogota]]></category>
  32. <category><![CDATA[Colombia]]></category>
  33. <category><![CDATA[early Americans]]></category>
  34. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://archaeology.org/?p=50928</guid>
  35.  
  36. <description><![CDATA[<p>BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA—Scientists were recently baffled by DNA evidence that revealed the existence of a genetically [&#8230;]</p>
  37. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/06/02/previously-unknown-south-american-group-revealed-by-dna-study/">Previously Unknown South American Group Revealed by DNA Study</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  38. ]]></description>
  39. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure data-wp-context="{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;683e09f85ac94&quot;}" data-wp-interactive="core/image" class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="600" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/News-20250602-Colombia-Checua-Skeletons-1024x600.jpg" alt="Skeletons of two hunter-gatherers excavated at the Checua site in Colombia's Altiplano" class="wp-image-50968" data-image-credit="Ana Mar&iacute;a Groot/Universidad Nacional de Colombia" srcset="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/News-20250602-Colombia-Checua-Skeletons-1024x600.jpg 1024w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/News-20250602-Colombia-Checua-Skeletons-300x176.jpg 300w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/News-20250602-Colombia-Checua-Skeletons-768x450.jpg 768w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/News-20250602-Colombia-Checua-Skeletons.jpg 1453w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><button
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  52. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Remains of two hunter-gatherers excavated at the Checua site in Colombia's Altiplano</figcaption></figure>
  53.  
  54.  
  55.  
  56. <p>BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA—Scientists were recently baffled by DNA evidence that revealed the existence of a genetically unknown group of early South American settlers. Archaeologists are continually adapting their models for how human populations spread from Asia through North America to South America, and this new research is bound to alter those theories once again. The <em><a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-gatherers-colombia-ancient-dna-dd65182aa1bd08621b7c348145ade272" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Associated Press</a></em> reports that the researchers analyzed ancient DNA from 21 individuals who lived in Colombia's Altiplano Cundiboyacense region thousands of years ago. Located near current-day Bogotá, this area was also close to the ancient land bridge connecting South and Central America, the route that early human migrants would have taken. DNA analysis determined that the group living there 6,000 years ago was unrelated to either Native North Americans or present-day and ancient South Americans. This group of hunter-gatherers seems to have disappeared around 2,000 years ago, although scholars still don’t know why. These people might have eventually mixed with a new, larger genetic group, or might have been pushed out entirely. Read the original scholarly article about this research in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ads6284" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a></em>. To read about hunter-gatherers who endured the harsh environments of South America's southern reaches for 13,000 years, go to "<a href="https://archaeology.org/issues/july-august-2023/letters-from/patagonia-hunter-gatherers/">Letter from Patagonia: Surviving a Windswept Land</a>."</p>
  57. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/06/02/previously-unknown-south-american-group-revealed-by-dna-study/">Previously Unknown South American Group Revealed by DNA Study</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  58. ]]></content:encoded>
  62. </item>
  63. <item>
  64. <title>4,000-Year-Old &quot;Fire Altar&quot; Unearthed in Peru</title>
  65. <link>https://archaeology.org/news/2025/06/02/4000-year-old-fire-altar-unearthed-in-peru/</link>
  67. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Urbanus]]></dc:creator>
  68. <pubDate>Mon, 02 Jun 2025 17:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  69. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  70. <category><![CDATA[Caral-Supe]]></category>
  71. <category><![CDATA[Era de Pando]]></category>
  72. <category><![CDATA[fire altar]]></category>
  73. <category><![CDATA[Peru]]></category>
  74. <category><![CDATA[pyramid]]></category>
  75. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://archaeology.org/?p=50921</guid>
  76.  
  77. <description><![CDATA[<p>ERA DE PANDO, PERU—The Kansas City Star reports that Peruvian authorities made a stunning new [&#8230;]</p>
  78. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/06/02/4000-year-old-fire-altar-unearthed-in-peru/">4,000-Year-Old &quot;Fire Altar&quot; Unearthed in Peru</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  79. ]]></description>
  80. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure data-wp-context="{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;683e09f85c11f&quot;}" data-wp-interactive="core/image" class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/News-20250602-Peru-Era-de-Pando-Fire-Altar-1024x576.jpg" alt="Archaeologist excavating inside a stone-ringed fire altar, Era de Pando, Peru" class="wp-image-50961" data-image-credit="Peruvian Ministry of Culture" srcset="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/News-20250602-Peru-Era-de-Pando-Fire-Altar-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/News-20250602-Peru-Era-de-Pando-Fire-Altar-300x169.jpg 300w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/News-20250602-Peru-Era-de-Pando-Fire-Altar-768x432.jpg 768w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/News-20250602-Peru-Era-de-Pando-Fire-Altar.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><button
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  93. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fire altar, Era de Pando, Peru</figcaption></figure>
  94.  
  95.  
  96.  
  97. <p>ERA DE PANDO, PERU—<em><a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/world/article306900311.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Kansas City Star</a></em> reports that Peruvian authorities made a stunning new discovery at the site of Era de Pando in the Supe Valley. The region was home to the Caral culture, which is often considered the oldest city-building civilization in the Americas. Previous excavations at Era de Pando have unearthed four large and four small pyramid complexes, and at least 40 other buildings, including houses and temples, that date back at least 4,000 years. While working near one of the largest pyramids, archaeologists recently uncovered the ruins of a structure known as a “fire altar.” The circular feature, which measures 22 feet across, is attached to a rectangular courtyard that is accessed by a staircase descending from a ceremonial hall. Fire altars are often found within close proximity to pyramids or the residences of high-ranking officials. During private ceremonies, political, social, or religious leaders would gather to perform sacred rituals where they burned offerings that often included beads, quartz fragments, mollusks, and other seafood. To read more about Caral urban design, go to "<a href="https://archaeology.org/issues/july-august-2021/world/?location=atw-peru-3">Around the World: Peru</a>."</p>
  98. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/06/02/4000-year-old-fire-altar-unearthed-in-peru/">4,000-Year-Old &quot;Fire Altar&quot; Unearthed in Peru</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  99. ]]></content:encoded>
  103. </item>
  104. <item>
  105. <title>Tombs of Three Ancient Egyptian Officials Found in Luxor</title>
  106. <link>https://archaeology.org/news/2025/06/02/tombs-of-three-ancient-egyptian-officials-found-in-luxor/</link>
  108. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Urbanus]]></dc:creator>
  109. <pubDate>Mon, 02 Jun 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  110. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  111. <category><![CDATA[Ancient Egypt]]></category>
  112. <category><![CDATA[Dra Abu el-Naga]]></category>
  113. <category><![CDATA[Luxor]]></category>
  114. <category><![CDATA[necropolis]]></category>
  115. <category><![CDATA[tombs]]></category>
  116. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://archaeology.org/?p=50923</guid>
  117.  
  118. <description><![CDATA[<p>LUXOR, EGYPT—Three new tombs of senior ancient Egyptian statesmen were recently unearthed on Luxor’s West [&#8230;]</p>
  119. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/06/02/tombs-of-three-ancient-egyptian-officials-found-in-luxor/">Tombs of Three Ancient Egyptian Officials Found in Luxor</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  120. ]]></description>
  121. <content:encoded><![CDATA[
  122. <p>LUXOR, EGYPT—Three new tombs of senior ancient Egyptian statesmen were recently unearthed on Luxor’s West Bank, according to an <em><a href="https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/546934/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/New-chapter-in-Egypt-archaeological-legacy--New-Ki.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ahram Online</a></em> report. The discoveries were made at the New Kingdom necropolis of Dra Abu el-Nagra and have provided new insights into the lives of officials who worked in the upper echelon of Egyptian government. Archaeologists learned the men’s names and titles from inscriptions written on the walls of the burial chambers. One tomb belonged to a man named Amun-em-Ipet, who worked at a temple or estate dedicated to the god Amun during the Ramesside period (ca. 1295–1070 <span class="small-caps">b.c.</span>). The other two date to the 18th Dynasty (ca. 1550–1295 <span class="small-caps">b.c.</span>). One contained the burial of a man named Baki, who was a granary supervisor, while the other, an individual called Es, had earned multiple titles including supervisor of the Temple of Amun, mayor of the northern oases, and scribe. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy said that the newly discovered burial chambers were windows into the lives, roles, and beliefs of key figures in ancient Egyptian society. To read about the grave of another high-level Egyptian official uncovered at the site, go to "<a href="https://archaeology.org/issues/july-august-2013/digs-discoveries/egypt-thebes-ahhotep-shabtis/">Afterlife of a Dignitary</a>."</p>
  123. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/06/02/tombs-of-three-ancient-egyptian-officials-found-in-luxor/">Tombs of Three Ancient Egyptian Officials Found in Luxor</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  124. ]]></content:encoded>
  128. </item>
  129. <item>
  130. <title>Secrets of the Gobi Wall Revealed</title>
  131. <link>https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/30/secrets-of-the-gobi-wall-revealed/</link>
  133. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Urbanus]]></dc:creator>
  134. <pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2025 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  135. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  136. <category><![CDATA[China]]></category>
  137. <category><![CDATA[Gobi Wall]]></category>
  138. <category><![CDATA[Mongolia]]></category>
  139. <category><![CDATA[Xi Xia Dynasty]]></category>
  140. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://archaeology.org/?p=50738</guid>
  141.  
  142. <description><![CDATA[<p>GOBI WALL, MONGOLIA—Snaking for 200 miles across the inhospitable terrain of southern Mongolia, the so-called [&#8230;]</p>
  143. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/30/secrets-of-the-gobi-wall-revealed/">Secrets of the Gobi Wall Revealed</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  144. ]]></description>
  145. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure data-wp-context="{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;683e09f85e51b&quot;}" data-wp-interactive="core/image" class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="669" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250530-Mongolia-Gobi-Wall-Survey-1024x669.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50886" data-image-credit="Tal Rogovski" srcset="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250530-Mongolia-Gobi-Wall-Survey-1024x669.jpg 1024w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250530-Mongolia-Gobi-Wall-Survey-300x196.jpg 300w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250530-Mongolia-Gobi-Wall-Survey-768x502.jpg 768w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250530-Mongolia-Gobi-Wall-Survey.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><button
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  158. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Black stone section of the Gobi Wall, Mongolia</figcaption></figure>
  159.  
  160.  
  161.  
  162. <p>GOBI WALL, MONGOLIA—Snaking for 200 miles across the inhospitable terrain of southern Mongolia, the so-called Gobi Wall is the least studied section of a system of medieval fortifications that once extended from China into Mongolia. <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1085306" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hebrew University of Jerusalem</a> announced that a research team has recently completed a comprehensive investigation of the structure, combining remote sensing, pedestrian survey, and targeted excavations. The study revealed that the wall was primarily constructed from rammed earth, stone, and wood during the Xi Xia period (<span class="small-caps">a.d.</span> 1038–1227 ), a dynasty ruled by the Tungut tribes of western China and southern Mongolia. However, evidence showed that the corridor through which the wall passes had been periodically occupied from at least the second century. Spatial analysis indicated that the wall’s location was carefully chosen based on resource availability, particularly wood and water, and that the placement of garrisons along its course strategically took advantage of the natural geographic topography. What’s more, the researchers concluded that the wall was much more than a purely defensive mechanism built to repel invasions, but that it also served to regulate trade and manage frontier movements. “The Gobi Wall was not just a barrier—it was a dynamic mechanism for governing movement, trade, and territorial control in a challenging environment,” said archaeologist Gideon Shelach-Lavi. Read the original scholarly article about this research in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/land14051087" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Land</a></em>. To read about a twelfth-century burial recently recovered in Mongolia by the same team, go to "<a href="https://archaeology.org/issues/january-february-2025/digs-discoveries/woman-of-the-world/">Woman of the World</a>."</p>
  163. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/30/secrets-of-the-gobi-wall-revealed/">Secrets of the Gobi Wall Revealed</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  164. ]]></content:encoded>
  168. </item>
  169. <item>
  170. <title>Unique Silla Kingdom Crown Was Decorated With Insect Wings</title>
  171. <link>https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/30/unique-silla-kingdom-crown-was-decorated-with-insect-wings/</link>
  173. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Urbanus]]></dc:creator>
  174. <pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2025 17:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  175. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  176. <category><![CDATA[crown]]></category>
  177. <category><![CDATA[Gyeongju]]></category>
  178. <category><![CDATA[jewel beetle]]></category>
  179. <category><![CDATA[Silla Kingdom]]></category>
  180. <category><![CDATA[South Korea]]></category>
  181. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://archaeology.org/?p=50740</guid>
  182.  
  183. <description><![CDATA[<p>GYEONGJU, SOUTH KOREA—Five years ago, South Korean archaeologists unearthed an elaborate 1,400-year-old grave at the [&#8230;]</p>
  184. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/30/unique-silla-kingdom-crown-was-decorated-with-insect-wings/">Unique Silla Kingdom Crown Was Decorated With Insect Wings</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  185. ]]></description>
  186. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure data-wp-context="{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;683e09f85fb49&quot;}" data-wp-interactive="core/image" class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" width="768" height="853" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250530-Korea-Silla-Insect-Crown.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50877" data-image-credit="Korea Heritage Service" srcset="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250530-Korea-Silla-Insect-Crown.jpg 768w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250530-Korea-Silla-Insect-Crown-270x300.jpg 270w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><button
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  199. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Crown decorated with jewel beetle wings, Gyeongju, South Korea</figcaption></figure>
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  201.  
  202.  
  203. <p>GYEONGJU, SOUTH KOREA—Five years ago, South Korean archaeologists unearthed an elaborate 1,400-year-old grave at the site of Gyeongju, which once served as the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla (ca. <span class="small-caps">a.d.</span> 57–535). The tomb, dubbed 120-2, belonged to a high-status individual who had been buried while dressed in a wealth of ornamental attire including gold earrings, a silver belt, silver and beaded bracelets, and bronze shoes. The deceased was also wearing a gilt-bronze crown which, <em><a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article306975341.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Miami Herald</a></em> reports, archaeologists have only recently realized was the most splendid object of them all and a one-of-a-kind item. Closer inspection revealed that the crown had been decorated with a series of heart-shaped indentations that had been delicately inlaid with the colorful wings of the jewel beetle, some of which remained in situ after almost a millennium and a half. In some ancient Southeast Asian cultures, the iridescent insects were treated as natural gems and were much sought-after for their vivid green, blue, or yellowish hues. Other Silla artifacts decorated with beetle wings have been previously found, such as horse harnesses and belts, but this is the first time they have ever been identified in an elaborate headpiece like a crown. To read more about ancient ornaments fashioned from insects, go to "<a href="https://archaeology.org/issues/may-june-2023/digs-discoveries/utah-basketmaker-beetle-ornament/">The Beauty of Bugs</a>."</p>
  204. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/30/unique-silla-kingdom-crown-was-decorated-with-insect-wings/">Unique Silla Kingdom Crown Was Decorated With Insect Wings</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  205. ]]></content:encoded>
  209. </item>
  210. <item>
  211. <title>Oldest Known Tools Made From Whale Bone Date Back 20,000 Years</title>
  212. <link>https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/30/oldest-known-tools-made-from-whale-bone-date-back-20000-years/</link>
  214. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Urbanus]]></dc:creator>
  215. <pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  216. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  217. <category><![CDATA[Bay of Biscay]]></category>
  218. <category><![CDATA[bone tools]]></category>
  219. <category><![CDATA[hunter gatherers]]></category>
  220. <category><![CDATA[Spain]]></category>
  221. <category><![CDATA[whales]]></category>
  222. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://archaeology.org/?p=50748</guid>
  223.  
  224. <description><![CDATA[<p>BAY OF BISCAY, SPAIN—Whales, as the largest mammals on Earth, have long been an important [&#8230;]</p>
  225. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/30/oldest-known-tools-made-from-whale-bone-date-back-20000-years/">Oldest Known Tools Made From Whale Bone Date Back 20,000 Years</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  226. ]]></description>
  227. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure data-wp-context="{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;683e09f861164&quot;}" data-wp-interactive="core/image" class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Spain-Whale-Bone-Tool-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50869" data-image-credit="Alexandre Lefebvre" srcset="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Spain-Whale-Bone-Tool-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Spain-Whale-Bone-Tool-300x169.jpg 300w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Spain-Whale-Bone-Tool-768x432.jpg 768w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Spain-Whale-Bone-Tool-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Spain-Whale-Bone-Tool.jpg 1588w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><button
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  237. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 12 12">
  238. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z" />
  239. </svg>
  240. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This projectile made from the bone of a gray whale was discovered in Landes, France, and dates to between 17,500 and 18,000 years ago.</figcaption></figure>
  241.  
  242.  
  243.  
  244. <p>BAY OF BISCAY, SPAIN—Whales, as the largest mammals on Earth, have long been an important resource for human societies, whether it be for food, oil, or other materials. According to a report by <em><a href="https://www.popsci.com/environment/oldest-whale-bone-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Popular Science</a>,</em> hunter-gatherers in present-day Spain and France have been crafting essential tools from whale bones for much longer than previously thought. A new study analyzed 83 bone tools found at sites along the Bay of Biscay and 90 additional bones from the Santa Catalina cave in Spain. The investigation relied on mass spectrometry and radiocarbon dating to determine that humans living in the region have been making whale-bone tools, mostly projectile points, for at least 20,000 years, the earliest known evidence of this behavior. The material was sourced from five different species of whales—sperm, fin, blue, gray, and either bowhead or right. The archaeologists do not believe that Paleolithic people had the capabilities to actively seek out these mammoth creatures on the open water, but instead periodically harvested the carcasses of dead or stranded whales that had washed up along the seashore. Read the original scholarly article about this research in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59486-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a></em>. To read more about Paleolithic people and whales, go to "<a href="https://archaeology.org/issues/july-august-2013/digs-discoveries/spain-paleolithic-whale-meat/">Whale Barnacle BBQ</a>."<br> </p>
  245. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/30/oldest-known-tools-made-from-whale-bone-date-back-20000-years/">Oldest Known Tools Made From Whale Bone Date Back 20,000 Years</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  246. ]]></content:encoded>
  250. </item>
  251. <item>
  252. <title>Lost Byzantine City Rediscovered in Jordanian Desert</title>
  253. <link>https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/lost-byzantine-city-rediscovered-in-jordanian-desert/</link>
  255. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Urbanus]]></dc:creator>
  256. <pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2025 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  257. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  258. <category><![CDATA[Byzantine basilica]]></category>
  259. <category><![CDATA[El-'Iraq]]></category>
  260. <category><![CDATA[Jordan]]></category>
  261. <category><![CDATA[Madaba map]]></category>
  262. <category><![CDATA[Tharais]]></category>
  263. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://archaeology.org/?p=50670</guid>
  264.  
  265. <description><![CDATA[<p>EL-ʿIRAQ, JORDAN—Archaeologists believe they have rediscovered the lost Byzantine city of Tharais in southern Jordan, [&#8230;]</p>
  266. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/lost-byzantine-city-rediscovered-in-jordanian-desert/">Lost Byzantine City Rediscovered in Jordanian Desert</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  267. ]]></description>
  268. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure data-wp-context="{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;683e09f862847&quot;}" data-wp-interactive="core/image" class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="766" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Jordan-Tharais-Byzantine-Church-Entrance-Stones-1024x766.jpg" alt="Stones from the main entrance of the Byzantine church at the possible site of Tharais, El-'Iraq, Jordan" class="wp-image-50789" data-image-credit="&copy; M. R. Al-Rawahneh" srcset="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Jordan-Tharais-Byzantine-Church-Entrance-Stones-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Jordan-Tharais-Byzantine-Church-Entrance-Stones-300x224.jpg 300w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Jordan-Tharais-Byzantine-Church-Entrance-Stones-768x574.jpg 768w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Jordan-Tharais-Byzantine-Church-Entrance-Stones.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><button
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  280. </svg>
  281. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stones from the main entrance of the Byzantine church at the possible site of Tharais, El-'Iraq, Jordan</figcaption></figure>
  282.  
  283.  
  284.  
  285. <p>EL-ʿIRAQ, JORDAN—Archaeologists believe they have rediscovered the lost Byzantine city of Tharais in southern Jordan, according to a <a href="https://www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/a-lost-byzantine-city-resurfaces-in-southern-jordan-ancient-settlement-of-tharais-ide-3201738" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Türkiye Today</em></a> report. The settlement is thought to have been an important religious and trading center along the Roman and Byzantine road network connecting Zoar to central Jordan. The city appears on the famous sixth-century <span class="small-caps">a.d.</span> Madaba Mosaic Map, the oldest surviving map of the Middle East, but its exact location has remained a mystery. Over the past several years, an archaeological project has reexamined historical documents and inscriptions, while conducting field surveys outside of the modern town of El-‘Iraq near the southeastern edge of the Dead Sea. The team recovered compelling evidence for the existence of Tharais there, including ceramics, Greek and Latin funerary inscriptions, and fragments of mosaic floors. However, archaeologists were most convinced by the discovery of the ruins of a Byzantine church and other structures that seem to match the representation of the city on the Madaba Mosaic Map. “The prominence of Tharais on the Madaba Map and the discovery of a basilica church structure suggest that it served not only as an agricultural village but also as a sacred site and commercial rest stop,” said Mutah University archaeologist Musallam R. Al-Rawahneh. Read the original scholarly article about this research in <em><a href="https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4243913" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gephyra</a></em>. For more on what is depicted on the Madaba Map, go to "<a href="https://archaeology.org/issues/may-june-2019/letters-from/life-in-a-busy-oasis/">Letter from the Dead Sea: Life in a Busy Oasis</a>."</p>
  286. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/lost-byzantine-city-rediscovered-in-jordanian-desert/">Lost Byzantine City Rediscovered in Jordanian Desert</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  287. ]]></content:encoded>
  291. </item>
  292. <item>
  293. <title>New Revelations Emerge About Medieval German &quot;Ice Prince&quot;</title>
  294. <link>https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/new-revelations-emerge-about-medieval-german-ice-prince/</link>
  296. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Urbanus]]></dc:creator>
  297. <pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2025 17:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  298. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  299. <category><![CDATA[Child burial]]></category>
  300. <category><![CDATA[Eisprinz]]></category>
  301. <category><![CDATA[Germany]]></category>
  302. <category><![CDATA[Ice Prince]]></category>
  303. <category><![CDATA[Mattsies]]></category>
  304. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://archaeology.org/?p=50672</guid>
  305.  
  306. <description><![CDATA[<p>MATSSIES, GERMANY—Four years ago German archaeologists unearthed the grave of a small child who was [&#8230;]</p>
  307. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/new-revelations-emerge-about-medieval-german-ice-prince/">New Revelations Emerge About Medieval German &quot;Ice Prince&quot;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  308. ]]></description>
  309. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure data-wp-context="{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;683e09f864070&quot;}" data-wp-interactive="core/image" class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="728" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Germany-Ice-Prince-Gold-Sword-Fitting-1024x728.jpg" alt="Gold sword fitting" class="wp-image-50700" data-image-credit="BLfD" srcset="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Germany-Ice-Prince-Gold-Sword-Fitting-1024x728.jpg 1024w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Germany-Ice-Prince-Gold-Sword-Fitting-300x213.jpg 300w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Germany-Ice-Prince-Gold-Sword-Fitting-768x546.jpg 768w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Germany-Ice-Prince-Gold-Sword-Fitting.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><button
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  321. </svg>
  322. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gold sword fitting </figcaption></figure>
  323.  
  324.  
  325.  
  326. <p>MATSSIES, GERMANY—Four years ago German archaeologists unearthed the grave of a small child who was buried inside a former Roman villa at the Mattsies site in southern Germany. The burial was remarkably well-preserved, but the discovery made headlines due to the researchers' use of a groundbreaking new technique. They flash-froze the entire burial using liquid nitrogen so that the contents could be removed en masse and transported to a laboratory where they could be meticulously excavated. According to a <em><a href="https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/05/the-spectacular-tomb-of-the-ice-prince-a-medieval-child-buried-in-an-ancient-roman-villa-frozen-for-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">La Brújula Verde</a></em> report, archaeologists have recently revealed new details about how the boy, now dubbed the <em>Eisprinz</em>, or “Ice Prince,” lived and died. The child, who had blue eyes and light-colored hair, was born into a family of high social status between <span class="small-caps">a.d.</span> 670 and 680. He was around one-and-a-half years old when he succumbed to an untreated ear infection. After his death, the boy’s parents took exceptional care with his burial. They dressed him in an outfit that included leather shoes and a long-sleeved tunic adorned with silk. He wore silver bracelets on his wrists and silver spurs on his feet, and was even laid to rest with a small sword and scabbard inlaid with a gold fitting. The body was surrounded by banqueting paraphernalia and dried fruits and nuts. The part of the villa that contained the boy's stone burial chamber was even remodeled into a kind of memorial, becoming a place of worship and remembrance. “They not only buried the child with honors but also tended to his memory with great care,” said Mathias Pfeil of the Bavarian State Office for Monument Conservation. To read about an intricately decorated fragment of a child's leather shoe uncovered beneath the streets of Saint-Ursanne, Switzerland, go to "<a href="https://archaeology.org/issues/july-august-2019/digs-discoveries/trenches-switzerland-baby-boot/">Medieval Baby Bootie</a>."</p>
  327.  
  328.  
  329. <figure data-wp-context="{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;683e09f864593&quot;}" data-wp-interactive="core/image" class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="450" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Germany-Ice-Prince-Sword-X-Ray-1024x450.jpg" alt="Sword (top) and X-ray image of the sword (above) revealing its decoration" class="wp-image-50701" data-image-credit="BLfD" srcset="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Germany-Ice-Prince-Sword-X-Ray-1024x450.jpg 1024w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Germany-Ice-Prince-Sword-X-Ray-300x132.jpg 300w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Germany-Ice-Prince-Sword-X-Ray-768x337.jpg 768w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Germany-Ice-Prince-Sword-X-Ray.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><button
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  341. </svg>
  342. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sword (top) and X-ray image of the sword (above) revealing its decoration</figcaption></figure>
  343.  
  344.  
  345.  
  346. <p><br>&nbsp;</p>
  347. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/new-revelations-emerge-about-medieval-german-ice-prince/">New Revelations Emerge About Medieval German &quot;Ice Prince&quot;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  348. ]]></content:encoded>
  352. </item>
  353. <item>
  354. <title>Oldest Known Human Fingerprint Detected on Neanderthal Object</title>
  355. <link>https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/oldest-known-human-fingerprint-detected-on-neanderthal-object/</link>
  357. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Urbanus]]></dc:creator>
  358. <pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  359. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  360. <category><![CDATA[fingerprint]]></category>
  361. <category><![CDATA[Neanderthal]]></category>
  362. <category><![CDATA[portable art]]></category>
  363. <category><![CDATA[San Lazaro]]></category>
  364. <category><![CDATA[Spain]]></category>
  365. <category><![CDATA[stone]]></category>
  366. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://archaeology.org/?p=50675</guid>
  367.  
  368. <description><![CDATA[<p>SEGOVIA, SPAIN—When archaeologists were sifting through layers of sediment from the San Lázaro rock shelter [&#8230;]</p>
  369. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/oldest-known-human-fingerprint-detected-on-neanderthal-object/">Oldest Known Human Fingerprint Detected on Neanderthal Object</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  370. ]]></description>
  371. <content:encoded><![CDATA[
  372. <p>SEGOVIA, SPAIN—When archaeologists were sifting through layers of sediment from the San Lázaro rock shelter in Segovia, Spain, they noticed an unusual looking stone that seemed to contain a small red dot in the middle. <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0g9jv707yo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC News</a></em> reports that deeper analysis of the object revealed that the strange mark was actually a Neanderthal fingerprint, the oldest known human fingerprint in existence. The researchers suggest that the small rock's three natural indentations resemble the two eyes and mouth of a human face. The dot seems to have been added to the stone's surface with red ocher to create the missing nose. Multispectral imaging of the pigment revealed the clear outline of a human fingerprint belonging to a Neanderthal who lived around 43,000 years ago. Researchers believe that the marking was deliberately made, since ocher does not naturally occur at the site and would have to have been intentionally brought to the shelter. Archaeologist Maria de Andrés-Herrero of the Complutense University of Madrid said her group's findings mark an important contribution to the debate on Neanderthals' symbolic capacity. If the archaeologists’ interpretations are accurate, it would also make the stone the oldest known portable art object in Europe and the only one known to have been painted by Neanderthals. Read the original scholarly article about this research in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-025-02243-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences</a></em>. To read about eagle talons that Neanderthals appropriated as jewelry and symbolic objects, go to "<a href="https://archaeology.org/issues/july-august-2019/digs-discoveries/trenches-neanderthal-golden-eagles/">Neanderthal Fashion Statement</a>."</p>
  373.  
  374.  
  375. <figure data-wp-context="{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;683e09f8657d5&quot;}" data-wp-interactive="core/image" class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="340" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Spain-Neanderthal-Rock-Ocher-Fingerprint-1024x340.jpg" alt="Red dot on rock (left) and multispectral image of the dot (right) that reveals it as a human fingerprint" class="wp-image-50702" data-image-credit="&Aacute;lvarez-Alonso et al. 2025, Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences" srcset="https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Spain-Neanderthal-Rock-Ocher-Fingerprint-1024x340.jpg 1024w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Spain-Neanderthal-Rock-Ocher-Fingerprint-300x100.jpg 300w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Spain-Neanderthal-Rock-Ocher-Fingerprint-768x255.jpg 768w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Spain-Neanderthal-Rock-Ocher-Fingerprint-1536x510.jpg 1536w, https://archaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/News-20250529-Spain-Neanderthal-Rock-Ocher-Fingerprint.jpg 1808w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><button
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  387. </svg>
  388. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Detail of the red dot (left) and a multispectral image of the red dot (right)</figcaption></figure>
  389. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/oldest-known-human-fingerprint-detected-on-neanderthal-object/">Oldest Known Human Fingerprint Detected on Neanderthal Object</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  390. ]]></content:encoded>
  394. </item>
  395. <item>
  396. <title>Major Discoveries at Chachapoya Site in Peru Announced</title>
  397. <link>https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/28/major-discoveries-announced-at-chachapoya-site-in-peru/</link>
  399. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Urbanus]]></dc:creator>
  400. <pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2025 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  401. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  402. <category><![CDATA[Chachapoyas]]></category>
  403. <category><![CDATA[Gran Pajaten]]></category>
  404. <category><![CDATA[Peru]]></category>
  405. <category><![CDATA[World Monuments Fund]]></category>
  406. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://archaeology.org/?p=50635</guid>
  407.  
  408. <description><![CDATA[<p>GRAN PAJATÉN, PERU—The Chachapoya civilization developed between the seventh and the sixteenth century high in [&#8230;]</p>
  409. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/28/major-discoveries-announced-at-chachapoya-site-in-peru/">Major Discoveries at Chachapoya Site in Peru Announced</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  410. ]]></description>
  411. <content:encoded><![CDATA[
  412. <p>GRAN PAJATÉN, PERU—The Chachapoya civilization developed between the seventh and the sixteenth century high in the Andes Mountains of northern Peru. They are known for building sophisticated urban centers in often remote and rugged locations perched as high as 9,500 feet above sea level. According to a statement released by the <a href="https://www.wmf.org/press-releases/gran-pajaten-discovery?lang=english" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Monuments Fund (WMF)</a>, over the past several years a new project has revealed major new discoveries at Gran Patajén, one of the most enigmatic yet culturally significant Chachapoya sites. Previous work in the area during the 1960s identified 26 archaeological structures, which included ceremonial buildings decorated with stone mosaics depicting human figures and high-relief friezes. However, much of the site remained buried in thick vegetation. The new project was able to reveal more than 100 additional buildings at the site, which marks a milestone in the understanding of Chachapoya settlement organization, architecture, and regional influence. “This discovery radically expands our understanding of Gran Pajatén and raises new questions about the site’s role in the Chachapoya world,” said Juan Pablo de la Puente Brunke, executive director of WMF in Peru. “Evidence now confirms that it is not an isolated complex but part of an articulated network of pre-Hispanic settlements from different periods.” To read about excavations of the monumental center of Pañamarca in northern Peru, go to "<a href="https://archaeology.org/issues/january-february-2025/collection/the-making-of-a-moche-queen/top-10-discoveries-of-2024/">The Making of a Moche Queen</a>," one of <span class="small-caps"><span class="small-caps-first-letter">A</span>RCHAEOLOGY</span>'s Top 10 Discoveries of 2024.</p>
  413. <p>The post <a href="https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/28/major-discoveries-announced-at-chachapoya-site-in-peru/">Major Discoveries at Chachapoya Site in Peru Announced</a> appeared first on <a href="https://archaeology.org">Archaeology Magazine</a>.</p>
  414. ]]></content:encoded>
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