Archaeologists Discover ‘Amazing’ Iron Age Grave In Lofoten

Norwegian archaeologists have found a remarkably well-preserved skeleton believed to date from the Iron Age during an excavation on the Lofoten Islands.

Earlier this year, a team of archaeologists were surprised to discover a femur and hip bone during a routine excavation on Gimsøya island in Norway's Lofoten.

The work continued, and the team was astonished to discover the entire upper body skeleton completely intact.

 

Archaeologist Anja Roth Niemi from Norway's Arctic University Museum is the project manager. She told NRK that parts of the grave are incredibly well-preserved, which is surprising given the work that went on in the area during the 1950s and 1960s.

“The upper body has not been disturbed by soil levelling or other human activity. It is absolutely amazing,” she said.

Read the rest of this article...

Nächste Runde im Streit um das Alter der Himmelsscheibe von Nebra

 Die Himmelsscheibe von Nebra gilt als die älteste konkrete astronomische Darstellung der Welt. Lange Zeit war sich die Fachwelt einig, dass der Fund der Bronzezeit zugeordnet werden kann. Zwei deutsche Prähistoriker behaupteten in diesem Jahr, dass die Scheibe aus der Eisenzeit stamme und lösten damit eine Kontroverse aus. Nun ist in der von der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften herausgegebenen Fachzeitschrift »Archaeologia Austriaca« eine Erwiderung erschienen - die Autoren bekräftigen die Datierung der Himmelsscheibe in die Bronzezeit.

Read the rest of this article...

Stonehenge

Stonehenge in southern England ranks among the world's most iconic archaeological sites and one of its greatest enigmas. The megalithic circle on Salisbury Plain inspires awe and fascination—but also intense debate some 4,600 years after it was built by ancient Britons who left no written record.

The monument's mysterious past has spawned countless tales and theories. According to folklore, Stonehenge was created by Merlin, the wizard of Arthurian legend, who magically transported the massive stones from Ireland, where giants had assembled them. Another legend says invading Danes put the stones up, and another theory says they were the ruins of a Roman temple. Modern-day interpretations are no less colorful: some argue that Stonehenge is a spacecraft landing area for aliens, and even more say it's a giant fertility symbol in the shape of female genitalia.

Read the rest of this article...

Construction Workers Unearth Ancient Greek Gem in Downtown Athens

credit: Facebook.com/KostasBakoyannis

Α spectacular ancient Greek sculpture was unearthed in the downtown Agia Irini (St Irene) Square of Athens on Saturday during construction work.

The news was shared by Kostas Bakoyannis, the mayor of the city of Athens, through a Facebook post.

There is still not much information about how old the sculpture is or who it depicts.

Some speculate the marble head belongs to an ancient Greek God, probably Zeus, others say it depicts a prominent ancient Athenian.

Others claim that the sculpture is typical of the type of Hermes Propylaeus of Alkamenos, and it is believed to date back to the 4th or 3rd century AD.

Read the rest of this article...