Ancient history
A short history of games of chance in the Middle East
From ancient dice and royal game boards to modern digital platforms, the Middle East's long relationship with games of chance reveals a timeless fascination with luck, fate and uncertainty.
Frescos from famed Etruscan tomb go on display in Rome after multi-million euro purchase by Italy
A historical overview of gambling in the Middle East
Turkey places site of Alexander the Great’s first battle with Persians under historic protection
A 3,000-year-old divination archive found in Turkey
Cuneiform tablets mentioning crown princes and kings provide new insights into how ancient empire used bird omens for state decisions.
Sparta and Athens: History's wartime lessons for a modern-day Israel - analysis
As Netanyahu evokes "super-Sparta," Israel may be repeating the mistakes that left both city-states devastated after decades of war.
Study: Oldest mummies predate ancient Egypt by 6,000 years
Researchers analyzed 54 skeletons from 11 sites, detecting prolonged low-temperature heating and tightly bound 'fetal' postures consistent with deliberate processing before burial.
Ancient lentils in the canary islands survived 2,000 years, DNA shows
Genetic analysis reveals indigenous cultivation practices and crop continuity dating back to the 3rd century CE.
Older than Neanderthal rites? New papers double down on the Homo naledi burial hypothesis
Researchers say remains of at least 15 individuals in the Rising Star cave were deliberately placed and quickly covered by sediments, countering claims of accidental deposition.
Three new 7.7-million-year-old elephant skulls unearthed in Turkey
“This year we can talk about the year of the elephant. From 2018 until now, we had identified two skulls, but only this year did we find three” described an archeologist.
'Palm-sized predator' with outsized teeth rewrites lizard origins
Scientists used the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility to X-ray the tiny fossil and reveal high-resolution details.
9,500-year-old communal hall uncovered at Çayönü, reshaping our understanding of Neolithic society
“The fact that the floor paint was renewed at least four times shows that the building was periodically re-functionalized and used” said an archeologist.
Under La Rambla's makeover, a 50-meter stretch of Barcelona's 14th-century defenses is revealed
Archaeologists documented a pentagonal tower, flood deposits at 3.5 meters, and the burial of a small donkey surrounded by bronze needles.
Ancient Cemetery Reveals Unique Burial Practices with Insect Jewelry
"The discovery of a Phyllobius viridicollis beetle ornament in a cremation grave shows diverse use of organic materials in funerary rites and, with dandelion pollen, helps date the burial season."
