Ancient Wonder Resurrected: 22 Massive Blocks of the Lighthouse of Alexandria Recovered

2025-07-18
Ancient Wonder Resurrected: 22 Massive Blocks of the Lighthouse of Alexandria Recovered

Twenty-two massive stone blocks from the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, have been recovered from the Mediterranean seabed after centuries underwater. This breakthrough is part of the PHAROS project, using advanced technology to virtually reconstruct the structure. The recovered blocks, including monumental entrance lintels and foundation stones, show a blend of Egyptian and Greek styles, reflecting Alexandria's multicultural past. These blocks will be digitally scanned and reassembled by engineers, creating a virtual twin of the lighthouse to reveal its original glory and the cause of its collapse.

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Neanderthal 'Fat Factory' Rewrites Understanding of Ancient Resource Management

2025-07-07
Neanderthal 'Fat Factory' Rewrites Understanding of Ancient Resource Management

A groundbreaking study published in Science Advances reveals that Neanderthals in central Germany 125,000 years ago employed sophisticated techniques to extract bone grease from large animals using water and heat. Discovered at the Neumark-Nord 2 site, this 'fat factory' demonstrates a level of nutritional planning and resource management previously unseen in Neanderthals. The findings challenge the stereotypical image of brutish cavemen, portraying Neanderthals as capable of complex social organization and advanced survival strategies with long-term environmental impacts.

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Tech

Archaeological Study Upends Traditional Views on Wealth Inequality

2025-04-27
Archaeological Study Upends Traditional Views on Wealth Inequality

A groundbreaking study in PNAS challenges conventional wisdom about wealth inequality, showing it's not an inevitable outcome of societal progress. Analyzing data from over 50,000 houses across 1,000 archaeological sites, researchers found that inequality levels varied greatly throughout history. While often correlated with population growth and hierarchical governance, it wasn't universally true. Some societies developed mechanisms to curb wealth concentration. The study debunks the myth that inequality is an automatic consequence of technological or demographic change, highlighting the crucial role of human decisions in shaping social outcomes.

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Tech Sociology

Frankfurt Silver Amulet Rewrites Early Christian History

2024-12-18
Frankfurt Silver Amulet Rewrites Early Christian History

Archaeologists unearthed a groundbreaking artifact in a 3rd-century Roman grave near Frankfurt, Germany: a silver amulet, the "Frankfurt Silver Inscription." Dating back to 230-270 CE, this amulet predates previously known Christian artifacts in the region by almost 50 years. Its inscription, deciphered using advanced technology, contains exclusively Christian content, including invocations to Jesus Christ and biblical quotations. This discovery significantly pushes back the timeline of Christianity's presence north of the Alps, shedding light on its early spread and influence in Roman Germania. The find has major implications for archaeology, theology, and Roman history.

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Mysterious Tablet with Unknown Script Unearthed in Georgia

2024-12-14
Mysterious Tablet with Unknown Script Unearthed in Georgia

A basalt tablet inscribed with an enigmatic language has been discovered near Lake Bashplemi in Georgia's Dmanisi region. The 24.1 x 20.1 cm tablet, featuring 60 characters (39 unique), has baffled researchers. Its symbols, possibly related to military spoils, construction, or religious offerings, bear partial resemblance to scripts from the Middle East, India, Egypt, and West Iberia, yet are distinct. Dating potentially to the Late Bronze or Early Iron Ages, the tablet adds a layer of complexity to the cultural history of the Caucasus, hinting at possible ancient cultural exchange between diverse regions.

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