• malcolmj

    Top 10 Facts About Sparta’s Women

    As documented in the article ‘Woman of Sparta: Tough Mothers’, Spartan women enjoyed all kinds of rights not shared by their Athenian sisters – albeit plenty of plights too. Sparta’s unique social system and constitution, which was completely focused on military training and excellence, afforded females a level of freedom and responsibility uncommon in the classical world – as child bearers, they were vital to replenishing the ranks of an army that suffered an almost constant stream of casualties; with so many men constantly away at war, they were crucial to running their households and the community at large. Yet, Spartan…

  • world

    Top Ten Cave Paintings

    Cave art is the oldest example of non-portable art in history, and dates back in some cases as far as 32,000 years. It can be found painted, scratched, etched, smudged and pecked onto the walls of caves all over the world, on almost every continent. Here we examine ten of the most famous sets of examples yet discovered. Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, India The spectacular Bhimbekta rock shelters in Madhya Pradesh, central India, contain the oldest traces of human life in the region. The vast selection of cave paintings and other forms of rock art found within them are the first…

  • Ann

    ‘No ceremonial burial for the Iceman’, respond Otzi researchers

    In his article The Iceman as a burial appearing in Antiquity 84/2010, the archaeologist Alessandro Vanzetti of Romes La Sapienza University and his coauthors reconstruct the position of the Iceman at his place of discovery on the Tisenjoch pass in South Tyrol, Italy. From this and based on his botanical investigations, he draws the conclusion that the Iceman did not die at the site of the incident: rather he died in the spring within his valley community and only later, in September, was brought up to the Tisenjoch and buried there. The team researching tzi has now responded to Vanzettis…

  • Ann

    Fiery Pool: The Maya, the Mythic Sea and the Turtle

    After a successful stay at the Peabody Essex Museum, ‘Fiery Pool: The Maya and the Mythic Sea’ opens this weekend at Forth Worth’s Kimbell Art Museum. The exhibition offers a new interpretation of the ancient culture, beyond the traditional view of the Maya as a land-based civilisation. Expect supernatural crocodiles breathing forth rain; cosmic battles taking place between mythic beasts and deities; and art works adorned with shark teeth, stingray spines, sea creatures and waterfowl all part of the new and vivid picture the exhibition paints of the Maya world view: the Maya did not just navigate river and streams,…

  • Ann

    Stonehenge Acoustics: England’s First Ministry of Sound?

    London-based nightclub Ministry’s motto of sound system first, interior design second, lights third made them one of the most famous gathering places for those who worship bass. But how did those conceptualising Stonehenge plan to enchantthe Neolithic congregate? Rupert Till, an acoustics and music technology expert, asserts the stone circle would have created a perfect (early design) amplifier – making Stonehenge the place to be from the Stone Age onwards. Professor Tillsays Stonehenge when it was in perfect shape would have worked perfectly to resonate sound, creating trance-like music which would have aided rituals and worship at the site. To…

  • bettany-hughes

    Bettany Hughes Video Journal: Socrates, Sappho, Aryans and more

    Sappho the Greek poet, Socrates the famous philosopher and the fascinating Aryan Culture which formed the basis of Eastern and Western civilisation have all been occupying my time in recent months but I had the chance to make a Heritage KeyVideo Journal entry (watch the video now) while I was recording in a London studio for a new BBC Documentary about the Aryan culture. Going out to Siberia, at the Russian-Kazakhstan border (click to open map), to see the homeland of the Aryans was very, very stimulating and intellectually very exciting, but particularly fascinating were that many of the artefacts…

  • owenjarus

    ‘Huge’ structure discovered near Snefru’s Bent Pyramid in Egypt may be an ancient harbour

    Archaeologists have discovered a large structure to the northeast of the 4,600 year old Bent Pyramid which may be the remains of an ancient harbour. It connects to one of the pyramids temples by way of a 140 meter long causeway. The discoveries were made by a team from the Cairo department of the German Archaeological Institute, and the Free University of Berlin. The team used magnetic survey and drill cores soundings to make the finds. The structure is mostly unexcavated and only a portion of the causeway has been unearthed. The structure itself is U-shaped, 90 meters by 145…

  • greece

    Socrates

    Attribution: 469 BC – 399 BC Relationship People Associated Plato, Xenophon Despite the fact that he left no literary legacy of his own, Socrates is still considered to be the founding father of Western Philosophy. Born in 469 B.C.E he took an early interest in science, studying under Archelaus. He gave up on the examination of the physical world, however, to concentrate on the exploration of morals and humanity. Socrates invented the conception of philosophical dialogue and spent much of his time in discussion with the aristocratic youth of Athens. He was greatly respected by the younger generation and during his time as a teacher to…

  • Ann

    Enormous Gallo-Roman temple complex unearthed near Le Mans, France

    Archaeologists have discovered a large Gallo-Roman religious complex located only a few kilometres from the ancient city of Le Mans. The ancient sanctuary is thought to have been an important pilgrimage area, visited by thousands to honour the gods. The religious complex unearthed in Neuville-sur-Sarthe about 5km north of Le Mans, France is excavated by archaeologists from the French National Institute of Archaeological Research (INRAP) and dated to the 1st to 3rd century AD. Traces of the complex were first revealed on aerial photographs taken in 2003, when an long period of drought scorched much of the vegetation on the…

  • Ann

    Picture Report from the Stonehenge Summer Solstice 2010

    Comparing Stonehenge Summer Solstice 2010 with 2009, it seems that the ‘Ancestor’ really stood out as something different. Each year there are small ‘arts & crafts’ performances (dance, live music, jugglers, …) but this year a massive 20ft steel sculpture was the guest of honour at Stonehenge, marking a significant change – a statement that the future and the now is just as important as the celebration of the summer solstice and the past, the ancient megaliths and the remembering of ancestors. So it seemed appropriate to kick-start this picture report with the statue – appropriately dubbed ‘The Ancestor’ – reaching out…