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A Polish archaeological team has discovered a decorated clay vessel containing dozens of gold coins at a lost monastery in Egypt. The find was made in a room of the Archangel Gabriel monastery (Deir Malek Gubrail) in Naqlun, in the Fayum Oasis, by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of Warsaw University. SCA chief Zahi Hawass says the hoard’s 18 coins and 62 coin fragments are dated to Egypt’s Abbasid Period, which ruled northern regions between 750 and 1258 AD. Team leader Wlodzimierz Godlewski says the monastic complex of Naqlun was built at the beginning of the 6th century AD.…
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When the tomb was found it was completely by accident, explains Dr Zahi Hawass, of Howard Carters discovery of KV62, at the start of the final instalment of Heritage Keys four-part video interview series King Tut Revealed, filmed by Nico Piazza and featuring still photography by Sandro Vannini. Having already, in previous videos, disclosed the cause of Tutankhamuns death, shared his thoughts on the curse that apparently befalls all who tamper with the boy kings tomb, and revealed some of the jewellery and other treasures buried with the boy king, Hawass this time talks about tomb robbers in the Valley…
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Researchers have announced the discovery of a huge ancient city, lost beneath the Caribbean Sea. Yet despite possibly predating the pyramids at Giza, its finders insist their breakthrough is not the legendary city of Atlantis. Satellite images of the city – which is not the same as the underwater site off the coast of Cuba proposed by Russian experts in 2001 – appear to show a pyramid, platforms and ruined buildings. And the project’s leader, who wishes to remain anonymous, is conviced they’re no fluke of nature. “We’ve found structure: what appears to be a tall, narrow pyramid; large platform…
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Does Zahi Hawass want the Rosetta Stone on loan or not? It’s hard to know if you read the news often enough. Last night saw Egypt’s antiquities boss come to the British Museum in London to promote his new book A Secret Voyage. Yet among the niceties between Dr Hawass and BM director Neil MacGregor, trouble was already brewing behind the scenes. And while Dr Hawass, who has stepped up his quest to bring Egypt’s greatest treasures home, insisted he wasn’t in London for the Rosetta Stone, he couldn’t help stepping in front of BBC cameras to stake his country’s…
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A precious Roman wall painting, stolen from the site of an ancient villa near Pompeii, has been returned to Italy, after 12 years circulating on the nebulous antiquities market. The fragment of plaster fresco originally came from a Roman villa at Boscoreale, just outside Pompeii, and was reported stolen from an archaeological warehouse at Pompeii in 1997. The fresco is a typically Pompeian scene showing a woman dressed in green carrying a dish or tray against a cream background, surrounded by a deep red frame. Another part of the fragmented wall fresco, depicting Dionysos, was recovered from a London art…
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The British Museum’s Egyptian Sculpture Gallery was packed last night, as hundreds of dignitaries flocked to see The World’s Most Famous Archaeologist (copyright all bloggers) Dr Zahi Hawass, speaking ahead of the release of his latest book A Secret Voyage. Cameras in hand, Heritage Key was there to witness Dr Hawass’ appearance, heralded more like the second coming than a book signing. Stood in front of the museum’s colossal head of Ramesses the Great, Dr Hawass boomed out at his fans like an emissary from the pharaoh himself. But as he spoke, you could sense he was looking longingly above…
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Virtual Photography can be very stunning as you can see in the slide show above. Our Flickr Contest has a pool of some top notch photography so far and I have received great interest to extend the deadline to accommodate some late participants. We have decided to extend the submission deadline to 14th of December Monday midnight. We will then announce the winners on Friday the 18th of December. In the mean time if you would like some tricks on photography here is a nice blog in Virtual Photography From Graecyn you can find more tutorials in our Rezzable website…
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The National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa has four months of Roman festivities planned to tie in with its blockbuster Pompeii exhibition in Wellington. A Day in Pompeii opens in the museums showcase Visa Platinum Gallery on December 19 and runs until April 25. Te Papas acting chief executive, Michelle Hippolite, said New Zealanders were in for a truly unique experience. Exhibition highlights from Pompeii include a bronze gladiators helmet and armour, exquisite gold jewellery, and a six-metre wide garden fresco that once graced the outdoor dining area of an opulent villa. There’s also a 3D theatre that…
