🧐 Ancient Beat #109: A punic time capsule, unexpected rock art, and a long-lost Nile branch responsible for the pyramids

It’s hot out and I’m drinking a hot cup of coffee. I now realize this was a questionable decision. #regrets

It’s okay, I’ll sweat through it.

Welcome to issue #109 of Ancient Beat! Here’s the latest ancient news. 👇

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🗞 Ancient News: Top 5

• Discovery May Explain Why Egyptian Pyramids Were Built Along Long-Lost Ahramat Branch Of The Nile — Researchers found that 31 pyramids, including the Giza complex, were likely built along a now-buried 40-mile-long Nile branch named "Ahramat." This branch, identified through satellite imagery and sediment analysis, supported pyramid construction by providing water transport routes. The river’s silting and migration, beginning around 2200 BCE due to increased sand build-up, possibly caused by drought, made the branch disappear. This discovery highlights the Nile’s crucial role in ancient Egyptian society and suggests further archaeological potential along extinct river branches.

• 5,000-Year-Old Rock Art in Sudan May Reflect Climate Change — Rock art depicting boats and cattle has been found in Sudan’s Atbai Desert, over 60 miles from Wadi Halfa and the shores of Lake Nubia. These images date back 5,000 years. The discovery was unexpected as there is little evidence of Egyptians or Nubians venturing this deep into the desert during that early prehistoric period. The well-crafted carvings suggest the artists stayed at the site for an extended period, indicating the climate supported grasslands suitable for cattle and nomadic life. Researchers believe these engravings were made just before a significant climate shift — the collapse of the African monsoon. This climatic change forced nomads to migrate southward and towards the Nile River, where early farming communities were emerging and ancient Egyptian and Nubian states began forming. This migration and demographic upheaval are thought to be linked to the climate shift, potentially influencing the development of the Egyptian state.

Image credit: Atbai Survey Project

• Endurance Running May Have Helped Prehistoric Hunters — According to a new study, prehistoric hunters likely used endurance running as a hunting technique. This method, known as persistence hunting, involves chasing prey over long distances until the animal overheats and collapses. Unlike prey that can sprint and quickly overheat, humans can maintain a steady pace and cool down by sweating. This technique, particularly advantageous in difficult terrain, was identified by the researchers through historic accounts from the 16th to the 21st centuries. It complements — and is often preferable to — other hunting methods like communal hunts, traps, snares, stalking, and ambushing.

• Hair Analysis Hints At Beethoven’s Health Status — Recent analysis of Beethoven's hair revealed high levels of lead, suggesting chronic lead poisoning. This condition may have contributed to his health issues, including gastrointestinal problems and mood disorders. The hair samples, taken from various points in his life, provide a timeline of exposure, indicating he might have ingested lead through contaminated food, drink, or medical treatments common in the 19th century.

• A Devastating Fire 2,200 Years Ago Preserved a Moment of Life and War in Iron Age Spain — The ruins of Tossal de Baltarga in the Pyrenees revealed a settlement destroyed by fire around the end of the 3rd century BCE, possibly linked to the Second Punic War. Archaeologists uncovered a gold earring, an iron pickaxe, and textile production tools. The fire preserved organic remains, showing the inhabitants’ diet and lifestyle. The site, significant for its strategic location and economic activity, highlights the impact of conflict on the Cerretani community during Hannibal’s passage through the region.

That’s it for the free Top 5! If you’re a free subscriber, sign up for the paid plan for another 15 stories and 6 recommended pieces of content covering churches, halls, female Roman scholars, amputations, pithoi, Giza, cave art, and Habonim North.

Have a great weekend!

-James
Twitter: @jamesofthedrum

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🗞 Ancient News: Deep Dive