🧐 Ancient Beat #113: Labyrinths, dragons, and egalitarian food access in prehistory
Happy Saturday, folks! Welcome to issue #113 of Ancient Beat. I’ve got a whopping 33 discoveries to cover this week, plus some great articles, so let’s not dally. Here’s the latest ancient news. 👇
🗞 Ancient News: Top 5
Remarkable Giant Minoan Structure Found on Top of Papoura Hill, Crete — A monumental circular Minoan structure has been discovered atop Papoura Hill near Kastelli, Crete, dating between 2000 and 1700 BCE. Spanning approximately 157 feet in diameter and covering around 19,375 square feet, this unique edifice features eight superimposed stone rings forming a labyrinthine layout with a central zone and smaller surrounding spaces. The intricate design showcases the advanced engineering and construction skills of the Minoans, a highly advanced Bronze Age civilization. Artifacts and animal bones found at the site suggest it served as a community building or landmark rather than a permanent residence. Its intricate network of corridors and rooms suggest that it may have been used for ceremonial or administrative purposes.
Genetic Study Yields New Thoughts on Horse Domestication — A genetic analysis conducted on the genomes of 475 ancient horses and 77 modern ones, with the oldest remains dating back about 50,000 years, has revealed new insights into horse domestication. Researchers determined that horses were domesticated around 4,200 years ago (probably by the Sintashta people) on the steppes of present-day southwestern Russia — about 800 years after the Yamnaya people’s westward migration, previously believed to be the first horseback riders. It should be noted that we do have evidence of horse milk consumption 5,500 years ago and early ridership 5,000 years ago, though these are not necessarily indicators of full domestication. Indicators of domestication included a decrease in the generational period from seven to four years and evidence of selective breeding. These domesticated horses spread rapidly across Europe and Asia, suggesting their use for mobility. The study also found signs of domestication found in 5,000-year-old horse remains from the Botai culture in Central Asia, though this domestication process ultimately failed.
Celtic Ritual Lake Discovered in Poland — Archaeologists uncovered a ritual lake associated with the Celtic peoples in northern Poland. A sword had already been discovered there, which led researchers to examine the area further. They found sickles, iron sheath fragments, and chain belts from the 3rd century BCE, which had been ritually deposited in the lake. According to Bartosz Kontny, “No one expected the Celts this far north back in the third century BC. Until now, it had been thought that Celtic settlements in present-day Poland reached the Kuyavia region only in the first century BCE.”
Dragon Sculpture Found On The Jiankou Section Of The Great Wall Of China — A dragon sculpture has been unearthed on the Jiankou section of the Great Wall of China, dating to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE). This intricately carved stone dragon, measuring approximately 3 feet in length, was likely part of a larger decorative scheme meant to symbolize power and protection.
Isotope Study Suggests Men and Women Had Equal Access to Resources 6,000 Years Ago — A recent study using isotope analysis revealed that men and women had equal access to food resources in prehistoric societies about 6,000 years ago. The study examined the isotopic composition of human remains from several archaeological sites, indicating a similar diet rich in protein for both sexes. This challenges traditional views of gender roles in ancient societies, suggesting a more egalitarian distribution of resources and responsibilities.
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Until next time, thanks for joining me!
-James
Twitter: @jamesofthedrum
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🗞 Ancient News: Deep Dive
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