🧐 Ancient Beat #68: Hidden dolmens, "giant" prehistoric axes, and pushing back the date of that delicious baked-bread smell
Hi folks! Welcome to issue #68 of Ancient Beat. And happy (belated) Fourth of July to those who celebrated it!
Let’s dive right in — here’s the latest ancient news. 👇
🗞 Ancient News: Top 5
300,000-Year-Old “Giant” Prehistoric Hand Axes Found in Kent — A whopping 800 stone artifacts from 300,000 years ago were discovered in the sediment of a filled sinkhole and river channel in Kent, England. Two large flint hand axes have now been identified as some of the largest stone tools from the Paleolithic period ever found in Britain. The largest measures roughly a foot long and according to Letty Ingrey, “These handaxes are so big that it’s difficult to imagine how they could have been easily held and used. Perhaps they fulfilled a less practical or more symbolic function than other tools, a clear demonstration of strength and skill.” Neanderthals were just showing up in Britain at this time, so this may have belonged to them. But they would have shared the land with other species of humans so that’s not certain. The team also found a Roman cemetery from the 1st-4th centuries CE nearby, with the remains of 25 individuals and grave goods.
Study of the Cañada Real Dolmen Reveals Existence of Other Underground Structures — Underground structures have been discovered near the Cañada Real Dolmen in Los Molares, Spain. Cañada Real Dolmen is 24 feet in length and forms an “L”. It, as well as another funerary monument nearby known as El Palomar dolmen, dates to between 4000 and 3500 BCE, when agriculturalists arrived and started burying their dead in dolmen tombs. Ground penetrating radar is being used at the site to investigate underground anomalies and at least two other dolmens have now been found. According to the director of the investigation, “The underground anomalies reflect a figure of similar dimensions to those of the Neolithic dolmen with an L-shaped plan, the typical local architecture of the prehistoric megaliths of Los Molares… There is another large structure buried very close to the Cañada Real dolmen that looks like a corridor-type dolmen with a chamber.” Possible Neolithic-type roundhouses were also found.
Discovery of up to 25 Mesolithic Pits in Bedfordshire Astounds Archaeologists —Monumental pits dating to the Mesolithic period were found in Bedfordshire, England. There are as many as 25 of them, making the discovery highly significant, as this is more than anywhere else in England or Wales. The round pits date to 7,700-8,500 years ago. They’re 16.4 feet wide and 5.5 feet deep with steep sides, and they were laid out in straight lines up to 1,500 feet long. The purpose of these pits is unknown. The shape of the pits makes hunting and storing food unlikely. But they’re clustered around dried-up streams and it’s possible that they have celestial alignments too (investigation into this is underway), both of which could suggest a spiritual significance. The remains of animals, including aurochs, were found inside some of the pits, indicating feasting.
What Did Italy’s Neanderthals Eat? — A recent analysis of Neanderthal tools from between 39,000 and 43,000 years ago found that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens were producing flour from wild cereals 7,000-10,000 years earlier than previously thought — not just earlier than others in the region, but earlier than anyone that we know of anywhere. Starch granules were found on grindstones and pestles at a Neanderthal site in northern Italy, as well as a sapiens site 600 miles to the south. It is not known whether there was contact between the two communities, but it’s possible that they shared technical knowledge and foodways. According to Julien Riel-Salvatore, “Transforming cereals into flour is an important innovation because it allowed Paleolithic foragers to store and transport food more easily. Pushing this behavior this far back in time really changes how we think about how these highly mobile people lived.”
The Invisible Plant Technology of the Prehistoric Philippines — Plant-based materials are rarely preserved in the tropics, with the oldest in Southeast Asia being 8,000 years old. But a recent study found indirect microscopic evidence of much older plant technology on stone tools found in Tabon Cave on Palawan in the Philippines dating back as far as 39,000 years ago. The evidence came in the form of microscopic damage on the tools that matches the damage done to the tools of indigenous communities of the region when they strip plants like bamboo and palm to create fibers for tying and weaving. According to the authors, “This study pushes back in time the antiquity of fiber technology in Southeast Asia. It means that the Prehistoric groups who lived at Tabon Cave had the possibility to make baskets and traps, but also ropes that can be used to build houses, sail boats, hunt with bows and make composite objects.” That’s very cool and all, but what really strikes me about this discovery is that modern-day people are using the same practices that have presumably been passed down generation after generation for at least 39,000 years. 🤯
That’s it for the free Top 5! If you’re a free subscriber, sign up for the paid plan for another 17 stories and 8 recommended pieces of content covering the Ivory Woman, spread of agriculture across the Mediterranean (via sheep and ships), altars, yokes, monuments, African ivory in Britain, a skeleton found in someone’s garden, and yet another skeleton found in someone else’s garden. (And if you want access but it’s a little too steep for you right now, just shoot me an email — I want this to be accessible.)
Until next time, thanks for joining me!
-James
Twitter: @jamesofthedrum
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🗞 Ancient News: Deep Dive
Lavish Tomb in Ancient Spain Belonged to a Woman, Not a Man, New Research Shows — A 5,000-year-old tomb with a crystal dagger, ivory tusks, ostrich eggshells, and other luxury items was discovered in Spain in 2008. It was assumed that the buried individual was male, but analysis of tooth enamel has now shown that they were female. According to Alison Beach, “This research provides one more piece of evidence questioning old historical narratives. It’s not exclusively true that men have always been the most revered or held the most authority.” And this person certainly was revered. Aside from the grave goods, the fact that she was buried alone is significant. Plus, people were buried around her for 250 years after her death… with a respectable buffer of about 100 feet. And get this: About 80 years after her death, people reentered her tomb to leave more offerings, including that crystal dagger.
Specialization in Sheep Farming, a Possible Strategy for Neolithic Communities in the Adriatic to Expand Throughout the Mediterranean — According to a recent study, neolithic populations of Dalmatia, Croatia specialized in sheep farming; not goats and sheep as was previously believed. And this may have been responsible for their rapid expansion, as well as the spread of agriculture westward through the Mediterranean 8,000 years ago. Pastoral practices and the use of animal products at the sites of Tinj-Podlivade and Crno Vrilo showed evidence of a common animal economy that may have been related to the mobility of these societies. The researchers believe that the use of sheep was strategic so that these people could travel more easily, particularly since they likely traveled by sea. According to Alejandro Sierra, “Sheep specialization may have had to do with an anticipatory mobility strategy, in which population groups carried out planning adapted to navigation in order to increase their chances of success, focusing on a species with many advantages, both for movement and settlement.”
Ancient Greek Altar Unearthed at Archaeological Site in Sicily — A 2,100-year-old altar was discovered at the site of Segesta on the island of Sicily, Italy. It’s a Greek artifact that was probably used for family worship at the height of the Hellenic cultural influence in the area, just prior to the rise of the Roman empire. The support for a sculpture was also found.
Mesoamerican Stone Yoke Recovered in Austria — A stone yoke from Mesoamerica was nearly auctioned in Austria until authorities put an end to it. It is thought to be from between 400 and 900 CE. Such yokes are thought to represent hip protectors worn by ball players. It may have been given as a trophy and/or used as a ceremonial offering.
Archaeological Survey in Turkey's Mardin Uncovers Ancient Settlements — A new survey found a new concentration of ancient settlements. They date to the Neolithic and beyond, with some of the Neolithic settlements being only about 1,000 feet apart. According to Ergül Kodaş, “These findings not only highlight the ancient history of human habitation in the region but also provide insights into the transition toward a more settled way of life during the early stages of the Neolithic Age.”
A Large Stone Monument Depicting the Goddess Ishtar has been Unearthed in the Ancient Assyrian City of Nimrud — A large stone monument depicting the Assyrian goddess Ishtar inside of a star symbol was discovered in the ancient city of Nimrud in modern-day Iraq. It was found in the 2,800-year-old Temple of Ishtar, which was burned when Nimrud was sacked in 612 BCE. Michael Danti, who called this their greatest find of the season, said, “This is the first unequivocal depiction of the goddess as Ishtar Sharrrat-niphi, a divine aspect of the goddess associated with the rising of the planet Venus, the ‘morning star,’ to be found in this temple dedicated to her.”
High-Status Iron Age Burial Found in Hallstatt — A burial from the Iron Age was discovered in Hallstatt, Austria, which is in a region known for its production of salt dating back to prehistory. It was found in an Iron-Age cemetery that was discovered in 1846 with over 1,000 graves. This newly discovered burial pit contained a cremation grave and bronze artifacts including a ribbed arm ring, spirals of wire, a bronze blade with traces of a wooden handle, a piece of iron lead piece of a belt, and animal and food remains. All of these artifacts were intentionally broken or bent. Except for the remains and food. It’s kind of hard to bend those. The damage to the artifacts is something we’ve seen a lot of in this newsletter. It’s thought to be done as part of a ritual offering and maybe an expression of the death of the individual. I’ve also heard that it was done so that the objects could go to the afterlife with the person. Traces of fabric and spiral disks were also found, indicating that the remains may have been placed in a textile bag with spiral disks placed on top — a burial practice that was not known to be part of the Hallstatt culture.
Cluster of Tombs Excavated in Central China — A cluster of tombs was found in the region of Kaifeng, China. Two of the tombs were dated to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 CE), twelve to the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), and the rest to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE). Chairs, tables, tableware, scissors, flat irons, clothes racks, and wardrobes were found within. And it’s worth noting that the Song-period tombs mimicked homes and gardens with stairs, chambers, doors, windows, and murals.
Man in Sweden Finds Viking Age Skeleton in his Garden — Can you imagine finding a human skeleton while you’re gardening? 😱 Well it happened to a guy in Norway. He found a jawbone, teeth, and more. The discovery happened in March and was viewed as a homicide until a recent release said that the individual was actually buried in the Viking Age. Apparently, authorities knew that it was old, but thought it might have been a murder from the 19th century — no one expected the remains to be 1,000 years old. The 20-year-old man who was buried was not of Nordic origin.
Viking Grave And Sword Discovered In Norwegian Garden — Can you imagine finding a… wait a minute. Yep, it’s another skeleton found in another Scandinavian garden. Weird. This glitch in the Matrix was discovered while a couple in Norway was extending their home. They encountered an odd stone but didn’t think much of it, so they kept digging until they found a sword sticking up out of the earth. Turns out the stone was probably a gravestone. The style of the hilt of the sword dates to the Viking Age, probably the late 9th or early 10th century. A lance was also found in the grave, along with glass beads gilded with gold and a belt buckle that may have also been gilded. It’s a richer grave than is usual for the area. Here’s a fun fact from Jo-Simon Frøshaug Stokke: “A pattern that we see is that you bury those who have owned land near the farm, and often in a spot that is easily visible from the nearby roads. People who passed by would then see the grave and know that the people who live here have ancestors who have lived here for a long time. These are our relatives; we lay claim to this land and have done so for generations. This is the function of the visible grave.” This grave doesn’t appear to have been a mound, so I’m not sure why he thought this was particularly relevant, though I suppose the gravestone would have made it somewhat visible. Anyway, happy gardening, folks! I think I’ll be sticking to raised beds. 😅
Exceptional Ancient Weapons from Historic Roman Battle Uncovered — The Battle of Lyon (modern-day France) was the biggest battle ever fought between two Roman armies, and it took place on February 19, 197 CE. A new season of excavations has uncovered a trove of military artifacts including arrowheads, spearheads, swords, siege grappling hooks, and more. Plus some decapitated heads.
Burial Site With Dozens of Skeletons Dating Back 1,300 Years Discovered — Not far from Lyon, 80 graves were found near Lac du Bourget of Savoie, France. The cemetery dates to the middle of the Merovingian period (7th century CE). The individuals were placed facing eastward, which may have been a Christian rite of facing toward Jerusalem. Some clothing and ornaments were found, but not enough to tell us much.
Farmer Stumbles on Roman Artifact Weighing Over 6,000 Pounds — A farmer found a Roman olive oil mill when uprooting an olive tree near Baena, Spain. It looks sort of like an upside-down mushroom made of stone. It weighs 3.3 tons and is about 3 feet by 4 feet. And it’s likely about 2,000 years old. Baena still produces olive oil today.
A Partial Prehistory of the Southwest Silk Road: Archaeometallurgical Networks Along the Sub-Himalayan Corridor — Microstructural, elemental, and lead isotope data in Southeast Asia and southern China were compared with late prehistoric archaeometallurgical databases of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Yunnan. By identifying consistencies between communities, they found that southern sections of the Southwest Silk Road were active in the late 2nd millennium BCE. This adds up, as the Han Dynasty of China kicked it off in roughly 130 BCE.
Ancient Rock Engravings at Timna Park Reveal Insights Into Human Culture — A study of engraving techniques used at ancient rock engravings in Timna Park, Israel found that different incisions were executed using different techniques. They were able to identify ergonomic conditions, individual production procedures, and consistency of engraving gestures. The significance of the study goes beyond the finds themselves to the new method the researchers devised using 3D modeling, which opens up new possibilities in research of such engravings.
Boat Estimated to be 500 Years Old Discovered in Dnipro River — A 21-foot, 500-year-old boat made of an oak column was found in Dnipro River near Khortytsia Island in Ukraine. Similar boats found in the area have been connected to an ancient Russian settlement. Check out the link for footage of the excavations.
Ivory Bag Rings Found in Anglo-Saxon Burials Have Origins in Africa — A new study of ivory bag rings, which were common in high-status Anglo-Saxon female burials from the 5th-7th centuries CE, has laid the debate about the origins of said ivory to rest. It isn’t walrus or mammoth ivory; it comes all the way from elephants in Africa. According to the study, “Through a multi-methodological approach, we have established that the ivory used for the Scremby bag rings came from elephants living in an area of young volcanic rocks in Africa at some point during the 5th and 6th centuries AD.” They are likely from Eastern Africa, and probably entered Northern Europe via the Kingdom of Aksum, which played a big role in ivory supply until the 7th century when Islamic conquests may have disrupted their trade networks.
❤️ Recommended Content
I haven’t included many 1-star reviews in recent issues, but this one was pretty funny. It’s about Castle Larisa in Argos: “Looks more promising from far away.” 😂 Honestly, I’d be offended for the castle if that wasn’t true for pretty much every castle.
Did you hear about the 39 standing stones that were destroyed in order to build a DIY store in Brittany? Well, it’s not quite so simple as that… and you may be relieved to hear that it’s not even true. I was. Here’s a video on the topic.
Here’s a video about how cod may have saved the Vikings by giving them the Vitamin D they needed in order to survive so far north. There’s a nice little science lesson in there too. 😀
In case you were wondering, here’s an article about why archaeologists rebury their excavations.
Here’s an AMA from an archaeologist where he answers people’s questions — some interesting stuff in there.
In the wake of some dude carving his girlfriend’s name into the Colosseum, here’s an article about Roman graffiti. They were much more creative about it.
If you enjoyed the contested study about King David that I covered last week, here’s a deeper dive.
And here’s a video about the biblical city of Armageddon. I’ve covered the site a couple of times here on the Beat. One point that I found really interesting was that the Church questioned whether Revelations (the only place where the prophecy of Armageddon was mentioned in the Bible) should even be canonical. And according to the narrator, the prophecy was often disregarded. In fact, it was only really believed in times when people felt alienated and yearned for change — times like the medieval ages and the first world war.
There you have it! Have a wonderful weekend, my friends. 🧐