đ§ Ancient Beat #73: Hexagonal "pyramids", Roman road networks, and a new hominin species
đ§ Ancient Beat #73: Hexagonal "pyramids", Roman road networks, and a new hominin species
Hello hello! I hope youâve all had a fantastic week â and welcome to issue #73 of Ancient Beat.
Hereâs the latest ancient news. đ
đ Ancient News: Top 5
Ancient Skull Found in China Is Unlike Any Human Seen Before â A jaw, skull, and leg bones were discovered in Hualongdong, China in 2019. Since then, experts have tried to match the remains to a specific lineage of humans, but theyâve now decided that it may be an entirely new species of hominin from a previously unknown branch. The individualâs face is similar to the anatomically modern human lineage, but the lack of a chin is more similar to the Denisovans. And the limbs, skull cap, and jaw seem to have more primitive traits. Thanks to these similarities and differences, the researchers believe this may be a hybrid between the two branches. Fun fact: Another missing group (or perhaps the same one) that would have lived in the Middle to Late Pleistocene was previously identified by genome studies in Europe and western Asia, but nothing has been found in the fossil record to date. Maybe itâll turn out that theyâre one and the same.
Image credit: Kay PrĂźfer et al., Nature Hip Bone Found in Cave in France May Represent a Previously Unknown Lineage of Homo Sapiens â The cave known as the Grotte du Renne in France, was occupied by Neanderthals, and then by anatomically modern humans later, with some co-existence in the middle. A new study looked at a bone called an Ilium that was found in these in-between layers decades ago and found that it belonged to a newborn baby. And when they compared it to Neanderthals and modern humans, they found that it didnât fit either of them. This suggests that this individual may represent an unknown lineage of Homo sapiens with a slightly different morphology.
Archaeologists Uncover Bronze Age Pyramidal Structure in the Eurasian Steppe â A hexagonal pyramid-like structure has been discovered at a funerary complex known as Kyrykungir near Toktamys, Kazakhstan. Each side is roughly 38 feet in length. And there are several circular features inside as well. And the exterior walls depict animals (primarily horses). The structure dates back to the Bronze Age, right around 2,000 BCE. According to Ulan Umitkaliyev, âThe pyramid is built with great precision. It is a very sophisticated and complex structure.â Excavations have uncovered ceramics, gold earrings, and other jewelry. Horse bones were also found around the structure, indicating that it might have something to do with a horse cult. This would not be unusual, as horses were often deified by the people of the steppe. Burial mounds from the Hun and Saka periods were also found at the site previously.
Image credit: Eurasian National University Giant Panda Skeleton Unearthed in 2,000-Year-Old Grave of Chinese Emperor â The remains of a giant panda dating to 2,000 years ago were discovered in a sacrificial pit in the tomb of Emperor Wen (202-157 BCE), in Xiâan, China. Emperor Wen ruled the Han Dynasty and is known for reforming the empire, his frugality, and his care for his people. He declined to build a burial mound, putting his tomb inside a mountain instead. Apparently, this is the first complete panda ever found in a burial. Pandas traditionally symbolize peace and were once thought to have medicinal powers.
Archaeologists Identify Roman Road Network â LiDAR was used to discover a network of Roman roads from Devon to Cornwall, England. The roads would have connected military forts, but they also appear to have served a larger purpose than military supply. Prior to this study, there was little evidence of a system of long-distance roads west of Exeter (Roman Isca). In fact, it was originally thought that Exeter was the hub of activity, but it now appears as though that distinction belongs to North Tawton. According to JoĂŁo Fonte, âIn terms of chronology, it is likely that the proposed network is an amalgam of pre-existing Prehistoric routeways, Roman military campaign roads or âtactical roadsâ formally adopted into the provincial communications system, and of those constructed during peacetime in a wholly civilian context.â
Image credit: University of Exeter
Thatâs it for the free Top 5! If youâre a free subscriber, sign up for the paid plan for another 14 stories and 8 recommended pieces of content covering unexplored caves, lost monasteries, Roman aqueduct management, booby traps, and magical honey.
Until next time, thanks for joining me!
-James
Twitter: @jamesofthedrum
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đ Ancient News: Deep Dive
A 2,500-Year-Old Marble Disc, Designed to Protect Ancient Ships and Ward Off The Evil Eye â An 8-inch marble disc dated to the 5th-4th centuries BCE was discovered by a lifeguard diving at the Yavne-Yam archaeological site near Palmachim Beach, Israel. It has traces of two circles of paint around the center. According to Yaakov Sharvit, âFrom drawings on pottery, mosaics, and ancient coins, as well as from historical sources from the 5th century BCE, we learn that this design was common on shipsâ bows and served to protect against the evil eye and envy, aided navigation, and acted as a pair of eyes looking ahead and warning of danger. This decoration is still common today on modern ships in Portugal, Malta, Greece, and the far east.â To date, only four others have been found in the Mediterranean.
Entrance to an Unexplored Ice Age Cave Discovered Near Engen â A cave was first discovered in 1970, but after a brief look in a small chamber, it was sealed up without being explored. But geophysical measurements in April indicated that the cave was actually much larger than had been assumed. They started looking for an entrance and they found it â an entrance that hadnât been used in 16,000 years. Other caves in the area have provided fantastic Ice-Age finds, so weâll have to wait and see what archaeologists find here. They note that theyâve already identified settlement remains from the late Ice Age. Can you imagine exploring something that has been sealed(ish) for 16,000 years? So cool.
Image credit: Simon Werner Study Establishes Connection Between the Cultural and Genetic Evolution of Early Europeans â Genetic analysis of 56 Stone-Age individuals from Central and Eastern European regions emphasizes the significant correlation between the intermingling (or isolation) of distinct hunter-gatherer communities and geographical factors prior to the diffusion of agriculture across Europe. According to Mattias Jakobsson, âWe can show that some parts of Europe â such as the area around the Dnipro River delta â were inhabited by isolated groups of hunter-gatherers for many thousands of years, even though many other parts of Europe changed their way of life when new groups arrived who produced food by tilling the soil.â They also found that common graves are not always family graves, as they are often assumed to be.
New Evidence of the Destruction of the Second Temple in the City of David â Archaeologists have found the remains of buildings that collapsed along the Pilgrimâs Road, which was the main street of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. These discoveries offer evidence of the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. According to Eli Escusido, âThere are few places where we can physically touch the destruction of Jerusalem. Thanks to the excavation, the terrible events we read about in history books, that led to the fasting of Tisha B'Av, are reflected in tangible evidence.â Inside one of the structures, they found burnt wooden beams, fragments of stone vessels, a stone weight, a crucible, a bronze bowl, and a coin with a hole pierced through it (for wearing).
Votive Offering of Figurines Found at the Valley of the Temples â Excavations at the Valley of the Temples in the ancient Greek city of Agrigentum (founded around 580 BCE) in Sicily have revealed more than 60 figurines thought to be votive offerings. They also found protomes (adornment in the shape of a head and upper torso), female busts, oil lamps, small vases, and bronze fragments. According to a release, âThe findings allow us to understand the dynamics of the destruction of Agrigentum in 406 BC by the Carthaginians, when the inhabitants had to flee in exodus towards the city of Gela.â
Image credit: Sicilian Region Institutional Portal Archaeologists Uncover Forgotten Medieval German Monastery â The location of the Augustinian monastery of Himmelpforte, Germany has now been identified. The monastery was founded sometime before 1253 and it became an important religious, cultural, and economic center. It was looted in 1525 during the German Peasantsâ War and was then demolished during the Reformation, hence why its exact location was unknown.
The Scramble for Ancient Treasures After Ukraineâs Dam Disaster â In June, Ukraineâs Kakhovka Dam was destroyed. Now, archaeologists are finding artifacts that had been hidden for centuries. Stone axes, Nazi-era helmets, a bridge, 17th-century Cossack cannonballs, a flint rock from 18th-century Russo-Turkish wars, pottery sherds, and much more have been found so far. Viacheslav Sarychev said, âWeâre finding pieces of ancient culture, our ancient culture. Piece by piece, weâre distancing ourselves from Russia. This is extremely important to us.â
Well-Preserved Medieval Town Explored in Poland â An excavation in the medieval town of Wartberg in Poland has revealed 150 coins from the 14th century, a medieval sword pommel, a cutlass, crossbow parts, crossbow bolt heads, and javelin heads. The researchers were also able to map the medieval town via the charred remains of buildings, as the town was destroyed by an invading Lithuanian army in 1354.
Archaeologists Discover Remains of 2,300-Year-Old Sunken Ship in Alamein â A shipwreck from the 3rd century BCE was discovered near the beach of el-Alamein, Egypt. Wood from the ship, as well as a large number of amphorae imported from the island of Rhodes, were discovered. It appears that this commercial ship sank after hitting a sunken island.
Nearly 200 Prehistoric Relics Found in Bac Kan â Archaeologists discovered nearly 200 artifacts in caves in the province of Bac Kan, Vietnam. The artifacts include stone, bone, and pottery items dating to 8,000-10,000 years ago. One of the artifacts is a flat oval rock with a hole drilled into it â probably jewelry. They also found evidence of tool processing.
High Quality Wine Found on 400-Year-Old Sunken Ship in Germany â High-quality wine was recovered from a shipwreck that was originally discovered in Germanyâs Trave River in 2022. The ship was probably in use sometime between the 15th and 17th centuries.
Unearthed Treasure: Saber Sword Found in Kyrgyzstan is a Medieval Marvel â A medieval saber in excellent condition has been discovered in Amanbaev, Kyrgyzstan. It has a weighty frame, a long cutting edge, and a graceful curve. It is thought to originate from 12th-century Iran.
Refuting the Sensational Claim of a Hopewell-Ending Cosmic Airburst â It has been proposed that a cosmic airburst (comet or meteor exploding in Earthâs atmosphere) in modern-day Ohio, US caused the decline of the Hopewell culture in the 3rd or 4th century CE. But a new study (scathingly) refutes this, saying there isnât any evidence for a widespread cataclysm, or even social decline for that matter.
Secrets Behind 2,000-Year-Old Roman Water Management Revealed â Researchers have found evidence of water management in the limescale deposits of the Roman aqueduct of Divona in France, which was in operation between the 1st and 5th centuries. According to the paper, âThe discovery of traces of regular maintenance in the carbonate deposits⌠such as tool marks, calcite deformation twins, debris from cleaning and repairs⌠are proof of periodic manual carbonate removal by Roman maintenance teams.â The maintenance was done often, averaging every 2.8 years for 88 years, with the goal of keeping the deposits from clogging the channels. The cleaning was done quickly (within a month), and it was always done in either spring, autumn, or winter. In addition to shedding light on aqueduct management, this discovery should give us more information about the economy and political stability of the region at the time.
â¤ď¸ Recommended Content
Ok, this might be the best 1-star review yet. Itâs about the site of Tula in Mexico. âTake a lot of water for the intense heat and to swallow your disappointment.â đŹ Oooh, sweet burn.
Hereâs a deep dive into the bird bone flutes I covered in issue #65. It includes audio of what the flutes sounded like.
Hereâs an interview where an archaeologist discusses trash and its role in archeology.
Hereâs an article about how honey was used in some unusual (and magical) ways in Ancient Egypt. Speaking of honey, folks used bees to recreate an ancient statue of Emperor Hadrian recently while exploring the âlost waxâ technique.
Hereâs an article about why archaeologists havenât attempted to open the tomb of Chinaâs first emperor. Think Indiana-Jones-style booby traps.
Hereâs an article about discoveries made within the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan.
Hereâs a video about why European artists shifted their focus from elites to peasants in the 16th century.
And hereâs a video about pre-Khufu Wadi Cemetery to the west of the Great Pyramid at Giza.
Thatâs a wrap, thanks folks â have a wonderful weekend!
-James
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