It was a treacherous stretch of coast. The ancient Greek historian Xenophon, writing in the 4th century BC, describes the perils of the Black Sea shore in the region around Salmydessos, a town in ancient Thrace and modern Turkey. The post Apollonia Pontica appeared first on World Archaeology.| World Archaeology
Apollonia Pontica was once a welcome refuge for mariners navigating a notoriously treacherous stretch of the Black Sea coast. Tradition has it that this ancient city was founded by Greek settlers from Miletus in 610 BC, but excavations at the site are now pointing to an earlier foundation date. Archaeological work has also revealed the location of a major sanctuary, and is shedding fascinating new light on the ebb and flow of the city’s fortunes. We take a look at how archaeology is deliver...| World Archaeology
Between fields of grain and potatoes in the middle of Germany, about 18km south east of Magdeburg, near the town of Schönebeck, lies one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Germany. The post Germany’s Stonehenge? appeared first on World Archaeology.| World Archaeology
In the 1990s, an aerial photograph captured a circular feature in the fields near the village of Pömmelte, Germany, sparking the beginning of an extraordinary archaeological endeavour. The feature proved to be the remains of a henge monument built around 2350 BC. Although its uprights were fashioned from timber rather than rock, the monument displayed a number of tantalising similarities to Stonehenge in Britain. One area of overlap is that both sites lay within much wider ritual landscapes....| World Archaeology
An extraordinary Roman hoard from Utrecht A cache of Roman and British coins found in the Netherlands seems to be associated with the emperor Claudius’ invasion of Britain in AD 43. Study of the hoard is shedding new light on the circumstances surrounding this major historical event. Matthew Symonds found out more from Jasper de Bruin. In October 2023, two metal detectorists began searching a field in the Bunnik region of Utrecht province. On the face of it, their target was not a promising...| World Archaeology
A hoard discovered in the Netherlands presents an extraordinary first for continental Europe. The contents of this cache combine coins minted by Rome and a powerful ruler in Britain: Cunobelin. This eye-catching mixture is just one of the clues that the hoard was amassed by a person or people with first-hand experience of Britain, most likely participants in the Roman invasion. Do these coins of Cunobelin, then, represent the spoils of war? In our cover feature, we explore what this hoard rev...| World Archaeology
We have had a brilliant selection of entries for this year’s photo competition, with images that have taken us on a journey through history and around the world.| World Archaeology
The Thracians made a keen impression on both their neighbours and the archaeological record, but how much do we really know about them? The post In search of the Thracians appeared first on World Archaeology.| World Archaeology
It is easy to see the Thracians as stereotypes. According to the ancient literature, they were riders, warriors, and capable of horrifying displays of savagery. Such characteristics set them apart from the more orderly and controlled Greeks, who also penned many of these accounts. Sumptuous metalwork from Thracian territory, though, speaks of skilful artisans, and also an openness to a cornucopia of cultural influences. In our cover feature, we go in search of the real Thracians. Ancient writ...| World Archaeology
At some point in the last few decades BC, Roman legionaries paused on the banks of the Mera River, to the north of Lake Como, in Italy. While the soldiers were there, some stones in the riverbed caught their eye. The post On the trail of the legions appeared first on World Archaeology.| World Archaeology
In the 1st century BC, a Roman force advanced into Switzerland from Italy. We cannot yet be sure whether these soldiers were tasked with conquest, or mounting a punitive expedition to cow the inhabitants of the Alps. But we do know that members of this force were drawn from three different legions, and that they were making for a key Alpine pass. Ahead of them lay at least one battle. Over the last two decades, a remarkable range of finds associated with this incursion has been identified. In...| World Archaeology
Xuanzang was not afraid to break the rules. This Buddhist monk lived in Tang China during the 7th century AD. Although the imperial court banned foreign travel due to security concerns, this did not deter Xuanzang from slipping out of the country undercover in AD 629.| World Archaeology
We now know that there were many Silk Roads. Back in the 19th century, an attempt to chart how ancient exotic goods travelled east and west produced two lines on a map, running westwards from China. Today, the picture looks rather different. An increasingly intricate web of connections can be glimpsed, linking Asia, parts of Africa, and Europe. A new British Museum exhibition is examining this network, revealing both the wonders this flow of materials and ideas made possible, and the horrors ...| World Archaeology
The biggest dig at Pompeii in a generation is working to expose nearly an entire block of the ancient city. Archaeologists are making astonishing discoveries that shed powerful new light on life and death in the shadow of Vesuvius.| World Archaeology
Pompeii continues to amaze. The tragedy that befell the city in AD 79 famously preserved powerful and poignant snapshots of everyday life. From family homes ablaze with flamboyant frescoes to the gritty realities of industries reliant on hard manual labour, Pompeii has it all. Now the largest dig in the city for a generation has unearthed a property that brings together both of these facets: a combined bakery and residential complex. It offers plenty of grist for the mill when it comes to und...| World Archaeology
Around 20 Roman villas have been excavated in the Limburg region of the Netherlands. The heyday for this work came in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when a succession of sites was investigated with antiquarian zeal. Now fresh research in the field, archives, and find stores is shedding intriguing new light on these villa estates and their inhabitants.| World Archaeology
Rome’s military is renowned as one of the finest fighting forces of the ancient world. But what was life really like for the individuals who became career soldiers, and how much do we know about the tools of their trade?| World Archaeology
Rome’s warriors are legendary. The army that carved out the Empire is renowned as one of the finest fighting forces ever assembled. But who were the individuals that filled its ranks, and what motivated them to fight for Rome? A new exhibition at the British Museum allows the soldiers to speak for themselves, revealing a world where hope for the future could go hand in hand with extreme brutality. The weapons that these warriors wielded illustrate the lethal ingenuity that was invested in a...| World Archaeology
Fishermen were landing some extraordinary catches in mid-19th-century Switzerland. The discovery of prehistoric sites submerged in European lakes prompted a surge in angling for antiquities. In 1857, this fishing for finds led to some telltale timbers being spotted in a small bay on Lake Neuchâtel. The bay was called La Tène, and the finds from it were so significant that the site went on to lend its name to the second half of the European Iron Age. For all its fame, La Tène has remained s...| World Archaeology
It is hard not to see them as excessive. The glorious gold and silver vessels that graced elite banquets in the Achaemenid empire showcase the skill of Persian metalworkers. But while the fine details of animals, mythical scenes, and intricate patterns still thrill viewers, did these sumptuous wares ever have a role beyond expressing extreme wealth? In our cover feature, we see how a British Museum exhibition is revealing that this seemingly gratuitous glitz knitted an empire together, and he...| World Archaeology
Send us your best heritage photos for a chance to win! As summer comes to an end, this is the perfect time to reflect on memories of your heritage-filled travels or visits to historical sites. Photography offers a wonderful way to capture and experience the sights and splendours of archaeology around the world. Whether you’ve been looking back at photos from previous holidays, venturing out to sites near you or on trips further afield, or busy working on archaeological projects, we want to ...| World Archaeology
