Ancient history
A short history of games of chance in the Middle East
From ancient dice and royal game boards to modern digital platforms, the Middle East's long relationship with games of chance reveals a timeless fascination with luck, fate and uncertainty.
Frescos from famed Etruscan tomb go on display in Rome after multi-million euro purchase by Italy
A historical overview of gambling in the Middle East
Turkey places site of Alexander the Great’s first battle with Persians under historic protection
Ancient microbes from Alaska permafrost awaken after 40,000 years
The Colorado Boulder team says the thawed bacteria spend months in a sleepy state before multiplying rapidly, forming visible biofilms and releasing greenhouse gases.
Amenhotep III tomb in Luxor reopens after twenty-year restoration
Looted since 1799, the 3,000-year-old tomb now shows restored 18th dynasty murals, new lighting, and safer stairs, thanks to UNESCO and Japanese experts.
Ancient ‘Messi’ 40-inch limestone shows nobleman, wife, and goose-toting daughter
“I found the statue hidden under the sand, and nearby was a false door inscribed with the name ‘Messi,’” said Zahi Hawass.
2,000-year-old Roman cargo ship with olive and fruit remains found in Croatia's Barbir Bay
The 12.5 meter wreck, excavated over four years, will be digitally mapped with photogrammetry before being reburied in the sand that protected it for two millennia.
‘Incredibly rare’ 13th-century deer-antler hair comb unearthed in Scotland
The red deer antler carving is the first gravoir found in Scotland, offering clues to how medieval elites created elaborate hairstyles inspired by continental fashion.
Israel Antiquities Authority uncovers 5,500-year-old ‘Canaanite blade factory’ at Nahal Qomem
Dr. Jacob Vardi says the early bronze age site shows 'only exceptional individuals knew how to produce the Canaanite blades,' revealing a complex, specialized society.
Three Roman-Era mansions found on Tralleis’ ancient shopping street
"We understood that metal production was carried out in the 4th and 5th centuries AD," says Prof. dr. Çekilmez.
Negev grape revival brings ancient vineyards back to life
This is an archaeological-tourism initiative led by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, taking place as part of the Heritage Seeds Vineyard project in southern Israel.
How Jean-François Champollion cracked hieroglyphs 203 years ago
The French philologist announced his success on 27 September 1822, opening a window into ancient Egyptian civilization.
Chinese one-million-year-old Yunxian 2 skull challenges Homo sapiens timeline
Re-dated to between 940,000 and 1.1 million years old and reassigned to Homo longi, the specimen could shift the appearance of large-brained humans back at least 500,000 years.
