Hikers accidentally finding treasure in Czechia and four other discoveries
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Throughout history, cultures have left behind a trail of breadcrumbs for archaeologists to follow. New sites and artifacts are found all the time, revealing forgotten secrets of the past.
Here are some of the latest discoveries:
Ancient Roman ruins seemed 'typical' — until 'something more unusual' emerged
In the southwestern United Kingdom, archaeologists discovered an ancient Roman kiln at the Centre Severn site near Gloucester. This 'rare' and 'exceptionally well-preserved' kiln is likely the first of its kind excavated in Gloucestershire, shedding light on Roman construction methods. The kiln, along with other finds like pottery and a burial, dates back to between 100 and 400 A.D. | Published April 30 | Read More |
Hikers find boxes under rocks in Czechia — and discover century-old treasures
In the Krkonoše Mountains of Czechia, hikers stumbled upon an aluminum can filled with gold coins and other treasures from the past century. The coins from multiple countries, dating from 1808 to 1915, were valued at about $340,000 and were likely stashed during a tumultuous period between world wars. | Published May 1 | Read More |
'Pointy bone' found in Russia cave may be oldest of its kind in Europe. See it
In the Mezmaiskaya Cave in Russia, archaeologists found a 'pointy bone' tool, believed to be a hunting projectile weapon crafted by Neanderthals. This bone tool, dating back 70,000 to 80,000 years, is considered the oldest of its kind found in Europe. The discovery provides insight into the early development of bone carving techniques by Neanderthals. | Published May 6 | Read More |
Defeated soldiers buried WWII flag in Poland forest. Duo found it 85 years later
In a forest near Zielone, Poland, two men uncovered a buried WWII-era banner, pennant, and ribbons belonging to the 4th Podhale Riflemen Regiment. These artifacts, hidden by soldiers defeated by Nazi forces, remained undiscovered for 85 years. The find is now preserved in a museum, and officials hope to search for other WWII artifacts known to be buried in the area. | Published May 7 | Read More |
Ancient Romans threw treasures into huge crater left by flood. See what remains
In Utrecht, Netherlands, archaeologists uncovered wooden posts and artifacts in a canal, revealing a story of an ancient Roman city's reconstruction after a flood. The finds include a silver chain and a belt fitting, believed to be offerings thrown into a massive crater left by the disaster. Researchers suspect more treasures are hidden within the hole. | Published May 8 | Read More |
McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery of intriguing archaeological discoveries from around the globe. Check back to see the latest finds.
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New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
‘Spectacular' temple dedicated to Ancient Greek God uncovered by archaeologists: 2,700-year-old treasures found
Archaeologists have unearthed a 'spectacular' ancient temple housing hundreds of statues dedicated to the Greek God Apollo. The site, known as the Sanctuary of Apollo, is located in a remote valley in Cyprus, and the uncovered artifacts are believed to date back 2,700 years. A team of German experts initially began excavating in the area in 2021, with the finds of their four-year dig disclosed in a statement from the Cyprus Department of Antiquities. '[The sanctuary] was furnished with a lavish abundance of votive statues numbering in the hundreds, some of which were of colossal dimensions,' the statement, translated from Greek to English, read. 'In addition, evidence of other previously unknown types of votive objects was also found, such as marbled glass beads or Egyptian amulets made of faience [tin-glazed pottery].' The site, known as the Sanctuary of Apollo, is located in a remote valley in Cyprus, and the uncovered artifacts are believed to date back 2,700 years. Department of Antiquities Cyprus Three ancient statues from the Apollo sanctuary at Frangissa. Department of Antiquities Cyprus Apollo, the Greek god of archery and the son of Zeus, was a prominent deity in ancient Greek and Roman mythology. The Sanctuary of Apollo was first discovered by German archaeologist Max Ohnefalsch-Richter in 1885, and was 'considered one of the most spectacular finds of its time.' However, following his 'inadequate' excavations, Ohnefalsch-Richter reburied the site, causing its precise whereabouts to be forgotten for over a century. In 2021, the new team of German archaeologists rediscovered the long-lost temple in the remote valley of Frangrissa, near the ancient city-kingdom of Tamassos. After conducting a more extensive examination of the site, they uncovered treasures that were initially overlooked, including fragments of colossal statues, parts of which appeared to be feet. 'Apparently in 1885 [the votive statues] were not recognized as artifacts in the rush,' the new statement from the Cyprus Department of Antiquities declared. Thus, the new finds 'fundamentally expand our knowledge of this sacred place.' 'Μany statues in the Cyprus Museum and the Royal Ontario Museum at Toronto can be completed with newly found fragments and thus restored to their original appearance,' the statement continued. 'Completely new types of statues have also been documented that were previously unknown from Frangissa. The discovery of clearly larger-than-life feet, for example, means that the existence of colossal male limestone figures from archaic times can now be proven.' 'Such larger-than-life figures were previously only known here in Frangissa made from terracotta, including the famous 'Colossus of Tamassos' in the Cyprus Museum exhibition.' Meanwhile, the discovery of two inscriptions on the bases of the figures dates them to the 6th and 7th centuries BC. 'The discovery of two bases with inscriptions is spectacular,' the statement read. 'One is inscribed with several local Cypro-Syllabic characters, while the other refers in Greek letters to the Ptolemies, the Hellenistic rulers of Egypt who also controlled Cyprus at the time.'
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Gizmodo
Neanderthals Spread Across Asia With Surprising Speed—and Now We Know How
Neanderthals and modern humans split from a common ancestor around 500,000 years ago, with Neanderthals leaving Africa for Europe and Asia long before modern humans joined them hundreds of thousands of years later. There, Neanderthals dispersed as far as Spain and Siberia. Our prehistoric cousins likely first reached Asia around 190,000 to 130,000 years ago, with another substantial migration to Central and Eastern Eurasia likely between 120,000 and 60,000 years ago. But how did they get there? Since there isn't enough archaeological evidence to reconstruct their migration paths, a team of anthropologists has turned to computer models. Their simulations mapped out possible routes Neanderthals could have followed to reach Asia, and suggest that by traveling during warmer periods and following river valleys, they could have traversed approximately 2,000 miles (3,250 kilometers) in less than 2,000 years. 'Our findings show that, despite obstacles like mountains and large rivers, Neanderthals could have crossed northern Eurasia surprisingly quickly,' Emily Coco, co-author of a study published yesterday in the journal PLOS One, said in a New York University statement. 'These findings provide important insights into the paths of ancient migrations that cannot currently be studied from the archaeological record and reveal how computer simulations can help uncover new clues about ancient migrations that shaped human history.' Coco began the study as a doctoral student at New York University and is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Algarve. She and her colleague's models accounted for temperature, land elevation, ancient rivers, and glaciers. While scholars had previously used a similar approach to simulate human and animal movement, the anthropologists are the first to apply it to Neanderthals, according to the statement. In doing so, they found potential migration paths during two time periods characterized by a warmer climate: around 125,000 years ago and 60,000 years ago. The different paths, which made use of river valleys, would have taken Neanderthals to Eurasia's Siberian Altai Mountains along roughly the same northern route through the Ural Mountains and southern Siberia within 2,000 years. Significantly, the paths align with known Neanderthal archaeological sites as well as areas occupied by Denisovans, with whom scientists know Neanderthals interbred. 'Neanderthals could have migrated thousands of kilometers from the Caucasus Mountains to Siberia in just 2,000 years by following river corridors,' Radu Iovita, the other co-author of the study and an associate professor at NYU's Center for the Study of Human Origins, said in the statement. 'Others have speculated on the possibility of this kind of fast, long-distance migration based on genetic data, but this has been difficult to substantiate due to limited archaeological evidence in the region. Based on detailed computer simulations, it appears this migration was a near-inevitable outcome of landscape conditions during past warm climatic periods.' Coco and Iovita specify, however, that their model does not consider every possible element that could have influenced Neanderthal movement, such as resources, climate change, short-term weather patterns, vegetation preferences, and previous occupations, among others. Still, in the absence of archaeological records, computer simulations provide a viable method of tracing the footsteps of prehistoric people—even though it's not nearly as creative as searching for pitstops in Viking migration routes by sailing a Nordic clinker boat along the frigid Norwegian coast.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Miami Herald
From the bottom of the sea to the tops of trees: See newly discovered species
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are being discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Learn more about some recent new species discoveries: 'Long'-tailed creature gets caught in trap in India forest. It's a new species In the dense forests of Uttarakhand, India, researchers discovered a new species of bat named Myotis himalaicus, or the Himalayan long-tailed Myotis. This elusive bat, with its long tail and delicate features, was found during wildlife surveys conducted between 2017 and 2021. The species was identified by its unique DNA and physical characteristics. | Published June 6 | Read More | Five-armed creature — covered in 'axes' — found off Taiwan. See the new species Off the coast of Taiwan, a new species of brittle star, Breviturma securis, was discovered. Known for its axe-shaped patterns on its arms, this creature was found in the intertidal zones and shallow waters. Previously misidentified, this brittle star's true identity was confirmed through DNA analysis. | Published June 10 | Read More | 'Gargantua' deep-sea creature among new species found in Atlantic. See them In the depths of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, researchers found two new species of marine snails, including Peltospira gargantua. These snails, discovered near hydrothermal vents, are notable for their large size compared to their relatives. The discovery was made using remote underwater vehicles. | Published June 11 | Read More | 'Large' creature with spines on its belly found at waterfall. It's a new species In the forests of northern Vietnam, scientists discovered Ohler's spiny frog, or Quasipaa ohlerae. This large frog, with its distinctive spines and heart-shaped tongue, was found near rocky streams. The species was named in honor of a colleague and identified through DNA analysis. | Published June 11 | Read More | 'Large' creature with heart-shaped tongue found in Vietnam. It's a new species Binh's spiny frog, or Quasipaa binhi, was discovered in the forests of central Vietnam. Known for its robust body and heart-shaped tongue, this frog was found near forest streams. The species was named in memory of a colleague and identified by its unique physical features and genetic divergence. | Published June 12 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery and sightings of unusual and intriguing species. Check back for the latest stories.
