Latest news with #A.D.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Found a Viking Amulet That's Over 1,000 Years Old
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Archaeologists working outside of Stockholm discovered silver treasure buried in a pot in an area that used to be farmland. Experts believe the burial may have been connected to a ritual and coincided with the closing of the farm. Part of the silver stash included a coin-adorned necklace with coins from across Europe. Archaeologists excavating the land of a former farm in Sweden struck gold—well, silver actually—when they found a buried pot filled with Viking-era silver. Archaeologists from Arkeologerna, a division of the Swedish History Museum, announced the discovery of not only the silver treasure, but also 34 buildings, a burial ground, and 1,450 total artifacts from the Late Iron Age, about 500 to 1050 A.D., in Täby. But it's the 'unique buried silver treasure containing exclusive silver arm and neck rings, a silver amulet, pearls, and coin pendants' that has created the most buzz. 'The find is exceptional not just due to the variety of the silver objects,' John Hamilton, project manager at the Swedish History Museum, said in a translated statement, 'but also due to the direct connection to the remains of the farmstead burial site.' Experts believe the buried treasure was part of a ritual experience and that the burial may have coincided with the closing of the farm. Located under a hollow block near an older home, the silver was found in a pot, with the stash containing silver necklaces and bracelets, a bag made of linen and silk, pearls, and a coin pendant. Hamilton said the fact that the fabric on the bag was preserved was unique and likely due to silver ions interacting with the textile. The bag included a 12-coin pendant made from European and Islamic coins dating from 904-997 A.D. The coins were minted in Persia, Bavaria, Bohemia, Normandy, and England. There was also pollen on the bag like grains and medicinal plants that were from the Viking age. 'The treasure may have been buried as the conclusion of a long and grand ceremony to honor a high-ranking deceased woman,' Hamilton said, adding the farm may have closed down at the same time. 'The linen bag also had silk details of a very exclusive kind that must have been imported from outside,' Hamilton said. 'It was probably a special bag that may have been used for something else from the beginning, for example in a ritual context.' The site's 34 buildings include up to 15 associated with ritual acts thanks to nearby burials. The team examined the five graves, three with coffins and two with cremations. While DNA testing wasn't highly conclusive, it did show there were relatives and non-relatives buried on the site. The farm on a small hill close to a forest northeast of Stockholm featured about 1,300 farm-related artifacts and another 150 tied to the adjacent burial ground. The team discovered pottery made with domestic clay that resembled a style common on the other side of the Baltic Sea. Hamilton said this indicates the pieces were made by someone who came from outside the area and settled in Täby. It's unknown if the same person with the world-traveled pottery also owned the silver treasure with coins collected from across the continent. If they did, what a life they must have led. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Miami Herald
Roman mosaics lay hidden underground in Austria for years — until now. See them
Archaeologists in Austria recently unearthed a trio of Roman era mosaics, which shed light onto life in ancient times. The works were found among the ruins of a Roman building complex in Thalheim bei Wels, located about 65 miles northeast of Salzburg, according to a news release from the Upper Austrian State Culture Museum. The site — which has been under excavation since 2023 — overlooks the ancient Roman city of Ovilava, which is now called Wels. The three mosaics were discovered beneath several feet of sediment alongside what appear to be stone walls, photos show. One depicts a wine-mixing container affixed with curved handles, while another has geometric motifs. The third artwork — described as the most impressive — contains images of two dolphins. The latter mosaic measures several feet in length and is made up of numerous multi-colored tiles, photos show. The findings are considered a rarity in the region, museum officials said. Thomas Stelzer, the governor of Upper Austria, said in the release that the artworks demonstrate what amazing cultural artifacts still remain hidden in the region. All three mosaics date to the second century A.D., making them at least 1,800 years old, according to Der Standard, an Austrian newspaper. While it's unclear what purpose they served beyond beautification, they were found in pools of water, indicating they may have been part of a spa, the newspaper reported. Supporting this idea is the fact that the area is known for its clean spring water. Roman troops occupied much of present-day Austria starting around 15 B.C., establishing the provinces of Raetia, Noricum, and Pannonia, according to Britannica. Throughout their rule, the Romans laid down a vast system of roads and set up a number of towns along the Danube River, including Ovilava. But, by the fifth century A.D., Roman influence in the region began to wane following invasions by the Huns and Germanic peoples. Google Translate was used to translate a news release from the Upper Austrian State Culture Museum and an article from Der Standard.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Very rare' military horse cemetery from Roman times unearthed in Germany
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Archaeologists in Germany have unearthed a vast horse cemetery from Roman times, a discovery that is "very rare," according to researchers. The excavation, conducted in Stuttgart's borough of Bad Cannstatt, has revealed the skeletal remains of more than 100 horses. These animals were part of a Roman cavalry unit known as Ala, which was active in what is now southwest Germany during the second century A.D., radiocarbon dating of the horses' bones revealed. "Finding such a large horse cemetery from Roman times is very rare," Sarah Roth, the archaeologist in charge at the State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD) in the Stuttgart Regional Council, told Live Science in an email. While a few horse burials had been found in Bad Cannstatt since the 1920s, a 2024 excavation ahead of a new construction project revealed that the burial ground was teeming with equid remains. "We hadn't expected to find so many horses still preserved in the ground," Roth said. "This was truly a surprise!" The warhorse cemetery also held the remains of a Roman-era man buried on his stomach and without grave goods, indicating that he likely was an outsider who wasn't held in high esteem. "Its [the body's] position suggests that the man was 'disposed of' here rather than given a regular burial," as a regular cemetery for people was only about 0.3 miles (0.5 kilometers) away, Roth said. Related: Roman-era skeletons buried in embrace, on top of a horse, weren't lovers, DNA analysis shows The Roman cavalry unit at Bad Cannstatt patrolled the border of the Roman Empire from about A.D. 100 to 150. "The horsemen were responsible for controlling their section of the border," Roth said. "As horses were the fastest means of transport on land at the time, they were in particular used in urgent emergencies." Ala likely included nearly 500 riders and at least 700 horses, according to a translated statement from LAD. When the unit's horses died, the Romans buried them in a specific area that was about 1,312 feet (400 meters) from the cavalry fort and 656 feet (200 m) from the civilian settlement. The dead horses were dragged into shallow pits and buried on their sides with their legs bent or straight. These burials likely had markers in Roman times, as they were packed closely together yet had very little overlap, Roth said in the statement. Image 1 of 2 In a rare burial, one of the horses was buried with grave goods next to its upper legs. Image 2 of 2 Archaeological work ahead of a new construction project by the Stuttgart Housing and Urban Development Company revealed the horse cemetery. Excavations of the cemetery started in July 2024. "The horses do not all appear to have died at the same time in a major event such as a battle or epidemic," Roth said in the statement. "Rather, the animals buried here either died of illness, injury, or other reasons during the Ala's presence in Bad Cannstatt." Alternatively, it's possible some "were no longer able to fulfill their role as military horses," she added. "If the horse could still walk on its own, it would have been brought to the horse cemetery and killed on site to avoid having to transport the heavy carcass." RELATED STORIES —Lasers reveal Roman-era circus in Spain where 5,000 spectators watched horse-drawn chariot races —Cold War satellite images reveal nearly 400 Roman forts in the Middle East —Remains of 1,600-year-old Roman fort unearthed in Turkey One buried horse was clearly dear to its owner; it was buried with two jugs and a small oil lamp nestled in the crook of one of its front legs. Grave goods such as these are typically found in Roman-era burials for humans, making the jug and lamp "unusual" to find among horse bones, Roth told Live Science. "Of the approximately 100 horses we were able to examine, only one had received grave goods," she said. The horse cemetery offers a rare look at the use of horses in the Roman army. Further analyses will reveal the horses' sexes, ages at death and their sizes, as well as possible diseases they had and their causes of death. Future studies may also reveal their ancestral roots, where they were bred and if they were well kept and fed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Amateur Archaeologists Found an 1,800-Year-Old Carving of an Ancient Goddess
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Amateur archaeologists uncovered a sandstone relief of the Roman goddess of victory in Northumberland. The find occurred in a pile of rubble at the famed Roman fort Vindolanda. Dated to about 213 A.D., the find could be just one piece of an even larger relief. A pair of married volunteer archaeologists working at the Vindolanda archaeological site near Northumberland recently scored a big win. Jim and Dilys Quinlan discovered a sandstone relief—a sculpture that remains attached to a solid background—of Victoria (the Roman goddess of victory) amidst the rubble of what was once a Roman infantry barracks. The Vindolanda site, which was active in roughly 213 A.D., after the end of the Severan wars, was once outfitted with ornamental arches and gates—any of which could have been the original position of the newfound relief. 'Finds like this are increasingly rare these days from Roman Britain,' Andrew Birley, director of excavations for the Vindolanda Trust, said in a statement, 'but the beautifully carved figure vividly reminds us that Roman forts were not simply utilitarian, they had grandeur and, of course, the symbolism was a vital part of the culture here for the soldiers almost 2,000 years ago.' The excitement is greatest for the Quinlans, as they spent 21 years volunteering at the site before uncovering the artifact. 'We've spent the vast majority of our annual leave at Vindolanda over the years,' Dilys told the Guardian. 'As veteran diggers, it is without a doubt the most wonderful thing we've ever done and, importantly, it's something we do as a couple. It's the best form of relaxation that we know of. We eat well, sleep well, we're in good company, and there's always more to learn. What more could you ask for?' Barbara Birley, the Vindolanda Trust's curator, said in a statement that Roman reliefs such as the one just found were often painted with vibrant colors, and 'it is highly likely that this stone would have originally been brightly painted. We will be working with our specialists to see if any traces of the pigment remain, so for now the relief is being stored unwashed, ready for that further analysis.' The find occurred near Hadrian's Wall. At over 18 inches tall, the carving may have been crafted to symbolize an end to local wars, and could have been a piece of a larger design—possibly one side of a larger, multi-sided relief. 'There is that sense of palpable excitement when you turn over the 2,000th piece of Roman rubble and you see on the other side the face of a goddess staring right back at you,' Andrew Birley said. 'What you get there is a direct connection. It's almost like you're toughing the past and all those years melt way, which is just wonderful. 'I am also delighted for Jim and Dilys for their discovery,' Andrew Birley said. 'It is just reward for their 21 years of hard work and dedication to this site.' Following analysis, the trust plans to display the relief in 2026 at the Vindolanda Museum. The Greeks may have their goddess Nike, but the folks at Vindolanda—especially the Quinlans—will happily take the Roman victory. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Mint
25-05-2025
- Mint
WORLD HERITAGE SITES
Kyoto, Japan's imperial capital from 794 A.D. to the 19th century, is renowned for its temples, shrines, castles, and gardens, showcasing the evolution of Japanese architecture and landscape art. Credit : PEXELS Page 2
