Latest news with #AdamMickiewiczUniversity
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Archaeologists discover 5,500-year-old 'Trapezoidal tombs' older than Egypt's Pyramids
Archaeologists in Poland have uncovered massive ancient tombs dating back 5,500 years, making them older than Egypt's pyramids . The structures, located in General Dezydery Chłapowski Landscape Park in western Poland, were discovered by a team from Adam Mickiewicz University using aerial laser scanning and excavation. Shaped like long trapezoids, some of the tombs stretch up to 656 feet and are being referred to as 'Polish pyramids' or 'beds of giants.' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Operations Management Finance Technology MBA CXO Data Science Digital Marketing Public Policy others Product Management Data Analytics Design Thinking Management Others healthcare Degree Data Science Cybersecurity Project Management Leadership Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details Researchers say the tombs were built by the Neolithic Funnelbeaker culture , one of Europe's first agricultural societies. The graves were likely used for powerful community leaders, with each tomb holding just one skeleton placed upright and surrounded by gifts like pottery and axes. While no remains were found in the most recent discovery , experts hope to find artifacts nearby. 'These are not mass graves,' said Artur Golis, a park official involved in the excavation. 'Each was built for an important individual and shows how early societies honored their dead.' The tombs were once covered with cobblestones and huge boulders, some weighing up to 10 tons. Many of the largest stones are missing, possibly taken and reused over centuries. Live Events This is only the second such discovery in this region, though more tombs have been found in northern and western Poland. Experts believe more may still be buried underground. The find sheds light on prehistoric Europe's complex burial traditions and suggests advanced social organization far earlier than previously thought.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Found Trapezoidal Tombs Older Than the Egyptian Pyramids
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Archaeologists in Poland discovered 5,500-year-old tombs dubbed 'Polish pyramids.' The oversized graves feature earthen mounds in a trapezoidal shape, some stretching 656 feet in length. The scene offers glimpses into one of Europe first agricultural societies. The new discovery of uniquely shaped 'Polish pyramids' from 5,500 years ago highlights the distinct way early European agricultural societies buried their dead. Discovered by a team from Adam Mickiewicz University using advanced remote sensing technology during routine field work, the team uncovered 'mysterious ground embankments' before confirming them as long earthen tombs constructed during the Funnelbeaker culture of the Neolithic age, according to a translated statement from the Landscape Parks Complex of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship. To locate the tombs after the initial discovery, archaeologists employed aerial laser scanning followed by on-the-ground excavation. Known as Polish pyramids—or 'beds of giants'—the tombs located at the General Dezydery Chlapowski Landscape Park form an elongated trapezoid, with some stretching as long as 656 feet. This particular style of construction has the east end wider and taller than the west, creating a triangle shape or tail-like design from the tomb. Experts believe the use of the trapezoid shape is tied to the style of houses once used by nearby Neolithic cultures, according to the Polish Press Agency. While the tombs rarely reach taller than 13 feet, the transparent size and design make them a distinct sight in Poland. The most recent find is only the second in the region, while more are known in northwestern Poland. Each tomb was typically covered with cobblestones and massive boulders were placed in front, some weighing as much as 10 tons, a show of the culture's intricate teamwork and tool know-how to make happen. 'The largest boulders that formed the entrance of the tomb are missing,' said Artur Golis, chief specialist for nature and landscape protection from the park, according to the Polish Press Agency. He believes the stones were chipped away over the centuries for use by the residents in other projects. While fields of the Polish pyramids typically offered a communal location for the region's burials, only the most prominent folks within the society would get buried within the tombs. Each oversized tomb often only contained a single skeleton of a key leader, with the body placed in an upright position and surrounded by grave gifts. The tops of the pyramids were then covered with stones. 'Each generation built its own megalith, honoring the deceased who played a vital role in their community,' said Golis. While no such skeletons were found in the most recent tomb discovery, archaeologists remain hopeful they can locate grave goods still buried nearby, most likely axes and pottery. 'These artifacts,' Golis said, 'could provide further insight into the spiritual and daily lives of the Funnelbeaker people.' 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?
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
5,500-year-old Polish ‘Pyramids' discovered, older than Egypt's Pyramid of Giza
In a groundbreaking archaeological discovery, a set of 5,500-year-old megalithic tombs have been discovered in Poland, nicknamed the "Polish pyramids." They were found during a routine field survey in the Chłapowski Landscape Park in the village of Wyskoć, reports add. These monumental earth structures, reportedly, date back to the late Stone Age and shed new light on the prehistoric Funnelbeaker culture that once thrived in the region. As per the reports, a team from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and announced by the Complex of Landscape Parks of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship. The tombs are located in the Wielkopolska province and are some of the largest megalithic structures ever found in Poland. Remarkably well-preserved, they are believed to have been built by one of the region's earliest sedentary agricultural societies. Megalithic giants of the North The tombs, also referred to as "the beds of giants", are elongated trapezoidal mounds reaching up to 200 m in length and about 4 m in height. Constructed in a triangular shape, the front of each structure is several metres wide and gradually narrows into a 'tail' at the rear. Some of the boulders used in their construction weigh as much as 10 tonnes, an extraordinary feat for Neolithic builders using only primitive tools and manpower. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Read more: No more shoe checks: TSA updates airport screening rules; what flyers need to know The monumental tombs are oriented with impressive precision. The wider front end faces east, while the tail stretches westward, a design suggesting the builders had a sophisticated understanding of direction and possibly astronomy. According to archaeologists, this alignment was likely symbolic, with the rising sun associated with life and the setting sun with death. The Funnelbeaker culture's legacy The structures are attributed to the Funnelbeaker culture (4000–2700 BCE), a Neolithic society known for its large-scale burial architecture, early farming practices, and finely crafted pottery. Though these communities were largely egalitarian, special tombs were reserved for significant figures such as leaders, shamans, or priests. 'Although the Funnelbeaker cultures were quite egalitarian, these tombs likely held important figures — a leader, a priest, a shaman,' said Artur Golis from the regional landscape park association. These burials typically included a single skeleton placed on its back with legs pointing east, accompanied by grave goods. While skeletal remains may not have survived in the newly excavated tombs, archaeologists hope to recover ceremonial objects such as stone axes, hatchets, clay vessels, and possibly copper ornaments or opium containers. This is only the second time such megalithic tombs have been discovered in Wielkopolska — the first being in 2019. Until now, most similar finds were concentrated in the Kuyavia-Pomerania region, where they are professionally known as megalithic tombs of the Kuyavian type. Read more: 6 unmissable stops that make Chandigarh to Shimla hill tour worthwhile The newly discovered sites offer rare insight into the social, religious, and engineering capabilities of Neolithic societies in Europe. Their sheer scale and design not only rival other prehistoric sites like Stonehenge but also predate the Egyptian pyramids. "For thousands of years, people have needed the stones, so they have taken them, split them, hence the object has been quite heavily degraded," Golis said, noting the fragility of what remains. Currently, the site remains closed to the public to allow for careful excavation and preservation. A decision about public access will be made once research and protective measures are completed. These 'Polish pyramids' may not rival Giza in height, but they stand tall as silent sentinels of a lost civilization, offering a powerful connection to humanity's ancient past, right in the heart of Europe.
Mint
14-07-2025
- Science
- Mint
Older than Giza? 5,500-year-old ‘Pyramids' found in Polish forest
In a remarkable archaeological breakthrough, researchers in Poland have discovered two massive ancient tombs, dubbed the Polish pyramids, that date back over 5,500 years, predating Egypt's famous pyramids. The burial sites were unearthed in Wyskoc, a village in Poland's Wielkopolska region, within the General Dezydery Chłapowski Landscape Park. The announcement was made by local park authorities on Facebook, and the excavation is being led by archaeologists from Adam Mickiewicz University. According to researchers, the monumental structures are believed to have been built by the Funnelbeaker Culture, a Neolithic society known for its advanced agricultural practices and monumental burial architecture. The megalithic tombs are trapezoidal, stretching up to 200 metres in length and 4 metres high, constructed using enormous stones, some weighing as much as 10 tonnes. These stones were transported and assembled using only primitive tools and human effort, showcasing the community's sophisticated engineering skills. What's more striking is that the structures are carefully aligned with cardinal directions, suggesting a solid grasp of astronomy and ritual precision. Inside the tombs, archaeologists expect to find individual burials, with the deceased lying on their backs, legs facing east. Grave goods like pottery, stone axes, and even opium vessels have been found, offering a glimpse into the spiritual and cultural life of Neolithic communities. 'Although the Funnelbeaker cultures were quite egalitarian, these tombs likely held important figures — a leader, a priest, a shaman,' said Artur Golis from the regional landscape park association. Dating back to the 4th millennium BCE, these tombs are contemporary with the likes of Stonehenge, and significantly older than the pyramids of Giza, which were built around 2600 BCE. Archaeologists say such discoveries are rare, especially as many similar tombs across Europe have eroded over time. The forested area where these tombs were found may have helped preserve them for millennia. 'Each generation would build their own megalith,' Golis told Poland's PAP news agency. 'We might still find stone axes, pottery, or clay vessels used for ritual purposes — including those linked to opium.'
NDTV
13-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Archaeologists Unearth Two Ancient Pyramids In Poland Dating Back 5,500 Years
Archaeologists working in Poland made a stunning discovery as they unearthed two massive prehistoric structures, dubbed the "Polish pyramids". The tombs, with Neolithic burials, were found in the General Dezydery Chlapowski Landscape Park in the village of Wyskoc, Wielkopolska region. The discovery was announced on Facebook by the Complex of Landscape Parks of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship. The archaeologists from Adam Mickiewicz University revealed that the megalithic tombs date back over 5,500 years to the 4th millennium BCE, roughly contemporary with Stonehenge and predating the Egyptian pyramids. The tombs were built using massive stones, some weighing up to 10 tonnes, which were transported with the help of tools and labour, Archaeology News reported. The structures are elongated trapezoidal shapes, up to 200 meters in length and 4 meters in height. The tombs are carefully aligned with the directions, hinting at a sophisticated understanding of astronomy among the builders. The tombs likely contained single skeletons, laid on their backs with legs pointing east, and were accompanied by grave goods such as pottery, stone axes and opium vessels. The archaeologists noted that the tombs were constructed by the Funnelbeaker Culture, a Neolithic society known for its monumental burial architecture and agricultural practices. "Although the Funnelbeaker cultures were quite egalitarian societies, the tombs held important figures for the community—the leader, the priest, the shaman," said Artur Golis from the regional landscape park association. "Each generation of a given community built its own megalith," he told PAP, Poland's press agency. The discovery provides valuable insights into the social, religious, and architectural sophistication of Neolithic Europe. It also challenges our understanding of early European civilisations. Many of the tombs have been lost or degraded over the centuries, with only those hidden in forested areas surviving into the modern era. "Potentially, these might include stone axes, hatchets, pottery, or characteristic clay vessels, including ones used for opium," Golis told TVP World.
