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New York Times
27-03-2025
- General
- New York Times
For 3 Years, They Quietly Dug Up One of the Biggest Treasures in England
Tom Moore got the call just before Christmas in 2021. The head of the University of Durham's Archaeology department, Mr. Moore was well-known in history circles in Yorkshire, in northeast England. It was why he had received the urgent message, from a man who claimed to have stumbled on something big. 'I think it's Iron Age,' said the caller, Peter Heads, an amateur metal detectorist. And then, no one said a word. Now, after more than three years of painstaking excavation, conducted in near-total secrecy, Mr. Moore and his colleagues say that it could be one of the most significant archaeological finds in northern England — and could change historians' understanding of the Iron Age, around 2,000 years ago. 'Quite simply, this is one of the most important and exciting Iron Age period discoveries made in the U.K.,' Duncan Wilson, the chief executive of the government agency Historic England, said in a statement this week. 'It sheds new light on Iron Age life in the north and Britain, but it also demonstrates connections with Europe.' Since Mr. Heads's finding in 2021, a team of archaeologists working at the site has collected a total of more than 800 objects, most dating to the Iron Age. Among them are cauldrons, a wine-mixing bowl, coral-coated horse harnesses and ceremonial spears. They also include 28 iron wheels, presumably from a chariot or wagon — the kinds of transportation mechanisms never before believed to have existed in such size and scope among the elite of Britain's Iron Age. Experts said that the collection of artifacts — dubbed the Melsonby hoard, for the North Yorkshire town where it was found — stands as an example of how Britain's complicated treasure laws can work to safeguard potential finds. British law defines anything older than 300 years and consisting of at least 10 percent precious metal as 'treasure,' and thus the property of the British crown. After Mr. Heads stumbled on a few pieces of ancient metal, his decision to immediately notify local historians allowed them to quickly protect the site and begin moving the discovery through the legal process. 'It was all done very quietly,' said Professor Moore, who led the excavation. He said that the secrecy was partly to ensure that other, less conscientious detectorists did not try to access the site, and partly so the area could be preserved until the artifacts could be evaluated by British authorities. They eventually assessed the find to be worth around 254,000 pounds (about $329,000). 'It was a very responsible metal detectorist who alerted the archaeologists when he found some of the objects,' Mr. Wilson said in an interview. 'It was a very good example.' Not everyone shows as much familiarity with the laws as Mr. Heads. Britain's rules governing metal detecting require dutiful adherence to reporting requirements, with potential legal consequences for failing to do so. People can use metal detectors on private land with the landowner's permission, but if they discover something that might be considered treasure, they are required to report it. If the item is determined to be treasure, it becomes the property of the government, which manages its potential acquisition by museums. Proceeds from any sale are split between the detectorists and the landowner. Mr. Heads stumbled on the Melsonby hoard while detecting on the property of a friendly landowner. After digging a few holes and recognizing the potential value of the find, he contacted Mr. Moore, whom he knew from working in the area. 'I said to him, 'Don't dig it out,'' recalled Mr. Moore. ''Stop, and I'll bring a team.'' Officials are working to get the hoard to the Yorkshire Museum, which is running a crowdfunding effort to purchase the collection. 'This is a Yorkshire story. This is a history of the place, of the people who organized North Yorkshire,' said Adam Parker, the museum's curator of archaeology. 'We think it's very important for it to be retained in the north.' For Mr. Parker, Mr. Moore and their colleagues, to finally be able to talk publicly about the Melsonby find is a relief. The discovery was kept quiet for years as the items progressed through the treasures assessment process, keeping them from discussing the matter with other experts. 'We're really excited now,' Mr. Moore said. 'We can kind of start the research process.'
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists stunned by one of Britain's biggest Iron Age hoards which could rewrite history
It began, as many great discoveries do, with a metal detectorist and a lucky beep. In December 2021, Peter Heads stumbled upon what would turn out to be one of the largest and most significant Iron Age finds ever made in Britain: the Melsonby Hoard. Now, after meticulous excavation and research, archaeologists have unveiled a collection of more than 800 objects found by Heads near the village of Melsonby in North Yorkshire, England. The exact location is being kept secret. "Quite simply, this is one of the most important and exciting Iron Age period discoveries made in the UK. It sheds new light on Iron Age life in the north and Britain, but it also demonstrates connections with Europe," says Duncan Wilson, the Chief Executive of Historic England. Related Archaeologists discover oldest section of China's Great Wall, dating back nearly 3,000 years The Bashiri mystery: A 2,300-year-old Egyptian mummy that no archaeologist dares to open Described by experts as an 'archaeological time capsule,' the hoard is thought to have been buried in the first century AD, coinciding with the Roman conquest of southern Britain. Among the finds are the partial remains of at least seven four-wheeled wagons and two-wheeled chariots, an unusual discovery for Iron Age Britain. The harnesses, some complete with Mediterranean coral and coloured glass, suggest an elite class whose wealth and status were communicated through opulent transport and elaborate rituals. According to Dr Sophia Adams, a curator at the British Museum: 'This is the largest single deposit of horse harness and vehicle parts excavated in Britain. It is significant not just for the quantity of objects buried together 2,000 years ago but also the quality and range of items." Also discovered in the find were three ceremonial spears, carefully wrapped together in a bundle, as well as 28 iron tyres and two ornate cauldrons or vessels. One of these, a lidded vessel, was likely used as a wine-mixing bowl and had been deliberately buried at the bottom of a large ditch. Other items include cast copper alloy bridle bits, linchpins and rein rings. But it's not just the number of objects that has amazed researchers - it is their condition. Many were deliberately broken or burned before burial, a ritual that raises intriguing questions about Iron Age society. Was this an ostentatious display of power? A funerary rite? Or an offering to the gods? The find has also reignited debate over Britain's connections to continental Europe before the Roman conquest. While some objects match those previously unearthed in Britain, others have clear European parallels, hinting at extensive trade networks and shared technologies. Valued at £254,000 (€304,000), the Melsonby Hoard is the focus of a new fundraising campaign by the Yorkshire Museum in York, aiming to make it available for public viewing.
USA Today
07-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Super Bowl 2025: Coin toss trends (and why the betting odds aren't even money)
Editor's Note: This story was originally published on February 9, 2024. It has since been updated. One of the easiest bets anyone can place on the Super Bowl is a wager on the coin toss. You don't need to know anything about football or sports in general. You need to simply have seen a coin at some point in your life. There's a side that has a head on it. There's a side that has a tail on it. Hopefully this is not brand new information. The two Super Bowl teams meet at midfield before the game and flip a coin to see who gets the ball first. And betting on which side of the coin will prevail is a time-honored tradition on Super Bowl Sunday. But if you're looking to place this bet at a sportsbook, you might be confused why two outcomes with equal probability don't result in odds that pay even money (+100). Typically you'll see books list the betting options as Heads (-102) vs. Tails (-102) The reason is something called 'the hold', and it's another way sportsbooks make money besides collecting on losing bets. The hold is essentially what you pay the sportsbook to accept your bet. A commission of sorts. So instead of betting Heads or Tails for even money, the sportsbook lists each option at -105 or so to make sure it will retain a portion of the total amount of money wagered no matter which side wins. Best Super Bowl Betting Promos Top Sports Betting Apps for the Super Bowl BetMGM Super Bowl Welcome Offer Top Super Bowl 59 Betting Sites Super Bowl Coin Toss Trends Heads won the 2024 Super Bowl coin toss Tails has won the Super Bowl coin toss in six of the last 10 years Tails has won the toss in 52 percent of all Super Bowls Kansas City won the Super Bowl coin toss in 2023 (Tails) and 2024 (Heads) The team that wins the toss has won the Super Bowl 45 percent of the time Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose. While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling. We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. All forms of betting carry financial risk and it is up to the individual to make bets with or without the assistance of information provided on this site and we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of following the betting tips provided on this site. Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice. Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws.
Fox Sports
05-02-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Five popular bets for Super Bowl LIX
Super Bowl LIX odds are inviting plenty of action on the typical game markets — point spread, moneyline and total — and even more so on the myriad alternatives. Prop bets are wildly popular, not only with the public betting masses but with those one-time-a-year bettors. Joey Feazel, head of football trading for Caesars Sports, helps break down five popular Super Bowl bets, ahead of Sunday's Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles showdown on FOX. No. 1: Eagles Moneyline The point spread is probably the most familiar wager in NFL betting. But the moneyline is much more crystal clear: You're just betting on which team wins the game. Period. For the past 10 days, sportsbooks across the nation reported seeing strong Eagles moneyline play, and Caesars Sports is no exception. Philadelphia is currently -105 on the moneyline, which means a $105 bet would win $100 (total payout of $205) if the Eagles are victorious Sunday. "Eagles moneyline is the most popular bet on the game itself," Feazel said. "I think part of it is the public doesn't like the Chiefs as much anymore. The Chiefs have entered Patriots territory — you either love them or you hate them." There's a second component, though. And it's one that's recognized by sharp bettors. "If you look at the season as a whole, the perception is that the Eagles are the better team. And the sharps are on the Eagles, as well," Feazel said. No. 2: Coin Toss Ah, yes. There's nothing quite like settling a bet before the game even kicks off, in this case around 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday. And even though winning or losing is literally a coin flip, this market always draws heavy action. "It's usually the most-bet Super Bowl prop every year," Feazel said. "People love a quick decision, first thing. That's attractive. There's no skill involved and no need for research." At Caesars, both Heads and Tails have -105 odds, meaning again that it takes a $105 bet to win $100 (total payout of $205). No. 3: Successful 2-Point Conversion Like many Super Bowl prop bets, this is a Yes/No market. Midweek at Caesars, No is a -300 favorite, with Yes a +240 underdog. Per usual, the public is all over Yes, in part due to that +240 price. A $100 bet would profit $240 (total payout of $340), if there's a successful 2-point conversion. But there's some logic going on here, too. "The Tush Push is giving this prop that extra traffic," Feazel said of the Eagles' patented short-yardage play for QB Jalen Hurts. "Ninety percent of the action is on Yes." Feazel painted this very possible scenario: After a touchdown, Philly lines up to go for two points. Kansas City jumps offsides. The ball then moves half the distance, to the 1-yard line, which is prime Tush Push range. "I'm sure this has crossed the minds of many bettors," he said. "And two Super Bowls ago, Hurts got the Octopus — the TD and the 2-point conversion. That lines up with this 2-point proposition." No. 4: Interception In The End Zone If you think there will be an interception in the end zone, then you might want to sprinkle a few dollars on this Super Bowl prop bet at Caesars. The odds are +700, so a $100 bet would profit a handsome $700 (total payout of $800). "This is a new one we put up this year. I think it's the new part that's attractive to customers," Feazel said, while again painting a perfectly reasonable picture of how it could happen. "It's the Hail Mary aspect. Maybe late in the first half, the offense takes a shot. There are extra defensive backs on the field. "It's a no-loss scenario, before halftime." And there are actually two ways to cash in on this bet, as Feazel pointed out. The second scenario: The Eagles offense is pinned on its goal line, Hurts drops back, has his pass deflected, and the Chiefs intercept the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. That's a winner. At 7/1, that'd be pretty nice. No. 5: Passing Touchdown From A Non-QB Of the four Super Bowl prop bets mentioned in this piece, this one pays the best, at +1000. That means a $100 bet would profit $1,000 (total payout of $1,100). You just need someone other than a quarterback to throw a touchdown pass — which is hardly out of the question. It's occurred three times in the last seven Super Bowls. "It happened last year, Jauan Jennings to Christian McCaffrey," Feazel said of the 49ers hookup in Super Bowl 58. "This is a popular prop every year. It looks like every team has this in their playbook and tends to try it, especially in the Super Bowl. "It's the last game. There are plays teams haven't used all season, and this is usually one of them." Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for He is a distinguished journalist in the national sports betting space. He's based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in 110-degree heat. Follow him on Twitter: @PatrickE_Vegas Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
