Latest news with #MinistryofCultureandSports
Miami Herald
03-07-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Ancient shipwreck hid dozens of treasures — until now. See the finds in Greece
Off the coast of a Greek island sits the Antikythera shipwreck, a 2,000-year-old wreck with a story that inspired an Indiana Jones movie. From its beginnings as an accidental discovery to the recent excavation of its ancient treasures, the wreck's secrets are still being uncovered. Sponge divers happened upon the Antikythera shipwreck, named after the nearby island, in 1900. Initial explorations identified the ship as a trading vessel sunk during the first century B.C. and recovered a geared mechanical device. The mysterious item helped with astronomy calculations and later inspired the 2023 film 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.' Despite being 'the richest ancient wreck ever discovered,' research on the Antikythera wreck has historically been quite limited, according to the international team leading work at the site. For decades, the shipwreck sat too deep for regular scuba divers but not deep enough for remotely operated vehicles. Marine archaeologists finally began exploring the 2,000-year-old ship in recent years with the aid of specialized technology. One such project began in 2021 and ended this summer, Greece's Ministry of Culture and Sports said in a July 1 news release. Photos shared by Return to Antikythera in a news release show some of the latest artifacts recovered from the wreck. This year, the team focused on bringing a section of the ancient wooden hull back to the surface, officials said. The planks were located in 2024 about 700 feet away from the original wreck and interpreted as possible evidence of a second sunken ship. Researchers did an initial analysis of the wood and tentatively dated it to around 235 B.C., officials said. The newly recovered planks were also thinner than planks from the original wreck site, suggesting they could be from a second smaller ship. Marine archaeologists also identified more fragments of ancient sculptures, including a male standing figure, the ministry said. Most of these artifacts were too encrusted to be removed. A photo shows one statue piece, part of a person's bare foot, that was brought to the surface. Other artifacts found on the Antikythera wreck included some pottery fragments identified as Chian amphorae and one rare type of spouted basin known as a clay mortar, officials said. The clay pot was used for preparing food aboard the ship, so archaeologists hope it will provide more information about the crew's diet and daily life. Researchers plan to continue analyzing their finds. It's unclear if the team plans to do any further excavations. Antikythera Island is roughly 150 miles southwest of Athens and north of Crete. Google Translate was used to translate the news release from Greece's Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Return to Antikythera.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Are Unearthing a Massive Maya City
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Researchers excavated an ancient Maya complex that spanned three cities in Guatemala. Each city featured its own unique architectural advancement: an observatory, a pyramid, and a canal system, respectively. All three cities showed similar migration patterns, being densely populated in the Preclassic period, then abandoned, and finally repopulated in the Late Classic period. Important archaeological sites often naturally reveal themselves after disasters like earthquakes and floods. However, it isn't always that easy; many important remains are found thanks to organizations dedicated to preserving history. Over the past 17 years, the Uaxactun Archaeological Project (PARU) has identified over 170 archaeological sites related to the Maya civilization's past. Of the 176 sites, only 20 have been excavated. Some of the most recent and most notable sites included three cities in Guatemala, and what researchers found there provides an incredible snapshot into what Maya civilization once looked like. The results were presented to the public at a press conference held in the Banquet Hall of the National Palace of Culture. The complex—spanning across Los Abuelos, Petnal and Cambrayal—revealed pyramids, altars, and intricate canal systems dating all the way back to the Preclassic period, according to a press release from Guatemala's Ministry of Culture and Sports. The ancient Maya civilization is known for its innovation: math, astronomy, calendars, written language, agriculture—you name it, and the people living during the Classic Maya period probably accomplished it. The ministry explained that the most important of the three cities is Los Abuelos, which translates to 'the Grandparents.' The city is named after two statues discovered there that depict a grandmother and a grandfather, likely representing an 'ancestral couple.' On top of the statues, archeologists also discovered what was likely an astronomical observatory in Los Abuelos. The ancient Maya would have used the buildings to precisely record solstices and equinoxes, both crucial parts of the accurate calendar system. And Los Abuelos wasn't just a place for researching the stars—it was also a ceremonial center. Archaeologists discovered a human burial, feline remains, and offerings including shells and arrowheads at the site, all suggesting the ritual purpose of the complex. According to the press release, the city was likely occupied during the Preclassic period, abandoned, and later rebuilt in the Late Classic. The other two cities, Petnal and Cambrayal, saw similar habitation and desertion patterns. However, unlike Los Abuelos, Petnal wasn't a spiritual epicenter; in fact it was quite the opposite. Researchers believe Petnal served as a political hub for Maya civilization, and the impressive pyramid archeologists found there supports the theory. The structure is 33 meters (roughly 108 feet) high and features a 'well-preserved' room at the top. The room houses the remains of a black, white, and red stucco painting—a find that is an 'extraordinary discovery in the area,' according to the ministry. Like the other cities, Cambrayal is also architecturally impressive—except, instead of buildings like in Los Abuelos and Petnal, the city is home to an elaborate canal system 57 meters (187 feet) long. Researchers believe the stucco-lined channels were used to transport waste—not water—functioning like a drainage system. According to the ministry, the findings in all three cities help to further our contemporary understanding of the region. 'Every little piece we can obtain from the excavations is fundamental,' project co-director Dora García explained at the conference, 'like a piece of the larger puzzle we are putting together.' You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Uncover 3 Never-Before-Seen Mayan Cities
Archaeologists working in Guatemala's Petén jungle have discovered three ancient Mayan cities, the country's Ministry of Culture and Sports announced in a statement. The cities, arranged in a triangular pattern, rest roughly three miles apart from one another. They were incorporated during a period known as the 'middle preclassic' (1,000-400 B.C.), and remained inhabited until about 1,100 years ago. One site of particular interest to archaeologists, dubbed 'Los Abuelos' or 'the Grandparents,' contains stone sculptures of a man and woman which researchers believe depict the ancestors of the city's citizens. They posit that this site may have served as a ceremonial or religious second newly discovered city, dubbed 'Petnal,' features a 108-foot tall flat-topped pyramid which contains a separate room containing murals. Though most of the artwork has degraded, scientists were able to identify red, white, and black colors; however, further analyses will be required to determine what the murals actually depicted. The third city, Cambrayal, features an intricate series of canals which begin at a water reservoir atop the city's palace. Archaeologists believe these waterways were used for removing waste."It's especially exciting to learn about the Los Abuelos site," Megan O'Neil, an associate professor of art history at Emory University who was not part of the excavation team, told Live Science. O'Neill added that the stonework found at the sites "are especially poignant and are similar to many other examples of Maya people making offerings to vital sculptures and connecting with their ancestors by interacting with sculptures from the past." She believes these recent discoveries will "help reconnect items in private and museum collections with their places of origin and deposition, helping return memory to those ceramics, to these sites, and to Maya people living in this region and across the world."Archaeologists Uncover 3 Never-Before-Seen Mayan Cities first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 9, 2025
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
3 ancient Maya cities discovered in Guatemala, 1 with an 'astronomical complex' likely used for predicting solstices
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of three Maya cities in the Petén jungle of Guatemala. The cities are about 3 miles (5 kilometers) apart and are arranged like a triangle, Guatemala's Ministry of Culture and Sports reported in a translated statement. The cities were settled sometime during a period that archaeologists call the "middle preclassic," which occurred between roughly 1000 and 400 B.C. They were inhabited until around 1,100 years ago, when many Maya cities in the region collapsed. The most important of the three cities is a site archaeologists are calling "Los Abuelos," which means "the grandparents." This name comes from two stone sculptures found at the site: one of a man and another of a woman. They are believed to depict ancestors of those who lived at the site, the statement said, noting that this city may have been a ceremonial center for those who lived in the area. Los Abuelos thrived during the Middle Preclassic (1000 B.C. to 400 B.C.) and Late Preclassic periods (400 B.C. to A.D. 300) before being abandoned and then reinhabited during the Late Classic period (A.D. 600 to 900). It has an astronomical complex with buildings positioned in such a way that solstices and equinoxes can be recorded precisely, the statement said. The remains of a human burial were found at the site, along with the remains of two felines, pottery vessels, shells and arrowheads. Archaeologists also discovered an altar in the shape of a frog and an engraved stone slab known as a stela. Once the Mayan writing on the stela is translated, it may provide more information about the site and the people who lived there. Another newly found city, which archaeologists named "Petnal," has a 108-foot-tall (33 meters) pyramid, the statement said. The top of the pyramid is flat and has a room that houses the remains of murals on its walls. Red, white and black from the murals can still be seen, but more research is needed to determine what the murals depict. Petnal was likely a political center, according to the statement. A frog-shaped altar was also found there. The frog is perceived as a symbol of fertility and rebirth in Maya mythology, wrote researchers Robert Sharer and Loa Traxler in their book "The Ancient Maya: Sixth Edition" (Stanford University Press, 2006). Frog altars have been found at other Maya sites and presumably would have been used in rituals. The third newly found city, which the archaeologists dubbed "Cambrayal," has a network of canals that originates in a water reservoir at the top of a palace, the statement reported. The main purpose of the canals may have been for removing waste. "It's especially exciting to learn about the Los Abuelos site," Megan O'Neil, an associate professor of art history at Emory University who was not part of the excavation team, told Live Science in an email. The stone sculptures found at the site "are especially poignant and are similar to many other examples of Maya people making offerings to vital sculptures and connecting with their ancestors by interacting with sculptures from the past." RELATED STORIES —'Stunning' discovery reveals how the Maya rose up 4,000 years ago —Ancient Maya 'blood cave' discovered in Guatemala baffles archaeologists —Genomes from ancient Maya people reveal collapse of population and civilization 1,200 years ago O'Neil noted that it was important that archaeologists found the remains of intact ceramic vessels during their excavation. In the past, this region was heavily looted and the pottery made by the ancient Maya was taken and sold on the international market. The new finds may "help reconnect items in private and museum collections with their places of origin and deposition, helping return memory to those ceramics, to these sites, and to Maya people living in this region and across the world," O'Neil said. The discoveries of the three cities, along with other newly found sites in the region, were made by a team of archaeologists from Slovakia and Guatemala who were part of the Uaxactún Archaeological Project (PARU), which searches for Maya ruins near the Maya city of Uaxactún. Since 2009, PARU has discovered 176 sites, although only 20 have been excavated. Live Science reached out to archaeologists involved with the research, but they did not answer questions by the time of publication.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Are Unearthing a Massive Maya City That's Been Hidden for 3,000 Years
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Researchers excavated an ancient Maya complex that spanned three cities in Guatemala. Each city featured its own unique architectural advancement: an observatory, a pyramid, and a canal system, respectively. All three cities showed similar migration patterns, being densely populated in the Preclassic period, then abandoned, and finally repopulated in the Late Classic period. Important archaeological sites often naturally reveal themselves after disasters like earthquakes and floods. However, it isn't always that easy; many important remains are found thanks to organizations dedicated to preserving history. Over the past 17 years, the Uaxactun Archaeological Project (PARU) has identified over 170 archaeological sites related to the Maya civilization's past. Of the 176 sites, only 20 have been excavated. Some of the most recent and most notable sites included three cities in Guatemala, and what researchers found there provides an incredible snapshot into what Maya civilization once looked like. The results were presented to the public at a press conference held in the Banquet Hall of the National Palace of Culture. The complex—spanning across Los Abuelos, Petnal and Cambrayal—revealed pyramids, altars, and intricate canal systems dating all the way back to the Preclassic period, according to a press release from Guatemala's Ministry of Culture and Sports. The ancient Maya civilization is known for its innovation: math, astronomy, calendars, written language, agriculture—you name it, and the people living during the Classic Maya period probably accomplished it. The ministry explained that the most important of the three cities is Los Abuelos, which translates to 'the Grandparents.' The city is named after two statues discovered there that depict a grandmother and a grandfather, likely representing an 'ancestral couple.' On top of the statues, archeologists also discovered what was likely an astronomical observatory in Los Abuelos. The ancient Maya would have used the buildings to precisely record solstices and equinoxes, both crucial parts of the accurate calendar system. And Los Abuelos wasn't just a place for researching the stars—it was also a ceremonial center. Archaeologists discovered a human burial, feline remains, and offerings including shells and arrowheads at the site, all suggesting the ritual purpose of the complex. According to the press release, the city was likely occupied during the Preclassic period, abandoned, and later rebuilt in the Late Classic. The other two cities, Petnal and Cambrayal, saw similar habitation and desertion patterns. However, unlike Los Abuelos, Petnal wasn't a spiritual epicenter; in fact it was quite the opposite. Researchers believe Petnal served as a political hub for Maya civilization, and the impressive pyramid archeologists found there supports the theory. The structure is 33 meters (roughly 108 feet) high and features a 'well-preserved' room at the top. The room houses the remains of a black, white, and red stucco painting—a find that is an 'extraordinary discovery in the area,' according to the ministry. Like the other cities, Cambrayal is also architecturally impressive—except, instead of buildings like in Los Abuelos and Petnal, the city is home to an elaborate canal system 57 meters (187 feet) long. Researchers believe the stucco-lined channels were used to transport waste—not water—functioning like a drainage system. According to the ministry, the findings in all three cities help to further our contemporary understanding of the region. 'Every little piece we can obtain from the excavations is fundamental,' project co-director Dora García explained at the conference, 'like a piece of the larger puzzle we are putting together.' 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?
