Latest news with #YorkArchaeologicalTrust
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mysterious sixth century vessel at Sutton Hoo site was used to bury cremated remains
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Archaeologists have uncovered a key component of a mysterious artifact at Sutton Hoo, a National Trust site in Suffolk, England, famous for the seventh century Anglo-Saxon 'ghost ship' burial discovered in a mound between 1938 and 1939. The fragments of the sixth century Byzantine bucket have fascinated researchers since a tractor harrow accidentally unearthed the pieces in 1986. Researchers have long questioned the purpose of the artifact, which depicts a North African hunting scene, complete with warriors, a range of weaponry, lions and a hunting dog. Experts believe the bucket came from the Byzantine Empire and was crafted in Antioch, located in modern-day Turkey, before finding its way to the eastern coast of Britain a century later. Excavations in 2012 contributed more pieces to the object, called the Bromeswell bucket. But the entire base of the vessel has proved as elusive as the reasons why it's present at an Anglo-Saxon site. Now, the Bromeswell puzzle is a little more complete. New excavations last summer unearthed a block of dirt containing pieces of the bucket. A careful analysis revealed the entire base, which includes embellishments that complete feet, paws, shields of figures, as well as the missing face of one of the warriors. The team also uncovered the bucket's surprising contents — cremated animal and human remains — which shed more light on why the vessel was buried. Alongside the burnt bones, researchers found an unexpectedly intact comb that may contain DNA evidence of the person, likely of high status, who was laid to rest more than a thousand years ago. The dirt block went through CT scans and X-rays at the University of Bradford before being sent to the York Archaeological Trust for a deeper analysis in November. A research team with experience in studying human bones, organic remains and conservation meticulously removed soil inside the bucket, analyzing each fragment as it slowly appeared. The careful approach uncovered cremated human bones, which included parts of an ankle bone and a skull vault, or the protective upper part of the skull, according to a release from the National Trust. The researchers also found remnants of animal bone, and an initial analysis suggests the pieces came from something larger than a pig. The team noted that horses were often part of early Anglo-Saxon cremation pyres to reflect the elevated status of the individual who had died. The tight cluster of the bone remnants, as well as some curious unknown fibers, suggest the remains were originally kept in a bag that was placed in the bucket. However, some bone fragments were also found right outside of the bucket, and copper-alloy staining from the bucket on the bones signals they were buried outside of the vessel at the same time, the researchers said. Both the human and animal bones are undergoing further study and radiocarbon dating to provide additional context. Several cremation burials at Sutton Hoo were placed in vessels such as ceramic pots and bronze bowls, including an impressive bronze hanging bowl on display in the High Hall exhibition. But buckets such as these are rare, and there hasn't ever been one found with cremated remains inside, said Laura Howarth, archaeology and engagement manager for the National Trust's Sutton Hoo site, in an email. The initial scans also suggested there were grave goods within the bucket, and the researchers painstakingly retrieved the delicate but largely intact double-sided comb, with fine tooth and wider tooth sides, likely made from an antler. The comb, unlike the bones, had not been burned. Combs made from bone and antler have been retrieved from male and female burials alike, and different sizes suggest they were used for grooming hair, beards and removing lice. The acidic soil at Sutton Hoo, which rotted away the wood of the Anglo-Saxon ship and only left impressions of planks and rows of iron rivets, means that many of the bone combs previously found at Sutton Hoo have not been well-preserved, Howarth said. The team was unable to determine the sex of the individual from the bone fragments, but the researchers are optimistic that they may be able to retrieve ancient DNA from the comb to uncover more about the person's identity. Scientists are also eager to take a closer look at leaves and other plant remains found inside the bucket, which could provide clues on the climate, environment and season when the bucket was buried, said Naomi Sewpaul, an environmental archaeologist who analyzed the finds, in a YouTube video by the British television turned online show 'Time Team.' 'We knew that this bucket would have been a rare and prized possession back in Anglo-Saxon times, but it's always been a mystery why it was buried,' said Angus Wainwright, a National Trust archaeologist, in a statement. 'Now we know it was used to contain the remains of an important person in the Sutton Hoo community. I'm hopeful that further analysis will uncover more information about this very special burial.' The bucket's base, which is in surprisingly good condition, was found in one piece, and CT scans showed concentric rings that suggest it was made by cold hammering — when metal such as copper is shaped by percussive movements without heating. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the bucket had a top. Questions still remain about the bucket's original purpose and how it arrived in England. Researchers suspect it may have been a diplomatic gift, or it was acquired by a mercenary Saxon soldier. 'We think that the bucket had a life prior to burial,' Howarth wrote in an email. 'We can't be certain how this bucket made hundreds of miles away in the Byzantine Empire ended up in this corner of Suffolk. (It) could have been an antique at the time of burial, a gift, a souvenir, etc. But by repurposing this luxury item as a cremation vessel, it is signaling something about the status of the individual interred (how they were perceived in both life and death) and their connections. These latest discoveries have helped redefine the bucket from a possible stray/isolated find to being part of a burial context.' The new research at Sutton Hoo is part of a two-year project, which began last summer, carried out by the National Trust, Field Archaeology Specialists, or FAS, Heritage, and 'Time Team.' The project unearthed the bucket fragment during the final week of a monthlong excavation in the summer of 2024. Sutton Hoo has been the site of multiple excavations over the years because the discovery of the ship burial in the late 1930s changed the way historians understand Anglo-Saxon life. The 90-foot-long (27-meter) wooden ship was dragged half a mile (0.8 kilometer) from the River Deben when an Anglo-Saxon warrior king died 1,400 years ago. The burial was likely that of Raedwald of East Anglia, who died around 624, and he was placed inside the ship, surrounded by treasures and buried within a mound. In addition to the famous ship burial, a royal burial ground and a sixth century Anglo-Saxon cemetery have been found at Sutton Hoo in the past. Archaeologists determined that the Anglo-Saxon cemetery, which predates the royal burial ground, contained 13 cremations and nine burials in 2000 ahead of construction of the Sutton Hoo visitor's center. It's believed that the people buried here were residents from low to relatively high-status families, and perhaps even the grandparents or great-grandparents of those later buried in the royal burial ground. This season's excavations are already underway at Garden Field, a site close to the ship burial, and will continue through June to uncover more information about the Anglo-Saxon cemetery. 'We've finally solved the puzzle of the Bromeswell bucket — now we know that it is the first of these rare objects ever to have been used in a cremation burial. It's a remarkable mixture — a vessel from the southern, classical world containing the remains of a very northern, very Germanic cremation,' said Helen Geake, Time Team's Anglo-Saxon expert, in a statement. 'It epitomises the strangeness of Sutton Hoo — it has ship burials, horse burials, mound burials and now bath-bucket burials. Who knows what else it might still hold?'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Make Shocking Discovery in 6th-Century Relic
Archaeologists made a shocking discovery in a sixth-century copper bucket found several decades ago at the famous English excavation site of Sutton Hoo, according to a statement from the National after the initial discovery, known as 'the Bromeswell Bucket,' specialists working with the York Archaeological Trust conducted a micro-excavation on the bucket, where they made a horrific find. Within the soil, they uncovered human bones, including an ankle and part of a skull, which had seemingly been placed in the bucket so that they could decompose. "We knew that this bucket would have been a rare and prized possession back in Anglo-Saxon times," National Trust archaeologist Angus Wainwright said in the statement. "Now we know it was used to contain the remains of an important person in the Sutton Hoo community." So far, Wainwright and his team have precious little evidence to determine who this person was within the community. There were additional animal bones found within the bucket that experts believe to be horse remains. Similarly, the discovery of a comb within the bucket does little to distinguish the identity of the deceased, as both men and women were known to regularly use combs during that period. Small amounts of bone fragments found on the comb will be radiocarbon dated with the hope that it might reveal the person's gender. Anglo-Saxon expert Helen Geake, who worked on the project, called the Bromeswell Bucket "a remarkable mixture—a vessel from the southern, classical world containing the remains of a very northern, very Germanic cremation' that 'epitomises the strangeness of Sutton Hoo." Further excavations will be conducted at Sutton Hoo through June 13. "This next phase of the dig offers an incredible opportunity to continue uncovering the secrets of Sutton Hoo, and we can't wait to see what new discoveries await us in 2025," project creator Tim Taylor said in the Make Shocking Discovery in 6th-Century Relic first appeared on Men's Journal on May 23, 2025
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Man recovered from ‘gladiator graveyard' died of lion bite, study finds
Editor's note: A version of this story appeared in CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. Legends of young heroes fighting lions to the death appear in Roman records and artwork, but scant physical evidence of these beastly battles exists. Perhaps, that is, until now. A new study sheds light on the story of a young man, likely between the ages of 26 and 35, discovered with a fatal bite mark from a large animal. His remains were buried between 1,825 and 1,725 years ago in what archaeologists believe to be a 'gladiator graveyard' — hundreds of miles from Rome — in York, England. The findings highlight the Roman Empire's sweeping impact across Britain — lending direct evidence that Roman culture and lifestyle spread far beyond the Colosseum. The human remains at the heart of the new study have puzzled researchers since the burial site was uncovered in 2010. Scientists involved in the expedition, led by the York Archaeological Trust, suspected the divots in the man's pelvis were the work of a carnivore. But delving into the precise culprit showed the markings 'were likely made by a lion, which confirms that the skeletons buried at the cemetery were gladiators, rather than soldiers or slaves, as initially thought,' said study coauthor Malin Holst of the University of York. Here's what the bone analysis revealed about the man and how the researchers determined what was behind the lethal bite markings. Watch chimpanzees sharing fermented fruit, which contains intoxicating traces of alcohol. The first-of-its kind footage could highlight how the closest living relatives to humans may partake in a boozy treat to strengthen bonds that's similar to our social rites. What's nearly as long as a bus, has teeth the size of bananas and has a scientific name that translates to 'terror crocodile'? Behold: Deinosuchus. The roughly 26-foot-long creature of nightmares is believed to have lived between 82 million and 75 million years ago, dining on dinosaurs in the rivers and estuaries of North America. While prior research on the giant reptile's evolutionary background has put it in the same group as alligators and their ancient relatives, a new analysis of fossils and DNA suggests it belongs on a different branch of the crocodilian family tree. That assessment boils down to one key trait: Deinosuchus had special glands and a tolerance for salt water, according to the study. Further animating our understanding of the creatures that populated prehistoric Earth are trace fossils — or ancient animal tracks frozen in time. Researching these fascinating rocks is like 'trying to study ghosts,' said Conner Bennett, lead author of a study that described the story behind several trace fossils in the collection of Oregon's John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The footprint fossils can pick up where bones leave off, confirming the presence of animals. For example, one set of tracks estimated to be about 50 million years old tells the story of a small wading bird pausing near a lakeshore in central Oregon to search for food. Without the footprints, the unprecedented evidence of birds in the ancient ecosystem may have been lost to time: Their fragile, hollow skeletons don't hold up well. Tucked away in one of the world's largest collections of fossilized insects, the oldest recorded ant species nearly remained overlooked. Anderson Lepeco, a researcher at the University of São Paulo's Museum of Zoology in Brazil, spotted the 'extraordinary' specimen as he was perusing some of the museum's fossils. That's when he came across the hell ant, preserved in limestone. The critter was believed to have lived among dinosaurs some 113 million years ago — several millennia before previously found ants, according to new research. 'I was just shocked to see that weird projection in front of this (insect's) head,' Lepeco said. 'Other hell ants have been described with odd mandibles, but always as amber specimens.' At wildlife conservancies in Africa, four-legged friends are invigorating efforts to combat poaching. Professional dog trainers Darren Priddle and Jacqui Law of Carmarthen, Wales, spearhead the initiative, called Dogs4Wildlife. After they saw a picture of a poached African rhino on social media in 2015, they set out to use their expertise training animals to help combat illegal hunting. 'It was quite a horrific image. We sat down and we said, 'OK, that's really affected us,'' Priddle told CNN. The duo has since sent 15 stalwart canines to five sub-Saharan African countries, including Shinga, a Belgian Malinois, and Murwi, a Dutch shepherd, who protect big game at Zimbabwe's Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy. Check out these must-read science stories from the week: — The head of the US National Science Foundation stepped down from his post as the agency grapples with the Trump administration's demands. — A Pakistani astronaut will become the first foreign national to enter China's space station, Tiangong. — Scientists spotted a 1940s Ford automobile inside the sunken USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier lost during the Battle of Midway. Before you go, it's time to look skyward: Saturday is the last day to catch a glimpse of the Lyrid meteor shower. Like what you've read? Oh, but there's more. Sign up here to receive in your inbox the next edition of Wonder Theory, brought to you by CNN Space and Science writers Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt and Jackie Wattles. They find wonder in planets beyond our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world.
CNN
26-04-2025
- Science
- CNN
Man recovered from ‘gladiator graveyard' died of lion bite, study finds
Legends of young heroes fighting lions to the death appear in Roman records and artwork, but scant physical evidence of these beastly battles exists. Perhaps, that is, until now. A new study sheds light on the story of a young man, likely between the ages of 26 and 35, discovered with a fatal bite mark from a large animal. His remains were buried between 1,825 and 1,725 years ago in what archaeologists believe to be a 'gladiator graveyard' — hundreds of miles from Rome — in York, England. The findings highlight the Roman Empire's sweeping impact across Britain — lending direct evidence that Roman culture and lifestyle spread far beyond the Colosseum. The human remains at the heart of the new study have puzzled researchers since the burial site was uncovered in 2010. Scientists involved in the expedition, led by the York Archaeological Trust, suspected the divots in the man's pelvis were the work of a carnivore. But delving into the precise culprit showed the markings 'were likely made by a lion, which confirms that the skeletons buried at the cemetery were gladiators, rather than soldiers or slaves, as initially thought,' said study coauthor Malin Holst of the University of York. Here's what the bone analysis revealed about the man and how the researchers determined what was behind the lethal bite markings. Watch chimpanzees sharing fermented fruit, which contains intoxicating traces of alcohol. The first-of-its kind footage could highlight how the closest living relatives to humans may partake in a boozy treat to strengthen bonds that's similar to our social rites. What's nearly as long as a bus, has teeth the size of bananas and has a scientific name that translates to 'terror crocodile'? Behold: Deinosuchus. The roughly 26-foot-long creature of nightmares is believed to have lived between 82 million and 75 million years ago, dining on dinosaurs in the rivers and estuaries of North America. While prior research on the giant reptile's evolutionary background has put it in the same group as alligators and their ancient relatives, a new analysis of fossils and DNA suggests it belongs on a different branch of the crocodilian family tree. That assessment boils down to one key trait: Deinosuchus had special glands and a tolerance for salt water, according to the study. Further animating our understanding of the creatures that populated prehistoric Earth are trace fossils — or ancient animal tracks frozen in time. Researching these fascinating rocks is like 'trying to study ghosts,' said Conner Bennett, lead author of a study that described the story behind several trace fossils in the collection of Oregon's John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The footprint fossils can pick up where bones leave off, confirming the presence of animals. For example, one set of tracks estimated to be about 50 million years old tells the story of a small wading bird pausing near a lakeshore in central Oregon to search for food. Without the footprints, the unprecedented evidence of birds in the ancient ecosystem may have been lost to time: Their fragile, hollow skeletons don't hold up well. Tucked away in one of the world's largest collections of fossilized insects, the oldest recorded ant species nearly remained overlooked. Anderson Lepeco, a researcher at the University of São Paulo's Museum of Zoology in Brazil, spotted the 'extraordinary' specimen as he was perusing some of the museum's fossils. That's when he came across the hell ant, preserved in limestone. The critter was believed to have lived among dinosaurs some 113 million years ago — several millennia before previously found ants, according to new research. 'I was just shocked to see that weird projection in front of this (insect's) head,' Lepeco said. 'Other hell ants have been described with odd mandibles, but always as amber specimens.' At wildlife conservancies in Africa, four-legged friends are invigorating efforts to combat poaching. Professional dog trainers Darren Priddle and Jacqui Law of Carmarthen, Wales, spearhead the initiative, called Dogs4Wildlife. After they saw a picture of a poached African rhino on social media in 2015, they set out to use their expertise training animals to help combat illegal hunting. 'It was quite a horrific image. We sat down and we said, 'OK, that's really affected us,'' Priddle told CNN. The duo has since sent 15 stalwart canines to five sub-Saharan African countries, including Shinga, a Belgian Malinois, and Murwi, a Dutch shepherd, who protect big game at Zimbabwe's Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy. Check out these must-read science stories from the week: — The head of the US National Science Foundation stepped down from his post as the agency grapples with the Trump administration's demands. — A Pakistani astronaut will become the first foreign national to enter China's space station, Tiangong. — Scientists spotted a 1940s Ford automobile inside the sunken USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier lost during the Battle of Midway. Before you go, it's time to look skyward: Saturday is the last day to catch a glimpse of the Lyrid meteor shower.
CNN
26-04-2025
- Science
- CNN
Man recovered from ‘gladiator graveyard' died of lion bite, study finds
Legends of young heroes fighting lions to the death appear in Roman records and artwork, but scant physical evidence of these beastly battles exists. Perhaps, that is, until now. A new study sheds light on the story of a young man, likely between the ages of 26 and 35, discovered with a fatal bite mark from a large animal. His remains were buried between 1,825 and 1,725 years ago in what archaeologists believe to be a 'gladiator graveyard' — hundreds of miles from Rome — in York, England. The findings highlight the Roman Empire's sweeping impact across Britain — lending direct evidence that Roman culture and lifestyle spread far beyond the Colosseum. The human remains at the heart of the new study have puzzled researchers since the burial site was uncovered in 2010. Scientists involved in the expedition, led by the York Archaeological Trust, suspected the divots in the man's pelvis were the work of a carnivore. But delving into the precise culprit showed the markings 'were likely made by a lion, which confirms that the skeletons buried at the cemetery were gladiators, rather than soldiers or slaves, as initially thought,' said study coauthor Malin Holst of the University of York. Here's what the bone analysis revealed about the man and how the researchers determined what was behind the lethal bite markings. Watch chimpanzees sharing fermented fruit, which contains intoxicating traces of alcohol. The first-of-its kind footage could highlight how the closest living relatives to humans may partake in a boozy treat to strengthen bonds that's similar to our social rites. What's nearly as long as a bus, has teeth the size of bananas and has a scientific name that translates to 'terror crocodile'? Behold: Deinosuchus. The roughly 26-foot-long creature of nightmares is believed to have lived between 82 million and 75 million years ago, dining on dinosaurs in the rivers and estuaries of North America. While prior research on the giant reptile's evolutionary background has put it in the same group as alligators and their ancient relatives, a new analysis of fossils and DNA suggests it belongs on a different branch of the crocodilian family tree. That assessment boils down to one key trait: Deinosuchus had special glands and a tolerance for salt water, according to the study. Further animating our understanding of the creatures that populated prehistoric Earth are trace fossils — or ancient animal tracks frozen in time. Researching these fascinating rocks is like 'trying to study ghosts,' said Conner Bennett, lead author of a study that described the story behind several trace fossils in the collection of Oregon's John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The footprint fossils can pick up where bones leave off, confirming the presence of animals. For example, one set of tracks estimated to be about 50 million years old tells the story of a small wading bird pausing near a lakeshore in central Oregon to search for food. Without the footprints, the unprecedented evidence of birds in the ancient ecosystem may have been lost to time: Their fragile, hollow skeletons don't hold up well. Tucked away in one of the world's largest collections of fossilized insects, the oldest recorded ant species nearly remained overlooked. Anderson Lepeco, a researcher at the University of São Paulo's Museum of Zoology in Brazil, spotted the 'extraordinary' specimen as he was perusing some of the museum's fossils. That's when he came across the hell ant, preserved in limestone. The critter was believed to have lived among dinosaurs some 113 million years ago — several millennia before previously found ants, according to new research. 'I was just shocked to see that weird projection in front of this (insect's) head,' Lepeco said. 'Other hell ants have been described with odd mandibles, but always as amber specimens.' At wildlife conservancies in Africa, four-legged friends are invigorating efforts to combat poaching. Professional dog trainers Darren Priddle and Jacqui Law of Carmarthen, Wales, spearhead the initiative, called Dogs4Wildlife. After they saw a picture of a poached African rhino on social media in 2015, they set out to use their expertise training animals to help combat illegal hunting. 'It was quite a horrific image. We sat down and we said, 'OK, that's really affected us,'' Priddle told CNN. The duo has since sent 15 stalwart canines to five sub-Saharan African countries, including Shinga, a Belgian Malinois, and Murwi, a Dutch shepherd, who protect big game at Zimbabwe's Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy. Check out these must-read science stories from the week: — The head of the US National Science Foundation stepped down from his post as the agency grapples with the Trump administration's demands. — A Pakistani astronaut will become the first foreign national to enter China's space station, Tiangong. — Scientists spotted a 1940s Ford automobile inside the sunken USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier lost during the Battle of Midway. Before you go, it's time to look skyward: Saturday is the last day to catch a glimpse of the Lyrid meteor shower.
