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Archaeologists have unearthed two exceptionally well-preserved victims of the eruption of Vesuvius in AD79The almost perfectly preserved remains of two men have been unearthed in an extraordinary discovery in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii.The bodies of what are thought to be a wealthy man and his slave, believed to have died as they were fleeing the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79,...

Archaeologists say killing of animals may have helped cement claim on new territoryThat the Inca sacrificed people to appease their gods is well known, but a discovery in Peru sheds new light on a far more common sacrificial practice: the ritual offering of highly prized and ornately decorated llamas.Four naturally mummified llamas have been uncovered during the excavation of Tambo Viejo, an Incan administrative...

Feline geoglyph from 200-100BC emerges during work at Unesco world heritage siteThe dun sands of southern Peru, etched centuries ago with geoglyphs of a hummingbird, a monkey, an orca – and a figure some would dearly love to believe is an astronaut – have now revealed the form of an enormous cat lounging across a desert hillside.The feline Nazca line, dated to between 200BC...

Study seeks to compare microbiomes of our ancestors for clues to modern diseasesResearchers working knee-deep in 14th- and 15th-century latrines have found that bacterial DNA from human excrement can last for centuries and provide clues to how our gut contents have changed significantly since medieval times.Analysis of two cesspits, one in Jerusalem and the other in the Latvian capital, Riga, could help scientists understand...

Brain of a young man killed in the eruption was found in Herculaneum, ItalyBrain cells have been found in exceptionally preserved form in the remains of a young man killed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius almost 2,000 years ago, an Italian study has revealed.The preserved neuronal structures in vitrified or frozen form were discovered at the archaeological site of Herculaneum, an ancient Roman...

Man buried with spears and a sword and scabbard at site overlooking River ThamesThe final resting place of what appears to be an Anglo-Saxon warrior has been unearthed in a field in Berkshire, in a discovery archaeologists say sheds fresh light on the rise and fall of local tribes.Buried with an array of weapons including spears and a sword with its scabbard, the skeleton...

Archaelogists say Sumerian plaque dating from around 2400BC may have been lootedAn ancient sculpture is to be returned to Iraq after it was secretly smuggled out of the country and offered for sale in the UK – only to be seized by the Metropolitan police.The previously unknown Sumerian temple plaque, dating from about 2400BC, is being repatriated with the help of the British Museum,...

Pieces of bone were turned into ornaments, and may have been placed on displayBronze age Britons remembered the dead by keeping and curating bits of their bodies, and even turning them into instruments and ornaments, according to new research on the remains.Archaeologists found that pieces of bone buried with the dead were often from people who had died decades earlier, suggesting their remains had...

Fire department said 27 firefighters were being supported by nine fire engines, two planes and a helicopterA wildfire has broken out near the ruins of the bronze age stronghold of Mycenae in Greece, prompting the evacuation of visitors to the archaeological site. Related: Greece’s deadly wildfires – then and now Continue reading...

Composer Edmund Hunt leads effort to examine sonic footprints of Vikings and CeltsVikings are well known for helmets, swords and longboats, and they must have made a racket when raiding settlements, but history does not quite record what they sounded like. The centuries cast a hush over their conversations, poems, songs and music.That may soon change because a pioneering research project aims to breathe...

Metal detectorist had posted images online of artefacts including Phoenician earring Police in Spain have recovered a haul of ancient artefacts, including Phoenician gold jewellery, that could date to 1,200BC, after the metal detectorist who found them posted pictures of the treasures online.The investigation began when specialist officers from the national police force noticed that images of archaeological and cultural items were being shared...

A wreck boasting a trove of fifth-century BC amphorae has been opened to divers off the island of AlonissosGreece has inaugurated its first underwater museum, a trove of fifth-century BC amphorae labelled the “Parthenon of shipwrecks”, off the coast of Alonissos island in the western Aegean.The site of the wreck will be open to tours by certified amateur divers from 3 August to 2...

Stones in Wiltshire woodland found to be exact match for majority of site’s sarsensToday West Woods in Wiltshire is a popular spot for hikers, dog walkers and mountain bikers, famed for its bluebells in the springtime. Stick to the footpaths and it is easy to miss the hefty flat stones hidden in the undergrowth.But groundbreaking scientific research published on Wednesday reveals that, 4,500 years...

Variola virus DNA found in bones of people from Denmark to Russia around Viking eraThe Vikings are known for their intrepid seafaring, fearsome fighting and extensive trading, but it seems it may not only have been goods and weapons they carried on their travels – they could also have carried a deadly disease.Researchers say they have found the world’s earliest confirmed case of smallpox,...

Shop-owner’s son had apparently come across ancient artefacts while out fishingPolice conducting a routine inspection of a frozen seafood shop in eastern Spain have netted 13 Roman amphoras and an 18th-century metal anchor, all of which were apparently found by the owner’s son on fishing trips and used to decorate the premises.After stopping in at the shop in the coastal town of Santa Pola,...

Artefacts from central Mexico cave are strong evidence humans lived on continent 15,000 years earlier than previously thoughtTools excavated from a cave in central Mexico are strong evidence that humans were living in North America at least 30,000 years ago, some 15,000 years earlier than previously thought, scientists said Wednesday.The artefacts, including 1,900 stone tools, showed human occupation of the high-altitude Chiquihuite cave over...

Eight-metre statue built in 5th century BC had been buried among ancient ruinsA colossal statue of Atlas, buried for centuries among ancient ruins, will soon take its rightful place among the ancient Greek temples of Agrigento on Sicily.The city’s archaeological park announced that the artwork, one of the most celebrated sculptures on the island, will be raised upright in front of the Temple of...

Exclusive: discovery of two ancient mummies filmed for Channel 5 documentaryShe was the fabled queen of ancient Egypt, immortalised over thousands of years as a beautiful seductress. But, despite her fame, Cleopatra’s tomb is one of the great unsolved mysteries.Some believe she was buried in Alexandria, where she was born and ruled from her royal palace, a city decimated by the tsunami of 365AD....