A megathrust earthquake, magnitude 9.0 or higher, is possible, and a newly discovered hole in the Pacific Ocean holds the clues! The hole is leaking, and that appears to be a sign that conditions are lining up for a powerful earthquake. Of course, if that were to happen, it would cause a potentially catastrophic tsunami. But knowledge is power!
The hole, discovered by a University of Washington research team, could be a vital clue in predicting earthquakes.
The Euphrates River has been changing for a few years now. Every year, it dries up more and more and with it, brings questions and discoveries that no one was expecting. And well, it’s happened again. Join us as we dig deeper into what they just discovered in the dried-up Euphrates River, and how it might just change everything we’ve ever known about the area.
In today’s video we will the talking about 50 unsolved historical mysteries that can not be explained. Watch the video below and enjoy!
Antarctica is uninhabitable for people due to the harsh weather, subfreezing temperatures, and desolate terrain. The ice-covered continent, which makes up 90% of the ice on Earth, is nearly 1.5 times the size of the United States and is entirely covered in ice. Enjoy!
In the video below we will be exploring the most mysterious places on earth. Watch the video to find out more!
The Challenges and Triumphs of Digging the Deep Blue in Underwater Archaeology
The allure of the ocean has always been intertwined with its mysteries. While explorers have mapped coastlines and sailors have chronicled their adventures on stormy seas, underwater archaeologists dive deeper, quite literally, to unearth tales from the ocean's abyss. This profession, a marriage between archaeology and deep-sea diving, is filled with both challenges and triumphs.
Archaeology, the scientific study of human history and prehistory through the excavation and analysis of artifacts and other physical remains, has greatly evolved over time, providing a window onto the historic development of civilizations.
From its crude beginnings to the current use of advanced technology, archaeology has allowed us to unlock many secrets of our past. However, one branch of archaeology that has been particularly challenging is underwater archaeology.
Underwater archaeology is a difficult and demanding task. It involves the excavation of submerged remains such as shipwrecks, sunken cities, and other ancient artifacts. This branch of archaeology requires specialized equipment and techniques to access and recover artifacts, often in conditions where visibility is limited, currents are strong, and the ocean is a constantly changing environment. Despite the challenges, underwater archaeology has yielded remarkable discoveries that have greatly enriched our understanding of human history.
1. Physical and Technical barriers: The most immediate challenge in underwater archaeology is the physical barrier posed by water. Immense pressures in deep-sea environments, unpredictable currents, and the potential for low visibility conditions can make archaeological efforts challenging. Furthermore, divers can only stay submerged for limited periods due to concerns about decompression sickness.
2. Preservation and Conservation: While the deep-sea environment can often preserve organic materials incredibly well, thanks to cold, oxygen-poor conditions, removing these materials can expose them to rapid decay. Techniques and solutions must be devised to carefully extract and preserve these artifacts.
3. Documentation Difficulties: Documenting findings underwater, especially in low-visibility conditions, is far more challenging than on land. Archaeologists often rely on advanced technologies like 3D mapping and sonar to create detailed records of sites.
1. Window to Lost Civilizations: Sunken cities and submerged settlements provide a direct window into civilizations from the past. Sites like Egypt's ancient city of Thonis-Heracleion, which was swallowed by the sea, offer invaluable insights into ancient trade, politics, and culture.
2. Maritime Revelations: Shipwrecks, often perfectly preserved in the deep, are time capsules of their era. From the vessels of ancient Greece to sunken Spanish galleons laden with gold, these maritime graves unveil tales of commerce, warfare, and navigation.
3. Advancements in Technology: The challenges of underwater archaeology have spurred significant advancements in diving technology and underwater surveying equipment. The fusion of technology and research has brought previously inaccessible sites within reach.
In essence, while underwater archaeology may be fraught with challenges, the revelations it brings to the surface are unparalleled. Each dive brings with it the possibility of rewriting history, uncovering lost tales, and adding depth to our understanding of ancient civilizations. As we continue to plumb the depths, we bridge the gap between our world and the stories submerged below.
From Wolly Mamoth to Barbegazi, in the following video we will be talking about terrifying creatures discovered in Siberia. Watch the video to find out more!
Our planet is full of strange wonders that we just can’t explain. If you don’t believe me, just look at the platypus and you will see that sometimes, there’s just no rhyme or reason. So we decided to do a video on weird places that are inexplicably strange and challenge what we see as normal. From rivers disappearing without a trace to waterfalls flowing under water, this is 15 Scientifically Impossible Places That Actually Exist.
The Messapians were an ancient people who inhabited the southeastern region of Italy, particularly in modern-day Apulia. They were known for their impressive skills in metalworking, horse breeding, and agriculture. They were also famous for their defensive structures, such as the city walls of their capital city, Uzentum. The origins of the Messapians remain unclear, but they are believed to have migrated from the Balkans or the eastern Mediterranean region. Despite their significant contributions to ancient Italian civilization, much about the Messapians and their way of life remains a mystery to this day.
In a breathtaking journey through time, the documentary "The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Exploring Marvels in Time" by Merlin presents an immersive exploration of the most majestic and enigmatic creations of the ancient world. These wonders, celebrated for their architectural and artistic grandeur, continue to captivate scholars, historians, and enthusiasts alike.
The documentary commences with an overview of these ancient marvels, highlighting their geographical diversity and the sheer ingenuity behind their construction. Among them, the Lighthouse of Alexandria stands out, not just for its impressive height exceeding 100 meters but also for its symbolic dedication to Zeus Soter, the savior. Constructed in the 3rd century BCE, this architectural marvel guided countless ships into the bustling harbor of Alexandria, Egypt, showcasing the advanced engineering skills of the ancients.
As the narrative unfolds, the focus shifts to the intricacies of these wonders. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, for example, is hailed not only as a masterpiece of ancient Greek art but also as an architectural feat, adorned with precious materials and showcasing the pinnacle of creativity. Similarly, the enigmatic Hanging Gardens of Babylon, despite their uncertain location and origins, have long fascinated historians with their supposed lush, terraced gardens, speculated to have been a testament to love or power.
One of the most compelling segments delves into the Hanging Gardens' origins, where Stephanie Dalley's theory proposes a connection to the Assyrian King Sennacherib, suggesting that the famed gardens might have been located at the Palace of Nineveh, supported by an extensive aqueduct system. This segment not only sheds light on the potential misattribution of the gardens' location but also highlights the importance of archaeological evidence in understanding our past.
The documentary also pays homage to the Temple of Artemis and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, both epitomes of ancient Greek creativity and craftsmanship. The Temple of Artemis, with its storied history dating back to the Bronze Age, and the Mausoleum, a testament to love and remembrance, exemplify the ancient Greeks' architectural innovation and their quest for beauty and permanence.
As the journey through time nears its conclusion, the narrative revisits the grandeur of these wonders, from the Great Pyramid's construction mysteries to the Colossus of Rhodes' short-lived magnificence. The Colossus, in particular, symbolizes the transient nature of human achievement, standing as a guardian of Rhodes before succumbing to an earthquake in the 3rd century BCE.
"The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Exploring Marvels in Time" not only showcases the extraordinary achievements of ancient civilizations but also reflects on the enduring legacy of these wonders. Though many have crumbled under the weight of time, their stories continue to inspire awe and wonder, serving as a bridge between the past and the present and reminding us of humanity's relentless pursuit of excellence and beauty. Through this documentary, Merlin offers a timeless tribute to these marvels, preserving their memory for future generations to cherish.
In the following video we will be talking about Hemera, the primordial goddess of day in greek mythology. Watch the video to find out more!
The Egyptian Sphinx is undoubtedly one of the most iconic ancient sculptures in the world. However, how much do we really know about it? And who knows the truth about this fascinating statue? It turns out that there is a wealth of information available about the Sphinx that might surprise you. You may not even realize how much you didn't know until you watch a video about it.
The School of Archaeology at Oxford University has used remote sensing to find three new Roman walled settlements in northern Arabia. Their study, which was released today (Thurs) in the journal Antiquity, claims that the discovery could be proof of an unrecorded military expedition that crossed south-eastern Jordan and entered Saudi Arabia.
Satellite images were used to locate the encampment. They might have been a part of a hitherto unrecognized Roman military operation connected to the Roman conquest of the Nabataean Kingdom in AD 106 CE, a civilization centered on the Jordanian city of Petra that is famous around the world.
There is little doubt, according to Dr. Michael Fradley, who oversaw the investigation and was the one to discover the camps on Google Earth. He claims, “Given the traditional playing card shape of the enclosures with opposing entrances along each side, we are almost convinced they were built by the Roman army. The westernmost camp is substantially larger than the two camps to the east, and it is the only noteworthy variation between them.”
“These camps are a spectacular new find and an important new insight into Roman campaigning in Arabia,” says Dr. Mike Bishop, an authority on the Roman military. Temporary camps reveal how Rome originally came into possession of a province; Roman forts and fortifications demonstrate how Rome ruled a province.
When on campaign, the army would have constructed the camps as temporary defended stations. “The level of preservation of the camps is really remarkable, especially given that they may have only been used for a matter of days or weeks,” Dr. Fradley continues.They used a side caravan route that connected Bayir and Dûmat al-Jandal. This proposes a tactic to avoid taking the Wadi Sirhan's busier path, giving the attack a surprise element. It is incredible to witness this historical event on such a grand scale.
These marching camps, if we are correct in dating them to the early second century, suggest the Roman annexation of the Nabataean Kingdom following the death of the last king, Rabbel II Soter in AD 106, was not an entirely straightforward affair, and that Rome moved quickly to secure the kingdom, according to Professor Andrew Wilson, a co-author on the paper.
Since the distance between each camp is 37 to 44 km, the team hypothesizes that it was too far for infantry to travel in a day and that it was instead constructed by a cavalry unit that could traverse such desolate terrain in a day, perhaps on camels.
Map showing the location of the Roman camps (Credit: EAMENA).
There is also a hypothesis that another camp may have been situated farther west at the later Umayyad fort and well station at Bayir based on the distance between the camps.
The recently found camps go directly into Dûmat al-Jandal, which is currently in Saudi Arabia but was once a town in the eastern part of the Nabataean kingdom. It implies that Rome had to impose its rule, in contrast to the Roman history that has survived, which contends that the change of control occurred peacefully at the end of the last Nabataean king's reign.
There are other problems that need to be addressed, but archaeologists still need to corroborate the dates of the sites by fieldwork. Why does the western camp have twice as many people as the other two, wonders Professor Wilson? If so, where did the other half of the force go? Did the force split? Was it partially destroyed in a battle, or did they stay in the western camp to replenish the water supply to the other camps?
In Hungary, an ancient Roman doctor was discovered buried with his medical supplies, which made archaeologists wonder what emergency would have prompted him to travel to the remote area.
The skeletal remains of an ancient Roman doctor and his medical equipment were recently discovered in Hungary, officials said. Photo from Eötvös Loránd University
According to a news statement from Eötvös Loránd University dated April 25 2023, the tomb, which had been abandoned for almost 2,000 years, was found close to Jászberény, around 50 miles from Budapest.
According to researchers, the doctor's skeletal remains, which include an intact cranium and limb bones, were discovered next to wooden trunks that contained a full set of medical supplies.
The physician’s skeletal remains on display Photo from Eötvös Loránd University
According to researchers, the tools were of the highest quality and included pliers, needles, and scalpels with replacement blades.
Additionally, a grinding stone that might have been used to combine medications was found.
Physician’s skull on display Photo from Eötvös Loránd University
According to scholars, the discovery is exceptionally uncommon because there has only ever been one other complete collection of comparable ancient Roman medical instruments discovered (at Pompeii).
It is unknown exactly what drove the well-equipped physician to Hungary, which at the time of his travels had been absorbed into the Roman Empire.
Medical tools recovered from the tomb Photo from Eötvös Loránd University
The prevailing theory holds that he most likely acquired his training at an imperial institution and traveled to Hungary to treat a patient.
According to academics, whatever drew him to the area must have been a remarkable occurrence.
Four of the tools discovered inside the Hungarian tomb Photo from Eötvös Loránd University
According to a study printed in the Dutch magazine Dan Medicinhist Arbog, doctors in ancient Rome organized themselves into guilds made up of both slaves and freedmen. Individual doctors' educational backgrounds varied greatly, and Romans were generally leery of them.
Close-up of one of the tools Photo from Eötvös Loránd University
According to research, ancient tailors may have utilized a piece of prehistoric bone with several puncture wounds.
The mystery bone is covered in 28 indentations, albeit not all of them are clearly apparent. The relic, which dates to roughly 39,600 years ago during the Pleistocene epoch, was found at a location in Catalonia, Spain, some 12.5 miles south of Barcelona.
The bone fragment from four different angles, with a white scale bar representing one centimeter. The flat side of the bone contains puncture marks that suggest it was a punch board used for tailoring hides. Doyon et al. / Science Advances under CC BY-NC
Using a chisel, people may have pierced the bone while holding leather over it, according to a work that was just published this month in the journal Science Advances. These holes could be sewn through to make a fitted clothing.
According to the study, if the bone is authentic, it would be the earliest example of a punch board and be 15,000 years older than the earliest known bone eye needles in Europe.
“It's a very significant discovery,” says Ian Gilligan, an Australian archaeologist who works at the University of Sydney studying the history of clothes but who was not involved in the study. “Finding any indirect evidence is crucial because there is no direct evidence for clothing in the Pleistocene. The world's oldest remaining pieces of textile are from about 10,000 years ago.”
“What [the new finding] tells us is that the first modern humans who lived in Europe had the technology in their toolkit for making fitted clothes,” Luc Doyon, a co-author of the study and an archaeologist at the University of Bordeaux in France, tells Science News' McKenzie Prillaman.
The bone was made roughly 40,000 years ago, not long after the first modern humans arrived in Europe. Clothing had probably been around for centuries at that point; according to Ruth Schuster of Haaretz, people may have started wearing clothes more than 120,000 years ago. A 2010 study on garment lice showed that humans may have initially donned clothing as early as 170,000 years ago, according to certain estimations.
But because clothing can deteriorate over time, it is challenging for scientists to directly examine the origins of clothing. Doyon told New Scientist that because clothing is a perishable item, “We do not have much information about clothing.” They are an emerging technology that we know nothing about.
The bone piece could clarify the situation. It appears to be from the hip of an equid, such as a horse, or from a member of the family Bovidae, which includes antelopes, sheep, and buffalo. The authors note that there are three tiny, isolated markings among the 28 punctures, as well as two unique sets—a group of ten “remarkably similar” notches in a row and a group of 15 that are not aligned. The team comes to the conclusion that these indentations resulted from six distinct instances of punching holes in hides.
In general, a line of marks may indicate that an object was either a work of art or was employed to record information. However, Doyon tells Science News that both explanations seemed unlikely in the case of this bone because some of the holes are difficult to see and the bone wasn't altered in any other way.
The researchers instructed experimenters to attempt to replicate the punctures using a range of prehistoric instruments, such as shaped antlers, bones, and horns, in order to find out how the Pleistocene humans formed the punctures. They discovered that the same kinds of puncture marks visible on the artifact could be produced by laying hides over a bone and striking a pointed, chisel-like flint instrument through the hide.
“We could make exactly the same kinds of changes. We came to our conclusions as a result”, Doyon told Haaretz.
According to Doyon, after punching numerous holes in the hide, individuals could then weave thread through the holes to create seams. According to the article, the findings show that hunter-gatherers at the time had the knowledge and skills necessary to create customised footwear and other leather goods.
Before crouching down and digging in the woods, a soldier gives the area a quick glance. He covers the dirt pit where he carefully placed his valuables. He memorizes the location by a nearby landmark methodically.
Screengrab from Hungarian Numismatic Society's Facebook
Or perhaps the scene had a slightly different appearance.
Hurrying into the wilderness, a stressed-out trader kneels down. He rapidly buryes his treasures while flinching at every sound. He leaps to his feet, gives the disturbed earth one more look, and then starts to run.
Whatever the case, one thing is for sure. Whoever hid their treasure vanished without a trace.
In November 2021, a volunteer went on a trek in the newly cleared portion of a forest in Livorno, Italy. According to a news release from the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for the provinces of Pisa and Livorno shared by the Livornese Paleontological Archaeological Group dated April 14, 2023, they observed a shiny gleam among the leaves as they descended the slope.
The hiker noticed they had stumbled over several coins when they took a closer look. Authorities in archaeology from the area were contacted to look into it.
Some of the coins partially-buried in the dirt. Photo from the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Pisa and Livorno
175 antique Roman coins were discovered during the excavation by archaeologists. According to Il Tirreno, an Italian news source, the silver coins are more than 2,000 years old. The tiny, tarnished silver discs are visible in photographs.
According to the outlet, the majority of the coins were discovered in groups alongside pieces of a container. A few coins were discovered strewn about. There were no more artifacts discovered.
The archaeologist who examined the discovery told LiveScience that "the coins have definitely been hidden." They were like a piggy bank or 'treasure'. The simplest way to conceal treasures was to bury them underground far from residences, where no one could locate them.
According to a Facebook post from the Hungarian Numismatic Society, the earliest coins date from around 157 B.C. and the most recent ones are dated 82 B.C.
The newest coins are related to "a very turbulent historical period" for the Roman Empire, according to Alderighi, who spoke to LiveScience. The first significant civil war of the empire was currently raging.
The coins after being excavated. Photo from the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Pisa and Livorno
According to Alderighi, "These coins may have been the savings of a soldier returning home [during] military service."
A wealthy merchant might have concealed the coins instead, according to another historian who spoke with LiveScience.
According to the press announcement, the rich trove was kept secret for 2,000 years. According to Il Terrino, the silver findings will soon be on exhibit at the Province of Livorno's Museum of Natural History of the Mediterranean.
Nearly 200 miles to the northwest of Rome, on the Mediterranean Sea coast, is Livorno.
On the outskirts of Lima, a pre-Incan mummy that was between 800 and 1,200 years old and in perfect condition was found.
A pre-Incan mummy that was between 800 and 1,200 years old was found in great condition in a prehistoric mud city on the outskirts of Lima, according to the team leader of the dig on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
The remains of a pre-Inca individual unearthed at the Cajamarquilla archaeological complex in Cajamarquilla, Peru. | HANDOUT / ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF THE SAN MARCOS UNIVERSITY / AFP
The remains belong to a youngster, whose biological sex is presently unknown, who was probably between the ages of 12 and 13 and stood about 1 m 30 cm tall.
According to Yomira Huamán, director of the Cajamarquilla Archaeological Project, “We have discovered the mummy of an adolescent between 800 and 1,200 years old in a two-meter-deep funerary structure at the archaeological site of Cajamarquilla.”
A huge mud rock covered the burial structure.
The youngster was most likely a member of the Ichma tribe, which inhabited the area around 900 years ago before being incorporated into the Inca Empire in the fifteenth century.
Huamán asserts that the area's abrasive sand, which contains a lot of salt, caused a natural mummification process that preserved the skin's remnants on the arms, forearms, and both legs. Despite being separated from the body, the head still has hair, and the jaw still has some of the teeth visible.
According to the researcher directing the team of archaeologists from the University of San Marcos, “the finding is very important due to its state of conservation.”
A boleadora ("stone weapon"), a mate (plate), a copper needle, textile remnants, corn, and chili peppers were discovered next to the mummy.
Eight children were among the 20 mummies that archaeologists discovered in Cajamarquilla in February 2022.
In the urban center of Cajamarquilla, various tasks related to the administrative, domestic, and residential sectors were carried out.
An estimated 10,000–20,000 people could have lived there on a 167 hectare area, making it a pre-Hispanic mud metropolis.
It was constructed in 200 BC, and people continued to live there until the year 1500.
The city, one of the largest archaeological complexes in the Peruvian capital, is situated 24 kilometers to the east of Lima.
Scientists have just revealed that something big just opened up in the middle of the Amazon jungle.
The Amazon rainforest has long been a source of mystery and intrigue.
While it is known for its incredible biodiversity and the diverse indigenous cultures that call it home, it has also been the site of numerous discoveries of artificial structures that have baffled researchers and fueled speculation about the history of the region. One of the most striking examples of an artificial structure in the Amazon is the so-called pyramids or large square mounds that can be seen breaking the jungle canopy.
Today, we take a look at what this scientists found in the Amazon jungle.
The Grand Canyon is one of Earth's most beautiful and mysterious places. Its depths stretch seemingly forever, and its sheer size can be breathtaking. But it’s not just the physical beauty of the canyon that makes it so mysterious: It holds secrets about our planet's history that have yet to be uncovered. Turns out, the canyon might have been home to ancient Egyptians and even giants! And it was proven! Only to be covered up. Yup, this one’s about to take a turn no one was expecting.
Come along as we take you on a journey to discover the hidden history of the Grand Canyon, and the lengths everyone had to go to, to keep it hidden.
Neanderthals represent an alternative path in the evolution of human beings that came close to reaching the present time. If they had succeeded, what would have happened? Watch the video to find out!
