In San Teodoro cave, north-eastern Sicily, a team of scientists has found evidence of earliest recorded presence of humans on the island. They are dated to about 16,500 years ago and were left behind by hunter-gatherers who arrived in Sicily after the last glacial period ended. The cave is near Acquedolci town (Messina), and inside […]
Islands
Posted inIron Age Archaeology
Longest Known Inscription in the Undeciphered Linear A Script of Minoan civilization, Found on an Ivory Scepter in Knossos
A team of archaeologists has discovered in Knossos, on the Greek island of Crete, the longest Linear A inscription found to date. The script appears on a circular ivory object with an attached handle, discovered in a context of clear religious significance within a Neopalatial building. Besides providing the longest inscription in this yet-to-be-deciphered system, […]
Posted inSecond World War
Operation Gauntlet: The Destruction of Mines, Coal, and Stations in Svalbard During World War II
The Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, belonging to Norway, is famous for being home to the Global Seed Vault and for having recently emerged as a tourist destination where visitors can witness the northern lights, polar bears, and the midnight sun. However, while catering to tourists has become a new economic niche, the backbone of its […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
The Island of Ischia Hosted a Remarkable Cosmopolitan Community of Greeks, Phoenicians, and Local Populations as Early as the 8th Century BCE
A recent study published in the journal iScience highlights the fundamental role of the island of Ischia in shaping cultural interactions in the western Mediterranean during the 8th century BCE. Through an interdisciplinary analysis combining archaeological, anthropological, and biogeochemical data, researchers have demonstrated that this volcanic island hosted a diverse community composed of Greeks, Phoenicians, […]
Posted inIron Age Archaeology
An Iron Age Spoon Used in Divination Rituals, Found on the Isle of Man
On the Isle of Man, located between Great Britain and Ireland, an ancient bronze spoon has been discovered, which may have been used in divination rituals more than 2,000 years ago. This object, dated to the Iron Age, was found on private land in the Patrick region, situated on the island’s west coast. The discovery […]
Posted inMedieval Archaeology
Strange Carolingian-Era Graves with Unusual Positions and Orientations Found on the Island of Ré
Located on the northern coast of the island of Ré, in southwestern France, La Flotte has been a strategic enclave since ancient times and may have served as a mooring port. Its archaeological history suggests that this area has witnessed intense maritime interactions since Antiquity, playing a key role in the commercial and military movements […]
Posted inAncient Greece
Poliochne, the First City of Europe, Was the Nemesis and Rival of Troy Situated Across From It
In the history of humanity, early settlements provide a fascinating glimpse into the development of civilization. One such place is Poliochne (in Greek Πολιόχνη), an ancient city located on the eastern coast of the island of Lemnos in the Aegean Sea. Considered the oldest city in Europe, Poliochne flourished during the Late Copper Age and […]
Posted inGeography
The Incredible Wrangel Island: The Place Where Mammoths Survived Until 2000 BC
Located in the Arctic Ocean, between the Chukchi Sea and the East Siberian Sea, Wrangel Island is a 7,600 km² enclave, equivalent in size to Crete. It is part of Russia’s Chukotka Autonomous District and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004 due to its unique biodiversity and historical significance. The […]
Posted inAncient Greece, Art
The Roman Mausoleum of Episkopi, which contained the sealed tomb of a woman named Neiko, has reached our times almost intact
In the heart of the Aegean Sea, on the quiet and solitary island of Sikinos, stands an architectural jewel that has witnessed two thousand years of history: the Mausoleum of Episkopi. This monument, dating back to the 3rd century AD, is not only a reflection of the grandeur of ancient Rome but also a window […]
Posted inSecond World War
The Invasion of Saint Pierre and Miquelon in 1941, the Only Nazi Germany-loyal Territory in North America, Lasted 20 Minutes
Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon), a French archipelago of two islands located in North America about twenty-five kilometers off the coast of Newfoundland, is the last remaining vestige of the former Viceroyalty of New France (which encompassed parts of what are now Canada and the United States, such as Quebec and Louisiana). Like other territories, […]
