Living in medieval cities exposed residents to a myriad of afflictions stemming from unsanitary conditions and limited medical knowledge. Leprosy, caused by the Mycobacterium leprae bacteria, was a widespread concern during this era. Historical records indicate that leprosy was prevalent in both the Byzantine Empire and Western Europe from the 12th century onwards. The establishment of leper hospitals outside city centers, such as those in France and the Low Countries, illustrates the severity of the problem and the societal response to it.
The Black Plague, caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria, remains one of the deadliest pandemics in human history. It swept through Europe during the mid-14th century, resulting in millions of deaths. Eyewitness accounts from the time describe the widespread fear and devastation caused by the disease, with entire communities being decimated and mass burials becoming commonplace.
Read moreSection: VideosHistoryAn interesting new study has challenged the previous estimations surrounding a beautiful bronze lamp unearthed in a ditch near Cortona, central Italy.
Read moreSection: ArtifactsAncient TechnologyNewsHistory & ArchaeologyIn a fortunate turn of events, a routine carrot harvest in Fife, Scotland, led to the remarkable discovery of a hoard of ancient coins dating back 500 years.
Read moreSection: ArtifactsOther ArtifactsNewsHistory & ArchaeologyIn the pursuit of beauty, ancient women employed unconventional methods, challenging modern notions of glamour. Foot binding, prevalent in 10th-century China, exemplifies the extremes sought for aesthetic perfection.
Read moreSection: NewsVideosHistoryAncient TraditionsRecent research has unearthed chilling evidence of ritual sacrifices in Neolithic Europe, a practice that involved the gruesome method of "incaprettamento" - tying victims' necks to their bent legs, leading to self-strangulation.
Read moreSection: NewsHistory & ArchaeologyHistoryAncient TraditionsA new study has offered a fresh perspective on the enigmatic petroglyphs discovered at Toro Muerto in the Peruvian coastal desert. The site contains intricate designs and petroglyphs, etched onto over 3000 volcanic rocks, dating back to the Wari Culture of the Middle Horizon era (500-1000 AD). These have long puzzled archaeologists due to their unique blend of anthropomorphic figures, geometric motifs, and enigmatic symbols, but some light might have been shed on this marvel now, suggesting a connection to the afterlife!
Toro Muerto Petroglyph Phenomenon
Toro Muerto, meaning "dead bull" in Spanish, is a significant rock art complex located southern Peru, nestled within a desert gorge near the Majes River Valley. Encompassing an expansive area of approximately 10 square kilometers (3.86 sq mi), this site holds around 2,600 volcanic boulders, each adorned with ancient petroglyphs. These petroglyphs vary in size and complexity, ranging from small stones featuring single motifs to massive boulders adorned with intricate arrays of multiple images.
Read moreSection: ArtifactsAncient WritingsNewsHistory & ArchaeologyAncient Egyptians were known for their religious beliefs and astronomical knowledge of the Sun, Moon, and planets, but up until now it has been unclear
Read moreSection: NewsHistory & ArchaeologyHuman OriginsReligionsMyths & LegendsAfricaThe Aztecs, a once-flourishing civilization in central Mexico, faced a devastating onslaught in the mid-16th century.
Read moreSection: NewsVideosHistoryImportant EventsOverlooking the Konya Plain in Turkey lies the remarkable and unique ancient city of Çatalhöyük, the largest and best-preserved Neolithic site found to date.
Read moreSection: ArtifactsAncient TechnologyNewsAncient PlacesAsiaAgrippina the Younger wielded significant influence over her son Nero's rise to power. Initially content with a life of artistry, Nero's path shifted under his mother's ambition.
Read moreSection: NewsVideosHistoryFamous PeopleAfter years of speculation, researchers have finally traced the origins of Europe's revolutionary adoption of silver coins in the mid-7th century, uncovering a tale of economic evolution
Read moreSection: ArtifactsOther ArtifactsNewsHistory & ArchaeologyAt the feet of the Apennines, Aeneas and his men defeated the Latins in one of the first victories of the early Romans. Amid flying arrows and screaming men
Read moreSection: ArtifactsOther ArtifactsNewsGeneralAncient PlacesEuropeBeneath the countryside landscape of Marliens, mere kilometers from Dijon in the heart of the Ouche valley, lies evidence of ancient life spanning through millennia.
Read moreSection: NewsHistory & ArchaeologyNearly 2,000 years after it was laid in a field, a Roman-era bracelet has been unearthed by a 12-year-old boy during a routine walk in England’s Sussex region.
Read moreSection: NewsHistory & ArchaeologyOn April Fool's Day in 1696, amidst the turmoil of the England-France conflict, Governor Nicholas Trott of the Island of Providence faced a grave predicament.
Read moreSection: NewsVideosHistoryFamous PeopleWe live in a light-polluted world, where streetlamps, electronic ads and even backyard lighting block out all but the brightest celestial objects in the night sky.
Read moreSection: NewsHistory & ArchaeologyThe Kingdom of Urartu, a once significant ancient civilization nestled in the rugged terrain of the Armenian Highlands, flourished from the 9th to 6th centuries BC.
Read moreSection: NewsAncient PlacesAsiaHistoryImportant EventsDuring excavations in the ancient Turkish city of Diyarbakir, archaeologists made an exciting and unprecedented discovery. While digging in an area between a surveillance tower in the city´s famous defensive walls and Saint George Church, a Roman-era sarcophagus was unearthed.
Read moreSection: NewsHistory & Archaeology
