Ancient history

Frescos from famed Etruscan tomb go on display in Rome after multi-million euro purchase by Italy

The Italian state spent €15 million on a series of celebrated frescoes found in the central hall of the tomb, which were painted between 340 and 320 BCE.

People look at the newly acquired Tomb of Francois, a 4th-century BC masterpiece bought last month by Italy's Culture Ministry for 15 million euros, at the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome, Italy, June 30, 2026.
"A historical overview of gambling in the Middle East, from ancient civilizations to modern regulation."

A historical overview of gambling in the Middle East

Mosaic showing Alexander the Great on a horse, June 25, 2026.

Turkey places site of Alexander the Great’s first battle with Persians under historic protection

Cave from Lower Paleolithic era found south of Haifa, June 11, 2026.

WATCH: A Paleolithic time capsule: Rare prehistoric cave discovered near highway outside of Haifa


Ken Follett returns with an epic on building Stonehenge in 2500 BCE

Follett spent six months on research, distilled it into a fifty page exposé checked by historians before expanding it into the 704 page saga of Seft and Joia hauling monoliths across the great plain.

Ken Follett returns with an epic on building Stonehenge in 2500 BCE.

2,000-year-old Roman brooch found by detectorist

The finds liaison officer confirmed the brooch's age, saying it dates from between 1,800 and 2,000 years ago and calling it 'an interesting item for Dorset' that is uncommon nationally.

A detectorist searching for relics. Illustration.

'The detector went crazy': Hoard found in Byzantine Christian center near Sea of Galilee

Dr. Michael Eisenberg said this is one of Israel’s main Byzantine treasures, unique for its mix of jewelry and gold coins from various emperors.

A Byzantine Christian center near Sea of Galilee.

Roman era 1,800-year-old stadium unearthed in Syedra ancient city in southern Turkey

Roughly forty inscriptions found around the city refer to wrestling, boxing and other contests, indicating the stadium’s use for sports, religious festivals and imperial celebrations.

Syedra is an ancient city near the Alanya district of Antalya province.

Sunken Ptolemaic harbor near Alexandria revives hunt for Cleopatra's lost tomb

“After 2,000 years, no one has ever been there. We are the first,” said archaeologist Kathleen Martinez, citing the harbor’s link to Taposiris Magna as a decisive clue.

Near Alexandria, archaeologists have discovered the remains of a sunken harbor.

Turkish dig shows how people used daily objects in mysterious 5,000-year-old ceremonies

Head archeologist says face-carved pottery from Konya Plain served ritual purposes rather than daily cooking or storage functions.

Illustration: the neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük in Konya.

Bacchus or theater mask? Rare 1,900-year-old Roman find in the Netherlands

Alongside an oil lamp were four ceramic plates, two jugs, a cup, a glass bowl and a bronze bowl, and archaeologists debate its meaning.

The lamp, after cleaning.

Scientists found a 3.5-meter dolphin fossil in a desert that was once an ancient ocean

The fossil, discovered in July, measures three and a half meters and will undergo exhaustive analysis before public display.

Whale fossils in the Ocucaje desert, Peru.

Why this small dinosaur from Mongolia is rewriting the story of dome-headed evolution

Dated to about 108 million years ago, the fossil preserves roughly 90 percent of the skeleton, including the first pachycephalosaur hand and stomach stones.

Artist illustration of Z. rinpoche.

A 3,000-year-old divination archive found in Turkey

Cuneiform tablets mentioning crown princes and kings provide new insights into how ancient empire used bird omens for state decisions.

Some of the tablets found.