New research suggests that prehistoric European societies were preparing surprisingly complex dishes as early as 7,000 years ago, combining fish with a variety of plants and fruits in ways that reflect established culinary traditions. Dr Lara González Carretero, part of a team of archaeologists at the University of York, said the group had investigated food remnants from ancient pottery from northern and eastern Europe. Their results, published recently in PLOS ONE, contradict the long-held belief that early hunter-gatherers primarily subsisted on fish or meat and maintained rather basic dietary needs. By combining microscopic analysis with chemical testing, the scientists identified not only the animal fats but also any plant residues in ceramic fragments. Traditionally, archaeologists have analysed fatty residues on pottery to reconstruct ancient diets. However, these methods primarily detect animal products. The new approach allowed researchers to identify microscopic plant remains that had previously gone unnoticed. “Our combined microscopic approach allowed us to focus on prehistoric recipes,” the researchers said. “We discovered that hunter-gatherer-fisher communities did not subsist solely on fish but processed and consumed a wide range of plants.” The study examined organic residues in 58 pottery fragments identified at 13 archaeological sites across northern and eastern Europe. Among these sites were the Don River basin, the upper Volga River basin, the Dnieper-Dvina basin, and coastal sites around the Baltic Sea, such as that of Dąbki on Poland’s Baltic coast. The analyses corroborated earlier findings that freshwater fish were the primary component of many meals, and marine fish also played a role in coastal areas. Yet almost two-thirds of the pottery samples also contained traces of plant material. Researchers found remains of wild grasses, legumes, members of the amaranth family, roots, and tubers of herbaceous plants and fruits such as guelder rose berries (Viburnum opulus). One of the most striking discoveries came from pottery fragments found in Dąbki, where traces of viburnum berries—both seeds and pulp—were consistently found alongside fish remains. Viburnum fruit, common in Eastern Europe today, has a distinctive bitter taste and mild toxicity when raw, but cooking reduces the bitterness and alters its aroma. Scientists speculate that viburnum mixed with fish may have enhanced flavour and nutritional value and improved digestion. The research also uncovered differences between regions in cooking practices. In the Don River basin, fish were commonly cooked with wild grasses and legumes, and communities in parts of modern-day western Russia frequently used fish along with the stems, leaves, and flowers of goosefoot plants. The discoveries also imply an association between the techniques used to make pottery and the kinds of dishes made in them, indicating that different communities developed distinctive culinary traditions. Researchers say these results demonstrate that regional “cooking styles” already existed in northern and eastern Europe during the Neolithic period, offering new insight into the cultural sophistication of prehistoric societies. Image Credit : iStock Sources : PAP

Archaeologists working at the Bruchhauser Steine hillfort in Germany’s Sauerland region have uncovered evidence that the dramatic rock formation served as a site for ritual practices more than 2,000 years ago. The discoveries — announced by the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association (LWL) — include carefully crafted Iron Age axe heads, and signs of quartz mining that experts say were part of ceremonial activities. The discoveries originate from excavations conducted in 2025 by specialists from LWL Archaeology for Westphalia. According to LWL Chief Archaeologist Dr. Sandra Peternek, the new finds provide the clearest evidence yet that the towering rocks held deep religious significance for communities living there during the Iron Age. “The situation on the rock is exceptional and demonstrates for the first time that the Bruchhauser Steine played an important role in the religious worldview of Iron Age people,” Peternek said. Near Olsberg-Bruchhausen in North Rhine-Westphalia, there are four large porphyry rock formations known as the Bruchhauser Steine visible from miles away. Today, they’re a popular hiking destination and the state’s first National Natural Monument. But archaeologists explained that the site is also of great historical importance. The area was fortified between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC because the rocks formed part of a hillfort settlement, and defensive structures were constructed around the prominent formations around 500 BC. However, the site is rather remote and exposed to harsh weather, making it an uncommon settlement point given the better conditions situated along the nearby Hellweg trade route. The question of why ancient communities fortified the site has long puzzled researchers. Earlier finds, including a fragment of an arm ring and a deliberately damaged spearhead discovered in 2013, hinted that the location may have had ritual importance. Image Credit : T. Poggel The latest discovery began when local historian and licensed metal detectorist Matthias Dickhaus found two Iron Age iron axes on a cliff surface. The blades had been carefully placed at right angles to each other, suggesting intentional positioning. Dickhaus reported the find immediately, prompting a full archaeological investigation. During the excavation, researchers uncovered a filled pit directly beneath the axes. The pit had originally been created to extract quartz embedded in the rock. Archaeologists found a stone slab and a hammer-like stamp stone used to crush the quartz into small fragments. According to Zeiler, the evidence indicates a ritual sequence: quartz was mined from the rock, crushed on-site, and the pit was then deliberately filled in again along with the tools used in the process. The placement of the axes likely marked the ceremonial conclusion of the activity. Researchers note that quartz could have been more easily mined at the base of the rock, suggesting the elevated location itself held symbolic meaning. Some archaeologists speculate that Iron Age communities may have associated the high rock with the “Otherworld,” a concept from Celtic belief referring to a supernatural realm inhabited by gods or spirits. Quartz was often added to pottery clay during the Iron Age, leading researchers to suggest the material extracted here may have been used in special ritual vessels. Several finds from the excavation—including the stone slab, stamp stone, and crushed quartz—will be displayed in a new exhibition at the Bruchhauser Steine Foundation museum. For conservation reasons, replicas of the axes will be shown to the public while the originals are preserved. Sources : LWL

Archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences have revealed a remarkable hoard of gold coins uncovered in 2025 in the historic town of Torzhok, in Russia’s Tver Region. The find, which includes 409 gold coins dating from 1848 to 1911, is now considered one of the largest hoards of late-Imperial Russian gold coins ever found during archaeological excavations. The treasure was recovered during rescue excavations before the construction of a new residential building on Torzhok’s Left Bank. The work was conducted by a joint expedition of the Institute of Archaeology and the All-Russian Historical and Ethnographic Museum in Torzhok. These rescue excavation works are required by law in areas with archaeological significance before construction begins. The coins were discovered buried under the stone foundations of a house in a glazed ceramic kandyushka, a small container like a mug or pot with a neck and rounded handle. According to Natalia Sarafanova, head of the Novotorzhsk archaeological team, the hoard was likely concealed during the upheaval of the Russian Revolution in 1917. “Most of the coins date to the reign of Emperor Nicholas II. This appears to be a so-called return hoard: the owners hid their valuables intending to retrieve them later, but for some reason they never returned,” she said. The oldest coin in the collection is a five-ruble piece from 1848, when he ruled as Emperor Nicholas I, and another coin dates to the period of Alexander III. Most of the hoard is made up of ten-ruble gold coins made during Nicholas II, with the most recent dating to 1911. The collection also contains coins produced under Sergei Witte’s monetary reform in 1897, including two coins worth 7.5 rubles and another 10 coins worth 15 rubles. The total of the hoard is 4,070 rubles in gold. The site of the discovery is next to the former Church of St. Demetrius, which was demolished in the early 1930s. The area has been inhabited since the 12th century, and wooden houses were built on stone foundations which were common from the 17th century onward. The coins will provide valuable insight into late-Imperial monetary circulation. The hoard will soon be moved to the All-Russian Historical and Ethnographic Museum, where it will become part of the museum’s collection while scholars continue to try to uncover the true identity of its long-lost owner. Sources : Russian Academy of Sciences

Archaeologists conducting preventive excavations in southern Rome have uncovered an extensive funerary complex within the ancient Ostiense Necropolis, revealing exceptionally preserved tombs, decorated burial structures, and later graves dating across several centuries of Roman history. The discovery was made during archaeological investigations ordered by Italy’s Ministry of Culture ahead of construction work for a new student residence on Via Ostiense, near the Basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura. This excavation, led by the Special Superintendency of Rome, uncovered a large burial site containing masonry tombs, pit burials, and richly decorated funerary architecture. “This discovery offers another important testimony from one of the largest necropolises of ancient Rome,” said Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, adding that cultural authorities aim to preserve and share the site for future generations. Daniela Porro, Rome’s Special Superintendent for archaeology, said the find was evidence of the city’s extraordinary archaeological complexity that remains apparent even in places in the midst of urban transformation. The high quality of the structures, the careful organisation of burial spaces, and the richness of decorative features provide great opportunities for scientific research, according to Porro. Conducted by archaeologist Diletta Menghinello, the excavation also uncovered a cluster of five imperial-era funerary buildings about one metre below the ground level. The structures, arranged along a northeast–southwest axis, have quadrangular plans and vaulted ceilings. In front of them are two smaller buildings and a sixth building, which is oriented perpendicularly, indicating that the complex may have been constructed around an internal courtyard. A preliminary analysis suggests that many of the tombs may be columbaria — burial chambers with niches for cremation urns. Although the work is still relatively young, archaeologists have found rather ornate decorative details: frescoed plaster with bands and plant motifs, stucco ornamentation, and small architectural frames showing figures associated with Roman funerary symbolism, including praying figures and Winged Victories. Nearby, researchers also came across an apsidal hall, along with another large brick-built room with traces of a mosaic floor. Their original use is unknown and will be studied further as excavations continue. Evidence shows that in Late Antiquity a simpler burial ground developed behind the monumental imperial tombs. This later cemetery contained modest pit graves, stacked closely together and separated from the earlier structures by a long wall of tuff blocks. Archaeologists say the site forms part of the vast Ostiense Necropolis, which expanded between the late Republican period and the late Roman Empire. The newly uncovered remains could provide valuable insights into the necropolis’ layout, burial customs, and the social history of ancient Rome. Sources : Special Superintendency of Rome

Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Philippi uncovered a series of significant finds during the 2025 summer excavation season, including a large marble lion sculpture and fragments of Latin inscriptions containing the word “Philip.” The discoveries were made by a research team from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki during ongoing excavations in the area known as “islet 7,” located south of the city’s main east–west thoroughfare, the southern decumanus. The excavations focused primarily on uncovering architectural remains of a stoa, where archaeologists revealed a doorway with an intact marble threshold preserved in excellent condition. Work also continued east of the southern decumanus, where researchers identified the extension of the marble-paved road and the eastern section of the cardo, the north–south street that formed the eastern boundary of the block. In this zone, archaeologists located two areas belonging to the adjacent urban block, providing further insight into the city’s urban layout. Additional excavations were conducted at a monumental fountain building situated at the intersection of Philippi’s two principal roads, the northern and southern decumanus. During the latest campaign, archaeologists fully exposed the area occupied by the fountain and uncovered part of the marble paving that once formed a square at the crossroads. Several decorative marble reliefs, including curved breastplate motifs, were found in excellent condition and have been repositioned in their original locations. Among the smaller finds from the excavation were fragments of pottery, bronze coins, and metal artefacts, along with an intact marble basin. Particularly noteworthy were two fragments of Latin inscriptions believed to have belonged to the epistyle of the fountain building. One inscription preserves the word “PHILIP,” while the second contains the partially preserved phrase “P·NYMP REI·PVB,” which may relate to a public nymphaeum or fountain. Image Credit : alfavita Perhaps the most striking discovery was a large marble lion sculpture uncovered along the southern decumanus. The lion’s head, which faces to the right and remains remarkably well preserved, is thought to date to the Roman imperial period. However, the sculpture differs stylistically from other statues previously found at the site. Archaeologists believe this discrepancy may indicate that the fountain complex underwent later remodelling and was decorated with a mixture of earlier architectural elements during a period of historic revival, likely in the early Middle Byzantine era. The excavation project is funded by the technology company Raycap and is directed by Professor Emeritus Natalia Poulou, with the participation of Associate Professors Anastasios Tantsis and Aristotle Mentzos. The research team also includes doctoral candidates and students from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Université Paris-Nanterre in France. Researchers say the findings contribute valuable new information about Philippi’s architectural development and the reuse of classical elements in later historical periods. Sources : alfavita

Polish archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Paphos have uncovered evidence of one of the city’s oldest known buildings after discovering fragments of a wine amphora dating to the 2nd century BC. The find confirms that the remains of a structure discovered at the site belong to the Hellenistic period, offering rare insight into the city’s early development. It was a joint Polish archaeological expedition undertaken by Professor Ewdoksia Papuci-Władyka. The site in the western part of Nea Paphos has been the focus of researchers at the Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw and Jagiellonian University. The excavations have discovered a relatively well-preserved corner of what appears to be a residential structure. Professor Papuci-Władyka notes that ceramic fragments originally pointed to the structure as dating to the late Hellenistic period. Now that analysis has been corroborated by the recent discovery of amphora fragments. “The amphora we found can be dated to around 117 BC,” Papuci-Władyka said. “This allows us to determine with considerable certainty that the building remains date to the 2nd or early 1st century BC.” Stamped amphorae are particularly useful for archaeologists because they often carry marks identifying officials responsible for supervising trade or production. These stamps provide reliable chronological evidence, helping researchers date archaeological layers and structures. During antiquity, Cyprus was an important crossroads linking the Near East, Egypt, and the Greek world. Nea Paphos began life in the late 4th century BC. It later became the administrative and political centre of the island during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. But early Hellenistic buildings rarely survive in Paphos. Many structures had been destroyed by earthquakes, and later Roman buildings were often constructed directly on top of earlier ruins. “Most of the architecture visible in Paphos today comes from the Roman period,” Papuci-Władyka explained. “Finding well-preserved walls from the Hellenistic period is extremely rare.” Other items discovered at the site include fragments of tableware and even amphorae imported from across the Mediterranean – Rhodes, Kos, Thassos and parts of the Black Sea and the Levant – which emphasise Paphos’ large-scale trade connections. Researchers also found a large underground chamber beneath the house — likely a cistern used to collect rainwater, a crucial component in a region historically affected by water shortages. The Polish team plans to continue excavations in future seasons to reveal more of the structure and learn more about the early architecture of ancient Paphos. Sources : PAP

Archaeologists investigating a large prehistoric cairn near Simpevarp, Sweden, have uncovered new insights into a Bronze Age burial monument and the people who built it thousands of years ago. The excavation, carried out over several weeks at the end of June last year, revealed how ancient builders carefully used the natural landscape to construct the monument, leaving behind a rare grave offering that has survived to the present day. The cairn, which measures approximately 12 metres in diameter and is nearly 0.8 metres high, consists of stones measuring 20 to 50 centimetres in size. Excavations showed that the cairn was built in two to three layers. The top layer was primarily composed of larger stones, with smaller (often sharp-edged and cracked) stones laid directly on a naturally arched bedrock surface that already resembled a mound. Moreover, the stone packing extended down the edge of the rock formation, and the cairn may have appeared several metres high if viewed from a distance. Image Credit : Marita Sjölin Researchers believe this effect was intentional. The enhanced height is most visible when viewed from the south, facing the sea. This suggests that the cairn may have been designed to impress people approaching the area by boat. Another notable discovery was a straight row of stones running through the centre of the cairn. Stretching nearly eight metres from southwest to northeast, this carefully arranged line divided the structure into two halves. Beneath the central axis lay a deep crack in the bedrock filled with soil, which archaeologists suspect may have marked the original burial site. And while remains or goods in the form of a burial are typical in prehistoric graves, the extreme weather along the coasts meant that organic matter had largely decomposed. Soil from rock fissures contained charcoal, suggesting that fires had once burned at the site, but no human bones survived. Yet on the last day of excavation, archaeologists uncovered a key artefact: a flint scraper placed in one of the bedrock cracks beneath the cairn. The tool, dated to the Bronze Age, was probably left as a grave gift for the deceased — an enduring trace of a burial that otherwise would have disappeared. Header Image Credit : Marita Sjölin Sources : Arkeologerna

A heavily corroded 19th-century pocket revolver believed to be a British Bulldog has been discovered during a metal-detecting survey in a forest near Kalisz in western Poland. The firearm was found by a member of the Kalisz Exploration Group, a local organisation dedicated to historical exploration. Following the discovery, the group reported the find to authorities in accordance with Polish regulations concerning the recovery of weapons and historical artefacts. The revolver has been identified as a British Bulldog-type handgun, a small pistol that became a popular weapon in the late 19th century. The design originated around 1868 and was introduced commercially in 1878 by the British gunmaker Henry Webley. Designed as a small, easily concealed weapon for personal defence, this British Bulldog is one of the most famous guns of its era. Its compact size enabled it to be discreetly pocketed, which appealed to civilians seeking a portable firearm. Although small, the revolver was powerful for its size. Early versions were generally chambered in .442 Webley or .450 Adams calibre, with a five-shot cylinder. Later models were made in smaller calibres like .320 and .380. The design quickly reached international popularity, and many manufacturers in Europe and the United States began to replicate it: the Bulldog became one of the most recognised pocket revolvers of the era. Production of the original Webley models continued until the outbreak of World War I. The weapon is also linked to a notable historical event: in 1881, U.S. President James A. Garfield was assassinated with a Belgian-made copy of a Bulldog revolver. According to the Kalisz Exploration Group, openings are visible in the revolver’s cylinder chambers. However, due to the heavy corrosion, it is unclear whether the chambers contain ammunition, spent cartridges or are empty. Police will now examine the firearm and determine whether further investigation or conservation work is required. Header Image Credit : Kalisz Exploration Group Sources : Zwiadowcahistorii

Archaeologists in Indonesia have announced that a newly identified megalith in Central Sulawesi may date back around 1,000 years, adding to the region’s long-known tradition of ancient stone monuments. The carved stone was discovered in the village of Toni-Toni in Poso Regency, an area already known for its rich concentration of prehistoric megalithic remains. According to archaeologist Iksam Djorimi, the monument likely belongs to a later phase of the region’s megalithic culture. “The megalith is estimated to be about 1,000 years old,” Djorimi told the Indonesian news agency ANTARA on March 7. Central Sulawesi contains one of the most unique and remarkable megalithic collections in Southeast Asia. Many of these structures are found in the Behoa and Bada valleys, located south of the newly reported discovery. In those valleys, the monuments are said to date back as far as 2,000 years, Djorimi said. Researchers say the age of the monuments seems to differ according to geographical region. The megaliths appear to get younger as archaeological sites stretch northward from the Behoa Valley toward other areas including the Baru Valley. “As you travel north from the Behoa Valley, the megaliths become younger,” said Djorimi, who previously served as deputy director of the Central Sulawesi Museum. While the Behoa and Bada valleys are known for large stone statues and cylindrical stone containers called kalamba, these features are not typically found farther north. Instead, northern areas such as the Baru Valley contain other types of stone monuments and carvings. Examples of these carvings can be seen in locations such as Watunonju village in Sigi Regency, where engraved stones have been documented by researchers. Megaliths are prehistoric structures or monuments created using large stones, either as single standing objects or as complex arrangements of multiple stones. Such monuments appear in many parts of the world and are commonly associated with societies from the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. Archaeologists believe these structures often served ceremonial or symbolic roles. They may have functioned as grave markers, sites for religious rituals, or monuments connected to ancestor worship. The newly reported megalith in Donggi Donggi consists of a large boulder featuring carvings that resemble human faces. Similar carved stones have previously been recorded in the nearby Nap Valley, suggesting possible cultural links between sites across the region. Researchers hope further study of the stone will provide additional insight into the development of Central Sulawesi’s megalithic traditions and the communities that created them centuries ago. Sources : ANTARA/HO

A page long believed to be missing from the famed Archimedes Palimpsest has been rediscovered at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Blois, France, offering scholars new opportunities to study one of antiquity’s most important mathematical manuscripts. The folio was identified by Victor Gysembergh, a researcher with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), during work at the Blois museum. Initial analysis confirms the page corresponds to folio 123 of the Archimedes Palimpsest and contains passages from Archimedes’ treatise On the Sphere and Cylinder, Book I, specifically propositions 39 to 41. The discovery was detailed in a study published March 6, 2026, in the journal Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik. The Archimedes Palimpsest is a 10th-century Greek manuscript that preserves several works by the ancient mathematician Archimedes of Syracuse. In the Middle Ages, portions of the text were erased so the costly parchment could be reused for religious writings—a common practice known as palimpsesting. The manuscript was once held in Jerusalem and later Constantinople before being photographed in 1906 at the request of Danish philologist Johan Ludvig Heiberg. Those photographs became essential references for scholars after the manuscript later entered a private collection. Today the palimpsest is housed at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Multispectral imaging conducted in the early 2000s revealed previously unread portions of Archimedes’ works and fragments of other ancient texts. However, three pages documented in the 1906 photographs disappeared during the manuscript’s journey through private collections and were considered lost. Gysembergh confirmed the Blois folio by comparing it with Heiberg’s archival photographs held at the Royal Danish Library. One side of the page shows a prayer text partially covering geometric diagrams and Greek text that remain largely legible. The other side is obscured by a 20th-century illumination depicting the biblical prophet Daniel between two lions. “This discovery revives interest in re-examining Archimedes’ complete palimpsest using more powerful techniques than those used in the 2000s, in order to consider a new reading of the pages that remained illegible during this first campaign,” said CNRS. Header Image Credit : Blois, Musée des Beaux-Arts Sources : CNRS