Amir Yurman/University of HaifaArchaeologists recently uncovered three Iron Age shipwrecks in Israel’s Tantura Lagoon, famous for its many sunken vessels dating back to antiquity. Archaeologists have discovered three Iron Age shipwrecks off the coast of Israel, and their cargo has reshaped experts’ understanding of ancient trade across the Mediterranean. The wrecks were found in Tantura Lagoon, also known as Dor Lagoon, near the ancient harbor city of Dor. This is the first discovery of sunken cargo within a former port city in Israel and it provides deeper insight into Iron Age trade than pre-existing land-based evidence. Furthermore, these three shipwrecks, separated by several centuries, illuminate different periods of trade across the Iron Age. The Three Ancient Shipwrecks Recently Found In Israel’s Tantura Lagoon A. Yasur-Landau et al./AntiquitySome of the cargo that archaeologists found included storage jars like these. A new paper published in the journal Antiquity describes how the project, carried out by the University of California San Diego in conjunction with the University of Haifa, used both traditional methods of research alongside newer techniques. Archaeologists used 3D modeling, multispectral imaging, and digital mapping to examine the wrecks and surrounding waters throughout 2023 and 2024. In all, the team was able to explore three shipwrecks laden with vast amounts of cargo at a sandbar near Dor. The oldest shipwreck, named Dor M, dates back to the 11th century B.C.E. Archaeologists found storage jars and an anchor with a Cypro-Minoan inscription, suggesting a commercial connection between Cyprus and Egypt. This discovery is backed up by historical accounts of Egyptian maritime trade during this period. The Report of Wenamun, an Egyptian literary text from about 1000 B.C.E., describes voyages to Dor during this time. The second-oldest shipwreck, dubbed Dor L1, contained Phoenician jars and thin-walled bowls that place the wreck somewhere in the late 9th or early 8th century B.C.E. This cargo lacks any connection to Egypt, coinciding with land-based evidence suggesting that trade between Dor and Egypt began to decline at that time. The shipwreck known as Dor L2 is the youngest of the three. Dated to the late 7th or early 6th century B.C.E., it contains the most complete cargo of the newly-discovered shipwrecks. At this time, Dor was likely a bustling trade hub under the control of the Babylonian or Assyrian empire, which was reflected in the contents of its cargo. The cargo featured finds like Cypriot-style, basket-handle amphorae, and porous masses of metallic iron and slag called iron blossoms, which were part of the iron smelting process. Continued Exploration Of Mediterranean History During The Iron Age Marko RunjajicAn aerial view of divers exploring the shipwrecks of the Tantura Lagoon. The cargo from all three of these shipwrecks sheds light on trade networks and economic connections across the Mediterranean throughout the Iron Age. Primarily, it highlights how certain avenues of trade ebbed and flowed as changes in regional politics occurred. While these sunken ships and their cargo provide more insight into this tumultuous period, archaeologists are expecting to discover even more as they continue to excavate this sandbar. More specifically, they expect to find more from Dor L2, whose hull is still buried beneath the sand. In carrying out further exploration, these researchers will continue to make use of their state-of-the-art procedures, which notably include both traditional underwater excavation and cutting edge cyber-archaeology methods. For instance, the team used 3D modeling, multispectral imaging, and digital mapping to help reconstruct these newly-found ships and their cargo. The archaeologists working on this project believe that the new discoveries are just the beginning and that more wrecks and artifacts will be uncovered. So far, 26 shipwrecks have been found in Tantura Lagoon, which long had a dangerous reputation among seafarers due to its shallow waters, islets, and rocks. And to date, only a quarter of the lagoon has been excavated. After reading about the three Iron Age shipwrecks uncovered in Israel, see the six historic shipwrecks found in Sweden. Then, learn about the 10 shipwrecks spanning 5,000 years unearthed in Greece. The post Three Ancient Shipwrecks Filled With Cargo Have Been Found In A Lagoon Along The Coast Of Northern Israel appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Johnica Winter“Paleofeces” like that pictured here offered researchers a wealth of information. In the 1950s, archaeologists excavated the Cave of the Dead Children in Mexico and found a number of ancient artifacts, including fossilized human feces. Now, researchers have used modern technology to take a closer look — and discovered that ancient people were plagued by a number of serious pathogens that would have caused gastrointestinal distress. The feces samples found in the cave are thus a “time capsule,” offering a unique look back at the Loma San Gabriel culture of Mexico and the parasites that infected its people. Studying The 1,300-Year-Old Feces According to a study recently published in PLOS One, the paleofeces samples were first collected between 1957 and 1960, when archaeologists excavated the Cave of the Dead Children (La Cueva de los Muertos Chiquitos) in the Rio Zape Valley of northwestern Mexico. Archaeologists gave the cave its name because of the skeletons of children they’d found inside, but they also recovered the paleofeces, botanical remains, and both animal and human bones. The paleofeces, which dated back to between 725 and 920 C.E., presented an especially intriguing way to study the pathogens that infected the Loma San Gabriel people. Johnica WinterAn example of paleofeces recovered from the Cave of the Dead Children in Mexico. Previous studies of the paleofeces had detected hookworm, whipworm, and pinworm eggs, but researchers sought to take an even closer look at the feces by using new methods of DNA analysis. They extracted DNA from 10 “distinct defecation events,” then used a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine which microbes were present in the paleofeces. The answer? A lot. The researchers found that every sample of paleofeces had at least one pathogen or microbe. The most common were the intestinal parasite Blastocystis and the bacterium E. coli, both of which had never been detected in ancient feces before. In addition, researchers also detected Shigella and Giardia. All of these could have caused gastrointestinal distress in the people who carried them. “Working with these ancient samples was like opening a biological time capsule,” the study’s lead author, Drew Capone of Indiana University, remarked in a statement about the find, “with each one revealing insight into human health and daily life from over a thousand years ago.” Indeed, the study has offered some insights into the Loma San Gabriel culture, which used the cave more than 1,000 years ago. New Insights Into The Loma San Gabriel Culture The Loma San Gabriel people inhabited the Rio Zape Valley in Mexico between 600 and 800 C.E. They lived in small villages, farmed the land, and produced ceramics. They also practiced child sacrifice, and they seemingly used the Cave of the Dead Children as a place to dispose of waste. In doing so, they unknowingly left behind clues about their culture. According to the study, their paleofeces suggest that intestinal infections were common and that the Loma San Gabriel people likely had poor sanitation habits, which exposed them to pathogens. The researchers also found that the Loma San Gabriel people primarily ate agave, as well as cherry, maize, sunflowers, pigweed, and goosefoot. It’s not the first time that researchers have studied feces to learn more about an ancient culture. In 2022, a study of feces left behind by a Neolithic settlement near Stonehenge revealed that its inhabitants routinely ate tainted animal meat. That same year, a study of a cesspit beneath a 2,700-year-old toilet in Jerusalem revealed the presence of parasites like roundworm, tapeworm, whipworm, and pinworm. Yoli Schwartz/Israel Antiquities AuthorityThe 2,700-year-old toilet in Jerusalem where researchers studied a cesspit in 2022 and discovered a number of parasites. As such, the study of the paleofeces from the Cave of the Dead Children is the latest example of how poop can reveal more about our past. “There is a lot of potential in the application of modern molecular methods to inform studies of the past,” researcher Joe Brown remarked. “Highly sensitive and specific targeted assays can complement sequencing approaches when specific targets are of interest. We look forward to continuing this collaborative work to better understand the presence and movement of pathogens in ancient samples.” After reading about the study of the 1,300-year-old paleofeces found in Mexico, discover the story of Moloch, the pagan god of child sacrifice. Or, learn about Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of death and the underworld. The post ‘A Biological Time Capsule’: Ancient Poop From Mexico’s Cave Of The Dead Children Reveals An Array Of Pathogens appeared first on All That's Interesting.

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