Historic Environment Scotland and AOC Archaeology Group/PA WireThe site of the Bronze Age cist on Scotland’s Isle of Bute. While plowing his field on Scotland’s Isle of Bute, a farmer accidentally unearthed the graves of a man and a young woman from the Bronze Age. The 4,000-year-old burial chamber had first been discovered in 1863, but it had been forgotten about and remained undisturbed until 2022. Since then, the site has been excavated and the bodies have been taken away for analysis. Now, researchers have shared details of that analysis, revealing more about the story of these two people who lived and died more than four millennia ago. The Discovery Of A 4,000-Year-Old Cist On Scotland’s Isle Of Bute In 1863, a human skull was discovered at Rhubodach on the Isle of Bute. It was sent to the Society of Antiquaries of London, but, for one reason or another, it was forgotten about and effectively lost to time. “At the time, other remains were noted still in the ground but they were left,” National Museums Scotland’s Matthew Knight explained to The Scotsman. “The skull, unfortunately, has now been lost, but rediscovery and re-excavation of these remains is allowing us to reinterpret and retell the story of this individual.” The cist remained undisturbed for more than a century and a half, until the farmer plowing his field in 2022 once again came across the burial site. A subsequent excavation by AOC Archaeology Group confirmed the presence of two individuals’ remains within the 4,000-year-old cist. The individuals, not interred at the same time, were buried one on top of the other. Historic Environment Scotland and AOC Archaeology Group/PA WireThe tomb dates to around 2250 B.C.E. According to The Independent, the uppermost individual was found to be an adult male, aged between 35 and 50 at the time of his death. He stood around five feet, six inches tall and, by all accounts, appeared to have been in good health when he died. Buried beneath him were the remains of a female, likely an adolescent or young adult. Unfortunately, due to a 19th-century practice of only recovering skulls from sites like this, both individuals’ skulls were absent, and the whereabouts of both are still unknown. Analysis Sheds Light On The Bronze Age People Buried At Rhubodach Analysis of the remains revealed several notable discoveries. Both individuals’ diets lacked any substantial amount of marine protein, for example, and instead seem to have been terrestrial-based. The analysis did not, however, identify anything that could speak to the relationship between the man and woman, or the exact gap of time between their internment. “The radiocarbon dates indicate that they died within the final quarter of the third millennium B.C.E., so after 2250 B.C.E. and that the uppermost individual probably was buried just after, or up to a few generations later than the lower individual,” said Jess Thompson, Scotland’s first curator of osteoarchaeology. “And so this cist was used within the living memory of these individuals.” Historic Environment Scotland and AOC Archaeology Group/PA WireThe relationship between the individuals is unknown. The remains were declared through the Treasure Trove Unit and allocated to NMS in September 2025. They are now among thousands of items being housed in a new facility at the National Museums Collection Centre in Granton, Edinburgh, which became operational in the fall of 2025. The facility, created as part of the Scotland’s Archaeological Human Remains Collections (SAHRC) project, holds human remains of around 2,500 individuals collected from roughly 600 archaeological sites across Scotland, dating from the Mesolithic period through the 19th century. Knight said the purpose of the facility is to “provide ethical care, ethical curation, and the best possible storage” for archaeological human remains. Research into these remains, he said, can provide “fascinating insights” into the lives of ancient Europeans in addition to enhancing the modern understanding of the past. “These are people who were once living, breathing humans, and we need to ensure that they are treated with the utmost respect.” After learning about these Bronze Age burials found in Scotland, learn more about Scottish history by reading about the Fairy Glen, a valley so beautiful that legend says it was created by fairies. Then, learn about the tumultuous history of Scotland’s famous Castle Stalker. The post A Farmer Plowing His Field On Scotland’s Isle Of Bute Stumbled Upon A Tomb That Dates Back 4,000 Years appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Superintendency of Caltanissetta/Government of SicilyThe stylus, featuring the god Dionysus and his erect penis, is made from bone. During preventative excavations in southern Sicily, archaeologists came across a small, unusual artifact from the fifth century B.C.E. It was an ornate, perfectly preserved stylus, decorated with both the bearded head of what appeared to be the god Dionysus and the deity’s erect phallus. While the purpose of the object is up for debate, archaeologists agree that it’s an astounding find without parallel in the region and an exciting look at the area’s ancient history. The Ancient Stylus With Dionysus And His Erect Phallus According to a statement from the Superintendency for Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Caltanissetta, the intricately carved stylus from the fifth century B.C.E. was found during preventive excavations in Gela, Sicily, ahead of the construction of a new cultural center. The stylus, which is in pristine condition, is 5.2 inches (13.2 centimeters) long and carved out of bone. At its tip is the head of a bearded man, believed to be Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, fertility, and more. Slightly beneath Dionysus’ face is another carving: a depiction of the god’s erect phallus. Superintendency of Caltanissetta/Government of SicilyA close-up view of the intricate carvings on the bone stylus found in Gela. Archaeologists believe that the stylus was carved to resemble a herm, a type of sculpture in ancient Greece that was often placed at crossroads or in front of temples to ward off evil. Like the stylus, herms often depicted just a face and male genitals. That said, the usage of the stylus remains something of a question mark. The Possible Purpose Of The Stylus In Ancient Greece In ancient Greece, styluses were used to make marks on wet clay or wax. But this stylus is not only made of bone, and thus quite delicate, but also intricately carved, which suggests that it had an even greater purpose. While this exact purpose remains a mystery for now, experts have some ideas about how the stylus may have been used. Possibly, it was the ancient Greek equivalent of a fountain pen — that is, an object whose beauty is paramount to its utility. Or maybe it was used for a ceremonial reason, possibly to mark pottery before it was given as a votive offering to a god. Indeed, excavations in the area have suggested that the site could have once been an important production hub. In addition to the stylus, archaeologists in Gela also found the remains of a sprawling Hellenistic neighborhood, including paved surfaces, as well as evidence of collapsed structures where ancient people once produced vessels and figurines. AbelDionis/Wikimedia CommonsAncient ruins in Gela, Sicily, which was once a colony of Magna Graecia (Greater Greece). Possibly, then, the Dionysus stylus was connected somehow to the protection of these workshops. But while questions remain, the stylus makes up a small but exciting part of Gela’s larger ancient history. The city was first founded in the seventh century B.C.E. by Greek colonists from Rhodes and Crete, and it swiftly became one of the most powerful cities in the region. However, by the fifth century B.C.E., the city’s fortunes had changed, and it was all but destroyed in 406 B.C.E. during an invasion by the Carthaginians. The Dionysus stylus, which dates back to this critical period, is a priceless artifact from Gela’s history, and archaeologists are eager to share it with the wider public. “This stylus truly represents a unique example in the archaeological landscape of the time,” Daniela Vullo, the head of the Superintendency for Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Caltanissetta, remarked in the statement. “Due to its unique characteristics, it deserves to be exhibited and made available for public enjoyment.” After reading about the fifth-century B.C.E. stylus with a carving of Dionysus and his erect phallus that was found in Sicily, discover the story of the Antikythera mechanism, the curious artifact from ancient Greece that has been described as a “computer.” Or, go inside the ancient Greek legend of Medusa, the terrifying monster with snakes for hair who could turn victims to stone. The post Archaeologists In Sicily Just Found An Ancient Bone Stylus Depicting Dionysus With An Erect Phallus appeared first on All That's Interesting.

LA Times: Billionaires Flee State When It Asks for ‘A Little Something Back’

VP of Saint Paul City Council Organizing Grocery Runs for Illegals So They Don't Get 'Kidnapped'

CBP Commander Shines Spotlight on Walz and Frey, Minneapolis Operation As Anti-ICE Violence Continues

The Worst News Outlet of the Week - Who Dominated in Dysfunctional Coverage?

10 Percent of U.S. Elite High Schools Now Hail from Texas

Most smartwatch users are likely aware that companies sell their personal health data. But who are they selling it to, and how worried should you be about this?

The State Department is telling U.S. citizens to leave Iran immediately and to have a plan for departure that does not rely on U.S. government assistance, as protests across the country escalate and could turn violent.

A system administrator for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure was arrested and charged with stealing approximately 240 government-issued cellphones valued at more than $150,000.