Pennsylvania police said a 61-year-old man shot and killed a woman and her husband because she wouldn't leave her husband for him. He then allegedly killed their 1-year-old son as well.Police said the remains of 32-year-old Junior Cabrera-Colon were found in a wooded area near basketball courts on River Road in the town of Reading on Sept. 13. They determined that he was killed in a fight with Jose Rodriguez of Leesport.Police said the car stayed at the spot for about 35 minutes before going to a nearby muddy marsh.When police reached out to the man's family, they indicated that they had not heard from his wife, 31-year-old Geraldina Peguero-Mancebo, since Sept. 12 at about 8:30 p.m.Using cellphone data gained through a search warrant, police were able to determine that the phone had been in a remote industrial location 7 miles from her home and had not moved since Sept. 12 at about 9:42 p.m.On Sept. 19, police found her decomposed body on an access road off East Huller Lane.Police said they found a child's pacifier near the body but could not locate her child, Jeydon Junior Peguero.Surveillance video obtained by police showed the woman and her child getting into a car registered to Rodriguez at 8:26 p.m. on Sept. 12. Rodriguez initially admitted to picking her up but claimed to have dropped them off safely.Cellphone records, however, showed that he had driven to Reading, then to a wholesale club. Video surveillance showed the car turning at about 9 p.m. onto the access road where the woman's body was found. Police said the car stayed at the spot for about 35 minutes before going to a nearby muddy marsh.That's where they found the body of the child.RELATED: Wife and son helped father dismember man's body with a chainsaw after a lethal poker game, police say Rodriguez then allegedly confessed to killing the woman and said that he had done so because she did not want to leave her husband for him."This infuriated the defendant," police explained in the affidavit. Rodriguez said she was constantly taking his money and that he had helped her pay for her apartment.He also admitted to tossing the 1-year-old in a "lake." Police said the child was found face down in the marsh, and an autopsy determined he drowned in the mud."The defendant confirmed that Jeydon was alive when he threw him face down into the muddy water," District Attorney John Adams said.Rodriguez showed police where he hid her purse and cell phone, and also led them to where he stashed the murder weapon.He was denied bail and is being detained at the Berks County Prison. He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder as well as abuse of a corpse.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Byzantine Gold Hoard Reveals Final Days of Ancient Christian City A remarkable discovery of 97 Byzantine gold coins and exquisite jewelry has shed new light on the dramatic final chapter of an ancient Christian city near the Sea of Galilee. The extraordinary hoard, unearthed at Hippos (Sussita) by University of Haifa archaeologists, represents one of the largest Byzantine treasure finds ever discovered on dry land in Israel.Emergency Hoard from Turbulent TimesThe treasure was likely hidden around 614 AD as the Sassanid Persian army swept through Byzantine Palestine, according to expedition co-director Dr. Michael Eisenberg. The hoard includes coins spanning nearly a century, from Emperor Justin I (518-527 AD) to the early reign of Emperor Heraclius (610-613 AD). Most remarkably, archaeologists discovered remnants of the original cloth bag that once contained the precious items.Among the coins is an exceptionally rare tremissis, likely minted in Cyprus during Heraclius' revolt against Emperor Phocas in 610 AD. This represents only the second such coin ever found in Israel, making it a numismatic treasure of immense historical significance, reports Times of Israel. Gary Manners 28 September, 2025 - 19:48 Section Artifacts Other Artifacts News History & Archaeology

Europe’s Oldest Blue Pigment Repaints Prehistoric Art History In a groundbreaking archaeological discovery that reshapes our understanding of Paleolithic art, researchers have uncovered the earliest evidence of blue mineral pigment use in Europe. Dating back approximately 13,000 years, the find at Mühlheim-Dietesheim, Germany, predates previously known blue pigment usage by millennia and suggests our prehistoric ancestors had access to a far more sophisticated color palette than scholars believed possible.The discovery centers on a palm-sized stone artifact initially identified as an oil lamp when first excavated from this Final Paleolithic era site. However, advanced scientific analysis revealed traces of vivid blue residue containing azurite, a copper carbonate mineral that produces brilliant blue coloration when processed. The research, published in the journal Antiquity, represents the first documented use of blue mineral pigments during Europe's Paleolithic period records a National Geographic report.Study Confirms Cave Painting Was Made By Neanderthals40000-Year-Old Cave Art Fills Basque Country Void[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"135971","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"465","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"700"}}]] Gary Manners 29 September, 2025 - 15:45 Section Artifacts Ancient Technology News History & Archaeology History Ancient Traditions

Extraordinary Thrift Store Find Sparks Enquiry About Artifact Origins In a rare occurrence, eleven medieval rings and two medallions have emerged from the most unlikely of places - a Canadian thrift store shelf. The artifacts, which experts believe could date back to the fourth or fifth century AD, were discovered at Thrifty Boutique in Chilliwack, British Columbia, priced at just $30 each before being recognized by a sharp-eyed archaeology enthusiast.The remarkable find has now captured the attention of researchers at Simon Fraser University, who face the challenging task of determining not only the age and origin of these mysterious pieces but also grappling with the ethical implications of studying artifacts with no documented provenance.Looted Ancient Roman Bust Found In Texas Thrift ShopMedieval Treasures Reveal Daily Life In Ancient OsloFrom Donation Box to Archaeological InvestigationThe story began in spring 2024 when an anonymous donor left the collection of jewelry at Thrifty Boutique, a store operated by Chilliwack Hospice. Store manager Sandy Parker initially treated them as typical costume jewelry, pricing each piece at $30 reports CBC News. However, fate intervened when a patron with archaeological training examined the items more closely and immediately recognized their potential historical significance.Associate Professor Sabrina Higgins from SFU's Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology conducted the initial assessment. Gary Manners 29 September, 2025 - 16:52 Section Artifacts Other Artifacts News History & Archaeology

Scottish Scholars Challenge Book of Kells Origins New research challenges the centuries-old assumption that the world's most famous illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kells, was created on the Scottish island of Iona. Instead, Dr. Victoria Whitworth's forthcoming study suggests the magnificent 1,200-year-old Gospel book was crafted in Pictish eastern Scotland, specifically at the monastery of Portmahomack in Easter Ross, revolutionizing our understanding of medieval Scottish culture and manuscript production.The Book of Kells, containing intricate illuminated accounts of the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, has long been considered Ireland's greatest cultural treasure. Traditional scholarship placed its origins at the monastery on Iona before its transfer to the monastery of Kells in County Meath, Ireland, following Viking raids in the 9th century. Gary Manners 29 September, 2025 - 21:29 Section Artifacts Ancient Writings News History & Archaeology

4,500-Year-Old Gold Brooch Changes Troy's Timeline Archaeologists excavating the legendary city of Troy have unearthed what experts are calling one of the most significant archaeological discoveries at the site of the past century. The remarkable find includes a pristine 4,500-year-old gold brooch, a rare jade stone, and a bronze pin, all dating to approximately 2,500 BC during the Early Bronze Age. This extraordinary discovery not only represents one of only three known examples of such brooches worldwide but also resolves decades of scholarly debate about Troy's chronological framework.The artifacts were discovered within the stratigraphic layers of Troy II, providing archaeologists with definitive evidence that this settlement phase began around 2,500 BC rather than the previously debated dates of 2,300-2,200 BC. Turkey's Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the discovery, emphasizing its global importance and describing the brooch as "the best-preserved example of its kind" among only three known worldwide parallels.New Troy Excavation Yields Fresh Evidence of Epic WarSurprise Discovery Reveals Ancient City of Troy is 5500 Years Old[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"135993","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"467","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"700"}}]]4,500-year-old gold brooch unearthed during excavations at the ancient city of Troy in Canakkale, Turkey. (Turkey’s Ministry of Culture & Tourism) Gary Manners 30 September, 2025 - 13:29 Section Artifacts Other Artifacts News History & Archaeology Ancient Places Europe Asia

Accidental Discovery That Forged the Iron Age Revealed at Ancient Workshop A reanalysis of a 3,000-year-old metallurgical workshop in Georgia has revealed how ancient copper smelters may have accidentally discovered the secret to iron production, fundamentally changing our understanding of one of humanity's most transformative technological leaps. The discovery at Kvemo Bolnisi demonstrates that what was previously thought to be early iron smelting was actually sophisticated copper production using iron oxide as a flux to improve yields.The research from Cranfield University challenges long-held assumptions about the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age. When the Georgian site was first excavated in the 1950s, archaeologists found extensive piles of hematite (iron oxide mineral) and slag waste products, leading them to conclude they had discovered an early iron smelting facility. However, new analysis reveals these ancient metalworkers were actually using iron oxide as a flux agent to enhance copper production rather than attempting to smelt iron itself.This accidental experimentation with iron-bearing materials in metallurgical furnaces represents a crucial stepping stone toward true iron smelting technology. Dr. Nathaniel Erb-Satullo, Visiting Fellow in Archaeological Science at Cranfield University, emphasized the significance:"This shows that these metalworkers understood iron oxide as a separate material and experimented with its properties within the furnace." Gary Manners 30 September, 2025 - 18:06 Section Artifacts Ancient Technology News History & Archaeology

A Journey Into Chattanooga's Ghostly Supernatural Underground When most attorneys retire, they might take up golf or gardening. Amy Petulla chose a different path entirely – she became Chattanooga's premier ghost tour guide, leading visitors through the shadowy underbelly of the Tennessee city where the past refuses to stay buried.What began as a simple observation – why didn't this historic tourist town have ghost tours like other cities? – evolved into a thriving business that has uncovered layers of supernatural activity beneath Chattanooga's streets. From the flood-drowned spirits of Underground Chattanooga to the infamous Annalisa Netherly who haunts Room 311 of the Read House, Petulla has built her reputation on more than just storytelling. Her tours regularly produce unexplained photographs, electromagnetic anomalies, and encounters that leave even skeptics questioning what they've witnessed.In our conversation following a recent Murder and Mayhem Tour, Petulla shared tales that stretch credibility – ghost brides trying to talk bachelorettes out of marriage, spectral figures appearing in thermal imaging, and a decades-old murder case in Georgia where the victims may still return to the scene each year. Yet her matter-of-fact delivery and wealth of documented evidence suggest there's more to Chattanooga's supernatural reputation than mere urban legend.An Interview with Amy Petulla by Richard MarrancaRM: It was a pleasure meeting you and going on the Murder and Mayhem Tour last week in Chattanooga. It's a great way to experience the historical and mystical side of life. I hear that you used to be a lawyer. How did you get into ghosts, murder and mayhem?  Dr Richard Marranca 30 September, 2025 - 22:36 Section News General Unexplained Phenomena

Exceptionally Preserved Roman Shipwreck Excavated In Croatia After four and a half years of meticulous underwater excavation, maritime archaeologists have completed the documentation of one of the most remarkably preserved Roman shipwrecks ever discovered in the Adriatic Sea. The 2,000-year-old vessel, measuring 12.5 meters (41 ft) in length, will now be reburied in the protective sand that safeguarded its timbers for two millennia.The discovery near Sukošan, Croatia, has provided unprecedented insights into Roman maritime construction techniques and trade networks. What makes this find extraordinary is the preservation of the ship's upper works - elements rarely found intact in ancient shipwrecks - offering archaeologists a complete picture of Roman naval architecture from the 1st-2nd century AD.Ten Incredible Underwater Discoveries That Have Captured Our ImaginationChallenges and Triumphs in Underwater Archaeology[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"136024","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"450","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"600"}}]]Completely exposed timber structure of the Roman shipwreck showing exceptional preservation. (M. Kaleb/ICUA) Gary Manners 1 October, 2025 - 14:53 Section Artifacts Ancient Technology News History & Archaeology

12,000-year-old Rock Art Found in Desert Thought Uninhabitable Maria Guagnin et al/The ConversationAbout 12,000 years ago, high up on a cliff in the desert of northern Arabia, an artist (or perhaps artists) was hard at work. Standing on a narrow ledge and with primitive tools, they engraved into the rock an image of a life-sized camel. This wasn’t the first artwork of its kind: in fact, there was already an entire row of fresh camel engravings on the  128 foot high (39 meter) cliff face, below which a shallow lake sparkled in the sunshine.Over thousands of years, these engravings weathered the elements. They gradually eroded until they were almost invisible and had been forgotten. That is, until our international team discovered them and more than 170 others while on a field trip to the region, which sits near the southern edge of the Nefud Desert in Saudi Arabia, roughly two years ago.As we explain in a new study, published today in Nature Communications, the engravings would have marked important desert water sources – and demonstrate the resilience and innovation of people who lived in such a harsh, arid environment. ancient origins 1 October, 2025 - 18:56 Section Artifacts Ancient Writings News History & Archaeology Ancient Places Asia