Welcome to the 31st episode of History News This Week. Please note that History News This Week will be online every Sunday at 09:30 PM Indian Standard Time i.e. 04:00 PM GMT. This week I have nine interesting pieces of news items from the world of History and Archaeology followed by six wonderful articles. Let’s start!
Links to the news items, articles, latest released book and the history podcast recommendation of the week below:
Archaeologists stunned by Ancient Greek tool used at Stonehenge long before its invention
‘World’s oldest pyramid' built 25,000 years ago was not made by humans, archaeologists claim
World's oldest fortress discovered in Siberia: Defensive complex built 8,000 years ago could reshape understanding of early human societies
'Most shocking side of ancient slavery' is discovered in Pompeii - a 'bakery prison' where humans and animals were forced to grind grain for bread
Temple linked to Hercules and Alexander the Great discovered in ancient megacity in Iraq
Ancient DNA Analysis Reveals How the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire Shifted Populations in the Balkans
U.S. Museum Repatriates Stolen Artifacts
Archaeologists discover prehistoric ‘time capsule’ in mystery cave dwelling
The Great Wall of China is being held together by 'biocrusts'
How Did Christianity Change the Roman Empire?
Saint Nicholas Becomes a Myth
Powers of Hearing: The Military Science of Sound Location
7 extraordinary African kingdoms from ancient times to centuries ago
Pearl Harbor Firsthand Accounts: Video
Top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2023
Links to order 'Strike of the Sailfish: Two Sister Submarines and the Sinking of a Japanese Aircraft Carrier' below:
Amazon India:
Hardcover
Kindle
Amazon USA:
Hardcover
Kindle
History podcast recommendation of the week:
Behind The Bastards Podcast
Please don't forget to checkout Historylogy.com for latest book reviews and tidbits from the pages of history.
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Coming up: History News This Week - Episode: 031
Namaste Friends. My name is 'Shinil Subramanian Payamal' and you are listening to the Historylogy podcast.
Welcome to the 31st episode of History News This Week. Please note that History News This Week will be online every Sunday at 09:30 PM Indian Standard Time i.e. 04:00 PM GMT.
This week I have nine interesting pieces of news items from the world of History and Archaeology followed by six wonderful articles. Let’s start!
1st ─ Archaeologists stunned by Ancient Greek tool used at Stonehenge long before its invention
The famous megalith may have been built using an Ancient Greek theorem thousands of years before the philosopher who invented it even lived.
2nd ─ ‘World’s oldest pyramid' built 25,000 years ago was not made by humans, archaeologists claim
While Guinness World Records officially lists the Djoser Step pyramid in Egypt as the world’s oldest pyramid (around 2,630 BC), one paper published in October claimed a layer of the Gunung Padang pyramid in Indonesia was constructed as far back as 25,000 BC – though there has since been doubts as to whether the structure was ever man-made at all.
3rd ─ World's oldest fortress discovered in Siberia: Defensive complex built 8,000 years ago could reshape understanding of early human societies
Archaeologists made a groundbreaking discovery in a remote area of Siberia, unearthing an approximately 8,000-year-old fortress built by hunters and gatherers.
The Amnya I and II fortress is believed to be the world's oldest fortified settlement and could cause historians to reassess how complex societies evolved.
The Amnya fortress is located on a sandy area alongside the Amnya River, suggesting the hunter-gatherers chose the site to control abundant fishing spots.
4th ─ 'Most shocking side of ancient slavery' is discovered in Pompeii - a 'bakery prison' where humans and animals were forced to grind grain for bread
The ruins of an ash-covered stone structure found at the Italian site were once a bakery where humans and animals were forced to grind grain for bread.
Animals walked in circles for hours blindfolded, turning the grinder, while humans continually poured in grains.
5th ─ Temple linked to Hercules and Alexander the Great discovered in ancient megacity in Iraq
Archaeologists have discovered two temples, one buried atop the other, in the ancient megacity of Girsu in Iraq. One temple is linked to Hercules and Alexander the Great.
6th ─ Ancient DNA Analysis Reveals How the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire Shifted Populations in the Balkans
Despite the Roman Empire's extensive military and cultural influence on the nearby Balkan peninsula, a DNA analysis of individuals who lived in the region between 1 and 1000 CE found no genetic evidence of Iron Age Italian ancestry. Instead, a new study has revealed successive waves of migrations from Western Anatolia, central and northern Europe, and the Pontic-Kazakh Steppe during the Empire's reign.
7th ─ U.S. Museum Repatriates Stolen Artifacts
According to a Washington Post report, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) has relinquished artifacts in its collections to be returned to Italy, Egypt, and Turkey after an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
The 44 objects include a 2,500-year-old bronze figure of an Etruscan warrior stolen from a museum in Bologna in 1963; a terracotta wine flask dated to 330 B.C. believed to have been looted from Italy; three coins stolen from Turkey; and a cosmetics container taken from Egypt.
8th ─ Archaeologists discover prehistoric ‘time capsule’ in mystery cave dwelling
Archaeologists have found a pre-historic cave-dwelling, thought to have been constructed 16,800 years ago.
The discovery was made in the La Garma caves in Cantabria, Spain, which is famed for its artwork previously found on its walls.
The University of Cantabria, whose prehistoric research team led the project, said it was “one of the best preserved Paleolithic dwellings in the world”.
9th ─ The Great Wall of China is being held together by 'biocrusts'
Ancient workers used a blend of organic materials such as mosses and lichen to build the architectural marvel and help protect it from erosion.
Scientists made the discovery while analyzing segments of the Great Wall of China, which spans more than 13,000 miles (i.e. 21,000 kilometers) and was built over the course of many centuries, beginning in 221 B.C., as a way to protect the country's empires from the outside world.
Now, coming to the six articles:
1st ─ How Did Christianity Change the Roman Empire?
By 380, a small cult originating near the periphery of the Roman Empire had grown to become its official religion: Christianity. Things would change – but in what ways?
2nd ─ Saint Nicholas Becomes a Myth
On 6th December 343, Saint Nicholas died but his miracles continued. Eventually, the man was replaced by the myth of Santa Claus – if he even existed at all.
3rd ─ Powers of Hearing: The Military Science of Sound Location
During WWI the act of hearing was recast as a tactical activity — one that could determine human and even national survival.
4th ─ 7 extraordinary African kingdoms from ancient times to centuries ago
Many modern histories tend to focus on ancient kingdoms and empires around the Mediterranean and in the Fertile Crescent. But Western versions of history tend to overlook the many significant kingdoms in Africa. This article talks about seven of the most notable African kingdoms and empires, who had complex cities, trade routes, riches and cultures.
5th ─ Pearl Harbor First Hand Accounts: Video
On 7th December, 1941, a surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor shocked America. These are the stories of veterans who were at the naval base that morning.
6th ─ Top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2023
The field of archaeology has been continuously evolving in 2023, making significant strides in uncovering new historical findings, preserving cultural heritage, and employing innovative technologies to study the past.
Latest history book release of the week:
‘Strike of the Sailfish: Two Sister Submarines and the Sinking of a Japanese Aircraft Carrier’ written by Stephen L. Moore is our pick of the week.
A gripping true-life thriller about the first US submarine to sink a Japanese aircraft carrier—and the sub’s tragic twist of fate.
History podcast recommendation of the week:
‘Behind The Bastards’ hosted by Robert Evans is our pick of the week.
There’s a reason the History Channel has produced hundreds of documentaries about Hitler but only a few about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Bad guys (and gals) are eternally fascinating. Behind the Bastards dives in, past the Cliffs Notes of the worst humans in history and exposes the bizarre realities of their lives.
I will provide links to all the news items, articles, book and podcast mentioned above in the show notes. Please feel free to check them out.
Thank you for listening to this week's episode of the ‘History News This Week’. Hope you found it interesting.
Please don't forget to subscribe to the Historylogy podcast on your favourite podcasting app and check Historylogy.com for book reviews and interesting tidbits from the pages of History. Looking forward to hearing from you. Have a great day and take care. Bye!