Tortoise and her egg found in new Pompeii excavations
Archaeologists in Pompeii have discovered the remains of a pregnant tortoise that had sought refuge in the ruins of a home destroyed by an earthquake in 62 AD, only to be covered by volcanic ash and rock when Mount Vesuvius erupted 17 years later......»»
Mojave desert tortoise officially joins California"s endangered list
The California Fish and Game Commission has formally recognized the Mojave desert tortoise as endangered......»»
"Forgotten city:" the identification of Dura-Europos" neglected sister site in Syria
The Dura-Europos site in modern-day Syria is famous for its exceptional state of preservation. Like Pompeii, this ancient city has yielded many great discoveries, and serves as a window into the world of the ancient Hellenistic, Parthian, and Roman p.....»»
Why are there so many species of beetles?
Diet played a key role in the evolution of the vast beetle family tree. Enlarge (credit: Laurie Rubin via Getty) Caroline Chaboo’s eyes light up when she talks about tortoise beetles. Like gems, they exist in myriad br.....»»
A botanical Pompeii: Researchers find spectacular Australian plant fossils from 30 million years ago
The Australian continent is now geologically stable. But volcanic rocks, lava flows and a contemporary landscape dotted with extinct volcanoes show this wasn't always the case......»»
Bringing a shark to a knife fight: 7,000-year-old shark-tooth knives discovered in Indonesia
Excavations on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi have uncovered two unique and deadly artifacts dating back some 7,000 years—tiger shark teeth that were used as blades......»»
Neanderthal cuisine: Excavations reveal Neanderthals were as intelligent as Homo sapiens
The fact that Neanderthals were able to make a fire and use it, among other things, for cooking, demonstrates their intelligence. "This confirms our observations and theories from previous studies," explains Diego Angelucci, archaeologist at the Univ.....»»
Archaeologists discover 5,000-year-old wine at the tomb of Meret-Neith in Abydos
A German-Austrian team led by archaeologist Christiana Köhler from the University of Vienna is investigating the tomb of Queen Meret-Neith in Abydos, Egypt. She was the most powerful woman in the period around 3,000 BC. Recent excavations prove her.....»»
Injured tortoises make slow recovery from Greece fires
In an animal shelter near Athens, veterinarian Kleopatra Gkika gently smears soothing cream on the leg of a tortoise, one of hundreds singed in Greece's devastating summer wildfires......»»
Biologists in slow and steady race to help North America"s largest and rarest tortoise species
While the average lifespan of North America's largest and most rare tortoise species is unknown, biologists have said it could span upward of a century......»»
Analyses of Pompeii victims with X-ray fluorescence suggests they died of asphyxiation
A multi-institutional team of archaeologists, chemists and environmental scientists using portable X-ray fluorescence on victims of the Pompeii eruption in 79 AD finds that they likely died of asphyxiation. The group has published their results in PL.....»»
These Pompeii victims choked on ash while covering themselves with garments
Study of plaster casts from Porta Nola indicate asphyxiation—but just for these cases. Enlarge / Archeologists Gianni Gallello (front) and Llorenç Alapont (back) measure a plaster cast of a Pompeii victim by pXRF. (credit: Ala.....»»
Study offers glimpse of 500-million-year-old sea worm named after "Dune" monster
Excavations by a University of Kansas paleontologist working in a treasure trove of fossils called the "Spence Shale Lagerstätte" have revealed an ancient sea worm unknown to science until now. The finding has now been published in the journal Histo.....»»
Beetle specimen spared in fire at Brazilian National Museum turns out to be new species
Senckenberg researcher Dr. Marianna Simões, together with her colleague Dr. Lukáš Sekerka of the National Museum in Prague, discovered a new species from the tortoise-beetle genus. The insect, newly described as Dorynota phoenix in the journal Zoo.....»»
New research shows climate change will increase impacts of volcanic eruptions
Volcanic disasters have been studied since Pompeii was buried in 79 A.D., leading the public to believe that scientists already know why, where, when and how long volcanoes will erupt. But Jonathan Fink, volcanologist and director of the Digital City.....»»
Evidence of bird sacrifices to the goddess Isis in ancient Roman Empire
An archaeologist and a biologist have found evidence of birds being sacrificed to the goddess Isis in the excavated ruins of the Temple of Isis in Pompeii. In their study, reported in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, Chiara Assunta Corb.....»»
International study reveals genetic link between modern wine grapes and ancient varieties
A new study led by the paleogenetic laboratory of the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History at Tel Aviv University and the University of Haifa analyzed DNA from ancient local wine grape seeds discovered at archaeological excavations in the Negev......»»
A newly uncovered ancient Roman winery features marble tiling, fountains of grape juice and an extreme sense of luxury
Recent excavations at the Villa of the Quintilii uncovered the remains of a unique winery just outside Rome......»»
Ancient DNA reveals the multiethnic structure of Mongolia"s first nomadic empire
Long obscured in the shadows of history, the world's first nomadic empire—the Xiongnu—is at last coming into view thanks to painstaking archaeological excavations and new ancient DNA evidence. Arising on the Mongolian steppe 1,500 years before th.....»»
Excavations reveal copper deposits that made Cyprus one of the most important Late Bronze Age trade hubs
Excavations led by researchers from the University of Gothenburg show that the coveted metal copper and a sheltered location turned the Cypriot village of Hala Sultan Tekke into one of the most important trade hubs of the Late Bronze Age. The researc.....»»
Case study of rare, endangered tortoise highlights conservation priorities for present, future World Wildlife Days
Though wildlife trafficking has been effectively disrupted since the first World Wildlife Day—established 50 years ago today via the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora—a newly published ca.....»»