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Post by Heather Lynn.

More on the recent news of the ancient kingdom discovered beneath a mound in Iraq

During an archaeological survey in 2008, at a site called Satu Qala, a villager brought archaeologists cuneiform inscriptions engraved with the name of an ancient city. The villager reported that the text originated from beneath a mound. The inscriptions identify the city as Idu, dating it to the 12th century BCE. The actual excavations started in the 2010-2011 digging season in cooperation with Leiden University, University of Leipzig, and Iraq’s Salahaddin University. Researchers included students from Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in Iraq.

This latest discovery is quite amazing in that it could add a previously unknown chapter to the history of the Middle Assyrian Empire. Satu Qala is the first identified provincial capital in the eastern part of the empire. Until now, only the western part of the empire had been discovered. Some of the many artifacts found include pottery and a substantial number of cylinder seals.

According to some of the inscriptions deciphered, the flat summit of the mound was the location of the palace of the Middle Assyrian kings. Other inscriptions record the delivery of payments for barley, honey, sesame, and fruit. Though its perimeter has yet to be established, the city turns out to be much larger than previously believed, measuring at least 300 meters (about 984 feet) around the tell. The city of Idu was clearly of great importance and likely used as an administrative center for the surrounding territory.

interestingly, burials were also found oriented in differing directions. The bodies were in various flexed positions, with one on its back with arms crossed over the chest. Archaeologists theorize that these burials may not belong to the Neo-Assyrian or the Middle Assyrian periods since few grave gifts were found. More research will be conducted.

Apart from what has been reported publicly in a recent press release, I have been looking deeply into this story and have uncovered many extraordinary details too voluminous for a simple Facebook, or even blog post. These are details that are not being reported publicly.

Thus, I am compiling a full report, including the translations and pictures of the cylinder seals. Stay tuned…

Quick Update

It has been a busy time for me lately so I have not been as diligent about blogging. There are so many projects unfolding and my book, Anthrotheology, is just about ready to launch. It is a very hectic, but very exciting time. So for now, I will just leave you with this thought. 

Never give up! You may be closer than you realize.

Bulgarian Archaeologists Uncover Unusually Large Relief of Zeus

Bulgarian archaeologists have discovered an unusually large votive relief of the Greek god Zeus near the Bulgarian village of Starosel, indicating that it was once the center part of an ancient temple. 

The temple is believed to have been built in the 6th or 5th century BCE, and could have very well been the power center of Ancient Thrace in the 4th century BCE. It was subsequently destroyed during the rise of the Macedonian state of Philip II in 342-341 BCE.

In antiquity, Zeus was commonly featured as, or with, an eagle. Strangely, the archaeologists reported that a large eagle appeared in the sky as they were about to uncover the artifact. 

Perhaps it was Zeus watching over them?

STAR Update and Upcoming Angkor Wat Tour

I've been so busy lately with STAR that I have not had a chance to blog as much as usual, nor have I been able to answer everyone's emails in a timely manner, but I want to thank everyone for their support as I work to get my organization, STAR (Society for Truth in Archaeological Research), off the ground. 

Exciting things are coming for STAR! Our online classes are in development, the STAR Journal is coming a long nicely, and our first trip is in the works. It will be a joint collaboration with Ancient Mysteries International this spring so stay tuned!

Here is a sneak peek at where STAR will be going this spring. STAR members are invited to join me on this amazing adventure to Angkor Wat! Get your passports ready! 

A Concrete Example of the Modern Benefits of Ancient Technology

I will never forget the disbelief I felt when my undergraduate art history professor mentioned that civilization had lost the recipe for concrete. This seemed preposterous. I've walked on a sidewalk before, skipped down the paved path as a child, watching diligently to not step on cracks for fear of “breaking my mother’s back”, as the old saying warned. We have concrete!

What she went on to explain was that the original recipe for the highly durable Roman concrete had been lost to history. For thousands of years, people have tried to reverse engineer this seemingly simple technology. It has been quite a challenge. Though we have concrete now, it is not the same as the concrete used by the Romans. The concrete we use in modernity is actually pretty poor in comparison to the Roman concrete of the past. Think about it for a moment. Roman concrete roads, aqueducts, and structure are still doing well considering there antiquity. Consider all the times you've driven down a road of potholes or walked down a sidewalk with pits and cracks and questioned, “Didn't they just pave this a few years ago?” 

While some of this may be seen as planned obsolesce, it is still testament to the relative inefficiency of modern concrete, most of which lasts only decades. Commonly, what is used is Portland cement. We have been using this recipe for over 200 years, not a bad recipe, but compared with the durability of Roman concrete, it falls flat, especially when exposed to salt water. 

After years of research, scientists in the US and Europe have finally figured out the recipe to Roman concrete. The findings are published in this month's issues of the Journal of the American Ceramic Society and American Mineralogist, a publication to which I’m sure you all subscribe. ;)

According to the scientists, "The Romans made concrete by mixing lime and volcanic rock. For underwater structures, lime and volcanic ash were mixed to form mortar, and this mortar and volcanic tuff were packed into wooden forms. The seawater instantly triggered a hot chemical reaction. The lime was hydrated – incorporating water molecules into its structure – and reacted with the ash to cement the whole mixture together." It is because of this lime and volcanic ash mixture that Roman concrete has such tremendous binding ability. 

It gets better, though. Not only is this concrete far superior in durability, but unlike modern concrete, it is more environmentally sustainable. The manufacturing of most modern concrete accounts for 7% of greenhouse gas emissions. With these new, ancient methods, we have the potential to make amazingly durable structures and live in harmony with the environment. 

I wonder what other lost technology we may find and for use in modernity? It is my belief that ancient civilizations possessed a number of technologies that we may never fully understand. Since they used the natural resources around them, a lot of evidence of such “green” technologies may have simply decayed or been lost to history, though some have not. 

Between the pyramids, Baghdad Battery, and the Antikythera mechanism, just to name a few, there is little doubt that the ancients were far more advanced than they are commonly depicted. 

New Book!!!

The print version of the my special report on the latest discovery near Ur is now available on 
Amazon! 

PDF version is also available here. 

*Valley of the Burger Kings

Recent excavations unearth a plethora of animal bones at a labor settlement near the Egyptian Sphinx. What has been referred to as a “massive catering-type operation” is believed to be how the “pyramid builders” obtained their nutritional protein.

Located about 1,300 feet south of the Sphinx, the Lost City of the Pyramid Builders, also known by its Arabic name, Heit el-Ghurab, has provided evidence that large numbers of livestock were regularly consumed on site.

Through a combination of animal bone findings and nutritional data analysis, archaeologists estimate that over 4,000 pounds of meat were slaughtered daily to feed the laborers. Still unsure of the exact number of bones, the current estimate is comprised of 25,000 sheep and goats, 8,000 cattle and 1,000 pigs.

What a “meat-normous” discovery!


*Thank you to my friend Neil B.M. Stevenson from the U.K. for that clever bit of humor!

Mysterious Realms, Saturday, April 21 from 9:00-10:30 PM EST

Dr. Heather Lynn will co-host the show with Dr. John DeSalvo with special guest Joshua Shapiro. He will discuss his Indiana Jones adventures tracking down crystal skulls, investigating unusual archaeological sites, and his recent quest trying to locate a mysterious Blue Crystal Skull.

Don't miss it! 

www.drjohnradio.com

The New Proposed Age for Stonehenge

New research into the age of Stonehenge suggests that the structure may have been occupied at least five thousand years earlier than previously thought. 

Past analysis of the carbon-14 radioisotope from a piece of charred oak found in an excavated pit at Stonehenge estimated the site to be 3,800 years old. 

Now, a new excavation of a site about a mile from Stonehenge revealed a semi-permanent settlement that, according to carbon-dated materials, was occupied from 7,500 to 4,700 BCE. This evidence also shows that there were repeated visits to this area from the 9th to the 5th millennia BCE. 

Clearly, this location has been an important site to humans for a very long time. How amazing it is that still, pilgrimages are made to marvel at Stonehenge’s enigmatic grandeur!

New Discovery Causes Rethinking of Ancient’s Technological Capabilities

An unbelievable discovery at the Gonur-Tepe site points to earlier advances in human civilization than had previously been believed. Researchers consider it to be home of the 5th oldest civilization, a civilization lost but clearly quite advanced. Once inhabited by Indo-Iranian people, Gonur-Tepe dates back to 2500 BCE.  

New discoveries at the site are forcing archaeologist to reconsider the technology of mosaic making. A well-preserved mosaic found at the site pre-dates the classical Greek and Roman mosaics known today.  

Gonur-Tepe  is home to a grand palace, fortified walls, and temples with Zoroastrian fire altars. Advanced molded metal, silver and gold trinkets, and glazed pottery are among some of the artifacts being uncovered. In addition to containers with traces of various mind altering plant residue, there is also evidence of tools for making and using soma for rituals, as mentioned in the Rigveda and haoma as in the Avesta.

The city is a massive walled complex. From an aerial view it resembles a maze and is about 30 miles from the ancient city of Merv outside the modern city of Mary. Merv dates back to the time of the Achaemenid Persians and reached its peak under Turkic rule in the 12th century CE. Merv was eventually sacked by the Mongols in 1221 which killed tens of thousands of people, leading others to abandon the ruins. 

Gonur-Tepe contains at least 354 archaeological monuments, the majority of which have only recently been studied due to its isolated location in Turkmenistan. Unfortunately, archaeologists are in a quandary about what to do with the artifacts since they need such careful restoration and conservation. 

While it is encouraging to see such cooperation in archaeology recently, more cooperation is needed. We must ensure that these discoveries are not only shared with the general public, but also preserved in their home countries. Cultural heritage is vitally important. It gives humans a sense of unity and belonging and can give us insight into our shared human origins. 



Let's hope they continue working in unity to find a solution.

More Breaking News on Ancient Sumerian Site

The British team assigned to the site has described what was initially thought to be a large temple as being even larger than anticipated. It has been measured, so far, to be about the size of a football field.

It is extremely unusual to find complexes this old at this scale. Sources are describing the site as Ur’s “administrative center”, dating back at least 4,000 years.

While it’s still early, among some of the artifacts found was a 3 ½ inch clay plaque, depicting a worshiper dressed in a long fringed robe (as shown on the left).

The actual excavation of the site was started last month in a joint collaboration with British and Iraqi teams. There are more foreign teams being allowed in, and more information will soon be available.

Time will only tell what they will discover! I have been making arrangements to speak directly with the officials involved so I will update everyone on this discovery as details emerge.

Stay tuned…

The Real-Life Archaeology of Tolkien’s Ring

A cursed Roman ring believed to have been the inspiration for Tolkien’s hobbit ring is now on exhibition at The Vyne, a sixteenth-century home built for King Henry VIII’s Lord Chamerlain. 

The inscription on the ring speaks of a curse tablet that was actually discovered about 100 miles away at an iron-age site with ancient mine workings known as "The Dwarf's Hill".

The tablet reads a warning to potential thieves:

“Among those who bear the name of Senicianus to none grant health until he bring back the ring to the temple of Nodens.” 

But how are we to believe that this ring was the inspiration for Tolkien’s story?

Eight years before The Hobbit was published, archaeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler had contacted Tolkien about the ring and the curse. Wheeler sought Tolkien’s help in understanding the name of the god mentioned in the inscription.

It had been originally assumed that Tolkien's sources were mostly literary, but a closer look into his life and research is yielding newer information.

Quite a "Precious" find! ;)

What's in a Basket?

So I wanted to share a little Easter history with everyone but I wanted to do something a little different than just focus on the pagan origins of the holiday itself. Often people focus on the origin of the name of the holiday, etc. I thought instead, it would be interesting to take a look at the common tradition of the Easter Basket. There have been many cultural adaptations and interpretations of this custom, but all somewhat related.

What are the origins of giving baskets of fake grass, eggs and candy? Why a basket? 

It was an ancient pagan custom that in the spring, people would offer baskets of seedlings to the fertility goddess Eostre (or Oestre) hoping to increase the chances of a good harvest. Also the goddess Eostre was often depicted carrying eggs in a basket, signifying fertility and new life. 

The basket was used to symbolize a bird’s nest so people would decorate it to resemble one even more by adding a bed of grass to the bottom. Then, eggs would be added to the nested basket to look more realistic. 

These ideas, among others, were adopted by the early Catholic Church. For instance, it was also traditional for people to fast before the Spring Equinox. By doing this, they hoped to redirect their energy into the seedlings so that the harvest would be more successful. This was an idea that inspired Lent. After a long fast during Lent, Easter offered a welcome feast to celebrate its passing. This desire to celebrate by feasting on previously abstained goodies led to the basket tradition. 

The Christian adaptation of the Easter Basket revolved around the custom of Blessing the Family Baskets. This is when every family would bring a basket of food that they had commonly abstained from during Lent, to Mass on Easter Sunday. It would then be blessed for an Easter feast. In the basket would be items such as red wine, salted meats like ham, dairy, eggs, and eventually candy. This tradition is still observed in more Orthodox households. It is sometimes called the Pascha or Paschal Basket. 

The more commercialized Easter baskets of today have ditched the religiously symbolic foods in favor of just eggs and/or candy, as the world has become more secularized (and sugar loving!). Still, many families will spend today feasting and observing the joy and new life of the spring season, provided to the world by the glory and miracle of the risen son/sun. 

Happy Easter!!!!!

Magnificent Lost Egyptian City Found Underwater

We really do live in a time of great discovery!

What has been called “The Gateway to Egypt”, the lost city of Thonis-Heracleion was an extravagant, pre-Alexandrian international trade hub in the first millennium BCE. The city had huge religious significance, as it housed the grand Temple of Amun. Hints of its location could only be found in ancient texts and rare inscriptions. Thonis-Heracleion had been considered a mere legend until only recently.

The city was called Thonis by the Egyptians and Heracleion by the Greeks, hence its current name. Anyone coming into the port had to stop and unloaded their cargo so it could be inspected and taxed by temple officials. Those who refused would have their ships deliberately sunk. To win favor, some would bring votives of Egyptian deities.

Similar to Pompeii, this is a civilization frozen in time. Evidence shows that this was a majestic and wealthy place of grandeur. The city’s population seemed to have peaked from the 6th to the 4th century BCE.

Amidst over 700 anchor points and over 60 beautifully preserved shipwrecks, they have recovered a trove of artifacts said to be in excellent condition. Retrieved material includes everything from colossal statues, inscripted tablets, architectural elements, jewelry, coins, bronze statuettes, pottery, and strange ritual objects. Most of the material depicts Egyptian deities Osiris, Isis, and Horus.

The city was discovered about 4 miles off the present coast, extending into the western side of Aboukir Bay. Excavations will continue in a joint effort between The Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Oxford, the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology and Egypt’s Ministry of State for Antiquities. The results of this in-depth (no pun intended) research was recently presented at an international conference at the University of Oxford.

So what happened to this once glorious city? Evidence suggests that it sunk into the Mediterranean in the 8th century CE after multiple natural disasters, perhaps a deluge. There is no conclusive evidence yet, so for now, it remains a mystery.

Ancient Sumerian Temple Discovered

A buried temple-like structure near the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur (in modern day Iraq) has been found. It is believed to be at least 4000 years old. 

 The size of the structure is massive. The walls are nine feet thick, indicating that the building was of great importance. It’s a monumental complex with rows of rooms encircling a large courtyard. 

Using modern archaeological methods, researchers are testing soil samples to determine information about climate, agriculture, and possible uses for this building. 

 What makes this discovery so important is its location. At more than 10 miles from Ur, it is the first major archaeological find that far from the city center. It is also notable since foreign archaeologists have been banned from the area by the Iraqi government for political reasons many years. This is one of the first discoveries made since archaeologists have been allowed back into the area. 

 What more might they uncover?

Mystery Surrounding 1700 Year Old Tunic

About 2,000 meters (6,560 ft) above sea level on what was likely a Roman-era trade route in southern Norway, a thawing glacier revealed a rare find: a pre-Viking tunic, carbon dated at around 300 CE. It was made to be used as loose fitting outer garment for a man about 176 cms (5 ft 9 inches) tall.

The tunic is made of lamb's wool that has turned greenish-brown with age. There is evidence of a diamond pattern and several patches and repairs indicating it got a lot of use. Only a handful of similar tunics have been found in Europe to date.

Interestingly, there were many other artifacts found nearby including a wooden tent peg, various textiles with decorative shells, spear tips and arrows with ingenious design and even a horse shoe!

The researchers in Oslo are baffled by the tunic. Why would anyone take off a warm tunic by a glacier 6,560 feet above sea level?

So far, the only hypothesis offered is that the owner of the tunic was suffering hypothermia, causing him to feel deceptively warm and confused, leading him to take off his tunic and toss it into the glacier.

A good start, but it is still conjecture. What other reasons could there have been?

Ancient Sundial Discovered in Egypt

During the 2013 season of the Valley of the Kings Project, one of the oldest portable sundials (over 3500 years old) was discovered in a sarcophagus containing the mummy of a woman named Nehemes Babu.

The small sundial is made of limestone, engraved with a semicircle marked out by twelve divisions painted with black lines. There is a hole in the center that is presumed to have served as the fixing point for a wooden or metal pin, whose shadow would have marked out the hours. Archaeologists on the project surmise that the sundial served to measure the working hours during the day since it was found near the huts of those suspected to have constructed the tomb in the 13th century BCE.

However, the positioning of the Sun was also considered a key aspect in the guiding those whom had passed to the afterlife, as recorded on the walls of the royal tombs. Could the newly discovered sundial been a visual map to the afterlife left to guide Nehemes Babu or was it simply a time piece meant to keep the tomb builders on schedule?    

Unveiling the Cover of My New Book, Anthrotheology

Here is a sneak peek at the cover of my new book, available this fall. I will be posting free sample chapters in the weeks to come. Stay tuned...

Valentine's Day Origin and Lupercalia

♥ Happy Lupercalia! ♥

As with many modern holidays, it is widely theorized by scholars that the true origins of Valentine’s Day is actually steeped in a very ancient Roman pastoral fertility festival, observed on February 13 through 15. The festival was called Lupercalia.

The belief was that the goddess Juno Februata (where the name February comes from) inflicted her "love fever" on the youth. Lupercalia “festivities” involved an orgy and sexual excesses, the sacrifice of goats and dogs, and the burning of salt meal-cakes prepared by the Vestal Virgins. Young men would randomly pick love notes of eligible young women from a container, after which they would try to guess who wrote the notes. Another practice was to smear the foreheads of youths with the blood of a sacrificed dog and goat and send them off with a priest around the perimeter of the city, whipping women along the way with strips of the goat’s skin. This act was to protect the women from infertility.

For years the Christian church tried to suppress the festival of Lupercalia. Pope Gelasius changed Lupercalia from the 15th to the 14th and renamed it after the legendary St. Valentine in an attempt to redefine the pagan celebration. Even after the church replaced Lupercus with St. Valentine, the Lupercalia festival continued relatively unchanged except for the sexual excesses.

Though much has changed since the days of Lupercalia, in elementary schools across the country, children still put concealed notes in a box much as the ancient Romans did. Some traditions are well worth keeping!