(Natural News) The Maya civilization was one of the most powerful and scientifically advanced empires of the ancient world. However, by the end of the ninth century, the busy streets of its great stone cities were abandoned, signaling its collapse — an event that, since the 19th century, has intrigued and confused scholars. A recent […]

(Natural News) A common desert glass scattered in the Libyan desert came from a meteor event that happened over 29 million years ago, according to a recent study. Researchers from Curtin University in Australia and the National History Museum of Vienna discovered reidite – a mineral formed only during meteorite impact – in pieces of desert glass […]

(Natural News) A recent study has discovered that ancient Egyptians ate domesticated watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) that resembled the ones enjoyed today. Even better, the Egyptians might have been the ones who bred the familiar traits into the wild fruit in the first place. The watermelon originated in Africa. However, the wild gourd does not resemble the domesticated […]

(Natural News) The world’s largest Christian cathedral recently yielded many of its secrets after years of investigation. Researchers uncovered hidden and forgotten structures in the Hagia Sophia, including the Great Baptistery of the Byzantine Emperors. The Hagia Sophia means “Great Wisdom” in Greek, the lingua franca of the Byzantine Empire. It stands in Istanbul, Turkey, […]

(Natural News) Want to know what ancient Middle Eastern beer tastes like? Try asking this team of researchers from Israel: In a study published in mBio, microbiologists and archeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority and four local universities used yeast strains that lay dormant for thousands of years to brew potable “ancient beers.” For the multi-layered study, researchers isolated yeast […]

(Natural News) Like any ancient Roman city, paved stone covered many of the streets of Pompeii. However, it recently came to light that workers – who were possibly slaves – repaired damaged parts by pouring molten iron into the ruts. Once the iron cooled, it filled up the ruts carved into the paved stone street by the […]

(Natural News) Researchers recently discovered the ruins of an ancient Egyptian military fortress. Estimated to be 2,600 years old, the “castle” acted as the gateway to the border between the modern-day nations of Egypt and Iran. Located in the North Sinai province of Egypt, the fortress arose during the rule of Psamtik I (664 B.C. […]

(Natural News) Early shamans who lived a thousand years ago used cocaine and other mind-altering substances for their rituals, according to a recent study. In their report, researchers have uncovered evidence that suggests that Native American mystics took the drug, as well as several plant-based psychotropics, to alter their consciousness. This comes after a recent investigation of the dry […]

(Natural News) The Mayan civilization dominated Mesoamerica before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. A recent excavation in Guatemala uncovered the remains of a Mayan royal in a pyramid deep in the jungle. One of the three pyramids archaeologists found hosted the complete skeleton of a woman believed to be a Mayan queen. Researchers say her mortal remains are 1,500 years […]

(Natural News) A recent archaeological mission unearthed more evidence of life in ancient Egypt during the Age of the Pyramids. The dig, led by Mohamed Megahed of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, revealed the remains of a nobleman named Khuwy in a colorful tomb dating back 4,400 years. The discovery was made in Saqqara, an ancient necropolis south […]