Stanford University has just published ORBIS – The Stanford Geospatial Network Model of the Roman World, an online map of the Roman world, which lets users find travel routes between different locations around the Mediterranean. The tool finds the fastest route on land and sea, as well as its travel time. There are various options, including month of the year, travel type (private on horseback, army, by land only, etc…), and cost. It’s definitely worth a look!
The Global Heritage Fund has just listed ten sites across Asia, which are in serious danger and need of immediate protection. At the Ancient History Encyclopedia, we take cultural preservation and protection very seriously. Please click here to learn more about the sites from Pakistan’s Express Tribune. Awareness is essential in preserving our diverse cultural treasures.
Canada’s Globe and Mail recently published a review of an unusual book entitled, “Hannibal and Me,” by Andreas Kluth (a journalist for The Economist). Narrating the history of Hannibal’s exploits vis-a-vis the struggles and triumphs of other talented individuals like Steve Jobs, Da Vinci, and Einstein, Kluth ponders the meaning of success across time and space. The end result is thought-provoking and enjoyable reading. To learn more, please click here for the review.
The Hohokam ruins of Mesa Grande, located near Mesa, Arizona, will be reopened to the public in the fall of 2012 according to Arizona’s East Valley Tribune. The Hohokam were one of the four major prehistoric peoples living in what is today the American Southwest, flourishing in the Sonoran Desert from c. 1-1450 CE. Well-known for their beautiful ceramics and jewelry, the Hohokam were also skilled engineers who created some of the most advanced and sophisticated irrigation canals in the Americas. Please click here to read the article in its entirety.
For those of you interested in all that which is “Mesoamerican,” please check out the Los Angeles Times‘ recent review of “Children of the Plumed Serpent: The Legacy of Quetzalcoatl in Ancient Mexico.” This exhibition is currently on show at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art until July 1, 2012 and showcases some of the rarest and finest works by ancient craftsmen from across what is present-day Mexico. Please click here to read the review.
MSNBC is reporting that ancient Peruvian tombs are revealing fascinating genetic and cultural secrets. Throughout the centuries, many Andean peoples in Peru buried their dead in vertical tombs called “chullpas.” Researchers from the University of Warsaw have traced genomic sequences of dozens of individuals, buried in the chullpas, encountering some surprising discoveries. Please click here to read the article in full.
Bulgarian journalists are reporting that an unusual erotic vase has been discovered in the city of Sozopol, which sits directly next to the Black Sea. Dating from the 6th or 7th century BCE, the vase appears to have been crafted in Greece and later traded to what is present-day Bulgaria sometime later. Please click here to read more from UPI.com.
There’s a really interesting history podcast produced by Dan Carlin, called Hardcore History. He looks at various subjects in history, including several ancient subjects (such as the fall of the Roman Republic), in a very accessible, interesting, and captivating way. Fans of history and podcasting should definitely have a look at his site. Thanks to Felicia Day for the news tip.
Archaeologists working near the Peruvian city of Chiclayo have just uncovered the mysterious remains of a woman believed to be a priestess of the Sican or Lambayeque people. Dating from the thirteenth century CE, the remains might provide some much needed insight into the final centuries of the coastal Sican civilization. Please click here to read more about this unique discovery from Hispanically Speaking News.
We are looking for your help with our next big project, which is best described as “Google Maps of the Ancient World”. It’s a very exciting and massive project. We need help with research on ancient cities and their placement on the map, with date ranges of their existence. As with the rest of the site, we cover the world from the beginning of civilization to 700 CE. If you are a historian, archaeologist, or simply an expert history enthusiast, please help us with this project! Send an email to jan AT ancient DOT eu DOT com (or simply comment to this post) and tell us what your area of expertise is.
