Teachers or instructors might be interested in accessing images of the ancient world from the New York Public Library’s Picture Collection. With over 1.700 images covering a range of subjects from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and other cultures around the Mediterranean, this is a great resource for the classroom. All the images were rendered or conceived by artists, scholars, and travelers from the early 18th century until the 20th century, and include rare periodical illustrations, lithographs, photographs, paintings, and engravings. Please click here to access the link and database.

For several decades, scholars and archaeologists have debated what caused the decline and collapse of the Classical Maya (c. 250-900 CE). Most content that it was a combination of agricultural mismanagement and environmental changes, which doomed the city-states of the formidable Maya. MSNBC published this article last month, which suggested that changes in religious rites also could have played a decisive role in the Maya’s decline. Please click here to access the article.

Rock art is both ubiquitous and mysterious: it exists on every continent except Antarctica, yet remains largely enigmatic. With advances in neuroscience and with the aid of medical imaging technology, scholars are now beginning to unravel the mysterious of rock art design and purpose. What has been uncovered is likely to both shock and surprise you. Click here to read this recently featured article, from Cosmos Magazine, in order to learn more.

Many are unaware that it was possible to sail from the Mediterranean Sea to Red Sea before the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 CE. Nile-to-Suez canals existed more than two thousand years ago, providing a steady flow of trade and traffic between East and West. In the March/April 2012 edition of Saudi Aramco World Magazine, John Cooper introduces us to the lost canals of ancient Egypt and the colorful personalities behind their construction, maintenance, and destruction. Please click here to read “Linking Med to Red.”

The Economist magazine has posted this video review of “Nomads & Networks: The Ancient Art and Culture of Kazakhstan” at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World in New York City. Please click here to access the video. We promise that you won’t regret doing so! The objects are beautiful and most have never been seen by the public until now.

Channel News Asia is reporting that the remains of a Stone Age man has been unearthed off the southern Chinese coast in Fujian Province. Archaeologists from Taiwan believe that the 8.000 year old skeleton might be an ancestor to Taiwan’s aboriginal peoples. The man was believed to be around thirty-five years of age around the time of his death and the bones are in excellent condition. Please click here to read more.

Here’s a listing of more spring exhibitions which might of be of interest to many of you: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), in Los Angeles, California USA, will be exhibiting Children of the Plumed Serpent: the Legacy of Quetzalcoatl in Ancient Mexico until July 1, 2012. With over 200 objects ranging from manuscripts and textiles to gilded plates and jewelry, this show delineates the importance of the Quetzalcoatl myth to the Nahua, Mixtec, and Zapotec city-states and kingdoms of Pre-Columbian Mexico. This geographical area of southern Mexico was unique in retaining a separate cultural identity during the apogee of the Mayans and Aztecs. For more information, please be sure to read this review from the The Art Newspaper by clicking here. Museu Nacional d’Arte de Catalunya (MNAC), in Barcelona, Spain, is presenting Gods and Myths of Antiquity: The evidence from Hispanic Coins until March 17, 2013. This exhibition provides a unique perspective into the religious beliefs, customs, cults, and mythologies of Iberian peoples, from the 5th century BCE until the arrival of …

The New York Times has just reviewed the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s newest exhibition, “Byzantium and Islam: An Age of Transition.” Please click here to read the favorable review.

SAFE (Saving Antiquities for Everyone) is an organization dedicated to raising public awareness about the irreversible damage to the study of history and culture that results from looting, smuggling, and trading illicit antiques. Advocating cultural preservation and educational outreach, SAFE is on the vanguard of delineating the necessity of ethical practices in relation to historical and cultural objects. Recently, SAFE published this interview with Omara Khan Massoudi, Director of the National Museum of Afghanistan. Massoudi comments on his hopes for the future and why cultural preservation is so essential in Afghanistan.

We just wanted to invite (and reiterate) to all of our contributors and users that we are on LinkedIn! Follow us and keep up to date with the latest news and events regarding our growing community. Also, please be sure to join or visit the Ancient History Group. Here you can network, read more articles, and interact with other ancient history enthusiasts. To access the company profile page or the group, please click on the LinkedIn icon, located on the left-hand side of our homepage, and follow the link(s). Remember,  you can follow us on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit too!