Gold jewelry, signet ring found on Byzantine shipwreck

By: SGK ADVERTISING ADDA on July 25, 2026 / comment : 0

Archaeologists have discovered a shipwreck off the coast of Croatia containing an extraordinary wealth of gold jewelry, coins, pottery and a signet ring that may have belonged to one of the most important functionaries in the Byzantine Empire. It dates to the late 7th or early 8th century, a period from which few written records have survived, making this discovery all the more important.

When the ship sank off of Mljet island in the Adriatic Sea, it was carrying commercial cargo and a likely high-ranking Byzantine official as a passenger. Mljet was located on an active shipping route between Western and Eastern Europe, linking northern Italian cities including Ravenna and Venice to Constantinople and other Byzantine cities of the Near East. Despite the maritime activity, only one other Byzantine wreck has been found, and it dates to the 11th century so this one is much older.

The remains of the ship were first surveyed in 2014 by a team of underwater archaeologist with the Croatian Conservation Institute. The shapes of the amphorae made it clear that this was a Byzantine ship from the 8th century. Located at a depth of 460 feet on a steep seabed, conditions were so challenging dives could only be done over a few weeks during the summer. A decade of slow, targeted excavations ensued. Every stage — sectioning, documentation, excavation — took longer than it would have in an easier spot to ensure that best archaeological practices were followed. The most recent maritime exploration discovered a unique treasure of men’s gold jewelry and fittings.

The most remarkable finds include four gold belt sets, gold buckles and decorative belt ends adorned with emeralds, rubies and pearls. These luxurious objects once decorated the leather belts of senior Byzantine dignitaries. According to the Institute, comparable items have never previously been discovered at an underwater archaeological site in the Mediterranean.

Researchers also recovered gold coins depicting four emperors from the Heraclian dynasty, dating from the end of the 7th century. The coins are particularly important because they may help archaeologists establish more precisely when the ship sank.

One of the most intriguing discoveries is a gold ring bearing the image of an emperor from the Heraclian dynasty. Such a ring could only have belonged to someone at the highest level of the Byzantine state or military administration—an individual authorised to seal imperial documents.

The ship also carried standard commercial goods, like amphorae used to transport oil and wine, ceramic dishware like bowls, jugs and plates, ivory game tokens and dice. Archaeologists believe the ship may have been on a diplomatic mission, to deliver tribute to an ally. One of the gold belts is very similar to one found in an Avar tomb on the mainland, suggesting the objects were manufactured in the same workshop and then sold.

* This article was originally published here

Meta glasses banned by Comic-Con promoter after 'secret filming'

By: SGK ADVERTISING ADDA on July 25, 2026 / comment : 0 films E, news

A number of guests said they would be reluctant to appear at conventions again after cases of recordings taking place without their knowledge.

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Hoard of Roman Republic denarii found in central Germany

By: SGK ADVERTISING ADDA on July 24, 2026 / comment : 0

A unique group of silver denarii from the time of the Roman Republic has been discovered in Halle, central Germany. There are only five coins, but they are of oversized archaeological significance because this the first documented hoard of Republic-era coins found in Saxony-Anhalt. As there are no coins from the imperial era in the group, archaeologists believe the coins arrived in Halle at the turn of the millennium or just after.

The hoard was discovered in 2025 by metal detectorist volunteer archaeologist Dirk Braungardt. They were grouped in a very small area, but had likely been moved apart from their original deposit cluster by plowing, erosion of animal activity. No remains of a container were found; archaeologists believe they were probably buried in a purse that has decomposed.

The coins are all silver denarii and they were already very old when they reached Germany. The oldest dates to 148 B.C. The remaining four were minted between 82 and 79 B.C. They are heavily worn and were clearly in circulation for many years.

It is striking that four of the five coins were minted within a very short period (82 to 79 BC). Also noteworthy is the presence of three so-called serrati, denarii with a serrated edge – in two cases even bearing graffiti. The purpose of the serration is disputed. It is debated whether it served as proof that the coin was made entirely of silver, as protection against clipping, or purely for decorative purposes. The historian Tacitus describes a predilection for such coins among the Germanic tribes. However, this seems rather unlikely in light of all the Roman coin finds discovered so far in the Barbaricum.

Republican denarii were legal tender and used through the end of the 1st century A.D., although there was no monetary economy in what is now Saxony-Anhalt when the coins likely arrived there, so they didn’t circulate as currency. Instead, they probably reached Halle from long-distance trade, diplomatic gifts, tribute or military loot.

This find is of particular significance for Saxony-Anhalt. To date, only 19 republican coins are known from the present-day territory of the state. Almost all were discovered as individual finds. Imperial-era coins have also been found at more than half of the sites. […]

The find is also of great significance in a supra-regional comparison. While considerably more Republican denarii have been documented in Thuringia and Lower Saxony, both as individual finds and as components of hoards, their density decreases significantly to the northeast.

* This article was originally published here

Former River City actor Iain Robertson jailed for nine years for rape

By: SGK ADVERTISING ADDA on July 24, 2026 / comment : 0 BBC News, news

The 45-year-old, played Stevie O'Hara in the BBC soap, was convicted of five offences against the women between 2004 and 2019.

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Fatboy Slim helps to save 'lifeblood' music venue

By: SGK ADVERTISING ADDA on July 24, 2026 / comment : 0 BBC News, news

The DJ is among investors including Andy Burnham helping to buy the Brighton home of The Pipeline.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/B5oWvPL

Former River City actor Iain Robertson jailed for nine years for rape

By: SGK ADVERTISING ADDA on July 24, 2026 / comment : 0 films E, news

The 45-year-old, played Stevie O'Hara in the BBC soap, was convicted of five offences against the women between 2004 and 2019.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/wrMXk9c

Fatboy Slim helps to save 'lifeblood' music venue

By: SGK ADVERTISING ADDA on July 24, 2026 / comment : 0 films E, news

The DJ is among investors including Andy Burnham helping to buy the Brighton home of The Pipeline.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/ybFzhoW

9th c. B.C. burial found in El Salvador

By: SGK ADVERTISING ADDA on July 23, 2026 / comment : 0

Ancient pre-Hispanic human remains have been discovered at the Antiguo Cuscatlan suburb of San Salvador. The skeletal remains were found face-down and preliminary estimates date them to around 850 B.C.

Archaeologists discovered the grave in a trench at the Pasaje 4 archaeological site under layers of volcanic ash deposits from various periods.

Among the findings, a human skeleton stands out, as well as a small Usulután ceramic vessel shaped like a sea turtle; two yucca cultivation furrows found under segments of ash from volcanic eruptions (from different periods), one from the Plan de la Laguna (850 BC) and another furrow under the eruption of the Ilopango Caldera Circa 431-539 CE.

The remains found were in a ventral position (face down) at 17 degrees east of north, and according to initial estimates, it may be a skeleton from 850 BC. In addition, it is believed that a similar number of remains to those found in Structure 3-7, in Chalchuapa, could be found in the area.

The burial was removed in a soil block so that the remains can be fully excavated in laboratory condition, preserving organic materials, even small traces, as much as possible. Archaeologists will radiocarbon date the remains in the hopes of narrow downing the burial date. They will also attempt to extract archaeological DNA for testing. If the estimates are confirmed, the discovery will be one of the oldest pre-Hispanic burials in Mesoamerica.

* This article was originally published here

How a singer's chance encounter led to an alien experience in Hollywood

By: SGK ADVERTISING ADDA on July 23, 2026 / comment : 0 films E, news

Winnie Ama couldn't believe her luck when she had the chance to sing her original song in the new Supergirl movie - but there was a catch.

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Gold offering to Jupiter Dolichenus discovered in Georgia

By: SGK ADVERTISING ADDA on July 22, 2026 / comment : 0

A thin sheet of gold with a Greek inscription to Jupiter Dolichenus is the first votive to the god ever discovered at the Roman Apsaros fort on the eastern coast of the Black Sea in Georgia. The plaque was discovered in the 2024 excavation at the 1,800-year-old military fort. Archaeologists previously believed the fortress had a sanctuary to the god, but so far it has not been found. This is the first epigraphic evidence that there was a Jupiter Dolichenus cult at the fort, and one of very few inscriptions of any kind found there.

The artefact takes the form of a stylised leaf and was produced using repoussé technique. Its Greek inscription records that an individual named Thrasymedes dedicated the offering to the “Dolichenian God”, that is, Jupiter Dolichenus and the cult of this deity enjoyed particular popularity among soldiers of the Roman army and eventually spread throughout large areas of the Roman Empire.

The dedicator himself is an especially intriguing figure. Thanks to the inscription, we know his name, allowing us, almost two millennia later, to glimpse the religious beliefs of a specific individual associated with the Roman garrison at Apsaros. The researchers note that the name Thrasymedes was relatively uncommon during the Roman period. Although neither his origin nor his role within the garrison can be established, his dedication provides valuable evidence for the presence of individuals with Greek cultural backgrounds within the fort’s multi-ethnic community. The fact that the offering was made of gold further suggests that the cult of Jupiter Dolichenus attracted devoted worshippers willing to commission costly votive gifts.

As the authors emphasise, the discovery may indicate the existence of a cult place dedicated to Jupiter Dolichenus within Apsaros. Other objects associated with the deity have been found in the vicinity of the plaque, including a bronze figurine depicting an eagle seated upon a bull, one of the god’s characteristic symbols. Taken together, these finds contribute significantly to our understanding of the religious life of soldiers stationed at the fort and the role played by eastern cults in Roman frontier garrisons.

Shrines and votives dedicated to Jupiter Dolichenus have been found at sites throughout the empire, including the British fort of Vindolanda under the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall. The mystery religion was popular in the military, but not exclusive to it, from the late 1st century A.D. until it came to an abrupt end after Sassanid Persian emperor Shapur I destroyed the god’s temple of origin at Doliche in 255 A.D.

The 2024 Apsaros excavation also unearthed the remains of a mosaic floor in what was likely the home of the garrison commander. The mosaic is heavily damaged, but it looks like it was a geometric design with red and pink lines on a field of white tiles. The discovery of winepresses and kilns used to make amphorae indicates wine was made on the premises, and given the manufacture of vessels on the site, it may well have been transported elsewhere.

* This article was originally published here