Decades after a retired chicken farmer found curious bones in Australia's New South Wales, scientists have identified the remains as those belonging to an almost 250 million-year-old lizard-like species. With this, the mystery which has captivated scientists for years has finally come to an end.

<h2>A head-scratching mystery</h2>

The amazing discovery, as per experts, may "rewrite the evolution of amphibians in Australia," and prove that the nation was a "great place for animals to evolve and find refuge after mass extinctions".

As per a BBC report, scientists estimate that the "new" species of amphibians roamed Australia some 247 million years ago.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-unearth-a-248-million-years-old-marine-reptile-that-shared-this-curious-similarity-to-whales-623510">Scientists unearth 248 million-years-old marine reptile that shared this curious similarity to whales</a>

Based on the nearly complete skeleton, scientists estimate that the amphibian was approximately 1.5 metres (around 5 feet) long and had a salamander-shaped body.&nbsp;

The remarkable lizard-like amphibian is said to have survived not just one, but two mass-extinction events. It is part of the Temnospondyli family — which refers to resilient amphibians that survived two of the earth's five mass extinction event; including a series of volcanic eruptions that wiped off about 70-80 per cent of all dinosaurs around 66 million years ago.&nbsp;

As per experts, the amphibian which has been named Arenaepeton supinatus, latin for "sand creeper on its back" once lived in the freshwater lakes and streams of Sydney.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/newly-discovered-skull-in-china-baffles-scientists-is-it-a-new-lineage-of-humans-623180">Newly-discovered skull in China baffles scientists. Is it yet another lineage of humans?</a>

Lachlan Hart - the palaeontologist who ultimately decoded the petrified remains and identified the fossil, says that the find is remarkable, and shows that "Australia was a great place for animals to evolve and find refuge after mass extinctions."

Till date, only three fossils capturing the Temnospondyli species have been successfully identified in Australia.&nbsp;

<h2>Where was the fossil found?</h2>

As per BBC, the find was serendipity. The farmer, Mihail Mihaildis, was attempting to fix a broken garden wall at his home in Umina, a suburb located around 86 kilometres from Sydney.&nbsp;

For this, he purchased a 1.6 tonne sandstone slab in which he ultimately found the immortalised outline of an unknown creature, this remarkable amphibian of the species Arenaepeton supinatus.&nbsp;The extraordinary find soon goes on full-time display at the Australian Museum.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Decades after a retired chicken farmer found curious bones in Australia's New South Wales, scientists have identified the remains as those belonging to an almost 250 million-year-old lizard-like species.

Decades after a retired chicken farmer found curious bones in Australia's New South Wales, scientists have identified the remains as those belonging to an almost 250 million-year-old lizard-like species. With this, the mystery which has captivated scientists for years has finally come to an end. A head-scratching mystery The amazing discovery, as per experts, may "rewrite the evolution of amphibians in Australia," and prove that the nation was a "great place for animals to evolve and find refuge after mass extinctions". As per a BBC report, scientists estimate that the "new" species of amphibians roamed Australia some 247 million years ago. Also read | Scientists unearth 248 million-years-old marine reptile that shared this curious similarity to whales Based on the nearly complete skeleton, scientists estimate that the amphibian was approximately 1.5 metres (around 5 feet) long and had a salamander-shaped body. The remarkable lizard-like amphibian is said to have survived not just one, but two mass-extinction events. It is part of the Temnospondyli family — which refers to resilient amphibians that survived two of the earth's five mass extinction event; including a series of volcanic eruptions that wiped off about 70-80 per cent of all dinosaurs around 66 million years ago. As per experts, the amphibian which has been named Arenaepeton supinatus, latin for "sand creeper on its back" once lived in the freshwater lakes and streams of Sydney. Also read | Newly-discovered skull in China baffles scientists. Is it yet another lineage of humans? Lachlan Hart - the palaeontologist who ultimately decoded the petrified remains and identified the fossil, says that the find is remarkable, and shows that "Australia was a great place for animals to evolve and find refuge after mass extinctions." Till date, only three fossils capturing the Temnospondyli species have been successfully identified in Australia. Where was the fossil found? As per BBC, the find was serendipity. The farmer, Mihail Mihaildis, was attempting to fix a broken garden wall at his home in Umina, a suburb located around 86 kilometres from Sydney. For this, he purchased a 1.6 tonne sandstone slab in which he ultimately found the immortalised outline of an unknown creature, this remarkable amphibian of the species Arenaepeton supinatus. The extraordinary find soon goes on full-time display at the Australian Museum. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Scientists identify 248 million-year-old lizard-like creature that survived what dinosaurs couldn't

You must've seen videos of certain types of whales that hunt by merely swimming with their mouths open. Their prey just seems to swim right into their cavernous mouths and into their bellies. This behaviour is called filter-feeding. Using this, species like blue whales and baleen whales sift immense quantities of tiny prey from the ocean.

While fascinating, whales are far from the first species to use this hunting method. Fossils unearthed in China's Hubei Province show that a curious marine reptile that roamed the waters around 250 million years ago had hunting habits similar to the modern gentle giants of the sea — whales.

<h2>Blast from the past</h2>

Scientists estimate that the ancient reptile species existed in the Triassic Period, around 248 million years ago. They suggest that the marine reptile species called Hupehsuchus nanchangensis was lost to us during Earth's worst mass extinction.

While the reptile had a feeding style similar to the modern whale, Hupehsuchus was far more modest, at only about three feet (one metre) long.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/newly-discovered-skull-in-china-baffles-scientists-is-it-a-new-lineage-of-humans-623180">Newly-discovered skull in China baffles scientists. Is it yet another lineage of humans?</a>

Fossils indicate that the reptile had a long, narrow snout, a toothless mouth. It used its front and back limbs as paddles for steering, and its broad tail for forward propulsion.

Hupehsuchus nanchangensis' snout was made up of long, loose bones, with the lower jaw connected to the rest of the skull loosely. This, as per the scientists, allowed it to open its mouth wide to take in large amounts of water that contained small prey like zooplanktons.

<h2>How similar were these reptiles to whales?</h2>

Not very, there's a very obvious, enormous size difference. Furthermore, while the feeding method is similar, scientists speculate that there might be key differences.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/rare-video-captures-killer-whale-tearing-into-massive-shark-slurping-its-liver-watch-622127">Rare video captures killer whale tearing into massive shark, 'slurping' its liver. Watch</a>

"The further the relationship between two animals, the more fascinating this phenomenon becomes," said the study's lead author paleontologist Long Cheng of the Wuhan Center of China Geological Survey.&nbsp; 
"Baleen whales are mammals and Hupehsuchus are reptiles. Their affinity is so distant. And they appeared more than 200 million years apart," he added.

To sift through the ocean water for prey, whales use baleen plates, aka whale bone, that are plates made of keratin. However, fossils of the Hupehsuchus nanchangensis were missing baleen.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/move-over-blue-whale-scientists-discover-40-million-year-old-earths-biggest-animal-ever-621809">Not blue whale, this 40mn-year-old animal is largest ever to have lived on Earth</a>

Researchers say that one reason for this could be that keratin does not fossilise well. Based on grooves and notches found on the fossil's jaw, they believe that the reptile had soft tissue which must've served as baleen.

Talking to Reuters, co-author of the research, palaeontologist Mike Benton of the University of Bristol in England said: "Altogether, this points to a soft pouch made of skin around the mouth and throat, as in modern baleen whales, and some kind of filtering device hanging from the jaws, like baleen - but the 'baleen' and skin are not preserved."&nbsp;The research was published on Monday in the journal BMC Ecology and Evolution.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

You must've seen videos of certain types of whales that hunt by merely swimming with their mouths open. Their prey just seems to swim right into their cavernous mouths and into their bellies.

You must've seen videos of certain types of whales that hunt by merely swimming with their mouths open. Their prey just seems to swim right into their cavernous mouths and into their bellies. This behaviour is called filter-feeding. Using this, species like blue whales and baleen whales sift immense quantities of tiny prey from the ocean. While fascinating, whales are far from the first species to use this hunting method. Fossils unearthed in China's Hubei Province show that a curious marine reptile that roamed the waters around 250 million years ago had hunting habits similar to the modern gentle giants of the sea — whales. Blast from the past Scientists estimate that the ancient reptile species existed in the Triassic Period, around 248 million years ago. They suggest that the marine reptile species called Hupehsuchus nanchangensis was lost to us during Earth's worst mass extinction. While the reptile had a feeding style similar to the modern whale, Hupehsuchus was far more modest, at only about three feet (one metre) long. Also read | Newly-discovered skull in China baffles scientists. Is it yet another lineage of humans? Fossils indicate that the reptile had a long, narrow snout, a toothless mouth. It used its front and back limbs as paddles for steering, and its broad tail for forward propulsion. Hupehsuchus nanchangensis' snout was made up of long, loose bones, with the lower jaw connected to the rest of the skull loosely. This, as per the scientists, allowed it to open its mouth wide to take in large amounts of water that contained small prey like zooplanktons. How similar were these reptiles to whales? Not very, there's a very obvious, enormous size difference. Furthermore, while the feeding method is similar, scientists speculate that there might be key differences. Also read | Rare video captures killer whale tearing into massive shark, 'slurping' its liver. Watch "The further the relationship between two animals, the more fascinating this phenomenon becomes," said the study's lead author paleontologist Long Cheng of the Wuhan Center of China Geological Survey. "Baleen whales are mammals and Hupehsuchus are reptiles. Their affinity is so distant. And they appeared more than 200 million years apart," he added. To sift through the ocean water for prey, whales use baleen plates, aka whale bone, that are plates made of keratin. However, fossils of the Hupehsuchus nanchangensis were missing baleen. Also read | Not blue whale, this 40mn-year-old animal is largest ever to have lived on Earth Researchers say that one reason for this could be that keratin does not fossilise well. Based on grooves and notches found on the fossil's jaw, they believe that the reptile had soft tissue which must've served as baleen. Talking to Reuters, co-author of the research, palaeontologist Mike Benton of the University of Bristol in England said: "Altogether, this points to a soft pouch made of skin around the mouth and throat, as in modern baleen whales, and some kind of filtering device hanging from the jaws, like baleen - but the 'baleen' and skin are not preserved." The research was published on Monday in the journal BMC Ecology and Evolution. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Scientists unearth 248 million-years-old marine reptile that shared this curious similarity to whales

Human ancestry is often taken as a done and dusted topic by the layperson. However, that is far from true. Adding to the mystery, an ancient skull is now baffling scientists with its not-so-similar features to the modern human.

The mysterious skull, as per a Science Alert article, belongs to a child that was alive around 300,000 years ago.&nbsp;

Experts at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) working alongside researchers from China's Xi'an Jiaotong University, the UK's University of York, and Spain's National Research Center on Human Evolution say that this could potentially be the discovery of a new branch of humans.

<h2>The mind-blowing discovery</h2>

The skull in question was discovered in 2019. Alongside it, researchers also found a jaw and leg bones. The findings were uncovered in East China's Hualondong and belong to a child between the ages of 12 and 13 years.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/researchers-use-monkey-poop-to-gain-insight-into-mating-strategies-of-critically-endangered-muriquis-622490">Researchers use monkey poop to gain insight into mating strategies of critically endangered muriquis</a>

What baffles scientists is the fact that they can't match it to any known human lineage. The skull doesn't resemble Neanderthals, Denisovans, or us (the modern human). Yet, it does have some matching features to different lineages. This means that the hominin or the human family tree may need another branch.&nbsp;

<h2>I see you in me</h2>

The skull, which is a nearly complete with a partial cranium and a nearly complete mandible, as per the research published in the Journal of Human Evolution, is similarly structured to the modern human lineage.&nbsp;

In their analysis, the authors write that while its face has modern-human like features, the limbs, skull cap, and jaw "seem to reflect more primitive traits."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/human-genes-can-be-controlled-with-electricity-experiment-reveals-622322">Human genes can be controlled with electricity, experiment reveals</a>

Furthermore, it lacks a chin, which is reminiscent of a Denisovan, a lineage that once existed in Asia and is now extinct.

This complicates the process of identification. The skull seems to be a mosaic of physical features, and points to the co-existence of three different lineages in Asia — H. erectus, Denisovan, and this new lineage which is "phylogenetically close" to us.&nbsp;

<h2>What is this new human called?</h2>

Scientists are yet to classify this purportedly new lineage of hominin. For now, they've now labelled it HLD 6 — here HLD represents Hualongdong where the skull was found.

Homo sapiens, or "wise humans" only appeared in China around 120,000 years ago.

The skull discovered by experts, as per researchers at CAS may be the historic uncovering of an entirely new lineage–a hybrid between the branch that gave us modern humans and the branch that gave us other ancient hominins in the region.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Human ancestry is often taken as a done and dusted topic by the layperson. However, that is far from true. Adding to the mystery, an ancient skull is now baffling scientists with its not-so-similar features to the modern human.

Human ancestry is often taken as a done and dusted topic by the layperson. However, that is far from true. Adding to the mystery, an ancient skull is now baffling scientists with its not-so-similar features to the modern human. The mysterious skull, as per a Science Alert article, belongs to a child that was alive around 300,000 years ago. Experts at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) working alongside researchers from China's Xi'an Jiaotong University, the UK's University of York, and Spain's National Research Center on Human Evolution say that this could potentially be the discovery of a new branch of humans. The mind-blowing discovery The skull in question was discovered in 2019. Alongside it, researchers also found a jaw and leg bones. The findings were uncovered in East China's Hualondong and belong to a child between the ages of 12 and 13 years. Also read | Researchers use monkey poop to gain insight into mating strategies of critically endangered muriquis What baffles scientists is the fact that they can't match it to any known human lineage. The skull doesn't resemble Neanderthals, Denisovans, or us (the modern human). Yet, it does have some matching features to different lineages. This means that the hominin or the human family tree may need another branch. I see you in me The skull, which is a nearly complete with a partial cranium and a nearly complete mandible, as per the research published in the Journal of Human Evolution, is similarly structured to the modern human lineage. In their analysis, the authors write that while its face has modern-human like features, the limbs, skull cap, and jaw "seem to reflect more primitive traits." Also read | Human genes can be controlled with electricity, experiment reveals Furthermore, it lacks a chin, which is reminiscent of a Denisovan, a lineage that once existed in Asia and is now extinct. This complicates the process of identification. The skull seems to be a mosaic of physical features, and points to the co-existence of three different lineages in Asia — H. erectus, Denisovan, and this new lineage which is "phylogenetically close" to us. What is this new human called? Scientists are yet to classify this purportedly new lineage of hominin. For now, they've now labelled it HLD 6 — here HLD represents Hualongdong where the skull was found. Homo sapiens, or "wise humans" only appeared in China around 120,000 years ago. The skull discovered by experts, as per researchers at CAS may be the historic uncovering of an entirely new lineage–a hybrid between the branch that gave us modern humans and the branch that gave us other ancient hominins in the region. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Newly-discovered skull in China baffles scientists. Is it yet another lineage of humans?

Search for the biggest animal to have ever lived on Earth and the internet will tell you it's the Blue Whale. However, scientists may have found a bigger contender that could dethrone the giants of the ocean.

On Wednesday, scientists shared an amazing find. In Peru, they have unearthed the fossil of an early whale called Perucetus colossus. The animal as per estimates lived about 38-40 million years ago during the Eocene epoch and may have even topped the mass of the blue whale which is long considered the heftiest animal on record.

<h2>Perucetus colossus</h2>

Researchers estimate that the Perucetus colossus was around 66 feet (20 metres long) and weighed up to 340 metric tonnes — this means it was heavier than today's blue whale and even the largest dinosaurs. Hence, the name, which literally means "colossal Peruvian whale".

The findings have been published in the journal Nature.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-confirm-jellyfish-who-existed-about-500-million-years-before-early-human-beings-621617">Scientists confirm jellyfish who existed about 500 million years before early human beings</a>

Lead author of the research, palaeontologist Giovanni Bianucci of the University of Pisa in Italy, as per Reuters remarked: "The main feature of this animal is certainly the extreme weight, which suggests that evolution can generate organisms that have characteristics that go beyond our imagination."

Perucetus, as per estimates, had a minimum mass of 85 tonnes, with an average estimate of 180 tonnes. Although the largest-known blue whale weighed approximately 190 tonnes, it was longer than Perucetus, measuring 110 feet (33.5 metres) in length.&nbsp;

Comparitively, Argentinosaurus, a plant-eating dinosaur that existed around 95 million years ago in Argentina, which as per a study published in May, was perhaps the most massive dinosaur was much smaller at an estimated weight of about 76 tonnes.

<h2>Where was the colossal whale found?</h2>

The partial skeleton was excavated from a coastal desert of southern Peru. The region, as per Reuters, is rich with whale fossils.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/switzerland-bronze-age-arrowhead-traced-to-object-that-fell-from-the-sky-621181">Switzerland: Bronze age arrowhead traced to 'object that fell from the sky'</a>

Scientists have as of now excavated with 13 vertebrae, four ribs and one hip bone of Perucetus colossus. The bones were found to be unusually voluminous, and extremely dense and compact.&nbsp;The skeletal mass alone is an estimated five and eight tonnes, which is at least twice that of the blue whale.

However, researchers are yet to stumble upon its cranial or tooth remains. This means we have no idea about its diet or lifestyle.&nbsp;Bianucci suggests that it is possible that this creature was "herbivorous like the sirenians, but this would be the only case among cetaceans. Perhaps it fed on small mollusks and crustaceans in sandy bottoms like the extant gray whale. Or it could have been a scavenger on vertebrate carcasses, similar to some extant large-body sharks."

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Search for the biggest animal to have ever lived on Earth and the internet will tell you it's the Blue Whale. However, scientists may have found a bigger contender that could dethrone the giants of the ocean.

Search for the biggest animal to have ever lived on Earth and the internet will tell you it's the Blue Whale. However, scientists may have found a bigger contender that could dethrone the giants of the ocean. On Wednesday, scientists shared an amazing find. In Peru, they have unearthed the fossil of an early whale called Perucetus colossus. The animal as per estimates lived about 38-40 million years ago during the Eocene epoch and may have even topped the mass of the blue whale which is long considered the heftiest animal on record. Perucetus colossus Researchers estimate that the Perucetus colossus was around 66 feet (20 metres long) and weighed up to 340 metric tonnes — this means it was heavier than today's blue whale and even the largest dinosaurs. Hence, the name, which literally means "colossal Peruvian whale". The findings have been published in the journal Nature. Also read | Scientists confirm jellyfish who existed about 500 million years before early human beings Lead author of the research, palaeontologist Giovanni Bianucci of the University of Pisa in Italy, as per Reuters remarked: "The main feature of this animal is certainly the extreme weight, which suggests that evolution can generate organisms that have characteristics that go beyond our imagination." Perucetus, as per estimates, had a minimum mass of 85 tonnes, with an average estimate of 180 tonnes. Although the largest-known blue whale weighed approximately 190 tonnes, it was longer than Perucetus, measuring 110 feet (33.5 metres) in length. Comparitively, Argentinosaurus, a plant-eating dinosaur that existed around 95 million years ago in Argentina, which as per a study published in May, was perhaps the most massive dinosaur was much smaller at an estimated weight of about 76 tonnes. Where was the colossal whale found? The partial skeleton was excavated from a coastal desert of southern Peru. The region, as per Reuters, is rich with whale fossils. Also read | Switzerland: Bronze age arrowhead traced to 'object that fell from the sky' Scientists have as of now excavated with 13 vertebrae, four ribs and one hip bone of Perucetus colossus. The bones were found to be unusually voluminous, and extremely dense and compact. The skeletal mass alone is an estimated five and eight tonnes, which is at least twice that of the blue whale. However, researchers are yet to stumble upon its cranial or tooth remains. This means we have no idea about its diet or lifestyle. Bianucci suggests that it is possible that this creature was "herbivorous like the sirenians, but this would be the only case among cetaceans. Perhaps it fed on small mollusks and crustaceans in sandy bottoms like the extant gray whale. Or it could have been a scavenger on vertebrate carcasses, similar to some extant large-body sharks." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Not blue whale, this 40mn-year-old animal is largest ever to have lived on Earth

An ancient Bronze Age arrowhead discovered in Switzerland in the 19th century has revealed an unexpected origin - it is&nbsp;made of&nbsp;iron that fell from the sky.

The arrowhead, as per findings published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, was made from a meteorite. But that's not all, scientists have also made another surprising discovery that can help further our understanding of the prehistoric humans.&nbsp;

<h2>Sky iron from afar</h2>

As per a report in Science Alert, what's more intriguing about this find is that the meteorite likely originated from as far away as Estonia. This, as per scientists, highlights the extensive trade networks that existed thousands of years ago.

The amazing find was made by Geologist Beda Hofmann from the Natural History Museum of Bern and the University of Bern, who led a search for ancient artefacts made of meteoritic iron.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-rare-brain-eating-amoeba-haunts-us-kills-georgia-resident-621100">Explained | Rare 'brain-eating amoeba' haunts US, kills Georgia resident&nbsp;</a>

<h2>Meteorites and prehistoric times</h2>

Pure iron was a scarce resource in prehistoric times, so our ancestors used iron from meteorites that had fallen to Earth.&nbsp;For this, they used iron meteorites, which are more commonly found due to their ability to withstand atmospheric entry.&nbsp;

These mainly consist of iron, with small amounts of nickel and other metals.&nbsp;As per the report, it is presumed that almost all Bronze Age iron tools and weapons are made of these meteorites.

<h2>Europe and prehistoric iron artefacts</h2>

Most meteoritic iron artefacts have been found in the Middle East, Egypt, and Asia. However, a few have been discovered across Europe.&nbsp;

The settlement of Mörigen in Switzerland, who were thriving during the Bronze Age around 800 to 900 BCE, presented a promising location for such discoveries. It is close to the Twannberg field, known for meteoritic iron fragments from an ancient impact dating to before the last ice age.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-some-gigantic-viruses-in-soil-samples-621141">Scientists find some 'gigantic' viruses in soil samples</a>

Among objects previously excavated from Mörigen, Hofmann's team found a lone iron arrowhead.&nbsp;

It had the characteristic iron and nickel composition of meteoritic iron, along with traces of smoking gun or radioactive aluminum-26, which forms only in space. However, the mix of metals in the arrowhead did not match those in the local meteoritic iron.

This, as per Science Alert, indicated that it belonged to a specific class of iron meteorite called IAB meteorites.

<h2>Why is this discovery important?</h2>

Narrowing down the sources, the researchers believe the arrowhead best matches Kaalijarv, an IAB meteorite that fell around 1500 BCE and scattered fragments suitable for reshaping into arrowheads.&nbsp;

What's surprising is Kaalijarv's location, which is approximately 994 miles or 1,600 kilometres away from Mörigen. This suggests it possibly travelled enormous distances through ancient trade routes.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

An ancient Bronze Age arrowhead discovered in Switzerland in the 19th century has revealed an unexpected origin - it is made of iron that fell from the sky. The arrowhead, as per findings published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, was made from a meteorite.

An ancient Bronze Age arrowhead discovered in Switzerland in the 19th century has revealed an unexpected origin - it is made of iron that fell from the sky. The arrowhead, as per findings published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, was made from a meteorite. But that's not all, scientists have also made another surprising discovery that can help further our understanding of the prehistoric humans. Sky iron from afar As per a report in Science Alert, what's more intriguing about this find is that the meteorite likely originated from as far away as Estonia. This, as per scientists, highlights the extensive trade networks that existed thousands of years ago. The amazing find was made by Geologist Beda Hofmann from the Natural History Museum of Bern and the University of Bern, who led a search for ancient artefacts made of meteoritic iron. Also read | Explained | Rare 'brain-eating amoeba' haunts US, kills Georgia resident Meteorites and prehistoric times Pure iron was a scarce resource in prehistoric times, so our ancestors used iron from meteorites that had fallen to Earth. For this, they used iron meteorites, which are more commonly found due to their ability to withstand atmospheric entry. These mainly consist of iron, with small amounts of nickel and other metals. As per the report, it is presumed that almost all Bronze Age iron tools and weapons are made of these meteorites. Europe and prehistoric iron artefacts Most meteoritic iron artefacts have been found in the Middle East, Egypt, and Asia. However, a few have been discovered across Europe. The settlement of Mörigen in Switzerland, who were thriving during the Bronze Age around 800 to 900 BCE, presented a promising location for such discoveries. It is close to the Twannberg field, known for meteoritic iron fragments from an ancient impact dating to before the last ice age. Also read | Scientists find some 'gigantic' viruses in soil samples Among objects previously excavated from Mörigen, Hofmann's team found a lone iron arrowhead. It had the characteristic iron and nickel composition of meteoritic iron, along with traces of smoking gun or radioactive aluminum-26, which forms only in space. However, the mix of metals in the arrowhead did not match those in the local meteoritic iron. This, as per Science Alert, indicated that it belonged to a specific class of iron meteorite called IAB meteorites. Why is this discovery important? Narrowing down the sources, the researchers believe the arrowhead best matches Kaalijarv, an IAB meteorite that fell around 1500 BCE and scattered fragments suitable for reshaping into arrowheads. What's surprising is Kaalijarv's location, which is approximately 994 miles or 1,600 kilometres away from Mörigen. This suggests it possibly travelled enormous distances through ancient trade routes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Switzerland: Bronze age arrowhead traced to 'object that fell from the sky'

Depending on whether you believe in the concept of heaven and hell, this news might interest you. In the United Kingdom, a rare seal that can offer you a fast track to heaven or lessen your time in purgatory is going up for sale.

The seal, as per a report in The Guardian, was used to authenticate "indulgences" or written pardons for a person's sinful behaviour.

<h2>Centuries old seal&nbsp;</h2>

As per the report, the seal which was found by a metal detectorist just two miles from Mottisfont, an Augustinian priory and site of pilgrimage near Romsey, Hampshire, dates back to the 15th-16th century.

Estimates suggest that it dates&nbsp;between 1470 and 1520. It reportedly spent some 500 years buried in the field before it was discovered.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sword-and-mirror-unite-ancient-grave-sheds-light-on-female-warriors-during-iron-age-in-britain-620027">Sword and mirror unite: Ancient grave sheds light on female warriors during Iron Age in Britain</a>

Religious institutions would grant these pardons in exchange for monetary donations. They were supposed to lessen — by one year and 40 days, an individual's time in purgatory after their death.

George Roberts, curator at the National Trust, said: "All this was done to help secure a place in heaven after their death. However, before they could reach heaven, they believed they would need to spend time in purgatory to be purified."

<h2>A pardon in exchange for money</h2>

Indulgences were written pardons that gained popularity in the medieval times.&nbsp;

The document certifying this purchase was certified with a stamp or impression that was created using the seat matrix pressed into hot coloured wax.

<img alt="Sale of indulgences" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="60148735-1fdb-4b9a-911b-7bd510c45f0e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20%2840%29.png" />

From left to right in the picture, the money collector, seal maker, and cardinal are depicted during the 1517 sale of indulgences.

Mottisfont, the priory near which this seal was found in 1201. The wealthy institution saw its income deplete as a result of the Black Death plague that swept through Europe in the 1340s.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/exquisitely-preserved-fossil-forest-from-late-miocene-epoch-found-in-japan-619245">Exquisitely preserved fossil forest from late Miocene epoch found in Japan</a>

Following this, the pope granted the institution permission to sell indulgences to raise funds.

"By being able to sell indulgences, Mottisfont priory could offer people a reduction in their time in purgatory—in effect, fast-tracking them to heaven. This of course came with a price, which was then used to support the priory’s finances," says Roberts.

However, as per the Guardian, the practice of selling these pardons became embroiled in accusations of corruptions that helped fuel the Protestant Reformation. With the dissolution of monasteries in 1536, Mottisfont too closed as a priory.

The rare seal matrix is made of cast copper-alloy. It has an inscription in Latin&nbsp;'sigillu[m] officii prioris p[ri]oretas sce trinitat[is] de Motesfont,' which means Seal of the Official of the Prior of the Priory of Mottisfont`&nbsp;and also features an inscription of the Trinity along with a figure of a praying cleric. It is now owned by the National Trust and will go on display at Mottisfont in&nbsp;Hampshire starting Sunday. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Depending on whether you believe in the concept of heaven and hell, this news might interest you. In the United Kingdom, a rare seal that can offer you a fast track to heaven or lessen your time in purgatory is going up for sale.

Depending on whether you believe in the concept of heaven and hell, this news might interest you. In the United Kingdom, a rare seal that can offer you a fast track to heaven or lessen your time in purgatory is going up for sale. The seal, as per a report in The Guardian, was used to authenticate "indulgences" or written pardons for a person's sinful behaviour. Centuries old seal As per the report, the seal which was found by a metal detectorist just two miles from Mottisfont, an Augustinian priory and site of pilgrimage near Romsey, Hampshire, dates back to the 15th-16th century. Estimates suggest that it dates between 1470 and 1520. It reportedly spent some 500 years buried in the field before it was discovered. Also read | Sword and mirror unite: Ancient grave sheds light on female warriors during Iron Age in Britain Religious institutions would grant these pardons in exchange for monetary donations. They were supposed to lessen — by one year and 40 days, an individual's time in purgatory after their death. George Roberts, curator at the National Trust, said: "All this was done to help secure a place in heaven after their death. However, before they could reach heaven, they believed they would need to spend time in purgatory to be purified." A pardon in exchange for money Indulgences were written pardons that gained popularity in the medieval times. The document certifying this purchase was certified with a stamp or impression that was created using the seat matrix pressed into hot coloured wax. From left to right in the picture, the money collector, seal maker, and cardinal are depicted during the 1517 sale of indulgences. Mottisfont, the priory near which this seal was found in 1201. The wealthy institution saw its income deplete as a result of the Black Death plague that swept through Europe in the 1340s. Also read | Exquisitely preserved fossil forest from late Miocene epoch found in Japan Following this, the pope granted the institution permission to sell indulgences to raise funds. "By being able to sell indulgences, Mottisfont priory could offer people a reduction in their time in purgatory—in effect, fast-tracking them to heaven. This of course came with a price, which was then used to support the priory’s finances," says Roberts. However, as per the Guardian, the practice of selling these pardons became embroiled in accusations of corruptions that helped fuel the Protestant Reformation. With the dissolution of monasteries in 1536, Mottisfont too closed as a priory. The rare seal matrix is made of cast copper-alloy. It has an inscription in Latin 'sigillu[m] officii prioris p[ri]oretas sce trinitat[is] de Motesfont,' which means Seal of the Official of the Prior of the Priory of Mottisfont` and also features an inscription of the Trinity along with a figure of a praying cleric. It is now owned by the National Trust and will go on display at Mottisfont in Hampshire starting Sunday. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Medieval seal that can help fast track a person's entry into heaven to put on display in UK

Archaeologists discover stunning, rare mummy portraits in Egypt's Philadelphia

Florida is notorious for strange happenings, from fearless residents battling gators to wacky plans of "shooting down" hurricanes, the internet is full of at times unbelievable stories from the US state. Now, a mysterious 80 feet object found at one of Florida's beaches is making news with people speculating whether it's a sunken ship or something sinister.

The large mysterious object has surfaced through the sands at Daytona Beach shores in Volusia County, and it is creating a buzz.

Watch |&nbsp;Charred Moai statues are a symbol of growing tensions

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/charred-moai-statues-are-a-symbol-of-growing-tensions-international-news-540749/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Officials and beachgoers recently discovered the unknown object which may have been uncovered thanks to the two hurricanes that ripped through Florida recently; Hurricane Ian in September and Hurricane Nicole in November. A steady barrage of high tides and rough surf also played a role in the object's discovery.

Reportedly Hurricane Nicole was one of the most powerful storms to strike the United States in the past decade.

The mysterious object seems to be made of wood and metal and is a &nbsp;whopping 80 feet long, said officials as per the New York Times. Typically interesting finds like these are roped off to protect them, however in this case, as high tides continue to submerge the object, roping it off is not an option.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wreckage-of-the-sister-ship-of-17th-century-vesa-warship-discovered-in-sweden-528182">Wreckage of the sister ship of 17th-century Vesa warship discovered in Sweden</a>

Kevin Captain, a spokesperson for the Volusia County government said that the state's underwater archaeological team has been notified to investigate the object further.

"It is a mystery," said Tamra Malphurs, a spokesperson for Volusia County Beach Safety.&nbsp;

"Many people think it is an old ship of some sort," she added.

Talking to WKMG-TV she remarked "We haven't seen this kind of erosion in a very long time", adding that she's been a regular at the beach for about 25 years but that this is her first time seeing the object.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/louisiana-man-discovers-a-19th-century-boat-as-mississippi-river-runs-dry-526130" target="_blank">Louisiana man discovers a 19th-century boat as Mississippi river runs dry</a>

Theories circulating on social media and local news channels have some suggestions about what it could be; a shipwreck, a portion of an old pier, a boardwalk, a barrier or maybe even audience seating from back when NASCAR had races on the beaches.

In the past, too all sorts of mysterious objects have emerged from the sands of Florida beaches.

Just last year, in August 2021 a high school student found a 1715 Fleet gold coin near Turtle trail beach.&nbsp;In November 2020, a shipwreck dating back 200-plus years was also discovered after Tropical Storm Sta eroded the sand dunes in St Augustine.

"Every now and then, something pops up, and usually, you can tell what it is," said Malphurs adding "This one, you just can’t confirm."

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Florida is notorious for strange happenings, from fearless residents battling gators to wacky plans of "shooting down" hurricanes, the internet is full of at times unbelievable stories from the US state.

Florida is notorious for strange happenings, from fearless residents battling gators to wacky plans of "shooting down" hurricanes, the internet is full of at times unbelievable stories from the US state. Now, a mysterious 80 feet object found at one of Florida's beaches is making news with people speculating whether it's a sunken ship or something sinister. The large mysterious object has surfaced through the sands at Daytona Beach shores in Volusia County, and it is creating a buzz. Watch | Charred Moai statues are a symbol of growing tensions Officials and beachgoers recently discovered the unknown object which may have been uncovered thanks to the two hurricanes that ripped through Florida recently; Hurricane Ian in September and Hurricane Nicole in November. A steady barrage of high tides and rough surf also played a role in the object's discovery. Reportedly Hurricane Nicole was one of the most powerful storms to strike the United States in the past decade. The mysterious object seems to be made of wood and metal and is a whopping 80 feet long, said officials as per the New York Times. Typically interesting finds like these are roped off to protect them, however in this case, as high tides continue to submerge the object, roping it off is not an option. Also read | Wreckage of the sister ship of 17th-century Vesa warship discovered in Sweden Kevin Captain, a spokesperson for the Volusia County government said that the state's underwater archaeological team has been notified to investigate the object further. "It is a mystery," said Tamra Malphurs, a spokesperson for Volusia County Beach Safety. "Many people think it is an old ship of some sort," she added. Talking to WKMG-TV she remarked "We haven't seen this kind of erosion in a very long time", adding that she's been a regular at the beach for about 25 years but that this is her first time seeing the object. Also read | Louisiana man discovers a 19th-century boat as Mississippi river runs dry Theories circulating on social media and local news channels have some suggestions about what it could be; a shipwreck, a portion of an old pier, a boardwalk, a barrier or maybe even audience seating from back when NASCAR had races on the beaches. In the past, too all sorts of mysterious objects have emerged from the sands of Florida beaches. Just last year, in August 2021 a high school student found a 1715 Fleet gold coin near Turtle trail beach. In November 2020, a shipwreck dating back 200-plus years was also discovered after Tropical Storm Sta eroded the sand dunes in St Augustine. "Every now and then, something pops up, and usually, you can tell what it is," said Malphurs adding "This one, you just can’t confirm." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Florida beach chucks up a weird 80 feet object, what it is remains 'a mystery'

A team of Canadian researchers claim to have discovered two new minerals from their analysis of the world's ninth-largest meteorite discovered in Somalia.

They indicate that a potential third new mineral might also be present in the 15-tonne meteorite that landed in east Africa, near the town of El Ali, in the Hiiraan region.

As per The Guardian, the meteorite dubbed "nightfall" by locals, and El Ali by western scientists was unearthed in 2020.&nbsp;

However, locals claim that the extraterrestrial rock has been known to them for ages.

Watch |&nbsp;All the times humanity tried to communicate with aliens

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/all-the-times-humanity-tried-to-communicate-with-aliens-475869/embed" width="560"></iframe>

For classification purposes, a 70-gram slice of the iron-based meteorite was sent to the University of Alberta's meteorite collection. There Dr Chris Herd, the curator of the collection noticed "unusual" minerals in the rock.

The newly discovered minerals have been named elaliite, and elkinstantonite. The name 'elaliite' comes from the rock's location of El Ali town, while 'elkinstantonite', pays tribute to Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the principal investigator of Nasa’s upcoming Psyche mission that aims to send a spacecraft to a metal-rich asteroid.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-shares-picture-of-pluto-the-dwarf-planet-showing-its-real-colours-take-a-look-537859">NASA shares picture of Pluto, the 'dwarf planet' showing its 'real colours'. Take a look!</a>

“Lindy has done a lot of work on how the cores of planets form, how these iron-nickel cores form, and the closest analogue we have are iron meteorites. So it made sense to name a mineral after her and recognise her contributions to science,” Herd was quoted as saying by Guardian.

Herd who is a professor in the department of Earth and atmospheric sciences then asked a colleague Andrew Locock, the head of the university’s electron microprobe laboratory, to examine the sample.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-finds-super-earth-world-with-lava-hellscape-on-surface-537500">NASA finds 'super earth' exoplanet with lava hellscape surface just 200 light years away</a>

It was Locock who determined that the meteorite contains two new minerals. The third potential mineral's confirmation is pending analysis.

"That was phenomenal," says Herd, adding that while in the 1980s similar minerals were created in the laboratory, this is the first time they've been recorded as appearing in nature.

He remarked that this could help ascertain how "nature's laboratory" works and that the minerals could have real-world uses. &nbsp;

The University of Alberta wanted to further examine the extraterrestrial rock, however, as per Herd, there are reports that it has been removed to China, where it may be put on the market. Meteorites have a niche in international markets where they are often brought and sold for very lucrative amounts.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A team of Canadian researchers claim to have discovered two new minerals from their analysis of the world's ninth-largest meteorite discovered in Somalia. They indicate that a potential third new mineral might also be present in the 15-tonne meteorite that landed in east Africa, near the town of El Ali, in the Hiiraan region.

A team of Canadian researchers claim to have discovered two new minerals from their analysis of the world's ninth-largest meteorite discovered in Somalia. They indicate that a potential third new mineral might also be present in the 15-tonne meteorite that landed in east Africa, near the town of El Ali, in the Hiiraan region. As per The Guardian, the meteorite dubbed "nightfall" by locals, and El Ali by western scientists was unearthed in 2020. However, locals claim that the extraterrestrial rock has been known to them for ages. Watch | All the times humanity tried to communicate with aliens For classification purposes, a 70-gram slice of the iron-based meteorite was sent to the University of Alberta's meteorite collection. There Dr Chris Herd, the curator of the collection noticed "unusual" minerals in the rock. The newly discovered minerals have been named elaliite, and elkinstantonite. The name 'elaliite' comes from the rock's location of El Ali town, while 'elkinstantonite', pays tribute to Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the principal investigator of Nasa’s upcoming Psyche mission that aims to send a spacecraft to a metal-rich asteroid. Also read | NASA shares picture of Pluto, the 'dwarf planet' showing its 'real colours'. Take a look! “Lindy has done a lot of work on how the cores of planets form, how these iron-nickel cores form, and the closest analogue we have are iron meteorites. So it made sense to name a mineral after her and recognise her contributions to science,” Herd was quoted as saying by Guardian. Herd who is a professor in the department of Earth and atmospheric sciences then asked a colleague Andrew Locock, the head of the university’s electron microprobe laboratory, to examine the sample. Also read | NASA finds 'super earth' exoplanet with lava hellscape surface just 200 light years away It was Locock who determined that the meteorite contains two new minerals. The third potential mineral's confirmation is pending analysis. "That was phenomenal," says Herd, adding that while in the 1980s similar minerals were created in the laboratory, this is the first time they've been recorded as appearing in nature. He remarked that this could help ascertain how "nature's laboratory" works and that the minerals could have real-world uses. The University of Alberta wanted to further examine the extraterrestrial rock, however, as per Herd, there are reports that it has been removed to China, where it may be put on the market. Meteorites have a niche in international markets where they are often brought and sold for very lucrative amounts. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Analysis of meteorite reveals two alien 'never before seen on Earth' minerals

Iraq unveils archaeological park with 'monumental' ancient carvings

Archeologists have found a gold funeral mask that is believed to be approximately 3,000 years old. It was discovered in a tomb in the ancient noble city of Zhengzhou in central China.

Given that modern treasures are typically made of bronze and jade, the piece is thought to be the oldest gold object ever discovered in central China.&nbsp;Unlike gold masks unearthed at ancient Shu civilization sites in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, the mask from China's Central Plains culture is large enough to cover a person's complete face.

Watch |&nbsp;Archaeologists unearth pre-human tooth dating back 1.8 million years

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/archaeologists-unearth-pre-human-tooth-dating-back-18-million-years-515795/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Speaking to China News Service, Huang Fucheng, a researcher at the Zhengzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology disclosed that the gold mask is large enough to cover an adult's entire face at 7.2 inches (18.3 cm) long and 5.7 inches (14.5 cm) wide and weighs 1.4-ounce (40 grams).

The gold mask was discovered among the ruins of a Shang dynasty (1600 BC–1046 BC) tomb in Shangcheng county, Henan province.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/palestinian-farmer-unearths-a-byzantine-era-mosaic-in-gaza-517207">Palestinian farmer unearths a Byzantine-era mosaic in Gaza while planting olive tree</a>

Talking to Henan Broadcasting System Gu Wanfa, director of the Zhengzhou Municipal Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology said that the gold mask was probably meant to keep the deceased's spirit whole and may have represented that they possessed an "imperishable gold body" reported SCMP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-rare-frozen-in-time-ramses-ii-era-burial-cave-found-in-israel-517768">A rare ‘frozen in time’ Ramses II-era burial cave found in Israel</a>

“There has been a saying about bubaijinshen, or an imperishable gold body, since ancient times in China. [The gold mask] proves that the concept had existed since the Shang dynasty,” he said.

According to Chen Lüsheng, deputy director of the National Museum of China in Beijing, the recently discovered Zhengzhou tomb is a major discovery for research into the Shang Dynasty's burial customs and may potentially offer fresh insight into the beginnings of Chinese civilization.

Archeologists have found a gold funeral mask that is believed to be approximately 3,000 years old. It was discovered in a tomb in the ancient noble city of Zhengzhou in central China.

Archeologists have found a gold funeral mask that is believed to be approximately 3,000 years old. It was discovered in a tomb in the ancient noble city of Zhengzhou in central China. Given that modern treasures are typically made of bronze and jade, the piece is thought to be the oldest gold object ever discovered in central China. Unlike gold masks unearthed at ancient Shu civilization sites in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, the mask from China's Central Plains culture is large enough to cover a person's complete face. Watch | Archaeologists unearth pre-human tooth dating back 1.8 million years Speaking to China News Service, Huang Fucheng, a researcher at the Zhengzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology disclosed that the gold mask is large enough to cover an adult's entire face at 7.2 inches (18.3 cm) long and 5.7 inches (14.5 cm) wide and weighs 1.4-ounce (40 grams). The gold mask was discovered among the ruins of a Shang dynasty (1600 BC–1046 BC) tomb in Shangcheng county, Henan province. Also read | Palestinian farmer unearths a Byzantine-era mosaic in Gaza while planting olive tree Talking to Henan Broadcasting System Gu Wanfa, director of the Zhengzhou Municipal Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology said that the gold mask was probably meant to keep the deceased's spirit whole and may have represented that they possessed an "imperishable gold body" reported SCMP. Also read | A rare ‘frozen in time’ Ramses II-era burial cave found in Israel “There has been a saying about bubaijinshen, or an imperishable gold body, since ancient times in China. [The gold mask] proves that the concept had existed since the Shang dynasty,” he said. According to Chen Lüsheng, deputy director of the National Museum of China in Beijing, the recently discovered Zhengzhou tomb is a major discovery for research into the Shang Dynasty's burial customs and may potentially offer fresh insight into the beginnings of Chinese civilization.

Archaeologists unearth China's 'oldest gold object', a funeral mask

A near 1,900-year-old skeleton was found at the site of future housing development in Cambridgeshire. Initially, it did not seem noteworthy. However, when the remains were sent to a lab in Bedford, a grisly discovery was made, a nail through the heel bone. As far as experts are concerned, this is one of the best pieces of physical evidence of crucifixion in ancient Rome.

The man, believed to be in his mid-thirties at the time of his death, was buried with his arms crossed in a grave with a wooden structure, possibly a bier, in one of five ancient cemeteries around the newly discovered Roman settlement at Fenstanton, near Cambridge.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tonight-tomorrowresplendent-geminid-meteor-shower-to-light-up-the-skies-436586" hreflang="en">Tonight, tomorrow...Resplendent Geminid meteor shower to light up the skies</a>

Radiocarbon dating reveals that the Fenstanton man lived between AD130 and AD360, making his bones between 1,661 and 1,891 years old.&nbsp;

Nails used for crucifixion – the method of capital punishment by which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang until death – are a rare find, most likely because the victims would not often have received proper burial and, contrary to popular views, it was commonly carried out using a rope.

It is rare to find nails used in the crucifixion, a form of capital punishment in which victims are nailed or tied to a wooden beam and hung from it until they die. Most likely, this is because the victims rarely received proper burials and, contrary to popular belief, they were usually hung by a rope.

After a prolonged analysis, crucifixion emerged as the most likely explanation. On Wednesday, British Archaeology magazine published the first details of this extraordinary find.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/wait-what-scientists-say-water-in-our-oceans-has-alien-origins-436557" hreflang="en">Wait, what!? Scientists say water in our oceans has alien origins</a>

The skeleton was found in November 2017 without the nail being noticed due to its small size and the caked-on mud where it protruded. Actually, the nail was not revealed until the bones were bagged and transported to the lab for cleaning.

According to Albion Archaeology director David Ingham, this was the first time a nail had been found in an archaeologically exhumed skeleton. It's not the sort of thing you're looking for, he said.

He explained that because of historical records, archaeologists know a fair amount about crucifixion, including how, when, and where it was performed. However, this is the first tangible evidence to demonstrate how it worked.

It is also a significant discovery since it is very rare for a crucifixion victim's body to be reclaimed, brought back to a settlement, and buried with others.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-egypt-archaeologists-uncover-two-2500-year-old-tombs-golden-tongues-from-the-saite-dynasty-434483">In Egypt, archaeologists uncover two 2,500-year-old tombs, golden tongues from the Saite Dynasty</a>

The cause, the identity of the man, and the reasons for the crucifixion will never be known, but it is believed that Romans reserved the crucifixion for slaves, rebels, and members of the lower classes.

A nail was found in the right heel bone of the Fenstanton man, the calcaneum, which was probably inserted into the side of an upright timber. It is likely that the crucifixion took place somewhere else, possibly by a roadside.

This is the first crucifixion-related find that has been reported in northern Europe, and it was the fourth reported worldwide; two of the finds did not have nails.

A near 1,900-year-old skeleton was found at the site of future housing development in Cambridgeshire. Initially, it did not seem noteworthy. However, when the remains were sent to a lab in Bedford, a grisly discovery was made, a nail through the heel bone.

A near 1,900-year-old skeleton was found at the site of future housing development in Cambridgeshire. Initially, it did not seem noteworthy. However, when the remains were sent to a lab in Bedford, a grisly discovery was made, a nail through the heel bone. As far as experts are concerned, this is one of the best pieces of physical evidence of crucifixion in ancient Rome. The man, believed to be in his mid-thirties at the time of his death, was buried with his arms crossed in a grave with a wooden structure, possibly a bier, in one of five ancient cemeteries around the newly discovered Roman settlement at Fenstanton, near Cambridge. Also read | Tonight, tomorrow...Resplendent Geminid meteor shower to light up the skies Radiocarbon dating reveals that the Fenstanton man lived between AD130 and AD360, making his bones between 1,661 and 1,891 years old. Nails used for crucifixion – the method of capital punishment by which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang until death – are a rare find, most likely because the victims would not often have received proper burial and, contrary to popular views, it was commonly carried out using a rope. It is rare to find nails used in the crucifixion, a form of capital punishment in which victims are nailed or tied to a wooden beam and hung from it until they die. Most likely, this is because the victims rarely received proper burials and, contrary to popular belief, they were usually hung by a rope. After a prolonged analysis, crucifixion emerged as the most likely explanation. On Wednesday, British Archaeology magazine published the first details of this extraordinary find. Also read | Wait, what!? Scientists say water in our oceans has alien origins The skeleton was found in November 2017 without the nail being noticed due to its small size and the caked-on mud where it protruded. Actually, the nail was not revealed until the bones were bagged and transported to the lab for cleaning. According to Albion Archaeology director David Ingham, this was the first time a nail had been found in an archaeologically exhumed skeleton. It's not the sort of thing you're looking for, he said. He explained that because of historical records, archaeologists know a fair amount about crucifixion, including how, when, and where it was performed. However, this is the first tangible evidence to demonstrate how it worked. It is also a significant discovery since it is very rare for a crucifixion victim's body to be reclaimed, brought back to a settlement, and buried with others. Also read | In Egypt, archaeologists uncover two 2,500-year-old tombs, golden tongues from the Saite Dynasty The cause, the identity of the man, and the reasons for the crucifixion will never be known, but it is believed that Romans reserved the crucifixion for slaves, rebels, and members of the lower classes. A nail was found in the right heel bone of the Fenstanton man, the calcaneum, which was probably inserted into the side of an upright timber. It is likely that the crucifixion took place somewhere else, possibly by a roadside. This is the first crucifixion-related find that has been reported in northern Europe, and it was the fourth reported worldwide; two of the finds did not have nails.

Amazing discovery: 1900 year old body of a crucifixion victim, discovered in England

Researchers examining an ancient Egyptian mummy discovered that it was that of a woman who had been seven months pregnant. It was a discovery that shocked Wojciech Ejsmond, the lead author of the study.

“I was speechless because we didn’t expect such a discovery,” he said. “The pregnancy was a complete surprise.”

This is the world's first known case of such a well-preserved ancient mummy of a pregnant woman said researchers on Thursday. The scans reveal the woman was 28 weeks into her pregnancy — about seven months — when she died.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="‘That’s a lot of teeth’: Researchers discover 2.5 billion Tyrannosaurus rex">‘That’s a lot of teeth’: Researchers discover 2.5 billion Tyrannosaurus rex</a>

The mummy was donated to Warsaw in 1826 and the inscription on the coffin named a male priest. No previous examination had disproved the belief that it was a male.

Marzena Ozarek-Szilke, an anthropologist and archeologist while examining said, "When we saw the little foot and then the little hand (of the fetus), we were shocked."

When anthropologist Marzena Ozarek-Szilke was observing CT scans and X-rays of the pelvis area, she saw some anomalies and some "weird-looking objects inside." Ozarek-Szilke told the Associated Press, "Our first surprise was that it has no penis, but instead it has breasts and long hair, and then we found out it was a pregnant woman."

Researchers while observing the size of the baby’s skull suggested she was 26 to 28 weeks pregnant. On further investigation, Ozarek found the remains of a fetus that had been left intact in the uterus and mummified together with its mother, who is thought to be in her 20s.

Their findings from the Warsaw Mummy Project of years of tests on this were published this week in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

"We do not know why the foetus was not taken out of the belly of the deceased during mummification," Ejsmond said.

Researchers thought the mummified individual was a man because it was found in a male coffin. That is why scientists believe "mummy is truly unique."

The excellent amount of emballing suggests that the woman was buried with a large amount of jewelry and she belonged to a wealthy family. Her identity is not known as the mummy has not been opened.

However, based on scans scientists rule out the woman had curly hair down to her shoulders.

(With inputs from agencies)

Researchers examining an ancient Egyptian mummy discovered that it was that of a woman who had been seven months pregnant. It was a discovery that shocked Wojciech Ejsmond, the lead author of the study.

Researchers examining an ancient Egyptian mummy discovered that it was that of a woman who had been seven months pregnant. It was a discovery that shocked Wojciech Ejsmond, the lead author of the study. “I was speechless because we didn’t expect such a discovery,” he said. “The pregnancy was a complete surprise.” This is the world's first known case of such a well-preserved ancient mummy of a pregnant woman said researchers on Thursday. The scans reveal the woman was 28 weeks into her pregnancy — about seven months — when she died. Also read: ‘That’s a lot of teeth’: Researchers discover 2.5 billion Tyrannosaurus rex The mummy was donated to Warsaw in 1826 and the inscription on the coffin named a male priest. No previous examination had disproved the belief that it was a male. Marzena Ozarek-Szilke, an anthropologist and archeologist while examining said, "When we saw the little foot and then the little hand (of the fetus), we were shocked." When anthropologist Marzena Ozarek-Szilke was observing CT scans and X-rays of the pelvis area, she saw some anomalies and some "weird-looking objects inside." Ozarek-Szilke told the Associated Press, "Our first surprise was that it has no penis, but instead it has breasts and long hair, and then we found out it was a pregnant woman." Researchers while observing the size of the baby’s skull suggested she was 26 to 28 weeks pregnant. On further investigation, Ozarek found the remains of a fetus that had been left intact in the uterus and mummified together with its mother, who is thought to be in her 20s. Their findings from the Warsaw Mummy Project of years of tests on this were published this week in the Journal of Archaeological Science. "We do not know why the foetus was not taken out of the belly of the deceased during mummification," Ejsmond said. Researchers thought the mummified individual was a man because it was found in a male coffin. That is why scientists believe "mummy is truly unique." The excellent amount of emballing suggests that the woman was buried with a large amount of jewelry and she belonged to a wealthy family. Her identity is not known as the mummy has not been opened. However, based on scans scientists rule out the woman had curly hair down to her shoulders. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists discover Egyptian mummy of a 28-weeks pregnant woman

Egypt has unveiled a significant new archaeological discovery at the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, including 54 wooden coffins, many of which can be traced back 3000 years to the New Kingdom period.

Egypt unveils 3000-year old coffins in latest archaeological discovery

Archaeological discovery in Egypt 'rewrites history' as we know it!

Egypt on Thursday (January 30) unveiled a new archaeological discovery in the southern governorate of Minya, including 16 communal tombs belonging to the high priests of god Djehuty and senior officials of the late period.

Egypt unveils 2,500-year-tombs of high priests in southern city

archaeological-discovery

Archaeological Discovery, News on Archaeological Discovery, stories on Archaeological Discovery, articles on Archaeological Discovery, Archaeological Discovery stories at Wion, Archaeological Discovery news, Archaeological Discovery latest news