After more than 17,000 years of silence and decades forgotten in a French museum, a shell fashioned into a horn by our prehistoric ancestors has been played again as a result of new research published on Wednesday. &nbsp;

Scientists believe the ancient conch, from a species of large sea snail still present in the Atlantic and North Sea, is the oldest wind instrument of its type yet found. &nbsp;

The shell was unearthed in 1931 at an archaeological dig in the Pyrenees near the mouth of the Marsoulas Cave, whose walls are painted with the artwork of Magdalenian people living there at the end of the last ice age. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Scientists initially thought it bore no trace of human modification, assuming it was a type of ceremonial drinking cup. &nbsp;

It was taken to the Museum of Natural History in Toulouse and forgotten. &nbsp; &nbsp;

But a new examination using modern technology found not only that it had been altered, but that it could still hold a note.&nbsp;

Or three, as it turned out. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Played by a musician, it had tones close to C, C sharp and D. And it boomed at a resounding 100 decibels a metre from the conch. &nbsp; &nbsp;

"This sound is a link, a direct link with Magdalenian people," said Carole Fritz, lead author of the study and a senior scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research. &nbsp;&nbsp;

She said it was "very important because you have the sea in the cave", adding the shell was from the Atlantic, some 200 kilometres from the cave. &nbsp;

Instruments older than the conch have been found -- flutes whittled from the bones of large birds like swans and eagles -- but the researchers said this was the oldest shell horn, symbolising the importance of the ocean to Magdalenian people. &nbsp;

The study, published in Science Advances, said radio-carbon dating of items at the cave suggest it was occupied around 18,000 years ago.&nbsp;

After more than 17,000 years of silence and decades forgotten in a French museum, a shell fashioned into a horn by our prehistoric ancestors has been played again as a result of new research published on Wednesday.

After more than 17,000 years of silence and decades forgotten in a French museum, a shell fashioned into a horn by our prehistoric ancestors has been played again as a result of new research published on Wednesday. Scientists believe the ancient conch, from a species of large sea snail still present in the Atlantic and North Sea, is the oldest wind instrument of its type yet found. The shell was unearthed in 1931 at an archaeological dig in the Pyrenees near the mouth of the Marsoulas Cave, whose walls are painted with the artwork of Magdalenian people living there at the end of the last ice age. Scientists initially thought it bore no trace of human modification, assuming it was a type of ceremonial drinking cup. It was taken to the Museum of Natural History in Toulouse and forgotten. But a new examination using modern technology found not only that it had been altered, but that it could still hold a note. Or three, as it turned out. Played by a musician, it had tones close to C, C sharp and D. And it boomed at a resounding 100 decibels a metre from the conch. "This sound is a link, a direct link with Magdalenian people," said Carole Fritz, lead author of the study and a senior scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research. She said it was "very important because you have the sea in the cave", adding the shell was from the Atlantic, some 200 kilometres from the cave. Instruments older than the conch have been found -- flutes whittled from the bones of large birds like swans and eagles -- but the researchers said this was the oldest shell horn, symbolising the importance of the ocean to Magdalenian people. The study, published in Science Advances, said radio-carbon dating of items at the cave suggest it was occupied around 18,000 years ago.

Oldest shell horn played for first time after 17,000 years

In another significant discovery, a funerary temple that dates back 4,200 years has been found along with 54 coffins in Egypt.&nbsp;

Archaeologist Zahi Hawass, who heads the excavation mission, said that the temple of Queen Neit was discovered near the pyramid of her husband King Teti, who was from Egypt's 6th dynasty which dates back 4,200 years at the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, reports news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities on Sunday said that the archaeologists have found the temple and Teti's wife's burial pyramids with Queen Neit's name inscribed in a wall.&nbsp;

In Pics | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/archaeological-discovery-in-egypt-rewrites-history-as-we-know-it-357359#what-is-saqqara-357350">Archaeological discovery in Egypt 'rewrites history' as we know it!</a>

"I'd never heard of this queen before. Therefore, we add an important piece to Egyptian history about this queen," Hawass told CBS News.

The archaeologists have also found 52 burial shafts that comprise over 50 wooden coffins, or sarcophagi, that were about 3,000 years old.&nbsp;

For the unversed, Saqqara is a UNESCO world heritage site and is home to the Step Pyramid.&nbsp;

The coffins are carved in human form and pained in bright colours and many of these remain intact.&nbsp;

The antiquities ministry said that this is the first time that such old sarcophagi have been found.&nbsp;

Egypt is keen to display these newly discovered artefacts as they attempt to revive the tourism industry that was hit by the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

Since September, at least 160 human coffins buried below the sand, in shafts up to 40 feet deep have been discovered, a report by Business Insider claimed.&nbsp;

With the latest findings, the total is now at least 210 coffins or more.&nbsp;

"All these discoveries will rewrite the history of Saqqara and the New Kingdom," said Hawass. 
&nbsp;

In another significant discovery, a funerary temple that dates back 4,200 years has been found along with 54 coffins in Egypt. Archaeologist Zahi Hawass, who heads the excavation mission, said that the temple of Queen Neit was discovered near the pyramid of her husband King Teti, who was from Egypt's 6th dynasty which dates back 4,200 years at the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, reports news agency Reuters.

In another significant discovery, a funerary temple that dates back 4,200 years has been found along with 54 coffins in Egypt. Archaeologist Zahi Hawass, who heads the excavation mission, said that the temple of Queen Neit was discovered near the pyramid of her husband King Teti, who was from Egypt's 6th dynasty which dates back 4,200 years at the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, reports news agency Reuters. Watch | Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities on Sunday said that the archaeologists have found the temple and Teti's wife's burial pyramids with Queen Neit's name inscribed in a wall. In Pics | Archaeological discovery in Egypt 'rewrites history' as we know it! "I'd never heard of this queen before. Therefore, we add an important piece to Egyptian history about this queen," Hawass told CBS News. The archaeologists have also found 52 burial shafts that comprise over 50 wooden coffins, or sarcophagi, that were about 3,000 years old. For the unversed, Saqqara is a UNESCO world heritage site and is home to the Step Pyramid. The coffins are carved in human form and pained in bright colours and many of these remain intact. The antiquities ministry said that this is the first time that such old sarcophagi have been found. Egypt is keen to display these newly discovered artefacts as they attempt to revive the tourism industry that was hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Since September, at least 160 human coffins buried below the sand, in shafts up to 40 feet deep have been discovered, a report by Business Insider claimed. With the latest findings, the total is now at least 210 coffins or more. "All these discoveries will rewrite the history of Saqqara and the New Kingdom," said Hawass.

Egypt: 4,200-year-old funerary temple for a queen discovered

Egypt on Saturday (November 14) showcased more than 100 coffins dating back 2,500 years, the latest and largest find this year in the vast burial ground of the Saqqara Necropolis.

Egypt showcases scores of 2,500-year-old coffins

A two million-year-old skull from a large-toothed distant human cousin has been unearthed at an Australian-led archaeological dig deep in a South African cave system.

The almost complete male skull is the earliest known and best-preserved example of the small-brained hominin called Paranthropus robustus. The researchers, from Melbourne's La Trobe University, found the skull's fragments in 2018 at the Drimolen archaeological site north of Johannesburg. It was uncovered just metres away from a spot where a similarly aged Homo erectus skull of a child was discovered in 2015.

Researchers say the discovery may also lead to a new understanding of human microevolution.

Paranthropus robustus walked the earth at roughly the same time as our direct ancestor Homo erectus, but died out earlier.

Researchers have hence referred to hominins as a small-brained member of the human family tree. But are "two vastly different species".

Also, this rare male fossil is closer in size to female specimens previously found at the site, providing the first high-resolution evidence for microevolution within early hominin species.

The scientists said it was possible that a wetter environment caused by climate change may have reduced the food available to them. Hence, they died. Homo erectus, with their smaller teeth, was more likely to have eaten both plants and meat.

A two million-year-old skull from a large-toothed distant human cousin has been unearthed at an Australian-led archaeological dig deep in a South African cave system.

A two million-year-old skull from a large-toothed distant human cousin has been unearthed at an Australian-led archaeological dig deep in a South African cave system. The almost complete male skull is the earliest known and best-preserved example of the small-brained hominin called Paranthropus robustus. The researchers, from Melbourne's La Trobe University, found the skull's fragments in 2018 at the Drimolen archaeological site north of Johannesburg. It was uncovered just metres away from a spot where a similarly aged Homo erectus skull of a child was discovered in 2015. Researchers say the discovery may also lead to a new understanding of human microevolution. Paranthropus robustus walked the earth at roughly the same time as our direct ancestor Homo erectus, but died out earlier. Researchers have hence referred to hominins as a small-brained member of the human family tree. But are "two vastly different species". Also, this rare male fossil is closer in size to female specimens previously found at the site, providing the first high-resolution evidence for microevolution within early hominin species. The scientists said it was possible that a wetter environment caused by climate change may have reduced the food available to them. Hence, they died. Homo erectus, with their smaller teeth, was more likely to have eaten both plants and meat.

Two million-year-old skull of human cousin unearthed

Egyptian archaeologists discovered more than 80 coffins on Monday (October 19) in the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, a burial ground that is also home to one of the world's oldest pyramids.

Over 80 coffins discovered in ancient Egyptian necropolis

The massive temples and pyramids of Teotihuacan, one of Mexico's top tourist destinations, reopened to visitors on Thursday (September 10), more than five months after closing in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Teotihuacan pyramids, top Mexican tourist draw, reopen to public

With the help of a core sample that had been kept in the United States, scientists have solved an enduring mystery about Stonehenge, determining the place of origin of many of the megaliths that make up the famed monument in Wiltshire, England.

Scientists solve mystery of the origin of Stonehenge's megaliths

Researchers in Australia have discovered the country's first underwater archaeological sites off its west coast dating to more than 7,000 years ago. They say the sites will help with the understanding of the cultural and technology development of its first peoples.

Archaeologists discovered hundreds of stone tools made by aboriginal people when the seabed was dry, at two ancient sites now submerged in the Dampier Archipelago.

While the region is well known for its rich ancient history and its rock-art carvings, the two sites are the first confirmed underwater locations holding evidence of human civilisation on Australia’s continental shelf.

Divers from Flinders University plunge into the water on the Pilbara Coast to retrieve the aboriginal objects from what was once dry land, at a depth of between 2.4 metres and 11 metres (8-36 feet).

They have found cutting and grinding tools and hammer stones that date back thousands of years.

Data from the find is being analysed for precise dating, however radiocarbon dating and analysis of sea-level changes show the site is at least 7,000 years old. 
&nbsp;

Researchers in Australia have discovered the country's first underwater archaeological sites off its west coast dating to more than 7,000 years ago. They say the sites will help with the understanding of the cultural and technology development of its first peoples.

Researchers in Australia have discovered the country's first underwater archaeological sites off its west coast dating to more than 7,000 years ago. They say the sites will help with the understanding of the cultural and technology development of its first peoples. Archaeologists discovered hundreds of stone tools made by aboriginal people when the seabed was dry, at two ancient sites now submerged in the Dampier Archipelago. While the region is well known for its rich ancient history and its rock-art carvings, the two sites are the first confirmed underwater locations holding evidence of human civilisation on Australia’s continental shelf. Divers from Flinders University plunge into the water on the Pilbara Coast to retrieve the aboriginal objects from what was once dry land, at a depth of between 2.4 metres and 11 metres (8-36 feet). They have found cutting and grinding tools and hammer stones that date back thousands of years. Data from the find is being analysed for precise dating, however radiocarbon dating and analysis of sea-level changes show the site is at least 7,000 years old.

Australian researchers discover ancient underwater archaeological sites

Mexican archaeologists have found the remains of a 200-year-old shipwreck off the country's sparkling Caribbean coast, according to Mexico's National Institute Of Anthropology And History (INAH).

Archaeologists discover 200-year-old shipwreck in Mexico's Caribbean

On Wednesday a team of Peruvian archaeologists conducted a dig at the site of what constitutes the largest number of remains of sacrificed children ever discovered in the Americas.

Child sacrifice site excavated in Peru

Although the machinery at the former Frigorifico Anglo site, a Uruguayan historic heritage monument, have not functioned for decades and are full of rust, visitors can still engage in "industrial archaeology" at the old cold-storage plant and discover how "the great kitchen of the world" worked.

Quirky Uruguayan museum showcases the history of industrial food producti

Once a well-heeled retreat during the Roman Republic and the Middle Ages, the city of Tusculum, now reduced to an archaeological site near the gates of Rome, was forgotten for centuries.

Roman city of Tusculum rediscovers its splendors after centuries of obscurity

In pics: Egypt unearths tomb of ancient high priest

More than 2,500 years ago, an Athenian nobleman named Cylon,&nbsp;the first recorded Olympic champion,&nbsp;tried to take over the city of Athens and install himself as its sole ruler.

According to Thucydides and Herodotus, Athenian and Greek historians who wrote about the coup, Cylon enticed an army of followers to enter the city and lay siege to the Acropolis. They were defeated, but Cylon managed to escape.

Now archaeologists in Athens believe they may have found some of the remains of Cylon&#39;s army in a mass grave in Phaleron, four miles (6 kilometres) south of downtown Athens.

The discovery of the 80 skeletons of men is &quot;unequalled&quot; in Greece, said site project director Stella Chrysoulaki.

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More than 2,500 years ago, an Athenian nobleman named Cyclon tried to take over Athens and become sole ruler. Now archaeologists believe they may have found some of the remains of his army in a mass grave in Phaleron 6, kms south of downtown Athens. (AFP)
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The men, young and well-fed, were found lying in the unmarked grave in three rows, some on their backs while others were tossed facedown on their stomachs. All of the men had their hands in iron chains and at least 52 of them had their hands tied above their heads.

&nbsp;

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A photo taken on July 7, 2017 shows a human skeleton with the hands tied in the back stored in a lab at the American School of Archaeology in Athens. (AFP)
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They died from blows to the head, victims of a &quot;political execution&quot; that dates back to between 675 and 650 BC according to pieces of pottery found in the grave, Chrysoulaki said.

At the time, Athens was just being formed and the city was transitioning towards a democracy, Eleanna Prevedorou, a bioarchaeological researcher on the project, said. And it was happening &quot;against a backdrop of political turmoil, tensions between tyrants, aristocrats and the working class,&quot; she added.

&nbsp;

&#39;Crime Scene Investigation&#39;&nbsp;

Bioarchaeological scientists use forensic research, such as DNA profiling, to investigate and ultimately uncover how humans lived and died by examining skeletons.

&quot;We are going to use, roughly speaking, the methods made famous by television series on forensics crime science,&quot; joked Panagiotis Karkanas, laboratory director and geoarchaeologist at the Malcolm H&nbsp;Wiener Laboratory at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens.

Probably the most famous of these TV series, CBS&#39; &quot;CSI: Crime Scene Investigation&quot;, which chronicles the cases of an elite team of police forensics investigators, has spawned the shorthand CSI to describe the technology the agents use. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Karkanas&#39; team, though technically not crime scene investigators, will apply similar high-tech methods using some of the same tools.

They will perform a battery of tests -- particularly gene, radiographic and isotopic analyses -- to uncover the mysteries hidden inside each skull and skeleton fragment.

Whatever clues they gather will give them an idea of how old the men were, whether they were related, where they came from, how healthy they were, and where they stood on the socioeconomic ladder of the times.

But unlike crime dramas, where investigators reveal exactly how and why the crime took place, this cold case will likely not be resolved for five to seven years.

&nbsp;

1,500 skeletons

The mass grave was uncovered in spring last year in one of the largest excavation sites Greece has ever unearthed.

Though the site was found a century ago, large-scale excavation of the complex only began in 2012, when archaeologists discovered a large cemetery containing over 1,500 skeletons dating back to between the eighth and fifth century BC. More than 100 of them bore the marks of a violent death.

Other small-scale excavations since then have unearthed other treasures, including the group of men believed to be part of Cylon&#39;s army. Many of the skeletons found were bound or shackled, and facedown in unmarked graves, sometimes in sandy holes barely big enough to hold a body.

Other skeletons were buried in open pits, placed on funeral pyres and in jars, the preferred coffins at the time for infants and small children.

According to researchers, the cemetery measures about 4,000 square metres (372 square feet) and all 1,500 skeletons will eventually be taken to the laboratory&#39;s facilities for proper study.

At least 10 of the 80 men found are headed to the lab later this year, while the rest will stay as part of an upcoming exposition on the excavation site.&nbsp;

One of the skeletons already at the lab, with his arms twisted behind his back, is a reflection of past Athenian violence. He could have been a &quot;prisoner of war, a criminal or a runaway slave,&quot; Prevedorou said.

&nbsp;

A story to tell&nbsp;

Even the nonviolent deaths, or deaths without historical reference,&nbsp;notably the hundreds of children&#39;s remains found in jars,&nbsp;have a story to tell, Karkanas said. The bones could reveal the children&#39;s lifestyles and diseases, shedding more light on ancient Athenian culture and history.

Most of the recorded ancient history on Athens and Greek life describes the &quot;elite and the victors,&quot; Karkanas added. But to rely solely on those testimonies to understand the past would be like &quot;reading newspapers today to find out what&#39;s going on in the world right now&quot;.&nbsp;

The 80 skeletons may be the army that lay siege to ancient Athens raised by Cylon, a nobleman and the first-ever Olympic champion

More than 2,500 years ago, an Athenian nobleman named Cylon, the first recorded Olympic champion, tried to take over the city of Athens and install himself as its sole ruler. According to Thucydides and Herodotus, Athenian and Greek historians who wrote about the coup, Cylon enticed an army of followers to enter the city and lay siege to the Acropolis. They were defeated, but Cylon managed to escape. Now archaeologists in Athens believe they may have found some of the remains of Cylon's army in a mass grave in Phaleron, four miles (6 kilometres) south of downtown Athens. The discovery of the 80 skeletons of men is "unequalled" in Greece, said site project director Stella Chrysoulaki. More than 2,500 years ago, an Athenian nobleman named Cyclon tried to take over Athens and become sole ruler. Now archaeologists believe they may have found some of the remains of his army in a mass grave in Phaleron 6, kms south of downtown Athens. (AFP) × The men, young and well-fed, were found lying in the unmarked grave in three rows, some on their backs while others were tossed facedown on their stomachs. All of the men had their hands in iron chains and at least 52 of them had their hands tied above their heads. A photo taken on July 7, 2017 shows a human skeleton with the hands tied in the back stored in a lab at the American School of Archaeology in Athens. (AFP) × They died from blows to the head, victims of a "political execution" that dates back to between 675 and 650 BC according to pieces of pottery found in the grave, Chrysoulaki said. At the time, Athens was just being formed and the city was transitioning towards a democracy, Eleanna Prevedorou, a bioarchaeological researcher on the project, said. And it was happening "against a backdrop of political turmoil, tensions between tyrants, aristocrats and the working class," she added. 'Crime Scene Investigation' Bioarchaeological scientists use forensic research, such as DNA profiling, to investigate and ultimately uncover how humans lived and died by examining skeletons. "We are going to use, roughly speaking, the methods made famous by television series on forensics crime science," joked Panagiotis Karkanas, laboratory director and geoarchaeologist at the Malcolm H Wiener Laboratory at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens. Probably the most famous of these TV series, CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", which chronicles the cases of an elite team of police forensics investigators, has spawned the shorthand CSI to describe the technology the agents use. Karkanas' team, though technically not crime scene investigators, will apply similar high-tech methods using some of the same tools. They will perform a battery of tests -- particularly gene, radiographic and isotopic analyses -- to uncover the mysteries hidden inside each skull and skeleton fragment. Whatever clues they gather will give them an idea of how old the men were, whether they were related, where they came from, how healthy they were, and where they stood on the socioeconomic ladder of the times. But unlike crime dramas, where investigators reveal exactly how and why the crime took place, this cold case will likely not be resolved for five to seven years. 1,500 skeletons The mass grave was uncovered in spring last year in one of the largest excavation sites Greece has ever unearthed. Though the site was found a century ago, large-scale excavation of the complex only began in 2012, when archaeologists discovered a large cemetery containing over 1,500 skeletons dating back to between the eighth and fifth century BC. More than 100 of them bore the marks of a violent death. Other small-scale excavations since then have unearthed other treasures, including the group of men believed to be part of Cylon's army. Many of the skeletons found were bound or shackled, and facedown in unmarked graves, sometimes in sandy holes barely big enough to hold a body. Other skeletons were buried in open pits, placed on funeral pyres and in jars, the preferred coffins at the time for infants and small children. According to researchers, the cemetery measures about 4,000 square metres (372 square feet) and all 1,500 skeletons will eventually be taken to the laboratory's facilities for proper study. At least 10 of the 80 men found are headed to the lab later this year, while the rest will stay as part of an upcoming exposition on the excavation site. One of the skeletons already at the lab, with his arms twisted behind his back, is a reflection of past Athenian violence. He could have been a "prisoner of war, a criminal or a runaway slave," Prevedorou said. A story to tell Even the nonviolent deaths, or deaths without historical reference, notably the hundreds of children's remains found in jars, have a story to tell, Karkanas said. The bones could reveal the children's lifestyles and diseases, shedding more light on ancient Athenian culture and history. Most of the recorded ancient history on Athens and Greek life describes the "elite and the victors," Karkanas added. But to rely solely on those testimonies to understand the past would be like "reading newspapers today to find out what's going on in the world right now".

Archaeologists go high-tech in 2,500-year-old Greek cold case

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