1. Hook Swords A rather well-known tool used by the Shoalin monks of northern China, the crescent shaped hook sword was an excellent weapon for blocking blows as well as slashing those who got too close. Most of their usage came from civilians, as the Chinese military suprisingly did not use them in any of their…
Why is it that ISIS continues to destroy all record of the past? “All attacks on archaeological sites and artifacts are brutal assaults on our collective human memory,” says Sturt Manning of CNN. “They deprive us of the evidence of human endeavors and achievements” So what is the incentive? The goal of ISIS is to…
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’d like to honor the women of our past who’ve helped us to uncover history and who devoted their lives to the knowledge and education. Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) Also known as the “Mother of Mesopotamian Archaeology,” Gertrude Bell was known for incredible achievements in excavation, during a time when men dominated…
Cave Paintings are paintings on cave walls and ceilings, usually dating to prehistoric times. Learn more about some of the world most mysterious and famous cave paintings. Altamira Cave Paintings: As Picasso famously exclaimed, “after Altamira, all is decadence.” The caves of Altamira are located near Santilliana del Mar in Cantabria, Northern Spain. Maria de Santuola,…
The battle on Syria’s ancient antiquity marches on. The mission: to save ancient artifacts and imperiled archaeological sites from profiteers, desperate civilians and fundamentalists who have plundered Syria’s rich artistic heritage to fund their war effort. Art history experts and excavators say the looting of Syrian ancient antiquity by the Islamic State has exploded in the last…
ATTENTION HISTORY BUFFS AND ANCIENT ART-SEEKERS! Check out these photos from the Yancey Richardson Gallery x-ray vision exhibit. It was titled “History’s Shadow,” and presented an x-ray view of artifacts of the art world. This abstract exhibit came to us from renown photographer David Maisel. Maisel is well known for his aerial photo work that often explores landscapes…
In honor of Black History Month, we’d like to recognize some of the incredibly influential black civilizations of the past and all of their accomplishments. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA Mesopotamia was the Biblical land of Sumer, which sprung up around 3000 B.C. After decrypting the cuneiform script of ancient Mesopotamia for many years, Henry Rawlinson (1810-1895) discovered that the founders…
The ancient Roman city of Pompeii was recently recreated at Sydney University’s Nicholson Museum… using 190,000 lego blocks! It is the largest model of the ancient city ever constructed out of Lego blocks. Within the model’s makeup, There is a mix of ancient and modern elements, displaying Pompeii as it was in 79AD, as it was in…
When the time comes to pick your college major, it may seem… irrelevant, to study something like history. But classics and ancient history may offer more benefits than what might appear at the surface. 1. Everything has a history By studying history, you can study anything – for the simple reason that everything has a history:…
Archaeology is the study of human cultures from around the world throughout time. This is done by excavating artifacts to learn about the people who left them behind. Though being an archaeologist may not be as exciting as it was for say Indiana Jones, if you find the idea of unearthing an arrowhead that hasn’t been touched…