Forensic testing of more than 80 Roman-era skeletons unearthed in York, England, indicates that that the athletic young men with well-developed right arms had been gladiators. Some of the bodies had been decapitated and had received hammer blows to the head. One of the bones also showed evidence of a bite from a large carnivore, such as a lion, tiger, or bear. “We don’t have any other potential gladiator cemeteries with this level of preservation anywhere else in the world,” said Michael Wysocki of the University of Central Lancashire.

A secret U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement warehouse in Queens, New York, holds more than 2,500 artifacts as potential evidence in smuggling and forgery cases. Customs agents work to stop the thieves and identify the objects. “The goal for all of us is not to keep it here forever. The idea is to give it back,” said James McAndrew, senior special agent in charge of cultural property.  

A Buddhist study center has been found in a small village in the state of Bihar in northwestern India.  

Enjoy this tourist’s introduction to Petra.  

The Hawaii-based Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command continues to search for soldiers listed as missing in action and to recover their remains. This article is an account of the search for a missing Marine in Vietnam’s Quang Tri province.  

Here’s a photograph of a colossal statue of Djehuty, the ancient Egyptian god of wisdom, being unearthed from the sands of Luxor. Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, thinks that additional statues will be found lining a path leading to a temple. There’s also more information on the rediscovery of the tomb of the 19^th Dynasty mayor of Memphis.

This entry was posted by Jessica E. Saraceni on Monday, June 7, 2010. Discussion of this blog entry is now closed.

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