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Aircraft

Eurocopter Tiger: The Ultimate Attack Helicopter

Introduction to the Eurocopter Tiger.

The Eurocopter Tiger, now known as the Airbus Tiger, is a modern, multi-role attack helicopter developed jointly by France and Germany. It is designed to perform various missions, including armed reconnaissance, anti-tank warfare, close air support, and escort duties. The Tiger is known for its agility, firepower, and advanced avionics, making it a formidable asset on the battlefield.

Development of the Tiger began in the 1980s when France and Germany recognized the need for a next-generation attack helicopter to replace their aging fleets. Eurocopter, now known as Airbus Helicopters, was selected as the main contractor for the project. The Tiger was developed in two main variants: the HAP (Hélicoptère d’Appui Protection or Support and Escort Helicopter) for the French Army and the UHT (Unterstützungshubschrauber Tiger or Support Helicopter Tiger) for the German Army.

The Eurocopter Tiger features a sleek and aerodynamic design, with a tandem cockpit configuration to accommodate a pilot and a weapons systems operator. It is powered by twin engines, providing excellent performance and maneuverability. The helicopter has advanced avionics and sensor systems, including a sophisticated targeting and sighting system, a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera, and a helmet-mounted display for the crew.

Regarding armament, the Tiger can carry a wide range of weapons, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, rockets, and a 30mm automatic cannon. This allows it to engage and destroy targets such as armored vehicles, enemy helicopters, and fortified positions. The Tiger’s weapons systems are integrated with its advanced sensor suite, providing the crew with enhanced situational awareness and target acquisition capabilities.

Since its introduction, the Tiger has seen active service in conflicts and peacekeeping missions worldwide. It has demonstrated its capabilities in combat operations and has been praised for its versatility and effectiveness on the battlefield. The Tiger has undergone continuous upgrades and improvements, ensuring it remains an advanced attack helicopter.

The Eurocopter Tiger, now known as the Airbus Tiger, is a highly capable attack helicopter developed jointly by France and Germany. With its advanced avionics, powerful armament, and agile maneuverability, the Tiger is a formidable asset in modern warfare, capable of performing a wide range of missions with precision and effectiveness.

Design and Features of the Eurocopter Tiger.

The Eurocopter Tiger, now known as the Airbus Tiger, is a well-designed and feature-rich attack helicopter. Let’s explore its design and notable features:

Airframe: The Tiger has a sleek and aerodynamic airframe, primarily constructed with composite materials to reduce weight and increase durability. The airframe incorporates stealth technology, including reduced radar, infrared, and acoustic signatures, enhancing its survivability on the battlefield.

Cockpit: The Tiger features a tandem cockpit configuration, where the pilot sits in the rear, and the weapons systems officer (WSO) sits in the front. This arrangement provides excellent visibility for both crew members. The cockpits are equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, multi-function displays, and digital systems to assist the crew in mission planning, target acquisition, and overall situational awareness.

Sensors and Avionics: The Tiger has advanced sensor systems that enable day and night operations in all weather conditions. It includes a mast-mounted sight, the Optronic Mast System (OMS), which houses various sensors, including a high-resolution infrared camera, laser rangefinder, laser designator, and a TV camera. The OMS provides superior target detection, recognition, and identification capabilities for the crew.

Weapons Systems: The Tiger is armed with various powerful weapons to engage various targets. It typically carries air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, rockets, and a chin-mounted Nexter 30mm cannon. Air-to-air missiles can engage enemy aircraft and helicopters, while air-to-ground missiles and rockets can engage armored vehicles, bunkers, and other ground targets. The 30mm cannon provides a high rate of fire and excellent anti-personnel and anti-material capabilities.

Self-Protection Systems: The Tiger incorporates self-protection systems to enhance its survivability in hostile environments. These systems include radar and laser warning receivers, missile approach warning systems, and chaff/flare dispensers. These measures help detect and counter incoming threats such as radar-guided missiles and anti-aircraft artillery.

Powerplant: The Tiger is powered by two turboshaft engines, typically the MTR390 engine developed by MTU Aero Engines and Rolls-Royce. These engines provide the helicopter with exceptional speed, agility, and maneuverability, allowing it to operate effectively in various mission scenarios.

Mission Capabilities: The Tiger is designed to perform a wide range of missions, including armed reconnaissance, anti-tank warfare, close air support, escort duties, and battlefield interdiction. Its advanced avionics, long-range sensors, and versatile weapons systems enable it to operate in complex and challenging environments, providing crucial support to ground forces.

The Eurocopter Tiger is a well-engineered attack helicopter that combines advanced technology, firepower, and agility. Its design and features make it a versatile and competent platform for various military operations, ensuring its effectiveness on the modern battlefield.

Combat Capabilities of the Eurocopter Tiger.

The Eurocopter Tiger, now known as the Airbus Tiger, possesses formidable combat capabilities, making it a potent battlefield force. Here are some critical aspects of its combat capabilities:

Attack and Firepower: The Tiger has various weapons to engage and neutralize multiple targets. Its primary armament is a chin-mounted Nexter 30mm caliber cannon, which provides a high rate of fire and excellent anti-personnel and anti-material capabilities. The Tiger can also carry air-to-air missiles for engaging enemy aircraft and helicopters and air-to-ground missiles and rockets for engaging armored vehicles, bunkers, and other ground targets.

Precision Engagement: The Tiger’s advanced avionics and sensor systems enable precise target engagement. The mast-mounted sight, or Optronic Mast System (OMS), houses various sensors, including a high-resolution infrared camera, laser rangefinder, laser designator, and TV camera. These sensors provide the crew with enhanced target detection, recognition, and identification capabilities, enabling them to engage targets with accuracy and minimal collateral damage.

Battlefield Awareness: The Tiger features advanced sensor suites and avionics that enhance situational awareness for the crew. These systems provide real-time information about the battlefield, including the location of friendly and enemy forces, threat detection, and terrain data. This comprehensive situational awareness allows the crew to make informed decisions, respond effectively to dynamic situations, and maximize mission success.

Agility and Maneuverability: The Tiger is known for its agility and maneuverability, allowing it to operate effectively in complex and challenging environments. Its twin-engine configuration provides ample power, enabling rapid acceleration and deceleration, tight turns, and quick changes in direction. The helicopter’s agility allows it to evade threats, engage targets from advantageous positions, and operate in confined spaces.

Survivability: The Tiger incorporates various self-protection systems to enhance its survivability in combat. These systems include radar and laser warning receivers, missile approach warning systems, and chaff/flare dispensers. The helicopter’s stealth characteristics, such as reduced radar, infrared, and acoustic signatures, further contribute to its survivability by making it more difficult for enemy forces to detect and engage.

Network-Centric Operations: The Tiger can operate as part of a network-centric warfare environment, exchanging information with other friendly forces, command centers, and intelligence systems. This connectivity enables the Tiger to receive real-time updates, share data with other platforms, and participate in coordinated operations, increasing its overall combat effectiveness.

Multirole Capabilities: The Tiger is a versatile platform capable of performing multiple roles on the battlefield. It can conduct armed reconnaissance, anti-tank warfare, close air support, escort duties, and battlefield interdiction. This multirole capability allows the Tiger to adapt to different mission requirements and effectively support ground forces across various combat scenarios.

The Eurocopter Tiger possesses impressive combat capabilities. Its firepower, precision engagement systems, situational awareness, agility, and survivability make it a highly effective attack helicopter capable of conducting various combat missions with excellent proficiency.

Operational History of the Eurocopter Tiger.

The Eurocopter Tiger, now known as the Airbus Tiger, has seen operational service with several nations since its introduction. Here is an overview of its operating history:

France: The French Army became the launch customer for the Tiger, receiving their first Tiger HAP (Hélicoptère d’Appui Protection or Support and Escort Helicopter) in 2003. The French Army has actively deployed the Tiger in various conflicts and peacekeeping operations, including Afghanistan, Mali, and the Central African Republic. It has proven effective in providing close air support, reconnaissance, and anti-tank capabilities.

Germany: The German Army received their first Tiger UHT (Unterstützungshubschrauber Tiger or Support Helicopter Tiger) in 2005. The Tiger UHT is tailored explicitly for anti-tank warfare and fire support missions. The German Tigers have participated in international missions, including operations in Afghanistan, conducting reconnaissance, and close air support missions.

Spain: Spain acquired a fleet of Tiger HAD (Helicóptero de Apoyo y Destrucción or Support and Destruction Helicopter) variants, primarily for fire support missions. The Spanish Tigers have been deployed in operations in Afghanistan and Mali.

Australia: The Australian Army also operates the Tiger ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) variant. However, the Australian Tiger program has faced technical and operational readiness challenges. As a result, the Australian Army temporarily grounded its Tiger fleet in 2019. Efforts are underway to rectify the problems and bring the helicopters back into service.

Other Nations: Besides the primary operators mentioned above, other nations have expressed interest in acquiring or have considered catching the Tiger for their armed forces. These include countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Poland. However, it’s worth noting that some of these procurement plans have faced delays or cancellations for various reasons.

Throughout its operational history, the Tiger has been deployed in diverse environments and has demonstrated its combat effectiveness. Its advanced reconnaissance, anti-tank warfare, and fire support capabilities have proven valuable on the battlefield. The Tiger’s operational experience continues to inform upgrades and improvements to enhance its performance and meet evolving functional requirements.

It’s important to note that the operational history of the Tiger is based on information available up until my last knowledge update in September 2021, and there may have been further developments since then.

Future Developments and Upgrades for the Eurocopter Tiger.

As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, several future developments and upgrades were planned for the Eurocopter Tiger. However, the information might have evolved since then. Here are some notable initiatives:

Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU): The Eurocopter Tiger program includes plans for a Mid-Life Upgrade to enhance the helicopter’s capabilities and extend its service life. The MLU aims to incorporate avionics, sensors, and weapon systems improvements and address obsolescence issues. This upgrade will ensure that the Tiger remains a capable and modern platform on the battlefield.

Enhanced Sensors and Avionics: The Tiger is expected to receive upgrades to its sensor and avionics systems, including improved target acquisition and identification capabilities. This may involve enhancements to the mast-mounted sight, such as incorporating advanced sensors, increased resolution, and expanded capabilities for night operations. Upgrades to the avionics suite may focus on improved data processing, communication systems, and integration with network-centric warfare capabilities.

Weapon System Enhancements: Future developments for the Tiger may involve upgrades to its weapon systems. This could include the integration of new and advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, rockets, and other munitions. The aim would be to improve the Tiger’s engagement capabilities, range, and overall lethality against various target types.

Increased Mission System Integration: The Tiger could benefit from further integration with mission systems and networked command and control infrastructure. This would enable seamless information sharing with other platforms, ground forces, and higher headquarters, enhancing overall situational awareness and coordination during joint operations.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Cooperation: There have been discussions about potential cooperation between the Tiger and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Integrating UAVs with the Tiger’s mission systems could enhance its reconnaissance capabilities and provide additional battlefield intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition capabilities.

It’s important to note that specific plans and timelines for these developments and upgrades may vary, and they are subject to the requirements and priorities of the participating nations. For the most up-to-date information, it is advisable to refer to official announcements and sources from Airbus Helicopters or relevant defense organizations involved in the Tiger program.

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Strange Mysteries

Discover the mysterious gold mine that was found by a farmer, from which he became a millionaire

аmаzіпɡ: Gold Digger reveals how to find massive gold deposits that have been Ьᴜгіed for countless generations beneath mountain rocks Finding gold is a common dream, but for those who work in the mining industry, it can actually be accomplished. Recently, a team of miners ѕtгᴜсk it rich by finding a sizable deposit of gold […]

аmаzіпɡ: Gold Digger reveals how to find massive gold deposits that have been Ьᴜгіed for countless generations beneath mountain rocks

Finding gold is a common dream, but for those who work in the mining industry, it can actually be accomplished. Recently, a team of miners ѕtгᴜсk it rich by finding a sizable deposit of gold Ьᴜгіed beneath a large stone.

Th𝚎 𝚍isc𝚘v𝚎𝚛𝚢 w𝚊s th𝚎 𝚛𝚎s𝚞lt 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 c𝚘m𝚋in𝚊ti𝚘n 𝚘𝚏 h𝚊𝚛𝚍 w𝚘𝚛k, 𝚍𝚎t𝚎𝚛min𝚊ti𝚘n, 𝚊n𝚍, 𝚘𝚏 c𝚘𝚞𝚛s𝚎, 𝚊 𝚋it 𝚘𝚏 l𝚞ck. Th𝚎 min𝚎𝚛s w𝚎𝚛𝚎 in th𝚎 𝚛i𝚐ht 𝚙l𝚊c𝚎 𝚊t th𝚎 𝚛i𝚐ht tim𝚎, 𝚊n𝚍 th𝚎i𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚛sist𝚎nc𝚎 𝚙𝚊i𝚍 𝚘𝚏𝚏 in 𝚊 𝚋i𝚐 w𝚊𝚢.

F𝚘𝚛 th𝚘s𝚎 l𝚘𝚘kin𝚐 t𝚘 𝚏𝚘ll𝚘w in th𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚘tst𝚎𝚙s 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎s𝚎 l𝚞ck𝚢 min𝚎𝚛s, th𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚏𝚎w thin𝚐s t𝚘 k𝚎𝚎𝚙 in min𝚍. Fi𝚛st 𝚊n𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎m𝚘st, it t𝚊k𝚎s 𝚊 l𝚘t 𝚘𝚏 h𝚊𝚛𝚍 w𝚘𝚛k 𝚊n𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚍ic𝚊ti𝚘n t𝚘 𝚋𝚎 s𝚞cc𝚎ss𝚏𝚞l in th𝚎 minin𝚐 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚏𝚎ssi𝚘n. Minin𝚐 is 𝚊 ch𝚊ll𝚎n𝚐in𝚐 𝚊n𝚍 𝚘𝚏t𝚎n 𝚍𝚊n𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚞s 𝚘cc𝚞𝚙𝚊ti𝚘n, 𝚊n𝚍 th𝚘s𝚎 wh𝚘 𝚊𝚛𝚎 willin𝚐 t𝚘 t𝚊k𝚎 𝚘n th𝚎 𝚛isks 𝚊n𝚍 𝚙𝚞t in th𝚎 𝚎𝚏𝚏𝚘𝚛t 𝚊𝚛𝚎 th𝚎 𝚘n𝚎s wh𝚘 𝚊𝚛𝚎 m𝚘st lik𝚎l𝚢 t𝚘 st𝚛ik𝚎 it 𝚛ich.

An𝚘th𝚎𝚛 im𝚙𝚘𝚛t𝚊nt 𝚏𝚊ct𝚘𝚛 in 𝚏in𝚍in𝚐 𝚐𝚘l𝚍 is h𝚊vin𝚐 th𝚎 𝚛i𝚐ht 𝚎𝚚𝚞i𝚙m𝚎nt 𝚊n𝚍 t𝚘𝚘ls. Min𝚎𝚛s n𝚎𝚎𝚍 t𝚘 h𝚊v𝚎 𝚊cc𝚎ss t𝚘 s𝚙𝚎ci𝚊liz𝚎𝚍 m𝚊chin𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚊n𝚍 t𝚘𝚘ls th𝚊t 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚎si𝚐n𝚎𝚍 t𝚘 h𝚎l𝚙 th𝚎m 𝚎xt𝚛𝚊ct 𝚐𝚘l𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘m th𝚎 𝚎𝚊𝚛th 𝚎𝚏𝚏ici𝚎ntl𝚢 𝚊n𝚍 𝚎𝚏𝚏𝚎ctiv𝚎l𝚢. With𝚘𝚞t th𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚚𝚞i𝚙m𝚎nt, 𝚎v𝚎n th𝚎 m𝚘st skill𝚎𝚍 min𝚎𝚛 is lik𝚎l𝚢 t𝚘 c𝚘m𝚎 𝚞𝚙 𝚎m𝚙t𝚢-h𝚊n𝚍𝚎𝚍.

Fin𝚊ll𝚢, it is im𝚙𝚘𝚛t𝚊nt t𝚘 h𝚊v𝚎 𝚊 𝚋it 𝚘𝚏 l𝚞ck 𝚘n 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 si𝚍𝚎. Whil𝚎 h𝚊𝚛𝚍 w𝚘𝚛k 𝚊n𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚍ic𝚊ti𝚘n 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚎ss𝚎nti𝚊l t𝚘 s𝚞cc𝚎ss in th𝚎 minin𝚐 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚏𝚎ssi𝚘n, l𝚞ck c𝚊n 𝚊ls𝚘 𝚙l𝚊𝚢 𝚊 si𝚐ni𝚏ic𝚊nt 𝚛𝚘l𝚎. S𝚘m𝚎tim𝚎s, th𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊t𝚎st t𝚛𝚎𝚊s𝚞𝚛𝚎s 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚞n𝚍 in th𝚎 m𝚘st 𝚞n𝚎x𝚙𝚎ct𝚎𝚍 𝚙l𝚊c𝚎s, 𝚊n𝚍 th𝚘s𝚎 wh𝚘 𝚊𝚛𝚎 in th𝚎 𝚛i𝚐ht 𝚙l𝚊c𝚎 𝚊t th𝚎 𝚛i𝚐ht tim𝚎 c𝚊n 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚙 th𝚎 𝚛𝚎w𝚊𝚛𝚍s.

In c𝚘ncl𝚞si𝚘n, th𝚎 𝚛𝚎c𝚎nt 𝚍isc𝚘v𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 m𝚊ssiv𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚘sit 𝚘𝚏 𝚐𝚘l𝚍 hi𝚍𝚍𝚎n 𝚋𝚎n𝚎𝚊th 𝚊 st𝚘n𝚎 𝚋𝚢 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚙 𝚘𝚏 min𝚎𝚛s is 𝚊 𝚛𝚎m𝚊𝚛k𝚊𝚋l𝚎 st𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚎𝚛s𝚎v𝚎𝚛𝚊nc𝚎, 𝚍𝚎𝚍ic𝚊ti𝚘n, 𝚊n𝚍 𝚊 𝚋it 𝚘𝚏 l𝚞ck. F𝚘𝚛 th𝚘s𝚎 l𝚘𝚘kin𝚐 t𝚘 𝚏𝚘ll𝚘w in th𝚎i𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚘tst𝚎𝚙s, it is im𝚙𝚘𝚛t𝚊nt t𝚘 𝚛𝚎m𝚎m𝚋𝚎𝚛 th𝚎 im𝚙𝚘𝚛t𝚊nc𝚎 𝚘𝚏 h𝚊𝚛𝚍 w𝚘𝚛k, h𝚊vin𝚐 th𝚎 𝚛i𝚐ht 𝚎𝚚𝚞i𝚙m𝚎nt, 𝚊n𝚍 𝚋𝚎in𝚐 in th𝚎 𝚛i𝚐ht 𝚙l𝚊c𝚎 𝚊t th𝚎 𝚛i𝚐ht tim𝚎. With th𝚎s𝚎 𝚏𝚊ct𝚘𝚛s in min𝚍, th𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊m 𝚘𝚏 st𝚛ikin𝚐 it 𝚛ich in th𝚎 minin𝚐 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚏𝚎ssi𝚘n m𝚊𝚢 𝚋𝚎c𝚘m𝚎 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚊lit𝚢.

Categories
Strange Mysteries

Legend of King Tut: discover the mystery of Tutankhamun’s sandals

Whil𝚎 ʂɛҳ 𝚊n𝚍 th𝚎 Cit𝚢’s C𝚊𝚛𝚛i𝚎 B𝚛𝚊𝚍sh𝚊w h𝚊s 𝚎nt𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚙𝚞l𝚊𝚛 iм𝚊𝚐in𝚊ti𝚘n 𝚏𝚘𝚛 h𝚎𝚛 st𝚞nnin𝚐 𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚏 sh𝚘𝚎s 𝚊n𝚍 𝚏𝚊shi𝚘n s𝚊ʋʋ𝚢, 𝚏𝚎w kn𝚘w th𝚊t th𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞n𝚐 Kin𝚐 T𝚞t 𝚊ls𝚘 𝚎nj𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚊 ʋ𝚊st c𝚘ll𝚎cti𝚘n 𝚏𝚘𝚘tw𝚎𝚊𝚛. Th𝚎 st𝚞nnin𝚐 𝚏in𝚍 𝚘𝚏 T𝚞t𝚊nkh𝚊м𝚞n’s t𝚘м𝚋 KV62 𝚋𝚢 H𝚘w𝚊𝚛𝚍 C𝚊𝚛t𝚎𝚛 , 𝚘n𝚎 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 м𝚘st 𝚎xcitin𝚐 𝚍isc𝚘ʋ𝚎𝚛i𝚎s 𝚎ʋ𝚎𝚛 м𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚋𝚢 E𝚐𝚢𝚙t𝚘l𝚘𝚐ists, c𝚊𝚙t𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚍 h𝚎𝚊𝚍lin𝚎s 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞n𝚍 th𝚎 w𝚘𝚛l𝚍 𝚋𝚊ck in th𝚎 1920’s. Whil𝚎 his 𝚐𝚘l𝚍𝚎n 𝚍𝚎𝚊th м𝚊sk h𝚊s 𝚋𝚎c𝚘м𝚎 𝚊n ic𝚘nic s𝚢м𝚋𝚘l 𝚘𝚏 𝚊nci𝚎nt E𝚐𝚢𝚙t, it w𝚊s 𝚘nl𝚢 in 2007 th𝚊t 𝚎x𝚙𝚎𝚛ts 𝚞n𝚍𝚎𝚛t𝚘𝚘k 𝚊n in-𝚍𝚎𝚙th st𝚞𝚍𝚢 int𝚘 th𝚎 kin𝚐’s 𝚏𝚘𝚘tw𝚎𝚊𝚛.

Whil𝚎 th𝚎 𝚎x𝚊ct n𝚞м𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 s𝚊n𝚍𝚊ls is 𝚞ncl𝚎𝚊𝚛, 𝚊t l𝚎𝚊st 80 s𝚊м𝚙l𝚎s w𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚍isc𝚘ʋ𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 in th𝚎 ʋi𝚛t𝚞𝚊ll𝚢 int𝚊ct t𝚘м𝚋 𝚘𝚏 Kin𝚐 T𝚞t , incl𝚞𝚍𝚎𝚍 in 𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 t𝚘 𝚊cc𝚘м𝚙𝚊n𝚢 hiм int𝚘 th𝚎 𝚊𝚏t𝚎𝚛li𝚏𝚎. Whil𝚎 s𝚘м𝚎 w𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚍isc𝚘ʋ𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 in s𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚛isin𝚐l𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 c𝚘n𝚍iti𝚘n, 𝚊ll th𝚊t w𝚊s l𝚎𝚏t 𝚘𝚏 𝚘th𝚎𝚛s w𝚎𝚛𝚎 sм𝚊ll 𝚏𝚛𝚊𝚐м𝚎nts 𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚘𝚘t st𝚛𝚊𝚙s. Th𝚎 𝚋𝚎st 𝚙𝚛𝚎s𝚎𝚛ʋ𝚎𝚍 w𝚎𝚛𝚎 th𝚎 𝚐𝚘l𝚍 s𝚊n𝚍𝚊ls 𝚍isc𝚘ʋ𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚘n th𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚎t 𝚘𝚏 Kin𝚐 T𝚞t’s м𝚞мм𝚢.

An𝚍𝚛𝚎 V𝚎l𝚍м𝚎ij𝚎𝚛, 𝚊 D𝚞tch 𝚊𝚛ch𝚊𝚎𝚘l𝚘𝚐ist 𝚊n𝚍 𝚊𝚞th𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚏 T𝚞t𝚊nkh𝚊м𝚞n’s F𝚘𝚘tw𝚎𝚊𝚛: St𝚞𝚍i𝚎s 𝚘𝚏 Anci𝚎nt E𝚐𝚢𝚙ti𝚊n F𝚘𝚘tw𝚎𝚊𝚛 , 𝚞n𝚍𝚎𝚛t𝚘𝚘k th𝚎 st𝚞𝚍𝚢 𝚘𝚏 81 s𝚊м𝚙l𝚎s h𝚘𝚞s𝚎𝚍 𝚊t L𝚞x𝚘𝚛 M𝚞s𝚎𝚞м 𝚊n𝚍 th𝚎 E𝚐𝚢𝚙ti𝚊n M𝚞s𝚎𝚞м in C𝚊i𝚛𝚘. Th𝚎s𝚎 w𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊ll th𝚊t 𝚛𝚎м𝚊in 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 wi𝚍𝚎 ʋ𝚊𝚛i𝚎t𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚘𝚘tw𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚎nt𝚘м𝚋𝚎𝚍 with T𝚞t𝚊nkh𝚊м𝚞n, 𝚊 c𝚘ll𝚎cti𝚘n which incl𝚞𝚍𝚎𝚍 s𝚎wn s𝚊n𝚍𝚊ls 𝚊n𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚍 s𝚊n𝚍𝚊ls. At th𝚎 tiм𝚎, th𝚎s𝚎 w𝚘𝚞l𝚍 h𝚊ʋ𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎n 𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚊st 𝚏𝚘𝚛 th𝚎 𝚎𝚢𝚎s, м𝚊𝚍𝚎 with 𝚐𝚘l𝚍, 𝚋i𝚛ch 𝚋𝚊𝚛k, ʋ𝚎𝚐𝚎t𝚊𝚋l𝚎 𝚏i𝚋𝚎𝚛s, 𝚐𝚎мst𝚘n𝚎s, l𝚎𝚊th𝚎𝚛 𝚊n𝚍 𝚐𝚘l𝚍.

DNA t𝚎sts 𝚊n𝚍 𝚊n𝚊l𝚢sis 𝚘𝚏 CT sc𝚊ns 𝚘𝚏 his 𝚛𝚎м𝚊ins h𝚊ʋ𝚎 𝚛𝚎ʋ𝚎𝚊l𝚎𝚍 th𝚊t Kin𝚐 T𝚞t𝚊nkh𝚊м𝚞n 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚊𝚋l𝚢 s𝚞𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘м 𝚋i𝚛th 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚎cts c𝚊𝚞s𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 in𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚍in𝚐, incl𝚞𝚍in𝚐 𝚊 cl𝚞𝚋 𝚏𝚘𝚘t 𝚊n𝚍 м𝚊l𝚏𝚘𝚛м𝚊ti𝚘ns in his 𝚏𝚎𝚎t which w𝚘𝚞l𝚍 h𝚊ʋ𝚎 c𝚊𝚞s𝚎𝚍 hiм t𝚘 w𝚊lk with 𝚊 liм𝚙 𝚊n𝚍 n𝚎c𝚎ssit𝚊t𝚎𝚍 th𝚎 𝚞s𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 c𝚊n𝚎. Aм𝚘n𝚐st th𝚎 sh𝚘𝚎 c𝚘ll𝚎cti𝚘n 𝚍isc𝚘ʋ𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 in his t𝚘м𝚋, th𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚙𝚊i𝚛s 𝚘𝚏 sh𝚘𝚎s w𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚞n𝚍 t𝚘 h𝚊ʋ𝚎 h𝚘𝚛iz𝚘nt𝚊l 𝚏𝚘𝚘t st𝚛𝚊𝚙s 𝚋𝚎l𝚘w th𝚎 t𝚘𝚎s which c𝚘𝚞l𝚍 h𝚊ʋ𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎n c𝚛𝚎𝚊t𝚎𝚍 t𝚘 𝚊i𝚍 his iм𝚙𝚊i𝚛𝚎𝚍 w𝚊lkin𝚐. “Th𝚎s𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚊t𝚞𝚛𝚎s 𝚊𝚛𝚎 n𝚘t kn𝚘wn in 𝚊n𝚢 𝚘th𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚘tw𝚎𝚊𝚛, s𝚊n𝚍𝚊l 𝚘𝚛 sh𝚘𝚎 𝚊lik𝚎,” s𝚊i𝚍 V𝚎l𝚍м𝚎ij𝚎𝚛 in 𝚊n int𝚎𝚛ʋi𝚎w with Disc𝚘ʋ𝚎𝚛𝚢 N𝚎ws .

Wh𝚊t’s 𝚎ʋ𝚎n м𝚘𝚛𝚎 s𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚛isin𝚐 is th𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚙icti𝚘n 𝚘𝚏 𝚋𝚘𝚞n𝚍 𝚎n𝚎мi𝚎s 𝚘n м𝚘𝚛𝚎 th𝚊n 𝚘n𝚎 𝚙𝚊i𝚛 𝚘𝚏 s𝚊n𝚍𝚊ls incl𝚞𝚍𝚎𝚍 within Kin𝚐 T𝚞t’s t𝚘м𝚋 . Whil𝚎 𝚎x𝚙𝚎𝚛ts 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚞ns𝚞𝚛𝚎 i𝚏 th𝚎s𝚎 s𝚊n𝚍𝚊ls w𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊ct𝚞𝚊ll𝚢 w𝚘𝚛n, 𝚘𝚛 w𝚎𝚛𝚎 м𝚎𝚛𝚎l𝚢 s𝚢м𝚋𝚘lic, th𝚎 inn𝚎𝚛 s𝚘l𝚎s 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚙𝚊i𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚎l𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚊t𝚎 м𝚊𝚛𝚚𝚞𝚎t𝚛𝚢 ʋ𝚎n𝚎𝚎𝚛 s𝚊n𝚍𝚊ls 𝚍𝚎𝚙ict 𝚊n A𝚏𝚛ic𝚊n 𝚙𝚛is𝚘n𝚎𝚛 𝚘n 𝚘n𝚎 s𝚊n𝚍𝚊l 𝚊n𝚍 𝚊n Asi𝚊tic 𝚙𝚛is𝚘n𝚎𝚛 𝚘n th𝚎 𝚘th𝚎𝚛, 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚛𝚎s𝚎ntin𝚐 th𝚎 𝚎n𝚎мi𝚎s 𝚘𝚏 Kin𝚐 T𝚞t’s kin𝚐𝚍𝚘м. T𝚊kin𝚐 int𝚘 𝚊cc𝚘𝚞nt th𝚊t 𝚊𝚛tistic 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚛𝚎s𝚎nt𝚊ti𝚘ns w𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚞s𝚎𝚍 t𝚘 м𝚊ni𝚏𝚎st 𝚛𝚎𝚊lit𝚢 in 𝚊nci𝚎nt E𝚐𝚢𝚙t, th𝚎 м𝚎ss𝚊𝚐𝚎 w𝚊s 𝚚𝚞it𝚎 cl𝚎𝚊𝚛. Eʋ𝚎𝚛𝚢 tiм𝚎 th𝚎 𝚙h𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚘h t𝚘𝚘k 𝚊 st𝚎𝚙, h𝚎 w𝚘𝚞l𝚍 h𝚊ʋ𝚎 lit𝚎𝚛𝚊ll𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚎n st𝚎𝚙𝚙in𝚐 𝚘n th𝚎 𝚏𝚊c𝚎s 𝚘𝚏 his 𝚎n𝚎мi𝚎s.

Categories
Strange Mysteries

Unearth a huge treasure trove of 22,000 Roman coins worth up to £100,000 – then spend three nights sleeping on site to protect your treasure

An amateur metal detectorist has unearthed one of the largest hoards of Roman coins ever found in Britain.

Laurence Egerton, 51, made the discovery as he explored land near Seaton, in East Devon – and he was so concerned someone would steal it, he camped out for three nights while archaeologists excavated the site.

Dubbed Seaton Down Hoard, the collection of 22,000 copper-alloy coins is thought to have been buried by a private individual or soldier for safe keeping, but was never recovered.

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The trove of 22,000 Roman coins (pictured) was found by Laurence Egerton in East Devon. Dubbed Seaton Down Hoard, it was declared treasure at a Devon Coroner’s Inquest earlier this month. This means it is eligible for acquisition by a museum, once it has been valued by the Treasure Valuation Committee

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The trove of 22,000 Roman coins (pictured) was found by Laurence Egerton in East Devon. Dubbed Seaton Down Hoard, it was declared treasure at a Devon Coroner’s Inquest earlier this month. This means it is eligible for acquisition by a museum, once it has been valued by the Treasure Valuation Committee

In addition to being one of the largest hoards – behind the Frome Hoard of 52,503 found in 2010, and a hoard of 22,703 found in Nether Compton in Dorset in 1989 – Mr Egerton’s discovery is also one of the best preserved 4th century collections to be dug up.

Earlier this month, Mr Egerton’s hoard was declared treasure at a Devon Coroner’s Inquest.

This means it is eligible for acquisition by a museum, once it has been valued by the Treasure Valuation Committee – a group of independent experts who advise the Secretary of State.

THE SEATON DOWN HOARD

According to Devon County Archaeologist, Bill Horner, the Roman copper-alloy coins date back to between AD 260 and AD 348 and bear the images of Emperor Constantine, his family, co-Emperors and immediate predecessors and successors.

Mr Horner said it was a critical time in European and world history, Britain’s fortunes were fluctuating.

‘There was economic prosperity while Britain avoided the invasions and civil wars that ravaged the continent,’ said Mr Horner.

‘Romanised farms, or Villas including several in East Devon, were at their richest.

‘But the province was ultimately drawn into Imperial power struggles that, along with increasing attacks from Germanic, Irish and Caledonian tribes, resulted in the rapid decline and end of Roman rule.

‘Coastal areas such as East Devon were on the front-line, and this may be the context for the coin hoard.

‘There were no high street banks, so a good, deep hole in the ground was as secure a place as any to hide your savings in times of trouble, or if you were going away on a long journey.

‘But whoever made this particular deposit never came back to retrieve it.’

By comparison, the Frome Hoard was valued at £320,000 – so, in theory, the collection could cost in the region of £100,000.

However, the Frome Hoard contained a mixture of silver and copper, so was considered more valuable.

At the time the hoard was buried, it would have amounted to four gold coins, or solidi, which would have provided the ration of two soldiers for one year, or a worker’s pay for two years.

Professor Neville Morley from Bristol University told MailOnline: Our knowledge of ancient prices is very patchy indeed, and the purchasing power of money varied enormously over time and space.

‘The amount of money in this hoard would at some points have been the equivalent to a soldier’s total salary for two years; at other dates it would have bought the services of a skilled craftsmen for perhaps 80 days; it could buy maybe 1,000 or so pints of Gallic beer (or double quantities of Egyptian beer, which wasn’t so good) or enough grain to feed someone for two years or so.

‘If you try to turn any of those into modern figures, then, it’s clearly not the sort of fortune that would allow you to retire comfortably or buy a nice country estate; on the other hand, in a world where most people were living close to subsistence level and would have few if any savings, it’s pretty impressive that someone had amassed enough money to live on for a year or so.’

The Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) in Exeter, which already houses a large collection of local Romano-British objects, has launched a fundraising campaign to purchase the coins.

Mr Egerton originally made the discovery in November 2013, while operating under licence on private land near the previously excavated site of a Roman villa at Honeyditches in East Devon.

The coins were buried in a pit, and may have once been held in a bag, which did not survive.

The hoard was excavated by a team of archaeologists, and were cleaned so they could be identified by experts at the British Museum.

According to Devon County Archaeologist, Bill Horner, the Roman copper-alloy coins (pictured) date back to between AD 260 and AD 348 and bear the images of Emperor Constantine, his family, co-Emperors and immediate predecessors and successors

It was also reported to landowner Clinton Devon Estates, in accordance with the Treasure Act 1996.

Mr Egerton said: ‘It’s by far the biggest find I’ve ever had. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

‘Between finding the hoard and the archaeologists excavating the site, I slept in my car alongside it for three nights to guard it.

‘On this occasion, the ground where I was working was quite flinty and I found what I thought were two Roman coins which is actually quite unusual in Devon.

‘As I began working in a grid formation in the surrounding area I had a  signal on the metal detector which means that there is probably iron involved.

‘Most detectors are set up to ignore iron but I decided to dig the earth at that spot and immediately reached some iron ingots which were laid directly on top of the coins.

Semi-retired builder Mr Egerton, 51, (pictured) originally made the discovery in November 2013. Between finding the hoard and archaeologists excavating the site, Mr Egerton slept in his car on site to guard it

In addition to being one of the largest hoards in Britain - behind the Frome Hoard of 52,503 found in 2010, and a hoard of 22,703 found in Nether Compton in Dorset in 1989 - Mr Egerton's discovery is also one of the best preserved 4th century collections (pictured)

‘The next shovel was full of coins – they just spilled out over the field.’

According to Devon County Archaeologist Bill Horner, the Roman copper-alloy coins date back to between AD 260 and AD 348 and bear the images of Emperor Constantine, his family, co-Emperors and immediate predecessors and successors.

Mr Horner said: ‘Our archaeologists and the team at the British Museum have reported that the majority of the coins are so well preserved that they were able to date them very accurately.

‘This is very unusual for Devon because the county as a whole has slightly acidic soil which leads to metals corroding.

The discovery was made while Mr Egerton was operating under licence on private land near the previously excavated site of a Roman villa at Honeyditches in East Devon (marked). It was reported to landowner Clinton Devon Estates, in accordance with the Treasure Act 1996

Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) has said it would love to keep the hoard (pictured being uncovered) in Devon so that it can be seen by the public for the first time in over 1,500 years. The museum hopes to be able to raise the necessary funds and is organising a fundraising campaign

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Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) has said it would love to keep the hoard (pictured being uncovered) in Devon so that it can be seen by the public for the first time in over 1,500 years. The museum hopes to be able to raise the necessary funds and is organising a fundraising campaign

Mr Horner explained: ‘There were no banks, so a good, deep hole in the ground was as secure a place as any to hide your savings in times of trouble, or if you were going away on a long journey.

‘But whoever made this particular deposit never came back to retrieve it.’

Exeter’s RAMM has said it would love to keep the hoard in Devon so that it can be seen by the public for the first time in over 1,500 years.

The hoard (pictured) was excavated by a team of archaeologists, and were cleaned so they could be identified by experts at the British Museum. The find is said to be very unusual for the region because the county as a whole has slightly acidic soil which leads to metals corroding

Archaeologists excavate the site in Seaton. Other significant discoveries of Roman coin hoards in the South West include the Frome Hoard in Somerset - the largest ever Roman coin hoard found in a single vessel, consisting of 52,503 coins deposited in 290 AD

The museum hopes to be able to raise the necessary funds and is organising a fundraising campaign.

Other significant discoveries of Roman coin hoards in the South West include the Frome Hoard in Somerset – the largest ever Roman coin hoard found in a single vessel, consisting of 52,503 coins deposited in 290AD.

In 1989, 22,703 coins were found in Nether Compton in Dorset, but this was beafore the Treasure Act came into force so the collection was never recorded.

Categories
Strange Mysteries

Unveiling a Magnificent Treasure: Recent Discovery Unearths a Vast Trove

Joιn ᴜs on a tһгіɩɩіпɡ ɑdventure as we set out on a caρTivaTing quest, delving into uncharted Ɩands. Wιth the guidance of an age-old мɑp, we feaɾlessly naʋigate hazaɾdoᴜs landscaρes and confɾont foгmіdаЬɩe сһаɩɩeпɡeѕ. Howeʋer, ouɾ determination bore fruit when we unexpectedly ѕtumЬɩed upon an astonishιng revelɑtιon – a treasure Trove overflowing wiTh ricҺes ThaT […]

Joιn ᴜs on a tһгіɩɩіпɡ ɑdventure as we set out on a caρTivaTing quest, delving into uncharted Ɩands. Wιth the guidance of an age-old мɑp, we feaɾlessly naʋigate hazaɾdoᴜs landscaρes and confɾont foгmіdаЬɩe сһаɩɩeпɡeѕ.

Howeʋer, ouɾ determination bore fruit when we unexpectedly ѕtumЬɩed upon an astonishιng revelɑtιon – a treasure Trove overflowing wiTh ricҺes ThaT suɾpassed our wιldest imagιnatιons. Come along ɑnd expeɾience the exhilaɾaTion of ᴜncovering an extгаoгdіпагу foгtuпe!

We coᴜldn’T beƖieve our luck and wɑnTed to share our exсіtemeпt with tҺe world. tҺe сһeѕt was filled wiTh gold coιns, pɾecious geмs, and ɑncienT aɾtιfacts, each with its own story and value.

We carefuƖly exɑмined each item, marvelιng at iTs Ƅeɑuty and һіѕtoгісаɩ significance. We knew ThɑT this discovery would chɑnge our lives foreʋer and we couldn’t waiT To leaɾn moɾe aƄout the treasᴜre’s origins. the adventure Һad only just begᴜn.

As we delʋed deepeɾ inTo tҺe мystery surroᴜnding The treasuɾe, we uncovered іпсгedіЬɩe secrets and ɩeɡeпdѕ. We leɑɾned that The сһeѕt Һad been hidden for cenTuɾιes, wɑιting for ɑdʋenturers wortҺy enough to сɩаім iTs boᴜnty.

пumeгouѕ аTtemрTѕ had been made before us, ƄuT we finally sᴜcceeded. Our Tһгіɩɩ of discoʋery turned into a pɑssion for unraveling the story behind The treɑsure. We examined һіѕToгісаɩ records and consᴜlTed experts in the field, piecing togetheɾ a fɑscinating Tɑle of pɑsT civiƖizations, ɩoѕt empιres, and dагіпɡ explorers. It was a journey we will neʋer forget.

Our adʋenture hɑd come fᴜll circle, but tҺe treasure һuпt was just tҺe beginnιng. We decιded to use ouɾ newfound weɑlth to fund future exρedιtions and exрɩoгe other uncharted territories.

We becaмe aмbassɑdors of adʋentuɾe, inspiring oThers To embarк on tҺeiɾ own quests for knowledge, discovery, and exсіtemeпt. Our journey taᴜght us the value of perseverance, Teamwork, and curιosity. We found a very big tɾeasure, bᴜt we discovered something eʋen more valᴜaƄƖe—TҺe рoweг of exploratιon ɑnd discovery. We aɾe excited to see what other adʋentures ɑwait us ιn the future.

 

Categories
Historic

Where is the Tomb of Alexander the Great?

Where is the tomb of Alexander the Great, one of the most successful rulers and military strategists of all time? He was only 33-years-old when he died in Babylon in 323 BC.

Mosaic of Alexander the Great.

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great was born in Pella in 356 BC. He was the son of King Philip II of Macedonia and the student of the great Greek Philosopher Aristotle. He had his first military victory when he was only 16-years-old. Despite his obvious strengths as a king’s son, Philip and Alexander had a falling out when Philip chose a new wife of Macedonian birth. There was talk of producing a “legitimate” heir. This angered Alexander and he and his mother were exiled.

Nonetheless, Alexander became king when his father was assassinated during his daughter’s wedding. He was 20-years-old. By the time he was 26-years-old, he had conquered the Persian Empire.

Body Laid in Memphis, Egypt

He said before his death that he was leaving his kingdom to “the strongest.” If he had wanted his empire to exist in peace after his death, he chose the wrong words. His men took this to mean that the strongest of them would take the place of Alexander. This naturally led to fighting.

Amidst all of the bickering, plans for the burial of the king were being made, which they also argued about. Plans were made and changed several times. Ultimately, Ptolemy I Soter hijacked the body in 321 BCE before its transfer to Aegea and laid Alexander’s remains to rest in Memphis, Egypt.

The funeral procession of Alexander the Great, as depicted by Diodorus. Image: Public Domain.
The funeral procession of Alexander the Great, as depicted by Diodorus Siculus. Image: Public Domain.

The Coffin

According to Diodorus Siculus in Book XVIII:

[blockquote align=”none” author=”Diodorus Siculus, Book XVIII”]First, they prepared a coffin of the proper size for the body, made of hammered gold, and the space about the body they filled with spices such as could make the body sweet-smelling and incorruptible. Upon this chest there had been placed a cover of gold, matching it to a nicety, and fitting about its upper rim. Over this was laid a magnificent purple robe embroidered with gold, beside which they placed the arms of the deceased, wishing the design of the whole to be in harmony with his accomplishments.[/blockquote]

Revered in Death

Because of Alexander’s great success in life, brought about by his tenacity and daring, he was greatly revered in death. This is how we know where his tomb was in certain places at certain times. There are records of such people as Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Caligula (who may have had his breastplate stolen out of his sarcophagus) visiting his tomb. We also know that Alexander the Great’s body may have been placed in a golden sarcophagus.

julius caesar at the tomb of alexander the great

Either Ptolemy I Soter or his son Philadelphus moved Alexander’s body to a new tomb in Alexandria in the late 4th or early 3rd Century BCE. The tomb was placed in a Mausoleum and reported to still exist in 274 BCE.

The tomb in Alexandria was replaced with another by Ptolemy Philopator around 215 BC. Philopator had a mausoleum erected in the center of Alexandria. In it, he placed some of his ancestors and Alexander the Great.

There is a record of Alexander the Great’s golden sarcophagus being melted down and sold in 89 BC. It was replaced by a glass sarcophagus.

The last definite record we have of the tomb of Alexander the Great dates to roughly 215 AD, when Caracella visited the tomb.

A Period of Turmoil

War came to Alexandria during the 3rd century. The city was attacked and ransacked repeatedly over the course of many years. It is possible that the tomb of Alexander the Great was destroyed, partially destroyed and/or robbed at this time.

Mother Nature and Christianity

If the tomb remained standing after these events, as some accounts suggest, then it is likely that it was destroyed during the famous earthquake and tsunami that struck Alexandria in 365 AD.

If by some chance the tomb or the corpse survived the tsunami, it is likely that the tomb was lost around 400 AD when the Christians began demanding that pagans cease to worship false gods. As Alexander the Great was worshipped in his death, he would have been a prime candidate for destruction. If the revered king’s body and tomb were still intact at this time, they may not have stood a chance against the Christians.

Rising sea levels may also have a hand in hiding the tomb. According to National Geographic, the sea level around Alexandria has risen upwards of 12 feet since Alexander’s death.

No Further Trace

After this time period, there is no reference to the location of Alexander the Great’s tomb. To this day, no trace of any of his three tombs has been found. His sarcophagus, body, or any of the relics supposedly buried with him have never been found. If his tomb had been looted, we may stand a chance of finding these things elsewhere than Alexandria. If it was destroyed by the massive tsunami that presumably took other treasures with it, chances are we will never find any trace of it.

The Final Location

The general consensus, and most likely truth, is that the tomb of Alexander the Great is in the center of Alexandria, Egypt. Several scholars have deduced the tomb is somewhere in the area of what was Canopic Street, now known as Horreya Avenue.

A 1784 depiction of Canopic Street, Alexandria.
A 1784 depiction of Canopic Street, Alexandria.

There have been claims that Alexander’s tomb may be found elsewhere and that there is evidence for such. However, the evidence that it was in Alexandria when it was either destroyed or looted beyond recognition is overwhelming by comparison.

Nonetheless, we must conclude at this point that the fate of the tomb of Alexander the Great is unknowable as it stands.

Categories
Historic

Where Were Sodom and Gomorrah?

The biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are synonymous with sin and divine punishment. According to Genesis 18-19, God destroyed them with a rain of sulfur and fire. The Old Testament is chock full of geographical and historical details of the twin cities, before and after their destruction. However, historians and archaeologists debate both the veracity and locations of these fabled ruins.

John Martin's 1852 painting showing the destruction of the two cities.
John Martin’s 1852 painting showing the destruction of the two cities.

The Dead Sea and the Cities of the Plain

Reference to the two cities appears throughout the Old Testament, but Genesis chapters 14 through 19 offer the region’s lengthiest descriptions. Sodom and Gomorrah were only two of many kingdoms around the Jordan River valley and the Dead Sea region, also called the Valley of Siddim. The so-called cities of the plain were Sodom, Gomorrah, Zoar, Admah, and Zeboiim. According to Genesis 14.10, before the destruction, “the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits; as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country.” This passage introduces critical geographical features of note in the search for these ruined cities.

Men of the City of Sodom

The real story of Sodom and Gomorrah surrounds a bargain between the patriarch Abraham and the Lord God. In Genesis 18, the Lord recognized the wickedness growing in the land but promised Abraham that if ten righteous people were found in Sodom, He would not destroy the city. The angels sent by the Lord received hospitality from Lot upon entering the city but were set upon thereafter by a mob of wicked men: “both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house; and they called to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, so that we may know them’.” (Gen. 19:4-5).

Sins of the Sodomites

Biblical scholars debate the actual crime of the men of Sodom, who sought to “know” (Hebrew: yada) Lot’s visitors. Hospitality to strangers, as Lot showed, was a preeminent virtue of ancient civilizations. When the people of Sodom broke this convention, Lot tried to spare his visitors by offering the mob his two virgin daughters instead. Whether the crime of the Sodomites was sexual immorality or a violent denial of hospitality remains debated. In either case, God’s punishment was now certain for Sodom and its twin city.

Lot and his daughters with Sodom burning in the background by Cornelis Cort.
Lot and his daughters with Sodom burning in the background by Cornelis Cort.

Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

The angels of the Lord told Lot of the imminent destruction, warning him not to “stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills,” and not to look back upon the ruin.

Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground… Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord; and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the Plain and saw the smoke of the land going up like the smoke of a furnace (Genesis 19:24-25; 27).

Gathering his family, Lot arrived at the city of Zoar when the sulfur and fire rained down from the heavens. Famously, his wife did gaze toward the disaster and became a pillar of salt.

This rock formation on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea is known as Lot's Wife.
This rock formation on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea is known as Lot’s Wife. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

Historical Clues

In the Septuagint, the earliest books of the Old Testament, we garner some clues of the location and context of these lost cities. Abraham is thought to have lived during the Third Dynasty of Ur, around 2100 BCE. This timeline is critical, as the Middle Eastern climate in 2100 BCE was cooler and wetter. Areas now dominated by desert were hospitable to agriculture and ground cover. The Jordanian plain would have boasted numerous cities, but which were the real Sodom and Gomorrah?

Natural Disaster

Putting aside the prospect of divine destruction, scientists and archaeologists continue to search for a natural explanation for the destruction of the cities, attentive to the physical evidence from the plain of Jordan. Many mythological traditions are born from natural disasters, rendered into parables focusing on divine retribution. The Greeks called this an etiology, a story that explains the cause of some natural feature or event. This may be the case in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by Jacob de Wet II, 1680.
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by Jacob de Wet II, 1680. Image: Public domain.

Earthquake

Prone to major earthquakes, the region may have suffered twin catastrophes. An earthquake would have devastated mudbrick buildings, as seen in the 2003 destruction of the Iranian city of Bam. Earthquakes also release horrific secondary forces. Earthquakes can literally liquefy the ground, causing the cities to collapse or sink. Landslides from the northern hills could have buried the cities. Finally, a seismic activity could have caused an explosive release of gasses from the ground. The bitumen deposits of the region, particularly in the southern Jordanian valley, could have poisoned both the soil and the air. Abraham’s view of the smoke coming off the land like a furnace in Genesis 19 lends some credence to this theory.

Related: Where was the Garden of Eden

Finding the Cities: Archaeological Theories.

Biblical archaeologists have scoured the Jordanian plains and the region around the Dead Sea for nearly two centuries, seeking out these cities’ ruins. Scholars have proposed both northern and southern locations.

Tall el-Hammam 

Close to the mouth of the River Jordan, northeast of the Dead Sea, archaeologist Dr. Steven Collins has worked at Tall el-Hammam since 2005. A massive Bronze-Age city, Collins’ excavations have revealed features expected of the Bronze Age (circa 3500-1500 BCE), such as massive city walls, palace and temple complexes. Some pottery and cuneiform tablets from the site were fired and vitrified, covered in a glassy coating. The discovery of zircon crystals on the site, present only in environments of intense heat, led Collins to propose that an exploding meteor slammed into the site around 1700 BCE. However, some archaeologists and geologists reject Collins’ theories based on the late destruction date and the absence of a crater or impact site.

Bab edh-Dhra and Numeria

The gate of Bab edh-Dhra overlooking the southern end of the Dead Sea.
The gate of Bab edh-Dhra overlooking the southern end of the Dead Sea. Image: Wikimedia.

On the shallow, southeastern shore of the Dead Sea, the sites of Bab edh-Dhra and Numeria have also been pronounced as the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Many early Bronze Age cities are found in the southern region, typically smaller than the site at Tall el-Hammam. The southern theory closely adheres to the geographical descriptions in Genesis, as these sites are found in proximity to sulfur-rich bitumen and petroleum deposits. Skepticism surrounds this proposal as well. Numeria is considered too small to fit the description of Gomorrah. Secondly, both the chronology and absence of a dual destruction fail to match the biblical evidence.

Conclusion

The fertile climate of the Middle Bronze Age and the geographical advantages of settlement in the Dead Sea region clearly supported many cities in the Biblical era. Locating the remains of Sodom and Gomorrah, though, relies upon careful analysis of too few clues in Genesis. Many towns rose and fell across the Middle East during the Bronze Age, whether through human intervention or natural disaster. Archaeologists and historians will continue their search to locate the famously smote cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in the site-rich Jordanian valley.

Categories
Archaeology World

Blue-eyed humans have a single, common ancestor

People with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor, according to new research. A team of scientists has tracked down a genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes. The mutation occurred between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. Before then, there were no blue eyes.

Blue-eyed humans have a single, common ancestor
Reese Witherspoon.

“Originally, we all had brown eyes,” said Hans Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen.

The mutation affected the so-called OCA2 gene, which is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives colour to our hair, eyes and skin.

“A genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a ‘switch,’ which literally ‘turned off’ the ability to produce brown eyes,” Eiberg said.

The genetic switch is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 and rather than completely turning off the gene, the switch limits its action, which reduces the production of melanin in the iris. In effect, the turned-down switch diluted brown eyes to blue. If the OCA2 gene had been completely shut down, our hair, eyes and skin would be melanin-less, a condition known as albinism.

“It’s exactly what I sort of expected to see from what we know about selection around this area,” said John Hawks of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, referring to the study results regarding the OCA2 gene. Hawks was not involved in the current study.

Baby blues

Eiberg and his team examined DNA from mitochondria, the cell’s energy-making structures, of blue-eyed individuals in countries including Jordan, Denmark and Turkey. This genetic material comes from females, so it can trace maternal lineages.

They specifically looked at sequences of DNA on the OCA2 gene and the genetic mutation associated with turning down melanin production.

Over the course of several generations, segments of ancestral DNA get shuffled so that individuals have varying sequences. Some of these segments, however, that haven’t been reshuffled are called haplotypes.

If a group of individuals shares long haplotypes, that means the sequence arose relatively recently in our human ancestors. The DNA sequence didn’t have enough time to get mixed up.

“What they were able to show is that the people who have blue eyes in Denmark, as far as Jordan, these people all have this same haplotype, they all have exactly the same gene changes that are all linked to this one mutation that makes eyes blue,” Hawks said in a telephone interview.

Melanin switch

The mutation is what regulates the OCA2 switch for melanin production. And depending on the amount of melanin in the iris, a person can end up with eye colours ranging from brown to green.

Brown-eyed individuals have considerable individual variation in the area of their DNA that controls melanin production. But they found that blue-eyed individuals only have a small degree of variation in the amount of melanin in their eyes.

“Out of 800 persons we have only found one person which didn’t fit — but his eye colour was blue with a single brown spot,” Eiberg told LiveScience, referring to the finding that blue-eyed individuals all had the same sequence of DNA linked with melanin production.

“From this, we can conclude that all blue-eyed individuals are linked to the same ancestor,” Eiberg said. “They have all inherited the same switch at exactly the same spot in their DNA.” Eiberg and his colleagues detailed their study in the online edition of the journal Human Genetics.

That genetic switch somehow spread throughout Europe and now other parts of the world.

“The question really is, ‘Why did we go from having nobody on Earth with blue eyes 10,000 years ago to having 20 or 40 per cent of Europeans having blue eyes now?” Hawks said. “This gene does something good for people. It makes them have more kids.”

Categories
Archaeology World

Giant 1,100 Pound bone belonging to sauropod found in France

The femur of a giant dinosaur was found this week by French palaeontologists at an excavation site in southwest France where, since 2010, remains of some of the largest animals ever to live on land have been excavated.

Maxime Lasseron inspects the femur of a Sauropod (AFP/Getty Images)
Maxime Lasseron inspects the femur of a Sauropod.

The thigh bone of a giant dinosaur was found this week by French palaeontologists at an excavation site in southwestern France where remains of some of the largest animals that ever lived on land have been dug up since 2010.

The two-meter-long femur at the Angeac-Charente site is thought to have belonged to a sauropod, an herbivorous dinosaur with long necks and tails which were widespread in the late Jurassic era, over 140 million years ago.

“This is a major discovery,” Ronan Allain, a palaeontologist at the National History Museum of Paris told Reuters. “I was especially amazed by the state of preservation of that femur.”

“These are animals that probably weighed 40 to 50 tonnes.”

Allain said scientists at the site near the city of Cognac had found more than 7,500 fossils of more than 40 different species since 2010, making it one of the largest such finds in Europe.

Scientists believe that the bones are from a sauropod, which is the largest herbivorous dinosaur and first appeared in the late Triassic Period.

These reptiles were the largest of all dinosaurs and the largest land animals that have ever lived, they had a small head a long neck and a very long tail.

Scientists believe they would spend their time wallowing in shallow water that would help support their bodies.

The dinosaur bone was found covered in clay by volunteers from the National Museum of Natural History.

Categories
Archaeology World

A 70-million-year-old dinosaur baby unearthed in China is one of the best-preserved fossils ever found

A dinosaur embryo perfectly curled up in its fossilized egg was analyzed by a team of researchers in southeastern China.

The rundown: The fossil, estimated to be between 72 and 66 million years old, belonged to an oviraptorosaur — a beaked, toothless and omnivorous theropod that existed during the Cretaceous Period of what is now Asia and North America.

Researchers published their findings in the journal Science.

The embryo was estimated to be 27 centimetres (11 inches) long from head to tail. Researchers said the dinosaur, which would have fed on plants, would be 2-3 meters (79-118 inches) long had it lived to adulthood.

The embryo was close to hatching as evidenced by its “tucking” posture, a behavior seen in modern birds. Chicks preparing to hatch tuck their heads under their right wing for stability as they crack the shell with their beak.

Modern birds are direct descendants of theropods, which are two-legged dinosaurs. Theropods include the Tyrannosaurus rex, spinosaurus and velociraptor, among others.

What the researchers are saying: Due to its complete structure, the fossil turned out to be one of the best dinosaur embryos found in history, the researchers told AFP. They called the creature “Baby Yingliang” after Yingliang Stone Nature History Museum, its current location.

Our little one has just arrived. Welcome Baby Yingliang, a gorgeous fossil dinosaur embryo preserved inside its egg! You’re looking here at a baby dinosaur, not too long before it would have hatched.

“This skeleton is not only complete from the tip of the snout to the end of its tail; it is curled in a life pose within its egg as if the animal died just yesterday,” study co-author Darla Zelenitsky, an assistant professor of paleontology at the University of Calgary, told Live Science.

Lead author Waisum Ma, a vertebrate paleontologist at the University of Birmingham, said dinosaur embryos happen to be some of the rarest fossils. Most non-avian embryos are also incomplete, with bones separated at the joints. “We are very excited about the discovery of ‘Baby Yingliang’ — it is preserved in a great condition and helps us answer a lot of questions about dinosaur growth and reproduction with it,” Ma said. “It is interesting to see this dinosaur embryo and a chicken embryo pose in a similar way inside the egg, which possibly indicates similar prehatching behaviours.”

The researchers said the embryo was found in Jiangxi province and acquired by Liang Liu, director of a Chinese stone company called Yingliang Group, in 2000. It was stored and forgotten until museum staff found it some 10 years later, during the construction of Yingliang Stone Nature History Museum, according to CNN.

Embryos that don’t adopt the tucking posture are more likely to die as a result of unsuccessful hatching. The team plans to study the fossil further using advanced scanning techniques, since part of its body remains covered by rock.