Breakthrough research identifies ‘Dragon Man’
I recently wrote about the discovery of a new human species following the recovery of DNA from a fragment of bone from Denisova Cave in Siberia.
The World Before Us
Americas’ ancients march back in time
Americas’ ancients march back in time
Who were in fact, the first humans to reach the Americas, when did they get there and what did they find?
Sunken cities sound alarm
Sunken cities sound alarm
Tourists throng to the Greek theatre at Epidaurus, but very few venture further to the nearby shore, where, standing on a promontory on our first visit to Greece, my brother and I made out an...
Verulamium’s secrets still being uncovered
Verulamium’s secrets still being uncovered
Many years ago, I learned a lot of lessons on how to dig at the Roman city of Verulamium. Thankfully, it is still under open fields and undeveloped by housing.
Henge your bets on site similarity in pre-history
Henge your bets on site similarity in pre-history
Stonehenge is one of the most mysterious of monuments. It has puzzled visitors for centuries and has a prominent place in folklore. To this day, it attracts thousands to celebrate the summer solstice.
Shroud sacred or sham?
Shroud sacred or sham?
The Shroud of Turin has been described as "the world’s most studied archaeological artefact".
Bones could well be St John the Baptist’s
Bones could well be St John the Baptist’s
The island of Sveti Ivan lies just 350km north of Istanbul, formerly Constantinople.
Cold shoulder tells story of people’s past
Cold shoulder tells story of people’s past
One of my most memorable cruises as a guest speaker took us to Kerch, where today Putin’s infamous bridge links Russia to the Ukraine.
Solar bursts shine light on history
Solar bursts shine light on history
Not many people have had their name adopted into the English language.
Field of a soldier’s dreams
Field of a soldier’s dreams
In 334BC, Alexander the Great reviewed his army and made sacrifices to Zeus at Dion, in the shadow of Mount Olympus.
Archaeological nirvana found in chance stop
Archaeological nirvana found in chance stop
We are staying in our Greek whānau’s villa on the shore of the Aegean.
Salt mine has long history
Salt mine has long history
I have always wanted to visit Hallstatt, a prehistoric site that his given its name to the early Iron Age in Europe.
Back from oblivion
Back from oblivion
Archaeology can be both deadly dull and, if you are fortunate, incredibly exciting.
Sooty fingerprints of sister species
Sooty fingerprints of sister species
In 1957, my brother Richard and I travelled on our 59cc NSU mopeds from our home in Wimbledon to central France to spend our summer digging in the cave of Arcy-sur-Cure.
Cave of Denis, bounty of archaeological discovery
Cave of Denis, bounty of archaeological discovery
The first issue of the journal Nature was published on November 4, 1869, costing fourpence.
History’s marching papers
History’s marching papers
As digital communication takes over, so letters are now few and far between.
Art from the ashes
Art from the ashes
A few years ago while cruising the Aegean, we sailed into the massive crater, now an arm of the sea, that formed when Santorini erupted.
Scans unravel the mystery of scrolls
Scans unravel the mystery of scrolls
The eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79AD is one of the best-known human catastrophes and Pompeii is regularly thronged with visitors who can walk down the Roman streets.
Finding our first settlers
Finding our first settlers
On one of my cruises as a guest speaker, my wife and I found ourselves on a bus heading for the Kemp House at the Kerikeri Mission station in the Bay of Islands.
Last meal reveals diet
Last meal reveals diet
In 1983, my Thai colleagues in Bangkok told me about a newly discovered prehistoric site just an hour’s drive away.