29 Interesting Archaeological Discoveries - mental_floss List Show Ep. 506

TL;DR

Unearthed artifacts like giant rats, the Rosetta Stone, well-preserved wheels, and more reveal ancient history mysteries.

Transcript

hi I'm John Green welcome to my salon this is Mental Floss video and you know that in 2015 archaeologists found fossils of rats the size of small dogs from 44,000 years ago I'm not exaggerating by the way the largest rat was about 11 pounds making it 10 times larger than the ones we're used to and approximately the same size as my childhood miniatu... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥳 Archaeological discoveries range from giant rats in East Timor to the Rosetta Stone decoding hieroglyphics.
• 🇬🇧 Findings include well-preserved mummies in Siberia, King Richard III's bones, and the mystery of King Herod's tomb discovery.
• 💅 Unusual artifacts like the Baghdad battery and the Toland man offer unique insights into ancient technology and lifestyle.
• ⚓ The Terracotta Army in China and the Sutton Hoo ship burial exemplify the grandeur of ancient civilizations.
• 👹 Underwater discoveries like the Antikythera mechanism and the Japanese Atlantis continue to intrigue scientists.
• 👣 Tracking historical journeys with mercury traces and discovering petroglyphs in Nevada showcases innovative archaeological techniques.

Questions & Answers

Q: What significant role did the Rosetta Stone play in decoding Egyptian hieroglyphics?

The Rosetta Stone had inscriptions in Greek, Egyptian demotic, and Egyptian hieroglyphics, helping scholars decipher the latter due to the identical text in all three languages.

Q: How did scientists identify English King Richard III after discovering his bones?

By using DNA from his relatives, scientists positively identified the bones as belonging to King Richard III and gained insights into his diet and lifestyle.

Q: What is the significance of the mysterious dodecahedra discovered from the Roman Empire?

The hollowed-out dodecahedra with twelve sides remain a mystery, with theories ranging from candleholders, dice, to pipe pieces, showcasing the enigmas archaeologists encounter.

Q: How did scientists differentiate between two mummies to identify the female pharaoh Hatshepsut?

The identification of Pharaoh Hatshepsut was achieved through scanning bodies and examining jars containing her organs, with a missing molar providing a crucial clue.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Giant rats fossils from 44,000 years ago were discovered in East Timor, Southeast Asia, the size of small dogs.

• The Rosetta Stone, found in 1799, helped scholars understand Egyptian hieroglyphics with writing in three different languages.

• Various intriguing archaeological finds include a Bronze Age wheel, well-preserved mummies, and the Terracotta Army sculpture.