Archaeology Now

06/03/2026

What a wonderful portrait that brings to life a more diverse story of Britain. Lets hope they raise the funds to keep it!

: The Garden Museum in London has launched a campaign to buy the earliest known portrait of a Black British gardener. The museum hopes to raise $560,000 to keep the rare historical record in a public U.K. collection.

The prized 18th-century painting by an unknown artist, depicts John Ystumllyn, a renowned gardener who lived and worked in Wales. When he sat for the portrait in 1754, John was in his late teens, and is shown elegantly dressed in a blue suit and waistcoat. The painting has been on loan to the Garden Museum since 2023, but the institution hopes to see it permanently installed beside Portrait of a Black Gardener, another 1905 portrait by Harold Gilman that it acquired in 2013.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4nSzzf3

Article by Jo Lawson-Tancred

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Pictured: Portrait of John Ystumllyn (1736-1786/88). Photo: Prudence Cuming.

06/03/2026

Dear Fans of Archaeology Now,
They say that every great story eventually reaches a new chapter. Today, I’m sharing that I’ll be retiring as Executive Director of Archaeology Now. 🏛️✨

Looking back over 18 years, I am filled with gratitude for the vibrant community we’ve built here in Houston. From ancient games tournaments to deep dives into medieval history, from explorations of the mysteries of Stonehenge and the soaring heights of Notre-Dame to the ancient gardens of Al-Andalus and the very cradle of civilization in Mesopotamia, we have told the world's stories. Closer to home, we’ve worked tirelessly to honor our local heritage through the preservation of Houston's historic cemeteries and cultural tours across our community. Most importantly, we have touched the lives of over 50,000 children through our educational outreach. it has been a joy to bring the past to life with all of you.

While I’m looking forward to a bit more personal time, I’ll always be a champion for the preservation of our heritage and the stories that connect us. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey.

Stay curious!
Becky Lao

The image below illustrates my greatest passion and the ultimate inspiration for our work: a group of brilliant fourth-grade students who participated in our eight-week ancient Egypt enrichment series, a program dedicated to opening worlds of history and imagination for children in underserved communities.

06/03/2026

What an extraordinary discovery!

In 2001, amateur archaeologists discovered thousands of corroded iron fragments at an Iron Age ritual site near Hallaton, England. After nearly 10 years of restoration work, the fragments were revealed to be a rare Roman cavalry helmet dating back almost 2,000 years. The additional images show how the helmet may have originally appeared before centuries of corrosion, decorated with silver and gold details. The site also contained more than 5,000 coins, silver ingots, and large quantities of pig bones, suggesting it may once have been an important ceremonial center during the early Roman period in Britain.

05/30/2026

Happening now! The great Irving Finkel from.the British Museum giving an adult education class at the Jung Center: "Windows to the Mind, on rescuing private diaries."

It is just another way that Archaeology Now works within the community to present events that reach outside of academia to interact with a larger public

05/29/2026

Archaeology Now always supports education, up through the very last day of school! Here's a throwback photo from seven years ago that featured a workshop for elementary students on the marvels of ancient Egypt. As you can see by the raised hands, the students were engaged! (and who wouldn't love Egypt!)

05/29/2026

Amazing how small discoveries can build to support a case of evidence that reveals a life or a culture.

An excavation of the Colosseum's sewer systems has uncovered a selection of spectator snacks from the Roman period. It appears that watching gladiators fight to the death was hungry work, and the best snacks to accompany such a spectacle were olives, fruits, and nuts. The dig unearthed peach, fig, grape, blackberry, and cherry seeds, along with bones of bears and big cats that may have participated in fights or hunting games. The Colosseum, one of the most iconic buildings from the Roman period, could hold an average audience of some 65,000 spectators. According to Alfonsina Russo, director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, relics like these provide a snapshot into the "experience and habits of those who came to this place during the long days dedicated to the performances."

The study began in January 2021 and involved the clearance of around 70 meters (230 feet) of drains and sewers under the Colosseum, which remains one of Italy's most visited landmarks. The research aims to learn more about how the ancient sewer and hydraulic systems operated under the Flavian Amphitheater, with a particular focus on solving the mystery of how the underground was flooded during water spectacles. In addition to food remains, archaeologists discovered a surprising amount of loose change — 53 bronze coins from the Late Imperial period and a rare orichalcum sestertius struck in 170‑171 AD to mark the 10th anniversary of Marcus Aurelius' accession to the throne. Personal items were also found: bone game dice, a bone pin, clothing components, shoe nails, leather, and studs.

Colosseum construction began under Emperor Vespasian (AD 69‑79) and was completed by his son and successor, Titus, in AD 80. After the Roman Empire fell, the Colosseum was abandoned. During the late sixth century AD, a small chapel was built into the structure and later converted into a cemetery. Over the following centuries, the monument underwent numerous transformations, serving as a shopping and residential complex, a fort, and a hideout. Now, thanks to sewer excavations, we know that 2,000 years ago, spectators dropped olive pits and cherry seeds into the same drains where they lost coins and dice — a reminder that ancient Romans, like us, snacked, gambled, and left their trash behind.

05/24/2026

The prehistoric hominins “apparently were very adept at what we would consider invasive medicine,” said the anthropologist John Olsen.

05/23/2026

Happening right now: Antioch -- Legacy of Resilience held at the historic Antioch Misdionary Baptist Church, established by formerly enslaved pastor Jack Yates. Architectural historian Dr
Christopher Hunter is in conversation with Pastor Lou McElroy to discuss the story of the Black church in America.

05/22/2026

Its a planetary conjunction of two of the world's great thinkers!

The scribe -- Irving Finkel -- meets the scientist -- Peter Hotez. Together they discuss the meaning of medicine, of healing, of how some ideas refuse to die.

It is the cap on the 2025-2026 Archaeology Now season focused on al-Andalus.

Join me at Congregation Emanu El at 3pm.on Sunday May 31. Registration can be accessed at: https://members.emanuelhouston.org/form/scribe-scientist--talk-and-discussion_May2026

05/22/2026

During a massive excavation for an undersea railway tunnel in Istanbul, archaeologists uncovered a pair of women’s sandals with a Greek inscription that still reads: “Use in health, lady, wear in beauty and happiness.”

The sandals were part of a trove of artifacts unearthed during the Marmaray project, which connected the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. The dig revealed 60,000 objects, including shipwrecks, skeletons, and 8,500‑year‑old footprints. But the sandals stand out for their intimacy. They belonged to a Byzantine woman, probably of modest means, and the inscription was meant to be seen by her – and only her.

The Byzantines were the continuation of the Roman Empire in the East. Their capital, Constantinople (now Istanbul), was a center of wealth and trade. Red dye was reserved for imperial shoes, but women’s footwear was often colorful and decorated. These sandals are a reminder that even in a bustling, sprawling empire, personal messages of love and care were carved into everyday objects.