Strongly worded letter from Prince Philip slamming New Zealand for treating Maoris like ‘museum pieces and domestic pets’ following 1954 royal visit is unearthed 66 years on The 11-page 1954 letter was addressed to Australian politician Sir Harold Hartley The Duke of Edinburgh penned the official letter after state visit to New Zealand He also … Read more
The remains of a duckbilled dinosaur that lived 66 million years ago has been found in Morocco and it must have crossed at least 250 miles of ocean to get there, scientists claim. Paleontologists from the University of Bath and others found the fossilised remains of the unusual dinosaur, dubbed Ajnabia odysseus, in rocks in … Read more
Slave quarters dating to the 18th century are unearthed at Jesuit plantation in Maryland revealing remains of cabins, tobacco pipes, coins and other personal belongings Newtown State Park in Maryland was the location of an 18th-century plantation Experts have uncovered remains of cabins that were home to slaves in the 1700s The site also revealed … Read more
Newly analyzed fossils from Antarctica may represent an extinct species of giant bird with a wingspan of more than 20 feet. By comparison the largest modern-day bird, the wandering albatross, has a wingspan of just 11 feet and six inches. Called pelagornithids, the ancient avians soared over Earth’s oceans more than 40 million years ago. … Read more
Have we been painting Henry VIII in the wrong light? Famous ‘unfeeling’ womaniser was left ‘heartbroken’ by his mother’s death and ‘wept’ at her bedside, unearthed drawing reveals Henry VIII was not unaffected by grief and left ‘heartbroken’ by mother’s death Captured ‘weeping’ at her bedside, according to new documentary about ruler Henry VIII, which … Read more
Small fossils have been unearthed in China that belonged to a monkey about 6.4 million years ago. The remains were found a southeastern Yunan Province mine, making them the oldest to be found outside of Africa. Researchers from Penn State University have obtained a heelbone and jawbone with teeth that are believed to have been … Read more
In centuries past, the River Thames became London’s sewer as industrial waste, human excrement and even murdered bodies were dumped into its murky waters. But along with the mounds of foul-smelling rubbish which caused the Great Stink of 1858, historical treasures have also sunk to the river’s depths. Simon Bourne, 39, has spent nine years … Read more
Ancient Roman villa packed with rare mosaics is unearthed under a block of flats at foot of the Aventine Hill where wealthy citizens lived 2,000 years ago The so-called ‘domus’ was uncovered during earthquake-proofing work in 2015 Mosaics depicted ornamental patterns, colourful parrots and a growing vine Excavations also found artefacts including oil lamps, bowls … Read more
Bizarre new species of toothless two-fingered dinosaur that looked like a giant parrot and lived 68 million years ago is unearthed in the Gobi Desert Researchers from Edinburgh have named the new species Oksoko avarsan It would have grown to around 6.5 feet in length and sported feathers and a beak Most members of its genus … Read more
A stone head carved around 700 years ago that is thought to depict King Edward II has been unearthed during a dig at the former site of Shaftesbury Abbey in Dorset. Archaeologists said that ‘stunning’ find may once have formed part of a previously unknown gallery of sculpture of Kings and Queens within the grand building. The statues, … Read more