Michelle Moran's Blog, page 79

Prehistoric pet? Dog burial found in O.C.

by Pat Brennan

It might have been a treasured pet, or the victim of traditional destruction of property after its owner's death. The reason for its burial remains a mystery.

Read the rest here.

Armenian cave yields what may be world's oldest leather shoe

By Tom Watkins, CNN

Get a kick out of this: Researchers reported Wednesday finding the world's oldest leather shoe in a cave in Armenia.

Read the rest on CNN.

Ancient bees found in Israel hailed from Turkey

The origin of insects found in clay beehives in the Jordan Valley, the oldest known commercial beekeeping facility in the world, suggests extensive trading and complicated agriculture 3,000 years ago.

Read the rest in the LA Times.

Roman gladiator cemetery found in England

London, England (CNN) -- Heads hacked off, a bite from a lion, tiger or bear, massive muscles on massive men -- all clues that an ancient cemetery uncovered in northern England is the final resting place of gladiators, scientists have announced after seven years of investigations.

Read the rest on CNN.

Building found during Rochester Cathedral excavation

Archaeologists digging at a cathedral in Kent have unearthed evidence of a previously unknown building. An excavation project was started at Rochester Cathedral to conserve a Roman city wall.

Read the rest on the BBC.

Researchers: Cavemen feasted on lions

Waiting in line at the drive-through may be a drag, but it sure beats what our ancestors had to do for fast food. Try take-out lion. A Spanish team reports Neanderthals likely hunted and ate a big cat at a cave site.

Read the rest on USA Today.

Scars from lion bite suggest headless Romans found in York were gladiators

Martin Wainwright

Kurt Hunter-Mann, right, examines a skeleton at the site in York, which may be the only well-preserved Roman gladiator cemetery. Photograph: C4 Picture/PA

The haunting mystery of Britain's headless Romans may have been solved at last, thanks to scars from a lion's bite and hammer marks on decapitated skulls.

Read the rest here.

Signs of Amelia Earhart's Final Days?

By Rossella Lorenzi

Tantalizing new clues are surfacing in the Amelia Earhart mystery, according to researchers scouring a remote South Pacific island believed to be the final resting place of the legendary aviatrix.

Read the rest on Discovery.

9,000 year old beer recreated

Debra Black

A 9,000 year old beer made of rice, honey and hawthorn may give a whole new meaning to cracking open a cold one.

Read the rest here.

The prophet of science: 17th century chemist who foresaw the hi-tech future

Beth Hale

They may appear to be marvels of modern science. But organ transplants, satellite navigation and cosmetic surgery can actually be traced back - in idea form at least - to a 17th century scientist with a big imagination.

Read the rest on the Daily Mail.