Why Did The MYCENEANS Collect Large Animal FOSSILS?

In ancient Greece collecting fossils was associated with mythology. The legends of heroes and monsters were inspired by the fossilised remains of large animals that had long since been extinct. However, researchers haven't been able to determine how far back the tradition of collecting of large animal fossils in the Aegean goes.

Evidence from the Late Bronze Age has been found in the past but the artefacts often came from unsecured contexts. Now, a reanalysis of a fossil from the Bronze Age Mycenaean citadel has shown that the people who lived there did collect them. Of course, it's still not clear why they did, but there's a strong possibility it was for magical or ritual reasons.

In this week's ancient history news I discuss the paper that details the research into this fossil from Mycenae, as well as the discovery of a Maya stone slab featuring 123 glyphs and the excavation of a cult temple at the Etruscan necropolis of Sasso Pinzuto.

#ancienthistory #bronzeage #mycenaeans

✨ IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Introduction
01:34 Evidence of large animal fossil collecting found at Bronze Age Mycenae
06:44 Stone slab discovered featuring 123 Maya glyphs
08:14 Temple discovered at the Etruscan necropolis of Sasso Pinzuto

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✨ REFERENCES

✨ PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS

Diagrams related to the DNA study of the plague, credit: Meier, J. S., et al., in the paper referenced above.

Lion’s Gate at Mycenae, credit: Andreas Trepte

Path up the Lion’s Gate at Mycenae, credit: Andy Hay
Nohoch Mul pyramid, credit: Gautier Poupeau

Other
Images of the Maya stone slab from Cobá and the excavation, credit: National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH)

Image of the Etruscan cult temple, credit: Centre for Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies (CAMNES)

[dominicmcauley]

Love learning about the Mycenaeans so often overlooked in favor of classical Greece

[Machine]

Ive been fascinated by the ancient cultures in the greece area. Recently, i stumbled in to a few scholors talking about the Ancient Mysteries, what their ritualized processes entailed and most importantly, why they engaged in these activities. In a nutshell, what we label as ancient religions were in actually ancient healthcare, primarily dealing with animal sacrifices and plants. The animal sacrifices fell into categories of healthcare. Often, bone marrow was extracted from snapped bones as an ingredient in the medicine. This wasnt limited to animal bones but lets not go there. Also, growth hormones were used.

For example, snake bites were a common issue. Antidotes were needed. Young girls were stolen and administered daily microdoses of venom until they hit puberty by which time the immunse system would convert the bodily fluids into the antidote which was then consumed by the elite. Even her bath water was consumed.

In malta, deep under the island in ancient tunnels, snapped mammoth bones were discovered. Malta was a prison/laboratory for engineering and breeding gods, tyrants, priestesses, oracles, and warriors. Stem cells and growth hormones = anunaki myths

[waynesworldofsci-tech]

Slept past the live. Great reporting. Now I have more to think about.

[barrywalser]

These are three of the most enigmatic civilizations. All three stories here are fascinating, but I do like some Mayan glyphs. Thanks Laura!
Oh, and I do want to hear the “lost in Greece” story. 😄

[benketengu]

Thank you very much for your time and your Reporting I always learn something

[ecurewitz]

At the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, they have an Ancient Greek vase showing Hercules and a woman named Hesione fighting a monster called Cetus. And the monster is a fossilized skull. The museum claims it is the skull of either a whale or giraffe, but that is unlikely because the skull has a schlerotic eye ring, which mammals do not possess. It is likely the fossil of some sort of monitor lizard

[toriwilson]

Hello, new viewer here. Thank you for fact backed reporting! Also, this may sound trvial but its not Thank you for your simple room divider behind you. It is good for your personal budget and space saving but good for the audience too, we can focus on your wonderful fact sharing.

[tinkerstrade]

Life, their's and ours, are a misty river, the view ahead foreshortened by a bend, and the past shrouded in haze and deepening shadows. And always, we see less than we desire, yet more than we can understand.
Humans are curious creatures, in both senses of the word.

[KaTa]

The same reason we save them, they are interesting.😊

[AntonyReyn]

The Trojan horse was the plan B it was meant to be Trojan Triceratops

[DanH-uf]

They thought that they were the giant bones and remains of their gods.

[mfadls]

It reminds me to the Adrienne Mayor's "The First Fossil Hunters".

[Rachels]

I wonder if these fossils were the start of the giant human myths.

[Whichbindoesthisgoin]

It’s harsh to be describing all these artefacts with so few images 🫤

[raymorphis]

the cool factor has always been a part of being human. why do we like shiney rocks? metals ect. Being cool gets you mates, food and shelter sometimes. The Fonz would have Killed every early human just with his Cool factor