homehome Home chatchat Notifications


Archaeologists discover tomb of female singer in the Valley of the Kings

A team of archaeologists from Egypt and Switzerland unearthed the 3100 year-old tomb of a female singer in the valley of the kings – a woman not related to the ancient Egyptian royal families ever found there. This was published on numerous sites with faulty information, reporting that the tomb was 1100 years old (like […]

Mihai Andrei
January 16, 2012 @ 11:37 am

share Share

A team of archaeologists from Egypt and Switzerland unearthed the 3100 year-old tomb of a female singer in the valley of the kings – a woman not related to the ancient Egyptian royal families ever found there.

This was published on numerous sites with faulty information, reporting that the tomb was 1100 years old (like this article from the Independent), but that’s wrong, displaying yet again how badly science reporters sometimes treat their data. The body found was buried in 1100 BC, as in 1100 years before the year 0.

The singer’s name was Nehmes Bastet, which means she believed she was protected by the feline deity called Bastet, and her coffin was incredibly intact. It was actually found by accident, as archaeologists weren’t even looking for new tombs. What’s even more interesting is that the tomb wasn’t built originally for her, but 400 years earlier, it was built for someone else, though scientists can’t say for whom.

share Share

Archaeologists Find Neanderthal Stone Tool Technology in China

A surprising cache of stone tools unearthed in China closely resembles Neanderthal tech from Ice Age Europe.

These 2,200-Year-Old Shackles Reveal The Dark Side of Egypt’s Ancient Gold Mines

Shackles from ancient Egyptian gold mines reveal the harsh reality behind Ptolemy’s glittering wealth.

Metal detectorist finds 800 ancient artifacts buried in northern England that could rewrite Iron Age Britain

Hundreds of ancient chariot pieces and ceremonial weapons were found buried in Yorkshire it's challenging everything we know about Iron Age Britain.

This hospital in Cambridge offered "medieval benefits" but few got in

Charity in the 14th century, like now, was as much about storytelling and perceived worth as about need.

The Romans drew penises all over Hadrian's Wall

Penis etchings -- the longstanding hallmark of military troops.

This Medieval Bear in Romania Was A Victim of Human Lead Pollution

One bear. Six years. One hidden history of pollution brought to light by a laser.

The Smell of Gods: Ancient Greek and Roman Statues Were Once Not Only Painted But Also Perfumed

Ancient artists used perfume to bring their statue to life.

A 7,000-Year-Old Fire-Starting Kit Was Just Unearthed in China

The fire-drilling toolset is older than the pyramids but is remarkably well preserved.

This Overlooked Monument May Have Inspired Stonehenge’s Design

New research suggests that the Flagstones site in Dorset may be linked to Stonehenge.

Hominins in Africa were shaping bone tools as early as 1.5 million years ago

That's a whole million years earlier than what we previously thought.