Temple of the “god covered in human skin” (Mexico)

Stone statues were discovered in the temple of the god Xipe Totec. Photo: Ancient Origins.

Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History first discovered the temple of Xipe Totec, the god of fertility, spring and metal, during excavations of the Popoloca ruins in Puebla state. Xipe Totec is described as a god wrapped in human skin because the priests stripped the skin of their victims for sacrifice. This is one of the most important gods in the Mesoamerican region of the Americas.

Experts found two stones carved in the shape of a skull about 70 cm high, weighing 200 kg and one stone depicting the body of the god Xipe Totec. The new discovery will help historians understand more about religion in the period before Spanish colonization (before 1521), especially about this god.

2,000-year-old mausoleum containing 50 mummies (Egypt)

Mummy in a 2,000-year-old tomb Photo: AP Photo/Roger Anis.

Archaeologists found the tomb of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which existed from 323 – 30 BC, in Minya, south of Cairo. Dozens of mummies, including 12 children, were placed in four 9-meter-deep vaults. This is also Egypt’s first archaeological discovery in 2019.

Some mummies were wrapped in linen, others placed in stone coffins or wooden sarcophagi. Experts do not yet know the identities of these mummies. However, the method of mummification shows that these were figures holding important or prestigious positions.

Remains of new prehistoric humans (Philippines)

Callao Cave, where Homo luzonensis bones and teeth were discovered. Photo: Business Insider.

Bone and tooth fossils in Callao Cave, Luzon Island, most likely belong to a small human species of unknown origin. This human species was named Homo luzonensis, living 50,000 – 67,000 years ago. The new discovery reveals more information about human evolution, especially in Asia.

Homo luzonensis bones have mixed anatomical characteristics between ancient and modern human species. Some opinions suggest that this is a descendant of Homo erectus. However, the toe bones of Homo luzonensis are curved like those of Australopithecus.

66 million year old dinosaur egg (China)

Dinosaur egg fossils lie close together underground. Photo: Youtube.

Primary school student Zhang Yangzhe found a strange stone while playing on the banks of the Dongjiang River, Heyuan, Guangdong Province. The boy’s mother contacted the local museum because it looked like a fossilized dinosaur egg. Museum staff came to check and collected a total of 11 eggs. They think this is a dinosaur nest because the eggs are located very close together.

This is one of the notable new discoveries in Ha Nguyen, a city famous for many dinosaur remains, especially fossil eggs.

Ruins of ancient civilization on “pyramid island” (Greece)

Daskalio Island’s pyramid-like shape. Photo: National Geographic.

Scientists discovered traces of a 4,600-year-old residential area with many buildings, hardware stores, and plumbing systems on Daskalio, a small island with a diameter of 150 m. They believe that the ancients turned the island into a pyramid shape by creating large stairs around it and then building structures on it, mainly of marble.

The cluster of buildings existed 1,000 years before the Minoans, often considered the first European civilization, emerged. Advanced metal engineering, construction, and shipbuilding show that civilization on the island existed and developed hundreds of years or more ago.

3,800-year-old carving on a wall (Peru)

Carvings of snakes and human heads on the wall at Vichama. Photo: Gizmodo.

Ancient people carved snakes and human heads on the wall at the entrance to a large building used to hold ceremonies. They were hungry, thirsty, dying, and wanted to pray to the water god to send rain so their friends, family, and neighbors could survive.

Their prayers may have been answered because archaeologists also found a carving of a human-like toad, a symbol of rain in ancient Andean culture. The carvings were found at Vichama, one of the archaeological sites of the Caral civilization.

3,200 year old sword under rock (Spain)

The sword is almost intact after thousands of years. Photo: Ancient Origins.

Scientists accidentally discovered the Bronze Age sword at the Talaiot del Serral de ses Abelles archaeological site, Majorca island, where there are many megalithic structures. Most likely, an ancient noble family buried it as an offering. This is the first sword found at Talaiot del Serral de ses Abelles. After thousands of years, it is still in good condition, except for a broken blade.

Scientists are studying the sword in hopes of gathering more information about the Talaiotic civilization. This discovery shows that weapons were also used as offerings, and also points to megalithic structures that may have been places to perform religious rituals.

Temple ruins and ships containing treasure under the sea (Egypt)

Pillar of an ancient building in the city of Heracleion. Photo: Sun.

Archaeologists discovered more ruins and artifacts during this year’s expedition at Heracleion and Canopus, two ancient cities submerged under the sea, near the Nile Delta. They found a Greek temple, many pillars, pottery from the 3rd and 4th centuries BC, and bronze coins from the reign of King Ptolemy II (283-246 BC) at Heracleion.

The research team also expanded the map of Canopus city by about one kilometer thanks to the discovery of the ruins of several ancient buildings. Many gold and copper coins and some jewelry such as rings and earrings were also unearthed here.