Free Republic

Islamic State militants have blown up the Arch of Triumph, a major monument in the 2,000-year-old Roman city of Palmyra, Syria's antiquities chief said on Sunday, after they destroyed two ancient temples at the central Syrian site in recent months. Maamoun Abdulkarim told Reuters that sources in Palmyra had confirmed that the Arch of Triumph, a jewel in the exquisite collection of ruins in the oasis city, had been blown up.Islamic State militants have blown up temples at the Roman-era UNESCO World Heritage site, which it has controlled since capturing Palmyra from Syrian government forces in May and mined other...

Mexican archaeologists exploring one of the country's most spectacular ancient temples have uncovered a stash of thousands of artifacts that are estimated to date back as far as 200 A.D. The Temple of the Feathered Serpent sits on the outskirts of Mexico City. The new Lazgo Hal Tladocan project to explore tunnels beneath it is one of the most important archaeological investigations Mexico has ever seen. Sculptures carved in stone, ornamented with pre-Columbian jewelry and elaborate jade and greenstone were found. Unique objects made of amber and thousands of wooden artifacts were also uncovered, hidden along with remains of animals,...

Dig unearths ancient love affair The plaque was found in the grave with the skull A Roman tale of love and romance that took place in Kent in about 200 AD has been unearthed during an excavation. Archaeologists working at the site in Canterbury uncovered the secret of the romance in a grave just as they were about to pack up their equipment. The grave contained a woman's skull as well as the only complete marble plaque ever found in the area. The team said the plaque would have been put beside the woman by her husband as a gesture...