Free Republic

Residents of what is thought to be Europe's oldest town cut their dead in half and buried them from the pelvis up, according to archaeologists. The newly discovered ancient settlement, thought to date back to 4700BC, is near the Bulgarian town of Provadia, about 25 miles from the country's Black Sea coast. Archaeology professor Vassil Nikolov led the dig which focused on the town itself and its necropolis, where the strange and complex burial rituals were discovered....

Mary Beth Day, University of Cambridge Bayon temple, constructed by Angkorian King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. The faces may be representations of Buddha, the bodhisattva Lokesvara, Jayavarman VII, or a combination. The ancient city of Angkor — the most famous monument of which is the breathtaking ruined temple of Angkor Wat — might have collapsed due to valiant but ultimately failed efforts to battle drought, scientists find. The great city of Angkor in Cambodia, first established in the ninth century, was the capital of the Khmer Empire, the major player in southeast Asia for nearly five centuries....

GAZIANTEP - Governor Suleyman Kamci of southeastern province of Gaziantep said Friday ancient city of Zeugma would be covered with a structure resembling a "glass bell jar" in an effort to make the historical site a more attractive place for tourists. Kamci said the historical artifacts unearthed in Zeugma were currently being displayed at Gaziantep Museum in order to protect the pieces from harsh weather conditions. "However, these artifacts would be more attractive for tourists if they could be preserved and exhibited in their original location," Kamci said. He said some of the artifacts that are on display at the...