Ancient Feasting Traces Preserved in a 2,850-Year-Old Bronze Age Settlement

Editor’s note: A version of this story appeared in CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.

Every ancient object has a story to tell.

When researchers uncover an item during an excavation, it provides a new glimpse into the past. Each piece that is discovered serves as a small clue that can lead to solving a larger mystery.

For instance, construction workers made an exciting discovery while working on a parking lot in the United Kingdom. They stumbled upon a statue that is almost 2,000 years old. Initially, a marble head of a Roman lady was found by one of the crew members. Two weeks later, the bust of the statue was uncovered nearby, bringing the pieces together.

The statue, believed to have been purchased by the ninth Earl of Exeter in the 1700s for Burghley House, his country estate, was discovered buried outside. The estate considers this a "complete mystery" until more evidence is found.

These connections to history help us relate to people who lived thousands of years ago. Sometimes, we can uncover a whole location that has remained unchanged, giving us a new perspective on life as it was centuries ago.

We are family

The 2016 excavation near Peterborough, England, involved a team of 55 people.

The 2016 excavation near Peterborough, England, involved a team of 55 people.

Cambridge Archaeological Unit

Must Farm, a bustling Bronze Age stilt village in eastern England, tragically burned down 2,850 years ago. Surprisingly, this disaster occurred just nine months after the village was constructed.

This site, often referred to as "Britain's Pompeii," provided valuable insights that challenge previous beliefs about Bronze Age society. The excavation of Must Farm took place in 2016, uncovering rare information that paints a more equal and less hierarchical picture of the community.

Extensive research near Peterborough revealed incredibly well-preserved snapshots of daily life. Among the findings were a spoon left in a half-eaten bowl of porridge, as well as other artifacts like wooden buckets and ceramics.

Chris Wakefield, an archaeologist from the University of Cambridge, shared an interesting detail about one of the buckets discovered. He mentioned that there were numerous cut marks on the bottom, indicating that in the Bronze Age, people used the bucket as a makeshift chopping board by flipping it upside down in their kitchen.

Check this out! When scientists decided to examine a small, 270 million-year-old skull of an ancient amphibian hidden in a collection of fossils, they found a surprising connection to Kermit the Frog.

The fossil, with its big eyes and smile that looks like a character from a Jim Henson Muppets show, is so similar that it's been named Kermitops gratus.

The skull, somewhat flattened, was left untouched in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History for four decades before scientists finally took a closer look. This discovery could provide valuable insights into the evolution of ancient amphibians that existed before the time of dinosaurs.

Across the universe

An illustration depicts the Milky Way galaxy from overhead, with green dots indicating Shiva stars and pink dots for Shakti stars.

An illustration depicts the Milky Way galaxy from overhead, with green dots indicating Shiva stars and pink dots for Shakti stars.

S. Payne-Wardenaar/K. Malhan/MPIA

Astronomers observed two ancient streams of stars believed to have played a role in constructing the Milky Way galaxy billions of years ago. The discovery was made possible by the Gaia space telescope from the European Space Agency. This allowed the scientists to engage in a form of "galactic archaeology" right in the center of our galaxy.

The streams named Shakti and Shiva, after Hindu deities, were probably once part of other galaxies that joined the Milky Way when it was still young, around 12 to 13 billion years ago.

NASA anticipates that a nova, a sudden and violent explosion, could lead to the appearance of a "new star" in the night sky at any time from now until September.

Force of nature

When a supervolcano erupted 74,000 years ago, it likely triggered climate change that could be felt by early humans in Africa.

Researchers initially believed that the eruption may have been powerful enough to cause a volcanic winter, potentially leading to the extinction of many ancient ancestors.

Near Ethiopia's Shinfa River, scientists discovered tiny pieces of volcanic glass mixed in with stone tools and animal remains, revealing how humans managed to survive and adjust in the aftermath of the eruption.

A new analysis suggests that the arid conditions resulting from the cataclysmic event may have been a key factor in prompting humanity to migrate from Africa and settle in various parts of the world. This migration marked a significant period in history.

Qizai, a brown giant panda in captivity who was at the center of the scientific study, is seen in May 2021.

Qizai, a brown giant panda in captivity who was at the center of the scientific study, is seen in May 2021.

Li Yibo/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

Giant pandas have distinctive patterns, but it turns out not all of them are black-and-white.

Only a few bears with brown-and-white fur can be found in a specific mountain range in China.

Researchers initially believed that the unique coloration of these bears, which have only been spotted 11 times in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi province since 1985, was due to inbreeding.

Through studying pandas both in their natural habitats and in captivity, such as the male brown panda named Qizai, scientists have found that a recessive genetic trait, similar to the ones responsible for blue eyes or red hair in humans, is the cause of their brown fur.

Fascinating Discoveries

You might be surprised by these stories:

Around 25 million years ago, a change happened in the evolution of great apes and humans. It was because of a "jumping gene" that caused them to lose their tails.

A 4,000-year-old stone vial discovered in southeastern Iran is believed to be the oldest known tube of red lipstick.

Despite using a faulty metal detector, a treasure hunter stumbled upon the largest gold nugget ever found in England.

An unusual horned "devil comet" will be visible in the sky during the total solar eclipse, but experts suggest keeping an eye out for it through the end of March instead.

Like what you've read? Sign up here to receive in your inbox the next edition of Wonder Theory, brought to you by CNN Space and Science writers Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt. They find wonder in planets beyond our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world.

Editor's P/S:

The article delves into the captivating realm of archaeology and astronomy, showcasing remarkable discoveries that shed light on our past and the vastness of the universe. From the unearthing of an ancient Roman statue to the excavation of a Bronze Age village, these archaeological finds provide glimpses into the lives and cultures of people who lived centuries ago. The discoveries challenge preconceived notions and reveal new insights about societal structures and daily practices.

Furthermore, the article highlights the impact of natural forces on human history. The eruption of a supervolcano and the subsequent climate change it triggered forced early humans to adapt and migrate, shaping the course of human evolution. The unique brown-and-white coloration of certain pandas is another fascinating discovery, showcasing the diversity and complexity of the natural world. These captivating stories remind us that the past is intricately connected to the present and that our understanding of the world continues to evolve with each new discovery. our shared past and the vastness of our universe.