Outstanding archaeological findings in 2019

Temple of "skin-covered gods", 3,200-year-old sword, tomb containing 50 mummies are three of the remarkable findings this year.

"God of human skin" temple (Mexico)

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

The National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico first discovered the temple of Xipe Totec, the god of reproduction, spring and metal, during the excavation of Popoloca ruins in the state of Puebla. Xipe Totec has been described as a skin-wrapped deity because priests skin their victims for sacrifices. This is one of the most important deities in the Mesoamerican region of the Americas.

Experts found two skull-shaped carved rocks about 70 cm high, weighing 200 kg and a rock depicting the body of the god Xipe Totec. The new discovery will help historians understand more about religion before the Spanish domination (before 1521), especially about this deity.

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

The mummy in the tomb is 2,000 years old.(Photo: AP Photo / Roger Anis).

Archaeologists find the tomb of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which existed between 323 and 30 BC, in Minya, south of Cairo. Dozens of mummies, including 12 children, were placed in 4 basements 9 meters deep. This is also the first archaeological discovery of Egypt in 2019.

Some mummies were wrapped in linen, others were placed in stone coffins or wooden caskets. Experts do not identify these mummies. However, the mummification method shows that these are the characters that hold an important or prestigious position.

Traces of new prehistoric humans (Philippines)

Callao cave, the site of Homo luzonensis human bones and teeth.(Photo: Business Insider).

The fossils of bones and teeth in Callao cave, Luzon island, are likely to belong to a short human species of unknown origin. This species was named Homo luzonensis, lived 50,000 - 67,000 years ago. The new findings reveal more information about human evolution, especially in Asia.

Homo luzonensis human anatomy features an anatomical blend of ancient and modern humans. Some say that this is a descendant of the Homo erectus. However, Homo luzonensis' toes are curved like Australopithecus.

Dinosaur eggs 66 million years old (China)

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

Elementary student Zhang Yangzhe found a strange stone while playing on the banks of the Dongjiang River, Heyuan, Guangdong Province. His mother contacted the local museum because it looked like a fossilized dinosaur egg. The museum staff checked and collected a total of 11 eggs. They think this is a nest of dinosaurs because the number of eggs is very close to each other.

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

Ruins of ancient civilization on "pyramid island" (Greece)

The pyramid-like shape of Daskalio Island.(Photo: National Geographic).

Scientists have discovered a 4,600-year-old residential area with many buildings, metal shops, plumbing at Daskalio, a small island with a diameter of 150 m. They believe that the ancients turned the island into a pyramid by creating large surrounding steps and then constructing structures on it, mainly marble.

The cluster existed 1,000 years before the Minoan, often thought to be the first European civilization, appeared. Advanced metal engineering, construction and shipbuilding showed that the island's civilization existed and developed hundreds of years earlier.

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

A snake and a human head on a wall in Vichama.(Photo: Gizmodo).

The ancients carved a snake and a human head on the wall at the entrance of a large building used to hold rituals. They were hungry, dying, and wanted to pray to the god of the rain to let their friends, family and neighbors survive.

Their plea may have been answered because archaeologists also found a humanoid toad, a symbol of rain in ancient Andean culture. The carvings were found in Vichama, one of the archaeological sites of the Caral civilization.

3,200-year-old sword under the stone (Spain)

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

Scientists stumbled upon a Bronze sword at the archaeological site of Talaiot del Serral de ses Abelles, Majorca Island, home to many megalithic structures. Most likely an ancient noble family buried it as a sacrifice. This is the first sword found at the Talaiot del Serral de ses Abelles. For thousands of years, it has remained in good condition, except for a part of its broken tongue.

Scientists are studying the sword in hopes of gathering more information about the Talaiotic civilization. The findings suggest that weapons were also used as sacrifices, pointing out that megalithic structures may have been places of religious practice.

Ruins of temples and ships containing treasures in 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 sunken under the Nile Delta. They found a Greek temple, many pillars, pottery from the 3rd and 4th century BC, bronze coins during the reign of King Ptolemy II (283-246 BC) at Heracleion.

The team also enlarged the city map of Canopus by about a kilometer by discovering more ruins of several ancient buildings. Many gold and copper coins, some jewelry such as rings or earrings were also excavated here.