Indigo, the blue dye used in modern times to make the first blue jeans, may have been associated with ordinary folk in ancient Peru as well. Archaeologists led by Tom Dillehay of Vanderbilt University discovered textiles at the Huaca Prieta mound that date from as far back as 5,800 years ago and, after being washed by conservators, revealed a blue tint. Laboratory tests confirm the coloring is indigo, a dye made from the leaves of a shrub of the pea family, says Jeff Splitstoser of George Washington University, a textile specialist who conducted the tests with Jan Wouters of University College London. It is the oldest known use of indigo in the world, he says. “Blue from sources other than indigo is rare, so it has always been assumed it was indigo, but until now we never had the proof.” Huaca Prieta has been notable for its lack of high-class goods, a pattern that extends to indigo-dyed fabric, too, according to Dillehay. “I don’t see its early use associated with elites or high-status people,” he says. “In fact there is no evidence of artifacts or contexts of high-status people at Huaca Prieta. The data suggest egalitarianism.”
Ancient temple sat undiscovered atop Italy acropolis for years— until now, photos show
BY BRENDAN RASCIUS
AUGUST 12, 2024 5:29 PM |
The ruins of a small Roman temple were recently discovered in Italy, officials said. Photo from the Archaeological Park of Selinunte Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an ancient temple in Italy. The ruins were located in Selinunte — a city on the southwestern coast of Sicily — which dates back thousands of years. TOP VIDEOS They were unearthed during a recent excavation of the city’s acropolis, according to an Aug. 9 news release from the Selinunte Archaeological Park.
Take a look Traces of the temple, which appears to have been small, were found alongside a previously discovered temple, known as Temple C. Built in the sixth century B.C., Temple C is decorated with motifs from Greek mythology, including depictions of Medusa, Perseus and Pegasus, according to research from Cambridge University.
The newfound “structure is rectangular in shape and lacks the typical colonnade design of other temples and shrines within the religious centers,” according to Heritage Daily, an industry publication. It’s just the latest finding to be made in Selinunte, which has been the subject of excavations by archaeologists from the University of Milan and New York University for over a decade. Also found during the recent excavation were a circular well, a gold jewel and coins. Selinunte was one of the “most important Greek settlements in the West during the Archaic and Classical periods,” according to research from New York University. It was founded in the seventh century B.C., making it at least 2,600 years old. Its wealth was demonstrated by the large stone temples its inhabitants erected during the fifth and sixth centuries B.C. However, in 250 B.C. — during the First Punic War — the city was abandoned and its defenses were dismantled.
