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Painted throne room discovered in Peru
Excavations in a large square-pillared Moche building in Peru have uncovered a painted room which is believed to be the throne room of a previously unrecognised female ruler, dating to around AD 650. The room’s function was determined by the discovery of an earthen throne, which showed signs of wear consistent with regular use. Newly uncovered wall paintings in the room depict a female figure: in one scene she is seated on a throne, and in others is the focal point of ritual procession scenes. Archaeologists therefore believe the throne room may have been intended for a female Moche leader, the first known example from Peru.
Celtic chamber tomb revealed
Archaeologists have recently uncovered a well-preserved Celtic burial chamber near Riedlingen, south-west Germany, which dates to the 6th century BC. The chamber, discovered in a 65m tall mound along with other burials and cremations, measures 3.4m by 4.05m and is constructed from oak planks that were preserved in the waterlogged conditions of the site. While any grave goods that may have formed part of the burial have been looted in antiquity, several human bones have been recovered and analysed. These suggest that the individual buried there was a young man aged between 15 and 20 years old. The burial was clearly intended for a high-status individual, and the team hope to reveal more during post-excavation analysis.
Early origins of European cocaine use
Recent analysis of brains from 17th-century Milan has revealed evidence of the use of the coca plant, suggesting the drug was in use in Europe centuries earlier than previously thought. The research, carried out by the University of Milan, was performed on brains from the Ca’ Granda crypt, a burial place for patients from the 17th-century Ospedale Maggiore, a pioneering hospital for Milan’s poorest citizens at this time. While the first documentation of cocaine use in the form of salts in Europe is from the 19th century, the testing revealed that two of the studied individuals were ingesting the plant in as much as two centuries earlier, by chewing the leaves or brewing them as tea, either as part of their treatment, or for recreational use. The research has been published in the Journal of Archaeological Science (http://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2024.106040).
Text: Rebecca Preedy / Image: Lisa Trever
