This Week In History News, Dec. 31 – Jan. 6

Published January 5, 2018

Secret text on Egyptian mummies found after thousands of years, early North American history upended by new discovery, ancient model of the universe unearthed in Mexico.

Scientists Discover Secret Text Written On Ancient Egyptian Mummy Casings

Mummy Being Scanned

BBC NewsA mummy being scanned under particular light frequencies in order to reveal hidden text.

For more than 2,000 years, right under researchers’ noses, the papyrus used to wrap ancient Egyptian mummies has concealed hidden text. And now, thanks to new high-tech scanning techniques, these previously unknown writings have come to light.

However, the nature of the text isn’t at all what you might think.

Read more here.

Discovery Of Unknown Native Population Rewrites Early American History

Beringian Upward Sun River Camp

Eric S. Carlson/Ben A. Potter/University of Alaska FairbanksA rendering of the ancient Beringian Upward Sun River camp, located in present-day Alaska.

She was just six weeks old when she died in the middle of Alaska some 11,500 years ago. But now, the small piece of DNA that researchers managed to extract from her remains has rewritten the early history of North America.

Following the 2013 excavation of the Upward Sun River camp in Alaska’s Tanana River Valley, researchers have now fully analyzed the DNA of the remains found there. And according to their new report published in Nature, the infant girl’s remains don’t match the genetic makeup of other known Native American groups.

Instead, her genome marks her as a member of the wholly separate ancient Beringian population, a newly-discovered group distinct from other known Native Americans.

Dig deeper here.

Ancient Mexican Stone Work Believed To Be A Model Of The Universe

Tetzacualco Stone

Arturo Cruz/Terrsat CartografiaTetzacualco

The “tetzacualco” stone, discovered beside a volcano east of Mexico City, might not only be a stunningly preserved piece of ancient carving. It might also be a model of the universe itself.

Some experts suggest that the stone reflects certain Mesoamerican creation myths regarding the earth monster Cipactli.

Learn more here.

author
All That's Interesting
author
A New York-based publisher established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science to share stories that illuminate our world.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.