Saharan remains may be evidence of first race war, 13,000 years ago

Scientists are investigating what may be the oldest identified race war 13,000 years after it raged on the fringes of the Sahara.

French scientists working in collaboration with the British Museum have been examining dozens of skeletons, a majority of whom appear to have been killed by archers using flint-tipped arrows.

The bones – from Jebel Sahaba on the east bank of the Nile in northern Sudan – are from victims of the world’s oldest known relatively large-scale human armed conflict.

Over the past two years anthropologists from Bordeaux University have discovered literally dozens of previously undetected arrow impact marks and flint arrow head fragments on and around the bones of the victims.

This is in addition to many arrow heads and impact marks already found embedded in some of the bones during an earlier examination of the skeletons back in the 1960s. The remains – the contents of an entire early cemetery – were found in 1964 by the prominent American archaeologist, Fred Wendorf, but, until the current investigations, had  never been examined using more modern, 21 century, technology.

Some of the skeletal material has just gone on permanent display as part of the British Museum’s new Early Egypt gallery which opens officially today. The bones – from Jebel Sahaba on the east bank of the River Nile in northern Sudan – are from victims of the world’s oldest known relatively large-scale human armed conflict.

Skeleton of a Roman warrior unearthed in south Egypt

A human skeleton of a young Roman warrior has been unearthed in south Aswan, with the soldier showing signs of being killed in warfare

by Nevine El-Aref , Thursday 16 May 2013


At Bab Al-Heissn  area in south Aswan, which was in antiquity the border between Egypt and Old Nubia, an Austrian archaeological mission has unearthed a well-preserved skeleton of a young Roman warrior.
The mission also uncovered a residential house along with a coin from the reign of Emperor Heracles (741-610 AD).

Erin Forestner Molar, head of the mission, explains that early studies carried out on the skeleton's bones revealed that it is well preserved and belongs to a young warrior who spent his life in the Roman army.

"He probably died at a young age, between 25 and 35 years old, during a war from a stab from a sharp sword," Molar said, adding that until now the mission failed to identify the soldier but that further studies could establish his identity.

"It is a very important discovery," Minister of State of Antiquities Ahmed Eissa told Ahram Online, adding that it reveals a very important moment in Egypt's history. It shows that in antiquity there was conflict from time to time in the area, and likely war.

Adel Hussein, head of Ancient Egyptian Antiquities at the Ministry of State of Antiquities (MSA) pointed out that studies also tell that the stab hit the left thigh and left a very deep wound. It is likely the soldier bled to death.

Hussein continued that the area of Bal Al-Heissn was destroyed in several wars, which makes it difficult for researchers to determine an exact day of the war when the warrior was killed, but that early studies indicate that the war likely occurred shortly after the Arabs invaded Egypt.

Inside the residential house the mission found a fully-equipped kitchen with a large oven and a number of clay pots and pans, as well as the remains of flora inside.

Source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/41/71533/Heritage/GrecoRoman/Skeleton-of-a-Roman-warrior-unearthed-in-south-Egy.aspx