They also found large chunks of broken plates and a jug handle.
"These are all of the things that they held, and they used and this tells you about how they lived their lives. It’s a very personal thing. So whenever we get artifacts like this, we treat them with great respect," said Seib.
Centuries ago, before indoor plumbing, people would use outhouses separate from their homes.
Waste workers called "night soil men" would remove feces "from privies under the cloak of darkness so that polite society would be spared from confronting its own feces," according to Waste360, a New York-headquartered company that offers sustainable waste management solutions.
The artifacts will reportedly be sent to the New York State Museum in Albany for public viewing.
Fox News Digital reached out to the New York State Museum for comment.
Archaeologists have unveiled a 4,100-year-old tomb belonging to a physician who treated the Egyptian Pharaohs.
The tomb was found in the southern part of Saqqara, Egypt, belonging to Teti Neb Fu dating back to King Pepi II’s reign of the Old Kingdom, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
In a Facebook post, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities shared photos showing the intricate carvings and lively artwork.
The discovery was made in a French-Swiss collaborative archaeological mission.
"Teti Neb Fu held prestigious titles such as Chief Palace Physician, Priest and ‘Magician’ of the Goddess Serket (expert in venomous bites), Chief Dentist and Director of Medicinal Plants," read the post.
The tomb also includes a painted false door along with scenes of funeral offerings.
Although there is evidence of ancient looting on burial grounds from that time period, Fu’s tomb remains intact, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The group shared Fu’s tomb offers "a rare glimpse into daily life and cultural practices during the Old Kingdom," said the post.
In addition to the tomb, a stone sarcophagus was discovered bearing inscriptions with the physician's name and titles.
Saqqara is located about 25 miles southwest of Cairo as "one of the most important cities in ancient Egyptian history," says the Ministry’s website.
It adds, "Saqqara is truly an open-air museum, one that has all of ancient Egyptian history on display" with kings and noblemen from c.3040–2686 BC being buried in the cemeteries.
In the remote reaches of Siberia, a colossal scar on the Earth's surface is expanding at a breathtaking pace, swallowing up the frozen landscape and potentially unleashing ancient threats. The Batagaika crater, aptly nicknamed the "Gateway to Hell," is not just a geological curiosity, it's a stark reminder of the rapid changes our planet is undergoing.
Imagine a gash in the Earth so large you could fit several football stadiums inside it. That's the Batagaika crater for you. This massive thermokarst depression – a fancy term for a giant permafrost-thaw sinkhole – is growing at an astonishing rate of 35 million cubic feet each year. To put that into perspective, it's like carving out a small town's worth of earth annually. Currently stretching about 0.6 miles long and 0.5 miles wide at its widest point, this behemoth shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, it's speeding up, driven by a vicious cycle of warming temperatures and melting ice. This study was published in the journal Geomorphology.
Despite its name, permafrost isn't actually permanent. It's ground that's remained at or below freezing for at least two years. When this frozen soil thaws, it can't support the weight above it, leading to collapse and the formation of these massive "slumps." The Batagaika crater is a prime example of this process in overdrive. As the permafrost melts, it exposes more soil to sunlight, which then melts more permafrost. It's a feedback loop that's difficult to break, especially in our warming world.
While the sheer size of the Batagaika crater is impressive, what's truly mind-boggling is its depth, both physical and temporal. The steep walls of this mega-slump reveal permafrost layers estimated to be 650,000 years old. That's older than our species. But with ancient ice comes ancient dangers. Scientists have already revived a 48,500-year-old "zombie virus" from Arctic permafrost, and there's concern about what other long-dormant pathogens might be awakening. It's not just a plot from some sci-fi movie anymore. It's a real consideration for modern science and medicine.
The Batagaika crater isn't just releasing potential pathogens. It's also unleashing a significant amount of carbon into the atmosphere. According to recent studies, this single mega-slump is responsible for releasing 4,000 to 5,000 tons of organic carbon every year. That's equivalent to the annual emissions of about 1,000 cars. This release of carbon, previously locked away in the frozen ground, further contributes to global warming, potentially accelerating the very process that created the crater in the first place.
The Batagaika crater, while extreme, is not unique. It represents a process happening across the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. As our planet continues to warm, more of these massive permafrost thaw features are likely to appear. While some might see the crater as a tourist attraction – and indeed it has become one – it's crucial to recognize it as a warning sign. The "Gateway to Hell" is more than just a catchy nickname; it's a portal into a possible future where rapid environmental changes reshape our world in ways we're only beginning to understand. The question remains: Will we heed the warning signs and take action, or will we continue to watch as more gateways open across our warming world?
What are your thoughts on the potential impacts of ancient pathogens being released from melting permafrost, and how do you think we should address the challenges posed by climate change? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Archaeologists in Iowa have unearthed an ancient mastodon skull in pristine condition, which they hope will provide clues about human interaction with the ancient animal.
The bones were excavated earlier this month from a creek bank in Wayne, taking nearly two weeks to complete. The eroding site was first brought to the attention of Office of the State Archaeologist, Iowa (OSA) in 2022.
Radiocarbon dating showed that the mastodon is around 13,600 years old, which corresponds to when humans occupied the area.
OSA will closely examine the bones to determine if there is any evidence of human activity, like cut marks.
"We’re really hoping to find evidence of human interaction with this creature – perhaps the projectile points and knives that were used to kill the animal and do initial butchering," said John Doershuk, director and state archaeologist at OSA. "There’s also potential evidence on the bones themselves – there could be identifiable cut marks."
Mastodons were large mammals similar to elephants that roamed North America from around 3.5 million years ago to around 10,500 years ago.
Iowa Archeology said the mastodon skull was the "first-ever well-preserved mastodon (primarily the skull) that has been excavated in Iowa."
The mastodon bones will become part of a new exhibit at the Prairie Trails Museum once conservation and analysis is complete at the University of Iowa.
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