http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Sun, 19 May 2013 08:20:37 +0200 Sun, 19 May 2013 08:20:37 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/germany-sees-rising-interest-in-execution-site-archaeology-a-893747.html#ref=rss For years, few were interested in unearthing what lay beneath old gallows and scaffolds. But, in Germany, growing interest in "execution site archaeology" is throwing much light on how the executed died and the executors lived. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:15:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/germany-sees-rising-interest-in-execution-site-archaeology-a-893747.html For years, few were interested in unearthing what lay beneath old gallows and scaffolds. But, in Germany, growing interest in "execution site archaeology" is throwing much light on how the executed died and the executors lived.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/dispute-heats-up-between-germany-and-turkey-over-contested-artifacts-a-888398.html#ref=rss German museums and archaeologists fear that Turkey is punishing them for not repatriating contested artifacts. In a SPIEGEL interview, Turkish Culture Minister Ömer Çelik explains why Turkey is demanding both the artifacts and an apology. Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:04:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/dispute-heats-up-between-germany-and-turkey-over-contested-artifacts-a-888398.html German museums and archaeologists fear that Turkey is punishing them for not repatriating contested artifacts. In a SPIEGEL interview, Turkish Culture Minister Ömer Çelik explains why Turkey is demanding both the artifacts and an apology.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/archaeologists-uncover-clues-to-why-vikings-abandoned-greenland-a-876626.html#ref=rss For years, researchers have puzzled over why Viking descendents abandoned Greenland in the late 15th century. But archaeologists now believe that economic and identity issues, rather than starvation and disease, drove them back to their ancestral homes. Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:23:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/archaeologists-uncover-clues-to-why-vikings-abandoned-greenland-a-876626.html For years, researchers have puzzled over why Viking descendents abandoned Greenland in the late 15th century. But archaeologists now believe that economic and identity issues, rather than starvation and disease, drove them back to their ancestral homes.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/buried-christian-empire-in-yemen-casts-new-light-on-early-islam-a-874048.html#ref=rss Archeologists are studying the ruins of a buried Christian empire in the highlands of Yemen. The sites have sparked a number of questions about the early history of Islam. Was there once a church in Mecca? Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:56:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/buried-christian-empire-in-yemen-casts-new-light-on-early-islam-a-874048.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-archaeologists-explore-the-mysterious-cenotes-of-mexico-a-869940.html#ref=rss Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is dotted with thousands of caves that once housed prehistoric people and later became sacred to the Mayans. German archaeologists and filmmakers are currently involved in a project to explore with modern imaging technology and make a 3-D film of this underwater labyrinth. Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:14:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-archaeologists-explore-the-mysterious-cenotes-of-mexico-a-869940.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/exhibition-in-switzerland-explores-ancient-nabataean-city-of-petra-a-861876.html#ref=rss The ruins of the ancient city of Petra lay hidden until 1812, when a Swiss explorer stumbled upon them in modern-day Jordan. Two centuries later, a new exhibition in Basel brings together some 150 artifacts that shed light on how this mysterious culture of spice traders carved a luxurious oasis into the rocks of the desert. Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:50:53 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/exhibition-in-switzerland-explores-ancient-nabataean-city-of-petra-a-861876.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-archaeologists-attaching-signs-to-protect-baltic-shipwrecks-a-861830.html#ref=rss Alarmed at the looting of historically valuable shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea, German archaeologists have started attaching underwater signs designating them as protected monuments. Hobby divers and trophy hunters are damaging a precious maritime legacy stretching back thousands of years, they warn. Wed, 17 Oct 2012 17:50:33 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-archaeologists-attaching-signs-to-protect-baltic-shipwrecks-a-861830.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/remote-scanning-techniques-revolutionize-archaeology-a-846793.html#ref=rss Archaeology is being revolutionized by remote-scanning techniques that use lasers to detect otherwise invisible ground features. The technology digitally extracts vegetation for a clean image of the earth's surface. Archaeologists in Germany have already discovered thousands of new sites. Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:38:48 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/remote-scanning-techniques-revolutionize-archaeology-a-846793.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/turkey-waging-art-war-to-repatriate-artifacts-from-foreign-museums-a-845159.html#ref=rss A resurgent Turkey has launched a concerted effort to get cultural artifacts back from museums around the world. Although many museums deny that their objects were illegally obtained, Ankara is playing hardball by threatening to ban loans and revoke excavation permits. Fri, 20 Jul 2012 13:24:30 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/turkey-waging-art-war-to-repatriate-artifacts-from-foreign-museums-a-845159.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/austrian-archaeologists-announce-discovery-of-medieval-bras-at-castle-a-845397.html#ref=rss For years, people have believed that the wonder of cupped bras were a 20th-century invention. But archaeologists excavating a castle in Austria have discovered four bras dating back some 600 years. The bodice-busting find could change the history of women's intimate apparel. Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:15:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/austrian-archaeologists-announce-discovery-of-medieval-bras-at-castle-a-845397.html For years, people have believed that the wonder of cupped bras were a 20th-century invention. But archaeologists excavating a castle in Austria have discovered four bras dating back some 600 years. The bodice-busting find could change the history of women's intimate apparel.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/archaeological-dispute-erupts-over-gold-trove-a-839989.html#ref=rss A 3,300-year-old treasure trove of gold found in northern Germany has stumped German archeologists. One theory suggests that traders transported it thousands of miles from a mine in Central Asia, but other experts are skeptical. Thu, 21 Jun 2012 13:25:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/archaeological-dispute-erupts-over-gold-trove-a-839989.html A 3,300-year-old treasure trove of gold found in northern Germany has stumped German archeologists. One theory suggests that traders transported it thousands of miles from a mine in Central Asia, but other experts are skeptical.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/how-did-egyptian-folding-chairs-end-up-in-northern-germany-a-830958.html#ref=rss Roughly 3,500 years ago, folding chairs remarkably similar to ones found in Egypt suddenly became must-have items in parts of northern Europe. Scholars are now looking into this potential case of ancient industrial espionage. Thu, 03 May 2012 12:40:52 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/how-did-egyptian-folding-chairs-end-up-in-northern-germany-a-830958.html Roughly 3,500 years ago, folding chairs remarkably similar to ones found in Egypt suddenly became must-have items in parts of northern Europe. Scholars are now looking into this potential case of ancient industrial espionage.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/mass-grave-from-thirty-years-war-investigated-in-luetzen-germany-a-830203.html#ref=rss It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Thirty Years' War, but until recently there was no trace of those who died there. Now a mass grave is shedding light on the mysteries of the Battle of Lützen. Were those who fought hungry young men or well-fed veterans? And where did they come from? Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:10:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/mass-grave-from-thirty-years-war-investigated-in-luetzen-germany-a-830203.html It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Thirty Years' War, but until recently there was no trace of those who died there. Now a mass grave is shedding light on the mysteries of the Battle of Lützen. Were those who fought hungry young men or well-fed veterans? And where did they come from? ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/new-research-shows-that-jerusalem-may-not-be-the-first-temple-a-827144.html#ref=rss The Jews had significant competition in antiquity when it came to worshipping Yahweh. Archeologists have discovered a second great temple not far from Jerusalem that predates its better known cousin. It belonged to the Samaritans, and may have been edited out of the Bible once the rivalry had been decided. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:06:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/new-research-shows-that-jerusalem-may-not-be-the-first-temple-a-827144.html The Jews had significant competition in antiquity when it came to worshipping Yahweh. Archeologists have discovered a second great temple not far from Jerusalem that predates its better known cousin. It belonged to the Samaritans, and may have been edited out of the Bible once the rivalry had been decided.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/seoz-archaeological-finds-shed-light-on-history-of-berlin-s-twin-coelln-a-824797.html#ref=rss Centuries ago, a settlement named Cölln formed the core of what is now the German capital. However, it was subsequently subsumed by the growing city of Berlin and disappeared without a trace. Spectacular finds are now helping archaeologists reconstruct the history of the village and its inhabitants. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:19:21 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/seoz-archaeological-finds-shed-light-on-history-of-berlin-s-twin-coelln-a-824797.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/mecca-turns-west-roads-of-arabia-run-through-berlin-a-811807.html#ref=rss It is a premiere for Germany. Never before have artifacts from Islam's holiest site, the Kaaba in Mecca, been on display in the country. A new exhibit in Berlin's famous Pergamon Museum traces history on the Arabian peninsula from the birth of civilization to the 20th century. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:46:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/mecca-turns-west-roads-of-arabia-run-through-berlin-a-811807.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/is-the-lion-man-a-woman-solving-the-mystery-of-a-35-000-year-old-statue-a-802415.html#ref=rss Archeologists have discovered previously unknown fragments of a figurine known as the "Lion Man," and are piecing it back together. Could the 35,000-year-old statue actually represent a female shaman? Scientists hope to resolve a decades-long debate. Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:35:48 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/is-the-lion-man-a-woman-solving-the-mystery-of-a-35-000-year-old-statue-a-802415.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/stone-age-art-archeologists-find-central-europe-s-oldest-painting-a-796726.html#ref=rss The Hohle Fels cave in southern Germany has yielded yet another startling archeological discovery -- the oldest evidence of human painting ever found in Central Europe. The meaning of the stones painted with red and brown dots, however, remains unclear. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:44:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/stone-age-art-archeologists-find-central-europe-s-oldest-painting-a-796726.html The Hohle Fels cave in southern Germany has yielded yet another startling archeological discovery -- the oldest evidence of human painting ever found in Central Europe. The meaning of the stones painted with red and brown dots, however, remains unclear.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/neanderthals-vs-humans-german-scientists-bring-fossils-into-the-computer-age-a-784921.html#ref=rss Researchers in Leipzig are compiling a ground-breaking digital archive of artefacts from around the world. Created to contrast Neanderthals with modern man, the archive could revolutionize their field -- which is exactly why many oppose it. Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:50:48 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/neanderthals-vs-humans-german-scientists-bring-fossils-into-the-computer-age-a-784921.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/sensational-find-in-austria-radar-helps-locate-a-roman-gladiator-school-a-784726.html#ref=rss Geophysicists, archaeologists and computer specialists have discovered a well-preserved Roman gladiator school just outside Vienna -- without even lifting a shovel. Instead of digging they used a special radar to map the site in stunning detail. Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:46:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/sensational-find-in-austria-radar-helps-locate-a-roman-gladiator-school-a-784726.html