UNESCO has launched a new kind of museum — one with no queues, no walls, and no climate-controlled vaults humming behind locked doors. Instead, the Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects, designed by Burkinabè Pritzker Prize–winning architect Diébédo Francis Kéré, lives entirely online. It promises to showcase some 600 missing or stolen artefacts from across the world, using 3D scans, immersive environments, and narrative storytelling to return visibility to heritage that vanished long before many of us were born.

The headlines focus on digital innovation. But beneath the optimism lies something deeper: a global reckoning with the cultural damage of the last two centuries — when objects were taken during war, colonization, forced excavations, “private collecting,” and the grey economies of the antiquities trade. UNESCO frames the museum as an educational tool and an act of restitution, albeit a virtual one. The question is whether this new space can be more than a digital confession booth for the global North.

Kéré’s design concept draws on the symbolic roots of the baobab tree, often called the “tree of life.” Its thick trunk, powerful silhouette, and deep roots represent endurance — the idea that even when an object is uprooted, the culture that created it persists. It’s poetic, but also political: a reminder that heritage exists on the land first, not in the institutions that later house it.

Inside the virtual galleries, visitors will find everything from looted manuscripts to sacred sculptures to objects trafficked across borders and into private hands. Each artifact is accompanied by its backstory: where it was created, how it disappeared, what it meant to the community that once held it. Some pieces have known fates; others are still missing, possibly sitting on a shelf in a Dubai flat or a house in Spain. UNESCO wants to make these absences visible — to show the wounds as well as the artifacts.

There’s also a Restitution Room, a space that highlights successful returns. These are the bright spots — cases where countries and institutions cooperated rather than clashed, and where the journey home wasn’t blocked by bureaucracy, politics, or the quiet resistance of museums reluctant to empty their vitrines.

But the virtual museum raises uncomfortable questions. Does digitizing loss risk sanitizing it? Can a VR gallery pressure powerful institutions into returning physical objects? Or will this become one more place where heritage from the Global South is appreciated — but still not actually returned? It also should ask questions about how past “colonizers” actually managed to save world heritage artifacts that would have been lost as regimes like ISIS and the Islamic State take over by force and blow up sites of cultural significance. See our story on ISIS and Palmyra.

UNESCO’s position, a federation of UN countries which also includes the Taliban and other terror states, is that awareness is the first step toward restitution. Or could this just be a way to politicize virtue signaling?

That’s true. But awareness without political will changes little. Restitution remains tangled in law, diplomacy, and the competing narratives of empires that still do not fully acknowledge the harms they engineered.

And yet, something about this project feels necessary. In a world where climate threats, war, and trafficking still endanger cultural heritage, a digital sanctuary is better than none. More importantly, it gives communities a way to reclaim their stories, even if the objects themselves remain in limbo. Also who owns the past? All of humanity? The last ancestors of a tribe or converts to their new religion? Now that the world has gone globalized should individual heritage and ancestry be thrown to the wind?

If you jump in and visit the Middle East region, and the Arab world, you will first see an object from Sudan, a statue of a Nubian queen made about 2000 years ago. It does not state who “stole” it and when.

Let the conversations begin.

Visit the Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects

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In the volcanic basalt expanse of the Harra’t al-Sham—known in English as the Black Desert of northeastern Jordan—lies the archaeological site of Shubayqa 1. This rugged lava field stretches from southern Syria across eastern Jordan into north-western Saudi Arabia, a stark landscape where early people experimented with fire, flour and stone. The Black Desert’s basalt flows, cinder cones and sparse steppe vegetation set the stage for one of the oldest culinary traces on Earth.

At Shubayqa 1, researchers led by University of Copenhagen archaeobotanist Amaia Arranz-Otaegui sampled two stone hearths dated to roughly 14,400 years ago and identified charred crumbs that are unmistakably bread-like. The research was published in 2018. But archeologists usually know years before a discovery is made public. And it takes many more years until the public is aware.

Microscopy from the site that looks at archeology of plants and food, shows ground and sieved wild cereals and tubers that were mixed into dough and baked as unleavened flatbreads—produced by hunter-gatherers thousands of years before agriculture began in the region. As Arranz-Otaegui put it, “We were very surprised to find bread made before the origins of agriculture.

“Our finds provide empirical data to demonstrate that the preparation and consumption of bread-like products predated the emergence of agriculture by at least 4,000 years.”

Modern agriculture is believed to have started in the Levante region of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

These breads were likely special-occasion foods, not daily staples.

The makers of these ancient flatbreads belonged to what archaeologists call the Natufian culture, a late Epipalaeolithic tradition spread across the Levante. Natufian communities were semi-sedentary in places, like the Arabian Bedouin today found in the Middle East, and they used mortars and grinding stones, and stored foods—behaviors that foreshadowed the shift to farming.

The Shubayqa sequence shows the Natufian presence in eastern Jordan was just as early as in the Mediterranean woodlands, revising old assumptions about a single western “core.”

Fourteen thousand years ago there were no modern nation-states as we know them today. Archaeologists place Shubayqa 1 within the southern Levantine corridor, a biodiversity-rich bridge between Anatolia, Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean. In this context, it makes sense to speak of the “southern Levant” and the eastern Jordan steppe rather than formal ancient polities.

There are no written records for Natufian belief, but the culture left clear signs of symbolism: personal ornaments, intentional burials, and communal features that hint at ritual gatherings and feasting. Preparing a fine flatbread from wild plants—soaking, grinding, kneading and baking—was a careful, time-intensive act likely reserved for moments of significance. Food, in other words, was already a vehicle for ceremony and identity, according to Encyclopedia  Brittanica.

Bread before farming—and beer too

Shubayqa 1 shows that bread-making preceded farming by roughly four millennia. A complementary discovery at Israel’s Raqefet Cave adds a second surprise: residues on Natufian stone mortars there show they were brewing a fermented cereal beverage at least 13,000 years ago, long before wheat and barley were domesticated.

Together, these finds suggest that our prehistoric ancestors were bakers and brewers well before they contemplated becoming farmers.

The Natufian hearths from Jordan’s Black Desert invite a reframing of food history. Bread and beer were not simply by-products of agriculture; the desire for these transformed foods may have helped drive cultivation itself. They also remind us that ingenious, place-based foodways—wild grains, tubers, local milling, communal baking—were born in arid lands and basalt fields. As climate stresses grow, that lesson in resilience and resourcefulness from the deep past feels timely.

Want to bake some ancient bread? Take a taste of this 5,000 year old bread from Turkey. Make your own Mesopotamian beer. Try Mersu, the world’s oldest sweet.

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Imagine finding a 1,600-year-old farm that’s still telling stories about how people grew their food, shared resources, and lived with the land. That’s exactly what happened in Kafr Qasim, central Israel, where archaeologists uncovered a huge agricultural estate belonging to the Samaritans—an ancient community related to the Jewish people, who followed the Torah but had their own traditions and worship sites.

Today, the Samaritans are a small group of a few hundred people living in Israel and the West Bank. But 1,500 years ago, they were a thriving community spread across the region. This discovery is exciting not just for history buffs—it also offers clues about how ancient farmers worked with nature, ideas we can still use for sustainable farming today.

The excavation, carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and funded by the Israel Ministry of Construction and Housing, revealed buildings decorated with colorful mosaics, an olive oil press, and even a public ritual bath known as a miqveh. The site is within Khirbet Kafr Ḥatta, a settlement that existed from the 4th to 7th centuries CE—spanning the end of the Roman Empire into the Byzantine period.

One of the most stunning finds was a large mosaic floor filled with patterns and pictures of plants and foods grown in the area—grapes, dates, watermelons, artichokes, and asparagus. At the entrance, a Greek inscription wished the homeowner “Good Luck!” It’s a personal touch that makes the past feel very close, like the people who lived there could walk back in at any moment.

Food, Faith, and Clean Production

North of the main house, archaeologists found a big olive press, a warehouse, and the miqveh. This layout suggests the Samaritans pressed their olives into oil while keeping the process religiously pure. The olive press had two wings—one for crushing and pressing, and another for storage and support rooms. This type of press was more common in Jerusalem and the Judean lowlands, meaning the Samaritans may have been borrowing ideas and technology from other regions.

Olive oil wasn’t just for cooking—it was used for lighting lamps, in medicine, and in religious rituals. Producing it locally, and with care for purity, meant the community could meet its needs without over-relying on outside trade. It’s a reminder that local, sustainable food systems are not a new idea—they’ve been around for thousands of years.

Over the years, the estate changed. Some of the fancy mosaic floors were damaged when new walls were built. Columns and capitals from older buildings were reused in new structures. The archaeologists think these changes may be linked to political unrest—specifically, Samaritan revolts against Byzantine rulers in the 5th and 6th centuries CE, when restrictive laws targeted religious minorities.

What’s remarkable is that, unlike other Samaritan sites destroyed in these uprisings, the Kafr Qasim estate survived and kept its Samaritan identity. Excavators even found ceramic oil lamps with Samaritan symbols, showing that the people stayed connected to their heritage despite outside pressures. That kind of resilience is something we still need in the face of modern challenges like climate change and food security.

Why It Matters for Sustainability

This site isn’t just about pretty mosaics or ancient artifacts—it’s about how people lived in balance with their environment. The Samaritans grew their own food, processed it locally, reused building materials, and built infrastructure to last generations. These are all practices that fit into modern ideas like the circular economy and permaculture.

By studying ancient estates like this, we can see what worked for communities over centuries—and what led to their decline. It’s a chance to learn from both the successes and mistakes of the past, whether it’s about farming techniques, water management, or adapting to political change.

According to Israel’s Minister of Heritage, Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu, the find tells “another chapter in the shared story of the Jews and the Samaritans… communities that lived by the Torah, shared common roots, and experienced similar hardships.” For archaeologists, it’s a chance to piece together centuries of history; for the rest of us, it’s a reminder that sustainability isn’t just a modern buzzword—it’s a way of life humans have practiced, and sometimes forgotten, for millennia.

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Reaffirming its leadership in sustainable coastal management, all 13 of Tel Aviv-Yafo’s public beaches have once again earned the prestigious Blue Flag certification for 2025. This honor, awarded by the International Blue Flag Committee and the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), recognizes beaches that meet exceptional standards in water quality, safety, accessibility, and environmental education.

Each year, the Blue Flag is reassessed to ensure compliance with strict international criteria. For Tel Aviv-Yafo, retaining Blue Flag status across all its beaches reflects a sustained municipal commitment to clean seas, inclusive spaces, and community stewardship. The concept was brought to Israel through a Swedish environmentalist named Andreas Weil.

In Israel, the program is implemented by EcoOcean, a nonprofit organization of scientists and educators devoted to marine conservation. It is founded by Weil.

This achievement is especially significant in light of recent environmental challenges. The ongoing conflict with Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and Yemen.

In 2021, Israel faced one of its worst ecological disasters when an offshore oil spill contaminated more than 160 kilometers of Mediterranean coastline. Tar washed up on beaches from Ashkelon to Rosh Hanikra, including Tel Aviv’s shores.

As Green Prophet reported at the time, thousands of volunteers joined cleanup efforts, collecting sticky, toxic waste by hand. The city’s rapid response and community-driven action helped restore the beaches and laid the groundwork for more rigorous monitoring and preventive strategies.

Beyond cleanliness and conservation, the Blue Flag also honors beaches for universal accessibility. Tel Aviv has prioritized infrastructure for people with disabilities, including accessible boardwalks, floating wheelchairs, tactile paving, and lifeguard assistance for people with mobility impairments.

This inclusive approach has made Tel Aviv’s beaches welcoming not just for locals and tourists, but for seniors, families, and people of all abilities.

A major focus of Tel Aviv’s beach management has been the elimination of single-use plastics. In 2019, the city passed a bylaw banning plastic bags, straws, and utensils at public beaches. As Green Prophet covered in our report on the ban, this was a bold move to combat marine litter and microplastic pollution.

Today, educational signage, waste separation bins, and awareness campaigns reinforce the city’s message: protecting the sea is a shared responsibility.

With 13 Blue Flags proudly flying, Tel Aviv-Yafo remains a regional and global leader in sustainable urban coastline management. As sea levels rise and marine ecosystems face increasing pressure, the city’s blend of policy, education, and public engagement offers a blueprint for others to follow.

Tel Aviv is about 30 kilometers away from a rare shark attack that killed a man that happened a couple of weeks ago near Michmoret beach and a desalination plant. A source we spoke with said that locals were feeding dead fish straight into the mouths of the sharks for some time, and that he believes the swimmer got caught in a current leading to panic, splashing and then a frenzied shark attack. Shark attacks are rare in Israel. It is the fourth one in decades.

Tel Avinians are usually more concerned about jellyfish swarms that come up from the Red Sea. After Egypt created the Suez Canal it led to an explosion in invasive species.

Blue Flags in the region – a win for Turkey

Turkey ranks third globally in the number of Blue Flag beaches, boasting 567 certified beaches as of 2024. The Antalya province leads with 233 Blue Flag beaches, followed by Muğla with 112 and Izmir with 64.

As of 2024, Lebanon does not have any beaches certified with the Blue Flag. While Lebanon offers beautiful coastal areas like Tyre, Batroun, and Byblos, they have not received this specific international certification.

Syria has no Blue Flag.

Cyprus boasts an impressive number of 76 Blue Flag beaches and 2 marinas as of 2024, making it one of the top countries in Europe for clean, environmentally managed, and well-equipped coastal destinations.

Check a beach before you book a destination. See Blue Flag Global.

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Could the biblical flood actually have happened and is Noah’s Ark still at the site where it rested on Mount Ararat? The legend of Noah’s Ark is one of the oldest and most enduring flood myths in human history. It appears in the Bible, the Quran, and earlier Mesopotamian texts, suggesting deep cultural and symbolic roots across civilizations.

In the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), God sees that humanity has become wicked and corrupt, and decides to cleanse the Earth with a great flood. But one man, Noah, is found righteous:

“Make yourself an ark of cypress wood… This is how you are to make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.” – Genesis 6:14–15

Researchers from California are investigating the mystery in the rugged terrain of eastern Turkey, a formation long shrouded in mystery is once again capturing global attention. The Durupınar site, a 160-meter-long, boat-shaped geological structure buried near Mount Ararat, is at the heart of renewed investigations by the California-based research group, Noah’s Ark Scans.

Their mission: to determine whether this enigmatic formation could be the remnants of the biblical Noah’s Ark.

The Durupınar formation’s dimensions strikingly mirror the biblical description of Noah’s Ark, as detailed in Genesis 6:15. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys have revealed internal features, including rectangular shapes and what appears to be a central chamber, located approximately 22 feet beneath the surface. These findings suggest the possibility of man-made structures within the formation.

Related: Meet the mountain people of the Middle East

Soil analyses have further intrigued researchers. Samples from within the formation exhibit lower pH levels and higher concentrations of organic matter and potassium compared to surrounding areas. Such characteristics are consistent with the decomposition of wooden materials, potentially indicating the presence of ancient timber.

Discovered in 1959 by Turkish Army Captain İlhan Durupınar, the site has been a focal point for both scientific inquiry and speculative theories. While some early studies dismissed the formation as a natural geological occurrence, others have posited that it could be the fossilized remains of Noah’s Ark.

The current research endeavors aim to apply modern scientific techniques to this age-old question. Sometimes archeologists wait until scientific tools can catch up with the questions –– to make sure they don’t harm what should be preserved.

Noah’s Ark Scans is proceeding with caution. “Excavations at the ‘boat site’ haven’t started yet because we first need more geophysical surveys, core drilling, and careful planning,” the team stated. “The location lies in an active earth flow with harsh winters, so protecting the area is our top priority”.

Collaborations with Turkish universities are underway to ensure that any future excavations are conducted responsibly and with respect for the site’s integrity.

Beyond its potential archaeological significance, the Durupınar site resonates deeply with themes of survival and renewal found in the story of Noah’s Ark. As researchers delve deeper into the formation’s secrets, they not only seek answers to a historical enigma but also engage with a narrative that as inspired countless generations.

::Noah’s Ark Scans

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Houthis missiles backfired and hit Sanaa

On Sunday, April 21st, a deadly blast rocked the historic heart of Sanaa, Yemen—steps away from its ancient Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its multi-story tower houses built from rammed earth and adorned with white gypsum. The Houthi-run health ministry claimed a U.S. airstrike killed 12 civilians. Yet, U.S. Central Command insists the explosion was the result of a misfired Houthi air defense missile. The blame game continues, but what remains clear is this: civilians are dying, history is eroding, and extremism is winning.

History Bombed

This isn’t the first time war has torn through our shared cultural fabric. In recent decades, militant groups—from ISIS in Iraq and Syria to the Taliban in Afghanistan—have turned historical and archaeological treasures into battlegrounds. Ancient ruins like Palmyra, Nineveh, and Bamiyan’s giant Buddhas were deliberately demolished in acts of ideological warfare meant to erase memory and rewrite history through the lens of extremism. Islamists wanted to erase all history before the religion of Islam began.

In one Green Prophet piece we reported how ISIS blew up Palmyra in Syria, reducing statues and relics dating back to the Roman Empire.These were not just Syrian artifacts, they were were humanity’s.

The attack on Sanaa is part of this disturbing trend, where entire civilizations are held hostage by politics, religion, and power. In Yemen, it’s compounded by relentless proxy wars, foreign interventions, and internal strife.

Who Are the Houthis?

The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, are a Zaidi Shia Muslim group originating from northern Yemen. Their grievances—decades of political and economic marginalization—led them to rise up against Yemen’s central government in 2004. But it was during the Arab Spring in 2011 that the group capitalized on growing instability.

By 2014, they had seized the capital, Sanaa. Soon after, a Saudi-led coalition—armed and supported by the U.S.—intervened militarily, fearing Iran’s influence through the Houthis. The result has been a catastrophic conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and left 80% of Yemen’s population reliant on humanitarian aid.

Despite ceasefire talks and intermittent negotiations, violence continues to erupt. And since November 2023, the Houthis have launched drone and missile attacks on Red Sea vessels they claim are connected to Israel, in “solidarity” with Palestinians in Gaza.

The Red Sea, Gaza, and the Bigger Picture

The Houthis’ recent alignment with the Palestinian cause has raised both support and scrutiny. While some hail them as defenders of an oppressed people, others view their actions as cynical, destabilizing, and deeply dangerous—particularly to maritime security and regional peace.

These Israelis have written a song for the Houthis in return.

The United States has responded with intensified airstrikes aimed at degrading Houthi military capabilities. But these campaigns, as with so many others in modern Middle Eastern conflicts, carry devastating costs for civilians.

According to human rights advocates, these attacks—whether carried out by the U.S. or others—have not adequately distinguished between militants and civilians. Democratic senators have demanded accountability for the mounting civilian toll.

Sanaa and Its Silent Witnesses

The Old City of Sanaa, continuously inhabited for more than 2,500 years, is not just a place of prayer or residence. Its narrow alleyways, intricately patterned facades, and stone carvings tell the story of Yemen’s vibrant Islamic and pre-Islamic heritage. They stand as silent witnesses to civilizations that predate today’s politics by millennia.

But each blast and each shattered home chips away at that heritage. In 2015, UNESCO condemned the Saudi-led airstrikes on Sanaa that damaged historic homes. Today, the pattern continues, despite global warnings.

What do the Houthis want? Depending on who you ask, the answer varies: some say autonomy, others say revolution, others claim it’s purely power. They are undeniably embedded within regional power dynamics, bolstered by Iran and fought by Saudi Arabia and the U.S.

But amid all these high-level chess moves, ordinary Yemenis continue to suffer. Children die of preventable diseases, women give birth in bombed-out clinics, and ancient structures crumble under missile fire.

And for what?

While the military debates over who launched what continue, Yemen’s cultural and human history is being erased in real-time. It’s time for the international community to prioritize preservation—not only of life, but of the collective heritage that connects us all.

There must be accountability for attacks on civilians, regardless of the perpetrator. And there must be global recognition that a destroyed minaret in Sanaa or obliterated statue in Nineveh is a loss not only for Yemen or Iraq, but for humanity.

Let’s not wait until all that remains of these sites are photos in textbooks or ashes in the wind.

The post How Houthi Violence and Extremism Are Destroying the World’s Heritage—and Its People appeared first on Green Prophet.

Imagine this: an ancient skeleton wrapped in iron chains, buried under a church altar in Jerusalem. Sounds like something straight out of a history book, right? But it’s not just a relic of the past—it’s a powerful reminder of the lengths people once went to for spiritual enlightenment. And get this: it was a woman.

This incredible discovery, made in a Byzantine monastery site just outside Jerusalem, is rewriting what we know about early Christian spirituality—and the role women played in it. Researchers uncovered the remains of a female nun who lived more than a thousand years ago. But she wasn’t just buried with rings and metal discs; she was bound in chains.

But why would anyone willingly put themselves through this kind of physical pain?Back in the 5th to 7th centuries, asceticism—the practice of extreme self-discipline—was all the rage. And it wasn’t just monks. Nuns were doing it too. The idea was that by denying yourself physical comforts, you could elevate your soul to a higher spiritual plane. Think fasting, self-flagellation, and living in uncomfortable conditions.

This isn’t just some weird niche thing. This type of asceticism was widespread, with monks and nuns stretching across the Byzantine Empire, from Syria to Egypt to Italy. And women? Yeah, they were in on it too—often in secret, or disguised as men, because let’s face it: living out extreme spirituality wasn’t exactly considered a “female-friendly” activity back then.

According to Dr. Amit Re’em, Jerusalem District Archaeologist for the Antiquities Authority, “Ascetic nuns represent a fascinating phenomenon worth dwelling on, and even more so – against the background of International Women’s Day, which is marked this week. These literally extra-ordinary women lived and functioned in a rigid male and patriarchal environment, which inhibited their activities.

“In order to take part in the idealistic religious ideals of the life of nuns and ascetics of that time, which were mostly a male domain, of necessity they had to –according to traditions and legends – disguise themselves as men, and live thusly until their death.”

Here’s Where It Gets Even More Interesting:

The skeleton was found wrapped up in chains and bound by iron rings around her arms, neck, and legs. Researchers even found a small cross buried with her. But here’s the twist: she wasn’t tortured. This was voluntary. According to ancient sources, self-inflicted suffering like this was thought to purify the soul and get you closer to God. So, the more you suffered, the more spiritual “points” you scored.

This practice wasn’t just about personal sacrifice. It was about aligning with nature, minimizing distractions, and living sustainably. In the harsh, arid environment of the Holy Land, extreme asceticism was also a way to live simply and in harmony with the land. These monks and nuns didn’t need all the material stuff we’re surrounded by today; they were focused on the essentials.

So, What Does This Have to Do With Us Today?

In today’s world, sustainability isn’t just about saving the planet—it’s about living mindfully and intentionally. And while extreme self-denial might not be everyone’s cup of tea, the core message here is clear: sometimes, less really is more. Just like these ancient nuns and monks, we can find deeper meaning by living in alignment with nature and prioritizing spiritual growth over material gain.

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Nubian architecture, developed along the Nile River, showcases a harmonious blend of ingenuity, environmental adaptation, and community focus. Rooted in the challenges of a hot and arid climate, this architectural tradition offers timeless principles that remain highly relevant as architects strive to create sustainable, eco-friendly housing and communities today.

The Nubians are an indigenous African ethnic group native to the region along the Nile River, primarily in what is now southern Egypt and northern Sudan. They are one of the oldest civilizations in the world, with a history that dates back thousands of years. They believe in monotheism but some have converted to Christianity over the years.

The foundation of Nubian architecture lies in its use of locally sourced, natural materials. Sun-dried mud bricks, made from Nile silt mixed with clay and straw, provided excellent insulation, regulating indoor temperatures. REadily available palm tree wood and reeds can be used for roofing and reinforcement, while mud or lime-based plaster finished walls, offering durability and a natural aesthetic.

Related: archeologists find pregnant Nubian woman with late-stage fetus stuck in her womb

A hallmark of Nubian construction is the Nubian vault, a technique for creating arched roofs without the need for timber or modern scaffolding. This gravity-based, pressure-stabilized structure was not only resource-efficient but also incredibly durable.

Rounded and domed forms further optimized buildings for thermal comfort, reducing heat absorption and ensuring even cooling. See Hassan Fathy.

Design Principles and Environmental Adaptation

Nubian builders mastered passive cooling techniques long before modern technology. Thick walls and small, strategically placed windows insulated interiors from extreme heat, while buildings were oriented to harness natural ventilation. This design minimized reliance on artificial cooling, making it inherently energy-efficient.

The Nubians also prioritized community-centric layouts. And this is why modern architects like Hassan Fathy thought that this ancient building tradition could solve many problems in Egypt. Homes were arranged around shared courtyards, fostering social interaction and communal living. Resources like water wells and shaded open spaces were shared, reinforcing a sense of collective responsibility and resilience.

Integration with nature was a cornerstone of Nubian architecture. Structures were often built on elevated ground to mitigate flooding, and materials were biodegradable, leaving minimal environmental impact. This synergy with the environment ensured sustainability across generations.

Buildings were often adorned with symbolic patterns and decorations, painted using natural pigments. These artistic touches reflected the community’s cultural identity and spiritual values.

Today there isn’t such a thing as a Nubian territory but you can visit Nubian people in Egypt and Sudan, living in their villages, preserved in time. Want to find a colorful Nubian village to explore? Check out the travel vlog of Kevin and Miranda and get going.

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Christians in Cairo worship in a cave because they aren’t given a choice. There is evidence that ancient worshippers once gathered in a cave. This may be the first communal expression of religion in the world, according to researchers who found the cave in Israel, in a region of the Levant known as the Cradle of Civilization. It is prehistoric evidence for the world’s first “church”.

Tour inside:

The rare prehistoric ritual complex has been uncovered in the darkest depths of Manot Cave in the Galilee region, Israel. The complex is enclosed naturally by impressive stalagmites that create a distinctive entrance to the site and features a unique and impressive rock with geometric engravings resembling a turtle shell.

“The rare discovery provides a glimpse into the spiritual world of Paleolithic hunter-gatherer groups who lived in our region approximately 35,000 years ago,” says Omry Barzillai from the University of Haifa and Israel Antiquities Authority.

“The engraved rock was deliberately placed in a niche in the deepest, darkest part of the cave. The turtle-shell design, carved on a three-dimensional object, indicates that it may have represented a totem or a mythological or spiritual figure. Its special location, far from the daily activity areas near the cave entrance, suggests that it was an object of worship.

“Notably, there are prehistoric caves in Western Europe, with similar findings testifying these places held symbolic importance and served for ritual and communal activities.

The study of this complex, published in the journal PNAS, was led by Dr. Omry Barzilai from the University of Haifa and Israel Antiquities Authority, Prof. Ofer Marder from Ben-Gurion University, and Prof. Israel Hershkovitz from Tel Aviv University.

Manot Cave has been excavated systematically since 2010 by the Israel Antiquities Authority, Tel Aviv University, and Ben-Gurion University. The cave is particularly well-known for its stunning stalactites and remains of habitation from several prehistoric cultures of the Upper Paleolithic period.

Among its notable discoveries is a 55,000-year-old modern human skull, the oldest modern human fossil found outside Africa.

In course of study of the deep complex study the researchers uncovered ash remains in one of the stalagmite rings near the engraved rock, confirming the use of fire to illuminate the ritual space, likely with torches. Acoustic tests revealed that the complex has enhanced natural acoustics, which could have created a unique auditory experience for communal activities such as prayer, singing, and dancing.

Prof. Hershkovitz: “This is an unprecedented discovery of a space with ‘audio-visual equipment,’ centered around a ritual object (the turtle), which constitutes the first evidence of communal rituals in the Levant. It is no surprise that prehistoric hunters chose to conduct their rituals in the darkest part of Manot Cave, as darkness embodies sacred and hidden qualities, symbolizing rebirth and renewal.

“The establishment of ritual centers during the Upper Paleolithic was a central element in the development and institutionalization of collective identity — a necessary stage in the transition from small, isolated hunter-gatherer groups based on blood ties between individuals to large, complex societies.”

The chronological age of the ritual complex in Manot Cave was dated to 35,000 to 37,000 years ago, a period associated with the sudden emergence of the Aurignacian culture, known in Europe for its symbolic objects and cave paintings. “In our excavations in Manot Cave, we uncovered rich Aurignacian layers near the cave entrance that included flint tools, bone and antler implements, and shell beads,” said Prof. Ofer Marder from Ben-Gurion University.

In a small, hidden chamber adjacent to the ritual complex, a complete deer antler with signs of use was discovered.

“Antlers were used as raw material for crafting tools for various purposes by Upper Paleolithic cultures in Europe, and by the Aurignacian culture in the Levant. The placement of the deer antler in a hidden chamber adjacent to the ritual site may be connected to the ritual activities in the cave,” explained Barzilai.

The researchers also conducted 3D photographic mapping of the cave. “We found a clear separation between the ritual complex and the areas of regular activity at the cave entrance. This observation strengthens the hypothesis about the significance of the complex and the need to differentiate it from the areas where daily activity took place,” said Alexander Wigman from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

According to the researchers, the discovery of the ritual complex in Manot Cave sheds new light on the spiritual life of the Upper Paleolithic people in the Levant. “This research enriches our understanding of prehistoric humans, their symbolic world, and the nature of the worship rituals that connected ancient communities.

“Identifying communal rituals in the Paleolithic era marks a breakthrough in our understanding of human society and offers more than just a glimpse into ancient ritual practices. It reveals the central role of rituals and symbols in shaping collective identity and strengthening social bonds,” the researchers concluded.

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We will forever keep the eternal spring

According to Jewish legend, in the first days of creation when water and land were separated, the world’s first water, a spring gushed forth out of the center of Jerusalem. The water source is still accessible under the Western Wall, the original wall that surrounded the Jewish Holy Temple. Could ancient pottery from China, found in Jerusalem, mean that the ancient Chinese knew about living water wisdom?

Archeologists from Germany and Israel found a 500-year-old Ming Dynasty shard on Mount Zion under a church which was built during the Ottoman Empire. It is the first piece of evidence that goes so back linking China to the Holy Land.

The rare 16th century CE Chinese inscription was discovered on a porcelain bowl fragment, reading: “Forever we will guard the eternal spring.”

Could the Chinese know and believe that under the city of Jerusalem lay the eternal spring?

This past summer, during routine procedures for the upcoming excavation season, Michael Chernin, an archaeologist at the Israel Antiquities Authority, suddenly spotted a colorful object sticking out of the dirt that had been cleared away while preparing the site.

When Michael pulled out the object and washed it, he recognized that there was an inscription on its bottom. Dr. Anna de Vincenz, pottery specialist, identified the inscription to be Chinese. At this point— the vessel was examined by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem’s researcher Jingchao Chen, who deciphered the inscription as reading, “We will forever guard the eternal spring.”

The bowl dates back to 1520-1570, and originated in the Ming Dynasty. “Ancient Chinese porcelain vessels were previously found in Israel, but this is the first to bear an inscription,” say the researchers.

Related: living water protector Peter Steel in Canada

How did a dish make its way from China to Mount Zion? Historical writings indicate close 16th century trade relations between the Chinese Empire and the Ottoman Empire, then ruling the Land of Israel. According to Ming Dynasty annals, about 20 official Ottoman delegations visited the imperial court in Beijing during the 15th-17th centuries.

The trade relations between these empires are also described in travel books of merchants from this period. Thus, the writings of the Chinese scholar Ma Li from 1541 note colonies of Chinese merchants in Lebanese coastal cities such as Beirut and Tripoli. The work even mentions other important cities in the region such as Jerusalem, Cairo and Aleppo.

According to Israel Antiquities Authority Director Eli Escusido, “In archaeological research, evidence of trade relations between merchants in the Land of Israel and the Far East is known even from earlier periods – for example, of various spices. But it is fascinating to meet evidence of these relations also in the form of an actual inscription, written in the Chinese language, and in an unexpected place – on Mount Zion in Jerusalem”

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