Rare Gemstone Uncovers Trade Route Between Medieval Europe And Sri Lanka
A medieval ring holding a rare sapphire points to a long-distance gemstone trade between Europe and Sri Lanka over 700 years ago.
The ring was found at today's Pustý hrad (meaning "deserted castle") above the city of Zvolen in Slovakia in 2001, during an illegal treasure hunt. Only 22 years later the ring was handed over to the authorities.
The 18-karat golden ring, dating from circa 1300, holds a reddish-purple sapphire gemstone with an estimated weight of about 2.00 carats. The ring is of high quality and sapphire was a rare gemstone at the time, as there are no significant deposits to be found in Europe. Wearing such a piece of jewelry must have symbolized great wealth and a high societal status.
Noémi Beljak Pažinová, researcher at the Department of Archaeology of the University of Nitra, Slovakia, and a team of archeologists and mineralogists analyzed the chemical composition and crystal properties to determine the gemstone's possible origin.
Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum, which is composed almost entirely of aluminum oxide. Pure corundum is colorless, but trace elements like iron, titanium, chromium, gallium and vanadium give it colors like blue, yellow, red, green, pink, or purple.
By analyzing the trace elements in the ring's sapphire and comparing the results with sapphires mined worldwide, the team concludes that Sri Lanka is the most likely place of origin. The gemstone must have traveled by sea and land, shipped from Sri Lanka to India, traveling the Middle East and handed over to European merchants in Aleppo, modern northern Syria, or Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, Turkey. This long voyage, together with the rarity and beauty of sapphires, must have contributed to its high value.
FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™
Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase
Pinpoint By Linkedin
Guess The Category
Queens By Linkedin
Crown Each Region
Crossclimb By Linkedin
Unlock A Trivia Ladder
Pustý hrad Castle was built in the late 12th century and served as the administrative center of the Zvolen County before becoming a significant Hungarian royal fortress. It is plausible that the ring was worn by a royal member or another high-ranking person, maybe even serving as a Bishops' rings of office. An engraving on the sapphire shows a stylized lion, symbolizing strength, courage and royalty, but also an animal associated with Mark the Evangelist.
The study,"Archaeometric study of a unique medieval golden ring with a reddish-purple sapphire (corundum) gemstone from the Zvolen Castle, Slovakia," was published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
3 days ago
- CNN
A secret tunnel city hidden under Rome's ancient heart is being revealed
There's a reason archaeologist Ersilia D'Ambrosio can scarcely contain her excitement as she leads the way through dimly lit passageways deep below the Capitoline Hill that was once at the heart of ancient Rome: In a city where almost every historic treasure has been laid bare, this vast subterranean labyrinth is an undiscovered world. 'No one has seen these caves and tunnels for more than a century,' D'Ambrosio tells CNN, plunging further into the gloom. These chambers, which cover around 42,000 square feet, or 3,900 square meters — roughly three-quarters the area of an American football field — lie in an area beneath the Ancient Roman Forum and the 2,000-year-old Marcello Theater. At its deepest point, one of the caves extends about 985 feet below the surface. Known as the Grottino del Campidoglio, or Capitoline Grotto, these tunnels have been part of the fabric of Rome even since before the days of Julius Caesar, despite being forgotten in recent generations. Comprehensively developed in the Middle Ages, they were in continuous use until the 1920s, at various times housing entire communities, shops, taverns, restaurants and, in World War II, people sheltering from falling Allied bombs. Above ground, on the steamy morning in July when CNN was granted exclusive access to the cavern network, tourists sweated in temperatures of 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius) as they explored the Capitoline Square, designed by Michelangelo in the 16th century, and the Capitoline Museums complex. Seventy-five feet below, in the grotto, it's decidedly cooler at around 55F, with the damp air causing condensation to glitter on some of the tunnel surfaces. Some of the passages are neatly constructed and lined with bricks, a sign of their development and use in the 19th century. Others are more roughly hewn from tuff, a soft volcanic rock from which the famous Seven Hills of Rome are formed. Walking through the tunnels is a trip back in time, with Rome's complex layers of history laid bare. Today, nearly a century after they were mostly sealed off under orders from Italy's fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, the tunnels have been strung with illuminations, while scaffolding and other construction paraphernalia point to the fact that they are no longer abandoned. In fact, work is now underway to prepare the network for visitors. In late 2026 or early 2027, the tunnels will open as one of Rome's newest historical tourist attractions. For now, even for the experts working to get them ready, entering the Grottino del Campidoglio is still a journey of discovery. Despite much of the area, including the Imperial and Roman forums and the Colosseum nearby, undergoing extensive renovations in recent years, the tunnels have remained untouched. D'Ambrosio says the grotto visitor experience is designed to combine archaeology and speleology, and will attract a different type of visitor from those who focus on the more well-known sites above ground. 'This is an esoteric experience in many ways,' she adds. Although she's built a long career on sites like these, D'Ambrosio manages the administration aspects of this particular project, but says her real love is getting her hands dirty. There is still plenty for visitors to marvel at. Gazing up at a void reaching high above one block-lined tunnel, it's possible to see the white marble foundation of the Temple of Jupiter, another Capitoline Hill treasure completed in the 6th century BCE. The subterranean complex served many purposes over the centuries, first as stone quarries and later as water cisterns before eventually housing commercial structures and warehouses. In the 19th century, the caverns were once the economic epicenter of a working-class community that lived in modest public housing built along the flanks of the hill. German literary giant Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is said to have fallen in love with a woman who worked in one of the taverns, writing about the experience in his travelogue 'Italian Journey.' Little detail is known about exactly what each of the underground caverns held or when, but etchings by 18th-century Italian classical archaeologist and artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi show it as a lively part of the city center. Mussolini tore down the housing and filled some of the tunnels with dirt to stabilize the hill above as part of his grand revitalization plan to modernize the Italian capital. During World War II, a small section was used as air raid shelters, complete with heavy fortified doors. Visible in the tunnels, as well as street numbers, are signs pointing to various 'gabinetto' or bathrooms, likely used during the area's phase as a sanctuary from falling bombs. Work to open up this subterranean world to visitors is being completed in phases. Prior to clearing out the caves and tunnels, archaeologists used laser scanning to map the spaces and record marks left during previous excavation work. Photographic and video exhibitions of the work done will be part of a permanent display throughout the tunnel complex. 'The proposed interventions are aimed, on the one hand, at safeguarding the monument, through the restoration and safety of the structures, and, on the other, at enhancing its accessibility and usability, which is currently extremely limited,' according to the Insula architecture group, which is leading the project. 'The Campidoglio Grottoes project envisions conservative restoration and enhancement of the underground passageways and cavities that wind through the hill, crossing it in various directions and on multiple levels.' The work to make it safe for tourists also includes managing radon gas, which is naturally released from the volcanic rock that is being disturbed in the restoration process. Workers are constantly tested for levels of exposure, and the time they spend in the caves is limited. Specialized filters will be installed to scrub the air before the site opens to the public, says Antonio Collazzo, an archaeologist involved in the project. 'This will be managed with a forced ventilation system.' Once the $2.8-million undertaking is complete, there will be a museum space on an upper level, while entrance to the tunnels will be tightly controlled, with visitors led by guides to ensure their safety and the integrity of the delicate structure. Disabled access will also be added. There will be displays of ancient stone artifacts and a variety of pots and vases found buried in the dirt that were likely used by merchants for everything from olive oil to wine. Also visible will be metal rings attached to the walls, thought to have been used to tether animals brought down into the cave complex. Artifacts and materials that were recovered during previous excavations of the area and stored in the Capitoline museum warehouses above have been brought down to the tunnels to be studied in their original context, D'Ambrosia says. 'To an archaeologist everything is interesting,' she says. But only pieces likely to interest visitors are likely to remain in situ. Even with all the current work going on, from above, there is little evidence on Capitoline Hill that there's an extensive network of caves and tunnels below it. But Ambrosio is confident they will soon be a major attraction in a city with no shortage of them. 'The area has never before been opened to the public as it will be,' Ambrosio says. 'It was utilized by the population, used as warehouses, shops, taverns, but never as a site to visit as it will be.'
CNN
3 days ago
- CNN
A secret tunnel city hidden under Rome's ancient heart is being revealed
History uncoveredFacebookTweetLink Follow There's a reason archaeologist Ersilia D'Ambrosio can scarcely contain her excitement as she leads the way through dimly lit passageways deep below the Capitoline Hill that was once at the heart of ancient Rome: In a city where almost every historic treasure has been laid bare, this vast subterranean labyrinth is an undiscovered world. 'No one has seen these caves and tunnels for more than a century,' D'Ambrosio tells CNN, plunging further into the gloom. These chambers, which cover around 42,000 square feet, or 3,900 square meters — roughly three-quarters the area of an American football field — lie in an area beneath the Ancient Roman Forum and the 2,000-year-old Marcello Theater. At its deepest point, one of the caves extends about 985 feet below the surface. Known as the Grottino del Campidoglio, or Capitoline Grotto, these tunnels have been part of the fabric of Rome even since before the days of Julius Caesar, despite being forgotten in recent generations. Comprehensively developed in the Middle Ages, they were in continuous use until the 1920s, at various times housing entire communities, shops, taverns, restaurants and, in World War II, people sheltering from falling Allied bombs. Above ground, on the steamy morning in July when CNN was granted exclusive access to the cavern network, tourists sweated in temperatures of 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius) as they explored the Capitoline Square, designed by Michelangelo in the 16th century, and the Capitoline Museums complex. Seventy-five feet below, in the grotto, it's decidedly cooler at around 55F, with the damp air causing condensation to glitter on some of the tunnel surfaces. Some of the passages are neatly constructed and lined with bricks, a sign of their development and use in the 19th century. Others are more roughly hewn from tuff, a soft volcanic rock from which the famous Seven Hills of Rome are formed. Walking through the tunnels is a trip back in time, with Rome's complex layers of history laid bare. Today, nearly a century after they were mostly sealed off under orders from Italy's fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, the tunnels have been strung with illuminations, while scaffolding and other construction paraphernalia point to the fact that they are no longer abandoned. In fact, work is now underway to prepare the network for visitors. In late 2026 or early 2027, the tunnels will open as one of Rome's newest historical tourist attractions. For now, even for the experts working to get them ready, entering the Grottino del Campidoglio is still a journey of discovery. Despite much of the area, including the Imperial and Roman forums and the Colosseum nearby, undergoing extensive renovations in recent years, the tunnels have remained untouched. D'Ambrosio says the grotto visitor experience is designed to combine archaeology and speleology, and will attract a different type of visitor from those who focus on the more well-known sites above ground. 'This is an esoteric experience in many ways,' she adds. Although she's built a long career on sites like these, D'Ambrosio manages the administration aspects of this particular project, but says her real love is getting her hands dirty. There is still plenty for visitors to marvel at. Gazing up at a void reaching high above one block-lined tunnel, it's possible to see the white marble foundation of the Temple of Jupiter, another Capitoline Hill treasure completed in the 6th century BCE. The subterranean complex served many purposes over the centuries, first as stone quarries and later as water cisterns before eventually housing commercial structures and warehouses. In the 19th century, the caverns were once the economic epicenter of a working-class community that lived in modest public housing built along the flanks of the hill. German literary giant Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is said to have fallen in love with a woman who worked in one of the taverns, writing about the experience in his travelogue 'Italian Journey.' Little detail is known about exactly what each of the underground caverns held or when, but etchings by 18th-century Italian classical archaeologist and artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi show it as a lively part of the city center. Mussolini tore down the housing and filled some of the tunnels with dirt to stabilize the hill above as part of his grand revitalization plan to modernize the Italian capital. During World War II, a small section was used as air raid shelters, complete with heavy fortified doors. Visible in the tunnels, as well as street numbers, are signs pointing to various 'gabinetto' or bathrooms, likely used during the area's phase as a sanctuary from falling bombs. Work to open up this subterranean world to visitors is being completed in phases. Prior to clearing out the caves and tunnels, archaeologists used laser scanning to map the spaces and record marks left during previous excavation work. Photographic and video exhibitions of the work done will be part of a permanent display throughout the tunnel complex. 'The proposed interventions are aimed, on the one hand, at safeguarding the monument, through the restoration and safety of the structures, and, on the other, at enhancing its accessibility and usability, which is currently extremely limited,' according to the Insula architecture group, which is leading the project. 'The Campidoglio Grottoes project envisions conservative restoration and enhancement of the underground passageways and cavities that wind through the hill, crossing it in various directions and on multiple levels.' The work to make it safe for tourists also includes managing radon gas, which is naturally released from the volcanic rock that is being disturbed in the restoration process. Workers are constantly tested for levels of exposure, and the time they spend in the caves is limited. Specialized filters will be installed to scrub the air before the site opens to the public, says Antonio Collazzo, an archaeologist involved in the project. 'This will be managed with a forced ventilation system.' Once the $2.8-million undertaking is complete, there will be a museum space on an upper level, while entrance to the tunnels will be tightly controlled, with visitors led by guides to ensure their safety and the integrity of the delicate structure. Disabled access will also be added. There will be displays of ancient stone artifacts and a variety of pots and vases found buried in the dirt that were likely used by merchants for everything from olive oil to wine. Also visible will be metal rings attached to the walls, thought to have been used to tether animals brought down into the cave complex. Artifacts and materials that were recovered during previous excavations of the area and stored in the Capitoline museum warehouses above have been brought down to the tunnels to be studied in their original context, D'Ambrosia says. 'To an archaeologist everything is interesting,' she says. But only pieces likely to interest visitors are likely to remain in situ. Even with all the current work going on, from above, there is little evidence on Capitoline Hill that there's an extensive network of caves and tunnels below it. But Ambrosio is confident they will soon be a major attraction in a city with no shortage of them. 'The area has never before been opened to the public as it will be,' Ambrosio says. 'It was utilized by the population, used as warehouses, shops, taverns, but never as a site to visit as it will be.'
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Ancient Christian town discovered in Jordan
Faith is an integral part of millions of Americans' daily lives. 'One Nation Under God' is committed to reflecting America's voices, values and communities covering stories of faith and religion, from the latest headlines to stories of hope. Subscribe here. (NewsNation) — Archaeologists have discovered an ancient Christian settlement in Jordan that dates back to the mid-sixth century. A professor and his team from Mutah University unearthed the archaeological site of Tharais in southern Jordan. Their findings were recently published in Gephyra, an academic journal that covers the ancient history and cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean. The archaeological remains show evidence of human settlement during the Roman, Byzantine and Islamic periods from the first century B.C. through the 13th century A.D., according to the scholars. Illinois town buys Pope Leo XIV's childhood home Among the findings were the remains of a Byzantine church built in the basilica style. They also found an olive oil press, pottery shards, stone tools and glass remnants as well as fragments of mosaic art. The archaeologists say that Tharais could have been a Byzantine site for Christian pilgrimage, given its location overlooking the Dead Sea and the Holy Land, as well as an agricultural hub. The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, lasted for 1100 years from 330 to 1453 A.D. Its capital was Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul. It fell when the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
