Basiel Sarniensis – The First Channel Islander Recorded in History?
Baslel Turbeli filius Gallinaria, Sarniensis – a name that emerged from the ground in the town of Algaiola in northern Corsica one day in 1916. A long dead name that had not seen the light of day for over 1000 years. The name of a Roman Marine or sailor serving in the fleet of Miseniense and quite possibly the first Channel Islander’s name ever recorded in History.
Mysteries of History : Troy – Was it Real? Did it Exist?
HISTORY RECORDS ACTUAL EVENTS whereas myths spin tales that help explain a culture’s worldview. It’s where history and myth intersect that we find some of the most enduring legends. In this particular article we look at Troy.
Is it Possible to tell what Jesus looked like ?
Jesus is arguably the most influential person in history as well as the most painted figure in all of Western art, but paradoxically we have no idea what he looked really looked like when he walked the earth.
Celtic Guernsey and the King’s Road Settlement
The largest area of Celtic settlement we know of on Guernsey was to the east of King’s Road, on the outskirts of St Peter Port. But was life like for the celtic peoples of Guernsey and even who were the celts ?
Asterix – Guernsey’s Own Roman Wreck
On Christmas Day 1982 local Diver Richard Keen spotted the remains of a large wreck sticking out from the mud directly between the pierheads of St Peter Port harbour. It turned out to be the largest, most complete, seagoing Roman ship surviving outside the Mediterranean.
When Worlds Collide : The Romans and Jersey’s Celtic Treasure Hoards
Jersey is unique in many ways but there is one that is particularly curious. Of all the channel Islands it seems to have had the most treasure hoards of all. The latest, the Catillon II hoard, had over 70,000 coins in it plus 2 golden torqs. Even more curious is that 4 similar hoards were all buried at the same time – the mid 1st Century B.C. So what was going on?
Ancient Celtic offshore Banking
It looks like Jersey may have been an offshore banking centre for far longer than anyone has suspected. In June 2012 two metal detectorists uncovered a hoard of a staggering 70,000 late Iron Age and Roman coins. Their incredible find has since turned out to be the largest hoard ever found in Jersey.
Scandal & Heresy in the Priory of Notre Dame de Lihou ?
Archaeological excavations of the Priory on Lihou island have unearthed, quite literally, some intriguing details about who lived there and has raised some serious question questions about what they might have been up too !
What have the Romans ever done for us?
For Monty Python fans the question “What have the Romans ever done for us ?” will recall the irreverent comedy of the film ‘The Life of Brian’ . There is a serious question behind this frivolous skit. The Roman Empire and the culture it exported was the most advanced the world had ever seen. Indeed after the fall of the Roman Empire it never got back up to the same level, in Western Europe, until many centuries later.
The Origin of Writing
Writing – The invention that enabled science and knowledge to flourish. However it seems that is wasn’t invented for prose or love poems or literature but for the more mundane and prosaic task of taxation and bookkeeping.
Unlocking the Secret of Egyptian Heiroglyphs – The Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta stone is one of the most valuable artefacts ever to have been found by archaeologists. It literally unlocked the secrets of the Ancient Egyptians. Up until its discovery their rich language, culture and beliefs were a complete mystery and one could only marvel at their accomplishments in art & architecture in a kind of mute awe.
Are We Still Evolving ?
Have our technological, biological and medical advancements to date put us out of reach of evolutions effects, or at least reduced their impact ? In this article we consider just a few of some of the ideas floating around at the moment.
Roman Alderney – Ruin Found to be Roman Fort
Up until 2011 virtually no trace of Roman occupation or influence had been found in Alderney. That all changed when one of the best-preserved Roman military structures in the world was found.
