archaeology
Researchers are debating whether droughts triggered unrest in late Roman Britain during the so-called Barbarian Conspiracy of 367 AD. A study using tree ring data linked severe summer droughts in 364-366 to poor harvests and rebellion, but historians say the historical sources have been misinterpreted. The dispute underscores challenges in combining climate data with historical records.
Reported by AI
Researchers led by Gianni Barcaccia at the University of Padova have identified DNA from numerous animals, plants, and humans contaminating the Shroud of Turin. The new study reexamines material collected in 1978, revealing traces that suggest extensive handling and possible links to India. Findings complicate debates over the relic's medieval origins.