Connection to History, Part I

The online version of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives the etymology of the word "history" as:

Etymology:
Middle English histoire, historie, from
Anglo-French estoire,
histoire, from Latin historia, from Greek, inquiry, history, from histōr, istōr
knowing, learned; akin to Greek eidenai to know

Accordingly, history is also what is happening now, as well as what was happening then. Therefore I find it entirely appropriate that I take a quick break from my interpretation of history to chronicle what great discoveries and findings have recently been and are being made in the area of ancient histories.

In this article from the online version of Science Daily from March 20, 2009, a Byzantine church/monastery with elaborate mosaics and inscriptions in Ancient Greek has been discovered by archaeologists working in Israel. This is in keeping with other discoveries in the area and already-formed hypotheses from expert historians around the world. I find the discovery fascinating; although it is not a monumental in the history of excavation, it can teach us about the time, the religious beliefs of said, and its architecture.
Byzantine Church: a branch of the early Roman Catholic Church that broke off due to a difference in imagery beliefs and other questions; based mainly in the Eastern and Middle Eastern parts of the world.

In a different article, this one, from the same Science Daily, but from March 7, 2009 this time, the origins of Pompeii-like artifacts are examined as compared to known Roman artifacts, said artifacts being bronze jugs, plates and ceremonial pans. Researchers hope to learn whether the artifacts in question came from Britain itself (as copies of the Roman) or were imported. Either way, it is my opinion that discovering which will advance our understanding of the period. The use of a technique known as 'neutron analysis' will be used to determine the answer to the currently-ongoing debate.
Neutron analysis: an advanced technique in which rare artifacts of high value are examined in a regular analysis and at the subatomic level for a unique measurement of materials used, what the materials are composed of, and the way the artifact is made.

L.P.