In the United States of America, the end of the month of October is usually a period in which the general peak of the fall season is enjoyed by many citizens across the nation. Annually, the uniquely American tradition of Halloween (which is a fairly modern holiday) occurs on the final day of the month. While the 31st of October as Halloween is a fairly new tradition, the general area of time surrounding all Hallows eve and all saint’s day has been celebrated by various historic western European cultures since the time of paganism before Christianity dominated the continent.
Costume and party retailers also obviously enjoy the monetary benefits of the holiday. One Halloween costume that has been popular over the years is that of a mummy. Indeed, while the ghoulish idea of an ancient body preserved for centuries rising from the dead is not as commonly showcased in modern Halloween costumes as it once was, it remains an ordinary theme of the season. While there are no factual accounts of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh rising from the dead, the tombs of these long deceased rulers are still occasionally discovered in the modern day. In one European nation not commonly associated with mummies, a 5,000 year old burial site was discovered. In Scotland, a tomb in the Orkney islands was discovered by archaeologists. Over a dozen bodies of men, women and children were unearthed in what has been deemed an extremely rare find. Only 12 sites like the one discovered have been located in the Orkney islands.
In a recent development, a Viking market was discovered on a farm. Allegedly, archaeologists in Norway discovered remains of a village market on a Norwegian island. The farm, located at Utstein (a settlement on the island of Klosteroy), is in the southwest of the Scandinavian nation. It is known for its rich cultural heritage. The foundations of boathouses were uncovered in the studies.
