A gigantic bowhead whale recently killed by Eskimos may prove to have been the oldest whale
on earth. Estimated to have been more than 115 years ago, it provides evidence that these
whales may be some of the longest-living mammals. They are thought to survive for up to 200
years.
New evidence came to light when a 50-ton bowhead shale was killed by members of an Inuit
village. As they were dismembering the big mammal, they discovered fragments of a harpoon
lodged in one of its shoulder blades.
It turns out that the harpoon tip could be determined to have been made in the late 1800s in New
Bedford. And given the time range when that type of harpoon was used, they believe the whale
was shot sometime between 1885 and 1895.
Alaskan biologists will attempt to verify this estimate by studying the whale’s eyes, which often
cloud as they grow old.
Bowheads, who only live in the waters of the Arctic, were nearly hunted to extinction around the
turn of the century because of the demand by women for whalebone corsets. Fortunately the
fashion industry has changed and now only Alaska’s native tribes hunt the whales.
Was this really the world’s oldest mammal? I suspect not, but it certainly gives new meaning to
the word “old..”
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
The World’s Oldest Cheese
The world’s oldest known cheese was discovered in China’s Taklamakan desert. The ancient
chunks were found attached to Bronze Age mummies’ necks and chests.
A chemist with the Max Planck Institute analyzed samples of the cheese and was able to identify
the types of yeast used in making the cheese and the bacteria used to ferment the product.
One question that apparently has not been answered yet is the source of the milk used to make
this ancient cheese. Were these ancient people actually herding milk-producing animals more
than 6,000 years ago?
chunks were found attached to Bronze Age mummies’ necks and chests.
A chemist with the Max Planck Institute analyzed samples of the cheese and was able to identify
the types of yeast used in making the cheese and the bacteria used to ferment the product.
One question that apparently has not been answered yet is the source of the milk used to make
this ancient cheese. Were these ancient people actually herding milk-producing animals more
than 6,000 years ago?
Monday, February 24, 2014
The World’s Oldest Pearl?
It is certainly not the oldest pearl that ever existed, but it is the oldest known to be harvested and used by people. Discovered in a grave in the United Arab Emirates, this ancient pearl, called the Umm al Quwain pearl, has been discovered to be more than 7,500 years old. The oldest known pearl before this discovery was 5,000 years old.
The tiny pearl measures only 0.07 of an inch in diameter and was placed on a skeleton in a Neolithic graveyard. Archaeologists have found that fully drilled pearls were placed with women while fully drilled pearls were buried with men. Unpierced pearls were at times placed on the deceased’s upper lip.
Since the Arabian pearl is older than anything found in Japan so far, researchers are now wondering whether pearl gathering actually originated in Arabia rather than in Japan. At the time it was gathered, Europe and North Africa were living in the Neollithic period, also known as the New Stone Age, when people were transforming from hunter-gatherers into farmers and animal caregivers.
The discovery provides insight into the origins of pearl oyster hunting, suggesting the practice began in Arabia and not in Japan, as researchers originally thought.
The Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age, was marked by the change in human lifestyles from hunter-gatherers to farmers. So far, about 101 Neolithic age pearls have been gathered. This suggests that pearl diving was practiced along at least the southern Mediterranean coast.
The tiny pearl measures only 0.07 of an inch in diameter and was placed on a skeleton in a Neolithic graveyard. Archaeologists have found that fully drilled pearls were placed with women while fully drilled pearls were buried with men. Unpierced pearls were at times placed on the deceased’s upper lip.
Since the Arabian pearl is older than anything found in Japan so far, researchers are now wondering whether pearl gathering actually originated in Arabia rather than in Japan. At the time it was gathered, Europe and North Africa were living in the Neollithic period, also known as the New Stone Age, when people were transforming from hunter-gatherers into farmers and animal caregivers.
The discovery provides insight into the origins of pearl oyster hunting, suggesting the practice began in Arabia and not in Japan, as researchers originally thought.
The Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age, was marked by the change in human lifestyles from hunter-gatherers to farmers. So far, about 101 Neolithic age pearls have been gathered. This suggests that pearl diving was practiced along at least the southern Mediterranean coast.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
The World’s Oldest Fertilizer?
Europe’s first farmers spread across the continent, bringing with them the benefits of having
food sources readily available, at least most of the time. But farming drains nutrients from the
soil, and without some means of replenishing those nutrients, eventually the soil wears out and
must be abandoned.
Up till now, the use of manure as fertilizer was thought to have begun about 3,000 years ago.
Now a new discovery indicates that farmers were using manure to fertilize their crops about
8,000 years ago.
A team led by University of Oxford archaeobotanist Amy Bogaard sampled grains and pulses
such as peas and lentils from sites all over Europe and ranging in age from 7900 to 4400 years
old. They were looking for the rare isotope nitrogen-15, which occurs in significantly higher
than normal quantities in manure.
The team studied 124 crop samples from 13 farming sites ranging in age from approximately
4400 to 7900 years and located in areas across Europe, such as Greece in the southeast and
Denmark in the northwest. The team analyzed 124 crop samples and found that nitrogen levels
in all those samples were unusually high for wild grains, but consistent with results found in
plants which had been treated with animal fertilizer.
There are at least two plausible theories to explain how the ancient farmers learned to fertilize
their fields. One is based on the idea that observant farmers realized that seeds spread in areas
where a relatively heavy presence of animal fertilizer grew faster and stronger. From those
observations, the farmers might originally have practiced a sort of “crop rotation,” moving their
animals and gardens every few years. In other cases, once they discovered that manure
improved their crops, farmers might have deliberately saved the manure and worked it into their
garden soils.
No matter how they discovered the use of fertilizer, early farmers were able to extend the life of
their land, which allowed them to remain on the same land for a longer time. This new
sedentary lifestyle permitted the development of larger families and social groups. New
technologies, such as the expanded use of grain storage, seed development, and even cooking
techniques were made possible as farming lifestyles spread and became more sophisticated.
Fertilizer is more important than many people may think it is. Without it, farmers could not
produce the prolific crops that keep us all fed. The need to periodically abandon unproductive
fields would limit the size of farms, and in areas all around the world, the abandoned land would
be subject to the devastating effects of windstorms and floods which create deserts and
unproductive badlands. We should be grateful to those innovative farmers who discovered
fertilizer all those years ago.
There’s more information on the first fertilizers here:
food sources readily available, at least most of the time. But farming drains nutrients from the
soil, and without some means of replenishing those nutrients, eventually the soil wears out and
must be abandoned.
Up till now, the use of manure as fertilizer was thought to have begun about 3,000 years ago.
Now a new discovery indicates that farmers were using manure to fertilize their crops about
8,000 years ago.
A team led by University of Oxford archaeobotanist Amy Bogaard sampled grains and pulses
such as peas and lentils from sites all over Europe and ranging in age from 7900 to 4400 years
old. They were looking for the rare isotope nitrogen-15, which occurs in significantly higher
than normal quantities in manure.
The team studied 124 crop samples from 13 farming sites ranging in age from approximately
4400 to 7900 years and located in areas across Europe, such as Greece in the southeast and
Denmark in the northwest. The team analyzed 124 crop samples and found that nitrogen levels
in all those samples were unusually high for wild grains, but consistent with results found in
plants which had been treated with animal fertilizer.
There are at least two plausible theories to explain how the ancient farmers learned to fertilize
their fields. One is based on the idea that observant farmers realized that seeds spread in areas
where a relatively heavy presence of animal fertilizer grew faster and stronger. From those
observations, the farmers might originally have practiced a sort of “crop rotation,” moving their
animals and gardens every few years. In other cases, once they discovered that manure
improved their crops, farmers might have deliberately saved the manure and worked it into their
garden soils.
No matter how they discovered the use of fertilizer, early farmers were able to extend the life of
their land, which allowed them to remain on the same land for a longer time. This new
sedentary lifestyle permitted the development of larger families and social groups. New
technologies, such as the expanded use of grain storage, seed development, and even cooking
techniques were made possible as farming lifestyles spread and became more sophisticated.
Fertilizer is more important than many people may think it is. Without it, farmers could not
produce the prolific crops that keep us all fed. The need to periodically abandon unproductive
fields would limit the size of farms, and in areas all around the world, the abandoned land would
be subject to the devastating effects of windstorms and floods which create deserts and
unproductive badlands. We should be grateful to those innovative farmers who discovered
fertilizer all those years ago.
There’s more information on the first fertilizers here:
Sunday, September 15, 2013
The World’s Oldest Noodles
It has long been argued that noodles originated in Arabia, or maybe Italy, or maybe even China. So the discovery of the world’s oldest noodles in China certainly tilts the argument in favor of that ancient country.
Something really bad happened at Lajia on the Yellow River about 4,000 years ago. Archaeologists excavating the ancient site discovered skeletons in abnormal positions which indicated they were attempting to flee some sort of disaster. Some experts believe there was a catastrophic earthquake followed by a massive flood, possibly caused by a change in a nearby river’s course.
Archaeologists investigating the site found an earthenware bowl filled with a brownish-yellow, fine clay. They turned it over and found the noodles sitting on top of the sediment.
The noodles resemble the traditional Chinese noodle made by repeatedly pulling and stretching the dough by hand. But unlike modern noodles, which are made of wheat flour, these noodles appear to have been made with millet, a grain native to China.
The oldest written record mentioning noodles has been traced to a book written between 25 and 220 AD during the East Han Dynasty.
There’s more information and a photo of the ancient noodles here:
Something really bad happened at Lajia on the Yellow River about 4,000 years ago. Archaeologists excavating the ancient site discovered skeletons in abnormal positions which indicated they were attempting to flee some sort of disaster. Some experts believe there was a catastrophic earthquake followed by a massive flood, possibly caused by a change in a nearby river’s course.
Archaeologists investigating the site found an earthenware bowl filled with a brownish-yellow, fine clay. They turned it over and found the noodles sitting on top of the sediment.
The noodles resemble the traditional Chinese noodle made by repeatedly pulling and stretching the dough by hand. But unlike modern noodles, which are made of wheat flour, these noodles appear to have been made with millet, a grain native to China.
The oldest written record mentioning noodles has been traced to a book written between 25 and 220 AD during the East Han Dynasty.
There’s more information and a photo of the ancient noodles here:
Sunday, September 8, 2013
The World's Oldest Rice
At the age of 15,000 years, a few grains of burned rice in Korea are now recognized as the
world’s oldest rice. Since scientists have long believed they would find the oldest rice in China,
this discovery came as a bit of a surprise.
Prior to this discovery, experts believed that rice cultivation began about 12,000 years ago in
China. The Korean discovery pushes back the earliest date for rice cultivation by at least 3,000
years.
A total of 59 grains of carbonized rice was found during excavations at Sorori in the Chungbuk
Province. Their age alone was enough to generate a great deal of excitement, but there was
more. The ancient grains are generally different from modern rice. This will allow researchers
to trace its evolution. Results of this research may provide insight not into the history of rice,
but may provide clues to the diet and lifestyles of the people who grew and harvested it.
Rice is one of the most valuable foods in the world. More than half the world’s population depends heavily on rice for their primary caloric intake. More than 575 million tons were grown in 2002.
For more on this story, go here
world’s oldest rice. Since scientists have long believed they would find the oldest rice in China,
this discovery came as a bit of a surprise.
Prior to this discovery, experts believed that rice cultivation began about 12,000 years ago in
China. The Korean discovery pushes back the earliest date for rice cultivation by at least 3,000
years.
A total of 59 grains of carbonized rice was found during excavations at Sorori in the Chungbuk
Province. Their age alone was enough to generate a great deal of excitement, but there was
more. The ancient grains are generally different from modern rice. This will allow researchers
to trace its evolution. Results of this research may provide insight not into the history of rice,
but may provide clues to the diet and lifestyles of the people who grew and harvested it.
Rice is one of the most valuable foods in the world. More than half the world’s population depends heavily on rice for their primary caloric intake. More than 575 million tons were grown in 2002.
For more on this story, go here
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
The World’s Oldest Man-Made Wells
here Six Neolithic wells on the island of Cyprus has changed our view of life on the island and eclipsed the
previous oldest wells by hundreds, or perhaps thousands of years.
The wells were found inside and around a new hotel complex being built at Mylouthkia. They appeared as circles of dark soil, or in some cases as long columns of soil where their stone sidewalls were quarried away. Researchers originally thought they were the remains of shallow pits dated only to the Bronze Age.
Archaeologist Paul Croft described how the shafts had been cut with antler picks and that hand- and foot-
holds still survived in their walls for climbing up and down. (101)
Excavators found that the wells had been dug more than 30 feet into the soft rock using deer antler picks.
Hand- and footholds used for climbing up and down were discovered in each well. The wells had been deliberately filled in, and the debris contained Neolithic artifacts, but no pottery. Charred grains of domestic wheat and barley were found and radiocarbon dating confirmed their early Neolithic age. Those early dates also pushed back the age of the first farming practices in Cyprus by at least 2,000 years.
One of the wells contained fragments of stone vessels, hammer-stones and flint flakes that may have come from a trash dump located a short distance from the well. Yet another, however, appeared to have been ceremonially covered. A carefully positioned human skull, along with a mace head made of polished pink stone was accompanied by 23 complete goat carcasses.
Some experts believe that crops and cultivation techniques used on the island may indicate that they were
originally brought there from the Levantine mainland. Other settlers may have brought farming to other areas around the Mediterranean and it continued to spread from there throughout southern Europe and eastern regions.
Mylouthkia may well prove to be an important stop on the route to spreading farming techniques and crops throughout Europe.
If you’re interested in more technical information, go here:
previous oldest wells by hundreds, or perhaps thousands of years.
The wells were found inside and around a new hotel complex being built at Mylouthkia. They appeared as circles of dark soil, or in some cases as long columns of soil where their stone sidewalls were quarried away. Researchers originally thought they were the remains of shallow pits dated only to the Bronze Age.
Archaeologist Paul Croft described how the shafts had been cut with antler picks and that hand- and foot-
holds still survived in their walls for climbing up and down. (101)
Excavators found that the wells had been dug more than 30 feet into the soft rock using deer antler picks.
Hand- and footholds used for climbing up and down were discovered in each well. The wells had been deliberately filled in, and the debris contained Neolithic artifacts, but no pottery. Charred grains of domestic wheat and barley were found and radiocarbon dating confirmed their early Neolithic age. Those early dates also pushed back the age of the first farming practices in Cyprus by at least 2,000 years.
One of the wells contained fragments of stone vessels, hammer-stones and flint flakes that may have come from a trash dump located a short distance from the well. Yet another, however, appeared to have been ceremonially covered. A carefully positioned human skull, along with a mace head made of polished pink stone was accompanied by 23 complete goat carcasses.
Some experts believe that crops and cultivation techniques used on the island may indicate that they were
originally brought there from the Levantine mainland. Other settlers may have brought farming to other areas around the Mediterranean and it continued to spread from there throughout southern Europe and eastern regions.
Mylouthkia may well prove to be an important stop on the route to spreading farming techniques and crops throughout Europe.
If you’re interested in more technical information, go here:
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Oldest Map Globe Including the New World
A globe made of two halves of an ostrich egg may be the oldest known “globe” showing the New World. And it appears that the globe dates from around the year 1500, only eight years after Columbus supposedly discovered the new lands.
While it has since been proven that Norse explorers had been in North America long before Columbus landed near South America, this still seems like a short time before the globe made its appearance.
A later globe, made of a copper alloy sometime between 1504 and 1506, seems to have been based on the ostrich egg model. There are slight differences in the wording of the engravings of the two globes, but to many their resemblance to one another is obvious.
Belgian researcher Stefaan Missinne was allowed to send the egg globe to a radiology lab for testing in an attempt to establish how old the globe was. By measuring the bone density loss of the shell and comparing the results with both modern ostrich eggs and others of known age, she determined that an ostrich egg loses approximately 10% of its density each century. She then calculated that the eggs dated to approximately 1500. She believes the globe was created in Florence and engraved by an Italian.
It’s interesting that by fusing the two egg halves together, the globe is actually somewhat flattened at the poles, much like the real planet. Was that an accident or did they know something we didn’t find out for many years afterward?
The copper-alloy globe is now on display at the New York Public Library. The ostrich egg globe is owned by a private collector.
There’s a picture of the globe, along with more information, here
While it has since been proven that Norse explorers had been in North America long before Columbus landed near South America, this still seems like a short time before the globe made its appearance.
A later globe, made of a copper alloy sometime between 1504 and 1506, seems to have been based on the ostrich egg model. There are slight differences in the wording of the engravings of the two globes, but to many their resemblance to one another is obvious.
Belgian researcher Stefaan Missinne was allowed to send the egg globe to a radiology lab for testing in an attempt to establish how old the globe was. By measuring the bone density loss of the shell and comparing the results with both modern ostrich eggs and others of known age, she determined that an ostrich egg loses approximately 10% of its density each century. She then calculated that the eggs dated to approximately 1500. She believes the globe was created in Florence and engraved by an Italian.
It’s interesting that by fusing the two egg halves together, the globe is actually somewhat flattened at the poles, much like the real planet. Was that an accident or did they know something we didn’t find out for many years afterward?
The copper-alloy globe is now on display at the New York Public Library. The ostrich egg globe is owned by a private collector.
There’s a picture of the globe, along with more information, here
Monday, August 19, 2013
The World’s Oldest Granaries
This is a case of having the chicken before the egg. The oldest grain storage facilities were apparently built more than a thousand years before people began domesticating grain for food.
The oldest known domesticated cereal grains are believed to be about 10,500 years old. But the four granaries discovered in the settlement of Dhra in what is now Jordan apparently date to about 11,300 years ago. They were found in a tiny village of about 10 buildings, some of which were houses while others were apparently used to process and store foods.
The buildings themselves were oval-shaped, about 9 feet in diameter and 9 feet high. The walls were constructed of stone and mud bricks, with mud floors. The best preserved granary featured notched stones, about 1 to 1½ feet high which may have supported wooden beams which were probably covered with plants and mud to create a raised floor.
The floor protected the food from rodents and would have allowed air to circulate through the stored grains. Traces of wild barley were found in one of the buildings.
Apparently these granaries were shared by all the villagers at the time. It was only later that storage facilities were separated and maintained by individual families in their own homes.
These granaries indicate that the members of this little community actually worked together to gather and store food. It also means that this little community lived at least a semi-settled life style at a time when most people were believed to have moved around as hunter-gatherers taking advantage of game and wild foods. At least a few small bands were already beginning to take advantage of some of the benefits of sedentary society such as shared labor.
Check here for more information.
The oldest known domesticated cereal grains are believed to be about 10,500 years old. But the four granaries discovered in the settlement of Dhra in what is now Jordan apparently date to about 11,300 years ago. They were found in a tiny village of about 10 buildings, some of which were houses while others were apparently used to process and store foods.
The buildings themselves were oval-shaped, about 9 feet in diameter and 9 feet high. The walls were constructed of stone and mud bricks, with mud floors. The best preserved granary featured notched stones, about 1 to 1½ feet high which may have supported wooden beams which were probably covered with plants and mud to create a raised floor.
The floor protected the food from rodents and would have allowed air to circulate through the stored grains. Traces of wild barley were found in one of the buildings.
Apparently these granaries were shared by all the villagers at the time. It was only later that storage facilities were separated and maintained by individual families in their own homes.
These granaries indicate that the members of this little community actually worked together to gather and store food. It also means that this little community lived at least a semi-settled life style at a time when most people were believed to have moved around as hunter-gatherers taking advantage of game and wild foods. At least a few small bands were already beginning to take advantage of some of the benefits of sedentary society such as shared labor.
Check here for more information.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
The World’s Oldest Rodeo
If you happen to be in Prescott, Arizona, between July 1 and July 7, you can join a huge crowd of rodeo fans attending the World’s Oldest Rodeo.
Ranked as among the best rodeos in the country, this event attracts some of the best of the rodeo competitors in the country, with more than 600 contestants taking part in eight different shows. Payouts are, of course, generous.
In addition to the rodeo, visitors can watch the second-largest parade in Arizona, take in an arts and crafts show, and attend a rodeo dance. There is a loud and lively fireworks display on the Fourth of July along with a carnival.
The first Prescott rodeo, called a “Cowboy Tournament” at the time, was held on July 4, 1888. It was an organizedaffair, with a committee in charge of planning and staging the event. They invited cowboys to the competitions and charged admission.
Ranchers and their hands had long tested their skills against one another on an informal basis. One of those more-or-less organized events took place in August 1884, when cowboys took part in an informal rodeo known as the Payson Rodeo, organized by Abraham (“Arizona Charlie) Meadows and John Collins Chilson. Local cowhands competed against each other in roping and riding, bronc riding and roping events, along with horse racing. Later, other events were added, such as greased pig contests, sack and foot races.
Chutes were not used in these early rodeos. The horses were led or dragged into the middle of the street, saddled and mounted. There were no attempts to time these events, which simply went on until the horse gave up or the rider was thrown. Other cowboys rode wild steers, cows and bulls. Still others tested their skills in roping. Horse racing was popular. The first races usually were among cow horses, but later on thoroughbreds became popular.
Over the years, as rodeos became more sophisticated, special “rodeo grounds” were developed. Chutes, corrals, grandstands and barns have replaced the streets and temporary corrals of the early days. The World’s Oldest Rodeo has its own home and continues to attract visitors from around the world.
If you are thinking about visiting the Prescott Rodeo, you can find its official website here.
Ranked as among the best rodeos in the country, this event attracts some of the best of the rodeo competitors in the country, with more than 600 contestants taking part in eight different shows. Payouts are, of course, generous.
In addition to the rodeo, visitors can watch the second-largest parade in Arizona, take in an arts and crafts show, and attend a rodeo dance. There is a loud and lively fireworks display on the Fourth of July along with a carnival.
The first Prescott rodeo, called a “Cowboy Tournament” at the time, was held on July 4, 1888. It was an organizedaffair, with a committee in charge of planning and staging the event. They invited cowboys to the competitions and charged admission.
Ranchers and their hands had long tested their skills against one another on an informal basis. One of those more-or-less organized events took place in August 1884, when cowboys took part in an informal rodeo known as the Payson Rodeo, organized by Abraham (“Arizona Charlie) Meadows and John Collins Chilson. Local cowhands competed against each other in roping and riding, bronc riding and roping events, along with horse racing. Later, other events were added, such as greased pig contests, sack and foot races.
Chutes were not used in these early rodeos. The horses were led or dragged into the middle of the street, saddled and mounted. There were no attempts to time these events, which simply went on until the horse gave up or the rider was thrown. Other cowboys rode wild steers, cows and bulls. Still others tested their skills in roping. Horse racing was popular. The first races usually were among cow horses, but later on thoroughbreds became popular.
Over the years, as rodeos became more sophisticated, special “rodeo grounds” were developed. Chutes, corrals, grandstands and barns have replaced the streets and temporary corrals of the early days. The World’s Oldest Rodeo has its own home and continues to attract visitors from around the world.
If you are thinking about visiting the Prescott Rodeo, you can find its official website here.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
The World’s Oldest Chocolate
Archaeologists studying pottery in the lower Ulua Valley discovered what is, at least until now, the oldest evidence of chocolate. The find pushes the earliest known date for chocolate by at least 500 years.
The beverage was identified by analyzing residue from potsherds. Chemical analysis revealed traces of theobromine, which is found only in the cacao plant. Cacao beans are dried and then processed into chocolate. It is likely that the people who made the ancient form found in the Ulua Valley made use of the same techniques found today.
The style and quality of the pottery analyzed by researchers indicates the drink was used ceremonially. It likely was served at religious festivals, wedding and birth celebrations. This ancient custom was still in use when the Spaniards first landed in South America.
It is interesting that the customs that developed around this ancient drink survived nearly intact for almost 3,000 years.
The beverage was identified by analyzing residue from potsherds. Chemical analysis revealed traces of theobromine, which is found only in the cacao plant. Cacao beans are dried and then processed into chocolate. It is likely that the people who made the ancient form found in the Ulua Valley made use of the same techniques found today.
The style and quality of the pottery analyzed by researchers indicates the drink was used ceremonially. It likely was served at religious festivals, wedding and birth celebrations. This ancient custom was still in use when the Spaniards first landed in South America.
It is interesting that the customs that developed around this ancient drink survived nearly intact for almost 3,000 years.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
The World’s Oldest Lunar Calendar
Archaeologists working in the Dee Valley, Aberdeenshire, Scotland have identified what may be the world’s oldest calendar. They also believe the calendar, created as a series of 12 specially shaped pits arranged in a semi-circle and nearly 10,000 years old, may have been maintained and updated until around 4,000 years ago.
Until now the oldest calendars were the Bronze Age monuments found in Mesopotamia. The Scottish calendar predates them by thousands of years, pushing back calendar-making to roughly the end of the last Ice Age. The pits aligned perfectly on the midwinter solstice, adding credibility to the claim that this is an actual lunar calendar.
The pits are even shaped to reflect the various phases of the moon. Waxing, waning, crescents and gibbous phases are all present in their proper positions and arranged in a 164-foot (50 meter) long arc. The center pit, representing the full moon, is circular, roughly 7 feet (2 meters) across.
The pits were first discovered in 2004 on aerial photographs but only recently studied using remote-sensing technology. Specially developed software was used to work out the positions of sunrises and sunsets experienced 10,000 years ago.
It seems obvious that the early people who created this calendar so long ago needed to know about the changes of seasons. It would have helped them to know when game might be available, when crops could be harvested, and even to predict when salmon and other migrating fish could be harvested.
Once again, our ancient ancestors have left evidence of their astronomical knowledge and their ability to take advantage of that knowledge.
There is more detailed information about this intriguing discovery here
Until now the oldest calendars were the Bronze Age monuments found in Mesopotamia. The Scottish calendar predates them by thousands of years, pushing back calendar-making to roughly the end of the last Ice Age. The pits aligned perfectly on the midwinter solstice, adding credibility to the claim that this is an actual lunar calendar.
The pits are even shaped to reflect the various phases of the moon. Waxing, waning, crescents and gibbous phases are all present in their proper positions and arranged in a 164-foot (50 meter) long arc. The center pit, representing the full moon, is circular, roughly 7 feet (2 meters) across.
The pits were first discovered in 2004 on aerial photographs but only recently studied using remote-sensing technology. Specially developed software was used to work out the positions of sunrises and sunsets experienced 10,000 years ago.
It seems obvious that the early people who created this calendar so long ago needed to know about the changes of seasons. It would have helped them to know when game might be available, when crops could be harvested, and even to predict when salmon and other migrating fish could be harvested.
Once again, our ancient ancestors have left evidence of their astronomical knowledge and their ability to take advantage of that knowledge.
There is more detailed information about this intriguing discovery here
Sunday, July 21, 2013
The World’s Oldest Known Poison
Border Cave, located on the border between South Africa and Swaziland, has produced surprise after surprise for researchers analyzing layers representing literally tens of thousands of years of occupation. One of those surprises is the evidence of the deliberate use of poisons by hunters over 44,000 years ago
Researchers dated a lump of beeswax mixed with a toxic resin to about 35,000 years ago. They believe it was used to attach stone points to the shafts of arrows or spears. Coincidentally, this is also the oldest evidence for the use of beeswax.
Researchers also dated a wooden stick with marked with scratch marks up and down its length and dated at about 20,000 years old. Traces of ricinoleic acid, the notorious poison found in castor beans, were found during a chemical analysis of residue on the stick. The stick closely resembles poison applicators used by the people of the early San culture, which was emerging at about that time.
Bows and arrows were also thought to be emerging about 20,000 years ago and there is a good possibility that they were coming into use when the applicator was created. The thin, small points found in the younger debris at Border Cave resemble the bone points produced by the San people, who are known to have used poison-tipped bone points on their arrows to help bring down medium and some large-sized game.
There is more information on this ancient poison technology here
Researchers dated a lump of beeswax mixed with a toxic resin to about 35,000 years ago. They believe it was used to attach stone points to the shafts of arrows or spears. Coincidentally, this is also the oldest evidence for the use of beeswax.
Researchers also dated a wooden stick with marked with scratch marks up and down its length and dated at about 20,000 years old. Traces of ricinoleic acid, the notorious poison found in castor beans, were found during a chemical analysis of residue on the stick. The stick closely resembles poison applicators used by the people of the early San culture, which was emerging at about that time.
Bows and arrows were also thought to be emerging about 20,000 years ago and there is a good possibility that they were coming into use when the applicator was created. The thin, small points found in the younger debris at Border Cave resemble the bone points produced by the San people, who are known to have used poison-tipped bone points on their arrows to help bring down medium and some large-sized game.
There is more information on this ancient poison technology here
Monday, July 15, 2013
The World’s Oldest Grape Vine
An ancient vine in Maribor, Slovenia, has been authenticated by experts as the world’s oldest producing grape vine. It is at least 400 years old, and its age has been confirmed by experts in both Paris and Slovenia. It also appeared in paintings known to have been completed between the years 1657 and 1681 which show that this elderly vine was already mature at the time.
Its fruit is also one of the oldest domesticated noble wine grapes known in Slovenia. Its descendants are now found on nearly every continent of the world.
Its owners still produce wine from Old Vine. They bottle anywhere from 35 to 55 kilograms annually, bottling the product in more than 100 2.5 decaliter glass bottles per year. The annual Pruning of the Old Vine is a ceremonial event. The scions are naturally highly sought after and the bestowal of the ancient plant’s scion is cause for celebration by the lucky cities chosen to receive one as a gift. Another annual ceremonial involves the harvest of its grapes which takes place as part of the Old Vine Festival.
Old Vine is registered in the Guinness Book of Records. This revered plant is carefully tended and watched over, and is showing no signs of weakness.
Old Vine might provide the perfect excuse to visit Maribor. A lively tourist industry has grown up around the old vine. Sightseers can visit the Old Vine House itself, visit wine cellars and museums, and just enjoy the town and its surroundings. All in all, Old Vine sounds like a good excuse to take in a part of traditional Slovenia.
Its fruit is also one of the oldest domesticated noble wine grapes known in Slovenia. Its descendants are now found on nearly every continent of the world.
Its owners still produce wine from Old Vine. They bottle anywhere from 35 to 55 kilograms annually, bottling the product in more than 100 2.5 decaliter glass bottles per year. The annual Pruning of the Old Vine is a ceremonial event. The scions are naturally highly sought after and the bestowal of the ancient plant’s scion is cause for celebration by the lucky cities chosen to receive one as a gift. Another annual ceremonial involves the harvest of its grapes which takes place as part of the Old Vine Festival.
Old Vine is registered in the Guinness Book of Records. This revered plant is carefully tended and watched over, and is showing no signs of weakness.
Old Vine might provide the perfect excuse to visit Maribor. A lively tourist industry has grown up around the old vine. Sightseers can visit the Old Vine House itself, visit wine cellars and museums, and just enjoy the town and its surroundings. All in all, Old Vine sounds like a good excuse to take in a part of traditional Slovenia.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
The World’s Oldest Bone Tumor
This "world’s oldest" also goes to the Neanderthals, but it’s not really happy news. It seems that a 120,000-year old Neanderthal was the victim of a bone tumor that plagues people even today. It is actually 100,000 older than the previous record-holder.
This particular tumor was a benign fibrous dysplasia found on a rib recovered from the well-known Neanderthal site at Krapina, Croatia that is arguably of one of the richest Neanderthal sites ever found. It is identical to its modern-day descendants. One unusual aspect of this tumor is that Neanderthals did not generally have a long life-span. Tumors such as this one generally only appear as an individual ages.
While many Neanderthals died as a result of accidents or other types of violence, we now know that they also suffered from many of the same diseases which afflict people today. Evidence has been found that these early people suffered from tuberculosis, arthritis, periodontitis and other potentially deadly diseases. Some of this evidence has been found in individuals who lived 100,000 or more years ago.
We sometimes think of Neanderthals as living in an idyllic world where they were free to hunt and roam where they liked without suffering the ravages of disease. Mounting evidence indicates that this was not always the case. It also seems clear that at least some so-called "modern" diseases may have evolved much earlier than has been generally believed.
If you’d like more technical information on how the tumor was discovered, visit here
This particular tumor was a benign fibrous dysplasia found on a rib recovered from the well-known Neanderthal site at Krapina, Croatia that is arguably of one of the richest Neanderthal sites ever found. It is identical to its modern-day descendants. One unusual aspect of this tumor is that Neanderthals did not generally have a long life-span. Tumors such as this one generally only appear as an individual ages.
While many Neanderthals died as a result of accidents or other types of violence, we now know that they also suffered from many of the same diseases which afflict people today. Evidence has been found that these early people suffered from tuberculosis, arthritis, periodontitis and other potentially deadly diseases. Some of this evidence has been found in individuals who lived 100,000 or more years ago.
We sometimes think of Neanderthals as living in an idyllic world where they were free to hunt and roam where they liked without suffering the ravages of disease. Mounting evidence indicates that this was not always the case. It also seems clear that at least some so-called "modern" diseases may have evolved much earlier than has been generally believed.
If you’d like more technical information on how the tumor was discovered, visit here
Thursday, June 27, 2013
The World’s Oldest Smart Bombs
Today it seems like all bombs are "smart." But when was the first guided missile actually used? The answer may surprise you.
Smart bomb development actually started in 1938 when a scientist named Dr. Max Kramer, working for a German company, successfully added a radio-controlled spoiler to the tail of a 550-pound bomb. Two years later the system had proven itself on the smaller bombs and was then added to a much larger bomb called the FX-1400. This bomb weighed 3,469 pounds and was ten and a half feet long. It was popularly dubbed the Fritz-X. The bomb boasted an armor-piercing warhead and could sink large battleships.
The new bomb required good visibility because after it was released, the bombardier visually guided it with radio signals by sighting on a bright flare mounted on the bomb’s tail. A total of 750 Fritz-Xs were eventually produced and kept at coastal airfields throughout Europe.
Perhaps the best-known action involving Fritz-X bombs occurred when the Italian Fleet defected and was intercepted by a flight of six German Do217's. The fleet consisted of three battleships, six cruisers, and many auxiliary ships. The ultra-modern Roma was among the battleships.
The Roma took a direct hit just forward of her front smokestack, starting a major fire which reached the forward magazine. The explosion ripped open her hull and the Roma sank, taking over 1,250 sailors with her. The Roma was the first capital ship sunk by a guided bomb. This bomb proved only partially effective, which is not surprising for such a radical new technology. Between August 1943 and February 1944, the Germans launched 28 separate attacks against ships, but sank only one and damaged four others with their "smart bomb." Still, when you consider that the technology was so new, and relatively primitive, the experiments were successful enough to continue research and further advances.
It is also worth knowing that in 1942 the Allies began developing its own guided bombs designed to attack bridges, railways, and other narrow targets. These bombs were the first of the Vertical Bomb-1 (VB1), forerunners of the azimuth-only family of weapons used in Burma, Europe, and in the Pacific Theater.
Smart bomb development actually started in 1938 when a scientist named Dr. Max Kramer, working for a German company, successfully added a radio-controlled spoiler to the tail of a 550-pound bomb. Two years later the system had proven itself on the smaller bombs and was then added to a much larger bomb called the FX-1400. This bomb weighed 3,469 pounds and was ten and a half feet long. It was popularly dubbed the Fritz-X. The bomb boasted an armor-piercing warhead and could sink large battleships.
The new bomb required good visibility because after it was released, the bombardier visually guided it with radio signals by sighting on a bright flare mounted on the bomb’s tail. A total of 750 Fritz-Xs were eventually produced and kept at coastal airfields throughout Europe.
Perhaps the best-known action involving Fritz-X bombs occurred when the Italian Fleet defected and was intercepted by a flight of six German Do217's. The fleet consisted of three battleships, six cruisers, and many auxiliary ships. The ultra-modern Roma was among the battleships.
The Roma took a direct hit just forward of her front smokestack, starting a major fire which reached the forward magazine. The explosion ripped open her hull and the Roma sank, taking over 1,250 sailors with her. The Roma was the first capital ship sunk by a guided bomb. This bomb proved only partially effective, which is not surprising for such a radical new technology. Between August 1943 and February 1944, the Germans launched 28 separate attacks against ships, but sank only one and damaged four others with their "smart bomb." Still, when you consider that the technology was so new, and relatively primitive, the experiments were successful enough to continue research and further advances.
It is also worth knowing that in 1942 the Allies began developing its own guided bombs designed to attack bridges, railways, and other narrow targets. These bombs were the first of the Vertical Bomb-1 (VB1), forerunners of the azimuth-only family of weapons used in Burma, Europe, and in the Pacific Theater.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The World’s Oldest Primate Fossil
There has been some talk lately that humans originated in Asia rather than Africa. New evidence has just emerged in the form of a tiny fossil recognized as the oldest primate discovered so far. It was found in China’s Hubei province, and is 7 million years older than the previous oldest primate fossil.
The little primate, Archicebus achilles, is a primitive tarsier. This primate group is closely related to monkeys, apes and humans, although it lived before the evolutionary split that divided the three groups. It is a descendant of the ancestor of all primates, but it is not clear yet whether it is a direct ancestor of humans.
The tiny, primitive animal, barely 3 inches (7 centimeters) long and weighing only about 30 grams, lived some 55 million years ago. The world was very warm and its home was a lush rainforest. It probably climbed trees and dined on insects. Dinosaurs had been extinct for some 10 million years when this little fellow lived, and mammals, reptiles and birds were beginning to thrive in a world that had experienced drastic environmental changes 65 million years ago.
The tiny animal somewhat resembles a modern squirrel but with the feet of a monkey. Its arms, legs and teeth resemble those of a primitive primate, and its primitive skull contained surprisingly small eyes.
Scientists will now be kept busy trying to determine where this tiny newcomer fits into the primate family tree. They do not believe that Archicebus achilles is the first primate, but they are certain that it is a descendant of the first one. For now, however, the focus of the search for our possible first primate ancestor almost certainly must shift to the far East.
If you’d like more information about this little primate, visit here
The little primate, Archicebus achilles, is a primitive tarsier. This primate group is closely related to monkeys, apes and humans, although it lived before the evolutionary split that divided the three groups. It is a descendant of the ancestor of all primates, but it is not clear yet whether it is a direct ancestor of humans.
The tiny, primitive animal, barely 3 inches (7 centimeters) long and weighing only about 30 grams, lived some 55 million years ago. The world was very warm and its home was a lush rainforest. It probably climbed trees and dined on insects. Dinosaurs had been extinct for some 10 million years when this little fellow lived, and mammals, reptiles and birds were beginning to thrive in a world that had experienced drastic environmental changes 65 million years ago.
The tiny animal somewhat resembles a modern squirrel but with the feet of a monkey. Its arms, legs and teeth resemble those of a primitive primate, and its primitive skull contained surprisingly small eyes.
Scientists will now be kept busy trying to determine where this tiny newcomer fits into the primate family tree. They do not believe that Archicebus achilles is the first primate, but they are certain that it is a descendant of the first one. For now, however, the focus of the search for our possible first primate ancestor almost certainly must shift to the far East.
If you’d like more information about this little primate, visit here
Monday, June 10, 2013
Oldest Known Preserved Dissected Human
The Dark Ages weren’t really so dark after all. Historians have long thought that science stagnated in Europe during the time between the fall of the Roman Empire and some indistinct time before the beginning of the Renaissance. Those views are changing at last. Here’s one example of a "Dark Ages" scientific surprise.
Researchers studying a preserved human dissection originally believed that it dated from the 15th or 16th century, putting it firmly into the Renaissance period. In fact, radiocarbon dating revealed that it actually dates from 1200 to 1280 A.D.
The specimen consists of the head and shoulders of a man. The skullcap and brain had been so skillfully removed that it is obvious that the man who conducted the dissection was quite skilled, which means he had obviously done the procedure before and knew how to preserve his specimen by filling the arteries with a red compound composed of beeswax, lime, and cinnabar mercury.
Researchers and historians are beginning to see that the people of the "Dark Ages" weren’t as ignorant and backward as earlier believed.
The identity of the man whose body was dissected will never be known. Why was it preserved? It may have been saved as a training tool for physicians. Or perhaps the dissector wanted to preserve it for further study.
Even the great Greco-Roman physician Galen was not permitted to conduct human autopsies in the 2nd century AD. His research was limited to dissecting animals and studying the wounds of gladiators. For centuries, his texts were relied upon by European and Near Eastern doctors until the Renaissance despite the fact that there is evidence that both Catholic and secular dissections were being performed, leading to new information about the human body and how it worked. For example, records show that an Italian physician conducted autopsies in 1286 in an attempt to determine the origin of a deadly epidemic.
The artifact is now in private hands, but will soon be on display at the Parisian Museum of the History of Medicine.
There’s a photo of the macabre artifact, along with information about the myths about the Catholic Church’s supposed repression of scientific advancement here
Researchers studying a preserved human dissection originally believed that it dated from the 15th or 16th century, putting it firmly into the Renaissance period. In fact, radiocarbon dating revealed that it actually dates from 1200 to 1280 A.D.
The specimen consists of the head and shoulders of a man. The skullcap and brain had been so skillfully removed that it is obvious that the man who conducted the dissection was quite skilled, which means he had obviously done the procedure before and knew how to preserve his specimen by filling the arteries with a red compound composed of beeswax, lime, and cinnabar mercury.
Researchers and historians are beginning to see that the people of the "Dark Ages" weren’t as ignorant and backward as earlier believed.
The identity of the man whose body was dissected will never be known. Why was it preserved? It may have been saved as a training tool for physicians. Or perhaps the dissector wanted to preserve it for further study.
Even the great Greco-Roman physician Galen was not permitted to conduct human autopsies in the 2nd century AD. His research was limited to dissecting animals and studying the wounds of gladiators. For centuries, his texts were relied upon by European and Near Eastern doctors until the Renaissance despite the fact that there is evidence that both Catholic and secular dissections were being performed, leading to new information about the human body and how it worked. For example, records show that an Italian physician conducted autopsies in 1286 in an attempt to determine the origin of a deadly epidemic.
The artifact is now in private hands, but will soon be on display at the Parisian Museum of the History of Medicine.
There’s a photo of the macabre artifact, along with information about the myths about the Catholic Church’s supposed repression of scientific advancement here
Friday, May 31, 2013
The World’s Oldest Artificial Pigment
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The world’s oldest artificial pigment, Egyptian Blue, was first used over 4,500 years ago. It was apparently first formulated in Egypt, but was used by Greeks and other contemporary cultures as well. And now some of its unique properties are finding potential applications in today’s world.
The creation of Egyptian Blue involved a complex chemical process. It is a mixture of silica, copper, lime and natron, and had to be heated at least once during its formulation. Its blue coloring is caused by the presence of a calcium-copper tetrasilicate which is also found as a natural mineral called cuprorivaite. The Egyptians called it hsbd-iryt, which means artificial lapis lazuli.
The Egyptians loved bright colors and applied Egyptian Blue to numerous objects. They used it on stone, wood, papyrus, plaster and canvas and included it as a coloring agent when they made beads, scarabs, cylinder seals, pots, statuettes and numerous other products. It has been found on wall paintings at Luxor and on sculptures recovered at the Parthenon. It was used by artisans in the Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean, and appeared throughout the Roman Empire until the end of the Fourth Century AD.
When a red light is shone on the Egyptian Blue pigment, it reflects infrared light which is easily detected by night-vision goggles or cameras. Archaeologists and other experts have taken advantage of this unusual property to help identify genuine antiquities since the pigment was not used after the 4th century AD. It appears that the secret to its manufacture was lost about that time. Sir Humphry Davy and other 19th-century scientists began studying Egyptian Blue and now it is the subject of investigation by chemists at the University of Georgia. Those same researchers are not looking at a related compound, barium copper tetrasilicate, which was used as a pigment by the ancient Chinese.
The University of Georgia team of chemists is excited about the possible modern uses of these ancient compounds. Perhaps this will encourage other researchers to investigate other ancient technologies.
If you’d like to read further, visit Archaeology’s website
You can also read my post about the potential modern-day uses of Egyptian Blue here
The world’s oldest artificial pigment, Egyptian Blue, was first used over 4,500 years ago. It was apparently first formulated in Egypt, but was used by Greeks and other contemporary cultures as well. And now some of its unique properties are finding potential applications in today’s world.
The creation of Egyptian Blue involved a complex chemical process. It is a mixture of silica, copper, lime and natron, and had to be heated at least once during its formulation. Its blue coloring is caused by the presence of a calcium-copper tetrasilicate which is also found as a natural mineral called cuprorivaite. The Egyptians called it hsbd-iryt, which means artificial lapis lazuli.
The Egyptians loved bright colors and applied Egyptian Blue to numerous objects. They used it on stone, wood, papyrus, plaster and canvas and included it as a coloring agent when they made beads, scarabs, cylinder seals, pots, statuettes and numerous other products. It has been found on wall paintings at Luxor and on sculptures recovered at the Parthenon. It was used by artisans in the Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean, and appeared throughout the Roman Empire until the end of the Fourth Century AD.
When a red light is shone on the Egyptian Blue pigment, it reflects infrared light which is easily detected by night-vision goggles or cameras. Archaeologists and other experts have taken advantage of this unusual property to help identify genuine antiquities since the pigment was not used after the 4th century AD. It appears that the secret to its manufacture was lost about that time. Sir Humphry Davy and other 19th-century scientists began studying Egyptian Blue and now it is the subject of investigation by chemists at the University of Georgia. Those same researchers are not looking at a related compound, barium copper tetrasilicate, which was used as a pigment by the ancient Chinese.
The University of Georgia team of chemists is excited about the possible modern uses of these ancient compounds. Perhaps this will encourage other researchers to investigate other ancient technologies.
If you’d like to read further, visit Archaeology’s website
You can also read my post about the potential modern-day uses of Egyptian Blue here
Saturday, May 18, 2013
The World’s Oldest Flowing Water
The world’s oldest flowing water has been found in a buried reservoir beneath a copper and zinc mine in Timmins, Ontario in Canada. The numbers are staggering, both for its age and the depth at which it was found.
The water was found by a team of miners drilling into bedrock about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) beneath the surface. It did not start out there, however. Originally it seeped from above ground from primeval oceans. Chemical analyses of the water indicate that it contains high levels of hydrogen as well as methane and xenon gases. The xenon, which is an isotope, was used to estimate the water’s age. The tests revealed that the water is no less than 1.5 billion years old and may be more than 2.6 billion years old. This means that it existed during the time that the first multi-celled life forms were making their appearance on the planet. It also provides insights into the chemical composition of earth’s ancient oceans and atmosphere.
It is the possibility that microbial life forms might be present in this ancient water that excites many scientists. They are testing water samples to see if they can detect life forms. If they do, there may be a chance that some form of life may still exist on Mars, which once contained significant oceans. They may also offer insights into how microbes evolve in isolation. There is a precedent for this theory. Microbes have been found in water with a similar chemistry that was isolated beneath a South African gold mine. These tiny creatures used hydrogen gas as an energy source.
The Canadian water offers scientists an invaluable look at our planet’s evolution. It will be interesting to see what scientists learn as they study this remarkable discovery.
If you’d like more technical information about the water and its implications, go here.
The water was found by a team of miners drilling into bedrock about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) beneath the surface. It did not start out there, however. Originally it seeped from above ground from primeval oceans. Chemical analyses of the water indicate that it contains high levels of hydrogen as well as methane and xenon gases. The xenon, which is an isotope, was used to estimate the water’s age. The tests revealed that the water is no less than 1.5 billion years old and may be more than 2.6 billion years old. This means that it existed during the time that the first multi-celled life forms were making their appearance on the planet. It also provides insights into the chemical composition of earth’s ancient oceans and atmosphere.
It is the possibility that microbial life forms might be present in this ancient water that excites many scientists. They are testing water samples to see if they can detect life forms. If they do, there may be a chance that some form of life may still exist on Mars, which once contained significant oceans. They may also offer insights into how microbes evolve in isolation. There is a precedent for this theory. Microbes have been found in water with a similar chemistry that was isolated beneath a South African gold mine. These tiny creatures used hydrogen gas as an energy source.
The Canadian water offers scientists an invaluable look at our planet’s evolution. It will be interesting to see what scientists learn as they study this remarkable discovery.
If you’d like more technical information about the water and its implications, go here.
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