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Rare mummy found with strange artifacts and tattoos
A thousand-year old mummy has been discovered in Peru decorated with scarlet paint, metal eye-plates that denote high status, and tatoos.
"As anthropologists gingerly removed the layers of ancient textiles swaddling the thirtysomething elite male last month at a Lima lab, offerings both strange and familiar came to light—slingshots, corn, a figurine in identical dress."
The mummy gives astoishing insights into the little-studied Chancay civilisation between A.D. 1000 and 1500, before finally falling to the unstoppable Inca Empire. A thousand-year old mummy has been discovered in Peru decorated with scarlet paint, metal eye-plates that denote high status, and tato... more -
U.S. soldier remains from 1846 found in Mexico
EXICO CITY - Mexican archaeologists have found the remains of what appear to be four U.S. soldiers who died in 1846 during the Mexican-American war, the government announced on Thursday.
Experts said skull and bone measurements, as well as two half-dollar coins and other artifacts found at the site of the Battle of Monterrey in northern Mexico, indicate the bodies belong to U.S. war casualties.
Mexico's national archaeological agency said the skeletal remains were uncovered in digs between 1996 and April 2008 but were apparently not announced previously. The U.S. Embassy said it had no immediate information.
It has taken experts a long time to even tentatively identify the remains, in part because it had long been believed that the site contained the mass grave of Mexican casualties. No Mexican soldiers have been found at the site, said Rogelio Caballero, of the government's National Institute of Anthropology and History.
"There are plans on paper to perform DNA tests" on the remains, Caballero added. "Attempts are being made at identifying the soldiers' families and descendants."
He said many of the U.S. soldiers involved in the battle were from the states of Tennessee and Mississippi.
U.S. forces defeated Mexican troops in Monterrey, which was a fortified position at the time. The 1846-1848 war ended in a Mexican defeat that, along with Texas' independence struggle, cost Mexico half its territory. EXICO CITY - Mexican archaeologists have found the remains of what appear to be four U.S. soldiers who died in 1846 during the Mexican... more -
Fossil finds suggest an early origin for human speech
It may be time to rethink the stereotype of grunting, wordless Neandertals. The prehistoric humans may have been quite chatty — at least if the ear canals of their ancestors are any indication, It may be time to rethink the stereotype of grunting, wordless Neandertals. The prehistoric humans may have been quite chatty — at lea... more
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Lost tribes after the earthquake
A fascinating article about the Qiang, one of the 'minority tribes' in China, which was badly affected by the recent earthquake. Qiang culture is entirely spoken (not written down in any way) and is traditionally passed down from the elders through special ceremonies. Many of the elders have been killed and populations dispersed as a result of the earthquake, though many surviving Qiang are still determined to hold onto their heritage... A fascinating article about the Qiang, one of the 'minority tribes' in China, which was badly affected by the recent earthquake. Qian... more
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Obama opposes California same-sex marriage ban
This is good news. Obama has spent the last few weeks moving to the center. It's nice to see him making a strong statement on this. From the San Francisco Chronicle:
Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has announced his opposition to a November ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage in California, a move that puts gay rights front and center in the 2008 presidential campaign.
In a letter to San Francisco's Alice B. Toklas Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Democratic Club Sunday, the presumptive presidential nominee said he opposed "the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution" and similar efforts in other states.
"It's great to see Senator Obama's statement, which is consistent with what he has said in the past about allowing each state to make its own decision," said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality for All, which is heading the Prop. 8 opposition. "Is it ideal that he doesn't support same-sex marriage? No. But it's important when political leaders say gay and lesbian couples should be treated equally."
Earlier last week, Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, the GOP standard-bearer in November, took the other side. He told officials of Protect Marriage, a coalition that gathered 1.1 million signatures for the California measure, that he backed their efforts "to recognize marriage as a unique institution between a man and a woman." This is good news. Obama has spent the last few weeks moving to the center. It's nice to see him making a strong statement on this. Fr... more -
Last Neanderthals Were Smart, Sophisticated
Neanderthals were hardly a weak group just before their extinction around 30,000 years ago, suggests new research. On the contrary, Britain's last Neanderthals had sophisticated weapons and lived in strategic spots, demonstrating impressive command of their territory.
Archaeologists analyzing 180 flint tools and weapons, which survived an original collection of 2,300 artifacts found in 1900 at a site called Beedings near Pulborough, England, have traced them to the Neanderthals, according to an announcement made today by the University College London Institute of Archeology.
The discoveries were also recently reported in British Archeology magazine.
"The tools we've found at the site are technologically advanced and potentially older than tools in Britain belonging to our own species," said UCL's Matthew Pope.
"It's exciting to think that there's a real possibility these were left by some of the last Neanderthal hunting groups to occupy northern Europe," he added. "The impression they give is of a population in complete command of both landscape and natural raw materials with a flourishing technology -- not a people on the edge of extinction."
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Click on the pic for the full story. Neanderthals were hardly a weak group just before their extinction around 30,000 years ago, suggests new research. On the contrary, Br... more -
Michael Shermer: Why people believe strange things
Why do people see the Virgin Mary on a cheese sandwich or hear demonic lyrics in "Stairway to Heaven"? Using video and music, skeptic Michael Shermer shows how we convince ourselves to believe -- and overlook the facts. Why do people see the Virgin Mary on a cheese sandwich or hear demonic lyrics in "Stairway to Heaven"? Using video and music, skeptic ... more
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Study on Pen Selection Helps to Clarify Japanese and American Misconceptions
While the act of selecting an everyday writing utensil seems to be a simple enough task, scientists have found that it actually could shed light on complex cultural differences. While the act of selecting an everyday writing utensil seems to be a simple enough task, scientists have found that it actually could ... more
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Children who grind their teeth are more likely to be withdrawn in school
Tooth grinding has an association with pre-school performance when withdrawn behavior is present, according to a research abstract that will be presented on Tuesday at SLEEP 2008, the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS). Tooth grinding has an association with pre-school performance when withdrawn behavior is present, according to a research abstract tha... more
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Uncontacted Amazon Tribe Is Photographed
After my trip to Brazil’s Amazon, I was wary when I caught glimpse of Thursday’s released photos of uncontacted Amazon tribe members toting bow and arrow in hand. Having been on their native soil and learned about the importance of keeping their culture in tact, the catchy headlines and photos seemed to objectify the forest natives. During my research though, I came to realize that these photos were made public for a better reason than mere exploitation.
Brazil’s government officials and anthropologists released the photos to call attention to the tribe who faces great threat—disease, death or displacement—from illegal logging. Miriam Ross, a member of the Indian rights group Survival International says, "First contact is often completely catastrophic for "uncontacted" tribes. It's not unusual for 50 percent of the tribe to die in months after first contact. They don't generally have immunity to diseases common to outside society. Colds and flu that aren't usually fatal to us can completely wipe them out."
On Friday, Brazil’s Environmental Protection Agency reported having shut down 28 illegal sawmills in Acre state on the Brazil-Peru border, where this tribe and many others dwell. Brazil’s National Indian Foundation suspects there are 68 uncontacted tribes in Brazil with only 24 of those confirmed.
Despite Brazilian officials who say they are working to protect the groups and have seen tribal populations on the increase, threat from encroaching loggers becomes graver with every passing day. Hopefully, the release of these photos will draw some serious attention to the cause. Jose Carlos Meirelles, a coordinator of government efforts to protect uncontacted tribes for Brazil’s National Indian Foundation says, "We put the photos out because if things continue the way they are going, these people are going to disappear.”
To help the Amazon’s forest people, donate to Projeto Saude e Alegria, Survival International or at the very least, help spread the word. After my trip to Brazil’s Amazon, I was wary when I caught glimpse of Thursday’s released photos of uncontacted Amazon tribe members t... more -
Uncontacted Amazon tribe photographed - Science- msnbc.com
"RIO DE JANEIRO - Amazon Indians from one of the world's last uncontacted tribes have been photographed from the air, with striking images released on Thursday showing them painted bright red and brandishing bows and arrows." "RIO DE JANEIRO - Amazon Indians from one of the world's last uncontacted tribes have been photographed from the air, with striking im... more
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'Uncontacted tribe' sighted in Amazon
Researchers have produced aerial photos of jungle dwellers who they say are among the few remaining peoples on Earth who have had no contact with the outside world.
art.amazon.tribe.
Taken from a small airplane, the photos show men outside thatched communal huts, necks craned upward, pointing bows toward the air in a remote corner of the Amazonian rainforest.
The National Indian Foundation, a government agency in Brazil, published the photos Thursday on its Web site. It tracks "uncontacted tribes" -- indigenous groups that are thought to have had no contact with outsiders -- and seeks to protect them from encroachment.
More than 100 uncontacted tribes remain worldwide, and about half live in the remote reaches of the Amazonian rainforest in Peru or Brazil, near the recently photographed tribe, according to Survival International, a nonprofit group that advocates for the rights of indigenous people.
"All are in grave danger of being forced off their land, killed or decimated by new diseases," the organization said Thursday.
Illegal logging in Peru is threatening several uncontacted groups, pushing them over the border with Brazil and toward potential conflicts with about 500 uncontacted Indians living on the Brazilian side, Survival International said.
Its director, Stephen Cory, said the new photographs highlight the need to protect uncontacted people from intrusion by the outside world. Researchers have produced aerial photos of jungle dwellers who they say are among the few remaining peoples on Earth who have had no c... more -
The Evolution of Amphibians Answered
The fossilized creature, known as Gerobatrachus hottoni, proves that some modern amphibians, frogs and salamanders evolved from an ancient amphibian group called temnospondyls, a Canadian-led team reports in the journal Nature.
The fossilized creature, known as Gerobatrachus hottoni, proves that some modern amphibians, frogs and salamanders evolved from an anc... more -
Marat not Borat
When most people think of Kazakhstan, they picture Borat. Meet Marat, the ‘real’ Borat, who takes us to the rural village where he spent his childhood summers. This brief yet visually poetic film reflects Marat's own romanticisation in leaving the hectic city for the peaceful Kazakhstani countryside. When most people think of Kazakhstan, they picture Borat. Meet Marat, the ‘real’ Borat, who takes us to the rural village where he spe... more
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Earliest Known American Settlers Harvested Seaweed
A cliff offers a view of the rocky shoreline in an inland bay south of Monte Verde, Chile, the site of the oldest known settlement in the Americas.
A new study shows that settlers at Monte Verde harvested seaweed and other marine plants from a coastline more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) away some 14,000 years ago.
Photograph courtesy Mario Pino/Science
Read all about it at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080508-... A cliff offers a view of the rocky shoreline in an inland bay south of Monte Verde, Chile, the site of the oldest known settlement in ... more -
Did the Egg or T-Rex cross the road first?
Tyrannosaurus rex just a big chicken. Tyrannosaurus Rex is a distant relative of chickens filled in more gaps, showing that the dinosaur was far more closely related to living birds than to alligators.
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Do You Believe In Fairies?
An author's reminiscence about three incidents which led him to believe there might be something more to fairy stories than science credits.
The fairy is based on the fae of medieval Western European (Old French) folklore and romance. Fairies are often identified with related beings of other mythologies (see list of beings referred to as fairies). Even in folkore that uses the term "fairy," there are many definitions of what constitutes a fairy. Sometimes the term is used to describe any magical creature, including goblins or gnomes: at other times, the term only describes a specific type of more ethereal creature.
Fairies are generally described as human in appearance and as having magical powers. Their origins are less clear in the folklore, being variously the dead, or some form of angel, or a species completely independent of humans or angels. Folklorists have suggested that their actual origin lies in a conquered race living in hiding, or in religious beliefs that lost currency with the advent of Christianity. These explanations are not always mutually incompatible, and they may be traceable to multiple sources.
Much of the folklore about fairies revolves about protection from their malice, by such means as cold iron or charms of rowan and herbs, or avoiding offense by shunning locations known to be theirs. In particular, folklore describes how to prevent the fairies from stealing babies and substituting changelings, and abducting older people as well. An author's reminiscence about three incidents which led him to believe there might be something more to fairy stories than science cr... more -
Nerds might live longer
Yet another reason to stay in school kids!
Anthropologist say big brains help up live longer. Woohooo!
Big headed people around the world rejoice! Woo HOO!
More after the jump .... ! Yet another reason to stay in school kids! Anthropologist say big brains help up live longer. Woohooo! ... more -
The Story of Barack Obama's Mother - Yahoo! News
By AMANDA RIPLEY/HONOLULU
Each of us lives a life of contradictory truths. We are not one thing or another. Barack Obama's mother was at least a dozen things. S. Ann Soetoro was a teen mother who later got a Ph.D. in anthropology; a white woman from the Midwest who was more comfortable in Indonesia; a natural-born mother obsessed with her work; a romantic pragmatist, if such a thing is possible By AMANDA RIPLEY/HONOLULU ... more -
Iceman: Centuries-old human called Kwaday Dan Ts'inch.
Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi means "long ago person found" in the Southern Tutchone language and refers to the remains of the young aboriginal hunter found frozen in a glacier in August 1999. The well-preserved condition of the remains has allowed scientists the rare opportunity to study in detail everything about the ancient man's lifestyle, from the source of clothing he wore, to what he ate and drank in the hours before his death on the glacier. Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi means "long ago person found" in the Southern Tutchone language and refers to the remains of the young aboriginal ... more
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Anthropology
