BQ

Table Mountain National Park

2013-07-19T23:06:00.000-05:00

Main attractions within Table Mountain National Park

Table Mountain National Park, which is found in the popular tourist city of Cape Town, South Africa, is a national heritage site and is haven of beautiful natural landscapes and attractions. The Table Mountain National Park offers a number of beautiful hikes and walks for visitors to enjoy and is home to many of Cape Town’s must-visit attractions.

Photo of Table Mountain by George M Groutas, Flickr.

Cape of Good Hope

This is where visitors can come and learn about the landscape and environment at the Cape Point visitor centre or take thefunicular or walk to one of the lighthouses overlooking the point where two oceans are said to meet. The reserve surrounding Cape Point is home a variety of birds and lizards as well as some larger wildlife such as zebras, antelope, caracal and ostrich.Spend a couple hours here and picnic at one of the beaches or enjoy a leisurely lunch at the restaurant with spectacular views over False Bay – just remember to keep an eye out for the cheeky baboons!

Boulder’s Beach

Located near Simonstown, Boulder’s Beach is home to a land based breeding colony of cute African penguins. Take a swim on the beach amongst the penguins or simply view these unique birds from one the boardwalks.

Table Mountain

Enjoy a multitude of hikes and walks on the slopes or up to the top of the mountain or if you are not feeling that enthusiastic, enjoy the fabulous views from the cableway. For the more adventurous you can abseil or rock climb the mountain or even stay overnight in one of the little chalets on top of this iconic Cape Town attraction.

Silvermine

Enjoy nature walks on the Constantiaberg Mountain amongst the spectacular fynbos or take a refreshing swim in the beautiful dam or enjoy a picnic on the banks. Silvermine offers something for everyone with waterfalls, dog-walking and mountain bike tracks and even a wheelchair friendly boardwalk.

Signal Hill and Lions Head

The city surrounds these iconic Cape Town landmarks. Thenoon day gun goes off from signal hill and Lions Head is a popular hike for locals particularly when there is a full moon.Take a couple of friends along for a walk and enjoy gorgeous sunset views looking out towards the ocean.

This guest post was submitted by Janine Mare. To book your accommodation or to do a tour of Cape Town’s attractions, contact South African Hotels.

Across the Zooniverse

2013-04-24T21:17:00.000-05:00

Telescope View of Sky from Big Hill, NSW. [Ryan Wick, Flickr]

Keeping an eye on citizen astronomy

Amateur astronomers in Russia made a discovery last week any professional would envy – it seems they may have identified the remnants of the ill-fated Soviet Mars 3 lander, 30 years after it lost contact with Earth.

Photos taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) in 2007 show what appears to be the parachute, heat shield, and retrorocket of the Mars 3 lander.

But finding object as small as an 11-metre-wide parachute on the surface of Mars takes a lot of work, especially as the most promising photo – a section of which is below – contains 1.2 billion pixels and requires 2,500 computer screens to view the entire image at full resolution.

The possible Mars 3 lander hardware was found by a group of Russian citizen enthusiasts.
[NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona]

This is the most recent example of how citizen science is blossoming – and getting results – within the field of astronomy. There is a wealth of amateurs who pursue backyard observations as a hobby and their efforts make headlines worldwide. Some have historically contributed to science by finding comets, tracking asteroids, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program, and monitoring stars.

The Soviet Mars 3 lander before venturing
to Mars in 1971. [Armael, Wikimedia Commons]

One of the most visible citizen-science projects in astronomy and astrophysics is the “Zooniverse” which invites members of the public to analyse data ranging from determining the shape of galaxies to trying to detect if any planets outside our solar system orbit stars.

The Galaxy Zoo

The Zooniverse project grew out of the Galaxy Zoo project which was set up to determine the shape, or morphology, of galaxies.

Galaxy shape is a useful visual indicator to professional astronomers about the state of the galaxy and the physical processes which may be going on inside it.

While there are many types of galaxy shapes, bright galaxies usually fall into one of three categories:
• spiral
• elliptical
• irregular

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey, an internationally funded project to map the sky, photographed and mapped more than 930,000 galaxies over eight years.

Faced with an overwhelming amount of data to sift through, astronomers conceived of the Galaxy Zoo idea to ask the general public for help to look through all the data and classify the shapes of galaxies.

Three main galaxy shapes (from left): spiral galaxy PIA09337, elliptical galaxy NGC 1316, and irregular galaxy NGC 3738.
[NASA]

Since this requires little background knowledge, any member of the public can help so long as they have an internet connection.

Using a simple, clickable interface, users can say whether galaxies are rounded, have spiral arms, have any unusual or distinguishing features, or whether they want to discuss the objects in more detail.

This is especially important in a data-rich field like astronomy: users can sometimes be the first human being to actually look at a galaxy since most of the processing of the images they examine have been done by computers.

Getting the numbers up

For all the excellent work done by the general public, there will still be disagreement about the exact classification of galaxy shapes – and this, fundamentally, raises questions about data integrity.

[Gwydion M. Williams]

This is why the Galaxy Zoo project aims to have at least 20 people attempt to classify each galaxy.

To use the data in professional research, astronomers have to look for disagreements between members of the general public.

Taking a threshold level is one way to solve the problem. If, say, 80% of respondents say a galaxy is a particular shape, that is a reasonable way forward and is perfectly suitable for some analysis purposes.

The cost of this may be that there is a high number of “unclassified” galaxies where there is large disagreement, perhaps caused by very few individuals having looked at a galaxy.

And the results are …

There have been a healthy number of scientific publications arising from the Galaxy Zoo project team, including the relationship between galaxy colour and environment and studies of highly unusual objects such as “Hanny’s Voorwerp” – a possible light echo from quasars (the brightest objects in the known universe).

[NASA]

In my own research, we recently used data from Galaxy Zoo to explore the connection between galaxy morphology, galaxy mass, and the likelihood of hosting an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) in a massive cluster of galaxies – a collection of gravitationally bound galaxies and one of the most extreme “environments” in which a galaxy can live.

We used the data to explain an earlier result that red and passive spiral galaxies are, in the majority, also massive and similar in nature to most of the massive elliptically shaped cluster galaxies.

We then inferred that the life cycle of high and low mass cluster galaxies are markedly different.

But we wouldn’t have been able to make these conclusions without the citizen scientists who classified the bulk of the data for us – something for which we are extremely appreciative.

And who knows? As shown by the Russian amateur astronomers sifting through NASA’s high-resolution photos, the next big astronomy discovery could be made by you.

About the Author

Kevin Pimbblet, from Monash University, is an experienced observational astronomer whose core research interests cover a number of modern topics in extra-galactic astrophysics, large-scale structure of the Universe and cosmology.

Kevin Pimbblet receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

This article was originally published at The Conversation. Read the original article.

Space Archaeology

2013-04-23T21:19:00.000-05:00

Space archaeology is a recent research method scientists

FlyingSinger, Flickr.com, CC BY 2.0

have begun using in order to evaluate man-made items found across the galaxy. These artifacts can range from orbital debris, satellites, and other various objects humans have placed on the Moon and Mars. Through these artifacts we keep track of and discover in space we monitor and interpret the adventures of man as we travel into the world beyond.

The cultural resource or heritage management is in charge of evaluating the significance of space sites and artifacts according to national and inter-national preservation laws. They examine how and why these outer space artifacts and sites of our recent history should be preserved for our future generations to view. For example, they decide on whether or not the site where Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon should be preserved so that we can see the first steps man made on the moon.

NASA Goddard Photo and Video, Flickr.com, CC BY 2.0

People like Beth O’Leary, an associate professor of Anthropology at New Mexico State University (NMSU) and co-editor of the handbook of space engineering, archaeology, and heritage, have dedicated themselves to preserve the many artifacts on the moon. One site she had dedicated herself in watching over is the flag and the footprint of Neil Armstrong left to prove he walked on the Moon. With a grant from NASA, O’Leary helped establish the Lunar Legacy Project; which aims to preserve the historical information found at Tranquility Base. She previously stated, “We need to prepare for the future because in fifty years many travelers may go to the moon, if the site is not protected, what will be left?”

Idaho National Library, Flickr.com, CC BY 2.0

There are artifacts left behind in space other than those found on the Moon and Mars, but some of them threaten the safety of Earth. Since some of these artifacts, like low orbiting satellites and stations, currently run the risk of impacting each other and other space objects; instead of them being labeled as our cultural heritage they are considered space junk. An informed decision on the risk of letting them continue to orbit or destroying them should be made while keeping their international and historical significance in mind.

Because of the global safety dilemma there is the potential of parts of space archaeological record being destroyed and possibly forgotten. The question of which artifacts are culturally important and which are not is being asked, but how exactly are we suppose to answer. As humans living in the world today we have no idea what artifacts will have relevance and which will not in the future. Making us run the risk of leaving a missing link in our record of space exploration. For example, Wall-E from the Disney movie, feeds his curiosity by examining items he comes across in the mountains of trash left by the humans. He finds a woman’s bra and begins examining it and placing it on his head as a hat and over his eyes as a blindfold, confused about what the primary purpose of his finding was. Will we be just as confused when looking at the space artifacts we left behind in the future?

For More Information

Ancient Oklahoma

2013-04-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Spiro Mounds of Oklahoma are only a few miles away from the city Spiro. The mound site consists of 12 mounds, an elite village, and a support village within 150 acres of land. Originally in prehistoric times the mounds area was home mostly to nomads, but as cultures and society began to emerge when ancient people began to become sedentary the Spiro Mounds also transformed into what they are today. By 800 BCE the Spiro Mounds became a permanent settlement that was used until 1450 BCE.

Heironymous Rowe, commons.wikimedia.org, CC BY-SA 3.0

During that time period, which is typically called the Mississippian period the Spiro culture flourished. Archaeological evidence shows that Spiro culture had economic, political, and religious all the way from the Great Lakes to the east coast and the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of California. They had an extensive religious center developed as well as a highly developed trade network. The Spiro political system was also able to exert total control over the entire South East. In its height the Spiro people shared an iconographic writing system with over 60 other tribes along with horticulture and extensive ceremonies.

No one is certain as to why the Spiro Mounds were abandoned or why the culture declined, but it was probably caused by a number of environmental, cultural, and political factors. Today the Spiro Mounds are available for the public to explore and at the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center many artifacts including artistic and utilitarian prehistoric Native American artifacts.

To Find Out More Check Out: http://www.okhistory.org/sites/spiromounds

Native American Culture at its Finest

2013-04-17T22:59:00.000-05:00

J. Stephan Con, Flickr.com, CC BY- NC 2.0

The Cherokee Heritage Center is located in Park Hill, Oklahoma with an Ancient Village and the Trail of Tears being its two major exhibits. It hosts a wide variety of events such as: beading and pottery workshops, educational lectures, and art shows. They also focus on educating the public on Cherokee culture, language, and history. They offer courses in Cherokee Humanities which are accredited courses through Northeastern State University, and other cultural classes including pottery, basket weaving, bead work and making Cherokee moccasins and feather caps. During the Indian Territorial Days they offer the public a way to experience life of what is was like to live in a Cherokee village 300 years ago through activities, games, and living history.

Unknown, commons.wikimedia.org, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Ancient Village attraction was opened in 1967 and the location was chosen because it used to be home to the Cherokee Female Seminary. After years of research on Cherokee culture and history construction began. The stations visitors have the option to interact with are stickball, basket making, flintknapping, blowguns, and dugout canoes.

The Trail of Tears exhibit works with the National Park Services in order to permanently house the exhibit which displays the forced removal of Indians from their land onto reservations. It shows the six stages the Indians went through: pre-removal, court battles, prisoners with no crime, a look at the trails other tribes took, removal, and starting over. Each stage is supported by documentation and artifacts in order to display Cherokee culture and history.

Wolfgang Sauber, commons.wikimedia.org, CC BY-SA 3.0

One of the major events which will occur at the Cherokee Heritage Center from April 20th to May 27th is the Trail of Tears 42nd Annual Art Show and Sale. The Art Show displays authentic Native American art made by 93 Native American artists from 15 Tribal Nations. The art show will feature 162 art pieces including paintings, sculpture, basketry, jewelry, miniatures, and pottery.

To Learn More Check Out:
http://www.cherokeeheritage.org/

Megafauna Extinction: Hunting or Climate?

2013-03-12T11:21:00.000-05:00

Hunting or climate change? Megafauna extinction debate narrows

By Christopher Johnson, University of Tasmania

What is the oldest debate in Australian science? Probably, the argument over what caused extinction of our Pleistocene megafauna – the diprotodons, giant kangaroos, marsupial tapirs, über-echidnas and other big and bizarre creatures that used to live here.

Giant Haast's Eagle attacking New Zealand Moa
[John Megahan, PLoS Biology, CC BY- 2.5]

In 1877 the great English anatomist Sir Richard Owen suggested that these big animals had been driven extinct by “the hostile agency of man”. That is, hunting did it, in a process we now call overkill. Other people responded that climate change must have been the cause, and it was on.

A string of recent studies from a wide range of disciplines – geochronology, palaeoecology, palaeontology, and ecological modelling – have supported Owen’s opinion. But the argument continues. Why?

The main reason is that many Australian archaeologists reject overkill. They have looked for direct evidence that people killed megafauna, and they haven’t found it. No great piles of bones around ancient campsites; no diprotodon skeletons with spears stuck in their ribs; no arsenal of specialised weapons for bringing down large prey. Very few archaeological sites even have remains of people and megafauna in close association.

Some archaeologists conclude that megafauna-hunting just did not happen, or if it happened it was rare and insignificant. Often this conclusion is stated with a ringing confidence that dismisses all non-archaeological evidence for overkill.

But they have not asked a crucial question: if people did hunt megafauna to extinction, how much evidence of killing should we now be able to get from archaeological sites? A new paper by archaeologists Todd Surovell and Brigid Grund suggests the answer to that question is “very little or none”.

Surovell and Grund point out, first, that the period when archaeological evidence of killing of megafauna could have been formed is a small fraction of the total archaeological record of Australia. People arrived here between about 50,000 and 40,000 years ago. This is also the interval during which animals like diprotodon disappeared. A comparison of archaeological and fossil dates suggests humans and megafauna overlapped for only about 4,000 years continent-wide, and modelling suggests that if hunting caused extinction it would have been all over in less than 1,000 years in any place.

This means that no more than 8%, perhaps as little as 2%, of the Australian archaeological record covers the period of human-megafauna interaction. The “smoking gun” evidence of overkill should therefore be rare. Surovell and Grund show that the problem of finding such evidence is even worse than that, for two reasons.

First, when people first arrived their populations were necessarily small. Living sites therefore occurred at low density. As population size grew exponentially, site density increased. So, the very earliest sites must be far rarer than later ones.

But if overkill happened, populations of megafauna would have been going down as humans went up: as the density of sites was rising the proportion of them that could have contained evidence of megafauna kills was falling. Thus, sites with potential to preserve that evidence are actually a tiny proportion, perhaps much less than .01%, of the total archaeological record.

Second, material in archaeological sites degrades with time due to breakdown, weathering and scavenging of bone and removal by erosion. Old sites are eventually buried under sediments. The probability of discovering archaeological sites from the earliest occupation of Australia is intrinsically much lower than for later times, and most of the contents of those sites will have disappeared.

In fact, the very oldest archaeological sites in Australia typically contain only a few stone tools. They can tell us very little about interaction of the first Australians with any animals or plants, let alone reveal a picture of megafauna-killing.

Our fundamental task as scientists is to test hypotheses using evidence. To test the overkill hypothesis, we need a kind of evidence that would differ according to whether the hypothesis is true or false. Obviously, if overkill did not happen, evidence of megafauna-killing should be rare in the archaeological record. But, Surovell and Grund’s analysis makes it clear that if overkill happened, we should still expect evidence of killing to be rare. Therefore, failure to find such evidence does not amount to a test of the overkill hypothesis.

This does not mean that archaeological evidence of killing (or absence of such evidence) is useless in testing the overkill hypothesis. Surovell and Grund show it can be useful, by comparing the archaeological records of Australia, North America and New Zealand. All three places lost their megafaunas when people arrived, but this happened a very long time ago in Australia, and very recently (700 years ago) in New Zealand. North America is intermediate, with human arrival and extinction from 14,000 to 13,000 years ago.

Applying the same logic to all three cases, we predict that if overkill caused megafaunal extinction in each place the archaeological evidence of killing should be abundant in New Zealand, rare in North America, and vanishingly rare in Australia. That is exactly what we find.

There is so much evidence showing New Zealand’s moa were heavily hunted that nobody doubts overkill was the main cause of their extinction. In North America, there are undoubted kill sites for mammoths, mastodons and a few other species, but this evidence is far thinner than in New Zealand. Australian archaeology is yet to reveal any convincing evidence for megafauna-killing.

So, far from disproving overkill, the archaeological evidence from Australia is actually consistent with the overkill hypothesis.

About the Author

Christopher Johnson is an ecologist, interested in pure and applied ecology, environmental history, the biology of extinction, conservation and wildlife management. He is a Professor of Wildlife Conservation and ARC Australian Professorial Fellow at University of Tasmania.

Christopher Johnson receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

This article was originally published at The Conversation. Read the original article.

[From the Archive] The World's First Art Studio?

2013-03-10T12:12:00.000-05:00

Birth of bling: world's first art studio found in South Africa

By Peter Hiscock

Could we have found the first artist’s studio in human history? We may well have.

We all recognise the material signs of wealth. Fast cars, large yachts and sparkling bling all tell us who has more. Crowns, insignia, mayoral gowns are material signs of rank or status.

Archaeologists have long pondered when these public displays of social difference first occurred. Emerging evidence suggests the antiquity of public symbolism is surprisingly great.

Bansky's Caveman, by Stefan Kloo (Lord Jim)
[Flickr, CC BY-2.0]

Indeed, the symbolism of social difference seems to have been present from the earliest period of our species existence. The rise of Homo sapiens may even have been linked to the use of public symbols.

Recent work in southern Africa, published today in Science, is helping archaeologists clarify the early history of painting and its use in creating symbols.

Discoveries at Blombos Cave

The latest discovery comes from Blombos Cave, a large cavern located on the southern African coast, south-east of Cape Town.

Location of Blombos Cave, archaeological site
[Vincent Mourre, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0]

Here a team, led by Christopher Henshilwood of the University of Bergen and Francesco d’Errico from the Université de Bordeaux, has found a 100,000 year old artist’s workshop.

Excavations of the deep sediments piled up in the cave have regularly yielded surprising finds. Archaeologists have previously recovered standardised bone tools, perhaps awls, and delicately-shaped tools of stone projectile points dated to 70,000 years ago.

Henshilwood and his colleagues suggest these tools show ancient artisans were able to plan and create a sophisticated technology.

Even more revealing is the presence of ochre, natural iron-rich rock that can be ground into powder and used as paint. Archaeologists have long suspected pieces of ochre with abraded facets in those early times might indicate paintings of some kind, on rocks, wooden artefacts or even human bodies.

Since 70,000-year-old ochre slabs have geometric engravings on their surface, it is clear early humans were artistic, but until now archaeologists could not be sure they were painters.

The world’s first studio

Now Blombos has yielded new materials that reveal the earliest artist’s workshop.

In a layer 100,000 years old, Henshilwood excavated two containers, which are probably artist’s palettes or mixing-bowls, and associated tools.

Each palette or bowl is a large abalone shell containing a residue of ochre, burnt bone and other materials that had been ground up and combined with some fluid into a vibrant red paste.

One of these containers also contained a small grinding stone and a number of bone fragments that had been used to stir the paste.

The other container was associated with fragments of ochre, in this case red ferruginous siltstone, that had been abraded to create the red powder and the grinding stones on which they had been rubbed.

Henshilwood speculates that for a short period about 100 millennia ago, the site was used primarily as a workshop for preparing and using the paint mixtures.

Why paint?

Henshilwood and his team think this early painting workshop may be an example of artistic developments associated with the emergence of Homo sapiens.

The genetic evidence, as well as ancient skeletons that have been found demonstrate humans evolved in Africa and migrated across the globe in the last 70-100,000 years.

Some recent genetic studies have even suggested our species originated in southern Africa, possibly not far from Blombos.

Did the earliest modern humans develop a knowledge of chemistry that helped them invent painting?
Or does this workshop reflect the emergence of art itself, a behaviour that was carried forth by humans in their global dispersion?

Bifacial points, engraved ochre and bone tools discovered in Blombos Cave, c. 75-80,000 years old.
[Chris Henshilwood, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0]

It turns out the evolution of art may have a very long history. Ochre has been found in far older African sites, dating back more than 300,000 years, as well as in Europe and the Middle East.

<< Learn more about Ochre in Paleolithic Burials in Origins >>

It’s been associated with hominids related, or ancestral, to us, such as Homo heidelbergensis and Homo neanderthalensis. If early hominids used ochre to colour themselves or their possessions then at least a basic form of painting had been present amongst hominids for several hundred millennia.

The artist’s workshop at Blombos 100,000 years ago is not the earliest use of ochre/paint but it represents a new intensity, a new scale, of artistry that may reflect a new role for painted public symbols.

This workshop was created near the start of the last Ice Age at a time when population size and resource availability changed.

In this context, signals of identity and differentiation perhaps assisted people to negotiate territory and trading relationships with neighbouring groups.

The Blombos discovery suggests the expression of social difference through painting was an important element in the development of modern culture.

We may well have found the beginning of a tradition that gave us Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso, and, of course, Banksy.

For Further Reading

Henshilwood, C. S. et al. "A 100,000-Year-Old Ochre-Processing Workshop at Blombos Cave, South Africa." Science. 14 October 2011: Vol. 334 no. 6053 pp. 219-222. DOI: 10.1126/science.1211535

About the Author

Peter Hiscock is an archaeologist interested in the emergence and global dispersal of modern humans and long-term changes in their technology and social life. His research speciality is Australian prehistory and Palaeolithic technology; his research areas are France, Australia, and Africa.

Peter Hiscock receives funding from ARC. He is affiliated with the Australian National University.

This article was originally published at The Conversation. Read the original article.

Deco Japan at ABQ

2013-02-22T22:18:00.000-06:00

An art exhibit has come to town to display the artwork and craftsmanship of Japan during the 1920s through the 1940s called Deco Japan. It features works from ornaments and pottery to paintings and postcards. This exhibit is sponsored by the Chrisholm Foundation, E. Rhodes, and the Leona B. Carpenter Foundation. Many events will be held and present in partnership with the New Mexico Japanese Citizen League and the Japan America Society of New Mexico.

The exhibit displays not only the artwork for the Deco time period, but the social tensions as well. The subject of many artworks in the exhibit are on the independence, liberalism, and what can be considered similar to a Japanese flapper period. It shows the lifestyle of Japan changing from influence from New York and Paris. Many artworks display women smoking out of odalisques. Others display the materialistic culture of Japan through household items and ornaments.

Sunday, February 8th, the museum had a community celebration that featured a taiko drum performance, traditional Japanese dance, and an ikebana demonstration. On Thursday, February 21, the museum held another culture exhibition which allowed people to experience the Jazz age and get up and dance. Upcoming events in March and April include a discussion with the curator, Opera music from 19th century Japan, folk tale performances and a scavenger hunt, traditional Japanese music and Jazz, and a tour of the Japanese Botanical Garden.

For more Information and exact dates check out this PDF of events.

Check out our photos at the museum and videos of Japanese performances from the opening on February 8th!

PHOTOS VIDEOS

All photos and videos by Melanie E Magdalena are licensed under Creative Commons-NonCommercial-Sharealike 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

Exploring Toronto's Abandoned Urban History

2013-02-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

The term urban exploration is defined as the exploration of man-made structures, usually abandoned ruins or not usually seen components of the man-made environment. Definitions tend to sound too boring, but the growing popularity of this hobby proves that the idea behind the words is actually very exciting. Many adventurous photographers consider it a new means of artistic expression enabling them to offer the public the shadowy and dusty face of cities as a contrast to their shiny surface. Other explorers do it for the sake of historical documentation, and there are even such people who do it merely for fun. The set of photographs I'd like to share with you reveals some of Toronto's concealed urban gems. If you decide to give urban exploration a try, please bear in mind that this activity can be quite dangerous, if you neglect proper preparation. Moreover, it may be considered trespassing in certain cases.

About the Author :: Heather Hadden

I am a Toronto real estate agent who enjoys meeting new people and helping them find their dream homes. When I'm not at work, I love spending time with my family and friends as well as traveling and painting, since I'm an artistic soul. Besides, I'm running a real estate blog focused also on healthy living, architecture, and the city of Toronto. http://ilovetoronto.com/

This project was created by Heather Hadden (author) and Jonathan Castellino (photographer).

Irish Bogmen

2013-01-07T10:00:00.000-06:00

In 2003, two Irish bog men were found at Croghan Hill and Clonycavan. These two bodies were violently killed and their bodies well preserved. The body found at Croghan Hill, called Oldcroghan man was dated to back to 362 BCE (before common era) and 175 BCE. While the one found at Clonycavan, Clonycavan man dates back to 392 BCE to 201 BCE. Both sets of remains show evidence of them being upper class individuals over 2,000 years ago - before they were tortured and killed in their early twenties.

Oldcroghan Man

The body of Oldcroghan man was so well preserved that when his body was found a police investigation was launched before archaeologists arrived, even his figure print whorls are as distinct as a living bodies. His hand showed no evidence of manual labor during his lifetime and were well manicured leading to the conclusion that he came from aristocratic society. Besides from the trauma experienced during death, his body only had two scars that most likely came from paper cuts. He was found without his head and lower limbs. Surprisingly, Oldcroghan man is estimated to be 6 feet and 6 inches tall.

Before his death he was stabbed, had rope threaded through his upper arms, and his nipples were sliced.

Picture of Oldcroghan Man at the Irish National Museum of Archaeology
[ducksauz, Flickr, CC By-NC-SA 2.0]

Clonycavan Man

Clonycavan man was killed by three axe blows to the head along with an axe blow to the chest and disembowelment. Before his death he stood at only 5 feet 2 inches and utilized Iron age hair gel composed of vegetable plant oil mixed with resin from pine trees that can be found in Spain and France.

Bogman from the Irish National Museum of Archaeology
[ducksauz, Flickr, CC By-NC-SA 2.0]

Conclusions of Their Deaths

The two Irish Bog men were most likely used as ritual sacrifices to pagan gods. Keeper of Irish antiquities at the National Museum of Ireland, Ned Kelly, proposes that the bodies were sacrificed to fertility deities to ensure a good harvest of milk and corn during their ruling. These men were most likely political prisoners for some time before their deaths.

To Learn More

Owens, J. (January 17, 2006). Murdered “Bogmen” Found With Hair Gel, Manicured Nails. National Geographic News.

Ancient Rome

2013-01-06T10:00:00.000-06:00

Romulus & Remis, the fabled orphan founders of Rome.
[Laszlo Ilyes, Flickr, CC BY 2.0]

The Beginning

The first Roman Emperor was Caesar Augustus who ruled from 27 BCE to 14 CE, but Rome was founded around 510 BCE. In its founding story, there is the myth of Romulus and Remus, brothers who were casted out of society and then nurtured by a she wolf for a short time. When they were older they decided to found a city, but they argued over its placement and Romulus killed his brother Remus. He then founded a city and named it Rome.

Historic Actions

In 64 CE Neiro burnt down a village on Palatine Hill and then started construction on the Golden Palace. After Neiro’s reign the new Emperor Vespasian was the first to not come

from the Caesar of Claudius line. In order to gain favor among the common people Vespasian tore down the Golden Palace and built the Coliseum from 75-80 CE. Emperor Titus conducted the opening ceremony for the Coliseum.

Titus then had the Arch of Titus completed in 81 CE. At the Arch anyone entering the city had to lay down their weapons. Titus dedicated his arch to the Senate and the People (SPQR). Ceremonially, Romans built arches after conquering new territory.

Another important emperor was Trajan, 98-177 CE. He commissioned the Column of Trajan and the Arch of Trajan. The Column of Trajan was over 125ft tall and was built so that the relief sculpture looked the same size at every level. Both the arch and the column were used as propaganda to tell common folk of some of the achievements he had made over time. Trajan also had a city called Timgad built in north Africa for retired soldiers.

One of the last emperors before the Roman Empire’s switch from Paganism to Christianity was Hadrian, 117-138 CE. He built the Pantheon and revived Greek Art. While commissioning the Pantheon he had it built with lighter and lighter stones as it got taller, making it to have the largest oculus in history.

During the Christian times of the Roman Empire there were two major emperors Diocletion 284-305 CE and Constantine 306-377 CE. Diocletion is known for separating the Roman Empire into tetrarchs and established the chain of command. Constantine changed the capital of the empire to Constantinople and had the Basilica of Constantine built in 313 CE. He also commissioned a 30ft tall statue of himself that now stands in the Roman Forum. When the Arch of Constantine was built in 350 CE Constantine stole parts of other arches in order to complete it.

Fall of Rome

The Roman Empire fell to the Byzantine Empire around 320-325 CE. The Byzantine Empire held the Council of Nicea in 325 CE, which established the proper way to practice Christianity. The empire was not established until around the 6th century and they considered themselves Romans, but they spoke mostly Greek.

For Further Reading

Sayre, H. M. (2012). Chapter 17 The Ancient World: Roman Art. A World of Art. Boston: Prentice Hall, 431-38. ISBN: 987-0-205-88757-6

Norse Mythology

2013-01-05T10:00:00.000-06:00

Within Nordic culture the people used myth to explain certain aspects of their society, how they see the world, and explain natural phenomenon. These myths set up the basic structure and decorum that the Norse people followed in their day to day lives. It has to be noted though, that the myths we have to draw on today were translated and transcribed by a Christian missionary and some of the stories are probably slanted to present Christian symbolism.

There is a myth called The Song of Rig that explains why there is a class system. In this myth, Heimdall, an Aesir God, visits three different households for a period of three days each. With each house he visits he sleeps in the same bed as the husband and wife and impregnates the wife. Each house Heimdall visits possesses more and more wealth. The difference in wealth between the households determined the three classes in society, setting up the peasant, warrior, and lords. This sets the basic infrastructure of Norse society.

Yggdrasil by Christian
[Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0]

Nordic culture had a completely different world view from what is commonly accepted today. Instead of the world being round and revolving around the sun the Norse viewed the world as being separated into three levels that were supported by a tree called Yggdrasil. The lower level of the tree supported the equivalent of a Norse Underworld, the middle region was called Midgard where mankind lived, and the top level was called the realm of Asgard where the gods resided. There were thought to be eight other worlds that centered on the holy tree, Yggdrasil.

The creation myth that the Norse believed in was also different from what is mainstream in religions today. They believed that the galaxy was created when the Aesir and the Vanir gods and goddesses slayed a giant. While the body of the giant was ripped to pieces the different parts were put into place in order to create the stars, sun, earth, Milky Way, etc.

The Norse used myths to explain natural phenomenon as well. In the myth Loki’s Flyting, Loki is punished by the Aesir for killing Balder, a beloved god. After Loki was captured he was bound by his son Naris’ entrails and the goddess Skaoi took a venomous snake and placed it over Loki’s face to drip poison. Loki’s wife Sigyn holds a bowl over his face, but when the bowl is full she has to leave to empty it allowing poison to hit Loki’s face. Loki writhing in pain from the poison is what the Norse believed caused earthquakes.

The Nordic culture is unique in its own rights. The myths are very bloody and are somewhat confusing in a modern day context. The Norse had a different world view from what we have today, but the basic structure of their society is similar. Norse myth is more relatable to Greek myth then Hindu, Christian, or Native American. Greek myth, like Norse is has a pantheon of gods and goddess, is fairly gruesome, and similar creation myths. If Norse myth gets confusing first compare it Greek to try and understand what the underlying message is.

For Further Reading

Crossley-Holland, K. (1981). The Norse Myths Introduced and Retold. USA: The Pantheon Fairy Tale & Folklore Library. ISBN: 0349748468

Click here to order your copy now!

Old Pharsalos

2013-01-04T10:00:00.000-06:00

Geography

Farsalas or Ancient Pharsalos is a city located in Thessaly, Greece near the foot of Mt. Narthacium. The origin of Farsalas people and city construction is not fully known. The city was first mentioned in historical texts after the Persian Wars, but its construction shows evidence of earlier inhabitation. Within the acropolis there are remnants of Cyclopian walls near the northern gateway and subterraneous construction in the middle of the acropolis that are similarly built to Mycenae construction. This evidence supports theories that Farsalus was previously called Phthia and was the capital city of Phthiotis. In ancient times Farsalas was a strong military position because of its position over the plains and rich resources (Smith, 1984).

Battle of Pharsala by Georgios Roilos (1867-1928)
[PD-ART:US]

Black Figure Loutrophoros
Vourva, Attica, 580 BCE; Sophilos
[Sharon Mollerus, Flickr, CC BY 2.0]

Culture

Farsalas partook in mainstream ancient Greek culture. It participated in the trade of ceramics, including those made by the famous artists Sophilos. The city worshipped the Greek pantheon and participated in many of the rituals and customs of the time. A majority of the culture was agriculturally based and still is in present times, with many households owning sheep, cattle, and goats. Since Farsalas was a military stronghold it commonly had a military presence (Kimler, 2001).

Role in History

The city of Pharsalus is presumed to be one of the last cities to fall to Caesar during the Roman expansion through Greek territory, but many of the topographical characteristics described in his account of the battle do not resemble the features that were there. Leading the actual battlefield to be anywhere between Larissa and Metropolis. Within this area there are dozen of archaeological sites that could possibly be the actual battlefield. Researchers are still debating exactly where the battle took place and where the troops were positioned (Lucas, 1921).

What Remains

To the east of Pharsalos there are walls of a fortified enclosure and close by there are walls of houses. Many tombs were dated back to the Bronze Age through pottery found within them along with Bronze Age stratum that seems to underlie the site. There are also Mycenaean tombs with the foundations of a little temple and Byzantine remains. This leaves a wide range of dating for the development and construction of Pharsalos (Payne, 1932).

For Further Reading

Kilmer, M. F. and R. Develin. (2001). Sophilos' Vase Inscriptions and Cultural Literacy in Archaic Athens. Phoenix, 55(1/2), 9-43. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1089022

Lucas, F. L. (1919/1920 - 1920/1921). The Battlefield of Pharsalos. The Annual of the British School at Athens, 24, 34-53. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30102514

Payne, H. G. G. (1932). Archaeology in Greece, 1931-2. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 52(2), 236-255. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/625990

Smith, W. (1854). Greek and Roman Geography. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. Retrieved from: http://www.gtp.gr/LocInfo.asp?IncludeWide=0&InfoId=49&Code=EGRTLR5&PrimeCode=EGRTLR5&Level=5&PrimeLevel=5&LocId=12900&Entity=1016

Snake River & The Rise of Ancient Idaho

2013-01-03T14:43:00.001-06:00

Inhabitants of Ancient Idaho

In the southern most area of the Plateau resided the people called the Nez Perce. The Nez Perce also resided in central Idaho, eastern Oregon, and Washington. The Northern Shoshoni lived in the territory of the Payette headwaters and the Long Valley. South of the Nez Perce and west of the Northern Shoshoni resided the Western Shoshoni. These people although considered apart of the Plateau culture varied widely in cultural norms, rituals, and practices. The reasoning for the widely varying cultures came to light when it was discovered that the mainstream Plateau culture that we know of now did not develop until around 1300 BCE (Before Common Era).

Before the 1300’s the Plateau culture consisted of forest-hunting people whom began to change as trade between the Great Basin Culture and other cultures expanded. Common characteristics of the Plateau culture includes; winter villages possessing semi subterranean earth lodges, most villages centered around the main rivers, netting, fishing being a main source of found gathering, and the people shifting away from the main valleys during the summer.

Shoshoni (also spelled Shoshone) skin tepees, ca. 1880.
[Wikimedia Commons, PD: US]

The Role of the Snake River

Archaeological evidence found in 1958 suggested that the Snake River, located in southwestern Idaho was used as a rough outline of the boundary between the Great Basin and prehistoric Plateau culture areas. This was supported by the number of Plateau lie villages along the Snake River and the river also served as a rough boundary of the diffusion of petrogylphs and pictographs of the different cultures. There were exceptions to this theory, but it allowed a general boundary area. According to scientists though, the variance between the pictographs and petrogylphs may be of little significance. Still the hypothesis that the Snake River served as an approximate boundary between the Plateau and the Great Basin cultures is widely accepted.

Snake River - Shoshone Falls, Idaho
[ID-B-0092, Cliff Day/WaterArchives, CC BY-SA 2.0]

For Further Reading

Swanson (Jr.), E. H. (1965). Archaeological Explorations in Southwestern Idaho. American Antiquity, 31 (1), 24-37. URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2694019

Land of the Cloud People

2012-12-10T17:18:00.003-06:00

Chachapoyas, in northern Peru, is the land of the “Cloud People.” This is the cloud forest of eternal mist, high in the Andes, overlooking the Amazon Basin, hidden in a perpetual mist with orchids and bromeliads everywhere. Though the Peruvian government thinks this area has the potential to become the “Machu Picchu of the north,” it has not yet reached that level of popularity, mainly because there are no commercial flights to the main city, also called Chachapoyas.

The most famous ruin is Kuelap. This fortress is the largest stone structure of South America. It contains more than 450 stone houses, mostly circular. It is located on a mountain higher than Machu Picchu, at 9500 feet, and is older than the Inca Empire. It was started at around 800 A.D. and was occupied until about 1500 A.D. It’s outer wall is about 700-800 yards long and ranges from 35 to over 50 feet high.

Kuelap, fortress of Peru
[José Porras, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5]

There are many other unexcavated ruins on mountaintops in the area and new sites are always being found. Years ago, when I was hiking in the area with Dr. Peter Lerch, an officer from the Institute of Culture, he pointed to several mountaintops where you could faintly make out ruins. He knew they were there, but just hadn’t had time to investigate them because the only way to get to them was by foot or by horse. Once, when I was sending a group from Arizona to the area, my local operator told me that a new “lost city” had recently been discovered and wanted to know if my group would like to go there and be the first “gringos” to see the site. Naturally they said they would like to and it was one of the highlights of their trip.

Ruins at Kuelap
[Hanumann, Flickr, CC BY 2.0]

Snake Petroglyphs at Kuelap
[Ramtyns, Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0]

Ruins of Chachapoya Dwellings
[Dave Lonsdale, Flickr, CC BY 2.0]

There are several cliff tomb sites such as La Petaca. Revash and Diablo Huasi and other citadels, such as Tajopampa and La Joya. The Chachapoyans practiced mummification. Several were found in La Petaca and many were found in the ruins at Laguna de Los Condores, which was discovered in 1996. A museum was built in Leymebamba to house the remains of the mummies and other artifacts that were found in the area.

Revash Mausoleum Tombs
[Pirindao, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]

In the past few years, some of the highest waterfalls in the world, such as the Gocta waterfall have been found.

La Gocta Waterfall
[Martin St-Amant, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0]

So, for those who like to visit exciting archeological places that are off the beaten path and away from the crowds, this is the place.

This guest contribution is by Jim McDaniel, Travel Innovations - Australian & Amazonian Adventures

Hittites: Empire of Mesopotamia

2012-12-02T07:26:00.002-06:00

During the time of early empires in the Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia, several civilizations rose and fell during intense warfare and failed development. These early territories contributed a vast amount of cultural evolution into their societies as they tried to prosper including, language, myth and, warfare. The Hittite Empire faced many hardships as it continued to grow within Mesopotamia, but continued to prosper and develop until its collapse.

The Hittite Monument of Sultanhani:
This stele was erected in the name of
god Tarhui for a better year of crops.
[Brewbooks CC BY-SA 2.0]

In the North West area of Mesopotamia a new culture and empire grew into the Hittite Kingdom. The stronghold and capital city of the Hittite empire was called Hattusas and laid in central Turkey. With the rise of the Hittite Empire also came the first record of the Indo-European language being spoken and with a bit of luck it became one of the strongest empires of its time. The Hittite language was written in cuneiform and during the end of the empires time frame the use of hieroglyphics became prevalent.

Since the Hittite Empire was so close in time frame and proximity to the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires many deities and myths are similar or even just different interpretations or accounts of the same event. The Hittites worshipped the Goddess Ishtar who held domain over war, fertility, love, and the dead. In the myth The Descent of Ishtar to the Underworld, the Hittites and surrounding cultures used the myth to reason the changing of the seasons through out the years.

The myth accounts that Ishtar went down to the underworld demanding entrance and threatening to raise the dead to kill the living. After her threats the gatekeeper goes to Ereshikigal to ask if Ishtar could enter. After being allowed entrance Ishtar is trapped in the underworld and winter comes over Mesopotamia. In a plea to let Ishtar leave the underworld Ea created a man named Good-looks and offered him to Ereshikigal. Out of outrage to Ea trick Ereshikigal curses Good-looks and reluctantly makes Ishtar leave the underworld restoring spring to the nations of Mesopotamia.

During a time when the Babylonian Empire was frail the King of Hittite was able to attack was able to attack the city of Babylon in the seventeenth century BC. Though the Hittites were unable to make a significant amount of headway in their campaign to conquer other areas of Mesopotamia they did contribute to the growth of Mesopotamia’s culture and diversity. Around 1200 BC the Hittite empire lost most of its power and by 1000 BCE it dissipated completely.

For Further Reading

A World of Art. By Henry M. Sayre. ISBN: 978-0-205-88757-6

Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia: An Illustrated Dictionary.
By Jeremy Black and Anthony Green. Illustrations by Tessa Rickards.

Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, The Flood, Gilagamesh, and Others. A New translation by Stephanie Dalley ISBN: 978-0-19-953836-2

Contribution by: Margaret Smith, University of New Mexico, Anthropology & Japanese undergraduate

Sampling Some Northern Italian Culture & History

2012-11-11T21:30:00.002-06:00

Waterfront in Italy
[La Citta Vita, CC BY-SA 2.0]

Italy has been home to technological advances and innovative ideas for hundreds of years. From Roman architecture to Italian fashion, Italy continues to grow and prosper despite the natural disasters and intense warfare attempting to set back its cultural progression. Through religious beliefs, cultural norms, archaeology, and architecture northern Italy has continue to prosper into the culturally diverse conundrum it is today.

The Roman Empire

The Roman mythology that most of us know of today that developed throughout Italy and eventually the Roman Empire had roots based in not only in the Greek mythology that was adapted through colonies in southern Italy, but had bases in Etruscan and other Latin tribes as well. The Roman Empire developed an intricate belief system as it became a religious sponge while it continued to conquer neighboring lands. As regional deities became accepted into mainstream Roman traditions (like the Phoenician Goddess Cybele and the Persian God Mithra) these new gods and goddesses received their own temples and priests.

Venus de Milo
[Chadica, CC BY-2.0]

Tiberius Claudius Niro, Emperor
[Polybert49, CC BY-ND 2.0]

The Roman Empire and the few parts of it that will be later known as Italy adopted another religious tradition during the Imperial system of including emperors as living gods. At first, this system was widely rejected by the people of the Roman Empire, but it eventually inte-grated itself within the empires religious prac-tices which would help religious and other fu-ture leaders when making controversial policies later on.

As Christianity began to develop a foothold in Roman culture, there was a huge clash be-tween the Roman Pantheon believers and the neophyte Christians. As the religious conflict shifted cultural norms of society completely and established a new way of life. There are still reminisces of the Roman Pantheon belief system present in Italian society, but the myths are not nearly as prevalent or seriously considered.

Households and Economic Growth

Culture in Northern Italy is not as agriculturally based as southern Italy. The continued development of technology was adapted into Northern Italy for the growth industrialization. Economy, in turn, altered many aspects of its cultural norm by shifting the focus of importance among idealizations within its citizens.

Within families it became important for children to become hard workers and not focus so much on family. With an emphasis on individual production becoming more prevalent in society not only did families become less centralized, but religious practices became less time consuming. Family still plays a large role in Italian culture, but when comparing northern and southern Italian culture there are obvious differences in the amount of time devotion that are placed on developing a strong family ties and becoming an individual producer within society. Religious rituals such as attending church or mass also become less significant. Many still practice the Catholic traditions or a different Christianity based faith, but no longer place importance on attendance and instead they focus on individually strengthening their faith.

Archaeology and the Ice Man

Replica of Otzi at Naturhistoriches Museum Wein
[Sandstein, CC BY-SA 3.0]

Northern Italy is rich in archaeological dig sites from the intriguing Iceman to the city Luna - these sites provide evidence into the daily lives of Italian ancestors and the down fall of the Roman Empire. Since Italy has been home to different civilizations and nomadic people for so long it has many archaeological sites to study allowing the world to learn about its past.

The Iceman named Otzi was found in the Alps between Northern Italy and Austria. His stable isotopic signature suggests that he way born near a town that is now called Brixen. Otzi died around 5200 years ago, but his remains are perfectly preserved by the glacier he got trapped in, allowing new and interesting information to be revealed about the lifestyle of people during 3350-3300 BCE. His body shows evidence that he was most likely a Neolithic herder or pastoralist. Otzis’ body even displays tattoos including a cross on the inside of his left knee, parallel straight lines arranged in two rows on his back above his kidneys that are each about six inches long, and several parallel lines on his ankles. The end of his life was not peaceful at all, with evidence showing that his last two to three days were spent fighting for his life before he retreated to the mountains and died (Hirst, 2012).

Luna was a city under the Roman Empire's control during the 5th and 6th century. As such it provides strong evidence of Germanic attacks on the Roman Empire during its collapse and shows other factors as to its downfall. It is evident in Luna that the nearby quarry was abandoned, the aqueduct system was breaking down, and communal roads and buildings were no longer in use (Hirst, 2012).

Cave di Prun, Italy
[Hugo franchini, CC BY-SA 3.0]

Christ on the Cross
[Rennett Stowe, CC BY 2.0]

Christianity and Change

As Christianity continued to rise through out Italy and the Roman Empire new architectural styles were developed in order to build churches and later on other important structures. There were Byzantine style churches that were set up using the Greek cross and had a very linear set up. They had a very open set up to allow more people to get in and used typically used large amounts of small to medium sized windows in order to let in an optimum amount of light. Inside the churches were decorated with mosaics and paintings that depicted bible stories such as the Resurrection of Christ and The Garden of Eden. Having art work inside the churches was essential because many people who were illiterate came to worship and the mosaics and paintings made the stories relate more to the masses.

Over time the Gothic style of building became more prevalent in building. Gothic style churches were built to be very tall and used large windows in order to flood the churches with light as if it were the light of heaven. As the Gothic style grew more complex stain glass windows were incorporated into the method. Instead of using large amounts of stone to build the churches and later on other important buildings, the Gothic style used thin columns along with patterns of ribs, pointed arches, and windows. As time went on the Gothic style continued to try and build taller and taller building. In Italy the Gothic style was very unique. The Florence Cathedrals’ exterior is made to look like the Romanesque octagonal baptistery. While the inside uses pointed arches in order to create measured space in its enormous dome like size.

Church of San Rufino [left] and Basilica of Saint Clare [right]
[Randy OHC, CC BY 2.0]

For Further Reading

Hirst, K. Kris. (2012). "The Iceman." About.com Archaeology. About.com Guide, 2012. Accessed November 10, 2012 http://archaeology.about.com/od/iterms/qt/iceman.htm

— (2012). "Luna (Italy)." About.com Archaeology. About.com Guide, 2012. Accessed November 10, 2012 from http://archaeology.about.com/od/lterms/g/luna.htm

Sayre, Henry M. "Chapter 17 The Ancient World: Roman Art." A World of Art. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2012. pp. 431-438. Print. ISBN 987-0-205-88757-6

Schifini D'Andrea, Silvana. "Italian Quality of Life." Social Indicators Research, Vol. 44, No. 1, Studies on the Quality of Life in Italy (May, 1998), pp. 5-39 [Published by: Springer Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27507548]

Contribution by: Margaret Smith, University of New Mexico, Anthropology & Japanese undergraduate

Symbols & Their Mysteries

2012-10-15T01:13:00.000-05:00

Petroglyph comes from the Greek words “petro” meaning stone and "glyphein" meaning to carve. They are created by removing rock surface either by picking or carving. Petroglyphs can be found all over the world and some can de as old as 40,000 such as in Australia. They were made until the 20th Century by by the Southwestern cultures. These glyphs depict many things: from warriors to animals and the Death god.

Group of Warriors, Rinconda Canyon

Home to over 24,000 petroglyphs, this 17-mile wide monument (established in June 1990) is located in western side of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The monument is managed by the National Park Service and cooperation with the City of Albuquerque. The western boundary features a chain of dormant volcanoes; Butte volcano in the northwest corner and to its south the Bond, Vulcan, Black and JA volcanoes.

Jose-Pierre Estrada on top of JA Volcano, Petroglyph National Monument

Vulcan Volcano, Petroglyph National Monument

Petroglyph National Monument also protects a variety of archeological sites and an estimated 24,000 petroglyphs carved by Ancestral Pueblo peoples and early Spanish settlers. Most of the glyphs are recognizable as animals and people, but the more complex ones are obscure and their meaning is only understood by the artist that carved them centuries ago.

Spirals and Hands, Rinconada Canyon

Two thousand or more years ago, hunter-gatherers began etching their circles, "squiggly" lines, and other curvilinear abstract symbols. They are among the oldest petroglyphs in the area and are dated as far back to the Archaic period. As time goes by, the rock art begins to be more geometric and more iconic to depict beings such as shamans and have more symbolic meaning.

More recent petroglyphs reflect the Rio Grande Style starting around 1300 CE, when Puebloan ancestors began emigrating from the Four Corners Region. The style includes human figures such as flute players and dancers, to masked figures and animals such as serpents, birds, big horn sheep, and mountain lions. Proof of their relations is some of the petroglyphs designs match those appearing on pottery such as those associated with Pueblo 1 culture.

Spanish colonists had an impact on the native soceities when they arrived in the late 17th century. spanish authorities repressed Pueblo religious life and rituals. Occasionaly Spanish markings, the Christian cross, were etched along the natives glyphs as they believed to have evil effects or relation to pagan symbols.

Cross Petroglyph, Boca Negra Trail

Human Figure & Spiral Sun, Boca Negra Trail

Snake & Family of Armadillos or Big Horn Sheep (?), Rinconada Canyon

Mountain Lion, Rinconada Canyon

Facing Birds, Drum (?) & Star, Boca Negra Trail

Spiral, possibly a Maze, Rinconada Canyon

God of Death carved on rock edge, Rinconada Canyon

Double Spiral & Animals, Rinconada Canyon

The crew attempting to decipher petroglyphs...

Mosaic of Petroglyphs, Rinconada Canyon

Turtle or Person (?), Rinconada Canyon

Shield, Rinconada Canyon

Shield with Stars or Planetarium, Boca Negra Trail

Mountain Lion, Boca Negra Trail

Unknown Symbol, Boca Negra Trail

This October we plan on visiting one final petroglyph trail and we will add more photos and a video... Stay tuned!

For Further Viewing

Please visit our Google Plus album to view all of our photos of Petroglyph National Monument taken during September 2012 :: View album>>

Petroglyph National Monument photos by Melanie E Magdalena are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available. Contact editor@bermudaquest.com for commercial permission.

Exploring Southern Utah's National Parks

2012-09-30T20:09:00.000-05:00

There’s a lot hidden in the wild spaces of the world, and few are wilder than the deserts and canyons of Southern Utah. Within a few hundred miles, you can visit a handful of National Parks. There are few places in the world where you can see such a variety of stunning landscapes in one region. Such is the diversity of the American Southwest. You could spend a lifetime exploring these parks, but if you only have a short time, be sure to hit these highlights.

Arches

Over 2,000 naturally formed stone arches dot the landscape throughout the sparse landscape of this park near Moab, Utah. Most of this region of the Southwest was covered by Lake Bonneville millions of years ago, and the rushing waters left behind stunning rock formations and shapes that are reminiscent of underwater landscapes.

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah | PD-US

Delicate Arch is probably the most recognizable of the arches, but it’s actually quite solitary. You’ll see more arches on shorter hikes in Devil’s Garden, with the very impressive Landscape Arch stretching an insane span. Drive the scenic loops to get to the trailheads and get great photo ops in this alien landscape.

Canyonlands

Canyonlands National Park is characterized by the gorgeous canyons, buttes and other rock formations that surround the Colorado River. The most shocking site there has to be The Needles at the Southeast corner of the park, filled with multicolored rock spires that look like nothing you’ve ever seen. In the park, you’ll also find sites like The Maze and the Island in the Sky, both of which offer special formations and seemingly endless trails to hike.

Grand Staircase and Escalante

Many of Southern Utah’s paleontological sites are clustered in Escalante National Monument and Grand Staircase. A diverse sample of Southern Utah landscapes all in one park that spans nearly 2 million acres. If you want to see the various ecosystems, wildlife and flora that have made their niche in the deserts, canyons and riverbeds of this region, make some time to wind your way through the trails of this area.

Bryce Canyon

You’ve never seen vistas like these. The world opens up when you stop at any of the scenic overlooks that fill the park. The horizon just seems to fall away as the massive sky falls to meet the huge open spaces that are often hidden by rock faces and canyon walls. You can actually see the curvature of the earth in some places around Bryce. This is the perfect part to drive through, and you’ll still find plenty of places to hike.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah | Gernot Keller, Wikimedia Commons

Zion

Angel’s Landing is one of the hardest hikes you’ll ever go on, and it’s not for the faint of heart, but it also provides one of the most amazing views in the park, not to mention the Western United States. More advanced hikers may want to take a guided tour through The Narrows, a trek through the ever closer canyon walls and sheer cliff faces. It’s possibly one of the most visually appealing and incredible hikes in the entire National Park system.

About the author: Rachel Phelps loves getting up early for a pre-dawn hike to hear the sound of the wilderness waking up. If you’ve ever seen the sun rise over the desert, you’ll know how she feels. You can find her writing about her travel experiences and favorite camping spots at PleasureTripping.com.

Discovering the Past in Modern Vancouver

2012-09-24T17:53:00.001-05:00

If you find yourself in Vancouver with some free time to kill, a sense of adventure to satisfy, and an interest and appreciation of history to fulfill, then you’re in luck, as Vancouver offers numerous historical sites and landmarks that will without a doubt quench your thirst for history and adventure!

Gastown Steam Clock
[Leonard G./Wikipedia]

Proud Canadian Tradition

To start the sightseeing off, you can pass by Gastown, in downtown Vancouver. Going through Gastown will give you a very good idea of the rich and diverse roots of the rest of the city. Gastown takes its name from Jack “Gassy” Deighton, a sailor turned bar owner who established the city’s first saloon. The town quickly developed and flourished, as numerous businesses and establishments opened, making Gastown a melting pot of diversity, trade, and commerce. By 1886, Gastown had officially become part of Vancouver. Unfortunately, Gastown was not spared from the Great Vancouver Fire, which destroyed most of its buildings and history. However, in a testament to the spirit of Gastown’s citizens, the town was rebuilt and — driven by an interest to preserve the historical and architectural merit of the town — was recognized as one of Canada’s National Historic Sites. Today, Gastown is a popular tourist site that holds numerous antique and culturally significant landmarks, such as the Gastown Steam Clock, which is a proud, locally maintained site that also has become a hub of modern technologies and a lively nightlife.

The Great Outdoors

National Geographic Tree
[Public Domain]

Looking for a more outdoorsy, nature-intensive romp in Van-couver? Well, Stanley Park might just be the perfect place for you. Named after the former Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley of Preston, and opened in 1888, Stanley Park can provide you with a physically as well as culturally stimulating visit. Stanley Park contains an impressive collection of gigantic, colossal trees such as the National Geographic Tree, an enormous western red cedar that was featured on the cover of National Geographic, and the Hollow Tree, popular because of its hollowed out insides that made it a great tourist stop. There are also various lakes, ponds, and lagoons that offer visitors great scenic views. Scattered throughout Stanley Park are monuments, statues, and landmarks that honour many Canadian heroes, former leaders, poets, and athletes. Totem poles are also a common site in Stanley Park, underscoring its past as home to the many indigenous tribes of Vancouver.

A Taste of Diversity

The great city of Vancouver is also home to a large and thriving Chinatown (in fact, one of the biggest and oldest Chinatowns that can be found in the whole of North America). In close proximity to Gastown, Vancouver’s Chinatown presents you with a unique opportunity to have an authentic and interesting Chinese experience right in the middle of Canada. With a community spanning generations of Chinese-Canadian immigrants, you can be sure that the shops, restaurants, markets, and other establishments there are 100 per cent authentic and traditional. Vancouver’s Chinatown is truly one of the ideal examples of marriage between a foreign culture and the Canadian lifestyle.

Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Garden
Chinatown, Vancouver
[Public Domain]

Explore Vancouver!

Vancouver holds the promise of many more gratifying and stimulating encounters, and these are just a sample of the many historical and cultural sites in Vancouver that you can enjoy. For a more rewarding experience, just go ahead and discover for yourself what the rest of Vancouver has to offer!

About the Author

Jay Banks of Vancouver Homes has been a Realtor from Vancouver BC for more than 16 years.

Ashes Ashes The Twins Fall Down

2012-09-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Where were you on 9/11?”

That question has become part of the fabric of our lives as Americans and was one of the inspirations for writing “Ashes Ashes The Twins Fall Down.”

The initial inspiration for the book was of course the attacks on 9/11. But what initially caused me to sit down and start writing this story was my own need to deal with my grief of 9/11. In the year following 9/11 I actually started suffering from panic attacks that I finally began to figure out were due to my fears and not having dealt with my feeling of 9/11. So, when I sat down in 2002, my expectation was simply to put a few words down on paper to work through my own grieving process and hopefully alleviate my panic attacks. It may sound strange, but I find writing down my feelings and thoughts when I’m sad, angry or whatever the emotion helps me work through them. I don’t know if it helps me organize my feelings or simply look at how unrealistic they may be or what. I truly never set out to write a book. But, I soon found out that the more I wrote, the more I had to write. Once I started writing, it was as though the emotional floodgates opened, and all the memories came back – memories that beckoned to be put on paper.

As I sat there recounting my memories of that bright sunny September day, I soon realized that while everyone talked about what happened in New York, at the Pentagon, and in the field in Pennsylvania, very little had been said about how that day affected those of us outside of those areas. While we may not have been at Ground Zero or even within view of New York City, the entire country sat watching all of the news footage that day. You could not have watched the pictures of people jumping to their deaths from burning buildings, the collapsing of the Twin Towers, the unrecognizable soot covered first responders doing all they could to locate survivors without being affected. An entire country, and world, was affected on that day. Lives were changed, security lost, and our story, my story, should and needed to be shared alongside of the stories of those lost in the attacks of 9/11 and their loved ones left behind.

My hope is that the reader will feel what I felt as I wrote this book. The feelings provoked were very emotional. Ashes, Ashes The Twins Fall Down will make you cry, it will make you laugh, and it will make you remember. In this book I have not only shared my personal experiences surrounding that day but I have also shared transcripts received from the hijacked planes. The readers of this book will come away both enlightened and comforted.

Of course we will never forget the New York City firefighters, police, and other first responders that dropped what they were doing, kissed their wives and children goodbye, and headed for what would eventually be known as Ground Zero. They did this without question and without thought for their safety, not knowing that many of them would never see their families again. These men and women had taken a pledge to protect their city and their fellow man, and for them this was more than just a job; it was who they were. They gave of themselves, and in some cases gave their lives, selflessly and without question, the true heroes of that bright sunny September 11, 2001, day.

About the Author

Pauline L. Hawkins is author of Ashes Ashes The Twins Fall Down. Want to read her book? You can order and read a hard copy or add it to your Kindle collection today. Click here to order!

Flaming Zozobra

2012-09-10T19:06:00.000-05:00

The most anticipated event in the southwest is the annual Fiestas de Santa Fe, held the first weekend in September. For the past 300 years Santa Fe hosts a 3 day festival that began in 1712 to celebrate an expedition by Don Diego de Vargas, who re-conquered the territory of New Mexico.

Order obliging the citizens of Santa Fe to celebrate henceforth the 14th day of Sept. of each year as the anniversary of the re-conquest of the said Villa by Diego de Vargas.” Spanish Archives of New Mexico; Archive 179, Sept. 16, 1712.

The centerpiece of the celebration is the burning of 1600 pound, 50-foot giant monumental effigy, the Zozobra, created in 1924 by local Santa Fe artist William Howard Shuster. Inspired by the effigy, Judas, from Holy Week in Mexico, Shuster set out to create the Zozobra now holding a Guiness World Record. Judas was filled with firecrackers and paraded by donkey around town and ultimately set on fire. Zozobra, the gloomy one, is Shuster’s growling version, “[the] mischievous and hideous boogey man.”

Each year the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe stages the ceremonial burning of Zozobra. The ceremony opens with a speech persecuting Zozobra:

The time has come to consider the fate of Old Man Gloom.

Zozobra for being a mischievous and hideous 50-foot boogey man… Guilty!

For scaring our innocent children with your miserable growling… Guilty!

Zozobra big dog howling at the moon filling our dreams… Guilty!

Zozobra for upsetting our peaceful way of life with your dark gloominess… Guilty!

Zozobra for bringing sadness anxiety and gloom into our lives… You are guilty!

The Zozobra, Old Man Gloom, will be dispatched by the ceremony of fire.

All that bear witness will be free of sadness and suffering.

Let the darkness bring us light!

Immediately after the fiery sentence, elaborate tribal-styled dances and fire wielding performances begin. The effigy begins to growl as fireworks and nearby flames light up the darkness. And then... he burns.

The burning of Zozobra is a tradition that everyone should experience at one point in their lives. Whether you believe that it will cleanse and free you from your troubles or you just want to feel the excitement… you'll be sure to find yourself chanting “BURN HIM!!”

Hikers Paradise: Table Mountain in Cape Town

2012-09-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Mountain Walk [South Africa Tourism, used with permission]

A true hiking Mecca, Cape Town offers a variety of hikes that cater to a range of skill and fitness levels and ages. The one thing that all these hikes have in common is that they are all relatively accessible, some even begin from the city centre, and they all have incredible, breathtaking views. A number of accommodation options are available in the picturesque areas near to the mountain. Victoria and Alfred Waterfront offers modern luxury hotels while Camps Bay caters towards classy, seaside living and Constantia hotels offer a colonial, old-world feel. Table Mountain is where it all begins and ends, so strap on your hiking shoes and head on down to one if the new seven wonders of nature.

Lion’s head, which is located just next to the famous mountain, offers an easy hike or run that is best enjoyed with a sunset picnic when you get to the top. Paragliding is also available off Lion’s head with gorgeous views of the charming Camps Bay area.

Then on the actual Table Mountain itself there are too many trails to count. Hikers have the chance to take in views of the Atlantic and the Constantia vineyards while strolling through fynbos, a type of flora that is unique to Cape Town.

Platteklip Gorge takes roughly 2 hours to complete and is an exciting hike complete with stairs cut into rocks and steep ravines that are not for the faint hearted. Skeleton Gorge ascends from the slopes near Kirstenbosch Gardens and is best done with a guide as there are many ladders and waterfalls that need navigating. The route returns to the exquisite gardens where a picnic or light lunch can be enjoyed. To make the most of this beautiful area, consider staying at a hotel nestled on the slopes of the Mountain such as the Cellars Hohenort.

Cellars Hohenort & Spa
[South Africa Tourism, used with permission]

Devil’s Peak is a trail that starts of relatively easily with a series of well-constructed zigzags that will take you to the summit from where one gets panoramic views of Cape Town. If you decide to descend on the other side of the peak, you will encounter two gorges, the Dark Gorge has claimed several lives and is not recommended for non-professional hikers while Newlands Ravine provides a challenging trail in the shade of majestic trees.

On top of the actual mountain there are several tracks, the most easy of which start from the Constantia Neck area. These tracks cater towards a wide range of skill levels and can be completed in a couple of hours, a full day or even over a three day period. Towering 1088 meters over the city of Cape Town, Table Mountain provides the perfect playground for adrenaline junkies and nature lovers. Boasting hundreds of plant species, magnificent bird sightings, and the chance to stumble upon a small mammal such as a dassie or mongoose or even a mountain buck or goat and a myriad of waterfalls and rivers this has to be one of the prettiest mountains to explore.

This article was written by South African Tourism. For queries about travel arrangements in South Africa, you are welcome to contact us:

Water Wars In History

2012-08-30T15:00:00.000-05:00

Outside of air to breathe, what is the one commodity that all human beings need to survive? What is the one thing necessary for growing the crops that feed us? What is essential for both food and beverage? The answer, of course, is water. And because it is so vital to our health and wellbeing, it makes sense that water has been the impetus for war on many occasions throughout history. Here are several noteworthy conflicts that arose due to concerns over water.

America’s Dust Bowl of the Great Depression

In the 1930s, the United States experienced not only a drastic drop in the economy, but a weather phenomenon that caused a massive drought across the country’s heartland. As dust storms instead of rain storms swept across the plains where the majority of grains were grown, it caused both soil erosion for the land and extreme poverty for the farmers who lost their crops. In desperation, many of these Okies (farmers from Oklahoma and the Midwest) pulled up stakes and moved to California, where they were not warmly received. In fact, they were called “inferior” and “Communists” while being subject to beatings and the burning of their shanties. The Los Angeles police department was ordered to stop more Okies from coming into the state in 1936 in order to prevent further crimes against the farmers who were merely seeking water.

Japan and China, 1938

Not long thereafter, the Japanese invaded the neighbouring country of China. Resourceful Chinese used water to fend off their attackers by destroying dikes. The compromised dikes flooded the lands, preventing Japanese troops from advancing. Although this was an effective defence tactic, it also ended up killing tens of thousands of Chinese civilians who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Japanese, not to be outdone, used water in war, as well. They poisoned Chinese wells with typhoid and other types of dangerous bacterium as retaliation.

The Ganges and Indus Rivers, 1975

Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have long been in disputes over the waters of the Ganges and Indus Rivers along the borders of those countries. In the mid-1970s, Bangladesh, which had a growing population but few resources, was particularly vulnerable to geographic catastrophes such as soil erosion and flooding. India and Pakistan built a barrier in order to divert the flow of the rivers away from Bangladesh. This caused salt water to take the place of the fresh water and devastate a good deal of the small country’s natural resources while leaving its people to suffer. It is estimated that some 35 million residents of Bangladesh were adversely affected by the lack of fresh water, causing many of them to migrate to India. That in itself resulted in numerous deaths due to conflicts based on differences of religion, culture, ethnicity, and more. Even today, there are many conflicts brewing over the control of, or lack of, water throughout the world. Water is a precious commodity and one that many people will do anything to obtain. There is no doubt we will continue to experience water wars in the future.

About the Author

Damien Higgins writes for the UK's No.1 bottled water cooler supplier, Eden Springs. Try an Eden Springs water dispenser in your home or office for fresh, cool water all day long.

My Curiosity is on Mars!

2012-08-07T00:50:00.001-05:00

These images [left] may look familiar - they are the FIRST photos received from Mars Rover Curiosity after landing on Mars at 10:31 pm PDT. The photo is a screenshot of the live feed, but you can download the originals.

Since then, NASA has been receiving images and we're going to share our favorites with you.

"Curiosity's Surroundings"

NASA/JPL-Caltech

"Curiosity's Early Views of Mars"

NASA/JPL-Caltech

"Behold Mount Sharp"

NASA/JPL-Caltech

"Looking Back at Crater Rim"

NASA/JPL-Caltech

"Curiosity's Heat Shield in View"

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

"Curiosity Spotted on Parachute by Orbiter"

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona

"Curiosity Sails to Mars as Heat Shield Falls Away"

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona

What are your favorite photos? Tell us in the comments below, or share them with us on Google Plus, Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.