Happy Halloween: Wacky Freaks At The Historical Ripley's In St. Augustine

 (actual shrunken head at Ripley's) Click on the head for more freaks! lol

On May 21st, I posted this bizarre travelogue on my website Travelsphere and it received an amazing response. Due to my schedule, I haven't been able to update the site, however I did want to share my trip to Ripley's in St. Augustine and the bizarre items I captured on film.

Robert Ripley was an eccentric man and an avid traveler. He took the world by storm visiting far off lands and unblemished territories and cultures. Places like India and the Orient were unconventional areas for the American traveler during the 19th century, however Ripley's obsession drove him to these areas to study the local customs and speak with people in the area.

Professor Ehud Netzer: Died Thursday After Fall At Archaeological Site

In, 2007, Professor Ehud Netzer discovered the famed site of King Herod. On Monday, Netzer fell six meters after a wooden bean collapsed. He was admitted immediately to Hadassah University Hospital, suffering a fractured skull and neck vertebrae

Professor Netzer, considered one of the most senior researchers on
Herod, has been excavating at the Herodium site south of Jerusalem
since 1972 in efforts to identify the burial site of the King of the
Jews. Netzer continued his active participation in the excavations
following the discovery, despite reaching the age of 76.

Netzer died Thursday after succumbing to wounds at the Tomb of King Herod. Ancient Digger would like to extend our sincere condolences to his family. It's a great lose to the community and to the field of archaeology.

In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "Netzer's tragic death is a loss for his family, for research into the heritage of Israel and for archaeology."

Source and Quotes: Haaretz
Picture: Wikipedia

Archaeology News: Thursday October 28, 2010

Paleontologists have revealed the earliest known African anthropoids found to date - three previously unknown kinds of the primates from Dur At-Talah in central Libya that apparently date back 38 million to 39 million years ago. The diversity and timing of the new anthropoids raises two scenarios. Anthropoids might simply have emerged in Africa much earlier than thought, and gone undiscovered by modern paleontologists. Or they could have crossed over from Asia, where evidence suggests that anthropoids lived 55 million years ago, flourishing and diversifying in the wide-open ecological niches of an anthropoid-free Africa.

Niah Caves Should Be A World Heritage Site. The Niah Caves, located some 120 kilometres from Miri city, should be another world heritage site in Sarawak for its uniqueness, Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said here.

Italy: DNA tests may reveal true fate of Sicilian 'Robin Hood'. - The tomb of one of Italy's most legendary bandits was due to be opened on Thursday in Sicily to gather forensic evidence that will either fuel or put to rest suspicion that the body inside doesn't match the name on the sarcophagus: Salvatore Giuliano.

Archaeologists solve mystery of Silbury Hill (maybe) It is one of England's most mysterious monuments. Just a short walk from the massive stone circle complex of Avebury, Silbury Hill is a giant, flat-topped mound rising 120 feet above the surrounding countryside. Researchers have proposed dozens of theories over the years to explain its purpose, suggesting everything from a giant burial mound to a platform for religious music. 

Archaeologists find pre-historic migrants "This is of great regional significance, and it will generate national interest", said Edward Biddulph, senior project manager with Oxford Archaeology which conducted the dig.

Cornell Archaeologist Makes Neolithic Era Discovery. A project led by a Cornell professor is helping to re-write the early prehistory of Cyprus, the island nation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. By taking a new approach to examining human civilization, Prof. Sturt Manning, classics, and his team of undergraduate and graduate students from Cornell, the University of Toronto and the University of Cyprus, have uncovered new evidence that agricultural settlements had been formed up to half a millennium earlier than previously believed. 

Ayodhya verdict based on ASI report: Archaeologist. The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court relied heavily on  the ASI report  in its verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, says Dr AK Mishra, one of the three observer-archaeologists appointed by the high court for their vigil during the excavation by ASI at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

Ngangas: Who Are They and What Are They Capable Of?

Upon reading "Eyes of the Ngangas: Ethnomedicine and Power in Central African Republic", I was posed to very important questions. If you've never heard of this article, and I'm sure many of you have not, I'll clue you in to the author's background.

Dr. Arthur C Lehman has extensively researched the ngangas, who are traditional healers, acting as the source for Aka Pygmy hunters and their horticultural neighbors, the Ngando of Central African Republic. Lehman traces the mystical powers of the nganga and their ability to reduce tensions in villages, thereby punishing Ngando who have caused the hunters harm.

Top Archaeology News: Tuesday October 26, 2010

An Armenian archaeologist says that scientists have discovered a skirt that could be 5,900-year-old. Pavel Avetisian, the head of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography in Yerevan, said a fragment of skirt made of reed was found during recent digging in the Areni-1 cave in southeastern Armenia.

Learn what archaeologists found under and around the 263-year-old house of the Rev. John Hancock in a program to be held Sunday afternoon at Buckman Tavern in Lexington.

Silbury Hill mysteries are unravelled in new book.

Egyptian pyramids are one of the seven wonders of the world. However, a study conducted by UK’s Truprint Photo Company, a digital photo printing service, has also revealed that Egypt’s Giza Pyramids are photographed the most by British tourists.

The mausoleum was created about 2,200 year ago and served as a tomb for Qin Shi Huang – the first emperor of China. While the emperor’s tomb is largely unexcavated, archaeologists have found thousands of life-size terracotta figures nearby. It’s believed that this army was created to serve the emperor in the afterlife.

The Shakers were known for their simple, economical ways. But as archaeologists discovered Monday, even their dirt was clean. 

Click on the links for more information and the full story. Have a wonderful week from Ancient Digger!

Monday Ground Up: A Guide to French Forts in Canada

This guest post is written by Vinay Shingornikar

This post aims at shedding light on the forts established by French colonists and chartered companies in Canada. The sites range from large citadels to small trade posts that were built in the period of 1640s-1750s. Few forts were captured by the French from rival British fur trading companies. Even though most establishments are reduced to ruins and have disappeared over time, few forts have survived the battles and have been reconstructed.

The French forts in Canada stand testament to the country's history and deliver an insight on regional culture and background. Along with rich history, these windows to the past also present spectacular views and exciting activities for all ages.

French forts in Canada.

Fort St. Anne	Fort Espérance	Fortress of Louisbourg
Bas de la Rivière	Fort Frontenac	Citadelle of Quebec
Fort Beauséjour	Fort Gaspareaux	Fort Maurepas
Fort Boishebert	Fort Royal (Plaisance)	Fort Paskoya
Fort Bourbon	Fort Saint Jacques	Fort Richelieu
Castle Hill	Fort Saint-Jean	Fort Rouge
Fort Chambly	Citadelle of Montreal	Fort Rouillé
Fort de la Montagne	Fort Sainte Anne	Fort Sainte Thérèse
Citadelle of Quebec	Fort Kaministiquia	Fort Senneville
Fort de la Corne	Fort La Reine	Fort St. Pierre
Fort Dauphin	Fort La Jonquière	Fort Ville-Marie

Brief information on some prominent historic forts

Citadelle of Quebec (Constructed in 1693)

© denispro

Quebec City is the only city in North America that still holds its historic city walls. The Citadelle is a part of the city fortifications. Located atop Cap Diamant, it served as a military base and residence for officials. The Quebec Parliament Building and provincial government buildings are located in close proximity to this historic site.

How to reach – Take a flight to Quebec City and head to the Plains of Abraham near the coast. The Citadelle stands adjoining to these plains.

Fort Rouillé (Constructed in 1750)

Established around 1750, Fort Rouillé was a French trading post. It was also referred to as Fort Toronto because it is located in Toronto, Canada. In the past, the French fort was surrounded by a wall and housed five buildings, including quarters for soldiers and senior officers. Currently, a large obelisk marks the spot where the fort originally stood.

How to reach – Fort Rouillé is located within the city limits of Toronto. Hence, if you visit Toronto, you can check the site at your convenience.

Fort Senneville (Constructed in 1671)

Fort Senneville was constructed by the Canadiens of New France in 1671. It is one of the most remotely located forts of Montreal, Canada. Formerly, it was highly esteemed for its powerful cannons and wall guns. Fort Senneville was destroyed under the successive British rule in 1776. The ruins have been maintained ever since. It was acknowledged as a historic site in 2003.

How to reach - Fort Senneville is situated near the Sainte-Anne rapids on the Island of Montreal. Hence, head to the southwestern tip of the island if you fly to Montreal and land at the airport.

Fort Saint-Jean (Constructed in 1666)

Originally built by the soldiers of the Carignan-Salières Regiment, Fort Saint-Jean was a part of a chain of French forts constructed along the Richelieu River. Over the years, the fort was reconstructed several times. It is worth noting that the fort sets itself as a military site that has been under constant occupancy for the longest time after Quebec City in Canada. Currently, it houses the Royal Military College of Saint-Jean and is recognized as a National Historic Site.

How to reach – The historic Fort Saint-Jean is located on the Richelieu River. This region falls under the Canadian La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec.

Fort de la Montagne (Constructed in 1685)

© photoplo

Fort de la Montagne is also known as Fort des Messieurs or Fort Belmont. It is considered among the oldest structures in the Island of Montreal. Formerly, the fort had four bastions and an array of ramparts and palisades. However, these were destroyed in 1854, leaving behind two towers. In 1982, the surviving towers were identified as historical monuments and were restored between 1984 to 1986.

How to reach – To reach this site, head to the corner of Sherbrooke Street in Montréal city.

Author Bio -Vinay Shingornikar is a popular and accomplished writer having authored a number of articles across a wide variety of online publications. Currently, he is happily employed with Flight Network. Founded in 1998, Flightnetwork.com has grown to become Canada's second most visited online travel agency, specialising in offering highly discounted prices for domestic and international flights, along with hotels, cruises, vacation packages, and car rentals.

Also check out:

Monday Ground Up: Diving the Titanic in Newfoundland

She hit an iceberg and sank, in one of the most epic tragedies of all time. Nearly 100 years later tales of the RMS Titanic remains legendary. Perhaps the work of James Cameron and Leo Di Caprio can be credited for bringing the story of this ill-fated trip to mainstream popular culture. Or perhaps, even without a multi-billion dollar blockbuster our morbid human curiosities would still keep us entranced by this sunken piece of history.

Medieval Castle Casa Loma Castle In Toronto, Canada

One often hears this question asked from visitors from abroad, especially from Europe where kingdoms and castles date back over many centuries. The Canadian Federation occurred on July 1, 1867. -Canada is just not so old to possess many of what we would normally be considered 'castles.'

The Royal Ontario Museum Hosts the Terracotta Army

TORONTO.- The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) hosts the Canadian premiere of The Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Army from June 26, 2010. Prior to its embarking on a Canadian national tour, the exhibition will be displayed in the Garfield Weston Exhibition Hall on Level B2 of the ROM’s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal until January 2, 2011.

Mortuary Temple of The Pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut

A thousand shades of sandy-brown. Only two miles from the Nile and all hint of green is gone. It is easy to see why the ancient Egyptians called the desiccated ground either side of their narrow fertile strip the Red Lands, from which our word ‘desert’ is said to derive. And since the sun set in the west the western desert was the land of the dead. Here, on the opposite side of the Niles from the great cities lie complexes of tombs and mortuary temples, none more spectacular than the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, the Pharaoh Queen.

Read this article on the Mortuary of the Pharoah Queen Hatshepsut By Bruce Officer

Top Archaeology News: Saturday October 23, 2010

A team of Chinese archaeologists dedicated to the excavation and study of the world famous terracotta warriors in northwest China's Xi'an City on Friday received the Prince of Asturias Award for Social Sciences in Spain.

Archaeologists have found remains of five females who may have been ritually sacrificed in a 1,400-year-old flat-topped pyramid in the Lamayaeque region's southern Jequetepeque Valley.

Her life has been celebrated in song, story and a Disney cartoon, but no one knew where Pocahontas tied the knot with a tobacco farmer—until now.

Archaeologists unearth 10,000 year old camp site along US/Canada border. A team of archaeologists has spent the last several weeks gathering and collecting artifacts along the banks of the Saint Croix River on property owned by the federal government behind the U.S. Customs Port of Entry in Forest City.

Hundreds gathered for the annual meeting of the North American Sea Glass Association, to celebrate a hobby that seems an odd mix of amateur archaeology, environmental monitoring and antique collecting, with a little chemistry thrown in. 

The discovery of starch remnants on stone tools indicates that our ancestors were making flour out of starchy roots 30,0000 years ago. Karen Hopkin reports.

Russian Submarine SC-213 discovered by divers from Black Sea Wreck Divers near the coast of Constanta, Romania (Black Sea)

A group of archaeologists from Queensland University have discovered the oldest known high altitude human settlement.

Click on the links for more information and the full story. Have a wonderful weekend from Ancient Digger!

Top Archaeology News: Friday October 21, 2010

Groton's rolling hills are vestiges from ice-age glaciers of long ago. Life was non-existent until the age of glaciations ended and five-thousand feet of ice in our region slowly melted, approximately 15,000 years ago.

Magdeburg, Germany - Hundreds of Germans paid their last respects Friday to an English queen born 1,100 years ago, during a reburial ceremony in the cathedral of the eastern city of Magdeburg.

Peruvian archaeologists have unearthed four perfectly preserved mummies at an ancient burial site in the capital city, Lima.

More skeletal remains been uncovered at the Gisborne District Court extension site.

A 400-year-old village of 10 longhouses has been uncovered in Ontario, on the banks of Strasburg Creek. Some artifacts from the site are even older, dating back 4,500 and 9,000 years. “The descendants of the people from that site are now among the Six Nations today,” said contract archaeologist Paul Racher. ~Archaeology News


After yesterday's site visit, archaeology team says passageway is around three centuries old; blueprint of GPO building may be available at British Library in the UK

Many ancient artifacts have been curated at the Sunshine Coast Museum, but very little information exists around the meaning and function of these items.

Top Archaeology News: Thursday October 21, 2010

Most victims of Mt. Vesuvius' massive eruption in 79 AD probably died from thermal shock, rather than the previous generally accept theory of suffocation, according to a new study.

Nearly 3,000 of those once-buried treasures are kept at the Siegfried H. Horn Archeological Museum & The Institute of Archeology at Andrews University just outside Berrien Springs.

The University of Winchester’s archaeological excavations at St Mary Magdalen, on the outskirts of Winchester, have revealed evidence for what may be Britain’s earliest known hospital.  

It has been 100 years since excavations started on the Madinat Al Zahra, the magnificent 10th century palace city near Cordoba in southern Spain.

Archaeologists think they've found the site of a cabin that belonged to southern Oregon pioneer photographer Peter Britt

The mummies of a woman and three children from the Huari culture have been discovered in Lima, Peru, in an intact tomb at the top of a pyramid. The tomb is estimated to be 1,150 years old.  ~Archaeology News

East Contra Costa road work unearths more Indian graves. Shea Homes construction crews have found 30 sets of human remains over the past couple of months while widening a stretch of Marsh Creek Road just west of where it intersects the Highway 4 bypass.

Cornell archaeologists are helping to rewrite the early prehistory of human civilization on Cyprus, with evidence that hunter-gatherers began to form agricultural settlements on the island half a millennium earlier than previously believed.


Make sure you click on the links for the entire story. Have a great day and thanks for visiting Ancient Digger.

Top Archaeology News: Wednesday October 20th, 2010

Archaeologists and Middle Tennessee State University students believe the remains of a mastodon are behind a Franklin home, about 20 miles south of Nashville. Mastodons are prehistoric, elephant-like creatures, believed to have weighed up to 12,000 pounds.

Swiss archaeologists find 5,000-year-old door that may be one of the oldest ever found in Europe.

Egypt's top archaeologist has shown off a newly discovered tomb of a pharaonic priest, a find he says could point the way to a new necropolis to be excavated near the famed Giza pyramids.

When freelance artist Ben Wood and archaeologist Eric Blind heard about a hidden 18th-century mural at Mission Dolores in 2004, they wanted to see it. With permission from the church, they lowered a camera into a 3-by-3-foot trap door in the attic.

One of the stars of the Oriental Institute’s new show, “Visible Language: Inventions of Writing in the Ancient Middle East and Beyond,” is a clay tablet that dates from around 3200 B.C. On it, written in cuneiform, the script language of ancient Sumer in Mesopotamia, is a list of professions, described in small, repetitive impressed characters that look more like wedge-shape footprints than what we recognize as writing.


This Thursday evening, Oct. 21, Verde Valley residents will have their first opportunity to hear about the recently proposed Verde Valley Archaeological Center, during the monthly meeting of the Verde Valley Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society.

A World War II-era bomb crater was spotted in Darwin, Australia. The city was subjected to 63 bombing raids during the war.

Make sure you click on the links for the entire story. Have a great day and thanks for visiting Ancient Digger.

Monday Ground Up: Phylogenies And Evolutionary Biology in Anthropology:

Contributing author Maria Rainier

In biology, a phylogeny is the historical evolution of an organism as understood by ancestor and descendant relationships. Phylogenies help biologists plot and understand how a given organism has arrived at its present condition, giving valuable insight into the evolutionary process. By now, you're probably wondering whether or not you've arrived at the Ancient Digger page, but you're right – this is an anthropological blog. So how does evolutionary biology fit into the picture?

Cultural Phylogenies

As discussed in Wired Science, anthropologists Thomas Currie and Ruth Mace of University College in London decided to address the issue of complex society evolution with the phylogeny approach, borrowed from evolutionary biology. The evolution of post-ice age complex societies has long been a topic of fierce contention and inconclusive tests in anthropological circles, and although Currie and Mace haven't designed the perfect study, its innovative design has a lot of potential for future inquiry.

The Pacific Islands Case Study

Currie and Mace set about using cultural phylogenies to determine whether a sample of complex societies evolved and dissolved incrementally and linearly, or in a more haphazard and unpredictable fashion. They chose an area of the Pacific Islands between Madagascar and Easter Island to conduct their study, gathering information on inhabitants who lived up to 5,200 years ago. The main indicator of cultural development in this study was the bifurcation of language, which often coincided with moves from one island to the next. This led researchers to construct a solid chronological history of 84 island societies based primarily on language comparison techniques.

Findings: Steps to Progress and Leaps to Dissolution 

The patterns of political differentiation that were discovered as Currie and Mace constructed a phylogeny-inspired tree diagram were consistent with linear development. These researchers found that, by comparing their tree to computer-generated versions that mimicked both linear and nonlinear development, they could demonstrate their tree's strong similarities to the linear model. In other words, their cultural phylogeny tree showed that societies develop in small, consistent steps rather than in unpredictable leaps.

However, to complicate matters, the linear model didn't fit their data in terms of direction: not all Pacific Island societies had made consistent progress. Some had regressed, and that happened at a different pace. Societies that had dissolved were shown to have done so at an alarmingly fast rate, demonstrating that the complex society evolution debate is still in need of high-quality and innovative research to reach a resolution.

While it can be reasonably stated that these societies progressed linearly in small, consistent increments and dissolved in large regressive steps, there's no solid evidence that this was the case in all situations. The study conducted by Currie and Mace can also be criticized for its generalizations and lack of specificity in categorizing political differences. But these small faults are no reason to dismiss the conclusions of the research. In fact, it's likely that other anthropologists will adopt the cultural phylogeny strategy to map trees of societies in southern and central Africa, where well-preserved chronological language patterns would allow for lucrative comparisons and strong conclusions.

Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education, researching various online programs and blogging about student life issues. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

Resources

Photo of Easter Island Statues: Public Domain
Haeckel tree

Could Akrotiri Be The Lost City of Atlantis?

Akrotiri lies on 49 acres on the Cycladic island of Thera. During the Bronze Age, Akrotiri was quite impressive with its elaborate construction. The town was occupied in the Late Neolithic period, but evolved into a major town in 2000BC. Like Pompeii, Akrotiri was the site of a volcanic disaster. The island, with its center hollowed out, left a crescent moon shape.

Archaeological Evidence

The dates of the volcanic eruption and disaster are a bit fuzzy. Archaeologists have dated the disaster to around 1550 B.C.E, however scientific evidence places the event a century earlier in 1650 B.C.E.
During the Late Neolithic period hydraulic systems were paving the way for new states, as is evident in the elaborate drainage system at Akrotiri. There were also streets, squares, and houses built up to a height of 26 feet. The town was the epitome of a state society with blocks of houses, freestanding monuments, and elaborate buildings constructed entirely out of stone. Typical of the Neolithic period, food stores were discovered as well as preparation areas and crafting rooms.



The material culture, consisting of vast quantities of pottery and metalware, indicates a connection with the Near East, Cyprus, Dodecanese, the Greek mainland, and Crete. The frescoes at Akrotiri are exquisitely preserved, many depicting ritual scenes of women gathering saffron, boxing men, fisherman, decorative rosettes, and blue monkeys.

Gold Ibex

Via wikipedia
Further excavation turned up a single gold artifact. The Gold Ibex found in 2007, on display at the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. Also featured at the museum are firedogs, a volcanic ash cast of a wooden table, ewers, animal figurines, and a Marble schematic figurine.

Mystery of Akrotiri

Interestingly enough, no skeletal remains were ever discovered at Akrotiri, leading experts to believe there was an evacuation prior to the volcanic eruption. The question is where did everyone go?

The Atlantis Myth

Like many other locations in Greece, Akrotiri was believed to be the site of the fabled city of Atlantis. Atlantis was first mentioned by the Greek philosopher Plato, and although his stories invoke true skepticism by scholars, others believe there’s some truth and may have been inspired by true events in Akrotiri.

Akrotiri today

The site is unfortunately not open to the public, although the hope is it will reopen in 2010. The main reason for this delay is because in 2005, the roof structure protecting the site, collapsed just prior to its completion in 2005, killing one patron.

All pictures courtesy of Klearchos Kapoutsis

Anthropological Study: Krill Oil May Change The Face Of Dietary Habits

Close to 100 years ago, humans were consuming, as well as using the Omega 3 oils as cures. Diets of children and adults consisted primarily of foods high in Omega 3, however today that’s not the case. Historically, what does this mean? It means the majority of the population is not getting the nutrients they need to survive the next 100 years. Children diets today primarily consist of chips, soda, fast food, hotdogs, macaroni and cheese, and chicken fingers. Studies have shown 86% of children are not receiving a balanced diet at school. So would an increase in Omega 3 using krill oil make a difference for these youths? Absolutely!

Upon researching krill oil as opposed to fish oil at krilloil.com, I came to an alarming discovery. First, you’re probably wondering why I was on the site in the first place and what this has to do with history? For me, I’m in the process of losing a substantial amount of weight and I also suffer from intracranial hypertension. This has been caused by years of eating foods rich in fat and tons of carbohydrates. I’ve always had an issue working fish into my diet, however my father swears by it. The history of diets and food has always fascinated me, especially considering I initially went to school to be a chef. So from an anthropological standpoint, I want to learn what people were eating years ago and why they were so much healthier than we are now.

If you are used to fish or fish oil in your diet, you may not be aware of the benefits or lack thereof you’re actually getting. Fish being raised on farms for oil is pumped with chemicals and dyes, which explains the rose or peach color of many fresh fish you see in the market. It’s completely artificial. Furthermore, most fish seen in superstores like cod, orange roughy, salmon, herring, and tuna, are filled with mercury and metal.

If you’re like me and you don’t consume fish, taking a supplement can take the place of the fish lacking in you daily diet. The issue now, however, is when I started taking fish oil pills, I had horrible pains in my lower abdomen. As soon as I stopped, the pains stopped. When I looked into krill, tiny shrimp-like crustaceans found abundantly in the pristine icy waters around the South Pole that make up the largest biomass on earth, I thought these must be more beneficial. I don’t think there’s another place on earth that’s more clean and pure than the waters of Antarctica, and this is where krill these days is coming from.

If you’re still not buying it, let me explain it to all of you that are familiar with the anatomy of the body and how we digest these oils. Krill Oil is structured in phospholipid form and NOT triglyceride form. Our bodies have a difficult time breaking down triglycerides, however the phospholipids in Krill Oil are the exact same types of fats cells in the human body. Therefore Omega 3s can directly enter your body without any additional work or conversion!

It may not be archaeology like we at Ancient Digger usually talk about, however these findings are based upon years of sociocultural history. Our diets have changed and altered out lives, and for me, I’m making a huge change in my dietary habits. Every little bit of knowledge helps.

The Kohistani: The Road to Thull

This published article is based on a case study I'm reading about death enmity amongst the Kohistani Community. This particular discussion is about the road built to the isolated villages and how it changed the community.

Interestingly, you would think with the addition of a new info structure, organized vengeance would fade to some sort of degree. This was not case, as the first highway system actually promoted it, linking villagers with a more modern economy and a new political system. Therefore, this new highway triggered sociocultural transitions in Thull that ultimately resulted in Dushmani.

Consequence 1

On the positive side, religious leaders were now able to travel on bus routes to Mardan and Peshawar to further their Islamic studies with Pathan scholars and educators. In turn, the religious leaders...

From: Anthropology Study: The Road to Thull

University of Chicago Oriental Institute: The Sea Of Galilee Boat

From peg mortise-and-tenon-joinery, weather-cocking, and a full and fascinating explanation of ship construction, Shelley Wachsmann from Texas A&M University lectures on an ancient boat discovered in 1986.

In 1986, a 2,000-year-old boat was discovered in Israel on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. The vessel is representative of the large fishing boats common on the ancient lake, and the type of boat used in the Gospels by the disciples of Jesus. It is also the type of boat used by the Jews in the brutal nautical Battle of Migdal in AD 67 against a makeshift Roman fleet. The lecture describes the adventure of the boat's discovery and excavation, and delves into the revealing research about the vessel and its milieu.

Monday Ground Up: Psychological Approach to Religion and Primitive Thought According To Clifford Geertz

Clifford Geertz argued for a broader psychological analysis of religion. He approaches the subject using sociology, history, and semantics to arrive at the notion, religion should be studied using a mature theory of religion. Thus, this will integrate certain approaches into a more comparative and conceptual system. He relates his findings to "primitive thought", making comparisons to western and non-western societal groups, thus concreting the subject's influence in the anthropological approach to religion.

Geertz explains:

Two characteristics of anthropological work on religion accomplished since the Second World War strike me as curious when such work is placed against that carried out

Shaw vs. Shakespeare: Finest Historical Educational Film Ever Made

This is the first film in Barnes' 'Shaw vs. Shakespeare' series, considered by experts to be among the finest educational films ever made. Here is wonderful introduction to Barnes as an insightful and witty interpreter of Shakespeare on film, the opening film of the triptych focusing on George Bernard Shaw’s belief that, although Shakespeare’s play was superior to his own, the treatment of the character of Caesar was not. Shaw, as written by Barnes, prefers a Caesar whose strength-of-purpose is more in keeping with a conqueror, than Shakespeare’s pessimistic, indecisive leader. Starring Donald Moffat, Richard Kiley, and Susan Grossman.

Monday Ground Up: A Brief Overview Of The Unique Culture of the Hutterites

The Hutterites have established a strict colonized community where, if given the chance and opportunity, larger cultures would fail at infiltrating the communal surroundings. Why you ask? The main reason is because of isolation. The Hutterites have gone to great lengths to section themselves off and give outsiders no reason to interfere.

The Hutterite.Org website has a fascinating history of the Hutterites coming to North America. Trace the entire migration and learn more about their culture. It's a great resource.