Jharkhand govt launches country's maiden mining tourism initiative, inks pact with Coal India arm
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Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Deccan Herald
Jharkhand govt launches country's maiden mining tourism initiative, inks pact with Coal India arm
The move comes after Soren recently visited the Gava Museum of Mines in Barcelona to see ancient mining techniques and relics from the Neolithic era.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Time of India
5,500-year-old Polish ‘Pyramids' discovered, older than Egypt's Pyramid of Giza
In a groundbreaking archaeological discovery, a set of 5,500-year-old megalithic tombs have been discovered in Poland, nicknamed the "Polish pyramids." They were found during a routine field survey in the Chłapowski Landscape Park in the village of Wyskoć, reports add. These monumental earth structures, reportedly, date back to the late Stone Age and shed new light on the prehistoric Funnelbeaker culture that once thrived in the region. As per the reports, a team from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and announced by the Complex of Landscape Parks of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship. The tombs are located in the Wielkopolska province and are some of the largest megalithic structures ever found in Poland. Remarkably well-preserved, they are believed to have been built by one of the region's earliest sedentary agricultural societies. Megalithic giants of the North The tombs, also referred to as "the beds of giants", are elongated trapezoidal mounds reaching up to 200 m in length and about 4 m in height. Constructed in a triangular shape, the front of each structure is several metres wide and gradually narrows into a 'tail' at the rear. Some of the boulders used in their construction weigh as much as 10 tonnes, an extraordinary feat for Neolithic builders using only primitive tools and manpower. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Read more: No more shoe checks: TSA updates airport screening rules; what flyers need to know The monumental tombs are oriented with impressive precision. The wider front end faces east, while the tail stretches westward, a design suggesting the builders had a sophisticated understanding of direction and possibly astronomy. According to archaeologists, this alignment was likely symbolic, with the rising sun associated with life and the setting sun with death. The Funnelbeaker culture's legacy The structures are attributed to the Funnelbeaker culture (4000–2700 BCE), a Neolithic society known for its large-scale burial architecture, early farming practices, and finely crafted pottery. Though these communities were largely egalitarian, special tombs were reserved for significant figures such as leaders, shamans, or priests. 'Although the Funnelbeaker cultures were quite egalitarian, these tombs likely held important figures — a leader, a priest, a shaman,' said Artur Golis from the regional landscape park association. These burials typically included a single skeleton placed on its back with legs pointing east, accompanied by grave goods. While skeletal remains may not have survived in the newly excavated tombs, archaeologists hope to recover ceremonial objects such as stone axes, hatchets, clay vessels, and possibly copper ornaments or opium containers. This is only the second time such megalithic tombs have been discovered in Wielkopolska — the first being in 2019. Until now, most similar finds were concentrated in the Kuyavia-Pomerania region, where they are professionally known as megalithic tombs of the Kuyavian type. Read more: 6 unmissable stops that make Chandigarh to Shimla hill tour worthwhile The newly discovered sites offer rare insight into the social, religious, and engineering capabilities of Neolithic societies in Europe. Their sheer scale and design not only rival other prehistoric sites like Stonehenge but also predate the Egyptian pyramids. "For thousands of years, people have needed the stones, so they have taken them, split them, hence the object has been quite heavily degraded," Golis said, noting the fragility of what remains. Currently, the site remains closed to the public to allow for careful excavation and preservation. A decision about public access will be made once research and protective measures are completed. These 'Polish pyramids' may not rival Giza in height, but they stand tall as silent sentinels of a lost civilization, offering a powerful connection to humanity's ancient past, right in the heart of Europe.
Mint
14-07-2025
- Mint
Older than Giza? 5,500-year-old ‘Pyramids' found in Polish forest
In a remarkable archaeological breakthrough, researchers in Poland have discovered two massive ancient tombs, dubbed the Polish pyramids, that date back over 5,500 years, predating Egypt's famous pyramids. The burial sites were unearthed in Wyskoc, a village in Poland's Wielkopolska region, within the General Dezydery Chłapowski Landscape Park. The announcement was made by local park authorities on Facebook, and the excavation is being led by archaeologists from Adam Mickiewicz University. According to researchers, the monumental structures are believed to have been built by the Funnelbeaker Culture, a Neolithic society known for its advanced agricultural practices and monumental burial architecture. The megalithic tombs are trapezoidal, stretching up to 200 metres in length and 4 metres high, constructed using enormous stones, some weighing as much as 10 tonnes. These stones were transported and assembled using only primitive tools and human effort, showcasing the community's sophisticated engineering skills. What's more striking is that the structures are carefully aligned with cardinal directions, suggesting a solid grasp of astronomy and ritual precision. Inside the tombs, archaeologists expect to find individual burials, with the deceased lying on their backs, legs facing east. Grave goods like pottery, stone axes, and even opium vessels have been found, offering a glimpse into the spiritual and cultural life of Neolithic communities. 'Although the Funnelbeaker cultures were quite egalitarian, these tombs likely held important figures — a leader, a priest, a shaman,' said Artur Golis from the regional landscape park association. Dating back to the 4th millennium BCE, these tombs are contemporary with the likes of Stonehenge, and significantly older than the pyramids of Giza, which were built around 2600 BCE. Archaeologists say such discoveries are rare, especially as many similar tombs across Europe have eroded over time. The forested area where these tombs were found may have helped preserve them for millennia. 'Each generation would build their own megalith,' Golis told Poland's PAP news agency. 'We might still find stone axes, pottery, or clay vessels used for ritual purposes — including those linked to opium.'
