Archaeologists seek volunteers to help sort Gloucester history
Ms O'Neill said items ranged from Victorian lead soldiers through to Roman tiles."It's interesting to see what archaeologists did 40, 50, 60 years ago and what they thought was important," she said."It's lovely to look at it again and repackage it so it's available for the people of Gloucester and Gloucestershire," she added.Volunteers must be over the age of 16 and they will support Cotswold Archaeology staff at the Archaeology Centre in Eastgate Shopping Centre.
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Daily Mail
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Mysterious fingerprint found on 2,600-year-old seal linked to Biblical doomsday warning
Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,600-year-old clay seal in Jerusalem that may be tied to a biblical warning of impending doom. The artifact, known as a bulla, dates back to the First Temple period and bears an ancient Hebrew inscription that reads: 'Belonging to Yeda'yah (son of) Asayahu.' Even more astonishing, the seal retains a visible fingerprint, believed to have been left by the ancient official who once owned it. Archaeologists believe the name inscribed on the seal may connect directly to a pivotal moment in the biblical account of King Josiah of Judah, who launched sweeping religious reforms after a sacred scroll was discovered in Jerusalem. The scroll, believed to be a version of Deuteronomy, outlined severe curses for disobedience, including famine, war, exile and the devastation of both the land and the Temple. When the contents were read aloud, Josiah was so alarmed by its warnings that he tore his robes and sent a group of trusted officials, including a man named Asayahu, to rid Jerusalem of pagan practices. The newly discovered seal, bearing the name of Asayahu's son, Yeda'yah, offers compelling evidence of a royal official likely active during this critical period. It not only supports the existence of individuals named in the biblical record but also reinforces the historical and spiritual significance of the scroll's rediscovery, an event that marked a turning point in Judah's religious history, researchers said. Archaeologist Zachi Dvira, who co-directs the project, told The Times of Israel: 'Obviously, we are not sure that the Asayahu mentioned on the sealing is the same that appears in the Bible. 'However, several such artifacts found in the area of the Temple Mount carry biblical names, and it does make sense, because these were not objects used by common people.' Marks on the back of the clay seal suggest it was once used to secure a bag or storage container, likely tied with a cord, and the script style places it around the the late First Temple period, roughly between the late 7th and early 6th century BC. That was around the time the Bible says King Josiah of Judah ordered repairs made to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was also known as Solomon's Temple. The order came after the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586BC. During the renovations, workers uncovered an ancient sacred scroll, Sefer haTorah, which scholars believe was likely an early version of the Pentateuch, specifically the Book of Deuteronomy, an event mentioned in 2 Kings 22:12 and 2 Chronicles 34:20. When the sacred scroll was read aloud to King Josiah, its warnings about the people's sins and the threat of divine punishment left the monarch shaken. The scroll was said to have revealed that the people of Judah had seriously violated God's covenant by worshiping other gods and engaging in pagan practices. A prophetess, mentioned in 2 Kings 22:16–17, confirmed the doom to King Josiah, telling him God would bring disaster on Jerusalem. According to 2 Kings 23, Josiah sent officials out to tear down shrines, altars and high places dedicated to Baal, Asherah, Molech, and other foreign gods, even desecrating them to ensure they would never be used again. Among those officials was a senior figure named Asayahu, described in the Bible as 'the king's servant.' Given his status, scholars have suggested that it is entirely plausible that his son, Yeda'yah, followed in his footsteps and held a high-ranking role in the royal court or Temple administration. The discovery of a clay seal inscribed with the name 'Yeda'yah son of Asayahu' has now sparked excitement among researchers, who believe it may be directly linked to the very events described in the Bible. Experts from the Temple Mount Sifting Project said the connection is highly credible, pointing out that seals like this were typically used only by officials of significant authority. Its discovery on the Temple Mount adds further weight to the theory that Yeda'yah served in a prominent role during the First Temple period. The historical backdrop is equally compelling. Just a few decades after the scroll was found, Jerusalem was invaded by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. The city's walls were breached, the Temple was destroyed, and many residents were killed or taken into exile, including key members of the ruling elite. During the siege, much of the city's food came from royal and Temple storehouses, which were stocked with grain, oil, wine, legumes and honey. These supplies were sealed with pieces of clay stamped with the names of the officials responsible for managing them. One such seal previously uncovered by the project bore the name '[He]zelyahu son of Immer,' an official believed to have worked in the Temple treasury. Now, this newly discovered seal, belonging to Yeda'yah son of Asayahu, appeared to tell a similar story, suggesting he too was responsible for overseeing one of these critical storehouses.
The Independent
43 minutes ago
- The Independent
I'm a pest controller – giant rats the size of cats are becoming the norm
In more than 20 years of pest control, I thought I'd seen it all. But when I saw the images of a 22-inch rat found in a house in Redcar, even I was taken aback. In all my years, I've never seen anything quite like this. But it's not just a one-off – the rats are getting bigger, bolder and harder to deal with. What used to be a couple of callouts a month for rats inside homes has now surged to eight to 10 a week. The vast majority of these infestations trace back to our neglected drainage systems. The rodents aren't just passing through – they're coming up from the sewers and moving in. I've had cases where rats have climbed two storeys up the inside of a cast iron drainpipe, only to emerge in someone's toilet bowl. Rats are brilliant climbers. They're highly adaptable, intelligent, agile and opportunistic. And they're getting larger – partly due to genetics (we share 98 per cent of the same genetic make-up as rodents, believe it or not), some because they gorge on the high-fat takeaway waste we throw around so carelessly. I once dealt with a colony I estimated at over 300 rats. The largest rat I've ever personally caught was 20 inches long – but now we're seeing 22 inches, and who knows what's next? The UK has created a perfect storm for rats: poor waste management, exploding takeaway culture, weak sewer infrastructure and water companies failing to maintain ageing systems. Add to that a society that's seemingly forgotten the basics of hygiene and waste disposal, and the result is a rodent crisis on a scale I've never seen before. People might not realise it, but we're far worse at handling our waste than we used to be. I get called out more and more to HMOs (houses in multiple occupation) and council estates where bags of rubbish are simply tossed outside, or left to rot. You cannot expect to keep rats out when you're essentially laying out a buffet for them. I've seen some truly horrifying cases. In one north London property, a woman reported a dead rat in her lounge. When I arrived, there were holes in the floor, droppings everywhere and two live rats scurrying across the kitchen worktop. There were three bin bags full of waste in the kitchen, and rats bolted from them as I moved them. Under the stairs, there was more rat droppings and chewed wiring. The tenant suspected rodent damage had cut her electrics. I believe it. The property could have been condemned on the spot. And what's worse is how ill-equipped we are to fight the problem. We're restricted in how we can use rodenticides. Because of overuse and genetic evolution, many rats are now resistant. So pest controllers like me must follow strict orders – identifying food sources, shelters and access routes before we even think about poison. Rodenticides are a last resort, and even then only allowed for a limited time and in specific circumstances. The real issue is that we're not dealing with the root causes. Water companies need to take responsibility for defective drainage systems – rats can't infest homes in such numbers without a breach somewhere. Councils, too, are struggling. Many no longer run their own pest control departments. That means private operators are stretched thin, and the public is left footing the bill. And the public needs to wake up. Stop throwing waste from car windows and other places. Clean up after your barbecues. Recycle properly – a greasy pizza box isn't recyclable, and it attracts rats. I give talks in local communities to try to raise awareness. I do it all for free, because education is the only long-term answer. You'd be amazed at how many people think it's fine to cater for a rat. One household I went into regularly had a rat coming in, and they used to feed it – 'it's one of God's creatures', they say. It's a bit like Michael Jackson's Ben, and I totally get that. We can fix this – but not if we carry on as we are. When we build new homes, we need to think harder about how waste will be managed. When people see rats, they need to ask: why is it here? What food source is it finding? And more importantly, what can I do to stop it? I'll be 70 next year. I've seen a lot in this job. But never have I seen rats this big, in these numbers, in places so deeply entwined with our lives. Unless something changes – and soon – we're going to see much, much worse.
Daily Mail
44 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Dame Stella Rimington, first female director general of MI5, dies aged 90
Dame Stella Rimington, the first female director general of the MI5, has died at the age of 90. The former secret service chief, died 'surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and determinedly held on to the life she loved until her last breath', her family has announced.
