Latest news with #Antiquity
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mirror
'Disturbing' 2,000-year-old dolls discovered on top of pyramid by archaeologists
The discovery of the Bolinas figurines, a type of puppet-like artefact, could provide new insights into an ancient society A pair of intrepid archaeologists from the University of Warsaw made a groundbreaking discovery at the San Isidro site in El Salvador - five ancient clay figurines perched atop a dilapidated pyramid. This find, detailed in the journal Antiquity, features rare Bolinas artefacts, akin to puppet-like curios, which are incredibly scarce and were previously unearthed at the early Maya Tak'alik Ab'aj in Guatemala. The figurines date back over two millennia and offer tantalising prospects for shedding light on an olden Mesoamerican civilisation. Carbon-14 analyses confirmed that these pieces hail from between 410 and 380 B.C.E. These recently unearthed treasures, with mouths agape and ranging from mere inches to a sizeable foot in height, possess an interesting design. The larger ones even have removable heads with apertures suited for strings at their necks and craniums. Theorising upon their usage, scientists surmise that inserting string through these openings would allow the figures to be animated, much like rudimentary marionettes, reports the Express. Jan Szymaski revealed his impressions of these historical icons in an interview with ScienceLink's Lizzie Wade, saying: "They are clay actors. When you hold them in your hand, sometimes they even look creepy because of their vivid expressions. "Very little is known about the identities and ethnolinguistic affiliations of the creators of ancient settlements that predate the arrival of Europeans in the early 16th century. This gets worse the further back in time we look. This finding is only the second such a group found in situ, and the first to feature a male figure." El Salvador's pre-Columbian past remains shrouded in mystery, especially when contrasted with its Central American neighbours. The country's dense population coupled with countless years of volcanic activity have obscured and even destroyed many potential archaeological sites. It has been found that artefacts resembling those at San Isidro were also uncovered in parts of Guatemala and other areas in El Salvador as well as Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica; this indicates a possible network between the inhabitants of San Isidro and distant cultures. The site of San Isidro consists mainly of clay formations, built by an unknown civilisation, and has not yet been fully investigated. Researchers stumbled upon the Bolinas figurines amid the remains at the peak of the site's biggest pyramid-shaped structure. Researchers are now hypothesising that these versatile Bolinas figurines could've had a significant role in "rituals that would involve recreation of some actual events or mythical events," as explained by Szymaski in a conversation with Benjamin Taub from IFL Science. Szymaski added: "This discovery contradicts the prevailing notion about El Salvador's cultural backwardness or isolation in ancient times, "It reveals the existence of vibrant and far-reaching communities capable of exchanging ideas with remarkably distant places."
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Science
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Disturbing' 2,000-year-old discovery found on top of pyramid by archaeologists
Archaeologists have made a profound discovery at the San Isidro site in El Salvador, uncovering five ancient clay figurines atop a dilapidated pyramid, signifying a significant archaeological milestone. The remarkable find was by Jan Szymaski and Gabriela Prejs of the University of Warsaw. The journal Antiquity reports that these artefacts, known as Bolinas figurines, are exceedingly unusual puppet-like creations. Previously, similar items were discovered at an early Maya site called Tak'alik Ab'aj in Guatemala. These earthen puppets, which date back over 2,000 years, could offer fresh understanding of an ancient Mesoamerican culture. Radiocarbon dating has pinpointed the creation of these five figurines to between 410 and 380 B.C.E. Each of the newly unearthed Bolinas figurines has gaping mouths and ranges from just a few inches to around a foot in stature. Of these, the three larger ones boast removable heads, along with minuscule openings in their necks and craniums, reports the Express. It's believed that a string was threaded through these openings and knotted atop the head, thus allowing the figures to be used akin to rudimentary marionettes. Jan Szymaski conveyed his thoughts on the figurines to ScienceLink's Lizzie Wade, saying: "They are clay actors. When you hold them in your hand, sometimes they even look creepy because of their vivid expressions. "Very little is known about the identities and ethnolinguistic affiliations of the creators of ancient settlements that predate the arrival of Europeans in the early 16th century. This gets worse the further back in time we look. This finding is only the second such a group found in situ, and the first to feature a male figure." El Salvador's pre-Columbian history remains largely shrouded in mystery compared to its neighbouring countries, according to a statement from Antiquity. The country's dense population and centuries of volcanic activity have resulted in significant damage and concealment of archaeological sites. Artifacts bearing resemblance to those unearthed at San Isidro have been found in Guatemala and other parts of El Salvador, as well as in present-day Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica. This implies that the ancient inhabitants of San Isidro may have had ties with far-flung communities. The San Isidro site, predominantly made up of clay structures built by an unidentified group, remains largely unexplored. The Bolinas figurines were discovered by researchers while excavating the peak of the site's largest pyramidal structure. The researchers hypothesise that these versatile Bolinas figurines might have been used in "rituals that would involve recreation of some actual events or mythical events," Szymaski told IFL Science's Benjamin Taub. "This discovery contradicts the prevailing notion about El Salvador's cultural backwardness or isolation in ancient times," Szymaski stated. "It reveals the existence of vibrant and far-reaching communities capable of exchanging ideas with remarkably distant places."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Diageo India and WSET Launch Landmark Initiative powered by Diageo Bar Academy to Empower Women in the Bar Industry
MUMBAI, India, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move set to redefine inclusivity and professional growth in the Indian beverage industry, Diageo India, in collaboration with the globally renowned Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and powered by the Diageo Bar Academy, has launched exclusive WSET Level 1 Spirits training sessions for women bartenders and junior professionals across the country. This first-of-its-kind initiative underscores Diageo India's ongoing commitment to fostering gender diversity, skill development, and leadership opportunities within the bar and beverage space. In its inaugural phase, the programme will certify over 80 women, equipping them with globally recognised credentials in spirits. The sessions are curated as part of Our Hive — Diageo India's platform to empower women in hospitality — and aim to not only elevate technical knowledge, but also drive long-term career progression through mentorship, education, and inclusive community building. "This collaboration reflects our long-standing commitment to inclusion, capability-building, and progress," said Anchal Kaushal, Vice President – Customer Marketing, Diageo India."With WSET's world-class certification and the Diageo Bar Academy's legacy of training excellence, we're not just upskilling—we're opening doors to leadership, confidence, and opportunity. This is how we build a workforce that reflects the diversity and dynamism our industry needs." With this launch, Diageo India continues to invest in building a more inclusive, skilled, and progressive future for the bar industry in India. About Diageo India Diageo India is among India's leading beverage alcohol (alcobev) companies with an outstanding portfolio of premium brands. A subsidiary of Diageo Plc., it is listed in India on both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) as United Spirits Limited (USL). Headquartered in Bengaluru, Diageo India has one of the largest manufacturing footprints in alcobev with 35 facilities across India. It manufactures, sells and distributes Johnnie Walker, Black Dog, Black & White, VAT 69, Antiquity, Signature, The Singleton, Royal Challenge, McDowell's No1, Smirnoff, Ketel One, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan and Godawan, an artisanal single malt whisky from India, bringing together global expertise and local pride to deliver innovative, world-class products and experiences to consumers. With a strong focus on driving a positive impact on society, Diageo India has been working on collective action to improve livelihoods, championing Grain to Glass sustainability, responsible consumption and nurturing the alcobev ecosystem, to contribute to India's growth agenda. Photo: View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh man held with 42 bottles of illegal liquor in Sector 28
The Chandigarh Police have registered a case against a 30-year-old man for possessing large quantity of illegal liquor. The accused, identified as Aman Kumar, a resident of Sector 28-C, was arrested on May 17. According to police officials, a total of 42 bottles of liquor—comprising premium brands such as Ballantine's, Rockford, 100 Pipers, Antiquity, VAT 69, and Magic Moments—were recovered from his possession. The seizure was made following a complaint lodged by sub-inspector Baljit Singh. An FIR under Sections 61, 1, and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered at police station, Sector 26. The accused was arrested on the spot and was later released on bail. Police are investigating the source of the illicit liquor and whether it was intended for sale.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New Study Shows Surprising Link Between Britain and Bronze Age Settlements
A new study has revealed the surprising role British innovation played in spurring Bronze Age civilizations across Europe, according to a new study published in the journal Antiquity. By analyzing tin ores and other tin artifacts found across Europe and at the site of four separate shipwrecks, scientists identified beyond doubt that the tin originated in England. 'This means that tin mined by small farming communities in Cornwall and Devon around 3,300 years ago was being traded to ancient kingdoms and states in the East Mediterranean over 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) away,' explained one of the study's lead authors, Benjamin Roberts. 'This is the first commodity to be exported across the entire continent in British history.'The discovery puts to rest more than two centuries of speculation from scientists, who long endeavored to figure out how the tin used in Bronze Age communities found its way into Eurasia. Although it was known for a long time that the most accessible tin deposits were located in Devon and Cornwall, scientists had no conclusive evidence to tie those locations to Mediterranean communities. 'There has never been a major research project until now that has scientifically analyzed the tin ores and tin artifacts in south-west Britain as well as the tin deposits in Western and Central Europe,' Williams were able to make a conclusive geographical match after finding that tin found in one of the shipwrecks, which occurred off the coast of France, dated back to 600 B.C. That tin was then traced back to Cornwall, indicating a trade route which was active for hundreds of years. The results of this new study offer the first conclusive proof that Bronze Age Britain was a crucial supplier of goods and materials to neighboring nations. 'The identification of this trade network, which is likely to have involved tons of tin being moved annually across the continent, radically transforms our understanding of Britain's social and economic relationships with the far larger and more complex societies in the distant past,' Roberts noted. 'The volume, consistency and frequency of the estimated scale in the tin trade is far larger than has been imagined and requires an entirely new perspective on what Bronze Age miners and merchants were able to achieve.'
