Latest news with #Bolinas
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."
CBS News
12-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Postal Service to return to town of Bolinas after more than 2 years
For more than two years, residents of the little Marin County town of Bolinas have had to go to great lengths to get their daily mail after the local post office shut down. But now, thanks to a grassroots effort, it looks like the Postal Service is coming back to Bolinas. There are some mailboxes on the street in Bolinas, but most people don't get delivery to their homes. That's why the closure of the local post office was such a big deal. "And as a result, for two years and three months, we've been having to drive to either Olema, which is a 40-minute-plus round-trip drive, or Stinson Beach to pick up our mail," said local activist John Borg. Everyone in town knows exactly how long it's been because of a sign on the main road into town listing "days without a Bolinas post office." It is updated every day by Borg and now reads "807." But now, at the top of the sign is a cause for hope: "We did it, Bolinas! New post office opening by fall 2025." Local activist John Borg updates the sign every day. A deal has been struck to reopen the facility in the same building it occupied for more than 60 years. "It essentially, on paper, is a done deal," Borg said. "But in this day and age, we're not going to spike the ball until the doors open." The problem started as a lease dispute between postal officials and the building owner and things got pretty heated. So, with no other commercial buildings in town that would work, the Postal Service packed up and left. "The Postal Service said, 'We're never moving back to that place.' And the owner said, 'We're never having the Postal Service back,'" Borg said. "And there wasn't really anyone that was in the middle to say, 'Hey, wait a minute. Let's work this out.'" Enter Kent Khtikian, the local retired attorney who became the unofficial negotiator for the town. He got the building owner to agree to take the post office back, but the Postal Service wasn't budging. "The people at the ultimate decision-making level had decided they weren't going to come back here at So Khtikian quietly got to work in a Godfatherly way. "To make a proposal to the post office that they couldn't refuse, right?" he said with a smile. "That's what it was. It was a proposal they couldn't refuse." He negotiated some very favorable lease rates at the same time the community was applying pressure, writing thousands of letters and holding rallies and monthly meetings. Suddenly, the idea of moving back didn't seem so bad after all. "We're a small town with no elected officials," Borg said. "Citizens were able to bring the two parties together. It was not initiated by the Postal Service. Not initiated by the building owner. We brought them together." And, now, in a few months, Bolinas will get its post office back. "We love our post office. It's an important part of our community," Borg said. "So, it's kind of crazy that it's back to where it started but we'll take it." The activists said they are astonished they were able to negotiate the deal in light of all the current upheaval at the Postal Service and the threatened cutbacks by the federal government. It will take some time to rebuild the facility, but as evidence that the town holds no hard feelings, they've already erected a sign thanking USPS for rebuilding their post office. Or is that just another part of an offer that can't be refused?
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Excavated a Pyramid and Found 2,400-Year-Old Puppets That Look Hauntingly Alive
Archaeologists in El Salvador found a collection of clay puppets from the pre-Columbian El Salvador that they dated to around 400 B.C. The level of realism, both in the facial features and movement, on the crafted puppets is remarkable considering the age of the figurines. Holes in the necks of the puppets likely allowed strings to control their movements. When archaeologists excavated the top of the largest pyramid at San Isidro, El Salvador, they found something one would expect to find in a child's bedroom: a collection of five clay figurines. Details on the doll-like figures, including holes in the necks to allow for movement of the figurines' heads, prompted further studying to conclude that they were tools for ritual puppetry. A bit creepy, sure. Creepier yet, the figures had distinct facial expressions that appear to shift as you move. 'One of the most striking features of the puppets is their dramatic facial expression, which changes depending on the angle that we look at them from,' Jan Szymanski, archeologist from the University of Warsaw, said in a statement, noting that each figurine had an open mouth and some had visible tongues. 'Seen from above they appear almost grinning, but when looked at from the level angle they turn angry or disdainful, to become scared when seen from below. This is a conscious design perhaps meant to enhance the gamut of ritual performances the puppets could have been used in.' In a study published by the journal Antiquity, the authors wrote that 'beyond the aesthetic, figurines transmit deeper meanings that were readily decodable by their intended audience and may still offer sociocultural insights despite the loss of this coding through time.' So, while some of the specific meanings are probably lost to history, the study authors still hope to glean information about the culture of the time, with they dated to around 400 B.C. The puppet-style figurines, known as Bolinas that also resembled a find at Tak'alik Ab'ai in Guatemala, were discovered in an excavation of what the archaeologists believe is a pile of funerary artifacts. This was only the second such group found in situ and the first to feature a male figure. The five figurines ranged in length from four inches to 12 inches and three had articulated heads that could be turned with string to make it look as though they were speaking or singing. Each was colored cream or with a faint orange-brown hue and could stand upright unaided. Based on the discoveries of other figurines across Central America, these could have once been adorned with costumes of clothes, miniature jewelry, or wigs (the smallest had bracelets and a necklace already designed onto the figure). The style of the figurines led the authors to write that they were likely positioned, as puppets, into a scene to convey a message. 'They are clay actors,' Szymanski said, according to Science. 'When you hold them in your hand, sometimes they even look creepy because of their vivid expressions. You shift your gaze just a little bit and it seems like, oof, this thing almost moved.' The location atop a prominent pyramid and as part of a funeral-style burial gives them a level of importance and showed the figurines were likely used in rituals. Fragments found nearby suggest there could have been other figurines originally buried at the site. The clay creations were found alongside jade pendants that likely came from modern-day Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, making evident that San Isidro had a connection to other cultures in Central America and shared traditions and customs. This figurine style was also common throughout western El Salvador and southern Guatemala. 'This discovery contradicts the prevailing notion about El Salvador's cultural backwardness or isolation in ancient times,' Szymanski said. 'It reveals the existence of vibrant and far-reaching communities capable of exchanging ideas with remarkably distant places.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Highly expressive ancient puppets found in Salvadorian pyramid
A collection of 2,400-year-old ceramic puppets found atop a Salvadorian pyramid are forcing archaeologists to rethink the country's historical connection with its Central American neighbors. Three of the figures were made of fine clay and had adjustable heads with holes in them that may have been controlled using a string, much like a marionette puppet. They also had uniquely carved faces with expressions that seem to change depending on the angle they are viewed from. These remarkably well-preserved 'Bolinas' figures are similar to others found at the Mayan burial site Tak'alik Ab'aj in Guatemala. The researchers argue these connections suggest the culture behind the puppets in El Salvador may have communicated and interacted with others in the region. The findings were published this week in the journal Antiquity. 'This discovery contradicts some prevailing notion about El Salvador's cultural backwardness or isolation in ancient times,' University of Warsaw archaeologist and paper author Jan Szymański said in a statement. 'It reveals the existence of vibrant and far-reaching communities capable of exchanging ideas with remarkably distant places.' Bolinas figurines refer to various human-modeled statues created throughout the Middle and Late Preclassic (1000–350 BCE and 350 BCE–250 CE) along the coast of Guatemala and western El Salvador. These figures come in various sizes and are normally made of light cream or reddish-brown paste. The vast majority of previously discovered Bolinas figures depict females wearing clothes. That wasn't the case for these findings. All three of the larger figures recently found in El Salvador were nude, and researchers suspect one of them is male—a rarity for the medium. The figurines were uncovered on the top of the San Isidro pyramid structure in El Salvador's western Department of Sonsonate. The area had not previously been excavated. Researchers say they made their way to a part of the ancient pyramid that resembled a funeral depot but with no human remains inside. Instead, they stumbled upon five figurines which they carbon-dated to around 400 BCE. That date roughly corresponds to the Middle Preclassic era when nearby cultures, like the Maya, were on the brink of creating large hierarchical societies. Three of the largest figurines were roughly a foot tall, while the other two were around 18 centimeters tall. The taller figurines—one depicting a male and two depicting females—had adjustable heads with matching sockets that connected them to their bodies. At first glance, the objects resemble dolls or even more advanced action figures with movable parts. And yet, researchers say their clay bodies were likely too delicate to function as toys. Each of them also had small holes drilled into them, large enough for a string to pass through. Researchers believe the figurines' creators used a string to control them, allowing them to move and rotate their heads. Rather than toys, researchers believe the figurines were more likely an early type of puppet used in ritualistic funerary performances. The puppets' faces were intricately carved and feature visible tongues and ornate tattoos. Researchers say their facial expressions also look noticeably different depending on the angle. From above, the figurines almost appear to be grinning, but the face looks disdainful when viewed head-on. The expressions appear fearful when viewed from below. Szymański believes these variations were intentional. 'This is a conscious design, perhaps meant to enhance the gamut of ritual performances the puppets could have been used in,' Szymański said. And while the pressured puppets lacked any carved jewelry or hair, Szymański told Science he believes it's possible these large figurines were also once adorned in wigs and clothes made of cloth or straw. The figurines' creators, Szymański argues, may have dressed them up in costumes intended to represent different characters, either real or mythic. 'They are clay actors,' Szymański told Science. 'When you hold them in your hand, sometimes they even look creepy because of their vivid expressions,' 'You shift your gaze just a little bit and it seems like, oof, this thing almost moved,' he added. The puppet discovery sheds new light on an area of Central America that has historically been difficult for archaeologists to research. The country's densely populated areas make it more difficult to conduct excavations than in some of its more sparsely inhabited neighbors. Various large-scale volcanic eruptions over the past two thousand years have also damaged or destroyed many Pre-Columbian artifacts and ruins. '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,' Szymański said 'This gets worse the further back in time we look.' But the figurines' close resemblance to those found in Guatemala suggests that a shared culture and civilization may have existed in both areas. Other artifacts found in the San Isidro pyramid structure, such as jade pendants, have also been discovered at excavation sites in modern Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
