Latest news with #Neolithic
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
The timeless mystery of Stonehenge, and the secrets buried in stone
Stonehenge alone occupies the rolling hills of Wiltshire, England, its enormous stones tall and still in a silent testament to an ancient time. For centuries, travelers, scholars, and mystics have been intrigued by this great monument. Who created it? Why did they create it? And how, without the aid of modern machinery, were those enormous stones dragged and put into place so precisely? A visit to Stonehenge is not merely a walk through history; it's an entrance into one of the world's most intriguing unsolved mysteries. A glimpse into the past Stonehenge was constructed over a series of periods, starting around 3000 BCE, in the Neolithic era. Over the course of the following 1,500 years, the location changed as cultures came and changed the building. This timeline makes it virtually impossible to attribute it to a single purpose or culture. What never changes is the awe it provokes. When you walk up to the ring of stones, you can easily feel yourself transported away. The earth is studded with prehistoric burial mounds and ritual earthworks. Stonehenge is not a lone monument; there's so much more to this prehistoric sacred landscape. The mystery of construction One of the biggest secrets of Stonehenge is how it was constructed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Soluções confiáveis para centros de dados IA Siemens Energy Read More Undo The biggest stones, the sarsens, are as much as 25 tons each and were pulled nearly 20 miles from Marlborough Downs. The smaller bluestones, weighing approximately 4 tons each, were from the Preseli Hills of Wales, approximately 200 miles away. How did Neolithic humans transport these massive stones over such distances without wheels or metal tools? Some have hypothesized that they did this by a combination of sleds, rollers, and waterways. Others think the stones could have been transported by glaciers during the Ice Age. Although numerous attempts have been made to repeat these efforts, no process has yet been shown to have worked. Even more remarkable is the accuracy with which the stones were fitted. The builders had mortise and tenon joints join the horizontal lintels to the vertical pillars, which is a sophisticated method that looks more like woodworking than stonework. Theories about its purpose The largest puzzle is what Stonehenge was actually used for. There is solid evidence that Stonehenge was used as a burial place. Human bones have been discovered in and around the site, and many of them date back to its most ancient stages. Some archaeologists are convinced that only elites or important people were buried there, suggesting that it could be a holy site for the dead. Stonehenge's alignment with the solstices is perhaps the most celebrated aspect of this monument. Each year during the summer solstice, the rising sun precisely aligns with the Heel Stone on the outside of the circle and the central Altar Stone. This alignment indicates the site was perhaps utilized to monitor solar and lunar phenomena, essential for agrarian cultures to know when to plant and harvest. Another theory holds that Stonehenge was a pilgrims' site where individuals came to be healed. The bluestones had mystical or medicinal powers. A few of the skeletons display evidence of sickness or wounds, tending to prove that individuals came in from far away in the hopes of being healed. While thousands of years old, Stonehenge remains a cultural and spiritual draw. Today, Druids and Pagans flock to the monument at the time of the solstices to commemorate and hold rituals, tying present beliefs to ancient practices. Visitors from across the world arrive not only to view the stones but to experience them, to stand in the shadow of the unknown, built by the hands of people forgotten to history. Visiting Stonehenge isn't about gazing at an ancient site; it's about stepping into a world of mystique. Standing under the stones, the questions reach as high as the monument: Was it a temple? A tomb? A cosmic clock? The truth is, it could have been all those things and more. One thing is for sure: Stonehenge has intrigued people for ages. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
UK's oldest road that's 87-miles long and was used by people 5,000 years ago
The Ridgeway National Trail is Britain's oldest road, and dates back to over 5,000 years ago. The 87-mile prehistoric track was used by travellers, shepherds and warriors Touted as Britain's oldest road, the Ridgeway National Trail is a timeworn path that has witnessed over 5,000 years of footsteps. Starting at the World Heritage Site in Avebury, Wiltshire, this prehistoric track spans 87 miles and culminates at Ivinghoe Beacon, known for its breathtaking vistas in the Chiltern Hills. The trail not only offers a walk through history but also guides explorers past an array of remarkable sites, from Neolithic tombs to the folkloric Uffington White Horse, and diverse habitats like Barbury Castle, Wallingford Castle, and even the whimsical Pitstone Windmill. The Sanctuary, dating back to about 2500 BC with its original configuration of wooden posts and stones connected to Avebury, is now indicated with concrete markers denoting where these structures once stood. National Trails revealed the longstanding significance of the trail by stating: "For, at least 5,000 years and maybe many more, people, including drovers, traders and invaders, have walked or ridden The Ridgeway." They further explained: "As part of a prehistoric track, once stretching about 250 miles (400 Km) from the Dorset coast to the Wash on the Norfolk coast, it provided a route over the high ground for travellers which was less wooded and drier than routes through the springline villages below." Currently, the storied path is a favoured spot for hikers, runners, cyclists, and horse riders, drawn by both its natural splendour and its deep historical roots, reports the Express. The Ridgeway National Trail, spanning an impressive 87 miles across the English countryside, is teeming with history and stunning landscapes. Two unparalleled Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – the North Wessex Downs and The Chilterns – beckon explorers along this divided six-section path known for its breathtaking scenery from West of the River Thames to the enchanting East. The trail boasts awe-inspiring vistas of open downland, secluded tracks, and a treasure trove of historical sites in the West, while walkers can indulge in the scenic beauty of wooded valleys, flourishing nature reserves, and idyllic villages in The Chilterns. TripAdvisor user Louise Head shared her experience, saying: "The walk to see Wayland Smithy is so worth it. It is a beautiful place so atmospheric. "The walk up too White Horse hill is a lovely walk thoroughly recommend it." Another hiker from Aberdeen marvelled at the ancient connection, writing: "The Ridgeway follows an 87 mile long route used since prehistoric times by travellers and herdsmen. "It's amazing to think you're treading in the footsteps of our ancient ancestors." One more trekker added: "The trail runs from Overton Hill to Ivinghoe Beacon, but of course you don't have to walk it all! We walked a section in the Chilterns, and midweek it was very quiet. It's a well signposted route offering lovely views over rolling countryside." A TripAdvisor user from Exeter shared their experience: "Myself and a friend rode the full length of the ridgeway, starting in West Kennet and picking up the Swan way and Icknield way riders route east of Streatley where the Ridgeway itself becomes a footpath. "We averaged 18 - 20 miles per day which was a nice easy pace allowing time for sightseeing. "Our total mileage was 103. It is a lovely ride with stunning scenery and little roadwork. We found horse friendly B&B's along the route which meant we had to carry less gear. Highly recommend!"
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Science
- Borneo Post
'More advanced than imagined': Archaeologists tracing origins of Chinese civilisation at Mount Tai
An aerial drone photo shows the Dawen River (upper left), Dawenkou Site Museum (upper right) and the core area of the Dawenkou site in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province. – Xinhua photo JINAN (June 1): At the foot of Mount Tai in east China, archaeologists work carefully in fields abloom with flowers, gently brushing soil from exposed ruins. The remnants are vestiges of a once-great civilization that prospered approximately 6,100 to 4,600 years ago. This is part of a new phase of excavations at the Neolithic Dawenkou site. The dig, launched in 2024 and set to continue through 2028, will help archaeologists uncover more information about how early human communities lived, worked, and built their societies, said Zhang Baowei, head of the Dawenkou Cultural Heritage Preservation Center. He said the team had already unearthed intriguing discoveries – including an 85-metre-wide trench, possibly used for defense, that could shed light on the early development of social organisation or even statehood. Mount Tai, a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of China's most sacred mountains, has long been culturally and spiritually symbolic. Now, its foothills are offering new insights into the origins of Chinese civilisation. The Dawenkou Culture, which preceded the better-known Longshan Culture, once spread across more than 200,000 square kilometres. It was centered around Mount Tai and Dawen River in present-day Shandong Province. First identified in the 1950s during railway construction, the site has yielded thousands of artifacts over the years – from pottery and jade to burial sites and dwellings. Some items are marked with symbols that some researchers believe may be early precursors to Chinese writing. Archaeologists have marveled at the sophistication of the Dawenkou Culture. Liu Yunlong, an archaeologist working at the site, said patches of red burnt earth uncovered were believed to be the remains of collapsed house walls. According to Liu, these walls may have been deliberately fired in their entirety to enhance structural stability, suggesting that people at the time had already mastered the ability to control extremely high temperatures. In modern attempts to replicate the technique, Liu added, archaeologists fired a similar structure continuously for four days at nearly 800 degrees Celsius – but were unable to reproduce the same result. 'Our Neolithic ancestors were far more advanced than we imagined,' he said, noting that even the layout of the dwellings showed signs of deliberate and sophisticated design. Excavations indicate that the Dawenkou people had already engaged in barter trade, and early handicrafts such as brewing, pottery-making, and textile production were beginning to emerge. Photo shows pottery displayed at the Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province. – Xinhua photo Artifacts found in burial sites suggest the presence of social stratification and a clear division of labour. Some graves contain a wealth of goods, implying the emergence of private property, social classes, and even rudimentary forms of royal authority. These burial practices also reveal the existence of ritual systems aimed at regulating interpersonal relationships – an early form of what later became known in Chinese history as 'Li'. Zhang noted that the Dawenkou ritual system likely influenced other civilisations of that time, as well as those of the later Shang and Zhou dynasties (1600BC – 256BC). After being systematised by Confucius (551 BC-479 BC), these rituals continue to profoundly shape Chinese civilisation to this day. The ongoing excavations are also part of China's broader effort to explore the origins of its ancient civilisation. Around the same time of the Dawenkou Culture, multiple early cultures developed across the vast land of China, contributing to a pluralistic yet unified framework that underpins the origins of Chinese civilisation. In the 21st century BC, China's first dynasty – the Xia – was established, whose existence has been confirmed through archaeological findings. Before the Xia Dynasty, the Liangzhu Culture, which emerged in the south, is also believed to have exhibited features of an early state. The Dawenkou Culture represents another prominent example of early social complexity, shedding light on the origins of Chinese civilization. Shan Jixiang, former curator of the Palace Museum, once remarked that the discovery of Dawenkou relics pushes the origins of Chinese civilisation back by 2,000 to 3,000 years. 'The remarkable achievements of ancient Chinese civilisation make people today feel proud,' said Zhang. Photo shows a zun, a type of Chinese ritual ceramic wine vessel with a vase-like form, displayed at the Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province. – Xinhua photo China places great importance on the protection and transmission of its ancient culture. With a history that spans thousands of years, Chinese civilisation represents the unique spiritual identity of the nation, serves as the cultural foundation of contemporary China, and remains a vital link connecting Chinese communities around the world. It is also a rich source of inspiration for cultural innovation, he said. Experts note that the significance of archaeology goes beyond understanding the past; it also holds relevance for modern life. In 2016, the Dawenkou national archaeological site park was established, serving as a base for historical and cultural education as well as youth programmes. The park receives nearly 100,000 visitors annually. 'It is a source of pride to live on the land of our ancestors,' said Zhang Yiqiang, Party secretary of Dawenkou Township. 'The perseverance and creativity of early peoples inspire us to do better.' In recent years, Dawenkou has developed an industrial park and launched pilot projects for high-yield farmland, helping raise local incomes. At the foot of Mount Tai, a company draws inspiration from traditional culture to develop health products made from polygonatum, a traditional Chinese herb. The business of Taishang Polygonatum Biotech Co Ltd has helped lift more than 40,000 farmers out of poverty. 'What our ancestors left us is more than physical nourishment; it is a spiritual and civilisational legacy,' said Wang Qian, the company's executive vice general manager. – Xinhua ancient archaeology China Chinese civilisation Mount Tai Xinhua
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Rediscovery of Assam's Daojali Hading site unveils iron elements & 2,700-yr-old artefacts
Guwahati: A team of archaeologists, in collaboration with the District Museum, Haflong, has retraced its steps to Daojali Hading — an ancient Neolithic site in Assam's Dima Hasao district — and unearthed a fresh cache of artefacts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The rediscovery of the site, which was first excavated in the 1960s, has led to a breakthrough: the discovery of iron elements for the first time, potentially marking it as the earliest known site with evidence of iron use in the northeast. The reconnaissance survey, which took place during March and April, happened around 5-6km away from the commercial town of Langting along the NH 27 route. It unearthed artefacts that included a double shouldered Celt — a chiselled stone tool — chord marked potteries, pastels-mortars, a polished stone arrowhead, and more which dated around 2,700 years old. "The range of domestic and utilitarian artefacts confirms the importance of this region, as it is an important archaeological site of the state, which indicates signs of early human population, likely by the Austroasiatic speaking communities, who were among the early settlers, based on archaeological and linguistic data. These discoveries collectively offer valuable insights into the region's prehistoric lithic and emerging metallurgical traditions," said Shring Dao Langthasa, one of the archaeologists, who had led the survey. Among the assemblage, an iron slag and other ferruginous (containing iron ore) materials, were found for the first time. "Until now, the earliest scientifically dated evidence of iron usage in the region came from Meghalaya, estimated to be around 2,300 years old. However, items currently undergoing testing in Dima Hasao district may predate this. If the dates are confirmed, it could mean that the first traces of iron usage in India were discovered in Dima Hasao. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now ...," he said. It is one of the eight Neolithic sites identified in the region — Daojali Hading and Sarutaru from Assam, while the others sites are from Meghalaya, two from Manipur, one from Arunachal, and one from Nagaland. "Early findings revealed that the site had ties to other eastern and southeast Asia, likely through ancient trade networks. The discovery of jadeite stones, also found in China and uniquely discovered from Daojali Hading supports the theory," Shring Dao Langthasa said The team involved Shring Dao Langthasa and Bhubanjoy Langthasa of the department of archaeology in collaboration with Bidisha Bordoloi, District Museum officer, along with professors Sukanya Sharma and Marco Mitri.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Neolithic habitation found in Assam's Dima Hasao
An archaeological site in Assam's Dima Hasao district, uncovered but damaged during the construction of an arterial road in the 1960s, has yielded artefacts that establish it as a Neolithic habitation zone dating back to more than 2,700 years. The discovery of a furnace and iron slag, indicating metallurgical activities, has provided 'substantial support' for earlier hypotheses that Daojali Hading was a major prehistoric settlement in the northeastern part of India. These artefacts were among several found by a multidisciplinary team during a recent archaeological reconnaissance survey at Daojali Hading on the ridges within the Langting-Mupa Reserve Forest off National Highway 27. The team was led by Shring Dao Langthasa and Bhubanjoy Langthasa of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council's (NCHAC) Department of Archaeology. Bidisha Bordoloi, heading the District Museum in Haflong, the headquarters of Dima Hasao, about 340 km from Guwahati, collaborated in the survey, while Sukanya Sharma of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, and Marco Mitri of Shillong's North Eastern Hill University provided expert guidance. The Langting-Mupa Reserve Forest has long been recognised for its Neolithic significance. The Daojali Hading site in the vicinity was uncovered during the construction of the Lumding-Haflong Road in the 1960s, leading to systematic excavations from 1962 to 1964 by professors T.C. Sharma and M.C. Goswami of the Gauhati University's Department of Anthropology. These investigations revealed polished double-shouldered celts, cord-marked pottery, mortars and pestles, besides jadeite stone, confirming the site's neolithic affiliation. The unearthed artefacts linked the site with the broader Eastern and Southeastern Asian Neolithic cultural complex. Past buried by road The findings, however, did not stop the road construction work over the excavated area. The road damaged a large part of the site, virtually burying Dima Hasao's neolithic past. Prof Sharma revisited the site in 1985 for further investigations. The new survey was undertaken by following his cues. The team recovered a significant assemblage of cord-marked and low-fired potsherds, grinding and polishing stones, and polished stone tools, indicative of a potential settlement. This was followed up by laying four trial trenches. 'The reconnaissance survey yielded a rich assemblage of artefacts, which were reported earlier, such as polished double-shouldered celts, cord-marked pottery, grinding stones, mortars, pestles, and double-edged celts,' Dr Shring Langthasa said. 'However, iron slag and other ferruginous materials were identified for the first time. Additionally, a polished arrowhead, hafted celts, miniature adzes, broken tools, unfinished flakes, and charcoal samples were recovered,' he told The Hindu. While some trenches offered only contextual data, others produced significant finds such as limestone deposits, iron slag, and ferruginous materials, indicating early metalworking activities. The presence of both finished and unfinished lithic tools highlighted technological diversity and on-site tool production, offering valuable insights into the region's prehistoric lithic and emerging metallurgical traditions. More research sought Further exploration of the site led to the discovery of a furnace accompanied by iron slag — strong evidence of early metallurgical activity, the archaeologists said. These ferruginous materials are being studied at the Department of Geology of Gauhati University. The testing and analysis of artefacts, soil, and other collected samples are being conducted at the Archaeological Sciences Laboratory in IIT, Guwahati. A statement from the team said the findings indicate that Daojali Hading was more than just a lithic production site. 'The range of domestic and utilitarian artefacts confirms that it was a settled neolithic habitation zone, a conclusion that aligns with earlier interpretations but lacked definitive proof until now,' it said. The team said that the site stands as a crucial marker of prehistoric community life in India's northeast. It called for more research, including radiocarbon dating of organic remains and comparative studies with other Neolithic sites in the region. The team thanked NCHAC's Chief Executive Member, Debolal Gorlosa, and Executive Member for Cultural Affairs, Monjit Naiding, for supporting the survey as a heritage conservation project. Among the team members was Sudip Kemprai, who interpreted old maps to find the site.
