Latest news with #Prehistoric
The Irish Sun
04-08-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Archaeologists uncover 800-year-old bones with strange details & they offer a surprising insight into Aztec life
The discovery points at a potential link to the Aztec empire ANCIENT SECRETS Archaeologists uncover 800-year-old bones with strange details & they offer a surprising insight into Aztec life ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered ancient bones that offer a surprising insight into the Aztec era. Historians noticed details on the remains, suggesting they may have served an unusual purpose. Advertisement 3 Details on ancient human remains found in South Texas suggest a potential link to Aztec life (stock image) Credit: Getty 3 Carvings on the bones suggest they were used as musical instruments Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Gary Todd Archaeologists carried out an in-depth analysis of 29 prehistoric human bones discovered along the southern Texas coast. Unusual markings on the skeletal remains suggest they may have carried out a purpose beyond death. Unusual details Historians suggested that the group of hunter-gatherers who once inhabited the area likely created music by transforming the human bones into instruments. Dr. Matthew Taylor, who works as a biological anthropologist at Georgia's Augusta University, identified a musical rasp fashioned from a human humerus while studying the artefacts. Advertisement IFLScience reported that the item, which was part of a museum collection, resembled an omichicahuaztli, which is an instrument that was used by pre-Hispanic Mexican cultures, including the Aztecs. The remains date back to the Late Prehistoric era (AD 700-1500) in North America, according to an in-depth analayis published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. "Late Prehistoric South Texas (1300-1528 AD) was characterised by hunter-gatherer habitation," Dr. Taylor wrote. "Forager peoples lived in the region from Paleoindian times up to and beyond European contact and never adopted agriculture." Advertisement He added that inhabitants of southern Texas and the associated Gulf Coast "have been historically documented since AD 1528". The analysis of the 29 bones found that 27 were made from either the arm or the leg. 'Once in a century' Pompeii discovery as ancient luxury SPA is saved from ashes with thermal baths & stunning mosaic Meanwhile, the remaining two objects were constructed from rib bones. According to archaeologists, the instruments were typically crafted using what's known as the "groove-and-snap" method. Advertisement This involves sawing a groove around a bone's circumference before breaking it in half. "This process is labour intensive and represents hours of work," Dr. Taylor wrote. He emphasised the meticulous manual effort behind crafting these skeletal artifacts. Potential links Historical objects fashioned from human bone are often thought to signify practices like honouring ancestors or displaying war trophies. Advertisement However, Dr. Taylor pointed out that such interpretations don't align with other archaeological findings from the region. The musical rasp made from an upper arm bone featured 29 carefully carved notches and decorative geometric patterns. One of the most intriguing discoveries, this instrument appeared to have been played by scraping another object along the grooves. While unique to South Texas, similar instruments are well-documented in central Mexican histories. Advertisement Typically carved from human thigh bones, these objects are decorated with comparable designs. Dr. Taylor speculated the Texan rasp "may represent an emulation of Mexican religious practices." He pointed to a possible contact or influence between Indigenous tribes occupying the South Texas coast and the Aztec empire. "Whatever their original provenance, it is quite apparent that the Late Prehistoric inhabitants did not regard the handling of human remains as taboo," he concluded. Advertisement "Although some may wish to equate the presence of these artefacts with the existence of cannibalism, this report does not support or refute that hypothesis." More on archaeology The remains of a lost Roman city have been uncovered on a popular holiday island. And the lost tomb of a 1,700-year-old king was uncovered in Mayan temple. Plus, the eerie "hybrid" skull that belonged to a "half human, half neanderthal girl". Advertisement An ancient lost city from 3,500-years-ago that played home to the oldest civilization in the Americas' was uncovered in Peru. And AI has deciphered a hymn on a 4,000-year-old clay tablet, which is said unlock the mystery of the ancient city of Babylon.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dinosaurs crash land into Bishop Museum this weekend
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Something is stalking the grounds of Bishop Museum as a new exhibit prepares to make its debut. WakeUp2Day's Chris Latronic went live at 'Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep' to learn more about the prehistoric experience. Explore the prehistoric past in Big Island's new exhibit For the first time on Oahu, guests get up close and personal with oceanic and aquatic reptiles from the Jurassic period, including favorites such as the T Rex and Stegosaurus. According to Bishop Museum's Vice President of Public Programs, Brandon Bunag, there are many new, exciting and interactive exhibits available to experience this can become scientists with a new exhibit that features an interactive fossil scanner. Just grab a fossil and scan it through the high-tech scanner to learn all about it. This exhibit also features many life-sized fossils of prehistoric dinosaurs from the ocean, showcasing some creatures that may have once lived in our oceans. Looking to travel back in time? Visit the time machine, a 13-minute show that will take you back to experience the many different periods of dinosaurs, like the Prehistoric and Jurassic eras. Visitors can also come face-to-face with an actual dinosaur. Meet Moʻonui, a juvenile T Rex, every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Check out more news from around Hawaii Schools can start booking field trips for next school year now, and the exhibit opens to the public on Saturday, May 24, at 9 a.m. For more information, visit the Bishop Museum's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
