Latest news with #SanFernando
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Disturbing alien-like skull belonging to ‘archaic' human stuns experts who say ‘barbaric' deformation ritual is to blame
A BIZARRE enlarged alien-like skull has been unearthed by shocked construction workers in Argentina. Experts are divided on how the deformed discovery came to be. 2 2 But one strong theory links it to a barbaric method that dates back as far as 300,000 years ago. If true, it's a type of artificial cranial deformation process where the skull of a child is deliberately flattened to elongate the shape. The disturbing ritual involved putting pressure on the infant's head with splints or bandages when their bones are still flexible. This causes the skull to appear wider, as well as creating a flat or curved line along the back of it. The ancient practice was commonplace among some groups, like the Ciénaga and Aguada people, who roamed lived around the 3rd and 12th centuries AD. Unsuspecting construction workers in the town of San Fernando, Belén, stumbled across it, according to local media. They found funerary urns containing human remains, one containing the deformed skull. "We've contacted the provincial Anthropology Department and the police so they can conduct the necessary studies and find out what generation he belongs to and any mysteries this may hold," said Clara Ríos, the town's director of culture told papers. Some have likened the skull to that of the antmen - or the Myrmidons - an ancient tribe in Greek mythology. "Interpreting these findings offers an opportunity to deepen our connection with our ancestry," the Archaeological Studies Group (GEA) said, according to Heritage Daily. Danish archaeologists unearth 50 Viking skeletons "By respecting and valuing these cultural practices and their meanings, we honour the memory of our ancestors and connect with them through our shared human experience." There are a number of reasons why groups used to deform skulls like this. Experts say it was done as a sign of social status, to show which group you were part of or for spiritual beliefs.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Scientists are BAFFLED by a mysterious deformed skull discovered in Argentina - as some claim it could be so-called 'ANTMEN'
With its weird elongated skull, it looks like the long lost remains of an alien visitor to Earth. Wherever it's from, scientists have been left utterly baffled by this mysterious deformed skull discovered in Argentina. Archeologists say the skull – found by workers at San Fernando, Catamarca province – has a structure that differs markedly from that of a conventional person. The cranium is hugely elongated, as if it once housed a brain that was bigger and more powerful than that of any known human. Some local media have been describing it as a newly-found group of archaic humans. Others have been dubbing it 'antmen' in reference to the dog-sized army of ants that appeared in Greek mythology. Also known as Myrmekes, antmen lived in enormous anthills with complex winding passageways loaded with stolen loot, according to legend. But the skull's head shape also bears a stunning similarity to the extraterrestrials that appeared in the 1990s sci-fi classic ' Mars Attacks!' The 'unexpected discovery' was made by construction workers during an excavation for the installation of drinking water, local daily newspaper El Ancasti reports. The workers found two funerary urns containing human remains – one of which contained the unusually-shaped skull. One of the urns reportedly contained a complete skeleton, while the other contained partial remains that will also be analysed by experts at the National University of Catamarca. 'What drew the most attention was the unusual shape of one of the skulls , whose structure differs markedly from that of a conventional human,' the paper said. 'The discovery generated great interest and was reported to the provincial anthropology authorities, who are expected to arrive on the site. 'The site has been fenced and remains under guard to preserve the remains and facilitate the work of specialists.' As the news was revealed locally, certain media described the skull as 'antmen' in reference to the Greek legend, Heritage Daily reports, but the truth may be even more grizzly and unpleasant It's possible the owner had their skull cruelly deformed in a barbaric method called 'artificial cranial deformation'. Artificial cranial deformation involved applying pressure to infants' skulls with splints or bandages when the bones were still flexible, resulting in an elongated skull with a flat or curved line across the back marking the area where the pressure was applied. This ancient cultural practice was commonplace by groups such as the Ciénaga and Aguada people that lived between the 3rd and 12th centuries AD. Rick Schulting, a professor of prehistoric archaeology at the University of Oxford, said cranial modification was a common practice in many parts of the world, including western South America. 'This was done for various reasons, including aesthetics and marking out social groups – e.g., ethnicity or higher social status,' he told MailOnline. 'It was done by binding an infant's head with bands, sometimes using boards to achieve the desired shape. There is no evidence that this ever harmed the infant.' Dr Heidi Dawson-Hobbis, senior lecturer in biological anthropology at the University of Winchester, said 'it looks like the skull may be of a juvenile'. 'From looking at the photo my first thought was hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain), but it is difficult to tell from the photograph,' she told MailOnline. 'Alternatively depending on the date of the remains various different cultures in South America practised head binding or the use of cradle boards which led to modified skull shapes.' 'Trepanning', also known as 'trepanation', involved a piece of bone being drilled and removed from the skull. Pictured, a trepanated Neolithic skull Other artificial cranial shapes opted for by various cultures around the world included rounded and conical, but ancient people worldwide practiced even more dramatic alterations to their skull, including 'trepanning', also known as 'trepanation'. This involved a piece of bone being drilled and removed from the skull, usually with the goal of relieving pressure or fulfilling ritualistic practices. It's unclear what state the second skull newly found in the other Argentinian funerary urn is in; MailOnline has contacted the authorities for more information. In a statement, experts at National University of Catamarca said: 'Interpreting these findings offers and opportunity to deepen our connection with our ancestry. 'By respecting and valuing these cultural practices and their meanings, we honour the memory of our ancestors and connect with them through our shared human experience.' THE BIZARRE HISTORICAL PRACTICE OF TREPANATION Trepanation is a procedure which was done throughout human history. It involves removing a section of the skull and was often done on animals and humans. The first recorded proof of this was done on a cow in the Stone Age 3,000 years ago. It was a process that was still being conducted in the 18th century. The belief was that for many ailments that involved severe pain in the head of a patient, removing a circular piece of the cranium would release the pressure. Before then, dating back to the Neolithic era, people would drill or scrape a hole into the head of people exhibiting abnormal behaviour. It is thought that this would release the demons held in the skull of the afflicted.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
📸 After stunning choreography, Betis shock Chelsea early in the final
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. For Real Betis, today is about nothing less than everything. The Spaniards are in the Conference League final against FC Chelsea and are dreaming of the first European title in the club's history. In keeping with this grand occasion, the traveling Betis fans presented a very impressive choreography. ✨ "No busco gloria perecedera, sino la de tu nombre"San Fernando. El tifo del Betis para la final de Conference League. — Álvaro Borrego (@alvaritomfs) May 28, 2025 And the spark should jump directly to the team. After a cream pass from Isco, Ezzalzouli hit directly in the ninth minute of the game to make it 1:0 for the underdog. 📸 Richard Heathcote - 2025 Getty Images Now it's your turn: Will Betis take home the first European title in club history today, or will the Blues make a comeback? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments! 📸 Dean Mouhtaropoulos - 2025 Getty Images
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Adani Ports to invest ₹13,000 crore to expand capacity at Vizhinjam transshipment port
Adani Ports & SEZ Ltd (APSEZ), the ports and logistics company of the Adani Group, will invest about ₹13000 crore to further expand the capacity of the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport at Thiruvananthapuram, which was on Friday (May 2, 2025) dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the first phase of the project, India's first transshipment port, has been operational since last year taking very large ships, the additional investment will be made in the second phase of expansion which is scheduled to complete in 2028. Follow the LIVE updates on PM Modi's visit to Kerala and Andhra Pradesh The Public Private Partnership (PPP) project has come up with an investment of ₹7,000 crore, in which APSEZ's contribution is ₹4,300 crore, Karan Adani, Managing Director, APSEZ said. Answering a question from The Hindu, Mr Adani said, 'We will invest ₹12,000 crore to ₹13,000 crore in the second phase, and the entire money will be invested by APSEZ.' He said the company has approval for the second phase of expansion and the port's capacity would be increased to 5 million TEUs from 1 million TEUs currently. He said for the second phase the breakwater will be expanded by another 900 meters and the size of the berth will increase by 12 meters. The current length is the breakwater, which has been constructed in water depths of 18 to 20 meters. The overall height of the breakwater is 28 meters (which is equivalent to a 9-storey building). This is the deepest breakwater constructed in the country at a cost of ₹1,387 crore, which is fully funded by Government of Kerala. In 2015 the Kerala government signed an agreement with APSEZ to develop the port and Adani has a 40-year concession to build, operate, and transfer the port, with a provision for a 20-year extension. The port commenced trial operations in July 2024, receiving its first mothership, the San Fernando. In September 2024 and April 2025, it received the MSC Claude Girarde and MSC Türkiye, listed among world's ultra large container vessels and largest vessels ever visited an Indian Port. Since start operation, the Port has handled more than 280 vessels and 6 lakh TEUs. The port has a natural deep draft of 18m close to shore that requires no capital dredging, Vizhinjam can leverage its natural depth to host even ultra-large next-gen container ships requiring 20m+ drafts. It features India's tallest ship-to-shore cranes and is equipped with AI-powered vessel traffic management systems. Situated 10 nautical miles from the international east–west shipping route, Vizhinjam is poised to become a pivotal transshipment hub, reducing India's reliance on ports like Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai. Mr Adani said port is expected to significantly lower logistics costs for Indian manufacturers by 30-40%, enhancing the country's export competitiveness. He said the port will play a crucial role in India's maritime infrastructure. In FY26 APSEZ has announced to invest ₹12,000 crore at it's various ports in India and abroad. He said the company was looking for opportunities in South East Asia and East Africa. At a function organised at the port Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the capacity of this transshipment hub will triple in the coming years, enabling the smooth arrival of some of the world's largest cargo ships. He pointed out that 75% of India's transshipment operations were previously conducted at foreign ports, leading to significant revenue loss for the country. Emphasising that this situation is now set to change, he asserted that India's money will now serve India and the funds that once flowed outside the country will now generate new economic opportunities for Kerala and Vizhinjam's people.
Hans India
02-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Vizhinjam International Seaport: India's 1st automated deep-sea port set to transform maritime trade
The idea and efforts of establishing a deep-sea port at Vizhinjam dates back to 1991. Over the years, multiple attempts were made to initiate the project, but it faced several challenges, including security concerns and legal disputes related to bidding and lack of investor interest. In August 2015, the Kerala government signed an agreement with Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (APSEZ) to develop the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This marked a significant step towards realising the long-standing vision of a world-class port in the region. Following the unsuccessful attempts of 1995, 2004, 2008 and 2010, the state government in 2014, recognising the standalone financial viability of the project, structured the project with viability gap funding (VGF) assistance from the Central government and substantial financial support from state government. Adani Ports emerged as the sole selected bidder and was awarded the project in 2015. The agreement granted Adani a 40-year concession to build, operate, and transfer the port, with a provision for a 20-year extension. However, the execution of the Vizhinjam Port project was fraught with challenges. Cyclone Ockhi in 2017 caused significant damage to the construction, particularly the breakwater, leading to delays. A scarcity of essential construction materials, especially limestone, further hampered progress. Agitations resulting from apprehension related to Coastal Erosion and livelihood loss. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and labour availability, contributing to further delays. Despite these obstacles, the Adani Group persisted, overcoming all challenges with patience and maturity, and continued to work towards project completion. As of May 2025, the Vizhinjam International Seaport stands as a testament to India's maritime ambitions: The port commenced trial operations in July 2024, receiving its first mothership, the San Fernando. In September 2024 and April 2025, it welcomed the MSC Claude Girarde and MSC Turkiye, listed among world's ultra large container vessels and largest vessels ever visited an Indian Port. Since start operation, the Port has handled more than 280 vessels and 6 Lakh TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units). The port boasts a natural deep draft of 18m close to shore that requires no capital dredging. Vizhinjam can leverage its natural depth to host even ultra-large next-gen container ships requiring 20m+ drafts. It features India's tallest ship-to-shore cranes and is equipped with AI-powered vessel traffic management systems. Situated just 10 nautical miles from the international east–west shipping route, Vizhinjam is poised to become a pivotal transshipment hub, reducing India's reliance on ports like Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai. The port is expected to significantly lower logistics costs for Indian manufacturers by 30-40 per cent, enhancing the country's export competitiveness. With plans to increase capacity to 5 million TEUs by 2028 with latest technology, the port is set to play a crucial role in India's maritime infrastructure. Working closely with the state government and the Central government, the Adani Group has already invested over Rs 4,500 crore in the Vizhinjam International Seaport project. As India's first automated port, Vizhinjam is setting new benchmarks in port management and operations. The Adani Group is expected to invest another Rs 20,000 crore in the project's upcoming phases, creating more than 5,000 jobs and boosting the local economy to unprecedented heights.
