Clueless builders destroy 6,000-year-old Spanish tomb

by Tim MacFarlan via “Daily Mail“

Clueless builders in a Spanish town accidentally destroyed a 6,000-year-old tomb they mistook for a broken picnic table and replaced it with a concrete bench. 

The embarrassing incident took place in the town of Cristovo de Cea in the region of Galacia in Spain’s north west and was described as a ‘monumental error’ by university professor. 

The ancient neolithic tomb had been designated a site of ‘cultural interest’ by the regional government of Galicia and was supposed to have been protected by Spain’s historical heritage law.

But instead it was removed and the patch of ground on which it stood covered with a concrete slab so the ugly white bench could be installed.

The mistaken act of cultural vandalism was reported by local environmental group Grupo Ecolozista Outeiro, who wrote in a report, ‘The rolled concrete and modern picnic bench have caused irreparable damage, replacing what was a prehistoric cemetery of the first inhabitants of Cea.’

It was passed to Galicia’s public prosecutor which has opened a file on the case. It is also being investigated by the Galician Department of Culture, Education and Universities.

Juan A Barceló, a professor of prehistory at the Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona, told The Local:  ‘I was horrified when I heard this news.   

‘It is a monumental error. In Spain, no-one is allowed to take the individual decision to rebuild an historical monument, specially when it is classified in the national register, as it was.’. . . .

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Greek archaeologists find couple locked in millennia-old hug

Gruesome or Sweet? **DB

“Greek Archaeologists Find Couple Locked in Millennia-Old Hug“

via “Yahoo News!“

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Death did not part them.

Archaeologists in southern Greece have discovered the grave of a man and woman buried as they died some 5,800 years ago — still tightly embracing.

A senior member of the excavation team, Anastassia Papathanassiou, says the discovery — made in 2013 and publicized this week after DNA testing determined each skeleton’s sex — is the oldest of its kind in Greece. She says the couple most likely died holding each other.

Papathanassiou told The Associated Press on Friday that the remains of the couple, estimated to be in their 20s, were found near the Alepotrypa Cave, an important prehistoric site.

It’s unclear how they died and whether they were related, but Papathanassiou says further DNA testing should answer the latter question.

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“Wanna Go Exploring? Check Out These Sarcophagi Deep In Peru”

via “Viral Nova“

Ever wish you were an adventurer, or an explorer, discovering environs and relics unseen by human eyes for centuries? It’s certainly a fantasy I had when I was much younger, but it’s one that I can always feel a tinge of in my adult-life. Wanting to escape the everyday and see something new, different, or unfamiliar is a feeling we all can relate to. Sometimes just surfing the web a little bit can give us a taste of what being a real explorer is like, but from the comfort of our homes. Check out the story below about some ancient statues in Peru, and do some exploring of your own.

These “statues” are actually sarcophagi, located 60 kilometers northeast of Chachapoyas, in Luya Province of Peru.

Hanumann

The site is called “Karajia,” and is the site of the tombs of ancient wise men. The local people call the sarcophagi the “Purunmachos.”

C-Monster

Each sarcophagus is about 2.5 meters high, with the head of each ornamented with horns, and some with skulls!

C-Monster

The Purunmachos are around 600 years old and were discovered in 1984 by archaeologist Federico Kauffmann.

J F

There were 8 sarcophagi originally, but two were destroyed by natural causes. Luckily, because of the remote location of these six sarcophagi have stayed relatively intact.

J F

(via: amusingplanet.com)

These sarcophagi are ancient and awesome relics and one’s that you know it would be really cool to travel to see.

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Update on Xinzheng Burial Ground

They closed off the site before we could see any more of the progress; however, we do know that they have uncovered about 40 tombs so far.  There are estimated to be at least 200 more not yet excavated.  They have been finding random odds and ends in the graves, including pottery and some gold jewelry.  It is believed that this was the burial ground for the village, so it is  a mixture of lovely graves and less up-kept ones.   At least some date back to the 3rd Century B.C.E., around the late Warring States Kingdom of Han.  Right now, the government has closed the area off to students and visitors, and they will be monitoring the progress.  Xinzheng is the “Birthplace” of China because Emperor Huangdi was born here.  It was the central-point for several dynastic governments, and there is a lot of history here.  It will be fascinating to see what they uncover!

I’m Living In An Archaeology Dig!

I’m apparently living out my dream in an Archaeology Dig!  Students were told today that in the building of the new college library here on campus, they found a massive ancient burial ground!  According to what I’ve been told, they estimate at least 1400 years old.  They believe that the people here were commoners who died peacefully, and after looking at the bodies, they are certainly mostly whole.  It is incredibly fascinating to see.  The students are allowed to simply wander around the burial spots at least until Monday when they will be closed off by the historians and archeologists.  I’ll post more pictures soon.  So Cool!!