Libyan Rock and Cave Art May Point to Origins of Egyptian Civilization

I'm not sure I haven't posted about this before.  But - just in case :)

Sahara cave may hold clues to dawn of Egypt
Mon May 24, 2010 9:35am GMT
By Patrick Werr

CAIRO (Reuters) - Archaeologists are studying prehistoric rock drawings discovered in a remote cave in 2002, including dancing figures and strange headless beasts, as they seek new clues about the rise of Egyptian civilisation.

Amateur explorers stumbled across the cave, which includes 5,000 images painted or engraved into stone, in the vast, empty desert near Egypt's southwest border with Libya and Sudan.

Rudolph Kuper, a German archaeologist, said the detail depicted in the "Cave of the Beasts" indicate the site is at least 8,000 years old, likely the work of hunter-gatherers whose descendants may have been among the early settlers of the then-swampy and inhospitable Nile Valley.

The cave is 10 km (6 miles) from the "Cave of the Swimmers" romanticised in the film the "English Patient", but with far more, and better preserved, images.

By studying the sandstone cave and other nearby sites, the archaeologists are trying to build a timeline to compare the culture and technologies of the peoples who inhabited the area.

"It is the most amazing cave ... in North Africa and Egypt," said Karin Kindermann, member of a German-led team that recently made a trip to the site 900 km (560 miles) southwest of Cairo.

"You take a piece of the puzzle and see where it could fit. This is an important piece," she said.

The Eastern Sahara, a region the size of Western Europe that extends from Egypt into Libya, Sudan and Chad, is the world's largest warm, dry desert. Rainfall in the desert's centre averages less than 2 millimetres a year.

The region was once much less arid.

About 8500 BC, seasonal rainfall appeared in the region, creating a savanna and attracting hunter-gatherers. By 5300 BC, the rains had stopped and human settlements receded to highland areas. By 3500 BC, the settlements disappeared entirely.

MOVING TOWARDS THE NILE VALLEY
"After 3-4,000 years of savanna life environment in the Sahara, the desert returned and people were forced to move eastwards to the Nile Valley, contributing to the foundation of Egyptian civilisation, and southwards to the African continent," said Kuper, an expert at Germany's Heinrich Barth Institute.

The mass exodus corresponds with the rise of sedentary life along the Nile that later blossomed into pharaonic civilisation that dominated the region for thousands of years and whose art, architecture and government helped shape Western culture.

"It was a movement, I think, step-by-step, because the desert didn't rush in. The rains would withdraw, then return, and so on. But step by step it became more dry, and people moved toward the Nile Valley or toward the south," Kuper said.

Kuper and his team are recording the geological, botanic and archaeological evidence around the cave, including stone tools and pottery, and will compare it to other sites in the Eastern Sahara region, adding new pieces to a prehistoric puzzle.

"It seems that the paintings of the Cave of the Beasts pre-date the introduction of domesticated animals. That means they predate 6000 BC," said Kuper, who led his first field trip to the cave in April 2009. "That is what we dare to say."

The visible art work covers a surface 18 metres wide and 6 metres high. In October, Kuper's team scanned the cave by laser to capture high-definition, three-dimensional images.

A test dig a few weeks ago during the team's third expedition to the sandstone cave uncovered yet more drawings that extend down 80 cms below the sand, Kindermann said.

"Now we have increasing evidence how rich the prehistoric culture in the Eastern Sahara was," Kuper said.

************************************************************************

I believe it was in Libya that Katherine Neville wrote about the gigantic carving/cave drawing of the White Goddess in her mega-hit novel "The Eight" back in the 1980s.

Check out:

Saharan Prehistoric Rock Art from Temehu.com

No references to the White Goddess would be complete without mentioning Robert Graves' work "The White Goddess" which, after nearly 10 years, I'm still wading through.  The book was recommended by IM Ricard Calvo, our mentor at Goddesschess, and so I dutifully plowed into it.  And I'm still plowing into it, long after The Chief passed away (in mid-September, 2002).  My dad passed away November 3, 2002, less than 2 months later.  In July, 2003, I lost Ken Whyld.  With his passing, I was left bereft of learned men to whom I could turn.

For some information on the sibyls of the ancient world ("white goddesses" who prophesized for worshippers), see Albuenea, The Roman White Sibyl.   You will notice the close association of this sibyl (and, indeed, all of the ancient sibyls) with sacred wells or sacred springs. 

Ngame, Mother Goddess of the Akan

My own note:  Alphito - archaic white "sow" goddess - actually linked to ancient barley cultivation, perhaps dating back to Catal Hoyuk days in Anatolia.

Greek Goddesses - Alphito:  Alphito was the Arcadian White Grain Goddess as a Sow. But by Classical timesshe was barely remembered. She was given sole rights over the ability to inflict leprosy. Scary. But she was kind of scary, so . . . Again, I have lost my source, so I can't verify this at all. What I CAN say for sure is that "alphito" is the Greek word for "barley."

Alphito - alphit:  Greek: barley; pearl barley; groats; originally "white grain."  Linked to practice of divination.

From the Probert Encyclopdedia (unsourced "source" - so take with a grain of salt): In Greek mythology, Alphito was a white goddess of barley flour, destiny and the moon. The hag of the mill and the lady of the nine heights.

Dwynwen - A Version of the Ancient Female Soothsayer

Prior post on sacred wells, etc. from Barbara Walker's "The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets" will help put things in perspective.

I came across this by accident. This saint doesn't seem so much a patron of sick animals as a patron of the love sick and a modern-day version "Dear Abby" (pardon the pun :))

St. Dwynwen (Dwyn) of Tolentino-Patron Saint of Sick Animals:

Dwyn was a 5th century Welsh maiden from a wealthy family. Her father was a Welsh Saint and king, Brychan Brycheiniog of Brechon. She had her love troubles, however. The story is that Dwyn fell madly in love with a Welsh prince named Maelon Dafodrill. A marriage was planned but it was not to be. As St. Dwyn distanced herself from Maelon, his bitterness toward her became unbearable.

Heartbroken, Dwyn accepted a heavenly potion offered to her by an Angel appearing to her in a dream to soothe her heartache. However, the angel failed to tell her the effect of the potion on Maelon, who was turned into stone (or ice according to other accounts) once administered to him. [Oops, a minor oversight on Almighty God's part, heh heh].

Appalled, Dwyn requested and was granted three wishes from the angel:

-- That Maelon be restored to life
--That all True Lovers that invoke her name either achieve their hearts desires or recover quickly from disappointment
--That she not marry or wish to

Dwyn committed her life to God and founded a convent on what is now Llanddwyn island, just off the Isle of Angeles. Within that Abbess, there is a miraculous spring (Ffynnon Dwynwen) wherein, from the movement of the fish, the adept can tell the future. One other interesting fact, the water works wonders with sick animals. Over time Dwyns name was invoked to heal sick and distressed animals, a tradition that has
survived even today.

The ruins of Llanddwyn chapel, a 16th century Tudor church, can still be seen. Moreover, her name lives on in the town of Porthddwyn and a church dedicated to her can be found in Cornwall.


I also read that she was one of 24 children of this "king" who later became a "saint".  Probably couldn't afford a dowery and determined she would be a nun - often the fate of female children that a father couldn't afford.  Well, I suppose it's better than what the Chinese do - kill the female babies at birth.  See what happens when a dude can't keep his penis in his pants.  Thank Goddess for Birth Control Pills!  Now we just need to get them for the dudes, and the problem of unwanted pregnancies will be solved. 


Photographs of the island and surroundings - it's a haunting place, with lots of megalithic placements.  It seems likely to me that the legend of the healing well predates the legend of "St. Dwyn" by a couple thousand years, at least.  The location of the well is probably an ancient "sacred place/sacred space" of power, dedicated to the Mother Goddess.  Notice the references in the various versions of the legend to the ability to tell the future when  an adept (a  woman, since this was a nunnery) "working" the "fish" in the sacred well.  I wouldn't be surprised if there are underground caves nearby. 

Some other interesting versions of the legend of "St. Dwyn:"

Wales Patron Saint of Lovers - Dwynwen

By Rauncie Kinnaird
Most of us are familiar with St. Valentine, but did you know that Wales has its own Patron Saint of Lovers?


Dwynwen was one of 24 children of the King of Wales, Brychan Brycheiniog of Brechon in the 5th Century. She fell in love with Maelon Dafodrill, but they could not be together. The reason varies between stories- her father had already promised her to another Prince, she wanted to become a nun, or her father simply refused. Maelon grew bitter, and some stories say that he raped Dwynwen. She fled to the woods and prayed that she could forget him.

While sleeping, an angel brought her a potion. After she drank it, Maelon turned to ice. Dwynwen prayed to God for three wishes: that Maelon be thawed, that God would watch over true lovers, and that she would never marry and devote her life to God. The wishes were granted. She settled on Ynvs Llanddwyn, founded a convent, and became a nun.

The site of her church became a place of pilgrimage. Visitors would often leave offerings, making it the richest area during Tudor times. Her holy well, Ffynnon Dwynwen, was said to indicate lovers' destinies. A woman would scatter breadcrumbs in the well and then lay her handkerchief on the surface. If the eels in the well disturbed the handkerchief, then her lover would be faithful. The ruins of the Llanddwyn chapel can still be seen today.

Saint Dwynwen was the Welsh Patron Saint of Lovers and Sick Animals. Saint Dwynwen's Day is celebrated on January 25th.


St. Dwynwen

St. Dwynwen is the patron saint of lovers. Her feast day is January 25, Dydd Santes Dwynwen. If you are Welsh, or the one you love is Welsh, January 25 is an opportunity to express your affection and say "Dwy'n dy garu di".

Dwynwen was a daughter of the 5th Century saint Brychan Brycheiniog. She fell in love with Maelon Dafodrill, but displeased him when she rejected his sexual advances prior to marriage. She prayed to God for deliverance from her situation, and was given a sweet drink which released her from her heartache. The same drink was given to Maelon, who was turned to ice. Again she prayed, and was given three wishes, the first that Maelon should be unfrozen, the second that she should never again desire marriage, and the third that God should answer all requests by her on the behalf of lovers.

She became a nun, and founded a convent at Llandwyn, on an island just off Anglesey. A freshwater spring there, Ffynnon Dwynwen, has become a place of pilgrimage, not only for lovers, but also for those seeking her help in healing sick and distressed animals.

"Lost" Tomb of Ptahmes Rediscovered

I think this is 18th Dynasty?  Don't quote me on that!  Yahoo News picked up the story frrom AP:

Ancient mayor's 'lost tomb' found south of Cairo
Sun May 30, 9:24 am ET
CAIRO –

Archaeologists have discovered the 3,300-year-old tomb of the ancient Egyptian capital's mayor, whose resting place had been lost under the desert sand since 19th century treasure hunters first carted off some of its decorative wall panels, officials announced Sunday.

Ptahmes, the mayor of Memphis, also served as army chief, overseer of the treasury and royal scribe under Seti I and his son and successor, Ramses II, in the 13th century B.C.

The discovery of his tomb earlier this year in a New Kingdom necropolis at Saqqara, south of Cairo, solves a riddle dating back to 1885, when foreign expeditions made off with pieces of the tomb, whose location was soon after forgotten.

"Since then it was covered by sand and no one knew about it," said Ola el-Aguizy, the Cairo University archaeology professor who led the excavation. "It is important because this tomb was the lost tomb."

Some of the artifacts ended up in museums in the Netherlands, the United States and Italy as well as the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, providing the only clues about the missing tomb.

A team from Cairo University's archaeology department found the tomb during new excavations of the area that started in 2005, el-Aguizy said.

The inner chambers of the large, temple-style tomb and Ptahmes' mummy remain undiscovered. [Does this mean they are unexcavated yet - or are they also "lost"?]

In the side sanctuaries and other chambers they uncovered, archaeologists found a vivid wall engraving of people fishing from boats made of bundles of papyrus reeds. There were also amulets and fragments of statues.

1st Tancat Women's Tournament

May 14 - 22, 2010
I TORNEIG TANCAT FEMENI DE LA SOCIETAT CORAL COLON DE SABADELL 2010

IM MATNADZE Ana 2435 GEO 2409 2422 Barberà 9,0
2 FM PARES VIVES Natalia 2355 ESP 2259 2300 Societat Coral Colon 7,0
3 OLIVA VALERO Oscar 2306 ESP 2227 2244 Societat Coral Colon 5,5
4 WFM CHEVANNES Sabrina L ENG 2047 0 5,0
5 WFM ARANAZ MURILLO Amalia ESP 2161 2143 5,0
6 WFM YANIK Emine TUR 2025 0 4,5
7 WFM GRIGORYAN Meri ENG 2121 0 4,5
8 MARTINEZ HERNANDEZ Noemi 2105 ESP 1939 1944 Llinars 2,0
9 MEDINA ALTAMIRANO Karla 2075 MEX 2009 1994 Uga 1,5
10 GARCIA-CASTANY MUSELLAS Gal.la 1929 ESP 1756 1763 Santa Eugènia 1,0

Ancient Trade: New Evidence for Third Millennium BCE Trade

Unfortunately this is a pay for view article at Science unless you have a subscription.  Here is a summary:

Science 28 May 2010:

Vol. 328. no. 5982, pp. 1092 - 1097
DOI: 10.1126/science.328.5982.1092

A Forgotten Corridor Rediscovered
Andrew Lawler

Recent digs in Iran and Central Asia have uncovered a plethora of ancient cities that traded goods and technologies overland with one another and their more famous neighbors. Now discoveries in Oman and the neighboring United Arab Emirates (UAE) are beginning to show that there was a southern sea route as well, which funneled raw materials such as copper and manufactured goods such as textiles across the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. Those links reached deep into the eastern Arabian Peninsula. Much is still unknown, including whether Indus traders actually penetrated deep into Arabia, the identities of the sailors who first plied the Indian Ocean, and just how extensive that contact was. But clues continue to emerge from numerous archaeological digs in Oman and the UAE, a region that has become a hotbed of excavation. Work here and in the western Persian Gulf, Iran, Pakistan, and India reveals that this early Arabian culture was a nexus point for the far-flung civilizations of the 3rd millennium B.C.E. This special Focus package also discusses a bevy of archaeological surprises being discovered in Omani soil and fortified coastal settlements that suggest that the Indus Civilization, once considered an insular society, shipped goods to the east.


Er - would that be Indus cities shipping their goods to the west (Persia) and southwest (Arabian peninsula)???   Pakistan (home to most of the Indus sites) is located to the east of Iran and northeast of Arabia.   But I guess I'm just being picky :)

At the Met: American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity

There's a new exhibit at the Met - May 5 to August 15, 2010. (Photo from Flickr)

American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity is the first Costume Institute exhibition drawn from the newly established Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Met. It explores developing perceptions of the modern American woman from 1890 to 1940 and how they have affected the way American women are seen today. Focusing on archetypes of American femininity through dress, the exhibition reveals how the American woman initiated style revolutions that mirrored her social, political, and sexual emancipation. "Gibson Girls," "Bohemians," and "Screen Sirens," among others, helped lay the foundation for today's American woman.

  Website. 

A related exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, American High Style: Fashioning a National Collection (May 7–August 1), highlights masterworks from the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection.

Female Genital Mutilation Condemned by Physicians Group

The AAP takes foot of mouth.
Sent by Isis from her I-phone - from CNN News:

Pediatricians now reject all female genital cutting

The American Academy of Pediatrics has rescinded a controversial policy statement raising the idea that doctors in some communities should be able to substitute demands for female genital cutting with a harmless clitoral "pricking" procedure.

"We retracted the policy because it is important that the world health community understands the AAP is totally opposed to all forms of female genital cutting, both here in the U.S. and anywhere else in the world," said AAP President Judith S. Palfrey.

The contentious policy statement, issued in April, had condemned the practice of female genital cutting overall. But a small portion of statement suggesting the pricking procedure riled U.S. advocacy groups and survivors of female genital cutting.

In the April statement, the group raised the idea that some physicians should be able to prick or nick a girl's clitoral skin in order to "satisfy cultural requirements." The group likened the nick to an ear piercing.

On Thursday the AAP stated the group will not condone doctors to provide any kind of "clitoral nick." The AAP also clarified nicking a girl or woman's genitals is forbidden under a 1996 federal law banning female genital mutilation.

"I cried and told them how grateful I am," said Soraya Mire, a Somali filmmaker and survivor of female genital cutting. "Thank you for understanding us survivors and hearing our voices."

Equality Now, an international advocacy group fighting to end female genital cutting, echoed a similarly appreciative response.

"We welcome the AAP's decision to withdraw its 2010 policy statement on FGM," said Lakshmi Anantnarayan, a spokeswoman at Equality Now. "This is a crucial step forward in the movement to raise awareness about female genital mutilation."

Up to 140 million women and children worldwide have been affected by female genital cutting, according to the World Health Organization. Any process that alters or injures female genitalia for non-medical purposes is considered to be female genital cutting, the group says.

Female genital cutting -- also referred to as female genital mutilation and female circumcision -- is a ritual dating back thousands of years. It's typically practiced in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. In some communities, it's strongly believed that genital cutting marks a woman's journey to adulthood. The WHO reports that cutting typically occurs between infancy and 15 years of age.

Several types of female circumcision exist and may differ in each community, according to the WHO. The most brutal type of cutting requires stitching together the inner or outer labia. It's a procedure notoriously performed in parts of Somalia and Egypt. Other less-severe forms of genital cutting may require excising the entire clitoris or part of the clitoris.

Mire, the Somali filmmaker and survivor, received the most severe type of circumcision when she was 13 years old in her home country. She now lives in Los Angeles, California, where she helps African immigrant families in the United States, who she believes may be subjected to the pressures of female genital cutting.

While the female circumcision is outlawed in the United States, Mire and other advocates believe there are American girls in immigrant communities at risk of being sent overseas to have the procedure completed. The AAP's original policy statement increased the threat of cutting among immigrant and refugee girls in the U.S., advocacy efforts say, because the group suggested a "pricking" compromise was acceptable.

In the U.S., an estimated 228,000 women have been cut -- or are at risk of being cut -- because they come from an ethnic community that practices female genital cutting, according an analysis of 2000 Census data conducted by the African Women's Health Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Last month, Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-New York, and Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-California, addressed concerns of female genital cutting being planned on U.S. grounds. The legislators proposed an amendment to the existing law that would imprison parents who send their daughters overseas for the procedure.

Mire said she was in disbelief when she first read the AAP's original statement about six weeks ago. She couldn't sleep. She couldn't eat. She's dedicated her time to calling legislators, survivors and advocacy groups to pressure AAP to change its original policy statements.

Her efforts worked, she learned on Wednesday from a personal phone call from the academy.

"I slept so well last night," she said. "I woke up smiling."

Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation Summer Events

We received the following information from the Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation and we're happy to pass it along:

WSCF Summer Chess Activities
There are many chess educational opportunities and activities available for students and adults this summer of 2010.

There are currently ten chess camps, four community clubs, five Super Summer Simuls events, ten Chess Tent Teaching and Simul events, two chess classes and a summer ending chess festival scheduled.

Chess Camps

All of WSCF chess camps are designed as hands-on educational events where students will receive a balance of instruction at their level and chess play via a tournament and free play. Students will work on the pawn, knight or bishop certificates and compete in a 5 round Swiss tournament where every student receives a medal.

The fee for all camps is $50, $65, and $75 depending upon registration deadlines. Scholarships are available and applications are on line and at the bottom of this newsletter and should be mailed to the WSCF P.O. box or to the new state office at 2803 N. Teutonia, Milwaukee, WI 53206. The currently scheduled camps are listed below.

If you would like a camp in your area please call Bob at the WSCF office at 262-573-5624 or email at bob@wisconsinscholasticchess.org as soon as possible.

June 12:
Sheboygan Christian School M - F, 9 - 12 am

June 21:
Northwest Catholic School M - F, 9 - 12 am

June 28:
Whitefish Bay M- F, 9 - 12 am

August 2:
Loyola Academy - Milwaukee M - F, 9 - 12 am

August 9:
Pewaukee Elementary School M - F, 9 - 12 am

August 9:
Plymouth - Baymont Inn M - F, 9 - 12 am

August 9:
St. Peter School - Kenosha M - F, 9 - 12 am. (pending)

August 16:
WSCF Chess Center - Milwaukee M - F, 9 - 12 am

August 16:
Green Bay - Boys & Girls Club M, T, 9 - 4, W 9 - 12

August 23:
WSCF Chess Center - Milwaukee M,T 9 - 4

Community Chess Clubs

The community chess clubs are set up this summer to provide students an opportunity to play and maintain their skills, play with friends, benefit from some instruction and work on their certificates. The fee will be $10 per month or $3 per session. Again, scholarships are available. Register on line and pay upon arrival. The current clubs scheduled are:

WSCF Chess Center - Milwaukee
Thursdays 4:00 - 6:00
Begins May 27

Whitefish Bay
Thursdays 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Begins June 2

Sheboygan
Mondays 6:30 - 8:30
Begins June 24

Brookfield
Time and days to be announced.

Super Summer Simul Events

There will 5 simultaneous chess exhibits, with the first in June at Roundy Memorial Baptist Church in Whitefish bay. The people doing the simuls will be some of WSCF's top student players, scholarship winners and coaches. These people will be announced on our website.

One purpose of the simuls is for students and adults to play someone with a much higher rating and to take notation and hone their skills against future Grandmasters or International Masters or experienced chess coaches.

Fee will be $10 for students and $15 for adults. Spots will be limited and you can register on line till spots are filled or register at the door. Payment will only be taken on site.

The times and dates of the Simuls are as follows:

June 23
Roundy Memorial Baptist Church - Whitefish Bay 7:00 P.M.

July 22
Roundy Memorial Baptist Church - Whitefish Bay 7:00 P.M.

August 11
Roundy Memorial Baptist Church - Whitefish Bay 7:00 P.M.

August 28
Fondy Market Chess Festival - Milwaukee 10:00 A.M

Sept 23
Roundy Memorial Baptist Church - Whitefish Bay 7:00 P.M.

Chess Tent

WSCF has a chess canopy tent and sets it up at festivals and other outdoor events.

At these events students can receive free 10 minute lessons, adults can play in simuls and literature of WSCF activities will be available. Fee for participating in a simul is $2 and chess boards, sets and books will be available for purchase.

Events currently scheduled are Juneteenth Days on June 19th. This will be our 4th year at the festival and in the past we have been given a spot at the corner of Martin Luther King drive Locust.

We are also scheduled to set up at the Fondy Farmers Market from June 26th to June 28th.

If you wish to have a chess tent at a festival near you please call Bob at 262-573-5624.

Chess Classes

There will be free classes at Franklin Public Library from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on July 12th and July 19th. There may be a small fee for non-Franklin residents. Space is limited.

A chess class for teachers and club leaders will begin August 24th, meet for 8 weeks on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6:00. The class will meet at WSCF Chess Center at 2803 N. Teutonia. The intent of the class is to teach chess basics to beginning adult players who want to lead a club or teach chess in their classrooms. Participants will learn how to implement WSCF's certificate program, sponsoring a successful club, how to implement a club chess ladder, preparing students for chess tournaments and learn the latest chess educational principles used in WSCF Summer chess camps. Fee is $75 for advance registration, and $90 onsite registration. Space is limited. Grants are available.

Fondy Farmers Market Chess Festival

WSCF's first outdoor chess festival will be on Saturday August 28th. Activities will include a scholastic chess tournament, adult tournament, student - adult combo tournament, chess simul, chess tent, face painting and balloons for the young at heart. The festival will be held on the site and conjunction with the weekly farmers market. Each scholastic participant will receive a free festival t-shirt.

Fresh vegetables and great food available on site. See festival flyer under chess tournaments for more information and registration. Register by mail with check, register on line with visa or paypal or in person at the WSCF chess office. $5 entry fee for all Title I school participants.

Tournament play will start at 8:00 am, awards will be at 2:00. The Fondy Farmers Market grounds close at 3:00 pm.

WSCF chess camp, club & simul Scholarship application

Name _________________________________________________

Grade (2010-2011)_______________

Home Address ________________________________City________________ Zip __________________

School of Attendance __________________

Parent Name(s) ________________________________________________________________________

Parent Phones H, W, C __________________________________________________________________

How many WSCF tournament have you attended in the past two years ? ________________________

If you belong to a chess club, please describe your participation in the club, how active are you in the club and what leadership role you may provide.





Please describe your current strategy or plan you implement in a chess game.





Please share with us what you wish to learn at a chess camp.





Please describe how you would share the knowledge you learned at the chess camp with your fellow team or club mates.

Check Scholarship request: ______ Chess Camp $25 _______ Chess Simul $5 _______ Chess Club _______ $5/mo.

What Chess camp do you wish to attend? ____________________________________________________________

Signed

Student _____________________________________________
Date _________________________

Parent _______________________________________________
Date ________________________

Please mail before June 8 for the June and July chess camps.
Please mail before July 15 for the August Chess camps.

Mail to:
Chess Camp Scholarships
WSCF
P.O. Box 170843
Milwaukee, WI 53217

or

WSCF
P.O. Box ??? (seems to be an error in transmission here)
2803 N.Teutonia
Milwaukee, WI 53206

Squirrel Visits the Minnesota Twins' New Target Field

Well of course!  Squirrels are at the top of the animal gossip world and nothing was going to prevent them from checking out the open-air Target Stadium that is the Twins' new home stadium.  They've been checking out the place for months, but it was a rookie who exposed the MTSN (Minnesota Twins Squirrel Network).  Well, give him a break, he is only 6 months old, and lacks experience.  Alas, he was sent back to the minors, despite the question mark that his tail formed, eloquently depicting the unanswered questions about the Twins this 2010 season...

Story and video. 

Exciting Developments in Goddesschess Sponsorships

Hola!

Yes, I know, I know, I haven't posted anything the last few days.  That's because I've been busy attending to Goddesschess business, darlings! 

We have truly been inspired by IM Irina Krush's battle in the recently concluded 2010 U.S. Chess Championship to score her second GM norm.  She was sooooooo close...and missed it by a half a point.  Argggghhhhhh!

Last year, Goddesschess was instrumental in obtaining the appearance of WGM Salome Melia of Georgia at the 2009 Montreal Open Chess Championships. Melia was the highest rated female player ever to appear at this venerable tournament and the first-ever WGM to appear.

Melia finished in second place overall and also won the title Woman Chess Champion of Montreal.  This year, because of her commitment to playing in the 2010 Chess Olympaid on the Georgian Women's Team, Melia cannot defend her Montreal Open title. 

I'm not at liberty to discuss particulars yet, but there have been some very promising developments in obtaining the appearance of at least one noted female chessplayer at the 2010 Montreal Open Chess Championships, which will be held in the spectacularly beautiful surroundings at the College Jean-de-Brebeuf in Montreal September 10-12, 2010.  Our very own man behind the cam/webmaster, Don McLean (not the "American Pie" dude), will once again be on-site to record his unique impressions of the tournament action. Stay tuned for further news -

Also in the works is a new Goddesschess prize format for the 2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship.  We're very excited about this -

Also in the works is a new prize structure for the chess femmes who play in the Hales Corners Chess Challenge tournaments (two times a year, in the spring and in the fall), in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, hosted by my very own adopted chess club, the Southwest Chess Club.   We've funded prizes for the chess femmes since Hales Corners Chess Challenge VIII - next up is Challenge XIII!  A Goddess Lucky Number!!!  We are hoping that the new prize structure will award each chess femme who plays in the tournament, whether in the Open or Reserve, for her efforts.  This revamped prize structure is a direct result of talks with my fellow chess femmes, Isis and Michelle, during my mini-vacation in Las Vegas in April.  More later -

Also in the works - something we just dreamed up...

This is so trite, but really, stay tuned for further news!

Mother Goddess Mountain Denied Her Name

The mountain we call today "Everest" had a name long before Sir George Everest was a gleam in his father's eye.  Of course it did!  Duh! 

According to Wikipedia, the mountain was called, variously:  Qomolangma Peak (Tibetan), Mount Sagarmāthā (Nepali), Chajamlangma (Limbu), Zhumulangma Peak (Chinese: Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Fēng) or Mount Chomolangma.

The history of how "Mount Everest" was named is a total and absolute insult to the great Mother Goddess.  Anyone with a brain can easily see that in common in all of these names is MA - MOTHER.

Barbara Walker's The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets says:

Chomo-Lung-Ma
"Goddess Mother of the Universe," the real name of the world's highest mountain, which westerners renamed Everest after a man.  This masculine name was bestowed on the Goddess Mother in 1863 by foreign invaders who preferred to attach patriarchal surnames to everything.(1)

Notes:
(1)  Encyc. Brit., "Everest, Sir George."

More about mountains and the Great Mother tomorrow.

2010 U.S. Chess Championship

I am REALLY bummed that Irina Krush was not able to convert to a win in her final game with the white pieces against GM Jesse Kraai, taking nothing away from the GM.  Damn!  She needed half a point.  Half a fricking lousy point. 

Event "2010 US Championship"]
[Site "St Louis"]
[Date "2010.05.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Krush, Irina"]
[Black "Kraai, Jesse"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteELO "2494"]
[WhiteTitle "IM"]
[BlackELO "2560"]
[BlackTitle "GM"]
[Source "MonRoi"]

1.c4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.a3 Nf6 4.d5 e6 5.Nc3 Bd6 6.Nf3 O-O 7.g3 c6 8.Bg2 cxd5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.b4 Qf6 12.Ra2 Nc6 13.O-O a5 14.b5 Ne7 15.Bb2 Qh6 16.a4 Rac8 17.Bd4 Rc4 18.Ne5 Bxe5 19.Bxe5 Rfc8 20.Qd3 Rc1 21.Bf4 Rxf1 22.Bxf1 Qe6 23.Rc2 Rc4 24.e3 Ng6 25.Qd1 Nxf4 26.exf4 Rxc2 27.Qxc2 Qd6 28.Bg2 Qc5 29.Qd1 Kf8 30.h4 d6 31.Qd3 Kg8 32.Qe2 Kf8 33.Qd3 Kg8 34.Qf5 Qc1 35.Kh2 Qc8 36.Qg5 Qe8 37.f5 h6 38.Qc1 Qc8 39.Qf4 Qd8 40.Qd4 Kf8 41.Kg1 f6 42.Bxd5 Bxd5 43.Qxd5 Qc7 44.Qa8 Kf7 45.Qd5 Kf8 46.Qa8 Kf7 47.Qd5 1/2-1/2

So, the also-rans finished up their tournament yesterday, except for those who may be playing in the blitz tournament. Here are the standings and their prize money:

5 GM Shabalov, Alexander 6.0 M 2585 2688 $10,000
6 GM Stripunsky, Alexander 5.5 M 2570 2642 $7,500
7 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 5.0 M 2599 2617 $6,600
8 GM Hess, Robert L 5.0 M 2590 2595 $6,000
9 GM Christiansen, Larry 5.0 M 2578 2639 $5,400
10 GM Finegold, Benjamin 5.0 M 2539 2607 $5,000
11 GM Yermolinsky, Alex 5.0 M 2528 2612 $4,800
12 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 4.5 M 2577 2551 $4,600
13 GM Benjamin, Joel 4.5 M 2565 2553 $4,400
14 GM Kraai, Jesse 4.5 M 2492 2575 $4,200
15 IM Krush, Irina 4.5 F 2455 2575 $4,000
16 GM Ehlvest, Jaan 4.0 M 2591 2503 $3,800
17 GM Robson, Ray 4.0 M 2569 2511 $3,700
18 GM Lenderman, Alex 3.5 M 2598 2447 $3,600
19 GM Bhat, Vinay S 3.5 M 2547 2463 $3,500
20 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 3.5 M 2539 2496 $3,400
21 IM Altounian, Levon 3.5 M 2454 2474 $3,300
22 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2.5 M 2571 2385 $3,200
23 IM Shankland, Samuel 2.5 M 2507 2381 $3,100
24 GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2.5 M 2488 2382 $3,000

All in all, Krush had a great tournament.  It's too bad there are not more opportunities for players of her level to make GM norms in events in the United States. 

Besides the fight for 5th place and Krush's quest for her second GM norm, the big story of Round 9 was GM Yuri Shulman's defeat of GM Hikaru Nakamura.  Yeah yeah, I know, poetic justice and all that after Nakamura was honest enough to say in an earlier post-mortem with Shahade and Ashley that he, Onischuk and Kamsky were going to beat up on Shulman (the "I can't get no respect" 2008 U.S. Champion) in the quad.  Duh!  Of course they would, if they could!  I mean, it's an obvious strategy.  Single out and get rid of the weakest player.  But in the quad since they couldn't get rid of him, keeping him in 4th would do as well, and the top 2700 plus players would battle it out for the top money and title.

Shulman's "defining move" - 24. ... Rxg5 - what can I say.  Well, I will say this.  I know you won't believe me, but it's exactly the move I made in my head.  Not, of course, for the same reasons Shulman made the move - but what the hell!  LOL!  For one shining moment afterwards I saw in giant uber-lit rhinestones flashing above my head PLAYED LIKE A GRANDMASTER"  as Shahade and Ashley went through endless analyses of the move while the videocam in the playing room which was focused right in on Nakamura told the true tale of an overlooked move.  Oh, how well I know that feeling.  And it was much easier to feel sympathy for a Nakamura with that gunky-looking smut shaved off his face and his hair cropped into submission.  He is a nice-looking young dude when he cleans himself up.  Why do so many of the male players these days go for the gutter grunge oh puke on me look? 

Today's quad action was quiet - both games ended in draws.  That means tomorrow, Shulman and Kamsky go into a play-off to determine the title.  I think the format for the play-off sucks but hey, I know nuthink!  The players "bid" minutes for black and draw odds?  Fine - but then the "losing" player gets a full 60 minutes on his clock with the white pieces?  Oh please.  This is rational?  Come on, dudes.  GM Ashley had it right when he said Shulman would basically be insane to "bid" less than 30 minutes - and I think he would be insane bidding less than 59 minutes.

So - tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow...

Ridiculously Hot and Humid!

Today.  It's 81 degrees F right now  and not the peak of the day yet, and the dew point is a wringing-wet 68 - downright tropical.  The sun is HOT and burning.  There is a slight breeze out of the southwest, no relief there.  I am waiting for the sun to head around behind my trees to venture out in the yard.  I knew I should have finished cutting that damn grass yesterday.  Most of the backyard has yet to be done, drat! 

I've got laundry going - it's downright frigid in my basement, am seriously thinking about camping out down there tonight, it's hot and stuffy in my bedroom, probably should NOT have opened up the windows, wider this morning but the fresh air was so tempting and last night it was cool and foggy, I slept with a quilt on! 

I make the weekend-trek to the supermarket, I got the front yard trimmed and swept early this morning, during the shady part of the day out there.  I sweated like a stuck pig, no lie, it was really gross!  Why do I seem to sweat with no effort when no one else does?  I mean, it wasn't like I was working out, I was bending over using electric grass shears to do the trimming and then I swept up the trimmings and the gunk that always seems to accumulate in my gutters curbside.  The entire exercise took 1.5 hours which was surprising, but the front yard does look spiffy :)

I also set up the umbrella on the patio and did some trimming around the deck, to fool myself into thinking it looks "neat" back there, LOL!  The deck is calling...and I'm into Amanda Quick's latest, "The Burning Lamp" and am having a rip-roaring good time reading an absolutely not-serious Victorian era "romance/adventure."  I've been feeding the critters non-stop, I spotted a real live blue bird at the bird bath this morning - just a flash - haven't seen one of them around since May, 2007 so I hope it's a good sign.  The birds are going ga-gag in the birdbath in this heat and humidity, already filled it twice.  Time to put out the other two baths! 

I watched chess online yesterday (U.S. Championships). I like the duo of Jen Shahade and Maurice Ashley but to tell the truth, I liked Ben Finegold's analysis last year at the U.S. Women's Chess Championship with Shahade much better.  Nothing against Ashley, he's a fine commentator, no doubt about it.  He's clear as a bell and very personable.  I just like Finegold's style better.  I love Shahade.  I know, people seem to either love her or hate her style.  I love her. 

I worked on the family tree - almost finished with it, amazing as that is.  Now I'm going back and filling in as many blank spots as I can and also securing birth/marriage/death records, etc. - getting seriously ready to write it all up and get the baby published.  I'm sooooo glad I'm doing this, it's been a wonderful, astounding and enlightening experience all around. 

On top of reading my junk novel and going to bed at 9 p.m. - yes - 9 p.m., I actually got decent sleep and feel human today!  I woke up at 6:40 a.m. and felt REFRESHED for the first time in ages.  It was wonderful.  Right now I'm shutting down the computer for a bit and hitting the deck with my Amanda Quick and a big freezing cold glass of cheap wine.  I've got shorts on and a tee, my hair is pinned up (only thing to do with it since I sweat so much and it gets all funky), my feet are bare and dirty.  I feel like a kid :)

Excavation of Cao Xiu's Tomb, Henan Province, China

From China Daily:
Ancient general's tomb unearthed in Henan
(chinadaily.com.cn/Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-18 11:54
Archeologists in central China's Henan Province say they have found the tomb of a noted general from the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 AD).

The tomb of Cao Xiu was found in Mengjin County of Luoyang City at the end of last year, said Sun Yingmin, spokesman of the Henan provincial cultural heritage bureau, at a press conference Monday.

The tomb, 50 meters long and 21 meters wide, held chinaware, copperware, liquor cups, and jars as well as some human bones, said Sun.

Tests suggested the bones belonged to a 50-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, he said.

A bronze seal, about the size of a coin and engraved with Cao Xiu's name revealed the tomb owner's identity, he added.

Cao Xiu is recorded in Chinese history books as a courageous fighter and high-ranking officer. He died of illness in 228, but no record of his birth has been found.

The tomb was similar to that of Cao Cao, found in Anyang City, of Henan Province, in December, said Sun.

History books say Cao Cao took Cao Xiu as a son, though the two were not blood relations.

The discovery of Cao Cao's tomb was listed as one of China's greatest archaeological achievements last year. However, it triggered skepticism from scholars and Internet commentators who questioned its authenticity.

Experts from Shanghai's Fudan University are trying to get DNA from Cao's descendants and compare it with the DNA extracted from a skull uncovered in the tomb.

Cao Cao (155-220 AD), who built the strongest and most prosperous state during the Three Kingdoms period (208-280 AD), is remembered for his outstanding military and political talents.

Posts on Cao Cao at this blog:

Follow-Up: Cao Cao Had 72 Fake Tombs!  January 31, 2010
Tomb of Cao Cao Unearthed in China: Follow-Up  December 30, 2009
Tomb of Cao Cao Unearthed in China  December 27, 2009
China's Battle of Generals Heats Up With Mega Tourist Bucks at Stake  February 2, 2010

The Color Blue Back in the News

First, a follow-up article of sorts, on the use of ancient Egyptian blue in a 12th century CE altarpiece in a Barcelona church:

Egyptian Blue Found in Romanesque Altarpiece

ScienceDaily (May 18, 2010) — A team of researchers from the University of Barcelona (UB) has discovered remains of Egyptian blue in a Romanesque altarpiece in the church of Sant Pere de Terrassa (Barcelona). This blue pigment was used from the days of ancient Egypt until the end of the Roman Empire, but was not made after this time. So how could it turn up in a 12th Century church?

Second, an accidental discovery of a stable and chemically "benign" blue color compound, a formula the ancients searched for in vain for thousands of years!  I found this story by accident :)

Accidental Discovery Produces Durable New Blue Pigment for Multiple Applications

ScienceDaily (Nov. 19, 2009) — An accidental discovery in a laboratory at Oregon State University has apparently solved a quest that over thousands of years has absorbed the energies of ancient Egyptians, the Han dynasty in China, Mayan cultures and more -- the creation of a near-perfect blue pigment.

Goddesschess blog links about the quest for and the use of the color blue in different ancient cultures:

Ancient Blue Back in the News  May 5, 2010
Is there a Common Link Between These Ancient Blue Hues?  March 20, 2010

For more information about Egyptian blue, see:

Pigments Through the Ages: Egyptian Blue
About.com: Blue Colors in Ancient Egypt by Alistair Boddy-Evans
Natural Pigments.com

Archaic Greek Statues Recovered from Looters

From ArtDaily.org
May 19, 2010
By: Nicholas Paphitis, Associated Press Writer

ATHENS (AP).- Police in southern Greece have seized a rare twin pair of 2,500-year-old marble statues and arrested two farmers who allegedly planned to sell them abroad for €10 million ($12.43 million), authorities said Tuesday.

Police said two Greeks aged 42 and 48 were arrested in the Peloponnese area late Friday as they were loading the illegally excavated figures of young men into a truck. Authorities are seeking a third man suspected of belonging to a smuggling gang that planned to spirit the 6th century B.C. works out of the country.

"This is a very important find, of fabulous value, and (both statues) were ready to be taken out of Greece," Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos said.

Archaeologists said Tuesday the statues are "outstanding works of art" and may have come from a temple or cemetery in a lost ancient city in the Peloponnese region in southern Greece. Both are in excellent condition, but lack sections of their lower legs and were gashed by a plow or digging machinery.

They stand 1.82 meters (5 feet 9 inches) and 1.78 meters (5 feet 8 inches) high, and were probably carved by the same sculptor out of thick-grained island marble between 550-520 B.C, at the height of the archaic period of sculpture.

"They are exactly the same, with a slight variation in hairstyle and a small difference in height," said Nikos Kaltsas, director of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens where the finds were temporarily housed for conservation and study. "The artist may have wanted to produce two similar figures that would form part of a group."

The statues are of the stiff, highly formalized Kouros type widespread in the 7th and 6th centuries B.C. which portrayed gods, heroes or aristocrats and were painted in bright colors. From the 5th century on, Greek sculpture became more fluid and lifelike, culminating in the naturalism of the Hellenistic era.

Rest of article.

This was a major story with lots of coverage:

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2010/05/19/greece-statues-recovered-looti/ng-smuggling.html
http://www.ana.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=8730333&maindocimg=8730478&service=144
http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2010/05/18/greek_police_seize_2_statues_from_2_farmers
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/18/AR2010051801728./html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hHCJhzzjaMqj_hEm55ClrPFKUCXAD9FPBD1O0
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100004_19/05/2010_117154
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126906852
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-eu-greece-archaeology-twins/tatues,0,1612376.story
http://ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100004_19/05/2010_117154

57 Mummies Uncovered from Tombs Near Fayoum, Egypt

A significant discovery - evidently unlooted tombs, some from the 1st and 2nd Dynasties, some from the 18th Dynasty.  Buried on top of each other or sharing the oldest tombs?  [Photo: Undated photo released by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities on Sunday, May 23, 2010, shows a painted wooden sarcophagus discovered in Lahoun, near Fayoum, some 70 miles (100 kilometers) south of Cairo, in Egypt.]

From The Washington Post
57 ancient tombs with mummies unearthed in Egypt
The Associated Press
Sunday, May 23, 2010; 11:58 AM

CAIRO -- Archeologists have unearthed 57 ancient Egyptian tombs, most of which hold an ornately painted wooden sarcophagus with a mummy inside, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said Sunday.

The oldest tombs date back to around 2750 B.C. during the period of Egypt's first and second dynasties, the council said in a statement. Twelve of the tombs belong the 18th dynasty which ruled Egypt during the second millennium B.C.

The discovery throws new light on Egypt's ancient religions, the council said.

Egypt's archaeology chief, Zahi Hawass, said the mummies dating to the 18th dynasty are covered in linen decorated with religious texts from the Book of the Dead and scenes featuring ancient Egyptian deities.

Abdel Rahman El-Aydi, head of the archaeological mission that made the discovery, said some of the tombs are decorated with religious texts that ancient Egyptians believed would help the deceased to cross through the underworld.

El-Aydi said one of the oldest tombs is almost completely intact, with all of its funerary equipment and a wooden sarcophagus containing a mummy wrapped in linen.

In 31 tombs dating to around 2030-1840 B.C, archeologists discovered scenes of different ancient Egyptian deities, such as the falcon-headed Horus, Hathor, Khnum and Amun, decorating some of the tombs.

The council said the findings were unearthed at Lahoun, in Fayoum, some 70 miles (100 kilometers) south of Cairo.

Last year, some 53 stone tombs dating back to various ancient periods were found in the area.

Rare Discovery: Unlooted Tomb on Cyprus

From The Vancouver Sun:

Discovery of ancient burial chamber turns rumour mill
Theories about occupants are plentiful By Sarah Ktisti
Reuters May 22, 2010

NICOSIA, Cyprus -- Locals say it could be the final resting place of Ajax's niece, contain a golden chariot and will unleash a horrible curse.

But whether a tomb recently uncovered on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus contains the bones and booty of a close relative of a Trojan war hero straight from the pages of Homer, or will just yield better evidence for understanding the rituals and lives of ancient Greeks, is yet to be revealed.

Construction workers in the eastern coastal town of Paralimni, popular with tourists, literally stumbled onto a rare unlooted tomb dating back to the ancient world, when they were digging up the roadside to lay new paving stones in the "Fig Tree Bay" area.

"The ground just gave way," said Andreas Evangelou, said the mayor of the once sleepy fishing village.

Beneath the road's surface, a burial chamber, untouched by looters was awakened from thousands of years of slumber, and will now give experts the opportunity to piece together a more accurate picture of the life and rituals of the ancients.

"It's a usual tomb found in the area of Protaras, which is unlooted. We don't know yet what it is, the only unique thing is that it is unlooted, which may give us a better understanding of their life and rituals during that period," said Maria Hadjicosti, the director of Cyprus's Antiquities Department.

At least four clay coffins (sarcophagi) were found, along with the usual offerings of pottery and glassware, accompanying the dead to the next life. At least one of the clay coffins is adorned with floral motifs.

"It looks like it was in continual use because there are four sarcophagi with their remains," Evangelou said.

Local press on the east Mediterranean island have carried wild claims that the tomb belongs to an ancient princess, the daughter of King Teukros of Salamis. Salamis was once the capital of Cyprus's 10 city kingdoms.

Legend has it that the king -- whose brother was Ajax and uncle was the Trojan King Priam -- ordered that his daughter be buried along with her golden throne and chariot at the point where the sun meets the sea.

Cypriot experts don't share the local speculation on the tomb's relationship with the figures of Greek mythology.

"It is impossible to connect the content of this tomb with ancient sources," Hadjicosti said.

According to Evangelou, it is likely that this is not the only burial site in the area.

"Personally, I believe that this area is full of tombs and ancient relics, and it looks like this legend has a basis," Evangelou said.

Plans are now underway to share this glimpse into the past with visitors.

"We want to create something similar to that outside the Acropolis museum in Athens, with a glass pavement," Evangelou said.

On a darker note, the mayor said an old wives' tales says the person who uncovers the princess's grave site will come to a sticky end.

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

2010 U.S. Chess Championship

R8: Krush lost her game with Shabalov.  If she hopes to gain her second GM norm, she must win today.  In today's final game she has white against GM Jesse Kraai.

Event "2010 US Championship"]
[Site "St Louis"]
[Date "2010.05.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Krush, Irina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "2669"]
[WhiteTitle "GM"]
[BlackELO "2494"]
[BlackTitle "IM"]
[Source "MonRoi"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.e3 b5 5.a4 b4 6.Ne4 Qd5 7.Ng3 Nf6 8.Be2 Ba6 9.e4 Qa5 10.Nf3 e6 11.O-O Nbd7 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Rc1 c3 15.bxc3 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 Qxa4 17.e5 Nd7 18.Ra1 Qb5 19.c4 Qb7 20.c5 a5 21.Ne4 Be7 22.Ra4 O-O 23.Rfa1 b3 24.Nfd2 Rfb8 25.Nc4 f5 26.Nc3 Nxc5 27.dxc5 Bxc5 28.Rb1 Qc7 29.Nd2 b2 30.Rc4 Ba3 31.Qe3 Be7 32.Na4 Rb5 33.Nf3 Rab8 34.Qc3 Rb3 35.Qc2 Qd7 36.Nd4 R3b4 37.Nxc6 Rxc4 38.Qxc4 Rb7 39.Nxe7 Qxe7 40.Rxb2 Rc7 41.Qf4 Qh4 42.g3 Qxf4 43.gxf4 Rc4 44.Rb8 Kf7 45.Nb2 Rxf4 46.Rb7 Kg6 47.Re7 Re4 48.Nd3 f4 49.Rxe6 Kf5 50.Rd6 f3 51.h3 h5 52.Rd7 Kg6 53.Kf1 a4 54.Ra7 Kg5 55.Rxg7 Kh4 56.Ne1 1-0

Standings after R8:

Rank Name Score M/F Rating TPR W-We 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 GM Nakamura, Hikaru 5.5 M 2733 2759 +0.29 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½
2 GM Kamsky, Gata 5.5 M 2702 2770 +0.71 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½
3 GM Onischuk, Alexander 5.5 M 2699 2763 +0.66 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½
4 GM Shulman, Yuri 5.5 M 2613 2751 +1.47 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ ½
5 GM Stripunsky, Alexander 5.5 M 2570 2701 +1.38 0 1 1 1 ½ 0 1 1
6 GM Shabalov, Alexander 5.0 M 2585 2657 +0.75 ½ 1 0 0 1 1 ½ 1
7 GM Hess, Robert L 4.5 M 2590 2598 +0.12 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 ½
8 GM Christiansen, Larry 4.5 M 2578 2646 +0.77 1 ½ ½ 1 0 1 ½ 0
9 GM Finegold, Benjamin 4.5 M 2539 2605 +0.74 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½
10 GM Yermolinsky, Alex 4.5 M 2528 2609 +0.94 0 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½
11 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 4.0 M 2599 2575 -0.26 ½ 1 1 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½
12 GM Ehlvest, Jaan 4.0 M 2591 2542 -0.54 1 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 1 ½
13 GM Robson, Ray 4.0 M 2569 2548 -0.24 0 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1
14 GM Kraai, Jesse 4.0 M 2492 2590 +1.06 ½ 0 1 1 1 0 0 ½
15 IM Krush, Irina 4.0 F 2455 2586 +1.42 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 0 1 0
16 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 3.5 M 2577 2503 -0.84 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 ½ ½
17 GM Benjamin, Joel 3.5 M 2565 2508 -0.66 0 ½ 1 0 1 0 0 1
18 GM Lenderman, Alex 3.0 M 2598 2437 -1.81 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 1 0 ½
19 GM Bhat, Vinay S 3.0 M 2547 2450 -1.13 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ 1 0 ½
20 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 3.0 M 2539 2497 -0.51 1 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 0
21 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2.5 M 2571 2409 -1.73 ½ 1 0 0 0 0 ½ ½
22 GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2.5 M 2488 2419 -0.72 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½
23 IM Altounian, Levon 2.5 M 2454 2422 -0.32 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 0 1 0
24 IM Shankland, Samuel 2.0 M 2507 2355 -1.55 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½

Brahmi-Inscribd Stone Discovered in Guwahati State

Please take this article with a large grain of salt.  After reading a few paragraphs it was clear to me that this discovery is being used to advance the Brahmin (Hindu) side of the ongoing cultural wars taking place in India.  I do not know how that war will eventually resolve itself - or perhaps it never will.  But readers should be aware of the ongoing tensions in Indian culture and how, unfortunately, this has carried itself over into archaeological discoveries.  Rather like the United States today.  Sad.  Very sad.

From The Assam Tribune
Rare stone inscription unearthed

Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, May 21 – The Archaeology Directorate here has acquired a Brahmi stone inscription that is described to be the largest of the stone inscriptions in Brahmi script found so far in the State. This has established beyond doubt expansion of the Brahmanical culture to far eastern areas of North Bank part of the State.

The piece of this stone inscription was discovered on April 23 last at the Tipling Sarbajanin Sankar Ashram Siva Mandir, Bhogpur, Narayanpur under Bihpuria Police Station in Lakhimpur district. Mahendra Hazarika of Tipling Kachuwa village under Narayanpur Revenue Circle stumbled upon this precious piece of stone at the Siva Mandir complex.

Archaeology Director Dr HN Dutta told this newspaper that the piece of the stone measures 85 cm in length, 34 cm in width and 15 cm in thickness. It has 19 lines of writing engraved in Brahmi script, of which 16 lines are in its edge and all lines are executed horizontally in the smooth surface of the stone. The inscription is datable to 900 AD, said Dr Dutta.

This is the only Brahmi inscription found in Lakhimpur district so far. After the Harzarbarman Rock Inscription of the 8 th Century AD, this is the only Brahmi inscription found so far in the North Bank of the State, Dr Dutta said.

The evidence of the expansion of Brahmanical culture, beyond Da-Parbatia archaeological site in Tezpur, on the North Bank of the State, is found only recently at Gardaul archaeological site, Tezpur and Bamgaon archaeological site at Biswanath Chariali. The Da-Parbatia archaeological site was discovered in 1936.

The discovery of this stone inscription in Pathalipahar has proved the expansion of Brahmanical culture to far eastern region of the North Bank. Earlier, the discovery of stone temple relics at Lonpani Devalaya, Gosaipukhuri, now known as Yuba Nagar in Laluk area of Lakhimpur district, had threw some lights on the expansion of the Brahmanical culture to this part of the State.

However, archaeological evidences of the mediaeval period are found in this part of the State.

The piece of stone was preserved by the Tipling Siva Mandir committee with much care after it came to its knowledge that the stone contains the valuable inscription. It was handed over to the Archaeology Directorate by the temple committee at the instance of the police and civil administration of the district.

The origin of the piece of stone has been traced to Pathalipahar campus of the Sankaradeva Mahavidyalaya. It came to the Siva Mandir with the earth removed from the Pathalipahar area by the college authorities for construction activities. The dug out earth of the area was taken to the site of the under-construction railway over bridge on the NH-52 for earth work.

Following this discovery, Dr Dutta has asked the Sankaradeva Mahavidyalaya authorities to abandon further digging activities in the Pathalipahar area without the prior permission of the Archaeology Directorate.

The Rape of Meroe

Excerpted from The New York Times:

Full Review
The Mysteries of Meroe
By SOUREN MELIKIAN
Published: May 21, 2010

In 1772, the Scotsman James Bruce caught sight of broken obelisks and barely discernible traces of pyramids as he traveled back from the source of the Blue Nile. These, he reckoned, had to be the remains of Meroe, known to Ancient Greek historians.

It was the Frenchman Frédéric Caillaud who, on the morning of April 25, 1822, first saw “a host of pyramids.” He accurately drew and described these in his book “A Trip to Meroe on the White River,” published in 1826. The consequences were disastrous. Antique hunters rushed to loot the site.

In 1834, Giuseppe Ferlini destroyed several pyramids. As he blew up one of these, the Italian dealer laid hands on a fantastic treasure that turned out to have belonged to Kandake (Queen) Amanishakheto. The priceless historical documentation that a proper archaeological investigation would have yielded was pulverized by the explosion and the objects were sold to museums in Munich in 1839, and Berlin in 1844.

Eventually, archaeologists stepped in. The Prussian Karl Richard Lepsius, who conducted a three-year-long campaign, produced an exemplary study of the standing monuments.

In the 20th century, a mission funded by Harvard University and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts worked out the chronological succession of the Kushite rulers of Meroe. Bronzes and ivories came to light, as well as gold jewels inlaid with mother-of-pearl and semi-precious stones that had been overlooked by looters in damaged tombs, and others preserved in funerary caches that had escaped destruction.

More important, the American expedition led by George Reisner opened up a new chapter of cultural history. No one had expected Greek and Roman objects to be found deep in black Africa. The northern necropolis of Meroe yielded a wine vessel in the form of an Amazon figure riding a rearing horse and holding a pouring vessel of the type called rhyton. This is a fifth-century B.C. piece, signed by Sotades, a potter from Athens. Stylistically reminiscent of the Parthenon marble riders, the artefact, fit for kings, was found in a royal tomb. A Roman silver wine cup of the first century A.D. from Italy turned up in the landfill of another pyramid.

And more - much, much more... [Image: © Jürgen Liepe, from National Museum of Sudan at Khartoum, "royal archer."]

Imagine another Egypt, with a marked black African component. This is Meroe, in present-day Sudan. In art, ancient Egyptian deities appear alongside others, unknown elsewhere. The Meroitic cursive script has been deciphered, revealing that it transcribes an African language. It is related to others spoken today, like Taman in parts of Darfur and Chad, Nyima in the Sudanese Nuba mounts, or Nubian in upper Egypt and Sudan. For the moment though, it is only beginning to be partially understood.

The day a bilingual text sufficiently long to give at last a key to the Meroitic language turns up surprises are to be expected. The latest discoveries displayed at the Louvre suggest that it might not be too far off.

Méroé, un empire sur le Nil. Musée du Louvre, Paris. Through Sept. 6.

From the Lourve Museum website:  Meroe, Empire on the Nile

New Pyramid Discovered in Peru

On the 19th I posted about a new pyramid discovered in a southern state of Mexico.  Now this article on a new pyramid discovered in Peru.  Are they in a contest or something?

New pyramid discovered in Peru linked to ancient copper industry
By Owen Jarus
Friday, 21 May 2010

A team of archaeologists who uncovered a 1,400 year old pyramid in Peru say that the finding is particularly unusual. The flat-topped pyramid, which was built by the Moche culture, was used for the living rather than just for the dead, and contains a wealth of artefacts, murals and human remains.

The pyramid was discovered at Huaca Colorada, which translates as ‘coloured hill’. Excavation leader Professor Edward Swenson, of the University of Toronto, describes how he suspected that the area may be archaeologically significant. “I knew it was more than a natural hill – this was modified.”

Swenson’s hunch paid off. With the pyramid so far only partially uncovered, archaeologists have already made remarkable discoveries. “Our biggest surprise was that at the top of this pyramid construction we found elite residences”, said Prof Swenson, who added that it is very unusual to find pyramids used in this way. The Moche are known to have used pyramids for burials and ritual activity rather than everyday living.

The living complex would have housed no more than 25 people, and was complete with patios, a kitchen, and stands for ‘paica’ – large vessels for storing water and corn beer. The team also identified a bin used to hold guinea pigs: “The preservation was so good that we actually came across guinea pig coprolites (faeces).”

Several murals covered the corridors at the pyramid's summit. The best-preserved of these depicts a Moche warrior - who Swenson describes as looking “like a Smurf” - carrying a club. Other murals include a depiction of what appears to be a cactus with two mountain peaks and a rainbow, and a representation of two litter-bearers carrying a person.

Evidence of ritual sacrifice was also discovered at the site. The skeletons of three adolescent girls, and body parts belonging to four other individuals, were found on a platform at the top of the pyramid. The girls were buried with beads around their neck and their feet were close together, suggesting that they had been bound. Charring on the girls' knees indicate that their bodies were subject to “ritualistic burning.”

This evidence raises the possibility that the girls were sacrificed as part of a ritual, something not uncommon among the Moche. However physical anthropologists examining the skeletons could find no evidence of trauma. This means the girls either died naturally or were killed in such a way that no evidence was left on their bones. “It’s possible they were sacrificed but we don’t know,” adds Prof Swenson. [Oh for goddesssake, haven't these people ever heard of poison?]

To the south of the pyramid the team found a large number of copper artefacts including spatulas, knives, smelting receptacles and ornaments. “I’ve never found such a high quantity of copper,” says Swenson. “The power of these elites could very much have been grounded in control of copper production.”

Huaca Colorada is near the coast of Peru where copper is scarce, so the site’s rulers would have had to trade with people living in the mountains, at least 200km to the east. Swenson speculates that the rulers “may have been considered lords – but lords of a particular kind – in transforming ore into finished products”. Alternatively, says Swenson, there could have been a “corporation of co-operating but high status practitioners.”

Huaca Colorada appears to be undefended. Swenson said the team found “no walls, no sling-stones... unlike many of the sites built on the coastal hills.” The area surrounding the settlement was mostly flat, and would have offered little resistance from invaders. There was certainly warfare in the Moche world, but perhaps, for some unknown reason, Huaca Colorada and its pyramid were off-limits to invaders. “It’s kind of like (the) open city of Rome in World War II,” says Swenson. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on.”

Excavation work continues at the site, and researchers will conduct a GPR survey on the pyramid this summer to determine its size.

2010 U.S. Chess Championship

It couldn't be clearer from this Round 7 video recap from the offical website for the 2010 U.S. Chess Championship - only the top 4 count.  The only other player who was mentioned in the recap was GM Larry Christiansen, who had a chance to make a break-through into the "quad."  A sound bite from Christiansen after the game was telling.  To paraphrase, he said that the tournament was over for everyone else except the top 4. He's right.  Everyone else is second thought, including Christiansen.  For a national championship set-up, that is pathetic.  And an insult to the players who didn't make the "quad."  They didn't come to St. Louis to pick their noses, but they may as well have.

Here is the video recap. 


A few other players, including IM Irina Krush and her quest for her second GM norm, were mentioned in today's article at Chess Life Online by FM Mike Klein, who has been providing excellent reports throughout the tournament.  According to Klein, Krush needs to score 1 point in her final 2 games - so they're only playing 9 games, not 10?  Whatever.  As Christiansen said, "the real tournament is over."  Personally, it doesn't much matter to me what dude wins the Men's Championship since Krush doesn't have a chance at the title, but I am rooting for her to get that second GM norm.

U.S. Women's Champ Anna Zatonskih to Give Fund-Raising Simul

This is from current Women's World Chess Champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk's chess blog.  For the full post, please visit the linked report - there is an application form and further information about the entire program and the simul!  This photo of IM Zatonskih is from the 2009 U.S. Women's Chess Championship.

June 8th, 2010
6:00 – 10:00 PM
Saguaro Auditorium
Rosati Education Center, Banner Desert Medical Center
1400 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa, AZ 85202, USA

Come Meet the Reigning and Three Time U.S. Women’s Chess Champion Woman Grandmaster and International Master Anna Zatonskih and support Pediatric Rehab at Cardon Children’s Medical Center!

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to meet one of the best chess players in the world! All proceeds will go directly toward the purchase of much needed rehabilitation equipment. For example, a state of the art rehabilitation bicycle costs $5,000.00! Many other items are on the wish list for this unit that does so much to help children who have been disabled from injury or disease. WGM Zatonskih will speak about what it takes to balance motherhood with being a world class chess champion. She will also perform some feats of mental gymnastics as she dazzles you with her chess brilliance in her effort to raise money for a very special cause.
So please mark your calendars now and plan to be a part of chess history at Cardon Children’s!

Please RSVP by June 4th to Medical Staff Office at 480-412-3221 or marylou.erwin@bannerhealth.com

6:00 – 6:30: Reception
6:30 – 7:00 Dinner
7:00 – 7:15 Introductions – Norm Saba, M.D.; Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman
7:15 – 8:00 – WGM Anna Zatonskih
8:00 – Chess Exhibition
9:45 – Closing Remarks
Cost: $50.00 per couple or $30 per single

Please make your tax deductible donations to:
Banner Health Foundation (include “Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit” on your check) and mail them to Norm Saba, M.D.; Medical Staff Office; Banner Desert Medical Center; 1400 S. Dobson Rd.; Mesa, AZ 85202 by June 4th. If you have questions feel free to call Norm at 602-228-2379.

2010 U.S. Chess Championship

Round 7 Krush v. Lenderman:

Event "2010 US Championship"]

[Site "St Louis"]
[Date "2010.05.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Krush, Irina"]
[Black "Lenderman, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "2494"]
[WhiteTitle "IM"]
[BlackELO "2649"]
[BlackTitle "GM"]
[Source "MonRoi"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be3 O-O 8.Bb5 Bd7 9.Bxd7 Qxd7 10.Nf3 Nc4 11.Qe2 Nxe3 12.Qxe3 Nc6 13.Rd1 e6 14.O-O Rfd8 15.e5 Nb4 16.Ng5 h6 17.Nf3 Nd5 18.Qc1 Nxc3 19.Qxc3 Qd5 20.a3 Bf8 21.Rc1 c6 22.Rc2 a5 23.Rfc1 Rd7 24.Qc4 Qxc4 25.Rxc4 Rd5 26.Kf1 Ra6 27.Ne1 Rb6 28.Nd3 Rb3 29.Ke2 Be7 30.R1c2 h5 31.f4 Rd7 32.Nc1 Rb5 33.Ke3 f5 34.a4 Rb6 35.Nd3 Kf7 36.g3 Rd8 37.h4 Ra6 38.R4c3 Rd5 39.Rb3 b5 40.axb5 cxb5 41.Rbc3 Ra7 42.Rc7 Rd7 43.Rxa7 Rxa7 44.Rc6 Rd7 45.Rb6 Rd5 46.Nc1 b4 47.Nd3 Bf8 48.b3 Be7 49.Nb2 Rc5 50.Nc4 Rc7 51.Ra6 Bd8 52.Kd3 Ke7 53.Ra8 Rc6 54.Kd2 Kd7 55.Ra7 Bc7 56.Kd3 Ke8 57.Rb7 Bd8 58.Nd6 Kf8 59.Nc4 Ke8 60.Rg7 Ra6 61.Nd6 Kf8 62.Rf7 Kg8 63.Rd7 Ra8 64.Nb7 Bb6 65.Rd6 Bc7 66.Rc6 a4 67.bxa4 Ba5 68.Rxe6 b3 69.Nxa5 Rb8 70.Nxb3 Rxb3 71.Kc4 1-0

Good for Irina!  She is still in the hunt for her second GM norm.  Not sure - I thought I read somewhere (in Ben's blog?) that she needs to score 2 points in her last 3 games to get it.

Now the bifurcated championship stuff happens.  The following top four dudes go into some kind of quad thingy: Nakamura, Onischuk, Kamsky, Shulman, all with 5.0/7.  Everyone else is now fighting for 5th place over 3 final games.  Whoop de doo.

R7 Standings:

Rank Name Score M/F Rating TPR W-We 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 GM Nakamura, Hikaru 5.0 M 2733 2764 +0.33 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½
2 GM Kamsky, Gata 5.0 M 2702 2773 +0.67 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½
3 GM Onischuk, Alexander 5.0 M 2699 2781 +0.78 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½
4 GM Shulman, Yuri 5.0 M 2613 2755 +1.35 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½
5 GM Christiansen, Larry 4.5 M 2578 2710 +1.28 1 ½ ½ 1 0 1 ½
6 GM Stripunsky, Alexander 4.5 M 2570 2659 +0.87 0 1 1 1 ½ 0 1
7 GM Hess, Robert L 4.0 M 2590 2607 +0.19 1 0 1 0 0 1 1
8 GM Shabalov, Alexander 4.0 M 2585 2627 +0.43 ½ 1 0 0 1 1 ½
9 GM Finegold, Benjamin 4.0 M 2539 2608 +0.67 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 1 ½
10 GM Yermolinsky, Alex 4.0 M 2528 2627 +0.99 0 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½
11 IM Krush, Irina 4.0 F 2455 2636 +1.74 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 0 1
12 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 3.5 M 2599 2572 -0.25 ½ 1 1 ½ 0 ½ 0
13 GM Ehlvest, Jaan 3.5 M 2591 2534 -0.55 1 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 1
14 GM Kraai, Jesse 3.5 M 2492 2599 +1.01 ½ 0 1 1 1 0 0
15 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 3.0 M 2577 2496 -0.80 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 ½
16 GM Robson, Ray 3.0 M 2569 2500 -0.70 0 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½
17 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 3.0 M 2539 2536 -0.05 1 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 1
18 GM Lenderman, Alex 2.5 M 2598 2427 -1.66 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 1 0
19 GM Benjamin, Joel 2.5 M 2565 2462 -1.01 0 ½ 1 0 1 0 0
20 GM Bhat, Vinay S 2.5 M 2547 2429 -1.17 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ 1 0
21 IM Altounian, Levon 2.5 M 2454 2460 +0.03 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 0 1
22 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2.0 M 2571 2398 -1.64 ½ 1 0 0 0 0 ½
23 GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2.0 M 2488 2396 -0.87 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½
24 IM Shankland, Samuel 1.5 M 2507 2314 -1.64 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0

9 Queens - Free Chess Academy this Saturday!

Saturday May 23, 2010 free Chess Academy by 9 Queens!  Learn the basics of how to play chess or, for more advanced players, receive free lessons on "chess decoys" from a Master!

The Academy will be held at Bookmans Low Lounge in the Sahuaro Girl Scout Resource Center, 4300 East Broadway Boulevard!!! This month National Master Leo Martinez will be teaching advanced players how to create deadly decoys to distract their opponents. Beginners will learn the king and queen dance while going over how all the pieces move. This free workshop is generously sponsored by Bookmans.

Enterprising Egyptian Women

From ABC Science
Synchrotron probes Egyptian beads
Tuesday, 18 May 2010 Dani Cooper

Not content with managing the household it appears women in Ancient Egypt were also keeping the budget in the black with some home-based manufacturing.

That is the conclusion an Australian team has drawn by using synchrotrons to analyse the synthetic turquoise that was popular during the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaten around 1300BC.  (Photo: Women could have made synthetic turquoise beads like these in home bread ovens, say researchers (Source: Australian Institute of Archaeology/Mark Eccleston)

Archaeologist Dr Mark Eccleston will outline his findings at the Melbourne Museum in a lecture tomorrow as part of National Archaeology Week.

Eccleston says Egyptian 'faience', a fine-glazed quartz ceramic of distinct turquoise colour, was a common material used in items ranging from simple beads to religious artefacts.

He says while it was known that larger factories were used to produce the faience, his research has shown less prestigious pieces could also have been produced in ovens in household courtyards.

"There is an increasing amount of evidence that work was done in the home to provide extra income for the household," says Eccleston, from La Trobe University in Melbourne.

"Large state industries were effectively sub-contracting labour and the household would get something in return, for example more food."

Women's work
Eccleston says that because women did work in the home, he believes these cottage-type industries were undertaken by women, and possibly even children.

Among the evidence he points to is artefacts made from faience that have been found in household courtyards. Eccleston has also shown that faience can be 'cooked' at home by demonstrating this in a replica 1300BC bread oven.

"People said you couldn't make a bread oven that hot, but we showed you could," he says.

Enigmatic material
Eccleston says faience remains "an enigmatic" material to archaeologists as little is known about how and by whom it was made and exactly what materials it was created from.

In his project with La Trobe University physicist Dr Peter Kappen, Eccleston has placed small faience beads in a synchrotron beam to determine the raw materials, and from where those materials were sourced.
He says the synchrotron can reveal levels of detail never before possible about the structure of raw materials used to make ancient glazes and the minerals used to colour them.

"By being able to tell where these raw materials were sourced, we'll be able to answer other questions about the economy of trade in bronze and metals, how industries were set up and how materials were distributed throughout society for different purposes," says Eccleston.

He says the work has shown the copper is barely present in the glaze, which raises questions about the method of its extraction.

"It may be they were leaching copper out of bits of metal in some solution," says Eccleston.

Urine test
The collaborators will now test a number of solutions, including urine, to see if a similar result can be achieved.

"We know copper was used, but it is like trying to replicate a chocolate cake," says Eccleston. "You know it is chocolate, but what type of chocolate? Is it 85% Lindt or Cadbury dairy milk?"

Eccleston says they aim to replicate the creation of faience in the laboratory using a mineralised solution. He says they will then compare this with ancient faience, to see if they have found the right recipe.

Eccleston says the aim of their study is to demonstrate the success of the technique in the hope of accessing artefacts in the Berlin museum from Akhenaten's capital Amarna, excavated by German archaeologists about a 100 years ago.

Two Harappan sites unearthed in Surendranagar

From Indiaexpress.com
Posted: Wed May 19 2010, 01:49 hrs
Rajkot:

Pottery fragments found from the sites in Kundla village are nearly 2,000 years old

Two fresh sites belonging to the Late Harappan Period have been found along the two ends of the Vasal River in Chuda taluka of Surendranagar district, a state archaeology department team from Rajkot has claimed. The sites are located at Kundla village.

Pottery fragments found here are believed to be nearly 2,000 years old. Although no structure has been found at any of the sites, there are indications that an old Harappan settlement existed in the area, which is now an agricultural land.

“Pottery fragments with designs have been found in large numbers from the two mounds. These include pieces of clay jar, bowl and plates. Although no structure has been found, there are indications that a settlement did exist in the area. We have prepared a report on this and submitted it to the state government,” said D K Rathod, Assistant Superintendent, Archaeology Department, Rajkot.

Egypt's ‘avenue of colossi’ may be found

Story forwarded by Isis from MSNBC.  More to that "statue of Thoth" story I posted a day or two ago...

More than 80 statues already unearthed at funeral site
By Rossella Lorenzi
updated 11:27 a.m. CT, Mon., May 17, 2010

An avenue of colossal granite statues representing an ancient deity could lie by the funerary temple of Tutankhamun's grandfather Amenhotep III, according to Egyptian archaeologists who have unearthed one of these statues at Kom el-Hettan on Luxor's west bank.

Led by Dr. Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, the team has unearthed some massive evidence to support the hypothesis of such an imposing avenue.

Indeed, an 11.5-foot-tall and 4.5-foot-wide granite statue of Thoth, the ancient Egyptian god of wisdom, has been dug out at the site.

Since a similar statue was discovered at Kom el-Hettan last year, more colossi could yet be unearthed, Dr. Hawass said in a statement.

“The site could contain an avenue of Thoth statues that once outlined the original path leading to the temple,” Afifi Rohayem, the assistant of the mission’s director, said.

Considered one of the richest men in human history, Amenhotep III (1390-1352 B.C.) ruled for 38 years during a time when Egypt was at the height of prosperity and cultural development. Some of ancient Egypt's biggest monuments were constructed during his reign.

Amenhotep III’s mummy was found in 1898 in a tomb dubbed KV35 by French Egyptologist Victor Loret. Recent DNA tests have revealed that the Eighteenth Dynasty pharaoh was King Tutankhamun's grandfather.

Unearthed at the northwestern side of the temple, the red granite colossus of Thoth is just one of the several artifacts and statues discovered in the buried ruins of the temple.

More than 80 statues have been already unearthed at the site, including the colossal head of Amenhotep III and a statue of the god Thoth in the shape of a baboon, both discovered a few months ago.

The largest religious complex in ancient Egypt, guarded by two (still standing) gigantic statues of the Pharaoh, known as the famous Colossi of Memnon, the temple stood very close to the Nile river.

Most likely, it was destroyed by floods. Many of its crumbled stones were removed and reused in other building projects.

Traces of the Thoth colossi were first uncovered during the execution of a development project aimed at controlling the subterranean water level on Luxor’s west bank.

Oldest Mesoamerican pyramid tomb found in Mexico

Sent to me by Isis from Yahoo News:

By MARK STEVENSON, Associated Press Writer Mark Stevenson, Associated Press Writer – Mon May 17, 9:33 pm ET

MEXICO CITY – Archaeologists in southern Mexico announced Monday they have discovered a 2,700-year-old tomb of a dignitary inside a pyramid that may be the oldest such burial documented in Mesoamerica.

The tomb held a man aged around 50, who was buried with jade collars, pyrite and obsidian artifacts and ceramic vessels. Archaeologist Emiliano Gallaga said the tomb dates to between 500 and 700 B.C.

Based on the layers in which it was found and the tomb's unusual wooden construction, "we think this is one of the earliest discoveries of the use of a pyramid as a tomb, not only as a religious site or temple," Gallaga said.

Pre-Hispanic cultures built pyramids mainly as representations of the levels leading from the underworld to the sky; the highest point usually held a temple.

The tomb was found at a site built by Zoque Indians in Chiapa de Corzo, in southern Chiapas state. It may be almost 1,000 years older than the better-known pyramid tomb of the Mayan ruler Pakal at the Palenque archaeological site, also in Chiapas.

The man — probably a high priest or ruler of Chiapa de Corzo, a prominent settlement at the time — was buried in a stone chamber. Marks in the wall indicate wooden roof supports were used to create the tomb, but the wood long ago collapsed under the weight of the pyramid built above.

Archeologists began digging into the pyramid mound in April to study the internal structure — pyramids were often built in layers, one atop another — when they happened on a wall whose finished stones appeared to face inward. In digging last week, they uncovered the 4- by 3-meter tomb chamber about 6 or 7 meters beneath what had been the pyramid's peak.

The body of a 1-year-old child was laid carefully over the man's body inside the tomb, while that of a 20-year-old male was tossed into the chamber with less care, perhaps sacrificed at the time of the burial.

The older man was buried with jade and amber collars and bracelets and pearl ornaments. His face was covered with what may have been a funeral mask with obsidian eyes.

Nearby, the tomb of a woman, also about 50, contained similar ornaments.

The ornaments — some imported from as far away as Guatemala and central Mexico — and some of the 15 ceramic vessels found in the tomb show influences from the Olmec culture, long considered the "mother culture" of the region.

The find raised the possibility that Olmec pyramids might contain similar tombs of dignitaries, especially at well-known sites like La Venta.

Olmec pyramids, while well-known, have not been excavated, in part because the high water table and humidity of their Gulf coast sites are not as conducive to preserving buried human remains.

"The Olmec sites have not been explored with the depth they deserve," said Lynneth Lowe, an archaeologist at Mexico's National Autonomous University who participated in the dig. "It is possible that thus type of tomb exists at La Venta."

Despite the Chiapa de Corzo tomb's location, experts said it is not clear the later Maya culture learned or inherited the practice of pyramid burials from the Zoques, or Olmecs.

"While I have no doubt it relates to Olmec, there is no tie to Maya at this time per se," said archaeologist Lisa Lucero of the University of Illinois, who was not involved in the Chiapa de Corzo project. "There are scholars who would like to see Olmec-Maya connections so they can show direct ties from Olmec to Maya, but this would be difficult to show with evidence at hand."

********************************************************

They assume the man was the dignitary - interesting.