Showing posts with label anthropology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anthropology. Show all posts

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Pyramid Review: Exploring Mexican sites

(Pyramid Review) Yaxchilan: The most inaccessible archeological site in Mexico, Jan. 29, 2026

Yaxchilan necropolis ruins (Wikipedia)
Yaxchilan
(yacht-chee-lan) is an ancient Maya city located on the bank of the Usumacinta River in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico, near Guatemala (named after the Buddha Gautama plus the word mala or religious beads*). In the Late Classic Period, Yaxchilan was one of the most powerful Maya states along the course of the Usumacinta River, with Piedras Negras ("Black Rocks") as its major rival [1]. Architectural styles in subordinate sites in the Usumacinta region demonstrate clear differences that mark a clear boundary between the two kingdoms [1]. More: Yaxchilan, Mexico
Mexico built world's largest pyramid
Buddhists came to California and Mexico BEFORE Christianity? Yes, according to American Edward Payson in a miraculous book published more than a century ago:

Thursday, November 20, 2025

21 million years of kissing (BBC News)



Nazi Nordic ideal of naked apes (Klaus/Barbie)
Humans have only been going at it for less than 5,000 years, according to science: Archaeologists discover evidence of first human kiss -- and it happened 4,500 years ago. However, kissing (smooching, pecking, making out, speaking French) has been going on much, much longer.

The first ever recorded kiss [discovered so far] happened 4,500 years ago, scientists suggest after discovering evidence that puts the event 1,000 years earlier than previously thought. A study published in the journal Science points to evidence of kissing in the ancient Middle East, in early Mesopotamian societies, documented in ancient texts from 2,500 BCE.

It's just a "Complicated Game"
XTC (Ecstasy), British band with a deep message in "Dear God"
  • Ah, romance, it will be the death of us, dragging out our time in samsara (the "Continued Wandering On" of death and rebirth, chasing pleasure first here then there always in search of fulfillment that cannot be found in things.)
  • Does this mean we're breaking up? 😭
Kissing?

(BBC via MSN) Humans do it, monkeys do it, even polar bears do it. And now researchers have reconstructed the evolutionary origins of kissing. Their study suggests that the mouth-on-mouth kiss evolved more than 21 million years ago, and was something that the common ancestor of humans and other great apes probably indulged in.

The same research concluded that Neanderthals may have kissed too – and that [modern] humans and Neanderthals may even have smooched one another. The scientists studied kissing because it presents something of an evolutionary puzzle -- it has no obvious survival or reproductive benefits. Yet, it is something that is seen not just in many human societies, but across the animal kingdom. More

Friday, May 30, 2025

WeHo Pride '25, ancient Greek LGBTQ?

Can we be more accepting of uncloseted gay pride rather than repressive and full of bias?

WeHo Pride 2025 kicks off tonight | FOX 11
Happy Pride Month: June
(LAFOX 11 Los Angeles) May 30, 2025: West Hollywood (Los Angeles) is gearing up for its annual three-day Pride Weekend, kicking off tonight, Friday evening, with a free music festival. The celebration promises a packed schedule of events, including headline musical acts, a street fair, a women's freedom festival, a dyk* march, and the grand Pride Parade on Sunday.

LGBTQ new or older than ancient Greece?

The pandakas of Pakistan
Do all molested boys in Pakistan grow up to be trans (pandaka) outcastes?
Modern pandaka is a menace to Dave Chappelle

Monday, May 26, 2025

Oldest art on Earth twice as old as Europe's


Borneo (/bore-nee-yo/) is the third-largest island in the world, with an area of 288,869 square miles (748,168 km2) and a population of 23,053,723 (2020 national censuses) [1, 2, 3]. Situated at the geographic center of Maritime Southeast Asia, it is one of the Greater Sunda Islands, located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and east of Sumatra. The island is crossed by the equator, which divides it roughly in half. More
CAVES: Borneo has significant cave systems. In Sarawak, the Clearwater Cave has one of the world's longest underground rivers while Deer Cave is home to over three million bats, with guano accumulated to over 330 feet (100 meters) deep [28]. The Gomantong Caves in Sabah have been dubbed the "Cockroach Caves" due to the presence of millions of cockroaches inside [29, 30]. The Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak and Sangkulirang-Mangkalihat Karst in East Kalimantan have karst areas that contain thousands of smaller caves [31].

History of Borneo: the original headhunters
ANCIENT HUMAN ART:
 Scientists reported the discovery of the oldest known figurative art painting, over 40,000 years old (perhaps as old as 52,000 years old), of an unknown (bull) animal, in the cave of Lubang Jeriji Saléh on the island of Borneo in Nov. 2018 [52, 53]. It has been proposed, based on house construction styles, linguistic, and genetic evidence, that Madagascar may have been first populated from southern Borneo. More
Science?
Gold standard peer reviewed publication
Figurative cave paintings from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi date to at least 35,000 years ago (ka) and hand-stencil art from the same region has a minimum date of 40 ka1. Here we show that similar rock art was created during essentially the same time period on the adjacent island of Borneo. Uranium-series analysis of calcium carbonate deposits that overlie a large reddish-orange figurative painting of an animal at Lubang Jeriji Saléh-a limestone cave in East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo-yielded a minimum date of 40 ka, which to our knowledge is currently the oldest date for figurative artwork from anywhere in the world. In addition, two reddish-orange-coloured hand stencils from the same site each yielded a minimum uranium-series date of... Source: Palaeolithic cave art in Borneo (PubMed)

The Oldest art on Earth: Discovered in a hidden Borneo cave
(documentalism) May 19, 2025: Deep in the rainforests of Indonesian Borneo, a scientist has uncovered ancient secrets hidden in unmapped limestone caves. Join Steve Backshall and an expedition team as it battles through jungle to film what is the oldest figurative cave art ever discovered — dated as being up to 50,000 years old.

This was one of the most memorable expeditions I have ever directed and filmed. It is an amazing privilege to have worked with such an amazing and competent team. In memory of the brilliant Pak Pindi Setiawan. Huge thanks to Steve Backshall, Pak Pindi Setiawan, Aldo Kane, the whole filming team and True To Nature, UKTV, FMI. Watch the full episode on the BBC: bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002... Watch more wild expeditions: u.co.uk/shows/expedition-with... #Borneo #CaveArt #Expedition #AncientHistory #SteveBackshall
  • Steve Backshall, documentalism, May 19, 2025; Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Mexico's lost cities: Maya of Mesoamerica


The rainforest (jungle) is full of cities we couldn’t see
Maya Temple of the Masks, Tikal, Guatemala
(Howtown) April 17, 2025: LiDAR scanning is transforming our understanding of the ancient Maya by revealing thousands of hidden structures beneath the rainforest canopy.

In areas like Tikal, Guatemala, and Caracol, Belize, laser data has uncovered extensive networks of American pyramids, roads, canals, and residential compounds, expanding estimates of Maya population and urban sprawl.
Maya Codex of Mexico
The 2016 PACUNAM survey alone mapped over 2,000 square kilometers and identified over 60,000 previously unknown structures.

While much of the region still remains unscanned, the new technology is already reshaping what counts as a “site” and how we interpret the scale of the massive Maya civilization of Mexico and neighboring countries.

CHAPTERS
  • 0:00 - A game-changer
  • 0:49 - Welcome to the Maya forest
  • 3:45 - Tikal through time
  • 7:00 - LiDAR on airplanes
  • 11:44 - Minds blown
  • 14:49 -Takeaways
  • 16:10 - What's next?
  • 17:18 - Secret message
This Howtown video explains how mapping methods have evolved over time, allowing archeologists to see and analyze ancient cities like Tikal, Guatemala. Even after a century of study, there remains so much to be uncovered by airborne LiDAR. It’s an incredible example of how advances in physics and engineering can supercharge other fields in ways that couldn’t have been anticipated.

SOURCES
Thanks to: @jaguarcilloviajeroThanks to Storyblocks for sponsoring this video. Download unlimited stock media at one set price with Storyblocks: storyblocks.com/howtown. Howtown is supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (sloan.org), in association with IMI (theimi.co). To support independent science journalism, join at patreon.com/Howtown.

Howtown is grateful for the generous support of the Patreon Town Council: Bev Fong Chris Wubbels Sean Barrett Mike Purvis Jon Hewett Albychen Hernando Garcia Sean Talon Evan Hass Mark Tinker Julian Mayorga L.A. O’Connor Mikey Limotta Marcos Huerta Joaquim Salles Sam Gaty Jason Dunlap Parag Mallick Edgar Sutawika Richard Gladas Tim Davey Scott Henderson Navneet Tra Him Taylor Pedro ZM Ale Andrew Paschall Martin Weeks Dimi Bryce Golden-Chen Estelle Caswell.

NOTE: Howtown used generative AI in this piece to add motion to public-domain illustrations. Register complaints at joss@howtown.co.
  • Joss, Howtown, April 17, 2025; Crystal Quintero, Pfc. Sandoval, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Thursday, March 20, 2025

'Aztecs' = Mexica of Aztlan/Atlantis


Arrival from Atlantis (Codex Boturini, Aztlán)
Where was Aztlan? It was a faraway island or continent in the middle of the sea. It may have been inside our Hollow Earth (called Agartha in some traditions), with an internal sea described by Brooks Agnew, separated into seven giant caves or caverns with different groupings or tribes of people. And the people came to Mexico by boat long ago with a memory of their origins in that highly developed civilization, which they recreated in a great empire of temples and pyramids, monuments to the ET "gods" (star people) and dragons (
Nāgas, reptilians) and others who shaped them.


Aztec mythology and the origins of humanity | Fate and Fabled
(Storied) July 20, 2022: If the word Nahua (/nah-wah/) sounds unfamiliar, it’s probably because one is used to hearing about them referred to as the “Aztecs.” That is a completely made up name by Anglo researchers.

The history is complicated, but the name Aztecs was popularized by a German explorer in the 1800s to describe the powerful Mesoamerican empire. Nahua culture is richly complex, with stories that reflect and explain the sometimes-confusing duality of nature. Beyond mythology, the Nahua had an interesting political structure, impressive agricultural system, and TWO calendars. Yet, most people these days do not even know them by their real name, the Mexica (source of the name Mexico).

Hosted by Dr. Moiya McTier and Dr. Emily Zarka, FATE & FABLED explores the stories and characters of mythologies from all around the world -- why they came to be and how they impact us still today. Host/writer: Moiya McTier, PhD. Director: David Schulte. Executive Producer: Amanda Fox. Producer: Thomas Fernandes/ Editor/Animator: P.W. Shelton. Assistant Editor: Jordyn Buckland. Illustrator: Sophie Calhoun. Script Editors: Emily Zarka, PhD. and Moiya McTier, PhD. Script Consultant: David Tavárez. Fact Checker: Yvonne McGreevy. Additional Footage: Shutterstock. Music: APM Music. Executive in Charge (PBS): Maribel Lopez. Director of Programming (PBS): Gabrielle Ewing. Assistant Director of Programming (PBS): John Campbell Fate & Fabled is produced by Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios. Descriptive Audio & Captions provided by The Described and Captioned Media Program.

Monday, December 16, 2024

In the Garden of Eden (Bashar)


Bashar: What REALLY happened in the Garden of Eden? | Channeled by Darryl Anka
(Messenger Of Good News) Dec. 16, 2024: Explore the mysteries of the Bible's most iconic story. This thought-provoking video delves into the fascinating (mythologized) tale of the Garden of Eden, seeking to uncover the truth behind the myth.
From the serpent's cunning deceit to the forbidden fruit, Bashar examines the symbolism, historical context, and cultural significance of this ancient story. Join the adventure into the heart of the Bible's creation (myth) narrative and discover what really happened in the Garden of Eden.

Let's argue
No more arguing. We found Wutai Shan Buddhist

Monday, November 4, 2024

Oldest Native American footage ever

Oldest Native American footage ever
(Yestervid) Oct. 28, 2015: This is a rare, amazing, and heartfelt tribute to Native American tribes. This footage dates back to 1895 or 1894, with rare vintage audio recording of American Indian music.

This is forgotten American history and includes the oldest known clip of Native Americans on film, a clip of Sioux tribe members performing the "Buffalo Dance" at Thomas Edison's Black Maria Studio in New Jersey.

The "Ghost Dance" film was created on the same day, September 24, 1895. Other films featured include Hopi tribe members greeting TR and clips from the Chicago World's Fair of 1933.

It shows three Native American feature films: White Fawn's Devotion, The Invaders, and Last of the Mohicans. White Fawn's Devotion was the earliest film directed by a Native American, whose name was James Young Deer.

The old audio clip was recorded in 1895 by Alice Cunningham and Francis La Flesche. The dance song is "He'dewachi," and it is traditionally played at ceremonies that celebrate warriors.

Please enjoy and share! Philámayaye! (Lakota for "thank you"). See more great videos like this on the channel: Yestervid (yestervid.com), Facebook: yestervid, X/Twitter: yestervid.

Oldest Native American drumming video ever
 
(Afrodrumming) July 24, 2012: Old, rare footage of Native American drumming from 1894 in a tribute to our American Indian brothers and sisters.

Big thanks to all the musicians who provided their talents: The Hopi tribe of Arizona, Kerri Lake, Ephemeral Rift, and Kevin MacLeod.

For more on Afrodrumming, see: afrodrumming.com. The album African Drumming is available as a CD or for immediate download here: afrodrumming.com/store for all anyone needs to know about the djembe and African drumming.
  • Xochitl, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Friday, October 18, 2024

Primordial love/sex drive (Helen Fisher)


There are many kinds of attachment (upadana). The pursuit and clinging to sensual pleasures is very strong (although the strongest is probably attachment to views). It can be as strong as thirst (tanha). It serves a function, not for us who suffer it so much as the species or genes that perpetuate themselves into the future. (See The Selfish Gene on the scientific view of the impersonal nature of biology).

Love (the affection for clinging) is a drive, sex (the affection for pleasure) is a drive, and they are very powerful. What hope is there to overcome or undo them should they start to spread all out of control like fire and ruin our lives, bringing waves of torment and suffering? Things are all well and good when they are working out, but when they are not?

When things sour, then what? These are not conscious processes we have very much insight on. We live on autopilot, and they "happen" to us. Maybe that's okay for most people. But for those who would be free and make an end of all suffering in this very life?

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Going Native: 10 Essential Travel Tips



10 Essential Tips for Immersing Yourself in Native American Culture
Pow wow ritual dancing
Exploring the rich history of Native American culture offers a profound understanding of the diverse traditions and philosophies of the Indigenous peoples of North America.

From the ancient cliff dwellings of the Southwest to the vibrant pow-wows of the Great Plains, each destination provides a unique insight into the resilience and creativity of American-Indian communities.

Spanning parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, the Navajo Nation is the largest Native American territory in the United States, offering an insight into Navajo (Dine) culture, history, and landscape.

Visitors can explore Monument Valley’s iconic sandstone buttes, experience the spiritual beauty of Canyon de Chelly, and learn about traditional Navajo crafts, such as weaving and silverwork, at the Navajo Nation Museum.

The Navajo people’s deep connection to the land is evident in their art, ceremonies, and way of life, providing a profound experience for those who seek to understand their culture.

Part of the Smithsonian Institution [a collection of organizations that seem more interested in burying and hiding discoveries rather than featuring them], The National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to preserving, studying, and exhibiting the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of Native Americans.

What was Alta-California like before?
The museum’s extensive collection spans over 12,000 years of history across more than 1,200 Indigenous cultures. Exhibits range from ancient artifacts to contemporary art, providing a comprehensive overview of Native American heritage.

The museum’s architecture, inspired by natural rock formations, and its Indigenous landscaping further enhance the visitor experience. More

Sunday, October 8, 2023

Scientists rediscover lost human groups

Catherine Shuttleworth, Indy 100 via MSN.com, 9/27/23; Sheldon S., CC Liu, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Members of the Himba community, which is also native to the Namib desert Members of the Himba community, which is also native to the Namib desert (iStock)
.
Scientists rediscover human groups that were thought to have died out decades ago
OMG, these tribal Africans are so beautiful!
A team of researchers has rediscovered a human population that was thought to have been lost decades ago.

When a number of languages died out in southern Africa's Namib Desert, anthropologists feared that the populations that spoke them had gone, too. However, experts have now discovered that the genetic identity of these groups may have been maintained, even without their native tongue.

"We were able to locate groups which were once thought to have disappeared more than 50 years ago," Dr. Jorge Rocha of the University of Porto said in a statement. One of these groups is the Kwepe, who used to speak Kwadi.

The disappearance of the language was thought to mark the end of their separation from neighboring populations. Dr. Ann-Maria Fehn of the Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos said:

"Kwadi was a click language that shared a common ancestor with the Khoe languages spoken by foragers and herders across Southern Africa."

The team managed to find the descendants of those who spoke Kwadi and discovered that they had retained their genetic distinctiveness that traces back to a time before Bantu-speaking farmers moved into the area. More: Scientists rediscover human groups that were thought to have died out decades ago











Sunday, September 17, 2023

Dark Europeans? When did light skin appear?

North 02, YouTube; Pat Macpherson, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

When did lighter skin appear in modern humans?
Can I be considered an early European? (Science of Eye Color: Blue-Eyed Buddha)

So much for White Power
(NORTH 02) [If modern humans came out of Africa, as modern science teaches, then we came with darker skin. But we lightened up in colder, cloudier places. When did that happen? At one time Europeans were dark skinned, like Otzi the Iceman, which recent genetic analyses reveal was very dark, more Anatolian/Turkish than northern European or Central Asian than previously thought.]

#evolution #HumanEvolution #anthropology #anthropology
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