MIGRATING AWAY FROM CLOVIS

In mid October 2011 the journal Science published a reexamination of a mastodon bone originally excavated in the late 1970s at the Manis site in north western Washington State. Embedded in the bone, one of the mastodon’s 19 ribs, was the tip of a bone projectile. Using DNA analysis, a team led by Texas A&M University archaeologist Michael Waters determined that the point was itself fashioned from mastodon bone. Radiocarbon dating of the rib and projectile indicate they are 13,800 years old, predating the so-called “Clovis horizon,” roughly 11,000 years ago, when the Clovis culture,associated with fluted, stone points shaped like a Catholic bishop’s hat, first emerged in the archaeological record. In the 1930sarchaeologists identified these Clovis toolmakers as the original settlers of the Americas. These Paleo-Indian may have crossed the now-submerged landmass in the Bering Strait from northeastern Asia. The Manis mastodon is the latest in more than a decade of findings prompting archaeologists to consider that there might have been earlier migrations of settlers. “We’ve known there’s pre-Clovis for a long time,” says Gary Haynes of the University of Nevada,Reno. Adds James Adovasio, an archaeologist at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania: “What you’re seeing is the emergence of ideas that reflect the current ferment in the field now that we know this old model doesn’t work.” Change is afoot, but it’s not a unanimous shift, says David G. Anderson, an archaeologist at the University of Tennessee. He notes that in a survey administered by one of his graduate students to 200 Paleo-Indian researchers, 70percent acknowledged there had to be pre-Clovis populations in the Americas. “The problem is,” Anderson explains, “we know so little about pre-Clovis that we need really well documented sites. ”Waters’ other work at the Debra L. Friedkin site on Buttermilk Creek in central Texas, published in March 2011, also in Science, fits Anderson’s bill. There, in perfect stratigraphical alignment,archaeologists found the remains of tools left behind by different Archaic period hunter-gatherers sitting above those of various Paleo-Indian cultures. The team believes the oldest layer, containing20,000 pieces made of chert, a sedimentary rock with roughly 100discernable tools such as blades, choppers, and end scrapers dates to15,500 years ago, 2,500 years before Clovis technology. The assemblage found at Buttermilk Creek does not resemble those at several previously found pre-Clovis sites, such as the 14,500 year old tools from Monte Verde in southern Chile. Its incorporation of bifacial and blade let technology does recall Clovis culture,suggesting a lineage between the two. “There’s a logical expectation that somewhere in North America we are going to find something that can be called proto Clovis,” says Stuart Fiedel, an archaeologist at the Louis Berger Group in Richmond, Virginia. The report on Buttermilk Creek, as with other potential pre-Clovis discoveries, sparked fierce debate among Paleo-Indian researchers about the accuracy of the findings. Fiedel notes the assemblage could be characterized as a fluted point away from being a Clovis toolkit.“It has similarities to Clovis,” says Waters. “But it’s not Clovis in the strict definition.” Critics slammed Waters on his dating method, optically stimulated luminescence, which essentially measures when crystals in surrounding sediment, such as quartz, were last exposed to sunlight, as opposed to measuring the artifacts themselves. It’s as accurate as radiocarbon dating,but less precise, with greater margin for error. Waters also fielded criticism of the Manis mastodon analysis, with detractors pointing out that the DNA analysis couldn’t confirm the bone projectile came from a different animal, meaning a bone fragment from the same beast may have pierced its own rib. Waters notes that butcher marks on themastodon bones refute that interpretation. Adovasio explains that American archaeologists are behind their South American and European colleagues in accepting people prior to Clovis being in the Americas.He even points to Science which he calls “the last bastion of conservatism in this arena” publishing Waters’ reports as an indication of the tide turning. “Science,” he says,“is about changing your mind when confronted with alternative data that seems plausible,” he says.

Source: Archaeology Magazine, Edition Jan'12*)

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THE SS. ANDREA DORIA

SS Andrea Doria was intercontinental liner from Genoa, Italy. Ship's name was taken from Admiral Andrea Doria, who is famous in the 16th century. The vessel has a dead weight 29 100 ton, with a capacity of 1200 and 500 crew boats. In the aftermath of World War 2, the SS Andrea Doria was the pride of Italy. Because not only the largest size, but also the fastest-owned Italian at that time. The ships are to be historical, after a shipwreck in the same way in a manner similar to the sinking of the Titanic. SS Andrea Doria first ship to operate on June 16, 1951. In July 1956, the SS Andrea Doria sailed from Genoa to New York, on his way to the 51. Ship led by Captain Piero Calamai's (39 years) to carry passengers and crew as much as 1706 people. That afternoon the fog was so thick, so the view from the bridge could not see the front to the back. Captain Calamai's because they decided to reduce the speed of the ship.However, no one on board knew, that there is a Stockholm boat cruise in the opposite direction the same underlined. The ship was sailing back to Scandinavia in North America. Stockholm is the ship is 158 meters long and weighs 12 165 ton. Approaching the island of Nantucket, ship Stockholm saw a thick fog. 10:14 o'clock noon, SS Andrea Doria ship radar detected a small boat underlined his voyage as far as 4 miles. When Captain Calamai was thought the ship would turn to the island of Nantucket. He thinks it's safe to continue the voyage. However, without the inevitable, the two ships collided. Stockholm vessel seized the ship SS Andrea Doria from the right. Titanic sinking tragedy repeats itself. Captain Calamai realized this, but he did not know how long until the SS Andrea Doria continued to float before finally sinking. He immediately ordered the entire crew, to ask for help. The whole maneuver the raft was deployed, to move and saving the passenger. Unfortunately, the boats are only able to accommodate about 1000 people. In fact, there are more than 1700 people on board. Fortunately, at around 2 pm, a ship of the French command of Captain Baron Raoul de Beaudean appear, after receiving an SOS signal. This saves some passenger ships.As captain of the ship, originally Calamai refused saved until all passengers and crew were rescued. He opted to stay on the SS Andrea Doria. At that time, several other ships have started to arrive. Some of them even carrying photographers who want to immortalize the event. Promptly at 10:09 am on July 26, 1956, all parts of the SS Andrea Doria sank to the seabed. 46 people from the SS Andrea Doria and the Stockholm crew reported five die from the incident. Meanwhile, Stockholm ship survived and returned to port for repairs. Uniquely, the sinking of the SS Andrea Doria makes shedders increasingly crowded shipping lanes.

Source: Mentari Magazine, Edition 293*)

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THE WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE

The story begins from the William Wirt Winchester, his father was the designer of Oliver Winchester Winchester brand rifles. A weapon known as The Rifle That Won the West. This gun is used in increasingly popular after the American civil war. Winchester family became rich and famous from the selling of weapons. But at that time also believed to be the beginning of a curse. Curse that eventually culminate in the construction of the strangest house in the world. In September 1862, William married Sarah Pardee. July 1866, Sarah gave birth to daughter named Annie. Sadly, Annie died shortly afterwards. The death of his daughter, Sarah's soul is shaken. This is due to the Winchester family never having children again. In March 1981, Sarah's husband died. This made Sarah Winchester inherit all the family fortune. The number is around 20 million dollars and the entire arms industry. However, the abundant treasures still cannot give happiness to Sarah. She is still suffering and distress caused by the death of those who dearly loved. She began to think that the Winchester family hit by the curse of death. To prove the estimates, she consulted with several psychics. Most are the medium that supposedly has the ability to connect with spirits of the dead. Through these medium, Sarah Winchester had knowledge that the family was hit by a curse. The curse comes from the souls of the victims’ families Winchester-made weapons. Curse the strongest coming from the ghost soldiers were killed by Indian tribes who attack American troops. The spirits are not going to stop killing the family of Winchester until no one was left. To avoid the curse of Sarah was ordered to move to the west. The medium claimed to receive guidance from the ghost of William says that, Sarah had to build a house without stopping. If they stopped, his life will drift curse devoured the Indian soldiers. Sarah soon moved to Santa Clara Valley, near san Francisco. She discovered a 17-room house fruit. She immediately bought the house as well as the surrounding soil. Sarah builds a house without usual planning. Mostly she builds with spirits guide him, through an intermediary medium. Home construction is intended to confuse the curious souls who want to kill her. Sarah employs many building experts. They dutifully did all her orders, even though it sounds very strange. Here's some weirdness: 

- This house has seven floors, the hallway astray, and various other rooms. 
- Most have a relationship with number 13.
- Appliances deadlock that led to the ceiling of the house.
- All the stairs have 13 steps, except for a staircase which has 42 stairs.
- Room with a window on the floor.
- The door is blocked.
- The door that leads out of the house without a ladder from a height of about three meters.
- 47 GCC fire place without a chimney to the outdoors.
- The room is built inside the room.
- Bathroom with doors of glass.
- Most have 13 pieces of window glass, with 13 wall panels, and some room has 13 windows.

Construction of the building stopped when Sarah died in 1922, when he was 82 years old. Since that's often horrific events. The psychic said that, many curious wandering spirits, trapped in homes due to these misguided. Including the ghost of Sarah Winchester! Some visitors were admitted to the mysteries of the house photographing and recording ghost voices! Currently The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California was opened for tourism. Afraid to open it, instead more many people are interested in seeing the ghosts there. Is there really a curse in the house ghost Winchester? Only God knows the answer!

Source: Mentari Magazine, Edition 96*)

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THE FORBIDEN CITY

When we stepped on the foot of China's vast plains, crossed in my mind a poem from the era of ancient China. The poem tells about the beauty of the imperial palace there. The contents are as follows, "Without seeing his own royal palace splendor, you will not know the greatness of the emperor." Hem, Is it true? C'mon, we both look! Apparently, only caught a glimpse of the palace rotation in Beijing, the poem has a point too. China's imperial palace was once used during the reign of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). Currently, the Forbidden City is used as a museum called the Palace Museum. It is located in downtown Beijing. 750 meters long from east to west, and 960 yards from the north to south. Wide totals 720 000 square meters. So, overall, this palace is considered the world's largest palace complex. Uniquely, in order to protect the palace from enemy attack, encircled by a moat around it is 52 m wide and as deep as 6 m.Still added again with 3 km along the wall and out into the high 10 m. For palace complex, there are four gates that guard tower around.  Protected in a vast palace complex is divided into two parts. Palace south and north. The southern part of the emperor functioned as a place to work, while the northern part serves as a place to live the emperor and his family. All the buildings are built with a neat and symmetrical in all its parts. In the southern part there are three buildings that simply majestic and beautiful. Each is a Hall of Supreme Harmony (Tai He Dian), The Hall of Medium Harmony (Zhong He Dian) and Hall of Protective Harmony (Bao He Dian). Among these three the most amazing thing was the Hall of Supreme Harmony. In this room that held many important ceremonies such as ceremonial elantikan emperor and high-level officials as well as the implementation of the marriage ceremony where the royal family. In the north, there are nine separate housing complex. In these complexes, the emperor and his family lived. In the north where the emperor lived there the imperial garden. In 1406, Emperor Yongle of the Sun Dynasty started to build the forbidden city. From historical records, construction of this palace mobilizing labor as much as a million people, 100,000 artists, and it took 15 years to complete. Overall, building this palace to spend 3.1 billion bricks to build this palace. For taped used special glue made from a mixture of egg white and sticky rice. To get the wood, taken from the forest in Fangshan Mountain and the areas of Sichuan or Yunnan. To building foundation and building palaces, used tens of thousands of stone blocks. The biggest one is used as the foundation of the Hall of Protective Harmony (Bao Ho, Dian), weighing 25 tons. Stone block sizes are: length 16.57 m, width 3.07 m, and thickness of 1.7 m. This stone was brought from Fangshan district which is about 50 km. To move the stones were used as many as 20,000 workers. A more extreme removal was done in the winter with above attractive stone artificial ice track and takes up to 28 days.Currently, the Forbidden City is the largest museum with the largest collection in Asia. In it are stored the various royal documents, paintings, sculptures, and share other rare objects of art. Currently, in the Forbidden City there are more than 10 museums. These museums have collections which, when combined, would amount to a million pieces, most of them not found elsewhere. It's very amazing, right.

Source: Mentari Magazine, Editon 65*) 

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