Stéphane Bortzmeyer
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Jeremy ⁂
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The sky caves in Nepal 🇳🇵, dating back at least 2,000 years, dot the cliffs of Mustang, and are ancient man-made caves numbering around 10,000. Speculated purposes range from burial sites to meditation spots or storage areas, yet their true age and function remains unknown.
What compelled the construction of these caves at elevations reaching staggering heights, some as high as 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) above sea level in the Himalayas?
The sky caves in Nepal 🇳🇵, dating back at least 2,000 years, dot the cliffs of Mustang, and are ancient man-made caves numbering around 10,000. Speculated purposes range from burial sites to meditation spots or storage areas, yet their true age and function remains unknown.
What compelled the construction of these caves at elevations reaching staggering heights, some as high as 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) above sea level in the Himalayas?
Stéphane Bortzmeyer
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A smart piece of design from the 1700s.....
This narrow bridge allowed horses to safely walk through it, while their wider loads (like panniers) passed safely over the top. It let traders move goods more efficiently without spending a fortune on a wide bridge. It's called 'Gibraltar Bridge' in Edale, Derbyshire.
© Exploring GB
#archaeohistories #globalmuseum #bridges
Sabrina Web :privacypride: 📎
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A cartoon depicting a humorous solution to legend of King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone.
The cartoon shows three knights standing around a stone with a sword stuck in it....
One of the knights holds a can of WD-40, a popular lubricating spray, suggesting it would be the solution to pulling the sword from the stone. The joke is a modern take on the classic tale, implying that a simple lubricant could solve a seemingly impossible feat of strength and destiny.
A cartoon depicting a humorous solution to legend of King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone.
The cartoon shows three knights standing around a stone with a sword stuck in it....
One of the knights holds a can of WD-40, a popular lubricating spray, suggesting it would be the solution to pulling the sword from the stone. The joke is a modern take on the classic tale, implying that a simple lubricant could solve a seemingly impossible feat of strength and destiny.
Wouter Tebbens ⁂
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Devil's Bridge (Die Rakotzbrücke), Kromlau, Northern Saxony, near Dresden, Germany 🇩🇪
Commissioned in 1860 CE, by knight of local town, thin arch stretching over waters of Rakotzsee is roughly built out of varied local stone. This arched bridge is designed to create a perfect circle when it reflects in still waters below. It’s known as Devil’s Bridge due to belief that magical circle and dangerously steep arch must have been made by Satan. It was recently restored in 2021.
Devil's Bridge (Die Rakotzbrücke), Kromlau, Northern Saxony, near Dresden, Germany 🇩🇪
Commissioned in 1860 CE, by knight of local town, thin arch stretching over waters of Rakotzsee is roughly built out of varied local stone. This arched bridge is designed to create a perfect circle when it reflects in still waters below. It’s known as Devil’s Bridge due to belief that magical circle and dangerously steep arch must have been made by Satan. It was recently restored in 2021.
The Māori people descend from Polynesians whose ancestors emigrated from Taiwan to Melanesia between 3000-1000 BC, and then travelled east, reaching the Society Islands 1000 CE.
After a pause of 200 to 300 years, a new wave of exploration led to the discovery and settlement of New Zealand.
In 18th Century CE, a man from Yorkshire attracted significant curiosity from his fellow Englishmen. They weren’t intrigued by his ideas, convictions, or opinions, but rather by his nose. Thomas Wadhouse, whose nose was 7.5 inches long, had the biggest nose ever recorded.
📷 : a waxwork of Thomas Wadhouse (Wedders) from side.
Clive Thompson
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Maya carving of a Frog (700-800 AD, crafted from shell and quartz), from the archaeological site of Topoxte in Guatemala 🇬🇹
In Maya culture, frog symbolized rain, fertility and renewal. The use of shell and quartz, valued for their reflective qualities, suggests the carving may have had ceremonial or ritual significance.
The carving is now housed in the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Guatemala City.
Maya carving of a Frog (700-800 AD, crafted from shell and quartz), from the archaeological site of Topoxte in Guatemala 🇬🇹
In Maya culture, frog symbolized rain, fertility and renewal. The use of shell and quartz, valued for their reflective qualities, suggests the carving may have had ceremonial or ritual significance.
The carving is now housed in the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Guatemala City.
Roman Slave Collar with an inscribed tag, 4th-6th Century AD...
The collar was used to identify a person as a slave and to deter them from escaping. The inscription on tag reads, "I have fled, seize me and return me to Zoninus for 1 gold coin".
The collar is a rare artifact that provides insight into the harsh realities of slavery in ancient Rome, where slaves were considered valuable property.
Museo Nazionale Romano–Terme di Diocleziano in Rome 🇮🇹
Russ Sharek
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The 21st Century version of a 'Message in a Bottle' 😄
The 21st Century version of a 'Message in a Bottle' 😄
Shauna GM
and 1 other
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In Japan, trees in the path of urban development or road construction are often relocated rather than cut down. This reflects the country’s deep respect for nature and commitment to environmental preservation.
Using specialized techniques, experts carefully bind and protect the roots before transplanting the tree to a new location.
This approach ensures the preservation of greenery while allowing infrastructure projects to move forward.
