cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/23469886

A 31 minute SciShow video on how lead ingots which were recovered from a Roman shipwreck enabled the CUORE experiment's search for neutrinoless double beta decay, and the challenges of ethically sourcing "low background material".

Has anyone set aside lead (and other materials) as a stockpile of low background material for future generations of physicists? Seems like something The Long Now Foundation might do.

Summary:

According to the video, a new study suggests that ancient Egyptians may have used hydraulic force to build the step pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser. The pyramid is the oldest of the seven monumental pyramids in Egypt and was the largest structure at the time, with stones weighing more than 600 pounds. Researchers believe that a nearby structure may have functioned as a dam, and that water could have flowed into shafts inside the pyramid, raising a float that carried the stones like a water elevator. However, some experts are skeptical of this theory, as there is no evidence that the Egyptians had the technology to use water pressure in this way. More research is needed to determine if this theory is correct.

Early hominins known colloquially as "hobbits" may have been shorter than scientists thought, a new analysis of teeth and bones has revealed.

The 700,000-year-old fossilized remains belonged to Homo floresiensis, an extinct species of exceedingly small humans that once inhabited Flores, an island south of mainland Indonesia, according to a study published Tuesday (Aug. 6) in the journal Nature Communications.

The new research may shed light on when H. floresiensis first evolved its diminutive height.

"Acquiring a large body and large brain and becoming clever is not necessarily our destiny," lead author Yosuke Kaifu, a professor at the University Museum at the University of Tokyo, told Live Science in an email. "Depending on the natural environment, there were diverse ways of evolution not only for animals in general but also for humans."

Heyo!

I'm looking for some rock art. I've been familiarising myself bit by bit but I'd really appreciate being pointed to some sites by the following criteria (in order of importance):

• the best-preserved rock art, a la Lascaux & such (and/or the most striking--which is not quite the same thing! emphasis on the former since the latter is more subjective :))

• especially which depicts non-human life (other animals & so on) or part-humans (but the less anthropocentric the more it appeals to me)

• and especially anything from the neolithic or (bonus points!!) before! Paleolithic is my main interest, I'm not really interested in anything after literacy :)

Thank you SO much!! Any advice on specific sites or where/how to search under this criteria super appreciated!!

Summary

Here is a summary of the YouTube video 5 New Archeological Discoveries Of 2024 by Sideprojects: This video covers five archaeological discoveries made in 2024:

• The Apano Valley Sites in Ecuador: Archaeologists have discovered remnants of numerous ancient urban environments in the Amazon rainforest, home to an estimated population of 15,000 to 30,000 people. These settlements, dating back to between 2,500 BCE and 500 CE, feature distinctive mound-dweller designs and intricate agricultural systems. The cause of the abandonment of these sites remains a mystery, with possible explanations including volcanic activity, climate change, or conflict.
• The Lost Villa of Pliny the Elder: Archaeologists have uncovered a Roman villa in Poli, Italy, which they initially believed to be the lost villa of Pliny the Elder, a famous Roman philosopher and naturalist who perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. However, further investigation revealed that this was likely not the case, as there were many similar villas in the area.
• The Black Room in Pompeii: Archaeologists have discovered a lavishly decorated room in Pompeii, featuring black walls adorned with frescoes depicting scenes from Greek mythology. The room is believed to have been used for private parties and entertainment.
• The Breton War of Succession: This complex and confusing conflict involved a struggle for the Duchy of Brittany between two women named Joan, as well as their respective families and allies. The war lasted for several decades and had significant repercussions for the region.
• The Shadow of Vitré: This medieval castle in France was built by John IV, Duke of Brittany, in the late 14th century. The castle played a role in the Hundred Years' War between England and France.

These discoveries offer valuable insights into the lives and cultures of ancient civilizations, shedding light on their history, beliefs, and practices.

Archaeologists seeking to learn more about how Neanderthals prepared and cooked their food conducted a series of hands-on experiments with small fowl using flint flakes for butchering. They found that the flint flakes were surprisingly effective for butchering the birds, according to their new paper published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology. They also concluded that roasting the birds damages the bones to such an extent that it's unlikely they would be preserved in the archaeological record.

Two male skeletons showed signs of severe fracture and trauma injuries.

Archaeologists have hotly debated the precise cause of death of those who perished in Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE. Did they die of asphyxiation, from the extreme heat, or from a combination of factors? A new paper published in the journal Frontiers in Earth Science examines the complicating effects of earthquakes that occurred just prior to and concurrently with the eruption. Of most interest was the discovery of two skeletons of people who likely died when their shelter collapsed around them, weakened by the seismic tremors.

Had a cool idea for an ttrpg about growing up in a hunter-gatherer culture in a stone-age fantasy setting. The coolest part of idea, for me as the writer/designer, would be to have a section on "rituals" where I describe their technologies as magical rituals, not just a series of materials and steps. For example, instead of saying "you can get a +1 bonus on knapping checks by heat-treating your toolstone" it would be described as blessing the toolstone with fire, which leads into the idea of magic rock that has been fire-blessed by volcano spirits (obsidian).

I am vaguely aware of other technologies, such as extracting glue from animal hide and a tree fungus that smolders for fucking forever when lit, but my knowledge of these is limited. I need a more thorough knowledge of how exactly the pre-agriculture hominids did these things if I want to wax poetic about it.