World's oldest needle found in Siberian cave

stitches together human history

By The Siberian Times reporter

23 August 2016

'Sensational' discovery in Denisova Cave is at least 50,000 years old BUT it wasn't made by Homo sapiens.

The needle is seen as providing proof that the long-gone Denisovans - named after the cave - were more sophisticated than previously believed. Picture: Vesti

The 7 centimetre (2 3/4 inch) needle was made and used by our long extinct Denisovan ancestors, a recently-discovered hominin species or subspecies.

Scientists found the sewing implement - complete with a hole for thread - during the annual summer archeological dig at an Altai Mountains cave widely believed to hold the secrets of man's origins. It appears to be still useable after 50,000 years.

Professor Mikhail Shunkov, head of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography in Novosibirsk, said: 'It is the most unique find of this season, which can even be called sensational.

It appears to be still useable after 50,000 years. Picture: Vesti

'It is a needle made of bone. As of today it is the most ancient needle in the word. It is about 50,000 years old.' 

The needle is seen as providing proof that the long-gone Denisovans - named after the cave - were more sophisticated than previously believed. It predates by some 10,000 years an intricate modern-looking piece of polished jewellery made of chlorite by the Denisovans.

It was made of the bone of a large and so far unidentified bird. 

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The 7 centimetre (2 3/4 inch) needle was made and used by our long extinct Denisovan ancestors, a recently-discovered hominin species or subspecies. Pictures: Russia 24, Vesti

Dr Maksim Kozlikin, head of the excavations at Denisova cave, said: 'The length of this needle is 7 centimetres, 6 millimetres. It is the longest needle found in Denisova cave. We have found needles before, but in 'younger' (archeological) layers.' 

The needle rewrites history since the previous oldest such object dates to some 40,000 years ago, according to Russian scientists. It is assumed that the newly-found needle was made by Denisovans, as it was found in the same layer where Denisovan remains were previously found.

Dr Maksim Kozlikin, head of the excavations at Denisova cave: 'It is the longest needle found in Denisova cave.' Picture: Vera Salnitskaya

The cave has provided a succession of revelations about ancient man. It was here in 2008 that Siberian scientists discovered a finger bone fragment of 'X woman', a juvenile female believed to have lived around 41,000 years ago. 

Analysis showed she was genetically distinct from Neanderthals and modern humans. In 2010 analysis on an upper molar from a young adult, found in the cave ten years previously, showed the tooth was also from a Denisovan. 

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The cave lies in the Altai Mountains around 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of the city of Barnaul. Picture: Vera Salnitskaya

Layers of the cave's flooring show that it has been occupied by humans for 282,000 years. Scientists believe that Denisovan remains date back up to 170,000 years ago. 

The bracelet was discovered in 2008, and scientists have since suggested it showed the Denisovans to be more technologically advanced than Home sapiens or Neanderthals.

Scientists found that a hole had been drilled in part of the bracelet with such precision that it could only have been done with a high-rotation drill similar to those used today.

Professor Mikhail Shunkov, head of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography in Novosibirsk, said: 'It is the most unique find of this season, which can even be called sensational.' Picture: IAET SB RAS 

It was also carefully polished and grinded, with a heavy pendant added in the centre, probably hanging from a short leather strap. The cave has also provides evidence of cross-breeding between modern Homo sapiens with both Neanderthals and Denisovans.

Additionally, it has provided proof that early man surged out of Africa some 35,000 years earlier than was assumed by experts. 

'It is the first genetic evidence of modern humans outside Africa,' said Sergi Castellano, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, earlier this year. 

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The bracelet was carefully polished and grinded, with a heavy pendant added in the centre, probably hanging from a short leather strap. Pictures: Vera Salnitskaya, Anastasia Abdulmanova

The cave lies in the Altai Mountains around 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of the city of Barnaul. Prof Shunkov said: 'We can confidently say that Altai was one of the cultural centres... the modern human was formed.'

Scientist Svante Paabo, from the Max Planck Institute, in Leipzig, Germany, has said: 'The one place where we are sure all three human forms have lived at one time or another is here in Denisova Cave.'

The Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography is part of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 

Syriac and Sogdian at Turfan: Questions of Audience and Transmission

LECTURE ON NOVEMBER 5, 2015 at Stanford University

by Erica C.D. Hunter

Abstract:

In the opening decade of the 20th century, the German Turfan Expedition found over a thousand fragments at the monastery site of Bulayïq on the outskirts of Turfan. Approximately 500 of the fragments were in the Syriac language, the remainder were in Sogdian, but written in Syriac-script. The Syriac manuscripts largely are liturgical or biblical, including many from the Psalter, whereas the Sogdian manuscripts cover a much wider range of genres, most notably hagiographies and ascetical literature. The paper discusses what this distribution of genres reveals about the Christian communities at Turfan, as well as commenting on the transmission of material from the ‘mother-church’ in Mesopotamia and Central Asia.

Bio:

Dr. Erica C.D. Hunter is Head of Department and Senior Lecturer in Eastern Christianity, Dept. for the Study of Religions, SOAS. She is Co-chair, Centre of World Christianity, Dept. for the Study of Religions, SOAS, University of London. She was Principal Investigator (together with Prof. Nicholas Sims-Williams FBA) of the AHRC-funded project, ‘The transmission of Christian texts from Turfan’ (2012-2015). Between 2008-2011 she was Principal Investigator for the AHRC-funded project ‘The Christian Library from Turfan’which catalogued the Syriac manuscripts from Turfan. The catalogue by Erica C D Hunter and Mark Dickens Syriac Texts from the Berlin Turfan Collection (Stuttgart, Steiner Verlag: 2014) has been published as part of the series: Verzeichnis der Orientalischen Handschriften in Deutschland, Syrische Handschriften). Her research interests focus on Syriac Christianity in Mesopotamia and its outreach to Central Asia and China.

EXHIBITION 

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THE SILK ROAD AND RUSSIAN ETHNIC CULTURAL HERITAGE

THE RUSSIAN MUSEUM OF ETHNOGRAPHY Exhibition

ВРЕМЯ ПРОВЕДЕНИЯ

01.07 - 07.10 2016 г. 

IN MODERN WORLD THIS CONCEPT GETS MORE AND MORE IMPORTANCE AND BECOMES EFFICIENT FOR MUTUALLY PROFITABLE COOPERATION OF EURASIAN COUNTRIES. SHOWING OF EXHIBITION IN CHINA IS NEW PAGE IN HISTORY OF PROJECT.

From the ancient times southern regions of European and Asian Russia were tied with the northern route of the Silk Road which was its most important direction. The role of northern route drastically increased in periods of political instability when trade contacts between West and East were on the edge of collapse.  One of the most important humanitarian goals, to which the concept of exhibition serves, is to show the specifics of northern route as an international trade artery, and to stress its significance in socio-cultural development of nearby territories.

Several cultural areas were selected to portray the routes of the Silk Road. South Siberia, southern portion of Western Siberia and South Urals were territories involved in network of political and economical contacts with the regions of the Silk Road’s main route. Lower and Central Volga regions were the area of interconnection between the Silk Road and the Great Volga Road having link with Baltic region. Crimea and Caucasus were the authentic parts of ancient trade line.

Influence of the Silk Road’s traditions on these regions was manifold. The exhibition aims to characterize ethno-cultural specifics of the southern portions of European and Asian Russia. Emphasis is made on material and spiritual practices, formed under the influence of local conditions and long cultural contacts, which development was favored by the Silk Road.  On the exhibition the objects characterizing the “culture of travel”   occupied the place of honor, because constant functioning of the Silk Road wouldn’t had been possible without traditional transports and skills to cross the difficult parts of route.

Up to our days multi-ethnicity and multi-confessionality of cultural space c continue to be important factor of socio-cultural development of these territories, the integration process of which at every historical stage was based on mutually beneficial internal and exterior contacts. Today   in situation of changing geopolitical vectors the historical experience of the Silk Road could be used in more complete degree to create and realize the concepts of the “New Silk Road” elaborated for mutually profitable cooperation in Eurasian space.  

ФОТО

The Silk Road and Russian Ethnic Cultural Heritage

National Museum of China,Russian Museum of Ethnography

Date : July 1, 2016 to October 7, 2016

Venue : Gallery S8

The Silk Road and Russian Ethnic Cultural Heritage is jointly launched by the Russian Museum of Ethnography and the National Museum of China. The 594 exhibits provided by the Russian Museum of Ethnography epitomize the unique culture of peoples in southern Russia inhabiting the areas between the Black Sea and the Pacific Ocean. 

Among the exhibits are exotic traditional clothing and various handicrafts, horse gear and carriages that are typical elements of nomadic life, objects that indicate the spread of the Orthodox Church, Islam and Buddhism as well as items that offer a glimpse of mountain people’s dwellings, grassland people’s yurts, cuisine and board games. The exhibits were items owned by peoples deeply influenced by the Grassland Silk Road in ancient times and the Middle Ages. They had no barriers of communication and lived in harmony, making the Grassland Silk Road a route of economic and cultural exchanges bringing about prosperity.

Found: grave of Siberian noblewoman up to 4,500 years old - with links to native Americans

The Siberian Times

19 August 2016

Her treasures include an incense burner decorated by solar symbols, 1,500 beads that once adorned her costume, and 100 pendants made from animal teeth.

Undisturbed by pillaging grave robbers, the burial site of the woman, also containing the remains of a child, offers a wealth of clues about the life of these ancient people. Picture: IIMK RAS

The intriguing find of the remains of a 'noblewoman' from the ancient Okunev Culture was made in the Republic of Khakassia.

The Okunev people are seen as the Siberian ethnic grouping most closely related to Native Americans. In other words, it was ancestors of the Okunevs who populated America, evidently using primitive boats to venture to the ice-covered Beringia land bridge some 12,600 years ago.   

The mysterious ancient culture was 'unparalleled' in Siberia in terms of its artistic richness and diversity, according to experts.  

Undisturbed by pillaging grave robbers, the burial site of the woman, also containing the remains of a child, offers a wealth of clues about the life of these ancient people. 

The incense burner found in the grave contains sun-shaped faces which match previously-discovered ancient rock art in Siberia. Picture: IIMK RAS

The head of the expedition Dr Andrey Polyakov said  the grave of the 'noblewoman' dated back to the Early Bronze Age, between the 25th and 18th centuries BC.

'For such an ancient epoch, this woman has a lot of items in her grave,' he said. 'We have not encountered anything like this in other burials from this time, and it leads us to suggest that the items in her grave had some ritual meaning. 

'We hope to get even more rare and spectacular finds next year, when will  continue to study this unique (burial) mound and open the central burial plot.'

 Around 100 decorations made from the teeth of different animals mark the special status of the woman. Picture: IIMK RAS

Archeologists believe the woman 'enjoyed a special status during her lifetime', as indicated by around 100 decorations made from the teeth of different animals, items carved from bone and horn, two jars, cases with bone needles inside, a bronze knife, and more than 1,500 beads that embellished her funeral costume.

There is particular excitement about the incense burner because it contains sun-shaped faces which match previously-discovered ancient rock art in Siberia. The clay incense burner bearing three sun-shaped facial images, recovered from the grave, is the most important find of all,' he said.

'Its importance is hard to overestimate. All such images previously discovered had been found only on cliffs or separate stones. Now there is the prospect to find out when they were made.'

The stone roofs of some graves on a burial hill at Itkol II also bear chiseled images - known as Okunev faces. Picture: IIMK RAS

He made clear: 'Now, thanks to our current research, we can definitely say that these rock arts were made by the representatives of the Okunev culture.' After precise dating and restoration, the incense burner will be exhibited at the world famous Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, he said. 

The location where the finds were made is known as the Itkol II burial site, in the Shira district of Khakassia. Excavations began here in 2008 - with some 560 finds in total so far - but there is a sense that the best is yet to come. 

Another find is a stone slab with a rare image of a bull having a long rectangular body. These are not common in southern Siberia, but are known on the territory of modern-day Kazakhstan. Archeologists see this as an indication that Okunev people may have migrated to Khakassia from the south.

Excavations began here in 2008 - with some 560 finds in total so far - but there is a sense that the best is yet to come. Picture: IIMK RAS

Does this mean modern-day Native Americans originated from Kazakhstan and not southern Siberia, as previously thought? We await more scientific evidence.  

The stone roofs of some graves on a burial hill at Itkol II also bear chiseled images - known as Okunev faces. Archeologists believe they are not faces of real people, but more likely images of spirits, gods and other supernatural deities. One of the faces belongs to a type never seen before, although details of this find have not been made public so far. 

The culture owes its name to the locality of Okunev, in the south of Khakassia, where the first burial site of this type was excavated in 1928. The Okunev Steles - anthropomorphous stone columns several meters tall - are the most widely known monument attributed to this culture.

The top of these steles has the shape of a bird's beak. The middle part is decorated with images of one or several anthropomorphous creatures, while the lower part resembles the open mouth of a snake.

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The Okunev Steles - anthropomorphous stone columns several meters tall - are the most widely known monument attributed to this culture. Pictures: Boris Dolinin, Elena Sibiryakova

Experts see this as evidence of sophistication in these ancient people's beliefs. They maintained that the world around them consists of three major elements.

Dr Polyakov said: 'Okunev archaeological culture is a unique phenomenon of the Early Bronze Age of Southern Siberia. We have a huge quantity of artistic heritage in the form of numerous images - 'masks', carved or engraved on the rocks. They have special style, which is a kind of symbol of Okunev culture.'

Until now, the experts 'could not prove the direct connection of the rock art and Okunev burial grounds'. This has now changed. 

*TWO YEARS AGO, Siberian angler Nikolay Tarasov, then 53, was fishing for carp.

Instead he pulled out of the water a 4,000 year old 'unique and amazing' pagan god statuette carved in horn but later fossilised. The figurine had almond-shaped eyes, a large mouth with full lips, and a ferocious facial expression. The find was believed to be from the Okunev culture. 

We have a huge quantity of artistic heritage in the form of numerous images - 'masks', carved or engraved on the rocks. They have special style, which is a kind of symbol of Okunev culture.' Pictures: Boris Dolinin

Samarkand the Center of the World: 

Proposals for the Identification of the Afrasyab Paintings

by Matteo Compaqreti 

• Paperback: 470 pages
• Publisher: Mazda Pub; Sasanika Series, No. 5. edition (August 31, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568593058
• 
  
• In antiquity Samarkand was the capital of the Persian province of Sogdiana. Its language, culture, and Zoroastrian religion closely approximated those of the Persians. Following its conquest by Alexander, its strategic position and fertile soil made Sogdiana a coveted prize for Late Antique invaders of Central Asia. Around 660 CE at the dawn of Arab invasion local king Varkhuman promoted the execution of a unique painted program in one of his private rooms. Each wall was dedicated to a specific population: the north wall, the Chinese; the west, the Sogdians themselves; the east, the Indians and possibly the Turks. The south wall is probably the continuation of the scene on the west wall. In Chinese written sources, some support for this concept of the division of the world can be found. Accidentally discovered during Soviet times, the room was named Hall of the Ambassadors due to the representations of different peoples. However, many aspects of its painted program remain obscure. This study offers new ideas for better identifications of the rituals celebrated by the people on the different walls during precise moments of the year.

The People, Faces and Places of Marco Polo's Asia

From: The Heretic Magazine

BY  FRANCIS O'DONNELL · OCTOBER 16, 2015

 "There are few, if any, researchers with the passion and credentials to insightfully write about Marco Polo than Francis O’Donnell. In Heretical Tales of the East Francis walks in Polo’s footprints to examine the most famous, and the most controversial, man of his age. What he discovers will surprise you." - Andrew Gough, Publisher 

In Issue 7 of The Heretic Magazine, we feature Francis O’Donnell, filmmaker, explorer and author of  In the Footsteps of Marco Polo, a chronicle of his historic two-year, 25,000-mile journey retracing Marco Polos’s thirteenth-century Travels along the fabled Silk road. Francis was accompanied by photographer Denis Belliveau and the following is a selection of images taken on the journey.

Shaivite adherent, Tamal Nadu, India

‘They eat no meat and drink no wine. They live virtuous lives according to their own usage. They have no sexual intercourse except with their own wives. They take nothing that belongs to another. They would never kill any living creature or do any act they believe to be sinful … all the Brahmans in the world are known by an emblem which they wear … a cotton cord on their shoulder and fastened under their arm and across their chest.’ – Marco Polo

Coral headdress   

‘This province, called Tibet, is of very great extent. The people … have a language of their own, and they are Idolaters. Coral … fetches a high price, for they delight to hang it round the necks of their women and of their idols.’ – Marco Polo

Uygar by yellow wall  

‘They (the Uygars) live by the fruits of the earth, which they have in plenty, and dispose of to travellers, having beautiful gardens and vineyards, and fine estates… They are a people who take things very easily, for they mind nothing but playing and singing, and dancing and enjoying themselves.’ – Marco Polo

Turkomen Princess

‘Kaidu had a daughter named Aiyaruk, a Tartar name which signifies “Bright Moon”. This damsel was so strong that there was no squire or gallant who could vanquish her.’ – Marco Polo

Pashtun tribesmen 

‘Ten days’ journey to the south of Badakshan there is a province called Pashai… There, the men wear earrings and brooches of gold and silver set with stones and pearls. They wear nothing on the head but a cord some ten palms long twisted round it.’ – Marco Polo

Chinese potter 

‘In this province they make the finest bowls of porcelain, large and small, of incomparable beauty. They are made nowhere else, and from here they are exported all over the world.’ – Marco Polo

Southeast Asian monk

‘In former days a rich … king commanded that his tomb should be erected… The towers are built of fine stone; one of them has been covered with gold a good finger in thickness, so that the tower looks as if it were all of solid gold; and the other is covered with silver in like manner so that it seems to be all of solid silver… The upper part of these towers is round, and girt all about with bells … whenever the wind blows among these bells they tinkle … erected to commemorate his magnificence and for the good of his soul … one of the finest sights in the world … when lighted up by the sun they shine most brilliantly and are visible from a vast distance.’ – Marco Polo

Yellow parasol 

‘They have huge monasteries … inhabited by two thousand monks … who wear their heads and chins clean shaven. They make the most magnificent feasts, for their idols, with the most wondrous hymns and illuminations that were ever seen.’ – Marco Polo

Female Chinese farmer

‘When the Emperor sees that corn is cheap and abundant, he buys up large quantities, and has it stored in great granaries … this applies to all kinds of corn, whether wheat, barley, millet, rice, panic … and when there is any scarcity of a particular kind of corn, he causes it to be issued … so that everyone can have food in this way. By this providence his people can never suffer from dearth. He does the same over his whole Empire; causing these supplies to be stored everywhere, according to calculation of the wants and necessities of the people.’ – Marco Polo

Nemrut Dagi

‘I will tell you about a country called Mulehet … which means ‘heretic’ according to the laws of the Sarasens… The Sheik of the mountain used to live here in days gone by… The Sheik of the assassins was called … Alaodin. When Hulagu, Lord of the Tartars of the Levant, knowing of all the evil deeds this Sheik had done, he made up his mind that he should be crushed…!’ – Marco Polo

Pagoda’s gateway 

‘Inside the city there are erected beautiful palaces and mansions, of the richest and most exquisite structures that you can imagine, belonging to the nobles of the city… There are also many abbeys and churches of the Idolaters… The houses of the city are provided with lofty towers of stone in which articles of value are stored for fear of fire; for most of the houses themselves are of timber, and fires are very frequent in the city.’ – Marco Polo

The Tomb of Hazrat–Ali, Mazar I Sharif, Modern capital of Balkh province 

‘Balkh is a noble city … though it was much greater in former days. But the Tartars and other nations have greatly ravaged and destroyed it. There were formerly many fine palaces and buildings of marble, and the ruins still remain. The people of the city tell that it was here that Alexander took to wife the daughter of Darius.’ – Marco Polo

Winter caravan traverses Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan

‘At the end of those twelve days you come to a province of no great size … called Wakhan … when you leave this little country, and ride … always among mountains, you get to such a height that ’tis said to be the highest place in the world! This plain is called Pamir … finding nothing but a desert … travellers are obliged to carry with them whatever they have need of.’ – Marco Polo

A farmer tends his fields in Talikhan, Afghanistan 

‘You come to a fortified place called Talikhan, where there is a great corn market. It is a fine place … there grow almonds and pistachios, which are exceedingly cheap… When you leave this town and ride three days further … you meet with many fine tracts full of vines and other fruits, and with a goodly number of habitations.’ – Marco Polo

Indian women at a temple admire religious sculptures 

‘Some of the Idols have the head of an ox, some have the head of a pig, some of a dog, some of a sheep … some of them have four heads, whilst some have three, one growing out of either shoulder. There are also some that have four hands, some ten, some a thousand!’ – Marco Polo

Mentawai tribesman carries a section of the Sago tree for processing 

‘The people have no wheat… I will tell you another great marvel. They have a kind of tree that produces excellent flour; it is for food. These trees are very tall and thick, but have a very thin bark, and inside the bark they are crammed with flour. I did sundry times partake of this flour made into bread, and found it excellent.’ – Marco Polo

Persian interior 

‘Persia is a great country … and contains eight kingdoms … which was in old times very illustrious and powerful; but now the Tartars have wasted and destroyed it… I will tell you the names of them all.’ – Marco Polo

Karakorum

‘Karakorum is … some three miles in compass … surrounded by a strong earthen rampart… ’Tis the first city that the Tartars possessed… I will tell you … how they first acquired dominion… Now it came to pass in the year … 1187 that the Tartars made them a King whose name was Genghis Khan. He was a man of great worth, and of great ability, and valor… The Tartars gathered to him in astonishing multitude, when he saw such numbers … that they seemed to cover the earth, he began to think of conquering … the world.’ – Marco Polo

Mongolian boot

‘Their harness of war is excellent and costly. Their arms are bows and arrows, sword and mace; but above all the bow, for they are capital archers… On their backs they wear armour … prepared from buffalo and other hides, which is very strong. They are excellent soldiers, and passing valiant in battle. They are also more capable of hardships than other nations.’ – Marco Polo

Trinkets still to be found in Kashgar’s famous market

‘Kashgar is … subject to the Great Khan… The inhabitants live by trade and handicrafts; from this country many merchants go forth about the world on trading journeys.’ – Marco Polo

Francis O’Donnell is an artist, author, filmmaker and explorer. He is an alumnus of the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he earned a BFA in Media Arts. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Francis has travelled the world extensively, visiting over sixty countries, and is a member of both the New Explorers Club and the Adventurers Club of Chicago. His Emmy-nominated PBS documentary, as well as the companion book,  In the Footsteps of Marco Polo, chronicle his historic two-year, 25,000-mile journey retracing the Venetian merchant’s thirteenth-century Travels along the fabled Silk road. Watch the Film, In the Footsteps of Marco Polo.