Metal detectorist stumbles on ‘mesmerising’ ancient gold treasure in Wales, photo shows

Aspen Pflughoeft
Tue, December 26, 2023 
While searching a field in Wales, a metal detectorist stumbled on a delicate ancient artifact with a “mesmerising” effect. A photo shows the treasure from more than 2,800 years ago.
Mark Hackman was metal detecting in a field of Michaelstone-y-Fedw Community in October 2021 when he stumbled on the ancient metallic object, according to a Dec. 21 news release from Amgueddfa Cymru Museum Wales shared with McClatchy News.
The very small artifact is shaped like a “C,” a photo shows. It measures about an inch across and weighs less than an ounce, the release said.
Archaeologists identified Hackman’s find as a penannular ring, or hair-ring, from the late Bronze Age. These types of rings were used between 1150 and 800 B.C. as an “adornment for the hair, although it is possible they were ear or nose adornments.”

The 2,800-year-old ring found in Newport.
The center of the ring is a “copper-alloy core” while the outside “is decorated with gold foil,” archaeologists said. The ring might have been intentionally altered “in order to ‘ritually decommission’ the ring before it was buried.”
Chris Griffiths, a researcher with the museum, said in the release that “the artistry and care which went into the creation of this small penannular ring cannot be overstated.”
“The way in which these stripes would have reflected the light of the sun or a fire would have been mesmerising, perhaps helping to mark the status of its wearer who lived in this part of Newport, around 3,000 years ago,” Griffiths said.
Hackman said in the release that “as an amateur metal-detectorist, it was an honour to be the person who found this lovely treasure. I hope that future generations are able to enjoy and learn more about the lives of people who lived here thousands of years ago.”
Similar hair-rings have been found “in Britain, Ireland, and parts of Belgium and France,” the release said.
The Newport Museum and Art Gallery hopes to acquire the ring after it is independently evaluated.
Michaelstone-y-Fedw Community is in Newport and about 130 miles west of London.

Metal detectorist stumbles on very rare gold treasure from 2,500 years ago, photos show

ASPEN PFLUGHOEFT

December 26, 2023 

While searching a field in Norway, a metal detectorists uncovered a golden rope-like object. He immediately recognized it as something special — and archaeologists agreed.

Ingar Karlsen was scanning the plowed field in Inderøy with a metal detector when he stumbled on the metallic artifact, according to a Dec. 15 news release from Trøndelag County Municipality. The item looked like a delicate gold rope and had an oval shape.

Karlsen knew he’d found something unique, the release said. He reported the discovery to archaeologists, who identified the artifact as a very rare type of gold bracelet from the Bronze Age.

In Norway, the Bronze Age lasted from 1800 B.C. to 500 B.C., according to the Large Norwegian Encyclopedia. The exact age of the gold bracelet is unknown but archaeologists said it is more than 2,500 years old.

The ancient gold bracelet sits on a dirt pile before being cleaned.

Photos show the ancient jewelry before and after being cleaned. Before, the bracelet looked like it could be easily mistaken for a piece of string. Afterward, it appears shiny, with the delicate design clearly visible.

Archaeologists said the entire bracelet is made of gold and was likely buried in a grave. Previous excavations found 22 skeletons from the Bronze Age buried near where the bracelet was found, the release said

The 2,500-year-old gold bracelet after being cleaned.

Only two similar bracelets have been found in Norway, archaeologist Harald Bugge Midthjell said in the release. The other golden rope bracelets were found in large burial mounds and interpreted as gifts from allies in Denmark.

Inderøy is in Trøndelag County and about 270 miles north of Oslo.

Justin Trudeau petitioned to apologise for Canada's past treatment of British child migrants

About 115,000 British children were sent to Canada from their orphan homes in the UK, with many suffering abuse and were put to work. They're still waiting for an apology from Canada's government, whose prime minister has now been petitioned to change that.

James Matthews
US correspondent @jamesmatthewsky
Tuesday 26 December 2023 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being petitioned to apologise to British child migrants who suffered "shame and isolation".

It is the latest move by campaigners demanding an official apology for the treatment endured by youngsters shipped to Canada in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The petition, initiated by the group Home Children Canada, states child migrants were subjected to abuse and stigmatisation, and that many died "ashamed of their history and deprived of their family".

About 115,000 youngsters, so-called British Home Children, were shipped to Canada from the UK between 1869 and 1948.

Typically, they were used as cheap labour and put to work on farms or as domestic servants and many have told stories of overwork and mistreatment.

They were transferred from orphan homes in the UK but campaigners for the Home Children say that many were only temporary residents of the orphanages and had families who were unaware they made the trip to Canada.

Now, those campaigners have submitted a petition calling on Justin Trudeau to follow the example of the UK and Australia in issuing a formal apology, something the Canadian government has resisted.

Presented to Canada's House of Commons, the petition states: "Home children/child migrants were, as a result of the system, thrust into difficult and inappropriate personal living circumstances exacerbated by a belief that they were unwanted by parents and, as a result, denied access to siblings and/or other relatives."

"We… call upon the prime minister to sincerely apologise to Home Children/child migrants who suffered in shame and isolation, to those who died while being ashamed of their history and deprived of their family, to elderly survivors burdened by their past, and to descendants grappling with the inter-generational impacts of a system that mistreated and separated their families."

Canada's British 'Home Children'

One of the last British "Home Children" survivors in Canada says their dying wish is to receive an apology from the Canadian government for their role in the migration scheme.

One of the last surviving British Home Children, George Beardshaw, supports the campaign for an apology.

In an interview with Sky News in September 2023, George, aged 100, said: "People thought that Britain was sending over some of the scum from off the streets of London, they all thought we were thieves.

"Some got pitchforks through them. Some slept in the barn with the cattle."

The UK and Australian governments have issued official apologies for their parts in child migrant schemes.

In 2017, Canada's House of Commons passed a motion of apology, but there has been none from the government itself.

In September 2023, Sky News asked Mr Trudeau if his government owed an apology to British Home Children. He didn't address the question, saying only: "Good to see you."

In response to the latest petition, the Canadian government told Sky News: "The government of Canada is committed to keeping the memory of the British Home Children alive so that we can all learn from past mistakes.

"As adopted by the House of Commons in February 2018, the government of Canada supports the designation of 28 September as British Home Child Day in order to raise awareness and ensure the recognition of the many contributions British Home Children have made to Canada.

"The government has supported a number of outreach, commemorative and educational initiatives to recognise the experience of the Home Children.

"These include the designation of the immigration experience of former Home Children as a national historic event; and the establishment of a commemorative plaque at the site of a former receiving home in Stratford, Ontario."

UK conservationists helping protect rare zebras from pipeline scheme in Kenya

Hampshire-based Marwell Wildlife has fitted GPS collars to monitor endangered Grevy’s zebras.

The project, has been launched ahead of an oil pipeline, motorway and railway called the LAPSSET corridor (Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport) which will cut across the zebra’s range, potentially splitting the population.

KAI, A THREE WEEK OLD GREVY’S ZEBRA, STANDS CAMOUFLAGED BESIDE HIS MOTHER VESTA, MARWELL ZOO’S OLDEST ZEBRA AGED 15 (CHRIS ISON/PA)

PA ARCHIVE

BEN MITCHELL

Conservationists from a Hampshire zoo have been working to help protect the world’s most endangered zebra species before a major infrastructure project is set to disrupt their natural habitat in Kenya.

The animal welfare specialists from Marwell Wildlife have been fitting GPS collars to monitor the movements of 20 Grevy’s zebras in northern Kenya to collect data which will be used to help monitor their movements and help safeguard the species.

The project, which is being run with the Kenya Wildlife Service, has been launched ahead of an oil pipeline, motorway and railway called the LAPSSET corridor (Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport) which will cut across the zebra’s range, potentially splitting the population.

A spokeswoman for the charity which runs Marwell Zoo near Winchester said: “These infrastructure projects are recognised as one of the greatest emerging threats to the Grevy’s zebra population in Kenya.”

Professor Philip Riordan, Marwell Wildlife’s director of conservation, said: “The Grevy’s zebra is one of the most endangered mammals in the world and Kenya is the last stronghold for this species with less than 3,000 animals remaining.

“We’re working with our colleagues to ensure we have as much knowledge about Grevy’s zebra, particularly given the amount of infrastructure and development across the region that might affect the animals.

“By collaring them, we hope to gain more insights that can inform not just our conservation work but the mitigations that we might advise being put in place to ensure this species has a future.”

The team of conservationists fitted the collars to 20 of the zebras, which will help inform planning and conservation measures aimed at mitigating the impact of the LAPSSET scheme on the species.

The vets also checked over the zebras before fitting each collar while others photographed the Grevy’s unique stripe pattern, hooves and teeth.

Tanya Langenhorst, senior conservation biologist at Marwell, said: “We also took this opportunity to collect as many biometrical data as possible, blood and faecal samples, body temperature and measurements of body parts, so we can learn more about this amazing species.”

She added: “Grevy’s Zebra Trust and Marwell are using the EarthRanger (ER) platform to visualise the almost real time movement of the Grevy’s zebra.

“We’ll be able to identify which habitats are critical for Grevy’s zebra distribution, dispersal and movement, and why these areas are important.

“Our findings will be reported to Kenya Wildlife Service and the LAPSSET planners, so that mitigating measures such as over and under-passes can be implemented where most suitable.”

The collaring project is the latest initiative involving Marwell Wildlife, which has helped create a national conservation strategy for Grevy’s zebra in Kenya and has carried out previous surveys. It also manages the International Studbook and the European Ex situ Programme (EEP) for the species

 

Artist collecting 1,984 copies of Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four for display

It will be on show on Jura, in the Inner Hebrides, where Orwell wrote the book almost 75 years ago.

ARTIST HANS K CLAUSEN IS SEEKING MORE COPIES OF THE BOOK (UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH/PA)

SARAH WARD

An artist is collecting 1,984 copies of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four for a display on the island where it was written on its 75th anniversary.

Orwell wrote the dystopian novel on Jura in the Inner Hebrides between 1946 and 1948, while living in a cottage with no heating or hot water

The writer, known to islanders by his real name Eric Blair, left the island in January 1949 due to severe tuberculosis, and the novel was published on June 8 of that year.

It became a literary classic, loved by many for its satirical exploration of class and resistance against authority.

Artist Hans K Clausen, who first read it aged 16, is collecting used copies of the book for an art installation, The Winston Smith Library Of Victory and Truth, to go on display in Jura Village Hall on June 8 and 9, 2024.

He has 1,200 copies of the book in 20 different languages so far, and is appealing for donations of “worn and personalised” copies.

This is about creating a monument to publishing and the defiance of the printed word - affirming the timeless power of storytelling that transcends borders, cultures and ideologies

HANS K CLAUSEN

Most of the books are annotated and some contain mementoes, including pressed flowers, old bus tickets and sweet wrappers.

Others contain personal and birthday messages, doodles, and names – including a copy from a school library which has a log showing one pupil borrowed the book repeatedly

Mr Clausen said the display is intended to celebrate the “defiance” of print and the power of sharing books, as well as spark “creativity, curiosity and conversation”.

He also hopes to collaborate with a gin distillery on Jura to create a Winston Smith Gin – because the spirit is the only pleasure allowed in Orwell’s post-war London, known as Airstrip One.

A 2011 Romanian edition which belonged to Mihaela Coman was accompanied by a note which said: “For my first 27 years, I lived in this book. I was always hungry, cold and scared – playing with equalities and better-world ideas can be dangerous.”

Mr Clausen said: “You enter all these rabbit holes with old books – there’s an antiquarian book market where they go for thousands of pounds, but it’s just a paper book. I love the material aspect of the book, not this preciousness.

“There’s a subplot into other people’s lives, some of the books have come from charity shops and have notes in them, one was a retirement gift from the 1970s.

“I’ve got a lot of decommissioned library books and there’s one from a grammar school down south, the same girl borrowed it four or five times.

“I do work for the NHS and believe there’s a therapeutic benefit to books in the same way to being outside, the experience of holding a book and the physical presence, getting away from screens.

“It’s entering a magical world, it’s just lovely.

“This is about creating a monument to publishing and the defiance of the printed word – affirming the timeless power of storytelling that transcends borders, cultures and ideologies.

“It’s also a celebration of the ethos of public libraries, the pleasure and enlightenment of reading, and the timeless joy of holding a book in your hands.”

Mr Clausen, who attended Edinburgh College of Art and has a studio in Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, described the project as “a sort of homecoming for Nineteen Eighty-Four”.

Visitors will be encouraged to take copies from the shelves, explore them and add their own responses so the library continues to evolve.

There will be a 1930s Remington Home Portable typewriter identical to the one Orwell used alongside the display, on which visitors will be invited to leave comments or reflections.

All book donors will receive an enamel badge, symbolising lifetime membership of The Winston Smith Library Of Victory and Truth.

Mr Clausen said: “Opening the packages, it’s like Christmas every day.”

To donate, email winstonsmithlibrary@gmail.com.

UK becomes first G20 nation to halve carbon emissions

ByNeil Johnston
December 27, 2023 

The UK has become the first country in the G20 to halve its carbon emissions, the net zero minister said.

Claire Coutinho, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, said that new data indicating emissions had halved in 50 years show Britain was a world leader in tackling climate change.

Cooling towers at a decommissioned coal power station in Warrington, north-west England.

CREDIT:BLOOMBERG

Data compiled by the Global Carbon Project, a research partner of the World Climate Research programme, show that UK CO₂ emissions are now down 52 per cent on the peak in the 1970s.

According to the data, updated last month, UK emissions from fossil energy production were 319 million tons in 2022 – down from 660 million tons in 1971.

As late as 2010, the UK was still emitting more than 500 million tons each year.

Coutinho shared an analysis of the data in a blog post from The Spectator magazine which first highlighted the figures.

“Britain is the first country in the G20 to halve its carbon emissions. We are world leaders in tackling climate change,” she said.

“That’s why it’s so important we make sure we’re not burdening hard-working families, but bringing them with us as we continue on our transition to net zero.”

According to the data, the UK first reached the milestone of halving emissions in 2020 as the country locked down but the data shows that it has now reached the target in a normal year where the economy was not crippled by a pandemic.

Each country’s peak emissions varies depending on their economy or circumstances but over the same period the US has gone from 4366 million tons to 5057 million tons. US emissions peaked in 2005 at 6132 million tons.

French emissions are below the UK at 298 million tons, but only down from a peak of 539 million tons in 1973 while Germany is emitting 666 million tons, down from 1118 in 1979.

An offshore wind farm near Hartlepool, in England’s north-east.

CREDIT:FRANK AUGSTEIN, AP

In contrast, emissions from emerging economies continue to rise.

China’s emissions are now 11,397 million tons compared to 808 in 1970 and 3649 in 2000 while India’s are 2830 compared to 182 in 1970 and 978 in 2000.

The data comes as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak overhauls the government’s net zero policies designed to help the UK meet its target of cutting its carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

Sunak has pushed back the ban on sales of new diesel and petrol cars from 2030 to 2035 and ditched plans for tougher energy efficiency rules for landlords.

The figures had gone under the radar but were spotted by Fraser Nelson, the editor of The Spectator, who said critics of the UK would be focusing on the data if it had gone in the other direction.

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“A pretty major milestone has been achieved: Britain has become the first major country to halve its carbon emissions,” he said.

“The rapid pace of UK environmental progress means that our output is now below 319 million tons – half the 652 million tons at our 1970s peak.

“This is in spite of Britain now having a far larger population and economy than 50 years ago.”

 

What is Boxing Day? Inside the meaning of the controversial holiday

• Boxing Day is renowned for its repurposed leftovers, huge sales and sports but not many people know the holiday's origins
• The holiday falls on December 26 and its story varies, but the most popular theory is that it began during the time of Queen Victoria 
• Servants used to work on Christmas Day and would be given the next day off to celebrate with their families as the rich used to box up gifts to give to the poor

By KAMAL SULTAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED:  26 December 2023

Christmas has come and gone but the celebration continues into the next day in the UK, former British colonies and other European countries in the form of Boxing Day.

It is renowned for its repurposed leftovers, huge sales and sports but not many people know the public holiday's historical meaning.

Boxing Day falls on December 26 and its story varies, but the most popular theory is that it originated during the time of Queen Victoria.

Servants used to work on Christmas Day and would be given the following day off to celebrate with their families, as the rich used to box up gifts to give to the poor.

The holiday - which remains largely ignored in the US- also has connections to Christianity as the occasion is celebrated as Saint Stephen's Day in Ireland and Catalonia, while Hungary, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands treat it as a second Christmas.

Christmas has come and gone but the celebration continues 

into the next day in the UK, former British colonies and other

 European countries in the form of Boxing Day 

Boxing Day falls on December 26 and its story varies, 

but the most popular theory is that it originated during the time of Queen Victoria 

Boxing Day is mostly associated with the habit of Victorian-era aristocrats who would provide their servants with a gift on the day after Christmas.

The employees would work on Christmas Day but would be allowed to spend December 26 with their own families.

Another theory is that Boxing Day came from the popular tradition of making charitable donations during the Christmas season.

People would hand out boxes of food and other supplies to the less fortunate and churches would leave out donation boxes for the poor.

Servants used to work on Christmas Day and would be given

 the following day off to celebrate with their families and the rich 

used to box up gifts to give to the poor

Boxing Day is renowned for its repurposed leftovers, huge sales 

and sports but not many people know where the public holiday comes from

While a third suggestion is the tradition began following an interaction the 10th-century Duke of Bohemia once experienced. A story claims he was out surveying his land on the day after Christmas and he noticed a man who was trying to gather wood for a fire during a blizzard.

The Duke then decided to go to the man’s house and gave him a box filled with food, wine and other items.

Modern Boxing Day has many traditions such as eating the leftovers from Christmas Day.

Many people prepare too much food for the festive occasion and end up eating Turkey for the following week in the form of curry, pies and sandwiches.

There are also the traditional Boxing Day sales in which companies dramatically slash their prices and people can pick up post-Christmas bargains.

The day is also heavily dominated by sports including horse racing and plenty of soccer matches.

Israeli troops in Gaza infected by deadly fungi, with one dead and 10 severely affected

The New Arab Staff
26 December, 2023

Dangerous fungi in Gaza soil have caused the death of an Israeli soldier and the hospitalisation of several others taking part in ground assaults.

Israel's war on Gaza has caused an environmental catastrophe, with Israeli soldiers themselves affected [Getty]

Dangerous fungi in the soil of the Gaza Strip have caused the death of an Israeli soldier and the hospitalisation of at least 10 others earlier this month, Israeli media reported on Monday.

The Israeli soldier who was taking part in the ground assault on the besieged Gaza Strip was battling an infection in hospital for several days before succumbing to "serious injuries" resulting from different fungi infections, KAN News reported.

At least ten other soldiers were diagnosed with several fungal infections suffered during their offensive on Gaza.

The head of the Infectious Disease Unit and Laboratories at the Sheba Medical Center, Professor Gila Rahav, said on Tuesday during a radio interview that the fungi was present in the local soil in Gaza, and had not appeared during previous wars on the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Rahav pointed out the possibility that the source of these contaminated fungi might be soil pollution from sewage water, adding that investigations were underway to determine whether they originated from underground tunnels.

The Israeli Society for Infectious Diseases is reportedly due to hold an urgent meeting next week with epidemiological experts from the Israeli forces and the Health Ministry over diseases infecting troops during ground operations in Gaza.

Israeli forces in Gaza suffer severe stomach illnesses

Several international health and environmental agencies had warned at the start of Israel's relentless and indiscriminate military campaign against Gaza of a looming health crisis and environmental catastrophe after the collapse of the Palestinian territory's sewage treatment systems.

The Gaza Municipality had warned of the risk of areas in the northern part of Gaza City being flooded with sewage on 4 December, after its pumping stations ran out of fuel amid Israel's complete blockade on the Strip, which stopped the entry of fuel, medicine, water and food.

Hassani Mahna, the spokesperson for the Gaza Municipality, warned about the spread of diseases if the streets were flooded with sewage water, adding that it would exacerbate the already deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Israeli troops film destruction of Gaza shop, food supplies

Israel's onslaught on Gaza has killed over 20,600 poeple - mostly women and children - and injured at least 54,500. The death toll is likely to drastically increase as many bodies remain buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

Hospitals and medical centres were not spared by Israel's indiscriminate campaign, resulting in the complete collapse of the healthcare system amid unprecedented destruction and displacement.

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Negative wealth shock linked to increased risk of dementia in older adults

by Eric W. Dolan
December 26, 2023
in Dementia


Researchers have found a significant link between severe financial loss and an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia among older adults in the United States. This large-scale study, focusing on adults over 50, suggests that experiencing a major financial setback could accelerate cognitive aging. The findings are published in JAMA Network Open.

With over 50 million individuals worldwide diagnosed with dementia in 2019, and projections suggesting a tripling of this number by 2050, understanding the potential risk factors for dementia is more crucial than ever. Prior research has indicated that socioeconomic factors, including wealth and income, play a significant role in the onset and progression of dementia.

However, the specific impact of sudden and significant financial loss, known as negative wealth shock, had not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to fill that gap, providing insights into how financial stress affects cognitive health and dementia risk.

Conducted using data from the Health and Retirement Study, a long-standing project tracking various aspects of the lives of U.S. residents over 50, this study involved 8,082 participants. The average age of participants was 63.7 years, with an almost equal distribution between men and women. The majority of the participants were White, with a smaller proportion being Black and other races.

The researchers assessed the participants’ wealth status, including assets and debts, and defined negative wealth shock as a loss of 75% or more in total wealth between two consecutive interviews. Cognitive function was measured using a modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status, which involves tests like immediate and delayed recall, serial subtraction, and counting backward. Dementia cases were identified based on these cognitive scores.

The researchers found that individuals who experienced a negative wealth shock had a higher likelihood of cognitive decline and developing dementia compared to those who maintained stable financial status. This correlation was particularly pronounced in individuals under the age of 65 and among White participants, indicating that age and race may play roles in how financial stress impacts cognitive health.

The risk of developing dementia was also higher in the negative wealth shock and asset poverty groups. Additionally, the study’s sensitivity analysis, which accounted for genetic factors and varying definitions of negative wealth shock, supported the consistency of these findings.

Overall, this study underscores the potential impact of financial health on cognitive well-being, particularly highlighting the implications of sudden financial losses. It suggests that financial stability and support may be important factors in dementia prevention strategies, especially for those who are middle-aged or older. These insights add a crucial dimension to our understanding of dementia risk factors, pointing to the intersection of economic and health-related challenges faced by aging populations.

Future research is needed to confirm these findings and to explore potential intervention strategies. Further studies could focus on understanding the specific causes of negative wealth shock and their direct impact on cognitive health. Investigating the mechanisms through which financial stress affects the brain and exploring ways to mitigate these effects could also be valuable areas of research.

“The findings of this cohort study suggest that an experience of negative wealth shock was associated with accelerated cognitive decline and elevated risks of dementia among the middle-aged and older US adults. The negative wealth shock–associated dementia risks were more apparent among White participants and those who were younger. Further prospective and interventional studies are warranted to confirm our findings,” the researchers concluded.

The study, “Negative Wealth Shock and Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Middle-Aged and Older US Adults“, was authored by Liulu Pan, Bin Gao, Junpeng Zhu, and Jing Guo.