Ancient Archaeological Finds

https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/cave-art-0013412  Quoting:

New cave paintings discovered in northern Spain date back 40,000 years and demonstrate two distinct artistic styles.

According to a new paper published by lead author Blanca Ochoa, in journal  Antiquity, the discovery of 17 news caves in the Basque region between Spain and France adds greatly to what is known about ancient artistic tradition as only six were previously known which display ancient Paleolithic art.

Researchers from the University of the Basque Country examined 23 sites with prehistoric art in northern Spain and the new study says they are from the pre-Magdalenian period, from between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago and much “more prolific than first thought.”



According to the team of researchers, the most important new discovery is the “Danbolinzulo cave,” on the slopes of Mount Ertxina near the town of Zestoa in northern Spain which features what they call a “homogeneity of the motifs.” Through the faded orange and brown paint on the rock walls several unidentified figures are represented amidst “five ibex, two horses and a possible anthropomorph (ancient stylized representation of a human being.)



The drawings were executed as far back as far as 40,000 years ago and they bridge two distinctly different artistic traditions which the researchers describe as “a pivotal position” between Cantabrian-Iberian and French/Continental art styles. Another pre-Magdalenian cave near to Danbolinzulo was found to display French/Continental art styles, which again suggests the presence of an ancient cultural border.

Ochoa told  Haaretz, despite the distinct differences in the artistic styles in the caves located on either side of the border between the Iberian and continental prehistoric groups, it is “not clear” how they maintained their two distinct styles of art. The authors of the paper said that while they had different cultural backgrounds “we don't know why they chose to have two very distinct styles”. However, putting this artistic style anomaly in context, the author points out that cultures in Europe, Central Asia, the Near East, India and the Far East all intermingled but managed to maintain substantive differences in their art styles over the centuries.

The Danbolinzulo cave in the Basque Country is the archaeological site closest to France that features the prehistoric Iberian style of cave art and the discoveries there are being called a breakthrough for archaeologists as they fill “a void” in the region. It is unclear “ why” the Danbolinzulo cave features this specific style of art but according to Ochoa it means one of two things: either the two cultures didn't communicate or that the different styles reinforced cultural identities in this “ border zone. ”

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34175224

The Basques are closest to ancient Iberian farmers: (I know it's genetics and not archeology...but the study was based on skeletal remains).

DNA from ancient remains seems to have solved the puzzle of one of Europe's most enigmatic people: the Basques.

The distinct language and genetic make-up of the Basque people in northern Spain and southern France has puzzled anthropologists for decades.

One theory proposed that they were an unmixed pocket of indigenous hunters.

Now, a study in PNAS journal suggests they descend from early farmers who mixed with local hunters before becoming isolated for millennia.

The Basques have unique customs and a language - Euskera - that is unrelated to any other spoken in Europe, or indeed the world.

Nestled in a mountainous corner of Atlantic Europe, they also show distinct genetic patterns to their neighbours in France and Spain.

It seemed logical that they were representatives of an older layer of population settlement, but just how far back their roots went has been a topic of debate.

Mattias Jakobsson from Uppsala University in Sweden analysed the genomes of eight Stone Age human skeletons from El Portalón in Atapuerca, northern Spain.

These individuals lived between 3,500 and 5,500 years ago, after the transition to farming in southwest Europe.

The results show that these early Iberian farmers are the closest ancestors to present-day Basques.

https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-find-a-3000-year-old-bronze-sword-in-germany/  Quoting:


Archaeologists have discovered a bronze sword more than 3,000 years old during excavations in the town of Nördlingen in Bavaria, Germany. The discovery was announced in a press release by the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (Blfd) on Wednesday.

The sword was found among a deposit of grave goods and weaponry, alongside the remains of a man, woman, and child. It is still unclear what relationship the people may have had with one another. It is an octagonal sword with an octagonal hilt made entirely of bronze. The production of octagonal swords is complex because the handle is cast over the blade (so-called overlay casting). The decoration is made with an inlay and using hallmarks. While there are two real rivets, another pair of rivets is only implied. Despite the manufacturing effort and the lack of signs of a blow, it can be assumed that it was a real weapon. The center of gravity in the front part of the blade indicates a predominantly slashing balance.


Whether the sword was Bavaria crafted or was imported is currently being investigated. There are three main distribution centers during the bronze age for octagonal swords of this type, one in Southern Germany and the others in Northern Germany and Denmark. Comparing the casting methods and the decoration reveals that while some of the octagonal swords in the North may be genuine imports or the work of “wandering craftsmen,” others may be copies of South German designs.

Mathias Pfeil, head of the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments, stated: “The sword and the burial still have to be examined so that our archaeologists can classify this find more precisely. But it can already be said: the condition is exceptional! A find like this is very rare!”

That's a beautiful sword. I'm sure that everyone in the Anthro-sphere is excited about it. I wonder if it signifies that the burial was of a high status family.

The blue green patina give the sword an earthy look.
No doubt it would look much different all shined up.

It's a very short sword. The blade only looks about 15 inches long.

Wouldn’t that make it a dagger, small enough to hide in one’s cloak?

I know of no rule for dagger and sword blade lengths. I say that anything from 12 to 15 inches is both.

I don't know if you guys are familiar with the videos of Dan Davis. He's an author and youtuber who makes videos on anthropology and history. I own some of his books. At any rate, he recently did one on the Neolithic long barrows of Britain. The discovery is about the genetic link of some of the people in these barrows. As it turns out, Neolithic British people practiced polygamy and bridal exchanges. And here were thought they were matriarchal! Hrm.



I've got to rethink this whole thing, especially since I'm writing a book about them (granted, it's actually set in Anatolia and its about Linear Pottery culture, which could have been matriarchal...)