"Thomas S. Mullaney’s new book, The Chinese Computer: A Global History of the Information Age, published by the MIT Press, unearths the forgotten history of Chinese input in the 20th century. In this article, which was adapted from an excerpt of the book, he details the varied Chinese input systems of the 1960s and ’70s that renounced QWERTY altogether."
The oldest musical instrument in the world, a 50,000-60,000 year old Neanderthal flute is a treasure of global significance.
In 1995 it was discovered in Divje Babe cave near Cerkno, Slovenia. It has been declared by experts to have been made by Neanderthals. The flute is made from the left thighbone of a young cave bear and has four pierced holes.
The flute can still be played today and is currently located at the National Museum of Slovenia in Ljubljana.
The so-called Charonion, is a massive carved stone bust on the mountainside above Antioch that dates from the time of King Antiochus in the Seleucid era (3rd Century BC). Antioch on the Orontes, Antakya, Türkiye.
Despite the serious subject, I can't help but find this funny. Look at this corner of Lärbro churchyard's little Jewish quarter, surrounded by a low shrubbery. It was originally rectangular. But then the parish discovered that the death camp victim they had buried second from the end was a Gentile with an Italian name. 1/2
They swapped his Jewish headstone for a cross and added a little loop of shrubbery. Technically this Catholic now rests outside the Jewish quarter, though both of his neighbours are Jews. ♥️ 2/2
British 12-inch railway howitzers at Catterick Camp, 1940.
These guns actually date back to WWI, with a few different versions being built. As you can see in this image, they were capable of traversing to the side, greatly increasing their usefulness compared to other railway guns, that have little to no traverse.
Omg I can’t believe I almost missed our birthday! DSH is EIGHT!
While the podcast is only three years old, the blog has been going a lot longer! Thank you so much to all of our readers, listeners, patrons, guests, and friends for supporting us since 2016. We love you! 💗💗💗💗
Anatolian Mother Goddess, standing and holding her breast, 2500-2300 BC (Early Bronze Age). Statuette made of cold hammered silver with gold inlays in the eyes, ears and breasts, and gold leaf boots
Archaeologists uncover lost villa believed to belong to first Roman emperor
Archaeologists from the University of Tokyo have unearthed what they believe could be traces of the Villa of Augustus, the first Roman Emperor at Somma Vesuviana in southern Italy...
#OnThisDay, 28 May 1944, Sonia Butt parachutes into occupied France as an explosives expert for the British Special Operations Executive. She had turned 20 two weeks earlier.
She trained the maquis and coordinated sabotage operations. She was never captured.
Heath Chapel is tucked away in the Clee Hills. Formally part of the abandoned medieval village, parts date from the 1140s. It's an incredible building, rich with the spirit of the past. I felt as if centuries of the congregation greeted me at the door. 💚
Eschif in Périgueux, France; was once a lookout for a toll bridge. It's an oak timber frame building with wattle & daub infill built in 1347 CE. Built that long ago and it's still standing and survived both World Wars.
Building was a lookout post that made it possible to guard Tournepiche bridge in Middle Ages (500-1500 CE). Apparently, in middle ages, taxes on buildings were levied on soil surface occupied by a building.