Thursday, May 10, 2007
Queen Nefertiti
PARIS - More than 3000 years after her reign as queen to a mysterious pharaoh, Nefertiti has sparked a row between Egypt, which wants her bust returned for an exhibition, and Germany, which is refusing to let it leave Berlin, where it is the city's greatest treasure...
The real question is: "who owns archaeological artifacts?" Do they belong to the indigenous people whose ancestors created them? In the case of the bust of Queen Nefertiti, does the artifact belong to her people, or to the people of a foreign land who have adopted it as "one of Germany's own?"
This is a contentious issue that pervades all areas of archaeology, in all lands. For example, in 1911, an historian from Yale University led expeditions to Machu Picchu and removed boxes of Peruvian artifacts dating to the Inca era. Today, the Peruvian government has put the ivy League school on notice, requesting the return of the "illegally obtained" treasures, or face a lawsuit. According to an article in the CSM, David Ugarte, the regional director of Peru's National Culture Institute claims the treasures "were given to the American explorer 'on loan'."
Perhaps it is time to leave the "Indiana Jones" idea of archaeology behind us (relegating the movies to simply entertainment), and seek to explore archaeological sites for the science and understanding contained in them. The artifacts, cultural remnants of the people, should remain in the land where they are found; with the descendants of their creators.
Granted, the bust of Queen Nefertiti is truly a treasure, a sight deserving of the eyes of the world's people. It should be cared for by her people, back home in her homeland of Egypt.
Agnes F. Castronuevo
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Many U.S. soldiers endorse torture - ArcaMax Publishing
News & Features - Many U.S. soldiers endorse torture - ArcaMax Publishing
What has our nation and culture become when soldiers of the U.S. Army endorse the mistreatment and torture of individuals as a means to get information, or in other words: to win? According to the article, about 1700 soldiers were polled, and the many favor this type of treatment.
How can this attitude be justified in a military that purports to denounce torture? Has our society changed so much that it is lending a blind eye and a deaf ear to this issue? Are we condoning this treatment as a result of our ethnocentrism toward Middle Eastern, Islamic, and Iraqi people?
How many innocent men, women, and children have been mistreated? How many have been charged with a crime--specifically a war crime? Even so, how can soldiers from a nation proud of its system of justice watch as other human beings are treated less than respectably, injured, and even killed? (I have historical flashbacks to our own era of pre-Civil rights when black Americans faced the same inhumane treatment).
As an American, I am appalled; as a former U.S. Army Cavalry soldier, I am angry. I served my country to defend it from wrongs and injustice perpetrated by an enemy with intentions to destroy our values, our way of life. It saddens me tremendously to watch as we have become that same kind of enemy.
A.F. Castronuevo
former soldier, U.S. Army
What has our nation and culture become when soldiers of the U.S. Army endorse the mistreatment and torture of individuals as a means to get information, or in other words: to win? According to the article, about 1700 soldiers were polled, and the many favor this type of treatment.
How can this attitude be justified in a military that purports to denounce torture? Has our society changed so much that it is lending a blind eye and a deaf ear to this issue? Are we condoning this treatment as a result of our ethnocentrism toward Middle Eastern, Islamic, and Iraqi people?
How many innocent men, women, and children have been mistreated? How many have been charged with a crime--specifically a war crime? Even so, how can soldiers from a nation proud of its system of justice watch as other human beings are treated less than respectably, injured, and even killed? (I have historical flashbacks to our own era of pre-Civil rights when black Americans faced the same inhumane treatment).
As an American, I am appalled; as a former U.S. Army Cavalry soldier, I am angry. I served my country to defend it from wrongs and injustice perpetrated by an enemy with intentions to destroy our values, our way of life. It saddens me tremendously to watch as we have become that same kind of enemy.
A.F. Castronuevo
former soldier, U.S. Army
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Wenas Mammoth Mystery
http://www.kvnews.com/articles/2007/05/02/news/doc4638ee2342902125251306.txt
Deep in the heart of the Wenas Valley, at first glance one sees a creek, small herds of grazing cattle, and a lush green valley surrounded by dry sagebrush hills. Off to the south is a little-known site called the Wenas Mammoth Archaeological site, where archaeologists, paleontologists, and geologists have been doing fieldwork for the past two summers with hopes of unraveling all the mysteries surrounding the gentle giant called the Wenas Mammoth.
During the first year, the scientists and their students uncovered giant-sized bone elements, including two humerus, and many smaller elements that were not readily identifiable due to their rough condition.
The second year, however, not only uncovered more bones, but also more questions as to what had happened on that hillside 16,000 years ago. As part of the 2006 field school, we unearthed what appear to be prehistoric bison elements including various vertebrae in an excavation unit containing mammoth bone. Radiocarbon dates have returned a fairly solid date of 16,000 years on both the mammoth, and the bison.
One may wonder why there is a dead mammoth and a dead bison located in the same unit. Then we discovered a single stone flake near the bones. It appears to be the medial portion of a heat treated stone flake, and there doesn't appear to be a question about the stone having been humanly modified. Much excitement is further had for two soil samples taken above and below the flake have been sent out to a luminesence lab for dating: the dates returned strongly correspond to the 16,000 year date on the bones.
Obviously 16,000 years dates well before the earliest known (Clovis) people are believed to have been in this part of the continent. Only time, and further research will help to answer this, and many other questions coming out of the Wenas Mammoth archaeological site.
Agnes F. Castronuevo
Deep in the heart of the Wenas Valley, at first glance one sees a creek, small herds of grazing cattle, and a lush green valley surrounded by dry sagebrush hills. Off to the south is a little-known site called the Wenas Mammoth Archaeological site, where archaeologists, paleontologists, and geologists have been doing fieldwork for the past two summers with hopes of unraveling all the mysteries surrounding the gentle giant called the Wenas Mammoth.
During the first year, the scientists and their students uncovered giant-sized bone elements, including two humerus, and many smaller elements that were not readily identifiable due to their rough condition.
The second year, however, not only uncovered more bones, but also more questions as to what had happened on that hillside 16,000 years ago. As part of the 2006 field school, we unearthed what appear to be prehistoric bison elements including various vertebrae in an excavation unit containing mammoth bone. Radiocarbon dates have returned a fairly solid date of 16,000 years on both the mammoth, and the bison.
One may wonder why there is a dead mammoth and a dead bison located in the same unit. Then we discovered a single stone flake near the bones. It appears to be the medial portion of a heat treated stone flake, and there doesn't appear to be a question about the stone having been humanly modified. Much excitement is further had for two soil samples taken above and below the flake have been sent out to a luminesence lab for dating: the dates returned strongly correspond to the 16,000 year date on the bones.
Obviously 16,000 years dates well before the earliest known (Clovis) people are believed to have been in this part of the continent. Only time, and further research will help to answer this, and many other questions coming out of the Wenas Mammoth archaeological site.
Agnes F. Castronuevo
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Religion Afraid of Near-Death Experience Research, Says Dr. Neal Grossman
Religion Afraid of Near-Death Experience Research, Says Dr. Neal Grossman
"our culture has difficulty accepting the near-death experience phenomena: “All near-death experiencers come back claiming to know what the purpose of life is…"
Dr. Grossman argues that our culture will not embrace the "Golden Rule" answer to living life, as claimed by many of those who have returned from NDEs. As evidenced by the wealth of this nation, it can be suggested quite strongly that money trumps love. I agree with this. One only needs to watch the daily news to find support for this hypothesis--look at the terrorism that rages around the world, the wars in the Middle East, the racial strife, even road rage on our streets.
A.F. Castronuevo
"our culture has difficulty accepting the near-death experience phenomena: “All near-death experiencers come back claiming to know what the purpose of life is…"
Dr. Grossman argues that our culture will not embrace the "Golden Rule" answer to living life, as claimed by many of those who have returned from NDEs. As evidenced by the wealth of this nation, it can be suggested quite strongly that money trumps love. I agree with this. One only needs to watch the daily news to find support for this hypothesis--look at the terrorism that rages around the world, the wars in the Middle East, the racial strife, even road rage on our streets.
A.F. Castronuevo
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
News & Features - Cho was ordered to on-campus treatment - ArcaMax Publishing
News & Features - Cho was ordered to on-campus treatment - ArcaMax Publishing
BLACKSBURG, Va. (UPI) -- The gunman in the Virginia Tech massacre was court-ordered to undergo on-campus psychiatric treatment long before the attack, ABC News reported Tuesday...
This illustrates how little priority is given to mental health issues. The death of 33 people at Virginia Tech is the manifestation of the lack of attention to the symptoms evident in Cho several months ago.
a.f. castronuevo
BLACKSBURG, Va. (UPI) -- The gunman in the Virginia Tech massacre was court-ordered to undergo on-campus psychiatric treatment long before the attack, ABC News reported Tuesday...
This illustrates how little priority is given to mental health issues. The death of 33 people at Virginia Tech is the manifestation of the lack of attention to the symptoms evident in Cho several months ago.
a.f. castronuevo
Saturday, April 28, 2007
"Star Trek" actor's ashes prepare to reach final frontier - Yahoo! News
"Star Trek" actor's ashes prepare to reach final frontier - Yahoo! News
HATCH, United States (AFP) - Dozens of fans prepared to bid farewell Saturday to "Star Trek" star James Doohan, whose ashes are to be blasted into space on a private rocket...
Scotty may not be "beaming up" to the Enterprise these days, but he must certainly be joyous as he joins Gordon Cooper and 200 others into a trip into the final frontier of space. The launch is to occur today from a site in New Mexico.
aggie
"Live long and prosper" --Mr. Spock, U.S.S. Enterprise
HATCH, United States (AFP) - Dozens of fans prepared to bid farewell Saturday to "Star Trek" star James Doohan, whose ashes are to be blasted into space on a private rocket...
Scotty may not be "beaming up" to the Enterprise these days, but he must certainly be joyous as he joins Gordon Cooper and 200 others into a trip into the final frontier of space. The launch is to occur today from a site in New Mexico.
aggie
"Live long and prosper" --Mr. Spock, U.S.S. Enterprise
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Student Adds Memorial Stone for Gunman - AOL News
Top News- Student Adds Memorial Stone for Gunman - AOL News
"My family did not raise me to do what is popular," she wrote in her letter to the campus newspaper. "They raised me to do what is morally right. We did not lose only 32 students and faculty members that day; we lost 33 lives."
The world experienced a great tragedy that day in the loss of those 33 lives. The student who chose to memorialize Cho is doing the right thing by reminding the world that Cho's life was just as important as the teachers and the other students. The student's action shows a small ray of compassion for a person villianized by an imperfect world.
A.F. Castronuevo
"My family did not raise me to do what is popular," she wrote in her letter to the campus newspaper. "They raised me to do what is morally right. We did not lose only 32 students and faculty members that day; we lost 33 lives."
The world experienced a great tragedy that day in the loss of those 33 lives. The student who chose to memorialize Cho is doing the right thing by reminding the world that Cho's life was just as important as the teachers and the other students. The student's action shows a small ray of compassion for a person villianized by an imperfect world.
A.F. Castronuevo
Spokane Tribe Rejects Eastern Washington University
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Indian_Archaeology.html
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Fiercely criticized by the Spokane Indian Tribe, Eastern Washington University will no longer do archaeological work that is required on local construction projects, the City Council has decided...
The issue here is trust, and how that has been affected by the divergent world views of the Spokane Indian Tribe and the Archaeologists from Eastern Washington University. The Spokane view the site as sacred--their ancestors rest there as part of the earth, which they also regard as sacred. The archaeologists, perhaps confident that a contract was imminent and that their research would go forward, began publishing information indicative of the site's location--making the site vulnerable to potential looters. More importantly, the Tribe viewed this as lack of respect and concern for the inherent sacredness of the site.
A.F. Castronuevo
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Fiercely criticized by the Spokane Indian Tribe, Eastern Washington University will no longer do archaeological work that is required on local construction projects, the City Council has decided...
The issue here is trust, and how that has been affected by the divergent world views of the Spokane Indian Tribe and the Archaeologists from Eastern Washington University. The Spokane view the site as sacred--their ancestors rest there as part of the earth, which they also regard as sacred. The archaeologists, perhaps confident that a contract was imminent and that their research would go forward, began publishing information indicative of the site's location--making the site vulnerable to potential looters. More importantly, the Tribe viewed this as lack of respect and concern for the inherent sacredness of the site.
A.F. Castronuevo
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Battle of Spokane Plain--The Ones that Lost
"September 9th.--. . . At nine o’clock, Colonel Wright convened a board of officers to determine what should be done with the captured horses. They decided that one hundred and thirty should be selected for our use, and the rest shot. It was a disagreeable necessity, but one which could not be avoided . . . Nothing can more effectively cripple the Indians than to deprive them of their animals. --from the Journal of Lieutenant Lawrence Kip"
The video I posted to the blog today is a heartwrenching reminder of how far we have come in the treatment of horses. The world watched the plight of the two hundred horses as the floods invaded their pastures and marooned them unmercifully on a tiny island knoll; the world cried as nineteen grew weak and perished. Hope finally arrived as the waters receded, allowing food to be brought in for the survivors. The video illustrates the compassion of the people attempting the rescue.
One-hundred and fifty years ago, 900 horses were killed by the U.S. Army, under orders of a treacherous Colonel. This same officer, Colonel Wright would go down in Pacific Northwest Native history as the one responsible for the deaths of two prominent Yakama Natives--Qualchin, and Owhi.
Please read the full text of RESERVATION BLUES: THE SHADOW HORSES here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcg73jbk_4dpxf7q
aggie castronuevo
The video I posted to the blog today is a heartwrenching reminder of how far we have come in the treatment of horses. The world watched the plight of the two hundred horses as the floods invaded their pastures and marooned them unmercifully on a tiny island knoll; the world cried as nineteen grew weak and perished. Hope finally arrived as the waters receded, allowing food to be brought in for the survivors. The video illustrates the compassion of the people attempting the rescue.
One-hundred and fifty years ago, 900 horses were killed by the U.S. Army, under orders of a treacherous Colonel. This same officer, Colonel Wright would go down in Pacific Northwest Native history as the one responsible for the deaths of two prominent Yakama Natives--Qualchin, and Owhi.
Please read the full text of RESERVATION BLUES: THE SHADOW HORSES here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcg73jbk_4dpxf7q
aggie castronuevo
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