The scarab, showing a seated figure on the right and a standing
figure with a raised arm on the left, possibly symbolizing the imparting
of authority (photo credit: GILAD STERN/ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY)
A 3,000-year-old scarab - an ancient amulet and impression seal - was
discovered during a school field trip to Azor, about seven kilometers
southeast of Tel Aviv, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced
on Wednesday.
Carved into the scarab is the picture of an Egyptian pharaoh, in a scene that represents the bestowal of legitimacy to a ruler.
An eighth-grade class from Rabin Middle School took part in the third annual tour-guide course organized by the IAA. The course enables students to teach Azor locals about archaeological findings.
"We were wandering around when I saw something that looked like a
small toy on the ground," leading tour guide Gilad Stern of the IAA's
Educational Center said. "An inner voice said to me: 'Pick it up and
turn it over.' I was astonished: it was a scarab with a clearly incised
scene, the dream of every amateur archaeologist. The pupils were really
excited!"
Conservationist Yosef Bukengolts cleaning the scarab seal in the Israel
Antiquities Authority Laboratories (credit: ASSAF PEREZ/ISRAEL
ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY)
What was on the scarab?
Carved
on the flatter side of the scarab is a standing figure is carved that
has an elongated head, which appears to represent the crown of the Egyptian pharaoh.
"This
scene basically reflects the geopolitical reality that prevailed in the
land of Canaan during the Late Bronze Age (1500-1000 BCE), when the
local Canaanite rulers lived (and sometimes rebelled) under Egyptian
political and cultural hegemony," according to IAA Bronze Age expert Dr.
Amir Golani. "Therefore, it is very possible that the seal is indeed
from the Late Bronze Age when the local Canaanites were ruled by the
Egyptian Empire."
Scarabs are distinctly Egyptian, but there have been hundreds discovered in Israel over time.
Some were imported from Egypt while others were imitations of originals
made by local artisans under Egyptian influence. The scarab found seems
to be one of the imitations of Egyptian ones.
"The find of the scarab, in the framework of a field tour with pupils
participating in the tour-guide course, is symbolic in that the pupils
were gaining archaeological knowledge and at the same time contributing
to our archaeological heritage," IAA director Eli Escusido said. "This
cooperation is truly moving, as we are working toward connecting
communities with their cultural heritage."
Scarabs
are shaped like dung beetles. The ancient Egyptians believed that these
beetles were a representation of God because of the way they roll balls
of dung two times their size to stow their future offspring in it.
"The
scarab was used as a seal and was a symbol of power and status," Golani
said. "It may have been placed on a necklace or a ring [and] is made of
faience, a silicate material coated with a bluish-green glaze.
"It
may have dropped from the hands of an important figure of authority who
passed through the area, or it may have been deliberately buried in the
ground along with other objects – and after thousands of years, it came
to the surface," he posited. "It's difficult to determine the exact
original context."
Note: there is no current video of the Scarab on the web & this video is of a find from 2016
Ancient Egyptian Amulet Uncovered in 2016
THIS PAGE WAS POSTED BY SPUTNIK ONE OF THE SPUTNIKS ORBIT BLOG
Grand Theft PAW-to! Start-up develops video games for DOGS to help ageing canine brains
Joipaw is a start-up developing a special video games console for pooches
Its co-founder was inspired when his dog got separation anxiety when he left
The console is a lick-resistant touchscreen and can be controlled by snout
Games include whack-a-mole and pinball and may help prevent canine dementia
If your pooch has grown tired of fetch and tug-of-war, perhaps they might be more interested in a doggy video game.
Joipaw, a start-up based in Hong Kong, has developed a series of touchscreen games designed to keep our furry friends' minds active.
These include a whack-a-mole style game that the player can tap with their snout, and a counting test where they choose which side of the screen has more bubbles.
The company's founders hope the video games will bring more long-term stimulation to dogs, and could help stave off a type of dementia known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction.
Joipaw, a start-up based in Hong Kong, is in the process of developing a series of touchscreen games designed to keep dogs' minds active
SIGNS OF DEMENTIA IN DOGS
Forgetting family members.
Forgetting normal or familiar walking routes.
Toileting in the house - your dog may forget to tell you that they need to go outside, or goes outside, forgets to toilet, and then toilets in the house on their return.
Anxiety or restlessness.
Less likely to get up and greet you when you come home.
Decreased desire to play.
No longer following house rules.
Forgetting training.
Slow to learn new tasks.
Changes in sleep cycle - being awake at night and sleeping more during the day.
The games are still in the prototype stage, but are designed to be played on a lick-resistant touchscreen.
The Joipaw team claims that dogs can initially be trained to touch the screen by smearing on some peanut butter, and then gradually reducing it.
Co-founder Dersim Avdar told Axios that, while testing the games with nearly two dozen dogs, 'the most difficult step' was phasing out the spread to get them to play on their own.
But, when they finally get it, there is a 'magic moment where you see the light in their eyes', he explained.
Further treats are dispensed from the console when the dog wins a game, to keep them hooked on getting to the next level.
Mr Avdar told MailOnline that it normally takes one or two 30 minute sessions for a dog to pick up how to play a Joipaw game, but that some dogs get it after just ten minutes.
The team has also developed a motion-sensitive tracker for collars that records the dog's physical activity, and hope it will provide an alternative control method to the touchscreen in the future.
Mr Avdar was inspired to create dog video games by his own mixed-breed pooch Kawet, who he adopted with his wife in May 2021.
The active dog quickly lost interest in puzzle games and toys filled with treats and became restless, tearing up its owners' furniture and shoes and going to the toilet on the floor.
The couple quickly realised these were all symptoms of separation anxiety, and that Kawet needed further stimulation when they left the house.
Mr Avdar told MailOnline ‘We simply didn't find a solution that could keep our dog busy and stimulated when we couldn't take care of him, and we felt very guilty of having to say no when he wanted to play because we had work.'
The video games include a whack-a-mole style game that the player can tap with their snout, and a test where they choose which side of the screen has more bubbles
Mr Avdar was inspired to create dog video games by his own mixed-breed pooch Kawet (pictured), who he adopted in May 2021. The active dog quickly lost interest in puzzle games and toys filled with treats, and became restless, tearing up furniture and shoes
Mr Avdar read a study from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna which claimed that having elderly dogs play games on a touchscreen might stave off cognitive decline.
The study explained: 'Unlike puppies or young dogs, old dogs are almost never trained or challenged mentally.
'In addition, due to their increasing physical limitations, we usually spare old dogs the sort of training we might expect from young animals.
'This restricts the opportunities to create positive mental experiences for the animals, which remain capable of learning even in old age.
'As is the case with people, dopamine production in dogs also falls in old age, leading to a decline in memory and motivational drive.
'But this natural mental deterioration can be countered with the specific training of cognitive skills.'
The games start off simply, with just one mole appearing on the screen at a time, but gradually increase in difficulty to ensure the dog doesn't get bored of the challenge
The Joipaw games result in a mental workout that can last up to half an hour, and offer more stimulation than puzzle toys, according to Mr Avdar
Armed with this knowledge, Mr Avdar began looking into creating a dog-tailored console that could act as a tool in preventative canine health care.
On the Joipaw website, it reads: 'We care for Kawet and want him to live a long, healthy and happy life.
'We also want him to be busy and properly stimulated when we can't be there with him.'
The whack-a-mole starts off simply, with just one mole appearing on the screen at a time, but gradually increases in difficulty to ensure the dog doesn't get bored of the challenge.
This results in a mental workout that can last up to half an hour, and offers more stimulation than puzzle toys, according to Mr Avdar.
'I haven't yet encountered a dog that didn't happily sleep for multiple hours after playing with the console,' he said.
Joipaw also comes with a camera and a microphone for worried owners to keep an eye on their pet when they're out the house.
The team has also developed a motion-sensitive tracker for collars that records the dog's physical activity, but hope it will provide an alternative control method to the touchscreen in the future
The games are able to alert the owner if any abnormal behaviour is detected during play, and this can be shared with vets to enable earlier diagnosis of cognitive decline. Data like this will be visible on a Joipaw online platform, along with statistics about their game play
Joipaw hopes the games can be used to stimulate shelter dogs who don't get to go out as much, as well as those suffering from dementia.
The games alert the owner if any abnormal behaviour is detected during play, and this can be shared with vets to enable earlier diagnosis of cognitive decline.
Mr Avdar told MailOnline that a method of monitoring canine cognitive health is ‘simply nowhere to be found’, but is ‘extremely important to live a long and happy life with a member of your family’.
Data like this will be visible on a Joipaw online platform, along with statistics about the dog's game play and high scores.
Joipaw is also hoping to incorporate games where dogs can play against their owners, and create a leader board comparing different puppy players.
According to Joipaw, there is not a definite timeline for the video games' release or a retail price currently.
However, a console and collar tracker can be reserved online for $50 HKD (£5 or $6 USD), and will be shipped when 'inventory is available'.
Joipaw is also working on a subscription service where customers can download new games for their console as they are released.
Doggy dementia risk increases by 52% each year after the age of 10, study claims
The risk of dogs developing a neurodegernative condition similar to dementia increases by 52 per cent every year after they turn ten, a new study has found.
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) is associated with the ageing of a dog's brain, that manifests as reduced awareness, memory and ability to learn.
However, the researchers from University of Washington have found that active pooches have much lower chances of developing the syndrome.
Inactive dogs have a 6.5 times greater risk of CCD than those that get regular exercise.
These findings could help inform vets about when it is appropriate to start screening pets for CCD.
A taste for gold: Ancient Egyptian mummies found with gold tongues
The golden tongues are thought by
some archaeologists to have allowed the deceased ancient Egyptians to
speak with Osiris, judge of the dead, after their passing.
A cameraman films the only known example of a pregnant Egyptian
mummy, displayed at an exhibition in National Museum in Warsaw, Poland
May 4, 2021 (photo credit: REUTERS/KACPER PEMPEL)
Archaeologists discovered ancient Egyptian mummies with golden tongues, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced recently.
The mummies were some of the several discoveries found at the Qwaisana Archaeological Compound excavation site in Egypt.
These excavations managed to unearth a number of ancient tombs from different points in Egyptian history.
The golden tongues weren't
actual tongues but rather were golden plates in the shape of tongues
placed in the mouths of some of the mummies, as explained by
Supreme Council for Archaeology secretary-general Dr. Mustafa Waziri. In
other words, these mummies had their tongues removed during the
mummification process and replaced with these golden tongues.
Overall,
the mummies recently found were preserved rather poorly, but a
considerable amount of gold was found throughout the tombs. Some of the
mummies, Waziri explained, were covered in thin layers of gold, and
others even had gold bound to their bones.
Egyptian mummy. (credit: CREATIVE COMMONS)
There were also other golden artifacts buried alongside several of the mummies.
Why did Egyptian mummies have golden tongues?
Why
these tongues were replaced with gold isn't clear, though some reports
have claimed that the archaeologists believe it was to allow the
deceased to be able to speak before the Egyptian god Osiris, judge of the dead, to ask for mercy.
Mummies With Golden Tongues Discovered in Ancient Egyptian Necropolis
There is some precedence for this, too. While golden tongues aren't
seen everywhere, they have been found in some mummies before, and
archaeologists at the time also thought that it could be to allow them
to speak to Osiris.
This
is also in line with recent research that debunked misconceptions about
the use of salt in the mummification process. Scientists found the salt
wasn't in order to preserve the bodies, as most people have long
thought since the Victorian era. Rather, researchers from the Manchester
Museum at the UK's University of Manchester said it was in order to secure a clearer path to the divine for the deceased.
Ancient
Egypt used a salty substance that differed from salt itself. They used
natron, a naturally occurring mineral (a blend of sodium carbonate,
sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate). This substance
was found in excess on the beds of the Nile river and proved to be a
vital part of mummification.
These
individuals were mummified in order to help them connect to higher
powers. They frequently made offerings to the gods while they were
living, so making offerings with incense for the afterlife would be no
different. "We also know that natron was used in temple rituals [and
applied to] the statues of gods. It was used for cleansing," Price said.
Similarly, incense played a major role in prayer rituals for both the
living and dead.
Mummies
were placed in a sarcophagus, which was decorated extensively to
portray the likeness of the person buried inside. Though previously
believed it was for artistic purposes, researchers now believe that
their decorations were meant to help the deceased be recognized on their
way to the afterlife.
Archaeologists uncover Egyptian mummies with golden tongues
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