🧐 Ancient Beat #122: Freemason tunnels, Ice Age hunting, and ancient reverence for fossils

Hi folks! We crossed another big milestone — 4,000 subscribers! In fact, as of today, there are 4,052 of us. 🤯 🎉

And oh, what fun it’s been writing this and getting to know many of you. I love it.

Speaking of getting to know you, a member of this community kindly reached out to me with a correction to last week’s issue. I incorrectly stated that a panel of Maya glyphs was discovered in Guatemala, when, in fact, it was discovered in the ancient Maya city of Coba in Mexico. My mistake — I really appreciate the feedback!

Now, let’s get into it. Welcome to issue #122 of Ancient Beat. Here’s the latest ancient news. 👇

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🗞 Ancient News: Top 5

• Archaeologists Excavate “Freemason” Tunnel Beneath Warsaw Park — Archaeologists in Warsaw, Poland, have uncovered a hidden tunnel beneath a historic park, believed to have been used by Freemasons in the 18th century. The tunnel, located in Ujazdów Park, stretches over 300 feet and is constructed with brick and mortar. It is thought to have been part of a larger network of subterranean passages connecting various buildings associated with the Freemasons. The discovery includes ornate symbols and markings on the walls, consistent with Freemason iconography. The tunnel's purpose remains speculative, but it may have been used for secret meetings or ceremonies and rituals. Looks spooky. I’d sure like to know what those guys were up to.

Image credit: Wistula - CC BY-SA 3.0

• Evidence Of Ancient Fossil Hunting Found In Bronze Age Mycenae — I always like hearing about people from a long time ago being interested in stuff from even longer ago. In a way, it kind of puts the present moment into perspective. Well, a fossilized bone that was discovered in the 70s, but only recently analyzed, revealed one of the earliest known instances of fossil hunting, dating back to the 13th century BCE. It was discovered in Mycenae, an ancient city in northeastern Peloponnese, Greece. The bone belonged to a Stephanorhinus, an extinct rhinoceros species native to Eurasia and North Africa. In ancient times, such fossils were often interpreted through cultural, religious, and mythological lenses, possibly being seen as remnants of mythical giants or legendary creatures. The researchers suggest the fossil might have been considered a magical object, believed to bring luck or possess a mythical essence.

• New Insight Into the Origins and Motivations for Ritual Tooth Removal in Ancient Taiwan — Recent research has provided detailed insights into the practice of tooth ablation in ancient Taiwan, a tradition dating back about 4,800 years, when hunter gatherers were changing to a sedentary lifestyle in the region. This practice, common among the first Austronesian communities, involved the deliberate removal of upper front teeth, typically incisors or canines. Initially, tooth ablation was practiced equally by both sexes but became predominantly female during the late Neolithic and Iron Ages. Ethnographic studies show that the reasons for this practice varied, including aesthetic preferences, rites of passage, memorializing ancestors’ bravery, and group identity. It could also have been practical for the ingestion of medicine for lockjaw. The practice spread from Taiwan to other regions in Asia-Pacific. Methods of tooth extraction varied by region, with some using tools to hammer out teeth 😰, while others preferred pulling them out. This painful procedure was often performed on children as young as six. Modern ethnographic accounts show that the practice continued until the mid-20th century, with both sexes participating.

• New Genetic Study Redefines Origins on Japan's Ancestry — A recent genetic study challenges the traditional dual-origin theory of Japanese ancestry, revealing that the Japanese population actually descends from three distinct ancestral groups. This groundbreaking research, conducted using whole-genome sequencing on over 3,200 individuals across Japan, supports the "tripartite origins" theory. The study identifies three ancestral groups: the Jomon hunter-gatherers, East Asian migrants during the Yayoi period (250 to 794 CE), and a newly recognized group linked to the Emishi people in northeastern Japan. The Emishi group's genetic legacy decreases westward across Japan. The research also uncovered 44 regions of ancient DNA from Neanderthals and Denisovans still present in modern Japanese genomes.

• To Kill Mammoths in the Ice Age, People Used Planted Pikes, Not Throwing Spears, Researchers Say — New research suggests that Ice Age humans in North America hunted mammoths and other megafauna using planted pikes rather than throwing spears. The hunters braced spears with Clovis points against the ground, allowing charging animals to impale themselves, which generated more force than humans could generate with a throw. This sophisticated technique, supported by experimental studies, revealed that the stone points acted like hollow-point bullets, inflicting severe wounds. Clovis points, dating back 13,000 years, are often found with mammoth remains. I guess we’ll have to change all those illustrations of people throwing pointy sticks at huge mammoths.

That’s it for the free Top 5! If you’re a free subscriber, sign up for the paid plan for another 18 discoveries and 7 recommended pieces of content covering newly discovered settlements, production lines, bishops, bracelets, old photos of old places, Çakmaktepe, and itsy-bitsy figurines.

Until next time, thanks for joining me!

-James
Twitter: @jamesofthedrum

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🗞 Ancient News: Deep Dive