rituals

One of the ceramic vases analyzed . Credit: Oswaldo Chinchilla Mazariegos Archaeologists have analyzed chemical residues from ceramic vases at the city of Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala, revealing physical evidence of tobacco use in Mesoamerica, likely for ritual and therapeutic purposes. Cotzumalhuapa was one of Mesoamerica's greatest cities during the…

Recent research on early Bronze Age burials in Luxembourg and Britain has uncovered genetic evidence of familial relationships within prehistoric communities, indicating that children were buried with their biological mothers or close relatives. This study, highlighting the transition from collective to individual burial customs among Bell Beaker communities, emphasizes the significance of kinship in their burial practices and suggests a patrilineal descent system. The image above depicts the skeletal remains of an adult…

Taylor Swift knew there was “trouble when she walked in,” but little did she know that a former Irish boy band member would suggest that trouble might extend beyond just relationships and point fingers at some unholy activities, accusing her of performing Satanic rituals during her performances. Former Boyzone star Shane Lynch alleged that Taylor Swift engages in demonic rites during her performances, reviving the Satanic panic all over again.The 47-year-old Irish singer claimed that the Shake It Off hitmaker had…

Skeleton found in stone-lined grave. Credit: Cardiff University An early medieval cemetery has been discovered within the grounds of Fonmon Castle, near Barry, South Wales. Archaeologists from Cardiff University's School of History, Archaeology and Religion carried out a dig in the summer, with further radiocarbon dating and analysis revealing the…

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Research shows that people with disabilities have always been largely excluded and marginalized in societies across the world. Over time, the language used to describe disability has generally become more positive and inclusive. Many activists advocate for the use of "people/persons with…

The presence of supercars in India is undeniably increasing. New owners are embracing their foreign-made cars with a touch of Indian tradition, complete with rituals and prayers. Recently, a wealthy businessman from Mumbai took delivery of a brand-new McLaren 720S and ensured that the car received a customary welcome. Following the customs observed by many new car buyers in India, he took the car to a nearby temple to undergo an elaborate ritual. The video showcases the McLaren 720S driving on the public roads of…

Since winning the prestigious Thelonious Monk award in 2014 at age 27, Chicago trumpeter Marquis Hill has thrilled the jazz faithful while positioning his music in the wider traditions of R&B and hip-hop – the music he grew up with. His previous album, 2022’s New Gospel Revisited, was a live tour de force that showcased his post-bop stylings with a high-energy band.Rituals + Routines is a different animal, a 24-minute look at daily life inviting us to “establish meaningful rituals” – in other words, to practise…

It was the Neanderthals who imagined a soundmaking miracle hiding in a cave bear’s leg bone and carved it into the oldest known musical instrument. Should any of them happen to drop by 50,000 years later, the anthemic flute-funk of the modern instrument’s current pop renaissance would blow their minds. But some of their invention’s oldest virtues might nonetheless be reassuringly familiar – soft-blown tones like sighs or whispers, evocations of birdsong or rainforest chatter. In the startling flute sound of the…

Spotting a supercar or sports car on the road is not uncommon if you live in a metro city like Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore. We have come across several videos of people taking deliveries of such expensive cars. Although these cars are made by foreign manufacturers, the way they are welcomed by their new owners is sometimes truly Indian. Indians often perform prayers and carry out rituals before driving away in a brand new car, no matter how expensive it may be. In a video uploaded by Vipin Maben on their YouTube…

We might be getting closer to understanding why hundreds of large stone structures were built across the deserts of northwest Saudi Arabia thousands of years ago.According to an in-depth new analysis, the mysterious, rectangular enclosures were used by Neolithic people for unknown rituals, depositing animal offerings, perhaps as votives to an unknown deity or deities. Excavations have revealed hundreds of fragments of animal remains, clustered around an upright slab of stone interpreted as sacred.The roughly…