Over 1,000 gold and silver coins, valued at roughly $1 million, have been retrieved from an 18th-century shipwreck located off the coast of Florida, as reported by the Shipwreck Salvage Company.
The company, 1715 Fleet Queens Jewels, LLC, stated in a news release that it recovered the coins in July from the renowned Treasure Coast region in southeastern Florida.
This discovery is part of an estimated $400 million worth of gold, silver, and gems that were lost by the Spanish fleet during the hurricane of 1715.
“The find represents more than just treasure; it tells a story,” said Sal Guttuso, the company’s operations director, in a statement. “Every coin connects us to the lives and work of those who navigated the seas during the Spanish Empire’s Golden Age.”
Over 1,000 silver coins have been discovered from a shipwreck site in Vero Beach, Florida. 1715 Fleet – Queen’s Jewels, LLC
“Finding over 1,000 coins in one excavation is indeed rare and remarkable,” he noted.
The prized assets of the 1715 fleet included coins from Spanish colonies in Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia. Many of these coins still exhibit clear dates and mint marks, making them significant to historians and collectors alike.
“The condition of these coins indicates they likely originated from a single chest or a portion of the ship that dispersed when the hurricane struck,” the news release clarified.
During a call on Thursday, Guttuso mentioned that he discovered coins concentrated in various areas beneath the sand, indicating they were likely housed in some kind of container.
“I believe they were probably stored in wooden boxes,” he theorized.
He also revealed that he found a Royal Lead Seal inscribed with the impression of King Philip II of Spain, who reigned during the mid- to late-1500s.
“We can reasonably speculate that this lead seal may have belonged to a prominent family,” he noted. “It likely associated with important documents that may have granted ownership of land or rights.”
Fragments and gems from a golden chain were also retrieved. 1715 Fleet – Queen Jewels, LLC Gold artifacts were also found in Vero Beach, Florida. 1715 Fleet – Queen Jewels, LLC
The Queen’s Jewels of the 1715 Fleet claims exclusive salvage rights to the wreck of the Treasure Fleet but stated that the recovered coins will undergo meticulous conservation before being publicly displayed, with plans for exhibition at a local museum.
“Each discovery contributes to piecing together the narratives of those connected to the 1715 fleet,” Guttuso remarked. “We are dedicated to preserving and researching these artifacts, enabling future generations to recognize their historical importance.”
Requests for comments on the findings were not immediately returned by the US District Court of Florida or by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s office.
Cut marks on the foot bone from El Mirador cave, Spain
iphes-cerca
The discovery of human remains in caves in northern Spain indicates that Neolithic people may have resorted to cannibalism after battles.
Francesc Marginedas from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES) in Tarragona, along with his team, examined fragments from 650 human remains found in El Mirador cave on Mount Atapuerca. These remains date back approximately 5,700 years and belong to 11 individuals.
All examined bones displayed evidence that these individuals had been consumed by other humans. Some exhibited chop markings made by a stone tool, while others showed translucent portions with gently rounded edges. Some of the long bones were fractured open with stones to access the bone marrow, and smaller bones like metatarsals and ribs had clear human bite marks.
This research supports the notion that cannibalistic practices were more prevalent in human history than previously believed.
El Mirador marks at least the fifth significant site in Spain with notable evidence of cannibalism during the Neolithic era, a shift period from foraging to agriculture, according to Margida. “There’s a growing understanding that such behavior was more frequent than we anticipated.”
The motives behind these cannibalistic acts remain unclear. Some archaeological sites show skull cups indicating a ritualistic aspect to cannibalism, while others hint at survival strategies during dire circumstances.
However, Marsidas and his team propose that the findings at El Mirador suggest these acts were linked to warfare. There was a significant amount of animal remains, and no signs of nutritional stress among the humans involved, indicating this early agricultural community was not struggling with food scarcity. Their findings offer no indication of ritualistic behavior, as human bones were found alongside animal remains.
The ages of the individuals ranged from under seven to over fifty, implying that an entire family unit may have been lost to conflict. Radiocarbon dating indicated that all 11 individuals were killed and consumed within a few days.
This evidence reflects patterns of conflict and cannibalism, which have also been noted at two other Neolithic sites: the Von Bregore Caves in France and Helxheim in Germany. This period appears marked by instability and violence due to community clashes with neighboring groups and newcomers.
While Margida and his colleagues are uncertain about the reasons behind these cannibalistic practices, historical ethnographic studies suggest that such acts during warfare can serve as a method of “ultimate exclusion.” “We believe that one group attacking and consuming another serves as a humiliating statement,” states Merseydus.
“The thoroughness of the body’s treatment and consumption is remarkable.” Paul Pettitt from Durham University, UK, comments, “The aggressive nature shown in these artifacts, regardless of whether the consumed were relatives or adversaries, mirrors a dehumanization process during consumption.”
Sylvia Bello from the Museum of Natural History in London concurs that this evidence of death likely ties back to conflicts but remains skeptical about the notion of consumption as humiliation. She suggests that cannibalism may stem from aggression and animosity rather than ritualized farewell practices, implying a more complex interpretation. “It could carry ritual significance, even amid warfare,” she asserts.
Neanderthals, Ancient Humans, and Cave Art in France
Join new scientist Kate Douglas on an enthralling exploration of the key Neanderthal and Upper Paleolithic sites in southern France, spanning from Bordeaux to Montpellier.
Archaeologists say Genovesa Cave Discovered in Mallorca, the main Balearic island and the Mediterranean's sixth largest, the find suggests that humans settled in the western Mediterranean much earlier than previously thought.
5,600-year-old underwater stone bridge in Genovesa Cave, Mallorca, Spain. Image courtesy of R. Landreth.
Limited archaeological evidence makes it difficult to reconstruct early human colonization of the Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean.
By studying the 7.7-metre (25-foot) submerged bridge, Professor Bogdan Onak of the University of South Florida and his colleagues were able to provide compelling evidence of prior human activity within Genovesa Cave.
“The presence of this underwater bridge and other artefacts indicates a high level of activity and suggests that early settlers were aware of the cave's water resources and strategically built infrastructure to navigate through them,” Prof Onak said.
Genovesa Cave, located near the coast of Mallorca, has had parts of its passage flooded by rising sea levels and has clear calcite deposits when sea levels were higher.
These layers, along with the light-colored bands on the submerged bridge, act as markers to precisely track historical sea-level changes and pinpoint the date of the bridge's construction.
Previous studies had suggested a human presence at the site as far back as 9,000 years ago, but inconsistencies in nearby carbon-dated bones, pottery and other evidence, as well as poor preservation, had left the findings in doubt.
Recent studies have used charcoal, ash and bones found on the island to create a timeline of human settlement dating back about 4,400 years ago.
This allows the timeline of human presence to coincide with important environmental events, such as the extinction of the goat antelope. Myotragus balearix.
By analysing the bridge's mineral overgrowths and the height of the bridge's colour bands, the authors found that the bridge was built around 6,000 years ago – more than 2,000 years older than previous estimates, narrowing the gap in the timelines between eastern and western Mediterranean settlements.
“The history of the bridge's construction appears to be closely linked to the rapid Holocene sea-level rise just before 6,000 years ago and the brief period of sea-level stillness that caused parts of the upper part of the cave to be flooded,” the researchers said.
“Our chronology shows that sea-level rise stopped and stabilized for several hundred years, between 5,964 and 5,359 years ago. During this time, so-called phreatic expansions of speleothems (POS) formed in the cave lake and the characteristic 'bathtub ring' formed on the bridge.”
“Construction of the bridge probably began early in this period, as it was needed to cross the 0.25 metre deep lake, but it must have been completed before 5,600 years ago, when the upper part of the bridge was submerged.”
“Evidence suggests that humans constructed a cobblestone path and a sturdy bridge leading to the cave's water pool, facilitating access to the only dry part of the cave, located in the Sala d'Entrada across the lake.”
“The exact reason these structures in Genovesa Cave were built remains unclear.”
“However, the dating constraints imposed by the depth of the bridge, and the similar depths at which the POS and colour marks are found, support the idea that early humans were present on the island by 5,600 years ago, potentially extending the date back to 6,000 years ago.”
a paper A paper describing the findings was published in the journal Neurology today. Communication Earth and the Environment.
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BP Onac others2024. An underwater bridge built at least 5,600 years ago marks early human arrival on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Community Global Environment 5, 457; doi: 10.1038/s43247-024-01584-4
P In a feminist bookstore in Madrid, 17 women gathered in the back room, engrossed in their laptops, sharing snacks, chatting, and laughing. The room was filled with the sounds of typing, periodically interrupted by enthusiastic applause marking milestones in the group’s mission to close one of the world’s most persistent gender gaps.
Only about 15 percent of Wikipedia’s content, including biographies, focuses on women, explains Patricia Horrillo, who has dedicated the past decade to cultivating a community of Wikipedia editors committed to creating content that highlights women.
Groups like Spain’s WikiSfera, Italy’s Wikidonne, and Switzerland’s Les Sans Pages have emerged globally to address this gender gap issue on Wikipedia.
The Wikimedia Foundation acknowledges the historical biases within Wikipedia and the need for more diverse contributions to address these gaps. Organizations like Horrillo’s Wikiesfera have received support to help bridge this divide and give visibility to women’s achievements.
Encina Villanueva participated in a Wikipedia content creation workshop at La Fabulosa bookstore, where she emphasized the importance of recognizing women’s accomplishments beyond their appearances or associations. She has seen the impact of her work reverberate across the internet, amplifying women’s stories.
Celia Hernandez-Garcia, a middle school teacher, joined Wikiesfera to highlight women’s achievements often overlooked in textbooks. With no prior tech skills, she embraced the opportunity to elevate women’s narratives through Wikipedia, impacting her students’ understanding of history.
Horrillo’s vision for Wikiesfera began a decade ago, aiming to empower individuals to contribute to Wikipedia by addressing barriers beyond technical knowledge. Despite challenges, the group continues its efforts to increase female representation on the platform.
Though obstacles such as a lack of sources documenting women’s achievements persist, Wikiesfera remains committed to bridging the gender gap on Wikipedia. Each article added during their sessions represents a step towards rectifying the systemic invisibility of women in historical narratives.
Cocuus, a cutting-edge technology start-up headquartered in an industrial park on the outskirts of Pamplona, takes on a group of drunken tourists who willingly surrender to the sound of fate, horns and hooves during a bull run in a Spanish city. They are just as happy to embrace every bit of the clichés of their sector. A festival held every July.
Table soccer? check.lager and IPA on tap? check. Inspirational Message – Preferably an homage to Alice in Wonderland with “Before Breakfast She Believes in Six Impossible Things”? Check. How about sci-fi memorabilia, perhaps Tintin's moon rocket or Alien's xenomorph head? Check. clearly.
A clue as to what's different lies in the platters of oysters, tuna, foie gras, bacon, nuggets, steak and charcuterie displayed at the bar. Nothing is what it seems. Steak and pork do contain meat, but like other dishes, they are the result of years of research into “copycat foods,” culminating in the rapid burst of 3D printing.
Founded six years ago by Patxi Larumbe and Daniel Rico, Cocuus continues its loud and disruptive quest to fuse science, technology, and nutrition. It announced its existence three years ago when the duo decided to attract meat lovers in Pamplona and beyond by 3D printing steaks and posting them on social media.
Patsi Larumbe with 3D machinery to produce shrimp. Photo: Markel Redondo/Guardian
“I knew that if I was going to print something, it had to be something that would piss people off,” says Larumbe, who quit a €100,000-a-year job in construction materials to focus on the startup.
“We knew that printing a big steak would upset a lot of people in Spain, especially in northern Spain. So we printed the steak and posted it on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. 700,000 people. We got replies. Most of them were people telling us to shove it up our butts. It was crazy and I was really happy.”
Even better, the product also attracted the attention of American food company Cargill, which is now one of Coccus' major investors. This Spanish company also specializes in formulations and machinery used in food printing, and for the past few years has designed and manufactured multi-nozzle printers that can create food products that mimic the taste and texture of meat and fish. . The hardware can also be painted on molded purees to look like a plate of chicken and chips or hake and peas, creating meals that stimulate the eyes and appetites of people with swallowing difficulties.
As befits a self-confessed bunch of sci-fi geeks, much of the inspiration comes from the transport plane that beams the crew of the USS Enterprise between the ship and the planet's surface. Larrambe said Social Media Steak is the result of experimenting with the idea of converting steak cells into data that can be teleported. After taking X-rays and cross-sectional scans of real steaks, they located the cells that make up the meat, fat, and bones, converted them into data, and entered them into a printer.
Larumbe cooks 3D vegan steaks. Photo: Markel Redondo/Guardian
“We're a group of physicists, geometry mathematicians, geeks, and Star Trek and Star Wars enthusiasts who are starting to research food,” Larumbe says. “Every food company studies things in very similar ways, using nutritionists and food technologists, and they come to very similar conclusions to existing ones. To come up with new cakes. If you get a bunch of bakers together, they'll come up with something very similar to what already exists and what we know as cake.”
But if you combine a physicist with a nutritionist, a machine maker, a baker and a comedian, he added, “you'll create a new kind of cake.”
Cocuus' bacon and foie gras are made from a rich vegetable paste, while the steaks are made with real beef from 50kg of meat that would otherwise be discarded or made into cat food when cows are slaughtered. The fat in steak marbling is made from a vegetable mixture and is much lower in saturated fat than the real thing.
Mr Larumbe exudes confidence in his products as surely as his printers extrude meat and vegetable pastes, but he also takes a swipe at many of his supposed rivals and says they've made light work of the vegan burger boom in recent years. He dismissed it as a “bubble” and pointed out the huge costs and low costs. Yields of lab-grown meat.
Cocuus' 3D printed meat steaks contain real beef. Photo: Markel Redondo/Guardian
When asked what sets his company apart in an already crowded field, he insists it's scale. Cocuus and its partner Foody's have sold 80,000 pieces of meat-free foie gras and 200,000 pieces of cholesterol-free vegan bacon since the products hit Carrefour store shelves last September. Cocius also has the production capacity to produce 1,000 tons of bacon and his 3,000 tons of foie gras annually at his factory in the city of Tudela.
“We are the first company in the world to successfully do this on an industrial scale rather than on an experimental scale,” says Larumbe.
“Secondly, our imitation is complete and has never existed before. There was a vegetarian version, but the content was bad. Thirdly, there is something fundamentally wrong here. We have scientists coming up with different formulations and technologies. All of this means we are the most advanced company in the world in this field, and one that partners with the largest international food companies. about it.”
What has the local reaction been like in areas where beef is highly revered?
Making bacon without pigs or “seeing a bunch of idiots make steaks with 3D printing” may not be appealing to Navarre's farmers, Larumbe admits. But after learning more about the company and understanding that more money could be made for the cows thanks to new technology that utilizes parts that were traditionally thrown or fed to cats, many He says people are coming.
Once again, after spending an hour or two with him, you get the impression that Larumbe doesn't really care about other people's opinions.
“Humanity progresses because of people who disagree,” he says. “There is no progress if you and I agree. We don't agree on everything.”
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