US returns 161 ancient works of art to Greece ● Supernova seen in 1054 AD may have been minted by Byzantine coin ● When and where were donkeys domesticated? ● A new species of European dinosaur was discovered in Germany

The US will return 161 works of ancient art to Greece

They didn’t steal it like the others, but they still give it away. At least that’s what the US and Greek authorities say after they reached an agreement to return 161 ancient works of art from the private collection of 84-year-old American billionaire Leonard Stern. Although he could not explain the origin of the 161 artifacts, the American philanthropist and businessman decided to return them to the Greek authorities, but only in the coming decades.

More precisely, archaeological finds will return to Greece in the period 2033-2048. On the other hand, Greek Culture Minister Lisa Mendoni says that even Greece cannot provide conclusive evidence that the artworks were stolen illegally, so they welcome any deal that guarantees their return.

Most of the artifacts belong to the Cycladic culture, a culture named after the eponymous civilization that flourished in the Cyclades during the Bronze Age (3200–1100 BC). The oldest objects date back to the Neolithic period and are about 7300 years old. Cycladic works of art are among the most sought after in the collectors’ market as well as in museums. As for those subject to return, they are already cataloged as real masterpieces of inestimable value.

Authorities in Athens hope the deal will also influence negotiations with their British counterparts, especially since they have been tight-lipped for more than a century as they try to recover at least some of the thousands of heritage items that have been smuggled out. stolen from Greece. Among them, a significant part of the sculptures that decorated the Parthenon in the 5th century BC. There is little chance that they will see anything from there, they also admit, but no, hope is the last to die.

Supernova, visible in 1054 AD. e., possibly depicted on a Byzantine coin

The large-scale solar explosion known today as SN 1054 (SuperNova 1054) was observed for 23 days and several months at night in 1054. This phenomenon was described in Chinese, Japanese, Arab chronicles, but, surprisingly, absolutely nothing was described. he is mentioned in Byzantine chronicles.

The absence of any data in Byzantine sources is explained by the religious restrictions of that time, especially since the sun was considered a pagan symbol, the prerogative of the ancient Roman monarchs. And yet, a series of coins dating to the period of Emperor Constantine XI (1042-1054) may be a clue. At least that’s what a study recently published in the European Journal of Science and Theology claims.

The authors of the study claim that the coins issued in that period are atypical in that they feature two stars, to the left and right of the emperor’s face, rather than one, as is the case with coins from other periods. It is true that the assumption is far-fetched, that is, there is no very clear evidence, as these two stars may represent both the Sun and the planet Venus, the morning star. Another interpretation says that the stars in question represent the Catholic and Orthodox churches, which decided to split in 1054.

Until then, the above researchers also admit that this is all just speculation, a possible coincidence, but they don’t say they’ve done another study, so it doesn’t seem like they’re wasting gas for nothing. And one more thing: there is no definite evidence that these coins were not minted several years before the mentioned supernova.

When and where were donkeys domesticated?

Unrelated to the scientists cited above, a new study of great interest caused a sensation on the front pages of most major publications in the world. Thus, an answer was found to the question that has worried mankind for thousands of years, namely, when and where donkeys were domesticated.

In a study published in the journal Science, that is, not anywhere, it is reported that the genomes of 207 domestic donkeys from different parts of the globe, then 15 wild specimens and 31 ancient breeds were taken into account. Analysis of these genomes revealed that domestication occurred approximately 7,000 years ago in Africa. After this happy event, it took 2,500 years for donkeys, despite their stubbornness, to reach Europe and Asia, where, through repeated crossings, they reached modern breeds.

Moreover, the researchers were able to determine that around 2,000 years ago, a completely unknown breed of donkey was used in the Levant, but whose genes still exist in the genetic heritage of modern European specimens. When asked how this information helps us, the geneticists involved in the project explained that it is not only good to know, but it also allows us to appreciate the important role played by donkeys in ancient history, specifically how they contributed to languages ​​between Africa, Europe and Asia. The study only deals with ancient history, as I mentioned, because everyone knows the role of donkeys today, there is no point in getting angry again thinking about them.

A new species of European dinosaur was discovered in Germany

No, this does not apply to the newly discovered sample. Pop the champagne and don’t go to work just yet to celebrate! As has happened in other cases, the dinosaur in question was discovered back in the 19th century, but it was misclassified. In this case, the specimen was assigned to an already known species, Plateosaurus, when in fact it belonged to an entirely new species.

Only recently, new analysis of the fossil revealed that it was actually a quadruped, a possible ancestor of the later giant sauropods that lived about 211 million years ago. The recently discovered dinosaur, named Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum, to the delight of children who can’t wait to pronounce its name, is said to have become stuck in a swamp, died there, its left side exposed to carnivores and the elements. , before it sinks completely.

A study describing the new species, published in the journal Vertebrate Zoology, emphasizes that the discovery is one of the most important to show us how diverse life was at the time. Please, that’s what most studies say, where scientists don’t have a final sentence, as if we, the general public, imagined that life 200 million years ago was dominated by only about three dinosaurs.

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