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The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- Science
- The Herald Scotland
Which plants do bumblebees and honey bees like the most?
We're often told that our bumblebees and honeybees prefer native plants, but climate change is adding to our insect fauna. For example Tree Bumbles, Bombus hypnorum, only arrived in the south of England in 2001 and I now see them in my own Borders garden so they're now well established in this country. Read more Research shows that what matters to bumble and honey bees is the shape of the flower, the quantity and quality of the nectar and, to some extent the colour of the flower. Pinks, purples and blues are especially popular, and the rewards ned to be plentiful and easily accessible. And let's not forget there are many other important pollinators, like solitary bees and invaluable hoverflies, whose larvae devour lots of aphids. And that seems specially important now as I've found it's unusually bad aphid year. Because they have short tongues they need flat topped flowers to access the nectar and they prefer flowers that grow in clusters like umbellifers. So are native plant species essential? This was considered by scientists working at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. In a paper published earlier this month, the researchers checked whether seed mixes containing only species native to the UK were more or less attractive to bumble bees, honey bees, solitary bees and hoverflies. And how much the individual plants appealed to gardeners. The results confirmed that bumblebees and honey bees went for most of the flowers in all the seed mixes but hoverflies did prefer the native blooms and were keen on yellow flowers, like Corn Marigold, introduced to Britain in the Iron Age. Cornflower, long established but not native, and Phacelia, only cultivated since the early 19th century, were the most visited by bumble bees and honey bees. It would seem that these insects are quite prepared to move with the times and exploit suitable flowers regardless of whether or not they're native. However, apart from Annual Toadflax, introduced in 1876, solitary bees were the group that made the least use of these special mixes. Unlike social bees, they have to look after their young as well as forage, so have to forage over a much narrower area that's close to their nests. The trial sites may not have been close enough to be useful to these bees. I certainly find a broad range of small, open flowers blooming over a long period seems to work with all the solitary species in my garden. Pollinating insects, both rare and common, have suffered large declines recently, especially in urban and agricultural landscapes. So perhaps it's up to us gardeners to compensate for the damage our modern society has done. Providing a large variety of blooms, possibly boosted by annual seed mixes, will help. Rose 'Gloire de Guilan' is an old rose variety (Image: free) Plant of the week Rose 'Gloire de Guilan' is a very old Damask rose variety. It is highly fragrant as it was originally grown in Iran for making attar of roses for perfume. The pink flowers are semi double with prominent, golden stamens and silky petals which are slightly folded. Good on poor soils, this rose grows to about 1.2 x 1.2 metres and has fresh green foliage.
National Geographic
19 hours ago
- General
- National Geographic
These treasures changed everything we thought we knew about the Celts
A warrior people Two horsemen face off and another combatant bears a large shield on this fifth-century B.C. bronze belt clasp found at Vače, Slovenia (Natural History Museum, Vienna). During the Iron Age (circa 1200-500 B.C.), a large swath of non-Mediterranean Europe was occupied by a people who became known for their craftsmanship, religion, and warfare. Different groups, now known collectively as Celts, spoke languages belonging to the Celtic family and shared a common ideological framework reflected in a series of divinities they worshipped in religious festivities. The Romans built up a stereotype of the Celts and other enemies, like the Germanic peoples, as barbarians. They caricatured them as blond, white-skinned giants from the north with a primitive tendency for drunkenness and violence. This cliché helped condition how researchers regarded the Celts. But in recent decades, new readings of the classical sources and some fascinating archaeological discoveries have overturned the stereotype of the Celts as primitive. New findings show that the Celtic culture was in fact a complex and refined civilization with various art styles, architecture, religious customs, technology, and social structures. In terms of urban planning and metallurgy, there were similarities with the Greco-Roman world. And like many other ancient peoples, the Celts had a culture that was both influenced and influential. The vast territories of Celtica, where the Celts lived, stretched from Ireland to the Balkans and into the Iberian Peninsula. The different Celtic groups were highly fragmented politically, and it's virtually certain they didn't consider themselves a single people, although there were common features. In fact, some scholars have debated the continued use of the term Celt, believing it might be insufficient in describing the diversity among these groups, especially over different time periods. Gauls, Celtiberians, Britons, and many others were included in this classification. (Cults, curses, and magic: This surprising European city has ancient links to Halloween) However, all the Celtic societies were hierarchical, with a ruling aristocratic minority. Most of the working majority were dedicated to agriculture, but there were also artists and merchants. Celtic nobles distinguished themselves by their military prowess. At first, in the Hallstatt culture, considered the proto-Celtic era, these nobles were also set apart by their access to luxury goods of Mediterranean origin that they obtained through trade. This is evidenced by treasures discovered in the royal tombs of Hochdorf and Hohmichele, two Hallstatt settlements. During this period, an initial phase of urbanism developed with the appearance of settlements such as Heuneburg and Hohenasperg, which, with their protective walls, distinct neighborhoods, and public spaces, closely resembled cities. Marked by war These urban centers were abandoned during the fifth century B.C., with the transition from the Hallstatt to the La Tène culture. The shift is often attributed to a decline in natural resources, including salt production, a change in trading opportunities, and a wealth disparity among settlements. Celtic society took on a more rural character, with people dispersed among scattered farmsteads, each inhabited by a few families. Many early La Tène sites were near rivers. Magazine for all ages starting at $25/year At the same time, the Celtic aristocracy accentuated its warlike character. It was then that the Celts burst onto the scene in the written sources of the Greco-Roman world through their dazzling military expansion—often in conflicts against Rome. The most dramatic moments were the Sack of Rome by the Gauls (390 B.C.) and the attack on the famous Greek sanctuary of Delphi (279 B.C.). In addition to participating in such sacking expeditions, many Celtic warriors joined the Hellenistic armies of the time as mercenaries. An image of the Celts as ferocious barbarians was seared into the collective consciousness of the Greeks and Romans. During this period, the Celts were also engaged in full-scale migrations in which entire groups of families settled new territory. Celtic populations established themselves in areas of the Danube Valley, the northern Balkans, and even outside Europe, in the Anatolian Peninsula. There's clear evidence from this period to show that Celtic culture, like that in much of the ancient world, was based on honor and status. A key element was the establishment of relationships between a powerful individual, the patron, and an individual subordinate to him, the client. This unequal relationship implied obligations on both sides: While the patron granted his client protection and ceded land, the client pledged to obey the patron and serve in his army. These clientelistic networks allowed aristocrats to accumulate entourages of hundreds, even thousands, of followers. From the second century B.C. onward, the expansionist trend of the previous two centuries was reversed as the territories of Celtic Europe began to fall one after the other, subdued by the aggressive Roman Republic. The collapse started with the Celts of Hispania; only Ireland and Scotland escaped a Roman takeover. But it would be a mistake to interpret this final phase of Celtic civilization as a period of decline. On the contrary, a last burst of urban development occurred, and dozens of fortified urban centers, called oppida, were built. Atop Mount Ipf, around 100 miles northwest of Munich in southern Germany, the local Celtic community built an oppidum, a fortified enclave that flourished at the beginning of the La Tène period, in the fifth century B.C. This photograph shows the modern reconstruction of its walls. BERTHOLD STEINHILBER/LAIF/CORDON PRESS This urban growth was based on a strong development of economic activities, such as agriculture, handicraft production, and trade. The population was likely also growing at this time. Ongoing discoveries of artifacts has painted a more informative picture for scholars about Celtic culture and practices outside of the classical sources. Given this rich history, it's fascinating to wonder what would have happened to the Celtic civilization if Roman expansion hadn't stopped it in its tracks. The Celtic art of warfare From the fifth century B.C. onward, the dominant Celtic culture that archaeologists call Hallstatt evolved into the more aristocratic warrior society known as La Tène, heavily influenced by Greek and Etruscan styles. The weaponry of the Celtic warriors became established in this period: a double-edged iron sword, iron-tipped spears, and an oval wooden shield. Aristocratic warriors of the period also carried defensive equipment, such as helmets and armor. The warrior sculpture known as the Prince of Glauberg wears armor similar to the Greek linothorax, made of hardened linen or leather. The Prince of Glauberg wearing a crown of leaves, a necklace, a cuirass, a ring, two bracelets, a shield, and a sword. The figure, carved in sandstone, stands over six feet tall and weighs more than 500 pounds. It was found next to a burial mound from the fifth century B.C. Museum of the Celtic World, Glauberg, Germany. Iron helmet found in the tomb of a third-century B.C. chief in the Romanian necropolis of Ciumești. It's 16.5 inches tall and topped by a bronze bird of prey with movable wings. National History Museum of Romania, Bucharest. Battersea shield made of bronze. It's decorated with appliqués and red enamel inlays. It measures 30.7 inches high. Third to first century B.C. British Museum, London. Bronze carnyx, a wind instrument. Topped with a stylized boar's head, it stands almost six feet high and was found at Tintignac, France. INRAP, Paris. In the third century B.C., the first chain mail was developed, a Celtic innovation that the Romans would copy. Influenced by Mediterranean cultures, Celtic fighters evolved from warrior bands into armies. Their orders were produced by the war horns, or carnyxes, whose sound was intended to subdue the enemy. For the Celts, warfare was a heavily ritualized activity, involving the performance of ceremonies before battle and often the ritual offering of some of the loot and sacrificing of captives after the combat was over. The horse in the Celtic world Although horses were valued as military and status symbols across Celtic societies, they were rarely part of agricultural work. The harnesses used in the Iron Age lacked a collar to spread weight to the horse's neck and shoulders; without such a collar, the animal's windpipe became compressed when pulling a plow and limited the weight it could drag. Untainted by rural toil and costly to maintain, horses became the animal par excellence of aristocrats. They played a prominent role in warfare, at first to pull light war chariots. Normally a pair of animals was used for each chariot, and in the fourth century B.C. full cavalry units appeared. A parade of horsemen on the side of the Gundestrup Cauldron, a ceremonial vessel composed of 13 silver plates from the first century B.C. to the first century A.D. National Museum of Denmark. Copper-alloy mount evoking a horse's head. It was found with other pieces of chariot tack at Melsonby, England. British Museum, London. BRITISH MUSEUM/SCALA, FLORENCE In time, the Celts would become renowned as horsemen throughout the ancient world, especially among the Romans, who often employed them as mercenaries to bolster their mounted forces. In the Celtic world, the value of the horse was not limited to the pragmatic: It also held religious significance. The Gauls recognized a horse divinity called Epona, whose cult spread throughout the Roman Empire. The Irish Celts had a war goddess called Macha, who was linked with horses. Sculptural reliefs, including those found at the Celtic sanctuaries of Roquepertuse and Nages in southern Gaul, depict the horse as a psychopomp, responsible for leading the souls of the deceased into the afterlife. Bronze model of a cart. Found in Spain, it carries a horseman accompanied by a dog, hunting a wild boar. Second-century B.C. National Museum of Archaeology, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. For the Celts, hunting was not only a means of acquiring food but also an eminently aristocratic activity. It was often practiced on horseback and could be dangerous. Hunting thus represented excellent training for war as well as a chance for participants to show off. The most common quarry was wild boar, an animal that for the Celts symbolized both war and hospitality. Red deer, roe deer, and fallow deer were also hunted, in addition to foxes and wolves. Classical authors reported that trained hunting dogs were involved: According to the geographer Strabo, hunting dogs bred in Britain were exported to Rome. Jewelry in life and the afterlife As in most societies, the Celtic aristocracy used the ownership and display of jewelry to proclaim and advance their privileged position in the hierarchy. Among the Celts, the custom of burying the deceased with grave goods was widespread, and ornaments occupied a preferential place. Archaeologists have found a large number of luxury items, both personal jewelry and ornaments for horse harnesses, inside burials. These pieces were appreciated for their materials—precious metals including silver and gold—and for the excellence of the craftsmanship. One piece of jewelry most associated with the Celts is the torque. This type of necklace, which can take many different forms, was worn by other peoples as well, such as the Thracians and Scythians. Back of the bronze Desborough Mirror (13.8 inches long), decorated with continuous curvilinear forms drawn using a compass. British Museum, London. BRITISH MUSEUM/SCALA, FLORENCE Gold torque or necklace made of twisted wires, with solid ring-shaped finials decorated with reliefs. It was discovered in Snettisham, England. British Museum, London. The Roman army gave torques to reward their soldiers, although in this case they were not worn around the neck, but on the armor. The torque was a symbol of authority and prestige and was worn by members of the nobility. It also appears in representations of divinities. A clear example of this appears on the famous Gundestrup Cauldron, where the horned god Cernunnos tames a snake in one hand, while holding a torque in the other. Other types of grave goods typically found in aristocratic Celtic burials were phalerae (decorative disks for horses' harnesses), fibulae (pins for fastening clothes), and mirrors. Banqueting played a fundamental part in Celtic life; it enabled aristocratic guests and their followers to socialize, and aristocratic hosts to flaunt their wealth. The position occupied by participants and the amount of meat they received were determined by their social status. The banquet reinforced hierarchies while confirming and strengthening existing relationships. In return for the generosity of the hosts, the bards (poet-singers) would laud their virtues. Drinking horn decorated with embossed gold leaf and finished with a ram's head found in the Kleinaspergle burial mound. Fifth century B.C. Clay dish painted and incised with geometric motifs. From a burial mound in Gomadingen (Germany). Württemberg State Museum, Stuttgart. Irish literary sources explain that the banqueters faced each other in duels of eloquence in which they defended their respective merits. The champion received the best cut of the cooked animal, which was usually a pig. The Story of Mac Da Thó's Pig, a ninth-century Irish tale, is likely influenced by this older Celtic tradition. It describes a banquet between the men of Ulster and Connacht, who are competing for a prize, a colossal pig that has been fattened for seven years. Like the pig, the banquet contest is larger than life, involving a huge cast and spreading across large areas of Ireland. A banquet also had a clear symbolic meaning in Celtic beliefs: The inclusion of banquetware among grave goods reflects the idea that through funeral rites, the deceased was led to a supreme banquet in the company of heroes and gods. Druids, gods, and severed heads Throughout Europe, Celtic culture was expressed in worship of common gods. The name of the god Lugh or Lugus occurs across the Celtic world; he was of special importance in Irish mythology, and is commemorated in the names of the French city of Lyon and the Spanish city of Lugo. In other cases, equivalent divinities had different names, such as the Gallic god Sucellus and the Irish god Dagda, which were both connected with agriculture and forests. The religion of the Celts was polytheistic and centered on rituals. Classical sources refer to a priestly class in some territories of Celtic Europe, including Gaul and Britannia. These were the famous Druids, an intellectual elite that acted as a repository of tradition and as a a mediator between men and gods. Unluckily for historians, they distrusted written texts and relied on transmitting their knowledge orally. (Why do we know so little about the Druids?) Laminated bronze figure representing a warrior deity found in the area of Saint-Maur-en-Chaussée. First century, Museum of the Oise, Beauvais, France. The god Taranis wields a thunderbolt in his right hand and holds a wheel in his left. Bronze figurine. National Museum of Archaeology, Saint- Germain-en-Laye, France. Two-headed male sculpture, discovered in the Celtic sanctuary of Roquepertuse. Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology, Marseille, France. Archaeologists have located a large number of sites that were originally Druid sanctuaries, such as Gournay-sur-Aronde (France), Emain Macha (Northern Ireland), and Libenice (Czech Republic), piecing together the rituals that took place there from the archaeological finds. These rituals involved sacrificing animals (and in some cases, humans) and exhibiting spoils, such as weapons or severed heads. The decapitation of enemies and the exhibition of skulls are rituals attested to in many places in Celtic Europe. Divinity of Bouray-sur-Juine with eyes inlaid with white and blue enamel was found in its namesake village in France. First to second centuries B.C. National Museum of Archaeology, Saint- Germain-en-Laye, France. One of the most controversial questions related to the Celtic priestly class, the Druids, is whether or not they believed in reincarnation and the doctrine of the transmigration of souls, as some classical authors claimed. Irish and Welsh mythology seems to suggest that the Celts of these territories didn't believe in reincarnation, though they did believe in the immortality of souls. First-century Roman historian Valerius Maximus notes that some Celts, so certain they will see each other again after death, arrange to repay debts in the world to come. This story appeared in the May/June 2025 issue of National Geographic History magazine.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Kazakh archaeological wonders draw crowds
Kazakh land was once home to ancient civilizations that thrived here millennia ago. The Saka royal tombs, uncovered in 1998, offer insight into the social hierarchy and burial traditions of the time. The site also holds tombs from the later Turkic era. Today, it's a must-visit destination in East Kazakhstan, drawing up to 15,000 visitors annually. The region is rich in archaeological treasures. One of them is Ak-Baur — a complex of sedentary settlements dating back to the Bronze and early Iron Age. This discovery challenges the stereotype that the Saka were purely nomadic. Kazakhstan's most iconic archaeological find, the Golden Man — or Altyn Adam in Kazakh — is now housed in the National Museum in Astana. The exhibit has toured the globe, becoming a powerful symbol of the nation's ancient legacy.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Science
- New Indian Express
Largest Iron Age rock painting site found in cave near Reddiyur village in Tamil Nadu
TIRUPATTUR: A unique archaeological discovery came to light in Tirupattur district, with members of the Tirupattur District Heritage Conservation Centre uncovering what is believed to be the largest collection of Iron Age rock paintings in the region. The discovery was made in a cave located above Reddiyur village on the Yelagiri hills, en route from Vaniyambadi to Alangayam. The survey was led by Dr A Prabu, Professor of Tamil at Sacred Heart College and an archaeological and historical researcher, along with V Radhakrishnan and Muthamizvendan from the conservation centre. Following a tip-off, the team obtained permission from the district forest department and trekked to the site—approximately 1,000 feet above ground level. The rock painting complex is housed within a naturally formed cave, spacious enough to hold over 50 people and currently revered by locals. At the cave's entrance, three major groups of rock paintings were discovered, comprising more than 80 human figures.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Private UK island up for sale with stunning castle ruins and iconic views
The 1,100-acre Shuna Island in the Inner Hebrides offers castle ruins, cottages, wildlife and a chance to own a slice of Scottish history as it is listed for sale A private island off the west coast of Scotland complete with castle ruins, rolling pastures, and sweeping views of the sea has been put up for sale for the first time in nearly 100 years, with an asking price of £5.5million. Shuna Island, a 1,100-acre gem nestled in the Inner Hebrides, is now on the market, offering a rare opportunity to own a wild, rugged piece of Scotland 's coastal heritage. The island lies just south of Oban, among the Slate Islands archipelago, which includes Seil, Easdale, Luing, and Torsa. Three miles long and a mile and a half wide, Shuna is an island steeped in history, wildlife, and potential. At its heart are the picturesque ruins of Shuna Castle, an early 20th-century structure with panoramic views across the Sound of Shuna. The castle's footprint, estate agents Sotheby's International Realty notes, presents possibilities for redevelopment, subject to permissions. The island has been in the same family for over 80 years, owned most recently by Viscountess Selby and her son, Edward Gully, whose ancestors purchased it in the early 20th century. Their main residence has been the traditional Shuna Farmhouse, while a scattering of eight additional properties - including holiday cottages - can house up to 52 people, hinting at potential for a hospitality venture. But this is no manicured millionaire's retreat. Shuna is as much a working island as a private idyll. It includes 81 acres of permanent pasture, 640 acres of rough grazing, and over 300 acres of native woodland and foreshore. A flock of around 220 Beulah sheep currently roams the island, and there's scope for expanding into cattle grazing. Beyond the livestock, the island teems with wildlife. Visitors and residents alike can spot red deer, sea eagles, and even porpoises in the surrounding waters. The island's raw natural beauty, combined with its biodiversity, makes it an extraordinary haven for nature lovers. The land also holds over 9,000 years of human history, dating back to the Stone Age, with burial mounds and Iron Age relics still visible across the terrain. According to legend, Shuna may be referenced in the Vita Columbae, the 7th-century account of Saint Columba, who was said to have been delayed on a place called 'Sainean Island' - believed by some to be Shuna. Through the centuries, Shuna belonged to the Gaelic kingdom of Dal Riata, and later passed to the powerful Maclean clan after Robert the Bruce granted the region of Lorne to the Campbells in 1321. By the 1700s, it was a bustling hub for lime production, home to kilns and as many as 100 residents, according to The Scotsman. Now, for the first time in nearly a century, the island is looking for a new chapter. With its unique mix of natural beauty, historic ruins, viable farmland and holiday homes, Shuna offers a rare opportunity for buyers seeking something beyond a luxury postcode. 'This is not just a private island,' said a spokesperson for Sotheby's International Realty, the firm handling the sale. 'It's a piece of Scottish history - wild, beautiful, and filled with potential.'
