All posts by “Elia Kabanov

Stone tools from India show early toolmaking advances

Around 400,000 years ago, human ancestors began to innovate. Suddenly the large hand axes that their predecessors had manufactured for more than a million years weren’t enough anymore. From this point they began fashioning sophisticated new kinds of stone tools. A site on the Indian subcontinent became one of such innovation centers, a kind of Middle Paleolithic Silicon Valley. Read More

Birds saved centuries old documents in their nests

Birds saved centuries old documents in their nests
Photos by Alexey Alexeyev.

During the restoration work in the Assumption Cathedral built in early XV century in Zvenigorod Russian archaeologists found numerous birds’ nests built throughout several centuries under the decayed roof. Researchers were surprised when during the decomposition of the nests they started finding paper documents from different periods in the addition to birds’ bones and eggshells. In particular, they found 18th century manuscripts and notes from early 20th century. Read More

The remnants of Moscow Olympics

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The heritage of Moscow 1980 Summer Olympics was shot by Russian photographer Anastasia Tsayder for her project “Olympics.” Olympic buildings, mostly designed in 1975-1978, acted as a manifestation of prosperity and power of the Soviet State, Anastasia Tsayder writes on her portfolio. The remnants of the Moscow Olympics serve as an example of what may happen to sports venues over time. Certain locations are still used as intended. Some were adapted for new functions. Some were left half abandoned. Many buildings did not blend into city structure, initially conceived to be messengers from the future. They now look like aliens from the past, the photographer concludes. Read More