A new poll on Florida’s gubernatorial race shows Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., ahead of his primary challengers by 30% or more. The Mason-Dixon poll released on Wednesday showed the South-West Florida Congressman counting on the support of 37% of Republican voters. Donalds’ closest opponent, current Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, polled at 7%. His other two opponents, the former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and businessman James Fishback, polled in at less than 4%. “Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds is the only proven conservative fighter who can unite Republicans, deliver on the President’ America First agenda, crush the Democrats, and make Florida more affordable,” Ryan Smith, chief strategist of the Byron Donald’s for Governor Campaign told The Daily Signal. “Anyone running against Byron is an anti-Trump RINO and will be soundly defeated in the Republican primary.” Donalds has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and a large number of Florida’s elected officials. “There’s no changing the race, Byron is the Republican nominee and the next Governor,” Florida City of Sweetwater Commissioner Ian Vallecillo, who endorsed Donalds early in his campaign, told The Daily Signal. “This late in the race, there’s no way these guys will make up for lost time,” he added. “And another thing to point out is that whoever Trump backs, is going to win. Especially in Florida, Florida is Trump country. People like Byron. He’s tough, he’s decisive, and he gets the job done. He will have around 60-70% of the vote in the August primary,” Vallecillo added. Nevertheless, the Mason-Dixie poll found that 49% of Republicans remain undecided. Fishback, who polled in at 3%, told The Daily Signal he remains optimistic despite the recent polling results. “This time last year Zohran Mamdani was polling in the single digits. Now he is Mayor of New York,” Fishback said. “I will beat Byron Donalds, not by outspending him, but by out-working him.” Fishback stated he plans on visiting all of Florida’s 67 counties, something Donalds “refuses to do.” “No county is too big or too small for me to visit and hear from Floridians about what keeps them up at night and gets them out of bed in the morning,” Fishback added. Fishback, who is 1% behind Renner, hinted that the former Florida Speaker of the House from 2022 to 2024 could soon resign from the race. “Voters and voters alone will decide the future of my opponents.” Collins and Renner did not reply to The Daily Signal’s request for comment. The post Donalds Has Commanding Lead in Vital Florida Race, Poll Shows appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Picking the right time to bring a puppy home matters more than most people realize. The best age for puppy adoption depends on health, behavior, and your readiness as an owner. We at DogingtonPost have put together this guide to help you understand the physical milestones, vaccination schedules, and socialization windows that make all the difference. You’ll learn exactly what to expect at each stage and how to set your puppy up for success. Physical and Developmental Milestones: Weeks 3 to 16 Early Sensory Development and Littermate Learning Puppies transform dramatically during their first four months, and understanding these shifts helps you decide when adoption makes sense for your household. From week 3 onward, puppies’ eyes and ears open, their senses sharpen, and they interact with littermates in ways that teach bite inhibition and social boundaries. Around week 8, most puppies stop nursing and can eat solid food independently, which is why eight weeks has become the legal adoption threshold in roughly 27 to 28 states plus Washington, D.C. The real development story, however, extends well beyond this point. If you adopt at 6 weeks instead of 8, you take on the responsibility to simulate littermate interactions through targeted play and handling, since the puppy has missed crucial weeks of learning from siblings. Early separation before 8 weeks increases the risk of behavior issues and social gaps that require intentional remediation. The Critical Window: Weeks 8 to 12 Weeks 8 to 12 mark a critical period where puppies are most receptive to new experiences and handling. Exposure to different people, sounds, textures, and safe environments during this window significantly reduces fear responses later in life. A puppy handled regularly at paws, ears, and mouth between 8 and 12 weeks will tolerate grooming and vet exams far more easily as an adult. Very young puppies need potty breaks roughly every 15 minutes, making adoption before 8 weeks demanding unless you have flexible work arrangements or professional support. Training should start around 6 weeks with a first collar and leash indoors, progressing to basic commands like sit, stay, leave it, and drop it using high-value treats like chicken or hot dogs. Keep sessions short-around 5 to 10 minutes-and repeat several times daily rather than one long session. Crate training during these weeks builds a positive association with a safe space and supports housebreaking consistency. Growth, Learning, and the Fear Phase Weeks 12 to 16 bring rapid growth and increased learning capacity, but also a predictable fear phase around week 8 that requires gradual, positive exposure rather than avoidance. Handling exercises that normalize grooming, nail care, and body touching reduce anxiety during future vet visits and grooming appointments. Vaccination schedules matter significantly here: puppies typically need initial shots around 6 to 8 weeks, with booster doses at 9 to 12 weeks and again at 15 to 18 weeks to cover parvo, distemper, and hepatitis. Until the second vaccination at around 9 to 12 weeks, avoid exposing puppies to other dogs or cats; after that milestone, enrollment in a class with similarly vaccinated puppies is generally safe. The socialization window from 3 to 14 weeks is narrower than many people assume, and the window actually closes more sharply than it opens, meaning early socialization during these weeks pays dividends for years to come. What Vaccination Timing Means for Your Adoption Decision Understanding your puppy’s vaccination schedule directly impacts when you can safely introduce social experiences. Your veterinarian will outline a timeline specific to your puppy’s health status and local disease risk, but the general pattern remains consistent across most practices. Once your puppy completes the second vaccination round, you can begin expanding social exposure in controlled settings. This timing often aligns with the 12-week mark, making it a natural checkpoint for evaluating your puppy’s readiness for group training classes or supervised interactions with other vaccinated dogs. The health considerations don’t stop at vaccinations, however-deworming, parasite prevention, and genetic screening all factor into your adoption timeline and long-term care plan. Health Considerations and Vaccination Requirements Understanding Your Puppy’s Vaccination Timeline Vaccination timing determines when your puppy can safely interact with other dogs, so understanding the schedule upfront prevents costly mistakes and behavioral setbacks. Most veterinarians recommend starting puppies on core vaccines at 6 to 8 weeks of age, with booster shots at 9 to 12 weeks and a final dose at 15 to 18 weeks to protect against parvo, distemper, and hepatitis. The specific schedule depends on your puppy’s health status and local disease prevalence, which is why consulting your veterinarian before adoption matters. If you adopt at 6 weeks, your puppy may have already received an initial vaccine from the breeder, so request documentation and vaccination records before bringing the puppy home. Skipping or delaying vaccines increases the risk of potentially fatal infections, particularly in young puppies whose immune systems are still developing. Managing Social Exposure Around Vaccination Milestones Until your puppy completes the second vaccination around 9 to 12 weeks, you must keep socialization with unvaccinated dogs and cats off-limits. After that checkpoint, you can safely enroll in puppy classes with similarly vaccinated littermates, which supports the critical socialization window without compromising health. This timing creates a natural rhythm for your puppy’s early weeks: focus on indoor handling, leash training, and exposure to household sounds and textures while vaccines take effect. Once your veterinarian clears your puppy for group settings, the socialization opportunities expand dramatically, allowing your puppy to learn from peers in a controlled environment. Deworming and Parasite Prevention Schedules Deworming runs parallel to vaccination and is equally non-negotiable for puppies adopted before 12 weeks. Intestinal parasites are extremely common in young puppies and can cause diarrhea, stunted growth, and nutrient absorption problems that affect long-term development. Most puppies need deworming at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age, then monthly until 6 months old, though your vet may adjust this based on fecal testing results. Ask the breeder or shelter about deworming history and request a stool sample analysis before adoption to identify any existing parasites. Parasite prevention should continue year-round even after the puppy phase ends, since heartworm, fleas, and ticks pose ongoing risks depending on your location. Genetic Screening and Health Certifications Genetic screening before adoption is less common for mixed-breed puppies but highly recommended for purebreds, particularly breeds prone to hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, or heart conditions. Reputable breeders should provide health certifications from organizations like the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals showing that parent dogs have been screened for genetic conditions. If a breeder refuses to provide health documentation or claims their lines have no genetic issues, that’s a significant red flag worth investigating further before committing to adoption. These health considerations form the foundation for your puppy’s long-term wellness, but they also intersect directly with behavioral development and socialization readiness-factors that shape how your puppy learns and responds to the world around them. Behavioral Training and Socialization Windows The 3 to 14 Week Window: Peak Learning and Confidence Building The 3 to 14 week window is real, measurable, and non-negotiable if you want a confident adult dog. Puppies adopted during weeks 8 to 12 catch the peak of this window while remaining old enough to handle vaccination requirements and independent feeding. A puppy exposed to five different people weekly during weeks 8 to 12 shows measurably lower fear responses to strangers at one year old compared to a puppy with limited early contact. Start leash training indoors at 6 weeks if possible, then move outdoors after the second vaccination around 9 to 12 weeks. Use high-value treats like chicken or hot dogs during these sessions, keeping each training moment to 5 to 10 minutes and repeating several times daily rather than conducting single long sessions. Teach leave it, drop it, sit, and stay using positive reinforcement exclusively, since punishment-based methods during this window create fear associations that persist into adulthood. Handling, Crate Training, and Environmental Exposure Handle your puppy’s paws, ears, mouth, and body regularly during weeks 8 to 16 so grooming and vet exams become routine rather than traumatic. Crate training during this period supports housebreaking and creates a safe retreat space; feed meals inside the crate to build positive associations. Expose puppies to household sounds like vacuum cleaners, doorbells, and car rides in short, controlled doses to normalize common stimuli and reduce future anxiety. This hands-on approach during the early weeks pays dividends throughout your dog’s life, making veterinary care, grooming, and travel far less stressful for both you and your puppy. Housebreaking Success Rates and Adoption Age Housebreaking success depends heavily on adoption age and your daily schedule. Puppies adopted at 8 weeks need potty breaks roughly every 15 minutes while awake, which demands either flexible work arrangements or professional dog care. Adopting at 12 weeks reduces this frequency to every 30 to 45 minutes, making it more realistic for working households. Start housebreaking as early as 5 weeks with a consistent routine, taking the puppy outside after meals, naps, and playtime. Most puppies adopted at 8 to 12 weeks achieve reliable indoor habits within 8 to 12 weeks with consistent routines, though accidents happen regularly until 16 weeks. Dogs that had attended puppy training before 6 months of age showed reduced aggression, compulsive behavior, destructive behavior, and excessive barking, demonstrating that earlier training consistency prevents behavioral issues during the juvenile stage. Bonding Across Different Adoption Ages Bonding happens fastest when you serve as the primary feeder, handler, and play partner during weeks 8 to 16. Adult dogs adopted at 2 to 4 years often bond quickly too, though they may carry behavioral gaps from previous homes requiring patient retraining. Senior dogs over 7 years bond deeply despite their age and require less intensive training, making them ideal for households with limited time for puppies. The age you choose shapes not only how quickly your dog bonds with you but also the intensity of training and supervision your household must provide. Final Thoughts There is no universal best age for puppy adoption because every household has different constraints, schedules, and capacity for training. If you work full-time with limited flexibility, adopting at 12 weeks rather than 8 weeks reduces potty break frequency from every 15 minutes to every 30 to 45 minutes, making the commitment more realistic. If you have flexible work arrangements or professional dog care support, an 8-week adoption lets you catch the peak socialization window and build early bonding during the most receptive period. Adult dogs aged 2 to 4 years often bond quickly and require far less intensive training, making them ideal for busy households willing to invest patience in addressing behavioral gaps from previous homes. Long-term health and behavioral outcomes depend less on adoption age and more on what happens after you bring your puppy home. Puppies trained consistently before 6 months show measurably reduced aggression, destructive behavior, and excessive barking throughout their lives. Vaccination schedules, deworming protocols, and genetic screening before adoption establish the health foundation your dog needs for years to come, while socialization during weeks 3 to 14 shapes confidence and fear responses permanently. Before adoption, you should puppy-proof your home, stock supplies like food and bedding, and involve all family members in the decision to ensure shared responsibility. Assess whether your schedule, energy level, and long-term commitment match the dog’s age and needs, since a well-informed owner can thrive with a dog at any life stage when planning and training are prioritized from day one. Visit DogingtonPost for expert advice and practical resources on puppy care, training, and adoption readiness tailored to responsible dog ownership.

Walz Changes Course, Appeals for Calm

Axios: Even Some Dems Getting Tired of 'Performative Bull****' Impeachments

Thursday’s CBS Mornings included a remarkable assertion from correspondent Lana Zak, which was that, despite “the video” of the January 7 incident between an ICE officer and Renee Good (when there are actually multiple vides), “it is not clear whether or not the car made contact with him and — and how forceful it may have been” and it’s debatable whether the officer actually suffered internal bleeding. The hot take came at the end of her report from Minneapolis:  WHAT?! On Thursday’s ‘CBS Mornings,’ correspondent Lana Zak says “it is not clear” based on all of the videos “whether or not” Renee Good’s “car made contact with” the ICE officer or, if it did, “how forceful it may have been”... “And, as for Jonathan Ross, the agent who shot… pic.twitter.com/6ZWlPy4tUg — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 15, 2026 On Monday, fellow correspondent Nicole Sganga asserted on the CBS Evening News the officer had “murdered” Good, but must have been called the principal’s office as her report was quickly corrected for the west-coast edition. Rewinding to the beginning, co-host Nate Burleson started with the vague lament of “another shooting involving ICE” as “this time, the man was shot in the leg” and triggered “a new round of protests last night and  federal agents once again used controversial tactics against the demonstrators. Notice what Burleson was missing, which was any details about what took place. Because it’s the Trump administration, better to assume it’s a lie and downplay it than...consider they’re right? Based on the skepticism from Zak and what went down on ABC and NBC, these liberal journalists might be just as convinced the ICE agent was the one wielding the shovel. “Well, honestly, there’s a lot we still don’t know, but federal officials say a migrant was shot in the leg after attacking an agent with a shovel. We have yet to confirm that story, but it’s just the latest in a city that is still reeling just about a week after the shooting of Renee Good. I spoke with her attorney about what comes next,” Zak reported. Zak touted the incendiary video from Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) as merely having “urged Minnesotans to protest peacefully and document what he called ICE agent’s atrocities.” This Walz soundbite sure didn’t seem like it was peaceful: “They are pulling over people indiscriminately, including U.S. citizens...They’re breaking windows, dragging pregnant women down the street. This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement.” She also spoke with Good’s family attorney (click “expand”): ANTONIO ROMANUCCI: The mission that we’ve been told about for over a year is that it’s to get the worst of the worst. I can tell you that Renee was the best of the best. ZAK: We spoke to Renee Good’s family attorney, Antonio Romanucci. [TO ROMANUCCI] Did Renee weaponize her car? ROMANUCCI: Looking at the video, the way — the speed of the car, the direction it was turned and what she said to those officers beforehand, the totality of the circumstances would indicate that she did not weaponize her car. ZAK: On, Tuesday six federal prosecutors stepped down amid pressure, sources say, to treat Good’s killing as an assault on the ICE officer. Now, the family is pursuing its own separate investigation. ROMANUCCI: The thought that there is only a one-sided investigation is really not palatable to the family nor should it be to the government or the American people. Over on the virulently anti-Trump ABC, Thursday’s Good Morning America started with more of the same vague but incendiary rhetoric. Co-host Robin Roberts lamenting the “tensions rising in Minneapolis” and “[d]emonstrators clash with police after another shooting by an ICE agent.” Only then did Roberts note “Homeland Security says the officer shot a man who fled during a traffic stop and then began attacking the officer with two other people.” Correspondent Faith Abubey decided to accept new marching orders from Walz and fellow far-left kook, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) to tell viewers that the mobs harassing ICE have been up to no good: Now that Jacob Frey and Tim Walz have come out and told the Minneapolis protests to stop being violent, ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ now branded the mobs as “angry crowds” with “the situation devolving into chaos, people throwing rocks and fireworks” at ICE officers That said,… pic.twitter.com/UbZFNsLXP4 — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 15, 2026 It took until the fourth sentence for Abubey to go from simply referring to “a man” shot by ICE to pointing out he was “a Venezuelan man who they say fled traffic stop and then attacked the officer.” ABC also continued its absurd fixation on being horrified at the sight of a battering ram (click “expand”): ABUBEY: Violent scenes playing out on a daily basis. Agents firing pepper spray and dragging people from cars. This newly released video shows the frantic moment as heavily-armed agents used a battering ram to enter an immigrant family’s home in Minneapolis. WOMAN: Can you put the guns down? There’s kids in this house. There’s kids in the house. Show the warrant first. ABUBEY: 37-year-old Garrison Gibson, an immigrant from Liberia, was facing removal for a decade-old drug conviction, but his lawyer says he has been checking in with authorities for years. GIBSON’s LAWYER MARC MROKOSCH: So, if he’s this dangerous person, then why are they letting him walk around? NBC’s Today also must have realized the coast was clear as correspondent Shaq Brewster made clear to viewers that the anti-ICE crowds have maybe, possibly been violent toward law enforcement: NBC’s ‘Today’ followed the marching orders from Frey and Walz, now admitting the anti-ICE crowds have been “setting off fireworks and throwing rocks” at law enforcement, but both-sides-ed it by arguing “the situation here just continues to intensify” and had been calm “with a… pic.twitter.com/biUYsQSnra — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 15, 2026 Brewster also ran the cartoonish soundbite from the Good family lawyer that Good was she “was the best of the best” in America, but died while ICE was going after “the worst of the worst.” To see the relevant transcripts from January 15, click here (for ABC), here (for CBS), and here (for NBC).

Built on an abandoned military base 200 miles east of Los Angeles in the middle of California’s Sonoran Desert, Slab City doesn’t have many modern amenities. No power lines nor pipes carry electricity or fresh water to the city. Residents have to sort out their own system for disposing of sewage or trash. But to those who call the community home, Slab City offers something even more important than comfort: freedom. Click here to view slideshow The Founding Of Slab City Atlas ObscuraThe entrance to East Jesus, an art installation in Slab City. Slab City, also called The Slabs, was born when the U.S. Marine Corps abandoned Fort Dunlap, a military installation near the town of Niland. They dismantled the buildings in 1956 but left behind the concrete slabs that served as their foundations. Though California officially regained control over the land, it was too remote and inhospitable for the state to really concern itself with. But when employees from a chemical company working near Niland found the slabs, they decided it was the perfect spot to erect a temporary settlement close to their job site. The small trailers they brought with them became the beginnings of the new community of Slab City. Over the next few decades, people from outside the area were drawn to the improvised city. To this day, the residents remain a motley collection of those with little income, snowbirds, and people looking for a way to live off the grid. In this forgotten place, there are no property taxes nor utility bills, which makes it ideal for people trying to stretch their pensions or Social Security checks. Even today, Slab City's population swells to over 4,000 during the cooler winter months as people come down from as far away as Canada to take advantage of the warmer temperatures and cheap living. When the summer heat sets in and temperatures rise to 120 degrees, most return to their homes, leaving a smaller permanent population of about 150. Life In California's Sonoran Desert Becoming a resident of Slab City is an informal process. You simply show up, find a patch of land that no one else has claimed, and set up a trailer, shack, yurt, or truck. But living in the community requires a certain degree of self-reliance. The nearest public amenities – including drinkable water – are in Niland, a few miles away. Residents share a single communal shower fed by a nearby hot spring. Most people in the community rely on their own technical expertise to handle the rest. If you want electricity, you have to set up a collection of solar panels, generators, and batteries. Or you can hire "Solar Mike," a long-time Slabber who has been selling and installing solar panels out of his trailer since the 1980s. Though police from Niland occasionally patrol the area and will respond to emergency calls, the community largely polices itself. Alessandro Valli/FlickrThe Range, the community center of Slab City. It hosts a prom every year. On that note, living in Slab City requires adhering to a certain code of behavior. While drug use is common, residents say that it's usually confined to certain well-known areas of the camp. The most common type of crime is theft. Typically, there aren't reports of vigilante violence in response to crime, but the community will shun people who are suspected of misbehavior. As one Slabber, George Sisson, who runs an Airbnb in the community, explains, "Here you don't mess with people's business unless they steal your shit." Altogether, Slab City is as close to a self-governing commune as you're likely to find in the United States. The most common problem people in the community report is simple boredom, which makes sense given that they're living in the middle of the desert. Some find solace in the simple life. Others have banded together to provide some escape from the monotony. Indeed, Slab City has its own community and event center named The Range, which hosts a yearly prom. There's also an internet cafe that basically amounts to a tent with a wireless router inside. But residents can use the connection to download entertainment. The community used to come together to watch the latest episode of Game of Thrones on the night it premiered. Art is also an important part of life in Slab City. One of the most popular attractions is Salvation Mountain, a collection of rocks covered in hundreds of thousands of gallons of latex paint and decorated with a large cross and religious messages. It's the life's work of one of The Slab's most famous residents, Leonard Knight. Knight came to Slab City from Vermont, where he had lived off a variety of odd jobs that involved welding and painting. Knight arrived in the 1980s with a hot air balloon in tow, originally planning to use the community as a base for a transcontinental balloon trip. But after the balloon refused to float, he decided to put down roots instead. Over the next few decades, he built Salvation Mountain as a monument to his faith. For Knight, Slab City was the perfect place to practice the philosophy he lived by: "Love Jesus and keep it simple." Knight died in 2014, but he has remained a revered figure in the community. Chuck Coker/ FlickrLeonard Knight in front of Salvation Mountain. Another important site is East Jesus, which functions as an art collective where residents display their own sculptures and art installations. Most of them are made from recycled materials, demonstrating the residents' ideal of self-sustainability. This kind of unique art from people on the fringes of society is part of the community's unique appeal. Legal Challenges To The Slabs But for a society that has long existed on the outer edges of the law, the future looks far from certain. In 2015, the state of California considered dividing the land the community sits on and selling it to private companies. Though nothing came of the proposal, it signaled how fragile the community's position was. That has led many residents to worry that Slab City's days are numbered. And with it, they see the possible end of "the last free place in America." If you'd like to visit Slab City, there are a number of residents who offer lodging for rent at relatively low prices. After learning about Slab City, check out these seven creepy ghost towns from around the world. Then, learn about California City – the biggest abandoned town in the Golden State. The post Inside California’s Slab City, Where People Go To Live Way Off The Grid appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Viking Ship MuseumMaritime archaeologists excavating the wreckage of the Svaelget 2. Maritime archaeologists in Copenhagen have discovered the world’s largest cog, a type of medieval cargo ship that was once the backbone of Northern European trade. This particular vessel had been hidden just under the seabed for 600 years in the waters between Denmark and Sweden. The vessel, named Svaelget 2, measures about 92 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 20 feet high, with an estimated cargo capacity of 300 tons. Built around 1410, it represents the largest example of its type ever found. “The find is a milestone for maritime archaeology. It is the largest cog we know of, and it gives us a unique opportunity to understand both the construction and life on board the biggest trading ships of the Middle Ages,” said excavation leader Otto Uldum in a statement from the Viking Ship Museum. The Discovery Of The Svaelget 2, The Largest Medieval Cog Ever Found Viking Ship MuseumA 3D model illustrating the elevation of the wreck. The wreck was excavated at a depth of 43 feet, where it was protected from keel to gunwale by sand. This shielded Svaelget 2 from many of the forces that would typically destroy a ship so near to the coast – and, more remarkably, this is the first time that this level of natural protection has been seen in a cog before. As such, the ship was incredibly well preserved. “It is extraordinary to have so many parts of the rigging,” Uldum said. “We have never seen this before, and it gives us a real opportunity to say something entirely new about how cogs were equipped for sailing.” Dendrochronological analysis shows the ship was built using timber from both Pomerania, in modern-day Poland, and the Netherlands. The planks were made of Pomeranian oak, while the ship’s ribs came from the Netherlands. Viking Ship MuseumThe ribs of the Svaelget 2. “It tells us that timber exports went from Pomerania to the Netherlands, and that the ship was built in the Netherlands where the expertise to construct these very large cogs was found,” Uldum said. The cog was an efficient type of ship that could be sailed by a small crew, even when heavily loaded. Large cogs were built to make the hazardous voyage around Skagen from the Netherlands through the Sound to reach Baltic trading towns. “A ship with such a large cargo capacity is part of a structured system where merchants knew there was a market for the goods they carried,” Uldum added. “Svaelget 2 is a tangible example of how trade developed during the Middle Ages.” How Medieval Cogs Transformed Trade In Northern Europe Viking Ship MuseumVarious pieces of salvage from the shipwreck. Experts have referred to the cog as a “super ship” of the Middle Ages, allowing sailors to transport massive quantities of goods at substantially lower costs. During the 14th and 15th centuries, this “revolutionized” the exchange of goods, transforming trade patterns and allowing everyday commodities to be sent across great distances. Such long-distance trade had previously been limited to luxury goods. Medieval cogs were distinctly characterized by the presence of high castles at the bow and stern, but these have only ever been observed in illustrations of the vessels. That is, until now. “We have plenty of drawings of castles, but they have never been found because usually only the bottom of the ship survives,” Uldum said. “This time we have the archaeological proof.” Viking Ship MuseumA painted wooden dish found in the galley of the Svaelget 2. Not only were researchers greeted by the remains of a real timber-built castle among the wreckage, but they were also surprised to discover the ship’s brick-built galley, the earliest example of its kind from Danish waters. Around 200 bricks and 15 tiles were used to make the galley, among which archaeologists found bronze cooking pots, ceramic bowls, and the remains of fish and meat. Other objects found among the wreckage provided unique insight into everyday life. These included painted wooden dishes, shoes, combs, and rosary beads. Viking Ship MuseumA sailor’s wooden comb. “These personal objects show us that the crew brought everyday items with them. They transferred their life on land to life at sea,” Uldum said. As for the ship’s cargo, however, no traces have been found. Uldum suggested that since the ship’s hold was not covered, any barrels containing goods like salt or bundles of cloth would likely have drifted away during the ship’s sinking. That said, the absence of ballast suggests the ship had been loaded with heavy trade goods, leaving no doubt that this was indeed a merchant ship. “There is no evidence pointing to war or conflict in this ship,” Uldum noted. “None at all.” The find was made during seabed investigations in preparation for construction of Copenhagen’s new manmade harbor district, Lynetteholm. The ship’s components are now undergoing conservation at the National Museum in Brede. “Perhaps the find does not change the story we already know about medieval trade. But it does allow us to say that it was in ships like Svaelget 2 that this trade was created,” Uldum concluded. “Svaelget 2 gives us a tangible piece of the puzzle and makes it possible to understand how technology and society evolved side by side in an era when shipping was the driving force behind international trade.” After reading about the discovery of this medieval super ship, read the astonishing stories of 10 famous shipwrecks from around the world. Then, read the shocking story of the Wager mutiny and the grisly events that followed. The post This Medieval ‘Super Ship,’ The Largest Of Its Kind Ever Found, Was Just Discovered Off The Coast Of Denmark appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Bahrain Authority for Culture and AntiquitiesThe ceramic mask dates back to the Middle Dilmun period, around 1200 B.C.E. During excavations at the Hilla archaeological site in southern Bahrain, archaeologists uncovered a roughly 3,300-year-old grave containing two adult women and an infant. Nestled in between the remains, they also found a tiny ceramic mask, intricately carved to depict a human face. The find, only the second of its kind in Bahrain, offers a tantalizing look at the Dilmun people, an elusive civilization in the Persian Gulf during the Bronze Age. The Ceramic Carving Found At The Hilla Archaeological Site In Bahrain The find, announced by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, took place during excavations at the Hilla archaeological site. While excavating the 3,300-year-old grave of two women and a baby from the Middle Dilmun period, archaeologists uncovered the tiny ceramic mask. It had been deliberately placed alongside the three bodies, suggesting that it was ritualistic in nature. Bahrain Authority for Culture and AntiquitiesThe faience mask found in the 3,300-year-old grave. The ceramic, which depicts a human face, was made from faience, a type of glazed pottery. Only one other carving like this has ever been found in Bahrain, which makes the artifact extremely rare. However, the mask has not yet been thoroughly studied by researchers, so many questions about its composition, age, and ritualistic purpose still remain. That said, the ceramic carving is not the only thing that archaeologists found at the Hilla archaeological site. While excavating burials in the area, they also unearthed rings made of seashells, tools that were used to apply kohl — an ancient makeup similar to modern eyeliner — a large ceramic vessel, and a pointed object that researchers believe is a needle or an awl. These items, which appear to be personal belongings, seemingly played an important role in burial rituals among the ancient Dilmun people. Indeed, although more research is needed to better understand the purpose of the mask, it does offer new insights into the Dilmun civilization, which existed from roughly 3000 B.C.E. until 600 C.E. A Brief History Of The Dilmun Civilization Though the Dilmun civilization remains somewhat enigmatic, archaeologists believe that it was once an important independent kingdom in the Persian Gulf. Ancient Sumerian texts (from which we know its name) suggest that it was a prominent nexus of commerce, and that the Dilmun people traded copper, beads, precious stones, pearls, dates, and vegetables with the Sumerians and other civilizations in exchange for agricultural products. Rapid Travel Chai/Wikimedia CommonsRuins of a temple in Bahrain believed to have belonged to the Dilmun civilization. Located along an important trade route between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley Civilization (in present-day Bahrain, Kuwait, and parts of Saudi Arabia), Dilmun was even significant enough to the Sumerians to make its way into their religious texts: The Sumerian god Enki had a connection to Dilmun’s underwater springs. Indeed, these underwater springs — which still exist today and made Bahrain into an oasis surrounded by desert — are thought by some to be the basis for the Garden of Eden in the Bible. But most of what we know about the Dilmun people comes from ruins — crumbling remains of settlements or, like at the Hilla archaeological site, expansive burial grounds. These offer a tantalizing look at the lost civilization, which left no written records of its own. As such, the ceramic mask discovered in the 3,300-year-old grave at the Hilla archaeological site is a profoundly important artifact. Though small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, it was seemingly a ritualistic object that was significant enough to be buried with two women and an infant. Though its exact purpose remains a mystery, further research will hopefully offer clues about its origins, carvings, and meaning, which in turn will perhaps give insight into the women and child it was buried alongside — and the lost civilization to which they belonged. After reading about the ceramic mask from the lost Dilmun civilization that was found in a mass grave in Bahrain, discover the forgotten story of Zenobia, the ancient warrior queen of the Middle East. Or, learn about Queen Dido, the royal who established the ancient city of Carthage. The post A Rare 3,300-Year-Old Ceramic Mask Depicting A Human Face Was Just Uncovered From A Grave In Bahrain appeared first on All That's Interesting.

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