The Price of Flame: Early Estimates Put California Wildfire Damage at $150 Billion

A late Roman-era limestone coffin containing a rare gypsum burial has been discovered during expansion of the A47 highway outside of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, southeastern England. The coffin was cut out of a single massive block of limestone. The deceased was clothed and shrouded, put inside the coffin and liquid gypsum poured over them. Capping stones were then placed on top of the coffin. The entire sarcophagus weighing 1,650 pounds was raised and transported to a laboratory so its contents could be excavated in controlled conditions. The section of the A47 where the sarcophagus was discovered was once a Roman road, and a team from Headland Archaeology was contracted to excavate the site. They uncovered a small cemetery with 14 graves centered around the limestone coffin. Another seven graves were found outside the boundary ditch. Small rural cemeteries are not uncommon finds, especially at roadsides, but the variety of grave types (cist, cremation, likely wood coffin with iron nails, decapitation) is surprising for such a burial ground with so few graves, and the gypsum burial at the center makes this one is unique. Gypsum burial is a poorly understood practice. On some occasions, Romans poured liquid gypsum over the clothed bodies of the dead in lead or limestone coffins. There are no references to its meaning or purpose in ancient sources, and other than high status of the deceased (the families had to be able to afford expensive lead and limestone sarcophagi), there does not appear to be any consistent through-line between the instances of it. It was done to male and female, adult and child. They have been found in Europe and North Africa, although Britain has the greatest number of them, all of them concentrated in major urban centers like York. Finding one in such a rural location is highly unusual and this is the only gypsum burial ever discovered in Cambridgeshire. Intriguingly, the practice turns out to be a sort of negative-space version of the plaster cast technique invented in Pompeii to capture the impressions left by organic remains in the volcanic rock. In Pompeii, bodies and objects that decayed after the ash of Vesuvius’ eruption hardened around them, left cavities that archaeologists filled with plaster. The plaster casts took on the shape of the cavities. Bodies, clothing, furniture, bedding, all were immortalized into the stone that had encased them 2,000 years earlier and then onto the freshly-poured plaster. The gypsum poured by the Romans on their dead cut out the volcanic middleman. It hardened around the bodies leaving their contours and the imprint of their clothing and shrouds on the gypsum. The outside of the plaster was encapsulated by the coffin sides. The rich internal life of the gypsum casings was revealed in a pioneering 2023 study in York which used 3D imaging scans to reveal how three bodies buried in a single coffin had been prepared for burial down to the ties that bound the shroud around the head and the warp and weft counts of the woven textiles. The A47 gypsum casing was not intact like the one scanned in York, but the shrouded remains still left their imprint. These specialist excavations were carried out by conservator Morgan Creed from York Archaeology and Osteologist Don Walker from Museum of London Archaeology over two full days. Although the gypsum was fragmentary, impressions of the shroud the individual was buried in were visible, and a small piece of the fabric itself was preserved in the gypsum. There were no grave goods within the coffin itself, but a glass vessel and fragments of leather, pottery and animal bone were recovered from the fill of the surrounding grave cut. This glass vessel could have once held a toast or libation for the deceased before it was placed in the cut. Despite the lack of grave goods, both the beautifully carved stone coffin and the gypsum burial are indicative of an individual of high status. The gypsum for the burial would have come at a high cost, and the stone coffin was not only beautifully carved, but also made from stone quarried around 50 km away, adding the costs of transportation. These factors coupled with the central position of the burial within the cemetery points to an important person, perhaps the head of a prominent family. The gypsum burial was not the only high-status individual interred in this little rural cemetery. The grave of a young woman aged 16-20 when she died contained a large amount of jewelry including a pair of silver earrings, nine bronze bracelets, three bronze rings and the remains of what looks like a silver signet ring. She wasn’t wearing any of these treasures when she was interred; they were at her feet, perhaps because they were part of a dowry she died too young to use. Another grave containing the remains of an even younger child also contained a rich collection of jewelry: ten bronze bracelets, four worked bone bracelets, a worked bone comb and a pair of silver earrings very similar to those found in the young lady’s grave. Archaeologists hope analysis of the human remains and grave goods will give them a fuller understanding of how long the cemetery was in use, what the relationships may have been between the people buried there, and the connections between the small community and the surrounding area.

It might seem as though Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is becoming based, the way he announced the other day that Facebook would no longer be employing fact-checkers to censor content and would instead rely…

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Fox News host discusses 'de-growth ideology' and government failures in light of the deadly wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County

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from The HighWire with Del Bigtree: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

by Kevin Finn, American Thinker: Government is an unfortunate necessity. We need it to do that which we cannot do for ourselves. Its functions are listed in the preamble to the Constitution — to preserve the union of states, to protect the innocent and prosecute the guilty, to enable its citizens to live in peace […]

A viral video shared by neuroscientist Andrew Huberman shows individuals allegedly setting fires in non-burning urban areas of Los Angeles, sparking outrage and speculation about arson exacerbating the wildfire crisis. The Palisades Fire, the largest of five active blazes, has consumed nearly 15,000 acres, destroyed over 2,000 structures, displaced 100,000 residents, and claimed at least five lives, with evacuation orders extending to iconic areas like Hollywood Boulevard. The video has drawn widespread attention, including a reaction from Elon Musk, and fueled debates about arson, resource mismanagement, and environmental policies, though authorities have not confirmed intentional acts. Firefighters are battling hurricane-force winds and multiple blazes, while the Los Angeles Fire Department urges vigilance and reporting of suspicious activity amid reports of looting and gridlock during evacuations. The crisis has reignited criticism of California’s leadership, with calls for Governor Gavin Newsom’s resignation and concerns about budget cuts and staffing shortages hindering firefighting efforts, as the region faces a long and difficult recovery. Article by Ethan Huff, republished with permission from Naturalnews.com As wildfires continue to devastate Los Angeles County, a shocking video has emerged, raising concerns about possible arson in Santa Monica. The footage, shared by celebrity podcaster and neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, shows individuals allegedly setting fires in urban areas not yet affected by the blazes. The video, posted on X (formerly Twitter), has sparked widespread outrage and speculation, with many questioning whether human activity is exacerbating the crisis. Huberman, a Los Angeles local, captured the incident at 302 Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, just meters from where the Palisades Fire is raging out of control. In his post, Huberman wrote, “People are lighting fires in otherwise non-burning areas of LA. We don’t need more flames out here.” The video, which has since gone viral, shows flames igniting trees and palm fronds, with Huberman urging viewers to report such activity to authorities immediately. The Palisades Fire, the largest of five active blazes in the region, has already consumed nearly 15,000 acres and shows no signs of slowing. Combined with the Eaton, Hurst, and Lidia Fires, the infernos have left a trail of destruction, claiming at least five lives, destroying over 2,000 structures, and displacing more than 100,000 residents. Evacuation orders have been issued across Los Angeles County, including iconic areas like Hollywood Boulevard, home to the Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Bowl. The video has drawn reactions from high-profile figures, including Elon Musk, who commented, “Wow,” amplifying the post’s reach. Social media users have flooded the comments section with theories, with some blaming resource mismanagement and environmental policies for the crisis. Others have pointed to the possibility of arson as a contributing factor, though authorities have yet to confirm any intentional acts. The Los Angeles Fire Department, already stretched thin by the scale of the disaster, has not officially responded to the video. However, officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Meanwhile, the fires have overwhelmed emergency services, with firefighters battling not only the flames but also hurricane-force winds that have fueled the blazes’ rapid spread. Disaster, tragedy, chaos The crisis has also reignited debates about California’s leadership and policies. Critics, including former President Donald Trump, have blamed Governor Gavin Newsom for what they describe as mismanagement and misplaced priorities. Trump recently called for Newsom’s resignation, stating, “This is all his fault!” Others have pointed to budget cuts and staffing shortages within the Los Angeles Fire Department, which have hampered its ability to respond effectively. Adding to the chaos, reports of looting have emerged, with at least 20 arrests made in connection with thefts amid the evacuations. Dramatic images from the scene show a Bank of America branch engulfed in flames, while cars stack up in crucial chokepoints across Hollywood, creating gridlock as residents flee. As the fires rage on, the human toll continues to mount. Families have lost homes, businesses have been reduced to ash, and the region’s iconic landmarks are under threat. The situation has drawn comparisons to a “Biblical” catastrophe, with some questioning whether California can recover from what feels like an unrelenting series of disasters. For now, the focus remains on containing the fires and protecting lives. Authorities are urging residents to heed evacuation orders and avoid spreading unverified claims on social media. As the crisis unfolds, one thing is clear: the people of Los Angeles are facing a nightmare unlike any they’ve seen before, and the road to recovery will be long and arduous. Sources include: Revolver.news NYPost.com Tribune.com