Hey everyone! I'm part of a group of four former medical students (we were close friends and classmates) who spent our study years gathering materials and recreating exam questions. Initially, we wrote workbooks for other students, using online templates. Eventually, some of us switched careers, but we decided to transform all these materials into a mobile app.

Question Banks and Types of Exercises:

Our app doesn't just focus on USMLE-type questions (many of our anatomy questions don't include clinical scenarios with complete patient histories, though we do have some). Instead, our questions are more akin to those found in local exams. Here’s an example:
"The bone functionality adapts to the demands of mechanical stress by changing its:
A) Osteon structure in the cancellous part
B) Lamellar structure in the cancellous part
C) Trabecular architecture in the cortical part
D) Trabecular architecture in the cancellous part
E) None of the above"
After each question, you'll find a detailed explanation, similar to what UWORLD and other USMLE prep apps offer.
The app features two types of exercises: Exam Simulation and an "All Questions" mode. Each provides detailed analytics for every subchapter of the selected subject. There is also the opportunity to earn achievements in each subject. To do so, score 85% or higher on the comprehensive exam for that subject.

Subjects and Structure

Subjects, especially anatomy, are divided into detailed chapters and subchapters. For instance, under "Inner Organs," you can delve into Thorax, Abdomen, and Pelvis. Selecting "Abdomen" allows further exploration into specific areas like "Liver & Pancreas," with subcategories on blood supply, structure, and relations with other organs.

Forum

Our forum includes four categories:

• USMLE Prep: Discuss and share tips for USMLE exam preparation.
• Study Resources & Techniques: Share and discover effective medical study resources and techniques.
• Clinical Rotations: Exchange experiences and advice on medical clinical rotations.
• Residency Applications: Guidance on residency applications and Match Day strategies.

Pricing and Access

The app is currently free, and we intend to keep it that way as long as we can self-finance. When we do start charging, it will be affordable, and we'll never require more than a month's payment in advance.

Beta Testers - Unlimited Access (Lifetime)

The app is in Beta testing, with about 10k questions pending review and upload. Currently, we have around 600 questions. We're constantly adding more questions and subjects. For Reddit users joining our Beta test, message me after creating an account, and I'll upgrade you to Premium forever.
Occasionally, we might ask for your feedback on bugs and improvement ideas through a brief survey. Your input would be immensely helpful in enhancing the app’s stability and functionality!
Beta Test Links:

• iOS (External Beta): https://testflight.apple.com/join/PlLj67Ec
• Android (Open Beta): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.medbrane.application

Additionally, a psychologist has joined our team and has featured our project on their website. You can learn more about it here: https://cognituspsychology.com/.
Cheers!
MedBrane Girl

The original EBO post can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/aliens/comments/14rp7w9/from_the_late_2000s_to_the_mid2010s_i_worked_as_a/
I do not know this Biological anthropologist's name but he uses this name on Twitter as Galaxopithecus
Here is the full article text where he explains EBO Reddit post: https://galaxopithecus.medium.com/disposable-aliens-cbc676aaa9f
An analysis of claims by a supposed molecular biologist on Reddit
Please note, I’ve clarified a few points based on Reddit feedback.
For those who don’t know me, I’m a biological anthropologist (PhD) with expertise in functional and evolutionary anatomy, and human evolution. I got my anatomy training in medical school level gross anatomy. I’m sharing some thoughts and analysis of the recent claims made on Reddit by an anonymous poster claiming to be a molecular biologist.
The larger argument is that the alien beings discussed (maybe the “greys”) are artificial and disposable. Here are some of the features claimed indicative of being artificial:

• Minimalist and condensed genome, no genetic “junk.”
• Fewer proteins coded, more efficient
• Elegant artificial DNA, unique chromosome structure

Points used to argue it’s disposable:

• No teeth, simple digestive system only for a liquid diet
• “Vestigial” mandible ( and other structures)
• Lacking bone cells that would allow repair and maintenance of bone
• Lacking many platelets, suggesting the being can’t clot and/or stop bleeding very efficiently

In the following sections I make commentary on the anatomical and physiological claims.

GROSS ANATOMY

Head

“There is a mandible, but the musculature is vestigial.”
An ongoing theme throughout these claims are that certain features of these creatures are vestigial. This would seem to contradict their discussion about genetics when the author says, “the result is a minimalist highly condensed genome.” The beings are highly refined yet retain “vestigial” structures.

Neck

The trachea and esophagus are claimed to be completely separate structures. The implication is that the beings would be able to swallow and breathe at the same time. Human adults are incapable of this, but our infants are. Most mammals can drink or swallow and breathe at the same time, although there trachea and esophagus does meet.
There are no vocal cords. Presumably this calls back to the idea that these creatures are telepathic, though telepathy isn’t mentioned in the claims. Instead there are “sacs” that allegedly make noise.

Eyes

“The size of their eyes suggests they have excellent night vision.”
It’s true that animals adapted to night vision often have large eyes. It’s unclear in this description how large the pupils are and other structures, but if those other structures are simply in proportion to the size of the eyes it may not make a lot of sense that this is night adapted. This description also strikes me as suspicious because it’s very similar to the “Alien Autopsy” video hoax.
But more importantly, if the bodies have been analyzed by experts one would think they’d know if they have excellent night vision. The author details structures of the eye (number of cones), so should also have been able to say something about the rods, which are involved in night vision.

Hands and Feet

“Their hands have four digits, including an opposable thumb on the medial side*.”*
In humans our thumb is on the lateral side (consider anatomical position). This statement would indicate the aliens’ thumbs are where our pinky finger is located (5th digit). Maybe the author means what they say, but this comment makes me think this person doesn’t have a good grasp of anatomical terminology. Medial thumbs would likely have other consequences to arm structure that aren’t described.
“Fingers are proportionally much longer than in humans. Unlike humans, finger musculature is entirely intrinsic to the hand. In other words, the muscles used to move the fingers are not in the forearms but entirely located in the hands.”
If flexion and extension muscles of the hand or phalanges are on the hand instead of the forearms, strength of grip would be weak. Strength and stability of the wrists would be compromised. It would be difficult to make room in the hand for these muscles (it’s actually rather preposterous) and still have a hand that functions like a hand. It wouldn’t have the full range of motion as human hands, and having long fingers would only exacerbate the weakness of the grasp.
“At first glance, the feet consist of just two digits, but a necropsy soon determined that each toe was made of two fused digits. The medial toe is marginally longer than the distal toe. The feet are relatively longer and narrower than in a human. Their musculature, however, is vestigial.”
The description of the medial toe doesn’t make sense in terms of anatomical terminology. If the medial toe (the big toe) is longest, then it is also the distal toe. I’m not sure what it means to say the musculature of the foot is vestigial. It doesn’t use its feet? This is nonsense. If the muscles are vestigial their feet would be non-functional. If their calf muscles are also located in the feet (similar to the hands) they wouldn’t be able to walk at all. They’d have to hop on their heels rather haphazardly (or whatever behaviorally to accommodate).
The consequence of vestigial/atrophied intrinsic muscles of the foot is that the arch would collapse. The foot wouldn’t be able to function as a relatively rigid structure to support the foot as weight first occurs with heel strike, then travels across the arch on the lateral side before shifting weight medially across the metatarsal heads, finally with toe-off at the medial (“big”) toe.
If this organism were designed efficiently why would so-called “vestigial” traits be added into its structure? If this thing is designed from the ground up, why would you add evolutionarily inefficient structures. And at that, in an area that needs those muscles crucially to get around.
In fact, by definition if this thing is designed it shouldn’t have vestigial traits at all.

Skeleton

“A transverse section of the bone reveals osteon and osteocytes. There appear to be few osteoblasts and no osteoclasts. This indicates that the bones are no longer growing and cannot absorb the minerals present or adapt mechanically to changes in posture.”
Without these bone cells it’s not clear how the bone is able to grow in the first place. This bone would be incapable of adapting to different stresses; any small crack or fracture would never be able to heal (or heal at a glacial pace). If this is supposed to be a feature to simplify the beings, to me it doesn’t make a lot of sense. One might think that at least having the ability to heal somewhat would be more efficient. Otherwise, it seems like they would have to be destroyed for relatively minor injuries.
The author notes that few bone cells indicate the bone isn’t growing, but any adult bone isn’t growing. That is assessed by relative fusion of the primary and secondary growth centers. To me it seems like pointing out this detail in the context to bone cells is also evidence of a hoax.
Further, the skeleton serves in humans and animals as mineral storage, among other things. But if bone cells aren’t doing their jobs, then calcium regulation would be upset. Animals normally have dynamic skeletons, adding and removing bone due to mechanical stress, saving or losing calcium for physiological processes, etc.

Biological System

“Blood flowing to the pulmonary capillaries via the pulmonary artery is pumped against the flow of air, maximizing gas exchange efficiency. The blood gas barrier is relatively narrow in these capillaries, at least compared to a human.”
These are nonsensical statements. Saying that the blood is pumped against the flow of air makes no sense (do they mean countercurrent, as pointed out by someone on Reddit? The language is too imprecise to know). Air isn’t flowing directly into capillaries (which isn’t how countercurrent works of course, but in human lungs countercurrent has low importance, relative pressures in the thorax and lungs are most relevant). In terms of the blood gas barrier, in humans this is already a single cell thick. How much thinner do you get?
“Platelets are present, but in smaller proportions than in humans.”
This would mean the beings have a weaker ability to stop bleeding (depending on how much lower, also there are other immune system responses to injury that are strangely not mentioned despite the relevance here). This doesn’t seem like an engineered trait that would be beneficial. A small injury might cause one of these things to bleed out. It would be like having an army of hemophiliacs.
The system described for getting rid of waste also doesn’t seem advantageous. The beings would produce no solid waste, only urine-like waste that for some reason the designers thought would be a good idea to flush out to the surface of the skin. Just in terms of hygiene and maintaining a clean environment this seems strange. Especially when presumably another system that produced highly concentrated urine might be cleaner and more efficient.
The significance of saying the beings have more type I muscle fibers is that these muscle fibers are slow twitch. Slower reaction time but greater endurance. Having fewer fast twitch muscles would mean they aren’t so great at bursts of activity.
LAST THOUGHTS
Perhaps compared to some of the other areas in these claims (that I haven’t commented on here as they are outside my expertise), the anatomy and physiology seems particularly incoherent and functionally impossible. These beings have a host of traits argued to be either minimalist, vestigial, or both. Vestigial structures aren’t consistent with a being that has been highly efficiently designed. Vestigial structures are present in creatures that have evolved. To the extent creatures have vestigial structures at all, which does have some controversy. Presumably if their DNA was designed, you wouldn’t have issues separating linked traits or those that had undesirable interactions. This would argue against “vestigial” traits hitching along.
The description of anatomy seems to be fabricated from somebody who doesn’t understand basic anatomy. The changes in muscle location in the hand would severely hamper the entire function of the arm and strength of the hand and wrist. Having vestigial muscles in the feet would make the feet completely useless. Although not mentioned, if the flexors and extensors of the toes are also located on the foot, this would cause similar problems to those in the hand. Gait would be awkward, probably hopping from heel to heel, and with poor balance (or some other behavioral compensation for a weak non-functional foot).
For all of the reasons presented in this discussion I think the claims are a hoax.

It seems like all my comments are being deleted. I will post answer at the end of the message.
From the late 2000s to the mid-2010s, I worked as a molecular biologist for a national security contractor in a program to study Exo-Biospheric-Organisms (EBO). The aim of the program was to elucidate the genome and proteome basis of these organisms. Although the study of OBCs has been going on for decades in other programs, the new high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies of the late 90s unblocked stagnant research in this area. Since then, several breakthroughs have led to significant advances in our understanding of the genome and proteome of these beings. What we've learned so far has enabled us to outline some disconcerting perspectives about our place in this universe. Briefly, we've discovered that the EBO genome is a chimera of genomes from our biosphere and from an unknown one. They are artificial, ephemeral and disposable organisms created for a purpose that still partially eludes us. I'll be substantiating my statements after a brief introduction.
The reason for disclosing these secrets is quite simple. I believe that every human being has the right to know the truth, and that to progress, humanity needs to divest itself of certain institutions and organizations that will probably not survive these revelations in the long term. I'm aware that I'll have very little impact in this regard, but I still believe that small leaks are necessary to break the dam of misinformation on this subject. When the governments will eventually reveal these secrets, there will undoubtedly be a societal upheaval, but in my opinion, the longer we wait, the worse it will be. I choose to divulge what I know anonymously out of selfishness for the well-being of myself and my family. I'm aware that this diminishes the reach and credibility of my message, but it's the furthest I am willing to go. I chose this forum because it offers a good compromise between anonymity and popularity. In order to protect my anonymity, I will be purposely vague or even contradictory about any information that could identify me (date, education, role etc.). I'll even introduce red herrings in this respect. I want to make it clear that any information related to the subject of the research will not be treated in this way.
Before going any further, please excuse me if you find it difficult to understand what I'm explaining. Some parts of my text are very technical. It's difficult to find the right balance between vulgarization and scientific explanation. I'll continue by talking about myself. What's the point of talking about me knowing that the information will necessarily be misleading? I simply want to introduce a perspective on the type of people who work there, normal scientists. I have a Ph.D. in molecular biology. I didn't actively seek to be part of this program, rather it was a stroke of luck that introduced me to one of the senior scientists. I met this person at a conference where I was presenting a poster on my Ph.D. research. When I think back, I don't believe he was impressed by what I was presenting, because it was quite frankly a project that wasn't going anywhere. I think it was rather the most important aspect of a professional life: the attitude and the ease with which you make connections. Shortly afterwards, I graduated and received a call from this person offering me a position. At the time, everything pointed to me working in a regular laboratory.
I did a series of three increasingly suspicious interviews, each in a different location, where my scientific background and knowledge became less and less relevant. The first was with two of the senior scientists, the second and third with people I've never seen again and who were obviously not interested in science. Sometime after the interview, I was asked to go to a fourth location where what seemed like a corporate lawyer presented me with an NDA. He made sure not only to explain every detail, but also that I understood the consequence of not respecting it.
The first Employment weeks were by far the most memorable, although I spent most of that time in a depressing archive room. It consists almost exclusively of reading about the subject of study and to get us up to speed. There's no secret Wikipedia or even a reference book to guide us. There are only dry reports, memos, presentations, procedures and SOPs. These documents are almost exclusively about the biology of EBOs, but there are also a few that deal with other subjects such as their food, religion or culture. There were no documents on their technology.
As mentioned above, the aim of the project is to gain a better understanding of the EBO genome and proteome. To achieve this, a team of around twenty scientists, four senior scientists and a director was involved. The scientists, like myself, had as their main responsibility to carry out the technical work. As each scientist had to my knowledge a Ph.D., we were all somewhat overqualified for what is ultimately a technician's job. The senior scientists, who make full use of their diplomas, had the task of designing the assays and had a supervisory responsibility. They were also in charge of training new employees, and sometimes even came in to do technical work. The director, of course, was the person in charge who dictated priorities to the senior scientists. He was rarely on site, and the few times he was, it was to attend meetings. Other than the scientific staff, there were security guards working for one subcontractor or another. There were no support staff such as janitors or maintenance workers. Scientists were responsible for this kind of work. In addition, logistical constraints ensure that every scientist is capable of carrying out any technical activity.
The laboratory itself is located in Fort Detrick, Maryland, in a building used for legitimate biomedical research. The clandestine operations are carried out in a restricted part of the basement, out of sight from regular workers. Contrary to what one might imagine, the biosafety level is not maximal for this type of research. Indeed, the lab containing EBO samples or derived cell cultures is BSL3, while the lab where assays are conducted are only BSL2. The BSL3 area of the facility includes a freezer room and a cell culture lab and is only accessible through an antechamber from the BSL2 section. EBO carcasses are preserved in horizontal freezers at a temperature of -80°C nominal. To maximize the preservation of these carcasses, they are preserved in vacuum bags and the air in the room is controlled to minimize humidity. There are only four bodies and none of them are complete. It's obvious that these creatures have died as a result of major trauma. I've never witnessed a motorcycle accident fatality, but it probably looks similar to this. It is acknowledged that there are more EBOs caracasses at other locations. The cell culture laboratory, as its name suggests, is where cell lines derived from EBOs are grown and related activities are performed. I'll talk in more detail about these specific cell lines later on. The BSL2 part is mainly used for assays, immunohistochemistry, genetic engineering, immunocytochemistry, storage etc. There's also a cell culture lab, but this is used for more traditional cell lines. Other than the labs, there are all the amenities you could find in an office. Note that the internet access is limited to senior staff and up. There is, however, an intranet for bioinformatics needs.
On the subject of the biology of these beings, I'll start by discussing genetics, then their gross anatomy and finally their biological systems. For the sake of clarity, the information that I provide here is an aggregation of what I have observed and what I have read. I will make many comparisons with human anatomy because it is the most logical reference.
Genetics:
First, I'd like to discuss their genetics. Their genetics are like ours, based on DNA. This fact was very puzzling for me when I first learned about it. We imagine that beings from an alternate biosphere would have genetics based on a completely foreign biochemical system and surprisingly, this is not the case. Several conclusions can be drawn from this surprising revelation. The one that immediately comes to mind is that our biosphere and theirs share a common ancestry. They're eukaryotes, which means their cells have nuclei containing genetic material. Which suggests that their biosphere would have been separated from ours sometime after the appearance of this type of organism. The term Exo-Biospheric-Organism is actually a misnomer, but as it's a historical term, it's still used. Their genetics are not only based on the same genetic system, but they’re also even compatible with our own cellular machinery. This means that you can take a human gene and insert it into an EBO cell, and that gene will be translated into protein, and this of course works in reverse with a human gene inserted into an EBO cell. There are important differences in post-translational modifications that will make the final protein non-functional, but I'll discuss these later. Their genome consists of 16 circular chromosomes.
You're probably familiar with the concept of intergenic region or "junk DNA". These are basically DNA sequences that don't code for proteins. These are evolutionary residues, transposons, inactivated genes and so on. To give you an idea, in humans, intergenic regions represent approximately 99% of our genome. I'm aware that these sequences aren't completely useless, they can be used as histone anchors, as buffers to protect coding DNA from radiation or even as alternative open reading frames, but that's rather peripheral.
What's particularly striking about the EBO genome is the uniformity of these intergenic regions. We see the same sequences repeated everywhere, and the distance in bp between the genes is virtually the same throughout their genome. The result is a minimalist, highly condensed genome. In fact, it's much smaller than ours. Moreover, the quantity of protein-coding genes is even significantly lower than ours, probably due to genetic refinement but also to biological processes that are absent in EBO. The uniformity of these sequences is a major indication of the artificiality of these beings. There is no complex organism on earth that has such elegance in its sequences. There is no evolutionary pressure that can lead to this kind of characteristic other than genetic engineering.
Speaking of genetic engineering, following sequencing of their genomes, we noticed a troubling and universal characteristic in the 5' of the regulatory sequence of each gene which we call the Tri-Palindromic Region. The TPR are 134bp sequences containing, as its name suggests, 3 palindromes. In genetics, a palindrome is a DNA sequence that when read in the same direction, gives the same sequence on both DNA strands. They serve both as a flag and as a binding site for proteins. The three palindromes in the TPR are distinct from one another and have been poetically named "5'P TPR", "M TPR" and "3' TPR". The TPR is composed (in 5' - 3' order) of 5'P TPR, 12bp spacer, Chromosomal address, 12bp spacer, M TPR, 12bp spacer, Gene address, 12pb spacer and 3' TPR. The chromosomal address is composed of 4 bp and is identical in each TPR of the same chromosome, but distinct between each of the 16 chromosomes of the genome. The Gene address is a 64bp sequence that is unique for each gene in the whole genome. It's therefore understandable that the TPR serves as a unique address not only for numerically identifying a gene, but also for identifying its chromosomal location. For those with only a basic knowledge of genetics, this is completely unheard of. No living thing in our biosphere has this kind of precise address in its genome. Once again, the presence of TPR cannot be explained by evolutionary pressure but only by genetic engineering on a genomic scale.
TPR opens the door to several possibilities. One of them suggests that EBO geneticists can insert or remove a gene from a cell in a way that is far more targeted and efficient than our technology allows. No proteins have been identified in the EBO genome that interacts with TPR. Rather, we believe that these proteins are exclusively targeted by external genetic engineering tools, probably used at the zygotic stage of embryonic development. The nature of these tools is unclear, but we definitely don't have anything like them. The probable absence of these proteins from the genome is a further indication of their artificiality. Given the high probability of artificiality of their genome and the apparent ease of modifying it with biomolecular tools, it's not out of the question that there could be polymorphism between individuals depending on their role and function. In other words, an individual could be genetically designed to have characteristics that give it an advantage in performing a given task, like soldier ants and worker ants in an anthill. Note that these previous statements are speculation. To my knowledge only one individual genome has been sequenced, I can't make a definitive statement on genetic variation between individuals.
I've talked a lot about intergenic regions, now I'll briefly discuss intragenic sequences. Briefly, because there's not a lot less to say despite its obvious importance. Much like ours, their genes have silencers, enhancers, promoters, 5'UTRs, exons, introns, 3' UTRs etc. There are many genes analogous to ours, which is not surprising given the compatibility of our cellular machinery. What's disturbing is that some genes correspond directly, nucleotide by nucleotide, with known human genes or even some animal genes. For these genes, there doesn't seem to be any artificial refinement but rather a crude copying and pasting. Why they do it is nebulous and still subject to conjecture. There are also many genes which are not found in our biosphere whose role has not been identified. Finding the purpose of these novel genes is one of the aims of the program. I'd like to note before going any further that this heterogeneity of genes of known and unknown origin is an undeniable proof of the artificiality of EBOs.
To conclude with genetics, the mitochondrial genome, at the time I was working there, had not yet been sequenced. It's safe to assume that this genome would also be streamlined and possibly has some version of TPR.
Transcription and translation and protein expression.
I briefly introduced the differences in post-translational modifications between human and EBO. This is hardly a surprise, as we often see the same thing between different terrestrial species. Obtaining a viable protein from a DNA sequence is a complex process involving hundreds of protein intermediates, each with a precise and essential role. A minor variation in this assembly line can lead to functional irregularities in the final product. So, it's no surprise that there are setbacks along the way when the first EBO gene transfection attempts failed to produce the desired functional protein in human cell lines. Fortunately for us, the work of what I imagine to be another team at another site has led to the development of an EBO cell line named EPI-G11 derived from epithelial tissues. With this tool in our hands, we were able to transfect and overexpress proteins of interest in order to eventually purify and study them. For your information, we use a biological ballistics delivery system (AKA gene gun) for our transfection needs because other methods are not very effective with cells of this line. For example, the viral vectors tested cannot be internalized by EPI-G11 and lipofection is too lethal. EPI-G11, like most eukaryotic cell lines, enters a phase of exponential growth when exposed to Fetal Bovine Serum. It's only half surprising that a cell line from such an exotic source should be sensitive to the growth factors present in FBS. In my opinion, this can be explained by the addition of animal genes to the genome, such as growth receptors.
Gross anatomy:
They are morphologically very similar to the grey aliens that are part of modern folklore. Their height is about 150cm, they have two arms, two legs and a head. Still, there are some notable differences.
Skin: The grey skin that is often described in folklore is in fact a biosynthetic film which, likely, serves to protect the EBO from a hostile environment. It doesn't provide effective protection against temperature changes, but it does offer adequate protection against the passage of liquids. It's possible that this film confers other advantages but my knowledge on the subject is limited. Under the grey film, the epidermis is rather white, and the texture is very regular and without any hair. We do not see any defect other than the folds near the joints. It's described as greasy in one report, but that's not something I've observed. The same report states that a strong, lingering smell of burnt hair and ammonia is present when the film is removed. There are a lot of pores on the skin, crossing from the epidermis to a gland in the hypodermis. These glands and pores are the terminal part of the excretory-sudoriferous system, which could explain the previously mentioned smell.
Head: The head contains two large, oversized eyes, two nostrils without protuberance, a narrow mouth without lips and two ear canals without auricles. There is a mandible, but the musculature is vestigial. There are no teeth or tongue in the oral cavity. The nasal cavity where the nostrils meet is compact and does not rise cranially but extends axially. There appears to be no equivalent to the olfactory bulb in the nasal cavity. The mouth leads directly to the esophagus and the nasal cavity to the trachea. The trachea and esophagus do not communicate.
Eye: Like the skin, the eyes are covered with a semi-transparent biosynthetic film that offers the same environmental protection, while providing protection against certain wavelengths and light intensity. When the film is removed, a more traditional eye is revealed. It's about three times larger than a human eye and there are no eyelids. The size of their eyes suggests they have excellent night vision. It seems paradoxical to cover them with a semi-opaque film. Perhaps they only need to wear it in a bright environment. Their sclera is the same color as their skin, the iris is pale grey, and the pupil is black and oversized. The lens is rounder than a human, and the musculature used to adjust focus is more developed. On the retina, there are at least 6 types of cone cells. The responsiveness of each of these 6 types of cone is specific to a wavelength band, with a minimum of overlap between each other. The result is a broader visible spectrum.
Ear: As mentioned, the outer ear has no auricle and the ear canal is unremarkable. The inner ear has all the characteristics of a typical vestibular and cochlear system, although the curvature of the cochlea is more pronounced than a human. This probably results in greater hearing acuity for low frequencies.
Brain: The brain is tetraspheric, i.e. composed of four major sections. The sections are separated by transverse and longitudinal fissures and are connected to the central lobe, which acts as brainstem and cerebellum. The volume of the brain is around 20% superior to that of a man of the same height. It has a much more pronounced level of gyrication than an average human. Moreover, the ratio of glial cells to neurons is also slightly higher than in humans. It is important to mention the presence of nodules on the central lobe. Histological analysis of these structures reveals a kind of intricate biological circuitry. It is speculated that these nodules are essential to interact with their technology. Consequently, determining the proteome of these structures is an absolute priority for the program.
Neck: The neck is proportionally longer than that of a human, and at the same time relatively thin. As mentioned, the esophagus and trachea are separate. There are no vocal cords in this region.
Thorax: The musculature of the thorax is underdeveloped. Muscles equivalent to the pectoralis major can be seen. We can also see the trapezius and deltoid muscles. The sternocleidomastoids are well defined. The ribs and sternum are clearly visible. There are no nipples.
Abdomen: The abdomen is wider than the thorax and bulges slightly forward. There is no navel.
Pelvis: The pelvic bones are apparent. There are no genitals or anus.
Hands and feets: Their hands have four digits, including an opposable thumb on the medial side. They have no nails, and the texture of their fingerprints is composed of concentric circles. Fingers are proportionally much longer than in humans. Unlike humans, finger musculature is entirely intrinsic to the hand. In other words, the muscles used to move the fingers are not in the forearms but entirely located in the hands. At first glance, the feet consist of just two digits, but a necropsy soon determined that each toe was made of two fused digits. The medial toe is marginally longer than the distal toe. The feet are relatively longer and narrower than in a human. Their musculature, however, is vestigial.
The EBOs endoskeleton is very similar to ours, at least in terms of composition. There's collagen, hydroxyapatite but also copper oxide crystals where marrow would normally be found. The role of these crystals has not been established, but it is not a crystalopathic condition. The blood cells of the myeloid lineage (or the equivalent for these creatures) therefore mature in a different location than in humans i.e. in the thymus like organ. A transverse section of the bone reveals osteon and osteocytes. There appear to be few osteoblasts and no osteoclasts. This indicates that the bones are no longer growing and cannot absorb the minerals present or adapt mechanically to changes in posture.
Biological system:
Respiratory system: Their cellular respiration is equivalent to ours, i.e. they need to oxidize organic components to produce energy. Their lungs have no reciprocating action, but rather have a unidirectional flow of air, similar to those seen in birds, which is more efficient than ours. It is speculated that this is in response to the brain's elevated metabolic needs. Vocalization is produced by vibration of the wall membrane at the junction between the two air sacs.
The Circulatory system of EBOs is rather analogous to ours. The heart is located in the mediastanum, but in a more medial position, directly beneath the sternum. The heart has two ventricles and two atria. There is an aorta, a pulmonary vein, a pulmonary artery and a vena cava. Blood flowing to the pulmonary capillaries via the pulmonary artery is pumped against the flow of air, maximizing gas exchange efficiency. The blood gas barrier is relatively narrow in these capillaries, at least compared to a human. Then oxygen-rich blood is returned to the heart and then expelled into the aorta and the rest of the body. Before returning to the heart, the blood will pass through the hepatorenal organ which, among other things, filters and controls osmotic pressure of the blood.
The blood itself is also analogous to that of a human. However, the proportion of plasma is much higher, albumin is in similar proportion ,hormone levels are much lower, metal ion levels are much higher (particularly copper) and glucose levels are significantly higher. The color of the blood is brownish, given the higher proportion of plasma and concentration of metal ions. On the cellular side, there are erythrocytes which, in addition to hemoglobin for binding oxygen, display several complexes capable of binding copper ions. It's not clear what role these copper ions play but we believe it neutralizes blood ammonia, among other things. Several cell types with leukocyte characteristics have been observed, but no comprehensive knowledge of them exists. Platelets are present, but in smaller proportions than in humans.
Excreto-sudoriferous system: This system is completely different from what I've seen. As mentioned earlier, there is no large orifice, like an anus or urethra, to get rid of biological waste. Instead, there are countless small pores on the surface of the skin. There's a large medial organ called the hepatorenal organ, which acts as both kidney and liver and is central to maintaining homeostasis. This organ is highly vascularized and the blood must pass through it before returning to the heart. Its role is, among other things, to purify the blood of metabolic waste. Waste is excreted into the equivalent of a ureter, which branches out into four. Each branch flows towards one of the four limbs and in turn these branches divide until they end up as thousands of excretory pores. The motility of this excretory system is mediated by a weak peristalsis at the proximal level and on the four main branches. Peristalsis ceases around the first distal junction. As there is no urea cycle, the ammonia concentration at the exit of the hepatorenal organ is very high. This ammonia is carried to the pores and gives the distinct odor I mentioned earlier. The rationale behind this unusual excretory system is directly related to this excreted ammonia, which enables thermoregulation by evaporating on the skin's surface. The greater the physical effort, the greater the metabolism. This in turn leads to a rise in temperature, and a corresponding increase in metabolic waste via amino acid catabolism. This leads to an increase in filtration and ammonia excretion, which ultimately lowers body temperature.
Digestive system: The digestive system is extremely underdeveloped. There's no there is no stomach in the familiar sense. However, there is a pseudo-stomach located at the transition between the thoracic and abdominal cavities. This organ is not involved in digestion, but only serves as a reservoir. A sphincter controls the flow of food into the intestine. The intestine is limited to the equivalent of our small intestine, i.e. it only serves to absorb liquids and nutrients and acts as the main digestion site. It has villi and microvilli like ours. The intestine ends in the hepato-renal organ, where non-digested matter is transported to the ureter and excretory system. Residues are dissolved in the ammonia of metabolic waste for excretion. There's an organ near the pseudostomachal sphincter that secretes digestive enzymes directly into the intestine. This organ is inspirationally called the digestive organ. It secretes mainly proteolytic enzymes and glycoside hydrolases.
Given the absence of teeth, the narrowness and rigidity of the esophagus, the absence of a true stomach and the absence of defecation, it is strongly believed that EBOs can only consume food in liquid form. It is assumed that, given the high metabolic needs of their brains, this food would have a high carbohydrate concentration. In order to meet other metabolic needs, there must also be a high protein content in the food consumed. These two statements are supported by the type of enzyme secreted by the digestive organ. It is therefore speculated that the food consumed is a sort of broth rich in sugar and protein, which probably also has a high copper content. Given the strict limitations on the type of food that they can consume, it's unlikely that this type of creature could survive in our biosphere without technological support.
Endocrine system: Knowledge of the endocrine system is minimal. We know that cells are receptive to bovine growth hormones, so it's assumed that certain functions are regulated by such a system. Endocrine mechanisms are very complex, and it goes without saying that they are best studied on living subjects.
Immune system: The immune system is another unknown. There seems to be an innate immune system but there doesn't seem to be any adaptive immunity, at least not similar to what is known. There's a thymus-like organ near the heart that's proportionally larger than in humans. This organ seems to be where all blood cells mature. Some cells have leukocyte characteristics such as granularity. The immune cells that germinate here have a high copper concentration. The surface receptors of innate immune cells have not yet been characterized, so we might as well say that all the work remains to be done.
Nervous system: The nervous system is also relatively similar. The spinal cord begins at the base of the central lobe of the brain and propagates down the vertebral column. In the vertebrae there are ganglia made of afferent and efferent neurons. In short, other than the CNS, there is nothing out of the ordinary.
Musculoskeletal system: The musculoskeletal system is very ordinary, albeit underdeveloped. Most of the human skeletal muscles have an equivalent. Only the hands, feet and forearms are different. It should be noted that the proportion of type 1 and type 2 muscle fibers is different from that in a human. Indeed, type 1 outnumbers type 2 by about a factor of 10.
Artificial system: We speculate that artificial molecular machines may be present in the body, and that copper, if present, would be essential to their function or assembly. Importantly, no AMMs have been observed.
Question 1: Amazing story. Have you shared this with the Senate Select Commission on Intelligence or with AARO and do you have evidence to back this up?
Thank you, no I haven't and no I won't. It sounds like a honey trap to me. I will not place my life in the hands of politicians. I have no proof other than this message. I know it's not much but it's what I'm prepared to offer
Question 2: Well that was a read ... So they are bio engineered worker bees... Any elemental components that are unutributal to our biome ?
Yes, knowing that they're disposable, unable to live independently without technological support, and that they're ephemeral. The only suitable hypothesis is that they are alive only to accomplish their task. Can you clarify your question about elemental components?
Question 3: I havent read everything in detail but can you expend on the document on their religion?
EBOs believe that the soul is not an extension of the individual, but rather a fundamental characteristic of nature that expresses itself as a field, not unlike gravity. In the presence of life, this field acquires complexity, resulting in negative entropy if that makes sense. This gain in complexity is directly correlated with the concentration of living organisms in a given location. With time, and with the right conditions, life in turn becomes more complex until the appearance of sentient life. After reaching this threshold, the field begins to express itself through these sentient beings, forming what we call the soul. Through their life experiences, sentient beings will in turn influence the field in a sort of positive feedback loop. This in turn further accelerates the complexity of the field. Eventually, when the field reaches a "critical mass", there will be a sort of apotheosis. It's not clear what this means in practical terms, but this quest for apotheosis seems to be the EBOs main motivation.
The author of the document added his reflections and interpretations as an appendix. He specified that, for them, the soul field is not a belief but an obvious truth. He also argues that the soul loses its individuality after death, but that memory and experience persist as part of the field. This fact would influence the philosophy and culture of EBOs, resulting in a society that doesn't fear death but which places no importance or reverence on individuality. This "belief" compels them to seed life, shape it, nurture it, monitor it and influence it for the ultimate purpose of creating this apotheosis. Paradoxically, they have little or no respect for an individual's well-being.
Please be advised that I'm speaking from memory of something I read more than 10 years ago, so take the following with a grain of salt. Also, I'm not a philosopher or an artist, so please excuse my struggle to properly formulate the concepts and my dry terminology. Finally, note that this information comes from a document whose author was directly interacting with an EBO. It is not specified whether it was an ambassador, a crash survivor, a prisoner. The means of communication were not specified either.
Question 4: Wtf he dropped the location of the lab
Battelle National Biodefense Institute. It is on google map

****Note*** This post was published on aliens But the user who posted it has now been suspended from the reddit. I am posting it on StrangeEarth so that we can have it in bulk. aliens mod cannot confirm the user identity but they are trying to contact him. I cannot post all the comments but leaving the link to original post so that you can check it.https://www.reddit.com/aliens/comments/14rp7w9/from_the_late_2000s_to_the_mid2010s_i_worked_as_a/

It seems like all my comments are being deleted. I will post answer at the end of the message.
From the late 2000s to the mid-2010s, I worked as a molecular biologist for a national security contractor in a program to study Exo-Biospheric-Organisms (EBO). The aim of the program was to elucidate the genome and proteome basis of these organisms. Although the study of OBCs has been going on for decades in other programs, the new high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies of the late 90s unblocked stagnant research in this area. Since then, several breakthroughs have led to significant advances in our understanding of the genome and proteome of these beings. What we've learned so far has enabled us to outline some disconcerting perspectives about our place in this universe. Briefly, we've discovered that the EBO genome is a chimera of genomes from our biosphere and from an unknown one. They are artificial, ephemeral and disposable organisms created for a purpose that still partially eludes us. I'll be substantiating my statements after a brief introduction.
The reason for disclosing these secrets is quite simple. I believe that every human being has the right to know the truth, and that to progress, humanity needs to divest itself of certain institutions and organizations that will probably not survive these revelations in the long term. I'm aware that I'll have very little impact in this regard, but I still believe that small leaks are necessary to break the dam of misinformation on this subject. When the governments will eventually reveal these secrets, there will undoubtedly be a societal upheaval, but in my opinion, the longer we wait, the worse it will be. I choose to divulge what I know anonymously out of selfishness for the well-being of myself and my family. I'm aware that this diminishes the reach and credibility of my message, but it's the furthest I am willing to go. I chose this forum because it offers a good compromise between anonymity and popularity. In order to protect my anonymity, I will be purposely vague or even contradictory about any information that could identify me (date, education, role etc.). I'll even introduce red herrings in this respect. I want to make it clear that any information related to the subject of the research will not be treated in this way.
Before going any further, please excuse me if you find it difficult to understand what I'm explaining. Some parts of my text are very technical. It's difficult to find the right balance between vulgarization and scientific explanation. I'll continue by talking about myself. What's the point of talking about me knowing that the information will necessarily be misleading? I simply want to introduce a perspective on the type of people who work there, normal scientists. I have a Ph.D. in molecular biology. I didn't actively seek to be part of this program, rather it was a stroke of luck that introduced me to one of the senior scientists. I met this person at a conference where I was presenting a poster on my Ph.D. research. When I think back, I don't believe he was impressed by what I was presenting, because it was quite frankly a project that wasn't going anywhere. I think it was rather the most important aspect of a professional life: the attitude and the ease with which you make connections. Shortly afterwards, I graduated and received a call from this person offering me a position. At the time, everything pointed to me working in a regular laboratory.
I did a series of three increasingly suspicious interviews, each in a different location, where my scientific background and knowledge became less and less relevant. The first was with two of the senior scientists, the second and third with people I've never seen again and who were obviously not interested in science. Sometime after the interview, I was asked to go to a fourth location where what seemed like a corporate lawyer presented me with an NDA. He made sure not only to explain every detail, but also that I understood the consequence of not respecting it.
The first Employment weeks were by far the most memorable, although I spent most of that time in a depressing archive room. It consists almost exclusively of reading about the subject of study and to get us up to speed. There's no secret Wikipedia or even a reference book to guide us. There are only dry reports, memos, presentations, procedures and SOPs. These documents are almost exclusively about the biology of EBOs, but there are also a few that deal with other subjects such as their food, religion or culture. There were no documents on their technology.
As mentioned above, the aim of the project is to gain a better understanding of the EBO genome and proteome. To achieve this, a team of around twenty scientists, four senior scientists and a director was involved. The scientists, like myself, had as their main responsibility to carry out the technical work. As each scientist had to my knowledge a Ph.D., we were all somewhat overqualified for what is ultimately a technician's job. The senior scientists, who make full use of their diplomas, had the task of designing the assays and had a supervisory responsibility. They were also in charge of training new employees, and sometimes even came in to do technical work. The director, of course, was the person in charge who dictated priorities to the senior scientists. He was rarely on site, and the few times he was, it was to attend meetings. Other than the scientific staff, there were security guards working for one subcontractor or another. There were no support staff such as janitors or maintenance workers. Scientists were responsible for this kind of work. In addition, logistical constraints ensure that every scientist is capable of carrying out any technical activity.
The laboratory itself is located in Fort Detrick, Maryland, in a building used for legitimate biomedical research. The clandestine operations are carried out in a restricted part of the basement, out of sight from regular workers. Contrary to what one might imagine, the biosafety level is not maximal for this type of research. Indeed, the lab containing EBO samples or derived cell cultures is BSL3, while the lab where assays are conducted are only BSL2. The BSL3 area of the facility includes a freezer room and a cell culture lab and is only accessible through an antechamber from the BSL2 section. EBO carcasses are preserved in horizontal freezers at a temperature of -80°C nominal. To maximize the preservation of these carcasses, they are preserved in vacuum bags and the air in the room is controlled to minimize humidity. There are only four bodies and none of them are complete. It's obvious that these creatures have died as a result of major trauma. I've never witnessed a motorcycle accident fatality, but it probably looks similar to this. It is acknowledged that there are more EBOs caracasses at other locations. The cell culture laboratory, as its name suggests, is where cell lines derived from EBOs are grown and related activities are performed. I'll talk in more detail about these specific cell lines later on. The BSL2 part is mainly used for assays, immunohistochemistry, genetic engineering, immunocytochemistry, storage etc. There's also a cell culture lab, but this is used for more traditional cell lines. Other than the labs, there are all the amenities you could find in an office. Note that the internet access is limited to senior staff and up. There is, however, an intranet for bioinformatics needs.
On the subject of the biology of these beings, I'll start by discussing genetics, then their gross anatomy and finally their biological systems. For the sake of clarity, the information that I provide here is an aggregation of what I have observed and what I have read. I will make many comparisons with human anatomy because it is the most logical reference.
Genetics:
First, I'd like to discuss their genetics. Their genetics are like ours, based on DNA. This fact was very puzzling for me when I first learned about it. We imagine that beings from an alternate biosphere would have genetics based on a completely foreign biochemical system and surprisingly, this is not the case. Several conclusions can be drawn from this surprising revelation. The one that immediately comes to mind is that our biosphere and theirs share a common ancestry. They're eukaryotes, which means their cells have nuclei containing genetic material. Which suggests that their biosphere would have been separated from ours sometime after the appearance of this type of organism. The term Exo-Biospheric-Organism is actually a misnomer, but as it's a historical term, it's still used. Their genetics are not only based on the same genetic system, but they’re also even compatible with our own cellular machinery. This means that you can take a human gene and insert it into an EBO cell, and that gene will be translated into protein, and this of course works in reverse with a human gene inserted into an EBO cell. There are important differences in post-translational modifications that will make the final protein non-functional, but I'll discuss these later. Their genome consists of 16 circular chromosomes.
You're probably familiar with the concept of intergenic region or "junk DNA". These are basically DNA sequences that don't code for proteins. These are evolutionary residues, transposons, inactivated genes and so on. To give you an idea, in humans, intergenic regions represent approximately 99% of our genome. I'm aware that these sequences aren't completely useless, they can be used as histone anchors, as buffers to protect coding DNA from radiation or even as alternative open reading frames, but that's rather peripheral.
What's particularly striking about the EBO genome is the uniformity of these intergenic regions. We see the same sequences repeated everywhere, and the distance in bp between the genes is virtually the same throughout their genome. The result is a minimalist, highly condensed genome. In fact, it's much smaller than ours. Moreover, the quantity of protein-coding genes is even significantly lower than ours, probably due to genetic refinement but also to biological processes that are absent in EBO. The uniformity of these sequences is a major indication of the artificiality of these beings. There is no complex organism on earth that has such elegance in its sequences. There is no evolutionary pressure that can lead to this kind of characteristic other than genetic engineering.
Speaking of genetic engineering, following sequencing of their genomes, we noticed a troubling and universal characteristic in the 5' of the regulatory sequence of each gene which we call the Tri-Palindromic Region. The TPR are 134bp sequences containing, as its name suggests, 3 palindromes. In genetics, a palindrome is a DNA sequence that when read in the same direction, gives the same sequence on both DNA strands. They serve both as a flag and as a binding site for proteins. The three palindromes in the TPR are distinct from one another and have been poetically named "5'P TPR", "M TPR" and "3' TPR". The TPR is composed (in 5' - 3' order) of 5'P TPR, 12bp spacer, Chromosomal address, 12bp spacer, M TPR, 12bp spacer, Gene address, 12pb spacer and 3' TPR. The chromosomal address is composed of 4 bp and is identical in each TPR of the same chromosome, but distinct between each of the 16 chromosomes of the genome. The Gene address is a 64bp sequence that is unique for each gene in the whole genome. It's therefore understandable that the TPR serves as a unique address not only for numerically identifying a gene, but also for identifying its chromosomal location. For those with only a basic knowledge of genetics, this is completely unheard of. No living thing in our biosphere has this kind of precise address in its genome. Once again, the presence of TPR cannot be explained by evolutionary pressure but only by genetic engineering on a genomic scale.
TPR opens the door to several possibilities. One of them suggests that EBO geneticists can insert or remove a gene from a cell in a way that is far more targeted and efficient than our technology allows. No proteins have been identified in the EBO genome that interacts with TPR. Rather, we believe that these proteins are exclusively targeted by external genetic engineering tools, probably used at the zygotic stage of embryonic development. The nature of these tools is unclear, but we definitely don't have anything like them. The probable absence of these proteins from the genome is a further indication of their artificiality. Given the high probability of artificiality of their genome and the apparent ease of modifying it with biomolecular tools, it's not out of the question that there could be polymorphism between individuals depending on their role and function. In other words, an individual could be genetically designed to have characteristics that give it an advantage in performing a given task, like soldier ants and worker ants in an anthill. Note that these previous statements are speculation. To my knowledge only one individual genome has been sequenced, I can't make a definitive statement on genetic variation between individuals.
I've talked a lot about intergenic regions, now I'll briefly discuss intragenic sequences. Briefly, because there's not a lot less to say despite its obvious importance. Much like ours, their genes have silencers, enhancers, promoters, 5'UTRs, exons, introns, 3' UTRs etc. There are many genes analogous to ours, which is not surprising given the compatibility of our cellular machinery. What's disturbing is that some genes correspond directly, nucleotide by nucleotide, with known human genes or even some animal genes. For these genes, there doesn't seem to be any artificial refinement but rather a crude copying and pasting. Why they do it is nebulous and still subject to conjecture. There are also many genes which are not found in our biosphere whose role has not been identified. Finding the purpose of these novel genes is one of the aims of the program. I'd like to note before going any further that this heterogeneity of genes of known and unknown origin is an undeniable proof of the artificiality of EBOs.
To conclude with genetics, the mitochondrial genome, at the time I was working there, had not yet been sequenced. It's safe to assume that this genome would also be streamlined and possibly has some version of TPR.
Transcription and translation and protein expression.
I briefly introduced the differences in post-translational modifications between human and EBO. This is hardly a surprise, as we often see the same thing between different terrestrial species. Obtaining a viable protein from a DNA sequence is a complex process involving hundreds of protein intermediates, each with a precise and essential role. A minor variation in this assembly line can lead to functional irregularities in the final product. So, it's no surprise that there are setbacks along the way when the first EBO gene transfection attempts failed to produce the desired functional protein in human cell lines. Fortunately for us, the work of what I imagine to be another team at another site has led to the development of an EBO cell line named EPI-G11 derived from epithelial tissues. With this tool in our hands, we were able to transfect and overexpress proteins of interest in order to eventually purify and study them. For your information, we use a biological ballistics delivery system (AKA gene gun) for our transfection needs because other methods are not very effective with cells of this line. For example, the viral vectors tested cannot be internalized by EPI-G11 and lipofection is too lethal. EPI-G11, like most eukaryotic cell lines, enters a phase of exponential growth when exposed to Fetal Bovine Serum. It's only half surprising that a cell line from such an exotic source should be sensitive to the growth factors present in FBS. In my opinion, this can be explained by the addition of animal genes to the genome, such as growth receptors.
Gross anatomy:
They are morphologically very similar to the grey aliens that are part of modern folklore. Their height is about 150cm, they have two arms, two legs and a head. Still, there are some notable differences.
Skin: The grey skin that is often described in folklore is in fact a biosynthetic film which, likely, serves to protect the EBO from a hostile environment. It doesn't provide effective protection against temperature changes, but it does offer adequate protection against the passage of liquids. It's possible that this film confers other advantages but my knowledge on the subject is limited. Under the grey film, the epidermis is rather white, and the texture is very regular and without any hair. We do not see any defect other than the folds near the joints. It's described as greasy in one report, but that's not something I've observed. The same report states that a strong, lingering smell of burnt hair and ammonia is present when the film is removed. There are a lot of pores on the skin, crossing from the epidermis to a gland in the hypodermis. These glands and pores are the terminal part of the excretory-sudoriferous system, which could explain the previously mentioned smell.
Head: The head contains two large, oversized eyes, two nostrils without protuberance, a narrow mouth without lips and two ear canals without auricles. There is a mandible, but the musculature is vestigial. There are no teeth or tongue in the oral cavity. The nasal cavity where the nostrils meet is compact and does not rise cranially but extends axially. There appears to be no equivalent to the olfactory bulb in the nasal cavity. The mouth leads directly to the esophagus and the nasal cavity to the trachea. The trachea and esophagus do not communicate.
Eye: Like the skin, the eyes are covered with a semi-transparent biosynthetic film that offers the same environmental protection, while providing protection against certain wavelengths and light intensity. When the film is removed, a more traditional eye is revealed. It's about three times larger than a human eye and there are no eyelids. The size of their eyes suggests they have excellent night vision. It seems paradoxical to cover them with a semi-opaque film. Perhaps they only need to wear it in a bright environment. Their sclera is the same color as their skin, the iris is pale grey, and the pupil is black and oversized. The lens is rounder than a human, and the musculature used to adjust focus is more developed. On the retina, there are at least 6 types of cone cells. The responsiveness of each of these 6 types of cone is specific to a wavelength band, with a minimum of overlap between each other. The result is a broader visible spectrum.
Ear: As mentioned, the outer ear has no auricle and the ear canal is unremarkable. The inner ear has all the characteristics of a typical vestibular and cochlear system, although the curvature of the cochlea is more pronounced than a human. This probably results in greater hearing acuity for low frequencies.
Brain: The brain is tetraspheric, i.e. composed of four major sections. The sections are separated by transverse and longitudinal fissures and are connected to the central lobe, which acts as brainstem and cerebellum. The volume of the brain is around 20% superior to that of a man of the same height. It has a much more pronounced level of gyrication than an average human. Moreover, the ratio of glial cells to neurons is also slightly higher than in humans. It is important to mention the presence of nodules on the central lobe. Histological analysis of these structures reveals a kind of intricate biological circuitry. It is speculated that these nodules are essential to interact with their technology. Consequently, determining the proteome of these structures is an absolute priority for the program.
Neck: The neck is proportionally longer than that of a human, and at the same time relatively thin. As mentioned, the esophagus and trachea are separate. There are no vocal cords in this region.
Thorax: The musculature of the thorax is underdeveloped. Muscles equivalent to the pectoralis major can be seen. We can also see the trapezius and deltoid muscles. The sternocleidomastoids are well defined. The ribs and sternum are clearly visible. There are no nipples.
Abdomen: The abdomen is wider than the thorax and bulges slightly forward. There is no navel.
Pelvis: The pelvic bones are apparent. There are no genitals or anus.
Hands and feets: Their hands have four digits, including an opposable thumb on the medial side. They have no nails, and the texture of their fingerprints is composed of concentric circles. Fingers are proportionally much longer than in humans. Unlike humans, finger musculature is entirely intrinsic to the hand. In other words, the muscles used to move the fingers are not in the forearms but entirely located in the hands. At first glance, the feet consist of just two digits, but a necropsy soon determined that each toe was made of two fused digits. The medial toe is marginally longer than the distal toe. The feet are relatively longer and narrower than in a human. Their musculature, however, is vestigial.
The EBOs endoskeleton is very similar to ours, at least in terms of composition. There's collagen, hydroxyapatite but also copper oxide crystals where marrow would normally be found. The role of these crystals has not been established, but it is not a crystalopathic condition. The blood cells of the myeloid lineage (or the equivalent for these creatures) therefore mature in a different location than in humans i.e. in the thymus like organ. A transverse section of the bone reveals osteon and osteocytes. There appear to be few osteoblasts and no osteoclasts. This indicates that the bones are no longer growing and cannot absorb the minerals present or adapt mechanically to changes in posture.
Biological system:
Respiratory system: Their cellular respiration is equivalent to ours, i.e. they need to oxidize organic components to produce energy. Their lungs have no reciprocating action, but rather have a unidirectional flow of air, similar to those seen in birds, which is more efficient than ours. It is speculated that this is in response to the brain's elevated metabolic needs. Vocalization is produced by vibration of the wall membrane at the junction between the two air sacs.
The Circulatory system of EBOs is rather analogous to ours. The heart is located in the mediastanum, but in a more medial position, directly beneath the sternum. The heart has two ventricles and two atria. There is an aorta, a pulmonary vein, a pulmonary artery and a vena cava. Blood flowing to the pulmonary capillaries via the pulmonary artery is pumped against the flow of air, maximizing gas exchange efficiency. The blood gas barrier is relatively narrow in these capillaries, at least compared to a human. Then oxygen-rich blood is returned to the heart and then expelled into the aorta and the rest of the body. Before returning to the heart, the blood will pass through the hepatorenal organ which, among other things, filters and controls osmotic pressure of the blood.
The blood itself is also analogous to that of a human. However, the proportion of plasma is much higher, albumin is in similar proportion ,hormone levels are much lower, metal ion levels are much higher (particularly copper) and glucose levels are significantly higher. The color of the blood is brownish, given the higher proportion of plasma and concentration of metal ions. On the cellular side, there are erythrocytes which, in addition to hemoglobin for binding oxygen, display several complexes capable of binding copper ions. It's not clear what role these copper ions play but we believe it neutralizes blood ammonia, among other things. Several cell types with leukocyte characteristics have been observed, but no comprehensive knowledge of them exists. Platelets are present, but in smaller proportions than in humans.
Excreto-sudoriferous system: This system is completely different from what I've seen. As mentioned earlier, there is no large orifice, like an anus or urethra, to get rid of biological waste. Instead, there are countless small pores on the surface of the skin. There's a large medial organ called the hepatorenal organ, which acts as both kidney and liver and is central to maintaining homeostasis. This organ is highly vascularized and the blood must pass through it before returning to the heart. Its role is, among other things, to purify the blood of metabolic waste. Waste is excreted into the equivalent of a ureter, which branches out into four. Each branch flows towards one of the four limbs and in turn these branches divide until they end up as thousands of excretory pores. The motility of this excretory system is mediated by a weak peristalsis at the proximal level and on the four main branches. Peristalsis ceases around the first distal junction. As there is no urea cycle, the ammonia concentration at the exit of the hepatorenal organ is very high. This ammonia is carried to the pores and gives the distinct odor I mentioned earlier. The rationale behind this unusual excretory system is directly related to this excreted ammonia, which enables thermoregulation by evaporating on the skin's surface. The greater the physical effort, the greater the metabolism. This in turn leads to a rise in temperature, and a corresponding increase in metabolic waste via amino acid catabolism. This leads to an increase in filtration and ammonia excretion, which ultimately lowers body temperature.
Digestive system: The digestive system is extremely underdeveloped. There's no there is no stomach in the familiar sense. However, there is a pseudo-stomach located at the transition between the thoracic and abdominal cavities. This organ is not involved in digestion, but only serves as a reservoir. A sphincter controls the flow of food into the intestine. The intestine is limited to the equivalent of our small intestine, i.e. it only serves to absorb liquids and nutrients and acts as the main digestion site. It has villi and microvilli like ours. The intestine ends in the hepato-renal organ, where non-digested matter is transported to the ureter and excretory system. Residues are dissolved in the ammonia of metabolic waste for excretion. There's an organ near the pseudostomachal sphincter that secretes digestive enzymes directly into the intestine. This organ is inspirationally called the digestive organ. It secretes mainly proteolytic enzymes and glycoside hydrolases.
Given the absence of teeth, the narrowness and rigidity of the esophagus, the absence of a true stomach and the absence of defecation, it is strongly believed that EBOs can only consume food in liquid form. It is assumed that, given the high metabolic needs of their brains, this food would have a high carbohydrate concentration. In order to meet other metabolic needs, there must also be a high protein content in the food consumed. These two statements are supported by the type of enzyme secreted by the digestive organ. It is therefore speculated that the food consumed is a sort of broth rich in sugar and protein, which probably also has a high copper content. Given the strict limitations on the type of food that they can consume, it's unlikely that this type of creature could survive in our biosphere without technological support.
Endocrine system: Knowledge of the endocrine system is minimal. We know that cells are receptive to bovine growth hormones, so it's assumed that certain functions are regulated by such a system. Endocrine mechanisms are very complex, and it goes without saying that they are best studied on living subjects.
Immune system: The immune system is another unknown. There seems to be an innate immune system but there doesn't seem to be any adaptive immunity, at least not similar to what is known. There's a thymus-like organ near the heart that's proportionally larger than in humans. This organ seems to be where all blood cells mature. Some cells have leukocyte characteristics such as granularity. The immune cells that germinate here have a high copper concentration. The surface receptors of innate immune cells have not yet been characterized, so we might as well say that all the work remains to be done.
Nervous system: The nervous system is also relatively similar. The spinal cord begins at the base of the central lobe of the brain and propagates down the vertebral column. In the vertebrae there are ganglia made of afferent and efferent neurons. In short, other than the CNS, there is nothing out of the ordinary.
Musculoskeletal system: The musculoskeletal system is very ordinary, albeit underdeveloped. Most of the human skeletal muscles have an equivalent. Only the hands, feet and forearms are different. It should be noted that the proportion of type 1 and type 2 muscle fibers is different from that in a human. Indeed, type 1 outnumbers type 2 by about a factor of 10.
Artificial system: We speculate that artificial molecular machines may be present in the body, and that copper, if present, would be essential to their function or assembly. Importantly, no AMMs have been observed.
Question 1: Amazing story. Have you shared this with the Senate Select Commission on Intelligence or with AARO and do you have evidence to back this up?
Thank you, no I haven't and no I won't. It sounds like a honey trap to me. I will not place my life in the hands of politicians. I have no proof other than this message. I know it's not much but it's what I'm prepared to offer
Question 2: Well that was a read ... So they are bio engineered worker bees... Any elemental components that are unutributal to our biome ?
Yes, knowing that they're disposable, unable to live independently without technological support, and that they're ephemeral. The only suitable hypothesis is that they are alive only to accomplish their task. Can you clarify your question about elemental components?
Question 3: I havent read everything in detail but can you expend on the document on their religion?
EBOs believe that the soul is not an extension of the individual, but rather a fundamental characteristic of nature that expresses itself as a field, not unlike gravity. In the presence of life, this field acquires complexity, resulting in negative entropy if that makes sense. This gain in complexity is directly correlated with the concentration of living organisms in a given location. With time, and with the right conditions, life in turn becomes more complex until the appearance of sentient life. After reaching this threshold, the field begins to express itself through these sentient beings, forming what we call the soul. Through their life experiences, sentient beings will in turn influence the field in a sort of positive feedback loop. This in turn further accelerates the complexity of the field. Eventually, when the field reaches a "critical mass", there will be a sort of apotheosis. It's not clear what this means in practical terms, but this quest for apotheosis seems to be the EBOs main motivation.
The author of the document added his reflections and interpretations as an appendix. He specified that, for them, the soul field is not a belief but an obvious truth. He also argues that the soul loses its individuality after death, but that memory and experience persist as part of the field. This fact would influence the philosophy and culture of EBOs, resulting in a society that doesn't fear death but which places no importance or reverence on individuality. This "belief" compels them to seed life, shape it, nurture it, monitor it and influence it for the ultimate purpose of creating this apotheosis. Paradoxically, they have little or no respect for an individual's well-being.
Please be advised that I'm speaking from memory of something I read more than 10 years ago, so take the following with a grain of salt. Also, I'm not a philosopher or an artist, so please excuse my struggle to properly formulate the concepts and my dry terminology. Finally, note that this information comes from a document whose author was directly interacting with an EBO. It is not specified whether it was an ambassador, a crash survivor, a prisoner. The means of communication were not specified either.
Question 4: Wtf he dropped the location of the lab
Battelle National Biodefense Institute. It is on google map

​

Happy Saturday, folks! Here's the latest ancient news:

• Mounds Identified as Oldest Man-Made Structures in North America — Researchers tested sediment core samples from Mound B at Louisiana State University in the U.S. They found ash from reed and cane plants, as well as burned osteons (small functional units of compact bones), which date the start of the mound’s construction to roughly 8000 BCE. I believe I’m correct in saying that this pushes the date of mound building in North America back by about 4,500 years (Watson Brake is from 3500 BCE). The mound was then apparently abandoned 8,200 years ago at a time when temperatures dropped substantially in the northern hemisphere, and was then reconstructed 6,000 years ago. The crest of the final mound may align with the star known as Arcturus. And the plants that I mentioned were likely burned ceremonially, possibly for animal cremations. I think it’s important to mention here that the vast majority of mounds (I’ve heard as high as 90%) in North America have been plowed or otherwise destroyed over the years, so there are huge holes in the data set.
• Map May Confirm the Legend of the Mysterious Lost Sunken Welsh Kingdom of Cantre’r Gwaelod in the Black Book of Carmarthen — This is a fun one. Cantre'r Gwaelod (AKA the “Welsh Atlantis”) is a legendary lost kingdom which is said to be beneath the waters of Cardigan Bay. In a geographical study that recently made headlines, scientists examined the medieval “Gough Map”, which is the earliest surviving complete map of the British Isles, and noted that it shows two islands off the coast of Wales. According to Simon Haslett, “The Gough Map is extraordinarily accurate considering the surveying tools they would have had at their disposal at that time… The two islands are clearly marked and may corroborate contemporary accounts of a lost land mentioned in the Black Book of Carmarthen.” The Black Book of Carmarthen was written in roughly 1250 CE, about 30 years before the Gough Map was created, and contains the first known mention of Cantre’r Gwaelod. Haslett believes that the Gough Map, along with coordinates that were recorded by Ptolemy, suggests that the coastline was 8 miles farther west than today — and that the legend may be rooted in fact.
• Human Ancestors Were Walking Upright 7 Million Years Ago, Ancient Limb Bone Suggests — According to a new study, a 7-million-year-old thighbone and two lower arm bones found in the Djurab Desert of Chad suggest that Sahelanthropus tchadensis walked upright. While the evidence is not conclusive, this would mean that Sahelanthropus tchadensis was walking upright 1 million years before the earliest known bipedal hominin, and that walking upright was one of the first distinguishing traits of our human lineage.
• Ancient Site — With a Mysterious Purpose — Emerges from Dry Lake in Europe’s Drought — Last week I covered a complex of standing stones discovered in Spain. Well, here’s one that was recently rediscovered. The Dolmen of Guadalperal can once again be seen due to drought. It is located at the bottom of the Valdecañas reservoir in Spain, where it has (usually) been submerged since the building of a dam in 1963. It consists of 150 granite stones, many of which are engraved, but erosion from the water is causing irreparable damage.
• Pottery, swords and jewelry: Rich Stone Age and early medieval graves found in Germany — About 140 graves were found near the Danube River in Germany. Most date to between 500-600 CE, while one dates to the 3rd century BCE. The former contained swords, lances, shields, combs, drinking glasses, and jewelry, while the latter contained pottery. The pottery is decorated by geometric lines created by pressing a cord into the clay, which points to the grave being that of pastoralists called the Corded Ware people — a rare find in southwestern Germany. According to Martin Numberger, “Our Gutmadingen district is probably much older than we previously assumed.”
• First Roman Military Amphitheater Discovered in Israel’s Armageddon — This article is a couple of weeks old but it still made the cut. A Roman amphitheater was recently uncovered near the ancient site of Megiddo (AKA Armageddon), and it’s the first of its kind ever found in the Southern Levant. It seems to have been built for the local military base in a depression made by locals digging for clay. Side note: Maybe I’m showing my ignorance here, but did you know that “Armageddon” is an ancient city where the armies of the world were prophesied to gather at the end of times? I always thought it was just a synonym for the apocalypse — shows how much I know!
• Humans Lived in the Qal-e Kord Caves 400,000 Years Ago – Oldest Settlement in Iran Found? — The oldest known settlement in Iran was recently discovered in the Qal-e Kord Caves in Qazvin province, with preliminary dating putting it at 400,000 years old. The dating and the stone tools found at the site indicate that the human species might have been Homo heidelbergensis or even Homo erectus. Animal remains were also found, including the bones of horses, deer, brown bears, and rhinoceroses.
• Analysis of Everyday Tools Challenges Long-Held Ideas About What Drove Major Changes in Ancient Greek Society — Crete underwent a huge amount of cultural change about 3,500 years ago, which could be traced to the nearby Mycenaean culture. We’re talking new language, economic system, burial customs, clothing, and more. Because of this, along with the destruction of many sites, it was thought that the Mycenaeans invaded. But a new analysis of everyday obsidian tools points to something more complex. The sourcing, creation, and use of the tools indicate that the day-to-day of the Cretans remained as it had been for thousands of years. This doesn’t mean that there wasn’t an invasion; simply that there was demographic continuity. The researchers believe that the broad cultural changes were due to the strategic alignment of local elites with Mycenaean powers. According to Tristan Carter, “Rather than wholescale cultural change, our study has found evidence of significant continuity after the alleged invasion. While new practices can be initiated through external forces such as invasion, migration, colonialism, or cross-cultural intermarriage, we also know of examples where locals choose to adopt foreign habits to distinguish themselves within their own society.”
• Life of Earliest Modern Humans in Europe Revealed by Excavations Conducted in Romania — Românesti is an important site in southeastern Europe because fossils of early Homo sapiens were found with cultural remains, providing us with a window into how they lived. And a recent study may shed new light. The stone bladelets found there are highly standardized and were probably inserted into arrows or spears. Many of them remain unused. And the unusual grindstones which were found may have actually been used to straighten wooden shafts. All of this has led researchers to suggest that Românesti was actually a projectile workshop.
• Study of Ancient Skulls Sheds Light on Human Interbreeding with Neanderthals — A new study of the facial structure of prehistoric skulls supports a hypothesis that interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals happened primarily in the Near East. After accounting for environmental variables, researchers found that they could use facial features to track the mixing of the populations, and according to Steven Churchill, “Modern Asian populations seem to have more Neanderthal DNA than modern European populations, which is weird—because Neanderthals lived in what is now Europe. That has suggested that Neanderthals interbred with what are now modern humans as our prehistoric ancestors left Africa, but before spreading to Asia… And the evidence shows us that the Near East was an important crossroads, both geographically and in the context of human evolution.”
• 'Extraordinary' Tunnel Found at Alfred the Great's Resting Place — Archaeologists discovered a rumored water tunnel near Hyde Abbey in Winchester, England. It is thought that the tunnel once supplied water to the refectory, kitchens, and infirmary of the abbey, as well as the latrines of the dormitory. According to Martin Biddle, “The discovery of a sophisticated example of a vaulted channel, probably late medieval, is extraordinary.”
• Archaeologists Find a Prehistoric Settlement and Skeletal Remains in Southern Slovakia — A prehistoric site was discovered in Levice, Slovakia. More than 200 items have been examined, dating to several periods, the oldest being about 5000 BCE. They also discovered a ditch and several graves.
• Fascinating Discovery – First Female Viking Grave Discovered In Swedish Mountains — A 1,200-year-old brooch was found by a hiker as he was securing his tent in the mountains of Sweden about a year ago. Now, he has reported the find and the site has been excavated. Burned bones were found, suggesting a cremation burial, as was another brooch. It is believed to be a woman’s grave. Only five other Viking graves have been found in the mountains (all men), making this quite rare. Further excavations may take place in a year or so.
• Glacial Archaeologists Find Arrow in Melting Ice — The team that found the 1,700-year-old arrow that I covered in issue #12 has struck again. They found another remarkably intact arrow in a melting ice patch in the mountains of Norway. It has an iron arrowhead and dates to 1500 BP, which is pre-Viking.
• Receding Water Levels of China's Yangtze Reveal Ancient Buddhist Statues — I’ve covered a number of ancient sites that have been revealed by low water levels lately. Well, here’s another. The Yangtze River’s levels have decreased due to drought and a submerged island has been revealed in Chongqing, China. Three buddhist statues are cut into the bedrock of the island, dating to about 600 years ago. One depicts a monk on a lotus pedestal.
• Beverley: Archaeologists Unearth Suspected Medieval Pub in Dig — A large number of pottery beakers and jugs, along with sheep and cattle bones, a knife, chisels, jewelry, and traces of smaller buildings, were found in East Yorkshire, England. Researchers suggest that it is either a pub or a hostelry from the 13th century.
• Ancient Idol of Lord Vishnu Found During Excavation, Huge Crowd of Devotees Gather for Darshan — Another statue of Vishnu has been found in India (see issue #24 for the other). While rebuilding a temple, villagers of Patara village came across the idol, which is about a meter tall and half a meter wide.
• Burials Discovered in Peru’s Vichama Archaeological Complex — Burials and a possible dwelling were found during excavations at the Vichama archaeological complex in Peru. In the burial bundles, archaeologists found two toads, cotton-working tools, and worked mollusk shells. The toads may have been significant at Vichama, as they decorated some buildings. The grave goods have been dated to 3,800 years ago.
• Luxurious 1,200-Year-Old Mansion Found in Southern Israel — A fancy home dating back to the 8th or 9th century has been found in Rahat, Israel. It is built around a courtyard, has four wings, and one section has stone floors and elaborate decorations on the walls. Shards of decorated glass serving dishes and subterranean vaults made of stone were also found.
• Archaeologists Find 3,000-Year-Old Artifacts at Popular Tourist Site — Arrowheads, flint tools, an awl made of deer bone, human figurines, and ceramics dating to 1200-600 BCE have been discovered in the Bosque de Chapultepec in Mexico. Also found was a small vessel that still contains traces of cinnabar (a red form of mercury used for decoration). The artifacts had been intentionally broken and exposed to fire. These are the oldest finds at the site, doubling its known age. It’s an unusual find for the period since it is not directly related to a burial zone.
• Giant Phallic Carving from Roman Period Found During Excavations in Córdoba — One of the largest phallus carvings of the Roman period was found at the base of a building in the archaeological site of El Higuerón in Spain. It’s nearly half a meter in length. The girth remains undisclosed.
• A pre-Hispanic canoe or Wampo burial in Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina — A burial in a wooden structure which is either a wampo (small canoe), or a representation of one, has been discovered in the Patagonian region of Argentina. The belief that the dead must voyage across a body of water by boat to get to their final resting place continues to be held by the area’s Mapuche society today. Fascinating how common that specific belief is across cultures. This is the first such burial found in Argentinian Patagonia and the southernmost example in South America. A grave offering of pottery was also found in the grave, which is characteristic of the Late Pottery period (880 BP).
• The Complex of Bilge Kagan and Kultigin’s Father, İlteriş Kagan, Was Found in Mongolia — Results of an excavation in the Ötüken region of Mongolia were announced recently. According to Darhan Kıdırali, “Based on the information obtained from the monument text, it was concluded that the Nomgon complex was dedicated to Kul Tigin and Bilge Kağan’s father, İlteriş Kutluk Kağan, who revived the Göktürk Khanate. It is accepted as the oldest written monument of the Gokturk period, where the name ‘Türk’ was mentioned for the first time.” İlteriş Kagan ruled from 682–691 CE. There is a ditch around the complex, along with the remains of a castle. The site also boasts a stone altar, stone human figures, a lion statue with two cubs, two sheep statues, and a whopping 51 balbal stones.

Thanks for reading the news section of Ancient Beat — have a great weekend!

Happy Saturday, folks! Here's the latest ancient news 😀

• Mounds Identified as Oldest Man-Made Structures in North America — Researchers tested sediment core samples from Mound B at Louisiana State University in the U.S. They found ash from reed and cane plants, as well as burned osteons (small functional units of compact bones), which date the start of the mound’s construction to roughly 8000 BCE. I believe I’m correct in saying that this pushes the date of mound building in North America back by about 4,500 years (Watson Brake is from 3500 BCE). The mound was then apparently abandoned 8,200 years ago at a time when temperatures dropped substantially in the northern hemisphere, and was then reconstructed 6,000 years ago. The crest of the final mound may align with the star known as Arcturus. And the plants that I mentioned were likely burned ceremonially, possibly for animal cremations. I think it’s important to mention here that the vast majority of mounds (I’ve heard as high as 90%) in North America have been plowed or otherwise destroyed over the years, so there are huge holes in the data set.
• Map May Confirm the Legend of the Mysterious Lost Sunken Welsh Kingdom of Cantre’r Gwaelod in the Black Book of Carmarthen — This is a fun one. Cantre'r Gwaelod (AKA the “Welsh Atlantis”) is a legendary lost kingdom which is said to be beneath the waters of Cardigan Bay. In a geographical study that recently made headlines, scientists examined the medieval “Gough Map”, which is the earliest surviving complete map of the British Isles, and noted that it shows two islands off the coast of Wales. According to Simon Haslett, “The Gough Map is extraordinarily accurate considering the surveying tools they would have had at their disposal at that time… The two islands are clearly marked and may corroborate contemporary accounts of a lost land mentioned in the Black Book of Carmarthen.” The Black Book of Carmarthen was written in roughly 1250 CE, about 30 years before the Gough Map was created, and contains the first known mention of Cantre’r Gwaelod. Haslett believes that the Gough Map, along with coordinates that were recorded by Ptolemy, suggests that the coastline was 8 miles farther west than today — and that the legend may be rooted in fact.
• Human Ancestors Were Walking Upright 7 Million Years Ago, Ancient Limb Bone Suggests — According to a new study, a 7-million-year-old thighbone and two lower arm bones found in the Djurab Desert of Chad suggest that Sahelanthropus tchadensis walked upright. While the evidence is not conclusive, this would mean that Sahelanthropus tchadensis was walking upright 1 million years before the earliest known bipedal hominin, and that walking upright was one of the first distinguishing traits of our human lineage.
• Ancient Site — With a Mysterious Purpose — Emerges from Dry Lake in Europe’s Drought — Last week I covered a complex of standing stones discovered in Spain. Well, here’s one that was recently rediscovered. The Dolmen of Guadalperal can once again be seen due to drought. It is located at the bottom of the Valdecañas reservoir in Spain, where it has (usually) been submerged since the building of a dam in 1963. It consists of 150 granite stones, many of which are engraved, but erosion from the water is causing irreparable damage.
• Pottery, swords and jewelry: Rich Stone Age and early medieval graves found in Germany — About 140 graves were found near the Danube River in Germany. Most date to between 500-600 CE, while one dates to the 3rd century BCE. The former contained swords, lances, shields, combs, drinking glasses, and jewelry, while the latter contained pottery. The pottery is decorated by geometric lines created by pressing a cord into the clay, which points to the grave being that of pastoralists called the Corded Ware people — a rare find in southwestern Germany. According to Martin Numberger, “Our Gutmadingen district is probably much older than we previously assumed.”
• First Roman Military Amphitheater Discovered in Israel’s Armageddon — This article is a couple of weeks old but it still made the cut. A Roman amphitheater was recently uncovered near the ancient site of Megiddo (AKA Armageddon), and it’s the first of its kind ever found in the Southern Levant. It seems to have been built for the local military base in a depression made by locals digging for clay. Side note: Maybe I’m showing my ignorance here, but did you know that “Armageddon” is an ancient city where the armies of the world were prophesied to gather at the end of times? I always thought it was just a synonym for the apocalypse — shows how much I know!
• Humans Lived in the Qal-e Kord Caves 400,000 Years Ago – Oldest Settlement in Iran Found? — The oldest known settlement in Iran was recently discovered in the Qal-e Kord Caves in Qazvin province, with preliminary dating putting it at 400,000 years old. The dating and the stone tools found at the site indicate that the human species might have been Homo heidelbergensis or even Homo erectus. Animal remains were also found, including the bones of horses, deer, brown bears, and rhinoceroses.
• Analysis of Everyday Tools Challenges Long-Held Ideas About What Drove Major Changes in Ancient Greek Society — Crete underwent a huge amount of cultural change about 3,500 years ago, which could be traced to the nearby Mycenaean culture. We’re talking new language, economic system, burial customs, clothing, and more. Because of this, along with the destruction of many sites, it was thought that the Mycenaeans invaded. But a new analysis of everyday obsidian tools points to something more complex. The sourcing, creation, and use of the tools indicate that the day-to-day of the Cretans remained as it had been for thousands of years. This doesn’t mean that there wasn’t an invasion; simply that there was demographic continuity. The researchers believe that the broad cultural changes were due to the strategic alignment of local elites with Mycenaean powers. According to Tristan Carter, “Rather than wholescale cultural change, our study has found evidence of significant continuity after the alleged invasion. While new practices can be initiated through external forces such as invasion, migration, colonialism, or cross-cultural intermarriage, we also know of examples where locals choose to adopt foreign habits to distinguish themselves within their own society.”
• Life of Earliest Modern Humans in Europe Revealed by Excavations Conducted in Romania — Românesti is an important site in southeastern Europe because fossils of early Homo sapiens were found with cultural remains, providing us with a window into how they lived. And a recent study may shed new light. The stone bladelets found there are highly standardized and were probably inserted into arrows or spears. Many of them remain unused. And the unusual grindstones which were found may have actually been used to straighten wooden shafts. All of this has led researchers to suggest that Românesti was actually a projectile workshop.
• Study of Ancient Skulls Sheds Light on Human Interbreeding with Neanderthals — A new study of the facial structure of prehistoric skulls supports a hypothesis that interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals happened primarily in the Near East. After accounting for environmental variables, researchers found that they could use facial features to track the mixing of the populations, and according to Steven Churchill, “Modern Asian populations seem to have more Neanderthal DNA than modern European populations, which is weird—because Neanderthals lived in what is now Europe. That has suggested that Neanderthals interbred with what are now modern humans as our prehistoric ancestors left Africa, but before spreading to Asia… And the evidence shows us that the Near East was an important crossroads, both geographically and in the context of human evolution.”
• 'Extraordinary' Tunnel Found at Alfred the Great's Resting Place — Archaeologists discovered a rumored water tunnel near Hyde Abbey in Winchester, England. It is thought that the tunnel once supplied water to the refectory, kitchens, and infirmary of the abbey, as well as the latrines of the dormitory. According to Martin Biddle, “The discovery of a sophisticated example of a vaulted channel, probably late medieval, is extraordinary.”
• Archaeologists Find a Prehistoric Settlement and Skeletal Remains in Southern Slovakia — A prehistoric site was discovered in Levice, Slovakia. More than 200 items have been examined, dating to several periods, the oldest being about 5000 BCE. They also discovered a ditch and several graves.
• Fascinating Discovery – First Female Viking Grave Discovered In Swedish Mountains — A 1,200-year-old brooch was found by a hiker as he was securing his tent in the mountains of Sweden about a year ago. Now, he has reported the find and the site has been excavated. Burned bones were found, suggesting a cremation burial, as was another brooch. It is believed to be a woman’s grave. Only five other Viking graves have been found in the mountains (all men), making this quite rare. Further excavations may take place in a year or so.
• Glacial Archaeologists Find Arrow in Melting Ice — The team that found the 1,700-year-old arrow that I covered in issue #12 has struck again. They found another remarkably intact arrow in a melting ice patch in the mountains of Norway. It has an iron arrowhead and dates to 1500 BP, which is pre-Viking.
• Receding Water Levels of China's Yangtze Reveal Ancient Buddhist Statues — I’ve covered a number of ancient sites that have been revealed by low water levels lately. Well, here’s another. The Yangtze River’s levels have decreased due to drought and a submerged island has been revealed in Chongqing, China. Three buddhist statues are cut into the bedrock of the island, dating to about 600 years ago. One depicts a monk on a lotus pedestal.
• Beverley: Archaeologists Unearth Suspected Medieval Pub in Dig — A large number of pottery beakers and jugs, along with sheep and cattle bones, a knife, chisels, jewelry, and traces of smaller buildings, were found in East Yorkshire, England. Researchers suggest that it is either a pub or a hostelry from the 13th century.
• Ancient Idol of Lord Vishnu Found During Excavation, Huge Crowd of Devotees Gather for Darshan — Another statue of Vishnu has been found in India (see issue #24 for the other). While rebuilding a temple, villagers of Patara village came across the idol, which is about a meter tall and half a meter wide.
• Burials Discovered in Peru’s Vichama Archaeological Complex — Burials and a possible dwelling were found during excavations at the Vichama archaeological complex in Peru. In the burial bundles, archaeologists found two toads, cotton-working tools, and worked mollusk shells. The toads may have been significant at Vichama, as they decorated some buildings. The grave goods have been dated to 3,800 years ago.
• Luxurious 1,200-Year-Old Mansion Found in Southern Israel — A fancy home dating back to the 8th or 9th century has been found in Rahat, Israel. It is built around a courtyard, has four wings, and one section has stone floors and elaborate decorations on the walls. Shards of decorated glass serving dishes and subterranean vaults made of stone were also found.
• Archaeologists Find 3,000-Year-Old Artifacts at Popular Tourist Site — Arrowheads, flint tools, an awl made of deer bone, human figurines, and ceramics dating to 1200-600 BCE have been discovered in the Bosque de Chapultepec in Mexico. Also found was a small vessel that still contains traces of cinnabar (a red form of mercury used for decoration). The artifacts had been intentionally broken and exposed to fire. These are the oldest finds at the site, doubling its known age. It’s an unusual find for the period since it is not directly related to a burial zone.
• Giant Phallic Carving from Roman Period Found During Excavations in Córdoba — One of the largest phallus carvings of the Roman period was found at the base of a building in the archaeological site of El Higuerón in Spain. It’s nearly half a meter in length. The girth remains undisclosed.
• A pre-Hispanic canoe or Wampo burial in Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina — A burial in a wooden structure which is either a wampo (small canoe), or a representation of one, has been discovered in the Patagonian region of Argentina. The belief that the dead must voyage across a body of water by boat to get to their final resting place continues to be held by the area’s Mapuche society today. Fascinating how common that specific belief is across cultures. This is the first such burial found in Argentinian Patagonia and the southernmost example in South America. A grave offering of pottery was also found in the grave, which is characteristic of the Late Pottery period (880 BP).
• The Complex of Bilge Kagan and Kultigin’s Father, İlteriş Kagan, Was Found in Mongolia — Results of an excavation in the Ötüken region of Mongolia were announced recently. According to Darhan Kıdırali, “Based on the information obtained from the monument text, it was concluded that the Nomgon complex was dedicated to Kul Tigin and Bilge Kağan’s father, İlteriş Kutluk Kağan, who revived the Göktürk Khanate. It is accepted as the oldest written monument of the Gokturk period, where the name ‘Türk’ was mentioned for the first time.” İlteriş Kagan ruled from 682–691 CE. There is a ditch around the complex, along with the remains of a castle. The site also boasts a stone altar, stone human figures, a lion statue with two cubs, two sheep statues, and a whopping 51 balbal stones.

This was the News section of Ancient Beat — thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Happy Saturday! Here's the latest ancient news:

• Mounds Identified as Oldest Man-Made Structures in North America — Researchers tested sediment core samples from Mound B at Louisiana State University in the U.S. They found ash from reed and cane plants, as well as burned osteons (small functional units of compact bones), which date the start of the mound’s construction to roughly 8000 BCE. I believe I’m correct in saying that this pushes the date of mound building in North America back by about 4,500 years (Watson Brake is from 3500 BCE). The mound was then apparently abandoned 8,200 years ago at a time when temperatures dropped substantially in the northern hemisphere, and was then reconstructed 6,000 years ago. The crest of the final mound may align with the star known as Arcturus. And the plants that I mentioned were likely burned ceremonially, possibly for animal cremations. I think it’s important to mention here that the vast majority of mounds (I’ve heard as high as 90%) in North America have been plowed or otherwise destroyed over the years, so there are huge holes in the data set.
• Map May Confirm the Legend of the Mysterious Lost Sunken Welsh Kingdom of Cantre’r Gwaelod in the Black Book of Carmarthen — This is a fun one. Cantre'r Gwaelod (AKA the “Welsh Atlantis”) is a legendary lost kingdom which is said to be beneath the waters of Cardigan Bay. In a geographical study that recently made headlines, scientists examined the medieval “Gough Map”, which is the earliest surviving complete map of the British Isles, and noted that it shows two islands off the coast of Wales. According to Simon Haslett, “The Gough Map is extraordinarily accurate considering the surveying tools they would have had at their disposal at that time… The two islands are clearly marked and may corroborate contemporary accounts of a lost land mentioned in the Black Book of Carmarthen.” The Black Book of Carmarthen was written in roughly 1250 CE, about 30 years before the Gough Map was created, and contains the first known mention of Cantre’r Gwaelod. Haslett believes that the Gough Map, along with coordinates that were recorded by Ptolemy, suggests that the coastline was 8 miles farther west than today — and that the legend may be rooted in fact.
• Human Ancestors Were Walking Upright 7 Million Years Ago, Ancient Limb Bone Suggests — According to a new study, a 7-million-year-old thighbone and two lower arm bones found in the Djurab Desert of Chad suggest that Sahelanthropus tchadensis walked upright. While the evidence is not conclusive, this would mean that Sahelanthropus tchadensis was walking upright 1 million years before the earliest known bipedal hominin, and that walking upright was one of the first distinguishing traits of our human lineage.
• Ancient Site — With a Mysterious Purpose — Emerges from Dry Lake in Europe’s Drought — Last week I covered a complex of standing stones discovered in Spain. Well, here’s one that was recently rediscovered. The Dolmen of Guadalperal can once again be seen due to drought. It is located at the bottom of the Valdecañas reservoir in Spain, where it has (usually) been submerged since the building of a dam in 1963. It consists of 150 granite stones, many of which are engraved, but erosion from the water is causing irreparable damage.
• Pottery, swords and jewelry: Rich Stone Age and early medieval graves found in Germany — About 140 graves were found near the Danube River in Germany. Most date to between 500-600 CE, while one dates to the 3rd century BCE. The former contained swords, lances, shields, combs, drinking glasses, and jewelry, while the latter contained pottery. The pottery is decorated by geometric lines created by pressing a cord into the clay, which points to the grave being that of pastoralists called the Corded Ware people — a rare find in southwestern Germany. According to Martin Numberger, “Our Gutmadingen district is probably much older than we previously assumed.”
• First Roman Military Amphitheater Discovered in Israel’s Armageddon — This article is a couple of weeks old but it still made the cut. A Roman amphitheater was recently uncovered near the ancient site of Megiddo (AKA Armageddon), and it’s the first of its kind ever found in the Southern Levant. It seems to have been built for the local military base in a depression made by locals digging for clay. Side note: Maybe I’m showing my ignorance here, but did you know that “Armageddon” is an ancient city where the armies of the world were prophesied to gather at the end of times? I always thought it was just a synonym for the apocalypse — shows how much I know!
• Humans Lived in the Qal-e Kord Caves 400,000 Years Ago – Oldest Settlement in Iran Found? — The oldest known settlement in Iran was recently discovered in the Qal-e Kord Caves in Qazvin province, with preliminary dating putting it at 400,000 years old. The dating and the stone tools found at the site indicate that the human species might have been Homo heidelbergensis or even Homo erectus. Animal remains were also found, including the bones of horses, deer, brown bears, and rhinoceroses.
• Analysis of Everyday Tools Challenges Long-Held Ideas About What Drove Major Changes in Ancient Greek Society — Crete underwent a huge amount of cultural change about 3,500 years ago, which could be traced to the nearby Mycenaean culture. We’re talking new language, economic system, burial customs, clothing, and more. Because of this, along with the destruction of many sites, it was thought that the Mycenaeans invaded. But a new analysis of everyday obsidian tools points to something more complex. The sourcing, creation, and use of the tools indicate that the day-to-day of the Cretans remained as it had been for thousands of years. This doesn’t mean that there wasn’t an invasion; simply that there was demographic continuity. The researchers believe that the broad cultural changes were due to the strategic alignment of local elites with Mycenaean powers. According to Tristan Carter, “Rather than wholescale cultural change, our study has found evidence of significant continuity after the alleged invasion. While new practices can be initiated through external forces such as invasion, migration, colonialism, or cross-cultural intermarriage, we also know of examples where locals choose to adopt foreign habits to distinguish themselves within their own society.”
• Life of Earliest Modern Humans in Europe Revealed by Excavations Conducted in Romania — Românesti is an important site in southeastern Europe because fossils of early Homo sapiens were found with cultural remains, providing us with a window into how they lived. And a recent study may shed new light. The stone bladelets found there are highly standardized and were probably inserted into arrows or spears. Many of them remain unused. And the unusual grindstones which were found may have actually been used to straighten wooden shafts. All of this has led researchers to suggest that Românesti was actually a projectile workshop.
• Study of Ancient Skulls Sheds Light on Human Interbreeding with Neanderthals — A new study of the facial structure of prehistoric skulls supports a hypothesis that interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals happened primarily in the Near East. After accounting for environmental variables, researchers found that they could use facial features to track the mixing of the populations, and according to Steven Churchill, “Modern Asian populations seem to have more Neanderthal DNA than modern European populations, which is weird—because Neanderthals lived in what is now Europe. That has suggested that Neanderthals interbred with what are now modern humans as our prehistoric ancestors left Africa, but before spreading to Asia… And the evidence shows us that the Near East was an important crossroads, both geographically and in the context of human evolution.”
• 'Extraordinary' Tunnel Found at Alfred the Great's Resting Place — Archaeologists discovered a rumored water tunnel near Hyde Abbey in Winchester, England. It is thought that the tunnel once supplied water to the refectory, kitchens, and infirmary of the abbey, as well as the latrines of the dormitory. According to Martin Biddle, “The discovery of a sophisticated example of a vaulted channel, probably late medieval, is extraordinary.”
• Archaeologists Find a Prehistoric Settlement and Skeletal Remains in Southern Slovakia — A prehistoric site was discovered in Levice, Slovakia. More than 200 items have been examined, dating to several periods, the oldest being about 5000 BCE. They also discovered a ditch and several graves.
• Fascinating Discovery – First Female Viking Grave Discovered In Swedish Mountains — A 1,200-year-old brooch was found by a hiker as he was securing his tent in the mountains of Sweden about a year ago. Now, he has reported the find and the site has been excavated. Burned bones were found, suggesting a cremation burial, as was another brooch. It is believed to be a woman’s grave. Only five other Viking graves have been found in the mountains (all men), making this quite rare. Further excavations may take place in a year or so.
• Glacial Archaeologists Find Arrow in Melting Ice — The team that found the 1,700-year-old arrow that I covered in issue #12 has struck again. They found another remarkably intact arrow in a melting ice patch in the mountains of Norway. It has an iron arrowhead and dates to 1500 BP, which is pre-Viking.
• Receding Water Levels of China's Yangtze Reveal Ancient Buddhist Statues — I’ve covered a number of ancient sites that have been revealed by low water levels lately. Well, here’s another. The Yangtze River’s levels have decreased due to drought and a submerged island has been revealed in Chongqing, China. Three buddhist statues are cut into the bedrock of the island, dating to about 600 years ago. One depicts a monk on a lotus pedestal.
• Beverley: Archaeologists Unearth Suspected Medieval Pub in Dig — A large number of pottery beakers and jugs, along with sheep and cattle bones, a knife, chisels, jewelry, and traces of smaller buildings, were found in East Yorkshire, England. Researchers suggest that it is either a pub or a hostelry from the 13th century.
• Ancient Idol of Lord Vishnu Found During Excavation, Huge Crowd of Devotees Gather for Darshan — Another statue of Vishnu has been found in India (see issue #24 for the other). While rebuilding a temple, villagers of Patara village came across the idol, which is about a meter tall and half a meter wide.
• Burials Discovered in Peru’s Vichama Archaeological Complex — Burials and a possible dwelling were found during excavations at the Vichama archaeological complex in Peru. In the burial bundles, archaeologists found two toads, cotton-working tools, and worked mollusk shells. The toads may have been significant at Vichama, as they decorated some buildings. The grave goods have been dated to 3,800 years ago.
• Luxurious 1,200-Year-Old Mansion Found in Southern Israel — A fancy home dating back to the 8th or 9th century has been found in Rahat, Israel. It is built around a courtyard, has four wings, and one section has stone floors and elaborate decorations on the walls. Shards of decorated glass serving dishes and subterranean vaults made of stone were also found.
• Archaeologists Find 3,000-Year-Old Artifacts at Popular Tourist Site — Arrowheads, flint tools, an awl made of deer bone, human figurines, and ceramics dating to 1200-600 BCE have been discovered in the Bosque de Chapultepec in Mexico. Also found was a small vessel that still contains traces of cinnabar (a red form of mercury used for decoration). The artifacts had been intentionally broken and exposed to fire. These are the oldest finds at the site, doubling its known age. It’s an unusual find for the period since it is not directly related to a burial zone.
• Giant Phallic Carving from Roman Period Found During Excavations in Córdoba — One of the largest phallus carvings of the Roman period was found at the base of a building in the archaeological site of El Higuerón in Spain. It’s nearly half a meter in length. The girth remains undisclosed.
• A pre-Hispanic canoe or Wampo burial in Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina — A burial in a wooden structure which is either a wampo (small canoe), or a representation of one, has been discovered in the Patagonian region of Argentina. The belief that the dead must voyage across a body of water by boat to get to their final resting place continues to be held by the area’s Mapuche society today. Fascinating how common that specific belief is across cultures. This is the first such burial found in Argentinian Patagonia and the southernmost example in South America. A grave offering of pottery was also found in the grave, which is characteristic of the Late Pottery period (880 BP).
• The Complex of Bilge Kagan and Kultigin’s Father, İlteriş Kagan, Was Found in Mongolia — Results of an excavation in the Ötüken region of Mongolia were announced recently. According to Darhan Kıdırali, “Based on the information obtained from the monument text, it was concluded that the Nomgon complex was dedicated to Kul Tigin and Bilge Kağan’s father, İlteriş Kutluk Kağan, who revived the Göktürk Khanate. It is accepted as the oldest written monument of the Gokturk period, where the name ‘Türk’ was mentioned for the first time.” İlteriş Kagan ruled from 682–691 CE. There is a ditch around the complex, along with the remains of a castle. The site also boasts a stone altar, stone human figures, a lion statue with two cubs, two sheep statues, and a whopping 51 balbal stones.

Thanks for reading the News portion of Ancient Beat. Have a great weekend!

Hi folks, here's the latest ancient news:

• Mounds Identified as Oldest Man-Made Structures in North America — Researchers tested sediment core samples from Mound B at Louisiana State University in the U.S. They found ash from reed and cane plants, as well as burned osteons (small functional units of compact bones), which date the start of the mound’s construction to roughly 8000 BCE. I believe I’m correct in saying that this pushes the date of mound building in North America back by about 4,500 years (Watson Brake is from 3500 BCE). The mound was then apparently abandoned 8,200 years ago at a time when temperatures dropped substantially in the northern hemisphere, and was then reconstructed 6,000 years ago. The crest of the final mound may align with the star known as Arcturus. And the plants that I mentioned were likely burned ceremonially, possibly for animal cremations. I think it’s important to mention here that the vast majority of mounds (I’ve heard as high as 90%) in North America have been plowed or otherwise destroyed over the years, so there are huge holes in the data set.
• Map May Confirm the Legend of the Mysterious Lost Sunken Welsh Kingdom of Cantre’r Gwaelod in the Black Book of Carmarthen — This is a fun one. Cantre'r Gwaelod (AKA the “Welsh Atlantis”) is a legendary lost kingdom which is said to be beneath the waters of Cardigan Bay. In a geographical study that recently made headlines, scientists examined the medieval “Gough Map”, which is the earliest surviving complete map of the British Isles, and noted that it shows two islands off the coast of Wales. According to Simon Haslett, “The Gough Map is extraordinarily accurate considering the surveying tools they would have had at their disposal at that time… The two islands are clearly marked and may corroborate contemporary accounts of a lost land mentioned in the Black Book of Carmarthen.” The Black Book of Carmarthen was written in roughly 1250 CE, about 30 years before the Gough Map was created, and contains the first known mention of Cantre’r Gwaelod. Haslett believes that the Gough Map, along with coordinates that were recorded by Ptolemy, suggests that the coastline was 8 miles farther west than today — and that the legend may be rooted in fact.
• Human Ancestors Were Walking Upright 7 Million Years Ago, Ancient Limb Bone Suggests — According to a new study, a 7-million-year-old thighbone and two lower arm bones found in the Djurab Desert of Chad suggest that Sahelanthropus tchadensis walked upright. While the evidence is not conclusive, this would mean that Sahelanthropus tchadensis was walking upright 1 million years before the earliest known bipedal hominin, and that walking upright was one of the first distinguishing traits of our human lineage.
• Ancient Site — With a Mysterious Purpose — Emerges from Dry Lake in Europe’s Drought — Last week I covered a complex of standing stones discovered in Spain. Well, here’s one that was recently rediscovered. The Dolmen of Guadalperal can once again be seen due to drought. It is located at the bottom of the Valdecañas reservoir in Spain, where it has (usually) been submerged since the building of a dam in 1963. It consists of 150 granite stones, many of which are engraved, but erosion from the water is causing irreparable damage.
• Pottery, swords and jewelry: Rich Stone Age and early medieval graves found in Germany — About 140 graves were found near the Danube River in Germany. Most date to between 500-600 CE, while one dates to the 3rd century BCE. The former contained swords, lances, shields, combs, drinking glasses, and jewelry, while the latter contained pottery. The pottery is decorated by geometric lines created by pressing a cord into the clay, which points to the grave being that of pastoralists called the Corded Ware people — a rare find in southwestern Germany. According to Martin Numberger, “Our Gutmadingen district is probably much older than we previously assumed.”
• First Roman Military Amphitheater Discovered in Israel’s Armageddon — This article is a couple of weeks old but it still made the cut. A Roman amphitheater was recently uncovered near the ancient site of Megiddo (AKA Armageddon), and it’s the first of its kind ever found in the Southern Levant. It seems to have been built for the local military base in a depression made by locals digging for clay. Side note: Maybe I’m showing my ignorance here, but did you know that “Armageddon” is an ancient city where the armies of the world were prophesied to gather at the end of times? I always thought it was just a synonym for the apocalypse — shows how much I know!
• Humans Lived in the Qal-e Kord Caves 400,000 Years Ago – Oldest Settlement in Iran Found? — The oldest known settlement in Iran was recently discovered in the Qal-e Kord Caves in Qazvin province, with preliminary dating putting it at 400,000 years old. The dating and the stone tools found at the site indicate that the human species might have been Homo heidelbergensis or even Homo erectus. Animal remains were also found, including the bones of horses, deer, brown bears, and rhinoceroses.
• Analysis of Everyday Tools Challenges Long-Held Ideas About What Drove Major Changes in Ancient Greek Society — Crete underwent a huge amount of cultural change about 3,500 years ago, which could be traced to the nearby Mycenaean culture. We’re talking new language, economic system, burial customs, clothing, and more. Because of this, along with the destruction of many sites, it was thought that the Mycenaeans invaded. But a new analysis of everyday obsidian tools points to something more complex. The sourcing, creation, and use of the tools indicate that the day-to-day of the Cretans remained as it had been for thousands of years. This doesn’t mean that there wasn’t an invasion; simply that there was demographic continuity. The researchers believe that the broad cultural changes were due to the strategic alignment of local elites with Mycenaean powers. According to Tristan Carter, “Rather than wholescale cultural change, our study has found evidence of significant continuity after the alleged invasion. While new practices can be initiated through external forces such as invasion, migration, colonialism, or cross-cultural intermarriage, we also know of examples where locals choose to adopt foreign habits to distinguish themselves within their own society.”
• Life of Earliest Modern Humans in Europe Revealed by Excavations Conducted in Romania — Românesti is an important site in southeastern Europe because fossils of early Homo sapiens were found with cultural remains, providing us with a window into how they lived. And a recent study may shed new light. The stone bladelets found there are highly standardized and were probably inserted into arrows or spears. Many of them remain unused. And the unusual grindstones which were found may have actually been used to straighten wooden shafts. All of this has led researchers to suggest that Românesti was actually a projectile workshop.
• Study of Ancient Skulls Sheds Light on Human Interbreeding with Neanderthals — A new study of the facial structure of prehistoric skulls supports a hypothesis that interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals happened primarily in the Near East. After accounting for environmental variables, researchers found that they could use facial features to track the mixing of the populations, and according to Steven Churchill, “Modern Asian populations seem to have more Neanderthal DNA than modern European populations, which is weird—because Neanderthals lived in what is now Europe. That has suggested that Neanderthals interbred with what are now modern humans as our prehistoric ancestors left Africa, but before spreading to Asia… And the evidence shows us that the Near East was an important crossroads, both geographically and in the context of human evolution.”
• 'Extraordinary' Tunnel Found at Alfred the Great's Resting Place — Archaeologists discovered a rumored water tunnel near Hyde Abbey in Winchester, England. It is thought that the tunnel once supplied water to the refectory, kitchens, and infirmary of the abbey, as well as the latrines of the dormitory. According to Martin Biddle, “The discovery of a sophisticated example of a vaulted channel, probably late medieval, is extraordinary.”
• Archaeologists Find a Prehistoric Settlement and Skeletal Remains in Southern Slovakia — A prehistoric site was discovered in Levice, Slovakia. More than 200 items have been examined, dating to several periods, the oldest being about 5000 BCE. They also discovered a ditch and several graves.
• Fascinating Discovery – First Female Viking Grave Discovered In Swedish Mountains — A 1,200-year-old brooch was found by a hiker as he was securing his tent in the mountains of Sweden about a year ago. Now, he has reported the find and the site has been excavated. Burned bones were found, suggesting a cremation burial, as was another brooch. It is believed to be a woman’s grave. Only five other Viking graves have been found in the mountains (all men), making this quite rare. Further excavations may take place in a year or so.
• Glacial Archaeologists Find Arrow in Melting Ice — The team that found the 1,700-year-old arrow that I covered in issue #12 has struck again. They found another remarkably intact arrow in a melting ice patch in the mountains of Norway. It has an iron arrowhead and dates to 1500 BP, which is pre-Viking.
• Receding Water Levels of China's Yangtze Reveal Ancient Buddhist Statues — I’ve covered a number of ancient sites that have been revealed by low water levels lately. Well, here’s another. The Yangtze River’s levels have decreased due to drought and a submerged island has been revealed in Chongqing, China. Three buddhist statues are cut into the bedrock of the island, dating to about 600 years ago. One depicts a monk on a lotus pedestal.
• Beverley: Archaeologists Unearth Suspected Medieval Pub in Dig — A large number of pottery beakers and jugs, along with sheep and cattle bones, a knife, chisels, jewelry, and traces of smaller buildings, were found in East Yorkshire, England. Researchers suggest that it is either a pub or a hostelry from the 13th century.
• Ancient Idol of Lord Vishnu Found During Excavation, Huge Crowd of Devotees Gather for Darshan — Another statue of Vishnu has been found in India (see issue #24 for the other). While rebuilding a temple, villagers of Patara village came across the idol, which is about a meter tall and half a meter wide.
• Burials Discovered in Peru’s Vichama Archaeological Complex — Burials and a possible dwelling were found during excavations at the Vichama archaeological complex in Peru. In the burial bundles, archaeologists found two toads, cotton-working tools, and worked mollusk shells. The toads may have been significant at Vichama, as they decorated some buildings. The grave goods have been dated to 3,800 years ago.
• Luxurious 1,200-Year-Old Mansion Found in Southern Israel — A fancy home dating back to the 8th or 9th century has been found in Rahat, Israel. It is built around a courtyard, has four wings, and one section has stone floors and elaborate decorations on the walls. Shards of decorated glass serving dishes and subterranean vaults made of stone were also found.
• Archaeologists Find 3,000-Year-Old Artifacts at Popular Tourist Site — Arrowheads, flint tools, an awl made of deer bone, human figurines, and ceramics dating to 1200-600 BCE have been discovered in the Bosque de Chapultepec in Mexico. Also found was a small vessel that still contains traces of cinnabar (a red form of mercury used for decoration). The artifacts had been intentionally broken and exposed to fire. These are the oldest finds at the site, doubling its known age. It’s an unusual find for the period since it is not directly related to a burial zone.
• Giant Phallic Carving from Roman Period Found During Excavations in Córdoba — One of the largest phallus carvings of the Roman period was found at the base of a building in the archaeological site of El Higuerón in Spain. It’s nearly half a meter in length. The girth remains undisclosed.
• A pre-Hispanic canoe or Wampo burial in Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina — A burial in a wooden structure which is either a wampo (small canoe), or a representation of one, has been discovered in the Patagonian region of Argentina. The belief that the dead must voyage across a body of water by boat to get to their final resting place continues to be held by the area’s Mapuche society today. Fascinating how common that specific belief is across cultures. This is the first such burial found in Argentinian Patagonia and the southernmost example in South America. A grave offering of pottery was also found in the grave, which is characteristic of the Late Pottery period (880 BP).
• The Complex of Bilge Kagan and Kultigin’s Father, İlteriş Kagan, Was Found in Mongolia — Results of an excavation in the Ötüken region of Mongolia were announced recently. According to Darhan Kıdırali, “Based on the information obtained from the monument text, it was concluded that the Nomgon complex was dedicated to Kul Tigin and Bilge Kağan’s father, İlteriş Kutluk Kağan, who revived the Göktürk Khanate. It is accepted as the oldest written monument of the Gokturk period, where the name ‘Türk’ was mentioned for the first time.” İlteriş Kagan ruled from 682–691 CE. There is a ditch around the complex, along with the remains of a castle. The site also boasts a stone altar, stone human figures, a lion statue with two cubs, two sheep statues, and a whopping 51 balbal stones.

Thanks for reading the news section of Ancient Beat — have a great weekend!

Happy Saturday, folks — here's the latest ancient news:

• Mounds Identified as Oldest Man-Made Structures in North America — Researchers tested sediment core samples from Mound B at Louisiana State University in the U.S. They found ash from reed and cane plants, as well as burned osteons (small functional units of compact bones), which date the start of the mound’s construction to roughly 8000 BCE. I believe I’m correct in saying that this pushes the date of mound building in North America back by about 4,500 years (Watson Brake is from 3500 BCE). The mound was then apparently abandoned 8,200 years ago at a time when temperatures dropped substantially in the northern hemisphere, and was then reconstructed 6,000 years ago. The crest of the final mound may align with the star known as Arcturus. And the plants that I mentioned were likely burned ceremonially, possibly for animal cremations. I think it’s important to mention here that the vast majority of mounds (I’ve heard as high as 90%) in North America have been plowed or otherwise destroyed over the years, so there are huge holes in the data set.
• Map May Confirm the Legend of the Mysterious Lost Sunken Welsh Kingdom of Cantre’r Gwaelod in the Black Book of Carmarthen — This is a fun one. Cantre'r Gwaelod (AKA the “Welsh Atlantis”) is a legendary lost kingdom which is said to be beneath the waters of Cardigan Bay. In a geographical study that recently made headlines, scientists examined the medieval “Gough Map”, which is the earliest surviving complete map of the British Isles, and noted that it shows two islands off the coast of Wales. According to Simon Haslett, “The Gough Map is extraordinarily accurate considering the surveying tools they would have had at their disposal at that time… The two islands are clearly marked and may corroborate contemporary accounts of a lost land mentioned in the Black Book of Carmarthen.” The Black Book of Carmarthen was written in roughly 1250 CE, about 30 years before the Gough Map was created, and contains the first known mention of Cantre’r Gwaelod. Haslett believes that the Gough Map, along with coordinates that were recorded by Ptolemy, suggests that the coastline was 8 miles farther west than today — and that the legend may be rooted in fact.
• Human Ancestors Were Walking Upright 7 Million Years Ago, Ancient Limb Bone Suggests — According to a new study, a 7-million-year-old thighbone and two lower arm bones found in the Djurab Desert of Chad suggest that Sahelanthropus tchadensis walked upright. While the evidence is not conclusive, this would mean that Sahelanthropus tchadensis was walking upright 1 million years before the earliest known bipedal hominin, and that walking upright was one of the first distinguishing traits of our human lineage.
• Ancient Site — With a Mysterious Purpose — Emerges from Dry Lake in Europe’s Drought — Last week I covered a complex of standing stones discovered in Spain. Well, here’s one that was recently rediscovered. The Dolmen of Guadalperal can once again be seen due to drought. It is located at the bottom of the Valdecañas reservoir in Spain, where it has (usually) been submerged since the building of a dam in 1963. It consists of 150 granite stones, many of which are engraved, but erosion from the water is causing irreparable damage.
• Pottery, swords and jewelry: Rich Stone Age and early medieval graves found in Germany — About 140 graves were found near the Danube River in Germany. Most date to between 500-600 CE, while one dates to the 3rd century BCE. The former contained swords, lances, shields, combs, drinking glasses, and jewelry, while the latter contained pottery. The pottery is decorated by geometric lines created by pressing a cord into the clay, which points to the grave being that of pastoralists called the Corded Ware people — a rare find in southwestern Germany. According to Martin Numberger, “Our Gutmadingen district is probably much older than we previously assumed.”
• First Roman Military Amphitheater Discovered in Israel’s Armageddon — This article is a couple of weeks old but it still made the cut. A Roman amphitheater was recently uncovered near the ancient site of Megiddo (AKA Armageddon), and it’s the first of its kind ever found in the Southern Levant. It seems to have been built for the local military base in a depression made by locals digging for clay. Side note: Maybe I’m showing my ignorance here, but did you know that “Armageddon” is an ancient city where the armies of the world were prophesied to gather at the end of times? I always thought it was just a synonym for the apocalypse — shows how much I know!
• Humans Lived in the Qal-e Kord Caves 400,000 Years Ago – Oldest Settlement in Iran Found? — The oldest known settlement in Iran was recently discovered in the Qal-e Kord Caves in Qazvin province, with preliminary dating putting it at 400,000 years old. The dating and the stone tools found at the site indicate that the human species might have been Homo heidelbergensis or even Homo erectus. Animal remains were also found, including the bones of horses, deer, brown bears, and rhinoceroses.
• Analysis of Everyday Tools Challenges Long-Held Ideas About What Drove Major Changes in Ancient Greek Society — Crete underwent a huge amount of cultural change about 3,500 years ago, which could be traced to the nearby Mycenaean culture. We’re talking new language, economic system, burial customs, clothing, and more. Because of this, along with the destruction of many sites, it was thought that the Mycenaeans invaded. But a new analysis of everyday obsidian tools points to something more complex. The sourcing, creation, and use of the tools indicate that the day-to-day of the Cretans remained as it had been for thousands of years. This doesn’t mean that there wasn’t an invasion; simply that there was demographic continuity. The researchers believe that the broad cultural changes were due to the strategic alignment of local elites with Mycenaean powers. According to Tristan Carter, “Rather than wholescale cultural change, our study has found evidence of significant continuity after the alleged invasion. While new practices can be initiated through external forces such as invasion, migration, colonialism, or cross-cultural intermarriage, we also know of examples where locals choose to adopt foreign habits to distinguish themselves within their own society.”
• Life of Earliest Modern Humans in Europe Revealed by Excavations Conducted in Romania — Românesti is an important site in southeastern Europe because fossils of early Homo sapiens were found with cultural remains, providing us with a window into how they lived. And a recent study may shed new light. The stone bladelets found there are highly standardized and were probably inserted into arrows or spears. Many of them remain unused. And the unusual grindstones which were found may have actually been used to straighten wooden shafts. All of this has led researchers to suggest that Românesti was actually a projectile workshop.
• Study of Ancient Skulls Sheds Light on Human Interbreeding with Neanderthals — A new study of the facial structure of prehistoric skulls supports a hypothesis that interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals happened primarily in the Near East. After accounting for environmental variables, researchers found that they could use facial features to track the mixing of the populations, and according to Steven Churchill, “Modern Asian populations seem to have more Neanderthal DNA than modern European populations, which is weird—because Neanderthals lived in what is now Europe. That has suggested that Neanderthals interbred with what are now modern humans as our prehistoric ancestors left Africa, but before spreading to Asia… And the evidence shows us that the Near East was an important crossroads, both geographically and in the context of human evolution.”
• 'Extraordinary' Tunnel Found at Alfred the Great's Resting Place — Archaeologists discovered a rumored water tunnel near Hyde Abbey in Winchester, England. It is thought that the tunnel once supplied water to the refectory, kitchens, and infirmary of the abbey, as well as the latrines of the dormitory. According to Martin Biddle, “The discovery of a sophisticated example of a vaulted channel, probably late medieval, is extraordinary.”
• Archaeologists Find a Prehistoric Settlement and Skeletal Remains in Southern Slovakia — A prehistoric site was discovered in Levice, Slovakia. More than 200 items have been examined, dating to several periods, the oldest being about 5000 BCE. They also discovered a ditch and several graves.
• Fascinating Discovery – First Female Viking Grave Discovered In Swedish Mountains — A 1,200-year-old brooch was found by a hiker as he was securing his tent in the mountains of Sweden about a year ago. Now, he has reported the find and the site has been excavated. Burned bones were found, suggesting a cremation burial, as was another brooch. It is believed to be a woman’s grave. Only five other Viking graves have been found in the mountains (all men), making this quite rare. Further excavations may take place in a year or so.
• Glacial Archaeologists Find Arrow in Melting Ice — The team that found the 1,700-year-old arrow that I covered in issue #12 has struck again. They found another remarkably intact arrow in a melting ice patch in the mountains of Norway. It has an iron arrowhead and dates to 1500 BP, which is pre-Viking.
• Receding Water Levels of China's Yangtze Reveal Ancient Buddhist Statues — I’ve covered a number of ancient sites that have been revealed by low water levels lately. Well, here’s another. The Yangtze River’s levels have decreased due to drought and a submerged island has been revealed in Chongqing, China. Three buddhist statues are cut into the bedrock of the island, dating to about 600 years ago. One depicts a monk on a lotus pedestal.
• Beverley: Archaeologists Unearth Suspected Medieval Pub in Dig — A large number of pottery beakers and jugs, along with sheep and cattle bones, a knife, chisels, jewelry, and traces of smaller buildings, were found in East Yorkshire, England. Researchers suggest that it is either a pub or a hostelry from the 13th century.
• Ancient Idol of Lord Vishnu Found During Excavation, Huge Crowd of Devotees Gather for Darshan — Another statue of Vishnu has been found in India (see issue #24 for the other). While rebuilding a temple, villagers of Patara village came across the idol, which is about a meter tall and half a meter wide.
• Burials Discovered in Peru’s Vichama Archaeological Complex — Burials and a possible dwelling were found during excavations at the Vichama archaeological complex in Peru. In the burial bundles, archaeologists found two toads, cotton-working tools, and worked mollusk shells. The toads may have been significant at Vichama, as they decorated some buildings. The grave goods have been dated to 3,800 years ago.
• Luxurious 1,200-Year-Old Mansion Found in Southern Israel — A fancy home dating back to the 8th or 9th century has been found in Rahat, Israel. It is built around a courtyard, has four wings, and one section has stone floors and elaborate decorations on the walls. Shards of decorated glass serving dishes and subterranean vaults made of stone were also found.
• Archaeologists Find 3,000-Year-Old Artifacts at Popular Tourist Site — Arrowheads, flint tools, an awl made of deer bone, human figurines, and ceramics dating to 1200-600 BCE have been discovered in the Bosque de Chapultepec in Mexico. Also found was a small vessel that still contains traces of cinnabar (a red form of mercury used for decoration). The artifacts had been intentionally broken and exposed to fire. These are the oldest finds at the site, doubling its known age. It’s an unusual find for the period since it is not directly related to a burial zone.
• Giant Phallic Carving from Roman Period Found During Excavations in Córdoba — One of the largest phallus carvings of the Roman period was found at the base of a building in the archaeological site of El Higuerón in Spain. It’s nearly half a meter in length. The girth remains undisclosed.
• A pre-Hispanic canoe or Wampo burial in Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina — A burial in a wooden structure which is either a wampo (small canoe), or a representation of one, has been discovered in the Patagonian region of Argentina. The belief that the dead must voyage across a body of water by boat to get to their final resting place continues to be held by the area’s Mapuche society today. Fascinating how common that specific belief is across cultures. This is the first such burial found in Argentinian Patagonia and the southernmost example in South America. A grave offering of pottery was also found in the grave, which is characteristic of the Late Pottery period (880 BP).
• The Complex of Bilge Kagan and Kultigin’s Father, İlteriş Kagan, Was Found in Mongolia — Results of an excavation in the Ötüken region of Mongolia were announced recently. According to Darhan Kıdırali, “Based on the information obtained from the monument text, it was concluded that the Nomgon complex was dedicated to Kul Tigin and Bilge Kağan’s father, İlteriş Kutluk Kağan, who revived the Göktürk Khanate. It is accepted as the oldest written monument of the Gokturk period, where the name ‘Türk’ was mentioned for the first time.” İlteriş Kagan ruled from 682–691 CE. There is a ditch around the complex, along with the remains of a castle. The site also boasts a stone altar, stone human figures, a lion statue with two cubs, two sheep statues, and a whopping 51 balbal stones.

Thanks for reading the news section of Ancient Beat — have a great weekend!

Hey all! In a recent discussion about running in combat sports someone came at me with this gem:

That's not pseudoscience. Bones adapt. That's physiology. If you have found evidence which disproves this part of physiology you're going to need something much better than a YouTube video.

And I thought, "Okay, that's a wonderful excuse to procrastinate my literature review while I have a cold." So I did. But, I thought it was too much effort languish in the back of a thread somewhere and I thought it might be interesting to put this widespread pseudoscience in the open. Enjoy my response. :)
Sure! Although, contrary to expectations this YouTube video is quite accurate and covers the main points with sources in the video description but if you want something more information dense this review is very recent and comprehensive. I'll give you a simple rundown:
Woff's law of bone, is well established in physiology and describes the way the bones respond to the load which is placed upon them. Simply: If put load upon the bone it gets thicker. If you don't use the bone, it gets lighter.
First of all, bone remodelling is happening inside all of us at every single moment. Osteoclasts are cells in our bone that break them down and reabsorb the nutrients and osteoblasts group together to synthesize bone. Here is a review which covers that.
Now, comes the relevant question: How? How does the bone remodel to be thicker or thinner? Because once we know that, we can co-opt the mechanism to our benefit.
The answer is the the load placed upon the bone undergoes a process called mechanotransduction (here's a couple of good reviews for you) which converts the physical force into a variety of molecular signals that the osteoclasts and osteoblasts respond to.
So they're being ripped up and put down and with more load you can push the balance towards more being put down. Not that this is done with load. Nowhere in the literature is it mentioned that you should break or fracture anything!
I've asked around with colleagues in medicine and our best guess is that this pseudoscience of microfractures comes from people misinterpreting X-rays data of broken bones. As you can see with this picture at 2 weeks and this picture at 6 months, there is a phase in bone healing where there's a callus, a which a hard mass that looks very dense. It is, but it's not very strong.
See, it's not only thickness but architecture and directionality that matter to bone strength. As discussed here; "...cortical and trabecular microarchitecture (collagen fibre organisation) also spatially align in the direction of most commonly expressed stresses to resist customary loads." which is why the callus isn't very strong. It's just a dense heap of emergency-bone that's been poured into the gap with no account for the architecture the bone needs. It's basically caulking.
Now, we're reaching where current research is and it all comes into a bit of intelligent speculation. Here and here are some examples of recent animal studies on collagen fibre orientation and while the writing is focused on the questions that those papers are trying to answer there's this: It's well established that collagen fibres in the bones are arranged in a way as to best resist the kinds of loads that those bones receive. Please note that none of the animals in these studies had to have their bones microfractured.
Now we're at the limit of my knowledge but what I can gather is that the osteoclasts and osteoblasts remodel the bone with a specific architecture that involves a specific directionality that is, we hypothesize, selected for using mechanotransduction. I'm not well versed in molecular bone biology but I would suspect that there's a mechanism whereby the bone fibres being used are given a protective signal saving them from osteoclasts or that the bone fibres being used are giving a positive signal to the osteoblasts to add more fibres to the crystalline structure of the osteon around them.
In summary: if you use your bone in a certain way, the strain of that use will send signals to the cells responsible for your bone architecture to remodel in favour of bearing that strain.
What does this mean for shin conditioning? What should you do? Well, you should do the activity that you want the bone to remodel to; kick stuff with your shins! What should you kick? An object that isn't going to damage the structure of your bone (because will induce healing of which remodelling is a part of; restoring normal bone structure, not strengthening). For that object, I would suggest a heavy bag.

Can someone please explain to me how to tell the difference between primary and secondary osteons in a histology polarised lighting image and in general as well? I know the different in their functions, but I’m struggling to tell them apart based on appearance in the images in my textbook. Everything I’ve looked at has just made me more confused, I also can’t seem to find a definitive number for how many lamellae they have. Some sites say 3-8 and others say 20-30.
Thank you!

I'm not sure if this is the right place to be asking for school work help so I'm sorry if this isn't allowed.
I just finished my Anatomy and Physiology semester review and there’s only a couple of questions I’m not 100% certain on and others I have no idea. I could use a little help. Thanks!
1.) When hydrogen bonds that maintain a protein’s shape or broken, the protein becomes nonfunctional and is said to be... ~denatured?
2.) Give characteristics of the following macro molecules a) carbohydrate- ... b) nuclei acids- ...
3.) A man’s body was found floating in the salt water of San Francisco bay, which has about the same osmotic concentration as body fluids. When seen during the autopsy, the cells in his along tissues were clearly swollen. Explain (hint: investigate hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions)...
4.) The presence of mediators of inflammation results in...
5.) during growth of a long bone, the site of growth in length is the... ~epiphyseal plate?
6.) in compact bone, a haversion canal, with the lamellar and osteocytes surrounding it are called... ~osteon?
7.) The basic structural and functional unit of a muscle is... ~myofibrils?

I just finished my semester review and there’s only a couple of questions I’m not 100% certain on and others I have no idea. I could use a little help. Thanks!
1.) When hydrogen bonds that maintain a protein’s shape or broken, the protein becomes nonfunctional and is said to be... ~denatured?
2.) Give characteristics of the following macro molecules a) carbohydrate- ... b) nuclei acids- ...
3.) A man’s body was found floating in the salt water of San Francisco bay, which has about the same osmotic concentration as body fluids. When seen during the autopsy, the cells in his along tissues were clearly swollen. Explain (hint: investigate hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions)...
4.) The presence of mediators of inflammation results in...
5.) during growth of a long bone, the site of growth in length is the... ~epiphyseal plate?
6.) in compact bone, a haversion canal, with the lamellar and osteocytes surrounding it are called... ~osteon?
7.) The basic structural and functional unit of a muscle is... ~myofibrils?

Disclaimer: I posted this in dnd a few days ago and got some great suggestions from a couple of redditers (credit is given under certain deities) but I thought I'd post this here as this is your guys' bag baby. Let me know what you think.
So I was watching House and a thought came to me - we could use how the human body works to inspire a really cool Panthon of Gods! Here are three I thought of as examples, let me know if you think of any other gods and I'll add them here!
I've called the normal Pantheon the Æthros (Aye-thros). The etymology for this being Æsir combined with Anthros, for man, upon who's body the pantheon is based. Their enemies are infinite in number and reproduce in infinite new forms, they represent all the diseases of the human body and mind, and are analogous of Demons in other cultures. The Desnir (Dez-neer), infinite and variable as viruses and bacterium. There are more famous members and breeds, but each is unique. Desnir comes from the Vanir, cousins to the Æsir, and the de- route for the word disease, which means discomfort or misfortune, it could also be said to come from Demon, as well.
Æthros
Sneuros - God of Lightning, Storms, Intelligence, Knowledge - The Brain Ultimately all thoughts are just electrical signals, right?
Serebellus - Goddess of Instinct, Beasts, The Hunt - The Hindbrain Sister-wife and sometime enemy of Sneuros

u/Docnevyn

Esmalt - God of War, Murder, Blacksmiths - The Teeth. Brother to Meargow, Divine Blacksmith Etymology for this is ultimately from enamel, from smalt, which is interestingly the root for Smelt, so maybe blacksmithing too?
Meargow - God of Justice, Order, Law, Nationalism, Rule, Protection, Medicine - Bones / Marrow Bone Marrow makes white blood cells, which are the police of the body, the soldiers.
Heme - Goddess of Travel, Trade, Communication, Roads, Unification - Blood Daughter of Meargow, Keeper of The Law, Messenger of the Gods

u/Okami_G - Based on blood (the Heme complex is the basis of hemoglobin) and biologically formed in the bone marrow (hence Meargow), blood is useful not just for carrying oxygen, but also allows chemical signals to flow throughout the body, such as hormones, and also includes white blood cells, making her a sort of protector of a body as well. She mainly uses her powers to find and eliminate threats that would compromise the entire pantheon, and is often called upon by specific gods/goddesses.

Osteon - God of Tradition, Foundation, Strength, Fortifications and Buildings - Bone Honour Guard Captain of the Divine Court of Meargow, Protector of the Realm, Secret love of Princess Heme.

u/InfiniteQuasar

Hepat - Mother Goddess, Life Giver, Gift Giver - The Liver Everybody made suggestions about the liver, I found u/unicornthecharles 's suggestions helpfull for pinning her down.
Renalus - God of Purification, Water, Restoration and Regeneration - The Kidney Like a Spring God he represents the ability to be harmed and then be restored.

u/Docnevyn

Jejunus - Goddess of Growth, Food, Hunger, Winding Roads, Fasting and Gluttony - The Gastrointestinal Tract

u/Docnevyn

Pulaera - Goddess of Air, Breath, Arts, Voice - The Lungs/ Respiratory System Divine Handmaiden to Heme

u/InfiniteQuasar - Light hearted and friendly, she represents the gift of a skilled and charismatic speaker as well as the arts, especially singing and music.

Genia / Genios - Twin Dieties of Fertility, Reproduction and Love - The Genitals The Divine Twins

u/InfiniteQuasar

Azaekis - God of Outsiders, Turncoats and the Betrayed - The Appendix The Shifty Guardian, The Spy

u/InfiniteQuasar - He is often looked down upon by other members of the pantheon, because he isn't very powerful and interacts with Desnir a little too often. While his intentions are to protect his methods can be questionable, his motto is that the ends justify the means. Despite all that he still often functions as a valuable ally for the other aethros.

Desnir
Hautos - Auto Immune Disease Hautos are Desnir who use their demonic powers to turn the normally faithful against the Gods, particularly Meargow and Heme.

Lupus - The Masked Wolf, Trickster Demon - Systemic lupus erythematosus Lupus appears as a humanoid with wolfish features. None ever see his face as he wears a red ballroom mask at all times. Lupus is famed as a member of his clan for using the power of the Hautos with particular devilish intellect.

Karkinos - Cancer Karkinos are vile demons in that they grow from the very flesh of mortals, often the faithful. Some Karkinos use the hosts only as food until they are born into the mortal realm, while other, more sinister Karkinos mix with the host and twist their personality toward evil. More then any other breed of demon the Karkinos are a twisted mockery of the divine, with different breeds that reflect each of the True Gods' forms.
Notes and Topics of Discussion.
Death - u/wille179 suggests Apoptosis as a God, and this is a very cool idea. I'm stuck between using it as an actual deity or as a philosophical concept. As a concept we could have Necrosis as the opposite. Like Karma, they are concepts that are very important to the Faith, like Karma in Dharmic faiths. Apoptosis is Destiny, a Good Death as ordaned by the cosmos. Necrosis is an Ill-Fated Death, caused by influences from beyond the universe. u/Hessis suggests the spleen as the actual God of the process, do we have any other candidates? Bacteria - u/deleter8 Suggested that Bacterium represent the mortal races. I always saw them as an attacking force, but hey, maybe Heretics are what we would call bacterial disease and infection. That makes Paladins dedicated to the immune system. Any thoughts? Liver - We had a lot of suggestions about the liver, so I changed Renulus' gender and added the liver as a mother goddess. Not sure if they should be husband and wife maybe.
Please let me know if you have any other cool ideas and your rational!

I'm always curious to find out where Bungie gets the names for our gear, because there's usually some really cool or interesting reference behind it - as it turns out, the Bones of Eao might just be one of the weirder ones relative to the usual sources. Most gear references historical figures, mythological characters and things of that nature.
Surprisingly, I think the Bones might be rather more...mundane. Translation yields nothing, same as my name searches. But straight-up google, as usual, came through for me. Try a simple search for "eao" and take a look at the first two results.
Google Result 1: eao.com "Manufacturer of a wide range of general purpose, oil and water tight, keylock, dip, toggle, emergency, and tact switches. Have distributors world wide."
Huh? At first, I moved on down the list, looking for something more typical. Don't do that - click on the link and be greeted with the following message: "EAO – Your Expert Partner for Human Machine Interfaces." Now that's interesting, right? So it turns out they make buttons, switches, and levers, so maybe a bit of a red herring, but it gets us on the right track - maybe Eao isn't a name at all in the real world.
Google Result 2: eao.org "A website stating the organization's history and current activities, links, and access to scientific reports related to the field."
Whaaa? Even less helpful and eye-catching, but yes, go ahead, click on it anyway. "European Association for Osseointegration". Jackpot! Osseointegration, it turns out, derives from the Greek osteon, bone, and the Latin integrare, to make whole. The term refers to the direct structural and functional connection between living bone and the surface of a load-bearing artificial implant. In plainer English, it's the science of directly connecting bones with artificial implants, supports, or devices, and beyond just getting fillings at the dentist its all about things like limb prostheses, facial reconstruction (including eye and ear replacement!), and knee and joint replacements.
Sounds just right for an exotic leg armor. Defy Extinction indeed!