BSA Students and the Levant

Former students of the BSA later influenced archaeological work in Egypt, the Levant, India and Britain.

One of the earliest to work in the Levant was John Garrow Duncan, an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland, who went to Athens in 1894/95. From there his interests turned to Egypt where he assisted Flinders Petrie. Duncan's focus lay in the link between Egypt and the Old Tesament.

One of the most experienced BSA excavators, Duncan Mackenzie (1861-1934), was to join the Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF) as 'Explorer' in December 1909. One of his first projects was at Ain Shems (Beth-shemesh). However shortage of funds led to the dismissal of Mackenzie and the cessation of the work at Ain Shems.

British work continued in the Levant with David Hogarth’s work at Carchemish which started in 1911. One of the team, T.E. Lawrence, was later recruited on the eve of the First World War, to take part in the survey of the Sinai peninsula (‘the Wilderness of Zin'), a project initiated by Hogarth through the PEF.

Other former BSA students continued to make their mark in the Levant. John Winter Crowfoot (1873-1959), who had excavated on Melos and then worked in Egypt, was elected Director of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem (1927-35). During Crowfoot's directorship Duncan excavated at the Ophel Quarter in Jerusalem on behalf of the PEF. Agnes Conway (1885-1950) (see her father, William Martin Conway), who had been admitted to the BSA on the eve of the First World War, later married George Wilberforce Horsfield, Director of Antiquities in Trans-Jordan (1924-36), and they participated in fieldwork together.

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Inspiratory Muscle Trainer Can Help Older People To Exercise More

As we age, our respiratoty functions also decline...

This is one of the main reasons that's hampering the older adults to exercise. If older people are deterred from exercicing, their physical health can also decline quickly.

But, there is a technology called "inspiratory muscle trainer" that can help older people to exercise more easily. It's a small device that applies resistance as the user inhales through a valve. Study has shown that this device helps older people to gain breathing-muscle strength so that they can increase their physical activity.

Read the full story below....

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Exercise During Pregnancy Helps You Keep Healthy

If you pregnant, it is natural that you will have several questions in your mind about pregnancy symptoms, exercise, diet and what to do and what not to do while pregnant. Moreover, the first thing that comes to your mind is whether it is safe to exercise during pregnancy, as you want to stay fit and in shape but without compromising on the health of your unborn baby.

Myth Broken

It is a myth that exercises can be harmful to the unborn as well as the mother. In fact, physical movements are beneficial for both the mother and the child, as it not only reduces physical discomfort, but also reduces stress and labor length. Here is a list of general frequently asked questions with answers about exercise during pregnancy:

Is It Safe To Do Workouts?

Working out while being pregnant is not only safe but also healthy, provided you do not have any complications during the pregnancy period. However, it is recommended to consult your doctor or mid-wives and take their approval.

Why Is Exercise Necessary?

As per a research, working out or mild exercise during pregnancy helps in reducing backaches and swelling of ankles, and constipation, which are some of the most common problems faced by pregnant women. In addition, it also gives energy and makes you feel fresh.

Does Exercise Help During Pregnancy?

The answer is 'Yes'. Exercising promotes muscles, strength, and endurance, thereby, helping the mother to carry the weight gained during this period.

I Do A Rigorous Workout. Is It Safe?

According to a study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, healthy, well-conditioned women who exercised before pregnancy may continue to do so throughout pregnancy, without compromising their baby's health or development.

For How Long Should I Exercise?

The workout should be approximately 45 minutes long and should include warm-ups, the actual workout and cool downs.

What Precautions Do I Need To Take While Exercising, As I Had Never Worked Out Before?

Talk to doctor or midwife, and as far as you have the permission to proceed from them, you can engage yourself in mild exercise, like walking or swimming.

Immediately After The Birth Of My Child, What Exercises Can I Do To Regain My Shape?

Make sure you are physically ready before you start with the process of regaining you shape. Once you think you are fit to start with the exercise, begin with stretching and firming exercises and then gradually adding to the second set of exercises.

Just remember that you need to follow normal exercise safety aspects like, drinking lots of water, stopping immediately if you feel any pain etc. Most importantly, remember to speak to your doctor before starting any exercise regime.

Under the supervision of a doctor, exercise during pregnancy can be highly beneficial. The unwanted pregnancy symptoms can be greatly overcome if pregnant women opt to exercise. For more information please visit http://www.pregnancy-period.com.

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Three Great Bodyweight Exercises For Fat Burning

Here are 3 great bodyweight exercises you can do anytime, anywhere to help you burn fat fast and stay energized. You don't need to buy any fancy equipment.

1. Single-Leg Exercise:
The single-leg squat to the floor exercise is one of the most effective bodyweight workout. You can also do single-leg squats with a band, or with a Stability Ball between your back and the wall.

2. Decline Push-ups
These are harder than normal pushups because your feet are elevated. In this position, you can use a close-grip to fatigue your triceps, a "piked-hip position" to build your shoulders, or even the Spiderman leg motion to work on your abs.

3. Bodyweight Inverted Rows
Most people choose these over chinups and pullups because bodyweight rows let your chest rest, while your back is strengthened. It's the perfect compliment to a pushup.

Do 8-12 repetitions per exercise. Don't rest between exercises. Go through the circuit up to 3 times, resting 1 minute after each circuit.

Go to Turbulence Training for more workout tips that can get you in shape fast.

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Nai Harn

View Map of Location

33 Feet Good Holding
New dinghy dock to help get ashore

Nice Beach + Resort

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No Hay Peanut Butter

When I was in France, I was trying to find Peanut Butter in the grocery store. When I asked my flatmates boyfriend to help me because he spoke English, he did not even know what I was talking about. I tried to explain the concept of ground up peanuts and the fact that we put it on bread and he thought I was crazy. Well, the same thing goes for the Argentines. They do not have peanut butter. Our plan for our hike was to eat a lot of PB and Js, but it was not meant to be. We are eating a lot of Js though...

We just got back from one two day hike and one long one day hike in the Fitz Roy Range of the Andes in the Argentina side of Patagonia. They were all quite long and grueling hikes, but totally worth it once we got to the end. The first day we hiked into a valley and ended up at a glacier fed lake (Laguna Toro). The trail was hard - the first hour and a half way all uphill, then there was some flat ground, but much of it was marshy and so then we all had wet feet. Next was a loooooong downhill, which sounds like relief, but really is harder on me than the uphill. When we got to the bottom of the downhill, it began to rain really hard and the wind picked up. We hiked the last hour in the wind driven rain (haha, sounds like I am writing a PW) and finally arrived to camp about 6 hours after we had set out. Then we have to deal with starting the stove in the wind and rain and setting up the tent....but to me the challenge is what is part of the fun. The next day we hiked back, again, it was up, then flat, then down. CK hurt his knee on the downhill section and has been gimping around for the last couple of days.

Yesterday I (without the gimp) hiked up to the Laguna de los Tres, which is a path that affords beautiful views of Cerro (Mt) Fitz Roy, which is a huge craggy peak, and the tallest (at 3500 M) around. There is still snow on the top and the moutain shines kind of a bluish grey color. It really was a sight to behold. I have photos, but somehow they just do not do it justice...

Today we bussed back to El Calafate and tomorrow we will go to the Perito Moreno glacier, which is supposed to be quite a sight. Then Grant leaves us tomorrow afternoon and the rest of us (S, CK and I) go on to Puerto Natales, which is the Chilean side of Patagonia. From there we will tackle the "W" (S) and the "Curcuit" (me and CK) trails (5 and 8 days respectively). This will be the true test of our hiking and camping skills.

We are all so happy to be back in "civilization" where we can get a hot shower and some laundry done (it has been a while, I wont say how long..it is kind of gross - let me just say, I wouldnt touch any of us with a ten foot pole) and get ourselves ready for our next big hike...

I hope to get some photos and videos online soon, but with the internet the way it is here (Calafate is a really small town) I dont see that happening for a while. The next time I will be in a largish town will probably be in a couple of weeks.

P.S. Funny...as I was talking about smelling bad, a guy sat down at the next computer...and he smells worse than I do! I didnt think it was possible! Ciao!

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Excavations: Kynosarges

One of the earliest excavations of the BSA in mainland Greece was at Kynosarges (1895/6, 1896/97). The work was directed by Cecil Harcourt-Smith and seen as a training exercise for the major project at Phylakopi. The intention was to locate and excavate the remains of the ancient gymnasium, though the team also uncovered remains of a later Roman bath-house. There was much promised for the work, though no satisfactory report was published.

The Times (March 26, 1896) reported:

The British School are to be congratulated on having secured a piece of work which promises to be of such importance for the study of ancient Athenian topography; and if it should prove at length to be the site of Kynosarges, it will be a source of special satisfaction to Englishmen that the site, which was eagerly sought by two English excavators at the beginning of this century, and for whose discovery Lord Byron once planned excavations, should have been brought to light by the British School at Athens.

References
Anderson, J. G. C. 1896/7. "An epigraphic miscellany." Annual of the British School at Athens 3: 106-20.
Droop, J. P. 1905/06. "Dipylon vases from the Kynosarges site." Annual of the British School at Athens 12: 80-92.
Edgar, C. C. 1897. "Two stelae from Kynosarges." Journal of Hellenic Studies 17: 174-75.
Rodeck, P. 1896/7. "The Ionic capital of the gymnasium of Kynosarges." Annual of the British School at Athens 3: 89-105.
Smith, C. 1902. "A Proto-Attic Vase." Journal of Hellenic Studies 22: 29-45.

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Yıldırım Gibi...

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BSA Deaths in the First World War: the Western Front

All but two of the deaths of former BSA students during the First World War were on the western front. Following the death of Guy Dickins on the Somme a letter ('Waste of Material') was sent to The Times (July 26, 1916) noting the deaths of three Oxford Fellows.

All three lives were lost leading infantry attacks in France. They would be less grudged if it was absolutely necessary to use the best brains of the country for this purpose: but is it really impossible to find no more suitable military work for them to do?

The fact that so many former students of the BSA were used in military intelligence (e.g. Harry Pirie-Gordon) perhaps indicates that such expertise was recongised.

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Health And Home Fitness Can Begin At Home

Here are some tips on getting healthy without a gym membership

Better health and losing weight are almost always top the New Year resolution list for most people. If this sounds like your new year goal, this article is for you. You don't need a gym membership to improve your health and lose weight in the process.

Purchasing the correct home exercise equipment, creating a discipline and motivation to work out at and around the house are all you need to help you reach your goals.

Here are some tips to help you get started with better health and fitness this year:

* First, check with your doctor to see if your current health can take a new fitness routine. Let your doctor know that you want to start a fitness exercise routine at home.

* Buy a home exercise equipment. You don't need to buy an expensive equipment to start with, if you're on a budget, check out Bodylastics Home Gym. You can get a complete set of home gym equipment under $50 and they also provide complete video tutorials for you to follow instructions. You can also buy hand weights to build tone and strength. Other more expensive equipment is a treadmill, this will help with heart health and endurance.

* If you're on a budget, not to worry! There are many low-cost home fitness programs available nowadays. For example, home exercise videos, many of the home video fitness programs focus on using your own body to provide resistance.

* If exercise at home doesn't appeal to you, then go outside. Many outdoor activities, jogging, fast-walking, skiing, cycling and playing with children are some examples and they are great ways to increase physical activity.

* If weight loss is your ultimate goal, be realistic about your goal. Losing 1 or 2 pounds a week is reasonable, but it might take a while to see the effects.

* Get support from friends and family. Having a small team for working out is a great way to get you motivated and focus on your goals.

Note that you should get at least 20 to 30 minutes of cardio exercise 5 or 6 days a week, strength training is also very important for staying fit and healthy. For more ideas on health and home fitness, check out: "Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle".

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