'Maghoula-hunting' in Thessaly

Excavations by the Greek Archaeological Service had drawn attention to the potential of Thessaly.

Alan J.B. Wace and A.W. Van Buren (of the American Academy at Rome) invesitigated the Magnesian peninsula in April 1905. They identified a possible site for excavation at Kato Georgi near Cape Sopias; this site, designated as Theotokou, was excavated by Wace and John P. Droop in 1907.

Wace and Droop had hoped to find remains of a Doric temple but were disappointed. They went 'maghoula-hunting' and identified a prehistoric mound at Zerelia near Almyros; this was excavated in 1908, with Maurice S. Thompson joining the team.

Wace and Thompson were joined in 1909 by T. Eric Peet. They worked on two sites: Palaeomylos near Lianokladi, in the Spercheios Valley, and Tzani Maghoula near Sophades. This work suggested to them that there were no clear links between the cultures of the Aegean and Central Europe.

Wace and Thompson excavated at Tsangli in 1910. Wynfrid Duckworth, who had worked with the BSA at Palaikastro, examined a skull found in one of the Neolithic levels. A second site was excavated at Rachmani, to the north-west of Larisa.

References
Bosanquet, R. C. 1902. "Thessaly. Prehistoric villages in Thessaly." Man 2: 106-07. [JSTOR]
Wace, A. J. B. 1906. "The topography of Pelion and Magnesia." Journal of Hellenic Studies 26: 143-68. [JSTOR]
—. 1908. "Topography of Pelion and Magnesia - Addenda." Journal of Hellenic Studies 28: 337. [JSTOR]
Wace, A. J. B., and J. P. Droop. 1906/07. "Excavations at Theotokou, Thessaly." Annual of the British School at Athens 13: 308-27.
Wace, A. J. B., J. P. Droop, and M. S. Thompson. 1907/08. "Excavations at Zerélia, Thessaly." Annual of the British School at Athens 14: 197-223.
Peet, T. E., A. J. B. Wace, and M. S. Thompson. 1908. "The connection of the Aegean civilization with Central Europe." Classical Review 22: 233-38. [JSTOR]
Vassits, M. M. 1907/08. "South-eastern elements in the pre-historic civilization of Servia." Annual of the British School at Athens 14: 319-42.
Thompson, M. S., and A. J. B. Wace. 1909. "The connection of the Aegean culture with Servia." Classical Review 23: 209-12. [JSTOR]
Wace, A. J. B., and M. S. Thompson. 1910. "Excavations in Thessaly, 1910." Man 10: 159-60. [JSTOR]
Duckworth, W. L. H. 1911. "35. Report on a Human Skull from Thessaly (Now in the Cambridge University Anatomical Museum)." Man 11: 49-50. [JSTOR]
Wace, A. J. B., and M. S. Thompson. 1911. "The distribution of early civilization in northern Greece." Geographical Journal 37: 631-36. [JSTOR]
Wace, A. J. B., and M. S. Thompson. 1912. Prehistoric Thessaly: being some account of recent excavations and explorations in north-eastern Greece from Lake Kopais to the borders of Macedonia. Cambridge archaeological and ethnological series. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Woodward, A. M. 1913. "Inscriptions from Thessaly and Macedonia." Journal of Hellenic Studies 33: 313-46. [JSTOR]

Image
Skull from Neolithic layer at Tsangli.

Read More

Benefits of Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic Exercise Keeps You Young

British study found it shaved 10 to 12 years off biological age.

A person who maintains aerobic fitness may delay biological aging by up to 12 years, a new analysis shows.

Jogging and other types of aerobic exercise improve the body's oxygen consumption and its use in generating energy (metabolism). However, a steady decline in maximal aerobic power begins in middle age, decreasing about 5 ml/ (kg. min) every decade, according to the information in the analysis.

When maximal aerobic power falls below about 18 ml in men and 15 ml in women, it becomes difficult to do any activity without experiencing major fatigue. A typical 60-year-old sedentary man has a maximal aerobic power of about 25 ml, nearly half of what it was at age 20.

But research shows that a long period of relatively high-intensity aerobic exercise can increase maximal aerobic power by 25 percent (about 6 ml), which equals 10 to 12 biological years.

The analysis was published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

"There seems good evidence that the conservation of maximal oxygen intake increases the likelihood that the healthy elderly person will retain functional independence," said study author Dr. Roy Shephard, of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health and Department of Public Health Sciences, at the University of Toronto in Canada.

Aerobic exercise also reduces the risk of serious disease and promotes faster recovery after injury or illness. Additionally, it helps maintain muscle power, balance and coordination, which reduces the risk of falls.

More information:

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about healthy aging for older adults.
-- Robert Preidt.

Read More

Night 1

View Map of Location

Underway to Hurghada Marina
53nM Down 57nM to Go!! Keeping fingers and toes crossed for good weather

Read More

Arcação!!

If you go to Brazil, you absolutely have to stop at the Bells Company Hostel. Even if you are not staying there, have a drink and chat with the lively owner, who´s name is Gecko, yes, like the lizard. This hostel is situated on the Praia (beach) da Arcação, which is on a little island called the Ilha da Santa Catarina which is in the southeast part of the country, about 12 hours south of São Paulo. The reason I say that is this: Gecko is great, the hostel is RIGHT on the beach, there are surfboards, body boards and a kayak just waiting to be used, internet and breakfast come with the room rate, AND if you are lucky, Gecko will drag out the karaoke machine and you can embarrass yourself as much as you want.

Chris and I arrived here on Wednesday after a long bus ride from Iguaçu with plans to stay for two nights. Two quickly turned into four as we met a great group of people, practiced our surfing and honed our karaoke skills. Today we board an overnight bus and go to São Paulo, where we will meet up with my friend Mira, who has decided to come down and meet up with us for her Spring Break. She will stay for about two weeks and we will probably hit up a few different places while she is here, including Rio and a couple of other smaller towns near it. After that, we continue to travel north.

Read More

Marsa Alam

View Map of Location

Marsa Alam, Egypt
25 Feet Good Holding. Two days sailing = 30 miles north before the wind picks up to 25 knots. AND we get up at 5 am to leave, we've had to sail 41 miles to make that 30!!

Our actual track

Read More

Renanto Reef

View Map of Location

Renanto Reef, Egypt
45 Feet Our own private reef
(literally drop right behind the reef.. and watch out for a southerly switch)

Wind picked up to 20-25 knots and we are hiding here until it dies down a little. If I had know the reefs would have this much of calming effect I would used them more often. Once you get to Egypt you lose a lot of the indented protection of the Marsa and Khor anchorages and this is where you really need them as the northerlies fill in with a vengeance.

You'll still find calm days, but the weather windows are usually shorter than predicted, always have a ditch plan. We know fellow cruisers who had to re-sail hundreds of miles after they got blown out and couldn't make the finally destination.

Calming Effect of the Reef

Read More

Sharm Luli,Egypt

View Map of Location

32 Feet Beautiful hills with small army outpost (two people)

Wind started picking up and lasted the night, glad we pulled in. Is this BF Egypt?

Read More

6 Secrets To Mass Building Workouts And Tips On How To Gain Mass

Attention all bodybuilders, I would like to share some mass building workouts secrets and tips on how to gain mass with you. They have been extremely convenient and "worth it" to me, so I thought they would help you too. Let’s start with your workouts:

1. Don't pick a weight you are able to lift for more than ten reps, or less than five reps. Lift within 75 percent to 95 percent of your one rep max.

2. When you lift for mass, make 70 percent (approximately) of your lifts powerful and explosive. Meanwhile, the other 30 percent should be alot slower and more controlled.

3. Not including warm-ups, your total work volume should not be less than 50 reps, but no bigger than 80 reps.

4. In order to control the devastating effects that "lactic acid" has on your strength, you should make sure you are always alternating opposing muscle group exercises.

5. On your last warm-up set, there should be 5 percent more weight than you will be lifting for your sets, it should be one explosive rep. (This will make your first work set feel easier than ever! By triggering an incredibly strong signal to the brain, then making it recruit alot more muscle fibers than needed.)

6. For maximum strength, always drink plenty of water and make sure you rest at LEAST three minutes in between sets.

I also want to share some helpful tips about mass gaining with you:

1. Question: I want to gain a lot of muscle; can I do it without adding fat?

Answer: The answer to this is that it is very difficult to do. If you want a lot of muscle you have to be in a positive calorie and nitrogen (protein) balance for an extended period of time. This means taking in more calories and protein than your body needs to maintain its weight, and excess calories generally equals at least a moderate amount of fat increase. Optimizing your food intake by training and resting properly will help ensure that you are building as much mass as possible in the process.

2. Question: How can I predict my one-rep max without actually doing it?

Answer: For years, bodybuilders have been using one-rep max charts to predict what they will lift in competition. They do this because it's hard to keep performing one-rep max lifts due to the pressure it puts on your joints and the safety precautions you have to take, like having a good spotter. The most commonly accepted formula is known as the Brzycki formula.

3. Question: My workout partner is always on me to drink more water, but frankly I hate it! How important is it? Any tricks to help me drink more?

Answer: Water is extremely important. for good health and if you're into packing on the mass it becomes even more important. There are three major reasons why. First, when carbs are stored in your liver and muscles for energy, they are stored as glycogen. Glycogen is dependent on water, that’s why when athletes’ carbohydrate load they must drink significant water if they are to store the glycogen. Staying hydrated means your muscles will be full and ready to go every workout. Second, water helps regulate sodium and potassium which are located outside and inside a muscle cell. If water levels become too low, sodium and potassium become out of balance and hormones like aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone start competing, and the end result is a higher risk of muscle cramping!

4. Question: My friend said I should do some cardio even if I'm in a mass phase of training. What do you think about this?

Answer: Everyone should know that cardio is good, but not for gaining mass! It burns fat, but it burns calories, carbs and even protein as well. This will slow your mass gains down. There's an old saying about gaining mass that goes something like this: "Lay down when you can sit, sit when you can stand, stand when you can move around and drive when you can walk". Gaining mass quickly is about putting all of your energy into your muscle and the weights. Of course, if you're getting ready for a bodybuilding competitions, football seasons or strongman competitions, you will need to incorporate cardio (aerobic) activity into your plans.

5. Question: What is ATP?

Answer: ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate, which in its best sense supplies your body with energy. When glucose is broken down in the body, it supplies energy to ATP. ATP stores that energy until it is needed, at which time a phosphate group “springs off” to release energy and leave adenosine diphosphate. The "ATP's" reaction looks like this: ATP > ADP + Pi + Energy

6. Question: Can I shorten the 3-minute rest times in mass training?

Answer: Yes. But even though this will decrease your time in the gym, reducing rest times won’t allow your muscle’s energy system to completely recover before your next set. Sure, you’ll still get great results, but for the best possible results, follow the "three minute rest in between sets" rule.

Well, there you have it – 6 secrets to effective mass building workouts and some helpful tips about gaining mass! Try them and see how they affect your results.- my bet is that you will be pleased!

Copyright 2008, Masszymes Inc. All rights reserved

Emanuel Kyser has achieved great results with the Freaky Big Naturally Training System. There's tons of secrets about mass building workouts, bodybuilding programs, mass building routines, how-to-gain-mass and much more. Take action and go grab a copy of the FREE powerful bodybuilding package at http://how-to-gain-mass.freakygrowth.com.

Read More

Alternative Healthcare Video Sites

Hi,

I have constructed some video sites on alternative medicine and healthcare, covering various topics like aromatherapy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy, massage therapy, music therapy, reiki, rolfing and yoga.

There are hundreds of videos there. If you are interested in learning some alternative healthcare subjects, please visit: Healthcare Alternative Medicine Video Site.

Read More

Dolphin Reef

View Map of Location

Dolphin Reef, Egypt
40 Feet Good holding in sand in the lee of the reef

Some of the nicest Snorkeling we've seen since Fiji

Read More