There has been much misinformation published regarding the discovery of the Bosnian Pyramids, not far from Sarajevo.  I wish to present my findings both from a spiritual standpoint and from attending a lecture given by the founder of the pyramids, Dr. sci. Semir (Sam) Osmanagich.

For my weekly newsletter in January of 2011, during meditation, I asked Gaia soul of the earth:

Gaia, are the mounds or hills in Bosnia that have been reported to be pyramids actually pyramids or are they natural formations?

No, certainly these are pyramids Tom that the gentleman discovered.  They are overgrown through thousands of years of neglect, after they were abandoned.  Slowly they are discovering more about this complex of pyramids, as he has much assistance from the local area.  These pyramids do date much earlier than they currently believe, so they have much left to discover over the next 25 years or so.

Then in early February of this year I read an article about an energy beam emitting from the largest pyramid in the complex, named the Sun Pyramid (and larger than the one on the Giza plateau), so I asked my own Guardian Angel Theo about it:

Yes, Tom.  The more they explore these pyramids the more mysteries they must solve.  There is energy—a beam emitting from the large pyramid.  Certainly there is a connection there with its purpose to be determined by the scientists involved in the research.  There were healing chambers as they speculated Tom.  There are many more intriguing discoveries they will make over the next few years.

Little did I know at the time that I would be invited by my friend Robert to attend a lecture that Saturday night about the pyramids by the gentleman who discovered them—Dr. Osmanagich.  May I say that both of us felt it was one of the best and most interesting lectures either of us had ever attended.  Dr. Sam, in 2.5 hours, covered the scientific proof of their legitimacy in great detail with photos, references to scientific studies etc.  I would compare this to perhaps an exciting lecture by an archeologist in the 1800’s returning to London with perhaps photos and drawings of the Giza pyramids.

Do not believe anyone who tries to claim it isn’t manmade.  There has been a concerted effort by the head of Egyptian Antiquities Zahi Hawass, to put pressure on archeologists and scientists in Europe to say the Bosnian Pyramids are natural phenomena.  When one of his own staff visited the pyramids and declared they were manmade, he was fired upon his return to Egypt.  His letters to these people, in my opinion, is a thinly veiled attempt to threaten their future digs in Egypt.  We must also consider that because they can scientifically prove these pyramids are over 10,000 years old, there is also a religious backlash from groups in both Egypt and Bosnia that would claim this is heresy.

Keep in mind this is big business for the Egyptians.  Up until the recent unrest in Egypt, there was 30 billion dollars in tourism each year.  Even if Bosnia was to take 10% of that away it would amount to 3 billion dollars!  That’s why Hawass, plus the Minister of Tourism and the Minister of Culture had a meeting to discuss just the Bosnian Pyramids.

But having owned an international wholesale tour company myself, I believe the Bosnian Pyramids will carve out their own tourists.  I foresee tour groups touring the Eastern Bloc of countries making a one or two day stop for their clients to view the pyramids, before moving on to other tourist destinations, and other tourists making it a longer stay, but still including additional stops.

I bought Sam’s book at the lecture—Ancient History: From Beyond the Veil.  In it he enlisted six readers of the Akashic Records to give information on not only the Bosnian Pyramids, but also the Giza Pyramids and several others around the world.  What I find pleasing about this is a scientist’s attempt to work hand in hand with spirit to discover the answers and point the way for his efforts.   In the book Lois J. Wetzel, the author of Akashic Records: Case Studies of Past Lives, did a reading for Dr. Sam.  She received that he came from another universe, so I decided to ask my GA Theo about this.

Theo, did Dr. Semir Osmanagich come from another universe to this one?

Yes Tom.  That report is fairly accurate.  His is an old soul who came to this universe, and got caught up in the earth experiment.  He has had over 800 lives on earth, a very seasoned soul as you have deduced.  He was the creator—builder involved in the construction of those pyramids, as they were designed for spiritual reasons beyond your normal 3^rd dimensional understanding at this time.  Those secrets will slowly be revealed in the coming years, thanks to his and others’ efforts and work.  And as you can imagine one day those pyramids will be just as important and just as visited as those in Egypt.  They are limited in their ability to house tourists, but that will soon be rectified, as not just one, but several hotel facilities will see the business to be had, along with creating other things to do of a more touristy nature shall we call it. 

He was advised to concentrate on the interiors of the pyramids and not so much the exterior, but shouldn’t there be continuous work on both, as revealing more and more of the face will bring that much more recognition.

Yes Tom.  He should continue to have a portion of the people, along with perhaps some earth front end loaders as they are called, plus a couple of trucks to haul the dirt away, so that more and more of the pyramid will be displayed.  That will bring more scientists and more tourists, which he can also begin charging to visit and have guided tours.  There will soon be a great shift in perception by the public and archeologists who have been threatened by the Egyptians, who are protecting their “turf,” shall we say to disparage his work. 

Have I had any lives with Dr. Semir before?

Yes, of course.  You were involved far back in time Tom, and are quite familiar with these pyramids.  You have had several lives where your paths crossed and even worked together, again because of your soul’s interest in religions and spiritual things.

Below are more questions that I asked my “brother on another planet,” who’s not veiled as we are.  Antura is a member of my soul cluster and is having a life on the planet he and Theo say I had several thousand lives on.  It’s a water planet in the Sirius B Star System.  By the way, we ALL had lots of lives on other planets before coming to earth.  Your soul had to have reached a certain vibrational level before “applying” to take part in the “earth experiment” to fast track your soul development.  In her Akashic reading, Lois wrote that Dr. Semir (or Americanized Sam) had come from another universe with 23,500 people, but had not followed “protocol” and checked in with the Sirians, who are our protectors.  There seems to have been some sort of battle and Dr. Semir and friends fared the worst.  So I began by asking about this.

Antura, is there a protocol for entering the universe, and if so does this involve clearing Sirian customs so to speak?

Yes, there is a protocol as it is termed for entering any universe.  And yes, the Sirians in this universe or certainly this part of the galaxy are the ones to be contacted. 

But how would anyone be aware that visited?

It is quite simple at this level Tom.  You appear and send out a call through “proper channels” shall I humorously call it.  That’s the way we know that the other Federations of planets in the galaxy either are on good terms, or wish to be left alone, as they are quite open to giving this information to anyone who appears.  It sounds complex, but really isn’t after you’ve been doing this for a few million years. 

So was Dr. Semir Osmanagich originally from another universe or galaxy?

Yes, he was Tom, and did come with a large contingent of other ships.  They were attracted to what was going to happen on earth and did not follow proper protocol and were dealt with, as we are your protectors of the earth experiment. 

Were they reptilians?

No, but were almost as brash shall we say.  They made a mistake and paid for it by becoming involved in the earth experiment too.  So in the end it has worked out for them, as their souls brought a different flavor if you will to the experiment, just as the reptilians did.

Antura, what is the significance of the 28.54 Hz of the Sun Pyramid beam?

Yes, there is great significance in that energy level frequency Tom.  Much more will be known if your scientists begin to work with that frequency and do tests and experiments with that level of energy.  I can’t say too much more about it as there are soul contracts involved of those who will study and analyze and report on their findings.  It would take all the fun away. 

Antura, it has been reported that this energy beam at 28.54 Hz which beams out of the Sun Pyramid in Bosnia gets stronger as it goes out.  How far does it travel and how many more of the energy beams come out of other pyramids on earth?

First there are countless beams Tom, just not as powerful as this energy beam, as you call it, and very few others.  And yes, these energy beams do travel across the galaxy and even universe. 

So are they beacons for people to come here, or what use are they?

Again, not too much information at this time Tom, but suffice to say these do have multiple purposes and when seen in other locations the energy is used in some form.  This gets into sacred geometry and mathematics.  There is much to learn here, I assure you and your scientific readers. 

So not too much of an explanation Antura.  Can’t you provide anymore?  Are these beams used for transport?

Not in the sense you mean Tom.  But again, I’m prevented by the “powers that be” from revealing too much.  You must discover these things yourselves.  We are not allowed to give you too much information, and you will see that the information you will be given after these first contacts will be extensive, but not so scientific shall we say, as those discoveries must be made by those on earth. 

Does the date of the Bosnian pyramids line up with the 10,000 to 12,000 years ago era or before?

Much before Tom.  There were thousands of years when these pyramids were well taken care of, and then there would be the declines, then they would leave, and then return in periods where the energy would rise, and this has happened several times over a very long period of earth time.  But for Dr. Sam’s purposes, that time period will work and will cause other scientists to become involved. 

For more information on the Bosnian Pyramids go to:

http://www.bosnianpyramid.com/  and for Dr. Osmanagich:

http://www.SemirOsmanagic.com

In the coming years we will see some great discoveries being revealed as the archeological work continues on the Bosnian Pyramid complex.

Copyright 2012 by Tom T. Moore

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tom T. Moore is a speaker, frequent radio guest, and author of THE GENTLE WAY: A Self-Help Guide For Those Who Believe In Angels and THE GENTLE WAY II: The Story Continues (Light Technology ISBN # 1-891824-60-0  and # 978-1-891824-80-7) and a weekly newsletter.   For more information, go to http://www.thegentlewaybook.com/.

I flew into Gaggalairport which is a short taxi ride away from McLeod Ganj where you are instantly greeted by the peaks and troughs of the majestic Himalayan range. Straight away a yearning was born to get higher up to see the full beauty of what was on offer from this incredible landscape. A few days into the trip I learned of a trek that could be done in one day that affords you a wonderful up close and personal view of the snowy peaks I had seen in the distance.

Armed with water, snacks and many layers of clothing we set off a week later to climb up to this place which is commonly known by the locals as ‘Triund’. Straight away our band of two became a band of seven as five local dogs decided to accompany us all the way to the top. Something told us that this was their way of ensuring a daily meal or two from many unsuspecting tourists who were easily smitten by how cute they were. And their endearing ways had us pulled right in there with the best of them! Two hours into the climb we stopped some local people to ask them was it much further. The glint in their eyes accompanied by scoffs of laughter confirmed we were nowhere near where we wanted to be and had to toughen up if we wanted to get to the view we had heard so much about.

The day got hotter and hotter, the climb got steeper and more perilous as we found ourselves weaving around and up the edge of the mountain with nothing but a seemingly infinite drop to our right to make sure we kept our focus. At one point we turned a corner and could see the path winding and winding its way upward and beyond, which at the point in time made our feet ache that little bit more. Three quarters way up to the top, although we didn’t know it at the time, we came across a little house with a shop selling food, drink and beautiful raw crystals cut straight from the mountain. It was there we got chatting to other climbers who were Nepalese and did this climb regularly. Their advice was ‘slowly slowly’. Armed with more water, extra biscuits for the dogs and fantastic crystals for friends and family we set off once again.

About an hour and a half later, we were so high that snowflakes gently falling all around had replaced the blistering sun and we thought we must be near! Another quick check in with some locals passing by in the opposite direction confirmed we had guessed right. Inching our way up the last winding pass we came out into a view that can only be described as incredulous! Snowy peaks towered over us in the nearby distance bringing about genuine humilityat the true power and beauty of our dear Mother Gaia. It was one of those times in life where you are totally present to the mercy we humans are at when it comes to here leniency towards us and all the harm that we do to her. The mighty strength coming from those mountains was so intense that one could only feel respect. Mess with those mountains and there would be only one winner…

As for the dogs well they followed us all the way back down and at the end of our journey ran back into their respective houses!

About the Author:
Lisa Tully is a keen traveler, meditator and tour host creating opportunities for people to explore themselves as they explore other lands through spiritual travel tours. She is hosting an India Meditation Tour in October, 2011 that includes teaching sessions with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

In the Judeo-Christian world, the sacred and the profane are polar opposites – the one hallowed, the other obscene; in Hinduism the two concepts meld into one another-indivisible and eternal as the cosmos. Nowhere is this more evident than in the erotic temple carvings of Khajuraho in northern India, where spirituality and sensuality, playfulness and profundity meet in a joyous celebration of life, energy and passion.

It is a gloriously sunny, but mild January morning and the temples are silhouetted against a deep blue sky. Tourists cluster around their guides; some of them gaze bemused at the explicit sexual positions depicted on the walls, others snicker and exchange sly winks. My own guide, Jagdip, is an earnest young man and he has his spiel down pat.

“Originally about 85 temples were built here between the 9th and 14th century, but today only 25 survive.” He gestures across the site’s manicured lawns and bordering flower beds filled with orange marigolds and scarlet cannas. “We are in the Western group and we will visit the rest in the Eastern group a little later.”

He turns back to the temple façade before us. It is adorned with divine and semi-divine figures-celestial dancers, heavenly beauties, musicians, cherubs and above all, several amorous couples. In one frieze, a voluptuous woman, her hip out-thrust, looks flirtatiously up at her partner; he looks adoringly down at her while cupping one of her full, rounded breasts in his palm. Another tableaux portrays a ménage à trois, and along the base of another temple an elaborately carved band runs around the parameter depicting couplings in every conceivable position.

Standing in front of the Kandriaya Mahadeva temple I goggle at a pose so contorted that it prompts me to remark, “How could they possibly be enjoying this?” The pose in question shows a male standing on his head while straddled by a female, the pair of them in coitus, the female supported by two heavenly maidens.

Jagdip clears his throat. “Yes…well this is a Yoga pose, and is possibly Tantric in origin.

Tantric rituals are often linked to dark occult practices, but it is also a philosophy that centres on sexual energy as being part of the cosmic circle of re-birth arising from death and destruction. The arousal of sensual passion also brings with it a karmic awakening, and a god such as Shiva, the Destroyer and the malevolent goddess Kali, are yoked to pure energy (“shakti”) a force that fuels the universe and all things within it. Temples throughout the country display Shiva-Lingams-an erect “lingam” (phallus) cradled in the “yoni” (vagina), symbolizing the mystical power of creativity.

Sexuality and spirituality went hand in hand even before the temples in Khajuraho took shape. Back in the 6th century AD a scholar, Vatsyayana, who was (get this!) an ascetic and a yogi, authored the “Kama Sutra” a detailed and explicit treatise on the art of love-making. This instruction manual not only lists sixty-four sexual positions (many of them requiring the agility of a gymnast and the flexibility of a contortionist), but also gravely discusses a wide range of philosophical concepts such as Dharma, (virtuous living), Artha, (material prosperity) Kama (aesthetic and erotic pleasure) and Moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth).

Indian erotic paintings mirror the sculptures that adorn Khajuraho. Like the amorous couples on the temple facades, paintings depict curvaceous women and well endowed men gazing tenderly into each others’ eyes while engaged in sexual couplings. Some paintings are whimsical-a couple makes ardent love in a howdah perched on an elephant, another couple is likewise engaged while riding a camel!

About the same time as the Kama Sutra was written, professional temple dancers known as Devadasis were to be found in temples throughout India. Young virgins, dedicated to the temple deity, were trained as erotic dancers; their role was also to pleasure patrons in the temple precincts using techniques described in the Kama Sutra. Temple prostitution was prohibited in 1988, but Jagdip wobbles his head ruefully as he admits, “here and there this practice still exists.”

Today’s India in fact, seethes with repressed sexuality. Society prohibits sexual dalliances and arranged marriages are the norm, so many couples have never set eyes on one another until the day of their wedding. They come as virgins to the nuptial bed. Carnal desires hide in the shadows. But for the inhibited or shy there is a whole world of sexual voyeurism – Bollywood movies! In darkened theatres, audiences salivate over seductive, scantily clad heroines as they sing, dance and flirt.

But the world of movies in India go a step further. They spin dramatic stories of human passion and divine adoration. They speak to universal emotions; they transcend time. So too do the erotic temples of Khajuraho.

If You Go:

Getting There: Khajuraho is accessible by air from Delhi
Where to Stay: http://www.khajuraho.org.uk/hotels/index.html
General Information: http://www.khajuraho.org.uk/index.html

Margaret Deefholts is a travel writer as well as the editor of the Travel Writers’ Tales article syndicate and website.

Yucatan is a place of subtle treasures, camouflaged in spectacular ruins and intriguing natural creations. The limestone plateau that supports savannah and dry tropical forests is interlaced with underground waterways. No rivers run on the surface, but beneath are caves and water tubes, like a big Swiss cheese. When the surface of waterways wears thin, it may collapse to form cenotes (circular openings revealing clear water.) While some cenotes are close to ground level, more are at depths of 20 to 50 feet. Roots of trees dangle down, seeking sustenance in the water below, while vines drape gracefully over the rim and swallows nest under rocky eaves.

The feminine element, water, permeates the hard karst formation. The sacred feminine hovers just below the surface of angular stones and linear pyramids in ancient Mayan cities. The Mayalands are considered feminine by indigenous people: Pachamama, Heart of the Earth.

After I had lived in Yucatan for two years, my friend and spiritual sister came to visit. She had traveled before in this area of Mexico, finding it rather harsh energetically and intense climatically. As devotees of the Goddess, we shared interest in experiencing Her presence wherever we traveled. The Yucatan peninsula, to my friend, seemed mostly masculine. Flat plains, rocky fields, hidden waters, and sharply angular ruins projected masculine severity. I invited her on search for the Sacred Feminine in Yucatan.

Uxmal

The Puuc hills rise gently at the western edge of the Yucatan plains. Their curves are soft and rounded, covered with lush foliage. You feel enveloped in the bosom of Mother Earth. Uxmal is the dominant Maya site in the Puuc, with remnants of raised roads (called sacbe) linking to other nearby cities. Founded about 600 CE, Uxmal reached its apex in 800-1000 CE and was largely abandoned a century later. It has some of the finest frescoes and most elaborately decorated buildings in the Maya world.

The overarching sense you get at Uxmal is harmony. It is perhaps the most visually satisfying of sites, with open areas between towering structures set upon tiered platforms. Few trees obstruct the view, and grass brings verdant peacefulness where once white plazas reflected the sunlight. Most striking, however, is the harmonious placement of buildings, how the entire site exudes grace and balance. The elders say Uxmal holds the perfect balance of female and male energies. In Mayan sacred geometry, Uxmal structures are aligned to the sun, the moon, and the reappearance of Venus.

On my first visit to Uxmal, I felt a flutter around my heart as we approached. Sensing my long-ago connections here, intuition told me that the site served as a training center for priestesses and priests of the goddess IxCheel. Several years later, Maya Elder Hunbatz Men described to our group how this place was a university to educate women, especially in the arts of sacred sexuality. Sitting on the steps of the Nunnery Quadrangle, he pointed out the primary symbolism in the frescoes for each cardinal direction: The south building had little huts and grains for earth and family, the east building had the owl of wisdom in the sky grid with nine double-headed serpents of duality, the west building had intertwined serpents of kundalini with a panel of flowers (symbol of the vulva), and the north building had stacked Chak faces (god of rain and life-giving fluids) and male phallic symbols.

Master Maya Teacher Miguel Angel Vergara calls Uxmal “The City of the Kindness of the Moon” and says it was a Cosmic Feminine University for priestess initiations. IxCheel was honored in her many aspects as Lady Rainbow and Mother Earth, with the Face of the Moon, healer, herbalist and midwife.

East of the quadrangle stands the towering Pyramid of the Magician. Visitors entering the ruins are regaled with the sight of this 117-foot high structure, and it takes your breath away. Unlike nearly all Mayan pyramids, which are square and four-sided, this pyramid is oval-shaped. Steep stairs ascend the east and west sides. Facing west, a huge monster mask provides access to the interior through its gaping jaws. Perched atop the mask is a small square temple. The bulging pyramid sides suggest pregnancy, and the oval shape hints of feminine curves. In stark contrast, the straight lines of the stairs are decidedly masculine. During nights of the full moon, priestesses of Uxmal performed their rituals on the heights of the pyramid, merging the creative forces of the universe, honoring fertility and abundance.

Due south of the pyramid, a vast three-tiered terrace rises to support the imposing Governor’s Palace, which is actually a temple of the sun. In front are two remarkable small structures. The double-headed jaguar throne sits on a low square platform, one head on each end facing out. With various friends, I’ve experiences the different energies of the two jaguar heads. One person stands facing each jaguar, hands held palm open toward the jaguar. The smaller head draws energy gently toward itself, as though receiving. The larger head blasts energy out, its power almost overwhelming for some people. Archeologists say the Uxmal ruler used this throne for ceremony. I think it brought his feminine and masculine sides into balance.

Between the jaguar throne and middle steps of the Governor’s Palace stands an elongated stone about eight feet tall. Now tilted about 45 degrees but originally upright, this stone phallus symbolizes the fertilization of earth. Possibly it was empowered to draw down masculine creative forces and focus them in the person of the leader who manifested creative cycles for the people.

Southeast of this broad platform, now surrounded by brushy overgrowth, is the House of the Old Woman. The structure is crumbling, with vines and bushes growing between stones. Few tourists visit here. The old woman is IxMucane, goddess of the center of the earth, the convergence point of planetary energies and place of transformation. Called the Grandmother, she is the legendary sorceress who hatched her dwarf son from an egg, and magically aided him in his contest to overcome the Uxmal ruler. During this process, the dwarf created the imposing Temple of the Magician in one night.

Determined to do ceremony for IxMucane, a friend and I braved the narrow thorny path and found a small clearing in front of the House of the Old Woman. We spread our altar cloth on the ground in typical indigenous manner, and placed objects for earth, water, fire and air at the four corners. Making offerings of copal (resin of the copal tree) and ground maize (corn), we offered prayers and salutations quietly. In our meditation there, we caught glimpses of Uxmal when it functioned as a center where Maya women received both human and cosmic knowledge, learned the ceremonies of the elements and directions, and celebrated the power of creation in song and dance.

My friend was deeply moved and felt the Feminine Divine presence strongly. We agreed that Uxmal offered an amazing balance: sky-earth, sun-moon, masculine-feminine.

Xcambo

An hour from Yucatan’s capital city, Merida, lies hidden the small coastal site Xcambo. My friend and I drove past palm-stippled beaches lining the calm Gulf of Mexico to Telchac Puerto, a sleepy fishing village. A short sandy road took us into the Xcambo ruins, a collection of modest structures. The tallest building, composed of five levels, rises 50 feet. On top, a large flat platform gives unobstructed 360-degree views of the surrounding marshes and the nearby gulf. Palmettos dot the marsh and water birds abound. Around the central plaza are four structures, the southern one presenting masks in deteriorated condition. The architecture is simple, mostly without adornment.

Xcambo is full of stillness and the song of the wind. It brings you in touch with the vastness of seas, the meeting of water and earth. Meditating on the high platform, we easily communed with the goddess of the sea, IxYumHa. She embodies the life of the seawaters, her crown elongating into a sea bird holding a fish. Shells rattle at her wrists and ankles, and seaweed forms her hair. Her special bird is the pelican, and she protects both birds and fish.

We reveled in the gentle feminine energy of Xcambo. Not much is known of this mysterious site, and few tourists visit. In the spring, the local Mayan villagers make a pilgrimage walk to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe with ceremonies on the high platform. A small open-sided Catholic church was appended to the structure long ago. To us, the energies of IxYumHa and Guadalupe merged, as they undoubtedly do on a deep level for the local Maya.

Although the more famous sites of the Mayan Goddess IxCheel are on the Caribbean islands Cozamel and Isla Mujeres, we discovered a strong Sacred Feminine presence in Yucatan. Just as the underground channels hide abundant water, the land and sites here conceal the Goddess; but gladly reveal her energies to those who really look.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leonide Martin lives in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico where she gives classes and excursions focused on ancient Maya teachings, goddesses and calendars. She received training as a Maya Solar Initiate and Fire Woman, and is an ordained Priestess of Isis. Her book “Dreaming the Maya Fifth Sun: A Novel of Maya Wisdom and the 2012 Shift in Consciousness” reveals how indigenous wisdom supports global transformations. Experiences of the Sacred Feminine through the Maya goddess tradition are offered with Trudy Woodcock at Iluminado Tours:  www.iluminado-tours.com

Why do so many people visit ancient sacred sites each year? Why are so many people drawn to England’s Stonehenge, or the Pyramids in Egypt. What is going on?

In my experience as a guide to ancient sacred sites in Britain there are various reasons why people make these journeys. For some it is a quest, such as following the Arthurian legend in a personal search to find the meaning of the Holy Grail. For others it is a modern pilgrimage to walk the paths of our ancestors. Others instinctively know that a healing awaits them at one of these places shrouded in mystery. Whatever prompts the decision to travel, journeys of this kind are almost always transformative.

Reading The Signs
Our ancestors knew the Earth intimately and understood her wisdom. Living in much closer communion with the planet than we do their sense of the natural forces of the Earth was a finely-tuned whole body awareness.

Imagine yourself as a member of a neolithic society living five thousand years ago. You are walking along and suddenly you feel a tingling in your hands or feet or maybe a rush of energy throughout your body. You have just walked over an energy hot spot. This is where you would choose to build a structure in which you could work with the energies present for purposes of healing or spiritual insight.
Today this same sacred site might appear to be just a dead relic of a bygone age. However, myths passed down through the generations tell a different story. For example, it is said of several stone circles that the stones go down to the water to drink at midnight or on a full moon. This folktale speaks of the connection between the stone circle, ever-present underground water and the earth energy that is carried by the water. This varies according to the seasons, the phases of the moon and even day and night. All holy wells have stories of healings attached to them. When we realise that strong Earth energy currents have turned the waters into something akin to a homeopathic remedy, these tales make perfect sense.

Sacred Space

Originally all energy spots were simply in nature – a hilltop, a wooded copse, a spring. The trees were the first to teach us the consequences of enclosing natural energy. The energy can be contained and built up to create a super-charged space. The Druids performed all their ceremonies in sacred groves for this reason. We can all feel these ‘magic’ places still, even if we don’t feel energies; they create in us a sense of silence, of wonder, of gratitude. The stone circle builders developed this theme and used crystalline rocks in order to control the energies. Today we utilize crystal (silicon chips) in all our computers; our ancestors were really using the same technology but for different purposes and on a different scale.
Medieval churches and cathedrals were often built on the sites of stone circles, ensuring that these energy hot spots would empower their Christian ceremonies.

Intent

What makes the crucial difference between a tourist visit and a transformative experience is our intent. Combining this committed intent with the super-charged atmosphere of a sacred site on a spiritual journey opens the door for extraordinary things to happen. On some level we still know what our ancestors knew – that the ancient sacred sites hold power and potential. Yet, our logical thinking often tells us this can’t be true. If we are prepared to quiet the sceptical mind for a while and act as if magic is possible, then magic does indeed become possible. As Albert Einstein once remarked “He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.”

About the Author:
Glenn Broughton has been researching and visiting ancient sacred sites for twenty years and is drawn to explore their energetic properties and how such places of power affect us today. He has been a tour guide for most of this time leading groups exploring the mystery of sacred sites through http://www.journeyswithsoul.com
He also lecturers internationally on sacred sites, earth mysteries and crop circles, and is the co-founder / co-organizer of http://www.earthspiritconferences.com

The history of Perge, situated 18km from Antalya, in the Pamphylion Plain on the Mediterranean coast and one of Turkey’s most popular vacation destinations, dates back to at least 1500 B.C., the end of the Hittite Empire’s period. Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia and one of the great Emperor conquered there in 333 B.C. But the height of the city’s power was during the Roman Empire, in the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D. Since 1946, Perge has been carefully excavated, revealing some of the most complete and largest ancient ruins to be found in a part of the world that tells the entire story of western civilization through newly discovered antiquities, buildings, artworks and even entire towns and cities.

This in itself would be reason enough to visit Perge, and the many other ancient discoveries in Turkey but the added intrigue of Perge’s “Statue of Liberty” makes a trip there irresistible. Carved into a tall column, the three-dimensional figure bears an uncanny resemblance to New York’s own, including a crown and a torch held high and, as same as the American “lady,” a sword instead of a tablet of law. And, the similarities make sense because it turns out that Frederic Bartholdi’s inspiration for American Statue of Liberty was none other than the Roman deity, Libertas, the goddess of freedom. Could it be that Perge’s figure, with her distinctive pose and characteristics, became the model all the “Lady Liberties” down through the ages?

Americans may want to decide for themselves. In addition to a first-hand examination of the newly discovered statue, they will have the opportunity to explore the entirety of Perge’s ancient wonders, which include a large agora, or market place, that served as the center of political and social life; a theatre that held 12,000 spectators; Roman baths; a colonnaded boulevard between Hellenistic gates, the city walls, gymnasium, numerous fountains and statues of Roman gods and the mother goddess Artemis, even a necropolis for the dead. Perge is also of interest because of its connections to early Christianity, having been famously visited by Saint Paul and St. Barnabas.

Adding to the appeal of a trip to Perge, of course, is Antalya itself. Some 500 miles of Mediterranean shoreline offer some of the cleanest beaches in Europe while the surrounding province contains ancient cities, picturesque seaside villages and exceptional natural beauty.

The city is noted for its hotels and resorts, appetizing restaurants, lively nightlife and shopping as well as year-round sporting events. A Cultural Center, opened in 1995, is the focal point for special events, festivals and exhibitions showcasing music, theater and other creative arts.

About Turkey

Turkey is a modern nation with a captivating blend of antiquity and contemporary and of East and West. The cradle of civilization and center of world history today stands as one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world. Turkey was the site of the first human settlement; the seat of the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman Empires; the birthplace of Homer and the last home of the Virgin Mary, just to name a few. Today Turkey, with its spectacular coastline, majestic mountains, cosmopolitan cities and quaint villages is one of the world’s most fascinating destinations.

For information call 1-877-FOR-TURKEY or contact the Turkish Culture and Tourist Offices in New York at 212-687-2194 or in Washington, D.C., at 202-612-6800, or in Los Angeles at 323-937-8066 and visit their Web sites at www.goturkey.com or www.tourismturkey.org

There are plenty of places in the UK where you can take a break from life.  Every part of the country has spas and country house hotels, but if you want something more out of your trip you could choose a spiritual retreat.  There are properties run by many different religious groups and according to different belief systems, and most are open to visitors of any faith.  Here is a selection from around the UK.

St Cuthman’s

Cowfold Road, Coolham, West Sussex, England RH13 8QL

This retreat offers a place for peace and reflection.  It’s owned by the Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, but it’s open to all faiths and those of none.  The Edwardian country house has lovely period features like wooden beams and paneling and there’s accommodation for couples or individuals in the bedrooms, which are decorated in a warm and simple way. There’s no programme to follow and you can choose to eat in silence in the dining room, or in conversation with other guests, in the conservatory.  Quiet time can also be had in the chapel or the well-stocked library.  Outside, there’s a lake and 20 acres of gardens, woodlands and meadows, where you can find a secluded spot for contemplation or bird watching, as this is a designated UK nature area.

Seren Retreat

Bryncoch Farm, Gower, Swansea, Wales SA2 7LB

This is a retreat for Ayurveda, yoga and cleansing.  The daily programme includes an Ayurvedic bodywork session, yoga and meditation instruction, healthy Ayurvedic meals and cooking demonstrations, with produce coming from the organic garden.  You can take a walk in the 23 acre grounds or soothe away your stress in the hot tub and sauna.  The accommodation is 4 star bed and breakfast standard.  There are 4 bedrooms, which can be double or twin, and extra beds can be put in to accommodate families.  There’s also a play area for children.

Dhanakosa

Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Scotland FK19 8PQ

This is a Buddhist retreat located within the Trossachs National Park, on the shores of Loch Voil.  You can explore the waterfalls and woodlands in its 16 acres of grounds.  A wide range of programmes are on offer along with introductory meditation teaching, including Yoga, hill walking, Tai Chi, Arts and Alternative therapies.  There are also more advanced meditation courses.  The accommodation in the farmhouse is a little basic, but you would choose this place to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding nature and to concentrate on your inner life.

Launde Abbey

Launde Abbey, East Norton, Leicester, England LE7 9XB

This is an Anglican-run retreat and you can attend the liturgies in the Abbey’s beautiful 12th century chapel.  It is, however, open to anyone who wants to go on a spiritual journey.  The retreat is set in 450 acres of parkland and has a Victorian walled garden where much of the food for guests is grown.  There are 45 bedrooms in the main house, parts of which date back to the 16th century.  It’s filled with historic features, fireplaces and antiques.  There are several different courses to choose from, including individually guided retreats where you take part in personal reflection along with daily sessions with a spiritual guide, or other courses which include activities such as painting, prayer or discussion groups.

Writer Bio

Susan Radcliffe is a British writer and TV researcher, with connections to several towns and cities around the UK.  She has Northern Irish ancestry and was born in Scotland.  She then lived in York and Sheffield before settling in London.  She loves to travel and to explore the many beautiful places around the UK and abroad.  She enjoys sharing her discoveries and being able to recommend hotels and accommodation, sights and attractions to other visitors.  She currently writes for sletoH.com, a price comparison site where you can book UK hotels as well as hotels in several other countries.

4,500 years ago at what is now known as Avebury in Wiltshire, Neolithic man erected a vast stone circle (the Great Circle) many times larger than the more publicised Stonehenge twenty miles to the south. Surrounding the outside of these 100 or so sarsen stones is a huge partly silted-up ditch some thirty feet deep thus classifying it today as a henge site. So big was the circle that much of the modern-day village of Avebury lays within its circumference of four-fifths of a mile. To say it is only impressive is to underestimate its grandeur.

Joined to the Great Circle were two double rows of standing stones known today as the West Kennet and Beckhampton Avenues. The West Kennet Avenue was nearly one and half miles in length but the now all but missing Beckhampton Avenue’s termination point is presently unknown although believed to have been similar in length.

At the farthest end of the West Kennet Avenue and connected to it, is the site of a now destroyed set of stone and timber circles known as the Sanctuary and this lies on Overton Hill alongside the oldest and longest track-way in the British Isles – the Ridgeway Path.

Three quarters of a mile to the south of the Great Circle was built the enigmatic Silbury Hill, the largest man-made hill in Europe with a huge surrounding 20ft deep ditch now mainly silted up. Covering a ground area of five and a half acres it is 130ft high with some estimates claiming it took some 18 million man hours to build using nothing more than antler picks and the shoulder blades of Oxen and wooden tools. Running north to south from Avebury is the Avebury Winterbourne stream which merges with the River Kennet to the south of Silbury Hill.

Also just below Silbury Hill lie the Swallowhead Springs where the main River Kennet rises. A quarter of a mile further south on the top of rising ground is the West Kennet Long Barrow, a chambered Early Neolithic chambered burial tomb believed to have been in use some 1,000 years prior to the construction of the other megaliths in the area.

These combined man-made structures are known collectively as the Avebury Complex and it has been classified as a World Heritage Site such is its importance. However, even after many excavations have taken place at the Great Circle, the Avenues, the Sanctuary and Silbury Hill, no practical or tangible theories or understanding of why they were built and what they were used for on completion has been put forward – until now that is! They had remained as much a mystery as when the first known official excavation began back in the 17^th century.

After some 30 years investigating the Complex, stone circle researcher Roy Goutté has reached some amazing conclusions that he says will change our understanding of Neolithic man in Great Britain and their beliefs for ever if correct. No longer will the Great Circle at Avebury, or Stonehenge for that matter, be seen as ‘stand alone’ structures, but part of huge complexes. It is by reaching this understanding that we can now begin to decipher their true meaning.

Working systematically through eight individual man-made or natural parts of the Avebury Complex as he sees it, he has now intrinsically linked them to show that they were all interconnected to form a huge hitherto unrecognised Female Earth Figure laid out over hundreds of acres of the Wiltshire countryside and has written a book on his discoveries. The Work is titled ‘A Lady In Waiting’ and clearly shows that this figure was designed and built in the Late Neolithic period. Roy Goutté firmly believes it was built with one aim in mind…to lead the Souls of the Dead into their Afterlife and his book guides the reader through the various stages of the Neolithic transition from this world into the next!

Contemporary with the building of the Great Pyramid at Giza and the Egyptian belief in the Afterlife, Roy Goutté has been able to show that it wasn’t just the hierarchy of its time that benefitted from the promise of an Afterlife at Avebury, but everybody, for he believes that the Earth Figure was built by the people, for the people. How it functioned and how it all worked in the mindset of Neolithic man is clearly shown by the intricate layout of the figure and how it used the natural waterways which ran through the figure’s body to bring it ‘alive’ to them by representing its Lifeblood.

The Swallowhead Springs were a representation of the birth canal with the New Life emerging from the womb which was itself represented by Silbury Hill with its water filled ditch symbolically representing the ‘waters’ around the unborn Spirit while awaiting its emergence into the Afterlife. The Stone Avenues were the arms of the Figure and the Sanctuary at the conclusion of the West Kennet Avenue the Gathering Hand alongside the Ridgeway Path where the burial ground, mortuary house and drying-out platforms were situated and from where the Afterlife journey began. The Ridgeway Path was the route that led directly to the Sanctuary and would have been witness to much sadness as dead or dying people were carried or walked to their last earthly resting place prior to beginning their journey into the Afterlife.

The Great Circle was of course the Head of the Figure and the two smaller stone circles within it the Eyes. It had a Mouth which ringed a Sacred Well that is still in evidence today.

In all it is an astounding discovery and the actual layout of the Figure showing all the relevant parts can quite clearly be seen on the overdrawn map within the book or on the Lady In Waiting website along with over 50 photographs of those component parts. In all, the book is innovative and groundbreaking and more importantly, very plausible if one reverts to a way of thinking not seen since Neolithic times.

Roy Goutté concludes his book with the words:-

‘Nearly everything that should be there still is – the only things really missing are the people and their beliefs’.

And he’s right and I’m sure that after reading this book you too will think again about the true meaning of the Avebury Complex.

More details about the book can be found at the Lady In Waiting website:- http://aveburyaladyinwaiting.co.uk/

About the Author

Roy Goutté was born in the Channel Island of Jersey, but now lives in Cornwall on the edge of Bodmin Moor with his wife and their two sons.

His interest in the past began as a child when growing up in the south-east of the island where many of his early boyhood days were spent playing around such important sites as the passage graves at La Hougue Bie in the parish of Grouville; La Pouquelaye de Faldouet in the parish of St Martin; Mont Ubé at St Clement and the gallery grave Le Dolmen du Couperon at St Martin. At the time they were just places to have fun in on days out, but as he matured he began to take more interest in them for what they really were and not just as playgrounds.

After leaving Jersey he became a regular visitor to Stonehenge and Avebury as his interest had moved to mainly investigating stone circles. Access to Stonehenge then became so limited that he felt it restricted his investigations there, so he concentrated solely on Avebury. He had been working on a theory that both Stonehenge and Avebury were not ‘stand-alone’ sites like many thought, but part of huge complexes, so this gave him good reason to investigate Avebury fully and without distraction.

Working alone, his dedicated research into the Avebury Complex has resulted in this – A Lady In Waiting - his first archaeological style book investigating an ancient wonder that has captured the imagination of people since the days of such notable antiquaries as John Aubrey in the 17^th century and William Stukeley in the 18th.

Roy Goutté is also the author of eight previously published books in the Principal Lines series on the bloodlines of the Border Collie in various disciplines – and an Obedience dog training book – Get It Right.

The tradition of pilgrimage has been a time-honored practice in virtually all cultures beyond recorded history, its popularity undiminished to this day. Regardless of the goal,

a basic purpose of a pilgrimage is to make a special journey to a site that offers a unique connection with the sacred, the supernatural, the mysterious or the extraordinary in some way. The journey’s destination brings the pilgrim to a place “where the physical world meets the spiritual world.”

Religious pilgrimage is no doubt the most familiar kind and nearly all faiths encourage their followers in such journeys. For millennia Christians have aspired to visit the Holy Land of Jerusalem or places where Christian saints lived and performed their deeds. The annual Muslim pilgrimage, the Hajj, calls pilgrims to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to circle the Ka’Ba, the square, black-shrouded structure that houses the sacred Black Stone. The veneration of this sacred stone, thought now to be a meteorite, actually predates the formation of Islam. Hindus travel to the Ganges River in India seeking spiritual purification and believe life is incomplete without bathing at least once in its waters. In their eyes the river is a goddess, Ganga ma, (mother Ganga) who offers renewal and salvation.

Pilgrimage journeys are often undertaken for purposes of healing, be it of body, mind, or spirit. The destination may be humanmade such as the shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre in a little Canadian town of the same name just outside of Quebec. The miraculous healings that have occurred there for several hundred years attract more than a million people every year. People stand in awe before ancient monuments such as Stonehenge in England, its towering, silent stones erected by our ancestors. It attracts over 800,000 visitors per year and several thousand gather on the summer solstice to watch the sunrise at this ancient and mystical site. Visitors from a variety of religious backgrounds have reported a strong sense of mystery and spiritual energy there.

On every continent Earth’s natural wonders also are points of pilgrimage offering their stunning beauties and grandeurs as balm for the spirit. A very few to mention are the Grand Canyon, the towering plume of Old Faithful’s geyser in Yellowstone National Park, and sacred mountains such as Mt. Fuji in Japan and Mt. Shasta in northern California. Ayers Rock in Australia, its native name, Uluru, like Mt. Shasta is considered a place of mystical power by native peoples and New Age practitioners alike. And circling all the continents is the Ocean herself, a source of inspiration and renewal for those of us who dwell inland.

On a smaller scale, a labyrinth is very much a place “where the physical world meets the spiritual world.” The labyrinth’s gently curved path leads the walker on a quiet, contemplative journey to its center. In my work with labyrinth I have witnessed people utilizing the labyrinth’s pathway for something that can well be described as an “inner pilgrimage”. So much of modern life urges us to focus on the outer world, but more and more people are seeking ways to explore “inner landscapes”. In my view, this yearning accounts in part for the resurgence of interest in the labyrinth, an ancient spiritual resource. I invite you to read my article on this at www.GoldenSpiralJourney.com

Other means to pursue a personal pilgrimage of our vast and unexplored inner world can be through meditation, journal or poetry writing, and seeking places of quiet and silence where “we can hear the soul speaking”.

Pilgrimage has always been and is still “work of the soul” from the planning, to the traveling, to reaching the journey’s destination. If you do not come from a religious or cultural tradition of pilgrimage, the call is sometimes more subtle. The poet Mary Oliver poses the question, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?” There is an ever-increasing desire to live our lives from a deeper place, to spend more of our time “being” and less in “doing.” Oliver’s question beckons us to step outside the confines of our consumer focused, ego-driven culture. For those seeking this more conscious and spiritually-focused way of living, a pilgrimage journey offers abundant support in searching out this larger, more holistic life.

My own experience of pilgrimage came when I entered my fifth decade, wondering what I might do with “the rest of my life”. Some truly marvelous synchronicities (a good sign you’re on the right path) brought me to Glastonbury, England, and to its evocative and mystical energies. It has been a place of pilgrimage for a thousand years and more as early peoples came to drink and bathe in the healing waters of the two springs issuing from beneath the brooding hill or “Tor”. Of Glastonbury’s many myths, one is that the Holy Grail was brought here by Joseph of Arimatheia who is said to have founded the first Christian church in England. It grew into a fabulous and famous Abbey that drew devout pilgrims for hundreds of years. The legend of the Grail grew to encompass the mythical life of King Arthur and Guinevere, the energies of that story woven into all the rest. Down through the centuries, the Chalice Well at the “red spring”, sacred to the Divine Feminine, maintained its presence not far beyond the Abbey walls. In the summer of 2001, just another New Age pilgrim, I set foot on Glastonbury’s streets and climbed the Tor to find my own revelations.

The Chalice Well, set within its beautiful and peace-filled Garden, continues to draw people from all over the world in quest of the healing energies of its red-tinged waters, rising ever rising from its deep hidden source. During a visit there one summer afternoon, I saw a Spanish pilgrimage group clad in white outfits performing a healing ritual in the shallow bathing pool. Observing them, I was struck by how timeless this scene was and how all of us in the Garden that day were following in the footsteps of countless generations of pilgrims.

What one finds on a pilgrimage is often ineffable, and while I can only speak for myself, beyond a doubt my annual pilgrimages to Glastonbury continue to enlarge my life. I invite you to explore this ages-old pilgrimage destination by visiting my website. And since one article cannot possibly cover this tremendously large topic, I encourage you to explore further. Wonderful resources are just a mouse-click away on the World Wide Web. Enjoy your journey and Bright Blessings!

Carol Ohmart-Behan is a certified labyrinth-facilitator, pilgrimage leader, and published novelist. Details of her annual pilgrimages to Glastonbury and Southwest England (as well as information on her other work) can be found at www.GoldenSpiralJourney.com and www.MagdaleneGrailCircle.com

“We may be hitting on one of those ‘lost secrets’,” says Linda Eneix, President of The OTS Foundation, dedicated to archaeology research and education related to the ancient temples (http://www.otsf.org/index.html) of Mediterranean Malta.

Located south of Sicily, the islands of Malta and Gozo are home to megalithic structures that were created by a highly developed people more than a thousand years ahead of Stonehenge and the pyramids. The monuments, including ancient temples, represent free-standing architecture in its purest and most original form. Design features including corbelled ceilings, are mirrored in subterranean mortuary shrines that have been carved out of solid limestone. (In architecture, corbelling is a system of a row of stones oversailing the one below it, reducing the area of the ceiling with each row upward and distributing its weight.) Malta’s Hal Saflieni Hypogeum provides the most extraordinary example. A multi-leveled complex of caves and ritual chambers, it is a gem of archaeology (http://www.otsf.org/Institute.htm) that lay undisturbed until workers broke into it accidentally in 1902.

Science Officer at the Hypogeum, Joseph Farrugia describes unusual sound effects in the UNESCO World Heritage Site: “There is a small niche in what we call ‘The Oracle Chamber’, and if someone with a deep voice speaks inside, the voice echoes all over the hypogeum. The resonance in the ancient temple is something exceptional. You can hear the voice rumbling all over.”

As anyone who sings in the shower knows, sound echoing back and amplifying itself from hard walls can do unusual things. That effect is magnified several times over in the stone chambers. “Standing in the Hypogeum is like being inside a giant bell,” says Eneix. “You feel the sound in your bones as much as you hear it with your ears. It’s really thrilling!”

After catching a film about the “Sounds of the Stone Age” on a flight from London, Eneix jumped on the chance to explore further and sought out the principals.

A consortium called The PEAR Proposition: Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research are pioneers in the field of archaeo-acoustics, merging archaeology and sound science. Directed by Physicist Dr. Robert Jahn, the PEAR group set out in 1994 to test acoustic behavior in megalithic sites such as Newgrange and Wayland‘s Smithy in the UK. They found that the ancient chambers all sustained a strong resonance at a sound frequency between 95 and 120 hertz: well within the range of a low male voice.

In subsequent OTSF testing, stone rooms in ancient temples in Malta were found to match the same pattern of resonance, registering at the frequency of 110 or 111 hz. This turns out to be a significant level for the human brain. Whether it was deliberate or not, the people who spent time in such an environment were exposing themselves to vibrations that impacted their minds.

Sound scientist, Prof. Daniel Talma of the University of Malta explains: “At certain frequencies you have standing waves that emphasize each and other waves that de-emphasize each other. The idea that it was used thousands of years ago to create a certain trance — that’s what fascinates me.”

Dr. Ian A. Cook of UCLA and colleagues published findings in 2008 of an experiment in which regional brain activity in a number of healthy volunteers was monitored by EEG through different resonance frequencies. Findings indicated that at 110 hz the patterns of activity over the prefrontal cortex abruptly shifted, resulting in a relative deactivation of the language center and a temporary switching from left to right-sided dominance related to emotional processing. People regularly exposed to resonant sound in the frequency of 110 or 111 hz would have been “turning on” an area of the brain that bio-behavioral scientists believe relates to mood, empathy and social behavior.

Although archaeologists had not found an explanation for such sophisticated engineering suddenly blossoming nearly six thousand years ago, Prof. Richard England, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, sees an evolution: “. . . a gradual growth, from the cave to the tomb. The idea of continuity comes from an underground architecture. Gradually from these ovular rock-hewn spaces, man moved above ground, and above ground he fashioned an architecture of the living which followed the form of an architecture for the dead.”

“Once you know what you are looking for, you can see these same ceiling curves in natural caves in Malta.” Eneix observes. “It’s logical that the ancient temple builders observed the echoes and sound characteristics in the caves and came up with the idea of recreating the same environment in a more controlled way. Were they doing it intentionally to facilitate an altered state of consciousness? There is a lot that we are never going to know.”

Acoustics may well have been part of a widespread religious tradition. Old photos in an early edition of National Geographic Magazine show the discovery in securely dated levels of the Malta temples, of conical shaped stones bearing a distinct resemblance to the Omphalos or “belly-button” oracle stone at Delphi, used much later in time by ancient Greek priestesses who listened to the voice of the earth for guidance. The Omphalos became an Umbilicus when the Romans took over the concept and spread it over their empire. The timeline places the ancient Temple Builders at the head of a long chain of “coincidence.”

Research about Malta’s Temple Culture has been documented on a DVD available from the foundation at http://www.otsf.org/Legacy.htm. This captivating documentary details how inquiry into ancient temples in Malta mirrors the evolution of a discovery, branching beyond archaeology to become a multi-disciplinary fascination.