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Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel: The Nahal Me’arot / Wadi el-Mughara Caves

Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel: The Nahal Me’arot / Wadi el-Mughara Caves
Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel: The Nahal Me’arot / Wadi el-Mughara Caves: My 321st UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the World Heritage inscription or the Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel:

The four Mount Carmel caves (Tabun, Jamal, el-Wad, and Skhul) and their terraces are clustered adjacent to each other along the south side of the Nahal Me’arot/Wadi el-Mughara valley. The steep-sided valley opening to the coastal plain on the west side of the Carmel range provides the visual setting of a prehistoric habitat.

Located in one of the best preserved fossilized reefs of the Mediterranean region, the site contains cultural deposits representing half a million years of human evolution from the Lower Palaeolithic to the present. It is recognized as providing a definitive chronological framework at a key period of human development.

Archaeological evidence covers the appearance of modern humans, deliberate burials, early manifestations of stone architecture and the transition from hunter-gathering to agriculture. The attributes carrying Outstanding Universal Value include the four caves, terraces, un-excavated deposits and excavated artifacts and skeletal material; the Nahal Me’arot/ Wadi el-Mughara landscape providing the prehistoric setting of the caves; el-Wad Terrace excavations, and remains of stone houses and pits comprising evidence of the Natufian hamlet.

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The Marquesas Islands: Paradise at the Edge of the World

With scenery reminiscent of a Jurassic Park sequel, ancient and mysterious stone temples, and the feeling of visiting a parallel universe – visitors to the remote Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia are in for the adventure of a lifetime.

Written and photographed by Avichai Ben Tzur

Of the five archipelagos that make up the Islands of Tahiti – officially known as French Polynesia – Mother Nature devoted her finest work to the Marquesas Islands. It is the final stop in a long and enchanting voyage across the remote islands of the South Pacific, an opportunity to visit some of the most isolated and stunning islands in the world where nature is free to sculpt the landscape at it pleases in the absence of a protective coral reef. Few are the visitors that make it out here, and even for residents of the dreamy French Overseas Territory, a visit to the Marquesas Islands is a wild fantasy.

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Announcing My New Amazon Travel Gear Store

I get asked all the time what sort of gear I use when I travel. The questions range from the type of bags I use to my camera equipment. Even though all of my things can be stored in just two bags when I travel, if you include all of the little items like memory cards, adapters, and wires, it can add up to a lot of stuff.

I’ve been working with the folks at Amazon to create a one stop shop for travel gear.

Everything which is listed in the store fits into one of the following categories:

  • Gear which I have personally used and tested. This covers most of the items which are listed. A few of the items like the Drobo and Razer mouse/keyboard are obviously not travel items, but I use them at home for photo editing.
  • Gear which is a close approximation to what I use, but can’t be found in the Amazon store. For example, my tripod was made my Really Right Stuff, and that isn’t listed on Amazon. Gitzo is, however, and they are a very reputable brand as well.
  • Gear which I really want but haven’t purchased yet. There isn’t a lot of this, but there are a few items I’ve been chomping to get. This store will also serve as my personal wishlist.
  • Gear recommended by my readers. I asked the question on my Facebook group asking people what their favorite travel gear was. I had several great suggestions, including some items that I had never heard of before. Several of them have made the list.

My goal is to curate the store to be a “best of” for travel and photography gear which can be found on Amazon.

If you have any suggestions for gear you love, feel free to leave a comment here or in the Facebook group.

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Traveling to Transnistria, a Day in Soviet Disneyland

Stephanie Craig is the History Fan Girl. She has combined her love of history with travel and has been exploring Eastern Europe the last year. She recently visited the breakaway region of Transnistria, which I thought was an interesting place which more people probably need to know about. Here is Stephanie…

This story starts with a Pinterest article. It ends facing down a public squat toilet in a bus station in Odessa, Ukraine.

In the middle, there’s another squat toilet, two bribes, a kind immigration officer, two ethnic slurs, two Russian tanks, a game of computer solitaire, and some cognac.

Oh, and a gargantuan statue of Vladimir Lenin.
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