Carhenge has been put up for sale by the nonprofit organization that runs it for less than the price of a Lamborghini Aventador.
Located outside of Alliance, Nebraska, the tourist attraction was built in 1987 by artist Jim Reinders as an homage to Stonehenge, the prehistoric megalithic site in Great Britain. Constructed from 38 cars, it is visited by over 80,000 tourists a year. He dedicated it to his father who once lived on the farm where it sits.
The Friends of Carhenge group told the Lincoln Journal Star that it does not have the money to “take it to the next level,” by adding profitable amenities such as a campground, convenience store and go-cart track that could generate the funds needed to keep it in operation. Currently, the organization does not charge for admission and the only facility on site is a small gift shop
Proceeds from the sale will be used to pay off loans that were taken out to cover operating expenses, establish an art scholarship and promote tourism in the area.
If you’re interested in picking up a slightly used 1987 model Carhenge in good condition, you’d better hurry. The winter solstice is just two months away.
Two Top Motorbike Rides in the UK
Traveling through the beautiful countryside of Wiltshire, this route passes through scenic New Forest and gentle fields of Salisbury Plains on its way to the historic Stonehenge monument. The ancient and mysterious stone circle is a timeless attraction, and a great place to stop for lunch on your motorbike tour.
Once you’ve taken the time to explore and sample some local brew, you can travel through the distinctive Wiltshire Downs on your way back to Salisbury. The Salisbury Cathedral is the tallest spire in England and a great place to conclude your tour of this historic route.
Severn to the Sea – 260 miles
From the Brecon Beacons north through the Cambrian mountains and Snowdonia in the north, Wales offers breathtaking sights and stunning scenery. If you choose to take this bike drive, you will enjoy a predominantly smooth ride on a well-maintained road. Take care between Rhayader and Devil’s Bridge, however: Unfenced pasture on either side of the road leads to sheep wandering in front of motorists and bikers alike!
Severn to the Sea – 260 miles
From the Brecon Beacons north through the Cambrian mountains and Snowdonia in the north, Wales offers breathtaking sights and stunning scenery. If you choose to take this bike drive, you will enjoy a predominantly smooth ride on a well-maintained road. Take care between Rhayader and Devil’s Bridge, however: Unfenced pasture on either side of the road leads to sheep wandering in front of motorists and bikers alike!
If you start at the north, your destination will be St. George’s Channel at Aberystwyth, where you can stop in for a drink at a popular local coffee shop. If you’re heading northward toward Chepstow, you can enjoy a scenic view of Chepstow Castle on the banks of the River Wye. Either way, you can enjoy some of the most stunning views in the UK. So make sure that you are all ready to ride and have motorcycle insurance and ready to ride. The UK has some stunning open road rides so let get out there and roar down the road.
Piri Reis map mystery
The room which is filled with documents from a time gone by has yielded a map for which these historians can offer no plausible explanation.
The map shows a part of the Atlantic Ocean and depicts both the Americas and the northern coast of Antarctica in incredible detail. What is so mysterious about this map is that it has only been drawn up a few years after Columbus discovered America and three centuries before the discovery of Antarctica.
The map is named after its creator Piri Reis. The word ‘Reis’ actually means ‘Admiral’. Piri Reis was born Hadji Muhiddin Piri Ibn Hadji Mehmed around 1465 in Gallipoli in the then Ottoman Empire. The youthful Piri joined his uncle, Kemal Reis, as a privateer harassing and plundering the ships of enemies of the Ottoman Empire. Later, on request of the Sultan they joined the Ottoman Navy as admirals.
Piri Reis was a cartographer at heart and even though he did not survey the globe himself he collected charts and drawings of coastlines and lands of the known world on his travels. Eight of those source maps that he used to draw his world map in 1513 came from around 300 BC and he also used a copy of the map which Columbus drew of his exploration of the New World.
The most astonishing thing of the map of 1513 is that Piri Reis managed to draw an accurate map of the Antarctic region 300 years prior to its discovery. Furthermore the map shows the coastline under the layers of ice that covers it. This can only indicate that the Antarctic region must have been surveyed prior to it being iced over.
The landmass of the Antarctic continent was first mapped in 1949 by a combined British and Scandinavian project that had to use modern equipment to see the land underneath the mile-deep icecap. It has been suggested that Antarctica was free of ice up to 6,000 years ago.
There are also criticisms of this map in that certain cartographers claim that maps using the portolan system of map drawing could be interpreted incorrectly since it leaves its accuracy much in the eye of the beholder.
However on the Piri Reis map the Falkland Islands are placed at the correct latitude even though it was only discovered in 1592. Greenland is shown as three separate or different islands. This was only confirmed in the 20th. century.The map also depicts the Andes Mountain range on the map of America, a discovery that was only made much later.
Many believe that the geographical data and mathematical expertise needed to create a map of this accuracy was well beyond cartographers of the sixteenth century and before that. It is said that cartographers at the United States Air Force in the 1960’s found the map so accurate that they corrected their own maps with data from the Piri Reis map.
Some of the findings about the Piri Reis map:
- Piri Reis in his own writing details how he made the map from source maps dating back to ancient times.
- The makers of the source maps calculated the circumference of the Earth to within 50 miles.
- The Antarctic region must have been mapped prior to a time when the continent was free of ice.
Most of our current theories about ancient civilizations and its people are based on artifacts that have been unearthed through time. Historians are mostly responsible for history as we know it, in fact they formulate theories based on what they discover and observe.
Sometimes artifacts come to light that does not fit into that framework of theories. As the weight of such newly found knowledge increases over time it becomes necessary that we recognise the need to re-evaluate our understanding of ancient history to obtain a truer picture of the distant past.
A closing note on Piri Reis
Piri Reis is known today for his maps and charts in a book which contain detailed information on navigation, the Kitab-I Bahriye or Book of Navigation. He also drew very accurate charts of the Mediterranean Sea and the important ports of this area. Piri Reis drew up a second world map in 1528. In his later years he became Chief Admiral of the Ottoman Navy.
Egyptian officials accused Piri Reis of fleeing from the Portuguese during a battle to save himself and his fortunes. The Sultan had Piri Reis beheaded and all his possessions was stored at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. The map was found here in a room in the Harem section of the palace during restorations in 1929.
The map is now kept in the palace’s Imperial Library. Piri Reis will always be linked with cartography due to the historical map which bears his name.
Stonehenge traffic inquiry
The proposals, by Wiltshire Council, would see various byways around Stonehenge closed to vehicles, with certain exceptions, within the site and part of the A344.
The reason given for the plans for Stonehenge is to “improve the amenity of the area”.
The Stonehenge road proposals have met with opposition from various people and groups including Druid leader King Arthur Pendragon.
The inquiry, at Salisbury Rugby Football Club, is due to run until 5 October.
The inspector will then make recommendations to Wiltshire Council about, which will make the final decision.
Druids and Pagans at Stonehenge
Mr Pendragon is one of those due to give evidence at the inquiry.
He said the closure of the Netheravon Coach Road in Amesbury would prevent people from holding the three-day solstice and equinox celebrations.
“By prohibiting all people from celebrating at Stonehenge, Druids and Pagans would be disproportionately discriminated against, since the solstices and equinoxes have particular significance for our beliefs,” he said.
An earlier inquiry into plans by English Heritage to close the main road east of Stonehenge and return it to grass was held in June.
English Heritage wants to stop traffic from travelling close to the stones and “restore the dignity” of the World Heritage Site by closing the A344.
The report has been submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport, who will make a final decision on the road access to Stonehenge.
Stonehenge voted top “Must – See Destination” in world
From the ancient and mysterious Stonehenge to the grandiose and awe inspiring, voters in Intel’s Visual Wonders of the World poll have chosen the world’s most visually stunning locations. The poll formed part of Intel’s campaign to find out what matters most to the UK in their Visual Life. The top seven must-see locations, in the order of ranking, as chosen by voters from all over the UK are: 
- Stonehenge, England
- Rome, Italy
- Chatsworth House, England
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
- Sahara, North Africa
- Aurora Borealis, Sweden
- New York City, USA
- Gower Peninsula, Wales
- Machu Picchu, Peru
The poll also showed how patriotic we are in the UK, selecting two UK locations, Stonehenge and Chatsworth house within our top three. This was mirrored by the likes of the US, who voted for the Grand Canyon and the Golden Gate Bridge, Germany, who opted for Neuschwanstein Castle, and the Netherlands, whose Canals in Amsterdam topped both their country poll and the votes across Europe.
Natural beauty
The Visual Wonders poll also captured how male and female voters cast their favourites. Both men and women voted for Stonehenge as the must-see location in the UK, whereas mostly women voters opted for the romance and atmosphere of Rome, while mainly men chose the history and scenery of Chatsworth House.
The poll also had five categories: ancient, man-made, natural, religious and urban and interestingly the results show that the UK as a whole prefers natural beauty over the draw of urban life.
Partnering with Intel to create the Visual Wonders poll, travel deal experts Travelzoo confirmed the significance of aesthetic attraction for travellers and holiday makers. “What’s really interesting in Intel’s poll is the UK’s thirst to discover the landmarks of history that are near to them, and in some cases right on their doorstep,” said Joel Brandon-Bravo, managing director of Travelzoo in the UK. “The perfect getaway is no longer solely about the faraway beach; the rise of staycationing appears to have reignited our passion for the UK in recent years.” 
“Intel’s Visual Wonders of the World poll has shown the passion that the UK has for our own visual landmarks”, says Gail Hanlon, marketing director Intel UK. “As part of our Visual Life campaign this year, which encouraged using technology to get the best out of the great things that surround us every day, the enthusiasm for each of the top ten results proves how important technology can be in sharing everyday experiences.”
The Winners
The mysterious structure of Stonehenge claimed top spot in the poll of must-see locations. This ancient creation is visited by thousands of people a year in the South of England and its popularity could be down to its imposing presence, or the shroud of mystery surrounding its purpose as ‘experts’ remain undecided as to whether it was used for human sacrifices or for charting the movement of the Sun, Moon and stars.
Rome, the city of ‘romance’ and ancient wonders came in at a close second place with the vast majority of UK female voters choosing its stunning architecture and romantic atmosphere as the reasons for choosing it as one of the world’s most desirable locations.
Set in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire, Chatsworth House landed third place in the poll. Construction of the first house at Chatsworth began in 1552 and the current site offers the captivating history of the house, scenic gardens as well as a farmyard and adventure playground, making it a consistently popular choice for men and women of the UK.
In fourth place was the sun-drenched city of beautiful people, Cape Town, in South Africa. A city famed for its near-perfect weather, Cape Town is a location surrounded by sea and mountains, including the legendary flat-topped Table Mountain.
Other top locations from across the world that proved the most popular among UK voters include the architectural brilliance of the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and the sweeping sands of the Sahara in North Africa.
The spectral beauty of Sweden’s Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) were also in the top 10, alongside the vibrant buzz of New York City, USA; Gower Peninsula in Wales and the breathtaking views of Machu Picchu, Peru.
Survey Information
This survey was conducted in June/ July 2011 via Intel’s Facebook pages. A total of 1,715 votes were cast globally: 67 in Germany, 237 in Hungary, 38 in Ireland, 130 in Italy, 246 in the Netherlands, 136 in Southern Africa, 133 in UAE, 99 in the US, 365 in UK and 264 in the rest of the world.
Bluestone Henge twin?
Henry Rothwell, Creative Lead at Heritage Data Solutions explains;
“The model was created as part of the forthcoming smartphone app ‘Journey to Stonehenge’. When we built the first wire-frame of the circle we ended up with a fairly standard circular representation. We were using a low level aerial image taken by Adam Stanford. It showed the full extent of the excavation, including the socket holes of the blue stones, into which the Stonehenge Riverside Project team had placed upturned black buckets.”
However, while checking the wireframe model, Adam pointed out another upturned bucket on the far right of the image, which had been missed out of the original model. Rothwell continued, “Initially we tried expanding the circumference of the circle to make it fit, but that made it far too large – so we settled on an oval, which lined up perfectly. A configuration which is very similar to the Bluestone oval in the centre of Stonehenge.”
If this interpretation is correct, it adds an intriguing new angle to the relationship between the monuments that lie at each end of the Avenue.
The excavations of 2009
Archaeologists from Sheffield and other universities had previously discovered this lost stone circle a mile from Stonehenge, on the west bank of the River Avon back in 2009.
The stones had been removed thousands of years ago but the sizes of the holes in which they stood indicate that this was a circle of blue stones, brought from the Preseli mountains of Wales, 150 miles away.
Excavations in August-September 2009 by the Stonehenge Riverside Project uncovered nine stone holes, part of a circle of probably 25 standing stones.
The new monument was 10m (33 ft) in diameter and surrounded by a henge – a ditch with an external bank. These standing stones marked the end of the Avenue that leads from the River Avon to Stonehenge, a 1¾-mile long (2.8km) processional route constructed at the end of the Stone Age (the Neolithic period).
The outer henge around the stones was built around 2400 BC but arrowheads found in the stone circle indicate that the stones were put up as much as 500 years earlier – they were dragged from Wales to Wiltshire 5,000 years ago.
The link to Stonehenge
When the newly discovered circle’s stones were removed by Neolithic people, it is possible that they were dragged along the route of the Avenue to Stonehenge, to be incorporated within its major rebuilding around 2500 BC. Archaeologists know that, after this date, Stonehenge consisted of about 80 Welsh stones and 83 local, sarsen stones. Some of the blue stones that once stood at the riverside probably now stand within the centre of Stonehenge.
Only the radiocarbon dating programme can clarify the sequence of events. The discovery of this stone circle may well be confirmation of the Stonehenge Riverside Project’s theory that the River Avon linked a ‘domain of the living’ – marked by timber circles and houses upstream at the Neolithic village of Durrington Walls (discovered by the Project in 2005) – with a ‘domain of the dead’ marked by Stonehenge and this new stone circle.
There is no evidence that the circle had a particular orientation or even an entrance. Soil that fell into the holes when the stones were removed was full of charcoal, showing that plenty of wood was burned here. Yet this was not a place where anyone lived: the pottery, animal bones, food residues and flint tools used in domestic life during the Stone Age were absent.
The shape of Bluestone Henge is still open for re-interpretation as most of the monument was not fully excavated, but preserved for future archaeologists to explore.
Stonehenge visitor centre
Denton Corker Marshall is best known for eye-catching work such as the Melbourne Museum. This scheme breaks this mould as it makes no such statements. At 2.5 kilometres from the stones – with a low-energy transport system to drop visitors closer to the stones – the Stonehenge visitor centre centre will not be visible from the historic site. Denton Corker Marshall’s UK director, Stephen Quinlan, explains “if once back at home, a visitor can remember their visit to Stonehenge but can’t remember the Stonehenge visitor centre they passed through on the way, we will be happy.
The Stonehenge visitor centre project has been years in the making. Denton Corker Marshall originally won the competition for the centre in 2001. However, the project had difficulty with funding largely because it relied on a local highway being put in a tunnel. Snagged in red tape, it was abandoned in 2007. In 2009, Denton Corker Marshall won a second competition for the Stonehenge visitor centre – this time on a new site within the World Heritage precinct and with instructions for a more modest centre.
This also did not go ahead according to plan as it was hit by the government’s cut to the cultural budget in response to the global financial crisis in 2010 – once again the idea was shelved. The project finally received a lifeline when English Heritage secured funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Department of Transport and the project gained planning approval in February 2010. Construction is now expected to begin in late 2011 on the Stonehenge visitor centre.
Lesley’s Stonehenge marathon charity walk for Alzheimer’s
Lesley Griffiths, 46, of Devon Walk, Cottesmore, is taking part in the 26.2 mile walk from Stonehenge to Avebury Stone Circle across Salisbury Plain as part of The Memory Walk South in aid of The Alzheimer’s Society.
Lesley said: “This is a charity that is close to my heart as my father passed away from vascular dementia and now my mother has been diagnosed with dementia.”
In order to take part in the event Lesley has to raise £260 and has raised £150 so far.
She is being supported by her daughter Abigail, 16, and husband Paul who has agreed to drive her to and from Stonehenge.
On Monday Lesley will be back at work as a teaching assistant at Langham Primary School.
She said: “I am getting nervous now and have been walking around Rutland Water and up Burley Hill to train. It will be interesting.”
To sponsor her charity walk; http://www.justgiving.com/lesleygriffiths
Temple of Abydos – 5000 year old carvings of modern aircraft
Osiris was killed by another “god”, in this case his brother Typhon, who disposed of his body by scattering it all over Egypt. Isis, his sister and wife gathered the parts of his body and placed them together at Abydos thus restoring him back to life to become the “judge of the dead” and “lord of the underworld”.
In 1848 a British archaeological expedition came upon mysterious hieroglyphs which were carved on a marble ceiling beam in the Abydos temple which they could not identify but nevertheless copied it carefully and returned home with the sketches. Back home the carvings caused quite a stir amongst the Egyptologists but was later dismissed as strange carvings for which there was no acceptable explanation.
There are four images depicted on the marble stone and one of the carvings shows a modern helicopter with what appears to be a cargo holding area behind the cabin similar to the Sikorsky Skycrane heicopter below.
The object in front of the helicopter is thought to be a submarine. Below the submarine is a aircraft and the tail wing and cabin can be readily recognized.
The craft at the bottom reminds of the skimmer craft in the Star Wars Trilogy where Luke Skywalker races it against other similar craft.
Egyptologist is less enthusiastic about this interpretation of the glyphs and rejects any suggestion that these depictions could be aircraft from 3000 years ago. They believe that these carvings are due to the re-carving and re-facing of the original stonework at Abydos as well as natural weathering effects and are therefore just illusions.
Re-carving was a common occurrence in ancient Egypt. This usually occurred after the ascension of a new Pharaoh who sought to leave his own stamp by overwriting the hieroglyphs of his predecessors.
The belief is that the original and re-carved glyphs have become overlapped to result in images which bear no relation to the original hieroglyphs. Egyptologists call these images ‘palimpsests’
I believe a simple question would settle this issue and that is, ‘What would be the statistical probability that four hieroglyphs which resemble modern craft in a space less than 3 feet be the result of glyph overlapping’?
Ramesses II did made alterations to Abydos when he acquired it but on close examination of the glyphs it is clear that they are continues intact images and the detail of the helicopter is precise.
When we consider that Stonehenge was built at approximately the same time as Abydos one does wonder if such technology existed at that time or if it is the technology of a previous civilization that suddenly ceased to exist because of a cataclysmic event that took place.
In the words of Graham Hancock, the author of the book ‘Heavens Mirror;’
“I am convinced by the evidence that we are a species with amnesia. We have forgotten something of great importance from our past. When we recover it we will realize for a start that our civilization is not the apex of creation. It is not the pinnacle to which everything has been building throughout all of geological times, rather it is part of an up and down flow and that it is possible for a civilization to reach a very high level of advancement and then be wiped out”
However unpalatable it might be it is expected that the current scientific model of the understanding of our ancient past and theories such as the widely accepted but hitherto unproven theory of evolution will in the not too distant future come under question if not ridicule.
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