Archeological finds in Taichung last year, which seem to show a mother cradling her child, have been described by media outlets as a perfect symbol of a mother’s timeless love ahead of the Mother’s Day celebrations.
Carbon dating suggested the bones excavated from what is now called the Anhe Ruins (安和遺址) last year near the intersection of Anhe Road, Taiwan Boulevard and Chaoma Road in Taichung, along with 47 other sets of fossilized bones, are 4,800 years old.
National Museum of Natural Science department of anthropology director Chu Whei-lee (屈慧麗) said carbon tests showed the findings to be the earliest traces of human activity in central Taiwan.
Photo courtesy of National Museum of Natural Science
The ruins were designated a city heritage site, with the immediate area around the ruins also designated a temporary heritage area.
The area is to be under the protection of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act (文化資產保存法), with any development requiring governmental oversight or test digging to ensure no fossils or relics are in the area, Taichung Bureau of Cultural Affairs Director Wang Chih-cheng (王志誠) said.
Wang added that if the city discovers an obvious “cultural layer,” an archeological term defined as any layer within an archeological dig formed by relics left by evident human activity, the city government will be sure to preserve the relics and see to their removal for professional care.
Conflict with Taiwan could leave China with “massive economic disruption, catastrophic military losses, significant social unrest, and devastating sanctions,” a US think tank said in a report released on Monday. The German Marshall Fund released a report titled If China Attacks Taiwan: The Consequences for China of “Minor Conflict” and “Major War” Scenarios. The report details the “massive” economic, military, social and international costs to China in the event of a minor conflict or major war with Taiwan, estimating that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could sustain losses of more than half of its active-duty ground forces, including 100,000 troops. Understanding Chinese
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said it is closely monitoring developments in Venezuela, and would continue to cooperate with democratic allies and work together for regional and global security, stability, and prosperity. The remarks came after the US on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was later flown to New York along with his wife. The pair face US charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations. Maduro has denied the allegations. The ministry said that it is closely monitoring the political and economic situation
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