Melting Mongolian ice reveals fragile artifacts that provide clues about how past people lived

Ice patches also preserve ‘ecofacts’ that trace important ecological changes, like shifting tree lines or changing animal habitats

In the world’s high mountain regions, life needs ice. From the Rockies to the Himalayas, glaciers and other accumulations of snow and ice persist throughout the year. Often found on shaded slopes protected from the sun, these ice patches transform barren peaks into biological hot spots.

As an archaeologist, I value these snow and ice patches for the rare peek they can provide back in time through the fog of alpine prehistory. When people lose objects in the ice, ice patches act as natural deep-freezers. For thousands of years, they can store snapshots of the culture, daily life, technology and behavior of the people who created these artifacts.

Frozen heritage is melting from mountain ice in every hemisphere. As it does so, small groups of archaeologists are scrambling to cobble together the funding and staffing needed to identify, recover and study these objects before they are gone.

Alongside a group of scholars from the University of Colorado, the National Museum of Mongolia and partners from around the world, I’m working to identify, analyse and preserve ancient materials emerging from the ice in the grassy steppes of Mongolia, where such discoveries have a tremendous impact on how scientists understand the past.

left panel: reindeer lounge on ice; right panel: reindeer lounge on bare ground
Domestic reindeer in northern Mongolia cool themselves on an ice patch to escape heat and insects (left). Others attempt the same in an area that recent melting has left devoid

Volunteers needed for anti-racism project to provide resiliency, magnificence to the Southeast Facet of Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — An anti-racism challenge to carry resiliency and beauty to the city’s Southeast Aspect is seeking volunteers to help with the operate.

The Diatribe spoken phrase poetry group is in search of volunteers to help get ready structures for mural function, as nicely 15 persons to assist canvas and carry out surveys of households in the 49507 ZIP code.

“If group customers are wondering how they can assist our initiatives, we encourage them to begin with modest, but mighty acts. This option will permit for many people to get involved in a palms-on way,” reported Marcel “Fable” Value, govt director of the Diatribe.

“Our work of changing the notion of the 49507 neighborhood starts with us. Each and every person associated in any component of this job will be monumental.”

The Diatribe is also a nonprofit with programming to empower youth and build neighborhood transform.

Relevant: Anti-racism venture to provide huge murals to the Southeast Side of Grand Rapids

Volunteers for canvassing the neighborhoods will be compensated $500 after 30 several hours of function. Canvassers are recruited and compensated as a result of the Garfield Park Community Association.

People wishing to indication up for the perform can email Angela Cluley, government director of the community association, at cluley01@gmail.com, or they can fill out a form in Spanish or English.

Volunteers are needed as very well to put together a total of seven structures for mural operate through cleansing surfaces, obtaining rid of chipped paint and priming