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Cerne Abbas giant is Hercules and was army meeting point, say historiansFor centuries, historians and archaeologists have puzzled over the origins of the Cerne Abbas giant, the huge, naked, club-wielding figure cut into a chalky hillside in the English West Country. Was he a Celtic god, some sort of ancient fertility symbol, or, perhaps, a more recent lampoon of Oliver Cromwell?Research from the University of Oxford has now concluded that the 60-metre tall figure in Dorset could have marked an inspiring muster station for West Saxon armies at a time when the area was being attacked by Viking warriors.A report published on Monday concludes the giant is Hercules, a symbol of might and courage, and his looming presence may have provided the backdrop for troops who gathered there before attempting to fend off the Vikings.Until 2021 it had been thought the giant was created in pre-history or the early modern period, not the early middle ages. Then research led by the National Trust that examined sediment and snail shells came to the surprising conclusion that the giant was late Saxon, possibly 10th century.
Travellers will not need to show passports to enter UK in new trial“Smart” passport gates that allow travellers to cross the UK border without showing a passport could be trialled as early as this year.According to The Times, Phil Douglas, director-general of the UK Border Force, is aiming for “much more frictionless facial recognition than we currently do”.The aim is to upgrade the current eGates system so that arriving passengers can keep their passports in their pockets and be admitted to the UK simply by looking into a camera.The existing eGates network relies on facial recognition. Each traveller’s face is checked against the data encrypted on the passport. A new system would rely on centralised data.At present, eGates are open to travellers aged 10 or above who are British as well as citizens of the EU (and wider Schengen area), the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea.
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Topic: 01/01/24 (Read 764 times)
