nPostednon February 16, 2014
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ThenGambia is an unusual nation. It is the smallest country in mainlandnAfrica, and it is made up of a narrow strip of land on each side of thenGambia River and a bit of land where that river meets the AtlanticnOcean—and nothing else!
ThenGambia is an unusual nation. It is the smallest country in mainlandnAfrica, and it is made up of a narrow strip of land on each side of thenGambia River and a bit of land where that river meets the AtlanticnOcean—and nothing else!n
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nOthernthan the narrow bit of coastline, the Gambia is entirely surroundednby Senegal. As a matter of fact, I cannot believe that it is not anpart of Senegal! (Check out why it’s not here.)
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nLongnbefore Africa was carved up by European nations into colonies, manynkingdoms and civilizations arose and ruled, expanded and died. ThenSerer civilization, between 300 B.C.E. and 1500 C.E., built stonencircles and other megaliths in what is now Gambia and Senegal. n
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Inmay have made it sound as if the Serer people built two or threenstone circles, but in actuality, they built around 17,000 stonencircles scattered over 2,000 separate sites! Scientists estimate thatnaround 29,000 stones were used in the construction of these circles.
Inmay have made it sound as if the Serer people built two or threenstone circles, but in actuality, they built around 17,000 stonencircles scattered over 2,000 separate sites! Scientists estimate thatnaround 29,000 stones were used in the construction of these circles.n
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nManynof the stones are moderately large—averaging around 2 meters (6nfeet) in height and 7 tons in weight. The Serer people used ironntools to carve the laterite stones into cylindrical shapes or intonpolygonal pillars. Some of the stones remain upright, although somenhave fallen over, but evidence shows that very few have been removed.nn
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Archeologistsnhave also found evidence of the Serer civilization in addition to thenstone circles, including pottery sherds, metal tools, human skeletonsnthat had been carefully buried, and items buried with their owners.nAll the evidence indicates that the Serer people had created anprosperous, organized society that lasted a long time.
Archeologistsnhave also found evidence of the Serer civilization in addition to thenstone circles, including pottery sherds, metal tools, human skeletonsnthat had been carefully buried, and items buried with their owners.nAll the evidence indicates that the Serer people had created anprosperous, organized society that lasted a long time.n
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nLearnnmore about the Senegambian stone circles here.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nLithuania’snIndependence Day
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nAnniversary ofnthe first Esperanto club in the U.S.
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nPlannahead:
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nCheckn out my Pinterest boards for:
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nFebruaryn holidays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in February
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nAndn here are my Pinterest boards for:
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nMarchn holidays
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