It was thought that humankind developed the abstract thought necessary to organize group rituals until about 40,000 years ago. A recent find, artifacts dating about 70,000 years old is making scientists rethink that assumption.

“Stone age people took these colorful spearheads, brought them to the cave, and finished carving them there,” Coulson said today. “Only the red spearheads were burned. It was a ritual destruction of artifacts. There was no sign of normal habitation. No ordinary tools were found at the site.”

The discovery was made in a remote region of Botswana called Tsodilo Hills, the only uplifted area for miles around. It is known to modern Sanpeople as the “Mountains of the Gods” and the “Rock that Whispers.” Their legend has it that mankind descended from the python, and the ancient, arid streambeds around the hills are said to have been created by the python as it circled the hills in its ceaseless search for water.

That legend made the discovery of the stone python all the more amazing.

“Our find means that humans were more organized and had the capacity for abstract thinking at a much earlier point in history than we have previously assumed,” Coulson said. “All of the indications suggest that Tsodilo has been known to mankind for almost 100,000 years as a very special place in the pre-historic landscape.”

Maybe the “Old Ways” are even older than we had ever thought.

Shreveport’s Pagan Pride Day, really a two day event, is sponsored by the Spiral Earth Circle - CPWC-APC and The Pagan Pride Project. The event features prominent speakers in the pagan community, workshops and vendors. Admission is free, but participants are asked to donate a canned good / toiletry item / school supply item to benefit the Rutherford House.

Events will run on Friday, August 18 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a “Light ‘Soiree’ and Private Book Signing” from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Events will start again 9 a.m. Saturday August 19 with no specified ending time.

The Pagan Pride Day events will be held at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 9449 Ellerbe Rd., Shreveport, LA 71106.

The Church of Thessaly is sponsoring a Greek Pride Day on July 22, 2006, inviting area Pagans to join in the fun. It sounds to be a Pagan Picnic with a Greek theme, promising Greek games, plays, and feasting.

We want to connect with our local community and we feel that opening our Church doors for all traditions to unify on one day is our way of extending the traditional olive branch and also allowing everyone to meet in person instead of cyberly.

The Picnic will be at 13639 Henry Drive in Denham Springs, starting at 10 a.m.

Participants are asked to contribute a $5.00 donation each to help with the costs of food and supplies and should bring “picnic accessories” such as chairs, blankets, etc.

The Covenant of the Pentacle Wiccan Church will be celebrating its 12th aniversary with this Litha Celebration. The Oak King and Oak Queen will be honored, and participants are asked to bring an item for the Food Bank.

The event will be held at Shelter #3 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans. To get there, take Wisner Blvd. toward Lake Pontchartrain.

The Mandala Dance Circle, sposored by the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, is holding a ritual open to the public. You can bring an object for the altar if you wish and should “wear comfortable clothes that make you feel like dancing.”

Be at the Unitarian Church, 8470 Goodwood Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana at 7:15 p.m.

The dances are Tibetan-styled meditations of movement that are easy to learn and can be done by anyone. More information about the dances can be found at Tara Dathu.