Smythe's Megalith was a chambered long barrow near the village of
Aylesford in the south-eastern English county of Kent. Probably
constructed in the fourth millennium BCE, during Britain's Early
Neolithic period, it was discovered in 1822, at which point it was
dismantled. Built out of earth and at least five local sarsen megaliths,
the long barrow consisted of a roughly rectangular earthen tumulus with
a stone chamber in its eastern end. Archaeologists have established that
the monument was built by pastoralist communities shortly after the
introduction of agriculture to Britain from continental Europe. Part of
an architectural tradition of long barrows that was widespread across
Neolithic Europe, Smythe's Megalith belonged to a regional variant
produced near the River Medway, now known as the Medway Megaliths.
Several of these still survive: Coldrum Long Barrow, Addington Long
Barrow, Chestnuts Long Barrow, Kit's Coty House, the Little Kit's Coty
House, and the Coffin Stone.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smythe%27s_Megalith>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1749:
A plot by Muslim slaves in Malta to assassinate Manuel Pinto da
Fonseca of the Knights Hospitaller was uncovered.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_of_the_Slaves>
1894:
Colorado Governor Davis Hanson Waite ordered his state militia
to protect and support the miners engaged in the Cripple Creek miners'
strike.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cripple_Creek_miners%27_strike_of_1894>
1944:
World War II: The Invasion of Normandy, the largest amphibious
military operation in history, began with Allied troops landing on the
beaches of Normandy in France.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings>
1971:
Hughes Airwest Flight 706 collided with a U.S. Marine Corps
F-4B Phantom II near Duarte, California, killing 50 people, the radar
intercept officer of the F-4B being the sole survivor.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_Airwest_Flight_706>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
polemology:
The study of human conflict and war.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/polemology>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set
upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our
religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to
their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy
blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He
may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but
we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by
the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. They will be
sore tried, by night and by day, without rest — until the victory is
won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be
shaken with the violences of war. For these men are lately drawn from
the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight
to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice
arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but
for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will
never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic
servants, into Thy kingdom. And for us at home — fathers, mothers,
children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose
thoughts and prayers are ever with them — help us, Almighty God, to
rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great
sacrifice.
--Franklin D. Roosevelt
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt>