عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Ithra's Japan Cultural Days Draws Over 200,000 Visitors

Ithra's Japan Cultural Days Draws Over 200,000 Visitors
TT
20
TT

Ithra's Japan Cultural Days Draws Over 200,000 Visitors

Ithra's Japan Cultural Days Draws Over 200,000 Visitors

The Japan Cultural Days event at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has experienced an exceptional turnout, attracting over 200,000 visitors since its launch. People of all ages have engaged in the wide range of activities offered.
Running until February 8, the event features an array of workshops, interactive experiences, and premier performances. Numerous schools and universities have joined in to explore and immerse themselves in Japanese culture firsthand. Japanese crafts have proven especially popular among attendees, sparking significant excitement for the event, SPA reported.
A captivating metaverse experience, set up in Ithra's plaza, has enabled visitors to virtually journey to Japan, explore its vibrant markets, and experience traditional celebrations. Moreover, panel discussions have delved into the history of anime, emphasizing its cultural significance. Speakers highlighted the profound themes explored in Japanese films and their quest for understanding the world. Another panel focused on Japanese literature, examining the distinctive traits of Japanese novels influenced by visual arts and the Japanese perspective.
Within Ithra's gardens, visitors can various Japanese musical genres and watch entertaining shows by performing groups from Japan.

Most Viewed

 
Culture

Archaeologists Uncover Oldest Known Partial Face Fossil of Human Ancestor in Western Europe

This photo provided by the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution in March 2025, shows archaeological excavation work at the Sima del Elefante site in Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain, where a fossil from a hominin between 1.1 million and 1.4 million years old was found. (Maria D. Guillén/IPHES-CERCA via AP)
This photo provided by the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution in March 2025, shows archaeological excavation work at the Sima del Elefante site in Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain, where a fossil from a hominin between 1.1 million and 1.4 million years old was found. (Maria D. Guillén/IPHES-CERCA via AP)
TT
20
TT

Archaeologists Uncover Oldest Known Partial Face Fossil of Human Ancestor in Western Europe

This photo provided by the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution in March 2025, shows archaeological excavation work at the Sima del Elefante site in Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain, where a fossil from a hominin between 1.1 million and 1.4 million years old was found. (Maria D. Guillén/IPHES-CERCA via AP)
This photo provided by the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution in March 2025, shows archaeological excavation work at the Sima del Elefante site in Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain, where a fossil from a hominin between 1.1 million and 1.4 million years old was found. (Maria D. Guillén/IPHES-CERCA via AP)

A fossil of a partial face from a human ancestor is the oldest in western Europe, archaeologists reported Wednesday.
The incomplete skull — a section of the left cheek bone and upper jaw – was found in northern Spain in 2022. The fossil is between 1.1 million and 1.4 million years old, according to research published in the journal Nature.
“The fossil is exciting," said Eric Delson, a paleontologist at the American Museum of Natural History, who was not involved in the study. “It's the first time we have significant remains older than 1 million years old in western Europe.”
A collection of older fossils from early human ancestors was previously found in Georgia, near the crossroads of eastern Europe and Asia. Those are estimated to be 1.8 million years old, The Associated Press reported.
The Spanish fossil is the first evidence that clearly shows human ancestors “were taking excursions into Europe” at that time, said Rick Potts, director of the Smithsonian’s Human Origins Program.
But there is not yet evidence that the earliest arrivals persisted there long, he said. “They may get to a new location and then die out,” said Potts, who had no role in the study.
The partial skull bears many similarities to Homo erectus, but there are also some anatomical differences, said study co-author Rosa Huguet, an archaeologist at the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution in Tarragona, Spain.
Homo erectus arose around 2 million years ago and moved from Africa to regions of Asia and Europe, with the last individuals dying out around 100,000 years ago, said Potts.
It can be challenging to identify which group of early humans a fossil find belongs to if there's only a single fragment versus many bones that show a range of features, said University of Zurich paleoanthropologist Christoph Zollikofer, who was not involved in the study.
The same cave complex in Spain's Atapuerca Mountains where the new fossil was found also previously yielded other significant clues to the ancient human past. Researchers working in the region have also found more recent fossils from Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens.