Archaeologia Baltica

This study is focused on social media in China and its influence on youth civic participation. In China, a trend of increasing usage of social media platforms has been observed, in particularly WeChat, Weibo, QQ, Douyin, and Meitu. The aim of this research is to explore the link between the use of these social media platforms and civic participation among the youth in China, specifically, whether social media platforms have positive effect on encouragement of youth civic participation. The use of social media platforms is measured by the number of social media accounts, the duration of usage of these accounts, and the average time spending on social media accounts weekly, while civic participation through social media is to measure both civic participation activities and its link with the social media usage.

The authors discuss the archaeozoological indicators for horse domestication, and come to a conclusion that a considerable increase of horse remains, accompanied by a presence of other certainly domesticated species could be one of them. With such a situation we have to do in Ayakagytma ‘The Site’, Uzbekistan, where in the Early Neolithic layers dated to 8000–7400 cal. BP, a share of horse remains reach 30–40%. It would suggest the earliest horse domestication known today.

This paper presents a preliminary approach to the problem of royal tomb orientation in ancient Egypt from the early dynastic mausoleums at the necropolis of Umm al Qab to the impressive subterranean chambers of the tombs at the Valley of the Kings (Biban al Muluk). This clearly shows that the correct orientation of the monuments, from the earlier mastabas to the later hypogea, was mandatory and that the sky plays a key role in understanding ancient Egyptian funerary monuments.

The so-called ‘Neo-Pythagorean Basilica’ at Porta Maggiore in Rome is one of the most famous and most discussed hypogeal monuments in Rome. It was certainly in use for a short time during the first half of the first century AD, but its purpose is still far from clear. The most probable interpretation is that it was a temple dedicated to Neo-Pythagorean cults. We describe here the preliminary results of a detailed archaeoastronomical study of the Basilica undertaken in order to contribute to the understanding of the role of this fascinating monument.

The cult of the deer was widespread in traditional societies of deer hunters. This cult was connected with the worship of the deer or man-deer, the ancestor of people and deer, and a cultural hero, the teacher of deer hunting. The most important evidence supporting a deer cult in traditional societies are the totemistic mysteries connected with the reproduction of the deer, and magic hunting rituals. The most important participant in these rituals is the shaman.