Sons of Socotra stage protest rally to demand end of Saudi blockade

As the air bridge between the mainland and Socotra island is blocked since the start of the civil war in Yemen, lack of food, fuel, medicines and other basic materials are getting a vital issue. Some Socotri are addressing the United Nations to end this blockade.

More info here: http://www.sabanews.net/en/news450617.htm

60 missing after ship capsizes off Yemen's Socotra island

As the air bridge between the mainland and Socotra island is blocked since the civil war, people are travelling over the ocean again. Unfortunately yesterday a vessel capsized before the island, carrying mainly women and children.

Our condolences to their families!

Some random links:
http://www.firstpost.com/world/60-feared-drowned-off-yemen-coast-after-boat-disappears-near-socotra-island-3143856.html
http://satprnews.com/2016/12/07/more-than-50-people-missing-after-ship-sinks-off-yemens-socotra-island/
http://www.nation.co.ke/news/world/Ship-sinks-off-Yemen-with-60-aboard/1068-3477886-12r8qj7/

Rock art on Socotra, Yemen: the discovery of a petroglyph site on the island's south coast.

Last year Julian took the opportunity to visit beside Dahaisi Cave also the islands south coast to map and record another petroglyph site.
We were quite lucky to be granted access to the site by the local sheik, although we were given a strict window of time to do our thing.

Anyway, here the link to the just published article!

Thanks Julian!

Evers (2014-15), Cave of Revelations. Indian Ocean Trade in light of the Socotran Graffiti, digital v.2.pdf

The digital version (ver 2) of "Cave of Revelations. Indian Ocean Trade in light of the Socotran Graffiti, by Kasper Evers can be downloaded here.
The Journal of Indian Ocean Archaeology n°10-11 2014-2015 has besides a nice color (see below) interesting related articles too!

The Friends of Socotra underground...

The Friends of Socotra meeting, held in Tübingen, hosted and organised by Research Area Geography at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, with the scientific content coordinated by the Centre for Middle Eastern Plants, part of the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh.
Here you can view all pictures from the event, thanks to Dirk Van Dorpe (SKP photographer).
We even had a change to team up underground in the Fels Hohle, quite unique to find so many Socotra researchers underground.

All Friends of Socotra wish that the war in Yemen ends asap, so peace, construction and sustainability can trive again!

European Geologist of the month

Just got elected as the European Geologist of the month, thanks!
Read the interview here...
Geology has lots to offer for Society today, just an overview downloadable in different languages.

Friends of Soqotra 15th AGM & Symposium 2016

Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th September 2016

This year, the Friends of Socotra AGM will take the format of reviewing the past, reporting on the present, and looking to the future. Invited speakers will present themed sessions, with time allowed for discussion after each session.

In addition, in order to allow participants to present and discuss their ideas, images and research, there will be an extended poster session. Each poster presenter will be allowed 1-2 minutes to introduce their poster, within an informal discussion forum.

Here you can find information on the AGM and Symposium programme, as well as details for poster submission.

UAE sends aid to Yemen’s Socotra Islands again!

ABU DHABI // The UAE is sending 12 planeloads carrying 400 tonnes of Ramadan food supplies to Yemen’s Socotra Island to help Yemenis.

The humanitarian initiative by Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation was in response to the directives of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.The first three aid planes include 100 tonnes of Ramadan food supplies to help underprivileged families especially during the Holy Month of Ramadan, an official source at the Khalifa Foundation said.

This latest allocation of humanitarian aid follows several other deliveries to Yemen, the most recent being in April and February 2016 and September 2015.

Source: http://www.thenational.ae/world/middle-east/uae-sends-aid-to-yemens-socotra-islands

Hobbit histories: the origins of Homo floresiensis

And it doesn't stop, people of around 1m in height, working with tools... 700.000 years ago?

https://youtu.be/ewI3i5v0LzE

The origins of the species known as 'the hobbit' - a human relative only a little over a metre tall - have been debated ever since its discovery in 2004. Now new fossils may reveal the ancestors of this strange species and help us to understand its history.

Read more from nature news here: http://www.nature.com/uidfinder/10.1038/534164a.

Find the paper on the new fossils here: http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/nature17999.

And a second paper here covers the age and context of the fossils:http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/nature17663

Early Neanderthal constructions deep in Bruniquel Cave in southwestern France

Something to think about!?
Actually, what do we know?!

175.000 years ago Neanderthal contructed this deep in a cave (SW France)

Why, how, who, ...

A view-only version of the paper in Nature is available by using the following link:

http://rdcu.be/it73 and video http://bcove.me/6ncvregh

A 6minutes movie of the discovery is available at:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4ce4sl (Français)/

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4ceckj (English)

Ancient Indian ports, revisited

The Indian reader will find the portion dealing with inscriptions from the Hoq cave in Socotra interesting. In 2001, a group of Belgian speleologists from the Socotra Karst Project made a spectacular discovery on Socotra island. Ingo Strauch, professor of Sanskrit and Buddhist studies at Universite de Lausanne, in the article, details his findings which add to the earlier knowledge. According to the author, the estimated number of Indian inscriptions is more than 100, written in charcoal, chalk or mud, or scratched with a sharp instrument on the surfaces of rocks. Written in Brahmi, the script can be compared to those from the 2nd to 4th centuries C.E., of West India. This is confirmed by some newly discovered inscriptions, which mention the city of Bharukaccha, one of the most important West Indian ports then. As Strauch says, “As far as palaeological analysis allows, all Indian epigraphs can be bracketed between the 2nd and 3rd centuries C.E.” It is well known that during this time, Indian sea trade was at its peak and continents were connected commercially and culturally.

ERC to build 220 houses for Socotra residents

Abu Dhabi: The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) will build a residential city on Yemen’s Socotra Island that contain 220 houses for people affected by the cyclones that hit the area in 2015.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/yemen/erc-to-build-220-houses-for-socotra-residents-1.1814655

Khalifa Foundation sends 29th relief plane to Socotra

SOCOTRA: The Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation has dispatched a relief plane, the 29th so far, to the Yemeni island of Socotra, loaded with around 50 tonnes of food and medicines to help people suffering from food shortages due to the circumstances there.

The aid is in implementation of the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the follow up of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

An official from the organisation said that the aid is part of the Khalifa Foundation’s commitment to implementing the directives of the UAE leadership who are keen to help the brotherly people of Yemen and ease their suffering during the difficult times they are facing.

Officials in Socotra expressed their thanks and appreciation to the UAE for its humanitarian stand and for its efforts in supporting its Yemeni brothers.

http://gulftoday.ae/portal/13078ae7-8d5f-4e1c-957d-3c1796f20074.aspx