5,500-yr-old plaza found in Peru

A team of German and Peruvian archaeologists say they have discovered the oldest known monument in Peru: a 5,500-year-old ceremonial plaza near Peru's north-central coast, reports AP from Lima (Peru).

Carbon dating of material from the site revealed it was built between 3500 BC and 3000 BC, Peter Fuchs, a German archaeologist who headed the excavation team, told The Associated Press by telephone yesterday.

Monks battle monkeys to save holy tree

Buddhism’s holiest tree in Sri Lanka’s ancient capital, tightly guarded by monks and security forces after Tamil rebels attacked it 23 years ago, is under threat again — this time from monkeys, reports AFP from Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka).

Pilgrims are frisked and scanned by metal detectors before being allowed to worship the “Sri Maha Bodi”, grown from a sapling of a tree in India that sheltered the Buddha when he attained enlightenment more than 2,550 years ago.