tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post7577617912875928079..comments2024-03-04T06:12:38.695+13:00Comments on Photo-Sleuth: Sepia Saturday 167: In Search of Mammoths - Journey to the Coldest Place on EarthBrett Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706734864792449845noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-78304712820466775052013-03-19T19:22:05.498+13:002013-03-19T19:22:05.498+13:00Teresa - Thank you for your compliments. I suspec...Teresa - Thank you for your compliments. I suspect the women were the wives of Russian traders living in Yakutsk - I can't believe there would be much else to draw them that far into the wilderness.<br /><br />Alan - Sorry to fill your notebook to overflowing with these very long posts of mine, but there are some subjects that just can't be covered simply. Besides which, you know I don't do short very well.<br /><br />Hugo - There are so many objects of fascination in this album, not the least of which is imagining doing it oneself, which is not that difficult to achieve with the Google Earth and a multitude of other sites on the net. I'll tell you what a night in that log dacha was like!Brett Paynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706734864792449845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-56117337655741658242013-03-19T18:39:29.499+13:002013-03-19T18:39:29.499+13:00I prefer imagining these goats grazing at the few ...I prefer imagining these goats grazing at the few shoots remaining at the top of those trees since everything else is gone.<br /><br />"Music aboard the Lena River barge 1903" drew Mike Brubaker's attention, but not for the instruments, strangely... <br />The man with the net looks like he's about to open a beehive rather than sailing over the river.<br />Odd outfit!!<br /><br />Love the Olekminsk Church picture!! <br /><br />And that datcha, wooden building, reminds me of a Russian movie I saw in the late '70s, early 80s, about Peter the Great, a great production but with none of this American fluff you usually see. It was full of more authentic details. And that house reminds me of that. <br /><br />Great journey!! <br />Dasvidaniya!! <br />:)~ <br />HUGZBruno Lalibertéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09607511642101907283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-20676677406297646052013-03-12T04:56:23.045+13:002013-03-12T04:56:23.045+13:00Yet again I find myself copying your post into my ...Yet again I find myself copying your post into my Evernote collection so I can read it again at leisure. An excellent piece of work.Alan Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01015127443616786425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-47769978864148409582013-03-12T04:29:05.836+13:002013-03-12T04:29:05.836+13:00Truly amazing story and research Brett! If prizes...Truly amazing story and research Brett! If prizes were handed out each week for Sepia Saturday you would surely win first this week! <br /><br />I was especially struck by the women travelers and how adventuresome they must have been for the times. They were truly going into the unknown without any luxuries. Don't think I could have done that!Teresa Wilson Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07340825601857084302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-53692253601417587482013-03-11T16:11:32.860+13:002013-03-11T16:11:32.860+13:00Truly fascinating.Truly fascinating.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12692170857496442623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-81926214256952676092013-03-11T12:04:03.909+13:002013-03-11T12:04:03.909+13:00Wow, what a great posting. I really think the 191...Wow, what a great posting. I really think the 1914 photos were quite a find. My dad was born in 1918 so seeing the oldies are great.L. D. https://www.blogger.com/profile/02270923121962761209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-31543261414243915562013-03-11T09:38:27.146+13:002013-03-11T09:38:27.146+13:00Sean - Well if it were crows up there, that wouldn...Sean - Well if it were crows up there, that wouldn't be half as interesting.<br /><br />Kathy M. - The enormity of that rather perplexed me too, but let's hope the Herculean effort impressed the Gods. I think I might have chosen to sleep out on the open deck, if it weren't for the mosquitoes.<br /><br />Bob - The idea has been gestating for a few months, during which time I've been gathering together my thoughts mainly, but the writing took many hours, through the entire course of the week. Sorry to give you such an mammoth task this week.<br /><br />Kristin - The early 20th Century equivalenbt of the iPod, I guess. Apparently the trade in mammoth ivory has been going on for some centuries, and is still prevalent today.<br /><br />Nigel - Haha, yes I've seen goats in trees on the island of Ithaka.<br /><br />Kathy Morales & Liz Needle - Thank you for persevering.<br /><br />Hazel - Unfortunately, living so far as I am from the main markets, the postage on such albums usually puts them out of my reach, but I find them just as fascinating.<br /><br />Postcardy - I did too, as you have seen :-)<br /><br />Mike Brubaker - Thanks for the kind comments (it's certainly mone of the longest). I didn't notice the mosquito net helmet, but there was a comment in the Trebilcock diary about mosquitos so thickly swarmed on the barrel of his gun that he couldn't see the sight at the end. I guess I have a similar fascination for all things Klondyke.<br /><br />Joy - Yes, it's a mosquito protector. The mosquitos here were legendary (see previous comment to Mike).<br /><br />B Rogers - Thank you.<br /><br />Tony - Yes, from what I can tell of recent photos, it's still very wild, but perhaps not quite as dangerous.<br /><br />Karen S. - I believe the wooden building was the mammoth tusk trader's house/store in Yakutsk, althugh that photo does not appear to have a caption.<br /><br />T+L - What a shame about the woolly mammoth remains in your nearby park being gone for good. Amazing to think that they were around at the same time as our early ancestors. There's a debate going on currently about whether or not to try and recreate mammoths from DNA - Google will find it somewhere on the net.Brett Paynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706734864792449845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-25323680277497045182013-03-11T09:02:26.654+13:002013-03-11T09:02:26.654+13:00This is all incredibly fascinating. The old images...This is all incredibly fascinating. The old images of a society long gone are priceless. And the mammoth is wonderful. I know that in a nearby private park the remains of a wooly mammoth were found over 100 years ago. Scientists from University of California Berkeley were called but they did not arrive in a timely enough manner so the woman who owned the land simply covered up the remains and never told them where they were. A friend who was related to the woman had a piece of the spinal column that was petrified. It sat at her front door. I always looked at it and tried to wrap my head around the fact that at one point that bone had belonged to an animal that, like me, had lived in this area. I like to envision looking out my window these days and seeing the ghosts of the mammoths walking by.Tattered and Losthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00208918251232477186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-28082961696426837382013-03-11T08:23:32.776+13:002013-03-11T08:23:32.776+13:00Oh my goodness this is a history lesson in wonder ...Oh my goodness this is a history lesson in wonder all by itself! What a treat- so much absorbed I don't know what to comment first on- so two points very strong in my thoughts- what ever was that wooden building I really am curious about it- very cool and the person looks so small- and the barge- my Lena and most okay but a couple of the bearded gents- not so sure I'd hop on it! You really did a great amount of study and work on this! 21 Witshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00071361755673253230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-76308169926701694072013-03-11T08:05:44.957+13:002013-03-11T08:05:44.957+13:00Siberia must have felt like The Moon in those day ...Siberia must have felt like The Moon in those day (probably still does!)Such A Wild remote & dangerous place (ask the sheep)........ Fascinating,Rare And Strangely Beautiful. tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03746435400444226665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-35196966788714950292013-03-11T07:01:39.640+13:002013-03-11T07:01:39.640+13:00Thorough research was not expected here...but is g...Thorough research was not expected here...but is gratefully appreciated, by me! A very educational and enjoyable post. Thanks!Barbara Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08351113054045427775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-22443724814442132202013-03-10T07:19:45.396+13:002013-03-10T07:19:45.396+13:00That is quite an adventure in both actuality and r...That is quite an adventure in both actuality and research, what a lot you have discovered. I'm intrigued by the man at the back of the musical river boat photo who looks to be wearing a bee keeping hat, or maybe it just an elaborate mosquito protector:-) Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00253875352864018195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-80849603345930115652013-03-10T06:42:24.586+13:002013-03-10T06:42:24.586+13:00One of your best posts, Brett. A great combination...One of your best posts, Brett. A great combination of history detective, travelogue, and adventure stories, all in one. The details on the trade in mammoth ivory is still an important issue today, as global warming will reveal more fossils in the tundra.<br /><br />I have always had a fascination with Siberia and have read several travel books and histories on the area, including some that follow the Lena River. The summer was the best time for travel but not entirely comfortable, as I noticed one man on the ship was wearing a mosquito net helmet. Mike Brubakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13065245846262417519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-45012065586118161972013-03-10T03:18:42.468+13:002013-03-10T03:18:42.468+13:00It was fascinating to read and see where the Yakut...It was fascinating to read and see where the Yakutsk led you. I learned a lot from the Mammoth Hunting article.Postcardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16399915833682943432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-85819991414063464502013-03-10T02:21:07.627+13:002013-03-10T02:21:07.627+13:00Those poplars with the animals hanging look quite ...Those poplars with the animals hanging look quite tall. A bit scary and mysterious. Siberia sounds synonymous with cold. I'll be very fascinated and excited if I get to buy an entire old photo album like Diana did. I enjoyed your research, thanks.Hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07866700983578714993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-84450020113973979272013-03-09T22:56:18.768+13:002013-03-09T22:56:18.768+13:00What an incredible journey and magnificent researc...What an incredible journey and magnificent research effort. I'll have to come back to this one when I have a couple of hours to spend.Liz Needlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10346380755511150998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-39065501537267665942013-03-09T18:24:54.527+13:002013-03-09T18:24:54.527+13:00What an interesting and informative post! I wasn&#...What an interesting and informative post! I wasn't aware of the mammoth tusk trade either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-47668915681862731862013-03-09T12:20:39.362+13:002013-03-09T12:20:39.362+13:00Nobody ever believes me when I tell them I saw Mor...Nobody ever believes me when I tell them I saw Moroccan goats:<br />http://goo.gl/Lbc9hNigel Aspdin (Derby, UK)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11287696605570389587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-6253909425088518712013-03-09T09:53:04.211+13:002013-03-09T09:53:04.211+13:00I thought it was pretty amazing that they had musi...I thought it was pretty amazing that they had music on that boat but as I read on, I just became more and more amazed! I had no idea there was a market in mammoth tusks.Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06413795611563683135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-53671978256259258542013-03-09T07:38:54.458+13:002013-03-09T07:38:54.458+13:00A fabulous post which I need to come back to sever...A fabulous post which I need to come back to several times. Just how long did it take to put together?Bob Scotneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662958579705940009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-89638577314562490132013-03-09T03:52:05.693+13:002013-03-09T03:52:05.693+13:00What a great idea to have featured the whole album...What a great idea to have featured the whole album of adventure. How did they get those goats up there? They look rather fresh and would have been so heavy, and those trees are so skinny. I wonder what the meaning was ... a warning? Oh, I just read Mike's explanation.<br /><br />Can you imagine spending 4 days on that tiny boat with so many people and sleeping there? Not me!<br /><br />And then, the story goes on to hunting Mammoths. Thanks for working so hard on this fantastic post, Brett.<br /><br />Kathy M.Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07171271956883698673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-5422293685764949792013-03-08T12:38:48.515+13:002013-03-08T12:38:48.515+13:00Wow - I'm in awe. And I love the spitted sheep...Wow - I'm in awe. And I love the spitted sheep shot, holy crow. Sean Bentleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02777191262417995366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-26885543876537011192013-03-08T10:53:51.769+13:002013-03-08T10:53:51.769+13:00Thanks for persevering, Marilyn. It takes me days ...Thanks for persevering, Marilyn. It takes me days to prepare every post, so it's lucky that I have a few (actually more than a few) subjects up my sleeve that I've been researching for some time. Actually I have another paddle steamer picture of my own to share, but that can wait for another time, and another prompt.Brett Paynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706734864792449845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-71536973516672374072013-03-08T05:14:23.184+13:002013-03-08T05:14:23.184+13:00this was a mammoth read too! It must have taken yo...this was a mammoth read too! It must have taken you days to prepare this post Brett. Lucky you to have the paddle steamer pictures ; I've scoured my albums in vain.Little Nellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862657943846727987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599702957095945938.post-30364613537702994602013-03-07T09:28:32.282+13:002013-03-07T09:28:32.282+13:00Mike - Thanks for the tip about the trees, which I...Mike - Thanks for the tip about the trees, which I've added in. Regarding the offerings of rams spittted on birch trees, they were intended to propitiate the evil spirits, according to an article <b>The mysterious witch doctors of Siberia</b> by Digby which appeared in <i>The Wide World Magazine</i> in 1916 or 1917.<br /><br />Rob - Yes, I think knowledge of extinction times wasn't nearly as good then as it is now.<br /><br />Wibbo - Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.Brett Paynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706734864792449845noreply@blogger.com