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Luis Manuel Peña. Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.
The purpose of signalling devices like the lights in the photograph is well known to us all. Those in particular are the first traffic lights in the Valley of Carranza (Bizkaia), where I live, a once eminently rural area. The signals in question are part of the so-called ‘urban furniture’. Street lamps were installed several decades ago, to the delight of bats watching their nightly helping of food flutter to the light. Later came a few pavements, and down in the middle of the Valley, away from the reign of the cows, some ‘zebra crossings’ were painted. (more…)
Operators at telephone exchange. Vitoria-Gasteiz, 1926. Fundación Telefónica Photographic Archive.
It is commonplace to talk about the significant progress made in communication. Field research conducted in 1997 includes data gathered to a shepherd from the neighbourhood of Bernagoitia in Amorebieta-Etxano (Bizkaia) and reveals the use of an old method of communication.
As the flock grazed near the farmhouse or the camp during transterminance, and provided that sites messages were sent from and received were within sight, the messaging procedure prevented unnecessary journeys, spreading a white sheet or piece of clothing on the field being the signal, known as zeinea, to either confirm or rule out information previously agreed upon. (more…)
Piracy and plunder are as old as maritime trade. Yesterday’s pirates were seafaring peoples who engaged in pillaging and ravaging at deep waters and off the coast. The main shipping and freight traffic routes suffered from most intense pirate activity. These attacks often occurred across national borders or in areas under customary international law. There they raided and ransacked at will to later hide their fabulous loot in secluded havens. (more…)
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