Archaeologists have found five pairs of iron shackles at a 2,300-year-old Celtic site in France a discovery that suggests the small settlement was frequented by metalsmiths and slave traders.The "extremely rare" shackles were discovered in the town of Allonnes in France's Loire Valley in 2019, but the finds from the two-year-long excavation were announced to the public on July 9 in a translated statement from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP).The settlement at Allonnes was established along with a religious complex in the third century B.C., according to the statement. Specialist artisans including blacksmiths, coppersmiths, bronze workers and sheet-metal workers plied their trade from small workshops, archaeologists found at Allonnes. During the excavation, the team discovered a large number of high-quality metal objects such as swords, spearheads, keys and horse harness fittings but the iron shackles were a surprise because they are extremely rare for the time period. Excavators found a double-wrist restraint, an ankle restraint and three other portions of metal restraints.The presence of shackles suggests that Allonnes may have been a hub for slave trading in the Late Iron Age (450 to 50 B.C.), according to the statement. "The identification of restraints and weapons suggests a hierarchical social organization composed of dominant and subordinate groups prisoners or slaves," Thierry Lejars, a specialist in Celtic metalwork, said in a translated interview with INRAP. The Gauls, a loose association of Celtic tribes, were known to enslave prisoners of war, convicts and debtors, according to the statement, and they were often forced to work in the fields. These men, women and children then lost their rights and could be bought and sold by their owners. Because the Celts did not leave many historical records of their own, however, not much is known about the practice of slavery in pre-Roman Gaul. The shackles from Allonnes provide new insight into the lives of people who were typically invisible in historical accounts.A drawing of wrist restraints, likely used on women or children, and an ankle shackle. (Image credit: Elven Le Goff, INRAP)The small diameter of the wrist restraint 2.4 inches (6 centimeters) suggests it may have been used on a woman or a child, according to the statement. And the ankle restraint was over 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram), revealing the weight that enslaved people had to carry around.Archaeologists also uncovered a religious sanctuary at Allonnes, along with offerings that included clothing and jewelry such as rings and amulets. Many of the offerings had been deliberately deformed or mutilated, likely to transform a mundane possession into a gift for the gods, the statement reported. RELATED STORIES2,000-year-old Celtic teenager may have been sacrificed and considered 'disposable'Unusual burials of Celtic 'warriors' discovered in France point to violent deathsArchaeologists discover decapitated head the Romans used as a warning to the CeltsHundreds of coins were also recovered at the site, and their mint dates spanned more than five centuries, Isabelle Bollard-Raineau, an ancient-coin expert with the French ministry of culture, said in the translated INRAP interview. About a third of the coins found at Allonnes had been filed, sheared or etched with a chisel. "These mutilations reveal a ritual intention: the removal of the coin's commercial function in order to dedicate the object to the sacred, thereby ensuring the permanence of the offering," Bollard-Raineau said. Allonnes was a significant Celtic site at the intersection of several major roads in ancient times, and the analysis of the metal finds has revealed important new information about some of the most powerless members of Gallic society.See how much you know about the Celts with our Celtic quiz!

There are parts of the universe that are extremely hard to see, even for our most advanced telescopes. Gas and dust dont emit any light, and are only visible by the light that they happen to block from stars and galaxies. Magnetic fields are even harder since regular light typically passes right through them. However, according to a new paper available in pre-print on arXiv, by Manisha Caleb of the University of Sydney and their co-authors, were currently commissioning a potentially game-changing new tool that could use a particularly violent astronomical phenomenon to provide new insight into these hard to see places.

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Welcome to our Ask Dr. Paola series, where every Monday we bring expert advice straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to help our readers better understand their cats health and well-being. Whether youre a new pet parent or a seasoned cat lover, Dr. Paola is here to provide answers to your most pressing questions. From nutrition tips and preventive care to troubleshooting common behavioral issues, Dr. Paola is ready to offer insights that will keep your kitty happy, healthy, and feline fine. Stay tuned for expert guidance on a range of topics that matter most to you and your cat, so you can make informed decisions and provide the best possible care for your furry companion. Have a question? Send it in here!HELP! How Much Pee Is Too Much Pee?Hi Dr Paola,My female cat, Kiwi, is 15 years old and has always loved water and drinking it. She eats dry food. Ive noted shes urinating 5 times a day. Is this within range for the amount shes urinating? AngeHi Ange!Five trips to the litter box each day doesnt automatically fall outside the normal range, especially if Kiwi has always loved drinking water and eats a dry food diet. Cats can vary quite a bit in how often they urinate, so the number of visits to the litter box is only one piece of the puzzle. What matters more is whether shes producing unusually large amounts of urine and if her water intake has increased compared to what has always been normal for her.As a general guideline, healthy cats drink around 40 to 60 mL of water per kilogram of body weight each day, although cats eating dry food often drink closer to the higher end of that range because kibble contains very little moisture. Consistently drinking more than 100 mL/kg/day is considered excessive and deserves further investigation. Normal urine production is approximately 20 to 45 mL/kg/day, so for a 4.5 kg (10 lb) cat, thats about 90 to 200 mL of urine per day. Since most pet parents arent measuring urine output, the litter box can provide helpful clues. Five average-sized clumps spread throughout the day could be completely normal, whereas several very large, heavy clumps may suggest shes producing more urine than expected.Because Kiwi is 15 years old, its also worth considering whether this is simply her lifelong habit or a recent change. Increased thirst and urine production are common early signs of conditions such as chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes mellitus, all of which become more common as cats age. If youve noticed shes drinking more than she used to, the urine clumps have become larger, or there have been any other changes in her appetite, weight, or energy level, Id recommend scheduling a veterinary examination. A physical exam, blood work, and a urinalysis can help determine whether her drinking and urination are normal for her or if theres an underlying condition that would benefit from early treatment.I hope this helps! Dr PaolaThis article is a part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola series Read last weeks questions here: June 29, 2026 Find the full list of past articles here Click here to submit a question Sign up for our weekly newsletter below to get Dr. Paolas advice sent straight to your inbox.

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