857-34011 - Elaborate flower wreaths are brought by Afghan soldiers as tokens of respect to the shrine of Ahmad Shah Masood, on the one year anniversary of Masoods assasination, at a ceremony in the Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan, September 9, 2002. Masood was a revered mujahedin leader who fought the Soviets in the Afghan-Soviet war, and who also was one of the main leaders of the Northern Alliance which opposed the Taliban and helped the US Military in their defeat. Masood was assasinated by what are thought to be Al Queda operatives on Sept. 9, 2001. A shrine has been erected in the Panjshir Valley, near the village of Bazarak, from where he led much of his resistance to both the Soviet and Taliban forces, to honor this latest of Afghan war heros.

857-33969 - Men on bikes ride past an ancient brick minaret toward the old walls and citadel of the town of Ghazni, Afghanistan, October 1, 2002. Made of brick decorated with Kufic and Naksh Script and floral motifs, the minaret dates back to the early 12th century and was built by Sultan Masud III of the Ghaznavid Dynasty, who ruled over an empire encompassing much of Afghanistan, Northern India, Persia and Central Asia. The minaret was once three times as tall as its current 70 feet, and is thought to have been part of a large mosque complex. Now an important truck stop on the road to Kandahar, Ghazni, located on the Lora River at the elevation of 2,225 meters, is the capital of Ghazni province with a population of 35,900, and is a market for sheep, wool, camel hair cloth, corn, and fruit.

1196-111 - The idea of the interconnectedness of all things is central to the tribal way of looking at the world. practical knowledge of the environment, of crops and medicines, of hunting and fishing, is a byproduct of it. the makuna believe that human beings, animals, and all of nature are parts of the same one. animals and fish live in their own communities, which are just like human communities, with their chiefs, their shamans, their dance houses, their songs, and their material possessions. when human peoples dance in this world, the shaman invites the animal people to dance in theirs. if humans do not dance and shamans do not offer spirit food to the animal people, the animals will die out and there will be no more game left in the world. for the makuna the radical disjunction so characteristic of western thought between nature and culture, men and animals, dissolves. eastern colombia amazon, vaupes region, population: 600

1196-2 - The 11th century monastery complex at Alchi. Within the simple exterior are exceptional murals thought to have been painted by artists from the Kashmir Valley. The murals are considered as some of the world's finest examples of Indo-Tibetan art. Ladakh, India

988-169 - Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) caught in herring weir (fish trap). Porpoises trapped in herring weirs often die as a result of efforts to remove them (by 'seining' the weir as shown here) but latterly cooperation between fishermen and researchers has improved the situation. Five porpoises were trapped in this weir and none were thought to have survived this operation. Grand Manan, Bay of Fundy, Canada

988-172 - Salmon in fish farm. Salmon jumping in fish farm, behaviour thought to be associated with dislodging lice. Hebrides, Scotland

1036-84 - Killer whale (Orcinus orca): this is a male but the dorsal fin has flopped over. This is probably genetic and not thought to be a big problem. Olafsvik, Iceland.

1036-85 - Killer whale (Orcinus orca): this is a male but the dorsal fin has flopped over. This is probably genetic and not thought to be a big problem. Olafsvik, Iceland.

931-124 - Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus). The huge tail stock of a blue whale showing lots of round scars thought to be from cookie cutter sharks. The tiny dorsal fin is clealry visible to the left. Gulf of California.

921-791 - Whalebone Alley grand vista, female tourist standing on cliff face, Itygran Island (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: Whale Bone Alley was discovered by Soviet archaeologists in 1976, but has remained untouched since and little is known of this place. There is a long double line of bowhead whale bones -- jaws and ribs -- running parallel along the shore for hundreds of yards. Many of the bones, especially the enormous jaw bones, are still standing, propped up by lichen-covered rocks. The location is thought to have been used in about 1300 as a ceremonial site, for a men's secret society or feasting site.

921-701 - Whalebone Alley, Bowhead whale bone, Itygran Island (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: Whale Bone Alley was discovered by Soviet archaeologists in 1976, but has remained untouched since and little is known of this place. There is a long double line of bowhead whale bones -- jaws and ribs -- running parallel along the shore for hundreds of yards. Many of the bones, especially the enormous jaw bones, are still standing, propped up by lichen-covered rocks. The location is thought to have been used in about 1300 as a ceremonial site, for a men's secret society or feasting site.

921-703 - Whalebone Alley, Bowhead whale bones, Itygran Island (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: Whale Bone Alley was discovered by Soviet archaeologists in 1976, but has remained untouched since and little is known of this place. There is a long double line of bowhead whale bones -- jaws and ribs -- running parallel along the shore for hundreds of yards. Many of the bones, especially the enormous jaw bones, are still standing, propped up by lichen-covered rocks. The location is thought to have been used in about 1300 as a ceremonial site, for a men's secret society or feasting site.

921-699 - Whalebone Alley grand vista, female tourist standing on cliff face, Itygran Island (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: Whale Bone Alley was discovered by Soviet archaeologists in 1976, but has remained untouched since and little is known of this place. There is a long double line of bowhead whale bones -- jaws and ribs -- running parallel along the shore for hundreds of yards. Many of the bones, especially the enormous jaw bones, are still standing, propped up by lichen-covered rocks. The location is thought to have been used in about 1300 as a ceremonial site, for a men's secret society or feasting site.

921-702 - Whalebone Alley, female tourist sitting on bowhead whale bone, Itygran Island (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: Whale Bone Alley was discovered by Soviet archaeologists in 1976, but has remained untouched since and little is known of this place. There is a long double line of bowhead whale bones -- jaws and ribs -- running parallel along the shore for hundreds of yards. Many of the bones, especially the enormous jaw bones, are still standing, propped up by lichen-covered rocks. The location is thought to have been used in about 1300 as a ceremonial site, for a men's secret society or feasting site.

921-700 - Whalebone Alley, female tourist standing around still intact extremly old inuit elder grave, skeleton still present. Itygran Island (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: Whale Bone Alley was discovered by Soviet archaeologists in 1976, but has remained untouched since and little is known of this place. There is a long double line of bowhead whale bones -- jaws and ribs -- running parallel along the shore for hundreds of yards. Many of the bones, especially the enormous jaw bones, are still standing, propped up by lichen-covered rocks. The location is thought to have been used in about 1300 as a ceremonial site, for a men's secret society or feasting site.

921-704 - Whalebone Alley, female tourist standing between bow head whale rib bones, Itygran Island (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: Whale Bone Alley was discovered by Soviet archaeologists in 1976, but has remained untouched since and little is known of this place. There is a long double line of bowhead whale bones -- jaws and ribs -- running parallel along the shore for hundreds of yards. Many of the bones, especially the enormous jaw bones, are still standing, propped up by lichen-covered rocks. The location is thought to have been used in about 1300 as a ceremonial site, for a men's secret society or feasting site.

921-810 - Whalebone Alley grand vista, high altitude flora, Itygran Island (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: Whale Bone Alley was discovered by Soviet archaeologists in 1976, but has remained untouched since and little is known of this place. There is a long double line of bowhead whale bones -- jaws and ribs -- running parallel along the shore for hundreds of yards. Many of the bones, especially the enormous jaw bones, are still standing, propped up by lichen-covered rocks. The location is thought to have been used in about 1300 as a ceremonial site, for a men's secret society or feasting site.

987-6 - tawny owl: strix aluco brown phase female at roost montrea thmont,angus,scotland

987-51 - snowy owl: nyctea scandiaca female against sky - captive a ngus, scotland

987-17 - tawny owl (c): strix aluco watching from fork in tree dalk eith, scotland

911-3597 - A business man at work at Regus in London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

306-3968 - River Acheron, thought to be the river Styx, the River of the Dead in Greek legend, Epirus, Greece, Europe

739-1103 - Ogni pensiero vola (Every Thought Flies), Parco dei Monstri (Garden of the Monsters), Sacro Bosco, Bomarzo Gardens, near Viterbo, Lazio, Italy, Europe

29-5134 - The surviving pool in the normally dry riverbed, thought to be a spring from bedrock so was named Alice Springs, in the town of the same name, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia, Pacific

788-16073 - Rear view of a couple sitting on a boardwalk, Bay of Naples, Sorrento, Sorrentine Peninsula, Naples Province, Campania, Italy

797-3969 - PANAMA San Blas Islands Ustupu Kuna Indians Portrait of smiling Kuna woman with gold nose ring and black line drawn along length of nose thought to enhance beauty. Cuna Caribbean American Central America Female Women Girl Lady Hispanic Latin America Latino Panamanian West Indies

641-9947 - Snakes in bottles of spirits thought to have medicinal properties, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

641-9954 - Snakes in bottles of spirits thought to have medicinal properties, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

685-1435 - Solar Funeral boat, thought to be at least 4000 years old, in its purpose built museum near the Pyramids, Giza, near Cairo, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

788-14919 - Portrait of a mid adult woman taking part in a wedding ceremony, Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca, Puno, Peru

788-14905 - Portrait of a senior man wearing a cap, Peru

788-14898 - Portrait of a girl sitting in front of the gate of a house, Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca, Puno, Peru

788-14897 - Portrait of two senior men sitting together, Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca, Puno, Peru

788-14886 - Two mature men sitting with a groom at a table, Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca, Puno, Peru

788-14885 - Close-up of a young man wearing headdress, Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca, Puno, Peru

788-14882 - Portrait of a mature man, Peru

788-14881 - Portrait of a mature woman spinning a spool, Peru

788-14866 - Close-up of two mature women taking part in a wedding ceremony, Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca, Puno, Peru

788-14850 - Portrait of a young man wearing a traditional clothing and holding a stick, Peru

788-6893 - Portrait of a boy thinking

788-2544 - Close-up of a hula dancer wearing a necklace, Hawaii, USA

788-2495 - Close-up of a hula dancer wearing a necklace, Hawaii, USA

788-1352 - High angle view of a statue, Little Mermaid, Copenhagen, Denmark

788-8949 - Portrait of a boy crying

312-2644 - Pilgrim sitting on rock near church with mud on limbs which is thought to have magical healing properties, Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa

312-2559 - Ancient wooden monastery of Nat Taung Kyaung (May-taung Taik) thought to be the oldest wooden monastery in the area, Bagan (Pagan), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

312-2580 - Novice monk sitting in window of 18th century wooden monastery of Nat Taung Kyaung (May-taung taik) thought to be the oldest wooden monastery in the area, Bagan (Pagan), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

744-57 - Prow of the alabaster boat showing the head of a Syrian ibex and a figure thought to be princess Mutnedjmet, from the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun, discovered in the Valley of the Kings, Thebes, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

744-58 - Alabaster boat showing the head of a Syrian ibex and a figure thought to be princess Mutnedjmet on the prow, from the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun, discovered in the Valley of the Kings, Thebes, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

641-5795 - Se Cathedral, thought to be Asia's biggest church, Old Goa, Goa, India

641-5794 - Se Cathedral, thought to be Asia's biggest church, Old Goa, Goa, India

641-5474 - Se Cathedral, thought to be Asia's biggest church, Old Goa, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Goa, India, Asia

641-5477 - Se Cathedral, thought to be Asia's biggest church, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old Goa, Goa, India, Asia

312-1654 - The 15th century temple of Candi Sukuh, on slopes of Gunung Lawu, east of Solo, thought to be linked to fertiflity cult, island of Java, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

641-5475 - Se Cathedral, thought to be Asia's biggest church, Old Goa, Goa, India, Asia

641-5478 - Se Cathedral, thought to be Asia's biggest church, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old Goa, Goa, India, Asia

312-1653 - Garuda in front of the 15th century temple of Candi Sukuh, on slopes of Gunung Lawu, east of Solo, thought to be linked to fertiflity cult, island of Java, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

312-1800 - Novice monk sitting on mat writing, Wat Jong Kham, thought to date from the 13th century, Kengtung (Kyaing Tong), Shan State, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

312-1834 - Wat Jong Kham thought to date from the 13th century, Kengtung (Kyaing Tong), Shan State, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

312-1783 - Statue opposite Wat Jong Kham thought to date from the 13th century, Kengtung (Kyaing Tong), Shan State, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

312-1801 - Statue opposite Wat Jong Kham thought to date from the 13th century, Kengtung (Kyaing Tong), Shan State, Myanmar (Burma), Asia