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A penis-shaped pendant carved out of a chunk of graphite is likely the oldest known phallic artifact in the world.

Archaeologists in northern Mongolia discovered the 1.7-inch-long (4.3 centimeters) object in 2016 at a site known as Tolbor-21 located in the Khangai Mountains. The piece has been part of the collection at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences ever since, according to a study published June 12 in the journal Scientific Reports.

After conducting radiocarbon dating of organic material from the same layer and microscopic analysis, researchers determined that the Paleolithic artifact was made approximately 42,000 years ago and that an ancient artisan used graphite acquired from roughly 62 miles (100 kilometers) away to make the anatomically accurate piece.

“Graphite was a rare material and was not commonly used in this region during that time period,” study lead author Solange Rigaud, an archaeologist at the University of Bordeaux and the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in France, told Live Science. “It came from far away and probably was exchanged by a different group of nomadic people.”

Related: 6-inch stone penis was used to sharpen weapons in medieval Spain

The researchers think the piece’s maker used stone tools to carve the pendant, which includes a groove depicting the penis’ urethra, the tube that carries urine. There’s an additional groove crossing the pendant’s midsection that likely would’ve been used to tie the piece to the wearer, possibly as a necklace, according to the study.

The pendant is partially broken but overall in good condition. “The face of the pendant is well preserved while the opposite side has more wear,” Rigaud said. This could be due to the worn side rubbing against the wearer, who would’ve “suspended the pendant around the neck,” Rigaud added.

The team said that this pendant is not just the world’s oldest known phallic artwork but the “earliest known sexed anthropomorphic representation” on record, as it predates other carvings of human genitalia, including cave art of vulvas from 37,000 years ago at Abri Castanet in France.

However, researchers haven’t concluded what the overall meaning behind the piece is.

“It’s hard to know its exact function,” Rigaud said. “It’s possible that this person wore a body ornament as a way to transmit information to others showing their group identity, or it held a personal meaning to the wearer.”RELATED STORIES—Man holding penis and flanked by leopards is world’s oldest narrative carving

—Ancient Roman penis sculpture could be the largest of its kind ever discovered

—Two ‘warrior women’ from ancient Mongolia may have helped inspire the Ballad of Mulan

While this is likely the oldest known artifact with a “phallic presentation” in the world, Rigaud said it’s not the oldest body ornament. Archaeologists across Eurasia have unearthed personal ornaments derived from animal teeth and perforated shells at sites that date between 130,000 and 150,000 years old, according to the study. These sites were once inhabited by Neanderthals. 

In addition to the phallic pendant, archaeologists also unearthed a pendant and beads made from ostrich eggshells, additional stone pendants and pieces of animal bones at the archaeological site.

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Cubs blow lead in 10-run 8th, storm back in thriller

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Cubs blow lead in 10-run 8th, storm back in thriller

CHICAGO — Kyle Tucker had the fans on their feet, roaring and pumping their fists as he rounded the bases after hitting the go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning. His screaming line drive cleared the right-field wall with plenty of room to spare.

The Chicago Cubs went from giving up 10 runs in the eighth to scoring six in the bottom half and beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 13-11 on Friday in one of the wildest games on record.

The two teams combined for 21 runs in the seventh and eighth innings, with the Cubs scoring 11 runs and the D-backs plating 10. It was the first nine-inning game in MLB history in which both teams scored 10 or more runs from the seventh inning on, and the third game overall, according to ESPN Research.

“That’s kind of baseball,” Tucker said. “There’s a lot of ups and downs in this game, especially with how many games we play.”

There haven’t been many games like this, though.

The Cubs are just the seventh team in at least the past 125 seasons to allow 10 or more runs in an inning and win. They are also the fifth team to give up 10 or more runs and score six or more in the same inning.

The 16 combined runs in the eighth were the most in an inning at Wrigley Field, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“If you’ve seen that one, you’ve been around for a while,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said with a laugh. “It was crazy. You know, we gave up 10 runs in an inning and we won. So it was a wild game, but we kept going, and, you know, there’s 27 outs in a game and this kind of proves it, and you’re just happy to get out with a win.”

On a warm day with the ball carrying, Carson Kelly homered twice. Ian Happ belted a grand slam and Seiya Suzuki went deep, helping the Cubs open a weekend series on a winning note.

“You’ve seen it early — having some tough losses, coming back winning the next day,” Happ said. “Losing the first game of the series, winning the series. Little things like that. Today’s a great example of professional hitters going out there and continuing to have really good at-bats.”

The way things transpired in the final two innings was something to see.

Kelly hit a two-run homer in the second against Corbin Burnes, and Happ came through with his grand slam against Ryne Nelson as part of a five-run seventh. But just when it looked as if the Cubs were in control with a 7-1 lead, things took a wild turn in the eighth.

Eugenio Suarez cut it to 7-5 with a grand slam against Porter Hodge, Geraldo Perdomo singled in a run and Randal Grichuk put Arizona on top by one with a two-run double. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a three-run homer, making it 11-7.

The crowd of more than 39,000 let the Cubs hear it, but their team regrouped in the bottom half. Bryce Jarvis hit Nico Hoerner leading off and walked Pete Crow-Armstrong before Kelly drove a three-run homer to center. Tucker, the Cubs’ prized offseason addition, came through after Happ singled with one out. Suzuki followed with his drive against Joe Mantiply to give the Cubs a 13-11 lead.

Arizona, which had won five straight, became just the third team over the past 50 seasons to lose a game in which it had a 10-run inning at any point, according to ESPN Research.

“You just got to stay locked in,” Kelly said. “Obviously, you don’t want to … give up 10 in an inning. Obviously, you don’t want to do that. I think the biggest thing is coming back, regrouping and continuing to fight.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Chisholm suspended 1 game for conduct, tweet

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Chisholm suspended 1 game for conduct, tweet

Major League Baseball suspended New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. for one game and fined him an undisclosed amount, the result of his actions during Thursday night’s win against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Chisholm was ejected in the seventh inning by plate umpire John Bacon for arguing after a called third strike on a full-count pitch from Mason Montgomery that appeared low.

Minutes later, he posted on his X account, “Not even f—ing close!!!!!” then deleted the post.

“I didn’t think before I had anything that I said was ejectable but after probably,” Chisholm said after the game. “I’m a competitor, so when I go out there and I feel like I’m right and you’re saying something to me that I think doesn’t make sense, I’m going to get fired up and be upset.

“I lost my emotions. I lost my cool. I got to be better than that. … I’m definitely mad at myself for losing my cool.”

Michael Hill, the league’s senior vice president for on-field operations, said Friday’s discipline was for Chisholm’s “conduct, including his violation of Major League Baseball’s Social Media Policy for Major League Players.”

MLB regulations ban the use of electronic devices during games. The social media policy prohibits “displaying or transmitting content that questions the impartiality of or otherwise denigrates a major league umpire.”

Chisholm did appeal the decision, allowing him to play in Friday night’s 1-0 win against the Rays. He started at second base and went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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First-time father-to-be Ohtani away from Dodgers

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First-time father-to-be Ohtani away from Dodgers

ARLINGTON, Texas — Shohei Ohtani is away from the Los Angeles Dodgers for the birth of the two-way superstar’s first child.

Manager Dave Roberts said before the Dodgers’ series opener Friday night against the Rangers that Ohtani was with his wife and going on MLB’s paternity list.

“He and Mamiko are expecting at some point. That’s all I know,” Roberts said. “I don’t know when he’s going to come back and I don’t know when they’re going to have the baby, but obviously they’re together in anticipation.”

The 30-year-old Ohtani posted on his Instagram account in late December that he and his 28-year-old wife, a former professional basketball player from his native Japan, were expecting a baby in 2025.

“Can’t wait for the little rookie to join our family soon!” said the Dec. 28 post that included a photo showing the couple’s beloved dog, Decoy, as well as a pink ruffled onesie along with baby shoes and a sonogram that was covered by a baby emoji.

Ohtani can miss up to three games while on paternity leave. The Dodgers have a three-game series in Texas before an off day Monday, then play the Cubs in Chicago on Tuesday.

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