david meadows
2023-01-22 17:04:06 UTC
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explorator 25.40 January 22, 2023
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You can read explorator online at:
https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/
Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,
John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Hernan Astudillo,
Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).
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EARLY HOMINIDS
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I think we mentioned this redating of hominin footprints in Spain to 295 800 years bp:
https://the-past.com/news/hominin-footprints-in-spain/
Trying to figure out the diet of homo erectus from tooth analysis:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-early-humans-tooth-enamel-reveals.html
Another tooth study compared Neanderthal and homo antecessor teeth:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-neanderthals-species-dentition-characterized-thin.html
cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-022-01947-0
Climate change apparently didn't affect Neanderthal hunting strategies at the Cobe-Grenal (France) site:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-neanderthal-site-combe-grenal-france-strategies.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230118195840.htm
Study/feature on artistic abilities of Neanderthals:
https://theconversation.com/neanderthals-the-oldest-art-in-the-world-wasnt-made-by-homo-sapiens-194113
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-neanderthals-oldest-art-world-wasnt.html
Not sure where to put this item on the role of altruism in human development:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/16/altruism-towards-other-species-may-have-helped-humans-thrive-study-finds
cf: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/hai.2023.0001
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AFRICA
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War-related concerns for Ethiopian antiquities:
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/ethiopia-loses-national-treasures-to-the-northern-war
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ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
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A 16 metre long copy of a Book of the Dead from a site in Siaqqara (first such in a century!):
https://www.egyptindependent.com/intact-ancient-papyrus-scroll-uncovered-in-saqqara-the-first-in-a-century/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/archaeologists-uncover-52-foot-long-ancient-papyrus-intact-50-bce-1234654565/
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/01/archaeologists-discovered-a-new-papyrus-of-egyptian-book-of-the-dead/
https://arkeonews.net/egyptian-archaeologists-discovered-16-meters-long-ancient-papyrus-with-spells-from-the-book-of-the-dead/
Another crocodile find ... this time, ten 5th century BCE crocodile mummies from tombs at Qubbat al-Hawa:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-mummified-crocodiles-insights-mummy-making.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230118195848.htm
https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/356058/belgian-archaeologists-investigate-egyptian-tomb-containing-mummified-crocodiles
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-728450
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/18/science/mummified-crocodiles-egypt-tomb.html
https://uk.style.yahoo.com/spanish-archaeologists-discover-egyptian-crocodile-150903444.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/ancient-egyptian-tomb-uncovered-with-mummified-crocodiles/145977
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/20/egyptian-tomb-with-ten-crocodile-mummies-discovered%E2%80%AF/
cf: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279137
Excavations at the Faiyum Oasis necropolis have revealed a child buried with 142 dogs (date?):
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-729101
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/child-buried-with-142-dogs-in-ancient-egyptian-necropolis/145952
More on the recently-found 18th Dynasty (or so) apparently royal tomb find at Luxor:
https://www.livescience.com/ancient-egyptian-royal-tombs-discovered
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/484227/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/Royal-tomb-from-Thutmosid-period-discovered-on-Lux.aspx
https://menafn.com/1105431428/Egypt-Unveils-Ancient-Royal-Tomb-In-Luxor
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-728571
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ancient-egyptian-tomb-may-be-royal-female-from-rule-of-thutmosid-pharaohs-w707tqwdc
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/15/1149342572/ancient-egypt-royal-tomb-luxor-archeology
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11639559/Ancient-Egyptian-tomb-final-resting-place-QUEEN-princess-18th-Dynasty.html
https://jordantimes.com/news/region/egypt%C2%A0unveils-ancient-royal-tomb-luxor
https://www.rte.ie/news/newslens/2023/0115/1346856-egypt-ancient-royal-tomb/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/archaeologists-have-uncovered-a-new-royal-tomb-in-luxor-egypt-1234653890/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/royal-tomb-unearthed-in-luxor/145938
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/17/royal-tomb-discovery-reported-at-luxors-western-valleys/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11134-230118-luxor-royal-tomb
Restoration of a number of columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak is complete:
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/9/484551/Antiquities/In-Photos-A-group-of--columns-of-Karnak-Temples%E2%80%99-G.aspx
https://see.news/egypt-completes-restoration-of-37-columns-of-karnak-temple
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11141-230120-egypt-clean-columns
Another feature on Egypt wanting the return of the Rosetta Stone from the British Museum:
http://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/newswire/ownership-ancient-artifacts-debated-egyptians-seek-return-rosetta-stone-british-museum/
Feature on the large number of excavations currently underway led by Egyptian archaeologists :
https://cairoscene.com/Buzz/Egyptian-Archeologists-are-Leading-50-Excavations-Across-the-Country
Feature on literature in ancient Egypt:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/page-turners-literature-ancient-egypt
Feature/interview on a biography of George Reisner:
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/01/new-bio-explores-times-scholarship-of-egyptologist-george-reisner/
Remains of a 5000 years bp stoneware workshop at Jiroft:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480910/5000-year-old-stoneware-workshop-discovered-in-Jiroft
Evidence of a 3rd millennium BCE settlement site in northwestern Iran:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480990/Traces-of-millennia-old-town-discovered-in-northwest-Iran
A Sassanid-era petroglyph of a horseman from Marvdasht:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/481076/Sassanid-petroglyph-of-horseman-discovered-in-Marvdasht
Excavations at Seymarah have revealed finds ranging from the Parthian era to the early Islamic period:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480911/Seymareh-dig-uncovers-relics-dating-from-Parthian-to-early-Islamic
A pair of Amorite-Akkadian bilingual inscriptions found thirty years ago have (finally) been published:
https://www.haaretz.com/2023-01-20/00000185-ca23-d3a8-a3cf-cf3326430000
Feature on how Late Bronze Age kings dealt with rumours:
https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2023/01/kings-bronze-age-rumors
Feature on the 'Baghdad Battery':
https://www.iflscience.com/is-the-2-000-year-old-baghdad-battery-actually-a-battery-67119
A three-room Urartian tomb find from Ercis (Turkiye):
https://arkeonews.net/three-room-urartian-tomb-with-liquid-offering-area-libation-found-in-eastern-turkey/
The DAI is marking 25 years of research at Gobekli Tepe:
https://www.dainst.blog/the-tepe-telegrams/2023/01/16/over-twenty-five-years-of-research-at-gobekli-tepe/
Feature on Catalhoyuk:
https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/72954/catalhoyuk-discovering-one-of-the-worlds-oldest-cities
cf: https://www.cairn.info/revue-d-assyriologie-2022-1-page-113.htm
Feature on conserving ancient manuscripts in Iraq:
https://en.qantara.de/content/iraqs-cultural-heritage-iraqi-conservators-strive-to-preserve-ancient-manuscripts
A study of Middle Paleolithic hunting evidence from the Nahal Mahanayeem Outlet (Jordan):
https://www.newsweek.com/humans-surprising-technique-kill-giant-cows-60000-years-ago-1774183
cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X22004400
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-27321-5
Overview of the Beit Ras excavations, with a focus on glass production there:
https://jordantimes.com/news/local/beit-ras-excavations-offer-glimpse-ancient-glass-production
https://menafn.com/1105431389/Beit-Ras-Excavations-Offer-Glimpse-Into-Ancient-Glass-Production
Not sure if we mentioned this find of a Bar Kokhba revolt coin from the Nahal Darga Nature Reserve:
https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/01/19/archeologists-find-ancient-hebrew-coin-dated-to-jewish-rebellion-against-rome-year-two-of-the-freedom-of-israel/
1300 years bp Silk Road-connected textiles from trash deposits in the Aravah:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-728990
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-01-20/ty-article/archaeologists-find-exotic-imports-in-trash-pile-on-israeli-silk-road/00000185-cf51-d3a8-a3cf-cf712cf10000
https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/01/18/evidence-of-ancient-silk-road-found-in-israels-aravah/
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article271319217.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/material-evidence-of-silk-road-found-in-israel/145967
More on the find of 4000+ years bp ostrich eggs found next to a fire pit site in the Negev:
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/365972
https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2023/01/ancient-ostrich-eggs-in-the-negev/
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/ancient-ostrich-eggs-over-easy/
Israel's Techniion and the University of Haifa have launched a collaboration project:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-technion-u-of-haifa-announce-game-changing-microarchaeology-collaboration/
Feature on excavations in El-Araj:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/bas-onsite/digging-in-el-araj/
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:
https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/
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ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
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A DNA study suggests that at least one group in Minoan Crete was practicing endogamy/cousin marriage:
https://www.mpg.de/19726152/0110-evan-marriage-in-minoan-crete-150495-x
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-marriage-minoan-crete-revealed-ancient.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230116112549.htm
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/976292
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/16/europe/ancient-cousins-marriage-scli-intl-scn/index.html
https://www.thedailybeast.com/dont-blame-the-egyptians-for-this-ancient-greek-kink
https://news.yahoo.com/don-t-blame-egyptians-ancient-040140357.html
https://www.thenationalherald.com/family-ties-ancient-greeks-encouraged-first-cousins-to-marry/
https://www.iflscience.com/ancient-greeks-often-married-their-first-cousins-scientists-surprised-to-find-67099
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/study-using-archaeogenetics-reveals-news-insights-in-minoan-marriage/145941
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/17/marriage-in-minoan-crete/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11137-230119-greece-cousin-marriage
cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-022-01952-3
An Etruscan necropolis from Vetulonia (all coverage Italian):
https://www.ansa.it/toscana/notizie/2023/01/17/scoperta-necropoli-etrusca-vicino-a-vetulonia_1cc8b338-b77b-4cd0-bf84-4eea96499508.html
https://ilglobo.com/en/news/etruscan-necropolis-discovered-near-vetulonia-88495/
https://www.globalist.it/culture/2023/01/17/vetulonia-nuova-scoperta-archeologica/
Archaeo-spelologists found a 647 metre section of an Augustan aqueduct in Naples (Italian):
https://www.stilearte.it/archeo-speleologi-napoletani-trovano-un-lungo-tratto-647-metri-dellacquedotto-romano-daugusto/
Overview of recent finds from the site of Tenea:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/20/ancient-greek-settlement-tenea-discover-first-time/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/new-discoveries-at-lost-city-of-tenea/145995
Remains of a Gallo-Roman rural settlement site in Beziers:
https://www.inrap.fr/une-occupation-neolithique-et-un-etablissement-rural-gallo-romain-beziers-17014
More on the reopening of the House of the Vettii in Pompeii:
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/pompeii-reopens-house-of-vettii-penis-fresco-2243508
https://www.ntd.com/house-of-freed-slaves-restored-in-pompeii_894787.html
... and a related feature on Roman sexuality:
https://theconversation.com/pompeiis-house-of-the-vettii-reopens-a-reminder-that-roman-sexuality-was-far-more-complex-than-simply-gay-or-straight-197978
More on the reasons for the durability of Roman concrete:
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/chemists-long-lasting-roman-concrete
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-reason-why-2-000-year-old-roman-concrete-is-still-so-strong
https://www.openculture.com/2023/01/the-mystery-finally-solved-why-has-roman-concrete-been-so-durable.html
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ancient-roman-concrete-has-self-healing-capabilities/
More on the identification of a Temple of Poseidon at Samikon:
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1202508/structure-believed-to-be-long-lost-temple-to-poseidon-unearthed-in-peloponnese/
https://hyperallergic.com/793898/archaeologists-find-possible-remains-of-temple-of-poseidon/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/16/mainz-university-contributes-to-recent-discovery-of-the-temple-of-poseidon/
More on Hipparchus' Star Catalog:
https://www.rit.edu/science/news/rit-scientists-help-rediscover-earliest-known-star-map-using-multispectral-imaging
More on finds from the Colosseum drains:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/archaeological-treasures-hide-beneath-the-colosseum
More on coins of Sponsian:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/emperor-sponsian-coins
More on the remains found during Thessaloniki Metro construction of the past years:
https://arkeonews.net/ancient-ruins-hidden-under-thessaloniki-metro-revealed/
More on the San Casciano dei Bagni bronzes:
https://the-past.com/news/spectacular-bronzes-found-in-italy/
Feature/hyping the Alma Mater Studiorum of Unibo working at Thuburbo Maius in Tunisia:
https://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2023/01/20/archaeology-bologna-alma-mater-at-work-in-tunisia_69ad5db0-47b0-4c02-bab1-dd029c0ae2ae.html
Greece is planning to protect the site of Poltinopoli:
https://news.gtp.gr/2023/01/13/greece-to-highlight-archaeological-site-of-plotinopoli-in-evros-with-mild-interventions/
A UCL project studying interactions between Greece and Egypt from prehistory to the Byzantine era:
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/16/greece-in-egypt-and-egypt-in-greece-from-homer-to-rome-and-byzantium/
Joel Christensen on ancient reunions:
https://www.brandeis.edu/now/2023/january/reunions-ancient-greece-christensen.html
https://www.ekathimerini.com/society/1202349/reunions-can-be-nostalgic-and-painful-as-well-as-happy-as-the-ancient-greek-heroes-achilles-and-odysseus-show-us/
Jane Draycott on Cleopatra Selene:
https://aeon.co/essays/there-was-another-more-successful-queen-cleopatra
Review of Christopher Beckwith, *The Scythian Empire*;
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-scythian-empire-book-review-history-the-riders-from-the-steppe-11674233967
Feature on Madeline Miller's myth retellings:
https://www.ubyssey.ca/culture/the-echo-of-modern-world-in-madeline-millers-greek-mythology-inspired-stories/
Feature on A.E. Stallings' poetry:
https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/ae-stallings-afterlife-poems/
Feature on the enduring attraction of Classics:
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/2023/01/18/why-the-classical-world-still-grips-the-contemporary-imagination/
Feature on food and sex in Greek literature:
https://neoskosmos.com/en/2023/01/21/dialogue/ancient-greece/diatribe-on-lionesses-and-cheesegraters-1/
Review of Graver and Long, *Fifty Letters of a Roman Stoic*:
https://dartreview.com/seneca-in-short-professor-margaret-gravers-50-letters-of-a-roman-stoic/
Review of Peter Stothard, *Crassus: The First Tycoon*:
https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2023/02/06/crassus-not-the-noblest-roman-of-them-all/
Feature on a possible Etruscan wine-making site found a couple decades ago in Tuscany:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/ancient-etruscan-wine
Feature on the Domus Aurea:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ancient-roman-concrete-has-self-healing-capabilities/
Feature on the death of Cleopatra:
https://www.iflscience.com/how-did-cleopatra-die-the-queen-of-egypt-s-death-still-mystifies-67160
Feature on Plato's Timaeus:
https://www.thecollector.com/plato-timaeus-how-was-the-cosmos-created/
Feature on Plato's Theaetetus:
https://www.thecollector.com/plato-theaetetus-what-is-knowledge/
A virtual tour of Ancient Athens:
https://www.openculture.com/2023/01/a-virtual-tour-of-ancient-athens-fly-over-classical-greek-civilization-in-all-its-glory.html
In regards to the Parthenon Sculptures, we read this week of 'secret talks' going on:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/17/arts/design/parthenon-sculptures-elgin-marbles-negotiations.html
https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-124/Odd-Bizarre/After-220-years-the-fate-of-the-parthenon-marbles-rests-in-secret-talks-26512
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art/2023/01/19/elgin-marbles-greece-and-british-museum-in-secret-talks-to-decide-fate-of-parthenon-sculptures/
https://www.thenationalherald.com/the-new-york-times-shines-light-on-the-marbles/
... and of a 20-year loan agreement proposal:
https://www.thenationalherald.com/greece-talked-20-year-parthenon-marbles-loan-from-british-museum/
... and more OpEds from various viewpoints:
https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/greek-elgin-marbles-must-stay-uk-b1054504.html
https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/elgin-marbles-back-to-athens/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/14/british-museum-loses-marbles-nationalism-triumphs-humanitys/
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:
http://romanarc.blogspot.com/
Rogueclassicism:
http://rogueclassicism.com/
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EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
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Evidence of a Mesolithic settlement site from North Yorkshire:
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/stone-age-hunter-gatherers-in-britain/
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-archaeologists-stone-age-hunter-gatherers-britain.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j89q8eye3o
https://www1.chester.ac.uk/news/archaeologists-shed-light-lives-stone-age-hunter-gatherers-britain
https://arkeonews.net/10500-year-old-stone-age-hunter-gatherer-settlement-found-in-england/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/preserved-10500-year-old-stone-age-hunter-gatherer-settlement-discovered/145983
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11140-230120-england-mesolithic-wetlands
A study of evidence for violence and warfare in Neolithic communities of Northwest Europe:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-violence-widespread-early-farming-society.html
A study of Bronze Age Balearic Islanders' eating and social habits:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-bronze-age-social-habits-balearic.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11139-230119-menorca-egalitarian-diet
2000 years bp waterlogged wooden remains (including a ladder) from a highway construction site in Bedfordshire:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66232
https://www.stilearte.it/una-scala-di-legno-di-2000-anni-fa-trovata-in-un-pozzo-scoperto-durante-lavori-stradali/
https://www.archeomedia.net/gran-bretagna-una-scala-di-legno-di-2000-anni-fa-trovata-in-un-pozzo-scoperto-durante-lavori-stradali/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/excavations-reveal-waterlogged-remains-from-iron-age/145990
1800+ years bp runestone find from near Oslo:
https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology-language-runes/worlds-oldest-rune-stone-found-in-norway-archaeologists-believe/2141404
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-world-oldest-runestone-norway.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/17/worlds-oldest-runestone-found-in-norway-archaeologists-say
https://apnews.com/article/norway-oslo-31524a0dbb0405b08fb2fba6ffafdfaa
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-18/norway-runestone-discovered-archaeological-find-2000-years-old/101866640
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-729204
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/norway-archaeologists-find-worlds-oldest-runestone-rcna66066
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/norway-archaeologists-find-worlds-oldest-runestone-96476413
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/archaeologists-in-norway-find-worlds-oldest-runestone
https://www.dw.com/en/archaeologists-find-worlds-oldest-runestone-in-norway/a-64427741
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/archaelogy-news-norway-worlds-oldest-rune-stone-1234654100/
https://arkeonews.net/worlds-oldest-dated-rune-stone-found-in-norway/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/norway-worlds-oldest-runestone-early-runic-writing-2244113
https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/archaeologists-in-scandinavia-find-worlds-oldest-runestone/
https://www.sciencealert.com/worlds-oldest-runestone-uncovered-in-norway-spells-out-a-mysterious-word
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66187
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https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sensational-runestone-discovered-in-norway-may-be-the-worlds-oldest-180981470/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/newly-discovered-norwegian-runes-might-contain-a-medieval-joke-180979381/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11138-230119-norway-runestone
Carbon dating has pushed the founding of Gdansk back to ca 930 CE:
https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C94792%2Carchaeological-discovery-pushes-founding-date-gdansk-60-years-back.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11131-230117-poland-gdansk-foundation
Latest HS2-related finds seems to be evidence of Civil War damage at Coleshill Manor (this will be on Digging for Britain):
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/21/coleshill-towers-remains-history-english-civil-war
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-64348115
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/hs2-civil-war-discovery-pistol-b2266561.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/21/first-shots-fired-english-civil-war-unearthed-archaeologists/
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/hs2-archaeologists-find-scars-early-26037168
https://www.warwickshireworld.com/heritage-and-retro/retro/video-hs2-archaeologists-uncover-scars-of-early-civil-war-battle-in-warwickshire-3995999
Mapping Iron Age tunnels in Scotland:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/scotland-tunnels-highlands-laser-b2265294.html
https://www.wired.com/story/laser-scanning-tunnels/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/lasers-are-mapping-scotlands-subterranean-iron-age-structures/145958
cf: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12520-022-01707-y
An Iron Age farmstead site in Newsham:
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/archaelogical-dig-northumberland-line-newsham-25974268
Finds from various periods at a construction site in Gap (France):
https://www.inrap.fr/paysage-ancien-et-industrie-moderne-gap-hautes-alpes-17006
More on the 7000 years bp mass burial of decapitated people from Slovakia:
https://www.jpost.com/science/article-728609
https://news.am/eng/news/739667.html
https://www.iflscience.com/a-massacre-or-something-stranger-37-headless-skeletons-raise-questions-67104
https://arkeonews.net/headless-skeletons-discovered-in-prehistoric-mass-grave/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/16/headless-skeletons-in-a-settlement-trench-a-7000-year-old-mass-grave/
More on the 3000 years bp ritual well from Germany:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/3000-year-old-wishing-well-unearthed-in-germany-1234654281/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-3000-year-old-wishing-well-in-germany-180981428/
More on the 'princely Hun' burial from Romania:
https://www.livescience.com/princely-tomb-hun-warrior-romania
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/warriors-tomb-discovered-romania-expressway-construction-1234654522/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11135-230119-romania-princely-tomb
More on the current dig at Sheffield Castle:
https://the-past.com/news/history-of-sheffield-castle-foundations-revealed-by-archaeologists/
More on the 'Harpole treasure' found in Northamptonshire:
https://the-past.com/news/remarkable-early-medieval-burial-found-in-northamptonshire/
More on 'cave writing' on ancient petroglyphs:
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149135787/amateur-archaeologist-deciphers-20-000-year-old-cave-writing
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/ancient-humans-first-written-words-are-20-000-years-old
In case you missed the neutron imaging of a 900 yeas bp pendant from Germany:
https://www.livescience.com/medieval-pendant-relics-neutron-imaging
Arguing over preserving a 1901 bridge in Prague:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/21/like-knocking-down-the-eiffel-tower-battle-to-save-historic-prague-bridge
Three finds from various periods found by detectorists in Shropshire have been declared treasure:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-64339535
https://www.shropshirelive.com/news/2023/01/20/three-finds-discovered-by-shropshire-detectorists-declared-treasure/
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/bridgnorth/2023/01/19/incredible-bronze-age-gold-ring-a-part-of-a-roman-amulet-case-and-a-medieval-gold-ring-all-declared-treasure-at-shropshire-inquests/
Feature on the project to rebuild the Newport Ship:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64151535
https://www.iflscience.com/how-archaeologists-will-rebuild-the-newport-ship-and-solve-the-world-s-largest-3d-puzzle-67176
Feature on ram-shaped gravestones in Georgia:
https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/gravestones-caucasus/
Feature on the Mount Keeffe Chalice:
https://www.independent.ie/regionals/corkman/news/valuable-north-cork-chalice-from-16th-century-held-far-from-home-in-a-british-museum-42296754.html
Feature on the Red lady of Paviland:
https://theconversation.com/red-lady-of-paviland-the-story-of-a-33-000-year-old-skeleton-and-the-calls-for-it-to-return-to-wales-197204
Feature on Britain's 'greatest' archaeological discoveries:
https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/britains-greatest-archaeological-discoveries/
----------
Archaeology in Europe News:
http://archaeology-in-europe.blogspot.com/
Medievalists.net:
https://www.medievalists.net/category/news/
Viking Archaeology Blog:
http://viking-archaeology-blog.blogspot.com/
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ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
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40 000 years bp evidence of human activity from a site in Ziyang City (Sichuan):
https://english.news.cn/20230115/1d4270ab8579412f97fb31caa2216995/c.html
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202301/17/WS63c5e7aba31057c47eba9f6e.html
https://eng.belta.by/partner_news/view/new-evidence-of-prehistoric-human-activity-found-in-southwest-china-155990-2023/
https://www.gulf-times.com/article/653420/international/china/new-evidence-of-prehistoric-human-activity-found-in-southwest-china
21 royal Han burials from Hunan:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66178
Remains of 240 royal storehouses dating to the Northern Wei Dynasty in a plaace site in Luoyang city:
http://en.people.cn/n3/2023/0119/c90000-10198333.html
43 burials spanning four dynasties from the Dongsanlingzi Tombs excavations:
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article271334477.html
Feature on China's rewriting of Tibetan history:
https://bitterwinter.org/zhangzhung-how-china-reinvents-tibetan-history/
Overview of a ANA and UHawaii dig at Angkor Wat:
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ana-university-hawaii-wrap-archaeology-dig
... while restoration of a causeway at Angkor Wat is almost complete:
https://cne.wtf/2023/01/21/restoration-of-angkor-wat-causeway-almost-complete/
Connecting Qing dynasty isolationism to modern China:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/16/what-the-isolationist-qing-dynasty-tells-us-about-xi-jinpings-china
A possible 11th/12th century CE Shiva lingam from Aarey:
https://www.mid-day.com/amp/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-shiv-lingam-found-inside-aarey-could-be-from-11th-or-12th-century-ce-says-asi-23266156
Mughal era coins and other finds from Bazar-Navagaon:
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/state-editions/mughal-period-coins--antiquities-found.html
Revising the history of Calicut:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-tale-cities-history-calicut-wrong.html
cf: https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/n10694/pdf/03_nunn_kumar.pdf
On the 'Scythian' or whatever it is culture revealed by Russian archaeologists a couple weeks ago:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/did-russian-archaeologists-really-discover-a-new-ancient-culture
https://news.yahoo.com/did-russian-archaeologists-really-discover-095028323.html
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/kurgan-tomb-siberia-clues-unknown-scythian-culture-2242729
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NORTH AMERICA
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An NSF grant to study Cahokia:
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/977016
https://www.wshu.org/2023-01-17/ct-archeologist-to-unearth-mysteries-buried-at-cahokia-a-massive-midwestern-indigenous-city
https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2023-01-17/ct-archeologist-to-unearth-mysteries-buried-at-cahokia-a-massive-midwestern-indigenous-city
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/19/archaeologist-awarded-nsf-grant-to-study-prehistoric-city-creation/
... and one to study hurricane-damaged sites in Florida:
https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/archaeologists-awarded-nsf-grant-survey-hurricane-damaged-heritage-sites/
Account of a Brown dig at a 19th-century Providence family residence:
https://www.brown.edu/news/2022-12-20/archaeology
Introductory sort of thing on a dig happening in Charlottesville (Va):
https://www.cbs19news.com/story/48178584/archaeological-dig-begins-on-the-site-for-court-renovation-project-possibility-of-grave-discovery
The Elam Ives House in Hamden was saved and is undergoing restoration:
https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Hamden-Elam-Ives-house-to-be-restored-17723564.php
Feature on Isaac Shelby:
https://news.coinupdate.com/from-the-colonels-desk-isaac-shelby-the-man-the-medal-the-mysteries/
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CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
2000 years bp Zapotec murals depicting warfare from tombs in southern Mexico:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/archaeologists-unearth-colourful-pre-hispanic-tombs-with-striking-murals-dated-2000-years-from-mexico/articleshow/97157889.cms?from=mdr
A study of the Maya obsidian market in Guatemala:
https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2023/01/05/new-study-suggests-mayas-utilized-market-based-economics/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11129-230117-guatemala-maya-obsidian
A pre-construction survey of a pipeline site in southern Mexico reveal a possible Maya settlement site:
https://www.inah.gob.mx/boletines/par-de-plataformas-da-cuenta-de-un-sitio-maya-que-no-figuraba-en-el-atlas-arqueologico-de-tabasco
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11130-230118-mexico-maya-platforms
A recently-excavated statue of Xipe Toltec has gone on display at the Templo Mayor:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66147
Another theory on the purpose of the Nazca lines:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/study-solves-mystery-of-the-nazca-lines/145948
I think we mentioned that LiDAR has revealed some 964 pre-Hispanic Maya settlement sites in northern Guatemala:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lasers-reveal-massive-650-square-mile-maya-site-hidden-beneath-guatemalan-rainforest/
https://www.laprensalatina.com/964-mayan-ruins-discovered-beneath-guatemalan-rainforest/
INAH is working to conserve petroglyphs at the Kawa Siski cave:
https://www.inah.gob.mx/boletines/inicia-salvaguarda-de-las-pinturas-rupestres-de-la-cueva-kawa-sisiki-en-la-mixteca-de-la-montana-alta-de-guerrero
More on the alignment of Olmec sites to the 260 day calendar:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earliest-evidence-of-260-day-calendar-use-found-in-mexico-180981399/
Feature on the Cantona site:
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/travel/cantona-an-impressive-but-underrated-archaeological-site/
-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:
http://goo.gl/1VdeA
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas lecture channels on Youtube:
https://mikeruggerisyoutube.tumblr.com/
Ancient MesoAmerica News:
http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
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OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
============================================================
Study suggests rats might not have played such a critical role in plague perseverance:
https://theconversation.com/the-black-death-may-not-have-been-spread-by-rats-after-all-196521
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-black-death-rats.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230119112819.htm
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/20/understanding-the-elusive-origins-of-the-black-death/
cf: https://www.pnas.org/doi/pdf/10.1073/pnas.2209816119
A sword in Chicago's Field museum once considered a replica is now considered authentic:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66223
https://www.cnet.com/science/replica-sword-turns-out-to-be-the-real-3000-year-old-deal/
https://arkeonews.net/the-sword-thought-to-be-a-replica-turned-out-to-be-an-authentic-3000-year-old-bronze-age-sword/
Feature on Matisse's The Dance:
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230118-matisses-the-dance-the-masterpiece-that-changed-history
The previous owner of the Voynich Manuscript has been revealed:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66173
Plans to preserve some of Alexander Graham Bell's experimental recordings:
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/16/alexander-graham-bells-experimental-sound-recordings-to-be-preserved/
Feature on Isaac Newton's use of Greek:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/19/isaac-newton-manuscripts-greek/
Feature on the 'Slave Bible':
https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-slave-bible-for-slavery-or-salvation
Feature on how Hebrew came to be written right to left:
https://mosaicmagazine.com/observation/history-ideas/2023/01/how-hebrew-came-to-be-written-from-right-to-left/
Feature on the Crystal Skulls:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/the-truth-behind-the-crystal-skulls/145970
Feature on the use of 'bioweapons' by various ancient cultures:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/ancient-empires-used-bioweapons-to-strike-terror-more-than-3-000-years-ago
Feature on 'filthy place names' in the UK:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/21/next-stop-twatt-my-tour-of-britains-fantastically-filthy-placenames
Another feature on historical 'scent':
https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/the-smell-of-history/4016790.article
Interesting photo of samurai in front of the Sphinx of Giza:
https://www.iflscience.com/why-dozens-of-samurai-took-a-photo-in-front-of-egypt-s-sphinx-in-1864-67144
A rare lead compound discovered in The Night Watch:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-unusual-compound-rembrandt-night.html
Scientists have figured out 'Leonardo's Paradox':
https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ad9eb/a-500-year-old-paradox-by-leonardo-da-vinci-has-finally-been-solved-study-says
cf: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202216478
Pondering why humans live where it's cold:
https://theconversation.com/most-humans-havent-evolved-to-cope-with-the-cold-yet-we-dominate-northern-climates-heres-why-195621
In case you're in the market for a medieval Swedish castle:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2023/01/20/a-stellar-swedish-castle-once-a-medieval-power-center-comes-to-market/?sh=2db3b9392eda
More on the Van Gogh at the DIA:
https://apnews.com/article/legal-proceedings-detroit-institute-of-arts-brazil-4b431349025d9a400d8cb1ac4a3fa1d2
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/arts/2023/01/16/detroit-museum-van-gogh-painting-mysterious-past-immune-seizure-dia/69812505007/
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/arts/2023/01/18/dia-misguided-in-fight-over-stolen-van-gogh-in-detroit-lawyer-says/69819904007/
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CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
In case you missed the controversy/firing at a Minnesota university over a prof's showing a depiction of Muhammad:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/minnesota-university-fire-professors-dismissal-showing-images-prophet-rcna65881?
Plans to change the name of the Thames River in Connecticut to the Pequot River:
https://www.middletownpress.com/politics/article/CT-Thames-River-Mashantucket-Pequot-17723763.php#ld2mg57plkts4rin82
https://abcnews.go.com/US/indigenous-tribes-restored-connecticut-river-proposed-bill/story?id=96567103
Review of Nicolai Petro, *the Tragedy of Ukraine*:
https://natyliesbaldwin.com/2023/01/review-of-nicolai-petros-the-tragedy-of-ukraine/
... and a column by the author:
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/the-tragedy-of-ukraine/
Feature on abortion in the mid-19th century US:
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/19/1149924325/abortion-was-once-common-practice-in-america-a-small-group-of-doctors-changed-th
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ANIMAL AND PLANT DOMESTICATIONS
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On the importance/role of donkeys in human history:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230116-how-donkeys-changed-the-course-of-human-history
cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X21004624
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MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
Islanders: The Making of the Mediterranean:
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/artefacts-from-ancient-mediterranean-civilisation-on-show-for-first-time-in-uk-42289107.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/fitzwilliam-museum-mediterranean-cambridge-university-of-cambridge-cagliari-b2262817.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/20/islanders-the-making-of-the-mediterranean/
Quantity and Quality (Greek Terracottas):
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/17/quantity-and-quality-the-world-of-greek-terracottas/
Cy Twombly:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/01/14/cy-twombly-mfa-boston/
Dressing the Georgians:
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/jan/16/dressing-the-georgians-exhibition-explores-pivotal-moment-fashion
Vermeer:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66203
Tutankhamun:
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tutankhamuns-treasures-on-show-in-istanbul-180242
Garden of Civilization:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/20/symbols-iraqi-civilisation-basrah-museum
Hyping the impending opening of the Iznik Archaeology Museum:
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/iznik-archaeology-museum-reveals-2500-year-old-love-letter/news
https://arkeonews.net/iznik-archaeology-museum-reveals-2500-year-old-love-letter/
Feature on how many Greek artifacts the British Museum holds and has on display:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/16/british-museum-holds-108184-greek-artefacts-of-which-only-6493-are-even-on-display/
The Sudan National Museum is close to reopening:
https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-national-museum-prepares-for-reopening-after-transfer-of-its-main-statue
Jerusalem's Armenian Museum has reopened:
https://apnews.com/article/homicide-jerusalem-education-genocide-f4c6c9b8af5d1102a0279a0563563b29
The Hunterian is removing the skeleton of the 'Irish Giant' from display:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/21/world/europe/charles-byrne-irish-giant-museum.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66198
The Odessa Museum is keeping some items which were being smuggled out ot the country:
https://odessa-journal.com/the-odessa-archaeological-museum-received-treasures-that-were-tried-to-be-illegally-exported-abroad/
Feature on some 'essential' works at the Met:
https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/artists/what-to-see-metropolitan-museum-of-art-new-york-1234651202/
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is being sued over a Nazi-looted drawing:
https://www.independent.com/2023/01/17/santa-barbara-museum-of-art-sued-over-nazi-looted-drawing/
Pollock's Toy Museum is closing:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/19/uks-oldest-toy-museum-announces-closure-sending-thousands-of-antique-toys-into-storage
The British Museum is rethinking its use of the term 'mummy':
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11661057/British-Museum-bans-word-MUMMY-respect-3-000-year-old-dead.html
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AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
============================================================
Some paintings by Queen Victoria are coming to auction:
https://news.artnet.com/market/queen-victoria-floral-paintings-hansons-auctioneers-2244149
Newton's personal copy of Opticks is coming to auction:
https://www.livescience.com/personal-copy-newtons-opticks-found
Big bucks for a gold Roman medallion:
https://www.numismaticnews.net/world-coins/massive-roman-gold-medallion-sells-for-record-2-3-million
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ON THE DNA FRONT
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A DNA-based study of mobility of Anatolian and Levantine populations in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-isotope-ancient-dna-analysis-mobility.html
cf: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2210611120
DNA suggests Asian hunter-gathers covered a wide range and went back and forth across the Bering Land Bridge:
https://www.livescience.com/previously-unknown-hunter-gatherers-siberia
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/19/high-mobility-of-ancient-hunter-gatherers-7500-years-ago/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11133-230118-prehistoric-gene-flow
A study of the African origins of a group of enslaved persons from a South Carolina cemetery:
https://www.livescience.com/genetics-reveal-enslaved-people-origins
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11132-230117-colonial-enslavement-cemetery
Using DNA to identify a WWI Canadian soldier:
https://www.villagereport.ca/national-news/dna-and-a-decade-of-work-identify-canadian-soldier-106-years-after-death-in-france-6386459
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THE TECHY SIDE
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China is working on recreating the appearance of a Neanderthal boy (no photo!):
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202301/1283984.shtml
An Egyptian sarcophagus from a Cambridge museum went through the CT scanner:
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-01-21/what-happens-when-you-put-an-ancient-egyptian-mummy-coffin-into-a-ct-scanner
More on the facial recreation of one of the Jericho skulls:
https://www.livescience.com/jericho-skull-facial-approximation
https://www.timesofisrael.com/9000-year-old-jericho-skull-gets-virtual-facelift-using-plastic-surgery-techniques/
... and of Rameses II:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-728647
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CLIMATE MATTERS
============================================================
On the role of climate change in the rise and fall of Persian empires:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-climate-impacted-fall-middle-eastern.html
cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379122004863
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TOURISTY THINGS
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Roman Colchester:
https://www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-about/colchester-essex-the-purpose-built-capital-city-of-roman-britain-251483
Tamil Nadu:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/gangaikondacholapuram-southern-india-chola-dynasty-ponniyin-selvan-1
Dresden:
https://www.dw.com/en/dresden-top-travel-destination-for-2023/g-38189936
Political protests have closed Machu Picchu:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-64360531
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-machu-picchu-closed-peru-protests/
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/peru-shuts-down-machu-picchu-as-political-unrest-spreads-across-country
https://www.smh.com.au/world/south-america/machu-picchu-and-inca-trail-closed-indefinitely-due-to-peru-protests-20230122-p5ceiq.html
============================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
============================================================
Study suggests Beethoven's Elise never really existed:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/22/beethovens-fur-elise-historian-concludes-she-never-existedus-elise-historian-concludes-she-never-existed
============================================================
TV/DOCUMENTARY HYPISH THINGS
============================================================
Hyping decapitated burials (Roman/Iron Age) from Wintringham to be shown on Digging for Britain:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64358866
https://news.yahoo.com/roman-headless-remains-found-wintringham-122358065.html
... and in another episode, an Iron Age shield from Everards:
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/bbcs-digging-britain-feature-iron-8009521
============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
Paintings stolen in a Colorado art heist a few weeks ago have been recovered:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/17/police-recover-paintings-boulder-colorado-art-heist
Egypt has reduced the sentence against a businessman accused of trafficking antiquities:
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/1/484593/Egypt/Egypt-court-reduces-sentences-against-businessman,.aspx
A former museum director in Jordan was imprisoned for counterfeiting ancient coins:
https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-109/News/Ex-museum-director-sentenced-to-prison-for-counterfeiting-antique-coins-26550
----------
conflict antiquities:
http://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/
anonymous swiss collector:
http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/
Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues:
http://paul-barford.blogspot.ca/
Looting Matters:
http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/
Illicit Cultural Property:
http://illicit-cultural-property.blogspot.com/
SAFE:
http://www.savingantiquities.org/blog/
============================================================
REPATRIATION AND RECOVERY
============================================================
Bulgarian customs agents returned 3000 or so ancient coins to Turkiye:
https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/387325
https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/387827-bulgarian-customs-agency-hands-over-to-turkiye-2-940-antique-coins-rescued-from-
Glasgow Life Museums returned seven items to India:
https://advisor.museumsandheritage.com/news/seven-artefacts-returned-india-glasgow-life-museums/
Amiens wants Madonna to lend/return a painting in her possession:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64321278
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/madonna-painting-amiens/index.html
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/State-Museum-UAlbany-repatriate-Native-American-17711392.php
https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/amiens-la-maire-supplie-madonna-en-video-pour-recuperer-le-mysterieux-tableau-disparu-20230116
German museums have no plans to return the bust of Nefertiti or the Pergamon Altar:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/20/no-plans-to-return-berlins-star-museum-attractions-nefertiti-and-pergamon-altar-german-official-says
A Maori group is seeking the return of artifacts sold at Sotheby's:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/maori-tribe-sothebys-requests-return-short-clubs-1234653484/
An artist has proposed a 'treasure swap' of an Assyrian lamassu to the British Museum:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/20/british-museum-artist-assyrian-return-iraq-michael-rakowitz
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/michael-rakowitz-donation-exchange-british-museum-assyrian-artifact-return-iraq-1234654468/
On pesticides on artifacts returned from Germany:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/17/toxic-dilemma-german-museums-repatriating-artefacts-pesticides-objects-contaminated
The University of Albany will be retuning a large number of human remains and funerary objects to some Native American peoples:
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/State-Museum-UAlbany-repatriate-Native-American-17711392.php
University of Tennessee is failing to return Native American human remains:
https://wpln.org/post/the-university-of-tennessee-is-among-americas-largest-collections-failing-to-return-native-american-human-remains/
... see also:
https://www.propublica.org/article/repatriation-nagpra-museums-human-remains
OpEd on the Benin Bronzes returns:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/08/the-guardian-view-on-the-benin-bronzes-leading-the-way-home
OpEd on who owns historical patrimony:
https://spectator.org/who-owns-historys-patrimony-not-murderous-politicians-and-incompetent-governments/
Pondering why nations reclaim artifacts:
https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/what-is-it-that-causes-nations-to-start-reclaiming-their-national-treasures/article66345436.ece
More on the US return of an artifact to the Palestinian Authority:
https://hyperallergic.com/792666/us-returns-palestinian-cultural-object-for-the-first-time/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/09/us-officials-returns-stolen-antiquity-to-palestine/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/09/us-returns-stolen-artefact-to-palestine-as-part-of-investigation-into-new-york-collector-michael-steinhardt
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-first-time-ever-us-returns-looted-artifact-to-palestine-180981409/
============================================================
NUMISMATICA
============================================================
A spelling mistake on a Victorian silver coin:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64186767
Latest e-Sylum:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n03.html
... and the one which should appear later today:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n04.html
------------------------
Coin Week:
http://www.coinweek.com/
============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
George Huxley:
https://classicalassociationni.wordpress.com/2023/01/22/professor-george-l-huxley-obituary/
Susann Palmer:
https://dorseteye.com/renowned-dorset-archaeologist-dies-aged-ninety-nine/
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23258769.obituary-susann-palmer-portland/
Wayne A. Meeks:
https://divinity.yale.edu/news/wayne-meeks-1932-2023
Joan O'Brien:
https://thesouthern.com/news/local/obituaries/joan-v-obrien/article_f63ef1cb-3a11-56ee-8592-3b089e31ecc6.html
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thesouthern/name/joan-o-brien-obituary?id=38713971
============================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
============================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:
[the site had security issues this morning]
============================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS
============================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:
http://www.archaeology.org/news/
About.com Archaeology:
http://archaeology.about.com/
Archaeology Briefs:
http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/
Atlas Obscura:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/
Heritage Daily:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/
Sapiens Archaeology:
https://www.sapiens.org/category/archaeology/
Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:
http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/
============================================================
PODCASTS/VODCASTS
============================================================
Archaeosoup:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Archaeos0up?feature=watch
Archaeology Podcast Network:
http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/
============================================================
EXPLORATOR is a free weekly newsletter bringing you the latest
news of archaeological finds, historical research and the like.
Various on-line news and magazine sources are scoured for news of
the 'ancient world' (broadly construed: practically anything relating
to archaeology or history up to a century or so ago is fair
game) and every Sunday they are delivered to your mailbox free of
charge!
============================================================
Useful Addresses
============================================================
You can read Explorator online at:
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Past issues of Explorator are also available on the web via our
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To subscribe to Explorator, send a blank email message to:
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===========================================================
Explorator is Copyright (c) 2023 David Meadows. Feel free to
distribute these listings via email to your pals, students,
teachers, etc., but please include this copyright notice. These
links are not to be posted to any website by any means (whether
by direct posting or snagging from a usenet group or some other
email source) without my express written permission. I think it
is only right that I be made aware of public fora which are
making use of content gathered in Explorator. Thanks!
===========================================================
explorator 25.40 January 22, 2023
===========================================================
You can read explorator online at:
https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/
Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,
John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Hernan Astudillo,
Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).
============================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
I think we mentioned this redating of hominin footprints in Spain to 295 800 years bp:
https://the-past.com/news/hominin-footprints-in-spain/
Trying to figure out the diet of homo erectus from tooth analysis:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-early-humans-tooth-enamel-reveals.html
Another tooth study compared Neanderthal and homo antecessor teeth:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-neanderthals-species-dentition-characterized-thin.html
cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-022-01947-0
Climate change apparently didn't affect Neanderthal hunting strategies at the Cobe-Grenal (France) site:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-neanderthal-site-combe-grenal-france-strategies.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230118195840.htm
Study/feature on artistic abilities of Neanderthals:
https://theconversation.com/neanderthals-the-oldest-art-in-the-world-wasnt-made-by-homo-sapiens-194113
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-neanderthals-oldest-art-world-wasnt.html
Not sure where to put this item on the role of altruism in human development:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/16/altruism-towards-other-species-may-have-helped-humans-thrive-study-finds
cf: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/hai.2023.0001
============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
War-related concerns for Ethiopian antiquities:
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/ethiopia-loses-national-treasures-to-the-northern-war
============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
============================================================
A 16 metre long copy of a Book of the Dead from a site in Siaqqara (first such in a century!):
https://www.egyptindependent.com/intact-ancient-papyrus-scroll-uncovered-in-saqqara-the-first-in-a-century/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/archaeologists-uncover-52-foot-long-ancient-papyrus-intact-50-bce-1234654565/
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/01/archaeologists-discovered-a-new-papyrus-of-egyptian-book-of-the-dead/
https://arkeonews.net/egyptian-archaeologists-discovered-16-meters-long-ancient-papyrus-with-spells-from-the-book-of-the-dead/
Another crocodile find ... this time, ten 5th century BCE crocodile mummies from tombs at Qubbat al-Hawa:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-mummified-crocodiles-insights-mummy-making.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230118195848.htm
https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/356058/belgian-archaeologists-investigate-egyptian-tomb-containing-mummified-crocodiles
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-728450
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/18/science/mummified-crocodiles-egypt-tomb.html
https://uk.style.yahoo.com/spanish-archaeologists-discover-egyptian-crocodile-150903444.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/ancient-egyptian-tomb-uncovered-with-mummified-crocodiles/145977
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/20/egyptian-tomb-with-ten-crocodile-mummies-discovered%E2%80%AF/
cf: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279137
Excavations at the Faiyum Oasis necropolis have revealed a child buried with 142 dogs (date?):
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-729101
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/child-buried-with-142-dogs-in-ancient-egyptian-necropolis/145952
More on the recently-found 18th Dynasty (or so) apparently royal tomb find at Luxor:
https://www.livescience.com/ancient-egyptian-royal-tombs-discovered
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/484227/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/Royal-tomb-from-Thutmosid-period-discovered-on-Lux.aspx
https://menafn.com/1105431428/Egypt-Unveils-Ancient-Royal-Tomb-In-Luxor
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-728571
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ancient-egyptian-tomb-may-be-royal-female-from-rule-of-thutmosid-pharaohs-w707tqwdc
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/15/1149342572/ancient-egypt-royal-tomb-luxor-archeology
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11639559/Ancient-Egyptian-tomb-final-resting-place-QUEEN-princess-18th-Dynasty.html
https://jordantimes.com/news/region/egypt%C2%A0unveils-ancient-royal-tomb-luxor
https://www.rte.ie/news/newslens/2023/0115/1346856-egypt-ancient-royal-tomb/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/archaeologists-have-uncovered-a-new-royal-tomb-in-luxor-egypt-1234653890/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/royal-tomb-unearthed-in-luxor/145938
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/17/royal-tomb-discovery-reported-at-luxors-western-valleys/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11134-230118-luxor-royal-tomb
Restoration of a number of columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak is complete:
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/9/484551/Antiquities/In-Photos-A-group-of--columns-of-Karnak-Temples%E2%80%99-G.aspx
https://see.news/egypt-completes-restoration-of-37-columns-of-karnak-temple
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11141-230120-egypt-clean-columns
Another feature on Egypt wanting the return of the Rosetta Stone from the British Museum:
http://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/newswire/ownership-ancient-artifacts-debated-egyptians-seek-return-rosetta-stone-british-museum/
Feature on the large number of excavations currently underway led by Egyptian archaeologists :
https://cairoscene.com/Buzz/Egyptian-Archeologists-are-Leading-50-Excavations-Across-the-Country
Feature on literature in ancient Egypt:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/page-turners-literature-ancient-egypt
Feature/interview on a biography of George Reisner:
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/01/new-bio-explores-times-scholarship-of-egyptologist-george-reisner/
Remains of a 5000 years bp stoneware workshop at Jiroft:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480910/5000-year-old-stoneware-workshop-discovered-in-Jiroft
Evidence of a 3rd millennium BCE settlement site in northwestern Iran:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480990/Traces-of-millennia-old-town-discovered-in-northwest-Iran
A Sassanid-era petroglyph of a horseman from Marvdasht:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/481076/Sassanid-petroglyph-of-horseman-discovered-in-Marvdasht
Excavations at Seymarah have revealed finds ranging from the Parthian era to the early Islamic period:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480911/Seymareh-dig-uncovers-relics-dating-from-Parthian-to-early-Islamic
A pair of Amorite-Akkadian bilingual inscriptions found thirty years ago have (finally) been published:
https://www.haaretz.com/2023-01-20/00000185-ca23-d3a8-a3cf-cf3326430000
Feature on how Late Bronze Age kings dealt with rumours:
https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2023/01/kings-bronze-age-rumors
Feature on the 'Baghdad Battery':
https://www.iflscience.com/is-the-2-000-year-old-baghdad-battery-actually-a-battery-67119
A three-room Urartian tomb find from Ercis (Turkiye):
https://arkeonews.net/three-room-urartian-tomb-with-liquid-offering-area-libation-found-in-eastern-turkey/
The DAI is marking 25 years of research at Gobekli Tepe:
https://www.dainst.blog/the-tepe-telegrams/2023/01/16/over-twenty-five-years-of-research-at-gobekli-tepe/
Feature on Catalhoyuk:
https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/72954/catalhoyuk-discovering-one-of-the-worlds-oldest-cities
cf: https://www.cairn.info/revue-d-assyriologie-2022-1-page-113.htm
Feature on conserving ancient manuscripts in Iraq:
https://en.qantara.de/content/iraqs-cultural-heritage-iraqi-conservators-strive-to-preserve-ancient-manuscripts
A study of Middle Paleolithic hunting evidence from the Nahal Mahanayeem Outlet (Jordan):
https://www.newsweek.com/humans-surprising-technique-kill-giant-cows-60000-years-ago-1774183
cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X22004400
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-27321-5
Overview of the Beit Ras excavations, with a focus on glass production there:
https://jordantimes.com/news/local/beit-ras-excavations-offer-glimpse-ancient-glass-production
https://menafn.com/1105431389/Beit-Ras-Excavations-Offer-Glimpse-Into-Ancient-Glass-Production
Not sure if we mentioned this find of a Bar Kokhba revolt coin from the Nahal Darga Nature Reserve:
https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/01/19/archeologists-find-ancient-hebrew-coin-dated-to-jewish-rebellion-against-rome-year-two-of-the-freedom-of-israel/
1300 years bp Silk Road-connected textiles from trash deposits in the Aravah:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-728990
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-01-20/ty-article/archaeologists-find-exotic-imports-in-trash-pile-on-israeli-silk-road/00000185-cf51-d3a8-a3cf-cf712cf10000
https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/01/18/evidence-of-ancient-silk-road-found-in-israels-aravah/
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article271319217.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/material-evidence-of-silk-road-found-in-israel/145967
More on the find of 4000+ years bp ostrich eggs found next to a fire pit site in the Negev:
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/365972
https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2023/01/ancient-ostrich-eggs-in-the-negev/
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/ancient-ostrich-eggs-over-easy/
Israel's Techniion and the University of Haifa have launched a collaboration project:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-technion-u-of-haifa-announce-game-changing-microarchaeology-collaboration/
Feature on excavations in El-Araj:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/bas-onsite/digging-in-el-araj/
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:
https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/
============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
============================================================
A DNA study suggests that at least one group in Minoan Crete was practicing endogamy/cousin marriage:
https://www.mpg.de/19726152/0110-evan-marriage-in-minoan-crete-150495-x
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-marriage-minoan-crete-revealed-ancient.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230116112549.htm
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/976292
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/16/europe/ancient-cousins-marriage-scli-intl-scn/index.html
https://www.thedailybeast.com/dont-blame-the-egyptians-for-this-ancient-greek-kink
https://news.yahoo.com/don-t-blame-egyptians-ancient-040140357.html
https://www.thenationalherald.com/family-ties-ancient-greeks-encouraged-first-cousins-to-marry/
https://www.iflscience.com/ancient-greeks-often-married-their-first-cousins-scientists-surprised-to-find-67099
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/study-using-archaeogenetics-reveals-news-insights-in-minoan-marriage/145941
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/17/marriage-in-minoan-crete/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11137-230119-greece-cousin-marriage
cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-022-01952-3
An Etruscan necropolis from Vetulonia (all coverage Italian):
https://www.ansa.it/toscana/notizie/2023/01/17/scoperta-necropoli-etrusca-vicino-a-vetulonia_1cc8b338-b77b-4cd0-bf84-4eea96499508.html
https://ilglobo.com/en/news/etruscan-necropolis-discovered-near-vetulonia-88495/
https://www.globalist.it/culture/2023/01/17/vetulonia-nuova-scoperta-archeologica/
Archaeo-spelologists found a 647 metre section of an Augustan aqueduct in Naples (Italian):
https://www.stilearte.it/archeo-speleologi-napoletani-trovano-un-lungo-tratto-647-metri-dellacquedotto-romano-daugusto/
Overview of recent finds from the site of Tenea:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/20/ancient-greek-settlement-tenea-discover-first-time/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/new-discoveries-at-lost-city-of-tenea/145995
Remains of a Gallo-Roman rural settlement site in Beziers:
https://www.inrap.fr/une-occupation-neolithique-et-un-etablissement-rural-gallo-romain-beziers-17014
More on the reopening of the House of the Vettii in Pompeii:
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/pompeii-reopens-house-of-vettii-penis-fresco-2243508
https://www.ntd.com/house-of-freed-slaves-restored-in-pompeii_894787.html
... and a related feature on Roman sexuality:
https://theconversation.com/pompeiis-house-of-the-vettii-reopens-a-reminder-that-roman-sexuality-was-far-more-complex-than-simply-gay-or-straight-197978
More on the reasons for the durability of Roman concrete:
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/chemists-long-lasting-roman-concrete
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-reason-why-2-000-year-old-roman-concrete-is-still-so-strong
https://www.openculture.com/2023/01/the-mystery-finally-solved-why-has-roman-concrete-been-so-durable.html
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ancient-roman-concrete-has-self-healing-capabilities/
More on the identification of a Temple of Poseidon at Samikon:
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1202508/structure-believed-to-be-long-lost-temple-to-poseidon-unearthed-in-peloponnese/
https://hyperallergic.com/793898/archaeologists-find-possible-remains-of-temple-of-poseidon/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/16/mainz-university-contributes-to-recent-discovery-of-the-temple-of-poseidon/
More on Hipparchus' Star Catalog:
https://www.rit.edu/science/news/rit-scientists-help-rediscover-earliest-known-star-map-using-multispectral-imaging
More on finds from the Colosseum drains:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/archaeological-treasures-hide-beneath-the-colosseum
More on coins of Sponsian:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/emperor-sponsian-coins
More on the remains found during Thessaloniki Metro construction of the past years:
https://arkeonews.net/ancient-ruins-hidden-under-thessaloniki-metro-revealed/
More on the San Casciano dei Bagni bronzes:
https://the-past.com/news/spectacular-bronzes-found-in-italy/
Feature/hyping the Alma Mater Studiorum of Unibo working at Thuburbo Maius in Tunisia:
https://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2023/01/20/archaeology-bologna-alma-mater-at-work-in-tunisia_69ad5db0-47b0-4c02-bab1-dd029c0ae2ae.html
Greece is planning to protect the site of Poltinopoli:
https://news.gtp.gr/2023/01/13/greece-to-highlight-archaeological-site-of-plotinopoli-in-evros-with-mild-interventions/
A UCL project studying interactions between Greece and Egypt from prehistory to the Byzantine era:
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/16/greece-in-egypt-and-egypt-in-greece-from-homer-to-rome-and-byzantium/
Joel Christensen on ancient reunions:
https://www.brandeis.edu/now/2023/january/reunions-ancient-greece-christensen.html
https://www.ekathimerini.com/society/1202349/reunions-can-be-nostalgic-and-painful-as-well-as-happy-as-the-ancient-greek-heroes-achilles-and-odysseus-show-us/
Jane Draycott on Cleopatra Selene:
https://aeon.co/essays/there-was-another-more-successful-queen-cleopatra
Review of Christopher Beckwith, *The Scythian Empire*;
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-scythian-empire-book-review-history-the-riders-from-the-steppe-11674233967
Feature on Madeline Miller's myth retellings:
https://www.ubyssey.ca/culture/the-echo-of-modern-world-in-madeline-millers-greek-mythology-inspired-stories/
Feature on A.E. Stallings' poetry:
https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/ae-stallings-afterlife-poems/
Feature on the enduring attraction of Classics:
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/2023/01/18/why-the-classical-world-still-grips-the-contemporary-imagination/
Feature on food and sex in Greek literature:
https://neoskosmos.com/en/2023/01/21/dialogue/ancient-greece/diatribe-on-lionesses-and-cheesegraters-1/
Review of Graver and Long, *Fifty Letters of a Roman Stoic*:
https://dartreview.com/seneca-in-short-professor-margaret-gravers-50-letters-of-a-roman-stoic/
Review of Peter Stothard, *Crassus: The First Tycoon*:
https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2023/02/06/crassus-not-the-noblest-roman-of-them-all/
Feature on a possible Etruscan wine-making site found a couple decades ago in Tuscany:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/ancient-etruscan-wine
Feature on the Domus Aurea:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ancient-roman-concrete-has-self-healing-capabilities/
Feature on the death of Cleopatra:
https://www.iflscience.com/how-did-cleopatra-die-the-queen-of-egypt-s-death-still-mystifies-67160
Feature on Plato's Timaeus:
https://www.thecollector.com/plato-timaeus-how-was-the-cosmos-created/
Feature on Plato's Theaetetus:
https://www.thecollector.com/plato-theaetetus-what-is-knowledge/
A virtual tour of Ancient Athens:
https://www.openculture.com/2023/01/a-virtual-tour-of-ancient-athens-fly-over-classical-greek-civilization-in-all-its-glory.html
In regards to the Parthenon Sculptures, we read this week of 'secret talks' going on:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/17/arts/design/parthenon-sculptures-elgin-marbles-negotiations.html
https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-124/Odd-Bizarre/After-220-years-the-fate-of-the-parthenon-marbles-rests-in-secret-talks-26512
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art/2023/01/19/elgin-marbles-greece-and-british-museum-in-secret-talks-to-decide-fate-of-parthenon-sculptures/
https://www.thenationalherald.com/the-new-york-times-shines-light-on-the-marbles/
... and of a 20-year loan agreement proposal:
https://www.thenationalherald.com/greece-talked-20-year-parthenon-marbles-loan-from-british-museum/
... and more OpEds from various viewpoints:
https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/greek-elgin-marbles-must-stay-uk-b1054504.html
https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/elgin-marbles-back-to-athens/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/14/british-museum-loses-marbles-nationalism-triumphs-humanitys/
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:
http://romanarc.blogspot.com/
Rogueclassicism:
http://rogueclassicism.com/
============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
============================================================
Evidence of a Mesolithic settlement site from North Yorkshire:
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/stone-age-hunter-gatherers-in-britain/
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-archaeologists-stone-age-hunter-gatherers-britain.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j89q8eye3o
https://www1.chester.ac.uk/news/archaeologists-shed-light-lives-stone-age-hunter-gatherers-britain
https://arkeonews.net/10500-year-old-stone-age-hunter-gatherer-settlement-found-in-england/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/preserved-10500-year-old-stone-age-hunter-gatherer-settlement-discovered/145983
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11140-230120-england-mesolithic-wetlands
A study of evidence for violence and warfare in Neolithic communities of Northwest Europe:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-violence-widespread-early-farming-society.html
A study of Bronze Age Balearic Islanders' eating and social habits:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-bronze-age-social-habits-balearic.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11139-230119-menorca-egalitarian-diet
2000 years bp waterlogged wooden remains (including a ladder) from a highway construction site in Bedfordshire:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66232
https://www.stilearte.it/una-scala-di-legno-di-2000-anni-fa-trovata-in-un-pozzo-scoperto-durante-lavori-stradali/
https://www.archeomedia.net/gran-bretagna-una-scala-di-legno-di-2000-anni-fa-trovata-in-un-pozzo-scoperto-durante-lavori-stradali/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/excavations-reveal-waterlogged-remains-from-iron-age/145990
1800+ years bp runestone find from near Oslo:
https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology-language-runes/worlds-oldest-rune-stone-found-in-norway-archaeologists-believe/2141404
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-world-oldest-runestone-norway.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/17/worlds-oldest-runestone-found-in-norway-archaeologists-say
https://apnews.com/article/norway-oslo-31524a0dbb0405b08fb2fba6ffafdfaa
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-18/norway-runestone-discovered-archaeological-find-2000-years-old/101866640
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-729204
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/norway-archaeologists-find-worlds-oldest-runestone-rcna66066
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/norway-archaeologists-find-worlds-oldest-runestone-96476413
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/archaeologists-in-norway-find-worlds-oldest-runestone
https://www.dw.com/en/archaeologists-find-worlds-oldest-runestone-in-norway/a-64427741
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/archaelogy-news-norway-worlds-oldest-rune-stone-1234654100/
https://arkeonews.net/worlds-oldest-dated-rune-stone-found-in-norway/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/norway-worlds-oldest-runestone-early-runic-writing-2244113
https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/archaeologists-in-scandinavia-find-worlds-oldest-runestone/
https://www.sciencealert.com/worlds-oldest-runestone-uncovered-in-norway-spells-out-a-mysterious-word
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66187
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https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sensational-runestone-discovered-in-norway-may-be-the-worlds-oldest-180981470/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/newly-discovered-norwegian-runes-might-contain-a-medieval-joke-180979381/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11138-230119-norway-runestone
Carbon dating has pushed the founding of Gdansk back to ca 930 CE:
https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C94792%2Carchaeological-discovery-pushes-founding-date-gdansk-60-years-back.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11131-230117-poland-gdansk-foundation
Latest HS2-related finds seems to be evidence of Civil War damage at Coleshill Manor (this will be on Digging for Britain):
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/21/coleshill-towers-remains-history-english-civil-war
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-64348115
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/hs2-civil-war-discovery-pistol-b2266561.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/21/first-shots-fired-english-civil-war-unearthed-archaeologists/
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/hs2-archaeologists-find-scars-early-26037168
https://www.warwickshireworld.com/heritage-and-retro/retro/video-hs2-archaeologists-uncover-scars-of-early-civil-war-battle-in-warwickshire-3995999
Mapping Iron Age tunnels in Scotland:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/scotland-tunnels-highlands-laser-b2265294.html
https://www.wired.com/story/laser-scanning-tunnels/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/lasers-are-mapping-scotlands-subterranean-iron-age-structures/145958
cf: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12520-022-01707-y
An Iron Age farmstead site in Newsham:
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/archaelogical-dig-northumberland-line-newsham-25974268
Finds from various periods at a construction site in Gap (France):
https://www.inrap.fr/paysage-ancien-et-industrie-moderne-gap-hautes-alpes-17006
More on the 7000 years bp mass burial of decapitated people from Slovakia:
https://www.jpost.com/science/article-728609
https://news.am/eng/news/739667.html
https://www.iflscience.com/a-massacre-or-something-stranger-37-headless-skeletons-raise-questions-67104
https://arkeonews.net/headless-skeletons-discovered-in-prehistoric-mass-grave/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/16/headless-skeletons-in-a-settlement-trench-a-7000-year-old-mass-grave/
More on the 3000 years bp ritual well from Germany:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/3000-year-old-wishing-well-unearthed-in-germany-1234654281/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-3000-year-old-wishing-well-in-germany-180981428/
More on the 'princely Hun' burial from Romania:
https://www.livescience.com/princely-tomb-hun-warrior-romania
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/warriors-tomb-discovered-romania-expressway-construction-1234654522/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11135-230119-romania-princely-tomb
More on the current dig at Sheffield Castle:
https://the-past.com/news/history-of-sheffield-castle-foundations-revealed-by-archaeologists/
More on the 'Harpole treasure' found in Northamptonshire:
https://the-past.com/news/remarkable-early-medieval-burial-found-in-northamptonshire/
More on 'cave writing' on ancient petroglyphs:
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149135787/amateur-archaeologist-deciphers-20-000-year-old-cave-writing
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/ancient-humans-first-written-words-are-20-000-years-old
In case you missed the neutron imaging of a 900 yeas bp pendant from Germany:
https://www.livescience.com/medieval-pendant-relics-neutron-imaging
Arguing over preserving a 1901 bridge in Prague:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/21/like-knocking-down-the-eiffel-tower-battle-to-save-historic-prague-bridge
Three finds from various periods found by detectorists in Shropshire have been declared treasure:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-64339535
https://www.shropshirelive.com/news/2023/01/20/three-finds-discovered-by-shropshire-detectorists-declared-treasure/
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/bridgnorth/2023/01/19/incredible-bronze-age-gold-ring-a-part-of-a-roman-amulet-case-and-a-medieval-gold-ring-all-declared-treasure-at-shropshire-inquests/
Feature on the project to rebuild the Newport Ship:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64151535
https://www.iflscience.com/how-archaeologists-will-rebuild-the-newport-ship-and-solve-the-world-s-largest-3d-puzzle-67176
Feature on ram-shaped gravestones in Georgia:
https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/gravestones-caucasus/
Feature on the Mount Keeffe Chalice:
https://www.independent.ie/regionals/corkman/news/valuable-north-cork-chalice-from-16th-century-held-far-from-home-in-a-british-museum-42296754.html
Feature on the Red lady of Paviland:
https://theconversation.com/red-lady-of-paviland-the-story-of-a-33-000-year-old-skeleton-and-the-calls-for-it-to-return-to-wales-197204
Feature on Britain's 'greatest' archaeological discoveries:
https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/britains-greatest-archaeological-discoveries/
----------
Archaeology in Europe News:
http://archaeology-in-europe.blogspot.com/
Medievalists.net:
https://www.medievalists.net/category/news/
Viking Archaeology Blog:
http://viking-archaeology-blog.blogspot.com/
============================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
============================================================
40 000 years bp evidence of human activity from a site in Ziyang City (Sichuan):
https://english.news.cn/20230115/1d4270ab8579412f97fb31caa2216995/c.html
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202301/17/WS63c5e7aba31057c47eba9f6e.html
https://eng.belta.by/partner_news/view/new-evidence-of-prehistoric-human-activity-found-in-southwest-china-155990-2023/
https://www.gulf-times.com/article/653420/international/china/new-evidence-of-prehistoric-human-activity-found-in-southwest-china
21 royal Han burials from Hunan:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66178
Remains of 240 royal storehouses dating to the Northern Wei Dynasty in a plaace site in Luoyang city:
http://en.people.cn/n3/2023/0119/c90000-10198333.html
43 burials spanning four dynasties from the Dongsanlingzi Tombs excavations:
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article271334477.html
Feature on China's rewriting of Tibetan history:
https://bitterwinter.org/zhangzhung-how-china-reinvents-tibetan-history/
Overview of a ANA and UHawaii dig at Angkor Wat:
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ana-university-hawaii-wrap-archaeology-dig
... while restoration of a causeway at Angkor Wat is almost complete:
https://cne.wtf/2023/01/21/restoration-of-angkor-wat-causeway-almost-complete/
Connecting Qing dynasty isolationism to modern China:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/16/what-the-isolationist-qing-dynasty-tells-us-about-xi-jinpings-china
A possible 11th/12th century CE Shiva lingam from Aarey:
https://www.mid-day.com/amp/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-shiv-lingam-found-inside-aarey-could-be-from-11th-or-12th-century-ce-says-asi-23266156
Mughal era coins and other finds from Bazar-Navagaon:
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/state-editions/mughal-period-coins--antiquities-found.html
Revising the history of Calicut:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-tale-cities-history-calicut-wrong.html
cf: https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/n10694/pdf/03_nunn_kumar.pdf
On the 'Scythian' or whatever it is culture revealed by Russian archaeologists a couple weeks ago:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/did-russian-archaeologists-really-discover-a-new-ancient-culture
https://news.yahoo.com/did-russian-archaeologists-really-discover-095028323.html
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/kurgan-tomb-siberia-clues-unknown-scythian-culture-2242729
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
An NSF grant to study Cahokia:
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/977016
https://www.wshu.org/2023-01-17/ct-archeologist-to-unearth-mysteries-buried-at-cahokia-a-massive-midwestern-indigenous-city
https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2023-01-17/ct-archeologist-to-unearth-mysteries-buried-at-cahokia-a-massive-midwestern-indigenous-city
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/19/archaeologist-awarded-nsf-grant-to-study-prehistoric-city-creation/
... and one to study hurricane-damaged sites in Florida:
https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/archaeologists-awarded-nsf-grant-survey-hurricane-damaged-heritage-sites/
Account of a Brown dig at a 19th-century Providence family residence:
https://www.brown.edu/news/2022-12-20/archaeology
Introductory sort of thing on a dig happening in Charlottesville (Va):
https://www.cbs19news.com/story/48178584/archaeological-dig-begins-on-the-site-for-court-renovation-project-possibility-of-grave-discovery
The Elam Ives House in Hamden was saved and is undergoing restoration:
https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Hamden-Elam-Ives-house-to-be-restored-17723564.php
Feature on Isaac Shelby:
https://news.coinupdate.com/from-the-colonels-desk-isaac-shelby-the-man-the-medal-the-mysteries/
============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
2000 years bp Zapotec murals depicting warfare from tombs in southern Mexico:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/archaeologists-unearth-colourful-pre-hispanic-tombs-with-striking-murals-dated-2000-years-from-mexico/articleshow/97157889.cms?from=mdr
A study of the Maya obsidian market in Guatemala:
https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2023/01/05/new-study-suggests-mayas-utilized-market-based-economics/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11129-230117-guatemala-maya-obsidian
A pre-construction survey of a pipeline site in southern Mexico reveal a possible Maya settlement site:
https://www.inah.gob.mx/boletines/par-de-plataformas-da-cuenta-de-un-sitio-maya-que-no-figuraba-en-el-atlas-arqueologico-de-tabasco
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11130-230118-mexico-maya-platforms
A recently-excavated statue of Xipe Toltec has gone on display at the Templo Mayor:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66147
Another theory on the purpose of the Nazca lines:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/study-solves-mystery-of-the-nazca-lines/145948
I think we mentioned that LiDAR has revealed some 964 pre-Hispanic Maya settlement sites in northern Guatemala:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lasers-reveal-massive-650-square-mile-maya-site-hidden-beneath-guatemalan-rainforest/
https://www.laprensalatina.com/964-mayan-ruins-discovered-beneath-guatemalan-rainforest/
INAH is working to conserve petroglyphs at the Kawa Siski cave:
https://www.inah.gob.mx/boletines/inicia-salvaguarda-de-las-pinturas-rupestres-de-la-cueva-kawa-sisiki-en-la-mixteca-de-la-montana-alta-de-guerrero
More on the alignment of Olmec sites to the 260 day calendar:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earliest-evidence-of-260-day-calendar-use-found-in-mexico-180981399/
Feature on the Cantona site:
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/travel/cantona-an-impressive-but-underrated-archaeological-site/
-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:
http://goo.gl/1VdeA
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas lecture channels on Youtube:
https://mikeruggerisyoutube.tumblr.com/
Ancient MesoAmerica News:
http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
============================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
============================================================
Study suggests rats might not have played such a critical role in plague perseverance:
https://theconversation.com/the-black-death-may-not-have-been-spread-by-rats-after-all-196521
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-black-death-rats.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230119112819.htm
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/20/understanding-the-elusive-origins-of-the-black-death/
cf: https://www.pnas.org/doi/pdf/10.1073/pnas.2209816119
A sword in Chicago's Field museum once considered a replica is now considered authentic:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66223
https://www.cnet.com/science/replica-sword-turns-out-to-be-the-real-3000-year-old-deal/
https://arkeonews.net/the-sword-thought-to-be-a-replica-turned-out-to-be-an-authentic-3000-year-old-bronze-age-sword/
Feature on Matisse's The Dance:
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230118-matisses-the-dance-the-masterpiece-that-changed-history
The previous owner of the Voynich Manuscript has been revealed:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66173
Plans to preserve some of Alexander Graham Bell's experimental recordings:
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/16/alexander-graham-bells-experimental-sound-recordings-to-be-preserved/
Feature on Isaac Newton's use of Greek:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/19/isaac-newton-manuscripts-greek/
Feature on the 'Slave Bible':
https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-slave-bible-for-slavery-or-salvation
Feature on how Hebrew came to be written right to left:
https://mosaicmagazine.com/observation/history-ideas/2023/01/how-hebrew-came-to-be-written-from-right-to-left/
Feature on the Crystal Skulls:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/the-truth-behind-the-crystal-skulls/145970
Feature on the use of 'bioweapons' by various ancient cultures:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/ancient-empires-used-bioweapons-to-strike-terror-more-than-3-000-years-ago
Feature on 'filthy place names' in the UK:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/21/next-stop-twatt-my-tour-of-britains-fantastically-filthy-placenames
Another feature on historical 'scent':
https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/the-smell-of-history/4016790.article
Interesting photo of samurai in front of the Sphinx of Giza:
https://www.iflscience.com/why-dozens-of-samurai-took-a-photo-in-front-of-egypt-s-sphinx-in-1864-67144
A rare lead compound discovered in The Night Watch:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-unusual-compound-rembrandt-night.html
Scientists have figured out 'Leonardo's Paradox':
https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ad9eb/a-500-year-old-paradox-by-leonardo-da-vinci-has-finally-been-solved-study-says
cf: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202216478
Pondering why humans live where it's cold:
https://theconversation.com/most-humans-havent-evolved-to-cope-with-the-cold-yet-we-dominate-northern-climates-heres-why-195621
In case you're in the market for a medieval Swedish castle:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2023/01/20/a-stellar-swedish-castle-once-a-medieval-power-center-comes-to-market/?sh=2db3b9392eda
More on the Van Gogh at the DIA:
https://apnews.com/article/legal-proceedings-detroit-institute-of-arts-brazil-4b431349025d9a400d8cb1ac4a3fa1d2
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/arts/2023/01/16/detroit-museum-van-gogh-painting-mysterious-past-immune-seizure-dia/69812505007/
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/arts/2023/01/18/dia-misguided-in-fight-over-stolen-van-gogh-in-detroit-lawyer-says/69819904007/
============================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
In case you missed the controversy/firing at a Minnesota university over a prof's showing a depiction of Muhammad:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/minnesota-university-fire-professors-dismissal-showing-images-prophet-rcna65881?
Plans to change the name of the Thames River in Connecticut to the Pequot River:
https://www.middletownpress.com/politics/article/CT-Thames-River-Mashantucket-Pequot-17723763.php#ld2mg57plkts4rin82
https://abcnews.go.com/US/indigenous-tribes-restored-connecticut-river-proposed-bill/story?id=96567103
Review of Nicolai Petro, *the Tragedy of Ukraine*:
https://natyliesbaldwin.com/2023/01/review-of-nicolai-petros-the-tragedy-of-ukraine/
... and a column by the author:
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/the-tragedy-of-ukraine/
Feature on abortion in the mid-19th century US:
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/19/1149924325/abortion-was-once-common-practice-in-america-a-small-group-of-doctors-changed-th
============================================================
ANIMAL AND PLANT DOMESTICATIONS
============================================================
On the importance/role of donkeys in human history:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230116-how-donkeys-changed-the-course-of-human-history
cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X21004624
============================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
Islanders: The Making of the Mediterranean:
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/artefacts-from-ancient-mediterranean-civilisation-on-show-for-first-time-in-uk-42289107.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/fitzwilliam-museum-mediterranean-cambridge-university-of-cambridge-cagliari-b2262817.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/20/islanders-the-making-of-the-mediterranean/
Quantity and Quality (Greek Terracottas):
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/17/quantity-and-quality-the-world-of-greek-terracottas/
Cy Twombly:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/01/14/cy-twombly-mfa-boston/
Dressing the Georgians:
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/jan/16/dressing-the-georgians-exhibition-explores-pivotal-moment-fashion
Vermeer:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66203
Tutankhamun:
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tutankhamuns-treasures-on-show-in-istanbul-180242
Garden of Civilization:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/20/symbols-iraqi-civilisation-basrah-museum
Hyping the impending opening of the Iznik Archaeology Museum:
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/iznik-archaeology-museum-reveals-2500-year-old-love-letter/news
https://arkeonews.net/iznik-archaeology-museum-reveals-2500-year-old-love-letter/
Feature on how many Greek artifacts the British Museum holds and has on display:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/16/british-museum-holds-108184-greek-artefacts-of-which-only-6493-are-even-on-display/
The Sudan National Museum is close to reopening:
https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-national-museum-prepares-for-reopening-after-transfer-of-its-main-statue
Jerusalem's Armenian Museum has reopened:
https://apnews.com/article/homicide-jerusalem-education-genocide-f4c6c9b8af5d1102a0279a0563563b29
The Hunterian is removing the skeleton of the 'Irish Giant' from display:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/21/world/europe/charles-byrne-irish-giant-museum.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66198
The Odessa Museum is keeping some items which were being smuggled out ot the country:
https://odessa-journal.com/the-odessa-archaeological-museum-received-treasures-that-were-tried-to-be-illegally-exported-abroad/
Feature on some 'essential' works at the Met:
https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/artists/what-to-see-metropolitan-museum-of-art-new-york-1234651202/
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is being sued over a Nazi-looted drawing:
https://www.independent.com/2023/01/17/santa-barbara-museum-of-art-sued-over-nazi-looted-drawing/
Pollock's Toy Museum is closing:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/19/uks-oldest-toy-museum-announces-closure-sending-thousands-of-antique-toys-into-storage
The British Museum is rethinking its use of the term 'mummy':
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11661057/British-Museum-bans-word-MUMMY-respect-3-000-year-old-dead.html
============================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
============================================================
Some paintings by Queen Victoria are coming to auction:
https://news.artnet.com/market/queen-victoria-floral-paintings-hansons-auctioneers-2244149
Newton's personal copy of Opticks is coming to auction:
https://www.livescience.com/personal-copy-newtons-opticks-found
Big bucks for a gold Roman medallion:
https://www.numismaticnews.net/world-coins/massive-roman-gold-medallion-sells-for-record-2-3-million
============================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
============================================================
A DNA-based study of mobility of Anatolian and Levantine populations in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-isotope-ancient-dna-analysis-mobility.html
cf: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2210611120
DNA suggests Asian hunter-gathers covered a wide range and went back and forth across the Bering Land Bridge:
https://www.livescience.com/previously-unknown-hunter-gatherers-siberia
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/19/high-mobility-of-ancient-hunter-gatherers-7500-years-ago/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11133-230118-prehistoric-gene-flow
A study of the African origins of a group of enslaved persons from a South Carolina cemetery:
https://www.livescience.com/genetics-reveal-enslaved-people-origins
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11132-230117-colonial-enslavement-cemetery
Using DNA to identify a WWI Canadian soldier:
https://www.villagereport.ca/national-news/dna-and-a-decade-of-work-identify-canadian-soldier-106-years-after-death-in-france-6386459
============================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
============================================================
China is working on recreating the appearance of a Neanderthal boy (no photo!):
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202301/1283984.shtml
An Egyptian sarcophagus from a Cambridge museum went through the CT scanner:
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-01-21/what-happens-when-you-put-an-ancient-egyptian-mummy-coffin-into-a-ct-scanner
More on the facial recreation of one of the Jericho skulls:
https://www.livescience.com/jericho-skull-facial-approximation
https://www.timesofisrael.com/9000-year-old-jericho-skull-gets-virtual-facelift-using-plastic-surgery-techniques/
... and of Rameses II:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-728647
============================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS
============================================================
On the role of climate change in the rise and fall of Persian empires:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-climate-impacted-fall-middle-eastern.html
cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379122004863
============================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
============================================================
Roman Colchester:
https://www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-about/colchester-essex-the-purpose-built-capital-city-of-roman-britain-251483
Tamil Nadu:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/gangaikondacholapuram-southern-india-chola-dynasty-ponniyin-selvan-1
Dresden:
https://www.dw.com/en/dresden-top-travel-destination-for-2023/g-38189936
Political protests have closed Machu Picchu:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-64360531
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-machu-picchu-closed-peru-protests/
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/peru-shuts-down-machu-picchu-as-political-unrest-spreads-across-country
https://www.smh.com.au/world/south-america/machu-picchu-and-inca-trail-closed-indefinitely-due-to-peru-protests-20230122-p5ceiq.html
============================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
============================================================
Study suggests Beethoven's Elise never really existed:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/22/beethovens-fur-elise-historian-concludes-she-never-existedus-elise-historian-concludes-she-never-existed
============================================================
TV/DOCUMENTARY HYPISH THINGS
============================================================
Hyping decapitated burials (Roman/Iron Age) from Wintringham to be shown on Digging for Britain:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64358866
https://news.yahoo.com/roman-headless-remains-found-wintringham-122358065.html
... and in another episode, an Iron Age shield from Everards:
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/bbcs-digging-britain-feature-iron-8009521
============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
Paintings stolen in a Colorado art heist a few weeks ago have been recovered:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/17/police-recover-paintings-boulder-colorado-art-heist
Egypt has reduced the sentence against a businessman accused of trafficking antiquities:
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/1/484593/Egypt/Egypt-court-reduces-sentences-against-businessman,.aspx
A former museum director in Jordan was imprisoned for counterfeiting ancient coins:
https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-109/News/Ex-museum-director-sentenced-to-prison-for-counterfeiting-antique-coins-26550
----------
conflict antiquities:
http://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/
anonymous swiss collector:
http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/
Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues:
http://paul-barford.blogspot.ca/
Looting Matters:
http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/
Illicit Cultural Property:
http://illicit-cultural-property.blogspot.com/
SAFE:
http://www.savingantiquities.org/blog/
============================================================
REPATRIATION AND RECOVERY
============================================================
Bulgarian customs agents returned 3000 or so ancient coins to Turkiye:
https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/387325
https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/387827-bulgarian-customs-agency-hands-over-to-turkiye-2-940-antique-coins-rescued-from-
Glasgow Life Museums returned seven items to India:
https://advisor.museumsandheritage.com/news/seven-artefacts-returned-india-glasgow-life-museums/
Amiens wants Madonna to lend/return a painting in her possession:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64321278
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/madonna-painting-amiens/index.html
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/State-Museum-UAlbany-repatriate-Native-American-17711392.php
https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/amiens-la-maire-supplie-madonna-en-video-pour-recuperer-le-mysterieux-tableau-disparu-20230116
German museums have no plans to return the bust of Nefertiti or the Pergamon Altar:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/20/no-plans-to-return-berlins-star-museum-attractions-nefertiti-and-pergamon-altar-german-official-says
A Maori group is seeking the return of artifacts sold at Sotheby's:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/maori-tribe-sothebys-requests-return-short-clubs-1234653484/
An artist has proposed a 'treasure swap' of an Assyrian lamassu to the British Museum:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/20/british-museum-artist-assyrian-return-iraq-michael-rakowitz
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/michael-rakowitz-donation-exchange-british-museum-assyrian-artifact-return-iraq-1234654468/
On pesticides on artifacts returned from Germany:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/17/toxic-dilemma-german-museums-repatriating-artefacts-pesticides-objects-contaminated
The University of Albany will be retuning a large number of human remains and funerary objects to some Native American peoples:
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/State-Museum-UAlbany-repatriate-Native-American-17711392.php
University of Tennessee is failing to return Native American human remains:
https://wpln.org/post/the-university-of-tennessee-is-among-americas-largest-collections-failing-to-return-native-american-human-remains/
... see also:
https://www.propublica.org/article/repatriation-nagpra-museums-human-remains
OpEd on the Benin Bronzes returns:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/08/the-guardian-view-on-the-benin-bronzes-leading-the-way-home
OpEd on who owns historical patrimony:
https://spectator.org/who-owns-historys-patrimony-not-murderous-politicians-and-incompetent-governments/
Pondering why nations reclaim artifacts:
https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/what-is-it-that-causes-nations-to-start-reclaiming-their-national-treasures/article66345436.ece
More on the US return of an artifact to the Palestinian Authority:
https://hyperallergic.com/792666/us-returns-palestinian-cultural-object-for-the-first-time/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/09/us-officials-returns-stolen-antiquity-to-palestine/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/09/us-returns-stolen-artefact-to-palestine-as-part-of-investigation-into-new-york-collector-michael-steinhardt
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-first-time-ever-us-returns-looted-artifact-to-palestine-180981409/
============================================================
NUMISMATICA
============================================================
A spelling mistake on a Victorian silver coin:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64186767
Latest e-Sylum:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n03.html
... and the one which should appear later today:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n04.html
------------------------
Coin Week:
http://www.coinweek.com/
============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
George Huxley:
https://classicalassociationni.wordpress.com/2023/01/22/professor-george-l-huxley-obituary/
Susann Palmer:
https://dorseteye.com/renowned-dorset-archaeologist-dies-aged-ninety-nine/
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23258769.obituary-susann-palmer-portland/
Wayne A. Meeks:
https://divinity.yale.edu/news/wayne-meeks-1932-2023
Joan O'Brien:
https://thesouthern.com/news/local/obituaries/joan-v-obrien/article_f63ef1cb-3a11-56ee-8592-3b089e31ecc6.html
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thesouthern/name/joan-o-brien-obituary?id=38713971
============================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
============================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:
[the site had security issues this morning]
============================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS
============================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:
http://www.archaeology.org/news/
About.com Archaeology:
http://archaeology.about.com/
Archaeology Briefs:
http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/
Atlas Obscura:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/
Heritage Daily:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/
Sapiens Archaeology:
https://www.sapiens.org/category/archaeology/
Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:
http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/
============================================================
PODCASTS/VODCASTS
============================================================
Archaeosoup:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Archaeos0up?feature=watch
Archaeology Podcast Network:
http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/
============================================================
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