david meadows
2023-01-08 17:25:45 UTC
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explorator 25.38 January 8, 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, Bill Gebhardt,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).
n.b. there are some 'older' items in the 'Interest' sections (I think I'm pretty much caught up now)
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EARLY HOMINIDS
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Pondering the apparent disappearance of Neanderthals:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/why-did-neanderthals-disappear
A study of what scents various ancient hominids could perceive:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-ancient-humans-sensitivities.html
cf: https://www.cell.com/iscience/pdf/S2589-0042(22)02181-2.pdf
Comparing Neanderthal and Sapiens brains:
https://theconversation.com/human-and-neanderthal-brains-have-a-surprising-youthful-quality-in-common-new-research-finds-191594
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-human-neanderthal-brains-youthful-quality.html
https://www.livescience.com/youthful-human-and-neanderthal-brains
cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-022-01933-6
More on the million-year-old homo erectus skull excavated in China:
https://english.cctv.com/2023/01/03/VIDEdwiaMuS3yYvMJsX6ASvZ230103.shtml
https://english.news.cn/20230105/d94363034bb6433ca190678ee3c3102a/c.html
More on early humans wearing bearskins 300 000 years bp:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/05/europe/bear-skins-prehistoric-clothing-scn/index.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/prehistoric-europeans-surviving-winter-fur-b2255116.html
https://www.sciencealert.com/cut-marks-on-ancient-bones-reveal-what-was-in-fashion-320000-years-ago
https://www.iflscience.com/humans-were-skinning-bears-to-wear-their-fur-320-000-years-ago-66923
More on early humans sailing the Aegean some 450 000 years bp:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/04/archaic-humans-sailed-to-aegean-islands-450000-years-ago-new-study-shows/
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AFRICA
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Feature on the Slave Wrecks Project (mostly with an Africa focus):
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/08/a-search-for-ourselves-shipwreck-becomes-focus-of-slavery-debate
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ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
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Egypt made 26 archaeological announcements in 2022:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/121752/Egypt-s-Ministry-of-Tourism-Antiquities-announces-26-archaeological-discoveries
Feature on Egypt's Red List to recover assorted Egyptian artifacts:
https://cairoscene.com/Buzz/National-Red-List-Will-Keep-Track-of-Smuggled-Egyptian-Artefacts
More on the find of noble burials (and nine crocodile heads) from the Theban necropolis:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/mysterious-crocodile-heads-discovered-ancient-egyptian-tomb-1234652532/
More on the find of 60 'renegade mummies' from the tomb of Amenhotep Huy:
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archaeologists-discover-60-egyptian-mummies-luxor-2238388
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/04/discovery-of-60-mummies-in-egyptian-city-of-luxor-points-to-elaborate-burial-ground
Feature on the bust of Nefertiti:
https://egyptindependent.com/nefertiti-the-confused-egyptian-queen-between-her-original-homeland-and-her-german-residence/
Feature on Tutankhamun's 'space dagger':
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0dtmhm8/the-mystery-of-tutankhamun-s-space-dagger-
In case you missed the revival of the 'tomb of Osiris' stuff:
https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-egypt-tomb-of-osiris-735147367651
A study of 200 skeletons taken from the Parthian/Sassanid burial ground in Gilan:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480515/200-ancient-human-skeletons-under-study-at-anthropology-laboratory
Archaeologists have 'redrawn' the boundaries for the Neolithic village of Leylan in northwest Iran:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480453/Archaeologists-redraw-boundaries-for-Neolithic-village
Concerns for sites in the area of the Chamshir Dam in southwest Iran:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480356/Historical-site-in-western-Iran-on-the-verge-of-sinking
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480563/Reservoir-may-submerge-Elamite-Achaemenid-and-Islamic-relics
Feature on the Ziggurat of Ur:
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220822-the-ziggurat-of-ur-iraqs-answer-to-the-pyramids
Feature on the Hanging Gardens:
https://www.thecollector.com/hanging-gardens-babylon/
Concerns arising for various sites in Assur:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/archaeology-today/iraqs-capital-catastrophe/
Vague item on the find of a possible Islamic-era site near Pul Alam (Afghanistan):
https://www.ariananews.af/islamic-era-archeological-site-discovered-in-afghanistans-logar-province/
Overview of finds in Turkey in December 2022:
https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/december-2022-turkish-archaeology
Overview of finds in Turkey in all of 2022:
https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/archaeology-turkey-2022-review
In case you missed the restoration of a 2000 years bp Roman fountain in Kibyra (Turkiye):
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/after-1-300-years-water-to-again-flow-from-monumental-fountain-in-ancient-city-in-turkiye-/2776267
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/2000-year-old-fountain-flows-once-again-in-turkiyes-ancient-city/news
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11104-230103-turkey-fountain-kibyra
Feature on assorted problems folks had to deal with living in Catalhoyuk:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/this-ancient-proto-city-was-plagued-with-modern-urban-problems
More on the possible location of Zippalanda at Usakli Hoyuk:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/hittite-cult-center-uncovered-in-turkey/
https://arkeonews.net/the-circular-shaped-structure-unearthed-in-usakli-mound-may-point-to-the-holy-hittite-city-of-zippalanda/
Remains of a Byzantine monk 'chained' with iron rings from Khirbat el-Masani:
https://arkeonews.net/byzantine-monk-chained-with-iron-rings-unearthed-near-jerusalem/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/byzantine-monk-chained-with-iron-rings-uncovered/145717
Feature on the site of the Herodian fortress at Macareus:
https://jordantimes.com/news/local/isolated-archaeological-site-offers-%E2%80%98time-capsule%E2%80%99-biblical-story
A study of Late Middle Paleolithic production of blades and hafting from a site in Israel:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-mass-production-stone-bladelets-cultural.html
cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-27321-5
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41982-022-00131-x
Evidence that the Canaanites were using silver for currency (maybe):
https://www.timesofisrael.com/study-claims-hoards-of-3600-year-old-cut-silver-pieces-are-first-currency-in-levant/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-01-08/ty-article/canaanites-also-used-silver-as-currency-archaeologists-deduce/00000185-90aa-d94b-ad8d-beefc4410000
I think we mentioned this coin dating to the Bar Kochba Revolt from a dig in the Murabba'at caves:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726800
Feature on the 'reconstruction' of a 5th century Christian 'cathedral' at Antiochia Hippos:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-01-03/ty-article-magazine/archaeologists-reconstruct-huge-early-christian-cathedral-in-northern-israel/00000185-76c5-dfb6-a1a7-7ffd987d0000
Feature on Michael Langlois' work detecting forgeries among the DSS and other texts:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-unorthodox-scholar-uses-technology-expose-biblical-forgeries-180981290/?
More on the finds from the Cave of Salome:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/cave-of-salome-excavated/
More on plans to excavate at the Pool of Siloam site:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/12/archaeologists-to-excavate-the-ancient-pool-of-siloam/145668
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/03/pool-siloam-open-jerusalem-after-2000-years/
... which seem connected to an ongoing project to reveal and revive the Pilgrimage Route:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726942
Remains of a 5000 years bp settlement site in Al Mudhaibi (Oman):
https://arkeonews.net/5000-year-old-settlement-unearthed-in-al-mudhaibi-oman/
Feature on the location of the Luwian culture (by Zangger):
https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2023/01/luwian-culture-map
-----
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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Still not really sure where to put this find of a 2000 years bp 'Scythian' burial ground in Siberia:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-01-01/ty-article/siberian-gravediggers-find-2-000-year-old-scythian-style-cemetery/00000185-6d65-d591-a1fd-fd6d40ce0000
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/kurgan-tomb-from-lost-culture-discovered/145725
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66063
A Phoenician plaque from Cyprus (found in 2021):
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/07/ancient-plaque-cyprus-phoenician/
A Hellenistic (?) Greek/Bactrian inscription from Tajikistan:
https://akipress.com/news:690465:Rock_inscriptions_in_Greek_discovered_on_mountain_in_Central_Asia/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/03/recently-discovered-inscriptions-from-the-greek-colonies-of-central-asia/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726432
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/01/rock-inscriptions-greek-central-asia/
A possible Gallo-Roman mausoleum site from near Neris-les Bains:
https://www.inrap.fr/un-mausolee-antique-decouvert-neris-les-bains-allier-16994
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/05/roman-era-mausoleum-uncovered-in-france-reveals-frieze-fragment-showing-an-image-of-the-greek-sea-god-triton/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/gallo-roman-mausoleum-was-uncovered-in-france-1234652879/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11107-230104-france-mausoleum-fragments
A well-preseved section of Roman road from Corby:
https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/exceptionally-preserved-corby-roman-road-discovery-strengthens-understanding-of-towns-2000-year-old-manufacturing-roots-3975153
Columns from Diocletian's palace at Split found incorporated into other structures (Croatian):
https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/ekskluzivne-snimke-antickih-stupova-koji-su-stoljecima-bili-skriveni-od-ociju-javnosti---757111.html
Latest study revealing why Roman concrete was so durable:
https://news.mit.edu/2023/roman-concrete-durability-lime-casts-0106
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230106144441.htm
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/06/self-healing-roman-concrete-could-aid-modern-construction-study-suggests
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/06/secret-ingredient-roman-concrete-means-buildings-can-last-millennia/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11607129/How-Pantheon-stayed-intact-2-000-years.html
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-01-06/ty-article/researchers-reveal-why-ancient-roman-monuments-still-stand-after-millennia/00000185-81f1-df9e-a3bf-87f572a70000
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/roman-concrete-mystery-ingredient-scn/index.html
https://www.dw.com/en/how-ancient-romes-concrete-recipe-can-help-lower-emissions/a-64308279
https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/secret-to-durability-of-roman-concrete-that-has-stood-test-of-time-for-over-2000-years-finally-unearthed-3976887
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/07/ancient-roman-concrete-could-self-heal-thanks-to-hot-mixing-with-quicklime/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726884
https://www.science.org/content/article/scientists-may-have-found-magic-ingredient-behind-ancient-romes-self-healing-concrete
https://www.sciencealert.com/we-finally-know-how-ancient-roman-concrete-was-so-durable
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/01/ancient-roman-concrete-could-self-heal-thanks-to-hot-mixing-with-quicklime/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/secret-of-roman-concrete-solved/145758
cf: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.add1602
The Garonne treasure of 4001 Roman coins from a 2nd century shipwreck has gone on display:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66089
Photos taken during the Thessaloniki metro project:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/08/excavations-construct-salonica-metro/
More on chemical analysis confirming a Roman presence at Kalkrise:
https://www.europeantimes.news/2023/01/chemical-analysis-confirmed-the-site-of-death-of-the-xix-roman-legion/
A plan to get more young people digging at Vindolanda:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-64160591
Feature on Persian accounts of Alexander:
https://scroll.in/article/1040609/how-persian-literature-imagined-alexander-the-greats-romantic-relationships-around-the-world
Feature on Roman gold mining in Las Medulas:
https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-01-07/this-is-how-the-romans-squeezed-the-gold.html
Feature on the find of the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak in Bulgaria during WWII:
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2023/01/soldiers-stumbled-upon-a-2400-year-old-tomb-on-the-battlefields-of-wwii
Feature/TV hype for Stortford's Roman past:
https://www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/grange-paddocks-puts-bishops-stortford-of-the-roman-map-9291959/
Feature on Cleomenes I of Sparta:
https://www.thecollector.com/cleomenes-i-sparta-king/
Feature on Roman road building:
https://www.openculture.com/2023/01/how-the-ancient-romans-built-their-roads-the-lifelines-of-their-vast-empire.html
Feature on the Legio V Macedonica:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/legio-v-macedonica-the-last-roman-legion/145686
Feature on the Trojan War:
https://www.thecollector.com/was-the-trojan-war-real/
Feature on the Peloponnesian War:
https://www.thecollector.com/what-was-the-peloponnesian-war/
Feature on Pliny the Elder's coverage of Classical art and architecture:
https://www.thecollector.com/pliny-elder-art-and-architecture/
... and his Natural History in general:
https://www.thecollector.com/pliny-elder-natural-history/
Feature on Aesop:
https://www.thecollector.com/who-was-aesop/
Feature on the 'toys' of Dionysus:
https://www.thecollector.com/toys-dionysus-mysteries/
Feature on Roman business practices:
https://spectator.com.au/2023/01/doing-good-business/
Feature on sailing the Roman Mediterranean:
https://www.thecollector.com/ancient-mariners-roman-mediterranean/
Feature on the Roman navy:
https://www.thecollector.com/roman-navy/
Feature on the Year of the Five Emperors:
https://www.thecollector.com/year-five-emperors/
Feature on the Artemesion jockey sculpture:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/06/jockey-of-artemision-greek-art-in-all-stunning-glory/
Feature on ancient Greek colour perception:
https://aeon.co/essays/can-we-hope-to-understand-how-the-greeks-saw-their-world
Feature on the Curse of Atreus:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/03/curse-house-atreus-greek-mythology/
Feature on snow in ancient Greece:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/04/ancient-greeks-snow/
Feature on Dionysus in India:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/06/greek-god-dionysus-campaign-india/
Feature on Circe:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/02/circe-witch-greek-mythology/
At the start of the week we were reading about a possible 'landmark deal' regarding the Parthenon Sculptures (loan based):
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-03/parthenon-marbles-may-return-to-greece-in-exchange-deal-with-uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/greece-elgin-marbles-george-osborne-kyriakos-mitsotakis-parthenon-b2255753.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/04/british-museum-panthenon-deal-elgin-marbles-loan/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/03/elgin-marbles-could-soon-returned-greece-landmark-deal/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/07/proposed-elgin-marbles-deal-may-see-ancient-greek-treasures/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1208/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1208/pub/1208/page/4/article/NaN
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11597017/Elgin-Marbles-soon-returned-Greece-long-term-loan-deal.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/elgin-marbles-one-step-from-athens-qxhnsc70c
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/elgin-marbles-close-to-greece-return-british-museum-george-osborne/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1201522/sculptures-deal-close-bloombeg-reports/
https://greekherald.com.au/news/reports-suggest-parthenon-marbles-exchange-deal-between-greece-and-the-uk-is-close/
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/04/parthenon-marbles-returned-greece-under-long-term-loan-deal/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/06/parthenon-marbles-swap-deal/
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/elgin-marbles-could-be-sent-to-greece-as-part-of-cultural-exchange/news
https://www.artforum.com/news/british-museum-acropolis-museum-closing-in-on-parthenon-marbles-agreement-89954
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/parthenon-marbles-british-museum-greece-deal-2238087
... the British Museum confirmed discussions were happening:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jan/04/british-museum-in-talks-with-greece-over-return-of-parthenon-marbles
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/british-museum-says-constructive-discussions-over-parthenon-marbles-2023-01-04/
https://www.dw.com/en/british-museum-confirms-talks-over-parthenon-marbles/a-64297043
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/greece-elgin-marbles-george-osborne-kyriakos-mitsotakis-parthenon-b2255753.html
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/british-museum-greece-elgin-marbles-george-osborne-elgin-b1050690.html
https://www.apollo-magazine.com/art-news-british-museum-greece-parthenon/
https://hypebeast.com/2023/1/british-museum-parthenon-marbles-greece-repatriation-talks
https://www.artnews.com/artnews/news/british-museum-confirms-secret-talks-greece-parthenon-marbles-1234652669/
... but Greece wouldn't confirm any deal:
https://neoskosmos.com/en/2023/01/04/news/greece/greece-wont-confirm-report-of-parthenon-marbles-return-via-uk-exchange-deal/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/48175-media-greece-denies-report-british-museum-will-return-parthenon-marbles.html
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/04/parthenon-sculptures-deal-denied-by-greek-culture-ministry/
... and once again, the 'ownership' is the sticking point:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/05/parthenon-marbles-homeward-bound-times/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/48184-greek-ministry-of-culture-british-museum-has-no-legal-right-to-parthenon-marbles.html
https://www.thenationalherald.com/ministry-of-culture-british-museum-has-no-legal-right-to-parthenon-sculptures-a-product-of-theft/
https://neoskosmos.com/en/2023/01/06/news/greece/ministry-of-culture-british-museum-has-no-legal-right-to-parthenon-sculptures-a-product-of-theft/
https://neoskosmos.com/en/2023/01/08/news/greece/you-cannot-borrow-something-that-has-been-stolen-from-you-syriza-says-on-parthenon-marbles/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/greece-rejects-parthenon-marbles-loan-plan-statement-1234652854/
... and very many OpEds with different spins were spawned:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ed-vaizey-stunning-treasures-await-if-british-museum-returns-the-elgin-marbles-77n5zn8lv
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/04/would-uncivilised-give-greece-elgin-marbles/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1176/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1176/pub/1176/page/13/article/NaN
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1201656/is-a-deal-on-the-parthenon-sculptures-possible/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1201733/whats-the-deal-with-the-parthenon-sculptures/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/05/britain-should-give-elgin-marbles-greece/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2023/01/06/fate-elgin-marbles-cant-george-osbornes-choice/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/06/george-osbornes-elgin-marbles-deal-dangerous-britains-museums/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11607903/ANDREW-PIERCE-gives-George-Osborne-right-send-Elgin-Marbles-Greece.html
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-elgin-marbles-and-the-rot-of-decolonisation/
... and former MPs were upset:
https://www.gbnews.uk/news/elgin-marbles-row-explodes-as-ex-labour-mp-lashes-out-at-plans-to-send-sculpture-to-greece-an-unacceptable-precedent/419238
... and Stephen Fry voiced his views again:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jan/05/stephen-fry-calls-for-return-of-parthenon-marbles-to-athens
... and the 'poll' of regular folks regarding the sculptures was brought up:
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/public-support-sending-elgin-marbles-back-greece-british-museum-parthenon-sculptures-b1050709.html
A background piece if you need a refresher:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/celebrity/arid-41040848.html
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-controversial-elgin-marbles-42261617.html
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:
http://romanarc.blogspot.com/
Rogueclassicism:
http://rogueclassicism.com/
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EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
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Roundup of finds in Norway in 2022:
https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology/heres-what-norwegian-archaeologists-discovered-in-2022/2136667
Study suggests the knowledge to produce pottery vessels came to Europe via Siberia:
https://arkeonews.net/the-ability-to-produce-ceramic-vessels-came-to-europe-via-siberia-and-the-caspian-sea-region/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/knowledge-for-producing-ceramic-vessels-also-came-to-europe-through-siberia-and-the-caspian-sea-region/145754
Plenty of interest in an 'amateur's' suggestion that 20 000 years bp 'proto-writing' on Ice Age cave paintings might be a sort of lunar calendar:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-cave-ice-age-hunter-gatherers-lunar.html
https://www.livescience.com/ice-age-cave-art-proto-writing-claim
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/05/amateur-archaeologist-uncovers-ice-age-writing-system
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-64162799
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stone-age-code-is-cracked-by-amateur-archaeologist-36xrstjtc
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-times-view-on-a-stone-age-writing-breakthrough-cracking-the-code-52xwztht8
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/05/mystery-ancient-dots-stripes-europes-caves-solved/
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-64162799
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11600289/Cave-art-decoded-cryptic-messages-deep-past-told-Ice-Age-hunters-pray-mating.html
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/paleolithic-markings-animal-hunting-scli-scn-intl/index.html
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article270815547.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726885
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634202-800-mysterious-symbols-in-cave-paintings-may-be-earliest-form-of-writing/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/amateur-archaeologist-decodes-ice-age-calendar-cave-paintings-animals-1234652741/
https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkg95v/a-total-amateur-may-have-just-rewritten-human-history-with-bombshell-discovery
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/ancient-code-in-ice-age-drawings-solved/145737
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/could-these-cave-markings-be-the-earliest-form-of-writing-180981403/
cf: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cambridge-archaeological-journal/article/an-upper-palaeolithic-protowriting-system-and-phenological-calendar/6F2AD8A705888F2226FE857840B4FE19
A 3000 years bp wooden 'wishing well' including some ritual deposits from Germering (Bavaria):
https://arkeonews.net/the-ability-to-produce-ceramic-vessels-came-to-europe-via-siberia-and-the-caspian-sea-region/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66104
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/ancient-wishing-well-with-ritual-deposits-discovered/145865
Remains of a 2500 years bp 'pantry' (storage pit) from a school construction site in Gaukonigshofen:
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article270869242.html
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article270869242.html
Not sure if we mentioned this Pictish stone find from Ulbster in Caithness:
https://the-past.com/news/second-pictish-stone-discovered-near-ulbster/
A 9th/11th century Viking hall site from Hune (Denmark):
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726926
https://www.iflscience.com/how-a-vast-viking-hall-discovered-in-denmark-is-linked-to-bluetooth-technology-66945
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/largest-viking-hall-excavated-hune-northern-jutland-denmark-2238738
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-unearth-large-viking-hall-in-denmark-180981397/
Evidence that the Flemish town of Ninove was inhabited in the 11th century:
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2023/01/03/archaeologists-prove-that-ninove-was-already-inhabited-in-the-11/
What they've learned so far from the dig at St Saviour's in Haverfordwest:
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pembrokeshires-medieval-mystery-could-soon-165359052.html
A drone has revealed the outline of a 'lost' medieval moated manor house in Yorkshire:
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/archaeologists-drone-discovers-outline-of-lost-medieval-moated-manor-house-in-fields-of-yorkshire-village-3977148
A 16th century silver button found by a Shropshire metal detectorist has been declared treasure:
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/bridgnorth/2023/01/05/silver-button-found-in-fields-declared-as-treasure/
A metal detectorist has found a 17th century gold ring in a Derbyshire field:
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/treasure-hunters-unearth-centuries-old-7996578
I think we mentioned the find of Portsmouth's sea defenses during excavations at Southsea Castle:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/remains-of-portsmouths-historic-defences-found-during-excavations-at-southsea-castle/145734
More on that Elizabethan shipwreck found in a Kent quarry:
https://www.livescience.com/ship-discovered-from-queen-elizabeth-reign
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/elizabethan-ship-quarry-kent-wessex-archaeology-2239483
https://arkeonews.net/rare-elizabethan-ship-discovered-at-a-quarry/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66057
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/12/ship-from-elizabethan-period-found-buried-in-quarry/145680
Plans for major restorations at the Sinai House in Burton:
https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/burton-news/big-plans-historic-sinai-house-7895551
Concerns for the site of Sycharth Castle (Wales):
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1204/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1204/pub/1204/page/25/article/NaN
Feature on some Norwegian petroglyph hunters:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/04/arts/design/petroglyph-hunters-norway.html
Feature pondering whether ancient Britons were Celts:
https://www.thecollector.com/were-the-britons-celts/
----------
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
============================================================
A 13 200 years bp 'ancient hominid' site from Shandong:
https://english.news.cn/20230107/d43f024bf71b4cdd8a569c11586e6ffe/c.html
10 000 or so Palaeolithic stoneware items from Inner Mongolia:
https://english.news.cn/20230103/6b92769a9404469b9947afbf926dfa5b/c.html
Palaeolithic finds (and later) from a site near the Mulanxi river in Fujian:
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2023-01/05/content_85041519.htm
Jade and stone finds (Neolithic and five Han Dynasty tombs) from the Lingjiatan site in Anhui:
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202301/03/WS63b37dafa31057c47eba7542.html
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article270776022.html
https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/world/article270776022.html
14 tombs ranging from Eastern Han Dynasty to Ming Dynasty from Hunan:
https://dailytimes.com.pk/1045101/archaeologists-unearth-14-ancient-tombs-in-central-china/
More than 300 tombs dating 4500 years bp or so from Henan:
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202301/07/WS63b8ebd2a31057c47eba841f.html
A study of repairs to the Great Wall:
https://www.jpost.com/science/article-726479
Archaeologists in Sri Lanka say there is no evidence bone fragments from the Mihintale monastery site are relics of Arhant Anula Theri:
https://island.lk/no-scientific-evidence-to-prove-bone-fragments-are-relics-of-arahant-anula-archaeologists/
Latest finds from excavations at a Harappan necropolis in Gujarat:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gujarats-harappan-necropolis-reveal-death-rituals-of-5000-years-ago/articleshow/96821787.cms
A 14th century inscription/relief from Kundapur Taluk:
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/050123/rare-inscription-belonging-to-alupa-king-basava-shankara-alupendra-fou.html
Feature on the Hindu Shahi Dynasty:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/mindfly/the-hindu-shahi-dynasty-forgotten-clan-of-varaha-rajput/
Plans for eight digs in Tamil Nadu this year:
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/tamil-nadu-plans-archaeological-excavations-in-8-locations-this-year-1178239.html
============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
============================================================
More on the vandalism to petroglyphs at Koonalda Cave:
https://www.iflscience.com/vandals-destroy-22-000-year-old-australian-cave-art-after-protection-calls-ignored-66934
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
Study suggests the Bering Land Bridge formed much later than previously thought:
https://www.livescience.com/bering-land-bridge-formation-ice-age
More on 'Indigenous' dogs at Jamestown:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-ancient-indigenous-dogs-jamestown-proof.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/01/04/jamestown-indigenous-dog-discovery/10982773002/
https://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/bones-of-indigenous-dogs-found-at-jamestown/article_c32f1636-8d12-11ed-8a32-4fc6e643fd43.html
More on those earliest projectile points from Idaho:
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/history/osu-uncovers-oldest-projectile-points/283-2ce6241c-1b18-415e-9d97-452b859d876a
More on the latest finds from the Franklin Expedition wrecks:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/2022-excavation-franklin-ship-northwest-passage-1.6703841
https://www.wireservice.ca/275-artifacts-were-recovered-from-the-wreckage-of-franklins-lost-voyage/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726931
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-recover-275-artifacts-from-franklin-shipwreck-in-the-canadian-arctic-180981391/
Seeking a pardon for a soldier executed in 1813:
https://www.timesunion.com/history/article/East-Greenbush-historian-seeks-gubernatorial-17692497.php
Trying to dave the home of a secret society tied to the Underground Railroad in Brooklyn:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/20/nyregion/united-order-of-tents-brooklyn.html
============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
A mammoth kill site at Santa Isabel Ixtapan was apparently a seasonal hunting camp:
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/new-findings-ice-age-site/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/mammoth-kill-site-was-a-seasonal-hunting-camp/145731
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11109-230106-mexico-hunter-gatherers
Ruins on Mount Tlaloc are an ancient observatory:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/ruins-on-mount-tlaloc-are-an-ancient-observatory/145743
A study suggests some 50 000 years bp stone 'tools' were made by Capuchin monkeys:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-01-05/ty-article/monkeys-trash-theory-of-people-in-americas-tens-of-thousands-of-years-ago/00000185-81eb-df9e-a3bf-87ef3d130000
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ancient-tools-monkeys-2237820
https://www.sciencealert.com/monkeys-not-humans-made-ancient-sets-of-stone-tools-in-brazil-study-finds
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/12/50000-year-old-stone-tools-were-made-by-monkeys/145671
Study suggests the Maya used/were aware of market-based economics:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-mayas-market-based-economics.html
Study suggests Maya structures at Aguada Fenix were aligned according to a 260-day calendar:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726639
https://www.iflscience.com/ancient-maya-structures-were-aligned-to-a-mysterious-260-day-calendar-66971
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/origins-of-the-mesoamerican-astronomy-and-calendar-from-the-olmec-and-maya-regions/145761
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earliest-evidence-of-260-day-calendar-use-found-in-mexico-180981399/
Feature on leap years in the Aztec calendar:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/how-the-aztec-calendar-accounted-for-leap-years
Feature on the Nazca Lines:
https://www.grunge.com/1156682/the-history-of-perus-nazca-lines/
Concerns arising from the Tren Maya route:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/mexicos-mayan-train-threat-ancient-areas-scientists-warn-rcna64212
... and a blockage at Chichen Itza related to such concerns:
https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2023/01/chichen-itza-blockade-attempts-against-the-maya-train-project-in-yucatan/
... and where INAH is excavating along the route:
https://riviera-maya-news.com/inah-concentrating-on-archaeological-excavation-in-sections-5-6-and-7-of-maya-train/2023.html
Ancient Americas events for January:
https://mikeruggerisevents.tumblr.com
Latest Aztlander Magazine of the Americas:
https://aztlander.wordpress.com/2023/01/01/aztlander-magazine-of-the-americas-january-2023/
-----
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
============================================================
Gold and silver artifacts dug up in 2022:
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology-buried-treasures
96 finds from 2022 (not just archaeological):
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ninety-six-fascinating-finds-revealed-in-2022-180981360/
10 archaeology finds from 2022:
https://listverse.com/2022/12/11/10-amazing-archaeological-discoveries-revealed-in-2022/
The 'most impactful' finds of 2022:
https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/news/the-most-impactful-archaeological-discoveries-of-1234652275/
Another list:
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/archaeologists-reshaped-world-history-in-2022-with-new-discoveries
... and another:
https://www.livescience.com/top-10-archaeological-findings-2022
... and another:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2022-12-29/ty-article-timeline/the-most-intriguing-archaeological-revelations-around-the-world-in-2022/00000185-5d0f-d7ac-a587-ddcf56730000
... and another:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/12/top-10-archaeological-discoveries-of-2022/145468
... and another:
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/art-archaeology-discoveries-2022/index.html
... and another:
https://news.yahoo.com/coolest-archaeological-discoveries-2022-185000104.html
https://gizmodo.com/top-archaeology-discoveries-2022-1849907440
... and another:
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/2022s-best-archaeological-discoveries-2231752
... and another:
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/fossils-discovered-mongolia-19th-century-shipwrecks-biggest-archeological/story?id=95015690
... and another:
https://www.9news.com.au/world/the-best-ancient-finds-of-2022-wrap-up/b0330a0f-dd36-4953-828c-dbe04b075d4a
Speculating what might be found this year:
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology-predictions-2023
On items entering the public domain this year:
https://apnews.com/article/public-domain-2023-5c30746553953b5accffcbaa9e860de0
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/01/01/sherlock-holmes-enters-the-public-domain---here-are-the-other-works-free-to-use-in-2023/?sh=57df0a243dff
https://mymodernmet.com/public-domain-works-2023/
Edward the Black Prince probably didn't die from chronic dysentery:
https://phys.org/news/2022-12-chronic-dysentery-killer-edward-black.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/974699
A recent biographer of Vermeer reveals how a 'forerunner' of photography influenced his work:
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1175/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1175/pub/1175/page/34/article/NaN
Arguing about the authenticity of Vermeer's 'Girl with a flute':
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jan/02/vermeer-row-authenticity-girl-with-a-flute-painting
Xrays revealed a hidden Cezanne portrait:
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/12/21/cincinnati-art-museum-discovers-hidden-work-under-a-cezanne-painting/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-158-years-a-cezanne-self-portrait-hid-behind-a-still-life-of-bread-and-eggs-180981323/?
Latest bad restoration is at London's National Gallery, apparently:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/national-gallery-london-restoration-nativity-scene-1234651048/
Actor Edward Norton is apparently related to Pocahontas:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/entertainment/edward-norton-pocahontas-intl-scli/index.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64158055
Feature on James Blyth and wind-generated electricity:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/22/james-blyth-scottish-engineer-wind-power
A Robert Burns book found in a barber shop has gone on display:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jan/03/rare-robert-burns-book-found-in-a-barber-shop-goes-on-display
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-robert-burns-book-saved-from-barber-shop-180981379/
A possible image of Jack the Ripper on a walking stick:
https://www.iflscience.com/face-of-jack-the-ripper-may-be-on-this-130-year-old-walking-stick-66910
On the origin of dragons:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-mysterious-origin-of-dragons
On the history of swimming:
https://theconversation.com/the-earliest-humans-swam-100-000-years-ago-but-swimming-remains-a-privileged-pastime-196045
On the origins of the 'uncluttered' home:
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230103-the-historical-origins-of-the-de-cluttered-home
On the history of leech therapy:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/12/20/history-of-leech-therapy/
On rituals:
https://theconversation.com/why-rituals-have-been-crucial-for-humans-throughout-history-and-why-we-still-need-them-193951
Feature on Royston Cave and its Templar connections:
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20221212-a-secret-site-for-the-knights-templar
In case you're wondering about the progress of that Bayeax Tapestry recreation:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-63961721
More on the Notre Dame sarcophagi:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/unraveling-the-secrets-of-the-sarcophagi-found-underneath-notre-dame-180981305/?
============================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
Using Thucydides to understand the January 6, 2021 events:
https://theconversation.com/ancient-greece-had-extreme-polarization-and-civil-strife-too-how-thucydides-can-help-us-understand-jan-6-and-its-aftermath-196928
Marking the solstice at Newgrange:
https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2022/1221/1343102-newgrange-solstice/
https://www.thejournal.ie/newgrange-2-5953011-Dec2022/
https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2022/12/21/partial-illumination-at-newgrange-for-winter-solstice/
https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/1220/1342993-3d-models-tomb/
... and in ancient Greece:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/12/22/winter-solstice-ancient-greece/
Features on Hanukkah and the Maccabees:
https://news.yahoo.com/9-things-know-chanukah-212226468.html
https://mosaicmagazine.com/observation/history-ideas/2022/12/the-maccabees-the-greeks-and-the-origins-of-the-conflict-between-hellenism-and-hebraism/
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/rj7smvzfj
On Christmas tree origins:
https://www.livescience.com/tree-tradition-older-than-christmas
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/christmas-tree-history
On the Magi:
https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/christmas-nativity-story-three-wise-men-who-were
On whether Santa Claus is buried in Ireland:
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20221213-is-santa-claus-buried-in-ireland
On the 'darker side' of Christmas:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/dec/22/from-easily-angered-gnomes-to-child-eating-giants-european-folklore-reveals-a-darker-side-to-christmas
Pondering where Jesus was born:
https://www.dw.com/en/was-jesus-born-in-a-different-bethlehem/video-64213876
On medieval sword fighting:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20221124-the-lost-medieval-sword-fighting-tricks-no-one-can-decode
On the history of chocolate:
https://theconversation.com/the-history-of-chocolate-when-money-really-did-grow-on-trees-196173
On Auld Lang Syne:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/12/29/auld-lang-syne-lyrics-song-meaning/10955808002/
On ancient New Year's Eve:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/12/30/new-years-eve-in-ancient-times/
... and the New Year in Alexander the Great's empire:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/12/31/how-new-year-celebrated-alexander-the-great-empire/
On the history of champagne:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/a-brief-history-of-champagne-were-those-bubbles-an-accident
... and resolutions:
https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions
A Russian-Ukrainian dispute over Scythian gold:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/18/ukraine-museums-scythian-gold-russian-looters-putin
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/479899/Gold-treasures-of-ancient-Iranian-migrants-break-out-another
On the effects of the war on sites in Ukraine:
https://www.newsweek.com/catastrophic-putin-war-wiping-out-ukraine-recent-history-1771314
============================================================
ANIMAL AND PLANT DOMESTICATIONS
============================================================
On cats in medieval manuscripts:
https://theconversation.com/cats-in-the-middle-ages-what-medieval-manuscripts-teach-us-about-our-ancestors-pets-195389
Feature on dogs in ancient Egypt:
https://www.thecollector.com/dogs-in-ancient-egypt/
On the history of the thornapple:
https://theconversation.com/the-peculiar-history-of-thornapple-the-hallucinogenic-weed-that-ended-up-in-supermarket-spinach-197014
============================================================
LANGUAGE RELATED
============================================================
On translating pre-Roman languages:
https://english.elpais.com/culture/2022-12-31/the-incredible-art-of-translating-pre-roman-languages-without-a-rosetta-stone.html
On the invention of the alphabet:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/inventing-alphabet-180976520/?
============================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
Treasures of Miletus:
https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/treasures-miletus-altes-museum-berlin
Tudors:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/12/30/tudors-art-power-met/
The World in Maps 1400-1600:
https://mailchi.mp/dailynutmeg/beinecke-library-world-in-maps-1400-1600-treasured-maps
Painted Cloth: Fashion and Ritual in Colonial Latin America:
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20221229-the-colonial-clothing-that-reveals-hidden-truths-about-race
cf: https://blantonmuseum.org/exhibition/painted-cloth-fashion-and-ritual-in-colonial-latin-america/
They're hyping the impending opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum:
https://hypebeast.com/2023/1/the-grand-egyptian-museum-announcement
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2225266/middle-east
============================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
============================================================
A study of the genetic history of Scandinavia:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-years-genetic-history-scandinavia-elucidates.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230105151301.htm
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/975742
https://theconversation.com/dna-reveals-large-migration-into-scandinavia-during-the-viking-age-197221
https://www.science.org/content/article/brutal-massacre-sheds-light-migration-during-viking-age
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/study-shows-how-viking-age-left-mark-genetics-scandinavians-2023-01-05/
https://arkeonews.net/new-study-investigates-the-development-of-the-scandinavian-gene-pool-over-the-latest-2000-years/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/dna-resolves-the-complex-relations-between-geography-ancestry-and-gene-flow-in-scandinavia/145740
DNA traces a number of Caribbean breadfruit back to Captain Bligh:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-caribbean-breadfruit-capt-bligh-.html
============================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
============================================================
Assorted modern forensic technologies reveal the 'raw violence' suffered by a 700 years bp sword victim from Cittiglio:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-modern-tools-reveal-brutality-death.html
https://www.livescience.com/medieval-sword-murder-victim-revealed-italy
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11108-230105-italy-sword-wounds
Neutron tomography has revealed bone fragments in a 12 century reliquary pendant:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-non-destructive-neutron-tomography-reveals-bone.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66097
Egypt wants to use sensor tech to map archaeological sites:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-embarks-on-challenge-to-find-sensor-tech-to-map-archaeological-sites/
A facial reconstruction of Ramesses II:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11569191/Ramesses-II-Scientists-reconstruct-handsome-face-ancient-Egypts-powerful-pharaoh.html
... and one for St Anthony of Padua:
https://www.livescience.com/facial-approximation-saint-anthony-padua
... and the Connecticut vampire (again):
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/face-of-19th-century-connecticut-vampire-reconstructed/145722
============================================================
TV/DOCUMENTARY HYPISH THINGS
============================================================
Latest reaction to the Ancient Apocalypse series:
https://hyperallergic.com/791381/why-archaeologists-are-fuming-over-netflixs-ancient-apocalypse-series/
============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
Two people were arrested at the Greek port of Igoumenitsa while carrying plenty of suspect artifacts:
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1201525/two-people-stopped-at-port-carrying-dozens-of-suspect-artifacts/
Police seize a Rubens from a Genoa exhibition which we probably will read more about:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/04/italian-police-widen-fraud-investigation-after-seizing-rubens-painting-from-genoa-exhibition
Douglas Latchford's 'scholar' associate at the Denver Art Museum has been revealed:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/05/revelations-in-cambodia-looting-scandal-name-scholar-at-denver-art-museum-as-accomplice-to-disgraced-dealer-douglas-latchford
More on that major bust by Spanish police in Alicante:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/02/spanish-police-find-hundreds-of-archaeological-artefacts-at-two-homes
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/spain-alicante-archaeological-artifacts-seized/index.html
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/spanish-police-raid-hundreds-artifacts-2237752
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66080
----------
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
============================================================
The Houston Museum of Natural Sciences has returned the 'Green Mummy/Coffin/Sarcophagus' to Egypt (along with other things):
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-looted-ancient-sarcophagus-egypt.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64147545
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/03/us-museum-returns-looted-ancient-sarcophagus-to-egypt
https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2023/01/02/egypt-recovers-green-coffin-from-houston-museum-of-natural-sciences/
https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-recovers-green-coffin-from-united-states/
https://see.news/antiquities-minister-17-artifacts-including-green-coffin-recovered-from-us
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/mostafa-waziri-sarcophagus-egypt-b2254835.html
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230102-egypt-recovers-2-700-year-old-sarcophagus-lid-from-us
https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20230102-egypt-recovers-2-700-year-old-sarcophagus-lid-from-us
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-01-02/looted-ancient-egyptian-sarcophagus-returned-from-us
https://apnews.com/article/science-politics-egypt-government-manhattan-21fe41acdce6ba04b8183c0cda9afa3f
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/looted-ancient-sarcophagus-returned-to-egypt-from-us/2023/01/02/6e864c2a-8a93-11ed-b86a-2e3a77336b8e_story.html
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/egypt-green-sarcophagus/index.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sarcophagus-returned-to-egypt-houston-museum-of-natural-sciences/
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-returns-looted-2500-year-old-sarcophagus-to-egypt
https://www.timesofisrael.com/2500-year-old-looted-sarcophagus-returned-to-egypt-from-us/
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3205349/looted-ancient-sarcophagus-returns-egypt-us-years-after-it-was-smuggled-through-germany
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66074
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/looted-ancient-egyptian-sarcophagus-returns-home-180981388/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11106-230104-egypt-coffin-repatriation
The US returned a looted antiquity to the Palestinian Authority (!):
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/05/arts/design/relic-repatriated-palestinian-authority.html
https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/132666
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-gives-palestinians-looted-antiquity-owned-by-steinhardt-in-1st-such-repatriation/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726848
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/us-palestinian-authority-looted-antiquity-intl-scli/index.html
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/us-repatriate-first-looted-antiquity-to-palestine-2239461
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/01/us-repatriates-2700-year-old-artifact-palestine
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/american-officials-repatriate-looted-ivory-spoon-palestine-michael-steinhardt-1234652921/
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-palestine-looted-artefact-returned
Plenty of coverage of the return of Benin Bronzes from Germany:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/20/germany-returns-21-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria-amid-frustration-at-britain
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64038626
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/germanys-foreign-minister-returns-looted-benin-bronzes-on-a-trip-to-nigeria-nnqrgzng9
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/20/arts/benin-bronzes-nigeria-germany.html
https://von.gov.ng/germany-officially-repatriates-22-looted-artefacts-to-nigeria/
https://www.dw.com/en/the-long-road-to-restoring-benins-cultural-artefacts/a-60120216
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/21/germany-nigeria-benin-bronzes-return/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/germany-returns-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria-2234316
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/12/22/germany-kicks-off-major-benin-bronze-restitution-with-return-of-20-artefacts-to-nigeria
Ireland will be returning more items to Egypt:
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/12/egyptian-monuments-repatriated-after-century
An accounting of last year's returns to Egypt:
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2023/01/04/egypt-recovered-more-than-110-artefacts-in-2022/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/121600/Egypt-recovered-80-artifacts-from-France-England-US-Uruguay
Mexico recovered over 3000 items last year:
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/mexico-recovered-over-3000-artifacts-from-abroad-in-2022/
Another call for the return of the Altar of Pergamon:
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/german-official-suggests-return-of-pergamon-altar-to-turkiye-179857
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/german-undersecretary-calls-for-returning-pergamon-altar-to-turkiye/news
An 8th century Cypriot jug smuggled in the 1974 Turkish invasion is being returned:
https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/12/20/ancient-cyprus-jug-returned-to-rightful-owner/
Feature on all the items 'the rest of the world' wants back from the UK:
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/world-news/ancient-artefacts-rest-world-wants-25849028
On items India is waiting to be returned:
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/72-artefacts-awaiting-repatriation-from-11-countries-ls-told-8335544/
OpEd relating to the Met's returns of Cycladic items to Greece:
https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1200681/repatriation-or-cession/
An item recovered from a Christie's auction last year and returned to Greece is now on display:
https://www.ekathimerini.com/newsasset/1200747/recovered-artifact-showcased-at-epigraphic-museum/
A Nazi-looted Beethoven manuscript was returned:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nazi-stolen-beethoven-manuscript-returned-to-original-owners-180981251/?
More on the Greek coins seized in Chicago:
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20221221/robbing-from-the-cultural-heritage-of-a-nation-feds-return-ancient-greek-coins-seized-at-ohare
============================================================
NUMISMATICA
============================================================
Criticism of numismatic studies in Kashmir:
https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/op-ed/numismatics-a-neglected-discipline
The Aethelstan Museum has purchased an Aethelstan coin:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-64165743
Latest e-Sylum:
https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n01.html
... and the one which should appear later today:
https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n02.html
------------------------
Coin Week:
http://www.coinweek.com/
============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
Menahem Schmelzer:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/27/books/menahem-schmelzer-dead.html
============================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
============================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:
https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3230-audio-news-from-archaeologica-december-25th-through-the-31st-2022
============================================================
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
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You can read Explorator online at:
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Explorator is Copyright (c) 2023 David Meadows. Feel free to
distribute these listings via email to your pals, students,
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making use of content gathered in Explorator. Thanks!
===========================================================
explorator 25.38 January 8, 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, Bill Gebhardt,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).
n.b. there are some 'older' items in the 'Interest' sections (I think I'm pretty much caught up now)
============================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
Pondering the apparent disappearance of Neanderthals:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/why-did-neanderthals-disappear
A study of what scents various ancient hominids could perceive:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-ancient-humans-sensitivities.html
cf: https://www.cell.com/iscience/pdf/S2589-0042(22)02181-2.pdf
Comparing Neanderthal and Sapiens brains:
https://theconversation.com/human-and-neanderthal-brains-have-a-surprising-youthful-quality-in-common-new-research-finds-191594
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-human-neanderthal-brains-youthful-quality.html
https://www.livescience.com/youthful-human-and-neanderthal-brains
cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-022-01933-6
More on the million-year-old homo erectus skull excavated in China:
https://english.cctv.com/2023/01/03/VIDEdwiaMuS3yYvMJsX6ASvZ230103.shtml
https://english.news.cn/20230105/d94363034bb6433ca190678ee3c3102a/c.html
More on early humans wearing bearskins 300 000 years bp:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/05/europe/bear-skins-prehistoric-clothing-scn/index.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/prehistoric-europeans-surviving-winter-fur-b2255116.html
https://www.sciencealert.com/cut-marks-on-ancient-bones-reveal-what-was-in-fashion-320000-years-ago
https://www.iflscience.com/humans-were-skinning-bears-to-wear-their-fur-320-000-years-ago-66923
More on early humans sailing the Aegean some 450 000 years bp:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/04/archaic-humans-sailed-to-aegean-islands-450000-years-ago-new-study-shows/
============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
Feature on the Slave Wrecks Project (mostly with an Africa focus):
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/08/a-search-for-ourselves-shipwreck-becomes-focus-of-slavery-debate
============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
============================================================
Egypt made 26 archaeological announcements in 2022:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/121752/Egypt-s-Ministry-of-Tourism-Antiquities-announces-26-archaeological-discoveries
Feature on Egypt's Red List to recover assorted Egyptian artifacts:
https://cairoscene.com/Buzz/National-Red-List-Will-Keep-Track-of-Smuggled-Egyptian-Artefacts
More on the find of noble burials (and nine crocodile heads) from the Theban necropolis:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/mysterious-crocodile-heads-discovered-ancient-egyptian-tomb-1234652532/
More on the find of 60 'renegade mummies' from the tomb of Amenhotep Huy:
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archaeologists-discover-60-egyptian-mummies-luxor-2238388
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/04/discovery-of-60-mummies-in-egyptian-city-of-luxor-points-to-elaborate-burial-ground
Feature on the bust of Nefertiti:
https://egyptindependent.com/nefertiti-the-confused-egyptian-queen-between-her-original-homeland-and-her-german-residence/
Feature on Tutankhamun's 'space dagger':
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0dtmhm8/the-mystery-of-tutankhamun-s-space-dagger-
In case you missed the revival of the 'tomb of Osiris' stuff:
https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-egypt-tomb-of-osiris-735147367651
A study of 200 skeletons taken from the Parthian/Sassanid burial ground in Gilan:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480515/200-ancient-human-skeletons-under-study-at-anthropology-laboratory
Archaeologists have 'redrawn' the boundaries for the Neolithic village of Leylan in northwest Iran:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480453/Archaeologists-redraw-boundaries-for-Neolithic-village
Concerns for sites in the area of the Chamshir Dam in southwest Iran:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480356/Historical-site-in-western-Iran-on-the-verge-of-sinking
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480563/Reservoir-may-submerge-Elamite-Achaemenid-and-Islamic-relics
Feature on the Ziggurat of Ur:
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220822-the-ziggurat-of-ur-iraqs-answer-to-the-pyramids
Feature on the Hanging Gardens:
https://www.thecollector.com/hanging-gardens-babylon/
Concerns arising for various sites in Assur:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/archaeology-today/iraqs-capital-catastrophe/
Vague item on the find of a possible Islamic-era site near Pul Alam (Afghanistan):
https://www.ariananews.af/islamic-era-archeological-site-discovered-in-afghanistans-logar-province/
Overview of finds in Turkey in December 2022:
https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/december-2022-turkish-archaeology
Overview of finds in Turkey in all of 2022:
https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/archaeology-turkey-2022-review
In case you missed the restoration of a 2000 years bp Roman fountain in Kibyra (Turkiye):
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/after-1-300-years-water-to-again-flow-from-monumental-fountain-in-ancient-city-in-turkiye-/2776267
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/2000-year-old-fountain-flows-once-again-in-turkiyes-ancient-city/news
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11104-230103-turkey-fountain-kibyra
Feature on assorted problems folks had to deal with living in Catalhoyuk:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/this-ancient-proto-city-was-plagued-with-modern-urban-problems
More on the possible location of Zippalanda at Usakli Hoyuk:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/hittite-cult-center-uncovered-in-turkey/
https://arkeonews.net/the-circular-shaped-structure-unearthed-in-usakli-mound-may-point-to-the-holy-hittite-city-of-zippalanda/
Remains of a Byzantine monk 'chained' with iron rings from Khirbat el-Masani:
https://arkeonews.net/byzantine-monk-chained-with-iron-rings-unearthed-near-jerusalem/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/byzantine-monk-chained-with-iron-rings-uncovered/145717
Feature on the site of the Herodian fortress at Macareus:
https://jordantimes.com/news/local/isolated-archaeological-site-offers-%E2%80%98time-capsule%E2%80%99-biblical-story
A study of Late Middle Paleolithic production of blades and hafting from a site in Israel:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-mass-production-stone-bladelets-cultural.html
cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-27321-5
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41982-022-00131-x
Evidence that the Canaanites were using silver for currency (maybe):
https://www.timesofisrael.com/study-claims-hoards-of-3600-year-old-cut-silver-pieces-are-first-currency-in-levant/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-01-08/ty-article/canaanites-also-used-silver-as-currency-archaeologists-deduce/00000185-90aa-d94b-ad8d-beefc4410000
I think we mentioned this coin dating to the Bar Kochba Revolt from a dig in the Murabba'at caves:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726800
Feature on the 'reconstruction' of a 5th century Christian 'cathedral' at Antiochia Hippos:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-01-03/ty-article-magazine/archaeologists-reconstruct-huge-early-christian-cathedral-in-northern-israel/00000185-76c5-dfb6-a1a7-7ffd987d0000
Feature on Michael Langlois' work detecting forgeries among the DSS and other texts:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-unorthodox-scholar-uses-technology-expose-biblical-forgeries-180981290/?
More on the finds from the Cave of Salome:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/cave-of-salome-excavated/
More on plans to excavate at the Pool of Siloam site:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/12/archaeologists-to-excavate-the-ancient-pool-of-siloam/145668
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/03/pool-siloam-open-jerusalem-after-2000-years/
... which seem connected to an ongoing project to reveal and revive the Pilgrimage Route:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726942
Remains of a 5000 years bp settlement site in Al Mudhaibi (Oman):
https://arkeonews.net/5000-year-old-settlement-unearthed-in-al-mudhaibi-oman/
Feature on the location of the Luwian culture (by Zangger):
https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2023/01/luwian-culture-map
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:
https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/
============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
============================================================
Still not really sure where to put this find of a 2000 years bp 'Scythian' burial ground in Siberia:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-01-01/ty-article/siberian-gravediggers-find-2-000-year-old-scythian-style-cemetery/00000185-6d65-d591-a1fd-fd6d40ce0000
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/kurgan-tomb-from-lost-culture-discovered/145725
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66063
A Phoenician plaque from Cyprus (found in 2021):
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/07/ancient-plaque-cyprus-phoenician/
A Hellenistic (?) Greek/Bactrian inscription from Tajikistan:
https://akipress.com/news:690465:Rock_inscriptions_in_Greek_discovered_on_mountain_in_Central_Asia/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/03/recently-discovered-inscriptions-from-the-greek-colonies-of-central-asia/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726432
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/01/rock-inscriptions-greek-central-asia/
A possible Gallo-Roman mausoleum site from near Neris-les Bains:
https://www.inrap.fr/un-mausolee-antique-decouvert-neris-les-bains-allier-16994
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/05/roman-era-mausoleum-uncovered-in-france-reveals-frieze-fragment-showing-an-image-of-the-greek-sea-god-triton/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/gallo-roman-mausoleum-was-uncovered-in-france-1234652879/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11107-230104-france-mausoleum-fragments
A well-preseved section of Roman road from Corby:
https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/exceptionally-preserved-corby-roman-road-discovery-strengthens-understanding-of-towns-2000-year-old-manufacturing-roots-3975153
Columns from Diocletian's palace at Split found incorporated into other structures (Croatian):
https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/ekskluzivne-snimke-antickih-stupova-koji-su-stoljecima-bili-skriveni-od-ociju-javnosti---757111.html
Latest study revealing why Roman concrete was so durable:
https://news.mit.edu/2023/roman-concrete-durability-lime-casts-0106
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230106144441.htm
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/06/self-healing-roman-concrete-could-aid-modern-construction-study-suggests
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/06/secret-ingredient-roman-concrete-means-buildings-can-last-millennia/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11607129/How-Pantheon-stayed-intact-2-000-years.html
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-01-06/ty-article/researchers-reveal-why-ancient-roman-monuments-still-stand-after-millennia/00000185-81f1-df9e-a3bf-87f572a70000
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/roman-concrete-mystery-ingredient-scn/index.html
https://www.dw.com/en/how-ancient-romes-concrete-recipe-can-help-lower-emissions/a-64308279
https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/secret-to-durability-of-roman-concrete-that-has-stood-test-of-time-for-over-2000-years-finally-unearthed-3976887
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/07/ancient-roman-concrete-could-self-heal-thanks-to-hot-mixing-with-quicklime/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726884
https://www.science.org/content/article/scientists-may-have-found-magic-ingredient-behind-ancient-romes-self-healing-concrete
https://www.sciencealert.com/we-finally-know-how-ancient-roman-concrete-was-so-durable
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/01/ancient-roman-concrete-could-self-heal-thanks-to-hot-mixing-with-quicklime/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/secret-of-roman-concrete-solved/145758
cf: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.add1602
The Garonne treasure of 4001 Roman coins from a 2nd century shipwreck has gone on display:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66089
Photos taken during the Thessaloniki metro project:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/08/excavations-construct-salonica-metro/
More on chemical analysis confirming a Roman presence at Kalkrise:
https://www.europeantimes.news/2023/01/chemical-analysis-confirmed-the-site-of-death-of-the-xix-roman-legion/
A plan to get more young people digging at Vindolanda:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-64160591
Feature on Persian accounts of Alexander:
https://scroll.in/article/1040609/how-persian-literature-imagined-alexander-the-greats-romantic-relationships-around-the-world
Feature on Roman gold mining in Las Medulas:
https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-01-07/this-is-how-the-romans-squeezed-the-gold.html
Feature on the find of the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak in Bulgaria during WWII:
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2023/01/soldiers-stumbled-upon-a-2400-year-old-tomb-on-the-battlefields-of-wwii
Feature/TV hype for Stortford's Roman past:
https://www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/grange-paddocks-puts-bishops-stortford-of-the-roman-map-9291959/
Feature on Cleomenes I of Sparta:
https://www.thecollector.com/cleomenes-i-sparta-king/
Feature on Roman road building:
https://www.openculture.com/2023/01/how-the-ancient-romans-built-their-roads-the-lifelines-of-their-vast-empire.html
Feature on the Legio V Macedonica:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/legio-v-macedonica-the-last-roman-legion/145686
Feature on the Trojan War:
https://www.thecollector.com/was-the-trojan-war-real/
Feature on the Peloponnesian War:
https://www.thecollector.com/what-was-the-peloponnesian-war/
Feature on Pliny the Elder's coverage of Classical art and architecture:
https://www.thecollector.com/pliny-elder-art-and-architecture/
... and his Natural History in general:
https://www.thecollector.com/pliny-elder-natural-history/
Feature on Aesop:
https://www.thecollector.com/who-was-aesop/
Feature on the 'toys' of Dionysus:
https://www.thecollector.com/toys-dionysus-mysteries/
Feature on Roman business practices:
https://spectator.com.au/2023/01/doing-good-business/
Feature on sailing the Roman Mediterranean:
https://www.thecollector.com/ancient-mariners-roman-mediterranean/
Feature on the Roman navy:
https://www.thecollector.com/roman-navy/
Feature on the Year of the Five Emperors:
https://www.thecollector.com/year-five-emperors/
Feature on the Artemesion jockey sculpture:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/06/jockey-of-artemision-greek-art-in-all-stunning-glory/
Feature on ancient Greek colour perception:
https://aeon.co/essays/can-we-hope-to-understand-how-the-greeks-saw-their-world
Feature on the Curse of Atreus:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/03/curse-house-atreus-greek-mythology/
Feature on snow in ancient Greece:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/04/ancient-greeks-snow/
Feature on Dionysus in India:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/06/greek-god-dionysus-campaign-india/
Feature on Circe:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/02/circe-witch-greek-mythology/
At the start of the week we were reading about a possible 'landmark deal' regarding the Parthenon Sculptures (loan based):
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-03/parthenon-marbles-may-return-to-greece-in-exchange-deal-with-uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/greece-elgin-marbles-george-osborne-kyriakos-mitsotakis-parthenon-b2255753.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/04/british-museum-panthenon-deal-elgin-marbles-loan/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/03/elgin-marbles-could-soon-returned-greece-landmark-deal/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/07/proposed-elgin-marbles-deal-may-see-ancient-greek-treasures/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1208/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1208/pub/1208/page/4/article/NaN
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11597017/Elgin-Marbles-soon-returned-Greece-long-term-loan-deal.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/elgin-marbles-one-step-from-athens-qxhnsc70c
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/elgin-marbles-close-to-greece-return-british-museum-george-osborne/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1201522/sculptures-deal-close-bloombeg-reports/
https://greekherald.com.au/news/reports-suggest-parthenon-marbles-exchange-deal-between-greece-and-the-uk-is-close/
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/04/parthenon-marbles-returned-greece-under-long-term-loan-deal/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/06/parthenon-marbles-swap-deal/
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/elgin-marbles-could-be-sent-to-greece-as-part-of-cultural-exchange/news
https://www.artforum.com/news/british-museum-acropolis-museum-closing-in-on-parthenon-marbles-agreement-89954
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/parthenon-marbles-british-museum-greece-deal-2238087
... the British Museum confirmed discussions were happening:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jan/04/british-museum-in-talks-with-greece-over-return-of-parthenon-marbles
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/british-museum-says-constructive-discussions-over-parthenon-marbles-2023-01-04/
https://www.dw.com/en/british-museum-confirms-talks-over-parthenon-marbles/a-64297043
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/greece-elgin-marbles-george-osborne-kyriakos-mitsotakis-parthenon-b2255753.html
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/british-museum-greece-elgin-marbles-george-osborne-elgin-b1050690.html
https://www.apollo-magazine.com/art-news-british-museum-greece-parthenon/
https://hypebeast.com/2023/1/british-museum-parthenon-marbles-greece-repatriation-talks
https://www.artnews.com/artnews/news/british-museum-confirms-secret-talks-greece-parthenon-marbles-1234652669/
... but Greece wouldn't confirm any deal:
https://neoskosmos.com/en/2023/01/04/news/greece/greece-wont-confirm-report-of-parthenon-marbles-return-via-uk-exchange-deal/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/48175-media-greece-denies-report-british-museum-will-return-parthenon-marbles.html
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/04/parthenon-sculptures-deal-denied-by-greek-culture-ministry/
... and once again, the 'ownership' is the sticking point:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/05/parthenon-marbles-homeward-bound-times/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/48184-greek-ministry-of-culture-british-museum-has-no-legal-right-to-parthenon-marbles.html
https://www.thenationalherald.com/ministry-of-culture-british-museum-has-no-legal-right-to-parthenon-sculptures-a-product-of-theft/
https://neoskosmos.com/en/2023/01/06/news/greece/ministry-of-culture-british-museum-has-no-legal-right-to-parthenon-sculptures-a-product-of-theft/
https://neoskosmos.com/en/2023/01/08/news/greece/you-cannot-borrow-something-that-has-been-stolen-from-you-syriza-says-on-parthenon-marbles/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/greece-rejects-parthenon-marbles-loan-plan-statement-1234652854/
... and very many OpEds with different spins were spawned:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ed-vaizey-stunning-treasures-await-if-british-museum-returns-the-elgin-marbles-77n5zn8lv
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/04/would-uncivilised-give-greece-elgin-marbles/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1176/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1176/pub/1176/page/13/article/NaN
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1201656/is-a-deal-on-the-parthenon-sculptures-possible/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1201733/whats-the-deal-with-the-parthenon-sculptures/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/05/britain-should-give-elgin-marbles-greece/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2023/01/06/fate-elgin-marbles-cant-george-osbornes-choice/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/06/george-osbornes-elgin-marbles-deal-dangerous-britains-museums/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11607903/ANDREW-PIERCE-gives-George-Osborne-right-send-Elgin-Marbles-Greece.html
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-elgin-marbles-and-the-rot-of-decolonisation/
... and former MPs were upset:
https://www.gbnews.uk/news/elgin-marbles-row-explodes-as-ex-labour-mp-lashes-out-at-plans-to-send-sculpture-to-greece-an-unacceptable-precedent/419238
... and Stephen Fry voiced his views again:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jan/05/stephen-fry-calls-for-return-of-parthenon-marbles-to-athens
... and the 'poll' of regular folks regarding the sculptures was brought up:
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/public-support-sending-elgin-marbles-back-greece-british-museum-parthenon-sculptures-b1050709.html
A background piece if you need a refresher:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/celebrity/arid-41040848.html
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-controversial-elgin-marbles-42261617.html
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:
http://romanarc.blogspot.com/
Rogueclassicism:
http://rogueclassicism.com/
============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
============================================================
Roundup of finds in Norway in 2022:
https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology/heres-what-norwegian-archaeologists-discovered-in-2022/2136667
Study suggests the knowledge to produce pottery vessels came to Europe via Siberia:
https://arkeonews.net/the-ability-to-produce-ceramic-vessels-came-to-europe-via-siberia-and-the-caspian-sea-region/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/knowledge-for-producing-ceramic-vessels-also-came-to-europe-through-siberia-and-the-caspian-sea-region/145754
Plenty of interest in an 'amateur's' suggestion that 20 000 years bp 'proto-writing' on Ice Age cave paintings might be a sort of lunar calendar:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-cave-ice-age-hunter-gatherers-lunar.html
https://www.livescience.com/ice-age-cave-art-proto-writing-claim
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/05/amateur-archaeologist-uncovers-ice-age-writing-system
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-64162799
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stone-age-code-is-cracked-by-amateur-archaeologist-36xrstjtc
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-times-view-on-a-stone-age-writing-breakthrough-cracking-the-code-52xwztht8
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/05/mystery-ancient-dots-stripes-europes-caves-solved/
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-64162799
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11600289/Cave-art-decoded-cryptic-messages-deep-past-told-Ice-Age-hunters-pray-mating.html
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/paleolithic-markings-animal-hunting-scli-scn-intl/index.html
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article270815547.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726885
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634202-800-mysterious-symbols-in-cave-paintings-may-be-earliest-form-of-writing/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/amateur-archaeologist-decodes-ice-age-calendar-cave-paintings-animals-1234652741/
https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkg95v/a-total-amateur-may-have-just-rewritten-human-history-with-bombshell-discovery
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/ancient-code-in-ice-age-drawings-solved/145737
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/could-these-cave-markings-be-the-earliest-form-of-writing-180981403/
cf: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cambridge-archaeological-journal/article/an-upper-palaeolithic-protowriting-system-and-phenological-calendar/6F2AD8A705888F2226FE857840B4FE19
A 3000 years bp wooden 'wishing well' including some ritual deposits from Germering (Bavaria):
https://arkeonews.net/the-ability-to-produce-ceramic-vessels-came-to-europe-via-siberia-and-the-caspian-sea-region/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66104
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/ancient-wishing-well-with-ritual-deposits-discovered/145865
Remains of a 2500 years bp 'pantry' (storage pit) from a school construction site in Gaukonigshofen:
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article270869242.html
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article270869242.html
Not sure if we mentioned this Pictish stone find from Ulbster in Caithness:
https://the-past.com/news/second-pictish-stone-discovered-near-ulbster/
A 9th/11th century Viking hall site from Hune (Denmark):
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726926
https://www.iflscience.com/how-a-vast-viking-hall-discovered-in-denmark-is-linked-to-bluetooth-technology-66945
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/largest-viking-hall-excavated-hune-northern-jutland-denmark-2238738
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-unearth-large-viking-hall-in-denmark-180981397/
Evidence that the Flemish town of Ninove was inhabited in the 11th century:
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2023/01/03/archaeologists-prove-that-ninove-was-already-inhabited-in-the-11/
What they've learned so far from the dig at St Saviour's in Haverfordwest:
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pembrokeshires-medieval-mystery-could-soon-165359052.html
A drone has revealed the outline of a 'lost' medieval moated manor house in Yorkshire:
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/archaeologists-drone-discovers-outline-of-lost-medieval-moated-manor-house-in-fields-of-yorkshire-village-3977148
A 16th century silver button found by a Shropshire metal detectorist has been declared treasure:
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/bridgnorth/2023/01/05/silver-button-found-in-fields-declared-as-treasure/
A metal detectorist has found a 17th century gold ring in a Derbyshire field:
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/treasure-hunters-unearth-centuries-old-7996578
I think we mentioned the find of Portsmouth's sea defenses during excavations at Southsea Castle:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/remains-of-portsmouths-historic-defences-found-during-excavations-at-southsea-castle/145734
More on that Elizabethan shipwreck found in a Kent quarry:
https://www.livescience.com/ship-discovered-from-queen-elizabeth-reign
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/elizabethan-ship-quarry-kent-wessex-archaeology-2239483
https://arkeonews.net/rare-elizabethan-ship-discovered-at-a-quarry/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66057
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/12/ship-from-elizabethan-period-found-buried-in-quarry/145680
Plans for major restorations at the Sinai House in Burton:
https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/burton-news/big-plans-historic-sinai-house-7895551
Concerns for the site of Sycharth Castle (Wales):
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1204/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1204/pub/1204/page/25/article/NaN
Feature on some Norwegian petroglyph hunters:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/04/arts/design/petroglyph-hunters-norway.html
Feature pondering whether ancient Britons were Celts:
https://www.thecollector.com/were-the-britons-celts/
----------
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
============================================================
A 13 200 years bp 'ancient hominid' site from Shandong:
https://english.news.cn/20230107/d43f024bf71b4cdd8a569c11586e6ffe/c.html
10 000 or so Palaeolithic stoneware items from Inner Mongolia:
https://english.news.cn/20230103/6b92769a9404469b9947afbf926dfa5b/c.html
Palaeolithic finds (and later) from a site near the Mulanxi river in Fujian:
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2023-01/05/content_85041519.htm
Jade and stone finds (Neolithic and five Han Dynasty tombs) from the Lingjiatan site in Anhui:
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202301/03/WS63b37dafa31057c47eba7542.html
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article270776022.html
https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/world/article270776022.html
14 tombs ranging from Eastern Han Dynasty to Ming Dynasty from Hunan:
https://dailytimes.com.pk/1045101/archaeologists-unearth-14-ancient-tombs-in-central-china/
More than 300 tombs dating 4500 years bp or so from Henan:
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202301/07/WS63b8ebd2a31057c47eba841f.html
A study of repairs to the Great Wall:
https://www.jpost.com/science/article-726479
Archaeologists in Sri Lanka say there is no evidence bone fragments from the Mihintale monastery site are relics of Arhant Anula Theri:
https://island.lk/no-scientific-evidence-to-prove-bone-fragments-are-relics-of-arahant-anula-archaeologists/
Latest finds from excavations at a Harappan necropolis in Gujarat:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gujarats-harappan-necropolis-reveal-death-rituals-of-5000-years-ago/articleshow/96821787.cms
A 14th century inscription/relief from Kundapur Taluk:
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/050123/rare-inscription-belonging-to-alupa-king-basava-shankara-alupendra-fou.html
Feature on the Hindu Shahi Dynasty:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/mindfly/the-hindu-shahi-dynasty-forgotten-clan-of-varaha-rajput/
Plans for eight digs in Tamil Nadu this year:
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/tamil-nadu-plans-archaeological-excavations-in-8-locations-this-year-1178239.html
============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
============================================================
More on the vandalism to petroglyphs at Koonalda Cave:
https://www.iflscience.com/vandals-destroy-22-000-year-old-australian-cave-art-after-protection-calls-ignored-66934
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
Study suggests the Bering Land Bridge formed much later than previously thought:
https://www.livescience.com/bering-land-bridge-formation-ice-age
More on 'Indigenous' dogs at Jamestown:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-ancient-indigenous-dogs-jamestown-proof.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/01/04/jamestown-indigenous-dog-discovery/10982773002/
https://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/bones-of-indigenous-dogs-found-at-jamestown/article_c32f1636-8d12-11ed-8a32-4fc6e643fd43.html
More on those earliest projectile points from Idaho:
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/history/osu-uncovers-oldest-projectile-points/283-2ce6241c-1b18-415e-9d97-452b859d876a
More on the latest finds from the Franklin Expedition wrecks:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/2022-excavation-franklin-ship-northwest-passage-1.6703841
https://www.wireservice.ca/275-artifacts-were-recovered-from-the-wreckage-of-franklins-lost-voyage/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726931
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-recover-275-artifacts-from-franklin-shipwreck-in-the-canadian-arctic-180981391/
Seeking a pardon for a soldier executed in 1813:
https://www.timesunion.com/history/article/East-Greenbush-historian-seeks-gubernatorial-17692497.php
Trying to dave the home of a secret society tied to the Underground Railroad in Brooklyn:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/20/nyregion/united-order-of-tents-brooklyn.html
============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
A mammoth kill site at Santa Isabel Ixtapan was apparently a seasonal hunting camp:
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/new-findings-ice-age-site/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/mammoth-kill-site-was-a-seasonal-hunting-camp/145731
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11109-230106-mexico-hunter-gatherers
Ruins on Mount Tlaloc are an ancient observatory:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/ruins-on-mount-tlaloc-are-an-ancient-observatory/145743
A study suggests some 50 000 years bp stone 'tools' were made by Capuchin monkeys:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-01-05/ty-article/monkeys-trash-theory-of-people-in-americas-tens-of-thousands-of-years-ago/00000185-81eb-df9e-a3bf-87ef3d130000
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ancient-tools-monkeys-2237820
https://www.sciencealert.com/monkeys-not-humans-made-ancient-sets-of-stone-tools-in-brazil-study-finds
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/12/50000-year-old-stone-tools-were-made-by-monkeys/145671
Study suggests the Maya used/were aware of market-based economics:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-mayas-market-based-economics.html
Study suggests Maya structures at Aguada Fenix were aligned according to a 260-day calendar:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726639
https://www.iflscience.com/ancient-maya-structures-were-aligned-to-a-mysterious-260-day-calendar-66971
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/origins-of-the-mesoamerican-astronomy-and-calendar-from-the-olmec-and-maya-regions/145761
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earliest-evidence-of-260-day-calendar-use-found-in-mexico-180981399/
Feature on leap years in the Aztec calendar:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/how-the-aztec-calendar-accounted-for-leap-years
Feature on the Nazca Lines:
https://www.grunge.com/1156682/the-history-of-perus-nazca-lines/
Concerns arising from the Tren Maya route:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/mexicos-mayan-train-threat-ancient-areas-scientists-warn-rcna64212
... and a blockage at Chichen Itza related to such concerns:
https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2023/01/chichen-itza-blockade-attempts-against-the-maya-train-project-in-yucatan/
... and where INAH is excavating along the route:
https://riviera-maya-news.com/inah-concentrating-on-archaeological-excavation-in-sections-5-6-and-7-of-maya-train/2023.html
Ancient Americas events for January:
https://mikeruggerisevents.tumblr.com
Latest Aztlander Magazine of the Americas:
https://aztlander.wordpress.com/2023/01/01/aztlander-magazine-of-the-americas-january-2023/
-----
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
============================================================
Gold and silver artifacts dug up in 2022:
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology-buried-treasures
96 finds from 2022 (not just archaeological):
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ninety-six-fascinating-finds-revealed-in-2022-180981360/
10 archaeology finds from 2022:
https://listverse.com/2022/12/11/10-amazing-archaeological-discoveries-revealed-in-2022/
The 'most impactful' finds of 2022:
https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/news/the-most-impactful-archaeological-discoveries-of-1234652275/
Another list:
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/archaeologists-reshaped-world-history-in-2022-with-new-discoveries
... and another:
https://www.livescience.com/top-10-archaeological-findings-2022
... and another:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2022-12-29/ty-article-timeline/the-most-intriguing-archaeological-revelations-around-the-world-in-2022/00000185-5d0f-d7ac-a587-ddcf56730000
... and another:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/12/top-10-archaeological-discoveries-of-2022/145468
... and another:
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/art-archaeology-discoveries-2022/index.html
... and another:
https://news.yahoo.com/coolest-archaeological-discoveries-2022-185000104.html
https://gizmodo.com/top-archaeology-discoveries-2022-1849907440
... and another:
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/2022s-best-archaeological-discoveries-2231752
... and another:
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/fossils-discovered-mongolia-19th-century-shipwrecks-biggest-archeological/story?id=95015690
... and another:
https://www.9news.com.au/world/the-best-ancient-finds-of-2022-wrap-up/b0330a0f-dd36-4953-828c-dbe04b075d4a
Speculating what might be found this year:
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology-predictions-2023
On items entering the public domain this year:
https://apnews.com/article/public-domain-2023-5c30746553953b5accffcbaa9e860de0
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/01/01/sherlock-holmes-enters-the-public-domain---here-are-the-other-works-free-to-use-in-2023/?sh=57df0a243dff
https://mymodernmet.com/public-domain-works-2023/
Edward the Black Prince probably didn't die from chronic dysentery:
https://phys.org/news/2022-12-chronic-dysentery-killer-edward-black.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/974699
A recent biographer of Vermeer reveals how a 'forerunner' of photography influenced his work:
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1175/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1175/pub/1175/page/34/article/NaN
Arguing about the authenticity of Vermeer's 'Girl with a flute':
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jan/02/vermeer-row-authenticity-girl-with-a-flute-painting
Xrays revealed a hidden Cezanne portrait:
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/12/21/cincinnati-art-museum-discovers-hidden-work-under-a-cezanne-painting/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-158-years-a-cezanne-self-portrait-hid-behind-a-still-life-of-bread-and-eggs-180981323/?
Latest bad restoration is at London's National Gallery, apparently:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/national-gallery-london-restoration-nativity-scene-1234651048/
Actor Edward Norton is apparently related to Pocahontas:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/entertainment/edward-norton-pocahontas-intl-scli/index.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64158055
Feature on James Blyth and wind-generated electricity:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/22/james-blyth-scottish-engineer-wind-power
A Robert Burns book found in a barber shop has gone on display:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jan/03/rare-robert-burns-book-found-in-a-barber-shop-goes-on-display
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-robert-burns-book-saved-from-barber-shop-180981379/
A possible image of Jack the Ripper on a walking stick:
https://www.iflscience.com/face-of-jack-the-ripper-may-be-on-this-130-year-old-walking-stick-66910
On the origin of dragons:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-mysterious-origin-of-dragons
On the history of swimming:
https://theconversation.com/the-earliest-humans-swam-100-000-years-ago-but-swimming-remains-a-privileged-pastime-196045
On the origins of the 'uncluttered' home:
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230103-the-historical-origins-of-the-de-cluttered-home
On the history of leech therapy:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/12/20/history-of-leech-therapy/
On rituals:
https://theconversation.com/why-rituals-have-been-crucial-for-humans-throughout-history-and-why-we-still-need-them-193951
Feature on Royston Cave and its Templar connections:
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20221212-a-secret-site-for-the-knights-templar
In case you're wondering about the progress of that Bayeax Tapestry recreation:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-63961721
More on the Notre Dame sarcophagi:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/unraveling-the-secrets-of-the-sarcophagi-found-underneath-notre-dame-180981305/?
============================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
Using Thucydides to understand the January 6, 2021 events:
https://theconversation.com/ancient-greece-had-extreme-polarization-and-civil-strife-too-how-thucydides-can-help-us-understand-jan-6-and-its-aftermath-196928
Marking the solstice at Newgrange:
https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2022/1221/1343102-newgrange-solstice/
https://www.thejournal.ie/newgrange-2-5953011-Dec2022/
https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2022/12/21/partial-illumination-at-newgrange-for-winter-solstice/
https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/1220/1342993-3d-models-tomb/
... and in ancient Greece:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/12/22/winter-solstice-ancient-greece/
Features on Hanukkah and the Maccabees:
https://news.yahoo.com/9-things-know-chanukah-212226468.html
https://mosaicmagazine.com/observation/history-ideas/2022/12/the-maccabees-the-greeks-and-the-origins-of-the-conflict-between-hellenism-and-hebraism/
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/rj7smvzfj
On Christmas tree origins:
https://www.livescience.com/tree-tradition-older-than-christmas
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/christmas-tree-history
On the Magi:
https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/christmas-nativity-story-three-wise-men-who-were
On whether Santa Claus is buried in Ireland:
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20221213-is-santa-claus-buried-in-ireland
On the 'darker side' of Christmas:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/dec/22/from-easily-angered-gnomes-to-child-eating-giants-european-folklore-reveals-a-darker-side-to-christmas
Pondering where Jesus was born:
https://www.dw.com/en/was-jesus-born-in-a-different-bethlehem/video-64213876
On medieval sword fighting:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20221124-the-lost-medieval-sword-fighting-tricks-no-one-can-decode
On the history of chocolate:
https://theconversation.com/the-history-of-chocolate-when-money-really-did-grow-on-trees-196173
On Auld Lang Syne:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/12/29/auld-lang-syne-lyrics-song-meaning/10955808002/
On ancient New Year's Eve:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/12/30/new-years-eve-in-ancient-times/
... and the New Year in Alexander the Great's empire:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/12/31/how-new-year-celebrated-alexander-the-great-empire/
On the history of champagne:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/a-brief-history-of-champagne-were-those-bubbles-an-accident
... and resolutions:
https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions
A Russian-Ukrainian dispute over Scythian gold:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/18/ukraine-museums-scythian-gold-russian-looters-putin
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/479899/Gold-treasures-of-ancient-Iranian-migrants-break-out-another
On the effects of the war on sites in Ukraine:
https://www.newsweek.com/catastrophic-putin-war-wiping-out-ukraine-recent-history-1771314
============================================================
ANIMAL AND PLANT DOMESTICATIONS
============================================================
On cats in medieval manuscripts:
https://theconversation.com/cats-in-the-middle-ages-what-medieval-manuscripts-teach-us-about-our-ancestors-pets-195389
Feature on dogs in ancient Egypt:
https://www.thecollector.com/dogs-in-ancient-egypt/
On the history of the thornapple:
https://theconversation.com/the-peculiar-history-of-thornapple-the-hallucinogenic-weed-that-ended-up-in-supermarket-spinach-197014
============================================================
LANGUAGE RELATED
============================================================
On translating pre-Roman languages:
https://english.elpais.com/culture/2022-12-31/the-incredible-art-of-translating-pre-roman-languages-without-a-rosetta-stone.html
On the invention of the alphabet:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/inventing-alphabet-180976520/?
============================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
Treasures of Miletus:
https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/treasures-miletus-altes-museum-berlin
Tudors:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/12/30/tudors-art-power-met/
The World in Maps 1400-1600:
https://mailchi.mp/dailynutmeg/beinecke-library-world-in-maps-1400-1600-treasured-maps
Painted Cloth: Fashion and Ritual in Colonial Latin America:
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20221229-the-colonial-clothing-that-reveals-hidden-truths-about-race
cf: https://blantonmuseum.org/exhibition/painted-cloth-fashion-and-ritual-in-colonial-latin-america/
They're hyping the impending opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum:
https://hypebeast.com/2023/1/the-grand-egyptian-museum-announcement
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2225266/middle-east
============================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
============================================================
A study of the genetic history of Scandinavia:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-years-genetic-history-scandinavia-elucidates.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230105151301.htm
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/975742
https://theconversation.com/dna-reveals-large-migration-into-scandinavia-during-the-viking-age-197221
https://www.science.org/content/article/brutal-massacre-sheds-light-migration-during-viking-age
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/study-shows-how-viking-age-left-mark-genetics-scandinavians-2023-01-05/
https://arkeonews.net/new-study-investigates-the-development-of-the-scandinavian-gene-pool-over-the-latest-2000-years/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/dna-resolves-the-complex-relations-between-geography-ancestry-and-gene-flow-in-scandinavia/145740
DNA traces a number of Caribbean breadfruit back to Captain Bligh:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-caribbean-breadfruit-capt-bligh-.html
============================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
============================================================
Assorted modern forensic technologies reveal the 'raw violence' suffered by a 700 years bp sword victim from Cittiglio:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-modern-tools-reveal-brutality-death.html
https://www.livescience.com/medieval-sword-murder-victim-revealed-italy
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11108-230105-italy-sword-wounds
Neutron tomography has revealed bone fragments in a 12 century reliquary pendant:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-non-destructive-neutron-tomography-reveals-bone.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66097
Egypt wants to use sensor tech to map archaeological sites:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-embarks-on-challenge-to-find-sensor-tech-to-map-archaeological-sites/
A facial reconstruction of Ramesses II:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11569191/Ramesses-II-Scientists-reconstruct-handsome-face-ancient-Egypts-powerful-pharaoh.html
... and one for St Anthony of Padua:
https://www.livescience.com/facial-approximation-saint-anthony-padua
... and the Connecticut vampire (again):
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/face-of-19th-century-connecticut-vampire-reconstructed/145722
============================================================
TV/DOCUMENTARY HYPISH THINGS
============================================================
Latest reaction to the Ancient Apocalypse series:
https://hyperallergic.com/791381/why-archaeologists-are-fuming-over-netflixs-ancient-apocalypse-series/
============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
Two people were arrested at the Greek port of Igoumenitsa while carrying plenty of suspect artifacts:
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1201525/two-people-stopped-at-port-carrying-dozens-of-suspect-artifacts/
Police seize a Rubens from a Genoa exhibition which we probably will read more about:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/04/italian-police-widen-fraud-investigation-after-seizing-rubens-painting-from-genoa-exhibition
Douglas Latchford's 'scholar' associate at the Denver Art Museum has been revealed:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/05/revelations-in-cambodia-looting-scandal-name-scholar-at-denver-art-museum-as-accomplice-to-disgraced-dealer-douglas-latchford
More on that major bust by Spanish police in Alicante:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/02/spanish-police-find-hundreds-of-archaeological-artefacts-at-two-homes
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/spain-alicante-archaeological-artifacts-seized/index.html
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/spanish-police-raid-hundreds-artifacts-2237752
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66080
----------
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
============================================================
The Houston Museum of Natural Sciences has returned the 'Green Mummy/Coffin/Sarcophagus' to Egypt (along with other things):
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-looted-ancient-sarcophagus-egypt.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64147545
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/03/us-museum-returns-looted-ancient-sarcophagus-to-egypt
https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2023/01/02/egypt-recovers-green-coffin-from-houston-museum-of-natural-sciences/
https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-recovers-green-coffin-from-united-states/
https://see.news/antiquities-minister-17-artifacts-including-green-coffin-recovered-from-us
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/mostafa-waziri-sarcophagus-egypt-b2254835.html
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230102-egypt-recovers-2-700-year-old-sarcophagus-lid-from-us
https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20230102-egypt-recovers-2-700-year-old-sarcophagus-lid-from-us
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-01-02/looted-ancient-egyptian-sarcophagus-returned-from-us
https://apnews.com/article/science-politics-egypt-government-manhattan-21fe41acdce6ba04b8183c0cda9afa3f
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/looted-ancient-sarcophagus-returned-to-egypt-from-us/2023/01/02/6e864c2a-8a93-11ed-b86a-2e3a77336b8e_story.html
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/egypt-green-sarcophagus/index.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sarcophagus-returned-to-egypt-houston-museum-of-natural-sciences/
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-returns-looted-2500-year-old-sarcophagus-to-egypt
https://www.timesofisrael.com/2500-year-old-looted-sarcophagus-returned-to-egypt-from-us/
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3205349/looted-ancient-sarcophagus-returns-egypt-us-years-after-it-was-smuggled-through-germany
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66074
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/looted-ancient-egyptian-sarcophagus-returns-home-180981388/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11106-230104-egypt-coffin-repatriation
The US returned a looted antiquity to the Palestinian Authority (!):
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/05/arts/design/relic-repatriated-palestinian-authority.html
https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/132666
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-gives-palestinians-looted-antiquity-owned-by-steinhardt-in-1st-such-repatriation/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-726848
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/us-palestinian-authority-looted-antiquity-intl-scli/index.html
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/us-repatriate-first-looted-antiquity-to-palestine-2239461
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/01/us-repatriates-2700-year-old-artifact-palestine
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/american-officials-repatriate-looted-ivory-spoon-palestine-michael-steinhardt-1234652921/
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-palestine-looted-artefact-returned
Plenty of coverage of the return of Benin Bronzes from Germany:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/20/germany-returns-21-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria-amid-frustration-at-britain
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64038626
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/germanys-foreign-minister-returns-looted-benin-bronzes-on-a-trip-to-nigeria-nnqrgzng9
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/20/arts/benin-bronzes-nigeria-germany.html
https://von.gov.ng/germany-officially-repatriates-22-looted-artefacts-to-nigeria/
https://www.dw.com/en/the-long-road-to-restoring-benins-cultural-artefacts/a-60120216
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/21/germany-nigeria-benin-bronzes-return/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/germany-returns-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria-2234316
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/12/22/germany-kicks-off-major-benin-bronze-restitution-with-return-of-20-artefacts-to-nigeria
Ireland will be returning more items to Egypt:
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/12/egyptian-monuments-repatriated-after-century
An accounting of last year's returns to Egypt:
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2023/01/04/egypt-recovered-more-than-110-artefacts-in-2022/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/121600/Egypt-recovered-80-artifacts-from-France-England-US-Uruguay
Mexico recovered over 3000 items last year:
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/mexico-recovered-over-3000-artifacts-from-abroad-in-2022/
Another call for the return of the Altar of Pergamon:
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/german-official-suggests-return-of-pergamon-altar-to-turkiye-179857
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/german-undersecretary-calls-for-returning-pergamon-altar-to-turkiye/news
An 8th century Cypriot jug smuggled in the 1974 Turkish invasion is being returned:
https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/12/20/ancient-cyprus-jug-returned-to-rightful-owner/
Feature on all the items 'the rest of the world' wants back from the UK:
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/world-news/ancient-artefacts-rest-world-wants-25849028
On items India is waiting to be returned:
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/72-artefacts-awaiting-repatriation-from-11-countries-ls-told-8335544/
OpEd relating to the Met's returns of Cycladic items to Greece:
https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1200681/repatriation-or-cession/
An item recovered from a Christie's auction last year and returned to Greece is now on display:
https://www.ekathimerini.com/newsasset/1200747/recovered-artifact-showcased-at-epigraphic-museum/
A Nazi-looted Beethoven manuscript was returned:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nazi-stolen-beethoven-manuscript-returned-to-original-owners-180981251/?
More on the Greek coins seized in Chicago:
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20221221/robbing-from-the-cultural-heritage-of-a-nation-feds-return-ancient-greek-coins-seized-at-ohare
============================================================
NUMISMATICA
============================================================
Criticism of numismatic studies in Kashmir:
https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/op-ed/numismatics-a-neglected-discipline
The Aethelstan Museum has purchased an Aethelstan coin:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-64165743
Latest e-Sylum:
https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n01.html
... and the one which should appear later today:
https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n02.html
------------------------
Coin Week:
http://www.coinweek.com/
============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
Menahem Schmelzer:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/27/books/menahem-schmelzer-dead.html
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AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
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Audio News from Archaeologica:
https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3230-audio-news-from-archaeologica-december-25th-through-the-31st-2022
============================================================
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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