david meadows
2020-11-22 16:12:22 UTC
===============================================================
explorator 23.31 November 22, 2020
===============================================================
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, Lampros Kallenos,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).
================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Feature on the debate over where modern humans first appeared:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/where-was-the-birthplace-of-modern-humans
Suggestion that stone handaxes had a 'practical and spirtual' side for early hominids:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-hand-axes-made-of-bone-indicate-spiritual-motive-archaeologist-posits-1.9313914
More on that recently-found Paranthropus robustus skull:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/newly-unearthed-skull-reveals-how-ancient-hominids-evolved-survive-changing-climate-180976282/
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Evidence of repeated occupation of the West African coast 62 000 - 25 000 years bp:
https://www.shh.mpg.de/1911161/middle-stone-age-populations-repeatedly-occupied-west-african-coast?c=1606725
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/mpif-msa112020.php
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-middle-stone-age-populations-repeatedly.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/middle-stone-age-populations-repeatedly.html
In case you missed the news about the underwater sites found near Tunis (various periods):
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheArchaeologyNewsNetwork/~3/SeTet0wwjn0/underwater-archaeological-sites.html
An interview with Maeve Leakey:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/nov/21/meave-leakey-definitely-africa-is-where-it-all-began
Feature on the ancient kingdom of Kerma:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/11/kerma-the-ancient-african-kingdom/136144
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Last week we mentioned original pigments at the temple of Esna had been found:
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/16/original-pigments-of-inscriptions-at-the-temple-of-esna-found/
... and this week we're reading about conservation of the temple:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/390113/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/EgyptGerman-archaeological-mission-resumes-conserv.aspx
... and how the temple is revealing the names of some previously-unknown (name-wise) constellations:
https://www.livescience.com/ancient-egyptian-star-constellations.htm
More on the 100 or so more 2500 years bp sarcophagi revealed at Saqqara last week:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/393774/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/In-Photos-Egypt-announces-the-biggest-archaeologic.aspx
https://www.livescience.com/more-mummies-saqqara-egypt-burial-shafts.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/15/world/middleeast/egypt-discovery-mummies.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/treasure-trove-of-mummy-coffins-in-egypt-saved-from-desert-2-500-years-on-cdl6ng88h
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3109892/egypt-showcases-scores-2500-year-old-coffins-found-saqqara
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/egyptian-archaeologists-make-the-biggest-discovery-in-2020
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/100-coffins-mummies-saqqara-scli-intl-scn/index.html
https://www.9news.com.au/world/egypt-unveils-ancient-coffins-statues-found-in-saqqara/32086bb0-7a96-4009-91d4-bbcba8ce6322
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/28224/20201115/100-more-coffins-found-egypts-necropolis-saqqara.htm
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/uncategorized/egypt-unveils-100-sarcophagi/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/egypt-finds-treasure-trove-of-over-100.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/16/more-than-100-sarcophagi-were-presented-last-saturday-in-saqqara/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9209-201116-egypt-saqqara-coffins
... and some overviewish things about recent finds at Saqqara:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/archaeologists-are-just-beginning-unearth-mummies-and-secrets-saqqara-180976301/
https://www.iol.co.za/travel/africa/why-egypts-saqqara-region-continues-to-give-up-its-sarcophagi-aaebd7ee-2156-542f-8269-fe90fb40356d
An interesting 1800 years BCE tomb reveals evidence of a possible ancient Egyptian gynaecological treatment:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8961247/Gynaecology-ancient-Egypt-REVEALED.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/20/ancient-egyptian-tomb-yields-gynecological-treatment-evidence/
More on the recent analysis of the First Book of Breathing papyrus:
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/ancient-egypt-gods-death-archaeology-book-of-the-dead-books-of-breathing-1.9316371
Feature on Amarna:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/11/amarna-the-city-of-the-heretic-pharaoh/136111
An archaeologist is urging for conservation of the Achaemenid-era Bostan Khani Dam:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/454693/Archaeologist-accentuates-proper-maintenance-of-Achaemenid-masterpiece
Feature on efforts to preserve Iraq's antiquities from theft and the like:
https://www.ft.com/content/56289a8e-5f68-4163-9bb2-c457000dd263
Evidence that folks in Israel were contending with lead pollution some 3000 years bp:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-people-in-biblical-israel-3-000-years-ago-suffered-lead-pollution-1.9318265
https://gath.wordpress.com/2020/11/19/haaretz-piece-on-pollution-article/
Interesting evidence found of Iron Age silver counterfeiting prior to the invention of coinage:
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/dirty-old-money-researchers-reveal-iron-age-silver-forgery-649864
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-counterfeiting-began-even-before-money-was-invented-archaeologists-deduce-1.9322163
Feature on toilets in ancient Israel:
https://www.israel21c.org/lifting-the-lid-on-israels-best-ancient-toilets/
More on the Iron Age fort in the Golan:
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/iron-age-fort-discovered-on-golan.html
More on those four 1000 years bp gold coins found in the Western Wall Plaza:
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/gold-coins-fatimid-period-israel-09068.html
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/1000-year-old-gold-coins-found/
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
The big news this week appears to be the find (and casting) of two more victims of Vesuvius at Pompeii:
https://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2020/11/21/pompeii-gives-back-whole-bodies-of-two-fugitives_775c9f93-2ce6-4a2f-8826-44abfd1390ad.html
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-bodies-slave-unearthed-ashes-pompeii.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/21/pompeii-dig-reveals-almost-perfect-remains-of-a-master-and-his-slave
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55029538
https://www.dw.com/en/workers-in-athens-find-ancient-head-of-the-greek-god-hermes/a-55677876
https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-volcanic-eruptions-37e83ba403c7bbd871c6c33c57c0a051
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/bodies-of-man-and-his-slave-unearthed-from-ashes-at-pompeii/2020/11/21/77589e9c-2bfa-11eb-9c21-3cc501d0981f_story.html
https://www.reuters.com/article/instant-article/idAFKBN2810JI
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/21/europe/pompeii-rich-man-slave-bodies-scli-intl/index.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/pompeii-ruins-slave-and-rich-mans-bodies-found-lying-side-by-side-649817
https://www.dw.com/en/pompeii-archaeologists-discover-bodies-of-man-and-his-slave/a-55686844
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Bodies-of-man-and-his-slave-unearthed-from-ashes-15744602.php
https://www.startribune.com/bodies-of-man-and-his-slave-unearthed-from-ashes-at-pompeii/573152431/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/two-corpses-of-master-and-slave-discovered-at-pompeii
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-bodies-of-cloaked-man-and-his-slave.html
... while a fresco of Theseus and Ariadne was also revealed:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stunning-fresco-of-ariadne-and-theseus-unearthed-at-pompeii-qbjxv23th
A Punic tomb from Zejtun:
https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2020-11-17/local-news/Punic-tomb-complete-with-skeleton-and-pottery-unearthed-in-Zejtun-6736228728
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/punic-tomb-unearthed-in-maltas-zejtun.html
Turkish fishermen netted a large bronze statue of a woman off the coast of Marmaris:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/11/20/turkish-fishermen-300kg-statue/
https://eu.greekreporter.com/2020/11/20/missing-sister-of-kalymnos-lady-statue-discovered-on-aegean-seabed/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/turkish-fishermen-net-300-kilo-ancient.html
Recent finds from Vryokastraki (near Kythnos) ... various periods:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/11/17/archaeologists-excavations-vryokastraki/
Red figure pottery from Gravina (Italian):
https://www.barinedita.it/cronaca/n4141-gravina-sulla-collina-delle-meraviglie-rinvenute-anfore-millenarie-e-la-tomba-di-un-atleta
Possible remains of Caligula's palace have been revealed beneath a 19th century office building:
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/rome-unearths-remains-of-caligulas-lavish-palace-and-gardens.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/caligulas-ancient-rome-house-of-infamy-revealed-qhnht5djh
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8953225/Lavish-home-indulgent-Emperor-Caligula-discovered-Rome.html
... and a feature on Caligula:
https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/caligula-facts-life-biography-horse-consul-incitatus-little-boots-how-die/
A inscriptional letter of Severus and Caracalla found at Nicopolis ad Istrum in the 1920s has been reassembled and translated:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/12/roman-emperor-lied-thanked-city-for-bribe-reveals-newly-decoded-inscription-from-ancient-nicopolis-ad-istrum-in-bulgaria/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9211-201116-bulgaria-imperial-letter
37 burials and remains of hypogea from Marsala (date?):
https://itacanotizie.it/2020/11/21/sepolture/
A Late Roman 'burgus' from excavations at the Pomodiana Fortress in northwest Bulgaria:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/16/archaeologists-unearth-burgus-tower-fort-in-lesser-known-roman-danube-fortress-bulldozed-by-treasure-hunters-in-northwest-bulgaria/
Europa Nostra has called for Thessaloniki antiquities to be preserved on site:
https://news.gtp.gr/2020/11/20/europa-nostra-calls-thessaloniki-antiquities-preserved-on-site/
Anthony Barrett's new book on Nero is spawning some revisionist commentary by various folks:
https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/was-nero-that-bad-blog-post-mary-beard/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/what-was-nero-really-doing-while-rome-burned/2020/11/19/4118bd20-029d-11eb-897d-3a6201d6643f_story.html
... and an article with a similar spin seems unaware of Barrett's book:
https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/11/19/21570601/daniel-peterson-nero-fiddle-while-rome-burned-possibly-history-agrippina-shakespeare-richard
Feature on Jennifer Stager's mosaic course:
https://magazine.krieger.jhu.edu/2020/11/syllabus-past-meets-present-among-the-tiles/
Hypish on Eric Rebillard's book on ealry marthyr narratives:
https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2020/11/roman-historian-views-early-martyr-narratives-living-texts
Feature on the Pantheon:
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/pantheon-history-test-of-time/index.html
Feature on what ancient Romans ate:
http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/what-did-ancient-romans-eat/
Feature on death in ancient Greece:
https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/death-in-ancient-greece/
... and a related piece:
https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/living-the-ancient-greek-death/
... and ancient Greek ideas about the afterlife:
https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/the-ancient-greek-afterlife-and-its-evolution/
An Ecce Romani love story:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/20/style/a-perfect-introduction-for-two-latin-lovers.html
More on that head of Hermes (?) found in downtown Athens last week:
https://www.culture.gov.gr/el/Information/SitePages/view.aspx?nID=3570
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/11/15/head-of-ancient-statue-found-athens/
https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-athens-greece-3aa06a6d022a737170a45612c00ca97f
https://www.dw.com/en/workers-in-athens-find-ancient-head-of-the-greek-god-hermes/a-55677876
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8953053/Ancient-Greek-gods-bust-Athens-sewage-work.html
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/ancient-statue-of-greek-god-hermes-dug-up-in-athens
https://naftemporiki.gr/story/1658594/ton-theo-ermi-apeikonizei-i-arxaia-kefali-pou-brethike-sto-kentro-tis-athinas
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3109963/ancient-bust-greek-god-hermes-found-during-athens-sewage-works
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/11/15/ancient-bust-greek-god-hermes-found-during-athens-sewage-work/6306713002/
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/ancient-greek-gods-bust-found-athens-sewage-works-74222854
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/16/head-of-hermes-found-in-downtown-athens/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-bust-hermes-was-discovered-drainage-duct-180976320/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9210-201116-greece-hermes-sculpture
More on figures of Demeter and Persephone being found at Anapa (Russia):
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/11/18/statuettes-goddess-demeter-anapa/
https://eu.greekreporter.com/2020/11/19/figurines-of-demeter-and-persephone-found-in-russias-black-sea-town-of-anapa/
More on the (Roman) Barbegal mlll complex in France:
https://www.uni-mainz.de/presse/aktuell/12510_ENG_HTML.php
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-unique-hydraulics-barbegal-mills-world.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/16/the-worlds-first-industrial-plant/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-unique-hydraulics-in-barbegal-water.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9223-201119-roman-water-wheels
More on that Roman-era glass vase from Autun:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/roman-vase-found-grave-site-france-1234576634/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9213-201117-france-roman-glass
More on that Apollo seal from Israel's Tzurim Valley National Park:
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/apollo-seal-09061.html
More on MEPs asking the UK to return the Parthenon Marbles:
https://www.argophilia.com/news/european-parliament-members-plead-with-the-uk-for-parthenon-marbles/227682/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/30-meps-ask-boris-johnson-to-return.html
More hype for the LEGO Colosseum coming out just in time for Saturnalia:
https://hyperallergic.com/601959/rome-wasnt-built-in-a-day-lego-announces-colosseum-model/
https://www.nbcnews.com/shopping/gift-guides/lego-roman-colosseum-set-n1248075
https://www.apollo-magazine.com/giant-lego-colosseum/
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:
http://romanarc.blogspot.com/
Rogueclassicism:
http://rogueclassicism.com/
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
I think we mentioned the find of the 5000+ years bp 'upright' burial of the 'lady of Bietikow':
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/neolithic-skeleton-find-in-germany.html
5 000 years bp kilns from a site in the Karlovo Valley (Bulgaria):
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/20/economic-section-of-5000-year-old-settlement-with-%D0%B0-dozen-kilns-found-in-central-bulgarian-valley/
Interesting 4000+ years bp clay mask/figurine from a mound near Providiya (Bulgaria):
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/15/mouthless-prehistoric-alien-mask-mixing-human-animal-features-found-in-salt-pit-settlement-mound-in-bulgarias-provadiya/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/mouthless-alien-mask-found-at-late.html
Mesolithic and Bronze Age finds from a dig at an estate in the New Forest:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-54972027
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/18885588.bronze-age-burial-site-found-new-forest/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9225-201120-new-forest-prehistory
A massive 8th-11th century Muslim necropolis from near Zaragoza (Spain):
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/necropolis-muslim-intl-scli-scn/index.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/spanish-roadworks-reveal-ancient-islamic-burial-site-fw9qz2rg6
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201119-spain-roadworks-run-into-ancient-muslim-burial-site/
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1765436/world
https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/11/22/archaeologists-find-4500-skeletons-at-8th-century-burial-ground-in-north-east-spain/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/ancient-islamic-burial-ground.html
Evidence that an 11th century fortress in Bulgaria was destroyed by Crusaders during the Third Crusade:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/14/11th-century-byzantine-empire-fortress-in-southeast-bulgaria-destroyed-by-crusaders-from-third-crusade-archaeologists-find/
A 13th century clergyman's burial from Veliko Tarnovo:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/17/13th-century-clergymans-grave-with-gospel-of-john-inscription-on-pillow-brick-byzantine-gold-threads-found-in-medieval-bulgarian-capital-tarnovgrad/
An inscribed horse shoulder blade (1300 CE or so) from the Rusocastro Fortress:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/19/horse-shoulder-blade-with-mysterious-magic-ritual-marks-from-ca-1300-ad-discovered-in-rusocastro-fortress-in-southeast-bulgaria/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9226-201120-bulgaria-horse-bone
A study of the impact of the transition from tribal to feudal living in 14th century Poland:
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-transition-feudal-14th-century-impacted.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/sr-att111320.php
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/transition-to-feudal-living-in-14th.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/20/transition-to-feudal-living-in-14th-c-impacted-local-ecosystems/
Finds from various periods from a housing development site in East Cambridgshire:
https://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/prehistoric-graves-revealed-on-building-site-1-6935749
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9224-201120-england-cambridgeshire-graves
Remains of a 16th century military person from the bottom of a Lithuanian lake:
https://www.livescience.com/medieval-soldier-lake-lithuania.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8971059/Skeleton-16th-century-solider-discovered-underwater-bridge-inspection-Lithuania.html
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/28348/20201120/remains-soldier-medieval-period-found-lithuanian-lake.htm
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/remains-of-medieval-soldier-found-in.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9219-201119-lithuania-human-remains
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9219-201119-lithuania-human-remains
Evidence of a 'coverup' of a massacre at Shelford during the English Civil War:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-54973017
Plans to restore Lindow Man's peat bog:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/environment/2020/11/15/lindow-mans-peat-bog-restored-former-glory/
In case you were wondering why the Stonehenge tunnal was a controversy:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/controversial-stonehenge-tunnel-approved-180976319/
... and more coverage of it being approved:
https://www.euronews.com/2020/11/20/anger-at-plans-to-build-a-dual-carriageway-beneath-uk-s-prehistoric-stonehenge
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rival-factions-battle-for-soul-of-stonehenge-3wn5vfxfv
Feature on five Scottish stone circles:
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18880908.five-scottish-stone-circles-brodgar-callanish-calanais-arran-lewis-bronze-age/
Scientists are trying to recreate the smell of 16th century Europe for some reason:
https://www.livescience.com/scents-old-europe-history.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/nov/17/scents-of-history-study-hopes-to-recreate-smells-of-old-europe
Concerns for the Davidank Orthodox monastery:
https://fr.aleteia.org/2020/11/16/haut-karabakh-le-sort-incertain-du-monastere-millenaire-de-dadivank/
On how profits from slavery impacted the Scottish Highlands:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-research-investigates-how-enslavement-profits-changed-landscape-scottish-highlands-180976311/
More on finds being made in the vicinity of the Gjellestad ship (and their implications):
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/excavation-viking-ship-burial-continues-new-research-reveals-history-elite-scandinavian-society-180976273/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/archaeologists-discover-incredible-1000-year-old-viking-burial-site-in-norway
More on the cache of musket balls associated with Bonnie Prince Charlie:
https://www.obantimes.co.uk/2020/11/18/trio-of-metal-detectorists-uncover-secret-jacobite-hoard-on-shore-of-lochaber-loch/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/musket-balls-18th-century-jacobite-rebellion-found-scotland-180976366/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9221-201119-scotland-jacobite-ammunition
More on the Henry VIII jousting yard find:
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/637556/henry-viii-accident-jousting-yard-discovery
https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1362733/royal-news-archaeology-henry-viii-jousting-accident-evg
More on remains of a medieval port in Eindhoven:
https://nltimes.nl/2020/11/15/remains-medieval-port-found-eindhoven
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9212-201117-netherlands-gate-canal
More on the burial of those 30 000+ years bp twins:
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/oldest-known-identical-twins-found-in.html
----------
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
================================================================
Neolithic finds (mostly ... some later items too) from China's Anhui province:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/16/c_139519892.htm
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2020-11/16/content_76915880.htm
Song Dynasty porcelain from a family cemetery in Shaanxi:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/17/c_139522686.htm
A 10th century 'romanesque' bathhouse from Xinjiang:
http://www.ecns.cn/news/culture/2020-11-19/detail-ihaeatyh1833494.shtml
More on those 3000 years bp leather balls from China:
https://www.zmescience.com/science/3000-year-old-leather-balls-from-china-might-point-to-the-origin-of-polo/
Feature on the Terracotta Warriors:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-terracotta-army-what-these-life-size-clay-warriors-tell-us-about-ancient
Feature on the Silk Road:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-silk-road-was-more-than-a-vast-trade-route
Late Jomon era finds from a dig in Fukushima:
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201116/p2a/00m/0na/012000c
XRay imaging of 3600 years bp pottery shards from Kyushu revealed impressions made by various weevils:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/ku-xio111620.php
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-x-ray-imaging-beetles-ancient-japanese.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/x-ray-imaging-of-beetles-world-in-3600.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/18/x-ray-imaging-of-a-beetles-world-in-ancient-earthenware/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9220-201119-japan-maize-weevils
A recently-found Edo period document reveals a sort of Hosokawa clan code of conduct:
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-laws-early-edo-japan-peace.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/ku-ndn111820.php
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/19/no-drinking-no-fighting-the-laws-of-early-edo-japan/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/no-drinking-no-fighting-laws-of-early.html
A 1300 years bp Lord Vishnu temple from Pakistan's Swat district:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/ancient-hindu-temple-discovered-in-northwest-pakistan/article33141958.ece
https://zeenews.india.com/world/1300-years-old-lord-vishnu-temple-discovered-in-pakistans-swat-district-2325777.html
https://www.dawn.com/news/1591711/archaeologists-make-new-discoveries-in-ancient-swat-town
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/1-300-year-old-ancient-hindu-temple-discovered-in-pakistan-173170
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/ancient-hindu-temple-discovered-in-northwest-pakistan/1979256
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/lord-vishnus-1-300-year-old-temple-discovered-in-northwest-pakistan-2328135
An interesting 16th century copper plate documenting abduction of women and their ransom:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/16th-c-copper-plate-inscription-details-abduction-of-women-bribe/articleshow/79251994.cms
Concerns (?) for remains of an unfinished 13th century shrine in the Warangal Urban district:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/unfinished-temple-of-kakatiya-era-lies-in-ruins/article33103827.ece
Excavating an Otago gold-rush cemetery has commenced:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/otago/123405283/excavation-of-human-remains-from-otago-goldrush-era-begins
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/archaeologists-find-six-previously-unknown-graves
A 'road of bones' found in Siberia may be associated with Russia's 1917-22 civil war:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/17/russia-uncovers-road-of-bones-on-frozen-highway-in-siberia
Another apology from an Australian mining company ... nothing destroyed though (yet):
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/17/fortescue-regrets-causing-offence-with-threat-of-legal-action-during-bid-to-destroy-aboriginal-sites-in-pilbara
================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Evidence that ice melt was a major source of water for Ancestral Pueblans in New Mexico:
https://www.usf.edu/news/2020/usf-led-geosciences-team-discovers-ancestral-puebloans-survived-from-ice-melt-in-new-mexico-lava-tubes.aspx
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-geoscientists-ancestral-puebloans-survived-ice.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/uosf-gda111720.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201118080741.htm
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/clues-to-puebloan-history-drip-away-in-melting-ice-caves/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/geoscientists-discover-ancestral.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/19/ancestral-puebloans-survived-from-ice-melt-in-new-mexico-lava-tubes/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9222-201119-water-ancestral-puebloans
A 170+ years bp (i.e. pre-contact) artifact of some sort from a Kelowna beach:
https://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/artifact-estimated-more-than-170-years-old-found-on-kelowna-beach/
https://www.similkameenspotlight.com/news/artifact-estimated-more-than-170-years-old-found-on-kelowna-beach/
Latest from the dig at Colonial Williamsburg's First Baptist Church:
https://www.dailypress.com/virginiagazette/va-vg-firstbaptist-latest-1114-20201116-jgnzmtybt5e3lbuawgvv5uff3i-story.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9216-201118-williamsburg-church-site
Plenty of finds from Revolutionary-War era site in Wethersfield (CT):
https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-connecticut-museum-archaeology-wethersfield-20201116-zadbiod5gvgedfq56o4se4hv34-story.html
https://news.yahoo.com/recently-discovered-trove-artifacts-changing-111400589.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9214-201117-connecticut-pequot-war
Some more remains from Fort Douglas have been found on the University of Utah campus:
https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/excavation-in-salt-lake-city-uncovers-secrets-from-1870
Another possible lost Black cemetery site on MacDill Air Force base:
https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2020/11/13/possible-black-cemetery-found-on-macdill-air-force-base/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/possible-remains-early-20th-century-black-cemetery-found-florida-180976326/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9215-201117-florida-lost-cemetery
Erosion revealed a possible 200 years bp shipwreck from Crescent Beach (Florida):
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/11/200-year-old-florida-shipwreck-found-when-erosion-washed-away-sand/
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/shipwreck-revealed-as-waves-erode-sand-from-crescent-beach/77-522bd594-e0bc-40c2-ab4d-d8a46fa0bf3f
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/more-of-a-shipwreck-on-the-beach-is-visible-archaeologists-have-theories-about-where-it-came-from/77-efe0f284-63fb-40c2-a449-0028a3324518
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/shipwreck-exposed-florida-coast-could-be-200-years-old-180976351/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9218-201118-florida-beach-shipwreck
Feature on 'hobby archaeologists' in Ohio:
https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/columns/2020/11/22/archaeology-amateurs-have-much-offer-searching-ohios-past/3778247001/
Feature on the Chicago Fire:
https://www.americanheritage.com/olearys-and-great-chicago-fire?fbclid=IwAR1A4alYosoL50eTwHcXQzaJlmkHgkqA1h7lW0W087ssvd3fUgCdFyG4rGQ
Challenging the slave-holder claim regarding Alexander Hamilton:
https://dailygazette.com/2020/11/15/hamilton-descendant-speaks-out-against-schuyler-mansion-report/
More on the search for the home of Harriet Tubman's father:
http://www.wboc.com/story/42919108/maryland-archaeologists-search-for-home-clues-of-harriet-tubmans-father
Reviewish of Thomas Ricks, *First Principles*:
https://whyy.org/episodes/what-the-greeks-and-romans-taught-the-founding-fathers/
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
================================================================
Feature on LIDAR locating Maya sites:
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p08rwhzr/the-maya-world-untouched-for-centuries
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200914-in-guatemala-the-maya-world-untouched-for-centuries
Pondering the Dominican Republic's African past:
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20201117-santo-domingo-the-city-that-kept-slavery-silent
-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:
http://goo.gl/1VdeA
Ancient MesoAmerica News:
http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
================================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
================================================================
Not sure where to put this one on whether Jesus was 'ugly' and how the early church portrayed Him:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/was-jesus-ugly-the-early-church-thought-so
... or this one on the lessons of France's wars of religion and the US:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/11/wars-religion-france-polarization.html
Suggestion that a piece of 'graffiti' on the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence may have been done by Michelangelo:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-research-says-michelangelo-may-have-made-carving-palazzo-vecchio-180976310/
A sketch of Christ is 'almost certainly' the work of Leonardo, apparently:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/leonardo-da-vinci-jesus-drawing-attribution-1234576922/
https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/11/20/drawing-believed-to-be-by-leonardo-da-vinci/0/drawing-believed-to-be-by-leonardo-da-vinci/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/420/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/420/pub/420/page/68/article/104017
How coffee changed Britain:
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20201119-how-coffee-forever-changed-britain
Feature on chess as a metaphor for the world:
https://elpais.com/babelia/2020-11-16/el-ajedrez-la-gran-metafora-del-mundo.html
Lessons from Chaucer and Beowulf:
https://psyche.co/ideas/get-medieval-on-your-haters-lessons-from-beowulf-and-chaucer
Feature on 'art replicator' Adam Lowe:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/nov/19/caravaggio-raphael-tutankhamun-adam-lowe-master-faker-covid
What the microbiome of some of Da Vinci's drawings reveal:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/f-tmo111820.php
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-microbiome-da-vinci.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/f-tmo111820.php
https://www.livescience.com/da-vinci-drawings-microbiome.html
Claims that Dutch Schultz buried a pile of cash in New York somewhere is sparking treasure hunts:
https://www.livescience.com/dutch-schultz-treasure-prohibition.html
Feature on five ancient rulers who changed the world but whose bodies have never been found:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/these-5-ancient-rulers-changed-the-world-but-their-bodies-have-never-been
Feature on labyrinths in fiction:
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20201118-the-mysterious-appeal-of-a-labyrinth
Some unpublished Tolkien essays on Middle Earth are going to be published:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/19/jrr-tolkien-the-nature-of-middle-earth-published-june-2021
Feature on assorted philosophers:
https://neoskosmos.com/en/180192/beyond-socrates-and-aristotle-philosophers-you-might-know/
Concerns for the London home of Rimbaud and Verlaine:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/nov/22/arts-world-dismayed-at-fate-of-london-home-of-rimbaud-and-verlaine
On the evolution of the 1918 flu pandemic:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/19/coronavirus-evolving-deadlier-evidence-social-distancing-covid-19
The Founding Fathers apparently didn't think about the possibility of a president refusing to step down:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/11/21/founders-constitution-president-trump-concede/
More on that botched sculpture restoration in Spain:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/amateur-restorer-botches-carving-spain-180976271/
More on reactions to that Mary Wollstonecraft statue:
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/11/mary-wollstonecraft-naked-feminist/617166/
================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Mabel Remington Colhoun photos:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/free-online-photo-exhibit-showcases-irish-life-through-20th-century-180976307/
Al Sabah Collection:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/fashion/jewelry-national-museum-islamic-art-qatar.html
Feature on the Royal Chariots Museum:
https://www.egyptindependent.com/photos-a-tour-of-the-royal-chariots-museum-shows-off-the-alawiyya-dynasty/
Marking the 118th anniversary of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/94376/Egyptian-Museum-in-Tahrir-118-years-as-a-beacon-of
https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/11/18/egypt-celebrates-118th-anniversary-of-renowned-cairo-museum/
https://cairoscene.com/Buzz/Egyptian-Museum-in-Tahrir-Celebrates-118th-Birthday-with-Exhibit-of-Re
... related:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/94418/In-Pics-Sarcophagi-exhibited-for-the-1st-time-in-the
In case you missed the plans for a museum (and dig) in Benin City:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/museum-west-african-art-will-incorporate-pieces-city-destroyed-1897-invasion-180976318/
https://iafrica.com/a-new-museum-to-bring-the-benin-bronzes-home/
Plans to turn an island near Sozopol into an archaeology museum:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/13/bulgaria-to-turn-former-black-sea-island-near-sozopol-into-archaeology-museum-with-aid-from-louvre-france-oae/
================================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
================================================================
That Caratacus coin fetched a nice price at auction:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8956223/Gold-coin-showing-British-warrior-Caratacus-led-resistance-against-Romans-sells-80-000.html
https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/news/32721/iron-age-coin-found-near-newbury-smashes-estimate-and-sells-for-80k.html
Some recently-found 'unknown Constable' drawings are coming to auction:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/nov/22/unknown-constable-drawings-found-hidden-for-200-years-in-family-scrapbook
Marie Antoinette had a very expensive shoe:
https://www.dw.com/en/marie-antoinettes-slipper-fetches-over-50000-in-auction/a-55611525
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/20/43750e-for-a-shoe-belonging-to-marie-antoinette/
================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
================================================================
On reconciling genetic code evolution and Darwin's theories:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201116075719.htm
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/genetic-code-evolution-and-darwins.html
================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
Rochester Institute of Technology students revealed that a 15th century manuscript is a palimpsest:
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-students-hidden-15th-century-text-medieval.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201121104311.htm
Interesting tech study of pigments of a Fayoum mummy portrait:
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-science-reveals-secrets-mummy-portrait.html
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/11/college-undergrads-find-hidden-text-on-medieval-manuscript-via-uv-imaging/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/science-reveals-secrets-of-mummys.html
================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
================================================================
Roman sites in Scotland:
https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/9-remnants-roman-empire-you-can-visit-around-scotland-3043104
Naples:
https://www.travelawaits.com/2558550/things-to-do-in-naples-italy/
Ankara:
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/travel/roman-baths-china-shops-and-more-a-half-day-walking-tour-of-ankaras-historic-ulus-quarter
Feature marking UNESCO's 75th anniversary with a focus on Heritage Sites:
https://www.dw.com/en/world-heritage-sites-we-were-there/g-19376166
================================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
================================================================
Lysistrata:
http://www.laloyolan.com/life_and_arts/theater/lysistrata-combines-theatre-arts-zoom-and-stop-motion-to-create-a-multimedia-play/article_11b2c35b-2510-5ded-92e3-6490bbc3c612.html
Ammonite:
https://www.npr.org/2020/11/15/934692843/kate-winslets-ammonite-takes-on-paleontology-patriarchy-and-passion
================================================================
TV/DOCUMENTARY HYPISH THINGS
================================================================
Hyping Bettany Hughes' latest documentary, coming to the Smithsonian Channel in the US:
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/11/16/greek-island-odyssey-bettany-hughes/
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/11/16/greek-island-odyssey-bettany-hughes/
A Spanish documentary on mummified remains from the Canary Islands:
https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-11-16/el-rey-guanche-tenia-los-ojos-claros.html
================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
A statue of Zeus and other items recovered in a bust in Turkey's Zonguldak province:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/historical-artifact-roman-zeus-statue-seized-in-turkey/2048357
An Egyptian national in MInya was arrested for digging under his home:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/94423/Citizen-arrested-for-illegally-excavating-under-his-home
Arrests in the Green Vault heist:
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/dresden-vault-heist-arrests-scli-intl/index.html
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Raids-arrests-as-German-police-probe-Dresden-15732578.php
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-police-arrest-suspects-in-dresden-museum-heist/a-55623122
A theft of John the Baptist relics from Sliven eight years ago is still unsolved:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/15/8-years-after-theft-of-st-john-the-baptist-relics-in-bulgarias-sliven-finder-laments-unresolved-case/
Latest Anonymous Swiss Collector Culture Crime News:
http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2020/11/culture-crime-news-9-17-november-2020.html
----------
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
================================================================
Egypt returned coins to a number of countries:
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2020/11/19/egypt-hands-over-100-smuggled-antique-coins-to-china-india-and-saudi-arabia/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/94413/Egyptian-Consul-General-in-New-York-signs-protocol-to-retrieve
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/egypt-recovers-late-period-relief-from.html
The US returned a Late Period relief to Egypt:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/394156/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/A-Late-Period-relief-recovered-from-New-York.aspx
Pondering the British Museum and the Benin Bronzes:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/artists/wont-british-museum-return-benin-bronzes/
More on Switzerland returning items to Italy:
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/switzerland-returns-stolen-artefacts-to.html
================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Feature on the last coins of the Roman Empire:
https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/the-last-coins-of-the-roman-empire/
Oxford has a new project investigating the origns of coinage:
https://cherwell.org/2020/11/17/oxford-project-to-research-origins-of-coinage/
Latest e-Sylum:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v23/club_nbs_esylum_v23n46.html
... and the one which should appear later today:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v23/club_nbs_esylum_v23n47.html
------------------------
Coin Week:
http://www.coinweek.com/
================================================================
OBITUARIES
================================================================
Jean-Marie Dentzer:
https://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2020/11/18/la-mort-de-l-archeologue-jean-marie-dentzer_6060210_3382.html
Jan Morris:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/20/jan-morris-historian-travel-writer-and-trans-pioneer-dies-aged-94
================================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
================================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:
https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3005-audio-news-from-archaeologica-november-8-through-november-14-2020
================================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS
================================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:
http://www.archaeology.org/news/
About.com Archaeology:
http://archaeology.about.com/
Archaeology Briefs:
http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/
Atlas Obscura:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/
Heritage Daily:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/
Sapiens Archaeology:
https://www.sapiens.org/category/archaeology/
Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:
http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/
================================================================
PODCASTS/VODCASTS
================================================================
Archaeosoup:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Archaeos0up?feature=watch
Archaeology Podcast Network:
http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/
================================================================
EXPLORATOR is a free weekly newsletter bringing you the latest
news of archaeological finds, historical research and the like.
Various on-line news and magazine sources are scoured for news of
the 'ancient world' (broadly construed: practically anything relating
to archaeology or history up to a century or so ago is fair
game) and every Sunday they are delivered to your mailbox free of
charge!
================================================================
Useful Addresses
================================================================
You can read Explorator online at:
https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/
Past issues of Explorator are also available on the web via our
groups.io page:
https://groups.io/g/explorator
To subscribe to Explorator, send a blank email message to:
explorator+***@groups.io
To unsubscribe, send a blank email message to:
Unsubscribe: explorator+***@groups.io
To send a 'heads up' to the editor or contact him for other
reasons:
***@gmail.com
================================================================
Explorator is Copyright (c) 2020 David Meadows. Feel free to
distribute these listings via email to your pals, students,
teachers, etc., but please include this copyright notice. These
links are not to be posted to any website by any means (whether
by direct posting or snagging from a usenet group or some other
email source) without my express written permission. I think it
is only right that I be made aware of public fora which are
making use of content gathered in Explorator. Thanks!
================================================================
explorator 23.31 November 22, 2020
===============================================================
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, Lampros Kallenos,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).
================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Feature on the debate over where modern humans first appeared:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/where-was-the-birthplace-of-modern-humans
Suggestion that stone handaxes had a 'practical and spirtual' side for early hominids:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-hand-axes-made-of-bone-indicate-spiritual-motive-archaeologist-posits-1.9313914
More on that recently-found Paranthropus robustus skull:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/newly-unearthed-skull-reveals-how-ancient-hominids-evolved-survive-changing-climate-180976282/
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Evidence of repeated occupation of the West African coast 62 000 - 25 000 years bp:
https://www.shh.mpg.de/1911161/middle-stone-age-populations-repeatedly-occupied-west-african-coast?c=1606725
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/mpif-msa112020.php
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-middle-stone-age-populations-repeatedly.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/middle-stone-age-populations-repeatedly.html
In case you missed the news about the underwater sites found near Tunis (various periods):
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheArchaeologyNewsNetwork/~3/SeTet0wwjn0/underwater-archaeological-sites.html
An interview with Maeve Leakey:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/nov/21/meave-leakey-definitely-africa-is-where-it-all-began
Feature on the ancient kingdom of Kerma:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/11/kerma-the-ancient-african-kingdom/136144
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Last week we mentioned original pigments at the temple of Esna had been found:
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/16/original-pigments-of-inscriptions-at-the-temple-of-esna-found/
... and this week we're reading about conservation of the temple:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/390113/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/EgyptGerman-archaeological-mission-resumes-conserv.aspx
... and how the temple is revealing the names of some previously-unknown (name-wise) constellations:
https://www.livescience.com/ancient-egyptian-star-constellations.htm
More on the 100 or so more 2500 years bp sarcophagi revealed at Saqqara last week:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/393774/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/In-Photos-Egypt-announces-the-biggest-archaeologic.aspx
https://www.livescience.com/more-mummies-saqqara-egypt-burial-shafts.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/15/world/middleeast/egypt-discovery-mummies.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/treasure-trove-of-mummy-coffins-in-egypt-saved-from-desert-2-500-years-on-cdl6ng88h
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3109892/egypt-showcases-scores-2500-year-old-coffins-found-saqqara
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/egyptian-archaeologists-make-the-biggest-discovery-in-2020
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/100-coffins-mummies-saqqara-scli-intl-scn/index.html
https://www.9news.com.au/world/egypt-unveils-ancient-coffins-statues-found-in-saqqara/32086bb0-7a96-4009-91d4-bbcba8ce6322
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/28224/20201115/100-more-coffins-found-egypts-necropolis-saqqara.htm
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/uncategorized/egypt-unveils-100-sarcophagi/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/egypt-finds-treasure-trove-of-over-100.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/16/more-than-100-sarcophagi-were-presented-last-saturday-in-saqqara/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9209-201116-egypt-saqqara-coffins
... and some overviewish things about recent finds at Saqqara:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/archaeologists-are-just-beginning-unearth-mummies-and-secrets-saqqara-180976301/
https://www.iol.co.za/travel/africa/why-egypts-saqqara-region-continues-to-give-up-its-sarcophagi-aaebd7ee-2156-542f-8269-fe90fb40356d
An interesting 1800 years BCE tomb reveals evidence of a possible ancient Egyptian gynaecological treatment:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8961247/Gynaecology-ancient-Egypt-REVEALED.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/20/ancient-egyptian-tomb-yields-gynecological-treatment-evidence/
More on the recent analysis of the First Book of Breathing papyrus:
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/ancient-egypt-gods-death-archaeology-book-of-the-dead-books-of-breathing-1.9316371
Feature on Amarna:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/11/amarna-the-city-of-the-heretic-pharaoh/136111
An archaeologist is urging for conservation of the Achaemenid-era Bostan Khani Dam:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/454693/Archaeologist-accentuates-proper-maintenance-of-Achaemenid-masterpiece
Feature on efforts to preserve Iraq's antiquities from theft and the like:
https://www.ft.com/content/56289a8e-5f68-4163-9bb2-c457000dd263
Evidence that folks in Israel were contending with lead pollution some 3000 years bp:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-people-in-biblical-israel-3-000-years-ago-suffered-lead-pollution-1.9318265
https://gath.wordpress.com/2020/11/19/haaretz-piece-on-pollution-article/
Interesting evidence found of Iron Age silver counterfeiting prior to the invention of coinage:
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/dirty-old-money-researchers-reveal-iron-age-silver-forgery-649864
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-counterfeiting-began-even-before-money-was-invented-archaeologists-deduce-1.9322163
Feature on toilets in ancient Israel:
https://www.israel21c.org/lifting-the-lid-on-israels-best-ancient-toilets/
More on the Iron Age fort in the Golan:
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/iron-age-fort-discovered-on-golan.html
More on those four 1000 years bp gold coins found in the Western Wall Plaza:
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/gold-coins-fatimid-period-israel-09068.html
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/1000-year-old-gold-coins-found/
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
The big news this week appears to be the find (and casting) of two more victims of Vesuvius at Pompeii:
https://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2020/11/21/pompeii-gives-back-whole-bodies-of-two-fugitives_775c9f93-2ce6-4a2f-8826-44abfd1390ad.html
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-bodies-slave-unearthed-ashes-pompeii.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/21/pompeii-dig-reveals-almost-perfect-remains-of-a-master-and-his-slave
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55029538
https://www.dw.com/en/workers-in-athens-find-ancient-head-of-the-greek-god-hermes/a-55677876
https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-volcanic-eruptions-37e83ba403c7bbd871c6c33c57c0a051
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/bodies-of-man-and-his-slave-unearthed-from-ashes-at-pompeii/2020/11/21/77589e9c-2bfa-11eb-9c21-3cc501d0981f_story.html
https://www.reuters.com/article/instant-article/idAFKBN2810JI
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/21/europe/pompeii-rich-man-slave-bodies-scli-intl/index.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/pompeii-ruins-slave-and-rich-mans-bodies-found-lying-side-by-side-649817
https://www.dw.com/en/pompeii-archaeologists-discover-bodies-of-man-and-his-slave/a-55686844
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Bodies-of-man-and-his-slave-unearthed-from-ashes-15744602.php
https://www.startribune.com/bodies-of-man-and-his-slave-unearthed-from-ashes-at-pompeii/573152431/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/two-corpses-of-master-and-slave-discovered-at-pompeii
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-bodies-of-cloaked-man-and-his-slave.html
... while a fresco of Theseus and Ariadne was also revealed:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stunning-fresco-of-ariadne-and-theseus-unearthed-at-pompeii-qbjxv23th
A Punic tomb from Zejtun:
https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2020-11-17/local-news/Punic-tomb-complete-with-skeleton-and-pottery-unearthed-in-Zejtun-6736228728
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/punic-tomb-unearthed-in-maltas-zejtun.html
Turkish fishermen netted a large bronze statue of a woman off the coast of Marmaris:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/11/20/turkish-fishermen-300kg-statue/
https://eu.greekreporter.com/2020/11/20/missing-sister-of-kalymnos-lady-statue-discovered-on-aegean-seabed/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/turkish-fishermen-net-300-kilo-ancient.html
Recent finds from Vryokastraki (near Kythnos) ... various periods:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/11/17/archaeologists-excavations-vryokastraki/
Red figure pottery from Gravina (Italian):
https://www.barinedita.it/cronaca/n4141-gravina-sulla-collina-delle-meraviglie-rinvenute-anfore-millenarie-e-la-tomba-di-un-atleta
Possible remains of Caligula's palace have been revealed beneath a 19th century office building:
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/rome-unearths-remains-of-caligulas-lavish-palace-and-gardens.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/caligulas-ancient-rome-house-of-infamy-revealed-qhnht5djh
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8953225/Lavish-home-indulgent-Emperor-Caligula-discovered-Rome.html
... and a feature on Caligula:
https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/caligula-facts-life-biography-horse-consul-incitatus-little-boots-how-die/
A inscriptional letter of Severus and Caracalla found at Nicopolis ad Istrum in the 1920s has been reassembled and translated:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/12/roman-emperor-lied-thanked-city-for-bribe-reveals-newly-decoded-inscription-from-ancient-nicopolis-ad-istrum-in-bulgaria/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9211-201116-bulgaria-imperial-letter
37 burials and remains of hypogea from Marsala (date?):
https://itacanotizie.it/2020/11/21/sepolture/
A Late Roman 'burgus' from excavations at the Pomodiana Fortress in northwest Bulgaria:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/16/archaeologists-unearth-burgus-tower-fort-in-lesser-known-roman-danube-fortress-bulldozed-by-treasure-hunters-in-northwest-bulgaria/
Europa Nostra has called for Thessaloniki antiquities to be preserved on site:
https://news.gtp.gr/2020/11/20/europa-nostra-calls-thessaloniki-antiquities-preserved-on-site/
Anthony Barrett's new book on Nero is spawning some revisionist commentary by various folks:
https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/was-nero-that-bad-blog-post-mary-beard/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/what-was-nero-really-doing-while-rome-burned/2020/11/19/4118bd20-029d-11eb-897d-3a6201d6643f_story.html
... and an article with a similar spin seems unaware of Barrett's book:
https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/11/19/21570601/daniel-peterson-nero-fiddle-while-rome-burned-possibly-history-agrippina-shakespeare-richard
Feature on Jennifer Stager's mosaic course:
https://magazine.krieger.jhu.edu/2020/11/syllabus-past-meets-present-among-the-tiles/
Hypish on Eric Rebillard's book on ealry marthyr narratives:
https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2020/11/roman-historian-views-early-martyr-narratives-living-texts
Feature on the Pantheon:
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/pantheon-history-test-of-time/index.html
Feature on what ancient Romans ate:
http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/what-did-ancient-romans-eat/
Feature on death in ancient Greece:
https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/death-in-ancient-greece/
... and a related piece:
https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/living-the-ancient-greek-death/
... and ancient Greek ideas about the afterlife:
https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/the-ancient-greek-afterlife-and-its-evolution/
An Ecce Romani love story:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/20/style/a-perfect-introduction-for-two-latin-lovers.html
More on that head of Hermes (?) found in downtown Athens last week:
https://www.culture.gov.gr/el/Information/SitePages/view.aspx?nID=3570
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/11/15/head-of-ancient-statue-found-athens/
https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-athens-greece-3aa06a6d022a737170a45612c00ca97f
https://www.dw.com/en/workers-in-athens-find-ancient-head-of-the-greek-god-hermes/a-55677876
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8953053/Ancient-Greek-gods-bust-Athens-sewage-work.html
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/ancient-statue-of-greek-god-hermes-dug-up-in-athens
https://naftemporiki.gr/story/1658594/ton-theo-ermi-apeikonizei-i-arxaia-kefali-pou-brethike-sto-kentro-tis-athinas
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3109963/ancient-bust-greek-god-hermes-found-during-athens-sewage-works
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/11/15/ancient-bust-greek-god-hermes-found-during-athens-sewage-work/6306713002/
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/ancient-greek-gods-bust-found-athens-sewage-works-74222854
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/16/head-of-hermes-found-in-downtown-athens/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-bust-hermes-was-discovered-drainage-duct-180976320/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9210-201116-greece-hermes-sculpture
More on figures of Demeter and Persephone being found at Anapa (Russia):
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/11/18/statuettes-goddess-demeter-anapa/
https://eu.greekreporter.com/2020/11/19/figurines-of-demeter-and-persephone-found-in-russias-black-sea-town-of-anapa/
More on the (Roman) Barbegal mlll complex in France:
https://www.uni-mainz.de/presse/aktuell/12510_ENG_HTML.php
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-unique-hydraulics-barbegal-mills-world.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/16/the-worlds-first-industrial-plant/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-unique-hydraulics-in-barbegal-water.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9223-201119-roman-water-wheels
More on that Roman-era glass vase from Autun:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/roman-vase-found-grave-site-france-1234576634/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9213-201117-france-roman-glass
More on that Apollo seal from Israel's Tzurim Valley National Park:
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/apollo-seal-09061.html
More on MEPs asking the UK to return the Parthenon Marbles:
https://www.argophilia.com/news/european-parliament-members-plead-with-the-uk-for-parthenon-marbles/227682/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/30-meps-ask-boris-johnson-to-return.html
More hype for the LEGO Colosseum coming out just in time for Saturnalia:
https://hyperallergic.com/601959/rome-wasnt-built-in-a-day-lego-announces-colosseum-model/
https://www.nbcnews.com/shopping/gift-guides/lego-roman-colosseum-set-n1248075
https://www.apollo-magazine.com/giant-lego-colosseum/
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:
http://romanarc.blogspot.com/
Rogueclassicism:
http://rogueclassicism.com/
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
I think we mentioned the find of the 5000+ years bp 'upright' burial of the 'lady of Bietikow':
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/neolithic-skeleton-find-in-germany.html
5 000 years bp kilns from a site in the Karlovo Valley (Bulgaria):
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/20/economic-section-of-5000-year-old-settlement-with-%D0%B0-dozen-kilns-found-in-central-bulgarian-valley/
Interesting 4000+ years bp clay mask/figurine from a mound near Providiya (Bulgaria):
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/15/mouthless-prehistoric-alien-mask-mixing-human-animal-features-found-in-salt-pit-settlement-mound-in-bulgarias-provadiya/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/mouthless-alien-mask-found-at-late.html
Mesolithic and Bronze Age finds from a dig at an estate in the New Forest:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-54972027
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/18885588.bronze-age-burial-site-found-new-forest/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9225-201120-new-forest-prehistory
A massive 8th-11th century Muslim necropolis from near Zaragoza (Spain):
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/necropolis-muslim-intl-scli-scn/index.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/spanish-roadworks-reveal-ancient-islamic-burial-site-fw9qz2rg6
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201119-spain-roadworks-run-into-ancient-muslim-burial-site/
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1765436/world
https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/11/22/archaeologists-find-4500-skeletons-at-8th-century-burial-ground-in-north-east-spain/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/ancient-islamic-burial-ground.html
Evidence that an 11th century fortress in Bulgaria was destroyed by Crusaders during the Third Crusade:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/14/11th-century-byzantine-empire-fortress-in-southeast-bulgaria-destroyed-by-crusaders-from-third-crusade-archaeologists-find/
A 13th century clergyman's burial from Veliko Tarnovo:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/17/13th-century-clergymans-grave-with-gospel-of-john-inscription-on-pillow-brick-byzantine-gold-threads-found-in-medieval-bulgarian-capital-tarnovgrad/
An inscribed horse shoulder blade (1300 CE or so) from the Rusocastro Fortress:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/19/horse-shoulder-blade-with-mysterious-magic-ritual-marks-from-ca-1300-ad-discovered-in-rusocastro-fortress-in-southeast-bulgaria/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9226-201120-bulgaria-horse-bone
A study of the impact of the transition from tribal to feudal living in 14th century Poland:
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-transition-feudal-14th-century-impacted.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/sr-att111320.php
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/transition-to-feudal-living-in-14th.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/20/transition-to-feudal-living-in-14th-c-impacted-local-ecosystems/
Finds from various periods from a housing development site in East Cambridgshire:
https://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/prehistoric-graves-revealed-on-building-site-1-6935749
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9224-201120-england-cambridgeshire-graves
Remains of a 16th century military person from the bottom of a Lithuanian lake:
https://www.livescience.com/medieval-soldier-lake-lithuania.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8971059/Skeleton-16th-century-solider-discovered-underwater-bridge-inspection-Lithuania.html
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/28348/20201120/remains-soldier-medieval-period-found-lithuanian-lake.htm
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/remains-of-medieval-soldier-found-in.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9219-201119-lithuania-human-remains
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9219-201119-lithuania-human-remains
Evidence of a 'coverup' of a massacre at Shelford during the English Civil War:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-54973017
Plans to restore Lindow Man's peat bog:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/environment/2020/11/15/lindow-mans-peat-bog-restored-former-glory/
In case you were wondering why the Stonehenge tunnal was a controversy:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/controversial-stonehenge-tunnel-approved-180976319/
... and more coverage of it being approved:
https://www.euronews.com/2020/11/20/anger-at-plans-to-build-a-dual-carriageway-beneath-uk-s-prehistoric-stonehenge
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rival-factions-battle-for-soul-of-stonehenge-3wn5vfxfv
Feature on five Scottish stone circles:
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18880908.five-scottish-stone-circles-brodgar-callanish-calanais-arran-lewis-bronze-age/
Scientists are trying to recreate the smell of 16th century Europe for some reason:
https://www.livescience.com/scents-old-europe-history.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/nov/17/scents-of-history-study-hopes-to-recreate-smells-of-old-europe
Concerns for the Davidank Orthodox monastery:
https://fr.aleteia.org/2020/11/16/haut-karabakh-le-sort-incertain-du-monastere-millenaire-de-dadivank/
On how profits from slavery impacted the Scottish Highlands:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-research-investigates-how-enslavement-profits-changed-landscape-scottish-highlands-180976311/
More on finds being made in the vicinity of the Gjellestad ship (and their implications):
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/excavation-viking-ship-burial-continues-new-research-reveals-history-elite-scandinavian-society-180976273/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/archaeologists-discover-incredible-1000-year-old-viking-burial-site-in-norway
More on the cache of musket balls associated with Bonnie Prince Charlie:
https://www.obantimes.co.uk/2020/11/18/trio-of-metal-detectorists-uncover-secret-jacobite-hoard-on-shore-of-lochaber-loch/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/musket-balls-18th-century-jacobite-rebellion-found-scotland-180976366/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9221-201119-scotland-jacobite-ammunition
More on the Henry VIII jousting yard find:
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/637556/henry-viii-accident-jousting-yard-discovery
https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1362733/royal-news-archaeology-henry-viii-jousting-accident-evg
More on remains of a medieval port in Eindhoven:
https://nltimes.nl/2020/11/15/remains-medieval-port-found-eindhoven
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9212-201117-netherlands-gate-canal
More on the burial of those 30 000+ years bp twins:
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/oldest-known-identical-twins-found-in.html
----------
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
================================================================
Neolithic finds (mostly ... some later items too) from China's Anhui province:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/16/c_139519892.htm
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2020-11/16/content_76915880.htm
Song Dynasty porcelain from a family cemetery in Shaanxi:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/17/c_139522686.htm
A 10th century 'romanesque' bathhouse from Xinjiang:
http://www.ecns.cn/news/culture/2020-11-19/detail-ihaeatyh1833494.shtml
More on those 3000 years bp leather balls from China:
https://www.zmescience.com/science/3000-year-old-leather-balls-from-china-might-point-to-the-origin-of-polo/
Feature on the Terracotta Warriors:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-terracotta-army-what-these-life-size-clay-warriors-tell-us-about-ancient
Feature on the Silk Road:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-silk-road-was-more-than-a-vast-trade-route
Late Jomon era finds from a dig in Fukushima:
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201116/p2a/00m/0na/012000c
XRay imaging of 3600 years bp pottery shards from Kyushu revealed impressions made by various weevils:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/ku-xio111620.php
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-x-ray-imaging-beetles-ancient-japanese.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/x-ray-imaging-of-beetles-world-in-3600.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/18/x-ray-imaging-of-a-beetles-world-in-ancient-earthenware/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9220-201119-japan-maize-weevils
A recently-found Edo period document reveals a sort of Hosokawa clan code of conduct:
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-laws-early-edo-japan-peace.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/ku-ndn111820.php
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/19/no-drinking-no-fighting-the-laws-of-early-edo-japan/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/no-drinking-no-fighting-laws-of-early.html
A 1300 years bp Lord Vishnu temple from Pakistan's Swat district:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/ancient-hindu-temple-discovered-in-northwest-pakistan/article33141958.ece
https://zeenews.india.com/world/1300-years-old-lord-vishnu-temple-discovered-in-pakistans-swat-district-2325777.html
https://www.dawn.com/news/1591711/archaeologists-make-new-discoveries-in-ancient-swat-town
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/1-300-year-old-ancient-hindu-temple-discovered-in-pakistan-173170
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/ancient-hindu-temple-discovered-in-northwest-pakistan/1979256
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/lord-vishnus-1-300-year-old-temple-discovered-in-northwest-pakistan-2328135
An interesting 16th century copper plate documenting abduction of women and their ransom:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/16th-c-copper-plate-inscription-details-abduction-of-women-bribe/articleshow/79251994.cms
Concerns (?) for remains of an unfinished 13th century shrine in the Warangal Urban district:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/unfinished-temple-of-kakatiya-era-lies-in-ruins/article33103827.ece
Excavating an Otago gold-rush cemetery has commenced:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/otago/123405283/excavation-of-human-remains-from-otago-goldrush-era-begins
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/archaeologists-find-six-previously-unknown-graves
A 'road of bones' found in Siberia may be associated with Russia's 1917-22 civil war:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/17/russia-uncovers-road-of-bones-on-frozen-highway-in-siberia
Another apology from an Australian mining company ... nothing destroyed though (yet):
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/17/fortescue-regrets-causing-offence-with-threat-of-legal-action-during-bid-to-destroy-aboriginal-sites-in-pilbara
================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Evidence that ice melt was a major source of water for Ancestral Pueblans in New Mexico:
https://www.usf.edu/news/2020/usf-led-geosciences-team-discovers-ancestral-puebloans-survived-from-ice-melt-in-new-mexico-lava-tubes.aspx
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-geoscientists-ancestral-puebloans-survived-ice.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/uosf-gda111720.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201118080741.htm
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/clues-to-puebloan-history-drip-away-in-melting-ice-caves/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/geoscientists-discover-ancestral.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/19/ancestral-puebloans-survived-from-ice-melt-in-new-mexico-lava-tubes/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9222-201119-water-ancestral-puebloans
A 170+ years bp (i.e. pre-contact) artifact of some sort from a Kelowna beach:
https://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/artifact-estimated-more-than-170-years-old-found-on-kelowna-beach/
https://www.similkameenspotlight.com/news/artifact-estimated-more-than-170-years-old-found-on-kelowna-beach/
Latest from the dig at Colonial Williamsburg's First Baptist Church:
https://www.dailypress.com/virginiagazette/va-vg-firstbaptist-latest-1114-20201116-jgnzmtybt5e3lbuawgvv5uff3i-story.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9216-201118-williamsburg-church-site
Plenty of finds from Revolutionary-War era site in Wethersfield (CT):
https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-connecticut-museum-archaeology-wethersfield-20201116-zadbiod5gvgedfq56o4se4hv34-story.html
https://news.yahoo.com/recently-discovered-trove-artifacts-changing-111400589.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9214-201117-connecticut-pequot-war
Some more remains from Fort Douglas have been found on the University of Utah campus:
https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/excavation-in-salt-lake-city-uncovers-secrets-from-1870
Another possible lost Black cemetery site on MacDill Air Force base:
https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2020/11/13/possible-black-cemetery-found-on-macdill-air-force-base/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/possible-remains-early-20th-century-black-cemetery-found-florida-180976326/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9215-201117-florida-lost-cemetery
Erosion revealed a possible 200 years bp shipwreck from Crescent Beach (Florida):
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/11/200-year-old-florida-shipwreck-found-when-erosion-washed-away-sand/
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/shipwreck-revealed-as-waves-erode-sand-from-crescent-beach/77-522bd594-e0bc-40c2-ab4d-d8a46fa0bf3f
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/more-of-a-shipwreck-on-the-beach-is-visible-archaeologists-have-theories-about-where-it-came-from/77-efe0f284-63fb-40c2-a449-0028a3324518
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/shipwreck-exposed-florida-coast-could-be-200-years-old-180976351/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9218-201118-florida-beach-shipwreck
Feature on 'hobby archaeologists' in Ohio:
https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/columns/2020/11/22/archaeology-amateurs-have-much-offer-searching-ohios-past/3778247001/
Feature on the Chicago Fire:
https://www.americanheritage.com/olearys-and-great-chicago-fire?fbclid=IwAR1A4alYosoL50eTwHcXQzaJlmkHgkqA1h7lW0W087ssvd3fUgCdFyG4rGQ
Challenging the slave-holder claim regarding Alexander Hamilton:
https://dailygazette.com/2020/11/15/hamilton-descendant-speaks-out-against-schuyler-mansion-report/
More on the search for the home of Harriet Tubman's father:
http://www.wboc.com/story/42919108/maryland-archaeologists-search-for-home-clues-of-harriet-tubmans-father
Reviewish of Thomas Ricks, *First Principles*:
https://whyy.org/episodes/what-the-greeks-and-romans-taught-the-founding-fathers/
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
================================================================
Feature on LIDAR locating Maya sites:
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p08rwhzr/the-maya-world-untouched-for-centuries
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200914-in-guatemala-the-maya-world-untouched-for-centuries
Pondering the Dominican Republic's African past:
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20201117-santo-domingo-the-city-that-kept-slavery-silent
-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:
http://goo.gl/1VdeA
Ancient MesoAmerica News:
http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
================================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
================================================================
Not sure where to put this one on whether Jesus was 'ugly' and how the early church portrayed Him:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/was-jesus-ugly-the-early-church-thought-so
... or this one on the lessons of France's wars of religion and the US:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/11/wars-religion-france-polarization.html
Suggestion that a piece of 'graffiti' on the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence may have been done by Michelangelo:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-research-says-michelangelo-may-have-made-carving-palazzo-vecchio-180976310/
A sketch of Christ is 'almost certainly' the work of Leonardo, apparently:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/leonardo-da-vinci-jesus-drawing-attribution-1234576922/
https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/11/20/drawing-believed-to-be-by-leonardo-da-vinci/0/drawing-believed-to-be-by-leonardo-da-vinci/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/420/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/420/pub/420/page/68/article/104017
How coffee changed Britain:
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20201119-how-coffee-forever-changed-britain
Feature on chess as a metaphor for the world:
https://elpais.com/babelia/2020-11-16/el-ajedrez-la-gran-metafora-del-mundo.html
Lessons from Chaucer and Beowulf:
https://psyche.co/ideas/get-medieval-on-your-haters-lessons-from-beowulf-and-chaucer
Feature on 'art replicator' Adam Lowe:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/nov/19/caravaggio-raphael-tutankhamun-adam-lowe-master-faker-covid
What the microbiome of some of Da Vinci's drawings reveal:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/f-tmo111820.php
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-microbiome-da-vinci.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/f-tmo111820.php
https://www.livescience.com/da-vinci-drawings-microbiome.html
Claims that Dutch Schultz buried a pile of cash in New York somewhere is sparking treasure hunts:
https://www.livescience.com/dutch-schultz-treasure-prohibition.html
Feature on five ancient rulers who changed the world but whose bodies have never been found:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/these-5-ancient-rulers-changed-the-world-but-their-bodies-have-never-been
Feature on labyrinths in fiction:
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20201118-the-mysterious-appeal-of-a-labyrinth
Some unpublished Tolkien essays on Middle Earth are going to be published:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/19/jrr-tolkien-the-nature-of-middle-earth-published-june-2021
Feature on assorted philosophers:
https://neoskosmos.com/en/180192/beyond-socrates-and-aristotle-philosophers-you-might-know/
Concerns for the London home of Rimbaud and Verlaine:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/nov/22/arts-world-dismayed-at-fate-of-london-home-of-rimbaud-and-verlaine
On the evolution of the 1918 flu pandemic:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/19/coronavirus-evolving-deadlier-evidence-social-distancing-covid-19
The Founding Fathers apparently didn't think about the possibility of a president refusing to step down:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/11/21/founders-constitution-president-trump-concede/
More on that botched sculpture restoration in Spain:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/amateur-restorer-botches-carving-spain-180976271/
More on reactions to that Mary Wollstonecraft statue:
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/11/mary-wollstonecraft-naked-feminist/617166/
================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Mabel Remington Colhoun photos:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/free-online-photo-exhibit-showcases-irish-life-through-20th-century-180976307/
Al Sabah Collection:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/fashion/jewelry-national-museum-islamic-art-qatar.html
Feature on the Royal Chariots Museum:
https://www.egyptindependent.com/photos-a-tour-of-the-royal-chariots-museum-shows-off-the-alawiyya-dynasty/
Marking the 118th anniversary of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/94376/Egyptian-Museum-in-Tahrir-118-years-as-a-beacon-of
https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/11/18/egypt-celebrates-118th-anniversary-of-renowned-cairo-museum/
https://cairoscene.com/Buzz/Egyptian-Museum-in-Tahrir-Celebrates-118th-Birthday-with-Exhibit-of-Re
... related:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/94418/In-Pics-Sarcophagi-exhibited-for-the-1st-time-in-the
In case you missed the plans for a museum (and dig) in Benin City:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/museum-west-african-art-will-incorporate-pieces-city-destroyed-1897-invasion-180976318/
https://iafrica.com/a-new-museum-to-bring-the-benin-bronzes-home/
Plans to turn an island near Sozopol into an archaeology museum:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/13/bulgaria-to-turn-former-black-sea-island-near-sozopol-into-archaeology-museum-with-aid-from-louvre-france-oae/
================================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
================================================================
That Caratacus coin fetched a nice price at auction:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8956223/Gold-coin-showing-British-warrior-Caratacus-led-resistance-against-Romans-sells-80-000.html
https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/news/32721/iron-age-coin-found-near-newbury-smashes-estimate-and-sells-for-80k.html
Some recently-found 'unknown Constable' drawings are coming to auction:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/nov/22/unknown-constable-drawings-found-hidden-for-200-years-in-family-scrapbook
Marie Antoinette had a very expensive shoe:
https://www.dw.com/en/marie-antoinettes-slipper-fetches-over-50000-in-auction/a-55611525
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/20/43750e-for-a-shoe-belonging-to-marie-antoinette/
================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
================================================================
On reconciling genetic code evolution and Darwin's theories:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201116075719.htm
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/genetic-code-evolution-and-darwins.html
================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
Rochester Institute of Technology students revealed that a 15th century manuscript is a palimpsest:
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-students-hidden-15th-century-text-medieval.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201121104311.htm
Interesting tech study of pigments of a Fayoum mummy portrait:
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-science-reveals-secrets-mummy-portrait.html
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/11/college-undergrads-find-hidden-text-on-medieval-manuscript-via-uv-imaging/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/science-reveals-secrets-of-mummys.html
================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
================================================================
Roman sites in Scotland:
https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/9-remnants-roman-empire-you-can-visit-around-scotland-3043104
Naples:
https://www.travelawaits.com/2558550/things-to-do-in-naples-italy/
Ankara:
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/travel/roman-baths-china-shops-and-more-a-half-day-walking-tour-of-ankaras-historic-ulus-quarter
Feature marking UNESCO's 75th anniversary with a focus on Heritage Sites:
https://www.dw.com/en/world-heritage-sites-we-were-there/g-19376166
================================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
================================================================
Lysistrata:
http://www.laloyolan.com/life_and_arts/theater/lysistrata-combines-theatre-arts-zoom-and-stop-motion-to-create-a-multimedia-play/article_11b2c35b-2510-5ded-92e3-6490bbc3c612.html
Ammonite:
https://www.npr.org/2020/11/15/934692843/kate-winslets-ammonite-takes-on-paleontology-patriarchy-and-passion
================================================================
TV/DOCUMENTARY HYPISH THINGS
================================================================
Hyping Bettany Hughes' latest documentary, coming to the Smithsonian Channel in the US:
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/11/16/greek-island-odyssey-bettany-hughes/
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/11/16/greek-island-odyssey-bettany-hughes/
A Spanish documentary on mummified remains from the Canary Islands:
https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-11-16/el-rey-guanche-tenia-los-ojos-claros.html
================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
A statue of Zeus and other items recovered in a bust in Turkey's Zonguldak province:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/historical-artifact-roman-zeus-statue-seized-in-turkey/2048357
An Egyptian national in MInya was arrested for digging under his home:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/94423/Citizen-arrested-for-illegally-excavating-under-his-home
Arrests in the Green Vault heist:
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/dresden-vault-heist-arrests-scli-intl/index.html
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Raids-arrests-as-German-police-probe-Dresden-15732578.php
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-police-arrest-suspects-in-dresden-museum-heist/a-55623122
A theft of John the Baptist relics from Sliven eight years ago is still unsolved:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/15/8-years-after-theft-of-st-john-the-baptist-relics-in-bulgarias-sliven-finder-laments-unresolved-case/
Latest Anonymous Swiss Collector Culture Crime News:
http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2020/11/culture-crime-news-9-17-november-2020.html
----------
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
================================================================
Egypt returned coins to a number of countries:
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2020/11/19/egypt-hands-over-100-smuggled-antique-coins-to-china-india-and-saudi-arabia/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/94413/Egyptian-Consul-General-in-New-York-signs-protocol-to-retrieve
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/egypt-recovers-late-period-relief-from.html
The US returned a Late Period relief to Egypt:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/394156/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/A-Late-Period-relief-recovered-from-New-York.aspx
Pondering the British Museum and the Benin Bronzes:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/artists/wont-british-museum-return-benin-bronzes/
More on Switzerland returning items to Italy:
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/switzerland-returns-stolen-artefacts-to.html
================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Feature on the last coins of the Roman Empire:
https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/the-last-coins-of-the-roman-empire/
Oxford has a new project investigating the origns of coinage:
https://cherwell.org/2020/11/17/oxford-project-to-research-origins-of-coinage/
Latest e-Sylum:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v23/club_nbs_esylum_v23n46.html
... and the one which should appear later today:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v23/club_nbs_esylum_v23n47.html
------------------------
Coin Week:
http://www.coinweek.com/
================================================================
OBITUARIES
================================================================
Jean-Marie Dentzer:
https://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2020/11/18/la-mort-de-l-archeologue-jean-marie-dentzer_6060210_3382.html
Jan Morris:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/20/jan-morris-historian-travel-writer-and-trans-pioneer-dies-aged-94
================================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
================================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:
https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3005-audio-news-from-archaeologica-november-8-through-november-14-2020
================================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS
================================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:
http://www.archaeology.org/news/
About.com Archaeology:
http://archaeology.about.com/
Archaeology Briefs:
http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/
Atlas Obscura:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/
Heritage Daily:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/
Sapiens Archaeology:
https://www.sapiens.org/category/archaeology/
Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:
http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/
================================================================
PODCASTS/VODCASTS
================================================================
Archaeosoup:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Archaeos0up?feature=watch
Archaeology Podcast Network:
http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/
================================================================
EXPLORATOR is a free weekly newsletter bringing you the latest
news of archaeological finds, historical research and the like.
Various on-line news and magazine sources are scoured for news of
the 'ancient world' (broadly construed: practically anything relating
to archaeology or history up to a century or so ago is fair
game) and every Sunday they are delivered to your mailbox free of
charge!
================================================================
Useful Addresses
================================================================
You can read Explorator online at:
https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/
Past issues of Explorator are also available on the web via our
groups.io page:
https://groups.io/g/explorator
To subscribe to Explorator, send a blank email message to:
explorator+***@groups.io
To unsubscribe, send a blank email message to:
Unsubscribe: explorator+***@groups.io
To send a 'heads up' to the editor or contact him for other
reasons:
***@gmail.com
================================================================
Explorator is Copyright (c) 2020 David Meadows. Feel free to
distribute these listings via email to your pals, students,
teachers, etc., but please include this copyright notice. These
links are not to be posted to any website by any means (whether
by direct posting or snagging from a usenet group or some other
email source) without my express written permission. I think it
is only right that I be made aware of public fora which are
making use of content gathered in Explorator. Thanks!
================================================================