===============================================================
explorator 23.50 April 4, 2021
===============================================================
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, Simon Stoddart,
Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley, Lucas Livingston
Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay, Robin Helweg-Larsen
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
A100 000+ years bp 'crystal collection' from the Kalahari is causing a rethink of human evolution in Africa:

https://phys.org/news/2021-03-early-humans-kalahari-coastal-neighbors.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/uoi-ehi032921.php https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/early-humans-from-100000-years-ago-collected-crystals-eggshells-663951
https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/31/africa/human-evolution-africa-inland-scn/index.html
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-somebody-in-the-kalahari-had-a-crystal-collection-105-000-years-ago-1.9670735
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/stone-age-culture-africa-inland-coasts-crystals-tools
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00795-5 http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/kalahari-humans-09512.html https://www.sciencenews.org/article/stone-age-culture-africa-inland-coasts-crystals-tools
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/105000-years-ago-in-the-kalahari-desert-people-invented-complex-culture/
https://theconversation.com/ancient-eggshells-and-a-hoard-of-crystals-reveal-early-human-innovation-and-ritual-in-the-kalahari-154191
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/03/early-humans-in-kalahari-were-as.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/01/early-homo-sapiens-in-the-kalahari-desert/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/crystals-found-in-kalahari-desert-challenge-assumptions-about-where-in-africa-human-culture-arose-180977398/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9568-210401-africa-kalahari-crystals

Homo floresiensis seems to be closer to the Denisovans than homo sapiens:

https://www.livescience.com/mysterious-hobbits-human-lineage-identity.html

Study suggests that "we" have been superpredators for over 2 million years:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-our-oldest-secret-we-have-been-super-predators-for-2-million-years-1.9680599

More on Neanderthal toothpick use:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/neanderthal-toothpicks-09497.html

More on the finds from the 'Cradle of Humankind' site near Johannesburg:

https://phys.org/news/2021-03-forgotten-settlement-cradle-humankind-southern.html
https://theconversation.com/a-forgotten-settlement-in-the-cradle-of-humankind-adds-a-note-to-southern-african-history-157783
https://www.news24.com/news24/analysis/analysis-a-forgotten-settlement-in-the-cradle-of-humankind-adds-note-to-southern-african-history-20210328
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Evidence of sheep herding in South Africa some 2000 years bp:

https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/discovery-finds-sheep-present-in-sa-more-than-2-000-years-ago-287a678b-67e8-4d23-82d4-d60b8d16aa70
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
Plenty of hype for the 'Pharoah's Golden Parade' early in the week:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/100277/400-TV-channels-to-broadcast-Pharaoh%E2%80%99s-Golden-Parade-on-April
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2021/03/23/egypts-highly-anticipated-royal-mummies-parade-set-for-3-april/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56508475 https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210403-egypt-gears-up-for-pharaohs-golden-parade
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/the-pharaohs-golden-parade/?mqsc=E4128909&dk=ZE1130ZF0
https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/march-of-the-mummies-egypt-readies-for-pharaohs-parade-1.1617275000949
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/egyptian-royal-mummies-are-moving-not-first-road-trip
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/agenta/the-pharaohs-golden-parade/

... including a promotional film:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/100445/Egypt%E2%80%99s-Ministry-of-Tourism-and-Antiquities-translates-the-promotional-film
https://www.egyptindependent.com/video-ministry-of-tourism-and-antiquities-produces-promotional-film-on-royal-mummy-procession/

... and then the coverage of the (really interesting) parade itself (BBC and several others have video):

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56508475 https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/408387/Egypt/Politics-/Relive-Pharaohs-Golden-Parade-arrives-at-National-.aspx
https://phys.org/news/2021-04-pharaonic-heritage-egypt-parades-royal.html https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/egypt-mummies-cairo-parade/index.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/03/egypt-mummies-procession-museum-cairo/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/03/world/middleeast/cairo-mummies-parade.html https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/myth-pharaoh-s-curse-dismissed-egypt-prepares-ancient-mummies-parade-n1262959
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/ancient-egyptian-mummies-paraded-through-cairo-on-way-to-new-museum-664044
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-antiquities-convoy/majestic-cairo-parade-as-egyptian-mummies-move-museum-idUSKBN2BQ04T?il=0
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/03/984145643/royal-mummies-paraded-through-downtown-cairo-in-museum-move
https://news.sky.com/story/mummies-on-the-move-egypt-holds-grand-parade-to-transfer-antiquities-to-new-museum-12265202
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/556/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/556/pub/556/page/61/article/158347
https://www.dw.com/en/golden-parade-mummified-pharaohs-moved-to-new-cairo-home/a-57094353
https://wamu.org/story/21/04/03/royal-mummies-paraded-through-downtown-cairo-in-museum-move/
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2021/4/3/egypts-grandiose-golden-parade-carries-pharaohs-to-new-home
https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/egyptian-mummy-parade-22-ancient-egyptian-mummies-parade-through-cairo-streets-1.1617517410315

... and there are commemorative stamps too:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/photos-egypt-issues-a-set-of-postage-stamps-to-commemorate-the-royal-mummies-parade/

The copper dome of the Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaytbay Mosque has been registered as an antiquity:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/100338/Copper-dome-of-Sultan-Qaytbay%E2%80%99s-Group-registered-as-an-antiquity

More on Egypt opening an official 'replica factory':

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2021/03/28/egypt-inaugurates-1st-archaeological-replicas-factory-in-middle-east/
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2021/03/29/egypt-opens-first-factory-producing-replicas-of-famed-archaeological-artefacts/
https://egyptindependent.com/photos-minister-inaugurates-first-factory-for-archaeological-replicas-in-egypt-and-middle-east/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/100266/Egypt%E2%80%99s-Konouz-factory-for-replicas%E2%80%99-products-will-be-available-at
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/egypt-to-open-a-replica-factory-to-spread-awareness-of-egyptian-culture-663472
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1834031

More on the drought and its effects in Berenike some 2100 years bp:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9414687/Drought-caused-volcanic-eruption-led-Egyptians-abandon-Berenike-2-100-years-ago.html

A virtual tour of Tut's tomb:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2021/04/01/egyptian-mummy-tomb.cnn

Feature on seven of Egypt's most famous mummies:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/egypt/seven-of-egypt-s-most-famous-mummies-and-their-incredible-histories-1.1195727

Reviewish of David and Murphy's tome on the murder of Takabuti:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-famous-mummy.html

Bizarrely, some folks were blaming the blockage of the Suez Canal on a 'pharaoh's curse':

https://www.egyptindependent.com/zahi-hawass-denies-pharaohs-curse-behind-accidents-egypt-recently-witnessed/
https://www.jpost.com/omg/did-a-pharaohs-curse-cause-suez-canal-crisis-other-egyptian-disasters-663606
https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/pharaoh-curse-link-to-recent-egypt-tragedies-debunked-1.78171434
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1833981 https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2021/3/29/renowned-egyptologist-says-suez-blockage-unrelated-to-pharaohs-curse

Excavations are resuming at Aizanoi:

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/excavations-at-5000-year-old-aizanoi-in-western-turkey-to-resume

More on Neolithic animal husbandry at Asikli Hoyuk:

https://www.lmu.de/en/newsroom/news-and-events/news/the-lambs-break-their-silence.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9557-210329-neolithic-sheep-herding

Feature on the Mother Goddess, Amazons and assorted other such folks in Anatolian history:

https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/mother-goddess-amazon-warriors-female-legends-anatolia-history

Feature on a depiction of a staged lion hunt of Ashurbanipal:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210325-the-lion-hunt-of-ashurbanipal-the-2700-year-old-fake-news

A 2nd Temple era coin found during conservation work at the Tower of David:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/coin-from-2nd-temple-mount-era-found-during-tower-of-david-conservation-663456

There was a high-tech imaging study of some 'mysterious' crosses engraved at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-researchers-claim-to-solve-mystery-of-engraved-crosses-at-holy-sepulchre/
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/hi-tech-imaging-lets-archaeologists-shed-light-on-holy-sepulchre-wall-crosses-1.9669892
https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/hi-tech-imaging-sheds-light-on-holy-sepulchre-wall-crosses-663702
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-researchers-claim-to-solve-mystery-of-engraved-crosses-at-holy-sepulchre/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-religion-easter-holy-sepulchre-crosse/graffiti-or-homage-hi-tech-imaging-sheds-light-on-holy-sepulchre-wall-crosses-idUSKBN2BN0YP
http://www.news9.com/story/6064abc3f0d89d0bcbf7e24e/researchers-shed-new-light-on-crosses-etched-in-the--church-of-the-holy-sepulchre

Israel seems suddenly interested in Islamic-era archaeology:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-discovery-of-treasures-in-israel-herald-rise-of-islamic-era-archaeology-1.9673365

Not sure what's going on with 'settler invasions' at Sebastia and other sites:

http://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/123894

Feature on inscriptions and early Christianity:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2021/04/reading-inscriptions/

More on the 'revisiting' of the Shapira thing:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/28/insider/bible-manuscript-debate.html

Feature on Hatra:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/hatra-the-caravan-city-of-the-desert/138453

Saudi Arabia has beefed up its antiquities and museums laws:

https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/story/Strict_penalties_set_for_violators_of_Saudi_Antiquities_and_Museums_Law-SNG_206443929/
https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-vows-tough-penalties-against-antiquity-offences-1.78326161

Not sure where to put this item on historical artifacts in Antalya not being 'officially registered' for over a decade:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/historical-artifacts-not-registered-officially-over-past-decade-at-archeology-museum-163609
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
2500 years bp relief fragments depicting marching Greek warriors from Sozopol:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/03/28/slab-with-marching-ancient-greek-warriors-discovered-at-apollo-temples-on-ancient-black-sea-island-in-bulgarias-sozopol/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9559-210330-bulgaria-greece-apollo

Recent finds from a dig on Kythnos (I think we mentioned this dig a while ago):

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/04/ancient-city-on-greek-islet-reveals-fascinating-secrets-in-new-dig/

A Hellenistic/Roman quarry was revealed near Izmir:

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/ancient-roman-stone-quarry-unearthed-in-izmir

The entrance to the 'agora' at Segesta was (re)discovered (Italian):

https://www.tp24.it/2021/03/30/cultura/segesta-importante-scoperta-archeologica-nbsp-rinvenuto-l-ingresso-dell-agora/162093

Remains of a 1st/2nd century river boat from the Po (Italian):

https://www.giornalelavoce.it/nave-dellantica-roma-torna-alla-luce-grazie-al-fiume-po-in-secca-eccezionale-scoperta-a-chivasso-411282

Picene ceramics and finds from various other periods from excavation in Ascoli (Italian):

https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cultura/arte/2021/04/01/da-scavi-duomo-ascoli-pavimenti-domus-e-ceramiche-picene_4fef11fa-b25c-4502-913c-c1c05daccca8.html
https://www.primapaginaonline.it/2021/04/01/ascoli-dagli-scavi-nel-duomo-emergono-ceramiche-picene-e-pavimenti-romani/

A 4th century 'reception hall' from Ulpia Oescus, featuring assorted marble types:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/03/30/fine-marbles-14-different-colors-from-constantine-the-greats-danube-bridge-opening-in-328-ad-found-in-roman-city-ulpia-oescus-in-north-bulgaria/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9570-210402-bulgaria-imperial-marble

A Sanctuary of Apollo found last year at San Casciano dei Bagni has this year revealed altars and the like devoted to assorted divinities (Italian):

https://www.ilcittadinoonline.it/cronaca/provincia/fortuna-iside-e-igea-riemergono-dalle-acque-calde-di-san-casciano-dei-bagni/
https://metronews.it/21/03/31/archeologia-altari-fortuna-e-iside-eccezionale-scoperta-scasciano-dei-bagni.html
http://www.artemagazine.it/attualita/item/12818-siena-scoperto-a-san-casciano-un-santuario-romano-di-eta-augustea

A Roman amphora found off the coast of Ebla (Italian):

https://www.maremmanews.it/index.php/cronaca/87972-guardia-di-finanza-rinvenuta-un-anfora-sui-fondali-dell-isola-d-elba
https://www.iltelegrafolivorno.it/cronaca/archeologia-anfora-finanza-1.6202306 https://video.iltirreno.gelocal.it/dossier/elba-paradiso/elba-il-recupero-di-un-anfora-dell-epoca-romana/144279/145950

A coin hoard dating to the Goth invasion of 251 AD from Plovdiv:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/01/large-silver-coin-hoard-hidden-during-251-ad-goth-invasion-of-roman-empire-discovered-in-bulgarias-plovdiv/

A raid on some illegal excavations near Izmir revealed a 1500 years bp mosaic:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/04/1500-year-old-greek-mosaic-uncovered-in-turkey/
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/monastery-1500-year-old-mosaic-unearthed-in-turkey/2197457

The 2020 dig season at Kato Paphos made some interesting finds:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/03/30/excavations-at-kato-paphos/ https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/03/29/dig-to-map-ancient-paphos-comes-to-an-end/ http://famagusta-gazette.com/2021/03/29/polish-expedition-maps-ancient-cyprus-city/

Not sure if we mentioned plans to restore some sites in Alexandria:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/irrigation-ministry-to-restore-three-archaeological-sites-in-alexandria/

Plans for a dig at a Roman site at the Feira Popular de Lisboa:

https://www.valleybugler.com/2021/04/01/archaeological-excavations-at-the-old-folk-fair-reveal-roman-remains-of-the-patrimony/

Concerns related to development near the Ggantija Temples in Gozo (Malta):

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/beyond-shocking-archaeologists-slam-development-plans-near-ggantija.855631

In case you missed the ongoing concerns for sites in Libya:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/03/bulldozers-and-looting-threaten-libyas.html
https://thearabweekly.com/libyas-ancient-heritage-threatened-plunder-destruction
https://www.the961.com/ancient-burials-akkar-lebanon-illegally-excavated/

Latest in the fight to prevent a garbage dump opening near Hadrian's Villa:

https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/558/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/558/pub/558/page/49/article/158975

Students around the world took part in a recreation of Eratosthenes' famous experiment:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/03/30/greek-students-take-part-in-eratosthenes-greatest-experiment/

... while elsewhere folks were reenacting the Battle of Marathon:

https://usustatesman.com/o-dromos/

On Oxford's 'Classical Conversations' project:

https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/arts-blog/togas-troy-oxford-s-covid-classical-conversations-0

A Latin teacher's cover of 'Let it Be' might be of interest:

https://www.nj.com/education/2021/04/nj-teachers-latin-language-cover-of-let-it-be-is-the-covid-music-video-you-need-to-see.html

More on the large villa site in Jaen featuring a large mosaic:

https://www.thefloridastar.com/articles/massive-roman-villa-from-4th-century-with-huge-60ft-mosaic-discovered-in-southern-spain/
http://romanarc.blogspot.com/2021/03/massive-roman-villa-from-4th-century.html https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/03/roman-villa-with-large-mosaic-unearthed.html

More on how Vesuvius killed Pompeiians

https://phys.org/news/2021-03-pompeii-ancient-scientists-body-caught.html https://menafn.com/1101816698/Pompeii-ancient-remains-are-helping-scientists-learn-what-happens-to-a-body-caught-in-a-volcanic-eruption

More on the latest study of the Antikythera Mechanism:

https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2021/march/gears-within-gears https://greekherald.com.au/culture/digital-replica-antikythera-mechanism-may-have-solved-mystery-worlds-first-computer/

Feature on cancer treatment in ancient Greece:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/03/how-was-cancer-treated-in-ancient-greece-2/

Feature on photos of early excavations on Delos:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/03/rare-photos-first-excavations-sacred-greek-island-delos/

Feature on the Sanctuary of Apollo at Claros:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/claros-the-ancient-sanctuary-of-apollo/138473

Feature on Oplontis:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/buried-by-vesuvius-this-ancient-villa-is-overlooked-alternative-to-pompeii

Feature on Pavlopetri:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/03/29/pavlopetri-greeces-most-ancient-underwater-city/

Feature on assorted sunken cities and settlements:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/03/sunken-cities-and-settlements/138302

Feature on the eruption of Thera:

https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/island-shattered-eruption-thera/

Feature on a theatre in Epirus:

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/tourism-businesses/thematic-tourism/44031-cassope-an-ancient-theater-in-greek-region-of-epirus-with-a-great-view-of-the-ionian-sea.html

Feature on a 1700 years bp sarcophagus featuring a Gorgon on display at the Amasya Museum in Turkey:

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/cursed-medusa-embossed-sarcophagus-on-display-at-amasya-museum

Feature on assorted monsters in myth being depicted as female:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/meet-female-monsters-greek-mythology-medusa-sphinx-180977364/

Feature on not equating Hades with the Devil:

https://www.themarysue.com/hades-is-not-the-devil/

Feature on the Theopetra Cave and the Neolithic in Greece:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/03/29/findings-in-theopetra-cave-shed-light-on-neolithic-era-in-greece/

Feature on the Ploutonion at Hierapolis:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/the-hierapolis-ploutonion-the-gateway-to-hell/138465

Interesting feature on the restoration of a 4th century AD Roman grass sandal:

https://tntribune.com/sole-survivor-astonishing-restoration-of-a-4th-century-roman-sandal-made-of-grass/

Feature on the Limes Arabicus:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/03/the-limes-arabicus-the-desert-frontier-of-the-roman-empire/138363

Feature on 'girls and dolls' during the Roman Empire:

https://daily.jstor.org/girls-and-dolls-in-the-roman-empire/

Feature on the 'Boxer' sculpture:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/03/28/sculpture-of-ancient-greek-boxer-still-haunts-viewers-today-2/

Feature on the Riace Bronzes:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/03/29/mystery-ancient-greek-masterpieces-recovered-off-italy/

Feature on Praxilteles' Hermes:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/03/31/hermes-praxiteles-statue-timeless-symbol-of-hellenism/

Feature on the Pergamon Altar:

https://smarthistory.org/the-pergamon-altar/

Feature on Spartan women:

https://greekherald.com.au/culture/history/seven-facts-you-should-know-about-women-sparta/

Feature on the use of gossip in Ancient Greece:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/03/30/gossip-a-powerful-tool-powerless-ancient-greece/

Feature on some ancient Greek scientists and 'inventions':

https://greekherald.com.au/culture/top-5-inventions-and-discoveries-of-ancient-greek-scientists/

Seasonal feature on the Alexamenos graffito:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9431585/Graffiti-carved-ancient-Roman-building-1-900-years-ago-Crucifixion.html

The science (or lack of) behind Icarus' fall:

http://www.insidescience.org/news/how-high-could-icarus-fly-his-wings-melted

Peter Jones on ancient Greek 'mediation':

https://www.spectator.com.au/2021/04/split-decisions/

Apparently the Odyssey is the "most influential" poem in the world:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/04/odyssey-homers-epic-poem-is-officially-the-worlds-most-influential-story/

Review of Barnsley, *Leading the Roman Army*:

https://www.strategypage.com/bookreviews/2165

More on Greece honouring Paul Cartledge:

https://www.classics.cam.ac.uk/news/professor-paul-cartledge-receives-one-of-greece2019s-highest-honours

Nemea is trying to obtain Heritage Status:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/culture/arthro/nemea_in_final_pre_selection_for_the_european_heritage_label_2022-2109780/

... as are a number of Roman sites associated with the Limes Moesiae:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/03/31/32-of-bulgarias-roman-frontier-danube-sites-to-bid-for-unesco-world-heritage-status-in-joint-endeavor-with-romania-serbia-croatia/

Stephen Fry added his voice to those calling for the return of the Parthenon Marbles:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/03/29/stephen-fry-parthenon-marbles/ https://neoskosmos.com/en/193021/british-comedian-and-philhellene-stephen-fry-urges-uk-government-to-return-the-marbles/

The UK Culture Secretary suggests it is impossible to return the Parthenon Marbles:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/03/28/uk-culture-minister-impossible-give-parthenon-marbles-back/

... and Lina Mendoni had a response:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/03/30/lina-mendonis-answer-to-statement-by-british-culture-secretary/

... and an OpEd spinning things as 'uniting the marbles' rather than returning:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1158222/marbles-united-not-marbles-returned/
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
A study of 27 000 years bp bones from the Serinya caves in Catalonia are revealing details about Late Gravettian diets:

https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/university/news-and-publications/newsfullview-news/article/analysis-of-ancient-bones-reveals-stone-age-diet-details/
https://phys.org/news/2021-03-analysis-ancient-bones-reveals-stone.html https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/03/analysis-of-ancient-bones-reveals-stone.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/01/analysis-of-ancient-bones-reveals-stone-age-diet-details/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9571-210402-paleolithic-fossils-collagen

A ca 6000 years bp salt production site in Yorkshire is causing a rethink of prehistoric Britain's economy:

https://phys.org/news/2021-03-evidence-neolithic-people-salt-seawater.html https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/mar/31/dig-reveals-6000-year-old-salt-hub-in-north-yorkshire
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/yorkshire-salt-archaeology-neolithic-britain-b1824440.html
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/554/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/554/pub/554/page/43/article/157617
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/6000-year-old-salt-production-house-found-in-uk-rewrites-ancient-history-663704
https://www.wionews.com/science/6000-year-old-salt-hub-discovered-in-uk-374519 https://www.archaeology.org/news/9566-210401-neolithic-salt-factory

Evidence of decapitation and interesting burial rituals from a Neothlic site in southern Spain:

https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2021/03/30/archaeological-dig-in-southern-spain-reveals-decapitation-and-extraordinary-burial-rituals/

A project to recover a 4000 years bp boat from Lake Constance is under way:

https://www.dw.com/en/4000-year-old-boat-recovery-begins-in-southern-germany/a-57068160

Finds from various periods from Beaubec (Co Meath) also have links to the prehistoric site of Bru na Boinne, apparently:

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/bru-na-boinne-links-to-site-where-medieval-monks-made-bread-40254629.html

1500 years bp human remains from a construction site in Newtown:

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/braypeople/news/builders-in-newtown-discover-1500-year-old-human-remains-40264548.html

Finds dating back to 1400 from a 'Gothic house cellar' near Trnava:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22625958/archeological-exploration-results-in-unique-findings.html

Medieval finds from a dig at a Berwick infirmary site:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-56625932

A medieval tile found during the excavations of St Andrews chapel (near Boxley):

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/rare-13th-century-tile-discovered-at-medieval-dig-site-244768/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9567-210401-medieval-decorative-tile

A metal detectorist find (I think) of a medieval seal featuring an elephant:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-56601940

Medieval (and later) finds, including a tunnel and ossuary beneath a carpark in Jaslo (Poland):

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/tunnel-used-to-transport-human-remains-to-an-ossuary-discovered-beneath-car-park/138445

A 'crypt within a crypt' associated with the Greek revolution against Ottoman rule was found during renovations at the Pancyprian Gymnasium in Nicosia:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/04/01/secret-crypt-within-a-crypt-discovered-under-pancyprian-gymnasium/

A study of the kilns at a 19th century pottery factory in Longton reveal some innovative technology:

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/archaeologists-make-significant-discovery-former-5245902

Plenty of interesting finds from a cleanup of the Hertford Union Canal:

https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-56498299

Construction of the A75 Dunragit bypass revealed plenty of finds from various periods:

https://www.gallowaygazette.co.uk/education/bypass-construction-unearthed-a-wealth-of-archaeological-treasures-3185262

Funding for York Theatre Royal and the Jorvik Viking Centre:

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19205324.york-theatre-royal-jorvik-viking-centre-saved/

Concerns for the dolmen of Montelirio:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-04-01/el-dolmen-de-las-17-sacerdotisas-dejado-a-merced-del-vandalismo.html

Feature on the expulsion of the Jews in 1492:

https://theconversation.com/la-expulsion-de-los-judios-el-31-de-marzo-de-1492-una-fecha-historica-olvidada-157702

More on the Shigir Idol:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/worlds-oldest-wooden-sculpture-shigir-idol-b1824024.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/22/science/archaeology-shigir-idol-.html https://www.livescience.com/shigir-idol-older-than-thought.html https://www.dw.com/en/what-an-ancient-wooden-sculpture-tells-us-about-the-history-of-mankind/a-57075582

More on a 9000 years bp stone tool (and later finds) being revealed by rabbits on Skokholm Island:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-chance-dating-years-story-island.html https://www.livescience.com/rabbits-dig-up-uk-artifacts.html https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/mar/25/welsh-rabbits-serve-up-prehistoric-finds-on-tiny-skokholm-island
https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/prehistoric-tool-found-in-puffin-island-rabbit-hole/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/prehistoric-tools-uncovered-wales-bunnies-180977350/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9561-210330-wales-island-artifacts

More on the Roman-period pottery production centre in Poland:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/02/massive-pottery-production-center-from-roman-era-found-in-poland/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61067 https://notesfrompoland.com/2021/03/31/one-of-europes-largest-roman-era-pottery-production-sites-discovered-in-poland/

More on those 1300 years bp burials in Sweden featuring comfy 'bedding':

https://norwegianscitechnews.com/2021/03/warriors-down-bedding-could-ease-journey-to-realm-of-the-dead/
https://www.livescience.com/iron-age-warriors-feather-beds.html https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-swedish-warriors-went-gentle-into-the-good-night-entombed-on-feather-beds-1.9666754
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03/iron-age-warriors-were-laid-to-rest-on-fluffy-down-pillows/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/iron-age-swedish-warriors-laid-rest-feather-bedding-1-180977373/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9558-210329-sweden-feather-beds

More on medieval Jews keeping kosher:

https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/03/30/archaeologists-discover-first-evidence-medieval-jews-in-britain-kept-kosher/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/03/29/archaeologists-identify-evidence-that-medieval-jews-in-britain-kept-kosher/
https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/rubbish-no-it-s-proof-medieval-jews-ate-kosher-1.513521
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/1961138/archeologists-stunned-by-evidence-that-medieval-jews-kept-kosher.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/medieval-jews-england-kept-kosher-laws-new-finds-show-180977389/

More on the 'ancient joke/meme' snailman find:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/mar/22/snail-man-relic-ancient-joke-british-museum

Feature on Royal Albert Hall:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-56428543

Feature on the Old Ireland in Colour project:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/old-ireland-color-photos-breslin/index.html https://irishacademicpress.ie/product/old-ireland-in-colour/
----------
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 ================================================================
5200 years bp (maybe) remains of a wall and moat from Hebei:

http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_CL2fERFF.html

A 2000 years wooden well structure from Shaanxi:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-03-30/An-over-2-000-year-old-wooden-well-unearthed-in-north-China-Z3uObBjk0o/index.html
http://www.ecns.cn/news/2021-03-30/detail-ihaixiqm7138034.shtml http://en.people.cn/n3/2021/0330/c90000-9834157.html https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1219972.shtml

3000 years bp finds from the outskirts of Beijing:

http://epaper.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202104/02/WS60664ca9a31099a2343551dc.html http://www.ecns.cn/news/2021-04-02/detail-ihaixiqm7139238.shtml

More on the finds from ritual pits in Shanxingdui:


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