===============================================================
explorator 24.01 April 25, 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, Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

Heading into our 25th year of compiling this every Sunday! Again, a special thanks to my 'foreign correspondents' who regularly send items in ... some of whom have been around since the start!

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
A study of the Little Foot australopithecine fossil suggests they were comfortable in trees as well:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-foot-fossil-early-human-ancestor.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210420092921.htm https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-rosetta-stone-fossil-shows-australopiths-still-had-apelike-shoulders-1.9737317
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004724842100035X https://gizmodo.com/incredible-fossil-skeleton-reveals-an-ancient-human-rel-1846729508
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/little-foot-fossil-shows-early-human.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9656-210422-little-foot-shoulder

A study of Neanderthal DNA from sediments from a cave in Spain and Siberia:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-nuclear-dna-sediments-ancient-human.html https://www.sciencenews.org/article/neandertal-dna-cave-mud-migration-eurasia https://www.archaeology.org/news/9644-210419-neanderthal-nuclear-dna

... another study is looking at the genes which distinguish modern humans from Neanderthals:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-creativity-modern-humans-overcame-neanderthals.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210421100932.htm https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/creativity-and-community-how-modern.html

On the African roots of homo erectus:

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-04-20-homo-erectus-detective-work-and-geoscience-unearth-our-ancient-ancestors-african-roots/

Plenty of stone tools associated with homo erectus from an abandoned gold mine in the Sahara:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/hundreds-of-stone-tools-used-by-homo-erectus-discovered-in-abandoned-goldmine-in-sahara-desert/138806

On the Denisovan contribution to Pacific Island populations:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/denisovans-made-multiple-contributions-to-pacific-island-populations/

Feature on how Neanderthals 'culturally exchanged' with contemporary homo sapiens:

https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/30737/20210419/neanderthal-contributions-modern-man-six-human-species-explained.htm

Feature on Neanderthal intelligence:

https://www.sciencefocus.com/comment/neanderthals-werent-just-smart-they-might-have-taught-humans-a-thing-or-two/

Review of Jeremy DeSilva, *First Steps*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/21/books/review/first-steps-jeremy-desilva.html

Review of Rebecca Sykes, *Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art*:

https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2021/05/13/neanderthals-why-did-they-vanish/

More on humans as 'superpredators':

https://www.livescience.com/humans-were-super-predators.html

More on the homo antecessor remains from Grand Dolina Cave:

https://www.livescience.com/girl-gran-dolina-cannibalized.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/9647-210420-spain-grand-dolina

More on Neanderthal footprints found on an ancient Spanish beach:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-83413-8 https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/neanderthal-footprints-found-on-ancient.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/paleoanthropologists-find-more-80-neanderthal-footprints-spain-180977526/
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
An interesting WWI cemetery in Nairobi with very few African names:

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-africa-47639452

A major fire at the University of Cape Town this week with plenty of damage to artifacts and books:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/18/south-africa-fire-university-cape-town/
https://www.france24.com/en/video/20210421-scholars-grieve-loss-of-priceless-antiquities-in-cape-town-fire
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-56793317

Review of Main and Huffman, *Palaces of Stone*:

https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/books/non-fiction/2021-04-23-uncovering-ancient-kingdoms-in-southern-africa/

More on ancient honey exploitation in West Africa 3500 years bp:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-prehistoric-nigerians-were-eating-honey-molecular-archaeology-proves-1.9722510
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22425-4 ================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
I think we mentioned this 18th century shipwreck found in the Red Sea:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/04/egypt-recovers-new-part-sunken-ship-red-sea

The dome of the Al-Imam Al0Shafie mausoleum was reopened after restoration:

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2021/04/19/egypt-reopens-countrys-largest-mausoleum-dome-of-al-imam-al-shafie-after-restoration/

Feature on the recent finds at Saqqara:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/22/tombs-saqqara-new-discoveries-are-rewriting-ancient-egypts-history/

Interview with Betsy Bryan on the recent 'golden city' find:

https://wgnradio.com/matt-bubala/exploring-a-3000-year-old-city-with-egyptologist-betsy-bryan/

Feature on desecration of statues in various periods of Egyptian history:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2021/04/condemning-statues/

Pondering whether tourists will respond to all the recent finds/events in Egypt:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/world/africa/egypt-tourism-covid-mummies.html

More on 6000 years bp evidence of dog domestication on the Arabian peninsula:

https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/disasters/2477094/scholars-mourn-loss-of-priceless-antiquities-in-cape-town-fire/
https://www.france24.com/en/video/20210421-scholars-grieve-loss-of-priceless-antiquities-in-cape-town-fire
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/19/988640656/fast-moving-fire-on-table-mountain-destroys-south-african-landmarks-history
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/20/989234447/archaeologists-discover-earliest-example-of-dog-domestication-in-arabia
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/wildfire-engulfing-cape-town-university https://wamu.org/story/21/04/23/mans-ancient-friend-6000-year-old-dog-remains-found-on-arabian-peninsula/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cultural-heritage-historic-library-destroyed-south-africa-blaze-180977539/

Feature on Mesopotamian sites in Turkey:

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/turkeys-ancient-cities-enlighten-vast-mesopotamianhistory

A study of Epipaleolithic 'technology exchange' among groups in Israel:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/paleo-start-up-nation-prehistoric-israelis-exchanged-technology-study-665919

Plenty of attention for the use of AI to distinguish at least two different scribes for the the Great Isaiah Scroll:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uog-ctc041921.php https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/p-hao041421.php https://phys.org/news/2021-04-code-dead-sea-scrolls.html https://www.livescience.com/dead-sea-scrolls-ai-two-scribes.html https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56842712 https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/dead-sea-scrolls-artificial-intelligence-sheds-new-light-on-their-authors-666069
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-artificial-intelligence-helps-identify-authors-of-dead-sea-scrolls-1.9732803
https://www.inverse.com/innovation/ai-dead-sea-scrolls https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9496367/ https://aleteia.org/2021/04/24/ai-analysis-of-dead-sea-scrolls-points-to-more-than-one-scribe/
https://theconversation.com/dead-sea-scrolls-two-scribes-probably-wrote-one-of-the-manuscripts-159169
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/new-handwriting-analysis-reveals-two-scribes-wrote-one-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/identifying-the-scribes-behind-the-dead-sea-scrolls
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/cracking-code-of-dead-sea-scrolls.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/23/cracking-the-code-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ai-finds-new-clues-dead-sea-scrolls-origins-180977571/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9657-210423-scroll-handwriting-ai

cf: https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/cracking-code-of-dead-sea-scrolls.html

Lawrence Schiffman on the latest Judean Desert Texts:

https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/judean-desert-texts-what-is-their-significance-665733

More on the early alphabetic writing from Lachish:

https://www.livescience.com/alphabet-missing-link-israel.html https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/inscriptions/early-alphabetic-writing-found-at-lachish/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2274831-the-alphabet-may-have-been-invented-500-years-earlier-than-we-thought/
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/tel-lachish-inscription-09571.html https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/missing-link-in-alphabets-history.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9645-210420-israel-inscription-alphabet

Suggestion that Solomon might have been a 'shipping magnate':

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/apr/25/was-king-solomon-the-ancient-worlds-first-shipping-magnate

Suggestion that the Kinneret includes a site associated with a Canaanite murder story:

https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/does-the-kinneret-hold-the-secret-of-a-3500-year-old-canaanite-murder-665790

Feature on ancient historians who mentioned the Jewish revolts:

https://www.jpost.com/opinion/who-were-the-historians-who-documented-the-jewish-revolts-666219

I think we had this item on Syrian families seeking refuge in archaeological sites:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/world/middleeast/fleeing-a-modern-war-syrians-seek-refuge-in-ancient-ruins.html
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/fleeing-a-modern-war-syrians-seek-refuge-in-ancient-ruins/

Feature on fashion in Bronze Age Syria:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/bronze-age-fashion/

Feature on the Temple Mount Sifting Project:

https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/finding-buried-sort-of-treasure/

Plans to rebuild the al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56765751

I'm still not sure what, exactly, is going on with these reports of settlers/colonists raiding the site of Sebastia:

http://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/124149 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-colonists-invade-agricultural-site-in-sebastia/

-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
A large building associated with the worship of the Macedonian royal family is among the latest finds at Aegae:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/new-finds-in-aegae-royal-metropolis-of.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3_aigai-210x210.jpg

An early Iron Age Thracian horse burial from northern Bulgaria:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/17/ancient-thracian-horse-burial-half-a-skeleton-human-burial-from-early-iron-age-found-near-bulgarias-polski-trambesh/

Evidence of a 'substantial' Roman settlement near Scalford (we might have mentioned this one):

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-56857409

A 2nd-1st century BCE miniature sundial from a Roman domus site in Pisa:

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2021/04/21/miniature-clock-from-greek-roman-era-from-pisa-dig_0d597a1f-0f66-4292-b3ab-986bb3644b25.html
https://www.quinewspisa.it/pisa-in-piazza-dei-miracoli-torna-alla-luce-orologio-solare-archeologia-domus-romane.htm

A 2200 years bp burial from a construction site in Bitonto (Italian):

https://www.bitontoviva.it/notizie/dal-cantiere-di-piazza-caduti-spunta-una-tomba-di-2mila-anni-fa/
https://www.pugliain.net/130194-bitonto-comune-investe-valorizzazione-reperti/

Evidence of a 2000 years bp Roman road in Diyarbakir:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/2000-year-old-roman-street-unearthed-in-turkeys-diyarbakir/news
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roman-era-street-discovered-in-turkey-164092 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/2-000-year-old-roman-street-discovered-in-turkey/2213562
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/archeologists-discover-2000-year-old-roman-street-in-se-turkey-3570492

1st century CE finds (and earlier), including a pair of altars, from a Gallo-Roman dwelling site in Nimes:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61209 https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/two-small-votive-altars-found-in-gallo.html

Three Roman amphorae (2nd century BCE- 2nd CE) from waters near Palermo (Italian):

https://palermo.gds.it/foto/cultura/2021/04/20/recuperate-nel-mare-di-mondello-tre-antiche-anfore-romane-051aa4c7-b9b7-42c5-a1a2-f5dd4b4b372b/
https://www.lasiciliaweb.it/2021/04/20/anfore-romane-nel-golfo-di-mondello/ https://gazzettadelsud.it/articoli/societa/2021/04/20/il-mare-restituisce-a-palermo-tre-anfore-romane-95c1cdf3-c866-4599-98fd-2dd90dd89826/
https://www.lecodelsud.it/palermo-a-mondello-recuperate-tre-antiche-anfore-romane
https://www.zazoom.it/2021-04-20/mondello-il-mare-restituisce-tre-anfore-romane-4/8548315/

A possible Roman-era (or later) 'sewn boat' from Grado (Italian):

https://www.triesteprima.it/cronaca/grado-archeologia-scoperte.html

Remains of a Roman road from a dig in Maddalena di Muccia (Italian):

https://www.cronachemaceratesi.it/2021/04/22/dagli-scavi-dello-svincolo-spunta-una-strada-romana/1519425/
https://www.corriereadriatico.it/macerata/muccia_svincolo_superstrada_valdichienti_cantiere_strada_romana_ultime_notizie_oggi-5916040.html

We're getting more details on that find of a Roman amphitheatre in Mastaura:

https://www.livescience.com/roman-era-arena-discovered-in-turkey.html http://romanarc.blogspot.com/2021/04/gladiator-arena-from-roman-era.html https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/gladiator-amphitheater-uncovered-turkey-180977581/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9653-210422-turkey-gladiator-arena

Remains of Imperial-era Roman baths from Frosinone:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61193 https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/roman-baths-emerge-on-banks-of-cosa.html

A trio of Roman statues from the Eastern Roman Baths in Jerash were recently restored:

https://menafn.com/1101952186/Archaeologists-restore-3-ancient-Roman-statues-in-Jerash

Recent finds in/near Pompeii (Italian):

https://www.madeinpompei.it/2021/04/21/reperti-archeologici-nella-pompei-moderna-rinvenute-tracce-di-un-antico-edificio-extraurbano/

A 1st century Roman mosaic from Chieti, mentioned in the 19th century and forgotten, was rediscovered (Italian):

https://www.chietitoday.it/social/segnalazioni/mosaico-individuato-scoperto-scavi-piazza-san-giustino.html

A 1500 years bp chamber tomb from Adiyaman (Turkey):

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/video-gallery/news/archaeologists-unearth-ancient-chamber-tomb-in-southeast-turkey-3570726

A Gothic warrior burial from downtown Thessaloniki (this may be an old find):

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/grave-of-gothic-warrior-buried-with-his.html

More on vandals hitting that recently-found structure in Scarborough:

https://www.livescience.com/roman-estate-vandalized-in-uk.html

... and on the structure itself:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61154

More on the recent finds from Salamis:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/results-of-2020-salamis-underwater.html

More on the imperial-era jar burials from Corsica:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61124

More on the Roman-era emerald mine in Egypt's western desert:

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/jnes/pr/210419 http://www.archaeology.org/news/9648-210421-egypt-roman-mines

More on the Roman 'gallery' found beneath the Topkapi palace courtyard:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61140

More on the impending restoration of the Area Sacra in Rome:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/ruins-ghosts-and-cats-romes-area-sacra.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/site-julius-caesars-assassination-will-be-transformed-open-air-museum-180977536/

More on a possible Roman amphitheatre site on the via Appia near Atripalda:

https://www.atripaldanews.it/2021/04/22/rinvenimento-reperti-di-epoca-romana-in-via-appia-parla-lex-delegato-alla-cultura-barbarisiin-quellarea-la-presenza-dellanfiteatro/
https://www.ildigitale.it/anfiteatro-dellantica-abellinum-tesoro-sepolto/

More on the 2nd century BCE necropolis from near Messina:

https://www.messinatoday.it/video/scavi-via-orti-tombe-coletta-resti-maddalena-necropoli-via-battisti-.html

Concerns for the 2300 years bp Kurul Castle:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-castle-under-threat-of-quarry-164121

Paphos is 'sprucing up' a number of sites:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/04/17/paphos-sprucing-up-its-sites/

The 4th century restored Bishop's Basilica in Plovdiv has opened to the public:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/18/4th-century-bishops-basilica-with-marvelous-early-christian-bird-mosaics-opened-for-visitors-bulgarias-plovdiv-in-big-restoration-project-with-us-funding/

Feature on a small statue of Hermes in the Corum Museum found a couple years ago:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hermes-statuette-draws-attention-in-museum-164146

Feature on Gaia and her connection to Earth Day:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/22/the-greek-goddess-gaia-and-her-connection-to-earth-day/

Feature on the Amphiareion of Oropos:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/21/the-ancient-greek-treasure-of-the-amphiareion-of-oropos/

Brief feature on Hadrianopolis:

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/ancient-city-hadrianopolis-attracts-visitors-1232303.html

Feature on the Spartan agoge:

https://deltastatement.com/7003/uncategorized/the-spartan-agoge-investigation-of-badassery/

Feature on the end of Roman Britain:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/the-end-of-roman-britain/138762

Feature on Tiberius as 'detective':

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/emperor-tiberius-murder-investigation

A study of Mycenean cooking vessels from the Olympus region:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/21/cooking-in-the-shadow-of-mount-olympus/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/cooking-in-shadow-of-mount-olympus.html

Walter Scheidel on the impact of the fall of Rome:

https://aeon.co/essays/how-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire-paved-the-road-to-modernity

Joel Christensen on what the Odyssey can teach us about responding to a year of isolation:

https://theconversation.com/what-homers-odyssey-can-teach-us-about-reentering-the-world-after-a-year-of-isolation-159036
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/What-Homer-s-Odyssey-can-teach-us-about-16120301.php
https://www.westport-news.com/news/article/What-Homer-s-Odyssey-can-teach-us-about-16120301.php
https://www.thenationalherald.com/archive_guest_columnists/arthro/what_homer_s_odyssey_can_teach_us_about_reentering_the_world_after_a_year_of_isolation-2271757/

Daniel Mendelsohn on the Sacred Band of Thebes:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/04/19/ancient-greeces-army-of-lovers

... and a spinoff piece:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/22/sacred-band-of-warriors-part-of-classical-era-greece/

Trevor Van Damme on ancient Greek handwashing and its implications:

https://theconversation.com/what-ancient-greek-handwashing-can-teach-us-about-socio-economic-inequality-158405
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/what-ancient-greek-handwashing-can-teach-us-about-socio-economic-inequality
https://neoskosmos.com/en/195839/what-ancient-greek-handwashing-can-teach-us-about-socio-economic-inequality/

Review of ae-Yeoun Keum, *Plato and the Mythic Tradition in Political Thought*:

https://blog.lareviewofbooks.org/interviews/philosophical-myth-writing-talking-tae-yeoun-keum/

The British Museum has an exhibition on Nero (see below) and has a feature on the emperor too:

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/who-was-nero/

... see also:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/22/roman-cancel-culture-meant-neros-reputation-fiddled-death/
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/apr/22/was-nero-cruel-british-museum-offers-hidden-depths-to-roman-emperor
https://www.nation.lk/online/nero-was-not-a-mad-tyrant-who-burnt-rome-to-the-ground-british-museum-exhibition-dispels-myths-75999.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/emperor-neros-reputation-is-unfair-says-british-museum-l9cb7tfsh

In case you haven't heard the threat to Classics at Howard University

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/04/20/howard-university-classics-department-dissolve/
https://www.thechestnutpost.com/news/howard-university-to-shut-down-classical-studies-department-morning-joe-msnbc/
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/04/21/howard-plans-close-classics-department
https://collegenews.org/students-professors-attempt-to-prevent-howard-university-classics-department-from-being-dissolved/

... and a couple of related OpEds:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/04/19/cornel-west-howard-classics/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2021/04/23/howard-university-classics-arent-racist-canon-column/7333337002/
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/04/a-classics-dilemma.php

An update of sorts on the UVM threat:

https://vtdigger.org/2021/04/19/annaliese-holden-repeatedly-disappointed-by-the-uvm-administration/

Bettany Hughes on why she loves Greece:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/19/why-i-fell-in-love-with-greece-british-historian-filmmaker-explains/

A Loeb fellowship for David Ungvary:

https://www.bard.edu/news/professor-david-ungvary-receives-202122-loeb-classical-library-foundation-fellowship-from-harvard-university-2021-04-20

Greece honoured three American archaeologists:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/19/greece-honors-american-archaeologists-on-philhellenism-day/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/20/us-archaeologists-award-greece/ https://www.ekathimerini.com/society/1159701/three-us-archaeologists-appointed-commander-of-the-order-of-the-phoenix/

On ancient Greek wine varieties that are still around:

https://www.winemag.com/2021/04/22/best-greek-wines-varieties-assyrtiko/

Marking the traditional date of the foundation of Rome:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/happy-birthday-to-rome-eternal-city-celebrates-2774-years-today.html

... and the story:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/natale-di-roma-the-legends-and-traditions-behind-romes-birthday.html

Marking the traditional date for the fall of Troy:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/24/april-24-the-legendary-fall-of-troy/

Feature on Xenophon:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/24/xenophon-warrior-and-chronicler-of-ancient-greece/

-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
Evidence of 33 000 years bp human presence in Castlepook Cave (Cork):

https://www.thejournal.ie/reindeer-bone-cork-cave-5413607-Apr2021/

A study suggests recolonization of Europe began much earlier than previously thought in the wake of the last Ice Age:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-recolonization-europe-ice-age-earlier.html https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/recolonization-of-europe-after-last-ice.html

A study of the diet of folks living on the Great Hungarian Plain in Neolithic times:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-diets-ancient-peoples-great-hungarian.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/elu-nra042121.php

A 7000 years bp flint tool production site near Belogradets (Bulgaria):

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/22/archaeologists-find-nearly-7000-year-old-copper-age-workshop-for-production-of-flint-tools-near-belogradets-in-northeast-bulgaria/

A 7000 years bp zoomorphic 'ritual table' from near Varna:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/21/7000-year-old-ritual-table-with-horned-animal-first-bulgarian-empire-settlement-found-near-varna-in-rescue-digs/

A 5000 years bp fingerprint from Orkney:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-56858268

A possible 4500 years bp megalithic tomb from East Kennett:

https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/19242481.early-bronze-age-tomb-uncovered-near-marlborough/

Evidence of a Bronze Age lakeside settlement from under Lake Lucerne:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/bronze-age-village-found-under-swiss-lake/46559866 https://www.expatica.com/ch/latest-news/sw-bronze-age-village-found-under-swiss-lake-206401/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61230 https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/bronze-age-village-found-under-swiss.html

A major Iron Age weapons hoard from a hillfort site in Germany:

https://www.livescience.com/iron-age-hoard-germany.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9504345/Archaeology-Iron-Age-warriors-BENT-swords-defeated-foes-hoard-Germany-reveals.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61200 https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/large-iron-age-hoard-discovered-at-wallburg-wilzenberg-hillfort/138779
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9655-210422-germany-broken-weapons

A metal detectorist found a gold stater of the 'Aulerci Cenomani' people in St Martin:

https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2021/04/18/detectorist-discovers-rare-gold-coin-in-field/

A child helping his mother garden in Sandwick came across some Viking artifacts:

https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2021/04/20/viking-artefacts-found-by-children-in-sandwick-gardens/

Possible early medieval burials found during patio construction in Wiltshire:

https://www.newsweek.com/contractors-working-familys-patio-discover-human-remains-five-people-1586102

A study of the 'evolution' of Viking metalwork from the 8th to the 9th centuries CE:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/s-vmc041521.php https://phys.org/news/2021-04-viking-metalwork-craft-expertise-evolved.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210420092918.htm https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/viking-metalwork-craft-and-expertise.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9658-210423-denmark-viking-metal

A 9th/10th century iron processing site from near Bestnitsa (Bulgaria):

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/20/medieval-metallurgical-center-at-dugout-settlement-from-height-of-first-bulgarian-empire-discovered-in-northwest-bulgaria/

A 600 years bp sword find from an undisclosed site in Poland (possible associated with the Battle of Grunwald):

https://tvn24.pl/tvn24-news-in-english/polish-history-buff-finds-well-preserved-600-year-old-sword-5075178
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/knights-arsenal-unearthed-by-detectorist/138802

Metal detectorists have found a number of medieval/renaissance finds near Llwynywermod:

https://www.tatler.com/article/tudor-coins-rings-unearthed-near-llwynywermod-prince-charles-welsh-home

A medieval wooden coffin with well-preserved remains of what is thought to be a 5-year-old girl from a chapel in a place in Seville:

https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2021/04/21/archaeologists-uncover-coffin-of-five-year-old-girl-in-sevilla-chapel/

Thousands of medieval burials from the 'leper dig' in West Flanders:

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2021/04/21/thousands-of-medieval-skeletons-found-at-ieper-dig/

A 17th century mourning ring found on the Isle of Man may be connected to James Stanley:

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/ring-which-could-have-belonged-to-former-lord-of-man-declared-treasure/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/350-year-old-ring-found-isle-man-180977561/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9650-210421-england-mourning-ring

More on petroglyph painters being 'high' when creating their work:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/prehistoric-cave-painting-high-oxygen-b1834290.html

More on evidence for sex-differentiated work in the Neolithic:

https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/research/gendered-roles-for-neolithic-farmers/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9642-210419-europe-neolithic-skills

More on that 4000 years bp tomb from Ireland:

https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0416/1210287-tombs-kerry-dingle-peninsula/ https://www.irishpost.com/life-style/ancient-tomb-newly-discovered-on-dingle-peninsula-could-date-back-further-than-the-bronze-age-209869
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9496497/Tomb-hidden-Ireland-4-000-years-untouched-human-remains-inside.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/ancient-untouched-tomb-discovered-on.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/farmer-uncovers-nearly-4000-year-old-tomb-ireland-180977554/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9649-210420-ireland-bronze-age

More on the Iron Age finds from the Norton Disney site:

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/norton-disney-dig-reveals-secrets-5318154

An interesting reconstruction of a Berkshire dwelling from 3800 BCE:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/18/stone-age-house-painstakingly-recreated-archaeologists-using/
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/575/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/575/pub/575/page/34/article/164379

... and a Chalcolithic roundhouse reconstruction from Cyprus:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/04/23/replica-of-ancient-chalcolithic-roundhouse-completed/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/23/conservation-and-restoration-at-the-site-of-kissonerga-mosfilia/

Marking the anniversary of the Battle of Alamana:

https://greekherald.com.au/culture/on-this-day-in-1821-greeks-engaged-in-the-battle-of-alamana/

A 19th century time capsule found during renovations to a Hungarian Cathedral:

https://aleteia.org/2021/04/19/176-year-old-time-capsule-recovered-from-hungarian-cathedral/
https://fr.aleteia.org/2021/04/19/une-capsule-temporelle-retrouvee-au-sommet-dune-cathedrale/

A campaign to save a mosaic-fresco (recent) in a Leicester church:

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-uk-and-ireland/2021/04/art-historians-campaign-to-save-rare-mosaic-in-closed-uk-parish-church/

Feature on assorted 'treasure' finds from Switzerland:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/archaeology_switzerland--a-bottomless-trove-of-ancient-treasure/45386284

Feature on the Knights Templar in Cyprus:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/knights-templar-legacy-lives-on-in.html

Features on the Armenian genocide:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/04/24/armenian-genocide-1915-massacre-biden/
https://www.dw.com/en/a-look-at-the-armenian-genocide/a-57299201
----------
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 ================================================================

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