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explorator 24.34 December 12, 2021
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You can read explorator online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/


Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,
John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Hernan Astudillo, Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

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EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
Study suggests the Denisovans were present on the Tibetan Plateau some 160 000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-denisovans-homo-sapiens-permanently-tibetan.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211207152519.htm https://www.sciencealert.com/our-extinct-cousins-reached-the-roof-of-the-world-a-long-time-before-homo-sapiens
https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/48497/20211208/between-denisovans-homo-sapiens-experts-debate-who-settles-permanently-tibetan.htm

cf:

https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/S0169-5347(21)00307-4

Interesting technique dating homo sapiens sites via ostrich eggs:

https://www.inverse.com/science/ancient-humans-origins

Feature on homo sapiens surviving the Ice Age (not sure of the dating in this one):

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/how-humans-survived-the-ice-age

Feature on homo sapiens' sleeping habits:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-strange-sleeping-habits-of-homo-sapiens

More on at least two hominin species living at Laetoli some 3.6 million years bp:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/12/at-least-2-hominin-species-lived-at-laetoli-site-3-6-million-years-ago/

More on Denisovan (and Neanderthal) remains from a Siberian cave:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/110566/Archaeologists-uncover-200-000-year-old-remains-of-human-ancestors

Strange brouhaha going on at Tel Aviv University over the identification of Neanderthal remains:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/MAGAZINE-a-bitter-archaeological-battle-is-rocking-tel-aviv-university-1.10443893

On modern humans and Neanderthal DNA:

https://bigthink.com/the-past/neanderthal-dna-shapiro/ ============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
Monoliths at the Sakaro Sodo site in Ethiopia are now thought to date to the 1st century CE:

https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2021/12/09/ethiopian-monuments-1000-years-older-than-previously-thought/
https://phys.org/news/2021-12-ethiopian-monuments-years-older-previously.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211209095606.htm https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/ethiopian-monoliths-are-1000-years-older-than-previously-thought/142209
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/10/ethiopian-monuments-1000-years-older-than-previously-thought/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10228-211210-ethiopia-monoliths-dated

cf: https://brill.com/view/journals/jaa/aop/article-10.1163-21915784-bja10006/article-10.1163-21915784-bja10006.xml

============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ============================================================
A couple more 26th Dynasty (maybe) mummies with golden tonguqes from Minya:

https://www.livescience.com/three-gold-tongues-ancient-egypt https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/443817/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/In-Photos-Human-remains-with-golden-tongues-uneart.aspx
https://egyptindependent.com/photos-spanish-archaeological-mission-discovers-tombs-dating-back-to-the-sawy-period/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/golden-tongues-found-in-mouths-of-ancient-egyptian-couple/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10280765/Remains-man-woman-buried-GOLDEN-tongues-2-500-years-ago-Egypt.html
http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_yJ2C1YTR.html https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/mummies-gold-tongues-minya-egypt-archaeology-1234612779/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mummies-gold-tongues-in-2500-year-old-tombs-found-in-egypt-180979185/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10221-211207-egypt-tombs-el-bahnasa

... and a feature on some of the folks working there:

https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/life-style/life-style/2021/12/08/94153/mallorca-culture-ancient-egypt-excavation.html

More on the finds beneath the Hathor Chapel at the Temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahri:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/12/hundreds-offerings-egyptian-fertility-goddess-uncovered-luxor

A study of ancient Egyptian 'barley drinks':

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/110678/British-study-Ancient-Egyptians-used-barley-drinks-different-from-those
https://vinepair.com/booze-news/ancient-egyptian-beer-discovered/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278416521000805?via%3Dihub

Reviewish piece on Kara Cooney, *The Good Kings*:

https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/egyptologist-kara-cooney-good-kings-book

Feature on ancient Egyptian funerary texts:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2021/12/ancient-egyptian-texts-afterlife

More figurines of humans and animals from the Burnt City dig:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467927/Animal-human-figurines-unearthed-in-Burnt-city

I think we mentioned this 4500 years bp Elamite tablet from Iran's Khuzestan province:

https://arkeonews.net/elamite-clay-tablet-discovered-4500-years-old-in-southwest-iran/

Pieces of a stolen (?) Sassanid artwork known as the Farrokhzad inscription have been found in the Marvdasht plain:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467734/Stolen-bas-relief-discovered-in-southern-Iran

An online database of historical pottery from Persepolis (and elsewhere?) has been set up:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467942/Persepolis-launches-catalog-of-ancient-potteries

The Assyrians didn't like baldness, apparently:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/assyrians-couldnt-face-the-bald-truth-2-600-years-ago-bvndrlq9s

A Late Bronze/Early Iron age site from Azerbaijan:

https://www.azernews.az/nation/186382.html

A team is looking at a dolmen field in southern Jordan:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/11/archaeologists-investigate-dolmen-field.html

Remains of a Second Temple era synagoge from Migdal:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/2nd-temple-period-synagogue-found-where-gospels-mary-magdalene-was-born-688519
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/second-synagogue-from-temple-era-excavated-in-migdal-near-the-kinneret/2021/12/12/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/in-hometown-of-mary-magdalene-archaeologists-find-second-synagogue-1.10459124
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1tvhl75t

In case you missed the Hasmonean finds that turned up in a bust in east Jerusalem:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/ancient-hasmonean-artifacts-found-in-east-jerusalem-at-end-of-hanukkah-687902

More on that 2000 years bp silver coin found by a young girl:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/great-revolt-coin-10343.html

More on that Sanhedrin-associated structure from Yavne:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/israeli-archaeologists-dig-up-new-info-on-sanhedrin-era-in-yavne-687288

Lawrence Schiffman on that Seleucid fortress find:

http://lawrenceschiffman.com/a-fortress-unearthed/

... also:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/israeli-archaeologists-find-hellenistic-stronghold-destroyed-by-the-hasmoneanss-1.10390851

Feature on Eilat Mazar:

https://aeon.co/essays/eilat-mazar-dug-with-a-bible-in-one-hand-and-a-spade-in-the-other

Feature on Gezer:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-this-used-to-be-one-of-the-greatest-cities-of-ancient-israel-1.10453115

Feature on Mystras:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/mystras-the-byzantine-capital-of-morea/142226

A 9th century waqfiyya inscription that turned up at a Christie's auction a few years ago has been translated:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-earliest-waqf-legacy-in-the-world-is-deciphered-two-villages-in-palestine-1.10441673

A figurine purportedly dating to the Roman era from Sharjah (UAE):

https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2021/12/05/mythical-statue-dating-to-the-roman-empire-discovered-in-sharjah/
https://gulfnews.com/uae/statue-of-rare-mythical-creature-from-roman-empire-discovered-in-sharjah-1.84203847
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/08/roman-era-mythical-creature-statue-found-in-emirate-of-sharjah/

An ancient Gaza monastery is being restored:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/12/ancient-gaza-monastery-restored-unemployed-young-palestinians

An account of a talk on medieval 'kitchen culture' in Syria:

http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/century-old-cooking-pot-tells-mediaeval-%E2%80%98kitchen-culture%E2%80%99-levant
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ============================================================
A ceramic kiln from the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento:

https://www.agrigentonotizie.it/cronaca/ricerche-scavi-valle-dei-templi-universita-bologna.html

The big news this week was the find of an apparent victim of crucifixion from a burial in Cambridgeshire:

https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/romancrucifixion https://www.livescience.com/crucified-roman-era-man-found-uk https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/08/best-physical-evidence-of-roman-crucifixion-found-in-cambridgeshire
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/crucifixion-roman-britain-fenstanton-cambridgeshire-b1971956.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10287641/Crucifixion-Worlds-best-example-Cambridgeshire-form-slave-nail-heel.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-59569629 https://www.rte.ie/news/uk/2021/1208/1265588-roman-crucifixion/ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/unearthed-first-evidence-of-roman-crucifixion-in-britain-ksbzpskpq
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/08/first-physical-evidence-roman-crucifixion-britain-unearthed/
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/813/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/813/pub/813/page/19/article/248886
https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/first-example-of-roman-crucifixion-in-uk-found-in-cambridges-9229668/
https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/09/world/archaeologists-crucifixion-uk-scn-gbr-scli-intl/index.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-evidence-of-roman-crucifixion-unearthed-in-uk/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/1900-yr-old-skeleton-proof-of-roman-crucifixions-uk-archaeologists-688442
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archaeologists-discover-best-physical-evidence-crucifixion-2045534
https://www.newsweek.com/archaeologists-stunned-rare-evidence-crucifixion-fenstanton-uk-1657725
https://www.sciencealert.com/archaeologists-dug-up-an-old-skeleton-then-they-noticed-the-nail-lodged-in-its-foot
https://gizmodo.com/nail-lodged-in-skeleton-s-foot-is-first-evidence-of-cru-1848194740
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/physical-evidence-of-a-crucifixion-from-roman-period-found-in-uk/142198
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/first-physical-evidence-of-roman-crucifixion-found-in-britain-180979190/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10225-211209-england-roman-crucifixion

Latest (it seems) finds from the House of the Library at Pompeii:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/numerous-finds-emerge-from-house-of.html

A large, later Roman-era olive oil factory from Hatay:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/anatolias-largest-olive-oil-factory-unearthed-169868

Latest finds from the Zerzevan Castle dig includes a 1600 years bp 'flute' and a bronze key ring:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-flute-reveals-interest-in-music-169830
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10218-211206-turkey-military-fort

Not sure about this one on the (non) impact of Hadrian's Wall:

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19778640.expert-claims-hadrians-wall-came-existing-anglo-scots-defences/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/prehistoric-scotland-was-culturally-divergent-before-the-romans-arrived/142216

More on the 'weaving workshop' and other structures found at Perre:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/archeologists-unearth-1-600-year-old-weaving-workshop-in-southeastern-turkey/2437289
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10219-211207-turkey-perrhe-earthquakes

More coins associated with the Potwies hoard have been found in Poland:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/more-coins-from-the-polwies-treasure-hoard-discovered-in-poland/142180

More on the search for Roman sites along the planned A66 route:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/digging-for-roman-riches-on-trans-pennine-route/142129

More on the latest find of a victim of Vesuvius from Herculaneum:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/06/victim-of-vesuvius-eruption-unearthed-at-herculaneum/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/vesuvius-skeleton-discovery-near-herculaneum-ancient-rome-180979160/

More on the use of robots and AI to reconstruct frescoes at Pompeii:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pompeiis-ruins-to-be-reconstructed-by-robot/
https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/11/robots-with-artificial-intelligence-to-reconstruct-pompeii-frescoes/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/robot-could-restore-frescoes-in-pompeii-180979188/

... and on the use of technology at Pompeii to help protect it from climate change damage:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/12/08/pompeii-tech-climate-change-damage

More on the 'Caligula coffee table':

https://mymodernmet.com/caligula-coffee-table-mosaic/

More on Bronze Age tombs from Cyprus with Egyptian and Mesopotamian luxury items:

https://www.livescience.com/nefertiti-gold-jewelry-in-cyprus https://www.sciencealert.com/mesmerizing-gold-jewelry-from-queen-nefertiti-s-time-found-in-cyprus
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/egyptian-jewelry-mesopotamian-seal-found-in-cyprus-offer-clues-to-bronze-age-trade-180979165/

More on the source of marble for a statue of Apollo:

https://physics.aps.org/articles/v14/166

Dispelling the myths associated with ancient Greek infanticide:

https://www.science.org/content/article/ancient-greeks-didn-t-kill-weak-babies-new-study-argues

A digital recreation of Mycenae:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/07/video-ancient-mycenae-palace/

Restoration of Roman baths in Calpe is under way:

https://murciatoday.com/restoration_of_historic_roman_baths_resumes_in_calpe_1694172-a.html

The semi-annual piece on Kathleen Martinez being 'close' to finding the tomb of Cleopatra:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/12/07/archeologist-claims-to-be-close-to-discovery-of-queen-cleopatras-tomb/

Not sure this is actually 'new' but Byzantine remains from Thasos have signs of 'complex surgery':

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/07/byzantine-era-skeletons-greece-complex-surgery/

Feature on Anna Marguerite McCann and her underwater archaeology work:

https://www.archaeological.org/archaeologists-you-should-know-mccann/

Feature on the Opushki cemetery in the Crimea (1st century BCE-4th CE):

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-kids-playing-with-human-bones-reveal-ancient-cultures-of-crimea-1.10443629

Feature on the Roman Republic:

https://www.livescience.com/roman-republic

Feature on Josephus:

https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2021/12/josephus-a-groundbreaking-historian-and-a-proud-jew/

Another feature on garum:

https://culinarybackstreets.com/cities-category/lisbon/2021/garum/

Feature on assorted 'disturbing' practices in ancient Rome:

https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/10-disturbing-practices-that-were-considered-normal-in-ancient-rome-5ec51af79912

Feature on the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/11/tombs-kings-paphos-unesco/

Feature on phallic imagery in Roman society:

https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/phallus-evil-eye/

Feature on Odysseus as hero:

https://merionwest.com/2021/12/10/the-real-heroism-of-odysseus/

Feature on Saturnalia preparations at Brown:

https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/2021/12/06/brown-io-saturnalia-latin-students-herald-the-ancient-roman-festival-of-peace-and-harmony

Feature on Cicero as symbol of what destroyed the Republic:

https://theconversation.com/cicero-isnt-a-model-for-saving-the-state-but-a-symbol-of-what-destroyed-it-172032

Feature on the trireme:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/09/ancient-greek-trireme-ships-athens/

Feature on Smyrna:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/11/history-ancient-greek-city-smyrna/

More on Italy returning/loaning a Parthenon sculpture to Greece:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/italy-will-loan-greece-parthenon-marble-piece-with-collateral/
https://news.gtp.gr/2021/12/07/greece-to-receive-parthenon-frieze-fragment-from-italy/

More on the BM offering (maybe) to loan Parthenon sculptures to Greece:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/12/06/new-british-museum-director-offers-to-loan-parthenon-sculptures-to-greece/
https://greekherald.com.au/news/greece/new-british-museum-director-hints-lending-parthenon-marbles-greece/

... and an opEd on how it's creating false hopes:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/06/british-museum-return-parthenon-marbles/ https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-08/la-interminable-historia-de-las-estatuas-del-partenon-boris-johnson-tampoco-las-devolvera-a-grecia.html

If you're looking for a Christmas gift, you can adopt a tessera from a Fishbourne Roman Palace mosaic:

https://www.chichester.co.uk/news/people/fishbourne-roman-palace-offers-chance-to-adopt-piece-of-mosaic-as-unique-christmas-gift-3484333

A different spin on Donna Tartt's *Secret History*:

https://lareviewofbooks.org/short-takes/donna-tartts-the-secret-history-as-revenge-fantasy/

Feature on ten books about the Roman empire:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/dec/08/top-10-books-about-the-roman-empire-greg-woolf-rome-an-empire-s-story

Latest Pasts Imperfect newsletter:

https://pastsimperfect.substack.com/p/pasts-imperfect-12921
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ============================================================
An apparent 9000-5000 years bp flintknapping site from northeastern France:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/rich-prehistoric-landscape-discovered-in-morschwiller-le-bas/142189

Norwegian archaeologists located a cluster of five Viking longhouse (one is huge) near the Gjellestad ship site:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-norwegian-archaeologists-late-iron-age.html https://norwaytoday.info/news/scientists-discover-one-of-the-largest-longhouses-in-scandinavia-near-the-gjellestad-viking-ship/
https://apnews.com/article/science-europe-denmark-oslo-1f49c6d06c453cfbee8a7677156236ea
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-10279771/Norwegian-archaeologists-late-Iron-Age-longhouses.html
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/largest-viking-longhouse-norway-1234612412/
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/norwegian-archaeologists-find-late-iron-age-longhouses-81579418
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/archaeologists-discover-large-nordic-iron-age-longhouse/142184
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-find-one-of-largest-viking-longhouses-in-scandinavia-180979177/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10220-211207-norway-viking-longhouses

... and a feature on the 12 'most exciting' finds from the Gjellestad dig:

https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology-history-iron-age/the-12-most-exciting-finds-from-the-gjellestad-viking-ship-dig/1948461

An xray of a Viking sword from Orkney revealed ornate decorations:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-59563721 http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62876 https://www.archaeology.org/news/10226-211210-papa-westray-sword

... related finds from the same dig:

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/first-findings-of-mind-blowing-study-of-viking-cemetery-in-orkney-revealed-3487938

Possible remains of a pre-Norman church in Frome:

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2021/10-december/news/uk/possible-saxon-ruins-linked-to-the-confessor-s-chancellor-found-under-st-john-s-frome

An 11th century cloisonne enamel earring from Denmark:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62886

An 11th century (maybe) ink pen is possibly the oldest ever found in Ireland:

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/oldest-ink-pen-in-ireland-is-discovered-by-archaeologist-during-excavation-in-burren-41132749.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10296461/Archaeology-Irelands-oldest-INK-PEN-dates-1-000-years-County-Clare.html

Trying to explain motive for 'metal deposition' (i.e. hoards) in the Bronze Age:

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2021/12/mysterious-metal-depositions-were-the-most-ordinary-thing-in-the-world
https://phys.org/news/2021-12-mysterious-metal-depositions-ordinary-world.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/10223-211208-bronze-age-deposits

More on the Blair Atholl Man:

https://www.livescience.com/blair-atholl-man-scotland https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10284099/Archaeology-Man-strong-jawline-buried-Scotland-1-600-years-ago-NOT-local.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10222-211208-scotland-blair-atholl

Seems like all the places in the UK are telling about how many 'treasure troves' were found in the area in the last year ... e.g. West Sussex:

https://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/news/people/this-is-how-many-buried-treasure-troves-were-found-in-west-sussex-last-year-3487876
https://www.chichester.co.uk/news/people/buried-treasure-troves-discovered-in-west-sussex-3487911

... Shropshire;

https://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/19771044.dozens-buried-treasure-troves-found-shropshire-last-year/

... West Yorkshire:

https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/people/from-gold-coins-to-precious-artefacts-buried-treasure-troves-discovered-in-west-yorkshire-3488245

... Notts:

https://www.chad.co.uk/news/people/buried-treasure-found-in-notts-12-times-in-a-year-3488993

... Gwent:

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19773731.british-museum-records-dozens-treasure-finds-gwent/

... Dudley:

https://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/19774465.nearly-dozen-treasure-troves-found-since-records-began/

... Worcestershire:

https://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/19770787.buried-treasure-troves-found-worcestershire-last-year/

... Bucks and Milton Keynes:

https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/people/dozens-of-buried-treasure-troves-found-in-bucks-and-milton-keynes-last-year-3489957

... Northamptonshire:

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/more-than-20-buried-treasure-troves-found-in-northamptonshire-last-year-figures-reveal-3488550

... and generally there are more troves this year than in previous years:

https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/19770874.treasure-troves-found-last-year-increase-previous-years/

Plans for an interesting research project at Sutton Hoo:

https://advisor.museumsandheritage.com/news/national-trust-partners-time-team-new-sutton-hoo-research-project/

Pondering the veracity of the use of the 'Blood Eagle' by the Vikings:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/did-the-vikings-actually-torture-victims-with-the-brutal-blood-eagle-180979148/

Feature on the West Norfolk Hoard:

https://museumcrush.org/west-norfolk-hoard-englands-largest-anglo-saxon-gold-coin-find/

Feature on the Coppergate dig:

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19755963.coppergate-dig-turned-york-viking/

Feature on Stonehenge (accompanying the BM exhibition):

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/an-introduction-to-stonehenge/

The UK is apparently dealing with a skills shortage in the heritage sector:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-london-59602142

Review of Perry and Gabriele, *The Bright Ages*:

https://slate.com/culture/2021/12/medieval-history-revised-review-of-the-book-the-bright-ages.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 ============================================================
Plenty of items from five 3000 years bp burials on the outskirts of Beijing:

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2021-12/08/content_77918142.htm http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_nFbyA1eL.html

Shang Dynasty bronze items from Hunan:

https://ukranews.com/en/news/817330-ancient-bronze-ware-unearthed-in-china-s-hunan

A pair of Eastern Han Dynasty copper Buddha statues from a set of tombs in Shaanxi:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-12-10/Earliest-Buddha-statues-in-China-discovered-in-Shaanxi-15SciqP8sqk/index.html
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/3/184352/Ancient-Buddha-statues-unearthed-from-tombs-in-China's-Shaanxi
http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_m5WA5HIZ.html http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2021-12/11/content_77924511.htm

3648 burials from a span of 2200 years from Shaanxi:

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2021-12/11/content_77924757.htm https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202112/1241255.shtml

Interesting implications of a study of 2700 years bp Assyrian-style leather armour from a Chinese tomb:

https://www.media.uzh.ch/en/Press-Releases/2021/Armor.html https://phys.org/news/2021-12-year-old-leather-armor-technology-antiquity.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211208090026.htm https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/leather-scale-armour-proves-technology-transfer-occurred-in-antiquity/142195
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/assyrian-style-leather-armor-10352.html http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62872 https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/08/2700-year-old-armor-proves-technology-transfer-happened-in-antiquity/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10224-211209-leather-scale-armor

cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1040618221005553

Pondering the efficacy of the Great Wall of China:

https://www.livescience.com/did-great-wall-china-work

Overviewish thing hyping Chinese archaeology:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-12-07/Archaeological-China-unveils-splendid-Chinese-civilization-15NB4i7i1k4/index.html
http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202112/08/WS61b0531ea310cdd39bc7a20f.html

... and a feature on five significant sites:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202112/1240530.shtml

Studying what might be a Hong Kong boundary stone:

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3159282/hong-kong-antiquities-office-studying-authenticity-stone?module=live&pgtype=homepage

A study of Karelian stone tools and their trade etc.:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/vast-trade-network-in-prehistoric-russia-was-centered-on-pretty-green-rocks-1.10446750

A team of American archaeologists have been barred from working at Mustang (Nepal):

https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/archaeological-research-obstructed-in-mustang

Buddhist-related finds from Taxila:

https://www.dawn.com/news/1663253

First part of what appears to be a feature on the history of Kashmir:

https://www.greaterkashmir.com/op-ed-2/part-i-reconstructing-the-ancient-history-of-kashmir
============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ============================================================
Feature on Maddy McAllister's underwater archaeology work:

https://www.theage.com.au/national/inside-the-world-of-maritime-archaeologist-and-shipwreck-mermaid-maddy-mcallister-20211209-p59gaf.html
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
The find of ancestral remains frought construction work to a halt at a site in Asotin (Washington):

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/12/09/ancestral-remains-discovered-asotin-eastern-washington/

Overviewish thing on finds from Haida Gwai:

https://thetyee.ca/Culture/2021/12/10/Archaeologists-Unearthed-Exciting-Secrets-Haida-Gwaii/

More on the 5000-9000 years bp artifacts from a Baltimore park:

https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2021/12/04/discovered-in-a-baltimore-park-native-american-artifacts-5000-9000-years-old/

More on the 'volcanic winter' which drove changes among the Pueblo folk in Colorado:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-volcanic-eruptions-helped-ancestral-pueblo-culture-flourish-180979162/

Pondering who's responsible for 500 Black burials on a Clearwater company's land:

https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2021/12/08/over-500-graves-might-be-on-clearwater-companys-land-is-city-responsible/

That 'slave tag' found at the College of Charleston a few months ago is among Archaeology Magazine's top finds of 2021:

https://charlestoncitypaper.com/slave-tag-found-at-cofc-among-top-archaeology-magazine-discoveries-of-2021/
https://www.thestate.com/news/charleston/article256374217.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10285549/Copper-slave-badge-1835-worlds-10-archaeological-discoveries-2021.html

Feature on Opechanacanough:

https://www.history.com/news/opechancanough-powhatan-chief-1622-attack-jamestown

Feature on descendents of Jesuit enslaved persons from St Louis:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/at-least-200-people-were-enslaved-by-the-jesuits-in-st-louis-descendants-are-now-telling-their-stories

============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ============================================================
A study of the earliest adobe monumental architecture in the Americas (Peru):

https://www.pnas.org/content/118/48/e2102941118

Study connecting dangerous algae blooms in a Guatemalan lake to Maya occupation:

https://www.pnas.org/content/118/48/e2109919118

A Postclassics Maya 'ceremonial cave' site from Chemuyil:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/ceremonial-cave-site-from-postclassic-maya-period-discovered/142234

Evidence of a previously-unrecorded tsunami that hit the Chilean coast in 1737:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-previously-unrecorded-chilean-tsunami.html

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00319-z

Rescue excavations at X'baatun in Yucatan have resumed:

https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2021/12/archaeologists-resume-rescue-works-at-the-archaeological-site-of-xbaatun-in-yucatan/

More on the Chimu agricultural site from Peru's Chicama Valley:

https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-site-featuring-chimu-cultures-agricultural-practices-unearthed-in-chicama-valley-871947.aspx
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/ancient-complex-from-chimu-period-discovered-in-peru/142170
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10217-211206-peru-chimu-agriculture

More on the 1200 years bp mummy from Peru:

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/ancient-peruvian-mummy-goes-show-lima-museum-2021-12-08/
https://www.trtworld.com/life/pre-incan-mummy-goes-on-display-at-university-in-peru-s-lima-52416
https://abcnews.go.com/International/video/archaeologists-unveil-mummy-1200-years-81640369
https://www.stltoday.com/news/world/watch-now-archaeologists-discover-1-200-year-old-mummy-in-peru-and-more-of-todays/collection_b7cd2381-8092-533f-b55b-6b7cf3cdc9fd.html

More on that post-conquest Aztec altar find from Mexico City:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/archaeologists-discover-offerings-in-aztec-housing-complex/142138
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/aztec-altar-discovered-in-mexico-city-180979166/

Feature on the diet of folks at Tiwanaku:


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