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explorator 24.45 February 27, 2022
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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
============================================================
A DNA study suggests early humans split into three groups very early:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/modern-humans-began-to-evolve-and-quickly-split-into-three-groups-1.10630058

DNA also suggests we can all be traced back to a geographic location in Sudan:

http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/892/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/892/pub/892/page/32/article/275761

Study suggests early humans could not have made it to Europe via the strait of Gibraltar:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/02/modern-humans-did-not-enter-europe-by.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/02/21/modern-humans-did-not-enter-europe-by-sea-recent-study-shows/

Feature on early tools found in Turkana:

https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/magazine/a-look-at-ancient-tools-found-in-turkana-3727764

More on the Mandrin cave site and its implications for homo sapiens in Europe earlier than previously thought:

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220210-archaeological-study-places-homo-sapiens-in-europe-much-earlier-than-previously-thought
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/modern-humans-tried-but-failed-to-colonize-europe-54-000-years-ago-1.10601917
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/02/members-of-our-species-were-in-western-europe-around-54000-years-ago/

More on that 1.5 million years bp fossil vertebra from the Jordan Valley:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/archaeologists-discover-missing-link-in-human-evolution-in-israel-1.10584884

More on strategic Neanderthal fire-building in Lazaret Cave:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-early-humans-built-fire-in-center-of-cave-180979549/

Latest feature on sapiens/neanderthal interbreeding:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-mediterranean-plains-where-neanderthals-and-modern-humans-came-together

... and such interbreeding apparently protected modern humans from HIV but made them vulnerable to COVID:

https://elpais.com/ciencia/2022-02-21/el-sexo-con-neandertales-protegio-a-los-humanos-del-vih-y-les-hizo-mas-vulnerables-a-la-covid.html
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AFRICA
============================================================
Feature on heritage sites in Africa threatened by rising seas:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/africa-heritage-sites-climate-risk-spc-intl/index.html
============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ============================================================
A Roman-era furnace (?) and other structures near the temple area of Luxor:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/113194/Rare-plaque-4-meter-deep-furnace-a-house-dating-back
https://egyptindependent.com/royal-antiquities-excavated-at-luxor-temple/

... not sure if these finds (including some inscriptions) are from the same area (various periods):

https://see.news/egypts-archaeological-mission-announces-new-discovery-in-luxor/

Amarna Letters and more suggest Tut's meteoric iron dagger may have originated in Syria:

https://phys.org/news/2022-02-year-old-tablets-king-tut-ancient.html https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/tutankhamuns-meteorite-dagger-probably-wasnt-forged-in-egypt/
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/02/x-rays-help-unlock-secrets-of-king-tuts-iron-dagger-made-from-a-meteorite/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/02/research-team-unravels-how-dagger-in.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/02/23/tutankhamuns-meteoric-iron-dagger-a-royalgift-from-mitanni/

cf: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/maps.13787

More on that trove of embalming materials from Abusir:

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-egyptian-cache-mummification-supplies https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/02/trove-embalming-tools-unearthed-ancient-egyptian-burial-pit

More on piles of ostraka from Athribis:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-697072

Feature on a teen Egyptologist who wants to be the next Zahi Hawass:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2022/02/25/meet-the-teen-egyptologist-who-wants-to-be-the-next-zahi-hawass/

Feature on dreams in early Egypt:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2022/02/dreams-early-ancient-egypt

Feature on Late Period/Ptolemaic/Roman Egypt:

https://smarthistory.org/late-period-and-ptolemaic-roman-periods-introduction/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=late-period-and-ptolemaic-roman-periods-introduction

Egypt is hyping 2022 as a big year for archaeology:

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2022/02/21/2022-will-be-a-year-of-major-archaeological-inaugurations-crowned-by-gem/

Folks were watching the first solar alignment of the year at Abu Simbel:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/461536/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/VIDEO-Egypt-celebrates-first-solar-alignment-of-th.aspx
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/113125/Egypt%E2%80%99s-Ministry-of-Tourism-Antiquities-Ministry-of-Culture-celebrate-solar
https://egyptindependent.com/large-turn-out-of-tourists-attend-the-suns-alignment-on-king-ramses-ii-statue/

An Elamite inscription with connections to Xerxes from Persepolis:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/470477/Elamite-inscription-attributed-to-Xerxes-the-Great-found-in-Persepolis

A survey in Iran's Khuzestan province is hoping to find Paleolithic sites:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/470309/Survey-seeks-to-shed-new-light-on-Paleolithic-life-in-southwest

Iraq was showcasing restoration work done in Hatra in the wake of Islamic State destruction back in 2015:

https://thearabweekly.com/iraq-unveils-restoration-work-ancient-city-hatra http://www.aina.org/news/20220226014654.htm https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/iraq-unveils-restoration-work-at-ancient-city-171792
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220224-iraq-unveils-restoration-work-at-ancient-city-ravaged-by-is
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-antiquities-smashed-by-isis-are-unveiled-after-repair-2qwh32fwz
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/20220225/5718f929760443b6bb2a098ad5da02d1/c.html

Plans for restoration of a 160 years bp Ottoman caravanserai in Erbil:

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/160-year-old-ottoman-caravanserai-awaits-restoration-in-iraqs-erbil

A 9000 years bp shrine/religious structure at a Neolithic site in the Jordanian desert:

https://phys.org/news/2022-02-archaeologists-year-old-shrine-jordan.html https://www.livescience.com/shrine-discovered-in-jordan-desert http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/hunting-installation-dating-back-7000bc-discovered
https://www.timesofisrael.com/almost-perfectly-preserved-9000-year-old-shrine-discovered-in-jordan-desert/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/23/archaeologists-find-9000-year-old-shrine-in-jordanian-desert
https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2022/02/23/jordanian-archaeologists-find-art-and-childrens-toys-made-by-stone-age-hunters/
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/archaeologists-discover-9000-year-old-ritual-site-in-jordan-desert
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/archaeologists-find-9000-year-shrine-jordan-desert-83046444
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/22/1082478789/archaeologists-find-a-9-000-year-old-shrine-in-the-desert-in-jordan
https://www.wpr.org/archaeologists-find-9-000-year-old-shrine-desert-jordan https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/jordan-9000-year-old-ritualistic-site-scn/index.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/archaeologists-find-7000-year-old-ritual-hunt-site-jordanian-desert-2022-02-23/
https://apnews.com/article/science-middle-east-jordan-amman-deserts-983cab8ea9ee86942da59dd41308286d
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/archeologists-find-9-000-year-old-shrine-in-jordan-desert-1.5792046
https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/archaeologists-find-9000-year-old-shrine-in-jordan-desert-1.1645587517386
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-archaeologists-find-9000-year-old-shrine-in-jordan-desert-2/
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Archaeologists-find-9-000-year-old-shrine-in-16938538.php
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/archaeologists-find-9000-year-old-shrine-in-jordan-desert/3KO4I7NDMZOETCJR4P2ZOVEZ54/
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/middle-east/300526188/the-site-is-unique-9000yearold-shrine-found-in-jordanian-desert
https://www.dw.com/en/jordan-archaeologists-find-9000-year-old-hunting-complex/a-60890284
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220223-9-000-year-old-ritual-complex-found-in-jordan-desert
https://www.rfi.fr/en/middle-east/20220223-9-000-year-old-ritual-complex-found-in-jordan-desert
https://www.sciencealert.com/archaeologists-uncover-a-shrine-near-earliest-large-scale-human-structures
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63426 https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/02/9000-year-old-ritual-complex-found-in.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10378-220224-jordan-desert-shrine

A Byzantine era marble 'pillar' from an Ashod beach:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-698225 https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/hken6qzxq https://www.timesofisrael.com/beach-combing-police-find-1500-year-old-marble-pillar-near-ashdod/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-rain-exposes-1-600-year-old-marble-column-in-ashdod-dunes-1.10627030
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/archaeology-today/byzantine-pillar/ https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/02/evidence-of-byzantine-church-found-on-beach-in-ashdod/142865

Not sure about the source of this report on the find of some Bronze Age pottery in Cave 53 at Qumran:

https://crownheights.info/israel/762617/early-bronze-age-pottery-vessel-discovered-in-israeli-cave/

More on 3500 years bp lead ingots from Caesarea and their trade implications:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-analysis-of-3200-year-old-lead-ingots-sinks-theories-about-bronze-age-trade/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-698175 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/322630 https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/lead-ingots-on-sunken-ship-by-ancient-canaan-came-from-far-far-away-1.10625287
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/02/22/lead-ingots-on-ship-that-sank-off-canaan-3200-years-ago-have-cypro-minoan-markings/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/02/lead-ingots-from-late-bronze-age-found.html

cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X21005332

Feature on Moabite Jordan:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/step-into-moabite-jordan/?mqsc=E4142060&dk=ZE212CZF0

Feature on Lauren McCormick's work with Judaean Pillar Figurines:

https://news.syr.edu/blog/2022/02/21/ph-d-candidate-gleans-new-insight-from-ancient-evidence/

Feature on Victor Guerin's trip to the 'Land of Israel' in 1852:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-this-explorer-visited-israel-in-the-19th-century-and-found-it-to-be-anything-but-emp-1.10629520

Feature on the Ark of the Covenant:

https://www.livescience.com/64932-the-ark-of-the-covenant.html

Interesting feature on the IAA's Theft Prevention Unit:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/fake-treasure-maps-and-savvy-thieves-antiquities-theft-in-israel-1.10635165

Remains of an 18th century shipwreck in the Red Sea off the coast of Haql:

https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/life/story/Saudi_Heritage_Commission_discovers_antique_pieces_on_sunken_ship_in_north_Red_Sea-SNG_70851275/
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2031316/saudi-arabia

Excavations near Umm Al Quwain have revealed two settlement sites dating to the 13th/14th century CE:

https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2022/02/21/latest-study-finds-uaq-age-as-much-as-700-years
https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2022/02/21/treasure-trove-of-artefacts-pushes-back-history-of-uaq-by-500-years/
https://www.sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2022/02/21/Archaeological-work-on-Siniya-Island-reveals-UAQ-is-700-years-old
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395303022785

More on 8500 years bp structures from Abu Dhabi:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-696955 https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/617317/World/Mena/New-Abu-Dhabi-archaeological-discoveries-reveal-8500-year-old-buildings
https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/02/22/uae-archaeologists-unearth-8500-year-old-buildings/

Now we're hearing of Iranian-backed 'militias' looting Palmyra:

https://www.syriahr.com/en/240775/

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

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ============================================================
A major 2nd/3rd century CE mosaic find from a construction site in London:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/feb/22/lavish-roman-mosaic-is-biggest-found-in-london-for-50-years
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-60466187 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10539029/Stunning-Roman-mosaic-discovered-near-Londons-Shard.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mosaic-reveals-how-roman-elite-spent-a-night-on-the-tiles-npl0gv0tl
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/london-biggest-roman-mosaic-discovered-b2021280.html
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/890/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/890/pub/890/page/43/article/275350
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/24/world/europe/roman-era-london-mosaics.html https://www.npr.org/2022/02/24/1082736124/archaeologists-in-the-u-k-uncover-a-buried-piece-of-art-near-the-london-bridge
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/roman-mosaic-london-discovery-scli-scn-intl-gbr/index.html
https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/london-roman-mosaic-discovery-archaeology-museum-southwark-b983868.html
https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-roman-floor-more-1500-years-old-found-under-london-street-1681748
https://hypebeast.com/2022/2/mola-roman-mosaic-discovery-london https://hyperallergic.com/713581/large-roman-mosaic-discovered-in-central-london/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/largest-roman-mosaic-london-found-50-years-1234620022/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63420 https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/02/mola-archaeologists-discover-major-roman-mosaic-in-london/142871
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/02/londons-largest-roman-mosaic-find-for.html
https://the-past.com/news/once-in-a-lifetime-roman-mosaic-unearthed-in-london/

Archaeologists were also excavating a mosaic in Colchester:

https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/19950186.roman-mosaic-discovered-dig-colchester/
https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/19943407.digs-begin-uncover-ancient-roman-mosaic-colchester/

... and we're getting hints of a mosaic being found in an olive grove in Corduba:

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2022/02/24/ancient-roman-mosaic-uncovered-at-olive-grove-in-spains-cordoba/

More on the mosaic find from Hvar:

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/travel/60423-roman-mosaics-stari-grad

Assorted 1800 years bp Roman remains from Turkey's Elazig province:

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/remains-from-roman-era-discovered-in-valley-of-eastern-turkey-3589895
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/1800-year-old-roman-remains-found-in-valley-of-eastern-turkey/news
https://azertag.az/en/xeber/1800_year_old_Roman_remains_found_in_valley_of_eastern_Turkiye-2023361

A 3rd century Rhodian shipwreck off the coast of Turkey:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/02/rhodian-shipwreck-from-roman-period.html

A Roman coin hoard from a Bristol construction site:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/02/roman-coin-hoard-discovered-at-bristol.html

A man found a couple of Roman-era marble heads in the attic of his apartment in Thessaloniki:

https://greekreporter.com/2022/02/23/roman-era-marble-heads-apartment-thessaloniki-greece/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/02/23/thessaloniki-roman-marble-statues/

Nice feature on what has been found on the Grange Farm dig, including evidence of large-scale Roman silver extraction:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10532853/Treasures-ancient-crypt-home-largest-illegal-silversmithing-site-Roman-Britain.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/02/archaeologists-find-evidence-of-large-scale-roman-silver-extraction-in-england/142885

Arguing over remains of a Roman-era olive press found at a Mgarr (Malta) development site:

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/clash-over-roman-era-olive-press-found-in-mgarr-development-site.935708

More on the 31 Roman-era burials found in Gaza:

https://phys.org/news/2022-02-gaza-workers-roman-era-tombs.html https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-archeology-gaza-idUSKBN2KM1D0 https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/31-roman-era-tombs-uncovered-by-workers-in-gaza-strip/news
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/gaza-construction-workers-find-31-roman-era-tombs/
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/builders-unearth-2000-year-old-roman-cemetery-gaza
https://greekreporter.com/2022/02/23/siege-gaza-alexander-great-cemetery/ http://www.archaeology.org/news/10371-220222-gaza-roman-cemetery

More on the identification of a Roman chamber pot:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63441 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1500-year-old-roman-flower-pot-was-used-as-an-ancient-porta-potty-180979577/

More on the burials (many headless) from a Roman burial ground near Aylesbury:

https://the-past.com/news/roman-roadside-life-and-death-near-aylesbury/

More on that find of remains of a Republic-era bridge outside Rome:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63447

What Dan-el Padilla Peralta is up to:

https://dailynexus.com/2022-02-22/dan-el-padilla-peralta-speaks-at-ucsb-about-classicism-as-an-afro-diasporic-movement/

Feature on Allison Glazebrook's work on sex workers in ancient Greece:

https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2022/02/research-offers-new-perspective-on-sexual-labour-in-ancient-greece/

Review of Peter Brown, *Through the Eye of a Needle*:

https://calitreview.com/book-review-through-the-eye-of-a-needle-by-peter-brown/

Review of a couple of translations by Anne Carson and David Hadbawnik:

https://hyperallergic.com/713225/when-the-ancient-greeks-go-rogue/

Plans to light up the temple on Aegina:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1178180/archaeological-committee-agree-to-light-temple-on-aegina/

Nice feature on the 'rebirth' of Pompeii:

https://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/celebrities/article258594483.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/pompeii-rebirth-of-italys-dead-city-that-nearly-died-again/2022/02/20/9f7bcd10-9227-11ec-8ddd-52136988d263_story.html
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-21/the-rebirth-of-pompeii-italys-city-which-nearly-died-twice/100847672
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/europe/italy/300522651/pompeii-rebirth-of-italys-dead-city-that-nearly-died-again

Feature on Colchester's Roman circus:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/colchester-s-roman-circus-2

Feature on Tiberius' villa at Sperlonga:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/02/the-pleasure-villa-of-emperor-tiberius/142899

Feature on ancient Roman pollution:

https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/ancient-roman-pollution

Feature on some obscure ancient Greek and Roman texts:

https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2022/02/25/fascinating-obscure-texts-from-ancient-greece-and-rome/#more-7062

Feature on the Roman invasion of Britain:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/roman-invasion-britain-did-britons-ignore-them/

Feature on the Arch of Constantine:

https://www.archaeology.org/issues/458-2203/features/10335-rome-constantine-arch

Feature on Troy:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/in-search-of-troy-180979553/

... and related:

https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2022/02/smithsonian-highlights-ucs-early-work-in-troy.html

Feature on Stylites:

https://greekreporter.com/2022/02/20/stylites-byzantine-hermits/

Feature/op ed on the popularity of Classics in China:

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/as-american-profs-denounce-the-classics-guess-who-embraces-them/

Yet another feature on the Antikythera Mechanism:

https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/02/25/the-celestial-antikythera-mechanism-the-second-parthenon-of-hellenic-civilization/

Greek press coverage of the Times' opinion on the Parthenon Sculptures:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1177804/the-times-landmark-shift-on-the-marbles/

Some commentary on the Sculptures from Lina Mendoni:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/culture-minister-lina-mendoni-on-the-return-of-antiquities-and-her-trip-to-the-u-s/
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ============================================================
A 4000 years bp burial mound found during the search for Oxford's 'lost college':

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19946715.burial-mound-found-university-oxfords-lost-college/
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-60509311 https://www.archaeology.org/news/10381-220225-england-burial-mound

40+ hunting blinds found on a remote mountain in Norway (dates of use seem to range from 800 BCE to 600 AD or so):

https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology-climate-change-glaciers/ancient-remains-from-reindeer-hunting-and-a-forgotten-trail-in-the-norwegian-mountains-found-by-glacial-archaeologists/1984859
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10373-220222-norway-hunting-blinds

Remains of a large Iron Age settlement in Cheshire, featuring roundhouses and sacrificial dog burials:

https://www.sciencealert.com/archeologists-uncover-exciting-time-capsule-of-celtic-iron-age-artefacts-in-england
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/02/archaeologists-excavate-iron-age-settlement-with-sacrificial-dog-burials/142857
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/02/iron-age-settlement-unearthed-in.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/02/22/dazzling-iron-age-discovery-in-the-north-west-of-england/

A study of some medieval burials from Norway:

https://norwegianscitechnews.com/2022/02/what-medieval-skeletons-tell-us-about-modern-day-pandemics/
https://phys.org/news/2022-02-medieval-skeletons-modern-day-pandemics.html https://www.archaeology.org/news/10382-220225-norway-medieval-skeletons

A metal detectorist found a medieval gold brooch near Wiltshire:

https://www.livescience.com/medieval-gold-brooch-supernatural-inscriptions http://www.archaeology.org/news/10377-220223-england-gold-brooch

Finds from various periods at a development site at Melksham Community Campus (Wiltshire):

https://the-past.com/news/excavation-at-melksham-reveals-evidence-of-iron-age-roman-and-medieval-activity/

Interesting 350 years bp burial of an African man in a prehistoric shell midden in Portugal:

https://www.uu.se/en/press/press-release/?id=5794&typ=pm%E2%8C%A9=en https://phys.org/news/2022-02-year-old-stone-age-site-portugal.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220222135242.htm https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/02/african-man-buried-in-stone-age-site-in-portugal/142862
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/02/350-year-old-remains-found-in-stone-age.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/02/22/350-years-old-remains-in-a-stone-age-site-in-portugal/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10376-220223-portugal-slavery-midden

cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X22000335

A mother and son out hiking in Moravia came across a major 17th/18th century silver coin hoard:

https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/mother-and-son-find-silver-coin-trove-while-hiking-in-moravia

Overviewish on assorted finds made during HS2 construction:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/feb/27/ticket-to-roman-britain-hs2s-route-to-ancient-history

More on evidence of 5300 years bp ear surgery from Spain:

https://phys.org/news/2022-02-earliest-evidence-ear-surgery-years.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/earliest-ear-surgery-evidence-spain-b2022086.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10538291/Archaeology-Earliest-evidence-ear-surgery-5-300-year-old-skull.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63408 https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/02/this-5300-year-old-skull-shows-evidence-of-the-earliest-known-ear-surgery/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/02/archaeologists-find-evidence-of-the-first-successful-ear-surgery-5300-years-ago/142911
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/5300-year-old-skull-offers-earliest-known-evidence-of-ear-surgery-180979636/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10380-220224-spain-ear-surgery

More on the Burton Agnes chalk drum and associated child burials:

https://the-past.com/news/elaborately-carved-burton-agnes-chalk-drum-goes-on-display/
https://www.livescience.com/5000-year-old-chalk-sculpture-children-grave https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/grimsby-archaeologist-responsible-discovering-one-6698587

More on a pair of 5000 years bp burials from Serbia with red ochre/dye:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/02/newcomers-from-eastern-borderlands-of.html

More on a 2700 years bp bronze figurine from a German river possibly being part of a Scandinavian weight system:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/02/2700-year-old-bronze-figurine-may-have.html

More on the 13th century wooden causeway from Berlin:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63413

More on the 18th century finds at Hanbury Hall:

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/19935412.18th-century-discovery-made-hanbury-hall-droitwich/

Brief item on the collapse of some Venetian-era wall on Cyprus:

https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/part-of-the-venetian-walls-in-the-non-government-controlled-areas-collapses/

Feature on Peveril Castle and the Devil's Arse:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/02/peveril-castle-the-devils-arse/142842

Feature on misleading portrayals of Vikings:

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20220222-netflixs-vikings-valhalla-why-weve-got-the-vikings-wrong

Feature on the Kazuni structures of Istria:

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/travel/60470-kazun-traditional-stone-huts-of-istria

Pondering the purpose of Stonehenge:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/17/arts/design/stonehenge-british-museum.html

Feature on Urbino:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/urbino-renaissance-town-italy/index.html

Funding to restore St Andrews Chapel:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-60513370

On the cost of restoring Westminster:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-60499997

On plans to conserve the HMS Victory:

https://the-past.com/news/research-underway-to-find-best-materials-for-conserving-hms-victory/

Interesting feature on some early photos from the Sutton Hoo excavations:

https://www.livescience.com/digitized-photos-anglo-saxon-ship-sutton-hoo

cf: https://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/article/the-photographic-collection-of-mercie-lack-and-barbara-wagstaff-at-sutton-hoo

The (cloned) 'Newton's Apple Tree' at Cambridge was uprooted by Eunice:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-60453267

Review of Daniel Wiles, *Mercia's Take*:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/mercias-take-daniel-wiles-book-review-sean-obrien/

----------
Archaeology in Europe News:

http://archaeology-in-europe.blogspot.com/

Medievalists.net:

https://www.medievalists.net/category/news/

Viking Archaeology Blog:

http://viking-archaeology-blog.blogspot.com/

============================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ============================================================
A Warring States period royal burial from Jiangxi:

https://ukranews.com/en/news/834940-archaeologists-identify-ancient-royal-tomb-in-china-s-jiangxi

Remains of a 'government-run institution of higher learning' dating to 374 from Shandong:

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2022-02/22/content_78063379.htm https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/2202212170/

China is strengthening its protection of cultural relics:

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3167876/china-starts-campaign-strengthen-protection-cultural-relics

More on the study of some 3000 years bp pants from the Tarim Basin:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/60524951 https://www.sciencenews.org/article/pants-oldest-ancient-horseman-asia-culture-origin
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10374-220222-tarim-basin-trousers

More on Ninja weapon prototypes from Japan:

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/japan-ancient-ninja-discovery-throwing-star-hnk-scn-intl/index.html

Feature on some recently-excavated Karasuk burials from Siberia:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-russian-archaeologists-reveal-karasuk-cake-burials-in-siberia-1.10632586

Latest 2500 years bp burial from the Siberian 'Valley of the Kings':

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-697029

The ASI is doing an isotope study at Vadnagar:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/feb/22/asi-conducting-oxygen-isotopes-study-at-vadnagar-2422468.html

Concerns for smaller shrines in Ayodhya:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-60431188

============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ============================================================
Assorted remains of convict-era Brisbane found during busway construction:

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/remnants-of-brisbane-s-convict-era-lasted-centuries-gone-within-days-20220222-p59ypx.html
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
Pottery found in the Superior National Forest back in 2003 has been dated to 1750-1600 years bp:

https://www.startribune.com/ancient-pottery-found-in-bwca-dates-back-more-than-1600-years/600150656/

Overviewish thing on the dig at Colonial Williamsburg:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/02/26/archaeology-virginia-williamsburg/

More on the recently-found evidence of the Coronado Expedition:

https://www.gvnews.com/news/local-archaeologists-findings-could-reshape-coronado-expedition/article_c1a5810c-8e93-11ec-96c1-3b08ddc94d19.html

Reviewish of Jennifer Raff, *Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas*:

https://news.ku.edu/2022/02/22/origin-details-peopling-americas-latest-genetic-and-archeological-evidence
https://phys.org/news/2022-02-peopling-americas-latest-genetic-archaeological.html

Feature on assorted archaeological sites in Nebraska:

https://omaha.com/news/state-and-regional/uncovering-history-archaeological-sites-provide-window-to-nebraskas-past/article_8f17d142-f01c-11eb-99ab-93cd37149941.html

Feature on the recovery of (and legal case associated with) the wreck of the SS Central America off the coast of South Carolina:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/feb/27/doomed-ship-of-golds-ghostly-picture-gallery-is-plucked-from-the-seabed

Feature suggests that most women burned at the stake in the US were Black:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/25/black-women-history-burned-at-stake/

Feature on the Underground Railroad in the Adirondacks:

https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/45430/20220224/remembering-the-secret-history-of-the-underground-railroad-in-the-north-country

Feature on George McJunkin:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/george-mcjunkin-folsom


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