[continued from previous message]
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11130-230118-mexico-maya-platforms
A recently-excavated statue of Xipe Toltec has gone on display at the Templo Mayor:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66147
Another theory on the purpose of the Nazca lines:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/study-solves-mystery-of-the-nazca-lines/145948
I think we mentioned that LiDAR has revealed some 964 pre-Hispanic Maya settlement sites in northern Guatemala:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lasers-reveal-massive-650-square-mile-maya-site-hidden-beneath-guatemalan-rainforest/
https://www.laprensalatina.com/964-mayan-ruins-discovered-beneath-guatemalan-rainforest/
INAH is working to conserve petroglyphs at the Kawa Siski cave:
https://www.inah.gob.mx/boletines/inicia-salvaguarda-de-las-pinturas-rupestres-de-la-cueva-kawa-sisiki-en-la-mixteca-de-la-montana-alta-de-guerrero
More on the alignment of Olmec sites to the 260 day calendar:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earliest-evidence-of-260-day-calendar-use-found-in-mexico-180981399/
Feature on the Cantona site:
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/travel/cantona-an-impressive-but-underrated-archaeological-site/
-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:
http://goo.gl/1VdeA
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas lecture channels on Youtube:
https://mikeruggerisyoutube.tumblr.com/
Ancient MesoAmerica News:
http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/ ============================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST ============================================================
Study suggests rats might not have played such a critical role in plague perseverance:
https://theconversation.com/the-black-death-may-not-have-been-spread-by-rats-after-all-196521
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-black-death-rats.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230119112819.htm https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/20/understanding-the-elusive-origins-of-the-black-death/
cf:
https://www.pnas.org/doi/pdf/10.1073/pnas.2209816119
A sword in Chicago's Field museum once considered a replica is now considered authentic:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66223 https://www.cnet.com/science/replica-sword-turns-out-to-be-the-real-3000-year-old-deal/
https://arkeonews.net/the-sword-thought-to-be-a-replica-turned-out-to-be-an-authentic-3000-year-old-bronze-age-sword/
Feature on Matisse's The Dance:
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230118-matisses-the-dance-the-masterpiece-that-changed-history
The previous owner of the Voynich Manuscript has been revealed:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66173
Plans to preserve some of Alexander Graham Bell's experimental recordings:
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/16/alexander-graham-bells-experimental-sound-recordings-to-be-preserved/
Feature on Isaac Newton's use of Greek:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/19/isaac-newton-manuscripts-greek/
Feature on the 'Slave Bible':
https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-slave-bible-for-slavery-or-salvation
Feature on how Hebrew came to be written right to left:
https://mosaicmagazine.com/observation/history-ideas/2023/01/how-hebrew-came-to-be-written-from-right-to-left/
Feature on the Crystal Skulls:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/the-truth-behind-the-crystal-skulls/145970
Feature on the use of 'bioweapons' by various ancient cultures:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/ancient-empires-used-bioweapons-to-strike-terror-more-than-3-000-years-ago
Feature on 'filthy place names' in the UK:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/21/next-stop-twatt-my-tour-of-britains-fantastically-filthy-placenames
Another feature on historical 'scent':
https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/the-smell-of-history/4016790.article
Interesting photo of samurai in front of the Sphinx of Giza:
https://www.iflscience.com/why-dozens-of-samurai-took-a-photo-in-front-of-egypt-s-sphinx-in-1864-67144
A rare lead compound discovered in The Night Watch:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-unusual-compound-rembrandt-night.html
Scientists have figured out 'Leonardo's Paradox':
https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ad9eb/a-500-year-old-paradox-by-leonardo-da-vinci-has-finally-been-solved-study-says
cf:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202216478
Pondering why humans live where it's cold:
https://theconversation.com/most-humans-havent-evolved-to-cope-with-the-cold-yet-we-dominate-northern-climates-heres-why-195621
In case you're in the market for a medieval Swedish castle:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2023/01/20/a-stellar-swedish-castle-once-a-medieval-power-center-comes-to-market/?sh=2db3b9392eda
More on the Van Gogh at the DIA:
https://apnews.com/article/legal-proceedings-detroit-institute-of-arts-brazil-4b431349025d9a400d8cb1ac4a3fa1d2
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/arts/2023/01/16/detroit-museum-van-gogh-painting-mysterious-past-immune-seizure-dia/69812505007/
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/arts/2023/01/18/dia-misguided-in-fight-over-stolen-van-gogh-in-detroit-lawyer-says/69819904007/
============================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
In case you missed the controversy/firing at a Minnesota university over a prof's showing a depiction of Muhammad:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/minnesota-university-fire-professors-dismissal-showing-images-prophet-rcna65881?
Plans to change the name of the Thames River in Connecticut to the Pequot River:
https://www.middletownpress.com/politics/article/CT-Thames-River-Mashantucket-Pequot-17723763.php#ld2mg57plkts4rin82
https://abcnews.go.com/US/indigenous-tribes-restored-connecticut-river-proposed-bill/story?id=96567103
Review of Nicolai Petro, *the Tragedy of Ukraine*:
https://natyliesbaldwin.com/2023/01/review-of-nicolai-petros-the-tragedy-of-ukraine/
... and a column by the author:
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/the-tragedy-of-ukraine/
Feature on abortion in the mid-19th century US:
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/19/1149924325/abortion-was-once-common-practice-in-america-a-small-group-of-doctors-changed-th
============================================================
ANIMAL AND PLANT DOMESTICATIONS ============================================================
On the importance/role of donkeys in human history:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230116-how-donkeys-changed-the-course-of-human-history
cf:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X21004624
============================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
Islanders: The Making of the Mediterranean:
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/artefacts-from-ancient-mediterranean-civilisation-on-show-for-first-time-in-uk-42289107.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/fitzwilliam-museum-mediterranean-cambridge-university-of-cambridge-cagliari-b2262817.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/20/islanders-the-making-of-the-mediterranean/
Quantity and Quality (Greek Terracottas):
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/17/quantity-and-quality-the-world-of-greek-terracottas/
Cy Twombly:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/01/14/cy-twombly-mfa-boston/
Dressing the Georgians:
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/jan/16/dressing-the-georgians-exhibition-explores-pivotal-moment-fashion
Vermeer:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66203
Tutankhamun:
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tutankhamuns-treasures-on-show-in-istanbul-180242
Garden of Civilization:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/20/symbols-iraqi-civilisation-basrah-museum
Hyping the impending opening of the Iznik Archaeology Museum:
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/iznik-archaeology-museum-reveals-2500-year-old-love-letter/news
https://arkeonews.net/iznik-archaeology-museum-reveals-2500-year-old-love-letter/
Feature on how many Greek artifacts the British Museum holds and has on display:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/16/british-museum-holds-108184-greek-artefacts-of-which-only-6493-are-even-on-display/
The Sudan National Museum is close to reopening:
https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-national-museum-prepares-for-reopening-after-transfer-of-its-main-statue
Jerusalem's Armenian Museum has reopened:
https://apnews.com/article/homicide-jerusalem-education-genocide-f4c6c9b8af5d1102a0279a0563563b29
The Hunterian is removing the skeleton of the 'Irish Giant' from display:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/21/world/europe/charles-byrne-irish-giant-museum.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66198
The Odessa Museum is keeping some items which were being smuggled out ot the country:
https://odessa-journal.com/the-odessa-archaeological-museum-received-treasures-that-were-tried-to-be-illegally-exported-abroad/
Feature on some 'essential' works at the Met:
https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/artists/what-to-see-metropolitan-museum-of-art-new-york-1234651202/
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is being sued over a Nazi-looted drawing:
https://www.independent.com/2023/01/17/santa-barbara-museum-of-art-sued-over-nazi-looted-drawing/
Pollock's Toy Museum is closing:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/19/uks-oldest-toy-museum-announces-closure-sending-thousands-of-antique-toys-into-storage
The British Museum is rethinking its use of the term 'mummy':
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11661057/British-Museum-bans-word-MUMMY-respect-3-000-year-old-dead.html
============================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED ============================================================
Some paintings by Queen Victoria are coming to auction:
https://news.artnet.com/market/queen-victoria-floral-paintings-hansons-auctioneers-2244149
Newton's personal copy of Opticks is coming to auction:
https://www.livescience.com/personal-copy-newtons-opticks-found
Big bucks for a gold Roman medallion:
https://www.numismaticnews.net/world-coins/massive-roman-gold-medallion-sells-for-record-2-3-million
============================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
============================================================
A DNA-based study of mobility of Anatolian and Levantine populations in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-isotope-ancient-dna-analysis-mobility.html
cf:
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2210611120
DNA suggests Asian hunter-gathers covered a wide range and went back and forth across the Bering Land Bridge:
https://www.livescience.com/previously-unknown-hunter-gatherers-siberia https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/19/high-mobility-of-ancient-hunter-gatherers-7500-years-ago/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11133-230118-prehistoric-gene-flow
A study of the African origins of a group of enslaved persons from a South Carolina cemetery:
https://www.livescience.com/genetics-reveal-enslaved-people-origins https://www.archaeology.org/news/11132-230117-colonial-enslavement-cemetery
Using DNA to identify a WWI Canadian soldier:
https://www.villagereport.ca/national-news/dna-and-a-decade-of-work-identify-canadian-soldier-106-years-after-death-in-france-6386459
============================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
============================================================
China is working on recreating the appearance of a Neanderthal boy (no photo!):
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202301/1283984.shtml
An Egyptian sarcophagus from a Cambridge museum went through the CT scanner:
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-01-21/what-happens-when-you-put-an-ancient-egyptian-mummy-coffin-into-a-ct-scanner
More on the facial recreation of one of the Jericho skulls:
https://www.livescience.com/jericho-skull-facial-approximation https://www.timesofisrael.com/9000-year-old-jericho-skull-gets-virtual-facelift-using-plastic-surgery-techniques/
... and of Rameses II:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-728647 ============================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS
============================================================
On the role of climate change in the rise and fall of Persian empires:
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-climate-impacted-fall-middle-eastern.html
cf:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379122004863 ============================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
============================================================
Roman Colchester:
https://www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-about/colchester-essex-the-purpose-built-capital-city-of-roman-britain-251483
Tamil Nadu:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/gangaikondacholapuram-southern-india-chola-dynasty-ponniyin-selvan-1
Dresden:
https://www.dw.com/en/dresden-top-travel-destination-for-2023/g-38189936
Political protests have closed Machu Picchu:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-64360531 https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-machu-picchu-closed-peru-protests/
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/peru-shuts-down-machu-picchu-as-political-unrest-spreads-across-country
https://www.smh.com.au/world/south-america/machu-picchu-and-inca-trail-closed-indefinitely-due-to-peru-protests-20230122-p5ceiq.html
============================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED ============================================================
Study suggests Beethoven's Elise never really existed:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/22/beethovens-fur-elise-historian-concludes-she-never-existedus-elise-historian-concludes-she-never-existed
============================================================
TV/DOCUMENTARY HYPISH THINGS ============================================================
Hyping decapitated burials (Roman/Iron Age) from Wintringham to be shown on Digging for Britain:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64358866 https://news.yahoo.com/roman-headless-remains-found-wintringham-122358065.html
... and in another episode, an Iron Age shield from Everards:
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/bbcs-digging-britain-feature-iron-8009521
============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
Paintings stolen in a Colorado art heist a few weeks ago have been recovered:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/17/police-recover-paintings-boulder-colorado-art-heist
Egypt has reduced the sentence against a businessman accused of trafficking antiquities:
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/1/484593/Egypt/Egypt-court-reduces-sentences-against-businessman,.aspx
A former museum director in Jordan was imprisoned for counterfeiting ancient coins:
https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-109/News/Ex-museum-director-sentenced-to-prison-for-counterfeiting-antique-coins-26550
----------
conflict antiquities:
http://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/
anonymous swiss collector:
http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/
Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues:
http://paul-barford.blogspot.ca/
Looting Matters:
http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/
Illicit Cultural Property:
http://illicit-cultural-property.blogspot.com/
SAFE:
http://www.savingantiquities.org/blog/
============================================================
REPATRIATION AND RECOVERY ============================================================
Bulgarian customs agents returned 3000 or so ancient coins to Turkiye:
https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/387325 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/387827-bulgarian-customs-agency-hands-over-to-turkiye-2-940-antique-coins-rescued-from-
Glasgow Life Museums returned seven items to India:
https://advisor.museumsandheritage.com/news/seven-artefacts-returned-india-glasgow-life-museums/
Amiens wants Madonna to lend/return a painting in her possession:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64321278 https://www.cnn.com/style/article/madonna-painting-amiens/index.html https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/State-Museum-UAlbany-repatriate-Native-American-17711392.php
https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/amiens-la-maire-supplie-madonna-en-video-pour-recuperer-le-mysterieux-tableau-disparu-20230116
German museums have no plans to return the bust of Nefertiti or the Pergamon Altar:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/20/no-plans-to-return-berlins-star-museum-attractions-nefertiti-and-pergamon-altar-german-official-says
A Maori group is seeking the return of artifacts sold at Sotheby's:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/maori-tribe-sothebys-requests-return-short-clubs-1234653484/
An artist has proposed a 'treasure swap' of an Assyrian lamassu to the British Museum:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/20/british-museum-artist-assyrian-return-iraq-michael-rakowitz
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/michael-rakowitz-donation-exchange-british-museum-assyrian-artifact-return-iraq-1234654468/
On pesticides on artifacts returned from Germany:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/17/toxic-dilemma-german-museums-repatriating-artefacts-pesticides-objects-contaminated
The University of Albany will be retuning a large number of human remains and funerary objects to some Native American peoples:
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/State-Museum-UAlbany-repatriate-Native-American-17711392.php
University of Tennessee is failing to return Native American human remains:
https://wpln.org/post/the-university-of-tennessee-is-among-americas-largest-collections-failing-to-return-native-american-human-remains/
... see also:
https://www.propublica.org/article/repatriation-nagpra-museums-human-remains
OpEd on the Benin Bronzes returns:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/08/the-guardian-view-on-the-benin-bronzes-leading-the-way-home
OpEd on who owns historical patrimony:
https://spectator.org/who-owns-historys-patrimony-not-murderous-politicians-and-incompetent-governments/
Pondering why nations reclaim artifacts:
https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/what-is-it-that-causes-nations-to-start-reclaiming-their-national-treasures/article66345436.ece
More on the US return of an artifact to the Palestinian Authority:
https://hyperallergic.com/792666/us-returns-palestinian-cultural-object-for-the-first-time/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/01/09/us-officials-returns-stolen-antiquity-to-palestine/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/09/us-returns-stolen-artefact-to-palestine-as-part-of-investigation-into-new-york-collector-michael-steinhardt
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-first-time-ever-us-returns-looted-artifact-to-palestine-180981409/
============================================================
NUMISMATICA
============================================================
A spelling mistake on a Victorian silver coin:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64186767
Latest e-Sylum:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n03.html
... and the one which should appear later today:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n04.html ------------------------
Coin Week:
http://www.coinweek.com/
============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
George Huxley:
https://classicalassociationni.wordpress.com/2023/01/22/professor-george-l-huxley-obituary/
Susann Palmer:
https://dorseteye.com/renowned-dorset-archaeologist-dies-aged-ninety-nine/ https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23258769.obituary-susann-palmer-portland/
Wayne A. Meeks:
https://divinity.yale.edu/news/wayne-meeks-1932-2023
Joan O'Brien:
https://thesouthern.com/news/local/obituaries/joan-v-obrien/article_f63ef1cb-3a11-56ee-8592-3b089e31ecc6.html
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thesouthern/name/joan-o-brien-obituary?id=38713971
============================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
============================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:
[the site had security issues this morning]
============================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS ============================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:
http://www.archaeology.org/news/
About.com Archaeology:
http://archaeology.about.com/
Archaeology Briefs:
http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/
Atlas Obscura:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/
Heritage Daily:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/
Sapiens Archaeology:
https://www.sapiens.org/category/archaeology/
Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:
http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/ ============================================================
PODCASTS/VODCASTS
============================================================
Archaeosoup:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Archaeos0up?feature=watch
Archaeology Podcast Network:
http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/ ============================================================
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