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explorator 26.13 July 16, 2023
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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
============================================================
DNA was extracted from Paranthropus robustus fossils:

https://www.iflscience.com/oldest-ever-human-genetic-data-recovered-from-2-million-year-old-hominid-fossils-69760
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11588-230712-evolution-protein-analysis

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02242-z

Pondering the fate of Neanderthals on the Camp Flegrei:

https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/volcanos/were-neanderthals-really-killed-off-by-campi-flegrei-europes-awakening-supervolcano

More on the 300 000 years bp 'giant' hand axes found in England:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/giant-300000-year-old-hand-ax-found-in-england-may-have-been-used-for-prehistoric-butchery
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jul/06/giant-handaxes-unearthed-kent https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-750020 https://news.artnet.com/art-world/giant-ice-age-handaxes-found-in-england-2334687
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/what-was-this-massive-record-setting-stone-tool-used-for
https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/giant-stone-artifacts-found-on-rare-ice-age-site-in-kent.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/giant-hand-axes-discovered-in-england-point-to-prehistoric-humans-strength-and-skill-180982516/
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AFRICA
============================================================
Feature on the find of the shipwreck of the gold-laden Bom Jesus in the Namibian desert:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/07/12/the-long-lost-ship-found-in-the-desert-laden-with-gold/
============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ============================================================
Xray/chemical imaging analysis reveals changes made by artists to 3000+ years bp tomb paintings in the Theban Necropolis:

https://phys.org/news/2023-07-hidden-egyptian-revealed-chemical-imaging.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230712165157.htm https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/ancient-egyptians/x-ray-scans-reveal-hidden-mysteries-in-ancient-egyptian-necropolis-paintings
https://www.newsweek.com/mysteries-ancient-egyptian-artwork-revealed-after-3000-years-1812570
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-07-12/ty-article/archaeologists-armed-with-analyzer-change-paradigm-of-ancient-egyptian-art/00000189-497b-de83-adc9-cffb3a720000
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/egypt-pharaoh-painting-hidden-mystery-b2374449.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-12292953/Ancient-Egypt-artists-altered-work-study-shows.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-749945 https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/13/style/ancient-egyptian-paintings-hide-secret-scn/index.html
https://greekreporter.com/2023/07/15/x-rays-ancient-egyptian-tomb-art/ https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/07/x-rays-reveal-hidden-first-drafts-of-ancient-egyptian-paintings-at-theban-necropolis/
https://www.science.org/content/article/paint-egyptian-xray-egyptian-tomb-art https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/07/chemical-imaging-technology-reveals-hidden-details-in-ancient-egyptian-paintings/148004
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11593-230714-egypt-revised-paintings

cf: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0287647

People seem to be questioning the safety of the Bent Pyramid for tourists:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/504845.aspx

Feature on the Book of the Dead:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/07/14/a-magical-handbook-for-the-afterlife/

Overview of recent finds from excavations at Nimrud:

http://www.aina.org/news/20230709133943.htm

Feature on the Epic of Gilgamesh:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/the-epic-of-gilgamesh/

Outrage over the destruction of a 300 years bp mosque/minaret in Basra:

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/demolition-300-year-old-iraq-mosque-minaret-road-expansion-enrages-locals-2023-07-16/
https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/iraq/2023/07/14/crime-against-humanity-iraqis-outraged-by-destruction-of-300-year-old-minaret-in-basra/
https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq/built-in-1727-basras-al-siraji-mosque-gets-demolished/

A Hellenistic mosaic from Sinop:

https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/hellenistic-era-mosaic-found-in-ancient-sinope.html

Drought is negatively affecting the Urartian Kesis Lake in Turkiye:

https://arkeonews.net/the-2800-year-old-urartians-lake-which-is-an-engineering-masterpiece-of-its-time-is-drying/

Turkiye's archaeology season has officially 'opened':

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/archaeology-season-opens-in-turkiye-184537

Turkiye is opening the Iznik theatre to the public:

https://english.news.cn/20230714/34a1c71fc03444bbb119abcfc799305c/c.html

Feature on Turkiye as a leader in underwater archaeology:

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/turkiye-emerges-as-global-stronghold-of-underwater-archaeology

The excavations at Huqoq have revealed some more mosaics (I think we knew about Samson a while ago?):

https://www.unc.edu/posts/2023/07/10/unc-chapel-hill-led-archaeological-dig-in-galilee-uncovers-mosaics-of-samson-and-commemorative-inscriptions/
https://phys.org/news/2023-07-archaeological-galilee-uncovers-mosaics-samson.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-749543 https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/s1gparakn https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-vivid-color-1500-year-old-huquq-mosaic-depicts-samson-animals-hunting/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11585-230711-galilee-huqoq-mosaics

Skulls found in Te'omim Cave are being interpreted as possible evidence of necromancy in Late Roman times:

https://phys.org/news/2023-07-placement-ancient-hidden-lamps-skulls.html https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-749758 https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article277168813.html https://www.iflscience.com/human-skulls-suggest-necromancy-in-roman-era-cave-near-jerusalem-69733
https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7b75j/archaeologists-discover-ancient-portal-to-the-underworld-in-cave-containing-skulls-weapons
https://arkeonews.net/evidence-of-necromancy-during-roman-era-in-the-teomim-cave-jerusalem-hills-oil-lamps-spearheads-and-skulls/

cf: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/harvard-theological-review/article/oil-lamps-spearheads-and-skulls-possible-evidence-of-necromancy-during-late-antiquity-in-the-teomim-cave-judean-hills/973DF6E86AF609B8B4D1296D8292B8EB

Evidence of a tsunami hitting Caesarea Maritima in early medieval times:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-749371 https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/syi0qhqf3

More on the 2500 years bp burials of 50 or so women in the Negev:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/dozens-of-2500-year-old-skeletons-unearthed-at-ancient-crossroads-in-negev-desert
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/2500-year-old-skeletons-israel-negev-desert-180982505/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11583-230710-negev-square-tombs

More on the recent claims about the extent of David's kingdom:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12296745/Has-kingdom-King-David-Expert-claims-five-cities-ruled-Biblical-figure.html

Feature on underwater archaeology in Israel:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/marine-excavations-offer-glimpse-into-ancient-history-preserved-under-the-sea/

Feature on smelting copper in the Chalcolithic age:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/how-to-smelt-chalcolithic-copper/

With army backup, Israeli settlers are excavating a site in Palestine:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-07-09/ty-article/.premium/with-idf-backing-settlers-excavate-west-bank-archaeological-site-in-palestinian-territory/00000189-3a51-dcb5-a5df-7f7577e60000

... and Israel is allocating major funds to 'protect' antiquities in the West Bank:

https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/h1wkj5tth

... which obviously isn't sitting well with the Palestinian Authority:

https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/136762 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230715-pa-warns-of-israels-plan-to-take-over-palestine-archaeological-sites/
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3251682.htm

Feature on standing stone circles at AlUla (Saudi Arabia):

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/paid-content-standing-stone-circles-the-most-ancient-builders-of-northwest-arabia
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ============================================================
A 6th century BCE kouros figure from Selinunte (Italian):

https://www.castelvetranoselinunte.it/a-selinunte-una-statua-di-kouros-e-il-primo-trovato-nellarea-del-santuario/191134/

Also from Selinunte comes possible evidence of port structures associated with Megara Iblea (Italian):

https://tg24.sky.it/cronaca/2023/07/14/selinunte-scoperta-archeologica-foto https://leganerd.com/2023/07/15/scoperta-archeologica-a-selinunte-struttura-lunga-15-metri-svelata-sotto-la-sabbia/
https://www.stilearte.it/selinunte-scoperta-ora-sotto-le-dune-della-spiaggia-una-mega-struttura-potrebbe-essere-il-quartiere-portuale-dellantichita/
https://storiearcheostorie.com/2023/07/14/archeologia-nuova-scoperta-a-selinunte-potrebbe-essere-uno-dei-porti-dellantica-citta-siceliota-foto-video/
https://www.dire.it/14-07-2023/937043-nuova-scoperta-archeologica-selinunte/

Evidence of 1st century BCE remains of a Celtiberian city in Spain:

https://arkeonews.net/a-celtiberian-city-more-than-2000-years-old-found-in-spain/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/07/archaeologists-uncover-celtoiberian-city/148030

The 1st century CE Roman tomb from Spain that revealed the patchouli smells has also revealed some amber beads:

https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/amber-treasure-found-roman-burial-tomb-andalucia-20230714185247-nt.html

A bronze hand possibly associated with Jupiter Dolichenus from the excavations at Vindolanda:

https://arkeonews.net/rare-bronze-hand-discovered-in-roman-vindolanda-england/

Also from Vindolanda comes evidence of the presence of the 9th Cohort of the Batavians:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/07/evidence-of-the-9th-cohort-of-batavians-among-new-finds-at-roman-vindolanda/147997

Remains of a Roman domus found during house repairs in Fano (Italian):

https://www.stilearte.it/resti-di-una-domus-romana-trovati-ora-in-una-cantina-di-fano-durante-lavori-di-consolidamento-delle-fondazioni-di-una-vecchia-casa/

Not sure if this dig at Fife's East Lomond should go here:

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/past-times/4550899/fifes-east-lomond-dig-fills-a-big-gap-in-the-archaeology-of-scotland/

A 'middle empire' piazza and fountain from Nora (Sardinia ... Italian):

https://www.stilearte.it/una-grande-piazza-romana-con-due-fontane-monumentali-portate-alla-luce-a-nora-sul-mare-della-sardegna/
https://www.sardegnaierioggidomani.com/cultura/i-nuovi-scavi-archeologici-nellantica-citta-di-nora-hanno-riportato-alla-luce-una-piazza-di-eta-medio-imperiale/

A 3rd/4th century elite Roman burial (possibly a soldier) from Wales:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/elite-roman-man-buried-with-sword-may-have-been-restrained-in-death
https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/23650700.bronze-age-roman-burials-found-barry-roadwork/
https://arkeonews.net/elite-roman-man-buried-with-a-silver-crossbow-brooch-first-of-its-kind-found-in-wales/

3rd/4th century Roman burials and an aqueduct pipe from Belgrade:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/roman-aqueduct-and-luxurious-burials-unearthed-during-construction-of-underground-parking-garage-in-serbia
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11584-230711-serbia-roman-tombs

Not sure about the dating of this 'Roman' ring find in Binchester by a metal detectoriat:

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23654582.ancient-roman-ring-found-binchester-county-durham/

Study of the colonization of Italy by Greeks and Romans via pollen:

https://phys.org/news/2023-07-fall-roman-empire-pollen.html

Digging is underway at a fortress site on Mount Hatis (Armenia):

https://en.armradio.am/2023/07/11/armenian-italian-archaeologists-start-excavations-of-mount-hatis/

More on the excavations in the past at Enkomi:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2023/07/09/the-vicious-tale-of-excavating-ancient-enkomi/

More on the excavations at the 3000 years bp site of Hala Sultan Tekke:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/elite-bronze-age-tombs-laden-with-gold-and-precious-stones-are-among-the-richest-ever-found-in-the-mediterranean
https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/world-int/23847-tombs-rich-in-artifacts-discovered-by-swedish-expedition-in-cyprus.html
https://apnews.com/article/copper-gold-pottery-tombs-cyprus-archaeology-bb55baf2e91e2000b20806eb88241f42
https://greekreporter.com/2023/07/09/bronze-age-royal-tombs-cyprus/ https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/jewelry-ornate-pottery-show-3000-year-cypriot-city-101095996
https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/tombs-rich-in-artefacts-discovered-by-swedish-expedition-in-cyprus.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/07/royal-tombs-found-in-cyprus-full-of-precious-artefacts/147962
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11578-230706-cyprus-tombs-wealth

More on the 2500 years bp Phoenician shipwreck off the coast of Spain:

https://arkeonews.net/2500-year-old-phoenician-shipwreck-being-rescued-by-spanish-archaeologists/

More on a fresco depicting a precursor of pizza in Pompeii:

https://www.sci.news/archaeology/pompeii-pizza-12086.html

More on the head of Venus (probably) found in the Piazza Augusto Imperatore:

https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/marble-head-found-in-romes-piazza-augusto-imperatore.html
https://www.stilearte.it/i-primi-risultati-degli-approfondimenti-sulla-testa-di-afrodite-trovata-nei-giorni-scorsi-a-roma-in-piazza-augusto-imperatore/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67788

More on the Roman-era pewter hoard from Suffolk:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/07/archaeologists-uncover-roman-hoard-in-suffolk/147942

More on the opening of Largo Argentina to the public:

https://www.artandobject.com/news/curia-site-caesars-assassination-discovered

Feature on mosaics and mosaicists during the Roman Empire:

https://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/mosaics-and-mosaicists-in-the-roman-empire/

Feature on the Carnyx:

https://arkeonews.net/the-nightmare-of-the-roman-soldiers-carnyx/

Feature on the durablity of Roman concrete:

https://www.sciencealert.com/we-finally-know-why-ancient-roman-concrete-stood-the-test-of-time

Feature on Alexander's children:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/did-alexander-the-great-have-any-children

Feature on Cleopatra's 'inner circle':

https://www.history.com/news/cleopatras-complicated-inner-circle-siblings-successors-and-lovers

Feature on the Battle of Mycale:

https://www.thecollector.com/battle-of-mycale/

Feature on the Battle of Salamis:

https://www.thecollector.com/battle-of-salamis/

Feature on Smyrna:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/07/15/history-ancient-greek-city-smyrna/

Feature on a manuscript of Hippocrates found at St Catherine's Monastery a while ago:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/07/11/medical-recipe-hippocrates-st-catherine-monastery-egypt/

Feature on Mycenean chariots:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/07/10/bronze-age-chariots-mycenaean-greeks/

Noel Malcolm doesn't agree with Sadiq Khan regarding the Parthenon Sculptures:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12299487/Top-historian-says-Sadiq-Khan-wrong-suggestion-share-Elgin-Marbles.html

-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ============================================================
A 5000 years bp 'polishing stone' from Dorset:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jul/14/hugely-exciting-and-rare-neolithic-polishing-stone-found-in-dorset
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-66132962 https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23655314.dorset-archaeologists-discover-5-000-year-old-boulder/
https://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/23655306.extremely-rare-stone-age-boulder-found-dorset/

A metal detectorist found a 3500 years bp gold bead in Gweek:

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/rare-golden-bead-dating-back-8589332

A 3500 years bp gold armlet (?) found by a metal detectorist near St Austell has been declared treasure:

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/gold-treasure-dating-back-3500-8587772

A 3000 years bp wooden comb and a gold hair ring from a burial in Wales:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/eye-catching-gold-hair-ring-and-britains-oldest-wooden-comb-found-in-bronze-age-burial
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jul/12/bronze-age-wooden-comb-could-be-oldest-discovered-in-uk
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66168968 https://arkeonews.net/comb-and-gold-hair-ring-dating-back-more-than-3000-years-unearthed-in-south-wales/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11590-230713-wales-comb-ring

A 3000 years bp twisted gold torc found by a metal detectorist near Mistley (Essex):

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-66189465 https://arkeonews.net/3000-year-old-twisted-gold-torc-discovered-in-essex-southeast-england/

Overview of a dig at a site connected to the Bronze Age Durotriges people in Dorset:

https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/news/2023-07-06/bronze-age-human-remains-uncovered-during-excavation-iron-age-settlement

3000 years bpp bronze axes and other tools found by a metal detectorist in Wales:

https://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/world/article277243328.html https://www.star-telegram.com/news/nation-world/world/article277243328.html

The Stonehenge tunnel has been officially approved:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-66201424 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jul/14/stonehenge-road-tunnel-plans-approved-transport-secretary-concent-widen-roads
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/14/stonehenge-road-tunnel-project-environmental-impact/

A 1000 years bp (or so) burial ground at a hotel construction site in Dublin:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-66137475 https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/skeletal-remains-found-in-dublin-likely-to-be-15th-century-burial-site-1.4222548
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/skeletal-remains-dating-back-1-124757503.html https://metro.co.uk/video/medieval-burial-ground-dublin-2974697/ http://www.archaeology.org/news/11587-230711-ireland-abbey-burials

Road construction in Brandenburg der Havel revealed a 1000 years bp burial ground:

https://www.indonewyork.com/breaking/archaeology-burial-ground-from-the-year-1000-discovered-in-brandenburg-h91479.html

Medieval finds at a swimming pool development site in Abbey Fields:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx0wpj4pw5wo https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/news/article/1059/significant_medieval_remains_discovered_at_abbey_fields

A 13th-15th century building and an archbishop's seal from excavations at St George's (Yuriev) Monastery in Russia:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/07/archbishops-seal-found-during-excavations-at-st-georges-yuriev-monastery/148023

A coin hoard of almost 5000 15th/16th century coins found by metal detectorists in Romania:

https://www.newsweek.com/metal-detectorists-trove-medieval-treasure-buried-forest-1812956

Finds from various periods, including three burials, during renovations at a Dutch parliamentary complex:

https://nltimes.nl/2023/07/15/archaeologists-find-3-skeletons-dutch-parliamentary-complex-renovations

A hoard of 500 years bp gold coins from a medieval monastery in Germany:

https://www.newsweek.com/buried-500-year-old-gold-coins-hidden-monk-danger-discovered-1813004

Excavations at the University of Gloucestershire have revealed an 18th century wall of a church and porch:

https://www.glos.ac.uk/content/new-archaeological-discovery-at-site-of-city-campus-in-gloucester/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/07/archaeologists-make-new-discoveries-at-site-of-university-of-gloucestershires-new-city-campus/148009

Overview of the ongoing dig at the site of the Battle of Waterloo:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/waterloo-battlefield-gives-up-its-secrets-cxq6mkcqh

A fire has done major damage to the Saint-Georges de Descartes church:

https://lesalonbeige.fr/encore-une-eglise-en-feu/

... while another fire destroyed the Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church in Drosnay:

https://fr.aleteia.org/2023/07/09/une-eglise-historique-detruite-par-un-incendie-dans-la-marne/

Road construction in Oxford has revealed an arch of some sort:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-66133325

An 'after the dig' piece on recording 8000 items found at the Round Mounds dig on the Isle of Man last year:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-66159377

More on the 'Ivory Lady' burial from Spain:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/highest-ranking-person-in-copper-age-spain-was-a-woman-not-a-man-genetic-analysis-shows
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/the-ivory-lady-spain-1.6902157 https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-750159 https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/lavish-ancient-spanish-tomb-turns-out-belongs-to-woman-not-man
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-07-06/ty-article/dental-analysis-reveals-startling-truth-about-copper-age-ivory-man-of-iberia/00000189-2604-da0e-a59b-af77f5d10000
https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/the-power-of-the-copper-age-ivory-lady-revealed.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ivory-lady-copper-age-spain-180982500/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11577-230706-spain-ivory-lady

More on 4000 years bp evidence of Yersina pestis from a pair of burials in Austria:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/06/austrias-oldest-bronze-age-plague-victims-identified/147810

More on those Bronze Age petroglyphs from Norway:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/norway-dad-hiking-bronze-age-rock-paintings-2325758

More on the 'Dutch Stonehenge':

https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/the-dutch-stonehenge-ancient-site-in-the-netherlands-reveals-its-secrets/

More on the Iron Age cremation burial from Hallstatt:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67745 https://arkeonews.net/early-iron-age-cremation-burial-containing-bronze-jewelry-and-rare-textile-fragments-found-in-austria/

More on that 9th/10th century sword (and double burial) find from a backyard in Heiland (Norway):

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/vikings/viking-sword-from-warriors-grave-unearthed-in-familys-yard-in-norway
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/66162948 https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology-viking-age-vikings/heres-what-the-archaeologists-found-in-the-viking-grave-the-heiland-family-discovered-in-their-garden/2224983
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67754 http://www.archaeology.org/news/11586-230711-norway-viking-burial

More on the possible identification o the site of the Viking stronghold of Jomsborg:

https://arkeonews.net/mythical-viking-stronghold-jomsborg-could-be-on-hangmans-hill-near-wolin-archaeologist-say/

The 'Cross of the Pelican' from an Abbey in Perugia has been restored after being damaged in the 2016 Perugia earthquake:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67798

Feature on Viking longhouses:

https://www.thecollector.com/viking-longhouses/
----------
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 ============================================================
Shang Dynasty finds from the Zhuyanling site in Guangdong:

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2023-07/11/content_91866594.htm

A fragmentary inscription from a temple dating to the Ming Dynasty found in Hebei:

http://en.people.cn/n3/2023/0710/c90000-20042066.html

Feature on the Longyou Caves:

https://mymodernmet.com/longyou-caves/

Feature on the importance of the trees of China:

https://aeon.co/essays/the-tree-as-foot-soldier-of-chinese-merchants-and-empires

Interview with Chinese archaeologist Fang Hui on ongoing work:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-07-14/VHJhbnNjcmlwdDczNDg3/index.html

A dig at Angkor Wat investigating the conversion from Brahmanism to Theravada Buddhism:

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/archaeologists-explore-brahmanism-buddhism-conversion-angkor-wat

A clay doll (and other finds ... date not specified) from the Vembakottai excavation site:

https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/clay-doll-found-at-vembakottai-archaeological-excavation-site-723505

Study on why the coastal city of Sopara was abandoned some 2000 years bp:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article277323708.html ============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ============================================================
A physiological model study of early colonizers of New Zealand:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/07/14/how-larger-body-sizes-helped-the-colonizers-of-new-zealand/
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
A 13 000 years bp blade of some sort found in 2021 in a South Carolina river:

https://www.foxcarolina.com/2023/07/12/more-than-13000-year-old-blade-discovered-sc-river-officials-say/

A cache of 700+ Civil War-era coins from a Kentucky corn field:

https://phys.org/news/2023-07-stunning-cache-gold-coins-kentucky.html https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/kentucky-man-finds-over-700-civil-war-era-coins-buried-in-his-cornfield
https://www.newsweek.com/civil-war-coins-kentucky-2-million-1812769 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kentucky-coin-hoard-cornfield-millions-b2374473.html

A study of matriarchal aspects of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe:

https://phys.org/news/2023-07-ancient-california-matriarchal-society-daughters.html

cf: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.24806

Rethinking the traditional story of the setting of the Adirondacks:

https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/early-nomads-or-occupants-of-the-adirondacks

An update on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre graves investigation:

https://tulsaworld.com/video/news/state-archaeologist-gives-update-on-1921-tulsa-race-massacre-graves-investigation/video_2edd84f5-a94d-5fd8-85fd-ad137e646e70.html

A study and map of the Erie Canal:

https://www.timesunion.com/preview/article/new-digital-map-complete-historic-erie-canal-18197467.php

cf: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/720fc09057dd4f6d87ec90597c9ee4c1

More on evidence of human occupation in Oregon 18 000 years+ bp:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/stone-tools-and-camel-tooth-suggest-people-were-in-the-pacific-northwest-more-than-18000-years-ago
https://www.blm.gov/press-release/testing-yields-new-evidence-human-occupation-18000-years-ago-oregon
https://www.opb.org/article/2023/07/14/archaeological-finds-suggest-human-habitation-in-oregon-18000-years-ago/
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/07/these-are-the-oldest-stone-tools-ever-found-in-the-united-states/
https://arkeonews.net/oregon-may-be-home-to-oldest-human-occupied-site-in-north-america/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11581-230710-oregon-rock-shelter

Concerns for eroding sites in the Grand Canyon:

https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2023-07-14/study-archaeological-sites-in-grand-canyon-eroding-due-to-dam-operations

============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ============================================================
Sloth bone pendants suggest a human presence in Brazil some 25 000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2023-07-pendants-giant-sloths-earlier-people.html https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/humans-were-in-south-america-at-least-25000-years-ago-giant-sloth-bone-pendants-reveal
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/14/science/archaeology-sloths-human-migration.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-750125 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2381629-early-humans-made-jewellery-from-giant-sloth-bones/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/giant-sloth-pendants-suggest-ancient-migration-americas-rcna93812
https://arkeonews.net/27000-year-old-pendants-made-from-giant-sloths-suggest-earlier-arrival-of-people-in-the-americas/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/humans-south-america-sloth-bones-180982531/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11589-230713-brazil-sloth-pendant

cf: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.0316

A 3000 years bp sealed corridor ('the condor's passageway') at a Chavin temple site in Peru:

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/peru-temple-site-archaeologists-explore-3000-year-old-condors-passageway-2023-07-12/
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-lifestyle/peru-temple-site-archaeologists-explore-3000-year-old-condors-passageway-3625336
https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/2023/07/13/archaeologists-in-peru-find-3000-year-old-tunnel-in-mountain-temple-complex/
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/archaeologists-discover-3000-year-old-condors-passageway-in-peru
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/archaeologists-uncover-3000-year-old-sealed-corridor-chavin-de-huantar-1234674131/

A 2000 years bp burial ground in Quito (Ecuador):

https://www.laprensalatina.com/discovery-of-2000-year-old-cemetery-sheds-light-on-ecuadors-distant-past/

16 obsidian and flint knives found near a 600-1050 CE Maya altar in Kuluba:

https://www.newsweek.com/stone-knives-discovered-ancient-maya-city-near-sacrifical-altar-1812025

A Zapotec 'entrance to the underworld' (date) beneath a 16th century Catholic church in southern Mexico:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/zapotec-entrance-to-underworld-discovered-under-catholic-church-in-mexico
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11591-230713-mexico-zapotec-temple

Possible identification of a 19th century slave shipwreck off the coast of Brazil:

https://www.newsweek.com/archaeologists-wreckage-infamous-ship-1812267 https://www.star-telegram.com/news/nation-world/world/article277280208.html https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/archaeologists-discover-wreckage-of-notorious-slave-ship-off-brazil-1234674088/

The fire that burned some Moai on Easter Island last October did more damage than previously thought:

https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-07-12/a-snapshot-of-the-moais-burned-by-a-fire-on-easter-island-the-damage-is-much-greater-than-we-imagined.html

More on the use of AI to find Nazca geoglyphs:

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14932723
-----
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 ============================================================

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