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explorator 20.15 August 6, 2017 ===============================================================
If you're having problems getting 'the whole issue', 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,
Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley, Rick Heli, Allan
Brockway, Val Moore, Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always hoping I have left no one out).

... a very busy week

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EARLY HOMINIDS
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Pondering the origin of the genus homo:

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-paper-genus-homo-response-environmental.ht
ml
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170804100410.htm

On sapiens diet and Neanderthal ‘displacement’:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170804082912.htm

A number of early hominin sites in Saudi Arabia are causing a bit of a rethink:

https://www.livescience.com/59998-46-prehistoric-sites-saudi-arabia.html http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/human-artifacts-found-46-ancient -lakes-arabian-desert-180964303/ http://www.archaeology.org/news/5778-170801-saudi-arabia-desert


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AFRICA
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More on Chinese burials in Kenya:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201707310840.html http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2017-08/01/content_30319104.htm


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ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ===============================================================
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Feature on Tut’s ‘camping bed’:

https://www.livescience.com/59999-king-tut-camping-bed-ancient-marvel.html

Suggestion that an early pharaoh might have been a ‘giant’:

https://www.livescience.com/60044-ancient-egyptian-pharaoh-first-human-gian t.html

Five people were killed while illegally digging in Sohag:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/274570/Egypt/Politics-/ Five-killed-while-illegally-digging-for-antiquitie.aspx http://www.egyptindependent.com/five-killed-illegal-ancient-artifact-excavation -sohag/
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2441088&CategoryId=13003

Latest on plans to restore Alexandria’s Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/43/274710/Heritage/Islamic/ Restoration-of-Alexandrian-Jewish-synagogue-is-und.aspx http://www.egyptindependent.com/eliyahu-hanavi-synagogue-restoration-alex andria/ https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170803-egypt-to-bear-cost-of-alexandri a-synagogue-renovation/

Zahi Hawass was receiving awards …

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/15388/Hawas-receives-Golden-Gala-awar d-at-Magna-Graecia-Film-Fest

… and trying to reestablish good relations with Italy, antiquities-wise:

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2017/08/ 02/zahi-hawass-says-italy-egypt-can-reestablish-relationship_e3bf7cad-125d- 4c2f-8e68-6739af7c4443.html

They’re hyping hidden chambers in the pyramids again:

http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/archaeology/the-great-pyramid-of -giza-is-hiding-mysterious-chambers-that-could-be-about-to-reveal-their-secret s/news-story/ba28e717d3018b8bd23efa38232ada2d

Medieval/Islamic Period Coptic inscriptions from the St Beshoy monastery:

http://www.menafn.com/1095671887/Egypt--Coptic-inscriptions-accidentally-di scovered-at-ancient-monastery

Concerns for the Al Mandara Mill:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/43/274604/Heritage/Islamic/ Construction-will-not-encroach-on-Alexandrias-hist.aspx

Concerns that a Baghdad pipeline is damaging sites:

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/07/bismayah-gas-pipeline-iraq -baghdad.html#ixzz4oKr0Xdni

Suggestion that Catal Huyuk was war-free for 4000 years:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/no-wars-in-catalhoyuk-for-4000-years-.aspx ?pageID=238&nid=116245&NewsCatID=375 https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/08/03/catalhoyuk-4000-years-of-pea ce-without-war

No, it’s not an ancient fidget spinner:

https://www.livescience.com/60022-ancient-fidget-spinner-lookalike-is-weapon .html

The site of Julias may have been found:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/New-evidence-of-Lost-City-of-Julias-unearth ed-near-Sea-of-Galilee-501701 http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/christian-archaeologists-may-have-u nearthed-lost-kinneret-city-of-3-apostles/2017/08/06/

Using seals to confirm the existence of Biblical names:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/researcher-gives-seal-of-approval-to-53-biblical- characters-existence/

Feature on Tiberias:

http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.805152

Lawrence Schiffman on a Talmud-burning incident in the 13th century:

http://lawrenceschiffman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/ when-talmud-was-burned.pdf

More on evidence for the burning of Jerusalem some 2600 years b.p.:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/bible-passage-jerusalem-burning- city-david-capture-accurate-archaeologists-burnt-artefacts-ash-a7871286.html https://www.yahoo.com/news/archaeological-find-jerusalem-proves-bible-pass age-historically-true-123315016.html http://www.ibtimes.com/2600-year-old-archeological-discovery-shows-biblical- passage-be-true-2574781

In case you missed the Canaanite-DNA-in-Lebanon story:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/science/ancient-canaanites-bible-lebano n.html http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/07/2017/present-day-leban ese-are-direct-descendants-of-ancient-canaanites

More on that Byzantine wine press:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/byzantine-wine-press-found-isra eli-desert-180964243/

Suggestion that ISIL mostly targets Islamic sites:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/isis-destruction-of-ancient-sites -hits-mostly-muslim-targets.aspx

… and a feature on the folks who trade it for them:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-men-who-trade-isis-loot-1502017200

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ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ===============================================================
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Plenty of excitement over the find of a ‘little Pompeii’ (not really) in France:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/world/europe/france-roman-neighborhoo d-sainte-colombe-vienne.html http://www.france24.com/en/20170802-archaeologists-unearth-little-pompeii-s outheast-france https://www.thelocal.fr/20170801/france-archaeologists-uncover-little-pompeii https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/02/france-archaeologists-uncove r-little-pompeii-south-of-lyon http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/roman-ruins-france-lyon-vien ne-little-pompeii-discover-site-archaeologists-benjamin-clement-a7874386.ht
ml
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40800527 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/02/welcome-little-pompeii-roman-nei ghbourhood-discovered-france/ http://www.dw.com/en/little-pompeii-discovered-in-southern-france/a-39930664 http://frenchtribune.com/teneur/25541-archaeologists-unearth-roman-relics https://www.grazia.fr/culture/arts-architecture/une-petite-pompei-decouverte-d ans-la-vienne-862803# https://www.apollo-magazine.com/archaeologists-unearth-little-pompeii-in-sou theastern-france/ http://mentalfloss.com/article/503324/archaeologists-uncover-little-pompeii-bu ried-beneath-ash-france http://theartnewspaper.com/news/news/little-pompeii-of-vienne-is-most-except ional-excavation-of-a-roman-site-in-40-or-50-years/ https://www.yahoo.com/news/welcome-little-pompeii-roman-neighbourhood-10 2254259.html https://www.yahoo.com/news/archaeologists-uncover-little-pompeii-southeast- france-151035362.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/c/video/c2f8fb1e-791d-11e7-8c17-533c 52b2f014 http://www.npr.org/2017/08/04/541538827/uncovering-a-little-pompeii-in-france http://www.reuters.com/video/2017/08/04/little-pompeii-discovered-near-lyon-i n-f?videoId=372252489&feedType=VideoRSS&feedName=WorldNews&video
Channel=117760 https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/95480069/Little-Pompeii-found-in-souther n-France https://hyperallergic.com/394056/archaeologists-discover-a-little-pompeii-in-s outhern-france/ http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-little-po mpeii-eastern-france-180964311/ http://www.archaeology.org/news/5781-170802-france-roman-neighborhood

A 2500 years bp sarcophagus containing the bones of a male and female
from Antandrus:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/07/31/contents-of-2500-year-old-sar cophagus-discovered-in-turkeys-balikesir-revealed http://www.archaeology.org/news/5774-170731-turkey-antandrus-sarcophagus

A 1500 years bp burial at the Carthage Circus:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.804548

Latest from the dig at Troy:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/excavations-unveil-mysteries-of-trojan-war. aspx?pageID=238&nid=116282&NewsCatID=375

Hotel construction in Sophia is continuing despite the discovery of Roman
ruins on the site:

http://www.novinite.com/articles/181956/Construction+of+a+Luxury+Hotel+is+ Continuing+in+Sofia+Despite+the+Discovery+of+an+Ancient+Roman+Necrop
olis https://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/roman-tombs-vanish-under-hyatt-hot el-in-bulgaria-08-01-2017

Feature on that chariot race mosaic recently found on Cyprus:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/08/ancient-mosaic-cyprus-roman-ch ariot-race-archaeology-spd/

Digging has resumed at Lagina:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/08/03/archaeological-excavations-to -resume-at-turkeys-ancient-site-of-lagina

Excavations are done at Geronissos for the season:

http://in-cyprus.com/archaeological-excavations-at-geronissos-island-complet ed/

A Swiss team will be working at Orikum:

http://www.tiranatimes.com/?p=133433

Evidence of an ancient earthquake at Assos:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/traces-of-ancient-earthquake-in-assos-.aspx ?pageID=238&nid=116328&NewsCatID=375

… they also found an 1800 years bp stylus:

http://www.trtworld.com/life/archaeologists-discover-1800-year-old-writing-tool -in-turkey-415564

First we read that an ancient theatre was found beneath a school in Antalya:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-theater-found-under-school.aspx?p ageID=238&nid=116147&NewsCatID=375

… then officials were denying it:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/culture-ministry-denies-claims-about-ancien t-theater-under-antalya-school-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=116219&NewsCatID=3
75

Plans for Dorchester’s Roman market:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-40800400

Another dustup over race in the Roman Empire:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/dna-romans/535701/

Cf: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/27/alt-right-commentator-gets-sch ooled-historian-diversity-roman/

A hoard of Roman silver found in Fife three years ago is going on display:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-40778533 http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/roman-silver-discovered-in-fife-set-to-go-on-na tional-display-1-4518615 http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15445164.Silver_hoard_found_by_teena ge_detectorist_will_be_shown_for_first_time_at_National_Museum_of_Scotla
nd/
http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/people-places/livingston-teen-s-roman-silv er-find-to-go-on-display-1-4519009

The Boldre Roman Hoard is going on display too:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-40768334

On the Roman view of suicide (in an Antony and Cleo context):

https://www.forbes.com/sites/drsarahbond/2017/07/31/mark-antony-cleopatra- and-the-roman-perception-of-suicide/

… and some of the finds made by Classical archaeologists this summer:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/drsarahbond/2017/08/05/classical-archaeologist s-found-a-lot-of-amazing-things-this-summer/

A cinaedus in the Roman army?:

https://theconversation.com/a-trans-soldier-in-the-ancient-roman-army-81735 https://www.livescience.com/60010-trans-soldier-ancient-roman-army.html http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/A-trans-soldier-in-the-ancient-Roman- army-11726126.php http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/A-trans-soldier-in-the-ancient-Rom an-army-11726126.php http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/A-trans-soldier-in-the-ancient-Roman-army- 11726126.php

Feature on Xanthos:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/city-of-sorrows-wait-for-visitors-.aspx?pageI D=238&nid=116191&NewsCatID=375

Looks like the Elgin/Parthenon Marbles might be part of the Brexit negotiations:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/04/greek-mep-demands-elgin-marble s-become-part-brexit-negotiations/ http://www.ekathimerini.com/220696/article/ekathimerini/news/brexit-could-se e-return-of-parthenon-sculptures

Peter Jones’ latest in the Spectator:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/08/beauty-and-the-beasts-2/

Features on Christos Tsirogiannis (see also the Museum section):

https://www.wsj.com/articles/meet-the-looted-antiquities-sleuth-1501694182 http://eu.greekreporter.com/2017/08/04/meet-the-greek-archaeologist-chasing- looted-antiquities-but-shunned-by-greece/ http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/26643-report-greek-archaeolo gist-chases-looted-antiquities.html http://publicradioeast.org/post/archaeologist-who-hunts-stolen-art

Feature on that Warrior Grave dig:

https://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/griffin-warrior-grave-pylos-greece-archae ology-anne-feltovich-jessica-williams-classics

What Patrick Burns is up to:

http://isaw.nyu.edu/news/library-research-spotlight-patrick-j-burns

A guide to the Iliad:

http://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-homers-iliad-80968

An interesting mosaic purchase in France:

https://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/2017/french-museum-buys-ancie nt-mosaic-from-auction-in-monaco/

A Colossus of Rhodes connection to Game of Thrones?:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/how-the-colossus-of-rhodes-inspired-game-of-th rones

Finding parallels between ancient Greece and the modern US:

http://news.stanford.edu/2017/08/02/ancient-rome-influence-usa-examined-ne w-class/

The Castle Howard antiquities collection has been ‘saved for the nation’:

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/15455045.Castle_Howard_art_saved_for_na
tion/
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northyorkshire/ryedale/ 15455364.Castle_Howard_artefacts_acquired_for_the_nation/

Albania is trying to figure out what to do with all the shipwrecks off its shores:

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-sunken-treasures-albania-coastal.html http://thechronicleherald.ca/world/1491350-wrecks-sunken-treasures-lie-under -albanias-coastal-waters http://www.tribtown.com/2017/08/02/eu-albania-underwater-treasures/

On ancient Greek colour words:

https://aeon.co/essays/can-we-hope-to-understand-how-the-greeks-saw-their-w orld

On DH Lawrence and the Etruscans:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/d-h-lawrence-among-the-etruscans/

Latest coverage of attempt to read Herculaneum papyri:

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2017/aug/01/x-rays-pick-out-letters-o n-ancient-scrolls

Hadrian’s Wall Visitors’ Centre has opened:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-40732385


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Latest reviews from BMCR:

http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/recent.html

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ===============================================================
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EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ===============================================================
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Studying Neolithic Irish funeral practices:

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-secrets-ancient-irish-funeral-revealed.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-08/uoo-soa080217.php http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/08/2017/neolithic-irish-fun erary-rites-included-deconstruction-of-the-body

A Pictish fort find in Scotland (we may have mentioned this):

https://www.livescience.com/59990-pictish-fort-unearthed-in-scotland.html https://www.yahoo.com/news/dark-ages-fort-built-mysterious-142500919.html http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dig-finds-new-artifacts-europes-l ost-people-180964289/

Iron Age (and other eras) find from a Malthouse Farm construction site:

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/malthouse-farm-iron-age-settle ment-13384916

Plans to investigate/feature on a 2500 years bp vitrified fort near Ben Nevis:

http://www.scotsman.com/news/mystery-of-2-500-year-old-hillfort-by-ben-nevi s-to-be-probed-1-4520808

Interesting 17th century plague burial from London:

http://www.newsweek.com/medieval-graveyard-london-body-snatchers-plague -bedlam-644250 http://www.archaeology.org/news/5777-170801-london-body-snatchers

Tram construction in Antwerp revealed ‘massive’ 16th century wall remains:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-belgium-archaeology-gate-idUSKBN1AH4SX http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/95441101/16th-century-walls-unearthed-in-A ntwerp
http://www.novinite.com/articles/181899/'Monumental'+16th+Century+City+W alls+Unearthed+by+Antwerp+Tram+Works+in+Belgium http://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/2105015/antwerp-studies-500 -year-old-walls-discovered-belgian-city http://www.archaeology.org/news/5780-170801-antwerp-city-walls

A 17th century infirmary from Trnava:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20618066/archaeologists-uncover-remains-of-infirm ary-in-trnava.html

Assorted finds from a Portsmouth dredging operation:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-40787660 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/01/german-bomber-36-anchors-hum an-skull-found-portsmouth-dredged/

Finds from various periods at an Exeter student housing construction site:

http://www.devonlive.com/incredible-roman-finds-unearthed-during-exeter-stu dent-flats-development/story-30470457-detail/story.html

Feature on Scotland’s ‘top six’ archaeological sites:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/15446761.Six_stunning_site s_unearthed_in_search_for_Scotland_s_hidden_gems/ http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/people-places/scotland-s-top-six-historical- hidden-gems-revealed-1-4519550 http://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/six-stunning-sites-unearthed-in-sear ch-for-scotland-s-hidden-gems-1-4519285

On mapping shipwrecks and war dead in and around the Orkneys:

https://www.livescience.com/60041-famed-shipwrecks-and-war-graves-mappe
d.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5788-170804-hms-vanguard-shipwreck

They never did finish that castle in Longtown:

http://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/regional/herefordshire/15449090. Dig_reveals_village_castle_was_left_unfinished/

Funding for the Sheffield Castlegate revamp:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-40775382

Restoration of a 12th century Myndtown church is complete:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-40750160

Plans for the Sutton Hoo site:

http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/4m-project-to-transform-sutton-hoo-experie nce-for-visitors-gets-go-ahead-1-5136309

Day of Archaeology post from Must Farm:

http://www.dayofarchaeology.com/waterlogged-wonders-from-must-farm-bronz e-age-boats-bowls-boxes-and-buckets/

More on the Bronze Age wheat ‘lunchbox’:

https://phys.org/news/2017-07-archaeologists-key-tracking-ancient-wheat.html http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/07/2017/bronze-age-box-c ontaining-ancient-wheat-found-in-swiss-alps

More on the display of St Cuthbert’s coffin:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-40763079

More on moonlit ritual stones at Davidstow:

http://www.camelford-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=108583&headline=Is%20ston e%20most%20decorated%20in%20southern%20Britain?&sectionIs=news&sea
rchyear=2017


-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

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ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ===============================================================
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Very interesting Bronze Age burial from Omsk:

http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/features/ancient-warrior-unearthed-marc hing-to-afterlife-with-his-dagger-drawn-wearing-stylish-earrings/

Plenty of coverage for the find of a large statue at Angkor Wat (or Angkor
Thom … the description varies):

https://phys.org/news/2017-07-archaeologists-angkor-wat-large-statue.html https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/01/ancient-statue-unearthed-at-c ambodias-angkor-temple-complex
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-40788658 https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/for-archaeologists-a-dream-find-at-angk or-park-133096/ http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5075891/angkor-era-guardian-statue-found/ http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/archaeologists-angkor-wat-find-l arge-buried-statue-48946319 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11897813 https://www.yahoo.com/news/ancient-statue-unearthed-cambodias-angkor-co mplex-044729516.html http://artdaily.com/news/97927/Nearly-two-metre-tall-ancient-statue-unearthed- at-Cambodia-s-Angkor-complex http://gizmodo.com/magnificent-sandstone-statue-uncovered-near-legendary-c -1797426629 http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-field-schools-excavation-at- angkor-wat-unearths-ancient-guardian-statue ‘ http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/how-singapore-team-uncovered-ancien t-guardian-statue-in-angkor-wat http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/08/angkor-wat-archaeological-park-s tatue-khmer-empire-spd/ http://www.archaeology.org/news/5776-170801-cambodia-angkor-thom-statue

Latest from Beijing’s Summer Palace:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2017-08/01/content_30312196.htm http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1058870.shtml

A well-preserved 12th century mummy from the Zeleny Yar necropolis (I think
we mentioned this one):

http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/04/mummy-found-with-perfect-hair-and-eyebrows-af ter-900-years-6829532/ http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/635210/Mummy-Arctic-Circle-Rus sia-polar-princess-eyelashes-hair-intact-archeologists-discovery https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/08/06/900-year-old-mummy-of-polar- princess-discovered-near-arctic-circle

China and India are fighting over who originated Tibetan medicine:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/world/asia/unesco-tibetan-medicine-indi a-china.html

… while an old map might reignite a dispute between Japan and South Korea:

http://www.dw.com/en/156-year-old-map-may-reignite-japan-south-korea-islan d-dispute/a-39966162

Concerns for a Gupta era shivlingam in Bundi:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/five-foot-long-shivlingam-from-gu
pta-era-lies-neglected-in-bundi/articleshow/59888278.cms

More on the early arrival of humans in Australia:

https://www.livescience.com/59874-humans-arrived-australia-65000-years-ag o.html

More on those recently-found petroglyphs from Australia:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rangers-fighting-fires-uncover-ab original-rock-art-180964276/

More on deciphering oracle bones:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/museum-offers-15000-letter-deci phering-oracle-bones-180964213/

-----

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html ===============================================================
=
NORTH AMERICA
===============================================================
=
Some 3000 years bp footprints from Arizona:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/backhoe-archaeology/ 535827/

Excavating a Groswater site on Newfoundland:

http://www.thelabradorian.ca/community/2017/7/31/uncovering-a-2000-year-ol d-settlement.html http://www.cbncompass.ca/community/2017/7/31/uncovering-a-2000-year-old- settlement.html http://www.northernpen.ca/community/2017/7/31/uncovering-a-2000-year-old-s ettlement.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/5775-170731-canada-seal-processing

Plenty of unmarked burials around a Virginia church:

http://pilotonline.com/news/local/history/at-least-unmarked-graves-discovered -around-virginia-s-oldest-church/article_544e0757-feed-537a-b863-281b74de8 466.html

Latest from the Queen’s Marque site:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1491121-another-relic-discovered-at-q ueen%E2%80%99s-marque-site

Followup to the Fort Macleod story from last week:

http://globalnews.ca/news/3637690/archaeologists-dig-up-new-artifacts-at-hist oric-fort-macleod-town-site/

Feature on audioarchaeology at Chaco Canyon (again):

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-soundscapes-pastadding-dimension-archaeolo gical-picture.html http://theconversation.com/soundscapes-in-the-past-adding-a-new-dimension-t o-our-archaeological-picture-of-ancient-cultures-80861 https://www.livescience.com/60040-chaco-canyon-soundscape-revealed.html http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Soundscapes-in-the-past-Adding-a-new-di mension-11730169.php

Studying Clovis points:

https://phys.org/news/2017-07-cultural-diversification-early-north-american.ht ml

Feature on the Camp Verde meteorite:

http://azdailysun.com/lifestyles/columnists/ask-a-ranger-unearthing-the-myste ry-behind-the-meteor/article_3894f8d2-bbfb-5f0d-8d6c-2b3daacb7feb.html

That canoe found in Louisiana a few months ago has been conserved:

http://www.kxxv.com/story/36056242/texas-am-conserves-prehistoric-canoe http://www.kplctv.com/story/36057278/texas-scientists-say-la-flooding-unmas ked-prehistoric-canoe

A potential slave burial site in Brooklyn:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/04/nyregion/19th-century-diary-suggests-sl aves-are-buried-in-brooklyn-lot.html

Plans to preserve a burial mound at Fort Smith:

http://5newsonline.com/2017/08/03/team-set-to-preserve-indian-mound-locate d-in-center-of-fort-smith/

More on the development of maize crops in early North America:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170803141056.htm https://www.newscientist.com/article/2142813/#038;%23038;%23038;campaig n_id=RSS%7CNSNS-

More coverage of the dig at Louisbourg:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/rescue-archaeology-project-a ims-to-give-new-insights-into-louisbourgs-history/article35839489/
?cmpid=rss1 https://www.sootoday.com/national-news/skeletons-can-tell-you-a-lot-exhumin g-remains-at-18th-century-fort-684265 http://lethbridgeherald.com/news/national-news/2017/07/30/skeletons-can-tell- you-a-lot-exhuming-remains-at-18thcentury-fort/ http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/why-archaeologists-are-exhuming-skeletons-at -an-18th-century-cape-breton-fort-1.3525281 http://globalnews.ca/news/3636032/unb-students-head-to-cape-breton-to-perfo rm-rescue-archaeology-before-graveyard-disappears/


===============================================================
=
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ===============================================================
=
Peruvian archaeologists are getting tired of alien mummy claims:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/how-to-fake-an-alien-mu mmy/535251/ http://news.ku.edu/2017/08/03/documentary-exploring-evidence-extraterrestri al-life-ancient-peru-based-pseudoscience

Possible discovery of the tomb of the first historian of the Americas:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/07/27/inenglish/1501149491_780251.html

Studying lakes around Machu Picchu:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,415114,polish-divers-discover-se crets-of-the-inca.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/5783-170803-machu-picchu-lakes


-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:

http://goo.gl/1VdeA

Ancient MesoAmerica News:

http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/ ===============================================================
=
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST ===============================================================
=
Assorted coverage of Passchendaele:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40767601 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40739915 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40669719

… and WWI trenches in England:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/05/miles-of-forgotten-trenches-d ug-in-england-during-first-world-war-unearthed-again

… and more Jane Austen:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/03/books/jane-austen-tour-england.html

Humans and megafauna extinction again:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-happened-worlds-most- enormous-animals-180964255/

… and altering forests:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-08/mpif-hhb080117.php

… and building farms/cities much earlier than previously thought (not sure about this one):

https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/08/evidence-that-humans-had-farms-300 00-years-earlier-than-previously-thought/

Feature on some interesting medieval statuary that was recently
rediscovered:

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-scientists-mystery-luckless-apostles-paris.htm
l

I don’t think we’ve mentioned the Lusitania telegraph find/recovery:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/telegraph-recovered-wreck-lusita nia-180964267/

A recovered Basquiat might be a forgery:

https://www.artforum.com/news/id=70089

Feature on assorted art movements:

https://hyperallergic.com/393700/art-movements-215/

… and sexual innudendo in assorted art:

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-not-so-subtle-sexual-innuendo-ren aissance-art

Feature on Mozart:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/classical-music/forget-amadeus-real-tragedy -behind-mozarts-final-act/

Feature on John Dowland:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170801-the-ed-sheeran-of-16th-century-en gland

Feature on the Book of Miracles:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2017/aug/04/the-book-of-mi racles-16th-century-german-illustrated-manuscript

Feature on petroglyphs in various places:

http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/08/03/540805776/animal-images-in-pre historic-rock-art-looking-beyond-europe http://nhpr.org/post/animal-images-prehistoric-rock-art-looking-beyond-europe

Victor Nuovo is back to Spinoza:

http://www.addisonindependent.com/201708victor-nuovo-spinoza-pursuit-truth -means-peace-and-piety

On the ‘decipherment’ of assorted languages:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-the-deadly-pursuit-of-unsolved-language
s

More on the Sistine Chapel:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40734899

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/ ===============================================================
=
MUSEUM MATTERS
===============================================================
=
King Arthur:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-40725177

Chagall:

http://www.npr.org/2017/07/31/540515346/art-exhibit-features-chagalls-works-f or-ballet-and-opera

Hokusai:

http://www.nippon.com/en/views/b02336/

Tiffany Mosaics:

http://www.npr.org/2017/08/03/540891752/tiffany-is-known-for-lamps-and-stain ed-glass-but-he-made-magical-mosaics-too

Ancient Glassmaking:

http://artdaily.com/news/97980/Unprecedented-exhibition-highlights-the-artistr y-and-technical-virtuosity-of-glassmakers-in-the-ancient-world

The Met got a pile of attention for a looted vase in its collection (again) that it
returned:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/arts/design/ancient-vase-seized-from-m et-museum-on-suspicion-it-was-looted.html?partner=rss&emc=rss https://www.artforum.com/news/id=70087 https://hyperallergic.com/393527/metropolitan-museum-greek-vase-looted/ http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/01/540930943/met-museum-t urns-over-ancient-vase-suspected-looted-from-italy

… and shortly after that was returning a bull’s head in its collection to Lebanon:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/arts/design/met-museum-relic-lebanon.h tml?partner=rss&emc=rss http://www.standardrepublic.com/2017/08/met-museum-turns-over-another-reli c-with-disputed-past-to-prosecutors/11107.htm http://english.alarabiya.net/en/life-style/art-and-culture/2017/08/03/US-tug-of-w
ar-over-disputed-relic-from-Lebanon.html http://observer.com/2017/08/met-museum-turns-over-two-looted-objects-to-aut horities/

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