===============================================================
explorator 23.19 August 30, 2020
===============================================================
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).

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
How Neanderthals adapted to climate change:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/uoe-hna082820.php https://phys.org/news/2020-08-neanderthals-adjusted-climate.html

Using machine learning to differentiate between 'middle stone age' and 'late stone age' toolkits:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200826140909.htm https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/mpif-nnn082420.php https://phys.org/news/2020-08-neural-network-differentiates-middle-late.html https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/new-neural-network-differentiates-middle-and-late-stone-age-toolkits/134843

A study of hominin dietary shifts via the teeth of paranthropus bosei:

https://mediarelations.gwu.edu/changing-landscapes-changing-diets https://phys.org/news/2020-08-fossilized-teeth-reveal-dietary-shifts.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/8981-200826-hominin-teeth-diet

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Illegal gold hunters have pretty much destroyed the Jabal Maragha site in Sudan:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53889663 https://www.france24.com/en/20200824-gold-hunting-diggers-destroy-sudan-s-priceless-past
https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/illegal-gold-diggers-destroy-2000-year-old-archaeological-site/12600326
http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/gold-hunting-diggers-destroy-sudan-s-priceless-past/article/576811
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2020/8/25/gold-looters-destroy-2000-year-old-sudan-archaeological-site
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200826-sudan-gold-diggers-destroy-2000-year-old-archaeological-sites/
https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/sudan-ancient-site-jabal-maragha-gold-hunters-pictures
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/gold-hunters-destroy-sudan-archaeological-site-jabal-maragha-1904355

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
Not sure if we've mentioned these 'mysterious openings' found cut into a cliff near Umm Al-Qaab:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/374570/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Mysterious-carved-rock-chambers-found-inside-sacre.aspx

A Roman-era 'pet cemetery' near Berenice includes burials of what have been identified as rhesus macaques (from Inda):

https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C83588%2Cmonkeys-buried-sleeping-babies-were-imported-ancient-egypt-india-pets.html
https://www.ibtimes.sg/monkeys-india-buried-egypt-shed-light-bizarre-ancient-roman-practices-50587
https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/remains-of-2000-year-old-monkeys-buried-like-sleeping-children-reveal-romans-and-ancient-egyptians-imported-them-from-india-as-household-pets-15142
https://gizmodo.com/pet-monkeys-brought-to-ancient-egypt-were-buried-with-s-1844855746
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/monkeys-buried-like-sleeping-babies.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/monkeys-found-buried-2000-year-old-egyptian-pet-cemetery-180975667/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8979-200825-berenice-rhesus-macaques

Restoration of 29 ram statues in Luxor has resumed:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/91243/Restoration-works-of-29-rams-statues-in-Luxor-Temple-resume

Feature on the 'White Crown division' who worked on Cheops' pyramid:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/91169/Learn-about-the-White-Crown-division-builders-of-the-great

Feature on ancient Egyptian artists:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2020/07-08/anonymous-artists-invented-ancient-egypt-iconic-style/

Feature on Ushabtis:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/meet-an-ushabti-an-ancient-egyptian-statuette-made-for-the-afterlife/

An assessment of the travelling Tut exhibition over the past while:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/91210/What-you-need-to-know-about-Tutankhamun-journey-around-the

All of Egypt's sites and museums will be opening next week:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/starting-september-egypt-reopens-all-archaeological-sites-and-museums/

Interesting feature on Thomas Young's notes regarding efforts to translate the Rosetta Stone:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/aug/25/discovery-of-scholars-notes-shine-light-on-race-to-decipher-rosetta-stone
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/discovery-of-scholars-notes-shine-light-on-race-to-decipher-rosetta-stone/ar-BB18mgGb?li=BBnbfcL

More on high-res 3d scanning of some wrapped animal mummies:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/animal-mummies-unwrapped-with-hi-res-3d.html

An 8500 years bp burial from Bilecik (Turkey):

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/8500-year-old-human-skeleton-discovered-in-turkeys-bilecik

A 5000 years bp 'paint palette' and other finds from Kulluoba (Turkey):

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/5000-year-old-paint-palette-unearthed-in-northwest-turkey

Traces of a medieval Islamic settlement site in Qazvin (iran):

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/451834/Ancient-human-settlement-found-in-Qazvin

Suggestion that ancient Jerusalem was smaller than previously believed:

https://www.dw.com/en/ancient-jerusalem-smaller-than-believed/a-54671258

More coverage of that 3000+ years bp Canaanite fortress revealed near Kiryat Gat:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/a-12th-century-caanite-fortress-excavated-near-gal-on-opens-to-public-639699
https://www.timesofisrael.com/3200-year-old-fort-site-of-epic-battles-in-biblical-era-found-in-south-israel/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-canaanite-fort-from-judges-epoch-found-in-southern-israel-1.9094750
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/285726 https://www.jewishpress.com/news/religion/canaanite-fortress/2020/08/23/ http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-08/23/c_139312247.htm https://thejewishvoice.com/2020/08/3000-year-old-biblical-era-fortress-uncovered-in-israel/
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/gal-on-canaanite-fortress-08778.html https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/biblical-archaeology-sites/military-fort-discovered-from-time-of-biblical-judges/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/canaanite-fortress-found-in-excavation.html

A major hoard of 425+ Islamic era (1100 years bp) gold coins found at a dig in central Israel somewhere:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53889695 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/24/1100-year-old-gold-coins-found-at-dig-site-in-israel
https://www.livescience.com/gold-hoard-israel-archaelogy.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/24/world/middleeast/israel-gold-coins-archaeology.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/pure-gold-425-islamic-coins-from-1100-years-ago-found-at-israel-dig/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/hundreds-of-1100-year-old-solid-gold-coins-found-in-central-israel-639730
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-dig-finds-hundreds-of-gold-coins-1-100-years-old-1.9097061
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/H1DXubWXD https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8657793/Israeli-dig-unearths-large-trove-early-Islamic-gold-coins.html
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-archaeology-gold-coins/trove-of-1000-year-old-gold-coins-unearthed-in-israel-idUSKBN25K0US
https://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/upi/1df4d3021a390cbf1b81852f493c09b5/Ancient-Gold-Coins-Discovered-In-Israel/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/08/24/1000-year-old-gold-coins-found-israel/3428261001/
https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/gold-coin-hoard-found-in-israel-by-two-students
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/israeli-teens-discover-trove-425-1100-year-old-gold-coins-180975657/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8978-200825-israel-gold-coins

Light rail construction in Tel Aviv revealed some burials:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-archaeologists-uncover-graves-in-tel-aviv-ahead-of-work-on-light-rail-1.9104668

A hotel in Nazareth is incorporating/displaying finds made during its construction:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/unique-archeological-findings-displayed-in-a-nazareth-hotel-639895

A Viking-era 'neighbourhood' from Istanbul:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/archaeologists-unearth-viking-neighborhood-in-istanbul-157658
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/viking-neighbourhood-found-near-istanbul/134855

More on the 7000 years bp stone monuments from the Nefud Desert of Saudi Arabia:

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0959683620950449 https://phys.org/news/2020-08-survey-mustatils-oldest-stone-world.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/mpif-vsm082520.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200825113618.htm https://www.livescience.com/mysterious-stone-structures-saudi-arabia-oldest.html
https://www.livescience.com/60697-photos-stone-structures-saudi-arabia.html http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/nefud-desert-mustatils-08780.html https://www.zmescience.com/science/7000-year-old-stone-structures-in-saudi-arabia-are-among-the-oldest-in-the-world/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/vast-stone-monuments-constructed-in.html

More on the 1200 years bp 'soap factory' from near Rahat:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/1200-year-old-soap-factory-unearthed-in.html
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/oldest-soap-factory-in-israel

Turkey has 'flagged' (for promotional purposes, it appears) 10 unique sites/artifacts:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ministry-flags-10-unique-archaeological-works-157653

Feature on an interesting tomb inscription in Beit Guvrin-Maresha National Park:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/beit-guvrin-maresha-inscription

Feature on assorted ancient writing and 'mail' systems:

https://www.newsweek.com/usps-oldest-letters-postal-service-amarna-egypt-cuneiform-tablets-complaint-ea-nasir-hope-diamond-1525239

Feature on the Phoenicians:

https://www.grunge.com/239956/the-phoenicians-who-were-they/

On efforts to save historical buildings in Beirut:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20200820-beirut-explosion-the-battle-to-save-the-citys-buildings
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/beirut-residents-determined-save-heritage-lost-blast-72681453

... and progress restoring sites in Syria:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/aug/29/how-syrias-blasted-cities-are-rising-from-the-ruins

Linking neo-Hittite statuary to more recent statue events:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2020/08/are-monuments-history ================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
Recent burials from Persepolis may be connected to Alexander's invasion:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/451631/Newly-found-skeletons-may-address-bloody-conflict-during-Alexander

... while excavations have commenced at Sillyon, which apparently was not conquered by Alexander:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/excavation-starts-in-ancient-city-unconquered-by-alexander-the-great-157722

Remains of a Roman-era dam from Turkey's Konya province:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roman-era-dam-found-in-central-turkey-157697

Feature on a Roman glass factory in Cerro de La Muela:

https://elpais.com/revista-de-verano/2020-08-23/el-vidrio-acabo-con-el-coloso-romano.html

A 5th century chalice with 'Christian graffiti' found at Vindolanda:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/29/hadrians-wall-dig-reveals-oldest-christian-graffiti-on-chalice
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/christian-graffiti-chalice-dark-ages-hadrians-wall-roman-fort-vindolanda-a9695776.html

Excavations of the Roman villa at Somma Vesuviana have resumed (Italian):

https://www.sardegnareporter.it/2020/08/a-somma-vesuviana-la-villa-romana-del-primo-secolo-d-c/343869/
https://www.ilmediano.com/somma-vesuviana-riprendono-gli-scavi-archeologici-nella-presunta-villa-augustea/

I think we mentioned this Roman amphitheatre found on private land in Anatolia:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/colosseum-like-structure-unearthed-in-western-turkey-157526
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8975-200824-anatolia-mastaura-amphitheater

Restoration of the archaic Temple of Apollo on Despotiko is almost complete:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/256317/gallery/ekathimerini/in-images/restoration-of-apollos-island-sanctuary-nearing-completion

They're making the Roman remains in Costa del Sol easier to understand:

https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/08/25/roman-archaeological-remains-made-easier-to-understand-in-costa-del-sol-town/

Norton Disney Roman villa needs higher protection, according to Historic England:

https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news/roman-villa-site-needs-higher-protection-says-historic-england-9121194/

Suggestion that HIppocrates had an influence on the development of ancient Greek literature (paywalled):

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/father-of-medicine-also-created-greek-literature-claims-scholar-vd0bn2bqv

More on that 'jupiter column' from a well in Germany:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/jupiter-column-with-rare-relief-found.html

In case you've missed Chris Naunton's ideas about Cleopatra's tomb location:

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1327253/egypt-cleopatra-pharaoh-queen-taposiris-magna-alexandria-underwater-tomb-spt

... and the 'mystery' of her burial:

https://www.grunge.com/240830/the-mystery-of-cleopatras-burial/

... and some facts about Cleopatra:

https://mymodernmet.com/cleopatra-facts/

Some 'Vesuvius Day' coverage:

https://www.timebulletin.com/vesuvius-day-2020-history-and-significance-of-the-day/
https://www.metro.news/on-this-day-august-24-2/2123745/

Feature on the Iphigenia at Aulis:

https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/narcissists-sociopaths-bad-teachers/

Feature on Mycenean chariots:

https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/videos/mycenaean-chariots/

Feature on ancient Roman 'traffic control':

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2020/08/26/uks-low-traffic-neighorhoods-nothing-new-ancient-romans-blocked-city-roads-to-carriages/

Feature on the Bridgness distance slab (now on a postage stamp):

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/remarkable-roman-sculpture-scotland-features-new-royal-mail-stamp-2951700

Feature/course on the Parthenon:

https://smarthistory.org/overview/courses/the-story-of-the-parthenon/

... and some recent Parthenon Marbles protests at the BM:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/08/30/protesters-at-british-museum-call-for-the-return-of-parthenon-sculptures/

Feature on the Francois Vase:

https://smarthistory.org/francois-vase/

Feature on Pella:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/biblical-archaeology-places/pella-a-window-on-survival/

Pondering what the Romans would have thought about the UK's 'exam obsession':

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-romans-wouldnt-have-understood-our-exam-obsession

Another feature on the Antikythera thing:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/08/25/the-discovery-that-links-ancient-greece-with-the-it-revolution/

Eight 'modern' things which really are Roman:

https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2020/08/25/articulo/1598361795_625633.html

Feature on Roman numerals:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/roman-numerals-what-how-read-where-come-from/

Feature on some ancient pandemics:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/pandemics-in-perspective/

In case you need fashion tips from a Roman soldier:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/news/how-to-dress-like-a-true-roman-soldier/vi-BB18vzHL

OpEd fearing for the survival of Latin if plants are given 'nicknames':

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/28/giving-plants-nicknames-threatens-future-latin-says-scholar/

More on the climate connection to the fall of the Republic:

https://yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/5197-why-the-roman-republic-fell

-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
Finds associated with a '6500 years bp 'fertility cult' from Topolita (Romania):

http://www.sfltimes.com/news/archaeologists-find-traces-of-fertility-cult

Foundations of a 5700 years bp Neolithic house in Cork:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-40038137.html https://www.irishcentral.com/news/archaeologists-neolithic-house-in-cork https://www.irishpost.com/news/5700-year-old-neolithic-house-discovered-by-architects-in-cork-191736
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8983-200827-ireland-road-work

Not sure if we mentioned this possible settlement site found near a Neolithic Roundel in Poland:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/ancient-settlement-associated-with-neolithic-roundel-discovered-by-archaeologists/134838

3500 years bp pig figurines from a site in Poland:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/rare-pig-figurines-found-in-bronze-age.html

Przeworsk culture burials from a site in Poland:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/archaeologists-discover-single-edged-sword-spears-relics-from-ancient-cemetery/134869

A 1200 years bp Viking burial of a left handed (apparently) warrior with weaponry:

https://phys.org/news/2020-08-viking-sword-grave-central-norway.html https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/08/viking-sword-dug-up-in-norway-likely-belonged-to-a-left-handed-warrior/

Hungarian researchers believe they have located the tomb of Andrew II:

https://hungarytoday.hu/andrew-ii-tomb-found/

Remains of Atlantic sturgeon found in a barrel from a 15th century Swedish shipwreck:

https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/atlantic-sturgeon-kings-pantry-unique-discovery-baltic-sea-wreck-1495
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/lu-asi082720.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200827105920.htm https://phys.org/news/2020-08-atlantic-sturgeon-king-pantry-unique.html https://www.archaeology.org/news/8985-200828-baltic-sea-sturgeon

Some medieval texts are disputing the tradition that Alfred the Great established the Royal Navy:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/fu-mtr082320.php https://phys.org/news/2020-08-medieval-texts-reveal-false-royal.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200824092023.htm

A 14th century gold/silver coin hoard from Plzen:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/14th-century-gold-and-silver-coin-hoard.html

A ten-year-old metal detectorist came across a 17th century sword in Northern Ireland:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/10-year-old-boy-finds-centuries-old-sword-northern-ireland-180975639/

Study suggests parasitic infections were common in medieval Europe:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/p-hic082020.php https://phys.org/news/2020-08-neolithic-modern-day-york-rich.html

Feature on finds made during a long term dig at York University (UK):

https://phys.org/news/2020-08-neolithic-modern-day-york-rich.html

Interesting study of tree graffiti in a Hampshire Forest:

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/18682174.ancient-symbols-carved-new-forest-trees-recorded-posterity/

Feature on Carlos III:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2020/08/18/icon/1597757623_762108.html

Feature/honours for Keith Branigan:

https://www.thestar.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/how-sheffield-professor-has-spent-lifetime-uncovering-past-making-amazing-discoveries-including-4000-year-old-beer-cup-ancient-greek-tombs-and-roman-urns-2955425
https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/how-sheffield-professor-has-spent-lifetime-uncovering-past-making-amazing-discoveries-including-4000-year-old-beer-cup-ancient-greek-tombs-and-roman-urns-2955425

More on the medieval Great Sacristy excavation at Westminster Abbey:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/aug/23/lost-medieval-sacristy-uncovered-at-westminster-abbey
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8657751/Lost-medieval-sacristy-Westminster-Abbey-unearthed-remains-thousands-buried-dead.html
https://catholic-sf.org/news/burial-place-of-medieval-catholic-monks-uncovered-at-westminster-abbey
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/burial-place-of-medieval-catholic-monks-uncovered-at-westminster-abbey-33399
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/foundations-great-sacristy-rediscovered-westminster-abbey-180975651/

Interesting study of the acoustics of Stonehenge:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/stonehenge-prehistoric-acoustics-amplifier-scientific-research-a9691246.html
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/333/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/333/pub/333/page/13/article/76065
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8987-200828-stonehenge-acoustic-model

Feature on Viking use of slaves:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/little-known-role-slavery-viking-society-180975597/

Feature on the Netherlands' history of slavery:

https://www.npr.org/2020/08/26/906145019/podcast-helps-dutch-acknowledge-netherlands-history-of-slavery

Feature (paywalled) on the discovery of the underwater site off Bouldnor Cliff a couple decades ago:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/register/lobster-revealed-ancient-village-beneath-the-waves-rg56tzxzb

Pondering the height of the Dutch:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200823-why-are-the-dutch-so-tall

More on the 15 000 years bp 'earliest art' stones from Jersey:

https://www.livescience.com/oldest-artwork-britain.html https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/earliest-art-in-british-isles-discovered.html

More on that 17th century Dutch shipwreck from the Baltic:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/intact-dutch-17th-century-merchantman.html

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

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

Medievalists.net:

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

Viking Archaeology Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ================================================================
Pondering the reasons for Southeast Asia's 'missing millennia':

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/ancient-megadrought-may-explain-civilization-s-missing-millennia-southeast-asia

More on the flooding reaching the Leshan Giant Buddha:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/flood-waters-endanger-buddha-statue-180975632/

A fourth excavation of Yangshao Village has commenced:

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2020-08/24/content_76629954.htm

Feature on the Longyou Caves:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/the-mystery-of-the-longyou-caves/134874

Feature on Qin's tomb:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/tomb-of-the-first-emperor/134882

Feature on ancient Pacific mariners:

https://aeon.co/videos/the-voyages-of-ancient-pacific-mariners-echo-in-modern-space-exploration

A large Edo-period mass grave (possibly associated with an epidemic) from Osaka:

https://phys.org/news/2020-08-dug-japan-mass-grave-epidemic.html https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/mass-grave-discovered-in-osaka-japan-with-bodies-buried-in-circular-holes/news-story/1e406449cd528554145318292355fe38?from=htc_rss
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/world-news/2020/08/26/remains-dug-up-at-mass-grave-site-in-japan-suggest-epidemic-in-1800s/
https://www.startribune.com/remains-dug-up-at-japan-mass-grave-suggest-epidemic-in-1800s/572225532/
https://www.dw.com/en/japan-excavation-of-osaka-mass-grave-suggests-19th-century-epidemic/a-54708317

An overviewish thing on progress on various digs in Tamil Nadu:

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/tn-excavation-status-report-objects-facts-keezhadi-adichanallur-sites-so-far-131524

... somewhat similar, but with a Vaigai river civilization focus:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/aug/26/an-industrious-folk-on-the-banks-of-vaigai-2188309.html
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/1184409-archaeologists-explore-vaigai-river-civilisation-release-status-report
http://www.businessworld.in/article/Archaeologists-explore-Vaigai-river-civilisation-release-status-report-/25-08-2020-313009
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8984-200827-india-tamil-industry

Andronovo culture finds (Bronze Age?) from a site in Kazakhstan's Aktobe region:

https://kazakh-tv.kz/en/view/society/page_216020_unique-artifacts-are-found-in-aktobe-and-kyzylorda-regions

Rio Tinto executives got a 'slap on the wrist' for blowing up Aboriginal sites:

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53885695 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/24/rio-tinto-chiefs-lose-millions-in-bonuses-over-destruction-of-juukan-gorge

Feature on the death of Genghis Khan:

https://medium.com/history-of-yesterday/the-mysterious-death-of-genghis-khan-80fdf9881f8d

More on that ice age puppy's last meal:

https://www.livescience.com/ice-age-puppy-ate-woolly-rhino.html

================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
A dig in Laval (Quebec) has revealed thousands of burials from the 1830s, including some associated with a cholera outbreak:

https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/death-in-the-time-of-cholera-laval-archaeological-dig-turns-up-thousands-of-bodies-from-1830s-1.5084974

A possible African American grave site at a Columbus high school construction site:

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200824/six-graves-found-at-upper-arlington-high-school

Revisiting the US elections of 1920:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/podcasts/special-series/why-1920-can-offer-clues-about-the-2020-elections

Plans to excavate a War of 1812 site on Horse Island:

https://www.wwnytv.com/2020/08/27/archaeologists-investigate-horse-islands-role-war/

Plans to excavate an early African American church near Colonial Williamsburg:

https://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2020/archaeology-project-to-unearth-site-of-church-founded-by-enslaved-and-free-blacks.php
https://www.dailypress.com/virginiagazette/va-vg-first-baptist-excavation-20200825-6qy4vbdqeffannpurgavoqkewi-story.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8982-200827-virginia-first-baptist

... and work continues on the Custis Square excavations at Colonial Williamsburg:

https://www.dailypress.com/virginiagazette/va-vg-custis-square-0824-20200828-uyslb3emiffnzl5qswu7vuv2ei-story.html

Plans to search for more graves at that school site in Clearwater:

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/special-reports/erased/archaeologists-search-for-more-graves-at-old-pinellas-co-school/67-ed5e01e1-a23e-4422-8bf8-276824f398e4

Catching up with events at Tampa's Zion Cemetery:

https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2020/08/26/a-complete-timeline-of-tampas-erased-zion-cemetery/

The University of Florida took down the Loring Monument:

https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/2020/08/24/crews-moved-monument-confederate-gen-william-loring-monday/3429651001/
https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/local/2020/08/26/crews-remove-part-st-augustine-confederate-memorial/3434894001/
https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/local/2020/08/26/archaeologist-finds-william-lorings-remains-st-augustine/5634650002/

Feature on New York's Schuyler family:

https://blog.timesunion.com/rittner/the-schuyler-hamilton-families/7533/

Feature/reviewish thing on the impact of American slavery on production practices around the world:

https://www.brown.edu/news/2020-06-29/trouble

Feature on the Colfax Riot:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/opinion/black-lives-civil-rights.html

Feature on who could and could not vote after the 19th amendment:

https://www.npr.org/2020/08/26/904730251/yes-women-could-vote-after-the-19th-amendment-but-not-all-women-or-men

More on the latest theory about the Lost Colony:

https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/08/the-truth-about-the-lost-colony-of-roanoke-author-tells-how-croatoan-tribe-befriended-the-settlers/
https://nypost.com/2020/08/29/amateur-archaeologist-answers-lost-roanoke-colony-mystery/

================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
Mummified remains dating 1100-400 BCE from a copper mine in Chile:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-mining-mummies/workers-at-chilean-copper-mine-uncover-brightly-dressed-mummies-idUSKBN25H2ON
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8977-200825-chile-mine-mummies

Interesting study of apparent emotions depicted on Maya and Olmec figurines:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ancient-sculptures-universal-human-facial-expressions-cultures
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8982-200827-virginia-first-baptist http://www.archaeology.org/news/8976-200824-universal-facial-expressions

A suggestion of privatizing historic sites in Guatemala for conservation purposes:

https://nacla.org/guatmala-peten-tourism-hansen

Feature on the Maya use of sting ray spines:

https://daily.jstor.org/stingray-spines-and-the-maya/
-----
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 ================================================================
Recreating ancient recipes seems to be a thing this week ... e.g., an ancient Egyptian bread recipe:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/ancient-egyptian-recipes

... and Farrell Monaco's ancient (in general) bread recreations:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/08/how-bake-ancient-egyptian-bread/615859/
https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/ancient-egyptian-bread/

... and Mesopotamian beer:

https://phys.org/news/2020-08-brewing-mesopotamian-beer-vibrant-ancient.html https://menafn.com/1100685985/Brewing-Mesopotamian-beer-brings-a-sip-of-this-vibrant-ancient-drinking-culture-back-to-life
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Brewing-Mesopotamian-beer-brings-a-sip-of-this-15509905.php

... and old Mexican recipes:

https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-08-27/old-mexican-recipes-going-far-back-1700s-made-available-during-lockdown-e-books

Or maybe you want to build a catapult out of newspaper:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/29/at-home/how-to-build-a-catapult-from-newspaper.html

Another feature making connections between the 1918 Spanish flu and Covid-19:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/sask-archaeologist-lessons-learned-1918-pandemic-covid-19-1.5697904

... and one on historic approaches to 'uncertainty' during a pandemic:

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/08/how-embrace-uncertainty-pandemic-times/615634/

Scientists have figured out what some mysterious structures in the human heart identified by DaVinci do:

https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/scientists-solve-leonardo-da-vincis-500-year-old-human-heart-mystery?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1

Feature on collective nouns:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p08pptbc/the-strange-world-of-collective-nouns


[continued in next message]

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)