===========================================================
explorator 26.16 August 6, 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, Andrew Szegedy-Maszak,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

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EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
A 300 000 years bp jawbone from China is triggering talk of a possible third human species:

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-china-human-lineage.html https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/05/remains-china-third-human-lineage/ https://www.iflscience.com/300000-year-old-hybrid-jawbone-discovered-with-ancient-and-modern-human-characteristics-70091

cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047248423000908

More on the Hula Valley flint source finds:

https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/unearthing-ancient-intelligence.html

More on evidence of 300 000 years bp woodworking skills by early humans:

https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/early-humans-were-weapon-woodwork-experts-study-finds.html

============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
Evidence of the first (17th century) English slave fort (Fort Kormantine) on Ghana's coast:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66359512 https://www.archaeology.org/news/11623-230802-ghana-fort-kormantine ============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ============================================================
A 2300 years bp shipwreck (looks Greek) off the shore of Alamein:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/photos-archaeologists-discover-remains-of-2300-old-sunken-ship-in-alamein/
https://www.gulf-times.com/article/665905/region/shipwreck-from-3rd-century-bc-discovered-northwest-of-egypt
https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2023/08/06/remains-of-ancient-merchant-ship-discovered-in-mediterranean-waters-near-el-alamein/

More on the 100+ Roman burials at a site in Gaza:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/roman-era-cemetery-tombs-gaza-180982634/

More on the xray/chemical analysis of some Egyptian funerary paintings:

https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/secrets-of-egyptian-painters-revealed-by-chemistry.html
https://the-past.com/news/painting-secrets-revealed/

More on the pair of mummification workshops recently revealed at Saqqara:

https://the-past.com/news/mummy-workshops/

Feature on ancient Greek settlements in Egypt:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/02/settlements-ancient-greeks-egypt/

Feature on Abu Simbel:

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/nightlife/abu-simbel-rediscovered/102695422

Egypt has a large budget for the restoration of antiquities:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2348536/middle-east https://cairoscene.com/Buzz/EGP-30-Billion-Set-as-Budget-for-Restoration-of-Egyptian-Antiquities

Zahi Hawass is suggesting Egypt 'invest in' Egyptian antiquities found in Saudi Arabia:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/hawass-suggests-investing-in-egyptian-antiquities-discovered-in-saudi-arabia/

Evidence of a Parthian administrative center in northeast Iran:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/487384/Archaeologists-hail-find-of-Parthian-administrative-center-in

Feature on changes to the writing systems of various cultures in the Ancient Near East:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2023/08/before-and-after-babel

Review of Emily H Wilson, *Inanna*:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/aug/05/somehow-i-failed-to-clock-her-magnificence-was-the-worlds-first-literary-hero-a-woman

Statue heads of Aphrodite and Dionysus from Aizanoi (not sure of the date of this find):

https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/01/statuary-aphrodite-dionysus-unearthed-ancient-greek-city/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/greek-gods-sculptures-heads-found-aizanoi-turkey-1234676114/

Feature on the renovation (not sure what that word implies) of the ancient synagoge at Sardis/Sart:

https://arkeonews.net/women-with-sart-renovate-largest-synagogue-of-ancient-world/

A 'chapel' of uncertain date from Istanbul's Bagcilar district:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/historical-chapel-discovered-in-istanbul-185245
https://arkeonews.net/a-mysterious-chapel-discovered-in-istanbul-bagcilar/

More on the dig (various periods) at Zerzevan Castle (some dating issues in the headline):

https://www.npr.org/2023/07/30/1190970450/an-archeological-dig-in-turkey-has-uncovered-artifacts-dating-back-1-000-years

Restoration of the 2000 years bp King's Daughter Roman bath in Turkiye is almost complete:

https://arkeonews.net/restoration-of-turkiyes-2000-year-old-kings-daughter-roman-bath-nears-completion/

An ornate Neolithic necklace from a child's grave in Jordan:

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-neolithic-necklace-child-grave-reveals.html https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-753603 https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/04/world/neolithic-necklace-reconstruction-scn/index.html
https://www.sciencealert.com/spectacular-9000-year-old-necklace-reconstructed-from-ancient-childs-grave
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/child-necklace-ancient-farmer-social https://www.science.org/content/article/ancient-child-s-necklace-sheds-light-how-early-farmers-buried-their-dead
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/a-stone-age-village-buried-a-mysterious-girl-with-fine-jewelry-befitting
https://arkeonews.net/a-neolithic-ornate-necklace-with-over-2500-stones-found-in-a-childs-grave/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67962 https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/08/necklace-found-in-neolithic-grave-reveals-complex-ancient-culture/148156
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11626-230803-jordan-neolithic-necklace

cf: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0288075

Feature on Clare Rasmussen's work studying Roman water distribution practices in Jordan:

http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/american-archaeologist-looks-roman-water-distribution-practices%C2%A0

A 2500 years bp marble disc (with anti-evil-eye properties, apparently) at a beach near the Yavne-Yam site:

https://arkeonews.net/a-rare-2500-year-old-marble-disc-designed-to-protect-ancient-ships-and-ward-off-the-evil-eye-discovered-near-palmachim-beach/

A Roman military amphitheatre find near Tell Megiddo:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-08-01/ty-article-magazine/archaeologists-find-roman-military-amphitheater-in-israel-with-blood-red-walls/00000189-afdb-db2e-adfd-affb274e0000

A 1500 years bp 'magic mirror' piece from the Usha archaeological site:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-753505 https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-08-03/ty-article/israeli-high-schooler-on-day-dig-finds-mirror-plaque-against-demons/00000189-bab8-d821-afdd-bbbc9eeb0000
https://www.jns.org/archeology/archaeology/23/8/3/307593/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/375048 https://www.israelhayom.com/2023/08/06/student-discovers-ancient-magical-mirror-during-excavations-in-north/
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/sjbk8adjh https://www.jewishpress.com/news/archaeology-news/girl-discovers-ancient-sorcery-mirror-in-northern-israel/2023/08/03/

More on the find of remains of a building burned during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-753210 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2385449-ancient-babylonian-arson-in-jerusalem-revealed-by-chemical-clues/

More on the latest Huqoq mosaic finds:

https://phys.org/news/2023-07-archaeological-galilee-uncovers-mosaics-samson.html
https://aleteia.org/2023/07/31/archaeological-dig-in-galilee-uncovers-late-roman-mosaics-of-samson/

More on the 'Rebellion coin' find made just in time for Tisha B'Av:

https://arkeonews.net/researchers-find-evidence-of-the-destruction-of-the-second-temple-at-the-hands-of-roman-soldiers/

More on that 900 years bp Crusader sword find from the sea off Israel:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/crusader-sword-found-in-holy-land-was-bent-possibly-in-naval-battle-x-rays-reveal
https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/x-rays-reveal-secrets-of-perfectly-preserved-900-year-old-crusader-sword/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11628-230804-israel-crusader-sword

Study of gemstones found in the Arabian-Nubian Shield to reveal ancient trade routes:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/08/230801131633.htm https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-753658 https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/earth-sciences/tracing-the-origin-of-ancient-gems/
https://www.newswise.com/articles/using-gemstones-unique-characteristics-to-uncover-ancient-trade-routes/?sc=c52
https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/2023/08/01/gemstones-offer-a-window-on-egyptian-and-saudi-history/

Feature on Jay Rogosin's work in the Old City:

https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/sk9z2dwsh

Another incident of Israeli forces 'raiding' the archaeological site of Sebastia:

https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/136999

UNESCO is considering ruling that Jericho is a Palestinian World Heritage site:

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-753203

... and a related OpEd:

https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-753327
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ============================================================
Excavation of a 5th-4th century BCE fortress at the Laona-Palaepaphos site (Cyprus) is now complete:

https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/news/local/ucy-unearths-buried-fortress-dating-back-to-cypro-classical-era/
https://cyprus-mail.com/2023/08/01/fortress-excavated-in-palaepaphos/ https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/08/03/excavations-of-the-university-of-cyprus-at-laona-palaipafos/

Archaeologists in Bulgaria believe they're close to the site of a third Thracian decorated tomb:

https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/499417-archaeologists-on-the-brink-of-major-discovery-assume-third-thracian-decorated-

Overview of NYU's three-month dig on Geronisos Island (mostly Hellenistic finds):

https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/nyu-expedition-uncovers-remarkable-archaeological-finds-on-geronisos-island
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/08/03/geronisos-island-expedition-at-maniki-harbor-and-meletis-necropolis-2023/

Overview of surveys and excavations of the harbour, island and coast of Cape Drepanum (Late Hellenistic - Roman):

https://cyprus-mail.com/2023/08/02/excavations-reveal-significant-cultural-treasures-off-peyia/

A 2400 years bp structure (possibly a prytaneion) from Bushat (found in 2018):

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article277864038.html

Coal miners in Serbia revealed remains of a 3rd/4th CE Roman ship:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/ancient-roman-boat-from-empires-frontier-unearthed-in-serbian-coal-mine
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/serbian-coal-miners-uncover-roman-ship-2023-08-03/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-753527 https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/04/ancient-roman-ship-serbia/ https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/archaeologists-unearth-roman-ship-in-serbias-opencast-coal-quarry/news
https://www.rferl.org/a/serbian-coal-miners-uncover-ancient-roman-ship/32533838.html
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/ancient-roman-ship-uncovered-miners-serbia-1234676308/

Overview of the underwater excavations at the Akrotiri-Dreamer's Bay site:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2023/08/01/ancient-finds-relocated-from-akrotiri-coast/ https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/news/local/investigation-uncovers-maritime-treasures-at-dreamers-bay-off-akrotiri/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/07/31/ancient-akrotiri-dreamers-bay-project-underwater-season-2023/

A study of Roman aqueduct maintenance in Divona (France):

https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-08-04-what-did-romans-do-us-aqueducts-and-art-roman-water-management
https://phys.org/news/2023-08-art-roman-revealed.html

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-38655-z

Recent finds from the Villa San Marco site at Stabia:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/08/excavation-reveals-new-insights-into-last-moments-of-vesuvius-eruption/148163
http://pompeiisites.org/comunicati/stabia-dai-nuovi-scavi-di-villa-san-marco-il-racconto-delle-dinamiche-delleruzione-del-vesuvio-del-79-d-c/
https://www.stilearte.it/nuovi-splendidi-reperti-riemergono-dagli-scavi-di-stabia-una-della-cittadine-coperte-dalleruzione-del-vesuvio/

2nd century CE (maybe) pottery from a dig in Cowley:

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23695408.archaeologists-uncover-roman-pottery-cowley-excavation/

An 'unusual' potter's signature or graffito from a Roman tile kiln site in Menety:

https://arkeonews.net/roman-tile-kiln-excavation-unusual-potters-signature-or-graffito-found-in-england/

A possible Roman villa site at a future police station site in Cambridge:

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/history/large-villa-complex-could-uncovered-27460327

A Roman gemstone depicting a mythological figure of some sort from an underwater excavation near Venice:

https://www.newsweek.com/precious-engraved-roman-gem-discovered-1816286 https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article277925413.html https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/rare-roman-gemstone-discovered-lio-piccolo-italy-1234676001/

A Roman-era steelyard beam from Milecastle 46 on Hadrian's wall:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/07/rare-roman-steelyard-beam-found-at-milecastle-46-on-hadrians-wall/148146

Evidence of a Roman-era cat from near Darlington:

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23685804.evidence-countrys-first-ever-pet-cat-found-near-darlington/

More on the most recent finds from the Antikythera wreck:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/07/31/exciting-discoveries-in-the-antikythera-wreck-unearthing-fragments-and-unraveling-maritime-history/

More on the remains of Nero's private theatre near the Vatican:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/30/world/europe/rome-nero-theater.html https://hyperallergic.com/836406/ruins-of-ancient-roman-theater-discovered-during-dig-for-new-hotel/
https://greekreporter.com/2023/07/31/roman-emperor-nero-theatre-discovered-rome/
https://www.artdependence.com/articles/archaeologists-uncover-remains-of-the-theatrum-neroni-used-by-emperor-nero/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/nero-theater-found-rome-2344132 https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/07/31/neros-theater-discovered-in-rome-at-palazzo-della-rovere/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/emperor-nero-lost-theater-180982630/

More on the remains of a 1st century BC-2nd CE Roman domus from Melite:

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/2000yearold-roman-house-waste-disposal-system-discovered-rabat.1046935
https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2023-08-03/local-news/Further-Roman-structural-remains-discovered-close-to-Domvs-Romana-6736253827
https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/team-discovers-2000-year-old-roman-house-during-excavation-in-malta.html

More on the 1st/2nd century CE Medusa mosaic from Merida:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/exceptional-winged-medusa-discovered-in-roman-era-mosaic-in-spain
https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-roman-mosaic-archaeology-medusa-1816617 https://hyperallergic.com/837212/archeologists-unearth-ancient-mosaic-of-winged-medusa-in-spain/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/07/archaeologists-uncover-roman-mosaic-depicting-medusa/148089

More on the Roman shipwreck off the coast of Civitavecchia:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66337902 https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/07/31/ancient-roman-shipwreck-discovered-near-italian-capital-with-near-intact-cargo
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11619-230731-rome-shipwreck-amphoras

More on the ongoing excavations at Amphipolis:

https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/excavations-at-the-acropolis-of-amphipolis-shed-light-on-the-hellenistic-and-roman-past-of-the-city.html

More on the Roman coin hoard from Cornwall with some 'mysteriously swapped' coins:

https://menafn.com/1106757917/Three-Ancient-Roman-Coins-That-Were-Part-Of-A-Hoard-Found-In-The-UK-Were-Mysteriously-Swapped-With-Other-More-Valuable-Coins
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ancient-roman-coins-swapped-with-more-valuable-coins-uk-2343962

Greece is limiting the number of tourists visiting the Acropolis:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/04/world/europe/greece-acropolis-tourism-europe.html
https://www.thenationalnews.com/travel/2023/08/03/acropolis-of-athens-will-limit-visitors-from-september-due-to-overcrowding/

A 'previously hidden' section of London's original Roman wall has gone on display:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66365542 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12361131/Huge-section-Londons-original-Roman-wall-dating-1-800-years-hidden-basement-40-years-goes-public-display.html

Plans/hopes for excavation or the Burscough Roman fort site:

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/most-important-buried-roman-fort-27402278
https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/lancashires-2000-year-old-roman-27423874

A study on the (in)authenticity of a pair of Etruscan-Corinthian vases:

https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jrs.6578

Restoration work on three entablature blocks on the Temple of Epicurean Apollo:

https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/restoration-of-three-entablature-blocks-on-the-north-facade-of-the-temple-of-epicurean-apollo.html

University of Arkansas researchers have developed some virtual tours of Roman sites:

https://www.kuaf.com/show/ozarks-at-large/2023-08-03/uofa-researchers-develop-virtual-tours-of-ancient-roman-sites

Review of Robin Lane Fox, *Homer and his Iliad*:

https://literaryreview.co.uk/war-music

Figuring out the provenance of a 2nd century gladiator funerary relief in Thessaloniki:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/01/mystery-thessaloniki-gladiator-solved/

A pair of features on ancient Roman holiday travels:

https://www.spectator.com.au/2023/08/roman-holiday/ https://www.dw.com/en/roman-holiday-how-the-ancients-vacationed/a-66415051

Feature on recent Roman finds in Britain:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-times-view-on-archaeological-findings-roman-britain-qvzx7zsz7

Feature on Olivia Heffernan's research on mystery cults:

https://www.sbc.edu/live/news/3216-unraveling-ancient-mystery-cults

Feature on Victoria Pagan's work on a Tacitus Encyclopedia:

https://news.clas.ufl.edu/a-new-roman-encyclopedia/

Interview with Patrice Rankine on the relevance of Classics:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/classics-are-everywhere-most-us-are-likely-just-not-looking-them

On Barbie and the Odyssey:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/natashagural/2023/07/31/did-barbie-read-homers-odyssey-how-art-history-shaped-pink/?sh=7996ad7b42d3

Pondering the origins of Greek Fire:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-753024

Feature on astrology and imperial legitimacy in ancient Rome:

https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/astrology-imperial-legitimacy-rome/

Feature on libraries in ancient Rome:

https://aeon.co/essays/romes-libraries-were-shrines-to-knowledge-and-imperial-power

Feature on Anaximander's map of the known world:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/05/first-world-map-ancient-greek-anaximander/

Feature on Menelaus:

https://www.thecollector.com/king-menelaus-greek-mythology-hero/

Feature on the gladiator diet:

https://arkeonews.net/gladiators-were-mostly-vegetarians-and-they-were-fatter-than-you-may-think/

Feature on a well-decorated Roman soldier:

https://www.historynet.com/spurius-ligustinus-decorated-roman-soldier/

Feature on Roman numerals:

https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/xii-reasons-roman-numerals-are-better-than-arabic-numerals

Feature on Herculaneum:

https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-07-31/herculaneum-the-roman-city-destroyed-by-vesuvius-that-still-hides-its-mysteries.html

Feature on Sappho:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/07/30/sappho-poet-fragments/

Feature on Aesop's Fables:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/04/aesops-fables-ancient-greek-stories-children/

Feature on the battle of Chaeronea:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/02/battle-chaeronea-macedonia-ancient-greece/

Feature on the battle of Pydna:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/03/battle-pydna-macedon-rome-greece/

Feature on Sparta's lack of walls:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/07/31/sparta-the-only-ancient-greek-city-with-no-defensive-walls/

Feature on early 'stressed poetry' evidence from Ancient Greece:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/02/pop-culture-ancient-greece/

Activists 'repaid' the British Museum for the Parthenon Sculptures:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/activists-repay-elgin-marbles-bill-in-stunt-for-their-return-jnh5h59c6
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ============================================================
A 16 000 years bp cave entrance which hasn't been entered since from Germany:

https://www.newsweek.com/ice-age-cave-entrance-16000-years-discovered-1817302 https://arkeonews.net/ice-age-cave-entrance-that-nobody-has-entered-for-16000-years-found-in-germany/

A study of the 14 000 years bp skeleton of a woman (dubbed Linya) who was buried in the Pyrenean foothills:

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-3d-linya-prehistoric-woman-pyrenean.html

A 12 000 years bp homo sapiens skull fragment revealed by drought in Italy last year:

https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/the-2022-drought-in-northern-italy-brought-to-light-part-of-an-archaic-homo-sapiens-fossil.html

A man digging a pool in his backyard in Scotland revealed 8000 years bp (maybe) dolphin remains and a possible prehistoric tool:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-66361506 https://www.archaeology.org/news/11625-230803-scotland-dolphin-tool

5800 years bp monuments from Dorstone Hill in Hereforshire:

https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/remarkable-complex-of-early-neolithic-monuments-discovered-in-herefordshire-england.html

A pair of 4th millennium BCE (maybe) dolmens from the La Lentejuela site in Spain:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67929

Foundations of a 12th century high altar from the Exeter Cathedral excavations:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-66336019 https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/archaeologists-find-original-foundation-of-englands-famed-exeter-cathedral-1234675937/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/08/01/new-archaeological-discoveries-in-the-quire/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11620-230731-england-medieval-altar

... and a 900 years bp medieval crypt:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/subterranean-crypt-with-empty-tombs-unearthed-at-medieval-cathedral-in-england
https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/world/article277893723.html https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-900-year-old-english-cathedrals-hidden-medieval-crypt-180982648/

A 700 years bp iron spearhead found by a metal detectorist in Poland:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-753363

Salvaging of a 400 years bp shipwreck near the city of Lubeck (Germany) has been completed:

https://www.newsweek.com/unique-400-year-old-sunken-ship-salvaged-remains-high-quality-wine-1817530
https://www.dw.com/en/german-archaeologists-unearth-400-year-old-shipwreck-in-baltic/a-66401704

Big Dig 2 in Rochdale has revealed a Victorian grain mill and a public weighing station (inter alia):

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-66409908 https://www.rochdale.gov.uk/news/article/229/big-dig-2-unearths-fascinating-finds
https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/152856/big-dig-2-unearths-fascinating-finds

Victorian structure foundations found during an upgrade to a Warwick rail station:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-66415693

More on the 4000 years bp burials found at a future rocket launch site in the Shetland Islands:

https://www.kansas.com/news/nation-world/national/article277818993.html https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bronze-age-cemetery-rocket-launch-uk-180982633/

More on the Bronze Age meteoritic iron arrowhead found in Switzerland:

https://phys.org/news/2023-07-arrowhead-housed-bern-history-museum.html https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/meteorite-that-crashed-to-earth-3500-years-ago-carved-into-arrowhead-by-bronze-age-hunters
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/arrowhead-alien-meteorite-iron-switzerland-b2386895.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2023/08/01/archeologists-discover-bronze-age-arrowhead-made-of-alien-metal/
https://www.jpost.com/science/article-753655 https://news.err.ee/1609052174/swiss-bronze-age-arrowhead-possibly-forged-from-estonian-kaali-meteorite
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/ancient-arrowhead-meteorite-switzerland-moringen-1234676110/
https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/this-bronze-age-arrowhead-was-made-from-a-meteorite/
https://arkeonews.net/swiss-scientists-identify-arrowhead-made-from-a-meteoritic-iron/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67967 https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/07/bronze-age-arrowhead-made-of-meteoritic-iron-identified-by-study/148139
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11624-230802-switzerland-meteoritic-iron

More on the identification of a skeleton found in 1999 on the Isles of Scilly being identified as a woman:

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-mystery-iron-age-warrior-small.html https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/iron-age-warrior-woman-was-buried-with-a-sword-and-a-mirror
https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/mysterious-2000-year-old-grave-8631048
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/iron-age-west-country-grave-8656160
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/iron-age-female-warrior-1.6924710 https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/07/31/new-scientific-study-solves-mystery-of-2000-year-old-grave/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/iron-age-warrior-sword-mirror-woman-180982618/

More on the medieval pocket sundial found in Hesse:

https://arkeonews.net/a-very-rare-medieval-pocket-sundial-discovered-in-germany/

More on the search for remains of a legendary Victorian performing elephant:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archaeologists-hunt-for-remains-of-a-legendary-victorian-performing-elephant-2334648

More on that 'indulgence seal' from the Priory at Mottisfont in Hampshire:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67936

Rethinking the ivory figure from the Hohle Fels cave:

https://www.newsweek.com/cave-lion-cave-bear-ice-age-animal-archaeologists-1817216
https://arkeonews.net/the-first-ivory-work-of-art-recovered-from-the-world-heritage-cave-hohle-fels-was-believed-to-be-a-horse-until-archaeologists-made-a-new-discovery/

Five finds (various dates) from Wales were declared treasure:

https://archaeonewsnet.com/2023/07/detectorists-finds-in-wales-declared-treasure.html

Efforts to protect from 'piracy' a potential major trove of artifacts in the River Shannon near Portumna:

https://connachttribune.ie/waterways-ireland-protects-portumna-treasure-trove-from-piracy-threat/

Plans to 'fatten up' the Uffington White Horse:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-66371566 https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23694398.national-trust-plans-fatten-white-horse-uffington/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/uffington-white-horse-needs-fattening-up-archaeologists-say-slxdsmkhr
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12367257/Britains-mysterious-Uffington-chalk-white-horse-figure-dates-Bronze-Age-losing-weight-needs-fattening-National-Trust-experts-warn.html
https://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/hsdidcotnews/23694398.national-trust-plans-fatten-white-horse-uffington/

Preservation work at Tintern Abbey is underway:

https://www.medievalists.net/2023/07/preserve-tintern-abbey/

Some serious cracks in the Siena Duomo Cornice of the Popes was repaired:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67946

A conflict between a Pictish hillfort site and carbon offsetting ideas in Scotland:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12354933/Archaeologists-desperate-battle-save-historic-Pictish-hillfort-Scottish-governments-carbon-offsetting-woodland-scheme.html

Plans to rebury Matthew Flinders' remains in Lincolnshire:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66405752

Suggestion that Venice be put on UNESCO's heritage danger list:

https://phys.org/news/2023-07-unesco-venice-heritage-danger.html https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66362971

The Red Tower in York is reopening to the public:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-66373699

Feature on shared horse and human Viking burials:

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-horse-human-burials-deeply-vikings.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 ============================================================
Earliest evidence of systematic use of coal as a fuel source comes from a Song Dynasty site in northern China:

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-systematic-coal-fuel-source-bronze.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/coal-use-first-time-humans-b2385445.html

Giant panda remains from a royal burial in Xi'an dating to the Western Han Dynasty:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202308/1295560.shtml http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67972

More on restoration efforts at Angkor Wat's eastern entrance:

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-life-breathed-entrance-angkor-ancient-stairs-restored
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501335208/ana-restoring-angkor-wats-eastern-entrance/
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/eastern-mebon-restorations-underway-angkor

Halmidi and Talagunda are arguing over whose Kannada inscription is older:

https://thefederal.com/the-eighth-column/whos-older-halmidi-and-talagunda-locked-in-a-battle-over-kannada-inscription-antiquity/

Excavations at Benisagar suggest the site was continuously inhabited from the 5th century CE to 16th/17th:

https://indiawest.com/archaeologists-dig-up-5th-century-city-in-jharkhand/

A 10th century Jain sculpture from Rajapalayam in Tamil Nadu:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/jul/31/10th-century-jain-sculpture-identified-nearrajapalayam-in-tamil-nadu-2600252.html

A report that 31 antiquities have been stolen over the past decade from protected monuments in India:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/jul/31/31-antiquities-stolen-from-centrally-protected-monuments-temples-under-asi-in-last-10-years-govt-2600526.html

An Indian court approved the survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque to determine whether it was built over a Hindu temple:

https://apnews.com/article/india-disputed-mosque-survey-hindu-temple-b25502ff18b08de4871ceab57f09c737

... and the survey is underway:

https://m.timesofindia.com/india/survey-slated-for-today-asi-deploys-2-delhi-experts/articleshow/102406609.cms
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-gyanvapi-mosque-asi-to-perform-survey-of-premises-today-muslim-body-moves-supreme-court-against-hc-verdict-3054519

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