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explorator 23.28 November 1, 2020
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You can read explorator online at:
https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/
Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,
John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Hernan Astudillo, Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).
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EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Studying the 260 000 years bp Florisbad skull, found in South Africa back in 1932:
https://phys.org/news/2020-10-traits-florisbad-skull-mosaic-hypothesis.html
Pondering the implications of Neanderthal remains in Denmark:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/were-there-neanderthals-in-denmark-if-so-they-could-sail-or-swim-1.9263431
Feature on Neanderthal aesthetics:
https://hyperallergic.com/595698/kindred-neanderthal-art-bloomsbury/
Evidence of Denisovan DNA in 40 000 years bp (give or take) human remains from Mongolia:
https://phys.org/news/2020-10-denisovan-dna-genome-early-east.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201029141740.htm https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/mpif-ddi102620.php
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/10/denisovan-dna-in-genome-of-early-east.html
Denisovan DNA also was found in Tibet (possibly some overlap with the previous item):
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/caos-ddf103020.php https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/asu-ndd102720.php http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202010/31/WS5f9ca6fea31024ad0ba82425.html https://www.sciencenews.org/article/first-denisovan-dna-outside-siberia-found-tibetan-plateau-cave
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/dna-tracks-mysterious-denisovans-chinese-cave-just-modern-humans-arrived-nearby
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9177-201030-china-denisovan-dna
Another feature on myths associated with perceptions of the Neanderthals:
https://time.com/5904203/neanderthals-myths/
Review of Sykes, *Kindred*:
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/27/927772107/kindred-dismantles-simplistic-views-of-neanderthals
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AFRICA
================================================================
On why we need more African archaeologists:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/31/african-archaeologists-archaeology-europe-local-cultures
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
A tomb of a royal treasury supervisor (and other items) is the latest find from Tuna al-Gabal:
https://www.egyptindependent.com/egyptian-team-uncovers-ancient-tomb-of-royal-treasury-supervisor-in-minya/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/93520/New-archaeological-discovery-in-Tuna-al-Gabal
https://menafn.com/1101014178/Egypt-Pharaonic-burial-discovered-in-Minya
On the use of lead in ink by Egyptian scribes:
https://phys.org/news/2020-10-red-black-ink-egyptian-papyri.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/uoc--icl102220.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201026153959.htm https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/93638/Why-did-ancient-Egyptians-use-red-ink-in-their-papyri
https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/civillisations/egyptians-wanted-their-words-to-stick/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/10/27/inks-containing-lead-were-likely-used-as-drier-on-ancient-egyptian-papyri/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/10/red-and-black-ink-from-egyptian-papyri.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/renaissance-painters-ancient-egyptians-used-drying-techniques-make-their-words-stick-180976176/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9171-201028-egypt-lead-ink
Feature on Egyptian mummy portraits:
https://blog.britishmuseum.org/depicting-the-dead-ancient-egyptian-mummy-portraits/
Feature on medieval Muslim writings on ancient Egypt:
http://www.asor.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/foa-reduced-100.png
Poland is the latest country to honour Zahi Hawass:
https://www.egyptindependent.com/poland-grants-minister-of-antiquities-anany-egyptologist-hawass-order-of-merit/
More on the latest finds at Saqqara:
https://www.argophilia.com/news/archaeologist-discover-another-treasure-trove-at-saqqara-video/227492/
... and reviews of the Netflix documentary on them which came out last week:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/oct/30/secrets-of-the-saqqara-tomb-review https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/93761/Secrets-of-the-Saqqara-Tomb-review https://meaww.com/secrets-of-the-saqqara-tomb-netflix-documentary-review-ancient-egypt-archaeology
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1353669/egypt-extraordinary-mummified-lion-cub-discovered-bubasteum-saqqara-wahtye-netflix-spt
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1352664/egypt-secrets-saqqara-tomb-netflix-wahtye-pharaoh-archaeology-ancient-history-bone-spt
... and of course, there has to be some nuttiness coming out of this:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1353113/egypt-curse-pharaoh-secret-saqqara-tomb-cat-goddess-bastet-wahtye-priest-bubasteum-spt
COVID-19 has halted excavations in the Burnt City:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/453903/Corona-stops-archeological-work-in-Burnt-City
An Achaemenid fortress find from Rivi:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/454076/Remnants-of-Achaemenid-fortress-unearthed-in-northeast-Iran
https://ifpnews.com/remains-of-ancient-fortress-unearthed-in-northeast-iran
Remains of a Chalcolithic-era settlement in Iran's Lorestan province:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/453980/Traces-of-Chalcolithicera-era-settlement-revealed-in-western
Feature on the Cyrus Cylinder:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/454034/Cyrus-Cylinder-the-story-of-2-600-year-old-icon-of-freedom
A study of climate change effects in ancient Turkey 4500 years bp and 3000 years bp:
https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2020/10/archaeologists-ancient-turks-adapted-climate-change
https://phys.org/news/2020-10-archaeologists-reveal-human-resilience-climate.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/uot-arh102920.php https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2020/10/30/Humans-in-ancient-Turkey-adapted-to-climate-change-thrived/5171604060051/
https://scienceblog.com/519318/archaeologists-reveal-human-resilience-in-the-face-of-climate-change-in-ancient-turkey/
A 2000 years bp seal stone gem with an image of Apollo from the City of David:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/2000-year-old-gem-seal-depicting-greek-god-apollo-found-under-city-of-david-647350
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8894027/Gem-seal-engraved-portrait-Greek-god-Apollo-Jerusalem-dates-2-000-years.html
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/10/31/greek-god-apollo/
A 1700 years bp Greek inscription from the Golan heights bearing the name Kfar Nafah is causing excitement:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/greek-inscription-links-modern-israeli-army-base-to-1700-year-old-roman-village/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/1700-year-old-greek-inscription-in-golan-bears-same-name-as-village-today-647092
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/ancient-kfar-nafah-boundary-stone-uncovered-on-the-golan/2020/10/27/
https://thejewishvoice.com/2020/10/1700-year-old-boundary-stone-bearing-the-name-kfar-nafah-found-in-golan-heights/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-name-of-israeli-army-base-goes-back-1-700-years-1.9268451
https://www.jns.org/1700-year-old-boundary-stone-bearing-the-name-kfar-nafah-found-in-golan-heights/
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/ancient-boundary-stone-discovered/
Remains of a 4th/5th century Christian church built on a Roman-era temple of Pan from the Banias Nature Reserve:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-early-christian-church-built-atop-temple-to-pan-found-in-northern-israel/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-byzantine-church-pan-temple-found-israel-golan-archaeology-1.9269546
... and another Christian church find from the same time period from Laodicea:
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/house-with-church-unearthed-in-laodicea-159481
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9175-201030-anatolia-christian-church
More on that two shekelim weight find a few weeks ago:
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/first-temple-period-limestone-weight-08996.html
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1352801/archaeology-news-jerusalem-jewish-temple-solomon-israel-greece-egypt-spt
On recent evidence for the reign of King Manasseh:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-uncovering-the-lost-legacy-of-a-cursed-biblical-king-1.9272150
Feature on the Egyptian empire in Canaan:
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/agenta/the-egyptian-empire-in-canaan/
Interesting film on the opening of the Copper Scroll back in 1955:
https://dqcaas.com/2016/11/24/1953-film-of-cutting-open-of-the-copper-scroll/
Feature on the history of archaeology in Saudi Arabia:
https://alkhaleejtoday.co/saudi-arabia/5219500/History-of-archaeological-excavations-in-the-Kingdom-of-Saudi-Arabia.html
Claims of finding Jesus' crucifixion nails are making the rounds again:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/nails-found-in-1990-linked-to-jesus-christs-crucifixion-scientists-find-646839
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/10/27/bone-wood-crucifixion-christ/
The reopening of the Chora Monastery as a mosque has been postponed:
https://eu.greekreporter.com/2020/10/29/reopening-of-chora-monastery-as-mosque-postponed/
https://eu.greekreporter.com/2020/10/28/turkey-covers-up-priceless-frescoes-in-ancient-greek-church-for-muslim-prayers/
Folks might be interested in the Thin End of the Wedge podcast (looking at the ancient Middle East) which is just getting underway:
http://www.wedgepod.org/
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
Finds from the Mycenean necropolis at Tapeza:
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/10/26/the-necropolis-of-trapeza-aegion-comes-to-light/
A study of a 6th century BC Greek site in Spain:
https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-10-28/el-misterio-del-fuego-griego-en-albacete.html
Amphoras and other wine type vessels from an underwater site off Hvar:
https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/47817-hvar-archaeological-discovery
Similar sorts of finds off the coast of Civitavecchia:
https://www.temporeale.info/104147/argomenti/cronaca/civitavecchia-recuperata-anfora-greco-romana-dal-gruppo-subacqueo-della-guardia-di-finanza.html
https://www.ilcorrieredellacitta.com/ultime-notizie/scoperta-archeologica-nei-fondali-di-civitavecchia-trovata-una-splendida-anfora-greco-romana-foto-e-video.html
Finds from various ancient/Byzantine periods found during rescue digs in Ruse (Bulgaria):
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/10/27/thracian-pits-roman-byzantine-buildings-found-in-rescue-digs-in-sexaginta-prista-fortress-in-bulgarias-danube-city-ruse/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/10/archaeologists-uncover-unique-roman.html
Finds from various periods from a site near Belgrade:
https://www.telegraf.rs/english/3255958-items-from-time-of-antiquity-shown-in-gladiator-found-near-pancevo-dealings-with-romans-examined
Remains of some Byzantine settlements in western Turkey:
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/new-byzantine-settlements-discovered-in-western-turkey
More on that large Roman structure unearthed in Switzerland:
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/10/exceptionally-large-roman-building.html
A decision to use concrete to pave some sections of the Acropolis isn't going over well:
https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/10/31/archaeologists-blast-decision-to-cement-sections-of-the-acropolis/
The site at Selinunte has reopened after a fire a couple weeks ago:
http://www.marsalalive.it/2020/10/29/parco-archeologico-di-selinunte-riapre-al-pubblico-la-zona-dellacropoli/
Feature on the fall of Rome:
https://www.livescience.com/why-did-rome-fall.html
Feature on ostracism:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ancient-athenians-voted-kick-politicians-out-if-enough-people-didnt-them-180976138/
Feature on ancient Greek cosmetic use:
https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/10/30/ancient-greeks-used-exotic-dangerous-cosmetics-in-eternal-search-for-beauty/
Feature on Aqueducts:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/aqueducts-how-ancient-rome-brought-water-to-its-people
Feature on Miletus:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/10/ancient-miletus/135960
Feature on Rheneia:
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/10/rheneia-other-delos.html
Feature on the Roman Balneum in Rafina:
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-roman-balneum-in-rafina-monument.html
Feature on the Classis Britannica:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/10/the-classis-britannica-the-roman-navy-of-britannia/135939
Feature on Roman crucifixion:
https://stevengambardella.medium.com/roman-terror-505cf28b91ea
Feature on Kommos:
https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/minoan-harbour-town-kommos/
Feature on Aeschylus:
https://medium.com/in-medias-res/a-winter-of-aeschylus-165c0768d200
Feature on Phryne:
https://alkhaleejtoday.co/international/5207376/Phryne-the-dramatic-trial-of-the-Ancient-Greek-courtesan-who-undressed.html
Feature on the Xobourgo 'Athlete':
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/10/27/the-athlete-from-xobourgo-is-in-the-archaeological-museum-of-tinos/
Feature on Erik Gunderson's 'Monsters' course at the University of Toronto:
https://www.utoronto.ca/news/spooky-subjects-u-t-monsters-course-explores-our-fascination-frightful
... and Adrienne Hagen's ancient magic and witchcraft course at Monmouth:
https://www.galesburg.com/news/20201026/monmouth-college-class-investigates-ancient-magic-witchcraft
https://www.reviewatlas.com/news/20201026/monmouth-college-class-investigates-ancient-magic-witchcraft
Latest bit of touristy vandalism at the Colosseum:
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/why-do-tourists-keep-vandalising-the-colosseum.html
On pagan complacency and the birth of the Christian Roman empire:
https://aeon.co/essays/pagan-complacency-and-the-birth-of-the-christian-roman-empire
Feature on one of the more interesting 'walkers' of Hadrian's Wall:
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-54708593
Latest feature on what Cleopatra really looked like:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1352168/egypt-news-cleopatra-appearance-unmasked-coins-mark-antony-julius-caesar-spt
Caitlin Barrett has been named a National Geographic Explorer:
https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2020/10/professor-studying-pompeii-honored-national-geographic
Something about a bust of Hercules appearing in 'virtual reality' at Tefaf online:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/ancient-greek-head-dug-up-in-a-garden-will-now-appear-in-virtual-reality-at-tefaf-online
Just so you know, they're harvesting grapes at Pompeii right now:
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/pompeii-grape-harvest-amid-ancient-roman-ruins.html
Some reviews of the Netflix series 'Barbarians':
https://www.newsweek.com/barbarians-barbaren-true-story-real-life-netflix-arminius-thusnelda-folkwin-wolfspeer-1542407
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/28/arts/television/barbarians-netflix.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2020/10/28/netflixs-barbarians-is-not-even-worth-the-short-binge/
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a34510001/barbarians-netflix-season-2/
... and 'Blood of Zeus':
https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/blood-of-zeus-review-mythology-explained
Spinning the pandemic with some Greek myth angles:
https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2020/10/25/913109242/drawing-on-greek-myths-as-inspiration-for-illustrating-life-during-the-pandemic
https://www.jonathanmuroya.com/greek-quarantology
Rumours of a Lego Colosseum being available soon are making the rounds:
https://www.brickfanatics.com/rumoured-lego-10276-colosseum-may-be-biggest-ever-set/
... while the University of Sydney donated its Lego Acropolis to the Acropolis Museum:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/10/31/lego-acropolis/
In case you missed the statue controversy (Roman emperors) at Brown:
https://www.browndailyherald.com/2020/10/28/decolonization-brown-prof-neumann-present-statue-changes-ucs/
Applying the Gracchi to the current US zeitgeist:
https://www.worldtribune.com/draining-the-swamp-in-ancient-rome-americas-gracchi-moment-of-truth/
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:
http://romanarc.blogspot.com/
Rogueclassicism:
http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
34 000 - 24 000 years bp bison paintings in a cave in Spain are hinting at a 'common art culture' across Paleolithic Europe:
https://phys.org/news/2020-10-bison-engravings-spanish-caves-reveal.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/p-bei102120.php https://elpais.com/ciencia/2020-10-29/grabados-de-bisontes-en-cuevas-espanolas-revelan-una-cultura-artistica-comun-en-la-antigua-europa.html
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/paleolithic-animal-engravings-aitzbitarte-caves-09000.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/10/bison-engravings-in-spanish-caves.html
A study of the diet of 43 Neolithic burials from Theopetra Cave:
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/10/analysis-of-43-neolithic-skeletons-of.html
The Bronze Age battlefield near Tollense is now thought to reflect a massacre, rather than a battle:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/oldest-known-battle-was-really-ambush-massacre-bhfbz8vp9
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8879473/Battle-Tollense-Valley-4-250-years-ago-massacre-1-400-Bronze-Age-merchants.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9167-201027-tollense-valley-massacre
A farmer came across an interesting 2400 years bp sculpture in Andalucia:
https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-10-30/un-agricultor-encuentra-en-cordoba-una-pieza-arqueologica-de-gran-valor.html
Studying Paleolithic fire use:
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/10/27/unravelling-prehistoric-fire-use/
Remains of an Iron Age settlement from Cruden Bay:
https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/large-iron-age-settlement-uncovered-north-east-3018070
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/nostalgia/2589184/aberdeen-archaeologist-confirms-major-prehistoric-village-find-in-cruden-bay/
https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/news/archaeologists-uncover-ancient-settlement-at-cruden-bay-216487/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9173-201029-scotland-iron-age
I think we mentioned this 'Anglo-Saxon' burial from near Marlow:
https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/news/anglo-saxon-warrior-burial-uncovered.htm
... and the roundhouse from Bamburgh Castle:
https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/news/roundhouse-revealed-at-bamburgh-castle.htm
A project studying 9th/10th century beads from Viking burials on Gotland:
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/humanities/departments/classics-and-archaeology/research/research-projects/current-projects/2021-2018-viking-burial-glass.aspx
A 9th century relief from an altar found in Zavala (Bosnia):
https://www.sarajevotimes.com/relief-plate-from-the-9th-century-found-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina/
Four submerged medieval (it seems) village sites from the Netherlands:
https://nltimes.nl/2020/10/26/four-submerged-villages-found-noordoostpolder https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/10/maritime-archaeologist-finds-four-lost-dutch-medieval-villages/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologist-uncovered-four-submerged-settlements-netherlands-180976167/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9168-201027-netherlands-lost-villages
I think we mentioned this possible medieval cemetery found during shed construction at a residence in Shetland:
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18812640.burial-site-ancient-capital-shetland/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9162-201026-shetland-island-cemetery
Remains of the original 14th century Ancrum bridge found on the Teviot riverbed:
https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/scotland/archaeologists-discover-remains-of-14th-century-bridge-on-riverbed/
https://www.thenational.scot/news/18829384.ancient-bridge-scottish-borders-found-local-heritage-group/?ref=fbshr
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18830256.old-ancrum-bridge-timbers-date-1300s/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/volunteer-researchers-find-medieval-scottish-bridge-180976175/
The 'tiltyard' where Henry VIII was thrown from his horse in 1536 has been located:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8892879/Site-Henry-VIIIs-near-fatal-jousting-accident-revealed.html
An 18th century sex toy from a Polish latrine:
https://alkhaleejtoday.co/international/5239990/18th-century-sex-toy-was-dug-up-in-a-Polish-latrine.html
Unexpected 18th/19th century finds during excavations ath the Beacon Ring hillfort in Wales:
https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/news/unexpected-discoveries-at-beacon-ring.htm
Hopes for useful results from a dig at an anceint Gairloch roundhouse:
https://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/evidence-from-wester-ross-dig-could-unlock-mysteries-of-past-216265/
Interesting burials (not sure of the date) from Lothian's 'most haunted' estate:
https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/skulls-scarred-teeth-found-sticking-19169309
Restoration of the western portal of the Saint-Maurice Cathedral is complete:
http://www.angers.fr/actualites-sorties/62590-le-portail-occidental-de-la-cathedrale-est-restaure/index.html
A hidden medieval 'prank' discovered during a study of the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/nov/01/a-selfie-set-in-stone-hidden-portrait-by-cheeky-mason-found-in-spain-900-years-on
A Dublin grocery store has incorporated a Viking site into their operations:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dublin-grocery-store-shoppers-glimpse-viking-history-beneath-their-feet-180976150/
The Book of Lismore is returning to Ireland:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/oct/28/historic-book-of-lismore-returning-ireland-after-centuries-in-british-hands
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-irelands-most-important-historic-books-will-return-home-180976162/
Concerns for Botallack Manor in Cornwall:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-54737129
Feature on Sutton Hoo:
https://www.historyextra.com/period/anglo-saxon/sutton-hoo-what-where-burial-site-visit-discovery/
Feature on the Catacombs of Rome:
https://aleteia.org/2020/11/01/this-all-saints-day-be-inspired-by-the-catacombs-of-rome/
More on Henry VIII and his heavy orchestration of Anne Boleyn's execution:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-henry-viii-orchestrated-every-detail-anne-boleyns-execution-180976135/
More on the 22 medieval burials found in (and under walls) in Almazan (Spain):
https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/10/27/remains-of-22-bodies-found-in-medieval-spanish-settlement/
----------
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 ================================================================
A 6000 years bp 'silkworm sculpture' from Shanxi:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-10/28/c_139472787.htm https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-10-28/Archaeologists-unearth-6-000-year-old-silkworm-sculpture-in-N-China-UXibtLzMyc/index.html
A Northern Wei Dynasty 'worship site' from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region:
https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1205096.shtml
Feature on work being done at the Yuanying Guan ruins:
http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202010/28/WS5f98a857a31024ad0ba815ea.html
Feature on the 2000 year old porcelain/pottery industry at Jingdezhen:
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3105628/china-town-porcelain-capital-jingdezhen-2000
Some tiles connected with Genghis Khan which were being smuggled have been declared authentic:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1352770/archaeology-genghis-khan-uzbekistan-science-news-british-museum-spt
Pondering that Irish 'clachan' find in Australia a few months ago:
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/programs/nightlife/history/12816576 ================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Possible Native American burials from a rural site in Iowa:
https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/state_and_national/probable-burial-site-found-in-rural-taylor-county/article_1f3a9096-157d-5814-9fed-b9a3f9f2035a.html
A 300 years bp slave quarters from a Jesuit plantation site in Maryland:
https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/bs-fe-slave-quarter-discovery-20201028-ics5uul2x5avpdicwjo5dzht64-story.html
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/300-year-old-slave-quarters-newtowne-neck-state-park/34520141
https://wtop.com/maryland/2020/10/300-year-old-slave-quarters-found-in-st-marys-co/
https://news.yahoo.com/archaeologists-uncover-300-old-slave-213100210.html https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/archeologists-unearth-300-year-old-slave-quarters-in-southern-maryland
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/jesuit-slave-quarters-unearthed-maryland-180976151/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9174-201029-maryland-slave-quarter
Various finds from a homestead site (18th/19th century) in Fairlee Town Forest (NH):
https://www.vnews.com/Out---About-Fairlee-man-uncovers-homestead-site-36919282
A metal detectorist found a 222 years bp coin outside a Maine church:
https://abc3340.com/news/offbeat/man-with-metal-detector-finds-222-year-old-coin-maine-church
600 unmarked burials, possibly 200 years bp, found near Clemson University:
https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/10/30/researchers-find-more-than-unmarked-graves-clemsons-campus/
Halloweenish feature on some graveyards in New Haven:
https://mailchi.mp/dailynutmeg/new-haven-forgotten-burial-grounds-hallowed-ground?e=2c38baa027
A First Nations burial (18th/19th century) revealed by construction near Prince Albert:
https://panow.com/2020/10/30/construction-project-unearths-historic-burial-site-near-prince-albert/
Feature on Cahokia:
https://theconversation.com/cahokian-culture-spread-across-eastern-north-america-1-000-years-ago-in-an-early-example-of-diaspora-130106
Feature on the 1876 presidential election:
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Former-NY-Gov-Tilden-can-t-escape-theft-in-life-15690320.php
... and the 1860 one:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/30/opinion/lincoln-trump-1860-2020.html
More on that 300 year 'window' for Clovis tool production:
https://today.tamu.edu/2020/10/23/texas-am-expert-new-clues-revealed-about-clovis-people/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/10/26/new-clues-revealed-about-clovis-people/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/10/new-clues-revealed-about-clovis-people/135909
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9166-201026-clovis-new-dates
More on finds associated with the Tulsa Race Massacre:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/10/search-for-victims-tulsa-race-massacre-continues-mass-grave-unearthed/
More on New Mexico footprints:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/23/science/ancient-footprints.html ================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
A 600 years bp burial found during road construction in Ciudad Bolivar (Bogota):
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/10/600-year-old-burial-found-in-bogotas.html
More on evidence of llama sacrifice in Peru:
https://www.livescience.com/inca-llama-sacrifices-naturally-mummified.html https://www.sciencenews.org/article/mummified-llamas-peru-inca-ritual-sacrifice https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/10/archaeologists-find-first-naturally.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9165-201026-peru-decorated-llamas
More on Maya water filters:
https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2020/10/uc-archaeologists-discover-sophisticated-water-filters-in-ancient-maya-city.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/10/26/ancient-maya-built-sophisticated-water-filters/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9169-201027-tikal-clean-water
More on the Nazca 'cat':
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/10/2000-year-old-cat-etching-found-at.html
-----
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 ================================================================
Really not sure where to put this one on hominin remains affecting Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin (1187):
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-how-hominins-predating-humankind-doomed-the-crusaders-at-the-battle-of-hattin-1.9265604
Feature on Stalin and the last Russian Templars:
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p08w5mj1/did-stalin-eliminate-the-last-templars-in-russia-
On the word 'taboo':
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20201026-the-origin-of-the-word-taboo
What Victorian-era seaweed pressings reveal:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/27/what-victorian-era-seaweed-pressings-reveal-about-our-changing-seas
Interesting study of pet cemeteries:
https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/latest/2020/10/petcemeteries/ https://phys.org/news/2020-10-pet-cemeteries-reveal-belief-afterlife.html https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pet-cemeteries-reveal-just-how-much-our-relationships-pets-have-evolved-180976153/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9176-201029-pet-cemetery-survey
... possibly related item on dog burials:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-dog-burials-go-back-almost-as-long-as-modern-human-history-1.9269242
On some British imperial history revisionism:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/11/02/misremembering-the-british-empire
A yeast study suggests Darwin's theory of evolution needs some tweaking:
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/10/archaeologists-find-first-naturally.html
Reviewish thing about Thomas De Quincey:
https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/thomas-de-quincey-selected-writings-book-review/
Feature on some recently-discovered letters between JM Barrie and Robert Louis Stevenson:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/oct/25/lost-letters-reveal-jm-barrie-and-robert-louis-stevensons-mutual-affection
Some Getty-inspired pumpkins:
http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/liven-up-your-halloween-at-home-with-these-5-getty-villa-inspired-pumpkins/
... and how the early Church 'Christianized' Halloween:
https://www.history.com/news/halloween-samhain-celts-catholic-church
In case you're griping about having to change the time on a couple of clocks:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-54387428
On what archaeologists do and don't do:
https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/community/dig-it-what-archaeologists-do-and-don-t-do-1.24228335
Feature on Napoleon's 'appropriation' of Italian cultural items:
https://smarthistory.org/napoleon-italy-culture-looting/
Feature on books bound in human skin:
https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/new-nonfiction-book-looks-at-history-of-texts-bound-in-human-skin/
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