===============================================================
explorator 23.32 November 29, 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, Jeffrey Spier,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Neanderthal thumbs preferrred to grasp things with handles, apparently:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/sr-ant112520.php https://phys.org/news/2020-11-neanderthal-thumbs-tools.html https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/27/world/neanderthal-human-hands-thumb-grip-scn/index.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/neanderthal-thumbs-better-adapted-to.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/27/neanderthal-thumbs-better-adapted-to-holding-tools-with-handles/

A genetic study suggests Neanderthals could 'tolerate' smoke:

https://phys.org/news/2020-11-genetic-reveals-neanderthals-tolerate-toxins.html https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/genetic-study-reveals-neanderthals.html

Suggestion that increases in homo sapiens' body and brain size can be connected to processing foods:

https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/paleo-processing-foods/

A study of a femur suggests Sahelanthropus tchadensis wasn't a hominin:

https://phys.org/news/2020-11-partial-left-femur-sahelanthropus-tchadensis.html ================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Study suggests humans persistently occupied the South African coast from 35 000 - 10 000 years bp:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/asu-apr112320.php https://phys.org/news/2020-11-ancient-people-coastal-environments-survive.html https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/ancient-people-relied-on-coastal.html

More on 'repeated' occupation of the West African coast in Mesolithic times:

https://phys.org/news/2020-11-ancient-people-coastal-environments-survive.html https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/23/middle-stone-age-populations-repeatedly-occupied-west-african-coast/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9230-201124-west-africa-mesolithic ================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
This took longer than expected ... media focus on 'curses' found at Saqqara:

https://www.sciencealert.com/archaeologists-unearth-160-sarcophagi-from-an-ancient-egyptian-necropolis
https://www.businessinsider.com/egypt-saqqara-tombs-mummy-curses-2020-11

Feature on Egyptian sarcophagi (mostly the ones from Saqqara):

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/death-has-become-big-business-elaborate-coffins-illuminate-hidden-history-ancient-egypt

Feature on Egypt's 'lost tombs':

https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-egypt/ancient-egypt-egyptian-lost-tombs-treasures-podcast/

In case you missed the study of the pigment of a Faiyum mummy portrait:

https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/science-reveals-secrets-of-a-mummys-portrait/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/24/science-reveals-secrets-of-a-mummys-portrait/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9229-201123-egypt-portrait-paint

The Sura Project is putting a pile of photos from Jean Capart's archives online:

https://www.sura-project.be/project/

More on constellation depictions at the Esna temple:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/temple-esna-constellations-09081.html

An 'accidental' find of Achaemenid pottery from southern Iran:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/455138/Guard-accidentally-finds-Achaemenid-pottery-fragment-southern

The recently-found Karahantepe site in southeastern Turkey might be older than Gobeklitepe:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/new-karahantepe-settlement-may-be-older-than-gobeklitepe/news

The 'biggest' early Bronze Age goddess statue found at Kultepe:

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/ancient-goddess-statue-unearthed-in-central-turkey-3554865
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/biggest-goddess-statue-of-early-bronze-age-found-at-central-anatolias-kultepe-site/news
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/goddess-statue-unearthed-in-central-turkey-160250
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9232-201125-kultepe-goddess-statue

Feature on a 4500 years bp olive oil processing site in Jordan:

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/discovering-a-4500-year-old-olive-oil-factory-in-jordan/

Feature on Eliot Braun's work with copper finds from Jordan:

https://menafn.com/1101192641/Jordan-American-archaeologist-explores-copper-objects-from-the-Early-Bronze-Age&source=19

Feature on Nebuchadnezzar:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2020/11/nebuchadnezzar-explained

Feature on an underwater dig near Mount Carmel:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-archaeology-by-zoom-excavating-an-underwater-village-when-half-the-team-can-t-come-1.9326169

Latest Temple Mount Sifting Project find is a 3000 years bp (maybe) gold bead found by a nine-year-old:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/temple-mount-sifting-project-uncovers-3000-year-old-gold-bead-lost-on-holy-site/
https://tmsifting.org/en/2020/11/26/find-and-finder-of-the-month-a-rare-gold-bead-from-the-first-temple-period/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/3000-year-old-temple-era-gold-bead-found-by-9-year-old-jerusalem-boy-650494
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/jerusalem/sifting-project-yields-rare-gold-bead-from-first-temple-period/2020/11/29/

Claims of the find of the 'childhood home of Jesus' were making the rounds this week:

https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/11/27/british-archaeologist-finds-likely-birthplace-of-jesus-beneath-modern-day-convent-in-nazareth/
https://www.foxnews.com/science/has-jesus-childhood-home-been-discovered-in-nazareth
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jesus-christ-boyhood-home-under-nazareth-convent-israel-archaeologist-says/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/archaeologist-has-found-childhood-home-of-jesus-ncd3xlbsw
https://www.foxnews.com/science/has-jesus-childhood-home-been-discovered-in-nazareth
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1767246/middle-east https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201127-childhood-home-of-jesus-may-have-been-found-in-nazareth-says-british-scholar/

More on forging/counterfeiting/alloying silver in early Iron Age Israel:

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/dirty-old-money-researchers-reveal-iron-age-silver-forgery-649864
https://www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologists-identify-early-israelite-era-attempts-to-forge-dirty-currency/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-counterfeiting-began-even-before-money-was-invented-archaeologists-deduce-1.9322163

More on the 3000 years bp fort remnants from the Golan:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/geshurite-fort-israel-09088.html

Feature on petroglyphs at Mount Karkom from various periods:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/ancient-rock-etchings-on-remote-negev-plateau-evoke-the-bible-draw-new-interest/

Pondering the location of other fake DSS (with a Museum of the Bible connection):

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/december/dead-sea-scrolls-forgeries-fraud-antiquities-museum-bible.html

Suggestion Qumranites may have been preparing for the 'War of Gog and Magog':

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/a-visit-to-the-site-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls-650332

Questioning the stature of Goliath:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/bible-warrior-goliath-david-not-giant-height-gath

A 2900 years bp 'Urartu archaeological park' is opening to the public:

https://www.jpost.com/international/2900-year-old-urartu-archeological-park-to-be-opened-to-public-650449

Feature on the site of Hegra (Saudi Arabia):

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/hegra-ancient-city-saudi-arabia-untouched-for-millennia-makes-its-public-debut-180976361/
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/hegra-saudi-arabia-s-first-unesco-world-heritage-site-to-open-for-public-after-2-000-years-1745092-2020-11-29

UNESCO's reaction to what's happening at Hagia Sophia:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/24/unescos-reaction-on-status-of-hagia-sophia/
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
An Archaic structure from Epidaurus:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/259658/article/ekathimerini/life/asclepius-sanctuary-discovery-adds-new-details-to-timeline

A 6th century BCE Picene burial from Sirolo (Italian):

https://www.ansa.it/marche/notizie/2020/11/27/scoperta-tomba-gentilizia-eta-picena-vi-sec-a.c.-a-sirolo_a4e35d62-cd07-4ddb-9835-29a7f0c124fa.html
https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cultura/arte/2020/11/27/scoperta-tomba-gentilizia-eta-picena-vi-sec-a.c.-a-sirolo_c3c48906-8ceb-45e7-bb4e-c296797f8b97.html
https://www.centropagina.it/attualita/sirolo-scoperta-tomba-gentilizia-di-eta-picena/

Roman-era statuettes of assorted deities from Kibyra:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/significant-roman-era-artifacts-found-in-kibyra-160306
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/greek-egyptian-deity-figures-found-in-southwestern-burdurs-kibyra-ancient-city/news
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/11/27/statue-greek-deities-turkish-media/

Assorted Roman-era finds from a rescue dig by a Bulgarian coal mining company:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/26/early-thracian-roman-medieval-settlements-athena-statuette-found-in-rescue-digs-by-bulgarian-coal-mining-company/

A Roman necropolis on a solar energy farm near Volpiano (Italian):

https://www.quotidianocanavese.it/made-in-canavese/volpiano-spunta-una-necropoli-romana-nei-terreni-della-centrale-fotovoltaica-eni-foto-30043
https://www.torinotoday.it/attualita/volpiano-necropoli-centrale-ENI.html

Overviewish thing on finds at a dig of the VII Claudia Legion headquarters in Serbia:

https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/buried-under-a-serbian-cornfield-roman-military-hq-slowly-sheds-its-secrets
https://in.reuters.com/article/serbia-archaeology/buried-under-a-serbian-cornfield-roman-military-hq-slowly-sheds-its-secrets-idINKBN2861CR
https://www.yahoo.com/news/buried-under-serbian-cornfield-roman-150737460.html https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/11/26/archaeologists-find-silver-coins-at-roman-era-site-in-serbia/
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-11-26/buried-under-a-serbian-cornfield-roman-military-headquarters-slowly-sheds-its-secrets

... and one on the excavation of a Roman domus/villa in Pegue:

https://www.inrap.fr/une-domus-antique-au-pegue-drome-15383

Not sure about these ones .. Roman items found by some metal detectorists in Ryedale:

https://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/18884712.rare-roman-artefacts-found-ryedale-field/

Not sure where this one should go ... a 4th/5th century CE well in a Christian monastery built on a Temple of Apollo on St Ivan Island:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/24/archaeologists-find-holy-well-of-early-christian-monastery-on-top-of-2500-year-old-apollo-temple-on-bulgarias-st-ivan-island/

In case you've missed the hype about the LEGO Colosseum (it's apparently sold out already):

https://www.livescience.com/lego-colosseum-is-the-biggest-set-ever https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/27/business/lego-colosseum-trnd/index.html https://www.brickfanatics.com/lego-10276-colosseum-available-now/

Latest example of a tourist returning something they took from a site ... this time, the Forum:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/25/american-woman-returns-ancient-roman-marble-apology-letter
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55069045 https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18903101.issue-day-tourists-return-stolen-artefacts/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/11/25/american-tourist-apologises-asshole-stealing-marble-fragment/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2020/11/25/penitent-american-tourist-returns-artifact-stolen-from-rome/
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/tourist-returns-stolen-marble-from-the-roman-forum.html

A mosaic stolen from Apamea appears to be the oldest depiction of a Roman water wheel:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/11/photos-of-stolen-mosaic-reveals-oldest-representation-of-roman-hydraulic-wheel/136207
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/25/oldest-representation-of-roman-hydraulic-wheel/

Roman-era mining galleries at Ladik (Turkey) are opening for tourist purposes:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roman-era-mining-galleries-to-open-to-tourism-160274

Plans to make Eraclea Minoa more tourist friendly (Italian):

https://www.siciliaweekend.info/2020/11/26/eraclea-minoa-restyling-per-larea-archeologica/

More on that recently-found pair of victims at Pompeii:

https://www.livescience.com/pompeii-victims-found-slave-and-master.html https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55029538 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/21/pompeii-dig-reveals-almost-perfect-remains-of-a-master-and-his-slave
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pompeii-archaeological-excavation-discovery-preserved-bodies-man-slave/
https://eu.greekreporter.com/2020/11/24/archaeologists-uncover-two-well-preserved-bodies-at-pompeii/
https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-11-22/los-muertos-de-pompeya-narran-la-vida-de-la-ciudad-romana-destruida-por-el-vesubio.html
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/new-skeletons-master-slave-pompeii-1925795 https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/11/archaeologists-find-two-more-bodies-among-the-ruins-of-pompeii/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/24/the-traces-of-pain-the-victims-of-civita-giuliana/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/remains-two-men-one-rich-and-one-enslaved-found-pompeii-180976383/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9227-201123-pompeii-human-remains

... and Mary Beard's commentary on claims made regarding the above:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-bodies-of-pompeii-blog-post-mary-beard/

I think we've mentioned this restoration of a vineyard near Pompeii:

https://www.euronews.com/2020/11/24/bringing-an-ancient-roman-vineyard-back-to-life

... and this oldest bottle of olive oil, recently identified in the Naples museum:

https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/business/europe/insights-into-oldest-bottle-olive-oil/87546

Review of Stephen Fry,*Troy*:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/troy-stephen-fry-review-old-fashioned-guide-worlds-greatest/

Feature on the Antonine Wall:

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/history/romans-antonine-wall-history-14748487

... and why folks might have Roman items in their Glasgow back yards:

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/roman-treasure-glasgow-back-garden-19328478

Interesting feature on a 17th century tapestry depicting the abduction of Helen:

https://smarthistory.org/abduction-of-helen-tapestry/

Feature on upper class Roman feasting:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/ancient-roman-feasting-history/index.html https://theunionjournal.com/the-ancient-roman-banquet-celebrated-shock-awe-and-carpe-diem/

Feature on Justinian's Code:

https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/roman-empire-emperor-justinian-and-his-code-of-law/

Feature on Greeks and blue:

https://www.themarysue.com/ancient-greeks-blue-asapscience/

Feature on the copy of the Parthenon frieze in Perth:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/180439/perths-parthenon-frieze-at-home-in-stunning-wa-museum-boola-bardip/

Feature on ancient Greek life expectancy:

https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/life-expectancy-of-the-ancient-greeks/

... and what it was like being elderly in ancient Greece:

https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/being-an-elderly-person-in-ancient-greek-society/

... and how folks survived Old Age:

https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/how-to-survive-old-age-in-ancient-greece/

Feature on women in Greek myth:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-history/women-greek-myths-natalie-haynes-podcast/

OpEddish thing on modern historians and Roman history:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/modern-historians-take-a-roman-approach-to-history-whether-they-admit-it-or-not

A film award for the ASCSA:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/11/24/american-school-of-classical-studies-at-athens-wins-film-award-for-corinth-excavation/

In case you need a gift guide for your Classicist friends:

https://eidolon.pub/2020-eidolon-gift-guide-6d55dacb2c15
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
Norway ice melt has revealed a cache of arrows, some as old as 6000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2020-11-ice-patch-norway-reveals-large.html https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/26/europe/ancient-norwegian-arrows-found-scli-intl-scn/index.html
https://www.wral.com/norway-ice-melt-reveals-frozen-archive-of-ancient-reindeer-hunting-arrows/19402966/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8987243/Trove-arrows-dating-6-000-years-discovered-Norway-drastic-amounts-ice-melts.html
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2260700-climate-change-has-revealed-a-huge-haul-of-ancient-arrows-in-norway/
https://www.sciencealert.com/receding-ice-has-revealed-another-treasure-trove-of-ancient-artefacts
https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/11/a-trove-of-ancient-hunting-artifacts-has-melted-out-of-a-norwegian-ice-patch/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/11/6000-years-arrows-emerge-melting-norway-ice-patch/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/melting-ice-norway-reveals-ancient-arrows-180976411/

... cf: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0959683620972775

Feature on the 2400 years bp 'Lady of Baza' statue from Spain (possibly paywalled):

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2020/11-12/2400-year-old-lady-baza-statue-reveals-insights-into-ancient-spain/

A medieval burial featuring a stone 'grave pillow' from Veliko Tarnovo:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/17/pillow-brick-with-gospel-of-john-inscription-in-13th-century-clergyman-grave-byzantine-gold-threads-found-in-medieval-bulgarian-capital-tarnovgrad/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9235-201125-bulgaria-christian-grave

... and finds from various periods from Stara Gazora:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/11/25/8000-year-old-structures-medieval-christian-necropolis-ottoman-slaughter-fire-traces-found-in-bulgarias-stara-zagora/

A medieval settlement with apparent metalworking facilities from Poland:

https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C84917%2Carcheologists-uncover-sensational-finds-medieval-settlement.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9233-201124-poland-medieval-metals

A medieval mass burial from Vianen (Netherlands) found during moat excavations:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8983881/Mass-grave-skeletons-stacked-inside-wooden-box-Netherlands.html
https://www.ibtimes.sg/mass-grave-having-20-stacked-skeletons-discovered-by-workers-excavating-moat-53681

After a wait of three years, the 16th century wreck of the Shiedam off the Cornish coast has commenced:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/11/29/divers-recover-cornish-wrecks-treasures-three-year-wait-break/
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/431/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/431/pub/431/page/14/article/107240

Work at Portsmouth's seafront have revealed traces of 17th century military defences:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-55087607

An 18th century gun carriage lifted from the Dnipro river:

https://112.international/society/archaeologists-lift-18th-century-gun-carriage-from-the-bed-of-dnipro-river-56774.html

A Victorian-era bath from Bath (seems appropriate):

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8979061/One-Englands-earliest-Victorian-baths-discovered-Bath.html

More on that large Islamic necropolis from Spain:

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/necropolis-muslim-intl-scli-scn/index.html?
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9231-201124-spain-islamic-cemetery

Feature on Swedish runestones:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/sweden-rune-kingdom/index.html

Feature on Aggersborg:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/11/aggersborg-the-giant-viking-trelleborg/136216

Feature on the Galloway Hoard:

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/curators-moments-revelation-during-study-galloway-hoard-viking-treasures-3050874

OpEd on the Stonehenge tunnel decision:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/22/the-guardian-view-on-the-stonehenge-tunnel-make-it-longer

Concerns for sites in Armenia:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/metropolitan-museum-scholars-call-protection-cultural-heritage-nagorno-karabakh-180976364/

----------
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 5000 years bp jade processing site from Henan:

http://www.ecns.cn/news/2020-11-25/detail-ihaeatyh1835372.shtml

Also from Henan are some 4000 years bp granaries:

http://www.ecns.cn/news/2020-11-25/detail-ihaeatyh1835368.shtml http://www.ecns.cn/news/2020-11-26/detail-ihaehypt7616918.shtml http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/25/c_139542234.htm

Remains of a 4000 years bp city from China's Anhui province:

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2020-11/26/content_76949527.htm

A pair of tombs (Eastern Zhou ad Jin Dynasties respectively) from Shaanxi:

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2020-11/24/content_76942702.htm

Feature on the Forbidden City:

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3107282/beijings-forbidden-city-600-years-old-5-mind-blowing-facts

More on ancient ballplaying in China:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/found-ancient-balls-xinjiang

Oldest (maybe) reference to Ashoka from a terracotta Brahmi inscription from Telangana:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/oldest-reference-to-ashoka-on-terracotta-found-in-t/articleshow/79396895.cms
https://telanganatoday.com/brahmi-inscription-of-ashokan-period-found-in-manjira-valley-near-medak
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2020/nov/25/inscriptions-from-ashoka-period-found-along-manjira-in-telanganas-medak-2227732.html
https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/brahmi-inscription-of-ashokan-period-found-in-manjira-valley-in-telangana-village/articleshow/79405206.cms
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/brahmi-inscription-of-ashokan-period-found-near-medak/article33194541.ece

Clumsy locals came across some wall-like structures (date?) in Bihar's Chandan River:

https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/locals-stumble-upon-ancient-wall-like-structures-in-bihars-chandan-river-asi-steps-in-3114212.html

A 1st/2nd century CE habitation site from Guntur:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/early-historic-habitationhis-site-explored-in-guntur/article33196371.ece

More on that 1300 years bp Hindu temple in Swat:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/lord-vishnu-s-1-300-year-old-temple-discovered-in-northwest-pakistan/ar-BB1bdxcF
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9228-201123-pakistan-hindu-temple

Some stolen idos were reinstalled in a Rajagopalaswamy temple:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/stolen-antique-idols-reinstated-in-rajagopalaswamy-temple/articleshow/79456301.cms

A 'double climate disaster' may have led to the demise of Harappan civilization:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2261018-double-climate-disaster-may-have-ended-ancient-harappan-civilisation/

Interesting various-period finds from six rock shelter sites in the Pilbara:

https://thewest.com.au/news/pilbara-news/dig-reveals-ancient-treasures-ng-b881719729z

Feature on Russia's Kolmya highway:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/22/world/europe/russia-stalin-gulag-kolyma-magadan.html

================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
A 4000 years bp projectile point from Canada's Parliament Hill:

https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2020/11/27/the-human-history-of-ottawa-valley-is-thousands-of-years-old-archeologists-may-have-found-a-piece-of-it-on-parliament-hill.html

Evidence of pre-contact hallucinogen use from fibers found in petroglyphs in Pinwheel Cave (California):

https://www.livescience.com/rock-art-hallucinogen-california.html https://phys.org/news/2020-11-hallucinogens-prehistoric-cave-art.html https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55070442 https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/23/americas/native-californians-hallucinogenic-plants-rock-art-scn/index.html
https://www.inverse.com/innovation/native-californian-rock-art-hallucinogens https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-prehistoric-rock-artists-were-stoned-archaeologists-finally-prove-1.9324280
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/11/rock-art-in-a-california-cave-was-a-visual-guide-to-hallucinogenic-plants/
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/hallucinogenic-flower-inspired-native-californian-rock-art-archaeologists-say
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/californian-cave-artists-may-have-used-hallucinogens-find-reveals
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9236-201124-pinwheel-cave-datura

cf: https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/11/18/2014529117#F1

Study of barley and other plants exploited by First Nations associated with bison herds:

https://phys.org/news/2020-11-secrets-lost-crops-revealed-bisonroam.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/wuis-sot112420.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201124123646.htm https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/secrets-of-lost-crops-of-eastern-north.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/26/secrets-of-the-lost-crops-revealed-where-bison-roam/

Study of an 800 years bp turkey feather blanket shows it was made up of 11 500 feathers (and other implications):

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/wsu-abm112520.php https://phys.org/news/2020-11-ancient-blanket-turkey-feathers.html http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/60108 https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/11/how-many-turkey-feathers-does-it-take-to-make-an-ancient-blanket-11500/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/11/ancient-blanket-made-with-11500-turkey.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/11/27/ancient-blanket-made-with-11500-turkey-feathers/

Burials and other items from that dig at the First Baptist Church site at Colonial Williamsburg:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/11/23/graves-williamsburg-black-church/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9237-201125-first-baptist-church-graves

I think we've mentioned this Revolutionary War burial site near Lake George:

https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/revolutionary-war-remains

Feature on the role of taverns in early American society:

https://aeon.co/essays/taverns-and-the-complicated-birth-of-early-american-civil-society

Feature on the Calverton archaeology project (Maryland):

https://www.thebaynet.com/articles/1120/unearthing-calvert-county-heritage-at-calverton-archaeological-site.html

A stash of Prohibition-era whiskey from an upstate New York house:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/25/us/whiskey-bottles-found-new-york-home-walls-trnd/index.html

More on that 19th century shipwreck revealed by Eta in Florida:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/28/us/florida-shipwreck-caroline-eddy-.html https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tropical-storm-eta-unearths-19th-century-shipwreck-northeast-florida-coast-n1248614
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/22/us/shipwreck-discovered-hurricane-eta-florida-trnd/index.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hurricane-eta-reveals-shipwreck-buried-in-sand-for-over-a-hundred-years-lrnk87mcs

More on Puebloan using lava tubes as water sources:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201118080741.htm

Concerns for Native American sites in Arizona:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/24/trump-mining-arizona-holy-land-oak-flat-tribes

Hypish/Reviewish thing on a book on Pueblo Bonito chocolate jars:

http://news.unm.edu/news/book-by-unm-archaeologist-documents-pueblo-bonito-chocolate-jars-find

Honours for Scott Hamilton:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/scott-hamilton-achievement-award-1.5816475

The Choctaw people finally received some of their land:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/11/26/choctaw-language-culture-thrives-safe-space-sovereign-land/6419821002/

Feature on the Gila Cliff Dwellings:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/11/the-gila-cliff-dwellings/136253

Feature on Marquette and Jolliet:

https://www.americanheritage.com/marquette-and-jolliets-excellent-adventure

Feature on the 1876 presidential election:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/11/24/rutherford-hayes-fraud-election-trump/

Review of David Brown's biography of Henry Adams:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/24/books/review/the-last-american-aristocrat-henry-adams-david-s-brown.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/24/books/review/the-last-american-aristocrat-the-brilliant-life-and-improbable-education-of-henry-adams-by-david-s-brown-an-excerpt.html

Review of a book on enslaved people who sued for freedom before the Civil War:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/24/books/review-question-of-freedom-families-challenged-slavery-william-thomas.html
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
Petroglyphs being dubbed 'the Sistine Chapel of the Ancients' from a cliff face in Colombia:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/nov/29/sistine-chapel-of-the-ancients-rock-art-discovered-in-remote-amazon-forest

A structure of some sort from the Main Plaza at Monte Alban:

https://kfor.com/news/local/ou-archaeologists-uncover-buried-building-in-ancient-mexican-city/

Heavy rains have damaged quite a few ancient structures in the Yucatan:

https://yucatanexpatlife.com/intense-rain-damaged-up-to-25-of-yucatans-ancient-structures/

Feature on Teotihuacan:

https://kfor.com/news/local/ou-archaeologists-uncover-buried-building-in-ancient-mexican-city/

More on women as hunters in ancient Peru:

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1364922/ancient-history-science-news-archaeology-prehistory-human-history-south-America-spt
-----
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 ================================================================
Feature on the discovery of Lithium:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201124-how-geothermal-lithium-could-revolutionise-green-energy

Feature on American food:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/what-is-american-food-history/index.html

An update on the restoration work on Notre Dame:

https://heraldcourier.com/news/world/restorers-remove-dangerous-notre-dame-cathedral-scaffolding/article_b861df52-70e2-57fa-add4-f6190ee11079.html

Darwin's handwritten pages for the Origin of the Species are going online:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/nuos-dhp_1112320.php

How the Black Death came to an end:


[continued in next message]

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