===============================================================
explorator 23.36 December 27, 2020
===============================================================
You can read explorator online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/


Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,
John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Hernan Astudillo, Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Studying the development of homo floresiensis:

https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/education/campus/2020/12/20/university-missouri-doctoral-student-looks-hobbit-development/3943548001/

Pondering COVID-19 and the Neanderthals:

https://phys.org/news/2020-12-covid-neandertals.html

On the impact of fire use on human development:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/01/james-suzman-work/617266/

More on claims early hominins may have hibernated:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/20/early-humans-may-have-survived-the-harsh-winters-by-hibernating
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/early-humans-hibernation-winter-atapuerca-spain-b1776824.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003552120300832 http://www.archaeology.org/news/9338-201223-spain-neanderthal-hibernation ================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Feature on the rock-cut churches of Lalibela:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lalibela-rock-cut-churches-christmas-eve-60-minutes-2020-12-20/

More on ivory from a Portuguese shipwreck:

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55340975 https://www.archaeology.org/news/9334-201221-shipwreck-elephant-ivory

More on baboon bones and the land of Punt:

https://www.livescience.com/baboon-mummies-lost-land-punt.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2020/12/21/3300-year-old-baboon-skull-is-thought-to-have-come-from-the-lost-land-of-punt/

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
Egypt has completed the restoration of a (Ptolemaic) Temple of Isis at Aswan:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/95629/Restoration-of-Isis-Temple-in-Aswan-completed
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/95670/Was-the-visit-path-to-the-Temple-of-Isis-developed
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2020/12/23/temple-of-isis-restoration-completed-ready-for-reopening-soon/
https://www.egyptindependent.com/photos-restoration-completes-for-soon-to-be-opened-isis-temple-in-aswan/
https://menafn.com/1101330158/Egypt-Temple-of-Isis-restoration-completed-ready-for-reopening-soon
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-12/22/c_139611361.htm

Egypt and the British Museum partnered up to restore a 6 000 years bp mural found at Kom el Ahmar:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/95551/Egyptian-British-museums-restore-colorful-mural-of-ancient-tomb
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2020/12/20/egyptian-museum-in-tahrir-british-museum-partner-to-restore-ancient-mural/
https://menafn.com/1101313692/Egyptian-Museum-in-Tahrir-British-Museum-partner-to-restore-ancient-mural

Folks were observing the sun-alignment at Karnak this week:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/luxor-to-celebrate-sun-alignment-at-karnak-temple/
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2020/12/22/karnak-temple-celebrates-solar-alignment-at-its-main-axis/

More on that Great Pyramid-associated artifact found in a cigar box in Scotland:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/flemish-archaeological-find-turns-out.html
https://news.yahoo.com/piece-great-pyramid-found-scotland-091516312.html
'
Feature on the El-Silik family's antiquities-related work over the decades:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-12/23/c_139613703.htm

Evidence of a 9900-9200 years bp tsunami hitting the coast near Tel Dor:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-12/p-efa121620.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201223142433.htm https://phys.org/news/2020-12-evidence-massive-paleo-tsunami-ancient-tel.html https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-mega-tsunami-smashed-into-israel-10-000-years-ago-1.9394725
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/neolithic-mega-tsunami-israel-09188.html https://gizmodo.com/archaeologists-find-evidence-that-a-massive-tsunami-hit-1845935925
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/evidence-for-massive-paleo-tsunami-at.html

Evidence that Iran had its own independent writing system some 4400 years bp:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/456174/Iran-had-its-own-independent-writing-system-4-400-years-ago

... similar:

https://historia.nationalgeographic.com.es/a/descifrada-escritura-fonetica-mas-antigua-mundo_15993

An Achaemenid column base from a garden in Iran's Fars province:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/456047/Ancient-column-base-discovered-in-garden-southern-Iran

A 3800 years bp burial of an infant in a 'jar' is among numerous items from various periods excavated at Jaffa:

https://www.livescience.com/baby-jar-burial-jaffa.html https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-trove-spanning-millennia-emerges-from-construction-in-ancient-jaffa-1.9371748
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9335-201222-israel-jaffa-port

... and with more emphasis on Greek-era finds from Jaffa:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/12/23/jaffa-port-extensive-greek-history/

Followup thoughts to the recent finds in Amman:

https://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/jordanian-scholar-calls-increased-efforts-heritage-preservation

A study of tooth tartar suggests Bronze/Iron Age Canaanites were importing exotic spice and foods (bananas!) from southeast Asia:

https://phys.org/news/2020-12-food-south-asia-revealed-east.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201221160451.htm https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/sweet-toothed-canaanites-imported-exotic-to-israel-some-3600-years-ago-652791
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/12/philistines-taste-far-flung-foods-dental-plaque/#:~:text=But%20a%20surprising%20new%20discovery,to%20early%20Iron%20Age%20(ca.&text=the%20ancient%20world.
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/tartar-analyses-reveals-presence-of.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mediterranean-food-asia-1000-years-earlier-180976619/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9336-201222-bronze-age-teeth

A 2 000 years bp mikveh found near Gethsemane:

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/ritual-bath-from-time-of-jesus-found-at-gethsemane-in-jerusalem-652826
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ancient-ritual-bath-may-mark-first-new-testament-era-find-at-jesus-gethsemane/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-jewish-ritual-bath-from-jesus-time-found-at-gethsemane-1.9389600
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9078599.html https://fr.aleteia.org/2020/12/22/archeologie-un-site-remontant-a-lepoque-de-jesus-decouvert-a-gethsemani/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/12/22/jewish-ritual-bath-from-jesus-time-discovered-at-gethsemane-in-jlem/
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/12/21/Archaeologists-find-2000-year-old-Jewish-ritual-bath-in-Jerusalem/9821608568231/
https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2020/12/an-ancient-mikveh-shows-how-jews-in-jerusalem-kept-the-laws-of-ritual-purity/
https://www.albawaba.com/editors-choice/ritual-bath-where-jesus-may-have-spent-his-last-night-uncovered-holy-land-1400758
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-have-unearthed-2000-year-old-ritual-bath-site-may-have-hosted-last-supper-180976624/

In the same area (it appears) come remains of a Byzantine Church somehow associated with the Last Supper:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ancient-church-jerusalem-1933579 https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/12/25/ancient-church-last-supper/

Not sure why this recreation of the flooring of the Roman-era Temple is making the rounds again:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/archaeologists-recreate-tiles-of-temple-where-jesus-walked-652794
https://aleteia.org/2020/12/22/israeli-archaeologists-recreate-stone-floor-of-the-roman-period-jewish-temple/
https://tmsifting.org/en/2020/12/21/9338/

Evidence that a 12th century Crusader wall from the Old City was actually built by Muslims in the 13th:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-tower-of-david-looks-to-future-excavations-rewrite-ancient-citadels-past/

More on the lamp workshop from Beit Shemesh:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/ancient-lamp-workshop-discovered-in.html

More on (Canaanite this time) 'counterfeit' silver:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/counterfeit-money-found-3000-years-ago-180976596/

More on the 'spooning couple' from one of the Bethsaidas:

https://www.livescience.com/romeo-and-juliet-skeletons-israel.html

More on the Herodium:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/12/herodium-the-palace-fortress-of-king-herod/136563
https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/la-cour-du-trone-d-herode-ou-salome-aurait-demande-la-tete-de-jean-baptiste-a-ete-retrouvee-20201225

Feature on growing new Judean date palms from seeds found in excavations:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/new-fruit-from-old-seeds/?mqsc=E4124653&dk=ZE05D0ZF0

Feature on an oil pressing site at Yodfat:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT.MAGAZINE-when-jews-used-olive-oil-as-a-weapon-against-the-romans-in-ancient-israel-1.9382518

Feature on the Artabba fortress:

https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/Hk00OzaOnw

Feature on Kiryat Ye'arim:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-one-man-s-quest-for-the-ark-of-the-covenant-led-to-a-completely-different-find-1.9305352

Feature on Phoenician banking:

https://www.thecollector.com/trade-in-ancient-phoenicia/

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
Sewer work in Baalbek revealed some Roman-era mosaics:

https://www.the961.com/roman-mosaics-uncovered-in-baalbek/ https://www.arabnews.com/node/1781856

An Illyrian helmet find from a burial in Croatia:

https://tntribune.com/video-scientists-find-ancient-greek-warrior-buried-with-his-helmet-on/

A dig in Essex is raising postulations that the site was a victim of reprisals after Boudicca's revolt:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-55337814 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9075429/History-Iron-Age-village-Essex-burnt-Romans-Boudiccan-revolt.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9337-201222-england-iron-age

... there's also word of a Boudicca-related coin hoard find by a metal detectorist:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9084609/Birdwatcher-stumbles-800-000-hoard-2-000-year-old-Celtic-gold-coins.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/war-coins-linked-to-ancient-rebellion-led-by-queen-boudicca-found-in-uk-653367

Remote sensing has identified 66 Roman military sites in Spain (I think we mentioned this):

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-12/uoe-do6122120.php https://phys.org/news/2020-12-discovery-roman-army-sites-clues.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201221121723.htm http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/roman-military-camps-spain-09180.html https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/12/22/66-new-roman-army-sites-gives-clues-about-empires-infamous-conflicts/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9339-201223-spain-roman-camps

They're finishing up excavating that thermopolium found in Regio V at Pompeii a couple years ago and opening it to the public:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/26/world/europe/pompeii-snack-bar-thermopolium.html
https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/europe/100000007522162/ancient-snack-bar-pompeii.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/26/exceptionally-well-preserved-snack-bar-unearthed-in-pompeii
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2020/dec/27/snack-bar-pompeii-offers-insights-ancient-eating-habits-video-report
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55454717 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/12/26/pompeii-archaeologists-uncover-ancient-homophobic-insult-tavern/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/461/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/461/pub/461/page/47/article/117576
https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2020/12/26/pompeii-a-street-food-shop-emerges-from-the-site_b7311403-37a9-45a7-a8dd-4b1f14df33fa.html
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/26/europe/pompeii-shop-archaeology-intl/index.html https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/12/26/pompeii-excavations-reveal-fastfood-preferences-of-ancient-citys-residents
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pompeii-archaeologists-ancient-thermopolium-street-food-volcanic-eruption/
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/mallard-to-go-fast-food-place-unearthed-in-pompeii-reveals-ancient-tastes/2493584/
https://www.timesunion.com/entertainment/article/Mallard-to-go-Dig-of-Pompeii-fast-food-place-15829302.php
https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/12/26/ancient-roman-fast-food-shop-to-open-for-visitors-in-pompeii/
https://www.dw.com/en/archaeologists-in-pompeii-discover-ancient-snack-bar/a-56064831
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201226-well-preserved-fast-food-bar-unearthed-in-pompeii
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3115442/archaeologists-dig-pompeii-fast-food-court-reveals-tastes-ancient
https://www.reuters.com/article/italy-pompeii-idUSKBN2900D3 https://www.jpost.com/international/archaeologists-uncover-ancient-street-food-shop-in-pompeii-653328
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-pompeii-to-open-ancient-street-food-diner-to-visitors.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/archaeologists-uncover-ancient-street-food-142357472.html

A 'lost' sanctuary of Apollo at Frangkissa (Cyprus) has been relocated:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/12/23/lost-ancient-sanctuary-found-100-years-after-being-forgotten/

Pondering the death of a young Celt mentioned in an inscripton in Spain:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-12-21/la-misteriosa-muerte-de-la-joven-celta-aiia.html

The restored Mausoleum of Augustus will be opening to the public in March:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/augustus-tomb-rome-opening/index.html https://www.romereports.com/en/2020/12/24/rome-reopens-the-mausoleum-of-augustus-the-emperor-of-christmas/

Concerns for the Agrippa monument on the Acropolis:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/12/21/immediate-rescue-measures-for-the-agrippa-monument/

Plans to rebuild the floor (retractable!) of the Colosseum:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55422794 https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-to-rebuild-colosseums-lost-arena-floor.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/12/23/italy-reconstruct-colosseum-arena-sword-wielding-gladiators/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/roman-colosseum-retractable-floor-1934324

Interview with Andrea Achi on recent finds from Pompeii:

https://news.artnet.com/career-stories/andrea-achi-1933101

Germany and Italy want to participate in excavations at Duzce (Turkey):

https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/germany-italy-offer-to-join-excavations-unearthing-roman-artifacts-duzce-mayor/news

Review of Peter Stothard, *The Last Assassin*:

https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/Book-Reviews/2020/1223/The-Last-Assassin-breathes-life-into-the-events-of-Julius-Caesar-s-death

Reviewish of Paul Cartledge, *Thebes*:

https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/12/25/thebes-of-myth-and-history/

More on the study of the Spitalfields Lady:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mystery-woman-dressed-silk-gold-171107552.html http://romanarc.blogspot.com/2020/12/a-mystery-woman-dressed-in-silk-and.html https://www.insider.com/london-a-woman-found-buried-clad-in-silk-and-gold-was-from-romes-elite-2020-12

Feature on the Rediscovering the Antonine Wall project:

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18964474.rediscovering-antonine-wall-2-1m-project-makes-mark/

Feature on the Greek theatres at Sicyon and Messene:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/12/25/ancient-greek-theaters-of-sicyon-and-messene-are-treasures-of-the-peloponnese/

Feature on the Venus de Milo:

https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/venus-de-milo.htm

Feature on the Spinario:

https://smarthistory.org/spinario-boy-with-thorn/

Feature on Plato in Sicily:

https://aeon.co/essays/when-philosopher-met-king-on-platos-italian-voyages

Feature on Schliemann:

https://www.dw.com/en/heinrich-schliemann-the-man-who-discovered-troy/a-18946144

Feature on learning Latin with dyslexia:

https://medium.com/in-medias-res/learning-latin-with-dyslexia-afef65bfbf

Suggestion that UVM should surrender its motto in light of recent moves:

https://classicalstudies.org/scs-blog/johnfranklinuvmedu/blog-stultitiis-et-rebus-infestis-petition-uvm-surrender-its-motto

Top ten finds from Turkey and Northern Cyprus:

https://ahvalnews.com/archaeology/top-10-archaeological-finds-turkey-and-north-cyprus-2020

Interview with Matthew Adams about the excavations at the Roman military base at Legio:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/uncovering-a-roman-army-base-at-legio/?mqsc=E4124653&dk=ZE05D0ZF0

On the lessons the Antigone has for the US:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/archive_guest_columnists/arthro/-1470927/

In case you need a Poseidon snowman inspiration:

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/tourism-businesses/thematic-tourism/42539-greek-artist-created-a-snow-sculpture-of-poseidon-in-astoria-park-of-new-york.html

In case you missed the order for Classical architecture for government buildings in the US:

https://www.npr.org/2020/12/21/948926995/keep-it-classical-says-trump-order-on-federal-architecture

... related opEd:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/12/22/trump-right-beautiful-buildings/

On George, Amal, and the Parthenon Marbles:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/182414/parthenon-marbles-saga-helped-forge-george-clooneys-relationship-with-amal/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/42515-love-story-parthenon-marbles-brought-together-georhe-and-amal-clooney.html

More on the Gal Gadot as Cleopatra brouhaha:

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/cleopatra-was-macedonian-gal-gadot-responds-to-critics-653080

-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
A neolithic style burial chamber might be a hint to the location of the lost village of Dode, it is hoped:

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/news/new-plan-could-uncover-secrets-of-lost-village-239573/

Possible tourist finds for a recently-found passage tomb near Newgrange:

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/passage-tomb-newgrange-tourist-attraction

A study suggests some 11 000 years bp human bone artifacts from 'Doggerland' were used as weapons or tools:

https://www.livescience.com/stone-age-weapons-human-bone.html https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-just-found-out-what-these-barbed-artefacts-from-a-vanished-land-really-are
https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/fresh-research-suggests-ancient-humans-were-particular-about-bones-they-used-for-hunting-3205733.html

... see also:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X20304697

... and more on speculation regarding why Doggerland sank:

https://www.dw.com/en/doggerland-how-did-the-atlantis-of-the-north-sea-sink/a-55960379

A 12th century (royal?) cache of coins and jewellery from Poland:

https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/medieval-treasure-trove-belonging-to-princess-found-in-cornfield-following-tip-off-from-village-priest-18571

A metal detectorist found some 17th century jewellery associated with Staffordshire nobility:

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/more-treasure-given-up-soil-19520122

Infrastructure works revealed an 18th century quayside site in Peel:

https://www.three.fm/news/isle-of-man-news/1700s-quayside-uncovered-in-peel/

A grant to study the provenance of the Galloway Hoard:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/dec/21/researchers-win-1m-grant-to-unlock-secrets-of-viking-era-treasure-trove
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/455/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/455/pub/455/page/46/article/115732

Feature on Offa's Dyke:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20201215-offas-dyke-britains-unmarked-no-mans-land

Feature on megaliths at Ggantija:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/12/ggantija-the-megalithic-temple-complex/136541

Feature on how the British handled cold weather in the past:

https://phys.org/news/2020-12-british-people-weathered-exceptionally-cold.html

Revisiting the find of the Marlow Warlord burial:

https://www.inverse.com/innovation/ancient-warlord-grave

A long history of Brexit:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/dec/27/a-brief-history-of-brexit-all-2000-years-of-it

Review of Neil Price's tome on the Vikings:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/dec/22/children-of-ash-and-elm-by-neil-price-review-the-vikings-on-their-own-terms

More on the rethinking of the purpose of Venus figurines:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/venus-figurines-theory-scn/index.html

More coverage of speculation about the location of the Holy Grail:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/amateur-uk-archaeologist-holy-grail-in-secret-crypt-in-west-london-river-652715
----------
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 ================================================================
Evidence of sun worship from a 3500 years bp burial from Chinas' Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region:

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2020-12/21/content_77035214.htm

China's neolithic Shamao ruins have made a top ten list:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-12-22/China-s-Shimao-ruins-among-top-10-archaeological-finds-of-past-decade-Wr0ktbZUVG/index.html

Song Dynasty era Buddhist cliff reliefs from Shahe (we may have mentioned these):

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2020-12/25/content_77051164.htm

Overviewish thing on archaeology in Quanzhou:

http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202012/25/WS5fe53d8da31024ad0ba9e720.html

Remains of a 1000 years bp wall at Mahakaleshwar temple:

https://newsd.in/1000-year-old-wall-emerged-in-mahakaleshwar-temple-ujjain-archaeological-team-to-overview/
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2020/state-editions/archeological-team-inspects-1000-year-old-temple-found-on-mahakal-temple-premises.html

A study/inspection of the domes of the 300 years bp mosque Khudabad:

https://dailytimes.com.pk/704861/domes-were-preserved-and-renovated-at-300-years-old-historical-mosque-khudabad/

I think we mentioned this 1400 years bp brick-lined tomb from Viet Nam:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/60300 ================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Hopes for recognition of the Great Dismal Swamp's 'safe haven' history:

https://www.pilotonline.com/government/nation/vp-nw-dismal-swamp-20201222-tzxbzguz4rat7piu2okbel2uou-story.html

A dispute over a Native American site in upstate New York:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Historic-Native-American-site-at-issue-in-Troy-15826895.php

I think we mentioned how these Fort William Henry soldiers' remains await reburial:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/18/arts/design/Fort-William-Henry-soldiers-remains.html

Features on Mills and Buck's work documenting Black history in New Jersey:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/arts/black-cemetery-new-jersey-history.html?referringSource=articleShare
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-amateur-historians-reveal-new-jerseys-black-history-180976627/

Feature on recent finds from Mount Ranier:

https://www.courierherald.com/opinion/in-the-footsteps-of-the-ancients-part-ii-all-things-mount-rainier/

Feature on the first Christmas (maybe) in America:

https://thecapitolist.com/first-u-s-christmas-believed-to-have-taken-place-in-tallahassee/

Feature on Christmas in the US during the 1918 flu pandemic:

https://theweek.com/articles/956697/christmas-1918 ================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
Feature on Mexcaltitan as the purported home of the Aztecs:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/is-mexcaltitan-a-tiny-island-really-the-lost-home-of-the-aztecs

... and one on Caral as possibly the oldest city in the Americas:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/is-caral-peru-the-oldest-city-in-the-americas

Features on the Maya calendar:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/how-the-maya-created-their-extraordinarily-accurate-calendar-thousands-of
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/28757/20201222/maya-civilization-extraordinarily-accurate-calendar.htm

Machu Picchu has reopened after protests led to its closure:

https://www.latercera.com/mundo/noticia/machu-picchu-recibe-visitantes-tras-cierres-por-protestas/EVE77QXBZVHUHM5MDP7VMT7NVI/

Review of a biography of Simon Bolivar:

https://www.latercera.com/culto/2020/12/18/nueva-biografia-de-simon-bolivar-mas-alla-de-la-pluma-y-la-espada/

More on the Amazonian 'Sistine Chapel' petroglyphs (plenty of photos):

https://www.dw.com/en/spectacular-ice-age-rock-paintings-found-in-colombian-rainforest/a-55960718
-----
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 ================================================================
A study of 300 years of smallpox epidemics (London):

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-12/mu-rta121520.php https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/12/22/researchers-track-and-analyze-smallpox-epidemics-over-three-centuries/

Suggestion that Roman ghost stories may have inspired Dickens' Christmas Carol:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/classic-books/did-terrifying-roman-ghost-story-inspire-charles-dickens-write/

Might have missed this a few months ago: on use of robotic technology in the restoration of the Sagrada Familia cathedral in Spain:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/sagrada-familia-history-robots-test-of-time/index.html

Thomas Beckett's 'favourite little book' may have been identified:

https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-55370722

Feature on courtship in 18th century France:

https://psyche.co/ideas/working-flirting-and-sex-courtship-in-18th-century-france

A very expensive book on Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel:

https://elpais.com/icon-design/arte/2020-12-22/capilla-sixtina-libro-fotografias-alta-resolucion-18000-euros.html

Some 120 years bp chocolate was found among Australian poet Banjo Peterson's belongings:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-australia-55421008

The annual speculation on the Star of Bethlehem:

https://www.space.com/star-of-bethlehem https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/we-have-seen-his-star-in-the-east-what-was-the-christmas-star/
https://www.livescience.com/star-of-bethlehem.html https://www.livescience.com/was-christmas-star-really-jupiter-saturn.html

... and who the Magi were:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/we-three-kings-of-orient-are/?mqsc=E4124583&dk=ZE05D0ZF0

A history of Jews and Christmas:

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-history-of-jews-and-christmas/

On Advent and King Lear:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/12/why-i-read-king-lear-in-advent/617472/

Feature on Christmas in the southern hemisphere:

https://theconversation.com/the-borrowed-customs-and-traditions-of-christmas-celebrations-149527

On that time when Quetzacoatl officially replaced Santa in Mexico:

https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2020/12/24/mexico/1608836379_376070.html

A photo of Calderon de la Barca has been identified:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-12-19/la-unica-foto-que-muestra-el-verdadero-rostro-de-calderon-de-la-barca.html

Feature on the Apostle Peter:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2020/12/apostle-peter

Feature on the 'radical' history of quilting;

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/toledo-exhibition-shows-radical-history-quilting-180976613/

Feature on Mabel Calhoun:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlight/arid-40196916.html

Of possible interest is a 57 000 years bp mummified/frozen wolf pup find from the Yukon:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201221160503.htm https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/21/science/wolf-puppy-mummy.html https://www.livescience.com/wolf-pup-preserved-permafrost-thousands-years.html https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-ice-age-wolf-pup-research-paper-1.5847730
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/21/americas/frozen-puppy-yukon-intl-scli-scn/index.html
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/457/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/457/pub/457/page/58/article/116415
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/12/57000-year-old-wolf-puppy-found-frozen-in-yukon-permafrost/
https://scitechdaily.com/57000-year-old-wolf-pup-mummy-uncovered-in-canadian-permafrost/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/ancient-wolf-pup-mummy-uncovered-in.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/57000-year-old-mummified-wolf-pup-was-discovered-frozen-permafrost-180976615/

Questioning Durer's authorship of the Lament on Luther:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/23/albrecht-durer-may-not-have-written-lament-on-luther-finds-study

COVID has lead to the Queen letting go some of her art curators:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-55424182

Feature on the Pleiades in various cultures:

https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-oldest-story-astronomers-say-global-myths-about-seven-sisters-stars-may-reach-back-100-000-years-151568

Bubonic plague revisionism:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-scapegoating-rats-here-s-how-scholars-got-the-plague-totally-wrong-1.9395620

Feature on what the Stone Age sounded like:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/what-did-the-stone-age-sound-like

Feature on the Villa Wolkonsky in Rome:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-villa-in-rome-holds-secrets-from-nero-to-the-nazis-h5ltbc6hj

Feature on how Islam fueled colonization of the Americas:

https://lithub.com/how-the-specter-of-islam-fueled-european-colonization-in-the-americas/

Feature on the 'darkness' of the Dark Ages:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/just-how-dark-were-the-dark-ages

Feature on Virginia Woolf:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/23/books/review/michael-cunningham-on-virginia-woolfs-literary-revolution.html

Feature on possible origins of assorted mythical beasties:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/glimpse-sea-serpents-dragons-and-other-mythical-beasts-online-exhibition-1-180976593/

Some thinking about that 19th century snowball fight movie:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/05/magazine/snowball-video-fight.html

Overview of some of the archaeology-based stories which caused a rethinking of women's roles:

https://www.livescience.com/women-antiquity-badass-2020.html

Review of a couple of books on paleoanthropology:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/books/review/fossil-men-kermit-pattison-the-sediments-of-time-maeve-leakey.html


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