===============================================================
explorator 20.33 December 10, 2017 ===============================================================
If you're having problems getting 'the whole issue', 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, David Critchley,Kris Curry, Kathleen Sharp, Don Buck,
Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Rick Heli, Bob Heuman,Richard C. Griffiths, and
Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always hoping I have
left no one out).

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
“Little Foot”, the most complete Australopithecus ever found, has
finally gone on display:

https://phys.org/news/2017-12-years-australopithecus-fossil.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uotw-lft120617.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171206100104.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42250530 http://www.bbc.com/news/av/science-environment-42259429/a-closer-look-at -367m-year-old-skeleton http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/06/africa/human-ancestor-little-foot-unveiled -intl/index.html https://www.archaeology.org/6146-171206-australopithecus-little-foot

More on revising the ‘Out of Africa’ theory:

https://phys.org/news/2017-12-story-dispersal-modern-humans-eurasia.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/mpif-rts120117.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171207141724.htm http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/deadthings/2017/12/07/ human-migration-rewrite/

In case you’re wondering ‘how Neanderthal’ you are:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/03/how-neanderthal-are -you-and-can-you-blame-your-dna-personality-quiz

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
Plenty of press attention for  pair of 3500 bp tombs -- including a
mummy -- from Luxor:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/283041/Heritage/Ancient-Egy pt/Two-ancient-Egyptian-New-Kingdomera-tombs-opened-a.aspx https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/36114/Two-newly-discovered-tombs-in
-Luxor
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2017/12/09/two-tombs-discovered-luxor/ http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/9/35800/Exclusive-picture-from-inside- newly-discovered-tomb-in-Luxor https://phys.org/news/2017-12-egypt-archaeologists-mummy-luxor.html https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-archaeology/egypt-reveals-artif acts-mummy-from-tombs-in-ancient-city-of-luxor-idUSKBN1E30NE?feedType=RS S&feedName=lifestyleMolt
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42295162 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/dec/09/3500-year-old-tombs-foun d-at-luxor https://uk.news.yahoo.com/mummy-discovered-unexplored-egyptian-tomb-1643 00190.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=1195677 7&ref=rss https://www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologists-discover-2-ancient-tombs-in -egypts-luxor/ http://m.france24.com/en/20171209-egypt-archaeologists-discover-mummy-lu xor?ref=tw_i https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2017/12/09/archeologists-discover -ancient-tombs-egypt-luxor/hv2MNbsvCqmvxxSolKtIoK/story.html http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/archaeologists-discover-an cient-tombs-egypts-luxor-51687983 https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/12/09/exceptional-day-2-a ncient-tombs-discovered-egypts-luxor/937510001/ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-10/egypt-archaeologists-discover-mumm y-in-ancient-tombs-luxor/9244084 http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/mummy-discovered-unexplored-tomb-ancient-egypti an-city-luxor-1650873 http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-egypt-two-mysterious-3500-year-old-tombs -reveal-mummy-and-vast-743534 https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/12/egypt-tomb-mummy-naga-archae ology-ancient/

Al Imam Al Shafie dome restoration in Cairo leads to a new discovery:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/43/282716/Heritage/Islamic/ Restoration-of-Cairos-AlImam-AlShafie-Dome-leads-t.aspx https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/35504/A-new-archeological-discovery -at-Al-Imam-Al-Shafie-Dome

On personal hygiene in ancient Egypt:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/35325/Ancient-Egypt-vs-Daily-hygien e-habits

More on those Sekmet statues from Luxor:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/282656/Heritage/Ancient-Egy pt/Statues-of-ancient-Egyptian-lioness-deity-Sekhmet-.aspx https://dailynewsegypt.com/2017/12/04/27-statues-goddess-sekhmet-discove red-luxor/ https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/12/03/27-fragmented-statues-of-l ion-goddess-found-in-southern-egypt https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/27-fragmented-statues-goddess-sekh met-uncovered-luxor-egypt-1056102 https://www.timesofisrael.com/27-fragmented-statues-of-lion-goddess-foun d-in-southern-egypt/ https://egyptianstreets.com/2017/12/04/27-egyptian-statues-of-lioness-go ddess-discovered-in-luxor/ http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ancient-statues-lion-goddess-sekhmet-discovered -3500-year-old-egyptian-funerary-temple-1650216 http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-egyptian-statues-lion-goddess-sekhmet-un covered-3500-year-old-burial-730201 https://www.archaeology.org/6137-171204-egypt-luxor-sekhmet

More on the copper content of Egyptian ink:

http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-egypt-papyrus-ink-metal-copper-scroll-71
3434

Revising the chronology of the Natufian culture:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uoc--arc120417.php https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/wios-uvp120717.php https://phys.org/news/2017-12-archaeologists-chronology-hunter-gatherers -east.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171205091509.htm http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/New-research-challenges-origins-of-anci ent-Middle-East-Natufian-culture-517349 https://www.archaeology.org/6147-171207-jordan-natufian-transition

A missing Urartian stele turns up near Lake Van:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/12/05/2800-year-old-urartian-ste le-discovered-in-turkeys-eastern-van

Studying a looted Urartian site in eastern Turkey ( I think we
mentioned this one):

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-urartian-settlement-found-in-ea stern-turkey-123606 http://www.themercury.com.au/royal-prehistoric-city-discovered-in-turkey /news-story/6b70dc68ad9955133b832a61fea2f6c3 http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-city-temple-and-burial-ground-found-turk ey-740747
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6149-171207-turkey-erzurum-tombs

A menorah on early Islamic era coinage:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Archeologists-discover-menorah-inscribe d-on-Early-Islamic-period-coins-517190 https://www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologists-expose-muslim-jewish-dialog ue-in-jerusalem-from-1300-years-ago/

Figuring out the structures of Temple Mount from plenty of tiny
fragments:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-1.826501

On child sacrifice in ancient Israel:

http://asorblog.org/2017/12/05/child-sacrifice-ancient-israel/

On drought and the Dead Sea:

https://www.insidescience.org/news/cataclysmic-drought-part-history-dead
-sea

On Qatar in the 19th century:

http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/07/12/2017/Qatar-was-closely-connec ted-to-the-world-in-early-19th-century

What Lawrence Schiffman is up to:

http://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/bringing-life-to-study-of-the-dead-s ea-scrolls/

What Moshe Bernstein is up to:

http://blogs.yu.edu/news/scholars-pay-tribute-to-bernstein-in-new-festsc
hrift/

What Jodi Magness is up to:

https://pittnews.com/article/125281/top-stories/professor-unearths-israe li-heritage/

Latest piece on the political side of archaeology in Israel:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Archeology-in-Israel-as-a-political-wea pon-515922
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
Possible evidence of Neolithic connections between Cyprus and the
Levant (maybe …  I  think we mentioned this):

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/12/05/excavations-in-cyprus-show-co ntact-with-neighbours-in-neolithic-times/ https://www.archaeology.org/news/6139-171204-cyprus-engraved-stone

More than a 1000 ‘sealings’ from the site of Doliche with plenty of
images of Greco-Roman divinities:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/coe-mt1120717.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171207102508.htm https://www.uni-muenster.de/Religion-und-Politik/en/aktuelles/2017/dez/ PM_Mehr_als_1000_antike_Siegelabdruecke_entdeckt.html

Cretan wine amphorae at Pompeii:

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/12/cretan-wine-amphorae-discovere d-at-pompeii/

For reasons unknown, the underwater remains of Baiae were being
presented this week as if a new discovery in assorted news outlets:

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/664585/underwater-city-Roma n-Baiae-Naples-Italy-diving-pictures-discovery-Julius-Caesar-Pomey https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/889247/Underwater-photos-Medit erranean-Sea-Baiae-resort-Naples-Antonio-Busiello-Julius-Caesar https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5063862/lost-city-of-the-caesars-where-the -roman-super-rich-built-their-mansions-revealed-after-centuries-under-wa
ter/
http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/this-sunken-city-was-once-the-pla yground-of-ancient-romes-rich-and-famous/

… and the opening of the Barberini tomb to the public is somewhat old
news as well:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/519238/first-time-ever-romes-barberini-to mb-now-open-public https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/2017/12/05/ancient-tomb-rome-open/

On a portrait head of Ptolemy VIII:

http://www.christies.com/features/2017-highlight-Greek-marble-portrait-h ead-of-Ptolemy-VIII-8775-1.aspx?sc_lang=en

On ‘thoughts and prayers’ in Greek tragedy:

https://daily.jstor.org/thoughts-and-prayers-in-greek-tragedy/

On the revival of Latin:

https://www.the74million.org/article/50-years-after-latin-disappeared-fr om-high-school-classrooms-these-educators-are-bringing-it-back/

Interesting protest planned regarding the Elgin/Parthenon Marbles:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/223932/article/ekathimerini/news/greek-olymp ians-launch-campaign-for-return-of-parthenon-marbles http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/12/07/greek-olympians-plan-to-prote st-the-kidnapping-of-the-greek-marbles-by-dressing-as-caryatids-inside-b ritish-museum/ http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/28691-greek-olympians-pro test-elgin-marbles-by-dressing-as-caryatids-in-british-museum.html

Plans for concerts in the Colosseum:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/04/roman-gods-make-way-rock-gods -new-head-colosseum-wants-hold/ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/colosseum-to-stage-spectaculars-again -without-the-blood-and-gore-sdhtwvrtv

… and plans to get rid of the ‘suk’:

https://www.thelocal.it/20171205/colosseums-new-director-pledges-to-rid- the-area-of-the-suk http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2017/12/04/colosseum-piaz za-a-suk-new-director-3_ea7b7cce-afbd-4e8f-8f8f-2b059ab3c1f2.html

Hadrian’s Wall and China’s Great Wall are cooperating:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/05/hadrians-wall-joins- forces-with-chinas-great-wall-to-promote-heritage-sites

This one is kind of strange … earlier in the week came news that
Mommsen’s Nobel medal was coming to auction … but the link on the
auction site itself seems to have been taken down (the grapevine
suggests it was a fake or something):

https://www.finebooksmagazine.com/press/2017/12/heritage-auctions-presen ts-1902-nobel-prize-for-advancement-in-literature-jan-7-8-in-new-york.ph
tml

A different sort of honour for David Soren:

http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/article/2017/12/n-olive-story

Honours for Richard Brilliant:

http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/marquis-whos-who-recognize s-dr-richard-brilliant-for-excellence-in-education-447591.php

What Richard Thomas is up to:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/scene/arts/harvard-scholar-to-explain-wh y-bob-dylan-matters-during-tulsa/article_7225258d-8d44-558e-a446-26f1baa fbac3.html

What Laura Grams is up to:

http://unothegateway.com/uno-philosophy-professors-road-teaching/

More reviews of Emily Wilson’s Odyssey translation:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/books/review/odyssey-homer-emily-wils on-translation.html https://www.npr.org/2017/12/02/567773373/emily-wilsons-odyssey-scrapes-t he-barnacles-off-homers-hull?sc=ipad&f=1008 http://radio.wpsu.org/post/emily-wilsons-odyssey-scrapes-barnacles-homer
s-hull
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/dec/08/the-odyssey-translated-emi ly-wilson-review

… and a piece by Dr Wilson herself:

https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/a-translators-reckoning-with -the-women-of-the-odyssey

Review of Raaflaub, *Julius Caesar*:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/review-julius-caesar-and-the-bloody-road-to -empire-1512163652 https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/books/book-review-kurt-raaflaub- s-latest-tells-the-definitive-chronicle-of-julius-caesar-1.682578

Review of David Ferry’s *Aeneid* translation:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/books/review/aeneid-virgil-david-ferr y-translation.html

Review of Mary Beard’s *Women and Power*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/books/review-women-power-manifesto-ma ry-beard.html

Review of the stage production of Robert Harris’ *Imperium*:

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/dec/08/imperium-review-rsc-swan-s tratford-upon-avon-robert-harriss-cicero-

More on volcanic eruptions and the demise of the Ptolemies:

http://trinitynews.ie/cleopatra-the-forces-of-nature-and-the-future-of-c ommunication/

-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:

http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/recent.html

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
A9 construction revealed some Iron Age pottery near Raitt’s Cave:

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/work-on-a9-unearths-iron-age-finds-in -highlands-1-4630762 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-42227561 http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15700740.A9_improvement_works_uncover _Iron_Age_remains/ http://metro.co.uk/2017/12/05/archaeologists-discover-iron-age-pottery-i n-raitts-cave-during-a9-construction-7132545/

Finds from an Iron Age house site near Assynt:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-42250514

A Viking era stone carved with runes from Norway:

https://www.livescience.com/61100-mysterious-rune-stone-norway.html https://www.archaeology.org/6140-171205-norway-rune-whetstone

A mystery burial at St Alban’s Cathedral belongs to a 15th century
abbot:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-42255514

A medieval burial from Plovdiv:

http://sofiaglobe.com/2017/12/08/archaeology-mediaeval-tomb-found-at-plo vdivs-odeon-site/

18th century earthworks from Poland:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C27376%2Chighest-situated-ea rthwork-poland-discovered-bieszczady-mountains.html https://www.archaeology.org/news/6148-171207-poland-defensive-earthworks


Finds from various periods at South Hinksey:

http://www.oxfordshireguardian.co.uk/unexpected-discovery-flood-scheme/

A metal detectorist found some very valuable Anglo Saxon jewellery in a
female burial in Winfarthing:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-42220033 http://www.dissmercury.co.uk/news/anglo-saxon-treasure-found-in-norfolk- field-valued-at-145-000-1-5307547 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/discovery-of-winfarthing-woman-redraw s-map-of-medieval-power-3s3bs7ljc https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/anglo-saxon-treasu re-found-by-student-valued-at-145000-36377573.html https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/anglo-saxon-treasure-found-by-s tudent-valued-at-145000-36377567.html http://www.burytimes.co.uk/uk_national_entertainment/15700653.Anglo_Saxo n_treasure_found_by_student_valued_at___145_000/

The preceding is usually connected to the record year for ‘treasure’
finds reported by the British Museum:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/dec/04/coin-laden-pot-pendant-b ritish-museum-record-haul-2016-treasure-finds http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/15701593.Jewellery_helps_put _treasure_trove_finds_at_record_level/ https://www.ft.com/content/512c31de-d905-11e7-a039-c64b1c09b482 https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/how-treasure-hunters-struck-gold-1- 8892459 http://artdaily.com/news/100760/20th-anniversary-marks-record-year-for-t reasure-found-by-the-public http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/15702973.Coin_hoard_found_in_Dorset_fie ld_contributed_to_record_level_of_treasure_discoveries/

… related:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2017/dec/05/ rise-of-detectorists-how-hunt-for-treasure

A Swede has been rewarded for finding a Viking hoard in Gotland back in
2012:

https://www.thelocal.se/20171206/swede-makes-thousands-after-discovering -buried-viking-treasure

A metal detectorist found a 290 years bp ring in a Nantwich field:

http://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/news/crewe-south-cheshire-news/ metal-detectorist-finds-290-year-13992494

Suggestion that Stonehenge was a fertility monument of some sort:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/12/09/stonehenge-fertility-monum ent-stones-positioned-cast-phallic/ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=1195707 8&ref=rss

On the tradition of hiding shoes in house constructions:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-41507752

Still arguing about the location of King Offa’s palace:

http://www.ledburyreporter.co.uk/news/15711439.Archaeologist_enters_deba te_over_exact_site_of_King_Offa___s_Herefordshire_palace/ http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/15711439.Archaeologist_enters_debate_o ver_exact_site_of_King_Offa___s_Herefordshire_palace/

Studying the efficacy of 5500 years bp wooden clubs:

https://www.livescience.com/61140-prehistoric-wooden-club-weapons.html

On feeding the builders of Stonehenge:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/neolithic-food-miles.htm

They’ve created a 3d map of Scotland’s Sculptor’s Cave:

https://www.livescience.com/61099-cave-of-the-dead-revealed.html http://www.newsweek.com/scotland-3000-year-old-cave-dead-infamous-human- sacrifice-map-735379 https://www.archaeology.org/6142-171205-scotland-sculptor-s-cave

Interesting crowdfunding of a French castle restoration:

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-42232308/6500-people-buy-crumbli ng-castle

There are ‘Heritage Action Zones’  in the UK:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-42226980

Looting concerns for a site near Kouklia:

http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/12/05/state-must-step-stop-looting-near-anci ent-site-kouklia-leader-says/

More on Neolithic farming and social inequality:

https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/dec/05/how-neolithic-farming -sowed-the-seeds-of-modern-inequality-10000-years-ago

-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ================================================================
12 000 years bp fish hooks from an Indonesian burial:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/519438/these-12000-year-old-fish-hooks-ar e-oldest-ever-be-discovered-grave

A possible 12 000 years bp ‘mammoth tusk spear’ from a mammoth find in Russia:

http://www.newsweek.com/14-inch-tusk-spear-found-siberia-inside-woolly-m ammoth-skeleton-742377 https://www.archaeology.org/news/6153-171208-mammoth-tusk-spear

Evidence of 5000 years bp water management of a section of the Yangtze:

https://phys.org/news/2017-12-earliest-large-hydraulic-enterprise-excava ted.html

Neolithic remains from Sichuan:

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201712/07/WS5a28b061a310fcb6fafd2bc7.html

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-12/08/c_136811656.htm

A 3000 years bp noble burial from Ningxia:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-12/04/c_136799662.htm https://www.archaeology.org/news/6138-171204-china-imperial-rule

Evidence of Indus Valley civilization navigation skills 2500 years BCE:

http://www.nerve.in/news%3A2535003973795

A possible Harappan Civilization analog at Patan Minara:

https://dailytimes.com.pk/153368/patan-minara-may-supported-civilisation -similar-harappa-another-harappa/

Trying to figure out how to clean the dome of the Taj Mahal:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/indias-cleaning-quanda ry-how-to-scale-the-taj-mahal-dome/2017/12/07/2e559e12-db20-11e7-a241-08 48315642d0_story.html https://www.cbsnews.com/news/indias-cleaning-quandary-how-to-scale-the-t aj-mahal-dome/ https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/india-grapples-with-h ow-to-clean-delicate-taj-mahal-dome-36387423.html http://www.india.com/travel/articles/archeologists-are-figuring-out-how- to-clean-the-taj-mahal/

Feature/reviewish on the Samurai:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/public/exquisite-grotesque-samurai/

More on the search for that 2000 years bp Goan port:

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-hunt-for-2000-yr-old-port-off-goa-2
562518

More on that mass grave associated with the Batavia:

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/12/new-mass-grave-batavia-shipw reck-murder-australia-history/
-----

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html ================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Burials (including slave burials) from Delaware’s earliest settlers:

http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2017/12/06/rehoboth-buria ls-reveal-stories-delawares-earliest-settlers/926307001/ https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/experts-early-settlers-and-sla ves-were-in-unmarked-graves/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/experts-early-settlers-and-slave s-were-in-unmarked-graves/2017/12/05/8dba4070-d9da-11e7-a241-0848315642d 0_story.html?utm_term=.5ce5fcc658ac https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/12/05/an-archaeol ogical-dig-unearths-one-of-the-earliest-slave-remains-in-delaware/ http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/experts-early-settlers-and-slaves-were -in-unmarked-graves/article_2239f227-e29a-55b2-bde0-dd8236f0fcc3.html https://www.archaeology.org/6143-171206-delaware-colonial-slavery

… and a very interesting slave burial therefrom:

http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/trending/an-archaeological-dig-uneart hs-one-of-the-earliest-slave-remains/article_e7114765-d8e7-5524-97ca-daa 005f2ec70.html https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/one-of-earliest-slave-remains-found-skul l-shows-how-much-he-was-abused-1784198 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/remains-tell-story-delawares-e arliest-slaves-180967456/

On the ‘Angela Site’ at Jamestown:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/angela-site-reveals-daily-life-ensla ved-african-america-n825701

Reconstructing a 17th century church bell from Jamestown:

https://wydaily.com/2017/12/05/jamestown-unearthed-reconstructing-a-17th -century-church-bell-nws/

An unexpected 19th century plantation site:

http://www.theredstonerocket.com/news/article_38201334-da92-11e7-859d-3b bf0b73c842.html

A possible mammoth butchering site from Michigan:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/more-mammoth-remains-unearthed -michigan-farm-180967398/

Finds from various periods at the Taylor-Bray farm site (Cape Cod):

http://dennis.wickedlocal.com/news/20171203/latest-dig-in-yarmouth-port- reveals-more-early-cape-cod-history

Archaeologists are uneasy after the ‘shrinking’ of Bears Ears (and elsewhere) this week:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-017-07794-5 http://www.readingeagle.com/ap/article/trump-reduction-of-national-monum ents-a-rare-move

Concerns for sites in Chaco Canyon:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/01/opinion/chaco-canyon-new-mexico-drill ing.html

Not sure there is anything ‘archaeological’ about these Ice Age caves
found beneath Montreal:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42227846?ocid=socialflow_twitt
er

Feature on the Fort Ancient culture:

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20171203/archaeology-cultural-big-bang-help ed-form-fort-ancient-society

Feature on the Shakers and their ‘design’ influence:

http://www.cnn.com/style/article/design-miami-shaker-movement-furniture/ index.html

Feature on the Paleo Indians of Colorado:

http://www.rmpbs.org/coloradoexperience/early-colorado/paleo-indians/

On Civil War reenactments … during the Civil War:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/civil-war-reenactments-were-th ing-even-during-civil-war-180967405/

On the history of the KKK:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/books/review/linda-gordon-the-second- coming-of-the-kkk.html

More on rethinking the dependence on corn in the American southwest:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-11/uoc-asf112717.php http://azdailysun.com/news/local/ancestral-puebloans-used-fire-to-help-t hem-survive-south-of/article_9b4b3bbb-c178-5aac-b2a8-b0c7600a2259.html

================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
A major mapping project for some petroglyphs in Venezuela:

https://phys.org/news/2017-12-venezuelan-art-unprecedented.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/ucl-vra120517.php https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2017/12/07/Scientists-map-ancient-rock- art-in-Venezuela/2151512663060/ https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/12/pre-colombian-rock-art-scann ed-venezuela-south-america-spd/ https://www.archaeology.org/6151-171208-venezuela-rock-art

Reviving (sort of) the Aztec/Maya ball game:

https://elpais.com/internacional/2017/12/03/la_serpiente_emplumada/ 1512332599_416640.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 ================================================================
On Bronze Age use of meteoric iron in various cultures:

https://phys.org/news/2017-12-bronze-age-artifacts-meteoric-iron.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/c-baa120417.php https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.826890 http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/bronze-age-artifacts-meteoric-iron-0 5498.html http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2017/12/05/iron-artifacts-bron ze-age-meteor/
https://www.archaeology.org/6141-171205-bronze-age-iron

Much coverage of the carbon dating of a bone purportedly belonging to
Saint Nicholas:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uoo-cab120517.php https://phys.org/news/2017-12-ancient-bones-santa-real.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171205203041.htm http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2017-12-05-could-ancient-bones-suggest-santa-wa
s-real
http://www.bbc.com/news/education-42239197 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bone-old-enough-be-santa-claus s-pelvis-180967444/ http://www.archaeology.org/news/6145-171206-saint-nicholas-relic

… but something important was skipped over in the coverage (and
research, it seems):

https://www.livescience.com/61146-origins-of-santa-claus-bone.html

… and a feature on Saint Nick:

http://www.dw.com/en/why-st-nicholas-puts-candy-in-boots-and-stole-our-h earts/a-18889948

Other Christmas-related items seem to be out early this year, e.g., on
the Magi’s gifts:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/ jesus-historical-jesus/why-did-the-magi-bring-gold-frankincense-and-myrr
h/

… and the date of Christmas:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/ how-december-25-became-christmas/

… maybe this thing on the history of mince pies:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20171208-the-strange-and-twisted-history -of-mince-pies

… and a ‘biography’ of Christmas:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/01/books/review/christmas-biography-judi th-flanders.html

Not sure where to put this one … the US is trying to seize a ring (and
other items) seized by Turkey supposedly trafficked by ISIS:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-justice-terrorism/justice-departm ent-seeks-warrant-to-seize-ancient-ring-trafficked-by-isis-idUSKBN1E02OV

http://www.newsweek.com/us-hunting-isis-jewels-fund-groups-terror-worldw ide-740597 https://www.courthousenews.com/gold-ring-seized-by-turkey-eyed-in-forfei ture-action/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-tries-to-seize-antiquities-looted-by-is lamic-state-and-used-to-fund-terrorism-1512584097

… and related, on the ‘weaponizaton’ of Antiquities:

https://hyperallergic.com/415471/how-antiquities-have-been-weaponized-in -the-struggle-to-preserve-culture/

Pondering why the Salvator Mundi fetched such a high price:

https://www.livescience.com/61115-leonardo-da-vinci-trophy-auction.html

Pondering Magritte’s pipe:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20171205-magritte-and-the-subversive-po wer-of-his-pipe

Feature on Marie Tussaud:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-marie-tussaud-created-wax- empire-180967356/

Feature on the Nobel Banquet:

http://www.dw.com/en/nobel-banquet-a-sumptuous-serve-for-laureates-and-r oyals/a-41708521

On hunter-gatherer storytelling:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/ucl-spc120417.php https://www.archaeology.org/6150-171208-storytelling-hunter-gatherer

UNESCO is pondering ‘intangible heritage’:

http://www.dw.com/en/intangible-heritage-from-windmills-to-traditional-h orse-games/g-41630684

… not sure if this is part of the foregoing:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-42185391

A windmill drawing from a wall in Isaac Newton’s childhood home:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/dec/08/windmill-drawing-found-o n-wall-of-isaac-newton-childhood-home

Feature on warrior women:

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/bettany-hughes-on-warrior-women/

On the investment opportunities provided by antiquities (grrr):

https://moneyweek.com/antiquities-a-solid-investment/ http://www.ibtimes.com.au/tales-treasures-sunken-shipwrecks-why-they-mak e-priceless-investments-1562538

On the greatest general:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/napoleon-wins-battle-of-the-great-gen erals-q05j02nn6

On the history of purple:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/09/style/purple-pantone-color-year.html

On the heroine of the Island of the Blue Dolphins:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-archaeologists-and-historian s-are-finding-about-heroine-beloved-young-adult-novel-180967401/

Remembering Vincent Scully:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/opinion/vincent-scully-architecture.h
tml

Review of a book about Giorgio Vasari:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/01/books/review/collector-of-lives-giorg io-vasari-biography-rowland-charney.html

More on the Apocalypse of James papyrus:

http://cherwell.org/2017/12/04/heretical-text-of-jesus-brother-found-in- oxford/
https://www.archaeology.org/6136-11204-greek-gnostic-document

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/ ================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
India and the World:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mumbai-exhibit-tells-story-ind ia-help-british-museum-180967370/

Adolph de Meyer:

http://www.dw.com/en/why-pioneering-photographer-adolf-de-meyer-is-the-d ebussy-of-the-camera/a-41595276

Cabinets of Antiquities:

http://www.thenews.pl/1/6/Artykul/338177,Cabinets-of-Antiquities-from-Gr

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