===============================================================
explorator 20.42-43 February 18, 2018 ===============================================================
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, Bob Heuman, Frank MacKay, Laurel Carey, David Critchley,
Richard Miller, Rick Heli, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Richard C.
Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always
hoping I have left no one out).

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Pondering the 'artistic gap' between Neanderthals and 'modern' humans:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-homo-sapiens-ability-techniques.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/uoc--nlo020818.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180209100727.htm

Neanderthals may have used fire to make tools:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-site-tuscany-reveals-neanderthals-tools.ht
ml
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/02/neanderthals-used-fire-to-make-t
ools/
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/02/could-these-be-oldest-neandertal- tools-made-fire http://www.newsweek.com/neanderthal-tools-discovered-italy-charred-fire- stunning-condition-800238 https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-neanderthals-used-fire-to-p erfect-hardwood-tools-170-000-years-ago-1.5789781 https://www.archaeology.org/6328-180106-neanderthal-wooden-tool

A find of some partially-digested teeth suggest a Neanderthal may have
been consumed by a hyena of some sort:

https://www.livescience.com/61664-neanderthal-teeth-digested-by-hyenas.h
tml
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6329-180206-neanderthal-teeth-hyena

What some 700 000 years bp child footprints from Ethiopia are
revealing:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-ancient-footprints-child-prehistoric.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/ancient-footprints-children-li festyle-700000-years-ago-a8212721.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/6386-180216-ethiopia-melka-kunture

General features on human evolution:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/feb/12/tracing-the-tangled-tracks- of-humankinds-evolutionary-journey https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-01807-7

This piece sort of complements/relates to the previous:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/vu-iay021318.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180213120434.htm

Marking Mary Leakey's 105th birthday:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kionasmith/2018/02/06/archaeologist-mary-le akey-would-be-105-today/#10ccc3eb58cb

More on those tools in India:

http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/twist-in-out-of-africa-theory -who-made-3-lakh-year-old-tools-found-near-chennai-5051482/ https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sharp-stones-found-india-signal-surp risingly-early-toolmaking-advances ================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================


================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
Latest theory on that 'screaming mummy':

http://www.egyptindependent.com/screaming-mummy-attracts-20000-visitors- to-egyptian-museum/ https://www.livescience.com/61749-screaming-mummy-backstory.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/screaming-mummy-mystery-solved -ancient-egypt-prince-hanged-plot-kill-pharaoh-father-archaeologists-a82 08401.html http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/screaming-mummy-are-ancient-remains-those-ramse s-iiis-murderous-son-prince-pentewere-1660384 http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/archaeology/archaeologists-dis cover-the-answers-behind-the-screaming-mummy/news-story/c8cff7cb29138bd4 7857d1dd06f8fff4

Feature on the Oriental Institute's finds near Tell Edfu:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-newly-reveal-clues-ancient-egyptian.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/egypt-beer-making- ancient-brewery-archaeologists-a8201471.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/6335-180208-egypt-tel-edfu

Something about a hole found (or not) near Tut's tomb:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/290670/Heritage/Ancient-Egy pt/Supreme-Council-of-Antiquities-denies-claims-of-ne.aspx http://allafrica.com/stories/201802090682.html

More on the renewed search for hidden chambers in Tut's tomb:

http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/archaeology/new-search-for-hid den-chambers-in-king-tuts-tomb-underway/news-story/de33d7180bdd5fcd49439 3dbefd24c28

More on that fifth dynasty priestess tomb found in Giza's western
cemetery:

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/42009/3-facts-to-know-about-the-exca vated-ancient-Egyptian-tomb https://phys.org/news/2018-02-egypt-year-old-tomb-cairo.html http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Old-Kingdom-style-tomb-for-woman-discov ered-in-Egypts-Giza-540641 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/04/583099705/egyptian-ar chaeologists-unearth-a-4-400-year-old-tomb http://nhpr.org/post/egyptian-archaeologists-unearth-4400-year-old-tomb https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/discovery-of-hetpet-s-tomb-in-giza-co uld-answer-egypt-s-prayers-for-a-tourism-revival-tzhr9mknp https://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Egypt-says-4-400-year-old-to mb-discovered-outside-12548620.php http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2018/02/05/ archaeology-4400-year-old-tomb-discovered-in-egypt_6d3efb42-5944-4bed-b6 53-f6ba5de4ee87.html https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tomb-5th-dynasty-priestess-fou nd-egypt-180968036/ http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/see-inside-the-tomb-of-a-hi gh-powered-egyptian-woman.aspx https://www.archaeology.org/news/6326-180205-egypt-priestess-tomb

More on that 2nd century Roman temple find in Aswan:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/290966/Heritage/Ancient-Egy pt/nd-century-Roman-temple-uncovered-in-Aswan.aspx https://www.archaeology.org/news/6378-180214-egypt-aswan-temple

Studying some Neo-Assyrian cuneiform medical texts:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-clay-tablets-cradle-civilisation-insight.h
tml
http://www.archaeology.org/news/6341-180212-assyrian-medical-tablets

Some 2000 years bp camel sculptures from Saudi Arabia are getting press attention:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/c-ral020918.php https://phys.org/news/2018-02-life-sized-sculptures-dromedaries-saudi-ar abia.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/science/camels-sculptures-desert-saud i-arabia.html http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/ancient-artists-left-camels-carved -in-saudi-desert-s-stone/article_82ce877a-38b4-549c-aa21-009612646986.ht
ml
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-2-000-year-old-life-size-ca mel-art-found-in-heart-of-saudi-arabian-des-1.5812024 https://www.yahoo.com/news/ancient-rock-carvings-discovered-saudi-163342 930.html https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/life-size-camel-carvings-found -saudi-desert-180968169/ http://www.archaeology.org/news/6374-180213-saudi-arabia-camels

A Crusader-era altar in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/crusader-era-high-altar-resurface s-jerusalems-holy-sepulcher-180968192/

Concerns for sites in Netiv Ha'avot:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/241655 http://www.jewishpress.com/news/archaeology-news/idf-machinery-destroys- ancient-artifacts-graves-at-netiv-haavot/2018/02/07/

A Czech team is heading to dig in Oman:

http://praguemonitor.com/2018/02/05/first-czech-archaeological-expeditio n-heading-oman

Another feature on sites being flooded by the Ilisu dam:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/07/archaeologists-discovere d-an-ancient-assyrian-city-only-to-lose-it-again

Concerns for a temple in Yemen:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-ancient-temple-left-neglected-yemen.html https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2018/0208/Yemen-s-ancient-mo numents-at-risk-as-war-rages-on https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/science/article/Ancient-temple-left-neg lected-as-Yemen-war-12560606.php

Reviving the Hebrew language:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/The-Israeli-academy-continuing- the-unprecedented-revival-of-the-Hebrew-language-542822

We're still hearing about ISIL damaging and stealing from sites in
Iraq:

http://www.aina.org/news/20180206125447.htm https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2689210&language=en ================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
Ancient tombs (various periods, it seems) from Nicosia:

http://cyprus-mail.com/2018/02/09/ancient-tombs-discovered-nicosia-roadw
orks/

A possible Roman villa found during school construction in Warwick:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-42989351 http://www.stratford-herald.com/81889-rare-roman-find-unearthed-new-scho ol-building-site.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/6333-180207-england-roman-villa

A Roman-era mosaic from Caesarea:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-israeli-archaeologists-unveil-rare-roman-e ra.html https://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-greek-inscription-and-colorful-1800-y ear-old-mosaic-uncovered-at-caesarea/ https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5099486,00.html https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/241722 https://forward.com/fast-forward/393963/israeli-archaeologists-find-1-80 0-year-old-roman-mosaic/ http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Rare-Roman-mosaic-from-2nd-3rd-centurie s-CE-uncovered-in-Caesarea-541029 http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/remarkable-multicolored-roman-per iod-mosaic-comes-to-light-in-caesarea/2018/02/08/ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-archaeology-israel-mosaic/israeli-arc haeologists-unearth-1800-year-old-mosaic-idUSKBN1FS2MI http://www.dw.com/en/israeli-archaeologists-unearth-rare-roman-era-mosai c/a-42511961 http://www.ekathimerini.com/225657/article/ekathimerini/news/israeli-arc haeologists-unearth-1800-year-old-mosaic-with-inscription-in-greek http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/29974-israeli-archaeologi sts-discover-1-800-year-old-mosaic-with-greek-inscription.html http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-byzantine-mosaic-inscribed-mysterious-gr eek-writing-unearthed-israel-801395 http://www.archaeology.org/news/6334-180208-israel-caesarea-mosaic

More Roman finds from Bath:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-bristol-42973039/more-roman-rema ins-excavated-under-bath

Latest finds from Kition:

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/30034-impressive-excavati on-discoveries-at-ancient-kition-site-in-cyprus.html

A Roman hoard from Devon:

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/hoard-100-roman-coins-bronze-1
185687

Remains/evidence of a Roman 'patrol road' in Northumberland:

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/lost-roman-devils-causeway- discovered-14281948

Possible sanctuaries of Asclepius and Aphrodite from Kythnos:

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/30099-impressive-findings -from-excavations-at-vryokastro-ancient-site-on-kythnos-island.html

Interesting study of the 'gate to the underworld' at the 'Plutonium'
near Hierapolis:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2018/02/16/23364/#.WomfFZOpln4 http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/02/roman-gate-hell-killed-its-victim s-cloud-deadly-carbon-dioxide http://www.archaeology.org/news/6385-180216-turkey-plutonium-gas

Remains of a 1500 years bp church from Karabuk:

http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-anatolian-church-discovery-reveals-how-t urkeys-earliest-christians-800464 http://www.archaeology.org/news/6332-180207-turkey-hadrianopolis-church

A Black Sea storm revealed some Roman remains on a Turkish beach:

http://www.newsweek.com/roman-ruins-wash-turkish-beach-after-black-sea-s torm-808006 http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ancient-roman-ruins-tombs-pillars-wash-turkish- beach-after-black-sea-storm-1661841 https://www.yahoo.com/news/roman-ruins-wash-turkish-beach-140740147.html

Feature on possible Neronian connections to Silchester:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/new-evidence-neros-links-roman-si lchester.htm

On the Parthenon's ability to be 'earthquake proof':

https://theweeklyobserver.com/secret-technology-ancient-greeks-can-parth enon-withstand-earthquakes/31899/

Feature (for Valentine's Day) on a 2000 years bp cameo of Cupid found
in Jerusalem years ago:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/when-cupid-paid-israel-a-visit-2000-years-
ago/

Nice feature on Lupercalia:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/15/wolves-nudity-mayhem-why -an-ancient-roman-festival-is-still-controversial

Feature on the thumbs-up gesture:

http://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/a-turn-of-the-thumb-gladiators-and -the-thumbs-up/

... and gladiators:

http://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/gladiators-the-implements-of-death
/

What Suzanne Lye is up to:

http://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2018/02/qa-with-postdoctoral-fellow- suzanne-lye

What Richard Thomas is up to:

https://www.dosavannah.com/article/wed-02072018-2335/savannah-book-fest- harvard-professor-richard-f-thomas-explores-literary

What Emily Wilson is up to:

http://www.thedp.com/article/2018/02/peterson-lecture-odyssey-woman-tran slation-upenn-penn-philadelphia-english-greek

Feature on a denarius of Mark Antony:

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/coinweek-ancient-coin-series-mark-ant onys-legionary-denarius/

... and a metal detectorist found a Carausius coin:

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/15919647.Southampton_metal_detectorist_f inds_coin_minted_by___39_first_Brexiteer__39_/

Lucy Hughes-Hallet was talking Cleopatra:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/cleopatra-not-most-beautiful-but-ca pable-woman-ruler-historian-lucy-hughes-hallet/story-5c7sw7VVhh60zim1p7c nSK.html

Martin Scorsese is working on a dramatic series on the Caesars,
apparently:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/feb/11/martin-scorsese-romans-tv-s eries-caesars-british-writer-michael-hirst

... while Mary Beard is hosting one with a more documentarial approach:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2018/02/12/julius-caesar-revealed-review-a ncient-rome-isnt-dry-dusty-hands/

There was some interesting hype for the BBC's Troy series:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/02/homers-trojan-war-epic-richly-deserv es-its-lavish-new-bbc-adaptation/ http://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-02-17/everything-you-always-wante d-to-know-about-troy-fall-of-a-city-but-were-afraid-to-ask/ http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/feature/a850071/troy-fall-of-a-city-netflix -bbc-explained/ http://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-02-17/troy-fall-of-a-city-writer- adaptation-myth-drama/

... and some reviews:

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-02-17/how-accurate-was-troy-fall- of-a-city-episode-1-compared-to-the-original-myths/ https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/feb/17/troy-fall-of-a-city -recap-series-one-episode-one-black-blood

... and a somewhat strange spin on the 'lesson' of the Trojan war:

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42864071

... and on the Troy series:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bbc-troy-fall-of-a-city-donald-trump- putin-kim-jong-un-grbwvz8rs

Assorted folks talking about the Parthenon/Elgin Marbles:

http://usa.greekreporter.com/2018/02/07/greek-american-politicians-seek- hearing-on-parthenon-marbles/ http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/30128-five-women-from-rho des-fight-for-repatriation-of-parthenon-marbles.html

On military parades and triumphs:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-doesnt-need-a-parade-he-ne eds-a-roman-triumph/2018/02/07/30c68dbc-0c4b-11e8-8b0d-891602206fb7_stor
y.html

Latest Rome v US comparison:

http://thefederalist.com/2018/02/16/5-similarities-ancient-romes-decline -todays-united-states/

Review(ish) of Mendelsohn's *An Odyssey*:

https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2018/02/09/encountering-rea l-life-homers-odyssey

Interview with Madeline Miller about her *Circe* novel:

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/profiles/article/ 76022-it-s-all-greek-to-madeline-miller.html

-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
Interesting Paleolithic burials from Russia:

https://www.livescience.com/61743-rich-paleolithic-burials.html https://www.livescience.com/61737-photos-paleolithic-burials.html https://www.archaeology.org/news/6380-180214-russia-sunghir-burials

A 14 000 years bp 'puppy burial' found in 1914 has interesting
implications:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-emotional-bond-humans-dogs-dates.html https://www.livescience.com/61717-oldest-dog-burial.html https://www.archaeology.org/news/6340-180212-paleolithic-dogs-humans

Interesting 8000 years bp skulls-on-stakes burial from Sweden:

https://www.thelocal.se/20180214/why-were-these-8000-year-old-swedish-sk ulls-mounted-on-stakes https://www.livescience.com/61736-ancient-heads-on-stakes.html https://www.livescience.com/61733-photos-stone-age-skull-stakes.html https://gizmodo.com/human-skulls-mounted-on-stakes-found-at-8-000-year-o ld-1822936885 https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/human-skulls-mounted-on-stak es-river-mystery-mesolithic-sweden-spd/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2018/02/13/smashed-skulls -on-spikes-show-ancient-scandinavia-was-violent-archaeologists-say/ #50a1095958e7 https://www.archaeology.org/news/6376-180213sweden-underwater-burial

A 13 5000 years bp carved bison bone from the North Sea:

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2018/02/oldest-dutch-work-of-art-f ound-at-the-bottom-of-the-north-sea/ http://www.archaeology.org/news/6377-180214-netherlands-oldest-art

Evidence of wine-making in 8000 years bp Sicily:

http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/13/copper-age-wine-sicily/

Neolithic remains near Windsor Castle:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/08/discovery-of-windsor-neo lithic-monument-excites-archaeologists http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/5500-year-old-monument-tools-unearthed-near-win dsor-castle-1660191 https://www.archaeology.org/news/6339-180209-england-neolithic-enclosure

5000 years bp (?) 'spider stones' and a copper ax fragment from a site
in Denmark:

https://www.livescience.com/61727-spider-stones-neolithic-sun-worship.ht
ml
https://www.livescience.com/56709-photos-scratched-stones-ancient-maps.h
tml
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6375-180213-neolithic-copper-ax

A Neolithic/Bronze Age infant burial from near Larkhill:

http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/16029809.New_theory_over_Stonehen ge_origins/

A new theory on the origins of Stonehenge:

http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/16029809.New_theory_over_Stonehen ge_origins/

Bronze Age gold hair rings from Sculptor's Cave (Scotland):

https://www.scotsman.com/news/the-bronze-age-gold-hair-rings-from-scotla nd-s-death-cave-1-4684592

Latest plans and concerns about the Stonehenge tunnel:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/world/europe/uk-stonehenge-tunnel.htm l?partner=rss&emc=rss https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/skepticism-over-new-design-for -highway-tunnel-near-stonehenge-meant-to-protect-site/ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stonehenge-tunnel-new-roa d-when-plans-archaeology-ice-age-prints-dig-excavation-a8194071.html https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/05/stonehenge-tunnel-could- destroy-unique-library-of-early-history https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/08/stonehenge-tunnel-plans- scheme-published http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/15963978.Stonehenge_tunnel_plans_ unveiled_to_public/?ref=rss http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-42936501

An Iron Age 'chamber' of some sort from the Isle of Lewis:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-42988416 https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/housebuilder-finds-iron-age-chamber-o n-isle-of-lewis-1-4686146 http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/rare-2000-year-old-food-chamber-found-hiding-un der-scottish-construction-site-1660496

A Saxon hall find from Attingham:

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2018/02/08/rare-saxon-hall-find-exci tes-the-experts/

Finds from various periods found during wind farm construction:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-42988971 https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/medieval-roman-burial s-bronze-age-1198124

Feature on petroglyphs in Yorkshire:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/05/marks-rocks-since-br onze-age-ilkley-yorkshire

Not sure about this 'prehistoric footprint' from Norfolk:

http://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/prehistoric-footprint-found-west- runton-1-5398172

Remains of an Iron Age hillfort from Margate:

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/iron-age-hillfort-remains-discov ered-160019/

Tracing lost post-Glencoe massacre settlements:

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/archaeologists-trace-lost-settlements -of-glencoe-destroyed-after-1692-massacre-1-4687371 http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15988354.Archaeologists_trace_lost_se ttlements_of_Glencoe/

Suggestion that the Isle of May was a medieval healing centre:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/burials-suggest-isle-of-may-was-medie val-healing-centre-q5vb5bpsb

The Portable Antiquities Scheme had a good year:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/record-year-treasure-act-portable -antiquities-scheme.htm

... while the Marine Antiquities Scheme now includes the waters off
Northern Ireland:

https://www.scubadivermag.com/marine-antiquities-scheme-extends-northern -ireland/

The site of the 1066 Battle of Fulford has been located, apparently:

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/15991567._We_have_located_the_site_of_th e_1066_Battle_of_Fulford_/

On evidence of puberty in medieval times:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-children-puberty-younger-medieval-skeleton
s.html

On 'crooked coins' tossed into the Thames by 'suitors':

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/feb/09/tokens-unrequited-love-th ames-mudlark

A WWI buckle found near Stirling Castle:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15985520.Mystery_Imperial_buckle_foun d_by_Archaeologists/ http://www.archaeology.org/news/6384-180216-stirling-castle-buckle

More on that mass Viking burial from Repton:

https://www.burtonmail.co.uk/news/history/mass-grave-uncovered-repton-th ought-1167103
https://www.livescience.com/61646-viking-warriors-grave.html
-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ================================================================
9000 years bp wells from central China:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-02/06/c_136953446.htm

They're excavating at a 5000 years bp pre-Harappan site in Haryana:

http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/excavations-pre-harap pan-site-kunal-haryana-archaeology-5051811/

4000 years bp writing on pottery from Chifeng:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-02/11/c_136967469.htm

Overview of finds in Xinjiang in 2017:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-02/05/c_136951195.htm

Remains of four Western Han - Eastern Jin dynasty cities from Sichuan:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-02/06/c_136953689.htm

A possible Liao Dynasty tomb with frescoes and a drainage system from
Liaoning:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-02/06/c_136953321.htm https://www.archaeology.org/news/6330-180206-china-painted-tomb

A 1500 years bp burial (with a breastplate) from Kyushu:

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201802140003.html https://www.archaeology.org/news/6381-180215-japan-tomb-armor

Remains for a 1000 years bp temple from Kotdwar:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/excavations-near-kotdw ar-reveal-temple-remains-almost-1000-yrs-old/articleshow/62825409.cms

Possible 6000 years bp human remains from mounds in Queensland:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-08/discovery-of-ancient-aboriginal-re mains-confirms-burial-grounds/9404322 https://www.archaeology.org/news/6337-180208-australia-queensland-graves

Concerns for sites in Singapore:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-singapore-archaeologist.html

Tracing Buddhism's roots in Cambodia:

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-life-arts-culture/tracing-roots-buddhi sm-cambodia

Pondering Mungo Man:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-12/mungo-man-what-to-do-next-with-aus tralias-oldest-remains/9371038
-----

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html ================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Feature on the debate over the 130 000 years bp bones from the Cerutti
Mastodon site:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/02/debate-heats-up-over-whether-130 000-year-old-bones-were-broken-by-humans/

Serpent Mound may depict a creation story:

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180211/archaeology-serpent-mound-might-de pict-creation-story

A donation of a very large arrowhead collection:

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20180205/jackson-mans-family-donates-massi ve-arrowhead-collection

Finds from Halifax's 'early days':

http://thechronicleherald.ca/halifaxcitizen/1544245-archeological-findin gs-offer-glimpse-into-halifax%E2%80%99s-early-days

Claim of the discovery of the skeleton of 'Black Sam Bellamy':

http://mentalfloss.com/article/530694/archaeologists-say-they-may-have-f ound-skeleton-pirate-black-sam-bellamy

Possible find of slave quarters at Montpelier:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2018/02/06/this-archaeolo gical-site-in-virginia-should-be-on-every-history-buffs-bucket-list/ #7038e0043381 http://www.nbc29.com/story/37507826/surveyors-believe-theyve-found-old-s lave-quarters-at-montpelier


Interesting find of some Rogue River Indian Wars hospital records:

http://www.dailytidings.com/news/20180209/historian-discovers-rogue-indi an-wars-hospital-records

A purported lock of George Washington's hair found in a college book:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/02/14/george-washing tons-hair-found-new-york-college-library-book/337694002/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/02/14/a-college-sa ys-it-found-an-old-clump-of-george-washingtons-hair-hurrah/ https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/16/586368906/n-y-college -says-forgotten-book-reveals-lock-of-george-washingtons-hair https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lock-washingtons-hair-found-18 th-century-almanac-180968185/

There's a project to collect the oral history associated with the
Franklin Expedition:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavut-parks-canada-inuit-elder-1.4
533014

Making plans for the wreck of the Clotilda:

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2018/02/slave_ship_clotilda_state_agen.
html

An 'epic love story' from Port Credit:

https://www.insauga.com/mississauga-was-once-the-site-of-an-epic-love-st
ory

On 'Indian Slavery' in New Mexico:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/28/us/indian-slaves-genizaros.html

More on that 900 years bp copper point from the Yukon:

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/rare-900-year-old-copper-arrowhead-discovered-c anadian-mountain-760573

More on the recreation of those points from Alaska:

https://www.archaeology.org/news/6327-180205-alaska-hunter-projectiles

Feature on Benjamin Lay:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-42640782 ================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
Petroglyphs depicting whale hunts from the Atacama desert:

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/ancient-rock-art-shows-whale -hunts-atacama-chile-spd/

A 2000 years bp mummified macaw from Mexico:

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/mummified-macaw-paquime-chih uahua-mexico-trade-religion-spd/ http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/2000-year-old-parrot-head-discovered-mexican-bu rial-cave-could-worlds-oldest-macau-mummy-1662096 http://www.inah.gob.mx/es/boletines/6856-datan-en-2000-anos-de-antigueed ad-cabeza-momificada-de-guacamaya-hallada-en-cueva-avendanos-chihuahua http://www.archaeology.org/news/6379-180214-peru-skull-modification

On Peruvian head reshaping:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/peru-elongated-skulls-shaping- ancient-status-indiana-jones-south-america-matthew-velasco-cornell-a8210 521.html

Peru is limiting (sort of) tourist traffic to various sites:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/101181191/Peru-brings-in-tougher-rul es-for-tourists-visiting-Machu-Picchu http://www.startribune.com/peru-devises-new-rules-for-machu-picchu-crowd s/473457603/

Some Tehuelche skeletons were exposed by recent winds in Argentina:

https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/02/14/solo_en_argentina/ 1518639234_485536.html

More on LiDAR revealing more of a Mayan city in Guatemala:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180205140111.htm https://phys.org/news/2018-02-scientists-massive-mayan-society-guatemala
.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/mayan-pyramids-1.4519863?cmp=rss http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/lost-mexico-city-aztec- buildings-pur-pecha-empire-morelia-michoac-n-a8214551.html https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/15/laser-scanning-reveals-l ost-ancient-mexican-city-had-as-many-buildings-as-manhattan https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/03/scientists-discover-anci ent-mayan-city-hidden-under-guatemalan-jungle?subid=16450490&CMP=GT_US_c ollection https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mayan-ruin-discovery-lidar-laser-technology
/
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/1000-year-old-lost-pyramid-city-heart-mexico-wa s-densely-built-manhattan-1662053 https://hyperallergic.com/425105/lidar-60000-maya-structures-pacunam-fou ndation/ https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20762214/slovak-experts-pull-back-veil-of-anc ient-maya-civilisation.html http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-mexican-city-manhattan-laser-scan-810194 https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/02/12/album/1518429337_635840.html https://elpais.com/cultura/2018/02/16/actualidad/1518781085_402213.html

18th/19th century defense structures from Montevideo:

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2450451&CategoryId=23620

More on those Chinese mummies (19th century) from Peru:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/chinese-mummies-peru-1.4517145 https://www.archaeology.org/news/6324-180205-peru-chinese-mummies

-----
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 toys in the archaeological record:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ancient-toys-kids-archaeological-rec
ord

On rabbit domestication:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/cp-wfb020818.php https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/science/rabbits-pope-domestication.ht
ml
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/02/eh-whats-up-doc/
553304/
http://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/ S0169-5347%2818%2930001-6 https://www.archaeology.org/news/6382-180215-france-rabbit-domestication

The usual crop of Valentine's Day related pieces:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2018/02/14/ the-real-saint-valentine-was-no-patron-of-love/ http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-yalom-valentine-history-20180 214-story.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/arts/design/valentines-day-card-colle ction.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/02/14/we-owe-our-

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