===============================================================
explorator 18.34 December 13, 2015 ===============================================================
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, Feral Boy, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, David Critchley, Jona Lendering, Bob Heuman, Hernan Astudillo, Richard Campbell,
Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always
hoping I have left no one out).

Please note that Explorator may or may not appear next week; I'm not sure what my
Internet access will be on a brief road trip
... if none next week, expect a double issue to follow! ================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Pondering facial difference between Neanderthals and modern humans:

http://phys.org/news/2015-12-neanderthals-intriguing-difference.html http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-12/nyu-nrd120715.php http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3348997/Why-FLAT-face-delicate-features-
oddity-caused-loss-bone-explains-don-t-big-noses-skulls-Neanderthals.html

The 'defining a human' debate continues:

http://www.livescience.com/53010-debate-surrounds-human-family-tree.html

Feature on Mary Leakey:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/08/opinion/animated-life-mary-leakey.html

Feature on Lake Turkana:

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151207-the-remote-lake-that-tells-the-story-of-humanity
s-birth

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Sadly, we're now watching to see ISIL's activities in Sabratha:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/12045883/Islamic-State-seizes
-Unesco-heritage-site-in-Libya.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3355497/ISIS-fanatics-raze-ancient-city-Fears-anc
ient-Roman-site-Libya-fanatics-storm-town-three-militants-captured.html http://www.timesofisrael.com/concern-for-libya-unesco-site-after-islamic-state-said-to-tak
e-over/

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
Tut's mask is returning to the Egyptian Museum:

http://egyptianstreets.com/2015/12/10/king-tut-mask-to-return-to-egyptian-museum-next-w
eek-following-restoration/

... and what we've learned:

http://www.dw.com/en/what-the-world-might-discover-from-the-king-tut-mask-restoration/
a-18902096

Feature on a crocodile mummy from Kom Ombo:

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151214-inside-an-ancient-crocodile-mummy http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art542752-object-of-the-wee
k-sobek-a-2500-year-old-mummified-nile-crocodile

Interesting Canaanite text from Lachish:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/at-biblical-site-researchers-discover-abcs-of-how-alphabet-
came-to-be/

Feature on the Magdala Stone:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/world/middleeast/magdala-stone-israel-judaism.html
?_r=0

Beit Shemesh has scrapped plans for a housing development near the archaeological
site:

http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.691036

A potsherd from the Temple Mount Sifting Project (is that date right?) might end the
debate on the original menorah design:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Byzantine-era-potsherd-from-Temple-Mount-may-contai
n-engraving-of-holy-sites-menorah-436965 http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/55896/ancient-engraving-menorah-found-temple-mou
nt-ended-centuries-debate-jerusalem/

... but this one says it's not a menorah?:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/12/09/ancient-relic-found-at-jerusalem-holy-site-ha
s-archaeologists-stumped-we-welcome-your-suggestions/

Students on a dig found some Hasmonean-era coins:

http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/12/10/on-hanukkah-dig-israeli-high-school-students-thril
led-to-find-hasmonean-era-coins/

Arutz Sheva has a nice series on Maccabbees-related items/sites:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Tag.aspx/40342

... and there was an 'interview':

http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/55710/judah-maccabee-goes-viral-jewish-rebel-leade
r-grants-exclusive-interview-opinion/

... and a reflective sort of thing:

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Overlooking-the-Mount-436477

An interesting Byzantine inscription being spun:

http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/.premium-1.691515

Feature on the only archaeological evidence of crucifixion:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2015/12/08/this-one-bone-provides-the-only
-skeletal-evidence-for-crucifixion-in-the-ancient-world/

Parts of the largest private Judaica collection is coming to auction under controversy:

http://forward.com/news/326534/breaking-up-the-worlds-largest-collection-of-judaica-is-ha
rd-to-do/

More on that lead-handled 'wand' from Anatolia/the Negev:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4736736,00.html http://www.timesofisrael.com/6000-year-old-artifact-from-negev-may-be-worlds-oldest-sm
elted-lead-object/ http://www.foxnews.com/science/2015/12/07/ancient-wand-may-be-oldest-example-lead-
work-in-levant.html

More on that Hezekiah seal impression:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151202132519.htm https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/seal-of-a-biblical-king-is-found-i
n-a-trash-heap-in-jerusalem/2015/12/07/c30a7366-99e6-11e5-b499-76cbec161973_story.
html

More on trade routes between Iran and Mesopotamia:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151203082704.htm

More on a mummy with a head full of dirt:

http://news.discovery.com/history/ancient-egypt/mysterious-egyptian-mummy-has-head-f
ull-of-dirt-151206.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1


We're back (it seems) to focusing on ISIL's purported levels of sales-of-antiquities:

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=30315

... and European states are seeking to shut down the trade:

http://news.yahoo.com/european-states-urge-action-against-antiquities-dealing-16015294
2.html http://www.thelocal.it/20151208/european-states-urge-action-against-isis-antiquities-deali
ng

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
Big news this week is the discovery of a site in the Netherlands which seems associated with a major massacre by Julius Caesar:

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2015/12/dutch-archaeologists-find-proof-of-julius-
caesar-led-massacre-in-the-netherlands/ http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/11/julius-caesar-battlefield-unearthed-southe
rn-netherlands-dutch-archaeologists http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3356684/Caesar-decimated-Dutch-Archaeo
logists-pinpoint-site-battle-destroyed-two-tribes-left-150-000-dead.html http://artdaily.com/news/83584/Archaeologists-say-Julius-Caesar-came--saw-and-conque
red-on-Dutch-soil-in-55-BC http://news.yahoo.com/caesar-came-saw-conquered-dutch-soil-55-bc-170301559.html http://www.foxnews.com/science/2015/12/11/archaeologists-find-remnants-massacre-led-
by-caesar.html http://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/pw/ancient-warfare/blog/the-massacre-of-the-usip
etes-and-tencteri/ http://www.nu.nl/wetenschap/4179896/plek-historische-veldslag-caesar-ontdekt-bij-kesse
l.html http://www.volkskrant.nl/wetenschap/caesar-was-vrijwel-zeker-in-nederland~a4204745/

Also big news is the discovery of a shipwreck which was making a major shipment of
garum:

http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/wreck-full-of-ancient-roman-ketchup-found
-151211.htm http://www.thelocal.it/20151211/sunken-haul-of-roman-fish-sauce-found-off-italy

Evidence of a Bronze Age 'intercultural party' at Roca:

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/12/2015/the-first-inter-cultural-party-in
-europe

Something about an 'Agamemnon throne' controversy:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/204104/article/ekathimerini/life/archaeological-society-deni
es-claims-of-agamemnon-throne-discovery

A Roman burial ground in Lincoln:

http://thelincolnite.co.uk/2015/12/archaeologists-stumble-upon/

Pondering cart ruts on Malta:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151210/local/aiming-to-solve-the-secret-of-o
ur-mysterious-cart-ruts.595173

... while an Iznik municipality covered a Roman mosaic with a road:

http://www.todayszaman.com/national_municipality-covers-parts-of-ancient-roman-mosai
c-with-asphalt-road_406324.html

... but now seem to have removed the asphalt:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/asphalt-over-roman-mosaic-removed.aspx?pageID=23
8&nID=92342&NewsCatID=375

On Nero's persecution of Christians:

http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2015/12/11/actualidad/1449837567_576654.html

Concerns for an ancient Lambousa site:

http://in-cyprus.com/ancient-lambousa-site-at-risk/

A gardener in Cyprus found a burial in his garden (seems old enough):

http://in-cyprus.com/ancient-grave-found-in-mans-garden/

Greece seems to be putting the legal action on the Parthenon Marbles on hold:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/204151/article/ekathimerini/news/greek-govt-changes-cours
e-on-parthenon-marbles https://news.artnet.com/art-world/amal-clooney-dropped-from-elgin-marbles-390455

On Janet Stephens and Roman hairdressing:

http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/12/ancient-roman-hair-janet-stephens.html

What Frank Langley is up to:

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/loyal-band-of-latin-lovers-says-vale-to-their-leader-
20151209-glhymt.html


What Mary Beard is up to:

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/12/09/scholar-mary-beard-discusses-ancient-rome-
spartacus-and-gladiator-podcast/

What Julie Hruby is up to:

http://classics.dartmouth.edu/news/professors-win-teaching-award-new-course

Feature on Michael Rostovtzeff:

http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2015/12/08/theiss-rostovtzeff-at-yale/

A project to return items from Knidos to their original site:

http://www.dailysabah.com/history/2015/12/10/new-project-aims-to-bring-treasures-of-kni
dos-back-to-their-original-site

I think we mentioned this Roman Cupid ring:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-35062637

More on that 'frescoed room' found in Rome a couple weeks ago:

http://www.thelocal.it/20151124/italy-roadworks-unearth-frescoed-roman-room

More on that intact Etruscan tomb:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/etruscan-tomb-found_56650848e4b08e945fefe486?n
cid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
Suggestion that Stonehenge was originally erected in Wales, then moved (this story
seems to have various spins):

http://phys.org/news/2015-12-stonehenge-bluestone-quarries-miles-wales.html http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/07/stonehenge-first-erected-in-wales-seco
ndhand-monument
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-35025346 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/stonehenge-was-built-in-wales-
and-dragged-off-to-wiltshire-500-years-later-study-suggests-a6762916.html http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/14129670.Stonehenge_stones__recycle
d___says_new_study/ http://www.livescience.com/53065-stonehenge-bluestones-quarry.html http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/stonehenge-first-built-in-wales-study-clai
ms-151207.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1 http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/07/travel/the-stonehenge-ikea-monument/index.html http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/stonehenge-rocks-might-have-come-other-monu
ments-n476406 http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/1208/Was-Stonehenge-built-somewhere-else-an
d-then-moved http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2015/12/08/stonehenge-may-have-been-f
irst-erected-wales-study-finds/76969150/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2015/12/07/welsh-stones-helped-make-ston
ehenge-a-monument-to-deceased-ancestors-archaeologists-say/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3349053/Stonehenge-built-Wales.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/12/151207-stonehenge-bluestone-discovery-ar
chaeology/

... and it wasn't the first 'secondhand monument':

http://phys.org/news/2015-12-stonehenge-isnt-prehistoric-monument-unique.html http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2015/12/11/stonehenge-wasnt-the-first-second-h
and-prehistoric-monument/

... and we're getting a rehash of the 'feasts' story from a while too:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/12/08/458846536/party-like-its-2-500-bc-feasts-a
t-stonehenge-were-epic-barbecues

Much coverage of the Watlington Hoard of Viking silver and stuff found by a metal
detectorist:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-35061303 http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/dec/10/watlington-hoard-viking-silver-coins-alfr
ed-the-great http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/watlington-hoard-reveals-alfred-
the-greats-stalin-style-airbrushing-of-history-a6768716.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/archaeology/12043749/British-Muse
um-unveils-unique-hoard-of-Viking-coins.html http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-treasure-viking-idUKKBN0TT1HW20151210 http://newsdaily.com/2015/12/metal-detectorist-finds-viking-treasure-in-britain/
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hoard-viking-coins-jewellery-found-oxfordshire-161048677.ht
ml http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art542878-Significant-vikin
g-hoard-revealed-at-the-british-museum-for-launch-of-annual-treasure-report

A metal detectorist also found a nice example of a 'Wild Man':

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-35050026

... and what they've found in Oxfordshire:

http://www.banburycake.co.uk/news/14140983.Treasure_trove__Treasured_finds_that_ju
st_keep_on_coming_from_detectorists/

... a top five finds list:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/archaeology/12044823/Top-five-ama
zing-treasure-finds-by-amateur-UK-archaeologists.html

Evidence of a Bronze Age settlement on Orkney:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-35049323 http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14133567.Bronze_age_settlement_found_in_Orkne
y_sand/ http://www.lep.co.uk/news/education/university-of-central-lancashire-expert-makes-amazi
ng-bronze-age-find-1-7620056

British gun flints from a Scottish island:

http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art542730-clan-gun-flints-d
un-eistean-hebrides

Interesting images on the Gulval Stone:

http://news.discovery.com/history/art-history/medieval-monument-depicts-animal-heade
d-saints-photos-151209.htm

Remains of a Medieval castle beneath Prison Gloucester:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3351160/Is-rival-Tower-London-Huge-medi
eval-castle-discovered-buried-beneath-prison-s-BASKETBALL-court.html?ITO=1490&ns_
mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Finds from various periods at Leicester:

http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=159263&CultureCode=en http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/fossils_ruins/archaeology/~3/xHN4AHjrl-8/
151210092855.htm

Excitement that the location of Suleiman the Magnificent's heart and organs may have
been located in Hungary:

http://www.livescience.com/53045-lost-tomb-of-suleiman-the-magnificent-possibly-uneart
hed.html http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/tomb-of-suleiman-the-magnificent-possibl
y-found-151210.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1 http://pte.hu/english/news/tomb_sultan_suleiman_szigetvar http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3356520/Lost-tomb-Suleiman-Magnificent-
one-greatest-rulers-Ottoman-Empire-unearthed-southern-Hungary-contains-ORGANS.html
?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490 http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=83537 http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/dec/09/suleiman-the-magnificent-tomb-hungar
y

More on those urns with human hearts:

http://www.star2.com/living/science-technology/2015/12/11/modern-science-detects-dise
ase-in-400-year-old-embalmed-hearts/ http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/embalmed-hearts-found-under-french-con
vent-151207.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

... cf:

https://bonesdontlie.wordpress.com/2015/12/09/why-didnt-it-decompose-embalmed-heart
s-and-bog-bodies/

Review of Shapiro, *The Year of Lear*:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/books/review/the-year-of-lear-shakespeare-in-1606-b
y-james-shapiro.html

-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ================================================================
Not sure if this 2000 years b.p. Chinese tomb is one of the ones we've mentioned in the
past couple of weeks:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-12/09/c_134900046.htm

200 burials from Central China:

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/113855/20151208/archaeologists-find-more-than-200-a
ncient-tombs-in-central-china.htm

Racing to save mummies from climate change in the Altai mountains:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/climate/2015-paris-climate-talks/
what-climate-change-looks-likea-race-to-save-frozen-mummies

A set of gold-plated teeth, possibly seventh century, from Nalanda:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gold-plated-teeth-recovered-from-Nalanda-archa
eological-site/articleshow/50125133.cms http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/goldplated-teeth-recovered-from-nala
nda-archaeological-site/article7972954.ece

Thousands of 16th century (maybe) cannon balls from a Kannur castle:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/4000-cannon-balls-found-ammo-for-scholars
/articleshow/50147887.cms http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/4000-cannon-balls-unearthed/ article7979083.ece http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20151212/2746620.html

Latest from Angkor Wat:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-12/uos-ndr120815.php http://phys.org/news/2015-12-discoveries-redefine-angkor-wat-history.html http://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2015/12/09/new-discoveries-redefine-angkor-wa
t-s-history.html http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/discoveries-reveal-lost-angkor-history http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3354857/What-buried-buildings-Angkor-Wa
t-Researchers-discover-ancient-temple-surrounded-1-mile-long-mysterious-structure-tow
ers-giant-SPIRAL-sand.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490 http://www.livescience.com/53035-angkor-wat-yields-buried-towers-spiral-structure.html
http://news.yahoo.com/angkor-wat-yields-astounding-buried-towers-spiral-structure-1503
53280.html

Pondering Aboriginal heritage:

http://theconversation.com/separate-but-unequal-the-sad-fate-of-aboriginal-heritage-in-we
stern-australia-51561

-----

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html ================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Feature on 'America's Stonehenge':

http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/19842752-95/americas-stonehenge-steeped-in-hist
ory-but-no-ones-sure-what-kind

How the founding fathers defended Muslim rights:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/12/11/how-thomas-jefferson-and-o
ther-founding-fathers-defended-muslim-rights/

Something about Goths and New England:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2015/10/24/the-goths-our-family-tree/3OK4SWR8hfal
BPtomusmBJ/story.html

On some trees that were important in Colonial times:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2015/12/06/new-england-symbolic-trees/B5Y6LbiDG
jOBwVn8UKaqVN/story.html

Rethinking some Civil War battles in Missouri:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/house-divided/wp/2015/12/10/archaeology-chang
es-understanding-of-missouri-battle/

Evidence of pre-earthquake Chinatown in Sanf Francisco:

http://www.sfexaminer.com/archaeologists-unearth-slice-of-pre-1906-earthquake-chinato
wn-amid-central-subway-construction/

Concerns for coastal sites in Florida:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2015/12/09/group-meets-to-discuss-sea-lev
el-rise-impacts-in-florida/77067274/

More on the wood sources for Chaco Canyon houses:

http://phys.org/news/2015-12-unexpected-wood-source-chaco-canyon.html http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-12/uoa-uws120315.php http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/12/2015/unexpected-wood-source-for-
chaco-canyon-great-houses

Review of Sedgwick, *The War of Two*:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/books/review/john-sedgwicks-war-of-two-alexander-h
amilton-aaron-burr-and-the-duel-that-stunned-the-nation.html

================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
More on the San Jose shipwreck:

http://www.livescience.com/53027-sunken-treasure-ship-found.html http://www.livescience.com/53026-photos-treasure-ship-san-jose.html http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/colombia-discovers-legendary-shipwreck-lo
st-more-300-years-180957469/ http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/1206/Shipwreck-mystery-Colombia-finds-biggest
-sunken-treasure-ever http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/06/wreck-spanish-galleon-treasure-haul?sub
id=16450490&CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2 http://news.yahoo.com/sunken-treasure-ship-worth-billions-possibly-found-300-17480295
2.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/12/151209-spanish-shipwreck-billion-treasure-
archaeology/

... and there is an ownership dispute, of course:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/colombia/12040708/ Colombia-states-artifacts-from-1708-Spanish-shipwreck-belong-to-them-not-Spain.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3351765/Artifacts-1708-Spanish-shipwrec
k-Colombian-heritage-president.html http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2015/12/11/actualidad/1449864673_384056.html http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2015/12/11/actualidad/1449850081_170937.html

Pondering Mexican migration:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/12/151206-immigration-border-migrant-mexico-
desert-ngbooktalk/

-----
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 the history of bathing:

http://www.medicaldaily.com/brief-history-bathing-importance-hygiene-ancient-romes-sop
histicated-showers-modern-364826

On the importance of the 'icebox':

https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2014/12/19/how-massachusetts-man-invented-global
-ice-market/aoJjlHGR4Kj53Z62ZQrhrJ/story.html?p1=Article_Related_Box_Article_More

Haven't had a Mona Lisa theory in a while:

http://www.apollo-magazine.com/the-missing-mona-lisa/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_med
ium=email&utm_campaign=20151210_Weekly_Round_Up_50 http://www.livescience.com/53038-hidden-painting-real-mona-lisa.html http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=83527 http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35031997 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/artists/mona-lisa-discovery-scientist-claims-secret-second
-portrait-of-r/ http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/08/world/mona-lisa-hidden-portrait/index.html?sr=twCNN120
815world/mona-lisa-hidden-portrait/index.html,world/mona-lisa-hidden-portrait/ index.html%200521PMStoryLink&linkId=19413212 http://news.yahoo.com/mona-lisa-secret-smile-hidden-portrait-found-085534186.html

The 18th century version of the human body:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-12/uoe-tba121015.php

On Shakespeare's inspirations for Lady Macbeth:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3358177/The-two-ruthless-Roman-queens-acade
mics-believes-REAL-inspiration-Shakespeare-s-Lady-Macbeth.html

On the greatness of Middlemarch:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20151204-why-middlemarch-is-the-greatest-british-nove
l

... and the 25 greatest British novels:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20151204-the-25-greatest-british-novels

... here's the top 100:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20151204-the-100-greatest-british-novels

Rethinking Victorian 'civility':

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151207082449.htm

A new religion in Iceland:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/08/458928720/icelanders-opposed-to-go
vernment-support-for-religion-form-a-religion-of-their-o

Christmas-related items have begun to appear:

https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2015/12/09/puritan-war-christmas-essay http://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2015/12/08/458398926/ 12-pranks-of-christmas-past http://phys.org/news/2015-12-victorians-exposed-fine-art-christmas.html

... and we're still getting Hannukkah:

http://columbiaspectator.com/spectrum/2015/12/08/spectrum-summaries-story-hanukkah

Review of Williams, *The Horse*:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/books/review/the-horse-by-wendy-williams.html


Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/ ================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Devi:

http://www.merinews.com/article/worlds-largest-museum-and-research-complex-smithso
nian-exhibiting-devi-the-great-goddess/15911898.shtml

19th Century Persia Photos:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/arts/design/historical-photos-of-persia-through-the-e
yes-of-a-shah.html

Art After Alexander:

http://freebeacon.com/culture/art-after-alexander-at-the-national-gallery/

Ancient Greek Inventions:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/204220/article/ekathimerini/life/the-technological-wonders-of
-the-ancient-greeks

Agamemnon to Alexander:

http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2015/12/10/greeks-splendors-of-the-dead/ http://artdaily.com/news/83465/More-than-500-Greek-artifacts--from-the-collections-of-21-
museums-exhibited-at-the-Field-Museum

Celts:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/celts-art-and-identity-review-a-cultural-conundrum-144952680
9

Mummies of the World:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865643308/The-mummies-return-45-arrive-in-Salt-La
ke-for-new-exhibit.html?pg=all

Royal Taste:

http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/visualarts/review-exhibition-offers-a-glimpse-of-pr
incely-life-in-ming-dynasty-era/2257062

A piece bringing assorted UK exhibitions together:

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/dec/13/art-and-empire-british-identity-patchwork
-culture

Renovations at the Musee Unterlinden:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/10/t-magazine/travel/colmar-france-museum-makeover.
html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftravel

The Rijksmuseum is fiddling with some of its descriptions:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/12/10/rijksmuseum-removing-racially-charged-ter
ms-from-artworks-titles-and-descriptions/

Egypt has opened a museum at the Cairo airport:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/172899/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-Aviation-an
d-Antiquities-ministries-inaugur.aspx

================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
The U-CAT underwater robot might prove useful:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/dec/9/estonian-turtle-robot-searches-for-shi
pwrecks-and-/

================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT ================================================================
DNA tests on a horse from a 2000 years b.p. Chinese burial suggest it was a Palomino:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-12/10/c_134904597.htm

Dienekes' Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/ ================================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS ================================================================
Feature on climate and the rise and fall of civilizations:

http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/fossils_ruins/archaeology/~3/yAmXjlOKWu
E/151204145919.htm http://theconversation.com/climate-and-the-rise-and-fall-of-civilizations-a-lesson-from-the
-past-51907

More on climate and the Vikings in Greenland:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-12/teia-sui120115.php http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/12/2015/study-says-climate-was-alre
ady-cold-when-the-norse-arrived-in-greenland


================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS ================================================================
Machu Picchu:

http://www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/south-america/machu-picchus-secrets-uncov
ered/news-story/b6e1c5ec8e62ddfd92c758910162cd5e?from=public_rss

================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
A retired National Parks Service official is charged with stealing artifacts:

http://phys.org/news/2015-12-ancient.html http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Retired-US-official-charged-with-stealing-ancien
t-6688885.php

Christie's withdrew a potentially-looted dagger from auction:

https://news.artnet.com/market/christies-antiquities-sale-looted-dagger-389456

An antiquities dealer faces more charges:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/arts/design/antiquities-dealer-leonardo-patterson-fac
es-new-criminal-charges.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

How they're coping with a stolen Caravaggio:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/12/11/with-stolen-caravaggio-still-missing-a-digit
al-substitute/

Latest Anonymous Swiss Collector Culture Crime News:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2015/12/culture-crime-news-30-november-6-de
cember-2015.html

conflict antiquities:

http://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/

anonymous swiss collector:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/

Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues:

http://paul-barford.blogspot.ca/

Looting Matters:

http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/

Illicit Cultural Property:

http://illicit-cultural-property.blogspot.com/

SAFE:

http://www.savingantiquities.org/blog/

================================================================
REPATRIATION AND RECOVERY ================================================================
Syria is accusing Turkey of not returning looted art:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/173242/World/Region/Syrian-antiquities-chi
ef-says-Turkey-refuses-to-re.aspx http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-antiquities-idUSKBN0TU19420151
211 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3355834/Syrian-antiquities-chief-says-Tu
rkey-refuses-return-looted-art.html

The US returned assorted items to China:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/video/2015-12/12/c_134909573.htm

================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Features on coins of Severus (and others):

http://www.coinworld.com/news/world-coins/2015/12/year-of-five-emperors-two-rivals-cha
llenge-septimius-severus.html http://www.coinworld.com/news/world-coins/2015/12/year-of-five-emperors-septimius-sev
erus-follows-low-point.html


Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v18n49.html

... and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v18n50.html

------------------------
Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/ ================================================================
PERFORMANCES AND THEATRE-RELATED ================================================================
On the history of jazz:


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