===============================================================
explorator 19.33 December 11, 2016 ===============================================================
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, Bob Heuman,
David Critchley, Hernan Astudillo, Rick Heli, Barbara Saylor Rodgers,
David Emery, Allan Brockway, Richard Campbell, Richard C. Griffiths,
and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always hoping I
have left no one out).


================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Pondering whether Neanderthals were ‘religious’:


http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/12/07/504650215/were-neanderthals-religious


Of course they’re putting a ‘paleo diet’ spin on this study of Acheulian
diet from a site in northern Israel:


http://phys.org/news/2016-12-secrets-paleo-diet-discovery-reveals.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-12/thuo-sot120516.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161205164935.htm http://www.timesofisrael.com/traces-of-true-paleo-diet-emerge-from-muck-in-northern-israel/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2115127-ancient-leftovers-show-the-real-paleo-diet-was-a-veggie-feast/
http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.757109 http://www.archaeology.org/5068-161206-paleolithic-plant-diet


More on Lucy in the trees:


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/30/science/lucy-bones-trees.html http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=92195

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Review of McKenzie and Watson, *The Garima Gospels: Early Illuminated
Gospel Books from Ethiopia*:


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2016/12/10/sacred-mysteries-ancient-ethiopian-echoes-roman-antiquity/


================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
Some statues of Sekhmet from Luxor:


http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/251690/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Statues-of-lioness-goddess-Sekhmet-unearthed-in-Lu.aspx
http://www.archaeology.org/5081-lion-headed-goddess-statues-unearthed-in-luxor


Comparing Trump to Rameses II (!):


https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2016/dec/05/ramesses-ii-victor-of-kadesh-a-kindred-spirit-of-trump


More on that boat from Abydos:


https://penncurrent.upenn.edu/news/penn-archaeologist-discovers-ancient-egyptian-boat-in-middle-of-desert
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3905742/3-800-year-old-Egyptian-tableau-depict-funerary-boats-carried-Pharaoh-Senusret-III-tomb.html
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/pharaonic-boat-burial-abydos-egypt-04350.html


More on Nefertari’s knees in Turin:


http://phys.org/news/2016-12-mummified-egyptian-queen-nefertari.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-12/uoy-mri120216.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161202094342.htm https://www.yahoo.com/news/mystery-mummy-legs-belonged-egyptian-145300400.html https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/dec/02/mummified-knees-are-queen-nefertaris-archaeologists-conclude
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/12/05/504449966/researchers-confident-mysterious-pair-of-mummified-knees-belonged-to-queen-nefer
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/1206/Queen-Nefertari-s-knees-Egyptologists-confirm-mysterious-find
http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2016/12/06/queen-nefertari-mummy-found-at-turin-3_c22c8ff3-951f-461d-9049-f19f55db65d5.html
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/12/2016/mummified-legs-may-belong-to-egyptian-queen-nefertari


More on that 2000 years bp ‘pet cemetery’:


http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archeologists-discover-ancient-pet-cemetery-egypt-180961292/


More on the MOU between Egypt and the US:


http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/people/us-egypt-sign-agreement-to-thwart-trade-in-illegal-antiquities.aspx


Last week we had this plant domestication story in the Asia section; it
also applies here:


http://phys.org/news/2016-12-prehistoric-highlight-diverse-cereal-domestication.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-12/uoc--ppr120116.php http://www.archaeology.org/5075-161207-neolithic-staple-crops


… while this week we’re hearing plant domestication began in Syria:


https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-12/snrc-nsw120216.php http://scienmag.com/neolithic-syrians-were-first-to-domesticate-cereals/ http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/12/05/ciencia/1480954076_447391.html


Stained glass from Bathonea:


http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/stained-glass-evidence-of-high-living-standards-in-ancient-bathonea.aspx?pageID=238&nID=106990&NewsCatID=375


Gobeklitepe is getting Heritage Status:


http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/gobeklitepe-to-soon-enter-unesco-list.aspx?pageID=238&nid=106917&NewsCatID=375


An item from the Safeguarding Endangered Cultural Heritage Summit in Abu Dhabi:


http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/editorial/cutting-the-lines-of-smugglers


Feature/interview on the black market in antiquities in Syria:


http://syriadirect.org/news/how-the-antiquities-black-market-thrives-on-syria-%E2%80%98we-have-the-collapse-of-state-institutions-and-the-society-holding-them-all-together%E2%80%99/
http://syriadirect.org/news/artifact-trafficking-and-the-battle-to-stop-it-its-open-season/


Some heritage sheep have returned to Israel:


http://www.timesofisrael.com/biblical-sheep-in-israel-for-first-time-in-millennia/
http://www.timesofisrael.com/baa-baa-biblical-sheep-have-you-an-israeli-passport/


Feature on Mesopotamia:


http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-ancient-chinese-surgeons-opened-skulls-and-minds-180961286/


More on Hebrew as the first alphabet:


http://phys.org/news/2016-12-archeologist-proof-hebrew-written-alphabet.html


,,, but cf:


http://www.rollstonepigraphy.com/?p=779


More on evidence of Bronze Age water pollution in Jordan:


https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-12/uow-rmh120216.php http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/polluted-river-southern-jordan-smelting-copper-waterloo-1.3882242
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/12/2016/river-polluted-with-copper-in-late-neolithic-jordan
http://www.archaeology.org/5069-161206-wadi-faynan-pollution


More on vandalism at the Herodion at Sebastia:


http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4887488,00.html


Some sites have been recovered in the Mosul offensive:


http://www.livescience.com/57135-historic-iraq-sites-reclaimed-in-mosul-offensive.html


Some significant inscriptions survived at Nimrud:


http://www.livescience.com/57161-ancient-inscriptions-survive-isil-attacks.html


As the week ended, we heard that ISIL was back in Palmyra:


https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/isis-is-back-in-the-ancient-syrian-city-of-palmyra/2016/12/10/d60523b3-21c5-4db7-883c-6f89305c1b25_story.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38275905


… but this a.m. we get word that Russian bombing has driven them out
again:


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-pulls-out-of-ancient-palmyra-after-heavy-russian-bombing-a7467996.html
http://www.dw.com/en/heavy-russian-air-raids-drive-islamic-state-out-of-syrias-palmyra-monitor/a-36725282
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38280283

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
A Bronze Age burial featuring a crown from Pieria:


http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/21270-rare-late-bronze-age-crown-found-in-pieria-northern-greece.html


Interesting study of evidence for malaria in the Italian peninsula during
Roman times:


http://phys.org/news/2016-12-overwhelming-evidence-malaria-years.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-12/mu-rfo113016.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161206111728.htm http://www.livescience.com/57108-malaria-found-in-ancient-roman-skeletons.html http://www.archaeology.org/5066-161205-italy-malaria-parasite


Evidence of frankincense used in Roman burials:


http://phys.org/news/2014-12-dirt-insight-roman-burials.html


Erotic frescoes from Pompeii were in the news this week:


http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-ideas/weird-and-wacky/raunchy-paintings-from-pompeii-show-2000-year-old-porn/news-story/9c49235169cd475f24916acacbe12c19
http://metro.co.uk/2016/12/08/up-pompeii-erotic-paintings-reveal-sex-lives-of-ancient-romans-6308999/


… as were some other villas that opened after restoration:


http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2016/12/09/pompeii-marvels-on-display-after-restoration_16355762-2a88-4fe0-8a4e-e101b69bc276.html


Feature on the Roman monetary system:


http://www.coinworld.com/news/world-coins/2016/12/sestertius-was-cornerstone-in-roman-monetary-system.all.html


On today’s version of Stoicism:


http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/stoicism-2016-ryan-holiday-how-the-2300-year-old-philosophy-has-been-re-branded-for-modern-life-a7461386.html


The Romans-had-perfect-teeth thing is back again:


http://www.sfgate.com/technology/businessinsider/article/Scientists-studied-ancient-Romans-and-found-that-10786173.php


A Roman tombstone -- lost in a fire -- turns up in New York:


http://www.fox5ny.com/news/222013725-story http://www.sciencealert.com/construction-workers-have-found-an-ancient-roman-tombstone-in-new-york


What Mary Beard was up to this week:


http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ukip-arron-banks-mary-beard-rome_uk_5845c2d5e4b07ac7244927f6
http://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/jennifer-selway/741991/romans-twitter-row-Ukip-Arron-Banks-Mary-Beard-historian


What’s happening to Latin teachers:


http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Latin-enthusiasts-lament-language-s-decline-10787810.php


More on the ‘gladiator’ ban in Rome:


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/rome-gladiators-ban-rickshaws-italy-tourist-photographs-a7455386.html


-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
A pair of burials from a neolithic/Bronze Age site in Anglesey are causing
a bit of a rethink of the origins of agriculture in North Wales:


http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/human-remains-found-internationally-important-12274261
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/12/2016/early-neolithic-houses-found-at-site-in-wales
http://www.archaeology.org/5065-161205-wales-llanfaethlu-remains


Reassessment of some Bronze Age remains excavated on the Isle of Man in
1947 have revealed assorted bone objects:


http://www.archaeology.org/5067-161205-bone-knife-pommel


A pile of 2000+ years bp bloomeries from Poland:


http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,412267,mazowieckie-more-than-70-bloomeries-from-2-thousand-years-ago-discovered-in-kanie.html


Gleanings from an Iron Age site on Orkney:


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-38207134 http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/14948934.Iron_age_man_gets_his_teeth_into_his_work/
http://www.archaeology.org/5071-161206-orkney-broch-jaw


Evidence of a deadly virus from pottery from an Iron Age hillfort in
Germany:


http://www.archaeology.org/5080-161209-pottery-organs-virus


Burials of monks at a site near Glastonbury are the oldest in the UK:


http://www.livescience.com/57114-earliest-monastery-in-britain.html https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/dec/05/somerset-skeletons-are-oldest-evidence-of-monks-found-in-uk
http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/14946279.Archaeologists_uncover_remains_of_Britain_s_oldest_monastery_in_Somerset/
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14948527.EARLIEST_KNOWN_MONKS_IN_BRITISH_ISLES_UNCOVERED_IN_SOMERSET/
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/oldest-community-monks-uk-discovered-180961327/
http://www.archaeology.org/5064-161205-england-earliest-monastery


… not sure why they’re bringing up an Arthur connection:


http://www.livescience.com/57114-earliest-monastery-in-britain.html




Plenty of horsebits from a 9th century (or so) site in Russia:


http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2016/12/08/dozens-1300-year-old-horse-bits-russian-archaeological/#axzz4SXOsvpn9


Viking gold found in Denmark … live on TV:


http://www.thelocal.dk/20161205/viking-gold-discovered-in-denmark-on-live-tv


An ‘Odin amulet’ from Denmark:


http://www.thelocal.dk/20161209/rare-1500-year-old-odin-amulet-found-in-denmark


Finds from various periods during road construction in Cork:


https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/treasure-trove-of-artifacts-found-under-cork-street-434599.html


Studying a deserted 19th century village on Achill Island:


http://www.archaeology.org/news/5070-161206-ireland-deserted-village


A painting of Henry VIII’s Nonsuch Palace has been ‘saved’ from export:


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-38274938


Looking closer at some of those Black Sea shipwrecks:


http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/569340/crimea-shipwreck-british-gold-barrels-divers-nazi-hitler-crimean-war


On Versailles:


http://theconversation.com/friday-essay-what-is-it-about-versailles-69559


More on that submerged Neolithic settlement off Sweden:


https://www.yahoo.com/news/underwater-stone-age-fishermans-paradise-145600502.html


More on that Viking toolbox find:


http://www.livescience.com/57063-viking-tools-found-at-mysterious-fortress.html


More on that ‘plague pit’:


http://www.livescience.com/57092-black-death-burial-pit-discovered.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-38146468 http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/britain/skeletons-of-27-children-found-in-extremely-rare-black-death-burial-pit-35256408.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/black-death-plague-pit-with-48-skeletons-is-extremely-rare-find/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/black-death-plague-pit-48-183900740.html http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/rare-plague-pit-find-made-by-sheffield-archaeologists-1-8264816


More on the Lascaux replica:


http://phys.org/news/2016-12-france-lascaux-prehistoric-art-cave.html


-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ================================================================
Plans to excavate the tomb of the wife of Liu He:


http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2016-12/06/content_27576213.htm


Not sure if we mentioned the excavation of the Yongshan Blood Pool in
Shaanxi:


http://www.ecns.cn/2016/12-07/236745.shtml http://www.archaeology.org/5073-161207-china-imperial-sacrifice


Plenty of porcelain from various dynasties at a site in Qingdong:


http://www.archaeology.org/5078-161208-shanghai-silk-road


Archaeology and the future of nomads in Mongolia:


https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2016/dec/07/archaeology-sheds-light-on-mongolias-uncertain-nomadic-future


I think we mentioned these 110 sites (30 000 years bp) from Pakistan:


http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/30000-year-old-relics-discovered-in-pakistan/1/830357.html
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/170761-110-archaeological-sites-discovered-in-Jamrud
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1257694/30000-year-old-rock-art-110-heritage-sites-discovered-khyber-agency/
http://www.newsnation.in/article/153550-archaeologists-discover-110-sites-in-pakistan-that-are-30000-year-old.html


1000 years bp temple remains from Raisen:


http://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-1000-year-old-temples-discovered-in-raisen/985072


On trepanation in ancient China:


http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-ancient-chinese-surgeons-opened-skulls-and-minds-180961286/


On Flinders’ encounters with the Aborigines:


http://theconversation.com/the-limits-of-empathy-matthew-flinders-encounters-with-indigenous-australians-69345


More on that 6000 years bp pentagon house from Shanxi:


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2016-11/30/content_27524061.htm


More on Han Dynasty (and earlier) burials from the suburbs of Beijing:


http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/diggers-find-ancient-tombs-beijing-suburb-44078567
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/12/09/asia-pacific/science-health-asia-pacific/diggers-find-ancient-tombs-beijing-suburb/


More on that sculpture with a Ming dynasty banknote inside:


http://www.livescience.com/57026-ming-dynasty-banknote-found-inside-sculpture.html

-----

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html ================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Studying a 2200 years bp site on the Exploits River:


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/archaeologists-uncover-artifacts-old-grand-falls-windsor-groswater-1.3884429?cmp=rss


Archaeology suggests a violent end at Arizona’s Montezuma Castle:


http://westerndigs.org/new-evidence-reveals-violent-final-days-at-arizonas-montezuma-castle/
http://www.archaeology.org/5082-161209-arizona-montezuma-castle


… while some clay figurines from Arizona may be fertility figures:


http://westerndigs.org/earliest-known-clay-figurines-in-the-southwest-may-be-fertility-symbols-study-says/


Lack of zinc is implicated in the death of a Franklin Expedition crew
member:


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/franklin-expedition-toenail-research-1.3885268
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674fingernail-toenail_study_offers_insights_into_why_franklin_crew_died/
http://www.nature.com/news/fingernail-absolves-lead-poisoning-in-death-of-arctic-explorer-1.21128
http://www.archaeology.org/5079-161209-beechey-island-graves


Latest about Kennewick Man:


http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article119088553.html http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/dec/06/kennewick-man-skeleton-closer-to-tribal-return/


Studying a ‘tsunami of molasses’ in 1919:


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/26/science/boston-molasses-flood-science.html


They’re rethinking the naming of Calhoun College at Yale:


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/02/arts/design/yale-calhoun-college-slavery-debate-policy.html
http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20161202/yale-to-consider-changing-calhoun-colleges-name-based-on-renaming-report


On the electoral college:


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/12/11/the-electoral-college-is-a-medieval-relic-only-the-u-s-still-has-one/

================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
The ancient Maya brought shark teeth to the jungle, apparently:


http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/12/how-the-ancient-maya-brought-sharks-to-the-jungle/


Latest theory on the people of Easter Island:


http://www.elmostrador.cl/vida-en-linea/2016/12/05/expertos-presentan-renovadas-teorias-sobre-el-origen-de-la-poblacion-de-isla-de-pascua/


More on ancient funerary mutilation in Brazil:


http://www.livescience.com/57017-ancient-mutilated-skeletons-found-in-brazil.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ancient-americans-mutilated-corpses-funeral-150000626.html


More on that temple to the god of the winds:


http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2016/12/06/actualidad/1481039126_026921.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 ================================================================
A copy of Isaac Newton’s Principia is coming to auction:


https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/dec/05/principia-sir-isaac-newton-first-edition-auction-christies-new-york


Assorted Indiana Jonesish people:


http://www.neatorama.com/2016/12/09/5-People-Who-Were-Basically-Indiana-Jones/


On the origins of apple cider:


http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-origins-apple-cider-180960662/


The influence of maps on Shakespeare:


http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-maps-shaped-shakespeare-180961194/


The British Library has put a pile of Hebrew manuscripts online:


http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=92343


All about Krampus:


http://www.dw.com/en/krampus-santas-terrifying-companion/g-36637461


On zero:


http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20161206-we-couldnt-live-without-zero-but-we-once-had-to


This stolen Klimt story is interesting:


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38242917 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38222277


The Belle Epoque wasn’t always so belle:


http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20161207-the-dark-side-of-the-belle-epoque


An overview of the Arthurian legend:


http://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-the-arthurian-legend-64289


I think we’ve mentioned this Swabian beer recreation:


http://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/iron-age-drink/


Review of Fine, *The Menorah*:


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/02/books/review/a-history-of-the-menorah.html?_r=0


Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/ ================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Virtually unwrapped mummies:


http://phys.org/news/2016-12-egyptian-mummies-virtually-unwrapped-australia.html
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/learning-what-lays-inside-the-wrappings-of-a-mummy/8102602
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-08/egyptian-mummies-laid-bare-by-21st-technology/8103526
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2016-12-08/egyptian-mummies-virtually-unwrapped-for-first-time-in-thousands-of-years/1638360


Hadrian’s Cavalry:


http://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/whats-on/arts/major-roman-cavalry-exhibition-announced-along-hadrian-s-wall-1-8275259
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/hadrians-wall-world-heritage-site-12273223


Royal Treasures of the Nguyen Dynasty:


http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/what-s-on/168108/exhibition-on-royal-treasures-opens-in-hue.html


Terracotta Warriors:


https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/dec/07/chinas-terracotta-warriors-to-return-to-uk-for-first-time-in-nearly-a-decade
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-38229560 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/07/terracotta-warriors-return-britain/ http://www.apollo-magazine.com/chinas-terracotta-army-is-coming-to-liverpool/


The antiquities at the Getty are returning:


http://dallasartdealers.org/j-paul-getty-museum-begins-reinstallation-of-antiquities-collection-at-the-getty-villa/


Quran:


http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/exhibit-illuminates-divine-art-quran/


Time and Cosmos in Greco Roman Antiquity:


http://hyperallergic.com/331494/time-and-cosmos-institute-study-ancient-world/


A Virgin and Child sculpture is back on view at the BM:


https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/dec/10/british-museum-medieval-virgin-child-statue


================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
Developments in dating aboriginal petroglyphs:


http://phys.org/news/2016-12-techniques-date-australian-aboriginal-art.html


We mentioned this map restoration last week … here’s the process:


http://sploid.gizmodo.com/watch-a-destroyed-17th-century-map-get-painstakingly-re-1789490980


Adjusting dating methods because of the impact of fossil fuel emissions:


https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-12/awih-iam120516.php http://www.awi.de/nc/en/about-us/service/press/press-release/identifying-age-measurements-distorted-by-fossil-fuel-emissions.html


Xraying a portrait at the Charles Dickens Museum:


http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=92267


Robert the Bruce got the facial reconstruction treatment:


http://phys.org/news/2016-12-digitally-reconstructed-skull-reveal-robert.html https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/dec/08/sprucing-up-robert-the-bruce-scottish-kings-face-gets-3d-treatment
http://www.archaeology.org/5076-161208-robert-the-bruce


… as did the Neolithic Jericho skull guy:


http://www.sciencealert.com/this-is-the-reconstructed-face-of-9-500-year-old-neolithic-man

================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT ================================================================
What DNA reveals about freed slaves on St Helena:


http://www.nature.com/news/what-dna-reveals-about-st-helena-s-freed-slaves-1.21096
http://www.archaeology.org/5074-161207-genome-transatlantic-trade


The genome analysis of the Spirit Cave Mummy is done:


http://www.nature.com/news/what-dna-reveals-about-st-helena-s-freed-slaves-1.21096


DNA suggests smallpox may have emerged more recently than previously
thought:


https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-12/mu-sot120216.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161208141635.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38243108 http://www.archaeology.org/5077-161208-lithuania-smallpox-virus http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/12/08/504618235/a-mummys-dna-may-help-solve-the-mystery-of-the-origins-of-smallpox
http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/12/08/ciencia/1481196001_087293.html


Dienekes' Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS ================================================================
Assorted Roman sites:


http://elviajero.elpais.com/elviajero/2016/12/07/actualidad/1481122643_428300.html


Ostia:


http://www.italoamericano.org/story/2016-12-8/ostia-italy


================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
That gate stolen from Dachau a while back turned up in Norway:


http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=92196


More on antiquities from Palmyra turning up in Geneva:


http://theartnewspaper.com/news/news/palmyra-antiquities-seized-at-geneva-free-port-/
https://www.artforum.com/news/id=65155 http://www.timesofisrael.com/swiss-seize-artefacts-looted-from-syrias-palmyra/


Latest Anonymous Swiss Collector Culture Crime News:


http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2016/12/culture-crime-news-28-november-4-december-2016.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 ================================================================
Returns to Egypt from various countries:


http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/egypt-recovers-7-artifacts-us-switzerland-and-uae
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/251519/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Fruitful-week-for-repatriation-of-Egyptian-antiqui.aspx


… and it’s been a good year for repatriation of Egyptian items:


http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/egypt-retrieved-over-500-smuggled-artifacts-2016official


Bolivia recovered some items from Argentina:


http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2426874&CategoryId=14919


Remains of some Tasmanian Aborigines have been returned:


http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2016/s4587935.htm http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-06/aboriginal-remains-return-to-tasmania/8095502


More on the return of that mummy hand:


http://www.livescience.com/57076-stolen-mummy-hand-returned-to-egypt.html


================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Latest e-Sylum:


http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v19n49.html


… and the one which should appear later today:


http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v19n50.html


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

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

================================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS ================================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-main-menu-cat/audio-news-list/2524-audio-news-from-archaeologica-27-november-2016-3-december-2016
================================================================
OBITUARIES
===============================================================
[it appears the rate of deaths among archaeologists is inversely
proportional to the rate of deaths among celebrities this year]

================================================================
CONFERENCES
================================================================
(send in your notices!) ================================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS ================================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:

http://www.archaeology.org/news/

About.com Archaeology:

http://archaeology.about.com/

Ancient Digger:

http://www.ancientdigger.com/

Archaeology Briefs:

http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/

Past Horizons:

http://www.pasthorizons.com/

Stonepages:

http://www.stonepages.com/news/

Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:

http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/

Time Machine:

http://heatherpringle.wordpress.com/ ================================================================ PODCASTS/VODCASTS ================================================================
Archaeosoup:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Archaeos0up?feature=watch

The Book and the Spade:

http://www.radioscribe.com/bknspade.htm ================================================================
EXPLORATOR is a free weekly newsletter bringing you the latest
news of archaeological finds, historical research and the like.
Various on-line news and magazine sources are scoured for news of
the 'ancient world' (broadly construed: practically anything relating
to archaeology or history up to a century or so ago is fair
game) and every Sunday they are delivered to your mailbox free of
charge!
================================================================
Useful Addresses ================================================================
Past issues of Explorator are available on the web via our
Yahoo site:

http://www.yahoogroups.com/neo/groups/Explorator/conversations/topics

To subscribe to Explorator, send a blank email message to:

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To unsubscribe, send a blank email message to:

Explorator-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

To send a 'heads up' to the editor or contact him for other
reasons:

rogueclassicist@gmail.com ================================================================
Explorator is Copyright (c) 2016 David Meadows. Feel free to
distribute these listings via email to your pals, students,
teachers, etc., but please include this copyright notice. These
links are not to be posted to any website by any means (whether
by direct posting or snagging from a usenet group or some other

[continued in next message]

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

===============================================================
explorator 19.35-36 January 1, 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,
Bob Heuman, David Critchley, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, David Emery, Feral
Boy,
Richard Campbell, Richard C. Griffiths, Rick Pettigrew, and Ross W.
Sargent
for headses
upses this week (as always hoping I have left no one out).

Happy New Year to those following whatever calendar it is that rolled over
to 2017 today ....

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Learning about diet 1.2 million years bp from dental plaque from
Atapuerca:

http://www.livescience.com/57278-early-humans-ate-raw-meat.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/12/19/a-researcher-discovered-how-cave-men-cleaned-their-teeth-it-will-make-you-want-to-brush-yours/

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/world/a-researcher-discovered-how-cave-men-cleaned-their-teeth-it-will-make-you-want-to-brush-yours

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/world/researcher+discovered+cave+cleaned+their+teeth+will+make+want+brush/12560611/story.html

http://phys.org/news/2016-12-cavemen-toothpicks.html

Suggestion that Neanderthals were cannibals arises again:

http://phys.org/news/2016-12-caves-neanderthals-cannibals.html http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/world/deep+belgian+caves+researchers+find+neanderthals+feasted/12614839/story.html

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/1171649/the-caves-that-prove-neanderthals-were-cannibals


Suggestion that Neanderthals made boats:

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/12/27/neanderthals-in-a-boat-not-such-a-far-fetched-notion-after-all.html


What we can learn from footprints:

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/1214/How-much-can-we-learn-about-a-human-ancestor-from-one-footprint

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/fossil-footprints-show-movements-our-earliest-ancestors-180961471/


Overviewish on where we are in evolutionary studies:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2016/dec/22/why-were-closer-than-ever-to-a-timeline-for-human-evolution


Another modern ailment blamed on evolution:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38251031

More on Chatelperronian items being made by Neanderthals:

http://www.archaeology.org/issues/242-1701/trenches/5099-trenches-neanderthal-proteins



================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Earliest evidence of plants being cooked in pottery comes from the Libyan Sahara, 10 000 years bp:

http://phys.org/news/2016-12-earliest-evidence-cooked-ancient-pottery.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-12/uob-eed121616.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161219134457.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38366109 http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-1.761442 http://www.archaeology.org/5146-161219-hunter-gatherer-cooking http://www.latercera.com/noticia/descubren-neolitico-ya-se-cocinaban-plantas-vasijas-barro/

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/12/2016/earliest-evidence-discovered-of-plants-cooked-in-ancient-pottery


================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
A 5000 years bp petroglyph from the Egyptian Sahara was getting some press attention:

http://www.livescience.com/57311-5000-year-old-nativity-scene-found.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/5162-161223-sahara-birth-painting http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4063638/Egyptian-Nativity-scene-predates-Jesus-3-000-years.html

A 3000 years bp ‘stone’ (column drum?) turns up in an Egyptian meat shop:

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/life-style/art-and-culture/2016/12/21/3-000-year-old-stone-discovered-in-Egypt-butcher-shop.html


Chinese archaeologists want to excavate in Egypt:

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1026260.shtml

Finds from Qubbet al Hawa (including a retaining wall of some sort)
suggest
there are more tombs to be found there:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/253556/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Archaeologists-find-compelling-evidence-for-new-to.aspx

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/pharaonic-tomb-aged-over-4200-years-discovered-aswan

http://phys.org/news/2016-12-ancient-tombs-qubbet-el-hawa-aswan.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161222094925.htm http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/university-birmingham-researchers-discover-new-ancient-tombs

http://www.latinpost.com/articles/129395/20161226/archeologists-unearth-new-ancient-egyptian-tombs-belonging-unknown-pharaohs.htm

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/12/2016/compelling-evidence-for-future-tomb-discoveries-at-qubbet-el-hawa-in-aswan

http://www.archaeology.org/5154-161221-egypt-qubbet-al-hawa-wall

Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities and Ministry of Tourism seem to be getting along:

http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2016/12/29/607223/

Feature on the Lydian Kingdom’s ‘culinary culture’:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/lydian-kingdoms-culinary-culture-revealed-in-excavations-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=107479&NewsCatID=375


4000 years bp (maybe) remains from Kuwait:

http://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/ancient-remains-found-subbiya/ http://www.zawya.com/mena/en/story/Ancient_remains_found_in_North_Kuwait-ZAWYA20161219051016/

More DSS fragments are turning up:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.760249 http://forward.com/fast-forward/357916/archaeologists-discover-new-dead-sea-scroll-fragments-in-remote-cave-hideou/

Plenty of attention for a coin of Antiochus in Jerusalem:

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=38875 http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Rare-coin-from-King-Antiochuss-rule-discovered-in-Jerusalem-475963
http://www.timesofisrael.com/coin-struck-by-vilified-king-from-hanukkah-story-found-in-jerusalem/


… and for a bowl fragment with the name Hyrcanus on it:

http://www.antiquities.org.il/Article_eng.aspx?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=4240

http://www.livescience.com/57332-ancient-stone-bowl-hebrew-engraving.html http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Article.aspx?id=476164 http://www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologists-unearth-name-linked-to-hasmonean-kings-etched-on-jerusalem-stone/


http://artdaily.com/news/92682/Archaeologists-discover-a-stone-bowl-engraved-with-a-rare-Hebrew-inscription

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5159-161222-jerusalem-engraved-bowl


Feature on oldest images of Hanukkah menorahs:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-1.760257

… related:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-does-the-hanukkah-menorah-have-nine-branches-1481897288

http://forward.com/culture/356906/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-menorahs-but-were-afraid-to-ask/

http://www.timesofisrael.com/7-facts-about-menorahs-the-most-enduring-symbol-of-the-jewish-people/


A First Temple era wall at Tel Dan collapsed because of heavy rain this
week:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Article.aspx?id=476662 http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.761615 http://www.timesofisrael.com/biblical-era-tel-dan-wall-collapses-as-storms-hit-northern-israel/
http://www.archaeology.org/5166-161228-israel-tel-dan-wall

Feature on plastered skulls from various places:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-1.760597

Restoring synagogues in Cairo’s Jewish quarter:

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/12/egypt-cairo-jewish-quarter-synagogues.html


Pondering ‘Jesus sites’ in Jerusalem:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-1.760614

… and some tiles are being given a Jesus connection:

http://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/christianity/archaeologists-unearth-floor-tiles-jesus-may-walked


Feature on Lifta:

http://www.haaretz.com/1.760207

… and Khirbet Qeiyafa:

http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Two-gates-at-least-two-opinions-473553

Not sure if we mentioned this Ancient Jerusalem app:

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=39189

Feature on Assurnasirpal’s palace:

http://www.aina.org/ata/20161231030004.htm

Connecting Hanukkah and Trump:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/12/23/what-the-hanukkah-story-teaches-us-about-the-trump-administration/


More on the restoration of an Ottoman-era clock tower in Jaffa:

http://www.archaeology.org/5152-161220-jaffa-ottoman-clock-tower

More on ancient polluted rivers in Jordan:

http://www.livescience.com/57168-earliest-polluted-river-found-jordan.html

A plan to save sites/artifacts in the Middle East:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14995969.Experts_to_draw_up_plans_on_how__to_save_treasures_in_Middle_East/


Latest on Aleppo:

http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2016/dec/25/ruin-in-once-vital-aleppo-soars-into-bi/


Latest on looting in Iraq:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11775287 http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/news-wire/turning-iraq-history-to-rubble-leaving-the-mess-to-looters/article_ac7cb75c-2d9e-544e-a26b-8ca3bb71a540.html
http://www.timesofisrael.com/is-turned-iraqs-history-to-rubble-now-the-mess-has-been-left-to-looters/

On Agatha Christie at Nimrud:

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/agatha-christie-had-littleknown-role-in-ancient-nimrud-35332060.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/agatha-christie-had-little-known-role-in-ancient-nimrud/2016/12/31/cdc49caa-cf2d-11e6-85cd-e66532e35a44_story.html

http://www.timesofisrael.com/agatha-christie-had-little-known-role-in-ancient-nimrud/

.. and Nimrud today:

http://thecourier.com/world-news/2016/12/31/3000-years-ago-it-ruled-the-mideast-now-blown-to-pieces/

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/3000-years-ago-ruled-mideast-now-blown-pieces-44483868
http://rudaw.net/mobile/english/middleeast/iraq/19122016

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
They’re still finding things at Knossos:

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/21698-minoan-civilization-capital-knossos-to-reveal-more-treasures.html


Assorted interesting Hellenistic finds from Nea Paphos:

http://cyprus-mail.com/2016/12/19/skeleton-well-ancient-surgery-among-paphos-archaeological-finds/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5149-161219-cyprus-nea-paphos-medical

… and Palaepaphos:

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/21516-80-meter-classical-period-wall-discovered-unearthed-at-palaepaphos-in-cyprus.html


2000 years bp Roman burials from Kutahya:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roman-era-tombs-found-in-kutahya-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=107653&NewsCatID=375

http://www.dailysabah.com/history/2016/12/22/2000-year-old-roman-tombs-discovered-in-central-turkey

http://www.archaeology.org/5156-161222-turkey-roman-cotyaeum

Latest from Magarsus:

http://www.dailysabah.com/history/2016/12/28/ancient-theater-stadium-in-adana-nearly-unearthed
http://www.archaeology.org/5167-161228-turkey-magarsus-theater

Latest on the harbour at Corinth:

http://www.livescience.com/57330-ancient-corinth-harbor.html

The ‘Victoria of Calvatone’, missing since WWII, turns up in Russia:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/lost-roman-antiquity-found-in-russia-797810


Roman Caistor St Edmund is the latest site to be designated ‘bigger than previously thought’:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/roman_town_at_caistor_st_edmund_up_to_three_times_bigger_than_previously_thought_new_dig_reveals_1_4812665


Latest from the Lechaion Harbour Project:

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2016/12/21/greek-danish-archaeologists-discover-more-of-ancient-corinth-port-video/

http://www.archaeology.org/5153-161221-ancient-harbor-lechaion

Funerary implications of some Roman shrines at Kilkenny:

http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/home/228410/roman-shrines-on-freestone-hill-kilkenny-infer-drinking-at-funerals-not-a-modern-thing.html

Pondering the Neronian persecution:

https://cruxnow.com/commentary/2016/12/18/maybe-nero-didnt-persecute-christians/


Latest in the Thessaloniki metro station saga:

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/society/21636-court-approves-plans-for-antiquities-at-thessaloniki-metro-station.html


On the origins of some Greek Myths:

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161220-the-strange-inspirations-behind-greek-myths


Feature on Saturnalia:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/retro-baltimore/bal-retro-baltimore-remembering-saturnalia-the-pagan-precursor-to-christmas-20161221-story.html


Feature on the Falkirk Hoard:

http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/falkirk-s-greatest-roman-discovery-1-4327903


On the origins of the Etruscans:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jun/18/italy.johnhooper?CMP=share_btn_fb

Some Roman movies to get you through the holiday season:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/drsarahbond/2016/12/23/five-roman-history-films-to-binge-watch-this-holiday-season-and-some-to-feed-to-the-beasts/


Feature on Lucian and Star Wars:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/intergalactic-battle-ancient-rome-180961416/


What Mary Beard isn’t up to:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/27/mary-beard-stumbles-upon-priceless-set-henry-viii-tapestries/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/king-henry-viii-tapestry-mystery-new-york-city-rug-gallery-shop/


More on that Gargilius inscription:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/underwater-hebrew-tablet-reveals-biblical-143000683.html


More on the (re)discovery of Vlochos:

http://www.thelocal.se/20161212/swedish-archaeologists-unearth-lost-ancient-city-in-greece

https://www.yahoo.com/news/excavations-greek-village-reveal-ancient-142500997.html

http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/12/13/ciencia/1481627728_488694.html http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/1214/Ancient-Greek-backwater-actually-a-bustling-metropolis-research-shows

More on the folks keeping an eye on Libya’s Roman antiquities:

http://artdaily.com/news/92652/The-unlikely-saviours-of-Libya-s-Roman-remains

http://www.dailysabah.com/history/2016/12/24/the-unlikely-saviors-of-libyas-roman-remains

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/the-unlikely-aviors-of-libyas-roman-remains.aspx?pageID=238&nid=107634&NewsCatID=375

http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/22/12/2016/The-unlikely-saviours-of-Libya-s-Roman-remains

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20161222000580

-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
Remains of a 6000 years bp mask from Germany:

http://www.dw.com/en/archaeologists-identify-6000-year-old-mask/av-36870712

A Celtic brooch from Norway with a Viking connection:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161219084638.htm http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/12/2016/bronze-celtic-brooch-from-viking-raids-found-in-norway

http://www.archaeology.org/5157-161222-norway-celtic-brooch

A strange, twisted Anglo Saxon saint/king burial from Lincolnshire:

http://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/was-an-anglo-saxon-saint-or-king-buried-at-lost-monastery-in-lincolnshire/story-29998427-detail/story.html

http://www.archaeology.org/5158-161222-anglo-saxon-burial

A medieval ring from Sherwood Forest is being tested:

http://metro.co.uk/2016/12/19/treasure-hunter-finds-medieval-ring-in-robin-hoods-sherwood-forest-6332401/


Reports of turkey (and other fowl) bones from a dig at a 16th century
(give
or take) site excavated in the 1970s (+) at Norton Priory:

http://www.archaeology.org/5161-161223-england-monks-turkey

Fragments of a Pakistan-made carpet from a 17th century Dutch shipwreck:

http://www.livescience.com/57287-lavish-carpet-found-17th-century-shipwreck.html

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/17th-century-indian-carpet-discovered-in-dutch-shipwreck/story-i1u7MD8FgxfF4JvpMffXaP.html
http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/17th-century-indian-carpet-discovered-in-dutch-shipwreck-4448392/

Challenging claims about Banquo’s Walk:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-38377398 http://www.scotsman.com/news/myth-of-highland-clan-road-dispelled-after-150-years-1-4322330

http://www.archaeology.org/5150-161220-scotland-banquo-s-walk

Some standing stones may have been erected to commemorate Bannockburn:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14994252.___Ancient____standing_stones_are_linked_to_1314_battle/

http://www.archaeology.org/5172-161230-scotland-standing-stones

A controversial suggestion about Newgrange’s ‘sun trap’:

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/archaeologist-questions-validity-of-monuments-ancient-roof-box-35313576.html

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/newgrange-sun-trap-may-be-only-50-years-old-says-archaeologist-1.2913483

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/iconic-newgrange-monument-could-just-9495973

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/winter-solstice-newgrange-sun-trap-might-be-modern-invention/


… but:

http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/newgrange-the-archaeological-evidence-1.2916654


Plans to search for a missing column in Venice:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/18/venetians-hope-solve-mystery-giant-stone-column-disappeared/


Plans to restore the Tolpuddle Martyrs old chapel:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/dec/27/tolpuddle-martyrs-old-chapel-restored-place-sit-think


On where they used to hang pirates in London:

http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20161216-the-london-gallows-where-pirates-were-hanged


Comparing Brexit and the treaty of Troyes:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-38326618

Concerns for Altomuenster Abbey:

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ae495ab4c2a94f649360f0049505003a/scholars-fret-about-fate-holy-grail-german-abbey-books


Review of Guy, *Elizabeth*:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/dec/27/elizabeth-forgotten-years-john-guy-review


More on the Lascaux replication:

http://www.nytimes.com/video/world/europe/100000004789226/lascaux-caves-paleolithic-and-new-again.html?smid=nytcore-iphone-share&smprod=nytcore-iphone


-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ================================================================
Old(est?) petroglyphs from Iran:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-archaeologist-uncovers-possibly-one-of-worlds-oldest-rock-etchings/

http://artdaily.com/news/92373/The-ibex-code--deciphering-Iran-s-ancient-rock-art


Pre Qin sites from Sichuan:

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2016-12/19/content_27709813.htm http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2016-12/22/content_39962194.htm

Another 2000 years bp burial from Hebei:

http://www.indialivetoday.com/archaeologists-in-chinas-hebei-province-unearths-2000-year-old-tomb/81363.html


Evidence of horse sacrifice at the Yongshan Blood Pool:

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2016/12/19/evidence-horse-sacrifices-yongshan-blood-pool/


A roundup of the major archaeological discoveries in China in 2016:

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2016-12/23/content_27753670.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2016-12/23/content_27753651.htm http://www.ecns.cn/visual/hd/2016/12-29/114880.shtml

Remains of the Sanada Maru fortress at Osaka Castle:

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201612250005.html http://www.archaeology.org/5168-161229-japan-sanada-maru

Latest from the Inariyama Burial Mound:

http://www.archaeology.org/5171-161230-japan-inariyama-mound

A 3000 years bp urn child burial from Nadapuram:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/Bones-of-child-found-in-megalithic-urn/article16927874.ece


Rethinking the identity of the ‘Mohenjodaro Dancing Girl’:

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/mohenjodaro-dancing-girl-is-parvati-claims-ichr-journal-4444981/

http://www.dailyo.in/arts/mohenjodaro-dancing-girl-shiva-parvati-ys-rao-ichr-itihaas-thakur-prasad-verma/story/1/14736.html


… meanwhile they’re trying to attract archaeologists back to Mohenjodaro:

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1275665/moen-jo-daro-excavation-site-undergoing-maintenance-attract-archaeologists/


Plans to search for a necropolis in MIzoram:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Search-for-one-of-worlds-biggest-necropolis-sites-to-begin-in-Mizoram/articleshow/56108681.cms


Studying the Kinh Thien Palace:

http://www.archaeology.org/5170-161229-kinh-thien-palace

Feature on pre-communist Russia:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4048640/Pictured-Remarkable-pictures-days-Russian-Empire-revolution-country-ancient-traditions-colourful-cultures.html


More on burials found in a Beijing suburb:

http://nwasianweekly.com/2016/12/diggers-find-ancient-tombs-in-beijing-suburb/

http://www.archaeology.org/5147-161219-china-tongzhou-city-walls

… I’m not sure if these urn burials are from the same location:

http://eng.belta.by/society/view/archaeologists-discover-62-ancient-human-remains-buried-in-clay-containers-97291-2016/


More on remains of some beef soup in a Chinese tomb:

http://english.cctv.com/2016/12/21/VIDEHt3RzRg9cRS77ScZB7hM161221.shtml

-----

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html ================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
A 3800 years bp ‘potato garden’ near Vancouver:

http://www.livescience.com/57316-ancient-underwater-garden-discovered.html http://home.bt.com/news/world-news/is-this-the-worlds-oldest-garden-archaeologists-uncover-3800-year-old-horticultural-site-11364123204980

http://www.news24.com/Green/News/3-800-year-old-potato-garden-discovered-in-canada-20161227

http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/12/e1601282.full http://www.archaeology.org/5163-161227-waterlogged-wapato-plants

Studying the extent of the Hopewell Road:

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/science/2016/12/18/01-archaeology-how-far-did-the-great-hopewell-road-stretch-across-ohio.html

http://ohioarchaeology.org/journal-of-ohio-archaeology/137-volume-4-2016/495-the-great-hopewell-road-new-data-analysis-and-future-research-prospects


Documenting Dene caribou fences in the NWT:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/archaeologist-sahtu-caribou-fence-1.3902397


Evidence that the Chaco Canyon people had to import food:

http://phys.org/news/2016-12-ancient-chaco-canyon-population-imported.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-12/uoca-acc122916.php http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/30/study-chaco-inhabitants-likely-relied-on-imported-/

Excavating Jamestown’s church:

http://www.dailypress.com/features/history/92126620-132.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/probing-for-a-lost-colonial-church-in-jamestown/2016/12/23/013219c4-c924-11e6-acda-59924caa2450_story.html

http://wydaily.com/2016/12/27/jamestown-unearthed-archaeologists-explore-400-year-old-church/

… a backgrounder on Jamestown:

http://www.livescience.com/38595-jamestown-history.html

Melting Arctic ice continues to reveal sites:

http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2016/12/27/melting-arctic-ice-patches-reveal-rich-archaeological-record/


… while melting snow in Wyoming has revealed the highest tipi ring:

http://www.kcwy13.com/content/news/Wyoming-archaeologist-Finds-the-Highest-Tipi-Ring-Wyoming--408859205.html


An oral history project:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/navajo-nation-library-wants-digitally-preserve-thousands-hours-oral-histories-180961576/


Feature on slave insurance policies:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/18/us/insurance-policies-on-slaves-new-york-lifes-complicated-past.html


Kennewick Man has been reburied:

http://phys.org/news/2016-12-ancient-skeleton-native-americans-reburial.html



================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
More on the Brazilian ‘stonehenge’:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4037576/The-mystery-Amazon-Stonehenge-1-000-year-old-Megalithic-stone-circle-Brazil-hints-ancient-civilizations-sophisticated-thought.html


More on the Maya and giant shark teeth:

http://www.livescience.com/57202-megalodon-teeth-inspired-mayan-monster-myths.html


More on surviving the Atacama desert:

http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/12/how-humans-survived-in-the-barren-atacama-desert-13000-years-ago/



-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:

http://goo.gl/1VdeA

Ancient MesoAmerica News:

http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/ ================================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST ================================================================
A smattering of Christmas-related posts this year … first, on the date of Jesus’ birth:

http://www.haaretz.com/science-and-health/.premium-1.760635 http://bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za/303512/why-is-christmas-celebrated-on-25-december/


… and some myths about the Nativity:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-the-nativity/2016/12/16/48625672-c179-11e6-8422-eac61c0ef74d_story.html


… and an interesting 3d treatment of Breugel’s Nativity:

http://www.dw.com/en/renaissance-painter-pieter-brueghel-in-3d/a-36920420

… of course there was a Star of Bethlehem piece:

http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/12/21/506395770/the-star-of-bethlehem-and-the-magi-myth-or-reality


… and the date of New Year’s:

http://www.livescience.com/57342-why-is-new-years-january-first.html

… and New Year’s in various cultures in history:

http://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/new-year-s-celebrations-as-old-as-recorded-history/article_1f1baf80-6c53-5322-8e1e-e24d023a5a5a.html


There was an item on medieval Christmas foods:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/12/23/505741097/eat-ye-bread-sauce-while-ye-may-brits-go-medieval-on-christmas-day


On some Christmas carols (these deal with different carols):

http://theconversation.com/a-short-history-of-three-very-famous-christmas-carols-70272

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20161220-the-surprising-origins-of-famous-christmas-carols

Top seven archaeological finds of 2016:

http://www.newser.com/story/235649/the-7-biggest-archaeology-finds-of-2016.html

… or maybe it’s top nine:

http://www.livescience.com/57314-biggest-archaeology-discoveries-2016.html http://www.itechpost.com/articles/68756/20161226/top-9-archaeology-thrilling-discoveries-of-2016.htm

… could be ten:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/december-web-only/biblical-archaeology-top-ten-discoveries-of-2016.html

… or a different ten:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.761814

… just a non-numbered list:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38381878

Top ten skeletons:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2016/12/21/the-10-most-intriguing-skeletons-of-2016/


On the Solstice:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2016/12/21/winter-solstice-ancient-celebration/


On 1498:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-38290978

Feature on mudlarking:

http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2016/12/23/mudlarking-in-the-river-thames-sfc-orig.cnn


The ‘secret feminist history’ of shopping:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/12/27/the-secret-feminist-history-of-shopping/


On the Library of Congress’ map collection:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/library-congress-putting-its-map-collection-on-the-map-180961380/


On the classification of races:

http://theconversation.com/the-biggest-mistake-in-the-history-of-science-70575


Restoring the Ghent Altar:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/19/science/ghent-altarpiece-restoration.html

Confirming a 200 years bp diagnosis:

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-38409086

The history book that shaped Angela Merkel’s world view:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/29/angela-merkel-jurgen-osterhammel-the-transformation-of-the-world-book-germany


Questioning the authenticity of a Beethoven score coming to auction:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/18/arts/music/as-prices-for-classical-scores-soar-one-beethoven-is-in-question.html


Why Stradivariuses sound so good (maybe):

http://phys.org/news/2016-12-scientists-uncover-stradivarius-violins-special.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/20/science/stradivari-violin-wood.html http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mineral-baths-may-have-given-stradivari-their-signature-sound-180961531/

Some archaeological humour:

http://bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za/303512/why-is-christmas-celebrated-on-25-december/

On the origins of marzipan:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/12/22/506345750/marzipan-the-sweet-taste-of-the-holidays-in-madrid


On angels:

http://www.dw.com/en/the-angel-chronicles/av-36851502

Honours for Sarah Parcak:

http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2016/12/20/year-end-honors-for-cutting-edge-explorers/


I think we mentioned this opEd on what’s wrong with archaeology:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2016/dec/21/why-archaeology-needs-to-come-out-of-the-cave-and-into-the-digital-age


A painting is returning to the Netherlands:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/dec/21/painting-jean-etienne-liotard-rijksmuseum-netherlands-centuries-in-england


The Polish government got a great deal on some art:

http://www.dw.com/en/poland-buys-private-art-collection-with-da-vinci-painting-at-bargain-price/a-36951159
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38462474 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/poland-government-buys-art-valued-billion-for-85-million-leonardo-da-vinci-rembrandt-czartoryska-a7501736.html

http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2016/12/30/actualidad/1483084292_479842.html


In case you missed the hype that the supervolcano beneath Italy is
stirring:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/volcano-maybe-killed-neanderthals-stirring-once-again-180961549/


On the Crusades and ginger:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-crusades-helped-create-your-gingerbread-latte-180961535/


If you’re interested in Hagia Sophia’s acoustics:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-can-hear-hagia-sophias-sublime-acoustics-without-trip-istanbul-180961563/


OpEd on the end of Republics:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/19/opinion/how-republics-end.html

Review of Smith, *Rasputin*:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/29/books/rasputin-biography-douglas-smith.html

More on Tycho Brahe’s gold content:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/astronomer-and-alchemist-tycho-brahe-died-full-gold-180961447/



Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/ ================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Time and Cosmos in Greco Roman Antiquity:

https://news.artnet.com/opinion/isaw-sundial-789953

Samurai:

http://www.wcpo.com/entertainment/local-a-e/discover-the-japanese-samurai-at-the-cincinnati-art-museum


South Africa: Art of a Nation:

http://uk.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1808386/south-africa-the-art-of-a-nation-on-view-at-british-museum

Roman cavalry:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/14987549.Roman_cavalry_set_to_gallop_back_to_Hadrian__39_s_Wall_for_major_exhibition/


The Louvre is planning to be a refuge for artifacts in need of
repatriation:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/12/18/france-louvre-refugees-art-treasures/95396968/


All of the items from Tut’s tomb will be on display together for the first

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