Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,

John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Hernan Astudillo,

Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,

Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Peter Ramsden,

Don Buck, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always hoping I have left no one out).

================================================================

EARLY HOMINIDS

================================================================

More on those oldest axial Australopithecus fossils:

https://phys.org/news/2019-06-oldest-axial-fossils-genus-australopithecus.html

More on evidence for early human starch use:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/?p=12297

https://www.sapiens.org/news/starches-first-evidence-humans-cooking/

================================================================

AFRICA

================================================================

Tunisians are fighting to preserve their cultural heritage:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/feature-everything-stolen-us-tunisians-000000062.html

https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/tunisians-struggle-to-prevent-archaeological-looting-1.876207

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Arts-and-Ent/Culture/2019/Jun-20/485654-tunisia-struggles-with-looting-of-cultural-heritage.ashx

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1513351/middle-east

Interesting feature on Zaga Christ:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/jun/22/revealed-illustrious-past-of-mystery-portrait

More on gold refining in medieval Mali:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidanderson/2019/06/18/gold-refining-techniques-of-a-medieval-islamic-city-revealed-by-experimental-archaeology/#408fc67ca9e8

More on evidence (mostly DNA) for the rise of pastoralism in east Africa:

https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/pastoralism-ancient-dna-africa/

================================================================

ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

================================================================

Suggestion that Tut’s ‘sunshade’ may have been attached to his chariot:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/44/336553/Heritage/Museums/Tutankhamuns-sunshade-may-have-been-attached-to-hi.aspx

EU support for Egypt’s fight against smuggling of antiquities:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/eu-ambassador-backs-egypts-efforts-to-recover-smuggled-antiquities/

I think we mentioned this one … Catal Huyuk had plenty of ‘modern’ urban problems to deal with, apparently:

https://phys.org/news/2019-06-atalhyk-years-modern-urban-problems.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/osu-9ya061119.php

https://www.livescience.com/65759-violent-neighbors-ancient-city.html

https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/06/17/ciencia/1560760459_872373.html

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-early-farmers-in-9-000-year-old-turkish-town-couldn-t-stand-each-other-1.7390369

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/catalhoyuk-urban-problems-07300.html

https://gizmodo.com/one-of-the-world-s-most-ancient-cities-experienced-surp-1835624342

https://www.newsweek.com/skeletons-worlds-oldest-city-disease-violence

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/?p=35545

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7767-190618-turkey-catalhoyuk-violence

Feature on Sargon of Akkad:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/people/reference/king-sargon-akkad/

Feature on the Natufian remains at Wadi Hammeh:

http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/wadi-hammeh-one-largest-repertoires%C2%A0-natufian-art-%E2%80%94-archaeologist

Evidence of bit use from 4700 years bp donkey remains found near Hebron:

https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/06/23/evidence-bit-use-donkey-4700-years/

Israeli paratroopers excavated a watchtower dating back to King Hezekiah (2800 years bp) from Bais Rishon:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/troops-uncover-first-temple-era-observation-post-on-training-base/

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/264801

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-israeli-soldiers-dig-up-watchtower-from-king-hezekiah-s-time-in-their-firing-zone-1.7394256

https://hamodia.com/2019/06/19/223662/

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2019-06/20/content_74902583.htm

Latest DSS fragments translated:

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Deciphered-Dead-Sea-Scrolls-throws-up-questions-for-historians-592971

Pondering Masada and Josephus’ reliability:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-the-myth-of-masada-how-reliable-was-josephus-anyway-1.7375157

Interesting feature on the search for some Syrian tablets found a century ago and the role of espionage:

https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/art/ancient-history-and-espionage-one-story-of-middle-eastern-history-being-sent-to-the-west-1.870976

Seeking Heritage Status for Umm Al Qaiwain’s ed-Dur temple:

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/umm-al-quwain/2000-year-old-uae-temple-site-a-candidate-for-world-heritage-status

http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/555111/Pre-Islamic-vestige-sent-to-enter-UNESCO-list

http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302768565

Plans to make Karkemish an open air museum:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hittites-city-to-become-open-air-museum-144333

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2019/06/19/ancient-city-of-karkamis-administrative-capital-of-hittites-to-be-turned-into-open-air-museum-in-turkey

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/turkey-ancient-hittites-city-to-become-open-air-museum/1510283

Yemen’s ongoing struggles with looting of sites:

https://www.thenational.ae/world/yemen-s-struggle-to-protect-its-ancient-treasures-from-looters-1.878033

I think we mentioned plans for renovations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre:

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-middle-east/2019/06/16/three-churches-agree-to-more-renovations-at-church-of-the-holy-sepulcher/

https://aleteia.org/2019/06/17/foundation-of-jesus-tomb-to-be-restored/

================================================================

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

================================================================

I think we mentioned this underwater ‘monumental structure’ from Salamis:

https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-greece-monumental-structure-underwater-1444315

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/35934-new-finds-from-underwater-research-on-historic-greek-island-of-salamis.html

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/06/19/greek-archaeologists-make-major-discovery-at-battle-of-salamis-site/

https://www.thenationalherald.com/250060/archaeologists-find-underwater-building-from-battle-of-salamis/

A 2000 years bp wooden arm from a Northamptonshire well:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-48712130

Remains of a Roman fortress and barracks beneath an Exeter shopping arcade:

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/incredible-roman-discovery-underneath-exeter-2990074

Evidence of a Roman settlement at a housing development site in Bolsover:

https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/archaeologists-unearth-extremely-rare-remains-of-roman-town-at-bolsover-housing-development-1-9834849

Plenty of Roman (and other period remains) from the Vale of Glamorgan:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-48594251

A dig is underway at a Roman site in County Durham:

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/dig-hopes-solve-mystery-roman-16446256

I think we mentioned this 2nd/3rd century lead sarcophagus from Grenada:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/06/17/inenglish/1560769635_550258.html

In search of the entrance to a (Thracian?) tomb at Maltepe mound near Plovdiv:

https://sofiaglobe.com/2019/06/18/archaeology-dig-team-seeks-entrance-to-tomb-at-maltepe-mound-near-plovdiv/

Possible remains of the city of Bassania on an Albanian hill:

https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/remains-of-ancient-city-found-on-albanian-hill-6428

Plans to excavate the road leading to Laodicea’s stadium:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2019/06/21/road-leading-to-anatolias-largest-ancient-stadium-soon-to-be-unearthed

Byzantine pottery kilns from Kozani (Greece):

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/35980-byzantine-era-pottery-kilns-unearthed-during-works-in-northern-greece.html

I don’t think we’ve mentioned the Interactive Dig for Pompeii … we’re into weeks 3 and 4:

https://www.archaeological.org/pompeii-2019-week-3/

https://www.archaeological.org/pompeii-2019-week-4/

Feature on the coins of Parion:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/bronze-coins-shed-light-on-parions-history-144271

Feature on the amount of wood used to heat the Baths of Caracalla:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7153063/Baths-Carcalla-Ancient-oven-heating-water-baths-1-800-years-ago-open-public-time.html

… and now you can tour the tunnels beneath the Baths of Caracalla:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-can-now-tour-tunnels-beneath-romes-baths-caracalla-180972457/

… and the Great Bath at Bath was cleaned this week:

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2019-06-18/watch-as-historic-roman-bath-drained-for-latest-scrub/

Feature on trees and power in Aegean art:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2019/06/Trees-and-Power-Aegean-Art

Feature on ‘evil robots’ in the ancient world:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-evil-robots-of-the-ancient-world?source=articles&via=rss

Feature on Anaxagoras:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ancient-greek-philosopher-was-exiled-claiming-moon-was-rock-not-god-180972447/

Interesting study/feature on Justinian’s plague in the British Isles:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/do-these-skeletons-hold-the-secret-to-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire

Feature on that 2400 years bp Greek shipweck found in the Black Sea a while ago:

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/146486/VIDEO-Oldest-intact-shipwreck-found-in-Bulgaria

Honours (!) for the Antikythera Mechanism:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2019/06/21/american-society-mechanical-engineers-honour-antikythera-mechanism/

Sadly, YLE is dropping its Nuntii Latini broadcast:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-48661183

What Greg Nagy is up to:

http://harvardpolitics.com/harvard/greg-nagy/

Alice Oswald is the Oxford professor of poetry:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/21/alice-oswald-elected-oxford-professor-of-poetry-by-huge-margin

Review of Caroline Lawrence, *The Time Travel Diaries*:

https://www.thenational.scot/news/17708310.young-adult-book-review-the-time-travel-diaries-by-caroline-lawrence/

Hypish/reviewish piece on Caitlin Barrett’s book on Egyptian features in Roman gardens:

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2019/06/book-explores-egyptian-imagery-roman-homes

The Greek President called for the return of the Parthenon Marbles again:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/139462/greek-president-calls-for-return-of-parthenon-sculptures-at-acropolis-museum-10th-anniversary-event/

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/35965-greek-president-calls-for-elgin-marbles-return-at-acropolis-museum-event.html

https://greekcitytimes.com/2019/06/21/parthenon-sculptures-belong-cultural-jewel-acropolis-museum-greek-president/

… and apparently people were in favour of the return back in the 1940s:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2019/06/british-museum-trustee-favoured-return.html

… and they’re bringing up the firman again:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/06/20/new-evidence-debunks-british-museums-stance-on-parthenon-marbles/

I think we mentioned this song someone wrote and sang at the British Museum for their return:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/241777/article/ekathimerini/life/greek-artist-sings-for-parthenon-marbles-return-at-british-museum-protest

https://www.thenationalherald.com/250587/protest-song-inside-british-museum-hellena-sings-for-marbles-return-vid/

https://greekcitytimes.com/2019/06/22/greek-artist-sings-return-parthenon-marbles-british-museum/

Another piece on their return:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/139164/the-acropolis-museum-and-the-return-of-the-parthenon-sculptures-back-to-the-future/

Pondering Plato and Boris Johnson:

https://www.economist.com/britain/2019/06/22/what-would-plato-make-of-boris-johnson

Some interesting classical reception at Cornell:

http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2019/06/miniatures-temple-zeus-take-their-place-namesake-cafe

More on ‘quake proof’ structures incorporated into Roman-era buildings:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-rise-of-quake-proof-buildings-stopped-fall-of-the-roman-empire-df7996vg9

More on dietary changes over time at Portus:

https://phys.org/news/2019-06-diet-docks-dying-port-ancient.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7756-190613-italy-rome-portus

More on that villa with the great mosaics in Spain:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/roman-billionaires-villa-discovered-with-exquisite-ceramics-and-mosaics-0qnr5rp3m

Nice APOD of the ‘strawberry moon’ over the Temple of Poseidon:

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190618.html

—–

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/

================================================================

EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

================================================================

Scotland’s crannogs (artificial islands) appear to date from Neolithic, not Iron Age times:

https://www.livescience.com/65728-neolithic-human-made-islands.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-48625734

https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/22819/20190619/discarded-pottery-around-ancient-man-made-islands-has-scientists-stunned.htm

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scotlands-tiny-artificial-islands-date-stone-age-180972420/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7757-190613-scotland-neolithic-crannogs

Neolithic burials in Spain suggest growing gender inequality, apparently:

https://cosmosmagazine.com/society/gender-inequality-arose-8000-years-ago

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7765-190618-spain-gender-inequality

An interesting/mysterious megalithic monument at Carrowmore:

https://www.thejournal.ie/megalithic-monument-sligo-4682855-Jun2019/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7761-190614-ireland-carrowmore-megalithic

Study suggests the Celts in Burgundy drank local beer but imported Greek wine:

https://phys.org/news/2019-06-early-celts-burgundy-appropriated-mediterranean.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/p-eci061219.php

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/lm-a-w061119.php

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/celts-france-wine-drinking-alcohol-banquet-burgundy-mediterranean-a8965701.html

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2019-06-20/ancient-celts-drank-imported-wine-and-local-beer-archaeologists/11218012

https://neoskosmos.com/en/139409/celts-may-not-have-mimicked-the-ancient-greeks-in-drinking-habits-as-previously-thought/

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/35974-archaeologists-discover-that-ancient-celts-drank-greek-wine-out-of-vases.html

https://www.thenationalherald.com/250651/sixth-century-celts-had-a-soft-spot-for-red-wine-from-the-greek-colony-of-marseille/

https://eu.greekreporter.com/2019/06/21/celts-imported-greek-pottery-olive-oil-and-wine-2600-years-ago/

https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-celts-local-beer-imported-wine-archaeologists-1444763

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2206989-ancient-celts-were-partial-to-beer-mead-and-imported-greek-wines/

I think we mentioned these 1000 bp (or so) steps to a well in an Aberdeenshire hillfort:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-48675964

Remains of a 13th/14th century castle tower found during castle reconstruction in Slovakia:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22141417/bases-of-tower-from-turn-of-the-13th-and-14th-centuries-found-while-reconstructing-the-castle.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7764-190617-slovakia-markusovsky-castle

Remains of a Visigothic city in Spain, including what might be one of the oldest mosques in Europe:

https://www.livescience.com/65760-visigoth-reccopolis-city-revealed.html

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7776-190621-spain-visigoths-town

Digging has resumed at Bamburgh Castle:

https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/retro/archaeologists-dig-in-for-new-season-at-bamburgh-castle-to-investigate-its-medieval-heritage-254633

Plans to excavate three ‘lost villages’ in Glen Coe:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-48703662

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage/the-lost-villages-of-glencoe-to-be-brought-back-to-life-1-4951111

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17719416.glencoes-lost-villages-probed-by-archaeologists/

A medieval Hebrew inscription from a mikveh in Sicily:

https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Hebrew-inscription-discovered-in-ancient-Jewish-ritual-bath-in-Sicily-592864

A sword found ‘in the sand’ of a cave in Shropshire thirty years ago might date to the 13th century:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-shropshire-48719554

Excitement over some ‘waste material’ from Stonehenge (geologically speaking):

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stonehenge-holy-grail-could-provide-clues-about-mysterious-england-monument/

Feature on the new footbridge at Tintagel Castle:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/18/new-tintagel-castle-footbridge-recreates-ancient-land-link

There are still a few pieces missing from the Lewis Chessmen set:

https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2019/06/19/one-found-where-are-the-others/#.XQ908NNKhTY

https://www.ft.com/content/2266d662-8ebf-11e9-b8cb-26a9caa9d67b

Feature on an early explorer of the Ness of Brodgar:

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage/the-orkney-farmer-who-explored-the-ness-of-brodgar-80-years-before-anyone-else-1-4951519

Feature on various digs going on at Anglesey:

https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/17722327.angleseys-ancient-site-has-been-ritual-landscape-for-thousands-of-years/

Review of Violet Moller, *The Map of Knowledge*:

https://www.thetelegraph.com/entertainment/article/Book-World-How-scholars-in-a-few-cities-kept-14028723.php

https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Book-World-How-scholars-in-a-few-cities-kept-14028723.php

More on evidence of prehistoric settlements in the North Sea:

https://aboutmanchester.co.uk/the-first-archaeological-artefacts-are-found-during-the-search-for-lost-prehistoric-settlements-in-the-north-sea/

More on 3000 years bp tiny ‘bagels’ from Austria:

https://forward.com/fast-forward/426293/bagels-bronze-age-austria/

https://forward.com/food/426301/archaeologists-discover-bronze-age-bagels/

More on that trove of cannonballs associated with Vlad the Impaler:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/trove-cannonballs-likely-used-vlad-impaler-found-bulgaria-180972441/

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ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

================================================================

Evidence of human occupation of caves in Viet Nam some 8000-9000 years bp:

https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/archaeologists-discover-prehistoric-relics-inside-northern-vietnam-caves-3940109.html

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/archaeologists-unearth-site-dating-back-to-9000-years-ago/154592.vnp

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7768-190618-vietnam-neolithic-cave

A Yayoi Pottery Culture period burial from Japan includes a (mainland) bronze ring weight:

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201906210001.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7775-190621-japan-ring-weight

An Eastern Han dynasty tomb from Hubei:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/19/c_138156060.htm

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7770-190619-china-eastern-han

Tang/Song dynasty kiln remains from Henan:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/21/c_138162402.htm

A muralled Yuan Dynasty tomb from Shanxi:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/20/c_138159624.htm

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7772-190620-china-tomb-murals

… and a muralled Jin Dynasty tomb, also from Shanxi:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/21/c_138162118.htm

A weekly overview of finds in China:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/22/c_138164131.htm

Study suggests there were more ‘first arrivals’ to Australia and New Guinea than previously thought:

https://phys.org/news/2019-06-migrants-australia-thoughtand-purpose.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/fu-rar061919.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190620100002.htm

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/06/how-many-people-did-it-take-to-colonize-australia/

17 tenth century (maybe) idols from a site in Tamil Nadu:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/17-idols-unearthed-in-tamil-nadu/articleshow/69847433.cms

Plans to carbon date some human remains found in Tauranga:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=12242412

A 1917 shipwreck off the coast of Australia:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2019/06/18/shipwreck-boat-found-by-diver-102-years-later-kc-orig.cnn

They’ll charge you more if you linger in the Taj Mahal too long:

https://nypost.com/2019/06/19/taj-mahal-officials-will-start-charging-visitors-who-stay-too-long/

Feature on the Bamiyan Buddhas:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/18/world/asia/afghanistan-bamiyan-buddhas.html

Feature on evidence for the antiquity of yoga:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/how-ancient-is-yoga-seals-recovered-from-indus-valley-civilisation-sites-tell-a-fascinating-story/

Feature on hidden rivers in Tokyo:

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jun/13/a-city-built-on-water-the-hidden-rivers-under-tokyos-concrete-and-neon

More on early evidence of cannabis use in China:

http://www.ecns.cn/news/2019-06-18/detail-ifzkezvn2345747.shtml

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/12/health/cannabis-anicent-dead-marijuana.html

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/06/13/oldest_ritual_pot_smoking/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/2500-year-old-chinese-cemetery-offers-earliest-physical-evidence-cannabis-smoking-180972410/

More on giant stone jars from Laos:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-21/mysterious-jars-of-death-uncovered-in-laos/11221142

More on that Afghan tower collapse at Ghazni:

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Arts-and-Ent/Culture/2019/Jun-17/485368-afghan-citadel-collapses-cultural-heritage-sites-at-risk.ashx

https://www.tolonews.com/arts-culture/ancient-citadel-ghazni-risk

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1993637/3-ancient-afghan-citadel-collapses-cultural-heritage-sites-risk/

================================================================

NORTH AMERICA

================================================================

A 700 years bp canoe from Maine:

https://wokq.com/an-old-canoe-dating-back-700-years-found-in-maine/

https://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2019/06/19/archaeologists-find-700-year-old-dugout-canoe-buried-mud-cape-porpoise-harbor/

I think we mentioned this colonial-era tavern site in Brunswick Town (NC):

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article230892034.html

https://www.livescience.com/65734-brunswick-town-colonial-tavern-maybe-brothel.html

https://www.ibtimes.com/archaeologists-find-colonial-time-capsule-18th-century-tavern-north-carolina-2801826

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7762-190617-north-carolina-tavern

Digging at a colonial-era home in Durham (NH):

https://www.unionleader.com/news/history/historic-items-uncovered-during-archaeological-dig-in-durham/article_9eef61ee-45ff-5ef6-bce2-bbcd04206ee5.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7758-190613-colonial-new-hampshire

… and at the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse:

https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2019/06/19/archaeological-dig-unveiling-buried-history-fort-gratiot-light-station/1488034001/

What they’ve been finding this season at the Colonial Michilimackinac dig:

https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/archaeologists-find-last-piece-to-creamware-from-colonial-michilimackinac

Sewer work in St John’s have revealed a large number of 19th century teeth and other items:

https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/regional/79-human-teeth-found-under-water-street-in-st-johns-322702/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7763-190617-canada-st-john-s-teeth

… while in Flint there’s a discussion whether water works disturbed a Native American burial ground:

https://nbc25news.com/news/local/did-crews-digging-up-water-lines-in-flint-disturb-indian-burial-ground

Pondering the peopling of the North American Arctic:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2019/06/05/first-americans-eskimos-inuit-siberia-genetic-data/

Feature on Serpent Mound:

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190616/archaeology-how-long-did-it-take-to-build-serpent-mound

… and Solstice activities there:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/serpent-mound-ohio-continues-dazzle-inspire-summer-solstice/story?id=63785747

On the history of loneliness in the US:

https://slate.com/technology/2019/06/bored-lonely-angry-stupid-excerpt-technology-loneliness-history.html

An interview with Willard Sterne Randall about Alexander Hamilton and related matters:

https://www.vpr.org/post/biographer-details-long-evolving-friendship-between-ethan-allen-and-alexander-hamilton#stream/0

More on those potato famine victims’ remains from a Quebec beach site:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/carricks-shipwreck-remains-1.5166478

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bones-found-quebec-beach-belonged-irish-immigrants-fleeing-potato-famine-180972422/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7759-190614-canada-shipwreck-ireland

================================================================

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

================================================================

A study suggests some of the Nazca lines represent exotic/non-native/foreign birds:

https://phys.org/news/2019-06-fresh-mysterious-nasca-lines-peru.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/hu-fl061719.php

https://www.livescience.com/65755-mysterious-nazca-lines-birds-identified.html

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/nazca-lines-birds/

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/06/archaeologists-study-the-nasca-lines-from-a-biologists-perspective/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-identify-exotic-birds-depicted-perus-mysterious-nazca-lines-180972469/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7774-190620-peru-nazca-glyphs

Interesting evidence of the Maya arrival at Teotihuacan from Plaza 50 remains:

https://www.inah.gob.mx/boletines/8195-nuevos-hallazgos-en-teotihuacan-revelan-relacion-con-mayas-entre-350-y-450-d-c

Feature on the extent of human sacrifice at Tenochtitlan:

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/06/feeding-gods-hundreds-skulls-reveal-massive-scale-human-sacrifice-aztec-capital

Plans for more research at Ichkabal:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/more-research-into-ancient-city-of-ichkabal-planned/

More on those Maya ‘skull trophies’ from Belize:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2019/06/14/human-skull-trophies-help-uncover-the-mayas-mysterious-collapse/#.XQ-BgNNKhTY

More on the tourist issues on Easter Island:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/overtourism-rapa-nui-easter-island-moai/index.html

Nice APOD of the Milky Way over the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent:

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190617.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

================================================================

Not sure where to put this study of how ancient societies responded to environmental disruptions:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/lsu-nss061819.php

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/uou-pcc061719.php

https://phys.org/news/2019-06-scientists-large-scale-environmental-disruptions-affected.html

Plans to search again for a 19th century Spanish shipwreck off Antarctica:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2019/06/11/actualidad/1560246108_583867.html

They’ve fixed the hamfisted restoration of a St George statue in Spain:

https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/17722327.angleseys-ancient-site-has-been-ritual-landscape-for-thousands-of-years/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/21/botched-spanish-statue-st-george-lovingly-unrestored

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/22/world/europe/spain-statue-st-george-botched.html

Feature on the pirate Anne Bonny:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p07ddjbw/behind-the-myth-of-a-breast-baring-pirate

Not sure where to put this item on Shawn Graham’s work tracing the human remains trade:

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/carleton-prof-harnesses-machine-learning-to-explore-the-bone-trade-netherworld

Interesting newly-translated ‘samurai text’:

https://www.livescience.com/65742-samurai-text-supernatural-powers.html

Pondering whether Van Gogh did shoot himself:

https://www.livescience.com/65725-van-gogh-pistol-debate.html

A novel suggestion (sorry) about Henry VIII’s divorce of Anne of Cleves:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historians-new-novel-controversially-theorizes-henry-viii-divorced-anne-cleves-because-shed-already-given-birth-180972415/

A study of the ‘evolution’ of ‘puppy dog eyes’ (yes, in dogs):

https://phys.org/news/2019-06-evolution-puppy-dog-eyes.html

https://www.livescience.com/65738-how-dogs-evolved-sad-eyes.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/17/science/dogs-eyebrows-evolution.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/06/17/dogs-may-have-evolved-puppy-dog-eyes-tug-our-hearts/

https://www.dw.com/en/puppy-dog-eyes-developed-to-manipulate-humans/a-49241736

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/06/domestication-gave-dogs-two-new-eye-muscles/591868/

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/?p=35581

Advice on what to do if you come across archaeological remains:

https://wvexplorer.com/2019/06/20/found-an-archaeological-site-heres-what-to-do-next/

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/story/2019-06-21/column-best-to-notify-experts-of-archaeological-finds

Solstice activities at Stonehenge were used to express concerns:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/scientists-warn-risks-tunnel-stonehenge-summer-solstice-113419597.html

Interesting opera posters find from Wyoming:

http://www.wyomingcapitolsquare.com/photo-blog/2019/6/20/opera-posters

Feature on the (possibly) first written Spanish:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190616-is-this-the-birthplace-of-written-spanish

Pondering the ‘drunken monkey’ hypothesis:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2019/06/07/drunken-monkey-hypothesis-was-booze-an-advantage-for-our-ancestors/

Marking the 800th anniversary of the Danish flag:

https://www.euronews.com/2019/06/17/watch-world-s-oldest-flag-the-danish-dannebrog-celebrates-800th-birthday

Feature on the invention of the Fresnel lens:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190620-the-invention-that-saved-a-million-ships

How Catholic priests helped to invent sign language:

https://aleteia.org/2019/06/19/how-catholic-priests-helped-invent-sign-language/

Feature on the restoration of an Ercole de’ Roberti painting:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/as-layers-of-old-varnish-are-removed-italian-renaissance-painter-ercole-de-robertis-brilliance-is-once-again-revealed/

Feature on a project involving Assize court records from Ely:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/trove-english-court-records-reveal-stories-murder-witchcraft-and-cheese-theft-180972411/

More on that 32 000 years bp intact wolf head from Siberia:

https://phys.org/news/2019-06-perfectly-ice-age-wolf-siberia.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/perfectly-preserved-32000-year-old-wolf-head-was-found-siberia-180972418/

More on the skeletal evidence of working dogs:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-dogs-werent-workhorses-we-thought-180972429/

================================================================

MUSEUM MATTERS

================================================================

Picasso and Antiquity:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/241706/article/ekathimerini/whats-on/picasso–antiquity–athens–june-20—october-20

http://www.ekathimerini.com/241724/gallery/ekathimerini/in-images/picassos-take-on-antiquity-at-the-cycladic-museum

http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2019-06/20/content_74901710.htm

Pompeii:

https://www.fredericksburg.com/entertainment/plunge-into-the-stories-of-pompeii-at-science-museum-of/article_7582f7a4-09dd-5ca5-8c44-de79bb0f8e50.html

Return to Bukhara:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/21/c_138163008.htm

Greeks:

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/06/176_270731.html

Ottoman maps:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2019/06/21/maps-showcasing-ottoman-era-thrace-on-display-in-northwest-turkey

Medieval Jewels from a Jewish Cemetery:

https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Middle-Age-jewels-from-forgotten-Jewish-cemetery-on-display-in-Bologna-592759

World Between Empires:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/250697/the-world-between-empires-exhibition-closing-soon-at-the-metropolitan-museum/

Troy (coming soon to the BM):

https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/the-british-museum-announces-major-troy-exhibition-38230521.html

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/06/18/british-museum-stage-troy-exhibition-150-years-late/

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/jun/18/british-museum-to-hold-its-first-troy-exhibition-since-city-discovery

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/the-times-view-on-the-british-museum-s-latest-show-treasures-of-troy-30qjpzjj3

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-museum-finally-atones-for-looking-trojan-gift-horse-in-the-mouth-8hhh9x2s2

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/british-museum-stage-troy-exhibition-173355883.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/helen-of-troy-british-museum-exhibitoin-troy-myth-and-reality-a4169626.html

http://theartnewspaper.com/news/tory-british-museum-martin-bailey-exhibition

… and some accompanying hype from the BM:

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/the-search-for-the-lost-city-of-troy/

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/the-myth-of-the-trojan-war/

The Acropolis Museum officially marked its tenth anniversary:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/241746/article/ekathimerini/life/acropolis-museum-president-hails-institutions-10th-birthday

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/06/19/iconic-acropolis-museum-celebrates-ten-years-since-its-opening/

https://www.thenationalherald.com/250435/the-acropolis-museum-celebrates-its-tenth-birthday/

… and they have a ‘new extension’ (which we’ve mentioned):

https://phys.org/news/2019-06-acropolis-museum-year-anniversary-extension.html

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/06/22/ancient-neighborhood-under-the-acropolis-museum-now-open-to-public/

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1514171/art-culture

https://news.yahoo.com/hold-acropolis-museum-opens-ancient-192244340.html

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/35982-athens-acropolis-museum-s-walk-through-excavation-officially-open-to-the-public.html

Plans for a revamp of Egypt’s Tahrir Museum:

https://news.yahoo.com/cairos-mother-egyptian-museums-set-225258834.html

https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-eu-kick-off-e3-million-project-to-revamp-the-egyptian-museum-in-tahrir/

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/71682/Massive-development-plan-announced-for-Tahrir-s-Egyptian-Museum

… and more transfers of artifacts are on the way:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/44/336344/Heritage/Museums/Royal-Egyptian-mummies,-sarcophagi-to-be-transferr.aspx

More on Italy helping out the Rio Museum:

https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-de-janeiro/art-culture-rio/rios-national-museum-to-receive-2000-works-of-art-from-italy/

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/national-museum-fire-damage-italy-1579687

================================================================

AUCTIONS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

================================================================

An export ban on a really ugly Victorian crab coming to auction:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-48665477

A nice price fetched for a Constable:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-48697213

Van Gogh’s pistol was auctioned off this week:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48694433

https://www.dw.com/en/gun-allegedly-used-in-van-goghs-death-sold-at-auction/a-49269047

https://www.wamc.org/post/revolver-likely-used-van-gogh-sells-paris

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/van-gogh-gun-sold-auction-trnd/index.html

Interesting story behind a Velazquez coming to auction:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/jun/23/velazquez-portrait-olimpia-maidalchini-pamphilj-feminist-power-behind-a-pope-sothebys-sale

Christie’s is auctioning off a pile of Indian jewellery:

https://www.npr.org/2019/06/19/733987519/tipu-sultans-magic-box-shah-jahans-jade-dagger-stunning-jewels-up-for-auction

https://www.christies.com/salelanding/index.aspx?lid=1&intsaleid=28184&dt=2152019101623&saletitle=

Nice feature on a Roman-British dog statuette coming to auction:

https://www.christies.com/features/A-Roman-dog-statue-foud-by-metal-detectorists-9971-3.aspx?sc_lang=en

The US Embassy is getting involved in that upcoming auction of Tut (and other) antiquities:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/uk-embassy-inquires-about-selling-of-head-of-tutankhamen-in-auction/

… more on Egypt’s complaints thereon:

https://egyptindependent.com/tutankhamun-for-sale/

Greece’s claim on a bronze horse at Sotheby’s didn’t work out for them:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/139498/us-judge-dismisses-greeces-claim-against-sothebys-over-ancient-greek-bronze-horse/

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-greece-sotheby-s/us-judge-rejects-greece-bid-to-dismiss-sothebys-lawsuit-over-bronze-horse-idUSKCN1TM2NK

Kind of meta, but Sotheby’s was purchased by a French billionaire:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48631361

================================================================

THE TECHY SIDE

================================================================

We’ve mentioned these lead ingots from a Roman shipwreck before … here’s how they’re useful today:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ancient-lead-can-help-experimental-physics-300872094.html

================================================================

ON THE DNA FRONT

================================================================

Not sure how to describe this 2500 years bp genome ‘time analysis’ from Japan:

https://phys.org/news/2019-06-chromosomes-reveal-population-boom-ancient.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/uot-ams061919.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190620100021.htm

https://www.ibtimes.sg/modern-genetics-helped-researchers-unravel-mystery-surrounding-origin-japanese-people-31410

Tracing migration and interactions of prehistoric humans in Oceania via differences in paper mulberry DNA:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/p-hmi061219.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190619142534.htm

================================================================

CLIMATE MATTERS

================================================================

Climate change apparently affected Amazonia communities prior to European arrival:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/uoe-cch061719.php

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2019/06/17/Climate-change-affected-the-people-of-the-Amazon-before-Europeans-arrived/7821560784240/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-some-amazonian-societies-survived-and-others-perished-amid-pre-columbian-droughts/

================================================================

TOURISTY THINGS

================================================================

Hudson Valley:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/17/travel/hudson-valley-dutch-russell-shorto.html

Colombia’s ‘lost city’:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/lost-city-ciudad-perdida-colombia/index.html

Tivoli:

https://www.heraldnet.com/life/tivoli-still-romes-great-escape-after-2000-years/

Walking the Great Wall:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/great-wall-china-dong-yao-hui/index.html

Bruges has too many tourists, apparently:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/16/bruges-crackdown-tourist-numbers

================================================================

CRIME BEAT

================================================================

A Roman floor and museum were vandalized in St Albans:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-48682288

Italy apprehended someone trying to smuggle an Etruscan vase:

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2019/06/20/man-stopped-with-etruscan-vase-at-border_e8ebb711-0dfb-4887-9206-4a3347856941.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

================================================================

Germany returned a Roman bust to Italy:

https://www.thelocal.it/20190620/germany-returns-ancient-roman-bust-to-italy

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2019/06/20/german-returns-marble-roman-head_c44a4d68-b691-46e3-a9b7-af69f2f49112.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7773-190620-italy-sculpture-repatriation

OpEd on the British Museum’s thinking on the return of artifacts:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/jun/21/british-museum-head-in-sand-return-artefacts-colonial

================================================================

NUMISMATICA

================================================================

Feature on collecting Byzantine coins:

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/ngc-ancients-collecting-byzantine-coins-on-a-budget/

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v22/club_nbs_esylum_v22n24.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v22/club_nbs_esylum_v22n25.html

————————

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

================================================================

OBITUARIES

================================================================

Kenneth Uprichard:

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-doorman-kenneth-uprichard-became-an-expert-in-preservation-of-antiquities-38200676.html

Grace Starry West:

https://classicalstudies.org/scs-news/memoriam-grace-starry-west

David Esterly:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/21/arts/david-esterly-dead.html

================================================================

AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS

================================================================

Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/2862-audio-news-from-archaeologica-9-june-15-june-2019

================================================================

CONFERENCES

================================================================

European Association of Biblical Studies Annual Conference (August 2019):

https://www.eabs.net/EABS/Conferences/Warsaw_2019/EABS/Abstract_system/Call_for_papers_Warsaw.aspx

CBA Wessex Annual Conference (November 2019):

https://www.cba-wessex.org.uk/product-category/conference/

================================================================

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

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/

The Book and the Spade:

http://www.radioscribe.com/bknspade.htm

================================================================

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