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, Ian Tompkins, Don Buck, Richard C. Griffiths, and

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

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

EARLY HOMINIDS

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

A bit of Out of Africa stuff … 300 000 years bp stone tools from Ti’s al Ghadah:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181029130948.htm

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/mpif-ehm102518.php

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/02/science/arabian-peninsula-green.html

https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/scientists-find-evidence-earliest-hominins-arabian-peninsula-0

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/10/archaeologists-find-300000-year-old-stone-tools-in-saudi-arabia/

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/fossils-hint-hominids-migrated-through-green-arabia-300000-years-ago

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7115-181101-green-saudi-arabia

Reconstructing a Neanderthal ribcage:

https://phys.org/news/2018-10-reconstructs-neandertal-ribcage-clues-ancient.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/uow-srn102518.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181030121921.htm

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/neanderthal-breathing-technique-skeleton-chest-ribcage-fossils-bones-a8609256.html

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/10/30/neanderthals-upright-individuals-skeleton-proves/

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/30/health/neanderthal-thorax-breathing-ribcage-study/index.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7110-181031-neanderthal-breathing-capacity

A study of Neanderthal teeth suggests they were exposed to lead and other things (there might be two studies here):

https://phys.org/news/2018-10-earliest-exposure-year-old-neanderthal-teeth.html

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-teeth-environments-ancient-humans-neanderthals.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181031141423.htm

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/10/neanderthal-teeth-reveal-lead-exposure-and-difficult-winters/

https://theconversation.com/what-teeth-can-tell-about-the-lives-and-environments-of-ancient-humans-and-neanderthals-104923

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/?p=28456

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7116-181101-neanderthal-child-tooth

Linking HPV to Neanderthals:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181102083428.htm

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/?p=28510

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

AFRICA

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

On ritual cemeteries for animals across Africa:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ritual-cemeteries-cows-humans-pastoralist-expansion-across-africa-180970683/

Feature on medieval remains in Ethiopia:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/11/03/how-ethiopias-medieval-ruins-inform-its-modern-day-ethnic-strife/

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

ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

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

The remains of a 4500 years bp ramp system in an Eastern Desert quarry is bringing out the pyramid-mystery-finally-solved crowd:

https://www.sciencealert.com/ancient-egyptian-ramp-reveals-how-giant-stones-were-transported-out-of-quarries-pyramids

https://www.newsweek.com/how-were-pyramids-built-scientists-discover-how-ancient-egyptians-moved-huge-1195783

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12152805

https://www.livescience.com/63978-great-pyramid-ramp-discovered.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7109-181031-egypt-quarry-ramp

Marking the 96th anniversary of the discovery of Tut:

https://egyptindependent.com/luxor-celebrates-the-96th-anniversary-of-discovering-the-tomb-of-tutankhamun/

China and Egypt have signed some sort of archaeological MOU:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/315261/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/China-signs-its-first-MoU-with-Egypt-in-the-archae.aspx

More on that ‘pharoah’s booth’ find:

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1393861/middle-east

Finds from biblical Dan suggest worship of idols and Yahweh:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-israelites-in-biblical-dan-worshipped-idols-and-yahweh-too-1.6612851

In the wake of the Museum of the Bible’s confession, a feature on DSS fakes:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-dead-sea-scroll-fakes-abound-and-scholars-admit-they-share-the-blame-1.6600900

… and related:

https://www.salon.com/2018/10/29/lessons-from-the-museum-of-the-bibles-fake-dead-sea-scrolls-how-not-to-buy-looted-antiquities/

Feature on the Hasmonean rulers:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/hasmonean-rulers/

Feature on the meeting place of the Council of Nicaea:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/biblical-archaeology-sites/nicea-church-council-of-nicea/

Prehistoric finds and petroglyphs from northwest Iran:

http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/429201/Prehistoric-relics-petroglyphs-discovered-in-northwest-Iran

Remains of a medieval water supply network at Alamut castle:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/429203/Centuries-old-water-supply-system-found-in-Alamut-castle

On politics v archaeology in Iraq:

http://www.brownpoliticalreview.org/2018/10/still-recording-syria-future-journalism-assad-regime-2/

More on the Canaan-Egypt fish trade:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/daily-life-and-practice/canaan-and-egypt-ancient-fish-trade/

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

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

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

Cyclopean walls in Bulgaria are being linked to the Myceneans:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2018/10/24/3200-year-old-cyclopean-masonry-fortress-found-in-south-bulgaria-shows-ancient-thrace-was-part-of-mycenaean-civilization/

Remains of a couple of archaic kouroi from Atalanti:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/234328/gallery/ekathimerini/in-images/archaeologists-unearth-ancient-statues-in-atalanti-region

Vague item on the find of a ‘Roman imperial hall’ from Smyrna (?):

https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2018/10/26/roman-imperial-hall-found-at-construction-site

A metallurgical site from Apollonia/Sozopol:

https://www.novinite.com/articles/192719/Unique+Discovery%3A+Archaeologists+Found+the+Oldest+Metallurgical+Plant+in+Bulgaria

Second century CE roman latrine mosaics from Antiochia ad Cragum:

https://www.livescience.com/64000-dirty-jokes-mosaics-discovered.html

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7119-181102-turkey-latrine-mosaic

A number of strigils were among the finds from burials in Assos:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture-and-art/2-000-year-old-athletes-tools-unearthed-in-nw-turkey/1297924

Assorted sculptures from the Roman baths site in Jerash:

https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/french-diggers-excavate-aphrodite-zeus-sculptures-jerash-1207702

Latest from the University of Cyprus’ excavations at the Laona tumulus:

https://www.pio.gov.cy/en/press-releases-article.html?id=4365#flat

Latest finds from the Abermagwr Roman villa in Ceredigion:

http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=124594&headline=Wealth%20at%20empire%E2%80%99s%20edge§ionIs=news&searchyear=2018

https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2018/10/22/excavations-reveal-details-about-1-800-year-old-roman-villa-in-w/

Possible Roman remains at a Hurworth housing development:

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/16995696.roman-remains-found-at-controversial-hurworth-housing-development/

Hopes of Roman finds from a school construction site in Yatton:

http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/archaeological-dig-at-north-end-in-yatton-1-5753675

Surveying underwater Bronze Age sites off the coast of Croatia:

https://www.croatiaweek.com/archaeologists-discover-oldest-olive-groves-in-croatia-dating-3500-years/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7091-181023-bronze-age-croatia

Feature on the history of digs at Sardis:

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/10/harvard-archaeologists-probe-the-secrets-of-sardis/

… and Antioch:

https://www.princeton.edu/news/2018/11/01/uncovering-antioch

… and the bathing complex at Doliche:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/coe-wts103018.php

Feature on beasties mentioned in Caesar’s Gallic Wars:

https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/identifying-the-beasts-in-caesar-s-forest

On efforts to preserve archaeological relics at Aidonia:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/234203/interactive/ekathimerini/special-report/a-land-strewn-with-antiquities

The Nymphaeum Archaeological park in Amman has reopened to the public:

http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/rehabilitated-downtown-nymphaeum-archaeological-park-opens-public

Restoration of the mosaics of the Ayia Triada Basilica (Cyprus) has been completed:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/10/30/ancient-karpas-mosaics-restored/

A 3d model reconstruction of ancient Narona:

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/32103-ancient-narona

On evidence of soldiers from North Africa on the Antonine Wall:

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/black-history-month-did-african-soldiers-patrol-scotland-in-the-roman-era-1-4819936

On ancient Greeks and AI:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/audio/2018/nov/02/the-ancient-greeks-warned-us-about-ai-chips-with-everything-podcast

On the ancient origins of werewolves:

http://theconversation.com/the-ancient-origins-of-werewolves-104775

On zombies and Julius Caesar:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2018/10/29/how-a-zombie-predicted-the-death-of-julius-caesar/

Restoration plans for the Thracian tomb of Sveshtari:

https://www.novinite.com/articles/192728/Thracian+Tomb+of+Sveshtari+will+Undergo+Restoration+and+Preservation

The latest fiddling with the date of the eruption of Santorini:

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/32992-olive-tree-piece-found-on-thirasia-changes-santorini-island-volcano-explosion-dates.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7086-181022-greece-thirasia-wood

Pondering modern versions of ancient cures:

https://theconversation.com/goop-a-classicists-take-on-the-power-of-ancient-remedies-105331

Pagan views of Christianity/Judaism:

https://aeon.co/essays/why-would-apollo-make-positive-statements-about-judaism

What Michael McCormick is up to:

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/academics/michael-mccormick-iowa-state-human-history/article_f60f4530-d66e-11e8-b79d-5be72b075e26.html

What Barbara Burrell is up to:

http://www.newsrecord.org/news/classics-professor-digs-into-archeological-history/article_447f51d8-d9fd-11e8-8388-17b3e5ebd3ec.html

What Tim Winters and his students are up to:

http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2018/10/23/apsu-classics-students-sacrifice-golden-eagle-during-homecoming-ceremony/

What Dan-el Padilla Peralta is up to:

https://kenyoncollegian.com/news/2018/11/faculty-lecturer-reflects-on-classics-his-upbringing-american-politics/

Interview with Paul Cartledge:

https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/democracy-the-best-of-the-worst-a-conversation-with-paul-cartledge/

Nice coverage of an Ancient Science conference at Lawrence University:

http://www.lawrentian.com/archives/1013705

Another feature on polychromy of ancient statuary:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/10/29/the-myth-of-whiteness-in-classical-sculpture

https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/whtewashing-classical-arts-way-western-supremacy-experts-argue-1203478

… so Assassin’s Creed gets that part right:

https://hyperallergic.com/465938/a-video-game-shows-the-true-colors-of-ancient-greece/

On the appeal of Stoicism:

https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/almost-too-sober-on-the-appeal-of-stoicism/

Latest group embracing Homer:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/guess-whos-championing-homer-radical-online-conservatives/2018/11/02/af3a49f6-dd40-11e8-85df-7a6b4d25cfbb_story.html

… and in a similar vein:

https://qz.com/1434878/red-pill-misogynists-see-themselves-as-heirs-to-greek-and-roman-philosophy/

On casting Aphrodite as a feminist role model:

https://hyperallergic.com/467808/patricia-cronin-aphrodite-tampa-museum-of-art/

More on that intact Greek shipwreck in the Black Sea:

https://www.zmescience.com/science/oldest-shipwreck-black-sea-28102018/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7089-181023-black-sea-shipwreck

… and reaction from Natalie Haynes:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/27/i-can-see-odysseus-lashed-to-the-mast-of-this-ship-sirens-song

More on the eruption of Vesuvius date:

http://www.cnn.com/style/article/pompeii-eruption-inscription-date-intl/

Review of *An Odyssey*:

https://www.postandcourier.com/features/review-an-odyssey-rings-true-for-father-and-son/article_351d4664-d615-11e8-a7c4-17ee4baecb96.html

—–

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/

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

EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

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

An 8000 years bp ‘mother goddess’ figurine from Bulgaria:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2018/10/27/discovery-of-8000-year-old-veiled-mother-goddess-near-bulgaria-vidin-pushes-back-neolithic-revolution-in-europe/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7117-181102-bulgaria-mother-goddess

A seed has pushed back the establishment of agriculture in the Genoa region to the sixth millennium BCE:

https://cosmosmagazine.com/archaeology/seed-find-pushes-the-start-of-genoa-back-700-years

Linking Viking success to tar production:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/04/viking-longboat-industrial-tar-pits-dominance-seas

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/vikings-secret-weapon-was-industrial-scale-tar-180970651/

A medieval corridor from the Cicva Castle site:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20940699/archaeological-research-at-cicva-castle-revealed-connecting-corridor.html

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7104-181029-slovakia-castle-corridor

Medieval finds near Ruardean Castle:

http://www.rossgazette.com/article.cfm?id=115010&headline=Medieval%20finds%20at%20castle%20near%20Ross§ionIs=news&searchyear=2018

Studying a medieval castle in Poland:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C31509%2Cmazowieckie-medieval-castle-discovered-zelechow.html

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7118-181102-poland-medieval-castle

Evidence that West Cork was a 16th century ‘trading hub’:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/west-cork-was-16th-century-global-trading-hub-pottery-find-reveals-882197.html

Evidence of lamprey consumption from a medieval London cesspit:

https://phys.org/news/2018-10-lamprey-teeth-london-archaeological.html

https://www.livescience.com/63952-vampire-fish-lamprey-teeth-london.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7106-181030-london-lamprey-teeth

An attempted ATM theft in Dedham a while back revealed a medieval site under a convenience store:

https://www.livescience.com/63955-atm-robbery-reveals-tudor-treasures.html

They’re still pondering that medieval porpoise burial in Guernsey:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-guernsey-46037369

Interesting silver ingot find by a diver in Spain:

https://elpais.com/politica/2018/10/27/diario_de_espana/1540629614_057492.html

Storm Ali revealed an 18th century well (maybe) in Dumbarton:

http://www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk/news/17189327.18th-century-well-found-in-park-thanks-to-storm-ali-damage/

In case you missed the vampire child burial (it was in the Classics section last week):

https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-to-bury-a-medieval-child-vampire

Feature on Stonehenge:

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/the-british-museum-membercast-stonehenge/

More on smoking and Irish Famine victims:

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/too-much-smoking-left-great-famine-victims-with-rotten-teeth-study-suggests-37454421.html

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7102-181029-irish-famine-teeth

More on finds from Amsterdam found during subway construction:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/24/arts/amsterdam-trash.html

More on redating Pictish writing:

https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/pict-writing-system-04233/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7105-181029-scotland-pict-carvings

More on the HS2 dig commencing:

https://abcnews.go.com/International/archaeologists-start-europes-largest-dig-spanning-10000-years/story?id=58925000

… and a vague item on the first finds:

https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/17189390.start-of-major-hs2-roadworks-delayed-in-great-missenden-after-archaeological-discovery-on-site/

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-46042814

—–

Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

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

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

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

Latest suggestion for Aboriginal arrival in Australia involves island hopping:

https://phys.org/news/2018-10-route-humans-australia.html

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/31/first-humans-to-reach-australia-likely-island-hopped-to-new-guinea-then-walked-study

8000 years bp village sites from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous region:

https://www.devdiscourse.com/Article/lifestyle/237250-chinese-archaeologists-discover-8000-year-old-village-sites

Some megalithic statuary from Papua:

https://en.antaranews.com/news/120059/archaeologist-finds-megalithic-statue-in-srobu-site-papua

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7112-181031-indonesia-megalithic-statues

A major section of the Silk road route was occupied by mountain herder types some 4000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2018-10-major-corridor-silk-road-home.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/mpif-mco102918.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181031141445.htm

https://theconversation.com/how-eurasias-tianshan-mountains-set-a-stage-that-changed-the-world-102772

Bronze Age finds from China’s Jilin province:

https://www.devdiscourse.com/Article/headlines/233464-chinese-archaeologists-finds-bronze-age-ruins-in-jilin-province

https://www.sentinelassam.com/news/team-of-archaeologists-find-bronze-age-ruins-in-china/

The wreck of the Benares has been found off Okinawa:

https://www.todayonline.com/world/ship-sailed-hong-kong-1872-found-okinawa-waters

Latest on finds from Fort Canning:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/exhibition-site-of-fort-canning-archaeological-dig-to-be-refreshed-for-first-time-in-17

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/digging-fort-canning-park-refreshed-archaeological-site-restored-gardens-open-june-2019

Feature on the petroglyphs in Tamgaly (Kazakhstan):

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-45801506/exploring-kazakhstan-s-5000-petroglyphs

China is touristifying Confucianism:

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2169824/how-china-leveraging-confucianism-boost-cultural-tourism

—–

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

https://us14.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=ddab09cab5362c9613318bd92&id=b917a20ae5

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

NORTH AMERICA

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

A 6000 years bp stone ax from Mount Vernon:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/10/31/students-discover-year-old-stone-ax-mount-vernon/?utm_term=.9c77324c1f55

http://grandforksherald.com/news/science-and-nature/4522348-students-discover-6000-year-old-stone-ax-mount-vernon

https://pilotonline.com/news/nation-world/national/article_ece852fd-4393-5286-9178-d1879bdf3fad.html

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12152676

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/students-unearth-6000-year-old-stone-axe-mount-vernon-180970684/

Evidence the Nez Perce people were using tobacco at least 1200 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2018-10-interior-northwest-indians-tobacco-european.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/wsu-ini102318.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181029150934.htm

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2018/10/29/northwestern-native-americans-smoked-tobacco-long-before-europeans-arrived/

https://www.geekwire.com/2018/tobacco-smoking-habits-ancient-tribes/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7107-181030-pacific-northwest-smoking

Digging an early English settlement site in Wethersfield, Connecticut:

http://www.wshu.org/post/archaeologists-discover-earliest-evidence-english-settlers-connecticut

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7111-181031-english-connecticut-colony

Report on finds from the Berry site (NC):

https://news.tulane.edu/pr/tulane-archaeologist-coauthors-first-details-remains-450-year-old-spanish-fort

https://www.newswise.com/articles/tulane-archaeologist-coauthors-first-details-on-remains-of-450-year-old-spanish-fort

Latest from the shipwreck finds at Robinson Landing:

http://www.alexandrianews.org/2018/10/update-on-historic-ship-discoveries-at-robinson-landing/

https://patch.com/virginia/oldtownalexandria/work-continues-historic-ship-discoveries-alexandria

Arguing about development near an Underground Railroad ‘stop’ in Philadelphia:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/developers-and-preservationists-clash-over-underground-railroad-stop-180970643/

Feature on a couple of ghost towns in Vermont:

https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2018/10/29/history-space-tale-two-vt-ghost-towns/38202243/

Feature on the Fort Pillow Massacre:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/10/28/civil-war-massacre-that-left-nearly-black-soldiers-murdered/

On yellow fever in 19th century New Orleans:

https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2018/10/31/415535913/how-yellow-fever-turned-new-orleans-into-the-city-of-the-dead

Conservation of some Spanish armour retrieved from a shipwreck off Florida in 1996:

https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/2018/10/31/uwf-archaeologists-make-new-emanuel-point-artifact-discoveries/1818306002/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7114-181101-florida-spanish-breastplate

More on the bulldozing of sites by State Parks folks in Arizona:

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/10/29/ex-parks-archaeologist-boss-sue-black-threatened-me-over-preservation-efforts/1663285002/

https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/archaeologist-claims-arizonas-state-parks-disregarding-native-sites/75-609225741

https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/archaeologist-claims-arizona-state-parks-disregarding-native-sites

https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/tribe-responds-to-allegations-of-damage-at-native-sites

… and opeddish on same:

https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/lindavaldez/2018/10/29/arizona-state-parks-archaeology-sue-black-funding/1807592002/

Review of a biography of Frederick Douglass:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/28/david-blight-on-frederick-douglass-i-call-him-beautifully-human

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

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

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

Evidence of cacao domestication in South America some 1500 years earlier than previously thought:

https://phys.org/news/2018-10-sweet-discovery-chocolate.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181029130945.htm

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/uobc-sdn102618.php

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46024189

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-science-chocolate/ecuadorean-discovery-pushes-back-the-origins-of-chocolate-idUSKCN1N32DE?feedType=RSS&feedName=scienceNews

https://www.sciencealert.com/forgotten-origins-chocolate-mesoamerica-ecuador-theobroma-cacao-santa-ana-la-florida-ancient-mayo-chinchipe-culture

https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/chocolate-domesticated-much-earlier-and-further-south-than-thought

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/deadthings/?p=3004

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-10-30/origins-of-chocolate-rewritten-by-archaeology-find-in-ecuador/10434798

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ancient-south-americans-tasted-chocolate-1500-years-anyone-else

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/10/world-s-oldest-chocolate-was-made-5300-years-ago-south-american-rainforest

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2018/10/31/archaeologists-discover-that-chocolate-is-as-american-as-halloween/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cacao-was-first-cultivated-south-america-not-mexico-and-central-america-180970663/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7103-181029-ecuador-cacao-seeds

New finds, including ‘cookie cutter suburbs’ from the Izapa kingdom area:

https://www.livescience.com/63935-ancient-izapa-towns-discovered.html

https://www.livescience.com/63930-photos-izapa-kingdom.html

A hidden chamber and ‘passage to the underworld’ beneath the Pyramid of the Moon:

https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/hidden-chamber-and-passage-to-the-underworld-found-beneath-mexicos-pyramid-of-the-moon/

https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/archaeology/secret-passage-to-the-underworld-tunnel-discovered-beneath-mexican-pyramid/news-story/9d65e23f41c2b2f7dc71df9ab0ef2a05

https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-uncover-hidden-passage-underworld-beneath-mysterious-mexican-pyramid-moon-teotihuacan

Feature on Simon Rodriguez:

https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/10/28/america/1540732409_091457.html

—–

Mike Ruggeri’s Ancient Americas Breaking News:

http://goo.gl/1VdeA

Ancient MesoAmerica News:

http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/

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

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

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

On waking up before alarm clocks were around:

https://www.livescience.com/64002-how-wake-up-before-alarm-clocks.html

Feature on Yuval Noah Harari and his Sapiens book:

https://slate.com/culture/2018/11/yuval-noah-harari-sapiens-facebook-silicon-valley-hollywood.html

A pile of hype for the find of a red silk velvet bag that may have once held Sir Walter Raleigh’s head:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/oct/28/walter-raleigh-bag-severed-head-gory-mystery

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sir-walter-raleigh-head-red-velvet-bag-attic-surrey-west-horsley-place-a8605646.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bag-held-sir-walter-raleighs-mummified-head-180970656/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7108-181030-england-red-bag

Revisiting Samuel Morton’s skull studies:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2018/10/31/morton-skulls-brain-size-controversy/#.W98Ks3pKhn4

On the veracity of ancient stories:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2018/10/23/ancient-stories-more-fact-than-fiction/#.W971U3pKhn4

On keeping witches away:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2018/10/29/how-to-scare-away-witches-this-halloween/

A history of monsters:

https://aeon.co/essays/there-be-monsters-from-cabinets-of-curiosity-to-demons-within

On Halloween traditions in Wales:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46019969

On the modern history of vampires:

https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/are-vampires-cancelled

Feature on some famous dead folk’s body parts:

https://www.livescience.com/63973-photos-famous-people-body-parts.html

Pondering human remains in museums:

https://www.sapiens.org/column/curiosities/natural-history-museum-human-remains/

The Norse World medieval Scandinavian literature database is online:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-access-database-medieval-literature.html

Feature on the last days of WWI:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/05/a-hundred-years-after-the-armistice

On Henry Worsley’s exploration of Antarctica:

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/retracing-the-antarctic-journey-of-henry-worsley

On the history of gerrymandering:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-46062154/think-the-us-election-s-fixed-blame-him

Feature/interview with Elaine Pagels:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/01/books/review/elaine-pagels-by-the-book.html

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

MUSEUM MATTERS

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

Lawrence of Oxford:

https://www.ft.com/content/4c583380-d3df-11e8-a9f2-7574db66bcd5

Reverent Beauty:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/25/arts/design/armenia-exhibition-review-metropolitan-museum-of-art.html

Underworld: Imagining the Afterlife:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/golden-tickets-to-the-underworld/

Roman Gaul:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/devotion-and-decadence-the-berthouville-treasure-and-roman-luxury-from-the-bibliotheque-nationale-de-france-review-shining-silver-from-an-untarnished-trove-1541016746?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=1

Royal Voluntary Service:

https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-45957783

Ashurbanipal:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/art-diary/i-am-ashurbanipal-king-of-the-world-king-of-assyria/

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/exhibition-i-am-ashurbanipal-at-the-british-museum-everything-you-need-to-know-xdzxrtwjv

Sunken Cities:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-opens-sunken-cities-exhibit-in-minneapolis-us/

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/59653/Second-Egyptian-Exhibition-Inaugurated-in-USA

https://www.twincities.com/2018/11/01/sink-into-history-at-egypts-sunken-cities-exhibit-at-mia/

https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2018/11/03/egypt-sunken-cities-mia/

Much coverage of the reopening of the Damascus museum:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-46009833

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/315263.aspx

https://www.egyptindependent.com/syrias-national-museum-reopens-doors-in-war-scarred-damascus/

https://www.france24.com/en/20181028-damascus-museum-reopens-with-millennia-old-lion-garden

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-10/28/c_137564823.htm

https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/art/syria-s-ancient-heritage-on-show-again-national-museum-of-damascus-reopens-doors-1.785427

https://www.yahoo.com/news/syria-reopens-damascus-antiquities-museum-132712692.html

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Arts-and-Ent/Culture/2018/Oct-29/467749-syrias-national-museum-reopens-doors-in-damascus.ashx

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/worldtoday/precious-antiquities-back-on-display-in-syria/10441442

Feature on the Grand Egyptian Museum:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20181101-in-egypt-the-worlds-largest-archaeology-museum

Feature on Jaipur’s Gyan Museum:

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/2169947/jaipurs-new-gyan-museum-provides-another-reason-visit

Feature on fakes in museums:

https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/october/Unearthing-museum-fakes-critical-for-setting-the-historical-record-straight

More on the BM’s new Islamic galleries:

https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2018/10/426104/proud-islamic-gallery-uk-museum

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/rethinking-islamic-art-at-the-british-museum/

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/the-albukhary-foundation-gallery-of-the-islamic-world

The Vatican Museum is pondering limiting visitors:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/02/vatican-considers-limit-on-museum-visitors-amid-safety-fears

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

AT THE AUCTIONS

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

Early New York maps:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/31/arts/design/new-york-maps-exhibition.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fdesign

An Assyrian relief sold at Christies for a huge price:

https://hyperallergic.com/469108/31-million-sale-of-3000-year-old-assyrian-relief/

https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/assyrian-sculpture-claimed-by-iraq-sells-for-31-million-in-new-york-1.786676

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/30/3000-year-old-assyrian-palace-artifact-goes-sale-auction-new/

http://www.aina.org/news/20181030182213.htm

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

THE TECHY SIDE

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

An interview with Sarah Parcak:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/10/ars-lunch-break-spying-out-ancient-ruins-on-earth-from-space/

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/11/ars-on-your-lunch-break-finding-pharoah-and-spotting-looters-from-orbit/

Scanning Civil War-era skeletons:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-lab-d-scans-human-skeletal.html

I think we mentioned this facial reconstruction of the ‘real’ Elizabeth:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/playlist/hidden-histories?vpid=p06npby7

… and this AI-assisted reading of medieval texts:

https://www.euronews.com/2018/10/29/transkribus-system-makes-breakthrough-in-understanding-ancient-texts

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

CLIMATE MATTERS

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

Looking to archaeology for responses to climate change in the past:

https://news.wsu.edu/2018/10/31/history-offers-insights-into-climate-change-strategies/

https://phys.org/news/2018-10-climate.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/uoc–whi103018.php

Some coverage of Venice’s latest challenge:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/10/31/italy-flooding-climate-change-venice/1831116002/

https://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/multimedia/2018/10/30/venecia-se-inunda-por-marea-alta/

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

ON THE DNA FRONT

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

Dienekes’ Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/

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

TOURISTY THINGS

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

Salamanca:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/10/26/inenglish/1540554903_326526.html

Olympia:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2018/11/02/exploring-ancient-olympia-one-of-the-worlds-most-well-known-historical-sites/

Southern Germany:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/29/travel/family-road-trip-in-germany.html

Sherlock Holmes’ London:

http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-london-sherlock-holmes-20181030-story.html

Hedeby and Danevirke:

https://www.dw.com/en/the-viking-age-sites-hedeby-and-danevirke/av-44443360

Azerbaijan:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/yanar-dag-azerbaijan-land-of-fire/index.html

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

PERFORMANCES

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

Feature on Claude Debussy:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/10/29/the-velvet-revolution-of-claude-debussy

Midsummer Night’s Dream:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/02/theater/midsummer-nights-dream-review.html

In favour of Classical music:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/02/arts/music/anthony-tommasini-classical-music.html

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

CRIME BEAT

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

Fixtures were stolen from the door of a Fayoum mosque:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/43/315303/Heritage/Islamic/Bronze-decorations-stolen-from-Fayoum-mosque-door-.aspx

Egyptian police foiled an attempt to sell a stolen sarcophagus:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/315362/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Egypt-police-foil-attempt-to-sell-stolen-sarcophag.aspx

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/59690/Saqqara-police-arrests-4-people-attempting-to-sell-ancient-coffin

https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-arrests-4-attempting-to-sell-an-antique-casket-in-saqqara/

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

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

Feature on the OI’s role in returning a stolen relief from Persepolis:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/oriental-institute-helps-return-stolen-persepolis-artifact-iran

A call for the ‘West’ to repatriate looted antiquities:

https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/editorial/the-west-must-repatriate-the-looted-treasures-of-antiquity-1.786628

Remember that Buddha with a monk inside? China wants it back:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/01/our-spiritual-leader-chinese-villagers-appeal-for-return-of-1000-year-old-monk

Egypt wants an obelisk in London back:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/will-the-london-obelisk-return-to-egypt/

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

NUMISMATICA

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

An Ottoman/European hoard from Ahtopol:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2018/10/28/hoard-of-18th-century-ottoman-western-european-coins-found-in-treasure-pot-in-bulgarias-black-sea-town-ahtopol/

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n43.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n44.html

————————

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

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

OBITUARIES

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

Milton Gendel:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/02/obituaries/milton-gendel-dead.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fobituaries

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

AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS

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

Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-main-menu-cat/audio-news-list/2787-audio-news-from-archaeologica-21-october-27-october-2018

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

CONFERENCES

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

CBA Wessex 60th Anniversary Conference (November 2018):

http://cba-wessex.org.uk/cba-events/annual-conference-2018/

Jews and the Americas (February 2019):

https://networks.h-net.org/node/73374/announcements/1932330/jews-and-americas-68th-annual-conference-center-latin-american

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

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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