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, Frank MacKay,

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

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

EARLY HOMINIDS

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

Plenty of attention for possible evidence of ‘swimmer’s ear’ in Neanderthals:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-neanderthals-commonly-swimmer-ear.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/p-ncs080719.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190814140503.htm

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/14/health/neanderthal-surfers-ear-scn-trnd/index.html

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/?p=37789

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7939-190815-neanderthal-surfer-s-ear

Features on the recent Neanderthal finds from Wezmeh Cave (Iran):

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/439349/Iran-among-countries-with-Neanderthal-discoveries

https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/08/17/2077177/neanderthal-tooth-unearthed-near-iran-s-zagros-mountain

Revising the date (again?) for the arrival of homo sapiens in Mongolia to ca 45 000 years BCE (that seems late):

https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/humans-migrated-mongolia-much-earlier-previously-believed

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-humans-migrated-mongolia-earlier-previously.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/uoc–hmt081619.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190816191447.htm

Pondering the fate of the Denisovans:

https://www.sapiens.org/evolution/denisovans-podcast/

A somewhat rambling piece on finds made in Turkana over the years:

https://allafrica.com/stories/201908150098.html

More on those Denisovan etchings/art:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/engraved-bones-reveal-symbolism-had-ancient-roots-east-asia?tgt=nr

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

AFRICA

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

Tunisia is actively fighting urban sprawl affecting sites:

https://uk.reuters.com/article/tunisia-housing-culture/feature-battle-of-carthage-tunisia-demolishes-homes-to-protect-ancient-site-idUKL8N24N4KP

https://www.israelhayom.com/2019/08/16/battle-of-carthage-tunisia-demolishes-homes-to-protect-ancient-site/

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/574603/Life/Art-&-Culture/Battle-of-Carthage-Tunisia-demolishes-homes-to-protect-ancient-site

An archaeologist believes he has identified the site of the wreck of the Haarlem:

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/the-haarlem-historian-believes-he-has-found-where-the-wreck-is-buried/

https://ewn.co.za/2019/08/18/maritime-archaeologist-says-found-1647-shipwreck-on-blouberg-s-shores

More on high altitude living in Ice Age Ethiopia:

https://www.livescience.com/earliest-evidence-human-mountaineers.html

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/?p=37700

https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/08/05/ciencia/1565023941_802875.html

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7914-190812-ethiopia-ice-age

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

ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

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

Feature on the ‘Mountain of the Dead’ at Siwa:

https://egyptianstreets.com/2019/08/15/the-mountain-of-the-dead-one-of-siwas-archealogical-landmarks/

More on baking bread from 4500 years bp Egyptian yeast:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bread-was-made-using-4500-year-old-egyptian-yeast-180972842/

https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/researcher-bakes-delicious-egyptian-sourdough-bread-with-4500-year-old-yeast-strain-7155271.html

http://theartnewspaper.com/news/egypt-bread-xbox-seamus-blackly-peabody-museum-mfa-boston

More on the restoration of Tut’s sarcophagus:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/342360/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Tutankhamun-coffin-to-be-restored-.aspx

Hyping some upcoming National Geographic documentaries on Egypt:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/national-geographic-launches-egypt-specials-series-to-delve-into-pharaohs-treasures/

In case you missed the boat recreation that is trying to ‘prove’ Egyptian trading routes to the eastern Mediterranean (or the other way):

https://sofiaglobe.com/2019/08/16/abora-iv-argonauts-from-the-stone-age-expedition-sails-from-bulgarias-varna/

Feature on Michele Buzon’s work in the Nile Valley:

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2019/Q3/video-features-archaeologists-field-work-in-the-nile-river-valley.html

Feature on Barbara Reeves’ work at Humayma:

https://menafn.com/1098885422/Canadian-researcher-tracks-dominance-harmony-in-ancient-garrison-town

A piece of jewellery found at the Mount Zion excavations is being touted as further evidence of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-evidence-babylonian-conquest-jerusalem-mount.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/uonc-eot080819.php

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/267236

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Archaeological-discovery-helps-prove-Babylonian-conquest-of-Israel-598543

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-rare-jewel-found-on-mt-zion-reveals-babylonian-destruction-of-jerusalem-1.7658563

https://www.ibtimes.com/biblical-artifact-found-mount-zion-prove-babylonian-conquest-real-2812178

https://www.latercera.com/que-pasa/noticia/la-prueba-que-faltaba/782704/

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/jerusalem-mount-zion-babylonian-conquest-evidence-intl-scli/index.html

… although focussing on arrowheads seem to be better evidence of same:

https://inside.uncc.edu/news-features/2019-08-12/evidence-587586-bce-babylonian-conquest-jerusalem-found-mount-zion

https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-jerusalem-finds-are-evidence-of-babylonian-siege-archaeologists-say/

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ancient-arrowheads-found-in-mount-zion-prove-bible-story-is-true-174228914.html

An arrowhead from 67 CE from the Yodfat excavations (you might have to translate this one):

https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5567123,00.html

http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2019-08/12/content_75089564.htm

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1161116.shtml

Work on a crumbling Crusader-era castle in Mi’ilya revealed a winery, among other things:

https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-49335312

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-israeli-village-excavates-itself-finds-biggest-winery-in-the-crusader-world-1.7661047

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/crusaders-crushed-grapes-in-galilee-5ntkkqbmq

Review of Magness’ Masada book:

https://mosaicmagazine.com/observation/history-ideas/2019/08/what-really-happened-at-masada/

Pondering Jerusalem’s water supply:

https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2019/08/solving-the-mystery-of-biblical-jerusalems-water-supply/

Feature on Sumerian metaphors:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2019/08/Concepts-and-Metaphors-in-Sumerian

Archaeologists reflecting on the costs of the war in Syria:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-archaeologists-exiled-syria-war.html

https://www.livescience.com/archaeologists-banned-from-syria.html

http://theconversation.com/im-one-of-hundreds-of-archaeologists-exiled-from-syria-whos-mourning-what-the-war-is-costing-us-116325

More on Gazan efforts to protect antiquities from various threats:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/crusaders-crushed-grapes-in-galilee-5ntkkqbmq

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

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

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

A pair of intact Mycenean chamber tombs from Nemea/Aidonia:

https://www.livescience.com/bronze-age-mycenaean-tombs-greece.html

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/08/12/ancient-tombs-unearthed-in-nemea-greece-shed-light-on-mycenaean-civilization/

https://www.thesun.ie/tech/4435754/mystery-as-rare-ancient-greek-chamber-tombs-unearthed-with-14-skeletons-inside/

https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-greek-asylum-like-tombs-filled-skeletons-discovered-3000-year-old-mycenaean-cemetery-1453983

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2019-08/12/content_75090686.htm

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7933-190813-aidonia-chamber-tombs

A 2500 years bp pottery shard from Paphos is giving hints about how the economy was managed back then:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-shard-reveals-cyprus-ancient-kingdoms.html

https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/08/14/small-piece-of-pottery-with-a-big-meaning-unearthed-in-paphos/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/shard-reveals-how-cyprus-ancient-kingdoms-managed-economy/2019/08/14/660acf2a-be96-11e9-a8b0-7ed8a0d5dc5d_story.html

https://www.fredericksburg.com/news/national/shard-reveals-how-cyprus-ancient-kingdoms-managed-economy/article_a72586e7-cf38-55e4-8e97-c8fa7b1995a3.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7938-190815-cyprus-paphos-economy

A hoard of 2500 years bp silver coins from Phanagoria:

https://tass.com/society/1073443

A number of 6th century burials from Myrmekion/Kerch:

https://tass.com/society/1073928

An intact Hellenistic burial from Kozani:

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/36477-unique-intact-hellenistic-tomb-found-in-kozani-of-northern-greece.html

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/08/06/archaeologists-discover-intact-tomb-from-first-century-bc-in-kozani-greece/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7942-190816-greece-intact-tomb

Item with the Kozani, Nemea, and Despotiko finds all in one:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/143769/three-new-major-archaeological-discoveries-in-greece/

A burial of apparent aristocratic types in Spain is being associated with Hamilcar Barca:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/08/07/inenglish/1565198266_588048.html

https://elpais.com/cultura/2019/07/29/actualidad/1564398956_890765.html

An important find of a (now gone) box of assorted jewels and amulets from the regio V excavations at Pompeii:

https://www.livescience.com/amulets-discovered-in-pompeii.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49325627

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/12/archaeologists-pompeii-find-amulets-charms-may-have-used-roman/

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pompeii-s-magic-amulets-cast-new-spell-on-archaeologists-3dzx7fsmr

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2019/08/12/sorcerers-treasure-uncovered-at-pompeii_8cb5d8a3-c8be-4269-8fb0-9e486cf8f911.html

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/nations/italy/2019/08/12/sorcerers-treasure-trove-uncovered-at-pompeii_bf9f392b-dac7-47be-83ff-ac4cc0edafdc.html

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-13/archaeologists-find-sorcerers-treasure-trove-at-pompeii/11408056

https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/a-treasure-chest-full-of-sorcery-charms-has-been-found-in-pompeii/

https://www.thedailybeast.com/pompeiis-latest-find-tiny-penises-and-seduction-charms?source=articles&via=rss

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/08/archaeologists-discovered-an-invaluable-cache-of-ritual-artifacts-at-pompeii/

https://hyperallergic.com/513310/a-sorcerers-treasure-trove-uncovered-in-pompeii/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sorceresss-kit-was-discovered-ashes-pompeii-180972907/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7913-190812-pompeii-ritual-objects

Remains of a Roman temple at a Kent building site:

https://metro.co.uk/2019/08/15/ancient-roman-temple-unearthed-kent-building-site-10579169/

A useful inscription found near the sanctuary of Artemis Amarysia in Evia:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/256681/inscription-found-in-paleochoria-links-goddess-artemis-to-amarynthos-sanctuary/

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/14/c_138306883.htm

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7935-190814-artemis-in-amarynthos

Hyping the commencement of a dig to learn more about the Roman temple at Caistor St Edmund:

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/new-excavations-at-caistor-st-edmund-roman-town-1-6219401

Efforts to preserve a 4th century CE mosaic from a synagogue on Aegina:

https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Race-to-preserve-rare-Mosaic-of-Ancient-Greek-Synagogue-598397

North Macedonia formally acknowledged Alexander the Great as being Greek with a plaque:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/08/16/north-macedonia-puts-sign-on-skopjes-alexander-the-great-statue-admitting-he-was-greek/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/north-macedonia-applies-deal-with-greece-to-statues/2019/08/16/db1400ea-c042-11e9-a8b0-7ed8a0d5dc5d_story.html

https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/world/article/North-Macedonia-applies-deal-with-Greece-to-14327045.php

http://www.ekathimerini.com/243646/article/ekathimerini/news/kotzias-hails-skopje-plaque-saying-alexander-the-great-belongs-to-ancient-greece

… which apparently was almost immediately vandalized:

http://www.startribune.com/north-macedonia-applies-deal-with-greece-to-statues/547125282/

https://balkaninsight.com/2019/08/16/unknown-hands-destroy-hellenic-plaques-in-north-macedonia/

https://www.ksl.com/article/46619092/vandals-react-as-north-macedonia-changes-historical-plaques

Hopefully we’ll hear more about this shipwreck found off Reggio (article in Italian):

https://calabria7.it/reperti-di-un-relitto-nei-fondali-di-reggio-scoperto-un-patrimonio-culturale-sommerso/

Not sure how recent this is, but an ‘Islamic holy site’ near Turgut (Turkey) turns out to be an ancient Greek boxer’s tomb:

https://ahvalnews.com/archaeology/aegean-villagers-mistook-greek-boxers-tomb-islamic-holy-site-archaeologists-discover

Mary Beard’s latest political musings:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/squabbling-romans-corbyn-johnson-vespasian/

… and reflections on the funeral of Fergus Millar:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/nice-day-lessons-funeral/

Feature on ancient Greek herbal medicine:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/257213/the-everlasting-traditions-of-herbal-medicine-in-ancient-greece-part-i/

Feature on Heracleion:

https://daily.jstor.org/the-lost-city-of-heracleion/

Feature on the geographical extent of Rome:

https://www.history.com/news/ancient-roman-empire-map-julius-caesar-conquests

Feature on the Capitoline Triad:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/capitoline-triad

Interesting coverage of an early 20th century recreation of the eruption of Vesuvius:

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/this-week-in-history-1905-mount-vesuvius-erupts-in-vancouver

The ‘House of the Muses’ in Gaziantep will be opening to the public:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2019/08/13/ancient-roman-house-in-southeast-turkey-to-welcome-visitors-next-year

Why Aeschylus matters:

https://merionwest.com/2019/08/15/aeschylus-still-matters-today/

Ancient parallels for assorted British politician types:

https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/08/if-boris-is-pericles-does-that-make-rees-mogg-cato-the-younger/

Peter Jones’ latest parallels for Boris Johnson:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/08/how-boriss-roman-predecessors-took-back-control/

Niall Ferguson steps back his ‘fall of Rome’ comparisons:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2019/08/12/this-isn-fall-rome/34Uco0HivEVG8w0IZ7lpII/story.html

Can’t leave out this item on wolves possibly being the answer to Rome’s wild boar problem:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/wolves-may-solve-romes-wild-boar-problem-xs9zhctzt

In case you’ve missed all the coverage about the recreation of a perfume ‘worn by Cleopatra’:

https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/cleopatra-perfume-egyptian-fragrance-16082019/

https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/archaeologists-recreate-ancient-egyptian-perfume-worn-by-cleopatra/

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1539136/middle-east

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/womens-style/cleopatras-perfume-has-recreated-did-historical-figures-smell/

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scientists-recreate-cleopatras-2-000-year-old-perfume-p7k85sdjf

https://news.sky.com/story/cleopatra-no-5-scientists-recreate-ancient-egyptian-queens-perfume-11784271

More on the shipwrecks off Levitha:

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-shipwrecks-found-in-aegean.html

https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/centuries-worth-of-shipwrecks-found-on-the-coast-of-tiny-greek-island/

—–

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/

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

EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

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

Pondering some 27 000 years bp human remains found in the El Castillo cave:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/08/13/ciencia/1565716811_677793.html

Analysis of coprolites from the Bronze Age Must Farm site suggests the inhabitants were dealing with plenty of parasites:

https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/ancient-faeces-reveal-how-2018marsh-diet2019-left-bronze-age-fen-folk-infected-with-parasites

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190815212756.htm

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-ancient-feces-reveal-marsh-diet.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/uoc-afr081319.php

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-49347124

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bronze-age-man-from-pompeii-of-the-fens-had-parasites-x63xlsnpg

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/aug/16/bronze-age-meals-in-the-marshes-seasoned-with-parasitic-worms

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/ancient-faeces-bronze-age-britain-parasites-gut-study-a9060776.html

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/deadthings/2019/08/15/unusual-parasites-plagued-bronze-age-fen-folk-and-their-dogs/

https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/early-residents-of-britains-pompeii-farm-riddled-with-fish-tapeworms/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7943-190816must-farm-parasites

A 4000 years bp cist burial from a site near Tevrin:

http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/2019/08/16/the-discovery-of-a-4000-year-old-early-bronze-age-cist-burial-containing-the-crouched-skeleton/

Latest finds from the Caerau Hillfort dig:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/caerau-ely-hillfort-cardiff-history-16684490

LiDAR has revealed a pile of Iron Age sites in Chiltern:

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17830945.chilterns-39-iron-age-archaeology-revealed-39-lidar-39-flying-laser/

https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/17831581.chilterns-39-iron-age-archaeology-revealed-39-lidar-39-flying-laser/

Remains of a 2000 years bp hilltop house in Stirling includes the thumbprint of one of the builders:

https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/article/and-finally-builder-s-thumbprint-found-in-2-000-year-old-home

A Merovingian era burial from Cahors:

https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2019-08-15—the-skeleton-of-a-merovingian-discovered-in-cahors-.S1uqTeXVr.html

https://www.newsy-today.com/after-1400-years-spent-in-a-sarcophagus-the-body-of-a-merovingian-discovered-in-cahors/

Medieval/Viking era buildings from Iceland:

https://www.icelandreview.com/news/medieval-and-viking-era-artefacts-discovered-in-north-iceland/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7912-190812-iceland-hofstadhir-buildings

Some folks found remains of a 13th century church built into their garden wall in Pinkney:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-49362607

A tomb of an unknown 14th century aristocrat at the Kaliakra fortress:

https://sofiaglobe.com/2019/08/15/archaeology-tomb-of-palaiologos-nobleman-discovered-at-bulgarias-kaliakra/

https://www.novinite.com/articles/199344/Archaeologists+Encounter+more+Unique+Finds+in+Kaliakra+%28PHOTOS%29

A metal detectorist found a Renaissance-era gold bishop’s ring on Sheppey:

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sheerness/news/metal-detectorists-unearth-priceless-treasure-210307/

Metal detectorist finds are also adding to the image of Deanshanger as a ‘popular’ travel route in Renaissance times:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-49359470

Remains of a Renaissance/Baroque ‘brew house’ in Kost Castle:

https://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/archaeologists-unearth-rare-renaissance-baroque-brew-house-in-czech-paradise

Finds from various periods at a cave site in Poland:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C78193%2Csilesia-hundreds-neanderthal-tools-discovered-cave-castle-olsztyn.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7940-190815-poland-castle-cave

Reconstruction/renovation of the Church of All Saints in Humenne (Slovakia) is revealing assorted interesting details:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22189409/archaeologists-uncovered-different-floors-in-the-medieval-church-humenne.html

Vague item on a ‘whole stone’ sarcophagus find in the Crimea (not sure of the date):

http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/Mysterious-whole-stone-sarcophagus-found-in-Crimea.html

Tracking down a possibly-but-maybe-not-destroyed statue of Mary dating to the Reformation:

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/our-lady-walsingham-victoria-and-albert-museum-1-6212151

Interesting feature on assorted musical instruments excavated over the years in Ireland:

https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/instruments-ancient-ireland

Recalling an Iron Age hoard discovery in Ipswich half a century ago:

https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/1968-suffolk-workman-dug-up-ancient-treasures-1-6210166

Concerns for a Bronze Age oakwood trackway in Mayne Bog:

http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/2019/08/15/ancient-road-slowly-decaying/

Repurposing medieval cathedrals in England:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/13/world/europe/uk-norwich-cathedral.html

An historic synagogue in Budapest is reopening:

https://m.jpost.com/Diaspora/Historic-Budapest-synagogue-to-reopen-amid-Jewish-cultural-revival-598950

Feature on 16 of Edinburgh’s ‘most fascinating’ archaeological discoveries:

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/16-of-edinburgh-s-most-fascinating-archaeological-discoveries-1-4984537

Feature on Sutton Hoo:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/letter-from-the-uk/revisiting-sutton-hoo-britains-mythical-ship-burial

Feature on the Hapsburg’s stud farm near Prague:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2019/aug/16/czech-republic-historic-stud-farm-in-pictures-kladruby-unesco-world-heritage

Marking the bicentennial of the Peterloo Massacre:

https://menafn.com/1098886687/Peterloo-massacre-how-womens-bravery-helped-change-British-politics-forever

More on the search for Darwin’s lost Beagle:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/hunt-is-on-for-clues-to-muddy-grave-of-charles-darwins-beagle-2qld5sj7f

More on the ‘lost village’ found at the site of the Glencoe Massacre:

https://www.livescience.com/lost-village-clan-massacre-site-scotland.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7931-190813-scotland-clan-macdonald

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

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

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

Feature on the ‘Machu Picchu of Tajikistan’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/tajikistan/machu-picchu-tajikistan-karon/

Heavy rains have contributed to a cave in at Bekal Fort:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/portion-of-historic-bekal-fort-caves-in-due-to-heavy-rains/articleshow/70640221.cms

Something about a number of finds in Belarus which sheds light on the origins of the Slavs:

https://www.tvr.by/eng/news/obshchestvo/2_000_artefaktov_kotorye_mogut_raskryt_taynu_proiskhozhdeniya_slavyan_obnaruzhili_belorusskie_arkheo/

More on the Plan of Jars:

https://www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/asia/mysterious-plain-of-jars-may-be-the-burial-place-for-thousands-of-dead-babies-and-children-experts-say/news-story/18be4a1c208184f4cce86d944aabcf32

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

NORTH AMERICA

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

A brass ring find at Colonial Michilimackinac (we might have mentioned this one):

https://www.sooeveningnews.com/news/20190813/ring-fragment-found-at-colonial-michilimackinac

https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/archaeologists-dig-up-ring-fragment-at-colonial-michilimackinac

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7932-190813-michigan-colonial-ring

Assorted small finds from the Fort Edward dig:

https://poststar.com/news/local/key-silver-coin-and-musket-balls-part-of-latest-fort/article_1f38e0f8-faed-55b4-b070-d90ca54d9719.html

Plenty of news coming from digs at the Alamo this week … first, on the barracks wall and church:

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/san-antonio/archaeological-dig-at-the-alamo-underway

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Alamo-s-oldest-wall-being-studied-in-14301344.php

https://therivardreport.com/for-the-first-time-archaeologists-are-digging-into-alamos-long-barrack/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7937-190814-texas-the-alamo

… and later, a find of musket balls:

https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2019/08/14/texas-alamo-dig-uncovers-musket-balls-believed-from-1800s/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/texas-alamo-dig-uncovers-musket-balls-believed-from-1800s/2019/08/14/d7db76de-bea7-11e9-a8b0-7ed8a0d5dc5d_story.html

https://www.gazettextra.com/news/nation_world/texas-alamo-dig-uncovers-musket-balls-believed-from-s/article_92e846b0-6319-5d6b-adcd-b866609ad2ea.html

https://www.keranews.org/post/alamo-dig-uncovers-musket-balls-believed-1800s

Part of the University of Richmond is built over a slave burial ground:

https://www.nbc12.com/2019/08/12/researchers-discover-part-university-richmond-built-over-slave-burial-grounds/

Archaeologists are surveying the site of Tampa’s first black cemetery:

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/archaeologists-begin-searching-for-missing-graves-in-tampas-first-black-cemetery/67-4bb7c3b4-c81e-4df9-a5fc-a2e526a06e15

Assorted finds during sewer line construction in Virginia City:

http://carsonnow.org/story/08/13/2019/virginia-citys-colorful-past-unearthed-during-sewer-line-installation

Searching for shipwrecks off the coast of the Gaspe:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/gasp-shipwrecks-1.5251056

Nice overview of the dig at Barrack Hill/Parliament hill in Ottawa:

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/barrack-hill-inside-the-archaeological-dig-unearthing-the-heart-of-ottawas-history

Interesting feature on an Acadian site in PEI:

https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/article_85a3fc0c-b758-11e9-b5f3-b711177d5c0e.html

… and one on a ‘ghost town’ site in Pennsylvania:

https://triblive.com/local/regional/dig-at-indiana-county-ghost-town-unearths-prehistoric-past/

A facility for safe storage of First Nations artifacts (Ontario):

https://anishinabeknews.ca/2019/08/13/the-centre-for-sustainable-archaeology-to-provide-safe-storage-for-first-nations-artifacts/

Study suggests environment played a role in population variation in the early populations of the Americas:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/ncsu-njg081319.php

On the location of the Battle of Bennington:

https://www.vpr.org/post/why-vermont-celebrates-battle-bennington-was-fought-new-york

https://www.benningtonbattlemonument.com/battle.html

Momentum is building for the creation of a Cahokia Mounds national park:

https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Cahokia-Mounds-support-grows-14301829.php

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

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

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

Remains of a fortress wall which once surrounded Uxmal:

https://yucatanexpatlife.com/fortress-wall-surrounding-ancient-mayan-city-of-uxmal-is-uncovered/

I think we mentioned this study of sacrificial remains from the Great Cenote at Chichen Itza:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlymiller/2019/08/09/skulls-analyzed-from-the-mayan-sacred-cenote-show-that-human-sacrifices-were-sourced-from-far-and-wide-across-mexico-in-1000-ad/#30cea3f4e8b7

Latest on the search for Cortez’ ships:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2019/08/12/actualidad/1565629884_221686.html

Plans for a ‘tourist train’ through Mexico’s Mayan Heartland is raising concerns:

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/mexico-wants-run-tourist-train-through-its-mayan-heartland%E2%80%94should-it-74401

—–

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 one on folks studying the earliest human use of dung:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-neolithic-earliest-human-dung.html

https://horizon.scienceblog.com/922/neolithic-remains-help-sniff-out-the-earliest-human-use-of-dung/

Feature on 10 of the earliest known photographs:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/louvre-album-of-the-world/index.html

Interesting feature on Murray Hall:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-49291971

The current heat wave in Europe is causing further damage to Notre Dame:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2019/08/16/notre-dame-cathedral-european-heat-wave-caused-further-damage/2028059001/

… and they’re currently dealing with the lead problem:

https://www.dw.com/en/paris-streets-near-notre-dame-to-be-decontaminated-from-lead/a-50014969

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/notre-dame-restoration-delayed-due-lead-poisoning-concerns-180972895/

Victor Nuovo’s latest philosophical application:

http://addisonindependent.com/opeds/victor-nuovo-transcendentalism-and-moral-duty

Feature on trials by ordeal:

https://aeon.co/ideas/why-the-trial-by-ordeal-was-actually-an-effective-test-of-guilt

Feature on reconstructing ‘ancient menus’:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/aug/11/ancient-menus-archaeology-modern-tastes

Feature on Piranesi and his drawings:

https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/8thday/prisons-of-the-mind-1502788076.html

The University of Murcia is reissuing *El Roman de Flamenca*:

https://elpais.com/politica/2019/08/10/diario_de_espana/1565449967_717563.html

Latest findings from xraying something by Leonardo:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-49356073

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/aug/14/abandoned-sketch-discovered-under-landmark-leonardo-da-vinci-work

https://www.livescience.com/da-vinci-hidden-painting-virgin-rocks.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/leonardo-da-vinci-national-gallery-the-virgin-on-the-rocks-a4212991.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/imaging-reveals-leonardo-wrestled-composition-virgin-rocks-180972918/

Last week it was mosquitoes … this week, it’s lice:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-ancient-seafarers-dogs-humble-louse.html

… in case you missed the mosquitoes:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/08/14/ciencia/1565778292_347398.html

Arguing about Wittgenstein and Heraclitus:

https://aeon.co/ideas/can-you-step-in-the-same-river-twice-wittgenstein-v-heraclitus

A scrap of cloth connected to Elizabeth I … maybe:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scrap-cloth-representing-elizabeth-is-only-surviving-dress-set-go-view-180972919/

Feature on the Penny Post:

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48844278

On the history of ‘going Dutch’:

https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2019/08/16/411519704/brunch-query-what-does-it-really-mean-to-go-dutch

Feature on personal letters:

https://aeon.co/essays/how-personal-letters-built-the-possibility-of-a-modern-public

Feature on Charles Sanders Peirce:

https://aeon.co/essays/charles-sanders-peirce-was-americas-greatest-thinker

Something about a 2000 years bp optical problem being solved:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-physicists-year-old-optical-problem.html

Pondering the Anthropocene:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/08/arrogance-anthropocene/595795/

More on the renewed search for Amelia Earhart under the direction of Robert Ballard:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/science/amelia-earhart-search-robert-ballard.html

https://www.newsweek.com/man-titanic-search-amelia-earhart-lost-plane-1454032

https://gulfnews.com/world/americas/finding-amelia-earharts-plane-1.65789038

More on Magellan’s circumnavigation:

https://www.elmostrador.cl/cultura/2019/08/13/magallanes-y-la-primera-circunnavegacion-del-mundo/

Review of Lara Maiklem, *Mudlarking*:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/aug/16/mudlarking-lara-maiklem-river-thames-review

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

MUSEUM MATTERS

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

Freud and Egypt:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/sigmund-freud-ancient-egypt-review/

Baalbek:

https://kawa-news.com/en/an-exhibition-tribute-to-baalbek-at-the-sursock-museum-in-beirut/

Wenceslas IV:

https://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/prague-castle-opens-special-exhibition-on-wenceslas-iv-in-light-of-600-anniversary-of-rulers-death

Feature on assorted museums opening in Egypt this year:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/73859/Pics-Various-archaeological-sites-await-opening-in-2019-know-the

… and another:

https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/business/story/Restoration_of_Egypts_Tanta_Museum_completed_ready_for_reopening_endAugust-SNG_151493476/

UK museums lend a lot of items, it appears:

http://theartnewspaper.com/news/uk-national-museums-loans

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

AUCTIONS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

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

A gold solidus of Constantine, found by a metal detectorist, will be coming to auction next month:

https://www.coinworld.com/news/world-coins/uk-metal-detectorist-find-roman-gold-solidus-in-london-auction

https://news.justcollecting.com/perfect-roman-gold-coin-discovered-metal-detector-auction-dix-noonan-webb/

A 17th century ‘Acetaria’ is coming to auction:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/17th-ode-salads-heading-auction-180972909/

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

THE TECHY SIDE

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

Feature on various techy approaches to extracting data from papyri:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/hbfm-aab081619.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190816092420.htm

Latest facial reconstruction is an Iron Age Druid (!) woman from Stornoway:

https://www.livescience.com/druid-woman-facial-reconstruction.html

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-student-reveals-iron-age-female.html

… and a feature on Oscar Nilsson, who does a lot of the ones we’ve seen:

https://wearemitu.com/things-that-matter/this-swedish-sculptor-brought-a-peruvian-queen-back-to-life-with-his-stunningly-human-like-recreations/

Interesting application of 3d imaging to a church fresco:

https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2019/08/09/articulo/1565356994_538046.html

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

ON THE DNA FRONT

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

Using DNA to identify homo sapiens as the culprit in the demise of the cave bear:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-genetic-humans-ice-age-european.html

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/08/humans-not-glaciers-wiped-out-ice-age-cave-bears-ancient-dna-shows/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/08/15/humans-pushed-cave-bears-extinction-their-dna-suggests/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49345392

https://www.dw.com/en/genetic-research-blames-humans-for-prehistoric-bear-demise/a-50045046

https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/08/14/ciencia/1565803963_062010.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7941-190815-cave-bear-extinction

When domesticated pigs arrived in Europe, they apparently underwent a ‘genomic turnover’:

https://today.tamu.edu/2019/08/15/its-taken-10000-years-for-pigs-to-become-pigs/

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/uoo-ape080919.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190812152200.htm

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/august/understanding-the-origins-of-european-domestic-pigs.html

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

PERFORMANCES

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

Feature on Alice Guy:

https://www.dw.com/en/rediscover-the-first-woman-of-film-history-alice-guy/a-50042679

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

CRIME BEAT

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

Another ‘drugs and antiquities’ bust on Cyprus:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/08/13/police-arrest-man-in-connection-with-possession-of-drugs-and-antiquities/

A potentially significant bust of a woman smuggling Indian artifacts to France:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/arrest-of-french-woman-exposes-antique-idols-smuggling-racket/article29088296.ece

On Facebook as a marketplace for illegal antiquities:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csyvn6

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

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

The US and UK returned several items to India:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/us-returns-two-rare-artifacts-to-india/articleshow/70691790.cms

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/stolen-krishna-returns-for-gokulashtami/article29103586.ece

https://www.easterneye.biz/uk-us-return-stolen-antiquities-to-india-in-london/

http://theartnewspaper.com/news/stolen-indian-artefacts-returned-on-independence-day

Latest OpEds on the need for museums to rethink repatriation matters:

https://www.npr.org/2019/08/12/750549303/across-europe-museums-rethink-what-to-do-with-their-african-art-collections

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/it-is-time-for-the-british-museum-to-do-the-right-thing-and-give-back-artifacts/2019/08/13/e64b6456-bd56-11e9-a8b0-7ed8a0d5dc5d_story.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/letters/the-reader-send-museum-treasures-back-to-their-own-nations-a4212051.html

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/should-the-british-museum-return-its-colonial-artefacts-6snjlzs6r

… and a feature on the ‘contentious items in museums’:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/artefacts-elgin-marbles-british-museum-rosetta-stone-nefertiti-bust-berlin-benin-bronzes-nigeria-hoa-hakananai-a-easter-island-02hlgqvwb

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

NUMISMATICA

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

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v22/club_nbs_esylum_v22n32.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v22/club_nbs_esylum_v22n33.html

————————

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

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

OBITUARIES

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

Victor Swenson:

https://vtdigger.org/obituary/victor-reuben-swenson-founding-director-of-the-vermont-humanities-council/?is_wppwa=true&wpappninja_cache=friendly

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

AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS

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

Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/2875-audio-news-from-archaeologica-august-4th-through-the-10th-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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