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, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week

(as always hoping I have left no one out).

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

EARLY HOMINIDS

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

Neanderthals incorporated modified clam shells in their toolkit:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/neandertals-tooled-around-with-clams/

Studying homo floresiensis and the legend of the ebu gogo:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/neandertals-tooled-around-with-clams/

Feature on the finds in Sarawak Cave:

https://www.therakyatpost.com/2020/02/04/40000-years-of-human-history-hidden-in-sarawaks-niah-cave/

More on volcano-climbing Neanderthals:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/neanderthals-relatives-climbed-an-erupting-volcano-350000-years-ago/

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

ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

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

A 3400 years bp Egyptian anchor found by a swimmer off the coast of Israel:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-mysterious-ancient-egyptian-artifact-found-off-israeli-coast-1.8477804

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/3400-year-old-Egyptian-artifact-uncovered-in-Israel-on-display-in-Jerusalem-616337

https://www.egyptindependent.com/israeli-finds-egyptian-artifact-while-swimming-south-of-haifa/

A foundation for a Ramses II obelisk was installed in Tahrir Square:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/81220/Foundation-of-Ramses-II-Obelisk-installed-in-Tahrir-Square

https://www.egyptindependent.com/ramses-ii-obelisk-to-be-fully-reassembled-in-cairos-tahrir-square/

Feature on senet:

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/02/original-board-game-death

An update on the Baron Palace restoration:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/9/81252/Ministry-of-Tourism-completes-95-of-Baron-Palace-restoration-project

Artifacts will be displayed at Cairo International Airport:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/over-90-artifacts-to-be-displayed-at-cairo-airport-museum/

More on those 16 priestly burials found a couple of weeks ago at Minya:

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/155207/VIDEO-Egyptian-archaeologists-unveil-16-ancient-tombs

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/362609/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/In-photos-Communal-tombs-for-high-priests-uncovere.aspx

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/81290/Spanish-Newspaper-ABC-amazed-by-Minya%E2%80%99s-discovery

More on that carved ‘donkey’ bone from Catal Huyuk:

https://www.newsweek.com/catalhoyuk-ancient-city-figurine-donkey-bone-1485819

Evidence of a 7200 years bp mudbrick village at Tel Tsaf (Jordan):

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-mud-brick-village-survived-7-200-years-in-the-jordan-valley-1.8498916

Iran has resumed excavating at Shahr-e Qumis:

http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444941/Iran-resumes-archaeological-exploration-at-ancient-Qumis

Evidence of a First Temple era ‘rival’ temple complex at Tel Moza:

https://www.aftau.org/news-page-archaeology?=&storyid4677=2512&ncs4677=3&erid=8266220

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Biblical-Israelites-maintained-cult-practice-in-temples-outside-Jerusalem-616357

https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-temple-era-judah-another-massive-temple-was-in-use-outside-jerusalem/

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-temple-found-near-j-lem-challenges-archaeologists-assumptions-on-first-temple-1.8492874

https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/jerusalem/tau-dig-outside-jerusalem-unearths-a-rival-to-king-solomons-temple/2020/02/03/

https://www.ami-universite-telaviv.com/index.php/2013-05-26-08-41-51/recherche/sciences-humaines-et/archeologie/1166-les-arch%C3%A9ologues-de-l-universit%C3%A9-de-tel-aviv-d%C3%A9couvrent-un-temple-similaire-au-temple-de-salomon

https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2020/02/archaeologists-believe-they-have-discovered-an-israelite-temple-contemporaneous-with-solomons/

http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2020-02/04/content_75669655.htm

A number of 2000 years bp date seeds from various sites have been sprouted in Israel:

https://phys.org/news/2020-02-scientists-date-palm-year-old-seeds.html

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/05/scientists-in-israel-grow-date-plants-from-2000-year-old-seeds

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/02/how-to-grow-a-date-tree-from-2000-year-old-seeds/606079/

https://www.newsweek.com/six-ancient-plants-2000-year-old-seeds-grown-scientists-1485900

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/science/.premium-israeli-researchers-mate-2-000-year-old-date-seeds-hope-for-fruit-1.8503447

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7975095/Seeds-Judea-Scientist-grow-six-date-palms-2-000-year-old-seeds.html

https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-have-grown-date-palms-from-2-000-year-old-seeds

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-researchers-grow-date-plants-from-2000-year-old-seeds/

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2232464-extinct-date-palms-grown-from-2000-year-old-seeds-found-near-jerusalem/

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2020/02/06/803186316/dates-like-jesus-ate-scientists-revive-ancient-trees-from-2-000-year-old-seeds

https://www.wxpr.org/post/dates-jesus-ate-scientists-revive-ancient-trees-2000-year-old-seeds#stream/0

https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2020/02/in-israel-ancient-date-palms-bloom-again/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8410-200207-ancient-dates-sprouted

Feature on standing stones at Hazor:

https://www.thetorah.com/article/hazors-standing-stones-what-do-they-commemorate

More on that Abel Beth-Maacah inscription which may confirm different borders for ancient Israel:

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Was-the-Bible-right-Inscription-may-confirm-ancient-Israels-borders-616861

More on using tech to identify the scribes of some ‘Samaria ostraka’:

https://english.tau.ac.il/news/samaria_inscription

https://aleteia.org/2020/02/03/new-technology-helps-experts-analyze-ancient-handwriting/

Feature on human sacrifice in the Ancient Near East:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2020/02/human-sacrifice

Concerns for sites and artifacts in Idlib:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51177433

Turkey has restored an Ottoman era mosque:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/02/05/turkey-converts-yet-another-ancient-greek-church-into-a-mosque/

Arab states are showcasing Jewish heritage:

https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Arab-states-showcase-Jewish-heritage-and-memory-with-renovation-projects-616929

… and the Arab parliament has passed a law to protect antiquities:

https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2116371/arab-parliament-reveals-law-protect-antiquities

Studying the effects of cultural destruction in Syria:

https://news.virginia.edu/content/what-happens-when-antiquities-are-obliterated-sociologist-investigates

OpEddish sort of thing on what archaeology ‘should’ be about:

https://www.israel21c.org/archeology-doesnt-belong-in-the-past-says-israeli-expert/

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

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

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

Minoan artifacts the Akrotiri:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/01/31/spectacular-findings-uncovered-in-santorinis-akrotiri-archaeological-dig/

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/38813-prehistoric-finds-on-greek-island-of-santorini-hint-at-tsunami-before-eruption.html

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/02/04/new-archaeological-treasures-found-at-santorinis-akrotiri/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8399-200203-santorini-minoan-akrotiri

2500 years bp curse tablets from a well in the Kerameikos:

https://www.newsweek.com/curse-tablets-gods-underworld-well-ancient-greek-cemetary-1485886

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/feb/07/climate-activists-bring-trojan-horse-to-british-museum

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/10886761/ancient-greece-cursed-tablets-poisoned-well/

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/02/06/ancient-curse-tablets-discovered-down-a-2500-year-old-well-in-athens/

A compromise has been reached to preserve an ancient mass grave found in Athens a few years ago:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/249232/article/ekathimerini/life/compromise-reached-to-protect-ancient-mass-grave-in-southern-athens

Marvelling at Pompeii’s drainage system:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7973567/Pompeiis-ancient-drainage-set-used-2-000-years-built.html

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pompeiis-ancient-drains-still-work-perfectly-9f8flsqms

The week began with a call to preserve a Roman villa bath house found during construction in Gloucestershire:

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/bovis-homes-faces-fight-residents-3812797

https://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/18207291.petition-preserve-cams-roman-villa-launched/

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-51357814

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/battle-to-save-roman-villa-in-cam-gloucestershire-from-bulldozers-b3685nv0z

… and the campaign was successful:

https://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/18217361.cams-historic-roman-villa-preserved/

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/historic-cam-remains-incredible-roman-3821723

… and there are concerns for Roman sites in Milton Keynes:

https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/politics/council/massive-new-business-site-milton-keynes-would-lead-total-loss-roman-ruins-report-1383983

We’re now (again?) hearing of a Roman coin hoard find in a Derbyshire field last year:

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/treasure-coin-hoard-coroner-parwich-3805653

The triumphal arch in Anavarza has been restored:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/triumphal-arch-in-anavarza-restored-151699

Feature on the Roman remains at Gwent:

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/18221303.gwent-stunning-array-roman-ruins—quick-guide/

Valentine’s day lessons from Ovid:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tamarathiessen/2020/02/05/valentines-day-love-lessons-from-43-bc-roman-poet-ovid/

Not sure about the message being sent about metal detectorists this week:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/07/hurrah-heroic-detectorists-digging-heritage/

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/detectorists-helped-us-find-roman-britain-g6wn3cqdp

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-times-view-on-metal-detectorists-treasure-island-x56wcdzvm

More on the finds at the Asclepion of Epidaurus:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/01/29/new-building-found-at-epidaurus-asclepieion-in-sensaional-archaeological-discovery/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8398-200203-greece-asclepeion-epidaurus

Greek words for love in a Superbowl commercial gained some press attention:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/283822/greek-words-for-love-highlight-of-super-bowl-commercial-vid/

https://usa.greekreporter.com/2020/02/03/superbowl-commercial-moves-millions-explaining-four-greek-words-for-love/

That Pliny’s purported skull story is still making the rounds:

https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/pliny-the-elder-pompeii-vesuvius-death-pliny-the-younger-ancient-rome-a9308706.html

https://www.livescience.com/pliny-the-elder-skull-mount-vesuvius.html

Feature on preserving the drunken satyr sculpture at the Getty:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/photos-saving-an-ancient-roman-sculpture-step-by-careful-step/

Feature on Anthesteria:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/everyone-was-drinking-inside-an-ancient-3-day-festival-of-wine/

Feature on the evolution of Pandora:

https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/02/07/the-evolution-of-pandora/

Feature on the Parthenon’s architecture:

https://now.northropgrumman.com/the-parthenon-paradox-beauty-and-brawn-in-ancient-architecture

Feature on that Roman-era egg dug up in Buckinghamshire a while ago:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/first-intact-roman-era-egg-recovered.htm

The good and bad in Brad Pitt’s Troy:

https://screenrant.com/troy-brad-pitt-movie-accurate-inaccurate/

Feature on Rome’s metro construction (paywalled):

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rome-metro-diggers-plot-a-route-through-history-w6v3j2phr

More on hopes that Brexit will help the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/157841/brexit-has-strengthened-the-campaign-for-return-of-parthenon-marbles/

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Arts-and-Ent/Culture/2020/Feb-03/500415-brexit-may-bolster-eu-support-for-parthenon-marbles.ashx

A book prize for Benjamin Anderson:

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2020/02/history-art-and-classics-professor-wins-book-prize

Sam Findley has an interesting side hobby:

https://news.psu.edu/story/606975/2020/02/05/academics/altoona-faculty-finds-fulfillment-falconry

Feature on Kathleen Lynch’s work with ceramics:

https://www.newsrecord.org/news/uc-classics-professor-researches-ancient-greece-through-ceramics/article_0e874bf4-479c-11ea-956a-872f919bcb4d.html

Peter Jones on what the ancient Greeks would have thought of Boris Johnson:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2020/02/the-ancients-would-have-thought-boris-was-deluded/

Timothy Joseph on Roman-Trump parallels:

http://theconversation.com/this-is-how-ancient-romes-republic-died-a-classicist-sees-troubling-parallels-at-trumps-impeachment-trial-131121

https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/This-is-how-ancient-Rome-s-republic-died-a-15033192.php

A diversity award for UCSB’s Classics department:

https://www.hfa.ucsb.edu/news-entries/2020/2/3/ucsbs-classics-department-receives-diversity-award

Feature on a symposium on Greece, Rome, and the East:

http://www.lawrentian.com/archives/1016083

UC Classics is putting together a digital gallery of Troy archaeology photos and the like:

https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2020/01/n20886599.html

Reviews of Mary Beard’s ‘Shock of the Nude’:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/mary-beards-shock-of-the-nude-bbc-two-review/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2020/02/03/shock-nude-mary-beard-review-cheery-cheeky-look-controversy/

Review of Scheidel, *Escape from Rome*:

https://www.thetablet.co.uk/books/10/17510/rising-from-roman-ashes

Reviewish of Kulikowski, *Tragedy of Empire*:

https://news.psu.edu/story/606324/2020/02/03/research/fall-roman-empire-revisited-new-book-penn-state-historian

On what the Romans can tell us about impeachment:

https://news.berkeley.edu/2020/02/05/what-ancient-rome-the-founding-fathers-and-mlk-can-tell-us-about-impeachment/

Comparing the ‘crumbling’ US senate to the collapse of Rome:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2020/2/2/21119032/crumbling-us-senate-echoes-roman-collapse-trump

Folks brought a Trojan Horse to protest BP at the British Museum:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/feb/07/climate-activists-bring-trojan-horse-to-british-museum

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/activists-bp-trojan-horse-protest-095245877.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/activists-trojan-horse-british-museum-bp-a4356381.html

Trump plans to mandate ‘classical architecture’ for all government buildings, with assorted reactions:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/02/trumps-plan-make-architecture-classical-again/606286/

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/02/08/trump-plans-on-making-federal-buildings-beautiful-again-inspired-by-greek-and-roman-architecture/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/arts/design/federal-building-architecture.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/arts/design/trump-modern-architecture.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/opinion/federal-buildings-classical.html

What Plato would have thought of Trump:

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/plato-on-trump/

Appealing to the example of Rome for a different president this time:

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2020-02-05-heed-the-lessons-of-the-roman-republic-mr-president/

—–

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/

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

EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

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

Analysis of 15 000 years bp skulls from assorted European caves hint at cannibalistic practices apparently:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2020/02/04/ciencia/1580812904_117531.html

A 7000 years bp object/well from the Czech Republic may be the world’s oldest wooden structure:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/04/europe/wooden-well-oldest-czech-republic-scli-intl-scn/index.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ancient-well-oldest-wooden-structure-ever-discovered-archaeologists-czech-republic/?ftag=CNM-00-10aac3a

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/neolithic-well-discovered-czech-republic-1770246

https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-well-7000-years-old-oldest-wooden-structure-1485421

https://www.sciencealert.com/this-decrepit-old-well-is-the-world-s-oldest-known-wooden-structure

https://www.ibtimes.sg/7000-year-old-neolithic-era-wooden-well-czech-could-be-oldest-engineering-marvel-earth-38841

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/ostrov-water-well-08082.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/czech-well-may-be-worlds-oldest-wooden-structure-180974137/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8402-200204-neolithic-well-conserved

A 4000 years bp crannog (maybe) from Co Galway:

https://www.irishpost.com/news/4000-year-old-bronze-age-era-dwelling-possibly-discovered-connemara-178849

https://www.thejournal.ie/crannog-discovered-co-galway-4990809-Feb2020/

https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/112847/cranng-discovered-in-connemara-by-man-out-walking-after-storm-brendan

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/archaeological-bronze-age-settlements-galway

Reporting on some ditches found at Worlebury Hill Fort:

https://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/worlebury-hillfort-research-finds-ditches-1-6496615

Trees are going to be removed to preserve a Somerset Iron Age fort site:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-51376510

A 1200 years bp gaming piece (maybe) from Lindisfarne:

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-game-king-piece-discovered.html

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/feb/06/boardgame-piece-first-viking-raid-found-lindisfarne-archaeology

https://www.ibtimes.sg/archaeologists-unearth-ancient-board-game-piece-lindisfarne-which-was-once-raided-by-vikings-38998

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidnikel/2020/02/07/rare-viking-era-board-game-piece-discovered-on-lindisfarne/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8409-200207-lindisfarne-norse-glass

I think we mentioned these 42 mysterious burials (possibly Anglo Saxon or not) from Buckingham:

https://www.livescience.com/42-missing-skeletons-uk.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/retirement-home-developers-dug-42-bizarre-skeletons-buckingham-uk-what-gives-180974129/

An 18th burial on Guernsey found a while ago (near a porpoise burial of the 15th century) is believed to be a Royal Navy sailor:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-guernsey-51374100

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8404-200205-guernsey-sailor-skeleton

The Blythburgh Iron Age hoard has been declared treasure:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-51374440

A feature on Rome:

https://www.thelocal.it/20200204/nine-surprising-facts-about-rome-in-honour-of-the-capitals-birthday

A court decision on a 13th century antisemitic sculpture in a church in Germany:

https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/German-court-rules-medieval-antisemitic-sculpture-can-stay-on-church-616519

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/04/german-court-rules-antisemitic-carving-can-stay-on-church-wall

A campaign to thatch the roof of a 17th century cottage in Glencoe:

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage/call-for-scottish-heather-to-thatch-lost-17th-century-turf-house-in-glencoe-1-5086832

More on that Byzantine monastery in Spain:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/157738/sixth-century-site-finally-confirmed-as-spains-first-byzantine-monastery/

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

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

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

Dating Australian petroglyphs with the help of wasps:

https://phys.org/news/2020-02-wasp-date-ancient-kimberley-art.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51378317

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bookended-wasp-nests-these-aboriginal-artworks-may-finally-have-definitive-dates-180974144/

A 19th century ‘solitary cell’ from a Tasmanian convict station stie:

https://www.miragenews.com/convicts-solitary-cells-uncovered/

https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/archaeological-students-digging-up-dirt-on-prisons-past/news-story/384f9034b925eee2fab8a1f4c88963a6

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8400-200203-tasmania-convict-station

A possible 6th century Lajja Gauri idol from India’s Udupi district:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/rare-lajja-gauri-idol-found-in-barkur/article30765998.ece

Feature on the excavations of a Buddhist site at Mound Dillu Roy (Pakistan):

https://www.bolnews.com/pakistan/2020/02/mound-dillu-roy-ancient-buddhist-site-is-being-excavated/

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2150979/1-excavation-rich-mound-dillu-roy-site-begins-uncover-historical-secrets/

Feature on Afghan artifacts that survived the Taliban:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200203-the-afghan-artefacts-that-survived-taliban-destruction

Pondering when written language reached Japan:

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13096869

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8403-200204-japan-written-language

Studying the origins of pottery in Asia:

https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2020/research/hot-pots-helped-siberian-hunters-survive-ice-age/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8405-200205-hunter-gatherer-pottery

A possible home for some recently-found Harappan artifacts:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/feb/04/5000-year-old-harrapan-artefacts-may-get-a-place-in-new-rakhigarhi-museum-2098619.html

An unsupervised earthmover guy damaged some 2600 years bp urns from the Adichanallur site:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/feb/09/adichanallur-ancient-urns-damaged-2100941.html

Oped on ‘Blood Buddhas’:

https://www.opindia.com/2020/02/blood-buddhas-review-stolen-antiques-idols-smuggling-culture-heritage/

Connecting the Hindu monkey god Hanuman and Homo erectus:

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3048479/hindu-monkey-god-hanuman-really-homo-erectus

Plans for an archaeological park at the megalithic site at Pune:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/skeletons-from-megalithic-period-to-be-on-display-at-excavation-site/articleshow/74035492.cms

More on Siberian ‘hot pots’ at the end of the last Ice Age:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-siberian-hunters-cooked-hot-pots-end-last-ice-age-180974148/

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

NORTH AMERICA

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

Erosion exposed a Native American (probably) burial near Port Angeles (I think we mentioned this):

https://www.heraldnet.com/northwest/bones-found-near-port-angeles-likely-500-1000-years-old/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8397-200203-washington-erosion-bones

Tulsa plans some digs at suspected mass graves associated with the 1921 race massacre:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/02/03/tulsa-mass-graves-excavation/

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/02/04/us/ap-us-tulsa-race-massacre-mass-graves.html

https://abcnews.go.com/US/tulsa-searches-remains-victims-1921-black-wall-street/story?id=68759886

https://kfor.com/2020/02/04/crews-to-begin-removing-soil-on-possible-mass-graves-connected-to-tulsa-race-massacre/

https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/archaeologists-plan-excavation-next-step-search-tulsa-race-massacre-mass-graves

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8407-200206-black-wall-street

Four 19th century burial found by ‘workmen’ in Georgetown:

https://georgetowner.com/articles/2020/02/08/4-skeletons-found-on-q-street/

Border wall construction damaged a Native American site in Arizona:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/02/07/tohono-oodham-sacred-site-monument-hill-blasted-border-wall/4698174002/

Feature on the Catalans of California:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2020/02/04/actualidad/1580829723_724633.html

Feature on the Oklahoma Archeological Survey:

http://www.oudaily.com/culture/from-old-homes-to-bison-bones-oklahoma-archeological-survey-provides/article_82443276-455a-11ea-aae1-d39b518a9b4d.html

Feature on Homer Plessy:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/obituaries/homer-plessy-overlooked-black-history-month.html

Feature on the Bonhomme Richard:

https://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20200206/historic-portsmouth-still-in-search-of-bonhomme-richard

Pondering Lincoln’s legacy:

https://www.heraldnet.com/northwest/bones-found-near-port-angeles-likely-500-1000-years-old/

Another oped twist on the Confederate monuments issue:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/opinion/sunday/confederate-monuments-mammy.html

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

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

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

Analysis of the 9900 years bp Chan Hol 3 skeleton (and others) from a Yucatan cave:

https://phys.org/news/2020-02-year-old-mexican-female-skeleton-distinct.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-02/p-9mf012920.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200205143351.htm

https://www.sciencealert.com/ancient-skulls-in-a-mexican-cave-reveal-some-surprises-about-early-north-americans

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/02/skeleton-found-in-submerged-mexican-cave-sheds-new-light-on-earliest-people-in-america/

Evidence that Rapa Nui society did not collapse before European contact:

https://phys.org/news/2020-02-easter-island-societal-collapse.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-02/uoo-rrt020520.php

Plans for that Aztec bath house site found last month in Mexico City:

https://elpais.com/internacional/2020/01/30/la_serpiente_emplumada/1580414603_031413.html

Studying witchcraft in Chile:

https://www.latercera.com/que-pasa/noticia/historiadores-brujeria-chile/967496/

—–

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 Bertrand Russell’s thoughts on philosophy and nationalism:

https://aeon.co/essays/philosophy-at-war-nationalism-and-logical-analysis

On the role of Armenian radicals in ‘shaping’ the 20th century:

https://aeon.co/essays/philosophy-at-war-nationalism-and-logical-analysis

Latest hidden figures found beneath a DaVinci painting:

https://phys.org/news/2020-02-algorithm-uncover-forgotten-figures-beneath.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7967235/AI-helps-discover-hidden-drawings-Leonardo-DaVinci-mapping-faint-zinc-traces-old-canvas.html

A collection of Dickens items are heading to a London museum:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/feb/07/treasure-trove-of-effects-goes-to-charles-dickens-museum-in-london

… not sure if these ‘newly discovered’ Dickens documents are included in the above:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51403625

https://theconversation.com/charles-dickens-newly-discovered-documents-reveal-truth-about-his-death-and-burial-130079

https://www.yahoo.com/news/charles-dickens-newly-discovered-documents-230207405.html

More on the Ghent altarpiece:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20200201-is-this-the-first-view-of-god-the-father-in-art

Feature on ancient board games:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/best-board-games-ancient-world-180974094/

Feature on Gabriel Isaac:

https://m.jpost.com/Diaspora/Gabriel-Isaac-Gandhis-forgotten-lieutenant-615651

On the role of caffeine in human history:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/voraciously/wp/2020/02/05/caffeine-has-been-a-boon-for-civilization-michael-pollan-says-but-it-has-come-at-a-cost/

On the history of daylight saving time in the UK:

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/clocks-go-forward-summer-spring-uk-why-daylight-savings-time-william-willett-benjamin-franklin-a9322201.html

Some random fact about Anne Bronte:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/612436/facts-about-anne-bronte

An NSF grant to create safe and inclusive archaeological field schools:

https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2020/02/msus-lambert-other-researchers-awarded-nsf-grant-create-safe-inclusive

Feature on the first (!) drag queen:

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/drag-queen-slave-ball/

The Scream is fading:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/arts/design/the-scream-edvard-munch-science.html

Marking the 140th birthday of Franz Marc:

https://www.dw.com/en/franz-marc-the-artist-who-saw-nature-through-a-wilder-than-instagram-filter/a-19089079

Interesting tale of a WWII manuscript theft by two women:

https://theconversation.com/how-two-women-pulled-off-a-medieval-manuscript-heist-in-post-war-germany-130179

More on Beethoven not being as deaf as we thought:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/feb/01/beethoven-not-completely-deaf-says-musicologist

Plans to save some Cherokee Nation seeds in the Svalvard seed vault:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/07/cherokee-nation-seeds-arctic-vault-svalbard

First connection of Macchiavelli and Trump I’ve seen:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/08/real-power-is-fear-donald-trump-machiavelli-boucheron

Review of Curran, *Diderot and the Art of Thinking Freely*:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/dec/15/denis-diderot-america-donald-trump

Review of a biography of Leo Tolstoy:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/leo-tolstoy-books-ideas-book-review/

Review of Bowers, *Tolkien’s Lost Chaucer*:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/tolkiens-lost-chaucer-john-m-bowers-book-review-mary-c-flannery/

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

MUSEUM MATTERS

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

Pompeii:

https://www.kxly.com/pompeii-the-immortal-city-to-open-saturday-at-the-mac/

https://www.khq.com/news/pompeii-the-immortal-city-exhibit-opens-at-the-mac-saturday/article_f12c29ae-4907-11ea-809d-cfd0079baeb0.html

Gods in Color:

https://phys.org/news/2020-02-gods-italy-pitti-palace.html

https://www.dw.com/en/gods-in-color-shining-new-light-on-ancient-statues/a-52240659

At the Feet of the Gods:

https://www.france24.com/en/20200204-shoes-fit-for-the-gods-go-on-display-at-italy-s-pitti-palace

https://www.gulftoday.ae/lifestyle/2020/02/04/sandals-that-tell-tales-of-the-wearer-and-their-greatness-go-on-display-at-italys-pitti-palace

Portraying Pregnancy:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/portraying-pregnancy-foundling-museum-london-review/

Handcrafted:

https://dailygazette.com/article/2020/02/06/on-exhibit-historical-society-s-handcrafted-spotlights-works-of-folk-artists

https://schenectadyhistorical.org/

Antiquities and the Greek Revolution:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/02/05/greek-antiquities-meet-19th-century-art-in-exhibition-on-1821-revolution/

http://www.ekathimerini.com/249189/gallery/ekathimerini/in-images/nam-showcases-antiquities-and-pre-independence-art

Meet Vincent:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/van-gogh-gbr-intl-scli/index.html

https://meetvincent.com/

Cypriot artists:

http://www.startribune.com/45-years-on-lost-masterpieces-see-light-in-split-cyprus/567536932/

St Francis Missal:

https://aleteia.org/2020/02/07/a-prayer-book-belonging-to-st-francis-of-assisi-goes-on-display-in-baltimore/

A possible Nazi-looted painting on display at the Met:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/08/arts/met-art-nazi-loot.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Renovations at the Seattle Asian Art Museum have been completed:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/03/arts/design/seattle-asian-art-museum.html

Feature on the Mallawi Museum:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-02/07/c_138763728.htm

Some of this month’s museum acquisitions:

http://www.theartnewspaper.com/gallery/acquisitions-february-2020

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

THE TECHY SIDE

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

Testing stone tools of the type made by homo habilis for strength and durability:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/early-hominins-were-surprisingly-good-engineers/

Using tech to examine mummified cats and other things:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-02-08/seeing-inside-ancient-artefacts-with-xrays/11940152

Folks might be interested in the idea of an ‘artist robot’:

https://elpais.com/economia/2020/01/31/actualidad/1580472914_468275.html

Some different facial reconstructions from statuary:

https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2020/01/29/articulo/1580316627_843130.html

On xraying paintings:

https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2020/01/29/articulo/1580294198_062123.html

On how assorted technologies are helping archaeologists question long-held theories:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2020/01/28/ciencia/1580207818_465849.html

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

ON THE DNA FRONT

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

A new mummy xray technique:

https://phys.org/news/2020-02-mosaic-x-rays-reveal-peruvian-mummy.html

More on DNA being extracted from museum specimens:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200131114741.htm

More on Neanderthal DNA in African populations:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-research-expands-neanderthals-genetic-legacy-modern-humans-180974099/

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

TOURISTY THINGS

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

Bavarian Castles:

https://www.dw.com/en/bavarias-most-popular-castles-and-magnificent-buildings/g-52278136

Granada:

https://www.dw.com/en/europes-most-beautiful-cities-destination-granada/a-51929148

Chania:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/02/05/strolling-around-the-stunning-old-city-of-chania/

Abbey Inn and Spa:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/nyregion/Revolutionary-War-Peekskill-Abbey.html

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

PERFORMANCES

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

Penelopiad:

https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2020-02-06/step-aside-odysseus-uc-irvine-retells-greek-classic-in-margaret-atwoods-the-penelopiad

Euriydice:

http://dailytrojan.com/2020/02/03/reimagining-eurydice/

Bacchae:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/minneapolis/article/Guthrie-Theater-Presents-SITI-Companys-Spellbinding-Production-Of-THE-BACCHAE-20200205

Agrippina:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwopera/article/VIDEO-Get-A-First-Look-At-The-Mets-Agrippina-Come-nube-che-fugge-dal-vento-20200204

1917:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/08/opinion/1917-movie-world-war-I.html

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

CRIME BEAT

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

Alan Dershowitz might possess some looted antiquities:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/dershowitz-antiquities-art-crime-expert-1772157

An archaeologist is facing jail in Spain over some fake early Christian artifacts he claimed he found years ago:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeologist-accused-forging-jesus-crucifixion-portrayal.html

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/02/archaeologist-facing-jail-spain-fake-basque-artifacts/

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/spanish-archaeologist-who-claimed-to-have-discovered-early-depiction-of-crucifixion-is-on-trial-for-fraud-0v9gghmvq

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/02/05/archaeologist-faces-jail-over-ake-discoveries-in-spains-basque-country/

Fines for a family who deliberately damaged the remains of Withybrook medieval village:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/01/family-fined-deliberately-damaging-medieval-village-ruins/

Vague item on an antiquities bust in Ammon:

http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleno=42478#.XkAmahNPGCg

Metal detectorists were arrested in Preah Vihear:

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50687985/antiquities-hunters-arrested-in-preah-vihear

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

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

A Devon museum is resisting repatriation of some Blackfoot relics to Canada:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/feb/02/british-museum-in-repatriation-dispute-over-indigenous-relics

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/museum-refuses-to-return-tribal-relics-x6vkr9g93

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/fury-royal-albert-memorial-museum-17685948

An English mantel is being returned from New York:

https://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Historic-mantel-heads-to-London-15027552.php

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

NUMISMATICA

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

I think we mentioned this hoard of Abbasid-era gold coins from Israel:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/yavne-hoard-08084.html

… and this huge Iron Age coin hoard:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/02/detectorists-find-britains-largest-ancient-coin-hoard-discovering/

Feature on bronze Ptolemaic coinage:

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/ngc-ancients-bronze-coinage-of-the-greek-kings-of-ptolemaic-egypt/

Feature on the Athenian Tetradrachm:

https://coinweek.com/dealers-companies/ma-shops/the-athenian-tetradrachm-the-most-iconic-ancient-greek-coin-ma-shops/

A commemorative coin marking the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Thermopylae (dating issue?):

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/tornos/events/38825-greece-issues-e2-and-e10-coins-for-2500th-anniversary-of-battle-of-thermopylae.html

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/02/03/greece-issues-commemorative-coins-for-2500th-anniversary-of-battle-of-thermopylae/

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/02/04/greece-releases-commemorative-e2-and-e10-coins-for-the-2500th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-thermopylae/

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v23/club_nbs_esylum_v23n05.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v23/club_nbs_esylum_v23n06.html

————————

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

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

OBITUARIES

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

Stephen Joyce:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/books/stephen-joyce-dies-at-87-guarded-grandfathers-literary-legacy.html

Hugh Bulley:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/feb/03/hugh-bulley-obituary

George Steiner:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/03/books/george-steiner-dead.html

https://www.france24.com/en/20200204-french-us-critic-george-steiner-dies-aged-90

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/george-steiner-renowned-literary-critic-dies-at-90/2020/02/05/9b8d05a2-4783-11ea-8124-0ca81effcdfb_story.html

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

AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS

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

Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/2943-audio-news-from-archaeologica-jan-26-through-feb-1-2020

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

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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