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).

… closing out our 22nd year of this!

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

EARLY HOMINIDS

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

A possible answer to ‘mysterious’ stone balls which seem to be found at several early hominid sites:

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-stone-balls-bone-marrow.html

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-israeli-archaeologists-solve-mystery-of-prehistoric-stone-balls-1.8766225

https://www.ibtimes.sg/scientists-finally-know-why-ancient-humans-kept-these-mysterious-stone-balls-43298

https://www.sciencealert.com/archaeologists-may-have-figured-out-the-purpose-of-mysterious-prehistoric-stone-balls

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8630-200415-israel-stone-spheres

Pondering what early humans looked like:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/what-did-ancient-humans-look-like

More on the implications of earlier human migration to Asia:

https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/early-human-migrations/

More on Neanderthals making string/thread/twine:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52267383

https://mountvernonnews.com/local-news/2020/04/16/kenyon-researcher-neanderthals-used-string/

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/04/neanderthals-made-the-worlds-oldest-thread/

https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/04/fascinating-discovery-suggests-neanderthals-invented-string/

More on Neanderthals eating seafood:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/portuguese-cave-neanderthals-seafood

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

AFRICA

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

Studying evidence for cattle and sheepherding in East Africa 3000-5000 years bp:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/uob-mi040920.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200413150744.htm

https://phys.org/news/2020-04-molecular-isotopic-evidence-meat-prehistoric.html

… and also a study suggesting milk was being consumed in East Africa by then as well:

https://source.wustl.edu/2020/04/milk-pioneers-east-african-herders-consumed-milk-5000-years-ago/

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/wuis-mpe041520.php

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/04/milk-pioneers-east-african-herders-consumed-milk-5000-years-ago/127612

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8635-200416-east-africa-milk

More on the ancient decorated ostrich eggs trade:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/mystery-ancient-decorated-ostrich-eggs-08322.html

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/ancient-ostrich-egg-trade

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

ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

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

Another announcement that they were going to make an announcement in Egypt:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84777/Egypt%E2%80%99s-Ministry-of-Tourism-Antiquities-to-announce-new-discovery-via

… and it appears to be a collection of Late Period burials at Saqqara:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84863/Egypt-s-Min-of-Tourism-Antiquities-announces-archaeological-discovery-at

General features on Egypt’s ‘virtual tour’ activities:

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/04/egyptians-launch-virtual-tours.html

https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2020-04-12/el-gran-museo-egipcio-se-retrasa-hasta-2021-pero-se-puede-hacer-una-visita-de-obras-virtual-desde-casa.html

https://scoopempire.com/hard-to-get-a-flight-to-egypt-ministry-of-tourism-and-antiquities-just-launched-its-virtual-tour-collection-of-egypts-landmarks/

https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/art/tour-egypt-s-historic-sites-online-including-a-5-000-year-old-tomb-here-s-how-1.1007045

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/virtually-tour-five-egyptian-landmarks-180974696/

… and they added a tour for the Kom al-Shuqafa catacombs:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84617/Enjoy-the-virtual-tour-for-Kom-al-Shuqafa-catacombs-in

… and the tomb of Ramses VI:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84662/Enjoy-the-virtual-tour-for-The-Tomb-of-Ramses-VI

https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-invites-world-to-virtual-tour-of-the-tomb-of-ramses-vi/

https://boingboing.net/2020/04/13/take-a-virtual-tour-of-ramesse.html

… and the tomb of Meresankh III:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/apr/15/egyptian-tomb-ancient-wonders-open-for-virtual-tour-in-lockdown

… and the trussed goose artifact:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84810/Egypt-s-Min-of-Tourism-Antiquities-organizes-a-guided-video

… and the Triad of Menkaure:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84828/Egypt-s-Min-of-Tourism-Antiquities-organizes-a-guided-video

… and the tomb of Wahti in Saqqara:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84844/In-celebration-of-World-Heritage-Day-Egypt%E2%80%99s-Minister-of-Tourism

… and Egypt continued with the ‘sterilization’ of various sites:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84600/In-pics-Egypt%E2%80%99s-Min-of-Tourism-sterilizes-several-Islamic-Coptic

Interesting feature on studying the original colours of mummy coffins:

https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2020/04/15/bringing-back-the-colour-to-ancient-egyptian-coffins.html

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84779/Faded-colors-of-ancient-Egyptian-sarcophagus-restored-in-Australia

Feature on brick makers in ancient Egypt:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-egypt/pharaohs-brick-makers/

Feature on Egyptian sites in the World Heritage list:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84835/Egyptian-archaeological-sites-in-UNESCO%E2%80%99s-World-Heritage-List

TV hype feature on Tut’s dagger:

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1268789/egypt-tutankhamun-howard-carter-saatchi-London-kv62-valley-kings-iron-dagger-meteorite-spt

Brief item on recent finds in Bahrain:

https://www.newsofbahrain.com/bahrain/63491.html

Feature on Cyrus the Great:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-history/conqueror-icon-cyrus-great-who-iran-persia-persian-emperor-islam/

A ‘human figure’ depiction on a Natufian burial slab from northern Israel:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-human-figure-detected-on-14-000-year-old-burial-slab-in-israel-1.8780763

Latest from the Temple Mount Sifting project is a clay sealing of some sort:

https://tmsifting.org/en/2020/04/10/passover-update/

Archaeology suggests that Nazareth was larger than previously thought and politically anti-Roman:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/jesus-home-town-nazareth-archaeological-discovery-research-a9470716.html

https://aleteia.org/2020/04/13/archaeologists-uncover-anti-roman-sentiment-in-jesuss-hometown-of-nazareth/

Feature on the discovery of the Megiddo Ivories:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2020/04/terminate-liquidate

More on the 3300 years bp ‘figurines’ found at Khirbet el-Rai:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/04/rare-figurines-uncovered-at-lost-biblical-city/127574

More on that possible Bronze Age necropolis near Bethlehem:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/04/bronze-age-cemetery-discovered-near.html?m=1#.XpSiqAxsYH0

Ongoing concerns for monuments in Baghdad:

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/04/baghdad-architectural-heritage-crumbling.html

I’m not sure how current this examination of a site ‘blown up by ISIL’ in Iraq is:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/archaeologists-find-trove-of-treasure-plundered-by-isis-fighters-kcrc59bf0

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1270818/archeology-latest-discovery-syria-isis-tunnels-mosul-assyrian-king-gold-treasure

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/04/archaeologists-discover-ancient.html

Zerzeven Castle is on the ‘nominees’ list for Heritage Site status:

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/180420201

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/3-000-year-old-zerzevan-castle-makes-it-to-unesco-list/1808868

The latest Biblical Archaeology Review is available free online right now:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/media/biblical-archaeology-review-magazines-current-digital-issue-now-available-free-online/s

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

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

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

Latest development in the P.Oxy/MOTB/Dirk Obbink case (note: the first link which broke the story was taken down!):

https://www.theoxfordblue.co.uk/2020/04/16/exclusive-christ-church-professor-arrested-over-scandal-of-stolen-papyrus/

… but still available here:

https://web.archive.org/web/20200416185438/https://www.theoxfordblue.co.uk/2020/04/16/exclusive-christ-church-professor-arrested-over-scandal-of-stolen-papyrus/

… and the derivative items (with varying degree of source credit):

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/apr/16/oxford-professor-arrested-ancient-papyrus-bible-theft-dirk-obbink

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8230255/Oxford-professor-arrested-theft-priceless-bible-fragments-sold-museum.html

Feature on pirates in the ancient Mediterranean:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2020/03-04/pirates-once-swashbuckled-across-ancient-mediterranean/

Feature on assorted ancient medicines:

https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/04/which-ancient-medicines-turned-out-to-be-real/

Latest iteration of Classical sculptures originally being painted:

https://mymodernmet.com/classical-greek-polychrome-sculpture/

Pondering how COVID-19 will affect the study of Classics:

https://eidolon.pub/classics-after-coronavirus-8fca5a6ace00?source=rss—-d92d9a6e3540—4

In case you missed the coverage of the ‘Nazareth Inscription’:

https://www.livescience.com/nazareth-inscription-jesus-tomb-reinterpreted.html

A Guggenheim fellowship for Eric Rebillard:

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2020/04/classics-scholar-awarded-guggenheim-fellowship

… and an NCH fellowship for Christopher Moore:

http://dailynous.com/2020/04/14/two-philosophers-win-national-humanities-center-fellowships/

… and a Gates Cambridge Scholarship for a McGill student:

https://reporter.mcgill.ca/classics-student-two-alumni-named-gates-cambridge-scholars/

Nigel Crowther was talking about gladiator training:

https://www.insidehook.com/article/health-and-fitness/how-to-train-like-a-real-life-roman-gladiator

On taking ancient Greek at Vassar:

https://miscellanynews.org/2020/04/18/features/5-notes-about-taking-ancient-greek-at-vassar/

Interesting interactive map of the site of Pompeii:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/04/pompeii-interactive-map/127588

… and the AIA is having a webinar series on Pompeii:

https://www.theunion.com/entertainment/calendar/#!/details/REVEALING-POMPEII-AN-AIA-APRIL-WEBINAR-SERIES/8244710/2020-04-16T18

Loosely tracing Odysseus’ footsteps:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/04/13/british-actors-retrace-the-steps-of-homers-odysseus-in-the-trip-to-greece/

More on evidence of trepanation in a burial from 1500 years bp:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8225105/Highly-skilled-military-surgeon-tried-save-mounted-soldier-deadly-EAR-INFECTION.html

More on hares and chickens in ancient Britain:

https://us.cnn.com/2020/04/10/europe/ancient-briton-hare-chicken-gods-intl-scli-scn-gbr/index.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hares-and-chickens-were-godsnot-food-ancient-britain-180974663/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8590-200413-britain-hares-chickens

More on the origins of the Minoan monkeys:

https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/ancient-greek-artists-were-painting-monkeys-found-on-another-continent-thousands-of-miles-away/

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/04/ancient-britons-worshipped-chickens-and-hares-before-deciding-they-were-food

https://www.wlsam.com/news/the-mystery-of-the-blue-monkeys-in-ancient-grecian-frescoes-solved/

More on those Roman shipwrecks found by coal miners in Serbia:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/04/probable-roman-shipwrecks-unearthed-at-a-serbian-coal-mine/

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/2020/04/probable-roman-shipwrecks-unearthed-at.html

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8589-200413-serbia-viminacium-ship

—–

Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/

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

EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

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

Use of pottery that once contained milk used to date the origins of London to possibly 3600 BCE:

https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/new-historical-discovery-suggests-london-18086033

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/traces-milk-help-date-ancient-pottery-neolithic-london-180974678/

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/04/revolutionary-new-method-for-dating-pottery-sheds-new-light-on-prehistoric-past/127368

Melting glacial ice in Norway is revealing ‘spectacular’ (Viking-era) artifacts:

https://phys.org/news/2020-04-retreat-norwegian-ice-patch-reveals.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/world/europe/norway-viking-artifacts.html

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/apr/16/spectacular-artefacts-found-as-norway-ice-patch-melts

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/hidden-viking-trade-route-emerges-melting-ice-norway

https://www.wfsb.com/melting-glaciers-reveal-lost-mountain-pass-and-artifacts-used-by-vikings/article_87da7de1-8059-5e61-b5a3-2df27311d799.html

https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/melting-glacier-reveals-longlost-viking-mountain-pass-and-ancient-relics/

https://gizmodo.com/melting-ice-exposes-mountain-pass-used-by-vikings-incl-1842885000

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/04/lost-viking-highway-revealed-melting-ice/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/lendbreen-norway-viking-mountain-pass-180974680/

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/04/melting-ice-reveals-lost-viking-mountain-pass/127604

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8637-200417-norway-mountain-pass

Remains of a medieval church from Cherven:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/04/02/14th-century-murals-with-warrior-saints-found-in-newly-discovered-church-in-medieval-city-cherven-in-northeast-bulgaria/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8633-200416-bulgaria-medieval-church

Brief item on 600 years bp skeletal remains being found at a site in Ireland:

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/skeleton-site-secured-39123905.html

A 17th/18th century mackula from the Necven medieval fortress:

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/made-in-croatia/42906-archaeological-krka

Studying how they fought with swords in Bronze Age Europe:

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/sword-wielding-scientists-show-how-ancient-fighting-techniques-spread-across-bronze-age

Studying the origin/makeup of a 1000 years bp medieval blue paint:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/medieval-blue-dye-mystery-scn/index.html

https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/16/eaaz7772

A possible hint about how Stonehenge was constructed:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/apr/14/like-lego-rare-photo-reveals-stonehenge-construction-technique-stones

Feature on the Danevirke:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/04/danevirke-the-great-viking-wall/127540

———-

Archaeology in Europe News:

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

Medievalists.net:

https://www.medievalists.net/category/news/

Viking Archaeology Blog:

http://viking-archaeology-blog.blogspot.com/

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

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

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

More on the Neolithic era in New Guinea beginning a thousand years earlier than previously thought:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/uoo-png041720.php

Interesting decapitated human sacrifice victim from a site in Henan:

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2020-04/14/content_75930507.htm

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/04/kneeling-decapitated-skeleton-offers-evidence-of-ancient-chinese-sacrificial-custom/

Reviewish sort of thing on the history of viticulture and wine-making in China:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/jgum-cvi041520.php

Feature on Liangzhu culture:

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3080219/liangzhu-5000-year-old-chinese-civilisation-time

A huge stone from the erstwhile residence of the Ashikaga Shogunate (Muromachi Period):

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13293837

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8629-200414-japan-garden-stones

A ram’s head inside a Tagar culture (2000 years bp) burial mask from a Siberian burial mound:

https://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/features/mystery-of-unique-2100-year-old-human-clay-head-found-in-ancient-crematorium-with-a-rams-skull-inside/

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/rams-head-discovered-2100-year-21866024

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8636-200417-siberia-tagar-sculpture

Feature on the Arkaim site:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/04/arkaim/127669

Evidence that East Polynesia was settled earlier than previously thought (800 – 1000 CE):

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2004/S00309/settling-of-east-polynesia-earlier-likely-connected-to-prolonged-drought.htm

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414445/new-study-shows-east-polynesia-settled-earlier-than-previously-thought

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

NORTH AMERICA

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

Studying an 11 000 years bp site in Howard’s Pass (Alaska):

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/science/2020/04/11/archaeological-sites-show-how-people-lived-in-a-part-of-the-brooks-range-known-for-extreme-weather/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8628-200414-alaska-howard-s-pass

Decorated mud balls from the Poverty Point site:

https://www.bnd.com/news/nation-world/national/article241821501.html

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304610019_Poverty_Point_Objects_Reconsidered

https://michaelruggeri.com/THE_MISSISSIPPIAN_WORLD_AND_THE_MOUND_BUILDERS/MIKE_RUGGERIS_MISSISSIPPIAN_WORLD.html

Excavations have commenced at the second Jason Lee mission site in Salem:

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2020/04/17/archaeologists-dig-historic-salem-oregon-site-jason-lee-mission/5156050002/

On the restoration of Yates Mansion (Glenville, NY):

https://dailygazette.com/article/2020/04/17/glenville-awards-contracts-for-yates-mansion

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

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

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

Archaeologists in Peru were arrested for violating the lock down:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archeologists-arrested-peru-lockdown-1828383

On water use in the Wari empire and how a drought affected the culture:

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/shrewd-water-use-helped-south-america-s-first-empire-thrive-so-why-did-drought-destroy

An interactive map of the Nazca lines:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/04/the-nazca-lines-interactive-map/127496

More on agriculture in Amazonia 10 000 years bp:

https://www.sciencealert.com/the-amazon-basin-was-an-ancient-agricultural-hotspot-10-000-year-old-evidence-says

—–

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

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

Marking the 196th anniversary of the death of Lord Byron:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/04/19/april-19-marks-196-years-since-lord-byron-died-for-greece/

Not sure where to put this one on Mediterranean shipwrecks as evidence for globalization of trade:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/apr/18/mediterranean-shipwrecks-reveal-birth-of-globalisation-in-trade

Feature on Holocaust archaeology:

https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/holocaust-archaeology/

Pondering Michelangelo’s use of red chalk:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/why-did-michelangelo-use-red-chalk/

Feature on Beethoven’s illegitimate daughter:

https://www.dw.com/en/beethovens-daughter-the-minona-case/a-53076310

Study suggests Marlowe collaborated with Shakespeare on ‘The Taming of the Shrew’:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/apr/14/did-shakespeares-taming-of-the-shrew-have-two-authors-christopher-marlowe

Feature on Harriet Quimby as pioneer aviatrix:

https://theweek.com/articles/908892/give-harriet-quimby-due

Feature on the Hutchinson Family Singers:

https://www.wshu.org/post/behold-mechanical-messiah#stream/0

There’s an art activist Barbie:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/apr/16/art-activist-barbie-protester-feminist-agenda

Feature on Grimod de la Reyniere:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2020/04/10/gastronotas_de_capel/1586543730_605168.html

The fire at Notre Dame … one year later:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52280511

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/15/835018138/on-fire-anniversary-notre-dame-bell-rings-but-pandemic-has-stopped-restoration-w

A history of toilet paper and its analogs:

https://www.history.com/news/toilet-paper-hygiene-ancient-rome-china

Feature on assorted online llibraries:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/19/us/digital-libraries-from-your-couch-trnd/index.html

More on Sarah Parcak’s Guggenheim fellowship:

https://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/news/2020/04/15/sarah-parcak-receives-john-simon-guggenheim.html

Review of Kate Lister, *Curious History of Sex*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/books/review-curious-history-sex-kate-lister.html

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

CORONACOPIA

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

The Israel Museum is featuring the Antonine Plague:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/when-an-ancient-pandemic-hit-the-worlds-economy-and-israel-hard/

Another item reflecting on Boris Johnson and Pericles with an epidemic focus:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52236388

… and how Athens’ plague affected the democracy:

https://www.theeagle.com/opinion/columnists/a-plague-can-wipe-out-peoples—and-democracies/article_0cbdd528-1bf7-5045-b095-c31225787cdf.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/04/14/plague-can-wipe-out-peoples-democracies/

… in a similar vein:

https://phys.org/news/2020-04-massive-crisis-brought-bloody-consequences.html

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/04/massive-spending-in-a-crisis-brought-bloody-consequences-in-ancient-athens/

… and more generally on the plague of Athens (and elsewhere):

https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/04/13/plague-and-civilization/

On international reaction to the Manchurian plague:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/18/china/great-manchurian-plague-china-hnk-intl/index.html

Interesting item on peoples’ quest for immunity during a 19th century yellow fever outbreak:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/04/immunity-divide/610054/

The effect the 1918 flu/cholera outbreaks had on architecture:

https://slate.com/business/2020/04/coronavirus-architecture-1918-flu-cholera-modernism.html

How a WWI parade made the outbreak worse:

https://theweek.com/articles/909181/parade-that-killed-thousands

How quarantine worked in 1918:

https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/04/spanish-flu-1918-quarantine-life-coronavirus.html

On the role of social inequality in pandemics:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/12/inequality-pandemic-lockdown

On musical responses to pandemics:

https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2020/04/13/827990753/when-pandemics-arise-composers-carry-on

Feature on pandemic fiction:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20200413-what-can-we-learn-from-pandemic-fiction

Feature on Shakespeare during the plague:

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2020/04/06/shakespeare-plague-coronavirus

Feature on apocalyptic literature:

https://phys.org/news/2020-04-ancient-texts-spoke.html

https://www.thenationalherald.com/297765/ancient-greek-texts-encouraged-hope-and-endurance-when-they-spoke-of-end-times/

Feature on the Apocalypse Tapestry:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/apr/17/the-forgotten-french-tapestry-with-lessons-for-our-apocalyptic-times

Assorted folks were reading the Rime of the Ancient Mariner as an isolation activity:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/apr/18/all-alone-online-iggy-pop-and-jeremy-irons-lead-mass-ancient-mariner-reading

On some works of art depicting quarantines of the past:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2020/04/10/icon_design/1586511381_083412.html

What hermits can teach us about isolation:

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200417-what-hermits-can-teach-us-about-isolation

… in a similar vein:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p089f57w/the-ancient-practice-of-self-isolation

On historical financial responses to pandemics:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/18/history-fairer-society-coronavirus-workers-black-death-spanish-flu

How bubonic plague has helped Russia respond to the current outbreak:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/world/europe/coronavirus-plague-russia-soviet-union.html

On burials in NYC parks during outbreaks:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/12/new-york-city-burials-parks-coronavirus-plague

How churches responded to the 1918 outbreak:

https://www.al.com/coronavirus/2020/04/what-clergy-said-when-influenza-closed-churches-in-1918.html

On the ‘revolution’ the current pandemic is fueling:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/04/revolution-only-getting-started/609463/

On the 1894 plague outbreak in Hong Kong:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/hong-kong-bubonic-plague-1894

Pondering the exhibition of the Shroud of Turin right now:

https://slate.com/technology/2020/04/shroud-of-turin-virtual-exhibition-easter.html

Feature on three centuries of distance learning:

https://daily.jstor.org/three-centuries-of-distance-learning/

Birds are apparently thriving in Rome right now:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/romans-confined-birds-thriving-italys-173656903.html

Interesting online jigsaw project to occupy your time:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-52173949

On the Art Recreation Instagram challenge:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/style/art-recreation-challenge-coronavirus.html

Assorted online tours:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12324932

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DNA FRONT

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A study of ancient coprolites is finding them to be a rich source of DNA from humans and dogs:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/mpif-too041420.php

https://www.newswise.com/articles/the-origin-of-feces-coproid-reliably-predicts-sources-of-ancient-poop?sc=c52

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/04/the-origin-of-feces-coproid-reliably-predicts-sources-of-ancient-poop/127680

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/archaeological-record-full-dog-poop

https://cosmosmagazine.com/archaeology/the-origin-of-faeces

Using genome analysis to work out the size of Samoa’s early population:

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2020/04/15/Genomics-help-scientists-estimate-the-population-size-of-the-first-Samoans/6141586958625/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8634-200416-samoa-genome-population

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AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED

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A 3rd century Roman marble head:

https://www.antiquesandthearts.com/head-first-third-century-roman-marble-head-leads-at-artemis-gallery/

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MUSEUM MATTERS

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A virtual visit to the Prado:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2020/04/14/babelia/1586882700_635883.html

… and the Van Gogh Museum:

https://unewsonline.com/2020/04/a-virtual-tour-of-the-van-gogh-museum-is-almost-as-good-as-the-real-thing/

Guided video tours of the Grand Egyptian Museum:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84720/Enjoy-guided-video-tours-for-the-Grand-Egyptian-Museum

… latest on the GEM:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84663/In-Pics-Egypt%E2%80%99s-Tourism-Antiquities-minister-visits-GEM-to-follow

https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=696361

Feature on the Sohag National Museum:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84736/In-Pics-A-sneak-peek-inside-Sohag-National-Museum

Feature on museums in West Africa:

https://www.dw.com/en/how-museums-in-west-africa-are-saving-cultural-treasures/a-53110013

Harvard is renaming their Semitic Museum:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/84736/In-Pics-A-sneak-peek-inside-Sohag-National-Museum

Dust concerns in closed museums:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/17/damaging-dust-could-gather-museums-without-visitors-experts/

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THE TECHY SIDE

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Feature on ‘virtual archaeology’:

https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2020/04/15/virtual-archaeology-gives-scholars-a-bigger-perspective-on-the-past/

More on fine tuning C14 dating:

https://scitechdaily.com/ancient-events-could-be-rewritten-by-fine-tuning-radiocarbon-dating/

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CLIMATE MATTERS

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On the role of climate change in the collapse of Angkor Wat:

https://phys.org/news/2020-04-climate-collapse-angkor-wat.html

Comparing the current drought in the US southwest to predecessors:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/climate/drought-southwest-climate-change.html

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TOURISTY THINGS

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

Ciudad Perdida:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/travel/colombia-lost-city-ciudad-perdida.html

German castles:

https://www.dw.com/en/sleeping-beauties-germanys-beautiful-slumbering-castles/g-17808861

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PERFORMANCES

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

On Beethoven as avant-gardist:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-52173949

On the loudness of classical music:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/arts/music/classical-music-loudness.html

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CRIME BEAT

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Three arrested for artifact theft in Texas:

https://haysfreepress.com/2020/04/15/three-arrested-for-stealing-artifacts/

More on ISIL as ‘art dealer’:

https://www.theregreview.org/2020/04/13/kees-isis-art-dealer/

… and Germany as a hub for the illegal antiquities market:

https://news.artnet.com/opinion/why-germany-is-not-a-hotspot-for-illegal-trade-1834536

———-

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/

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REPATRIATION AND RECOVERY

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Latest efforts regarding repatriation of Benin Bronzes:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/benin-treasures-hamburg-museum

Germany is returning a sacred stone to the Pemon people in Venezuela:

https://www.dw.com/en/sacred-stone-returns-to-venezuela-after-decades-in-berlin/a-53158211

More on the Exeter Museum returning Chief Crowfoot items to the Siksika nation:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/14/exeter-to-repatriate-blackfoot-regalia-to-siksika-nation

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8631-200415-repatriation-crowfoot-regalia

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NUMISMATICA

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Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v23/club_nbs_esylum_v23n15.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v23/club_nbs_esylum_v23n16.html

————————

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

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

OBITUARIES

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

Henry F Graff:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/books/henry-f-graff-columbia-historian-of-presidents-dies-at-98.html

Hugh Sackett:

https://www.groton.org/news-detail-title?pk=1095950&fromId=245736

https://www.bsa.ac.uk/2020/04/16/leyland-hugh-sackett-13-august-1928-12-april-2020/

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AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS

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Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/2957-audio-news-from-archaeologica-apr-5-through-apr-11-2020

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GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS

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Archaeology Magazine News Page:

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

About.com Archaeology:

http://archaeology.about.com/

Archaeology Briefs:

http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/

Atlas Obscura:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/

Heritage Daily:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/

Sapiens Archaeology:

https://www.sapiens.org/category/archaeology/

Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:

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

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PODCASTS/VODCASTS

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Archaeosoup:

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

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/

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the ‘ancient world’ (broadly construed: practically anything relating

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