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, Alfred Kriman, Kris Curry, Richard C. Griffiths, and

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

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

EARLY HOMINIDS

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

Study suggests 170 000- 80 000 bp tools found in China were made there, not brought:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-stone-tools-analysis-theories-human.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181119160256.htm

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uow-ta111518.php

https://www.zmescience.com/science/anthropology/swiss-army-knife-anthropology-19112018/

http://www.ecns.cn/news/2018-11-20/detail-ifyzwcft9470897.shtml

https://theconversation.com/new-dates-for-ancient-stone-tools-in-china-point-to-local-invention-of-complex-technology-106914

https://cosmosmagazine.com/archaeology/china-s-missing-stone-age-technique-found

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/?p=29353

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7154-181119-china-levallois-technique

On Uranium-Lead dating in the Cradle of Humankind (South Africa):

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-evolution-south-africa-hominin-fair-weather.html

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-age-caves-cradle-humankindand.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181121142446.htm

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uoct-esa112018.php

https://theconversation.com/how-we-calculated-the-age-of-caves-in-the-cradle-of-humankind-and-why-it-matters-104856

Comparing Denisovans and Neanderthals:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/24/denisovan-neanderthal-hybrid-denny-dna-finder-project

Nice feature on human evolution:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/science/human-evolution-hominins.html

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

AFRICA

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

Humans are not to blame (apparently) for ancient mammal extinctions in Africa:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-human-ancestors-blame-ancient-mammal.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uou-han112018.php

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/asu-eha111818.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181123135011.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46306622

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

ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

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

[I confess the coverage of finds from Egypt this week is confusing … first two items may or may not overlap!]

A pair of finds from Luxor were revealed together this week — a 3000 years bp female mummy sarcophagus and a tomb of a mummification overseer (which I think was reported before):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/24/egyptian-archaeologists-unveil-newly-discovered-luxor-tombs/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46329051

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/25/mummified-woman-dating-back-3000-years-unveiled-in-egypt

https://www.timesofisrael.com/egypt-unveils-ancient-luxor-tomb-with-very-nice-paintings/

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1410386/art-culture

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/egypt/egypt-unveils-over-3-000-year-old-female-mummy-in-unopened-coffin-1.6680462

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-11/25/c_137629002.htm

… and there was a find of a tomb of a priest and his wife (I think this is different than the above):

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/317846/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/In-Photos–th-Dynasty-sarcophagus-reveals-wellpres.aspx

https://ww.egyptindependent.com/new-pharaonic-tomb-uncovered-in-luxor-antiquities-minister/

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-egypt-unveils-pharaonic-tomb-luxor.html

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/pharaonic-tomb-discoverd-in-luxor/

Stone blocks from Matariya bear the name of one of Ramses II’s engineers:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-blocks-egypt-famed-pharaoh-builder.html

https://ww.egyptindependent.com/new-discoveries-in-raa-monastery-antiquities-ministry/

http://www.tribtown.com/2018/11/21/ml-egypt-antiquities-5/

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/11/21/blocks-discovered-in-egypt-bear-name-of-famed-pharaohs-engineer.html

Opeddish sort of thing on possible tombs-to-be-found in Egypt:

https://inews.co.uk/culture/ancient-egypt-undiscovered-tombs-chris-naunton/

Feature on conservation work at the Ipet temple in Karnak:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/317818/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Conservation-work-at-Ipet-temple-in-Luxor-continue.aspx

Arguing over ‘modern use’ of ancient monuments in Egypt:

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2018/11/18/Ancient-Egyptian-temples-Historic-monuments-or-wedding-halls-.html

Remains of a large Neolithic settlement in southern Jordan:

http://jordantimes.com/news/local/polish-archaeologists-unveil-large-neolithic-settlement-southern-jordan

A burial is suggesting human occupation of Tehran some 7000 years bp:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/429636/Evidence-may-push-back-history-of-Tehran-by-6-600-years

A Bronze Age game board from Azerbaijan:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/bronze-age-game-found-chiseled-stone-azerbaijan

A new chunk of the Epic of Gilgamesh has been translated:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/20/sex-epic-trump-gilgamesh

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ancient-sex-saga-now-twice-as-epic-ng03tblxh

Suggestion that a meteor blast destroyed settlements in the Dead Sea region some 3700 years bp:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/exploding-meteor-may-have-wiped-out-ancient-dead-sea-communities

https://www.timesofisrael.com/evidence-of-sodom-meteor-blast-cause-of-biblical-destruction-say-scientists/

https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/archaeology/how-an-asteroid-destroyed-sodom/news-story/7034528b5e51ee8cbd706acd2afab9e2

https://www.newsweek.com/biblical-city-sodom-was-blasted-smithereens-massive-asteroid-explosion-1227339

… see also (for the ASOR abstract … perhaps):

https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/metsoc2017/pdf/6001.pdf

… the paper *might* still be available at:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286450259

Analysis of 3600 years bp tomb offerings at a Canaanite burial at Megiddo suggest vanilla was being used:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/residue-found-in-3600-year-old-holy-land-tomb-rewrites-the-history-of-vanilla/

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/11/israeli-tomb-contains-a-tasty-surprise-vanilla-extract/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/vanilla-was-first-used-2500-years-earlier-and-half-world-where-we-thought-180970862/

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/bronze-age-tomb-israel-reveals-earliest-known-use-vanilla

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7153-181119-israel-megiddo-vanilla

A 3000 years bp ‘beka’ weight from Jerusalem:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/straight-from-the-bible-tiny-first-temple-stone-weight-unearthed-in-jerusalem/

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-second-first-temple-weight-this-one-with-mirror-writing-found-in-jerusalem-sifting-1.6676037

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Half-shekel-from-First-Temple-era-unearthed-near-City-of-David-572423

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Album.aspx/5/124104

https://www.jta.org/2018/11/22/news-opinion/stone-weight-likely-used-first-temple-uncovered

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/jerusalem/first-temple-beka-weight-unearthed-in-jerusalem-sifting-project/2018/11/21/

http://www.cityofdavid.org.il/en/news/new-discovery-3000-year-old-%E2%80%9Cbeka%E2%80%9D-weight

A very large ‘ceremonial hall’ beneath a Crusader Castle at Montfort:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-massive-unknown-hall-discovered-in-crusader-castle-in-northern-israel-1.6677324

Ongoing concerns for the site of ancient Babylon:

https://www.npr.org/2018/11/24/669272204/in-iraq-a-race-to-protect-the-crumbling-bricks-of-ancient-babylon

Feature on the British School of Archaeology in Iraq:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2018/11/British-School-of-Archaeology-Iraq

Feature on spices mentioned in the Bible:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/daily-life-and-practice/bible-herbs-spices/

Syrians and Kurds are arguing over protection of ‘national antiquities’:

http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/31018573-d804-4689-a7b6-5468f80ba5d5

Lawrence Schiffman on how the MoB’s DSS were exposed as fakes:

http://lawrenceschiffman.com/buyer-beware-how-forged-dead-sea-scrolls-were-exposed-by-high-tech-tests/

Haven’t had a Noah’s Ark claim in a long time:

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/139776/Archaeologists-raise-possibility-of-Noah-s-Ark-landing-in-Iran

More coverage of the latest Huqoq mosaic finds:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/newly-revealed-5th-century-mosaics-a-kaleidoscope-of-jewish-and-secular-imagery/

https://aleteia.org/2018/11/19/see-the-freshly-unearthed-mosaics-from-a-5th-century-israeli-synagogue/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7158-181121-israel-huqoq-mosaics

More on that purported image of a young Jesus in a desert monastery:

https://www.jpost.com//Israel-News/New-depiction-of-young-Jesus-discovered-in-ancient-desert-monastery-572445

More on Egyptian astronomers knowing about variable stars:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kionasmith/2018/11/21/ancient-egypt-discovered-variable-stars-a-thousand-years-before-european-astronomers/

More on that 3700 years bp woman+fetus burial:

https://www.livescience.com/64126-egypt-skeletons-pregnant-woman-fetus.html

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

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

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

Plenty of coverage (and plenty of spins) on the discovery of a fresco depicting Leda and the Swan:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-sensual-goddess-fresco-ancient-pompeii.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/25/world/europe/pompeii-fresco-leda-swan-zeus.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/19/take-me-to-your-leda-sensual-pompeii-bedroom-art-uncovered

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/21/could-learn-thing-two-pompeiis-saucy-murals/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46265708

https://www.dw.com/en/mythical-sex-scene-fresco-discovered-in-pompeii/a-46369815

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/amazing-fresco-of-woman-and-swan-discovered-in-ruins-in-pompeii-a3994306.html

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2018/11/19/sensual-fresco-found-in-pompeii_4514e3a7-f970-451f-8434-4e7d84018c52.html

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2018/11/19/erotic-fresco-uncovered-in-pompeii_3de7e297-4cf4-46fa-b2b9-587010709224.html

https://www.thelocal.it/20181120/erotic-fresco-pompeii-leda-and-the-swan

https://eu.greekreporter.com/2018/11/20/sensual-fresco-of-spartan-queen-discovered-in-pompeii/

https://www.timesunion.com/entertainment/article/Sensual-goddess-fresco-discovered-in-ancient-13404690.php

https://metro.co.uk/2018/11/20/woman-looks-directly-at-you-as-she-has-sex-with-a-swan-in-newly-found-pompeii-art-8157642/

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-stunning-fresco-of-leda-and-the-swan-sex-scene-found-in-pompeii-1.6662327

https://www.independent.ie/world-news/archaeologists-in-pompeii-find-sensual-fresco-of-queen-and-a-swan-37543660.html

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/uk-world-news/sensual-fresco-pompeii-15439655

https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/leda-and-the-swan-shows-where-power-lay-in-pompeii-a3996121.html

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ancient-apos-sensual-apos-painting-145000152.html

https://nationalpost.com/news/world/sensual-goddess-fresco-discovered-in-ancient-pompeii-bedroom

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-11/20/c_137618205.htm

https://www.newsweek.com/pompeii-archaeologists-discover-fresco-painting-roman-myth-leda-swan-1221959

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/fresco-of-leda-and-the-swan-discovered-in-pompeii/

https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/ancient-bedroom-erotica-unearthed-in-pompeii/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7152-181119-pompeii-leda-swan

… and an analysis:

https://qz.com/quartzy/1470123/a-pompeii-fresco-depicting-the-rape-of-leda-has-been-discovered/

A Roman coin hoard (from 2016) from Leintwardine:

https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/17233713.roman-coin-hoard-discovered-in-north-herefordshire/

A very interesting Greek inscription from Antandros:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture-and-art/2-200-year-old-inscription-found-in-northwestern-turkey/1315384

… and one found by a fisherman in Slovenia (I think):

https://english.sta.si/2577948/fisherman-discovers-roman-tombstone-in-river

The site of Limnai has been found (we may have mentioned this):

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2018/11/21/archaeologists-discover-2700-year-old-ancient-city-on-turkeys-west-coast

Finds from Trikala:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/11/23/ancient-trikala-settlement-reveals-amazing-bronz-age-artifacts/

Evidence of a Roman site under a football pitch in Hull:

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/history/ancient-town-been-hiding-under-2252275

I think we mentioned this ‘lost’ Roman town found in East Yorkshire:

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/lost-roman-town-discovered-in-east-yorkshire-1-9458129

Feature on finds from Doliche (especially the Roman baths):

https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/roman-bath-syria-05112018/

Feature on the Caelian Hill and archaeology:

https://www.world-archaeology.com/features/under-the-lateran/

Plenty of Greek shipwrecks off the coast of Albania … are being looted:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/11/20/dozens-of-ancient-greek-shipwrecks-found-looted-off-albanian-coast/

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-looters-plunder-albania-sunken-treasures.html

There’s a major fight going on over the Villa Torlonia sculptures:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/22/italian-aristocratic-family-inheritance-feud-worlds-largest/

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/romans-go-to-war-over-ancient-art-5kll99qqj

Feature on the Nike of Samothrace:

https://mymodernmet.com/winged-victory-of-samothrace/

Rethinking Roman persecution of Christians:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/did-christian-historians-exaggerate-about-persecution-by-the-romans?source=articles&via=rss

A guide to Euripides:

https://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-euripides-medea-and-her-terrible-revenge-against-the-patriarchy-106151

On Ptolemaic incest:

https://www.avclub.com/move-over-lannisters-no-one-did-incest-and-murder-lik-1830399087

Feature on Jim Mellas’ efforts to have the Parthenon Marbles returned to Athens:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2018/11/20/bringing-them-home-one-mans-mission-to-return-the-parthenon-marbles/

Latest virtual reality treatment for Rome:

https://www.france24.com/en/20181121-virtual-reality-resurrects-ancient-rome-bit-bit

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/virtual-reality-resurrects-ancient-rome-bit-by-bit-1.4187595

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2018/11/22/rome-reborn-a-previously-unseen-city_eb9e3bfb-c63f-4ccd-b9fd-16ac2aee37e7.html

They’ve recreated the helmet from the Staffordshire hoard:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/nov/23/ornate-gold-helmet-from-staffordshire-hoard-recreated

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/staffordshire/2018/11/23/fit-for-a-king-staffordshire-hoard-helmet-recreated-pictures-and-video/

A Herculean art project:

http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2018/11/classics-students-turn-hercules-statue-art-installation

Pondering what we owe Rome:

https://www.jotdown.es/2018/11/que-le-debemos-a-roma/

More on the find of Tenea:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/22/opinion/a-city-lost-and-found.html

More on Roman bathroom humour:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/sexual-puns-found-decorating-ancient-ruins-in-turkey

—–

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/

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

EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

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

A possible Celtic chariot burial (!) from Wales:

https://www.tivysideadvertiser.co.uk/news/pembrokeshire_news/17235386.the-first-ever-celtic-chariot-burial-in-wales-has-been-found-in-a-pembrokeshire-field/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46294000

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7159-181121-wales-chariot-burial

Excavations in Ribe (Denmark) suggest Vikings were sophisticated urban planning folk:

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/nov/20/artefacts-reveal-vikings-were-more-urban-pioneers-than-violent-raiders-ribe

Remains of a ‘handless monk’ were found near that porpoise burial mentioned a while ago:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/21/body-of-handless-monk-discovered-by-site-of-buried-porpoise-chapelle-dom-hue-near-guernsey

A 13th century solid gold reliquary from a medieval church site in the Trapesitsa Fort:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2018/11/14/world-first-medieval-gold-cross-reliquary-with-holy-cross-particle-discovered-in-trapesitsa-fortress-in-bulgarias-veliko-tarnovo/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7156-181120-bulgaria-gold-reliquary

More HS2 archaeology hype:

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/amazing-long-lost-roman-settlement-15329660

A large Ottoman hoard discovered by prisoners in Pleven (Bulgaria):

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2018/11/19/prison-inmates-find-hoard-of-7000-ottoman-silver-coins-hidden-in-2-treasure-pots-in-bulgarias-pleven/

Assorted Ottoman-era finds from near the Slovakia-Hungary border:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20955176/archaeological-research-in-filakovo-brought-discoveries-of-european-importance.html

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7155-181120-slovakia-clay-disc

They’ve been straightening the Leaning Tower of Pisa:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46300789

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/leaning-tower-of-pisa-tilt-scli-intl/index.html

More on rethinking the composition of the Domesday book:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-historian-story-england-venerated-domesday.html

—–

Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

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

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

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

Not sure if we mentioned these Han Dynasty bamboo slips from a burial in Shanxi:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-11/20/c_137619707.htm

Western Han tombs from Fuzhou:

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2018-11/22/content_74198525.htm

Kushan era coins from a site in Baghpat:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/kushan-period-coins-discovered-in-baghpat/articleshow/66672322.cms

Excavating a 19th century cottage in Arrowtown:

https://www.odt.co.nz/news/the-south-today/archaeologists-unearth-arrowtown-cottage

Feature on Woollarawarre Bennelong:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/19/bennelongs-grave-how-history-betrayed-australias-first-diplomat

https://theconversation.com/why-we-should-remember-boorong-bennelongs-third-wife-who-is-buried-beside-him-107280

Colonial Australia was concerned about deaths of Aborigines in prison:

https://theconversation.com/colonial-australia-was-surprisingly-concerned-about-aboriginal-deaths-in-custody-107268

Bringing in drones to help save the Great Wall:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-46015900

Feature on Nanjing’s ‘Great Wall’:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p06jpl8v/The-other-Great-Wall-no–one-knows

Feature on Jomon ceramics:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/precocious-potters-ancient-japan-jomon/

Feature on the Sentinelese people and their history:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/22/world/asia/andaman-sentinelese-missionary.html

More on that ‘money tree’ in a Sichuan tomb:

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2018-11/18/content_73376751.htm

—–

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

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

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

NORTH AMERICA

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

Archaeology is helping the Rappahannock people reclaim their status/heritage:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/the-indians-were-right-the-english-were-wrong-a-virginia-tribe-reclaims-its-past/2018/11/21/2380f92c-e8f4-11e8-bbdb-72fdbf9d4fed_story.html

Archaeology renews an argument over the oldest town in Connecticut:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-resurrects-feud-town-state-oldest.html

http://www.tribtown.com/2018/11/18/us-first-town-feud/

https://whdh.com/news/dig-resurrects-a-feud-over-which-town-is-connecticuts-oldest/

https://pictorial.jezebel.com/archaeologists-stir-the-pot-in-long-running-feud-betwee-1830534733

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/newly-discovered-artifact-reignite-feud-over-connecticuts-oldest-towns–180970876/

… related:

https://www.courant.com/community/wethersfield/hc-we-wethersfield-archaeological-dig-1115-20181114-story.html

More items retrieved from the wreck of the Whydah:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/11/23/more-artifacts-recovered-from-whydah-shipwreck-site/BSVrA0fknId49Gg3MQ3kCO/story.html

Feature on the dig at Princeton Battlefield State Park:

https://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/excavating-history-underneath-princeton-battlefield/

A Jim Crow era mass grave in Texas may get in the way of school construction:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/11/19/mass-grave-chilling-secrets-jim-crow-era-may-halt-texas-schools-construction/

An archaeological assessment at a train station site in Barrie is taking longer than expected:

https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/archaeological-assessment-at-allandale-station-taking-longer-than-expected-1130674

A Utah mining company has decided to leave some petroglyphs in place rather than moving them:

https://www.ksl.com/article/46431557/company-to-alter-plan-to-leave-historic-petroglyphs-in-place

On the fate of the Anacostans:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/11/22/native-american-tribe-once-called-dc-home-its-had-no-living-members-centuries/

What modern society can learn from the Hopewell:

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20181118/archaeology-modern-society-can-learn-from-how-hopewell-conducted-themselves

On Lincoln and American Thanksgiving:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/11/20/we-celebrate-thanksgiving-because-this-poignant-proclamation-abraham-lincoln/

On Benjamin Franklin and his non-connection to turkey:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/11/21/ben-franklin-didnt-champion-turkeys-fact-they-never-survived-encounters-with-him/

Plenty of Thanksgiving revisionism in this one:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/us/thanksgiving-myths-fact-check.html

… and here:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2018/11/first-thanksgiving-berkeley-virginia-pilgrim-archaeology/

How/why the Pilgrims survived:

https://www.livescience.com/64154-why-the-pilgrims-survived.html

The Pilgrims apparently had massive debt:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/what-you-didnt-know-about-the-pilgrims-they-had-massive-debt

The story of Stephen Hopkins may cause a ‘pilgrim story’ rethink:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/21/opinion/thanksgiving-pilgrims-puritans-democracy-.html

Review of W.F. Brundage, *Civilizing Torture*:

https://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc-civilizing-torture-20181122-story.html

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

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

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

First human remains from Joya de Ceren:

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1409636/offbeat

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/11/23/first-human-remains-found-in-el-salvadors-mayan-pompeii/

Feature on the excavations at Pachacamac:

https://www.world-archaeology.com/features/pachacamac-pilgrimages-and-power-in-ancient-peru/

Feature on the economic activities of the coastal Maya in Belize:

https://www.hakaimagazine.com/features/hidden-coastal-culture-of-the-ancient-maya/

—–

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 Egypt and ancient Sicily:

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2018/11/19/egypt-and-its-many-relations-with-ancient-sicily_a3061e24-0380-4f43-9508-09d21b722f2a.html

On Blackbeard and other pirates as heroes of democracy (!):

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/22/opinion/blackbeard-pirate-golden-age-.html

Pondering Kaiser Wilhelm:

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/what-happens-when-a-bad-tempered-distractible-doofus-runs-an-empire

Feature on the first hot air balloon:

https://www.dw.com/en/the-montgolfi%C3%A8re-the-worlds-first-hot-air-balloon/g-46391500

Pondering a meteor strike’s possible impact on humans:

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/362/6416/738?rss=1

Feature on Matisse’s Odalisques:

https://daily.jstor.org/the-colonialist-gaze-of-matisses-odalisques/

On the UK’s newest ‘Monuments Men/Man”:

http://theartnewspaper.com/news/the-uk-revives-its-monuments-men

Feature on a pile of ancient engineers:

https://interestingengineering.com/13-engineers-from-antiquity-and-their-marvels

Feature on ochre:

https://www.livescience.com/64138-ochre.html

On the racy side of Shakespeare:

https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-50-shades-of-shakespeare-how-the-bard-sexed-things-up-106783

Rodin’s ‘The Kiss’ is in Ipswich:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-46321887

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46320666

Latest 18th century schoolboy doodles find:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/nov/20/eighteenth-century-schoolboys-doodles-uncovered-as-library-is-restored

On ‘drawing’ history:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/opinion/how-would-you-draw-history.html

A Michelangelo ‘what if’ novel:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/26/when-michelangelo-went-to-constantinople

Feature on Voltaire:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-voltaire-went-bastille-prisoner-famous-playwright-180970854/

Hype for an archaeology conference at Paestum:

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/regions/campania/2018/11/19/four-archaeological-sites-featured-at-paestum-conference_3ebad7bf-b79e-4946-a35a-08f39edaff88.html

More on the identification of some bronzes as being done by Michelangelo (based on abs and toes!):

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sculptures-chiseled-abs-unusual-toes-convince-experts-they-were-crafted-michelangelo-180970839/

More on the worst year in history to be a human:

https://www.livescience.com/64132-worst-year-ever-536.html

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/20/health/worst-year-536-scli-intl/index.html

https://www.wtva.com/content/national/500927992.html

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/362/6416/733?rss=1

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7151-181116-volcano-ice-core

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

MUSEUM MATTERS

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

Gainsborough:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/nov/21/gainsboroughs-family-album-review

Crete: Emerging Cities:

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/33448-three-ancient-cretan-cities-come-alive-at-the-museum-of-cycladic-art-in-athens.html

Monumentality:

http://www.artfixdaily.com/artwire/release/9688-with-works-spanning-antiquity-to-present-day-monumentality-opens-

Middle Ages in 50 Objects:

http://www2.philly.com/philly/entertainment/arts/the-middle-ages-in-50-objects-a-cavalcade-of-astonishing-things-with-stories-to-tell-20181123.html

Ashurbanipal:

https://aleteia.org/2018/11/23/the-horrible-history-of-the-biblical-assyrians-comes-to-life/

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/nov/23/ashurnasirpal-ii-shoots-a-wounded-lion-a-dangerous-predator-or-human-enemy

Marking the anniversary of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/egyptian-museum-celebrates-its-116th-anniversary/

https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1472221/egyptian-museum-cairo-maintains-status-mecca-antiquity-lovers

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1408146/middle-east

On pop up museums in Libya:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2018/11/Pop-Up-Museums

Some museum acquisition humour:

https://local.theonion.com/metropolitan-museum-acquires-another-vase-1830499658

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

THE TECHY SIDE

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

John Bellingham is the latest facial reconstruction getting press attention:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-revealing-infamous-19th-century-british.html

Applying facial recognition software to Civil War photos:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/facial-recognition-software-helping-identify-unknown-figures-civil-war-photographs-180970863/

Applying proteomics to art, manuscripts, and the like:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/26/do-proteins-hold-the-key-to-the-past

The Inside Bruegel project:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/23/arts/design/bruegel-kunsthistorisches-museum-technology-layers.html

http://tourism.khm.at/en/explore-experience/exhibition-highlights/2018-bruegel/

Ice cores suggest the transition from gold to silver coinage in Europe happened 25 years earlier than previously thought:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-laser-technology-uncovers-medieval-secrets.html

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

CLIMATE MATTERS

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

Climate change theatens historic lighthouses around the US:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-sea-threatening-historic-lighthouses.html

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

ON THE DNA FRONT

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

Dienekes’ Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/

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

TOURISTY THINGS

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

Birthplace of the modern apple:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20181120-the-birthplace-of-the-modern-apple

Leon:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2018/11/15/actualidad/1542273230_485714.html

Belize:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20181118-belizes-thriving-afro-caribbean-community

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

PERFORMANCES

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

Feature on Fanny Mendelssohn:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-46261010/the-unsung-life-of-the-composer-fanny-mendelssohn

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

CRIME BEAT

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

I think we mentioned this stolen Byzantine mosaic (from Cyprus) being found:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46252520

… and its return:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/looted-st-mark-mosaic-returns-home-cyprus-004609752.html

http://www.financialmirror.com/news-details.php?nid=36145

https://www.wsbradio.com/entertainment/repatriated-6th-century-mosaic-help-reconstitute-apse/6XZC0J0UxX26Z9AIbpCyzM/

https://fr.aleteia.org/2018/11/22/chypre-le-grand-retour-du-visage-de-saint-marc/

A bust in Igoumenitsa:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/234881/article/ekathimerini/news/man-arrested-in-western-greece-for-possession-of-ancient-coins

… and Famagusta:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/11/23/man-arrested-after-drugs-antiquities-found-at-his-home/

Overviewish thing on looting of sides in the western Mediterranean:

https://www.livescience.com/64130-middle-east-looters-spirit-possession.html

conflict antiquities:

http://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/

anonymous swiss collector:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/

Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues:

http://paul-barford.blogspot.ca/

Looting Matters:

http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/

Illicit Cultural Property:

http://illicit-cultural-property.blogspot.com/

SAFE:

http://www.savingantiquities.org/blog/

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

REPATRIATION AND RECOVERY

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

A report suggests that France should return a pile of items to Africa:

https://www.franceculture.fr/droit-justice/restitutions-doeuvres-dart-un-rapport-suggere-un-accord-entre-la-france-et-des-pays?#Echobox=1542865805

https://www.france24.com/en/20181123-report-calls-france-return-african-art-taken-during-colonial-period

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/21/france-urged-to-return-looted-african-art-treasures-macron

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/21/arts/design/france-museums-africa-savoy-sarr-report.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/france-museums-art-looted-africa-colonial-heritage-law-macron-report-a8646611.html

https://qz.com/africa/1473023/france-should-return-looted-african-artifacts-says-report/

https://www.dw.com/en/french-art-dealers-angry-after-report-urges-african-treasures-be-returned/a-46410445

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-africa-france-art/french-commission-to-urge-return-of-looted-african-art-idUSKCN1NS1GH

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/french-report-recommends-full-restitution-looted-african-artworks-180970872/

… related feature on things looted from Africa:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45406557

http://www.eurasiatimes.org/en/23/11/2018/europe-addresses-looted-treasures-in-museums/

… and the Quai Branley Museum is returning some Benin Bronzes:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-24/france-returns-26-artefacts-to-benin-as-report-urges-restitution/10551402

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-46324174

https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/france-to-return-looted-artefacts-to-benin-20181124-p50i4o.html

https://fox40.com/2018/11/24/france-to-return-26-stolen-artifacts-to-benin/

Latest on the Rapa Nui’s appeal to the British Museum:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/20/easter-island-british-museum-return-moai-statue

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-46222276

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/20/easter-island-make-emotional-plea-british-museum-return-spiritual/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/british-museum-hosts-rapa-nui-representatives-discuss-repatriation-easter-island-statue-180970878/

https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/evaluan-prestamo-largo-plazo-traer-moai-desde-londres-chile/410603/

https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/emocionante-encuentro-londres-pascuense-moai-quiere-llevar-vuelta-la-isla/409294/

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/easter-island-governor-pleads-with-british-museum-to-give-back-statue-a3996376.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/british-museum-hosts-rapa-nui-representatives-discuss-repatriation-easter-island-statue-180970878/

… related opeds:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/21/would-morally-nonsensical-cultural-disaster-british-museum-gave/

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/24/easter-island-statue-britain-museum

The British Museum is returning a number of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-museum-sends-benin-bronzes-back-to-nigeria-nspwdgnq0

The missing pieces of the Gypsy Girl mosaic have been returned to Turkey:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gypsy-girl-mosaic-fragments-returned-to-turkey-v3s27wgkp

https://www.sent-trib.com/news/mosaics-on-the-move-bgsu-gives-pieces-back-to-turkey/article_c8fe31aa-ed0c-11e8-a31a-7ffd671411f3.html

https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/missing-pieces-famed-gypsy-girl-mosaic-be-returned-turkey-1215644

https://ahvalnews.com/gypsy-girl/missing-pieces-famous-gypsy-girl-mosaic-coming-turkey

Switzerland returned a number of items to Egypt:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/switzerland-hands-over-26-artifacts-to-egypt/

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/60815/Egypt%E2%80%99s-ambassador-in-Switzerland-recovers-26-ancient-artifacts

Some opeds:

http://theconversation.com/returning-looted-artefacts-will-finally-restore-heritage-to-the-brilliant-cultures-that-made-them-107479

https://www.expatica.com/fr/news/country-news/France-Africa-art-museums-Germany-Belgium-Britain_2229911.html

Canada appears to be returning some items to Jordan:

https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/18/11/r12745952/media-advisory-andy-fillmore-parliamentary-secretary-to-the-minister-o

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

NUMISMATICA

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

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n46.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n47.html

————————

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

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

OBITUARIES

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

Clara Hallett:

http://www.royalgazette.com/news/article/20181122/clara-keggie-hallett-1926-2018

Michael Metcalf:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/nov/19/michael-metcalf-obituary

Karl Baipakov:

https://www.inform.kz/en/outstanding-kazakhstani-archaeologist-karl-baipakov-passed-away_a3463877

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

AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS

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

Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-main-menu-cat/audio-news-list/2791-audio-news-from-archaeologica-11-november-17-november-2018

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

CONFERENCES

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

Jews and the Americas (February 2019):

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

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

GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS

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

Archaeology Magazine News Page:

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

About.com Archaeology:

http://archaeology.about.com/

Ancient Digger:

http://www.ancientdigger.com/

Archaeology Briefs:

http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/

Past Horizons:

http://www.pasthorizons.com/

Stonepages:

http://www.stonepages.com/news/

Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:

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

Time Machine:

http://heatherpringle.wordpress.com/

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

PODCASTS/VODCASTS

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

Archaeosoup:

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

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/

The Book and the Spade:

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

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

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