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, ‘Jack’, Andrew Szegedy-Maszak,

Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay, Sami Obeid,

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

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

EARLY HOMINIDS

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

The last homo erectus settlement apparently was at the Ngandong site, 117 000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-fresh-demise-ancient-human-species.html

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-age-settlement-ancestor-modern-humans.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153527.htm

http://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2019/12/modern-humans-and-homo-erectus-did-not-co-exist-java-study-shows

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50827603

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/ancient-humans-survived-far-longer-than-first-thought-scientists-say-a4317946.html

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/programs/am/youngest-population-of-homo-erectus-dated/11812740

https://www.latercera.com/que-pasa/noticia/los-ultimos-homo-erectus-vivieron-unos-117-mil-anos/944613/

https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/12/18/ciencia/1576670079_866525.html

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/dec/18/first-human-ancestors-to-leave-africa-died-out-in-java-scientists-say

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/12/ancient-human-species-made-last-stand-100000-years-ago-indonesian-island

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/homo-erectus-last-known-appearance-roughly-117000-years-ago

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/last-homo-erectus-07934.html

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-the-last-stand-of-homo-erectus-1.8287555

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-doom-of-homo-erectus-mass-death-marks-end-of-species

https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/homo-erectus-java-fossils-9135134/

https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/42995/20191219/homo-erectus-might-have-lived-longer-than-we-thought-or-expected.htm

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8311-191220-indonesia-homo-erectus

Pondering Neanderthal emotions:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p07y92vt/did-neanderthals-feel-the-same-emotions-as-us-

On the evolution of the human brain in a lower CO2 environment:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/12/carbon-dioxide-pollution-making-people-dumber-heres-what-we-know/603826/

A study of Denisovan teeth:

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-refutes-similarities-teeth-denisovans-modern.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8308-191219-denisovan-teeth-roots

More on that 44 000 years bp cave painting from Indonesia:

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/archaeology-cave-art-drawings-indonesia-palaeolithic-animals-a9248886.html

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/12/a-43900-year-old-cave-painting-is-the-oldest-story-ever-recorded/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/12/ancient-cave-art-in-indonesia-may-be-worlds-oldest-hunting-scene/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1806-y

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

AFRICA

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

I think we mentioned this study of ostrich shell beads and their implications a few weeks ago:

https://theconversation.com/the-tiny-ostrich-eggshell-beads-that-tell-the-story-of-africas-past-128577

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

ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

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

A large Horus statue from Luxor:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/9/358052/Heritage/A-granodiorite-colossus-of-Horus-unearthed-in-Egyp.aspx

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/19/c_138643621.htm

Explaining hieroglyphs with emojis:

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-israeli-museum-emojis-ancient-egypt.html

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-museum-exhibit-explores-the-emojis-of-ancient-egypt/

https://www.france24.com/en/20191221-israeli-museum-explains-the-emojis-of-ancient-egypt

Study suggests the woman physician Merit Ptah never existed:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216142152.htm

https://www.livescience.com/merit-ptah-first-woman-physician-likely-did-not-exist.html

https://www.sciencealert.com/this-ancient-egyptian-physician-has-been-a-figurehead-for-women-in-stem-one-problem-she-never-existed

https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/the-first-woman-doctor-may-not-have-actually-existed/

Egypt is trying to get Heritage Status for papyrus making:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/22/c_138648953.htm

Egypt is registering some Torah scrolls as antiquities:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-to-register-torah-scrolls-other-synagogue-relics-as-antiquities/

https://www.cairoscene.com/Buzz/Jewish-relics-approved-by-the-Ministry-of-Antiquities-as-official-artifacts

Praise for Chinese archaeologists working in Egypt:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/17/c_138638237.htm

More on that granite Ramesses II statue from Giza:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/rare-granite-statue-for-king-ramesses-ii-uncovered-in-giza/

https://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-statues-of-pharaoh-ramses-ii-mini-sphinx-unveiled-by-egypt/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/egyptian-officials-unveil-new-archaeological-finds/2019/12/17/07490206-20cd-11ea-b034-de7dc2b5199b_story.html

https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/international/story/2019/dec/18/egyptian-officials-unveil-new-archaeological-finds/808673/

http://www.startribune.com/egyptian-officials-unveil-new-archaeological-finds/566271352/

https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2040421/egypt-archaeologists-reveal-new-archaeological-finds

… and that small sphinx from the Khumun necropolis:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/78685/A-small-royal-statue-of-a-sphinx-uncovered-in-Tuna

https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/sphinx-statue-uncovered-in-egypt-1.951851

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8299-191217-egypt-khumun-sphinx

More on Egyptian ‘cones’:

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2019/12/ancient-egyptian-head-cone-mystery-solved-archaeologists

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mystery-of-ancient-egyptians-conical-hats-resolved-9kv3dkf0c

More on that 8500 years bp ‘tooth jewellery’ from Catal Huyuk:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/uoc–rfh121319.php

https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2019/12/prehistoric-turks-wore-human-teeth-as-jewellery-rare-discovery-reveals/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/beads-made-human-teeth-found-ancient-city-turkey-180973794/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8300-191218-turkey-modified-teeth

A pair of Syriac epitaphs from Diyarbakir:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2019/12/16/epitaph-in-syriac-script-discovered-in-diyarbakir-turkey

Remains of a Neolithic village and seawall off the Carmel Coast:

https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2019/12/19/ancient-seawall-first-known-defence-against-sea-level-rise/

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-ancient-mediterranean-seawall-defense-sea.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/fu-ams121119.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153541.htm

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Unique-7000-year-old-wall-against-sea-level-rise-uncovered-in-Israel-611329

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-submerged-seawall-attests-to-futile-struggle-against-rising-sea-in-ancient-israel-1.8287418

https://www.timesofisrael.com/scientists-find-9000-year-old-seawall-built-to-stave-off-rising-sea-levels/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/oldest-known-seawall-discovered-along-submerged-mediterranean-villages-180973819/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/12/18/this-village-fought-sea-level-rise-years-ago-sea-won/

https://cosmosmagazine.com/climate/an-early-battle-with-a-rising-sea-that-failed

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1YM28S

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/12/7000-year-old-wall-was-earliest-known-defense-against-rising-seas-it-failed

https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/ancient-mediterranean-settlers-built-a-seawall-7000-years-ago-in-response-to-sea-level-rise-it-failed/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8310-191220-israel-neolithic-seawall

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0222560

Not sure where to put this one … evidence of a Roman garum factory from Ashkelon:

https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/israelexperience/history/pages/ancient-roman-culinary-preferences-revealed-in-ashkelon-excavation-16-december-2019.aspx

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-ancient-roman-garum-factory-found-in-israel-suitably-far-away-from-town-1.8269538

https://www.timesofisrael.com/factory-for-romans-favorite-funky-fish-sauce-discovered-near-ashkelon/

https://www.israelhayom.com/2019/12/16/ashkelon-dig-turns-up-roman-era-vats-used-to-cook-stinky-fish-sauce/

https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/HkC4l3ICr

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273221

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/2000-year-old-Roman-ketchup-factory-uncovered-in-Askhelon-611083

https://www.friendsofiaa.org/news/2019/12/16/roman-fish-sauce-made-in-ashkelon

https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-50825512

https://aleteia.org/2019/12/21/ruins-of-roman-condiment-factory-found-in-israel/

https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2019/12/an-ancient-factory-discovered-in-israel-produced-the-roman-empires-favorite-sauce/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-roman-fish-sauce-factory-unearthed-israel-180973818/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8302-191218-israel-garum-factory

A stone slab from Beth Shemesh is the latest thing being connected with the Ark of the Covenant:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-bible-era-temple-found-near-jerusalem-may-be-linked-to-ark-of-the-covenant-1.8284948

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Ancient-stone-table-at-Beit-Shemesh-may-hold-link-to-Ark-of-the-Covenant-611444

https://www.timesofisrael.com/stone-slab-unearthed-near-jerusalem-suggests-connection-to-ark-of-the-covenant/

I think we mentioned this ‘largest ever’ Crusader-era winery from the Galilee a while ago:

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/The-largest-ever-Crusader-era-winery-discovered-in-the-Galilee-611317

Restoration of the Osma fortress is complete:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2019/12/18/actualidad/1576670617_709097.html

A study suggests there are hitherto unnoticed depictions of sundials in some Jordanian mosaics:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C79958%2Chere-come-sundials-prof-uncovers-eight-hidden-sundials-ancient-mosaics.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8303-191218-ancient-mosaic-sundials

Pondering some revisionism for Herod:

https://www.independent.com/2019/12/18/should-herods-record-be-expunged/

Feature on Israelite and Judahite Ambassadors to Assyria:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2019/12/Israelite-and-Judahite-Ambassadors-to-Assyria

Feature on work being done on Ottoman Turkish manuscripts at Yale:

https://news.yale.edu/2019/12/18/ottoman-turkish-manuscripts-yale-students-find-delicious-mysteries

Feature on Nina Glibetic’s work with Glagolitic texts:

https://al.nd.edu/news/latest-news/notre-dame-theology-professor-interprets-historical-treasure-discovered-at-ancient-monastery-in-the-sinai-desert/#.Xft6yf3OqBM.facebook

Feature on Mark Fairchild’s work:

https://www.journalgazette.net/features/20191217/a-real-indiana-jones

They moved a 600+ years bp mosque in Turkey:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/12/17/videos/1576580456_614802.html

More on the Jordan-US agreement on curbing artefact smuggling:

https://menafn.com/1099445234/Jordan-US-ink-agreement-to-curb-artefact-smuggling

https://jo.usembassy.gov/signing-of-the-u-s-jordan-cultural-property-agreement/

http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/jordan-us-ink-agreement-curb-artefact-smuggling

https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/legal/story/Jordan_US_ink_agreement_to_curb_artefact_smuggling-SNG_162490004/

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

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

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

Two more (gold-lined) Bronze Age tombs from Pylos:

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-archaeologists-bronze-age-tombs-lined.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/uoc-afb121719.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217124004.htm

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/science/tombs-archaeology-ancient-greece.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50832843

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/ancient-greece-mycenae-royal-tombs-discovered-pylos-odyssey-nestor-palace-a9251676.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/archaeologists-in-greece-find-3500-year-old-royal-tombs/2019/12/17/db039952-2100-11ea-b034-de7dc2b5199b_story.html

https://apnews.com/204b07f29c26edf49090e81cea182807

https://www.livescience.com/gold-lined-tombs-found-greece.html

https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-greek-tombs-lined-gold-filled-treasure-palace-homers-odyssey-1477890

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/science/2019/12/18/Greece-tombs-ancient-royal-gold-archaeologists/stories/201912180178

https://www.courant.com/nation-world/ct-nw-greece-royal-tombs-treasure-20191217-2bztogyesbfhbhq3urgrry6c5q-story.html

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/12/17/ancient-gold-lined-tombs-discovered-in-ancient-greek-city-of-pylos/

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/38147-discovery-of-bronze-age-royal-tombs-unlocks-secrets-of-life-in-ancient-greece.html

https://www.sciencealert.com/breathtaking-ancient-greek-tombs-from-3-500-years-ago-were-once-lined-with-gold

https://www.npr.org/2019/12/17/789142592/archaeologists-discover-ancient-greek-royal-tombs-dating-back-3-500-years

https://www.wral.com/archaeologists-uncover-treasure-filled-princely-tombs-in-greece/18840538/

https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/18/world/archaeologists-royal-tombs-greece-scli-intl-scn/index.html

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/12/two-bronze-age-royal-tombs-lined-with-gold-discovered-in-greece/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/artifacts-gold-lined-tombs-hint-ancient-greek-trade-relationships-180973803/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8305-191217-pylos-tomb-artifacts

… and with a different spin:

https://www.cairoscene.com/ArtsAndCulture/Gold-Pendant-Depicting-Ancient-Egyptian-Goddess-Discovered-in-Greece

A study suggests the Erichtheion was actually was was known as the Parthenon in antiquity:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/17/greeces-parthenon-temple-has-had-wrong-name-centuries-new-research/

https://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/a-greek-tragedy-weve-been-wrong-about-parthenon-for-two-millennia-38795076.html

https://www.thenationalherald.com/274654/dutch-researchers-say-parthenon-really-the-hekatompedon/

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/12/18/dutch-archaeologist-claims-the-parthenon-was-not-originally-called-the-parthenon/

https://neoskosmos.com/en/154579/the-athens-parthenon-is-actually-somewhere-else-say-dutch-archaeologists/

http://www.ekathimerini.com/247715/article/ekathimerini/life/theory-suggests-parthenon-is-known-by-wrong-name

Hyping a forthcoming exhibition at the BM with a ‘single use’ Minoan cup:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/16/british-museum-display-worlds-first-single-use-cup-fashioned/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/12/16/museums-year-old-disposable-cup-shows-desire-avoid-dishwashing-is-ancient/

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/british-museum-to-display-worlds-first-singleuse-cup-fashioned-by-minoans-3500-years-ago-a4314371.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/12/16/museums-year-old-disposable-cup-shows-desire-avoid-dishwashing-is-ancient/

https://www.kcur.org/post/british-museum-display-minoans-single-use-clay-cup

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/12/17/british-museum-london-display-minoan-disposable-cup-other-waste/2673025001/

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2019/12/18/worlds-first-single-use-cup-to-go-on-display-at-british-museum

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/world/british-museum-displays-3500-year-old-disposable-cup/

https://wamu.org/story/19/12/17/british-museum-to-display-minoans-single-use-clay-cup/

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/9395ye/3500-year-old-trash-proves-ancient-civilizations-were-just-as-lazy-and-wasteful-as-we-are

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/easy-clean-after-parties-minoans-used-disposable-cups-180973827/

Funding to study cremation burials at Colchester:

https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/18107067.decoding-dead-help-reveal-secrets-romans-colchester/

https://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co.uk/news/18107067.decoding-dead-help-reveal-secrets-romans-colchester/

I think we mentioned the plans for the Amphipolis monument:

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/38174-greek-authorities-approve-restoration-of-ancient-amphipolis-monument-in-macedonia.html

Studying Roman planning at the Nea Paphos site:

https://in-cyprus.com/australian-archaeologists-shed-light-on-paphos-ancient-theatre/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8294-191216-cyprus-roman-road

‘Destruction’ of a Late Antiquity site in Plovdiv:

https://sofiaglobe.com/2019/12/17/prosecutors-probe-destruction-of-archaeology-in-construction-of-building-in-bulgarias-plovdiv/

A papyrus letter from Switzerland is the oldest letter (so far) between Christians:

https://aleteia.org/2019/12/20/oldest-letter-between-christians-identified-in-switzerland/

Plans to move antiquities found during Thessaloniki metro construction:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/247767/article/ekathimerini/news/artifacts-to-be-removed-as-attiko-metro-says-in-situ-plan-was-unreliable

http://www.ekathimerini.com/247731/article/ekathimerini/news/kas-votes-to-remove-antiquities-from-thessaloniki-metro-station

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/12/19/greek-archaeologists-rule-thessalonikis-antiquities-must-be-removed-for-metro-construction/

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/transport/38171-removal-of-antiquities-during-construction-of-thessaloniki-metro-city-greenlighted.html

https://apnews.com/02b469e6684c4eb8499a92e07b75b4b3

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/12/19/world/europe/ap-eu-greece-antiquities-vs-subway.html

http://www.startribune.com/greece-advisory-body-votes-to-move-antiquities-for-subway/566343392/

https://www.thenationalherald.com/275033/advisory-body-votes-to-move-antiquities-for-thessalonikis-subway/

… and some folks aren’t happy about it:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/12/20/europa-nostra-group-demands-preservation-of-thessaloniki-metro-antiquities/

https://news.gtp.gr/2019/12/20/greek-decision-to-remove-thessaloniki-metro-station-finds-triggers-uproar/

Interesting feature on Osman Hamdi and his relationship with Schliemann:

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/11/osman-hamdi-bey-archaeologist-painter.html

Nice coverage of Michael Fontaine’s publication of the Pugna Porcorum:

http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2019/12/professor-publishes-placentius-pugnacious-pig-poem

Feature on Angeliki Tzanetou’s Greek Tragedy class:

https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/805208

Review of Dunn, *Shadow of Vesuvius*:

https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/Book-Reviews/2019/1217/One-was-killed-by-a-volcano.-The-other-lived-to-tell-the-tale

Pondering the return of the Parthenon Marbles after Brexit:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/12/17/can-greece-push-for-repatriation-of-parthenon-marbles-after-brexit/

Behind the scenes at the making of the Troy series:

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/troy-behind-the-scenes-of-a-hollywood-epic/

A guide to Plato’s Republic:

http://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-platos-republic-127724

… and some criticism of Plato:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/118255511/plato-was-wise-but-he-missed-something-about-humans

Hyping CAARI’s archaeological summer school:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/12/17/cyprus-institute-joins-forces-with-prestigious-institutions-for-archaeological-summer-school/

Ceres was reinstalled on the Missouri Capitol dome after all:

https://kmbz.radio.com/articles/statue-of-roman-goddess-reinstalled-on-missouri-capitol-dome

Feature on the sudden rise in use of Latin:

https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/opinion/20191215/port-rail-whats-with-all-latin-being-used-these-days

… and one on the importance of studying Classics:

https://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/youngreporter/18105548.caecilius-est-horto-importance-studying-classical-subjects-aashi-shah-henrietta-barnett-school/

Hyping the upcoming Olympic truce:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/154310/ekecheiria-the-ancient-greek-tradition-for-the-olympic-truce-to-be-applied-in-tokyo-2020/

More on the goings on at the University of Texas:

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2019/12/18/a-ut-professor-advocates-pedophilia-why-are-we-paying-for-it/

More on the Mithraeum from Ostia:

https://www.livescience.com/mithraeum-of-colored-marbles-temple-discovered.html

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8301-191218-italy-ostia-mithraeum

More on that Roman shipwreck off Kefalonia:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/massive-roman-shipwreck-discovered-in-mediterranean

http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/roman-shipwreck-kefalonia-fiskardo/index.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/huge-roman-shipwreck-found-greek-island-180973805/

More on the possible origins of the monkeys in Minoan frescoes:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/painted-bronze-age-monkeys-hint-interconnectedness-ancient-world-180973789/

—–

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/

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

EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

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

5500 years bp evidence of human presence in Devon:

https://www.devonlive.com/news/local-news/follow-5500-year-old-footsteps-3657035

Interesting ‘inspiration’ for the Callanish standing stones:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/21/callanish-standing-stones-lightning-strike-archaeology-lewis-scotland

Evidence that birch bark tar was used in Medieval Europe:

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2019/december/birch-bark-tar.html

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-archaeological-discoveries-reveal-birch-bark.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/uob-nad121919.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191219101731.htm

Feature on the history of Lendal:

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18104004.judges-friars-medieval-river-landing—brisk-walk-history-lendal/

Not sure if we’ve mentioned this 16th century shipwreck find from Stockholm:

https://www.thelocal.se/20191219/archaeologists-uncover-16th-century-shipwreck-in-central-stockholm

Feature on a dysentery outbreak that saved England from invasion in 1779:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2019/12/13/babelia/1576251483_045053.html

Top Five finds in Bulgaria this decade:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2019/12/17/top-5-discoveries-of-archaeology-in-this-decade/

A medieval Danish Queen’s cellar find made a top ten list:

https://www.thelocal.dk/20191219/medieval-danish-queens-cellar-is-one-of-2019-top-ten-archaeological-finds

Remains of an 18th century wooden railway from Scotland:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-50728225

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8307-191219-scotland-wooden-rails

More on items recovered from HMS Invincible:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/12/excavation-first-hms-invincible-reveals-original-hand-cut-water/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8293-191216-hms-invincible-shipwreck

More on those (apparently) female bones found on Mount Athos:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/dec/16/possible-find-of-female-bones-in-mount-athos-raises-eyebrows

https://www.livescience.com/woman-remains-male-monastery-greece.html

https://www.ibtimes.sg/discovery-mysterious-female-remains-male-only-greek-mountain-raises-question-36076

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/possible-female-remains-discovered-greeces-all-male-monastic-peninsula-180973811/

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

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

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

Remains of an 8000 years bp settlement site from Hunan:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2019-12-21/Remains-of-Neolithic-settlement-unearthed-in-central-China-MBmktYU5MI/index.html

Remains of Shang Dynasty ‘state barns’ from Henan:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/19/c_138643768.htm

More on that 5000 years bp ‘dwarf’ burial from China:

https://www.livescience.com/skeleton-with-rare-form-of-dwarfism.html

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-ancient-dwarfism-skeleton-story.html

Excavating the Old Dubbo Gaol site in Australia:

https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/6547798/buried-treasures-archaeologist-digging-up-history-at-old-dubbo-gaol/

A synagogue in Mumbai was given Heritage status:

https://m.jpost.com/Diaspora/Renovated-grand-synagogue-in-Mumbai-recognized-as-World-Heritage-Site-611402

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

NORTH AMERICA

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

A ‘mysterious’ stone found 50 years ago in North Carolina has been identified as a 1000-3000 years bp adze:

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-unusual-stone-artifact-north-carolina.html

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article238456288.html

https://www.wbtv.com/2019/12/16/unusual-stone-artifact-found-north-carolina-likely-dates-bc/

https://www.baltimoresun.com/sns-tns-bc-sci-ancient-artifact-20191217-story.html

Renovations on a house in Ridgefield (Conn.) revealed a trio of burials believed to belong to some Revolutionary War soldiers:

https://www.wiltonbulletin.com/news/article/Three-skeletons-possibly-Revolutionary-War-14901215.php

https://www.theridgefieldpress.com/news/article/Revolutionary-War-soldiers-State-archaeologist-14916666.php

https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Archaeologist-Ridgefield-skeletons-likely-14916883.php

https://www.archaeology.org/8292-191216-connecticut-revolutionary-war

Salvaging some stained glass windows from a 19th century Saint John church:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/gothic-arches-stained-glass-windows-saved-1.5398590?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar

Evidence of slavery in Florida, fifty years before Jamestown:

https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/nation/2019/12/16/american-slavery-traces-roots-st-augustine-florida-not-jamestown/4205417002/

Feature on slave live in a Durham plantation:

https://www.greensboro.com/news/state/persistence-and-survival-one-of-n-c-s-largest-plantations/article_e61fc6c2-549f-592b-a772-1240b88d5866.html

A possible mass grave associated with the Tulsa Race Massacre:

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-graves-tulsa-massacre-victims.html

https://www.livescience.com/tulsa-race-massacre-mass-grave-discovered.html

https://www.fox23.com/news/local/oaklawn-cemetery-newblock-park-search-results-be-shared-with-tulsa-race-massacre-graves-investigation-committee/N3LD4OPXWBE3DBIYZFXQVUVCZE/

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/possible-mass-grave-1921-tulsa-race-massacre-found-researchers-n1102781?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma

Nice overviewish article on the theories about the peopling of the Americas:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-humans-came-to-americas-180973739/

Humans are implicated in the extinction of North America’s only native parrot:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50764583

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/20/science/carolina-parakeet-genome.html

An amateur archaeologist’s collection is now housed at SIU:

https://thesouthern.com/news/local/siu/years-later-southern-illinois-archaeologist-s-finds-return-to-siu/article_94b69a15-66a3-5581-b210-f67820976658.html

On preserving petroglyphs in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands:

https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/preserve-rock-art-lower-pecos-canyonlands/

Feature on Chaco culture:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p07yfjgg/the-ancient-civilisation-that-thrived-in-extreme-conditions

Plans for a toxic waste site near an African American burial ground in Louisiana is causing controversy:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/18/louisiana-pollution-petrochemical-site-sunshine-project

More on those 12000+ years bp artifacts from Avon (Conn.):

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/thousands-ancient-artifacts-first-inhabitants-21101123

More on the remains of three people found at the Alamo:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/21/us/human-remains-found-alamo.html

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/remains-of-3-people-found-during-renovations-at-the-alamo/2187403/

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/alamo-workers-discover-3-bodies-during-restoration-efforts-214653500–abc-news-topstories.html

https://abcnews.go.com/US/alamo-workers-discover-bodies-restoration-efforts-historic-spanish/story?id=67744904

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8298-191217-texas-alamo-remains

More on those ‘training atlatls’ for children:

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-small-scale-atlatl-artifacts-children-taught.html

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-tiny-weapons-taught-native-american-children-hunt.html

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/12/playing-tools-and-weapons-was-normal-part-prehistoric-childhood

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-mini-tools-taught-ancient-children-how-hunt-and-fight-180973838/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8295-191216-child-sized-atlatls

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

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

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

Evidence that settlement in the Caribbean began in the Antilles:

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-caribbean-settlement-began-greater-antilles.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/uoo-csb121619.php

Studying 4000 years bp food remains from the La Consentida (Mexico) site:

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-artifacts-ancient-dietary.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191211115552.htm

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8297-191217-mexico-early-village

Evidence that ‘life on the periphery’ of Teotihuacan was ‘not so bad’:

https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2019/12/19/world/americas/19reuters-mexico-archeology-teotihuacan.html

https://nationalpost.com/pmn/entertainment-pmn/stylish-suburbs-how-ancient-mexican-metropolis-dodged-inequality-trap

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/reuters/stylish-suburbs–how-ancient-mexican-metropolis-dodged-inequality-trap/45445604

https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKBN1YN0J6

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/discovery-of-murals-a-surprise-on-outskirts-of-ancient-city-of-teotihuacan/

I think we mentioned the determination that 1400 years bp mass grave remains from Uxul belong to prisoners of war:

https://www.uni-bonn.de/news/311-2019

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-isotope-analysis-mayan-prisoners-war.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8296-191216-mexico-maya-bones

A pair of 16th century anchors found off the coast of Mexico might have a Cortes connection:

https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2019/12/17/world/americas/17reuters-mexico-archaeology.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/20/hernan-cortes-anchors-discovery-ships

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-50835844

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/two-more-anchors-found-in-search-for-ships-sunk-by-hernan-cortes/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8309-191220-mexico-spanish-anchors

Feature on Carlos Leon’s underwater archaeology career:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/deep-water-meeting-spain-sunken-treasure-hunter-191211215215376.html

First Nations burials threatened by Trump’s wall construction:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/16/tribe-fights-to-save-ancestral-graves-in-the-path-of-trumps-border-wall

—–

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 bravery and courage in art:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20191219-kahlo-and-vermeer-what-courage-really-means

They’ve finally figured out who designed the Leaning Tower of Pisa:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/18/scholars-solve-mystery-designed-leaning-tower-pisa-deciphering/

On the effects of breastfeeding on population growth in ancient cities:

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-breastfeeding-population-growth-ancient-cities.html

Feature on Francis Bacon’s art:

https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2019/12/16/1977220/what-inspired-immaculately-horrific-art-francis-bacon

Feature on the restoration of the Ghent Altarpiece:

https://the-low-countries.com/article/before-and-after-watch-the-amazing-results-of-the-restored-ghent-altarpiece

Feature on Mary Anning:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/dec/16/hopes-rise-for-statue-of-pioneering-fossil-hunter-mary-anning

Feature on Barbara Stozzi:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/20/arts/music/barbara-strozzi.html

On the ‘fashion legacy’ of Little Women:

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/dec/20/little-women-become-fashion-influencers-150-years-after-inception

Feature on making mosaics:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/murals-mosaics/2019/12/20/21030245/murals-chicago-mosaic-school-edgewater-roman-byzantine-mosaics

Why we should read David Copperfield:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/dec/20/what-the-dickens-adapting-david-copperfield-armando-iannucci

On assorted solstice celebrations:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/20/religious-christmas-reasons-scientific-midwinter-solstice

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/winter-solstice-2019-wxc-scn/index.html

https://www.sapiens.org/culture/winter-solstice-celebrations/

On some myths about Hanukkah:

https://forward.com/life/436689/the-greeks-tried-to-kill-us-and-other-hanukkah-myths-debunked/

What the Victorians did for Christmas:

https://www.wuwm.com/post/no-victorians-didnt-invent-christmas-they-get-lot-credit-it

Feature on Dickens’ Christmas novellas:

https://dailygazette.com/article/2019/12/19/charles-dickens-victorian-king-of-christmas-stories

… and what happened to his last Christmas turkey:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/charles-dickens-lost-his-last-christmas-turkey-freak-fire-180973825/

On some ‘creepy’ Christmas traditions:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/dec/18/the-seven-most-terrifying-christmas-traditions-around-the-world

On the ‘astronmy’ of Christmas:

https://www.snopes.com/news/2019/12/18/winter-solstice-the-astronomy-of-christmas/

Feature on a St Nicholas relic at Battle Abbey:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-50828451

Feature on John Beasley:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/arts/photography-john-beasley-greene.html

Some facts about Beethoven:

https://www.dw.com/en/7-surprising-things-about-beethoven/a-51612123

On Madison’s notes on impeachment:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/12/madison-constitutional-convention-notes/603703/

Review of Gillian Gill’s biography of Virginia Woolf:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/20/books/review/virginia-woolf-and-the-women-who-shaped-her-world-gillian-gill.html

Oldest remains of a forest ever found:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/cu-suw121719.php

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/385-million-year-old-fossils-reveal-worlds-oldest-forest-had-modern-tree-roots-180973810/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/19/worlds-oldest-known-fossil-forest-found-in-new-york-quarry

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

MUSEUM MATTERS

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

French Excavations in Egypt:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/78731/Exhibition-of-French-excavations-in-Egypt-to-be-launched-on

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/9/358032/Heritage/French-excavations-on-display-at-the-Egyptian-Muse.aspx

Troy: Myth and Reality:

https://www.finebooksmagazine.com/blog/literary-treasures-troy

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/11/osman-hamdi-bey-archaeologist-painter.html

https://www.thearticle.com/troy-at-the-british-museum-the-stuff-of-legend

Renoir:

https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2019/12/whats-the-problem-with-renoirs-nudes/

Canova and Thorvalden:

https://www.world.intesasanpaolo.com/canova-thorvaldsen-two-greats-neo-classicist-sculpture-together-new-exhibition/

United States Colored Troops:

https://www.wuwf.org/post/new-exhibit-highlights-african-american-soldiers-civil-war#stream/0

https://www.nps.gov/guis/learn/news/specialexhibit-17men.htm

Last Supper in Pompeii:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/pompeii-san-francisco-museum-1735038

Your Stonehenge:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/150-years-stonehenge-family-photos-come-together-new-exhibition-180973782/

Hype for a documentary on the Aleppo Museum:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3Z2owCQRrI

Feature on assorted Chinese exhibitions around the world:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/15/c_138632786.htm

Feature on the Acropolis Museum:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2019/12/17/acropolis-museum-visiting-athens/

The GEM will open in 2020:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/19/c_138643606.htm

Interesting Rembrandt acquisitions by an Ulster museum:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-50850727

On museums and the ‘superrich’:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/14/opinion/sunday/modern-art-museum.html

More on the Sharm el-Sheikh Museum progress:

https://egyptindependent.com/egypts-ministry-of-antiquities-finishes-1st-stage-of-sharm-el-sheikh-museum/

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

AUCTIONS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

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

Babe Ruth’s Bat:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50806192

The original Olympic Manifesto:

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191220_17/

https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/original-olympic-manifesto-from-1892-sells-for-record-8-8-million-at-auction/

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

THE TECHY SIDE

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

An xray of a painting of John the Baptist revealed a 400 years bp Nativity scene beneath:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50844000

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/dec/19/christmas-past-nativity-found-beneath-400-year-old-painting-of-beheading

https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/national-news/18112700.sixteenth-century-nativity-scene-painting-found-hidden-artwork/

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/wise-women-find-little-baby-jesus-hiding-behind-painting-p6ccxtkqt

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nativity-scene-found-hidden-beneath-16th-century-painting-john-baptists-beheading-180973831/

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

ON THE DNA FRONT

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

An incredible amount of information derived from DNA extracted from some 5700 years bp ‘chewing gum’ from Denmark:

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-flavour-stone-age-chewing-gum-yields-human.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/uoct-ag121719.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217141549.htm

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/science/ancient-gum-dna.html

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-chewing-gum-reconstructs-lola.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50809586

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/dec/17/neolithic-dna-ancient-chewing-gum-denmark

https://www.latercera.com/que-pasa/noticia/adn-de-un-chicle-permite-reconstruir-a-una-mujer-de-hace-5-700-anos/943403/

https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/12/17/ciencia/1576572028_494478.html

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/12/17/788115779/what-ancient-chewing-gum-can-tell-us-about-life-5-700-years-ago

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/stone-age-chewing-gum-holds-clues-to-the-life-of-a-young-girl-who-lived-5-700-years-ago-1.4733840

https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/world/ancient-chewing-gum-genome-scn/index.html

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ancient-chewing-gum-reveals-a-5-700-year-old-microbiome1/

https://www.wired.com/story/5700-year-old-piece-of-gum/?utm_brand=wired

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2019/12/dna-stone-age-chewing-gum-microbiome-story/

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/a-full-genome-from-5-700-year-old-chewing-gum-give-insights-into

http://www.archaeology.org/news/8306-191219-denmark-chewed-pitch

Interesting DNA study of some colonial Delaware burials:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2019/12/19/dna-analysis-from-colonial-delaware-skeletons-reveals-beginning-of-american-slave-trade/

Feature on ‘genetic archaeology’:

https://phys.org/news/2019-12-story-rewriting-human-history-dna.html

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

CLIMATE MATTERS

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

Climate-related concerns for monuments in Egypt:

https://nationalpost.com/pmn/entertainment-pmn/egypts-history-of-humanity-monuments-face-climate-change-threat

https://af.reuters.com/article/africaTech/idAFL8N28R6CD

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

TOURISTY THINGS

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

Caesarea:

https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/BJLKjhQ0S

In the footsteps of Theodor Fontane:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/dec/20/nature-trail-north-berlin-theodor-fontane-german-charles-dickens

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

PERFORMANCES

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

Antigone:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/antigone-1241323

Bach:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/20/arts/music/review-bach-botstein.html

Messiah:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/arts/music/messiah-philharmonic-review.html

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

CRIME BEAT

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

An antiquities arrest on Kalymnos:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/274217/woman-arrested-on-kalymnos-for-illegal-possession-of-antiquities/

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

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

France has committed to returning 26 items to Benin:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/france-restitution-26-benin-1735425

… while a soldier’s grandson is returning some items looted from Benin City:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/17/soldiers-grandson-to-return-items-looted-from-benin-city-nigeria

Apparently pressure is growing for the UK to do the same:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/uk-looted-colonial-artefacts-france-benin-british-museum-va-a9250401.html

Switzerland returned some pre-Columbian items to Peru:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/artefacts_switzerland-returns-pre-colombian-treasures-to-peru/45449282

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

NUMISMATICA

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

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v22/club_nbs_esylum_v22n50.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v22/club_nbs_esylum_v22n51.html

————————

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

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

OBITUARIES

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Mae Smethurst:

https://networks.h-net.org/node/20904/discussions/5577957/mae-j-smethurst-1935-2019

Roslyn Poignant:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/dec/16/roslyn-poignant-obituary

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AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS

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Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/2905-audio-news-from-archaeologica-december-8-through-december-14-2019

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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/

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/

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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/

The Book and the Spade:

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

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