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explorator 20.09 June 25, 2017

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If you’re having problems getting ‘the whole issue’, read Explorator

online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/

Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,

John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Hernan Astudillo,

Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, Don Buck, Adrienne Mayor, Kris Curry,

Rick Heli, David Critchley, Richard Campbell,

Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week

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

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EARLY HOMINIDS

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Not quite sure whether this should be classified ‘Early humans’ or ‘Ancient Near East’ … ‘million year old’ stone tools from Turkey:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/06/23/archaeologists-discover-million-year-old-stone-artifacts-in-turkeys-tunceli

More on the search for evidence of first fire use:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/quest-for-clues-to-humanitys-first-fires/

More on where homo floresiensis fits into the hominid family tree:

https://cosmosmagazine.com/palaeontology/genetic-modelling-adds-a-new-twist-to-hobbit-ancestry-question

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AFRICA

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This probably should be filed under Egypt … a 3400 years bp gold worker’s tomb from the Sudan:

https://www.livescience.com/59534-ancient-nubia-tomb-of-gold-worker-found.html

https://www.livescience.com/59532-photos-ancient-tomb-along-nile.html

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ancient-egypt-3400-year-old-tomb-gold-worker-discovered-nile-river-island-1627094

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5669-170619-sudan-gold-worker

Concerns for sites in Nigeria:

http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2017/06/expert-urges-ngsg-to-protect-archaeological-sites/

More on the ‘lost’ city dating back to the 10th century in Ethiopia:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-ancient-city-ethiopia-country-history.html

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/remains-thriving-trade-city-found-ethiopia-180963757/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/harlaa-discovery-12th-century-mosque-bronze-silver-coins-university-exeter-timothy-insoll-a7805956.html

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/long-lost-city-believed-be-home-giants-unearthed-ethiopia-1627034

https://qz.com/1008940/an-ancient-islamic-city-has-been-found-under-harlaa-an-ethiopian-town-where-local-lore-spoke-of-giants/

http://www.newser.com/story/244589/lost-islamic-city-held-riches-from-a-world-away.html

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/remains-thriving-trade-city-found-ethiopia-180963757/

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ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

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6000 years bp (give or take) petroglyphs from south of Luxor are being connected to the invention of hieroglyphs:

http://news.yale.edu/2017/06/20/yale-archaeologists-discover-earliest-monumental-egyptian-hieroglyphs

https://www.livescience.com/59588-billboard-of-hieroglyphs-contains-cosmic-message.html

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/271427/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Inscriptions-showing-early-hieroglyphic-writing-di.aspx

http://www.universityherald.com/articles/75896/20170622/archaeologists-yale-university-uncovers-breakthrough-egyptian-hieroglyphics-discovery.htm

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/6000-year-old-rock-art-shows-emergence-ancient-egypt-hieroglyphs-1627540

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5677-170622-egypt-rock-art

Studying 2000 years bp graffiti in the tomb of Rameses VI:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,414643,in-a-pharaoh-tomb-archaeologist-examines-the-inscriptions–of-ancient-tourists.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5681-170623-egyptian-ancient-graffiti

That wooden prosthetic toe from from tomb in Luxor found a few years ago was back in the news:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-wooden-toe-swiss-egyptologists-year-old.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/uob-awt062017.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170620093118.htm

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/archaeology_swiss-examine–extraordinary–egyptian-faux-toe/43274046?&ns_mchannel=rss&srg_evsource=rss

https://www.livescience.com/59581-ancient-prosthetic-toe-found-in-egyptian-grave.html

http://www.ibtimes.com/weird-archaeological-find-wooden-prosthetic-big-toe-ancient-egypt-2556234

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/study-reveals-secrets-ancient-cairo-toe-180963783/

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/22/health/ancient-egypt-wooden-toe-prosthetic-trnd/index.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5672-170620-egypt-prosthetic-toe

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/06/2017/egyptologists-study-3000-year-old-wooden-toe

Feature on Khufu’s second solar boat:

http://www.natureasia.com/en/nmiddleeast/article/10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.109

Feature on the al Maala necropolis:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/271375/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/AlMaala-necropolis-site-in-Upper-Egypt-is-scientif.aspx

Ship waste threatens sunken antiquities in Alexandria’s harbour:

http://www.trtworld.com/mea/egypts-sunken-antiquities-threatened-by-ship-waste-382161

More on child burials near Amarna:

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0617/ancient_egyptian_juvenile_graves.php3

More on that 2500 years bp tomb find:

http://observer.com/2017/06/egyptian-tomb-artifacts-discovered/

Finds from various periods at a site in Huqoq:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4976864,00.html

A 900 years bp women’s jewellery collection from Modin:

http://www.antiquities.org.il/Article_eng.aspx?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=4295

http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/IsraelExperience/History/Pages/Modi%E2%80%99in-students-uncover-a-gem-of-an-excavation-.aspx

http://www.timesofisrael.com/school-pupils-help-find-900-year-old-crusader-jewelry-trove/

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/900-year-old-womens-jewelry-collection-discovered-in-modiin/2017/06/20/

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Students-unearth-rare-900-year-old-jewelry-collection-in-Modiin-excavation-497399

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231297

http://www.jns.org/news-briefs/2017/6/20/volunteers-discover-900-year-old-ancient-jewelry-in-crusader-fortress

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4979084,00.html

http://forward.com/fast-forward/375177/israeli-kids-help-excavate-900-year-old-crusader-fortress/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5670-170620-crusader-fortress-jewelry

Finding that ‘hidden text’ on a potsherd in a museum in Israel has spurred the search for more hidden texts:

http://www.jns.org/latest-articles/2017/6/18/discovery-of-hidden-text-prompts-new-approach-to-biblical-digs-in-israel

… in case you missed it:

https://www.livescience.com/59545-ancient-inscription-requests-more-wine.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ancient-pottery-message-more-wine/

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hidden-calling-wine-found-ancient-pottery-shard-180963780/

An aerial survey of sites in Iraq:

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/06/iraq-uses-aerial-survey-for-antiques.html

Feature on Ishtar:

http://theconversation.com/friday-essay-the-legend-of-ishtar-first-goddess-of-love-and-war-78468

Some artworks destroyed/damaged by ISIL in Palmyra have been restored:

http://www.dw.com/en/two-palmyra-artworks-destroyed-by-is-restored-for-first-time/a-39344347

More on the redating of that tower in Jerusalem:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/carbon-dating-undermines-biblical-narrative-for-ancient-jerusalem-tower/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5673-170621-jerusalem-stone-tower

More on the antiquities bust near Tzippori:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/hiker-helps-stop-antiquities-robbing-gang-in-northern-israel/

Major tourism hopes for the Hittite site at Comum:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-hittite-capital-corum-hopes-for-half-a-million-tourists.aspx?pageID=238&nid=114591&NewsCatID=375

An overview of monuments lost in conflicts in the Middle East:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/22/architecture/precious-monuments-lost-in-middle-east-conflicts/index.html

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/major-heritage-centres-that-the-islamic-state-has-destroyed/article19134355.ece

ISIL was much in the news this week … first, they lost control of Sergiopolis:

https://english.almanar.com.lb/289236

… and they blew up the 12th century Al Nuri mosque in Mosul:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40363671

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/world/middleeast/mosul-nuri-mosque-isis.html?emc=edit_na_20170621&nl=breaking-news&nlid=10296088&ref=cta

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/21/islaimic-state-blows-landmark-great-mosque-al-nuri-famous-leaning/

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/06/22/533903315/isis-destroys-historic-mosque-in-mosul-as-iraqi-forces-close-in

http://www.dw.com/en/is-destroys-mosul-mosque-where-leader-baghdadi-declared-caliphate/a-39357749

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/isis-blows-up-mosque-in-mosul-where-baghdadi-declared-caliphate/2017/06/21/7070ff30-56b9-11e7-840b-512026319da7_story.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/is-blows-up-mosul-mosque-latest-heritage-site-destroyed/2017/06/22/71b50772-5747-11e7-840b-512026319da7_story.html

http://nationalpost.com/news/world/israel-middle-east/isil-militants-destroy-famed-12th-century-mosque-in-iraqs-historic-city-of-mosul/wcm/cce78951-0b0a-40ee-981d-1e85eaae5ce2

https://www.yahoo.com/news/blows-mosul-mosque-latest-heritage-123237913.html

… related op eds:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39339373

https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2017/0622/ISIS-destroys-Mosul-mosque-thought-to-be-act-of-desperation

http://theconversation.com/destroying-mosuls-great-mosque-islamic-states-symbolic-war-to-the-end-80002

Overview of cultural destruction in Mosul:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/06/Mosul-ISIS-Islamic-State-Iraq-Nuri-Mosque-Hadba-Minaret/

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ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

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Evidence of ‘wine culture’ emerging at Ipplepen:

http://www.devonlive.com/new-findings-show-ancient-devon-folk-had-a-taste-for-exotic-food-and-drink/story-30398815-detail/story.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-40330840

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/06/further-evidence-pre-roman-britons-had-wine-culture/

1600 years bp mosaic from Adiyaman:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/1600-year-old-mosaic-found-in-turkeys-adiyaman-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=114479&NewsCatID=375

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-06/19/c_136377893.htm

An ancient road find at Termessos:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-road-found-in-termessos-ancient-city-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=114632&NewsCatID=375

Surveying at Idomeni:

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/society/25990-archaeologists-idomeni-has-always-been-an-important-north-south-route-in-greece.html

Feature on the dig at Hawara:

http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/canadian-scholars-explore-ancient-nabataean-site-hawara

Suggestion Shetland ponies may have pulled chariots in Colchester:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/19/shetland-ponies-could-have-pulled-chariots-colchester-find-suggests/

Studying skulls to track migrations in the Roman empire:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-ancient-skulls-migration-roman-empire.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/ncsu-ass062017.php

Evidence of earthquake ‘awareness’ at Troy:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/traces-of-measures-against-quakes-seen-in-troy-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=114452&NewsCatID=375

How China viewed Rome in the third century:

http://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/ancient-text-roman-chinese-2006-2017/

Big bucks for a Roman sculpture:

https://www.livescience.com/59543-roman-sculpture-auctioned-for-nearly-1-million.html

That recovered Hercules sarcophagus is on display in Geneva:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-hercules-on-display-in-geneva-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=114537&NewsCatID=375

Victor Nuovo’s latest looks at Machiavelli and Livy:

http://addisonindependent.com/201706victor-nuovo-machiavelli-living-dark-times-livy-0

What the Wonder Woman movie gets right:

http://blog.press.princeton.edu/2017/06/13/amazons-in-all-shapes-sizes-and-colors-what-the-wonder-woman-movie-got-right/

Honours for Jack Davis:

http://magazine.uc.edu/editors_picks/recent_features/albaniaaward.html

More on threats against Sarah Bond:

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/06/19/classicist-finds-herself-target-online-threats-after-article-ancient-statues

http://www.press-citizen.com/story/opinion/2017/06/22/ui-classics-professor-deserves-support-during-online-attacks/419512001/

http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=2017062315475874

What Jesse Weiner is up to:

https://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/professor-classics-jesse-weiner-leads-classical-traditions-seminar

Nice feature on mosaics:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/the-world-of-mosaics-from-tivoli-to-tottenham-court-road/

Wallsend Roman Fort gets its centurion:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-40319065

Review of Man, *Amazons*:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/06/she-devils-on-horseback-in-search-of-the-fabled-amazons/

http://www.theartsdesk.com/books/john-man-amazons-review-real-warrior-women-ancient-world

More on the catacombs of Domitilla:

https://www.livescience.com/59424-paintings-of-christ-in-roman-catacombs.html

Assorted coverage of the revelation of the popularity of Thucydides among assorted folks in the White House:

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/21/why-the-white-house-is-reading-greek-history-215287

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/06/21/steve_bannon_likes_thucydides_for_all_the_wrong_reasons.html

http://usa.greekreporter.com/2017/06/22/politico-trump-administration-seeks-insight-in-u-s-a-china-relations-from-ancient-greek-historian/

—–

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/

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EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

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Interesting dig of a burial mound at Bryn Celli ddu Angelsey:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jun/21/archeologists-unearth-prehistoric-ritual-area-bryn-celli-ddu-anglesey

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/bryn-celli-ddu-burial-anglesey–13226143

http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/177473/a-celebration-of-anglesey-s-neolithic-past-draws-the-crowds-to-bryn-celli-ddu.aspx

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/inside-5000-year-old-tomb-13227182

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5675-170621-bryn-celli-ddu

7000 years bp remains (burials and more) from Sion (Switzerland):

https://www.thelocal.ch/20170623/archaeologists-find-7000-year-old-human-remains-in-sion-city

Evidence of the popularity of amber some 3500 years bp:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,414642,archeologist-amber-was-popular-in-europe-already-35-thousand-years-ago.html

Mapping hill forts in Ireland:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jun/22/hillforts-uk-ireland-mapped-first-time-online-database-atlas

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40359829

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/explore-ancient-british-isles-hill-forts-using-new-online-atlas-180963803/

A metal detectorist found a 1400 years bp jewellery box:

http://www.westsussextoday.co.uk/news/i-thought-it-was-a-bomb-says-treasure-hunter-who-found-1-400-year-old-jewellery-1-8018371

http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/i-thought-it-was-a-bomb-says-treasure-hunter-who-found-1-400-year-old-jewellery-1-8018371

http://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/news/county-news-i-thought-it-was-a-bomb-treasure-hunter-s-amazing-find-1-8018412

Burials found during the search for a Saxon church in Staffordshire:

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/staffordshire/penkridge/2017/06/23/skeletons-uncovered-at-staffordshire-church/

A sword came out of one of those Viking boat graves in Iceland that we mentioned last week:

http://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/2017/06/17/video_viking_sword_removed_from_boat_grave/

A Viking toilet from southern Denmark:

http://sciencenordic.com/1000-year-old-viking-toilet-uncovered-denmark

https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/06/unexpected-viking-toilet-discovery-leads-to-controversy/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5682-170623-denmark-viking-privy

Feature on Viking plates:

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/06/24/viking-culture-food

Searching for the Old Deer monastery:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-40379384

Evidence of brutal medieval punishment from a Portuguese necropolis:

https://www.livescience.com/59529-medieval-skeletons-with-hands-feet-amputated.html

A medieval sword from a bog in Poland:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,414626,lubelskie-medieval-sword-discovered-at-a-peat-bog.html

http://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/amazing-14th-century-longsword-found-polish-bog/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5667-170619-poland-medieval-sword

Medieval stones from the site of Coventry’s new water park:

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/archaeologists-find-medieval-carved-stones-13204501

http://world.einnews.com/article/387822549/live

Medieval glass bracelets from Plovdiv:

http://sofiaglobe.com/2017/06/24/archaeology-ancient-glass-bracelets-found-at-newly-discovered-necropolis-near-plovdivs-small-basilica/

Plenty of bits of medieval pottery from Pembrokeshire:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-40393391

Remains of a 250 years bp ‘lost’ estate near Exeter:

http://www.devonlive.com/archaeologists-accidentally-stumble-across-250-year-old-lost-mansion-on-estate-near-exeter/story-30400537-detail/story.html

Finds from various periods during bypass construction in Lincoln:

http://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/lincoln-news/nine-fascinating-archaeological-finds-lincolnshire-121565

A 17th century shipwreck off Stockholm has been identified (I think we mentioned this):

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.797286

On the crisis British archaeology is facing:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jun/20/trouble-brewing-british-archaeology

On the battle that settled the War of the Roses:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-40292647

A prehistoric site in Plovdiv was bulldozed:

http://sofiaglobe.com/2017/06/22/archaeology-oldest-prehistoric-settlement-site-in-bulgarias-plovdiv-bulldozed/

Colorizing some Pictish stones:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-40286318

Raising funds to put a Bronze Age skeleton on display in a Scots museum:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15367632.Bronze_Age_skeleton_is_a_step_closer_to_rattling_its_way_into_the_limelight_thanks_to___50_000_donation/

Feature on petroglyphs in the Swabian Jura:

http://www.dw.com/en/caves-and-ice-age-art-in-the-swabian-jura/a-39314348

http://www.dw.com/en/the-worlds-oldest-ice-age-artworks/g-39306118

More on possible medieval cat skinning:

https://www.livescience.com/59443-medieval-farmers-skinned-cats.html

More on that abbey wall find in Canterbury:

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/remarkable-historic-find-at-universitys-127687/

More on ‘Firehenge’:

http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/archaeology/excavations-near-avebury-uncover-mysterious-firehenge-800-years-older-than-stonehenge/news-story/5c77e180d84d2ca6bfc04a5d465ad845?from=rss-basic

—–

Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

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ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

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Remains of a 3000 years bp ‘sun altar’ from Xinjiang:

http://www.sfgate.com/news/media/China-Ancient-sun-altar-918201.php

Excavations have started at a 1000 years bp site in Xinjiang:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-06/21/c_136383422.htm

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news.php?id=91910

A woven basket and other items from a site in Kashihara:

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201706220039.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5679-170622-japan-basket-stand

Remains of a colonial garden in Whanghanui:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=11879627

Praise for a Chinese citizen who turned over finds from his garden to a museum:

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2017-06/23/content_29857304.htm

Hype for a documentary about China:

http://www.pbs.org/show/story-china/

More on those human sacrifice remains at Yinxu:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-skeletal-sacrificial-victims-shang-dynasty.html

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/human-sacrifice-victims-killed-bloody-rituals-china-3000-years-ago-were-war-captives-1626856

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ancient-human-sacrifices-were-prisoners-162419239.html

https://qz.com/1011851/archaeologists-have-found-proof-that-the-ancient-chinese-shang-dynasty-used-foreign-slaves/

—–

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html

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NORTH AMERICA

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A prehistoric fish trap and petroglyphs from Kodiak Island:

https://alaska-native-news.com/prehistoric-fish-trap-and-petroglyphs-found-on-kodiak-island-29163

A 1000 years bp dugout canoe from Louisiana:

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/history/2017/06/22/caddo-tribe-canoe-found-red-river/417765001/

http://www.timesunion.com/news/texas/article/Archaeologists-find-prehistoric-canoe-in-north-11244285.php

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/texas/article_281710c6-e4d0-5592-9fe5-05876172c383.html

http://www.ksla.com/story/35727059/caddo-parish-couple-find-centuries-old-canoe-in-red-river

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5678-170622-louisiana-dugout-canoe

Revolutionary War era lock from Fort Michilimackinac:

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/06/revolutionary_war-era_lock_une.html

Finds from a Confederate prison site on an island in Sandusky Bay:

http://www.toledoblade.com/Education/2017/06/19/Big-finds-in-tiny-pieces-at-Confederate-prison-site.html

Excavating an 1837 house in Van Buren (Arkansas):

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/jun/19/university-sets-to-work-on-1837-house-2/?f=news-arkansas

Digging a site associated with Emily Dickinson:

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Dig-aims-to-unearth-details-of-Emily-Dickinson-s-11230949.php

Feature on petroglyphs in Parowan Gap:

http://stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2017/06/18/raw-petroglyph-day-interpretations-and-mysteries-of-parowan-gap/#.WUgi7uvythG

Pondering whether the Maya visited Florida:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/06/20/florida-frontiers-did-ancient-maya-visit-florida/411801001/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

A shipwreck off Florida:

http://keysnews.com/article/story/archaeologists-uncover-likely-acorn-wreck/

A Jesuit church from Shreveport:

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2017/06/21/archeology-shreveport-old-jesuit-church-excavated-clay/403655001/

Digging a ‘native American village’ site in Illinois:

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170624/news/306249998/

http://www.wjbc.com/2017/06/22/isu-archaeological-team-digs-through-native-american-village/

Digging a site in Delphi (Indiana):

http://wishtv.com/2017/06/23/archaeologists-uncovering-delphis-history/

Feature on Roanoke:

http://www.carolinacountry.com/carolina-stories/stories/roanoke-the-persistent-mystery-of-a-lost-colony

Concerns for a site in Sacramento:

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2017/06/22/runoff-from-record-winter-could-endanger-secret-archaeological-site/

Nunavut is arguing with the Canadian government about Franklin Expedition artifacts:

http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/nunavut-complains-to-trudeau-that-federal-scientists-took-franklin-artifacts-without-permission/wcm/a670e186-ef66-4928-8594-a31436baf1e4

Recreating Native American water bottles from California:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/bc-src061917.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170623110551.htm

https://www.wired.com/story/plastic-water-bottles-might-have-poisoned-ancient-californians/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5683-170623-california-bitumen-bottles

Some features relating to Canada’s 150th anniversary (probably will be more next week):

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/23/world/canada/canada-family-histories.html

Review(ish) of Kaplan, *Lincoln and the Abolitionists*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/23/books/review/lincoln-and-the-abolitionists-fred-kaplan.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbooks

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

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

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

Stadium construction in Nicaragua reveals a 1200 years bp burial ground:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30318662

Latest finds from Machu Picchu:

http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-machu-picchu-new-archaeological-finds-from-inca-citadel-released-111879

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5680-170622-peru-ritual-vessel

Excavating a coffee plantation in Cuba:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/saint-mary-s-university-archaeological-havana-slave-plantation-1.4171755

More on the El Volcan pyramid in Peru:

https://www.livescience.com/59544-mysterious-volcano-shaped-pyramid-in-peru.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5674-170621-peru-el-volcan

—–

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

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

A trove of Nazi artifacts from Argentina:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-hidden-trove-nazi-artifacts-argentina.html

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/hidden-trove-suspected-nazi-artifacts-found-argentina-48145123

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-40349808

Feature on the history of money:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2017/06/20/when-did-people-start-using-money/

https://www.livescience.com/59560-when-did-people-start-using-money.html

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/making-cents-currencys-ancient-rise-180963776/

Next up in the search for Amelia Earhart … forensic dogs:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/06/amelia-earhart-island-dogs/

http://www.newsweek.com/amelia-earhart-fred-noonan-remains-search-nikumaroro-627886

http://www.newser.com/story/244593/new-earhart-search-less-a-shot-in-dark-than-any-before.html

http://theweek.com/speedreads/section/where%20oh%20where%20could%20she%20be%3F

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/06/22/did-amelia-earhart-die-on-a-remote-pacific-island-bone-sniffing-border-collies-may-find-out/

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11880888

Feature on the evolution of Christian portraits from pagan icons:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/the-short-step-from-pagan-portraits-to-early-christian-icons/

Apparently there is a shortage of archaeologists:

http://observer.com/2017/06/archaeologist-shortage-britain/

On the history of music:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-story-music-humans.html

On the use of periods … or not:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/06/13/stop-using-periods-period-2/

Feature on pirates:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170621-the-timeless-allure-of-pirates

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/

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

MUSEUM MATTERS

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

Coins of the Realm/Faces of Power:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.796986

http://www.imj.org.il/en/exhibitions/faces-power

Age of Empires:

https://hyperallergic.com/374312/from-a-jade-burial-suit-to-terracotta-warriors-a-blockbuster-display-of-chinas-ancient-treasures/

Cutty Sark:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-06/22/c_136384609.htm

Nazca culture:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-06/22/c_136384909.htm

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1052911.shtml

Catal Huyuk:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts-culture/2017/06/23/excavation-story-of-catalhoyuk-on-display

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/koc-university-reveals-the-curious-case-of-catalhoyuk.aspx?pageID=238&nid=114682&NewsCatID=375

Silk Road (requires translation):

http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/sjGsU5CpDkc1K9T_-3NgPQ

Letters from Baghdad:

http://www.startribune.com/lawrence-of-arabia-s-female-counterpart-finally-gets-the-attention-she-earned/430165663/

Expansion plans at the Victoria and Albert:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/18/arts/design/victoria-and-albert-museum-to-unveil-expansion.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fdesign

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

THE TECHY SIDE

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

On the facial reconstruction front, we have an 18th dynasty mummy:

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5671-170620-nebiri-mummy-reconstruction

… and a Herculaneum victim:

https://3dprint.com/178803/3d-recreate-faces-herculaneum/

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20170622-3d-scanning-helps-scientists-recreate-2000-year-old-exploded-head-of-mount-vesuvius-victim.html

The French military is funding the use of tech to document heritage sites in conflict zones:

http://theartnewspaper.com/news/conservation/french-military-funds-technology-to-document-heritage-in-conflict-zones/

Plans to use tech to figure out an El Greco:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-40275610

A ‘exciting’ item from Roanoke thought to be gold turns out to be brass:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/mystery-roanoke-endures-yet-another-cruel-twist-180962837/?utm_source=keywee-facebook.com&utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_campaign=keywee&kwp_0=413564

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

ON THE DNA FRONT

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

Using DNA to track cat domestication:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/kl-adr061617.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170619125825.htm

https://www.livescience.com/59538-cat-domestication-dispersal-in-ancient-world.html

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/deadthings/2017/06/19/ancient-dna-unravels-cat-domestication-like-ball-of-yarn/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-40306897

http://www.sci-news.com/genetics/ancient-modern-dna-cats-conquered-world-04972.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/ancient-egypt-cats-colonise-planet-sacred-animals-a7798021.html

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jun/19/africats-to-the-purr-ymids-dna-study-reveals-long-tale-of-cat-domestication

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5668-170619-dna-cat-domestication

More on that mummy DNA study:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/22/health/ancient-egypt-mummy-dna-genome-heritage/index.html

Dienekes’ Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/

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

TOURISTY THINGS

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

Blue Mountains (Australia):

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/australia-aboriginal-history-tour-blue-mountains-180963600/

Petroglyphs in Scotland:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/jun/19/scotland-prehistoric-rock-carvings-walking-holidays

Italian libraries:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/13/travel/italian-libraries-hidden-treasures-books-architecture-art.html?_r=0

Baths of Diocletian:

https://thewest.com.au/travel/europe/bathing-in-ancient-roman-history-ng-b88409471z

Georgia (not the one in the US):

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/20/travel/music-ancient-history-in-the-caucasus-georgia-turkey.html

Galapagos:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/20/travel/galapagos-islands-ecuador-affordable-vacation.html

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

CRIME BEAT

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

More on that thwarted Ottoman era Qurans smuggling attempt:

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2017/06/19/authorities-stop-five-ancient-handwritten-qurans-illegally-smuggled-egypt/

https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/egypt-smuggling-five-ottoman-era-qurans-foiled-987500

A museum theft in New Jersey:

https://apnews.com/4c286e4e232e402992a205bfb4291d84

Latest Anonymous Swiss Collector Culture Crime News:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2017/06/culture-crime-news-12-18-june-2017.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

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

Egypt marks a pile of successful repatriation efforts:

http://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-restored-archaeological-pieces/

The Aboriginal shield in the British Museum is becoming a saga:

https://hyperallergic.com/385885/why-an-australian-aborigine-wants-the-british-museum-to-return-his-ancestors-shield/

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

NUMISMATICA

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

A 4th century gold coin from Chattisgarh:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/rare-gold-coin-on-repose-technique-unearthed-in-chhattisgarh/articleshow/59237784.cms

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/club_nbs_esylum_v20n25.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/club_nbs_esylum_v20n26.html

————————

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

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

PERFORMANCES AND THEATRE-RELATED

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

Feature on Felix Mendelssohn:

http://www.npr.org/2017/06/23/533805082/meet-felix-mendelssohn-composer-of-the-original-song-of-the-summer

Boston Early Music Festival:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/19/arts/music/review-boston-early-music-festival.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fmusic

Brooklyn Academy of Music has put a pile of materials online:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/20/arts/brooklyn-academy-of-music-puts-70000-archive-materials-online.html

On some ‘Classical Couples’:

http://www.wqxr.org/story/5-classical-couples-gave-us-lovely-music/

… and some musical knives:

http://www.wqxr.org/story/listen-these-knives-can-carry-tune

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

AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS

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

Audio News from Archaeologica:

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-main-menu-cat/audio-news-list/2627-audio-news-from-archaeologica-11-june-2017-17-june-2017

Latest Strata: Portaits of Humanity:

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/video-guide/strata-portraits-of-humanity/2626-strata-june-2017

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

OBITUARIES

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

Ben Finney:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/17/us/ben-finney-dead-hawaii-tahiti.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fobituaries

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

CONFERENCES

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

Canada Before Confederation: Early Exploration and Mapping (Nov. 2017)

https://independent.academia.edu/ConferenceCanadabeforeConfederationEarlyMappingandExploration14981763

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

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

The Book and the Spade:

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

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

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