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

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

Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,

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

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

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

EARLY HOMINIDS

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

Evidence of the earliest human occupation of North Africa:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-documents-human-occupation-north-africa.html

350 000 years bp axe from Antalya’s Karain Cave:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2019/08/07/worlds-2nd-oldest-axe-found-in-turkeys-antalya

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/ancient-axe-found-in-antalya-excavation-3497612

Feature on homo naledi:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/?p=12610

Feature on Kenya’s ‘fossil treasury’:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-hidden-mysteries-kenya-fossil-treasury.html

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

AFRICA

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

A study suggests humans were living at high altitudes in Ethiopia some 45 000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-humans-africa-fled-mountains-ice.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/mh-nsi073019.php

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/aaft-ers080519.php

https://www.livescience.com/earliest-evidence-human-mountaineers.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/science/humans-high-altitude-ethiopia.html

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/high-altitudes-_-earliest-high-mountain-settlement-identified-in-ethiopia-/45148620

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/09/c_138297080.htm

https://gizmodo.com/this-rock-shelter-in-ethiopia-may-be-the-earliest-evide-1837104167

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/08/ethiopia-provides-the-earliest-evidence-of-people-living-at-altitude/

https://cosmosmagazine.com/archaeology/living-the-high-life-in-the-stone-age

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2019/08/09/ancient-human-ethiopia-mountains-high-altitude/

https://www.newsweek.com/oldest-human-settlement-high-altitude-1453268

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/found-earliest-evidence-high-altitude-home-humans-180972878/

On music making in South Africa in the ‘Stone Age’ (broadly defined):

https://theconversation.com/how-our-african-ancestors-made-sound-in-the-stone-age-121142

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

ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

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

Restoration of Tut’s golden sarcophagus has commenced:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/342157/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/In-Photos-Restoration-starts-on-King-Tutankhamun-g.aspx

https://www.egyptindependent.com/first-ever-restoration-work-for-tutankhamuns-coffin-filmed/

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/73541/Zeidan-to-ET-Tutankhamun-coffin-restoration-process-to-last-for

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2019/08/05/archeology-egypt-starts-restoration-on-king-tuts-coffin_afd058c4-60f0-4742-9788-b227c158e416.html

https://www.dw.com/en/egypt-puts-restoration-of-king-tuts-golden-coffin-on-display/a-49889779

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/05/c_138283438.htm

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2019/08/04/egypt-begins-restoration-on-tutankhamuns-golden-coffin

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/handle-with-care-king-tut-s-coffin-on-the-move-6827tc7k6

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/king-tut-s-coffin-undergoes-first-ever-restoration

https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/tutankhamuns-giant-gold-coffin-has-left-his-tomb-for-first-time-since-its-discovery/

https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-egypt-king-tutankhamun-coffin-1452527

… and the Ministry of Anitiquities had to explain why it and other things were being moved:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/73584/Min-clarifies-reasons-of-transferring-King-Toto%E2%80%99s-tomb-Ramses%E2%80%99s-Obelisk

The ‘other things’ mentioned above include the Rameses II obelisk being moved from Cairo to El Alamein:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/73709/In-Pics-King-Ramses-II-obelisk-to-be-transferred-to

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/342506/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/In-Photos-Ramses-II-obelisk-moved-from-Cairos-Anda.aspx

… and a Ptolemaic burial chamber from Sohag:

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2019/08/07/relocation-of-ptolemaic-burial-chamber-from-sohag-to-new-administrative-capital-faces-heavy-criticism/

https://menafn.com/1098858316/Egypt-Relocation-of-Ptolemaic-burial-chamber-from-Sohag-to-New-Administrative-Capital-faces-heavy-criticism

Plans to develop the site of Saqqara:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/73776/Saqqara-archaeological-site-to-be-developed-Min-of-Antiquities

Latest use of ancient yeast is of the 4500 years bp Egyptian variety being used to bake bread:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49262255

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/yeast-from-ancient-pottery-used-bake-bread-1618093

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bread-was-made-using-4500-year-old-egyptian-yeast-180972842/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7885-190807-egypt-yeast-bread

… and a recreation of an Egyptian perfume is also making news:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/cleopatras-ancient-perfume-recreated

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/may-be-what-cleopatra-smelled-180972854/

Nice feature on assorted pyramids at Giza:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/ancient-egypt-pyramids-shapes/

Brief item on a pair of 5000 years bp burials at the Kulluoba site (Turkey):

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2019/08/04/5000-year-old-human-skeletons-unearthed-in-central-turkey

A cache of 6000+ years bp copper from Nahal Mishmar might be the earliest form of writing (or not):

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-earliest-form-of-writing-may-have-been-found-in-israel-researcher-says-1.7619705

Possible evidence of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 587/586 BCE from the Mount Zion excavations:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-evidence-babylonian-conquest-jerusalem-mount.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/uonc-eot080819.php

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/archaeological-dig-jerusalem-unearths-evidence-040036759.html

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-rare-jewel-found-on-mt-zion-reveals-babylonian-destruction-of-jerusalem-1.7658563

Feature on Gazans trying to protect their antiquities from looting and neglect:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-gazans-struggle-antiquities-neglect-looting.html

https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/gazans-struggle-protect-antiquities-neglect-looting-64821245

https://www.timesofisrael.com/gazans-struggle-to-protect-antiquities-from-neglect-looting/

https://www.apnews.com/03b997d4565b4db799c6d0fe4a1fc263

https://www.thenationalherald.com/255916/gazans-struggle-to-protect-antiquities-from-neglect-looting/

Questioning (sort of) the identification of the House of Peter at Capernaum:

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/capernaum-and-the-house-of-peter-what-we-can-and-cant-say-about-it/132985.htm

A security checkpoint at an archaeological site in Kurdistan isn’t being welcomed:

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/10082019

Feature on crucifixion:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2019/08/Crosses-and-Crucifixions

The Oriental Institute is marking its centennial:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/oi-marks-100-years-discovery-ancient-middle-east

More on the so-called ‘Church of the Apostles’ find:

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/36405-archaeologists-claim-to-have-unearthed-the-church-of-the-apostles-in-israel.html

More on recreating a reed boat for Black Sea theory purposes:

https://www.euronews.com/2019/08/05/explorers-to-sail-ancient-black-sea-route-on-reed-boat-abora-iv

https://www.dw.com/en/german-stone-age-sailor-to-cross-seas-in-reed-boat/a-49860938

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

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

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

Latest 6th century BCE finds around the Temple of Apollo on Despotiko:

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/36446-new-impressive-finds-by-excavation-on-despotiko-island-in-greece.html

http://www.ekathimerini.com/243440/gallery/ekathimerini/in-images/apollos-other-home-on-despotiko

A number of inscriptions and statues from Greece’s ‘Classical Age’ from Xobourgo:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/08/09/trove-of-stunning-classical-age-antiquities-discovered-on-tinos-island/

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/36458-exquisite-classical-era-grave-steles-discoverd-at-cemetery-on-greek-island-of-tinos.html

An ‘intact’ 1st century BCE burial from Kozani (Greece):

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/08/06/archaeologists-discover-intact-tomb-from-first-century-bc-in-kozani-greece/

http://www.ekathimerini.com/243355/article/ekathimerini/news/tomb-dating-to-1st-century-bc-found-intact-in-kozani

An underwater survey off Levitha has identified a number of shipwrecks from various periods:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/08/05/ancient-shipwrecks-off-greek-island-of-evitha-yield-treasure-trove-of-discoveries/

https://www.euronews.com/2019/08/05/ancient-shipwrecks-discovered-in-the-sea-near-small-greek-island

https://www.argophilia.com/news/ancient-aegean-shipwrecks-give-up-secrets-from-the-time-of-cleopatra/223389/

https://neoskosmos.com/en/143167/five-major-ancient-shipwrecks-discovered-off-small-greek-island-in-the-aegean/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7889-190808-greece-aegean-shipwrecks

A lost/forgotten statue of Alexander the Great turned up in a warehouse belonging to the Museum of Veroia:

https://www.livescience.com/66103-lost-alexander-the-great-statue-found.html

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/alexander-the-great-sculpture-found-museum-storage-room-1621348

https://greekcitytimes.com/2019/08/05/forgotten-alexander-great-sculpture-greek-museums-storage-room/

A pair of eagles from a Hellenistic temple site at the Kinik Mound (Turkey):

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2019/08/09/ancient-eagle-sculptures-found-in-anatolian-hellenistic-temple-1565292184

Remains of Serdica’s northern fortification walls have been revealed:

https://sofiaglobe.com/2019/08/08/archaeology-bulgarian-team-finds-parts-of-serdicas-northern-fortification-walls/

Controversy over a wellhead bought by the Met and not preserved for the UK:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/05/roman-sculpture-dismissed-british-museum-finest-bought-new-york/

Plans to excavate York’s Roman gate:

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage/plans-to-reveal-roman-gateway-buried-for-800-years-under-york-s-walls-1-9919480

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage/porta-decumana-everything-we-know-about-the-hidden-roman-gateway-in-york-that-could-soon-be-revealed-1-9927225

Yeroskipou council is trying to negotiate a land swap to protect a development site with a significant archaeological presence:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/08/10/yeroskipou-wants-to-swap-land-to-save-ancient-site-from-development/

In case you missed the find of a Roman ‘senate building’ in Pelusium:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/remains-of-graeco-roman-senate-building-uncovered-in-north-sinai/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7875-roman-senate-building-unearthed-in-egypt

… and the finds from Heracleion:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/heracleion-treasure-trove-discovered-at-egypts-atlantis

The Hollyhurst Hoard/Haul (as it is now called) from Shropshire has been declared treasure:

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/north-shropshire/whitchurch/2019/08/08/hoard-of-roman-coins-found-near-whitchurch-is-declared-treasure/

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-shropshire-49267837

https://www.whitchurchherald.co.uk/news/17828107.39-hollyhurst-haul-39-declared-treasure-inquest/

Interesting Roman site under a restaurant in Puglia:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190807-a-trattoria-with-a-hidden-ancient-underworld

I think we mentioned this possible evidence of trepanation from the site of Euromus:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/142972/ancient-greek-skull-found-in-turkey-shows-evidence-of-neurosurgery-performed-2200-years-ago/

Feature on the Losinj Apoxyomenos:

https://www.timeout.com/croatia/art/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-losinj-apoxyomenos

Plans for Lisbon’s underground Roman galleries to be open year-round:

https://www.portugalresident.com/2019/08/06/underground-roman-galleries-of-lisbon-to-become-year-round-attraction/

Funding to continue the dig at Heraclea Sintica:

https://sofiaglobe.com/2019/08/07/archaeology-bulgaria-grants-100-000-leva-to-continue-dig-at-heraclea-sintica/

https://www.novinite.com/articles/199151/Bulgaria%E2%80%99s+Government+Allocates+BGN+100%2C000+for+Excavations+at+Ancient+City+Heraclea+Sintica

Feature (by Edith Hall) on some ‘working class’ Classicists:

https://www.historytoday.com/archive/making-history/classics-working-masses

What Natalie Haynes is up to:

https://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/henley-college/142306/broadcaster-backs-colleges-classics-course.html

What Joe Romero is up to:

https://eagleeye.umw.edu/2019/08/08/romero-contributes-essay-to-volume-on-ancient-greek-epigram/

What we owe Homer:

https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/08/09/what-we-owe-homer/

Feature on the location of Troy:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/asia/112872388/searching-for-the-real-troy-story-in-turkey

… and Homer’s Greeks (paywalled):

https://www.thenationalherald.com/255690/homers-greeks-bronze-age-mycenaeans-or-gang-lords-from-the-steppes/

Feature on Antony and Cleopatra:

https://www.biography.com/news/cleopatra-mark-antony-love-story-death

… and non-fiddling Nero:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/did-emperor-nero-fiddle-while-rome-burned-true/

Feature on ‘carpe diem’:

https://daily.jstor.org/how-carpe-diem-got-lost-in-translation/

Pointing out that there’s no such thing as a ‘Roman salute’:

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/nazi-salute-furore-there-is-no-such-things-as-a-roman-salute-20190810

https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/society/2165681/nazi-salute-furore-there-is-no-such-things-as-a-roman-salute/

Latest ‘America is not Rome’ piece:

https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2019/08/06/america-is-not-rome-it-just-thinks-it-is/

… and another [probably paywalled]:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/seven-days-in-august-tell-us-were-not-rome-cmfz29cf7

… and another:

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/08/is-there-hope-for-the-american-republic-after-trump.html

How it’s okay to like Sparta:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/just-because-you-like-sparta-doesnt-mean-youre-a-fascist

… in a similar vein:

https://newrepublic.com/article/154685/defense-sparta

How Athenians would have handled Brexit:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/08/how-athenians-would-have-broken-the-brexit-deadlock/

Kevin Spacey was doing things near the Boxer:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/255571/kevin-spacey-reads-a-tribute-to-a-greek-statue-poem-at-rome-museum/

Analyzing Socrates’ methods:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-doughnut-dilemma/201908/why-socrates-methods-are-so-important

More on Rome banning McDonald’s from building near the baths:

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2019/08/no-mcdonalds-cannot-build-next-to-an-ancient-roman-site/

More on connections between Greeks and the Terracotta Army:

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/tourism-businesses/thematic-tourism/36431-experts-ancient-greeks-may-have-guided-creation-of-china%E2%80%99s-terracotta-army-video.html

—–

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/

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

EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

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

Mesolithic finds from a Perthshire farm:

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/953723/archaeological-dig-unearths-12000-year-old-artefacts-at-perthshire-farm/

A survey has revealed a number of ‘unknown monuments’ near Newgrange:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-archaeologists-monuments-newgrange.html

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/unknown-monuments-identified-close-to-newgrange-in-exceptionally-successful-survey-942120.html

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/40-new-ancient-irish-monuments-newgrange

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/spectacular-monument-aligned-with-the-winter-solstice-found-near-newgrange-38381720.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7881-190806-ireland-monuments

A ‘race against time’ at a Neolithic beach site in Orkney:

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage/archaeologists-in-race-against-time-at-site-of-vanishing-ancient-village-in-orkney-1-4978867

Czech archaeologists using an interesting preservation method on a 7000 years bp well:

https://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/restorers-use-sugar-to-preserve-7000-year-old-prehistoric-well

Remains of Anglo Saxon ‘king’s feasts’ from beneath a pub garden in Kent:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/anglo-saxon-royal-manor-faversham-kent-pub-beer-garden-archeologists-pre-roman-era-a9040241.html

https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2019/08/06/Archaeologists-unearth-Anglo-Saxon-manor-in-pub-garden

A Viking ‘drinking hall’ find from Orkney:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-49250718

https://www.livescience.com/viking-drinking-hall-scotland.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/viking-drinking-hall-orkney-norse-history-archaeology-a9043971.html

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage/ancient-viking-drinking-hall-unearthed-in-orkney-1-4977857

https://www.thenational.scot/news/17819769.orkney-discovery-viking-chiefs-drinking-hall/

https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/national/17819041.viking-drinking-hall-unearthed-orkney-archaeologists-claim/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/114874281/viking-drinking-hall-discovered-in-scotland

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/norse-period-hall-skaill-07479.html

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7883-190807-scotland-viking-hall

Latest finds from Auckland Castle (especially the garbage heap):

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/17824911.see-latest-discoveries-made-auckland-castle-dig-site/

https://www.newtonnews.co.uk/74430-2/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7890-190809-england-castle-trash

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7890-medieval-trash-reveals-the-habits-of-england-s-prince-bishops

Medieval finds from a Reading housing development site:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-49248984

A huge 13th century catapult stone find at Hay Castle:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-49269127

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7887-190808-wales-catapult-stone

86 burials from a medieval graveyard in Wales:

https://www.livescience.com/66104-medieval-cemetery-wales-skeletons.html

Very interesting Cistercian site from Co Meath:

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/falling-window-leads-to-big-archaeological-find-1.3977912

https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/cistercian-monastery-beamore-meath

I think we mentioned this ‘pristine’ Renaissance shipwreck from the Baltic Sea:

https://estonianworld.com/life/scientists-find-a-pristine-renaissance-era-shipwreck-between-estonia-and-sweden/

A thousand 17th century silver coins beneath a church floor in Poland:

https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/thousands-of-17th-century-silver-coins-found-buried-in-teutonic-knights-church-7042

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7884-190807-poland-coin-stash

Finds from various periods coming from the recently-resumed dig at Draper’s Hall:

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-news-drapers-hall-dig-16689995

Assorted sites on Kos damaged during an earthquake in 2017 are still awaiting repairs:

https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2019/08/05/mosques-graveyards-on-greek-island-of-kos-await-repairs-since-2017-quake

Some Venetian walls in Nicosia collapsed:

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/tourism-businesses/thematic-tourism/36452-cyprus-department-of-antiquities-on-latest-collapse-of-venetian-walls-of-nicosia-section.html

Nice feature on some of the digs going on in Scotland:

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage/the-archaeologists-adding-to-scotland-s-history-one-dig-at-a-time-1-4977744

Latest on the Tintagel footbridge:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/aug/08/controversial-and-late-tintagel-footbridge-in-cornwall-to-open

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-49280060/cornwall-english-heritage-builds-tintagel-castle-footbridge

They’re looking for the remains of the HMS Beagle:

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/history/search-royal-navy-warship-carried-3193954

… and plans to look for assorted ‘lost’ buildings at Hampton Court Palace:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/10/anne-boleyns-nursery-male-child-never-born-explored-first-time/

More on Sutton Hoo, with a focus on its ‘revamp’:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/aug/05/national-trust-brings-sutton-hoo-alive-with-4m-revamp

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/revamp-breathes-life-into-saxon-burial-site-of-sutton-hoo-cfjg8z987

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-49196625

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/05/sutton-hoo-gets-4m-transformation-field-bumps/

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/sutton-hoo-lottery-project-feature-1-6197464

… and crowdfunding to build a replica Anglo-Saxon ship:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-49270515

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2019/08/08/crowdfunding-campaign-launched-to-build-replica-of-sutton-hoo-ship/

Review of Jula Blackburn, *Time Song*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/06/books/review/books-review-time-songs-julia-blackburn.html

More on possible pig grease use at Stonehenge:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/08/did-stonehenge-builders-use-pig-grease-to-help-slide-megaliths-into-place/

More on the HS2 folks preventing metal detectorists from poking around:

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/hs2-archaeological-dig-metal-detectors-16637142

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

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

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

A pair of Spring and Autumn period ‘couple burials’ from Hebei:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/07/c_138290955.htm

A pair of Han Dynasty burials from Shandong:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/07/c_138290706.htm

This seems to be a ‘final report’ sort of thing on a Song Dynasty shipwreck found over a decade ago:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/07/c_138290706.htm

Latest finds from Manujan in Iran’s Kernan province:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/439017/Archaeologists-shed-light-on-early-settlement-eras-of-Iran-s

Excavations are underway at the Damjili cave site in Azerbaijan:

https://www.azernews.az/nation/154527.html

https://menafn.com/1098851223/Japanese-archaeologist-carries-out-excavation-in-ancient-Damjili-cave

A Bronze Age burial from Kazakhstan’s Karaganda region:

https://astanatimes.com/2019/08/bronze-age-grave-and-gold-items-found-in-karaganda-region/

Not sure if this is the same site:

https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhs-unearth-iron-age-lovers/30096345.html

Not sure of the dating of this ‘Turkic Stamp’ from Mongolia:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2019/08/10/ancient-turkic-stamp-statues-discovered-in-mongolia

A site dating to 1400 BCE or so from Odisha:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/radiocarbon-dating-says-odisha-delta-site-is-3600-years-old/article28809302.ece

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7880-190806-india-copper-age-village

A 1st century BCE Buddhist cave from Andra Pradesh:

https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/1st-century-bc-buddhist-cave-found-at-dhanamkonda-hill-551989

Tracking Maori ‘social networks’ with obsidian:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/114646271/mori-social-networks-revealed-by-obsidian

Remains of a 12th century ‘princely residence’ in Belarus:

https://eng.belta.by/society/view/fragments-of-12th-century-polotsk-princely-residence-unearthed-in-belarus-123220-2019/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7893-190809-belarus-princely-residence

Drought exposed a temple in a Thailand reservoir:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-49248504/thailand-hidden-temple-emerges-from-drought-hit-landscape

https://www.livescience.com/66118-drought-reveals-lost-temple.html

Feature on Harappan script:

https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/science/deciphering-harappan-script-most-mysterious-writing-in-the-world/1671060/

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

NORTH AMERICA

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

A Native American site of some sort found during stadium construction in Indian Valley:

https://www.wksu.org/post/artifacts-found-stadium-site-reflect-indian-valley-history#stream/0

An abalone shell found during excavations of a Chumash-associated mission site in California:

https://www.edhat.com/news/la-purisima-mission-excavation-unearths-chumash-artifacts

https://syvnews.com/news/local/excavation-at-la-purisima-mission-unearths-chumash-artifacts-teaches-aspiring/article_82fc04fe-aed8-5380-905b-35f5b1e0fb26.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7888-190808-california-chumash-abalone

An 18th century sideplate from Mackinaw City Fort:

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/article/1770s-sideplate-unearthed-at-historic-Mackinaw-14279297.php

https://www.sentinel-standard.com/news/20190806/1770s-artifact-unearthed-at-mackinaw-city-fort/1

https://apnews.com/7281430c01d146b3b6e4c807f9c86676

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7876-190805-michigan-gun-sideplate

Digging an 18th century trading post site in Niles (Michigan):

https://wwmt.com/news/local/a-little-bit-of-digging-brings-an-18th-century-trading-post-to-life

Finds made prior to highway construction near Alberta’s Cochrane Ranch:

https://www.cochranetoday.ca/local-news/archeologists-peer-into-cochranes-past-1621442

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7892-190809-canada-cochrane-ranche

A hermit cabin in Idaho’s Salmon-Challis National Forest has been restored:

https://www.postregister.com/news/local/cabin-fever-forest-service-restores-old-hermit-s-historic-cabin/article_1a5b4196-8b88-5ee4-9798-b8808661e0bd.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7891-190809-idaho-hermit-cabin

Native Americans are trying to get the site of the Alamo declared an ‘unknown cemetery’:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-native-americans-declare-alamo-grounds.html

https://www.timesunion.com/news/texas/article/Native-Americans-seek-to-declare-Alamo-grounds-14293199.php

Feature on a dig at Fort Joseph:

https://wmich.edu/news/2019/08/54551

Feature on shipwrecks in Mallows Bay:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/jagged-remains-of-more-than-100-ghostly-ships-rest-forever-in-mallows-bay/2019/08/07/5f65030c-b919-11e9-a091-6a96e67d9cce_story.html

What Matthew Liebmann is up to:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-archaeologist-tribe-explore-history-historic.html

What Nancy O’Malley is up to:

https://www.weku.fm/post/excavating-fort-boonesborough-archaeologist-nancy-omalley

Feature on the Franklin Expedition:

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2019/08/1845-explorers-sought-the-northwest-passage-then-vanished

UGA is funding a study of its connections to slavery:

https://news.uga.edu/uga-funds-research-role-slavery/

https://www.onlineathens.com/news/20190807/uga-to-fund-research-on-role-of-slavery-at-university

A website to explore Lake Erie shipwrecks online:

https://www.cleveland19.com/2019/08/06/explore-shipwrecks-off-northeast-ohio-coast-lake-erie-without-getting-wet-interactive-website/

More on the identification of that Connecticut ‘vampire’:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/07/31/vampires-remains-were-found-about-years-ago-now-dna-is-giving-him-new-life/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/08/10/new-england-vampire-identified-using-dna-evidence/1879081001/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-englands-mystery-vampire-was-likely-farmer-named-john-180972815/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7878-190805-connecticut-tuberculosis-vampire

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

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

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

A study of the remains of the Maya city of Witzna is suggesting they were rather more warlike earlier than previously thought:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-maya-warlike-previously-thought.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/uoc–mmw080519.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190805143527.htm

https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2019/08/annihilation-of-ancient-maya-city-an-act-of-warfare/

https://www.livescience.com/66102-maya-civilization-was-ultraviolent-before-collapse.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/05/science/mayan-warfare-archaeology.html

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ancient-maya-warfare-flared-surprisingly-early

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/08/ancient-maya-practiced-total-war-before-drought/

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2019/08/05/maya-warfare-city-burned-witzna/

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/bahlam-jol-maya-warfare/

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/08/warring-maya-kingdoms-razed-enemy-cities-to-the-ground/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7877-190805-maya-witzna-total-war

A LiDAR study elsewhere seems to have similar conclusions:

https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2019/08/lasers-reveal-maya-war-ruins/

A Taino burial site from Jamaica:

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20190807/taino-find-israeli-miner-turns-over-artefacts-remains-found-hellshire

http://www.archaeology.org/news/7886-190808-jamaica-taino-burial-site

Latest on the Macchu Pichu airport proposal:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/aug/09/machu-picchu-airport-unesco-demands-answers-from-peru-government

More on Mesoamerican interest in magnetism:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/mesoamerican-sculptures-reveal-early-knowledge-magnetism-180972820/

—–

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

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

Using medieval texts to study comets and other celestial phenomena:

https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/how-medieval-monks-are-revealing-our-universes-sec/p07jljv5

Feature on underwater archaeology:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/how-underwater-archaeology-reveals-hidden-wonders.aspx

Nice restoration of a Louis Charon painting:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-49109447

Reflecting on Magellan’s voyage:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-years-magellan-voyage-world.html

Feature on trepanation:

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160826-why-our-ancestors-drilled-holes-in-each-others-skulls

Protesting a telescope on Mauna Kea:

https://www.livescience.com/66101-hawaii-jason-momoa-dwayne-johnson-telescope.html

Feature on the Holy Roman Empire:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/early-modern/holy-roman-empire-facts-what-when-how-long-name-called-emperors/

Buying a Rembrandt in a bar … what could go wrong?:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/rembrandt-painting-bar-belgium-1617904

Reviewish sort of thing on the beginnings of cultural anthropology:

https://www.npr.org/2019/08/05/748128240/gods-of-the-upper-air-traces-the-birth-of-cultural-anthropology

Feature on the five most powerful empires in history:

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ranked-5-most-powerful-empires-history-america-not-1-72046

The roses were falling at Santa Maria Maggiore:

https://catholic-sf.org/news/white-roses-fall-inside-roman-basilica-to-mark-4th-century-marian-miracle

On the history of the metal detector:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49089803

The cochlea can be used to differentiate sex of a skeleton:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-depths-ear-cochlea-indicator-sex.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/c-iti080519.php

Victor Nuovo’s latest is on the rule of law:

http://addisonindependent.com/opeds/victor-nuovo-establishing-rule-law

Rising interest in the Shroud of Turin:

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/the-shroud-of-turin-latest-study-deepens-mystery

Feature on the invention of synthetic purple dye:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/perkin-mauve-purple/index.html

On the role of mosquitoes in human history:

https://www.npr.org/2019/08/04/748002281/a-history-of-the-mosquito-our-deadliest-predator

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/books/out-for-blood-530571311.html

What Scots reveals about the development of language:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/lsoa-gs080819.php

An interview with Ian Hodder:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/podcast-the-changing-field-of-archaeology-with-ian-hodder/

Kafka’s papers have landed in Israel:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/07/books/kafka-archive-jerusalem-israel.html

Folks seem interested in this giant parrot:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/giant-parrot-1.5238617

A 2000 year old optical problem has been solved, apparently:

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-physicists-year-old-optical-problem.html

Review of Robert Wilson, *Barnum*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/06/books/review/robert-wilson-barnum.html

Review of Shlomo Avineri’s biography of Karl Marx:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/06/books/review/shlomo-avineri-karl-marx.html

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

MUSEUM MATTERS

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

Last Supper in Pompeii:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/07/arts/design/rome-food-last-supper-in-pompeii.html

http://mentalfloss.com/article/592556/new-oxford-exhibition-shows-what-and-how-ancient-romans-ate

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17828885.last-supper-pompeii-ashmolean-museum-brings-roman-treasures-oxford-unique-show/

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/aug/11/ancient-menus-archaeology-modern-tastes

Manet:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/01/arts/design/manet-modern-beauty-review-chicago.html

Inspired by the East:

https://themedialine.org/mideast-streets/british-museum-unveils-new-exhibition-depicting-islamic-worlds-influence-on-west/

Although the article seems to have math issues, some 7000 years bp figurines are on display in the Guray Museum:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts-culture/2019/08/08/ancient-religious-figurines-displayed-in-underground-cappadocia-museum

Codes and Codebreaking:

https://www.armidaleexpress.com.au/story/6321140/the-case-of-the-secret-cipher-unes-new-exhibition-challenges-codebreakers/

Latest items transferred to the GEM:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/342643/Egypt/Politics-/Granite-Sphinx-of-Ramses-II,-other-artefacts-trans.aspx

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/73530/4500-pieces-belonging-to-King-Tut-transferred-to-GEM

https://egyptianstreets.com/2019/08/11/ministry-of-antiquities-large-cairo-museum-artifacts-transferred-to-gem/

The Sharm el-Sheikh Museum will be opening next year:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/sharm-el-sheikh-museum-to-be-inaugurated-next-year-at-le1-2-billion-cost/

Update on the new British Museum storage facility:

https://www.building.co.uk/news/graham-lands-27m-british-museum-storage-facility/5100984.article

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

AUCTIONS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

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

Big bucks for a Chinese ‘dog bowl’:

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/oakland-park/fl-ne-half-million-dog-bowl-at-oakland-park-auction-20190805-5e3mjlwekffxlo7u4gvhqovyu4-story.html

A major 19th century print portfolio is coming to auction:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/aug/09/astounding-19th-century-print-portfolio-goes-under-the-hammer

The UK blocked a Monet from leaving:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-49299170

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

THE TECHY SIDE

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

Feature on C14:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/aug/10/most-important-isotope-how-carbon-14-revolutionised-science

Feature on underwater 3d scanning:

https://futurescot.com/the-future-of-underwater-archaeology-aberdeen-subsea-3d-scanning-specialists-use-pioneering-digital-imagery-to-document-last-moments-of-lost-wwii-submarine/

Feature on ‘space archaeology’:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/space-satellites-transforming-how-archaeologists-study-past

Feature on LiDAR:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/archaeology/lasers-lidar-driving-revolution-archaeology/

Feature on isoptopic analysis:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/where-you-grew-up-what-you-ateyour-bones-record-your-life.aspx

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

TOURISTY THINGS

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

Samos:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/08/05/exploring-samos-the-island-of-legends/

Ikaria:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/08/05/ikaria-an-island-of-many-myths/

You can’t sit on the Spanish Steps anymore:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/07/rome-spanish-steps-fascist-style-measures-against-tourists

https://www.unionleader.com/news/human_interest/sitting-on-rome-s-famous-spanish-steps-can-now-cost/article_352e1bb5-ecd2-5f83-ad4f-f914297c595c.html

https://www.dw.com/en/romans-critical-of-spanish-steps-sitting-ban/a-49938182

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/rome-spanish-steps-sitting-eating-1.5241308

Venice has banned the huge cruise ships:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49276730

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

PERFORMANCES

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

Midsummer Night’s Dream:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/07/theater/joseph-amazing-dreamcoat-midsummer-nights-dream-london.html

Coriolanus:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/05/theater/coriolanus-shakespeare-park-review.html

Oedipus:

https://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/17822497.oedipus-reborn-power-hungry-politician-edinburgh-international-festival/

Trojan Women:

https://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2019/08/edinburgh-festival-fringe-2019-review-the-trojans-%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85/

Iphigenia Among the Taurians:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/255796/new-york-euripides-summer-festival-presents-iphigenia-among-the-taurians/

Prometheus Bound:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/243426/article/ekathimerini/whats-on/prometheus-bound–epidaurus–august-9-10

Lysistrata:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/The-AlphaNYC-Presents-LYSISTRATA-20190808

Six Wives of Henry VIII:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thoroughly-modern-musical-about-henry-viiis-six-wives-coming-broadway-180972799/

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

CRIME BEAT

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

A ‘cursed medieval bell’ was stolen in Scotland:

https://www.livescience.com/66115-stolen-bell-harry-potter-cursed.html

More coverage of that major bust in Europe:

https://hyperallergic.com/513008/18000-illegally-trafficked-cultural-goods-seized-in-an-international-crackdown/

Another seizure of a ‘Roman era’ book in Turkey:

https://www.dailysabah.com/investigations/2019/08/10/security-forces-seize-roman-era-book-in-southeastern-turkeys-diyarbakir

ISIL supposedly has a pile of money, including funds from purloined antiquities:

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190806-un-chief-daesh-has-as-much-as-300m-to-keep-fighting/

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2019/Aug-07/489204-un-chief-daesh-has-as-much-as-300-million-to-finance-fight.ashx

https://www.dailysabah.com/mideast/2019/08/07/daesh-has-as-much-as-300-million-to-fight-un-says

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

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

Latest Nazi loot return:

https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Antisemitism/Nazi-stolen-artwork-returned-to-Jewish-family-after-80-years-597840

Jamaica is the latest nation seeking repatriation of items held by the British Museum:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/07/minister-seeks-return-of-priceless-artefacts-from-british-museum

https://jamaicans.com/jamaica-demands-british-museum-return-artifacts-taken-during-colonial-era/

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

NUMISMATICA

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

Feature on Roman Republic silver serrati coins:

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/ngc-ancients-roman-republican-silver-serrati-coins/

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v22/club_nbs_esylum_v22n31.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v22/club_nbs_esylum_v22n32.html

————————

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

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

OBITUARIES

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

Toni Morrison:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/times2/toni-morrison-dies-tribute-she-knew-the-power-of-words-to-hurt-and-incite-hmd3xjjf5

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/toni-morrison-beloved-author-who-catalogued-african-american-experience-dies-88-180972833/

Anner Bylsma:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/arts/anner-bylsma-dead.html

Dorothy Olsen:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/09/us/dorothy-olsen-dead.html

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

AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS

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

Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/2873-audio-news-from-archaeologica-21-july-3-august-2019

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

CONFERENCES

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

European Association of Biblical Studies Annual Conference (August 2019):

https://www.eabs.net/EABS/Conferences/Warsaw_2019/EABS/Abstract_system/Call_for_papers_Warsaw.aspx

CBA Wessex Annual Conference (November 2019):

https://www.cba-wessex.org.uk/product-category/conference/

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

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

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

EXPLORATOR is a free weekly newsletter bringing you the latest

news of archaeological finds, historical research and the like.

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email source) without my express written permission. I think it

is only right that I be made aware of public fora which are

making use of content gathered in Explorator. Thanks!

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