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

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

Laurel Carey, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, David Critchley, Richard Miller,

Bob Heuman, Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses

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

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

EARLY HOMINIDS

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

Pondering Australopithecus’ artistic abilities:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/01/arts/design/nasher-sculpture-center-dallas-first-sculpture-review.html

More on finds in India causing questioning of ‘Out of Africa’:

https://phys.org/news/2018-01-stone-tools-india-earlier-human.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/india-stone-tools-africa-exit-human-early-movement-travel-earth-mystery-a8189051.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/02/01/very-old-very-sophisticated-tools-found-in-india-the-question-is-who-made-them/?utm_term=.c274847bf8cf

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/stone-tools-from-india-fan-debate-over-origins-of-cultural-complexity/

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/deadthings/2018/01/31/stone-tools-from-india/#.WncBtZOpk1I

http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-02-01/mystery-surrounds-ancient-but-advanced-tools-found-in-india/9379078

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/01/31/582102242/discovery-in-india-suggests-an-early-global-spread-of-stone-age-technology

https://www.timesofisrael.com/stone-tools-in-india-suggest-earlier-human-exit-from-africa/

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sharp-stones-found-india-signal-surprisingly-early-toolmaking-advances?tgt=nr

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/01/new-discoveries-raise-critical-questions-for-out-of-africa-hypothesis/

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/01/india-stone-tools-human-evolution-archaeology-science/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/stone-tools-india-raise-questions-about-spread-ancient-technology-180968020/

https://www.archaeology.org/6318-180201-india-palaeolithic-tools

Meanwhile, someone is following the purported route of the ‘Out of Africa’ migration:

http://www.dw.com/en/journalist-paul-salopek-explores-ancient-path-of-human-migration/a-42371456

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/out-of-eden-walk/

They’re looking at the original remains of Peking ‘Man’:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-tooth-sockets-famous-skull-reconsideration.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180201092031.htm

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2018/02/01/Study-details-Peking-Mans-teeth/8711517502454/

What Rolf Quam is up to:

https://www.bupipedream.com/news/90930/bu-professor-aids-in-discovery-of-oldest-human-remains/

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

ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

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

A 4400 years bp tomb of a priestess near Giza:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/289277/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Tomb-of-th-Dynasty-top-official-Hetpet-discovered-.aspx

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/41894/All-you-need-to-know-about-Hetpet%E2%80%99s-Tomb

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/41799/New-tomb-discovered-to-an-Ancient-Egyptian-woman-named-Hetpet

http://www.egyptindependent.com/4400-year-old-tomb-of-top-pharaoh-official-discovered-in-egypt/

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2018/02/03/tomb-fifth-dynasty-priestess-discovered-giza/

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/world/africa/egypt-tomb-hetpet-priestess.html

https://www.livescience.com/61648-ancient-egypt-tomb-royal-female.html

https://www.livescience.com/61647-photos-royal-female-tomb-egypt.html

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-egypt-year-old-tomb-cairo.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42931533

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-africa-42932591/4400-year-old-tomb-discovered-in-egypt

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/03/egypt-discovers-4400-year-old-tomb-near-countrys-famed-pyramids/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/egypt-pyramid-giza-4400-tomb-hetpet-cairo-archeology-a8192926.html

https://www.independent.ie/world-news/4400yearold-tomb-discovered-outside-cairo-36563201.html

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/egypt/4-000-year-old-tomb-discovered-outside-cario-archaeologists-say-1.5786741

https://www.timesofisrael.com/4400-year-old-tomb-discovered-outside-cairo/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/africa/101167544/Tomb-thought-to-be-4400-years-old-discovered-in-Egypt

http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-egypt-tomb-rare-painting-excavation-798983

https://www.thedailybeast.com/egypt-unveils-4400-year-old-tomb-near-cairo

https://www.yahoo.com/news/egypt-unveils-tomb-ancient-priestess-000556483.html

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/01/egypt-tomb-woman-priestess-hetpet-archaeology/

Three burial shafts (maybe 3rd century BCE) from the Abusir necropolis:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/289192/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Rockhewn-burial-shaft-uncovered-in-Egypts-Abusir-n.aspx

http://www.egyptindependent.com/three-burial-chambers-engraved-with-hieroglyphics-discovered-in-giza/

https://www.archaeology.org/6319-180201-egypt-abusir-shafts

They’re scanning for hidden chambers in Tut’s tomb again:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/289210/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Radar-scan-underway-to-search-for-hidden-chambers-.aspx

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-egypt-radar-scans-secret-rooms.html

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/41736/Egyptian-Archaeologists-start-scanning-King-Tut%E2%80%99s-burial-chamber

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/king-tut-tomb-hidden-chamber-scan-egypt/

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/are-experts-about-make-discovery-century-king-tuts-tomb-scanned-hidden-chambers-1658450

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2018/01/30/italians-seek-tutankhamen-tomb-secrets_5e96b712-e77f-4bc6-81d9-4fa8710699a6.html

An interview with Eilat Mazar:

https://www.thetrumpet.com/16854-an-interview-with-israeli-archaeologist-dr-eilat-mazar

More coverage about the Turkish airstrike on the Hittite temple at Ain Dara:

https://hyperallergic.com/423867/ain-dara-temple-destroyed/

https://www.livescience.com/61569-airstrikes-syria-damage-temple.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42858265

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/29/turkish-bombing-damages-3000-year-old-temple-northern-syria/

http://abcnews.go.com/International/ancient-syrian-temple-reduced-rubble-airstrike-syrian-government/story?id=52765093

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hittite-temple-of-of-ain-dara-is-razed-by-turkish-airstrike-dq20vcxjb

https://www.timesofisrael.com/ancient-syrian-temple-damaged-in-turkish-raids-against-kurds/

http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/iconic-ancient-temple-is-latest-victim-in-civil-war.aspx

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/-a-loss-as-great-as-palmyra-syrian-temple-of-ain-dara-severely-damaged-by-turkish-forces

http://www.menafn.com/1096406702/Syria-%22archaeological-sites-in-Afrin-has-to-be-protected%22

https://www.yahoo.com/news/blown-bits-famed-syria-temple-falls-victim-turkey-180208042.html

http://artdaily.com/news/102161/Blown-to-bits–famed-Syria-temple-falls-victim-to-Turkey-assault

Some evidence of ‘fake news’ about Ramses the Great (apparently):

https://phys.org/news/2018-01-evidence-pharaoh-ramses-fake-news.html

Egypt is opening a Zahi Hawas Egyptology centre:

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2018/02/03/egypt-open-zahi-hawas-egyptology-centre/

… and Saudi Arabia is honouring him as well:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/289085/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Saudi-Arabia-honours-Egyptian-Egyptologist-Zahi-Ha.aspx

Egypt is going to make some archaeological sites more accessible:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/288996/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Egypts-archaeological-sites-to-be-made-more-access.aspx

Some sort of Assyrian (?) relief from Al Omer:

http://desteya-shunwaran.com/ar/stony-sculpture-found-in-al-omer-field-in-der-al-zor/

They’re digging at the Burnt City again:

http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/420893/Fresh-archaeological-season-starts-near-Burnt-City

More finds (I think) from Oman:

http://timesofoman.com/article/127209/Oman/Three-important-archaeological-sites-unearthed-in-Oman

Possible First Temple ‘royal estate’ remains at the newly-opened Ein Hanya archaeological park:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/first-temple-era-relics-of-possible-royal-estate-found-in-jerusalem-hills/

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-first-temple-era-ruins-featured-in-new-archaeological-park-1.5787185

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/archaeology-news/excavations-reveal-first-temple-treasures-large-pool-system-outside-jerusalem/2018/01/31/

http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-biblical-site-jerusalem-byzantine-pool-rare-greek-coin-797290

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/archaeology-news/excavations-reveal-first-temple-treasures-large-pool-system-outside-jerusalem/2018/01/31/

https://www.archaeology.org/news/6317-180131-israel-greek-drachma

A family on a hike in Beit She’an National Park found a 1500 years bp Byzantine pot:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/look-what-the-rain-swept-in-families-find-1500-year-old-jug-during-hike/

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/241340

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Family-discovers-1500-year-old-Byzantine-era-jug-following-rain-storm-540225

More on that recently ‘deciphered’ DSS:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/dead-sea-scrolls/qumran-community-364-day-calendar/

More on those Roman burials found in a Palestinian garden:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2018/01/27/gazan-man-discovers-hidden-ancient-graves-in-garden

http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-roman-graves-rainfall-793152

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/life-style/travel-and-tourism/2018/01/27/Gazan-unearths-Roman-era-graves-in-vegetable-patch-.html

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

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

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

On the search for Raphta:

https://mg.co.za/article/2018-02-02-00-finding-raphta-east-africas-lost-roman-era-city/

On Eric Poehler’s work on Pompeii ‘ruts’:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-roman-streets-got-in-a-rut-92r5jb55l

On the UK being ‘tricked’ out of the Trojan treasure:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/britain-was-tricked-out-of-trojan-treasure-8fwqzxh8z

Silliness of the week: claim that ancient Greeks sailed to Canada:

https://www.hakaimagazine.com/news/did-ancient-greeks-sail-to-canada/

They were brewing beer in Bronze Age Greece apparently:

https://www.livescience.com/61590-oldest-beer-in-greece.html

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/tourism-businesses/gastronomy/29841-study-beer-in-greece-dates-back-to-bronze-age.html

What they’re learning from some tablets from Iklaina:

https://hellenicnews.com/clay-tablets-may-lead-earliest-government-ancient-greece/

On the purported origins of Feta cheese:

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/01/29/the-ancient-greek-roots-of-feta-cheese/

A different sort of ‘Roman hoard found by detectorists’ story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-42887063

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/30/detectorists-stumble-treasure-trove-roman-gold-think/

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5456947/detectorists-bbc-treasure-hunters-roman-gold-suffolk/

What the world owes the Greeks:

http://thefederalist.com/2018/01/30/what-our-world-owes-to-the-ancient-greeks-self-rule-and-a-focus-on-the-common-good/

Latest on the Phaistos Disk (stay tuned, apparently):

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/02/03/archaeologist-cracks-mystery-of-phaistos-disk/

Underground lakes found beneath the Coelian Hill in Rome:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/underground-lakes-found-under-romes-coelian-hill.html

Enthusiasm for reintroducing Latin and Greek in Glasgow schools:

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1403755/re-introduction-of-classics-would-prompt-huge-interest/

What Barbara Weiden Boyd is up to:

http://community.bowdoin.edu/news/2018/01/reappraising-ovid-professor-boyd-examines-the-roman-poets-relationship-with-homeric-tradition/

Interview with Richard Thomas:

https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/did-dylan-really-deserve-the-nobel-prize-the-answer-my-friend-is-yes/

What Amy Jones Abbe is up to:

https://news.olemiss.edu/conservator-visiting-um-museum-examine-marble-sculpture-collection/

http://hottytoddy.com/2018/01/30/conservator-visiting-um-museum-examine-marble-sculpture-collection/

Nice feature on Mary Beard:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/jan/30/mary-beard-the-cult-of

In case you’re wondering how that Greece-Macedonia thing is going:

https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/38773565/athens-wants-untranslatable-name-for-macedonia/

Latest reviews of Britannia:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2018/02/01/britannia-episode-three-review-roman-invasion-dramastill-manages/

http://www.menafn.com/1096404988/Cool-Britannia-TV-drama-doesnt-capture-the-story-being-unearthed-of-the-Roman-invasion

A shop recreating ancient Greek sculptures:

http://www.djournal.com/news/nation-world/ap-photos-greek-workshop-recreates-ancient-masterpieces/article_2f84812e-be69-5a8a-9958-1df18cb8a9fe.html

More rumblings about BBC/Netflix’s Troy:

https://dailyreview.com.au/netflix-troy-and-the-he/70971/

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz-tv/hot-tv/678338/Hot-TV-Troy-the-fall-of-a-city-endeavour-I-m-a-Celebrity-Hold-the-Sunset-strike-back

Oddly haven’t seen many anti-Roman-numeral rants this week:

http://www.startribune.com/roman-numerals-so-prominent-this-week-have-their-place-in-the-past/471839103/

More on that amazing gemstone from Pylos:

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/01/27/amazing-ancient-greek-carving-baffles-scientists/

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/29720-report-amazing-ancient-greek-carving-intrigues-scientists.html

More on a Byzantine mosaic found in Syria during mine clearing:

http://world.greekreporter.com/2018/01/17/greek-culture-unearthed-in-war-torn-syria/

—–

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/

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

EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

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

A 6000 years bp mother-and-baby burial from the Netherlands:

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2018/01/archaeologists-find-earliest-babys-grave-in-the-netherlands/

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/6000-year-old-baby-teeth-found-cradled-mothers-arm-netherlands-grave-1657740

A Bronze Age cist burial near Northumberland:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-42816943

https://www.archaeology.org/news/6313-180130-england-stunning-skeleton

A site which is being dubbed the campsite for the ‘architects of Stonehenge’:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/02/archaeologists-architects-camp-stonehenge-larkhill

http://www.archaeology.org/news/6320-180202-england-larkhill-alignment

A mass grave found in the 1980s has been dated to the time of the Viking Great Army:

http://bristol.ac.uk/news/2018/february/radiocarbon-viking-grave-.html

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-radiocarbon-dating-reveals-mass-grave.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/uob-rdr020118.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180202085235.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42918121

http://sciencenordic.com/english-mass-grave-contains-remains-viking-great-army

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/viking-burial-grave-site-derbyshire-england-carbon-dating-spd/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/viking-great-army-mass-graves-vicarage-garden-skeletons-repton-archaeologists-a8190926.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/02/02/mass-grave-viking-army-contained-slaughtered-children-help-dead/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/6321-180202-great-viking-army

Studying medieval mass graves in Latvia:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2018/01/31/archaeologists-study-medieval-mass-graves-in-latvia-for-evidence-of-plague-and-famine/#4c5ba1f8639a

An interesting medieval double-bladed knife find from Poland:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C27960%2Cunique-knife-early-medieval-scribe-discovered-pasym.html

https://www.archaeology.org/news/6312-180130-poland-medieval-knife

A medieval chess piece from Norway:

https://www.livescience.com/61552-old-chess-piece-discovered.html

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/800-year-old-arabian-pattern-chess-piece-discovered-southern-norway-758968

http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-chess-knight-norway-islamic-arabian-archaeologists-793897

http://www.archaeology.org/news/6310-180129-norway-knight-chess

Shakespeare’s Shoreditch theatre had a really big stage:

https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2018/01/30/shakespeares-shoreditch-theatre-found-to-have-extra-large-stage/

Feature on Dresden’s Semperoper:

http://www.dw.com/en/semperoper-the-jewel-of-dresden/g-17395458

The Trumpington Cross will be going on display:

http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/national/15911279.Rare_Anglo_Saxon_cross_found_in_early_Christian_grave_to_go_on_display/

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/01/1300-year-old-anglo-saxon-cross-presented-to-cambridge-museum

http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/01/trumpington-cross-found-1300-year-old-corpse-aristocratic-teen-go-display-7277790/

More on that pair of shipwrecks found in the Baltic:

https://www.thelocal.se/20180126/swedish-divers-find-two-new-incredible-shipwrecks-in-the-baltic-sea

https://www.archaeology.org/news/6309-180129-sweden-cog-shipwreck

More on finds from melting glaciers in Norway:

http://sciencenordic.com/discoveries-1400-year-old-ice-surprise-scientists

https://www.livescience.com/61549-photos-reindeer-hunting-artifacts.html

More on that ‘Mesolithic crayon’:

https://phys.org/news/2018-01-ancient-lake-reveals-colourful.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/worlds-oldest-crayon-discovered-great-britain-180967976/

—–

Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

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

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

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

Remains of a 2200 years bp ‘government music office’ from Shaanxi:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/29/c_136933992.htm

https://www.archaeology.org/news/6311-180129-china-music-office

An Eastern Han Dynasty tombs from Jiangxi:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/30/c_136936765.htm

A Tang Dynasty landscpe mural from Shaanxi:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-02/04/c_136948782.htm

A possible ‘boat coffin’ from Southwest China:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-02/04/c_136948772.htm

Evidence of a city of some sort in Lumbini ca 1300 BCE:

https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/civilisation-existed-lumbini-1300-bc/

Latest on the cleaning of the Taj Mahal:

http://www.smh.com.au/world/india-gives-taj-mahal-a-mud-bath-to-get-rid-of-350-years-of-grime-20180131-p4yz47.html

—–

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

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

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

NORTH AMERICA

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

A shell midden find from near White Rock, BC:

http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/ancient-midden-found-after-semiahmoo-nation-pressed-for-archeological-assessment

https://www.archaeology.org/news/6314-180130-canada-shell-midden

I think we mentioned this 900 years bp copper arrow point find from the Yukon:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/archaeologist-ice-patches-copper-arrowhead-yukon-first-nations-1.4485895

https://www.archaeology.org/news/6316-180131-copper-barbed-antler

Reconstructing 14 000 years bp projectile points from Alaska:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/uow-raa013118.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180131144448.htm

https://phys.org/news/2018-01-reconstructing-ancient-lethal-weapon.html

More on the evidence of the possible location for the sunken Pulaski off North Carolina:

http://www.newsweek.com/gold-silver-coins-atlantic-ocean-sunken-steamship-794265

http://www.courier-tribune.com/news/20180129/divers-find-gold-coins-at-nc-shipwreck-site

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

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

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

Very interesting 2400 years bp mass grave find in Mexico City:

http://www.inah.gob.mx/es/boletines/6865-descubren-en-tlalpan-un-entierro-multiple-de-los-primeros-aldeanos-de-la-cuenca-de-mexico

https://www.livescience.com/61622-spiral-ancient-skeletons-mexico-city.html

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/remains-of-10-people-are-2400-years-old/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/02/02/mysterious-circle-of-intertwined-human-skeletons-unearthed-by-mexican-archaeologists/?utm_term=.5187350d57b1

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/archaeologists-uncover-intertwined-skeletons-dating-11945358

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/01/burial-pit-found-mexico-city-archaeology-pre-aztec-spd/

http://www.newsweek.com/circle-ancient-human-skeletons-arms-linked-discovered-mexico-797038

https://www.archaeology.org/news/6323-180202-mexico-tlalpan-burial

The big news this week appears to be the find, via LiDAR of extensive Maya structures in Guatemala:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-experts-hidden-ancient-maya-guatemala.html

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-scientists-massive-mayan-society-guatemala.html

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-laser-technology-reveals-secrets-ancient.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/world/americas/mayan-city-discovery-laser.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-42916261

https://www.livescience.com/61616-mysterious-maya-structures-discovered.html

http://www.theyucatantimes.com/2018/02/state-of-the-art-mega-laser-scanner-reveals-maya-megalopolis-below-tikal-guatemala/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/02/vast-network-hidden-maya-cities-discovered-guatemala-jungle/

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/03/scientists-discover-ancient-mayan-city-hidden-under-guatemalan-jungle

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/maya-guatemala-jungle-mayan-structures-hidden-buildings-thousands-survey-scan-a8190626.html

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/02/lasers-shed-some-light-on-the-maya-snake-kingdom/

http://www.dw.com/en/maya-finds-shed-new-light-on-lost-civilization/a-42420099

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/02/03/mayan-civilization-was-much-vaster-than-known-thousands-of-newly-discovered-structures-reveal/?utm_term=.164cb2fe31b0

https://www.yahoo.com/news/experts-discover-hidden-ancient-maya-structures-guatemala-054537357.html

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/101149246/Laser-technology-shines-light-on-Mayan-megalopolis-hidden-beneath-the-jungle

http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/laser-scans-reveal-maya-megalopolis-below-guatemalan-jungle.aspx

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/maya-laser-lidar-guatemala-pacunam/

http://www.newsweek.com/hidden-ancient-mayan-megalopolis-60000-structures-discovered-guatemala-using-797865

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/02/582664327/game-changer-maya-cities-unearthed-in-guatemala-forest-using-lasers

http://www.archaeology.org/news/6322-180202-guatemala-maya-landscape

Feature on Xlapak:

http://www.theyucatantimes.com/2018/01/xlapak-an-agricultural-hub-for-the-ancient-maya-in-the-heart-of-the-puuc-route/

More 19th century burials of Chinese immigrants to Peru:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/chinese-mummies-peru-1.4517145?cmp=rss

A truck driver trying to avoid a toll damaged some of the Nazca lines this week:

https://phys.org/news/2018-01-truck-peru-ancient-nazca-lines.html

https://hyperallergic.com/424851/truck-driver-plows-through-and-damages-perus-nazca-lines/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-42884741

http://artdaily.com/news/102139/Truck-damages-Peru-s-ancient-Nazca-lines

https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/38776777/truck-damages-perus-ancient-nazca-lines/

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/driver-ploughs-into-historic-nazca-lines-while-trying-dodge-highway-toll-1657690

http://www.newsweek.com/truck-runs-over-ancient-peruvian-site-795722

http://www.dw.com/en/truck-drives-over-peru-nazca-lines-damaging-unesco-world-heritage-site/a-42377031

https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/01/americas/nazca-lines-peru-truck-driver/index.html

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/01/31/582269403/truck-driver-plows-over-perus-2-000-year-old-nazca-lines-leaving-deep-scars

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/truck-driver-leaves-tire-tracks-ancient-nasca-lines-180968026/

More on turkeys in Mexico:

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/01/31/581701821/ancient-turkey-bones-in-mexico-reveal-a-strange-relationship-with-humans

—–

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

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

There were apparently massive fires on earth some 12 800 years bp:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180201173251.htm

Latest on humans and megafauna extinction:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180130091320.htm

Interesting study of dice in various periods:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/uoc–inh013018.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180130140246.htm

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/uoc–inh013018.php

https://www.sciencealert.com/2-000-years-of-dice-design-evolved-fairness-probability

On The Tremulous Hand:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/31/tremulous-hand-stars-in-british-librarys-web-showcase-of-medieval-literature

Munch photography:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-sight/wp/2018/01/19/beyond-the-scream-painter-edvard-munch-experiments-with-photography/

On the cultivation of weeds (plural) by various ancient societies:

https://cosmosmagazine.com/archaeology/ancient-societies-deliberately-cultivated-weeds

Taking down a Waterhouse painting caused a bit of a backlash at the Manchester Art Gallery:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42917974

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42904024

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/feb/02/banning-artworks-such-as-hylas-and-the-nymphs-is-a-long-slippery-slope

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/02/nymphs-manchester-art-gallery-perspective-censorship

Latest on the Voynich Manuscript:

https://gizmodo.com/artificial-intelligence-may-have-cracked-freaky-600-yea-1822519232

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/artificial-intelligence-takes-crack-mysterious-voynich-manuscript-180967983/

… while King Ferdinand’s secret code has been broken, apparently:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42931940

On salt and pepper:

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/02/02/582477785/how-did-salt-and-pepper-become-the-soulmates-of-western-cuisine

Checking out the Sistine Chapel:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2018/02/02/sistine-chapel-art-gallagher-pkg-cnni.cnn

A portrait of Millicent Fawcett is going on display:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/02/millicent-fawcett-portrait-tate-britain-suffrage-centenary

Posters from the Suffragette era:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-42875095

Suggestion that journalists fabricated Jack the Ripper letters:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/were-ripper-letters-fabricated-journalists-180968004/

Feature on a newly-digitized 16th century ‘planisphere’:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/explore-continents-islands-and-unicorns-largest-known-early-map-180967871/

On the smallpox vaccine:

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/02/01/582370199/whats-the-real-story-about-the-milkmaid-and-the-smallpox-vaccine

Feature on The Orphan’s Story:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/02/novel-lost-for-400-years-sheds-light-on-spains-imperial-heights

On the origins of macaroni and cheese:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180130-macaroni-cheeses-mysterious-origins

Studying alchemy:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/01/30/this-chemist-is-unlocking-the-secrets-of-alchemy/?utm_term=.7fe7e954fd49

More on the impending Bayeux Tapestry loan:

https://www.varsity.co.uk/opinion/14508

Some Valentine’s Day stuff:

http://www.pennlive.com/life/2018/02/what_is_valentines_day.html

… and Groundhog Day:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/02/02/the-truth-about-groundhog-day-punxsutawney-phil-is-131-year-old-fake-news/

Review of several books on Charlotte Bronte:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/public/charlotte-bronte-jane-eyre-hughes/

Archaeology Podcast Network:

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

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

MUSEUM MATTERS

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

Charles I:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/charles-i-king-and-collector-royal-academy-of-arts/index.html

https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/charles-i-king-and-collector

Michelangelo:

http://www.silive.com/gracelyn/2018/02/michelangelo_divine_draftsman_designer_is_a_must-see_at_the_met.html

Thomas Cole:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/did-americas-great-landscape-painter-fear-progress-and-hate-democracy/2018/01/31/6d8340c8-05e9-11e8-8777-2a059f168dd2_story.html

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

THE TECHY SIDE

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

More on the facial reconstruction of Avgi:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/experts-reconstruct-face-mesolithic-era-teenager-180967969/

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

ON THE DNA FRONT

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

More on the origins of Scandinavians according to genomic research:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/mpif-nep012918.php

https://phys.org/news/2018-01-northern-european-population-history-revealed.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180130090844.htm

Dienekes’ Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/

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

TOURISTY THINGS

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

Iraqi Kurdistan:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/29/travel/visiting-iraqi-kurdistan.html?em_pos=large&ref=headline&te=1&nl=travel-dispatch&emc=edit_tl_20180203

Campeche pyramids:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/travel/campeche-mexico-pyramids.html

Santorini:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180128-santorini-an-archetypal-greek-island-fantasy

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

CRIME BEAT

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

Major break in at the Canterbury Archaeological Trust:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-42924351

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/01/thieves-steal-hundreds-of-artefacts-from-canterbury-archaeological-trust

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/02/canterbury-artefacts-may-have-been-stolen-by-metal-thieves

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/02/02/whirlwind-thievery-canterbury-archaeological-trust-devastating/

A man was arrested in Israel for looting Byzantine era coins:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/negev-antiquities-robber-nabbed-with-trove-of-150-byzantine-era-coins/

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Man-arrested-for-looting-150-Byzantine-era-coins-from-archeological-sites-540133

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/409759

Lebanon caught a pair of guys smuggling antiquities from Syria:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-02/04/c_136947076.htm

A politically-connected (?) bust in Istanbul:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-police-bust-pyd-linked-archeological-artifacts-smuggling-ring-in-istanbul-126367

A busy of Saint Victor was stolen from a French church:

https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/faits-divers-justice/le-buste-de-sainte-victoire-volee-dans-l-eglise-de-simiane-la-rotonde-1517504897

Feature on Matthew Bogdanos:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-marine-turned-prosecutor-busting-antiquities-thieves

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

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

Plenty of coverage of the repatriation of a number of items to Lebanon from the US:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-lebanon-stolen-ancient-artifacts.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/lebanon-stolen-ancient-statues-returned-1.4518272?cmp=rss

http://gulfnews.com/news/mena/lebanon/ancient-statues-return-to-lebanon-1.2167604

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-antiquities/ancient-statues-return-to-lebanon-as-war-on-smuggling-intensifies-idUSKBN1FM220

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2018/Feb-02/436611-stolen-antiquities-repatriated-to-lebanon.ashx

A stolen denarius was returned to Portugal:

https://blog.gainesvillecoins.com/2018/02/03/stolen-silver-denarius-coin-returned-to-portugal/

More on the return of that Hecatomnus crown to Turkey:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/31/c_136939888.htm

http://www.archaeology.org/news/6308-180129-turkey-gold-crown

The Speed Art Museum is returning a krater to Italy:

http://artdaily.com/news/102158/The-Speed-Art-Museum-and-Italian-Ministry-reach-loan-agreement-on-ancient-calyx-krater

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

NUMISMATICA

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

On collecting ancient counterfeits:

https://www.coinworld.com/news/world-coins/2018/01/when-ancient-counterfeit-coins-are-collectible.html

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n04.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n05.html

————————

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

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

AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS

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

Audio News from Archaeologica:

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-main-menu-cat/audio-news-list/2683-audio-news-from-archaeologica-21-january-2017-27-january-2018

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

CONFERENCES

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

Hidden Cultural Heritage (April 2018):

http://www.cicop.net/hch/

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

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

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

EXPLORATOR is a free weekly newsletter bringing you the latest

news of archaeological finds, historical research and the like.

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