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

John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, David Critchley,

Don Buck, Trevor Watkins, Alan Brockway, Richard Campbell, Richard C. Griffiths,

Rick Pettigrew, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week

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

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

EARLY HOMINIDS

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

Evidence of a tumour on the toe of a homo ergaster (maybe) fossil from South Africa:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-cancer-paleo-diet-million-years.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-36912529

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/oldest-cancer-ever-found-discovered-in-south-africa-potentially-challenging-ideas-about-disease-a7162946.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/07/27/worlds-oldest-example-of-cancer-found-in-17-million-year-old-fos/

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/28/487775814/ancient-bone-shows-evidence-of-cancer-in-human-ancestor

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/28/health/oldest-human-cancer-found/index.html

The demise of the Neanderthals came hot on the heels of a population peak, apparently:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-sudden-extinction-neanderthals-population-peak.html

… while their brains apparently grew just like ours do:

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/07/neandertal-baby-brains-may-have-grown-ours?rss=1

That said, they don’t appear to have been able to adapt to the cold very well:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/07/29/how-parka-jackets-saved-early-humans-from-the-chilly-fate-of-the/

OpEddish sort of thing criticizing media coverage of evolution matters:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-future-human-science-case-media.html

Checking out the Australasian genome suggests there’s a ‘missing ancestor’ in there somewhere:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2098566-mystery-ancient-human-ancestor-found-in-australasian-family-tree/

An orangutan which can mimic human speech is being studied:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-36895395

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-voice-orangutan-clues-early-human.html

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

AFRICA

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

Feature on Cape Verde’s role in the slave trade:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/27/travel/cape-verde-slave-archeology/index.html

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

ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

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

Figuring out what some defensive structures on the Middle Nile were used for:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,410546,poles-have-solved-the-riddle-of-defensive-structures-of-the-middle-nile.html

More coverage of Egypt’s putting that Khufu papyrus on display:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3692283/The-diary-pyramid-builder-Oldest-papyrus-existence-details-workers-shifted-stones-sheep-ate-reveal-secrets-inside-Great-Pyramid-Giza.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Egypt is putting together a ‘replica tour’:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/44/236272/Heritage/Museums/AlAhram-and-antiquities-ministry-to-organise-first.aspx

… and they’ve put together a map of sites:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/236187/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/A-map-of-Egypts-archaeological-sites-to-be-launche.aspx

Overview of Egyptian history:

http://www.livescience.com/55578-egyptian-civilization.html

8000 years bp cave painting from Balikesir:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/8000-year-old-cave-paintings-found-in-turkeys-balikesir.aspx?pageID=238&nID=102139&NewsCatID=375

Excavating Pteria (Iron Age):

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/lost-city-of-pteria-finally-unearthed-in-turkeys-yozgat.aspx?pageID=238&nID=102105&NewsCatID=375

http://www.dailysabah.com/history/2016/07/27/excavation-reveals-ancient-city-in-yozgat

Remains of a Canaanite fort from the Galilee:

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=35229

http://www.algemeiner.com/2016/07/26/israeli-teens-unearth-remains-of-3700-year-old-canaanite-fortress/

A 2200 years bp ‘dinner set’ from Manisa:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-dinner-set-found-in-turkeys-manisa.aspx?pageID=517&nID=102272&NewsCatID=375

Remains of an Egyptian statue from Tel Hazor:

http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/31994

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160725090228.htm

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Historic-archeological-discovery-of-Egyptian-statue-unearthed-in-Tel-Hazor-462312

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/statue-of-egyptian-official-found-at-tel-hazor/2016/07/25/

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/365641

http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/72590/3900-year-old-egyptian-statue-discovered-northern-israel/

http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/.premium-1.733282

http://artdaily.com/news/89000/Hebrew-University-of-Jerusalem-announces-historic-find-at-Tel-Hazor–A-statue-of-an-Egyptian-official

Lots of press coverage for Israel putting a mummy on display after undergoing an examination:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-israel-ancient-mummy-modern-day-afflictions.html

http://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-only-mummy-gets-afterlife-spotlight-at-israel-museum/

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/26/487505112/mummified-egyptian-was-just-as-sedentary-and-carb-hungry-as-modern-men?sc=17&f=1001

A 1600 years bp rock hewn pottery kiln from Western Galilee:

http://www.livescience.com/55559-roman-pottery-kiln-discovered-israel.html

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Unique-1600-year-old-kiln-pottery-manufacturing-shop-discovered-in-Western-Galilee-462541

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/high-school-students-help-discover-a-unique-1600-year-old-pottery-workshop-in-the-galilee/2016/07/27/

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/215624

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=35291

http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/72882/unique-1600-year-old-roman-pottery-workshop-discovered-galilee/

Plans to restore a Byzantine mosaic in the Jewish Quarter’s Cardo section (it’s really more than that):

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4834148,00.html

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Article.aspx?id=462329

A Bible-based sort of look at the excavations at Gath:

http://www.christianexaminer.com/article/through-the-bible-walking-in-the-footsteps-of-goliath-of-gath/50891.htm

Background piece on the Philistines:

http://www.livescience.com/55429-philistines.html

Questioning the existence of the Phoenicians (sort of):

http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/1.733940

Transfer of an ancient library from the Rockefeller Museum in east Jerusalem has been okayed:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/High-Court-of-Justice-okays-transfer-of-ancient-library-to-western-Jerusalem-462255

A couple of Waqf employees “attacked” an archaeologist on Temple Mount:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-archaeologist-says-he-was-attacked-on-temple-mount/

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/islamic-guards/2016/07/27/

http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/346309/2-muslim-temple-mount-officials-arrested-for-attack-on-jews/

A good article on ISIL’s role in the illicit antiquities trade:

http://www.iar-gwu.org/content/isil-and-illicit-antiquities-trade-0

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

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

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

A figurine of Ceres from Arbeia:

http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2016-07-27/mini-figure-of-roman-goddess-uncovered-at-arbeia/

Archaic finds from the Sanctuary of Apollo at Despotiko:

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2016/07/22/archaeologists-at-despotikos-apollo-sanctuary-uncover-mysteries-of-archaic-era-greece/

Romano-British finds from Market Harborough:

http://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/mail-news/iron-age-and-roman-relics-found-in-market-harborough-1-7497101

Possible Roman burials from Burton Latimer:

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/video-ancient-skeletons-discovered-at-site-of-new-housing-development-in-burton-latimer-1-7493100

A mosaic uncovered by Mortimer Wheeler at St Alban’s is going on display:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-36922827

http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/14644473.Roman_mosaic_to_be_uncovered_for_second_time_since_discovery/

Nice coverage of Duke’s digs in Italy this summer:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-team-paths-major-archeological-summer.html

http://today.duke.edu/2016/07/italydiscoveries

http://scienceblog.com/486545/two-approaches-digging-discoveries-italy/

Interesting account of that reunification of statue body with statue head at the Getty:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/a-curators-keen-eye-reunites-statues-head-with-body/

https://us-mg6.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=67dsdo9gqjnln#9011150587

Overview of recent finds in Bulgaria:

http://sofiaglobe.com/2016/07/30/archaeological-finds-in-bulgaria-july-2016-highlights/

Interesting examination of a Roman burial from Naples:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2016/07/27/ancient-roman-man-tiptoed-through-life-from-a-hip-fracture/#4345d7095eda

A shortage of archaeological workers is complicating excavations in Cyzicus:

http://www.dailysabah.com/history/2016/07/27/shortage-of-workers-cripple-archaeological-excavation

… where they’re excavating Hadrian’s temple:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/archeologist-out-to-unearth-legendry-hadrian-temple.aspx?pageID=238&nid=102063

Renovations are under way at the Roman theatre at Iznik:

http://www.dailysabah.com/history/2016/07/25/ancient-theater-reclaims-original-identity

Apparently they won’t be excavating Chester’s amphitheatre:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-36886970

The Yorkshire Museum is trying to raise funds to save a Roman hoard found at Wold Newton a few years ago:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-36883829

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/dig-deep-to-keep-hoard-of-historic-treasure-in-yorkshire-1-8033050

http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art559195-yorkshire-museum-roman-coin-hoard-appeal

The Battle Krater from Grave Circle A has gone on display:

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/17338-battle-krater-latest-unseen-exhibit-at-athens-national-archaeological-museum.html

Feature on the Piraeus lion:

http://www.historytoday.com/rhys-griffiths/grand-tour-piraeus-lion

Feature on the Celts of Britain:

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/opinion/article_bf765130-55dd-11e6-b8d5-8f4128cdd98b.html

Concerns for Pavlopetri:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/210812/article/ekathimerini/life/ancient-underwater-city-at-risk

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/17431-ancient-underwater-city-of-pavlopetri-in-laconia-at-risk.html

What Jeanine Diddle Uzzi is up to:

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/07/29/former-professor-southern-maine-returns-provost-after-being-laid

Italy is planning to put broadband at all its World Heritage sites:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-36903603

The annual summer popular press disgust piece on garum:

http://www.vox.com/2016/7/26/12278742/roman-fish-sauce-garum-liquamen

Review of Riley, *The Edge of Empire*:

http://www.providencejournal.com/entertainmentlife/20160728/book-review-engaging-travel-guide-across-roman-empire

More on the Fourni shipwrecks:

http://neoskosmos.com/news/en/45-ancient-shipwrecks-discovered-off-Greek-islands

More on the Vatican’s digitization of an Aeneid manuscript:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jul/28/vatican-library-digitises-1600-year-old-edition-of-virgil

—–

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/

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

EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

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

A Norwegian petroglyph was seriously vandalized:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3714763/Norwegian-rock-carving-skier-damaged-forver-teenager-scratched-make-clearer.html

More finds from 1066 (Battle of Fulford) from York:

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/NEWS/14643062.More_1066_artefacts_found_in_York/

A 12th century brooch from an Irish beach:

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/American-student-finds-12th-century-Irish-brooch-on-a-Galway-Beach-PHOTOS.html

Plenty of interest of the find of a 340 years bp piece of cheese in a Swedish shipwreck:

http://www.thelocal.se/20160727/old-stinky-cheese-found-on-swedish-17th-century-ship

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/36914162

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/27/divers-in-sweden-sniff-out-340-year-old-shipwrecked-cheese

http://abcnews.go.com/WNN/video/shipwreck-discovery-reveals-340-year-tin-cheese-40953834

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/gouda-find-divers-discover-340-year-old-dairy-product-in-shipwreck-180959939/

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/world/we-think-its-cheese-divers-discover-340-year-old-roquefort-in-swedish-shipwreck

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3714525/Now-S-ripe-cheese-Smelly-Roquefort-like-substance-pot-340-year-old-Swedish-shipwreck.html

Interesting study of some Baltic shipwrecks:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/07/27/ancient-ships-death-were-they-mission-politics-plunder/87586278/

Examination of Vordingborg Castle (Norway) is causing a bit of a rethink:

http://sciencenordic.com/new-discovery-rewrites-history-denmark%E2%80%99s-biggest-royal-castle

The Viking sunstone thing is back in the news (not sure if there’s anything new here):

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-experimentation-vikings-sunstone.html

Vikings were buried with board games:

http://www.scotsman.com/news/vikings-were-buried-with-board-games-on-orkney-1-4187676

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3711273/The-Viking-family-buried-favourite-board-games-Playing-pieces-Norse-boat-grave-thought-entertain-dead-afterlife.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Latest from King’s Lynn:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/archaeologists_discover_more_about_the_lives_of_king_s_lynn_fisherfolk_1_4629760

They’ve dated Perthshire’s timber circle to 5000 years bp:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/perthshires-ancient-timber-circle-older-8492343

A sword that was stored in a barn turns out to date from the Bronze Age:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-36878956

Some Bronze Age finds from Wales have been declared treasure:

http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art559137-three-axes-buried-field-monmouthshire-wales

… as has a pendant from a Shropshire field:

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2016/07/28/pendant-found-in-shropshire-field-is-declared-to-be-treasure/

A portrait of Elizabeth I was ‘saved’ through fundraising:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36916720

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/28/elizabeth-i-armada-portrait-saved-for-the-nation/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36922398

… and a painting of St Luke will also be staying:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36892644

Feature on a prince burial (found in 1959) from Beckum:

http://www.medievalhistories.com/prince-beckum-ad-600-650/

Feature on medieval Trier:

http://www.medievalhistories.com/trier-medieval-town-crisis/

Bramall Hall has reopened after a ‘makeover’:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-36914724

Hidden Victorian waterworks on the outskirts of Glasgow:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14649742.Restoration_work_uncovers_secrets_of_Victorian_engineering/

Plans to dig at Congresbury Community Cross:

http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/excavation-on-historic-congresbury-monument/

Plans to dig a ‘mysterious mound’ in Eastbourne:

http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/archaeologists-hope-to-uncover-secrets-of-eastbourne-s-mysterious-mound-1-7495516

Potential effects of Brexit on UK archaeology:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/jul/30/big-issue-orkney-finds-archaeology

Pondering the origins of the Orkney vole:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/25/how-did-the-orkney-vole-arrive-from-mainland-europe

More hype for the Tintagel Castle dig:

http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2016-07-26/tintagel-castle-archaeologists-begin-vital-dig-to-find-out-about-historic-sites-past/

More on that 40 000 years bp rope-making tool:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-rope-years.html

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/rope-making-tool-germany-04047.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3706824/Ice-Age-mystery-unravels-40-000-year-old-carved-mammoth-tusk-used-make-ROPE-not-musical-instrument.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/07/2016/40000-year-old-mammoth-ivory-rope-making-tool-from-hohle-fels-cave

More on water mills and the medieval salmon population:

http://www.medievalhistories.com/salmon-suffered-medieval-water-mills/

More on that piece of a human armbone found at the Ness of Brodgar:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-36854431

More on that Viking ‘power couple’ burial:

http://www.sciencealert.com/archaeologists-uncovered-one-of-the-biggest-viking-axes-ever

More on evidence for the first monastery at Lindisfarne:

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/07/2016/evidence-found-for-first-monastery-on-lindisfarne

More on the Pompeii of the Fens (the first one focuses on a ball of yarn found there):

http://www.ecouterre.com/archaeologists-just-found-a-3000-year-old-ball-of-yarn/

http://www.livescience.com/55549-bronze-age-village-burned-by-warriors.html

http://www.livescience.com/55547-photos-must-farm-bronze-age-village.html

https://www.yahoo.com/news/prehistoric-village-likely-torched-bronze-age-warriors-135138014.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3710616/Was-Pompeii-Fens-destroyed-raid-Bronze-Age-settlement-newly-built-burned-down.html

—–

Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

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

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

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

A pre-hispanic burial ground from CamSur town (Philippines):

http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/234062/pre-hispanic-burial-ground-unearthed-in-camsur-town

Concerns for the Great Wall of China:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/29/travel/china-great-wall-crack-down/index.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3714175/The-Great-War-China-Country-vows-crack-damage-ancient-fortress-30-cent-wall-disappeared.html

Studying ancient earthquakes in the Himalayas:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-ancient-temples-himalaya-reveal-earthquakes.html

http://www.livescience.com/55546-ancient-temples-reveal-india-earthquake-risk.html

The Forbidden City’s 600 years bp plumbing still works just fine:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/07/29/the-forbidden-citys-600-year-old-plumbing-keeps-it-dry-as-the-rest-of-china-floods/

Some interesting finds during repairs to Singapore’s Catholic Cathedral:

http://eglasie.mepasie.org/asie-du-sud-est/singapour/2016-07-18-les-tresors-enfouis-de-la-cathedrale-du-bon-pasteur-a-singapour

More on latrines and disease along the Silk Route:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/silk-road-transported-goods-and-disease/

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/parasitic-worm-eggs-found-silk-road-latrine-artifacts

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-poop-sticks-offer-clues-spread-disease-along-silk-road-180959900/

—–

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

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

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

NORTH AMERICA

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

An Ice Age hunting camp from Utah:

http://westerndigs.org/ice-age-hunting-camp-replete-with-bird-bones-and-tobacco-found-in-utah-desert/

Pre-Clovis finds from Texas:

http://westerndigs.org/16000-year-old-tools-discovered-in-texas-among-the-oldest-yet-found-in-the-west/

Plenty of coverage of the discovery of the location of Fort San Marcos under a South Carolina golf course:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-lost-spanish-fort-south-carolina.html

https://www.yahoo.com/news/remains-lost-spanish-fort-found-151507701.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0727/How-archaeologists-uncovered-a-long-lost-Spanish-fort-without-lifting-a-shovel

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/26/spanish-fort-found-san-marcos-south-carolina

http://savannahnow.com/news/2016-07-26/uga-archaeologist-helps-unearth-long-sought-after-spanish-fort-lowcountry

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/remains-of-lost-spanish-fort-found-on-south-carolina-coast/

https://www.rt.com/usa/353454-spanish-fort-south-carolina/

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/26/remains-of-lost-spanish-fort-found-on-south-caroli/

http://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/07/san-marcos-spanish-fort/493091/

Remains of a wall from the Alamo:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Adode-wall-found-at-Alamo-site-8408385.php

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20160725-archaeologists-excited-to-discover-adobe-brick-wall-at-alamo.ece

http://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/archaeologists-make-exciting-discovery-at-the-alamo

http://www.wideopencountry.com/archaeologists-make-huge-historical-find-at-alamo-dig-site/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3710137/Archaeologists-Texas-make-exciting-discovery-finding-ruins-adobe-brick-wall-dig-site-legendary-Alamo.html

A possible 19th century shipwreck off the coast of Nova Scotia:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/coast-guard-shipwreck-discovery-nova-scotia-1.3695456

Digging at Fort Vancouver:

http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/jul/28/digging-into-history-at-fort/

The dig at Fort George continues:

http://poststar.com/news/local/unlayering-the-earth-to-reveal-the-past/article_ea32735c-9721-5282-91ac-aa2322cabc9c.html

… as does the dig at Jamestown:

http://www.dailypress.com/features/dp-nws-jamestown-dig-update-20160731-story.html

Digging a site at Tors Cove (Newfoundland):

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/memorial-university-archeological-field-school-tors-cove-1.3691139

… while Sarah Parcak and crew are back looking for evidence of a Viking settlement in Newfoundland:

http://www.thewesternstar.com/News/Local/2016-07-25/article-4597710/Archeologist-returns-to-Codroy-Valley-to-hunt-for-evidence-of-Viking-presence/1

Digging a New Mexico Pueblo site:

http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/2016/07/30/nmsu-students-excavate-ancient-new-mexico-pueblo/87749290/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

On Native American oyster fishing on Chesapeake Bay:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/07/28/487618421/oyster-archaeology-ancient-trash-holds-clues-to-sustainable-harvesting

Folks in Chaco Canyon appear to have had special reverence for folks with extra digits:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-ancestral-puebloans-honored-people-with-extra-digits-180959919/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/07/chaco-canyon-pueblo-bonito-social-implications-polydactyly-extra-toes/

Concerns for coastal native sites in California’s Redwood Park:

http://www.npr.org/2016/07/26/486471614/as-storms-erode-californias-cliffs-buried-village-could-get-washed-away?sc=17&f=1001

It seems to be becoming an annual thing that wildfires in the Western US reveal archaeological sites:

http://www.wsj.com/video/wildfires-uncover-historic-treasures-for-archaeologists/31263190-90AC-48E1-9464-A44AD3327093.html

Revisiting the idea that ancient Polynesians might have made it to California:

http://m.sfgate.com/news/article/Did-ancient-Polynesians-visit-California-Maybe-2661327.php?cmpid=fb-desktop

Feature on Syracuse’s typewriter past:

http://www.syracuse.com/vintage/2016/07/typewriter_capital_of_the_worl.html

Feature on Pueblo ball courts in Arizona:

http://azdailysun.com/lifestyles/columnists/ask-a-ranger-the-ball-court-league/article_90f6cd43-ec1b-5008-a369-4466e5a5636d.html

On slave labour and the White House:

http://www.npr.org/2016/07/27/487667955/slave-labor-and-the-longer-history-of-the-white-house

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/bill-oreilly-and-the-long-tradition-of-slavery-apology/493223/

On the role of coffee in assorted US conflicts:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/07/25/485227943/if-war-is-hell-then-coffee-has-offered-u-s-soldiers-some-salvation

More on efforts to preserve Bears Ears:

http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2016-4-july-august/green-life/fight-protect-bears-ears

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CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

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

Important stelae (and other items) from a tomb at Xunantunich (Belize):

http://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2016/06/15/xunantunich-tells-archaeological-find/

http://www.sanpedrosun.com/arts-culture/2016/07/28/major-discovery-at-xunantunich-tells-an-unknown-story/

http://www.reporter.bz/general/largest-mayan-tomb-discovered-at-xunantunich/

Plenty of coverage for the discovery of a water tunnel beneath Pakal’s tomb at Palenque:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-mexico-tunnels-pakal-tomb-palenque.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/25/palenque-mexico-pakal-underground-water-tunnel-system

http://www.reuters.com/video/2016/07/27/canal-found-under-mayan-temple-believed?videoId=369401456&feedType=VideoRSS&feedName=TopNews&videoChannel=1

http://www.euronews.com/2016/07/27/canal-discovered-beneath-mayan-temple-could-be-gateway-to-afterlife

http://globalnews.ca/news/2851415/possible-gateway-to-afterlife-found-under-mayan-temple/

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/82519636/Ancient-canals-found-under-Mayan-temple-in-Palenque-Mexico

http://www.dw.com/en/ancient-mayans-didnt-fly-to-space-they-flushed-themselves-down-a-canal-say-mexican-archaeologists/a-19427003

http://artdaily.com/news/89017/Mexican-archeologists-find-canal-under-Maya-pyramid–Gateway-to-afterlife-

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/mexico-finds-water-tunnel-under-pakal-tomb-in-pal/2016/07/25/d48fdbde-52ce-11e6-b652-315ae5d4d4dd_story.html

http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2016/07/26/actualidad/1469490503_973577.html

… including what is possibly the worst-edited piece from the Daily Mail I’ve ever seen:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3707409/Mexico-finds-water-tunnels-Pakal-tomb-Palenque.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Is there a hidden ‘treasure chamber’ beneath Machu Picchu?:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2016/07/26/will-a-hidden-treasure-chamber-discovered-under-machu-picchu-finally-be-revealed/

Studying mummy hair from pre-hispanic Chile:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mummy-hair-points-to-a-low-stress-life-in-ancient-south-america/

Studying dental remains from Oaxaca’s Rio Verde Valley:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-bioarchaeologist-dental-explore-ancient-people.html

Latest (such as it is) on the elongated skulls from Paracas:

http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-paracas-elongated-skulls-changing-history-110054

Feature on Maya society:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/laying-bare-the-bones-of-ancient-maya-society/

—–

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 copy of David on display in Russia is causing concern:

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-36913915

… while Renaissance nudity is still shocking, apparently:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2016/jul/25/renaissance-art-nudity-cover-up-sistine-chapel-leonardo-censorship

… related in an illuminated manuscript:

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/fitzwilliam-museum-experts-get-to-the-bottom-of-a-historical-cover-up/story-29548781-detail/story.html

Pondering the voices Joan of Arc heard:

http://www.livescience.com/55597-joan-of-arc-voices-epilepsy.html

Some neglected women of history:

http://www.livescience.com/55485-amazing-women-history-forgot.html

On the history of arsenic:

http://www.livescience.com/29522-arsenic.html

Hidden adult themes in Beatrix Potter:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160728-the-hidden-adult-themes-in-beatrix-potter

Feature on sites we’ve lost over the past century or so:

http://www.livescience.com/55560-historical-treasures-recently-lost.html

Study tying the rise of tuberculosis to fire use:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-early-emergence-tuberculosis.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-26/did-early-campfires-trigger-the-emergence-of-tuberculosis/7658818

Feature on Edwardian postcard use:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-postcards-link-edwardian-social-media.html

http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/projects/EVIIpc/

A ‘lost’ Charles le Brun painting has been restored:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36882097

On ‘technopanics’ in history:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160701-historys-greatest-technopanics

A database of whalers:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-ancestor-whales-museum-database-clues.html

Tracking population heights over the past century or so:

http://www.dw.com/en/study-finds-dutch-men-are-the-worlds-tallest/a-19428519

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/07/27/487391773/americans-are-shrinking-while-chinese-and-koreans-sprout-up

Archaeology Podcast Network:

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

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

MUSEUM MATTERS

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

James Brindley:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36912826

BP is cutting its sponsorship with the British Museum (a bit):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36916283

DaVinci’s designs:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160727-leon

Midas:

http://6abc.com/entertainment/penn-museum-king-midas—6abc-loves-the-arts/1447056/

Illuminated Manuscripts:

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/jul/28/colour-the-art-and-science-of-illuminated-manuscripts-review-a-rainbow-of-agony-and-ecstasy?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2016/jul/28/colour-the-art-and-science-of-illuminated-manuscripts-in-pictures?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

http://www.newsweek.com/adam-and-eve-naked-once-again-new-exhibition-483717

Seaton Down Hoard:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-36875938

The curator of China’s largest private museum has gone missing:

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2016-07/29/content_38982895.htm

Allegations of ‘inside jobs’ thefts at museums in Cyprus:

http://cyprus-mail.com/2016/07/26/phedonos-lashes-antiquities-head-refuses-retract-allegations-artefact-thefts/

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

THE TECHY SIDE

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

Latest facial recreation is of the Bronze Age ‘Ava’:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-36923891

http://www.thedailystar.net/science/facial-reconstruction-made-bronze-age-woman-ava-1261756

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3715379/The-face-Ava-revealed-Scientists-reconstruct-head-Bronze-Age-woman-died-far-north-Scotland-3-700-years-ago.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Feature on recent sites found from aerial photographs in the UK:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-36912891

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2099195-aerial-pictures-reveal-englands-ancient-archaeological-sites/

http://www.chichester.co.uk/news/local/remarkable-photo-of-ancient-cemetery-is-revealed-1-7499333

More on trying to digitally preserve a Mumbai cave:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-are-trying-digitally-preserve-ancient-cave-it-demolished-180959876/

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

ON THE DNA FRONT

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

DNA suggests Yorkshire is the most Anglo Saxon part of the UK:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/jul/28/yorkshire-is-most-anglo-saxon-region-in-the-uk-dna-analysis-suggests

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/28/how-british-are-you-mapped-dna-testing-shows-the-most-anglo-saxo/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3711040/How-British-Genetic-study-reveals-Yorkshire-Anglo-Saxon-UK-East-Midlands-Scandinavian.html

DNA also suggests a variety of rice types were grown in Asia:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-grain-rice-ancient-dna-view.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0727/Scientists-probe-ancient-grains-of-rice-and-are-surprised-by-what-they-find

More on the genetic origins of the first farmers:

http://phys.org/news/2016-07-dna-analyses-reveal-genetic-identities.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160725133733.htm

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-07/hms-dar072516.php

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/07/2016/ancient-dna-study-probes-origin-of-first-farmers

Dienekes’ Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/

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

TOURISTY THINGS

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

Viking school in Denmark:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/learn-be-viking-ribe-denmark-180959707/?no-ist

Turkey:

http://www.pennlive.com/life/2016/07/visiting_turkey.html

http://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Beyond-Istanbul-antiquity

Olympia (Greece):

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/24/travel/greece-olympics-delphi-olympia.html

Hadrian’s Wall:

http://www.listener.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/hadrians-wall-united-kingdom/

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

CRIME BEAT

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

Strange/interesting art heist from a hotel in Madrid:

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2417648&CategoryId=13003

Latest Anonymous Swiss Collector Culture Crime news:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2016/07/culture-crime-news-18-24-july-2016.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/

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

NUMISMATICA

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

Feature on turtles and tortoises on ancient coins:

http://www.coinweek.com/featured-news/turtles-tortoises-ancient-coins/

High expectations for a rare British penny coin set coming to auction:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3710931/See-penny-pick-day-long-ll-115-000-Incredibly-rare-1933-British-penny-coin-set-fetch-world-record-Texas-auction.html

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v19n30.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v19n31.html

————————

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

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

PERFORMANCES AND THEATRE-RELATED

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

Shakeshafte:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-36897552

Benighted:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36922793

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

AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS

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

Audio News from Archaeologica:

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-main-menu-cat/audio-news-list/2458-audio-news-from-archaeologica-17-july-2016-23-july-2016

The July edition of Strata: Portraits of Humanity:

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/video-guide/strata-portraits-of-humanity/2444-strata-july-2016

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

OBITUARIES

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

Ursula Franklin:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadian-scientist-educator-ursula-franklin-remembered-as-global-pioneer/article31112167/?cmpid=rss1

PV Parabrahma Sastry

http://www.telugumirchi.com/en/other-news/eminent-archaeologist-and-historian-passes-away.html

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

CONFERENCES

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

Maya at the Playa (September 29-October 2):

http://www.mayaattheplaya.com/registration

Dumbarton Oaks Annual Symposium (October 7-8):

http://www.doaks.org/research/pre-columbian/scholarly-activities/sacred-matter-animism-and-authority-in-the-pre-columbian-americas

6th Rye Medieval Academic Conference (October 22):

https://sussexpast.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Rye-conf-poster.pdf

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

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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