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explorator 19.47-48 March 26, 2017
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If you're having problems getting 'the whole issue', read Explorator
online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/

Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,
John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Hernan
Astudillo,
Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, Rick Heli, Richard Campbell,
Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

Apologies for being much later than usual ... firefox's latest update
didn't get along well with my Mac this morning.

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
A 400 000 years bp cranium from Portugal:

https://phys.org/news/2017-03-year-old-fossil-human-cranium-oldest.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-03/bu-4fh031017.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170313192729.htm
http://www.livescience.com/58256-hominin-skull-is-likely-neanderthal-relative.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/neanderthal-fossil-discovered-portugal-archaeologists-a7642306.html
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2017/0314/400-000-year-old-skull-fragment-holds-clues-to-ancient-unified-humanity
http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/archaeologists-unearth-400000-year-old-skull-fossil-in-central-portugal/41394
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/36407/20170315/40000-year-old-cranium-portugal-blurs-line-evolution.htm
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/03/2017/400000-year-old-fossil-hominin-cranium-discovered-in-portugal
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5377-170314-portugal-aroeira-skull

Neanderthals in the Po Valley apparently had to deal with leopards:

http://www.livescience.com/58259-leopards-might-have-walked-alongside-neanderthals.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5378-170315-italy-po-plain-leopard

… but they had ‘penicillin’ and painkillers:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2123669-neanderthals-may-have-medicated-with-penicillin-and-painkillers/
http://elpais.com/elpais/2017/03/08/ciencia/1488991377_990681.html

The hominid skull apparently changed along with the change to bipedalism:

https://phys.org/news/2017-03-human-skull-evolved-two-legged.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170317131200.htm

We mentioned these 105 000 years bp skulls from China:

https://phys.org/news/2017-03-skulls-china-scientists-media.html

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Neolithic petroglyphs near Aswan:

https://phys.org/news/2017-03-egyptian-ritual-images-neolithic-period.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-03/uob-eri032217.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170322094906.htm
http://www.livescience.com/58394-ancient-egyptian-rock-carvings-discovered.html
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/03/2017/rock-art-from-the-4th-millennium-bc-found-near-aswan
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5403-170324-egypt-neolithic-mask-image

Suggestion that the Sahara Desert is the result of human activity:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-03/f-dhc031417.php
https://phys.org/news/2017-03-humans-sahara.html
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/03/2017/was-the-sahara-desert-created-by-humans

Petroglyphs in Chad’s Ennedi Caves were defaced:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-39332438
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5392-170321-chad-rock-art

Trying to preserve Libya’s archaeological heritage:

https://www.libyaherald.com/2017/03/24/thinni-looks-to-protect-libyas-archaeological-heritage/

More on finds during metro construction in Algiers:

http://artdaily.com/news/94441/Unearthing-2-000-years-of-history-on-the-site-of-a-planned-metro-station-in-Algiers
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/unearthing-2000-years-of-history-in-central-algiers-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=110789&NewsCatID=375
http://lifestyle.mb.com.ph/2017/03/13/unearthing-2000-years-of-history-in-central-algiers/
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/unearthing-2-000-years-history-central-algiers-044302441.html
https://www.apollo-magazine.com/spectacular-archaeological-remains-discovered-in-algiers/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5370-170313-algiers-metro-station

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Not sure if we mentioned the massive statue purportedly of Ramses II found
in a Cairo suburb:

https://phys.org/news/2017-03-ancient-egyptian-statue-site.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/pharoah-ramses-statue-ancient-egyptian-discovery-cairo-raised-from-ditch-a7627646.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/colossal-statue-egyptian-pharaoh-discovered-161100423.html
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/03/13/second-part-ancient-egyptian-statue-lifted-from-site/99124520/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2017/mar/13/the-pharaohs-rise-again-ancient-egyptian-statues-unearthed-in-pictures
http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Colossus-probably-depicting-pharoah-of-Exodus-found-483943
http://www.timesofisrael.com/mammoth-pharaonic-statues-unearthed-from-muddy-cairo-pit/
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2432812&CategoryId=13936
http://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/03/15/archaeologists-unearth-more-of-rameses-ii-statue-in-cairo

… which was later identified as Psammetich:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/261102/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Newly-discovered-Matariya-colossus-is-probably-of-.aspx
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/17/world/middleeast/egypt-cairo-pharaoh-statue-ramses-psamtik.html
https://phys.org/news/2017-03-egyptian-statue-ramses-ii.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-archaeology-idUSKBN16N2RR?feedType=RSS&feedName=lifestyleMolt
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39298218
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170317-3000-year-old-statue-recently-found-in-cairo-might-be-psamtik-i-not-ramses-ii-as-previously-thought/
http://artdaily.com/news/94557/Colossus-found-in-Egypt-may-have-depicted-Psammetich-I
http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/90610981/Egypt-says-ancient-colossus-pulled-from-slum-likely-not-Pharaoh-Ramses-II
http://www.sfgate.com/news/media/Ancient-Egyptian-statue-not-Ramses-II-but-Psamtek-794248.php
http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Colossal-statue-found-in-Egypt-likely-mistaken-for-pharaoh-of-Exodus-484474
http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2017/03/17/actualidad/1489752376_188321.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5384-170317-cairo-psammetich-colossus

… and taken to the Egyptian Museum:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/261004/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Royal-convoy-will-transport-huge-statue-from-Matar.aspx
http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2017/03/16/ramses-ii-statue-arrives-egyptian-museum-tahrir/

A 4000 years bp tomb from Aswan:

https://egyptianstreets.com/2017/03/22/spanish-archaeologists-discover-unopened-4000-year-old-tomb-in-aswan/

A well-preserved alabaster statue of Tiye from el-Hittan:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/261512/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Archaeologists-unearth-statue-of-Queen-Tiye-in-Egy.aspx
http://www.livescience.com/58401-statue-of-king-tut-grandmother-possibly-discovered.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5399-170323-luxor-queen-tiye

All sorts of foreign missions are operating in Egypt right now:

http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2017/03/16/foreign-missions-financing-excavations-rights-scientific-publishing-ismail/

… and six are resuming underwater excavations:

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/6-archeological-missions-resume-underwater-excavations-egypt

Not sure where to put this ‘rediscovery’ of a mummy shroud in Scotland:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-39218939
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5401-170324-scotland-mummy-shroud

Feature on a Natufian site in Jordan:

http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/half-million-miniscule-stone-flakes-give-clues-natufian-culture-%E2%80%94-archaeologist

More on that 4000 years bp dolmen from Upper Gallilee:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/4000-year-old-structure-with-mysterious-engravings-discovered-in-Galilee-483256
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/4000-years-old-mysterious-tomb-with-rock-art-exposed-in-upper-galilee/2017/03/05/
http://www.timesofisrael.com/massive-4000-year-old-boulder-tombs-force-rethink-of-bronze-dark-age/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/israeli-experts-mystery-bronze-age-dolmen-174531240.html
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/03/13/second-part-ancient-egyptian-statue-lifted-from-site/99124520/

A small hoard of Byzantine coins found prior to road construction near
Ein Hemed:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/226915
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/1400-year-old-coin-hoard-discovered-in-highway-1-excavations/2017/03/19/
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Article.aspx?id=484582
http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.778202
http://www.timesofisrael.com/hoard-of-coins-from-1400-year-old-byzantine-site-tell-story-of-persian-invasion/
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4937590,00.html
http://www.livescience.com/58342-1400-year-old-coins-israel.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5389-170320-israel-byzantine-coins