===============================================================
explorator 20.07 June 11, 2017
===============================================================
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, David Critchley, Richard Campbell,
muddy102, Jennifer Cosham, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, and
Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always hoping I have left
no one out).

===============================================================
= EARLY HOMINIDS
===============================================================
= Study suggests Neanderthals in the Levant weren’t just living in caves:

http://www.antiquities.org.il/Article_eng.aspx?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=429
0 http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Article.aspx?id=496127
http://www.timesofisrael.com/who-are-you-calling-a-caveman-israeli-study-find
s-neanderthals-had-versatile-habitats/
http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.794340
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/new-study-shows-mid-east-neanderth
als-were-not-only-cave-dwellers/2017/06/07/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5610-170607-israel-open-air-neanderthals

A site in Morocco suggests homo sapiens was in Africa some 300 000 years
bp:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/uoc--mfs060517.php
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/m-tfo060617.php
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-scientists-oldest-homo-sapiens-fossils.html
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-obsession-human-history.html
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-moroccan-fossil-rearranges-homo-sapiens.htm
l http://www.livescience.com/59398-oldest-homo-sapiens-fossils-discovered.ht
ml
https://www.seeker.com/culture/archaeology/oldest-known-fossils-for-our-spec
ies-discovered-in-morocco
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/07/science/human-fossils-morocco.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40194150
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jun/07/oldest-homo-sapiens-bones
-ever-found-shake-foundations-of-the-human-story
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/06/07/humans-evolved-100000-years
-earlier-thought-east-africa-not/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/garden-of-eden-crucible-life-africa-
fossil-discovery-morocco-doubts-a7777911.html
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2017/0608/Just-how-Earth-shattering-are-th
ose-300-000-year-old-Homo-sapiens-fossils
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/06/07/oldest-homo-sapiens-fossil
s-ever-found-300000-years/102585284/
http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/07/health/oldest-homo-sapiens-fossils-found/
index.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/06/07/
oldest-homo-sapiens-fossils-discovered-in-morocco/
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-homo-sapiens-morocco-
20170607-htmlstory.html
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/moroccan-fossils-shake-up-und
erstanding-of-human-origins/article35231523/?cmpid=rss1
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/homo-sapiens-100-000-years-older-thought-studie
s-172416296.html
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2133807-our-species-may-be-150000-ye
ars-older-than-we-thought/#038;%23038;%23038;%23038;campaign_id=RSS%
7CNSNS-news
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/06/07/531804528/315-0000-yea
r-old-fossils-from-morocco-could-be-earliest-recorded-homo-sapiens
http://www.latercera.com/noticia/homo-sapiens-envejece-100-mil-anos-craneo-
podria-redefinir-la-historia-humana/
http://elpais.com/elpais/2017/06/07/ciencia/1496852661_032685.html
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/humans-evolved-100000-yea
rs-earlier-we-thought-180963619/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5611-170607-morocco-jebel-irhoud
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/06/2017/homo-sapiens-spr
ead-across-the-entire-african-continent-around-300000-years-ago

… another spin is focussing on their diet of game:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170607133246.htm

… and the genetics behind the find:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/genetics-anthropology-solve-
mysteries-human-evolution-180963608/

More on Oetzi’s death:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-40104139

===============================================================
= AFRICA
===============================================================
= Funding issues for Nigerian archaeology:

http://www.pulse.ng/local/in-niger-funds-hinders-excavation-of-archaeological-
sites-state-museum-official-id6816967.html

===============================================================
= ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
===============================================================
= A necropolis near Amarna suggests children may have played some role in
Amarna’s construction:

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/6854/Children-may-have-built-archeologic
al-city-of-Amarna
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jun/06/did-children-build-the-ancie
nt-egyptian-city-of-armana-
http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-ancient-mass-graves-archaeologists-find-chil
d-slaves-of-biblical-egypt/

Ten Late Period tombs from Aswan:

http://dailynewsegypt.com/2017/06/05/ten-late-period-tombs-discovered-aswa
n/
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ancient-egypt-ten-huge-2500-year-old-tombs-full-well-
preserved-mummies-discovered-1624982

Zahi Hawass’ latest project:

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/7219/Zahi-Hawass-to-write-History-of-anci
ent-Egypt-encyclopedia

A 4000 years bp Mesopotamian settlement from Iraqi Kurdistan:

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/4000-year-old-lost-mesopotamian-city-discovered-ira
qi-kurdistan-1624809
http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/64db7480-0b5c-412e-b8d3-cb3e49d1c1e0

Studying the implications of grain in Mesopotamian cities:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-ancient-grain-tale-ancestors-cities.html
https://environment.yale.edu/news/article/ancient-city-in-syria-continues-to-re
veal-its-secrets/
http://today.uconn.edu/2017/06/ancient-grains-reveal-roots-early-social-inequ
ality/

An underground city from Turkey’s Kayseri (date?):

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/06/03/ancient-underground-city-with-
52-chambers-discovered-in-turkeys-kayseri
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5606-170605-turkey-kayseri-belagasi

A Crusader-era ‘escape tunnel’ from Tiberias:

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=42885

A 200 (or 100) years bp shipwreck in the Gulf of Izmir:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/06/03/200-year-old-shipwreck-disco
vered-in-gulf-of-izmir
https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/06/03/100-year-old-shipwreck-disco
vered-in-gulf-of-izmir
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/100-year-old-shipwreck-discovered-in-gulf-o
f-izmir.aspx?pageID=238&nID=113911&NewsCatID=341

Another feature on Gertrude Bell:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-letters-baghdad-review
-20170608-story.html

ICOM is putting together an Iranian ‘red list’:

http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/414125/ICOM-to-draw-up-Iranian-antiquities-
red-list

On why ISIL destroys things:

http://theconversation.com/erasing-history-why-islamic-state-is-blowing-up-an
cient-artefacts-78667

===============================================================
= ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
===============================================================
= A Hellenistic tomb from Alexandria:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/270544/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/
Hellenistic-tomb-with-pottery-vessels-discovered-i.aspx
http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/7055/New-Hellenistic-tomb-found-in-Alexa
ndria
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-06/09/c_136351049.htm
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5618-170609-egypt-alexandria-tombs

I think we mentioned this hoard of Roman solidi from the Netherlands:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-unique-hoard-gold-stages-roman.html
http://news.coinupdate.com/hoard-of-41-roman-solidi-discovered-in-a-dutch-or
chard/

1700 bp Roman villa from Libya:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.794244
http://www.newsweek.com/treasure-libya-archaeology-ruins-benghazi-623466

They’re poking around Delos’ ancient port:

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ancient-greece-2000-year-old-shipwrecks-tell-story-m
ythical-island-delos-1624074
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5588-170530-greece-delos-breakwater

Concerns for an ancient mining site on Cyprus:

http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/06/07/mathiatis-residents-fear-gold-mining-will-de
stroy-ancient-site/

Latest paw print in a Roman tile:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-40158189

Latest classically-inspired footwear:

https://sneakernews.com/2017/06/09/tgwo-diadora-rise-and-fall-pack/

On the death of Nero:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/09/day-ad-68-death-tyrannical-emper
or-nero/

… and that Nero rock opera in Rome:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/09/arts/music/nero-rock-opera-rome-palatin
e-hill.html

On eating dormice:

https://sarahemilybond.com/2017/06/06/pass-the-dormice-breeding-selling-an
d-eating-honeyed-dormice-in-antiquity/