===============================================================
explorator 20.02 May 7, 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,
Kathleen, Jennifer Cosham, Kris Curry, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Richard Campbell, Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for
headses upses this week (as always hoping I have left no one out).

.... a rather slow week!
================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Feature on what we know and don’t know about assorted early hominids:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2129775-ancient-humans-what-we-know-and-still-dont-know-about-them/

A project to catalog handprints in various cave paintings in Europe:

https://www.seeker.com/culture/archaeology/to-unlock-the-secrets-of-prehistoric-hand-paintings-experts-catalog-them-in-3d

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5535-170505-europe-prehistoric-hand-paintings

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/project-making-3d-scans-ancient-handprints-180963103/

We mentioned this 1.7 millions years bp El Kherba (Algeria) site last week
in a different section; should probably be mentioned here as well:

https://phys.org/news/2017-04-climate-early-human-algerian-site.html

Comparing modern and neanderthal bone breaks (sort of):

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/water-tubing-accidents-table-run-ins-cause-neandertal-injuries

More on Neanderthal DNA being extracted from cave sediment:

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/sci-tech/scientists-show-how-to-extract-ancient-neanderthal-dna-from-cave-sediment-20170501-gvwf10.html

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/scientists-show-how-to-extract-ancient-neanderthal-dna-from-cave-sediment-20170501-gvwf10.html

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-technique-pulls-ancient-human-dna-out-cave-soil-180963084/

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Pondering the underwater archaeology potential of Kenya:

https://www.newsghana.com.gh/kenyas-underwater-archeology-potential-immense/

Petroglyphs in Botswana and Lesotho have been dated to 5700 years bp:

http://www.nature.com/news/dreams-of-the-stone-age-dated-for-first-time-in-southern-africa-1.21924

More on the blade making techniques seen at Sibudu Cave:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/middle-stone-age-man-learned-205436449.html

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
A 4000 years bp ‘funerary garden’ outside a tomb in Luxor:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/267024/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Unique-funerary-garden-unearthed-in-Thebes.aspx

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-05/snrc-aff050417.php
https://phys.org/news/2017-05-egypt-year-funerary-garden-luxor.html
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/egypt-4000-year-funerary-garden-discovered-luxor-47203242

http://www.timesofisrael.com/4000-year-old-model-garden-found-outside-egypt-tomb/

http://www.ibtimes.com/ancient-egypt-tombs-showed-funeral-gardens-archaeologists-finally-find-one-4000-years-2535105

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2017/4,000-year-old-model-garden-found-outside-Egypt-tomb

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5529-170503-luxor-funerary-garden
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/05/2017/discovery-of-4000-year-old-egyptian-funerary-garden

Some illegal diggers in Egypt were killed when their house collapsed:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/266921/Egypt/Politics-/-Two-men-killed-in-house-collapse-as-they-dig-ille.aspx

Restoration work on the Djoser pyramid is almost complete:

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/4617/Antiquities-Ministry-finishes-90-of-restoration-works-at-Djoser-pyramid

What Nora Shawky is up to:

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/egyptian-archaeologist-aims-lead-her-first-excavation-year-sharqiya-0

Feature on Howard Carter:

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/3090/In-The-Footsteps-Of-Egyptologist-Howard-Carter

… and the Tut Conference is going on in Cairo:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/268042/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Tutankhamun-conference-to-be-held-on-Saturday-in-C.aspx

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/4699/International-conference-uncovering-Tutankhamun%E2%80%99s-secrets-starts-Saturday

Funding approved for the Antiquities Ministry:

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/cabinet-allocates-le172-billion-support-antiquities-ministry-projects

… and there are fines for assaulting tourists now:

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/le10000-fine-imposed-assaulting-tourists-new-antiquities-law

… and a possible life sentence for antiquities trafficking:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/268102/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-cabinet-approves-bill-raising-max-penalty-fo.aspx

More on those possible eunuch burials from Quesna:

https://egyptianstreets.com/2017/05/01/burial-patterns-provoke-ambiguous-sexual-characteristics-in-ancient-egypt/

Feature on churches and burials found at HIppos Sussita:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.787712

Evidence for pre modern settlements in Qatar:

http://www.gulf-times.com/story/546844/Archaeologists-uncover-Qatar-s-pre-modern-settleme

http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/05/05/2017/Qatar-Museums-reveals-5-year-archaeological-record

What we’re learning about the kingdom of Edom:

http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleno=35026
http://jordantimes.com/news/local/excavations-overturn-long-held-beliefs-about-ancient-kingdom-edom-%E2%80%94-jordanian-scholar

A missing Hittite funerary stele turned up buried in a garden:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/lost-stele-found-buried-in-a-garden-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=112720&NewsCatID=375

Feature on the British Museum’s training of Iraqi archaeologists:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/may/01/training-fieldwork-iraqi-archaeologists-of-the-future-qalatga-darband

http://www.iraqoilreport.com/daily-brief/field-iraqs-archaeologists-future-22535/

On antiquities theft in the West Bank:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-1.786039

Pondering the history of Israel:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865679224/Did-ancient-Israel-have-a-real-history.html

The Old Hormuz Port has been located:

http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/116710/Old-Hormuz-Port-rediscovered-after-700-years

Plans for an underwater dig at Ayla:

http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/underwater-search-planned-clues-early-islamic-city-ayla

A bust on a US-bound cargo ship:

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/4678/Ninety-nine-artifacts-seized-before-smuggling-to-Europe

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
They’re finally restoring the Mausoleum of Augustus:

http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/ancient-roman-monument-turned-eyesore-gets-needed-makeover/

http://www.newser.com/article/75165c413b824bc598c2b885cf1845d1/ancient-roman-monument-turned-eyesore-gets-needed-makeover.html

http://gazette.com/ancient-roman-monument-turned-eyesore-gets-needed-makeover/article/feed/457528

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5526-170502-rome-augustus-mausoleum
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rome-finally-restoring-mausoleum-augustus-180963132/

Remains of a Mithraeum in Zerzevan Castle:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/underground-mithras-temple-discovered-in-diyarbakir-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=112646&NewsCatID=375

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/05/02/1700-year-old-temple-reveals-ancient-religion-in-east-anatolia

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/611449/Discovery-Archaeology-Roman-Empire-Turkey-Cult-Temple-Mithras-Zerzevan-Castle-Diyarbakir

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/040520171
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5525-170502-zerzevan-castle-mithraeum

Concerns for columns on Beirut’s waterfront:

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2017/May-04/404411-roman-columns-left-by-coast-face-uncertain-future.ashx

Making connections between Zeugma and Palmyra:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/traces-of-palmyra-seen-in-ancient-zeugma.aspx?pageID=238&nid=112674

Feature on a Roman dig in Leicester:

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/hundreds-flock-to-archaeological-dig-revealing-city-s-roman-history/story-30316378-detail/story.html

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-05/07/c_136262212.htm

A (rather sketchy) apple from Pompeii is coming to auction:

http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/15264444.Petrified_apple_from_Pompeii_to_go_on_sale_at_Harewood_antiques_fair/

Features on Rome’s new ‘metro museum’:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/05/rome-unveils-museum-metro-station-packed-hundreds-ancient-artifacts/

Feature on Nilotic wall paintings in Pompeii:

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/paintings-ancient-egypt-pompeii-garden-show-just-how-cosmopolitan-romans-were-1620235

===============================================================
explorator 20.04 May 21, 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, 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
================================================================
Tying the spread of homo sapiens to the development of grassland:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-05/asu-gbf051117.php
https://phys.org/news/2017-05-grassy-earliest-homo.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170515111616.htm

Studying the diet of early hominins in east Africa:

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5555-170516-ethiopia-climate-change

Feature on the Shanidar 3 skeleton:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/05/17/at-night-at-the-museum-a-neanderthal-skeleton-comes-out-of-the-vault/?utm_term=.c137e1ccbcbf&wpisrc=nl_science&wpmm=1

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Latest from the Tombos (Sudan) site:

https://phys.org/news/2017-05-archaeologist-excavation-tombos-sudan-nile.html

Meanwhile Sudan and Egypt are scrapping over some sort of Angelina Jolie
movie possibly in the making (I don’t quite get this):

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39972853

Tunisia is seeking Heritage Status for a Jewish pilgrimage site:

http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Tunisia-to-seek-UNESCO-World-Heritage-status-for-Jewish-pilgrimage-site-490761

Seeing the tourist potential of Islamic sites in Africa:

http://www.theafricareport.com/North-Africa/archaeologists-seek-to-promote-tourism-in-africas-old-islamic-sites.html

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
A stone inscribed with the cartouche of Nectanebo II was recovered from an
illegal dig:

http://www.egyptindependent.com/new-discovery-stone-block-dates-back-30th-dynasty-king-nectanebo-ii-sohag/

http://www.livescience.com/59181-egypt-stone-pharaoh-found-looting-hole.html

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5564-170518-egypt-abydos-cartouche

Tut’s funerary bed is on the move:

http://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/tutankhamun%E2%80%99s-funerary-bed-finds-new-home-976130

Egypt is officially registering its Jewish sites/artifacts:

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/05/egypt-jewish-cemeteries-registered-ministry-neglect-heritage.html

Pondering the ‘politeness’ of Ancient Egyptians:

http://asorblog.org/2017/05/16/ancient-egyptians-polite-exploring-politeness-late-egyptian/

More on the mummies from Minya:

http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2017/05/14/cachette-cemetery-non-royal-mummies-newly-discovered-el-minya/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/14/egypt-archaeologists-find-17-new-mummies-in-necropolis

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/14/528368929/photos-17-mummies-unearthed-in-egypt
http://www.nbcboston.com/news/national-international/Archaeologists-Discover-17-Mummies-in-Egyptian-Desert-422175543.html

https://www.yahoo.com/news/17-mummies-discovered-central-egypt-140637095.html
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/38017/20170515/rare-discovery-17-mummies-unearthed-in-ancient-burial-site-in-egypt.htm
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5551-170515-egypt-mummy-cachette

… and the 3800 years bp ‘princess burial’ from Dashur:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/burial-chamber-royal-princess-possibly-150300171.html

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/egyptian-princess-may-have-been-buried-newly-discovered-pyramid-180963288/

… and the ‘mongoose on a leash’:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tomb-drawing-shows-mongoose-leash-142300393.html

… and the funerary garden:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/first-evidence-ancient-egyptian-funerary-garden-found-luxor-180963252/

More on Egypt’s increased tourism hopes:

http://www.smh.com.au/world/discovery-of-ancient-burial-chamber-ignites-hope-for-egypts-struggling-economy-20170514-gw4qzi

More on Egypt’s plans to crack down on antiquities smuggling etc.:

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/05/egypt-approve-amendments-antiquities-law-violators-tomb.html

Feature on the dig at Khirbet Iskandar:

http://menafn.com/1095481939/Khirbat-Iskandar-reveals-crucial-time-span-in-history-of-Jordan-%E2%80%94-Italian-archaeologist

I think we mentioned plans to look for remains of the (underwater) city of
Ayla:

http://www.livescience.com/59176-underwater-search-for-ancient-city.html

In case you’ve always wanted to live like a Hittite (?):

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/life-of-hittites-to-be-revived-with-village-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=113303&NewsCatID=375

A 9000 years bp stone used for starting fires from near Ramat Beit
Shemesh:

http://www.antiquities.org.il/Article_eng.aspx?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=4283

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-unearths-ancient-fire-making-stone-in-time-for-Lag-Baomer-490694

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/archaeology-news/rare-prehistoric-slab-discovered-on-highway-38/2017/05/15/

Rethinking dietary restrictions in Leviticus:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.788626

Feature on Masada:

http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.789492

More on those WWI finds from Israel:

http://www.antiquities.org.il/Article_eng.aspx?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=4281

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4959675,00.html
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=42305
http://www.livescience.com/59049-wwi-artifacts-found-in-israel.html
https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/05/11/remnants-of-wwi-battle-found-in-archaeological-dig-in-central-israel/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5543-170510-wwi-weapons-israel

Redating the Al Badiyah Mosque:

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5559-170517-al-badiyah-mosque

ISIL’s latest damage appears to be a Dura Europos:

http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/don-t-miss/30653-isis-terrorists-destroy-antiquities-in-dura-europos-site-outside-der-ezzour

Prague’s National Museum is the latest to help Syria restore ancient
artifacts:

http://praguemonitor.com/2017/05/16/prague-national-museum-help-syria-restore-ancient-artefacts

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
A Mycenean burial from Kastrouli isn’t getting nearly enough attention:

http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/uc-san-diego-researchers-discover-human-burials-and-artifacts-ancient-mycenaean-tomb

A ‘hunchback’ burial from a Roman necropolis in Spain:

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/hunchback-torrenueva-unearthed-roman-cemetery-southern-spain-1622094

http://elpais.com/elpais/2017/05/16/ciencia/1494971794_081718.html

A theft of a ‘door ornament’ at Pompeii:

https://www.thelocal.it/20170518/thieves-steal-6th-century-ornament-from-pompeii

https://phys.org/news/2017-05-ancient-ornamental-stud-stolen-pompeii.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory/ancient-ornamental-stud-stolen-pompeii-site-closed-47486952

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2017/05/18/sixth-century-bc-relic-stolen-at-pompeii-2_06e113a8-2f36-4f88-8750-729abf717e3d.html

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2017/05/18/pompeii-theft-injures-italy-osanna_e482652e-e1de-4d7a-a88c-5f8463dbf796.html

On plans to search for York’s amphitheatre:

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/15287091.The_hunt_for_York___s_Roman_amphitheatre/

Plans to restore the stadium at Perge:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/perge-stadium-returns-to-its-heyday-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=113206&NewsCatID=375

… and some hype for the mosaics at Perge:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/perge-mosaics-as-magnificent-as-the-ones-in-zeugma-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=112943&NewsCatID=375

Latest warning about the Campi Flegrei:

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/campi-flegrei-supervolvano-eruption-vesuvius-naples-pozzuoli-christopher-kilburn-a7737886.html

They’re cleaning the Great Bath at Bath:

http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/great-bath-roman-baths-been-64960

Concerns about a rock opera about Nero being performed ‘on site’:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/18/anger-rome-rock-musical-based-life-emperor-nero/

An AIA grant for Göksel Sazci:

https://www.archaeological.org/news/grants/24788

Honours for Brian Sowers:

http://bcexcelsior.com/bc-classics-professor-wins-feliks-gross-award/

Plenty of press coverage as a Google Doodle marked the anniversary of the
founding of the Antikythera Mechanism:

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2017/05/17/Google-marks-the-discovery-of-the-Antikythera-Mechanism-with-new-Doodle/7311495016082/

https://www.cnet.com/news/google-doodle-antikythera-mechanisms-discovery-analog-computer-bronze/#ftag=CAD590a51e

===============================================================
explorator 20.08 June 18, 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, Richard Campbell, David Perlmutter,
Don Buck, Adrienne Mayor, Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent
for headses upses this week (as always hoping I have left no one out).

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Studying the ‘Neanderthal-homo sapiens transition’ in a Czech cave:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/anu-ssl061317.php
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-neanderthal-homo-sapiens-transition.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170614114243.htm
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2017/06/14/Czech-cave-dig-reveals-details-of-Neanderthal-human-transition/7951497460230/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/czech-cave-sheds-light-neanderthal-075530063.html

http://www.ibtimes.com/neanderthals-homo-sapiens-likely-met-over-40000-years-ago-modern-day-czech-republic-2552510
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5660-170615-czech-cave-neanderthals
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/06/2017/new-light-on-neanderthal-homo-sapiens-transition

Paleoproteomics looks like something we’ll be hearing more about:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-scientists-reconstructing-relationship-modern-humans.html

Traces of million years bp fire (making?) in Northern Cape cave:

http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/007def00417991fc919e932c6b8b577e/Traces-of-million-years-old-fires-discovered-in-N-Cape--20170611

On the evolution of fire making:

http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/06/15/533030708/what-are-our-best-clues-to-the-evolution-of-fire-making

More on purported European origins for early hominids:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-bulgarian-savannah.html

More on 300 000 years bp homo sapiens:

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2017/0608/Just-how-Earth-shattering-are-those-300-000-year-old-Homo-sapiens-fossils

https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/06/300000-year-old-early-homo-sapiens-sparks-debate-over-evolution/

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Man-made holes in Sudan may hint at Mesolithic era shelters::

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/sudan-mysterious-holes-drilled-rocks-are-remains-ancient-shelters-banks-nile-river-1625878

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5620-170612-sudan-rock-holes

Digging a site associated with the Kingdom of Kush:

http://www.gulf-times.com/story/553025/Archaeological-dig-in-Sudan-unearths-many-exciting

Remains of a city dating back to the 10th century AD in Ethiopia:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/16/archaeologists-unearth-forgotten-city-ethiopia/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40301959
http://www.newsweek.com/ethiopia-discovery-islam-africa-harlaa-626634
http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/7950/Egyptian-Indian-and-Chinese-antiquities-discovered-in-Ethiopia

1000 years bp glass beads from Nigeria:

https://www.livescience.com/59462-early-glassmaking-west-africa.html

On the history of fossil hunting in Africa:

https://theconversation.com/its-time-to-celebrate-africas-forgotten-fossil-hunters-77345

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Encroachments on Dashur’s necropolis have been removed:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/270971/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Encroachments-made-since--removed-from-Egypts-Dahs.aspx

Plans to use robots to explore looters’ tunnels in Egypt:

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/these-robots-will-explore-tunnels-dug-by-looters-in-egypt

More on those child burials associated with the construction of Amarna:

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0617/ancient_egyptian_juvenile_graves.php3

More on that Hellenistic tomb from Alexandria:

http://observer.com/2017/06/egyptian-tomb-artifacts-discovered/

A monumental mikveh from Herod’s palace in Jordan:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.795720
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/hungarian-archaeologists-unearth-herods-fortress-ritual-bath-east-of-jordan-river/2017/06/15/

Multispectral imaging revealed some lines of 600 BCE Hebrew on chunk of
pottery found 50 years ago:

https://www.aftau.org/news-page-archaeology?&storyid4677=2335&ncs4677=3
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/afot-mir061417.php
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-multispectral-imaging-reveals-ancient-hebrew.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170614160504.htm
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Advanced-imaging-reveals-rare-Hebrew-inscription-from-First-Temple-period-496878

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.796024
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4975905,00.html
http://www.timesofisrael.com/revolutionary-technology-reveals-dazzling-hidden-text-on-biblical-era-shard/
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/history/multispectral-imaging-reveals-ancient-hebrew-inscription-undetected-for-over-50-years/2017/06/15/
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/science/send-more-wine-pottery-archaeology.html

http://www.newsweek.com/scientists-transcribe-invisible-2500-year-old-hebrew-inscription-request-send-625946

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5663-170615-ancient-hebrew-inscription

The stone tower at Gihon Spring is about a 1000 years younger than
previously thought:

http://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/chemistry/jerusalem-tower-younger-thought
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-jerusalem-tower-younger-thought.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/wios-jty061517.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170615120635.htm
https://www.livescience.com/59519-ancient-stone-tower-younger-than-thought.html

A pair of antiquities thieves were caught in the act (by a hiker) at
Tzipori:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-nabs-antiquities-pirates-at-archeological-site-496617

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/israeli-arabs/antiquities-robbers-caught-in-ancient-galilee-town/2017/06/12/
http://www.timesofisrael.com/hiker-helps-stop-antiquities-robbing-gang-in-northern-israel/

More on that Crusader-era ‘escape tunnel’:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.795692

Feature on how cuneiform was used:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39870485

Lawrence Schiffman on the Magdala Stone:

http://lawrenceschiffman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/magdala-stone.pdf

Saudi Arabia is hosting an antiquities forum:

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1114231/saudi-arabia

Training folks to restore mosaics in Jordan:

https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/preserving-jordans-heritage-italian-expert-has-trained-50-locals-mosaic-restoration-985

Review of McGovern, *Ancient Brews Rediscovered and Re-created*:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/liquid-time-capsules-1497571568

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
The Getty is returning a statue of Zeus to Italy:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-getty-repatriation-20170613-story.html

Why London is where it is:

http://londonist.com/london/features/why-is-london-here

Sarah Bond wrote a piece on the need to see the colours in ancient
statuary:

https://hyperallergic.com/383776/why-we-need-to-start-seeing-the-classical-world-in-color/

… which was spun in various ways for political purposes:

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/448501/white-marble-sculpture-white-supremacy

… and resulted in her getting death threats:

http://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/2017/06/16/ui-classics-professor-receives-threats-after-online-essay-statuary-race/403275001/

Meanwhile, she also penned a piece on the crocodile hunters at the Roman
games:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/drsarahbond/2017/06/12/the-ancient-crocodile-hunters-that-helped-to-supply-the-roman-games/

What John Younger is up to (possibly misquoted in this):

http://news.ku.edu/2017/06/09/art-religious-artifacts-support-idea-minoan-matriarchy-ancient-crete-researcher-says

An interview with Tim Whitmarsh:

https://conatusnews.com/professor-greek-culture-tim-whitmarsh/

Honours for Jack Davis:

http://magazine.uc.edu/editors_picks/recent_features/albaniaaward.html

What Caius Mergy is up to:

http://lymeline.com/2017/06/local-resident-caius-mergy-graduates-from-middlebury-college/

Mapping Greek ceramic production:

https://uanews.arizona.edu/story/project-maps-greek-ceramic-production-over-five-millennia

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-greek-ceramic-production-millennia.html

About that Nero rock opera in Rome:

http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/06/16/532243973/atop-ancient-ruins-a-rock-opera-about-emperor-nero-leaves-some-romans-unimpresse

https://knpr.org/npr/2017-06/atop-ancient-ruins-rock-opera-about-emperor-nero-leaves-some-romans-unimpressed

===============================================================
explorator 20.10 July 2, 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, Wilfried Zankl, 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).

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Evidence (perhaps) of Neanderthal dentistry:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/uok-aon062617.php
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-analysis-neanderthal-teeth-grooves-uncovers.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170628131510.htm
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/neanderthals-dentistry-attempt-prehistory-attempt-homo-sapiens-humans-habilis-krapina-a7813206.html
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/neanderthals-used-toothpicks-treat-aching-teeth-180963883/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5701-170629-croatia-neanderthal-dentistry

What million year bp hyena coprolites reveal about early humans:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/06/hyenas-toilet-fossils-poop-coprolite/

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
A roundup of recent archaeological finds in Africa:

https://www.africa.com/top-five-latest-archeological-discoveries-in-africa/

Feature on Kush:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40420910

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Short feature on the Scorpion King:

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/technology/businessinsider/article/The-Scorpion-King-is-real-here-s-what-this-11245445.php

A pile of stone blocks stored near Luxor are now shown to be from a temple
of Thutmose I:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,414739,polish-egyptologist-identified-fragments-of-a-lost-egyptian-temple-in-a-storage.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5703-170630-egypt-thutmose-i-temple

On the West’s obsession with ancient Egypt:

http://theconversation.com/the-mummy-what-the-wests-obsession-with-ancient-egypt-reveals-79519

More on those 5200 years bp ‘pre hieroglyphs’:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-archaeologists-earliest-monumental-egyptian-hieroglyphs.html
https://sputniknews.com/society/201706261054989902-egypt-expedition-discover-new-hieroglyphs/

More on that prosthetic toe:

https://hyperallergic.com/387047/the-sophisticated-design-of-a-3000-year-old-wooden-toe/

Plenty of coverage of evidence of a ‘neolithic skull cult’ at Gobekli
Tepe:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/aaft-itc062617.php
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-skull-fragments-deliberate-lines-gobekli.html
https://www.livescience.com/59643-carved-human-skulls-found-cultic-site.html
https://www.livescience.com/59644-photos-carved-human-skulls.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jun/28/turkish-site-evidence-of-neolithic-skull-cult-gobekli-tepe
http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.798498
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/first-evidence-of-skull-decoration-discovered-in-gobeklitepe.aspx?pageID=238&nid=114947&NewsCatID=375
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ancient-apos-skull-cult-apos-190305957.html
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ancient-human-skulls-mysterious-carvings-reveal-11000-year-old-skull-cult-1628150
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-skull-cult-cuts-20170628-htmlstory.html
https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/06/remains-from-skull-cult-discovered-at-worlds-oldest-stone-monuments/
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/06/skulls-cult-turkey-archaeology-neolithic-gobekli/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/deadthings/2017/06/28/carved-skulls-flesh-out-neolithic-cult-evidence/
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-temple-shows-evidence-stone-age-skull-cult-180963877/
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/06/2017/first-evidence-of-a-neolithic-skull-cult-at-gobekli-tepe
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5700-170629-turkey-gobekli-tepe-carved-skulls
http://elpais.com/elpais/2017/06/28/ciencia/1498673023_981204.html
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/6/e1700564
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/6/e1700564/tab-figures-data

First bodies (dating to 4200 years bp) from Gezer:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.798934

Earliest evidence of plant-based dye use in Israel:

https://www.aftau.org/news-page-archaeology?&storyid4677=2340&ncs4677=3
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0179014
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/afot-3ta062817.php
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-year-old-textiles-earliest-evidence-chemical.html
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231730
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/evidence-of-plant-dyes-found-in-king-solomon-era-textiles/2017/06/28/
http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-1.798329
http://www.timesofisrael.com/what-color-blue-did-king-solomon-wear-new-evidence-tells-us/
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/1307258/photos-evidence-use-plant-dyes-textiles-dating-era-kings-david-solomon.html
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/06/2017/plant-based-textile-dyeing-found-at-copper-smelting-site-in-the-levant

An interview with Gabriel Barkay:

https://www.worldpittsburgh.org/resources/renowned-biblical-archaeologist-dr-gabriel-barkay-6-3-17/

Pondering where Israel’s antiquities should be kept:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/where-do-israels-antiquities-belong/

Latest from the Western Wall saga (seems to be a few things going on):

http://www.jpost.com/jerusalem/Article.aspx?id=498096
http://www.timesofisrael.com/there-is-already-pluralistic-prayer-at-the-western-wall-heres-what-would-have-changed/
http://www.timesofisrael.com/some-critics-of-western-wall-plan-still-unhappy-after-freeze/

The US Supreme court will hear that long-running case involving Iranian
antiquities being used for compensatory purposes:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/supreme-court-takes-dispute-over-iran-antiquities-terror-case-n777106

Feature on some 1000 years bp ‘lost’ Arab poetry that lives on in Hebrew:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170616-the-1000-year-old-lost-arab-poetry-that-lives-on-in-hebrew

Suggestion that “70%” of Palmyra can be rebuilt:

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2017/06/28/archeaologist-says-70-of-palmyra-can-be-rebuilt_1003e771-b64b-4c8e-83b8-0a4aa7f362b5.html

Follow up on the Mosque of al Nuri:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-40441936

What ISIL did in Nineveh:

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2017/07/02/This-is-what-ISIS-has-been-doing-to-ancient-artifacts-in-Iraq-s-Nineveh-since-2014-.html

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
Very interesting 3rd century (maybe) dwelling remains preserved in a fire
near the Caelian:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-subway-uncovers-pompeii-like-scene-rome.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/26/rome-metro-excavations-unearth-3rd-century-pompeii-like-scene
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/subway-digging-uncovers-pompeii-scene-rome-48284401
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/your-brisbane/roman-gladiators-were-war-prisoners-and-criminals-not-sporting-heroes-20170627-gwzqfk.html
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/1800-year-old-mini-pompeii-unearthed-during-rome-metro-line-excavations-1627949
http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2017/06/26/mini-pompeii-found-in-rome-metro-dig-4_741983a8-7812-450f-8c19-0f0229243101.html
http://www.wantedinrome.com/news/mini-pompeii-found-during-rome-metro-c-works/
https://www.thelocal.it/20170626/mini-pompeii-found-in-rome-while-digging-metro-line
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/remains-3rd-century-dog-found-rome-180963846/
http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2017/06/26/news/roma_come_pompei_scoperta_casa_romana_distruttta_da_un_incendio_intatti_parti_di_solaio_mobili_mosaici_e_affreschi-169103421/#gallery-slider=169150376
http://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/2017/06/28/03004-20170628ARTFIG00148-un-nouveau-pompei-decouvert-sur-le-chantier-du-nouveau-metro-a-rome.php
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/remains-3rd-century-dog-found-rome-180963846/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5686-170626-rome-burned-building

… and some recent excavations in Pompeii (apologies for the paywall … I’m
trying to find more on this):

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pompeii-dig-reveals-more-about-roman-ancestors-from-tuscany-b72kpxk5g

South East Glazed Ware found in the South West:

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-rare-archaeological-unique-pottery-south.html

A Late Roman gold hoard from Lienden:

http://www.coinworld.com/news/world-coins/2017/06/dutch-gold-coin-hoard-discovered-in-orchard.html

The search is on for remains of a monastery near Peperikon:

===============================================================
explorator 20.51 April 15, 2018
===============================================================
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,
Bob Heuman, Barbarda Saylor Rodgers, Kris Curry, Mata Kimasitayo,
David Emery, David Critchley, Richard Campbell, Richard C. Griffiths,
and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
An 85 000 years bp finger bone from Saudi Arabia is causing a bit of an
Out of Africa rethink:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-human-migration-africa-geographically-widespread.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/mpif-fhm040418.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180409112551.htm
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/09/science/a-fossilized-finger-bone-may-be-from-the-earliest-humans-on-the-arabian-peninsula.html
https://www.livescience.com/62256-ancient-human-finger-in-arabia.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43700703?intlink_from_url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c1038wnxyy0t/archaeology&link_location=live-reporting-story
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/apr/09/finger-fossil-shows-humans-went-east-of-africa-earlier-than-thought
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/finger-arabian-desert-secrets-human-migration-homo-sapiens-archaeology-a8294991.html
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-human-finger-fossil-20180409-story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/04/10/an-85000-year-old-finger-fossil-may-challenge-theories-about-how-early-humans-migrated-from-africa/
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article208342749.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/04/09/earliest-human-fossil-saudi-arabia-discovered-migration/499222002/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-85-000-year-old-homo-sapiens-bone-found-in-saudi-arabia-1.5980752
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/middle-east/102999501/A-finger-bone-from-an-unexpected-place-and-time-upends-the-story-of-human-migration-out-of-Africa
http://www.newsweek.com/early-human-migrations-arabian-peninsula-fossil-finger-877609
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/deadthings/2018/04/09/fossil-arabian-desert/
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/finger-fossil-puts-people-arabia-least-86000-years-ago
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/04/saudi-arabian-fossil-find-puts-finger-on-the-story-of-human-dispersal/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/rare-85000-year-old-finger-bone-could-complicate-our-understanding-african-migration-180968720/
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/saudi-arabia-finger-human-migration-homo/
https://www.archaeology.org/6499-early-migrants-may-have-traveled-beyond-the-levant

Pondering the evolutionary advantage of expressive eyebrows:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-evolutionary-advantage-eyebrows.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/uoy-web040618.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180409112554.htm
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/science/eyebrow-evolution-expression.html
https://www.archaeology.org/6502-180409-homo-heidelbergensis-skull

Interview with David Reigh about Neanderthal humanity:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/apr/07/ever-evolving-story-humanity-david-reich-interview-neanderthals-denisovans-genome

More on the oldest wooden Neanderthal tools found in Spain:

https://www.sciencealert.com/neanderthal-wooden-tools-iberian-peninsula-spain-90-000-years-old
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
a huge cache of Meroitic inscriptions from the Sudan is causing a lot of
excitement:

https://www.livescience.com/62272-oldest-meroe-inscriptions-sudan-africa.html
http://www.newsweek.com/sub-saharan-african-empires-nubia-meroitic-napata-kush-kingdom-883813
http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/tablets-inscribed-with-mysterious-extinct-language-unearthed-at-ancient-african-city-of-the-dead/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cache-ancient-inscriptions-africas-oldest-written-languages-180968786/
https://www.sciencealert.com/nubian-funerary-artefacts-meroitic-texts-found-in-sedeinga-sudan
https://www.archaeology.org/6539-180411-sudan-meroitic-texts
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Archaeologists have found some 4500 'new' fragments of a colossal statue
of Psamtik I in Cairo:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/297399/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/New-discovery-in-Matariya-sheds-light-on-the-shape.aspx
http://www.egyptindependent.com/4500-artifacts-belonging-to-king-psamtek-i-statue-discovered-in-matariya/
http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/47474/Large-fragments-of-massive-Psamtek-I-s-Matariya-colossus-uncovered
https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/german-egyptian-excavation-unveiled-4500-relics-belonging-pharaoh-kings-1116416
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2454446&CategoryId=13936
https://www.archaeology.org/6537-180411-king-psamtek-i-colossus

The tomb of Tut's wife may have been found ... or not:

https://www.livescience.com/62264-search-king-tut-wife-tomb.html

Feature on how Howard Carter almost missed Tut's tomb:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/archaeology-and-history/magazine/2018/03-04/findingkingtutstomb/

Hype for a tv programme about restoring Khufu's boats:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-africa-43643197/rebuilding-history-restoring-a-pharaoh-s-ancient-boat

A papyrus record of an early case of sexual assault:

http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/ancient-text-talks-about-a-powerful-man-being-called-out-for-sexual-assault/
https://qz.com/1249141/metoo-sexual-assault-possibly-led-to-the-firing-of-a-powerful-man-in-ancient-egypt/

Feature on aging in ancient Egypt:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2018/04/Getting-Old-In-Ancient+Egypt

Feature on what the Israelites were doing in Egypt:

https://thetorah.com/what-kind-of-construction-did-the-israelites-do-in-egypt/

More on the FBI helping identify a mummy:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/fbi-solves-mummy-identity-egypt-deit-el-bersha-djehutynakht-wife-a8293771.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/mystery-over-identity-4-000-164019342.html

Schoolkids on a dig in the West Bank dug up an oil lamp:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Elementary-school-pupils-dig-up-a-piece-of-Jewish-history-549170
https://www.timesofisrael.com/pupils-reconstruct-1500-year-old-holy-land-life-in-school-archaeological-dig/

Suggestion that Yahweh originated as the Canaanite 'Vulcan':

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-jewish-god-yahweh-originated-in-canaanite-vulcan-says-new-theory-1.5992072

Years later, thousands of artifacts are still missing from the National
Museum in Iraq:

http://www.aina.org/news/20180409184251.htm
http://menafn.com/1096715659/Fifteen-years-after-looting-thousands-of-artefacts-are-still-missing-from-Iraqs-national-museum

Concerns for sites arising from war in Yemen and Iraq:

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/04/war-savages-ancient-sites-yemen-and-iraq-destroying-archaeological-record

Feature on the site of Al-Ula:

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/9/47471/Saudi-archaeological-treasure-of-Al-Ula-to-open-to-tourists
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/desert-ruins-al-ula-saudis-revive-forgotten-past-102521792.html
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/al-ula-ruins-saudis-revive-forgotten-past-1.2203380
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2018/04/10/WATCH-Chinese-Saudi-archeologists-unearth-cultural-relics-in-Saudi-Arabia.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/desert-ruins-al-ula-saudis-revive-forgotten-past-102521440.html

What Marta D'Andrea is up to:

http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/italian-scholar-researches-crisis-reformation-near-east%E2%80%99s-early-urban-societies

More on China-Saudi dig cooperation:

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2018/04/10/WATCH-Chinese-Saudi-archeologists-unearth-cultural-relics-in-Saudi-Arabia.html

Feature on the history of French digs in Saudi Arabia:

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1281826
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
A red figure krater from Apollonia Pontica:

http://www.novinite.com/articles/189388/Red-Figure+Krater+Unearthed+in+Bulgaria
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2018/04/10/archaeologists-find-6th-century-bc-home-red-figure-pottery-krater-depicting-oedipus-and-the-sphinx-from-apollonia-pontica-in-bulgarias-sozopol/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6536-180410-bulgaria-sozopol-krater

.... related:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/113833/ancient-greek-dwelling-unearthed-in-bulgaria/
http://eu.greekreporter.com/2018/04/13/experts-find-ancient-greek-heritage-in-bulgarian-black-sea-coast/

===============================================================
explorator 21.01 April 29, 2018
===============================================================
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, David Critchley, Laurel Carey, Bob Heuman, Richard
Campbell, Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this
week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

.... wow ... we've been doing this for over 21 years now! As always, thanks
to my
numerous correspondents over the years for making the eask easier!

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Human-like walking mechanics pre-date genus homo:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-human-like-mechanics-evolved-genus-homo.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/04/23/3-6-million-year-old-footprints-suggest-early-human-ancestors-were-excellent-walkers/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180423085443.htm
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/eb2-hwm041218.php

.... this Australopithecus focus seems related:

https://www.archaeology.org/6565-180423-upright-bipedal-walking

I think we've heard mentioned of the possibility of seafaring Neanderthals
before:

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/04/neandertals-stone-age-people-may-have-voyaged-mediterranean

Creating virtual models of Neanderthal brains:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-scientists-eyes-neanderthal-brain.html
http://m.france24.com/en/20180426-scientists-set-eyes-virtual-neanderthal-brain
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-24331-0
https://www.archaeology.org/6578-180427-brains-computational-neuroanatomy

.... related:

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-neanderthal-human-brains-20180427-story.html#nws=true

Remembering the discovery of homo floresiensis:

http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/2142681/aha-moment-when-hobbit-fossil-was-dug-indonesian-archaeologist-stunning

Feature on Naledi:

http://www.latercera.com/la-tercera-tv/noticia/homo-naledi-misterioso-eslabon-podria-reescribir-la-historia-del-hombre/142398/

More on that finger bone from Saudi Arabia that's causing a bit of a
rethink of Out of Africa:

http://www.startribune.com/a-tiny-finger-bone-upends-the-story-of-human-migration-out-of-africa/480817841/

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Analyzing a 61 000 years bp arrowhead from South Africa:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-earliest-bone-arrowhead-61-700-years-old-found-in-south-africa-1.6029711
https://www.archaeology.org/6576-180427-south-africa-arrow

Archaeologists have reopened the burial chambers of a pyramid in the Meroe
region of Sudan:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-archeologists-burial-chambers-sudanese-pyramid.html
http://www.therepublic.com/2018/04/24/ml-sudan-antiquities/
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/archeologists-open-burial-chambers-in-sudanese-pyramid/

.... and apparently there will be some DNA testing on the bones therein:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sudan-unearths-bones-pyramid-dna-testing-191311514.html
http://www.enca.com/africa/sudan-unearths-bones-from-pyramid-for-dna-testing

Also from the Sudan comes news of a 3000 years b.p. horse burial near
Tombos:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-archaeologists-ancient-horse-nile-river.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/pu-pao042018.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180425093823.htm
https://www.livescience.com/62419-ancient-horse-burial-tombos.html
http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2018/Q2/purdue-archaeologists-part-of-ancient-horse-find-in-nile-river-valley.html
https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology-horse-burial-25042018/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6577-180427-tombos-chariot-horse

More on those 'hashtages' from Blombos Cave:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/100000-year-old-etchings-were-decorations-not-symbols-researchers-say-180968878/
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
A temple of Osiris find (and other things) at Kom Ombo:

http://www.egyptindependent.com/antiquities-ministry-uncovers-remains-of-osiris-compartment-in-luxor/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/48467/Discovery-of-Emperor-Marcus-Aurelius%E2%80%99-head-Osirian-temple
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/298146/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Rare-Oririan-temple-and-marble-head-of-Marcus-Aure.aspx
https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2018/04/22/archeologists-find-roman-emperor-bust-ancient-shrine-in-egypt
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-04/23/c_137129169.htm
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/archaeologists-find-bust-of-roman-emperor-in-egypt/2018/04/22/ab861d8a-462d-11e8-8082-105a446d19b8_story.html
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/Archaeologists-find-bust-of-Roman-emperor-in-Egypt-12854850.php
http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-egypt-marcus-aurelius-temple-kom-ombo-896631
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/archaeologists-find-bust-roman-emperor-egypt-54644507
http://www.ibtimes.sg/archeologists-discover-bust-roman-emperor-marcus-aurelius-southern-egypt-26078
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6563-180423-egypt-shrine-sculpture

Finds from various periods at Ras al-Jinz:

http://timesofoman.com/article/133090/Oman/Heritage/Significant-finds-unearthed-at-Ras-al-Jinz-archaeological-site

Looking at sexuality in ancient Mesopotamia:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-ancient-mesopotamia-sex-gods-shook.html
https://theconversation.com/in-ancient-mesopotamia-sex-among-the-gods-shook-heaven-and-earth-87858
http://menafn.com/1096757636/In-ancient-Mesopotamia-sex-among-the-gods-shook-heaven-and-earth

More on that restored colossal statue of Ramses II:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/48381/Unveiling-restored-King-Ramses-II-colossus

More on Egypt's new antiquities laws:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/2/48513/Draft-law-intensifying-penalties-for-antiquities-related-crime-approved
http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/2/48513/New-law-intensifies-penalties-for-antiquity-related-crimes

On the world's oldest peace treaty:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/coe-wto042318.php

Feature on the UM Papyrology collection:

http://wemu.org/post/hidden-plain-sight-u-m-papyrology-collection

Brown students reenacted the Battle of Kadesh (!):

http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20180422/brown-archaeology-students-to-reenact-egyptian-battle-of-kadesh

Studying and scanning Haft-Tappeh relics:

http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/423077/Haft-Tappeh-relics-being-documented-getting-3D-scans

Pondering the Phoenicians:

https://aeon.co/essays/phoenicia-an-imaginary-friend-to-nations-in-need-of-ancestors

More on Saudi rock inscriptions:

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/2018/04/27/PICTURES-Saudi-rock-inscriptions-highlight-prehistoric-process-of-civilizations.html
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
In case you missed the news of a find of a bust of Marcus Aurelius in
Luxor (story was
just breaking as we sent this out last week):

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-archaeologists-roman-emperor-egypt.html
https://www.livescience.com/62400-stone-head-emperor-marcus-aurelius.html
http://www.egyptindependent.com/antiquities-ministry-uncovers-remains-of-osiris-compartment-in-luxor/
https://egyptianstreets.com/2018/04/25/marble-head-of-roman-emperor-discovered-in-egypts-aswan/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/48467/Discovery-of-Emperor-Marcus-Aurelius%E2%80%99-head-Osirian-temple
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/298146/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Rare-Oririan-temple-and-marble-head-of-Marcus-Aure.aspx
https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2018/04/22/archeologists-find-roman-emperor-bust-ancient-shrine-in-egypt
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-04/23/c_137129169.htm
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/archaeologists-find-bust-of-roman-emperor-in-egypt/2018/04/22/ab861d8a-462d-11e8-8082-105a446d19b8_story.html
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/Archaeologists-find-bust-of-Roman-emperor-in-Egypt-12854850.php
http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-egypt-marcus-aurelius-temple-kom-ombo-896631
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/archaeologists-find-bust-roman-emperor-egypt-54644507
http://www.ibtimes.sg/archeologists-discover-bust-roman-emperor-marcus-aurelius-southern-egypt-26078
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6563-180423-egypt-shrine-sculpture

Plenty of press attention for the find of a child skeleton at Pompeii's
baths:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-ancient-skeleton-child-pompeii.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/25/skeleton-child-trying-shelter-vesuvius-eruption-uncovered-pompeii/
https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2018/04/25/archaeologists-discover-child-skeleton-in-ancient-city-of-pompeii
http://www.newsweek.com/pompeii-skeleton-vesuvius-ancient-city-volcano-900900
https://www.thelocal.it/20180426/child-skeleton-discovered-pompeii
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/ancient-skeleton-of-child-found-in-ruins-of-pompeiis-bath/
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12039652
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6570-180425-pompeii-child-skeleton

===============================================================
explorator 21.06 June 3, 2018
===============================================================
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,
Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Val Moore,
Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

.... another quiet week
================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
On the role of grandmothers in human evolution:

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/07/617097908/why-grandmothers-may-hold-the-key-to-human-evolution

On the species difference between sapiens and neanderthal:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/06/05/ciencia/1528187502_438506.html

More on the dating of homo antecessor:

https://phys.org/news/2018-06-human-fossil-species-western-europe.html

More on the origins of paleolithic cave art:

https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/paleolithic-cave-art-animals/

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
A minaret collapse at a 300 years bp mosque in Egypt is complicated by the
fact it isn't on the heritage list:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/43/301684/Heritage/Islamic/Qena-mosque-whose-minaret-collapsed-is-not-on-Egyp.aspx

An Ottoman-era building in Cairo was damaged by fire:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/43/301822/Heritage/Islamic/Ottomanera-SabilKuttab-building-damaged-in-downtow.aspx

Plenty of attention being given to a 9th century glass sculpture of a head
of a 'king' found last year at Abel Beth Maacah:

https://phys.org/news/2018-06-sculpted-mystery-biblical-king-israel.html
https://www.livescience.com/62758-biblical-king-sculpture.html
https://www.apu.edu/media/news/inthenews/26220/
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jun/10/3000-year-old-sculpture-leaves-researchers-scratching-their-heads
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/06/09/a-3000-year-old-glass-head-deepens-one-of-the-bibles-oldest-mysteries/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/sculpted-head-mystery-biblical-king-found-israel-n881681
http://www.ibtimes.com/mystery-biblical-kings-3000-year-old-sculpted-head-unearthed-2689112
http://www.archaeology.org/news/6671-180607-israel-sculpted-head

Latest winepress find comes from Tzippori:

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/ancient-winepress-found-in-excavation-of-water-reservoir/2018/06/10/

This carbon dating recalibration story first emerged last week, but it has
specific ramifications for the ANE:

https://phys.org/news/2018-06-cornell-illuminates-inaccuracies-radiocarbon-dating.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/cu-cri060518.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180605112057.htm
https://www.timesofisrael.com/upstart-carbon-dating-study-could-rewrite-holy-lands-biblical-timeline/
https://www.sciencealert.com/radiocarbon-dating-ancient-levant-region-calibration-inaccuracies
http://www.archaeology.org/news/6668-180606-radiocarbon-dating-calibration

Latest kids-find-ancient-coin story from Israel:

https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/news/world_news/students-on-archaeology-program-unearth--year-old-coin/article_cbf2cc9b-676f-5602-800c-2b5405361b84.html

Feature on the earliest surviving texts of the Torah:

https://www.jewishlinknj.com/features/25480-the-earliest-surviving-texts-of-the-torah

In Our Time this week was about Persepolis:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b4z075

Russian archaeologists are planning to dig at Palmyra:

http://tass.com/science/1008849
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
Plenty of news from Pompeii this week, but the most spectacular hasn't
made
it to the English press yet, alas ... first, the latest spectacular finds
from Regio V:

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2458553&CategoryId=13936

see also:

http://www.beniculturali.it/mibac/export/MiBAC/sito-MiBAC/Contenuti/MibacUnif/Comunicati/visualizza_asset.html_903665641.html

.... and the AIA's dig diary (not Regio V):

https://www.archaeological.org/news/pompeii/28306

.... and a travel blogger climbed a column to get a photo and met with much
criticism:

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2018/06/04/french-tourist-draws-ire-at-pompeii_be7a0ace-433e-4ca9-a4dc-0d64e7a2c7cf.html

.... he later apologized:

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/pompeii-ruins-travel-blogger-instagram-nils-travel-a8390126.html
https://www.thelocal.it/20180606/nils-travel-instagram-tourist-photo-pompeii-columns

Feature on the last 24 hours at Pompeii:

https://aleteia.org/2018/06/04/what-was-it-like-in-the-last-24-hours-of-pompeii/

A survey of the waters off Naxos has identified a number of sites:

https://news.gtp.gr/2018/06/04/naxos-underwater-excavations-offer-new-insight-ancient-ports/

Interesting Tartescia culture finds from Badajoz:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/06/06/inenglish/1528274778_511883.html
http://www.turkeytelegraph.com/life-style/found-in-the-tartessian-site-of-the-turunuelo-human-bones-and-a-unique-marble-statue-on-the-peninsula-h18235.html

A huge Roman 'jar' from Fiumicino:

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2018/06/07/huge-ancient-roman-jar-found_f5761ecb-cd90-4754-9053-86b0bb7d2b45.html

A fire in Phthiotida revealed a number of (probably illicit) antiquities
in
plastic and other bags:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/229431/article/ekathimerini/news/firemen-recover-antiquities-in-phthiotida
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/06/08/fire-reveals-over-200-antiquities-in-the-mountains-of-profitis-elias-phthiotida/
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/greek-wildfire-reveals-hoard-of-plundered-antiquities/
https://www.npr.org/2018/06/08/618339736/in-greece-fire-reveals-ancient-artifacts-possibly-hidden-by-thieves
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/greek-wildfire-reveals-hoard-plundered-antiquities-55749573

Digging has resumed at Magarsus:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/excavations-continue-in-ancient-magarsus-132818

Searching for a Roman harbour at Lancashire:

https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/in-search-of-the-lost-roman-harbour-in-lancashire-1-9197346

Pondering how the Romans didn't 'get past' Glasgow:

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/history/how-romans-came-glasgow-no-14748487

Celebrating Fishbourne Roman Palace:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/fishbourne-at-50-celebrating-half-a-century-at-a-unique-roman-palace.htm

Probably should be categorized as 'Asia' but a feature on the so-called
Pillar of Heliodorus should be of interest to Classics types:

https://thewire.in/history/how-the-historic-pillar-of-heliodorus-became-khamba-baba

Feature on ancient Greek music:

http://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/programs/overnights/ancient-instruments-to-air/9854458

Jeremy Corbyn says he'll return the Parthenon Marbles if elected prime
minister:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/06/03/jeremy-corbyn-says-would-return-elgin-marbles-greece-elected/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/corbyn-return-elgin-marbles-greece-british-museum-a8381681.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/corbyn-vows-to-give-back-elgin-marbles-6qxtw6bn7
https://neoskosmos.com/en/116421/corbyn-the-parthenon-sculptures-belong-to-greece/
https://neoskosmos.com/en/116594/mikakos-urges-hellenes-to-support-corbyn-for-return-of-parthenon-marbles/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/labour-leader-jeremy-corbyn-pledges-to-return-parthenon-marbles-to-greece
https://hyperallergic.com/445582/uk-labor-leader-says-he-would-return-parthenon-marbles-to-greece-if-elected/

.... which prompted an opposing opEd:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/why-returning-the-elgin-marbles-would-be-madness/

.... and a supporting opEd:

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/letters/jeremy-corbyn-parthenon-marbles-greece-brexit-second-referendum-abortion-plastic-bags-a8382816.html

.... and a BM response:

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/972093/Elgin-Marbles-British-Museum-Jeremy-Corbyn

Mary Beard is now a Dame:

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/mary-beard-dame-2018-honours-14762372
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-44423736/dame-mary-beard-dead-chuffed-with-honour
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/mary-beard-says-damehood-tribute-to-greeks-and-romans-36991560.html

There was a screening of *Gladiator* in the Colosseum ... Russell Crowe et
al in attendance:

https://abcnews.go.com/International/russell-crowe-visits-real-life-colosseum-charity-screening/story?id=55691862
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2458415&CategoryId=13003

Review of Pamela Mensch's translation of Diogenes Laertius:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/aristotles-lisp-why-socrates-loved-dancing-and-other-tales-of-ancient-thinkers/2018/06/06/ece2fc44-64ff-11e8-a768-ed043e33f1dc_story.html

===============================================================
explorator 21.08 June 17, 2018
===============================================================
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,
Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Alfred Kriman, Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses
upses this week (as always hoping I have left no one out).

Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers and father figures out there.
================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Theory on tool use and the origins of language:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/06/toolmaking-language-brain/562385/

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Latest UNESCO Heritage Status designations in Africa:

http://www.dw.com/en/africas-newest-world-heritage-sites/g-44243510

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Restoration of a head of Ramses II has been completed:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/51924/Renovation-of-discovered-head-of-Ramses-II-completed

What Egypt's newly-reappointed antiquities minister is focusing on:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/302488/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Egypts-newly-reappointed-antiquities-minister-inte.aspx
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/52137/Minister-of-antiquities-to-focus-on-9-files-during-his

Egypt is hosting the 12th International Congress of Egyptologists:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/302403/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Egypt-to-host-th-round-of-the-International-Congre.aspx

3500 years bp petroglyphs from Wadi Umm Tineidba:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/52067/New-archaeological-site-uncovered-in-Elkab-desert
http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-egypt-3000-year-old-rock-art-early-form-hieroglyphs-discovered-desert-976735
https://phys.org/news/2018-06-archaeologists-ancient-art-egypt.html
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1320986/art-culture
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/archaeologists-find-ancient-rock-art-in-egypt/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6718-180613-egypt-desert-rock-art

A 2000 years bp family burial cave from Tiberias:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-case-of-the-missing-concrete-how-a-2000-year-old-burial-cave-was-found/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-builders-accidentally-discover-roman-era-jewish-catacomb-in-israel-1.6167799
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/ancient-burial-complex-exposed-in-works-on-new-tiberias-neighborhood/2018/06/10/

Byzantine-era winepresses from Tzippori:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/unique-byzantine-era-winepresses-unearthed-in-roofed-water-cistern-in-tzippori/
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Byzantine-wine-press-uncovered-at-Zippori-National-Park-559627
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/ancient-winepress-found-in-excavation-of-water-reservoir/2018/06/10/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6712-18011-israel-byzantine-winepress

A 1000 years bp amulet of some sort with Arabic script from near Temple
Mount:

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/jerusalem/1000-year-old-clay-amulet-with-arabic-blessing-discovered-in-city-of-david/2018/06/14/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-unique-1-000-year-old-islamic-amulet-found-in-jerusalem-1.6175765
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Small-amulet-makes-for-a-large-find-559987

A number of 'in the news' items are going on display in small-town
Oklahoma:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/why-the-world-premiere-of-precious-biblical-artifacts-is-in-quiet-oklahoma/

.... and Eilat Mazar was there as well:

https://www.thetrumpet.com/17374-a-conversation-with-eilat-mazar

What Elizabeth Carter and Robert Englund are up to:

http://dailybruin.com/2018/06/10/retiring-professors-leave-behind-legacy-of-passion-for-near-eastern-archaeology/

Lawrence Schiffman on the Dead Sea Scrolls at 70 (pdf):

http://lawrenceschiffman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/dead-sea-scrolls-70.pdf

More on that figurine from Abel Beth Maacah:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jun/10/3000-year-old-sculpture-leaves-researchers-scratching-their-heads
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/sculpture-3000-years-israel-ancient-king-discovered-archaeologists-abel-beth-maacah-a8391956.html
https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/2018/06/a-rare-sculpture-possibly-of-a-biblical-monarch-puts-a-face-on-ancient-israel/
http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/mysterious-sculpture-of-tiny-figure-head-could-be-3000yearold-biblical-king/
https://aleteia.org/2018/06/11/archaeologists-discover-tiny-head-that-may-be-face-of-biblical-king/
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/iron-age-royal-abel-beth-maacah/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/could-sculpted-head-depict-little-known-biblical-king-180969302/

Jewish artifacts have apparently gone missing from Damascus:

https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/jewish-artifacts-disappear-from-damascus-in-fog-of-syria-war/article_fb1beebc-e137-5f0e-9b3d-273fe653b33b.html
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
Remains of a (late?) Roman imperial villa near the Milvian Bridge:

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2018/06/05/imperial-villa-found-near-milvian-bridge_06ad7769-e48e-4bce-8db2-b4ff13c8494e.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6724-180615-rome-imperial-villa

Remains of an Illyrian settlement near Shkodra:

http://www.tiranatimes.com/?p=137525
http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C29816%2Cpolish-archaeologists-discover-over-2000-years-old-lost-city-albania.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6711-180611-albania-forgotten-city

Evidence of a Roman town wall in Sandy:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-44487020

This is the Byzantine wine press story from the ANE section with more of a
Classics spin:

http://world.greekreporter.com/2018/06/12/byzantine-era-wine-presses-discovered-in-israel-with-depictions-of-greek-gods-dionysus-and-heracles/

A 'hidden message' on a kylix by the Oedipus Painter (paywalled?):

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-surprise-message-on-a-priceless-ancient-artifact-1529006069

Roman finds are delaying plans for a 2600-home development plan in
Swindon:

https://www.theplanner.co.uk/decision/appeal-roman-remains-prevent-recovered-2600-home-swindon-scheme

A sort of catching-up-with-Pompeii item:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-06/13/c_137249742.htm

Feature on Roman remains in Serbia:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180614-serbias-forgotten-roman-legacy

Feature on the Case Romane del Celio:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/yellowpage/underground-rome-case-romane-del-celio.html

Feature on the Parthenon frieze:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/229546/article/ekathimerini/community/the-color-and-design-of-the-parthenon-frieze

In case you missed the Greenland ice core story:

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-06-13/pollution-in-polar-ice-cores-reveals-human-history

Concerns about a Latin exam in Ireland:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/junior-cert-classical-studies-and-latin-roman-army-puts-a-stop-to-students-march-1.3532247

More on that dispute between Sotheby's and Greece over a horse figurine:

https://www.thelocal.ch/20180611/answer-to-sothebys-and-greek-dispute-over-an-ancient-artifact-could-lie-in-basel
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/getty-fighting-keep-rare-greek-bronze-180969384/

What Nancy Rabinowitz is up to:

https://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/professor-comparative-literature-nancy-sorkin-rabinowitz-lectures-on-activism-and-the-classics

What Tim Whitmarsh is up to:

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/tim-whitmarsh-cambridge-love-island-14769114

What Madeleine Ota is up to:

https://news.stanford.edu/2018/06/12/senior-examines-effects-ancient-artifacts-southeastern-sicilians-identities/

On ancient leadership:

https://www.tes.com/news/ancient-art-leadership

ClassCon in Father Comes Home From the Wars:

https://www.theroot.com/a-heros-journey-father-comes-home-from-the-wars-is-a-r-1826600077

Op Eds on Jeremy Corbyn and the Parthenon Marbles saga:

http://www.spiked-online.com/newsite/article/why-the-british-museum-should-keep-the-elgin-marbles/21490
https://frieze.com/article/what-jeremy-corbyn-gets-right-and-wrong-his-pledge-return-stolen-parthenon-marbles

Eating like an ancient Greek philosopher:

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/tourism-businesses/gastronomy/31590-aristotle-menu-eating-like-the-ancient-greek-philosopher.html

Something about not visiting sites in northern Cyprus:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/06/12/our-view-idiocy-of-attempt-to-ban-visits-to-sites-in-north/
https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/06/11/eu-defies-ministry-rebuke-over-archaeological-sites-in-north/

===============================================================
explorator 21.10 July 1, 2018
===============================================================
If you're having problems getting 'the whole issue', read Explorator
online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/

n.b. for reasons unknown, somewhere along the line an extra dot will
likely
be inserted in that url and you will get a 'page not found'. Removing the
extra
dot in your address bar should fix it (I have not been able to figure out
why this
is happening ... if you can enlighten me, it would be greatly appreciated)

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

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Studying Neanderthal collaborative hunting techniques:

https://phys.org/news/2018-06-neanderthals-bands-speared-prey.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/06/26/neanderthal-hunting-techniques-sophisticated/734399002/
https://www.afp.com/en/news/826/neanderthals-hunted-bands-and-speared-prey-close-study-doc-16l7wo1
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/deadthings/2018/06/25/hunt-like-neanderthal/
https://cosmosmagazine.com/palaeontology/neanderthals-collaborated-on-spear-hunts-120-000-years-ago
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/06/archaeologists-armed-with-spears-demonstrate-how-neanderthals-hunted/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/neanderthals-hunted-groups-one-more-strike-against-dumb-brute-myth-180969472/

Studying an australopithecus cranium found back in 1995 in the
Sterkfontein
Caves:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/uotw-coa062518.php
https://phys.org/news/2018-06-cranium-four-million-year-old-hominin-similarities-modern.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180625130919.htm

More on Otzi's tools:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05497-z
https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/06/27/ciencia/1530111711_868954.html
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Images of a secretary bird from Deir el Bahari might give clues about the
location land of Punt:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C29964%2Cpolish-egyptologist-discovered-secretary-bird-temple-hatshepsut.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6748-180626-egypt-secretary-bird
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Four 26th Dynasty canopic jars from Luxor:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/305454/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/th-Dynasty-canopic-jars-discovered-at-Luxors-South.aspx
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/52786/Canopic-jars-discovered-in-tomb-of-Karabasken-in-Luxor
http://plenglish.com/index.php?o=rn&id=30138&SEO=archaeologists-discovered-sacred-vessels-in-pharaonic-priest-tomb
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6744-180625-egypt-canopic-jars

Egypt's antiquities minister announced that announcements are coming:

http://www.egyptindependent.com/new-discoveries-announced-soon-antiquities-minister/

Studying cancer rates in Egypt from Dakhleh Oasis evidence:

https://www.livescience.com/62908-ancient-egypt-cancer.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6746-180625-egypt-skeletons-cancer

Feature on the extent of smuggling of artifacts in Egypt:

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1330421

On specialization of buildings during the early Neolithic in Jordan:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/ku-nsa062718.php
https://phys.org/news/2018-06-special-purpose-world-earliest-neolithic-villages.html

Remains of an 8000 years bp village in the UAE:

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/abu-dhabi/8000-year-old-village/-discovered-in-uae
https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/culture/8-000-year-old-village-discovered-in-the-uae-1.2242495

On dolmens in the Bronze Age Levant:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2018/06/Visible-Dead-Dolmens-Bronze-Age-Levant

Evidence of barley beer in some Bronze Age vessels from Khani Masi:

https://phys.org/news/2018-06-barley-beer-bronze-age-mesopotamian.html
https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2018/06/27/Mesopotamians-were-drinking-beer-from-individual-vessels-3500-years-ago/5551530110022/

.... and a study of Hittite beer:

https://cosmosmagazine.com/archaeology/ancient-brewing-was-not-a-hittite-or-miss-process

A 5000 years bp child/human sacrifice site from Basur Hoyuk:

https://www.livescience.com/62954-human-sacrifices-mesopotamia.html
http://www.newsweek.com/ancient-mesopotamia-child-sacrifice-turkey-archaeology-1000934
http://www.archaeology.org/news/6759-180629-mesopotamia-tomb-sacrifices

Those repatriated Hobby Lobby artifacts are shedding light on Irisagrig:

https://www.npr.org/2018/06/28/623537440/hobby-lobbys-illegal-antiquities-shed-light-on-a-lost-looted-ancient-city-in-ira
https://news.wbhm.org/npr_story_post/2018/hobby-lobbys-illegal-antiquities-shed-light-on-a-lost-looted-ancient-city-in-iraq/

Feature on Montfort Castle:

https://aleteia.org/2018/06/26/ruins-of-crusader-castle-reveal-how-soldiers-relaxed/

That 'mystery biblical king' head is now on display:

https://www.sgvtribune.com/2018/06/24/3000-year-old-sculpture-found-by-azusa-pacific-now-on-display-at-israel-museum/

Surveying sites in Saudi Arabia:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/20/middleeast/saudi-archaeology/index.html

Studying Amlash sites in Iran:

http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/424758/Archaeology-team-probe-Amlash-settlements

I think we mentioned this Islamic amulet from Jerusalem:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-muslim-evil-eye-amulet-discovered-in-a-jerusalem-parking-lot?source=articles&via=rss

Feature on the Hittites:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/who-were-the-hittites/

On war damage to the theatre (not amphitheatre) at Bosra:

https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2018/6/30/syrian-regime-shelling-damages-regions-best-preserved-roman-amphitheatre
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
Evidence that Greeks were drinking beer some 4000 years bp:

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/31736-aristotle-university-study-ancient-greeks-drank-beer-4-000-years-ago.html

The big news story this week appears to be the find of the skull of that
latest victim from Pompeii:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2018/06/28/that-meme-worthy-pompeii-skeleton-not-crushed-by-a-block-his-skull-shows/
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/29/science/pompeii-skull-rock.html
https://www.livescience.com/62956-pompeii-decapitation-skull-found.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/unluckiest-guy-history-crushed-rock-pompeii-mount-vesuvius-archaeologists-wrong-a8424616.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/06/29/everyone-thought-he-was-killed-by-a-giant-rock-at-pompeii-then-they-found-his-skull/
http://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2018/06/28/head-of-pompeiis-last-fugitive-found-4_6d53d66e-9173-448a-bdc1-37435b3bc435.html
https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/30/europe/pompeii-victim-new-findings/index.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/29/archaeologists-find-skull-ancient-roman-killed-fleeing-pompeii/
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-01/pompeii-victim-was-not-crushed-by-stone-skull-found-intact/9929058
https://www.sciencealert.com/pompeii-disabled-man-masonry-vesuvius-skull-found-intact-asphyxiation
http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/we-ve-got-some-bad-news-about-the-unluckiest-guy-in-history-from-pompeii/
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/06/headless-pompeii-skull-archaeology-science/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6760-180629-pompeii-intact-skull

.... and how we should be looking at the victims of Pompeii in general:

http://theconversation.com/pompeii-should-teach-us-to-celebrate-peoples-lives-not-mock-their-death-97632

A bronze 'hand of god' (maybe) artifact from Vindolanda:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hand-of-god-ancient-roman-hadrians-wall-sculpture-bronze-found-latest-a8419131.html
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6645747/ancient-roman-hand-of-god-uncovered-near-hadrians-wall-sheds-light-on-lesser-known-bloodiest-battles-in-british-history/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6757-180628-vindolanda-bronze-hand

Possible Roman burial ground in Lincoln:

https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2018/06/lincoln-developers-stumble-across-roman-burial-ground/

The Silchester Archaeology dig has a facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/Silchester

An inscription dating to Marcus Aurelius' time from Kabyle:

http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2018/06/25/431781/yambol-a-fully-preserved-inscription-from-roman-times-found-in-kabyle.html

A Roman fresco (sort of, not really) once owned by Horace Walpole is
coming
to auction:

===============================================================
explorator 21.12 July 15, 2018
===============================================================
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,
Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
2.1 million years b.p. tools from China (and the associated implications):

https://phys.org/news/2018-07-discovery-ancient-tools-china-humans.html
https://phys.org/news/2018-07-humankind-odyssey-africa-began-million.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-07/uoe-doa071018.php
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/11/science/hominins-tools-china.html
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-07/15/c_137324467.htm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44797323
https://www.yahoo.com/news/stone-tools-age-asias-first-homo-presence-170748782.html
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/shangchen-stone-tools-put-early-hominids-china-earlier
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/07/hominins-lived-in-china-2-1-million-years-ago/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/deadthings/2018/07/11/hominins-in-china/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/07/news-china-human-tools-africa-shangchen-hominin-paleoanthropology/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/oldest-stone-tools-outside-africa-unearthed-china-180969621/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6784-180712-china-ancient-tools

Suggestion that modern humans arose at different locations in Africa at
different times:

https://phys.org/news/2018-07-rethinking-homo-sapiens-story-dizzyingly.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-07/mpif-ofa070518.php
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-07/cp-hei070518.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180711114544.htm
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-humans-began-to-evolve-half-a-million-years-ago-all-over-africa-1.6264916
http://www.newsweek.com/humans-did-not-evolve-single-population-africa-researchers-say-1018143
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/07/the-new-story-of-humanitys-origins/564779/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6782-180711-evolution-african-multiregionalism

They were checking out Otzi's last meal/diet this week:

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(18)30703-6
https://phys.org/news/2018-07-year-old-iceman-meal-reveals-remarkably.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44807101
https://www.dw.com/en/%C3%B6tzi-study-sheds-light-on-5000-year-old-alpine-diet/a-44643261
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/otzi-mummy-ate-high-fat-meal-before-death
https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2018/07/14/a-mummys-final-meal-adds-to-an-ancient-mystery
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jul/12/otzis-last-supper-mummified-hunters-final-meal-revealed
https://www.npr.org/628907366
https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/07/12/ciencia/1531397759_893477.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/6785-180712-otzi-last-meal

Pondering the evolution of the human hand:

https://phys.org/news/2018-07-bone-marrow-key-role-evolution.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180711105725.htm
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/human-hand-evolve-bone-smashing-180969632/
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Petroglyphs found all over Tanzania:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C30116%2Cpolish-archaeologist-discovers-hundreds-rock-paintings-tanzania.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6778-180710-tanzania-rock-art

Feature on Yaa Asantewaa:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-44772345/yaa-asantewaa-and-the-fight-for-the-golden-stool
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
A Saite-Persian period mummification workshop from Saqqara:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/306907/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/New-Saqqara-necropolis-discovery-to-reveal-secrets.aspx
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/306535/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Mummies,-embalming-equipment-discovered-south-of-P.aspx
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/14/a-goldmine-mummies-secrets-uncovered-in-egypt
https://www.timesunion.com/news/world/article/Archaeologists-in-Egypt-discover-mummification-13074848.php
https://www.dw.com/en/mummification-workshop-discovered-near-egypts-great-pyramids/a-44675897
https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/egypts-saqqara-necropolis-unearths-new-embalming-equipment-funerary-and-mummies-1157822
https://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-news/mummification-workshop-found-in-egypt/news-story/fdc27689a58d69c9045927c53429aa13

35 mummies were also found there:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-07/14/c_137323962.htm
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-archaeology-discovery/egypt-uncovers-mummy-burial-site-near-great-pyramids-idUSKBN1K40M1
https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/egypt/archaeologists-uncover-2-000-year-old-mummy-burial-site-in-egypt-1.6270717

.... and other things were announced too (this obviously was reported in
various ways):

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/53962/In-pics-5-ancient-Egyptian-stone-coffins-discovered-at-Saqqara
http://www.egyptindependent.com/egyptian-german-archaeological-expedition-uncover-cemetery-saqqara/
https://egyptianstreets.com/2018/07/10/ministry-of-antiquities-to-announce-ancient-egyptian-discoveries-at-saqqara-necropolis/

A bust in Egypt (I think we mentioned it last week) has led to the
discovery of a Greco-Roman city site:

https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1328956/egypt-arrest-gang-leads-discovery-ancient-greco-roman-city

Roman and Byzantine 'chambers' from Mitt Abu Al-Kom (Alexandria):

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/41/306778/Heritage/GrecoRoman/Archaeological-chambers-uncovered-in-Alexandria-.aspx
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-07/13/c_137320442.htm
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6788-180713-egypt-alexandria-rooms

Feature on a model Egyptian ship at the Getty:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/egyptian-ship-model-sheds-light-on-bronze-age-warfare-and-religion/

Using VR to help 'save' Nefertari's tomb:

https://www.livescience.com/63010-ancient-egypt-sistine-chapel-virtual-reality.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/take-vr-tour-egyptian-queens-elaborate-tomb-180969597/

Possible evidence of the Persian/Lydian battle at Sardis:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/traces-of-war-found-in-ancient-lydian-city-sardis-134494
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6789-180713-turkey-sardis-war

The gate to the city of Zer/Bethsaida (maybe) has been found:

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Archaeologists-uncover-gate-to-biblical-city-of-Zer-561941
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ancient-city-gate-uncovered-in-the-galilee-may-have-tie-to-biblical-king-david/
http://www.ibtimes.sg/archaeologists-discover-gate-biblical-city-zer-where-jesus-christ-used-live-26669

Latest on the Huqoq mosaics:

https://uncnews.unc.edu/2018/07/09/unparalleled-mosaics
https://phys.org/news/2018-07-discoveries-archaeology-team-clues-life.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-07/uonc-dba070918.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180709120202.htm
https://www.timesofisrael.com/mind-blowing-1600-year-old-biblical-mosaics-paint-new-picture-of-galilean-life/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/biblical-spies-revealed-in-1500-year-old-mosaic.aspx
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/biblical-archaeology-sites/huqoq-mosaic-israelite-spies-numbers-13/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/6781-180711-galilee-spies-grapes

A Byzantine-era cross on a weight found at Hippos/Sussita:

https://www.haifa.ac.il/index.php/en/3267.html
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Newly-discovered-Byzantine-era-cross-sheds-light-on-Muslim-Christian-ties-562247
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-masked-byzantine-weight-found-in-hippos-indicates-religious-tensions-1.6225133
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/248749
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/hidden-silver-cross-attests-to-religious-tolerance-of-7th-century-caliphate/2018/07/11/

Latest on Nahum's tomb:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/archaeology-today/cultural-heritage/biblical-prophet-nahum-tomb/

Interview with Israel Hershkovitz:

https://www.fromthegrapevine.com/podcasts/lifestyle/our-friend-from-israel-podcast-episode-8-israel-hershkovitz-archaeologist-tel-aviv-university

Feature on Ephraim Stern:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/archaeology-today/archaeologists-biblical-scholars-works/giant-persian-period-ephraim-stern/

Feature on mothers in the New Testament:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2018/07/Blessed-Among-Women

The Atiqot site is back online:

http://www.atiqot.org.il/