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explorator 20.47 March 18, 2018
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If you're having problems getting 'the whole issue', read Explorator
online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/

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

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Apparently humans fared better in the wake of the Toba eruption 74 000
years bp than previously thought:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/asu-hti030818.php
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoct-mhf031218.php
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/science/toba-supervolcano-supererupti
on.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43377960
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-science-volcano/stone-age-people-in-s
outh-africa-unharmed-by-supervolcano-eruption-idUSKCN1GO2IK
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/03/how-ancient-humans-survived-globa
l-volcanic-winter-massive-eruption
http://www.newsweek.com/early-humans-survived-supervolcano-eruption-8405
56
http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-03-13/toba-super-volcano-eruptio
n-saw-some-humans-thrive-on-coast/9532938
http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/nature/these-ancient-humans-survive
d-a-supervolcano.aspx
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-humans-weathered-toba-
supervolcano-just-fine-180968479/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/6433-180313-volcanic-winter-survival

Evidence of long-distance trade and sophisticated tools in East Africa
320 000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2018-03-scientists-evidence-early-human-evolutiona
ry.html
https://phys.org/news/2018-03-african-tools-human-technological.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/s-sde030918.php
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43401157
https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/03/15/ciencia/1521139094_739880.html
https://www.theage.com.au/world/scientists-find-evidence-of-paint-comple
x-tools-and-climate-chaos-at-the-dawn-of-humanity-20180316-h0xjzu.html
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-humans-turning-point
-20180315-story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/03/15/
scientists-find-evidence-of-paint-complex-tools-and-climate-chaos-at-the
-dawn-of-humanity/
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/03/15/593591796/
scientists-are-amazed-by-stone-age-tools-they-dug-up-in-kenya
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/deadthings/2018/03/15/
human-behavior-evolution/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/colored-pigments-and-compl
ex-tools-suggest-human-trade-100000-years-earlier-previously-believed-18
0968499/
https://www.archaeology.org/6442-180316-middle-stone-age

On compassion in Neanderthals:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoy-chn031318.php
https://phys.org/news/2018-03-compassion-neanderthals-survive-reveals.ht
ml
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180313130443.htm

On human-denisovan interbreeding:

https://phys.org/news/2018-03-modern-humans-interbred-denisovans-history
..html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180315140733.htm
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-denisovans-humans-ma
ted-20180315-story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/03/15/
humans-bred-with-this-mysterious-species-more-than-once-new-study-shows/
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/03/modern-humans-interbred-with-den
isovans-more-than-once/
https://www.archaeology.org/6439-180315-asia-denisovan-dna

On the role of cheese, wheat, and alcohol in human evolution:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-cheese-wheat-and-alcoh
ol-shaped-human-evolution-180968455/
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Evidence of cultivation of grain in Saharan Africa 10 000 years bp:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoh-tao031618.php

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Meneptahs red granite column is the latest item to head to the GEM:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/44/292502/Heritage/Museums/
King-Meneptah-Column-arrives-at-Grand-Egyptian-Mus.aspx
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6434-180313-egypt-column-moved

On solar alignments in Ancient Egypt:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/151/292945/Egypt/Features/
Solar-alignments-in-Ancient-Egypt.aspx

An undisturbed elite Canaanite burial from Megiddo:

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/megiddo-armageddon-dna-royal
-burial-canaan-archaeology/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/3600-year-old-tomb-found-next-
canaanite-palace-might-contain-remains-royal-family-180968487/

A followup of sorts to that story of the Gazan family who found a Roman
site in their backyard:

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/03/gaza-archaeological-s
ite-roman-era-excavation-preservation.html

Feature on Timna:

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://www.israelhayom.com/
2018/03/16/uncovering-israels-past-at-timna/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjdjY2U2ODQ5NT
MxZWE4Mjc6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHZpajxHVXiJEaYujJT751UxEAgZQ

Feature on the Huqoq mosaics:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/scholars-study/more-on-the-mosaics/

A slow week, so we'll put this item on Mellaart's legacy here (not sure
about the source!):

https://www.livescience.com/61989-famed-archaeologist-created-fakes.html
http://www.newsweek.com/famous-archaeologist-faked-ancient-discoveries-9
000-year-old-site-europe-and-841428
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/technology/science/famed-british-archa
eologist-james-mellaart-forged-researchers-claim/news-story/50d4d14acf9d
bf7185403465039ba1a8
http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/archaeology/famed-british-arch
aeologist-james-mellaart-forged-researchers-claim/news-story/50d4d14acf9
dbf7185403465039ba1a8

Feature on the portraiture of the Persian royal family:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/persias-dynastic-
portraiture-bejeweled-thrones-and-lavish-decor-message-authority-1809684
75/

In case you never checked out the online version of the DSS:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/dead-sea-sc
rolls/digital-dead-sea-scrolls-finally-available-online/

.... and Digital South Arabia:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2018/03/Digital-South-Arabia

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
Evidence of the port of Palepolis (near Naples):

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2018/03/15/ancient-naples
-port-found-2_64b282bc-7ebd-46e5-90a1-9736998be415.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6438-180315-naples-ancient-port

A possible early Roman settlement in North Petherton:

http://digital.vpr.net/post/ancient-instruments-and-modern-media-tell-ta
le-women-warriors?#stream/0

Plenty of sites discovered along the route of the Trans-Adriatic
Pipeline:

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/03/14/pipeline-construction-reveals
-ancient-greek-treasures/
http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/30529-more-than-400-archa
eological-excavations-completed-along-trans-adriatic-pipeline-s-path.htm
l http://www.balkaneu.com/400-archaeological-excavations-investigations-co
mpleted-in-northern-greece/

Interesting miniature Roman mirror frames from a villa site in northern
Bulgaria:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2018/03/10/archaeologist-discovers-anci
ent-mirrors-roman-villa-estate-ceramics-factory-bulgarias-pavlikeni/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6430-180312-bulgaria-roman-mirrors

Pondering the existence of Amazons:

http://bigthink.com/philip-perry/were-there-ever-any-real-amazon-warrior
-women

Semi-related:

http://digital.vpr.net/post/ancient-instruments-and-modern-media-tell-ta
le-women-warriors?#stream/0

Mosaics from the 'Mansion of Alexander at Amyntaio' are going on
display:

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/03/gaza-archaeological-s
ite-roman-era-excavation-preservation.html

Last week our link to a 'fear of archaeologists' in Greece piece
somehow acquired an extra period, so:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-greece-the-authority-investors-fear-most
-its-archaeologists-1520505001

Matt Gibbs has recreated an ancient Egyptian beer:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/ancient-beer-brought-to-life-by-classic
ist-and-winnipeg-brewery-1.3843821
http://toronto.citynews.ca/2018/03/15/ale-analysis-ancient-beer-brought-
to-life-by-classicist-and-winnipeg-brewery/
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/canada-profs-4th-century-beer-a-classic
-128843