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explorator 19.52 April 23, 2017
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If you're having problems getting 'the whole issue', read Explorator
online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/

Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,
John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Hernan
Astudillo,
Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, Don Buck, Maureen Fant,
Jennifer Cosham, Anthony Stevens, Magnus Fiskesjo, Kris Curry,
David Critchley, Rick Heli, David Emery, Richard C. Griffiths,
and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always hoping I
have left no one out).

.... and so we come to the end of our twentieth year (!) of
putting out this newsletter every Sunday!
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EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Latest attempt to fit homo floresiensis on the hominid family tree:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-04/anu-ooi042017.php
https://phys.org/news/2017-04-indonesian-hobbits-revealed.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170421084917.htm
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/21/hobbit-species-did-not-evolve-from-ancestor-of-modern-humans-research-finds

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/real-life-hobbits-early-humans-floresiensis-homo-sapiens-scientists-indonesia-a7694691.html

http://www.iol.co.za/news/science/hobbit-link-to-h-erectus-takes-a-pounding-8769720

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/origins-of-indonesias-flores-hobbits-most-likely-in-africa-and-not-from-java-man-study-claims-20170421-gvptdr.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-22/origin-of-hobbits-finally-uncovered-by-anu-researchers/8463376

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-04/21/c_136226654.htm
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/scientists-debunk-theory-that-hobbits-were-mans-cousin-1618170

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2128483-mystery-human-hobbit-ancestor-may-have-been-first-out-of-africa/

http://www.sciencealert.com/indonesia-s-hobbits-are-far-older-than-we-originally-thought

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2017/04/21/the-hobbit-older-lineage/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5501-170421-homo-floresiensis-bones
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/04/2017/study-reveals-homo-floresiensis-not-descended-from-homo-erectus

A 23 000 years bp ‘Venus figurine’ got a pile of press attention because
someone’s throwaway line:

http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/stunning-23000-year-old-venus-with-derriere-like-kim-kardashians-unearthed-in-russia/

Not sure if we’ve mentioned this 38 000 years bp rock art from France:

http://www.newsweek.com/archaeologists-discover-38000-year-old-animal-art-585767

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
1000 ushabti and 10 sarcophagi from a 18th Dynasty noble’s tomb in Luxor:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/9/265161/Heritage/Egyptian-archaeologists-unearth-tomb-of-th-Dynasty.aspx

http://www.livescience.com/58738-tomb-of-mummies-unearthed-at-luxor.html
http://www.livescience.com/58736-photos-mummies-ancient-egypt-cemetery.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/archaeologists-major-discovery-egypt-luxor-170418132642659.html

https://phys.org/news/2017-04-archaeologists-statues-tomb-egypt-luxor.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39633599
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/18/egypt-discovers-3000-year-old-tomb-nobleman/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/noblemans-tomb-egypt-discovery-nile-luxor-userhat-new-kingdom-judge-a7691996.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/archaeologists-find-1000-statues-tomb-egypts-luxor-46860072

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-19/egypt-discovers-3000-year-old-tomb-of-nobleman/8452084

http://www.smh.com.au/world/egyptians-unearth-3000-year-old-tomb-of-judge-near-luxor-20170419-gvnhwu.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/archaeologists-open-ancient-tomb-find-1000-statues/

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/mummies-discovered-in-ancient-tomb-near-egypts-luxor-145515943.html

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/3500-year-old-tomb-unearthed-luxor-take-look-incredible-pictures-mummies-sarcophagi-1617776

http://www.albawaba.com/news/egyptian-archaeologists-unearth-18th-dynasty-tomb-964462

http://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/mummies-discovered-in-ancient-tomb-near-egypts-luxor/

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-archaeology-discovery-idUSKBN17K1VW?feedType=RSS&feedName=lifestyleMolt

http://www.westernmassnews.com/story/35174800/archaeologists-find-1000-statues-in-tomb-in-egypts-luxor

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/04/ancient-egypt-mummies-statues-luxor-discovery/

http://www.archaeology.org/news/5491-170418-luxor-tomb-ou-sarhat

… maybe it’s only six sarcophagi:

https://egyptianstreets.com/2017/04/18/new-major-tomb-containing-six-mummies-and-artifacts-unearthed-in-luxor/

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/4105/18th-Dynasty-Pharaonic-tomb-reveals-350-more-statutes
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/video-350-additional-artifacts-found-newly-excavated-luxor-cemetery

http://artdaily.com/news/95304/Egyptian-archaeological-team-discovers-mummies-in-ancient-tomb-near-Egypt-s-Luxor

… or maybe eight:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/18/middleeast/egypt-tombs-mummies/index.html
http://www.sfgate.com/news/media/Archaeologists-discover-3-500-year-old-tombs-in-829344.php

https://www.seeker.com/culture/archaeology/eight-mummies-and-other-treasures-found-in-luxor-tomb-bonanza

http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2017/04/18/actualidad/1492528157_358652.html

… and there are hopes it will boost tourism:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-19/egypt-discovers-3000-year-old-tomb-of-nobleman/8452084

A colossal statue of Ramses II has been restored:

http://timesofoman.com/article/107397/World/Middle-East/Egypt-unveils-giant-restored-statue-of-Ramses-II

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/04/20/world/science-health-world/egypt-unveils-giant-restored-statue-ramses-ii/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/egypt-unveils-restored-75-ton-ancient-collossus-statue-ramses-ii-930875

http://english.aawsat.com/waleed-abdul-rahman/lifestyle-culture/egypt-unveils-restored-statue-ramses-ii

Pondering the origins of Hathor:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.783982

On the ‘legend of the mummy’:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170420-where-does-the-legend-of-the-mummy-come-from

More wondering whether Egypt should sell artifacts to help its economy:

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/04/egypt-national-treasures-sale-tourism-crisis-investment.html

More on Zahi Hawass’ latest activities:

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/un-honors-egyptologist-zahi-hawass-being-appointed-ambassador-culture-and-antiquities

A Killia idol is coming to auction:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-anatolian-statuette-of-abundance-seeks-record-at-new-york-auction-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=112157&NewsCatID=375

That ‘comet inscription’ from Gobekli Tepe is back in the news:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/04/21/ancient-stone-carvings-confirm-comet-struck-earth-10950bc-wiping/

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1088616/offbeat

More on that ‘buried city’ find in Iran:

http://plenglish.com/index.php?o=rn&id=11833&SEO=iran-archaeologists-unearth-2000-year-old-city

Some illegal diggers were caught in the Beit Keshet Forest:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/228290

ISIL made an attack on St Catherine’s Monastery this week:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/04/18/524610884/gunmen-attack-popular-religious-tourism-site-in-sinai

https://apnews.com/ecf9dd48c08d4d548f190c8cb15f5226/Islamic-State-claims-attack-on-Egypt-police-checkpoint

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
Plans to probe a Hellenistic/Roman era pyramid at Khirbet Midras:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologists-to-probe-ancient-pyramid-in-judean-hills/

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4949880,00.html

Remains of a Roman aqueduct under the via Praenestina:

http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2017/04/16/news/roma_alla_prenestina_riaffora_l_acquedotto_appio-163075536/

A recently-discovered mosaic from Uzes was removed this week (by
archaeologists) and people aren’t happy:

http://theartnewspaper.com/news/conservation/removal-of-a-rare-roman-mosaic-in-southern-france-enflames-local-conservation-groups-/

They’re looking for the missing portions of that ‘Gypsy girl’ mosaic:

http://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/04/20/initiative-to-return-missing-pieces-from-gypsy-girl-mosaic-in-turkeys-gaziantep

A Roman villa associated somehow with Marcus Aurelius from Kibyratis:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.783703
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/roman-emperors-2000-year-old-summer-palace-discovered-turkey-1617195

http://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/04/18/2000-year-old-roman-summer-home-discovered-in-southern-turkey

I think we’ve mentioned this Roman road find in Israel:

http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article&ArticleId=28535