===============================================================
explorator 20.15 August 6, 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, Allan
Brockway, Val Moore, Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses
upses this week (as always hoping I have left no one out).

.... a very busy week

===============================================================
= EARLY HOMINIDS
===============================================================
= Pondering the origin of the genus homo:

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-paper-genus-homo-response-environmental.ht
ml
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170804100410.htm

On sapiens diet and Neanderthal ‘displacement’:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170804082912.htm

A number of early hominin sites in Saudi Arabia are causing a bit of a rethink:

https://www.livescience.com/59998-46-prehistoric-sites-saudi-arabia.html
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/human-artifacts-found-46-ancient
-lakes-arabian-desert-180964303/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5778-170801-saudi-arabia-desert

===============================================================
= AFRICA
===============================================================
= More on Chinese burials in Kenya:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201707310840.html
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2017-08/01/content_30319104.htm

===============================================================
= ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
===============================================================
= Feature on Tut’s ‘camping bed’:

https://www.livescience.com/59999-king-tut-camping-bed-ancient-marvel.html

Suggestion that an early pharaoh might have been a ‘giant’:

https://www.livescience.com/60044-ancient-egyptian-pharaoh-first-human-gian
t.html

Five people were killed while illegally digging in Sohag:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/274570/Egypt/Politics-/
Five-killed-while-illegally-digging-for-antiquitie.aspx
http://www.egyptindependent.com/five-killed-illegal-ancient-artifact-excavation
-sohag/
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2441088&CategoryId=13003

Latest on plans to restore Alexandria’s Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/43/274710/Heritage/Islamic/
Restoration-of-Alexandrian-Jewish-synagogue-is-und.aspx
http://www.egyptindependent.com/eliyahu-hanavi-synagogue-restoration-alex
andria/
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170803-egypt-to-bear-cost-of-alexandri
a-synagogue-renovation/

Zahi Hawass was receiving awards …

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/15388/Hawas-receives-Golden-Gala-awar
d-at-Magna-Graecia-Film-Fest

… and trying to reestablish good relations with Italy, antiquities-wise:

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2017/08/
02/zahi-hawass-says-italy-egypt-can-reestablish-relationship_e3bf7cad-125d-
4c2f-8e68-6739af7c4443.html

They’re hyping hidden chambers in the pyramids again:

http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/archaeology/the-great-pyramid-of
-giza-is-hiding-mysterious-chambers-that-could-be-about-to-reveal-their-secret
s/news-story/ba28e717d3018b8bd23efa38232ada2d

Medieval/Islamic Period Coptic inscriptions from the St Beshoy monastery:

http://www.menafn.com/1095671887/Egypt--Coptic-inscriptions-accidentally-di
scovered-at-ancient-monastery

Concerns for the Al Mandara Mill:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/43/274604/Heritage/Islamic/
Construction-will-not-encroach-on-Alexandrias-hist.aspx

Concerns that a Baghdad pipeline is damaging sites:

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/07/bismayah-gas-pipeline-iraq
-baghdad.html#ixzz4oKr0Xdni

Suggestion that Catal Huyuk was war-free for 4000 years:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/no-wars-in-catalhoyuk-for-4000-years-.aspx
?pageID=238&nid=116245&NewsCatID=375
https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/08/03/catalhoyuk-4000-years-of-pea
ce-without-war

No, it’s not an ancient fidget spinner:

https://www.livescience.com/60022-ancient-fidget-spinner-lookalike-is-weapon
..html

The site of Julias may have been found:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/New-evidence-of-Lost-City-of-Julias-unearth
ed-near-Sea-of-Galilee-501701
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/christian-archaeologists-may-have-u
nearthed-lost-kinneret-city-of-3-apostles/2017/08/06/

Using seals to confirm the existence of Biblical names:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/researcher-gives-seal-of-approval-to-53-biblical-
characters-existence/

Feature on Tiberias:

http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.805152

Lawrence Schiffman on a Talmud-burning incident in the 13th century:

http://lawrenceschiffman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/
when-talmud-was-burned.pdf

More on evidence for the burning of Jerusalem some 2600 years b.p.:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/bible-passage-jerusalem-burning-
city-david-capture-accurate-archaeologists-burnt-artefacts-ash-a7871286.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/archaeological-find-jerusalem-proves-bible-pass
age-historically-true-123315016.html
http://www.ibtimes.com/2600-year-old-archeological-discovery-shows-biblical-
passage-be-true-2574781

In case you missed the Canaanite-DNA-in-Lebanon story:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/science/ancient-canaanites-bible-lebano
n.html
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/07/2017/present-day-leban
ese-are-direct-descendants-of-ancient-canaanites

More on that Byzantine wine press:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/byzantine-wine-press-found-isra
eli-desert-180964243/

Suggestion that ISIL mostly targets Islamic sites:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/isis-destruction-of-ancient-sites
-hits-mostly-muslim-targets.aspx

… and a feature on the folks who trade it for them:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-men-who-trade-isis-loot-1502017200

===============================================================
= ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
===============================================================
= Plenty of excitement over the find of a ‘little Pompeii’ (not really) in France:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/world/europe/france-roman-neighborhoo
d-sainte-colombe-vienne.html
http://www.france24.com/en/20170802-archaeologists-unearth-little-pompeii-s
outheast-france
https://www.thelocal.fr/20170801/france-archaeologists-uncover-little-pompeii
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/02/france-archaeologists-uncove
r-little-pompeii-south-of-lyon
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/roman-ruins-france-lyon-vien
ne-little-pompeii-discover-site-archaeologists-benjamin-clement-a7874386.ht
ml
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40800527
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/02/welcome-little-pompeii-roman-nei
ghbourhood-discovered-france/
http://www.dw.com/en/little-pompeii-discovered-in-southern-france/a-39930664
http://frenchtribune.com/teneur/25541-archaeologists-unearth-roman-relics
https://www.grazia.fr/culture/arts-architecture/une-petite-pompei-decouverte-d
ans-la-vienne-862803#
https://www.apollo-magazine.com/archaeologists-unearth-little-pompeii-in-sou
theastern-france/
http://mentalfloss.com/article/503324/archaeologists-uncover-little-pompeii-bu
ried-beneath-ash-france
http://theartnewspaper.com/news/news/little-pompeii-of-vienne-is-most-except
ional-excavation-of-a-roman-site-in-40-or-50-years/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/welcome-little-pompeii-roman-neighbourhood-10
2254259.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/archaeologists-uncover-little-pompeii-southeast-
france-151035362.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/c/video/c2f8fb1e-791d-11e7-8c17-533c
52b2f014
http://www.npr.org/2017/08/04/541538827/uncovering-a-little-pompeii-in-france
http://www.reuters.com/video/2017/08/04/little-pompeii-discovered-near-lyon-i
n-f?videoId=372252489&feedType=VideoRSS&feedName=WorldNews&video
Channel=117760
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/95480069/Little-Pompeii-found-in-souther
n-France
https://hyperallergic.com/394056/archaeologists-discover-a-little-pompeii-in-s
outhern-france/
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-little-po
mpeii-eastern-france-180964311/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5781-170802-france-roman-neighborhood

A 2500 years bp sarcophagus containing the bones of a male and female
from Antandrus:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/07/31/contents-of-2500-year-old-sar
cophagus-discovered-in-turkeys-balikesir-revealed
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5774-170731-turkey-antandrus-sarcophagus

A 1500 years bp burial at the Carthage Circus:

http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.804548

Latest from the dig at Troy:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/excavations-unveil-mysteries-of-trojan-war.
aspx?pageID=238&nid=116282&NewsCatID=375

Hotel construction in Sophia is continuing despite the discovery of Roman
ruins on the site:

http://www.novinite.com/articles/181956/Construction+of+a+Luxury+Hotel+is+
Continuing+in+Sofia+Despite+the+Discovery+of+an+Ancient+Roman+Necrop
olis
https://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/roman-tombs-vanish-under-hyatt-hot
el-in-bulgaria-08-01-2017

Feature on that chariot race mosaic recently found on Cyprus:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/08/ancient-mosaic-cyprus-roman-ch
ariot-race-archaeology-spd/

Digging has resumed at Lagina:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/08/03/archaeological-excavations-to
-resume-at-turkeys-ancient-site-of-lagina

Excavations are done at Geronissos for the season:

http://in-cyprus.com/archaeological-excavations-at-geronissos-island-complet
ed/

A Swiss team will be working at Orikum:

http://www.tiranatimes.com/?p=133433

Evidence of an ancient earthquake at Assos:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/traces-of-ancient-earthquake-in-assos-.aspx
?pageID=238&nid=116328&NewsCatID=375

… they also found an 1800 years bp stylus:

http://www.trtworld.com/life/archaeologists-discover-1800-year-old-writing-tool
-in-turkey-415564

First we read that an ancient theatre was found beneath a school in Antalya:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-theater-found-under-school.aspx?p
ageID=238&nid=116147&NewsCatID=375

… then officials were denying it:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/culture-ministry-denies-claims-about-ancien
t-theater-under-antalya-school-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=116219&NewsCatID=3
75

Plans for Dorchester’s Roman market:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-40800400

Another dustup over race in the Roman Empire:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/dna-romans/535701/

Cf: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/27/alt-right-commentator-gets-sch
ooled-historian-diversity-roman/

A hoard of Roman silver found in Fife three years ago is going on display:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-40778533
http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/roman-silver-discovered-in-fife-set-to-go-on-na
tional-display-1-4518615
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15445164.Silver_hoard_found_by_teena
ge_detectorist_will_be_shown_for_first_time_at_National_Museum_of_Scotla
nd/
http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/people-places/livingston-teen-s-roman-silv
er-find-to-go-on-display-1-4519009

The Boldre Roman Hoard is going on display too:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-40768334

On the Roman view of suicide (in an Antony and Cleo context):

https://www.forbes.com/sites/drsarahbond/2017/07/31/mark-antony-cleopatra-
and-the-roman-perception-of-suicide/

… and some of the finds made by Classical archaeologists this summer:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/drsarahbond/2017/08/05/classical-archaeologist
s-found-a-lot-of-amazing-things-this-summer/

A cinaedus in the Roman army?:

https://theconversation.com/a-trans-soldier-in-the-ancient-roman-army-81735
https://www.livescience.com/60010-trans-soldier-ancient-roman-army.html
http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/A-trans-soldier-in-the-ancient-Roman-
army-11726126.php
http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/A-trans-soldier-in-the-ancient-Rom
an-army-11726126.php
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/A-trans-soldier-in-the-ancient-Roman-army-
11726126.php

Feature on Xanthos:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/city-of-sorrows-wait-for-visitors-.aspx?pageI
D=238&nid=116191&NewsCatID=375

Looks like the Elgin/Parthenon Marbles might be part of the Brexit
negotiations:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/04/greek-mep-demands-elgin-marble
s-become-part-brexit-negotiations/
http://www.ekathimerini.com/220696/article/ekathimerini/news/brexit-could-se
e-return-of-parthenon-sculptures

Peter Jones’ latest in the Spectator:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/08/beauty-and-the-beasts-2/

Features on Christos Tsirogiannis (see also the Museum section):

https://www.wsj.com/articles/meet-the-looted-antiquities-sleuth-1501694182
http://eu.greekreporter.com/2017/08/04/meet-the-greek-archaeologist-chasing-
looted-antiquities-but-shunned-by-greece/
http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/26643-report-greek-archaeolo
gist-chases-looted-antiquities.html
http://publicradioeast.org/post/archaeologist-who-hunts-stolen-art

Feature on that Warrior Grave dig:

https://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/griffin-warrior-grave-pylos-greece-archae
ology-anne-feltovich-jessica-williams-classics

What Patrick Burns is up to:

http://isaw.nyu.edu/news/library-research-spotlight-patrick-j-burns

A guide to the Iliad:

http://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-homers-iliad-80968

An interesting mosaic purchase in France:

https://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/2017/french-museum-buys-ancie
nt-mosaic-from-auction-in-monaco/

A Colossus of Rhodes connection to Game of Thrones?:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/how-the-colossus-of-rhodes-inspired-game-of-th
rones

Finding parallels between ancient Greece and the modern US:

http://news.stanford.edu/2017/08/02/ancient-rome-influence-usa-examined-ne
w-class/

The Castle Howard antiquities collection has been ‘saved for the nation’:

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/15455045.Castle_Howard_art_saved_for_na
tion/
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northyorkshire/ryedale/
15455364.Castle_Howard_artefacts_acquired_for_the_nation/

Albania is trying to figure out what to do with all the shipwrecks off its shores:

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-sunken-treasures-albania-coastal.html
http://thechronicleherald.ca/world/1491350-wrecks-sunken-treasures-lie-under
-albanias-coastal-waters
http://www.tribtown.com/2017/08/02/eu-albania-underwater-treasures/

On ancient Greek colour words:

https://aeon.co/essays/can-we-hope-to-understand-how-the-greeks-saw-their-w
orld

On DH Lawrence and the Etruscans:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/d-h-lawrence-among-the-etruscans/

Latest coverage of attempt to read Herculaneum papyri:

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2017/aug/01/x-rays-pick-out-letters-o
n-ancient-scrolls

Hadrian’s Wall Visitors’ Centre has opened:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-40732385

-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:

http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/recent.html

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
===============================================================
= EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
===============================================================
=

Studying Neolithic Irish funeral practices:

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-secrets-ancient-irish-funeral-revealed.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-08/uoo-soa080217.php
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/08/2017/neolithic-irish-fun
erary-rites-included-deconstruction-of-the-body

A Pictish fort find in Scotland (we may have mentioned this):

https://www.livescience.com/59990-pictish-fort-unearthed-in-scotland.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/dark-ages-fort-built-mysterious-142500919.html
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dig-finds-new-artifacts-europes-l
ost-people-180964289/

Iron Age (and other eras) find from a Malthouse Farm construction site:

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/malthouse-farm-iron-age-settle
ment-13384916

Plans to investigate/feature on a 2500 years bp vitrified fort near Ben Nevis:

http://www.scotsman.com/news/mystery-of-2-500-year-old-hillfort-by-ben-nevi
s-to-be-probed-1-4520808

Interesting 17th century plague burial from London:

http://www.newsweek.com/medieval-graveyard-london-body-snatchers-plague
-bedlam-644250
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5777-170801-london-body-snatchers

Tram construction in Antwerp revealed ‘massive’ 16th century wall remains:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-belgium-archaeology-gate-idUSKBN1AH4SX
http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/95441101/16th-century-walls-unearthed-in-A
ntwerp
http://www.novinite.com/articles/181899/'Monumental'+16th+Century+City+W
alls+Unearthed+by+Antwerp+Tram+Works+in+Belgium
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/2105015/antwerp-studies-500
-year-old-walls-discovered-belgian-city
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5780-170801-antwerp-city-walls

A 17th century infirmary from Trnava:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20618066/archaeologists-uncover-remains-of-infirm
ary-in-trnava.html

Assorted finds from a Portsmouth dredging operation:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-40787660
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/01/german-bomber-36-anchors-hum
an-skull-found-portsmouth-dredged/

Finds from various periods at an Exeter student housing construction site:

http://www.devonlive.com/incredible-roman-finds-unearthed-during-exeter-stu
dent-flats-development/story-30470457-detail/story.html

Feature on Scotland’s ‘top six’ archaeological sites:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/15446761.Six_stunning_site
s_unearthed_in_search_for_Scotland_s_hidden_gems/
http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/people-places/scotland-s-top-six-historical-
hidden-gems-revealed-1-4519550
http://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/six-stunning-sites-unearthed-in-sear
ch-for-scotland-s-hidden-gems-1-4519285

On mapping shipwrecks and war dead in and around the Orkneys:

https://www.livescience.com/60041-famed-shipwrecks-and-war-graves-mappe
d.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5788-170804-hms-vanguard-shipwreck

They never did finish that castle in Longtown:

http://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/regional/herefordshire/15449090.
Dig_reveals_village_castle_was_left_unfinished/

Funding for the Sheffield Castlegate revamp:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-40775382

Restoration of a 12th century Myndtown church is complete:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-40750160

Plans for the Sutton Hoo site:

http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/4m-project-to-transform-sutton-hoo-experie
nce-for-visitors-gets-go-ahead-1-5136309

Day of Archaeology post from Must Farm:

http://www.dayofarchaeology.com/waterlogged-wonders-from-must-farm-bronz
e-age-boats-bowls-boxes-and-buckets/

More on the Bronze Age wheat ‘lunchbox’:

https://phys.org/news/2017-07-archaeologists-key-tracking-ancient-wheat.html
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/07/2017/bronze-age-box-c
ontaining-ancient-wheat-found-in-swiss-alps

More on the display of St Cuthbert’s coffin:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-40763079

More on moonlit ritual stones at Davidstow:

http://www.camelford-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=108583&headline=Is%20ston
e%20most%20decorated%20in%20southern%20Britain?&sectionIs=news&sea
rchyear=2017

-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

http://archaeology-in-europe.blogspot.com/

===============================================================
= ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
===============================================================
= Very interesting Bronze Age burial from Omsk:

http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/features/ancient-warrior-unearthed-marc
hing-to-afterlife-with-his-dagger-drawn-wearing-stylish-earrings/

Plenty of coverage for the find of a large statue at Angkor Wat (or Angkor
Thom … the description varies):

https://phys.org/news/2017-07-archaeologists-angkor-wat-large-statue.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/01/ancient-statue-unearthed-at-c
ambodias-angkor-temple-complex
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-40788658
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/for-archaeologists-a-dream-find-at-angk
or-park-133096/
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5075891/angkor-era-guardian-statue-found/
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/archaeologists-angkor-wat-find-l
arge-buried-statue-48946319
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11897813
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ancient-statue-unearthed-cambodias-angkor-co
mplex-044729516.html
http://artdaily.com/news/97927/Nearly-two-metre-tall-ancient-statue-unearthed-
at-Cambodia-s-Angkor-complex
http://gizmodo.com/magnificent-sandstone-statue-uncovered-near-legendary-c
-1797426629
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-field-schools-excavation-at-
angkor-wat-unearths-ancient-guardian-statue ‘
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/how-singapore-team-uncovered-ancien
t-guardian-statue-in-angkor-wat
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/08/angkor-wat-archaeological-park-s
tatue-khmer-empire-spd/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5776-170801-cambodia-angkor-thom-statue

Latest from Beijing’s Summer Palace:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2017-08/01/content_30312196.htm
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1058870.shtml

A well-preserved 12th century mummy from the Zeleny Yar necropolis (I think
we mentioned this one):

http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/04/mummy-found-with-perfect-hair-and-eyebrows-af
ter-900-years-6829532/
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/635210/Mummy-Arctic-Circle-Rus
sia-polar-princess-eyelashes-hair-intact-archeologists-discovery
https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/08/06/900-year-old-mummy-of-polar-
princess-discovered-near-arctic-circle

China and India are fighting over who originated Tibetan medicine:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/world/asia/unesco-tibetan-medicine-indi
a-china.html

… while an old map might reignite a dispute between Japan and South Korea:

http://www.dw.com/en/156-year-old-map-may-reignite-japan-south-korea-islan
d-dispute/a-39966162

Concerns for a Gupta era shivlingam in Bundi:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/five-foot-long-shivlingam-from-gu
pta-era-lies-neglected-in-bundi/articleshow/59888278.cms

More on the early arrival of humans in Australia:

https://www.livescience.com/59874-humans-arrived-australia-65000-years-ag
o.html

More on those recently-found petroglyphs from Australia:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rangers-fighting-fires-uncover-ab
original-rock-art-180964276/

More on deciphering oracle bones:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/museum-offers-15000-letter-deci
phering-oracle-bones-180964213/

-----

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html
===============================================================
= NORTH AMERICA
===============================================================
= Some 3000 years bp footprints from Arizona:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/backhoe-archaeology/
535827/

Excavating a Groswater site on Newfoundland:

http://www.thelabradorian.ca/community/2017/7/31/uncovering-a-2000-year-ol
d-settlement.html
http://www.cbncompass.ca/community/2017/7/31/uncovering-a-2000-year-old-
settlement.html
http://www.northernpen.ca/community/2017/7/31/uncovering-a-2000-year-old-s
ettlement.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5775-170731-canada-seal-processing

Plenty of unmarked burials around a Virginia church:

http://pilotonline.com/news/local/history/at-least-unmarked-graves-discovered
-around-virginia-s-oldest-church/article_544e0757-feed-537a-b863-281b74de8
466.html

Latest from the Queen’s Marque site:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1491121-another-relic-discovered-at-q
ueen%E2%80%99s-marque-site

Followup to the Fort Macleod story from last week:

http://globalnews.ca/news/3637690/archaeologists-dig-up-new-artifacts-at-hist
oric-fort-macleod-town-site/

Feature on audioarchaeology at Chaco Canyon (again):

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-soundscapes-pastadding-dimension-archaeolo
gical-picture.html
http://theconversation.com/soundscapes-in-the-past-adding-a-new-dimension-t
o-our-archaeological-picture-of-ancient-cultures-80861
https://www.livescience.com/60040-chaco-canyon-soundscape-revealed.html
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Soundscapes-in-the-past-Adding-a-new-di
mension-11730169.php

Studying Clovis points:

https://phys.org/news/2017-07-cultural-diversification-early-north-american.ht
ml

Feature on the Camp Verde meteorite:

http://azdailysun.com/lifestyles/columnists/ask-a-ranger-unearthing-the-myste
ry-behind-the-meteor/article_3894f8d2-bbfb-5f0d-8d6c-2b3daacb7feb.html

That canoe found in Louisiana a few months ago has been conserved:

http://www.kxxv.com/story/36056242/texas-am-conserves-prehistoric-canoe
http://www.kplctv.com/story/36057278/texas-scientists-say-la-flooding-unmas
ked-prehistoric-canoe

A potential slave burial site in Brooklyn:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/04/nyregion/19th-century-diary-suggests-sl
aves-are-buried-in-brooklyn-lot.html

Plans to preserve a burial mound at Fort Smith:

http://5newsonline.com/2017/08/03/team-set-to-preserve-indian-mound-locate
d-in-center-of-fort-smith/

More on the development of maize crops in early North America:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170803141056.htm
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2142813/#038;%23038;%23038;campaig
n_id=RSS%7CNSNS-

More coverage of the dig at Louisbourg:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/rescue-archaeology-project-a
ims-to-give-new-insights-into-louisbourgs-history/article35839489/
?cmpid=rss1
https://www.sootoday.com/national-news/skeletons-can-tell-you-a-lot-exhumin
g-remains-at-18th-century-fort-684265
http://lethbridgeherald.com/news/national-news/2017/07/30/skeletons-can-tell-
you-a-lot-exhuming-remains-at-18thcentury-fort/
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/why-archaeologists-are-exhuming-skeletons-at
-an-18th-century-cape-breton-fort-1.3525281
http://globalnews.ca/news/3636032/unb-students-head-to-cape-breton-to-perfo
rm-rescue-archaeology-before-graveyard-disappears/

===============================================================
= CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
===============================================================
= Peruvian archaeologists are getting tired of alien mummy claims:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/how-to-fake-an-alien-mu
mmy/535251/
http://news.ku.edu/2017/08/03/documentary-exploring-evidence-extraterrestri
al-life-ancient-peru-based-pseudoscience

Possible discovery of the tomb of the first historian of the Americas:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/07/27/inenglish/1501149491_780251.html

Studying lakes around Machu Picchu:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,415114,polish-divers-discover-se
crets-of-the-inca.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5783-170803-machu-picchu-lakes

-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:

http://goo.gl/1VdeA

Ancient MesoAmerica News:

http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
===============================================================
= OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
===============================================================
= Assorted coverage of Passchendaele:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40767601
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40739915
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40669719

… and WWI trenches in England:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/05/miles-of-forgotten-trenches-d
ug-in-england-during-first-world-war-unearthed-again

… and more Jane Austen:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/03/books/jane-austen-tour-england.html

Humans and megafauna extinction again:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-happened-worlds-most-
enormous-animals-180964255/

… and altering forests:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-08/mpif-hhb080117.php

… and building farms/cities much earlier than previously thought (not sure
about this one):

https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/08/evidence-that-humans-had-farms-300
00-years-earlier-than-previously-thought/

Feature on some interesting medieval statuary that was recently
rediscovered:

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-scientists-mystery-luckless-apostles-paris.htm
l

I don’t think we’ve mentioned the Lusitania telegraph find/recovery:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/telegraph-recovered-wreck-lusita
nia-180964267/

A recovered Basquiat might be a forgery:

https://www.artforum.com/news/id=70089

Feature on assorted art movements:

https://hyperallergic.com/393700/art-movements-215/

… and sexual innudendo in assorted art:

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-not-so-subtle-sexual-innuendo-ren
aissance-art

Feature on Mozart:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/classical-music/forget-amadeus-real-tragedy
-behind-mozarts-final-act/

Feature on John Dowland:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170801-the-ed-sheeran-of-16th-century-en
gland

Feature on the Book of Miracles:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2017/aug/04/the-book-of-mi
racles-16th-century-german-illustrated-manuscript

Feature on petroglyphs in various places:

http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/08/03/540805776/animal-images-in-pre
historic-rock-art-looking-beyond-europe
http://nhpr.org/post/animal-images-prehistoric-rock-art-looking-beyond-europe

Victor Nuovo is back to Spinoza:

http://www.addisonindependent.com/201708victor-nuovo-spinoza-pursuit-truth
-means-peace-and-piety

On the ‘decipherment’ of assorted languages:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-the-deadly-pursuit-of-unsolved-language
s

More on the Sistine Chapel:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40734899

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/
===============================================================
= MUSEUM MATTERS
===============================================================
= King Arthur:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-40725177

Chagall:

http://www.npr.org/2017/07/31/540515346/art-exhibit-features-chagalls-works-f
or-ballet-and-opera

Hokusai:

http://www.nippon.com/en/views/b02336/

Tiffany Mosaics:

http://www.npr.org/2017/08/03/540891752/tiffany-is-known-for-lamps-and-stain
ed-glass-but-he-made-magical-mosaics-too

Ancient Glassmaking:

http://artdaily.com/news/97980/Unprecedented-exhibition-highlights-the-artistr
y-and-technical-virtuosity-of-glassmakers-in-the-ancient-world

The Met got a pile of attention for a looted vase in its collection (again) that it
returned:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/arts/design/ancient-vase-seized-from-m
et-museum-on-suspicion-it-was-looted.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
https://www.artforum.com/news/id=70087
https://hyperallergic.com/393527/metropolitan-museum-greek-vase-looted/
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/01/540930943/met-museum-t
urns-over-ancient-vase-suspected-looted-from-italy

… and shortly after that was returning a bull’s head in its collection to Lebanon:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/arts/design/met-museum-relic-lebanon.h
tml?partner=rss&emc=rss
http://www.standardrepublic.com/2017/08/met-museum-turns-over-another-reli
c-with-disputed-past-to-prosecutors/11107.htm
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/life-style/art-and-culture/2017/08/03/US-tug-of-w
ar-over-disputed-relic-from-Lebanon.html
http://observer.com/2017/08/met-museum-turns-over-two-looted-objects-to-aut
horities/
https://hyperallergic.com/393978/the-met-museum-hands-over-another-antiqui
ty-believed-to-be-stolen/

Feature on Beijing’s Palace Museum:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-08/01/c_136490404.htm

More on the British Museum’s 3d printing offerings:

https://3dprint.com/182710/british-museum-3d-printing/
http://blog.britishmuseum.org/3d-printing-museum-objects-for-the-home/
http://mentalfloss.com/article/503199/you-can-now-view-3d-model-rosetta-ston
e-online

===============================================================
= THE TECHY SIDE
===============================================================
= Using 3d printing technology to allow museum visitors to interact with
objects:

https://phys.org/news/2017-07-d-technologies-students-ancient-greece.html
http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/26579-ancient-greek-artifacts-
undergo-3d-printing-by-new-zealand-university.html

Imaging techniques find a sixth century text in a bookbinding:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/502886/6th-century-writing-discovered-inside-m
edieval-bookbinding

Another feature on remote sensing and the like in Southwestern archaeology:

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-argonne-digital-tools-southwestern-cultural.htm
l

Feature on high tech archaeology in Egypt:

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-egyptologists-high-tech-ancient-mysteries.html
http://www.timesofisrael.com/egyptologists-go-high-tech-to-unlock-ancient-my
steries/

===============================================================
= ON THE DNA FRONT
===============================================================
= Plenty of attention for a study suggesting modern Greeks descend from
Myceneans and Minoans:

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-civilizations-greece-revealing-stories-science.
html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-08/mpif-adr072817.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170802134718.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-40791188
https://www.livescience.com/60027-origins-of-1st-advanced-greek-civilization
s.html
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/the-times/greeks-descend-from-h
omers-mycenaean-heroes/news-story/1d5ff80bde3dac9cc715bfc820639f32
http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.804974
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/08/greeks-really-do-have-near-mythical
-origins-ancient-dna-reveals
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ancient-greece-scientists-crack-dna-sequence-cradle-
western-civilisation-first-time-1633212
http://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/origin-of-greeks-02082017/
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dna-analysis-sheds-light-myster
ious-origins-ancient-greeks-180964314/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/5782-170802-greece-dna-origins
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/08/2017/minoan-and-myce
naean-origins-revealed

On medieval manuscripts and DNA:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/medieval-manuscripts-are-dna-s
morgasbord-180964252/

Dienekes' Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/
===============================================================
= CLIMATE MATTERS
===============================================================
= Rising seas threaten sites in Louisiana:

https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Inhabit/2017/0804/Salvage-archaeolo
gy-When-rising-seas-threaten-to-wash-away-history

… and has damaged Seminole sites in Florida:

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/arts/florida-summit-addresses-climate-change
s-effects-on-historic-seminole-tribe-sites-9540801
http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/arts/florida-summit-addresses-climate-cha
nges-effects-on-historic-seminole-tribe-sites-8800460

===============================================================
= TOURISTY THINGS
===============================================================
= Canterbury Trail:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/aug/01/canterbury-kent-walk-mediev
al-streets-attractions-cathedral

Bath:

http://www.thestatesman.com/books-education/jane-austen-s-city-roman-built-
baths-and-elegant-spas-still-entice-1501658139.html

Provence:

https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2017/aug/3/48-hours-in-provence/

Ostia Antica:

https://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/a-step-back-to-ancient-times/
3208978/

Oman:

http://timesofoman.com/article/114300/Oman/Tourism/Oman-Tourism-What-m
akes-Musandam-so-attractive-to-tourists

===============================================================
= CRIME BEAT
===============================================================
= Indirect fallout from the Hobby Lobby case … five antiquities dealers in
Jerusalem are facing tax fraud charges:

http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/07/31/540579261/israeli-authoritie
s-arrest-antiquities-dealers-in-connection-with-hobby-lobby-sc
http://www.jpost.com/In-Jerusalem/5-Palestinians-arrested-for-aiding-Hobby-L
obby-in-antiquities-smuggling-501300
http://forward.com/fast-forward/378819/israeli-police-arrest-antiquities-smuggl
ers-connected-to-hobby-lobby/
http://www.timesofisrael.com/east-jerusalem-antiquity-dealers-arrested-for-tax
-fraud/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/israeli-police-jerusalem-a
ntiquity-dealers-arrested-for-con/2017/07/30/aae60264-751d-11e7-8c17-533c5
2b2f014_story.html
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/1328893/
photos-20-million-fraud-operation-eastern-jerusalem-antiquities-dealers.html
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11897392

Meanwhile, OpEds are coming out about how Hobby Lobby is being unfairly
criticized:

http://www.sltrib.com/religion/global/2017/08/03/despite-smuggled-antiquities-
purchase-some-say-criticism-of-bible-museum-is-unfair/

… while Iraq anxiously awaits the return of things:

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/08/hobby-lobby-iraq-artifacts-u
s-smugglers.html

A southeast Asian ‘smuggling kingpin’s’ attempt to get around the law:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/antiques-smuggling-kingpin-lo
aned-artefacts-to-museum-to-get-legal-tag/articleshow/59837679.cms

Latest Anonymous Swiss Collector Culture Crime News:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2017/07/culture-crime-news-24-30-j
uly-2017.html

conflict antiquities:

http://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/

anonymous swiss collector:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/

Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues:

http://paul-barford.blogspot.ca/

Looting Matters:

http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/

Illicit Cultural Property:

http://illicit-cultural-property.blogspot.com/

SAFE:

http://www.savingantiquities.org/blog/

===============================================================
= NUMISMATICA
===============================================================
= A Marcus Aurelius aureus at auction:

http://www.coinweek.com/ancient-coins/choice-marcus-aurelius-gold-aureus-2
017-ana-auction/

Feature on collecting ancient weights:

http://www.coinweek.com/ancient-coins/coinweek-ancient-coin-series-collectin
g-ancient-weights/

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/club_nbs_esylum_v20n31.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/club_nbs_esylum_v20n32.html

------------------------
Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

===============================================================
= AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
===============================================================
= Audio News from Archaeologica:

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-main-menu-cat/audio-news-list/
2634-audio-news-from-archaeologica-23-july-2017-29-july-2017
===============================================================
= OBITUARIES
===============================================================
Alan Cameron:

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/classics/newsrecords/2017/Professor-Al
an-Cameron-1938-2017.aspx
https://classicalstudies.org/scs-news/memoriam-alan-cameron

Harold Williams:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/getty-trust-founding-president-harold-m-willi
ams-dies/

Dennis Mack Smith:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/books/denis-mack-smith-dead-historian-
of-italy.html

===============================================================
= CONFERENCES
===============================================================
= Canada Before Confederation: Early Exploration and Mapping (Nov. 2017)

https://independent.academia.edu/ConferenceCanadabeforeConfederationEarl
yMappingandExploration14981763

Bones to Drones: Science in Archaeology (Nov. 2017)

http://cba-wessex.org.uk/cba-events/the-cba-wessex-annual-conference-wome
n-in-wessex/

Theoretical Archaeology Group (Dec. 2017):

http://tag2017cardiff.org/

===============================================================
= GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS
===============================================================
= Archaeology Magazine News Page:

http://www.archaeology.org/news/

About.com Archaeology:

http://archaeology.about.com/

Ancient Digger:

http://www.ancientdigger.com/

Archaeology Briefs:

http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/

Past Horizons:

http://www.pasthorizons.com/

Stonepages:

http://www.stonepages.com/news/

Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:

http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/

Time Machine:

http://heatherpringle.wordpress.com/
===============================================================
= PODCASTS/VODCASTS
===============================================================
= Archaeosoup:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Archaeos0up?feature=watch

The Book and the Spade:

http://www.radioscribe.com/bknspade.htm
===============================================================
= EXPLORATOR is a free weekly newsletter bringing you the latest news of
archaeological finds, historical research and the like. Various on-line news
and magazine sources are scoured for news of the 'ancient world' (broadly
construed: practically anything relating to archaeology or history up to a
century or so ago is fair game) and every Sunday they are delivered to your
mailbox free of charge!
===============================================================
= Useful Addresses
===============================================================
= Past issues of Explorator are available on the web via our Yahoo site:

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To subscribe to Explorator, send a blank email message to:

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To unsubscribe, send a blank email message to:

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To send a 'heads up' to the editor or contact him for other reasons:

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===============================================================
= Explorator is Copyright (c) 2017 David Meadows. Feel free to distribute these
listings via email to your pals, students, teachers, etc., but please include
this copyright notice. These links are not to be posted to any website by any
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gathered in Explorator. Thanks!
===============================================================
=