===============================================================
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

Plenty of Roman burials found at the site of a former hotel in York:

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/16180926.Dozens_of_Roman_graves_found_under_York_hotel_swimming_pool/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6153689/more-than-70-skeletons-of-roman-soldiers-and-their-families-found-in-old-burial-ground-underneath-hotel-pool/
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/16186039.Dozens_of_Roman_bodies_found_under_former_hotel/
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/sixty-roman-skeletons-found-beneath-hotel-swimming-pool-in-york-1-9138183

Remains of an ancient defensive wall at Mytilene:

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/04/27/ancient-seaside-fortification-wall-found-on-lesvos-island/
http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/31101-ancient-defensive-wall-emerges-during-salvage-excavation-on-lesvos-island.html
https://neoskosmos.com/en/114585/ancient-wall-revealed-in-lesvos/

Latest finds from the Thessaloniki subway dig:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-thessaloniki-subway-unearths-secrets-city.html
http://artdaily.com/news/104245/Thessaloniki-subway-dig-unearths-secrets-of--city-under-the-city--

A 2000 years bp amphora from the Neretva River:

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/27806-2000-year-old-amphorae-discovered-in-river-neretva

A detailed LiDAR survey of the Antonine Wall:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/meticulous-metric-survey-of-the-antonine-wall.htm

Burial urns from around Hadrian's Wall are going on display:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/27/hadrians-wall-roman-cremation-urns-display-perfume-vase-women
http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/burial-urns-show-hadrians-wall-was-home-to-families-as-well-as-fighters-11364267057289
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-43915429
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/roman-artefacts-unearthed-hadrians-wall-14587441
http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2018-04-27/unseen-roman-exhibits-unveiled-at-hadrians-wall/

Suggestion that Mycenean palaces were destroyed by violence, not
earthquakes:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-mycenae-wasn-t-destroyed-by-quake-but-by-violence-new-study-shows-1.6029193

Feature on the Ancient Graffiti Project:

https://news.olemiss.edu/ancient-graffiti-project-offers-door-past-um-professor/
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2018/04/28/ancient-graffiti-preserved-lava-researching-depression-uk-campus-briefs/560115002/

Interesting feature on a kantharos at the Getty:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/we-shook-an-ancient-ceramic-and-lived-to-tell-the-tale/

Locals have big hopes for finds in 'Albanopolis':

https://exit.al/en/2018/04/28/archaeological-finds-in-albanopolis-rekindle-the-locals-hopes-for-government-attention/

Similar hopes in Driebes (Spain):

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/23/world/europe/driebes-vanishing-spanish-village.html

What Adriana Brook is up to:

http://www.lawrentian.com/archives/1012780

What Mary Beard is up to:

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-04-27/mary-beard-front-row-late/

What Aaron Johnson is up to:

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2018/4/27/367732/Johnson-Receives-Grants-For-Research.aspx

2018 is the 'year of Troy' apparently:

https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/celebrating-2018-as-the-year-of-troy-16998

Interviews and reviews of Madeline Miller, *Circe*:

https://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21741129-madeline-miller-latest-author-rework-his-epics-address-contemporary-themes
http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2018/04/25/interview-madeline-miller-turning-the-camera-to-female-in-classics.html
http://www.thehindu.com/books/circe-by-madeline-miller-with-hair-streaked-like-a-lynx/article23693474.ece
https://www.dallasnews.com/arts/books/2018/04/17/madeline-miller-circe-review

.... and Emily Wilson's *Odyssey* translation:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/114552/meet-the-first-woman-to-translate-the-odyssey-into-english/
http://www.themillbrookindependent.com/content/adventures-homer

Feature on Socrates:

http://bigthink.com/scotty-hendricks/who-was-socrates-philosophys-greatest-mystery-explained

Some Tennessee JCL convention coverage:

https://brentwoodhomepage.com/latin-students-triumph-with-an-ancient-language-and-a-chariot/

Coverage of the Annual Parilla undergrad Classics conference:

https://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/classics-students-present-at-annual-parilia-conference-1

Princeton has chosen their Salutatorian:

http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2018/04/valedictorian-salutatorian-share-advice-for-underclassmen

An interview with Ceres in Vermont:

http://www.stowetoday.com/waterbury_record/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/ceres-on-the-ground-finally-has-her-say/article_70dfc8c4-4985-11e8-b843-3b4650d21332.html

More on evidence of paint on the Antonine Wall:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-archaeologist-red-yellow-antonine-wall.html
-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
Traces of early grains in Bronze Age nomad burial sites in the Caucasus:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/lmsu-msf042518.php#
https://phys.org/news/2018-04-scientists-seeds-domestic-burial-sites.html

Possible evidence of the fire that destroyed the hillfort at Dun Deardail
2500 years bp:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-43813824

Archaeology confirms a Reedham church is built on the site of a Roman
fortlet:

http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/reading-archaeologists-find-st-john-baptist-church-built-on-fortlet-1-5490859

Plenty of coverage of evidence of a 1500 years bp massacre at Sandby Bord
(Sweden):

https://www.livescience.com/62403-ancient-massacre-discovered.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/science/massacre-sweden-archaeology.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/apr/25/swedish-archaeologists-uncover-brutal-5th-century-massacre
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43899393
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2018/04/25/two-dozen-people-massacred-at-ancient-swedish-fort-archaeologists-report/
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/clues-iron-age-massacre-lie-what-assailants-left-behind
https://gizmodo.com/this-recently-discovered-fifth-century-massacre-in-swed-1825526799
https://www.sciencealert.com/sandby-borg-massacre-excavated-sweden-5th-century-village-murdered
http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/swedish-archaeologists-uncover-brutal-5thcentury-massacre/

A possible 1500 years bp bishop's residence from Kyustendil (Bulgaria):

https://sofiaglobe.com/2018/04/26/archaeology-building-believed-to-have-been-bishops-residence-in-roman-era-pautalia-uncovered-in-bulgarias-kyustendil/

Remains of a Civil War era moat around Newark Castle turned up during
sewer construction:

http://newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news/2018/04/25/civil-war-moat-to-protect-newark-castle-found-during-sewer-works

Latest from the Norwich Castle dig:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-43840546

Studying the settlements associated with the Glencoe Massacre:

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/lost-settlements-of-glencoe-studied-for-first-time-1-4730433

Digging has resumed at a Norse long house site in Furness:

http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/16182310.Duddon_Valley_archaeologists_dig_for_Norse_history/

.... as has the search for Norman structures in Winchester:

http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/16184132.Hunt_for_Winchester__39_s_Norman_structures_continues/?ref=rss

Interesting account of a Harvard study in the 1930s in search of the 'true
Celt' (sort of a book review):

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/celtic-spotlight-an-irishman-s-diary-about-the-harvard-archaeological-mission-to-1930s-ireland-1.3475581
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/skulls-a-nazi-director-and-the-quest-for-the-true-celt-36849001.html

Modelling Bronze Age hoards mathematically:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/mathematically-modelling-bronze-age-hoards.htm

Studying excrement from assorted sites in northern Europe:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-parasite-eggs-ancient-latrines-hint.html
https://wamu.org/story/18/04/25/dna-analysis-of-ancient-excrement-reveals-the-diets-of-centuries-past/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2018/04/25/ancient-latrines-parasites-archaeology/#.WuXQuVOUs1I
http://www.archaeology.org/news/6574-180426-waste-dna-analysis

Some 400 years bp silver coins have been declared treasure:

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/local-news/400-year-old-silver-coins-1490975
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/oswestry/2018/04/27/medieval-coins-found-near-oswestry-are-declared-treasure/

Latest in the Stonehenge tunnel saga:

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/national/16176619.Experts_unite_to_condemn_plans_for_road_tunnel_past_Stonehenge/
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-43837307
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-43904626
https://www.metro.news/archaeologists-dig-heels-in-over-stonehenge-tunnel/1027727/

Concerns for Clifford's Tower:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/apr/27/english-heritage-visitor-centre-cliffords-tower-in-york

On the Neolithic Revolution:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/04/20/ciencia/1524219983_369281.html

On the original Windsor Castle:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/windsor-castle-original-size-reconstruction-medieval-fortress-a8321766.html

More on the henge at Raunds:

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/excavations-will-reveal-more-about-ancient-henge-unearthed-in-raunds-1-8472802
https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/group-s-concerns-over-future-of-ancient-henge-uncovered-in-raunds-1-8473557

More on identifying the source of the Carambolo Treasure:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/uotb-gai042518.php
https://phys.org/news/2018-04-geologists-mystery-gold-treasure.html

More on Roman-influenced burials in Denmark:

http://www.archaeology.org/news/6567-180424-denmark-roman-goose

More on that Cornish barrow site:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-archaeologists-cornish-barrow-site.html

More on the work at Rousay, Orkney:

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/secrets-of-orkney-s-egypt-of-the-north-to-be-unlocked-1-4728887

More on Cophenhagen's earliest church:

http://sciencenordic.com/archaeologists-think-they-have-found-copenhagen%E2%80%99s-oldest-church

More on that possibly-trepanated cow:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/hole-ancient-cow-skull-could-have-been-surgery-practice
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/was-prehistoric-brain-surgeon-practicing-cow-5000-years-ago-180968875/
-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
================================================================
Plenty of coverage of the dating of a Russian Shigir idol to 11 000 years
bp:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-wooden-shigir-idol-egyptian-pyramids.html
https://www.livescience.com/62404-shigir-idol-age-and-new-face.html
https://www.salon.com/2018/04/28/shigir-idol-could-be-oldest-piece-of-monumental-art-study/
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/698555/ice-age-statue-siberia-shigir-idol-art-turkey-Yekaterinburg-archaeology-monument-devil
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/04/11000-year-old-statue-unearthed-siberia-may-reveal-ancient-views-taboos-and-demons
https://www.sciencealert.com/ancient-carving-could-be-first-representation-of-evil-forces
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/statue-found-late-1890s-likely-dates-back-more-11000-years-180968895/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6571-180425-russia-shigir-idol

Evidence of a Neolithic society on Vietnam's islands:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-24/vietnamese-ancient-society-discovered-by-accident/9680128

Over 300 burials from various periods from a site in Sichuan:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-04/29/c_137145345.htm

Studying New Guinea thigh bone daggers:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-guinea-human-thigh-bone-daggers.html
https://www.livescience.com/62399-human-cassowary-bone-daggers.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/6573-180426-thigh-bone-daggers

Evidence of 'persistent forest reliance' by indigenous peoples in Sri
Lanka:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/mpif-efp042618.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180426102648.htm
Major funding to restore a 14th century educational complex in
Iran/Azerbaijan:

http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/422944/12m-channeled-to-restore-14th-century-educational-complex

Feature on the Terracotta Warriors:

https://mymodernmet.com/terracotta-warriors/
-----

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html
================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
11 000 years bp giant sloth footprints in New Mexico are implicating
humans in their extinction:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-giant-slothaccording-ancient-humanfootprints.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/04/25/humans-stalked-giant-sloths-ancient-footprints-at-white-sands-national-monument-show/
https://www.newyorker.com/elements/lab-notes/our-early-ancestors-stalked-terrifying-eight-foot-tall-sloths
http://www.dw.com/en/scientists-find-evidence-of-prehistoric-man-vs-giant-sloth-battle/a-43540033?maca=en-newsletter_en_bulletin-2097-html-newsletter
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/04/humans-once-hunted-giant-sloths-at-white-sands/
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/footprints-prove-humans-hunted-giant-sloths-during-ice-age?tgt=nr
http://www.archaeology.org/news/6575-180426-footprints-sloth-hunt

Suggestion that the last Ice Age affected breastfeeding in Native
Americans (!):

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180423155057.htm
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/uoc--dli041918.php
http://www.archaeology.org/news/6568-180424-breastfeeding-genetic-mutation

Find of possibly the oldest shipwreck in Lake Erie:

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2018/04/23/Researcher-says-new-shipwreck-most-important-Lake-Erie-discovery-to-date.html
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/04/lost_for_189_years_has_the_lak.html
http://www.13abc.com/content/news/Shipwreck-believed-to-be-oldest-in-Lake-Erie-found-excavation-planned-480603781.html
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/worth-a-click/20180423/shipwreck-found-in-lake-erie-could-be-nearly-200-years-old

89 19th century burials from Texas:

http://www.abc17news.com/news/national-world/texas-archaeologists-find-89-graves/735400790
http://www.kyma.com/news/national-world/texas-archaeologists-find-89-graves/735400833

A Pawnee tipi ring find:

http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/nearly-pristine-pawnee-tipi-ring-site-preserved-more-century

Not sure where to put this one ... on guidelines for dealing with
indigenous human remains:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/uoia-ria042318.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180426141528.htm

Studying an Arkansa Caddo Village burial site with plenty of skulls but no
bodies:

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/apr/22/researcher-digs-into-ancient-caddo-myst-1/?f=news-arkansas

What Lee Newsom is up to:

http://www.gainesville.com/news/20180424/renowned-expert-uf-grad-helping-with-florida-shipwrecks
http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/20180425/renowned-expert-helping-with-florida-shipwrecks

What LiDAR reveals about Montpelier's slave population:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-map-james-madisons-home-signs-paths-created-slaves-180968730/

A land deal has preserved a site possibly associated with the Lost Colony:

http://thecourier.com/national-news/2018/04/28/land-deal-will-preserve-site-linked-to-lost-colony-mystery/
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/land-deal-preserve-site-linked-lost-colony-mystery-54800234
https://m.ctpost.com/news/us/article/Land-deal-will-preserve-site-linked-to-Lost-12871447.php

Britain is formally given the Franklin shipwrecks to Canada and the Inuit:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/franklin-expedition-hms-erebus-terror-1.4636222?cmp=rss
https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/britain-gifts-long-lost-franklin-expedition-ships-to-canada-inuit/

Funding concerns for Edna St. Vincent Millay's house:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/24/arts/edna-st-vincent-millays-farmhouse-steepletop-faces-closure.html
More on the mammoth bones from Wyoming:

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/wyoming/articles/2018-04-26/mammoth-bones-extracted-from-wyoming-reservoir-site
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
================================================================
The story that broke the internet this week was easily the find of a
massive child sacrifice site in Peru:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/28/world/americas/child-sacrifice-peru.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-43928277
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/apr/28/largest-known-child-sacrifice-site-discovered-in-peru
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/28/mass-child-sacrifice-site-peru-may-largest-history/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/skeletons-of-140-child-sacrifice-victims-found-in-peru-23sxg0q05
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biggest-child-sacrifice-evidence-archaeologists-national-geographic-peru-chimu/
http://www.dw.com/en/archaeologists-in-peru-discover-mass-child-sacrifice-site/a-43573912
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/04/27/remains-of-140-children-found-in-peru-pointing-to-worlds-largest-ancient-child-sacrifice/
https://perureports.com/2018/04/26/worlds-largest-child-sacrifice-site-believed-to-be-uncovered-in-peru/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ancient-child-sacrifice-discovered-peru-121300049.html
http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-peru-sacrifice-20180427-story.html
http://nhpr.org/post/remains-found-more-140-children-who-were-sacrificed-peru
https://knpr.org/npr/2018-04/remains-more-140-children-who-were-sacrificed-found-peru
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/27/americas/peru-largest-child-sacrifice/index.html
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/27/606372522/remains-found-of-more-than-140-children-who-were-sacrificed-in-peru
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Remains-of-140-children-found-in-Peru-pointing-12868720.php
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-28/140-children-killed-in-ancient-child-sacrifice-in-peru/9706926
http://nationalpost.com/news/world/remains-of-more-140-children-found-in-peru-possibly-point-to-worlds-largest-ancient-child-sacrifice
http://www.newsweek.com/peru-child-sacrifice-llama-chimu-empire-children-flooding-902906
https://www.theage.com.au/world/south-america/remains-of-140-children-found-in-peru-pointing-to-world-s-largest-ancient-child-sacrifice-20180428-p4zc62.html
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/2143614/national-geographic-uncovers-hellish-scene-peru-where-140
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/mass-child-human-animal-sacrifice-peru-chimu-science/
https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-ticker/mass-sacrifice-children-peru

1300 years bp burial from Lima, Peru:

https://perureports.com/2018/04/24/more-remains-found-from-ancient-indigenous-civilization-in-modern-day-lima/
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/archaeologists-find-1-300-year-old-bones-at-burial-site-in-lima-peru-1217876547507

No archaeological evidence for Carib people being cannibals, as claimed in
colonial reports:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/24/archeology-caribbean-carib-people-cannibalism-colonial-history-wrong
https://www.archaeology.org/news/6566-180424-carib-diet-cannibalism

Evidence that 'ancient Amazonians' lived sustainably:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-ancient-amazonians-sustainably-today.html
-----
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
================================================================
Continuing the ancient craft of sculpting camel bones:

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/04/camelbone-carvers-try-to-maintain-their-niche-1.html

I think we mentioned the graffiti made by Australian soldiers in France
during WWI:

http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/2000-australian-soldiers-signatures-found-on-western-front-caves/9686472
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2018-04-23/anzac-graffiti-from-the-end-of-the-world-unearthed-in-ancient-french-cave-city/1751412

Some info about Rodin:

https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/auguste-rodin-facts-5-things-you-didnt-know-ahead-of-british-museum-exhibition-a3821221.html
http://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/10794/ten-things-you-might-not-know-about-rodin

How story-telling has 'shaped the world':

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20180423-how-stories-have-shaped-the-world

On what the Mona Lisa tells us:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/27/arts/design/mona-lisa-instagram-art.html

Spain is trying to change the image of the Inquisition:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/29/spain-black-legend-inquisition-conquistadors

A museum's elephant bird egg turns out to be real after all:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-museum-rare-elephant-bird-egg.html

An Islamic/Christian palimpsest is coming to auction:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/apr/25/passages-from-the-bible-discovered-behind-quran-manuscript-christies

.... as is a Battle of Trafalgar's ship's biscuit:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43923110

.... and an antisemitic letter by Wagner:

http://m.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Antisemitic-letter-by-composer-Wagner-to-be-auctioned-in-Israel-552513?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=23-4-2018&utm_content=Antisemitic-letter-by-composer-Wagner-to-be-auctioned-in-Israel-552513

On the origin of the ampersand:

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/what-is-the-origin-of-the-ampersand/article23652027.ece

On the Indoeuropeans:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/04/20/ciencia/1524222446_048363.html

Studying 19th century portraits for dermatology purposes:

https://news.yale.edu/2018/04/10/19th-century-portraits-provide-dermatology-residents-lesson-looking

On Pius IX:

https://www.npr.org/605252936

On the colour pink:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20180419-the-shady-past-of-the-colour-pink

In case you need a Templar fix:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/04/18/ciencia/1524068386_743855.html

On the Birds Festival:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/26/arts/birds-festival-inspired-by-aristophanes-onassis-cultural-center.html

Review of a biography of Sabine Baring-Gold:

http://theweek.com/articles/763465/last-man-who-knew-everything

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/
================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Beyond the Nile:

http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2018/04/24/62611/getty-museum-to-cleopatra-it-s-not-all-about-you/

Rodin and the Art of Ancient Greece:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/apr/24/rodin-and-the-art-of-ancient-greece-british-museum-london-review-parthenon-marbles
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/reviews/rodin-art-of-ancient-greece-review-british-museum-elgin-marbles-parthenon-a8319851.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/exhibition-review-rodin-and-the-art-of-ancient-greece-at-the-british-museum-8j8hllmcw
http://londonist.com/london/art-and-photography/rodin-gives-us-thoughtful-and-kissable-sculpture-at-the-british-museum
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/artists/rodin-art-ancient-greece-british-museum-review-sculpture-superstars/
https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/rodin-and-the-art-of-ancient-greece-review-the-master-sculptor-meets-the-greek-greats-at-the-british-a3821731.html
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/preview/gods-of-the-parthenon-set-out-rodin-s-debt-to-the-past
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2455243&CategoryId=13003
http://www.euronews.com/2018/04/25/rodin-and-the-art-of-ancient-greece-exhibition-in-the-british-museum
https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/04/how-rodin-made-a-parthenon-above-paris/
https://www.wsj.com/articles/rodin-and-the-art-of-ancient-greece-review-recasting-history-1524913200

James Cook:

http://newsletters.apollo-magazine.com/c/1gYyaDPyBZp7aM1zsvNfg0fA

Fort Orange:

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/24/new-museum-exhibit-details-citys-400-year-old-dutc/
https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/36071/20180424/new-museum-exhibit-details-albany-apos-s-400-year-old-dutch-roots

I think we've had this story of all the fakes in a French museum before:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43933530
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/28/french-museum-discovers-half-collection-fakes/

On issues with labelling in museums:

https://sarahemilybond.com/2018/04/26/labeling-ancient-and-modern-slavery-within-museums/

More on the Penn Museum's Middle East galleries:

http://artdaily.com/news/104114/Penn-Museum-opens-new-Middle-East-Galleries

================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
Dating Paleolithic cave art:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/science-notes-palaeolithic-cave-art-and-uranium-thorium-dating.htm

Virtually reconstructing that Psamtik colossal statue:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/20/world/psamtik-colossus-cairo/index.html

More on Google/Cyark and at-risk heritage sites:

https://hyperallergic.com/438821/google-arts-culture-open-heritage/

================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
================================================================
Another genomic study from Africa (Western and Central):

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-genomics-africademographic-history-deleterious-mutations.html

On the genetic history of the Tsimshian:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/mapping-history-first-nations-people-through-their-genes-180968899/

Dienekes' Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/
================================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS
================================================================
More on humans surviving/thriving in South Africa during a 'volcanic
winter' 74 000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-early-humans-volcanic-winter.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/uota-urp042518.php
================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
================================================================
Aphrodisias:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/aphrodisias-awaits-record-high-visitors-130696

Leeuwarden:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180423-the-dutch-city-with-a-constantly-changing-name

================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
Nice feature on Christos Tsirogiannis' work spotting illicit antiquities
coming to auction:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/christies-antiquities-sale-tsirogiannis-1270004

Egypt foiled an attempt to smuggle some Islamic artifacts to Lebanon:

http://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-foils-smuggling-attempt-8-ancient-islamic-artefacts-lebanon/

Iranian police busted someone selling antiquities online:

http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/422917/Online-ad-discloses-antiquities
http://ifpnews.com/exclusive/antiquities-advertised-for-online-sale-seized-in-iran/

Marshall University was fined for its handling of American Indian remains:

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Marshall-fined-for-violating-federal-law-over-12866723.php

Police recovered the stolen heart of Dublin's patron saint:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/26/dublin-patron-saint-preserved-heart-recovered-by-police

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/

================================================================
REPATRIATION AND RECOVERY
================================================================
Switzerland returned a number of ancient coins to Serbia:

http://www.archaeology.org/news/6569-180424-ancient-coins-repatriated

Ethiopia wants the BM to permanently return artifacts, not lend them:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ethiopia-artefacts-uk-victoria-albert-museum-tristram-hunt-battle-of-maqdala-a8320121.html
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1290126/world
https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2018/04/24/ethiopia-urges-british-museum-to-permanently-return-its-artifacts
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-history-artefacts/ethiopia-says-british-museum-must-permanently-return-its-artifacts-idUSKBN1HU2M2
https://hyperallergic.com/439456/ethiopia-repatriation-victoria-albert-museum-london-looted-objects/

.... background:

http://www.dw.com/en/ethiopias-looted-ancient-artifacts/g-43481788

A ceremony to welcome back a mosaic to Cyprus:

http://cyprus-mail.com/2018/04/23/one-last-two-pieces-looted-kanakaria-mosaics-back-cyprus/
================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
A California gold rush coin turns out to be genuine:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/coin-once-believed-be-fake-million-dollar-find-180968893/

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n16.html

.... and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n17.html

More on that Bluetooth coin hoard:

https://coinweek.com/coins/treasure-2/metal-detectorists-find-silver-coin-treasure-hoard-linked-to-king-bluetooth/

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

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/
================================================================
PERFORMANCES AND THEATRE-RELATED
================================================================
Hecuba:

https://paw.princeton.edu/article/majel-connery-01-classics-rock
================================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
================================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-main-menu-cat/audio-news-list/2734-audio-news-from-archaeologica-15-april-21-april-2018
================================================================
OBITUARIES
===============================================================
Ruth Kirk:

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article209632914.html

Richard Oldenburg:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/20/obituaries/richard-oldenburg-who-led-momas-expansion-and-drew-crowds-dies-at-84.html

================================================================
CONFERENCES
================================================================
Dead Sea Scrolls at Seventy (today!):

http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il/symposiums/upcoming.shtml

================================================================
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
================================================================
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