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explorator 24.32 November 28, 2021
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You can read explorator online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/


Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,
John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Hernan Astudillo, Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

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EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
Latest study suggests Sediba could apparently walk and climb (didn't we have this same suggestion a couple years ago?):

https://www.nyu.edu/content/nyu/en/about/news-publications/news/2021/november/ancient-human-relative--australopithecus-sediba---walked-like-a-.html
https://phys.org/news/2021-11-ancient-human-relative-australopithecus-sediba.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211123130821.htm https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/2m-year-old-hominid-vertebrae-offer-insight-into-human-origins-686931
https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/23/world/australopithecus-sediba-intl-scli-scn/index.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/ancient-human-relative-walked-like-a-human-but-climbed-like-an-ape/142093
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/11/24/australopithecus-sediba-walked-like-a-human-but-climbed-like-an-ape/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10162-211124-lumbar-vertebrae-walking

A French team is searching for the 'cradle of humanity' in Botswana:

https://www.iol.co.za/travel/africa/archaeologists-search-for-cradle-of-humanity-in-botswana-0c6a081b-400e-5dd1-b5a5-3663f4dd51d0
https://africa.cgtn.com/2021/11/24/archaeologists-search-for-cradle-of-humanity-in-botswana/
http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2021-11/23/content_77888978.htm

A study suggests Neanderthal children developed teeth earlier than their sapiens counterparts:

https://phys.org/news/2021-11-baby-neanderthal-tooth-earlier-emergence.html https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/how-australian-children-s-teeth-helped-solve-an-ancient-mystery-20211124-p59bti.html

A reexamination of 'The Old Man of La Chapelle' (Neanderthal) has evidence of brucellosis 'spillover':

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/25/europe/ancient-spillover-neanderthal-brucellosis-disease-human-scn/index.html

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-99289-7

Feature on the earliest Denisovans and their cultural adaptations:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-021-01581-2

Feature on naming human fossils:

https://theconversation.com/whats-in-a-name-when-it-comes-to-human-fossils-its-complicated-171569
============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
More on the 150 000 years bp (or so) jewellery from Morocco:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/oldest-jewelry-in-the-world-discovered-in-morocco-685645
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62723 https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/oldest-jewelry-discovered-1234611028/ ============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ============================================================
Much pomp as Egypt officially reopened the Avenue of the Sphinxes:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1238/442022/Egypt/Tourism/In-Photos-Exclusive-sneak-peek-into-preparations-f.aspx
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/443339/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/In-Photos-Egypt-reopens-ancient-Avenue-of-Sphinxes.aspx
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1238/443286/Egypt/Tourism/Live-Updates-Egypt-reopens-Luxor%E2%80%99s-Avenue-of-Sphin.aspx
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/110303/Live-Update-Egypt-reopens-ancient-%E2%80%98Avenue-of-Sphinxes%E2%80%99-in-Luxor
https://phys.org/news/2021-11-egypt-unveils-renovated-avenue-sphinxes.html https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/26/egypt-restores-ancient-road-linking-temples-of-luxor-and-karnak
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-11-25/egipto-celebra-la-reapertura-de-la-gran-avenida-de-las-esfinges-de-luxor-con-una-majestuosa-ceremonia.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/egypt-revives-ancient-road-connecting-luxor-karnak-2021-11-25/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/11/25/egypts-ancient-road-of-1000-sphinxes-unveiled-in-spectacular-ceremony
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211125-egypt-unveils-pharaonic-rams-road-at-karnak-temple
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/egypt-ancient-walkway-scli-intl-scn/index.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/egypt-ancient-avenue-sphinxes-luxor-karnak-ceremony-opet-parade-route/

More on Nectanebo I's sun temple:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/11/new-secrets-revealed-discovery-heliopolis-egypts-most-ancient-capital
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-find-lost-4500-year-old-egyptian-sun-temple-180979077/

More on 'apprentices' working on the Temple of Hatshepsut:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/new-discoveries-in-tomb-beneath-temple-of-hatshepsut/142071
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/11/25/new-discoveries-in-a-subterranean-tomb-at-hatshepsuts-temple/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10158-211123-hatshepsut-temple-carvings

Another feature on the Rosetta Stone:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/29/how-the-rosetta-stone-yielded-up-its-secrets-edward-dolnick-the-writing-of-the-gods

Pondering why ancient Egyptians stopped building pyramids:

https://www.livescience.com/why-ancient-egyptians-stopped-building-pyramids

Feature on what it was like in Tut's tomb:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467383/Future-research-to-probe-links-between-Iran-Arabian-Peninsula

Haven't had a feature on Tut's "curse" for a while:

https://www.salon.com/2021/11/26/9-victims-of-king-tuts-curse-and-one-should-have-been_partner/

Feature on the Valley of the Kings:

https://mymodernmet.com/valley-of-the-kings/

Evidence of a hunter-gatherer presence on Hormuz Island in the Middle Palaeolithic:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467344/Hunter-gatherers-settled-in-southern-Iranian-island-new-evidence

... and plans for more research:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467383/Future-research-to-probe-links-between-Iran-Arabian-Peninsula

Parthian and Sassanid remains found by an Iranian-French team digging near Faruj (Iran):

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467382/Iranian-French-archaeologists-uncover-clues-about-ancient-settlements

A Serbian team has joined those digging at the Burnt City:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467345/Serbian-archaeologists-join-Iranian-Italian-fellows-in-Burnt

So far they've found fibers and animal remains in that Chehrabad salt mine dig in Iran:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467425/Ancient-fibers-animal-remains-discovered-by-Iranian-German
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467267/Iranian-German-archaeologists-in-search-of-clues-about-Achaemenid

Construction of the South Caucasus Pipeline in Azerbaijan has revealed 23 000 archaeological finds, apparently:

https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/3516883.html

A Umayyad-era 'mud mosque' from southern Iraq:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2021/11/25/mud-mosque-from-60-ah-discovered-in-southern-iraq/
https://iqna.ir/en/news/3476669/remains-of-1300-year-old-mosque-discovered-in-iraq

Feature on math in ancient Babylon:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0b69b9j/the-ancient-tablets-revealing-the-mysteries-of-babylonia

14 000 years bp stone tools and a possible settlement site from Turkey's Izmir province:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/14000-year-old-stone-tools-bone-remains-found-in-western-turkey/news
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/human-traces-dating-back-14-000-years-found-in-izmir-169601
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/archaeologists-unearth-14000-year-old-human-traces-in-western-turkey-3584762
https://www.trtworld.com/art-culture/14-000-year-old-human-traces-unearthed-in-western-turkey-51959
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/settlement-dating-back-14000-years-discovered-in-turkey-687063
https://www.dainst.blog/transpergmikro/rescue-excavation-changes-history/

A Japanese team is working at Gobeklitepe:

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14487942

Remains of a medieval madrassa from Harran (Turkey):

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/remains-of-first-islamic-madrassa-found-in-turkeys-harran/news
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/ruins-of-pioneering-madrassa-unearthed-in-southeastern-turkey/2427704
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/ruins-of-pioneering-madrassa-unearthed-in-southeastern-turkey-3584703
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10159-211124-turkey-medieval-madrassa

A 1500 years bp bread oven from Perrhe:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/1500-year-old-bakery-structure-found-in-turkeys-perre/news
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-brad-oven-among-findings-in-perre-169577
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/1-500-year-old-bread-oven-structure-unearthed-in-southeastern-turkey/2427888

This year, Turkish archaeologists have found 255 artifacts underwater:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/underwater-history-resurfaces-255-artifacts-found-in-turkish-seas/news
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211125-turkeys-archaeological-underwater-excavations-unearth-255-artefacts-this-year-alone/

Another item on Turkish-backed 'factions' conducting illegal excavations near Aleppo:

https://www.syriahr.com/en/228810/ https://www.hawarnews.com/en/haber/turkish-mercenaries-continue-to-destroy-archaeological-sites-in-syria-h27748.html

More on a 3200 years bp seal and some cuneiform texts being found in Alalakh:

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/3250-year-old-seal-belonging-to-hittite-prince-discovered-in-southern-turkey-3584542
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10154-211122-turkey-hittite-seal

A 9000 years bp necklace comprising 2580 beads from Jordan has been reassembled:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62768

A study of botanical remains from 20 000 to 10 000 years bp in Israel's Hula Valley (some coverage with a climate change spin):

https://phys.org/news/2021-11-climate-goaded-transition-nomadic-hunter-gatherers.html
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/study-reveals-how-end-of-ice-age-led-prehistoric-humans-to-settle-down-1.10406036
https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/millennia-old-plant-remains-shed-light-on-climate-change-in-israel-685726
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-researchers-identify-chilly-transition-to-farming-at-end-of-last-ice-age/

Latest find by a child in Israel is a 2000 years bp silver coin, possibly minted by a Temple priest:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/11-year-old-finds-holy-jerusalem-silver-coin-likely-minted-in-the-temple-685758
https://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-silver-rebel-coin-maybe-minted-at-temple-2000-years-ago-found-in-jerusalem/
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/hjuriqqoy https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/11/23/ancient-silver-coin-found-by-11-year-old-girl-might-have-been-minted-by-temple-priest/
https://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2021/11/23/archaeology-jerusalem-2000-year-old-coin-discovered_5247779c-5c31-480e-9e8c-808f5c4f464e.html
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317415 https://forward.com/fast-forward/478579/11-year-old-girl-found-rare-2000-year-old-coin-from-jewish-temple/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10234715/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10234715/Girl-11-finds-2-000-year-old-coin-minted-Jewish-priest-68BC-joined-Great-Revolt.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/11-year-old-israeli-girl-discovers-rare-silver-shekel-from-the-great-revolt-180979112/

A Roman-era board game scratched into the pavement in the Old City has been identified (probably):

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-ancestor-of-checkers-found-in-old-city-of-jerusalem-1.10407030
https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/ancient-roman-board-game-not-as-grim-as-archaeologists-suspected/

More on that Hellenistic fortress find from the Lachish region of Israel:

https://www.livescience.com/hanukkah-fort-maccabee-rebellion-israel http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/hellenistic-fortress-10289.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/in-time-for-hanukkah-archaeologists-reveal-battle-scarred-stronghold-against-maccabees/2021/11/24/38a53a48-4d6e-11ec-a7b8-9ed28bf23929_story.html
https://religionnews.com/2021/11/24/in-time-for-hanukkah-archaeologists-reveal-battle-scarred-stronghold-against-maccabees/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-find-fortress-destroyed-during-revolt-that-established-hannukah-holiday-180979104/

More pondering whether David and Solomon's kingdom can be referred to as a 'state':

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2021/11/david-and-solomon-as-state

... and the suggestion that royal architecture might prove biblical Judah was a kingdom:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/can-royal-architecture-in-biblical-judah-prove-its-status-as-a-kingdom-685601

More on a possible Canaanite idol from a Judahite temple:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/canaanite-idol-in-a-judahite-temple/

First results of digs at the Qusairat Asd site in Saudi Arabia (date?):

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1974031/saudi-arabia

Feature on the Al Jassasiya petroglyphs (Qatar):

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/qatar-al-jassasiya-petroglyphs-cmd/index.html
https://www.9news.com.au/world/mysterious-rock-symbols-in-qatar-al-jassasiya-hidden-meanings-sought-by-archaeology/cd9e9d14-8a3f-4d99-a353-ca680e0aee05

Feature on Harbia Al Himiary's efforts at preserving heritage sites in Yemen:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59262086

Since 2012, 750 sites have been found in Erbil (Kurdistan), apparently:

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/26321-Since-2012,-experts-have-discovered-750-archaeological-sites-in-Erbil:-Ministry
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

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ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ============================================================
A spectacular Roman mosaic depicting scenes from the Trojan war (and a villa) from a farmer's field in Rutland:

https://ulasnews.com/2021/11/25/encounters-with-achilles/ https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/nov/25/archaeologists-examine-roman-villa-discovered-beneath-rutland-farmers-field
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/26/roman-britain-heritage-rutland-villa
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/nov/28/rutlands-roman-mosaics-bring-the-trojan-wars-to-life-in-the-east-midlands
https://phys.org/news/2021-11-extraordinary-roman-mosaic-villa-beneath.html https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/935838 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59391650 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rutland-roman-mosaic-english-farm-b1963954.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10238719/Iliad-mosaic-Rutland-field-kind-UK.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-rutland-villa-project-farmers-son-stumbles-on-roman-mosaic-in-discovery-of-a-century-8pt0j2rvh
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/roman-britons-had-the-world-beneath-their-feet-09l2psvt0
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/11/25/rare-mosaic-owned-roman-stephen-fry-discovered-farmers-field/
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/historic-england-rutland-britain-duncan-wilson-europe-b968146.html
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/remarkable-roman-mosaic-found-villa-6256465
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/roman-villa-mosaic-uncovered-in-farmers-field-given-protected-status-41087024.html
https://apnews.com/c0e53616fc501d344d27252d1787b863 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/richard-iii-archaeologists-strike-again-with-roman-mosaic/2021/11/25/3253d71a-4e10-11ec-a7b8-9ed28bf23929_story.html
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/richard-iii-archeologists-strike-again-with-roman-mosaic-1.5681195
https://www.npr.org/2021/11/26/1059341809/leicester-england-archaeologists-ancient-roman-mosaic
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/roman-mosaic-farm-scli-intl-gbr-scn/index.html
https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/25/stunning-mosaic-battle-trojan-war-uncovered/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/11/25/magnificent-roman-mosaic-discovered-in-a-farmers-field-is-uks-most-exciting-find-of-its-kind-in-a-century
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/rutland-mosaic-10306.html http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62755 https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/rare-mosaic-depicting-homers-iliad-discovered-in-uk/142098
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/11/25/extraordinary-roman-mosaic-and-villa-discovered/

... and OpEds arising:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/26/roman-britain-heritage-rutland-villa
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activity-and-adventure/hidden-treasures-roman-britain/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-times-view-of-a-golden-age-of-archaeology-glory-beneath-the-soil-xcs0zvkw7
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/799/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/799/pub/799/page/30/article/244538

Overviewish thing on finds from the 8th-4th centuries BCE necropolis at Bilsk (Ukraine):

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/graves-of-rich-powerful-women-found-in-lost-city-of-herodotus-1.10421477

A Hellenistic sanctuary of some sort was revealed at Skiathas this week:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/27/hellenistic-era-sanctuary-uncovered-greece/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/11/27/excavation-larissa-hellenistic/

Latest finds from Amphipolis include a large Roman structure:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/25/ancient-amphipolis/

Remains of an ancient city of some sort near Kilkis (Greece):

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/20/ancient-city-kilkis-greece/

A piece of an 1800 years bp Roman cavalry mask from a dig at Hadrianopolis (Turkey):

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10233655/Archaeology-Roman-soldiers-FACE-MASK-dating-1-800-years-uncovered-Turkey.html
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/34682/20211124/1-800-year-old-iron-face-mask-roman-empire-soldier.htm
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roman-soldiers-iron-mask-found-in-karabuk-169608

A Late Roman glassworks site from the Jezreel Valley:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/archaeologists-discover-ancient-glassworks-from-late-roman-period/142113

Study suggests people living in Pergamon 2000 years bp had a plant-based diet:

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/people-living-in-pergamon-2000-years-ago-had-plant-based-diet
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/studies-reveal-eating-habits-of-pergamon-people-169632

More coverage this week of that Caligula-era mosaic being used as a coffee table in New York for years:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/nov/22/priceless-roman-mosaic-coffee-table-new-york-apartment
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ancient-roman-artefact-coffee-table-manhattan-b1962603.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/roman-emperor-caligula-coffee-table-60-minutes-2021-11-21/
https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/25/ancient-roman-artifact-coffee-table/

More on that Roman dagger from a Swiss battlefield:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/discovery-of-roman-dagger-leads-to-hundreds-more-artifacts-in-switzerland-180979122/

More on those 4th century BCE Scythians burials and silver:

https://phys.org/news/2021-11-winged-gods-griffons-plate-depiction.html https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/rare-4th-century-bce-scythian-silver-plate-found-in-tomb-685723
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10157-211123-scythian-barrow-silver

More on the remains of a Roman aqueduct in Armenia:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/11/23/roman-aqueduct-found-in-armenia/ https://eurasianet.org/roman-empires-easternmost-aqueduct-discovered-in-armenia

More on the massive Roman silver coin hoard found at Augsburg:

https://www.newsweek.com/cache-thousands-ancient-roman-silver-coins-found-river-1653112

Review of Myke Cole, *The Bronze Lie*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/books/review/myke-cole-the-bronze-lie.html

Iraq's Arch of Ctesiphon is being restored:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/iraq/2021/11/25/iraqs-historic-arch-of-ctesiphon-undergoes-restoration-work/

Apparently there are still legal battles going on over the fate of antiquities found during Thessaloniki metro construction:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1172641/thessaloniki-metro-buried-under-legal-disputes/

I think we mentioned this use of AI to help reassemble a Pompeii fresco before:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/technology-59416292

Greece is working on protecting sites from climate change:

https://news.gtp.gr/2021/11/22/greece-to-protect-its-archaeological-sites-monuments-from-impacts-of-climate-change/

Feature on Katharina Volk's *Roman Republic of Letters*:

https://news.columbia.edu/news/katharina-volk-new-book-the-roman-republic-of-letters

Feature on some students who were digging at Pompeii:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/22/diogenes-the-ancient-greek-philosopher-who-was-the-first-to-give-the-finger/

Feature on more things to be found at Pompeii:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/29/pompeii-still-has-buried-secrets

Feature on graffiti at Pompeii:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/the-graffiti-of-pompeii-cruel-lalagus-why-do-you-not-love-me-1.10408749

CBS 60 minutes had a feature on Caligula's Gardens (and the new museum) ... excerpts:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/caligula-rome-60-minutes-2021-11-21/

Feature on the fall of Carthage:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/the-fall-of-carthage/142080

Feature on the Library of Alexandria:

https://egyptianstreets.com/2021/11/23/library-of-alexandria-a-lost-millennium-of-knowledge/

Not sure about this feature on Diogenes and his finger"

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/22/diogenes-the-ancient-greek-philosopher-who-was-the-first-to-give-the-finger/

On the Greek roots of Cinderella:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/2021/11/26/news/the-greek-roots-of-cinderella-a-tale-passed-on-from-aesop-to-disney/

Feature on kykeon:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/22/eleusinian-mystery-hallucinogenic/

Feature on Platonic love:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/24/platonic-love-concept-greek-philosopher-plato/

Feature on the 'neighbourhood' beneath the Acropolis of Athens:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/27/ancient-neighborhood-acropolis/

Feature on ancient Greek cosmetics:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/24/ancient-greeks-used-exotic-dangerous-cosmetics-in-eternal-search-for-beauty/

Feature on Antioch:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/25/history-hellenistic-city-antioch/

Feature on Eleusis:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/28/eleusis-religious-sites-ancient-greece/

Feature on the 'Ukok Princess':

https://www.bbc.co.uk/reel/video/p0b5vtbj/the-mystery-of-siberia-s-2-500-year-old-ice-maiden-

Latest Pasts Imperfect newsletter:

https://pastsimperfect.substack.com/p/pasts-imperfect-112521

In Parthenon Marbles news this week, Boris Johnson stated he would not stand in the way of talks:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10225473/Boris-pressure-Elgin-Marbles-Greek-PM-insists-promised-not-stand-way-talks.html

... and it was revealed he had once written a letter stating the Marbles shouldn't have been removed:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/nov/23/boris-johnson-wrote-that-parthenon-sculptures-should-never-have-been-removed
https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/24/boris-johnson-admitted-parthenon-marbles-wrong/

... and there was a feature on some Australians' efforts to repatriate the Marbles:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1172205/expatriate-protector-of-the-parthenon-marbles/

... and a poll suggesting Britons were in favour of their return:

https://news.gtp.gr/2021/11/25/poll-more-britons-in-favor-of-returning-parthenon-marbles-to-greece/

... and more background on Elgin:

https://www.athina984.gr/en/2021/11/24/glypta-toy-parthenona-quot-mia-dodekada-prionia-gia-marmara-diaforon-megethon-quot/

... and PM Mitsotakis once again called for their return:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/pm-mitsotakis-calls-once-again-for-parthenon-sculptures-return/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1172409/new-momentum-for-return-of-parthenon-marbles/

... meanwhile, OpEds suggested Britain could gain by returning the marbles:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/britain-can-gain-by-giving-back-the-elgin-marbles-2f65pfkgr

... and apparently the law that 'prevents' their return can be changed:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/11/26/law-prevents-stolen-elgin-marbles-return-could-changed-says/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/art-industry-news-november-26-2021-2040538 https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/11/28/parthenon-sculptures-law-change/

... and the Acropolis Museum was putting 10 fragments on display:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/not-parthenon-marbles-but-fragments-will-now-be-displayed/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/45818-not-parthenon-marbles-but-fragments-now-displayed-at-acropolis-museum.html
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1172468/ten-rare-parthenon-fragments-to-be-exhibited/
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ============================================================
41 500 years bp ivory mammoth pendant from Poland is thought to be the oldest 'ornate' jewellery in Europe (Eurasia?):

https://phys.org/news/2021-11-earliest-evidence-humans-jewelery-eurasia.html https://www.livescience.com/oldest-modern-human-decorated-jewelry-eurasia https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-11-26/decorated-ivory-pendant-oldest-known-ornate-jewellery-eurasia/100643032
https://elpais.com/ciencia/2021-11-25/un-colgante-de-marfil-de-mamut-de-hace-41500-anos-la-evidencia-mas-antigua-de-una-joya-decorada-en-eurasia.html
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/800/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/800/pub/800/page/57/article/245676
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/stajnia-pendant-10309.html https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/mammoth-ivory-pendant-may-be-earliest-decorated-jewellery-found-in-eurasia/142110
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01221-6

Possible 31 000 years bp 'soft footware' from the Cussac Cave in France:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-02127-z

Feature on a dig at a Mesolithic site in Deeside:

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/2744373/mesolithic-deeside-archaeology/
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/travel/outdoors/3701283/archaeology-mesolithic-deeside/

New research suggests Neolithic pits near Stonehenge were huamn made:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/nov/23/new-tests-show-neolithic-pits-near-stonehenge-were-humanmade
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10237829/Stonehenge-4-500-year-old-pits-man-reveal-scientists.html
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/neolithic-pits-stonehenge-durrington-2039638 https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/stonehenge-pits-human-made-research-1234611127/

A major Neolithic 'ceremonial enclosure' site near Windsor Castle:

https://www.wessexarch.co.uk/news/neolithic-ceremonial-enclosure-uncovered

3000 years bp remains of roundhouse and evidence of metal working from Perthshire:

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/perth-kinross/2762703/archaeological-dig-in-blairgowrie/

A teenaged metal detectorist found a hoard of bronze axes in Suffolk:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-59386261 https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/schoolgirl-metal-detectorist-13-finds-a-once-in-a-lifetime-bronze-age-axe-hoard-on-just-her-third-dig-3466065
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10227007/Teen-metal-detectorist-Suffolk-finds-Bronze-Age-axe-hoard-just-dig.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/11/21/teenage-metal-detectorist-strikes-bronze-lifetime-hoard-axes/
https://washingtonnewsday.com/science/on-her-third-day-of-metal-detecting-a-teen-girl-discovers-a-bronze-age-axe/

A bunch of items from bronze hoards found in Shropshire are going on display:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-shropshire-59433455 https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/prehistoric-jewellery-daggers-chariot-fittings-22282132

Four Viking-settlement-era burials from Iceland:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62727

More on early evidence of mercury poisoning from Iberia:

https://uncw.edu/news/2021/11/UNCW-Researcher-Finds-Earliest-Evidence-of-Mercury-Poisoning-in-Prehistoric-Bones.html

Feature on underwater archaeology near Lucerne:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/high-tech-underwater-archaeology-in-a-swiss-lake/47122372

Feature on the stained glass at Canterbury Cathedral:

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211125-the-age-old-mystery-of-a-uk-cathedral

Recently-found documents suggest the monks of Furness Abbey wanted better pay from Henry VIII:

https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/763/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/763/pub/763/page/26/article/237605
----------
Archaeology in Europe News:

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

Medievalists.net:

https://www.medievalists.net/category/news/

Viking Archaeology Blog:

http://viking-archaeology-blog.blogspot.com/

============================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ============================================================
A 99 000 (!) years bp ivory 'shovel' from a site in Shandong:

http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_w2W7p8TP.html https://archive.shine.cn/nation/Ivory-shovel-dug-up-after-99000-years/shdaily.shtml

Shang Dynasty bronze items from China's Hunan province:

http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_HoYwHEyy.html https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202111/1240095.shtml

128 Han Dynasty urn burials from China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region:

https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/2111218492/ http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2021-11/22/content_77885023.htm https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/social-welfare/article/3157479/chinese-scientists-discover-remains-128-children

I think we mentioned this Western Zhou Dynasty drainage pipe and road remains from Haojing:

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/drainage-pipe-ancient-road-unearthed-in-xian-city/ar-AAQQrW8
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62741 https://www.archaeology.org/news/10155-211123-china-western-zhou-city

Six tombs from various periods (with gold ornaments in on from Qin Dynasty times) from Shaanxi:

http://en.people.cn/n3/2021/1124/c90000-9923764.html

Recent finds from the Yong'an Site dating to the Fuyu Kingdom in Jilin:

http://www.ecns.cn/news/2021-11-22/detail-ihatchnz0427552.shtml http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2021-11/22/content_77885074.htm

Feature on Chinese islands near Macau:

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3156715/chinese-islands-next-macau-great-stories-pirates

The location of the palace in 'The Tale of the Genji' might have been found in Kyoto:

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14482615

75 Kushan-period artifacts from a dig in Afghanistan:

https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-175626

A metal tray of undetermined date from the Angkor Archaeological Park:

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ana-unearths-metal-tray-angkor-park

Latest finds from a dig at Sandhai village in Yamunagar include coins and a piece of a statue:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/haryana-more-ancient-coins-remains-of-statue-found-from-sandhai-village-in-yamunanagar/articleshow/87934917.cms

A Vijayanagar Empire 'hero stone' from Teggarse:


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