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explorator 25.20 September 4 2022 ===========================================================
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
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As might be expected, a major discussion has broken out over the status of Sahelanthropus (dubbed Toumai) in the human family tree:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/sep/03/oldest-human-or-just-another-ape-row-erupts-over-7m-year-old-fossil
A study of 70 000 years bp 'trapped' piece of ochre from a site in South Africa:
https://partner.sciencenorway.no/archeology-artefacts-university-of-bergen/trapped-70000-year-old-artefact-reveals-hidden-information-about-early-humans/2068584
Feature on the Denisovans:
https://www.livescience.com/denisovans-extinct-human-relative
The find of a 500 000 years bp elephant tusk in Israel might be of interest:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/israeli-ap-tel-aviv-university-mediterranean-b2156497.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/israeli-archaeologists-dig-up-large-tusk-of-ancient-elephant/2022/08/31/5dc69c26-2915-11ed-a90a-fce4015dfc8f_story.html
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/elephants-prehistoric-israel/
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AFRICA
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Documenting some 1000 years bp paintings in a church in Sudan:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/08/researchers-document-1000-year-old-paintings-excavated-in-sudan/144553
Excavations at Zanzibar's Stone Town suggest it's much older than previously thought:
https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/heritage/2022/09/01/uae-led-project-makes-groundbreaking-discovery-in-zanzibars-famed-stone-town/
More on the multinational group surveying the Skerki Banks:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/08/30/shipwrecks-ahoy-unescos-underwater-mission-scours-sea-bed-off-italy-for-archaeological-treasures
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/marine-archaeologists-are-scouring-a-busy-trade-route-for-ancient-shipwrecks-1234637752/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/unesco-marine-archaeology-2167546 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-from-eight-countries-unesco-explore-skerki-banks-180980693/
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ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ============================================================
A pollen study suggests the Khufu branch of the Nile once ran close enough to the pyramids to provide a route for stones to be transported for their construction:
https://phys.org/news/2022-08-khufu-nile-river-giza-stones.html https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/30/science/pyramids-nile-river-construction-egypt.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/world/egypt-river-nile-branch-pyramids-study-b2156802.html
https://egyptindependent.com/french-study-reveals-secret-behind-the-pyramids/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-715984 https://arkeonews.net/a-long-lost-branch-of-the-nile-helped-in-building-egypts-pyramids-scientists-say/
https://www.sciencealert.com/a-hidden-landscape-we-can-no-longer-see-may-explain-the-mystery-of-the-pyramids
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10804-220901-nile-river-flow
cf: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2202530119
... and a feature on the Pyramid of Khufu:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-oldest-ancient-wonder-still-exists-today-4-500-years-later
A study of Tutankhamun's shoes suggests he may have had foot problems:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/118689/Recent-study-conducted-on-Tutankhamun%E2%80%99s-sandals-reveal-astonishing-findings
Feature on finds over the past century at Thebes:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/118760/Thebes%E2%80%99-antiquities-considered-Egypt-s-most-important-discoveries-of-last
Feature on ancient Egyptian collections in Australia:
https://egyptianstreets.com/2022/09/02/egyptian-collections-in-australia-a-curators-perspective/
More on Zahi Hawass' call for the return of the Rosetta Stone:
https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/474147.aspx
... and a backgrounder on the Rosetta Stone and the 'obsession' with ancient Egypt:
https://www.thenationalnews.com/weekend/2022/09/02/the-rosetta-stone-betrayal-and-a-western-obsession-with-ancient-egypt/
Hawass has also announced plans for a major campaign to recover stolen Egyptian antiquities:
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2022/08/29/i-aim-to-launch-popular-campaign-to-recover-stolen-egyptian-antiquities-zahi-hawass/
Meanwhile, Egypt will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the translation of the stone:
https://www.cairoscene.com/Buzz/Egypt-to-Celebrate-200th-Anniversary-of-Rosetta-Stone-Discovery
... as part of a celebration of 200 years of Egyptology:
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/50/1207/474150/AlAhram-Weekly/Heritage/Celebrating--years-of-Egyptology.aspx
France marked the bicentennial of the decipherment too:
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/france-in-focus/20220902-france-marks-bicentenary-of-deciphering-of-egyptian-hieroglyphics-by-champollion
More on the restoration of a statue of Thutmose II:
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/08/egypt-restores-massive-statue-king-thutmose-ii
... and the shrine of Amun-Ra:
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/08/egypt-restores-ancient-shrine-amun-ra
... and the resumption of restoration efforts at the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/118719/Restoration-work-on-Great-Pillar-Hall-at-Karnak-Temples-resumes
Perhaps clarifying a confusing piece from last week, digs are under way in the Sialk hills at a 6000 years bp site:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/476205/Archaeologists-in-search-of-6-000-year-old-ruins-in-Sialk-hills
Neolithic and Chalcolithic finds from a site in Iran's Kordestan province:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/476246/Relics-dating-from-Copper-and-Stone-ages-discovered-in-western
Marking 22 years of excavations at Ecbatana:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/476207/Ecbatana-photo-exhibit-workshop-to-spotlight-22-seasons-of
Italian archaeologists are back digging at Ebla:
https://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2022/09/03/italian-archaeologists-back-at-syrias-ebla-after-12-years_987a8467-fb3d-45d8-b2e0-5d8ad136ea00.html
Feature on Ashurbanipal's library:
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/08/why-this-ancient-king-of-the-world-was-so-proud-of-his-library
More on the possible decipherment of Linear Elamite:
https://phys.org/news/2022-08-team-deciphered-ancient-iranian-linear.html https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2022/09/irans-linear-elamite-deciphered https://www.livescience.com/ancient-linear-elamite-writing-deciphered/ https://www.sciencealert.com/mysterious-script-from-4000-years-ago-may-finally-be-deciphered
Evidence of a 9300 years bp settlement site from the Sircalitepe Mound (Turkey):
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/traces-of-permanent-settlement-dating-back-over-9-000-years-discovered-in-central-turkiye/2670197
https://arkeonews.net/traces-of-9300-year-old-settlement-unearthed-near-volcanic-cappadocia-in-central-turkey/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10802-220831-turkey-obsidian-settlement
Remains of a Urartian 'garbage dump' from excavations at the Ayanis Castle near Lake Van:
https://arkeonews.net/urartian-royal-garbage-dump-was-found-during-excavations-at-ayanis-castle/
Overviewish on recent finds in Istanbul:
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/istanbul-comes-forefront-with-latest-excavations-says-official-176482
An overview of finds in Turkey in August:
https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/august-2022-turkish-archaeology
Feature on the century-long dig at Hattusha:
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hattusha-excavations-continue-for-more-than-a-century-176616
More on archaeologists' call for protection of Hagia Sophia:
https://www.thenationalherald.com/greek-archaeologists-call-on-unesco-to-protect-aghia-sophia/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-call-on-unesco-to-protect-the-hagia-sophia-180980659/
Israel is targetting US Christian groups for biblical excavations:
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-716219
Feature on the Dead Sea Scrolls:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/dead-sea-scrolls/what_are_the_dead_sea_scrolls/
More on the 1200 years bp 'luxury villa' from the Negev:
https://www.trtworld.com/life/luxury-islamic-villa-dating-back-1-200-years-found-in-israel-s-negev-desert-60261
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:
https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/
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ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ============================================================
Scythian finds and a Bronze Age dwelling from Ukraine (!):
https://www.livescience.com/scythian-artifacts-found-ukraine/
A Gallic necropolis Mercin-et-Vaux with all sorts of WWI damage:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/65012
Excavation of a 2nd century BCE burial in Tuscany is shedding light on Etruscan identity in Roman times:
https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2022/08/025.html https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-716152 https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/09/archaeological-site-reveals-new-insights-into-etruscan-identity/144576
Latest finds from the dig at Roman Caistor are shedding light on the Iceni:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-62677813 https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1081/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1081/pub/1081/page/43/article/NaN
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/08/excavation-reveals-new-insights-into-iceni-people-during-roman-period/144561
A Roman site of some sort at Driffield:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-62769708 https://news.yahoo.com/driffield-earliest-roman-settlement-evidence-071257944.html
1800 years bp amphorae and 'water jugs' from Metropolis:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/09/03/amphorae-ancient-greek-city-metropolis/
A 2nd century CE tomb of a 'bird oracle' from Pergamon:
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/ancient-ornithomancy-pergamon-reveals-tomb-of-bird-oracle/news
https://arkeonews.net/the-tomb-of-the-bird-oracle-markos-was-found-in-the-ancient-city-of-pergamon/
3rd/4th century CE (?) pithoi and structure finds from the Thracian Valley of the Kings:
https://bta.bg/en/news/culture/320017-archaeologists-with-significant-finds-in-valley-of-thracian-kings
Recent finds from Claros suggest it continued to be prominent as a prophecy centre until the 7th century:
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/claros-serves-as-prophecy-center-after-christinaity-new-finds-reveal
New excavations are underway at Ostia Antica:
https://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2022/08/29/italy-new-digs-begin-in-archaeological-park-of-ostia-antica_49c783f3-eaa6-47cf-a5da-e0ae775520f7.html
Study suggests Greeks were using 'cranes' 150 years earlier than previously thought:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/08/30/ancient-greeks-used-worlds-first-cranes-150-years-earlier-than-suspected-3/
Concerns for the site of Leptis Magna:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1936031/middle-east
Arguing over who should pay for excavation of artifacts found during sewer construction in Larnaca:
https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/08/29/larnaca-locals-shouldnt-pay-for-unearthed-antiquities/
Not sure where to put this one on a sphinx intaglio found at Muziris:
https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/travel-back-in-time-with-the-sphinx-of-muziris/article65801125.ece
The Kore of Thera is back on display:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/09/02/kore-thera-ancient-greek-masterpiece/ https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/09/03/santorini-female-statue-first-time/ http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/65018
More on that study of Roman funerary banquets:
https://phys.org/news/2022-08-dietary-funerary-meals-people-roman.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/10805-220901-roman-funeral-meals
cf: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0271296
More on the giant phallus find in Spain:
https://english.elpais.com/culture/2022-08-25/archaeologists-discover-one-of-the-largest-phallic-sculptures-of-ancient-rome.html
https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/5d3d4n/archeologists-discover-huge-stone-penis-in-ancient-roman-ruins
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10793-220829-spain-roman-phallus
More on the recent 'middle class' finds from Pompeii:
https://hyperallergic.com/756467/household-objects-unearthed-in-pompeii/ https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archaeologists-excavate-pompeii-home-2168070
More on the tumulus of Laona:
https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-fortress-found-under-burial-mound-cyprus-1738989
More on the DNA study suggesting the Griffin Warrior was a local aristocrat:
https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2022/08/uc-analysis-shows-griffin-warrior-ruled-his-homeland.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10798-220830-griffin-warrior-dna
We may have had this item on the Chroma exhibition at the Met:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/17/arts/design/reproductions-museums-sculpture-met-brinkmann-antiquity-polychromy.html
Feature on Roman Cambridge:
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/history/roman-cambridge-called-duroliponte-very-24762621
First person account on digging with the Marzuolo Archaeological Project:
https://cornellsun.com/2022/08/29/what-i-found-in-the-earth/
Josh Gates was apparently visiting the San Giuliano Archaeological Research Project:
https://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/news.php
Feature on the rock-cut tombs at Blaundus:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/08/31/hundreds-ornate-rock-cut-tombs-turkey/
Feature on the Spartans:
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0cxx40h/what-made-the-spartans-such-fierce-warriors-
Feature on the Vandals:
https://www.livescience.com/who-were-the-vandals
Feature on the Huns:
https://www.livescience.com/the-huns
Feature on the Pompeiian fresco of Terentius Neo and his wife:
https://www.indonewyork.com/breaking/roman-empire-love-in-pompeii-the-confident-baker-s-wife-and-her-h39162.html
Feature on Artemis:
https://theconversation.com/who-is-artemis-nasas-latest-mission-to-the-moon-is-named-after-an-ancient-lunar-goddess-turned-feminist-icon-189504
Feature on Callimachus:
https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/2022/08/29/brown-callimachus-and-short-and-sweet-ted-talks-tricks-of-the-trade-of-skills-based-personalized-learning/
Feature on Ancient Greeks and the spread of Buddhism:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/08/29/greeks-spread-buddhism-to-world/
Another feature on the underwater museum at Alonissos:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/07/31/greeces-first-underwater-museum-in-alonissos-opens-august-1-2/
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:
http://romanarc.blogspot.com/
Rogueclassicism:
http://rogueclassicism.com/ ============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ============================================================ Previously-unseen 'carvings' at Ireland's Grange Stone Circle (ca 3000 BCE or so):
https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/carvings-discovered-stone-circle-limerick
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10807-220902-ireland-carved-stone
A 1300 BCE burial ground from Kopilo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) is shedding light on mortality rates, it seems:
https://www.newsweek.com/balkan-cemetery-studies-reveal-high-prehistoric-mortality-rate-1737689
Overview of the excavation of the 2500 years bp Flower's Barrow hillfort site:
https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/2022/08/31/excavating-a-2500-year-old-iron-age-hill-fort/
Study suggests the Vikings weren't the first to settle the Faroe Islands:
https://norwaytoday.info/culture/study-vikings-were-not-the-first-to-settle-the-faroe-islands/
A 1400 years bp folding chair from a woman's burial in Germany:
https://www.newsweek.com/scientists-amazed-find-1400-year-old-folding-chair-womans-grave-1738218
https://www.dw.com/en/1400-year-old-folding-chair-found-in-bavaria/a-62973127
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/65004 https://arkeonews.net/1400-year-old-folding-chair-found-in-a-womans-grave-in-germany/
Remains of a 16th century kiln from downtown Faro:
https://www.portugalresident.com/16th-century-kiln-found-in-downtown-faro/ https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2022-09-04/16th-century-pottery-kiln-discovered-in-downtown-faro/70000
Haven't had a 'vampire burial' for a while ... here's a 17th century one from Poland:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/65027 https://arkeonews.net/remains-of-female-vampire-found-with-sickle-across-her-neck-and-a-padlocked-toe-in-poland/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/09/padlocked-vampire-grave-found-in-poland-with-sickle-around-the-neck/144586
A centuries-old wooden boat 'blown up' during WWII has been restored and is back on display:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-62725048
Overview of the dig at the Lodge Moor camp:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-62741972
Archaeologists are back looking at the Pasman Venetian shipwreck:
https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/65324-pasman-venetian-wreck
More on the 7500 years bp 'Spanish Stonehenge':
https://www.livescience.com/neolithic-stone-complex-discovered-spain
More on that trove of 169 gold rings from a burial in Romania:
https://www.sciencealert.com/extraordinary-trove-of-ancient-gold-rings-discovered-in-romanian-grave
More on the River Thames 'trading hub' find:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-62675992 https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-715964 https://www.archaeology.org/10796-220830-anglo-saxon-cookham
More on monastical parasitic infections at Cambridge:
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/medieval-monks-were-riddled-with-worms-study-finds
https://bigthink.com/the-past/medieval-friars-were-possessed-by-parasites/ https://www.archaeology.org/news/10745-220822-cambridge-medieval-parasites
More on 'disappearing islands' off Wales:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220825120347.htm
Feature on the social function of 6000 years bp rings found at various sites in Finland:
https://psyche.co/ideas/far-flung-ancient-communities-forged-bonds-through-broken-rings
Feature on castle remains in Belfast:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-62167256
Feature on the Minquiers:
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220828-the-british-islands-that-disappear-every-day
Feature on Devil's Dyke:
https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/history/hertfordshire-ditch-you-never-knew-7538379
----------
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/
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ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ============================================================
Han/Jin Dynasties era ironware production and processing workshop from Hunan:
https://english.news.cn/20220828/6c435d6d5ba1442e942b8444dc95b4bc/c.html http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2022-08/29/content_78393562.htm
Spring and Autumn period white lead cosmetics from a burial in Shaanxi:
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202209/1274592.shtml
More on the 'bronze beast' recently excavated at Sanxingdui:
https://www.zmescience.com/science/ancient-bronze-statue-of-mythical-creature-unearthed-in-china/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64996 https://www.archaeology.org/news/10797-220830-china-bronze-beast
Feature on assorted prehistoric sites in China's Liyang Plain:
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2022-09/01/content_78399669.htm
More on Indonesian burials (7500-13 000 years bp) and conclusions being made about migrations:
https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/prehistoric-burials-migration-indonesia/ http://www.archaeology.org/news/10795-220829-indonesia-migration-burials
A Megalithic era (?) anthropomorphic 'menhir' from Yadadri:
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2022/sep/04/historians-in-yadadri-dist-stumble-upon-ancient-anthropomorphic-figure-2494702.html
A fragment of an ivory figurine (probably 11th century) from Gangaikondacholapuram:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/broken-piece-of-figurine-unearthed-at-gangaikondacholapuram/article65845370.ece
A 12th century Ganesha idol from Andhra Pradesh:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amaravati/andhra-pradesh-rare-sculpture-of-lord-ganesh-discovered-in-macherla-of-palnadu-district/articleshow/93835983.cms
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/rare-kakatiya-era-miniature-sculpture-of-lord-ganesha-found/article65825793.ece
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/290822/rare-ganesh-sculpture-of-12th-century-ad-found-in-macherla.html
https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/vijayawada/2022/aug/30/ganesha-sculpture-in-fighting-posture-foundat-thechennakesava-temple-in-macherla-2492519.html
An offshore search for the remains of the ancient city of Korkai is underway:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tn-state-archaeology-dept-starts-searches-in-sea-for-ancient-port-city-korkai/articleshow/93972203.cms
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/mission-launched-to-trace-lost-port-of-korkai/articleshow/93978009.cms
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/sep/04/tamil-nadu-launches-underwater-survey-for-sangam-era-port-of-korkai-2494677.html
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/excavation-at-ancient-port-city-of-korkai-begins/article65845179.ece
Concerns for Mohenjo Daro:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1708220 https://www.paktribune.com/news-details/dept-of-archaeology-called-for-urgent-attention-towards-mohenjo-daro
https://odishatv.in/news/international/mohenjo-daro-may-be-removed-from-the-world-heritage-list-184698
Flooding in Pakistan is raising concerns for sites:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/raging-floods-threaten-pakistans-archeological-treasure/2676341
A possible 10 000 years bp burial find from Azerbaijan:
https://thenewstrace.com/archaeologists-found-in-azerbaijan-human-remains-in-a-possible-grave-from-10000-years-ago/247266/
============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ============================================================
Some coins from the Batavia have 'resurfaced' in Queensland:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/300677130/literal-shipwreck-treasure-from-famous-doomed-dutch-vessel-the-batavia-resurfaces-in-australia
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/literal-shipwreck-treasure-from-famous-doomed-dutch-vessel-resurfaces-20220830-p5be0i.html
Feature on a kakpo feather cloak at the British Museum:
https://blog.britishmuseum.org/caring-for-the-only-known-full-kakapo-feather-cloak-in-the-world/
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
Native American finds during tower construction in San Jose (paywalled, I think):
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/09/01/downtown-san-jose-tower-pause-develop-real-estate-native-american-tech/
Plenty of finds (1000/1500 to 2000/2800 years bp) from Little Chebeague Island and Littlejohn Island off the coast of Maine:
https://www.wabi.tv/2022/09/01/archaeologists-dig-up-new-details-about-maine-islands-native-peoples/
https://www.wmtw.com/article/archaeologists-dig-new-details-maine-islands-native-peoples/41052874
After 70 years, digging has resumed at the Tatichek site (10 000 years of continuous occupation!):
https://thetyee.ca/News/2022/08/31/70-Year-Hiatus-Cheslatta-Resumes-Archeological-Dig/
A Black cemetery in Clearwater has at least 328 burials:
https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/special-reports/erased/archaeologist-328-graves-black-cemetery-clearwater-business-property/67-6ef60594-2cef-4378-b07c-f49f9d79ffc6
https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2022/09/01/328-graves-from-black-cemetery-are-under-company-and-clearwater-road/
Feature on the archiving of finds from the Theatre Royal site in Barkerville:
https://www.quesnelobserver.com/news/archiving-archaeological-treasures-from-barkervilles-theatre-royal/
Feature on activities at various University of Lynchburg field schools this past summer:
https://www.lynchburg.edu/2022/08/lynchburg-students-dig-into-archaeology-at-field-schools/
Feature on various Native American sites in central Missouri:
https://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/sep/03/traces-of-ancient-indian-cultures-in-mid-missouri/
Feature on the various folks digging at an Irish-immigrant-connected site in Lowell (Mass.):
https://www.lowellsun.com/2022/08/29/digging-lowell-archaeological-dig-centered-around-1800s-irish-owned-store-brings-together-researchers-an-ocean-apart/
More on that hidden mural from Vermont:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64983
============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ============================================================
A possible 3000 years bp priestly burial from Peru:
https://news.yahoo.com/ancient-tomb-belonging-priest-found-074058755.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/10808-220902-peru-pacopampa-man
Overviewish pieces on excavations in the Dominican's Cabo Natural Monument:
https://dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2022/09/03/archaic-people-buried-children-and-adults-together/
https://dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2022/09/01/remains-found-in-samana-more-than-3000-years-old/
Restoration of an image of the Virgin Mary in a church damaged in Mexico City's 2017 earthquake is underway:
https://apnews.com/article/sports-religion-caribbean-mexico-city-8e01e4303688f90412dd8c3bf880801f
Restoration of the Maya temple of Dzibilchaltun is underway:
https://www.latercera.com/la-tercera-tv/noticia/investigadores-inician-trabajos-de-restauracion-del-templo-maya-de-dzibilchaltun/JDRD6VRZSRGCXFPV5EHOEXFJBU/
More on dendrochronology and the wreck of the Dolphin off Argentina:
https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2022/08/24/scientists-say-a-shipwreck-off-patagonia-is-a-long-lost-1850s-rhode-island-whaler/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tree-rings-american-shipwreck-Dolphin-1859-180980676/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10799-220830-patagonia-whaler-dendrochronology
More on drought and the downfall of Mayapan:
https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/maya-radiocarbon-dating-drought/
Feature on the wreck of the Principe de Asturias off Brazil:
https://elpais.com/cultura/2022-08-30/el-misterioso-y-olvidado-naufragio-del-titanic-espanol-en-brasil.html
Feature on Acatitlan:
https://yucatanmagazine.com/acatitlan-the-mexica-aztec-city-of-the-mighty-god-of-war/
... and Peten Itza:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/09/peten-itza-the-last-maya-kingdom/144580
Of possible interest is news that the last remaining member of an uncontacted Brazilian tribe has died:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/28/americas/brazil-indigenous-man-in-the-hole-death-intl-hnk/index.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=news_tab
-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:
http://goo.gl/1VdeA
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas lecture channels on Youtube:
https://mikeruggerisyoutube.tumblr.com/
Ancient MesoAmerica News:
http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/ ============================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST ============================================================
Feature on Pope Celestine:
https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-mountains-italy-4f223159e467e671a2bee5b0c297eda5
Feature on assorted ancient scripts:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220818-how-to-write-a-message-to-the-future
Feature on the history of tombstones:
https://phys.org/news/2022-08-humans-tombstones.html
cf: https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/430591-unravelling-the-secrets-of-the-medieval-tombstones-in-the-western-balkans
Feature on the origins of the Venus of Willendorf:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-origin-of-the-30-000-year-old-venus-of-willendorf
Feature on rape as a weapon of war:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2022-08-30/ty-article/rape-as-an-ancient-weapon-of-war/00000182-ee77-dae0-a7ff-ef7f5c8f0000
Feature on deception in warfare:
https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-war-and-the-long-tradition-of-deception/a-62995243
Feature on the 'new' discipline of archaeoecology:
https://phys.org/news/2022-08-archaeology-ecology-combined-fuller-picture.html
cf: https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/S0169-5347(22)00174-4
Pondering various approaches to history:
https://aeon.co/essays/historical-data-is-not-a-kitten-its-a-sabre-toothed-tiger
On the naming of Middlesbrough's Forty Foot Road:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-62724875
Feature on Chinese involvement in the 19th century Brazilian circumnavigation of the world:
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3189355/how-19th-century-hong-kong-and-chinese-people
Feature on Juana Maria:
https://iflscience.com/juana-maria-the-mystery-woman-stranded-for-18-years-off-the-coast-of-california-65151
Gibraltar is officially a city now:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62710553
Review of the second volume of Crawford's biography of T.S. Eliot:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/02/books/review/robert-crawford-eliot-after-the-waste-land.html
Review of Martin Edwards, *The Life of Crime*:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/30/books/review/life-of-crime-martin-edwards.html
===========================================================
explorator 25.20 September 4 2022 ===========================================================
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).
============================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
As might be expected, a major discussion has broken out over the status of Sahelanthropus (dubbed Toumai) in the human family tree:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/sep/03/oldest-human-or-just-another-ape-row-erupts-over-7m-year-old-fossil
A study of 70 000 years bp 'trapped' piece of ochre from a site in South Africa:
https://partner.sciencenorway.no/archeology-artefacts-university-of-bergen/trapped-70000-year-old-artefact-reveals-hidden-information-about-early-humans/2068584
Feature on the Denisovans:
https://www.livescience.com/denisovans-extinct-human-relative
The find of a 500 000 years bp elephant tusk in Israel might be of interest:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/israeli-ap-tel-aviv-university-mediterranean-b2156497.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/israeli-archaeologists-dig-up-large-tusk-of-ancient-elephant/2022/08/31/5dc69c26-2915-11ed-a90a-fce4015dfc8f_story.html
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/elephants-prehistoric-israel/
============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
Documenting some 1000 years bp paintings in a church in Sudan:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/08/researchers-document-1000-year-old-paintings-excavated-in-sudan/144553
Excavations at Zanzibar's Stone Town suggest it's much older than previously thought:
https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/heritage/2022/09/01/uae-led-project-makes-groundbreaking-discovery-in-zanzibars-famed-stone-town/
More on the multinational group surveying the Skerki Banks:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/08/30/shipwrecks-ahoy-unescos-underwater-mission-scours-sea-bed-off-italy-for-archaeological-treasures
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/marine-archaeologists-are-scouring-a-busy-trade-route-for-ancient-shipwrecks-1234637752/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/unesco-marine-archaeology-2167546 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-from-eight-countries-unesco-explore-skerki-banks-180980693/
============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ============================================================
A pollen study suggests the Khufu branch of the Nile once ran close enough to the pyramids to provide a route for stones to be transported for their construction:
https://phys.org/news/2022-08-khufu-nile-river-giza-stones.html https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/30/science/pyramids-nile-river-construction-egypt.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/world/egypt-river-nile-branch-pyramids-study-b2156802.html
https://egyptindependent.com/french-study-reveals-secret-behind-the-pyramids/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-715984 https://arkeonews.net/a-long-lost-branch-of-the-nile-helped-in-building-egypts-pyramids-scientists-say/
https://www.sciencealert.com/a-hidden-landscape-we-can-no-longer-see-may-explain-the-mystery-of-the-pyramids
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10804-220901-nile-river-flow
cf: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2202530119
... and a feature on the Pyramid of Khufu:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-oldest-ancient-wonder-still-exists-today-4-500-years-later
A study of Tutankhamun's shoes suggests he may have had foot problems:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/118689/Recent-study-conducted-on-Tutankhamun%E2%80%99s-sandals-reveal-astonishing-findings
Feature on finds over the past century at Thebes:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/118760/Thebes%E2%80%99-antiquities-considered-Egypt-s-most-important-discoveries-of-last
Feature on ancient Egyptian collections in Australia:
https://egyptianstreets.com/2022/09/02/egyptian-collections-in-australia-a-curators-perspective/
More on Zahi Hawass' call for the return of the Rosetta Stone:
https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/474147.aspx
... and a backgrounder on the Rosetta Stone and the 'obsession' with ancient Egypt:
https://www.thenationalnews.com/weekend/2022/09/02/the-rosetta-stone-betrayal-and-a-western-obsession-with-ancient-egypt/
Hawass has also announced plans for a major campaign to recover stolen Egyptian antiquities:
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2022/08/29/i-aim-to-launch-popular-campaign-to-recover-stolen-egyptian-antiquities-zahi-hawass/
Meanwhile, Egypt will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the translation of the stone:
https://www.cairoscene.com/Buzz/Egypt-to-Celebrate-200th-Anniversary-of-Rosetta-Stone-Discovery
... as part of a celebration of 200 years of Egyptology:
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/50/1207/474150/AlAhram-Weekly/Heritage/Celebrating--years-of-Egyptology.aspx
France marked the bicentennial of the decipherment too:
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/france-in-focus/20220902-france-marks-bicentenary-of-deciphering-of-egyptian-hieroglyphics-by-champollion
More on the restoration of a statue of Thutmose II:
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/08/egypt-restores-massive-statue-king-thutmose-ii
... and the shrine of Amun-Ra:
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/08/egypt-restores-ancient-shrine-amun-ra
... and the resumption of restoration efforts at the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/118719/Restoration-work-on-Great-Pillar-Hall-at-Karnak-Temples-resumes
Perhaps clarifying a confusing piece from last week, digs are under way in the Sialk hills at a 6000 years bp site:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/476205/Archaeologists-in-search-of-6-000-year-old-ruins-in-Sialk-hills
Neolithic and Chalcolithic finds from a site in Iran's Kordestan province:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/476246/Relics-dating-from-Copper-and-Stone-ages-discovered-in-western
Marking 22 years of excavations at Ecbatana:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/476207/Ecbatana-photo-exhibit-workshop-to-spotlight-22-seasons-of
Italian archaeologists are back digging at Ebla:
https://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2022/09/03/italian-archaeologists-back-at-syrias-ebla-after-12-years_987a8467-fb3d-45d8-b2e0-5d8ad136ea00.html
Feature on Ashurbanipal's library:
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/08/why-this-ancient-king-of-the-world-was-so-proud-of-his-library
More on the possible decipherment of Linear Elamite:
https://phys.org/news/2022-08-team-deciphered-ancient-iranian-linear.html https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2022/09/irans-linear-elamite-deciphered https://www.livescience.com/ancient-linear-elamite-writing-deciphered/ https://www.sciencealert.com/mysterious-script-from-4000-years-ago-may-finally-be-deciphered
Evidence of a 9300 years bp settlement site from the Sircalitepe Mound (Turkey):
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/traces-of-permanent-settlement-dating-back-over-9-000-years-discovered-in-central-turkiye/2670197
https://arkeonews.net/traces-of-9300-year-old-settlement-unearthed-near-volcanic-cappadocia-in-central-turkey/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10802-220831-turkey-obsidian-settlement
Remains of a Urartian 'garbage dump' from excavations at the Ayanis Castle near Lake Van:
https://arkeonews.net/urartian-royal-garbage-dump-was-found-during-excavations-at-ayanis-castle/
Overviewish on recent finds in Istanbul:
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/istanbul-comes-forefront-with-latest-excavations-says-official-176482
An overview of finds in Turkey in August:
https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/august-2022-turkish-archaeology
Feature on the century-long dig at Hattusha:
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hattusha-excavations-continue-for-more-than-a-century-176616
More on archaeologists' call for protection of Hagia Sophia:
https://www.thenationalherald.com/greek-archaeologists-call-on-unesco-to-protect-aghia-sophia/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-call-on-unesco-to-protect-the-hagia-sophia-180980659/
Israel is targetting US Christian groups for biblical excavations:
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-716219
Feature on the Dead Sea Scrolls:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/dead-sea-scrolls/what_are_the_dead_sea_scrolls/
More on the 1200 years bp 'luxury villa' from the Negev:
https://www.trtworld.com/life/luxury-islamic-villa-dating-back-1-200-years-found-in-israel-s-negev-desert-60261
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:
https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/
============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ============================================================
Scythian finds and a Bronze Age dwelling from Ukraine (!):
https://www.livescience.com/scythian-artifacts-found-ukraine/
A Gallic necropolis Mercin-et-Vaux with all sorts of WWI damage:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/65012
Excavation of a 2nd century BCE burial in Tuscany is shedding light on Etruscan identity in Roman times:
https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2022/08/025.html https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-716152 https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/09/archaeological-site-reveals-new-insights-into-etruscan-identity/144576
Latest finds from the dig at Roman Caistor are shedding light on the Iceni:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-62677813 https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1081/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1081/pub/1081/page/43/article/NaN
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/08/excavation-reveals-new-insights-into-iceni-people-during-roman-period/144561
A Roman site of some sort at Driffield:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-62769708 https://news.yahoo.com/driffield-earliest-roman-settlement-evidence-071257944.html
1800 years bp amphorae and 'water jugs' from Metropolis:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/09/03/amphorae-ancient-greek-city-metropolis/
A 2nd century CE tomb of a 'bird oracle' from Pergamon:
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/ancient-ornithomancy-pergamon-reveals-tomb-of-bird-oracle/news
https://arkeonews.net/the-tomb-of-the-bird-oracle-markos-was-found-in-the-ancient-city-of-pergamon/
3rd/4th century CE (?) pithoi and structure finds from the Thracian Valley of the Kings:
https://bta.bg/en/news/culture/320017-archaeologists-with-significant-finds-in-valley-of-thracian-kings
Recent finds from Claros suggest it continued to be prominent as a prophecy centre until the 7th century:
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/claros-serves-as-prophecy-center-after-christinaity-new-finds-reveal
New excavations are underway at Ostia Antica:
https://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2022/08/29/italy-new-digs-begin-in-archaeological-park-of-ostia-antica_49c783f3-eaa6-47cf-a5da-e0ae775520f7.html
Study suggests Greeks were using 'cranes' 150 years earlier than previously thought:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/08/30/ancient-greeks-used-worlds-first-cranes-150-years-earlier-than-suspected-3/
Concerns for the site of Leptis Magna:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1936031/middle-east
Arguing over who should pay for excavation of artifacts found during sewer construction in Larnaca:
https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/08/29/larnaca-locals-shouldnt-pay-for-unearthed-antiquities/
Not sure where to put this one on a sphinx intaglio found at Muziris:
https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/travel-back-in-time-with-the-sphinx-of-muziris/article65801125.ece
The Kore of Thera is back on display:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/09/02/kore-thera-ancient-greek-masterpiece/ https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/09/03/santorini-female-statue-first-time/ http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/65018
More on that study of Roman funerary banquets:
https://phys.org/news/2022-08-dietary-funerary-meals-people-roman.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/10805-220901-roman-funeral-meals
cf: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0271296
More on the giant phallus find in Spain:
https://english.elpais.com/culture/2022-08-25/archaeologists-discover-one-of-the-largest-phallic-sculptures-of-ancient-rome.html
https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/5d3d4n/archeologists-discover-huge-stone-penis-in-ancient-roman-ruins
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10793-220829-spain-roman-phallus
More on the recent 'middle class' finds from Pompeii:
https://hyperallergic.com/756467/household-objects-unearthed-in-pompeii/ https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archaeologists-excavate-pompeii-home-2168070
More on the tumulus of Laona:
https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-fortress-found-under-burial-mound-cyprus-1738989
More on the DNA study suggesting the Griffin Warrior was a local aristocrat:
https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2022/08/uc-analysis-shows-griffin-warrior-ruled-his-homeland.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10798-220830-griffin-warrior-dna
We may have had this item on the Chroma exhibition at the Met:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/17/arts/design/reproductions-museums-sculpture-met-brinkmann-antiquity-polychromy.html
Feature on Roman Cambridge:
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/history/roman-cambridge-called-duroliponte-very-24762621
First person account on digging with the Marzuolo Archaeological Project:
https://cornellsun.com/2022/08/29/what-i-found-in-the-earth/
Josh Gates was apparently visiting the San Giuliano Archaeological Research Project:
https://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/news.php
Feature on the rock-cut tombs at Blaundus:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/08/31/hundreds-ornate-rock-cut-tombs-turkey/
Feature on the Spartans:
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0cxx40h/what-made-the-spartans-such-fierce-warriors-
Feature on the Vandals:
https://www.livescience.com/who-were-the-vandals
Feature on the Huns:
https://www.livescience.com/the-huns
Feature on the Pompeiian fresco of Terentius Neo and his wife:
https://www.indonewyork.com/breaking/roman-empire-love-in-pompeii-the-confident-baker-s-wife-and-her-h39162.html
Feature on Artemis:
https://theconversation.com/who-is-artemis-nasas-latest-mission-to-the-moon-is-named-after-an-ancient-lunar-goddess-turned-feminist-icon-189504
Feature on Callimachus:
https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/2022/08/29/brown-callimachus-and-short-and-sweet-ted-talks-tricks-of-the-trade-of-skills-based-personalized-learning/
Feature on Ancient Greeks and the spread of Buddhism:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/08/29/greeks-spread-buddhism-to-world/
Another feature on the underwater museum at Alonissos:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/07/31/greeces-first-underwater-museum-in-alonissos-opens-august-1-2/
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:
http://romanarc.blogspot.com/
Rogueclassicism:
http://rogueclassicism.com/ ============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ============================================================ Previously-unseen 'carvings' at Ireland's Grange Stone Circle (ca 3000 BCE or so):
https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/carvings-discovered-stone-circle-limerick
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10807-220902-ireland-carved-stone
A 1300 BCE burial ground from Kopilo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) is shedding light on mortality rates, it seems:
https://www.newsweek.com/balkan-cemetery-studies-reveal-high-prehistoric-mortality-rate-1737689
Overview of the excavation of the 2500 years bp Flower's Barrow hillfort site:
https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/2022/08/31/excavating-a-2500-year-old-iron-age-hill-fort/
Study suggests the Vikings weren't the first to settle the Faroe Islands:
https://norwaytoday.info/culture/study-vikings-were-not-the-first-to-settle-the-faroe-islands/
A 1400 years bp folding chair from a woman's burial in Germany:
https://www.newsweek.com/scientists-amazed-find-1400-year-old-folding-chair-womans-grave-1738218
https://www.dw.com/en/1400-year-old-folding-chair-found-in-bavaria/a-62973127
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/65004 https://arkeonews.net/1400-year-old-folding-chair-found-in-a-womans-grave-in-germany/
Remains of a 16th century kiln from downtown Faro:
https://www.portugalresident.com/16th-century-kiln-found-in-downtown-faro/ https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2022-09-04/16th-century-pottery-kiln-discovered-in-downtown-faro/70000
Haven't had a 'vampire burial' for a while ... here's a 17th century one from Poland:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/65027 https://arkeonews.net/remains-of-female-vampire-found-with-sickle-across-her-neck-and-a-padlocked-toe-in-poland/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/09/padlocked-vampire-grave-found-in-poland-with-sickle-around-the-neck/144586
A centuries-old wooden boat 'blown up' during WWII has been restored and is back on display:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-62725048
Overview of the dig at the Lodge Moor camp:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-62741972
Archaeologists are back looking at the Pasman Venetian shipwreck:
https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/65324-pasman-venetian-wreck
More on the 7500 years bp 'Spanish Stonehenge':
https://www.livescience.com/neolithic-stone-complex-discovered-spain
More on that trove of 169 gold rings from a burial in Romania:
https://www.sciencealert.com/extraordinary-trove-of-ancient-gold-rings-discovered-in-romanian-grave
More on the River Thames 'trading hub' find:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-62675992 https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-715964 https://www.archaeology.org/10796-220830-anglo-saxon-cookham
More on monastical parasitic infections at Cambridge:
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/medieval-monks-were-riddled-with-worms-study-finds
https://bigthink.com/the-past/medieval-friars-were-possessed-by-parasites/ https://www.archaeology.org/news/10745-220822-cambridge-medieval-parasites
More on 'disappearing islands' off Wales:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220825120347.htm
Feature on the social function of 6000 years bp rings found at various sites in Finland:
https://psyche.co/ideas/far-flung-ancient-communities-forged-bonds-through-broken-rings
Feature on castle remains in Belfast:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-62167256
Feature on the Minquiers:
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220828-the-british-islands-that-disappear-every-day
Feature on Devil's Dyke:
https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/history/hertfordshire-ditch-you-never-knew-7538379
----------
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 ============================================================
Han/Jin Dynasties era ironware production and processing workshop from Hunan:
https://english.news.cn/20220828/6c435d6d5ba1442e942b8444dc95b4bc/c.html http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2022-08/29/content_78393562.htm
Spring and Autumn period white lead cosmetics from a burial in Shaanxi:
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202209/1274592.shtml
More on the 'bronze beast' recently excavated at Sanxingdui:
https://www.zmescience.com/science/ancient-bronze-statue-of-mythical-creature-unearthed-in-china/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64996 https://www.archaeology.org/news/10797-220830-china-bronze-beast
Feature on assorted prehistoric sites in China's Liyang Plain:
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2022-09/01/content_78399669.htm
More on Indonesian burials (7500-13 000 years bp) and conclusions being made about migrations:
https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/prehistoric-burials-migration-indonesia/ http://www.archaeology.org/news/10795-220829-indonesia-migration-burials
A Megalithic era (?) anthropomorphic 'menhir' from Yadadri:
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2022/sep/04/historians-in-yadadri-dist-stumble-upon-ancient-anthropomorphic-figure-2494702.html
A fragment of an ivory figurine (probably 11th century) from Gangaikondacholapuram:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/broken-piece-of-figurine-unearthed-at-gangaikondacholapuram/article65845370.ece
A 12th century Ganesha idol from Andhra Pradesh:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amaravati/andhra-pradesh-rare-sculpture-of-lord-ganesh-discovered-in-macherla-of-palnadu-district/articleshow/93835983.cms
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/rare-kakatiya-era-miniature-sculpture-of-lord-ganesha-found/article65825793.ece
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/290822/rare-ganesh-sculpture-of-12th-century-ad-found-in-macherla.html
https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/vijayawada/2022/aug/30/ganesha-sculpture-in-fighting-posture-foundat-thechennakesava-temple-in-macherla-2492519.html
An offshore search for the remains of the ancient city of Korkai is underway:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tn-state-archaeology-dept-starts-searches-in-sea-for-ancient-port-city-korkai/articleshow/93972203.cms
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/mission-launched-to-trace-lost-port-of-korkai/articleshow/93978009.cms
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/sep/04/tamil-nadu-launches-underwater-survey-for-sangam-era-port-of-korkai-2494677.html
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/excavation-at-ancient-port-city-of-korkai-begins/article65845179.ece
Concerns for Mohenjo Daro:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1708220 https://www.paktribune.com/news-details/dept-of-archaeology-called-for-urgent-attention-towards-mohenjo-daro
https://odishatv.in/news/international/mohenjo-daro-may-be-removed-from-the-world-heritage-list-184698
Flooding in Pakistan is raising concerns for sites:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/raging-floods-threaten-pakistans-archeological-treasure/2676341
A possible 10 000 years bp burial find from Azerbaijan:
https://thenewstrace.com/archaeologists-found-in-azerbaijan-human-remains-in-a-possible-grave-from-10000-years-ago/247266/
============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ============================================================
Some coins from the Batavia have 'resurfaced' in Queensland:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/300677130/literal-shipwreck-treasure-from-famous-doomed-dutch-vessel-the-batavia-resurfaces-in-australia
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/literal-shipwreck-treasure-from-famous-doomed-dutch-vessel-resurfaces-20220830-p5be0i.html
Feature on a kakpo feather cloak at the British Museum:
https://blog.britishmuseum.org/caring-for-the-only-known-full-kakapo-feather-cloak-in-the-world/
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
Native American finds during tower construction in San Jose (paywalled, I think):
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/09/01/downtown-san-jose-tower-pause-develop-real-estate-native-american-tech/
Plenty of finds (1000/1500 to 2000/2800 years bp) from Little Chebeague Island and Littlejohn Island off the coast of Maine:
https://www.wabi.tv/2022/09/01/archaeologists-dig-up-new-details-about-maine-islands-native-peoples/
https://www.wmtw.com/article/archaeologists-dig-new-details-maine-islands-native-peoples/41052874
After 70 years, digging has resumed at the Tatichek site (10 000 years of continuous occupation!):
https://thetyee.ca/News/2022/08/31/70-Year-Hiatus-Cheslatta-Resumes-Archeological-Dig/
A Black cemetery in Clearwater has at least 328 burials:
https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/special-reports/erased/archaeologist-328-graves-black-cemetery-clearwater-business-property/67-6ef60594-2cef-4378-b07c-f49f9d79ffc6
https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2022/09/01/328-graves-from-black-cemetery-are-under-company-and-clearwater-road/
Feature on the archiving of finds from the Theatre Royal site in Barkerville:
https://www.quesnelobserver.com/news/archiving-archaeological-treasures-from-barkervilles-theatre-royal/
Feature on activities at various University of Lynchburg field schools this past summer:
https://www.lynchburg.edu/2022/08/lynchburg-students-dig-into-archaeology-at-field-schools/
Feature on various Native American sites in central Missouri:
https://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/sep/03/traces-of-ancient-indian-cultures-in-mid-missouri/
Feature on the various folks digging at an Irish-immigrant-connected site in Lowell (Mass.):
https://www.lowellsun.com/2022/08/29/digging-lowell-archaeological-dig-centered-around-1800s-irish-owned-store-brings-together-researchers-an-ocean-apart/
More on that hidden mural from Vermont:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64983
============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ============================================================
A possible 3000 years bp priestly burial from Peru:
https://news.yahoo.com/ancient-tomb-belonging-priest-found-074058755.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/10808-220902-peru-pacopampa-man
Overviewish pieces on excavations in the Dominican's Cabo Natural Monument:
https://dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2022/09/03/archaic-people-buried-children-and-adults-together/
https://dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2022/09/01/remains-found-in-samana-more-than-3000-years-old/
Restoration of an image of the Virgin Mary in a church damaged in Mexico City's 2017 earthquake is underway:
https://apnews.com/article/sports-religion-caribbean-mexico-city-8e01e4303688f90412dd8c3bf880801f
Restoration of the Maya temple of Dzibilchaltun is underway:
https://www.latercera.com/la-tercera-tv/noticia/investigadores-inician-trabajos-de-restauracion-del-templo-maya-de-dzibilchaltun/JDRD6VRZSRGCXFPV5EHOEXFJBU/
More on dendrochronology and the wreck of the Dolphin off Argentina:
https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2022/08/24/scientists-say-a-shipwreck-off-patagonia-is-a-long-lost-1850s-rhode-island-whaler/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tree-rings-american-shipwreck-Dolphin-1859-180980676/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10799-220830-patagonia-whaler-dendrochronology
More on drought and the downfall of Mayapan:
https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/maya-radiocarbon-dating-drought/
Feature on the wreck of the Principe de Asturias off Brazil:
https://elpais.com/cultura/2022-08-30/el-misterioso-y-olvidado-naufragio-del-titanic-espanol-en-brasil.html
Feature on Acatitlan:
https://yucatanmagazine.com/acatitlan-the-mexica-aztec-city-of-the-mighty-god-of-war/
... and Peten Itza:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/09/peten-itza-the-last-maya-kingdom/144580
Of possible interest is news that the last remaining member of an uncontacted Brazilian tribe has died:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/28/americas/brazil-indigenous-man-in-the-hole-death-intl-hnk/index.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=news_tab
-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:
http://goo.gl/1VdeA
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas lecture channels on Youtube:
https://mikeruggerisyoutube.tumblr.com/
Ancient MesoAmerica News:
http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/ ============================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST ============================================================
Feature on Pope Celestine:
https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-mountains-italy-4f223159e467e671a2bee5b0c297eda5
Feature on assorted ancient scripts:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220818-how-to-write-a-message-to-the-future
Feature on the history of tombstones:
https://phys.org/news/2022-08-humans-tombstones.html
cf: https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/430591-unravelling-the-secrets-of-the-medieval-tombstones-in-the-western-balkans
Feature on the origins of the Venus of Willendorf:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-origin-of-the-30-000-year-old-venus-of-willendorf
Feature on rape as a weapon of war:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2022-08-30/ty-article/rape-as-an-ancient-weapon-of-war/00000182-ee77-dae0-a7ff-ef7f5c8f0000
Feature on deception in warfare:
https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-war-and-the-long-tradition-of-deception/a-62995243
Feature on the 'new' discipline of archaeoecology:
https://phys.org/news/2022-08-archaeology-ecology-combined-fuller-picture.html
cf: https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/S0169-5347(22)00174-4
Pondering various approaches to history:
https://aeon.co/essays/historical-data-is-not-a-kitten-its-a-sabre-toothed-tiger
On the naming of Middlesbrough's Forty Foot Road:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-62724875
Feature on Chinese involvement in the 19th century Brazilian circumnavigation of the world:
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3189355/how-19th-century-hong-kong-and-chinese-people
Feature on Juana Maria:
https://iflscience.com/juana-maria-the-mystery-woman-stranded-for-18-years-off-the-coast-of-california-65151
Gibraltar is officially a city now:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62710553
Review of the second volume of Crawford's biography of T.S. Eliot:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/02/books/review/robert-crawford-eliot-after-the-waste-land.html
Review of Martin Edwards, *The Life of Crime*:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/30/books/review/life-of-crime-martin-edwards.html
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