===========================================================
explorator 26.05 May 21, 2023
===========================================================
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
============================================================
Suggestion that 200 000 years bp South Africa was 'inviting' to human ancestors:

https://news.umich.edu/south-africas-desert-like-interior-may-have-been-more-inviting-to-our-human-ancestors/
https://phys.org/news/2023-05-south-africa-desert-like-interior-human.html https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/18/south-africas-desert-like-interior-more-inviting-to-our-human-ancestors/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11447-230517-africa-glacial-landscapes

Prehistoric hearths near Madrid suggest humans were making fires in Europe at least 250 000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-humans-years-europe.html https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/may/18/scientists-find-oldest-known-evidence-of-humans-in-europe-using-fires-to-cook
https://www.sciencealert.com/ancient-humans-in-europe-started-controlling-fire-far-far-earlier-than-we-thought

A number of bone tools in a Neanderthal-associated cave in Siberia is causing a rethink:

https://www.iflscience.com/bone-tools-in-neanderthal-cave-hint-at-prehistoric-osseous-industry-68967

Latest application of genomcs to human evolution has 'multiple origins' for homo sapiens:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-human-africa.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230517121424.htm https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/science/human-origins-africa.html https://www.sciencealert.com/the-first-humans-out-of-africa-werent-quite-who-we-thought

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01664-z https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06055-y

More on the 300 000 years bp footprints from Germany being connected with homo heidelbergensis:

https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/university/news-and-publications/press-releases/press-releases/article/300000-year-old-snapshot-oldest-human-footprints-from-germany-found/
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/300000-year-old-footprints-reveal-extinct-humans-went-on-a-lakeside-family-outing-among-giant-elephants-and-rhinos
https://www.sciencealert.com/oldest-examples-of-human-footprints-hint-at-our-ancestors-lives-300000-years-ago
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743041 https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/16/300000-year-old-snapshot-oldest-human-footprints-from-germany-found/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11437-230515-germany-hominin-footprints

More on the legacy of Neanderthal noses:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/neanderthals-passed-down-their-tall-noses-to-modern-humans-genetic-analysis-finds

More on early humans' preference for 'mosaic landscapes':

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230511164457.htm ============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
Vague item on a possible Roman-era site find in Sabratha:

https://lana.gov.ly/post.php?id=278607&lang=en

Feature on the Queen of Sheba:

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/legacy-of-queen-of-sheba-1.6836452 ============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ============================================================
More on the Byzantine and Late Period finds from the Meir Necropolis in Assiut:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/egypt-meir-necropolis-christian-finds-2300446 https://arkeonews.net/excavations-at-meir-necropolis-have-turned-up-funerary-artifacts-from-two-distinct-eras-of-ancient-history/

More on evidence of anemia in the mummified remains of many Egyptian children:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/ancient-egyptians/ancient-egyptian-children-were-plagued-with-blood-disorders-mummies-reveal
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11450-230518-egypt-children-anemia

More on that cache of 3500 years bp severed hands:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/science/archaeology-ancient-egypt-hands.html

Feature on what mummified remains can tell us about ancient Egyptian climate:

https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2023-05-20/how-mummies-help-us-understand-the-climate-in-ancient-egypt.html

Feature on Lord Carnarvon's will:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lord-carnarvons-will-0m3c2w7t6

Feature on daily life in ancient Egypt:

https://egyptianstreets.com/2023/05/18/from-love-to-work-and-play-daily-life-in-ancient-egypt/

Review of John Romer's latest volume on ancient Egypt:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/weekend/2023/05/19/everything-we-know-is-wrong-the-archaeologist-whos-rewriting-ancient-egyptian-history/

Study suggests the earliest evidence of 'romantic kissing' comes from 4500 years bp Mesopotamia:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-humanity-earliest-mesopotamia-years.html https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/may/18/first-records-of-human-kissing-may-date-back-1000-years-earlier-than-estimated
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/middle-east-studies-university-of-copenhagen-syria-asia-b2341664.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2023/05/18/kissing-history-mesopotamia/ https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/19/first-kiss-history/ https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2023-05-19/the-first-kisses-were-recorded-in-mesopotamia-4500-years-ago.html
https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/mesopotamians-wrote-about-kissing-4-500-years-ago
https://scitechdaily.com/humanitys-first-recorded-kiss-occurred-in-mesopotamia-4500-years-ago/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374337-humans-were-kissing-at-least-4500-years-ago-reveal-ancient-texts/
https://www.sciencealert.com/romantically-kissing-our-lovers-might-not-be-the-fashion-we-thought-it-was
https://arkeonews.net/new-study-says-earliest-recorded-kiss-occurred-4500-years-ago-in-mesopotamia/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/19/the-earliest-recorded-kiss-occurred-in-mesopotamia-4500-years-ago/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/humanitys-first-kiss-was-earlier-than-we-thought-180982206/

More on the use of AI to translate cuneiform texts:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/a-i-translates-ancient-cuneiform-2299128 http://www.archaeology.org/news/11449-230518-artificial-intelligence-cuneiform

More on evidence of rice growing in Iran 3000 years bp from Qale-Kesh:

https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-discover-that-iranian-farmers-grew-rice-about-3000-years-ago/

Amber beads found back in 1914 at the great ziggurat of Assur have been determined to come originally from the Baltic region:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-bronze-age-long-distance-baltic-amber.html https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/amber-beads-suggest-long-distance-connections-in-the-early-bronze-age/147319
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/17/bronze-age-long-distance-connections-baltic-amber-in-assur/

Feature on the Code of Hammurabi:

https://www.thecollector.com/code-of-hammurabi/

An 1800 years bp bronze stylus from Assos:

https://www.trtworld.com/perspectives/archaeologists-discover-1800-year-old-writing-tool-in-turkey-13093922

More on the 1500 years bp underground passage found beneath Istanbul's Saint Polyeuktos Church:

https://arkeonews.net/1500-year-old-secret-underground-passage-uncovered-in-istanbul/

Feature on an NEH grant to study Petra:

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/989943

A 2000 years bp 'receipt'/ledger/financial record inscription from the City of David:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/2000-year-old-ledger-found-in-city-of-david-points-to-widespread-2nd-temple-literacy/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-05-17/ty-article/israeli-archaeologists-find-2-000-year-old-financial-record-in-jerusalem/00000188-28eb-df77-afe9-69ef95060000
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/371555 https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743349 https://www.jns.org/2000-year-old-receipt-uncovered-on-pilgrimage-road-in-jerusalem/
https://arkeonews.net/2000-year-old-financial-record-uncovered-on-pilgrimage-road-in-the-city-of-david-jerusalem/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/2000-year-old-receipt-uncovered-in-jerusalem/147330

A swimmer came across a Roman-era marble cargo shipwreck off the coast of Israel:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/diver-unexpectedly-discovers-roman-era-shipwreck-carrying-beautiful-marble-columns-off-israels-coast
https://www.timesofisrael.com/swimmer-discovers-precious-marble-cargo-from-1800-year-old-mediterranean-shipwreck/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-05-15/ty-article/swimmer-finds-huge-roman-shipwreck-loaded-with-marble-off-israels-coast-again/00000188-1eef-d18b-a79d-1eff8c740000
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743080 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/371444 https://www.dw.com/en/archaeologists-thrilled-swimmer-uncovers-shipwreck-with-marble-columns/a-65646449
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/shipwreck-discovery-israel-1800-year-old-rare-marble-artifacts/
https://www.newsweek.com/enormous-precious-cargo-1800-year-old-shipwreck-discovered-1800341
https://www.iflscience.com/storms-reveal-1800-year-old-marble-columns-at-shipwreck-in-israel-68927
https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/16/ancient-shipwreck-israel/ https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/05/16/rare-1800-year-old-greco-roman-shipwreck-unveils-treasure-trove-of-marble-artifacts-off-israeli-coast/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/shipwreck-israeli-coast-2303579 https://arkeonews.net/storms-uncover-precious-marble-cargo-from-a-1800-year-old-mediterranean-shipwreck-in-israel/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/roman-shipwreck-carrying-architectural-marble-found-off-israeli-coast/147298
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/17/cargo-of-marble-artifacts-uncovered-in-coastal-waters-north-of-netanya/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11441-230516-roman-marble-shipwreck

The peer-reviewed article of the Mount Ebal 'curse inscription' is out:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743039 https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/inscriptions/mt_ebal_inscription/

... and seems not to have convinced the scholarly community:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/academic-article-on-controversial-3200-year-old-curse-tablet-fails-to-sway-experts/

Feature on marriage in ancient Israel:

https://www.thetorah.com/article/celebrating-marriage-in-ancient-israel-and-the-origins-of-sheva-berakhot

Review of Yonatan Adler, *The Origins of Judaism*:

https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-743505

7000-8000 years bp petroglyphs associated with desert kites in Jordan and Saudi Arabia may be the earliest scale 'architectural plans':

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-oldest-architectural-mysterious-megastructures.html
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/8000-year-old-rock-carvings-in-arabia-may-be-worlds-oldest-megastructure-blueprints
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/science/ancient-architecture-desert-kites.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743074 https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/17/world/oldest-architectural-plans-stone-age-megastructures-scn/index.html
https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkagbb/the-oldest-known-blueprints-depict-stone-age-megastructures
https://www.sciencealert.com/8000-year-old-engravings-could-be-the-oldest-examples-of-construction-plans
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/oldest-scaled-drawing-desert-kite https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/worlds-oldest-architectural-plans-of-hunting-traps-in-saudi-arabia-and-jordan-1234668864/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-oldest-plans-to-scale-of-humanmade-mega-structures/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/archaeologists-discover-oldest-scale-plans-for-humanmade-mega-structures/147341
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11452-230519-desert-kite-drawings

cf: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0277927 -----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ============================================================
Plenty of Roman pottery has been found at a dig in Alderney:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-guernsey-65620681

A pair of skeletons from Pompeii suggest they were killed because of the earthquake which preceded/accompanied the eruption of Vesuvius:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-skeletons-pompeii-excavations.html https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/2-hidden-male-skeletons-discovered-under-pile-of-rubble-in-pompeiis-house-of-the-chaste-lovers
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2023/may/16/archaeologists-uncover-possible-evidence-of-earthquake-during-pompeii-volcano-eruption-video
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pompeii-eruption-mount-vesuvius-earthquake-b2339960.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/pompeii-volcano-eruption-skeleton-vesuvius-b2340377.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12089445/Skeletons-Pompeii-reveal-deaths-earthquakes-not-just-volcanic-eruption.html
https://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2023/05/16/victims-of-quake-that-accompanied-pompeii-eruption-found_1074c66f-441e-46d8-ac44-889444068713.html
https://apnews.com/article/pompeii-archaeology-skeletons-eruption-earthquake-ancient-2e64ff244623ec088ac1e858fecfbc8e
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/two-more-victims-volcano-eruption-found-roman-ruins-pompeii-2023-05-16/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/16/pompeii-archaeology-skeletons-eruption-earthquake-ancient/432d2208-f3dc-11ed-918d-012572d64930_story.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/skeletons-pompeii-ruins-eathquake-victims-vesuvius-eruption-ancient-volcano/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pompeii-skeletons-discovered-show-vesuvius-eruption-earthquakes-rcna84806
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-17/two-more-victims-of-volcano-eruption-found-in-pompeii-ruins/102354940
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/pompeii-new-victims-scli-intl-scn/index.html https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-05-16/pompeii-skeletons-death-by-earthquake-vesuvius-eruption
https://www.newsweek.com/newly-discovered-pompeii-victims-crushed-death-utility-room-1800659
https://www.wral.com/story/skeletons-found-in-pompeii-ruins-reveal-deaths-by-eathquake-not-just-vesuvius-ancient-eruption/20862827/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743205 https://www.thelocal.it/20230516/two-more-victims-of-volcanic-eruption-found-in-italys-pompeii-ruins
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230516-two-new-skeletons-found-at-pompeii-excavations
https://www.dw.com/en/archaeologists-discover-2-new-skeletons-at-pompeii/a-65648443
https://www.digitaljournal.com/world/two-new-skeletons-found-at-pompeii-excavations/article
https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/05/16/extraordinary-pompeii-discovery-reveals-victims-tragically-crushed-by-earthquake-destructi
https://www.iflscience.com/two-new-victims-of-vesuvius-crushed-by-falling-wall-discovered-at-pompeii-68947
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/two-skeletons-found-in-pompeii-died-by-earthquake-1234668410/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/pompeii-two-new-skeletons-earthquake-victims-2303773
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67292 https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/17/house-of-the-chaste-lovers-new-victims-from-pompeii-emerge/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pompeii-victims-earthquake-volcano-vesuvius-180982205/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11448-230518-pompeii-skeletal-remains

Evidence of a 'ritual meal' and/or bird sacrifices found at Pompeii's Temple of Isis:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-evidence-bird-sacrifices-goddess-isis.html https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/ancient-romans-sacrificed-birds-to-the-goddess-isis-burnt-bones-in-pompeii-reveal
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11453-230519-pompeii-isis-temple

Excavations at the Roman shore fort in Haltern Am See (Germany) suggest it was rebuilt several times:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/new-discoveries-at-roman-shore-fort-in-haltern-am-see/147291

Overview of new digs going on at Pompeii:

https://the-past.com/news/new-archaeological-work-begins-at-pompeii/

I think we mentioned these coin hoards found at Caerwent a while ago:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/a-metal-detectorist-in-wales-discovered-an-adorable-ox-headed-bowl-it-could-reveal-a-lost-roman-settlement
https://www.kansas.com/news/nation-world/world/article275456761.html https://www.macon.com/news/nation-world/world/article275456761.html

Postulating links between an Iron Age site at Sewerby and the Roman slave trade:

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23531259.iron-age-site-sewerby-links-roman-slave-trade/

A 2000 years bp rock cut face, cornucopia, and phallus from the Roman fort in Benidorm:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67316 https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-discovered-a-2000-year-old-rock-carved-face-at-spains-tossal-de-la-cala-castle/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/archaeologists-find-rock-carved-face-at-benidorms-roman-fort/147365

A study of a 3rd century CE purse found at the Casa del Mitreo site in Merida:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article275499751.html https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/archaeologists-analyse-remains-of-roman-purse-found-in-merida/147279

Report on the latest restoration efforts at the Villa Romana site in Positano (Italian):

https://quotidianocostiera.it/positano-nuovi-interventi-agli-affreschi-della-villa-romana/

More on the interpretation of the find of a Roman temple at La Chapelle-des-Fougeretz:

https://www.winchester.ac.uk/news-and-events/press-centre/media-articles/roman-temple-thought-to-be-dedicated-to-mars-could-actually-have-been-used-to-worship-many-gods.php

More on the remains of a 1700 years bp Roman watchtower in Switzerland:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/1700-year-old-roman-watchtower-ruins-discovered-in-switzerland

More on the 2000 years bp burial of a doctor in Hungary:

https://hyperallergic.com/822597/2000-year-old-grave-of-roman-doctor-unearthed-in-hungary/

More on the remains of a Roman villa found in a cemetery in France:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article275509676.html https://www.macon.com/news/nation-world/world/article275509676.html

More on the find of three Roman military camps in the Jordanian desert:

https://en.ammonnews.net/article/65925 https://the-past.com/news/roman-military-camps-identified-in-the-arabian-desert/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-roman-army-camps-in-jordan-that-may-indicate-a-secret-military-mission-180982165/

More on the Vatican's restoration of a gilded statue of Hercules:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/restoration-of-gilded-hercules-statue-in-vatican-unveils-true-splendor/news
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/05/14/restoring-the-majesty-of-the-hercules-mastai-righetti-uncovering-the-largest-known-bronze-statue-of-the-ancient-world/
https://greekherald.com.au/news/ancient-statute-of-hercules-neglected-in-the-vatican-to-be-restored/

More on cosmic rays revealing a Greek burial chamber beneath Naples:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/05/cosmic-rays-reveal-hidden-ancient-burial-chamber-underneath-naples/

More on Romans breeding small snub-nosed dogs:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/18/scientists-prove-that-romans-were-breeding-small-bulldogs/

A Roman oven/kiln found back in 1982 is now on display in Romania:

https://universul.net/1700-year-old-roman-oven-goes-on-show-in-romania/

Review of Jennifer Saint, *Atalanta*:

https://booktrib.com/2023/05/18/atalanta-jennifer-saint/

Feature on the myth of the Dark Ages:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-myth-of-the-dark-ages-ignores-how-classical-traditions-flourished-around-the-world-180982190/

Feature on ancient rhetoric:

https://theconversation.com/rhetoric-doesnt-need-to-be-such-an-ugly-word-it-has-a-lot-to-teach-echo-chambered-america-200068

Feature on Oedipus Rex and the pandemic:

https://theconversation.com/why-well-keep-finding-meaning-in-the-oedipus-rex-plague-drama-far-beyond-covid-19-204733

Feature on Demetrios Pandermalis' work in Dion:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/15/in-memory-of-demetrios-pandermalis-and-his-work-in-dion/

Feature on the development of the naval ram in Mediterranean warfare:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2023/05/naval-ram-development

Feature on the Lion of Kythera:

https://greekherald.com.au/culture/history/the-lion-of-kythera-a-tale-of-discovery-loss-and-repatriation/

Feature on bones of infants found in Ashkelon's Roman sewer years ago:

https://www.iflscience.com/bones-of-around-100-male-infants-found-in-roman-era-sewer-have-a-grim-explanation-68933

Features on Scotland under Roman rule:

https://news.yahoo.com/tracing-scotlands-unique-place-roman-082431846.html https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-65573701

Feature on Calgacus:

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23521392.calgacus-caledonian-leader-beaten-romans-aye-dreams/

Feature on the structural monitoring system in the Roman Forum:

https://leica-geosystems.com/industries/monitoring-solutions/buildings-and-structures/monitoring-for-preservation-of-heritage-structures

Feature on Paul and Sacred Prostitution in Corinth:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-interpretation/paul-and-sacred-prostitution-in-corinth/

Feature on a gold bust of Marcus Aurelius at the Getty:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67274

Feature on Alexander's tomb:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/17/alexander-the-great-tomb-claims/

Another feature on Roman dodecahedra:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/dodecahedrons-roman-empire

Marking the anniversary of the find of the Antikythera Mechanism:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/05/17/1902-antikythera-mechanism-2-2/ https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/17/antikythera-mechanism-legacy/

Feature on Greek shields:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/16/ancient-greek-shields/

Again we read of 'win-win' situations regarding Parthenon sculpture negotiations:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/greece-solution-parthenon-marbles-british-museum-2303638

... and there was a 'moot court' debate this week:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1211276/moot-court-debates-bms-right-to-parthenon-sculptures/

... and speculation how the Greek election might affect the situation:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/19/arts/design/greece-election-parthenon-marbles.html

India is willing to help Greece regarding Parthenon sculpture repatriation:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/16/india-greece-parthenon-sculptures/

A rethink of Julius Caesar's epilepsy:

https://www.tunisiesoir.com/health/study-julius-caesar-may-have-suffered-from-mini-stokes-and-not-epilepsy-30951-2023/

Applying the lessons of the Punic Wars to US-China relations:

https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3220999/us-china-tensions-rise-punic-wars-offer-cautionary-tale

Latest Pasts Imperfect newsletter:

https://pastsimperfect.substack.com/p/pasts-imperfect-51823
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ============================================================
A 7000 years bp burial with pottery from a Poland site:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/perfectly-preserved-7000-year-old-skeleton-unearthed-during-renovation-in-poland

A 5400 years bp tomb in Spain was aligned to the summer solstice:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/5400-year-old-tomb-discovered-in-spain-perfectly-captures-the-summer-solstice
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11445-230517-spain-megalithic-tomb

A Bronze Age burnt mound site from Sussex:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/bronze-age-burnt-mound-complex-uncovered-at-suffolk-site/147325

Neolithic pottery from a Cambridgeshire quarry site:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/neolithic-finds-at-cambridgeshire-quarry/147307

A 7th/8th century petroglyph found under moss in Sweden:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/giant-petroglyph-carving-found-hidden-under-moss-in-sweden/147335

2300 years bp scissors and a bent sword from a Celtic tomb in Germany:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/2300-year-old-scissors-and-folded-sword-discovered-in-a-celtic-cremation-tomb-in-germany
https://the-past.com/news/stunningly-well-preserved-scissors-among-artefacts-recovered-from-a-celtic-grave-in-germany/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11442-230516-germany-celtic-tomb

I think we mentioned this 1700 years bp 'Roman' sandal from a Norway glacier a while ago:

https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/archaeologists-find-1700-year-old-roman-sandal-in-melting-ice-in-norway/

A late medieval shipwreck being excavated at Tallinn is apparently larger than previously thought:

https://news.err.ee/1608982829/medieval-shipwreck-discovered-in-tallinn-continues-to-confound-the-experts

A 'mysterious' Ottonian wall from Germany:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article275593236.html

An 1100 years bp inscribed breastplate might be the oldest example of Cyrillic writing found:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/1100-year-old-breastplate-to-ward-off-evil-may-contain-the-oldest-cyrillic-writing-ever-found

A complete suit of 16th century armour from the Castillo de Matilla near Salamanca:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/complete-suit-of-armour-found-in-excavations-at-spanish-castle/147375

A 'unique' 300 years bp mass burial from Narva:

https://news.err.ee/1608978722/unique-almost-300-year-old-mass-grave-found-in-narva

Interesting study of burials associated with child labour in North Yorkshire:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-expendables-health-consequences-child-labor.html https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2023-05-18/scientists-uncover-harrowing-lives-of-pauper-apprentices-buried-in-church-yard
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23526598.york-university-scientists-fewston-graveyard-discovery/

Remains of a 19th century mill excavated at Tamworth Castle:

https://the-past.com/news/historic-mill-remains-revealed-at-tamworth-castle/

More on Neolithic female figurines found in a Ukrainian cave:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ancient-female-figurines-boar-tusks-ukraine-cave-2302304
https://arkeonews.net/5000-year-old-female-figurines-found-in-a-ukrainian-cave/

More on Neolithic copper trading networks in Europe:

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/988104 https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/copper-artefacts-reveal-changing-connections-in-prehistoric-europe/147313
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11439-230515-germany-neolithic-copper-networks

More on the 3500 years bp dagger find from Poland:

https://scienceinpoland.pl/en/news/news%2C96421%2Clublin-province-detectorists-find-35-thousand-years-old-dagger-forest.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/16/detectorists-find-3-5-thousand-years-old-dagger-in-forest/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11444-230517-poland-bronze-dagger

... and the 3700 years bp flint dagger found by an 8-year-old in Norway:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/an-8-year-old-schoolgirl-found-a-rare-stone-age-dagger-on-a-playground-in-norway-2302958
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67300

More on the 7000 years bp road found off the coast of Croatia:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/remains-of-7000-year-old-sunken-stone-road-discovered-off-croatias-coast

More on 16th century medical waste found in Caesar's Forum:

https://www.sciencealert.com/you-wont-believe-what-scientists-found-in-an-ancient-roman-ruin

Funding to restore the palace at Caserta:

https://www.sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2023/05/16/Italian-Royal-Palace-of-Casertas-restoration-with-EU-assistance
https://arkeonews.net/italian-versailles-being-returned-to-its-former-glory-through/

Hyping possible Roman or later remains at a Brentwood development site:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1kv3qj7gvo https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/early-roman-remains-could-discovered-8446475

Hyping an upcoming dig at Chichester's Priory Park:

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/archaeologists-hope-to-unearth-more-secrets-under-chichesters-priory-park-4150471

Feature on the existence/search for Jomsborg:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/18/world/europe/poland-vikings-wolin-jomsborg.html

Feature on the excavations at the King's Wharf site in Oslo:

https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology-history-medieval-history/archaeologists-had-to-destroy-nearly-all-of-the-medieval-kings-wharf-soon-after-they-excavated-it/2197805

Searching for 'the original' Cheltenham racecourse:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-65603779

A project to rebuild a replica crannog on Lock Tay:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/18/iron-age-roundhouse-rises-from-the-ashes-on-shores-of-scottish-lake

An increase in detectorist 'treasure' finds in Sussex last year:

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/your-sussex/west-sussex/chichester/more-treasure-discoveries-in-west-sussex-last-year-4144988
----------
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 Han Dynasty cliff tomb from Chongqing:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1290841.shtml

Feature on the Sanxingdui finds:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-05-16/Sanxingdui-Ruins-a-treasure-trove-of-Bronze-Age-relics-1jQXmblSpKU/index.html

Feature on the Terracotta Army:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-05-17/Terracotta-Army-Silent-soldiers-unveil-the-legacy-of-Qing-Empire-1jSAAVYrWX6/index.html

Review of Vaudine England, *Fortune's Bazaar*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/books/review/vaudine-england-fortunes-bazaar.html

Neolithic axes from a rock formation in Hyderabad:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/neolithic-tool-find-pushes-back-hyderabads-history/article66874107.ece
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/hyderabad/in-a-first-for-hyd-6000-yr-old-neolithic-tools-found-in-raidurg/articleshow/100388636.cms

A 3rd century BCE sculpture of an elephant from Dhaulagiri:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/elephant-sculpture-likely-from-3-bc-found-in-odisha/article66857785.ece
https://orissadiary.com/odisha-discovery-of-rock-cut-elephant-by-intach-team/ https://odishabytes.com/rock-elephant-found-in-puris-kanas-block-intach-odisha-team-seeks-proper-study-of-artefacts/
http://www.uniindia.com/ancient-rock-cut-elephant-similar-to-dhauli-found-in-puri/east/news/2973079.html

11th century Tamil tax and land record inscriptions from Tirupati:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/tamil-inscriptions-found-in-tirupati-reveal-tax-and-land-records-from-11th-century/article66850476.ece

A Chola-era military temple for Siva at Perungarunai:

https://www.dtnext.in/tamilnadu/2023/05/16/student-researcher-discovers-siva-temple-built-by-chola-era-military

Excavations are underway at Porpanaikottai:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/archaeology-department-begins-excavation-at-porpanaikottai/article66874269.ece

[continued in next message]

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)