===============================================================
explorator 23.35 December 20, 2020
===============================================================
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, Lucas Livingston,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

... currently trying to figure out how to include youtube links here without attaching a thumbnail preview ... stay tuned

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Homo erectus was around 200 000 years earlier than previously thought, apparently:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/our-ancestor-homo-erectus-is-200-000-years-older-than-previously-thought

Suggestion that Neanderthals may have hibernated (!):

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/20/early-humans-may-have-survived-the-harsh-winters-by-hibernating
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003552120300832

More on that Neanderthal child burial from France:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-neanderthals-buried-a-toddler-41-000-years-ago-in-france-1.9380985

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Mummified baboon skulls are shedding light on trading relations of the kingdom of Punt:

https://phys.org/news/2020-12-mummified-baboons-lost-punt.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201215082048.htm https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-12/dc-mbs121420.php https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/3300-year-old-baboon-skull-may-tell-mysterious-ancient-kingdom
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/mummified-baboons-shine-new-light-on.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/12/16/mummified-baboons-shine-new-light-on-the-lost-land-of-punt/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9315-201216-egypt-imported-baboons

Very interesting study of ivory from a 16th century shipwreck located off Namibia:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-12/uoia-ste121020.php https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-12/cp-si120920.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201217135344.htm https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55340975 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/17/science/ivory-elephants-shipwreck.html https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/12/shipwrecked-ivory-a-treasure-trove-for-understanding-elephants-16th-century-trading/136499
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/12/18/study-tracks-elephant-tusks-from-16th-century-shipwreck/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/shipwreck-yields-clues-historic-ivory-trade-destruction-elephant-populations-180976589/

see also: https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(20)31663-8

Feature on the Nubian pyramids of Sudan:

https://www.dailysabah.com/gallery/in-photos-the-forgotten-nubian-pyramids-of-sudan/images

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
A study of 19th/18th century BCE mummy was found evidence of the oldest gynaecological treatment found so far:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/12/evidence-of-oldest-gynaecological-treatment-on-record-performed-in-ancient-egypt-4000-years-ago/136468
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/12/17/evidence-of-oldest-gynaecological-treatment-on-record/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/oldest-gynaecological-treatment-on.html

A roundupish thing about 2020 in the realm of Egyptian antiquities:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/95417/Video-Egypt%E2%80%99s-Min-of-Tourism-Antiquities-2020-was-full-of

Egypt continues to hype a Saqqara-related announcement that will be coming in January:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/95313/New-archaeological-discovery-in-Saqqara-to-be-announced-early-2021

Not sure where to put this ... a missing artifact from the Great Pyramid was found in a cigar box at the University of Aberdeen:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/dec/16/lost-artefact-from-great-pyramid-of-giza-found-in-cigar-box-in-aberdeen
https://www.livescience.com/missing-great-pyramid-relic-found.html https://phys.org/news/2020-12-year-old-piece-great-pyramid-puzzle.html https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-55315623 https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2020/12/16/lost-artefact-from-great-pyramid-found-in-cigar-tin/
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/dixon-relics-great-pyramid-of-giza-discovery-intl-hnk-scli-scn/index.html
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/ancient-egypt-great-pyramid-aberdeen-cigar-box-b334093.html
https://www.dw.com/en/5000-year-old-egyptian-artifact-discovered-in-cigar-box-in-scotland/a-55960418
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/12/18/missing-5000-year-old-piece-of-great-pyramid-puzzle-discovered/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lost-great-pyramid-artifact-found-misfiled-museum-cigar-box-180976564/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9317-201217-egypt-great-pyramid

Review of Wilkinson, *A World Beneath the Sands*:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/dec/14/a-world-beneath-the-sands-by-toby-wilkinson-review-the-golden-age-of-egyptology

Feature on Suez:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/32/97/397084/Folk/Street-Smart/A-tale-of-an-ancient-Red-Sea-city,-Suez.aspx

More on counterfeit silver hoards from Egypt-ruled Canaan:

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-egyptian-hoard-counterfeit-dirty-money.html https://www.cairoscene.com/Buzz/How-Ancient-Egyptians-Made-Counterfeit-Money http://www.archaeology.org/news/9311-201215-bronze-age-silver

Feature on 500 BCE Persepolis:

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/ancient-city-travel-guide-persepolis-500-bc/

Feature on the 'Dead Cities' of Northwestern Syria:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/12/the-dead-cities/136473

Feature on taking photos at various sites in Iraq:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2020/12/photographing-iraq

A 'mysterious structure' with mass graves from Istanbul:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/archeologists-find-mysterious-structure-in-istanbul-160866

Concerns for a Byzantine-era cistern in 'Constantinople' (Greek source):

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/12/16/basilica-cistern-verge-collapse/

Concerns for the 500 years bp shrine of Asude Hatun in Istanbul:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/500-year-old-shrine-lies-in-pitiful-state-160899

Some 3000 years bp 'spooning skeletons' from one of the Bethsaidas:

https://www.livescience.com/romeo-and-juliet-skeletons-israel.html

Finds from various periods during construction work in Jaffa:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-trove-spanning-millennia-emerges-from-construction-in-ancient-jaffa-1.9371748

I think we mentioned this olive press found at Yodfat a while ago:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-when-jews-used-olive-oil-as-a-weapon-against-the-romans-1.9382518

A major ceramic 3rd/4th century CE oil-lamp workshop from Beit Shemesh:

https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/one-of-largest-ever-ancient-oil-lamp-workshops-discovered-in-beit-shemesh/2020/12/14/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/ancient-oil-lamp-workshop-sheds-light-on-roman-era-jews-and-christians-652056

Just to confuse things, we also read of an Islamic-era oil lamp workshop from Tiberias:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/ancient-oil-lamp-workshop-now-at-israel-museum-shows-the-way-we-once-lit/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/islamic-era-candle-molds-found-near-tiberias-652087?vgo_ee=qdSuqWuXLMLT%2BFdhPDcGzKEQRDA3MX%2FpEanpAS%2Bpt3s%3D

... and the 2000 years bp glass candlestick from Tel Usha:

https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/12/18/hanukkah-miracle-at-archeological-dig-sparks-cries-of-joy/

... and the Hasmonean-era candle holder from the City of David:

https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/12/13/jerusalem-archeologists-reveal-2000-year-old-candle/

A 1600 years bp Roman figurine workshop was (re)discovered at Beit Shemish (connected to the oil-lamp workshop?):

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9052491/ https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/workshop-pagan-figurines-roman-palestine-rediscovered-israel-1.9370094
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/12/15/ancient-oil-lamp-workshop-from-roman-period-discovered-in-israel/

A 13th century Arabic inscription from the Tower of David site:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-tower-of-david-looks-to-future-excavations-rewrite-ancient-citadels-past/

Lawrence Schiffman on the story of Chanukah:

http://lawrenceschiffman.com/putting-together-the-story-of-chanukah/

Related feature on Rabbi's knowledge of Jewish history in the Greek Period:

https://www.thetorah.com/article/chanukah-daniel-11-and-history

The Lod Mosaic has returned to Israel:

https://worldisraelnews.com/spectacular-ancient-mosaic-floor-returns-to-israel/

More on the (re)opening of parts of the Herodium:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/israel-unveils-parts-of-herods-palace.html

More on the 'throne room' find from the fortress at Machaerus:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.HIGHLIGHT.MAGAZINE-king-herod-s-throne-room-where-salome-danced-found-in-jordan-1.9368704

General feature on archaeology in Saudi Arabia:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1779861/saudi-arabia

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
8th century BCE funeral pyres from Gela (we may have mentioned this):

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/funeral-pyres-from-eighth-century-bc.html

Roman baths (and more) revealed in downtown Amman during drainage construction:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/amman-roman-baths-crematorium-jordan-b1774179.html
https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/jordan-roman-archaeological-site-uncovered-in-amman-1.1607890699397
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/roman-baths-and-site-uncovered-in-amman/ar-BB1bWppr
http://www.ecns.cn/m/hd/2020-12-15/detail-ihaetmvy3496348.shtml http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-12/16/c_139594419.htm https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/1800-years-old-roman-baths-unearthed-in.html

Remains of a Roman villa near Wrexham:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/260359/opinion/ekathimerini/comment/thessalonikis-byzantine-identity-is-under-threat
https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/news/roman-villa-revealed-near-wrexham.htm

Roman-era finds from office construction in Hungary:

https://bbj.hu/business/real-estate/office-market/excavation-at-roseville-office-building-site-reveals-roman-era-findings

A Roman sarcophagus (date?) from a school site in Cologne:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/roman-sarcophagus-discovered-in-cologne.html

A new section of the Imperial Fora was revealed along the via Alessandrina (coverage in Italian):

https://www.vivereroma.org/2020/12/16/eccezionali-ritrovamenti-dopo-gli-scavi-archeologici-in-via-alessandrina/871666
https://www.touringclub.it/notizie-di-viaggio/a-roma-scoperta-una-nuova-porzione-dei-fori-imperiali

Work is being done to 'recover' the cliff/rock sanctuary in the Valley of the Temples (coverage in Italian):

https://www.agrigentooggi.it/si-lavora-al-recupero-del-santuario-rupestre/ https://palermo.repubblica.it/societa/2020/12/14/news/agrigento_il_recupero_del_santuario_rupestre_della_valle_dei_templi-278370247/
https://www.balarm.it/news/nella-valle-dei-templi-c-e-un-santuario-enigmatico-da-scoprire-un-progetto-per-salvarlo-121822
https://www.siciliaweekend.info/2020/12/14/santuario-rupestre-nella-valle-dei-templi/

Remains of 66 Roman military camp locations identified in Spain:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/66-roman-military-camps-identified-in.html

Interesting study under way of London's 'Spitalfields Lady':

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/archaeology-london-spitalfields-woman-mola-b1774473.html
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/archaeologists-try-to-identify-silk-and-gold-clad-woman-buried-in-londons-spitalfields-1600-years-ago/ar-BB1bY6jd
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/revealed-the-story-of-the-silk-and-gold-clad-woman-buried-in-londons-spitalfields-1600-years-ago/ar-BB1bY6jd
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9318-201217-london-roman-burial

Hyping evidence of the Romans in Scotland:

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/revived-roman-treasures-mark-soldiers-who-occupied-scotland-3072172

Concerns for Thessaloniki's Byzantine 'identity':

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/12/16/greek-archaeologists-the-icomos-resolution-cannot-be-undermined/

Plans to incorporate a Hellenistic site at Geroskipou within hotel construction:

https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/hotel-to-coexist-with-antiquities/

Restoration of Augustus' mausoleum should be complete in March, apparently:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9068855/Mausoleum-built-2-000-years-ago-Romes-emperor-reopen-public-March.html
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-arts-augustus-idUSKBN28S1PU https://gulfnews.com/photos/news/photos-mausoleum-of-romes-first-emperor-restored-and-ready-to-reopen-1.1608361931915

The annual top ten list of Greek archaeological finds:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/12/20/top-ten-most-spectacular-greek-archaeological-discoveries-of-2020/

Plans to excavate the original entrance to the Roman theatre in Cartagena:

https://murciatoday.com/agreement_to_excavate_original_entrance_portico_of_the_roman_theatre_in_cartagena_1540495-a.html

Not sure what's actually happening at the site of Sebastia:

https://iqna.ir/en/news/3473427/zionist-settlers-storm-archaeological-site-north-of-nablus

Not sure where to put this item on Classics For All getting cozy with an antiquities auction (and later leaving):

https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2020/december/the-vessel-with-the-pestle

More on the recently-found mosaic at the Chedworth Roman Villa:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/news/britains-first-5th-century-mosaic-identified.htm

Interesting feature on museum labels relating to Black Africans in Greek, Etruscan, and Roman art:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/rethinking-descriptions-of-black-africans-in-greek-etruscan-and-roman-art/

On what Athenian justice would be like in a modern context:

https://theconversation.com/ancient-greek-desire-to-resolve-civil-strife-resonates-today-but-athenian-justice-would-be-a-bitter-pill-in-modern-america-150350
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/article/Ancient-Greek-desire-to-resolve-civil-strife-15802572.php
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Ancient-Greek-desire-to-resolve-civil-strife-15802572.php

Charlotte Higgins on why she chose to study Classics:

https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/arts-and-books/charlotte-higgins-why-i-chose-to-study-classics

Review of Fox, *The Invention of Medicine*:

https://roanoke.com/entertainment/book-review-invention-of-medicine-opens-doors-to-ancient-greek-culture/article_90c793e2-3582-11eb-8ae6-e309e59ee328.html

Interesting feature on an Attic red figure psyketer depicting hoplites on dolphins:

https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/hoplites-riding-dolphins/

Feature on Thermopylae:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-epic-battle-of-thermopylae-remains-one-of-the-most-stirring-defeats-of

Feature on Antiochus Epiphanes:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/antiochus-epiphanes-the-bibles-most-notoriously-forgotten-villain/

Feature on Greece and Rome's influence on Irish politics and identity:

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/classics-and-irish-politics-greece-and-rome-in-the-roots-of-irish-identities-1.4438707

Features (different) on Saturnalia:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/the-wild-holiday-that-turned-ancient-rome-upside-down/
https://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/1/1673/merry-saturnalia-and-other-myths-about-christmas-that-don-t-seem-to-go-away

Feature on how Greeks and Romans used to celebrate:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/how-did-ancient-greeks-and-romans-celebrate-special-occasions/

Feature on the authorship of the Prometheus Bound:

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18944967.metal-detectorist-rob-jones-coedpoeth-wins-award-discovery-roman-lead-ingot/

Some Nero revisionism:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/roman-emperor-nero-reputation-bad-evil/

Feature on the trial of Socrates:

https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/trial-socrates/

Apparently metal-detectorists get awards for finding things:

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18944967.metal-detectorist-rob-jones-coedpoeth-wins-award-discovery-roman-lead-ingot/

Seems to be some new interest in the mines at Lavrio:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/260415/article/ekathimerini/life/the-ancient-ore-mines-of-lavrio-hold-fresh-promise

A 'culturally significant' sculpture of Cleopatra was saved from export from the UK:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/culturally-significant-sculpture-death-of-cleopatra-saved-from-export
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/

================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
Suggestion that there may have been ice-free portions of the Alps when Otzi was walking around:

https://www.livescience.com/otzi-iceman-lived-in-ice-free-alpine.html

A major Pictish site in Aberdeenshire:

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18944154.pictish-settlement-scotland-one-significant-historic-finds-2020/

An empty hairdresser's salon in London was revealed to date to the 14th century:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-55347261

Evidence of a hitherto unidentified medieval settlement site in northern Bulgaria:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2020/12/03/unknown-medieval-settlement-from-second-bulgarian-empire-bronze-age-settlement-discovered-near-danube-city-vidin/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9323-201218-bulgaria-medieval-settlement

I think we've mentioned this evidence of a large tower from Kost Castle (Czech Republic):

https://english.radio.cz/archaeologists-continue-rewrite-history-kost-castle-bohemian-paradise-8702895
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9312-201215-czech-castle-tower

Speculation that a metal detectorist may have found Charles I's lost 'epiphany crown':

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/has-detectorist-uncovered-part-charles-lost-epiphany-crown/

Signatures of 17th century stonemasons found during work on sea defences in Portsmouth:

https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/hampshire-news/second-historic-discovery-made-sea-4807680

Tram work in Leith has uncovered 350+ burials over the past six months:

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/more-350-bodies-dug-up-19470187

Archaeology folks at UCC have recreated a 2400 years bp logboat:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40189923.html

Searching for the funeral urn of Calderon de la Barca:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-12-17/la-enigmatica-desaparicion-de-la-urna-funeraria-de-calderon.html

Latest in the search for Red Hugh's remains:

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/12/19/excavation-for-irish-chieftain-red-hugh-hits-obstacle-in-valladolid/

Since we haven't heard about the purported Holy Grail in a while:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9070109/Is-Holy-Grail-HOUNSLOW-Amateur-archaeologist-convinced-relic-hidden-river-London.html

Scotland's best archaeological finds in 2020:

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/scotlands-best-archaeological-discoveries-2020-3069359

Arguing (sort of) over the Oriflama shipwreck cargo:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-12-14/todos-quieren-el-tesoro-del-oriflama-menos-espana.html

Latest additions to the protected list:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-55310369 https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/preston-pub-roman-stones-cumbria-19463159

More on the surge of finds in the UK during lockdown:

https://www.dw.com/en/thanks-to-lockdown-bountiful-treasure-hunts/a-55959963 https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/12/12/amateur-brit-archaeologists-found-nearly-50000-artifacts-during-lockdown/

... including the Tudor gold coin hoard:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/09/tudor-coins-dedicated-to-three-of-henry-viiis-wives-found-in-family-garden
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/tudor-gold-coin-hoard-found-by-family.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9314-201215-tudor-coin-hoard

More on the Anglo Saxon cross from the Galloway Hoard:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/13/fit-for-a-king-true-glory-of-1000-year-old-cross-buried-in-scottish-field-is-revealed-at-last
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/galloway-hoard-silver-cross-scli-gbr-intl/index.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1000-years-grime-removed-during-conservation-rare-anglo-saxon-cross-shines-180976560/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9310-201214-scotland-galloway-hoard

More on that bronze Celtic figurine with gold eyes from Slovakia:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/bronze-celtic-statue-with-golden-eyes.html
https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22554694/archaeological-research-in-a-village-in-zahorie-led-to-discovery-of-pre-historic-settlement.html

More on that 5000 years bp skull with evidence of a violent death from Cova Foradada:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/12/18/a-violent-death-in-the-cova-foradada-about-5000-years-ago/

More on the thousands of burials in that Islamic necropolis in Tauste:

https://www.livescience.com/spain-graveyard-reveals-secret-muslim-history.html https://www.sciencealert.com/hundreds-of-graves-reveal-spanish-town-s-secret-muslim-history

More on the updates to the definition of treasure in the UK:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/news/updates-to-the-definition-of-treasure.htm

Feature on some medieval recipes:

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/how-to-cook-a-medieval-feast/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-cook-a-medieval-feast

Feature on efforts to limit Christmas celebrations during the English Civil War era:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p091np52/how-cancelling-christmas-reignited-a-civil-war

----------
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 ================================================================
Remains of a 6000 years bp paddy field from Zhejiang:

https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/chinese-archaeologists-discover-paddy-field-dating-over-6000-years-old-3189866.html

100+ burials dating to the Han Dynasty from Henan:

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2020-12/20/content_77032193.htm

The remains of the Old Summer Palace are being excavated in Beijing:

http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202012/16/WS5fd95ea5a31024ad0ba9c0ea.html http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2020-12/16/content_77018305.htm

A rediscovered (!) giant religious sculpture in a rock face in Chongqing:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/china-chongqing-religious-statue-intl-hnk/index.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/huge-headless-buddha-statue-found.html

A 1400 years bp brick-lined tomb from Viet Nam:

https://vietnamnet.vn/en/entertainment-sports/ancient-tomb-excavated-in-ha-tinh-696081.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9320-201218-vietnam-arched-tomb

5500 years bp stone tools from Tirupattur district:

http://www.archaeology.org/news/9320-201218-vietnam-arched-tomb

The ASI is planning a dig in the bazaar in Hampi:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/asi-planning-to-excavate-in-hampi/articleshow/79746507.cms

Buddhist-related finds (300/400 years bp?) from a Uttarkashi village:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/ancient-buddhist-statues-artworks-unearthed-at-uttarkashi-village-asi-deploys-officials-for-field-survey/articleshow/79784233.cms

Also Buddhist-related finds (3rd century BCE- 12th century CE) from a known mound site near Lucknow:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/buddha-head-copper-coins-found-in-ancient-mound/articleshow/79787293.cms
https://newsd.in/ancient-buddha-coins-found-in-expressway-digging-in-up/

On preserving colonial 'memories' in Mumbai:

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/dec/18/going-the-extra-milestone-mumbai-preserves-remnants-of-colonial-past

More on evidence of the Indus Civilization having a high-meat diet:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/12/14/fatty-residues-on-pottery-reveal-meat-heavy-diets-of-indus-civilization/

Feature on a Jewish community in India's 'Jew town':

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/few-people-remain-in-indias-jew-town-but-traditions-landmarks-remain-652264

Feature on the Indonesian 'rice table' and its colonial connections:

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3113988/indonesian-food-colonial-twist-how-feast-rijsttafel-or-rice

================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Archaeologists are looking for evidence of the Three Blaze Trail in Idaho:

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/dec/14/idahoans-are-slowly-uncovering-a-120-year-old-mini/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9313-201215-idaho-mining-trail

A 19th century 'message in a bottle' from a Boston home:

https://whdh.com/news/bottle-containing-126-year-old-note-found-hidden-inside-wall-of-boston-building/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9322-201218-boston-hidden-bottle

Feature on some human remains from the French and Indian War awaiting reburial:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/18/arts/design/Fort-William-Henry-soldiers-remains.html

Feature on New York history:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/20/insider/new-york-walks-history.html

More on evidence of Native American psychedelic use from California's Pinwheel Cave:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2020/12/14/mind-altering-psychedelics-discovered-in-native-american-cave/

In case you missed the study of the GI tracts of some natural mummies from Arizona:

https://www.livescience.com/mummy-constipated-man-ate-grasshoppers.html

Review of Lynne Cheney, *Virginia Dynasty*:

https://www.dailypress.com/virginiagazette/opinion/va-vg-ed-books-presidents-1216-20201215-sfwoxei3dza75dhn4ly4x3w4bm-story.html

More on the ongoing discussion of the Cerutti mastodon site:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/stones-mastodon-bones-debate-america-first-settlers

More on those 100 years bp whiskey bottles hidden in the walls of a home in upstate New York:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-55323840

San Francisco's 19th century Cliff House restaurant is closing:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/dec/19/closure-of-iconic-cliff-house-ends-a-remarkable-era-of-san-franciscos-history

================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
Evidence of 10 800 years bp crop cultivation in Amazonia (we may have had this a while ago):

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/10-800-years-ago-early-humans-planted-forest-islands-in-amazonias-grasslands

Drawing sociopolitical conclusions from 6000 years bp teeth from northern Peru:

https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2020/12/15/analysis-of-ancient-teeth-reveal-clues-about-how-sociopolitical-systems-grow/
https://phys.org/news/2020-12-analysis-ancient-teeth-reveal-clues.html http://www.archaeology.org/news/9319-201217-peru-teeth-diet

Names of warriors from the Temple of the Jaguars in Chichen Itza have been 'deciphered':

https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2020/12/names-of-warriors-from-the-temple-of-jaguars-in-chichen-itza-deciphered/

Evidence a a major structure in the main plaza at Monte Alban (Oaxaca):

https://samnoblemuseum.ou.edu/buried-building-discovered-in-oaxaca-mexico/

More on the newly-found section of that Aztec skull tower in Mexico City:

https://www.livescience.com/aztec-trophy-skulls-mexico.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/aztec-skull-tower-mexico-archaeology-b1774218.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/11/mexico-templo-tower-of-skulls-archaeologists-aztec
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/mexico-city-tower-of-skulls-trnd/index.html https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/639001/aztec-wall-human-skulls-discovered-mexico-city
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/shrine-decapitated-heads-suggests-violence-against-foreigners-ancient-mexico
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/aztec-skull-tower-archaeological-discovery-1931944
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/12/mexicos-tower-of-skulls-yields-more.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-find-brings-skulls-discovered-aztec-tower-over-600-180976543/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9309-201214-aztec-skull-tower

More on the 'clockface' layout of villages in the Brazilian rainforest:

https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/scanning-tech-helps-archaeologists-find-amazonian-mound-villages/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-find-clock-face-layout-amazon-villages-180976553/

More on the 'Sistine Chapel of the Amazon':

https://www.latercera.com/tendencias/noticia/la-capilla-sixtina-del-amazonas/UBOQQPS2IFBDNGUPQ6IHP3ZY3A/

Feature on the Inca road system:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/how-the-inca-road-system-tied-together-an-empire-and-facilitated-its-fall
-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:

http://goo.gl/1VdeA

Ancient MesoAmerica News:

http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/

================================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST ================================================================
A non-geography-specific top ten finds list:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/12/top-10-archaeological-discoveries-of-2020/136483

A top ten finds of the decade list:

http://www.archaeology.org/issues/406-2101/features/9262-top-10-discoveries-of-the-decade

Paper on alcohol use in antiquity:

https://dlib.nyu.edu/awdl/isaw/isaw-papers/18-10/

Feature on the last speakers of Tsakonika:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20201215-the-last-speakers-of-ancient-sparta

Feature on Defoe's plague journal:

https://www.theguardian.com/global/commentisfree/2020/dec/20/pandemic-behavior-coronavirus-plague-defoe
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ecin.12961

Feature on dreidels:

https://thejewishvoice.com/2020/12/history-and-meaning-of-dreidels-8-interesting-facts/

Feature on the Magi:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/we-three-kings-of-orient-are/

... and of course there's one on the Star of Bethlehem:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-star-of-bethlehem-can-science-explain-what-it-really-was

Feature on the origins of Christmas:

https://www.portugalresident.com/the-origin-of-christmas-ancient-festivities-and-the-winter-solstice/

Feature on assorted plants associated with Christmas:

https://www.dw.com/en/christmas-festive-plants-from-around-the-world/a-55892197

Feature on Mertxe Urteaga's work in Spain's Basque Country:


[continued in next message]

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