===============================================================
explorator 18.40 January 31, 2016 ===============================================================
If you're having problems getting 'the whole issue', read Explorator
online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/


Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,
John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri,
Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Frank MacKay, Hernan Astudillo, Bob Heuman,
Richard Campbell, Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses
upses this week (as always hoping I have
left no one out). ================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Feature on the implications of finds in Blombos Cave (mostly):

http://allafrica.com/stories/201601281630.html

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Hype for an impending Purdue dig in the Sudan:

http://www.wbiw.com/state/archive/2016/01/purdue-archaeologist-returning-to-africa-to-resume-excavating-ancient-tombs.php

http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/3deb9d5d742f4a8abe829e6eb6a4576d/IN--Purdue-Tomb-Excavations


More on that site in Kenya which might suggest the earliest example of
human warfare:

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0125/Is-this-the-earliest-evidence-of-human-warfare


… and a related oped:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/24/opinion/sunday/is-warfare-in-our-bones.html



================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
Plenty more coverage of the eight folks being sent to ‘trial’ for the
botched Tutanhamen mask thing:

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-egypt-king-tut-mask-trial.html http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/25/world/middleeast/egypt-museum-king-tutankhamen-mask.html?_r=0

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2016/0124/Eight-Egyptian-museum-officials-face-trial-over-King-Tut-s-broken-beard
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/01/24/egypt-charges-8-over-botched-king-tut-mask-repair.html

http://artdaily.com/news/84597/Egypt-museum-staff-to-face-disciplinary-hearing-over-botched-repair-of-Tutankhamun-mask

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/160125-tut-mask-repair-egypt-trial/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3414350/Museum-staff-charged-negligence-trying-reattach-King-Tutankhamun-s-beard-GLUE.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

A Chinese team will be digging in Egypt for the first time:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-01/25/c_135044027.htm http://www.ecns.cn/2016/01-26/197077.shtml

They’re not going to restore the Baron Empain Palace, apparently:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/43/185983/Heritage/Islamic/Egypts-ministry-of-Antiquities-denies-investigatio.aspx


More hype for a proposed undersea museum in Alexandria:

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/french-architect-designs-undersea-museum-for-ruins-of-alexandria-1.2749931

More on particles and the Bent Pyramid:

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8161487dca054db79b63b4be01a7d049/

The big news this week is that the Babylonians apparently used some sort
of
calculation to track Jupiter, although the headline writers aren’t sure
which branch of mathematics is involved:

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-babylonian-astronomers-position-jupiter-geometric.html

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-01/aaft-abu012616.php http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/29/science/babylonians-clay-tablets-geometry-astronomy-jupiter.html
http://www.livescience.com/53518-babylonians-tracked-jupiter-with-fancy-math.html

http://news.discovery.com/history/ancient-babylonian-used-calculus-to-find-jupiter-16012.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35431974 http://science.sciencemag.org/content/351/6272/482 http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0128/Were-ancient-Babylonian-astronomers-math-whizzes

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/ancient-babylonians-used-early-calculus-to-track-path-of-jupiter-study-finds-a6840146.html
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ancient-babylonians-were-using-geometry-centuries-earlier-thought-180957965/
http://news.yahoo.com/knowing-angles-ancient-babylonians-used-tricky-geometry-225029191.html
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/28/464447490/track-jupiters-path-like-an-ancient-babylonian?sc=17&f=1001

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3421844/Knowing-angles-Ancient-Babylonians-used-tricky-geometry.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3421190/Babylonians-used-geometry-track-Jupiter-long-Europeans-Stone-tablets-reveal-ancient-astronomers-used-calculations-1-700-years-earlier.html

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2016/01/28/ancient-babylonian-astronomers-were-way-ahead-of-their-time/

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-29/ancient-babylonian-text-earliest-use-of-calculus-for-astronomy/7121548

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/160128-math-geometry-babylon-jupiter-astronomy-space/

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/babylonians-used-geometry-track-jupiter%E2%80%99s-movements

http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/1.700031 http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/01/28/ciencia/1454005761_424627.html

Very interesting early church find from Cappadocia:

http://www.aina.org/news/20160126181625.htm http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/historic-church-discovered-in-turkeys-nevsehir-could-change-history-of-orthodoxy.aspx?PageID=238&NID=94309&NewsCatID=375


Aramaic and Greek inscriptions from a tomb at Zippori:

http://www.livescience.com/53504-rabbi-tomb-inscriptions-discovered.html http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/IsraelExperience/History/Pages/1,700-year-old-funerary-inscriptions-exposed-in-Zippori-cemetery-27-Jan-2016.aspx

http://www.antiquities.org.il/Article_eng.aspx?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=4176 http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/1700-year-old-inscriptions-linked-to-rabbis-unearthed-in-Galilee-442924
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.699872 http://www.timesofisrael.com/1700-year-old-rabbis-tombstones-reflect-jewish-life-in-galilean-city/

Inscriptions suggest the Oman kingdom existed from at least the third
century B.C.E.:

http://www.thenational.ae/uae/inscriptions-on-sharjah-tomb-prove-oman-kingdom-existed-in-third-century-bc


Not sure where to put this one … pondering whether this is actually the
oldest image of the Virgin Mary:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/opinion/sunday/is-this-the-oldest-image-of-the-virgin-mary.html


The Saudi Kingdom has put in place some new antiquities laws:

http://www.menafn.com/1094552691/Saudi-New-laws-to-curb-antiques-trade


================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
Hope we’ll hear more about this Minoan shipwreck find:

http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2016/01/30/4000-year-old-shipwreck-belonging-to-minoans-found-in-turkey


Some statues of Artemis and Apollo were found at a Roman villa dig at
Aptera:

http://www.livescience.com/53505-statues-of-greek-gods-unearthed-in-crete.html

http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/statues-of-greek-gods-unearthed-in-crete-160127.htm

http://www.ekathimerini.com/205425/article/ekathimerini/life/archaeologists-make-exciting-discovery-at-aptera-in-crete
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2016/01/26/excavation-reveals-significant-statuettes-at-archaeological-site-of-aptera/

A huge hoard of Roman coins from Yeovil:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3421222/Hoard-3-000-Roman-coins-unearthed-Rare-monies-buried-270AD-bear-image-various-emperors-elephant-hippo-worth-175-000.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/archaeology/12127566/Digger-driver-wins-share-of-3339-Roman-coins-he-found-levelling-a-hockey-pitch.html

Somewhat vague item on Roman catacombs being used for illegal dumping:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-ruins-illegal-dump-idUSKCN0V32NX http://www.thelocal.it/20160128/italy-illegaly-filled-an-ancient-roman-catacomb-with-harmful-waste
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/26/illegal-dumping-in-roman-catacombs-leaves-precious-ancient-site-polluted

Roman/Byzantine burials from Istanbul:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roman-byzantine-grave-unearthed-on-istanbuls-istiklal-avenue.aspx?pageID=238&nid=94245


Feature on Ostia:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-ostia-a-search-for-the-secrets-of-romes-port-1454089086

Feature on naumachiae:

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/history/2016/01/the_roman_naumachiae_water_battles_that_forced_prisoners_to_re_enact_naval.html


On Roman use of makeup and the like:

http://www.historytoday.com/susan-stewart/how-vain-were-romans

… and from vanity, we move to ‘raunchy’:

http://www.newstalk.com/Just-how-raunchy-were-the-Ancient-Romans

Redefining Classics at Harvard:

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2016/1/28/karnam-sanskrit-classical-language/


Nice cover of Bastille’s ‘Pompeii’ in Latin:

http://www.bustle.com/articles/138276-girl-covers-bastilles-pompeii-in-latin-the-actual-language-of-pompeii-video


I’m starting to think that horse burial in an ancient Greek cemetery might
not be ancient itself:

http://neoskosmos.com/news/en/Preserved%20horse%20skeleton%20discovered%20on%20ancient%20site


Plans for another ‘big dig’ at Lancaster Castle:

http://www.thevisitor.co.uk/news/local/fingers-crossed-for-second-big-dig-in-lancaster-1-7700647


More on that column collapse at Pompeii:

http://www.dw.com/en/italy-pompeii-entrance-temporarily-closed/a-19002472

More on the origins of the York ‘gladiators’:

http://www.livescience.com/53512-decapitated-roman-gladiators-revealed.html http://www.livescience.com/53469-photos-headless-roman-gladiators-identified.html

http://news.yahoo.com/decapitated-gladiators-reveal-roman-empires-genetic-influence-124229005.html


More on the Roman winery at Vagnari:

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/01/2016/discovering-a-roman-imperial-winery-at-vagnari-italy


More on that Bodicacia tombstone:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-35401177

-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
They’re digging up a lot of bodies in Blackburn in anticipation of road construction:

http://www.theweek.co.uk/68972/bodies-of-800-children-unearthed-in-blackburn

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-35408967 http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/14227214.Clearance_work_for_new_Blackburn_road_reveals_2_000_bodies_and_a_treasure_trove_of_goods/

I think we mentioned this child burial from Bristol Cathedral:

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Archaeologists-uncover-surprising-secret-Bristol/story-28593821-detail/story.html


Latest theory about Stonehenge’s purpose:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3422517/Was-Stonehenge-ancient-NIGHTCLUB-Architect-believes-monument-two-storey-venue-used-drinking-dancing.html

http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/14231503.Once_a__majestic_roundhouse____architect_believes_she_s_solved_Stonehenge_s_mysterious_origin/

Gregor MacGregor ran an interesting scam:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160127-the-conman-who-pulled-off-historys-most-audacious-scam


Feature on how modern day Paris came about:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160126-how-a-modern-city-was-born

A ‘lost map’ of Cornwall has turned up in a collection:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-35443760

Thomas Becket’s casket is on display:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-35443574

Feature on Peter the Great’s cabin:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cabin-could-be-worlds-smallest-palace-180957918/?no-ist


In case you wondered how to put on a torc:

http://blog.britishmuseum.org/2016/01/29/how-do-you-put-on-a-torc/

More on that ‘Bronze Age Pompeii’:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-35428554 http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/world/europe/england-must-farm-archaeology.html

http://www.apollo-magazine.com/unearthing-the-secrets-of-east-anglias-bronze-age-settlers/


More on that Neolithic tomb in Spain:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-01/uob-nmt012116.php http://phys.org/news/2016-01-neolithic-tomb-reveals-death.html

More on plague lingering for longer than previously thought:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-01/mu-dob012516.php

-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ================================================================
Humans are being blamed for the extinction of a giant bird in Australia:

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-ancient-extinction-giant-australian-bird.html http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0129/Humans-appetite-for-huge-eggs-led-to-extinction-of-500-pound-bird

http://theconversation.com/new-analysis-finds-no-evidence-that-climate-wiped-out-australias-megafauna-53821

Domesticated cats in China some 5500 years b.p.:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160125100118.htm http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0127/Were-cats-domesticated-twice http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3417182/China-breed-domesticated-cat-5-500-years-ago-Study-proves-pet-felines-arose-naturally-Asia-weren-t-imported-West.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490


Gold and other precious artifacts from the Sanxingdui Ruins:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-01/28/c_135054936.htm

What was in some ancient Chinese cosmetics:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-01/28/c_135054872.htm

Concerns for some sections of the Great Wall:

http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/01/27/464421353/chinas-great-wall-is-crumbling-in-many-places-can-it-be-saved?sc=17&f=1001


16 Buddhist stupas from Nateshwar:

http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/16-buddhist-stupas-found-nateshwar-209926


… and an important (maybe) Buddhist post hole found near Nigrodharam:

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2016-01-31/buddha-post-hole-found-in-nigrodharam-area.html


Pondering the origins of Austronesian languages:

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-austronesian-languages.html http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160128122004.htm http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-01/uoh-nri012816.php

A ‘Fujizuka’ mound is being dated to the Edo period:

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201601290004

More on the world’s oldest tea:

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-world-oldest-tea-chinese-emperor.html http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/01/26/464437173/worlds-oldest-tea-discovered-in-an-ancient-chinese-emperors-tomb?sc=ipad&f=1001


-----

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html ================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Interesting 2500 years b.p. family footprints from Arizona:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3417808/A-2-500-year-old-family-stroll-frozen-time-Footprints-left-Native-American-farmers-children-DOG-unearthed-Arizona.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

http://www.abc15.com/news/region-central-southern-az/tucson/ancient-human-footprints-uncovered-near-i-10-in-pima-county

Pondering the impact of Native American depopulation post-1492:

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-aftermath-native-american-depopulation-impacted.html

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-01/smu-smt012616.php http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/01/new-mexicos-american-indian-population-crashed-100-years-after-europeans-arrived

18th century finds from Fort Lawrence:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fort-lawrence-beausejour-charles-burke-1.3421687


Revolutionary War finds near a New Jersey church:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/01/26/revolutionary-war-treasure-unearthed-nj-church/79332906/


More bones are turning up during road work in St Augustine:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/article57577638.html http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/st-augustine/historic-burials-found-in-archeaological-dig-in-st-augustine/23243615

Mammoth (and other) bones from OSU’s football field:

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-mammoth-bones-unearthed-oregon-state.html

Studying how the Komoks people fished:

http://www.comoxvalleyecho.com/news/366202521.html

More folks are weighing in on Florida’s proposed ‘citizen archaeology’
bill:

http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/indigenous-leaders-fight-archaeology-bill-that-would-let-anyone-keep-historical-artifacts-7548304


Feature on American political ‘swag’ over the years:

http://www.npr.org/2016/01/30/464862396/from-axes-to-flip-flops-a-peek-at-200-years-worth-of-american-political-schwag


Amherst College has dumped its mascot:

http://www.npr.org/2016/01/27/464533011/amherst-college-give-unofficial-mascot-lord-jeff-the-boot?sc=17&f=3


More on that Harlem burial ground:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/nyregion/discovery-of-burial-ground-backs-a-less-conventional-version-of-harlems-history.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss


More on finds in the wake of melting Arctic ice:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/arctic-erodes-archaeologists-are-racing-protect-ancient-treasures-180957933/?no-ist


================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
Report on what has been found at the El Paraiso site:

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2404121&CategoryId=14095

A 1200 years b.p. ‘sacrifice chamber’ beneath a temple in Peru:

http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-researchers-discover-1200-year-old-temple-evidence-of-female-sacrifice-108674

http://theweek.com/speedreads/601096/archaeologists-discover-remains-young-women-sacrificed-1000-years-ago

http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Archaeologists-find-remains-of-women-sacrificed-1000-years-ago-in-Peru-442504

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3417699/Secret-sacrifice-chamber-beneath-1-200-year-old-temple-Contorted-skeletons-women-believed-offered-pre-Incan-gods-bloodthirsty-rituals-unearthed-Peru.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490


I think we mentioned this ‘weaver burial’ from Lima:

http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-lima-remains-of-presumed-weaver-dating-back-to-3500-years-ago-found-in-huaca-108654


Pondering who the Aztecs were sacrificing at Tenochtitlan:

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2016/01/25/study-overturns-prevailing-ideas-about-sacrifices-at-tenochtitlan/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3417150/Did-Aztec-rulers-sacrifice-STAFF-Bones-reveals-victims-served-elite-killed-Great-Temple-Tenochtitl-n.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490


-----
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 ================================================================
Flat earth theories were kicking around again, with predictable reponses:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/26/464474518/neil-degrasse-tyson-gets-into-a-rap-battle-with-b-o-b-over-flat-earth-theory

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160126-how-we-know-earth-is-round http://news.discovery.com/space/history-of-space/no-earth-isnt-flat-heres-how-ancients-proved-it-160128.htm

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-flat-wrong-misunderstood-history-earth.html

I think we mentioned Napoleon’s marriage contract was coming to auction:

http://www.livescience.com/53521-marriage-contract-signed-by-napoleon-sale.html


Iceland is building temples to Norse gods:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/iceland/11385603/Iceland-to-build-first-temple-to-Norse-gods-in-1000-years.html


Feature on historical treatments/rituals for infertility:

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-remedies-infertility-rituals-early-medical.html


Latest on dog domestication/evolution:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2016/01/29/dogs-may-have-evolved-to-handle-our-bad-tempers/


On the Open Syllabus Project:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/24/opinion/sunday/what-a-million-syllabuses-can-teach-us.html


In case you missed the ‘Italian coverup’:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/world/europe/hassan-rouhani-italy-visit-nude-statues-capitoline-museums.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2016/01/27/should-nude-statues-be-covered-when-muslim-dignitaries-visit-italy-did/

http://www.dw.com/en/nude-statue-diplomacy-angers-italian-social-media/a-19007106
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=84646 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/01/26/italy-covers-up-nude-marble-statues-for-iranian-presidents-visit/

… and the related comparanda:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/01/27/americans-get-offended-by-statues-of-naked-people-too/


Beatrix Potter’s ‘latest’:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/27/books/beatrix-potter-manuscript-about-a-cat-with-a-double-life-is-found.html

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/26/464433143/100-years-later-beatrix-potter-tale-of-sharply-dressed-feline-to-be-published?sc=ipad&f=1008


On the origins of fun house mirrors:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/nyregion/peter-stuyvesant-and-the-fun-house-mirrors.html


Great writers apparently are dealing with fractals:

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-world-greatest-literature-reveals-multifractals.html


Pondering who to put on Scottish money:

http://newsdaily.com/2016/01/three-scientists-on-shortlist-to-appear-on-new-scottish-banknote/


Followups to the Cecil Rhodes statue brouhaha:

http://www.dw.com/en/oxford-decision-to-keep-rhodes-statue-sparks-twitter-debate/a-19011753

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/29/opinion/must-rhodes-fall.html

… related:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/29/education/college-symbol-controversies.html


The Getty acquired Danae:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/30/arts/design/getty-museum-acquires-danae-a-17th-century-work-at-sothebys.html


Marking the first English edition of War and Peace:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/29/arts/television/130-years-ago-war-and-peace-finally-published-in-english.html



Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/ ================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Children in the Past:

http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/the-archaeology-of-childhood

Maya: Lords of Time:

http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/exhibits/maya-lords-of-time/

Transforming the Body in Ancient Egypt:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/new-exhibition-transforming-the-body-in-ancient-egypt-looks-beyond-the-pharaohs-and-shines-a-light-a6828166.html


Ancient /Norman Sicily:

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/jan/28/sicily-the-superpower-british-museum-revisits-islands-golden-ages

http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwart/article/The-British-Museum-Opens-SICILY-CULTURE-AND-CONQUEST-April-21-20160129


Beyond Beauty:

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/jan/29/roman-egyptian-mummy-mask-display-museum-treasures-london-temple-place


Pompeii:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/pompeii-exhibit-mmfa-1.3421106

Hellenistic Bronzes:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/vestiges-of-an-ancient-greek-art-form-preserved-by-catastrophe/


Bosch:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/travel/a-bosch-retrospective.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftravel


Monet to Matisse:

http://www.dw.com/en/monet-to-matisse-in-tate-modern-art-in-transition/a-19011086


Blooks:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/29/books/a-secret-in-every-tome-no-text-required.html


Art of Prehistoric Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/29/arts/design/berlin-show-features-german-ethnologists-copies-of-art-from-prehistoric-times.html


OpEd pondering ‘Founding Myths’:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alexandre-stipanovich/should-darth-vader-sit-at_b_9074056.html


Latest fallout from the Sekhema statue thing:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-35431852

================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
I think we mentioned that some Elephantine scrolls were getting the xray treatment:

http://europe.newsweek.com/X-RAYS-REVEAL-SECRETS-EGYPTIAN-SCROLLS-PAPYRUS-416719


Using drones at Hadrian’s Villa:

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2016/01/28/drones-to-help-protect-hadrians-villa_80c281b7-a46b-4642-964e-49874e0b121c.html


More on digitally preserving ancient monuments:

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-preservationists-capture-cultural-monuments-3d.html

http://www.livescience.com/53520-can-3d-scans-save-cultural-sites-from-war.html http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/3d-scanners-race-to-monuments-before-terrorists-blow-them-up/
http://phys.org/news/2016-01-preservationists-capture-cultural-monuments-3d.html

… and 3d printing of artifacts:

http://neoskosmos.com/news/en/Hundreds-of-Greek-artefacts-to-be-preserved

A NASA image of the Mediterranean (seems to be mostly southwest Europe)
might be of interest:

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-nasa-image-space-station-flyover.html

… and of the Nazca lines:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-radar-brings-a-new-view-of-world-heritage-site



================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT ================================================================
Repatriation of some Native American remains gets in the way (apparently)
of DNA studies:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/02/science/tribes-win-in-fight-for-la-jolla-bones-clouds-hopes-for-dna-studies.html


Haven’t mentioned genetic claims of the Liqian people lately:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/no-romans-needed-to-explain-chinese-blondes/#.Vq4kYDYrJn6


More on the Anglo-Saxon component of the English population:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160119151252.htm http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0120/Where-did-the-British-come-from-Ancient-DNA-holds-clues



Dienekes' Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/ ================================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS ================================================================
Nice overview of climate shifts over the past couple millennia:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/29/modern-european-summers-are-warmest-since-roman-times-study-finds

http://www.newsweek.com/summer-ancient-rome-europe-global-warming-420917 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3421362/Europe-warmest-s-Roman-times-Tree-rings-temperatures-highest-2-000-years.html


More on the impact of agriculture:

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-mounting-evidence-early-agriculture-staved.html



================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS ================================================================
Greece:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-3423972/The-romance-Greece-ancient-glory-past-present-dreamy-historic-Peloponnese.html


A Siberian Prison:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20160129-see-inside-a-notorious-siberian-prison


Most Beautiful Towns in Europe:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/12129402/The-30-most-beautiful-towns-in-Europe.html


================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
Roman coins were stolen from the Chelmsford Museum:

http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/museum/story-28631650-detail/story.html

Latest Anonymous Swiss Collector Culture Crime News:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2016/01/culture-crime-news-18-24-january-2016.html



conflict antiquities:

http://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/

anonymous swiss collector:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/

Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues:

http://paul-barford.blogspot.ca/

Looting Matters:

http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/

Illicit Cultural Property:

http://illicit-cultural-property.blogspot.com/

SAFE:

http://www.savingantiquities.org/blog/

================================================================
REPATRIATION AND RECOVERY ================================================================
The Getty returned a head of Hades to Italy:

https://www.rt.com/usa/330590-looted-statue-head-getty/ http://www.thelocal.it/20160129/us-museum-gives-italy-back-looted-head-of-greek-statue

http://www.euronews.com/newswires/3137399-italy-welcomes-back-ancient-head-of-hades-dug-up-illegally-in-1970s/


More on Switzerland returning Etruscan items to Italy:

http://www.italiantribune.com/looted-etruscan-treasures-returned-to-italy/


================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v19n04.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v19n05.html

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

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/ ================================================================
PERFORMANCES AND THEATRE-RELATED ================================================================
Recreating old methods of ‘special effects’:

http://www.npr.org/2016/01/24/464102357/british-theater-showcases-special-effects-from-the-18th-century


Ring:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/29/arts/music/review-in-wagners-ring-forging-an-epic-valkyries-on-their-first-flight.html


Nat Turner biopic:

http://www.npr.org/2016/01/27/464533039/biopic-about-nat-turner-is-a-success-at-sundance-film-festival?sc=17&f=3


================================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS ================================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:

http://archaeologychannel.org/audio-main-menu-cat/audio-news-list/2352-audio-news-from-archaeologica-17-jan-2016-23-jan-2016

Latest edition of Strata:

http://archaeologychannel.org/video-guide/strata-portraits-of-humanity/2337-strata-january-2016
================================================================
UPCOMING CONFERENCES ================================================================
(send in your notices!) ================================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS ================================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:

http://www.archaeology.org/news/

About.com Archaeology:

http://archaeology.about.com/

Ancient Digger:

http://www.ancientdigger.com/

Archaeology Briefs:

http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/

Past Horizons:

http://www.pasthorizons.com/

Stonepages:

http://www.stonepages.com/news/

Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:

http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/

Time Machine:

http://heatherpringle.wordpress.com/ ================================================================ PODCASTS/VODCASTS ================================================================
Archaeosoup:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Archaeos0up?feature=watch

The Book and the Spade:


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