===============================================================
explorator 18.18 August 23, 2015 ===============================================================
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,
Hernan Astudillo, David Perlmutter, 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).

... just as we're getting back into the swing of things, a heads
up that next week's issue might be coming out on Sunday evening
due to an early a.m. family function ... ================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Suggestion that Australopithecines may have butchered animals:

http://www.livescience.com/51936-human-ancestors-may-have-butchered-animals.html

The earliest human-like pinkie comes from Olduvai:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-earliest-modern-million-years.html https://www.sciencenews.org/article/oldest-humanlike-hand-bone-discovered http://news.yahoo.com/earliest-modern-hand-nearly-two-million-years-old-162148025.html
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/0819/Ancient-human-relative-had-surprisingly-modern-hands-say-scientists
http://phys.org/news/2015-08-oldest-human-like-bone-evolution-tool.html

Latest on the (real) paleolithic diet:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/17/432603591/were-carbs-a-brain-food-for-our-ancient-ancestors
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/13/science/for-evolving-brains-a-paleo-diet-full-of-carbs.html

Not sure where to put this 'Otzi Walkers' story:

http://www.dw.com/en/three-germans-start-stone-age-hike-from-detmold-to-bonn/a-18652543?maca=en-newsletter_en_bulletin-2097-html-newsletter

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Excavating San people sites:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-excavating-complex-myths-southern-africa.html

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
Followups to the Nefertiti-in-Tut's-tomb theory:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-egypt-expert-theory-nefertiti-tomb.html http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/20/nefertiti-archaeologist-invited-to-egypt-over-theory-of-hidden-tomb?CMP=twt_a-science_b-gdnscience
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765679384/Egypt-invites-expert-behind-new-theory-on-Nefertitis-tomb.html
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2015/08/19/egypt-invites-expert-behind-new-theory-on-nefertiti-tomb/

... in case you missed the story:

http://www.npr.org/2015/08/12/431807513/archeologist-believes-hes-found-egyptian-queen-nefertitis-tomb
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/could-mysterious-door-tomb-king-tut-lead-nefertiti-180956254/

... and an interview:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/137945/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Interview-with-Nicholas-Reeves-The-archaeologist-o.aspx

A very detailed Egyptian marriage contract:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3197268/Men-ancient-Egypt-given-8ft-long-prenups-2-480-year-old-papyrus-reveals-rights-women-Old-Kingdom.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

The Sekhemka statue saga takes an interesting twist:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/antiquities-minister-urges-egyptians-donate-buy-statue-33250636
http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Templates/Articles/tmpArticleNews.aspx?ArtID=95962

Some major Egyptian statuary on display in Paris:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-giant-egyptian-statues-paris.html

Pondering whether Natufian culture people invented 'church bells':

http://www.newswise.com/articles/the-ceremonial-sounds-that-accompanied-our-ancestors-funerals-15-000-years-ago
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3205788/Did-Stone-Age-man-invent-church-bells-15-000-years-ago-Ceremonial-boulders-hit-like-gongs-call-community-funerals.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Latest from Alacahoyuk:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-hittite-mine-factory-surprises-archaeologists--.aspx?pageID=238&nid=87098

Digging at Gordion:

http://www.penn.museum/blog/museum/teens-and-trowels-cultural-heritage-education-at-gordion-turkey/

Concerns for inscriptions in Elijah the Prophet's Cave:

http://www.haaretz.com/life/archaeology/1.671687

Last week we mentioned a Sarmatian female burial ... turns out there's
also a seal with some Paleo Hebrew (maybe) script on it:

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/mysterious-biblical-seal-found-in-russia-top-find-of-2015/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3196696/Treasure-trove-warrior-jewellery-unearthed-Russia-Ancient-grave-belongs-woman-worshipped-fire-2-000-years-ago.html
http://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/2015/08/an-ancient-warrior-woman-in-southern-russia-with-a-possibly-hebrew-seal/

Latest from Magdala:

http://ksn.com/2015/08/16/ancient-israeli-city-may-be-home-of-mary-magdalene/ http://www.wdam.com/story/29802401/ruins-of-synagogue-possibly-linked-to-jesus-uncovered-on-sea-of-galilee-coast

Feature on Persepolis:

http://www.historytoday.com/richard-stoneman/persepolis-monument-xerxes

ISIL's latest atrocity is the beheading of Palmyra's legendary
archaeologist, Khaled al Asaad:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2015/0819/Islamic-State-beheads-antiquities-scholar-for-protecting-ancient-Palmyra
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-executes-palmyra-antiquities-chief-khaled-asaad-and-hangs-him-from-ruins-he-spent-a-lifetime-restoring-10461601.html
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/islamic-state-beheads-syrian-antiquities-scholar-in-ancient-town-of-palmyra/article26013324/?cmpid=rss1
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33984006 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/22/beheading-of-khaled-al-asaad-keeper-of-palmyra-unites-syria-in-condemnation
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/18/isis-beheads-archaeologist-syria http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/destroy-sell-hide-islamic-state-exploits-antiquities/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11817394/Islamic-States-path-of-destruction-through-Syria-and-Iraq.html
http://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/mundo/2015/08/19/estado-islamico-decapita-a-destacado-arqueologo-responsable-de-las-antiguedades-en-palmira/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/khaled-alasaad-authority-on-the-antiquities-of-the-syrian-city-of-palmyra-who-was-devoted-to-studying-and-protecting-its-treasures-10464467.html
http://www.timesofisrael.com/syrian-antiquities-scholar-beheaded-by-is-in-ancient-palmyra/
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/20/world/middleeast/isis-palmyra-syria-antiquities-scholar-beheaded.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.671844

... nice tributes:

https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/culturehousedaily/2015/08/remembering-khaled-al-asaad-the-syrian-archaeologist-who-dared-to-stand-up-to-isis/
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/khaled-al-asaads-enthusiasm-palmyra-inextinguishable
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-33991863#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
http://feeds.theguardian.com/c/34708/f/664018/s/491d230f/sc/11/l/0L0Stheguardian0N0Cworld0C20A150Caug0C190Ckhaled0Eal0Easaad0Eprofile0Esyria0Eisis0Ehoward0Ecarter0Epalmyra0Earchaeology/story01.htm
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1bd84ace-47f1-11e5-b3b2-1672f710807b.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/khaled-alasaad-authority-on-the-antiquities-of-the-syrian-city-of-palmyra-who-was-devoted-to-studying-and-protecting-its-treasures-10464467.html

Archaeologist Qassim Abdullah Yehya was also killed in a rocket attack and
is mentioned in some reports:

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/08/21/two-more-everysyrian-heroes-murdered-while-protecting-our-shared-cultural-heritage/

... and UNESCO condemned both deaths and commented:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51674 http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1337 http://www.timesofisrael.com/un-culture-chief-is-systematically-destroying-heritage-sites/

... and there were opEds:

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2015/0819/Why-latest-Islamic-State-beheading-might-be-sending-new-message
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150820-syria-archaeologist-isis-protecting-artifacts/
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/08/isis-killed-antiquities-scholar/401798/


... and worries about what's next for Palmyra:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/miranda/la-et-cam-syrian-archeologist-who-protected-palmyra-ruins-beheaded-by-militants-20150819-column.html

... and features on Palmyra:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2015/0819/With-Syrian-scholar-s-execution-a-lost-guide-to-Palmyra-s-ancient-treasures

ISIL also destroyed the Mar Elian monastery:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3204584/Bulldozer-civilisation-Shocking-new-images-ISIS-brutes-desecrating-priceless-1-500-year-old-Christian-monastery.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/islamic-state-demolishes-1500-year-old-monastery-with-bulldozers/article26046183/?cmpid=rss1&service=mobile
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-in-syria-militants-destroy-ancient-monastery-founded-more-than-1500-years-ago-10465578.html
http://www.timesofisrael.com/islamic-state-destroys-ancient-monastery-in-central-syria/
http://www.dw.com/en/islamic-state-destroys-christian-monastery-in-syria/a-18663636
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/599816/ISIS-Islamic-State-Mar-Elian-monastery-Homs-Syria-bulldoze-saint

... and sent out videos of them destroying fake antiquities:

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/460484/ISIS-fake-propaganda-destroy-antiquities-Nineveh-Mosul

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
A Roman glass workshop from the Egyptian delta:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/41/138175/Heritage/GrecoRoman/Ancient-Roman-glass-workshop-unearthed-in-Egyptian.aspx

Latest on the C14 dating of Amphipolis:

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/08/16/the-carbon-14-dating-of-the-amphipolis-tomb/

... and criticism:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/amphipolis-possible-tomb-alexander-great-162915262.html

A Roman altar was stolen from the Maryport Museum:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-33961585

Reviewish interviewish thing of *Reading Lucretius in the Renaissance*:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2015/08/22/the-rediscovery-of-this-writer-in-the-renaissance-opened-the-way-to-the-modern-world-and-more-importantly-the-invention-of-political-science/

On the 'afterlife' of Alexander:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/a-heros-journey-and-the-dance-of-dragons/

Another feature on colour in the ancient world:

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2015/08/19/4296456.htm

Latest silliness at the Colosseum:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3205887/Australian-strips-naked-handstand-selfies-landmarks-world-charged-public-indecency-Italy-nude-shot-outside-ancient-Colosseum.html
http://www.thelocal.it/20150820/naked-acrobat-faced-charges-for-colosseum-stunt

Nicky Minaj provides some Classical comparanda of a sort:

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2015/aug/20/nicki-minaj-madame-tussauds-ancient-art-men-having-sex-with-statues

Connecting ancient Greek drama to modern Greece's travails:

http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21661809-ancient-greek-dramas-help-explain-countrys-current-crisis-what-classics-know

Claim that looting is on the rise in Greece:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150817-greece-looting-artifacts-financial-crisis-archaeology/
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/08/18/antiquities-looting-increases-in-crisis-stricken-greece/
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/08/the-looting-of-antiquities-is-becoming-a-major-problem-in-greece/

On the influence of Roman insulae:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33962178

Again with Sardinia as Atlantis:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3200738/Was-Sardinia-home-Atlantis-Comet-triggered-enormous-tidal-wave-wiped-ancient-civilisation-experts-claim.html

Ongoing concerns for Italy's cultural treasures:

http://www.thelocal.it/20150817/experts-slam-italys-inability-to-save-its-cultural-treasures

More coverage of the Almeida Theatre Iliad reading:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-33945675

More on Philip II:

http://phys.org/news/2015-07-effort-king-phillip-ii-tomb.html

-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
Three Bronze or Iron Age burials near a Dorset cottage:

http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art534343

Evidence of a 7000 years b.p. massacre near Frankfurt:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-scientists-evidence-prehistoric-massacre-europe.html
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-08/uob-mta081815.php http://www.livescience.com/51884-neolithic-massacre-mass-grave.html http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/08/17/science/ap-sci-germany-prehistoric-massacre.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/17/mass-grave-prehistoric-warfare-ancient-european-farming-community-neolithic
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/archaeology/11808460/Was-prehistoric-man-responsible-for-first-ever-war-crime.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/08/18/what-a-7000-year-old-mass-grave-in-europe-tells-us-about-the-history-of-violence/?tid=sm_tw
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/archeologists-find-rare-prehistoric-mass-grave-in-europe-1.2520752
http://news.sciencemag.org/archaeology/2015/08/archaeologists-uncover-neolithic-massacre-early-europe
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3201337/Scientists-evidence-prehistoric-massacre-Europe.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/08/2015/evidence-of-torture-and-mutilation-from-neolithic-mass-grave

First farmers in Scandinavia were pretty 'advanced':

http://sciencenordic.com/first-scandinavian-farmers-were-far-more-advanced-we-thought

... and maybe early Britons were too:

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33963372

Some sort of chamber tomb structure from Sandomierz:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,406169,thousand-years-old-elite-grave-discovered-in-sandomierz.html

Pondering the origins of Rhyine Man:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13616400.Dig_may_unlock_secrets_of_ancient_Pictish_carving/
Clearing some stone circles in Birkrigg Common:

http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/13620937.Ancient_stone_circle_sees_the_light_of_day/

Dark Age burials from St Piran's Oratory:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-33976002

Remains of Jewish victims of the Inquisition in Portugal:

http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Remains-of-Jewish-victims-of-Portuguese-Inquisition-found-in-ancient-garbage-heap-412599
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2015/08/18/bones-of-jewish-victims-of-inquisition-found-in-trash-heap-in-portugal/

Probably should mention this 'Nazi gold train' from Poland story, even if
it is out of our purview:

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/nazi-gold-ghost-train-found-poland-083438921.html

Arguing about a car park in Northampton:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-34019117

Concerns for sites in Transylvania:

http://www.dw.com/en/breathing-new-life-into-transylvanias-crumbling-cultural-sites/a-18663263

Funding for Hereford Cathedral:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-33985290

-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ================================================================
On the use of coal in China some 3500 years b.p.:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3202104/Remarkable-discovery-shows-humans-burning-coal-fuel-3-500-years-ago-world-s-earliest-site-activity-unearthed-China.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Fourth century remains from Nara suggest a major settlement:

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201508200072

Not sure if we mentioned these burials from Azerbaijan or not:

http://www.azernews.az/azerbaijan/87012.html

A passage is revealed in an Agra fort:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Debris-gone-archaeologists-find-passage-in-Agra-Fort/articleshow/48556106.cms

Madras City is apparently really, really old:

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Madras-City-Traces-Its-Origin-to-More-Than-50000-Years-Ago-Says-Expert/2015/08/17/article2977578.ece

A chandelier at the Taj Mahal crashed to the ground:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150822/jsp/nation/story_38540.jsp

Feature on Chinese burial traditions:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/19/for-my-father-resurrecting-the-ancient-rituals/

-----
East Asian Archaeology:

http://eastasiablog.wordpress.com/

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html ================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Some Yupa Ik remains in Alaska:

http://www.alaskapublic.org/2015/08/21/archaeologists-uncover-new-yupik-artifacts-near-quinhagak/

They're back at the Franklin Expedition site(s):

http://www.adn.com/article/20150821/parks-canada-archaeologists-return-arctic-shipwreck-site

Latest from the Collins site (Illinois):

http://www.cantondailyledger.com/article/20150807/NEWS/150809687/-1/sports/?Start=1
http://www.isas.illinois.edu/news/collins_site_reconstruction.shtml

Walls emerge at the Lake George dig:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-ny-colonial-battleground-uncovers-fort.html http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/29272/20150818/dig-at-ny-colonial-battleground-uncovers-fort-apos-s-stone-walls

The Hatfields and McCoys' dig is bearing fruit:

http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/26809539/article-Hatfields--McCoys-find-key-feud-site?instance=top_news

Lots of excitement about Spanish gold (from a 1715 fleet) found off
Florida:

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/20/sunken-1715-spanish-fleet-gold-coins
http://abcnews.go.com/US/treasure-hunters-retrieve-45-million-gold-coins-sunken/story?id=33204481
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/crew-finds-350-gold-coins-in-shallow-water-off-vero-beach/34799842

They've figured out some controversial petroglyphs in Utah's Black Dragon Canyon:

http://www.livescience.com/51892-photos-utah-rock-art.html http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/winged-monster-rock-art-finally-deciphered-150819.htm

Five sites in San Diego County were looted:

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/08/18/5-native-american-cultural-sites-looted-san-diego-county-161424

Looking for shipwrecks in Cayuga lake:

http://www.ithacajournal.com/longform/news/local/2015/08/13/shipwreck-hunters-cayuga-lake/31636557/

Bones found in Pennsylvania might be from the 1918 flue pandemic:

http://newsdaily.com/2015/08/human-bones-in-pennsylvania-thought-to-be-from-1918-flu-pandemic/

More on the CSS Georgia:

http://www.livescience.com/51881-confederate-ship-css-georgia-recovery.html http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/us/article/Divers-raise-wreckage-of-Confederate-warship-in-6447223.php
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=43990

... interesting find story:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/21/us/divers-navy-georgia-savannah-civil-war-ironclad/index.html


More on the Lost Colony:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article30776748.html

================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
Plenty of coverage of the find of an Aztec 'skull rack' from Mexico's
Templo Mayor:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-mexico-main-skull-rack-aztec.html http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/massive-human-skull-rack-found-at-aztec-temple-150821.htm
http://www.dw.com/en/aztec-human-sacrifice-skull-wall-found-in-mexico/a-18663951
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/aztec-human-skull-rack-unearthed-at-ancient-temple-in-mexico-city-1.3198972
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/21/aztec-skull-trophy-rack-discovered-mexico-citys-templo-mayor-ruin-site
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3205251/Mexico-finds-main-skull-rack-Aztec-temple-complex.html

Latest finds from Brazil's Olympic dig:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2015/08/19/commentary/world-commentary/brazils-olympic-dig-unearths-royal-toothbrush/
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2015/08/18/margolis-brazils-olympic-dig-unearths-surprising-finds/ajvd2t4/

Three sites and ceramics from Cajamarca (Peru):

http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-three-archaeological-sites-ceramics-found-in-cajamarca-107325

The Cahuachi Sanctuary is apparently bigger than Chan Chan:

http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-cahuachi-sanctuary-is-bigger-than-chan-chan-says-archaeologist-107304

Oldest lice combs in the Americas (so far) found in Chile:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oldest-lice-combs-in-the-americas-discovered/

I think we mentioned this sinkhole under Chichen Itza:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3200817/Sacred-sinkhole-discovered-1-000-year-old-Mayan-temple-eventually-destroy-pyramid.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 ================================================================
Suggestion that we should buy antiquities to save them:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-case-for-buying-antiquities-to-save-them-1440024491

On the history of beer:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/17/432297444/guzzling-9-000-years-of-history-with-the-comic-book-story-of-beer

Marion True has been working on her memoirs:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-getty-curator-looting-20150820-column.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/the-curator-who-vanished/2015/08/19/d32390f8-459e-11e5-846d-02792f854297_story.html

On the history of the watermelon:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150821-watermelon-fruit-history-agriculture/

... and birth control:

http://www.medicaldaily.com/history-birth-control-how-weve-been-trying-prevent-babies-beginning-time-348638

Oldest message in a bottle:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-uk-marine-oldest-message-bottle.html

Latest theory about Mona Lisa's smile:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11815067/Have-researchers-unlocked-the-mystery-of-Mona-Lisas-famously-enigmatic-smile.html

I have no idea where to put this item on the story of the 'monkey Jesus'
being turned into an opera:

http://www.thelocal.es/20150820/ecce-homo-the-opera

Pondering some of Audubon's birds:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/23/nyregion/five-mystery-birds-among-audubons-paintings.html?src=recg

Feature on a clove boat model, probably from Indonesia:

http://blog.britishmuseum.org/2015/08/20/spicy-stories-the-case-of-a-clove-boat-model/

How Wulfrune became Wolves:

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/08/20/wulfrune-to-wolves-700-year-old-scroll-shows-citys-changing-name/

Interesting items on the changing diet of North Americans:

http://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2015/08/18/432334575/4-foods-americans-don-t-eat-much-anymore

On the art dealer who contributed to the popularity of Impressionism:

http://www.npr.org/2015/08/18/427190686/durand-ruel-the-art-dealer-who-liked-impressionists-before-they-were-cool

There's a shepherd school in Spain:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/18/world/europe/sheep-farming-fading-tradition-spain-shepherd-school.html

Pondering 'The Road Not Taken':

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/23/books/review/the-road-not-taken-by-david-orr.html

Review of Crawford, *Young Eliot*:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/23/books/review/young-eliot-by-robert-crawford.html


Review of Battles, *Palimpsest*:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/23/books/review/palimpsest-a-history-of-the-written-word-by-matthew-battles.html

The NYRB is reviving some forgotten works:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/08/books/new-york-review-books-fills-a-niche-by-reviving-forgotten-works.html

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/ ================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Royal Hawaiian Featherwork:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/arts/design/royal-hawaiian-featherwork-a-glimpse-at-island-splendors.html

Asian Exhibitions at the Met:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/arts/design/met-opens-asian-art-exhibitions-featuring-dynasties-silk-and-gold.html

Merode Altarpiece:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/arts/design/the-merode-altarpiece-at-the-cloisters-represents-time-immemorial.html


The Museum of the Bible has an agreement with Israel:

http://news.yahoo.com/us-bible-museum-inks-israel-antiquities-deal-223609140.html
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/08/19/d-c-bible-museum-will-display-huge-israeli-collection-that-even-israelis-cant-see/#038;%23038;%23038
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/museum-of-the-bible-allies-with-israeli-antiquities-agency/2015/08/18/37aaf13c-45e1-11e5-9f53-d1e3ddfd0cda_story.html

Controversy in Italy as they appoint a number of 'foreign' museum
directors:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11810839/Italy-appoints-foreign-museum-directors-in-historic-shake-up.html
http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2015/08/18/museum-directors-foreigners-named_7a7bc6b7-a440-49c4-8ca3-ddbf0a508549.html

On London's Jack the Ripper Museum:

http://www.dw.com/en/londons-new-jack-the-ripper-museum-shrouded-in-mystery/a-18664063

================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
Using drones to find sites in Ireland:

http://www.slu.edu/nl-finan_irish_summer-817

================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT ================================================================
More on South Pacific DNA connections to the Americas:

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-native-american-origins-dna-20150721-story.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/22/science/tracing-routes-to-america-through-ancient-dna.html
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/349/6250/838.11.full

DNA reveals the first black president:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/19/us/politics/dna-that-confirmed-one-warren-harding-rumor-refutes-another.html


Dienekes' Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/ ================================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS ================================================================
Not sure if we mentioned these 'drought reports' from a Chinese cave:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/18/science/a-chinese-drought-weather-report-written-on-cave-walls.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/chinese-cave-graffiti-records-centuries-drought-180956259/

Climate change affected the evolution of dogs, apparently:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-uk-marine-oldest-message-bottle.html

================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
A pair caught with a pile of Ottoman coins in Istanbul:

http://art-crime.blogspot.ca/2015/08/two-syrians-detained-in-istanbuls.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+arcablog+%28ARCAblog%29

A Rodin stolen in Cophehagen:

http://art-crime.blogspot.ca/2015/08/rodin-bust-stolen-from-ny-carlsberg.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+arcablog+%28ARCAblog%29

One of Henry VIII's forts is the latest victim of lead theft:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-33971021

Latest Anonymous Swiss Collector Culture Crime News:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2015/08/culture-crime-news-10-16-august-2015.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/

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

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v18n33.html

... and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v18n34.html

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

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/ ================================================================
PERFORMANCES AND THEATRE-RELATED ================================================================
Pondering some performances of Shakespeare:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/theater/a-shakespeare-for-all-seasons.html?_r=0

Searching for Cleopatra:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3202597/Hunt-actress-play-18-year-old-Egyptian-Queen-new-Cleopatra-TV-series.html

================================================================
OBITUARIES
================================================================


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

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/news-from-tac/audio-news-from-archaeologica/2274-audio-news-from-archaeologica-9-aug-15-aug-2015

================================================================
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:

http://www.radioscribe.com/bknspade.htm ================================================================
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