===============================================================
explorator 18.47 March 20, 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,
Bob Heuman, David Critchley, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Kris Curry,
Hernan Astudillo, Richard Campbell, Richard C. Griffiths,and
Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always hoping I have
left no one out).
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EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
What they’ve learned from Denisovan DNA:
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-denisovan-dna-future-humanity.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160317150805.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35835126 http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0317/Denisovans-Mysterious-ancient-humans-reveal-clues-to-our-history
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/pacific-islanders-got-double-whammy-stone-age-dna
… and again there is an ‘interbreeding’ spin put on things:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/22/science/neanderthals-interbred-with-humans-denisovans.html
… and a ‘helped survival’ spin:
http://www.livescience.com/54084-denisovan-dna-helped-modern-humans-survive.html?cmpid=514645
They’ve been checking out Neanderthal DNA in Spain too:
https://www.mpg.de/10364707/hominins-sima-de-los-huesos http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0315/Where-do-Neanderthals-come-from-Oldest-DNA-reveals-clues
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35806992 http://phys.org/news/2016-03-year-old-fossils-spain-earliest-genetic.html https://www.newscientist.com/article/2080549-oldest-ever-human-genome-sequence-may-rewrite-human-history/
http://www.nature.com/news/oldest-ancient-human-dna-details-dawn-of-neanderthals-1.19557
… and isoptopic analysis is helping to figure out what they were eating:
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-isotope-habits-neanderthals.html http://news.discovery.com/human/neanderthal-diet-80-meat-20-fruit-veggiest-160314.htm
More on homo erectus slicing food and its effects:
http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/03/17/470784072/cooking-or-slicing-food-what-drove-early-human-evolution
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/h-erectus-cut-chewed-way-through-evolution
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AFRICA
================================================================
Feature on Benin City:
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/mar/18/story-of-cities-5-benin-city-edo-nigeria-mighty-medieval-capital-lost-without-trace
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
In case you somehow missed the hype about the confirmation of there likely being more rooms in Tut’s tomb:
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-egypt-scan-king-tut-burial.html http://www.livescience.com/54081-king-tut-hidden-chambers-seen-radar-scans.html http://www.livescience.com/42296-king-tut-photos.html http://egyptianstreets.com/2016/03/17/hidden-chambers-discovered-by-scans-in-king-tutankhamuns-tomb/
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-evidence-shows-king-tut-tomb-may-have-its-own-chamber-secrets-180958470/
http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/08/11/nefertiti-tomb-tutankhamun-orig-mg.cnn
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/03/17/470823945/king-tuts-tomb-may-have-hidden-spaces-containing-organic-metallic-materials
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/12196508/Scans-of-King-Tuts-burial-chamber-show-hidden-rooms-that-could-contain-organic-material.html
http://www.timesofisrael.com/secret-rooms-almost-certainly-lurking-in-king-tuts-tomb-egypt-says/
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/egypt-says-scan-of-king-tut-s-burial-tomb-shows-hidden-rooms-1.2820877
http://cyprus-mail.com/2016/03/17/egypt-finds-new-clues-that-queen-nefertiti-may-lie-buried-behind-tuts-tomb/
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0317/Evidence-mounts-in-search-for-King-Tut-s-roommate-Queen-Nefertiti
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/17/hidden-rooms-tutankhamun-tomb-new-treasures-queen-nefertiti
http://www.dw.com/en/scans-suggest-hidden-chambers-inside-king-tuts-tomb/a-19122016
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160317-king-tut-tomb-hidden-chambers-radar-egypt-archaeology/
http://news.yahoo.com/scans-show-90-chance-hidden-chambers-tutankhamun-tomb-092631296.html
… with related features/spins on Nefertiti (just in case, of course):
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/tutankhamun-tomb-has-numerous-secret-chambers-egyptian-official-says-after-japanese-study-that-could-a6936156.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/nefertiti-queen-king-tutankhamun-tomb-mystery-ancient-egypt-a6939261.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35831025 http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/18/world/middleeast/nefertiti-tutankhamen-tomb-egypt.html
… and features on Tut’s tomb:
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-facts-tutankhamun-tomb.html
Lost in the hype were that some 3300 years bp statues of Sekhmet were
found:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3495044/A-roarsome-Statues-lion-headed-goddess-discovered-Egypt-6ft-ancient-masterpieces-wear-wig-tight-dress.html
… and more divine statuary found at Dakahliya:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/190768/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Statuettes-of-ancient-Egyptian-gods-unearthed-in-D.aspx
Predynastic graffiti from Aswan:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/193114/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Holy-predynastic-graffiti-uncovered-in-Aswan.aspx
Egypt is putting the pyramids under military protection:
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/03/egypt-pyramid-military-tourism-complaints-project.html
Plans to ‘revive’ Memphis:
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/03/2016/ancient-memphis-site-to-undergo-regeneration
Latest news from the Grand Egyptian Museum:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/44/191003/Heritage/Museums/Late-Period-papyrus-and-Tutankhamuns-arrows-restor.aspx
Questioning the veracity of the Maandana:
https://newrepublic.com/article/130814/israeli-national-symbol-fake http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/.premium-1.709481
A sort of preliminary report from the dig at Khirbet Arai:
https://lukechandler.wordpress.com/2016/03/16/new-dig-at-khirbet-arai-may-reveal-philistines-kingdom-of-judah/
When Saudi Arabia was a Jewish kingdom:
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/.premium-1.709010 http://jewishrefugees.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/newfound-engravings-highlight-arabias.html
http://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/2016/03/saudi-arabias-forgotten-jewish-past/
Feature on Baghdad:
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/mar/16/story-cities-day-3-baghdad-iraq-world-civilisation
Feature on Alexandria:
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/mar/14/story-cities-day-1-alexandria-egypt-history-urbanisation-foundations-modern-world
Feature on Ur:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160311-ur-iraq-trade-royal-cemetery-woolley-archaeology/
Not sure where this one goes … major find of a shipwreck associated with
Vasco da Gama in the Gulf of Oman:
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-site-shipwreck-tied-vasco-da.html http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/explorer-vasco-da-gamas-shipwreck-found-160315.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/oman/12195216/Shipwreck-off-Oman-is-believed-to-be-from-Vasco-Da-Gamas-fleet.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/mar/15/marine-archaeologists-discover-rare-artefacts-at-1503-shipwreck-site
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/world-history/portuguese-shipwreck-discovered-oman-vasco-da-gamas-esmeralda-a6932836.html
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0316/Vasco-de-Gama-s-ship-rich-in-treasure-and-history-is-found-near-Oman
http://timesofoman.com/article/79485/Oman/Heritage/Ancient-Portuguese-ship-wreck-discovered-at-island-off-the-coast-of-Oman
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/03/16/at-the-bottom-of-the-arabian-sea-a-500-year-old-shipwreck-from-the-fleet-of-vasco-da-gama/
http://www.syracuse.com/us-news/index.ssf/2016/03/site_of_1503_shipwreck_tied_to_vasco_da_gama_discovered_off_oman.html
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-thursday-edition-1.3495913/from-coins-to-cannonballs-a-shipwreck-s-incredible-500-year-old-treasure-1.3495918
http://www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/middle-east/site-of-1503-shipwreck-tied-to-vasco-da-gama-found-off-oman/news-story/da4677428f197fa1c943c62edd0e1e82
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/20160314-oman-shipwreck-explorer-vasco-da-gama-age-of-exploration-india-route/
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/found-500-year-old-protugese-shipwreck-from-famed-explorers-fleet-180958425/
Feature on conserving buildings in Israel:
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Environment/History-in-Action-Conserving-historic-buildings-for-posterity-and-safety-447917#xtor=EPR-1-[Newsletter]
Latest in the Western Wall saga:
http://www.timesofisrael.com/western-wall-deal-nixed-deri-said-to-tell-associates/
Feature on medieval pilgrimages to Jerusalem:
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.708509
3d images of Syrian artifacts/buildings have gone online:
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-3d-images-syria-archaeological-treasures.html
Good feature on the ‘war on looting’ in Syria:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/12/arts/international/escalating-the-war-on-looting.html?_r=0
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
A hiker in Israel found a very interesting coin of Trajan struck to honour Augustus:
http://www.antiquities.org.il/Article_eng.aspx?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=4188
http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/IsraelExperience/History/Pages/Israeli-hiker-finds-rare-2000-year-old-gold-coin-14-Mar-2016.aspx
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35801246 http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.3490566/hiker-finds-rare-2-000-year-old-roman-coin-turns-it-over-to-authorities-1.3490571
http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/israeli-hiker-finds-rare-ancient-roman-gold-coin-160314.htm
http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/israeli-hiker-finds-2000-year-old-gold-coin/ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/12193887/Hiker-stumbles-upon-extremely-rare-2000-year-old-ancient-gold-coin.html
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Hiker-finds-rare-2000-year-old-gold-coin-in-northern-Israel-447848
http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/63695/ancient-rare-gold-coin-discovered-hiker-galilee-region-jewish-world/
http://www.jta.org/2016/03/15/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/kibbutznik-discovers-rare-roman-era-gold-coin-in-galilee
http://www.timesofisrael.com/hiker-finds-2000-year-old-gold-coin-in-northern-israel/
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/03/14/470395022/thats-no-bottlecap-hiker-in-israel-finds-rare-gold-coin
http://artdaily.com/news/85799/A-hiker-finds-an-extremely-rare-gold-coin-that-bears-the-image-of-Emperor-Augustus
http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/14/middleeast/israel-gold-coin-found/index.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3491387/Did-ancient-Rome-issue-commemorative-coins-Gold-piece-unearthed-Israel-time-Trajan-bears-bust-Augustus-tribute-Rome-s-emperor.html
Monumental piers found in the sunken bits of Corinth:
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/1.708631
A Roman necropolis near Damascus:
http://www.syriaonline.sy/?f=Details&catid=22&pageid=21450&g=1
Plenty of Roman finds from Derby:
http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Look-s-Roman-army-fort-settlement-Derby-s-biggest/story-28873998-detail/story.html
On Fano’s forgotten Roman theatre:
http://www.thelocal.it/20160318/italian-town-forgets-roman-theatre-found-under-derelict-factory
Spectral imaging turns up a chunk of Dexippus:
http://www.livescience.com/54092-goth-greek-battle-revealed-in-ancient-text.html
Nice feature on that warrior burial in Pylos:
http://magazine.uc.edu/issues/0316/pay_dirt.html
The Torlonia collection is being made public:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/torlonia-collection-roman-treasures-to-go-on-show-after-four-decades-in-storage-a6932901.html
http://www.thelocal.it/20160317/hidden-treasures-of-ancient-rome-to-get-first-showing
http://www.news24.com/Green/News/hidden-treasures-of-ancient-rome-to-get-first-showing-20160316
More houses are opening to the public at Pompeii:
http://www.euronews.com/2016/03/17/visitors-get-to-see-more-ancient-homes-at-pompeii/
http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2016/03/15/pompeii-to-unveil-five-restored-houses_9639eb3c-063f-4ca4-8247-954f1b79d1dc.html
Alaric apparently succumbed to malaria:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2016/03/14/warlord-who-caused-the-fall-of-rome-was-killed-by-malaria-new-research-shows/
On the location of Greek myths:
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2016/03/20/fact-or-fiction-hunting-for-the-real-locations-behind-greek-myths/
Recreating ancient warfare at Knox:
http://www.knox.edu/news/news-archive/students-of-ancient-warfare-greek-roman-celtic
Pondering the elitist connection to translation:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/comment/classics-elitism-should-be-lost-in-translation
Assorted Ides of March features:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/12193529/The-Ides-of-March-The-assassination-of-Julius-Caesar-and-how-it-changed-the-world.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/julius-caesars-assassination-10-facts-about-the-ides-of-march-mu/
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/when-the-knives-are-out-for-politicians-it-can-mean-figurative--or-literal--death/news-story/f02a7e79d7f582c4c200d30284233356
http://www.studentnewspaper.org/this-week-in-history-assassination-of-julius-caesar/
http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/social-affairs/20160316/professing-faith-if-julius-caesar-had-been-more-religious-he-might-have-survived
http://www.berlindailysun.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57190:bound-542-words&catid=74:columns&Itemid=429
http://www.wsj.com/articles/an-inconclusive-ides-of-march-1458147881 http://hollywoodlife.com/2016/03/15/ides-of-march-memes-caesar-assassination-murder-tweets/
Latest in the Parthenon/Elgin Marbles saga:
http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/local/latest-news/school-girl-s-impassioned-argument-on-future-of-historic-greek-sculptures-sways-bury-mp-1-7272067
Feature on Lucretius:
http://www.addisonindependent.com/201603victor-nuovo-lucretius-how-and-why-things
Feature on Hadrian’s Wall:
http://www.historyextra.com/article/romans/brief-history-hadrians-wall
Questioning how Jesus was crucified:
http://theconversation.com/was-jesus-really-nailed-to-the-cross-56321 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3498373/Was-Jesus-really-nailed-cross-Ancient-artefacts-suggest-tales-crucifixion-myth-tradition.html
How Arabs preserved Greek civilization:
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/893866
In case you’ve missed the Latin version of Adele’s ‘Hello’:
http://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/local/morris-county/2016/03/15/roxbury-man-covers-adeles-hello-latin/81759552/
Suggestion that Plutarch may have been the first vegetarian:
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2016/03/16/ancient-greek-historian-plutarch-might-have-been-the-first-vegetarian/
The Ben Hur remake trailer is out:
http://www.themovienetwork.com/article/first-ben-hur-trailer-gives-gladiator-vibe
Chatting about Thucydides:
http://www.nctv17.com/the-history-of-the-peloponnesian-war/
More on that Roman taberna in Lattara (France):
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/2100-year-old-roman-tavern-uncovered-empty-cups-and-all-180958395/
Review of Peter McDonald’s translation of the Homeric Hymns:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/mar/18/homeric-hymns-herne-hunter-peter-mcdonald-review
More Seamus Heaney Aeneid VI reviews:
http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/03/gifts-from-beyond-the-grave-from-virgil-and-seamus-heaney/
http://www.irishnews.com/arts/books/2016/03/17/news/book-reviews-aeneid-a-reminder-of-heaney-s-poetic-power-453001/
http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/books/aeneid-book-vi-translated-by-seamus-heaney-review-a3200596.html
http://www.rte.ie/ten/reviews/books/2016/0316/775401-seamus-heaney-aeneid-book-vi/
-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:
http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/recent.html
Visit our blog:
http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
Aurignacian sites found prior to Bergerac bypass construction:
http://artdaily.com/news/85829/In-preventive-excavation-realized-by-INRAP--a-bird-found-to-be-among-the-earliest-art-
An untouched Bronze Age barrow site from Lancashire:
http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art548868-Archaeological-dig-planned-as-metal-detectorist-discovers-untouched-Bronze-Age-burial-mound
http://www.leylandguardian.co.uk/news/local/bronze-age-site-uncovered-in-lancashire-1-7795032
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/12192968/Metal-detector-buffs-find-untouched-Bronze-Age-burial-site.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/mar/13/bronze-age-burial-site-undisturbed-millennia-metal-detectors
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-35800891 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3490686/Bronze-Age-burial-ground-discovered-Two-metal-detector-enthusiasts-site-unearthing-rare-artefacts-Lancashire-field.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
A 2500 years bp ‘warrior king’ burial from Pocklington:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/mar/17/warrior-king-uncovered-yorkshire-iron-age-settlement
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/archaeology/12197083/Iron-Age-man-found-buried-with-spears-sticking-out-of-him-like-a-hedgehog.html
… other finds from the same site:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/pocklington-iron-age-burial-ground-archaeology-yorkshire-a6936591.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/mar/17/hugely-important-iron-age-remains-found-yorkshire-site
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-35823401 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3495506/Iron-Age-settlement-2-500-year-old-migrant-camp-Discovery-site-Yorkshire-international-significance.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
http://www.southendstandard.co.uk/news/national/14348851.Iron_Age_settlement_find_in_East_Yorkshire__of_international_importance_/
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/rare-iron-age-settlement-dating-7572567
Finds from various periods in Argyll:
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/03/2016/charcoal-burning-platforms-of-the-atlantic-woods-of-scotland
A Danish metal detectorist turned up an 1100 years bp gold crucifix:
http://www.thelocal.dk/20160316/1100-year-old-denmark-crucifix-may-change-history
http://cphpost.dk/news/amateur-archaeologist-finds-denmarks-oldest-crucifix.html
http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/rare-viking-crucifix-found-with-metal-detector-160318.htm
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/amateur-metal-detector-finds-crucifix-which-may-change-historical-record-a6936301.html
Shedding light on medieval Erik:
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-science-life-death-medieval-king.html http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-03/uu-ssn031616.php
Traces of Suffolk’s ‘lost city’:
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/archaeological_dig_uncovers_a_gift_from_the_past_of_world_importance_at_dunwich_1_4460406
Interesting Reformation-related notes in a Henry VIII Bible:
http://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/items/hss/172297.html http://phys.org/news/2016-03-historian-uncovers-secrets-reformation-hidden.html
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-03/qmuo-hus031516.php http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3496565/Holy-moly-Hidden-annotations-England-s-printed-Bible-include-notes-Reformation-debt-owed-thief.html
Santa Maria Antiqua has reopened to the public:
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/early-christian-church-in-rome-reopens-to-public/
In Our Time on Bedlam:
http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/5/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download/proto/http/vpid/p03n0nz6.mp3
Repair funding for Devon medieval priory:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-35832404
A fire at Wythenshawe hall:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-35809417
Feature on Franz Joseph:
http://www.dw.com/en/the-long-rule-of-emperor-franz-joseph/g-19117063
Feature on the once-powerful city of Ani:
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20160309-the-empire-the-world-forgot
Arguing about a carving of Merlin at Tintagel Castle:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-35837271 http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/mar/18/this-is-not-disneyland-its-cornwall-battle-tintagel-castle
300 years bp silver from West Berkshire has been declared treasure:
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/300-year-old-west-berkshire-11051489
On some of the women involved in the Easter Rising:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/03/16/opinion/eight-women-of-irelands-1916-easter-rising.html
More on that 11 000 years bp ‘pendant’ from Star Carr:
http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art549254-star-carr-pendant-tom-bell-archaeology
More on Egyptian beads in Denmark:
http://cphpost.dk/news/startling-king-tut-discovery-in-denmark.html
-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:
http://archaeology-in-europe.blogspot.com/
================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ================================================================
A 12 000+ years bp ‘puppy burial’ from Siberia (or thereabouts):
http://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/news/n0613-ancient-puppys-brain-is-well-preservedas-dog-bares-its-teeth-after-12400-years/
http://news.discovery.com/animals/pets/pleistocene-puppy-found-frozen-in-russian-permafrost-160316.htm
First person account of the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas:
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35673213
Feature on Beijing:
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/mar/17/story-cities-beijing-earliest-planning-document-history
Another branch of the Silk Road has been found:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/archaeologists-uncover-another-branch-of-the-silk-road/
Latest impact of humans on megafauna in Australia study:
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-early-human-impacts-biodiversity.html
-----
Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:
http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/
New Zealand Archaeology eNews:
http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html ================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Studying human presence in what would be New Mexico 9000 - 13000 years bp:
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-uncovering-mystery-early-humans-mexico.html
A 1000 year bp rock shelter site in Albuquerque:
http://krqe.com/2016/03/13/archaeologists-find-remnants-of-1000-year-old-shelter-at-albuquerque-park/
How rocks shaped the Civil War:
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-civil-war.html
Artifacts from various periods from a Sable Island site:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1349830-archeological-dig-discovers-lost-lives-of-sable-island
On the Hopewell approach to mound-building:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/science/2016/03/13/1-archaeology-hopewell-used-cross-cultural-approach-to-build-great-monuments.html
Pondering whether the Hopewell tracked equinoxes:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/03/13/from-the-stump-did-ancient-ohioans-track-the-spring-fall-equinoxes.html
The SITLA Spirit Railroad project:
http://trustlands.utah.gov/sitla-spirit-railroad-project/
A top ten list of sites in the US:
http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-archaeological-site/?CMPID=USAT-Cards
Review of Buckley, *The Black Calhouns*:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/20/books/review/the-black-calhouns-by-gail-lumet-buckley.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbooks&_r=0
Review of Showalter, *The Civil Wars of Julia Ward Howe*:
http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/03/16/470444422/battle-hymn-at-the-dining-table-a-famous-feminist-subjugated-through-food
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
Chatty sort of thing on hopes of finding the tomb of an Aztec ruler:
http://www.mexidata.info/id4293.html
-----
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 ================================================================
Some Shakespeare folios are coming to auction:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/12197158/Holy-Grail-of-Shakespeares-first-Four-Folios-set-to-go-on-sale-in-London.html
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=85863
… while some writing in his own hand was causing a stir:
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/03/16/470729477/only-script-in-shakespeares-handwriting-urges-compassion-for-migrants?sc=17&f=1001
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/mar/15/william-shakespeare-handwritten-plea-for-refugees-online-sir-thomas-more-script-play-british-library-exhibition
… and is being digitized and questioned:
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/141302/20160315/shakespeares-handwriting-will-be-digitized-by-the-british-museum-but-is-it-actually-shakespeares.htm
The reemergence of Whig history:
https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/context/physicists-story-science-breaks-historians-rules?tgt=more
In case you were interested in the archaeology at Solibor:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/the-archeological-excavations-that-led-to-the-gas-chambers-of-sobibor-a-993733.html
Some Nazi art resurfaces:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/long-lost-sculptures-from-hitler-chancellery-in-berlin-found-a-1035251.html
Some pi day items:
http://scienceline.org/2016/03/the-surprising-history-of-%CF%80/ http://phys.org/news/2016-03-farm-boy-wales-gave-world.html
On how Darwin’s kiddies influenced his theory:
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160315-did-charles-darwin-use-his-children-for-science
Something about smart people being better off with fewer friends:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/18/why-smart-people-are-better-off-with-fewer-friends/
Latest on that attempt to recreate the Kon Tiki voyage:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-35838732
Virtual graffiti at Florence’s Duomo:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/world/europe/florence-tackles-duomo-defacement-with-a-new-tool-virtual-graffiti.html
Figuring out what St Patrick ate:
http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/03/17/470730700/feast-like-its-399-the-maybe-true-culinary-adventures-of-st-patrick
Interesting feature on conserving a Durer:
http://blog.britishmuseum.org/2016/03/15/conserving-durers-triumphal-arch-coming-apart-at-the-seams/
… and one on a JMW Turner piece:
http://westcampus.yale.edu/news/yale-partnership-highlights-dazzling-story-behind-j-m-w-turner?refresh=2
… and Whistler’s Mother:
http://theconversation.com/heres-looking-at-whistlers-mother-54334
A Swedish nursery is teaching an old Viking-era language:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-35831359
Eminem apparently traces his roots to Welsh royalty:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/articles/35830291
On the ten most beautiful ceilings:
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160317-the-10-most-beautiful-ceilings-in-the-world
Pondering collecting, museums, ownership, etc.:
http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/tourism/when_it_comes_to_ancient_treasures_are_we_owners_thieves_or_caretakers_1_4459438
Now we get a Peruvian beer recreation:
http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2016/03/chicago-brewery-recreates-ancient-peruvian-beer/
Archaeology Podcast Network:
http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/ ================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Late antiquity textiles:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/15/science/roman-empire-textiles-archaeology-late-antiquity.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience
http://www.wsj.com/articles/designing-identity-the-power-of-textiles-in-late-antiquity-review-1458077369
Pharaoh in Canaan:
http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-canaanites-who-loved-pharaoh-on-display-at-the-israel-museum/
Myths and Nature:
http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/nations/italy/2016/03/16/pompeii-and-naples-museum-team-up-for-myths-and-nature_e96d001d-365e-4620-b5b9-76f0a6f280ea.html
Roman Mosaics:
http://www.getty.edu/publications/romanmosaics/
Da Vinci:
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/arts/2016/03/15/da-vinci-comes-cincinnati-museum-center/81771668/
Algiers:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201603161409.html
Cave Temples of Dunhuang:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-cave-temples-getty-20160320-story.html
The British Museum is opening a ‘stand alone’ department for scientific research:
http://theartnewspaper.com/news/archeology/british-museum-s-collection-to-go-under-the-microscope/
================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
Learning things from the plaque on skeletons’ teeth:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160315-tooth-plaque-dna-archaeology/
A project to transcribe handwritten documents from Norfolk County:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2016/03/18/turning-hard-read-cursive-into-computer-type/i1BZEB3fCmFxjlKJmHuJiK/story.html?s_campaign=email_BG_TodaysHeadline
The Early Canadian Periodicals project:
http://www.canadiana.ca/en/architecture-urban-history-2016
================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT ================================================================
DNA extraction from a South African mummy (not sure about the date):
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-successful-ancient-dna-southern-african.html http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-03/uotw-fse031616.php http://theconversation.com/scans-and-dna-tests-reveal-the-secrets-of-a-rare-african-mummy-56156
DNA from the ancestors of the Irish:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/man-s-discovery-of-bones-under-his-pub-could-forever-change-what-we-know-about-the-irish-a6936991.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/17/a-mans-discovery-of-bones-under-his-pub-could-forever-change-what-we-know-about-the-irish/
Some of those Denisovan DNA studies (above) focus on the genetic influence
they still have:
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-ancient-dna-modern-day-humans.html http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-03/bu-rfa031716.php
On genetic variants from the Stone Age or something like that:
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-stone-age-hunters-contributed-variants.html
Dienekes' Anthropology Blog:
http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/ ================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS ================================================================
Okunoin cemetery:
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20160308-an-eerie-night-with-200000-dead-monks
================================================================
CRIME BEAT
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