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explorator 15.16 August 5, 2012
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================================================================
Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Diana Wright, Edward Rockstein,
Kurt Theis, John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri,
Rochelle Altman, Bob Heuman, Mick Miles, Dorothy King, Richard Campbell,
Mata Kimasitayo, Wendy van Duivenvoorde, Tim Parkin, Vincent Rosivach,
A. Landreau, Richard Campbell, Richard C. Griffiths, Rick Heli,
and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses thisweek (as always hoping
I have left no one out).
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EARLY HOMINIDS
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More on that ‘sister species’:

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/342711/title/DNA_hints_at_African_cousin_to_humans
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AFRICA
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Modern culture emerged in Africa some 20 000 years earlier than previously
thought:

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-modern-culture-africa-20120730,0,4412702.story
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19069560
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120730155047.htm
http://phys.org/news/2012-07-onset-date-south-africa-stone.html
http://artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=56821
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/south-african-cave-find-pushes-stone-age-industry-back-to-44000-years/story-fnd134gw-1226439306287
http://news.yahoo.com/researchers-modern-culture-may-earlier-start-171918659.html
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/hominids/2012/08/the-origins-of-modern-culture/

… and the Onion’s spin:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/human-culture-much-older-than-thought,29024/

Interesting finds from a mass grave site in Malindi:

http://www.the-star.co.ke/local/coast/88081-malindi-archaeologists-make-new-discoveries

Plans for the Oranjemund shipwreck:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201208040080.html

On the threat to African artifacts:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/arts/design/african-art-is-under-threat-in-djenne-djenno.html

More on the return of some purloined Nigerian artifacts:

http://www.livescience.com/21891-nigeria-nok-statues-smuggled.html

… and a followup item:

http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/31738/2012/08/05/senate_committees_standpoint_illicit_artefacts_trafficking_others.html
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ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
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Some mummies from the British Museum are the latest to get the CT scan
treatment:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9446224/CT-scan-unmasks-the-secrets-of-the-mummies.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2182010/The-mummy-unmasked-Medical-scans-amazing-images-ancient-Egyptians.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2182010/Student-uses-hospital-scanner-uncover-ancient-secrets-7-Egyptian-artefacts-British-Museum.html

They’ve opened up some more tombs in Egypt to get more tourist interest:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/in-egypt-archeologists-open-new-tombs-to-woo-tourists/2012/07/28/gJQAsK8fHX_print.htm

Some Egyptian artifacts were recoveredat the international bridge in Laredo (!):

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=56790
http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=782264#.UB5ZqKDJ2So
http://www.pro8news.com/news/local/Egyptian-Artifacts-Discovered-At-World-Trade-Bridge-164332276.html

As might be expected after years of reading this sort of thing, there is much
hype attending a seal depicting (maybe) Samson:

http://news.discovery.com/history/seal-may-give-substance-to-samson-legend-120803.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/9438668/Israeli-scholars-claim-possible-evidence-of-Samson.html

Interesting claim of an unsubstantiated find of victims of the destruction of
Jerusalem in 70 A.D./C.E. (the second one provides additional detail):

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=5216
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=5278
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/158417

Latest from the Tel Azekeh dig:

http://azekah.wordpress.com/

… see also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5I9dJZ9fTk

A Neolithic mass grave site in Turkey is being hyped as evidence for early humans
having a “feminine” (or compassionate) side:

http://phys.org/news/2012-07-stone-age-feminine-side.html

The folks working on the Tayinat Archaeological Project uncovered a massive
statue of Suppiluliuma:

http://phys.org/news/2012-07-archeologists-unearth-extraordinary-human-sculpture.html
http://media.utoronto.ca/media-releases/environment-natural-resources/archeologists-unearth-extraordinary-human-sculpture-in-turkey/
http://news.discovery.com/history/royal-statue-hittite-120731.html
http://www.slate.com/blogs/trending/2012/07/31/giant_human_statue_discovered_in_turkey_dates_back_to_1000_b_c_.html
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0730/Colossal-human-sculpture-unearthed-in-Turkey
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/07/31/giant_statue_vandalised_by_assyrians_found/

Feature on Canadian involvement at Tel es Safi:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/07/29/f-israel-bronze-age-cities-canadian.html

… and here’s the latest from the dig blog:

http://gath.wordpress.com/

Not quite sure where to put this one on medieval Jewish scribes in various
parts of the world:

http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/Judaism/Article.aspx?id=279843

Latest strategy to preserve Egyptian heritage:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/49419/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Revised-strategy-to-preserve-Egypts-heritage-Retur.aspx

This week’s installment of Temple Mount:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/158387

More on that Egyptian funerary boat find:

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2012/1109/he1.htm
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ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
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The Colosseum is getting a facelift, we are told (again):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/31/rome-colosseum-25m-facelift
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19064763
http://www.scotsman.com/news/international/colosseum-in-line-for-19-6m-revamp-1-2443054
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9442005/Colosseum-restoration-project-gets-go-ahead.html

Remains of a Roman road near a pub in Colchester:

http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/local/9845037.Roman_road_found_beneath_the_Stockwell_Arms/

Fires threatened the Golyamata Kosmatka mound site in Bulgaria:

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=141982

Searching for the Gigli helmet:

http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/9853339.Decades_delving_into_Greek_helmet_puzzle/

Remains of a ‘luxury villa’ from Kourion:

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/kourion/ancient-luxury-villa-found-kourion/20120802
http://www.incyprus.com.cy/en-gb/Blogs/4324/29291/curium-dig-is-finished

Pondering the future of Alderney Roman Fort:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-19067007

A Greek inscription from Plovdiv:

http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n284464

Greek, Roman, and Celtic artifacts found during Romanian highway construction:

http://www.romania-insider.com/archeologists-unearth-celtic-artifacts-plus-ancient-roman-and-greek-silver-coins-on-future-track-of-romanian-highway/62275/

The Getty has a ‘Lion Attacking a Horse’:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444226904577561023846396232.html

Building a hotel around a Hellenistic mosaic in Turkey:

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/03/13103755-a-hotel-an-archaeology-site-or-both

On the Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives program:

http://www.thebayonet.com/2012/08/01/338852/tour-highlighting-classical-literature.html

Boris Johnson reciting the Olympian Ode (full version):

http://rogueclassicism.com/2012/08/03/boris-johnson-orates-armand-dangours-olympian-ode/

More Silchester coverage:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/31/silchester-iron-age-roman-britain?INTCMP=SRCH

Review of Anne Carson, “Antigonick” (warning: beyond turgid prose):

http://www.the-tls.co.uk/tls/public/article1093904.ece

More on Rome’s leaning Colosseum (did I mention this?):

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9436250/Colosseum-in-need-of-urgent-support-as-one-side-is-15-inches-lower-than-other.html
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/leaning-colosseum-needs-urgent-fix/story-fnbzs1v0-1226439245363
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/30/colosseum-rome-leaning-officials-say?INTCMP=SRCH
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/italian-geologists-fear-iconic-roman-colosseum-leaning-article-1.1124678?localLinksEnabled=false
http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/bre86s0lo-us-italy-colosseum/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/29/us-italy-colosseum-idUSBRE86S0LO20120729

More on that recovered Roman sarcophagus:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roman-sarcophagus-found-after-20-years.aspx?pageID=238&nID=26682&NewsCatID=375

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
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EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
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A dig at a Neolithic site on the Isle of Eday (Orkney) has a very detailed
dig diary under way as well:

https://sites.google.com/site/bevarsweb/dig-diary-1

Studying ancient evidence of earthquakes in Aquila:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120803131932.htm
http://phys.org/news/2012-08-ancient-italian-earthquakes-aquila-area.html

Medieval business wasn’t so greedy:

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2012/august/greed-middle-ages-080212.html

Feature on some Renaissance villas:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2181957/Italian-villa-The-palatial-rustic-retreats-Renaissance-lie-abandoned.html

A 300 years b.p. skull from a shipwreck off Sweden:

http://www.thelocal.se/42190/20120723/

Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

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ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
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We’re starting to hear from museums who purchased items from that
dealer busted a week or so ago:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/nga-admits-buying-from-disgraced-dealer/story-e6frg8n6-1226442632719
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/arrest-over-antiquities-20120803-23lii.html

East Asian Archaeology:

http://eastasiablog.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/east-asian-archaeology-cultural-heritage-%E2%80%93-2052010/

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://www.nzarchaeology.org/netsubnews.htm
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NORTH AMERICA
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Interesting feature on that iron ax found at the Mantle site:

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/science/2012/07/29/for-indians-ax-marked-first-chapter-of-disaster.html

… see also:

http://ohio-archaeology.blogspot.com/2012/07/trade-during-late-prehistoric-period.html

They’re digging at Pike’s Cantonment:

http://pressrepublican.com/0100_news/x614300479/Archaeological-work-continues-at-Pikes-Cantonment

On St Augustine’s Lighthouse Archaeology program:

http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/2012-08-04/story/history-out-shifting-sands-st-augustines-lighthouse-archaeological

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CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
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Evidence of chocolate use 2500 years b.p. from the Yucatan peninsula:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/9448460/Archaeologists-find-traces-of-2500-year-old-chocolate.html
http://www.inah.gob.mx/index.php/boletines/16-antropologia/6048-descubren-cacao-de-hace-2500-anos-en-yucatan
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-maya-chocolate-20120803%2C0%2C5012936.story
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/experts-2500-year-old-chocolate-may-have-been-used-by-mayas-as-condiment-not-just-beverage/2012/08/02/gJQAWME0SX_story.html
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_MEXICO_ANCIENT_CHOCOLATE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Tomb of a Maya prince from Uxul:

http://artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=56841
http://phys.org/news/2012-07-tomb-maya-prince-mexico.html
http://www.sciencecodex.com/archaeologists_from_bonn_discover_in_mexico_the_tomb_of_a_maya_prince-95722

Nice feature/slideshow on women/children burial from Tepanec:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/07/pictures/120731-aztec-burials-child-sacrifices-mexico-city-science/

Reconstructing Simon Bolivar’s visage:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18977143

Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:

http://goo.gl/1VdeA

Ancient MesoAmerica News:

http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
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OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
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Audio news from Archaeologica:

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/content/MP3/audnews29jul12.mp3

On the use of SUAV (aerial drones) in archaeology:

http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2012/08/archaeological-mapping/
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Test_flight_over_Peru_ruins_could_revolutionize_archaeological_mapping_999.html
http://phys.org/news/2012-08-flight-peru-revolutionize-archaeological.html

… and how radioactivity is useful:

http://blog.oup.com/2012/07/radioactivity-science-vsi-tuniz/

The Bodleian has a project/appeal to get Shakespeare’s First Folio
collectively online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19076860
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2012/aug/02/bodleian-shakespeare-first-folio-online

Honoring Flinders Petrie:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-jerusalem-a-crowd-turns-out-to-honor-an-archaeological-giant-flinders-petrie/

Someone’s going to sail a Phoenician ship replica across the Atlantic:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9434701/British-adventurers-plan-to-sail-replica-of-Phoenician-sailing-boat-across-Atlantic.html

An interesting etymology piece (potentially offensive):

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/the-word-fart-origins-etymology_n_1721585.html

Ancient Digger:

http://www.ancientdigger.com/
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BLOGS
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About.com Archaeology:

http://archaeology.about.com/

Archaeology Briefs:

http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/

Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:

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

Time Machine:

http://heatherpringle.wordpress.com/
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CRIME BEAT
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Looting Matters:

http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/

Illicit Cultural Property:

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

SAFE:

http://www.savingantiquities.org/blog/
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NUMISMATICA
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Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v15n32.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v15n33.html

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/
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EXHIBITIONS, AUCTIONS, AND MUSEUM-RELATED
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Antico:

http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/jul/25/antico-recasting-ancients/

Folk Art in Four Directions:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/arts/design/compass-folk-art-in-four-directions-at-south-street-seaport.html

Century of the Child:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/arts/design/review-century-of-the-child-at-moma.html?ref=design

The Paley collection is on its way to San Francisco:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/paley-art-collection-heading-to-the-de-young-fine-arts-museums-in-san-francisco/

Feature on the Buffalo Bill Museum in Wyoming:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/04/arts/design/buffalo-bill-museum-in-wyoming.html

The Sharing Treasures project:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19051810

Review of a couple of exhibitions (Messerschmidt and Klimt) at the Getty:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-messerschmidt-klimt-review-20120804,0,7334040.story
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PERFORMANCES AND THEATRE-RELATED
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Timon of Athens/Richard III:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/arts/01iht-lon01.html

Maometto II:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/31/arts/music/a-rossini-masterwork-ahead-of-its-time.html?ref=arts

Check out our Twitter hashtag for Ancient Drama reviews:

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23ancientdrama

... and for Sword and Sandal flicks:

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23swordandsandal

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OBITUARIES
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James Mellaart:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9450610/James-Mellaart.html
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/catalhoyuk-sites-archaeologist-dies.aspx?pageID=238&nID=26946&NewsCatID=375
http://www.timeturk.com/tr/2012/08/01/anadolu-asigi-mellaart-oldu.html

John Keegan:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/john-keegan-dies-british-military-historian-was-78/2012/08/04/3b0b29a4-de52-11e1-8e43-4a3c4375504a_story.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/books/sir-john-keegan-historian-who-put-a-face-on-war-dies-at-78.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443545504577565612993526428.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/books-obituaries/9447744/Sir-John-Keegan.html

Brian Dobson:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9856129.Hadrian_s_Wall_expert_dies_aged_80/

Gene Smith:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/books/gene-smith-biographer-of-leaders-dies-at-83.html

Gore Vidal:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/books/gore-vidal-elegant-writer-dies-at-86.html
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/1235126--gore-vidal-celebrated-author-playwright-dies
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/05/gore-vidal-origins-of-cold-war

================================================================
PODCASTS
================================================================
The Book and the Spade:

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

Stone Pages Archaeology News:

http://news.stonepages.com/

Archaeologica Audio News:

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/AudioNews.asp

Naked Archaeology Podcast:

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/archaeology/
================================================================
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