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explorator 24.28 October 31, 2021
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You can read explorator online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/

Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,
John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Hernan Astudillo,
Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay, John Dillon,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

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EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
The newest human ancestor has been dubbed homo bodoensis:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028143648.htm
https://www.livescience.com/new-human-species-named-bodoensis
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/oct/28/human-species-homo-bodoensis-who-lived-500000-years-ago-is-named
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/africa-experts-europe-ethiopia-canada-b963136.html
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2295406-new-human-species-has-been-named-homo-bodoensis-but-it-may-not-stick/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10113-211029-homo-bodoensis-evolution

cf: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/evan.21929

Overviewish thing on the 2021 dig season at the Acheulean site of Albala:

https://www.eurasiareview.com/25102021-fourth-excavation-campaign-at-acheulean-site-of-albala/
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AFRICA
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Feature on the history of the Christian Bible in Ethiopia:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2021/10/christian-bible-in-ethiopia
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ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
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Early in the week, there were hints that something might be found at Saqqara:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/109180/New-archaeological-evidence-found-in-Saqqara-Archaeological-Area

... then yesterday we were told of the find of the tomb of Ramses II's treasurer there:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/436782.aspx
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/109379/Egypt-uncovers-Ptah-M-Wia-tomb-head-of-treasury-during
http://famagusta-gazette.com/2021/10/31/egypt-discovers-interior-of-ancient-tomb-at-saqqara-necropolis-near-giza-pyramids/
https://africa.cgtn.com/2021/10/31/egypt-discovers-interior-of-ancient-tomb-at-saqqara-necropolis-near-giza-pyramids/
https://www.thestatesman.com/world/archaeologists-discover-interior-ancient-tomb-egypts-saqqara-necropolis-1503022130.html

For some reason, Egypt was denying the discovery of a new 'Sphinx' at Giza:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-denies-the-discovery-of-a-new-sphinx-at-the-pyramids/

Byzantine finds from beneath the demolished Tawfic Pasha Andraos Palace in Luxor:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/10/new-discoveries-found-under-demolished-historic-palace-egypt

More on Egyptians using mummification a millennium earlier than previously thought:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/old-kingdom-mummy-discovery-2025460
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/oct/24/mummys-older-than-we-thought-new-find-rewrites-the-history-books
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/church-of-the-apostles-in-bethsaida-mysteriously-buried-archaeologists-discover-1.10310760
https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/egypt/2021/10/25/egyptian-mummy-could-help-archaeologists-rewrite-the-history-books/

Review of Edward Dolnick, *The Writing of the Gods*:

https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/Book-Reviews/2021/1025/Why-the-Rosetta-stone-initially-stumped-linguists

Italian archaeologists are joining a dig about to get under way in the Shami Valley of Iran:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/466491/Italian-archaeologists-to-join-project-in-southwest-Iran

A 2700 years bp Assyrian wine production site from Faida in northern Iraq:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-archaeologists-iraq-ancient-wine.html
https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/archaeologists-in-iraq-find-ancient-wine-press-carvings-1.83196968
https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/iraq/2021/10/25/archaeologists-in-iraq-discover-ancient-wine-press-and-giant-carvings/
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211024-archaeologists-in-iraq-find-2-700-year-old-wine-press
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/researchers-find-ancient-wine-factory-monumental-carvings-in-iraq/news
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3153532/archaeologists-iraq-find-2700-year-old-wine-press-rule
http://www.jordantimes.com/news/region/archaeologists-iraq-find-2700-year-old-wine-press
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10101-211026-iraq-assyrian-wine

A Late Bronze Age (maybe) sealing from Karkamis (Turkey) which belonged to a woman administrator of some sort:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/digs-reveal-seals-of-hittite-female-administrator-in-se-turkey/news

A fragment of a relief from a Judahite shrine near Jerusalem my depict a Canaanite deity:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/judahite-temple-by-jerusalem-may-have-housed-statue-of-canaanite-god-1.10330237

More on purported remains of a lost Church of the Apostles in the purported site of Bethsaida:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/lost-church-of-the-apostles-in-bethsaida-may-have-been-hidden-on-purpose-682969
https://www.timesofisrael.com/researchers-uncover-mosaic-in-what-they-think-is-bethsaidas-church-of-apostles/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/church-of-the-apostles-in-bethsaida-mysteriously-buried-archaeologists-discover-1.10310760

More on the remains of a 2700 years bp winery in Jerusalem:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-israeli-archaeologists-ancient-winemaking-complex.html

More on the 2700 years bp private toilet find in Jerusalem:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/2700-year-old-private-toilet-discovered-in-jerusalem/ZKPNDHOMS74SJSTIKCN42CCJOY/

More on that 2000 years bp amethyst sealstone from the City of David (ten years ago):

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/amethyst-seal-israel-10208.html

A huge restored mosaic in Hisham's Palace was revealed this week:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-palestinians-unveil-huge-mosaic-jericho.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/28/huge-restored-mosaic-unveiled-in-jericho-desert-castle
https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2021/10/29/huge-restored-mosaic-goes-on-display-in-jericho
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-59087800
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-huge-mosaic-in-the-west-bank-unveiled-after-multi-year-restoration-1.10333259

Remains of a 2700 years bp fortress in Jerusalem will be undergoing restoration:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/2700-year-old-biblical-fortress-in-jerusalem-undergoes-restoration-683059

Feature on six sites in Israel that are on army-controlled land (and another in a prison):

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/MAGAZINE-6-archaeological-sites-on-israeli-army-controlled-land-and-one-in-a-prison-1.10322584

Interesting feature on Montagu Parker's search for the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-secret-excavation-of-jerusalem-180978888/
https://greekreporter.com/2021/10/29/quest-ark-covenant-rocked-archaeology/

Feature on the change from Constantinople to Istanbul:

https://www.livescience.com/istanbul-not-constantinople

Excavations are under way at the Zubala site in northern Saudi Arabia:

https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/612682/SAUDI-ARABIA/Heritage-Commission-starts-archaeological-excavation-of-Zubala-site-in-Northern-Border
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1955296/saudi-arabia
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

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ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
============================================================
Overview of this year's dig at the Middle Bronze Age site at Erimi-Laonin (Cyprus):

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/10/25/erimi-laonin-2021-the-new-findings/

A 2300 years bp coin with an image of Zeus found during an metal-detecting crime in Israel:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1170437/ancient-coin-with-the-head-of-zeus-found-in-northern-israel/

A section of the via Latina was revealed in Rome (Italian):

https://artemagazine.it/2021/10/28/roma-torna-alla-luce-un-tratto-dellantica-via-latina/

From Agrigento comes remains of a dwelling in the Hellenistic-Roman quarter which has 'pompeii-style' mosaics (Italian):

https://www.agrigentonotizie.it/cronaca/quartiere-ellenistico-romano-scoperta-casa-mosaici-pavimenti-stile-pompeiano.html
https://www.ansa.it/canale_viaggiart/it/regione/sicilia/2021/10/30/archeologia-nella-valle-dei-templi-scoperta-casa-restaurata_6dd02fbd-318a-4e3b-a347-e21279769310.html
https://www.sicilianews.it/agrigento-valle-templi-affiora-casa-iii-ii-secolo-a-c-con-mosaici-integri/

The fourth season of excavations at the Stabian Baths in Pompeii has concluded (Italian):

https://www.madeinpompei.it/2021/10/30/pompei-conclusa-la-quarta-campagna-di-scavo-nelle-terme-stabiane/

HS2 construction brought to light a trio of 2000 years bp Roman statues at a Buckinghamshire church site:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/oct/29/astounding-roman-statues-unearthed-at-norman-church-ruins-on-route-of-hs2
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-59077550
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hs2-dig-roman-statue-site-destroy-b1947137.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10141417/Archaeology-Roman-statues-UNDERNEATH-site-Norman-church-Stoke-Mandeville.html
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/19680450.astounding-discovery-roman-sculptures-abandoned-buckinghamshire-church/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/archaeologists-dig-up-roman-statues-hs2-d5hbr97tc
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/29/roman-remains-worldwide-significance-found-hs2-line/
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/statues-old-jesus-found-hs2-21996720
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/roman-bust-hs2-intl-scli-gbr/index.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/10/once-in-a-lifetime-roman-statue-discovery/141814
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/10/29/roman-statue-uk-archeology-hs2/

Statue heads of Aphrodite and Dionysus (they look 1st/2nd century CE) from Aizanoi:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/statue-heads-of-greek-deities-found-in-turkeys-aizanoi/news
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/statuary-heads-of-greek-gods-unearthed-in-ancient-city-in-turkey-3583228
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/10/30/heads-of-greek-gods-discovered-in-ancient-city/

A Roman-era sanctuary from Doliche:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/10/archaeologists-reveal-roman-sanctuary-in-ancient-doliche/141821

Excavations at the Richborough amphitheatre revealed a room where gladiators 'waited to meet their deaths' and remains of a pet cat:

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about-us/search-news/pr-richborough-excavation/
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/28/amphitheatre-dig-kent-roman-town-richborough
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-59079284
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10139545/Excavation-Roman-amphitheatre-England-uncovers-arena-holding-cell.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/room-gladiators-wait-die-romans-richborough-kent-kxc3t3lvh
https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/excavation-roman-amphitheatre-near-sandwich-6123762
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/excavation-into-roman-amphitheatre-in-england-uncovers-arena-holding-cell-40991721.html
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/roman-amphitheater-discovery-scn-intl-scli/index.html

A huge late Roman/early Byzantine mosaic from Turkey's Kayseri province:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/largest-byzantine-mosaic-structure-found-in-central-turkey/news
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/floor-mosaic-from-late-roman-early-byzantine-period-found-in-central-turkey/2405131

Amphorae and other items from a 'Classical' era shipwreck off Kythira (found in 2019) were brought to the surface:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/10/26/ancient-shipwreck-off-peloponnese-had-cargo-of-amphorae/
https://neoskosmos.com/en/2021/10/26/life/arts/shipwreck-lying-in-sea-off-peloponnese-carried-a-load-of-amphorae/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/45589-ancient-shipwreck-lying-in-sea-off-peloponnese-carried-a-load-of-amphorae.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/10/29/classical-era-shipwreck-in-the-kythera-neopolis-straits-investigated/

More on the major Roman coin hoard from Augsburg (still looking for English language coverage by a major outlet):

https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/silberschatz-der-alten-roemer-in-augsburg-entdeckt-17591190.html
https://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/augsburg-archaeologie-schatz-antike-silber-1.5444886
https://www.agi.it/estero/news/2021-10-24/in-germania-ritrovate-5500-monete-romane-argento-14304891/

Studying earthquakes in Smyrna:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/smyrna-agora-documents-reveal-clues-about-izmir-quakes-168961

Really TV hype but an interesting feature on some of the victims of Pompeii:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10125373/Pregnant-mother-brushing-hair-engulfed-lava-Pompeii-historian-says.html

Feature on a 'strange' site at Khirbet Omrit (Israel) which may be a Roman temple built by Herod:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/MAGAZINE-strange-ruin-in-northern-israel-could-be-king-herod-s-lost-temple-1.10326769

Feature on Donald Kagan:

https://yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/5416-remembering-donald-kagan

Feature on Patrizio Ceccagnoli's translation of Anne Carson's work:

http://news.ku.edu/2021/10/25/professor-invents-new-italian-word-translate-anne-carson

Feature on Barbette Spaeth's work with ancient religion and magic:

https://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2021/magic,-witches-and-curse-tablets-classics-professor-connects-antiquity-to-today.php

Review of Charlotte Higgins, *Greek Myths*:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/29/greek-myths-a-new-retelling-by-charlotte-higgins-review-gloriously-interwoven-tales

Feature on the decipherment of Linear B:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/10/30/ancient-greek-linear-b/

Feature on the first Africans in Lancashire:

https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2021/10/black-romans-the-first-africans-in-lancashire/

Feature on Nikopolis:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/10/28/nikopolis-roman-era-greece/

Feature on Pavlopetri:

https://www.grunge.com/647270/the-truth-about-greeces-ancient-underwater-city/

Feature on the Oceanids:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/10/30/oceanids-ancient-greek-mythology/

Feature on Circe:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/10/31/circe-witch-greek-mythology/

Feature on the most prolific couples in ancient Greek myth:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/10/24/the-top-7-sexy-greek-gods-and-godesses/

Feature on AI 'resurrecting' ancient board games:

https://www.wired.com/story/this-ai-resurrects-ancient-board-games-lets-you-play-them/

Feature on the Roman Empire:

https://www.livescience.com/roman-empire

A response to the 'floodgates' argument against restored the Parthenon Marbles to Greece:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/10/24/the-parthenon-report-of-fish-and-floodgates/

... and the idea of the 'Universal Museum':

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/10/31/the-parthenon-report-ladies-and-gentlemen-welcome-to-the-universal-museum/

Suggestion that the Marbles shouldn't be returned just yet:

https://hyperallergic.com/686631/why-the-elgin-marbles-should-not-be-returned-to-greece-yet/

Feature on some Greek-Australians campaigning for the return of the Marbles:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-27/the-parthenon-elgin-marbles-greek-australians/100559322

Latest 'how can Classics survive' opeddish thing:

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/history-lessons-recent-past-can-help-classics-survive

Latest Pasts Imperfect newsletter:

https://pastsimperfect.substack.com/p/pasts-imperfect-102821

Latest Antiquipop newsletter:

https://www.getrevue.co/profile/Antiquipop/issues/antiquipop-numero-5-777961

In case you missed Boris Johnson's 'fall of Rome' reference:

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/uks-johnson-warns-climate-recalls-fall-roman-empire-ahead-g20-summit-2021-10-30/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/30/cop26-failure-could-mean-mass-migration-and-food-shortages-says-boris-johnson
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
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EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
============================================================
Eight 5500-6500 years bp burials from Pully (Switzerland):

https://www.zenger.news/2021/10/25/tomb-savers-archeologists-rescue-ancient-remains-from-6500-year-old-graves/
https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-remains-6500-year-old-graves-unearthed-archeologists-1644103
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62541

5000 years bp fingerprints of a 13 year old (oddly specific) on a pot from Orkney:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-59036887

Four bronze age palstaves found by a 'beginner' metal detectorist on the Isle of Wight were declared treasure:

https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/19674459.bronze-age-treasure-found-beginner-metal-detectorist/

A man digging a foundation for a garage came across a Migration Period burial of two women in western Slovakia:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22760836/man-stumbles-on-ancient-grave-and-remains-while-digging-foundation-for-garage.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10105-211027-slovakia-migragion-period

Foundations of a major medieval tannery operation at Fountains Abbey:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/oct/25/archaeologists-find-missing-link-history-fountains-abbey
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/press-release/discovery-of-medieval-tannery-at-fountains-abbey-surprises-archaeologists-and-reveals-remarkable-new-evidence-of-community-that-lived-there
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-59035335
https://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/2021/10/25/discovery-of-medieval-tannery-at-fountains-abbey/
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/archaeologists-ground-radar-work-reveals-large-scale-industrial-leather-tannery-at-fountains-abbey-in-north-yorkshire-3430929
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10131231/Experts-medieval-tannery-Fountains-Abbey-North-Yorkshire.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/large-medieval-tannery-discovered-at-monastic-abbey-in-england-180978937/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10106-211027-yorkshire-medieval-tannery

Assorted medieval finds from a community dig at Threaves Estate:

https://www.gallowaygazette.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/threave-dig-revealed-new-secrets-for-scottish-archaeology-month-3434527
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/archaeological-dig-threave-estate-castle-25310006

A small burial ground with graves dating between 1477 and 1638 in Ballinasloe:

https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2021/10/24/historic-human-remains-found-in-ballinasloe-archaeological-excavation/

Digging has resumed on the Culloden Battlefield site:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-59062022
https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/culloden-archaeologists-open-new-ground-in-search-for-battle-clues-3435140
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/inverness/3559293/archaeological-dig-gets-underway-at-culloden-battlefield-2/
https://www.thenational.scot/news/19684275.digging-truth-behind-battle-culloden-myths/

A 17th/18th century weapons collection from the cellars of a building in Poland that had been demolished ages ago:

https://polandin.com/56526744/archaeologists-discover-large-antique-weapons-collection

Archaeologists have located the site of the first Hampden Park:

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19671745.hampden-park-home-world-football-rediscovered-experts-confirm-exact-spot/

Remains of a 19th century 'plunge pool' at Attingham Park:

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/shrewsbury/2021/10/28/archaeological-dig-unearths-spectacular-find/

More on that gold hoard from Norway:

https://norwaytoday.info/news/amateur-archaeologist-uncovers-one-of-the-greatest-gold-treasures-in-danish-history/

More on evidence the Vikings were in the Azores before the Portugues:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/31/did-vikings-and-their-stowaway-mice-beat-portugal-to-the-azores

A 17th century stoneware bottle stored in the basement of a Kent school has been identified as a 'witch bottle':

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-59052737
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/770/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/770/pub/770/page/8/article/232634

Hopes of finding a Tudor-era banquet hall at Gloucester Castle:

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/banqueting-house-used-elizabeth-gloucestershire-6121082
https://www.cotswoldjournal.co.uk/news/19683030.archaeologists-return-sudeley-castle-uncover-tudor-ruins/

Overviewish thing on all sites found during HS2 construction so far:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/30/else-has-unearthed-along-hs2-route/

Feature on the ongoing conservation efforts on the Mary Rose:

https://www.livescience.com/henry-viii-ship-bacteria-nanoparticles
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10136245/The-Mary-Rose-Henry-VIIIs-favourite-warship-destroyed-specks-iron-sulphur-zinc.html
https://www.theengineer.co.uk/new-x-ray-technique-gives-insights-into-mary-rose/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/10/researchers-use-new-x-ray-technique-to-conserve-henry-viiis-favourite-warship/141811

I think we mentioned this huge online map of aerial photographs of England:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/digging-into-englands-archaeological-past-with-online-mapping-180978851/

In case you're in the market for an Iron Age hillfort:

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/incredibly-rare-iron-age-hillfort-6121741

... or perhaps an incredibly expensive Roman villa featuring a Caravaggio ceiling painting:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/25/roman-villa-with-worlds-only-caravaggio-mural-up-for-sale
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/rome-villa-aurora-caravaggio-mural-intl-scli/index.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10142665/Worlds-priciest-home-vendor-Princess-posed-Playboy-decor-Michelangelo.html
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-10-26/se-vende-villa-de-lujo-en-roma-incluye-el-unico-mural-conocido-de-caravaggio.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62549

... but you missed out on the sale of a 19th century sea fort built to deter a French invasion:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-59076280

----------
Archaeology in Europe News:

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

Medievalists.net:

https://www.medievalists.net/category/news/

Viking Archaeology Blog:

http://viking-archaeology-blog.blogspot.com/

============================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
============================================================
A history of China's first successful railway:

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3153116/history-chinas-first-successful-railway-and-how

More on China's top 100 findings of the last 100 years:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-10-18/China-s-top-100-archaeological-findings-in-past-100-years-unveiled-14sqV79ClwI/index.html

Feature on cyan brick production, ancient and modern:

http://www.news.cn/english/2021-10/23/c_1310264022.htm

A shell bead from Okinawa has been dated to 23 000 years bp:

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20211023/p2a/00m/0na/002000c
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/23000-year-old-bead-japan-1234608007/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10097-211025-japan-paleolithic-pigment

Feature on those Sulawesi cave petroglyphs:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-58988252

Plans to restore the Ho Citadel in Thanh Hoa (Viet Nam):

https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/ancient-citadel-to-be-restored-for-32-mln-4375899.html

Excavations of the Suka-Sari Deula complex revealed some 'amalakas':

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2021/oct/30/amalaka-of-buried-temple-excavated-from-suka-sari-deula-complex-2377624.html

Studying Indus Civilization social networks and industries:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/10/rediscovering-the-ancient-social-networks-and-industries-of-indus-civilisation-villages/141826

Feature on Alexander Cunningham and the Archaeological Survey of India:

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/arts/the-multi-faceted-alexander-cunningham-was-the-man-behind-archaeological-survey-of-india-328761
============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
============================================================
A study of the wreck of the 17th century Dutch ship Batavia:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-wa-shipwreck-reveals-secrets-17th.html

A 19th century coin hoard (and other items) from Port Arthur is shedding some light on convict life:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-30/coin-stash-discovered-at-port-arthur-archaeology-dig/100541632
http://www.koreaherald.com/global_insite/view.php?ud=x856n7h

============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
Searching for evidence of a 19th century tannery at the Union Mills Homestead site:

https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/news/cc-union-mills-archeological-investigation-tannery-20211025-vnlsmj2khfcprary43nmxwofk4-story.html

... and they may have found something:

https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/news/cc-union-mills-foundation-tannery-investigation-20211027-mov22h6panao7mx4vsfyb732sm-story.html

A trio of 19th century shipwrecks in Lake Superior:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/three-19th-century-shipwrecks-discovered-in-lake-superior-180978961

Archaeologists are seeking evidence of the life of Nathan Harrison, San Diego's first Black homesteader:

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/columnists/story/2021-10-24/archaeology-team-digs-up-answers-to-old-questions-on-nathan-harrison-san-diegos-first-black-homesteader
https://ourcommunitynow.com/things-to-do/archaeology-team-digs-up-answers-to-old-questions-on-nathan-harrison-san-diegos-first-black-homesteader

The Long Barrack at the Alamo is reopening after study and restoration:

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Alamo-Long-Barrack-to-reopen-Friday-16562567.php
https://sanantonioreport.org/alamo-long-barrack-reopens/

A study suggests that Chaco Canyon was more than just a ceremonial site:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-ceremonial-ancient-chaco-canyon-home.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027150700.htm
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/10/early-puebloans-impacted-ecosystem-around-chaco-canyon-earlier-than-previously-thought/141808

cf: https://phys.org/news/2021-10-ceremonial-ancient-chaco-canyon-home.html

Native American activists are seeking a dig prior to construction at a site owned by Oracle:

https://wpln.org/post/native-american-activists-call-for-archeological-digging-at-future-oracle-site/

More on finds associated with Chinese transcontinental railroad workers in Utah:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/artifacts-from-chinese-transcontinental-railroad-workers-found-in-utah-180978935/

More on 23 000 years bp footprints from New Mexico:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-clovis-debunked-footprints-show-humans-in-america-23-000-years-ago-1.10235486

More on Vikings in Canada:

https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/civilisations/when-the-vikings-reached-the-americas/

Feature on visiting petroglyph sites 'like an archaeologist' in Utah:

https://www.ksl.com/article/50269345/how-to-visit-rock-imagery-sites-like-an-archaeologist

Review of Tsim Schneider, *The Archaeology of Refuge and Recourse*:

https://news.ucsc.edu/2021/10/archeology-coast-miwok-history.html

Mike Ruggeri's listings of Ancient Americas talks and the like for November:

https://mikeruggerisevents.tumblr.com/
============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
Evidence of assorted periods of pre-European human presence on the Falklands:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-team-evidence-prehistoric-human-falkland.html
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/wolf-falkland-islands-origin-ancient-human-visitors-fire-hunt
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/falkland-islands-wolf-fox-origin-people
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10110-211028-falkland-islands-wolf

cf: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abh3803

A 1000 years bp Maya canoe from the Yucatan:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-59101592
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/30/ancient-maya-canoe-found-in-mexico-could-be-more-than-1000-years-old
https://www.trtworld.com/art-culture/rare-maya-canoe-found-in-mexico-s-yucatan-51194
https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/the-americas/2021/10/31/archaeologists-find-1000-year-old-mayan-canoe-in-mexico/

A Sican mask from Peru has red paint which contains human blood proteins:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-red-year-old-gold-mask-peru.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121956.htm
https://www.livescience.com/red-paint-blood-gold-mask
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10136729/Human-BLOOD-red-paint-used-1-000-year-old-gold-mask-Peru.html
https://www.vice.com/en/article/4awyyp/ancient-gold-burial-mask-found-to-be-painted-with-human-blood
https://gizmodo.com/1-000-year-old-gold-mask-found-in-tomb-was-painted-with-1847955239
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/10/29/red-paint-on-gold-mask-from-peru-contains-human-blood-proteins/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1000-year-old-mask-in-peru-was-painted-with-human-blood-180978964/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10111-211029-peru-tomb-paint

cf: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00472

Interesting patterns from a project identifying and mapping almost 500 Mesoamerican sites:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-ancient-ceremonial-sites-southern-mexico.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/932668
https://www.livescience.com/maya-olmec-city-plan.html
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/lidar-technology-identifies-500-mesoamerican-sites-2026460
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/ancient-olmec-site-mexico-intl-scli/index.html
https://gizmodo.com/archaeologists-map-nearly-500-mesoamerican-sites-and-se-1847928540
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/10/study-rethinks-notions-about-the-relationship-between-the-olmec-and-mayan-cultures/141770
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/lidar-olmec-maya-ceremonial-complexes-mexico-10206.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/10/27/nearly-500-ancient-ceremonial-sites-found-in-southern-mexico/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10102-211026-mexico-lidar-survey

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-021-01218-1

More on those 29 Wari 'offering' burials:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-discovery-ancient-peruvian-burial-tombs.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62535
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10098-211025-peru-wari-ceremonial

More on prehispanic sites found on a train construction route in Mexico:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/10/26/archeologists-discover-thousands-of-artefacts-along-contentious-maya-train-rail-line
https://www.knau.org/post/archaeologists-detect-thousands-ruins-along-mexicos-maya-train-route
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thousands-of-prehispanic-structures-found-along-mexicos-maya-train-route-180978946/

More on Machu Picchu being older than previously thought:

https://yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/5404-older-than-we-knew

Feature on Michael Smith's work studying terraced landscape in Calixtlahuaca:

https://news.asu.edu/20211027-new-book-asu-professor-tracks-terraced-landscape-first-built-aztecs

Feature on the Chinchorro mummies:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-58639748

Pondering some possible ruins in Honduras as the 'White City':

https://www.livescience.com/white-city-monkey-god
-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:

http://goo.gl/1VdeA

Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas lecture channels on Youtube:

https://mikeruggerisyoutube.tumblr.com/

Ancient MesoAmerica News:

http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
============================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
============================================================
A study/publication of the 500 years bp Bromholm prayer roll:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-year-old-manuscript-exposes-medieval-beliefs.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/932312
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/10/publication-of-500-year-old-manuscript-exposes-medieval-beliefs-and-religious-cults/141767
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/10/27/publication-of-500-year-old-manuscript-exposes-medieval-beliefs/

cf: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00681288.2021.1964799

A Tiepolo drawing was found in an attic:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62532

Fragonard's The Swing has been restored:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/10/28/fragonards-the-swing-has-been-restoredand-its-saucier-than-ever

Feature on some Franz Kafka drawings:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/29/franz-kafka-drawings-reveal-sunny-side-to-bleak-bohemian-novelist

Rubens' Samson and Delilah is a fake:

https://www.artlyst.com/news/rubens-samson-and-delilah-masterpiece-is-a-fake-autumn-budget-arts-to-receive-850m-glasgow-cop26-indestructible-language-art-installation/

Pondering race in the history of art:

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/28/1049923918/faceoff-gainsboroughs-blue-boy-and-wileys-portrait-of-a-young-gentleman

Feature on stuffed dormice and other ancient foods:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/mice-for-mafiosi-and-other-foods-going-back-thousands-of-years-1.10322932

Lady Hamilton had some musical tributes to Nelson in her songbooks:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/28/musical-tributes-to-nelson-found-in-lady-hamiltons-songbooks

Pondering whether Descartes was a victim of 'skull blasting':

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/descartes-skull-blasting

Some 'fact checking' about the Statue of Liberty:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/27/opinions/statue-of-liberty-immigration-national-myth-jones/index.html

Using ancient literature to track 3000 years of auroras:

https://www.universetoday.com/153089/researchers-use-ancient-literature-to-track-3000-years-of-auroras/

cf: https://www.swsc-journal.org/articles/swsc/full_html/2021/01/swsc210022/swsc210022.html

On food storage before refrigerators:

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-food-storage

A cultural history of saliva:

https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-bizarre-cultural-history-of-saliva-as-powerful-therapeutic/

Feature on 'dancing manias':

https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/dancing-till-death-the-mystery-behind-dancing-manias

Feature on some philosophers' approaches to grief:

https://bigthink.com/thinking/philosophy-grief/

Feature on ten things every politician should know about history:

https://theconversation.com/10-things-every-politician-should-know-about-history-170626

On marigolds and their association with the Dia de los Muertos:

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/30/1050726374/why-marigolds-or-cempasuchil-are-the-iconic-flower-of-dia-de-los-muertos

Ohio has fixed its Wright Brothers license plate, in case you were worried:

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/25/1048991822/ohio-reverses-course-after-its-new-license-plates-showed-the-wright-flyer-backwa

Review of Kate Lister, *Harlots, Whores & Hackabouts*:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/28/harlots-whores-and-hackabouts-by-kate-lister-review-a-history-of-sex-for-sale
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10132975/A-history-sex-sale-told-fascinating-new-book.html

Review of Nancy Goldstone, *In the Shadow of the Empress*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/books/review/in-the-shadow-of-the-empress-nancy-goldstone.html

More on that WWII carbonized cake:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cremated-cake-unearthed-in-german-home-destroyed-during-world-war-ii-180978932/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10100-211025-germany-carbonized-cake
============================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
A few Halloween-related items this week include

... and some haunting stories from Vermont:

https://bhsregister.com/4111/feature/haunting-stories-from-vermonts-most-infamous-graves/#

... haunted places in England:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/10/some-of-the-most-haunted-places-in-england/141752
https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/the-haunted-histories-of-some-of-the-uks-most-famous-tourist-attractions/

... and in case you missed the depiction of a ghost on a cuneiform tablet in the British Museum:

https://hyperallergic.com/687242/curator-discovers-what-may-be-the-worlds-earliest-depiction-of-a-ghost/
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/things-that-go-bump-in-the-night/

... a feature on the origins of demons:

https://daily.jstor.org/where-demons-come-from/

... and Salem Witch Trials:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/29/salem-witch-trials-americans-embrace-family-ties

... and a couple of witch trials in New Haven:

https://mailchi.mp/dailynutmeg/witches-new-haven-trials-errors

... and biblical monsters:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-monsters/?mqsc=E4138237&dk=ZE13O0ZF0

... vampires in ancient Greece:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/10/31/vampires-in-greece-from-ancient-greek-creatures-to-the-vrykolakas/

... and our 'enduring love affair' with horror:

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/greek-myths-fairy-tales-and-now-tiktok-our-enduring-love-affair-with-horror-1.4707044

... and the ancient origins of ghost stories:

https://bigthink.com/high-culture/horror-fiction-stories-ancient-history/

... and 'penny dreadful' literature:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/penny-dreadfuls-victorian-children-literacy

... and Viking obsession with werewolves:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/hidden-history-viking-wolf-warrior-werewolf

Michael Wood has some views on Afghanistan:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/21st-century/michael-wood-cultures-divisions-afghanistan/

19th century anthropologist Alice Fletcher promoted assimilation of Indian peoples, it appears:

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/10/alice-fletcher-trouble-with-white-women.html

Another comparison of various pandemics:

https://theconversation.com/from-black-death-to-covid-19-pandemics-have-always-pushed-people-to-honor-death-and-celebrate-life-170517

Arguing over a statue of Jefferson:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/24/opinion/thomas-jefferson-statue-new-york.html

The Audubon Society is pondering a name change:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/25/audubon-us-conservation-group-name-change

Plans to rename homo rhodesiensis:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/28/cecil-rhodes-written-prehistory-colonial-associations/

On the British Empire and slavery:

https://aeon.co/essays/the-british-empire-was-built-on-slavery-then-grew-by-antislavery

============================================================
ANIMAL AND PLANT DOMESTICATIONS
============================================================
More on the Caucasus connection to horse domestication:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/20/science/horse-domestication-russia.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/10/25/the-northern-caucasus-focus-of-horse-domestication-for-eurasia-proved/
============================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
Jewish Magic:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/MAGAZINE-6-archaeological-sites-on-israeli-army-controlled-land-and-one-in-a-prison-1.10322584

Feature on the Herakleidon Museum:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/culture/arthro/herakleidon_reveals_glories_of_ancient_greek_science_and_tech-3497316/

Nebra Sky Disk:

https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/oct/26/british-museum-to-display-the-worlds-oldest-map-of-stars/

Ancient Greeks:

https://citynews.com.au/2021/heroes-nudes-and-gold-its-all-greek-to-canberra/

Titian:

https://thesuffolkjournal.com/35557/ac/artsinboston/isgms-titian-women-myth-power-brings-a-legendary-reunion-to-the-city/

Feature on the Nymphaeum Museum in Rome:

https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2021/1029/A-would-be-car-park-in-Rome-becomes-a-Garden-of-the-Gods

The National Museum in New Delhi has a fungus problem:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2021/oct/27/fungi-ruining-artefacts-at-national-museum-says-staff-2376314.html

The New York State Museum in Albany is getting a major makeover:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/On-eve-of-makeover-State-Museum-looks-its-age-16566040.php

On the ethics of displaying human remains:

http://www.theyorker.co.uk/arts-and-culture/is-the-display-case-the-new-sarcophagus-a-look-into-the-display-of-human-remains-in-museums/

Contrast the foregoing with the Mutter Museum:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mutter-museum-skulls-disease-research

Some museums are signing on to what is dubbed an 'anti-woke charter':

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59026220

============================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
============================================================
Portraits of Ottoman sultans are coming to auction:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/rare-portraits-of-ottoman-sultans-to-be-sold-at-london-auction-168855

France is seeking the cancellation of an auction in France of 96 prehispanic items:

https://marketresearchtelecast.com/the-mexican-embassy-in-france-demands-that-the-auctions-of-96-pre-hispanic-archaeological-pieces-be-canceled/189520/

More on the high price fetched by some Picassos:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/pablo-picasso-paintings-from-bellagio-hotel-auctioned-for-dollar100-million
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59026220
============================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
============================================================
DNA confirms a man's claim he is descended from Sitting Bull:

https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/sitting-bull-descendant-confirmed
https://phys.org/news/2021-10-descendant-bull-analysis-dna-legendary.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/us/sitting-bull-dna-great-grandson.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59062133
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3153905/xinjiang-mummies-origins-closer-home-we-thought-study-finds
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2021/10/28/sitting-bull-great-grandson-lapointe/
https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/27/asia/mummies-tarim-basin-china-scn/index.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02948-y
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02872-1
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bronze-age-mummies-in-china-were-part-of-mysterious-ancient-group-180978953/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10112-211029-autosomal-dna-identification

cf: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abh2013

Plenty of attention for a DNA study which suggests the Tarim mummies were genetically isolated:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-tarim-basin-mummies.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121943.htm
https://www.livescience.com/tarim-mummies-origins-uncovered
https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/27/asia/mummies-tarim-basin-china-scn/index.html
https://elpais.com/ciencia/2021-10-27/resuelto-el-enigma-de-las-momias-que-son-de-hace-4000-anos-pero-tienen-aspecto-moderno.html
https://www.science.org/content/article/western-china-s-mysterious-mummies-were-local-descendants-ice-age-ancestors
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02872-1
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02948-y
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/10/genetic-study-on-the-origins-of-the-tarim-basin-mummies/141776
https://gizmodo.com/amazingly-preserved-mummies-in-china-yield-new-clues-to-1847945688
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/10/29/the-surprising-origins-of-the-tarim-basin-mummies/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10108-211028-tarim-basin-genomes

A study of Viking DNA:

https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/sitting-bull-descendant-confirmed

The mummified remains of Cangrande della Scala reveal the first known case of late-onset Pompe disease:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-00559-1

Tamil Nadu is getting an ancient DNA lab:

https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/archaeological-excavations-in-tamil-nadu-ancient-dna-lab-to-function-from-year-end-1044116.html
============================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
============================================================
A method for extracting information from teeth found in cremation burials:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-interglobular-dentine-cremated-human-teeth.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025101741.htm
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/10/26/vub-researchers-identify-interglobular-dentine-in-cremated-human-teeth/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10107-211027-cremated-remains-health

On the application of AI to assorted art challenges:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/lost-picasso-unfinished-beethoven-ai-uncovers-lost-art-new-challenges-rcna2905

... in a similar vein:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/20/arts/boston-museum-fine-arts-technology.html

On the use of bacteria in art restoration:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/bacteria-art-restoration/index.html

Feature on Optically stimulated luminescence dating:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43586-021-00068-5
============================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS
============================================================
Logbooks of the HMS Warrior are going to be examined for climate date purposes:

https://phys.org/news/2021-10-historic-warships-raided-climate.html

More on climate being the culprit in the extinction of woolly mammoths:

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/932061
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10099-211025-climate-mammoth-extinction
============================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
============================================================
Eight English archaeological sites:

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/uk-archaeological-sites-travel-dig-b1937751.html

... and ten in Herfordshire:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/10/ten-historic-sites-in-hertfordshire/141785

Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail:

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211024-the-little-known-hiking-trail-that-built-canada

Narbonne:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/narbonne-france-mediterranean-wine/2021/10/28/5c69e5f8-3353-11ec-9241-aad8e48f01ff_story.html

European Clocks:

https://www.dw.com/en/the-most-beautiful-clocks-in-europe/g-45211089

Portuguese Towns:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/oct/28/portugal-best-towns-and-villages-by-guardian-readers

Chinese Terraces:

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211025-the-marvel-of-chinas-multi-generational-rice-terraces
============================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
============================================================
Wagner's Ring with a Samoan spin:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/28/samoan-ring-cycle-wagner-gafa-ringafa

============================================================
TV/DOCUMENTARY HYPISH THINGS
============================================================
Feature on historical dramas:

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20211022-historical-drama-and-tvs-reckoning-with-the-past

Review of Pompeii: Secrets of the Dead:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pompeii-secrets-of-the-dead-review-bettany-hughes-channel-5-jf7w7ld9s
============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
Eight 'antiquity robbers' were caught in Israel (six and two); apparently they were stuck in the pit they dug:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/8-antiquity-robbers-in-israel-go-in-search-of-gold-get-caught-in-pit-683164
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/bedouin/6-bedouins-busted-while-digging-for-gold-treasure-at-archeological-site/2021/10/26/
https://aleteia.org/2021/10/28/antiquity-robbers-get-caught-in-southern-israel/

More on a Lebanon official being in possession of looted Palmyra artifacts:

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211025-lebanon-mp-accused-of-keeping-stolen-palmyra-artefacts-in-office/

Interesting account of the Bruce Miller smuggling case:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2021/oct/30/an-auction-house-dealer-and-a-pallava-lion-in-new-zealand-2377438.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
============================================================
A French collector returned an 8th century CE Maya stela to Guatemala:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-59032480
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/maya-artifact-returned-to-guatemala-scn-cec/index.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10103-211026-guatemala-maya-repatriation

France returned some Benin material:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/28/arts/design/france-benin-restitution.html
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/129-year-journey-nears-end-france-returns-benin-80765848
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/ap-online/2021/10/25/129-year-journey-nears-end-as-france-returns-benin-treasures
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-france-to-return-statues-thrones-and-altars-to-benin/
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/cambridge-college-returns-looted-bronze-nigeria-setting-precedent-2021-10-27/

... some Quai Branly items are among them:

https://observer.com/2021/10/the-quai-branly-museum-is-returning-26-but-not-all-looted-objects-to-benin/

A Cambridge college returned their Benin Bronze:

https://www.euronews.com/culture/2021/10/28/righting-a-wrong-cambridge-university-college-returns-looted-cockerel-to-nigeria
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-59065225
https://abcnews.go.com/International/looted-benin-bronze-statue-returned-nigeria-institutional/story?id=80811939
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/cambridge-college-returns-looted-bronze-to-nigeria--setting-precedent/47061260
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/10/29/jesus-college-returns-benin-bronze-in-world-first/

... as did the University of Aberdeen:

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/scottish-university-hands-over-looted-benin-bronze-nigeria-2021-10-28/

... but the Bristol Museum still has one, despite agreeing to return it:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-59053085

... and the British Museum continues to resist:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/27/pressure-mounts-british-museum-return-benin-bronzes-cambridge/
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/benin-bronze-returns-britain-intl-cmd-gbr/index.html

... related feature:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59065274

... and opeds:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/29/the-guardian-view-on-the-benin-bronzes-silence-is-not-enough
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/benin-bronze-returns-britain-intl-cmd-gbr/index.html
https://www.thenational.scot/culture/19684015.returning-scotlands-looted-treasure-repatriating-stolen-artefacts/

A Dutch court has ruled that some Crimean gold must be returned to the Ukraine:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59048895
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/26/ukraine-has-legal-right-to-crimean-artefacts-dutch-court-rules
https://www.euronews.com/2021/10/26/kyiv-hails-dutch-court-decision-to-return-crimean-archaeological-treasure-to-ukraine
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/772/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/772/pub/772/page/41/article/233111
http://www.samfordcrimson.com/20211026-crimean-gold-must-return-to-ukraine-dutch-court.html

The V&A returned a gold ewer to Turkey:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/10/26/victoria-and-albert-museum-returns-ancient-gold-ewer-to-turkey-after-it-was-linked-to-la-dealer-who-handled-illicit-antiquities
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/v-and-a-looted-vase-2026333

The Met has apparently contacted authorities regarding some looted Cambodian artifacts:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/10/25/after-pandora-papers-met-officials-contacted-us-attorneys-about-relics-cambodia-says-were-stolen/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10130411/Met-Museum-officials-spoke-attorneys-office-amid-claims-12-works-stolen-ancient-Cambodia.html

... which is probably connected to:

https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/cambodia-confronts-the-met-with-spreadsheet-of-looted-antiquities-20211025-p592ul.html
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50958382/metropolitan-museum-of-artwork-in-manhattan-holds-sores-of-cambodias-stolen-antiquities/

Feature on the search for looted antiquities from Nepal:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/arts/nepal-looted-antiquities-citizens.html

Feature on assorted repatriations:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/10/27/europes-museums-collectors-are-returning-artifacts-to-countries-of-origin-amid-fresh-scrutiny/

A different sort of repatriation: the Great Swamp Massacre site was returned to the Narragansett people:

https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/courts/2021/10/27/narragansett-indian-tribe-sees-return-great-swamp-massacre-land/8567888002/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/great-swamp-massacre-site-returned-to-the-narragansett-indian-tribe/ar-AAPZ5Kj
https://thepublicsradio.org/article/site-of-great-swamp-massacre-returned-to-narragansett-indian-tribe

More on all the items returned by the US to India stemming from the Kapoor case:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/28/arts/authorities-return-248-looted-antiquities-to-india.html
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/US-returns-antiquities-to-India-in-stolen-art-16571821.php
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/us-returns-antiquities-to-india-in-stolen-art-scheme-probe/2021/10/28/fcd344d2-380b-11ec-9662-399cfa75efee_story.html
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-returns-248-antiquities-valued-at-15-million-to-india/article37225686.ece
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/us-returns-248-stolen-antiques-to-india-including-10th-century-bronze-nataraja-idol/articleshow/87384952.cms
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/US-returns-antiquities-to-India-in-stolen-art-16571821.php
============================================================
NUMISMATICA
============================================================
Feature on gold coins of Carthage:

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/the-gold-coins-of-ancient-carthage/

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v24/club_nbs_esylum_v24n43.html

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

http://www.coinbooks.org/v24/club_nbs_esylum_v24n44.html
------------------------

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
Peter C Bunnell:

https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2021/10/peter-bunnell-obituary-art-museum-photography

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

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3112-audio-news-from-archaeologica-october-17-through-october-23-2021
============================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS
============================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:

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

About.com Archaeology:

http://archaeology.about.com/

Archaeology Briefs:

http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/

Atlas Obscura:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/

Heritage Daily:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/

Sapiens Archaeology:

https://www.sapiens.org/category/archaeology/

Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:

http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/
============================================================
PODCASTS/VODCASTS
============================================================
Archaeosoup:

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

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/
============================================================
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