===============================================================
explorator 24.02 May 2, 2021
===============================================================
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,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
A study of the (2?) millon years of hominid/human occupation of Wonderwerk Cave:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-unveil-oldest-evidence-human-african.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/thuo-wba042621.php
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/27/south-african-cave-could-oldest-human-home-say-researchers/
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/584/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/584/pub/584/page/66/article/168233
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-archaeologists-find-oldest-home-in-human-history-2m-years-old-1.9745372
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/israeli-scholars-find-millions-year-old-human-traces-in-miracle-cave-666351
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/oldowan-wonderwerk-cave-09597.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/researchers-unveil-oldest-evidence-of.html

Evidence that early humans were using fire some 900 000 years bp:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/fire-human-evolution-archaeology-b1839000.html

Finding meaning in some 130 000 - 80 000 years bp triangular petroglyphs in various sites from South Africa:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-triangular-patterns-reveal-human-ancestors.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/c-wcc042621.php

Dating early human activity along the South African coast with discarded ostrich shells:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-discarded-ostrich-shells-timeline-early.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uoc--dos042921.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210430093136.htm
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/discarded-ostrich-shells-provide.html

cf: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/16/e2020042118

More on what we're learning from 'archaic human' genomes:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/a-new-perspective-on-genomes-of-archaic.html

More on evidence of a homo erectus presence from an abandoned Saharan gold mine:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9513341/Hundreds-stone-tools-used-homo-erectus-million-years-ago-discovered-abandoned-Sahara-mine.html
https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/earliest-signs-of-human-life-found-in-saharan-gold-mine-include-massive-almond-shaped-cleavers-resembling-fists-21556

Feature on Peking Man:

https://www.shine.cn/feature/art-culture/2104298208/
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Finds from various periods (including petroglyphs and other items) from the Lovo Massif (DR Congo):

https://scienceblog.com/522487/african-rock-art-treasures-revealed-in-the-lovo-massif/

Feature on Queen Abla Pokou:

https://www.dw.com/en/queen-abla-pokou-mother-of-the-ivorian-baoule-people/av-57385653

More on evidence of honey consumption in 'Iron Age' sub-Saharan Africa:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/africas-first-iron-age-culture-had-a-sweet-tooth/
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
110 burials/tombs dating to three different eras from a site in Dakahlia:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-egypt-archeologists-unearth-ancient-tombs.html
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/9/410090/Heritage/In-Photos-Ancient-tombs-and-prehistoric-burials-fo.aspx
https://www.livescience.com/110-ancient-egyptian-tombs-nile.html
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/101373/110-tombs-spanning-back-to-3-different-ancient-Egyptian-eras
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/101373/110-tombs-spanning-back-to-3-different-civilizations-discovered-in
https://egyptindependent.com/photos-110-archaeological-tombs-discovered-in-kom-al-khaljan-area-near-daqahliya/
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/egypt-archaeologists-find-110-ancient-tombs-older-than-pharaohs
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/29/egyptologists-uncover-rare-tombs-from-before-the-pharaohs
https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/life/story/Egypt_discovers_110_ancient_tombs_in_Kom_AlKhaljan_area_of_Daqahleya-SNG_209545970/
https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/egyptian-archaeologists-unearth-110-ancient-tombs-in-nile-delta-20210428-p57myc.html
https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/egyptian-archaeologists-unearth-110-ancient-tombs-in-nile-delta-20210428-p57myc.html
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/egyptian-archaeologists-unearth-rare-tombs-dated-back-to-before-pharaohs-666565
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/egyptologists-uncover-rare-tombs-before-pharaohs-2021-04-28/
http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2021-04/27/content_77446535.htm
http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_v61HcK9X.html
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/egyptian-tombs-1963229
https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-egyptian-tombs-discovered-dating-back-before-pyramids-1587510
https://www.newstribune.com/news/international/story/2021/apr/28/egypt-archaeologists-unearth-110-ancient-tombs-in-nile-delta/869078/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/ancient-tombs-and-prehistoric-burials.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-110-ancient-egyptian-tombs-along-nile-delta-180977612/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9664-210428-nile-delta-predynastic

Feature on recent finds from Saqqara:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/archaeology-discovery-saqqara-ancient-egypt-b1835760.html

Feature on the discovery of the bust of Nefertiti:

https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2021/04/the-discovery-of-the-famous-bust-of-nefertiti-in-egypt/

Feature on Napoleon's campaign in Egypt:

https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/r1QxvAiPu

A nice roundup of archaeological finds in Turkey this past month:

https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/april-2021-turkish-archaeology

Research suggests climate crises in Mesopotamia led to stable state formation:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/udb-cci042721.php
https://phys.org/news/2021-04-climate-crises-mesopotamia-prompted-stable.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/climate-crises-in-mesopotamia-prompted.html

Finds from various periods (associated with iron production, mostly) from across Iran's Yazd province:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/460465/Millennia-old-iron-production-sites-discovered-in-Iran
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/archaeologists-discover-millennia-old-iron-production-sites-in-iran-666939

A project in Iran to restore the caravanserai in Urmia:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/460230/New-round-of-restoration-starts-on-old-caravanserai-in-northwest

A number of recent finds from Rasht have been restored:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/460461/55-ancient-objects-restored-in-Rasht

Feature on the folks who made the Jiroft items which keep turning up in Iran:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/who-were-the-mysterious-people-of-ancient-jiroft

7000 years bp mustatils from Saudi Arabia are being given the 'religious purpose' label:

https://www.livescience.com/stone-structures-in-arabia-prehistoric-cattle-cult.html
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/mysterious-stone-structures-in-saudi-arabia-are-around-7-000-years-old-making-them-one-of-the-oldest-examples-of-widespread-monument-making
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-archaeologists-find-prehistoric-cultic-monuments-in-saudi-arabia-1.9759362
https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/research-in-north-west-arabia-uncovers-one-of-world-s-oldest-series-of-monumental-structures-as-alula-reveals-details-of-its-new-global-hub-for-archaeology-the-kingdoms-institute-856167916.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-neolithic-cattle-cult-build-these-sprawling-structures-180977629/

A 2000 years bp gold ring featuring a menorah from beneath Robinson's Arch:

https://watchjerusalem.co.il/1211-revealed-a-2000-year-old-gold-ring-incised-with-menorah

A 1600 years bp 'carpet mosaic' from Yavneh:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/1600-year-old-multicolored-mosaic-with-geometric-motifs-uncovered-in-yavne/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/1600-year-old-colorful-mosaic-unearthed-in-yavne-666356
https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/19255804.colchesters-fenwick-treasure-feature-roman-emperor-exhibition/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/305021
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/26/byzantine-mosaic-yavne/
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/yavne-mosaic-09595.html
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-1-600-year-old-byzantine-mosaic-carpet-to-go-on-display-in-yavneh-1.9747432
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/1619426114-excavations-at-ancient-yavne-reveal-1-600-year-old-mosaic
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/ancient-mosaic-israel-scli-intl/index.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/1600-year-old-byzantine-mosaic.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/colorful-ancient-mosaic-found-israel-180977590/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9663-210428-israel-byzantine-mosaic

A project involving dating of the DSS is under way:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/how-old-are-the-dead-sea-scrolls-carbon-dating-project-to-offer-answers-666302?_ga=2.232929689.64198716.1618823076-1616753860.1607604451

A report suggests that 80% of archaeological sites in the West Bank are damaged:

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/eighty-percent-of-west-bank-archeological-sites-damaged-report-666321

Interesting feature on James Mellaart:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2021/04/meeting-with-mellaart

Reviewish of a book on Olga Tufnell's work with the Lachish Letters:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/eyewitness-to-discovery/?mqsc=E4130255&dk=ZE1140ZF0

More on the 'missing link' in the origins of the alphabet:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/archaeologists-think-theyve-found-missing-link-in-origin-of-the-alphabet?source=articles&via=rss

More on AI revealing the variations of scribes of the DSS:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/dead-sea-scrolls/who-wrote-the-dead-sea-scrolls-2/
https://forward.com/fast-forward/468459/artificial-intelligence-unlocks-a-new-secret-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls/
https://elpais.com/ciencia/2021-04-21/tras-las-manos-que-escribieron-la-biblia.html

More on plans to restore Mosul's Al-Nouri Mosque:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/04/egyptian-architects-win-unesco-award-reconstruction-mosul-mosque-destroyed

More on claims about King Solomon's 'maritime empire':

https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/04/28/british-marine-archeologist-claims-to-find-evidence-of-king-solomons-maritime-empire/
https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2021/04/in-spain-an-archaeologist-discovers-traces-of-king-solomons-commercial-success/
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
Remains of a 2nd century BCE necropolis from a building site in Messina:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/part-of-2nd-century-bc-necropolis.html

Highway construction near the Vidbol River (Bulgaria) revealed evidence of a 1st century CE Roman settlement:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/25/1st-century-bc-traces-of-earliest-roman-presence-in-bulgaria-on-danube-discovered-halfway-between-major-antiquity-cities-bononia-vidin-and-ratiaria-archar/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9662-210427-bulgaria-roman-settlement

A 2100 years bp 'bed burial' from Kozani in western Macedonia:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/27/stunning-archaeological-finds-greece-dig-reveal-ties-to-apollo/
https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2021/04/28/greece-ancient-grave-women-wooden-bed-eordaia-kozani/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61248
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/intact-bed-burial-found-in-northern.html

A marble head of Augustus from Molise:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-marble-head-of-emperor-augustus-unearthed-in-molise.html
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/roman-emperor-augustus-head-statue-archaeology-1234591397/
https://www.ansa.it/molise/notizie/2021/04/29/testa-marmorea-imperatore-augusto-ritrovata-a-isernia_b51cad0a-3a27-4842-ab27-bc81523f31e2.html
https://quotidianomolise.com/eccezionale-scoperta-archeologica-a-isernia-ritrovata-la-testa-di-una-statua-di-augusto/
https://www.isnews.it/cultura/79029-isernia-ritrovamento-in-via-occidentale-spunta-una-testa-dell-imperatore-augusto.html

Archaeological confirmation of the remains of a Temple of Fortuna at Fano (Italian):

https://www.ansa.it/marche/notizie/2021/04/27/archeologia-scavi-a-fano-confermano-tempio-della-fortuna_2c43c52f-5f16-4904-9fe9-58bb126d1b83.html
https://www.oltrefano.it/attualita/fano/fano-il-tempio-della-fortuna-si-conserva-sotto-il-complesso-s-agostino-importante-conferma-per-progettare-area-dellex-filanda-bosone.html

Remains of a Roman settlement in Leicestershire found with 'hints' from Google Earth:

https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/roman-settlement-leicestershire-discovered-dig-team-google-earth-971909

Roman finds (including a kiln?) from a site in Wakefield:

https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/excitement-as-archaeologists-uncover-rare-roman-items-during-wakefield-dig-3216203

Recent finds from the Roman Villa site in Crontrada:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/new-archaeological-finds-near-roman.html

Remains of 3rd century Roman villa and a pair of tombs in Tirana:

https://exit.al/en/2021/04/30/3rd-century-roman-villa-and-two-tombs-found-near-tirana-mosaic/

A 1500 years bp child burial ground from beneath the walls of Thessaloniki:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/1500-year-old-infant-cemetery-unearthed.html

The giant (bronze) statue of Constantine in the Capitoline Museum was reunited with its finger (found in the Louvre):

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/29/giant-statue-roman-emperor-constantine-reunited-with-long-lost-finger
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/paris-sends-rome-missing-finger-from-giant-statue-of-roman-emperor.html
https://observer.com/2021/04/constantine-the-great-rome-finger/
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/after-500-years-an-ancient-bronze-hand-is-rejoined-to-a-finger/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/hand-of-constantine-colossus-reunited.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/finger-roman-emperor-missing-statue-180977628/

That 'nationally important' hoard of Roman-era bronze items from Ryedale is apparently headed to auction:

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/incredible-hoard-of-roman-treasures-discovered-by-amateur-metal-detectorists-in-ryedale-to-be-auctioned-3216096
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19265365.gladiator-treasures-uncovered-north-yorkshire-go-show/
https://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/19263913.nationally-important-2-000-year-old-hoard-found-ryedale-go-public-display/
https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/people/incredible-nationally-important-roman-bronze-artefacts-discovered-in-ryedale-expected-to-sell-for-ps90000-3219679
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/incredible-roman-finds-ryedale-detectorists-20502397

Archaeologists aren't happy with 'tourist friendly' renovations to the Acropolis of Athens:

https://greekherald.com.au/news/greece/just-way-fit-more-tourists-archaeologists-outraged-planned-renovation-acropolis/
https://www.thenationalherald.com/archive_general_news_greece/arthro/world_archaeologists_critics_blast_tourist_friendly_acropolis_scheme-2331971/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/44440-media-archaeologists-criticize-tourist-friendly-athens-acropolis-scheme.html
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/acropolis-renovation-plans
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/acropolis-renovation-1962796
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-proposed-renovations-greeces-acropolis-are-so-controversial-180977620/

More on the Roman amphitheatre frin from Mastaura:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/29/huge-ampitheatre-gladiator-fights-dubbed-turkeys-colosseum-unearthed/
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/586/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/586/pub/586/page/55/article/168899
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/gladiator-amphitheater-uncovered-turkey-180977581/

In case you missed the item about historians who documented the Jewish revolts:

https://www.jpost.com/opinion/who-were-the-historians-who-documented-the-jewish-revolts-666219

Plans to close the site of Assos for 500 days:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/assos-to-be-closed-for-500-days-164313
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/turkeys-ancient-city-of-assos-to-be-closed-for-500-days/2222812

Reviews of Robert Kanigel's biography of Milman Parry:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/books/review/hearing-homers-song-milman-parry-robert-kanigel.html
https://newrepublic.com/article/162267/milman-parry-changed-understanding-homer-forever

Feature on the research of the Peraia of Samothrace project:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/new-archaeological-sites-attract.html

Feature on what Greeks and Romans understood about the spread of disease:

https://theconversation.com/ancient-greeks-and-romans-got-a-surprising-number-of-things-right-about-the-spread-of-disease-156152

Feature on the acropolis of Amphipolis:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-acropolis-of-amphipolis-and-its.html

Feature on some masterpieces of ancient Greek art:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/05/01/top-ten-ancient-greek-masterpieces/

Feature on frescoes from Dura Europos:

https://aleteia.org/2021/05/01/these-frescoes-adorned-the-oldest-extant-christian-house-church/

Feature on the Spartans:

https://theconversation.com/what-were-the-spartans-like-note-to-lego-masters-they-didnt-build-city-walls-159910

Feature on the Aeneid:

https://merionwest.com/2021/04/26/virgils-war-and-peace/

Feature on Livia Drusilla (subject of a new tv series):

https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/domina-sky-series-livia-drusilla-roman-true-story-b930411.html

Feature/review of Marcus Aurelius' *Meditations*:

https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/books/a36210521/why-marcus-aureliuss-meditations-is-the-self-help-book-we-all-need-to-read/
https://www.wsj.com/articles/meditations-review-a-stoic-emperors-bestseller-11619476254

On Tiberius as detective:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/emperor-tiberius-murder-investigation

Joy Connolly was elected to the AAAS:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-council-of-learned-societies-president-joy-connolly-elected-to-american-academy-of-arts-and-sciences-301276373.html

UIowa had a marathon reading of the Iliad:

https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/2021/04/29/university-iowa-homer-iliad-24-hour-reading-classical-literature-homerathon-2021/7391667002/

... while the UNebraska-Lincoln Homerathon will be online in a couple weeks:

https://www.unl.edu/classics/unls-fourth-annual-homerathon-be-held-virtually

More features/coverage of the threat to Classics at Howard:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/25/us/howard-classics-department.html
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/05/01/the-only-classics-department-at-a-historically-black-college-is-closing

A Trojan horse was making the rounds in Troy (NY):

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Photos-Downtown-Troy-visited-by-a-Trojan-16144600.php
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
Possibly Mesolithic images of boats carved into a rock in Valle, Norway:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/boat-carvings-found-in-norway-could-be-the-oldest-in-europe
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/10000-year-old-boat-carving-found-norway-180977611/

Evidence of an Early Neolithic settlement near Kirkwall, Orkney:

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/islands/3087841/kirkwall-prehistoric-quernstone-is-latest-evidence-of-an-early-neolithic-settlement/
https://news.stv.tv/highlands-islands/neolithic-grind-stone-older-than-skara-brae-ploughed-up

A possible Neolithic logboat find from the Boyne Valley:

https://www.independent.ie/news/citizen-archaeologist-discovers-ancient-logboatin-the-boyne-valley-40366402.html
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/possible-ancient-logboat-spotted-in-river-boyne-by-citizen-archaeologist-1.4550520

An apparently untouched Bronze Age chamber/cist burial from the Dingle Peninsula (Ireland):

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-chamber-tomb-untouched-in-ireland.html
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/underground-tomb-found-in-ireland-dingle-peninsula/

A Bronze Age hoard from a forest near Alingsas in Sweden:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-swedish-enthusiast-bronze-age-treasure.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56943432
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/archaeologists-excavate-bronze-age-treasures-in-sweden/138852
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/swedish-orienteering-enthusiast-finds.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9667-210430-sweden-bronze-artifacts

A 9th century or so Viking hoard from Norway includes a Celtic item:

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/viking-scholars-thrilled-by-discovery-of-celtic-ornament-in-norway-40354949.html
https://www.irishpost.com/news/extremely-rare-ancient-celtic-ornament-discovered-in-norway-believed-to-have-been-stolen-by-vikings-210710
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61243

The site of the Battle of Brunanburh (937 CE) has apparently been located:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9532515/How-Anglo-Saxon-warriors-took-Viking-led-enemy-alliance-Battle-Brunanburh.html
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/587/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/587/pub/587/page/86/article/169729

Vikings created a massive 'boat' in a volcanic cave in Iceland 1100 years bp or so possibly to ward off Ragnarok:

https://www.livescience.com/viking-boat-structure-ragnarok.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-vikings-conduct-rituals-stop-ragnarok-cave-180977619/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9661-210427-viking-boat-cave

Great Moravian era burials from a site near Trnava:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22645994/archeologists-find-graves-from-the-era-of-great-moravia.html

A possible medieval dwelling site found during construction of a housing development in Harrogate:

https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/excitement-at-surprise-medieval-discovery-at-village-near-harrogate-3213901
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/builders-discover-remains-of-medieval-farmhouse-on-land-in-historic-village-near-harrogate-during-site-works-3219422

... and remains of a medieval dwelling from a similar sort of site in Dorset:

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/19260382.archaeological-dig-reveals-remains-medieval-home-north-quay/

A 700 years bp child burial from the Real Alcazar of Seville:

https://english.elpais.com/arts/2021-04-30/the-700-year-old-child-found-in-southern-spain.html
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-04-26/la-nina-sevillana-con-siete-siglos-de-edad.html

Study suggests cancer rates in medieval Britain may have been ten times higher than previously thought:

https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/cancer-rates-in-medieval-britain-were-around-ten-times-higher-than-previously-thought-study-suggests
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uoc-cri042821.php
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/30/cancer-in-medieval-britain-not-as-rare-as-thought-research-suggests
https://elpais.com/ciencia/2021-04-29/el-cancer-ya-diezmaba-a-los-humanos-de-la-edad-media.html
https://www.sciencealert.com/analysis-of-medieval-skeletons-reveals-a-cancer-rate-far-higher-than-expected
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/cancer-rates-in-medieval-britain-around.html

Feature on the Vikings of Greenland:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/the-vikings-of-greenland/138815

A 17th century/Civil War stirrup from Colchester:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-56767014

Feature on Jewish history in Spain:

https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jewish-spain-2000-years-of-heritage-and-counting-666904

More on the diet of folks living on the Great Hungarian Plain 7000 years bp and beyond:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/new-results-about-diets-of-people-who.html

More on that 5000 years bp bit of pottery with a fingerprint from Orkney:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-56858268
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/5000-year-old-fingerprint-found-scottish-island-180977602/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/5000-year-old-potters-fingerprint-found.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9659-210426-scotland-neolithic-fingerprint

More on the remains of a possible Bronze Age village from Lake Lucerne:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/bronze-age-village-found-under-swiss-lake/46559866
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/a-bronze-age-village-is-discovered-beneath-lake-lucerne
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9660-210426-bronze-age-switzerland

More on that Iron Age hoard from Germany:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-biggest-iron-age-weapon-hoards.html

More on that 800 years bp burial of a 5-year-old girl from a palace in Seville:

https://www.tntribune.com/video-grave-of-thrones-ancient-tomb-of-child-princess-found-in-game-palace/

More on that 600 years bp sword find from Poland which may be associated with the Battle of Grunwald:

https://www.livescience.com/sword-poland-battle-of-grunwald.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9530129/Medieval-sword-unearthed-Poland-used-Battle-Grunwald-1410.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61267
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9665-210429-poland-medieval-sword

More on that 17th century 'mourning ring' from the Isle of Man:

https://www.livescience.com/gold-ring-english-civil-war.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61237

The wreck of a Norwegian ship turned into a Nazi troop carrier was located:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-virtually-archaeology.html

Feature on Chauvet Cave and the Pont d'Arc:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-chauvet-cave-artists-artwork-pont.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/c-wcc042621.php
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/when-chauvet-cave-artists-created-its.html
----------
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
================================================================
Evidence of 9000-12000 years bp fire use from a cave site in Guizhou:

http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202104/29/WS608a0cafa31024ad0babb281.html
http://epaper.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202104/29/WS6089f267a31099a234355c45.html

Studying the origins of Beijing:

https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/269039919/across-china-high-tech-facilitates-research-into-beijings-ancient-past

Feature on ivory finds from Sanxingdui:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-05-02/Wonders-of-Sanxingdui-Ivory-ZVMgl58PoQ/index.html

On 'political archaeology' in China:

https://www.asianage.com/opinion/columnists/280421/claude-arpi-chinas-new-weapon-is-political-archaeology.html

The Plain of Jars appears to have been used for burials for possible 2000 years:

https://www.livescience.com/plain-of-jars-burial-site-true-age.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/archaeologists-finally-date-mysterious-plain-of-jars-in-laos-666852
https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/clues-about-the-mysterious-laos-plain-of-jars-a-former-burial-ground/

Excavation of some megalithic burials at Kodumanal has commenced:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/digging-of-megalithic-burials-at-kodumanal-begins/article34429186.ece

Three 'offering pots' (date?) from a dig in Konthagai:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/three-offering-pots-found-in-unearthed-urns/article34432126.ece

Feature on 16th century Portuguese-associated finds from Thiruketheeswarm:

https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2021/05/02/features/ancient-archaeological-findings-thiruketheeswaram

Feature on some deteriorating petroglyphs in a Suluwesi cave:

https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/sulawesi-cave-paintings/?ct=t()

The tombs of a pair of 13th century Pereslavl princes have been identified:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/archaeologists-identify-royal-tombs-of-pereslavl-princes/138861
================================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
================================================================
A study of the 'superhighways' used by the first Australians to cross the continent:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-superhighways-australians.html
https://phys.org/news/2021-04-superhighways-australians-ancient.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/sfi-fap042621.php
https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-map-the-superhighways-the-first-people-in-australia-might-have-followed
https://scitechdaily.com/first-human-inhabitants-of-australia-followed-superhighways-across-the-continent/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/mapping-superhighways-travelled-by.html

The first Australians population grew into the millions, apparently:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-australians-grew-population-millions-previous.html

Flinders University is looking at a fish cannery site on Kangaroo Island:

https://www.theislanderonline.com.au/story/7225529/archaeologists-investigate-historic-cannery-at-american-river/?cs=1525

Evidence of kumara pits from near Dunedin dating to the 15th century:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-discovery-ancient-kumara-pits.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uoo-gkr042821.php
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/groundbreaking-kumara-research-marries.html

Overviewish piece on the dig at the Pa site in New Zealand:

http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/5/386092

Feature on what petroglyphs in Australia reveal:

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/nightlife/rock-art/13321518
================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Latest study of the possible route folks took across the Bering Sea:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-north-america-populated-stone-migration.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uok-wna042921.php
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uok-wna042921.php

A 14 000 years bp horse fossil find from a Las Vegas backyard:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/01/us/las-vegas-horse-fossil.html

The 'birthing scene' panel of the Moab petroglyphs in Utah was vandalized (a reward is being offered):

https://sltrib.com/news/environment/2021/04/28/prehistoric-petroglyph/
https://www.ksl.com/article/50155173/this-is-not-an-accident-well-known-moab-petroglyph-damaged-by-vandalism
https://kutv.com/news/local/sacred-petroglyph-near-moab-defaced-with-race-messages-and-genitalia
https://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2021/04/28/racist-message-moab-the-birthing-scene-petroglyph-utah/4879079001/
https://kutv.com/news/local/sacred-petroglyph-near-moab-defaced-with-race-messages-and-genitalia
https://gearjunkie.com/news/moab-birthing-rock-vandalism?fbclid=IwAR2UdXpf6hJKtv2hvdaBzfWftcO3W6jXP80ywnbWlERRKh0rW3ctnUXlaKg
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-9518881/Racist-message-ancient-Utah-petroglyph.html
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/another-ancient-petroglyph-panel-has-been-vandalised-in-utah
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/vandals-deface-native-american-petroglyphs-utah-racist-phrase-180977630/

Evidence of social tensions (combined with drought?) are being linked to three 'dramatic upheavals' in Pueblo development:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-social-tensions-disruptions-ancient-pueblo.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/wsu-stp042121.php
https://www.sciencealert.com/over-and-over-again-rising-social-tension-preceded-collapses-of-pueblo-societies
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/social-tensions-preceded-disruptions-in.html

Assorted interesting artifacts from the site of Maryland's first English settlement:

https://www.npr.org/local/305/2021/04/29/991706723/archaeologists-discover-artifacts-from-maryland-s-first-english-settlement
https://www.thebaynet.com/articles/0421/joke-about-finding-coin-from-1634-at-st-marys-fort-becomes-reality.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/05/02/rare-coin-maryland-dig/
https://dcist.com/story/21/04/28/st-marys-maryland-archeological-discovery-colonizing-settlements/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9666-210430-maryland-colonial-artifacts

Another possible Tulsa Race Massacre burial site will be examined:

https://www.newsweek.com/mass-grave-discovery-might-1921-tulsa-race-massacre-1587553
https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/city-says-race-massacre-mass-grave-exhumation-track-june-1-start

A Williamstown church bell made by Paul Revere's foundry was recovered after a fire:

https://www.wamc.org/post/bell-made-foundry-paul-revere-recovered-after-fire

The Camp Security dig has resumed:

https://www.eveningsun.com/videos/news/2021/04/26/see-revolutionary-war-camp-security-dig-resume-terraced-wooded-area/7389958002/
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2021/04/27/revolutionary-war-prisoner-war-camp-security-dig-resumes-york/7390298002/

Interview with David Givens about Jamestown:

https://www.wtkr.com/coast-live/recent-discoveries-at-jamestown-on-coast-live

Archaeological finds in the Straits of Mackinac are potentially delaying/getting in the way of a pipeline project:

https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/could-an-ancient-submerged-cultural-site-stop-enbridges-great-lakes-oil-and-gas-pipeline/Content?oid=26991598

Feature on underwater archaeology in the Great Lakes:

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/04/28/how-archeologists-excavate-great-lakes-wrecks/

More on the find of the site of Harriet Tubman's (father's) home:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/archaeologists-found-the-site-of-harriet-tubmans-family-home/
https://southernmarylandchronicle.com/2021/04/27/harriet-tubman-historic-site-discovered-at-blackwater-wildlife-refuge/

The Hannah Duston statue in Haverhill (MA) is the focus of another 'take down' campaign:

https://www.wamc.org/post/statue-killer-towns-debate-presentation-colonial-woman
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
================================================================
Remains of a Classic Maya capital of a kingdom in Chiapas:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/capital-sak-tzi-kingdom-08223.html?fbclid=IwAR2fYYB8mMQwt7WEjwvftvjwXh3gyr1eFTAODcdhDwELUSQgQbbwlIyvB6M

An interesting 8th century Mayan tomb from El Palmar:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/over-top-mayan-tomb-reveals-090150619.html

Remains of a 200 years bp (English?) shipwreck of the Caribbean coast of Mexico:

https://www.ksdk.com/video/entertainment/buzz60/200-year-old-shipwreck-found-by-archaeologists-in-caribbean/600-51d7ec0e-2c15-460a-9683-18562fd8e69b

Dozens of hand prints possibly associated with a Maya ritual from a cave in the Yucatan:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-latin-america-56960028
https://www.ksdk.com/video/entertainment/buzz60/200-year-old-shipwreck-found-by-archaeologists-in-caribbean/600-51d7ec0e-2c15-460a-9683-18562fd8e69b
https://news.yahoo.com/ancient-maya-cave-reveals-mysterious-211538400.html

LiDAR is revealing evidence of terracing and details Maya structures in the Puuc region of the Yucatan:

https://www.livescience.com/lidar-maya-yucatan.html

Traces of a pyramid (?) structure at Tlacochcalco:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/traces-of-pyramidal-structure-discovered-in-former-chalca-altepetl-of-tlacochcalco/138833

Torrential rains caused a roof collapse at the Templo Mayor in Mexico City:

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210429-torrential-rain-collapses-roof-over-famed-aztec-temple-in-mexico
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/hailstorm-brings-down-roof-of-mexicos-greatest-aztec-temple
https://elpais.com/mexico/2021-04-29/los-arqueologos-temen-por-los-otros-techos-del-templo-mayor-el-que-cubre-la-piramide-esta-a-punto-de-colapsar.html
https://elpais.com/elpais/2021/04/29/album/1619730555_345635.html
https://elpais.com/mexico/2021-04-29/una-tormenta-destruye-la-cubierta-de-un-edificio-del-templo-mayor-de-los-aztecas.html

More on the 'embassy complex' in Tikal:

https://www.livescience.com/teotihuacan-maya-embassy-in-tikal.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/were-these-ancient-mesoamerican-cities-friends-they-became-foes-180977509/
----
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
================================================================
Thomas Becket's skull will be part of the British Museum's exhibition devoted to him:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/25/thomas-beckets-skull-will-displayed-british-museum/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/05/01/sacred-mysteries-afterlife-piece-beckets-cranium/
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/582/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/582/pub/582/page/38/article/167123
https://aleteia.org/2021/04/27/skull-of-st-thomas-becket-to-go-on-display-at-british-museum/

Research suggests a Holbein miniature might depict Anne of Cleves rather than Catherine Howard:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/may/01/how-holbein-left-clever-clue-in-portrait-to-identify-henry-viiis-queen

I think we've mentioned 'the worst year to be alive' suggestion before:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/26/536-worst-year-ever-to-be-alive-in-history/

The 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune is causing some reflection:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/28/world/europe/france-protests-yellow-vests-paris-commune.html

On the history of the Parsee gara/sari:

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3130862/how-parsee-gara-or-sari-has-chinese-influences-and

Fragments of the tapestry of the Apocalypes of Angers were found in a gallery in Paris:

https://fr.aleteia.org/2021/04/29/des-fragments-de-la-tenture-de-lapocalypse-dangers-retrouves-a-paris/

On 'anti-feminist' women and art history:

https://psyche.co/ideas/what-art-history-reveals-about-the-rise-of-anti-feminist-women

Feature on Napoleon's library:

https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news/europe-news/napoleon-bonaparte-the-bookworm-7918460

Feature on Caravaggio:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-04-26/la-historia-del-caravaggio-que-si-salio-de-espana.html

... and the work which is under dispute in Spain right now:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-04-26/jorge-coll-se-decidira-si-se-vende-o-no-despues-de-la-investigacion-y-restauracion-del-cuadro.html
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-05-01/la-academia-de-san-fernando-entrego-a-perez-de-castro-el-caravaggio-porque-desconocia-su-origen.html

Feature (review?): on the two sieges of Zaragoza by Napoleon:

https://elpais.com/babelia/2021-04-27/zaragoza-la-ciudad-indefensa-que-derroto-al-mayor-ejercito-del-mundo.html

When the New York Times began printing on Sundays:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/02/insider/sunday-newspapers.html

Pondering the legacy of Alexander Graham Bell (review):

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/06/books/review/the-invention-of-miracles-katie-booth.html

Discussing Slavery at a Jane Austen Museum:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/27/world/europe/jane-austen-slavery-museum.html

Pondering inherent racism in psychiatry:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/30/health/psychiatry-racism-black-americans.html

Feature on the origins of writing:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/where-did-writing-come-from/

Feature on the kraken:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-technology-uncovering-mysteries-kraken.html

I think we mentioned these Medici frescoes found during renovations at the Uffizi:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/construction-workers-uncover-forgotten-renaissance-era-frescoes-italys-uffizi-gallery-180977597/

Feature on Harvard archaeology students bringing archaeology virtually to plenty of classrooms:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-virtually-archaeology.html

Pondering the citron from the Ghent Altarpiece:

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210428-the-ghent-altarpiece-an-unlikely-fruit-meaning-original-sin

Feature on the mutiny on the HMS Bounty:

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2021/04/the-real-story-behind-the-infamous-mutiny-on-the-hms-bounty

On Hugo Kohl's efforts to preserve early American jewellery:

https://craftsmanship.net/the-jewelry-archaeologist/

On the relic(s) known as Jesus' foreskin:

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/how-jesus-foreskin-became-one-of-christianity-s-most-coveted-relics-and-then-disappeared-1.6002421

On the history of blackface:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/blackface-older-you-think-180977618/

On saving St Mark's Cathedral from rising waters:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/venice-st-mark-s-floods

Feature on John Milton's Areopagitica:

https://aeon.co/essays/reading-john-miltons-areopagitica-in-the-information-age

A long-believed fake Poussin is now considered real:

https://gephardtdaily.com/entertainment/conservationists-say-long-believed-fake-poussin-painting-is-real/

Review of Sarah Ruden's translation of the Gospels:

https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/what-we-can-and-cant-learn-from-a-new-translation-of-the-gospels

Review of Dyer, *Les Soixante-Quinze Feuillets et Autres Manuscrits Inedits* (Proust):

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/les-soixante-quinze-feuillets-marcel-proust-review-marion-schmid/

Review of Tod, *Sensational: The Hidden History of America's 'Girl Stunt Reporters':

https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/the-lost-legacy-of-the-girl-stunt-reporter

An award for Sarah Parcak:

https://www.beloitdailynews.com/news/local-news/sarah-parcak-receives-2021-roy-chapman-andrews-society-distinguished-explorer-award/article_18014f21-41ec-5fd2-914a-dd98bffce9dc.html

More on Leonardo not being the creator of a sculpture of Flora:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-use-whale-wax-show-leonardo-da-vinci-did-not-create-sculpture-180977600/
================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Epic Iran:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/ancient-army-will-guard-v-and-a-exhibition

Colors of the Romans:

https://www.laprensalatina.com/italy-showcases-mosaics-dating-back-to-ancient-rome/

Nero:

https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/19255804.colchesters-fenwick-treasure-feature-roman-emperor-exhibition/

Matres matutae:

https://www.ilpescara.it/eventi/mostre/imago-museum-statue-collezione-matres-matutae-capua.html

Treasures of Akrotiri:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/30/treasures-of-akrotiri-exhibit-travels-to-russia-for-first-time/

Interesting feature on how the Getty has been cleaning up during Covid shutdown times:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/inside-the-year-long-deep-clean-of-the-getty-museum/

Feature on the new Siwa Oasis Museum:

https://cairoscene.com/Travel/New-Siwa-Oasis-Museum-in-Shali-Fortress

Feature on Princeton's art museum moving a 13th century stained glass window:

https://paw.princeton.edu/article/photo-relocating-13th-century-stained-glass-new-museum

Feature on the Museum of Lycian Civilizations:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/antalya-museum-sheds-light-on-lycian-league-1st-democratic-union/news

Faced with some major tax bills, the head of Samsung has donated a pile of are to South Korean museums:

https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/samsung-donation-art-lee-kun-hee-1234591084/
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-04-29/los-herederos-de-samsung-donan-23000-piezas-de-arte-a-museos-de-corea-del-sur.html
================================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
================================================================
George Washington's first letter to a US Jewish community is coming to auction:

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/george-washingtons-first-letter-to-a-us-jewish-community-to-be-auctioned-666398

... as is a 'mourning scarf' associated with Alexander Hamilton:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61258

The world's 'most valuable stamp' is on the auction block again:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/28/worlds-most-valuable-stamp-expected-to-sell-for-up-15m-in-london

A Sussex auction house pulled a Benin Bronze from auction:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/auction-house-cancels-sale-of-benin-bronze-over-looting-concerns-vgpvsr9dm

That 1794 'flowing hair' copper prototype coin fetched a nice price:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-first-dollar-coins-struck-us-mint-sells-840000-180977598/

================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
================================================================
A study of the role of DNA in brain evolution:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210426154805.htm

What DNA reveals about ancient diseases:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/04/teeth-ancient-pathogen-dna/618700/
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/646319/a-short-history-of-humanity-by-johannes-krause-and-thomas-trappe/

In case you missed the excitement about DNA extracted from ancient bear feces:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-sequence-entire-genome-bear-species-without-use-fossils-180977613/

================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
Latest (really interesting) scan of a mummy revealed it not to be the expected priest but rather a woman who was seven months pregnant (!):

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-egyptian-mummy-pregnant-woman-male.html
https://www.livescience.com/pregnant-egyptian-mummy-warsaw.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/29/researchers-shocked-to-find-egyptian-mummy-was-a-pregnant-woman
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/02/world/europe/egyptian-mummy-pregnant-warsaw.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56926005
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/pregnant-mummy-revealed-scli-intl-scn/index.html
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-04-30/hallada-la-primera-momia-egipcia-embarazada.html
https://www.dawn.com/news/1621187/scientists-claim-discovering-first-pregnant-egyptian-mummy
https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/worlds-first-pregnant-egyptian-mummy-uncovered-in-warsaw-21588
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/first-pregnant-ancient-egyptian-mummy-revealed-by-study/138836
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/egyptian-mummy-found-to-be-pregnant.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-reveal-first-known-pregnant-egyptian-mummy-180977637/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9668-210430-egypt-mummy-pregnancy

Feature on technology used in archaeology:

https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/04/28/1022982/data-archaeology-ancient-city-grid-burial-site/

================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
================================================================
Coastal cities in Turkey:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-cities-on-mediterranean-coast-fascinate-visitors-amid-pandemic-164258

Paris:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/jeffrey-milstein-paris-from-the-air/index.html

India's archaeological wonders:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/web-stories/indias-top-archaeological-wonders-from-ancient-times/photostory/82292561.cms
================================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
================================================================
Medea:

https://gazette.com/arts-entertainment/uccs-students-return-to-colorado-springs-stage-with-brutal-greek-tragedy/article_d8e6eb56-a2b4-11eb-8d81-6f468f08e319.html

Feature on Josquin des Prez:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/arts/music/josquin-des-prez-classical-music.html

Classical plays are returning to the theatre in Syracuse:

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2021/04/28/classical-plays-return-to-siracusa-theater_2b31d2b0-f0b2-48ee-821c-2b2c4e277a9c.html

================================================================
TV/DOCUMENTARY HYPISH THINGS
================================================================
A documentary on Fishbourne Roman Palace is in the works:

https://www.chichester.co.uk/news/people/sir-tony-robinson-visits-fishbourne-roman-palace-for-new-documentary-3213742
================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
Italy was marking the recovery of over half a million (!) stolen or counterfeit works in 2020:

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/rome-forum-theft-tops-500000-works-recovered-by-italy.868357

A couple were sentenced for failing to report the discovery of an Iron Age hoard of 933 gold coins from Great Baddow:

https://www.yellowad.co.uk/couple-sentenced-over-ancient-treasure-discovery-in-great-baddow/
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-56945507

A Kalymnos man was arrested for possession of ancient artifacts:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/30/kalymnos-man-arrested-artifacts/
----------
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 12th century reliquary stolen 30+ years ago was recovered by Italian police:

https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/584/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/584/pub/584/page/64/article/168243

The British Institute of Persian Studies returned tom items to Iran:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/460242/Tens-of-Iranian-relics-returned-home-from-British-institute

Italy returned a pair of smuggled items to Egypt:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/410270/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-retrieves--smuggled-artefacts-from-Italy.aspx
https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-recovers-two-smuggled-greco-roman-antiquities-from-italy/
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2021/04/30/italy-returns-two-greco-roman-artefacts-to-egypt/
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2021-04/30/content_77454520.htm

UPenn will be returning skulls from their Morton Cranial Collection to their communities for reburial:

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/27/988972736/penn-museum-apologizes-for-unethical-possession-of-human-remains

Germany returned a Nazi-looted painting of St Florian of Lorch to the heirs of Jewish dealer:

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/germany-restitutes-medieval-painting-stolen-by-nazis-to-rightful-heirs-666450

Germany will be returning Benin Bronzes next year:

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-to-return-looted-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria-in-2022/a-57382591
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/30/arts/design/benin-bronzes-germany.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/30/germany-first-to-hand-back-benin-bronzes-looted-by-british
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/30/992496264/germany-will-repatriate-benin-bronzes-plundered-from-africa-in-the-19th-century
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/germany-start-returning-benin-bronzes-2022-2021-04-30/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/germany-returns-benin-bronzes-2022-declaration-1234591348/
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/benin-bronzes-germany-restitution/index.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/major-push-museums-around-world-make-plans-repatriate-benin-bronzes-nigeria-180977519/

Nigeria has high hopes of many returns, of course:

http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/nigeria-gets-ready-to-receive-world-s-benin-bronzes

... related item on the monetary value of a Benin Bronze at Aberdeen U:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/from-gbp750-to-gbp500-000

More on the US returning smuggled items to Afghanistan:

https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/04/25/afghan-relics-seized-from-smugglers-being-returned/
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/04/29/651584/Afghanistan-Smuggled-Artifacts-National-MuseumUS-
================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Feature on Roman coinage:

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/ancient-roman-coinage-from-republic-to-empire/

Feature on Lingwell Gate's Roman Coin Moulds Project:

https://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/dirty-money-lingwell-gates-roman-coin-moulds/

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v24/club_nbs_esylum_v24n17.html

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

http://www.coinbooks.org/v24/club_nbs_esylum_v24n18.html
------------------------

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

================================================================
OBITUARIES
================================================================
David Boston:

https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/ex-director-of-horniman-museum-dies-aged-89/

Rajan Mishra:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/obituaries/rajan-mishra-dead-covid.html

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

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3069-audio-news-from-archaeologica-april-18-through-april-24-2021
================================================================
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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