===============================================================
explorator 23.51 April 11, 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, Simon Stoddart,
Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay, Jo Burl,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
The 'modern' human brain apparently originated 1.7 million years ago:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uoz-mhb040821.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210408153650.htm
https://www.livescience.com/human-brain-evolution.html
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-new-study-changes-everything-we-know-about-human-brain-evolution-1.9695043
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/our-ancestors-left-africa-both-with-and-without-modern-brains/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/modern-human-brain-originated-in-africa.html

Pondering the process of evolution:

https://theconversation.com/how-did-humans-evolve-and-will-we-evolve-more-156715

How finds from West Africa are causing a rethink of human evolution:

https://theconversation.com/archaeology-in-west-africa-could-rewrite-the-textbooks-on-human-evolution-157610

Another item suggesting sapiens/neanderthal inbreeding:

https://elpais.com/ciencia/2021-04-09/y-si-los-neandertales-somos-nosotros.html

More on humans as apex predators for 2 million years:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-humans-apex-predators-million-years.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/tu-hwa040421.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210405113606.htm
https://www.jpost.com/omg/humans-revealed-to-have-been-apex-predators-for-two-million-years-study-664083
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-our-oldest-secret-we-have-been-super-predators-for-2-million-years-1.9680599
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/humans-were-apex-predators-for-two.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9584-210409-paleolithic-apex-predator

cf: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.24247

More on crystals from the Kalahari:

https://www.news.uct.ac.za/news/research-office/-article/2021-04-09-ancient-secrets-from-the-understudied-kalahari
https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/413210/uct-researchers-find-evidence-of-complex-early-human-behaviour-in-kalahari
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/crystals-found-in-kalahari-desert-challenge-assumptions-about-where-in-africa-human-culture-arose-180977398/

================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Concerns for sites in Sudan:

https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/reporters/20210409-sudan-s-archaeological-treasures-in-danger

Feature on Sabratha:

https://www.libyaobserver.ly/culture/city-sabratha
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Major news this week is the find of remains of Egypt's 'largest known ancient city' (So'oud Atun) near Luxor:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/408778/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/In-Photos-Egyptologist-Zahi-Hawass-announces-disco.aspx
https://phys.org/news/2021-04-archeologists-unearth-ancient-pharaonic-city.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/08/world/middleeast/archaeologists-unearth-ancient-egyptian-pompeii.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/09/lost-golden-city-ancient-egypt-aten-discovered
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/lost-golden-city-egypt-luxor-b1828927.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56686448
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-9452741/Egyptologists-uncover-lost-golden-city-buried-sands.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-9456559/Egypt-unveil-portion-3-000-year-old-city.html
https://gulfnews.com/photos/news/photos-egypt-to-unveil-portion-of-3000-year-old-city-1.1618056047339
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/experts-discover-largest-ancient-city-egypt-b928680.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/luxor-lost-city-tutankhamun-archaeology/2021/04/08/4d9577d0-9863-11eb-8f0a-3384cf4fb399_story.html
https://www.dw.com/en/3000-year-old-lost-golden-city-unearthed-in-egypt/a-57141492
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/science-and-technology/2021/04/lost-golden-city-of-luxor-discovered-by-archaeologists-in-egypt
https://abcnews.go.com/International/3000-year-lost-golden-city-unearthed-egypts-luxor/story?id=76952777
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/inside-egypt-s-3-000-year-old-lost-golden-city-n1263585
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/archaeologists-unearth-ancient-egyptian-pompeii-near-luxor-664577
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/04/11/archaeologists-unearth-ancient-egyptian-pompeii-near-luxor/
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/3000yearold-lost-golden-city-discovered-in-luxor/video/2fbc43f5049aa17b1bc551ff60a9570e
https://www.trtworld.com/life/egypt-says-largest-ancient-pharaonic-city-unearthed-near-luxor-45748
http://www.newson6.com/story/60709c6360055d0bd9a7e673/archaeologists-uncover-3000yearold-lost-golden-city-buried-under-sands-in-egypt
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/science-and-technology/2021/04/lost-golden-city-of-luxor-discovered-by-archaeologists-in-egypt
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/lost-golden-city-of-ancient-egypt-discovered/138579
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/lost-golden-city-discovered-in-luxors.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/09/an-ancient-egyptian-city-has-been-revealed-in-luxors-west-bank/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-3400-year-old-egyptian-city-180977471/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9587-210409-luxor-golden-city

The 'Parade of the Pharaohs' also happened this week (transfer of mummies to the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization), with much pageantry:

https://www.livescience.com/royal-mummy-parade-in-cairo.html
http://egypttoday.com/Article/4/100578/English-translation-of-the-Hieroglyphic-song-at-the-Golden-Parade
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/egyptian-mummies-cairo-parade-b1826536.html
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/03/984145643/royal-mummies-paraded-through-downtown-cairo-in-museum-move
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-04-03/el-gran-desfile-de-las-momias-toma-el-cairo.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/03/egypt-mummies-procession-museum-cairo/
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/mummies-on-move-egypts-parade-to-transfer-royal-antiquities-to-new-museum/3LZYAS5QWW24K2M6WUM4H4YL3U/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/egyptian-mummies-paraded-through-cairo.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-egypt-paraded-22-ancient-pharaohs-through-streets-cairo-180977430/

... and Tut will apparently get his own parade:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/100625/Egypt-plans-2nd-unique-parade-to-transfer-king-Tutankhamun-to
https://www.egyptindependent.com/another-royal-parade-planned-to-transfer-king-tut-minister/

Egypt plans to teach hieroglyphs in schools next year:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypts-education-ministry-to-teach-hieroglyphs-in-schools-next-year/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/100591/Egyptian-hieroglyphs-A-language-or-type-of-font
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2021/04/11/bibliotheca-alexandrina-launches-hieroglyphics-programme-for-primary-school-teachers/

... and the Tourism and Antiquities folks held a training course on archaeological pottery:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/100672/Egypt%E2%80%99s-Min-of-Tourism-Antiquities-holds-training-course-on-archaeological

Overview of research into Sheshonq's activities in Palestine:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2021/04/sheshonq-in-palestine

Feature/hype for recent finds in Egypt:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/100485/Video-Khaled-el-Nabawy-showcases-recent-developments-of-archaeologist-sites

Latest honour for Zahi Hawass:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/zahi-hawass-becomes-first-egyptian-unwto-ambassador/
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2021/4/5/egypts-indiana-jones-appointed-unwto-tourism-ambassador

Morgan Freeman was posting assorted pictures of himself visiting sites in Egypt:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/100630/World-star-Morgan-Freeman-sheds-light-on-ancient-Egypt-on

A potential site in Iran was 'rescued' from developers:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/459433/Authorities-rescue-ancient-hill-from-flattening-by-landgrabbers

Assorted foreign missions are set to resume digging in Iran:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/459667/French-German-archaeologists-expected-to-resume-excavations

Plans for a survey of a Sassanid site in Sirvan:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/459626/Archaeological-survey-to-probe-Sassanid-relics-in-Sirvan

Plans for a documentary on the Iron Age site of Ganj Dareh:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/459448/Documentary-to-unravel-fascinating-secrets-of-Iron-Age-site-in

Feature on some reliefs of Ashurbanipal:

https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/bas-reliefs-of-ashurbanipal-characterize-intellectual-assyrian-king/

Restoration of the arch in Palmyra will begin later this year:

https://sana.sy/en/?p=229304

A 2000 years bp bronze inscription from Yemen mentions a hitherto unknown deity:

https://www.livescience.com/65024-ancient-inscription-lost-temple-yemen.html

Feature on the IAA's Antiquities Robberies Prevention Unit and their activities:

https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/04/09/israels-own-indiana-joneses-beat-antiquities-robbers-to-the-treasure/

... while the head of the IAA is suggesting the recent cave finds in Israel are a 'wake up call':

https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/historic-judean-archeological-discoveries-a-wake-up-call-664521

Feature on assorted digs going on in Israel during the pandemic:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/digs-2021-digging-during-a-pandemic/

Feature on the Madaba Map:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/madaba-mosaic-oldest-map-jerusalem-holy-land

OpEd on the current Palestinian-Israeli conflicts based in archaeology:

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2021/04/when-cultural-appropriation-and-historical-caroline-glick/

A new portal featuring a number of Arabic rock-cut inscriptions might be of interest:

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/new-portal-on-inscriptions-a-treasure-trove-of-arabic-history

More on high tech examination of graffiti in the Holy Sepulchre:

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/archaeologists-use-new-digital-technology-to-uncover-mysteries-of-a-church-in-jerusalem/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/04/04/cutting-edge-tech-takes-a-closer-look-at-crosses-cut-into-holy-sepulchre-walls/

More on that Tyrian coins from the Tower of David site:

https://www.christianpost.com/news/ancient-coin-discovered-in-jerusalems-tower-of-david.html
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
Finds from various Thracian Bronze Age eras (3000 years bp and beyond) from a necropolis in Bulgaria:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/04/3000-year-old-bird-shaped-vessel-placed-burial-urn-found-in-bulgarias-baley-in-crucial-thracian-bronze-age-necropolis/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61108
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9578-210407-bulgaria-thracian-vessel

This seems to be a different Thracian find of other assorted items:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/08/iron-age-ancient-thracian-hamlet-cross-shaped-ax-discovered-in-highway-construction-excavations-in-bulgarias-ugarchin/

A 2nd century bathing complex from Cosa (Italian):

https://www.ciociariaoggi.it/news/cronaca/154090/scoperte-le-terme-del-cosa-venuto-alla-luce-un-complesso-del-ii-secolo-dc
https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/21_aprile_09/archeologia-frosinone-scoperto-edificio-termale-epoca-romana-imperiale-a755ad1e-9938-11eb-9898-68a50e5b3d06.shtml
https://www.tunews24.it/ilcorrieredellaprovincia/2021/04/09/frosinone-lungo-il-cosa-riaffiorano-le-terme-romane-parte-il-percorso-archeologico/

A Roman villa and mosaic from Tollo (Italian):

https://www.la-notizia.net/2021/04/10/tollo-intonaco-e-pavimento-a-mosaico-in-una-villa-romana/

A crushed Roman 'safe' from a site in Zaragoza:

https://tntribune.com/video-rome-for-anything-inside-ancient-crushed-safe-excavated-from-burned-out-roman-villa/

A Roman-era necropolis from Corsica:

https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20210410-necropolis-found-in-corsica-offers-rare-glimpse-into-lives-of-ancient-population-france-tunisia-ile-rousse-archaeology
https://metronews.it/21/04/09/archeologia-corsica-scoperta-una-necropoli-romana.html
https://www.finestresullarte.info/arte-contemporanea/corsica-scoperta-archeologica-necropoli-eta-romana-ile-rousse

A Roman era 'gallery' beneath Istanbul's Topkapi Palace:

https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/istanbul/roman-era-gallery-discovered-beneath-istanbuls-topkapi-palace

Arrests during an illegal excavation in Turkey also revealed a Byzantine monastery site and a 1500 years bp mosaic:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/monastery-1500-year-old-mosaic-unearthed-in-turkey/2197457
https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/05/exquisite-byzantine-mosaic-uncovered-in-western-turkey/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/1500-year-old-mosaic-found-during.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9572-210405-turkey-monastery-mosaic

A bronze chariot piece and Roman terracotta bits from remains of home burned in the 251 Goth invasion of Plovdiv:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/09/bronze-dionysus-chariot-bust-venus-terracotta-found-in-home-burned-down-in-251-ad-goth-invasion-of-roman-empire-in-bulgaria-plovdiv/

I think we mentioned these sarcophagi found near Mugla:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/artifacts-in-sarcophagi-to-shed-light-on-archaeology-world-163786

Concerns for development near Malta's 5600 years bp Ggantija temple complex:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/flats-will-mar-temple-in-malta-older-than-pyramids-wpndlkk5t

Pondering a 2500 years bp ritual complex of some sort at Itanos (Crete):

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/2500-year-old-building-dedicated-to-worship-rewrites-history-of-crete-664271

Evidence of the battles of Sertorius again Metellus:

https://elpais.com/america/economia/2021-04-07/sertorio-contra-metelo-la-gran-batalla-entre-romanos-sale-a-la-luz-en-un-pueblo-de-teruel.html

Plans for a bike path linking the Colosseum and Circus Maximus:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/rome-bike-path-to-link-colosseum-and-circus-maximus.html

The dig at Norton Disney's Roman Villa is about to commence:

https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news/dig-aims-to-discover-more-roman-villa-secrets-9194148/
https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/fresh-hope-long-standing-mystery-5269787

Not sure where to put this item on assorted ancient artifacts from assorted cultures in assorted Turkish museums:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/ancient-artifacts-shine-light-on-history-in-nw-turkey/2204460

Feature/interview on James Romm:

https://paw.princeton.edu/article/classicist-james-romm-88-resurrects-ancient-thebes

Feature on Wilhelmina Jashemski:

https://www.archaeological.org/archaeologists-you-should-know-jashemski/

Feature on Kassandra Miller's work on ancient medicine:

http://www.colby.edu/magazine/kassandra-miller-brings-new-expertise-to-classics/

Feature on Plato and the Amazons:

https://antigonejournal.com/2021/03/especially-in-the-use-of-weapons-plato-and-the-amazons/

Feature on Greek democracy:

https://thisviewoflife.com/greek-democracy-as-a-major-evolutionary-transition-a-conversation-with-josiah-ober/

Feature on Prometheus and technology:

https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/technology/prometheus-toolbox

Feature on the oldest street in Europe (in Athens):

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/tourism-businesses/thematic-tourism/44110-discover-the-oldest-street-in-the-greek-capital-of-athens-and-europe.html

Feature on pandemics and ancient wars:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/pandemics-determined-fate-of-ancient-wars-says-professor-163699

Feature on Roman Palmyra:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/take-a-virtual-tour-of-the-roman-ruins-of-palmyra-in-syria-in-pictures-1.1197483

Feature on recreating a 1500 years bp Roman 'burger':

https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2021/04/09/taking-a-bite-out-of-a-1500-year-old-roman-burger/

Feature on 'lost cities' in the Aegean:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/08/ancient-cities-lost-under-aegean-sea-greece/

Feature on Scylla and Charybdis:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/05/scylla-and-charybdis-embodied-male-fears-in-greek-mythology/

Feature on Hippocrates:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/09/hippocrates-the-greek-father-of-modern-medicine/

Feature on some Greek works of art in foreign museums:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/07/ten-magnificent-greek-works-of-art-found-in-foreign-museums/

Feature on Thrasymachus:

https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/thrasymachus-a-new-face-of-evil/

Feature on Plato's views on evil:

https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/platos-reflections-on-human-evil-and-malice/

Feature on 'tokenization' of women in Roman times:

https://hyperallergic.com/635484/how-foreign-women-have-been-tokenized-since-ancient-roman-times/

Feature on Greeks reclining to eat:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/08/why-did-ancient-greeks-recline-to-eat-and-drink/

Feature on ancient Greek names for stars:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/05/the-ancient-greek-stars-lighting-up-our-night-skies/

Feature on ancient beauty standards:

https://www.brusselstimes.com/opinion/163379/lessons-from-the-greco-roman-mythology-on-unattainable-beauty-standards/

Feature on the Promitheia festival on Mount Olympus:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/07/promitheia-reviving-the-ancient-greek-spirit-on-mount-olympus/

Feature on Rome's upcoming 2774th birthday:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/rome-celebrates-2774th-birthday-in-2021.html

Feature on lessons from Rome about luxury:

https://bigthink.com/lessons-roman-empire-danger-luxury

Feature on Myrtis and Covid:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/05/ancient-athens-plague-victim-message-covid-era/

More features on the Antikythera Mechanism:

https://hyperallergic.com/631435/ancient-antikythera-mechanism-worlds-first-computer-reconstructed/
https://neoskosmos.com/en/193910/worlds-first-computer-was-the-fusion-of-finest-greek-and-middle-eastern-scientific-knowledge/

The UK culture secretary thinks return of the Parthenon Marbles is "impossible":

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/03/uk-culture-secretary-impossible-to-give.html

... and apparently there were 'crunch talks' with Prince Charles on the matter:

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1419922/uk-greece-elgin-marbles-wendy-morton-talks-british-museum-brexit-news

A school marked the 1821 Revolution with a performance of Pericles' Funeral Oration:

https://www.pappaspost.com/houston-school-shares-stunning-tribute-to-1821-via-pericles/

A minotaur mural appeared in Albany:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Minotaur-mural-appeared-overnight-piquing-16078299.php

The airport in Doha (Qatar) now has a replica of the Delphi Charioteer:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/07/charioteer-of-delphi-doha-metro/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/08/heniokhos-at-the-international-airport-of-doha/
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
10 000 years bp finds from a site in Cairngooms:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-56661834

cf: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-prehistoric-society/article/new-evidence-for-upland-occupation-in-the-mesolithic-of-scotland/5C6A4D9DF6F5321A0BF5A37BE6712453

Assorted 6500 years bp vessels and tools from the 'Hidden Settlement Mound' near Pomorie (Bulgaria):

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/06/6500-year-old-full-set-of-vessels-including-zoomorphic-one-gold-bead-from-worlds-oldest-found-in-prehistoric-settlement-mound-near-bulgarias-pomorie/

A slab inscribed some 4000 years bp from France back in 2014 is being touted again as Europe's oldest 3d map:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-french-year-old-oldest-europe.html
https://www.livescience.com/oldest-known-map-europe-bronze-age.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/07/stone-slab-found-france-europe-oldest-3d-map-saint-belec-slab
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56648055
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/bronze-age-stone-map-europe-b1827772.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/could-this-stone-slab-be-the-oldest-known-map-of-europe-664712
https://www.wionews.com/science/france-archaeologists-unearth-3d-map-from-bronze-age-376085
https://www.sciencealert.com/ancient-forgotten-stone-slab-may-actually-be-the-oldest-known-map-in-europe
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/researchers-discover-oldest-known-map.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/07/the-oldest-3d-map-in-europe/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bronze-age-slab-oldest-known-map-europe-180977439/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9580-210407-bronze-age-map

4000 years bp (maybe) human bones and pottery found by a walker in Guersey:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-56663491
https://guernseypress.com/news/2021/04/09/prehistoric-bones-could-be-oldest-ive-excavated---states-archaeologist/

Finds from various periods found back in 2014 during A75 bypass construction:

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/details-prehistoric-galloway-heartland-discovered-23867481

Remains of a 900 years bp Northumberland fishing community are being brought to light:

https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/people/archaeologists-uncover-evidence-of-northumberland-fishing-community-dating-back-900-years-3192422

Medieval finds made by detectorists in Wales include some gold coin hoards and a skull ring:

https://www.livescience.com/uk-metal-detector-medieval-treasures.html

A medieval gothic cellar from Trnava:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22625958/archeological-exploration-results-in-unique-findings.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9575-210406-slovakia-gothic-cellar

The River Hunters came across a Viking era grindstone in York:

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19223059.river-hunters-put-noses-grindstone/

Feature on what happened when Vikings 'settled down':

https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/0406/1208207-vikings-anthropocene-settling-effects/

Possible 18th century wall remains from Roscommon Town:

https://roscommonherald.ie/2021/04/11/speculation-mounts-over-historic-roscommon-town-discovery/

More on that Neolithic site in Spain featuring decapitation, trepanation, and other interesting burials:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/03/dig-in-southern-spain-reveals.html

More on the Shigir idol:

https://www.livescience.com/shigir-idol-older-than-thought.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9573-210405-shigir-idol-wood

More on the 6000 years bp salt production site in Yorkshire:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/03/6000-year-old-salt-production-site-is.html

More on the 1600 years bp pottery production centre found in Poland:

https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C87142%2Cenormous-roman-era-pottery-production-centre-found-polish-village.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/03/roman-era-pottery-production-centre.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9586-210409-poland-industrial-kiln

More on 800 years bp pottery from Oxford revealing medieval Jewish dietary practices:

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2021/april/pottery-jewish-diet.html
https://phys.org/news/2021-04-year-old-medieval-pottery-fragments-reveal.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210407122220.htm
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uob-8mp040721.php
https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/archaeologists-discover-evidence-medieval-jewish-kosher-diet-800-year-old-pottery-fragments-945446
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-archaeologists-identify-medieval-jewish-homes-in-ancient-oxford-1.9694484
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/800-year-old-medieval-pottery-fragments.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/09/800-year-old-medieval-pottery-fragments-reveal-jewish-dietary-practices/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9583-210408-oxford-jewish-diet

More on that medieval 'elephant and castle' gold seal:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-56601940
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61111
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9579-210407-elephant-and-castle

Review of Connie Kelleher, *The Alliance of Pirates*:

https://www.dublininquirer.com/2021/04/07/the-alliance-of-pirates-reviewed

The 275th anniversary of the Battle of Culloden will be marked online:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-56661832

Funding to repair Whitfield Tabernacle:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-56661209

Feature on finds from Gwent over the years:

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19214480.ancient-finds-gwent/

Feature on the Son Oms site on Mallorca:

https://english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2021-04-08/the-airport-that-crash-landed-on-a-prehistoric-ceremonial-site-in-palma.html

Feature on the Celts:

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2021/04/who-were-the-celts
----------
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
================================================================
Remains of a 5200 years bp wall and moat from Fenghuangzui:

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2021-04/03/content_77375341.htm
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9576-210406-china-neolithic-fenghuangzui

More on the Sanxingdui gold mask:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-04/07/c_139864673.htm

Remains of a food storage room from a Silk Road fortress in Uzbekistan:

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14254419
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9577-210406-uzbekistan-royal-pantry

A 2nd century Ganesha idol from Andhra Pradesh:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/ganesha-idol-dating-back-to-2nd-century-ce-found-in-ap/articleshow/81979867.cms
https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/ganesha-idol-dating-back-to-second-century-unearthed-by-archaeologists-in-andhra-pradesh-3625934.html
https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/ganesha-idol-dating-back-to-second-century-excavated-by-archaeologists-in-andhra-pradesh-538042.html

Another Buddha statue from a 10th century monastery site in Hazaribag:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/archaeologists-find-another-buddha-statue-at-hbag-excavation-site/articleshow/81901966.cms

A 12th century statue of Channakeshavaswami found while extracting sand in Karnataka:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/03/12th-century-sculpture-found-during.html

A 300 years bp 'sati stone' from Tiruppur:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/sati-stone-discovered-in-tiruppur-city/article34275279.ece

A Maratha Empire-era gold bracelet find from Raigad:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/navi-mumbai/mumbai-3-century-old-gold-bangle-excavated-at-raigad-fort-site/articleshow/81878632.cms
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9574-210405-india-maratha-empire

Illegal excavations at various sites in Pakistan are a cause for concern:

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/816610-illegal-excavation-of-archaeological-sites-in-mardan-swabi-swat-continues

We're gettng some details on those burials from Camp Blaz (Guam) found a few months ago:

https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2021/04/10/some-details-finally-released-ancient-burials-camp-blaz/7164169002/

Stormy weather exposed the 128 years bp wreck of the Buster in New South Wales:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/fossilised-128-year-old-shipwreck-23881819

35000 years bp bone tools from Riwi Cave in Kimberley (Australia):

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-bone-tools-kimberley-region-oldest.html
https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/archaeology/bone-tools-from-the-kimberley-among-oldest-in-australia/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/bone-tools-found-in-kimberley-region.html
https://au.news.yahoo.com/wa-bone-tools-changing-scientific-050045048.html?guccounter=1
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9582-210408-australia-bone-tools

Some newly found documents are shedding light on Western Australia's first European settlement:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-07/old-documents-of-wa-first-settlement-found-in-nsw-state-archives/13286686

A study of skeletal remains from the Goldfields of Otago is shedding light on the early settlers there:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-cultural-threads-goldfield-early-settlers.html

Feature on Uplistsikhe:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/uplistsikhe-the-rock-hewn-city-of-caves/138572

================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Four sites from various periods identified in a Kamloops park:

https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/news/quartet-of-archaeological-sites-identified-in-riverside-park-1.24303283

A forest fire back in 2017 is making it easier for sites to be found near Kamloops:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/elephant-hill-wildfire-skeetchestn-indian-band-1.5981602

There is little evidence, apparently, that overuse of wood led to the collapse of Cahokia:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-scant-evidence-wood-overuse-cahokia.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/wuis-sse040821.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210408152256.htm
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/scant-evidence-that-wood-overuse-at.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/localised-deforestation-unlikely-to-cause-canokia-collapse/138626

Unmarked enslaved persons burials from the Clemson University campus:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/At-Clemson-unmarked-slave-graves-highlight-16082228.php

Marylands Mt Nebo AME church is exploring a 140 years bp burial gound:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/04/07/black-cemetery-missing-graves/

19th century burials from a construction site near Memphis:

https://news.yahoo.com/remains-found-construction-burial-1800s-002100169.html

This week's 'Lost Colony' mystery answers:

https://abc11.com/the-lost-colony-roanoke-of-national-geographic/10494529/

More on Arabian coins from Rhode Island and Henry Every:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/ancient-coins-may-solve-mystery-of.html

Revisiting the Manhattan Purchase story:

https://www.livescience.com/was-manhattan-sold-for-24-dollars.html

Studying New York City's 300 years bp trash:

https://aeon.co/videos/new-yorks-300-year-old-trash-becomes-treasure-in-the-hands-of-an-urban-archaeologist

Concerns for Harriet Tubman-associated sites in Maryland:

https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/historic-harriet-tubman-sites-at-risk-of-rising-seas-on-eastern-shore/2631651/

... and a related search for more sites:

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/saving-tubman-sites-searching-for-ben-ross-cabin/2631728/

Bears Ears is reemerging in the news:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/04/08/bears-ears-haaland/

... related:

https://kfgo.com/2021/04/08/u-s-interior-secretary-looks-to-restore-utah-monuments-slashed-by-trump/

Feature on the Adena Mounds:

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/columns/2021/04/11/column-big-10-not-only-link-between-ohio-wisconsin/7124022002/

Some Ancient Americas lectures and events of note:

https://mikeruggerisyoutube.tumblr.com/
http://mikeruggerisevents.tumblr.com/
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
================================================================
Remains of what is being dubbed an 'embassy' from Tikal has implications:

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/04/possible-embassy-ancient-maya-city-illuminates-birth-empire

Pondering the settlement of the Caribbean:

https://www.sapiens.org/biology/indigenous-caribbean/

More on the 3200 years bp Spider divinity mural from Peru:

https://hyperallergic.com/632553/mural-of-knife-wielding-spider-god-peru/
https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/ancient-mural-of-knife-wielding-spider-god-from-cupisnique-culture-discovered-in-peru/

More on Maya use of salt:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/maya-salt-money-09479.html

-----
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
================================================================
Not sure where to put this one ... a study suggests that hypoxia contributed to the images we see in petroglyphs in caves in Western Europe:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/stoned-in-the-stone-age-prehistoric-humans-got-high-israeli-scholars-664547
https://www.sciencealert.com/ancient-cave-artists-might-ve-knowingly-deprived-themselves-of-oxygen-to-paint
https://www.cnet.com/news/ancient-cave-painters-deprived-themselves-of-oxygen-to-get-high-new-study-suggests/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-israeli-archaeologists-crack-mystery-of-cave-paintings-done-in-the-dark-1.9686181
https://www.salon.com/2021/04/07/ancient-cave-painters-may-have-been-stoned-study-says/

Really not sure where to put this item on studying/experimenting with bat guano to figure out how sites might form:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-guano-archaeologists-ancient.html
https://theconversation.com/a-batshit-experiment-bones-cooked-in-bat-poo-lift-the-lid-on-how-archaeological-sites-are-formed-156865
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/how-baked-bat-guano-helped.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/07/how-baked-bat-guano-helped-archaeologists-understand-our-past/

On the oldest hot cross bun in the world:

https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/19200708.colchester-oldest-hot-cross-bun-world/

On the apparent therapeutic effects of Baltic amber:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/acs-pfb032221.php
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/06/baltic-amber-as-a-potential-source-of-new-antibiotics/

Feature on some podcasts about the history of the ancient world:

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/apr/05/an-escape-from-dark-times-how-ancient-history-podcasts-bring-comfort-and-clarity

Feature on the 'allure' of lost cities:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20210405-the-enduring-allure-of-lost-cities

Features on the first modern Olympic Games:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/06/1896-modern-olympics-athens/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/first-modern-olympics-125-years-ago-was-nothing-like-todays-huge-spectacle/2021/04/07/59c3e812-8eb2-11eb-a6bd-0eb91c03305a_story.html

... and the history of the Olympics:

https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/putnam_news/derek-coleman-the-not-so-brief-history-of-the-olympics/article_47497373-276c-58e8-9438-48d7b0a0c970.html

A foetus buried with a 17th century Bishop was likely the latter's relative (grandson, most likely):

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-foetus-bishop-coffin-grandson.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/lu-fib040721.php
https://www.sciencealert.com/a-17th-century-bishop-was-buried-with-a-fetus-scientists-have-finally-figured-out-why
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/dna-analysis-solves-curious-case-of-the-stillborn-fetus-in-the-bishops-coffin/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/foetus-in-bishops-coffin-was-probably.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9585-210409-sweden-grandfather-bishop

Interesting feature on Prince Philip's lineage:

https://theconversation.com/prince-philip-dies-his-marriage-to-the-queen-and-their-part-in-1-000-years-of-european-royal-dynastic-history-155696

... and a feature on his mother:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/09/prince-philip-mother-alice-philanthropy-in-greece/

Casanova wasn't a cad, apparently:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/memoirs-show-casanova-the-medicine-man-wasnt-all-cad-fl8prrjh7

Feature on what a field archaeologist does:

https://globalnews.ca/video/7750313/the-training-ground-what-it-takes-to-become-a-field-archaeologist

Feature on the Nazi concentration camp at Terezin (falling into ruin):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56596351

On archaeologists, racism, and public monuments:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-paper-urges-archaeologists-historians-people.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uoc--mtm040821.php

On the influence of Muslim intellectuals on the Enlightenment:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/opinion/enlightenment-islam-robinson-crusoe.html

On the history of perfume bottles:

https://mymodernmet.com/history-perfume-bottles/

In 1894 they apparently built a 'brad arch' in Leeds:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-56604516

More on the Getty acquiring Genileschi's Lucretia:

https://hyperallergic.com/635883/artemisia-gentileschi-masterpiece-lucretia-acquired-by-getty/

On the history of clothes closets:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/05/giant-closets/618393/

Feature on Ramon Llull:

https://elpais.com/babelia/2021-04-09/ramon-llull-maquina-fantastica-de-pensar.html#?sma=newsletter_diaria_manana20210409m

Calls for an inventory of world artifacts held by the Church of England:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/09/calls-for-full-inventory-of-world-artefacts-held-by-church-of-england-benin-bronzes

Feature on Antonie van Leeuwenhoek:

https://theconversation.com/the-17th-century-cloth-merchant-who-discovered-the-vast-realm-of-tiny-microbes-an-appreciation-of-antonie-van-leeuwenhoek-158177

Feature on the scientific revolution with a Huygens spin:

https://aeon.co/essays/why-huygens-father-and-son-personify-the-scientific-revolution

A newly discovered Gainsbourough portrait:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lost-portrait-acclaimed-british-painter-thomas-gainsborough-resurfaces-180977443/

An 18th century painting has been attributed to Henry Lefebvre:

https://www.riposte-catholique.fr/archives/158876

On the use of drugs during war:

https://www.brownalumnimagazine.com/articles/2021-01-13/lit

Featuer on Tsim Sha Tsui's clock tower:

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3127634/story-tsim-sha-tsuis-clock-tower-how-it-survived-world-war

On Democritus predicting the atom:

https://bigthink.com/culture-religion/ancient-physics-democritus-predicted-atom

Feature on Tharun Sekar's recreations of ancient musical instruments:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/yazh-ancient-musical-instrument-india

How the pandemic resurrected Britain's ancient borders:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/britain-ancient-borders-pandemic

On Marie Antoinette and the 'cake' misquote:

https://www.livescience.com/let-the-eat-cake.html

OpEddish feature on transgender people in history:

https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/transgender-people-exist-in-history/

Feature on World Expos over the years:

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2021/04/world/world-expo-history-40-objects-intl-spc/

Pondering Alexander Graham Bell's legacy for the deaf:

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

Latest on the Salvator Mundi:

https://www.jpost.com/international/latest-twist-in-salvator-mundi-painting-case-again-aims-to-target-saudi-664749
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/salvator-mundi-feature-film
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-04-08/el-origen-de-salvator-mundi-un-secreto-de-estado.html

Feature on daVinci's patrons:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/renaissance/leonardo-da-vinci-art-patrons-supporters-ludovico-sforza-isabella-deste-borgias/

Feature on the Vienna Dioscurides manuscript:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/maya-salt-money-09479.html

How the KKK in California target Asians in the 19th century:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/04/california-klans-anti-asian-crusade/618513/

Drama arising from the theft of a Jefferson Davis memorial throne:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/jefferson-davis-memorial-throne-stolen-from-confederate-cemetery-and-under-threat-of-being-turned-into-a-toilet

Moscow's Eliseevsky grocery store is closing after 120 years:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56683249
https://elpais.com/economia/2021-04-08/la-tienda-de-manjares-de-la-epoca-zarista-que-sobrevivio-a-la-revolucion-pero-no-a-la-pandemia.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/moscow-eliseevsky-grocery-closing/2021/04/03/7512e080-9210-11eb-aadc-af78701a30ca_story.html
================================================================
ANIMAL AND PLANT DOMESTICATIONS
================================================================
Evidence of domesticated dogs in the Arabian peninsula 4300 BCE:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/tfg-aue040821.php
https://phys.org/news/2021-04-archaeologists-uncover-earliest-evidence-domesticated.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/earliest-evidence-of-domesticated-dogs.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/archaeologists-uncover-earliest-evidence-of-domesticated-dogs-in-arabian-peninsula/138562

A study of sheep (and other) domestication in Western Asia suggests the practice dates back at lease 8000 years:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-early-dispersal-neolithic-domesticated-sheep.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/mpif-edo040121.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210408112349.htm
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/early-dispersal-of-neolithic.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/09/early-dispersal-of-neolithic-domesticated-sheep-in-central-asia/
================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Cinderella to Sinbad:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/books/from-cinderella-to-sindbad-new-abu-dhabi-exhibit-to-explore-literary-traditions-from-germany-and-the-arab-world-1.1196639

Thomas Becket:

https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news/thomas-becket-at-the-british-museum-7832846

Ancient Egyptian queens:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/100725/Ancient-Egyptian-queens-will-hold-court-at-the-Canadian-Museum

Last Supper in Pompeii:

https://www.artfixdaily.com/news_feed/2021/04/07/7532-last-supper-in-pompeii-to-open-at-sfs-legion-of-honor-this-summer

The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir is seeking Heritage status:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/100635/Egyptian-Museum-in-Tahrir-on-preliminary-list-of-World-Heritage

Latest in Abu Dhabi's plans for a mega museum:

http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/abu-dhabi-s-next-mega-museum-back-on-track-now-with-a-director

Feature on Athen's Numismatic Museum:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/09/numismatic-museum-athens/

================================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
================================================================
Spain put an export ban on a Caravaggio (subsequently withdrawn from auction):

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/08/arts/design/caravaggio-spain-export-ban.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56675290
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spain-blocks-sale-of-possible-caravaggio-painting-of-jesus/

On Native American items showing up at auctions:

https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/culture/auction-houses-selling-native-cultural-items/article_dd2e50ea-971b-11eb-935e-8beb5e963525.html

Big bucks for a copy of Action Comics #1:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56669924

================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
================================================================
Plenty of interesting genome-related implications from analysis of a 45 000 (now) years bp skull from Croatia (there seem to be a couple overlapping stories here):

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-neanderthal-ancestry-oldest-modern-human.html
https://phys.org/news/2021-04-genome-analysis-reveals-unknown-ancient.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/mpif-nai040621.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210407114205.htm
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210407122217.htm
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/apr/07/ancient-human-migration-europe-neanderthals-genetic-sequencing
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/early-humans-in-europe-found-to-have-close-lineage-with-neanderthals-664752
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-earliest-modern-humans-in-europe-had-neanderthals-in-the-family-1.9690167
https://www.sciencealert.com/a-previously-unknown-human-migration-was-just-revealed-in-genetic-data
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/04/more-45000-years-ago-modern-humans-ventured-neanderthal-territory-here-s-what-happened
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/2-recent-studies-sequence-dna-from-the-earliest-homo-sapiens-in-eurasia/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/neanderthal-ancestry-identifies-oldest.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/genomes-of-earliest-europeans.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/secrets-europes-oldest-known-modern-humans-revealed-genome-sequencing-180977437/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9581-210408-neanderthals-modern-humans

Study suggests a disconnect between genetics and physical characteristics:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-reveals-disconnect-physical-characteristics-genetic.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/study-reveals-surprising-disconnect.html

================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
An app is resurrecting ancient Baalbek:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/6/lebanons-baalbek-reborn-temples-a-newly-launched-virtual-tour
https://en.ammonnews.net/article/48480
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/lebanons-baalbek-temples-reborn.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/take-3d-tour-ancient-temples-lebanon-180977451/

More on recreating 1800 years bp chain armour with video game technology:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/05/gaming-technology-recreates-c16th-music-in-a-scottish-chapel
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1296207421000546

More on the KV55 facial reconstruction:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1296207421000546
================================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS
================================================================
OpEddish thing on archaeology and climate change:

https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/news/archaeology-and-climate-change-2074369
================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
================================================================
Shibam:

https://elpais.com/icon-design/arquitectura/2021-04-08/la-manhattan-del-desierto-la-ciudad-yemeni-que-en-el-siglo-xvi-invento-los-rascacielos.html
================================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
================================================================
Recreating the acoustics of Linlithgow Palace to recreate a 1512 performance:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/05/gaming-technology-recreates-c16th-music-in-a-scottish-chapel
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/musical-time-machine-recreates-16th-century-concert-180977406/

I, Cinna:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-ent-cinna-poet-chicago-shakespeare-review-20210406-wo3phhezrjg63gect7kaz6e3u4-story.html

Antigone:

https://www.sacurrent.com/ArtSlut/archives/2021/04/07/the-classic-theatre-brings-iconic-greek-tragedy-antigone-to-the-san-antonio-botanical-garden

An Iliad:

https://chicagomaroon.com/article/2021/4/7/iliad-alls-fair-theater-war/

Medea:

https://www.elonnewsnetwork.com/article/2021/04/elon-performing-arts-medea

Eurydice:

https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/community/events/6978278-What-is-love-DSU-play-a-retelling-of-classic-Greek-myth

Helen:

https://spectator.com.au/2021/04/a-changed-woman/
================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
OpEddish thing on antiquities theft:

https://menafn.com/1101888747/Antiquities-theft-funds-conflict-erases-culture

Feature on counterfeit Jewish artifacts being manufactured in Turkey:

https://forward.com/news/467503/in-turkey-counterfeit-jewish-artifacts-are-commonplace-and-often-sloppy/

Native American petroglyphs in the Chattahoochee National Forest have been vandalized:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/06/us/chattahoochee-petroglyphs-vandalism-trnd/index.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/07/us/chattahoochee-national-forest-vandalism.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/vandals-mar-ancient-petroglyphs-in-north-georgia-mountains/2021/04/08/8170e4b0-98a2-11eb-8f0a-3384cf4fb399_story.html
https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/43614431/thousand-year-old-native-american-rock-carvings-have-been-vandalized-in-the-chattahoochee-national-forest
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article250458696.html
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-native-american-rock-carvings-vandalized-national-forest-georgia-chattahooche-20210406-6i34zwmtt5btllodni2mpm4d6u-story.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/someone-destroyed-1000-year-old-indigenous-art-georgias-chattahoochee-national-forest-180977453/

An Aboriginal site in Victoria was damaged:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/apr/06/traditional-owners-devastated-by-alleged-damage-to-1500-year-old-stone-arrangement-in-victoria

... and the farmer who did the deed claims he didn't know:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/apr/07/farmer-sorry-for-damaging-aboriginal-site-says-he-did-not-know-it-was-heritage-listed

INAH recovered some items headed for sale on the Internet:

https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2021/04/inah-recover-eight-archaeological-pieces-that-were-intended-to-be-sold-on-the-internet/

Jefferson Davis' 'chair' (from a cemetery monument) has been recovered and arrests made:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/10/us/jefferson-davis-chair-memorial-theft-trnd/index.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/04/09/confederate-chair-arrests-white-lies-matter/

An arrest of a man suspected of thefts of a Van Gogh and Hals:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/apr/06/dutch-police-arrest-man-theft-van-gogh-hals-paintings-laughing-boys-parsonage-garden
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56651925
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/06/arts/design/van-gogh-hals-theft-arrest.html
https://www.dw.com/en/dutch-police-arrest-suspect-in-theft-of-van-gogh-hals-paintings/a-57109038
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/van-gogh-stolen-painting-arrest-intl-scli/index.html
https://apnews.com/article/dutch-police-arrest-theives-van-gough-hals-works-939cf6b2bca5864a05bff0199b90ce9d
https://www.wsj.com/articles/dutch-police-arrest-suspect-in-van-gogh-heist-11617735240
----------
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
================================================================
Britain apparently has not returned some statuary to Jordan that it took back in 1990 for restoration:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/03/britain-has-kept-stone-age-statues-says.html

Turkey is trying to recover a looted work from the US currently held by Christie's:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/09/arts/design/turkey-christies-idol-lawsuit.html

665 coins which had been stolen from the Sibari museum are being returned:

https://www.agi.it/cultura/news/2021-04-04/archeologia-tornano-sibari-monete-quinto-secolo-avanti-cristo-12036739/

Austria returned 28 items to Iran:

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/171701/Antique-relics-delivered-to-Iran-from-Austria

Some Manhattan Beach property taken from a Black family over a century ago might be returned:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/manhattan-beach-property-seized-century-ago-may-be-returned/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=news_tab&utm_content=algorithm

Germany is the focus of Benin Bronze return coverage this week:

https://www.modernghana.com/news/1072519/will-germany-really-restitute-looted-benin-artefac.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/03/a-matter-of-fairness-new-debate-about.html

London's Horniman Museum is making a 'repatriation pledge' in regards to their Benin Bronzes

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/07/horniman-museum-makes-benin-bronzes-repatriation-pledge-end/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/563/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/563/pub/563/page/34/article/160044
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/horniman-museum-policy-on-restitution
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/london-museum-might-repatriate-benin-bronzes-1957559

The Church of England plans to return a pair of Benin Bronzes which were given to a former Archbishop of Canterbury as a gift:

https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/565/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/565/pub/565/page/29/article/161030

The National Museum of Ireland is also figuring out how to return Benin Bronzes:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/national-museum-ireland-plan-return-looted-benin-bronzes-rmx7rdtpk

More on Aberdeen's pending returns:

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/will-scottish-universitys-return-of-bronze-bust-to-benin-start-a-trend

Some general items on the current interest to return the Benin Bronzes:

https://hyperallergic.com/633045/path-toward-restitution-of-benin-bronzes-advances-in-germany-and-uk/
https://www.voanews.com/europe/effort-return-benin-bronzes-africa-remains-ongoing-challenge

================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Feature on the history of money:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/from-barter-to-bitcoin-the-history-of-money

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v24/club_nbs_esylum_v24n14.html

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

http://www.coinbooks.org/v24/club_nbs_esylum_v24n15.html
------------------------

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

================================================================
OBITUARIES
================================================================
Granville Redmond:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/08/obituaries/granville-redmond-overlooked.html

Marshall D. Sahlins:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/10/us/marshall-d-sahlins-dead.html

Gianluigi Colalucci:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/obituaries/gianluigi-colalucci-dead.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/gianluigi-colalucci-dead/2021/04/09/236d54d6-97c4-11eb-962b-78c1d8228819_story.html

Robert E. Cooley:

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/april-web-only/died-robert-e-cooley-gordon-conwell-assemblies-archaeology.html

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

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3063-audio-news-from-archaeologica-march-28-through-april-3-2021
================================================================
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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