===========================================================
explorator 24.50 April 3, 2022
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You can read explorator online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/

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

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EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
Study suggests tools are an indicator Neanderthals in the Iberian peninsula were 'threatened' even before sapiens arrived:

https://phys.org/news/2022-03-tools-reveal-patterns-neandertal-extinction.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220330141403.htm
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10440-220401-neanderthal-tools-extinction

cf: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0265219

Dating burials at Olduvai using the cosmogenic nuclide isochron method:

https://phys.org/news/2022-03-cosmogenic-nuclide-dating-olduvai-lithic.html

cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004724842200015X
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AFRICA
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Feature on the ongoing Heuninneskrans excavations (mostly Mesolithic?):

https://lowvelder.co.za/776347/heuningneskrans-a-beehive-of-archaeological-activity/
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ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
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A study identifying 'ancient smells' from items found in Egyptian tombs:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00903-z
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10439-220401-egypt-ancient-scents

An update on Zahi Hawass' Tut opera:

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2022/03/29/tutankhamun-opera-will-be-unique-experience-to-world-audiences-zahi-hawass/

Feature on that pregnant 2000 years bp mummy that was CT scanned a while ago:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/a-closer-look-at-the-worlds-first-pregnant-egyptian-mummy

Plans to restore a Sassanid palace in Sarvestan:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/471272/Sassanid-palace-in-southern-Iran-to-undergo-restoration

A farmer came across a Hittite-era bracelet in Corum (Turkey):

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/farmer-discovers-rare-hittite-era-bracelet-in-turkeys-corum
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63698

Every week we seem to hear of 'factions' conducting illegal excavations in Syria:

https://www.syriahr.com/en/245593/

An overview of the past month's archaeological finds in Turkey:

https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/march-2022-turkish-archaeology

More on the 'ritual shrine' from the Jordanian desert found as part of the South Eastern Badia Archaeological Project:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/03/29/major-archaeological-discovery-in-southern-jordan/

Evidence of vanilla and other spices from residues in 2600 years bp wine jars from the City of David:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/6th-century-bce-jerusalemite-oenophiles-had-a-taste-for-exotic-vanilla-spice-wine/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-702646
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/judahite-elite-in-jerusalem-drank-wine-flavored-with-vanilla-1.10706085
https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2022/march/analysis-of-old-testament-jars-reveal-jerusalem-elite-spiced-their-wine-with-vanilla
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324890
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/jerusalem/biblical-kings-drank-vanilla-flavored-wine/

Plans to move a Megiddo prison to excavate a church with the earliest (maybe) mosaic depicting Jesus (found several years ago):

https://www.timesofisrael.com/plans-underway-to-move-megiddo-prison-to-excavate-church-with-earliest-jesus-mosaic/
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-702712
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-702887
https://aleteia.org/2022/04/02/earliest-mosaic-dedicated-to-christ-found-at-israel-prison/

Folks appear to be cleaning up the site of Tiberias in hopes of it becoming a national park:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-years-of-neglect-rare-opportunity-opens-up-for-tiberias-archaeological-gems/

Feature on the early Islamic era Ma'agan Michael B Ship shipwreck found off the coast of Israel quite a while ago:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-shipwreck-changes-what-we-know-about-the-early-islamic-period-1.10708784

More on the curse tablet from Mt. Ebal and the claims being attached to it:

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-curse-tablet-early-hebrew
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-703046
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-702271
https://aleteia.org/2022/03/29/archaeologists-just-found-the-oldest-inscription-of-the-hebrew-name-of-god/
http://www.prweb.com/releases/ancient_curse_inscription_deciphered_from_tablet_discovered_during_archaeological_wet_sift_on_mt_ebal/prweb18577770.htm

More on that 'tourist' finding a 5000 years bp (?) jug in Cave 53 near the Dead Sea:

https://www.newsweek.com/american-tourist-discovers-5000-year-old-clay-jug-bronze-age-cave-qumran-dead-sea-1693271

Feature on a rock inscription which might be the earliest evidence of Christianity in Arabia (maybe):

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/inscriptions/the-earliest-evidence-of-christianity-in-arabia/?mqsc=E4142950&dk=ZE2130ZF0

Feature on assorted finds from Israel which were found 'by accident':

https://stljewishlight.org/jewish-history/10-amazing-jewish-archeological-finds-discovered-by-accident/

Some Goliath revisionism:

https://forward.com/culture/484797/david-goliath-villain-sympathy-bible-israelites-philistines-jonathan/

Over the past 5+ years, 900 sites have been identified in Duqm, with 160 in Nufon (Oman):

https://timesofoman.com//article/114858-over-150-archaeological-sites-discovered-in-this-village-in-oman
https://www.omanobserver.om/article/1116817/oman/900-archeological-sites-found-in-duqm-155-in-nufon

More on the 8500 years bp structures in the UAE off the coast of Abu Dhabi:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-united-arab-emirates-earliest-buildings-are-8500-years-old-180979835/
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
============================================================
1st century BCE Gallic finds (from 2019) including four busts and a wooden bucket have gone on display:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63744

A road improvement dig in Bedfordshire revealed remains of a 2000 years bp Roman malting oven/beer production site:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-60932382
https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/people/fancy-an-early-pint-evidence-of-roman-beer-production-found-near-bedford-3631618
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10437-220331-england-spelt-beer

Remains of a Roman mercenary (how was that identified?) and medieval finds from a site near Barry (Wales):

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-60935927
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/skeleton-roman-mercenary-medieval-remains-23547393
https://www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/20029341.look-roman-history-uncovered-five-mile-lane-barry/
https://nation.cymru/news/roman-and-medieval-remains-found-buried-by-new-road-near-barry/
https://www.thenational.wales/news/20034925.celtic-roman-remains-found-five-mile-lane-barry/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10676689/Skeleton-Roman-mercenary-unearthed-Welsh-countryside.html

A Roman-era (maybe) cremation urn from Verulamium Park in St Albans:

https://www.hertsad.co.uk/lifestyle/heritage/excavations-uncover-cremation-urn-8795752
https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/news/cremation-urn-found-during-excavation-work-site-ancient-roman-town

Remains of a Roman-era 'officina' from Caserta (Italian coverage):

https://www.adnkronos.com/caserta-reperti-archeologici-di-epoca-romana-trovati-in-officina-meccanica_72lxVjKRGeaWtoUj5SWZLX
https://www.ilmattino.it/caserta/scoperta_l_officina_deposito_caserta_napoli_beni_archeologici_rubati_nell_antica_cales-6597917.html

Remains of a Roman-era wall beneath the Misene lake (Italian):

https://www.ilmattino.it/napoli/cultura/campi_flegrei_scoperta_archeologica_muro_epoca_romana_lago_miseno-6590611.html

Nice followup on the results of restoration of a pair of Roman busts found at a Norman Church site in Soke Mandeville a few months ago:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10664027/Ancient-Roman-bust-uncovered-HS2-dig-cleaned-reveal-remarkable-new-details.html
https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/people/fascinating-details-discovered-about-ancient-roman-artefacts-found-in-stoke-mandeville-3633617

A Cybele stele from Ephesus is going on display in Izmir:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/mother-goddess-cybeles-stele-from-ephesus-to-be-displayed-in-izmir/news
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mother-goddess-stele-on-display-in-izmir-172576

A study of the mortars used to build a 4th century bathing complex in Aquileia:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gea.21908

More on Bronze Age lead ingots found off Cyprus and their trade implications:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/inscriptions/the-earliest-evidence-of-christianity-in-arabia/?mqsc=E4142950&dk=ZE2130ZF0

More on saffron origin/use in early Greece:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.834416/full

More on the Virtual Reality recreation of a Pompeiian villa:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-archaeologists-virtually-reconstructed-an-ancient-house-in-pompeii-180979857/

They're still arguing over plans for York's Roman Quarter:

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/20026442.yorks-roman-quarter-plans-unethical-flawed-say-archaeology-chiefs/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-60902931
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/20014396.the-damage-history-beneath-feet/

Plenty of press interest in a robot dog patrolling Pompeii:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/28/robot-dog-to-help-manage-pompeii-spot-tunnels-thieves
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccahughes/2022/03/29/at-pompeii-a-robot-dog-is-helping-guard-and-protect-the-ruins/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/robot-dog-sent-to-sniff-out-problems-in-pompeii-cdc9p20c7
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-60952514
https://elpais.com/cultura/2022-03-29/un-robot-perro-para-proteger-y-estudiar-pompeya.html
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/four-legged-robot-deployed-help-manage-pompeii-2022-03-31/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/31/pompeii-robot-dog-patrol-boston-dynamics/
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/20220331/89dbca3262b246babe4772b568199227/c.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10662953/Pompeii-enlists-Spot-robot-dog-inspect-ancient-citys-streets.html
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/dog-robot-guards-pompeii-1234623374/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/04/01/spot-a-quadruped-robot-to-protect-pompeii/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10436-220331-pompeii-robot-dog

Reviews of Barry Strauss, *The War that Made the Roman Empire*:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-war-that-made-the-roman-empire-book-review-actium-mark-antony-cleopatra-turning-the-tide-of-history-11648826419

... and an interview with Barry Strauss:

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/04/a-fresh-take-on-why-octavian-won-the-war-against-antony-and-cleopatra/

... and a feature by Strauss on Actium:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-battle-that-saddled-cleopatra-with-an-undeserved-bad-rep

[paywalled] review of a biography of Alexander the Great:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/drunken-arguments-teenage-conquests-alexander-great/

Feature on Cleopatra:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/50/1207/463754/AlAhram-Weekly/Heritage/The-world-of-Cleopatra-%E2%80%94-I.aspx

Feature on the reconstruction of Claudius' arch in Rome:

https://blog.oup.com/2022/03/reconstructing-claudius-arch-in-rome/

Feature on the excavation of a Greek stadium at Magnesia:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/04/02/an-amazing-before-and-after-of-an-ancient-greek-stadium-excavation/

Feature on the early development of the Christian church:

https://www.livescience.com/the-apostles

Feature on ancient Greeks 'predicting' robot use:

https://greekreporter.com/2022/04/01/ancient-greeks-predicted-robots/

Feature on the Achilles connection to Snake Island:

https://news.yahoo.com/ukraine-island-where-achilles-supposedly-072247536.html

Feature on the ancient Greeks and breast cancer:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/03/31/ancient-greeks-breast-cancer/

Feature on chariot racing:

https://www.history.com/news/chariot-racing-ancient-rome

Feature on Praxiteles' statue of Hermes:

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/greek-news/culture/46816-media-report-hermes-of-praxiteles-statue-an-eternal-symbol-of-hellenism.html

Feature on women 'gladiators' (someone's dictionary seems to have translated it as 'wrestlers'):

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/114248/Did-women-fight-brutal-wrestling-matches-in-ancient-Rome

Feature on what the world looked like according to Herodotus:

https://greekreporter.com/2022/04/01/map-of-world-as-herodotus-father-of-history-knew-it/

On race and ethnicity meaning little to the ancient Greeks:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/2022/03/28/dialogue/ancient-greece/race-and-ethnicity-meant-little-to-the-ancient-greeks/

Feature on Linear A:

https://greekreporter.com/2022/03/30/decoding-linear-a-the-writing-system-of-the-ancient-minoans/

Pondering Clytemnestra:

https://lithub.com/is-clytemnestra-an-archetypically-bad-wife-or-a-heroically-avenging-mother/

Pondering whether the Gospel of Luke is a Greco-Roman biography:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/gospel_of_luke_greco_roman/

Yet another feature on the Antikythera Mechanism:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/multimedia/images/1181332/a-marvel-of-ancient-greek-mechanics/

Some Mycenean April Foolery:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/04/02/mycenaean-era-tablet-homer/

More on the British Museum facing legal action relating to denial of access for 3d scans of the Parthenon Sculptures:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/mar/29/british-museum-facing-legal-action-parthenon-marbles-3d-scan-refusal
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-museum-accused-of-gross-distortion-by-elgin-marbles-scanner-xgphnswvb
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/a-uk-heritage-group-will-sue-british-museum-over-access-to-long-disputed-parthenon-marbles-1234623180/
https://greekherald.com.au/news/british-museum-faces-legal-action-after-refusing-3d-scan-parthenon-marbles/
https://greekreporter.com/2022/03/31/british-museum-parthenon-marbles-3d-scans/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/46837-british-museum-faces-legal-action-over-3d-scan-of-stolen-parthenon-marbles.html
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/04/03/british-museum-parthenon-sculptures/
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
============================================================
A 5000 years bp human femur was found on the banks of the Thames:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-5000-year-old-human-bone-was-found-in-the-river-thames-180979777/

Evidence of female migrants from Europe making their way to Orkney some 4500 years bp (we may have had this already):

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/how-female-migration-changed-the-population-of-prehistoric-orkney-1.10706670
https://www.inverse.com/science/noltland-orkney-bronze-age

A 6th century burial of a 12-year-old (so specific!) girl with plenty of grave goods in Basel:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63709

Interesting isotopic study of 6th century 'bog bodies' found in Cramond in the 1970s:

https://www.livescience.com/cramond-bodies-in-the-bog-facial-reconstruction
https://phys.org/news/2022-03-medieval-isotopic-scotland.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-60861932
https://www.aberdeenlive.news/news/aberdeen-news/body-dumped-bog-over-1000-6871677
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/03/isotopic-investigation-reveals-life.html

cf: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12520-022-01509-2

A unique Germanic iron Age torq find from southern Denmark:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63688

Evidence of Guanches culture occupation of caves in Tenerife:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/03/archaeologists-locate-ancient-guanches-caves-in-tenerife/143270

A French farmer found (and sold) a rare late coin of Charlemagne:

https://www.livescience.com/rare-charlemagne-coin-found

... on the auction:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63756

Versailles has restored the Royal Tennis court as a museum:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63719

Henry VIII's toilet at Clifford's Tower has been restored:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/29/cliffords-tower-york-reopen-radical-transformation-english-heritage
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63729

A Neolithic burial site recreation in Kent has opened to the public (not sure about this one):

https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/931/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/931/pub/931/page/46/article/287261

Concerns for some 'at risk' hillforts in Dorset have been relaxed:

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/20039304.at-risk-dorset-hillforts-now-in-fine-condition/
https://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/20039393.at-risk-dorset-hillforts-now-in-fine-condition/

Feature/reviewish sort of thing on the Vikings in Britain:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/digging-up-viking-history-britain-180979790/

More on the pair of medieval dugout boats found in the River Foyle:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-60866202
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10433-220330-ireland-medieval-boats

More on the burials found under Notre Dame:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/notre-dame-repair-crews-discover-an-ancient-graveyard-with-a-sealed-sarcophagus-180979809/

More on Vikings leaving Greenland because of drought conditions:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/03/why-did-the-vikings-abandon-greenland/143266
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/03/28/rewriting-the-history-books-why-the-vikings-left-greenland/

More on the Venus of Willendorf's likely Italian origins:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/3d-scans-show-30000-year-old-stone-sculpture-dug-up-austria-likely-came-from-italy-180979678/

More on 8000 years bp mummification evidence from Portugal:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-find-potential-evidence-of-oldest-known-mummification-180979852/

More on that Pictish carved stone find from Scotland:

https://www.zmescience.com/science/amazing-pictish-carved-stone-discovered-in-scotland-move-archeologists-to-tears/

More on Historic England's aerial photograph database:

https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/aerial-photography-explorer-reveals-england-from-air/

Feature on the Palmanova Star Fort:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/03/the-palmanova-star-fort/143256

----------
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
============================================================
Neolithic points (spear and arrow) from the Sunjiangang site in Hunan:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-03-26/Stone-weapons-unearthed-at-central-China-prehistoric-site-18I5A3JFOLK/index.html
https://english.news.cn/20220325/5e399c6b2bc747e2bc236583d4ff70e0/c.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10428-220328-china-neolithic-weapons

More on 27 000 years bp remains of giant camels from Mongolia:

https://phys.org/news/2022-03-giant-camels-archaic-humans-mongolia.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10429-220328-mongolia-giant-camels

The Chinese press continues to talk about the top finds of 2021 for some reason:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-03-31/China-unveils-its-top-10-archaeological-discoveries-of-2021-18QsybI0GHe/index.html
http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2022-03-31/detail-ihawymkm2556907.shtml
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202203/31/WS62454e23a310fd2b29e546c4.html
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202203/1257311.shtml
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202203/31/WS62454e23a310fd2b29e546c4_2.html

Greek influences in the sculpting of the Terracotta Army is making the rounds again:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/03/31/the-terracotta-army-the-clay-army-with-the-greek-signature/
https://greekreporter.com/2022/04/03/why-theres-so-much-backlash-to-the-theory-that-greek-art-inspired-chinas-terracotta-army/

Latest 2500 years bp burial mound finds from Siberia's 'Valley of the Kings':

https://www.livescience.com/burials-siberia-valley-of-the-kings

Assorted prehistoric finds from riverbanks in the Attappady hils:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/prehistoric-relics-reveal-attappadys-ancient-past/article65282602.ece

Giant stone burial (maybe) jars from four different sites in Assam: (pre-400 BCE, apparently)

https://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/mysterious-giant-stone-jars-found-in-india
https://phys.org/news/2022-03-mysterious-giant-stone-jars-india.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-60937348
https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/giant-ancient-stone-jars-india/
https://www.sciencealert.com/weird-giant-stone-jars-created-by-a-mysterious-people-have-been-found-in-india
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10435-220331-india-stone-jars

cf: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41826-022-00043-3

A 9th century CE three-headed Vishnu sculpture from Kakapora Pulwama:

http://brighterkashmir.com/archaeology-dept-recovers-3-headed-vishnu-sculpture-at-kakapora-pulwama
https://www.risingkashmir.com/Old-idol-of-Lord-Vishnu-recovered--handed-over-to-Archaeological-Department--Police-103627

Gold coins depicting a queen (Victoria?) from a village near Srikalahasti:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/unearthing-of-ancient-coins-creates-flutter-at-srikalahasti/article65268350.ece

The third phase of excavations at Sivakalai are under way:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/excavation-begins-at-sivakalai-archaeological-site/article65274713.ece
https://www.dtnext.in/News/TamilNadu/2022/03/31051453/1360494/3rd-phase-of-excavation-begins-at-Sivakalai.vpf

... and excavations have resumed at the Harappan site of Rakhigarhi:

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/excavation-restarts-at-rakhigarhi-site-382244

Concerns for cannons at a fort in Hyderabad:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hyderabad-cannons-rot-in-apathy-as-asi-is-unable-to-hold-fort/articleshow/90483826.cms

Feature on the Vedda people of Sri Lanka:

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220327-sri-lankas-last-indigenous-people

A study of 12th century 'bioscapes' in the Marquesa Islands:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220401094848.htm

Latest on the threat to the Mes Aynak site:

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/update-a-glimmer-of-hope-for-afghanistans-5000-year-old-mes-aynak-archaeological-site/

============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
Prehistoric human remains from a Miami condo development site:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/prehistoric-human-remains-found-at-miami-luxury-condo-site-11648555200

Plenty of finds made over the past couple of years at a Mennonite meeting house site in Lancaster County:

https://lancasteronline.com/features/entertainment/millersville-students-discover-40k-artifacts-at-1719-museum-heres-what-they-found/article_2d28f264-aba5-11ec-b54c-433643b982eb.html

Feature on the Terrace site in Utah and what it is revealing about Chinese immigrants who worked on the Transcontinental Railroad:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/archaeologists-learning-lives-chinese-immigrants-transcontinental-railroad-180979786/

Feature on the Hardaway Site (dating to ca 10 000 BCE) in North Carolina:

https://www.thesnaponline.com/2022/03/28/a-look-at-the-hardaway-site-past-present-and-future/

Logging-related concerns for sites in Treaty 6 territory in Saskatchewan:

https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/amateur-archaeologist-says-logging-puts-historical-sites-at-risk

The Rappahannock people have recovered some ancestral land in Virginia, 350 years after the fact:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/04/01/rappahannock-tribe-fones-cliffs-eagles/
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/02/us/sacred-land-rappahannock-tribe-trnd/index.html

I think we mentioned these photos recovered and restored from the wreck of the SS Central America:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60866212

More on the identification of the Sparrow-Hawk:

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/sparrow-hawk-1626-shipwreck-cape-cod-new-clues/
============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
Ten intact 17th century wine vessels from the Atacama Deset:

https://www.elmostrador.cl/cultura/2022/04/01/academico-explica-valioso-hallazgo-arqueologico-de-10-vasijas-del-siglo-xvii-intactas-en-el-desierto-de-atacama/

A study of the Zapotec site of Mitla is under way:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/04/archaeologists-explore-the-underworld-of-mitla-the-place-of-the-dead/143285

More on the rethinking of the name of Machu Picchu:

https://www.npr.org/2022/03/27/1089088061/machu-picchu-huayna-wrong-name
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/machu-picchu-called-huayna-piccho-scn/index.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/have-we-been-calling-machu-picchu-by-the-wrong-name-180979824/

More on the possible identification of a Middle Sican surgeon burial:

https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-archaeologists-find-remains-of-person-who-served-as-surgeon-in-sican-culture-885759.aspx
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10432-220330-peru-sican-surgeon

More on the starfish offering found at the Templo Mayor in Mexico City:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/discovery-of-ancient-aztec-war-offering-filled-with-starfish-and-jaguar-skeleton-2091836
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/trove-of-starfish-deposited-as-offering-to-aztec-war-god-found-in-mexico-city-180979830/

Feature on Ann Axtell Morris' archaeological work:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/this-archaeologists-wife-was-pioneering-scholar-in-her-own-right

Feature on the Chankillo astronomical observatory site:

https://www.guardianmag.press/2022/03/built-by-an-unknown-civilization-this-is-the-oldest-astronomical-observatory-in-the-americas.html/
https://www.sciencealert.com/the-oldest-known-astronomical-observatory-in-the-americas-long-predates-the-incas

Feature on El Dorado:

https://www.livescience.com/el-dorado

Feature on the Olmec:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0bxxbp7/who-ruled-mesoamerica-before-the-maya-

Latest Aztlander Magazine of the Americas:

https://aztlander.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/aztlander-magazine-of-the-americas-2/

Assorted Ancient Americas lectures coming up this month:

https://mikeruggerisancientamericasevents.wordpress.com/
-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:

http://goo.gl/1VdeA

Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas lecture channels on Youtube:

https://mikeruggerisyoutube.tumblr.com/

Ancient MesoAmerica News:

http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
============================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
============================================================
A choirboy's hidden 125 years bp note in a pew in a Sunderland church was found:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/sunderland-research-b991190.html

Rembrandt is confirmed as the creator of a disputed work (although on April 1?):

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/apr/01/rembrandt-pupil-painting-confirmed-work-of-dutch-master-landscape

In case you're wondering about the bullying incident(s) at the Max Planck Institute:

https://www.science.org/content/article/max-planck-archaeology-director-removed-after-alleged-bullying

Feature on women archaeologists:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-702484

Feature on documenting children in archaeological contexts:

https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/community/dig-it-interpreting-the-past-and-the-archaeology-of-children-5223597

Feature on various sunken cities around the world:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/there-are-potentially-hundreds-of-atlantis-around-the-world

Feature on gardens that have been around for centuries:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220328-how-long-can-a-garden-last

Feature on the origins of tattooing:

https://retrospectjournal.com/2022/03/27/the-origins-of-tattooing-a-brief-overview/

Feature on mead:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/mead-facts-worlds-oldest-drink

Feature on 30 'lost treasures':

https://www.livescience.com/60436-most-valuable-treasures-still-missing-lost.html

Some rethinking on the authorship of the US Pledge of Allegiance:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/02/us/pledge-of-allegiance-francis-bellamy.html

Pondering what happens to Shackleton's Endurance now that it has been found:

https://theconversation.com/now-shackletons-endurance-has-been-found-who-determines-what-happens-to-the-famous-shipwreck-179752
https://phys.org/news/2022-03-shackleton-famous-shipwreck.html

Feature on Scotland's apologies for witch trials:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/witches-scotland-pardon-apology

On the history of vampires:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/02/opinions/morbius-jared-leto-vampire-legacy-schwartz/index.html

Feature on the female origins of alcohol production:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/female-brewers

Feature on Catalina de Erauso:

https://elpais.com/babelia/2022-03-26/monja-soldado-macarra-icono-vida-y-milagros-de-la-religiosa-trans-catalina-de-erauso.html

Review of Betsy Prioleau, *Diamonds and Deadlines*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/29/books/review/diamonds-and-deadlines-betsy-prioleau.html

Review of Cat Jarman, *Los reyes del rio*:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2022-03-28/cat-jarman-autora-de-un-nuevo-libro-sobre-los-invasores-escandinavos-putin-no-quiere-a-los-vikingos-en-su-historia-de-rusia.html
============================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
More articles on Russian targeting of Ukrainian heritage sites:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-intentionally-targeting-ukraines-cultural-landmarks-rcna21604
https://www.npr.org/2022/04/02/1090475172/unesco-ukraine-cultural-sites-damage

On the unknown origins of April Fools' Day:

https://www.npr.org/2022/04/01/1089947257/april-fools-day-history

On how it's becoming difficult to teach history in the US:

https://newrepublic.com/article/165598/teachers-afraid-teach-history

Review of Caroline Elkins, *Legacy of Violence*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/29/books/review/caroline-elkins-legacy-of-violence.html
============================================================
ANIMAL AND PLANT DOMESTICATIONS
============================================================
Criticism of corgi portrayal in Bridgerton (not sure if this is serious)

https://slate.com/culture/2022/03/bridgerton-season-2-kate-sharma-dog-corgi-historical-accuracy.html

============================================================
LANGUAGE RELATED
============================================================
Reviewish of Darrin McMahon, *Happiness: A History*:

https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/03/happy-word-etymology/629382/

============================================================
PHILOSOPHERS AND MATTERS PHILOSOPHICCAL
============================================================
Victor Nuovo is pondering the existence of evil:

https://www.addisonindependent.com/2022/03/31/victor-nuovo-how-can-god-allow-evil-to-exist/

Feature on Margaret Cavendish:

https://psyche.co/ideas/margaret-cavendish-and-the-power-of-debating-with-yourself

============================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
Ancient Greeks:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/2022/03/30/features/museum-curator-makes-ancient-greece-come-alive-in-canberra/

Islamic Art:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/463740.aspx

Holbein:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/hans-holbein-morgan-2073983

More on museums distancing themselves from the Sackler name:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/03/28/tainted-gifts-museums-rethink-donation-deals

OpEd on the future of museums:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/01/the-guardian-view-on-museums-and-communities-shaping-the-future
============================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
============================================================
A painting depicting a British defeat in India came to auction this week:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-60911182
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/30/world/asia/tipu-sultan-india-painting.html

A tiny Bronte book is coming to auction:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/30/arts/charlotte-bronte-book-discovery.html

More on the two ancient items pulled from Christie's upcoming antiquities auction:

https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/artifact-flagged-by-expert-withdrawn-christies-1234623047/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/114235/British-Museum-removes-Sackler-family-name-over-opioid-crisis

Feature on the Winter Show:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/01/arts/design/winter-show-barneys-antiques-design.html
============================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
============================================================
DNA is shedding light on the origins of the Avars:

https://phys.org/news/2022-04-avars-elucidated-ancient-dna.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220401122158.htm
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/study-reveals-origin-of-the-mysterious-avars-who-crushed-rome-1.10711719
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/04/study-sheds-light-on-the-mystery-of-the-avar-elite-origins/143282

cf: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(22)00267-7

Studying a 5000 year span of population history in Xinjiang:

https://phys.org/news/2022-03-year-population-history-xinjiang-brought.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/04/5000-year-population-history-of-xinjiang-brought-to-light-in-dna-study/143279
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/03/5000-year-population-history-of.html

cf: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk1534

More on the genetic survival of the Ohlone people:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/03/31/california-san-francisco-muwekma-ohlone-tribe/7226103001/
https://www.science.org/content/article/ancient-dna-could-help-california-tribe-get-federal-recognition

More on DNA and migrants bringing maize to Belize:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/03/30/migrants-from-south-carrying-maize-were-early-maya-ancestors/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-study-finds-migrants-brought-maize-to-the-maya-180979842
============================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
============================================================
Feature on assorted Digital Humanities projects using UF's supercomputer:

https://news.ufl.edu/2022/03/ai-symposium/

This seems to be a different study of ancient scents than the one mentioned in the ANE section above:

https://phys.org/news/2022-03-scientists-ways-reconstruct-scents.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220328112153.htm
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/947697
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/03/smells-like-ancient-society-scientists.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/03/29/smells-like-ancient-society-ways-to-study-and-reconstruct-past-scents/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-022-01325-7

============================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
============================================================
Faversham Stone Chapel:

https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/thats-left-lost-town-hidden-6894174

Hattusha:

https://azertag.az/en/xeber/Hattusha___the_capital_of_the_Hittite_civilization_one_of_must_see_UNESCO_World_Heritage_sites_in_Turkiye-2074799
============================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
============================================================
The Northman:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/04/04/robert-eggerss-historical-visions-go-mainstream

============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
A metal detectorist was arrested at a Roman site in Warwickshire:

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/novice-metal-detectorist-stopped-police-23489900

Egyptian authorities appear to have confiscated contents of a Genizah in Cairo:

https://thejewishvoice.com/2022/03/egyptian-antiquities-authorities-confiscates-new-genizah-found-in-cairo-jewish-cemetery/
https://worldisraelnews.com/egyptian-authorities-confiscate-valuable-jewish-archives-in-cairo/

Concerns for Afghan antiquities appearing on the black market:

https://www.ft.com/content/efbed10d-fce4-40b3-9f42-e835f5f775ac

More Shapoor-related items were seized from Yale (!) this week:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/01/arts/design/yale-art-looting-investigation.html
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/more-than-1-million-in-stolen-artifacts-recovered-from-ivy-league-school-feds/3623815/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/yale-university-subhash-kapoor-looted-antiquities-2093117
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/subhash-kapoor-antiquities-seized-ivy-league-school-1234623591/

Latest on that trial revolving around a recovered hoard of Viking coins from County Durham:

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/20024418.recovered-coins-seized-address-county-durham/

A Qatari sheikh has lost his case against a gallery which sold him 'fakes':

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10668411/Qatari-sheikh-loses-legal-fight-against-Swiss-antique-dealer-paying-4M-fake-statues.html
----------
conflict antiquities:

http://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/

anonymous swiss collector:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/

Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues:

http://paul-barford.blogspot.ca/

Looting Matters:

http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/

Illicit Cultural Property:

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

SAFE:

http://www.savingantiquities.org/blog/

============================================================
REPATRIATION AND RECOVERY
============================================================
Some explanation of why Turkey will not be returning the Siloam inscription (or other items from Israel):

https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/03/28/turkey-wont-be-so-quick-to-release-its-archaeological-hostages/

The US returned a pair of smuggled artifacts to Libya:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/30/arts/design/met-museum-bust-looted.html
https://phys.org/news/2022-03-smuggled-ancient-artifacts-libya.html
https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/international/532874/looted-libyan-artifacts-returned-by-u-s
https://www.manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-returns-two-antiquities-valued-at-over-500000-to-the-people-of-libya/
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/looted-libyan-artifacts-returned-by-us-2022-03-31/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/04/01/two-looted-ancient-greek-statues-including-one-that-was-on-view-at-the-met-have-been-returned-by-the-u-s-to-libya/
https://www.thenationalherald.com/us-returns-smuggled-ancient-artifacts-to-libya/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/met-museum-returns-looted-libyan-bust-2092386
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/us-returns-smuggled-ancient-artifacts-libya-83790132
https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/libya%E2%80%99s-foreign-ministry-returns-looted-artifact-after-being-retrieved-new-york
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10438-220401-libya-looted-sculptures

... and Libya is also trying to recover an item from Brazil:

https://www.libyaobserver.ly/inbrief/libya-seeks-prove-its-ownership-smuggled-archaeological-statue-brazil

Another Nazi loot lawsuit .... this time involving a Texas museum:

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article259855470.html

More on an Italian court ruling that a Doryphoros statue at the Minneapolis Institute of Art was illegally excavated in the 1970s:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/03/30/italian-court-restitution-ancient-roman-marble-doryphoros-minneapolis-institute-of-art

More on Seattle returning artifacts to the Upper Skagit people:

https://www.columbian.com/news/2022/mar/25/ancient-native-american-artifacts-seattle-to-return-items-to-tribe/
https://www.chronline.com/stories/a-deep-inner-meaning-seattle-returns-ancient-artifacts-to-upper-skagit-tribe,286780?
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10430-220329-washington-stone-artifacts
============================================================
NUMISMATICA
============================================================
Feature on the coins of Mithridates:

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/the-ancient-coins-of-mithridates/

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v25/club_nbs_esylum_v25n13.html

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

http://www.coinbooks.org/v25/club_nbs_esylum_v25n14.html
------------------------

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
Harm Pinkster:

https://brill.com/view/journals/mnem/75/2/article-p207_1.xml

Klaus Alpers:

https://www.slm.uni-hamburg.de/igrlatphil/ueber-das-institut/aktuelles/2022-03-25-nachruf-klaus-alpers.html

Ramadan Badri Hussein:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/463751.aspx

Margaret M. McGowan:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/01/books/margaret-mcgowan-dead.html
https://politpost.com/2022/04/01/margaret-m-mcgowan-who-expanded-the-field-of-dance-history-dies-at-90/

Nancy Milford:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/books/nancy-milford-dead.html

William Scovil Anderson:

https://dagrs.berkeley.edu/node/1096

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

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3164-audio-news-from-archaeologica-march-20th-2022-through-march-26th-2022
============================================================
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/
============================================================
EXPLORATOR is a free weekly newsletter bringing you the latest
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the 'ancient world' (broadly construed: practically anything relating
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