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explorator 26.05 May 21, 2023
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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,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

============================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
Suggestion that 200 000 years bp South Africa was 'inviting' to human ancestors:

https://news.umich.edu/south-africas-desert-like-interior-may-have-been-more-inviting-to-our-human-ancestors/
https://phys.org/news/2023-05-south-africa-desert-like-interior-human.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/18/south-africas-desert-like-interior-more-inviting-to-our-human-ancestors/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11447-230517-africa-glacial-landscapes

Prehistoric hearths near Madrid suggest humans were making fires in Europe at least 250 000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-humans-years-europe.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/may/18/scientists-find-oldest-known-evidence-of-humans-in-europe-using-fires-to-cook
https://www.sciencealert.com/ancient-humans-in-europe-started-controlling-fire-far-far-earlier-than-we-thought

A number of bone tools in a Neanderthal-associated cave in Siberia is causing a rethink:

https://www.iflscience.com/bone-tools-in-neanderthal-cave-hint-at-prehistoric-osseous-industry-68967

Latest application of genomcs to human evolution has 'multiple origins' for homo sapiens:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-human-africa.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230517121424.htm
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/science/human-origins-africa.html
https://www.sciencealert.com/the-first-humans-out-of-africa-werent-quite-who-we-thought

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01664-z
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06055-y

More on the 300 000 years bp footprints from Germany being connected with homo heidelbergensis:

https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/university/news-and-publications/press-releases/press-releases/article/300000-year-old-snapshot-oldest-human-footprints-from-germany-found/
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/300000-year-old-footprints-reveal-extinct-humans-went-on-a-lakeside-family-outing-among-giant-elephants-and-rhinos
https://www.sciencealert.com/oldest-examples-of-human-footprints-hint-at-our-ancestors-lives-300000-years-ago
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743041
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/16/300000-year-old-snapshot-oldest-human-footprints-from-germany-found/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11437-230515-germany-hominin-footprints

More on the legacy of Neanderthal noses:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/neanderthals-passed-down-their-tall-noses-to-modern-humans-genetic-analysis-finds

More on early humans' preference for 'mosaic landscapes':

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230511164457.htm
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AFRICA
============================================================
Vague item on a possible Roman-era site find in Sabratha:

https://lana.gov.ly/post.php?id=278607&lang=en

Feature on the Queen of Sheba:

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/legacy-of-queen-of-sheba-1.6836452
============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
============================================================
More on the Byzantine and Late Period finds from the Meir Necropolis in Assiut:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/egypt-meir-necropolis-christian-finds-2300446
https://arkeonews.net/excavations-at-meir-necropolis-have-turned-up-funerary-artifacts-from-two-distinct-eras-of-ancient-history/

More on evidence of anemia in the mummified remains of many Egyptian children:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/ancient-egyptians/ancient-egyptian-children-were-plagued-with-blood-disorders-mummies-reveal
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11450-230518-egypt-children-anemia

More on that cache of 3500 years bp severed hands:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/science/archaeology-ancient-egypt-hands.html

Feature on what mummified remains can tell us about ancient Egyptian climate:

https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2023-05-20/how-mummies-help-us-understand-the-climate-in-ancient-egypt.html

Feature on Lord Carnarvon's will:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lord-carnarvons-will-0m3c2w7t6

Feature on daily life in ancient Egypt:

https://egyptianstreets.com/2023/05/18/from-love-to-work-and-play-daily-life-in-ancient-egypt/

Review of John Romer's latest volume on ancient Egypt:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/weekend/2023/05/19/everything-we-know-is-wrong-the-archaeologist-whos-rewriting-ancient-egyptian-history/

Study suggests the earliest evidence of 'romantic kissing' comes from 4500 years bp Mesopotamia:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-humanity-earliest-mesopotamia-years.html
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/may/18/first-records-of-human-kissing-may-date-back-1000-years-earlier-than-estimated
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/middle-east-studies-university-of-copenhagen-syria-asia-b2341664.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2023/05/18/kissing-history-mesopotamia/
https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/19/first-kiss-history/
https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2023-05-19/the-first-kisses-were-recorded-in-mesopotamia-4500-years-ago.html
https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/mesopotamians-wrote-about-kissing-4-500-years-ago
https://scitechdaily.com/humanitys-first-recorded-kiss-occurred-in-mesopotamia-4500-years-ago/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374337-humans-were-kissing-at-least-4500-years-ago-reveal-ancient-texts/
https://www.sciencealert.com/romantically-kissing-our-lovers-might-not-be-the-fashion-we-thought-it-was
https://arkeonews.net/new-study-says-earliest-recorded-kiss-occurred-4500-years-ago-in-mesopotamia/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/19/the-earliest-recorded-kiss-occurred-in-mesopotamia-4500-years-ago/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/humanitys-first-kiss-was-earlier-than-we-thought-180982206/

More on the use of AI to translate cuneiform texts:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/a-i-translates-ancient-cuneiform-2299128
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11449-230518-artificial-intelligence-cuneiform

More on evidence of rice growing in Iran 3000 years bp from Qale-Kesh:

https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-discover-that-iranian-farmers-grew-rice-about-3000-years-ago/

Amber beads found back in 1914 at the great ziggurat of Assur have been determined to come originally from the Baltic region:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-bronze-age-long-distance-baltic-amber.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/amber-beads-suggest-long-distance-connections-in-the-early-bronze-age/147319
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/17/bronze-age-long-distance-connections-baltic-amber-in-assur/

Feature on the Code of Hammurabi:

https://www.thecollector.com/code-of-hammurabi/

An 1800 years bp bronze stylus from Assos:

https://www.trtworld.com/perspectives/archaeologists-discover-1800-year-old-writing-tool-in-turkey-13093922

More on the 1500 years bp underground passage found beneath Istanbul's Saint Polyeuktos Church:

https://arkeonews.net/1500-year-old-secret-underground-passage-uncovered-in-istanbul/

Feature on an NEH grant to study Petra:

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/989943

A 2000 years bp 'receipt'/ledger/financial record inscription from the City of David:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/2000-year-old-ledger-found-in-city-of-david-points-to-widespread-2nd-temple-literacy/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-05-17/ty-article/israeli-archaeologists-find-2-000-year-old-financial-record-in-jerusalem/00000188-28eb-df77-afe9-69ef95060000
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/371555
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743349
https://www.jns.org/2000-year-old-receipt-uncovered-on-pilgrimage-road-in-jerusalem/
https://arkeonews.net/2000-year-old-financial-record-uncovered-on-pilgrimage-road-in-the-city-of-david-jerusalem/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/2000-year-old-receipt-uncovered-in-jerusalem/147330

A swimmer came across a Roman-era marble cargo shipwreck off the coast of Israel:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/diver-unexpectedly-discovers-roman-era-shipwreck-carrying-beautiful-marble-columns-off-israels-coast
https://www.timesofisrael.com/swimmer-discovers-precious-marble-cargo-from-1800-year-old-mediterranean-shipwreck/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-05-15/ty-article/swimmer-finds-huge-roman-shipwreck-loaded-with-marble-off-israels-coast-again/00000188-1eef-d18b-a79d-1eff8c740000
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743080
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/371444
https://www.dw.com/en/archaeologists-thrilled-swimmer-uncovers-shipwreck-with-marble-columns/a-65646449
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/shipwreck-discovery-israel-1800-year-old-rare-marble-artifacts/
https://www.newsweek.com/enormous-precious-cargo-1800-year-old-shipwreck-discovered-1800341
https://www.iflscience.com/storms-reveal-1800-year-old-marble-columns-at-shipwreck-in-israel-68927
https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/16/ancient-shipwreck-israel/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/05/16/rare-1800-year-old-greco-roman-shipwreck-unveils-treasure-trove-of-marble-artifacts-off-israeli-coast/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/shipwreck-israeli-coast-2303579
https://arkeonews.net/storms-uncover-precious-marble-cargo-from-a-1800-year-old-mediterranean-shipwreck-in-israel/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/roman-shipwreck-carrying-architectural-marble-found-off-israeli-coast/147298
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/17/cargo-of-marble-artifacts-uncovered-in-coastal-waters-north-of-netanya/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11441-230516-roman-marble-shipwreck

The peer-reviewed article of the Mount Ebal 'curse inscription' is out:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743039
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/inscriptions/mt_ebal_inscription/

... and seems not to have convinced the scholarly community:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/academic-article-on-controversial-3200-year-old-curse-tablet-fails-to-sway-experts/

Feature on marriage in ancient Israel:

https://www.thetorah.com/article/celebrating-marriage-in-ancient-israel-and-the-origins-of-sheva-berakhot

Review of Yonatan Adler, *The Origins of Judaism*:

https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-743505

7000-8000 years bp petroglyphs associated with desert kites in Jordan and Saudi Arabia may be the earliest scale 'architectural plans':

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-oldest-architectural-mysterious-megastructures.html
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/8000-year-old-rock-carvings-in-arabia-may-be-worlds-oldest-megastructure-blueprints
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/science/ancient-architecture-desert-kites.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743074
https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/17/world/oldest-architectural-plans-stone-age-megastructures-scn/index.html
https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkagbb/the-oldest-known-blueprints-depict-stone-age-megastructures
https://www.sciencealert.com/8000-year-old-engravings-could-be-the-oldest-examples-of-construction-plans
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/oldest-scaled-drawing-desert-kite
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/worlds-oldest-architectural-plans-of-hunting-traps-in-saudi-arabia-and-jordan-1234668864/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-oldest-plans-to-scale-of-humanmade-mega-structures/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/archaeologists-discover-oldest-scale-plans-for-humanmade-mega-structures/147341
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11452-230519-desert-kite-drawings

cf: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0277927
-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

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ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
============================================================
Plenty of Roman pottery has been found at a dig in Alderney:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-guernsey-65620681

A pair of skeletons from Pompeii suggest they were killed because of the earthquake which preceded/accompanied the eruption of Vesuvius:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-skeletons-pompeii-excavations.html
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/2-hidden-male-skeletons-discovered-under-pile-of-rubble-in-pompeiis-house-of-the-chaste-lovers
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2023/may/16/archaeologists-uncover-possible-evidence-of-earthquake-during-pompeii-volcano-eruption-video
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pompeii-eruption-mount-vesuvius-earthquake-b2339960.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/pompeii-volcano-eruption-skeleton-vesuvius-b2340377.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12089445/Skeletons-Pompeii-reveal-deaths-earthquakes-not-just-volcanic-eruption.html
https://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2023/05/16/victims-of-quake-that-accompanied-pompeii-eruption-found_1074c66f-441e-46d8-ac44-889444068713.html
https://apnews.com/article/pompeii-archaeology-skeletons-eruption-earthquake-ancient-2e64ff244623ec088ac1e858fecfbc8e
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/two-more-victims-volcano-eruption-found-roman-ruins-pompeii-2023-05-16/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/16/pompeii-archaeology-skeletons-eruption-earthquake-ancient/432d2208-f3dc-11ed-918d-012572d64930_story.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/skeletons-pompeii-ruins-eathquake-victims-vesuvius-eruption-ancient-volcano/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pompeii-skeletons-discovered-show-vesuvius-eruption-earthquakes-rcna84806
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-17/two-more-victims-of-volcano-eruption-found-in-pompeii-ruins/102354940
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/pompeii-new-victims-scli-intl-scn/index.html
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-05-16/pompeii-skeletons-death-by-earthquake-vesuvius-eruption
https://www.newsweek.com/newly-discovered-pompeii-victims-crushed-death-utility-room-1800659
https://www.wral.com/story/skeletons-found-in-pompeii-ruins-reveal-deaths-by-eathquake-not-just-vesuvius-ancient-eruption/20862827/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743205
https://www.thelocal.it/20230516/two-more-victims-of-volcanic-eruption-found-in-italys-pompeii-ruins
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230516-two-new-skeletons-found-at-pompeii-excavations
https://www.dw.com/en/archaeologists-discover-2-new-skeletons-at-pompeii/a-65648443
https://www.digitaljournal.com/world/two-new-skeletons-found-at-pompeii-excavations/article
https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/05/16/extraordinary-pompeii-discovery-reveals-victims-tragically-crushed-by-earthquake-destructi
https://www.iflscience.com/two-new-victims-of-vesuvius-crushed-by-falling-wall-discovered-at-pompeii-68947
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/two-skeletons-found-in-pompeii-died-by-earthquake-1234668410/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/pompeii-two-new-skeletons-earthquake-victims-2303773
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67292
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/17/house-of-the-chaste-lovers-new-victims-from-pompeii-emerge/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pompeii-victims-earthquake-volcano-vesuvius-180982205/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11448-230518-pompeii-skeletal-remains

Evidence of a 'ritual meal' and/or bird sacrifices found at Pompeii's Temple of Isis:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-evidence-bird-sacrifices-goddess-isis.html
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/ancient-romans-sacrificed-birds-to-the-goddess-isis-burnt-bones-in-pompeii-reveal
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11453-230519-pompeii-isis-temple

Excavations at the Roman shore fort in Haltern Am See (Germany) suggest it was rebuilt several times:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/new-discoveries-at-roman-shore-fort-in-haltern-am-see/147291

Overview of new digs going on at Pompeii:

https://the-past.com/news/new-archaeological-work-begins-at-pompeii/

I think we mentioned these coin hoards found at Caerwent a while ago:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/a-metal-detectorist-in-wales-discovered-an-adorable-ox-headed-bowl-it-could-reveal-a-lost-roman-settlement
https://www.kansas.com/news/nation-world/world/article275456761.html
https://www.macon.com/news/nation-world/world/article275456761.html

Postulating links between an Iron Age site at Sewerby and the Roman slave trade:

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23531259.iron-age-site-sewerby-links-roman-slave-trade/

A 2000 years bp rock cut face, cornucopia, and phallus from the Roman fort in Benidorm:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67316
https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-discovered-a-2000-year-old-rock-carved-face-at-spains-tossal-de-la-cala-castle/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/archaeologists-find-rock-carved-face-at-benidorms-roman-fort/147365

A study of a 3rd century CE purse found at the Casa del Mitreo site in Merida:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article275499751.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/archaeologists-analyse-remains-of-roman-purse-found-in-merida/147279

Report on the latest restoration efforts at the Villa Romana site in Positano (Italian):

https://quotidianocostiera.it/positano-nuovi-interventi-agli-affreschi-della-villa-romana/

More on the interpretation of the find of a Roman temple at La Chapelle-des-Fougeretz:

https://www.winchester.ac.uk/news-and-events/press-centre/media-articles/roman-temple-thought-to-be-dedicated-to-mars-could-actually-have-been-used-to-worship-many-gods.php

More on the remains of a 1700 years bp Roman watchtower in Switzerland:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/1700-year-old-roman-watchtower-ruins-discovered-in-switzerland

More on the 2000 years bp burial of a doctor in Hungary:

https://hyperallergic.com/822597/2000-year-old-grave-of-roman-doctor-unearthed-in-hungary/

More on the remains of a Roman villa found in a cemetery in France:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article275509676.html
https://www.macon.com/news/nation-world/world/article275509676.html

More on the find of three Roman military camps in the Jordanian desert:

https://en.ammonnews.net/article/65925
https://the-past.com/news/roman-military-camps-identified-in-the-arabian-desert/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-roman-army-camps-in-jordan-that-may-indicate-a-secret-military-mission-180982165/

More on the Vatican's restoration of a gilded statue of Hercules:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/restoration-of-gilded-hercules-statue-in-vatican-unveils-true-splendor/news
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/05/14/restoring-the-majesty-of-the-hercules-mastai-righetti-uncovering-the-largest-known-bronze-statue-of-the-ancient-world/
https://greekherald.com.au/news/ancient-statute-of-hercules-neglected-in-the-vatican-to-be-restored/

More on cosmic rays revealing a Greek burial chamber beneath Naples:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/05/cosmic-rays-reveal-hidden-ancient-burial-chamber-underneath-naples/

More on Romans breeding small snub-nosed dogs:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/18/scientists-prove-that-romans-were-breeding-small-bulldogs/

A Roman oven/kiln found back in 1982 is now on display in Romania:

https://universul.net/1700-year-old-roman-oven-goes-on-show-in-romania/

Review of Jennifer Saint, *Atalanta*:

https://booktrib.com/2023/05/18/atalanta-jennifer-saint/

Feature on the myth of the Dark Ages:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-myth-of-the-dark-ages-ignores-how-classical-traditions-flourished-around-the-world-180982190/

Feature on ancient rhetoric:

https://theconversation.com/rhetoric-doesnt-need-to-be-such-an-ugly-word-it-has-a-lot-to-teach-echo-chambered-america-200068

Feature on Oedipus Rex and the pandemic:

https://theconversation.com/why-well-keep-finding-meaning-in-the-oedipus-rex-plague-drama-far-beyond-covid-19-204733

Feature on Demetrios Pandermalis' work in Dion:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/15/in-memory-of-demetrios-pandermalis-and-his-work-in-dion/

Feature on the development of the naval ram in Mediterranean warfare:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2023/05/naval-ram-development

Feature on the Lion of Kythera:

https://greekherald.com.au/culture/history/the-lion-of-kythera-a-tale-of-discovery-loss-and-repatriation/

Feature on bones of infants found in Ashkelon's Roman sewer years ago:

https://www.iflscience.com/bones-of-around-100-male-infants-found-in-roman-era-sewer-have-a-grim-explanation-68933

Features on Scotland under Roman rule:

https://news.yahoo.com/tracing-scotlands-unique-place-roman-082431846.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-65573701

Feature on Calgacus:

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23521392.calgacus-caledonian-leader-beaten-romans-aye-dreams/

Feature on the structural monitoring system in the Roman Forum:

https://leica-geosystems.com/industries/monitoring-solutions/buildings-and-structures/monitoring-for-preservation-of-heritage-structures

Feature on Paul and Sacred Prostitution in Corinth:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-interpretation/paul-and-sacred-prostitution-in-corinth/

Feature on a gold bust of Marcus Aurelius at the Getty:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67274

Feature on Alexander's tomb:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/17/alexander-the-great-tomb-claims/

Another feature on Roman dodecahedra:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/dodecahedrons-roman-empire

Marking the anniversary of the find of the Antikythera Mechanism:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/05/17/1902-antikythera-mechanism-2-2/
https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/17/antikythera-mechanism-legacy/

Feature on Greek shields:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/16/ancient-greek-shields/

Again we read of 'win-win' situations regarding Parthenon sculpture negotiations:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/greece-solution-parthenon-marbles-british-museum-2303638

... and there was a 'moot court' debate this week:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1211276/moot-court-debates-bms-right-to-parthenon-sculptures/

... and speculation how the Greek election might affect the situation:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/19/arts/design/greece-election-parthenon-marbles.html

India is willing to help Greece regarding Parthenon sculpture repatriation:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/16/india-greece-parthenon-sculptures/

A rethink of Julius Caesar's epilepsy:

https://www.tunisiesoir.com/health/study-julius-caesar-may-have-suffered-from-mini-stokes-and-not-epilepsy-30951-2023/

Applying the lessons of the Punic Wars to US-China relations:

https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3220999/us-china-tensions-rise-punic-wars-offer-cautionary-tale

Latest Pasts Imperfect newsletter:

https://pastsimperfect.substack.com/p/pasts-imperfect-51823
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
============================================================
A 7000 years bp burial with pottery from a Poland site:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/perfectly-preserved-7000-year-old-skeleton-unearthed-during-renovation-in-poland

A 5400 years bp tomb in Spain was aligned to the summer solstice:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/5400-year-old-tomb-discovered-in-spain-perfectly-captures-the-summer-solstice
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11445-230517-spain-megalithic-tomb

A Bronze Age burnt mound site from Sussex:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/bronze-age-burnt-mound-complex-uncovered-at-suffolk-site/147325

Neolithic pottery from a Cambridgeshire quarry site:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/neolithic-finds-at-cambridgeshire-quarry/147307

A 7th/8th century petroglyph found under moss in Sweden:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/giant-petroglyph-carving-found-hidden-under-moss-in-sweden/147335

2300 years bp scissors and a bent sword from a Celtic tomb in Germany:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/2300-year-old-scissors-and-folded-sword-discovered-in-a-celtic-cremation-tomb-in-germany
https://the-past.com/news/stunningly-well-preserved-scissors-among-artefacts-recovered-from-a-celtic-grave-in-germany/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11442-230516-germany-celtic-tomb

I think we mentioned this 1700 years bp 'Roman' sandal from a Norway glacier a while ago:

https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/archaeologists-find-1700-year-old-roman-sandal-in-melting-ice-in-norway/

A late medieval shipwreck being excavated at Tallinn is apparently larger than previously thought:

https://news.err.ee/1608982829/medieval-shipwreck-discovered-in-tallinn-continues-to-confound-the-experts

A 'mysterious' Ottonian wall from Germany:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article275593236.html

An 1100 years bp inscribed breastplate might be the oldest example of Cyrillic writing found:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/1100-year-old-breastplate-to-ward-off-evil-may-contain-the-oldest-cyrillic-writing-ever-found

A complete suit of 16th century armour from the Castillo de Matilla near Salamanca:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/complete-suit-of-armour-found-in-excavations-at-spanish-castle/147375

A 'unique' 300 years bp mass burial from Narva:

https://news.err.ee/1608978722/unique-almost-300-year-old-mass-grave-found-in-narva

Interesting study of burials associated with child labour in North Yorkshire:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-expendables-health-consequences-child-labor.html
https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2023-05-18/scientists-uncover-harrowing-lives-of-pauper-apprentices-buried-in-church-yard
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23526598.york-university-scientists-fewston-graveyard-discovery/

Remains of a 19th century mill excavated at Tamworth Castle:

https://the-past.com/news/historic-mill-remains-revealed-at-tamworth-castle/

More on Neolithic female figurines found in a Ukrainian cave:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ancient-female-figurines-boar-tusks-ukraine-cave-2302304
https://arkeonews.net/5000-year-old-female-figurines-found-in-a-ukrainian-cave/

More on Neolithic copper trading networks in Europe:

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/988104
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/copper-artefacts-reveal-changing-connections-in-prehistoric-europe/147313
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11439-230515-germany-neolithic-copper-networks

More on the 3500 years bp dagger find from Poland:

https://scienceinpoland.pl/en/news/news%2C96421%2Clublin-province-detectorists-find-35-thousand-years-old-dagger-forest.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/16/detectorists-find-3-5-thousand-years-old-dagger-in-forest/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11444-230517-poland-bronze-dagger

... and the 3700 years bp flint dagger found by an 8-year-old in Norway:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/an-8-year-old-schoolgirl-found-a-rare-stone-age-dagger-on-a-playground-in-norway-2302958
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67300

More on the 7000 years bp road found off the coast of Croatia:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/remains-of-7000-year-old-sunken-stone-road-discovered-off-croatias-coast

More on 16th century medical waste found in Caesar's Forum:

https://www.sciencealert.com/you-wont-believe-what-scientists-found-in-an-ancient-roman-ruin

Funding to restore the palace at Caserta:

https://www.sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2023/05/16/Italian-Royal-Palace-of-Casertas-restoration-with-EU-assistance
https://arkeonews.net/italian-versailles-being-returned-to-its-former-glory-through/

Hyping possible Roman or later remains at a Brentwood development site:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1kv3qj7gvo
https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/early-roman-remains-could-discovered-8446475

Hyping an upcoming dig at Chichester's Priory Park:

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/archaeologists-hope-to-unearth-more-secrets-under-chichesters-priory-park-4150471

Feature on the existence/search for Jomsborg:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/18/world/europe/poland-vikings-wolin-jomsborg.html

Feature on the excavations at the King's Wharf site in Oslo:

https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology-history-medieval-history/archaeologists-had-to-destroy-nearly-all-of-the-medieval-kings-wharf-soon-after-they-excavated-it/2197805

Searching for 'the original' Cheltenham racecourse:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-65603779

A project to rebuild a replica crannog on Lock Tay:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/18/iron-age-roundhouse-rises-from-the-ashes-on-shores-of-scottish-lake

An increase in detectorist 'treasure' finds in Sussex last year:

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/your-sussex/west-sussex/chichester/more-treasure-discoveries-in-west-sussex-last-year-4144988
----------
Archaeology in Europe News:

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

Medievalists.net:

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

Viking Archaeology Blog:

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

============================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
============================================================
A Han Dynasty cliff tomb from Chongqing:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1290841.shtml

Feature on the Sanxingdui finds:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-05-16/Sanxingdui-Ruins-a-treasure-trove-of-Bronze-Age-relics-1jQXmblSpKU/index.html

Feature on the Terracotta Army:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-05-17/Terracotta-Army-Silent-soldiers-unveil-the-legacy-of-Qing-Empire-1jSAAVYrWX6/index.html

Review of Vaudine England, *Fortune's Bazaar*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/books/review/vaudine-england-fortunes-bazaar.html

Neolithic axes from a rock formation in Hyderabad:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/neolithic-tool-find-pushes-back-hyderabads-history/article66874107.ece
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/hyderabad/in-a-first-for-hyd-6000-yr-old-neolithic-tools-found-in-raidurg/articleshow/100388636.cms

A 3rd century BCE sculpture of an elephant from Dhaulagiri:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/elephant-sculpture-likely-from-3-bc-found-in-odisha/article66857785.ece
https://orissadiary.com/odisha-discovery-of-rock-cut-elephant-by-intach-team/
https://odishabytes.com/rock-elephant-found-in-puris-kanas-block-intach-odisha-team-seeks-proper-study-of-artefacts/
http://www.uniindia.com/ancient-rock-cut-elephant-similar-to-dhauli-found-in-puri/east/news/2973079.html

11th century Tamil tax and land record inscriptions from Tirupati:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/tamil-inscriptions-found-in-tirupati-reveal-tax-and-land-records-from-11th-century/article66850476.ece

A Chola-era military temple for Siva at Perungarunai:

https://www.dtnext.in/tamilnadu/2023/05/16/student-researcher-discovers-siva-temple-built-by-chola-era-military

Excavations are underway at Porpanaikottai:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/archaeology-department-begins-excavation-at-porpanaikottai/article66874269.ece
============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
============================================================
Concerns for Murujuga petroglyphs:

https://theconversation.com/murujugas-rock-art-is-being-destroyed-where-is-the-outrage-205476

More on the wreck of the Batavia:

https://www.mahoningmatters.com/news/nation-world/world/article275420791.html
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
A fifth-grader found an Early Archaic spear/arrowhead in Crestwood (Ky):

https://www.thenewsenterprise.com/news/state/fifth-grader-finds-ancient-arrowhead-in-crestwood/article_60e8d49a-c2fc-51d9-bac7-0c04eb0fd158.html

A 400 years bp burial of a teenage boy from Historic St Mary's City:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/haphazard-burial-of-400-year-old-skeleton-from-colonial-maryland-points-to-tragic-fate-of-indentured-teenager
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-uncover-400-year-old-skeleton-in-sister-colony-to-jamestown-180982178/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11438-230515-maryland-colonial-burial

Archaeologists have determined the site of the Jumonville Glen skirmish at the Fort Necessity Battlefield site:

https://triblive.com/local/regional/archaeological-dig-in-fayette-confirms-location-of-jumonville-glen-skirmish/
https://www.pennlive.com/life/2023/05/archaeological-dig-in-pa-sheds-light-on-historical-battle.html

Documents revealing details of the 1885 lynching of Noah Cherry in Virginia Beach have been located:

https://www.virginiamercury.com/2023/05/15/researchers-unearth-century-old-documents-in-virginia-beach-lynching/

More on the hospital/cemetery at Dry Tortugas:

https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/florida-underwater-grave-hospital-cemetery-b2339672.html
https://news.yahoo.com/clarks-summit-native-makes-career-035900132.html

Plans to restore the oldest building in Albany:

https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/news/2023/05/16/albany-oldest-building-restoration-48hudson.html

Feature on the conservation lab at the Alamo:

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/precious-artifacts-preserved-alamo-s-new-18104848.php

Review of Todd Brewster, *American Childhood*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/19/books/a-history-of-american-childhood-in-photos.html

Review of Joshua Zeitz, *Lincoln's God*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/books/review/lincolns-god-joshua-zeitz.html
============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
A Chancay Culture elite burial from Peru's Huaral province:

https://www.laprensalatina.com/tomb-of-personage-with-strong-bonds-to-the-sea-sheds-further-light-on-pre-inca-peru/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/archaeologists-unearth-tomb-of-elite-figure-from-the-chancay-culture/147358

A pre-HIspanic metal assemblage from the Nusta Hispana site in Peru:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67309

Mapping sites reveal a network of 417 Maya cities in Guatemala ca 1000 BCE:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2023/05/20/mayan-civilization-pyramid-discoveries-guatemala/
https://news.yahoo.com/archaeologists-discover-lost-world-417-112600870.html

More on that 4000 years bp temple complex revealed in Peru:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-13/archaeologists-discover-4-000-year-old-temple-discovered-in-peru/102342980
https://www.laprensalatina.com/andean-cross-found-at-peru-temple-ruins-may-be-oldest-ever/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11440-230516-peru-temple-chacana

More on the 500 years bp 'ritual bath' complex from Peru's Huanuco Pampa region:

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/peruvian-archaeologists-unearth-500-year-old-inca-ceremonial-bath-2023-04-14/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11384-230419-peru-inca-bath

More on the statue of the Mayan god K'awiil found a couple weeks ago:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/rare-maya-statue-kawiil-mexico-2295032

More on that recently-found Maya 'scoreboard':

https://theconversation.com/archaeologists-discover-ancient-mayan-board-game-heres-what-it-can-teach-modern-educators-205715
https://phys.org/news/2023-05-archaeologists-ancient-mayan-board-gamehere.html

Feature on the pre-Columbus populations of the US Virgin Islands:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-diversity-ethnic-groups-virgin-islands.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/05/18/surprising-diversity-of-ethnic-groups-in-the-virgin-islands-before-columbus/

-----
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
============================================================
Feature on dogs in the Bible:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/what-does-the-bible-say-about-dogs/

A 'hidden dog' image in a Picasso:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/arts/guggenheim-picasso-dog.html
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/picasso-le-moulin-de-la-galette-lapdog-scans-guggenheim-1234668343/
https://tvpworld.com/69843250/hidden-dog-discovered-in-early-picasso-masterpiece

Folks are chatting, apparently, about a stained glass window in a Rhode Island church which depicts a dark-skinned Jesus:

https://apnews.com/article/jesus-christ-stained-glass-dark-skinned-49c3d84ab5a939beba621bc1ae54eda0

The Titanic has been given the 'full-sized scan' treatment:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65602182
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/titanic-digital-twin-underwater-scanning-intl-scli-scn/index.html
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/titanic-shipwreck-captured-in-first-full-digital-scan-183254https://www.npr.org/2023/05/20/1177056829/titanic-scan
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67306

Hyping the 'Big Bronze Age Boat Build' project:

https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/big-bronze-age-boat-build-project-starting-soon-at-stanwick-lakes-4147561

Feature on folks who do roof thatching:

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230518-the-masters-of-a-5000-year-old-craft

Feature on assassination attempts on Queen Victoria:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230519-how-assassins-revealed-a-hidden-side-to-queen-victoria

More on the possible identification of the bridge in the Mona Lisa:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/mona-lisas-other-secret-where-the-portrait-was-painted-may-have-been-solved-by-an-art-historian-using-drone-imagery-2295026

Review of Brooke Kroeger, *Undaunted*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/13/books/review/undaunted-brooke-kroeger.html
============================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
Oxford has removed the Sackler name from its various buildings:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/may/16/oxford-university-cuts-ties-with-sackler-family-over-links-with-opioids
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/world/europe/oxford-sackler.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65613128
https://hyperallergic.com/822471/oxford-university-drops-sackler-name-sort-of/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/16/oxford-university-remove-sackler-name-opioid-scandal/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/oxford-university-ashmolean-museum-sackler-family-opioids-1234668349/
https://www.artforum.com/news/university-of-oxford-severs-ties-with-sackler-family-90560
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/05/17/after-close-ties-revealed-university-of-oxford-drops-sackler-name-from-museum-and-librariesbut-keeps-the-money

============================================================
PHILOSOPHERS AND MATTERS PHILOSOPHICAL
============================================================
Feature on Aristotle:

https://www.thecollector.com/aristotle-life-works-philosophy/

Aristotle on friendship:

https://theconversation.com/three-lessons-from-aristotle-on-friendship-200520

Feature on Epicurus:

https://theobjectivestandard.com/2023/05/living-for-pleasure-an-epicurean-guide-to-life-by-emily-a-austin/
============================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
China's Hidden Century:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/may/16/chinas-hidden-century-british-museum
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/what-to-see/chinas-hidden-century-british-museum-review/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chinas-hidden-century-review-lovely-loot-but-far-too-much-of-it-j5rd6mwrf
https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/exhibitions/chinas-hidden-century-british-museum-review-b1081296.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/05/18/british-museum-s-big-china-show-treads-on-tricky-ground/93b1d0a0-f537-11ed-918d-012572d64930_story.html

Luxury and Power:

https://the-past.com/feature/power-or-decadence-luxury-under-the-achaemenids-athenians-and-alexander-the-great/

Sarah Bernhardt:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/paris-exhibition-celebrates-sarah-bernhardt-the-first-modern-celebrity-180982174/

Alexandria:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/500991.aspx

Feature on the Sanxingdui Museum:

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2023-05/18/content_85380376.htm

Feature on the Archaeological Museum of Eleusis:

https://www.nysun.com/article/unpacked-a-little-greek-museum-of-mysteries-gets-a-modern-makeover

Kythnos now has an archaeological museum:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/multimedia/images/1211043/kythnos-finally-gets-its-archaeological-museum/

The British Museum has dropped references to the 'Rosetta Project' from its plans:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/05/18/british-museum-drops-reference-to-the-rosetta-stone-from-title-of-major-refurbishment-plans
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/londoners-diary-british-museum-quietly-drops-rosetta-stone-tagline-b1082336.html

The Rijksmuseum has acquired a 17th century ruby red glass drinking cup:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67284

More on the Met hiring a 'provenance research team':

https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/05/16/new-york-met-hires-provenance-team-to-return-looted-artefacts

... and Berlin museums seem to have the same idea:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/05/17/berlin-museums-to-look-into-origins-of-archaeological-collections

The GEM now says 50% of the 'major artefacts' have been installed:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1238/501271/Egypt/Tourism/-of-major-artefacts-installed-at-Grand-Egyptian-Mu.aspx

============================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
============================================================
As expected, the auction of the Codex Sassoon brought in a major price:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-65632624
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/may/18/hebrew-bible-codex-sassoon-auction-38m
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/arts/oldest-bible-sothebys.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oldest-bible-codex-sassoon-sold-auction-sothebys-for-38-1-million/
https://www.nysun.com/article/the-most-expensive-book-ever-auctioned-is-a-hebrew-bible-and-its-going-to-israel
https://news.artnet.com/market/codex-sassoon-sothebys-33-million-2303575

Big bucks for a Ming Dynasty cloisonne box from someone's attic:

https://news.artnet.com/market/rare-ming-dynasty-cloisonne-box-attic-discovery-auction-2305463

A pair of long-unseen Rembrandt portraits is coming to auction:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rembrandts-auction-rediscovered-christies-200-years-after-sold/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/christies-auction-two-rembrandt-portraits-private-collection-unearthed-200-years-1234668189/
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/video/peopleandplaces/2-previously-unknown-rembrandt-paintings-set-to-go-up-for-auction/vi-AA1bg2my
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rembrandt-portraits-discovered-180982186/

Arguing over the possible Nazi-loot provenance of a Tiepolo at Sotheby's:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/19/arts/design/sothebys-provenance-nazi-art.html
============================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
============================================================
Using DNA to track migration patterns of ancient Mexican civilizations:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-dna-migration-patterns-ancient-mexican.html
============================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
============================================================
Feature on the use of satellite technology in archaeology:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/archaeology-digital-technology-ancient-ruins-b2335416.html

Feature on using imaging technology to recover lost texts:

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/26/1176770979/how-imaging-technology-is-recovering-damaged-texts-and-rewriting-history
https://www.wbur.org/npr/1176770979/how-imaging-technology-is-recovering-damaged-texts-and-rewriting-history

More on the facial reconstruction of a 30 000 years bp Egyptian:

https://mymodernmet.com/reconstructed-face-nazlet-khater-2/

============================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
============================================================
Kangra Fort:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/kangra-fort-this-fort-in-himachal-might-have-treasure-worth-crores-hidden-in-plain-sight/articleshow/100247242.cms

============================================================
TV/DOCUMENTARY HYPISH THINGS
============================================================
Another item on the Netflix Cleopatra:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/05/12/queen-cleopatra-looks-netflix-controversy/
============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
Five people were arrested in the act of digging illegally at the Enot Shuim site near Nazareth:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/authorities-capture-5-suspected-of-robbing-2000-year-old-archaeological-site/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-743056
https://www.jns.org/thieves-caught-robbing-2000-year-old-galilee-archaeological-site/

That person who spray-painted at the Jerash site a few weeks ago was sentenced:

https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-109/News/Criminal-sentenced-for-vandalizing-Jerash-ruins-28647
https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2023/05/15/man-jailed-for-a-year-for-vandalising-jordans-roman-columns/

Four metal detectorists caught illegally looking around the Baylham Roman Site pleaded guilty this week:

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/23528814.detectorists-targeted-baylham-roman-site-plead-guilty/

A 'carefully planned theft' from Sheffield's Kelham Island Museum:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/05/19/hunt-underway-in-sheffield-after-precious-artefacts-stolen-from-city-centre-museum-in-daybreak-heist

More on the gang stealing church silver in the UK:

https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1343/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1343/pub/1343/page/82/article/NaN
----------
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
============================================================
351 items associated with Robin Symes are being returned to Greece after a 17 year legal battle:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65657620
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/05/20/ministry-of-culture-announces-repatriation-of-351-antiquities-and-ceramic-wares-to-greece/
https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/20/hundreds-looted-antiquities-returning-greece/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1211429/looted-antiquities-to-return-greece-after-17-year-legal-battle/
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3221273/greece-recovers-hundreds-priceless-antiquities-british-art-thief-after-17-year-legal-battle
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-21/greece-recovers-hundreds-of-artefacts-from-art-thief/102373896

Iran is seeking back a looted Sassanid relief from the UK:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/484712/Measures-taken-to-return-looted-Sassanid-relief-home-from-England

Russia is returning a 15th century icon to the Orthodox Church:

https://www.easternherald.com/2023/05/15/trinity-andrei-rublev-returned-to-the-russian-orthodox-church/

The Hermitage is returning the silver sarcophagus of St Alexander Nevsky to the church named for him:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/05/17/hermitage-returns-monumental-silver-sarcophagus-of-saint-alexander-nevsky-to-the-russian-orthodox-church

Australia retuned a number of Gandhari Buddist manuscripts to Pakistan:

https://dailytimes.com.pk/1094236/gandhari-buddhist-manuscripts-from-1st-bc-to-3rd-ad-handed-over-to-pakistan/

A private collection of Cypriot artifacts in Sydney are being returned to Cyprus:

https://greekherald.com.au/news/private-collection-of-cypriot-artefacts-in-sydney-to-be-returned-to-cyprus/

The US returned a number of items to Cyprus:

https://famagusta-gazette.com/2023/05/19/repatriation-of-cypriot-antiquities-from-usa-completed/

Feature on museums' search for Nazi-looted art in their collections:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/may/20/fears-looted-nazi-art-may-still-be-hanging-in-belgian-and-british-galleries

The Met returned some smuggled antiquities to India:

https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/new-yorks-met-returns-smuggled-indian-artefact-how-it-happened-8613676/
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/met-museum-15-of-77-stolen-indian-artefacts-returned-to-india
https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/metropolitan-museum-of-art-in-new-york-says-16-smuggled-antiquities-returned-to-india

The US returned a huge 2500 years bp Olmec sculpture to Mexico:

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-states-earth-monster-olmec-sculpture.html
https://apnews.com/article/mexico-us-olmec-sculpture-returned-2060b40eb903e83cb65bb169fbbfec7d
https://www.denverpost.com/2023/05/20/mexico-repatriation-monument-9-earth-monster-colorado-collector/
https://www.cpr.org/2023/05/20/olmec-sculpture-mexico-repatriation-from-denver/

The US returned a pair of stone figures to Iraq:

https://manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-returns-two-ancient-stone-figures-to-iraq/

India is ramping up efforts to repatriate the Kohinoor diamond and other items:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/05/15/india-to-launch-largest-ever-repatriation-campaign-against-uk-for-return-of-heritage-looted-during-colonial-rule
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/art-and-culture/india-plans-repatriation-of-kohinoor-diamond-and-other-colonial-artefacts
https://www.dailyo.in/news/kohinoor-and-the-many-indian-artefacts-looted-by-the-west-on-display-in-world-museums-now-39783
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bring-back-the-koh-i-noor-diamond-parliamentary-panel-recommends/article66866564.ece

... related OpEd:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/will-india-ever-get-back-the-koh-i-noor-diamond/

The Asante king has asked the British Museum to return gold to Ghana:

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65614490
https://www.modernghana.com/news/1231583/otumfuo-british-museum-confer-on-return-of-asant.html
https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/05/17/ghana-asks-british-museum-to-return-gold-as-repatriation-calls-grow-stronger
https://greekreporter.com/2023/05/18/ghana-british-museum-return-gold/

Some San Diego residents returned a number of pre-Hispanic items which they had inherited to Mexico:

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/san-diegans-return-pre-hispanic-artifacts-to-mexico-after-inheriting-them-from-family/3229708/

More on the UK returning 6000 'borrowed' antiquities to Iraq:

https://famagusta-gazette.com/2023/05/18/iraq-recovers-6000-antiquities-that-britain-borrowed/

Feature on why returning the Benin Bronzes is so 'complicated':

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/why-returning-the-benin-bronzes-is-so-complicated-j2m8ffz23

============================================================
NUMISMATICA
============================================================
Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n20.html

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

http://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n21.html
------------------------

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
Graeme Clarke:

https://humanities.org.au/our-community/vale-graeme-clarke-ao-faha-1934-2023/

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

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3280-audio-news-from-archaeologica-may-7th-through-13th-2023
============================================================
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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