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explorator 24.01

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roguecl...@gmail.com

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Apr 25, 2021, 12:18:38 PM4/25/21
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===============================================================
explorator 24.01 April 25, 2021
===============================================================
You can read explorator online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/


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

Heading into our 25th year of compiling this every Sunday! Again, a special thanks to my 'foreign correspondents' who regularly send items in ... some of whom have been around since the start!

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
A study of the Little Foot australopithecine fossil suggests they were comfortable in trees as well:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-foot-fossil-early-human-ancestor.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210420092921.htm
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-rosetta-stone-fossil-shows-australopiths-still-had-apelike-shoulders-1.9737317
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004724842100035X
https://gizmodo.com/incredible-fossil-skeleton-reveals-an-ancient-human-rel-1846729508
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/little-foot-fossil-shows-early-human.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9656-210422-little-foot-shoulder

A study of Neanderthal DNA from sediments from a cave in Spain and Siberia:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-nuclear-dna-sediments-ancient-human.html
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/neandertal-dna-cave-mud-migration-eurasia
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9644-210419-neanderthal-nuclear-dna

... another study is looking at the genes which distinguish modern humans from Neanderthals:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-creativity-modern-humans-overcame-neanderthals.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210421100932.htm
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/creativity-and-community-how-modern.html

On the African roots of homo erectus:

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-04-20-homo-erectus-detective-work-and-geoscience-unearth-our-ancient-ancestors-african-roots/

Plenty of stone tools associated with homo erectus from an abandoned gold mine in the Sahara:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/hundreds-of-stone-tools-used-by-homo-erectus-discovered-in-abandoned-goldmine-in-sahara-desert/138806

On the Denisovan contribution to Pacific Island populations:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/denisovans-made-multiple-contributions-to-pacific-island-populations/

Feature on how Neanderthals 'culturally exchanged' with contemporary homo sapiens:

https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/30737/20210419/neanderthal-contributions-modern-man-six-human-species-explained.htm

Feature on Neanderthal intelligence:

https://www.sciencefocus.com/comment/neanderthals-werent-just-smart-they-might-have-taught-humans-a-thing-or-two/

Review of Jeremy DeSilva, *First Steps*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/21/books/review/first-steps-jeremy-desilva.html

Review of Rebecca Sykes, *Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art*:

https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2021/05/13/neanderthals-why-did-they-vanish/

More on humans as 'superpredators':

https://www.livescience.com/humans-were-super-predators.html

More on the homo antecessor remains from Grand Dolina Cave:

https://www.livescience.com/girl-gran-dolina-cannibalized.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9647-210420-spain-grand-dolina

More on Neanderthal footprints found on an ancient Spanish beach:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-83413-8
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/neanderthal-footprints-found-on-ancient.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/paleoanthropologists-find-more-80-neanderthal-footprints-spain-180977526/
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
An interesting WWI cemetery in Nairobi with very few African names:

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-africa-47639452

A major fire at the University of Cape Town this week with plenty of damage to artifacts and books:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/18/south-africa-fire-university-cape-town/
https://www.france24.com/en/video/20210421-scholars-grieve-loss-of-priceless-antiquities-in-cape-town-fire
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-56793317

Review of Main and Huffman, *Palaces of Stone*:

https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/books/non-fiction/2021-04-23-uncovering-ancient-kingdoms-in-southern-africa/

More on ancient honey exploitation in West Africa 3500 years bp:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-prehistoric-nigerians-were-eating-honey-molecular-archaeology-proves-1.9722510
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22425-4
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
I think we mentioned this 18th century shipwreck found in the Red Sea:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/04/egypt-recovers-new-part-sunken-ship-red-sea

The dome of the Al-Imam Al0Shafie mausoleum was reopened after restoration:

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2021/04/19/egypt-reopens-countrys-largest-mausoleum-dome-of-al-imam-al-shafie-after-restoration/

Feature on the recent finds at Saqqara:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/22/tombs-saqqara-new-discoveries-are-rewriting-ancient-egypts-history/

Interview with Betsy Bryan on the recent 'golden city' find:

https://wgnradio.com/matt-bubala/exploring-a-3000-year-old-city-with-egyptologist-betsy-bryan/

Feature on desecration of statues in various periods of Egyptian history:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2021/04/condemning-statues/

Pondering whether tourists will respond to all the recent finds/events in Egypt:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/world/africa/egypt-tourism-covid-mummies.html

More on 6000 years bp evidence of dog domestication on the Arabian peninsula:

https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/disasters/2477094/scholars-mourn-loss-of-priceless-antiquities-in-cape-town-fire/
https://www.france24.com/en/video/20210421-scholars-grieve-loss-of-priceless-antiquities-in-cape-town-fire
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/19/988640656/fast-moving-fire-on-table-mountain-destroys-south-african-landmarks-history
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/20/989234447/archaeologists-discover-earliest-example-of-dog-domestication-in-arabia
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/wildfire-engulfing-cape-town-university
https://wamu.org/story/21/04/23/mans-ancient-friend-6000-year-old-dog-remains-found-on-arabian-peninsula/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cultural-heritage-historic-library-destroyed-south-africa-blaze-180977539/

Feature on Mesopotamian sites in Turkey:

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/turkeys-ancient-cities-enlighten-vast-mesopotamianhistory

A study of Epipaleolithic 'technology exchange' among groups in Israel:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/paleo-start-up-nation-prehistoric-israelis-exchanged-technology-study-665919

Plenty of attention for the use of AI to distinguish at least two different scribes for the the Great Isaiah Scroll:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uog-ctc041921.php
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/p-hao041421.php
https://phys.org/news/2021-04-code-dead-sea-scrolls.html
https://www.livescience.com/dead-sea-scrolls-ai-two-scribes.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56842712
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/dead-sea-scrolls-artificial-intelligence-sheds-new-light-on-their-authors-666069
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-artificial-intelligence-helps-identify-authors-of-dead-sea-scrolls-1.9732803
https://www.inverse.com/innovation/ai-dead-sea-scrolls
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9496367/
https://aleteia.org/2021/04/24/ai-analysis-of-dead-sea-scrolls-points-to-more-than-one-scribe/
https://theconversation.com/dead-sea-scrolls-two-scribes-probably-wrote-one-of-the-manuscripts-159169
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/new-handwriting-analysis-reveals-two-scribes-wrote-one-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/identifying-the-scribes-behind-the-dead-sea-scrolls
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/cracking-code-of-dead-sea-scrolls.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/23/cracking-the-code-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ai-finds-new-clues-dead-sea-scrolls-origins-180977571/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9657-210423-scroll-handwriting-ai

cf: https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/cracking-code-of-dead-sea-scrolls.html

Lawrence Schiffman on the latest Judean Desert Texts:

https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/judean-desert-texts-what-is-their-significance-665733

More on the early alphabetic writing from Lachish:

https://www.livescience.com/alphabet-missing-link-israel.html
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/inscriptions/early-alphabetic-writing-found-at-lachish/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2274831-the-alphabet-may-have-been-invented-500-years-earlier-than-we-thought/
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/tel-lachish-inscription-09571.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/missing-link-in-alphabets-history.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9645-210420-israel-inscription-alphabet

Suggestion that Solomon might have been a 'shipping magnate':

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/apr/25/was-king-solomon-the-ancient-worlds-first-shipping-magnate

Suggestion that the Kinneret includes a site associated with a Canaanite murder story:

https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/does-the-kinneret-hold-the-secret-of-a-3500-year-old-canaanite-murder-665790

Feature on ancient historians who mentioned the Jewish revolts:

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

I think we had this item on Syrian families seeking refuge in archaeological sites:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/world/middleeast/fleeing-a-modern-war-syrians-seek-refuge-in-ancient-ruins.html
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/fleeing-a-modern-war-syrians-seek-refuge-in-ancient-ruins/

Feature on fashion in Bronze Age Syria:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/bronze-age-fashion/

Feature on the Temple Mount Sifting Project:

https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/finding-buried-sort-of-treasure/

Plans to rebuild the al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56765751

I'm still not sure what, exactly, is going on with these reports of settlers/colonists raiding the site of Sebastia:

http://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/124149
https://imemc.org/article/israeli-colonists-invade-agricultural-site-in-sebastia/

-----
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
A large building associated with the worship of the Macedonian royal family is among the latest finds at Aegae:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/new-finds-in-aegae-royal-metropolis-of.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3_aigai-210x210.jpg

An early Iron Age Thracian horse burial from northern Bulgaria:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/17/ancient-thracian-horse-burial-half-a-skeleton-human-burial-from-early-iron-age-found-near-bulgarias-polski-trambesh/

Evidence of a 'substantial' Roman settlement near Scalford (we might have mentioned this one):

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-56857409

A 2nd-1st century BCE miniature sundial from a Roman domus site in Pisa:

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2021/04/21/miniature-clock-from-greek-roman-era-from-pisa-dig_0d597a1f-0f66-4292-b3ab-986bb3644b25.html
https://www.quinewspisa.it/pisa-in-piazza-dei-miracoli-torna-alla-luce-orologio-solare-archeologia-domus-romane.htm

A 2200 years bp burial from a construction site in Bitonto (Italian):

https://www.bitontoviva.it/notizie/dal-cantiere-di-piazza-caduti-spunta-una-tomba-di-2mila-anni-fa/
https://www.pugliain.net/130194-bitonto-comune-investe-valorizzazione-reperti/

Evidence of a 2000 years bp Roman road in Diyarbakir:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/2000-year-old-roman-street-unearthed-in-turkeys-diyarbakir/news
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roman-era-street-discovered-in-turkey-164092
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/2-000-year-old-roman-street-discovered-in-turkey/2213562
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/archeologists-discover-2000-year-old-roman-street-in-se-turkey-3570492

1st century CE finds (and earlier), including a pair of altars, from a Gallo-Roman dwelling site in Nimes:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61209
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/two-small-votive-altars-found-in-gallo.html

Three Roman amphorae (2nd century BCE- 2nd CE) from waters near Palermo (Italian):

https://palermo.gds.it/foto/cultura/2021/04/20/recuperate-nel-mare-di-mondello-tre-antiche-anfore-romane-051aa4c7-b9b7-42c5-a1a2-f5dd4b4b372b/
https://www.lasiciliaweb.it/2021/04/20/anfore-romane-nel-golfo-di-mondello/
https://gazzettadelsud.it/articoli/societa/2021/04/20/il-mare-restituisce-a-palermo-tre-anfore-romane-95c1cdf3-c866-4599-98fd-2dd90dd89826/
https://www.lecodelsud.it/palermo-a-mondello-recuperate-tre-antiche-anfore-romane
https://www.zazoom.it/2021-04-20/mondello-il-mare-restituisce-tre-anfore-romane-4/8548315/

A possible Roman-era (or later) 'sewn boat' from Grado (Italian):

https://www.triesteprima.it/cronaca/grado-archeologia-scoperte.html

Remains of a Roman road from a dig in Maddalena di Muccia (Italian):

https://www.cronachemaceratesi.it/2021/04/22/dagli-scavi-dello-svincolo-spunta-una-strada-romana/1519425/
https://www.corriereadriatico.it/macerata/muccia_svincolo_superstrada_valdichienti_cantiere_strada_romana_ultime_notizie_oggi-5916040.html

We're getting more details on that find of a Roman amphitheatre in Mastaura:

https://www.livescience.com/roman-era-arena-discovered-in-turkey.html
http://romanarc.blogspot.com/2021/04/gladiator-arena-from-roman-era.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/gladiator-amphitheater-uncovered-turkey-180977581/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9653-210422-turkey-gladiator-arena

Remains of Imperial-era Roman baths from Frosinone:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61193
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/roman-baths-emerge-on-banks-of-cosa.html

A trio of Roman statues from the Eastern Roman Baths in Jerash were recently restored:

https://menafn.com/1101952186/Archaeologists-restore-3-ancient-Roman-statues-in-Jerash

Recent finds in/near Pompeii (Italian):

https://www.madeinpompei.it/2021/04/21/reperti-archeologici-nella-pompei-moderna-rinvenute-tracce-di-un-antico-edificio-extraurbano/

A 1st century Roman mosaic from Chieti, mentioned in the 19th century and forgotten, was rediscovered (Italian):

https://www.chietitoday.it/social/segnalazioni/mosaico-individuato-scoperto-scavi-piazza-san-giustino.html

A 1500 years bp chamber tomb from Adiyaman (Turkey):

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/video-gallery/news/archaeologists-unearth-ancient-chamber-tomb-in-southeast-turkey-3570726

A Gothic warrior burial from downtown Thessaloniki (this may be an old find):

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/grave-of-gothic-warrior-buried-with-his.html

More on vandals hitting that recently-found structure in Scarborough:

https://www.livescience.com/roman-estate-vandalized-in-uk.html

... and on the structure itself:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61154

More on the recent finds from Salamis:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/results-of-2020-salamis-underwater.html

More on the imperial-era jar burials from Corsica:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61124

More on the Roman-era emerald mine in Egypt's western desert:

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/jnes/pr/210419
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9648-210421-egypt-roman-mines

More on the Roman 'gallery' found beneath the Topkapi palace courtyard:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61140

More on the impending restoration of the Area Sacra in Rome:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/ruins-ghosts-and-cats-romes-area-sacra.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/site-julius-caesars-assassination-will-be-transformed-open-air-museum-180977536/

More on a possible Roman amphitheatre site on the via Appia near Atripalda:

https://www.atripaldanews.it/2021/04/22/rinvenimento-reperti-di-epoca-romana-in-via-appia-parla-lex-delegato-alla-cultura-barbarisiin-quellarea-la-presenza-dellanfiteatro/
https://www.ildigitale.it/anfiteatro-dellantica-abellinum-tesoro-sepolto/

More on the 2nd century BCE necropolis from near Messina:

https://www.messinatoday.it/video/scavi-via-orti-tombe-coletta-resti-maddalena-necropoli-via-battisti-.html

Concerns for the 2300 years bp Kurul Castle:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-castle-under-threat-of-quarry-164121

Paphos is 'sprucing up' a number of sites:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/04/17/paphos-sprucing-up-its-sites/

The 4th century restored Bishop's Basilica in Plovdiv has opened to the public:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/18/4th-century-bishops-basilica-with-marvelous-early-christian-bird-mosaics-opened-for-visitors-bulgarias-plovdiv-in-big-restoration-project-with-us-funding/

Feature on a small statue of Hermes in the Corum Museum found a couple years ago:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hermes-statuette-draws-attention-in-museum-164146

Feature on Gaia and her connection to Earth Day:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/22/the-greek-goddess-gaia-and-her-connection-to-earth-day/

Feature on the Amphiareion of Oropos:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/21/the-ancient-greek-treasure-of-the-amphiareion-of-oropos/

Brief feature on Hadrianopolis:

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/ancient-city-hadrianopolis-attracts-visitors-1232303.html

Feature on the Spartan agoge:

https://deltastatement.com/7003/uncategorized/the-spartan-agoge-investigation-of-badassery/

Feature on the end of Roman Britain:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/the-end-of-roman-britain/138762

Feature on Tiberius as 'detective':

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

A study of Mycenean cooking vessels from the Olympus region:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/21/cooking-in-the-shadow-of-mount-olympus/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/cooking-in-shadow-of-mount-olympus.html

Walter Scheidel on the impact of the fall of Rome:

https://aeon.co/essays/how-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire-paved-the-road-to-modernity

Joel Christensen on what the Odyssey can teach us about responding to a year of isolation:

https://theconversation.com/what-homers-odyssey-can-teach-us-about-reentering-the-world-after-a-year-of-isolation-159036
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/What-Homer-s-Odyssey-can-teach-us-about-16120301.php
https://www.westport-news.com/news/article/What-Homer-s-Odyssey-can-teach-us-about-16120301.php
https://www.thenationalherald.com/archive_guest_columnists/arthro/what_homer_s_odyssey_can_teach_us_about_reentering_the_world_after_a_year_of_isolation-2271757/

Daniel Mendelsohn on the Sacred Band of Thebes:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/04/19/ancient-greeces-army-of-lovers

... and a spinoff piece:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/22/sacred-band-of-warriors-part-of-classical-era-greece/

Trevor Van Damme on ancient Greek handwashing and its implications:

https://theconversation.com/what-ancient-greek-handwashing-can-teach-us-about-socio-economic-inequality-158405
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/what-ancient-greek-handwashing-can-teach-us-about-socio-economic-inequality
https://neoskosmos.com/en/195839/what-ancient-greek-handwashing-can-teach-us-about-socio-economic-inequality/

Review of ae-Yeoun Keum, *Plato and the Mythic Tradition in Political Thought*:

https://blog.lareviewofbooks.org/interviews/philosophical-myth-writing-talking-tae-yeoun-keum/

The British Museum has an exhibition on Nero (see below) and has a feature on the emperor too:

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/who-was-nero/

... see also:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/22/roman-cancel-culture-meant-neros-reputation-fiddled-death/
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/apr/22/was-nero-cruel-british-museum-offers-hidden-depths-to-roman-emperor
https://www.nation.lk/online/nero-was-not-a-mad-tyrant-who-burnt-rome-to-the-ground-british-museum-exhibition-dispels-myths-75999.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/emperor-neros-reputation-is-unfair-says-british-museum-l9cb7tfsh

In case you haven't heard the threat to Classics at Howard University

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/04/20/howard-university-classics-department-dissolve/
https://www.thechestnutpost.com/news/howard-university-to-shut-down-classical-studies-department-morning-joe-msnbc/
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/04/21/howard-plans-close-classics-department
https://collegenews.org/students-professors-attempt-to-prevent-howard-university-classics-department-from-being-dissolved/

... and a couple of related OpEds:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/04/19/cornel-west-howard-classics/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2021/04/23/howard-university-classics-arent-racist-canon-column/7333337002/
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/04/a-classics-dilemma.php

An update of sorts on the UVM threat:

https://vtdigger.org/2021/04/19/annaliese-holden-repeatedly-disappointed-by-the-uvm-administration/

Bettany Hughes on why she loves Greece:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/19/why-i-fell-in-love-with-greece-british-historian-filmmaker-explains/

A Loeb fellowship for David Ungvary:

https://www.bard.edu/news/professor-david-ungvary-receives-202122-loeb-classical-library-foundation-fellowship-from-harvard-university-2021-04-20

Greece honoured three American archaeologists:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/19/greece-honors-american-archaeologists-on-philhellenism-day/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/20/us-archaeologists-award-greece/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/society/1159701/three-us-archaeologists-appointed-commander-of-the-order-of-the-phoenix/

On ancient Greek wine varieties that are still around:

https://www.winemag.com/2021/04/22/best-greek-wines-varieties-assyrtiko/

Marking the traditional date of the foundation of Rome:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/happy-birthday-to-rome-eternal-city-celebrates-2774-years-today.html

... and the story:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/natale-di-roma-the-legends-and-traditions-behind-romes-birthday.html

Marking the traditional date for the fall of Troy:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/24/april-24-the-legendary-fall-of-troy/

Feature on Xenophon:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/24/xenophon-warrior-and-chronicler-of-ancient-greece/

-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
Evidence of 33 000 years bp human presence in Castlepook Cave (Cork):

https://www.thejournal.ie/reindeer-bone-cork-cave-5413607-Apr2021/

A study suggests recolonization of Europe began much earlier than previously thought in the wake of the last Ice Age:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-recolonization-europe-ice-age-earlier.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/recolonization-of-europe-after-last-ice.html

A study of the diet of folks living on the Great Hungarian Plain in Neolithic times:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-diets-ancient-peoples-great-hungarian.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/elu-nra042121.php

A 7000 years bp flint tool production site near Belogradets (Bulgaria):

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/22/archaeologists-find-nearly-7000-year-old-copper-age-workshop-for-production-of-flint-tools-near-belogradets-in-northeast-bulgaria/

A 7000 years bp zoomorphic 'ritual table' from near Varna:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/21/7000-year-old-ritual-table-with-horned-animal-first-bulgarian-empire-settlement-found-near-varna-in-rescue-digs/

A 5000 years bp fingerprint from Orkney:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-56858268

A possible 4500 years bp megalithic tomb from East Kennett:

https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/19242481.early-bronze-age-tomb-uncovered-near-marlborough/

Evidence of a Bronze Age lakeside settlement from under Lake Lucerne:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/bronze-age-village-found-under-swiss-lake/46559866
https://www.expatica.com/ch/latest-news/sw-bronze-age-village-found-under-swiss-lake-206401/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61230
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/bronze-age-village-found-under-swiss.html

A major Iron Age weapons hoard from a hillfort site in Germany:

https://www.livescience.com/iron-age-hoard-germany.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9504345/Archaeology-Iron-Age-warriors-BENT-swords-defeated-foes-hoard-Germany-reveals.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61200
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/large-iron-age-hoard-discovered-at-wallburg-wilzenberg-hillfort/138779
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9655-210422-germany-broken-weapons

A metal detectorist found a gold stater of the 'Aulerci Cenomani' people in St Martin:

https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2021/04/18/detectorist-discovers-rare-gold-coin-in-field/

A child helping his mother garden in Sandwick came across some Viking artifacts:

https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2021/04/20/viking-artefacts-found-by-children-in-sandwick-gardens/

Possible early medieval burials found during patio construction in Wiltshire:

https://www.newsweek.com/contractors-working-familys-patio-discover-human-remains-five-people-1586102

A study of the 'evolution' of Viking metalwork from the 8th to the 9th centuries CE:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/s-vmc041521.php
https://phys.org/news/2021-04-viking-metalwork-craft-expertise-evolved.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210420092918.htm
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/viking-metalwork-craft-and-expertise.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9658-210423-denmark-viking-metal

A 9th/10th century iron processing site from near Bestnitsa (Bulgaria):

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/20/medieval-metallurgical-center-at-dugout-settlement-from-height-of-first-bulgarian-empire-discovered-in-northwest-bulgaria/

A 600 years bp sword find from an undisclosed site in Poland (possible associated with the Battle of Grunwald):

https://tvn24.pl/tvn24-news-in-english/polish-history-buff-finds-well-preserved-600-year-old-sword-5075178
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/knights-arsenal-unearthed-by-detectorist/138802

Metal detectorists have found a number of medieval/renaissance finds near Llwynywermod:

https://www.tatler.com/article/tudor-coins-rings-unearthed-near-llwynywermod-prince-charles-welsh-home

A medieval wooden coffin with well-preserved remains of what is thought to be a 5-year-old girl from a chapel in a place in Seville:

https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2021/04/21/archaeologists-uncover-coffin-of-five-year-old-girl-in-sevilla-chapel/

Thousands of medieval burials from the 'leper dig' in West Flanders:

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2021/04/21/thousands-of-medieval-skeletons-found-at-ieper-dig/

A 17th century mourning ring found on the Isle of Man may be connected to James Stanley:

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/ring-which-could-have-belonged-to-former-lord-of-man-declared-treasure/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/350-year-old-ring-found-isle-man-180977561/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9650-210421-england-mourning-ring

More on petroglyph painters being 'high' when creating their work:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/prehistoric-cave-painting-high-oxygen-b1834290.html

More on evidence for sex-differentiated work in the Neolithic:

https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/research/gendered-roles-for-neolithic-farmers/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9642-210419-europe-neolithic-skills

More on that 4000 years bp tomb from Ireland:

https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0416/1210287-tombs-kerry-dingle-peninsula/
https://www.irishpost.com/life-style/ancient-tomb-newly-discovered-on-dingle-peninsula-could-date-back-further-than-the-bronze-age-209869
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9496497/Tomb-hidden-Ireland-4-000-years-untouched-human-remains-inside.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/ancient-untouched-tomb-discovered-on.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/farmer-uncovers-nearly-4000-year-old-tomb-ireland-180977554/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9649-210420-ireland-bronze-age

More on the Iron Age finds from the Norton Disney site:

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/norton-disney-dig-reveals-secrets-5318154

An interesting reconstruction of a Berkshire dwelling from 3800 BCE:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/18/stone-age-house-painstakingly-recreated-archaeologists-using/
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/575/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/575/pub/575/page/34/article/164379

... and a Chalcolithic roundhouse reconstruction from Cyprus:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/04/23/replica-of-ancient-chalcolithic-roundhouse-completed/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/23/conservation-and-restoration-at-the-site-of-kissonerga-mosfilia/

Marking the anniversary of the Battle of Alamana:

https://greekherald.com.au/culture/on-this-day-in-1821-greeks-engaged-in-the-battle-of-alamana/

A 19th century time capsule found during renovations to a Hungarian Cathedral:

https://aleteia.org/2021/04/19/176-year-old-time-capsule-recovered-from-hungarian-cathedral/
https://fr.aleteia.org/2021/04/19/une-capsule-temporelle-retrouvee-au-sommet-dune-cathedrale/

A campaign to save a mosaic-fresco (recent) in a Leicester church:

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-uk-and-ireland/2021/04/art-historians-campaign-to-save-rare-mosaic-in-closed-uk-parish-church/

Feature on assorted 'treasure' finds from Switzerland:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/archaeology_switzerland--a-bottomless-trove-of-ancient-treasure/45386284

Feature on the Knights Templar in Cyprus:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/knights-templar-legacy-lives-on-in.html

Features on the Armenian genocide:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/04/24/armenian-genocide-1915-massacre-biden/
https://www.dw.com/en/a-look-at-the-armenian-genocide/a-57299201
----------
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
================================================================
32 Neolithic burials from Guangdong:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/neolithic-tombs-with-intact-human.html

A Han Dynasty grain-vessel full of millet from Shaanxi:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202104/1221573.shtml
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2021-04/20/content_77424545.htm
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04-21/Ancient-millet-grains-found-in-2-000-year-old-tomb-in-NW-China-ZDCSjpepj2/index.html

Slideshow of finds from a Western Han Dynasty burial ground dig in Shaanxi:

http://en.people.cn/n3/2021/0421/c90000-9841535.html

Finds from a Zhou Dynasty burial in Shaanxi suggest there may have been cat lovers in ancient China:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202104/1221698.shtml
http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_n0J3TGJU.html

Apparently the Sanxingdui ruins are another site tagged with 'alien' connections:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202104/1221546.shtml

... and another feature on some recent finds from there:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04-22/Wonders-of-Sanxingdui-Gold-scepter-and-bronze-weapons-ZFymtj19EA/index.html

More on those 80+ 2000 years bp bronze mirrors from Shaanxi:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/2000-year-old-bronze-mirrors-found-china-180977534/

Remains of a 15th century castle wall from Tokyo:

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210416/p2a/00m/0na/021000cta
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9651-210421-edo-castle-wall

Nepal has opened a 'replica' Dharahara Tower in Kathmandu:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-56873438

More on the recent finds from the Plain of Jars:

https://about.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2021/march/researchers-solve-more-of-the-mystery-of-laos-megalithic-jars
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/laos-jars-are-slowly-revealing-their.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9643-210419-laos-jars-remains

A review of finds from Hoa Lu and other sites in Ninh Binh:

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/archaeological-excavation-research-at-hoa-lu-ancient-capital-reviewed/200474.vnp

Recent finds from Thang Long:

https://en.nhandan.org.vn/culture/item/9800302-more-important-archaeological-discoveries-at-thang-long-imperial-citadel.html

Petroglyphs with an Indus Valley link (maybe) from Tamil Nadu:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/rock-art-with-link-to-indus-valley-found/articleshow/82235800.cms

A 'hero stone' from Western Ghats:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/hero-stone-found-in-old-trade-path-on-western-ghats/article34379686.ece

A major dig is under way at Maligaimedu at the site of the palace of Rajendra Chola I:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-state-archaeology-makes-encouraging-finds-near-gangaikondacholapuram/article34374162.ece
https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/excavations-near-erstwhile-chola-capital-unearth-coins-walls-and-chinese-celadon-ware

An iron foundry sort of site (date?) from Kodumanal:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/iron-smelting-units-unearthed-at-kodumanal/article34403593.ece

A campaign to save Visakhapatnam's 2000-year-old Buddhist site of Thotlakonda:

https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/a-campaign-to-save-visakhapatnams-2000-year-old-buddhist-site-of-thotlakonda/article34368632.ece

================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
A possible 600 years bp earth lodge site is in the way of dam construction in Nebraska:

https://wahoo-ashland-waverly.com/community/ancient-earth-lodge-found-at-planned-dam-site/article_3cd7bdf0-a2c6-11eb-a055-d3ef46d18d23.html

Plenty of coverage for the find of the site of Harriet Tubman's childhood home in Maryland:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-archaeologists-site-harriet-tubman-father.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/20/arts/harriet-tubman-cabin.html
https://www.thedailybeast.com/coin-leads-researchers-to-spot-where-harriet-tubman-lived
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Archaeologists-Site-of-Harriet-Tubman-s-father-s-16114938.php
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/04/20/harriet-tubman-maryland-home-found/
https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/environment/bs-md-harriet-tubman-father-home-ben-ross-blackwater-20210420-aflwzlvicvehfnmlgu3sqt5bse-story.html
https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/state-officials-to-announce-important-archaeological-discovery-about-harriet-tubman
https://www.capitalgazette.com/environment/bs-md-harriet-tubman-father-home-ben-ross-blackwater-20210420-aflwzlvicvehfnmlgu3sqt5bse-story.html
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/archaeologists-site-harriet-tubmans-fathers-home-found-77191143
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/harriet-tubman-s-father-s-home-discovered-archeologists-maryland-n1264675
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/archaeologists-discover-site-that-was-once-home-of-harriet-tubmans-father/
https://freep.com/story/news/nation/2021/04/20/harriet-tubmans-fathers-home-discovered-maryland/7303479002/
http://www.wnyc.org/story/location-of-harriet-tubmans-home-discovered/
https://www.wgmd.com/harriet-tubmans-lost-maryland-home-found-archaeologist-say/
https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/coin-from-1808-plays-key-role-in-maryland-search
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-have-found-harriet-tubmans-long-hidden-maryland-home-180977565/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/9652-210421-maryland-harriet-tubman

A metal detectorist in Charleston found a 'freedman's badge':

https://www.postandcourier.com/news/local_state_news/armed-with-metal-detector-myrtle-beach-man-finds-rare-charleston-freedmans-badge/article_d07f1130-a135-11eb-96c3-5f833c066c1b.html

More on that 'pirate loot' from Maryland:

https://www.livescience.com/pirate-henry-every-treasure-coins-discovered.html

More on Cahokia not being connected to deforestation:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/science/cahokia-mounds-floods.html

More on a Utah climber damaging a petroglyph site:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/61187

The post-Civil War US census had an undercount issue:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/04/25/census-1870-2020-civil-war/

Solar power for a historic Grant cottage:

https://dailygazette.com/2021/04/19/historic-grant-cottage-being-powered-by-solar-panels/

Feature on the role of the French in the American Revolution:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p09fgq4x/why-america-wouldn-t-have-made-it-without-the-french

Reviewish of Joshua Rothman, *The Ledger and the Chain*:

https://slate.com/culture/2021/04/rothman-slave-trader-review-ledger-and-the-chain.html

================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
================================================================
INAH is complaining about some illegal construction on private land at Teotihuacan:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/inah-denounces-teotihuacan-project/

Feature on Calakmul:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/mexicolife/calakmul-holds-clues-to-ancient-maya-life/

More on that 'embassy complex' from Tikal:

https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/archaeology-mayan-guatemala-teotihuacan-1234590208/
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2021/04/archaeologists-discover-mysterious-monument-hidden-in-plain-sight

-----
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
================================================================
Study suggests humans had been maintaining land for some 12 000 years until recently (apparently):

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-people-earth-ecology-years-sustainably.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uomb-phs041421.php
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uoq-hlu042021.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210419182105.htm
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/people-have-shaped-earths-ecology-for.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/22/human-land-use-wasnt-always-at-natures-expense/

... in a similar vein:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/mpif-add041521.php
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/20/archaeological-data-demand-new-approaches-to-biodiversity-conservation/

... and with an indigenous forest garden spin:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210422181902.htm

The British Museum has a backgrounder on the murder of Thomas Becket:

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/who-killed-thomas-becket/

Workers at the Uffizi accidenlally found some frescoes:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/italy-florence-uffizi-gallery-lost-frescoes/
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/two-construction-workers-accidentally-discover-a-pair-of-priceless-renaissance-frescoes

Suggestion that art 'peaked' 30 000 years bp:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/apr/23/cave-paintings-art-lockdown-obsession-30-000-years-lascaux

Feature/reviewish on painting conservators:

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU2104/S00117/the-back-of-the-painting.htm

Feature/reviewish on Bob Ballard:

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/profiles/article/86113-exploring-the-self-spotlight-on-bob-ballard.html

Feature on Lawrence of Arabia:

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/the-truth-in-the-legend-of-lawrence-of-arabia.865911

Feature on the Sassoon family:

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/the-sassoon-family-saga-the-israeli-phase-666097

On the 'tragic' story of Falstaff:

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210421-the-shakespeare-tragedy-that-truly-speaks-to-us-now

On Shakespeare and religion:

https://theconversation.com/shakespeares-musings-on-religion-are-like-curious-whispers-they-require-deep-listening-to-be-heard-155256

Marking Shakespeare's birthday:

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/gallery/2021/apr/23/the-bard-in-black-and-white-shakespeare-by-tristram-kenton-in-pictures

On the role of famine in the Bible:

https://theconversation.com/famine-in-the-bible-is-more-than-a-curse-it-is-a-signal-of-change-and-a-chance-for-a-new-beginning-152288

On the worst year in history:

https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/worst-year-in-human-history

On the invention of 'whiteness':

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/apr/20/the-invention-of-whiteness-long-history-dangerous-idea

On the origins of the sonnet:

https://daily.jstor.org/the-heretical-origins-of-the-sonnet/

A database for maritime archaeology of the Middle East and North Africa:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-database-relaunch-endangered-maritime-archaeology.html

Review of Linda Colley, *The Gun, the Shipe, and the Pen*:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/apr/24/the-gun-the-ship-and-the-pen-by-linda-colley-review-how-the-modern-world-was-made

Feature on 'suffragette white':

https://theconversation.com/what-is-suffragette-white-the-colour-has-a-110-year-history-as-a-protest-tool-158957

Feature on Byron's financial support for the Greek cause:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/apr/18/revealed-lord-byrons-4000-cheque-that-helped-create-modern-greece
https://neoskosmos.com/en/195624/cheque-found-in-archives-reflects-byrons-generosity-and-his-influence-in-the-greek-cause/

On the centuries-old (apparently) practice of marking your place in a book with a 'dog ear':

https://www.dw.com/en/world-book-day-history-of-the-dog-ear-bookmark/a-57311160

In case you're wondering what your social status would have been in Shakespeare's time:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-social-status-class-shakespeare.html
https://middlingculture.com/status-calculator/

More on Leonardo not being the guy behind that bust of Flora:

https://www.livescience.com/flora-bust-not-da-vinci.html
================================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
================================================================
A genome study suggests we've been fighting pandemics for tens of thousands of years:

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-coronavirus-infected-people-thousands-years-ago.html
================================================================
ANIMAL AND PLANT DOMESTICATIONS
================================================================
A study of breeding and feeding of the first domesticated sheep herds (Neolithic) in the Western Mediterranean:

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-early-neolithic-farmers-reproductive-sheep.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/uadb-en042121.php
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/early-neolithic-farmers-modified.html
================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Nero:

https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/exhibitions/nero-british-museum-rome-cancel-culture-b931016.html
https://www.artlyst.com/previews/notorious-roman-emperor-nero-explored-new-british-museum-show/
https://www.broadwayworld.com/uk-regional/article/British-Museum-Announces-First-Major-UK-Exhibition-On-Roman-Emperor-Nero-20210422

Becket:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/25/beckets-brutal-reimagined-in-museum-with-his-skull-as-a-finale

Glimpse of Paradise:

https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/glimpse-of-paradise-a-colorful-history-of-armenian-ceramics-in-jerusalem-665726

Labels at the British Museum might be altered to reflect past connections with slave-traders:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/24/exclusive-canterbury-tales-manuscript-could-relabelled-reflect/

Zahi Hawass was hyping the importance of the GEM:

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2021/04/18/grand-egyptian-museum-is-worlds-most-important-cultural-project-zahi-hawass/

... and more Tut artifacts arrived there this week:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/101075/Tutankhamun-s-3rd-shrine-arrives-at-the-Grand-Egyptian-Museum
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/101083/General-Supervisor-of-the-Grand-Egyptian-The-transfer-of-the

... while plenty of folks visited the Royal Mummies hall in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization:

https://egyptindependent.com/two-thousand-visitors-attend-royal-mummies-hall-on-first-day-of-its-opening/

Feature on Phoenician items at the British Museum:

https://www.the961.com/interesting-phoenician-artifacts-british-museum/

The Getty Villa reopened this week:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/getty-villa-reopens/

The Smithsonian will reopen next month:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/23/arts/design/smithsonian-museums-opening-dc.html

More on the Louvre online collection:

https://parade.com/1190563/jerylbrunner/best-works-at-the-louvre/

================================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
================================================================
Big estimate for an Asian painting with a ancient Greek/Roman theme:

https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=826331

A prototype 1794 US dollar coin was coming to auction:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Prototype-of-first-US-dollar-coins-going-up-for-16120647.php

... and fetched a higher price than anticipated:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Prototype-of-1st-US-dollar-coins-auctioned-for-16126425.php

Background to that Caravaggio that Spain has put an export/sales ban on:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/apr/23/damn-this-is-a-caravaggio-the-inside-story-of-an-old-master-found-in-spain
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-04-22/el-supuesto-caravaggio-estaba-en-manos-de-una-familia-de-gran-tradicion-artistica.html
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-04-24/del-virrey-de-napoles-a-la-academia-de-san-fernando-el-largo-viaje-del-supuesto-caravaggio.html
================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
================================================================
DNA from bears in the Upper Paleolithic was getting attention this week:

https://www.sciencealert.com/for-the-first-time-dna-has-been-sequenced-from-ancient-soil-samples

cf: https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(21)00540-6

More on what genomes reveal about the peopling of the Americas:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/genomes-reveal-humanitys-journey-into-the-americas/

More on using DNA to establish kinship ties among groups in the Neolithic:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/19/ancient-dna-hints-at-diverse-stone-age-traditions-of-kinship/

... not sure if this item (focusing on Catal Hoyuk) is the same study:

https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2021/ancient-dna-findings
================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
What LiDAR is revealing about the Culloden battle site:

https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/3d-scanning-gives-new-insight-into-275-year-old-jacobite-battlefield/

A 3d printed material to replace ivory when restoring artifacts:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/04/19/3d-printed-material-to-replace-ivory/
================================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS
================================================================
An explanation of what the Anthropocene is:

https://www.sciencealert.com/there-is-more-than-one-anthropocene-scientists-argue-here-s-why-that-s-important

cf: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020EF001896

Explaining the Medieval Warm Period:

https://theconversation.com/climate-explained-what-was-the-medieval-warm-period-155294
https://phys.org/news/2021-04-medieval-period.html
================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
================================================================
Ventotene:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/ventotene-a-guide-to-the-pontine-island.html

Olympus:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/19/hidden-treasures-olympus-mountain-greek-gods/

'Mini Venices':

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/venice-alternative-destinations-cmd/index.html

Tel Tzafit/Gath:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/stunning-views-from-goliaths-hometown-show-its-ancient-strategic-importance/

Roman sites in Suffolk:

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/examples-of-roman-britain-in-suffolk-7860062
================================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
================================================================
Eurydice:

https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/arts/article_e4a8b39e-9ecb-11eb-9784-77bf7c5c96cd.html

Antigone:

https://marquettewire.org/4054822/ae/arseneau-antigone-brings-captivating-outdoor-theater-to-campus/

Romeo and Juliet:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/22/theater/review-romeo-and-juliet-josh-oconnor-jessie-buckley.html

================================================================
TV/DOCUMENTARY HYPISH THINGS
================================================================
There's a series just out on Leonardo:

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56769845

Tony Robinson hosts a new documentary about Roman influence in Britain:

https://www.list.co.uk/article/125636-tony-robinson-explores-roman-innovation-in-new-documentary/
================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
Not sure where to put this account of Armenian destruction of Azerbaijani cultural sites:

https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/unprecedented-vandalism-armenia-destroyed-over-400-azerbaijani-cultural-and-religious-monuments-in-karabakh-region-2021-4-22-0/

----------
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
================================================================
Major controversy over some human remains from the 1980s at UPenn:

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/04/23/anthropological-mystery-involving-penn-and-princeton-scandal-too

A 6th century BC black figure vase was returned to Como (Italian):

https://www.varesenews.it/2021/04/antica-anfora-tolta-al-contrabbando-e-restituita-allo-stato/1330232/
https://www.radiolombardia.it/2021/04/20/como-antico-reperto-del-vi-secolo-a-c-restituito-al-patromonio-indisponibile-dello-stato/

The US returned thirty-three looted objects to Afghanistan:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/arts/design/afghanistan-antiquities-return.html
https://www.csmonitor.com/World/2021/0423/Afghanistan-welcomes-home-looted-art-despite-concerns-about-the-Taliban
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/looted-objects-from-afghanistan-are-returned/
https://www.startribune.com/relics-seized-from-smugglers-are-returning-to-afghanistan/600048772/
https://www.ksat.com/news/politics/2021/04/22/relics-seized-from-smugglers-are-returning-to-afghanistan/
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/relics-seized-smugglers-returning-afghanistan-77234776
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-04-22/relics-seized-smugglers-returning-afghanistan
https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-returns-precious-relics-to-afghanistan-after-seizing-from-new-york-based-smuggler-379545
https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/asia-and-australia/one-of-world-s-richest-countries-in-archaeology-gets-relics-seized-from-smugglers-1.9736300
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/manhattan-district-attorney-returns-33-looted-antiquities-afghanistan-1960666
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/us-returns-looted-antiquities-to.html

Afghanistan wants the Museum of the Bible to return a medieval Hebrew prayer book:

https://www.jpost.com/international/afghanistan-wants-to-repatriate-stolen-medieval-hebrew-prayer-book-665963

The SAA is having an argument over returning Indigenous remains:

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/04/archaeology-society-hosted-talk-against-returning-indigenous-remains-some-want-new

... while museums are also wrestling with the question of what to do with bones of enslaved persons:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/20/arts/design/museums-bones-smithsonian.html

The Church of England plans to return some Benin Bronzes even if they are apparently from the 1980s (?):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/22/benin-bronzes-repatriated-church-england-1980s/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9498851/Two-Benin-Bronzes-return-Nigeria-1980s-no-links-colonialism.html

Feature on the push for museums around the world to return Benin Bronzes:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/major-push-museums-around-world-make-plans-repatriate-benin-bronzes-nigeria-180977519/

... and some of the museums in the UK which are doing so:

https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/looted-sculptures-may-be-returned-to-native-nigeria/

... and related opEd:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-problem-of-the-benin-bronzes-will-never-go-away

More on the US repatriating some pre-Hispanic items to Mexico:

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/hsi-el-paso-returns-more-500-pre-hispanic-era-artifacts-mexico
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/united-states-returns-more-500-artifacts-mexico-180977535/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/9646-210420-mexico-repatriation-smuggling

================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Feature on the coins of Crassus:

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/ancient-roman-coins-the-coins-of-crassus/

Latest e-Sylum:

https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/club_nbs_esylum_v24n16.html

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

https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/club_nbs_esylum_v24n17.html
------------------------

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

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

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/apr/18/david-boston-obituary

Pierre Amiet:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/460166/French-archaeologist-Pierre-Amiet-famed-for-intensive-Iranian

Giorgio Croci:

https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2278

Hector Avalos:

https://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/iowa-state-hector-avalos/article_b0ac7340-a183-11eb-965d-4ffd1b75aa86.html
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2021/04/22/iowa-state-university-professor-hector-avalos-leaves-legacy-multiple-communities-atheism/7292678002/

Franklin Toker:

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/obituaries/2021/04/21/Franklin-Toker-obituary/stories/202104210116

Lyn Macdonald:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/lyn-macdonald-dead/2021/04/22/f8c98420-a36c-11eb-85fc-06664ff4489d_story.html

Anthony Thwaite:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/apr/23/anthony-thwaite-obituary

Kathie Coblentz:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/23/obituaries/kathie-coblentz-dead.html

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

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3068-audio-news-from-archaeologica-april-11-through-april-17-2021
================================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS
================================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:

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

About.com Archaeology:

http://archaeology.about.com/

Archaeology Briefs:

http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/

Atlas Obscura:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/

Heritage Daily:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/

Sapiens Archaeology:

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

Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:

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

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

Archaeology Podcast Network:

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