explorator 26.20-21

[roguecl...@gmail.com]

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explorator 26.20-21 September 10, 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, Virginia A. Wulfkuhle,
Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay, John Keller,
Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

... a few more items to catch up with next week!
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EARLY HOMINIDS
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A study of Ubeidiya spheroids (1.4 million years bp):

https://phys.org/news/2023-09-limestone-spheroids-ubeidiya-intentional-imposition.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1000441
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/sep/06/early-human-ancestors-turned-stones-into-spheres-on-purpose-study-suggests
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-experts-cast-light-on-mysterious-orbs-carved-by-humans-1-4-million-years-ago/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-757748
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230906-early-humans-deliberately-made-mysterious-stone-spheroids
https://arkeonews.net/early-humans-appreciated-geometry-and-symmetry-and-were-intentionally-crafting-spherical-shapes-1-4-million-years-ago-according-to-a-new-study/
https://www.sciencealert.com/mysterious-stones-may-represent-an-ancient-quest-for-the-perfect-sphere
https://www.science.org/content/article/were-these-stone-balls-made-ancient-human-relatives-trying-perfect-sphere
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2390655-mysterious-ancient-stones-were-deliberately-made-into-spheres/

Suggestion (controversial) that humans almost went extinct some 930 000 years bp (based on DNA models):

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/999723
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2023/august/human-ancestors-may-have-almost-died-out-ancient-population-crash.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/31/population-collapse-almost-wiped-out-human-ancestors-say-scientists
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/human-ancestors-extinction-doom-almost-b2403157.html
https://www.popsci.com/science/human-population-pleistocene/
https://www.ft.com/content/af73c088-7ba9-4def-b2ef-bda93ae8e360
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/31/science/human-survival-bottleneck.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/human-ancestors-homo-sapiens-extinct-scientists-find-mgs9fp2pl
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/human-ancestors-nearly-went-extinct-900-000-years-ago/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2390124-our-ancestors-may-have-come-close-to-extinction-900000-years-ago/
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02712-4

A study of early humans eating elephants in Israel some 400 000 years bp:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/ancient-humans-in-israel-once-ate-elephants-when-they-disappeared-weapons-improved/

A study of the evolution of hunting weapons:

https://phys.org/news/2023-09-small-prey-compelled-prehistoric-humans.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/09/08/extinction-of-large-prey-drove-evolutionary-changes-in-prehistoric-humans/

Rethinking that Neanderthal 'flower burial':

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/famous-neanderthal-flower-burial-debunked-because-pollen-was-left-by-burrowing-bees
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/28/study-casts-doubt-on-neanderthal-flower-burial-theory
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/06/world/neanderthal-burial-flower-pollen-scn/index.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2023/08/29/neanderthal-burial-with-flowers-likely-the-result-of-animal-activity-new-study-finds/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/09/06/neanderthals-did-not-bury-dead-with-flowers/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11723-230905-flower-burial-pollen

How ancient bee burrows expanded our knowledge of Neanderthals:

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-ancient-bee-burrows-neanderthals.html

Evidence of Neanderthal transformation of forest into grassland some 125 000 years bp:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/neandertals-first-hominid-modify-environment-forest-grassland

Possible evidence that humans were wearing shoes some 100 000 years bp:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2389497-ancient-humans-may-have-worn-shoes-more-than-100000-years-ago/

Features on homo floresiensis:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/02/asia/homo-floresiensis-hobbit-discovery-anniversary-scn/index.html
https://www.thecollector.com/homo-floresiensis-what-do-we-know-hobbit-people/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934540-900-the-untold-story-of-the-curiously-controversial-homo-floresiensis-dig/

Feature on homo erectus:

https://www.thecollector.com/homo-erectus-most-successful-humans/
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AFRICA
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Evidence of a Mesolithic ochre culture at Porc-Epic Cave (Ethiopia):

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-39957-y

Hyping an upcoming dig by Polish archaeologists at Ptolemais:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/09/07/university-of-warsaw-archaeologists-return-to-ancient-ptolemais/

The earthquake in Morocco has damaged several heritage sites:

https://apnews.com/article/morocco-earthquake-marraskesh-7f4a503009dede0dec0208c08d6b100b
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1454/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1454/pub/1454/page/45/article/NaN
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ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
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Latest 'scent recreation' is an Egyptian mummification balm:

https://theconversation.com/what-would-an-ancient-egyptian-corpse-have-smelled-like-pine-balsam-and-bitumen-if-you-were-nobility-212504
https://phys.org/news/2023-08-unbottling-scent-afterlife-ancient-egyptian.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-09-ancient-egyptian-corpse-balsam-bitumen.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/08/230831121651.htm
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/999374
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/ancient-egyptians/elite-ancient-egyptian-woman-was-embalmed-with-exotic-ingredients-smelling-of-vanilla-and-larch-new-analysis-reveals
https://www.egyptindependent.com/the-scent-of-eternity-scientists-recreate-ancient-egyptian-perfume-used-during-mummification/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-08-31/ty-article-magazine/burial-jars-of-pharaohs-wet-nurse-reveal-secrets-of-ancient-egyptian-mummification/0000018a-45d1-dbb1-a1ff-45dd9c190000
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/31/world/ancient-egypt-balm-scent-scn/index.html
https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/egypt/2023/08/31/egypt-archeology-mummification-jars/
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/09/scent-of-the-afterlife-scientists-recreate-recipe-for-egyptian-mummification-balm/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/09/04/the-scent-of-the-afterlife-unbottled-in-new-study-of-mummification-balms/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11725-230906-egypt-mummification-recipes

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-39393-y

A wooden ceiling installed at the Temple of Karnak is drawing criticism:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/wooden-ceiling-installed-on-karnak-temple-draws-criticism/

Feature on the Egyptian concept of the 'otherworld':

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2023/08/egyptian-conceptualization-otherworld

Concerns about recent demolition of historic sites in Cairo:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/26/world/middleeast/egypt-cairo-city-construction-demolition.html
https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/507477.aspx

cf: https://www.egyptindependent.com/authorities-deny-demolishing-tomb-of-poet-ahmed-shawqi/
https://www.egyptindependent.com/govt-denies-plans-to-demolish-historic-minaret-of-qusun-mosque/

Feature on Sennacherib's prisms:

http://www.aina.org/news/20230904113551.htm

More on extraction of DNA from a 2900 years bp clay brick from Kalhu:

https://arkeonews.net/researchers-extract-ancient-dna-from-a-2900-year-old-clay-brick/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/09/04/researchers-extract-ancient-dna-from-a-2900-year-old-clay-brick/

Paleolithic finds from northern Iran:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/488554/Paleolithic-objects-discovered-in-cave-northern-Iran

A Parthian monument of some sort from Viranshahr:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/488856/Archaeologists-discover-Parthian-monument-in-northeast-Iran

The authenticity of a recently-returned relief confirms it dates to Sassanid times:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/488550/Relief-of-bearded-man-recovered-from-the-UK-passes-microscopic

Remains of an 8200 years bp water channel near Izmir:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/8-200-year-old-water-channel-discovered-in-izmir-185763
https://arkeonews.net/one-of-the-earliest-water-channels-in-history-dating-back-8200-years-was-discovered-in-western-turkiye/

3700 years bp burials of two individuals with some preserved skin and brain tissue from Tavsanli Hoyuk:

https://www.newsweek.com/archaeologists-discover-brain-remnants-people-lived-3700-years-ago-1825076
https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/brain-skin-remnants-discovered-at-bronze-age-settlement-in-turkiye
https://arkeonews.net/3700-years-old-brain-and-skin-remnants-discovered-at-bronze-age-settlement-in-western-turkiye/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68192

Bronze Age burials (and more) from Cayonu Hill:

https://www.dailysabah.com/turkiye/new-tombs-from-early-bronze-age-found-on-turkiyes-cayonu-hill/news
https://arkeonews.net/turkiyes-neolithic-settlement-cayonu-hill-discovered-new-tombs-from-early-bronze-age/

A 5th century BCE dice game board from Daskyleion:

https://arkeonews.net/a-dice-game-board-from-5th-century-bc-found-in-western-turkeys-daskyleion/

An altar of a temple of Zeus in Magnesia:

https://arkeonews.net/the-altar-of-zeus-temple-discovered-in-western-turkey/

Feature on the finds in, around, and beneath Zerzevan Castle (the 'beneath' seems new):

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/01/1191263572/turkey-archaeology-zerzevan-castle-discoveries
https://www.wbur.org/npr/1191263572/turkey-archaeology-zerzevan-castle-discoveries
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11724-230905-turkey-zerzevan-castle

Overview of Turkish archaeological finds in August:

https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/august-2023-turkish-archaeology

Possible 12 000 years bp bird calls made from bird bones:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/28/science/archaeology-birds-flute.html

Feature on Gaza's efforts to protect its heritage:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/03/its-heartbreaking-our-heritage-is-being-stolen-gazas-fight-to-keep-its-treasures-safe-at-home

Channels of unknown purpose dating to the First Temple era from the City of David park:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/researchers-baffled-by-unique-and-mysterious-structure-from-first-temple-period/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-08-30/ty-article/archaeologists-find-mysterious-2-800-year-old-channels-near-temple-mount-in-jerusalem/0000018a-4631-d8fa-adee-cfb590740000
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-756795
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/s13ypu2p2
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/archaeology-news/archaeologists-stymied-by-king-jehoash-and-amaziahs-mysterious-jerusalem-canals/2023/08/30/
https://www.jns.org/archeology/city-of-david/23/8/30/314668/
https://www.newsweek.com/mysterious-2800-year-old-structures-found-old-jerusalem-baffle-experts-1823512
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/archaeologists-find-mystery-ducts-near-biblical-jerusalem-relics-2023-08-30/
https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-find-mysterious-2800-year-old-channels-in-jerusalem/
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/mysterious-jerusalem-channels/

A major section of a Second Temple-era aqueduct was revealed in Jerusalem:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/300-meter-stretch-of-aqueduct-from-late-second-temple-period-uncovered-in-jerusalem/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-08-29/ty-article/longest-stretch-of-ancient-jerusalems-upper-aqueduct-revealed/0000018a-4168-d435-a59e-cfeaaed40000
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-756543
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/skua2kca2
https://www.jns.org/jns/aqueduct/23/8/28/313938/

Four Roman swords and a large point of some sort from a cave near the Dead Sea:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/four-1900-year-old-roman-swords-discovered-hidden-in-desert-cave/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-09-06/ty-article/four-roman-swords-in-almost-perfect-condition-found-in-cave-near-dead-sea/0000018a-66a1-d9af-a7db-6fafe29e0000
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-757779
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/b100ty3rr3
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/its-a-dream-4-roman-swords-likely-stolen-as-war-booty-1900-years-ago-discovered-in-israeli-cave
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/roman-era-swords-likely-jewish-rebel-booty-unearthed-israel-2023-09-06/
https://apnews.com/article/israel-archaeology-antiquities-roman-27eed13d005c84d8f799cb1fe6bdf36a
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-66728207
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ancient-roman-swords-unearthed-in-israeli-cave-mf7dr5v3m
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/roman-swords-battle-dead-sea-b2406877.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/roman-swords-found-dead-sea-cave-israel-almost-in-mint-condition/
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/roman-era-swords-discovered-in-dead-sea-cave-192346693947
https://www.newsweek.com/rare-ancient-roman-swords-1900-years-ago-found-desert-cave-1824953
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/ancient-weapons-cache-judean-desert-scli-intl-scn/index.html
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230906-israel-unveils-roman-era-weapons-found-in-desert-cave
https://www.sciencealert.com/booty-of-roman-weapons-found-as-sharp-as-the-day-they-were-hidden
https://arkeonews.net/four-1900-year-old-roman-swords-found-in-judean-desert/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/09/cache-of-roman-swords-found-in-desert-cave/148475
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/09/07/four-1900-year-old-roman-swords-found-in-the-judean-desert/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-uncover-four-roman-swords-in-israeli-cave-180982869/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11728-230907-dead-sea-swords

... and an item on the team who found it and why:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/crack-unit-of-rock-climbing-archaeologists-claims-success-in-curbing-antiquities-theft/

Steps were found at the Pool of Siloam site:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-758229

On plans to use multispectral imaging on an inscription in a cave near Ein Gedi:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/redeciphered-first-temple-inscription-may-shed-light-on-biblical-valley-of-salt/

Latest youth-in-an-Israeli park find is a 1700 years bp Roman ring from Sussita::

https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/bjagj1xa3
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-757958

More on the Roman military amphitheatre found at Megiddo:

https://www.archaeology.org/news/11709-230828-israel-megiddo-amphitheater

Latest finds from the al-Abla site (Date?):

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/saudi-arabia/2023/08/26/Saudi-archeologists-make-significant-discovery-at-al-Abla-archeological-site

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

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

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ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
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A kouros find from Despotiko:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/multimedia/images/1218593/despotiko-a-font-of-ancient-treasures/
https://greekherald.com.au/culture/2400-year-old-statue-found-on-uninhabited-greek-island/

Evidence of structures associated with an 8th century BCE sanctuary of Poseidon at Helike:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/2800-year-old-figurines-unearthed-at-greek-temple-may-be-offerings-to-poseidon
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-756915
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/excavations-ancient-greek-city-helike-cult-center-1234677507/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11710-230828-greece-poseidon-temple

A 6th century BCE (maybe) lion's head sima from excavations at Selinunte:

https://news.rub.de/wissenschaft/2023-08-28-archaeologie-bochumer-forschende-finden-spektakulaeren-loewenkopf
https://www.newsweek.com/archaeologists-find-rare-valuable-ancient-marble-lion-head-1824090
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68187
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/08/archaeologists-find-stone-lions-head-during-excavations-in-sicily/148412
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11719-230901-sicily-selinunte-sima

Evidence of a 5th/4th century BCE Greek wall at Stari Grad:

https://www.croatiaweek.com/ancient-greek-city-wall-discovered-under-stari-grad-on-hvar-island/

A Hellenistic sanctuary of Apollo known in the 18th century then 'lost', was relocated at Frangissa (Cyprus):

https://www.newsweek.com/long-lost-ancient-temple-apollo-1823330
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/08/29/lost-ancient-temple-in-cyprus-rediscovered-german-archaeologists-unearth-sanctuary-of-frangissa/

Evidence of a 1st century BCE Capitolium at Sarsina:

https://www.cnn.com/style/ancient-roman-temple-sarsina-supermarket-scn
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/ancient-roman-temple-unearthed-construction-site-sarsina-italy-1234678325/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11721-230901-italy-roman-temple

Overview of the 2023 excavations at Pyla-Kokkinokremos:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/09/06/results-of-2023-excavations-at-pyla-kokkinokremos/

A 1st century BCE Roman forum belonging to a city of an unknown name in Hispania was revealed in Zaragoza:

https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-08-31/the-oldest-roman-forum-in-hispania-has-been-found-in-zaragoza.html
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article278991129.html
https://www.newsweek.com/enormous-ancient-roman-discovery-made-mysterious-city-destroyed-war-1823998
https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-have-uncovered-oldest-roman-forum-in-hispania-at-the-site-of-an-unknown-city/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/09/archaeologists-find-forum-from-unknown-roman-city/148518
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11732-230908-spain-roman-plaza

Remains of a 2000 years bp Roman structure complex in Switzerland:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/ancient-roman-walls-discovered-in-swiss-alps-are-an-archaeological-sensation
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article278692504.html
https://www.popsci.com/science/roman-switzerland-alps-archeology/
https://mymodernmet.com/roman-building-switzerland/
https://arkeonews.net/large-roman-complex-found-in-swiss-gravel-quarry/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68152
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/08/archaeologists-uncover-large-roman-complex-in-gravel-quarry/148387
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/2000-year-old-roman-buildings-found-in-switzerland-180982827/

A statue of a water nymph from Amastris:

https://arkeonews.net/beautiful-water-nymph-marble-statue-found-in-amastris-ancient-city/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68233

Not sure where to put this publication of an Oxyrhynchus papyrus with sayings of Jesus:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/scholars-publish-new-papyrus-with-early-sayings-of-jesus
https://greekreporter.com/2023/09/06/new-papyrus-jesus-sayings/

A possible Roman bridge (maybe) from Chepstow:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12457637/The-ancient-bridge-linked-England-Wales-Archaeologists-discover-2-000-year-old-wooden-structure-River-Wye.html
https://arkeonews.net/a-2000-year-old-wooden-bridge-that-once-linked-england-and-wales-discovered/

A pair of Roman silver coins found at Scole have been linked to similar finds made back in 1973:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-66660885

Hyping an upcoming dig at a possible Roman fort site in York:

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/archaeologists-set-york-dig-roman-27616296
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23755907.experts-search-roman-remains-mount-york/
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/ibis-hotel-york-archaeologists-to-excavate-ancient-burial-site-in-york-where-roman-fortress-once-stood-4272979

Overview of recent finds at Caistor Roman Town:

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23747353.caistor-roman-town-excavations-reveal-fresh-norfolk-finds/

I think we mentioned this Roman coin found by an eight-year-old in a German sandbox:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/8-year-old-unearths-roman-era-silver-coin-in-school-sandbox
https://www.senatspressestelle.bremen.de/pressemitteilungen/landesarchaeologie-praesentiert-roemische-silbermuenze-und-ehrt-jungen-finder-428296?asl=bremen02.c.730.de
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/german-child-finds-roman-silver-coin-in-school-sandbox-180982819/

... and dating the destruction of Scythopolis by chicken bones:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/26/destruction-ancient-greek-city-scythopolis/

The dig diary for the excavations at Magna:

https://romanarmymuseum.com/magnafort/magna-dig-diary/

Some Roman coins found in Buckinghamshire have been declared treasure:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-66685312

Finds from the Roman baths dig at Carlisle are going on display:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-66615493
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/09/childrens-rings-roman-baths-carlisle/

More on the ship remains found near Viminacium:

https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/08/28/archaeologists-in-serbia-examine-a-river-ship-uncovered-at-ancient-roman-city-of-viminaciu

Hype for Emily Wilson's upcoming Iliad translation:

https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2023/09/homers-history-violence-the-iliad

... and an essay by Emily Wilson on same:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/sep/09/the-iliad-may-be-ancient-but-its-not-far-away-emily-wilson-on-homers-blood-soaked-epic

An interview with Kathleen Coleman:

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/9/1/kathleen-coleman-15Q/

Daniel Mendelsohn on the Odyssey:

https://lithub.com/how-the-odyssey-helped-my-father-and-i-to-grow/

Review of Victoria Houseman, *American Classicist*:

https://theamericanscholar.org/its-all-greek-to-her/

Pondering whether there were Jewish gladiators:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-09-03/ty-article/did-jewish-gladiators-exist/0000018a-5a58-d0ea-a7ab-da7ffc3f0000

Feature on ancient Lycia and its influence on the US Founding Fathers:

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230906-the-ancient-civilisation-that-inspired-us-democracy

Feature on Roman divinities in ancient Cologne:

https://www.dw.com/en/roman-gods-in-cologne/a-66731679

Feature on Greek perception of colour:

https://aeon.co/essays/can-we-hope-to-understand-how-the-greeks-saw-their-world

Feature on the recreation of the colossal statue of Constantine:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68177

Feature on Marcus Aurelius:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/28/marcus-aurelius-roman-emperor-embraced-greek-philosophy/

Feature on Nero:

https://bigthink.com/the-past/nero-rome-legacy/

Feature on the Vapheio Cups:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/09/03/vapheio-gold-cups-ancient-greek/

...

Latest Pasts Imperfect:

https://pastsimperfect.substack.com/p/pasts-imperfect-9723
-----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
============================================================
A large collection of Palaeolithic (24 000 years bp) petroglyphs from the Cueva Dones cave in Spain:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/09/largest-concentration-of-palaeolithic-art-in-eastern-iberia-discovered-at-cueva-dones/148504

9000 BCE lithics and microthics from Vinjeora (Norway):

https://norwegianscitechnews.com/2023/08/rare-stone-age-discovery-in-mid-norway/
https://phys.org/news/2023-08-rare-stone-age-discovery-mid-norway.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/09/04/rare-stone-age-discovery-in-mid-norway/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11712-230829-norway-flint-tools

An 8000 years bp encampment site near Carlisle:

https://news.yahoo.com/8-000-old-encampment-tridents-161046030.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article278684759.html

A number of 8000 years bp (maybe) flints may identify a 'viewpoint' in Dartmoor:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/30/stone-age-dartmoor-viewpoint-uncovered-by-archaeologists
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-66645931

A 5500 years bp menhir from Portugal:

https://www.portugalresident.com/5500-year-old-menhir-discovered-in-sao-bras-de-alportel-2/
https://arkeonews.net/5500-year-old-menhir-discovered-in-portugal/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11713-230830-portugal-neolithic-menhir

Dissertation research on Middle/Late Neolithic land use in west Estonia:

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-doctoral-thesis-west-estonian-lowlands.html

Evidence of Neolithic (and earlier?) burial practices from the Galeria del Silex in Spain:

https://www.sciencealert.com/ancient-human-remains-reveal-how-the-stone-age-buried-its-dead

A complete Neolithic cursus from the Isle of Arran:

https://www.reading.ac.uk/news/2023/Research-News/Researchers-discover-complete-Neolithic-cursus-on-the-Isle-of-Arran
https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/news/2023-09-06/researchers-discover-huge-neolithic-monument-isle-arran
https://phys.org/news/2023-09-neolithic-cursus-isle-arran.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/sep/04/archaeologists-uncover-complete-neolithic-cursus-on-the-isle-of-arran
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/neolithic-cursus-found-isle-of-arran-scotland-1234678456/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/09/07/neolithic-cursus-excavated-on-isle-of-arran-in-scotland/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11727-230906-scotland-neolithic-cursus

After 150 years of research and associated finds, evidence of a Neolithic (3400 years bp) settlement at Marais de Saint-Gond:

https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20230829-breakthrough-for-french-researchers-with-discovery-of-neolithic-village
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/breakthrough-french-researchers-discovery-neolithic-061602074.html
https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/neolithic-village-discovered-france-150-years-research.1051901'
https://www.gulf-times.com/article/667377/international/neolithic-village-discovered-in-france-after-150-years-of-research
https://www.newsweek.com/neolithic-village-settlement-150-years-france-1823046
https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/30/neolithic-village-france/
https://arkeonews.net/neolithic-village-discovered-in-northeastern-france-after-150-years-of-research/

A 3000 years bp (maybe) Lusatian double burial from Poland:

https://notesfrompoland.com/2023/08/29/rare-ancient-double-burial-site-uncovered-in-poland/

3000 years bp 'mummified' bees from Portugal:

https://www.livescience.com/animals/bees-wasps/3000-year-old-mummified-bees-are-so-well-preserved-scientists-can-see-the-flowers-the-insects-ate

Motorway work in Cork has revealed plenty of finds from various periods (Neolithic home, Bronze Age cremation burials, etc.)

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41221507.html

A 2500 years bp canoe from a Swiss lake:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/a-2-500-year-old-canoe-discovered-in-swiss-lake/48790562
https://www.newsweek.com/archaeologists-discover-iron-age-canoe-switzerland-1825319

2100 years bp cremation burials from Pleumeleuc (France):

https://www.kansas.com/news/nation-world/world/article278741534.html
https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/world/article278741534.html

A 2000 years bp child's shoe from excavations at a Durrnberg salt mine:

https://www.newsweek.com/extremely-well-preserved-iron-age-childs-shoe-discovered-1823962
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68182
https://arkeonews.net/extremely-well-preserved-2000-year-old-childs-leather-shoe-discovered-during-archaeological-mine-excavations/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/09/archaeologists-unearth-2000-year-old-childrens-shoe/148432
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11722-230905-austria-iron-age-child-shoe

A 2000 years bp 'rainbow cup' Celtic coin from Germany:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/lost-rainbow-cup-coin-minted-by-celts-2000-years-ago-discovered-in-germany

A 1500 years bp reindeer hunting site from Norway:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article278794244.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/09/melting-glaciers-reveal-archaeological-treasures/148468

... but an arrow find associated with the above might be 4000 years bp:

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/06/1198032134/archeologists-norway-arrow-stoneage-4000-years-old
https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/archaeologists-find-stone-age-arrow-trapped-in-ice-in-norway/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/09/melting-glaciers-reveal-archaeological-treasures/148468
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11730-230908-norway-arrow-shaft

A rookie metal detectorist in Norway came across some 6th century gold jewelry:

https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology-history/1500-year-old-gold-treasure-discovered-by-metal-detectorist-this-is-the-gold-find-of-the-century-in-norway/2247536
https://phys.org/news/2023-09-amateur-gold-century-norway.html
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/gold-find-of-the-century-metal-detectorist-in-norway-discovers-massive-cache-of-jewelry
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/66752607
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/07/norway-gold-find-of-century-metal-detector-erlend-bore-medallions
https://apnews.com/article/norway-archaeological-find-gold-21128442b7638f3e1203c2728d494ec7
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/norway-gold-pendants-1.6961247
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/norway-man-metal-detector-makes-gold-find-century-rcna104020
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/archaeological-find-island-southern-norway-dubbed-gold-find-102995549
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230907-amateur-makes-gold-find-of-the-century-in-norway-1
https://arkeonews.net/amateur-makes-gold-find-of-the-century-in-norway/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11733-230908-norway-gold-jewelry

A metal detectorist in North Yorkshire found an almost complete Anglo-Saxon bowl:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-66679766

Overview of finds from excavations at an 8th/9th century monastery in Cookham:

https://phys.org/news/2023-09-rare-archaeological-monastery-social-religious.html
https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/23757519.reading-university-uncover-anglo-saxon-cemetery-cookham/
https://www.newsweek.com/cemetery-50-bodies-unearthed-medieval-monastery-england-1824454
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/09/anglo-saxon-monastery-was-a-social-and-religious-centre/148447
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/09/05/rare-finds-show-monastery-was-a-social-and-religious-hub/

A 10th century warrior burial with a silver sabretache plete from Hungary:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68198

A Merovincian warrior burial from Ingelheim (Germany):

https://www.medievalists.net/2023/09/early-medieval-warriors-remains-discovered-in-germany/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68139

Overview of medieval finds from a housing development site in Beaumaris:

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/features-monumental-archaeological-significance-humble-27637978

A medieval ring found by a metal detectorist in Tetbury has been declared treasure:

https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/23765322.coroner-declares-ring-found-doctor-near-tetbury-treasure/

A hoard of 12 silver coins, most from the reign of Boleslaw the Bold, from Poland:

https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/king-coin-coins-dating-back-to-the-reign-of-king-boleslaw-the-bold-found-buried-in-ancient-fortress-40845

A 17th century 'vampire' child burial from Pien:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/05/science/archaeology-burial-ampires-revenants.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/09/08/vampire-child-grave-discovered-in-17th-century-cursed-cemetery/

Three unusual burials near an 18th century execution site in Germany:

https://www.newsweek.com/bound-skeletons-discovered-gallows-germany-1823353

Hyping the search for a 'lost' medieval palace in the Scottish Borders:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-66730551

Some experimental archaeology involving neolithic canoes on the Thames:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/dr-theresa-emmerich-kamper-ancient-skills-stone-age-living

A new legal challenge to the Stonehenge tunnel:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-england-a-renewed-battle-over-a-tunnel-beneath-stonehenge-180982808/?

Specialists were conducting a survey of the stone in Westminster Abbey's West Towers:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-66681260

Restoration of Salisbury Cathedral is almost complete:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/sep/05/salisbury-cathedral-prepares-for-final-topping-out-after-37-years-of-repairs

----------
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
============================================================
3200+ tombs (1500-1000 BCE) from China's Qinghai province:

https://english.news.cn/20230828/65f98eac4ca647ba9348f63674c08ecb/c.html
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2023-08/29/content_109300683.htm
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202308/1297219.shtml

A large and well-preserved lake shell midden (Shang and Zhou Dynasty) from Yunnan:

http://en.people.cn/n3/2023/0904/c98649-20067129.html

2000 years bp chime bells from Henan:

https://arkeonews.net/well-preserved-2000-year-old-chime-bells-bianzhong-discovered-in-china/

Wei Kingdon-Jin Dynasty burials and domestic building foundations from Liaoning:

https://english.news.cn/20230905/1de5324c627c410f8a12495570c74083/c.html
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2023-09/06/content_112744504.htm

Assorted Ming Dynasty finds from Changchun:

https://english.news.cn/20230902/1804b284f56247aa903ae7c53cf0db84/c.html

People using an excavator to 'make a path' did some major damage to China's Great Wall:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-66714547
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/04/china/china-great-wall-damage-excavator-intl/index.html

Feature on Fang Beisong's work with bamboo slips:

http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_1Vi4D0Gv.html
http://en.people.cn/n3/2023/0905/c90000-20067888.html

... related:

https://english.news.cn/20230907/241629e3a47545048199ea41b43f6f25/c.html

A 4000 years bp pyramidal structure from Kazakhstan:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article278062057.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11678-230811-kazakhstan-stone-structure

Paintings on the walls of Gua Sireh cave (Malaysia) have been dated to the 17th-19th centuries:

https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/archaeology/gua-sireh-cave-rock-art/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-malaysian-rock-drawings-depict-a-violent-history-180982814/

A Bronze age burial of a girl, along with 150 animal ankle bones, from Kazakhstan:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/bronze-age-girl-buried-with-more-than-150-animal-ankle-bones-potentially-to-help-her-to-the-next-world
https://arkeonews.net/astonishing-discovery-in-kazakhstan-bronze-age-girl-buried-with-more-than-150-animal-ankle-bones/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/09/bronze-age-burial-found-in-kazakhstan/148492
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11729-230907-kazakhstan-burial-mound

Neolithic (?) finds from near Khajaguda:

https://telanganatoday.com/hyderabad-neolithic-remains-found-near-lanco-hills-at-khajaguda
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/2000-bce-neolithic-remains-found-at-khajaguda/article67255324.ece
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/hyderabad/archaeologists-discover-2000-bc-neolithic-remains-near-khajaguda/articleshow/103262937.cms

A 2000 years bp 'gold foil' and a lotus relief of some sort from Purana Qila:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/dug-up-2000-yr-old-gold-foil-engraved-lotus-at-delhis-purana-qila/articleshow/103446948.cms

A 19th century stepwell is being excavated in Hyderabad:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2023/sep/03/19th-century-stepwell-rediscovered-experts-urge-extreme-care-during-restoration-2611226.html

Workers found 240 British-era gold coins in Gujarat (with 239 being 'stolen by cops'):

https://www.news18.com/india/240-british-era-gold-coins-unearthed-by-labours-at-construction-site-in-gujarat-239-stolen-by-cops-8552980.html

============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
============================================================
3d maps of the Swan River led to the find of an unknown sunken barge (100 years bp?) near Perth:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-02/shipwreck-found-perth-swan-river-maritime-archaeologists/102798982

An unnamed company has admitted damaging an archaeological site in New Zealand:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/marlborough-top-stories/132831608/company-admits-damaging-nationally-significant-archaeological-site
https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2023/09/04/company-admits-damaging-nationally-significant-archaeological-site/
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
3000 years bp woven grass mats from Alaska's Kodiak Island:

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/video/2023/09/05/archaeologists-uncover-weavings-ancestral-artifacts-dating-back-thousands-years/
https://arkeonews.net/3000-year-old-weavings-discovered-in-alaskas-alutiiq-settlement/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/09/archaeologists-uncover-3000-year-old-ancient-weavings-in-alaska/148437

Analysis of salmon bones reveals the Tsleil-Waututh Nation sustainably fished for salmon for 2500 years:

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-salmon-bones-sustainable-chum-fishery.html

An early 1100s CE macaw breeding site from New Mexico:

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/health_and_science/southwest-new-mexico-ruins-reveal-ancient-macaw-breeding-site/article_9fc9a5d6-44ea-11ee-b274-5bca586b64a0.html

A 'copper dome' found back in 1980 near the wreck of the Santa Margarita might be a 17th century diving bell:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/mysterious-17th-century-cauldron-may-be-primitive-submarine-used-to-salvage-treasure-from-a-sunken-galleon

An 1881 shipwreck found in Lake Michigan off the coast of Wisconsin:

https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-shipwreck-trinidad-discovered-lake-michigan-687b68a5a1572dcb9089d8cf2b3d438b
https://ktar.com/story/5534925/schooner-that-sank-in-lake-michigan-in-1881-found-intact-miles-off-wisconsin-coastline/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/02/shipwreck-trinidad-lake-michigan-wisconsin
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-12471065/Schooner-sank-Lake-Michigan-1881-intact-miles-Wisconsin-coastline.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-an-almost-entirely-intact-142-year-old-shipwreck-in-lake-michigan-180982848/

Drought in Texas has exposed five sunken WWI era ships in the Neches River:

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/history/2023/08/29/sunken-world-war-i-vessels-found-beaumont-texas-drought-neches-river/70700205007/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/drought-in-east-texas-reveals-world-war-i-shipwreck-180982807/

... and there are thought's a town 'hidden under lake' might soon be revealed:

https://www.newsweek.com/could-texas-lake-water-drop-reveal-hidden-town-sparta-1824074

There was hype for the opening of a 195 years bp time capsule from West Point:

https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/2023/08/28/west-point-ny-time-capsule-opening-kosciuszko-monument-mystery-livestream/70669019007/

... but then we were told it was empty:

https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/news/article/west-point-kosciuszko-time-capsule-18331364.php
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66641401
https://www.wamc.org/news/2023-08-28/west-point-time-capsule-turns-up-empty-stumping-historians
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/08/29/west-point-time-capsule-opening/
https://apnews.com/article/west-point-time-capsule-75d882ce97926fc1680b693a8dc8c7af
https://fortune.com/2023/08/29/west-point-time-capsule-kosciuszko-empty-dirt-silt/

... and then we were told there were some coins:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66667189
https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/news/article/artifacts-west-point-time-capsule-18338842.php
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/national/23757385.time-capsule-appeared-contain-silt-yields-centuries-old-coins/
https://www.lbc.co.uk/world-news/e32a0419044a48fdb5bbedae4b5da8f8/
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/us-canada/300961713/time-capsule-that-appeared-to-contain-nothing-yields-centuriesold-coins

... and a related feature on Thaddeus Kosciuszko:

https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/article/thaddeus-kosciuszko-history-west-point-18352264.php

No evidence of a hoped-for 1631 Dutch fort at the Lewes Dairy site in Delaware:

https://www.capegazette.com/article/no-evidence-found-dutch-fort-was-located-lewes-dairy/263690

Overview/plans for a Beothuk site in central Newfoundland:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/beothuk-lake-artifacts-house-pit-erosion-1.6956767

What a buffalo processing site near Calgary is revealing:

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2259738179928

Feature on bellmaking in Watervliet (NY):

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/watervliet-claims-historic-spot-center-bell-making-18306636.php

============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
Remains of a 4000+ years bp adobe wall from Huaca Tomabal (Peru):

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/ancient-polychrome-wall-found-northern-peru-likely-over-4000-years-old-2023-08-24/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11715-230830-peru-huaca-tomabal

A 3000 years bp priestly burial ('Priest of Pacopama') from northern Peru:

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-ancient-priest-first-of-a-kind-peru-team.html
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/3000-year-old-tomb-of-shaman-who-may-have-mediated-between-spiritual-and-earthly-worlds-found-in-peru
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-66645621
https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-08-30/the-priest-of-pacopampa-archaeologists-discover-3000-year-old-tomb-in-the-peruvian-highlands.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/archaeologists-unearth-3000-year-old-priestly-tomb-northern-peru-2023-08-27/
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/archaeologists-3-000-old-priest-122402489.html
https://news.yahoo.com/ancient-priests-remains-first-kind-185730288.html
https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/08/29/archaeologists-unearth-ceramic-filled-tomb-of-3000-year-old-priest-in-peru
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230827-ancient-priest-s-remains-are-a-first-of-a-kind-find-for-peru-team
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/ancient-priest-tomb-found-peru-archaeologists-1234677715/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68145
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/09/tomb-of-3000-year-old-priest-found-at-pacopampa/148426
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11714-230830-peru-pacopampa-tomb

An 1100 years bp 'nose ornament' made of human bone from Palenque:

https://www.cnn.com/style/ancient-maya-nose-bone-ornament-scn-tan/index.html
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/08/30/maya-nose-ornament-discovered-palenque-mexico
https://arkeonews.net/inah-archaeologists-discovered-a-nose-ornament-made-of-human-bone-in-the-mexican/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68172
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/08/nose-ring-made-from-human-bone-found-by-archaeologists-at-palenque/148417

A 1000 years bp mummified person with long hair from the Huaca Pucllana site in Lima:

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/archaeologists-unearth-1000-year-old-mummy-peru-residential-neighborhood-2023-09-06/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/07/peru-mummy-found-ychsma/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/09/08/peru-lima-1000-year-old-mummy-head-of-hair-huaca-pucllana/
https://abcnews.go.com/ABCNews/archaeologists-discover-1000-year-mummy-peru/story?id=102991562
https://www.newsweek.com/archaeologist-find-1000-year-old-mummy-buried-top-huge-pyramid-1825575
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11731-230908-peru-yschma-mummy

A 1000 years bp War burial site (two chambers) and more from Peru's Cajamarca region:

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230903-pre-incan-site-for-ancestor-worship-found-in-peru-1
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/archaeologists-uncover-1000-year-old-ancestral-site-in-peru/news
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/archaeologists-discover-extensive-settlement-during-excavations-in-peru/2982635
https://www.sciencealert.com/sacred-burial-site-discovered-in-peru-predates-the-inca-empire

Burials of 13 males (600-900 CE) near a Maya pyriamid at Moral-Reforma:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/deformed-skulls-and-ritual-beheadings-found-at-maya-pyramid-in-mexico
http://www.archaeology.org/news/11711-230829-maya-pyramid-skulls

Heavy rains helped to expose an 800 years bp burial near the El Tlatoani archaeological zone:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article278738084.html

A Late Post-Classic chacmool statue from Patzcuaro:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/09/archaeologists-discover-chacmool-statue-in-patzcuaro/148461

A pit of offerings of various dates (?) from the Templo Mayor in Mexico City:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/stone-human-effigies-unearthed-at-aztec-temple-in-mexico-city-were-likely-looted-in-battle-and-offered-to-the-gods
https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-have-unearthed-a-stone-chest-containing-the-ritual-deposit-of-15-anthropomorphic-figurines/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68161
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/08/offerings-of-anthropomorphic-figurines-found-at-aztec-templo-mayor/148401
https://www.archaeology.org/news/11718-230831-templo-mayor-case

An 'Atlantean' sculpture from Chichen Itza:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/08/atlantean-type-sculpture-discovered-in-the-archaeological-zone-of-chichen-itza/148407

More on the find of Ocumtun:

https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-756396

Feature on the history of cochineal dye:

https://apnews.com/article/mexico-historic-natural-red-dye-6e6b998a78deb12e2b99a42f23358f08

-----
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
============================================================
Identifying the first person to raise the alarm about London's Great Fire:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66671399
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/01/museum-of-london-identifies-man-who-raised-alarm-over-great-fire
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1447/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1447/pub/1447/page/8/article/NaN

On Henry Ford's Cotswolds cottage:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-66546779

============================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
Des Cheveux et des Poils:

https://www.cnn.com/style/history-of-hair-museum-paris/index.html

cf: https://madparis.fr/Des-cheveux-et-des-poils-2304

Egyptian Writing:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/44/507988/Antiquities/Museums/Kafr-ElSheikh-Museum-to-host-exhibition-on-ancient.aspx

Tunisia is reopening the Bardo Museum:

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/tunisia-reopen-national-museum-closed-2021-power-seizure-2023-09-05/

The Hermitage Amsterdam has cut ties with Russia and is now the H'ART Museum:

https://www.dw.com/en/hermitage-amsterdam-cuts-ties-to-russia-and-rebrands-as-hart/a-66686537

News from the British Museum continues ... first the claim that they're recovering missing items:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-66626872
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/british-museum-recovered-2000-missing-stolen-artifacts-1234677748/

... but that more may be missing:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/inside-the-british-museum-where-more-treasures-may-be-missing-zhlgjtn9q
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-museum-nine-in-ten-lost-treasures-never-recovered-mgmprvzbp

... and the BM should tell us what is missing:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/aug/28/british-museum-must-list-missing-objects-so-antiquities-dealers-can-help
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/08/30/its-time-to-publish-the-british-museums-list-of-stolen-items

... and opEds on the BM's stance on returning items:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/aug/27/thefts-expose-british-museums-ridiculous-stance-on-return-of-artefacts-says-mp
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/british-museum-contested-artefacts-benin-bronzes-b2394754.html

... of which Wales wants the Mold Cape back:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/29/welsh-nationalists-call-on-british-museum-return-artefacts/
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/bring-mold-gold-cape-back-27603919
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12460411/Now-Welsh-nationalists-demand-return-ancient-treasures-say-theft-hit-British-Museum-trusted-look-it.html
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/09/01/british-museum-thefts-welsh-politicians-join-the-queue-in-calling-for-objects-to-be-repatriated

... and China wants things back:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-66636705
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/28/british-museum-china-return-treasure-theft-global-times/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1444/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1444/pub/1444/page/35/article/NaN
https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/china/british-museum-stolen-artifacts-james-cleverly-b2400975.html
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/chin-demands-british-museumrestitution-2354921
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/08/29/chinese-state-newspaper-demands-return-of-british-museum-artefacts-in-pointed-editorial

... and Egypt:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-following-up-with-british-museum-regarding-stolen-artifacts/
https://see.news/zahi-hawass-calls-for-international-conference-to-retrieve-egyptian-items-from-british-museum

... and Nigeria:

https://hypebeast.com/2023/8/multiple-countries-renew-repatriation-efforts-british-museum-security-breach

... and the Scots and Cornish:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12466563/Scotland-Cornwall-Wales-Celts-British-Museum-thefts.html

... and lots of chatter about the Parthenon sculptures:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/27/british-museum-stolen-artefacts-elgin-marbles/
https://www.thenationalherald.com/thefts-show-british-museum-cant-keep-parthenon-marbles-mp-says/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/08/28/parthenon-marbles-deal-still-on-the-table-despite-british-museum-theft-scandal
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1218682/association-of-greek-archeologists-announcement-on-the-british-museum-debacle/
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/british-museum-london-give-back-elgin-marbles-b1103473.html
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1219020/british-musem-arguments-for-keeping-sculptures-shattered/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1443/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1443/pub/1443/page/35/article/NaN

... and items such as an Iron Age torc from Worcester:

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/23752576.worry-fate-ancient-torc-british-museum-thefts/

... and concerns for the BM's reputation:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/08/28/exp-british-museum-thefts-christos-tsirogiannis-intv-082801aseg3-cnni-world.cnn

... and assorted other OpEds:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/28/british-museum-theft-cash-strapped-collections-sold
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/british-museum-theft-jewels-parthenon-marbles-b2400503.html
https://unherd.com/2023/08/the-age-of-the-museum-is-over/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/architecture/dan-hicks-how-to-fix-the-british-museum/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1444/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1444/pub/1444/page/70/article/NaN
https://www.eurasiareview.com/30082023-why-irony-of-british-museum-thefts-not-lost-on-nations-awaiting-return-of-looted-artifacts-analysis/
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/aug/30/art-detective-simple-solution-british-museum-fiasco
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hunt-for-british-museum-stolen-artefacts-raises-questions-sjs0306t2
https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/british-museum-thefts-security-hartwig-fischer-peter-higgs-b1103948.html
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/aug/31/we-must-recognise-the-true-worth-of-museum-collections-to-society
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/01/british-museum-curators-thefts-funding
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1219020/british-musem-arguments-for-keeping-sculptures-shattered/
https://www.apollo-magazine.com/british-museum-thefts-crisis-leadership-director-trustees/
https://hyperallergic.com/843150/the-sun-is-setting-on-the-british-museum/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/british-museum-cataloging-debacle-2356464
https://www.thenationalherald.com/letter-from-athens-thefts-of-the-british-museum-antiquities-were-creative-acts/

The BM is calling Christos Tsirogiannis in to check for looted items:

https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1453/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1453/pub/1453/page/46/article/NaN

The BM also appointed a new interim director:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/british-museum-interim-director-theft-crisis-intl-scli-gbr/index.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2023/09/08/sir-mark-jones-appointed-interim-director-of-the-british-museum/

============================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
============================================================
A study of the genome of a family who lived in the Urals some 3800 years bp:

https://arkeonews.net/bronze-age-family-systems-deciphered-paleogeneticists-analyze-3800-year-old-extended-family/

Matching human remains in German museums to living relatives in Tanzania:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/05/germany-links-skulls-stolen-from-african-colony-to-living-relatives

Identifying the origins of 'liberated' Africans who were taken to St Helena:

https://phys.org/news/2023-09-dna-analyses-st-helena-liberated.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/09/230907130348.htm

More on what we've learned from Otzi's DNA:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/a-dna-analysis-upends-what-we-thought-oetzi-the-iceman-looked-like
============================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
============================================================
Using AI to argue over a Raphael:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/09/battle-ai-rival-tech-teams-raphael-painting-uk-gallery-old-master

Using 3d imaging technique to reveal 'hidden' animals in La Pasiega petroglyphs:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/centuries-old-technique-reveals-hidden-3d-animals-in-paleolithic-cave-art

Using various technologies to study cremated remains in some Bronze Age urns from Austria:

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-multiple-reveal-bronze-age-cremation.html

Feature on Julie Dunne's work studying ancient biomolecules:

https://cen.acs.org/analytical-chemistry/art-&-artifacts/Archaeologist-Julie-Dunne-mines-millennia/101/i28

Feature on use of Raman spectroscopy to study wall paintings at Pompeii:

https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/using-raman-to-analyze-ancient-murals-in-pompeii

Feature on how Hew Morrison does facial reconstructions:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-forensic-artist-brings-dead-to-life-180982728/

============================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
============================================================
Wartburg Castle:

https://www.dw.com/en/the-wartburg-castle-world-cultural-heritage-site/video-66693777

Magdala:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-758314

This week's 'tourists behaving badly' includes three tourists being fined for damaging stones at Sarmizgetusa Regia:

https://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/three-foreign-tourists-fine-for-allegedly-scratching-the-stones-at-sarmizegetusa-regia/

... and a German tourist damaging a 16th century Fountain of Nepture in Florence:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/german-tourist-florence-statue-intl-scli/index.html
https://www.euronews.com/video/2023/09/06/german-tourist-damages-florences-neptune-fountain-to-take-photo
============================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
============================================================
Penelope:

https://www.wamc.org/podcast/the-roundtable/2023-09-01/reaching-out-and-waiting-hudson-valley-shakespeare-festival-presents-the-world-premiere-of-penelope

============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
Richard Beale has pleaded guilty to charges arising from the attempted auction of that EidMar aureus (and more) a few months ago:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-66594076
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2362341/world

A man 'filmed' himself damaging a Bronze Age monument in Wales:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-66659415

Evidence of clandestine digging at Heraclea Minoa:

https://www.agrigentonotizie.it/cronaca/cattolica-eraclea-buche-scavi-clandestini-reperti-inchiesta.html

Feature on three 'infamous' antiquities dealers:

https://hyperallergic.com/830328/three-antiquities-traffickers-and-their-fall-from-grace/

Feature on Stefan Guericke:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/09/10/antiquities-smuggler-greece/

The US has signed an agreement with Yemen regarding trafficking of artifacts:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/us-news/2023/08/30/washington-lifts-efforts-to-deter-illegal-trafficking-of-yemen-artefacts/

----------
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
============================================================
The 'emperor as philosopher' statue (maybe Marcus Aurelius) at the Cleveland MoA was seized (and probably headed for Turkiye):

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/31/arts/design/marcus-aurelius-seized-cleveland-museum.html
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/sep/01/roman-emperor-statue-seized-from-cleveland-museum-in-looting-investigation
https://apnews.com/article/roman-statue-cleveland-museum-turkey-f89b0a7b70295cf63b82e5d43e2947f9
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66678563
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12472003/Manhattan-prosecutors-seize-20M-headless-bronze-STATUE-Ohio-museum-fears-artwork-showing-Roman-emperor-Marcus-Aurelius-looted-Turkey.html
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/08/new-york-authorities-order-seizure-of-ancient-statue-at-cleveland-museum-of-art-possibly-connected-to-looting-trafficking-of-antiquities-in-turkey.html
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/statue-believed-depict-marcus-aurelius-seized-cleveland-museum-102842865
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/looted-from-turkiye-us-authorities-seize-marcus-aurelius-statue-185961
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/marcus-aurelius-bronze-seized-turkey-2357047
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/08/31/cleveland-museum-art-roman-bronze-turkey-loot-seized
https://www.apollo-magazine.com/roman-statue-seizure-cleveland-museum-of-art/
https://www.npr.org/2023/09/01/1197229128/roman-emperor-statue-seized-cleveland-museum-marcus-aurelius

... and an opEd:

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/09/seizure-of-ancient-sculpture-at-cleveland-museum-of-art-signals-a-global-shift-over-returning-looted-contested-artworks.html

Similarly, a 'Portrait of a Lady' was seized from the Worcester Art Museum:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/03/arts/design/manhattan-prosecutors-seize-3rd-century-bust.html
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/sep/06/stolen-art-massachusetts-worcester-museum
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/us-seizes-roman-bronze-bust-linked-to-smuggled-antiquities-from-turkiye/news
https://apnews.com/article/roman-statue-seized-worcester-massachusetts-museum-turkey-6b6c7ac2cffdfaef3e767a17f88b07f4
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/art/2023/09/06/worcester-art-museum-roman-bust/
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/ancient-roman-bust-seized-massachusetts-museum-looting-probe-102916333
https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/2023/09/02/worcester-art-museum-gives-likely-stolen-roman-bust-to-manhattan-da/70742896007/
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/worcester-art-museum-turns-over-bronze-bust-to-manhattan-district-attorney/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ancient-roman-bust-seized-massachusetts-museum-looting-investigation-rcna103335
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/fine-art/manhattan-prosecutors-seize-roman-bust-from-massachusetts-museum-in-smuggling-investigation-27b6a286
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/roman-bust-seized-worcester-art-museum-trafficking-investigation-1234678474/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/09/06/manhattan-district-attorneys-office-seizes-bronze-bust-in-turkish-repatriation-sting
https://hyperallergic.com/842867/authorities-seize-5m-roman-bust-from-massachusetts-museum/

The Boston MFA is checking its collection for looted bronzes too:

https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2023-09-06/mfa-investigating-possibly-looted-ancient-bronzes-in-its-collection

A Scottish museum returned a totem pole to the Nisga'a Nation:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-66615589
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-nisgaa-memorial-pole-scotland-national-museum/
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/ceremony-marks-start-journey-home-indigenous-totem-pole-102617335
https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/08/28/artefacts-row-stolen-totem-pole-set-to-return-from-scotland-to-canada
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12453623/Ceremony-held-prepare-totem-pole-return-Canada.html

A dozen items from the Met and a New Jersey storage unit were returned to Lebanon:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/07/arts/looted-artifacts-lebanon.html

A sacred stone that had been moved to Lawrence (Kansa) was returned to the Kaw Nation:

https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-08-30/a-sacred-boulder-taken-to-honor-white-settlers-is-leaving-lawrence-and-returning-to-the-kaw-nation
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article278739914.html
https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2023/aug/30/prayer-rock-loaded-up-and-returned-to-kaw-nation/
https://www.wibw.com/video/2023/08/30/sacred-red-rock-returned-kaw-nation-leaders-gather-mark-moment/
https://lawrenceks.org/2023/07/25/inzhujewaxobe-sacred-red-rock-relocating-soon-to-kaw-nation-land/
https://lawrencekstimes.com/2023/04/01/sacred-red-rock-event/

The Manchester Museum is returning 174 items to an Indigenous Australian community:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/05/manchester-museum-hands-back-objects-to-indigenous-australian-anindilyakwa
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-06/manchester-museum-returns-groote-eylandt-indigenous-artefacts/102814024
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/manchester-museum-returns-indigenous-australians-objects-australia-repatriation-scheme-gtxb6tfwp
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12484911/Aboriginal-artefacts-Manchester-Museum-given-Indigenous-community-Groote-Eylandt.html
https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/8339183/cultural-artefacts-returned-to-indigenous-community/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/manchester-museum-returns-174-artifacts-to-indigenous-austrailians-180982853/?

An investigation suggests the Michael C Carlos museum at Emory will be returning items soon:

https://www.gpb.org/news/2023/08/31/report-emorys-carlos-museum-holds-objects-linked-illicit-antiquities-trade

OpEd calling for the return of Peruvian human remains at the Smithsonian and elsewhere:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/09/03/smithsonian-peruvian-skulls-return-antiquities/
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NUMISMATICA
============================================================
Feature on patina on ancient bronze coins:

https://coinweek.com/patina-on-ancient-bronze-coins/

Latest e-Sylums:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n35.html
http://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n36.html

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

http://www.coinbooks.org/v26/club_nbs_esylum_v26n37.html
------------------------

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
Joseph Russo:

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/joseph-russo-obituary?id=52975604

Diane Harris Cline:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/milestones/diane-harris-cline-1961-2023/

Amnon Ben-Tor:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/milestones/milestones-amnon-ben-tor-1935-2023/

James Richard Jones III:

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/orlandosentinel/name/james-lll-obituary?id=53053070

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AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
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Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3309-audio-news-from-archaeologica-august-27th-through-september-2nd-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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