explorator 35-36

[david meadows]

===============================================================
explorator 21.35-36 December 30, 2018
===============================================================
If you're having problems getting 'the whole issue', 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, Adrienne Mayor, Don Buck, Laurel Carey, Frank MacKay,
Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week
(as always hoping I have left no one out).

Hope everyone is having a good holiday season as we approach the New Year!

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Studying the brain of Little Foot:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/uotw-pil121818.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181218115137.htm
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-peering-foot-million-year-old-brain.html
https://www.livescience.com/64370-brain-of-little-foot-human-relative.html
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/little-foot-skeleton-analysis-reignites-debate-over-hominid-species
https://www.archaeology.org/7263-181221-little-foot-brain

On the plant-based diet of early hominids:

https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/human-ancestors-weren-t-fussy-when-eating-plants

Feature on early hominins:

https://aeon.co/videos/last-hominin-standing-charting-our-rise-and-the-fall-of-our-closest-relatives

More on Neanderthal DNA:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p041blc5/how-neanderthal-are-you-

Feature on Neanderthal extinction (or not):

https://www.bbc.com/reel/playlist/the-last-neanderthal
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
A 3500 years bp waterlogged tomb with plenty of burials from Gebel
el-Silsila:

https://www.livescience.com/64321-waterlogged-mass-grave-egypt.html
https://www.livescience.com/64315-photos-watery-egypt-desert-grave.html

Not sure if we mentioned this 5th Dynasty priest's tomb from Saqqara:

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/62012/In-pics-all-what-you-need-to-know-about-Royal
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/secrets-of-the-tomb-that-time-forgot-qrxjw37tk
https://www.livescience.com/64317-saqqara-tomb-hidden-shafts-discovered.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/world/middleeast/egypt-tomb-discovered.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-46580264
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-middle-east-46581372/egypt-one-of-a-kind-tomb-found-in-saqqara
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2018/dec/16/egypt-4400-year-old-tomb-of-high-priest-discovered-video-report
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidanderson/2018/12/19/what-a-virtually-untouched-4400-year-old-ancient-egyptian-tomb-might-reveal/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/12/16/look-inside-one-kind-year-old-tomb-discovered-egypt/
https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-egypt-4400-year-old-tact-tomb-high-priest-discovered-1260697
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/16/c_137677077.htm
https://www.independent.ie/world-news/africa/4000yearold-tomb-unveiled-37636184.html
https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/12/17/mundo_global/1545046239_953142.html
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-top-biblical-archaeology-stories-of-2018-1.6764751
https://www.timesofisrael.com/exceptionally-preserved-4400-year-old-tomb-uncovered-in-egypt/
https://qz.com/1497503/archaeologists-find-a-4400-year-old-egyptian-tomb-in-saqqara/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2018/12/relief-statues-discovered-priest-royal-purification-tomb-saqqara-pyramid-egypt/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7249-181217-saqqara-priest-tomb

Recent finds from Tell Edfu:

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/62512/New-discoveries-made-in-Aswan-s-Tell-Edfu

Assorted excavations in Egypt are set to resume/begin:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/43/320438/Heritage/Islamic/Excavations-at-several-Islamic,-Coptic-archaeolgoi.aspx
http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/62476/Egyptian-archaeological-mission-starts-excavation-work-in-New-Valley

Concerns for cultural heritage in Egypt:

https://www.dw.com/en/ancient-egypt-holds-priceless-treasures-yet-to-be-discovered/a-46849762

Three Jewish cemeteries in Egypt are being designated as 'antiquities':

https://ww.egyptindependent.com/three-jewish-cemeteries-to-be-recorded-as-antiquities/

What Zahi Hawass is up to:

https://www.nippon.com/en/people/e00153/

4000+ years bp burials from Shahr-e Sokhta:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/431136/Shahr-e-Sokhta-yields-rare-4000-year-old-relics
http://www.payvand.com/news/18/dec/1103.html

A 2800 years bp Aramaic curse inscription from Zincirli:

https://www.livescience.com/64362-ancient-aramaic-incantation-describes-devourer.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7259-181220-turkey-aramaic-inscription

A 2800 years bp Persian (maybe) military base from Tel Keisan:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2018/12/24/ancient-persian-military-base-unearthed-in-northern-israel
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-archaeologists-may-have-found-2-500-year-old-persian-military-base-in-northern-israe-1.6765220
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7265-181223-israel-acre-persian-encampment

A 2000 years bp ring from a mikveh in the City of David:

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Two-thousand-year-old-ring-found-in-the-City-of-David-575179
https://www.timesofisrael.com/misplaced-2000-year-old-ring-discovered-in-jerusalems-city-of-david/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-2-000-year-old-ring-found-in-pilgrim-s-road-to-temple-mount-1.6775027
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/256581
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/jerusalem/two-thousand-year-old-ring-unearthed-in-the-city-of-david/2018/12/23/
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/22/c_137690405.htm

I think we mentioned this bull figurine find from a Zippori in a different
context:

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Discovered-Roman-era-pool-could-be-the-krona-of-Tzipori-from-Talmud-574064

Feature on Liberty University's participation in those new Dead Sea
Scrolls Cave investigations:

http://www.liberty.edu/news/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=299262
http://wset.com/news/local/liberty-university-featured-on-national-geographics-show-the-bible-hunters

Not sure where to put this one ... items stolen and smuggled in the West
Bank are now on display at the BLM:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/artifacts-stolen-and-smuggled-in-the-west-bank-now-on-display-in-jerusalem/
https://www.jns.org/on-display-in-jerusalem-rescued-near-east-artifacts-from-antiquity-robbers/
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Exhibit-reveals-never-seen-artifacts-rescued-from-archaeological-thieves-575777

Road development v Tel Beit-Shemesh:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-what-s-more-important-the-biblical-king-hezekiah-or-expanding-route-38-1.6763609
https://www.thetrumpet.com/18354-more-proof-of-gods-deliverance-of-judah-under-king-hezekiah

... and they're arguing about a tunnel going under the so-called tomb of
David/the Kings too:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/256458
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-france-orthodox-jews-archaeologists-battle-over-e-j-lem-s-tomb-of-the-kings-1.6766370
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201812211070895785-ultra-orthodox-jews-french-historic-site/

The top 'biblical archaeology'/ANE finds of 2018 (varies according to
source):

https://www.livescience.com/64305-biblical-era-jesus-discoveries-2018.html
https://watchjerusalem.co.il/507-top-discoveries-in-biblical-archaeology-2018
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-editor-s-picks-archaeological-wonders-of-2018-1.6765481
https://www.thenational.ae/uae/heritage/a-year-of-discovery-how-abu-dhabi-archaeological-work-reshaped-the-past-in-2018-1.805710

Nice overview of what's going on heritage-wise in Aleppo:

http://www.unitar.org/unosat/whs-aleppo

A Byzantine-era lead sarcophagus was revealed to the public in Jordan:

http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/ancient-lead-sarcophagus-unveiled-public-jerash

12th century mosaics from the Church of the Nativity found at a
seasonally-appropriate time:

https://fr.aleteia.org/2018/12/17/basilique-de-bethleem-les-mosaiques-retrouvent-leur-eclat-juste-avant-noel/

Timurid-era remains from the grand bazaar of Tehran:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/431241/Archaeological-remains-unearthed-in-heart-of-Tehran

Feature on Veysel Donbaz' work:

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/master-of-extinct-languages-veysel-donbaz-3469757

Feature on that purported face of Jesus depicted at Shivta:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2018/12/Face-of-Baptized-Jesus

Feature on the Egyptian Academy in Rome:

https://www.greenprophet.com/2018/12/the-egyptian-academy-in-rome-emphasizes-the-value-of-cultural-diplomacy/
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
An apparent Chalcolithic burial ground from Paphos:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/12/21/new-insights-into-chalcolithic-period-at-dig/

Plenty of coverage of another preserved horse found at Pompeii:

https://phys.org/news/2018-12-harnessed-horse-unearthed-ancient-stable.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/world/europe/pompeii-horse.html
http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2018/12/24/commanders-horse-found-at-pompeii_470abe68-c1d9-4d7c-991d-73da7f60e8bf.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pompeii-discovery-harnessed-horse-unearthed-in-ancient-stable-near-ancient-roman-city/
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/harnessed-horse-unearthed-ancient-stable-pompeii-59987171
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/12/24/archaeologists-release-stunning-photos-new-pompeii-find-horses-remarkably-preserved-lava/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46671050
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/dec/23/archaeologists-find-remains-of-horses-in-ancient-pompeii-stable
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/remains-of-horse-found-still-wearing-harness-in-ancient-pompeii-stable-a4025116.html
https://www.dw.com/en/petrified-horse-remains-found-near-pompeii/a-46850386
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-24/harnessed-horse-remains-unearthed-in-ancient-stable-near-pompeii/10665224
http://www.wistv.com/2018/12/23/harnessed-horse-unearthed-ancient-stable-near-pompeii/
https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-harnessed-horse-pompeii-20181223-story.html
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/24/c_137694124.htm
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/12/24/petrified-harnessed-hose-found-pompeii-owned-military-officer/2405351002/
https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/incredible-discovery-of-horses-still-wearing-saddles-and-harnesses-unearthed-in-pompeii/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/military-commanders-horse-found-pompeii-villa-180971114/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7264-181223-pompeii-horse-unearthed

... and there's evidence that Pompeii had a theatre in Samnite times:

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2018/12/20/pompeii-had-theatre-at-time-of-samnites_80ab9229-3383-4293-9960-aace12a1d861.html

Overview of finds at this year's dig at the Roman fort at Ribchester:

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/17322110.archaeological-dig-unravels-secrets-to-ribchesters-roman-past/

Evidence of a Roman settlement of some sort from a dig at the Wimpole
Estate:

https://www.royston-crow.co.uk/news/wimpole-archaeological-dig-uncovers-celtic-goddess-figurine-and-2-000-year-old-settlement-1-5825632
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7256-181219-roman-copper-figurine

A Roman burial and villa site from Stoke Gifford:

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/business/human-remains-ancient-central-heating-2354194
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7267-181228-england-roman-lamp

Remains of a Roman road in downtown Plovdiv:

https://www.novinite.com/articles/193994/Archaeologists+Found+an+Ancient+Street+in+the+Center+of+Plovdiv
https://sofiaglobe.com/2018/12/18/archaeology-excavations-uncover-ancient-street-in-centre-of-bulgarias-plovdiv/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7255-181218-bulgaria-roman-road

A inscription from Nikouria, lost for almost a century, was rediscovered
at a house on Amorgos:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/236088/article/ekathimerini/life/ancient-nikouria-decree-missing-for-almost-a-century-rediscovered-on-amorgos
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/33920-ancient-nikouria-artifact-missing-for-a-century-rediscovered-on-amorgos-island.html
https://greekcitytimes.com/2018/12/29/2000-year-old-missing-artefact-shows-up-on-island-of-amorgos/

There were plenty of visits to the Colosseum this year:

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2018/12/18/colosseum-visitors-up-to-7.4-mn-in-2018_201fc0e4-f9d0-4f15-96ce-5669d2009564.html

... which explains the security concerns:

https://inews.co.uk/news/world/the-colosseum-rome-italy-ancient-monument-security-terrorism-vandalism/

Top finds of 2018 from the Classical side:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/125976/two-greek-finds-in-2018s-top-10-archaeological-discoveries/

... with a special focus on Pompeii:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2018/12/27/was-2018-the-year-of-pompeii/

What Anne Carson is up to:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/24/short-talk-on-homer-and-john-ashbery

What Edward Bradley is up to:

https://www.vnews.com/Column-The-Curiosity-Quotient-21503151

Assorted items reviewing/incorporating Adrienne Mayor's *Gods and Robots*:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05773-y
https://blogs.sciencemag.org/books/2018/12/17/turned-on/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/dreaming-of-artificial-intelligence-in-ancient-greece-and-silicon-valley/2018/12/14/7464fb40-e44e-11e8-b759-3d88a5ce9e19_story.html
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/how-the-ancient-greeks-sort-of-invented-robots

Reviewish of Miller's *Circe*:

https://www.spiked-online.com/2018/12/22/circe-is-a-self-made-woman/

Feature on Armand D'Angour's reconstructions of ancient music:

http://en.protothema.gr/oxford-professor-reconstructs-ancient-greek-music-video/

An NEH grant for Paul Iverson:

https://thedaily.case.edu/classicist-paul-iversen-wins-national-endowment-humanities-award-research-worlds-oldest-known-computing-device/

*The Silence of the Girls* might soon be a movie of some sort:

https://www.thebookseller.com/news/barkers-iliad-retelling-optioned-bbc-film-918611

How ancient Romans dealt with anxiety:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-the-ancient-romans-dealt-with-anxiety

What the US can learn from the fall of the Roman Republic:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/books/review/edward-j-watts-mortal-republic.html

Comparing Greek and Roman divinities:

https://foreignpolicyi.org/greek-and-roman-gods-what-is-the-difference/

Top 10 (apparently) Roman emperors:

https://foreignpolicyi.org/best-roman-emperors-top-10/

Latest Etna eruption coverage:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/rockyplanet/?p=2252076

Latest on that Orpheus Pavement replica mosaic:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-46631372

More on the explorations beneath St John Lateran:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/22/british-archaeologists-explore-hidden-world-roman-ruins-beneath/

More on that purported Pilate ring:

http://thefederalist.com/2018/12/26/archaeologists-discover-inscription-referencing-pontius-pilate-ancient-signet-ring/
-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:

http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/recent.html

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
Interesting study of 3800 years bp bones reveals the apparent murder of
the 'Prince of Helmsdorf':

https://www.dw.com/en/bronze-age-regicide-german-forensics-team-say-prince-of-helmsdorf-was-murdered/a-46793673
https://www.sciencealert.com/a-prince-killed-4-000-years-ago-is-now-the-world-s-oldest-known-political-murder
https://www.dailynewsdir.com/after-almost-4000-years-ago-researchers-at-the-oldest-prince-are-murder-in-the-world-on-the-track
https://qz.com/1508740/the-first-political-assassination-in-human-history/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bronze-age-regicide-may-be-worlds-oldest-known-political-murder-180971107/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7258-181219-germany-prince-helmsdorf

A stone circle near Alford has been officially recorded and studied:

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/4-500-year-old-stone-circle-discovered-for-first-time-1-4845198
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/ancient-stone-circle-5000-years-old-officially-recognised/18/12/
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/1631954/archaeologists-officially-record-ancient-stone-circle-in-north-east-farm/

Suggestion that the Anglo-Saxons were "worse" than the Vikings:

https://phys.org/news/2018-12-anglo-saxons-worse-vikings.html

A Byzantine Christian site (with mosaics) from Akrotirio:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/12/21/important-christian-monument-discovered-in-cyprus/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7261-181221-cyprus-byzantine-churches

12th century finds from Edinburgh Castle:

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/12th-century-relics-found-near-edinburgh-castle-dig-1-4849752

... and a 13th century catapult ball:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8080868/edinburgh-castle-siege-stone-ball-catapult-found/
https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/ancient-cannonball-unearthed-edinburgh-grassmarket-15608083

A 15th century tomb at Dunkeld Cathedral has revealed some long unknown
stone carvings:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/carvings-stone-dunkeld-cathedral-tomb-scotland-bishop-cardeny-perthshire-a8699706.html
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland-now/ancient-stone-carvings-hidden-600-13777406
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7266-181228-scotland-dunkeld-cathedral

Assorted interesting finds from various periods found during road
construction in Ireland this year:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/dig-finds-severed-foot-with-skeleton-in-co-roscommon-894309.html

A coin hoard associated with the Thirty Years' War from Bohemia:

https://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/golden-treasure-from-thirty-years-war-discovered-in-pardubice-region

Somewhat vague items on a Lusatian site in Slovakia:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22008057/seven-hundred-findings-archaeological-locality-near-lucatin-surprised.html

Remains of an 18th century ice house from London:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/dec/28/chilling-discovery-archaeologists-uncover-lost-ice-house-under-london-street
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7268-181228-london-ice-house

Interesting study of one of the soldiers found in that Napoleonic era mass
grave in Kaliningrad:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2018/12/28/this-napoleonic-soldier-survived-for-two-months-with-horrific-facial-wound-following-1812-battle/

Evidence of strange drinking practices from medieval site in Poland:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2018/12/21/why-medieval-europeans-drank-fossil-squid-butt-cocktails/

Evidence previously thought to suggest cannibalistic practices in
Mesolithic Poland have been revised:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C32090%2Cmazowieckie-hunter-8-thousand-ago-was-not-victim-cannibalism.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7253-181218-poland-mesolithic-skull

Evidence of possible other tombs associated with a famous 'expiatory
chapel' in Paris:

https://fr.aleteia.org/2018/12/17/la-chapelle-expiatoire-abriterait-dautres-sepultures-de-la-revolution-francaise/

A plaque for Christian Maclagan:

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/scotland-s-first-female-archaeologist-honoured-for-pioneering-work-1-4848932

... and controversy over Gertrude Bell:

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/london-accused-trying-appropriate-north-15596420

Another roundup of PAS finds this year:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/goddess-margarine-tub-just-one-treasure-found-british-public-180971026/

... and A14 finds from Cambridgeshire:

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/archeology-british-history-anglia-roman-15554446

Heritage concerns arising from Gozo tunnel construction:

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-12-19/local-news/Gozo-tunnel-entrance-location-will-destroy-troglodyte-dwellings-expert-6736201055

The dry summer revealed a number of sites associated with the megalithic
burial chamber at Newgrange:

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/more-insights-into-newgrange-as-solstice-marked-37650882.html
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/immense-timber-structure-found-at-sacred-newgrange-site-during-summer-drought-1.3739253

Plans to build near the site where Lindow Man was found:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-46633242

Feature on the Folkton Drums:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ancients-had-measure-of-stonehenge-sks560n2g
-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
================================================================
Evidence of a human presence on the Himalayan Plateau some 30 000 years bp
(we mentioned this already I think):

https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/himalaya-plateau-conquered-earlier-19122018/

A 6000 years bp burial of a girl from Gua Chawan:

http://www.theborneopost.com/2018/12/18/6000-year-old-skeleton-of-teenage-girl-unearthed-in-gua-chawan-kelantan/

Jomon-era pottery found at Hokkaido a couple years ago was found to
incorporate 500 maize weevils into its design:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/ku-ajp121718.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181218092959.htm
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-ancient-japanese-pottery-maize-weevils.html

Another Great Wall 'relic' from Hebei:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/28/c_137704790.htm
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1133974.shtml
https://gbtimes.com/archaeologists-find-new-great-wall-relic-in-north-china

99 burials from a site in Inner Mongolia:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/23/c_137693230.htm
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/25/c_137697807.htm

... and a human sacrificial pit (Liao Dynasty?), also from Inner Mongolia:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/24/c_137695707.htm
http://www.ecns.cn/news/culture/2018-12-24/detail-ifzaxhck8716926.shtml

Overviewish thing of recent finds from Xinjiang:

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2018-12/20/content_74295044.htm
http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2018-12-20/detail-ifzaxhck8714702.shtml

A statue of Naga Muchalinda from Old Guntur:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/3rd-century-buddhist-sculpture-unearthed-in-old-guntur/article25786642.ece

Serpent figures (date?) were also found at Kerala:

https://english.manoramaonline.com/districts/pathanamthitta/2018/12/26/rare-serpent-figurines-found-excavation-site-aranmula.html

On eunuchs in the Forbidden City:

https://beta.scmp.com/news/china/article/2178709/how-people-became-eunuchs-serve-imperial-chinas-forbidden-city

... and concubines:

https://beta.scmp.com/news/china/article/2178652/forbidden-city-concubines-imperial-china-beauty-was-more-curse-blessing

Not sure about this claim of very old pyramid/stone structure in
Indonesia:

https://www.livescience.com/64320-hidden-temple-pyramid-java.html
https://www.sciencealert.com/the-world-s-oldest-pyramid-is-hidden-in-an-indonesian-mountain-scientists-claim
https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/possible-pyramid-has-been-unearthed-indonesia-could-be-28000-years-old
-----

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

https://us14.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=ddab09cab5362c9613318bd92&id=b917a20ae5
================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Pre-airport construction excavations in Phoenix have revealed a couple of
Hohokam canals:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidanderson/2018/12/17/native-americans-worked-to-maintain-canals-in-the-face-of-flooding-1000-years-ago/#11f3521a1213

Hyping a dig near a prison in Mobile:

https://www.heraldcourier.com/news/scientists-search-for-relics-of-mobile-s-past-at-work/article_b8f032a8-633e-57d7-8ca7-6edf327d2b20.html

Looking for Native American sites in the wake of the Chumash fire:

https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-chumash-fire-fighters-20181218-story.html

Interesting Revolutionary War dig on the Princeton Campus:

https://www.princeton.edu/news/2018/12/20/excavating-princeton-and-american-history

Feature on Nevada's 'Lost City':

https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2018/12/16/raw-lost-city-day-the-continuing-search-for-clues-about-ancestral-puebloan-life-in-southern-nevada/#.XCjdVc9KhfI

The search for Champlain's tomb continues:

https://www.timescolonist.com/as-quebec-city-reveals-archeological-secrets-quest-for-founder-s-tomb-remains-1.23556956

Reexamining points from the Mixter site (paywall):

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20181223/archaeology-re-examination-of-spear-points-shows-importance-of-continued-study

In case you're in the market for a house associated with the Salem trials:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/12/17/sale-restored-home-woman-jailed-during-salem-witch-trials/2334379002/

Feature on the Christmas Riot at Fort Ticonderoga:

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/25/679831582/1776-christmas-riot-at-fort-ticonderoga-reveals-long-forgotten-tensions
https://www.npr.org/679831582

Ten things we learned about the 'First Americans' in 2018:

https://www.livescience.com/64339-first-americans-discoveries.html

France and Florida have reached an agreement on the remains of La Trinite:

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/france-and-florida-agree-wreckage-of-doomed-16th-century-french-fleet-should-be-public-exhibit/77-2cd6cfeb-552b-4723-ad02-d5d7ce9c14cd

Honours for Shane Miller:

https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2018/12/msu-educator-receives-regional-archaeology-honor/

What Andrea White is up to:

https://www.staugustine.com/news/20181225/andrea-white-digs-in-to-new-role-as-city-archaeologist-plans-revamp-of-department

Feature/reviewish piece on Frederick Douglass:

https://www.npr.org/677350952

Interesting study of prehistoric horses in North America:

https://phys.org/news/2018-12-prehistoric-horses-homebodies.html

More on what we're learning from that 9000 years bp child's tooth from
Alaska:

http://www.thearcticsounder.com/article/1851ancient_childs_tooth_broadens_understanding
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
================================================================
'Surfer's Ear' in pre-Columbian remains from Panama is being taken as
evidence of pearl diving:

https://phys.org/news/2018-12-surfer-ear-ancient-pearl-divers.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/stri-sep122118.php

Evidence of a 15th century earthquake in structures at Macchu Pichu:

https://www.peruviantimes.com/13/earthquake-struck-machu-picchu-in-1450-study-concludes/31027/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7251-181217-machu-picchu-earthquake

An anchor found in the Gulf of Mexico might have a connection to Cortes'
lost fleet (is this a new story?):

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2018/12/exclusive-clue-underwater-hunt-conquistador-lost-ships-archaeology/

I think we mentioned this 3d reconstruction of Pumapunku:

https://www.livescience.com/64377-virtual-pre-incan-stone-structure.html
https://gizmodo.com/scientists-virtually-reconstruct-magnificent-pre-incan-1831051922
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/12/archaeologists-reconstruct-pre-columbian-temple-with-3d-printed-blocks/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/crumbling-temple-bolivia-reconstructed-3d-printing-180971047/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7254-181218-bolivia-tiwanaku-pumapunku
-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:

http://goo.gl/1VdeA

Ancient MesoAmerica News:

http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
================================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
================================================================
The general 'found in 2018' pieces came out this week:

https://www.archaeology.org/issues/323-1901/features/7196-top-10-discoveries-of-2018
https://www.livescience.com/64383-biggest-archaeology-finds-of-2018.html
https://gizmodo.com/skull-soup-viking-tech-and-more-the-wildest-archaeol-1830920234
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-editor-s-picks-archaeological-wonders-of-2018-1.6765481
https://www.timesofisrael.com/6-archaeology-stories-from-2018-that-made-me-rethink-my-world/
https://aleteia.org/2018/12/27/top-5-archaeological-finds-of-2018/

... similarly, with an art historical focus:

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-15-art-historical-discoveries-2018

... and a pseudoarchaeology focus:

https://ahotcupofjoe.net/2018/12/2018-the-year-in-pseudoarchaeology/

Feature on archaeological misinterpretation:

https://www.dw.com/en/a-crown-or-a-bucket-when-archaeologists-make-mistakes/a-46807172

What we can learn from Voltaire:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/opinion/trump-voltaire-enlightenment.html

Feature on Katsushika Oei:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p06s6ynj/katsushika-oei-the-artist-history-forgot

Feature on archaeology TV strategies:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2018/12/28/how-tv-shows-use-serious-archaeology-promote-bogus-history/

Feature on Aramaic:

https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-46650911

Feature on some ancient kingdoms you may or may not have heard of:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2018/12/ancient-kingdoms-probably-never-heard-of/

On the political history of cafes:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/24/what-cafes-did-for-liberalism

On the invention of writing in various cultures and times:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/?p=10671

On Icelandish elves:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20181217-the-elusive-hidden-people-of-iceland

On the history of St Nick/Santa Claus:

https://theconversation.com/teleporting-and-psychedelic-mushrooms-a-history-of-st-nicholas-santa-and-his-helpers-107884

... and the annual pondering of the 'Three Kings':

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-46650911
https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2018/12/14/articulo/1544777201_627114.html

... and the date of Christmas:

http://www.nwherald.com/2018/12/27/historys-mysteries-the-enigma-of-dec-25/agc4tmz/
https://elpais.com/internacional/2014/12/23/actualidad/1419361380_753332.html

Celebrating Christmas like Dickens:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-46378745

... and how he made Christmas 'white':

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20181217-how-dickens-made-white-christmas-a-myth

... and the economic side of the story:

https://www.economist.com/prospero/2018/12/14/the-economic-sensibilities-of-a-christmas-carol

... and a review of *A Christmas Carol*:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1868/12/classic-review-christmas-carol-charles-dickens/578461/

On the history of *Silent Night*:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20181219-silent-night-austrias-melodic-message-of-peace
https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2018/12/06/silent-night-turns-200-year-it-greatest-christmas-song-ever
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46650323

... and Christmas pudding:

https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/the-hidden-history-of-the-christmas-pudding/p06tmlkd

Assorted Christmas factoids:

https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/why-we-kiss-under-mistletoe-and-other-curiosities/p06w15tt

Celebrating Christmas in Greek Catholic villages:

https://m.jpost.com/Israel-News/The-history-of-celebrating-Christmas-in-ancient-Greek-Catholic-villages-575180

On New Year's Eve in ancient times:

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/12/29/new-years-eve-in-ancient-times/

... and assorted 'rituals':

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/travel/new-year-resolutions-were-started-by-babylonians-heres-a-round-up-of-some-fascinating-rituals-across-the-world/articleshow/67257636.cms

Germany is being encouraged to 'own up' to its colonial past:

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-urged-to-own-up-to-colonial-past-increase-awareness/a-46754507

Feature on colonialist missionary activities:

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/january-february/world-missionaries-made.html

On the history of veterinary science in Spain:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/12/21/ciencia/1545425293_674083.html

Interesting info revealed about Princess Louise:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-46647820

Alas, some rare scotch whiskies are fake:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-46566703

Feature on ancient life spans:

https://aeon.co/ideas/think-everyone-died-young-in-ancient-societies-think-again

Feature on Medieval sex lives:

https://aeon.co/essays/getting-down-and-medieval-the-sex-lives-of-the-middle-ages

On the history of bicycle manufacturing in the US:

https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2018/12/17/history-space-baby-buggies-bicycles/38742931/

On depictions of the earth through history:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/opinion/plato-earth-christmas-eve-apollo-8.html
https://macaulay.cuny.edu/about-macaulay/earthrise/

Review of Robert Alter's new translation of the Hebrew Bible:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/magazine/hebrew-bible-translation.html

Review of Christopher Andrew, *The Secret World*:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/dec/28/secret-world-christopher-andrew-review
================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Terracotta Warriors:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/dec/17/chinas-terracotta-warriors-to-march-on-national-gallery-of-victoria

Unicorns:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20181214-why-weve-always-loved-unicorns
https://www.musee-moyenage.fr/en/activities/exhibitions/current-exhibitions.html

South Ludlow Hoard:

https://www.shropshirelive.com/news/2018/12/17/tudor-coin-hoard-goes-on-display-at-ludlow-museum/
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/south-shropshire/2018/12/19/henrys-coins-on-display-at-museum/

Bruegel:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/after-450-years-the-frighteningly-modern-visions-of-bruegel-get-the-showcase-they-deserve/2018/12/17/8d4358ec-ffd7-11e8-ad40-cdfd0e0dd65a_story.html

Claudius:

https://thisislyon.fr/events/lyons-musee-des-beaux-arts-launches-new-exhibition-on-roman-emperor-claudius/

Agents of Faith:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/arts/design/bard-graduate-center-faith-votive-objects.html
https://www.bgc.bard.edu/gallery/exhibitions/81/agents-of-faith-votive-objects

Gentileschi:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46626762

Feature on the al-Qarara (private) Museum:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/19/c_137685085.htm

Herculaneum now has an (open) museum:

http://theartnewspaper.com/news/herculaneum-s-museum-of-relics-finally-opens-its-doors-44-years-on

There appears to be a leak in the British Museum near the Marbles:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/235961/article/ekathimerini/news/water-dripping-next-to-parthenon-marbles-in-british-museum
https://www.balkaneu.com/roof-leak-causes-concern-for-the-parthenon-marbles-in-the-british-museum/

The new Greco-Roman museum should be open late next year:

https://ww.egyptindependent.com/egypts-greco-roman-museum-to-inaugurate-by-late-2019-antiquities-ministry/

On work being done in the aftermath of the Brazil Museum fire:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/28/the-museum-is-alive-rio-team-toils-to-rescue-items-from-devastating-fire

The Cleveland MoA has hired a 'profoundly ethical' curator of Greek and
Roman art:

https://www.cleveland.com/arts/2018/12/cleveland-museum-of-art-hires-seth-pevnick-as-profoundly-ethical-curator-of-ancient-greek-and-roman-art.html

More on the Museum of African Civilizations:

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/62029/Antiquities-Ministry-participates-in-inaugurating-Museum-of-African-Civilizations
================================================================
AT THE AUCTIONS
================================================================
A Lincoln 'Christmas letter' came to auction:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/24/us/abraham-lincoln-christmas-letter/index.html

A Jamaican ketuba is coming to auction:

https://m.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Rare-Jamaican-ketuba-to-be-auctioned-by-Sothebys-574479
================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
More on determining the sex of remains from a tooth:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2018/12/21/kasulis/cZzkhTSQeQysv5jDyQJODL/story.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7262-181221-human-teeth-sex

================================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS
================================================================
Using archaeology to help understand climate change:

http://theconversation.com/using-archaeology-to-understand-the-past-present-future-of-climate-change-108668

================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
================================================================
Not sure where to put this one: the role of DNA in the repatriation of
Aboriginal remains:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/science/dna-bones-aboriginal-australians.html
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-dna-ancient-aboriginal-australian-enables.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/aaft-rir121718.php
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/4/12/eaau5064
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/12/dna-may-reconnect-aboriginal-australian-remains-with-modern-communities/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/?p=30301
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7260-181220-australia-dna-ancestors

Using DNA to track the spread of citrus in the Mediterranean:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181220141103.htm

On the 'genetic legacy' in the Americas of the Spanish Inquisition:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/12/dna-reveals-the-hidden-jewish-ancestry-of-latin-americans/578509/

More on DNA from ancient 'chewing gum':

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/12/ancient-human-dna-found-in-10000-year-old-chewing-gum/577492/

Dienekes' Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/
================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
================================================================
Cordoba:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/cordoba-spain-most-unesco-heritage-sites/index.html

Another item on garbage etc. detracting from tourism in Rome:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/travel/rome-pollution-trash.html

================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
An attempted theft (of coins) from Huqoq was thwarted:

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Antiquities-police-stop-theft-of-ancient-coins-575611

A smuggler trying to sell a piece of a Roman sarcophagus in Turkey
received his comeuppance:

https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2018/12/16/smuggler-caught-trying-to-sell-roman-era-sarcophagus-in-western-turkey

A man in Larissa was arrested because of his ancient coin collection:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/236083/article/ekathimerini/news/larissa-man-arrested-over-ancient-coin-collection

Using satellite data to monitor looting at various sites:

https://phys.org/news/2018-12-satellite-exposes-looting.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181217105856.htm
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/uob-sde121718.php
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/12/satellites-watch-over-the-graves-of-ancient-steppe-nomads/

Another tourist caught trying to steal a piece of the Colosseum:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/tourist-caught-stealing-piece-of-romes-colosseum.html

Not sure if we've mentioned these statues of questionable origin
associated with a Chilean business family:

https://www.latercera.com/la-tercera-pm/noticia/estatuas-robadas-cde-pide-hacer-catastro-de-la-red-de-familiares-y-amigos-de-schuler/450685/

A couple weeks' worth of Anonymous Swiss Collector Culture Crime News:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2018/12/culture-crime-news-10-16-december-2018.html
http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2018/12/culture-crime-news-17-23-december-2018.html

conflict antiquities:

http://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/

anonymous swiss collector:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/

Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues:

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

Looting Matters:

http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/

Illicit Cultural Property:

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

SAFE:

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

================================================================
REPATRIATION AND RECOVERY
================================================================
Mosaic repatriations in Cyprus were a cultural heritage highlight of 2018:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/12/22/repatriation-of-6th-century-mosaics-important-for-cultural-heritage/

Kashmir awaits the return of numerous items:

https://m.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/kashmir-awaits-return-of-its-prized-pre-historic-treasure/306524.html

A pile of Bronze Age artifacts are returning to Cyprus (this is a donation
of some sort?):

https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/12/23/more-than-100-bronze-age-artifacts-to-return-to-cyprus/

Chile is going to take the legal route to get its Moai from the BM:

https://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/pais/2018/12/23/chile-debera-recurrir-a-justicia-para-recuperar-el-moai-expuesto-en-londres/

A painting of Ivan the Terrible found in Connecticut will be returned to
the Ukraine:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/24/us/stolen-painting-ukraine/index.html

A UN resolution on the return of cultural property:

https://news.gtp.gr/2018/12/24/un-supports-greek-resolution-return-cultural-property-countries-origin/

OpEd on the return of cultural property:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/26/the-guardian-view-on-the-restitution-of-cultural-property
================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
A couple of weeks' worth of e-Sylum news:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n50.html
http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n51.html

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

http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n52.html

------------------------
Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/
================================================================
OBITUARIES
================================================================
Sister Wendy:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/obituaries/sister-wendy-beckett-dead.html
https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2018/12/27/art-historys-favorite-catholic-critic-sister-wendy-beckett-dies-88

Philip Levine:

https://cmrs.ucla.edu/news/in-memoriam-philip-levine-professor-emeritus-of-classics-dean-of-humanities-and-former-acting-director-of-cmrs/

Roger Mercer:

https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-professor-roger-mercer-energetic-and-enthusiastic-archaeologist-who-made-edinburgh-his-home-1-4847141
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2018/12/26/roger-mercer-archaeologist-whose-excavations-hill-forts-threw/
================================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
================================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/2797-audio-news-from-archaeologica-16-december-22-december-2018
================================================================
CONFERENCES
================================================================
Sonoran Desert Food and Lifeways (January 8):

https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/event/sonoran-desert-food-and-lifeways-past-and-present/

Jews and the Americas (February 2019):

https://networks.h-net.org/node/73374/announcements/1932330/jews-and-americas-68th-annual-conference-center-latin-american

Current Archaeology Live (March 8-9, 2019):

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/live/ca-live-2018

Berkshire Archaeology Day (April 6, 2019)
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GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS
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Archaeology Magazine News Page:

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

About.com Archaeology:

http://archaeology.about.com/

Ancient Digger:

http://www.ancientdigger.com/

Archaeology Briefs:

http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/

Past Horizons:

http://www.pasthorizons.com/

Stonepages:

http://www.stonepages.com/news/

Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:

http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/

Time Machine:

http://heatherpringle.wordpress.com/
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PODCASTS/VODCASTS
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Archaeosoup:

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

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/

The Book and the Spade:

http://www.radioscribe.com/bknspade.htm
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EXPLORATOR is a free weekly newsletter bringing you the latest
news of archaeological finds, historical research and the like.
Various on-line news and magazine sources are scoured for news of
the 'ancient world' (broadly construed: practically anything relating
to archaeology or history up to a century or so ago is fair
game) and every Sunday they are delivered to your mailbox free of
charge!
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