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explorator 21.32

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rogueclassicist

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Dec 2, 2018, 6:46:16 PM12/2/18
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===============================================================
explorator 21.32 December 2, 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, Frank MacKay, Adrienne Mayor, Jona
Lendering, Don Buck, Richard C. Griffiths, and Ross W. Sargent for
headses upses this week (as always hoping I have left no one out).

... family function today so we're earlier than usual!

================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Evidence of toolmaking 2.4 million years bp from Algeria:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/aaft-csa112618.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181129142407.htm
https://phys.org/news/2018-11-stone-tools-date-early-humans.html
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ancient-homo-stone-tools-north-afric
a-arabia-early
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/30/24-million-year-old-tools-fo
und-algeria-could-upend-human-origin/
https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/30/world/human-tools-north-africa-humanity-s
cli-intl/index.html?no-st=1543605520
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07570-z
https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/11/29/ciencia/1543492747_755404.html
https://www.dw.com/en/algeria-the-new-cradle-of-civilization/a-46515910
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/11/we-found-rocks-in-a-
hopeless-place/576967/
http://theconversation.com/human-ancestors-may-have-spread-to-north-afri
ca-earlier-than-thought-stone-tool-discovery-suggests-107834
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/deadthings/?p=3051
https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/24millionyearold-stone-tools-fou
nd-in-algeria-could-rewrite-human-origin-story/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7172-181129-north-africa-hominins

An Acheulean presence in the Arabian peninsula ca 190 000 years bp:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/mpif-stl112618.php
https://phys.org/news/2018-11-stone-tools-linked-ancient-human.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181129100030.htm
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/deadthings/?p=3053
https://www.livescience.com/64203-ancient-hominins-saudi-arabia.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7175-181130-saudi-arabia-acheulean

Again with the human/Neanderthal interbreeding fascination:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-multiple-instances-inter-breeding-neandert
hal-early.html
https://www.livescience.com/64189-neanderthals-and-humans-interbreeding.
html

Evidence of a human presence on the Tibetan plateau some 30-40 000
years bp:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/caos-nas112918.php
https://phys.org/news/2018-11-archaeological-site-human-habitation-timel
ine.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181129142426.htm
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/stone-age-people-conquered-tibetan-p
lateau-thin-air
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2018/11/29/tibetan-plateau-hum
an-occupation-migation/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/11/earliest-evidence-sto
ne-age-humans-tibetan-plateau-tools-found/
https://cosmosmagazine.com/archaeology/high-plains-drifters-tibetan-plat
eau-colonised-for-30-000-years
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7173-181129-high-altitude-tools

Paleolithic cave art from across Europe suggests 'relatively advanced'
knowledge of astronomy:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-prehistoric-cave-art-reveals-ancient.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uoe-pca112718.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181127111025.htm
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/cave-paintings-tell-complica
ted-stories-of-the-stars-rpcvdd8cm
https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/ancient-cave-paintings-a
stronomy-28112018/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bridaineparnell/2018/11/28/cave-paintings-m
ay-actually-be-sophisticated-star-maps/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7168-181128-cave-art-constellations

On Neanderthal trading relations:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/arsc-apf112918.php
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Feature on Christianborg Castle (Accra):

https://menafn.com/1097742592/Slavers-in-the-family-what-a-castle-in-Acc
ra-reveals-about-Ghanas-history

More on humans being off the hook for African megafauna extinctions in
the past:

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7163-181126-africa-megafauna-extinction
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2018/11/human-ancestors-not-to-blame-for-a
ncient-mammal-extinctions-in-africa/122189
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Eight late period mummies from the Dashur necropolis:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/318090/Heritage/Ancient-Egy
pt/Eight-Late-Period-mummies-discovered-in-Dahshur-ne.aspx
http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/61104/8-coffins-uncovered-at-archaeo
logical-area-of-Dahshour
https://egyptianstreets.com/2018/11/28/egyptian-expedition-discovers-new
-burial-grounds-in-dahshour/
https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-egypt-eight-mummies-discovered-ornately
-decorated-sarcophagi-1237050
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/ancient-egypt-archa
eology-mummies-cairo-king-amenemhat-ii-dashur-a8659741.html
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture-and-art/archaeologists-in-egypt-discove
r-trove-of-mummies/1323249
https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/archaeologists-discover-eight-mumm
ies-near-giza-1219826
https://www.philstar.com/world/2018/11/28/1872643/egypt-unearths-eight-a
ncient-mummies
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Ancient-mummies-found-in-Pyramid-of-Ki
ng-Amenemhat-II-573108
https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/archaeology/egyptian-mummies-
dating-back-2300-years-unearthed/news-story/d296d7d2de2a8b149e4e93d78ee2
cf3f
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2018/11/ancient-egypt-mummies
-discovery-pyramid/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7171-181129-dashur-royal-necropolis

A Middle Kingdom tomb from Luxor "with very nice paintings":

https://www.livescience.com/64174-mummies-in-luxor-tombs.html
https://www.livescience.com/64164-photos-mummies-luxor.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/egypt-unveils-ancient-luxor-tomb-with-very
-nice-paintings/
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2018-11/26/content_74208343.htm
https://ww.egyptindependent.com/antiquities-minister-to-announce-new-sig
nificant-luxor-archaeological-discovery/

A Chinese delegation is excavating at Luxor's Montu Temple:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-11/27/c_137633110.htm
http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2018-11/30/
content_74223885.htm

Restoration of a Ramses II statue has started:

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/61156/Restoration-of-last-statue-of-
Ramses-II-begins

More on those two mummies (17th and 18th Dynasty) mentioned last week:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/mummy-egypt-found-unopen
ed-coffin-3000-luxor-western-bank-nile-elasasef-necropolis-a8650866.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/25/mummified-woman-dating-bac
k-3000-years-unveiled-in-egypt
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/egypt-female-mummy-1402603
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/egypt-mummy-woman-unveiled-intl/
index.html
https://abcnews.go.com/International/13th-century-priests-tomb-discovere
d-egypts-luxor/story?id=59418449
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/well-preserved-female-mummy-fo
und-elite-egyptian-necropolis-180970902/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7160-181126-egypt-luxor-sarcophagi

A 9000 years bp stone mask from the West Bank:

https://www.livescience.com/64199-rare-neolithic-stone-mask.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/9000-year-old-mask-from-hebron-hills-sheds
-light-on-the-dawn-of-agriculture/
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/9000-year-old-stone-mask-discovered-in
-southern-Hebron-Hills-573012
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/255386
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5416546,00.html
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/archaeology-news/9000-year-old-stone-mas
k-sheds-light-on-stone-age-cottage-industry/2018/11/28/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-archaeologists-rec
over-rare-9-000-year-old-mask-found-by-west-bank-settler-1.6698074
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-46376993
https://www.france24.com/en/20181128-israel-unveils-rare-ancient-mask
https://www.newsweek.com/creepy-9000-year-old-mask-linked-beginnings-agr
iculture-discovered-west-bank-1238887
https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/incredibly-rare-9000yearold-meti
culously-carved-stone-mask-discovered-in-israel/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2018/11/neolithic-stone-mask-
discovery-archaeology-forgery/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7167-181128-neolithic-stone-mask

... and some concerns:

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/11/
israeli-mask-discovered.html

Evidence of Canaanite trepanation at Megiddo:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-primitive-brain-su
rgery-3-500-years-ago-discovered-in-northern-israel-1.6699993

A 6th century BCE cuneiform record of a slave sale from Tel Mikhmoret:

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Discovered-cuneiform-reveals-Babylonia
n-slave-trade-in-biblical-Samaria-573265

Archaeologists are exploring a couple 'new' Qumran caves:

https://www.livescience.com/64200-dead-sea-scrolls-caves-discovered.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/newly-discovered-caves-may-hold-more-dead-
sea-scrolls/

A ring found 50 years ago bears the name of Pilate (you can draw
conclusions):

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/world/middleeast/
pontius-pilate-ring.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/ancient-ring-crucif
y-jesus-pontius-pilate-roman-governor-west-bank-a8658911.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/30/bronze-ring-found-ancient-fo
rtress-near-bethlehem-may-have-belonged/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_em
https://www.timesofisrael.com/2000-year-old-ring-engraved-with-pilate-ma
y-have-belonged-to-notorious-ruler/

Photo feature on Shivta:

https://www.livescience.com/64170-photos-shivta-israel-jesus.html

A Bronze Age 58 holes game from an Azerbaijan rock shelter:

https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology-58-holes-game-26112018/

The Royal Game of Ur is apparently making a comeback:

https://www.euronews.com/2018/11/26/royal-game-of-ur-the-ancient-boardga
me-making-a-comeback-in-iraq

On the 'cloak and dagger' search for ancient judaeo-christian texts:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/12/inside-bible-collect
ors-search-other-original-christian-texts/

Reviving ancient Babylonian language:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/27/academic-revives-ancient-bab
ylonian-2000-years-language-died/

Folks might be interested in Aren Maeir's biblical archaeology MOOC:

https://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2018/09/coming-soon-mooc-biblica
l-archaeology.html

More on vanilla at Megiddo:

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/11/biblical-city-armageddon-signs-e
arly-vanilla-and-elaborate-medical-care

More on meteorites near the Dead Sea 3700 years bp:

https://www.livescience.com/64179-ancient-cosmic-airburst-middle-east.ht
ml

More on that purported early depiction of Jesus:

https://www.livescience.com/64173-earliest-jesus-portrait-israel.html

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
Roman-era rock-cut tombs from Hatay:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2018/11/27/19-roman-tombs-unearthed-i
n-southern-turkeys-antakya
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/roman-tombs-unearthed-in-southern-turkey
-/1322768
https://ahvalnews.com/turkish-tourism/roman-tombs-unearthed-turkeys-anta
kya-province

A 1700 bp Roman burial from Tarhuna (Libya):

https://www.libyaobserver.ly/inbrief/ancient-roman-tomb-discovered-tarhu
na

Heavy flooding/landslides revealed a Roman burial in Bodrum:

https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2018/11/30/roman-era-tomb-revealed-af
ter-heavy-rain-triggers-landslides-in-southwestern-bodrum
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/late-roman-tomb-found-in-aegean-turkey
-3467905

A Roman coin hoard from Berlicum:

https://nltimes.nl/2018/11/27/brothers-find-100-roman-coins-brabant-town
https://www.nu.nl/wetenschap/5595449/broers-vinden-ruim-honderd-romeinse
-munten-in-berlicum.html

On the difficulty excavating some mosaics in Cyprus:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/11/26/excavation-of-ancient-mosaics-proving
-to-be-a-herculean-task/

Feature on the archaeological finds beneath St John Lateran:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-hidden-history-rome-revealed-world.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/nu-hho112718.php
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/11/archaeologists-map-centuries-of-
history-beneath-worlds-oldest-cathedral/

On evidence of Roman pollution from a Swiss lake:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/science-saturday_how-ancient-romans-also-po
lluted-the-land/44587378
https://eos.org/articles/ancient-romans-polluted-their-lakes-just-like-w
e-do-today

Feature on the sunken Roman port at Olbia:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-exploring-watery-france-sunken-roman.html

Feature on Etruscan beliefs about the afterlife:

http://sciencenordic.com/how-etruscans-reached-afterlife-orgasm-blood-an
d-erotic-dance

Feature on the Pantheon:

https://aleteia.org/2018/11/27/romes-pantheon-a-place-of-christian-worsh
ip-for-the-past-1400-years/

On mead production along Hadrian's Wall:

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/drink-made-life-swe
eter-romans-15481712

Feature on Plato's interpreters:

https://caravanmagazine.in/literature/reading-plato-interpreters

Feature on mosaic preservation in the Mediterranean:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/a-new-chapter-in-the-effort-to-preserve-anci
ent-mosaics-in-the-mediterranean/

On conserving the Drunken Satyr:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/an-introduction-to-the-drunken-satyr-a-rare-
roman-bronze-being-studied-and-conserved-at-the-getty-villa/

Feature on Boudica:

https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/boudica-queen-of-the-iceni-who-almost-beat
-the-romans

Some ancient Roman forensics (sort of):

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2018/11/28/these-three-fo
rensic-science-techniques-from-ancient-rome-reveal-shocking-gaps-in-mode
rn-methods/

On early Christians exaggerating Roman persecution:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/did-christian-historians-exaggerate-about-
persecution-by-the-romans

There's a movie about the Apollo of Gaza:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/apollo-gaza-1164119

Ceres has returned to the VT statehouse:

http://digital.vpr.net/post/ceres-statue-once-again-adorns-vermont-state
houses-golden-dome

Review of Emily Wilson's *Odyssey* translation:

https://catholicherald.co.uk/magazine/the-horror-and-the-beauty-of-ancie
nt-greece/

... and there was a marathon reading of it:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/124818/all-set-for-an-epic-reading-of-the-odys
sey/

Talking about ancient robots:

https://a16z.com/2018/11/19/gods-robots-ancient-myths-technology-mayor/

Some Assassin's Creed Odyssey appreciation:

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-11-28-why-homer-would-approve-of
-assassins-creed-odyssey

A graphic novel of the Odyssey:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2018/11/02/actualidad/1541178920_941913.html

Still suggesting Atlantis is in Spain:

https://www.livescience.com/64176-lost-city-atlantis-spain.html

More on the Leda and the Swan fresco from Pompeii:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/25/world/europe/pompeii-fresco-leda-swan
-zeus.html
-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
6000 years bp evidence of caviar consumption from Germany:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/stone-age-humans-enjoyed-rich-
diet-featuring-caviar-180970918/

"Stone Age" petroglyphs from Finland:

https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-46363629

Finds from various periods during A14 construction in the UK:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/26/prehistoric-remains-mamm
oth-tusks-woolly-rhino

A Celtic hoard from Slovakia:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20962892/archaeologists-found-treasure-of-sil
ver-celtic-coins.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7162-181126-slovakia-silver-coins

An Anglo Saxon burial ground from the Lincolnshire Wolds:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-anglo-saxon-cemetery.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uos-roa112318.php
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-46347307
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/11/27/anglo-saxon-burial-site-s
hows-dark-ages-enlightened-times/
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/27/burial-sites-5th-6th-cen
turies-yield-female-treasures-lincolnshire
https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/archaeologists-unearth-lavishly-
dressed-anglosaxon-skeletons-surrounded-by-beads-swords-and-ivory/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7164-181127-england-anglo-saxon-cemetery

A medieval woman's stamp/seal from Denmark:

https://www.thelocal.dk/20181127/relic-found-in-denmark-belonged-to-infl
uential-14th-century-woman
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7166-181127-denmark-medieval-seal

Evidence of a medieval whisky still at Lindores Abbey:

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2018/11/lindores-abbey-discovers-medi
eval-whisky-still/
https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/latest-news/21836/lindores-abbey-dig-u
nearths-historic-first/

Analyzing butchered bones to understand the medieval diet in Perth:

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/772070/
cat-burghers-medieval-residents-of-perth-forced-into-desperate-diets/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7161-181126-scotland-medieval-perth

Mapping murders in medieval London:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-reveals-medieval-london-meanest-streets.ht
ml
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/28/death-map-medieval-londo
n-1300s
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-46355383
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/relive-medieval-londons-bloody
-murders-new-interactive-death-map-180970922/

cf: https://www.vrc.crim.cam.ac.uk/

An 18th/19th century child cave burial from Poland:

http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C31838%2Cmalopolskie-bird-sk
ull-found-mouth-child-buried-cave.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7176-181130-poland-bird-skulls

Archaeologists have determined the Basilica at Palmate was sacked a
couple of times:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2018/11/27/early-byzantine-city-palmate
-with-huge-christian-basilica-was-pillaged-twice-by-avars-slavs-bulgaria
n-archaeologists-find/

A 7th century crypt in Paris might soon open to the public:

https://fr.aleteia.org/2018/11/28/la-plus-ancienne-et-secrete-crypte-de-
paris-bientot-ouverte-au-public/

I think we mentioned this Ottoman hoard from Pleven:

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2018/11/19/prison-inmates-find-hoard-of
-7000-ottoman-silver-coins-hidden-in-2-treasure-pots-in-bulgarias-pleven
/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7169-181128-bulgaria-ottoman-coins

Studying Mesolithic diet in Germany:

https://cosmosmagazine.com/archaeology/stone-age-food-was-haute-cuisine
http://www.archaeology.org/news/7174-181130-germany-mesolithic-cooking

Funding for Norwich castle:

https://www.edp24.co.uk/business/norwich-castle-gets-210-000-transformat
ion-boost-1-5801717

Feature on the Pictish paintings in Wemyss Caves:

http://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p06sztyp/the-ancient-symbols-hidden-in-a-c
ave

Some revisionism coming from the underwater site of the Mars:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-archaeologists-fin
d-lost-swedish-man-of-war-and-sink-the-hype-1.6694809

More on that Celtic chariot burial in Wales:

https://www.zmescience.com/science/chariot-discovered-archaeology-wales-
26112018/

More on Vikings establishing cities:

https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/blogs/vikings-may-have-raided
-they-also-established-thriving-cities

Review of David Edgerton, *The Rise and Fall of the British Nation*:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/public/review-david-edgerton-british-
nation/
-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
================================================================
Board game pieces from near a looted ancient (1500+ years bp) tomb in
Qingzhou City:

https://www.livescience.com/52808-ancient-board-game-found-in-china-tomb
.html

The Daisen Kofun Mound in Osaka is revealing some interesting details:

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20181123/p2g/00m/0dm/002000c
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7165-181127-japan-daisen-kofun

5th century Buddhist remains from a Guntur vilage:

https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2018-11-27/
5th-C-Buddhist-remains-unearthed-in-Guntur-village/448310

Suggestion that some Chinese 'pyramids' are aligned with the cardinal
points:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-chinese-pyramids-pole-star.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/pdm-tp112818.php

Humans are off the hook for Siberian rhino extinctions too:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46358789
https://theconversation.com/how-a-change-in-climate-wiped-out-the-siberi
an-unicorn-107365
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-climate-change-killed-sibe
rian-unicorn-180970911/

Studying pre-European burial practices in New South Wales:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-28/pre-european-burial-practices-in-
rural-nsw-discovered/10559244

A 17th century scroll from the early Christian community in Japan:

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/japanese-museum-finds-rare-scrol
l-from-countrys-early-christians-41863

A new 'base' for archaeology in the South China Sea:

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2018-11/29/content_74221006.htm

On international trade in ancient China:

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/
2173158/international-trade-ancient-china-and

Feature on the Taj Mahal:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/twilight_of_the_taj
-----

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

https://us14.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=ddab09cab5362c9613318bd92&id=b
917a20ae5
================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Looking at wrecks on the bottom of Lake Minnetonka:

https://www.swnewsmedia.com/lakeshore_weekly/news/local/underwater-archa
eologists-identify-new-wrecks-at-bottom-of-lake-minnetonka/article_147f6
ee8-0966-58db-a450-a4c444400097.html

Studying the relationship between tobacco and agricultural production:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/americas-earliest-smokers-
may-have-helped-launch-agricultural-revolution-180970904/

Going through the trash of Colorado Springs' founding father:

http://www.cpr.org/news/story/archaeologists-are-studying-colorado-sprin
gs-founding-father-by-digging-through-his-trash

Feature on Etzanoa:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24032060-200-unearthed-the-missin
g-native-american-city-on-the-great-plains/

What Anna Prentiss is up to:

https://www.kpvi.com/news/regional_news/university-of-montana-professor-
anna-prentiss-uncovers-clues-of-hunter/article_f2818f08-5568-52c2-b3d8-4
a1215109078.html

Feature on Mississippi's first black senator:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/11/25/mississippis-first-bla
ck-senator-was-greeted-with-applause-it-wouldnt-last
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
================================================================
Oldest burials ever found in Ecuador:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-archaeologists-oldest-burials-ecuador.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/fefu-fah112618.php
https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/archaeologists-have-discovered-t
he-oldest-human-burials-in-ecuador/

Interesting collaboration between disciplines studying Maya 'shell
decor':

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/fmon-ham112618.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181126142824.htm

On Diego de Landa's destruction of Maya writing:

http://churchandstate.org.uk/2016/11/one-catholic-priest-destroyed-the-e
ntire-mayan-written-language/

How Incas worked without alphabetic writing:

https://aeon.co/ideas/how-the-inkas-governed-thrived-and-fell-without-al
phabetic-writing
-----
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
================================================================
Not sure where to put this one ... some guy in the UK was using a 4000
years bp pot as a toothbrush holder:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/toothbrush-holder-in-uk-turns-
out-to-be-a-jar-from-indus-valley-civilisation/story-LQFkWkJWex50FJfdiEC
cJP.html
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dads-4-toothbrush-holder-turns-136
61644
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/entertainment/jar-bought-from-car-boot
-sale-for-4-used-to-keep-toothbrushes-in-is-very-old/28/11/

Michelangelo in Constantinople:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/26/when-michelangelo-went-to-
constantinople

There are only four Old English manuscripts in the world (!):

https://mymodernmet.com/old-english-manuscripts/

On the history of the Advent calendar:

https://www.dw.com/en/the-advent-calendars-sweet-history/g-17256886

On Waltham watches:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20181126-the-massachusetts-city-that-sol
d-time-to-the-world

On automata:

https://slate.com/technology/2018/11/strange-frequencies-automaton-dolls
-eyes.html

On the risks of collecting antiquities:

https://www.ft.com/content/f4df95c2-cc94-11e8-8d0b-a6539b949662

On hangover cures throughout history:

https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/11/hair-of-the-dog-history-hangove
r-cure.html

On Newton's 'discovery' of gravity (humour):

https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/an-oral-history-of-isaac-ne
wton-discovering-gravity-as-told-by-his-contemporaries

On Christians and the winter solstice thing:

https://bigthink.com/culture-religion/how-christians-co-opted-the-winter
-solstice

On 'fake news' in the era of Philip II:

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/11/24/hechos/1543087634_866047.html

More criticism of Columbus:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2018/11/26/actualidad/1543228299_277471.html

A guide to Kahlil Gibran:

https://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-the-prophet-by-kahlil-
gibran-107274

A photo long thought to be of Van Gogh is actually his brother:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/29/arts/design/rare-photo-is-a-teenage-v
an-gogh-but-not-vincent.html
https://www.apnews.com/e8194f78395845689b2438fee8e8feca
https://www.dw.com/en/famous-vincent-van-gogh-photo-actually-of-his-brot
her-theo/a-46514954

On Islam and science:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2018/11/30/what-we-lose-when-we-l
ose-muslim-immigrants/?wpisrc=nl_everything&wpmm=1

On Kaiser Wilhelm II:

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/what-happens-when-a-bad-t
empered-distractible-doofus-runs-an-empire

On the end of WWI:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-46329241

Hester Pulter's poetry is available online:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/17th-century-female-aristocrat
s-little-known-poems-now-available-online-180970910/

More on the Leaning Tower not leaning so much:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/22/world/europe/
leaning-tower-of-pisa.html
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-straightening-tower-pisa.html

Review of a couple of books about Nietzsche:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/books/review/sue-prideaux-i-am-dynami
te-john-kaag-hiking-with-nietzsche.html
================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Hadrian and Athens:

http://www.qgazette.com/news/2018-11-28/Front_Page/On_The_Road_in_Greece
_PhilHellene_Roman_Emperor_Ha.html

Tintoretto:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/15/arts/design/tintoretto-venice.html

Ashurbanipal:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-conqueror-with-a-taste-for-art-1543060800
?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=1

Toulouse-Lautrec:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20181123-toulouse-lautrec-poster-boy-of
-the-paris-elite

Mycenean Greece:

https://www.dw.com/en/the-myths-and-mysteries-of-ancient-greece-on-show-
in-germany/a-46488891
https://www.dw.com/en/the-legendary-world-of-agamemnon/g-46492992
https://eu.greekreporter.com/2018/11/29/mycenaean-treasures-travel-to-ge
rmany-for-rare-exhibition/

... related feature:

https://www.dw.com/en/heinrich-schliemann-the-man-who-discovered-troy/
a-18946144

V&A Cast Courts:

http://theartnewspaper.com/news/sitting-room-only-as-v-and-a-opens-up-tr
ajan-s-column
https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/v-and-a-cast-courts-replicas-r
ome-a4002336.html

Hyping the Grand Egyptian Museum:

https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-grand-egyptian-museum-20181126-story
.html
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/4/318121/Opinion/
Egyptian-Museum-reborn.aspx

... and sharing artifacts:

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/61191/The-National-Museum-receives-8
00-artifacts

Hyping the Troy museum:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/01/c_137643901.htm

On Florence's Accademia:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/accademia-private-tour-florence-italy
/index.html

Pondering how museums acquire stuff:

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1412506
================================================================
AT THE AUCTIONS
================================================================
An unrecorded John Donne manuscript recently found in Suffolk is coming
to auction:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/nov/30/unknown-john-donne-manuscr
ipt-discovered-in-suffolk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-46398605

An original Eiffel Tower staircase is coming to auction:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/eiffel-tower-staircase-sale/
index.html

A Bible signed by Einstein:

https://m.jpost.com/Diaspora/Bible-inscribed-by-Einstein-to-be-auctioned
-questions-his-religious-views-572739

Big bucks for a Dorset detectorist's ring find:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-46343473

Big bucks for a Roman bronze foot:

https://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/2018/roman-bronze-foot-from-mo
numental-statue-makes-10-times-estimate-at-bonhams-auction/
================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
What medieval dental plaque reveals:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/11/medieval-dental-plaque-sheds-lig
ht-on-how-our-microbiomes-have-changed/

A Denisovan facial reconstruction:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/24/denisovan-neanderthal-hy
brid-denny-dna-finder-project

Giving Bruegel's creative process a high tech inspection:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/23/arts/design/bruegel-kunsthistorisches
-museum-technology-layers.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-online-portal-reveals-piet
er-bruegels-macabre-underdrawings-creative-process-180970889/

Using tech to protect cultural heritage:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/ucfv-cha112818.php

Recreating ancient Rome in VR:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/vr-experience-restores-7000-ro
man-buildings-monuments-their-former-glory-180970901/
================================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS
================================================================


================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
================================================================
Finns and Sami folk share Siberian DNA apparently:

https://phys.org/news/2018-11-ancient-dna-smi-finns-identical.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/mpif-fad112618.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181127092535.htm
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181127092535.htm

Dienekes' Anthropology Blog:

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

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/15/travel/budget-leh-india-.html

Valletta:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20181129-the-last-true-knight-on-malta

Country houses of Britain:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20181127-top-country-houses-of-britain

Sicily:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/annabel/2018/11/27/
discovering-a-secret-sicily/
================================================================
PERFORMANCES
================================================================
Nutcracker:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/23/arts/music/nutcracker-new-york-city-b
allet-tchaikovsky.html

A Mad Love:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/28/books/review/vivien-schweitzer-mad-lo
ve-mad-scenes-heidi-waleson.html

Celebrating Offenbach's 200th:

https://www.dw.com/en/more-than-cancan-jacques-offenbachs-200th-annivers
ary/a-46490669

Review of a biography of Debussy:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/books/review/claude-debussy-stephen-w
alsh-biography.html

... and a biography of Bing Crosy:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/28/books/review/gary-giddins-bing-crosby
-biography.html
================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
In search of a stolen Picasso:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/world/europe/stolen-picasso-rotterdam
-museum-romania.html

Investigating some Viking 'dealings' in Herefordshire:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-46377071

A 16-year-old art lover/thief:

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2018/11/16-year-old-art-lover-steals-antiq
uities-worth-e150000/

Vandalism in the abandoned village in Ladybower Reservoir:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-46316985

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
================================================================
More on the BM loaning back the Benin Bronzes:

https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/stolen-benin-bronzes-return-nigeria-tempor
arily/
https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel-arts-culture/british-museum-m
akes-plans-to-loan-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria-id9142715.html
https://www.withinnigeria.com/2018/11/27/uk-to-loan-benin-bronzes-back-t
o-nigeria-after-being-looted-for-more-than-a-century-by-british-soldiers
/
https://qz.com/africa/1477656/british-museum-to-return-looted-benin-bron
ze-artifacts/

... and Easter Island wanting their Moai back:

http://theconversation.com/easter-island-statues-international-law-is-sh
ifting-against-british-museum-107726
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/01/easter-islands-moai-statue-b
ritish-museum-should-treated-like/

More on the French report regarding museum returns:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/21/arts/design/france-museums-africa-sav
oy-sarr-report.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fdesign

More on France's returning looted art:

https://www.theweek.co.uk/98031/france-to-return-looted-west-african-art
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2018/11/27/macrons-thorny-plan-f
or-the-restitution-of-historical-artefacts-is-costly/
https://hyperallergic.com/473075/french-president-wants-to-return-benins
-artifacts-but-will-french-law-allow-him/
https://www.ft.com/content/162c41c4-f3de-11e8-ae55-df4bf40f9d0d

... and some resistance:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/quai-branly-president-macron-africa-re
stitution-report-1404364

Senegal wants items back from France:

http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/senegal-demands-art-back-france

General feature on pressure on museums to return items:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/dec/02/british-museums-pressure
-give-back--looted-african-art-treasures

OpEd on why museums shouldn't return things:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/nov/25/benin-bronzes-why-wester
n-museums-should-keep-treasures

Other opeds in related veins:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/nov/27/should-museum-artefacts-
be-returned-to-the-countries-they-came-from
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/27/arts/design/macron-report-restitution
-precedent.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/art-lessons-why-france-giving-countries-back-
cultural-175200143.html
https://frieze.com/article/looted-art-and-universal-museum-can-21st-cent
ury-collections-ever-escape-colonialisms
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46344247

... and the Parthenon Marbles are brought up again:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2018/11/27/the-acropolis-museum-is-perfectly-
capable-of-housing-the-original-parthenon-sculptures-says-sunday-times/

... and it's not just art that various people want returned:

https://news.artnet.com/market/its-not-just-art-that-indigenous-peoples-
want-back-from-museums-they-want-their-ancestors-human-remains-too-13977
37

More on Canada returning items to Jordan:

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2018/11/28/
jordan-retrieves-ancient-artifacts-from-canada_49cada55-bdc3-4c98-a858-8
870ac2e3852.html
https://www.albawaba.com/business/jordan-retains-plethora-trafficked-art
efacts-canada-1219650
https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/18/11/r12751086/the-government-of
-canada-announces-the-return-of-58-antiquities-to-jor
================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n47.html

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

http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/club_nbs_esylum_v21n48.html

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

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/


================================================================
OBITUARIES
================================================================
James H. Billington:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/21/obituaries/james-billington-dead.html


Donald White:

http://www2.philly.com/philly/obituaries/donald-white-83-internationally
-known-archaeologist-and-penn-museum-curator-20181126.html
https://www.thedp.com/article/2018/11/donald-white-upenn-professor-penn-
museum-archaeologist-died

Olivia Hooker:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/23/obituaries/olivia-hooker-dead.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46332474

Georg Nicolaus Knauer:

https://classicalstudies.org/scs-news/memoriam-georg-nicolaus-knauer

Randolph Braham:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/28/obituaries/randolph-braham-dead.html
================================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
================================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-main-menu-cat/audio-news-list/
2792-audio-news-from-archaeologica-18-november-24-november-2018
================================================================
CONFERENCES
================================================================
Jews and the Americas (February 2019):

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

================================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS
================================================================
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/
================================================================
PODCASTS/VODCASTS
================================================================
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
================================================================
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
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are delivered to your mailbox free of charge!
================================================================
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================================================================
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