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, Bob Skiles,
Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay,
Don Buck, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always hoping I have left no one out).
================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
Marking the 90th anniversary of the discovery of Peking Man:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/03/c_138600561.htm
More on inbreeding and other factors leading to the demise of the Neanderthals:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/nov/27/bad-luck-may-have-caused-neanderthals-extinction-study
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8273-191206-neanderthal-extinction-models
More on ‘out of Africa’ migration following monsoons:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191126091309.htm
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Feature on some Berber kings active in Mauretania in Roman times:
https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/86257/baga-bocchus-juba-these-berber.html
On Ghana’s ‘slave trail’:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/ghana-slave-trail-year-of-return
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Infrared imaging reveals tattoos on seven 3000 years bp mummies from Deir el-Medina:
https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/infrared-images-help-in-revealing-hidden-tattoos-on-egyptian-mummies-2412817.html
https://www.cairoscene.com/ArtsAndCulture/Tattooed-Mummies-Identified-at-Deir-el-Medina-Site
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/infrared-images-reveal-hidden-tattoos-egyptian-mummies
https://www.sciencealert.com/seven-ancient-egyptian-mummies-have-been-found-with-hidden-tattoos
https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/hightech-photography-reveals-hidden-tattoos-on-3000yearold-egyptian-mummies-/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/infrared-reveals-egyptian-mummies-hidden-tattoos-180973700/
Stones from a temple of Ptah found near the Giza pyramids:
http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2019-12/07/content_75487446.htm
Not sure if the above is related to blocks from New Kingdom royal colossi and a mud brick wall from Matariya:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/9/357055/Heritage/Blocks-from-royal-colossi,-huge-New-Kingdom-mud-br.aspx
https://www.newsweek.com/site-ancient-egypts-sun-cult-reveals-royal-statues-mud-wall-block-king-ramses-ii-1475026
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1213262/ancient-egypt-news-archaeology-latest-north-africa-cairo-temples-cult
Kathleen Martinez appears to be ‘expanding’ her efforts to find Cleopatra at Taposiris Magna:
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/discovery-of-tombs-revives-dream-of-finding-cleopatra/1679867
http://www.theweekendleader.com/Headlines/45102/discovery-of-tombs-revives-dream-of-finding-cleopatra.html
https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/discovery-of-tombs-revives-dream-of-finding-cleopatra
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/science-technology/discovery-of-tombs-revives-dream-of-finding-cleopatra-lover-antony/871898.html
Zahi Hawass sees himself as a ‘custodian’ of antiquities:
https://www.france24.com/en/20191205-egyptian-archaeologist-hawass-sees-role-as-custodian-of-antiquities
http://www.jordantimes.com/news/region/egyptian-archaeologist-hawass-sees-role-custodian-antiquities
https://news.yahoo.com/egyptian-archaeologist-hawass-sees-role-custodian-antiquities-021002001.html
https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/egyptian-archaeologist-zahi-hawass-sees-role-as-custodian-of-antiquities/story-1PHSwGyek4Ja0x8182diNL.html
Feature on Zahi Hawass:
https://www.albawaba.com/editors-choice/who-egyptian-indiana-jones-1325786
300 foreign missions are currently operating in Egypt:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/78382/Anani-300-foreign-missions-currently-work-in-Egypt
Hype for a conference in Germany next year on Ramesside military things:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/78301/Germany-to-host-1st-conference-on-Egypt-s-Ramesside-Era
https://egyptindependent.com/germany-to-host-first-ever-conference-on-ancient-egyptian-military-history/
Documentary hype for a find in a ‘shaft’ related to Tut:
… and an interesting feature on one of Tut’s gemstones:
A site in Mardin might be 1000 years older than Gobeklitepe:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-site-older-than-gobeklitepe-unearthed-149494
https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2019/12/04/worlds-first-temple-ancient-site-older-than-gobeklitepe-may-have-been-unearthed-in-turkey
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/ancient-site-older-than-gobeklitepe-unearthed-in-turkey/1664156
https://ahvalnews.com/archaeology/turkey-unearths-contender-worlds-oldest-temple
Iron Age burials with some Egyptian connections from Oman:
https://timesofoman.com/article/2333673/Oman/Archaeologists-discover-Iron-Age-artefacts-at-Dibba-in-Musandam-governorate-of-Oman
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8270-191206-oman-egypt-amulet
Funding to search for ‘lost cities’ in Oman:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-11/guf-fai112919.php
Assyrian cylinder seals excavated in Iran:
http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/442590/Assyrian-cylinder-seals-unearthed-in-Iran
Evidence of lime plaster production from a burial near Ein Gev dating to 12 000 bp (!):
A Second Temple (maybe? Dates vary according to article) period synagogue with mosaics from Majdulia:
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Rare-mosaic-fragments-uncovered-in-unique-Roman-period-Golan-synagogue-609619
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/archaeology-news/rare-mosaic-discovered-in-roman-period-golan-synagogue/2019/12/02/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-3rd-century-golan-synagogue-mosaics-show-shift-in-jewish-life-post-temple/
https://hamodia.com/2019/12/02/colorful-mosaics-cause-rethink-ancient-golan/
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/BJO611FGpr
Earliest evidence of Christianity in Bahrain:
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_769743_en.html
https://www.miragenews.com/experts-find-first-archaeological-evidence-of-christianity-in-bahrain/
Somewhat vague hints that more Dead Sea Scrolls might be waiting to be found:
https://www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/news/features/2019/11/deadseajarlidfoundtoholddecomposedpapyrus
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/dead-sea-scrolls/decayed-papyrus-hints-that-more-dead-sea-scrolls-remain/
https://dqcaas.com/2019/11/24/dead-sea-jar-lid-found-to-hold-decomposed-papyrus/
I think we mentioned this ‘reading’ of a burnt fragment of Leviticus:
https://www.jerusalemonline.com/late-sixth-century-burnt-scroll-of-leviticus-deciphered/
Interesting conjectured recolorization of an Assyrian relief:
https://news.uchicago.edu/story/artist-reimagines-ancient-middle-eastern-artifact-vivid-color
Latest item on the impending flooding of Hasankeyf:
Interesting feature on the dispersal of assorted ANE items to assorted museums:
http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2019/12/Scattered-Finds
Protecting petroglyphs in Jordan:
Feature on Asherah and the Asherim:
Feature on Leiden’s cuneiform collection:
https://phys.org/news/2019-12-cuneiform-reveals-birthplace.html
Feature on Petra:
https://www.archaeology.org/issues/360-1911/letter-from/8076-jordan-petra-hinterland
More on that 1300 years bp chess piece from Jordan:
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-world-s-oldest-surviving-chess-piece-unearthed-in-jordan-1.8201206
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/chess-piece-unearthed-jordan-may-be-worlds-oldest-180973675/
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
1700 years bp eggs (one intact!) from a Roman site in Aylesbury:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-50603415
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/roman-chicken-eggs-find-aylesbury-oxford-archaeology-a9236226.html
https://www.metro.news/shell-shocked-diggers-unearth-worlds-oldest-stinkbombs/1824772/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/crack-archaeologists-find-four-roman-chicken-eggs-v0tv02f7l
Remains of a Roman villa excavated in Dorchester:
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18080221.amazing-discovery-roman-villa-unearthed-near-frampton/
https://www.gillingham-news.co.uk/news/roman-villa-re-discovered-on-dorset-nature-reserve/
https://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/18080058.ancient-roman-villa-unearthed-west-dorset/
A Roman villa being excavated in Rome turns out to have made use of timbers imported from France some 2000 years bp:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0224077
https://phys.org/news/2019-12-long-distance-timber-underpinned-roman-empire.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/p-ltt112719.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191204144859.htm
https://www.insidescience.org/news/muddy-find-shows-how-foreign-timber-helped-build-ancient-rome
https://www.newsweek.com/anceint-rome-villa-timber-trade-1475456
https://cosmosmagazine.com/archaeology/timber-travelled-in-roman-times
https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/ancient-romans-got-their-wood-from-as-far-away-as-france-study-finds
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8228-191205-rome-imported-wood
4th century (or later) armour remains from Deultum:
http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2019/11/19/unknown-chainmail-armors-discovered-in-roman-colony-deultum-near-bulgarias-black-sea-coast/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8216-191202-bulgaria-roman-armor
Mosaics from pompeii possibly shed light on the Gromatici:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/pdm-tao120319.php
https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/12/floor-pavements-in-pompeii-illustrate-surveying-technology/
A musalla stone being used in a Turkish mosque turns out to be a Roman sarcophagus lid:
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2019/12/01/roman-era-sarcophagus-lid-used-in-mosque
https://www.mbs.news/2019/12/mosaic-stone-in-the-mosque-the-cover-of-the-sarcophagus-left-from-rome.html
Evidence of high blood levels of lead in Roman-era Londinium:
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/londinium-romans-blood-lead-levels-so-high-they-may-have-lowered-birth-rates/4010808.article
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8272-191206-roman-lead-levels
Downplaying the impact of the Justinian-era plague:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/nssc-jpn112719.php
https://phys.org/news/2019-12-justinianic-plague-landmark-pandemic.html
https://phys.org/news/2019-12-plague-reshape-bronze-age-europe.html
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/an-ancient-outbreak-of-bubonic-plague-may-have-been-exaggerated
https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/02/world/plague-roman-empire-scn/index.html
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-roman-empire-not-destroyed-by-plague-after-all-say-historians-1.8211047
https://www.wral.com/the-plague-probably-didnt-wipe-out-the-roman-empire-and-half-the-worlds-population-new-study-suggests/18807337/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/justinianic-plagues-devastating-impact-was-likely-exaggerated-180973680/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8222-191204-impact-justinian-plague
An interesting ‘Amazon’ burial from Russia (not sure how recent this find is):
Feature on Roman villas:
https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/excavating-the-ca-archive-roman-villas-2.htm
Feature on Neaera:
Feature on the sound of ancient Greek music:
https://aeon.co/ideas/can-we-know-what-music-sounded-like-in-ancient-greece
Interesting feature on the TLL (not sure if I mentioned this last week):
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/arts/latin-dictionary.html
First Saturnalia feature of the season:
Classics is having some fun at Reed:
https://www.reed.edu/reed-magazine/articles/2019/latin-forum.html
Concerns for Classics at UVermont:
https://vtcynic.com/features/classics-struggles-to-not-fall-into-ruins/
… and Classics was ‘dissolved’ at UMiami:
Nice feature on Princeton’s field school in Komotini:
Feature on Greg Crane and the Perseus Library:
https://now.tufts.edu/articles/nothing-gets-lost-translation-perseus-digital-library
Classics influence in America is the focus of a new website:
http://classics.umd.edu/news/classical-influences-america
Controversy over a Classics professor at UT Austin:
https://www.statesman.com/news/20191204/austin-students-want-professor-fired-for-writings-on-age-of-consent-ut-says-its-protected-speech
https://www.thedailybeast.com/students-want-thomas-hubbard-fired-for-work-on-pederasty-but-university-of-texas-says-its-protected-speech
Christie Vogler was talking about her work in Roman archaeology:
Peter Jones is pining for a modern day Tacitus:
https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/12/we-could-certainly-do-with-a-tacitus-now/
More on Ruth Allen joining the Carlos Museum:
https://emorywheel.com/new-curator-of-greek-and-roman-art-joins-carlos-museum/
Review of Dunn, *The Shadow of Vesuvius* (paywalled):
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-shadow-of-vesuvius-review-two-lives-forever-entwined-11575646888
Review of Hughes, *Venus and Aphrodite* (paywalled):
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/venus-aphrodite-by-bettany-hughes-review-r23mdvsjj
Review of *Battle between frogs and mice* (paywalled):
Greek lawyers have set up a committee for the return of the Parthenon Marbles:
https://news.gtp.gr/2019/12/02/greek-lawyers-set-committee-return-parthenon-marbles/
… and in case you’re wondering how the Marbles ended up in London:
https://daily.jstor.org/wait-why-are-the-parthenon-marbles-in-london/
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-12-02-how-the-greeks-lost-their-marbles-britains-shameful-colonial-loot/
… and the latest opEd on whether they should be returned:
https://www.thenationalherald.com/272725/should-the-parthenon-marbles-be-returned-to-greece/
On Silicon Valley’s love of stoicism:
The statue of Ceres has return to the Missouri Capitol:
https://www.missourinet.com/tag/roman-goddess-of-agriculture/
https://www.ky3.com/content/news/Statue-of-Roman-goddess-Ceres-returns-to-Missouri-Capitol-565907461.html
More on that Greek necropolis find from Gela:
https://www.thelocal.it/20191128/ancient-necropolis-discovered-during-roadworks-in-sicily
https://eu.greekreporter.com/2019/12/03/utilities-workers-unearth-ancient-greek-necropolis-in-gela-sicily/
https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-greek-burial-ground-remains-newborn-baby-ceramic-jug-italy-1475020
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8218-191203-sicily-greek-burials
More on that 6th century CE shipwreck off Akrotiri:
More on those Roman tweezers and ear swab things from a UK site:
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/609737/roman-empire-tweezers-found-at-uk-archaeology-site
Boris Johnson apparently relaxes with Greek poetry:
https://eu.greekreporter.com/2019/12/04/british-pm-boris-johnson-reveals-he-reads-greek-poetry-to-relax-video/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/37954-uk-pm-boris-johnson-unveils-he-reads-greek-poetry-to-relax-video.html
—–
Latest reviews from BMCR:
http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/recent.html
Visit our blog:
http://rogueclassicism.com/
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
Bronze Age ‘figurines’ found during construction of an Orkney power station:
https://www.scotsman.com/heritage/amazing-set-of-bronze-age-figurines-found-in-orkney-at-site-of-new-power-station-1-5058477
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18086183.orkney-archaeological-find-may-ancient-figure-stones/
Studying plant use in prehistoric northern Europe:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/uoh-nai120219.php
Plenty of coverage of the find of a 2000 years bp (or so) Celtic shield (and other items):
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/celtic-warrior-grave-important-find-uk-archaeology-shield-yorkshire-a9234571.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/entombed-warrior-shield-is-celtic-masterpiece-vgf8bz9pm
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage/iron-age-shield-found-in-pocklington-is-one-of-most-important-ancient-finds-this-millennium-1-10137418
https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1214238/archeology-news-ancient-celtic-warrior-art-discovery-hailed-most-important-find-millennium
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7759247/Yorkshire-Iron-Age-shield-hailed-important-British-Celtic-art-object-millennium.html
Archaeologists are investigating a Pictish site at Caithness:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-50670894
I think we mentioned this Viking ship (burial probably) found with GPR on a farm in Norway:
https://www.livescience.com/viking-ship-georadar-norway.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/12/04/archaeologists-use-radar-find-massive-viking-ship-buried-an-island-millennium/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/viking-ship-found-georadar-norway-1722768
https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/12/archaeologists-find-a-viking-ship-buried-in-a-norwegian-field/
https://hyperallergic.com/531817/a-1000-year-old-viking-ship-burial-was-discovered-underneath-a-norwegian-farm/
… and this Catholic church find in Dublin:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholic-church-discovered-in-dublin-archeology-dig-55199
Study suggests Vikings helped the Irish population to survive:
https://www.ibtimes.sg/archaeological-evidence-reveals-vikings-helped-irish-population-survive-35423
Plans to dive in the Fosse Dionne:
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p07wsv3j/a-dangerous-dive-into-a-medieval-mystery
Searching for the remains of Cardinal Wolsey in Leicester:
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/wheres-wolsey-remains-henry-viiis-3610405
Mass 14th century burials found near the Sedlec Ossuary:
https://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/over-1000-skeletons-discovered-during-renovation-of-kutna-hora-bone-church
https://news.expats.cz/weekly-czech-news/mass-graves-of-plague-and-famine-victims-found-at-kutna-horas-bone-church/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8219-191203-sedlec-ossuary-graves
Feature on the history of York:
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18069538.the-next-500-years-violent-york-history-without-vikings/
Feature on the Vasa:
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20191205-what-caused-this-great-warship-to-sink
More on that Viking warrior woman with battle wounds:
https://www.ibtimes.sg/scientists-reveal-first-evidence-viking-woman-battle-injury-35226
More on that Napoleonic-era field kitchen from Guernsey:
https://guernseypress.com/news/2019/11/26/bronze-age-burial-mound-in-fact-napoleonic-field-kitchen/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8215-191202-guernsey-field-kitchen
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ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
================================================================
Paleolithic relics from a cave site in Shaanxi:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/06/c_138610000.htm
http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2019-12-06/detail-ifzrnvym4352469.shtml
Study of some residue in an urn coffin dating to the Neolithic Yangshao Culture reveals 5000-7000 bp silk:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/04/c_138605658.htm
http://www.ecns.cn/news/society/2019-12-05/detail-ifzrnvym4351671.shtml
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8226-191205-china-neolithic-silk
Foundations for some 4000 years bp granaries from China’s Henan province:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/05/c_138608300.htm
Overviewish thing on finds from the Dajinshan Ruins dig in Jilin:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/03/c_138602602.htm
73 ancient burials dating to 1400 years bp from Jiangxi:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/07/c_138613928.htm
http://www.china.org.cn/china/2019-12/08/content_75490637.htm
A number of ‘early medieval’ (I think) Buddhist sculptures from Durgi:
Feature on (failed) British colonization efforts at Port Essington (Australia):
Somewhat strange argument, Bollywood style, over the battle of Panipat:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50634829
More on that intact puppy/wolf from Sibera:
https://www.livescience.com/mummified-ice-age-pup.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/02/science/frozen-puppy-found-russia.html
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2225348-ancient-puppy-found-in-permafrost-still-has-its-fur-and-whiskers/
================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
I think we mentioned the use of snails to determine when Native Americans in Florida were harvesting oysters:
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/oysters-in-r-months-rule-4000-years-old/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8217-191202-oyster-snail-clocks
Possible ‘prehistoric’ fish weirs from rivers in North Carolina:
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article238065044.html
Evidence of Civil War-era soldiers using hair dye from a Kentucky dig:
https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/jessamine-county/article237745444.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-find-hair-dye-bottles-used-self-conscious-civil-war-soldiers-posing-portraits-180973696/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8224-191204-hair-dye-bottles
Hitherto unknown crypts/tunnels beneath a Catholic church in Norfolk:
Plans to search for evidence of the Battle of Ruff’s Mill:
Feature on Andrew Johnson as a Trump ‘precursor’:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/29/opinion/sunday/andrew-johnson-donald-trump.html
Feature on Alice Ballard and her homestead in the Santa Monica Mountains:
Demolition work at Montclair State University revealed an early 20th century ‘message in a bottle’:
https://www.montclair.edu/magazine/fall-winter-2019/message-in-a-bottle/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8214-191202-new-jersey-message
The search for more burials from that African American cemetery in Tampa continues:
Feature on the Trudeau Sanatorium (NY):
https://apnews.com/3c05d20e238249cf8e49695bd5fc594b
More on Inuit sled dogs:
More on that Montreal pipe kiln:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/montreal-clay-pipes-excavated
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/found-19th-century-kiln-fired-pipes-montreals-smokers-180973682/
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
================================================================
Remains of a German WWI ship found off the Falkland Islands (!):
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50670743
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/german-ship-famous-wwi-battle-found-falkland-islands-180973706/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8271-191206-world-war-i-shipwreck
The longterm effects of ancient Mayan clearcutting:
Rushing to document coastal heritage sites in Puerto Rico:
http://www.startribune.com/scientists-race-to-document-puerto-rico-s-coastal-heritage/565672292/
More on the most recently found Nazca geoglyphs:
https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/12/archaeologists-found-143-more-images-among-the-nazca-lines/
More on that 3000 years bp Water Temple site from Lambayeque:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7685227/Archaeologists-3-000-year-old-megalithic-temple-Peru.html
https://www.livescience.com/ancient-megalithic-temple-discovered-peru.html
More on Puerto Rican cooking of clams:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191127161325.htm
—–
Mike Ruggeri’s Ancient Americas Breaking News:
Ancient MesoAmerica News:
http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
================================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
================================================================
Feature on what archaeology is all about:
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/what-is-archaeology
In case you missed the news about Elizabeth I being identified as a translator of Tacitus:
https://www.uea.ac.uk/about/-/discovery-of-queen-s-16th-century-manuscript-paints-elizabeth-i-in-new-light
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/elizabeth-is-idiosyncratic-handwriting-identifies-her-author-long-overlooked-tacitus-translation-180973672/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/queen-elizabeth-manuscript-found
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8227-191205-elizabeth-i-translation
Attributing the ‘Habsburg Jaw’ to inbreeding:
https://www.livescience.com/habsburg-jaw-inbreeding.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/distinctive-habsburg-jaw-was-likely-result-royal-familys-inbreeding-180973688/
https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/12/01/ciencia/1575223818_870420.html
Feature on the influence of Protestantism on modern science:
https://aeon.co/essays/how-protestantism-influenced-the-making-of-modern-science
Putting Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’ in context:
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-botticellis-birth-venus-challenged-depictions-nude-art
On the history of gin:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/12/09/the-intoxicating-history-of-gin
Feature on Agateware:
Feature on Beethoven’s Ninth:
https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2019/12/07/785098204/the-music-and-morality-of-beethovens-mighty-ninth
https://www.carnegiehall.org/en/Education/Young-Musicians/All-Together-A-Global-Ode-to-Joy
I think we mentioned this major medieval manuscript digitization project:
https://phys.org/news/2019-11-thousands-medieval-manuscripts-online-full.html
On the origin of apples:
http://www.archaeology.org/feed/365-issue/2001/features/top10/8239-kazakhstan-apple-domestication
On the history of money:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191204-does-e-money-make-you-spend-more
Johns Hopkins has acquired a copy of ‘A Problem in Greek Ethics’:
https://hub.jhu.edu/2019/12/05/john-addington-symonds-greek-ethics-rare-book/
Hyping a documentary series on the slave trade:
https://www.brown.edu/news/2019-12-03/slavetrade
Interesting daguerreotype of enslaved individuals on a cotton plantation from 1850:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/may-be-earliest-known-image-slaves-cotton-180973705/
Feature on El Greco:
https://hyperallergic.com/531424/el-greco-modernist-hero/
Top ten discoveries of 2019:
http://www.archaeology.org/feed/364-issue/2001/features/8233-top-10-discoveries-of-2019
Top ten paintings:
https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/most-famous-paintings/index.html
On Montaigne’s remains:
https://elpais.com/cultura/2019/11/30/actualidad/1575081924_221954.html
The SAA is dealing with sexual harassment:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/12/archaeology-society-votes-let-board-ban-sexual-harassers-meetings
https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/society-for-american-archaeology-can-ban-harassers-from-meetings-66809
Interesting feature on urinals in Paris in WWII:
The history of Santa Claus:
https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/06/world/santa-claus-story/index.html
… and Chanukah:
https://www.ledgertranscript.com/vpsirvint-ml-120319_-30968816
… and Saint Nicholas:
https://www.dw.com/en/saint-nicholas-one-man-one-mission/g-18874923
What Julie Andres is reading:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/05/books/review/julie-andrews-by-the-book-interview.html
Review of Fagan, *Brief History of Archaeology*:
https://elpais.com/cultura/2019/11/29/babelia/1575038864_845536.html
Feature on Irelands Virtual Record Treasury project:
More on the demise of the Great Auk:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/04/science/great-auks-extinction.html
================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Saudi Arabian Masterpieces:
https://menafn.com/1099360936/Antiquities-of-the-Kingdom-of-Saudi-Arabias-Masterpieces-in-Rome
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/584213/SAUDI-ARABIA/Roads-of-Arabia-in-Rome-attracts-record-6500-visitors-in-one-day
Troy:
Balthazar:
http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/images-of-african-kingship-real-and-imagined/
East India Company artists:
Giulio Romano:
https://www.apollo-magazine.com/giulio-romano-palazzo-te-mantua/
Plans for an antiquities museum in Purana Quila:
The Prado is using museum art for climate change awareness:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50646625
The story of Hull’s Egyptian mummy:
https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/history/mysterious-story-hulls-egyptian-mummy-3595561
================================================================
AUCTIONS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
================================================================
The Wacks Collection of ancient coins is coming to auction:
The Melton Hoard fetched a nice price:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-50663468
https://www.meltontimes.co.uk/news/detectorist-s-hoard-including-1-000-year-old-melton-coin-fetches-90-000-at-auction-1-9166247
Egypt prevented the sale of an ‘important archaeological painting’:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/78413/Egypt-stops-sale-of-archaeological-painting-in-NY
================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
#d printing is helping museums in repatriation and decolonization efforts:
http://theconversation.com/3d-printing-is-helping-museums-in-repatriation-and-decolonisation-efforts-126449
https://phys.org/news/2019-12-d-museums-repatriation-decolonization-efforts.html
GPR is revealing ancient footprints at White Sands National Monument:
https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/12/radar-reveals-ghostly-footprints-at-white-sands/
More on CT being used on ivory mannikins:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191127161228.htm
================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
================================================================
Ranjankudi fort:
Greek Temples:
Saddam Hussein’s Babylon:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/babylon-iraq-saddam-hussein
================================================================
PERFORMANCES
================================================================
Antigone:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/canadas-oscar-contender-antigone-offers-modern-take-greek-tragedy-1251442
https://ca.style.yahoo.com/antigone-canadas-pick-best-international-212602785.html
Odyssey:
================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
Over a million antiquities have been stolen from Yemen, apparently:
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191204-over-1-million-antiquities-stolen-from-yemen/
Nine people arrested for illegal digs in Sohag:
On two recent robberies in Germany:
https://www.livescience.com/germany-jewels-spy-heists.html
More on the charges against Douglas Latchford:
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/666013/kingdom-supports-prosecution-of-alleged-artefact-smuggler/
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
================================================================
Zahi Hawass is heading a repatriation campaign:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/archaeologist-launches-private-restitution-bid
Another repatriation-related opEd:
Saudi Arabia has recovered “thousands” of illegally-taken antiquities, apparently:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1592496/saudi-arabia
https://www.albawaba.com/editors-choice/saudi-arabia-recovers-52000-illegally-stolen-priceless-artifacts-1324628
Renewed efforts to recover Aboriginal artifacts:
Some Nazi looted books were returned to the Freemasons:
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-library-returns-books-stolen-by-nazis-to-freemasons/a-51533157
Another Gurlitt-related piece being returned:
https://www.dw.com/en/watercolor-stolen-by-nazis-returned-to-original-museum/a-51536104
More on the Penn Museum returning cuneiform tablets to Iraq:
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/penn-museum-hands-over-fragments-of-387-ancient-clay-tablets-to-iraq
https://www.inquirer.com/arts/sumerian-tablets-penn-museum-repatriation-iraq-20191203.html
https://whyy.org/articles/after-long-term-extended-loan-penn-museum-sends-ancient-iraqi-artifacts-home/
https://www.inquirer.com/arts/sumerian-tablets-penn-museum-repatriation-iraq-20191203.html
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/ur-cuneiform-tablet-repatriation
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8221-191204-iraq-tablets-returned
================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Someone put a Thracian coin from 44 BCE (or so) in a Salvation Army kettle:
https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/rare-coin-from-44-42-b-c-dropped-in-salvation-army-red-kettle-in-tampa/
https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/anonymous-donor-drops-rare-gold-coin-valued-at-2000-into-salvation-army-kettle/67-20aadb71-4439-4389-bf15-014dba9295e0
Feature on Celtic coinage of Gaul:
https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/coinweek-ancient-coin-series-the-celtic-coinage-of-gaul/
Feature on ancient coins and Christianity:
Latest e-Sylum:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v22/club_nbs_esylum_v22n48.html
… and the one which should appear later today:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v22/club_nbs_esylum_v22n49.html
————————
Ancient Coin Collecting:
http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/
Ancient Coins:
http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/
Coin Week:
================================================================
OBITUARIES
================================================================
Alexander Cambitoglou:
https://greekcitytimes.com/2019/12/03/greek-australian-archaeologist-alexander-cambitoglou-passes-away-aged-97/
https://au.greekreporter.com/2019/12/03/alexander-cambitoglou-first-greek-university-professor-in-australia-dies-at-97/
https://neoskosmos.com/en/153176/alexander-cambitoglou-first-greek-university-professor-in-australia-passes-away-at-the-age-of-97/
Larry Hurtado:
http://evangelicaltextualcriticism.blogspot.com/2019/12/larry-w-hurtado-29-december-1943-25.html
Edward Courtney:
https://classicalstudies.org/scs-news/memoriam-edward-courtney
Lars Hartman:
http://evangelicaltextualcriticism.blogspot.com/2019/11/rip-lars-hartman-1930-2019.html
Robert K. Massie:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/robert-k-massie-award-winning-historian-of-czarist-russia-dies-at-90/2019/12/03/42a3b816-15d1-11ea-a659-7d69641c6ff7_story.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/02/books/robert-k-massie-dead.html
Stephen Garrett:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/stephen-garrett-inaugural-director-of-the-getty-and-the-hammer-has-died-aged-96
================================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
================================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:
================================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS
================================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:
http://www.archaeology.org/news/
About.com Archaeology:
Ancient Digger:
Archaeology Briefs:
http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/
Past Horizons:
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
================================================================
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