Explorator 24.32 ~ November 28, 2021

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

============================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
Latest study suggests Sediba could apparently walk and climb (didn’t we have this same suggestion a couple years ago?):

https://www.nyu.edu/content/nyu/en/about/news-publications/news/2021/november/ancient-human-relative–australopithecus-sediba—walked-like-a-.html
https://phys.org/news/2021-11-ancient-human-relative-australopithecus-sediba.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211123130821.htm
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/2m-year-old-hominid-vertebrae-offer-insight-into-human-origins-686931
https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/23/world/australopithecus-sediba-intl-scli-scn/index.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/ancient-human-relative-walked-like-a-human-but-climbed-like-an-ape/142093
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/11/24/australopithecus-sediba-walked-like-a-human-but-climbed-like-an-ape/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10162-211124-lumbar-vertebrae-walking

A French team is searching for the ‘cradle of humanity’ in Botswana:

https://www.iol.co.za/travel/africa/archaeologists-search-for-cradle-of-humanity-in-botswana-0c6a081b-400e-5dd1-b5a5-3663f4dd51d0
https://africa.cgtn.com/2021/11/24/archaeologists-search-for-cradle-of-humanity-in-botswana/
http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2021-11/23/content_77888978.htm

A study suggests Neanderthal children developed teeth earlier than their sapiens counterparts:

https://phys.org/news/2021-11-baby-neanderthal-tooth-earlier-emergence.html
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/how-australian-children-s-teeth-helped-solve-an-ancient-mystery-20211124-p59bti.html

A reexamination of ‘The Old Man of La Chapelle’ (Neanderthal) has evidence of brucellosis ‘spillover’:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/25/europe/ancient-spillover-neanderthal-brucellosis-disease-human-scn/index.html

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-99289-7

Feature on the earliest Denisovans and their cultural adaptations:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-021-01581-2

Feature on naming human fossils:

https://theconversation.com/whats-in-a-name-when-it-comes-to-human-fossils-its-complicated-171569
============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
More on the 150 000 years bp (or so) jewellery from Morocco:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/oldest-jewelry-in-the-world-discovered-in-morocco-685645
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62723
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/oldest-jewelry-discovered-1234611028/
============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
============================================================
Much pomp as Egypt officially reopened the Avenue of the Sphinxes:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1238/442022/Egypt/Tourism/In-Photos-Exclusive-sneak-peek-into-preparations-f.aspx
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/443339/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/In-Photos-Egypt-reopens-ancient-Avenue-of-Sphinxes.aspx
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1238/443286/Egypt/Tourism/Live-Updates-Egypt-reopens-Luxor%E2%80%99s-Avenue-of-Sphin.aspx
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/110303/Live-Update-Egypt-reopens-ancient-%E2%80%98Avenue-of-Sphinxes%E2%80%99-in-Luxor
https://phys.org/news/2021-11-egypt-unveils-renovated-avenue-sphinxes.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/26/egypt-restores-ancient-road-linking-temples-of-luxor-and-karnak
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-11-25/egipto-celebra-la-reapertura-de-la-gran-avenida-de-las-esfinges-de-luxor-con-una-majestuosa-ceremonia.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/egypt-revives-ancient-road-connecting-luxor-karnak-2021-11-25/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/11/25/egypts-ancient-road-of-1000-sphinxes-unveiled-in-spectacular-ceremony
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211125-egypt-unveils-pharaonic-rams-road-at-karnak-temple
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/egypt-ancient-walkway-scli-intl-scn/index.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/egypt-ancient-avenue-sphinxes-luxor-karnak-ceremony-opet-parade-route/

More on Nectanebo I’s sun temple:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/11/new-secrets-revealed-discovery-heliopolis-egypts-most-ancient-capital
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-find-lost-4500-year-old-egyptian-sun-temple-180979077/

More on ‘apprentices’ working on the Temple of Hatshepsut:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/new-discoveries-in-tomb-beneath-temple-of-hatshepsut/142071
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/11/25/new-discoveries-in-a-subterranean-tomb-at-hatshepsuts-temple/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10158-211123-hatshepsut-temple-carvings

Another feature on the Rosetta Stone:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/29/how-the-rosetta-stone-yielded-up-its-secrets-edward-dolnick-the-writing-of-the-gods

Pondering why ancient Egyptians stopped building pyramids:

https://www.livescience.com/why-ancient-egyptians-stopped-building-pyramids

Feature on what it was like in Tut’s tomb:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467383/Future-research-to-probe-links-between-Iran-Arabian-Peninsula

Haven’t had a feature on Tut’s “curse” for a while:

https://www.salon.com/2021/11/26/9-victims-of-king-tuts-curse-and-one-should-have-been_partner/

Feature on the Valley of the Kings:

https://mymodernmet.com/valley-of-the-kings/

Evidence of a hunter-gatherer presence on Hormuz Island in the Middle Palaeolithic:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467344/Hunter-gatherers-settled-in-southern-Iranian-island-new-evidence

… and plans for more research:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467383/Future-research-to-probe-links-between-Iran-Arabian-Peninsula

Parthian and Sassanid remains found by an Iranian-French team digging near Faruj (Iran):

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467382/Iranian-French-archaeologists-uncover-clues-about-ancient-settlements

A Serbian team has joined those digging at the Burnt City:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467345/Serbian-archaeologists-join-Iranian-Italian-fellows-in-Burnt

So far they’ve found fibers and animal remains in that Chehrabad salt mine dig in Iran:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467425/Ancient-fibers-animal-remains-discovered-by-Iranian-German
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467267/Iranian-German-archaeologists-in-search-of-clues-about-Achaemenid

Construction of the South Caucasus Pipeline in Azerbaijan has revealed 23 000 archaeological finds, apparently:

https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/3516883.html

A Umayyad-era ‘mud mosque’ from southern Iraq:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2021/11/25/mud-mosque-from-60-ah-discovered-in-southern-iraq/
https://iqna.ir/en/news/3476669/remains-of-1300-year-old-mosque-discovered-in-iraq

Feature on math in ancient Babylon:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0b69b9j/the-ancient-tablets-revealing-the-mysteries-of-babylonia

14 000 years bp stone tools and a possible settlement site from Turkey’s Izmir province:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/14000-year-old-stone-tools-bone-remains-found-in-western-turkey/news
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/human-traces-dating-back-14-000-years-found-in-izmir-169601
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/archaeologists-unearth-14000-year-old-human-traces-in-western-turkey-3584762
https://www.trtworld.com/art-culture/14-000-year-old-human-traces-unearthed-in-western-turkey-51959
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/settlement-dating-back-14000-years-discovered-in-turkey-687063
https://www.dainst.blog/transpergmikro/rescue-excavation-changes-history/

A Japanese team is working at Gobeklitepe:

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14487942

Remains of a medieval madrassa from Harran (Turkey):

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/remains-of-first-islamic-madrassa-found-in-turkeys-harran/news
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/ruins-of-pioneering-madrassa-unearthed-in-southeastern-turkey/2427704
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/ruins-of-pioneering-madrassa-unearthed-in-southeastern-turkey-3584703
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10159-211124-turkey-medieval-madrassa

A 1500 years bp bread oven from Perrhe:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/1500-year-old-bakery-structure-found-in-turkeys-perre/news
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-brad-oven-among-findings-in-perre-169577
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/1-500-year-old-bread-oven-structure-unearthed-in-southeastern-turkey/2427888

This year, Turkish archaeologists have found 255 artifacts underwater:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/underwater-history-resurfaces-255-artifacts-found-in-turkish-seas/news
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211125-turkeys-archaeological-underwater-excavations-unearth-255-artefacts-this-year-alone/

Another item on Turkish-backed ‘factions’ conducting illegal excavations near Aleppo:

https://www.syriahr.com/en/228810/
https://www.hawarnews.com/en/haber/turkish-mercenaries-continue-to-destroy-archaeological-sites-in-syria-h27748.html

More on a 3200 years bp seal and some cuneiform texts being found in Alalakh:

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/3250-year-old-seal-belonging-to-hittite-prince-discovered-in-southern-turkey-3584542
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10154-211122-turkey-hittite-seal

A 9000 years bp necklace comprising 2580 beads from Jordan has been reassembled:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62768

A study of botanical remains from 20 000 to 10 000 years bp in Israel’s Hula Valley (some coverage with a climate change spin):

https://phys.org/news/2021-11-climate-goaded-transition-nomadic-hunter-gatherers.html
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/study-reveals-how-end-of-ice-age-led-prehistoric-humans-to-settle-down-1.10406036
https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/millennia-old-plant-remains-shed-light-on-climate-change-in-israel-685726
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-researchers-identify-chilly-transition-to-farming-at-end-of-last-ice-age/

Latest find by a child in Israel is a 2000 years bp silver coin, possibly minted by a Temple priest:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/11-year-old-finds-holy-jerusalem-silver-coin-likely-minted-in-the-temple-685758
https://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-silver-rebel-coin-maybe-minted-at-temple-2000-years-ago-found-in-jerusalem/
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/hjuriqqoy
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/11/23/ancient-silver-coin-found-by-11-year-old-girl-might-have-been-minted-by-temple-priest/
https://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2021/11/23/archaeology-jerusalem-2000-year-old-coin-discovered_5247779c-5c31-480e-9e8c-808f5c4f464e.html
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317415
https://forward.com/fast-forward/478579/11-year-old-girl-found-rare-2000-year-old-coin-from-jewish-temple/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10234715/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10234715/Girl-11-finds-2-000-year-old-coin-minted-Jewish-priest-68BC-joined-Great-Revolt.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/11-year-old-israeli-girl-discovers-rare-silver-shekel-from-the-great-revolt-180979112/

A Roman-era board game scratched into the pavement in the Old City has been identified (probably):

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-ancestor-of-checkers-found-in-old-city-of-jerusalem-1.10407030
https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/ancient-roman-board-game-not-as-grim-as-archaeologists-suspected/

More on that Hellenistic fortress find from the Lachish region of Israel:

https://www.livescience.com/hanukkah-fort-maccabee-rebellion-israel
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/hellenistic-fortress-10289.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/in-time-for-hanukkah-archaeologists-reveal-battle-scarred-stronghold-against-maccabees/2021/11/24/38a53a48-4d6e-11ec-a7b8-9ed28bf23929_story.html
https://religionnews.com/2021/11/24/in-time-for-hanukkah-archaeologists-reveal-battle-scarred-stronghold-against-maccabees/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-find-fortress-destroyed-during-revolt-that-established-hannukah-holiday-180979104/

More pondering whether David and Solomon’s kingdom can be referred to as a ‘state’:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2021/11/david-and-solomon-as-state

… and the suggestion that royal architecture might prove biblical Judah was a kingdom:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/can-royal-architecture-in-biblical-judah-prove-its-status-as-a-kingdom-685601

More on a possible Canaanite idol from a Judahite temple:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/canaanite-idol-in-a-judahite-temple/

First results of digs at the Qusairat Asd site in Saudi Arabia (date?):

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1974031/saudi-arabia

Feature on the Al Jassasiya petroglyphs (Qatar):

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/qatar-al-jassasiya-petroglyphs-cmd/index.html
https://www.9news.com.au/world/mysterious-rock-symbols-in-qatar-al-jassasiya-hidden-meanings-sought-by-archaeology/cd9e9d14-8a3f-4d99-a353-ca680e0aee05

Feature on Harbia Al Himiary’s efforts at preserving heritage sites in Yemen:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59262086

Since 2012, 750 sites have been found in Erbil (Kurdistan), apparently:

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/26321-Since-2012,-experts-have-discovered-750-archaeological-sites-in-Erbil:-Ministry
—–
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
============================================================
A spectacular Roman mosaic depicting scenes from the Trojan war (and a villa) from a farmer’s field in Rutland:

https://ulasnews.com/2021/11/25/encounters-with-achilles/
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/nov/25/archaeologists-examine-roman-villa-discovered-beneath-rutland-farmers-field
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/26/roman-britain-heritage-rutland-villa
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/nov/28/rutlands-roman-mosaics-bring-the-trojan-wars-to-life-in-the-east-midlands
https://phys.org/news/2021-11-extraordinary-roman-mosaic-villa-beneath.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/935838
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59391650
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rutland-roman-mosaic-english-farm-b1963954.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10238719/Iliad-mosaic-Rutland-field-kind-UK.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-rutland-villa-project-farmers-son-stumbles-on-roman-mosaic-in-discovery-of-a-century-8pt0j2rvh
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/roman-britons-had-the-world-beneath-their-feet-09l2psvt0
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/11/25/rare-mosaic-owned-roman-stephen-fry-discovered-farmers-field/
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/historic-england-rutland-britain-duncan-wilson-europe-b968146.html
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/remarkable-roman-mosaic-found-villa-6256465
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/roman-villa-mosaic-uncovered-in-farmers-field-given-protected-status-41087024.html
https://apnews.com/c0e53616fc501d344d27252d1787b863
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/richard-iii-archaeologists-strike-again-with-roman-mosaic/2021/11/25/3253d71a-4e10-11ec-a7b8-9ed28bf23929_story.html
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/richard-iii-archeologists-strike-again-with-roman-mosaic-1.5681195
https://www.npr.org/2021/11/26/1059341809/leicester-england-archaeologists-ancient-roman-mosaic
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/roman-mosaic-farm-scli-intl-gbr-scn/index.html
https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/25/stunning-mosaic-battle-trojan-war-uncovered/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/11/25/magnificent-roman-mosaic-discovered-in-a-farmers-field-is-uks-most-exciting-find-of-its-kind-in-a-century
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/rutland-mosaic-10306.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62755
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/rare-mosaic-depicting-homers-iliad-discovered-in-uk/142098
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/11/25/extraordinary-roman-mosaic-and-villa-discovered/

… and OpEds arising:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/26/roman-britain-heritage-rutland-villa
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activity-and-adventure/hidden-treasures-roman-britain/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-times-view-of-a-golden-age-of-archaeology-glory-beneath-the-soil-xcs0zvkw7
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/799/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/799/pub/799/page/30/article/244538

Overviewish thing on finds from the 8th-4th centuries BCE necropolis at Bilsk (Ukraine):

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/graves-of-rich-powerful-women-found-in-lost-city-of-herodotus-1.10421477

A Hellenistic sanctuary of some sort was revealed at Skiathas this week:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/27/hellenistic-era-sanctuary-uncovered-greece/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/11/27/excavation-larissa-hellenistic/

Latest finds from Amphipolis include a large Roman structure:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/25/ancient-amphipolis/

Remains of an ancient city of some sort near Kilkis (Greece):

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/20/ancient-city-kilkis-greece/

A piece of an 1800 years bp Roman cavalry mask from a dig at Hadrianopolis (Turkey):

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10233655/Archaeology-Roman-soldiers-FACE-MASK-dating-1-800-years-uncovered-Turkey.html
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/34682/20211124/1-800-year-old-iron-face-mask-roman-empire-soldier.htm
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roman-soldiers-iron-mask-found-in-karabuk-169608

A Late Roman glassworks site from the Jezreel Valley:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/archaeologists-discover-ancient-glassworks-from-late-roman-period/142113

Study suggests people living in Pergamon 2000 years bp had a plant-based diet:

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/people-living-in-pergamon-2000-years-ago-had-plant-based-diet
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/studies-reveal-eating-habits-of-pergamon-people-169632

More coverage this week of that Caligula-era mosaic being used as a coffee table in New York for years:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/nov/22/priceless-roman-mosaic-coffee-table-new-york-apartment
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ancient-roman-artefact-coffee-table-manhattan-b1962603.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/roman-emperor-caligula-coffee-table-60-minutes-2021-11-21/
https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/25/ancient-roman-artifact-coffee-table/

More on that Roman dagger from a Swiss battlefield:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/discovery-of-roman-dagger-leads-to-hundreds-more-artifacts-in-switzerland-180979122/

More on those 4th century BCE Scythians burials and silver:

https://phys.org/news/2021-11-winged-gods-griffons-plate-depiction.html
https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/rare-4th-century-bce-scythian-silver-plate-found-in-tomb-685723
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10157-211123-scythian-barrow-silver

More on the remains of a Roman aqueduct in Armenia:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/11/23/roman-aqueduct-found-in-armenia/
https://eurasianet.org/roman-empires-easternmost-aqueduct-discovered-in-armenia

More on the massive Roman silver coin hoard found at Augsburg:

https://www.newsweek.com/cache-thousands-ancient-roman-silver-coins-found-river-1653112

Review of Myke Cole, *The Bronze Lie*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/books/review/myke-cole-the-bronze-lie.html

Iraq’s Arch of Ctesiphon is being restored:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/iraq/2021/11/25/iraqs-historic-arch-of-ctesiphon-undergoes-restoration-work/

Apparently there are still legal battles going on over the fate of antiquities found during Thessaloniki metro construction:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1172641/thessaloniki-metro-buried-under-legal-disputes/

I think we mentioned this use of AI to help reassemble a Pompeii fresco before:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/technology-59416292

Greece is working on protecting sites from climate change:

https://news.gtp.gr/2021/11/22/greece-to-protect-its-archaeological-sites-monuments-from-impacts-of-climate-change/

Feature on Katharina Volk’s *Roman Republic of Letters*:

https://news.columbia.edu/news/katharina-volk-new-book-the-roman-republic-of-letters

Feature on some students who were digging at Pompeii:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/22/diogenes-the-ancient-greek-philosopher-who-was-the-first-to-give-the-finger/

Feature on more things to be found at Pompeii:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/29/pompeii-still-has-buried-secrets

Feature on graffiti at Pompeii:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/the-graffiti-of-pompeii-cruel-lalagus-why-do-you-not-love-me-1.10408749

CBS 60 minutes had a feature on Caligula’s Gardens (and the new museum) … excerpts:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/caligula-rome-60-minutes-2021-11-21/

Feature on the fall of Carthage:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/the-fall-of-carthage/142080

Feature on the Library of Alexandria:

https://egyptianstreets.com/2021/11/23/library-of-alexandria-a-lost-millennium-of-knowledge/

Not sure about this feature on Diogenes and his finger”

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/22/diogenes-the-ancient-greek-philosopher-who-was-the-first-to-give-the-finger/

On the Greek roots of Cinderella:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/2021/11/26/news/the-greek-roots-of-cinderella-a-tale-passed-on-from-aesop-to-disney/

Feature on kykeon:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/22/eleusinian-mystery-hallucinogenic/

Feature on Platonic love:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/24/platonic-love-concept-greek-philosopher-plato/

Feature on the ‘neighbourhood’ beneath the Acropolis of Athens:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/27/ancient-neighborhood-acropolis/

Feature on ancient Greek cosmetics:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/24/ancient-greeks-used-exotic-dangerous-cosmetics-in-eternal-search-for-beauty/

Feature on Antioch:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/25/history-hellenistic-city-antioch/

Feature on Eleusis:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/28/eleusis-religious-sites-ancient-greece/

Feature on the ‘Ukok Princess’:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/reel/video/p0b5vtbj/the-mystery-of-siberia-s-2-500-year-old-ice-maiden-

Latest Pasts Imperfect newsletter:

https://pastsimperfect.substack.com/p/pasts-imperfect-112521

In Parthenon Marbles news this week, Boris Johnson stated he would not stand in the way of talks:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10225473/Boris-pressure-Elgin-Marbles-Greek-PM-insists-promised-not-stand-way-talks.html

… and it was revealed he had once written a letter stating the Marbles shouldn’t have been removed:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/nov/23/boris-johnson-wrote-that-parthenon-sculptures-should-never-have-been-removed
https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/24/boris-johnson-admitted-parthenon-marbles-wrong/

… and there was a feature on some Australians’ efforts to repatriate the Marbles:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1172205/expatriate-protector-of-the-parthenon-marbles/

… and a poll suggesting Britons were in favour of their return:

https://news.gtp.gr/2021/11/25/poll-more-britons-in-favor-of-returning-parthenon-marbles-to-greece/

… and more background on Elgin:

https://www.athina984.gr/en/2021/11/24/glypta-toy-parthenona-quot-mia-dodekada-prionia-gia-marmara-diaforon-megethon-quot/

… and PM Mitsotakis once again called for their return:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/pm-mitsotakis-calls-once-again-for-parthenon-sculptures-return/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1172409/new-momentum-for-return-of-parthenon-marbles/

… meanwhile, OpEds suggested Britain could gain by returning the marbles:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/britain-can-gain-by-giving-back-the-elgin-marbles-2f65pfkgr

… and apparently the law that ‘prevents’ their return can be changed:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/11/26/law-prevents-stolen-elgin-marbles-return-could-changed-says/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/art-industry-news-november-26-2021-2040538
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/11/28/parthenon-sculptures-law-change/

… and the Acropolis Museum was putting 10 fragments on display:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/not-parthenon-marbles-but-fragments-will-now-be-displayed/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/45818-not-parthenon-marbles-but-fragments-now-displayed-at-acropolis-museum.html
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1172468/ten-rare-parthenon-fragments-to-be-exhibited/
—–
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
============================================================
41 500 years bp ivory mammoth pendant from Poland is thought to be the oldest ‘ornate’ jewellery in Europe (Eurasia?):

https://phys.org/news/2021-11-earliest-evidence-humans-jewelery-eurasia.html
https://www.livescience.com/oldest-modern-human-decorated-jewelry-eurasia
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-11-26/decorated-ivory-pendant-oldest-known-ornate-jewellery-eurasia/100643032
https://elpais.com/ciencia/2021-11-25/un-colgante-de-marfil-de-mamut-de-hace-41500-anos-la-evidencia-mas-antigua-de-una-joya-decorada-en-eurasia.html
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/800/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/800/pub/800/page/57/article/245676
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/stajnia-pendant-10309.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/mammoth-ivory-pendant-may-be-earliest-decorated-jewellery-found-in-eurasia/142110
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01221-6

Possible 31 000 years bp ‘soft footware’ from the Cussac Cave in France:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-02127-z

Feature on a dig at a Mesolithic site in Deeside:

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/2744373/mesolithic-deeside-archaeology/
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/travel/outdoors/3701283/archaeology-mesolithic-deeside/

New research suggests Neolithic pits near Stonehenge were huamn made:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/nov/23/new-tests-show-neolithic-pits-near-stonehenge-were-humanmade
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10237829/Stonehenge-4-500-year-old-pits-man-reveal-scientists.html
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/neolithic-pits-stonehenge-durrington-2039638
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/stonehenge-pits-human-made-research-1234611127/

A major Neolithic ‘ceremonial enclosure’ site near Windsor Castle:

https://www.wessexarch.co.uk/news/neolithic-ceremonial-enclosure-uncovered

3000 years bp remains of roundhouse and evidence of metal working from Perthshire:

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/perth-kinross/2762703/archaeological-dig-in-blairgowrie/

A teenaged metal detectorist found a hoard of bronze axes in Suffolk:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-59386261
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/schoolgirl-metal-detectorist-13-finds-a-once-in-a-lifetime-bronze-age-axe-hoard-on-just-her-third-dig-3466065
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10227007/Teen-metal-detectorist-Suffolk-finds-Bronze-Age-axe-hoard-just-dig.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/11/21/teenage-metal-detectorist-strikes-bronze-lifetime-hoard-axes/
https://washingtonnewsday.com/science/on-her-third-day-of-metal-detecting-a-teen-girl-discovers-a-bronze-age-axe/

A bunch of items from bronze hoards found in Shropshire are going on display:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-shropshire-59433455
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/prehistoric-jewellery-daggers-chariot-fittings-22282132

Four Viking-settlement-era burials from Iceland:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62727

More on early evidence of mercury poisoning from Iberia:

https://uncw.edu/news/2021/11/UNCW-Researcher-Finds-Earliest-Evidence-of-Mercury-Poisoning-in-Prehistoric-Bones.html

Feature on underwater archaeology near Lucerne:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/high-tech-underwater-archaeology-in-a-swiss-lake/47122372

Feature on the stained glass at Canterbury Cathedral:

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211125-the-age-old-mystery-of-a-uk-cathedral

Recently-found documents suggest the monks of Furness Abbey wanted better pay from Henry VIII:

https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/763/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/763/pub/763/page/26/article/237605
———-
Archaeology in Europe News:

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

Medievalists.net:

https://www.medievalists.net/category/news/

Viking Archaeology Blog:

http://viking-archaeology-blog.blogspot.com/

============================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
============================================================
A 99 000 (!) years bp ivory ‘shovel’ from a site in Shandong:

http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_w2W7p8TP.html
https://archive.shine.cn/nation/Ivory-shovel-dug-up-after-99000-years/shdaily.shtml

Shang Dynasty bronze items from China’s Hunan province:

http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_HoYwHEyy.html
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202111/1240095.shtml

128 Han Dynasty urn burials from China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region:

https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/2111218492/
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2021-11/22/content_77885023.htm
https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/social-welfare/article/3157479/chinese-scientists-discover-remains-128-children

I think we mentioned this Western Zhou Dynasty drainage pipe and road remains from Haojing:

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/drainage-pipe-ancient-road-unearthed-in-xian-city/ar-AAQQrW8
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62741
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10155-211123-china-western-zhou-city

Six tombs from various periods (with gold ornaments in on from Qin Dynasty times) from Shaanxi:

http://en.people.cn/n3/2021/1124/c90000-9923764.html

Recent finds from the Yong’an Site dating to the Fuyu Kingdom in Jilin:

http://www.ecns.cn/news/2021-11-22/detail-ihatchnz0427552.shtml
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2021-11/22/content_77885074.htm

Feature on Chinese islands near Macau:

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3156715/chinese-islands-next-macau-great-stories-pirates

The location of the palace in ‘The Tale of the Genji’ might have been found in Kyoto:

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14482615

75 Kushan-period artifacts from a dig in Afghanistan:

https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-175626

A metal tray of undetermined date from the Angkor Archaeological Park:

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ana-unearths-metal-tray-angkor-park

Latest finds from a dig at Sandhai village in Yamunagar include coins and a piece of a statue:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/haryana-more-ancient-coins-remains-of-statue-found-from-sandhai-village-in-yamunanagar/articleshow/87934917.cms

A Vijayanagar Empire ‘hero stone’ from Teggarse:

https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-districts/hero-stone-from-vijayanagar-empire-unearthed-in-teggarse-1055087.html

Feature on a Siva temple in Thiruchirapalli:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2021/nov/22/an-ancient-siva-temple-in-chola-capital-2386433.html

============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
============================================================
Latest on research arising from the wreck of the Batavia:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-22/batavia-timber-resarch-dutch-shipwrights/100632280

I think we mentioned this find of five ‘non-returning boomerangs’ from a dried up Australian riverbed:

https://www.livescience.com/five-aboriginal-boomerangs-found-australia
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
Research suggests Indigenous groups in North America had to cope with climate effects of a 6th century eruption of a volcano on Iceland:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/ancient-indigenous-civilization-survived-then-thrived-after-6th-century-climate-catastrophe-1.5678907

More on the petroglyphs found at the Wanuskewin Buffalo Jump site in Saskatchewan:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/rock-art-wanuskewin-heritage-park-petroglyphs-excavated-1.6254819
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/11/23/ancient-archaeological-find-in-wanuskewin-heritage-park/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/bison-in-canada-discover-ancient-petroglyphs-fulfilling-an-indigenous-prophecy-180979119/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10153-211122-canada-rock-art

Interesting story of a 19th century cabin found in the walls of a modern house in Orem:

https://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/2021/nov/09/cabin-found-in-walls-of-modern-house-in-orem-has-two-stories/

Some Tlingit art was found in a small museum storage area in Alaska:

https://www.npr.org/2021/11/27/1059490241/alaskan-museum-uncovers-unique-art-from-the-indigenous-tlingit-tribe

Feature on the Battle of the Alamo:

https://www.livescience.com/battle-of-the-alamo

They’re going to demolish the Wright Brothers’ first bicycle shop:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Panel-OKs-bid-to-demolish-Wright-Brothers-1st-16655096.php

============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
Remains of a 5500-5100 adobe structure from Pampa de las Salinas (Peru):

https://andina.pe/Ingles/noticia-peru-oldest-adobe-construction-in-the-americas-discovered-in-libertad-870576.aspx
https://www.laprensalatina.com/discovery-in-peru-shows-andes-adobe-architecture-dates-back-over-5000-years/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/archaeologists-unearth-the-oldest-adobe-architecture-in-the-americas/142116
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/11/26/oldest-adobe-architecture-in-the-americas-unearthed-in-northern-peru/

A study of 2500 years bp children’s teeth from Caral reveals early breastfeeding practices:

https://www.laprensalatina.com/ancient-breastfeeding-habits-in-andes-survive-in-modern-day-peru/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10160-211124-peru-caral-breastfeeding

An 800+ years bp pre-Inca mummy find from near Lima:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/27/archaeologists-unearth-mummy-estimated-to-be-at-least-800-years-old-in-peru
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/archaeologists-unearth-mummy-peru-b1965232.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-latin-america-59446488
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/archaeologists-find-800-year-old-mummy-peru-2021-11-27/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/archaeologists-find-800-year-old-mummy-in-peru-687116
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62774

More on finds associated with Maya saltworkers in Belize:

https://www.lsu.edu/mediacenter/news/2021/11/18ga_mckillop_residences.php
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10156-211122-maya-salt-works

Reviewish of a book on Britain’s (non) involvement in thw War of the Triple Alliance in 19th century South America:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/23/paraguay-britain-war-of-the-triple-alliance
—–
Mike Ruggeri’s Ancient Americas Breaking News:

http://goo.gl/1VdeA

Mike Ruggeri’s Ancient Americas lecture channels on Youtube:

https://mikeruggerisyoutube.tumblr.com/

Ancient MesoAmerica News:

http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
============================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
============================================================
Prehistoric mothers (where?) apparently were better at caring for their kids than we thought:

https://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/prehistoric-mums-cared-for-kids-better-than-we-thought
https://phys.org/news/2021-11-prehistoric-moms-kids-thought.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211123131404.htm
https://www.sciencealert.com/prehistoric-mothers-were-probably-better-at-caring-for-babies-than-graves-suggest
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/11/24/prehistoric-mums-cared-for-kids-better-than-we-thought/

cf: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.24406

Feature on Egyptian Blue:

https://egyptianstreets.com/2021/11/27/egyptian-blue-a-hue-that-made-history/

A century of Gucci fashion:

https://www.dw.com/en/house-of-gucci-100-years-of-iconic-fashion/a-59842926

Applying machine learning to Shakespeare:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/24/books/review/shakespeare-cohere-natural-language-processing.html

On the history of secularism in France:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/12/france-god-religion-secularism/620528/

On sentimentalizing war in the US:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/29/the-cost-of-sentimentalizing-war-elizabeth-d-samet-looking-for-the-good-war

On the debate over teaching evolution in US schools:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/11/failed-school-ban-evolution-conservatives/620779/

A 17th century celestial globe in the Museo Galileo has been restored:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62746

A scientific history of glass:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-brief-scientific-history-of-glass-180979117/

… on a similar subject:

https://knowablemagazine.org/article/society/2021/ancient-origins-glass

On why the art market is so appealing to fraudsters:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/11/26/a-swindlers-playground-con-artists-art-market

Feature on a recently-acquired watercolour of a Black Woman in 18th century Edinburgh:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-18th-century-watercolor-of-a-black-woman-acquired-by-scottish-national-gallery-180979098/

Feature on the preservation of the Faddan More Psalter:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/nov/21/it-was-terrifying-ancient-books-journey-from-irish-bog-to-museum-treasure

Feature on one of John Jay’s enslaved women:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/travel/john-jay-paris-abigail-slavery.html

Feature on Brian May’s stereoscopic photo collection:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-59262795

Feature on the history of Jewish women publishing Hebrew books:

https://www.jpost.com/judaism/is-there-a-secret-history-of-jewish-women-publishing-hebrew-books-687043

Feature on Lincoln’s role in defining US holidays:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/11/how-lincoln-redefined-thanksgiving-and-christmas/620800/

Feature on ten myths about the Crusades:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-many-myths-of-the-term-crusader-180979107/

Feature on George Sand:

https://aeon.co/essays/how-aurore-dudevant-put-on-mens-boots-to-become-george-sand

Feature on the Orient Express:

https://aeon.co/essays/the-tempietto-in-rome-should-be-a-full-body-experience

Feature on the Tempietto in Rome:

https://aeon.co/essays/the-tempietto-in-rome-should-be-a-full-body-experience

Feature on a reallllly overdue book being returned:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/overdue-book-returned-anonymously-idaho-library-111-years-later-rcna6856

In case you’ve ever wanted to roleplay as a Pict:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5nnr99r9jdo

More on the rethinking of the Justinianic Plague:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211119085132.htm

Review of Lena Cowen Orlin, *Private Life of William Shakespeare*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/books/review/private-life-of-william-shakespeare-lena-cowen-orlin.html

============================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
History of American Thanksgiving items (various spins):

https://aleteia.org/2021/11/22/a-tale-worth-telling-the-400th-anniversary-of-thanksgiving/
https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/25/the-roots-of-thanksgiving-in-ancient-greece/
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/thanksgiving-turkey-s-history-actually-starts-southern-hemisphere-dinosaurs-ncna1284508

Feature on the ‘ecology’ of the first Thanksgiving:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-ecology-of-the-first-thanksgiving/

Feature on Pueblo domestication of turkeys:

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/turkey-droppings-reveal-a-lot-about-how-ancient-pueblo-people-domesticated-turkeys/article_9cfb5e08-4726-11ec-96cc-872ef4d7ba96.html

… and Ben Franklin’s purported desire to have the turkey as the US National Bird:

https://www.livescience.com/benjamin-franklin-turkey-national-bird

Feature on wishbone traditions:

https://www.freep.com/story/life/food/2021/11/24/thanksgiving-wishbone-what-know-furcula/8747422002/

Feature on Squanto and his possible burial beneath a Cape Cod golf course:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/11/25/squanto-death-murder-golf-course/

A backgrounder to Hanukkah:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/11/26/when-is-hanukkah-2021-jewish-holiday-explained/8672190002/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2021/11/27/hanukkah-channukah-hanukah-thanksgiving-christmas-antisemitism/

What archaeology in Israel reveals about Hanukkah:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/what-does-archaeology-in-israel-tell-us-about-hanukkah-686979

… feature on Judith as a Hanukkah heroine:

https://www.jns.org/how-judith-became-a-hanukkah-heroine/

Protests at USheffield regarding archaeology:

https://www.thestar.co.uk/education/university-of-sheffield-protest-planned-against-cultural-vandalism-after-archaeology-department-closure-3467299

A statue of Jefferson was removed from NYC city hall:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/24/us/thomas-jefferson-statue-removed/index.html

The Taliban is apparently touristifying the site of the Bamiyan Buddhas:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/taliban-destroyed-afghanistans-ancient-buddhas-now-welcoming-tourists-rcna6307

In case you missed all the ‘omicron’ discussion:

https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/coronavirus/why-is-the-new-coronavirus-variant-called-omicron-687165
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/11/omicron-who-skip-letters-greek-alphabet-nu-xi.html
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/11/27/the-inherently-political-task-of-assigning-appropriate-greek-letters-to-covid-19-variants/
============================================================
ANIMAL AND PLANT DOMESTICATIONS
============================================================
Feature on dogs in antiquity:

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/programs/self-improvement-wednesday/siw-dogs-of-antiquity/13646900

============================================================
LANGUAGE RELATED
============================================================
On the origins of Pildowner:

https://wordsmith.org/words/piltdowner.html

On centuries-old plays helping to revitalize Cornish:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/ordinalia-play-revitalize-cornish

On translating Chinese into English during a failed embassy in 1793:

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/books/article/3157400/when-translating-chinese-english-could-be-dangerous

More on the origins of Japanese, Turkish, and assorted other languages:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2296962-origins-of-japanese-and-turkish-language-family-traced-back-9000-years/
============================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
Mycenae:

https://www.varsity.co.uk/arts/22432

Matisse:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/nov/27/speaking-back-to-matisse-art-gallery-of-nsw-dazzles-with-comprehensive-complicated-show

Ancient Roman Childhood:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/11/23/uffizi-kids-children
https://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2021/11/22/uffizi-shows-kids-lives-in-ancient-rome_79613bf0-6b01-4d12-9953-35045eb24463.html
https://www.ansa.it/toscana/notizie/2021/11/22/mostre-a-uffizi-30-opere-raccontano-vita-bimbi-antica-roma_1794a76b-6a06-4863-b5bb-341cf0a1ff80.html

Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/photos-ramses-the-great-and-the-gold-of-the-pharaohs-inaugurated-in-houston/
https://www.chron.com/culture/article/houston-science-museum-HMNS-Ramses-exhibit-16641926.php

Peru:

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/peru-british-museum-review/

Nazi looted art:

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20211123-the-masterpieces-stolen-by-the-nazis

cf: https://thejewishmuseum.org/index.php/exhibitions/afterlives-recovering-the-lost-stories-of-looted-art

Holbein:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/hans-holbein-getty-center/2021/11/23/d40dfe44-4bdd-11ec-a1b9-9f12bd39487a_story.html

cf: https://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/holbein/index.html

Questions about looted art at the Kunsthaus Zurich:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59320514

Feature on a botched restoration of some Cambodian statues at the CMA:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/museums-swap-stone-limbs-and-restore-two-cambodian-masterpieces-to-their-former-glory-180979072/

There’s a new Red Cross museum:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/28/florence-nightingales-lamp-and-coded-wartime-quilt-star-in-new-red-cross-museum

The Met made a loan exchange agreement with Nigeria:

https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/met-nigeria-loan-exchange-agreement-benin-bronzes-1234611007/

The Getty acquired a Caillebotte:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/11/23/getty-museum-acquires-caillebottes-young-man-at-his-window/

Feature on the Smithsonian’s ‘secret storerooms’:

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2021/11/a-rare-look-inside-the-smithsonians-secret-storerooms

The British Museum isn’t embarrassed by its treasures, we are told:

http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/800/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/800/pub/800/page/18/article/244775

The Smithsonian is dealing with climate change:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/25/climate/smithsonian-museum-flooding.html

============================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
============================================================
The Hamilton Aphrodite is heading to auction after being mia for 70 or so years:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/11/24/ancient-roman-marble-statue-aphrodite/
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/798/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/798/pub/798/page/46/article/244332
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/hamilton-aphrodite-statue-sothebys-auction-1234611128/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/11/23/sothebys-to-offer-the-hamilton-aphrodite-an-ancient-roman-marble-last-sold-70-years-ago-now-expected-to-sell-for-up-to-pound3m
https://www.scottishfield.co.uk/homes-gardens/arts-antiques/lost-hamilton-palace-sculpture-goes-to-auction/

A Celtic carnyx found by a metal detectorist in Suffolk is coming to auction:

https://www.eadt.co.uk/lifestyle/heritage/rare-celtic-warhorn-to-be-auctioned-8511634

Much hype for an Einstein manuscript coming to auction:

https://www.livescience.com/rare-einstein-relativity-manuscript-auction

… and it did fetch a nice price:

https://www.livescience.com/albert-einstein-record-selling-manuscript-relativity

Big bucks for Dame Edith Sitwell’s address book:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-59314410

The last of the Gurlitt Collection was auctioned:

https://www.dw.com/en/gurlitt-collection-last-of-14-nazi-looted-artworks-auctioned/a-598

More on high hopes for that sketch which might be a Durer:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/drawing-purchased-for-30-turns-out-to-be-an-authentic-durerand-could-be-worth-millions-180979109/

I think we mentioned this letter of Catherine the Great regarding smallpox vaccinations coming to auction:

https://www.livescience.com/catherine-the-great-smallpox-letter
============================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS
============================================================
Climate change is being implicated in the collapse of the Liangzhu culture some 5000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2021-11-collapse-ancient-liangzhu-culture-climate.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/researchers-determine-what-caused-the-liangzhu-culture-collapse/142106
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/11/25/collapse-of-ancient-liangzhu-culture-caused-by-climate-change/

Opeddish thing on what remains of Mesoamerican cities can teach about climate change:

https://slate.com/technology/2021/11/ancient-cities-climate-change-urban-resilience-adaptation.html
============================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
============================================================
Masada:

https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/masada-israel/

Hiking in the Adirondacks:

https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/from-haystack-to-nye-100-years-later

Poitiers:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/poitiers-france-eleanor-aquitaine–history-trail/2021/11/24/3c24faf8-489d-11ec-b8d9-232f4afe4d9b_story.html

Canterbury Cathedral:

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211125-the-age-old-mystery-of-a-uk-cathedral

Fenelon Falls sunken train wreck:

https://www.toronto.com/news-story/10526827-16-year-old-diver-gives-us-a-glimpse-of-a-legendary-fenelon-falls-sunken-train-wreck/

Veria:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/22/discover-centuries-history-in-greeces-city-of-veria/

Saarland:

https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-16-states-saarland/a-45259835

============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
Spanish police recovered a 2000 years bp Iberian sword that was up for sale online:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/25/spanish-police-recover-rare-2000-year-old-iberian-sword

Illegal digging at the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site:

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Artifact-thief-digs-holes-at-South-Carolina-16641766.php

Roman-era artifacts (and others) were seized in southern Turkey:

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211123-roman-era-artefacts-seized-in-south-eastern-turkey/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/11/24/roman-era-artefacts-seized-in-south-eastern-turkey/

Very interesting feature on Michael Bogdanos and his work recovering antiquities:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/12/bogdanos-antiquities-new-york/620525/

Followup to that 47 years after the fact Revolutionary War rifle theft story:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-stole-revolutionary-era-rifle-museum-decades-ago-sentenced-1-day-rcna6571

———-
conflict antiquities:

http://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/

anonymous swiss collector:

http://www.anonymousswisscollector.com/

Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues:

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

Looting Matters:

http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/

Illicit Cultural Property:

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

SAFE:

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

============================================================
REPATRIATION AND RECOVERY
============================================================
The US returned 1000 or so looted artifacts to Mali:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/22/arts/design/us-mali-looted-antiquities-returned.html
https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/15563-us-returns-nearly-1-000-looted-artifacts-to-mali
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/11/23/us-customs-return-stolen-artefacts-mali

The University of Aberdeen is returning skulls collected by James Audubon:

https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/797/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/797/pub/797/page/41/article/244089

Switzerland returned some looted items to Syria:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/switzerland-returns-looted-palmyra-relics-to-syria/47136184
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/11/24/three-looted-palmyra-sculptures-seized-in-geneva-freeport-return-to-syria
http://sana.sy/en/?p=255572

Some 18th century documents relating to the Stockbridge-Munsee people are being returned:

https://www.vpr.org/npr-news/2021-11-21/pignatelli-expects-no-hiccups-when-lawmakers-consider-returning-tribal-documents

A stolen letter of Christopher Columbus has been returned to the National Library of Catalonia:

https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2021-11-23/la-carta-de-cristobal-colon-robada-de-la-biblioteca-nacional-de-cataluna-vuelve-a-casa.html

Cyprus received some items from a collector:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/11/24/dozens-of-cyprus-ancient-artefacts-returned/
http://famagusta-gazette.com/2021/11/26/handing-over-of-38-antiquities-to-the-embassy-of-the-republic-of-cyprus-in-washington-usa/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/11/24/handing-over-of-38-antiquities-at-the-embassy-of-the-republic-of-cyprus/

Feature on a former Cambodian looter working to recover it:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/21/arts/design/toek-tik-cambodian-artifacts.html

More on the British Museum returning items to Ethiopia:

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/after-century-half-ethiopian-artefacts-return-home-2021-11-22/

More on the Met returning Benin bronzes:

https://hyperallergic.com/694341/met-museum-officially-returns-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/11/22/met-returns-looted-benin-works
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211123-met-returns-three-artworks-looted-under-british-colonial-rule-to-nigeria

============================================================
NUMISMATICA
============================================================
Feature on online resources for researching ancient coins:

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/online-resources-for-researching-ancient-coins/

On the importance of provenance for ancient or medieval coins:

https://www.numismaticnews.net/world-coins/provenance-becoming-critical

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v24/club_nbs_esylum_v24n47.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v24/club_nbs_esylum_v24n48.html
————————

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
Peter Rhodes:

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19734068.memorial-service-greek-history-expert-peter-rhodes/

Mark S. Weil:

https://source.wustl.edu/2021/11/obituary-mark-s-weil-emeritus-professor-of-art-history-82/

George Eogan:

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/george-eogan-obituary-archaeologist-who-unearthed-passage-tombs-of-knowth-1.4738967

Jakucho Setouchi:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/world/asia/jakucho-setouchi-dead.html

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

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3119-audio-news-from-archaeologica-november-14th-through-november-20th-2021
============================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS
============================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:

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

About.com Archaeology:

http://archaeology.about.com/

Archaeology Briefs:

http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/

Atlas Obscura:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/

Heritage Daily:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/

Sapiens Archaeology:

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

Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:

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

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

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/
============================================================
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!
============================================================
Useful Addresses
============================================================
You can read Explorator online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/

Past issues of Explorator are also available on the web via our
groups.io page:

https://groups.io/g/explorator

To subscribe to Explorator, send a blank email message to:

explorator+subscribe@groups.io

To unsubscribe, send a blank email message to:

Unsubscribe: explorator+unsubscribe@groups.io

To send a ‘heads up’ to the editor or contact him for other
reasons:

rogueclassicist@gmail.com
===========================================================
Explorator is Copyright (c) 2021 David Meadows. Feel free to
distribute these listings via email to your pals, students,
teachers, etc., but please include this copyright notice. These
links are not to be posted to any website by any means (whether
by direct posting or snagging from a usenet group or some other
email source) without my express written permission. I think it
is only right that I be made aware of public fora which are
making use of content gathered in Explorator. Thanks!
===========================================================

Advertisement