Explorator 24.40 ~ January 23. 2022

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, Nancy Hurley, Richard Miller, Kris Curry, Rick Heli, Richard C. Griffiths, Frank MacKay, David Emery, Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week(as always hoping I have left no one out).
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CUT AND PASTE CORRIGENDA
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Several folks alerted me to the mispasting of a piece on Benedict Arnold last week … apologies, and here it is:

https://wnyt.com/saratoga-county-ny-news/benedict-arnold-movie/6357909/
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EARLY HOMINIDS
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Study suggests that a 200 000 years bp hominid skull found in the 1970s in China may have contained the largest known brain at the time:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/20220117/e9d002941df44c5a8c9f56190342a2b6/c.html
http://en.people.cn/n3/2022/0117/c90000-9945331.html
http://www.ecns.cn/news/sci-tech/2022-01-18/detail-ihauveie2088096.shtml

More on an older dating for homo sapiens in eastern Africa:

https://www.npr.org/2022/01/22/1073878448/volcano-eruption-humans-research-africa
https://hyperallergic.com/706321/researchers-find-evidence-human-beings-are-way-older-than-we-thought/
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/01/researchers-date-the-oldest-known-human-skull-at-233000-years/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10286-220118-ethiopia-volcano-fossil

Suggestion that Neanderthals had language:

https://elpais.com/ciencia/2022-01-16/para-mi-esta-muy-claro-que-los-neandertales-hablaban.html
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AFRICA
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A study of West African plant-based food remains from some 3500 years bp pottery fragments:

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2022/january/origin-of-plants-in-west-african-cuisine.html
https://phys.org/news/2022-01-west-african-cuisine.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/tracing-the-origins-of-plants-in-west-african-cuisine/142557
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/tracing-origins-of-plants-in-ancient.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/19/tracing-the-origins-of-plants-in-west-african-cuisine/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10290-220119-west-africa-plants

More on a Liberian script and its clues to the evolution of writing:

https://www.shh.mpg.de/2089042/evolution-of-writing
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/17/rare-african-script-offers-clues-to-the-evolution-of-writing/

More on 100 000 years bp bone tools for making clothing from Morocco:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.102988

More on 50 000 years bp ostrich eggshell beads:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-692730
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/16/trail-of-african-bling-reveals-50000-year-old-social-network
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/ostrich-beads-archaeology-discovery-africa-1234616055/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/stone-age-social-network-2062268

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ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
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[not a lot happening in the ANE this week …]

More on the 4000 years bp structures associated with copper and turquoise mining in the Sinai:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-egypt/copper-and-the-history-of-the-alphabet-in-ancient-egypt/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/01/egypt-unearths-ancient-quarters-mining-leader
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10292-220120-egypt-mining-administration

More on blocks and other bits from a pair of massive limestone sphinxes of Amenhotep III from Luxor:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/455206.aspx
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/01/more-ancient-egypts-largest-mortuary-temple-uncovered
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10427285/Pair-sphinxes-depicting-King-Tutankhamuns-grandfather-discovered-Egypt.html
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/sphinxes-found-amenhotep-iii-temple-luxor-1234616230/
https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkp399/archeologists-discover-two-huge-sphinxes-in-egyptian-ruins
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/huge-blocks-for-sphinx-shaped-amenhotep.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/18/sphinx-and-sekhmet-statues-found-at-pharaoh-amenhotep-iiis-mortuary-temple/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10291-220119-egypt-luxor-amenhotep

More on the foetus preserved in a 2000 years bp mummy:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/foetus-inside-egyptian-mummy-preserved.html

Egypt and South Korea have signed an MOU to cooperate in the antiquities and museum sectors:

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2022/01/22/egypt-south-korea-sign-mou-to-enhance-cooperation-in-antiquities-museums-sector/

… part of which includes Korean participation in restoration work at Egyptian temples:

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/01/120_322713.html
http://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220123000192
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220123000127
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220123001400325

Egypt was celebrating archaeologists last week:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/50/1207/456543/AlAhram-Weekly/Heritage/Celebrating-archaeologists.aspx

5 000 years bp evidence of tool and ‘instrument’ (!) making from Qale-Rostam (Iran):

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/469262/People-in-southeast-Iran-had-know-how-to-make-tools-5-000-years

Digging has resumed (I thought it had already) at the Burnt City:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/469207/Archaeological-work-begins-near-Burnt-City

Feature on the Luristan Bronzes:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/469334/Luristan-Bronzes-a-glimpse-into-their-mystery

An 800 years bp prayer room found beneath the al-Nuri mosque in Mosul:

https://local12.com/news/nation-world/archaeologists-discover-800-year-old-prayer-room-archaeology-mosul-iraq-isis-mosque-pray-religion-tourism-caliphate-holy-war-al-nuri-iraqi-antiquities-and-heritage-cincinnati-ohio
https://wset.com/news/nation-world/archaeologists-discover-800-year-old-prayer-room-archaeology-mosul-iraq-isis-mosque-pray-religion-tourism-caliphate-holy-war-al-nuri-iraqi-antiquities-and-heritage-cincinnati-ohio

More on European archaeologists returning to Iraq:

https://thearabweekly.com/european-iraqi-archaeologists-again-work-digging-treasures-cradle-civilisations

More on the 6th century mosaic floor from a Byzantine basilica site in Hatay province (not sure about the translation):

https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/01/17/mosaic-in-greek-prepared-by-a-freed-slave-to-thank-god-found-in-turkeys-hatay/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63144

Pondering some 9000 years bp skulls found in the 1980s which had been smeared with asphalt from the Judean Desert:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/what-was-asphalt-doing-on-9000-year-old.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/21/what-was-asphalt-doing-on-a-9000-year-old-skull/

More on evidence from that Jerusalem toilet of parasites among the elite:

https://www.zmescience.com/science/ancient-toilet-intestinal-parasites-924632456/

More on the ‘good shepherd ring’ from a shipwreck off Caesarea:

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2022/january/good-shepherd-ring-discovered-off-the-coast-of-caesarea

Haven’t had a piece pondering whether the Exodus happened in a while (this one is actually sort of touristy):

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-693872

Marking Conrad Schick’s 200th birthday:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/archaeology-today/archaeologists-biblical-scholars-works/the-foundations-of-jerusalem-archaeology/?mqsc=E4141253&dk=ZE2410ZF0

Feature on Haggai and Zechariah in a Persian context:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2022/01/haggai-and-zechariah-books

Review of a book aimed at getting children interested in archaeology in Israel:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-692459

The National Library of Israel acquired 90 more pages from a 15th century work of Jewish Law:

https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/article-693909

More on the 4500 years bp ‘funerary avenues’ from Saudi Arabia:

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-arabia-funerary-avenues-discovered
https://www.sciencealert.com/archaeologists-have-discovered-some-spectacular-lost-highways-from-ancient-arabia
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/archaeologists-discover-ancient.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10289-220119-saudi-arabia-avenues

More on that 4000 years bp board game from a site in Oman:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/archaeologists-find-4000-year-old-board.html

—–
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

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ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
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Overviewish piece on this season’s finds at Kition:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/01/20/excavations-shed-further-light-on-ancient-kition/
https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/the-2021-archaeological-excavations-at-ancient-kition-completed/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/results-of-2021-kition-pampoula.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/20/results-of-2021-kition-pampoula-excavations/

Overviewish of finds from the Gemina Tomb at Tarquinia (found a few months ago):

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/discoveries-at-tarquinia-gemina-tomb.html
https://greekreporter.com/2022/01/22/excavation-etruscan-tomb/

A find of what seems to be a marble workshop from Pompeii (Italian):

https://mediterraneoantico.it/articoli/news/lastre-di-marmo-pregiato-ritrovate-nellinsula-occidentalis-di-pompei/

Remains of a 4th century CE Roman amphitheatre from Aargau (Switzerland):

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/swiss-archeologists-dig-up-youngest-roman-amphitheatre/47274624
https://www.swissinfo.ch/ita/tutte-le-notizie-in-breve/kaiseraugst–ag—scoperto-anfiteatro-romano/47274086
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/roman-amphitheatre-unearthed-in-switzerland/142560

A metal detectorist in Cornwall found a 2000 years bp Roman ring in his wife’s flower bed:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10410043/Maths-teacher-unearths-2000-year-old-Roman-ring-garden-wife-gave-metal-detector.html
https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/gallery/man-discovers-roman-gold-wifes-6497198

A 2nd/3rd century coin hoard from South Derbyshire (found in 2019?):

https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/local-news/roman-coins-found-south-derbyshire-6505156

An 1800 years (amazing) Roman glass bowl from Nijmegen:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63180

A coin hoard (looks 3rd century) with a couple of bracelets found by metal detectorists in Ribble Valley:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-60055386
https://www.burnleyexpress.net/heritage-and-retro/heritage/awe-struck-detectorists-unearth-huge-hoard-of-roman-coins-and-jewellery-in-ribble-valley-3529628

I think we mentioned this 3rd century CE statue of a woman from Perge:

https://greekreporter.com/2022/01/18/third-century-ad-statue-of-woman-unearthed-in-ancient-greek-city-of-perge/

Something about a Greek mosaic floor find during mine excavations in Syria:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/01/17/ancient-greek-mosaic-syrian-hama/

In case you missed the Greco-Roman era rock-cut tombs from west of Aswan:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/455265.aspx
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/01/17/greco-roman-rock-cut-tomb-unearthed-in-aswan/
https://greekreporter.com/2022/01/19/greek-mummy-aswan-egypt/
https://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2022/01/17/archeology-university-of-milan-researchers-find-assuan-tomb_5f8493bf-5019-479f-a21a-da176fb3e9e1.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/greco-roman-tomb-containing-twenty-mummies-discovered-near-aswan/142530
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/graeco-roman-tomb-with-20-mummies.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/19/aswan-egypt-new-finds-from-a-greco-roman-tomb-in-the-aga-khan-area/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10293-220120-egypt-burial-chambers

… and claims of a Turkish harem on the Acropolis:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/turkish-harem-acropolis-athens-b1996199.html

Plans for protection/management of the site of Gla:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/18/acropolis-of-gla-yes-to-the-plan-for-protection-and-management-of-site/

Salamis’ overseeing committee is reflecting on their successes:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/01/22/protection-of-salamis-mosaics-named-as-among-committees-significant-works/

Brexit delays heritage payments relating to Hadrian’s Wall:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/01/22/hadrians-wall-threat-brexit-delays-heritage-payments/
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/855/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/855/pub/855/page/16/article/264092

More on that Roman-era (maybe) wooden figure found during HS2 construction near Buckinghamshire:

https://www.dw.com/en/rare-roman-wooden-figure-found-in-the-uk/g-58291898
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/rare-roman-wooden-figurine-unearthed-at.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/17/archaeologists-uncover-rare-roman-wooden-figure/

More on the remains of a sizeable Roman-era trading town in Northamptonshire:

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-roman-market-town-excavated-uk
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-roman-trading-settlement-unearthed-80-miles-from-london-180979406/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10282-220118-england-roman-town

More on an 1800 years bp broken statue of Venus from Croatia:

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/59345-venus-statue-in-zadar
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63170
https://www.archaeology.org/10294-220120-croatia-venus-statue

More on the Hypogeum of Cristallini Street (a Hellenistic necropolis outside Naples) opening to the public:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/naples-greek-tombs-cristallini/index.html
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/naples-greek-tombs-cristallini/index.html
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/01/19/ipogeo-dei-cristallini-ancient-greek-tombs-in-naples-rewrite-history-opens-in-june/

cf: https://ipogeodeicristallini.com/

More on badgers in Spain revealing a hoard of Roman coins:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/burrowing-badger-unearths-roman-era.html

Plans for an underwater museum at Piraeus proceed apace:

https://news.gtp.gr/2022/01/20/piraeus-plans-for-underwater-antiquities-museum-get-approval/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/20/procedures-going-ahead-for-the-museum-of-underwater-antiquities/

The US is funding a project to restore and preserve mosaics at Volubilis:

https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/us-funds-restoration-ancient-roman-city-morocco

In case you were wondering what happened to Classics at UVermont:

https://classicalstudies.org/scs-blog/john-c-franklin/blog-news-vermont-ambrose-graduate-fellowship-classical-languages

Charlotte Higgins on applying Greek myth to modern crises:

https://time.com/6140064/greek-myths-covid-19-pandemic/

Victor Nuovo is starting a new series … this one gets to Lucretius:

https://www.addisonindependent.com/2022/01/20/victor-nuovo-like-everyone-i-ask-what-does-it-all-mean/

Feature on Cynicism:

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/01/cynicism-modern-ancient-true-meaning/621314/

Feature on Roman dog crucifixion:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-romans-used-to-crucify-dogs
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/romans-used-crucify-dogs-101323688.html

Feature on Dura-Europos:

https://smarthistory.org/dura-europos/

Feature on the Library of Alexandria:

https://www.livescience.com/rise-and-fall-of-the-great-alexandria-library

Feature on some Roman columns at Brindisi:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/roman-columns-of-brindisi

Feature on TROY university students participating in digs in Italy:

https://today.troy.edu/news/troy-professor-students-make-discoveries-at-italian-excavation-sites/

Feature on ancient Rome as the Founding Fathers’ inspiration for the US economy:

https://fee.org/articles/how-the-roman-empire-provided-the-founding-fathers-a-blueprint-for-america-s-economy/

Imagining life in ancient Rome:

https://bigthink.com/the-past/ancient-rome-life-routine/

Yet another feature on the Antikythera Mechanism:

https://astronomy.com/magazine/news/2022/01/dissecting-an-ancient-computer

Pondering how quiet Vesuvius seems to be:

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/940754
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220120125422.htm

More on pressure apparently increasing on the BM to return the Parthenon sculptures:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/jan/18/parthenon-sculptures-greece-pressure-british-museum
https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/world/britain-greece-elgin-marbles-italy-b1994144.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/18/the-london-times-are-in-favour-of-the-return-of-the-parthenon-sculptures/
https://greekherald.com.au/news/greece/greece-step-up-pressure-parthenon-marbles-amid-signs-changing-views-uk/
https://www.thenationalherald.com/the-proposal-of-the-times-of-london-is-interesting/

… and the Times seems happy with the attention they received for their stance:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/greek-rapture-elgin-marbles-support-the-times-rmx28gvcg

Review of Kyle Harper, *Plagues Upon the Earth*:

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/books/article/3164119/professor-rewrites-history-disease-and-explains-why

Review of Lindsey Davis, *A Comedy of Terrors*;

https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/books/news/2022-01-16-murder-mystery-and-a-riotous-romp-through-ancient-rome/

Review of Emily Katz Anhalt, *Embattled*:

https://dartreview.com/embattled-a-review/

Revisiting Donna Tartt’s *Secret History*:

https://www.gawker.com/culture/tartt-for-tartts-sake-the-secret-history-at-30
—–
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
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EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
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A study of some gold and silver tubes found in a 5000 years bp burial mound in Russia in 1897 have been identified as ‘beer straws’:

https://phys.org/news/2022-01-oldest-straws.html
https://www.livescience.com/oldest-drinking-straws-on-record
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/19/ancient-metal-tubes-unearthed-in-1897-could-be-oldest-surviving-drinking-straws
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10415037/Archaeology-Oldest-known-drinking-straws-gold-silver-3ft-long-used-communal-bowl.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-694263
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/earliest-drinking-straws-identified-from-5-500-year-old-tomb-in-caucasus-1.10547390
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/ancient-scepters-actually-straws-communal-boozing-researchers-say-rcna12545
https://gizmodo.com/these-5-000-year-old-drinking-straws-were-used-to-sip-b-1848378709
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/archaeologists-identify-the-oldest-example-of-drinking-straws/142546
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/oldest-known-drinking-straws-identified.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaelogists-find-ancient-drinking-straws-used-to-drink-beer-180979433/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10295-220120-maikop-drinking-straws

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00119-1

An Iron Age gold curved coin hoard from near Baitz (Germany):

https://www.livescience.com/celtic-gold-hoard-discovered-germany
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/archaeologists-uncover-ancient-gold-coin-hoard/142536
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/18/celtic-gold-hoard-uncovered-in-brandenburg/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10288-220118-germany-rainbow-cups

What they’re finding in a Visigoth dump in Toledo:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2022-01-22/el-vertedero-visigodo-de-toledo-se-convierte-en-un-tesoro-arqueologico.html

A 1400-1700 years bp golden ‘neck ring’ from Denmark:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/ancient-golden-neck-ring-of-almost.html

Remains of a medieval garden from Soba:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/1000-year-old-garden-unearthed-in-medieval-town-of-soba/142358

I think we mentioned this medieval pendant as the PAS’s one millionth find:

https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/news/people/binbrooks-one-in-a-million-find-3532864

A metal detectorist found a gold coins of Henry III in a Devon field:

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/rare-henry-iii-gold-coin-6502924
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/60021916
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/henry-iii-gold-penny-first-coin-intl-scli/index.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/01/16/treasure-hunter-strikes-gold-discovery-700-year-old-henry-iii/
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/850/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/850/pub/850/page/40/article/262038
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/800-year-old-gold-penny-found-in-english-field-could-sell-for-half-a-million-180979420/

The skull of a woman of African origin (maybe) from a medieval burial ground in Bohemia:

https://english.radio.cz/black-womans-skull-found-medieval-burial-ground-bohemia-8739771

17th century finds from Plymouth’s first navy supply yard:

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/fascinating-rare-items-found-during-6536357

Reallllly vague report of ‘archaeological finds of interest’ from a Plymouth cave:

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/history/sherford-bone-cave-containing-archaeological-6503978
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-60042700

More on the small size of medieval warhorses:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/medieval-horses-size/2022/01/14/4a90530e-73da-11ec-bc13-18891499c514_story.html

A 14th century burial vault from a church in Bruges has been removed whole (!) for conservation and display purposes:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63152

Feature on the Gjermundbu Viking helmet:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/did-this-viking-helmet-belong-to.html

Feature on reconstructing Sweden’s (mesolithic) ‘seated woman’ burial:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0bhtslq/how-sweden-s-mysterious-seated-woman-came-to-life

Feature on what might have been ‘the original Stonehenge’:

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/original-stonehenge-a-dismantled-stone-circle-in-the-preseli-hills-of-west-wales/B7DAA4A7792B4DAB57DDE0E3136FBC33

Viking-era wooden sailboats have been put on UNESCO’s heritage list:

https://apnews.com/article/travel-lifestyle-united-nations-denmark-norway-1a7bd1a5c82a0f4bcbd79083ede4dd7e
———-
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
============================================================
Remains of 70+ Neolithic semi-subterranean dwellings from China’s Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region:

http://en.people.cn/n3/2022/0118/c90000-9946448.html

Evidence of alcohol use in China some 8000 years bp (I think we mentioned this):

https://ukranews.com/en/news/826432-archaeologists-discover-remnants-of-8-000-yr-old-alcohol-in-china

A cluster of 3000 years bp burials of a wealthy clan in Henan possibly have evidence of warriors being buried alive:

https://www.livescience.com/ancient-chinese-tombs-warriors-buried-alive

Oldest yet found (ca 450 BCE) brewed tea leaves from a royal burial in Zoucheng:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63185

A cluster of 400+ burials dating to Eastern Zhou and Han Dynasty times from Shanxi:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202201/1246229.shtml
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2022-01/18/content_77995947.htm

Remains of a Shang Dynasty city gate from Yanshi:

https://ukranews.com/en/news/826378-ancient-city-gate-remains-discovered-in-central-china

Feature on four sites from Xizang:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202201/1245867.shtml

A study of the Silk Road mummy known as Yingpan Man:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-04383-5

China will soon roll out its next five-year plan for archaeology:

http://www.china.org.cn/china/Off_the_Wire/2022-01/17/content_77994700.htm
http://www.ecns.cn/news/2022-01-17/detail-ihauveie2087784.shtml
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202201/1246271.shtml

… while in 2021 China worked on 1388 archaeological projects:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-01-18/China-carried-out-1-388-archaeological-projects-in-2021-16UYRyip1f2/index.html

I think we mentioned plans to use muon rays to shed more light on the terracotta army:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/cosmic-rays-to-shed-light-on-tomb.html

… while 25 more pottery figurines have been found in one of the pit’s at Qin’s mausoleum:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202201/1246670.shtml

Review of Jing Tsu, *Kingdom of Characters*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/18/books/review/kingdom-of-characters-jing-tsu.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/21/books/review/podcast-jing-tsu-kingdom-of-characters-kathryn-schulz-lost-found.html

A study analyzing orientation of some Japanese tombs via satellite images:

https://phys.org/news/2022-01-secrets-ancient-japanese-tombs-revealed.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/940596
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/satellite-imagery-reveals-new-insights-into-the-kofun-keyhole-burial-mounds/142550
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10296-220121-japan-kofun-sun

cf: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/2/377

More on possible prototypes of ninja weapons from a 16th century site in Japan:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/artifacts-found-in-japan-thought-to-be.html

Somewhat vague item on the find of a 12 foot statue (maybe) of an elephant by villagers in Belur taluk:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/12-feet-statue-unearthed/article38298785.ece

Plans for an underwater survey off the coast of Korkai:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-archaeology-dept-to-conduct-reconnaissance-survey-in-sea-off-the-coast-of-korkai/article38297147.ece

Feature on seven digs starting in February in Tamil Nadu:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/tamil-nadu-receives-nod-for-excavations-at-7-sites-101642705533415.html
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/tamil-nadu-archaeological-excavations-in-seven-sites-to-begin-in-feb-1072952.html
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/jan/21/tamil-nadu-archaeology-department-plans-excavations-at-seven-places-in-2022-2409457.html
https://menafn.com/1103574061/Archaeological-excavations-will-establish-prominence-of-TN-in-history-of-Indian-subcontinent&source=30

Concerns for Hindu temples and other heritage sites in Islamic Pakistan:

https://hinduexistence.org/2022/01/19/vanishing-hindu-temples-shrines-and-heritage-sites-of-islamic-pakistan/

More on evidence of food items from charred 800 BCE remains from kadebakele:

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/938345
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10245-211223-india-charred-lumps

Feature on the growing importance of art restoration in India:

https://www.thehindu.com/society/repaired-retouched-reborn-art-restoration-is-finally-getting-its-due-in-india/article38302011.ece

Latest burial mound finds from the ‘Siberian Valley of the Kings’:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/new-discoveries-in-the-siberian-valley-of-the-kings/142523
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63162
============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
============================================================
Feature on the history of reporting bushfires in Australia:

https://theconversation.com/mythologised-memorialised-then-forgotten-a-history-of-australias-bushfire-reporting-170778
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
A 370 years bp Spanish cross find from a site in Maryland:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2022/01/23/spanish-cross-stmarys-dig/

Latest analyses of the finds from Poverty Point:

https://www.ulm.edu/news/2022/poverty_point_discovery_011822hy.html
https://www.knoe.com/2022/01/20/archeologists-discover-more-about-poverty-point-world-heritage-site/

An Indigenous man wa apparently fired for refused to dispose of human remains found during restaurant renovations near the Alamo:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/01/19/indigenous-man-fired-san-antonio-construction-artefacts-bones-uncovered

Fighting to save a grain elevator in Buffalo:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/22/nyregion/buffalo-grain-elevator.html

More on evidence of a European presence in North America in 1021:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03972-8

Feature on George McJunkin and the Folsom site:

https://www.sapiens.org/column/curiosities/george-mcjunkin/

Feature on the Eagle Bay Hotel:

https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2022/01/the-eagle-bay-hotel-1897-1945-fourth-lake.html

Feature on the Washington Knickerbocker theatre disaster:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/01/19/knickerbocker-theater-centennial/

Review of Ben Raines, *The Last Slave Ship*:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jan/23/last-slave-ship-review-clotilda-africatown-ben-raines

============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
Recent finds by McMaster researchers regarding Maya settlements in Mexico and Guatemala:

https://brighterworld.mcmaster.ca/articles/researchers-uncover-new-information-about-ancient-maya-settlements-in-mexico-and-guatemala/

Feature on the Chachabamba water complex at Machu Picchu:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archaeologists-uncover-ceremonial-water-structures-machu-picchu-2053699

… and some recently-revealed structures:

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/ancient-hidden-machu-picchus-complexity-uncovered-archaeologists-rcna12900
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ancient-hidden-machu-picchus-complexity-234456431.html
https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2022/01/previously-unknown-structures-found-by-archaeologists-among-machu-picchus-ruins/

cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305440321001898

Pondering the golden pectoral from Monte Alban:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/who-wore-the-golden-pectoral-of-monte-alban

Feature on Brazil’s Valango Wharf and its connection to the slave trade:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/17/brazil-slavery-valongo-wharf/

Features on Inca khipu:

https://smarthistory.org/inka-khipu/
https://aeon.co/videos/reading-the-strings-and-knots-that-keep-the-secrets-of-the-inka-empire

Some fact-checking regarding a skull from Peru with a metal plate in it:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/2000-year-old-peruvian-skull/
—–
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
============================================================
Interesting feature on Victorian photocollage albums:

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20220114-the-surprising-ways-that-victorians-flirted

Review of a couple of translations of Origen:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/homilies-on-isaiah-homilies-on-the-psalms-origen-book-review-claire-hall/

Feature on Hokusai’s Great Picture Book:

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/hokusai-and-the-great-picture-book-of-everything-the-latest-research/

Feature on Thomas Mann:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/01/24/thomas-manns-brush-with-darkness

Feature on recycling fashion in the 19th century:

https://slate.com/human-interest/2022/01/history-of-recycling-in-fashion-how-nineteenth-century-fashionistas-reworked-upcycled-and-handed-down.html

Feature on the Pirates Code:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/the-pirate-code/142542

Feature on women pirates:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pirate-women-history

Feature on the myth of Captain Cook:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/jan/18/how-to-kill-a-god-captain-cook-myth-shows-how-heroes-of-empire-will-fall

Feature on the Knights Hospitaller:

https://www.livescience.com/knights-hospitaller.html

Feature on the Freemasons:

https://www.livescience.com/freemasons.html

Feature on the names of chess pieces:

https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/names-of-chess-pieces/

On France’s ‘culture war’ revolving around Moliere:

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/01/moliere-pantheon-honor-macron-denial.html

On the history of dragons:

https://www.livescience.com/25559-dragons.html

On the history of chocolate:

https://aeon.co/essays/how-chocolate-went-from-exotic-curiosity-to-worldwide-commodity

On the possibilities of unicorns:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/unicorns-are-more-legit-than-you-think

Italy is seeking Heritage Status for espresso:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/21/italy-seeks-unesco-heritage-status-espresso-coffee

An interesting dollhouse:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/20/arts/design/stettheimer-dollhouse-museum-city-new-york.html

Feature on five ‘interesting’ archaeological finds of the last decade:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/five-interesting-archeological-discovers-within-the-last-decade

The Vatican did some conservation work on an icon of Mary:

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-01/mary-salus-populi-romani-icon-conservation-check.html

Feature on Gainsborough’s Blue Boy:

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20220120-gainsboroughs-blue-boy-the-private-life-of-a-masterpiece

Feature on Jean-Henri Fabre:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/21/books/the-french-naturalist-who-loved-to-paint-mushrooms.html

Perhaps ‘Ancient Workouts with Omar’ fit into your New Year’s resolutions:

https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a38769526/ancient-workouts-omar-isuf-history/

The person who betrayed Anne Frank and her family may have been identified:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60024228
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-692742

On archaeology’s ‘sexual revolution’:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/16/archaeology-sexual-revolution-bones-sex-dna-birka-lovers

Review of Jennifer Croft, *The Books of Jacob*:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/books-of-jacob-olga-tokarczuk-book-review-adam-sutcliffe/

Review of Ole J Benedictow, *The Complete History of the Black Death*:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/the-complete-history-of-the-black-death-ole-j-benedictow-book-review-eleanor-janega/

Review of Robert Calasso, *The Book of all Books*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/18/books/review/roberto-calasso-the-book-of-all-books.html
============================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
OpEd on the US filibuster debate:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/22/opinion/joe-manchin-filibuster-james-madison.html

The statue of Theodore Roosevelt was removed from the Museum of Natural History:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/controversial-teddy-roosevelt-statue-removed-new-york-city-museum-rcna12813
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/arts/design/theodore-roosevelt-statue-natural-history-museum.html
https://www.wsj.com/articles/theodore-roosevelt-statue-is-removed-from-new-yorks-natural-history-museum-11642699379

Feature on Ukrainian celebration of a ‘pagan’ New Year known as Malanka:

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-lifestyle-europe-religion-1f0634a66a876e986c7b327aa12c0dd9

============================================================
LANGUAGE RELATED
============================================================
How the Marvel Cinematic Universe is reviving interest in some ‘dead’ languages:

https://universitytimes.ie/2022/01/dead-languages-remain-alive-in-the-classroom-and-beyond/?doing_wp_cron=1642872972.2861769199371337890625

Review of Rosemary Salomone, *Rise of English*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/18/books/review/the-rise-of-english-rosemary-salomone.html
============================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
The Horse in Ancient Athens:

https://news.gtp.gr/2022/01/20/new-exhibition-reveals-the-significant-role-of-horses-in-ancient-athens/

Troy:

https://www.farnhamherald.com/news/trojan-war-treasures-to-be-found-at-haslemere-museum-503129

Rubens:

https://www.rutlandherald.com/features/vermont_arts/peter-paul-rubens-picturing-antiquity/article_26c1da50-55a9-5467-9d83-40f9a83009d1.html

Freud and China:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jan/16/how-a-jade-ornament-from-china-casts-new-light-on-freuds-psyche

Azteken:

https://the-past.com/review/whats-on/unseen-aztec-art-in-leiden/

Ancient Greeks:

https://canberraweekly.com.au/ancient-greeks-the-word-at-the-national-museum/

Margins of Empire:

https://www.spottedinely.com/event/margins-of-empire-romans-in-the-fens-exhibition/

Feature on the Museo Ninfeo in rome:

https://www.artandobject.com/news/museo-ninfeo-visitors-walk-through-ruins-luxury-roman-garden

A Samurai Museum will be opening soon in Berlin:

https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2022012000141/

The Five Continents Museum in Munich has identified a number of items of questionable provenance in its collection:

https://www.dw.com/en/german-museum-identifies-objects-likely-stolen-from-africa/a-60520806

M&S is lending some rarely-seen works to a Leeds gallery:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-60058853

The Charles Dickens Museum has put a daguerreotype of CD with a moustache on display:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jan/21/rare-photo-of-charles-dickens-sporting-glorious-moustache-goes-on-show

OpEd seeking the removal of Michael Steinhardt’s name from the Israel Museum:

https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/editorial/michael-steinhardt-remove-name-from-the-israel-museum-1.10541005

Another review of the Boston MFA renovated Greek and Roman galleries:

https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/01/greek-and-roman-gods-get-fresh-treatment-bostons-mfa/

The National Museum of the American Indian has a new director:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/arts/design/smithsonian-national-museum-of-the-american-indian-director.html

Museums in the Netherlands were helping to protest COVID-related shutdowns:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/20/dutch-museum-covid-protest-beauty-salon/
============================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
============================================================
So the hype for the sale of the Villa Aurora with its Caravaggio ceiling continued:

https://www.npr.org/2022/01/17/1073592203/villa-aurora-princess-rita-boncompagni-ludovisi

… but it apparently didn’t receive any bids:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60022997
https://www.npr.org/2022/01/19/1074096108/no-one-bid-on-this-italian-villa-with-the-worlds-only-known-caravaggio-ceiling-m
https://apnews.com/article/europe-rome-arts-and-entertainment-24e578903fe77f4686986b0463a73abe
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220118-auction-of-roman-villa-with-caravaggio-mural-draws-no-bids
https://elpais.com/ciencia/2022-01-16/para-mi-esta-muy-claro-que-los-neandertales-hablaban.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/18/auction-of-roman-villa-with-caravaggio-mural-fails-to-attract-any-bids
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/20/no-bids-for-16th-century-mansion-in-rome-villa-aurora/
============================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
============================================================
Studying the DNA of ancient Egyptians:

https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/were-the-ancient-egyptians-black-or-white-scientists-now-know/

More on DNA identifying the ‘kunga’ as the oldest (4500 years bp) bioengineered animals:

https://phys.org/news/2022-01-horses-ass-hybrids-bred-warfare.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/939818
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/mesopotamians-created-the-first-hybrid-animal-4500-years-ago-1.10536247
https://www.trtworld.com/life/kunga-the-first-animal-to-be-bioengineered-4-500-years-ago-53744
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/before-horses-ass-hybrids-were-bred-for.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-mesopotamian-kungas-are-the-earliest-known-animal-hybrid-bred-by-humans-180979419/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10287-220118-syria-hybrid-kunga
============================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
============================================================
Feature on the use of drones and GPR at Becin (Turkey):

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/history-of-turkeys-becin-revealed-with-radar-drones/news
============================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS
============================================================
Using old photos to track Arctic glaciers:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/climate/svalbard-glacier-melting.html
============================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
============================================================
Predjama Castle:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/predjama-castle-slovenia/index.html

Trieste:

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220119-trieste-italys-surprising-capital-of-coffee

Aigai:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/01/22/macedonias-must-see-archaeological-site-2/

Roman Sofia:

https://emerging-europe.com/after-hours/staying-underground-sofias-ancient-roman-ampitheatre/

Arizona Petroglyphs:

https://www.travelawaits.com/2725227/best-places-to-see-petroglyphs-arizona/
============================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
============================================================
Fever Dream:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/20/theater/taylor-mac-the-hang.html

King’s Daughter:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/20/movies/the-kings-daughter-review.html

Macbeth:

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3162935/tragedy-macbeth-movie-review-denzel-washington-his

Penelope:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/21/arts/music/renee-fleming-uma-thurman-penelope.html

Bach (son of the one you’re thinking of):

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/18/arts/music/bach-piano-hamelin.html

============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
Only two items from Monson’s collection have any archaeological value, apparently:

https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=731698&u=only-two-items-in-monsons-possession-have-archaeological-value-many-including-sabarimala-chembola-are-fake

A gang in Libya is accused of stealing 11 Aramai documents (these don’t look legit):

https://www.libyaobserver.ly/inbrief/gang-arrested-stealing-11-historical-documents
———-
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
============================================================
28 Steinhardt-related items were returned to Turkey:

https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/stolen-artefacts-be-returned-turkey-after-us-ceremony

.. as were 21 other items seized in the US back in 2010:

https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-repatriates-21-roman-era-artifacts-from-us/news

The US returned some items to Iraq (and Libya) as well:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/arts/design/artifacts-trafficking-manhattan-iraq.html
https://phys.org/news/2022-01-federal-agents-year-old-artifacts-iraqi.html
https://www.occrp.org/en/27-ccwatch/cc-watch-briefs/15806-the-u-s-returns-steinhardt-s-looted-artifacts-to-iraq-and-libya

A Lebanese museum returned some Roman items from Palmyra:

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanese-museum-returns-artefacts-syrias-ancient-city-palmyra-2022-01-20/

A Nazi-looted Pissarro’s fate will be decided by the US Supreme Court:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/jan/17/nazi-looted-pissarro-us-supreme-court
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-693929

Feature on researchers tracking Nazi-looted ancient artifacts:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/18/arts/design/antiquities-looted-nazis.html
https://www.union-bulletin.com/seattle_times/new-research-tracks-ancient-artifacts-looted-by-the-nazis/article_e02254c6-e500-5be5-8bcd-b60c41be69a1.html
https://www.thenationalherald.com/new-research-into-greek-artifacts-looted-by-nazis-highlighted-in-ny-times/

More on impending returns associated with the Pandora Papers/Latchford:

https://www.occrp.org/en/27-ccwatch/cc-watch-briefs/15794-u-s-artifacts-sold-by-pandora-papers-named-looter-to-be-returned

============================================================
NUMISMATICA
============================================================
Feature on coins and their target audiences in the Roman Empire:

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/coins-and-their-target-audiences-in-the-roman-empire/

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v25/club_nbs_esylum_v25n03.html

… and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v25/club_nbs_esylum_v25n04.html
————————

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
John Sainsbury:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/01/17/john-sainsbury-former-supermarket-boss-and-major-patron-of-british-museums-has-died-aged-94
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/philanthropist-john-sainsbury-dies-94-1234615919/

Suzanne Singer:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/suzanne-singer/?mqsc=E4141161&dk=ZE2410ZF0

Emilia Bakourou:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/suzanne-singer/?mqsc=E4141161&dk=ZE2410ZF0

Caroline Wickham-Jones:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/obituary-caroline-wickham-jones-6hrn8d8bz

R Nagaswamy:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/jan/23/eminent-archaeologist-tn-archaeology-depts-first-director-nagaswamy-dead-2410447.html

Harvey G. Stack:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/22/business/harvey-g-stack-dead.html
============================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
============================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3131-audio-news-from-archaeologica-january-9th-through-january-15th-2022

============================================================
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.
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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:

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===========================================================
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===========================================================

Posted on January 23, 2022 by David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist 0

Explorator 24.39 ~ January 16, 2022

============================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
Earliest homo sapiens in eastern Africa dates (now) to 230 000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2022-01-earliest-human-eastern-africa-dated.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220112121507.htm
https://www.livescience.com/volcano-reveals-modern-humans-older-than-thought
https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/archaeology/east-african-fossils-may-be-oldest-modern-human-remains/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/earliest-human-remains-in-eastern-africa-dated-to-more-than-230000-years-ago/142510
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/earliest-human-remains-in-eastern.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/13/earliest-human-remains-in-eastern-africa-dated-to-230000-years-ago/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/east-africas-oldest-modern-human-fossil-is-way-older-than-previously-thought-180979384/\

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04275-8

2 million years bp cut marks are being used to suggest early hominids were hunting, not just scavenging:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10398571/Archaeology-Cut-marks-animal-bones-ancestors-DID-begin-hunting-two-million-years-ago.html

A study of birch tar production methods (by Neanderthals?):

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-04161-3

Feature on Isaiah Nengo’s anthropological activities:

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/01/this-kenyan-palaeoanthropologist-is-digging-deep-to-find-our-ancestors

Feature on the Denisovans:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/who-were-the-denisovans

More on ‘early inventors’ and 500 000 years bp ‘technological revolutions’:

https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/stone-age-geniuses/
============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
A study of a Liberian script created in the 19th century is shedding light on the development of writing:

https://phys.org/news/2022-01-rare-african-script-clues-evolution.html
https://www.sciencealert.com/rare-script-from-a-long-isolated-liberian-language-holds-clues-to-the-evolution-of-writing
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/rare-african-script-offers-clues-to.html

cf: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/717779

Photoessay of assorted finds from Sudan over the years:

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/photography/2022/01/facing-an-uncertain-future-sudan-is-drawing-strength-from-its-ancient-past?image=mm9247_200202_05759

More on 50 000 years bp ostrich eggshell beads and their implications:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/16/trail-of-african-bling-reveals-50000-year-old-social-network
============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
============================================================
Remains of structures associated with 4000 years bp turquoise mining in the Sinai:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/454963/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/In-Photos-Middle-Kingdom-mining-mission-premises-u.aspx
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/111722/Archaeological-building-discovered-in-Egypt-s-Sinai
https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-mission-uncovers-headquarters-of-mining-activity-in-sinai-during-middle-kingdom/
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2022/01/12/egypt-unearths-headquarters-of-mining-expedition-leader-in-sinai-during-middle-kingdom/
https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/egypt/2022/01/10/egyptian-archaeological-mission-unearths-miners-quarters-in-south-sinai/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/headquarters-of-ancient-egyptian-mining-mission-found-in-sinai/142496
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/12/headquarters-of-ancient-egyptian-mining-mission-found-in-sinai/

Blocks from a pair of massive limestone sphinx statues of Amenhotep III in Luxor:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/455206/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/In-Photos-Huge-blocks-for-Sphinxshaped-King-Amenho.aspx
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/111835/Egypt-uncovers-blocks-of-huge-limestone-colossi-of-king-Amenhotep
https://www.egyptindependent.com/two-royal-statues-discovered-in-luxor/
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/20220114/359dc519561c48cabc2c7edce3fee2d4/c.html

… a related feature on the ‘Golden City’:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0bgt7gd/how-egypt-s-3000-year-old-golden-city-rose-from-the-sand

Evidence of use of bandages to wrap a wound (as opposed to a mummy) from Egypt:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2303544-ancient-egyptian-mummy-of-a-young-girl-is-first-with-a-bandaged-wound/amp/

Murder has been ruled out as a cause of death for Tut:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/archaeologists-rule-out-murder-as-cause-of-king-tuts-death/

A Greco-Roman era rock cut tomb from west of Aswan:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/455265.aspx
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/111839/Egypt-uncovers-Greco-Roman-tomb-in-west-of-Aswan
https://www.egyptindependent.com/photos-greco-roman-era-cemetery-uncovered-in-aswan/
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2004951/middle-east
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/europe/20220115/87eb970260f7410c86235b5ee395bc47/c.html

More on the ‘digital unwrapping’ of the mummy of Amenhotep I:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/01/egyptian-archaeologists-unwrap-amenhotep-i-mummy-rewrite-history

More on the 2000 years bp foetus preserved in an Egyptian mummy:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/12/foetus-inside-egyptian-mummy-preserved-thanks-to-unusual-process/
https://elpais.com/ciencia/2022-01-13/el-feto-de-la-dama-misteriosa-la-unica-momia-egipcia-embarazada-conocida-resiste-2000-anos-encurtido-como-un-pepinillo.html

Feature on the Ptolemaic era:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/111767/Egypt%E2%80%99s-Ptolemaic-era-witnessed-the-flourishing-of-arts-sciences

Feature on a 2000 years bp pet cemetery in Berenice:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/ancient-humans-had-pets-too

Feature on Soknopaiou Nesos:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/soknopaiou-nesos-the-crocodile-cult-temple/142466

Feature on the Beni Hassan necropolis in El-Minya:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/111769/Beni-Hassan-Necropolis-in-El-Minya-A-testimony-to-the

Seleucid and Parthian finds from a site near Bisotun:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468970/Seleucid-Parthian-relics-unearthed-in-UNESCO-tagged-Bisotun

A Sassanid-era rock-carved inscription from Istakhr (Iran):

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468890/Centuries-old-inscription-discovered-near-Istakhr-ancient-city

A Sassanid-era relief at Naqsh-e Rostam has been restored:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468930/Royal-bas-relief-restored-to-closest-original-state

Feature on Sassanid use of ‘chemical warfare’ at Dura Europos:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/the-first-known-case-of-chemical-warfare/142483

Earliest evidence for the arrival of broomcorn millet in Mesopotamia/Iraq is mid/late second millennium BCE:

https://www.rutgers.edu/news/ancient-mesopotamian-discovery-transforms-knowledge-early-farming
https://phys.org/news/2022-01-ancient-mesopotamian-discovery-knowledge-early.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220111153706.htm
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/earliest-multi-cropping-10456.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/ancient-mesopotamian-discovery.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10279-220113-iraq-broomcorn-millet

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-03552-w

Plenty of coverage for the return of European archaeologists to Iraq:

https://phys.org/news/2022-01-european-archaeologists-iraq-years-war.html
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220112-european-archaeologists-back-in-iraq-after-years-of-war
https://www.rfi.fr/en/european-archaeologists-back-in-iraq-after-years-of-war
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2003261/middle-east
https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-years-of-war-european-archaeologists-return-to-iraq-for-rare-finds/
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/unearthing-ancients-archaeologists-finally-return-to-war-torn-iraq/news
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/european-archaeologists-back-in-iraq-170720

Feature on Kudur-Mabuk:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2022/01/mesopotamian-ruler-without-a-crown

Excavations at a 6th century basilica site in Nicaea have revealed (another) mosaic:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/mosaic-with-slave-thanking-god-for-his-freedom-unearthed-in-southern-turkiye/2470313
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10283-220114-turkey-christianity-basilica

Turkey has a new archaeological institute:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/turkeys-archaeology-institute-to-reveal-archaic-anatolian-history/news

Somewhat strange claim (in that I can’t follow it) that ‘start up managers’ associated with mining activity in the Arava Valley is the reason for their success:

https://www.aftau.org/news_item/was-there-a-start-up-nation-in-ancient-canaan/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-692028
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/320154

cf: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0260518

I think we mentioned this study of First Temple era seals and their implications for Jerusalem wealth at the time:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/clay-seals-give-clues-to-wealth-of-biblical-jerusalem/?mqsc=E4140841&dk=ZE2410ZF0

Reviewish of Andrew Lawler, *Under Jerusalem*:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/podcast-author-digs-into-wacky-but-true-tales-of-jerusalem-archaeology/

Interesting feature on the Yadin/Sukenik ‘archaeological family’:

https://www.jewishpress.com/sections/features/features-on-jewish-world/digging-into-the-yadin-sukenik-archaeological-family/2022/01/12/

Feature on the site of Gezer:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/this-used-to-be-one-of-the-greatest-cities-of-ancient-israel-1.10453115

Feature on using the Bible as an ‘archaeological travel guide’ in Israel:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-how-to-use-the-bible-as-a-travel-guidebook-to-israel-1.10530389

More on latrine-revealed parasites among Jerusalem’s elite:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/01/intestinal-parasites-plagued-jerusalems-wealthy-elite-toilet-excavation-reveals/

Aerial photography and related imagery has revealed a ‘network’ of 4500 years bp ‘funerary avenues’ in Saudi Arabia:

https://phys.org/news/2022-01-archaeologists-ancient-highways-arabia.html
https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf-news/saudi-arabia/2022/01/11/archaeologists-in-planes-help-to-reveal-ancient-highways-in-saudi-arabias-alula/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/survey-reveals-4500-year-old-network-of-funerary-avenues/142480?amp
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/11/ancient-tombs-reveal-funerary-avenues-in-north-west-arabia/

Feature on Safaitic petroglyphs in Jordan (mostly):

http://www.jordantimes.com/opinion/rawan-al-adwan/safaitic-rock-artancient-and-contemporary

More on that 4000 years bp board game find from Oman:

https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C90889%2Carchaeologists-find-rare-4000-year-old-board-game.html
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220109-oman-archaeologists-discover-4000-year-old-stone-board-game/
https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/oman-stone-board-game-uncovered-archeologists
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-691928
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10386063/Archaeology-Ancient-stone-board-game-4-000-year-old-Bronze-Age-settlement-Oman.html
https://www.newsweek.com/bronze-age-board-game-4000-years-old-oman-poland-archaeologists-1667416
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-unearth-4000-year-old-stone-board-game-in-oman-180979340/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10284-220114-oman-game-board

… and this one includes other finds from the site:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/11/qumayrah-valley-ancient-towers-copper-trade-and-games/

—–
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
============================================================
5th-3rd century BCE Hellenistic (Roman?) burials from Antandros:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/centuries-old-graves-found-near-turkeys-ancient-city-antandros/news
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roman-era-tombs-found-around-ancient-antandros-170688

A platform of a temple of Athena/Minerva from Castro (Italian):

https://www.quotidianodipuglia.it/lecce/castro_dea_atena_salento_archeologi_campagna_scavi_d_andria_taranto_grecia-6437539.html

Latest major HS2 construction-related find are remains of a sizeable Roman-era market town in Norhamptonshire:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/11/roman-town-found-northamptonshire-field-hs2-route
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hs2-dig-uncovers-the-roman-market-town-that-vanished-mxnhnrcvr
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-59943179
https://www.independent.ie/videos/railway-archaeologists-uncover-vast-roman-trading-settlement-in-northamptonshire-41227566.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hs2-route-roman-town-archaeologists-b1990651.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/11/roman-ruins-hs2-blackgrounds-britain/
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/roman-town-iron-age-archaeology-scli-scn-intl/index.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/roman-trading-town-unearthed-dig-uks-hs2-rail-project-rcna12128
https://news.sky.com/story/most-impressive-archaeological-site-could-transform-understanding-of-roman-era-12513109
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10387235/HS2-dig-finds-ancient-road-2-000-year-old-coins.html
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/hs2-london-birmingham-northamptonshire-b975974.html
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/01/archaeologists-unearth-ancient-roman-town-along-uk-high-speed-rail-route/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/vast-roman-trading-settlement-unearthed.html

… associated with the above is apparently a ‘dual carriageway’:

https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/846/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/846/pub/846/page/38/article/261217

Another HS2-related find is a large Roman-era (maybe) wooden figure from a waterlogged ditch in Buckinghamshire:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/13/exquisite-roman-figure-found-on-hs2-dig-in-buckinghamshire
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-59972275
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/buckinghamshire-roman-hs2-britain-london-b1992018.html
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/848/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/848/pub/848/page/46/article/261668
https://www.thenational.scot/news/19843461.rare-roman-wooden-figure-uncovered-hs2-archaeologists-buckinghamshire/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10395239/Archaeology-Rare-Roman-wooden-figure-Buckinghamshire-ditch-HS2-archaeologists.html
https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/people/rare-roman-wooden-figure-uncovered-by-hs2-archaeologists-in-aylesbury-vale-3525596
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/hs2-roman-figure-buckinghamshire-scli-scn-intl/index.html
https://www.dw.com/en/rare-roman-wooden-figure-found-in-the-uk/g-58291898
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/archaeologists-uncover-roman-wooden-figure/142519

… and the finds gave rise to an editorial about archaeology and making the HS2 ‘look good’:

https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/long-reads/hs2-archaeology-news-roman-mola-blackgrounds-b1990727.html

A badger (apparently) revealed a major 3rd-5th century Roman coin hoard in a Spanish cave:

https://phys.org/news/2022-01-burrowing-badger-unearths-roman-era-treasure.html
https://www.livescience.com/badger-uncovers-roman-coins-in-spain
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/09/hungry-badger-may-have-uncovered-roman-coins-in-spanish-cave
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59937510
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/badger-beats-detectorists-roman-coins-spain-qnmts3c8x
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10386551/Badger-uncovers-200-Roman-coins-Spanish-cave.html
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/846/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/846/pub/846/page/68/article/263343
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/badger-roman-coins-spain-scli-intl-scn/index.html
https://www.npr.org/2022/01/11/1072019349/a-badger-gets-credit-for-finding-roman-coins-in-a-cave-in-northern-spain
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-11/badger-credited-for-unearthing-hoard-of-roman-coins/100748842
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/badger-leads-archeologists-to-hoard-of-roman-coins-in-spain-1.5734128
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220110-burrowing-badger-unearths-roman-era-treasure-in-spain
https://www.rfi.fr/en/burrowing-badger-unearths-roman-era-treasure-in-spain
https://www.sciencealert.com/hungry-badger-unexpectedly-discovers-roman-era-treasure-trove
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hungry-badger-digs-up-roman-coins-in-spain-180979378/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10275-220111-spain-roman-coins

Remains of an 1800 years bp Venus statue from a construction site in Zadar:

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/59345-venus-statue-in-zadar

Some Roman and Medieval coins found in Derbyshire a couple years ago have been declared treasure:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-59953977
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/hoard-roman-coins-found-derbyshire-6487133

… as was the just-found (major) Gobowen coin hoard from Shropshire:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-shropshire-59958128
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/oswestry/gobowen/2022/01/12/gobowen-roman-coins-treasure-sheds-light-on-time-when-shropshire-was-like-helmand-province/
https://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/19840047.history-experts-praise-detectorist-roman-coin-hoard-discovered-north-shropshire/
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/north-shropshire/2022/01/11/shropshire-hoard-of-roman-silver-coins-hoard-declared-treasure-by-coroner/
https://www.shropshirelive.com/news/2022/01/11/hoard-of-roman-coins-found-in-gobowen-declared-treasure/

Overviewish report on the 2021 dig season at Agios Sozomenos-Djirpoulos:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/10/results-of-the-2021-agios-sozomenos-djirpoulos-excavations/

… and recent finds from Tenea:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/14/new-finds-at-ancient-tenea/

Not sure about this find (by metal detectorists) of a Roman (?) item being dubbed a ‘paranormal paracetamol’:

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/people/amateur-archaeologists-find-extraordinary-roman-artefact-dubbed-paranormal-paracetamol-near-havant-3527867
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/01/16/treasure-hunters-discover-greco-roman-artefact-they-call-the-paranormal-paracetamol/

In a major change of opinion, the London Times now believes the Parthenon Sculptures should be returned:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-times-view-on-the-elgin-marbles-uniting-greeces-heritage-spdz5vz6k

… and the Greek PM continues his campaign for their return:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/jan/10/time-has-come-for-uk-to-return-parthenon-marbles-says-greek-pm

… especially in the wake of the ‘return’ of that ‘foot fragment’ from Sicily:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/greece-looks-to-returned-fragment-of-parthenon-as-blueprint-to-reclaim-elgin-marbles-kq6rnwwbw
https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-middle-east-arts-and-entertainment-greece-athens-d5bde6cf63210d97943b4e8666eda14a
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/kyriakos-mitsotakis-greece-parthenon-sculptures-parthenon-athens-b1990169.html
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1175259/hope-marble-foot-will-push-uk-to-return-parthenon-sculptures/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1175193/parthenon-fragment-on-show-as-momentum-builds/
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/greece-hopes-marble-foot-uk-return-sculptures-82180326
https://www.dw.com/en/italys-return-of-parthenon-fragment-to-greece-shakes-up-debate-in-uk/a-60146803
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220110-parthenon-fragment-repatriated-from-sicily-to-greece
https://greekreporter.com/2022/01/10/parthenon-marbles-fragment-returns-home-acropolis-museum/
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/parthenon-fragment-returns-to-greece–rekindling-campaign-for-uk-to-hand-over-marbles/47251250
https://hyperallergic.com/705224/italy-returns-parthenon-fragment-to-greece-shaking-up-debate-over-marbles-in-uk/
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/greece-hopes-marble-foot-will-get-uk-to-return-sculptures-170697
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/13/parthenons-fagan-fragment-at-the-acropolis-museum/

… and other recent returns going on display:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/10/new-fragments-from-the-parthenon-at-the-acropolis-museum/

A nice backgrounder on how the Marbles made their way to Britain:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-much-debated-elgin-marbles-ended-up-in-england-180979311/

Not sure where to put this one on tales of a Turkish harem on the Acropolis:

https://theconversation.com/a-turkish-harem-on-the-acropolis-its-most-likely-a-greek-myth-170330
https://phys.org/news/2022-01-turkish-harem-acropolis-greek-myth.html
https://menafn.com/1103539962/A-Turkish-harem-on-the-Acropolis-Its-most-likely-a-Greek-myth

A Hellenistic necropolis outside Naples is opening to the public:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-long-overlooked-necropolis-in-naples-reveals-the-enduring-influence-of-ancient-greece-180979385/
https://greekreporter.com/2022/01/14/greek-necropolis-naples/

More on that Santorini-related tsunami victim found on the Aegean coast:

https://www.livescience.com/skeleton-man-dog-ancient-thera-eruption-tsunami

More on that statue of a woman recently found at Epidaurus:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/12/the-statue-of-a-woman-with-a-full-length-chiton-came-to-light-in-epidaurus/

More on the Greeks probably not practicing infanticide:

https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/no-ancient-greeks-probably-didnt-kill-their-weak-babies/

Reviewish of Roosevelt Montas, *Rescuing Socrates*:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/01/ideas-vs-identity-liberal-arts-montas-padilla/621241/

Feature on a Latin paleography class at Dartmouth:

https://home.dartmouth.edu/news/2022/01/mastering-art-reading-medieval-manuscripts

Feature on an intaglio at the Ancient Greeks exhibition in Canberra:

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7575587/goddess-nike-a-cameo-appearance/?cs=14243

Feature on ancient Roman dog crucifixion:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-romans-used-to-crucify-dogs

Feature on Sparta:

https://aeon.co/essays/theres-more-to-sparta-than-martial-valour-and-austerity

Feature on garum:

https://www.eater.com/22867421/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-garum

Feature on Roman latrines:

https://nerdist.com/article/ancient-roman-latrines-opulent-gross-historian-explores/
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ancient-roman-latrines-were-both-135552770.html

Feature on the Derveni Papyrus:

https://www.euronews.com/culture/2022/01/15/60-years-on-what-do-we-know-about-the-derveni-papyrus-europe-s-oldest-literary-text

Feature on that ‘diver fresco’ from Paestum:

https://greekreporter.com/2022/01/12/paestum-ancient-greek-fresco/

Feature on some aspects of Alexander’s death:

https://www.snopes.com/articles/389606/alexander-the-great-false-death/

Feature on Roman reaction to British climate:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-climate-drove-romans-up-the-wall-pzhvfs38g

A digital recreation of Olympia (we may have mentioned this):

https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/10-16-january-2022/microsoft-a_da-rebuild-ancient-olympia/

… and one of ancient Rome:

https://nerdist.com/article/ancient-rome-reconstruction-3d-aerial-video/

Pondering our fascination with Pompeii:

https://www.inverse.com/culture/pompeii-and-death

Latest Pasts Imperfect newsletter:

https://pastsimperfect.substack.com/p/pasts-imperfect-11322

—–
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
============================================================
A major collection of Neotithic cattle remains from Dublin is causing a rethink of beef and cattle herding in that era:

https://www.ucd.ie/newsandopinion/news/2022/january/11/neolithiccattlesitecouldchangetheunderstandingofwhatbeefmeanttotheancientpeopleofireland/
https://phys.org/news/2022-01-neolithic-cattle-site-beef-meant.html
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/neolithic-site-could-change-understanding-of-what-beef-meant-to-ancient-irish-1.4773282
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/neolithic-cattle-site-could-change.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/01/14/exceptional-faunal-assemblage-discovered-on-the-n2-kilshane-excavation/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10276-220112-ireland-neolithic-cattle

Report on a middle Neolithic dig at Mas de Vignoles, assocation with the Chasseen culture:

https://www.inrap.fr/occupation-de-la-plaine-de-nimes-au-neolithique-16174

A pierced Iron Age gold coin from Acle has been declared treasure:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-59953890

A hoard of 2000 years bp Celtic gold ‘rainbow cups’ from Germany:

https://www.livescience.com/celtic-gold-hoard-discovered-germany
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63115

A medieval elite Pomeranian (maybe) burial from Poland:

https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C90777%2Ctreasure-trove-elite-found-1000-year-old-grave.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10277-220112-poland-medieval-grave

A trio of medieval burial vaults from Bruges:

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2022/01/11/painted-medieval-burial-vaults-discovered-in-bruges/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10278-220113-bruges-medieval-vaults

Car park construction in Gloucester revealed remains of a medieval friary cloister:

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/medieval-friary-underneath-gloucester-car-6472646

A major medieval coin hoard find (back in October) from Austria:

https://www.numismaticnews.net/world-coins/important-medieval-find-in-austria

17th century finds from a Plymouth navy yard dig:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-59956016

Pondering the possibility of a Viking ship under a block of flats slated for demolition in Ostend:

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2022/01/15/ancient-viking-ship-under-ostend-block-of-flats/

More on horned helmets not being associated with Vikings:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/09/europe/vikings-horned-helmets-bronze-age-intl-scli-scn/index.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/iconic-viking-horned-helmets-actually-3000-years-old-180979339/

More on the workshop site associated with Sutton Hoo:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sutton-hoo-treasures-likely-crafted-at-1400-year-old-workshop-180979337/

More on a pair of medieval objects with Runic/Latin inscriptions from Oslo:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/artifacts-runic-inscriptions-norway-10443.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/newly-discovered-norwegian-runes-might-contain-a-medieval-joke-180979381/

Explorator 24.38 ~ January 9, 2022

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
============================================================
Evidence of 300 000 years bp hunter-gathering activities in northern Iran:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468785/Archaeologists-discover-300-000-year-old-relics-traces-of-hunter-gatherers

Pondering the sex lives of Neanderthals:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210112-heres-what-sex-with-neanderthals-was-like

Pondering how early humans and Neanderthals dealt with the cold:

https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2022-01-07/outside-inbox-would-ice-age-humans-still-think-of-ice-as-cold

I think we’ve mentioned ‘Dragon Man’ at some point in the past year:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/2021s-hottest-fossil-was-actually-found-over-85-years-ago

Feature on the ‘Devil’s Trail’ (Neanderthal footprints in Italy):

https://www.sciencealert.com/mysterious-footprints-suggest-neanderthals-climbed-a-volcano-right-after-it-erupted

cf: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jqs.3186

Another bit of Neanderthal genetic legacy causing issues for modern humans:

https://phys.org/news/2022-01-modern-humans-effective-oxidative-stress.html

cf: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abm1148

More on ‘early inventors’ sparking technological revolutions some 500 000 years bp:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/stone-age-technological-revolution-invention-b1986605.html

More on the mammoth and Neanderthal finds from Swindon:

https://the-past.com/news/ice-age-mammoth-bones-and-neanderthal-tools-found-in-swindon/
============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
Feature on that 75 000 years bp child burial from Kenya that was found a few years ago:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/africas-earliest-human-burial-comes-to-light

More on the remains of a 16th-19th century CE synagoge from Morocco:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-691377
============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
============================================================
A possible wall collapse at the White Monastery in Sohag:

https://copticliterature.wordpress.com/2022/01/08/collapse-of-part-of-the-walls-of-the-white-monastery-in-sohag-upper-egypt/

More on the digital unwrapping of the mummy of Amenhotep I:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/01/egyptian-archaeologists-unwrap-amenhotep-i-mummy-rewrite-history

… and a feature on the folks who did it:

https://news.westernu.ca/2022/01/western-trained-egyptologist-unwraps-mummy-mystery/

The ‘sun phenomenon’ at Deir el-Bahari happened last week:

https://egyptindependent.com/sun-falls-perpendicular-to-temple-of-queen-hatshepsut-in-luxor-thursday/

Feature/study of a 2000 years bp mummified fetus in a Warsaw museum:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/ancient-egyptian-fetus-preserved-due-to-unusual-decomposition-process/142394

Legal punishment for some officials in Egypt who ‘neglected’ restoration of some historic walls:

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2022/01/03/court-punishes-10-antiquities-officials-for-neglecting-restoration-of-historic-walls-in-cairo/

Finds from various periods from a series of trenches on the outskirts of Shahr-e Kord (Iran):

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468710/Stone-building-probably-belonging-to-ancient-tribesmen-discovered

Feature on the Luristan Bronzes:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/the-mystery-of-the-luristan-bronzes-still-puzzles-archaeologists

Iran announced the ‘legal boundaries’ of assorted sites, including Teppe Hasanlu:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468829/Magnificent-Teppe-Hasanlu-legal-boundaries-demarcated

Concerns for the site of Assur:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/iraqi-site-assur-ancient-history-stands-risk-disappearing-180979241/

Ongoing concerns for archaeology in Lebanon:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/lebanons-archaeological-crisis-status-on-antiquities/142415

Remains of a 7th century synagogue from Side (Turkey):

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/7th-century-synagogue-unearthed-in.html

More on that 8500 years bp figurine from Catalhoyuk:

https://turkishpress.com/8500-year-old-marble-statuette-found-in-central-turkey/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10265-220104-catalhoyuk-neolithic-figurine

An overview of archaeological finds in Turkey in 2021:

https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/archaeology-turkey-2021-review

Feature on the Ulu Burun shipwreck:

https://medium.com/teatime-history/bronze-age-shipwreck-reveals-the-luxurious-lifestyles-of-the-ancient-elite-42f880855c57

A study of the contents of that toilet found in an elite Jerusalem site a few months ago reveals folks had plenty of parasites:

https://phys.org/news/2022-01-toilet-temple-period-luxury-villa.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/939133
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-691480
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ancient-toilet-shows-jerusalems-rich-wallowed-in-luxury-and-discomfort/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/01/07/study-of-2700-year-old-toilet-sheds-light-on-ancient-owners-tummy-troubles/
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/rk4lqtwnf
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319809
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/biblical-kings-were-plagued-by-parasites-2-700-year-old-toilet-shows-1.10508745
https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/01/04/affluent-ancient-jerusalemites-suffered-infectious-disease/
https://gizmodo.com/parasitic-worms-found-in-toilet-of-2-700-year-old-mansi-1848300926
https://www.sciencealert.com/2-700-year-old-outhouse-suggests-an-epidemic-of-intestinal-worms
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/ancient-toilet-reveals-jerusalem-elite-suffered-from-infectious-diseases-and-worms/142407
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/toilet-of-first-temple-period-luxury.html

cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879981721000838

A study of seals is possibly shedding light on the location of the Kingdom of Judah’s temple and treasuries:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-691768
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tiny-clay-seals-reveal-first-temple-royal-treasuries-in-jerusalem-researchers-say/

Not sure why this ‘Jesus face’ story from 2018 is being brought up again:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/MAGAZINE-suddenly-i-saw-eyes-jesus-face-discovered-in-ancient-israeli-desert-church-1.6640744

More on evidence of 7000 years bp beer consumption fro Tel Tsaf and Peq’in Cave:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-israel-history-beer/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/beer-flowed-freely-at-gatherings-in-jordan-valley-7000-years-ago-180979323/

On 19th century Jerusalem archaeology and Zionism:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/how-19th-century-western-archaeologists-made-jerusalem-a-zionist-dream-1.10510755

A British mortar shell from the ‘mandate period’ found near Jerusalem:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-691409

OpEddish concerns for sites in southern Judea:

https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/01/07/jewish-heritage-is-being-destroyed-before-our-eyes/

All the presentations (videos) from a Dead Sea Scrolls conference at NYU back in June:

https://as.nyu.edu/hebrewjudaic/events/DSSConfJune2021.html

A 4000 years bp game board from Oman:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-691928
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63089
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/archaeologists-discover-4000-year-old-stone-board-game/142440
https://www.randrlife.co.uk/sultanate-of-oman-a-board-game-over-four-thousand-years-ago-discovered-by-polish-archaeologists/

Plans for a major survey and excavation in Soudah:

https://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/615569/SAUDI-ARABIA/180-day-survey-and-archaeological-excavation-to-begin-in-Soudah
—–
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
============================================================
Late Bronze age structures and kitchen ware from Ayios Soxomenos-Djirpoulus (Cyprus):

https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/01/04/walls-and-kitchenware-unearthed-as-dig-concludes-in-ayios-sozomenos/

Reliefs of Roman era (?) theatre masks from Castabala (Turkey):

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/relief-masks-unearthed-at-ancient-theater-in-southern-turkey-3587350
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/relief-masks-unearthed-at-ancient-theater-in-southern-turkiye/2467560

Ramparts of the ancient city of Salona have been revealed:

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/59125-ancient-salona-ramparts

3rd century CE Roman/Goth finds from Lviv:

https://interfax.com.ua/news/general/789843.html
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/01/1700-year-old-gothic-burial-unearthed.html

Eight 4th century ‘sarcophagi’ from excavations at Ordu:

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/roman-era-sarcophagi-unearthed-in-turkeys-black-sea-region
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/excavations-in-turkeys-black-sea-region-find-roman-era-sarcophagi-3587393
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/4th-century-tombs-unearthed-near-turkeys-black-sea-coast/2456773
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10262-220103-black-sea-tombs

Remains of a 1700 years bp road from Pompeiopolis:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/newly-found-ancient-road-to-serve-tourism-170507

On the 2021 survey of Tenea at Chiliomodia (Corinth):

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/2021-results-of-systematic.html

Explorator 24.37 ~ January 2, 2022

Happy New Year!

============================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
Suggestion that a ‘few clever people’ sparked the technological revolution of 500 000 years bp:

https://theconversation.com/how-a-handful-of-prehistoric-geniuses-launched-humanitys-technological-revolution-171511
https://phys.org/news/2021-12-prehistoric-geniuses-humanity-technological-revolution.html

A study of energy intake and expenditure by early humans (sort of):

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-early-humans-gained-energy-acquisition.html

cf: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abf0130

Suggestion that too many species are lumped into the category of homo sapiens:

https://www.sapiens.org/biology/human-fossil-record/

A top ten ‘human evolution stories’ for 2021:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/the-way-we-were-top-human-evolution-stories-of-2021-1.10496952

… and a feature on seven new things we leaned about human evolution in 2021:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/seven-new-things-we-learned-about-human-evolution-in-2021-180979271/

Feature on the Piltdown Man hoax:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/edwardian/who-was-piltdown-man-hoax/

More on Neanderthal modification of the environment:

https://www.archaeology.org/news/10235-211216-germany-tree-clearing

============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
Feature on the rescue excavation of a16th-19th century CE synagogue in Morocco:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-israeli-and-moroccan-research-team-discovers-lost-jewish-lives-in-atlas-mountains-1.10494305

============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
============================================================
Really a techy story, a very high tech digital unwrapping of the mummy of Amenhotep I revealed plenty of interesting details:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-scientists-digitally-unwrap-mummy-pharaoh.html
https://www.livescience.com/mummy-of-pharaoh-amenhotep-unwrapped
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/28/egyptian-pharaohs-mummified-body-gives-up-its-secrets-after-3500-years
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59808883
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/829/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/829/pub/829/page/32/article/254063
https://egyptindependent.com/secrets-of-the-mummy-of-king-amenhotep-i-revealed-with-ct-scans-for-first-time/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/111309/Secrets-of-King-Amenhotep-I%E2%80%99s-mummy-revealed-with-CT-scan
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/452237/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/Digital-unwrapping-of-King-Amenhotep-I-reveals-fac.aspx
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-five-foot-six-and-circumcised-ct-scan-uncovers-mummy-of-pharaoh-1.10498672
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10343117/Archaeology-Mummy-Egyptian-Pharaoh-Amenhotep-digitally-unwrapped-time.html
https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/28/world/egyptian-mummy-unwrap-scn/index.html
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211228-egypt-digitally-unwraps-mummy-of-famed-pharaoh
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-29/amenofis-i-fue-vuelto-a-vendar-de-buen-rollo.html
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/20211229/0a1458c0f3da43d5a1d75fe9bc4e65f8/c.html
https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/127400384/a-3500yearold-mummy-of-an-egyptian-king-has-been-digitally-unwrapped-for-the-first-time
https://www.rawstory.com/egypt-digitally-unwraps-mummy-of-famed-pharaoh/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2303207-the-mummy-of-egyptian-pharaoh-amenhotep-i-has-been-digitally-unwrapped/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/scientists-digitally-unwrap-mummy-of-pharaoh-amenhotep-i/142378
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10256-211229-egypt-amenhotep-i

cf: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.778498/full

Interesting study of a preserved 2000 years bp fetus in a mummified Egyptian woman:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/ancient-egyptian-fetus-preserved-due-to-unusual-decomposition-process/142394

A statue of Thutmose II is undergoing restoration:

https://www.egyptindependent.com/king-thutmose-ii-huge-statue-in-luxor-to-be-inaugurated-soon-after-restoration-official/

Recent Paleolithic finds from a cave site near Shiraz (Iran):

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468553/Archaeologists-uncover-clues-about-Paleolithic-humans-in-southern

Farmers in southern Iran came across a couple Achaemenid-era column bases:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468629/Achaemenid-column-bases-discovered-in-farm-southern-Iran

A Sassanid seal with an animal motif from a ‘stratigraphy project’ in Iran’s Mazandaran province:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468475/Sassanid-seal-depicting-unique-animal-motif-unearthed-in-northern

A survey in Isfahan has revealed more than 50 sites from various eras:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468668/Archaeological-expedition-finds-50-historical-sites-relics-in

An Iranian-German team has commenced excavations at Uramanat:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468476/Iranian-German-archaeologists-commence-work-in-western-Iran

More on that Elamite tablet from the Burnt City:

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/middleeast/top-stories/elamite-clay-tablet-unearthed-in-mysterious-burnt-city/ar-AAS83Qq
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10255-211228-iran-elamite-tablet

Over 2000 artifacts were discovered in Iraq over the course of 2021:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2021/12/31/recently-discovered-artefacts-at-the-iraqi-national-museum/
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/20211230/41cb191f99cc4717b0c56a8332c09021/c.html
http://www.china.org.cn/china/Off_the_Wire/2021-12/30/content_77961999.htm
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202112/1243864.shtml
https://scoopempire.com/%EF%BB%BFiraqi-led-archaeological-exhibition-uncovers-around-2250-new-artifacts/

An 8500 years bp marble figurine from Catalhoyuk:

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/8500-year-old-marble-statuette-found-in-central-turkey-3586858

Remains of a 4500 years bp rope from Seyitomer Hoyuk:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/4500-year-old-rope-remains-found-in.html?m=1

A feature on the top finds in Turkey in 2021:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/karahantepe-finds-chosen-as-most-important-discovery-of-2021-170364

An overview of finds in Turkey during December:

https://turkisharchaeonews.net/article/december-2021-turkish-archaeology

Evidence of a ‘modern’ heating system in the 800 years bp Artuqid Palace excavations at the Amida Mound site:

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/excavations-at-9000-year-old-mound-in-turkey-reveal-new-findings
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/karahantepe-finds-chosen-as-most-important-discovery-of-2021-170364

Remains of a 7th century CE synagogue from Side (Turkey):

https://www.timesofisrael.com/excavations-reveal-ancient-synagogue-in-turkish-resort-town/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-689925
https://forward.com/fast-forward/480086/excavations-reveal-ancient-synagogue-in-turkish-town-near-tourist-hotspot/
https://www.jta.org/2021/12/27/global/excavations-reveal-ancient-synagogue-in-turkish-town-near-tourist-hotspot

Turkey coverted another Byzantine-era church into a mosque:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/12/26/turkey-turns-another-church-into-a-mosque-on-christmas-eve/

Feature on Sumeriologist Muazzes Ilmiy Cig’s long career (she’s 108 years old!):

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/108-year-old-sumerologist-credits-istanbul-museum-for-long-career/news

Another ‘top finds of 2021’ list … this one is Israel-specific:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/TIMELINE-jerusalem-discovery-unleashes-biblical-bedlam-top-archaeology-stories-of-2021-1.10494373

… and one on ‘Christian archaeology’ in 2021:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/TIMELINE-christian-archaeology-in-2021-more-than-just-the-four-horsemen-1.10496243

… and Biblical archaeology:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/2021s-top-ten-stories-in-bhd/?mqsc=E4140521&dk=ZE14D0ZF0

Concerns for 120 sites in Jerusalem:

https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/12/29/turning-over-in-their-graves/

Questioning the identification of ‘Magdala’:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/have-we-really-found-mary-magdalenes-birthplace

OpEddish sort of feature on Herod:

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/how-mad-was-herod-the-great/

Feature on wine production in the 12th century Kingdom of Jerusalem:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2021/12/wine-production-in-jerusalem

A followup piece to that ‘Sodom Cosmic Event’ story from a month or so ago:

https://skepticalinquirer.org/2021/12/sodom-meteor-strike-claims-should-be-taken-with-a-pillar-of-salt/

… and another spin:

https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/tall-el-hamman/

Feature on the purported site of the burning bush incident on Mount Kardom:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/31/world/middleeast/israel-mount-sinai-burning-bush.html

Review of Andrew Lawler, *Under Jerusalem*:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-690218
—–
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
============================================================
First remains (from Turkey) of a victim (and a dog) of a tsunami which followed the eruption of Santorini ca 1600 BCE:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-skeleton-young-ancient-tsunami-turkish.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10347443/Archeology-Skeletons-young-man-dog-killed-TSUNAMI-1600-BC-uncovered-Turkey.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/one-man-dog-offer-clues-fall-of-civilisation-santorini-greece-ls9w09ksw
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-689976
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319404
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/victims-of-huge-volcanic-eruption-from-1600-b-c-e-finally-uncovered-1.10499429
https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/30/santorini-volcano-turkey/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/12/28/3500-year-old-skeletons-of-young-man-and-dog-killed-by-santorini-volcano-discovered/
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/victims-of-a-3-600-year-old-volcanic-eruption-found-in-turkey-53114
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/3600-year-old-tsunami-time-capsule-sheds-light-on-one-of-humanitys-greatest-disasters
https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2022/01/archaeologists-find-ancient-tsunami-victim-on-the-turkish-coast/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10260-211230-thera-volcano-tsunami

cf: https://www.pnas.org/content/119/1/e2114213118

Latest finds from the Palace of Nestor site:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/new-findings-on-mycenaean-cemetery-of.html

A ‘hidden’ inscription from a 4th century BCE Etruscan helmet:

https://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2021/12/28/helmet-of-two-etruscan-soldiers-yields-hidden-inscription_1fc5f036-d1b2-436c-9a40-727d5b32aa1c.html
https://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2021/12/28/helmet-of-two-etruscan-soldiers-yields-hidden-inscription_a12576be-69f0-4734-a692-3b80f34a1e69.html
https://www.laprensalatina.com/unusual-inscription-found-inside-2400-year-old-etruscan-helmet/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/unusual-inscription-found-inside-2400.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63033

Remains of a Bronze Age settlement beneath a Roman bath complex in Corinth:

https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/46088-bronze-age-settlement-discovered-under-roman-bath-complex-at-corinth-of-greece-video.html
https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/29/bronze-age-settlement-roman-bath-corinth/

A Hellenistic-era burial from Chieti:

https://abruzzolive.it/chieti-da-scavi-in-piazza-san-giustino-emerge-ricchissima-tomba-ellenistica/

Water work in Rome have revealed remains of a 2000 years bp funerary complex of some sort:

https://www.laprensalatina.com/work-on-romes-water-system-uncovers-ancient-funerary-complex/
https://www.theislanderonline.com.au/story/7568320/ancient-funerary-complex-uncovered-in-rome/

An unfinished 2nd century CE statue (kind of looks like Hercules) from Veria:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-689973
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/archaeologists-excavate-roman-era-statue-in-centre-of-ancient-veria/142364

A metal detectorist found some 2000 years bp bronze ‘loaded’ dice in North Yorkshire:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10347267/Metal-detectorist-finds-2-000-year-old-loaded-dice-Romans-used-cheat-gambling.html

Rains revealed a life-size statue (possibly Hygieia) at an excavation site in Epidavros:

https://www.culture.gov.gr/el/Information/SitePages/view.aspx?nID=4059
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1174663/rain-reveals-female-roman-statue-in-epidavros/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/46074-rare-discovery-in-ancient-site-of-epidaurus-in-peloponnese.html
https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/29/marble-statue-epidaurus-goddess-hygeia/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10258-211230-epidaurus-statue-woman

Another Roman military diploma find … this time from Perre (Turkey):

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-diploma-found-in-perre-170413
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/1898-year-old-bronze-military-diploma-found-in-turkeys-perre/news

Excavations on the Sambian Peninsula reveal burials of a people described by Tacitus:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/the-amber-elites-in-ancient-kaliningrad-went-to-eternity-with-their-horses-1.10494946

Excavations at Zominthos are almost complete:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1174865/excavations-at-the-minoan-palace-of-zominthos-near-completion/

… and the latest finds:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/central-courtyard-unearthed-at-minoan.html

Pompeii has restored a horse skeleton found back in 1938:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-31/pompeya-saca-del-abandono-a-uno-de-sus-primeros-caballos.html

Plans to excavate a Byzantine fortress at Pyrgion:

https://greekreporter.com/2022/01/01/byzantine-fortress-ancient-greek-pyrgion/

Interesting study of all the marine life found living on some of those Battle of the Aegades-associated rams that were raised recently:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10356967/More-100-animal-species-living-ruins-2-000-year-old-warship-near-Sicily.html

More on the Caligula-era Roman fort/camp from Velsen:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/26/roman-fort-built-by-caligula-discovered-velsen-near-amsterdam
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/roman-fort-on-dutch-coast-may-have-supported-the-invasion-of-britannia/142361
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10254-211228-netherlands-roman-fortress

More on the pair of shipwrecks off the coast of Caesarea:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/22/israeli-archaeologists-find-treasure-trove-among-mediterranean-shipwrecks
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/early-christian-symbol/
https://hypebeast.com/2021/12/isreali-divers-shipwreck-caesarea-antiquities
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10247-211223-israel-shipwrecks-coins

More on the 1900 years bp sarcophagus lid found in a garbage dump in Ashkelon:

https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/12/21/antiquities-inspectors-find-1900-year-old-sarcophagus-lid-in-dump/

More on the Roman military diploma excavated in Slovakia:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22807426/ancient-diploma-found-by-archaeologists-in-bratislava.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10253-211228-slovakia-military-diploma

More on Pontius Pilate being credited with the construction of an aqueduct in Jerusalem:

https://aleteia.org/2022/01/01/new-research-finds-pontius-pilate-commissioned-roman-aqueduct/

Reviewish sort of thing of some recent books on Stoicism:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/28/books/stoicism-books.html

Review of ‘The Latinist’:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/the-latinist-is-the-perfect-suspense-novel-to-kick-off-your-reading-year/2021/12/31/72cb339c-6a49-11ec-96f3-b8d3be309b6e_story.html

Review of Isabel Roda’s book on what the Romans have done for us:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-30/otras-cosas-que-los-romanos-han-hecho-por-nosotros-las-piscifactorias-los-envases-no-retornables-y-el-biquini.html

Classics teachers in the UK challenging the ‘elitism’ of Latin:

https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/education/east-london-classics-summer-school-homerton-8592388

Reading University has removed a bit of Semonides from the assigned reading:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10361321/Reading-University-bosses-remove-Ancient-Greek-poem-mentions-domestic-violence.html

George Will on Socrates:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/31/harvard-classics-socrates-how-to-argue/

Feature on Cadiz’s Phoenician past:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-27/cadiz-descifra-el-rompecabezas-de-su-pasado-fenicio.html

Feature on Stoicism:

https://newsadvance.com/opinion/columnists/commentary-feeling-despair-and-uncertainty-this-roman-stoic-philosopher-has-some-answers/article_a4fe0f33-5627-537e-8d72-d58836ed2d0f.html

Feature on the Ras il-Wardija Punic sanctuary on Gozo:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/the-ras-il-wardija-punic-sanctuary/142352

Feature on the Roman response to war elephants:

https://www.9news.com.au/world/war-elephants-ruled-until-roman-army-tactic-ended-reign-of-terror/3b1cbb72-5fb7-4b72-b0ab-821747bd0f31

Feature/tv hype on that recently-found mosaic in Rutland:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59668728

Aragon wants to know if Petronila I is buried in the cathedral in Barcelona:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-28/aragon-quiere-saber-si-su-reina-petronila-i-esta-enterrada-en-la-catedral-de-barcelona.html

Feature on the Lighthouse of Alexandria:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/this-wonder-of-the-ancient-world-shone-brightly-for-more-than-a-thousand-years

Feature on Serbia’s Felix Romuliana site:

https://www.telegraf.rs/english/3438208-a-roman-emperor-built-a-palace-in-honor-of-his-mother-the-secrets-of-serbias-felix-romuliana-site

Features on plans to mark the 1900th anniversary of Hadrian’s Wall:

https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/19808505.saturnalia-part-hadrians-wall-1900-festival-celebrations/
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/31/festival-to-celebrate-hadrians-wall-1900-2022

Feature on some of the major Greek colonies:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/28/ancient-greek-colonies/

Feature on the history of Thessaloniki:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/12/30/do-you-know-the-long-history-of-the-second-most-important-city-of-greece-thessaloniki/

Feature on the Zeugma mosaics:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/30/the-greek-mosaics-of-zeugma/

Feature on the Jockey of Artemision:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/31/jockey-of-artemision-greek-art-in-all-stunning-glory/

McDonald’s efforts to get a restaurant near the Baths of Caracalla didn’t work out:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mcdonalds-loses-appeal-on-roman-baths-restaurant-hvkn2hfgz
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59668728
—–
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/trove-of-late-bronze-age-jewellery.html

New home construction in Newton St Faith revealed a series of Iron Age pits:

https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/iron-age-pits-manor-road-newton-st-faith-8595966

Remains of a 7th century workshop associated with items found at Sutton Hoo found a short distance from the site:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10359805/Seventh-century-workshop-built-priceless-Sutton-Hoo-treasures-uncovered-archaeologists.html

A decapitated horse and assorted other items from a Merovingian era burial in Germany:

https://fox17.com/news/offbeat/ancient-decapitated-horse-discovered-next-to-rider-in-cemetery-for-elite-warriors
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63025

An Anglo-Saxon/Medieval find of a ‘strap end’ depicting boxing hares found by a metal detectorist in Cambridgeshire:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-59680893

Norse runic and Latin texts found on wood from a dig in Oslo:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/norse-runic-text-found-in-oslo/142383

An 11th/12th century elite burial chamber from Ostrowite:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/high-status-burial-chamber-discovered-in-ostrowite/142390

Remains of a 1000 years bp garden from Soba:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/1000-year-old-garden-unearthed-in-medieval-town-of-soba/142358

A 16th-18th century gold ring with the image of a squirrel found in Cambridgeshire a year of so ago has been declared treasure:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-59673942

The 2021 ‘treasure finds’ pieces continue to appear … from Denbighshire:

https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/19789941.dozen-treasure-troves-found-denbighshire/

… and Cornwall:

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/gallery/cornwalls-fascinating-treasures-unearthed-public-6383209

… and North Yorkshire:

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19817540.pandemic-sparks-haul-treasure-finds—york-hotspot/

… and the past decade in Shropshire:

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/shrewsbury/2021/12/31/more-than-150-buried-treasure-troves-discovered-over-the-last-10-years/

More on the find of an Iron Age settlement during construction near Upton Upon Severn:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-59755844
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10250-211227-england-pottery-ditch

More on that hoard of forged coins from North Staffordshire:

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/britains-largest-ever-hoard-forged-6403728

More on folks reaching the Faroe islands before the Vikings:

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59683287
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/faroe-islands-early-human-occupation-10416.html

More on redating the beginnings of Viking-era trade:

https://arts.au.dk/en/news-and-events/news/show/artikel/solstorm-kaster-lys-over-oldtidens-handel-mellem-det-islamiske-mellemoesten-og-vikingernes-verden-1
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10252-211227-denmark-viking-ribe

There’s a visitor boom at Sutton Hoo going on:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-59149937

Jersey has acquired the Le Catillon hoard:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63017

Suggestion that Edward V wasn’t actually murdered at all (not even in ‘the tower’):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/29/historys-greatest-whodunnit-would-ruined-solved/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/830/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/830/pub/830/page/19/article/254284

Feature on how well the flood barriers in Venice are working:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/mose-venice-flood-barriers/index.html
———-
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
============================================================
Remains of a 3000 years bp bronzeware casting workshop in Zhejiang:

http://en.people.cn/n3/2021/1229/c90000-9938595.html

A cluster of 260 Warring States period burials from Henan:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/20211230/210ba6133a794a3585072972a03c8836/c.html
http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_zz6G9mAI.html
https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/2112300276/
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-01-01/Archaeologists-find-over-260-ancient-tombs-in-central-China-16sDUlrH3Ik/index.html

An Eastern Zhou dynasty high status burial from Jiangxi:

http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2021-12-27/detail-ihauemxn3937333.shtml

Recent finds from Sanxingdui are being connected with some earlier finds from 1986:

http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_pS5K16RD.html

Evidence of Tang Dynasty saltworks in Tianjin:

http://en.people.cn/n3/2021/1231/c90000-9939541.html
http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_qMvxKKhJ.html

Tang Dynasty Buddhist sculptures carved into a cliff in Shaanxi have been revealed:

http://en.people.cn/n3/2021/1229/c90000-9938602.html

A Ming/Qing dynasty distillery/wine making site from Hebei:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-12-29/Massive-ancient-distillery-site-unearthed-in-N-China-s-Hebei-Province-16nLxi3pF60/index.html
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/20211228/dfac3942107a46989caa87f4d03152da/c.html
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2021-12/28/content_77957418.htm

The eight ‘coolest’ archaeology/paleontology finds in China last year:

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3161234/alien-civilisations-and-new-human-2021s-eight

Feature on Johan Gunnar Andersson’s role in popularizing Chinese archaeology:

https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1009252/how-a-swedish-geologist-kickstarted-chinas-love-of-archaeology

… and one on use of technology in Chinese archaeology:

https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1009253

… and the modern purpose of archaeology in China:

https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1009254/the-hole-at-the-heart-of-chinese-archaeology

Another reflection on the centennial of archaeology in China:

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2021-12/29/content_77958044.htm

Megalithic/Historical era petroglyphs near the Jundu River in Kurnool:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/rare-black-rock-art-depictions-found-in-kurnool-village/article38051299.ece

A 9th century Vattezhuthu inscription from Tamil Nadu:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/dec/27/ninth-century-vattezhuthu-inscription-discovered-at-irukkangudi-in-tamil-nadus-virudhanagar-2400195.html

History students came across a 10th century (maybe) Mahavira sculpture in Pudukattai:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/students-stumble-upon-mahavira-sculpture-in-pudukottai/article38057012.ece

Concerns for monuments and inscriptions in Srisailam:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/historical-inscriptions-in-utter-neglect-at-srisailam/article38066973.ece

More on evidence of ‘continued habitation’ along the Saraswati River:

https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/science/discovery-of-new-archaeological-site-in-haryanas-sandhai-village-and-a-brief-look-at-the-harappan-site-of-bhirrana/2391954/

Part three of that series on the ancient history of Kashmir:

https://www.greaterkashmir.com/op-ed-2/part-iii-re-constructing-the-ancient-history-of-kashmir

============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
More on the state of preservation of the Clotilda:

https://atlantablackstar.com/2021/12/30/researchers-hope-to-recover-artifacts-human-dna-from-mostly-intact-160-year-old-slave-ship-on-alabama-coast/

More on the latest unmarked Black cemetery identified in Clearwater:

https://www.npr.org/2021/12/20/1065178753/florida-fourth-black-cemetery-discovered
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10246-211223-florida-clearwater-cemetery

Opeddish thing arising from the dating of the arrival of Vikings in North America:

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/major-2021-viking-find-1021-illuminates-north-america-s-past-ncna1286654

Feature on the history of Yellowstone National Park:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/lost-history-yellowstone-180976518/

Restoring a 19th century garden in Ellicott City:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/how-a-garden-once-lost-to-history-is-being-brought-back-into-bloom/2021/12/21/4726e844-2629-11ec-8831-a31e7b3de188_story.html

Concerns for the condition of assorted monuments in New York City:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/29/arts/design/de-blasio-monuments-memorials-restoration.html

Funding for the Saratoga Battlefield site:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Saratoga-Battlefield-to-get-6-6-million-upgrade-16736376.php
============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
Not quite sure where this one goes … a study of the migration of the Mimbres people from New Mexico to Mexico:

https://news.unm.edu/news/newly-published-research-examines-mimbres-immigration
https://phys.org/news/2021-12-newly-published-mimbres-immigration.html

Assorted online Ancient America talks this month:

https://mikeruggerisevents.tumblr.com/
—–
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
============================================================
Some general top ten sorts of lists of archaeological finds in 2021:

https://www.livescience.com/biggest-archaeological-discoveries-of-2021
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/best-archaeology-discoveries-2021-2046144

… and one on ‘strangest’ finds:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/29/strangest-archaeological-finds-2021-athenian-curse/

… and one on swords and weapons found:

https://www.livescience.com/sword-and-weapon-discoveries-2021

Another botched repair … this time a church in Spain:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/02/world/spain-church-restoration-mystery.html

Marking Kepler’s 450th birthday:

https://www.dw.com/en/astronomical-anniversary-johannes-keplers-legacy/a-60228130

Feature on Louis Wain’s cat art:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-59518847

Feature on the history of private libraries:

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/the-private-library-reid-byers-book-review-an-wilson/

Feature on a document from the Terror of the French Revolution:

https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-29/la-polvora-que-exploto-mas-de-200-anos-despues-de-su-preparacion-para-un-atentado.html

Feature on the Els Enfarinats festival in Spain:

https://www.dw.com/en/in-pictures-the-els-enfarinats-festival-in-spain/g-60287844

On the hidden message of ‘A Christmas Carol’:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/dec/28/a-christmas-carol-is-not-cosy-and-its-angry-message-should-still-haunt-us

Some reaction to AI restorations of art:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/gustav-klimt-google-digital-reconstructions/2021/12/28/4a18f61e-36a5-11ec-8be3-e14aaacfa8ac_story.html

Pondering the world’s oldest sport:

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2021/12/whats-the-oldest-sport/

On the continued use of ‘horsepower’:

https://www.livescience.com/what-is-horsepower

Feature on a pile of audio recordings entering the public domain:

https://www.npr.org/2021/12/30/1068580723/want-to-hear-the-first-ad-for-a-soda-recorded-a-century-ago-now-you-can

… and one on texts:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/winnie-the-pooh-sun-also-rises-among-works-going-public-in-2022

Feature on the history of ‘human zoos’:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/29/arts/design/human-zoos-africa-museum.html

Feature on Tupaia’s map of the Pacific Islands:

https://knowablemagazine.org/article/society/2021/reading-pacific-navigators-mysterious-map

Some revisionism about Prohibition:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/01/real-history-prohibition-global/620929/

Review of Jonathan Gottschall, *The Story Paradox*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/30/books/review/the-story-paradox-jonathan-gottschall.html
============================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
Not sure about this study linking ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and the Freemasons:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/31/freemasonry-behind-auld-lang-syne-arm-linking-at-new-year-study-reveals
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-59838057

Feature on Watch Night:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/30/opinion/watch-night-new-years-eve.html
============================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
Rubens:

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/understanding-the-antique/

Ancient Greeks:

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7562088/collection-shows-the-competitive-spirit-of-ancient-greece/
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7566110/the-modern-relevance-of-the-ancient-greeks/

The Grand Egyptian Museum will be opening in the second half of 2022:

http://wam.ae/en/details/1395303006304

Artefacts of the month at assorted Egyptian museums:

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/44/454327/Antiquities/Museums/IN-PHOTOS-Egypt;s-museums-put-on-show-Artefacts-of.aspx

The Boston MFA has opened its revamped Greece/Rome galleries:

https://pappaspost.com/boston-museum-of-fine-arts-unveils-transformed-galleries-of-ancient-greek-byzantine-artwork/

NYPL Treasures:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/28/arts/design/ny-public-library-treasures.html

Plans for a Palestinian Virtual Museum of Archaeological Objects:

https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/1866565-unesco-sweden-partner-to-establish-palestinian-virtual-museum-of-archaeological-objects

The Swedish National Museum has acquited a gold box with a portrait of Gustavus III:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62994

Interesting app to tour the British Museum with a focus on ten looted items in their collection:

https://hyperallergic.com/702540/an-app-guides-gives-you-the-truth-behind-10-looted-objects-in-the-british-museum/

On museums and Nazi-looted art:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/jan/02/retrieved-after-decades-the-painting-supposedly-bought-by-the-nazis

============================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
============================================================
On DNA preserved in archaeological sediments:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-dna-archaeological-sediments-thousands-years.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211227154312.htm
https://scitechdaily.com/how-ancient-human-and-animal-dna-is-preserved-in-archaeological-sediments-for-thousands-of-years/
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/cave-sediment-dna-10411.html

cf: https://www.pnas.org/content/119/1/e2113666118

… and DNA preserved in ‘nit glue’ from South American mummies:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-nits-ancient-mummies-south-american.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211228220818.htm
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/28/how-nit-glue-could-help-answer-head-scratchers-about-our-ancestors
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/ancient-human-dna-found-in-e2-80-98nit-glue-e2-80-99-say-scientists/ar-AASfeNJ
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/nits-on-ancient-mummies-shed-light-on-south-american-ancestry/142375
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/mummies-secrets-revealed-by-ancient-dna-preserved-in-lice-cement-180979300/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10259-211230-head-lice-dna

cf: https://academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-article/doi/10.1093/molbev/msab351/6481551

In case you missed the DNA side of the wreck of the Clotilda:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2021/12/26/dna-found-preserved-sunken-slave-ship-could-help-descendants/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dna-of-enslaved-africans-may-be-recovered-from-ship-ltv9zfgk9
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/12/27/last-known-slave-ship-clotilda-human-dna/9022380002/

More on DNA as evidence of large-scale migration from France to Britain some 3000 years bp:

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59741723
https://phys.org/news/2021-12-ancient-dna-reveals-large-scale-migrations.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10249-211228-britain-bronze-age

… and with a drinking milk adaptation spin:

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2021/december/britons-adapted-to-drink-milk-millennium-earlier-than-Europeans.html

More on the revelations of family relationships revealed by DNA from people interred in the 5700 years bp Hazleton North long cairn:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/22/uk/worlds-oldest-family-tree-scli-scn-intl-gbr/index.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10248-211227-neolithic-family-tree
============================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
============================================================
I think we mentioned this project to made 3d models of Indigenous artifacts in British Museums:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-project-creating-3d-models-of-indigenous-artifacts-in-british-museums/
============================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS
============================================================
A study of sites in Florida threatened by climate change:

https://www.wuwf.org/2021-12-29/florida-study-documents-condition-existence-of-endangered-coastal-archaeological-sites
============================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
============================================================
Thuringia:

https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-16-states-thuringia/a-45260059
============================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
============================================================
Antigone:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59701738

A Vivaldi opera was performed in Ferrara for the first time after it was cancelled 300 years ago by the city’s archbishop:

https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-europe-arts-and-entertainment-theater-0219cfc42d6d9229b019a1c6970edb62

============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
‘Miscreants’ stole a statue and dug up a section of a temple in Indias Belagavi district:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/800-yr-old-shiva-temple-dug-up-for-treasure/articleshow/88641058.cms

I think we mentioned this bust of antiquities thieves caught plundering a cave in southern Judea:

https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/12/26/antiquities-thieves-busted-plundering-ancient-cave-in-southern-judea/

The Monson forgery investigations continue:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/asi-officials-visit-monsons-house/article38065665.ece

More coverage of Turkish occupation forces ‘excavating’ in Afrin:

http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/829/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/829/pub/829/page/32/article/254063
———-
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
============================================================
A stolen Cybele statue was returned to Turkey:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/kybele-returns-to-western-city-170342

A call for the return of assorted items associated with Tipu Sultan in the UK:

https://hyperallergic.com/701792/the-british-government-should-return-tipus-treasures-to-india/

200+ items from those big looted antiquities cases in New York returned to Italy:

https://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2021/12/30/art-cops-bring-back-200-antiquities-from-usa_ecd0c754-3218-4337-8831-6f46ccb79d0a.html
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/italy-welcomes-home-trafficked-antiquities-from-us-museums-170466
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/italy-welcomes-home-trafficked-antiquities-from-us-museums/2021/12/30/c017ec00-6998-11ec-9390-eae241f4c8b1_story.html
https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-travel-arts-and-entertainment-new-york-museums-6f414d70326fede274a00714f95f9b1d
https://www.newsweek.com/stolen-cache-italian-antiquities-us-museums-returned-accused-trafficker-large-1664520

Turkey recovered 3000+ artifacts this year:

https://www.trtworld.com/art-culture/over-3-000-cultural-artifacts-returned-to-turkiye-this-year-53154

OpEddish thing on items Egypt would like returned:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/12/will-egypt-manage-bring-home-all-smuggled-artifacts
============================================================
NUMISMATICA
============================================================
A study of ‘dolphin coinage’ from Olbia:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/12/30/nothing-fishy-about-ancient-greek-dolphin-money/

Feature on the top ‘coin treasures’ found in 2021:

https://www.livescience.com/coin-treasures-uncovered-2021

Feature on ancient pierced coins:

https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/the-hole-truth-ancient-coins-that-were-pierced/

Feature on the coins from that pair of shipwrecks off Caesarea:

https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/coins-of-different-eras-recovered-from-shipwrecks-off-israel-s-coast

Latest e-Sylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/v24/club_nbs_esylum_v24n52.html

————————

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
John Padberg:

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/12/30/john-padberg-obituary-omalley-jesuit-242139

An overview of assorted folks in the art world who died in 2021:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/2021-obituaries-2049322
============================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
============================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:

https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3127-audio-news-from-archaeologica-december-19th-through-december-25th-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:

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:

Posted on January 2, 2022 by David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist 0

Explorator 24.36 ~ December 26, 2021

============================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
Study suggests 1.5 million years of early humans hunting animals to extinction in Israel:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-early-humans-largest-animals-extinction.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211221102708.htm
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-689385
https://www.timesofisrael.com/early-humans-repeatedly-killed-out-the-biggest-beasts-around-israeli-study-finds/

cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277379121005230

Questioning the ‘superiority’ of homo sapiens:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/debunking-the-myth-of-homo-sapiens-superiority

Latest feature on the path(s) taken by homo sapiens out of Africa:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-africa-path-homo-sapiens.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/938884

More on Neanderthals modifying the environment in Germany some 125 000 years bp:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/neanderthal-landscapes-10386.html
https://scitechdaily.com/neanderthals-changed-ecosystems-125000-years-ago-were-not-primal-hippies/

More on the 215 000 years bp mammoth butchery site near Swindon:

https://www.livescience.com/ice-age-mammoth-graveyard-uk
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-59702237
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/19/five-ice-age-mammoths-unearthed-in-cotswolds-after-220000-years
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10326245/Archaeologists-unearth-skeletons-five-prehistoric-elephants-finding-Neanderthal-axe.html
https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/48645/20211222/mammoth-graveyard-mammoth-remains-200-000-years-ago.htm
https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/22/neanderthal-tools-mammoth-graveyard/
https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/19795029.swindon-couple-unearth-five-220-000-year-old-ice-age-mammoths-site-near-town/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10241-211221-england-mammoth-tools
============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
Using 50 000 years bp eggshell beads to track trade and social networks in Africa:

https://www.shh.mpg.de/2080930/beads-social-network-africa?c=1935799
https://phys.org/news/2021-12-ostrich-eggshell-beads-reveal-year-old.html
https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/23/africa/africa-beads-stone-age-social-network-scn/index.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/ostrich-eggshell-beads-reveal-50000-year-old-social-network-across-africa/142314
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03681-2
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/21/ostrich-eggshell-beads-reveal-50000-year-old-social-network-across-africa/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10243-211221-ostrich-eggshell-beads

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04227-2

More on the Ethiopian government recovering the site of Lalibela from rebel hands:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-59726191
============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
============================================================
The search for Nefertiti’s tomb has resumed:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/12/egypt-resumes-hunt-nefertitis-tomb-amid-historical-debate

Explorator 24.35 ~ December 19, 2021

============================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
A 125 000 years bp Neanderthal site in Germany suggests they were clearing forests (among other things):

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2021/12/neanderthals-changed-ecosystems-125000-years-ago
https://phys.org/news/2021-12-neanderthals-ecosystems-years.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10316207/Archaeology-Neanderthals-cleared-forest-Germany-fire-tools-125-000-years-ago.html
https://www.wsj.com/articles/prehistoric-site-shows-modern-humans-werent-first-to-change-the-world-11639595870
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/neandertals-first-hominid-modify-environment-forest-grassland
https://www.latercera.com/que-pasa/noticia/un-sitio-prehistorico-muestra-que-los-humanos-modernos-no-fueron-los-primeros-en-cambiar-el-mundo/DWJ5FTCTXJDLHKMNHWOAO6NKHY/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archaeologists-earliest-evidence-neanderthals-altering-landscape-2050872
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2302065-neanderthals-may-have-cleared-a-european-forest-with-fire-or-tools/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-find-the-oldest-evidence-of-ancient-humans-altering-the-natural-landscape-180979251/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10235-211216-germany-tree-clearing

cf: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abj5567

Feature on ancestors to the Neanderthals:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/who-were-the-ancestors-of-the-neanderthals

Feature/update on the Orozmani homo erectus site:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/homo-erectus-vs-saber-tooth-archaeology-site-reveals-what-early-humans-encountered-in-eurasia-1.10376919

Documentary hype for a 215 000 years bp mammoth butchery site near Swindon:

https://www.livescience.com/ice-age-mammoth-graveyard-uk
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-59702237
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/19/five-ice-age-mammoths-unearthed-in-cotswolds-after-220000-years
https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/attenborough-mammoth-graveyard-ice-age-discovery-swindon-archaeologists-1358627
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/795/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/795/pub/795/page/34/article/243634
============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
Interesting study of some Namib Desert petroglyphs:

https://theconversation.com/emperor-moths-in-the-rock-art-of-the-namib-desert-shed-new-light-on-shamanic-ritual-172640

Plans to restore hundreds of historical Jewish sites in Morocco:

https://www.jewishpress.com/news/middle-east/north-africa-middle-east/moroccan-king-orders-restoration-of-hundreds-of-jewish-sites/2021/12/13/

Feature on some queens of Nubia:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/ancient-africa-queens-nubia

More on the recovery of lalibela from rebel hands in Ethiopia:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-59628178

More on the redating o Ethiopian monoliths:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10304353/Archaeology-Ethiopias-phallic-20ft-tall-monoliths-created-1-920-years-ago.html
============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
============================================================
13 000 ostraca from Ptolemaic times down to the Islamic era from Sohag:

https://egyptindependent.com/joint-egyptian-german-archaeological-mission-discovers-13000-ostraca-dating-back-to-different-eras/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/110948/Over-13-000-Ostraca-from-Ptolemaic-Greek-Coptic-Islamic-eras
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/446523/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/Cache-of-,-ostraca-unearthed-in-Upper-Egypt;s-Soha.aspx
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/cache-of-13000-ostraca-unearthed-in.html

Possibly a crime story, but workers in Nagaa Al-Ouroba came across a statue head that appears to be ancient:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/110794/Discovery-of-suspected-archaeological-head-in-Egypt%E2%80%99s-Qena

More on the tombs from Minya containing two persons with ‘golden tongues’:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/12/egypt-unveils-tombs-dating-back-late-period-ancient-egypt

The ‘Lost City’ found in Egypt is being designated one of the ‘most important’ of the year:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/110786/Archeology-Magazine-chooses-discovery-of-Egypt%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98Lost-City%E2%80%99-among-most
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2021/12/16/luxors-lost-golden-city-named-best-archaeological-discovery-in-2021/

The dig in the Douzlakh Salt Mine (Iran) has concluded:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468160/Iranian-archaeologists-German-fellows-finish-work-on-ancient

I think we mentioned these figurines (various periods) from the Burnt City:

https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/figurines-found-iran-burnt-city-1234613378/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10229-211213-iran-burnt-city

… and there’s more from the site:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/468242/New-clues-about-life-discovered-in-Burnt-City

Receding water levels from the Ataturk Dam allowed excavations of a 4000 years bp mound in Adiyaman:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-mound-unearthed-under-dam-water-170088

A 3500 years bp (or so) fragment of a ‘stargazer’ figure from Mugla:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/archaeologists-discover-stargazer-idol-fragment-in-turkeys-mugla/news

A medieval (maybe?) ‘living area’ overlooking Lake Van:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/living-area-believed-to-be-from-middle-ages-found-in-eastern-turkey/2451369

Feature on the fall of Constantinople:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/the-fall-of-constantinople/142293

Feature on ongoing efforts to restore sites in Syria:

https://www.voanews.com/a/efforts-continue-to-restore-damaged-archaeological-sites-in-northeastern-syria/6354428.html

Feature on Soviet Assyriology and its aftermath:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2021/12/soviet-assyriology-aftermath

More on the find of a second 2000 years bp synagogue at Migdal:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/2nd-temple-period-synagogue-found-where-gospels-mary-magdalene-was-born-688519
https://www.timesofisrael.com/second-ancient-synagogue-found-in-migdal-alters-ideas-of-jewish-life-2000-years-ago/
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-second-synagogue-found-in-hometown-of-mary-magdalene-1.10459124
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-in-hometown-of-mary-magdalene-archaeologists-find-second-synagogue-1.10459124
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/archeology/1639325694-israel-ancient-synagogue-unearthed-in-mary-magdalene-s-town
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/12/13/road-work-leads-to-discovery-of-2nd-2000-year-old-synagogue-at-migdal/
http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2021-12/12/content_77926098.htm
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10309623/Archaeologists-discover-2-000-year-old-synagogue-supposed-birthplace-Mary-Magdalene.html
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/new-first-century-synagogue/?mqsc=E4139979&dk=ZE14D0ZF0
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/magdala-synagogue-10374.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/2000-year-old-synagogue-found-in-mary-magdalenes-supposed-hometown-180979208/

Concerns for assorted burial cave sites in Jerusalem:

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/318730

Feature on the site of Gezer:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/this-used-to-be-one-of-the-greatest-cities-of-ancient-israel-1.10453115

I think we mentioned this item on the historical accuracy of the Bible and sites in the Timna Valley:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/archaeological-dig-reignites-debate-old-testament-historical-accuracy-180979011/

Assessing the fallout from the hype associated with that Tell el-Hammam ‘asteroid’:

https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/tall-el-hamman/

Feature on translating the Torah into Greek:

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/5346243/jewish/What-Was-Wrong-With-Translating-the-Torah-Into-Greek.htm

Pondering the veracity of the mass suicide at Masada:

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/fact-or-fiction-the-mass-suicide-at-masada-2/

A number of workers were trapped in a tunnel at a site in Galilee (they seem to have made it out ok):

https://hamodia.com/2021/12/13/30-workers-trapped-in-tunnel-at-archaeological-site-in-galilee/

Overviewish piece on the excavations at a 3rd-1st millennium BCE site at Qamira (Oman):

https://timesofoman.com/article/110530-archaeologists-at-work-to-reveal-secrets-of-omans-qamira

—–
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
============================================================
Possible find of the ‘lost’ sanctuary of Melqart/Temple of Hercules near Cadiz:

https://english.elpais.com/culture/2021-12-17/spanish-researchers-discover-possible-location-of-legendary-temple-of-hercules-gaditanus.html
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-15/hallada-la-posible-ubicacion-del-mitico-templo-de-hercules-gaditano-uno-de-los-santos-griales-de-la-arqueologia.html
https://www.euronews.com/2021/12/18/spanish-researchers-claim-to-have-found-lost-ancient-building-dedicated-to-hercules
https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2021/12/18/ancient-temple-where-oracle-predicted-julius-caesers-world-domination-discovered-beneath-waves-in-spains-cadiz/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/survey-reveals-submerged-ancient-ruins/142306

… but there might be some controversy:

https://plainsmenpost.com/2021/12/18/duel-between-archaeologists-over-the-location-of-the-hercules-melqart-temple-in-cadiz-culture/
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-18/duelo-entre-arqueologos-por-la-ubicacion-del-templo-de-hercules-melqart-en-cadiz.html

A number of Greek/Roman statue heads were unearthed in Knidos:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/16/greek-roman-statues-ancient-greek-knidos/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/12/17/roman-and-greek-statue-heads-were-found-in-the-ancient-greek-city-of-knidos/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/greek-and-roman-statue-heads-unearthed.html

A torso of Hercules from the ongoing excavations at Aizanoi:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/marble-heracles-statue-found-in-aizanoi-170138

A pair of over life-size Roman statues (without heads) from the excavations at Blaundus:

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/2000-year-old-statues-unearthed-in-turkeys-western-usak-province
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/archeologists-unearth-2000-year-old-statues-in-western-turkey-3586317
https://www.trtworld.com/art-culture/two-millennia-old-statues-unearthed-in-western-turkiye-52766

A Roman-era (?) gold-plated chest and coin from near Ankara:

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/roman-era-gold-plated-chest-gold-coin-found-near-ankara/news

A seized mosaic from Izmir province has been put ‘under protection’:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/2-000-year-old-mosaic-put-under-protection-in-western-turkey/2451373

More on luxury trade items from some burials on Cyprus:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/cyprus-trade-emporium/

More on evidence of crucifixion from Roman Britain:

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archaeologists-discover-best-physical-evidence-crucifixion-2045534
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-10/hallado-en-el-reino-unido-el-esqueleto-de-un-esclavo-con-un-clavo-en-el-talon-que-evidencia-que-fue-crucificado.html

A study of the sources for Roman silver coinage in the Iberian peninsula:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-sources-roman-silver-coinage-iberian.html

cf: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/doi/10.1130/G49690.1/610233/Silver-isotope-and-volatile-trace-element

… and a similar sort of study involving assorted ingots (mostly copper) from a 600 years bp shipwreck site off France (found in the 1960s):

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-isotope-analyses-iron-age-secrets.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/937674
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/isotope-analyses-unlock-iron-age-secrets/142277
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10232-211214-iron-age-copper

A preview of plans to mark the 1900th anniversary of Hadrian’s Wall:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-59712769

… and more on the suggestion the Wall came after existing ‘Anglo-Scots’ defences:

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19778640.expert-claims-hadrians-wall-came-existing-anglo-scots-defences/

Hadrianopolis plans on promoting its mosaics:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hadrianoupolis-to-be-known-for-its-mosaics-170137

A few items on the Antikythera Mechanism this week (the Scientific American one is really good):

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/an-ancient-greek-astronomical-calculation-machine-reveals-new-secrets/
https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/3601/children-of-the-cosmos/
https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/16/antikythera-mechanism/

Excellent study questioning the view that the Greeks regularly practiced infanticide:

https://www.science.org/content/article/ancient-greeks-didn-t-kill-weak-babies-new-study-argues
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10312701/Ancient-Greeks-did-NOT-regularly-practice-infanticide-kill-weak-babies.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10231-211214-greek-exposure-infanticide

A study of assorted aspects (including marine life growing on) one of the rams found off the Aegades:

https://www.marinetechnologynews.com/news/ancient-shipwreck-supports-diversity-615965

Study suggests that gold ‘fell out of favour’ in the Caucasus 4000 years or so bp:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-this-ancient-civilization-fell-out-of-love-with-gold-for-700-years-180979254/

Reviewish item on a book examining evidence of Greeks and Romans in Kashmir:

https://www.greaterkashmir.com/op-ed-2/ancient-romans-greeks-in-kashmir

Reviewish of Mary Beard, *Twelve Caesars*:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-to-tell-your-roman-emperors-apart

Review of a couple of books on Seneca:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/two-books-on-seneca-review-stoic-roman-philosopher-letters-from-a-fellow-sufferer-11639754995

Latest item on the Dirk Obbink/Hobby Lobby case:

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/december/dirk-obbink-hobby-lobby-default-judgement-lawsuit-fraud.html

Feature on the work of David Stone:

https://www.archaeological.org/member-spotlight-david-l-stone/

Feature on Mike Toumazou on the occasion of his retirement:

https://www.davidson.edu/news/2021/12/16/celebrating-true-classic-prof-mike-toumazou-hangs-his-trademark-hat

Feature on Robert Littman and his long stay at the University of Hawaii:

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/12/17/robert-littman-50-years/

Feature on Tana Allen and her use of LEGO in the Classics classroom:

https://educationnewscanada.com/article/education/level/university/1/936787/why-legos-were-the-building-blocks-of-this-classics-course.html

Feature on Thomas J. Jones:

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/12/16/jesuit-school-spotlight-canisius-buffalo-241983

An interview with Anne Carson:

https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/anne-carson-punches-a-hole-through-greek-myth

Feature on modern reuse of ancient Roman construction materials at what was once Viminacium:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-held-history-roman-blocks-serbian.html
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211215-held-up-by-history-roman-ruins-provide-building-blocks-for-serbian-village
https://www.rfi.fr/en/held-up-by-history-roman-ruins-provide-building-blocks-for-serbian-village
https://www.jordantimes.com/news/features/held-history-roman-ruins-provide-building-blocks-%C2%A0serbian-village

Feature on the Huntingdon hoard:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-59665406

Feature on Roman Segovia:

https://english.elpais.com/culture/2021-12-13/more-than-an-aqueduct-spains-segovia-digs-into-its-roman-past.html

Feature on the Roman remains in Merida:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/find-mosaics-and-mystery-in-a-far-flung-outpost-of-the-roman-empire

Feature on Roman remains at Silchester:

https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/berkshire-history/gallery/silchester-village-just-outside-berkshire-22427796

Feature on Phanagoria:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/16/phanagoria-russias-archaeological-treasure/

Feature on the fall of Carthage:

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

Feature on Julius Caesar in France:

https://www.economist.com/christmas-specials/2021/12/18/retracing-julius-caesars-path-through-france

Feature on the importance of the Classical Tradition in art:

https://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/classical-tradition-by-donald-kuspit/5245

Feature on toys (dolls) in the Roman empire:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/before-barbie-why-girls-played-with-dolls-in-the-roman-empire-1.10459455

Feature on the Vapheio cups:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/17/vapheio-gold-cups-ancient-greek/

Feature on Britan’s ‘lost Roman legion’:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/what-happened-to-britains-lost-roman-legion/

OpEddish suggesting ‘meta’ and ‘omicron’ are part of a ‘classics comeback’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/life/romy-meta-omicron-classics-comeback/

Latest claim that the Greeks discovered Iceland:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/14/greek-discovery-of-iceland-supported-by-new-evidence/

… while there’s also an item wondering whether ancient Greeks visited Britain:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-greece/did-any-ancient-greeks-visit-britain/

Stephen Fry stepped into the Parthenon Sculptures issue this week:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/13/ground-breaking-proposal-return-parthenon-marbles/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1173709/fry-returning-marbles-would-be-classy-gesture/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/12/14/stephen-fry-returning-marbles-would-be-a-classy-gesture/
https://www.thenationalherald.com/british-writer-fry-says-parthenon-marbles-belong-to-greece/
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/45963-british-writer-stephen-fry-parthenon-marbles-should-be-returned-to-greece.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/create-virtual-elgin-marbles-and-return-real-thing-urges-stephen-fry-87jv98ww2
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/12/stephen-fry-says-returning-elgin-marbles-greece-would-classy/

… and there was a response to George Osbourne’s views expressed a week or so ago:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-osborne-article-on-sculptures/

… while others were thinking ‘loan’ proposals should be a ‘last resort’:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/2021/12/15/dialogue/opinion/offering-something-for-parthenon-marbles-should-be-last-resort-option/

… and Boris Johnson’s opinion from the 1980s that they should be returned was revealed:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/dec/18/boris-johnsons-zeal-to-return-parthenon-marbles-revealed-in-1986-article
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/18/greek-newspaper-unearths-boris-johnson-article-calling-elgin/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/12/19/greek-newspaper-ta-nea-uncovers-boris-johnson-article-asking-for-elgin-marbles/

A nice overview on the whole Parthenon Sculptures debate:

https://www.dw.com/en/parthenon-marbles-a-200-year-old-restitution-dispute/a-60146803

… and a ‘year in review’ piece on the sculptures:

https://neoskosmos.com/en/2021/12/19/dialogue/parthenon-sculptures-in-2021-a-year-in-review/

… and an optimistic opEd:

https://news.artnet.com/opinion/parthenon-marbles-dan-hicks-2048268

… and let’s not forget the British Museum has a Caryatid too:

https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1173768/a-modern-caryatid-pleads-for-her-sister-s-return/

On Boris Johnson as Greek hero:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/12/18/boris-johnson-classical-greek-hero-audience-waiting-fall/

Latest Pasts Imperfect newsletter:

https://pastsimperfect.substack.com/p/pasts-imperfect-121621
—–
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
============================================================
Plenty of interest in a 10 000 years bp burial of an infant girl (dubbed ‘Neve’) in an Italian cave:

https://news.ucdenver.edu/europes-earliest-female-infant-burial-reveals-a-mesolithic-society-that-honored-its-youngest-members/
https://phys.org/news/2021-12-earliest-adorned-female-infant-burial.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/937632
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211214084538.htm
https://www.livescience.com/ancient-infant-burial-italy-alps
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/816/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/816/pub/816/page/26/article/251028
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10307631/Archaeology-Highly-decorated-10-000-year-old-burial-infant-GIRL-dubbed-Neve-Italy.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/10000-year-old-infant-female-neve-becomes-oldest-ever-discovered-688763
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/earliest-female-human-infant-burial-found-europe-rcna8677
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-15/descubierta-en-italia-la-tumba-de-un-recien-nacido-mas-antigua-de-europa.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/earliest-modern-female-human-infant-burial-found-europe
https://gizmodo.com/archaeologists-find-an-ornate-10-000-year-old-grave-of-1848211668
https://www.sciencealert.com/10-000-year-old-burial-suggests-even-the-youngest-females-were-mourned-as-people
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/15/europes-earliest-female-infant-burial-reveals/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/10000-year-old-burial-of-baby-found-in-italian-cave-180979224/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10233-211215-italy-mesolithic-grave

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-02804-z

Neolithic child burials in a mound in Denmark:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62922

Bronze Age finds from Slovakia’s Trencin Region:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22801996/slovaks-have-unearthed-bronze-age-treasure.html

New evidence suggests humans had settled on the Faroe Islands some 350 years before the Vikings arrived (i.e. ca 500 CE):

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-humans-remote-north-atlantic-islands.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59683287
https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/faroe-islands-settled-before-vikings/
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/humans-reached-remote-north-atlantic.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/17/humans-reached-north-atlantic-islands-centuries-earlier-than-thought/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10237-211217-faroe-islands-sheep

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00318-0

A lyre from Sutton Hoo might have affinities with a similar one from Kazakhstan:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sutton-hoo-lyre-exotic-past-revealed-kg7wkvj2k
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/ancient-lyre-of-sutton-hoo-is-like-older-one-in-kazakhstan-4-000km-away-1.10464246
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10309145/Sutton-Hoo-lyre-COUSIN-2-485-miles-away-study-reveals.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/lyre-previously-found-at-sutton-hoo-has-cousin-in-kazakhstan/142289

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03685-y

Some Viking-era brooches found by metal detectorists on the Isle of Man are on display for the first time:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-59703390
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62936

A possible Anglo-Saxon burial site has brought house construction to a halt in Hart Village:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-59689068

A 13th century falconry-related figurine from downtown Oslo:

https://www.niku.no/en/2021/12/a-13th-century-king-and-his-falcon-but-which-king/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62894
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/crowned-figure-holding-a-falcon-discovered-in-oslos-medieval-park/142267
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/13th-century-carved-figure-with-falcon.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/13/a-13th-century-figure-with-falcon-found-in-oslo/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10234-211216-norway-medieval-falconry

A medieval pendant is being singled out as the millionth find made by the public in the UK:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-59607288
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/14/medieval-pendant-is-millionth-archaeological-find-by-british-public
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/british-museum-british-lincolnshire-parkinson-michael-lewis-b971812.html
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/uncovered-medieval-pendant-is-millionth-archaeological-find-made-by-the-public-41148130.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10308413/Medieval-pendant-one-millionth-archaeological-public-25-years-Treasure-Act.html
https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2021/12/portable-antiquities-scheme-logs-millionth-archaeological-find/

Another pendant find reveals a hitherto unknown Anglo-Saxon name:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62909
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/early-medieval-gold-pendant-reveals-previously-unknown-british-name-of-eadruf-fxnzcwh23
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/14/eadruf-cross-shaped-pendant-covered-runes-reveals-mysterious/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/816/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/816/pub/816/page/26/article/251028

… and assorted ‘treasure finders’ are being praised for waiving their right to a reward:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/parkinson-british-museum-whitley-bay-sandwich-stonehenge-b971841.html
https://www.independent.ie/world-news/and-finally/treasure-finders-praised-for-generous-gesture-of-waiving-right-to-reward-41148380.html

Feature on the restoration of a reused Roman-era rock crystal jar found in the Galloway hoard:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-59702916
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/17/extraordinary-restoration-of-roman-rock-crystal-jar-from-galloway-hoard
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10323711/Experts-extraordinary-Roman-rock-crystal-jar-Viking-era-treasure-hoard-Scotland.html
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/treasure-discovery-roman-gold-crystal-archeology-scli-intl/index.html

Remains of a late medieval cart track from Finchingfield:

https://www.dunmowbroadcast.co.uk/news/ancient-track-unearthed-in-finchingfield-8556884

Hospital construction the the Crimea came across remains of a 19th century synagogue:

https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/construction-workers-unearth-crimean-synagogue-believed-to-have-been-destroyed-1.10476007

More on large Iron Age longhouses from Norway:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-norwegian-archaeologists-late-iron-age.html

More on that medieval ink pen from a fortress site in Ireland:

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/oldest-ink-pen-in-ireland-is-discovered-by-archaeologist-during-excavation-in-burren-41132749.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62900
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/medieval-ink-pen-testifies-to-rise-of-secular-literacy-in-ireland-180979216/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10230-211213-ireland-medieval-pen

More on that ornate Viking sword from Scotland that was given the xray treatment:

https://www.livescience.com/viking-sword-x-ray-analysis
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-viking-sword-discovered-in-grave-on-scottish-island-180979225/

More on the diet of the builders of Stonehenge:

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about-us/search-news/did-the-builders-of-stonehenge-feast-on-sweet-treats-at-midwinter/

More roundups of ‘treasure finds’ in various parts of the UK, such as Wiltshire and Swindon:

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/19779248.dozens-treasure-finds-dug-last-year/

… and Hampshire:

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/19779473.hampshire-among-hotspots-finding-treasure1/

… East Yorkshire:

https://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/news/people/at-least-20-buried-treasure-troves-found-in-east-yorkshire-last-year-new-figures-show-3492718

… Nottinghamshire:

https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/people/buried-treasure-found-in-nottinghamshire-12-times-in-a-year-3492554

… Thames shore:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/treasure-found-river-thames-portable-antiquities-scheme-british-museum-b971929.html

Feature on five significant finds from the UK last year:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/14/rare-runes-roman-hoards-five-treasures-discovered-uk-2020

A farmer was fined for destroying a Neolithic site on Skye:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-59653333

Investigating claims that the tomb of a 17th century lawyer who tortured Protestants was ‘raided’:

https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/816/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/816/pub/816/page/28/article/251010

Feature on the use of drones to record UK coastal heritage:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-drones-capture-coastal-heritage-lost.html

cf: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology-south-east/seaford-head

Another item on the Viking ‘blood eagle’ execution:

https://theconversation.com/brutal-viking-blood-eagle-ritual-execution-was-anatomically-possible-new-research-173519
———-
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
============================================================
8000 years bp evidence of alcohol use in China:

http://www.china.org.cn/china/Off_the_Wire/2021-12/17/content_77938054.htm
https://www.timesnownews.com/the-buzz/article/archaeologists-discover-remnants-of-8000-year-old-alcohol-in-china/841828

A Shang Dynasty ‘city’ site featuring burials and other items from Henan:

http://en.people.cn/n3/2021/1217/c90000-9934139.html
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/archaeologists-find-ancient-city-site-in-chinas-henan/news

Charred remains of tea from a Warring States period tomb from Shandong:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/zoucheng-tea-10362.html

A tomb in Shaanxi has been confirmed as belonging to the Han Dynasty emperor Wen:

http://en.people.cn/n3/2021/1215/c90000-9932817.html
http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202112/15/WS61b92e45a310cdd39bc7b594.html
https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3160176/scientists-find-emperors-tomb-after-centuries
http://www.ecns.cn/news/cns-wire/2021-12-15/detail-ihattyiu7540588.shtml
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-12-14/Tomb-confirmed-as-belonging-to-Emperor-Wen-of-Han-15YUrq9qVVe/index.html
http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_vau1AK62.html
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10236-211217-china-xi-an-baling

China is considering using muon detection technology to find the ‘secret chamber’ associated with Qin’s tomb:

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3159821/china-mulls-planting-cosmic-ray-detectors-tomb-qin-shi-huang
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cosmic-rays-could-unearth-secrets-of-terracotta-army-tomb-rvm6wjflx
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10320389/Archaeology-Cosmic-rays-reveal-hidden-tomb-Chinas-Emperor.html

More on the bronze (copper?) Buddha statues dating to Eastern Han Dynasty times from Shaanxi:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202112/1241365.shtml
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10305419/Archaeologists-uncover-oldest-Buddha-statues-China.html
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62916

Some more boundary stones from Hong Kong’s first colonial settlement have been found:

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3160189/where-city-victoria-authenticity-confirmed-3-more-boundary

A study of evidence for millet bread from the long-occupied site of Kadebakele in southern India:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-millet-bread-pulse-dough-early.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/938345

cf: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305440321002053

2700 years bp (maybe) petroglyphs from Kongana Siddhar cave in Perumalai:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/salem/ancient-rock-art-symbols-discovered-in-salems-kongana-siddhar-cave/articleshow/88255489.cms

A 2300 years bp apsidal Buddhist temple from Pakistan:

https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/2300-year-old-apsidal-temple-of-buddhist-period-discovered-by-archaeologists-in-pak-officials/
https://nation.com.pk/15-Dec-2021/italian-archaeological-mission-in-pakistan-announces-key-discovery

17th century sculptures revealed at Telangana’s Munagala temple site:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2021/dec/13/17th-century-sculptures-unearthed-in-munagala-temple-2394855.html

Remains of a British-era ‘hanging house’ found inside the Delhi Assembly:

https://www.newdelhitimes.com/british-era-execution-room-uncovered-inside-the-delhi-assembly
https://www.timesnownews.com/delhi/article/british-era-hanging-house-found-inside-delhi-assembly-speaker-to-inform-archaeological-department/840250

Mining-associated concerns for a 2300 years bp Buddhist site in Andra Pradesh:

https://newsmeter.in/must-read/history-disappearing-2300yo-buddhist-site-in-aps-kodavali-under-threat-from-mining-688103

Plans to resume excavations in Keeladi next year:

https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/archaeological-excavation-at-keeladi-sivagalai-to-resume-in-2022-1060764.html

… while this year’s finds are being written up:

https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/archaeological-survey-of-india-begins-work-on-keeladi-excavation-report-1061193.html

Feature on the city of Dwarka:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0bbbxjd/searching-for-the-sunken-kingdom-of-dwarka

Part two of a feature on the ancient history of Kashmir:

https://www.greaterkashmir.com/op-ed-2/part-ii-reconstructing-the-ancient-history-of-kashmir
============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
============================================================
Humans are back on the hook for contributing to extinction of megafauna in Australia:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-extinct-megafauna-prone-ancient-hunger.html

cf: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ecog.06089

============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
A ‘mystery object’ from a Revolutionary War site in Saratoga National Historical Park turns out to be a kitchen gadget:

https://www.centredaily.com/news/nation-world/article256597961.html

Searching for Benedict Arnold’s ‘smuggling tunnel’:

https://www.newhavenindependent.org/article/is_benedict_arnolds_smuggling_tunnel_under_there

Feature on archaeology sites associated with the Tla’amin First Nation:

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/12/17/archaeology-speaks-to-the-untold-story-of-a-west-coast-first-nation.html
https://www.wellandtribune.ca/ts/news/canada/2021/12/17/archaeology-speaks-to-the-untold-story-of-a-west-coast-first-nation.html

Feature on Inuvialuit archaeologist Letitia Pokiak:

https://www.nnsl.com/news/archaeologist-letitia-pokiak-digs-deep-into-inuvialuit-history/

Feature on the Franklin expedition:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/ancient-shipwreck-left-frozen-time-25731308
============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
Possible evidence of pre-Columbian headhunting from some burials in Nicaragua:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-pre-columbian-burial-in-nicaragua-may-show-headhunting-culture-1.10363132

Sea level fall is being associated with the decline of the Sambaqui culture some 2000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-sea-fall-decline-pre-columbian-societies.html
https://www.sciencealert.com/a-2-000-year-old-lesson-on-how-sea-level-changes-can-destroy-societies
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/17/sea-level-fall-led-to-the-decline-of-pre-columbian-societies-2000-years-ago/

Evidence of an Aztec ‘New Fire’ ritual from Mexico City:

https://english.elpais.com/usa/2021-12-18/remains-from-aztec-new-fire-ceremony-discovered-in-mexico-city.html
https://elpais.com/mexico/2021-12-15/hallados-los-vestigios-de-una-de-las-ultimas-ceremonias-del-fuego-nuevo-azteca-en-el-centro-de-ciudad-de-mexico.html
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/remains-mexica-ceremony-mexico-city/

Another theory on the decline of the Rapa Nui:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/settlement-of-rapa-nui-may-have-been.html

More on that 800/1200 years bp ‘bound mummy’ from Peru:

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/archaeologists-find-800-year-old-mummy-peru-2021-11-27/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/27/archaeologists-unearth-mummy-estimated-to-be-at-least-800-years-old-in-peru
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10253673/Archaeology-Weird-mummy-Peruvian-tomb-tied-ROPES-hands-covering-face.html

Feature on Incan terracing technology:

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211212-the-innovative-technology-that-powered-the-inca
—–
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:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-use-white-lead-paint-in-dutch-masters-works-to-solve-art-history-mysteries-180979221/

Feature on the Knights Templar:

https://www.livescience.com/knights-templar.html

Feature on how turkeys became holiday food:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20211214-how-the-humble-turkey-became-a-christmas-staple

Feature on the history of fruitcake:

https://theconversation.com/the-magnificent-history-of-the-maligned-and-misunderstood-fruitcake-173201

On the wildest parties in art:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/dec/17/bruegels-boozers-hirsts-horrific-ashtray-wildest-parties-art-christmas

Feature on five ancient cities that don’t exist any more:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/5-ancient-cities-that-no-longer-exist

Arguing about the invention of the airplane:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/12/11/wright-brothers-smithsonian-airplane/

A Phoenician ship replica is setting sail for Spain:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/replica-of-ancient-boat-to-sail-to-spain-169992

On the history of sea shanties in New England:

https://www.wshu.org/2021-12-16/folk-songs-sea-shanties-are-the-sound-of-new-englands-nautical-history

The Honresfield library has been saved for the UK:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/dec/16/lost-library-of-literary-treasures-saved-for-uk-after-charity-raises-15m

Pondering the idea of ‘Big History’:

https://aeon.co/essays/we-should-be-wary-about-what-big-history-overlooks-in-its-myth

Feature on historical women’s roles in sex trafficking:

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/12/ghislaine-maxwell-trial-history-of-female-complicity-in-sexual-abuse.html

Feature on the history of the limpet:

https://theconversation.com/how-the-humble-limpet-helped-humans-develop-survive-and-thrive-173871

Feature on Darwin’s microscope:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2021/dec/16/darwins-lost-microscope-the-auction-of-a-history-making-box-of-brass-video?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

More lists of the top archaeological discoveries for 2021 (coverage varies, of course):

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/top-10-archaeological-discoveries-of-2021/142248
https://www.dw.com/en/from-celtic-coins-to-cave-paintings-archaeological-finds-of-2021/g-58291898

Feature on Mary Queen of Scots letterlocking:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/mary-queen-scots-letterlocking-execution-intl-scli-gbr/index.html

Review of a new translation of *Arabian Nights*:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/dec/15/new-arabian-nights-translation-to-strip-away-earlier-versions-racism-and-sexism

Review of Roosevelt Montas, *Rescuing Socrates*:

https://news.columbia.edu/news/roosevelt-montas-new-book-rescuing-socrates

Review of Joe Moshenska, *Making Darkness Light*:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/15/books/review/making-darkness-light-john-milton-joe-moshenska.html

Review of Cynthia Saltzman, *Napoleon’s Plunder*;

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/napoleons-plunder-cynthia-saltzman-book-review-ruth-scurr/

Review of Hannah Matson’s recent book on human adornment:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-archaeologist-human-adornment.html

Review of a book on Italy’s forgotten artists:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/12/16/beyond-artemisia-italys-forgotten-women-artists-revealed-in-new-book

OpEd on ‘Great Books’:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/17/opinion/great-books-socrates.html

More reaction to the Notre Dame restoration:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-16/notre-dame-restoration-draws-fire-from-conservative-critics
============================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
Some interesting history of Advent hymns:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/12/12/sacred-mysteries-surprises-carols-christmas/

On the Antiques Roadshow and colonialism:

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/dec/17/bbc-antiques-roadshow-should-address-uk-legacy-of-colonialism

The time capsule in the Robert E Lee statue base in Richmond may have been located:

https://apnews.com/article/richmond-virginia-ralph-northam-f6c84edde892845b3d3f6b3fd802a87d

Explorator 24.34 ~ December 12. 2021

============================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
Study suggests the Denisovans were present on the Tibetan Plateau some 160 000 years bp:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-denisovans-homo-sapiens-permanently-tibetan.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211207152519.htm
https://www.sciencealert.com/our-extinct-cousins-reached-the-roof-of-the-world-a-long-time-before-homo-sapiens
https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/48497/20211208/between-denisovans-homo-sapiens-experts-debate-who-settles-permanently-tibetan.htm

cf:

https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/S0169-5347(21)00307-4

Interesting technique dating homo sapiens sites via ostrich eggs:

https://www.inverse.com/science/ancient-humans-origins

Feature on homo sapiens surviving the Ice Age (not sure of the dating in this one):

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/how-humans-survived-the-ice-age

Feature on homo sapiens’ sleeping habits:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-strange-sleeping-habits-of-homo-sapiens

More on at least two hominin species living at Laetoli some 3.6 million years bp:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/12/at-least-2-hominin-species-lived-at-laetoli-site-3-6-million-years-ago/

More on Denisovan (and Neanderthal) remains from a Siberian cave:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/110566/Archaeologists-uncover-200-000-year-old-remains-of-human-ancestors

Strange brouhaha going on at Tel Aviv University over the identification of Neanderthal remains:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/MAGAZINE-a-bitter-archaeological-battle-is-rocking-tel-aviv-university-1.10443893

On modern humans and Neanderthal DNA:

https://bigthink.com/the-past/neanderthal-dna-shapiro/
============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
Monoliths at the Sakaro Sodo site in Ethiopia are now thought to date to the 1st century CE:

https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2021/12/09/ethiopian-monuments-1000-years-older-than-previously-thought/
https://phys.org/news/2021-12-ethiopian-monuments-years-older-previously.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211209095606.htm
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/ethiopian-monoliths-are-1000-years-older-than-previously-thought/142209
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/10/ethiopian-monuments-1000-years-older-than-previously-thought/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10228-211210-ethiopia-monoliths-dated

cf: https://brill.com/view/journals/jaa/aop/article-10.1163-21915784-bja10006/article-10.1163-21915784-bja10006.xml

============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
============================================================
A couple more 26th Dynasty (maybe) mummies with golden tonguqes from Minya:

https://www.livescience.com/three-gold-tongues-ancient-egypt
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/443817/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/In-Photos-Human-remains-with-golden-tongues-uneart.aspx
https://egyptindependent.com/photos-spanish-archaeological-mission-discovers-tombs-dating-back-to-the-sawy-period/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/golden-tongues-found-in-mouths-of-ancient-egyptian-couple/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10280765/Remains-man-woman-buried-GOLDEN-tongues-2-500-years-ago-Egypt.html
http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_yJ2C1YTR.html
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/mummies-gold-tongues-minya-egypt-archaeology-1234612779/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mummies-gold-tongues-in-2500-year-old-tombs-found-in-egypt-180979185/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10221-211207-egypt-tombs-el-bahnasa

… and a feature on some of the folks working there:

https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/life-style/life-style/2021/12/08/94153/mallorca-culture-ancient-egypt-excavation.html

More on the finds beneath the Hathor Chapel at the Temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahri:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/12/hundreds-offerings-egyptian-fertility-goddess-uncovered-luxor

A study of ancient Egyptian ‘barley drinks’:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/110678/British-study-Ancient-Egyptians-used-barley-drinks-different-from-those
https://vinepair.com/booze-news/ancient-egyptian-beer-discovered/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278416521000805?via%3Dihub

Reviewish piece on Kara Cooney, *The Good Kings*:

https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/egyptologist-kara-cooney-good-kings-book

Feature on ancient Egyptian funerary texts:

https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2021/12/ancient-egyptian-texts-afterlife

More figurines of humans and animals from the Burnt City dig:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467927/Animal-human-figurines-unearthed-in-Burnt-city

I think we mentioned this 4500 years bp Elamite tablet from Iran’s Khuzestan province:

https://arkeonews.net/elamite-clay-tablet-discovered-4500-years-old-in-southwest-iran/

Pieces of a stolen (?) Sassanid artwork known as the Farrokhzad inscription have been found in the Marvdasht plain:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467734/Stolen-bas-relief-discovered-in-southern-Iran

An online database of historical pottery from Persepolis (and elsewhere?) has been set up:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467942/Persepolis-launches-catalog-of-ancient-potteries

The Assyrians didn’t like baldness, apparently:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/assyrians-couldnt-face-the-bald-truth-2-600-years-ago-bvndrlq9s

A Late Bronze/Early Iron age site from Azerbaijan:

https://www.azernews.az/nation/186382.html

A team is looking at a dolmen field in southern Jordan:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/11/archaeologists-investigate-dolmen-field.html

Remains of a Second Temple era synagoge from Migdal:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/2nd-temple-period-synagogue-found-where-gospels-mary-magdalene-was-born-688519
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/second-synagogue-from-temple-era-excavated-in-migdal-near-the-kinneret/2021/12/12/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/in-hometown-of-mary-magdalene-archaeologists-find-second-synagogue-1.10459124
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1tvhl75t

In case you missed the Hasmonean finds that turned up in a bust in east Jerusalem:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/ancient-hasmonean-artifacts-found-in-east-jerusalem-at-end-of-hanukkah-687902

More on that 2000 years bp silver coin found by a young girl:

http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/great-revolt-coin-10343.html

More on that Sanhedrin-associated structure from Yavne:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/israeli-archaeologists-dig-up-new-info-on-sanhedrin-era-in-yavne-687288

Lawrence Schiffman on that Seleucid fortress find:

http://lawrenceschiffman.com/a-fortress-unearthed/

… also:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/israeli-archaeologists-find-hellenistic-stronghold-destroyed-by-the-hasmoneanss-1.10390851

Feature on Eilat Mazar:

https://aeon.co/essays/eilat-mazar-dug-with-a-bible-in-one-hand-and-a-spade-in-the-other

Feature on Gezer:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-this-used-to-be-one-of-the-greatest-cities-of-ancient-israel-1.10453115

Feature on Mystras:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/mystras-the-byzantine-capital-of-morea/142226

A 9th century waqfiyya inscription that turned up at a Christie’s auction a few years ago has been translated:

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-earliest-waqf-legacy-in-the-world-is-deciphered-two-villages-in-palestine-1.10441673

A figurine purportedly dating to the Roman era from Sharjah (UAE):

https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2021/12/05/mythical-statue-dating-to-the-roman-empire-discovered-in-sharjah/
https://gulfnews.com/uae/statue-of-rare-mythical-creature-from-roman-empire-discovered-in-sharjah-1.84203847
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/08/roman-era-mythical-creature-statue-found-in-emirate-of-sharjah/

An ancient Gaza monastery is being restored:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/12/ancient-gaza-monastery-restored-unemployed-young-palestinians

An account of a talk on medieval ‘kitchen culture’ in Syria:

http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/century-old-cooking-pot-tells-mediaeval-%E2%80%98kitchen-culture%E2%80%99-levant
—–
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/

============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
============================================================
A ceramic kiln from the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento:

https://www.agrigentonotizie.it/cronaca/ricerche-scavi-valle-dei-templi-universita-bologna.html

The big news this week was the find of an apparent victim of crucifixion from a burial in Cambridgeshire:

https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/romancrucifixion
https://www.livescience.com/crucified-roman-era-man-found-uk
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/08/best-physical-evidence-of-roman-crucifixion-found-in-cambridgeshire
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/crucifixion-roman-britain-fenstanton-cambridgeshire-b1971956.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10287641/Crucifixion-Worlds-best-example-Cambridgeshire-form-slave-nail-heel.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-59569629
https://www.rte.ie/news/uk/2021/1208/1265588-roman-crucifixion/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/unearthed-first-evidence-of-roman-crucifixion-in-britain-ksbzpskpq
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/08/first-physical-evidence-roman-crucifixion-britain-unearthed/
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/813/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/813/pub/813/page/19/article/248886
https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/first-example-of-roman-crucifixion-in-uk-found-in-cambridges-9229668/
https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/09/world/archaeologists-crucifixion-uk-scn-gbr-scli-intl/index.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-evidence-of-roman-crucifixion-unearthed-in-uk/
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/1900-yr-old-skeleton-proof-of-roman-crucifixions-uk-archaeologists-688442
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archaeologists-discover-best-physical-evidence-crucifixion-2045534
https://www.newsweek.com/archaeologists-stunned-rare-evidence-crucifixion-fenstanton-uk-1657725
https://www.sciencealert.com/archaeologists-dug-up-an-old-skeleton-then-they-noticed-the-nail-lodged-in-its-foot
https://gizmodo.com/nail-lodged-in-skeleton-s-foot-is-first-evidence-of-cru-1848194740
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/physical-evidence-of-a-crucifixion-from-roman-period-found-in-uk/142198
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/first-physical-evidence-of-roman-crucifixion-found-in-britain-180979190/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10225-211209-england-roman-crucifixion

Latest (it seems) finds from the House of the Library at Pompeii:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/12/numerous-finds-emerge-from-house-of.html

A large, later Roman-era olive oil factory from Hatay:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/anatolias-largest-olive-oil-factory-unearthed-169868

Latest finds from the Zerzevan Castle dig includes a 1600 years bp ‘flute’ and a bronze key ring:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-flute-reveals-interest-in-music-169830
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10218-211206-turkey-military-fort

Not sure about this one on the (non) impact of Hadrian’s Wall:

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19778640.expert-claims-hadrians-wall-came-existing-anglo-scots-defences/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/prehistoric-scotland-was-culturally-divergent-before-the-romans-arrived/142216

More on the ‘weaving workshop’ and other structures found at Perre:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/archeologists-unearth-1-600-year-old-weaving-workshop-in-southeastern-turkey/2437289
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10219-211207-turkey-perrhe-earthquakes

More coins associated with the Potwies hoard have been found in Poland:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/more-coins-from-the-polwies-treasure-hoard-discovered-in-poland/142180

More on the search for Roman sites along the planned A66 route:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/11/digging-for-roman-riches-on-trans-pennine-route/142129

More on the latest find of a victim of Vesuvius from Herculaneum:

https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/06/victim-of-vesuvius-eruption-unearthed-at-herculaneum/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/vesuvius-skeleton-discovery-near-herculaneum-ancient-rome-180979160/

More on the use of robots and AI to reconstruct frescoes at Pompeii:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pompeiis-ruins-to-be-reconstructed-by-robot/
https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/11/robots-with-artificial-intelligence-to-reconstruct-pompeii-frescoes/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/robot-could-restore-frescoes-in-pompeii-180979188/

… and on the use of technology at Pompeii to help protect it from climate change damage:

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/12/08/pompeii-tech-climate-change-damage

More on the ‘Caligula coffee table’:

https://mymodernmet.com/caligula-coffee-table-mosaic/

More on Bronze Age tombs from Cyprus with Egyptian and Mesopotamian luxury items:

https://www.livescience.com/nefertiti-gold-jewelry-in-cyprus
https://www.sciencealert.com/mesmerizing-gold-jewelry-from-queen-nefertiti-s-time-found-in-cyprus
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/egyptian-jewelry-mesopotamian-seal-found-in-cyprus-offer-clues-to-bronze-age-trade-180979165/

More on the source of marble for a statue of Apollo:

https://physics.aps.org/articles/v14/166

Dispelling the myths associated with ancient Greek infanticide:

https://www.science.org/content/article/ancient-greeks-didn-t-kill-weak-babies-new-study-argues

A digital recreation of Mycenae:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/07/video-ancient-mycenae-palace/

Restoration of Roman baths in Calpe is under way:

https://murciatoday.com/restoration_of_historic_roman_baths_resumes_in_calpe_1694172-a.html

The semi-annual piece on Kathleen Martinez being ‘close’ to finding the tomb of Cleopatra:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/12/07/archeologist-claims-to-be-close-to-discovery-of-queen-cleopatras-tomb/

Not sure this is actually ‘new’ but Byzantine remains from Thasos have signs of ‘complex surgery’:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/07/byzantine-era-skeletons-greece-complex-surgery/

Feature on Anna Marguerite McCann and her underwater archaeology work:

https://www.archaeological.org/archaeologists-you-should-know-mccann/

Feature on the Opushki cemetery in the Crimea (1st century BCE-4th CE):

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-kids-playing-with-human-bones-reveal-ancient-cultures-of-crimea-1.10443629

Feature on the Roman Republic:

https://www.livescience.com/roman-republic

Feature on Josephus:

https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2021/12/josephus-a-groundbreaking-historian-and-a-proud-jew/

Another feature on garum:

https://culinarybackstreets.com/cities-category/lisbon/2021/garum/

Feature on assorted ‘disturbing’ practices in ancient Rome:

https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/10-disturbing-practices-that-were-considered-normal-in-ancient-rome-5ec51af79912

Feature on the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/11/tombs-kings-paphos-unesco/

Feature on phallic imagery in Roman society:

https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/phallus-evil-eye/

Feature on Odysseus as hero:

https://merionwest.com/2021/12/10/the-real-heroism-of-odysseus/

Feature on Saturnalia preparations at Brown:

https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/2021/12/06/brown-io-saturnalia-latin-students-herald-the-ancient-roman-festival-of-peace-and-harmony

Feature on Cicero as symbol of what destroyed the Republic:

https://theconversation.com/cicero-isnt-a-model-for-saving-the-state-but-a-symbol-of-what-destroyed-it-172032

Feature on the trireme:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/09/ancient-greek-trireme-ships-athens/

Feature on Smyrna:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/11/history-ancient-greek-city-smyrna/

More on Italy returning/loaning a Parthenon sculpture to Greece:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/italy-will-loan-greece-parthenon-marble-piece-with-collateral/
https://news.gtp.gr/2021/12/07/greece-to-receive-parthenon-frieze-fragment-from-italy/

More on the BM offering (maybe) to loan Parthenon sculptures to Greece:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/12/06/new-british-museum-director-offers-to-loan-parthenon-sculptures-to-greece/
https://greekherald.com.au/news/greece/new-british-museum-director-hints-lending-parthenon-marbles-greece/

… and an opEd on how it’s creating false hopes:

https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/06/british-museum-return-parthenon-marbles/
https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-08/la-interminable-historia-de-las-estatuas-del-partenon-boris-johnson-tampoco-las-devolvera-a-grecia.html

If you’re looking for a Christmas gift, you can adopt a tessera from a Fishbourne Roman Palace mosaic:

https://www.chichester.co.uk/news/people/fishbourne-roman-palace-offers-chance-to-adopt-piece-of-mosaic-as-unique-christmas-gift-3484333

A different spin on Donna Tartt’s *Secret History*:

https://lareviewofbooks.org/short-takes/donna-tartts-the-secret-history-as-revenge-fantasy/

Feature on ten books about the Roman empire:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/dec/08/top-10-books-about-the-roman-empire-greg-woolf-rome-an-empire-s-story

Latest Pasts Imperfect newsletter:

https://pastsimperfect.substack.com/p/pasts-imperfect-12921
—–
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
============================================================
An apparent 9000-5000 years bp flintknapping site from northeastern France:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/rich-prehistoric-landscape-discovered-in-morschwiller-le-bas/142189

Norwegian archaeologists located a cluster of five Viking longhouse (one is huge) near the Gjellestad ship site:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-norwegian-archaeologists-late-iron-age.html
https://norwaytoday.info/news/scientists-discover-one-of-the-largest-longhouses-in-scandinavia-near-the-gjellestad-viking-ship/
https://apnews.com/article/science-europe-denmark-oslo-1f49c6d06c453cfbee8a7677156236ea
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-10279771/Norwegian-archaeologists-late-Iron-Age-longhouses.html
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/largest-viking-longhouse-norway-1234612412/
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/norwegian-archaeologists-find-late-iron-age-longhouses-81579418
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/archaeologists-discover-large-nordic-iron-age-longhouse/142184
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-find-one-of-largest-viking-longhouses-in-scandinavia-180979177/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10220-211207-norway-viking-longhouses

… and a feature on the 12 ‘most exciting’ finds from the Gjellestad dig:

https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology-history-iron-age/the-12-most-exciting-finds-from-the-gjellestad-viking-ship-dig/1948461

An xray of a Viking sword from Orkney revealed ornate decorations:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-59563721
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62876
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10226-211210-papa-westray-sword

… related finds from the same dig:

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/first-findings-of-mind-blowing-study-of-viking-cemetery-in-orkney-revealed-3487938

Possible remains of a pre-Norman church in Frome:

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2021/10-december/news/uk/possible-saxon-ruins-linked-to-the-confessor-s-chancellor-found-under-st-john-s-frome

An 11th century cloisonne enamel earring from Denmark:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62886

An 11th century (maybe) ink pen is possibly the oldest ever found in Ireland:

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/oldest-ink-pen-in-ireland-is-discovered-by-archaeologist-during-excavation-in-burren-41132749.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10296461/Archaeology-Irelands-oldest-INK-PEN-dates-1-000-years-County-Clare.html

Trying to explain motive for ‘metal deposition’ (i.e. hoards) in the Bronze Age:

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2021/12/mysterious-metal-depositions-were-the-most-ordinary-thing-in-the-world
https://phys.org/news/2021-12-mysterious-metal-depositions-ordinary-world.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10223-211208-bronze-age-deposits

Explorator 24.33 ~ December 5, 2021

============================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
3.7 million years bp footprints from Laetoli once thought to belong to a bear are now thought to belong to an early human of some sort (maybe):

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-mystery-footprints-site-laetoli-tanzania.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211201111934.htm
https://www.livescience.com/unknown-human-ancestor-footprints-walked-near-lucy
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/01/science/hominin-footprints-tanzania.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fossil-footprints-puzzle-scientists-bear-or-ancient-human/2021/12/01/4e32f3e2-52d6-11ec-83d2-d9dab0e23b7e_story.html
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/science/fossil-footprints-puzzle-scientists-bear-or-ancient-human/
https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/300468581/fossil-footprints-puzzle-scientists-bear-or-ancient-human
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/unknown-hominin-detected-from-odd-3-6m-year-old-footprints-in-africa-1.10431246
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/tanzania-footprints-offer-clues-on-origin-of-human-upright-walking-687552
https://theconversation.com/a-new-species-of-early-human-why-we-should-be-cautious-about-new-fossil-footprint-findings-172912
https://www.npr.org/2021/12/01/1060208486/ancient-footprints-mistakenly-attributed-to-bears-were-made-by-early-humans
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/ancient-footprints-hint-at-mysterious-human-relative-with-a-strange-walk
https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/01/africa/footprints-early-hominin-bear-scn/index.html
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/02/footprints-from-laetoli-tanzania-are-from-early-humans-not-bears/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-set-of-ancient-footprints-may-have-belonged-to-an-unknown-human-ancestor-180979157/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10178-211203-laetoli-a-prints

cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04187-7

The oldest examples of Denisovan fossils have been found in a cave in Siberia:

https://phys.org/news/2021-11-molecular-analysis-reveals-oldest-denisovan.html
https://www.livescience.com/oldest-denisovan-fossils-in-siberian-cave
https://www.sciencealert.com/oldest-fossils-of-the-mysterious-denisovans-unearthed-in-a-siberian-cave
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2021/12/01/molecular-analysis-reveals-the-oldest-denisovan-fossils-yet/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10169-211201-denisova-cave-fossil

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

Feature on the differences between Neanderthals and Denisovans:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/how-do-you-tell-a-neanderthal-from-a-denisovan

More on the cause of death of the (Neanderthal) ‘Old Man of La Chapelle’:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/25/europe/ancient-spillover-neanderthal-brucellosis-disease-human-scn/index.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10177-211203-neanderthal-brucellosis-diagnosis

More on early Neanderthal tooth development:

https://www.kent.ac.uk/news/science/30455/teeth-of-neanderthal-infants-developed-sooner-than-modern-humans
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-02462-1
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10174-211202-neanderthal-baby-tooth

More on the renaming of homo rhodesiensis to bodoensis:

https://www.themanitoban.com/posts/phd-student-contributes-to-project-renaming-hominins

Explorator 24.32 ~ November 28, 2021

============================================================
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/

Explorator 24.31 ~ November 21, 2021

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EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
Feature on homo longi:

https://www.rawstory.com/homo-longi-extinct-human-species-that-may-replace-neanderthals-as-our-closest-relatives-found-in-china/

Feature on the ‘unsustainable population’ theory of the demise of the Neanderthals:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/a-leading-theory-behind-neanderthal-extinction-may-surprise-you

More on implication of 400 000 years bp deer remains from Qesem Cave:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/oh-deer-archaeologists-reveal-culinary-taste-of-prehistoric-israelis-684970

Explorator

The Archaeological News of the Week

Explorator

Author: David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist

Explorator 24.40 ~ January 23. 2022

Explorator 24.39 ~ January 16, 2022

Explorator 24.38 ~ January 9, 2022

Explorator 24.37 ~ January 2, 2022

Explorator 24.36 ~ December 26, 2021

Explorator 24.35 ~ December 19, 2021

Explorator 24.34 ~ December 12. 2021

Explorator 24.33 ~ December 5, 2021

Explorator 24.32 ~ November 28, 2021

Explorator 24.31 ~ November 21, 2021