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, Brian Colless, Don Buck, mata kimasitayo, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always hoping I have left no one out).
Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers and father figures out there.
============================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
============================================================
The 1.6 million years bp homo erectus from Gongwangling may represent the earliest hominin population in China:
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-homo-erectus-gongwangling-earliest-population.html
https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-site-could-location-oldest-known-early-human-fossils-china-1716187
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10637-220616-china-homo-erectus
Evidence of hominin fire creation in Israel some 800 000 years bp:
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-evidence-ancient-campsite-israel.html
https://www.utoronto.ca/news/ai-powered-archaeology-draws-out-hidden-evidence-fire-use-early-humans
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-709319
https://www.timesofisrael.com/old-flame-israeli-researchers-find-evidence-of-fire-use-nearly-1-million-years-ago/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354814
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/archaeology-news/israeli-scientists-uncover-traces-of-fire-dating-back-at-least-800-millenia/2022/06/14/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2022-06-13/ty-article/archaeologists-detect-hominin-use-of-fire-a-million-years-ago-in-israel/00000181-5c3d-d75c-ad83-fefd9c7c0000
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10922739/Worlds-oldest-campfire-Ancient-flint-tools-humans-tamed-fire-1-MILLION-years-ago.html
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2323899-ai-finds-hidden-evidence-of-ancient-human-fires-1-million-years-ago/
https://www.science.org/content/article/artificial-intelligence-may-have-unearthed-one-world-s-oldest-campfires
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10638-220616-israel-fire-flint
cf: https://www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.1073/pnas.2123439119
============================================================
AFRICA
============================================================
Feature on Kush:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-rise-fall-and-underestimated-rule-of-kush
Review of Paddy Docherty, *Blood and Bronze: the British Empire and the Sack of Benin*:
https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20220614-blood-and-bronze-unveiling-the-british-empire-s-brutality-in-nigeria-paddy-docherty-benin-bronzes-lord-salisbury-george-annesley
============================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
============================================================
Khufu-era stone granite stone blocks found in the Temple of the Sun at Matariya/Heliopolis:
https://egyptindependent.com/photos-stone-blocks-date-to-king-khufu-era-in-temple-of-the-sun-in-heliopolis-unearthed/
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/116763/Egypt-discovers-blocks-dating-back-to-Khufu-s-reign-at
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/116792/Unearthing-stone-blocks-from-reign-of-King-Khufu-deemed-important
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/06/new-archaeological-discovery-king-khufus-reign
https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395303057033
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2022-06/14/content_78269512.htm
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/06/stone-blocks-from-reign-of-king-khufu-discovered-at-heliopolis/143827
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/06/15/stone-blocks-from-reign-of-king-khufu-discovered-at-heliopolis/
On the journalistic origins of Tut’s curse:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/06/18/origin-tutankhamuns-curse-unwrapped-journalist-mad-not-getting/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/994/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/994/pub/994/page/26/article/NaN
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/curse-of-pharaohs-tomb-was-invented-by-rival-reporter-z7gnkw7xg
In case you’re wondering about the Tut Opera:
Searching for evidence of Pleistocene human presence on the Iranian plateau:
Evidence of Uruk-era urbanization from Iran’s South Khorasan province:
A Seleucid-era tumulus (empty?) from Tepe Naqarechi (Iran):
A different sort of archaeological story … a survey of Tall-e Kakestar (Iran) suggests there is no archaeological site there:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/473607/Tall-e-Khakestar-stratigraphy-survey-finds-no-archaeological
Trying to figure out the identity of Palmyra’s ‘anonymous god’:
More on the 7th/8th century Islamic burials from Syria:
Questioning the recent suggestion that climate change caused the fall of the Akkadian Empire:
https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2022/06/climate-fall-akkadian-empire
More on the 3400 years bp Mitanni-era city emerging from the Tigris:
https://www.dw.com/en/the-bronze-age-city-in-iraq-gifted-to-archeology-by-drought/a-62061527
https://www.wionews.com/videos/german-kurdish-archaeological-team-discover-3400-year-old-city-in-iraq-487797
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ancient-city-emerges-as-mosuls-dam-is-drained-g8vd8jg0k
https://the-past.com/news/archaeologists-explore-bronze-age-site-emerging-from-mosul-dam/
Looters revealed a 2700 years bp Urartian temple near the city of Van:
Feature on the Saffron Monastery in Turkiye:
Feature on cuneiform:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/the-ancient-secrets-revealed-by-deciphered-tablets/p0bcq7gs
More on the recently-found section of the Jerusalem aqueduct:
… sort of related item on Hezekiah’s Tunnel:
More on that Jacob the Proselyte tomb curse:
An interview with Joe Uziel and recent evidence for a Biblical earthquake:
https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/surprised-by-archaeological-proof-for-bible-earthquake/
Opeddish sort of thing on recent finds in Gaza:
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/features/gazans-unearth-archaeological-goldmines-feat-chance
A 15th century inscription from Saudi Arabia:
https://arkeonews.net/1419-year-old-islamic-inscription-found-in-saudi-arabia/
Study suggests 6th century drought paved the way for the emergence of Islam:
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-droughts-sixth-century-paved-islam.html
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2022-06-16/ty-article-magazine/megadrought-contributed-to-fall-of-jewish-kingdom-in-arabia-rise-of-islam-study-suggests/00000181-6bf9-d82b-a3ab-ebfd877f0000
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/06/droughts-in-the-sixth-century-paved-the-way-for-islam/143889
Yemen is trying to get European countries to ban auctions of Yemeni antiquities:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2105321/middle-east
Feature on the rise of the Ottoman Empire:
https://www.livescience.com/all-about-history-118
Review of a novel with the DSS as the center of the plot:
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-709639
—–
This Week in the Ancient Near East Podcast:
https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/
============================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
============================================================
A prehistoric necropolis site from Centuripe (Italian):
https://qds.it/nuova-scoperta-archeologica-carcaci-area-minacciata-discarica/
https://mediterraneoantico.it/articoli/scoperto-un-sito-preistorico-a-centuripe-enna/
Overviewish piece on finds made by the Swedish mission excavating a site near the Larnaca airport:
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202206/1267964.shtml
A Gallo-roman worship complex from near Rennes:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/116864/Remains-of-a-2-100-year-old-Gallo-Roman-worship
https://arkeonews.net/an-important-gallo-roman-worship-complex-was-discovered-near-rennes-france/
Remains of a Roman road and associated settlement found prior to housing development work in Wickham:
https://cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/wickham-roman-roadside-settlement-and-wells/
Road construction in Swindon is delayed by the find of Roman remains:
https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/20215704.southern-connector-road-swindon-delayed-discovery-roman-remains/
https://www.wiltshirelive.co.uk/news/wiltshire-news/roman-remains-hindering-progress-brand-7214831
I think we mentioned this 1800 years bp patterned mosaic find from Pergamon:
A metal detectorist in Romania came across a major hoard of Roman coins:
https://www.romania-insider.com/silver-coin-treasure-found-central-romania
https://www.g4media.ro/a-2000-years-old-treasure-with-about-300-roman-coins-discovered-in-mures-county-by-a-treasure-hunter.html
Some recently found Roman Gold coins are considered to be part of the Broads Hoard:
https://www.edp24.co.uk/lifestyle/heritage/roman-aurei-coins-found-norfolk-broads-9043340
Excavations are under way at Bulgaria’s Aquae Calidae:
https://sofiaglobe.com/2022/06/12/archaeological-season-begins-at-bulgarias-aquae-calidae/
A chunk of stone fell off the Porta Maggiore this week:
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-roman-gate-bits-ancient-stone.html
https://www.thelocal.it/20220615/roman-gate-closed-off-after-bits-of-ancient-stone-break-away/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-rome-porta-maggiore-ruins-b2101486.html
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roman-gate-closed-after-bits-of-ancient-stone-fall-off-174595
Plans for more excavations at the Molinete hill in Cartagena:
More on phallic graffiti from Hadrian’s Wall:
https://theconversation.com/the-discovery-of-a-new-phallic-carving-in-roman-northern-england-is-more-than-funny-it-could-be-a-powerful-talisman-184266
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-709217
https://www.iflscience.com/ancient-roman-dick-pic-reveals-1-700-year-old-grudge-carved-into-stone-64083
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/06/archaeologists-unearth-phallus-graffiti-carved-in-stone-at-ancient-roman-fort/
More on the Hellenistic grave inscription found in a river in Epirus:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/06/12/ancient-tombstone-discovered-riverbed-greece/
More on that identification of an ‘ephebic yearbook’ inscription:
… and the Onion’s spin:
https://www.theonion.com/ancient-greek-yearbook-discovered-on-2-000-year-old-t-1849073215
Latest Pasts Imperfect newsletter:
https://pastsimperfect.substack.com/p/pasts-imperfect-61622
Paper on wine production in Roman and pre-Roman Italy:
https://www.ajaonline.org/state-discipline/4508
Feature on Linear A:
https://aeon.co/essays/without-a-rosetta-stone-can-linguists-decipher-minoan-script
Feature on Pythagoras:
Feature on some curse tablets from a well in Athens:
Feature on Roman millefiori glass:
https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/arts/article_e3e0bbbc-e909-11ec-940a-4353c33ef2eb.html
Feature on the Ryedale Hoard:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64340
Feature on Roman Britain:
Feature on the Gallic attack on the Oracle of Delphi:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/06/12/gauls-attacked-oracle-delphi/
Feature on the Palace of Knossos:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/06/13/inside-cretes-minoan-palace-of-knossos/
Feature on the Kerameikos:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/06/16/kerameikos-from-potters-quarter-to-greeces-largest-necropolis/
Feature on psychedelics and the Eleusinian Mysteries:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/06/13/psychedelics-ancient-greece-eleusinian-mysteries/
Feature on daily life in ancient Greece:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/06/14/ancient-greece-growing-up-in-athens-and-sparta/
Feature on some of Plato’s ideas:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/06/15/plato-best-worst-ideas/
Feature on Archestratus and ancient Greek food:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/06/17/archestratus-and-the-secrets-of-ancient-greek-gastronomy/
Feature on the muses:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/06/16/muses-of-greek-mythology/
Feature on Aegae:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/06/15/aegae-the-cradle-of-ancient-macedonia/
Feature on what Elon Musk could learn from Aristotle:
https://theconversation.com/twitter-town-square-what-elon-musk-could-learn-from-aristotle-184766
Feature on one of Pompeii’s recently-famous victims:
In case you’re unaware of the threat to Classics at Roehampton:
https://tribunemag.co.uk/2022/06/fighting-for-higher-education-university-cuts
George Osborne is suggesting a sharing arrangement is possible regarding the Parthenon Sculptures:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/06/15/there-is-a-deal-to-be-done-with-greece-over-parthenon-marbles-says-british-museum-chairman-george-osborne
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/16/parthenon-marbles-george-osborne-british-museum-greece
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/george-osborne-seeks-deal-on-elgin-marbles-tclpn03t7
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/06/15/greece-britain-could-share-elgin-marbles-museum-chair-flags/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1004/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1004/pub/1004/page/32/article/NaN
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/art-industry-news-british-museum-chairman-other-stories-2130704
https://www.euronews.com/culture/2022/06/15/britain-may-share-controversial-parthenon-marbles-with-greece-suggests-president-of-britis
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1186804/british-museum-suggests-a-sharing-arrangement-of-parthenon-sculptures/
https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2022/06/15/parthenon-marbles-deal-could-be-struck-between-uk-and-greece/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/06/16/british-museum-hints-at-sharing-the-parthenon-sculptures-with-greece/
https://greekreporter.com/2022/06/15/parthenon-marbles-shared-greece-uk/
https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2022-06-15/British-Museum-chief-says-return-of-Parthenon-Marbles-possible-1aTjYbwCkFi/index.html
… meanwhile a group of British MPs have called for their return:
… and there was a major demonstration at the BM yesterday demanding the reunification of the marbles:
https://greekreporter.com/2022/06/19/reunify-parthenon-marbles-acropolis-museum/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1187129/london-protest-calls-for-return-of-the-parthenon-marbles-to-greece/
https://www.thenationalherald.com/british-museum-protesters-want-parthenon-marbles-back-in-greece/
—–
Roman Archaeology Blog:
Rogueclassicism:
http://rogueclassicism.com/
============================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
============================================================
Bronze Age (and later) finds from a school development site in Houghton Regis:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-61809230
https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/news/article/736/roman_remains_revealed_on_houghton_regis_site_set_for_new_school
Latest HS2-related find is a major 5th/6th century Anglo Saxon burial site near Wendover:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jun/16/stunning-anglo-saxon-burial-site-found-along-hs2-route
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/hs2-anglosaxon-wendover-buckinghamshire-iron-age-b2102189.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hs2-anglo-saxon-burial-site-graves-b2102308.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-61810503
https://www.euronews.com/culture/2022/06/16/141-anglo-saxon-graves-discovered-in-england-alongside-jewellery-weapons-and-earwax-remove
https://metro.co.uk/2022/06/16/hs2-uncovers-the-largest-anglo-saxon-burial-ground-in-the-uk-16833785/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1005/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1005/pub/1005/page/25/article/NaN
https://jerseyeveningpost.com/morenews/uknews/2022/06/16/hs2-archaeologists-find-anglo-saxon-burial-ground-containing-nearly-140-graves/
https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/people/video-shows-anglo-saxon-swords-and-shields-among-astonishing-fifth-century-finds-in-wendover-3731182
https://guernseypress.com/news/uk-news/2022/06/15/hs2-archaeologists-find-anglo-saxon-burial-ground-containing-nearly-140-graves/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10919825/Anglo-Saxon-burial-containing-141-skeletons-unearthed-HS2-archaeologists-Buckinghamshire.html
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/06/17/vast-anglo-saxon-burial-ground-discovered-during-work-on-the-uks-hs2-rail-route
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64347
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/06/discovery-of-anglo-saxon-burials-of-national-significance/143860
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/06/17/archaeological-discoveries-illuminate-the-anglo-saxon-dark-ages/
An Anglo Saxon ring with a Roman stone found by a metal detectorist in Kingsey a couple years ago:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-61764960
Remains of a 8th century (maybe) Viking shipyard at Birka:
https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-find-viking-age-shipyard-in-swedish-island/
A metal detectorist found a missing piece of a Viking sword found last year:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220615211314.htm
https://arkeonews.net/unique-viking-age-sword-found-in-norway/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/viking-age-shipyard-discovered-birka-sweden-1234632212/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/06/archaeologists-find-viking-age-shipyard/143855
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/06/16/unique-viking-age-shipyard-discovered-at-birka/
A 7th/8th century shipwreck from a stream near Bordeaux:
https://www.euronews.com/2022/06/17/archaeologists-discover-1300-year-old-shipwreck-in-southwest-france
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/archaeologists-race-time-study-crumbling-1300-year-old-shipwreck-rcna33855
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/french-archaeologists-in-race-against-time-to-learn-secrets-of-medieval-boat-fj25f98ct
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10928519/Archeologists-race-against-time-save-1-300-year-old-shipwreck-France.html
https://arkeonews.net/1300-year-old-shipwreck-found-in-southwest-france/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64330
Kitchen renovations in a Denmark town revealed a 1200 years bp runestone:
Study suggests the source for ivory used in 12th century artifacts from Kyiv was Greenland:
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-norse-settlers-walrus-ivory-kyiv.html
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-709756
https://partner.sciencenorway.no/archeology-geography-ntnu/old-norse-settlers-traded-walrus-ivory-with-kyiv/2040705
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10640-220617-medieval-ivory-trade
A development site in Herne Bay is revealing 1000 years bp artifacts:
A metal detectorist came across a medieval Norwegian coin in Hungary:
https://www.livescience.com/viking-king-coin-discovered-hungary
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10635-220615-medieval-silver-coin
Burnley’s ‘lost’ medieval village may have been located:
Suggestion that human remains from the Battle of Waterloo may have been ground up for fertilizer (!):
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-bones-fallen-waterloo-soldiers-sold.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/956065
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jun/18/mystery-of-waterloos-dead-soldiers-to-be-re-examined-by-academics
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/06/18/ghoulish-theory-may-finally-solve-mystery-missing-waterloo-dead/
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/993/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/993/pub/993/page/44/article/NaN
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-709776
https://www.iflscience.com/soldiers-bones-from-the-battle-of-waterloo-may-have-disappeared-as-bags-of-fertilizer-64112
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/scientists-may-have-found-where-the-bodies-of-waterloo-went
More on the massive Iron Age frog burial (sort of) from near Cambridge:
https://www.livescience.com/amphibian-death-pit-iron-age-village/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/archaeologists-baffled-by-b2103301.html
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jun/12/mass-frog-burial-baffles-experts-at-iron-age-site-near-cambridge
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-61784186
https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/thousands-of-ancient-frog-bones-found-at-cambridgeshire-site-9258954/
https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/thousands-of-frog-bones-found-in-the-uk-puzzle-archeologists-14062022/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64317
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/06/frog-mystery-uncovered-near-iron-age-roundhouse/143832
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/06/15/more-than-8000-frog-bones-found-by-an-iron-age-roundhouse/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/housands-of-frog-bones-found-at-iron-age-settlement-180980251/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10631-220613-england-ditch-frogs
More on the medieval human remains found beneath a Cork pub and their ‘violent end’:
https://www.irishcentral.com/news/skeletal-remains-nancy-spains-pub-cork
https://www.thejournal.ie/nancy-spains-skeletons-cork-barrack-street-5788938-Jun2022/
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/more-bodies-which-met-violent-27213707
More on the find/identification of the site of the wreck of the Gloucester:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-709257
https://the-past.com/news/wreckage-of-17th-century-warship-hms-gloucester-discovered-off-norfolk-coast/
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64307
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/shipwreck-gloucester-james-king-england-180980250/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10630-220613-shipwreck-york-gloucester
More on the burials being revealed at the Leicester Cathedral dig:
Anger in Limerick in the wake of the bulldozing of a Rath/Cashel site:
Calls for the remains of St Olave’s Church to be officially listed:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-61797757
Hyping a just-under-way dig at a friary in Inverkeithing:
A project to restore three 16th century synagoges in Venice:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/synagogues-venice-500-year-old-jewish-ghetto-180980259/
Old photos are helping to restore the Old Monastery of Agios Dionysios in Olympus:
Plans for upgrades to Caerphilly Castle are described as ‘Disneyesque’:
Feature on historic English pub interiors:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-61797983
Feature on the ‘ghost town’ of Granadilla (Spain):
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0cdpdns/the-spanish-ghost-town-that-should-be-underwater
———-
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
============================================================
From Sanxindui comes word of 13 000 new finds being made:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-06-13/Some-13-000-relics-unearthed-from-new-Sanxingdui-ruins-site-discovery-1aPcmE2dNRK/index.html
https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/2206136744/
http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202206/13/WS62a6eb76a310fd2b29e62657.html
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2022-06/17/content_78275194.htm
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202206/1268014.shtml
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202206/1268088.shtml
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2022-06/13/content_78267620.htm
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/sacrificial-relics-sanxingdui-2130848
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/13000-sacrificial-relics-bronze-box-altar-sanxingdui-china-1234631951/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/sanxingdui-china-archaeology-artifacts-sacrificial-pits-shu-kingdom-rcna33643
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64322
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/trove-of-13000-artifacts-sheds-light-on-enigmatic-chinese-civilization-180980254/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10634-220615-china-sanxingdui-pits
… including some ‘paper thin’ copper items:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-06-13/Paper-thin-copper-pieces-excavated-at-Sanxingdui-archaeological-dig-1aPYlNUBH7G/index.html
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-06-17/Wonders-of-Sanxingdui-The-bronze-sheet-1aVQb0TSHV6/index.html
… and a sacrificial altar:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/14/asia/china-archaeology-sanxingdui-altar-discovery-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/sacrificial-altar-among-13-000-relics-unearthed-at-sanxingdui-archaeological-site-in-china-1.5945838
https://english.cctv.com/2022/06/15/VIDErZ6QhMLjrRf2v9MVZU11220615.shtml
… and a large bronze figurine:
… and four of the pits have been dated to 3000 years bp:
http://www.ecns.cn/news/cns-wire/2022-06-13/detail-ihazcpzs6469711.shtml
… and a piece has been ‘matched’ with an earlier find:
http://t.m.china.org.cn/convert/c_ygJxxcYb.html
… some background pieces:
http://www.ecns.cn/news/2022-06-14/detail-ihaziuqy8685892.shtml
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3181763/why-archaeologists-are-so-excited-chinas-sanxingdui-ruins
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3181557/ancient-treasure-trove-sheds-light-mysterious-chinese-kingdom
Remains of three large Wei and Jin Dynasty watercourses from Henan:
http://www.china.org.cn/china/2022-06/13/content_78266696.htm
The ‘supine acrobat’ from the ‘acrobats pit’ at Qin’s tomb has gone on display:
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2022-06/13/content_78266931.htm?f=pad&a=true
China has opened up a ‘relic hospital’ in Chongqing:
Deva fragments from Angkor Thom’s west gate:
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/deva-fragments-collected-angkor-thoms-west-gate
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501096947/deva-statue-fragment-discovered-in-excavation/
“Prehistoric” petroglyphs from a site in Tiruvannamalai district:
https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=969776
Possibly related petroglyphs from Bargur:
Assorted 2000 years bp finds from Odisha’s Bargarh district:
https://theprint.in/india/2000-year-old-artefacts-believed-to-be-of-post-mauryan-period-found-in-odishas-bargarh/994004/
https://odishabytes.com/post-mauryan-site-discovered-in-odishas-bargarh-excavation-by-asi-sought/
Remains of a Maurya-era wall from Tilaurakot:
A 900 years bp Jain inscription from Kolanupaka:
https://telanganatoday.com/telangana-900-year-old-jain-inscription-found-in-kolanupaka
Excavations in the ‘laterite caves’ of Kudalllur have revealed three closed chambers and a passageway (date?):
https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/travel-news/2022/06/17/edappal-rock-cut-cave-excavation.html
Concerns for a Sri Krishnadevaraya era inscription in Palnadu:
… and for a 12th century one at Kolanupaka village:
Plans to study possible links between Indus signs and some graffit in Tamil Nadu:
Feature on Shruthesh Acharya and the inscriptions he has read:
… and the ASI’s epigraphy department:
The ASI is seeking help determining the antiquity of an idol it recently seized:
Excavations at Patna Museum have commenced:
An 18th century mummified shaman find from Siberia:
https://www.newsweek.com/shaman-burial-site-discovered-siberia-preserved-clothing-1716823
============================================================
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
============================================================
150 years bp building remains and artifacts from a dig in central Christchurch:
… including some ‘Frozen Charlotte’ dolls:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/128960881/centuryold-frozen-charlotte-dolls-unearthed-in-archaeological-dig-in-christchurch-cbd
============================================================
NORTH AMERICA
============================================================
Evidence of what is being described as a ‘council house’ at a 1500 years bp site in Georgia:
https://research.uga.edu/news/uga-study-asks-did-democracy-have-a-separate-origin-in-the-americas/
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-democracy-americas.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/956102
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/06/16/did-democracy-have-a-separate-origin-in-the-americas/
Overview of the dig at the 19th century Concord Quarters site in Natchez:
Feature on the Southern Illinois University field school at Fort Kaskaskia:
https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article262401822.html
Feature on the University of North Florida Archaeology Lab dig finding the ‘lost’ Mocama village of Saraby:
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/lost-indigenous-town-saraby-unveiled-by-unf-archaeology-students/ZGHOXTPP3NCHPMQIGO5WJXNKSQ/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/06/new-findings-support-location-of-lost-indigenous-settlement-of-sarabay/143838
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/history/2022/06/17/unf-archaeology-team-digs-into-native-american-village-jacksonville/7616234001/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/06/14/student-program-may-have-uncovered-lost-indigenous-community/
Feature on the University of Texas at Arlington dig at the Way Ranch site (various periods):
https://www.uta.edu/news/news-releases/2022/06/13/field-school-lemke22
Remains of a 17th century Spanish shipwreck off the coast of Oregon:
https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/18/north-oregon-coast-timbers-found-from-shipwreck-spanish-galleon/
https://www.thechronicleonline.com/news/historic-recovery-timbers-from-17-century-vessel-recovered-at-oregon-coast/article_42590636-ee73-11ec-aeca-f7a158848271.html
More on recent finds from Michilmackinac:
Allegations the FBI lied when it said it didn’t find Civil War gold back in 2018:
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/07/pennsylvania-civil-war-treasure-gold-hunt-fbi/638445/
https://apnews.com/article/oddities-politics-pennsylvania-trending-news-46ad9e75f991fb539f23fd6853aa03e
Hyping upcoming digs at Fort Vancouver:
https://www.kptv.com/2022/06/14/archaeological-excavations-happen-fort-vancouver-this-summer/
Feature on the Clotilda and Africatown:
Feature on the 29th Colored Regiment:
https://mailchi.mp/dailynutmeg/29th-regiment-frederick-douglass-juneteenth-equal-terms?e=2c38baa027
Feature on the enslaved person Robin Mingo:
Feature on the Black Snake Affair in early 19th century Vermont:
cf: https://express.adobe.com/page/eLxVbaIbhFbIE/
Review of Joseph Borelli, *Staten Island in the Nineteenth Century*:
https://poststar.com/entertainment/books/staten-island-s-rich-forgotten-history-is-retold/article_ddde02d7-77b1-52fa-8ea5-b37f9d892992.html
============================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
============================================================
‘Thousands’ of wooden objects from the Templo Mayor at Tenochtitlan:
https://elpais.com/mexico/2022-06-15/los-2550-objetos-de-madera-recuperados-por-primera-vez-de-las-ofrendas-del-templo-mayor-de-tenochtitlan.html
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/06/thousands-of-wooden-objects-and-offerings-recovered-from-the-aztec-templo-mayor/143896
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64362
Archaeologists are poking around an underground chamber found at Chavin de Huantar a decade ago:
https://aldianews.com/culture/heritage-and-history/labyrinth-galleries
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/06/archaeologists-find-hidden-chamber-beneath-ancient-peruvian-temple/
More on the San Jose shipwreck:
https://www.livescience.com/new-images-most-valuable-shipwreck-colombia
Update on the restoration of a looted Maya frieze from Los Placeres:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64296
An effort to revive the Juego de Pelota in Mexico:
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0cdy0t3/mexico-revives-a-3-000-year-old-ball-game
—–
Mike Ruggeri’s Ancient Americas Breaking News:
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
============================================================
A mummified 18th century cockroach was found in the leder of a slave-trading ship:
Feature on ancient linen:
https://lithub.com/on-the-ancient-mysteries-of-linen/
Feature on the original Assassins:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/06/the-real-assassins-creed/143870
Feature on Piet Mondrian:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/piet-mondrian-abstract-grids-180980272/
Feature on Van Gogh’s ’empty chair’:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/jun/18/revealed-van-gogh-empty-chair-paintings-gauguin
Feature on the only surviving manuscript of Paradise Lost:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/16/books/review/paradise-lost-manuscript-john-milton.html
Feature on the Christian past of the Colosseum:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/12/world/europe/colosseum-painting-christianity.html
The UK banned the export of a Poussin owned by a British noble:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/uk-bans-export-23-m-poussin-painting-1234631728/
============================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:
============================================================
Feature on the US Flag Day:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/06/14/flag-day-history-old-glory/7568869001/
… and the US national anthem:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/14/books/review/o-say-can-you-hear-mark-clague.html
A German court has ruled that an antisemitic medieval sculpture can remain on a church:
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-709361
Mount Doane has been renamed:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/13/us/yellowstone-mountain-renamed.html
Searching for the school burial gound at Teller Indian School (Colorado):
https://www.nbc11news.com/2022/06/16/colorado-mesa-university-archaeologist-updates-search-teller-indian-school-burial-grounds/
https://www.kjct8.com/2022/06/16/colorado-mesa-university-archaeologist-updates-search-teller-indian-school-burial-grounds/
A project digitally preserving cultural artifacts in Ukraine:
Boston has apologized for its role in the slave trade:
cf: https://www.slavevoyages.org/voyage/database
============================================================
ANIMAL AND PLANT DOMESTICATIONS
============================================================
Olives were first domesticated (i.e. deliberately planted) 700 years bp:
https://www.aftau.org/news_item/tau-research-finds-earliest-evidence-for-deliberate-cultivation-of-a-fruit-tree/
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-olive-trees-domesticated-years.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220616101935.htm
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/955906
https://www.timesofisrael.com/study-worlds-first-cultivated-fruit-trees-planted-7000-years-ago-in-jordan-valley/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2022-06-15/ty-article-magazine/.premium/worlds-earliest-domestication-of-fruit-trees-reveals-complex-society-in-jordan-valley/00000181-6895-d406-abb1-ea972b3e0000
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-709534
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/06/17/olive-trees-were-first-domesticated-7000-years-ago/
Feature on horse domestication:
https://knowablemagazine.org/article/living-world/2022/tale-domesticated-horse
============================================================
PHILOSOPHERS AND MATTERS PHILOSOPHICCAL
============================================================
Article on the bad side of Stoicism:
https://psyche.co/ideas/dont-be-stoic-roman-stoicisms-origins-show-its-perniciousness
============================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
============================================================
Girsu Project:
https://www.classicult.it/en/pioneering-drone-technology-leads-to-new-discoveries-at-girsu-iraq/
https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art/2022/06/13/new-discoveries-in-iraq-upend-story-of-mesopotamia/
Ramses II gold bracelets:
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/116794/King-Ramses-II-s-gold-bracelets-on-display-at-National
Panathenaic Amphorae:
Chroma:
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/the-met-museum-ancient-polychromy-2132192
https://thecitylife.org/2022/06/15/groundbreaking-exhibition-at-the-met-explores-use-of-color-in-ancient-greek-and-roman-sculpture/
https://hypebeast.com/2022/6/the-met-museum-chroma-ancient-sculpture-in-color-announcement
Italy has created a museum for recently recovered artifacts:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/16/museum-of-rescued-art-stolen-relics-returned-to-italy
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/italy-ap-rome-pompeii-roman-b2101832.html
https://apnews.com/article/travel-rome-italy-e39d360dfd1bec9d8e2078b387e1508d
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/italy-creates-new-museum-for-trafficked-ancient-artifacts/2022/06/15/7f813358-ecbb-11ec-9f90-79df1fb28296_story.html
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/italy-creates-museum-for-trafficked-ancient-artifacts-174620
https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/06/19/italy-creates-new-museum-for-trafficked-ancient-artifacts/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/italy-museum-of-rescued-art-repatriation-manhattan-da-1234632272/
The DuSable Museum is changing its name:
Texas is getting a Juneteenth Museum:
https://hyperallergic.com/741385/a-50000-square-foot-juneteenth-museum-is-coming-to-texas/
Feature on Cairo’s Egyptian Museum:
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/middle-easts-oldest-museum-sheds-light-on-egyptian-history/news
============================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED
============================================================
A pair of Goyas that can’t leave Spain are coming to auction:
The so-called Cardona Codex fetched a reasonable price (and controversy):
============================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT
============================================================
A genome study suggests the origins of the ‘Black Death’ was somewhere in central Asia:
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-ancient-plague-genomes-reveal-black.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220615113242.htm
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/15/health/black-death-plague.html
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jun/15/mystery-black-death-origins-solved-plague-pandemic
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-61820604
https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1005/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/1005/pub/1005/page/26/article/NaN
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/15/health/black-death-plague-source-identified-scn/index.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/ancient-teeth-offer-new-insight-black-death-emerged-spread-globally-rcna33329
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/black-death-origin-mystery-solved-plague-675-years-researchers-say/
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/plague-black-death-ancient-dna-bacteria-europe-origin-asia
https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2022-06-17/human-teeth-found-in-700-year-old-graves-may-reveal-where-the-black-death-started.html
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/scientists-reveal-the-black-deaths-origin-story
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ancient-women-rsquo-s-teeth-reveal-origins-of-14-century-black-death/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/06/researchers-identify-the-origins-of-the-black-death/143852
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/black-death-ancient-dna-180980275/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/06/16/origins-of-the-black-death-identified/
cf: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04800-3
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01673-4
A study of the DNA acquired from a Umayyad Dynasty burial in Syria:
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-709384
Using DNA from a 16th century Italian mummy to reconstruct the genome of E. coli:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220616121548.htm
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/956166
https://www.archaeology.org/news/10639-220617-italy-bacteria-genome
============================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
============================================================
I think we mentioned this facial reconstruction of a Bronze Age Bohemian woman:
https://www.livescience.com/bronze-age-bohemian-woman
http://www.archaeology.org/news/10633-220614-bronze-age-reconstruction
============================================================
CLIMATE MATTERS
============================================================
Climate change is dropping the level of the Po and revealing potential artifacts and sites:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/po-river-italy-dries-up-exposes-1943-shipwreck-zibello/
Climate change concerns for Mohenjo daro:
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2361470/climate-change-could-ruin-mohenjo-daro
============================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
============================================================
Ipogeo dei Cristallini (Naples):
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/walk-in-the-footsteps-of-ancient-greeks-in-these-secret-subterranean-tombs-in-naples-cpls0rcql
============================================================
PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC RELATED
============================================================
Feature on 16th century Black composer Vicente Lusitano:
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20220615-the-lost-16th-century-black-composer-vicente-lusitano
Spindle Shuttle Needle:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/12/theater/spindle-shuttle-needle-review.html
============================================================
CRIME BEAT
============================================================
A major Swiss collector believes he has been duped by the smuggling ring connected to the former director of the Louvre:
A man in Missouri is accused of illegally excavating a Native American site:
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article262518762.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/06/16/native-american-site-illegal-excavation/
https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/clinton-man-indicted-illegally-excavating-native-american-site
Jail and fines for a couple in the ‘Zamalek apartment antiquities trial’:
The Taliban arrested six people for illegal excavations:
https://www.khaama.com/the-taliban-arrests-six-people-for-allegedly-excavating-historical-sites-illegally-67484/
———-
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
============================================================
Spanish police recovered a Roman altar that had been stolen back in 1962:
Similarly, the Guardia di Finanzia recovered some Etruscan panels which have now been restored:
The US returned 27 items to Cambodia:
http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2022-06/17/content_78277037.htm
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/27-cambodian-artefacts-return-home
The Yaqui nation fortuitously recovered assorted items from a Swedish museum:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/18/world/americas/indigenous-artifacts-sweden-museum.html
Kuwait returned some smuggled antiquities to Egypt:
https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf-news/2022/06/17/kuwait-hands-over-smuggled-antiquities-to-egypt/
https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/kuwait/kuwait-5-ancient-seized-artefacts-handed-over-to-egypt-1.88677646
Egypt has recovered some 29000 smuggled antiquities over the pas seven years:
https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-recovers-29000-smuggled-antiquities-in-7-years/
============================================================
NUMISMATICA
============================================================
Latest e-Sylum:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v25/club_nbs_esylum_v25n24.html
… and the one which should appear later today:
http://www.coinbooks.org/v25/club_nbs_esylum_v25n25.html
————————
Coin Week:
============================================================
OBITUARIES
============================================================
Gioacchino Francesco La Torre (Italian):
Maria Lambraki-Plaka:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/marina-lambraki-plaka-dead-sanxingdui-morning-links-1234631769/
https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/06/14/marina-lambraki-plaka-has-passed-away/
Amanda Claridge:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jun/16/amanda-claridge-obituary
George Lamming:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/17/books/george-lamming-dead.html
William B. Gould (archived):
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/17/obituaries/william-b-gould-overlooked.html
============================================================
AUDIO/VIDEO NEWS
============================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica:
https://www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/audio-news/3187-audio-news-for-june-5th-through-june-11th-2022
============================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS
============================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:
http://www.archaeology.org/news/
About.com Archaeology:
Archaeology Briefs:
http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/
Atlas Obscura:
Heritage Daily:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/
Sapiens Archaeology:
https://www.sapiens.org/category/archaeology/
Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:
http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/
============================================================
PODCASTS/VODCASTS
============================================================
Archaeosoup:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Archaeos0up?feature=watch
Archaeology Podcast Network:
http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/
============================================================
EXPLORATOR is a free weekly newsletter bringing you the latest
news of archaeological finds, historical research and the like.
Various on-line news and magazine sources are scoured for news of
the ‘ancient world’ (broadly construed: practically anything relating
to archaeology or history up to a century or so ago is fair
game) and every Sunday they are delivered to your mailbox free of
charge!
============================================================
Useful Addresses
============================================================
You can read Explorator online at:
https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/
Past issues of Explorator are also available on the web via our
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