===============================================================
explorator 23.16 August 9, 2020
===============================================================
You can read explorator online at:

https://exploratornews.wordpress.com/


Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, Edward Rockstein, Kurt Theis,
John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Hernan Astudillo, Richard Campbell, Barbara Saylor Rodgers, Bob Heuman, David Critchley,
Richard Miller, 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
================================================================
Plenty of coverage of the detection of DNA from some 'mystery ancestor' which modern humans carry:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/p-dfa080420.php https://phys.org/news/2020-08-dna-ancient-unidentified-ancestor-humans.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200806153558.htm https://www.livescience.com/mystery-ancestor-mated-with-humans.html https://www.inverse.com/science/super-archaic-ancestor-modern-genetics-study http://www.archaeology.org/news/8910-200807-genome-interbreeding

... and something about Neanderthal DNA contributing to genetic diversity:

https://phys.org/news/2020-08-neanderthal-dna-contributes-genetic-diversity.html

Some 600 000 years bp carved stones from Atapuerca are demonstrating a continuous human presence there:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/07/new-discovery-fills-gap-in-atapuercas.html

A 100 000 years bp site in Dimona (Israel) is shedding light on the 'out of Africa' route:

https://www.friendsofiaa.org/news/2020/8/4/evidence-of-the-path-of-modern-humans-leaving-africa-100000-years-ago-was-discovered-in-dimona
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/100000-years-ago-modern-humans-leaving-africa-crossed-the-negev-637440
https://www.timesofisrael.com/paleolithic-flint-tools-are-1st-breadcrumbs-of-modern-mans-trail-to-israel/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/08/05/israeli-youths-help-uncover-evidence-of-first-human-migration-from-africa/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/284714 https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/flint-tools-testifying-to-humans-leaving-africa-100000-years-ago-discovered-in-dimona/2020/08/04/
https://www.jns.org/israeli-youths-help-uncover-evidence-of-first-human-migration-from-africa/
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/SyYbpRLbw https://thejewishvoice.com/2020/08/evidence-of-the-path-of-modern-humans-leaving-africa-100000-years-ago-was-discovered-in-dimona/
http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2020-08/05/content_76348365.htm https://www.archaeology.org/news/8907-200806-israel-africa-tools

Feature on the evidence for the use of fire by early humans:

https://www.livescience.com/when-did-humans-discover-fire.html

Studying the strength of ancient humans via modern-day athletes:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/how-strong-were-ancient-humans-modern-day-athletes-are-a-window-to-the-past
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Evidence from at least 70 000 years bp of poison arrow use from Blombos Cave:

https://www.sciencealert.com/humans-may-have-been-aiming-poison-arrows-for-at-least-70-000-years

Feature/slideshow on ancient Nubia:

https://www.archaeology.org/slideshow/8908-slideshow-karma

The UN will be stepping in to help rebuild heritage sites in Mali:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53650493 ================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
Egypt has invited Elon Musk to visit after his 'aliens' remarks:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53627888 https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/53655967 https://www.egyptindependent.com/zahi-hawass-responds-to-elon-musks-claim-that-aliens-built-the-egyptian-pyramids/
https://phys.org/news/2020-08-egypt-musk-aliens-built-pyramids.html

Egypt is honouring the 'Cleopatra Group':

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/375915/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/The-ambassadors-of-Cleopatra-.aspx
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/90534/Egypt%E2%80%99s-Zahi-Hawass-%E2%80%98%E2%80%9925-foreign-ambassadors-in-Egypt-I-consider

Feature on historica maps of Egypt:

https://menafn.com/1100580834/Historical-maps-of-Egypt-Part-I-The-Golden-Age-of-Egypts-interest-in-the-Nile

Plenty of interest for the find of 8000 years bp (or so) fluted points from sites in Yemen and Oman (lots of somewhat misleading headlines):

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/mpif-ain072920.php https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/c-nas080420.php https://phys.org/news/2020-08-ancient-arabia-tools-skills.html https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200806-native-american-stone-tool-technology-discovered-in-yemen-and-oman/
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-early-modern-human-tools-found-in-the-negev-1.9045854
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-prehistoric-americans-and-arabians-both-made-clovis-type-tools-1.9048898
https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/anthropology/ancient-artisans-made-a-projectile-point/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/native-american-stone-tool-technology-found-in-arabia/134582
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/clovis-type-fluted-points-discovered-in.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/stone-age-tech-invented-separately-america-and-arabia-served-different-purposes-180975503/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8909-200807-arabia-fluted-tools

Feature on a Neolithic burial site found in 1992 in the UAE:

https://www.thenational.ae/uae/heritage/skeletons-give-a-glimpse-into-uae-life-7-500-years-ago-1.1059856

A stratigraphic study at Touq Tepe (Iran) has revealed layers of all the 'big ages':

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/450792/Stratigraphy-study-reveals-vestiges-of-Iron-Bronze-Copper

Digging at Persepolis has resumed:

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/450777/New-season-of-exploration-begins-in-Persepolis

Tiles from a house in Israel burnt by Babylonians 2600 years bp are shedding light on changes to earth's magnetic field:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/burnt-remains-of-586-bce-destruction-of-jerusalem-help-map-physics-holy-grail/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/scholars-trace-earths-magnetic-field-in-586-bce-through-jerusalems-ruins-637950
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-ruins-of-ancient-jerusalem-help-unravel-enigmas-of-earth-s-magnetic-field-1.9052751

Pollen analysis confirms (apparently) a famine menitoned in the book of Ruth:

https://watchjerusalem.co.il/1002-evidence-for-ruths-famine-from-ancient-pollen

Feature on the dig at Oz veGaon:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/284830

There's a new outdoor exhibition showcasing Ashkelon:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/new-outdoor-exhibit-showcases-rich-history-of-ancient-ashkelon-637222

Feature on Ottoman use of Hagia Sophia:

https://news.stanford.edu/2020/08/07/hagia-sophias-continuing-legacy/?sf126387228=1

... and an interesting recreation of the sound of Hagia Sophia (we may have mentioned this):

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/07/how-historian-stuffed-hagia-sophias.html

... and only one feature on the debate:

https://nation.com.pk/04-Aug-2020/hagia-sophia-mosque-or-museum

A Byzantine-era granary find from Amorium (Turkey):

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/byzantine-granary-found-in-ancient-city.html

Feature on the Oriental Institute at 100:

http://www.asor.org/anetoday/2020/08/OI-at-100

Feature on three civilizations that lived in Lebanon over the years:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/90466/3-ancient-civilizations-that-thrived-in-Lebanon-throughout-the-ages

Feature on modern Zoroastrianism:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/06/last-of-the-zoroastrians-parsis-mumbai-india-ancient-religion

Feature on the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-history/seven-wonders-ancient-world-colossus-rhodes-lighthouse-alexandria-mausoleum-halicarnassus-temple-artemis-hanging-gardens-babylon-statue-zeus-olympia/

More on claims of an artifact depicting 'the face of God':

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/did-leading-israeli-archaeology-find-depiction-of-the-face-of-god-637229
https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2020/08/an-archaeologist-argues-that-ancient-statues-depict-the-biblical-god/

More on that 1300 years bp church find from near Mount Tabor:

https://www.thejewishadvocate.com/articles/1300-year-old-church-found-near-mount-of-transfiguration/

More on the identification of the site of the Battle of Arsuf:

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/third-crusade-site-where-christian-forces-defeated-muslim-army-identified-636979
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-locate-site-famous-battle-third-crusade-180975490/
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8900-200803-israel-battle-of-arsuf

More on that 2700 years bp 'administrative centre' find in Jerusalem:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/arnona-jerusalem-kings/

More on involving locals in the preservation of cultural heritage in Jordan:

https://phys.org/news/2020-08-field-archaeology-spade-locals-cultural.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/lu-ctf080320.php https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/can-field-of-archaeology-pass-spade-to.html
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
A sanctuary of Apollo found at San Casciano dei Bagni (all coverage in Italian):

https://firenze.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/08/03/foto/san_casciano_dei_bagni_siena_gli_archeologi_scoprono_il_tempio_di_apollo-263638168/1/
https://www.rainews.it/tgr/toscana/articoli/2020/08/tos-san-casciano-bagni-sovrintendenza-archeologica-siena-scavi-scoperta-santuario-Apollo-ea311f2c-0754-403f-9cf8-c88e025c4158.html
https://www.ilprimatonazionale.it/cultura/san-casciano-dei-bagni-santuario-apollo-164642/
https://www.primapaginachiusi.it/2020/08/san-casciano-bagni-scoperto-santuario-romano-dedicato-ad-apollo/

Remains of a 1st century (maybe) CE Roman wall from Almunecar:

https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/08/03/roman-ruins-uncovered-in-almunecar/

Latest finds from the dig at a Laodicea Temple in Nahavand (Iran):

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/450896/Iranian-archaeologists-find-new-clues-on-enigmatic-Laodicea-Temple

I think we've mentioned these Roman finds made during A1 construction in Yorkshire:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/21st-century-road-upgrade-sheds-new-light-on-roman-treasures-coins-roads-and-potholes

Plans to restore a 2000 years bp Roman latrine at Denizli (Turkey):

https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2-millennia-old-lavatory-in-turkeys-denizli-to-undergo-restoration/news

A 4th century authepsa find from Die (France ... coverage is in French):

https://www.inrap.fr/rare-decouverte-d-une-authepsa-die-15082

Feature on recent finds and reopenings at Pompeii:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/pompeii-unveils-new-hidden-secrets.html

Feature (in Italian) on the restoration of a Punic amphora found at Giglio:

https://www.giglionews.it/2020/08/05/ricostruzione-di-unanfora-punico-ebusitana-di-un-relitto-scoperto-al-giglio/

Feature on Roman finds from Spis (Slovakia) ... possibly recent:

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22457338/archaeologists-made-a-1600-year-old-discovery-at-spis.html

Feature on some new displays at Zejtun Roman Villa (Malta):

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/new-3d-models-to-shed-light-on-zejtuns-roman-villa-mysteries.808077

Brading and Newport Roman villas have reopened:

https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/18626439.brading-newport-roman-villas-reopen-coronavirus/

Another feature on Astrid Van Oyen's work on Roman storage facilities:

https://research.cornell.edu/news-features/emperors-closet-power-and-storage

Feature on Julius Caesar:

https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/julius-caesar-emperor-who-biography/

Feature on childhood survival in ancient Greece:

https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/childhood-in-greece-how-difficult-it-was-to-survive/

... and related on childhood development:

https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/children-in-greece-hurdles-in-their-growth-in-ancient-times/

Just in time for Christmas ... rumours of a Lego Colosseum release:

https://www.thebrickfan.com/lego-creator-roman-colosseum-10276-rumored-for-november-release/
https://www.brickfanatics.com/lego-10276-colosseum-rumoured-for-november/

... and folks might be interested in in the Total War Saga: Troy hype:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/08/03/a-total-war-saga-troy-brings-the-epic-greek-legend-to-life/

Some ClassCon in the 'Umbrella Academy':

https://www.distractify.com/p/what-does-five-say-in-greek-umbrella-academy

Greece is stepping up its efforts to get the Parthenon Marbles back:

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/08/06/greece-steps-up-efforts-for-return-of-parthenon-sculptures-ahead-of-200th-anniversary-of-greek-war-of-independence/
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-08/06/c_139267856.htm https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1196881.shtml

Plenty of political connections to Classics this week ... first, someone is getting tired of Thucydides references in current events:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/08/05/oh-god-not-bashing-peloponnesian-war-again/

... while the Melian Dialogue is being applied to China and India now:

http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/china-india-and-south-asias-melian-dialogue

Maybe Plato is the guy to look to for foreign policy inspiration (?):

https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/08/foreign-policy-plato-problem-with-might-makes-right-claims/

Or perhaps there is much to be learned from Rome:

https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2020/08/another-lesson-roman-empire/615076/

... and Sean Hannity fixed the Latin on the cover of his book:

https://news.wsiu.org/post/sean-hannity-changes-book-cover-featuring-latin-motto-error
https://www.wfae.org/post/sean-hannity-changes-book-cover-featuring-latin-motto-error

More on Alexandrian glass:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/romes-finest-glass-was-made-egypt-180975482/

More on ramps at ancient Greek temples:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/were-the-ancient-greeks-ada-compliant

More on the 'underwater museum' at Alonissos:

vhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/02/parthenon-of-shipwrecks-greece-opens-its-first-underwater-museum
https://neoskosmos.com/en/171910/peristera-greeces-first-underwater-museum/ -----
Roman Archaeology Blog:

http://romanarc.blogspot.com/

Rogueclassicism:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
Remains of a Neolithic 'woodhenge' from southern Portugal:

https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/woodhenge-discovered-in-prehistoric-complex-of-perdigoes/55177
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/woodhenge-discovered-in-the-iberian-peninsula/134637
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8905-200805-portugal-neolithic-monument

6600 years bp burials from Poland are providing early evidence of a Neolithic 'wealth gap':

https://phys.org/news/2020-08-year-old-gravesites-poland-wealth-gap.html https://www.sciencealert.com/prehistoric-grave-sites-suggest-the-wealth-gap-has-existed-for-more-than-6-000-years
http://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/26778/20200807/6-600-year-old-grave-sites-revealed-social-economic-inequality.htm
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/archaeologists-identify-ancient-wealth-gap/134567

23 Bronze Age burials from Brno:

https://brnodaily.com/2020/08/03/brno/prehistoric-burial-grounds-discovered-by-brno-archaeologists/

Early Iron Age finds have brought some roadwork in Estonia to a halt:

https://news.err.ee/1120863/tallinn-roadworks-halted-after-archaeological-find

A Late Iron Age/Viking-era farm near Stockholm:

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/07/viking-era-farm-excavated-near-swedish.html

200 early Christian/very late Roman burials from Malaga:

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/08/08/200-christian-burials-and-roman-remains-unearthed-in-spains-malaga/

I think we mentioned this possible site of a medieval battle in Poland being found:

https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/hundreds-of-arrowheads-and-crossbow-bolts-found-in-forest-could-be-from-casimir-the-great-battle-field-14420
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8899-200803-poland-medieval-attack

... and this cave and tunnels beneath Olsztyn Castle (Poland):

https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/what-lies-beneath-cave-and-tunnel-network-discovered-under-castle-14547
https://www.archaeology.org/news/8901-200804-poland-castle-caves

A study has revealed a 'lost' Viking waterway that went through mainland Orkney:

https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/lost-viking-waterway-found-orkney-2932568
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/study-reveals-ancient-viking-waterway-through-the-orkney-mainland/134579
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8904-200805-orkney-viking-waterway

A metal detectorist found a hoard of hammered silver 15th century coins in Ipswich:

https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/310/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/310/pub/310/page/57/article/68439

Medieval finds from Mold's Bailey Hill:

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18638769.medieval-discovery-molds-bailey-hill/

Remains of an 18th century fortress on Cork's Spike Island:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-40027673.html

Studying the remains of a WWi u-boat found of the coast of northern England:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-53694552 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/ww1-german-submarine-uc47-navy-flamborough-head-yorkshire-north-sea-archaeology-history-a9655336.html
https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2020/08/deep-sea-scanning-tech-surveys-sunk-ww1-german-u-boat-for-first-time-in-100-years/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wwi-u-boat-wreck-explored-first-time-180975518/
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8906-200806-submarine-north-sea

Really vague item on possilble Roman (?)/medieval (?) finds near Spalding, including a dog burial:

https://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/news/glimpse-into-the-past-9118555/

The world's oldest restaurant (in Spain) is dealing with COVID challenges:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-oldest-restaurant-madrid-pandemic/index.html

Modern possibilities for some 300 years bp housing technology from Denmark:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200805-denmarks-300-year-old-homes-of-the-future

Feature on medieval women:

https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-fascinating-world-of-women-in-the-middle-ages-a0705783d380

Feature on Offa's Dyke:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/offas-dyke-the-giant-earthwork-boundary/134542

Review of James Hankins, *Virtue Politics*:

http://www.oxonianreview.org/wp/educating-the-republic/

More on the source of Stonehenge's sarsen stones:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/found-stonehenge-stones-origin https://gizmodo.com/scientists-discover-source-of-stonehenges-largest-bould-1844543186
https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/provenancing-the-stones.htm

More on the shafts at Durrington Walls:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/monumental-discovery-at-durrington-walls.htm

More on the massive structures beneath Navan Fort:

https://www.livescience.com/iron-age-temples-medieval-kings-ireland.html

More on the Red Lion playhouse find in London:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/londons-earliest-playhouse.htm

----------
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 ================================================================
Studying agriculture and cultural interaction in North China some 4500 years bp:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-08/06/c_139270604.htm

A Liao/Jin Dynasty burial from Jilin:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-08/04/c_139264859.htm

Interesting 2800 years bp bronze carriage (excavated in 2014) from Shaanxi:

https://www.scmp.com/video/china/3096108/ancient-bronze-carriage-unearthed-china-hints-lavish-ceremonies-held-2800-years

More on that 3000 years bp pig figurine from Sichuan:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/53680523 https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/05/3000-year-old-clay-figure-looks-just-like-angry-birds-pig-13086421/

Bronze age finds from a construction site in the Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan:

https://kazakh-tv.kz/en/view/society/page_215490_excavator-operators-find-bronze-age-vessels-in-pavlodar-region

Finds of unspecified date from a necropolis in Shamakhi (Azerbaijan):

https://www.azernews.az/culture/167767.html

Controversy/protests relating to a 1000 years bp burial ground on Guam (which I think we mentioned a while ago):

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/423000/ancient-burial-ground-unearthed-on-guam

A 15th century (?) khanqah from Kultobe (Kazakhstan):

https://kazakh-tv.kz/en/view/society/page_215505_what-is-the-mystery-behind-ancient-khanqah-found-in-kultobe-settlement

Demolition in Invercargill (NZ) has revealed 13 wells with historic artifacts:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/122331569/invercargill-cbd-demolition-uncovers-13-wells-with-artefacts

More on Rio Tinto's destruction of those Aboriginal sites and their response (various coverage):

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/aug/04/rio-tinto-blew-up-juukan-gorge-rock-shelters-to-access-higher-volumes-of-high-grade-ore
https://www.bloombergquint.com/markets/rio-says-missed-chances-to-avoid-aboriginal-heritage-destruction
https://magazine.cim.org/en/news/2020/rio-tinto-releases-inquiry-into-destruction-of-australian-heritage-sites-en/
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology/rio-tinto-apologises-unreservedly-after-destroying-ancient-australian-site-juukan-gorge/news-story/8b99df33b1a0acc5cda280b7b3d07e68
================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Archaeologists have located the site of the Battle of Tar Bluff (South Carolina):

https://www.postandcourier.com/features/arts_and_travel/archaeologists-pinpoint-tar-bluff-location-of-patriot-john-laurens-death/article_98ce09bc-d1b0-11ea-9582-1fd6e47ae9d1.html
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8902-200804-tar-bluff-battlefield

A copper spearhead found by an metal detectorist near Sault Ste Marie:

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.5672830/ontarian-who-found-ancient-spearhead-thrilled-to-hold-a-piece-of-history-in-his-hands-1.5665936

Century-old African American artifacts from a dig in Albany (Georgia):

https://www.macon.com/news/state/georgia/article244669032.html https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/associated_press/archaeologists-find-century-old-artifacts-in-georgia-dig/article_33bc3e6d-eef9-5dd7-a6a7-54fbc89190cd.html

Feature on an Adena mound excavation in Ohio in the 1940s:

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200809/archaeology--1940s-excavation-of-mound-offers-clues-to-adena-hopewell-cultures

One of the APOD this week was the Picture Rocks Sun Dagger:

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200805.html

More on evidence for 17 000 years bp earlier arrival of folks in North America:

https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/first-north-americans-may-have-settled-17000-years-earlier-than-thought/

More on coprolites from Paisley Caves:

https://around.uoregon.edu/content/paisley-caves-study-uncovers-new-scoop-ancient-poop
https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/evidence-shows-early-human-habitation-at-paisley-caves/article_4a346aa3-ec6b-5ffb-924c-c4725b9be349.html
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
An interesting intact Inca carved llama offering from Lake Titicaca:

https://news.psu.edu/story/626838/2020/08/03/research/ancient-shell-llama-offering-found-lake-titicaca
https://phys.org/news/2020-08-ancient-shell-llama-lake-titicaca.html https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/ps-asl072820.php https://www.livescience.com/incas-underwater-offering.html https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/context-and-meaning-of-an-intact-inca-underwater-offering-from-lake-titicaca/AD2AAA3D95C2CB5551E2E02F8EA0AD11
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/08/centuries-old-inca-offering-discovered-sacred-lake/
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/inca-offering-late-titicaca-sacred-religious-supernatural
https://www.sciencealert.com/an-ancient-llama-encased-in-stone-and-sunk-underwater-was-likely-a-gift-to-inca-gods
https://gizmodo.com/rare-underwater-inca-offering-pulled-from-lake-titicaca-1844647571
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/08/ancient-shell-llama-offering-found-in.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/centuries-old-incan-offering-discovered-intact-180975477/
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/intact-inca-underwater-offering-discovered-in-lake-titicaca/134549
http://www.archaeology.org/news/8903-200805-inca-stone-box

Evidence of Cinnabar and Hematite in early Teotihuacan murals:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/study-detects-cinnabar-and-hematite-in-murals-from-early-teotihuacan/134572

Some freshwater (!) cenotes found off Quintana Roo:

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/freshwater-cenotes-discovered-off-coast-of-quintana-roo/

Folks might be interested in assorted Zoom events going on this month:

https://mikeruggerisevents.tumblr.com/

More on thost Zapotec sites on a Puebla mountain:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53498110
-----
Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:

http://goo.gl/1VdeA

Ancient MesoAmerica News:

http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/ ================================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST ================================================================
Feature on Cardiff's giant:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53580172

Feature on religious responses to pandemics through history:

https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2020/08/02/pandemics-through-history-and-the-religious-response/

Evidence of a lost book created by Piranesi:

https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2020/08/02/pandemics-through-history-and-the-religious-response/

On the role of spelling in identifying a clock:

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/how-fixing-a-spelling-error-clarified-a-clocks-history/

Asking archaeologists about their 'coolest' finds:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/whats-the-coolest-thing-youve-ever-found-real-archaeologists-share-their

Feature on H.P. Lovecraft:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/arts/television/hp-lovecraft.html

On tarot cards throughout the ages:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2020/aug/04/occult-following-tarot-cards-in-pictures

I think we mentioned the recipe for 'Bald's eyeslave':

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/medieval-potion-kills-stubborn-bacteria-180975459/

Feature on mummies being used for medicine and paint:

https://aeon.co/essays/when-we-lived-with-death-mummies-were-medicine-and-paint

There's a replica of the Nao Victoria marking the 500th anniversary of its world circumnavigation:

https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/08/03/replica-of-historic-ship-which-sailed-around-the-world-visits-costa-del-sol/

120 years bp cat photos from a time capsule:

https://mymodernmet.com/cyanotype-time-capsule-cat-photos/

Feature on a Zoroastrian community in India:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/06/last-of-the-zoroastrians-parsis-mumbai-india-ancient-religion

Another feature on 'plague literature':

https://news.columbia.edu/literature-COVID19-pandemic-narrative-medicine

Folks have started the process of dismantiing Notre Dame's organ:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/03/dismantling-notre-dame-cathedral-organ-begins-2019-fire-cleaned-repaired

Pondering whether the cold coronavirus jumped from cows to humans in the 19th century:

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/08/coronavirus-will-never-go-away/614860/

Marking the 40th anniversary of the rediscovery/reexploration of the Titanic:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/40-years-ago-the-titanic-was-found-and-lost

================================================================
AUCTIONS AND SALES RELATED ================================================================
Big bucks for a Qianlong dynasty vase:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/chinese-vase-sells-more-9-million-180975465/
================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT ================================================================
More on the genetics of upper class types in Ireland in 3800 BCE or so:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/all-in-the-family-genetic-links-in-prehistoric-ireland.htm
================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
John Beardsley Green photos of Egypt:

https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/08/art-review-john-beardsley-greene-photography-egyptian-ruins/

Egyptian Women in Antiquity:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/15/90483/Vienna-Showcasing-Egyptian-Women-in-Antiquity

Rome Reborn:

https://aleteia.org/2020/08/08/rome-reborn-simulates-the-ancient-city-for-virtual-tours/

Plenty of coverage of a tourist's breaking toes off a cast of a Canova work while taking a photo:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-53665860/tourist-posing-for-photo-breaks-19th-century-antonio-canova-sculpture
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/canova-statue-damage-tourist-scli-intl/index.html
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/ny-italian-sculpture-toes-snapped-antonio-canova-20200804-nodhszueuzao5g5s3a3qkpyiie-story.html

Assorted exhibitions in New Zealand put off because of travel restrictions:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/300075351/coronavirus-picasso-monet-dali-exhibitions-put-off-due-to-travel-restrictions

More layoffs at the Met:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/arts/design/met-museum-layoffs-pandemic.html

Expansion plans for the Shaker Museum in Chatham:

https://www.wamc.org/post/shaker-museum-expand-new-building-downtown-chatham

Lack of visitors lately has created a dust problem at the British Museum:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/02/british-museum-battling-pests-drawn-dust-left-lockdown-lack/
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/309/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/309/pub/309/page/33/article/68209

Feature on the Grand Egyptian Museum (with a Tut focus):

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/tutankhamun-grand-egyptian-museum/index.html https://www.cnn.com/videos/travel/2020/08/06/egypt-cairo-museum.cnn

... and a pair of statues that returned to Egypt to be put on display there:

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/90521/What-you-need-to-know-about-royal-statues-return-to
https://www.egyptindependent.com/two-enormous-statues-return-from-us-to-be-displayed-at-grand-egyptian-museum/

... which will be opening soon:

http://www.theartnewspaper.com/feature/behind-the-scenes-at-the-grand-egyptian-museum

... and the Royal Chariots Museum is opening even sooner:


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