===============================================================
explorator 18.20 September 6, 2015 ===============================================================
If you're having problems getting 'the whole issue', 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, Bob Heuman, William
Gebhardt, Allan Brockway, Richard Campbell,Richard C. Griffiths,and Ross W. Sargent
for headses upses this week (as always hoping I have left no one out). ================================================================
EARLY HOMINIDS
================================================================
The human body has apparently undergone four stages of evolution:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-reveals-human-body-stages-evolution.html http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-08/bu-srh083115.php http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3217556/The-human-body-gone-four-stage
s-evolution-430-000-year-old-fossil-collection-reveals-transformation-man.html http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/09/2015/the-human-body-has-underg
one-four-main-stages-of-evolution

On the legacy of early human diets:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-early-human-diet-habits.html

More on Neanderthals having a thing for hot water:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/neanderthals-had-homes-with-hot-water--researcher-says-070
927113.html http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/neanderthals-had-houses-hot-water-180956
438/?no-ist

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT ================================================================
Evidence of bird (kestrel) breeding in Egypt:

http://phys.org/news/2015-09-greedy-kestrel-proof-bird-ancient.html http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/e-gk090315.php http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150903081757.htm http://news.discovery.com/animals/kestrel-mummy-hints-at-raptor-breeding-in-ancient-eg
ypt-150903.htm http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3221547/Ancient-Egyptians-falconers-Mum
mified-kestrel-reveals-birds-prey-bred-preserved-huge-numbers-offering-gods.html

I think we mentioned this 26th Dynasty tomb find:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/139265/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/The-tomb-o
f-the-th-dynasty-ruler-of-Upper-Egypt-un.aspx

Plans to restore Tut's gold mask:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201509041369.html

Concerns for Iskander Palace:

http://www.thecairopost.com/news/165958/news/archaeologists-voice-concern-over-sale-
of-antique-palace

What Zahi Hawass is up to:

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2015/09/04/ egypt-safe-but-greater-boldness-needed-says-hawass_f7ad482c-942b-4e7d-9bf4-a84b93
9c9e71.html

On mummies and heart disease:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/31/mummies-pharaohs-heart-disease-
arteries-egyptians

An interesting 2000 years b.p. podium from Jerusalem:

http://www.antiquities.org.il/Article_eng.aspx?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=4144 http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/IsraelExperience/History/Pages/2000-year-old-podium-in-City-of-Da
vid-31-Aug-2015.aspx http://www.livescience.com/52039-ancient-jerusalem-podium-unearthed.html http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/mysterious-2000-year-old-podium-found-i
n-jerusalem-150901.htm http://www.timesofisrael.com/scientists-ponder-purpose-of-stepped-podium-in-ancient-jer
usalem/ http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Mysterious-2000-year-old-podium-found-near-T
emple-Mount-in-City-of-David-413790 http://www.haaretz.com/life/archaeology/1.673744 http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4696252,00.html http://www.israelnationalnews. com/News/News.aspx/200120 http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/second-temple-era-podium-may-be-dis
covery-in-city-of-david/2015/08/31/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3218236/Is-lost-property-office-2-000-year-
old-stone-podium-Jerusalem-s-Stone-Claims-unearthed.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rs
s&ns_campaign=1490

A roundup of recent finds at Magdala:

http://www.magdala.org/2015/08/another-successful-archaeological-excavation-season-c
oncludes/

A mysterious 'shaft' being dug in East Jerusalem:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/police-probe-mysterious-deep-shaft-dug-in-east-jerusalem/
http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/.premium-1.673799 http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/09/01/police-tunnel-to-jerusalem-archaeology-museum-
could-be-built-by-thieves/

On sinkholes near the Dead Sea:

http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/A-Sinking-feeling-411312

Feature on archaeology in Istanbul:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/08/31/the-big-dig

More on the Philistines and cumin, opium, etc.:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-philistines-sycamore-cumin-opium-poppy.html http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/2015/08/30/opium-cumin-sycamore-brought-ancien
t-israel-sea-peoples/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3216953/Not-Philistines-Ancient-culture-int
roduced-cumin-bay-leaves-opium-poppies-Middle-Eastern-diet.html?ITO=1490&ns_mcha
nnel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

What Michael Danti is up to:

http://www.npr.org/2015/08/31/436377457/archaeologist-works-to-track-the-islamic-states
-war-on-culture

It was confirmed that ISIL destroyed the Temple of Bel:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34111092 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11835876/Syrias-Palmyra-
UN-satellite-images-confirm-destruction-of-famed-temple.html http://www.dw.com/en/un-confirms-destruction-of-ancient-temple-of-bel-in-palmyra-syria/
a-18684819 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/08/31/temple-bel-palmyra-syria/ 71497448/ http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/isis-blows-up-largest-pre-christian-temple
-in-palmyra-150831.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

... despite earlier reports:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/31/ancient-temple-bel-still-standing-syria-ant
iquities-chief http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/31/world/middleeast/isis-damages-a-temple-in-palmyra.
html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34107395 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/31/palmyra-temple-damage-syria-remai
ns-unclear-antiqu/ http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_syria-amount-of-damage-at-palmyra-temple-uncl
ear_397900.html

... and later in the week 3 (or possibly all 7) Roman funerary towers:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/05/world/middleeast/syria-more-antiquities-destroyed-b
y-isis-in-ancient-city-of-palmyra.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/09/04/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-palmyra-idUKKCN0R40Q
N20150904 http://www.dw.com/en/islamic-state-blows-up-tower-tombs-at-syrias-palmyra/a-18693395
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34150 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-blows-up-three-ancient-tower-t
ombs-as-destruction-in-palmyra-continues-10486314.html http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/isil-blows-ancient-tower-tombs-syria-palmyra-15
0904165833493.html
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4697616,00.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3222123/ISIS-launches-attack-civilisation-Jihadis
-blow-three-ancient-tower-tombs-Palmyra-just-days-destroying-two-Roman-temples-city.h
tml

... more opEds:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2015/0831/Why-Islamic-State-set-off-explo
sives-at-Syria-s-ancient-Bel-temple http://feeds.theguardian.com/c/34708/f/664018/s/497a105b/sc/6/l/0L0Stheguardian0N0Cc
ommentisfree0C20A150Csep0C0A10Ctemple0Ebel0Epalmyra0Eisis0Eyria/story01.htm http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/09/05/437616132/as-isis-destroys-artifacts-co
uld-some-antiquities-have-been-saved http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/isis-profits-from-destruction-of-antiquities-by-selling
-relics-to-dealers--and-then-blowing-up-the-buildings-they-come-from-to-conceal-the-evide
nce-of-looting-10483421.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3220738/How-ISIS-profits-wiping-history-Jihadis-
drive-price-artefacts-sparking-outcry-destruction-cashing-notoriety.html http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ap-interview-rescuer-world-protect-antiquiti
es-33483664 http://www.thenational.ae/world/middle-east/can-and-should-isils-destruction-at-palmyra-
be-undone http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/01/isis-is-systematically-destroying-palmyra
-top-antiquities-official-says http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2015/0831/Why-Islamic-State-set-off-explo
sives-at-Syria-s-ancient-Bel-temple

... a roundup of what ISIL has destroyed:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/09/150901-isis-destruction-looting-ancient-site
s-iraq-syria-archaeology/
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/639330/?sc=rsln

... and ARCA is looking for memories of Palmyra (etc.):

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/arcablog/~3/cSxfAyC26uc/in-memoriam-heritage-communit
y-speaks.html

... and some sort of attempt to tie ISIL's activities to Temple Mount:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/200308

================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS) ================================================================
A Roman-era sarcophagus from Ashkelon (seems more appropriate in this section):

http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/IsraelExperience/History/Pages/Rare-sarcophagus-exposed-in-Ash
kelon-building-site-3-Sep-2015.aspx http://phys.org/news/2015-09-israel-unveils-year-ol
d-sarcophagus.html http://www.livescience.com/52079-rare-roman-era-sarcophagus-discovered.html http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/rare-1800-year-old-sarcophagus-recovere
d-in-israel-150903.htm http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/09/04/irreparable-damage-caused-to-rare-1800-yea
r-old-artifact-discovered-in-israeli-construction-site/ http://www.aptn.com/80256FE9003EF444/(httpStories)/E322CA4AD1F4A8A880257EB5005 AE859?OpenDocument&day=4&month=9&year=2015&feed=horizons&viewtype=day&sec tion=horizons http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Rare-1800-year-old-sarcophagus-discovered-in
-Ashkelon-415076
http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/.premium-1.674481 http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-recovers-ancient-sarcophagus-hidden-by-builders/
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=28075 http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=81202 http://www.jta.org/2015/09/03/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/ancient-sarcophagus-disc
overed-at-ashkelon-construction-site

Claims of a 'first church' find in Turkey:

http://arts-entertainment.bgnnews.com/roman-christians-first-church-found-in-diyarbakir-s
outheast-turkey-haberi/9153

A 'town hall' from Heraclea Sintica (Bulgaria):

http://www.novinite.com/articles/170621/Bulgarian+Archaeologists+Discover+Ancient+To
wn+Hall+near+Petrich

A statue from Libya was smuggled to the UK:

http://eu.greekreporter.com/2015/09/02/ancient-greek-statue-illegally-taken-from-libya-to-t
he-uk/ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/15m-ancient-greek-statue-looted-fr
om-libyan-heritage-site-must-be-returned-10481937.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/archaeology/11837886/Ancient-Greek
-relic-looted-from-Libya-to-be-returned.html

A major Roman coin hoard from Sofia:

http://sofiaglobe.com/2015/09/04/bulgarian-archaeologists-find-nearly-3000-coins-in-clay
-pot-at-sofia-dig/ http://www.novinite.com/articles/170691/Bulgarian+Archaeologists+Discover+Roman+Co
in+Hoard+in+Downtown+Sofia

They're back digging at Eliaussa Sebaste:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/excavation-season-begins-at-ancient-site-of-elaiussa-
sebaste.aspx?pageID=238&nid=87881

I think we mentioned this Greek well for hydromancy:

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/08/30/ancient-greek-well-used-for-hydromancy-disc
overed-in-athens/

... and this submerged Bronze Age Greek city in the Argolic Gulf:

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/submerged-greek-village-archaeologists-
paradise-not-atlantis-n417986

Plans for a rescue dig on Cyprus:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-34153880#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns
_source=PublicRSS20-sa http://cyprus-mail.com/2015/09/02/rescue-excavation-at-threatened-cypriot-archaeologica
l-site/
http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=155988&CultureCode=en

Feature on Roman Ribchester:

http://www.longridgenews.co.uk/news/revealing-roman-ribchester-1-7438199

Possibility of restoring the tomb at Amphipolis:

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/09/01/archaeological-restoration-of-greece-amphip
olis-tomb-a-possibility/

The big news continues to be the find of a major Mycenean site in Sparta/Laconia:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/this-greek-ruin-might-be-from-lon
g-lost-culture-that-inspired-the-odyssey/2015/08/31/7c63797c-4cc4-11e5-84df-923b3ef1a
64b_story.html

Feature on some bad Roman emperors: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/04/henry-viii-worst-monarch-in-hist
ory-tudor-king-rome-emperors

Laser scanning the Lapis Niger:

http://m.ilmessaggero.it/m/messaggero/articolo/spettacoli/1445875#

Dragon Blade looks like it might spark some class discussions:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/04/movies/review-dragon-blade-features-jackie-chan-ro
mans-and-a-lot-of-mayhem.html http://io9.com/that-ancient-romans-vs-chinese-movie-is-a-total-so-ba-1728660272

More on Egyptian Blue in Roman era Fayum mummy portraits:

http://www.livescience.com/52066-egyptian-blue-mummy-portraits.html

Review of Bleicken, *Augustus*:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/books/9621122/augustus-here-was-a-caesar-or-at-least-his-g
reat-nephew/

Review of Tom Holland, *Dynasty*:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/sep/06/dynasty-house-of-caesar-tom-holland-bo
ok-review-nick-cohen

Review(ish) of Josiah Ober's tome:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2015/09/03/classical-greece-was
-incredibly-innovative-politically-speaking-why-did-it-rise-and-then-fall/

More on recreating a Neolthic 'barbecue' on Cyprus:

http://www.livescience.com/52059-stone-age-pit-roast-recreated.html

-----
Latest reviews from BMCR:

http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/recent.html

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/ ================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland) ================================================================
Very interesting inscriptions from (Russian) Georgia:

http://languagemagazine.com/?p=124335

Plans to study a Mesolithic house on Skye:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-34127171

A Neolithic (?) hunting camp from County Durham:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-34125387 http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/13638970.Stone_Age_campsite_unea
rthed_in_County_Durham_countryside/

A mass burial from Durham Palace Green appears to be the 17th century remains of
Scottish prisoners of war:

http://phys.org/news/2015-09-skeletons-mass-graves-17th-century.html http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/du-sfi090215.php http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/sep/02/skeletons-durham-cathedral-oliver-cro
mwell-prisoners http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/skeletons-of-scottish-prisoners-
provide-evidence-of-child-soldiers-in-english-civil-war-10482793.html http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-34116842 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-25166771 http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/archaeologists-durham-castle-say-s
olved-9977660 http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/scots-soldiers-unearthed-in-england
-400-years-on-1-3875651 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3219504/Skeletons-mass-grave-belong-Sc
ottish-prisoners-war-Durham-remains-belong-17th-century-defeated-Royalists.html?ITO=
1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Looking for an Anglo-Saxon abbey wall at Peterborough Castle:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-34085916

On Liverpool's lost tunnels:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150902-the-lost-tunnels-of-liverpool

Low water levels are revealing artifacts in the Vistula River:

http://phys.org/news/2015-09-river-reveals-17th-century-secrets.html http://news.yahoo.com/longest-polish-river-reveals-secrets-amid-drought-032717339.htm
l

Vague item on some early churches in Bulgaria:

http://www.novinite.com/articles/170661/Excavations+Unveil+One+of+Five+Most+Import
ant+Temples+for+Bulgarian+Archaeology

Looking for Spanish Armada burials near Dunluce Castle:

http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2015/09/01/news/archaeologists-in-
bid-to-unearth-armada-graves--248322/ http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/archaeologists-to-probe-armada-
graveyard-plot-near-dunluce-castle-31495420.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3218462/Do-Spanish-Armada-s-lost-sailors
-lie-buried-cemetery-Unmarked-plot-Northern-Ireland-mass-grave.html?ITO=1490&ns_mc
hannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Interesting 400 years b.p. graffiti from Newark:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-34112451

Interesting feature on the plague in London:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-plague-swept-through-london-1809564
75/

Apparently Denmark's earliest kings were also pirates:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/denmarks-earliest-kings-were-also-pirates-
180956439/

Seeking funding for Reading Abbey ruins:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-34117996

-----
Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC ================================================================
3000 years b.p. pottery from New Guinea:

http://phys.org/news/2015-09-ancient-guinea-pot-makers.html http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/anu-ang090215.php http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2015/09/03/4304756.htm?topic=ancient

Ancient shipwrecks from the Sungai Batu site:

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/ancient-ships-discovered-at-sungai-
batu-archaeological-site https://uk.news.yahoo.com/malaysia-archaeologists-ancient-shipwrecks-could-04343496
2.html

21 more burials from South Gyeongsang Province:

http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2015090440398

Locating the Ergenikon epic in the Altay mountains (I think this goes here):

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/evidence-of-ergenekon-epic-found-in-altay-mountains-.
aspx?PageID=238&NID=87669&NewsCatID=375

They're still talking about Mes Aynak:

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/08/30/435570591/whats-better-for-afgha
nistans-future-buddha-tours-or-a-copper-mine

More on the redating of the Shigir idol:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/01/the-russian-idol-three-times-as-old-as-t
he-pyramids.html http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/n0376-shigir-idol-is-oldest-wooden-sculpture-
monument-in-the-world-say-scientists/ http://budapestreport.com/science-27/shigir-idol-the-world-s-oldest-wooden-statue-explor
ed-302.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/shigir-idol_55e3e761e4b0aec9f353b08d http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/09/01/worlds-oldest-wooden-statue-twice-old-p
yramids/71508904/

-----
East Asian Archaeology:

http://eastasiablog.wordpress.com/

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://nzarchaeology.blogspot.co.nz/index.html ================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Melting ice in Yellowstone is revealing artifacts 'too quickly':

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/melting-ice-yellowstone-revealing-ancient-a
rtifacts-180956488/

Looking for the site of the Bear River Massacre:

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2015/09/01/archaeologists-are-hunting-for-site-largest-n
ative-american-massacre/ http://www.newser.com/story/212113/scientists-study-lost-site-of-largest-native-american
-massacre.html

Remains of an 18th century village found during road construction in Quebec will not be
preserved:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/18th-century-village-ruins-discovered-during-tur
cot-construction-to-be-destroyed-1.3213696?cmp=rss

A Rhode Island church is looking into its role in the slave trade:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/24/us/rhode-island-church-taking-unusual-step-to-illumi
nate-its-slavery-role.html?mwrsm=Facebook

Interesting feature on 'wine bricks' during Prohibition:

http://vinepair.com/wine-blog/how-wine-bricks-saved-the-u-s-wine-industry-during-prohibit
ion/?utm_source=Atlas&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=facebook-partnerships

Feature on the Urban Archaeology Corps:

http://www.npr.org/2015/09/05/437768166/teens-dig-into-black-history-as-urban-archeolo
gists?sc=17&f=1003

Feature on the 'black cowboys' of Florida:

http://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2015/09/01/432225353/ the-black-cowboys-of-florida

... and 'Indian cowboys' too:

http://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2015/09/03/433194190/ the-indian-cowboys-of-florida

Plans for the Alamo:

http://newsdaily.com/2015/09/texas-says-renovate-the-alamo-the-plaza-and-the-building/

================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ================================================================
On the environmental impact of the Maya:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/uota-cfa090315.php http://phys.org/news/2015-09-clues-ancient-maya-reveal-impact.html

More on the builders of the Inca Road:

http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/08/29/435480149/for-inca-road-builders-extre
me-terrain-was-no-obstacle?sc=17&f=7

-----
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 ================================================================
On fishermen and fine art:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/30/435248291/how-fishermen-s-bragging-rig
hts-gave-birth-to-fine-art

Handwriting analysis reveals an unknown Magna Carta scribe:

http://phys.org/news/2015-09-analysis-scholar-unknown-magna-carta.html

On archaeologists and pseudo archaeology:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2015/09/03/what-archaeologists-really-think
-about-ancient-aliens-lost-colonies-and-fingerprints-of-the-gods/

A manuscript of the song that inspired 'happy birthday':

http://newsdaily.com/2015/08/college-finds-manuscript-of-song-that-inspired-happy-birthd
ay/ http://www.dw.com/en/manuscript-that-inspired-happy-birthday-discovered-in-us-library/
a-18691044

Counting trees (and human impact thereon):

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/09/02/436919052/tree-counter-is-astonis
hed-by-how-many-trees-there-are

On Tolkien's obsession (sort of) with Finland:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34063157

A Titanic menu is coming to auction:

http://time.com/4017262/titanic-lunch-menu-auction-2/

On the destruction of a 'demon statue' in Russia (not sure where to put this one):

http://www.dw.com/en/uproar-in-st-petersburg-after-demon-statue-destroyed/a-18682863
http://www.dw.com/en/russia-returns-to-the-dark-ages/a-18693317

On the connection between language and the Persian Walnut:

http://phys.org/news/2015-09-ancient-walnut-forests-linked-languages.html

On reading tea leaves:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/09/01/434621010/for-centuries-people-have-sea
rched-for-answers-in-the-bottom-of-a-tea-cup

More on that oldest Quran fragment:

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2015/07/quran-manuscript-22-07-15.aspx http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/fragments-of-worlds-oldest-koran-unlikely-to-
predate-prophet-mohamed-says-expert-10481728.html http://csmonitor.com/World/2015/0901/Could-this-Quran-fragment-really-be-older-than-Mu
hammed http://www.foxnews.com/science/2015/09/01/carbon-dating-suggests-fragments-world-old
est-korean-may-predate-muhammad/

Archaeology Podcast Network:

http://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/ ================================================================
MUSEUM MATTERS
================================================================
Catherine the Great:

http://theconversation.com/masterpieces-from-the-hermitage-puts-the-great-in-catherine-t
he-great-review-45435 http://theconversation.com/why-catherine-the-greats-greatness-doesnt-grate-46925

Immortales:

http://www.oudaily.com/l_and_a/rome-lives-again-through-immortales-exhibit/article_f42
d0e1a-50dd-11e5-9bac-8fcccce01435.html

Update on those items from the Crimea:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/18/arts/international/artifacts-from-crimean-museums-ar
e-held-hostage-by-politics.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

================================================================
THE TECHY SIDE
================================================================
CT scanning a 7000 years b.p. skeleton from Stuttgart reveals what might be the oldest
example of leukemia:

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-oldest-case-leukemia-discoveredprehistoric-female.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150831085609.htm http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3218171/Oldest-known-case-LEUKAEMIA-u
nearthed-7-000-year-old-skeleton-belonging-40-year-old-woman-bears-scars-blood-cance
r.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Plans to digitally reconstruct 'Doggerland':

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/uob-apt090115.php http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/archaeology/11836627/British-Atlanti
s-archaeologists-begin-exploring-lost-world-of-Doggerland.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-34159114#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_sour
ce=PublicRSS20-sa http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/britains-atlantis-scientific-study
-beneath-north-sea-could-revolutionise-how-we-see-the-past-10480279.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3218074/Who-lived-Britain-s-Atlantis-Scientists-s
et-uncover-secrets-Doggerland-huge-North-Sea-island-lost-waves-7-500-years-ago.html?I
TO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490 http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/science/discovery/searching-for-lost-tribes-of-prehistoric-brit
ain-1.1908842 http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/09/2015/archaeologists-will-digitally-r
e-construct-doggerland

3d printing of a weapon has revealed that it was actually a musical instrument:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150902102317.htm http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/anu-3pr090215.php http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-01/ancient-artefact-thought-to-be-a-weapon-sheds-lig
ht-on-music/6740352 http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-life/archaeologists-hunch-and-a-3d-
printer-brings-bronze-age-music-to-life-20150901-gjcagk.html

A solar-powered device to preserve texts:

http://www.livescience.com/52054-solar-device-to-preserve-disappearing-texts.html

Use of technology to identify artifacts from Jamestown:

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2015/08/cornell-technology-identifies-artifacts-james
town-graves http://phys.org/news/2015-09-scanning-technology-artifacts-jamestown-graves.html


================================================================
ON THE DNA FRONT ================================================================
First ancient genome from the Mediterranean:

http://phys.org/news/2015-09-ancient-genome-recovered-mediterranean-area.html http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150902191352.htm

What the genetic history of sheep tells us about domestication:

http://phys.org/news/2015-09-rewrites-genetic-history-sheep.html

Dienekes' Anthropology Blog:

http://dienekes.blogspot.ca/

================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS ================================================================
Assorted ancient sites:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20150821-six-lesser-known-wonders-of-the-ancient-world

Pergamon:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/destinations/city-of-pergamons-ancient-appea
l-spans-millennia/article26166682/

================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
Jail time for plundering a 17th century shipwreck:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11845404/Diver-jailed-for-plunder
ing-sunken-ships-historical-artefacts.html

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 ================================================================
Canada returned a Phoenician item to Lebanon:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/phoenician-artifact-to-lebanon-glass-pendant-1.3213339

Switzerland is returning an ancient coin to Greece:

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/09/03/ancient-greek-coin-to-be-sent-back-to-greece-f
rom-switzerland/

================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================ ------------------------
Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/

================================================================
OBITUARIES
================================================================
John Bard McNulty:

http://www.courant.com/hc-mcnulty-obituary-0905-20150904-story.html

Khaled al-Asaad:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11839626/Khaled-al-Asaad-curator-obituary.h
tml


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

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/news-from-tac/audio-news-from-archaeologica/ 2280-audio-news-from-archaeologica-23-aug-29-aug-2015 ================================================================
UPCOMING CONFERENCES ================================================================
(send in your notices!) ================================================================
GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS BLOGS ================================================================
Archaeology Magazine News Page:

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

About.com Archaeology:

http://archaeology.about.com/

Ancient Digger:

http://www.ancientdigger.com/

Archaeology Briefs:

http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/

Past Horizons:

http://www.pasthorizons.com/

Stonepages:

http://www.stonepages.com/news/

Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:

http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/

Time Machine:

http://heatherpringle.wordpress.com/ ================================================================ PODCASTS/VODCASTS ================================================================
Archaeosoup:

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

The Book and the Spade:

http://www.radioscribe.com/bknspade.htm ================================================================
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 World War II or so is fair game) and every Sunday they
are delivered to your mailbox free of charge! ================================================================
Useful Addresses

[continued in next message]

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)