explorator 14.44 February 19, 2012

explorator 14.44 February 19, 2012
================================================================
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================================================================
================================================================
Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, David Critchley,
Edward Rockstein, Rick Heli, Kurt Theis, Wendy van Duivenvoorde,
John McMahon, Barnea Selavan,Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri,
Richard C. Griffiths,Bob Heuman, Rick Pettigrew,
and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always
hoping I have left no one out).
================================================================
EARLY HUMANS
================================================================
Linking human evolution and climate change:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-02/sfu-2am_2021712.php
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
Some backstepping in a theory from last year that languages can be
traced to West Africa:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-africa-language.html

More on the Queen of Sheba's gold:

http://news.discovery.com/history/sheba-queen-gold-121502.html
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/15/queen-shebas-lost-gold-mines-discovere\
d-archaeologist-claims/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/feb/12/archaeologists-and-quest-for-sheba\
-goldmines
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
A wooden sarcophagus finde from Qubbet el-Hawa (finally we're getting some
real news from Egypt!):

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2102035/Wooden-sarcophagus-dug-As\
wan-tombs-Qubbet-el-Hawa.html

They're still working on that second Khufu solar boat:

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/34691/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/nd-pha\
se-of-Khufu-solar-boat-project-to-begin-Mond.aspx

Feature on animal mummies and other things from Abydos apparently
recently-found:

http://news.discovery.com/history/ancient-egypt-animal-mummy-abydos-burial-site-\
120214.html
http://www.livescience.com/18462-animal-mummies-ancient-egypt.html
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/14/animal-mummies-discovered-ancient-egyp\
tian-site/
Studying pollen from Ramat Rahel:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120216134112.htm

Interesting feature on a Judeo-Arabic translation of Maimonides:

http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Judaism/Article.aspx?id=258141

A small model of Temple Mount has returned to Jerusalem, after being
in Switzerland for quite a while:

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/1.412909

Latest in the search for an IAA chair:

http://www.haaretz.com/academics-bow-out-of-search-for-antiquities-authority-lea\
dership-1.412056

Jerusalem has approved construction of a visitors' centre in Sliwan:

http://www.haaretz.com/1.412700

Feature on Himyar:

http://www.hs.ias.edu/files/Bowersock_RiseAndFall.pdf
http://www.ias.edu/about/publications/ias-letter/articles/2011-fall/jewish-arabi\
a-bowersock

More on that fortress from the Hill of Jonah:

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=53483
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/diggers-have-whale-of-a-time-in-ashdod\
-1.412740

Egyptology News Blog:

http://egyptology.blogspot.com/

Egyptology Blog:

http://www.egyptologyblog.co.uk/

Dr Leen Ritmeyer's Blog:

http://blog.ritmeyer.com/

Paleojudaica:

http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/

Persepolis Fortification Archives:

http://persepolistablets.blogspot.com/
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
A pile of Sardinian 'stone guardians' found almost a decade ago
have been pretty much restored:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/prehistoric-cybermen-sardi\
nias-lost-warriors-rise-from-the-dust-6988952.html

A Bronze Age hut from Lipari:

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2012/02/17/Bronze-Age-hut-found-on-Italian-islan\
d/UPI-29761329502118/

A Roman necropolis from Tunisia:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201202151008.html
http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/02/14/discovery-of-a-roman-cemetery-in-djerba/

Possible Roman human remains from a Dorset garden:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-17016523

Roman pottery from a site near Plymouth:

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Roman-pottery-dig-site-near-Plymouth/story-15213\
707-detail/story.html

Penn Museum has put up a video of Felix Pirson's talk on the DAI's
excavations at Pergamon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91PR4cyLrZA&feature=uploademail

On ancient dog food:

http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2012/02/ancient-puppy-chow-dog-food-in-classica\
l-greece.html

Feature on Greek Fire and Damascus Steel:

http://io9.com/5881149/technologies-that-weve-lost-+-and-the-quest-to-find-them-\
again

Snow has apparently damaged the Colosseum (and other monuments in Italy):

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/15/world/europe/italy-snow-damage-colosseum-monuments\
/
http://www.news24.com/World/News/Snow-damages-Colosseum-20120214
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2101889/C-C-Colosseum-snow-harsh-winter-\
weather-puts-crumbling-ancient-monument-strain.html

Barbara Gold on love in ancient Rome:

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1\
903141

Classics threatened at Oxford?:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/oxford-seeks-donors-to-save-top\
-posts/story-e6frgcjx-1226269649667

What Diane Rayor is up to:

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/02/gvsu_professor_to_host_\
lecture.html

What Hilary Becker is up to:

http://thedmonline.com/article/professor-shares-knowledge-power-kinship-and-warf\
are

Birds in the Iliad:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-02/uog-tbi021312.php
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/02/2012/the-birds-in-the-iliad-\
strengthened-warriors

Glossing 'Age of Bronze':

http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2012/feb/15/newly-digitized-comics-teach-troja\
n-war/

I think we mentioned that the Altar of Pergamon is closed for renovations:

http://www.france24.com/en/20120207-berlins-pergamon-altar-close-renovations

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
The latest theory about Stonehenge ... sound inspiration?:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-effects-stonehenge-scientist.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17073206
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/feb/16/stonehenge-based-magical-auditory-\
illusion
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/24737/sound-effects-inspired-stonehenge-us-sc\
ientist
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/stonehenge-inspired-by-sound-illusion_n\
_1283464.html

A Neolithic 'High Street' found by underwater archaeologists near Bouldnor:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-17060174

A number of sites have been found prior to construction of Bulgaria's
Nabucco gas pipeline project:

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=136619

Pondering the origins of the Buxton Mermaid:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17038668

Nottingham's City of Caves has reopened:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-16984845

Fiddler's Hill has been taken over by the Norfolk
Archaeological Trust:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-17079072

Archaeology in Europe Blog:

http://archaeology-in-europe.blogspot.com/
================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
================================================================
Earliest (?) image of a mother goddess in Andhra Pradesh (I'm
greatly abbreviating the location):

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2897216.ece

East Asian Archaeology:

http://eastasiablog.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/east-asian-archaeology-cultural-her\
itage-%E2%80%93-2052010/

Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:

http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/

New Zealand Archaeology eNews:

http://www.nzarchaeology.org/netsubnews.htm
================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Petroglyphs from a possible paleo-Indian solstice site in Virginia:

http://www.clarkedailynews.com/archaeologist-says-rockart-found-at-local-paleoin\
dian-site/29289

They're still digging at Monticello:

http://www.nbc29.com/story/16964715/excavating-what-jefferson-left-off-his-maps

A project to locate and identify 13 British transport ships that sank in
Newport Harbor
in the 18th century:

http://www.jamestownpress.com/news/2012-02-16/Front_Page/Sunken_British_ships_ar\
e_focus_of_Newport_archaeol.html

They're restoring/restored the Bluenose II:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/in-lunenburg-a-new-bluenose-gets-se\
t-for-sea/article2338710/

More on that 'rich' WWII shipwreck (S.S. Port Nicholson) off Boston:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/08/modern-treasure-hunters-claim-theyve-found-\
billions-in-sunken-ship-off-boston
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
================================================================
Acoustic studies aren't confined to Stonehenge this week ... Chavin de
Huantar is
also in the news therefor:

http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/december-2011/article/magic-sounds-of-peru-\
s-ancient-chavin-de-huantar
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/16/10426123-scientists-revive-sacre\
d-sounds

Aztec tablets found near the Templo Mayor:

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2012/02/14/big-find-made-at-aztec-tem\
ple-in-mexico/
http://www.inah.gob.mx/index.php/boletines/17-arqueologia/5650-revelan-texto-en-\
piedra-hallado-frente-a-templo-mayor

Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:

http://web.mac.com/michaelruggeri

Ancient MesoAmerica News:

http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
================================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
================================================================
Latest video news from the Archaeology Channel:

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/

Archaeo News Podcast 208:

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/02/2012/archaeo-news-podcast-20\
8

A pile of Newton's theological texts are going online:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-israeli-library-uploads-newton-theological.h\
tml
http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-library-uploads-newtons-theological-texts-18145886\
1.html

... as have letters from Elizabeth Barrett-Browning:

http://web.wellesley.edu/web/Dept/LT/Collections/SpecColl/Browning

National Geographic has a lengthy feature on the Apostles:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/03/apostles/todhunter-text

A Mary Lincoln painting turns out to be a fake:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/arts/design/portrait-of-mary-todd-lincoln-is-d\
eemed-a-hoax.html

Scientists unlock the ancient secrets of Chang Shan:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-scientists-molecular-secrets-year-old-chines\
e.html

More on Leonardo and his Vitruvian Man:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toby-lester/vitruvian-man-history_b_1273707.html#s\
683898&title=Zodiac_man

http://www.ancientdigger.com/
================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
================================================================
Mycenae:

http://www.qt.com.au/story/2012/02/17/fortress-steeped-ancient-horrors/

Voyage to Antiquity:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2102738/Aegean-Odyssey-Bringing-Classi\
cs-life-voyage-history.html

Roman London:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/in-the-know/london-cultural-attractions/902\
3143/london-history-walking-tours-of-roman-london.html

Skara Brae:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-17013307
================================================================
BLOGS
================================================================
About.com Archaeology:

http://archaeology.about.com/

Archaeology Briefs:

http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/

Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:

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

Time Machine:

http://heatherpringle.wordpress.com/
================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
Tons of coverage of a robbery at one of the museums at Olympia; for a
synopsis:

http://rogueclassicism.com/2012/02/18/theft-at-olympia/

... otherwise:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17071934
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/9088221/Armed-robbers-ra\
id-Ancient-Olympia-museum.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/theft-of-olympic-treasures-piles-\
on-misery-for-greeks-7079783.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/02/2012217185116930823.html
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_7_17/02/2012_428579
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/17/world/europe/greece-museum-robbery/index.html
http://www.channel4.com/news/armed-robbers-loot-ancient-greek-museum
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2102623/Robbery-Ancient-Olympia-Museum-A\
rmed-robbers-steal-priceless-Greek-antiques.html
http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/17/10432276-armed-robbers-steal-70-\
relics-from-museum-in-olympia-greece
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/gunmen-steal-dozens-of-antiquities-\
in-greeces-second-big-museum-theft-this-year/
http://www.scotsman.com/news/international/greek_crisis_austerity_cutbacks_blame\
d_as_olympics_museum_is_raided_1_2124656
http://www.itv.com/news/greek-relics-raid43071/
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120218/NEWS02/702189925
http://www.thespec.com/news/world/article/673298--armed-robbers-snatch-priceless\
-antiquities-from-greek-museum
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/02/armed-robbers-hit-archaeology-muse\
um-ancient-olympia/48831/
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/02/17/greece-museum-robbery.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/17/ancient-olympia-antiquities-museum_n_12\
84130.html
http://news.yahoo.com/greek-culture-minister-quits-over-ancient-olympia-theft-08\
4708203.html
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/02/robbers-steal-dozens-of-pricel\
ess-artifacts-from-greek-museum.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-17/ancient-olympia-museum-robbed-of-antiqu\
ities-early-today-greek-police-say.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/17/thieves-raid-ancient-olympia-museum

A Faberge egg was stolen:

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/9535124.Faberge_egg_stolen_from_Worceste\
r_Park/

Muslim rioters at the Maldives' National Museum smashed some Buddhist
statuary:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gpQRnwpootZot3dABRpS168QzLbg?\
docId=CNG.b7b84d73ae0e2b3179e9deb594bd393e.481
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/world/asia/political-turmoil-threatens-archaeo\
logical-treasures-in-maldives.html

Not sure where to classify this one ... a major grant to study the illegal
antiquities
trade:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/scotland-blog/2012/feb/13/glasgow-team-gets-1m-gran\
t-to-study-illegal-trade-in-antiquities

More on that theft from the Montreal MoFA:

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=53647
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/two-valuable-antiquities-stolen-from-mo\
ntreal-museum/article2338297/

Looting Matters:

http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/

Illicit Cultural Property:

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

Safe Corner:

http://safecorner.savingantiquities.org/
================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Those Roman coins found in Suffolk a few months ago have been
declared treasure:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-17030532

A William the Conqueror penny from Gloucester:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-17027300
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Rare-coin-fills-gap-Gloucester-s-history/\
story-15254747-detail/story.html

Latest eSylum:

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v15n07.html

... and the one which should appear later today:

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v15n08.html

More on the court-ordered return of a pile of Spanish coins by Odyssey
Marine:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/18/us-usa-spain-shipwreck-idUSTRE81H00I20\
120218

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/========================================================\
========
EXHIBITIONS, AUCTIONS, AND MUSEUM-RELATED
================================================================
Rembrandt in America:

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=53692

Opening the Vaults: Mummies:

http://www.suntimes.com/10663478-418/from-the-vaults-field-musuem-bringing-out-t\
he-mummies.html
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=53658
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/02/15/field-museum-to-offer-rare-look-at-mummie\
s/

Fascinating Mummies:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2102193/Edinburghs-mummies-exhibi\
tion-CT-scans-reveal-jewellery-stashed-bindings-Egyptian-corpses.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/15/uk-exhibition-mummies-edinburgh-idUSLN\
E81E03P20120215
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/299219/20120215/egypt-s-mummies-divulge-secrets-\
modern-scotland.htm
http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre81e1gg-us-exhibition-mummies-edinburgh/

Mystery of the Mayan Medallion:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/nyregion/the-mystery-of-the-mayan-medallion-at\
-the-long-island-childrens-museum.html

Exploring Art of the Ancient Americas:

http://www.kwes.com/story/16938134/art-of-the-ancient-americas-on-display

Hajj:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/marium-abdulsattar/the-british-museums-hajj-_b_1\
272904.html

Delphic Letters:

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/nations/greece/2012/01/30/visualizza_new\
.html_71875540.html

Romance of the Middle Ages:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-romantic-lessons-middle-ages.html

There's a new director at the Getty:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-et-getty-museum-director-20120\
215,0,3180266.story
http://baytownsun.com/texas_ap/article_6e6479f2-1e7e-55bd-a591-cc144f7670f6.html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gxErVPja4hEOek9pf56Q_gfks19g?d\
ocId=5534d9a791b745d18d71b4fc50b1ec1c


The next repatriation issue for the British Museum appears to be a bronze
head of Anahit:

http://news.am/eng/news/93338.html

More on Princeton returns to Italy:

http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2012/02/16/29976/

Check out our Twitter hashtage for more ancient exhibition reviews:

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23classicalexhibit
================================================================
PERFORMANCES AND THEATRE-RELATED
================================================================
Check out our Twitter hashtag for Ancient Drama reviews:

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23ancientdrama

... and for Sword and Sandal flicks:

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23swordandsandal
================================================================
OBITUARIES
================================================================
Tristram P. Coffin:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/books/tristram-p-coffin-folklorist-dies-at-89.\
html

David Switzer:

http://www.mayhewfuneralhomes.com/?menuitem=330&siteid=50&action=1&value=12&obit\
uaries_action=2&obituaryid=115111

Berhard Kapitan:

http://wedigboats.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/obituary-for-gerhard-kapitan-in-engli\
sh/

Robert Hecht:

http://www.philly.com/philly/obituaries/139196319.html
================================================================
PODCASTS
================================================================
The Book and the Spade:

http://www.radioscribe.com/bknspade.htm

Stone Pages Archaeology News:

http://news.stonepages.com/

Archaeologica Audio News:

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/AudioNews.asp

Naked Archaeology Podcast:

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/archaeology/
================================================================
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