explorator 14.44 February 19, 2012

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explorator 14.44 February 19, 2012
================================================================
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================================================================
================================================================
Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, David Critchley, Dan Kiernan,
Don Buck, Diana Wright,Edward Rockstein, Rick Heli, Hernan Astudillo,
Kurt Theis, Wendy van Duivenvoorde, John McMahon, Barnea Selavan,
Joseph Lauer, Mike Ruggeri, Richard Campbell, Richard C. Griffiths,
Bob Heuman, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always
hoping I have left no one out).
================================================================
EARLY HUMANS
================================================================
European Neanderthals were in trouble even before modern
humans arrived, apparently:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120225110942.htm

Nice feature on the impact of the discovery of homo floresiensis:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/evolution/9094411/The-Hobbit-who-helped-us-fi\
nd-our-origins.html
================================================================
AFRICA
================================================================
MSU students are studying Nubian bone material:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-bones.html
http://news.msu.edu/story/10361/
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120224/MSU-students-analyze-bones-for-clues-i\
nto-Nubians-diets-health-histories-and-lifestyles.aspx

More on language origin and Africa:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215143001.htm
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
A 12th Dynasty tomb from Qubbet el-Hawa:

http://www.euroweeklynews.com/news/spain/91428-spanish-archaeologists-make-egypt\
ian-discovery

A different sort of mummy scan looks promising:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/mummys-secrets-no-longer-under-170100181.html

Jordan's earliest buildings:

http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/archaeologists-discover-jordans-earliest-buil\
dings/
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-archaeologists-jordan-earliest.html
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/338646/title/Shelters_date_to_Stone_A\
ge

Evidence of a massacre in Bronze Age Titris Hoyuk:

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/02/2012/evidence-of-massacre-in\
-bronze-age-turkey

Feature on archaeology in Aelia Capitolina:

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/archaeologists-bringing-jerusalem-\
s-ancient-roman-city-back-to-life-1.413874

LandMinds interview with Tom Levy about Hirbet
en-Nahas and other things:

http://www.foundationstone.org/LandMinds10/page32/files/LM-31Jan12a.mp3
http://www.foundationstone.org/LandMinds10/page32/files/LM-31Jan12b.mp3
http://www.foundationstone.org/LandMinds10/page32/files/LM-31Jan12c.mp3



The next phase of the Khufu solar boat project is about to begin (I think we
mentioned this last week):

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/34691/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/nd-pha\
se-of-Khufu-solar-boat-project-to-begin-Mond.aspx
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/egypt-begins-the-restoration-of-\
a-4500-year-old-boat-found-near-pyramids/2012/02/20/gIQADhmUPR_stor%20y.html
http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-begins-restoring-ancient-boat-near-pyramids-13410124\
8.html
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=53744

The Israeli version of Wikipedia is arguing with the Israel Museum about
photographs:

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/wikipedia-s-archaeology-editor-slams-i\
srael-museum-for-prohibiting-photography-1.412739

Funding to preserve Tel Shiloh:

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/1.413665

A history of Persian carpets:

http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1229.html

Egypt has recovered a pile of artifacts from Israel:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201202211274.html

Neil MacGregor did a TED talk on the Cyrus Cylinder:

http://www.ted.com/talks/neil_macgregor_2600_years_of_history_in_one_object.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpmsftF2We4

Latest in the Temple Mount saga (these vary in main topic):

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4194585,00.html
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/153101

Reviewish of Shmuley Boteach, *Kosher Jesus*:

http://www.jewishjournal.com/books/article/is_jesus_really_kosher_20120224/

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)
================================================================
Four shipwrecks off the Bay of Irakleio:

http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/41/53466

Alepotrypa Cave keeps popping up in the news:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/vergano/story/2012-02-25/Alepotry\
pa-Cave-Hades/53237894/1

Feature on the digs going on at Sussita:

http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/december-2011/article/archaeologists-excava\
te-magnificent-monumental-city-of-the-decapolis

Feature on Dryden's translation of Lucretius:

http://www.spectator.co.uk/books/blog/7662333/discovering-poetry-drydens-earthy-\
translation-of-lucretius.thtml

The Google Ancient Places/Pelasgios project is very interesting:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-google-funds-geography-ancient-world.html

Plans to 'upgrade' Paphos archaeological sites:

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/paphos/paphos-archaeological-sites-be-upgraded/201202\
24

What M.D. Usher is up to:

http://www.7dvt.com/2012uvm-prof-revises-golden-ass-new-age

What Eric Adler is up to:

http://www.conncoll.edu/news/7712.cfm

How the USC Trojans got their name:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-0224-plaschke-usc-trojans-201202\
24,0,6997305.column

AIRC has a nice series of videos on Ostia:

http://romanculture.org/page/ostia-antica-videos

George O'Connor, *Olympians: Hades, Lord of the Dead*:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/graphic-books-best-sellers-george-o\
connor-on-greek-myths/

More on those shipwrecks off Zannone:

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Art/2010/Jul-27/119677-humans-long-gone-but-\
ancient-ghost-ships-still-protect-cargo.ashx

Latest reviews from BMCR:

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

Visit our blog:

http://rogueclassicism.com/
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
A shipwreck dating to 900 years B.C. of the coast of Devon:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/archaeology/7238663/3000-year-old-s\
hipwreck-shows-European-trade-was-thriving-in-Bronze-Age.html

A 500 years b.p. locket from Wragby is garnering interest:

http://www.marketrasenmail.co.uk/news/local/brigg/museum_interest_in_locket_trea\
sure_find_1_3550861

A Bronze Age hoard from near Kidwelly has been declared treasure:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-17156629

Plans/agreement to restore the Apostolos Andreas Monastery in Cyprus:

http://www.incyprus.com.cy/en-gb/Cyprus/4170/26019/monastery-agreement
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/archbishop-chrysostomos/archbishop-pledges-go-it-alon\
e-and-fix-apostolos-andreas/20120221

Pondering the sinking of the Vasa:

http://www.pri.org/stories/science/swedish-preservationists-document-likely-caus\
e-of-sinking-of-ancient-sailing-ship-8606.html

What we can learn from the Vikings about climate change:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-vikings-global.html
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/02/2012/norse-settlement-may-he\
lp-us-adapt-to-global-changes

Queen Victoria's Faberge notebook is going on display:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/feb/23/queen-victoria-faberge-notebook

Questions about the Coventry Charterhouse sale:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-17111188

Archaeology in Europe Blog:

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

================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
================================================================
Studying the social structure of ancient Eurasian nomads:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-rethinking-social-ancient-eurasian-nomads.ht\
ml
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-02/uocp-rts022412.php

Excavating China's 'Atlantis':

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sci/2012-02/23/c_131426806.htm
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2012/02/23/Chinas-lost-Atlantis-unearthed/UPI-82\
561330039594/
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2012-02/22/content_14662968.htm

Assorted shipwrecks found beneath the carpar on Koombana Bay (Australia):

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/301708/20120221/shipwreck-ship.htm

Somewhat bizarre 'treasure hunt' story from India:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article2913783.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
================================================================
Latest from that Provo Tabernacle dig:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=19257263&autostart=y

What the Mimbres culture can teach us about climate change:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-southwest-pueblo-dwellers-key-modern-climate\
.html

They've finally finished the Dictionary of American Regional English:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/25/books/dictionary-of-american-regional-english-\
reaches-last-volume.html

What $650 000 buys you these days, heritage house-wise:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/greathomesanddestinations/real-estate-for-6500\
00.html

================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
================================================================
Oldest petroglyph in the Americas found in Brazil (10 000 years b.p.):

http://www.livescience.com/18602-horny-man-rock-carving-giant-phallus.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/brazil/9100690/Rock-art-d\
iscovery-could-shed-light-on-when-New-World-was-settled.html
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/TechandScience/Story/STIStory_770228.ht\
ml
http://news.discovery.com/history/little-horny-man-carving-phallus-sex-fertility\
-120223.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46488427/ns/technology_and_science-science/
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-ancient-art-brazil.html
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-02/plos-ara022112.php

Drought as the cause of the collapse of the Maya again in
the news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17149812
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120223142455.htm
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-maya-civilization-collapse-modest-rainfall.h\
tml
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/24/collapse-mayan-civilization-traced-to-\
dry-spells/
http://news.discovery.com/history/mayan-civilazation-drought-122402.html
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/335/6071/956
... and some apparently unrelated (?) water management/climate change/Maya
studies:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-02/uoc-rrw022112.php

Reviving a new species of yeast from a pre-Incan tomb:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=new-species-resurrected-ancient\
-andean-tomb

A Patolli game board find from Dzibilnocac:

http://www.inah.gob.mx/index.php/boletines/16-antropologia/5685-hallan-qpasatiem\
poq-prehispanico-en-el-area-maya

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
================================================================
Audio News from Archaeologica (a couple weeks' worth):

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/content/MP3/audnews12feb12.mp3
http://www.archaeologychannel.org/content/MP3/audnews19feb12.mp3

Nice oped on why the world has to save the cultural assets of Egypt and
Greece:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2012/feb/20/ancient-ass\
ets-greece-egypt-eurozone

Folks might be interested in signing an online petition aimed at protesting
Spike TV's 'American Diggers' program, which pretty much glorifies the
looting of sites:

http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-spike-tv-from-looting-our-collective-past

Caravaggio's Medusa is definitely by Caravaggio:

http://www.france24.com/en/20120224-x-ray-scientists-authenticate-caravaggio-pai\
nting

... the reasons for which authentication are somewhat confusing considering
the Prado's copy of the Mona Lisa seems to have the 'same' technique(?):

http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Mona-Lisas-secrets-revealed/25699

Quite a bit of coverage of the transfer of gold from Odyssey Marine to
Spain:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17158436
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-02-25/spain-florida-treasure/5324\
4192/1
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gbODUlRv-8dS4xFdqmArCx44aYtQ?d\
ocId=3b555c461e21443d83c7960018379ea8
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/spain-send-military-planes-florida-collect\
-a-a-billion-dollars-worth-treasure-article-1.1025824
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/9097535/Spanish-swoop-on-\
US-to-collect-17-tons-of-shipwreck-treasure.html

Feature on dendrochronology:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-tree-ring-science-modern-age.html

Latest (interesting) art forgery case:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/arts/design/authenticity-of-trove-of-pollocks-\
and-rothkos-goes-to-court.html

The Ghent Altarpiece is now the subject of an interactive website:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/restored-ghent-altarpiece-gets-own-\
interactive-web-site/

Interesting essay on fact checking:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/books/review/the-lifespan-of-a-fact-by-john-da\
gata-and-jim-fingal.html


Folks might want a heads up on this claim of a 1st century fragment of the
Gospel of Mark (much skepticism amongst scholars, but you know how the
press loves these things):

http://global.christianpost.com/news/bible-scholars-skeptical-of-1st-century-gos\
pel-fragment-discovery-70231/

Some coverage of International Mother Language Day:

http://www.aina.org/ata/20120221140507.htm
http://www.bianet.org/konu/anadil-gunu-2012

A history of organ transplants:

http://www.history.com/news/2012/02/21/organ-transplants-a-brief-history/

Russian scientists have grown an arctic plant from a 32 000 years b.p.
fruit:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/science/new-life-from-an-arctic-flower-that-di\
ed-32000-years-ago.html
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-russians-revive-ice-age-frozen.html
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100138648/resurrecting-the-d\
ead-what-an-ice-age-plants-revival-means-and-doesnt-mean/

Another mathematical explanation for something not immediately thought of
as mathematical:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-classical-musical-compositions-adhere-power.\
html
http://www.ancientdigger.com/
================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
================================================================
Petra:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20120226/LIVING03/202260326/Petra-Lost-City-Midd\
le-East-quite-find

Bruges:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/travel/a-weekend-in-bruges-beyond-cobbled-l\
anes-and-medieval-canals.html
================================================================
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/

================================================================
GENERAL MAGAZINES AND JOURNALS
================================================================
Biblical Archaeology Review March/April 2012:

http://www.bib-arch.org/bar/

Atiqot 55:

http://www.atiqot.org.il/ArticleList.aspx?id=14

================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
Greek police have detained someone in connection with the robbery at
Olympia:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_24/02/2012_429679

... while reports were coming that more was stolen than initially thought:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/20/ancient-olympia-museum-theft_n_1289565.\
html

... and an official list of what was taken was posted (click on the second
'word' icon):

http://www.yppo.gr/2/g22.jsp?obj_id=49452


... and perhaps not surprisingly, Greek museums plan to increase security
now:

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=53802
http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-23/news/31092117_1_museums-artifacts-review-s\
ecurity
The Vatican has asked to look at a Bible that Turkish police recovered
from smugglers some 12 years ago:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/vatican-eyes-1500-year-old-bible-held-in-turkis\
h-capital.aspx
http://euronews.net.feedsportal.com/c/32800/f/536661/s/1ce596c6/l/0L0Seuronews0B\
net0C20A120C0A20C240Cantique0Ebible0Eturns0Eup0Ein0Eturkey0C/story01.htm

Looting Matters:

http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/

Illicit Cultural Property:

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

Safe Corner:

http://safecorner.savingantiquities.org/
================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Latest eSylum:

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

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

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v15n09.html

Ancient Coin Collecting:

http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/

Ancient Coins:

http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/

Coin Week:

http://www.coinweek.com/========================================================\
========
EXHIBITIONS, AUCTIONS, AND MUSEUM-RELATED
================================================================
Pharoah: King of Egypt:

http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/lifestyle/walk_like_an_egyptian_1_4283400

Shakespeare's Sisters:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/arts/design/shakespeares-sisters-at-the-folger\
-shakespeare-library.html

A Passion for Drawings:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/arts/design/a-passion-for-drawings-charles-rys\
kamps-bequest-at-frick.html

Rembrandt and Degas:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/arts/design/rembrandt-and-degas-at-the-metropo\
litan-museum-of-art.html

Ti-Ameny-Net: An Ancient Mummy:

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=53819

A Day in Pompeii:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120225/ENT07/302250026/Museum-hosts-day-Pom\
peii-
http://www.kypost.com/dpps/news/local_news/new-exhibit-brings-ancient-rome-to-th\
e-tri-state_7225689

Gods, Myths, and Mortals:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/23/gods-myths-and-mortals_n_1297268.html

Genghis Khan:

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=53836

The Renaissance Portrait:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/25/arts/25iht-melikian25.html

Armenia:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/arts/24iht-conway24.html

Playing House:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/arts/design/antiques-playing-house-exhibition-\
at-brooklyn-museum.html


Prado Mona Lisa:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17114645
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/21/world/europe/spain-mona-lisa/index.html

The copy of 'The Scream' in Munich is going on sale:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17114751

Pondering the Getty's ancient acquisitions policies from different
perspectives:

http://www.canada.com/travel/Getty+leaders+ancient+issues/6199082/story.html

The latest 'repatriation issue' seems to be a head of Anahit in the BM:

http://hetq.am/eng/news/10924/california-armenian-launches-drive-demanding-briti\
sh-museum-hand-over-anahit-bust-to-armenia.html
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2012/02/incoming_getty_director_n.php

Coverage of the opening of the Asia Society's Hong King Centre:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/arts/23iht-asiasociety23.html

Check out our Twitter hashtage for more ancient exhibition reviews:

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23classicalexhibit
================================================================
PERFORMANCES AND THEATRE-RELATED
================================================================
Muzsikas/Bartok:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/arts/music/andras-schiff-and-muzsikas-at-carne\
gie-hall.html

Galileo:

http://theater.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/theater/reviews/f-murray-abraham-in-galile\
o-at-classic-stage-company.html


An anonymous donor has given a big cheque to the Globe:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17154354

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
================================================================
A. Trevor Hodge:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Carleton+professor+Trevor+Hodge+combined+drama\
+brilliance/6210371/story.html

Brian Shefton:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/feb/22/brian-shefton-obituary
================================================================
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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teachers, etc., but please include this copyright notice. These
links are not to be posted to any website by any means (whether
by direct posting or snagging from a usenet group or some other
email source) without my express written permission. I think it
is only right that I be made aware of public fora which are
making use of content gathered in Explorator. Thanks!
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