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Unearthed! in Spring 2023, Part 1
Stuff You Missed in History Class
The Meaning of Dots and Other Markings in Cave Art
An amateur researcher in London solved the mystery of 20,000 year old cave paintings. Ben Bacon concluded that the markings represented a lunar calendar. They examined more than 600 pieces of cave art from France and Spain.
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Episode notes
The first part of our spring 2023 edition of Unearthed! features updates, books and letters, fabric, mummies, and a whole bunch of stuff involving skulls or bones.
Research:
- Agence France-Presse. “New Easter Island moai statue discovered in volcano crater.” The Guardian. 1/3/2023. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/02/new-easter-island-moai-statue-discovered-in-volcano-crater
- Alberge, Dalya. “‘Incredible’ Roman bathers’ gems lost 2,000 years ago found near Hadrian’s Wall.” The Observer. 1/28/2023. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/28/roman-bathers-gems-carved-stones-archaeologists-hadrians-wall
- Amador, Marisela. “Swiss museum returns two artifacts to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) confederacy.” The Canadian Press. Town and Country Today. 2/22/2023. https://www.townandcountrytoday.com/beyond-local/swiss-museum-returns-two-artifacts-to-the-haudenosaunee-iroquois-confederacy-6589516
- Amundsen, Bard. “World’s oldest rune stone found in Norway, archaeologists believe.” Science Norway. 1/17/2023. https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology-language-runes/worlds-oldest-rune-stone-found-in-norway-archaeologists-believe/2141404
- 1/12/2023. “Archaeology: 4,500-year-old ostrich eggs found in Israel.” https://www.ansa.it/ansamed/en/news/sections/culture/2023/01/12/archaeology-4500-year-old-ostrich-eggs-found-in-israel_899fa202-941d-4520-8be4-28397c1d89fc.html
- ArtNet News. “Art Industry News: The Met Will Repatriate 15 Sculptures Linked to Disgraced Dealer Subhash Kapoor + Other Stories.” 3/31/2023. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/art-industry-news-march-31-2023-2278598
- ArtNet News. “Researchers in Vietnam Discovered That Two Deer Antlers Languishing in Museum Storage Are Actually 2,000-Year-Old Musical Instruments.” 2/27/2023. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/deer-antler-long-an-museum-storage-earliest-known-stringed-instruments-2261298
- Bacon, B., Khatiri, A., Palmer, J., Freeth, T., Pettitt, P., & Kentridge, R. (2023). An Upper Palaeolithic Proto-writing System and Phenological Calendar. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 1-19. doi:10.1017/S0959774322000415
- BBC News. “Londoner solves 20,000-year Ice Age drawings mystery.” 1/5/2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-64162799
- BBC News. “Oldest tartan found to date back to 16th Century.” 3/26/2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-65081312
- “Comb made from human skull found among A14 artefacts.” 2/28/2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64797376
- “Mary Queen of Scots: Secret letters written during imprisonment decoded.” 2/8/2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-64568222
- Begg, Tristin James Alexander et al. “Genomic analyses of hair from Ludwig van Beethoven.” Current Biology. 3/22/2023. https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)00181-1
- Berger, Michele W. “At a southern Iraq site, unearthing the archaeological passing of time.” Penn Today. 1/23/2023. https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/lagash-southern-iraq-site-unearthing-archaeological-passing-time
- Bernardi, Dan. “In “an international act of diplomacy,” Syracuse University alumnus Brennen Ferguson ’19 helps repatriate ceremonial Native American items from a museum in Geneva, Switzerland..” Syracuse 3/10/2023. https://thecollege.syr.edu/news-all/news-2023/sacred-indigenous-objects-find-their-way-home/
- Brooks, James. “Oldest reference to Norse god Odin found in Danish treasure.” Associated Press. 3/8/2023. https://apnews.com/article/gold-god-odin-norse-denmark-buried-ca2959e460f7af301a19083b6eec7df4
- Burakoff, Maddie. “What made Beethoven sick? DNA from his hair offers clues.” Associated Press. 3/22/2023. https://apnews.com/article/beethoven-dna-hair-deaf-liver-d2d8c50fdd951eb5f5b9fdae00f795a3
- Cascone, Sarah. “Ancient Stone Tools Once Thought to be Made by Humans Were Actually Crafted by Monkeys, Say Archaeologists.” ArtNet. 1/3/2023. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ancient-tools-monkeys-2237820
- CBS Baltimore Staff. “Maryland archaeologists find West African spirit cache at Harriet Tubman's birthplace.” 2/14/2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/harriet-tubman-west-african-spirit-cache-found-dorchester-county-maryland/
- Correa-Lau J, Agüero C, Splitstoser J, Echenique E, Martens T, Santoro CM (2023) Inka Unku: Imperial or provincial? State-local relations. PLoS ONE 18(2): e0280511. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280511
- Davies, Caroline. “‘Remarkable’: Eastbourne shipwreck identified as 17th-century Dutch warship.” The Guardian. 1/27/2023. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/27/remarkable-eastbourne-shipwreck-identified-as-17th-century-dutch-warship
- De Cupere, Bea. “Newly discovered crocodile mummies of variable quality from an undisturbed tomb at Qubbat al-Hawā (Aswan, Egypt).” PLOS One. 1/18/2023. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0279137#sec024
- Dedovic, Yaz. “Mysterious new behavior seen in whales may be recorded in ancient manuscripts.” EurekAlert. 2/28/2023. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/980816
- Devlin, Hannah. “Discovery of 3m-year-old stone tools sparks prehistoric whodunnit.” The Guardian. 2/9/2023. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/feb/09/discovery-ancient-stone-tools-prehistoric-mystery-whodunnit
- Dijkstra, Mischa. “‘Golden boy’ mummy was protected by 49 precious amulets, CT scans reveal.” EurekAlert. 1/24/2023. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/977129
- Duncan-Pitt, Lindsey. “It’s not a Roman dildo, it’s a drop spindle.” The Guardian. 2/26/2023. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/feb/26/its-not-a-roman-dildo-its-a-drop-spindle
- El-Aref , Nevine. “Ancient Egypt’s Ramses II temple reveals animal mummy menagerie.” AhramOnline. 3/25/2023. https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/492386.aspx
- Enking, Molly. “Archaeologists Find 2,000-Year-Old Gemstones in Drain Beneath a Roman Bathhouse.” Smithsonian. 2/2/2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lost-gems-over-2000-years-old-found-in-roman-baths-180981566/
- Feldman, Ella. “French Museum Will Return ‘Talking Drum’ to Ivory Coast.” Smithsonian. 2/6/2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/french-museum-returns-talking-drum-to-ivory-coast-180981577/
- Field Museum. “Authentic 3,000-Year-Old Bronze Age sword put on display at Field Museum.” 1/16/2023. https://www.fieldmuseum.org/about/press/authentic-3-000-year-old-bronze-age-sword-put-on-display-at-field-museum
- Gammelby, Peter. “New research uncovers the "water" mystery of the first large city in southern Africa.” EurekAlert. 1/24/2023. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/977674
- Handwerk, Brian. “This Man Underwent Brain Surgery 3,500 Years Ago.” Smithsonian. 2/22/2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/in-roughly-1500-bce-this-middle-eastern-man-underwent-brain-surgery-180981679/
- Henton, Lesley. “Texas A&M-led research team identifies oldest bone spear point In the Americas.” Texas A&M University via EurekAlert. 2/2/2023. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/978632
- Hirsch, Arthur. “How the $75,000 Whaling Museum thefts went down.” New Bedford Light. 2/21/2023. https://newbedfordlight.org/how-the-75000-whaling-museum-thefts-went-down/
- Kuta, Sarah. “5,000-Year-Old Tavern With Food Still Inside Discovered in Iraq.” Smithsonian. 1/1/2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/5000-year-old-tavern-discovered-in-iraq-180981564/
- Kuta, Sarah. “Archaeologists Unearth 3,000-Year-Old Wishing Well in Germany.” Smithsonian. 1/18/2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-3000-year-old-wishing-well-in-germany-180981428/
- Kuta, Sarah. “Iraq dig uncovers 5,000 year old pub restaurant.” Phys.org. 2/15/2023. https://phys.org/news/2023-02-iraq-uncovers-year-pub-restaurant.html
- Kuta, Sarah. “Is This Wooden Artifact an Ancient Roman Phallus?” Smithsonian. 2/27/2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-was-this-2000-year-old-phallus-used-for-180981693/
- Kuta, Sarah. “Neanderthals Hunted and Butchered Massive Elephants 125,000 Years Ago.” Smithsonian. 2/3/2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/neanderthals-hunted-and-butchered-massive-elephants-125000-years-ago-180981578/
- Kuta, Sarah. “Neutron Imaging Reveals Tiny Bones Inside 800-Year-Old Pendant.” Smithsonian. 1/17/2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/neutrons-help-scientists-see-inside-800-year-old-pendant-and-find-tiny-bones-180981444/
- Larson, Shannon. “‘It gives me chills’: Messages found in bottle on Cape Cod may have been left by World War II POWs.” Boston Globe. 2/1/2023. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/02/01/nation/it-gives-me-chills-messages-found-bottle-cape-cod-may-have-been-world-war-ii-pows/
- Lawson-Tancred, Jo. “Dispelling Rumors, Greece Has Rejected the British Museum’s Offer to Return the Parthenon Marbles as a Long-Term Loan.” ArtNet. 1/11/2023. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/greece-rejects-british-museum-loan-deal-parthenon-marbles-2241261
- net. “Heart-shaped pendant discovered in England.” 2/2023. https://www.medievalists.net/2023/02/heart-shaped-pendant-discovered-in-england/
- Metcalfe, Tom. “Bronze Age ice skates with bone blades discovered in China.” LiveScience. https://www.livescience.com/bronze-age-ice-skates-with-bone-blades-discovered-in-china
- Metcalfe, Tom. “Painful 'cross-shaped incision' in medieval woman's skull didn't kill her, but second surgery did.” LiveScience. 2/25/2023. https://www.livescience.com/painful-cross-shaped-incision-in-medieval-womans-skull-didnt-kill-her-but-second-surgery-did
- “Milk residue found at ancient site on Tibetan Plateau.” China Daily. 2/14/2023. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202302/14/WS63eade74a31057c47ebae956.html
- Morris, Steven. “‘3D medieval puzzle’: Newport ship to be reassembled from 2,500 pieces of timber.” The Guardian. 1/19/2023. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/19/3d-medieval-puzzle-newport-ship-reassembled-2500-pieces-timber
- Niazi, Asaad and Tony Gamal-Gabriel. “Iraq dig uncovers 5,000 year old pub restaurant.” Phys.org. 2/15/2023. https://phys.org/news/2023-02-iraq-uncovers-year-pub-restaurant.html
- Nowakowski, Teresa. “Neanderthals Dined on Crab 90,000 Years Ago.” Smithsonian. 2/8/2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/neanderthals-dined-on-crab-90000-years-ago-180981604/
- Oltermann, Philip. “‘Blind chance’ or plot? Exhumation may help solve puzzle of 1933 Reichstag blaze.” The Guardian. 2/26/2023. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/26/blind-chance-or-plot-exhumation-may-help-solve-puzzle-of-1933-reichstag-blaze
- Orie, Amarachi. “World's oldest dated runestone discovered in Norway -- with a mysterious inscription.” CNN. 1/18/2023. https://www.cnn.com/style/article/worlds-oldest-runestone-norway-intl-scli-scn/index.html
- Osborne, Margaret. “Ancient DNA Confirms the Origin Story of the Swahili People.” Smithsonian. 3/31/2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-dna-confirms-the-origin-story-of-the-swahili-people-180981909/
- Parker, Christopher. “129-Year-Old Vessel Still Tethered to Lifeboat Found on Floor of Lake Huron.” Smithsonian. 3/3/2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ironton-shipwreck-lake-huron-180981741/
- “Looted ancient sarcophagus returned to Egypt from US.” 1/2/2023. https://phys.org/news/2023-01-looted-ancient-sarcophagus-egypt.html
- Public Library of Science. “Mummified crocodiles provide insights into mummy-making over time.” Phys.org. 1/18/2023. https://phys.org/news/2023-01-mummified-crocodiles-insights-mummy-making.html
- Schmall, Emily. “Stripping Confederate Ties, the U.S. Navy Renames Two Vessels.” New York Times. 3/11/2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/11/us/navy-ship-confederate-robert-smalls.html
- Shaw, Garry. “'Where the swords met bone': Archaeological evidence found of Ancient Egyptian rebellion mentioned on the Rosetta Stone.” The Art Newspaper. 1/27/2023. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/01/27/where-the-swords-met-bone-archaeological-evidence-found-of-ancient-egyptian-rebellion-mentioned-on-the-rosetta-stone
- Sherburne, Morgan. “Yak milk consumption among Mongol Empire elites.” Michigan News. 3/31/2023. https://news.umich.edu/yak-milk-consumption-among-mongol-empire-elites/
- Siegel-Itzkovich, Judy. “Luxury fabrics from 1,300 years ago apparently from China, India and Sudan found in Arava.” The Jerusalem Post via MSN. 1/18/2023. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/luxury-fabrics-from-1300-years-ago-apparently-from-china-india-and-sudan-found-in-arava/ar-AA16uFqX
- Sivaraman, R. “New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art to return 15 sculptures to India.” The Hindu. 3/31/2023. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/us-museum-to-return-15-antique-sculptures-linked-to-subash-kapoor/article66683728.ece
- “National Museum of Asian Art Announces Historic Partnership With Republic of Yemen Government as U.S. Government Repatriates 77 Cultural Objects to Yemen.” 2/21/2023. https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/national-museum-asian-art-announces-historic-partnership-republic-yemen-government
- The History Blog. “Medieval chess set DNA tested.” 3/26/2023. http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66860
- The History Blog. “Replica” sword is authentic Bronze Age artifact.” 1/21/2023. http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66223
- The History Blog. “Scotland’s oldest tartan found in Highlands bog.” 3/31/2023. http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66890
- “The King's Mirror - Speculum regale-Konungs skuggsjá.” https://www.gutenberg.org/files/61264/61264-h/61264-h.htm
- Topping, Alexandra. “‘He did not want this’: one man’s two-decade quest to let the ‘Irish Giant’ rest in peace.” The Guardian. 1/14/2023. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/14/he-did-not-want-this-one-mans-two-decade-quest-to-let-the-irish-giant-rest-in-peace
- University at Albany. “New poem by famed early American poet Phillis Wheatley discovered.” Phys.org. 1/24/2023. https://phys.org/news/2023-01-poem-famed-early-american-poet.html
- University of South Florida. “A researcher's life's work uncovers first ancient DNA from Swahili civilization.” PhysOrg. 3/29/2023. https://phys.org/news/2023-03-life-uncovers-ancient-dna-swahili.html
- University of York. "Neolithic ceramics reveal dairy processing from milk of multiple species." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 March 2023. sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230314205400.htm
- Voigt, Kathrin. “Neanderthals hunted elephants: Earliest evidence found of humans killing elephants for food.” EurekAlert. 2/2/2023. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/978530
- “1,300-year-old rice residue found at Tibetan ancient site.” 3/14/2023. https://english.news.cn/20230314/e547b3ff93c5458b8e9413ee389f3ac8/c.html
- Yirka, Bob. “Trove of spices from around the world found on sunken fifteenth-century Norse ship.” Phys.org. 2/10/2023. https://phys.org/news/2023-02-trove-spices-world-sunken-fifteenth-century.html
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