Discoveries!

Archaeologists excavating Xultun, a large Mayan site in northeast Guatemala, have identified the name of an 8th-century Mayan astronomer-mathematician who wrote a calendrical formula on an interior wall of a small masonry building. The individual’s name, Sak Tahn Waax, translates to “White-chested Fox,” and the formula (either written by him, or by someone else and attributed to him) calculates the orbital cycles of Mars and Venus.

Archaeological remains found in Cenote Yaakun near Playa del Carmen

Archaeologists in Mexico have launched a new research and conservation project after discovering the skeletal remains of a possible ancient woman and a separate concentration of Maya ceramics deep within Cenote Yaakun, a flooded sinkhole near Playa del Carmen.

Roman limestone wall unearthed at ancient site

A "significantly beautiful" Roman limestone wall has been unearthed by a team of experts and volunteers.

Researchers reveal new findings in the Nazi-era ‘King Henry I’ skull controversy

A newly published study has uncovered fresh evidence that the Nazi SS likely misidentified the remains of a medieval woman as those of King Henry I in an attempt to bolster its ideological campaign during the 1930s.

British archeologists find 5,800-year-old Neolithic monument in Suffolk

British archeologists have uncovered a type of Neolithic earthwork called a long enclosure on England’s Suffolk coast.

Ethnic and religious diversity uncovered in Europe's last pagan state

Isotope analysis identifies the origins of individuals buried in a cemetery in medieval Vilnius, Lithuania, finding that they came from hundreds of kilometres away and were Christian, pointing to unexpected diversity in Europe’s last pagan state.

Archaeological rescue uncovers daily life of Costa Rica’s stone sphere builders

Archaeologists have completed an extensive rescue excavation at the site of Costa Rica’s planned Southern International Airport, uncovering new evidence of pre-Columbian life in the Diquís Delta.

Ancient DNA analysis reveals Wiltshire’s Upton Lovell Shaman was a woman

The Upton Lovell Shaman, a Bronze Age individual who has been depicted in museum exhibits as a bearded spiritual leader and metalworker, was female, an ancient DNA analysis has revealed.

Archaeologists excavate Wolin’s Silver Hill in search of Viking-era origins

A team of Polish and Danish archaeologists has begun the second season of excavations at Silver Hill in Wolin, continuing a three-year research project that aims to uncover the origins of one of the Baltic region’s most significant early medieval trading centres.

3,000-year-old Irish Bronze Age site may be one of Europe’s earliest ‘town-like’ settlements

A major prehistoric centre in Ireland was among the first large, organised settlements to develop in Western Europe more than 3,000 years ago, new research reveals.

Fresh insights into China’s famed Sanxingdui illuminate ancient trade networks

New research suggests that a treasured bronze artifact excavated from the Sanxingdui archaeological site in China is an assemblage of different parts made in different areas at different points in time—“offering fresh evidence of ancient trade networks and advanced metalworking techniques”.

Calakmul mural identified as mythical Maya hero Juun Ajaw

Archaeologists have identified what is believed to be one of the oldest known representations of the mythical Maya hero Juun Ajaw in a mural discovered within Structure II at the ancient city of Calakmul in Campeche, Mexico.

3,000-year-old tomb of ancient Egyptian official Paser discovered in Luxor’s Theban necropolis

Archaeologists working in Egypt’s ancient Theban Necropolis have found a previously unknown tomb in the Lower Sheikh Abd el-Qurna area on the west bank of Luxor.

Archaeological dig starts at 'time capsule' canal

Archaeologists are looking at the remains of a 200-year-old canal to try and understand what the purpose of it might have been and examine changes to the landscape over time.

2,400-year-old sword found beside child in Gaulish burial

An iron sword discovered beside the remains of a child at an Iron Age settlement in central France is providing archaeologists with rare insight into the social and ritual practices of the Gauls more than 2,400 years ago.

5 'extremely rare' iron shackles discovered in France highlight Celtic slave trade 2,300 years ago

Archaeologists have found five pairs of iron shackles at a 2,300-year-old Celtic site in France ‪—‬ a discovery that suggests the small settlement was frequented by metalsmiths and slave traders.

Gold plaque provides first evidence of Jupiter Dolichenus cult at Apsaros Roman fort

Archaeologists have uncovered the first direct epigraphic evidence for the worship of Jupiter Dolichenus at the Roman fort of Apsaros on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, following the discovery of a rare inscribed gold votive plaque during excavations in 2024.

Ancient Egyptian princesses buried with weapons may have been fighters

The mummified daughters of pharaohs who lived thousands of years ago have bone changes that suggest they fought with bows and daggers.

Fort Anne dig reveals 274-year-old barracks foundation

Rebecca Dunham was asked to find the best place to put up two giant tents. But when she went digging, what she found was the largely intact foundation of an old barracks dating back to 1752 – in the middle of Fort Anne National Historic Site.

Lead seals unearthed in Vladimir linked to Princess Maria Vsevolzha

Archaeologists excavating a medieval neighbourhood in the Russian city of Vladimir have uncovered a rare group of lead seals that have been identified as belonging to Princess Maria Vsevolzha, wife of Grand Prince Vsevolod III “the Big Nest” and one of the most influential women in pre-Mongol Rus’.

'Dream' Roman mosaic find dug up from farmland

The tiles have revealed a central flower design which will be preserved and go on display at the Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life along with other finds from the dig.

High-status Iron Age burials reveal early links to Roman Empire

A large cemetery containing the lavishly adorned remains of unidentified high-status individuals dating from around 2,000 years ago has been uncovered by archaeologists from Archaeology South-East.

'Mind-blowing' ancient bones discovery sparked by family holiday

A series of "remarkable" archaeological discoveries - which experts say could rewrite Britain's prehistory - were discovered "by accident" on a family holiday.

Hidden Maya metropolis mapped in Mexico’s Balam kú Biosphere Reserve

Archaeologists have completed the first comprehensive investigation of El Yesal, one of the largest known Maya cities in the Central Lowlands, revealing evidence that the ancient settlement was founded around 2,500 years ago and remained occupied until the Late Classic period.

Shipwreck found in Lake Constance: what surprised the underwater archaeologists

Off Lindau in Lake Constance, underwater archaeologists have discovered wooden parts of a shipwreck that are apparently much older than first assumed

'Like Christmas' for diver who found ancient sword

A rare Bronze Age sword believed to be about 3,000 years old has been discovered by divers investigating underwater archaeological sites.

Thousands of liberated Africans died on a remote island after the British Navy freed them. We now know where they came from.

Little is known about the tens of thousands of liberated Africans who were buried on the remote Atlantic island of St. Helena in the 19th century. But now, a new chemical and dental analysis reveals where more than 150 of these individuals spent their childhoods in Africa.

Not a housekeeper, but a 'vilica': The many responsibilities of Roman-era female farm managers were overlooked by historians

Female farm managers are hidden in plain sight in ancient Roman texts, mentioned in laws, literature and grave inscriptions across five centuries. Modern historians have generally assumed they were housekeepers, in charge of domestic tasks and household meals, and segregated from the productive business of the farm.

Drought reveals hidden formal gardens at Chatsworth House

Recent record-breaking temperatures and prolonged dry weather have dramatically revealed the hidden outline of a spectacular 17th-century formal garden beneath the South Lawn at Chatsworth House, England, offering a rare glimpse into one of the estate’s earliest landscape designs.

Museums

The majority of museum collections stores are full, according to a report released by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The research for the report found that storage capacity is “at breaking point” in the sector, with 60% of museums reporting their stores are already full and a further 24% expecting to reach capacity within five years. Just 8% said they had more than 10 years’ capacity in their stores. Meanwhile storage conditions are often below par, with only 15% of museum stores meeting best-practice care and conservation standards.

As White House leans on Smithsonian, little uproar over board vacancies

An odd silence has surrounded a delay to fill several open seats on the board of the Smithsonian, even as a fierce battle to control the institution ensues.

French officials confirm Bayeux Tapestry undamaged by controversial trip to British Museum

“I am able to confirm that there was no visible alteration and that the tapestry traveled well,” said Delphine Christophe, France’s general director of heritage and architecture, speaking Thursday, July 16, after the medieval tapestry was unpacked for the first time since its historic arrival in England on July 10, where it is being loaned in a diplomatic gesture of goodwill from France.

A new entente? Bayeux tapestry’s UK arrival ‘closes loop’ on Brexit tensions

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy is among first viewers as epic embroidery is unpacked at British Museum, a landmark in Anglo-French diplomacy.

Ukraine decolonisation guide for museums presented in Kyiv

Ukrainian and international museum professionals came together last month to celebrate the launch of the Ukrainian translation of Supporting Decolonisation in Museums: Focus on Ukraine.

‘Warts and all’: SS Great Britain museum reopens with ‘rounded’ history of ship

Bristol Dockyards takes reflective look at imperialism, migration and lives onboard Brunel’s revolutionary vessel.

British Museum teams with BTS as part of citywide art trail timed to the group’s world tour

The K-pop group is in league with the British Museum in London, where visitors can see a showcase of artworks in the institution’s Korea Foundation Gallery, chosen in collaboration with curator Sang-ah Kim.

Legal ruling over ivory sale could have consequences for museums

Experts warn of 'unsolicited donations' as collectors and dealers struggle to sell artworks.

Mural damaged in break-in at Harriet Tubman Museum

The recently renovated Maryland museum also said its donation box was taken in last weekend’s burglary.

Maritime Museum announces permanent closure of HMS Surprise on Aug. 1, 2027

The Maritime Museum of San Diego will permanently close its 18th century replica frigate the HMS Surprise on Aug. 1, 2027, following an assessment that keeping the ship at the museum is no longer financially viable.

‘Once we were like you’: Ancient Roman faces brought back to life in Budapest exhibition

Using archaeology, anthropology and DNA analysis, experts reconstructed Roman-era faces and paired them with imagined life stories inspired by historical evidence.

Meeting set for Port Williams to discuss efforts to save Prescott House Museum

An upcoming public meeting in Port Williams will share updates from the Prescott House Preservation Society on efforts to save the museum.

UK politicians call for investigation of British Museum’s removal of ‘Palestine’ from display

Several political parties across the UK Parliament have called for an independent investigation into the British Museum‘s removal of the terms “Palestine,” “Palestinian,” and “Israelite occupation” after a Middle East Eye report linked the museum’s decision to lobbying by pro-Israel activists.

Repatriation

Switzerland returned 23 artifacts including carved tusks, commemorative heads, and ornate staffs to Nigeria. Eighteen of these antiquities were Benin Bronzes formerly held by three Swiss museums.

Manhattan District Attorney repatriates three antiquities to Mexico

The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the repatriation of three antiquities valued at $160,000 to Mexico, including one seized from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

US returns two looted bronze Buddha statues, sold by disgraced antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford, to Indonesia

The Buddhist sculptures were originally taken from archaeological sites in Republic of Indonesia by an organized looting network and sold to Douglas Latchford, the British dealer who died in Thailand in 2020, a year after he was indicted for trafficking antiquities, particularly from Cambodia. Latchford sold the bronzes, along with dozens of other looted objects, to an unnamed collector between 2003 and 2007.

Bavaria approves creation of Nazi loot panel and independent entity for provenance research

The German state of Bavaria has announced plans to transform the way it handles claims for Nazi-looted art by taking provenance research out of museums and into a separate entity and creating a new, independent panel to evaluate claims.

Nazi-looted painting found decades ago among Amsterdam’s street trash will be returned to Jewish dealer’s heirs

A painting that once belonged to the prominent Dutch Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker has been successfully identified and will be returned to his heirs.

Heritage at risk

The Trump administration has significantly diminished the size of two national monuments in Utah that hold sacred lands and rich archaeological sites. Through a series of executive proclamations issued under the Antiquities Act this week, Trump shrunk the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments by approximately 90% each.

Mastermind of €88m Louvre heist thought they ‘could have taken more’

Two men suspected of making off with €88m (£75m) worth of crown jewels from the Louvre museum in Paris last October have reportedly told investigators that the alleged mastermind behind the heist was disappointed by the haul and thought “they could have taken more”.

Man charged in theft of more than 600 artifacts from UK’s Bristol Museum

A suspect has been charged in the wake of what British authorities described as a “high-value burglary” at the Bristol Museum in the UK last September.

California man sentenced in theft of rare Chinese manuscripts from UCLA library

Jeffrey Ying, 39, had pleaded guilty to a single count of art theft last October. He was sentenced to “time served, accounting for around one month in jail, in addition to one year of home confinement and three years of supervised release.

Congressional representatives introduce new bill to protect public artworks in government buildings

The PRESERVE Act (“Protecting Resources and Ensuring Stewardship of Enduring Records of Visual Expression Act”) would require the General Services Administration, which manages federal agencies, to identify any artworks contained within government buildings deemed “surplus property” and form a committee to oversee the future of said artworks.

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BLM fast-tracks proposal to open Chaco Canyon to oil and gas drilling

The Bureau of Land Management plans to reopen the area around Chaco Culture National Historical Park for possible oil and gas leasing, giving the public until July 29 to comment. Revoking the protections would undo action taken in June 2023 by then-Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who withdrew more than 336,400 acres of public land from mining and drilling, creating a 10-mile buffer around the park for 20 years. The new proposal would return discretion over mineral leasing to the Bureau of Land Management and reopen the land to new claims and development. In May, Greater Chaco Cultural Landscape was named by the National Trust for Historic Preservation one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2026. Chaco Canyon, in western New Mexico, was nominated by the Pueblo of Acoma and supported by the All Pueblo Council of Governors to protect the ancestral land of modern Pueblo tribes and the origins of several Navajo clans. Sanchez also pointed to the BLM's own findings, which acknowledge that its inventory of cultural resources within the 10-mile buffer remains incomplete. According to the document, the area contains at least 7,552 known historic properties and 145 traditional cultural properties, but those numbers represent only a fraction of what exists because large portions of the region have never been formally surveyed. The report also states that the number of traditional cultural properties is a minimum estimate, as previous studies were not comprehensive and the BLM does not have access to all available information. It further notes that the broader cultural landscape itself has not been documented as a historic property.

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Odds and ends

Canadian scientists visit remains of polar exploration vessels in ‘golden era for shipwreck investigating’.

Assembly of First Nations rejects ‘discredited’ theory of of Innu history in Labrador

The Assembly of First Nations passed a motion Tuesday denouncing what the Innu Nation says is the Newfoundland and Labrador’s government’s reliance on a “discredited and unscientific” theory that Innu arrived in the province just 300 years ago.

Zendaya gets an earful of ‘Orientalist’ complaints for wearing ancient Iranian earrings to ‘Odyssey’ promo amid US-Iran war

Zendaya got the earrings, believed to date from the first millennium BCE, from London dealer Charlie Barron, and then had them remounted with diamonds and 18-karat yellow gold, reports the London-based New Arab, which earlier reported on the criticisms. Barron’s website touts a collection that “spans centuries, from antique and estate pieces to contemporary works by leading designers.”

Zendaya’s earrings are part of a much bigger problem

The 3,000-year-old Iranian discs turned red-carpet jewelry are emblematic of a market that has spent decades quietly dismantling ancient objects for parts.

Mary Beard on The Odyssey: It’s great, but where are Homer’s jokes?

Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway are marvellous in Christopher Nolan’s stunning epic for today but he misses the original’s humour — and eroticism.

A classicist’s verdict on Nolan’s Odyssey: a soulful hero flatters our times as women and nuance pushed overboard

Matt Damon’s sensitive and repentant Odysseus might come as a surprise to Homer, likewise some significant omissions concerning the poem’s female characters.

'A story of sex, strategy and power': How women shape the plot of Homer's Odyssey

The epic 2,800-year-old poem – now adapted for the big screen – is so much more than a straightforward tale of heroism. The protagonist Odysseus is a heroic male – but the story is shaped by the stratagems, subterfuge and seductions of the women, nymphs, sorceresses and goddesses he meets along the way. It's what makes him seem so human.

For 1,000 years, a cult worshipped the hero of the Odyssey

The Odyssey was far more than entertainment to ancient Greeks. Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of a cult that revered the Homeric hero on his legendary home island of Ithaca.

Mount Olympus seeks place on UNESCO World Heritage List

UNESCO’s final decision is keenly awaited, as the inscription of Mount Olympus on the World Heritage List would mark major international recognition for a place where mythology, history and unique nature converge.

Bestselling author Dinesh D'Souza examines how modern archaeology is reshaping the debate on biblical historicity

Based on three years of research and visits to numerous excavation sites, The Stones Cry Out presents evidence that D'Souza argues deserve renewed attention in conversations about the Bible's historicity.

Dozens of WWI remains were found at a French construction site — including a Canadian soldier

The hospital construction taking place on top of the former battlefield unearthed dozens of remains, which prompted a multinational effort to identify them using historical artifacts and records, alongside modern DNA testing.

Tower of London’s architectural archive to be opened up to public as part of planned £70m revamp

The Tower of London's architectural archive will be opened up to the public in a dedicated new space, as part of a major redevelopment of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What the Middle Ages can teach us about preventing burnout

Stress and mental exhaustion aren't new – in medieval times, they were prevalent. And the wisdom of the Middle Ages about how to deal with burnout still rings surprisingly true today.

Unfortunately, the answer is not 'become an anchorite'

Mystery bidder buys T. rex nicknamed ‘Gus’ for a record $50 million

Sotheby’s said the 67-million-year-old fossil, nicknamed “Gus,” is now the most expensive set of dinosaur bones ever auctioned off, besting the almost $45 million price tag for a nearly complete stegosaurus sold by the same New York auction house in 2024. The previous record holder had been a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed “Stan” that sold for nearly $32 million in 2020.

this behavior is nothing new. the global south and everything in it - the people, the culture, our heritage - is seen as nothing more than a decoration or commodity to colonizers. i don't even need to bring up the koh i noor or the entire british museum; these examples are recent and egregious enough on their own.

Also consider Mikinakoos' as they're extending support beyond their traditional service areas due to the scale of this emergency!

Donations for Namaygoosisagagun First Nation:

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