07 JUILLET 2016 NEWS: Bethlehem - Nalgonda - Aigai -
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PALESTINE – 
Bethlehem - Restoration workers at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, traditionally considered the birthplace of Jesus, have uncovered a mosaic of an angel which was previously hidden under plaster, according to the Italian news agency ANSA. It was the seventh mosaic uncovered during the current renovations, using a thermography technique that scans solid surfaces for works hidden underneath them. "Of the 2,000 meters of original mosaics, it has been possible to save 150 meters squared," said Giammarco Piacenti, owner of the company responsible for the restoration. Piacenti's attention is now focused on 50 columns in the central nave of the basilica, which are believed to hide 12th century paintings depicting saints from many Christian countries. The Church of the Nativity was originally commissioned in 327 by Roman emperor Constantine and his mother Helena over the cave that is still traditionally considered to be the birthplace of Jesus. Fresh traces of Constantine's time have been found in the basilica, experts said last month. The site's original basilica was completed in 339 and destroyed by fire during the Samaritan Revolts in the 6th century. A new basilica was built in 565 by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, restoring the architectural tone of the original. The Church of the Nativity is a World Heritage Site
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/1.729316
INDE – 
Nalgonda - Coming to what this is all about - menhirs have been found in several locations across Telangana. But on Tuesday, a team of officials led by Assistant Director-Archaeology for Nalgonda district (Incharge), Nagaraju Pagadam stumbled upon a location barely 15 km from the district headquarters, Appajipeta, where they found what they were sure, was the tallest menhir, that easily towered 30 feet high. The officials were on an exercise given to them by the Director-Archaeology, Visalatchy and they were asked randomly select a mandal and get right down to the village-level to map its archaeology. When contacted, an excited Nagaraju said he had just communicated the finding to the Director “Over the years thus far, we have seen menhirs only about 10, 12 or 15 feet tall. This one indicates that it must have a memorial for a big tribal leader/warrior of the Stone Age. The other stone structures that are usually found near monolithic burial fields of the Age are a circle of stones, dolmens, cists and avenues,” he said. And the excitement did not end there – just a km away from Appajipeta is Lingalapadu (survey no. 194) where the officials found a 15-acre spread of ash-coloured stretch of land. As they starting poking with their sticks, they found pieces of redware, blackware, tanware, chapletware and rim-edged pottery and some huge bricks. What was surprising was hopscotch (pieces of stones that little girls play with, hopping from one to another), indicating that the location was indeed a habitation.
TURQUIE – 
Aigai - The scope of excavations at the ancient city of Aigai, located in western Turkey, will be reduced this year because of sponsorship problems after the local municipality cut support over failure to yield results. Aigai, which dates back to the 8th century B.C. and was one of the 12 Ion cities mentioned by Herodotus, is sometimes known as “Nemrut Castle.” The city was a significant trade center in the Hellenistic era. Excavations have so far unearthed the city walls, three-storey agora, an assembly building, a stadium, theater and the Temple of Demeter. One of the recent findings in the city was a satyr statue. Dating back to the 1st century A.D. in the Roman era, the vase-like satyr statue will soon be displayed at the Manisa Museum.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-city-aigai-in-western-turkey-seeks-excavation-sponsor-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=101259