NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Egyptian archaeologists uncover ‘lost golden city of Luxor’
The 3,000-year-old site is remarkably preserved, with pottery, daily tools and human remains found among its intact walls
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Gifted to the English city 80 years ago, Coventry's medieval Charterhouse will finally open to the public
After a £4.3m National Lottery Heritage Fund grant and years of restoration, the historic priory is set to open this summer
Newscoronavirus
Grayson Perry is casting a bell to ring at the end of the Covid-19 pandemic
As future of London's historic Whitechapel foundry hangs in the balance, artist’s bell will be made elsewhere
NewsGhent altarpiece
Restored Ghent Altarpiece returns to Saint Bavo's Cathedral with a temperature-controlled case and AR headsets
Medieval masterpiece by Jan and Hubert Van Eyck is being unveiled today after a three-year treatment
NewsArchaeology
Robots and submarines: France's new state-of-the-art ship is a game changer for marine archaeology
Big enough to cross the Atlantic, the high-tech research vessel Alfred Merlin ushers in a new era for French underwater heritage
NewsHeritage
Fire destroys the ‘Sistine Chapel of the Purépecha Plateau’ in Mexico
Art historian who knew the building best says the Indigenous community who worshipped in the unique 16th-century church should decide what will replace it
NewsNational Trust
National Trust's report on colonial and slavery history did not breach charity law, regulator says
Research commissioned by the trust provoked complaints from Conservative politicians amid UK culture war around controversial monuments
NewsTechnology
Pushing the envelope: new technology reads 300-year-old letter without opening it
X-rays and computer algorithms preserve the complicated technique of letterlocking, which turn writing paper into envelope
NewsWar & Conflict
Ethiopian heritage under attack as reports of massacre emerge
Eyewitnesses say Eritrean military stormed an Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Axum, killing hundreds
NewsLawsuits
A German prince is suing his 'ungrateful' son for selling ancestral castle for €1
Ernst August Sr, Prince of Hanover, claims that his son went behind his back to seize control of his estates
NewsArchaeology
The mullet wasn't just an 80s thing, as this newly unearthed Iron Age figure suggests
Celtic deity from Cambridgeshire sports impeccable hair that is slightly longer at the back
NewsAngkor
Proposed resort and water park threaten ancient heritage of Angkor Wat in Cambodia
Unesco has expressed alarm that the development will encroach onto the protected zone of the World Heritage site
NewsHeritage
Bavarian frescoes are confirmed to be among the oldest in northern Europe
New examinations of John the Baptist wall paintings in Augsburg cathedral date them to more than 1,000 years ago
NewsStatues
Keep problematic monuments and ‘explain them’, UK government to tell cultural leaders
Opponents argue that some public statues reinforce racism, chauvinism, sexism and homophobia
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Hear the sound of an ancient conch horn, played again after 18,000 years
The unique Palaeolithic instrument was found in a cave rich in rock art, and was marked with red pigment that matches the paintings
NewsWar
Azerbaijan refuses to hand over 1,500 artworks after seizing 'cultural capital' in Nagorno-Karabakh
Artsakhi ministers have asked Russia to intervene in their bid to recoup paintings, sculptures, and precious stones after relinquishing culturally significant city of Shusha
NewsMosul
Mosul’s artists, resurgent, speak out on new Google platform
Through videos, audio clips, 3D models of destroyed sites and images of their works, Iraqis describe what they endured and their hopes for the future
NewsHeritage
From mummies to mosques—new Google Arts & Culture initiative brings Egypt’s archaeological treasures to the masses
New online platform aims to turn traditionally scholarly subject into something "easily digestible and fun to explore"
NewsChurches
Pew! Sussex church may scrap plans to remove historic seating
Moves by parishes to replace pews with chairs for “flexibility” anger traditionalists
NewsArchaeology
Archaeologists have discovered world's oldest animal cave painting
The warty pig painting was found in a cave in Indonesia and is thought to be at least 45,500 years old
NewsParis
Champs Élysées—one of Paris’s most polluted roads—to be transformed into ‘extraordinary garden’
The major avenue will undergo a €250m makeover to restore its former splendour, following the 2024 Summer Olympics
NewsChora Museum
Has Turkey halted plans to turn Chora museum into a mosque?
Experts ponder the significance of the sudden scrapping of Islamic prayers by Turkish authorities at Istanbul’s historic landmark
NewsPalmyra
New hope that ancient Palmyra will be rebuilt after Isis damage
Deal between the Syrian government and Russian masonry body builds on country’s research into state of archaeological site
NewsConservation & Preservation
From lockdowns to looting: how Covid-19 has taken a toll on world's threatened heritage sites
Sites of major importance—many in regions already ravaged by conflict—are contending with security problems and funding shortfalls
NewsConservation & Preservation
Volunteers plan to return ‘Albert Hall of the North’ to its glory days
After years of neglect, ornate Victorian auditorium in northern seaside town of Morecambe is being saved
NewsIndia
India's Supreme Court approves Modi's £2bn 'vanity project' to redevelop Delhi parliament complex
The reconstruction of the Central Vista is a significant step in the prime minister's efforts to sever the nation from its colonial past
NewsArt market
In the battle against antiquities trafficking, Germany develops app to identify looted cultural heritage
Government-funded image-recognition software will enable law enforcers to work with international organisations
NewsExhibitions
5,000 years in 350 objects: Victoria and Albert Museum reveals details about its epic 'immersive' Iran show
With ten sections covering ancient Iranian history to contemporary art, London museum plans to open delayed show in February
NewsGreece
Huge historic tobacco factory in Athens to be renovated into cultural space by 2021
Arts organisation Neon are working on the project with the Greek government to mark 200 years since the country’s liberation from the Ottoman Empire
NewsIndia
'New Hindu India': Narendra Modi begins £2bn overhaul of Delhi's colonial parliament buildings
Politicians and cultural leaders have questioned the use of state funds for prime minister's "vanity project" during Covid-19 crisis
NewsHeritage
Europe's 12 most endangered heritage sites announced
From a steam cog railway to the baroque Venetian palazzo abandoned by the Armenians , Europa Nostra chooses candidates for its 2021 Seven Most Endangered Sites list
NewsHeritage
Quest begins to buy £4m house where Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
Campaign, which hopes to turn the Oxford home into a literary centre, has been backed by actors from the film adaptation Ian McKellan and Martin Freeman
NewsFunding
Historic Royal Palaces gets £40m lifeline loan and Southbank Centre gets £11m in latest round of UK Covid-19 funding
Rem Koolhaas’ Factory arts hub in Manchester—scheduled for completion in 2022—gets £21m grant
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Voluptuous Venus figurines may have helped prehistoric Europeans survive the Ice Age
The objects were passed on as “ideological tools” that created advantageous body ideals for women, researchers argue
NewsStonehenge
Stonehenge campaign group plans to sue UK government over controversial tunnel scheme
£1.7bn project breaches Unesco’s World Heritage convention says campaign group
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Hallucinogenic flower inspired Native Californian rock art, archaeologists say
“Doses” of datura plant used in communal ceremonies have been found embedded in the ceiling of Pinwheel Cave
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Pompeii dig unearths incredible preserved remains of two men engulfed in volcanic ash
Plaster casts were made of the newly discovered victims of Vesuvius eruption, which are believed to have been a wealthy landowner and his slave
NewsHeritage
New heritage body aims to keep Unesco in check by calling on public to report sites in danger
Our World Heritage says it is stepping in to save at-risk locations as “safeguarding has become a secondary concern” for Unesco
NewsHeritage
Plans for £1.7bn tunnel under Stonehenge—approved by UK government—sparks criticism
Unesco opposes the scheme which could result in "total loss" of archaeological treasures but English Heritage says it will "reconnect the site with its prehistoric landscape"
NewsHeritage
Unesco, stop citing 'bogus' $10bn figure, art trade pleads
Ahead of a major anniversary this weekend, the international organisation is under fire for apparently exaggerating the scale of the illicit trade in cultural goods
NewsRestoration
The potato head of Palencia: defaced Spanish statue latest victim of botched restoration
Conservation professionals have questioned why Spain's heritage is continually handed over to those with no formal training
NewsMuseums & Heritage
From the Dalai Lama’s tailoring to beekeeping in Kenya, British Museum saves world's dying skills
Endangered Material Knowledge Programme will be extended for seven more years with £8.8m grant from Arcadia fund
NewsMemorials
In honour of Armistice Day, more than 100 English war memorials listed as sites of historical importance
Monuments commemorating the First and Second World Wars—mostly built in small towns and villages—are added to Historic England's list of protected places
NewsHeritage
Historic churches of Naples are at risk from sinkholes
Researchers have identified nine buildings that require a “quick response” and a further 57 places of worship that could suffer from future cavity collapses
NewsChina
Uyghur civilisation in China continues to be erased as part of chilling mission
Australian think tank data reveals that two-thirds of the region’s mosques have been either destroyed or damaged
NewsHeritage
Unexploded bombs: the major hitch in this German castle's restoration
Gardens of the Babelsberg Palace in Potsdam must be probed for undetonated explosives before further renovations can take place
NewsHeritage
Historic Book of Lismore returns to Ireland from Britain
Medieval vellum manuscript has been donated to University College Cork by Chatsworth, seat of the Dukes of Devonshire
NewsArmenia
Armenian monuments in line of fire in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Unesco accused of turning a blind eye to destruction of heritage sites, as bitter skirmish between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the disputed territory drags on
NewsMuseums & Heritage
An invitation to sponsor a tile: keeping a roof over Jane Austen’s village home
Donations have poured in from all over the globe since the museum appealed for aid
NewsHeritage
Brighton's Madeira Terrace, a unique Liverpool cemetery and a 17th-century public library among English heritage sites at risk
Entries on Historic England Heritage at Risk list, published today, have risen to 5,097
NewsHeritage
Machu Picchu all to yourself? Japanese tourist gets special solo tour of ancient site
Culture ministry gives Jesse Katayama access after being stranded in Peru for seven months because of coronavirus
CommentHeritage
Confronting the allure, and the dangers, of 'fake heritage'
Monetary gain is one reason people create counterfeit heritage—but political power, personal fame or the imposition of beliefs are equally compelling motivations
NewsVenice
Ocean art space in Venice church confronts city's perilous battle with climate change
Multimedia installation synthesises three years of scientific research into marine transformation across the planet
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Nearly 450 heritage rescue grants announced from UK's £1.57bn cultural bailout fund
First funding round hailed as a "lifeline" for heritage sites and specialists reeling from the pandemic, but job losses continue
NewsNational Trust
National Trust—UK's largest conservation charity—to cut 1,300 jobs
The coronavirus-hit heritage body looks to save around £100m through redundancies
NewsHeritage
Medieval Carlisle building gets new lease of life after perilous engineering project
The Grade I listed Fratry is now connected to the Carlisle cathedral via a new light-flooded sandstone cafe
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Fingerprints help identify age and sex of prehistoric painters in southern Spain
Researchers studied the Neolithic rock art in the Los Machos rockshelter
NewsAncient Egypt
'First of its kind' exhibition will show contemporary art among the Pyramids of Giza
An art trail around the 4,500-year-old heritage site will feature works that reflect on ancient Egypt’s enduring influence on artists
NewsMuseums & Heritage
First Hagia Sophia, now Turkey's 'Sistine Chapel of Byzantium' will be turned back into mosque
The 14th-century mosaics at Chora Church—which was converted to a museum in 1945—risk being covered up and remaining part-restored
NewsHeritage
Vandals smash statue of Mary Magdalene in French chapel—apparently because she is naked
A note was left at the scene by the perpetrators saying they “did not accept” that the saint should be “represented in such a way”
NewsHagia Sophia
Russia to fund small-scale replica Hagia Sophia in Syria that will be used as a church
Tactical move comes after Turkish president ordered historic Istanbul site to be turned into a mosque
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
Saving Notre Dame's 'voice': mammoth restoration begins on cathedral's fire-damaged organ
Beginning today, the piece by piece removal and cleaning of the instrument is the latest stage of the building's reconstruction
NewsHeritage
Origins of Stonehenge's giant slabs revealed in new research
Sample taken in 1958 was key in discovering ancient site’s "geochemical fingerprint"
AnalysisCathedral of Notre Dame
Where we are now with the restoration of Notre Dame after the rejection of modern architectural gestures
An insider report from the site on the latest discoveries and re-building techniques
NewsDisasters & destruction
Security questions remain after Nantes cathedral blaze: 'There's no European country where church fires are this common'
An arson investigation has been launched into the fire at the Gothic St Peter and St Paul Cathedral in western France
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
Notre Dame's spire to be rebuilt the way it was—but use of lead likely to spark new controversy
French President Macron makes u-turn after first suggesting the 19th-century spire, which was destroyed in the fire last year, should be replaced by a contemporary design
NewsMuseums & Heritage
UK's historic houses fight for survival post-lockdown after financial crash
Heritage organisations such as the National Trust rely on visitors for most of their income—but they have been staying away
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Facebook and Instagram ban trading of historical artefacts
Heritage group Athar were part of a campaign highlighting the social media giants' “black market in antiquities”
NewsDisasters & destruction
Mining company Rio Tinto apologises for destruction of 46,000-year-old Aboriginal site
Blasting of two ancient rock shelters at Juukan Gorge was authorised in 2013 by Western Australia state government
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
How Germany’s 4,000-year-old answer to Stonehenge shows that Brexit is 'nonsense'
Pömmelte, sacred site that was used by the ancient Unetice culture, is opening up to tourists
NewsHeritage
Steve Bannon wins first major battle for medieval monastery
Italy retaliates with criminal prosecution of right-wing religious group funded by US President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist
NewsArtists
Barbara Hepworth's studio in St Ives gains Grade II listing
Former dance hall was bequeathed to the Tate by the sculptor's family
NewsHeritage
Battle to save concrete Picasso murals in Oslo intensifies after MoMA steps in
“Workers at the Y-Block site have started drilling, but it’s worrying as once they start moving the mural, it will crack,” says co-creator’s daughter
NewsArt & Technology
If the sea destroys Venice, can digital technology rebuild it?
The Art Newspaper is co-hosting a live YouTube discussion on digital innovations and the preservation of cultural heritage on 1-3 May
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Shutdown tests mettle of UK's last major bell foundry
Taylor’s in Loughborough faces uphill struggle in fundraising drive to restore decaying buildings and create new museum
NewsWilliam Shakespeare
The best may be yet to come for Shakespeare monument in Stratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's £30,000 appeal aims to restore ambitious sculpture of the Bard in grounds of his former home
Newscoronavirus
Virus outbreak delays restoration of Turkey’s Grand Bazaar
The price of gold has also spiked amid scarcity of the precious metal due to the closure of the World Heritage listed market
FeatureCathedral of Notre Dame
Anniversary of Notre-Dame fire: it's safe, but big decisions need to be taken as Covid-19 halts restoration
Rebuilding the roof will be among the main challenges, and the reconstruction of the spire will be among the most controversial
NewsHeritage
Unesco denounces construction project near Lebanon's ancient archaeological site Nahr El-Kalb
In an open letter, the organisation criticises building work in the historic area, which is on the nomination list to become a World Heritage site
Newscoronavirus
Turkish government slammed for crowds at heritage sites as ticket collector reportedly dies from coronavirus
Worker at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace is believed to have contracted Covid-19, leading state to be criticised for not closing tourist attractions quick enough
NewsDisasters & destruction
Zagreb Cathedral’s spire damaged in major earthquake
City is "fighting two enemies" as it continues to deal with the spread of coronavirus
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Relics in Kent church are remains of 1,400-year old Anglo Saxon princess, carbon dating suggests
If confirmed, Eanswythe's bones are the earliest identified remains of an English saint
NewsItaly
Steve Bannon wins again in battle against Italian ministry of culture
President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist wants to set up a nationalist bootcamp in an Italian monastery
NewsParthenon marbles
Leaked draft of EU paper stirs Parthenon Marbles dispute
But the clause is unlikely to refer to the ancient Greek sculptures in the British Museum, expert says
NewsHeritage
Hidden LGBTQ histories of London's royal palaces to come out in new guided tours
Immersive performances will begin this month at Tower of London, with more planned at Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace
NewsClimate Change
Heritage on the edge: new Google project reveals climate change damage to Unesco sites
Digital visualisations gathered for online exhibit will be a “blueprint” for heritage managers planning climate adaptation in the future
NewsDerek Jarman
Artists rally to save Prospect Cottage, the house of late filmmaker Derek Jarman
Art Fund leads the initiative to raise the £3.5m needed to purchase the Kent cottage
NewsPablo Picasso
Caught smuggling Picasso on his yacht, Spanish billionaire collector gets €52m fine and 18 months in prison
Jaime Botin, of the Santander dynasty, did not have a permit to export the painting
NewsDiscoveries
Like ‘Tutankhamun’s tomb’: first look inside emperor's sepulchre in 500 years reveals magnificent treasures
Discovery in Vienna's St Stephen's cathedral was made with photographs taken through a small hole in the marble
NewsHeritage
Trump retracts threats against Iranian culture sites saying: ‘I like to obey the law’
The US president’s reversal comes after widespread condemnation and defense officials’ assurances that military would abide by international law
CommentIran
'The normalisation of cultural warfare cannot go unanswered'
Tristram Hunt, the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, calls on the international community to condemn President Trump's threat to target Iran's cultural sites
AnalysisHeritage
If the US destroys Iranian cultural sites, President Trump will be criminally liable by international law
The US is signatory to The Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, which forbids any act of hostility to cultural property
NewsSteve Bannon
Steve Bannon’s nationalists can stay in medieval monastery (for now)
In the first round of a lengthy legal battle, an Italian court has ruled in favour of a right-wing Catholic organisation which the Ministry of Culture is trying to oust from a historic abbey
NewsConservation & Preservation
Geneva-based foundation Aliph directs $10m to heritage conservation projects in conflict zones
Sites targeted range from a Yemeni palace in ruins to a shrine destroyed by the Islamic State in Iraq
CommentRedevelopment
'A catastrophe for the system of protecting historic buildings': the saga of London's Whitechapel Bell Foundry
Plans to turn the foundry that cast the bells of Big Ben, St Paul’s and Westminster Abbey into a boutique hotel have been put on hold—but they should never have gone ahead in the first place
NewsThe Year in Review 2019
From trafficked treasures to the ravages of climate change: the heritage headlines of 2019
We look back at the biggest stories of the year
NewsConservation & Preservation
Derelict iron flaxmill is brought back to life in Shrewsbury
Building was considered an audacious architectural experiment when it was built in 1797
CommentHeritage
Fifty years on, Unesco’s convention against illicit trafficking of cultural artefacts still shines bright
International treaty of 1970 has helped establish an ethical basis for the actions of law enforcement and museums
Alexander Herman