In Current World Archaeology 90 (August edition, 2018) (see www.world-archaeology.com) we have news of ongoing research (post Iraq war) at the Sumerian ancient city of Girsu – and the temple of its tutelary god, Ningursu, the Eninnu. The temple Eninnu is recorded by Gudea of Lagash (late 3rd millennium BC). Gudea left behind many inscriptions and statuary. More resilient however is the Birdge of Girsu which seems to have suvived intact (albeit, buried) for over 5000 years. Finds at Girsu go all the way back to the Ubaid period until the beginnings of urban Sumeria and as well as the 3rd millennium period (as a whole). FGor more information see www.britishmuseum.org/about_us/museum_activity/middle_east/iraq_scheme.aspx
There is also an interesting article on Scandinavian maritime emporiums – in the 8th century AD (prior to the Viking Age in the 9th and10th centuries AD). These all came about after they developed the ability of long distance navigation. They developed a proliferation of coastal and maritime trading bases in natural harbour sites along the North Sea and Baltic coast lines. The development of large carrying capacity in their boats allowed the traffic of bulky cargoes and this was central to the spread of such emporiums – up the Norwegian coast as far as the Arctic Circle, In Denmark and Sweden, even along the coast of what is now Poland. The article then considers one such emporium – on the west coast of Denmark, where there is 3m of stratigraphy spread over 200 years (AD700-900). Whetstones, iron, and reindeer antler was brought from Norway and glss, metals, and wine pitchers from the Rhine provinces. Exotic lead seal and glass beads came by way of Byzaantium etc.
There is also an article on archaeology in Heliopolis in Egypt.