Current World Archaeology 137
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Ramses the Great: How a pharaoh built his legacy
Why is Ramses II considered to be ‘the Great’? An exhibition focusing on his life and times sheds light on how Ramses earned this accolade. Matthew Symonds shares what he learnt.
Beyond the luxurious: Tracing the Late Antique ivory tradeÂ
Study of ivory use in the early medieval world is revealing fresh insights into how this material was viewed. The results have important implications for our understanding of the scale of the trade, and its impact on the elephants it exploited, as Rowan S English and Julia Steding explain.
A Maya Universe in Stone
A Maya Universe in Stone delves deeply into the imagery, inscriptions, and political and social contexts of several ancient Maya carved limestone lintels made in the late 8th century AD, likely in
Henry VII coin unearthed in Canada
The coin is a Henry VII ‘half groat’, believed to have been minted in Canterbury, UK.
Norway: secrets of the ice
Over the last decade, 64 glaciers and ice patches in the Innlandet region have produced over 3,500 archaeological finds, from hunting tools and textiles to zoological material…
Forging Identities in the Prehistory of Old Europe: dividuals, individuals and communities, 7000-3000 BC
This solid 459-page work by John Chapman summarises his life-long work in the Balkans and, as he states in the preface, was first conceived as a synthesis of Balkan prehistory but subsequently
Unseen Aztec art in Leiden
Gillis Kersting explores an international exhibition presenting hundreds of Aztec objects on loan from Mexican and European museums, now on display in Leiden.
Remains of a Hellenistic fortress revealed in Israel
Weapons, pottery, charred wooden beams, and dozens of coins dating to the late 2nd century BC were also unearthed.
Visual Culture, Heritage and Identity: using rock art to reconnect past and present
Many researchers dealing with prehistoric and historic rock art tend to remain firmly entrenched within their respective comfort zones. Throughout much of the contemporary world, the application and use of rock art
DNA analysis sheds light on Iron Age salt miners’ diets
This is the first molecular evidence of beer production in Iron Age Europe.
Roman mosaic in Rutland
The mosaic, which measures 11m by almost 7m, once formed the floor of a dining or entertaining room within a large villa complex occupied during the late Roman period.
Cage cup
What is it? This cage cup, or vas diatretum, dates to the 4th century AD. The intricate, colourless glass bowl is 12.6cm tall and 15cm in diameter and has a flared rim.
Connecting the Inca Empire: the art of maintaining Central Andean suspension bridges
Suspension bridges were crucial for the success of the Inca road network, but these remarkable structures needed to be regularly rebuilt. Can examining surviving examples of similar bridges reveal more about how Inca crossings were maintained, and the importance of such events for the local communities involved? Lidio Valdez takes us behind the scenes of a long-standing Andean tradition.
Pre-Columbian mass grave found in Peru
Although the Chimú are known to have practised human sacrifice, it is currently not possible to say whether this is the case here.
Early evidence of leprosy identified in the Caribbean
Radiocarbon dating has indicated that the skull is c.220 years old, making it possibly the earliest example currently known from the region
Return to the Interactive Past: the interplay of video games and histories
Return to the Interactive Past offers a fascinating introduction to some of the key topics surrounding the intersection of video games / interactive media and heritage. This book, a follow-on to the
Reconnecting relationships: uncovering genealogy in archaeology
Examining ancient DNA is revolutionising our knowledge of the past. Being able to detect family relationships is revealing ever more about connections between people buried in cemeteries and even individual coffins. Caroline Arcini introduces three cases where DNA evidence has opened new windows into past lives.
Slaves’ room found in Pompeii
The discovery grants us a glimpse of the people who were behind the day-to-day running of the villa
Digging Deep: a journey into Southeast Asia’s past
Professor Charles Higham will be a familiar figure to CWA readers. Not only does he write a regular column for the magazine, but he is also a world authority on the archaeology
Prehistoric people present
New research is shedding light on the presence of early people around the world.
Early evidence of clothing manufacture discovered in a Moroccan cave
Excavations in Contrebandiers Cave from 2007 to 2010 found 62 bone tools used for leather and fur manufacture in Middle Stone Age layers.