Current World Archaeology 137
The comprehensive website for archaeology, history, heritage and the ancient world. Find out more about us here
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.
The Griffin Warrior: treasures from the princely tomb of a Mycenaean kingdom
The surprise discovery of the mysterious Griffin Warrior at Pylos promises to reveal fresh insights into that crucial point in European history when the Minoan customs of island Crete gave way to the emergent culture on mainland Greece. Jack Davis and Sharon Stocker reveal this treasure-laden tomb from the dawn of Mycenaean civilisation.
Archaeology in Tokyo: seeking out the past of a megacity
Preparations for the 2020 Olympics saw excavations under way at numerous sites in Tokyo. Simon Kaner reflects on what archaeology tells us about activity in the area before and after the birth of a great city.
Taking a new look at life and death in Giza: how the pyramids built Egypt
The ancient Egyptian necropolis at Giza is one of the most celebrated archaeological sites in the world. Although the iconic pyramids dominating the plateau continue to excite awe and curiosity, these royal tombs are only one aspect of an extraordinary site. A new book reveals how the rich and poor, and the living and dead, rubbed shoulders at Giza, as Mark Lehner and Zahi Hawass told CWA’s Matthew Symonds.
Competition: Current World Archaeology Photo of the Year 2022
The winning image and three runners-up will be featured in CWA.
Current World Archaeology 109
News in brief from China, Guatemala, and Spain
Brief summaries of important archaeological discoveries, including the world’s oldest coin mint, ancient Mayan parks, and a cave painting scene of honey-gathering.
Revealing the Lady of Baza’s true colours
The painted sculpture depicting a seated woman was found inside a burial chamber with other rich grave goods.
Great Sites of the Ancient World
This gloriously illustrated volume takes readers on a tour of 100 archaeological sites around the world. While many of the selections are familiar entries in lists of great sites – such as
Ancient shark attack
Individual 24 was found to have at least 790 wounds made at around the time of death
New dates for Machu Picchu
Radiocarbon dating of burials from the Inca site of Machu Picchu has revealed that it was occupied several decades earlier than previously thought. The famous UNESCO World Heritage site in Peru is
Hare paenga: the canoe-shaped houses and monumental archaeology of Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
The archaeology of Rapa Nui is dominated by the Easter Island heads, but these were just one element of larger ceremonial complexes. Colin Richards explores some distinctive houses, which offer tantalising clues for understanding the celebrated statues.
Archaeology and the Early Church in Southern Greece
This book provides a brief history of Christianity in the eastern Peloponnese (including ancient sites in Corinth, such as Kenchreai and Lechaion, as well as Isthmia, Nemea, Sikyon, and Epidauros) and in
Wooden snake figurine
Snakes are rarely depicted in rock art in northern Europe, and are known to have had symbolic significance in the later world views of the Finno-Ugric and Sámi peoples
Rare Roman boundary stone
The travertine stone bears an inscription detailing Claudius’ titles and honours
Southern Levant: what was on the menu in the land of milk and honey?
Just how much can ancient diet tell us about past lives? Shyama Vermeersch considers what cuisine reveals about the southern Levant in the Bronze and Iron Ages.
Doggerland and Malta
Gillis Kersting explores the lost worlds of Doggerland and prehistoric Malta through two new exhibitions at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden.
The Warsaw Mummy Project
A multidisciplinary project that uses a wide range of techniques to study ancient Egyptian mummies is shedding new light on the secrets hidden beneath their wrappings, as Marzena Oz.arek-Szilke, Marcin Jaworski, Wojciech Ejsmond, and Stanisl´aw Szilke explain.
The Archaeology of Medieval Towns: case studies from Japan and Europe
The Archaeology of Medieval Towns is an interesting proposition: a book which aims to act as a bridge between the medieval worlds of Europe and Japan, introducing each to the specialists of
Libarna: revealing the complex history of a colonial city
How did the Romans learn to incorporate new groups and regions into their empire? Libarna, a Roman colony in what was the Gallic part of Italy, may hold the key to answering this question. Katherine V Huntley reveals the ancient, and modern, significance of the city.
Earliest Christian monastery found in Egypt
Inscriptions were also found on the walls of several buildings, with passages from biblical and early Christian texts written in Greek.