The spectacular untouched tomb of Prince Liang Zhuang, favourite brother of the Ming emperor Xuande, has been hailed as China’s greatest discovery for a century. Not only was the treasure found in the burial chamber among the richest ever recovered, but the dazzling jewels that adorn the artefacts are evidence of expeditions undertaken by one of the most famous explorers in history, Admiral Zheng He, whose epic voyages in the early 15th century reached as far west as the coast of Africa. The story of the tomb’s excavation is just as extraordinary.
The world has been rightly shocked by the catastrophic damage done to ancient sites in Syria and Iraq, and the deliberate destruction of irreplaceable artefacts carried out by Islamic State. Our Special Report brings us the latest news on the region.
What was life like for soldiers in occupied France during WWI? The discovery of a German camp is giving us a rare glimpse of the everyday life and few luxuries enjoyed by soldiers during brief periods of respite from the Front Line.
When the Roman emperor Diocletian designed and built his magnificent palace on the Dalmatian coast in what is modern-day Split, he did not envisage it as a retirement home. However, just as it was completed, ill-health forced him to resign as Tetrarch, and he spent the rest of his days here. As the town grew up in and around the palace, much of its architectural splendour was lost. Today, ongoing archaeological investigation is rediscovering the lost glories of this 4th-century grand design.
Finally, we look at how the humble fish helped build the economy of Ancient Egypt, and why fishing was fundamental to the wealth of the pharaohs.
We’ve also introduced a new competition page to your CWA, featuring a crossword puzzle and a photo challenge, both with an archaeological twist.
IN THIS ISSUE
FEATURES
CHINA: Treasures of Prince Liang Zhuang Revealing the dazzling riches of a Ming emperor’s favourite brother
FRANCE: Isles-sur-Suippe Looking at life in the trenches of occupied France during WWI
CROATIA: Diocletian’s Palace So much more than the Emperor’s vegetable patch
EGYPT: Fish and Pharaohs How the Ancient Egyptians relied on fish
NEWS
Earliest Roman fort
Maya melting pot
Bornholm brooch
Pharaoh dies in battle
Medieval mass grave in Paris
Egyptian Israel
Neanderthal news: eagle jewellery and oldest DNA
SPECIAL REPORT
Prophet and profit
NEWS FOCUS
Finding Miguel de Cervantes
CHARLES HIGHAM
Uncovering the Golden Man
TRAVEL
ITALY The Neolithic settlement of La Marmotta
QATAR Richard Hodges at Doha and Al Zubarah
TURKEY From Troy to Gallipoli
CULTURE
MUSEUM
A visit to Barcelona’s new Museum of World Cultures
REVIEWS
Andrew Robinson reviews The Greeks in Asia by John Boardman
plus reviews of:
Banteay Chhmar: Garrison-temple of the Khmer Empire by Peter D Sharrock
Celtic Art by Venceslas Kruta
Cuneiform by Irving Finkel and Jonathan Taylor
The Oxford Handbook of Roman Sculpture by Elise A Friedland, Melanie
Grunow Sobocinski, and Elaine K Gazda (eds)
The Neverending Feast: The Anthropology and Archaeology of Feasting by Kaori O’Connor
CHRIS CATLING
Car-park burials and famous remains
THINKING ALOUD
Neil Faulkner asks: Why do people dress up as animals? Part 3: fertility cult
OBJECT LESSON
The Nimrud lamassu
