Medieval History
For more than a decade, archaeologists and historians have been studying the contents of a ninth-century Arab dhow that was discovered in 1998 off Indonesia?s Belitung Island. The sea-cucumber divers who found the wreck had no idea it eventually would be considered one of the most important maritime discoveries of the late 20th century.
The dhow was carrying a rich cargo ? 60,000 ceramic pieces and an array of gold and silver works ? and its discovery has confirmed how significant trade was along a maritime silk road between Tang Dynasty China and Abbasid Iraq. It also has revealed how China was mass-producing trade goods even then and customizing them to suit the tastes of clients in West Asia.
Click here to read this article from the New York Times
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- Dogs, Booze And Bling: Northern Ireland's Medieval Shopping Mall
Excavations on Dunnyneil Island in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, have revealed a seventh century trading emporium frequented by merchants from as far afield as modern day Russia, Germany, Iceland and France. Back in early medieval times, there...
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A major underwater museum housing an 800-year-old merchant ship opened to the public in China this week. The 30 meter wooden vessel, named Nanhai No 1, or South China Sea No 1, lies in a "crystal palace" made of glass inside the Maritime Silk Road Museum....
- Arab Coin Dating Back To The Year 805 Found In Norway
Archaeologists in Norway say an ancient Islamic coin dating back to 805 AD was found just west of Oslo earlier this year. Houshang Khazaei, who is a researcher at the University of Oslo, said that the coin is an issue of Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid,...
- Medieval News
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Medieval History
Ancient Arab Shipwreck Yields Secrets of Ninth-Century Trade
For more than a decade, archaeologists and historians have been studying the contents of a ninth-century Arab dhow that was discovered in 1998 off Indonesia?s Belitung Island. The sea-cucumber divers who found the wreck had no idea it eventually would be considered one of the most important maritime discoveries of the late 20th century.
The dhow was carrying a rich cargo ? 60,000 ceramic pieces and an array of gold and silver works ? and its discovery has confirmed how significant trade was along a maritime silk road between Tang Dynasty China and Abbasid Iraq. It also has revealed how China was mass-producing trade goods even then and customizing them to suit the tastes of clients in West Asia.
Click here to read this article from the New York Times
- Famed Roman Shipwreck Reveals More Secrets
Ancient artifacts resembling the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient bronze clockwork astronomical calculator, may rest amid the larger-than-expected Roman shipwreck that yielded the device in 1901. Marine archaeologists report they have uncovered new...
- Dogs, Booze And Bling: Northern Ireland's Medieval Shopping Mall
Excavations on Dunnyneil Island in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, have revealed a seventh century trading emporium frequented by merchants from as far afield as modern day Russia, Germany, Iceland and France. Back in early medieval times, there...
- 800-year-old Chinese Ship Now On Display In A Museum
A major underwater museum housing an 800-year-old merchant ship opened to the public in China this week. The 30 meter wooden vessel, named Nanhai No 1, or South China Sea No 1, lies in a "crystal palace" made of glass inside the Maritime Silk Road Museum....
- Arab Coin Dating Back To The Year 805 Found In Norway
Archaeologists in Norway say an ancient Islamic coin dating back to 805 AD was found just west of Oslo earlier this year. Houshang Khazaei, who is a researcher at the University of Oslo, said that the coin is an issue of Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid,...
- Medieval News
Medieval shipwreck found in Barcelona city centre Waterford Viking site has yet to be recorded as a national monument Ship sunk in 13th century uncovered at Spain construction site Car park dig for ancient settlement Silbury gives up its final secret...