Thursday, 27 June 2013

Ancient African coins spark international treasure hunt

Ancient African coins spark international treasure hunt - NBC News.com: "Can a handful of ancient African coins, discovered almost 70 years ago by a lone soldier on a remote island, rewrite history?

A weathered, hand-drawn map, with an "X" marking the spot on the Australian island where the African coins were discovered, might help an international team of researchers, who will travel to the island this summer, answer that question."

The story begins more than a thousand years ago, when the city of Kilwa  (In Photo) was the richest trading center on the eastern coast of Africa.  A bustling harbor, a glittering mosque decorated with Chinese porcelain and the Husuni Kubwa palace (famed for its octagonal swimming pool) made Kilwa a premier destination for wealthy merchants, who traded African gold and ivory for spices and perfume from the Far East.

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