CWA 37

What was the fate of archaeology under Communism in post-war Europe? In the East, the Communists carried out immaculate reconstructions of many of their historic city centres – at the very time when we, in the West, were destroying many of ours in the name of modernity. A classic example of such Communist work is to be found in the great Hungarian capital of Budapest. Their restoration of the romantic glories of fin de siècle Budapest is well known, but Budapest was also the site of the major Roman legionary fortress and civilian town of Aquincum. What remains to be seen of Aquincum? Andrew Selkirk went to Budapest to find out.
The militaristic Aquincum was located on the frontier of Roman expansion, but what was life like on the frontier of the Assyrian Empire? In the 9th century BC, the Assyrians created a realm on a scale that had hitherto been unimaginable – marching east, west and north from their heartland in Mesopotamia. To the very north, in modern Turkey, they established the colonial site of Ziyaret Tepe. Current excavations are revealing fascinating insights on everyday life, but they also tell a chilling story of how the boom of Empire inevitably went bust.
Other highlights include a travelogue on walking the heart of Athens, and a feature explaining how to unlock the lost languages of the past.

CWA 36

This issue is devoted to Egypt. Over the years, some of the greatest discoveries in this extraordinary land have been made by members of the Egypt Exploration Society (EES). Founded in 1882 by the redoubtable Amelia Edwards, they employed Flinders Petrie (1853-1942) as one of their first excavators, so launching one of the greatest figures in archaeology. But what have they been doing in more recent years?

As the current issue illustrates, some of their most remarkable discoveries have been at North Saqqara. There, in the shadow of the Pyramid of King Djoser (as shown on the front cover), they have found a cemetery dedicated not to mummified people but to mummified animals. At first it was thought that this area might mark the site of the tomb of Imhotep, the pyramid's architect. Instead, excavations revealed catacombs crammed with literally millions of animal mummies. The EES has been examining this conundrum. Thereafter, we journey across Egypt to offer more of the latest EES digs, discoveries and projects, including their crucial work in the Delta, notably at the royal city of Sais. 

Other highlights include a travelogue by Bob Partridge, the editor of Ancient Egypt magazine, who reflects on his experiences of visiting Egypt over the past 30 years. Finally, our thanks to Paul Nicholson for facilitating this issue; we urge all those fascinated by the discoveries in Egypt to join the EES to learn more.

CWA 35

When, in 1911, the American explorer, Hiram Bingham, slashed his way through the South Peruvian forest to rediscover the Inca site of Machu Picchu, the world was rightly entranced. However, as this issue illustrates, there is much more to Peru than Machu Picchu.
Thus, the startled golden face, half child and half 'space-cadet‘, shown on the cover, was modelled by the Moche; people who lived along the Northern coast of Peru a thousand years before the Inca marched through the land. Found in 1987, it marked the site of the elite tombs of the 'Lords of Sipán’ in a little-told story that rivals Carter and Carnarvon’s discovery of Tutankhamun in Egypt. The magazine opens with a major feature on the early 1st millennium AD Moche Lords of Sipán.
In the wake of these discoveries, an array of other pre-Inca sites along the Northern coastal plain are now under current excavation. All are proving to be extremely archaeologically rich. I took the Northern ‘Moche Route’ to meet the archaeologists and find out more, as further detailed in the Travel Section.
Other highlights in this issue include Charles Higham’s revelation of aristocratic Bronze Age ‘superburials’ at Ban Non Wat in Thailand. Thereafter, David Breeze considers the world’s Roman Frontiers, while David Miles takes us out of this world and into space: archaeology’s Final Frontier.

CWA 34

Who is Alexander Selkirk? Aside from being our publisher‘s brother, he was also the inspiration for the world’s most famous castaway. Writer Daniel Defoe based his novel, Robinson Crusoe, on the true adventures of a Scottish sailor, one hot-headed Alexander Selkirk, who was marooned on a tiny island, off the coast of Chile, from 1704 to 1709.
But what, if anything, remains of Alexander Selkirk’s enforced occupation on that island - now named Robinson Crusoe Island? Archaeologist Daisuke Takahashi had a possible lead: an elderly islander had shown him the little-known ruins of a small building, deep in an overgrown clearing in the forest. Could this have been Alexander’s camp? Its location seemed perfect. Moreover, we know that following several months of frantic panic and depression, Selkirk built himself two huts: one to live in, the other for his food, just as he had back home.
So the archaeologists began digging the abandoned building. But what did they find? Did they uncover the secrets of Alexander Selkirk, the real Robinson Crusoe? And what does their work reveal about island life in the 18th century? Was it really a desert island idyll of balmy days under the coconut fronds? If so, why did Alexander Selkirk swiftly turn to piracy after his rescue?
Heave ho and up he rises.

CWA 33

In the 8th century BC, the Spartans subjugated their Peloponnesian neighbours, the Messenians. When eventually Sparta was conquered, the Messenians founded a new city at Messene, which flourished in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Now, a major restoration project has made it one of Greece‘s best preserved ancient cities, far triumphing over Sparta’s paltry remains. Revenge is sweet!
But what exactly remains to be seen at this gem of a city? The current issue opens with a feature uncovering the wonders of Messene.
Thereafter, we go beneath the seas. In 1694, HMS Sussex was lost in the Straits of Gibraltar. Various reports have estimated that £2.6 billion of gold - some nine tons- were locked in her hold when she disappeared into the deep. Following her recent discovery, the Florida-based company, Odyssey Marine Exploration, got to work investigating. The archaeological community feared underwater robbery. After three years of total media blackout, the results are finally being made public.
Other highlights include a feature on the Medieval Yemeni city of Zabid, while George Nash hikes into the mountains of Malaysia in search of rock-art.

 

CWA 32

In this issue we present one of Rome’s greatest un-success stories: the extravagant yet impractical city of Clunia in northern Spain.
Two thousand years ago, with the booming Roman political machine behind it, Clunia was made into the administrative capital of the province of Tarraconensis. The main aim of the city was to convey prestige. Among its glut of grandiose structures was the 9,000-seat theatre shown on the front cover of this issue - the largest in all Iberia Despite Oscar Wilde’s famous witticism that ‘Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess,’ the opulent Clunia did not succeed. Instead, it fell into disuse.   
Why? After all, the city occupied an enviably strategic military position, dominating a vast plateau c.1,000m above sea level. It also had an impressive infrastructure for providing and removing water to rival those in use today. Archaeologists have been working hard to discover more, but what have they revealed?