SCAtoday.net - African

African beads found at medieval Irish archaeological dig

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:53:16 -0400

Archaeologists working at Newtwopothouse, a site near Cork, Ireland, have discovered African beads among the medieval artifacts, showing that the Irish were carrying out trade with North Africa at the time.

Columbus-era ship yields wealth of artifacts

Mon, 12 May 2008 10:16:03 -0400

Geologists from De Beers, the diamond company, have discovered the wreck of a late 15th or early 16th century ship loaded with Spanish and Portuguese treasure behind a seawall in Namibia.

Tower lions from northwest Africa

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:24:42 -0400

Recent study of a pair of lion skulls discovered during excavations of the Tower of London reveals that the lions originated near the Barbary Coast of Northwest Africa. The skulls, which dated from the 13th or 14th centuries, were carbon dated and tested for DNA.

Tourists flock to churches built by angels

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 12:28:30 -0400

Legend says that the churches carved into the red rock of Lalibela, Ethiopia were built with the help of the angels. Now tourists have discovered one of the country's holiest sites.

Timbuktu treasures continue to dazzle experts

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 11:50:37 -0400

The recent discovery of ancient books stored for centuries in leather trunks beneath the dry streets of Timbuktu has many scholars excited. A project to collect many of the books into a world class resource library is now being funded by contributions from around the world.

Preserving Timbuktu's precious manuscripts

Sat, 4 Aug 2007 13:19:41 -0400

Due to the climate, it's common to find ancient documents in boxes or caves, or even hidden beneath the sand of Timbuktu, but now a push is on to save many of these precious manuscripts.

Interview with historian Natalie Zemon Davis

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 18:21:10 -0400

Medievalists.net features an interview with Dr. Natalie Zemon Davis, Professor Emeritus of History at Princeton University, who currently teaches at the University of Toronto. Davis is the author of nine books and more than 80 articles, "many of which focus on the social and cultural history of 16th century France.

"Lost" Islamic kingdom discovered

Sun, 8 Apr 2007 08:16:38 -0400

A team of French archaeologists have discovered three towns in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia which they believe are part of the "lost" Islamic kingdom of Shoa. The Muslim stronghold was an important stop on the trade route from the 10th to the 16th centuries.

Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna Exhibits "Benin -- Kings and Rituals"

Thu, 5 Apr 2007 18:52:34 -0400

Soon a new exhibition will be on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in the Museum für Völkerkunde in Vienna: Benin — Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria.

6th century book restored in Ethiopia

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:02:09 -0400

In an article for the Spring 2007 issue of Skin Deep, a publication for bookbinders, Mark Winstanley discusses Tsbook [Tigrinya for Good] - The Gospel of Abba, a 6th century Ethiopian Gospel and its repair project.

The truth about Cleopatra's good looks.

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 11:50:45 -0500

A silver denarius minted in 32 B.C. shows that the fabled image of Cleopatra is not what she really looked like.

Egyptian Diversity Reached Top of Society

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 08:41:38 -0500

Ethnic diversity in ancient Egypt appears to have existed in all levels of society, even the highest.

Today in the Middle Ages: June 14, 1325

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 11:48:33 -0400

On June 14, 1325, Ibn Batuta left his native Tangier on pilgrimage to Mecca. He was not to return for 29 years.

"Islamic Manuscripts from Mali" Online

Sat, 24 Dec 2005 10:51:55 -0500

Judith of Troll Fen reports that the African and Middle Eastern Division of the Library of Congress has released Islamic Manuscripts from Mali as part of its Global Gateway collection. The collection is available online.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Ancient and Modern

Fri, 18 Nov 2005 15:29:55 -0500

The sparkling, new library in Alexandria, Egypt has an enormous reputation to live up to. The original, built by Alexander's general Ptolemy I Soter, became known as the greatest library in the world.