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Issue 5

When God decided to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness, only Lot, his wife and two daughters were to be saved. They fled to a cave in a nearby mountain. In the 6th century AD, a Jordanian cave was identified as Lot's cave and the monks built a monastery around it. The cave and the monastery, replete with spectacular mosaics, have been discovered and excavated. Lot's Monastery is fast becoming a popular tourist attraction in Jordan, and we open the magazine with an exclusive tour of the site, courtesy of its excavator.
Egyptian history is punctuated by 'Intermediate periods' when the country apparently slumped into disorder. At Mo'alla, just south of Thebes, is the tomb of Ankhtyfy, one of the most powerful warlords of the First Intermediate period. Just how 'dark' was this dark age? And what was it like for the ordinary person?
From anarchic warlords to rather more ordered authority, we visit the medieval castle of Shuri on Okinawa island, some 100 miles to the south of Japan. The castle was bombed flat in the Second World War, but beneath the ground lay hidden a royal warehouse. The excavators have found that it contains a breathtaking assortment of Chinese and Japanese porcelain, much of it used for diplomatic exchange within the huge and spectacular gift exchange network at the heart of which Okinawa sat.
An increasingly popular archaeological destination is south-east Asia - Thailand and Cambodia. What is there to be seen for the archaeological visitor? The editors report on a trip to Thailand and Cambodia taken this February, and offer a foretaste of some of the future articles that are being lined up: the majestic Angkor Wat, Ayutthaya (medieval capital of Thailand), Bangkok and a spectacular Bronze Age cemetery in the interior of Thailand.
We have two Postcards in this issue. The first is from Current Archaeology Issue Editor, Jeffrey May, who reports on rock art in Africa - even teaching us how to click away in San. Next up comes a Postcard about Peking 'Man' one of the the first 'Men' to break out of Africa, and reach the far east. Saeed Durrani, who was the physicist who developed some of the original dating techniques, was recently invited back to see the latest results, and here he reports on what is happening.
All the usuals are here too - News (including a special report on the Nebra Sun Disc), Books, & Letters.
Finally, Richard Hodges sends us a Postcard from Granada, in Spain, and ponders on whether UNESCO has got the restoration programme all wrong.

Issue 5/Features/Japan

Okinawa, Japan

Excavation of a Samurai castle in Okinawa, the island 400 miles to the south of Japan…

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Issue 5/Features/South Africa

South African Rock Art

Jeffrey May tries to understand the rock art of South Africa…

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Issue 5/Features/Jordan

Lot’s Monastery, Jordan

At Deir 'ain 'Abata in Jordan, the monastery of St Lot has been rediscovered and excavated…

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Issue 5/Egypt/Features

Mo’alla, Egypt

Re-excavation of the tombof Ankhtyfy, an Egyptian warlord in the First Intermediate Period, 2100 BC…

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Issue 5/Cambodia/Features

South East Asia

Visiting Angkor Wat, Ayutthayan, Bangkok and a spectacular Bronze Age cemetary at Ban Non Wat…

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Issue 5/Germany

Nebra Sun Disc

Nebra Sun Disc discovered…

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Issue 5

Split Sculpture – Reunited

Two halves of a sculpture have been re-united after spending most of their lives apart…

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Issue 5/South Africa

Shell Beads from Blombos Cave, South Africa

Oldest known beads found in Africa show modern human behaviour…

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Issue 5

Arabian Archaeology

The annual seminar for Arabian Archaeology Studies…

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Issue 5/Spain

Alhambra Damaged by Earthquakes

Structural damage to Alhambra is due to seismic activity…

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Issue 5/Israel

First use of Fire

Forst evidence of controlled fire found…

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Issue 5/Austria

Strontium in bones

Researchers use stronium in bones to distinguish between population groups…

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