The spectacular untouched tomb of Prince Liang Zhuang, favourite brother of the Ming emperor Xuande, has been hailed as China’s greatest discovery for a century. Not only was the treasure found in the burial chamber among the richest ever recovered, but the dazzling jewels that adorn the artefacts are evidence of expeditions undertaken by one of the most famous explorers in history, Admiral Zheng He, whose epic voyages in the early 15th century reached as far west as the coast of Africa. The story of the tomb’s excavation is just as extraordinary.
The world has been rightly shocked by the catastrophic damage done to ancient sites in Syria and Iraq, and the deliberate destruction of irreplaceable artefacts carried out by Islamic State. Our Special Report brings us the latest news on the region.
What was life like for soldiers in occupied France during WWI? The discovery of a German camp is giving us a rare glimpse of the everyday life and few luxuries enjoyed by soldiers during brief periods of respite from the Front Line.
When the Roman emperor Diocletian designed and built his magnificent palace on the Dalmatian coast in what is modern-day Split, he did not envisage it as a retirement home. However, just as it was completed, ill-health forced him to resign as Tetrarch, and he spent the rest of his days here. As the town grew up in and around the palace, much of its architectural splendour was lost. Today, ongoing archaeological investigation is rediscovering the lost glories of this 4th-century grand design.
Finally, we look at how the humble fish helped build the economy of Ancient Egypt, and why fishing was fundamental to the wealth of the pharaohs.