Ancient discovery set to rewrite Australian history

[n2doc]

Five copper coins and a nearly 70-year-old map with an ‘‘X’’ might lead to a discovery that could rewrite Australia’s history.

Australian scientist Ian McIntosh, currently Professor of Anthropology at Indiana University in the US, plans an expedition in July that has stirred up the archaeological community.

The scientist wants to revisit the location where five coins were found in the Northern Territory in 1944 that have proven to be 1000 years old, opening up the possibility that seafarers from distant countries might have landed in Australia much earlier than what is currently believed.

Back in 1944 during World War II, after Japanese bombers had attacked Darwin two years earlier, the Wessel Islands - an uninhabited group of islands off Australia’s north coast - had become a strategic position to help protect the mainland.

Australian soldier Maurie Isenberg was stationed on one of the islands to man a radar station and spent his spare time fishing on the idyllic beaches.

While sitting in the sand with his fishing-rod, he discovered a handful of coins in the sand.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/ancient-discovery-set-to-rewrite-australian-history-20130519-2juck.html

[NYC_SKP]

1. Cool.

Coins of Kilwa:



I love these kinds of stories.

[rug]

2. Fascinating

The Kilwa Sultanate conducted extensive trade with Arabia, Persia, and across the Indian Ocean, to India itself. Kilwan ships made use of the seasonal monsoon winds to sail across to India in the summer, and back to Africa in the winter. Kilwan pilots had a reputation for extraordinary sailing accuracy. The Portuguese marveled at their navigational instruments, particularly their latitude staves, which they considered superior to their own.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilwa_Sultanate

They are both on the same latitudes.

[byeya]

3. China, during the T'ang Dynasty(circa 600) regularly had commercial shipping to India.

The Chinese navy was impressive and explorative and brought back African animals to the emporer.

It was later decided that the navy was too expensive and China had all it needed within China anyway and the navy was disbanded.

[another_liberal]

4. European history . . .

Yet another illusion of European superiority is in the process of being shattered. The West's Eurocentric vision of World history is being challenged on many fronts. The arrogance of claiming "European Discovery" of so many foreign lands (most of them already inhabited and boasting highly developed cultures) can be particularly galling to non-European peoples.

This is a great story. Thanks for posting it.