Science
Related: About this forumIllinois scientists on expedition find rare, 600-year-old Chinese coin in Kenya
Illinois scientists on expedition find rare, 600-year-old Chinese coin in Kenya
By The Associated Press March 13, 2013 3:04 PM
CHICAGO - Scientists from Illinois have found a rare, 600-year-old Chinese coin on the Kenyan island of Manda.
The Field Museum in Chicago announced the find Wednesday. The joint expedition was led by Chapurukha Kusimba of the museum and Sloan Williams of the University of Illinois-Chicago. Researchers say the coin proves trade existed between China and eastern Africa decades before European explorers set sail.
The coin is made of copper and silver. It has a square hole in the centre so it could be worn on a belt. Scientists say it was issued by Emperor Yongle of China and his name is written on the coin.
Scientists from Kenya, Pennsylvania and Ohio also participated in the expedition. They also found human remains and other artifacts predating the coin.
___
Online: http://www.fieldmuseum.org
http://www.canada.com/travel/Illinois+scientists+expedition+find+rare+600yearold+Chinese+coin/8091292/story.html
(Short article, no more at link.)
Elijah11
(1 post)This might be of interest to readers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheng_Ho
In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)[img][/img]
In The Wind
[img][/img]
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Fascinating story.