1) These 1,000-year-old coins could rewrite Australia's history

Historians credit James Cook with discovering Australia back in 1770. But a long ignored discovery of five African copper coins in its Northern
Territory, along with a map with an "X" on it, suggests somebody beat him to it and by a long shot.
If validated, the coins could mean seafarers from distant lands reached Australia much earlier than previous thought.
The coins were initially found in 1944, and then sent to a museum in 1979 where they were identified. The Australian soldier who found them,
Maurie Isenberg, marked an old map with an "X" were he stumbled upon them. Now, Ian McIntosh, an Australian scientist and professor of
anthropology at Indiana University in the US, is planning an expedition in July to revisit the location.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports:

Professor McIntosh and his team of Australian and American historians, archaeologists, geomorphologists and Aboriginal rangers say the five
coins date back to the 900s to 1300s.
They are African coins from the former Kilwa sultanate, now a World Heritage ruin on an island off Tanzania. Kilwa once was a flourishing
trade port with links to India in the 13th century to 16th century.
The copper coins were the first coins produced in Sub-Saharan Africa and, according to Professor McIntosh, have only twice been found outside
Africa: once in Oman and Mr. Isenberg's find.
Archaeologists have long suspected that there may have been early maritime trading routes that linked East Africa, Arabia, India and the Spice
Islands, even 1000 years ago. Or the coins could have washed ashore after a shipwreck.
2) An Ancient City Discovered Underwater Solves Enigma That Puzzled Egyptologist For Years
An ancient Egyptian city found 6.5 km off of modern Egypts coastline reveals fascinating relics of Heracleion, also known as Thonis. The citys
ruins are located in Abu Qir Bay, originally existing near Alexandria, 2.5 km off the coast. Heracleions ruins span an area that is 11km by 15km
deservedly so considering the classical tale of Heracleion which was said to be a prosperous, brilliant, thriving city before it was engulfed by
the sea around 1,500 years ago.

The ruins were first discovered by Franck Goddio using his unique survey-based approach that utilizes the most sophisticated technical
equipment. In cooperation with the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, Oxfords Centre for Maritime Archaeology and the Department of
Antiquities of Egypt, Franck was able to locate, map and excavate several parts of the city.

Francks discovery accomplished many things including uncovering important information about the ancient landmarks of Thonis-Heracleion,
such as the grand temple of Amun and his son Khonsou (Herakles for the Greeks), the harbours that once controlled all trade into Egypt, and the
daily life of its inhabitants. Through his discovery he was able to solve a historic enigma that has baffled Egyptologists for years, that
Heracleion and Thonis were actually the same city with two different names.
As you will see in the pictures, the relics recovered from the excavations boldly reveal the cities beauty and glory before it was buried by water.
Anything from colossal statues, inscriptions and architectural elements, jewellery and coins, ritual objects and ceramics, were found and each
reveals the opulence Heracleion experienced during its time. Many of the finds illustrate how crucial this city was to the ancient world economy.
This is also seen by the huge amount of gold coins and bronze, lead and stone weights used to measure value of goods in ancient times. The
importance of Heracleion has also been proved by the discovery of 64 ships, which is the largest number of ancient vessels ever found in one
place. Along with these ships, a mind-boggling 700 anchors were found on the ocean floor.
The discoveries include a huge statue of the god Hapi, a statue of the classic Egyptian goddess Isis, a head of an unidentified Pharaoh and a
number of smaller statues of Egyptian gods, figures and queens. Interestingly, dozens of sarcophagi containing the bodies of mummified animals
sacrificed to Amun-Gereb were found. According to Egyptian history, Amun-Gereb is the supreme god of the Egyptians.
While it may not be the discovery of the coveted Atlantis, this discovery certainly has its own profoundness and beauty.

Colossus of a Ptolemaic queen made out of red granite. The whole statue measures 490 cm in height and weighs 4 tons. It was found close to the
big temple of sunken Heracleion.
Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerigk

Head of a colossal statue of red granite (5.4 m) representing the god Hapi, which decorated the temple of Heracleion. The god of the flooding of
the Nile, symbol of abundance and fertility, has never before been discovered at such a large scale, which points to his importance for the
Canopic region.
Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerigk

Franck Goddio and his team with a colossal statue of red granite (5.4 m) representing the god Hapi, which decorated the temple of Heracleion.
The god of the flooding of the Nile, symbol of abundance and fertility, has never before been discovered at such a large scale, which points to his
importance for the Canopic region.
Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerigk

An archaeologist measures the feet of a colossal red granite statue at the site of Heracleion discovered in Aboukir Bay.
Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerigk

Bronze oil lamp (late Hellenistic period, about 2nd century BC) discovered in the temple of Amun.
Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerigk

Franck Goddio with the intact and inscribed Heracleion stele (1.90 m). It was commissioned by Nectanebo I (378-362 BC) and is almost
identical to the Naukratis Stele in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The place where it was to be situated is clearly named: Thonis-Heracleion.
Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerigk

A gold vessel (Phiale) recovered from Thonis-Heracleion. Phiale were shallow dishes used throughout the Hellenistic world for drinking and
pouring libations.
Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerigk

Bronze statuette of pharaoh of the 26th dynasty, found at the temple of Amon area at Heracleion. The sovereign wears the blue crown
(probably the crown of the accession). His dress is extremely simple and classical: the bare-chested king wears the traditional shendjyt kilt or
loincloth.
Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerig

Franck Goddio and divers of his team are inspecting the statue of a pharaoh. The colossal statue is of red granite and measures over 5 metres. It
was found close to the big temple of sunken Heracleion.
Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerigk

Head of a pharaoh statue is raised to the surface. The colossal statue is of red granite and measures over 5 metres. It was found close to the big
temple of sunken Heracleion.
Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerigk

Bronze statue of Osiris, the assassinated and resurrected king-god. It is adorned with the atef crown. The typical insignia of power (crook and
flail) are missing. Its open eyes are accentuated by fine gold sheets.
Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerigk

The statue of the Goddess Isis sits on display on a barge in an Alexandrian naval base.