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#Archaeology Thousands of Bronze Coins Discovered in Sardinia

ROME, ITALY—According to an Associated Press report, a coin spotted by a diver has led to the discovery of tens of thousands of ancient bronze coins in an area of underwater sea grass and beach on Sardinia’s northeastern coast. Firefighter divers and border police divers assisted with the task of searching for and retrieving the coins, which have been dated to the first half of the fourth century A.D. The weight of the coins suggests that there could be as many as 50,000 of them. Luigi La Rocca of Sardinia’s archaeology department said that traces of a shipwreck may be found in the area. To read about Sardinia's Iron Age Nuragic culture, go to "Tyrrhenian Traders."

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#Archaeology Did These Buried Sheep Pull an Ancient Chariot?

SHAANXI PROVINCE, CHINA—According to a China Daily report, the remains of six sheep were found in a burial pit at the site of the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi in Xi’an. Qin Shihuangdi, founder of the Qin Dynasty, ruled from 221 to 210 B.C. It is not known who may have been buried in the area where the sheep remains were uncovered, however. Archaeologist Jiang Wenxiao explained that the sheep remains had been lined up in a row, and pieces of equipment thought to have been used to pull a carriage or chariot were discovered on their bones. This is the first physical evidence of a sheep-drawn vehicle to be found, although references to them have been identified in the historical record, he added. For example, Emperor Sima Yan of the Western Jin Dynasty (A.D. 265–316) is said to have ridden in a sheep-drawn carriage every evening, he concluded. To read about the terracotta warriors discovered in Qin Shihuangdi's tomb, go to "Around the World: China."