China

A group of ancient Chinese mummies found in China have long fascinated experts and the public, largely because the bodies look more distinctly European (or even Celtic) than Asian. Now a new scientific report published last month says the oldest of these mummies — dating back almost 4,000 years  — likely originated outside of China, from a mixture of places such as Europe and Siberia. What's more, these ancient people had an "obsession with procreation", burying their dead alongside symbolic vulvas and giant phalluses.

For decades now, the ancient corpses have been found in China’s Tarim Basin, a desert region near the western frontier of the country. The dry climate of the area has kept the bodies well-preserved, leaving the hair and skin, as well as their clothes, intact.

Cultural preservation and Beijing's ongoing development may be set to collide with a new project in one of the city's historical neighborhoods. A pair of landmark buildings in the capital, the Drum and Bell towers, is at the center of a new redevelopment plan that has left a group of preservationists concerned. I spoke to some locals, and some experts, about the future of the towers, and was surprised by the divided opinions I came across.

Dating back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the city’s Drum and Bell towers have stood in the capital for more than 700 years. That history has attracted developers to rebuild the area into a new attraction.

At 5:30am, the ancient town of Pingyao is a black mass that disappears in the darkness. There are no signs of street lights, save for the few red lanterns that dangle outside these still sleeping homes. The alleys here seem more like one long labyrinth, a giant shadow the seeable destination. Very quickly, I wonder where I am and if I might get mugged.

A few hours later, Pingyao begins to awake. And soon I find that nothing here resembles the modern China I know.

There are no high-rises in sight. No bustling shopping malls within town. In fact, there’s hardly anything over three stories tall.

This Friday promises a feast for archaeology lovers in the Toronto area. The Archaeology Centre, at the University of Toronto, is holding Archaeology Research Day. It takes place from 10 am to 4 pm at Koffler House, 569 Spadina Ave., Room 108.

Fifteen presentations will be given on archaeology research happening all around the world. It’s a free event and there’s no registration. If you’re interested in research involving ancient times, you will not be disappointed.  Much of the research that is going to be presented dates to that era. Here are some of the highlights: