Lost Islamic City Held Riches From a World Away

Residents of the small town of Harlaa in eastern Ethiopia have long suspected that ancient coins and pottery fragments uncovered there represented a trail to undiscovered riches. 

They weren't far off, reports Quartz. After two years of digging in Harlaa, archaeologists have found ancient beads in almost every color of the rainbow, crafted of rock crystal, carnelian, and glass; cowry shells; and various pottery pieces—evidence of an ancient city that traded with China, India, and the Maldives between the 10th and 15th centuries. 

"This discovery revolutionizes our understanding of trade in an archaeologically neglected part of Ethiopia," archaeologist Timothy Insoll says in a release. "What we have found shows this area was the center of trade in that region."

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Photo: University of Exeter