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FROM THE EDITOR

National Geographic History

Ancient DNA Reveals Insights in the Andes • The first wide-scale genomic sequencing in the South American region finds genetic continuity despite 2,000 years of cultural upheaval.

ANCIENT EMPIRE OF THE ANDES

Jane Dieulafoy, France’s Superstar Archaeologist • This 19th-century French iconoclast put on pants and became a celebrity—not only for discovering treasures in ancient Persia, but also for her unique partnership with her husband.

China in Turmoil: The Taiping Rebellion • As colonial forces warred with imperial China, more than a million peasants rallied behind a self-proclaimed messiah, whose ideology would shape China far beyond his 14 years of revolt.

SECRETS OF STONEHENGE • Surrounding the iconic English monument is a wealth of Neolithic rings, tombs, and dwellings. Recent finds have shed new light on how this ancient landscape fits together.

THE THREE STAGES

COSMOPOLITAN CEMETERY

THE STRUCTURES OF STONEHENGE • The Stonehenge complex features many Neolithic sites that existed along the banks of the Avon River. Archaeologists believe the landscape was first regarded as special because retreating glaciers hollowed out furrows in the ground that, by coincidence, aligned with significant positions of the sun at the June and December solstices. Numerous structures made of earth, wood, or stone were built across the Salisbury Plain. One of the first was the Greater Cursus, an earthwork begun around 3500 b.c. The Avenue, constructed around 2100 b.c., was one of the most recent additions to the prehistoric complex.

A LONG JOURNEY TO THE SALISBURY PLAIN

THE LIVING ROCKS

PREHISTORIC PIG ROASTS

CIRCLES AND SKELETONS

THE AMARNA LETTERS • The stunning discovery in the 1880s of a cache of letters revealed how the pharaohs exchanged brides and gold to maintain their place as the region’s power brokers.

HADRIAN IN ATHENS A ROMAN’S PASSION FOR GREECE • Emperor Hadrian adored all things Athenian and set out to transform the Greek city into a new cultural center for the Roman Empire.

RENAISSANCE MASTER OF GRACE AND BEAUTY • Five hundred years ago, Raffaello Sanzio died at the age of 37. In his short life, the artist produced an influential body of work, known for his incorporation of Renaissance ideals into his own distinct style.

FIRST STEPS OF A MASTER

THE MASTERS’ INFLUENCE

THE VATICAN FRESCOES

IDEALS AND REALITY

MYTHS AND BEAUTY

SACHEM OF THE WAMPANOAG MASSASOIT • Massasoit patiently observed the Pilgrims for six months before making contact with them in 1621. His measured approach, built on a history of violent encounters with Europeans, resulted in a long alliance with the English that kept the peace for decades.

EUROPEAN ENSLAVERS

MYSTERY PLAGUE

THE ENGLISH TRADE

WHO WERE THE PILGRIMS?

MAIZE IN MASSACHUSETTS

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

GIVING THANKS FOR FISH AND FOWL

Dame of Thrones: The Lady of Baza • The 1971 discovery of a limestone statue of a regal woman on a winged throne thrilled Spanish archaeologists, hungry for more insights into the mysterious ancient Iberian people who once lived in southern Spain.

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