Archaeology

The latest digs, ideas, and discoveries about our past, from ancient cities to our prehistoric ancestors.

Latest in Archaeology

Metal detectorist finds Viking Age gold coin that might upend history

Rendering of a reconstructed polybolos within a virtual environment derived from reality-based documentation of the city walls. Digital survey and 3D model by S.B.; rendering and animation by V.C. with Lumion Pro Student 2024.

Rome unleashed an ancient ‘machine gun’ on Pompeii

Terracotta incense burner with the investigated ash residues. The rim is adorned with three female figures, probably depicting deceased persons who were venerated after their death.

What did Pompeii smell like before it burned?

By Margherita Bassi

Probable examples of Indigenous dice tools

The first gamblers were Ice Age women on the Great Plains

Bone phallus with partial pixelation

Ancient Roman bone penis discovered in forgotten museum box

Roman mosaic depicting bare chested woman armed with whip chasing a leopard

First female ‘beast-huntress’ gladiator depiction uncovered in lost mosaic

Illustration of Neanderthal tribe butchering large elephant near lake

Neanderthals hunted giant elephants in Europe

Man giving thumbs up next to Viking age ship beam

Sewer line workers stumble on Viking ship timber

Close up of two people clinking together red wine glasses

This pinot noir hasn’t changed in 500 years

Inscribed sling bullet (B19655) found at Hippos with the inscription ΜΑΘΟΥ, meaning "Learn your lesson!" Credit: Eisenberg et al. 2026

2,100 years ago, someone hurled a rock inscribed with ‘Learn your lesson!’

A scene from the Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings

The biggest medieval march in English history never actually happened

A black chess player about to win against a light-skinned cleric. Chess problem 88 in the Libro de axedrez, dados e tablas (Seville, 1283). Credit: Patrimonio Nacional. Real Biblioteca del Monasterio de El Escorial

Medieval chess was more inclusive than the world around it

Close up of bronze bull head sculpture held in palm

Hiker finds 3,000-year-old bull sculpture in Spain

an illustration showing bronze age women weaaving

3,500-year-old loom tells a revolutionary tale

By Laura Baisas

two pages of an ancient book. one has text while the other has an illustration of a saint

Long-lost page from Greek manuscript discovered in French art museum

By Margherita Bassi

an ice cap in the alps. it is topped with snow, but brown spots show significant melting

Alpine glacier holds history dating back to the Romans. And it’s melting—fast.

By Nidhi Sharma

Bathymetric view of USS Monitor, looking at the stern of the wreck with the boilers and inner framework of the armor belt captured by Northrop Grumman using μSAS™.

Civil War shipwreck remains in ‘fantastic’ shape on ocean floor

two parrots with red, green, and blue feathers sitting in a tree

Ancient Andean parrot trade route stretched over 300 miles

By Laura Baisas

Shattered clay container with 100s of gold coins scattered around it

A buried jar of imperial gold coins resurfaces in Russia

Ancient Mayan water filters stopped a lot—just not mercury poisoning