Archaeology

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

Latest in Archaeology

CGI recreation of Athena statue in the Parthenon

View the Parthenon as it stood in 432 BCE View the Parthenon as it stood in 432 BCE

Archeologist working in Roman cellar dig site

Ancient Roman infant burials uncovered under Switzerland housing project Ancient Roman infant burials uncovered under Switzerland housing project

Aerial shot of Chavin de Huantar

Heavy hallucinogenic rituals solidified social castes in Pre-Incan Peru Heavy hallucinogenic rituals solidified social castes in Pre-Incan Peru

Doune flintlock pistols displayed in case

300-year-old ‘Doune pistols’ finally return to their hometown in Scotland 300-year-old ‘Doune pistols’ finally return to their hometown in Scotland

A Yangtze finless porpoise hunting in China’s Poyang Lake. Fish are jumping all around the porpoise as it leaps out of the water.

Poems spanning 1,400 years tell the tale of a revered porpoise Poems spanning 1,400 years tell the tale of a revered porpoise

By Laura Baisas

Mummified priest holding cross in coffin with skull blurred out

Mummified Austrian priest’s rectum played important role in preservation Mummified Austrian priest’s rectum played important role in preservation

Nut’s cosmological vignette on the outer coffin of Nesitaudjatakhet in the collection of Odessa Archaeological Museum OAM 52976 (C107). Nut’s body is covered in stars as well as a thick, undulating black curve that runs from the soles of her feet to the tips of her fingers. This curve, surrounded by stars on both sides, is reminiscent of the Milky Way’s Great Rift. Credit: Mykola Tarasenko; Odessa Archaeological Museum, NASU

Tomb art suggests Egyptian sky goddess wore the Milky Way galaxy Tomb art suggests Egyptian sky goddess wore the Milky Way galaxy

Pile of historic gold coins

Hikers discover nearly 600 gold coins dating back to 1808 Hikers discover nearly 600 gold coins dating back to 1808

The introductory page of the pamflyt compiled of cheese. It is written in loopy script on beige paper.

Oldest known English book on cheese advises against drinking dog milk Oldest known English book on cheese advises against drinking dog milk

By Laura Baisas

Toucan beak decorated with beads in museum display

Lavish gravesite confirms women’s power in ancient South America Lavish gravesite confirms women’s power in ancient South America

FB marketplace listing plus ship photo

Man buys WWI shipwreck for $400 on Facebook Marketplace Man buys WWI shipwreck for $400 on Facebook Marketplace

By Annie Colbert

Two men standing over iron chariot wheel artifact in field

Iron Age chariot wheel found under golf course in Scotland Iron Age chariot wheel found under golf course in Scotland

four jugs of wine are painted on to the wall of ancient ruins

Cheers to Bronze Age humans for delicious Italian wine Cheers to Bronze Age humans for delicious Italian wine

By Laura Baisas

Oil painting of Gladiator fighting a lion in the Colosseum in Rome

Gladiator bones finally confirm human-lion combat in Roman Europe Gladiator bones finally confirm human-lion combat in Roman Europe

World War II jeep found at site of underwater shipwreck

NOAA needs help identifying car found in WWII shipwreck NOAA needs help identifying car found in WWII shipwreck

a large bird with brown, gray, and white plumage walks in an open grassland

Ancient funerals may have included a ritual feast on a giant bird Ancient funerals may have included a ritual feast on a giant bird

By Laura Baisas

An illustration of what the aurora might have looked like during a polar reversal about 41,000 years ago. The green glow of an aurora is much further south than we see it today.

Sunscreen may have kept ancient humans alive during a polar reversal Sunscreen may have kept ancient humans alive during a polar reversal

By Laura Baisas

a large gold nugget

Huge gold nugget found by metal detector enthusiasts set for auction Huge gold nugget found by metal detector enthusiasts set for auction

By Laura Baisas

A burned section of a large ice age fireplace.

Ice age humans built sophisticated fireplaces Ice age humans built sophisticated fireplaces

By Laura Baisas

Gary Feinman and a crew member exposing a plaster floor on Terrace 925 in El Palmillo.

Inequality isn’t inevitable, according to ‘unprecedented’ archeology study Inequality isn’t inevitable, according to ‘unprecedented’ archeology study