Archaeology

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

Latest in Archaeology

Black and white image of large tugboat

Fisherman discovers century-old Great Lakes shipwreck Fisherman discovers century-old Great Lakes shipwreck

Fossil fragments on black background

These human ancestors weren’t as lonely as experts thought These human ancestors weren’t as lonely as experts thought

nails sticking out from wood

8-year-old kid with a metal detector stumbles upon a 19th century shipwreck 8-year-old kid with a metal detector stumbles upon a 19th century shipwreck

By Mack DeGeurin

Man comparing digitized Magna Carta on laptop to notes in book

Harvard paid $27 for a Magna Carta copy in 1946. It’s actually an original. Harvard paid $27 for a Magna Carta copy in 1946. It’s actually an original.

Partially excavated Roman floor mosaic

Smugglers busted near Turkish castle for trying to steal Roman mosaic Smugglers busted near Turkish castle for trying to steal Roman mosaic

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