Archaeology (Page 10)

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

Latest in Archaeology

a cattle skull mounted on wood

Five surprising ways people have used (and are still using) bones

By John Kennedy

joan wong illustration

Seven mysterious sounds science has yet to solve

By Erin Blakemore

Egyptian coffin mummy.

Egypt is reclaiming its mummies and its past

By Sara Kiley Watson

A controversial new study claims Botswana may be the origin of modern humanity

A controversial new study claims Botswana may be the origin of modern humanity

Gender and class inequalities haven’t really changed for 4,000 years

Gender and class inequalities haven’t really changed for 4,000 years

What unearthing ancient cities teaches us about exploring outer space

What unearthing ancient cities teaches us about exploring outer space

By Annalee Newitz

These bowls suggest humans were already smoking weed by 420 BC

These bowls suggest humans were already smoking weed by 420 BC

By Alex Schwartz

The king behind Machu Picchu built his legacy in stone

By Eleanor Cummins

Archaeologists unearth more evidence that when a civilization drinks together, it stays together

Archaeologists unearth more evidence that when a civilization drinks together, it stays together

By Alex Schwartz

As Rome digs its first new metro route in decades, an archaeologist safeguards the city’s buried treasures

These Chinese fossil deposits shed light on an explosive period in evolution

These Chinese fossil deposits shed light on an explosive period in evolution

By Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Williams/The Conversation

Ancient poop is helping archaeologists understand a midwestern city’s demise

Ancient poop is helping archaeologists understand a midwestern city’s demise

By Kaitlin Sullivan

Cremation research tombs

Your ashes might say more about you than you’d think

By Eleanor Cummins

Siberian unicorns lived alongside humans, and they were so much cooler than the mythical version

Siberian unicorns lived alongside humans, and they were so much cooler than the mythical version

By Sara Chodosh

The oldest weapons in North America offer a new view of prehistoric tech

The oldest weapons in North America offer a new view of prehistoric tech

By Neel V. Patel

Bogs are beautiful, swampy records of human history

By Henry Chapman, Ben Gearey, Jane Bunting, Kimberley Davies, Nicola Whitehouse/The Conversation

Cheese played a surprisingly important role in human evolution

Cheese played a surprisingly important role in human evolution

By Penny Bickle/The Conversation

Reports of Homo erectus’ laziness are ‘moronic’

Reports of Homo erectus’ laziness are ‘moronic’

walter rothschild zebra carriage

The weirdest things we learned this week: bone flutes, zebra carriages, and laughing gas parties

By Rachel Feltman

Burnt bread shows that our ancestors were baking 4,000 years before agriculture

Burnt bread shows that our ancestors were baking 4,000 years before agriculture

By Mary Beth Griggs

Chinese characters on pottery

Ancient ‘made in China’ label pushes back the date of shipwreck by 100 years

By Mary Beth Griggs

Neolithic surgeons might have practiced their skull-drilling techniques on cows

Neolithic surgeons might have practiced their skull-drilling techniques on cows

By Sara Chodosh

Why archaeologists are arguing about sweet potatoes

Why archaeologists are arguing about sweet potatoes

By Sara Chodosh

Humans flourished through a supervolcano eruption 74,000 years ago (so you can make it through Tuesday)

Humans flourished through a supervolcano eruption 74,000 years ago (so you can make it through Tuesday)

By Sara Chodosh

Neolithic women were probably a lot stronger than you

Neolithic women were probably a lot stronger than you

By Claire Maldarelli

There’s apparently a giant void in the Great Pyramid. Here’s why we don’t know what’s in there.

There’s apparently a giant void in the Great Pyramid. Here’s why we don’t know what’s in there.

By Mary Beth Griggs

This lonely human skull might belong to an ancient tsunami victim

This lonely human skull might belong to an ancient tsunami victim

By Mary Beth Griggs

Gigantic dinosaur finally has a name of its own

Gigantic dinosaur finally has a name of its own

By Sara Kiley Watson

The first humans in Australia arrived early enough to cause some trouble

The first humans in Australia arrived early enough to cause some trouble

By Sara Chodosh

10,000 years ago, North Americans were chowing down on potatoes—some things never change

10,000 years ago, North Americans were chowing down on potatoes—some things never change

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

drilling into seawall

Ancient Romans were way better at making concrete

By Mary Beth Griggs

The skull cult at the world’s oldest temple probably isn’t quite what you think

The skull cult at the world’s oldest temple probably isn’t quite what you think

By Sara Chodosh

Fungal spores staining painting

The world’s art is under attack—by microbes

By Kate Baggaley

How plagues help scientists puzzle out the past

How plagues help scientists puzzle out the past

By Brenna Hassett

From the archives: 100 years of mastodon fossil fascination

From the archives: 100 years of mastodon fossil fascination

By Mark D. Kaufman

Is the Anthropocene really a thing? Minerals we’ve helped create rekindle the debate.

By Mary Beth Griggs

This ancient society passed power down from woman to woman

This ancient society passed power down from woman to woman

By Mark D. Kaufman

Ancient jars hold clues about the intensity of Earth’s magnetic field

Ancient jars hold clues about the intensity of Earth’s magnetic field

By Mary Beth Griggs

Scientists just found signs of a stolen Dead Sea Scroll

Scientists just found signs of a stolen Dead Sea Scroll

By Rachel Feltman

We’ve been grinding up plants to eat for over 10,000 years

We’ve been grinding up plants to eat for over 10,000 years

By Sara Chodosh

New evidence suggests our hominid cousin Lucy loved climbing trees

New evidence suggests our hominid cousin Lucy loved climbing trees

By Rachel Feltman

Scientists shine light on the origin of a mysterious ancient amulet

Scientists shine light on the origin of a mysterious ancient amulet

By Michael Koziol

The Iceman Wore Five Different Animal Products When He Died

The Iceman Wore Five Different Animal Products When He Died

By Mary Beth Griggs

Inuit woman photographed from behind, circa 1921

Neanderthals’ Clothing Could Have Killed Them

By Meaghan Lee Callaghan

Why Did King Tut Have A Knife Made Out Of Meteorite?

Why Did King Tut Have A Knife Made Out Of Meteorite?

By Mary Beth Griggs

Neandertal vs human skulls

Our Neanderthal DNA May Help Scientists Understand Depression And Addiction

By Alexandra Ossola

The Cat May Have Been Domesticated Two Separate Times

The Cat May Have Been Domesticated Two Separate Times

By Grennan Milliken

Video: Sunken Seaplane Was One Of The First Victims Of Pearl Harbor

By Mary Beth Griggs

Ancient Tooth Yields Up DNA Of Ancient Human Cousins, The Denisovans

Ancient Tooth Yields Up DNA Of Ancient Human Cousins, The Denisovans

By Claire Maldarelli

Did Humans Evolve Opposable Thumbs So We Could Punch Each Other?

Did Humans Evolve Opposable Thumbs So We Could Punch Each Other?

9,000-Year-Old Remains Show Evidence Of Oldest Known Decapitation In The Americas

9,000-Year-Old Remains Show Evidence Of Oldest Known Decapitation In The Americas

By Mary Beth Griggs

Eating Carbs Helped Humans Develop Big Brains

Eating Carbs Helped Humans Develop Big Brains

By Alexandra Ossola

Archaeologists Could Use Augmented Reality To Immortalize Ancient Sites

Archaeologists Could Use Augmented Reality To Immortalize Ancient Sites

By Mary Beth Griggs

X-Ray Technique Helps Archaeologists Read Scrolls Preserved By Vesuvius Eruption

X-Ray Technique Helps Archaeologists Read Scrolls Preserved By Vesuvius Eruption

By Mary Beth Griggs

It’s Official: Skeleton Found Under Parking Lot Is Richard III

It’s Official: Skeleton Found Under Parking Lot Is Richard III

By Mary Beth Griggs

Well-Preserved, 2,000-Year-Old Skeleton Found In South Florida

Well-Preserved, 2,000-Year-Old Skeleton Found In South Florida

By Douglas Main

Archaeologists Pull 5 Of Blackbeard’s Cannons From The Sea

Archaeologists Pull 5 Of Blackbeard’s Cannons From The Sea

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Who Or What Left This 60,000-Ton Ancient Artifact Under The Sea?

Who Or What Left This 60,000-Ton Ancient Artifact Under The Sea?

By Martha Harbison

An Ocean of Data: Looking for Sunken Treasure in a New Way

An Ocean of Data: Looking for Sunken Treasure in a New Way

By Brooke Borel

Ancient Portable Tool Kit Shows Humans Settled North America Much Earlier Than Scientists Thought

By Rebecca Boyle

Scientists Say They May Have Found Lost City of Atlantis Near Spain

Scientists Say They May Have Found Lost City of Atlantis Near Spain

By Rebecca Boyle