Archaeology

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

Latest in Archaeology

Egyptian sculptures of musicians.

Archaeology

Who invented music? Who invented music?

By Laura Dallman / The Conversation

Nobel Prize in medicine awarded to scientist who sequenced Neanderthal genome

Announcements

Nobel Prize in medicine awarded to scientist who sequenced Neanderthal genome Nobel Prize in medicine awarded to scientist who sequenced Neanderthal genome

By Laura Baisas

Orange and white pottery shards sit scattered on top of a dark blue background.

Agriculture

Cacao was probably loved by all, even 1,000 years ago in Maya culture Cacao was probably loved by all, even 1,000 years ago in Maya culture

By Helen Bradshaw

2022 Ig Nobel Prize winners include ducks in a row, constipated scorpions, ice cream, and more

Animals

2022 Ig Nobel Prize winners include ducks in a row, constipated scorpions, ice cream, and more 2022 Ig Nobel Prize winners include ducks in a row, constipated scorpions, ice cream, and more

By Laura Baisas

The leg and hip bones of an ancient skeleton, with the left foot missing halfway down the calf.

Archaeology

A 31,000-year-old grave in Indonesia holds the earliest known amputation patient A 31,000-year-old grave in Indonesia holds the earliest known amputation patient

By Philip Kiefer

a close up of a fossil horse tooth

Animals

A centuries-old horse tooth holds clues to the mystery of the Chincoteague ponies A centuries-old horse tooth holds clues to the mystery of the Chincoteague ponies

By Kate Baggaley

DNA from plague victims’ teeth may unravel the origin of Black Death

Archaeology

DNA from plague victims’ teeth may unravel the origin of Black Death DNA from plague victims’ teeth may unravel the origin of Black Death

By Kate Baggaley

A skeleton on an archeological site.

Archaeology

What ancient graves can teach us about the history of inequality What ancient graves can teach us about the history of inequality

By Carles Lalueza-Fox / MIT Press

Shifting ancient climates shaped human evolution

Archaeology

Shifting ancient climates shaped human evolution Shifting ancient climates shaped human evolution

By Philip Kiefer

Anthropologists are still wrestling with their obligations to the living and dead

Archaeology

Anthropologists are still wrestling with their obligations to the living and dead Anthropologists are still wrestling with their obligations to the living and dead

By Philip Kiefer

Incense burning with ancient smells in front of a Buddhist temple

Archaeology

Can ancient smells help us time travel through human history? Can ancient smells help us time travel through human history?

a female astronaut on the international space station takes a picture of section of the station with equipment

Archaeology

What an extraterrestrial archaeological dig could tell us about space culture What an extraterrestrial archaeological dig could tell us about space culture

By Tatyana Woodall

A mountaintop covered in green grass and surrounded by stone structures with staircases.

Archaeology

The ancient Mexican city of Monte Albán thrived with public works, not kings The ancient Mexican city of Monte Albán thrived with public works, not kings

By Philip Kiefer

San Andreas fault's Soda Lake.

Archaeology

Earthquake models get a big shakeup with clues buried in the San Andreas fault Earthquake models get a big shakeup with clues buried in the San Andreas fault

Lush green hills in the Rift Valley in East Africa

Archaeology

Ancient DNA paints a vivid picture of early humans in Africa Ancient DNA paints a vivid picture of early humans in Africa

By Sawchuk et al. / The Conversation

Boats on the waters of Rhode Island.

Archaeology

Has Captain Cook’s lost ship been found? Maybe. Has Captain Cook’s lost ship been found? Maybe.

A wild sheep with curled horns in front of trees.

Animals

Humans probably didn’t mean to tame sheep and goats Humans probably didn’t mean to tame sheep and goats

By Philip Kiefer

A bronze helmet shown from the front and the side. It has curving horns coming out of the sides of the head, and a birdlike face.

Archaeology

Horned helmets came from Bronze Age artists, not Vikings Horned helmets came from Bronze Age artists, not Vikings

By Philip Kiefer

Horse bones being measured.

Animals

Medieval knights rode tiny horses into battle Medieval knights rode tiny horses into battle

cinnabar vermilion

Archaeology

These skeletons might be evidence of the oldest known mercury poisonings These skeletons might be evidence of the oldest known mercury poisonings

Steps of Cahokia at the green Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Illinois

Archaeology

The biggest ancient city you’ve probably never heard of is in Illinois The biggest ancient city you’ve probably never heard of is in Illinois

By Margo Milanowski

an illustration of two human ancestors in africa

Archaeology

Is it time to change the way we talk about human evolution? Is it time to change the way we talk about human evolution?

By Kate Baggaley

X-rays are revealing new clues about a shipwreck from 1545

Archaeology

X-rays are revealing new clues about a shipwreck from 1545 X-rays are revealing new clues about a shipwreck from 1545

Blue cheese on a charcuterie board with an empty glass.

Archaeology

Ancient poop proves that humans have always loved beer and cheese Ancient poop proves that humans have always loved beer and cheese

By Elana Spivack

Green Southern cassowary egg drawing

Animals

Ancient humans might have bred one of the scariest birds on the planet Ancient humans might have bred one of the scariest birds on the planet

By Elana Spivack

fossilized human footprints

Archaeology

These footprints could push back human history in the Americas These footprints could push back human history in the Americas

By Philip Kiefer

archaeologist-cleans-with-brush

Archaeology

How Scotland forged a rare alliance between amateur treasure hunters and archaeologists How Scotland forged a rare alliance between amateur treasure hunters and archaeologists

By Andrew Curry

Archaeology

Women In The Middle Ages Dressed Better Than Men Women In The Middle Ages Dressed Better Than Men

By Grennan Milliken

desert landscape dotted by qubbas or tombs

Archaeology

These centuries-old tombs in Sudan are arranged in galaxy-like clusters These centuries-old tombs in Sudan are arranged in galaxy-like clusters

By Kate Baggaley

researcher holds up metal chickasaw artificat

Archaeology

Centuries-old tools reveal how the Chikasha people fought off conquistadors Centuries-old tools reveal how the Chikasha people fought off conquistadors

By Philip Kiefer

A human stands at the mouth of a cave looking outside.

Archaeology

A discovery found in Germany’s ‘Unicorn Cave’ hints at Neanderthal art A discovery found in Germany’s ‘Unicorn Cave’ hints at Neanderthal art

A highly weathered human jaw bone, labeled RV 2039.

Archaeology

What a 5,000-year-old plague victim reveals about the Black Death’s origins What a 5,000-year-old plague victim reveals about the Black Death’s origins

A 3-D rendering of a human-like skull faces forward against a black background. The skull is a tan color and has a pronounced brow ridge, large nose cavity, and square-ish eye sockets. The lower jaw is absent.

Archaeology

The debate over ‘Dragon Man’ shows that human origins are still kind of messy The debate over ‘Dragon Man’ shows that human origins are still kind of messy

By Lauren Leffer

Human Remains Found In 2,000-Year-Old Antikythera Shipwreck

Archaeology

Human Remains Found In 2,000-Year-Old Antikythera Shipwreck Human Remains Found In 2,000-Year-Old Antikythera Shipwreck

By Mary Beth Griggs

footprint in desert sand

Archaeology

Humans may have arrived in the Americas 15,000 years earlier than we thought Humans may have arrived in the Americas 15,000 years earlier than we thought

By Philip Kiefer

Archaeology

This Mud Could Revolutionize How Scientists Study The Past This Mud Could Revolutionize How Scientists Study The Past

By Rebecca Boyle

The Panga ya Saidi cave, where the oldest African burial remains were discovered.

Archaeology

The earliest known human burial in Africa was a carefully laid down child The earliest known human burial in Africa was a carefully laid down child

Megalithic jars in a Laos forest

Archaeology

Archaeologists finally uncovered some of the mystery behind Laos’s Plain of Jars Archaeologists finally uncovered some of the mystery behind Laos’s Plain of Jars

A view of the researchers digging at the excavation site.site

Archaeology

Crystals and eggshells tell a 105,000-year-old story of humans in the Kalahari Desert Crystals and eggshells tell a 105,000-year-old story of humans in the Kalahari Desert

a man and woman sit close to each other and share a plate of pancakes

Archaeology

Your favorite brunch foods are thousands of years old Your favorite brunch foods are thousands of years old

By Popular Science Team

Naked woman statue in garden.

Archaeology

What archaeologists got wrong about female statues, goddesses, and fertility What archaeologists got wrong about female statues, goddesses, and fertility

By Annalee Newitz

Dire wolves attacking prey and fighting off gray wolves.

Animals

Dire wolves are actually ice age mega-foxes Dire wolves are actually ice age mega-foxes

By Sara Kiley Watson

Psittacosaurus reconstruction

Archaeology

This fossilized butthole gives us a rare window into dinosaur sex This fossilized butthole gives us a rare window into dinosaur sex

By Ellie Shechet

Lucy Engleman illustration

Archaeology

The famous Nazca lines aren’t mysterious—but they are ingenious The famous Nazca lines aren’t mysterious—but they are ingenious

By Sara Kiley Watson

A black and white photo of gondolas in Venice

Archaeology

Saving historical landmarks from climate change could mean altering them Saving historical landmarks from climate change could mean altering them

By Erin Seekamp/The Conversation

Marryam Moma collage

Archaeology

In Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley,’ a Black community battles an industry that threatens its health—and history In Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley,’ a Black community battles an industry that threatens its health—and history

By Megan I. Gannon

Artist reconstruction of Wilamaya Patjxa vicuña hunt.

Archaeology

A female hunter’s remains hint at more fluid gender roles in the early Americas A female hunter’s remains hint at more fluid gender roles in the early Americas

By Kate Baggaley

Shipwreck on shore

Archaeology

How scientists keep ancient shipwrecks from crumbling into dust How scientists keep ancient shipwrecks from crumbling into dust

By Sara Kiley Watson

Archaeology

Atlantis isn’t real, but here are all the places it could have been Atlantis isn’t real, but here are all the places it could have been

By Eleanor Cummins

view from above an erupting volcano

Archaeology

A volcanic eruption may have helped the dinosaurs take over the world A volcanic eruption may have helped the dinosaurs take over the world

By Rachael Zisk

The Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville, Illinois, mark the site of one of the biggest pre-Colombian civilizations in the US.

Archaeology

Colonial bias gave us an incorrect history of North America’s Indigenous people Colonial bias gave us an incorrect history of North America’s Indigenous people

By Sturt Manning/The Conversation

two maps side by side

Archaeology

Scientists explored a buried Roman city without digging up an ounce of soil Scientists explored a buried Roman city without digging up an ounce of soil

By Sara Kiley Watson

A Maasai youth with a goat herd in Tanzania

Archaeology

Prehistoric footprints reveal how ancient men and women divided labor Prehistoric footprints reveal how ancient men and women divided labor

By Harcourt-Smith & Pobiner/The Conversation

ancient human tools

Archaeology

Anthropologists have identified the earliest evidence of Homo sapiens in Europe Anthropologists have identified the earliest evidence of Homo sapiens in Europe

By Kate Baggaley

Archaeology

Humankind’s legacy is basically garbage Humankind’s legacy is basically garbage

Illustration of a beer distiller and bottles

Archaeology

Ancient crystals show that beer has always had a place at the table Ancient crystals show that beer has always had a place at the table

By Eleanor Cummins

Mammoth Bison carved illusion

Archaeology

This ancient optical illusion is a 14,000-year-old puzzle This ancient optical illusion is a 14,000-year-old puzzle

By Tom McNamara

a cattle skull mounted on wood

Archaeology

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

By John Kennedy

joan wong illustration

Archaeology

Seven mysterious sounds science has yet to solve Seven mysterious sounds science has yet to solve

By Erin Blakemore

Egyptian coffin mummy.

Archaeology

Egypt is reclaiming its mummies and its past 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

Archaeology

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

Archaeology

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

Archaeology

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

Archaeology

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