Archaeology

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

Latest in Archaeology

a colorful illustration of ancient egyptians wearing robes embalming a dead body with wrappings and chemicals

Science

This is the best look yet into ancient Egyptians’ mummy-making chemicals This is the best look yet into ancient Egyptians’ mummy-making chemicals

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

ancient-style illustration of poseidon and workers building seawall

Science

Inside the project to bring ‘self-healing’ Roman concrete to American shorelines Inside the project to bring ‘self-healing’ Roman concrete to American shorelines

Am ancient Egyptian statue of a person with short hair from a recently discovered burial site.

Science

A gold-laced mummy could be the ‘oldest and most complete’ specimen found in Egypt A gold-laced mummy could be the ‘oldest and most complete’ specimen found in Egypt

By Laura Baisas

A mummy's coffin on a dark background.

Science

This teen mummy was buried with dozens of gold amulets This teen mummy was buried with dozens of gold amulets

By Laura Baisas

An overview of mummified crocodiles during an excavation.

Science

Ancient Egyptians had a unique way of mummifying crocodiles Ancient Egyptians had a unique way of mummifying crocodiles

By Laura Baisas

A lost temple for Poseidon may have finally been rediscovered

Science

A lost temple for Poseidon may have finally been rediscovered A lost temple for Poseidon may have finally been rediscovered

By Sara Kiley Watson

A drawing dating back to the Ice Age on a cave with markings circled.

Science

Cave drawings from 20,000 years ago may feature an early form of writing Cave drawings from 20,000 years ago may feature an early form of writing

By Laura Baisas

A still from a 3D model of the 16th-century ship found at Dungeness quarry

Science

A ship from the 16th century was just dredged up in England A ship from the 16th century was just dredged up in England

By Laura Baisas

Clay pots in a modern day pottery studio.

Science

Ancient social networks spread pottery trends across the world Ancient social networks spread pottery trends across the world

By Laura Baisas

An archeologist’s quest to find seafood’s place on the ancient Mediterranean menu

Science

An archeologist’s quest to find seafood’s place on the ancient Mediterranean menu An archeologist’s quest to find seafood’s place on the ancient Mediterranean menu

By Paul Greenberg / Hakai Magazine

A page from an 18th Century copy of Dhātupāṭha of Pāṇini from the Cambridge University Library.

Science

This ancient language puzzle was impossible to solve—until a PhD student cracked the code This ancient language puzzle was impossible to solve—until a PhD student cracked the code

By Laura Baisas

Rising sun viewed from the stone causeway of the solar observatory on Mount Tlaloc, Mexico.

Environment

The Aztecs’ solar calendar helped grow food for millions of people The Aztecs’ solar calendar helped grow food for millions of people

By Laura Baisas

Rice plants growing

Science

People in China have been harvesting rice for more than 10,000 years People in China have been harvesting rice for more than 10,000 years

By Laura Baisas

A team from the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum examines a shipwreck unearthed by hurricanes in Florida.

Science

Storm erosion brings 200-year-old shipwreck to the surface of a Florida beach Storm erosion brings 200-year-old shipwreck to the surface of a Florida beach

By Laura Baisas

For thousands of years, kids have been fascinated with owls

Science

For thousands of years, kids have been fascinated with owls For thousands of years, kids have been fascinated with owls

By Laura Baisas

These ‘fake’ ancient Roman coins might actually be real

Science

These ‘fake’ ancient Roman coins might actually be real These ‘fake’ ancient Roman coins might actually be real

By Laura Baisas

Tomb of a forgotten queen is one of several new stunning Egyptian discoveries

Science

Tomb of a forgotten queen is one of several new stunning Egyptian discoveries Tomb of a forgotten queen is one of several new stunning Egyptian discoveries

By Laura Baisas

Scientists still are figuring out how to age the ancient footprints in White Sands National Park

Science

Scientists still are figuring out how to age the ancient footprints in White Sands National Park Scientists still are figuring out how to age the ancient footprints in White Sands National Park

By Laura Baisas

Ancient ivory comb shows that self-care is as old as time

Science

Ancient ivory comb shows that self-care is as old as time Ancient ivory comb shows that self-care is as old as time

By Laura Baisas

Climate change is threatening archeological treasures from Alaska to Egypt

Science

Climate change is threatening archeological treasures from Alaska to Egypt Climate change is threatening archeological treasures from Alaska to Egypt

By Laura Baisas

Sex, not violence, could’ve sealed the fate of the Neanderthals

Science

Sex, not violence, could’ve sealed the fate of the Neanderthals Sex, not violence, could’ve sealed the fate of the Neanderthals

By Laura Baisas

This Renaissance-era baby died from living in darkness for a year

Science

This Renaissance-era baby died from living in darkness for a year This Renaissance-era baby died from living in darkness for a year

By Laura Baisas

Environment

These now-extinct whales were kind of like manatees These now-extinct whales were kind of like manatees

By Laura Baisas

Egyptian sculptures of musicians.

Science

Who invented music? Who invented music?

By Laura Dallman / The Conversation

Nobel Prize in medicine awarded to scientist who sequenced Neanderthal genome

Health

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.

Science

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

Science

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.

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Shifting ancient climates shaped human evolution

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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.

Science

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.

Science

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

Boats on the waters of Rhode Island.

Science

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.

Science

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.

Science

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.

Science

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

cinnabar vermilion

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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.

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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.

Science

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.

Science

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.

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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.

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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.

Science

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.

Science

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

By Sara Kiley Watson

Psittacosaurus reconstruction

Science

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