Archaeology(Page 5)

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

Latest in Archaeology

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Who invented music? Who invented music?

By Laura Dallman / The Conversation

Nobel Prize in medicine awarded to scientist who sequenced Neanderthal genome

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

cinnabar vermilion

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

By Sara Kiley Watson

Psittacosaurus reconstruction

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

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

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

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.

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

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

By Sara Kiley Watson

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Mammoth Bison carved illusion

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

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

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

By Erin Blakemore

Egyptian coffin mummy.

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

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 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 What unearthing ancient cities teaches us about exploring outer space

By Annalee Newitz