Humans have left clues of our existence throughout time, leaving behind burials, artifacts and written records that hint at our evolution, beliefs, practices and cultures. Studying the archaeological record shows us that the oldest known bones belonging to Homo sapiens are 300,000 years old, or that the world’s oldest civilizations arose at least 6,000 years ago.
Discover more about archaeology
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1,000-year-old 'king' game piece with a distinctive hairstyle is 'as close as we will ever get to a portrait of a Viking'
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1.8 million-year-old human jawbone discovered in Republic of Georgia — and it may be earliest evidence yet of Homo erectus
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Haniwa Dancers: 1,500-year-old ghostly figurines thought to hold the souls of the dead
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'Strange' tomb in Peru holds skeletons of people with ropes around their necks, hands tied behind their backs, archaeologists say
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OpinionHow the racist study of skulls gripped Victorian Britain's scientists
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2,200-year-old 'complex and delicate' Celtic warrior charm is evidence of sophisticated metalworking in the Iron Age
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2,100-year-old skeleton of warrior nicknamed 'Lord of Sakar,' buried in a stunning gold wreath, unearthed in Bulgaria
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Sabu Disk: A mysterious 5,000-year-old Egyptian stone sculpture that looks like a hubcap
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4,000-year-old handprint discovered on ancient Egyptian tomb offering
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Ancient Egyptian rock art discovered near Aswan may be from the dawn of the first dynasty
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Massive blocks from the Lighthouse of Alexandria, an ancient wonder, hauled up from the Mediterranean
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Oldest and most complete ancient Egyptian human genome ever sequenced reveals ties to Mesopotamia
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'Thriving and densely-built': Archaeologists unearth 'tower' houses and ceremonial building in ancient Egyptian city of Imet
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We finally know why Queen Hatshepsut's statues were destroyed in ancient Egypt
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How did Ramesses II die — and did his more than 100 children fight for the throne?
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Tarkhan Dress: World's oldest known outfit was worn to an ancient Egyptian funeral 5,000 years ago
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1.8 million-year-old human jawbone discovered in Republic of Georgia — and it may be earliest evidence yet of Homo erectus
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Mysterious 300,000-year-old Greek cave skull was neither human nor Neanderthal, study finds
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The first Americans had Denisovan DNA. And it may have helped them survive.
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Gene that differs between humans and Neanderthals could shed light on the species' disappearance, mouse study suggests
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What was the first human species?
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2.6 million-year-old stone tools reveal ancient human relatives were 'forward planning' 600,000 years earlier than thought
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A braided stream, not a family tree: How new evidence upends our understanding of how humans evolved
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'It makes no sense to say there was only one origin of Homo sapiens': How the evolutionary record of Asia is complicating what we know about our species
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DNA has an expiration date. But proteins are revealing secrets about our ancient ancestors we never thought possible.
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Which Roman emperor ruled the longest?
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After Mount Vesuvius erupted, Romans returned to Pompeii and stayed for 400 years — but it was likely anarchy
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Roman Britain quiz: What do you know about the Empire's conquest of the British Isles?
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Hadrian's Wall: The defensive Roman wall that protected the frontier in Britain for 300 years
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Archaeologists discover 1,800-year-old Roman watchtower built to protect the empire during Marcus Aurelius' reign
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What happened to Rome after the empire fell?
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Romans loved to wear socks and sandals — could that be the reason for the massive shoes found at Magna fort?
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Roman dodecahedron: A mysterious 12-sided object that has baffled archaeologists for centuries
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What did ancient Rome smell like? BO, rotting corpses and raw sewage for starters ...
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1,000-year-old 'king' game piece with a distinctive hairstyle is 'as close as we will ever get to a portrait of a Viking'
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1,100-year-old Viking hoard reveals raiding wealthy only 'part of the picture' — they traded with the Middle East too
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Hornelund Brooches: Viking age gold ornaments mysteriously buried in Denmark 1,000 years ago
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Viking Age burial of chieftain with 'enormous power' found in Denmark — and he may have served Harald Bluetooth
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Viking Age woman was buried with her dog in an elaborate 'boat grave,' excavations reveal
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1,000-year-old Viking Age hoard has a pendant that may be a cross or Thor's hammer
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Braided gold Viking arm-ring discovered by amateur metal detectorist on Isle of Man
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Archaeologist sailed a Viking replica boat for 3 years to discover unknown ancient harbors
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OpinionViking Age women may have wielded weapons when pregnant, sagas and ancient artifacts hint
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2,100-year-old skeleton of warrior nicknamed 'Lord of Sakar,' buried in a stunning gold wreath, unearthed in Bulgaria
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'A truly unprecedented discovery': 3,000-year-old multicolored mural with fish, stars and gods discovered in Peru
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80,000-year-old stones in Uzbekistan may be the world's oldest arrowheads — and they might have been made by Neanderthals
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