Archaeology news, features and articles

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An illustration of Alexander the Great
Was Alexander the Great eaten by sharks? Inside the wild theories for what happened to the iconic ruler's body. The remains of Alexander the Great may lie under the streets of Alexandria, they may have been "eaten by a shark," or they may be somewhere else entirely. But one thing is certain: Archaeologists don't agree.
Small ivory diving bird sculpture pointed down at a 45-degree angle against a royal blue background
Hohle Fels water bird: The oldest depiction of a bird in the world This tiny bird sculpture was created 40,000 years ago by early humans in Europe who carved the key animals in their lives.
A whitish stone tool is stuck into a piece of brown wood with greyish tar. There is a hole drilled into the wood.
Pfyn culture flint tool: World's oldest known 'Swiss Army' knife Over five millennia ago, Stone Age people in Central Europe crafted wooden handles for their stone tools.

Latest about Archaeology

Ancient Egyptian soldiers and Greek mercenaries were at 'Armageddon' when biblical king was killed, study suggests

By Tom Metcalfe published

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of an Egyptian army where an Israelite king was killed. The discoveries at Megiddo, which inspired "Armageddon," reinforce biblical stories about King Josiah of Judah.

Archaeology

Stonehenge isn't the oldest monument of its kind in England, study reveals

By Laura Geggel published

Flagstones, an ancient monument and burial ground in England, is older than Stonehenge, a new radiocarbon-dating study finds.

Archaeology

'Not enough survives to read the king's name': Tomb discovered of unknown ancient Egyptian pharaoh

By Owen Jarus published

A king's tomb dating back around 3,600 years has been discovered at Abydos, Egypt.

Ancient Egyptians

2,200-year-old shackles discovered at ancient Egyptian gold mine

By Kristina Killgrove published

The discovery of two sets of iron ankle shackles at an ancient Egyptian gold mine reveals forced labor.

Ancient Egyptians

'Mystery population' of human ancestors gave us 20% of our genes and may have boosted our brain function

By Kristina Killgrove published

A novel genetic model suggests that the ancestors of modern humans came from two distinct populations that split and reconnected during our evolutionary history.

Archaeology

European hunter-gatherers boated to North Africa during Stone Age, ancient DNA suggests

By Jess Thomson published

DNA recovered from archaeological remains of ancient humans who lived in what is now Tunisia and northeastern Algeria reveals that European hunter-gatherers may have visited North Africa by boat around 8,500 years ago.

Archaeology

Mechanical Dog: A 'good boy' from ancient Egypt that has a red tongue and 'barks'

By Kristina Killgrove published

This small, carved dog epitomizes ancient Egyptians' love of pets.

Ancient Egyptians

Apollo gold ring with 'healing serpent' found in 2,000-year-old tomb in Greece

By Kristina Killgrove published

A monumental tomb found near Corinth has revealed several burials, along with artifacts reflecting its later use as a healing shrine.

Archaeology
Five human skeletons arranged in a sort of semi-circle, partially excavated from brown dirt

'The most shameful form of execution': Han warriors found dismembered in 2,100-year-old mass grave in Mongolia

By Kristina Killgrove published

Genetic analysis of skeletons in a mass grave in Mongolia has revealed they were soldiers in the Han-Xiongnu Wars more than two millennia ago.

Archaeology

Neanderthals, modern humans and a mysterious human lineage mingled in caves in ancient Israel, study finds

By Charles Choi published

A newly excavated cave in Israel holds burials and artifacts suggesting that multiple human species commingled and shared ideas there during the Paleolithic.

Archaeology
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