Archaeology

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A facial reconstruction of Ramses II
Facial reconstructions help the past come alive. But are they accurate? DNA analysis is changing the science of facial reconstructions and making them more lifelike than ever before.
Illustration of ancient humans in White Sands.
The 1st Americans were not who we thought they were For decades, we thought the first humans to arrive in the Americas came across the Bering Land Bridge 13,000 years ago. New evidence is changing that picture.
Iceman Ötzi reconstruction
40 amazing facial reconstructions, from Stone Age shamans to King Tut New scientific techniques are helping us reconstruct people from the past in uncanny detail.

Latest about Archaeology

We see two ichthyocentaurs, which are part man, part horse and part fish, next to two cherubs on a half-circle wall.

Mythical hellhound and sea-centaurs painted on 2,200-year-old tomb discovered in Italy

By Kristina Killgrove published

Paintings of sea-centaurs, the hellhound Cerberus and other mythical beings cover a 2,200-year-old tomb unearthed near Naples in Italy.

Romans
Bird's eye view of excavated Harwell catapult. We see a circular structure with runways coming off it.

Catapult designed to launch World War II bomber planes unearthed in England

By Laura Geggel published

The WWII catapult, designed to launch bomber planes in southeastern England, was never used.

Archaeology
The Elgin Marbles stolen from Greece. From left to right we see a horse, a naked Greek man leading the way, whilst looking back at the others. Then there's another horse. Next to the horse is a person, and behind the horse if a person clothed in a tunic and a child with cloth draped around their shoulders.

Hidden colors and intricate patterns discovered on the 2,500-year-old Parthenon Marbles from ancient Greece

By Ben Turner published

The ancient Greek statues were assumed to be spotlessly white, but a new study reveals that the Parthenon Sculptures once burst with color.

Archaeology
Photo of Stonehenge as the sun is peaking between the stone arches.

Where is Stonehenge, who built the prehistoric monument, and how?

By Owen Jarus last updated

The prehistoric monument Stonehenge was built up to 5,000 years ago on Salisbury Plain in England, but its ultimate purpose remains a tantalizing mystery.

Archaeology
Illustration of ancient humans in White Sands, which has grass, ponds, birds and bison with mountains in the background.

The 1st Americans were not who we thought they were

By Laura Geggel published

For decades, we thought the first humans to arrive in the Americas came across the Bering Land Bridge 13,000 years ago. New evidence is changing that picture.

Archaeology
A black projectile point, a reddish stone blade and a brownish rod against a black background.

13 of the oldest archaeological sites in the Americas

By Sascha Pare published

Archaeological discoveries throughout the Americas are pushing back the date for when humans reached the New World by thousands of years, rewriting the long-standing theory that people arrived only 13,000 years ago.

Archaeology
The coin hoard, pot and lid.

330-year-old coin hoard hidden in Scottish fireplace may have been buried moments before MacDonald clan massacre

By Kristina Killgrove published

Archaeologists in Scotland have discovered a rare pot of coins in the fireplace of Alasdair "Maclain" MacDonald, the massacred chief of the MacDonald clan.

Archaeology
Norse gods, Nobel Prize

Science news this week: Norse treasures and Nobel Prizes

By Alexander McNamara published

Oct. 8, 2023: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.

Archaeology
A horse bridle with leather straps

'Exceedingly rare' horse bridle discovered in melting ice in Norway could date to Viking Age

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

Archaeologists in Norway have discovered a horseshoe and bridle that could be from the Viking Age.

Archaeology
A collection of woven baskets

9,500-year-old baskets and 6,200-year-old shoes discovered in Spanish bat cave

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

Radiocarbon dating of woven baskets and sandals found in a cave in Spain make them the oldest artifacts of their kind found in southern Europe.

Archaeology
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