Archaeology

Archaeology is fundamentally the study of humanity and its past. Archaeologists study things that were created, used or changed by humans. They do this by studying the material remains, in other words, the stuff we leave behind.

Related Topics: Anthropology, Fossils, Human Origins, Shipwrecks

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A newly discovered Greek inscription dating to 1,500 years ago begins with the phrase, "Christ born of Mary."

1,500-year-old 'Christ, born of Mary' inscription discovered in Israel

By Laura Geggel

An excavation revealed a previously unknown church and inscription, possibly dating to Byzantine times.

Spangenbarren, or ribs, represented wealth in prehistoric economies.

Europe's earliest form of money found and it's a bunch of rings and axes

By Mindy Weisberger

Archaeologists found the objects, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, stashed in hoards.

A 13-foot-long (4 meters) copy of chapter 17 of the Book of the Dead was found in the burial shafts. The name of the papyrus's owner Pwkhaef is written on it. The Book of the Dead helped guide the deceased through the afterlife.

13-foot-long 'Book of the Dead' scroll found in burial shaft in Egypt

By Owen Jarus

A funerary temple belonging to Queen Nearit has been discovered in the ancient Egyptian burial ground Saqqara next to the pyramid of her husband, pharaoh Teti.

As seen under a microscope, a basalt inclusion in a ceramic tile from Gordion, an ancient site in what is now Turkey.

Hidden secrets revealed in microscopic images of ancient artifacts

By Mindy Weisberger

A new exhibit showcases microscopy in archaeology, highlighting objects' unexpected beauty and revealing clues about the past.

A digitally enhanced panorama of the warty pigs at Leang Tedongnge Cave, in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Warty pig is oldest animal cave art on record

By Laura Geggel

A 45,500-year-old warty pig drawing is the oldest known cave painting of an animal on record.

Farmers found the 500-year-old statue of mysterious woman (left), who has a headdress that looks like the head ornamentation of "Star Wars" former Jedi apprentice Ahsoka Tano (right), whose Hasbro action figure is shown here.

Statue of mysterious woman with 'Star Wars'-like headdress found in Mexico

By Laura Geggel

A 500-year-old limestone statue of an elite woman was found in central Mexico.

Ruins of a Temple of Aphrodite in Turkey

2,500-year-old temple to Greek love goddess unearthed in Turkey

By Patrick Pester

A 2,500-year-old temple dedicated to Aphrodite has been found above ground in western Turkey. The Greek goddess was the subject of a popular cult at the time.

The mausoleum is located in the city of Luoyang, China, shown here.

Tomb of murderous Chinese emperor finally identified

By Owen Jarus

A mysterious tomb in Luoyang, China, belongs to Emperor Liu Zhi (reign A.D. 146-168), a murderous emperor who had 5,000 concubines.

Why was Stonehenge built?

By Benjamin Plackett

No one really knows, but there are a few educated guesses.

Authorities in Israel have recovered a trove of stolen archaeological artifacts from sites in ancient Israel, and across the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Africa and even South America. The finds range from gold coins to bronze statues to Egyptian sarcophagi.

Raids in Israel uncover 'gargantuan' trove of stolen artifacts

By Stephanie Pappas

Israeli officials have recovered a cache of thousands of stolen archaeological artifacts from all over the world.

The remains of a 2,000-year-old ritual bath and a 1,500-year-old church were found at the site of Gethsemane, a place near Jerusalem where the Bible says that Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested.

Ritual bath unearthed at site where Judas betrayed Jesus

By Owen Jarus

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient ritual bath church at Gethsemane, a place near Jerusalem where the Bible says that Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested.

The Roman engraving likely dates to the second century A.D.

Woman's garden 'stepping stone' turns out to be an ancient Roman artifact

By Laura Geggel

Nobody knows how this 1,800-year-old Roman carving ended up in an English garden.

Aerial photographs of new Roman camps in northern Spain

66 Roman Army camps in northern Spain shed light on infamous conquest

By Patrick Pester

Dozens of Roman Army camps have been discovered in Spain, revealing more about one of most infamous Roman conflicts.

A man wearing a protective mask passes by the Coliseum in Rome on March 7, 2020, amid fear of the COVID-19 epidemic.

What archaeology will look like in 2021

By Owen Jarus

Expect more virtual archaeological digs, possibly more looting and definitely more mummies in 2021.

Archaeologists believe that this niche represents the remains of the throne of Herod Antipas. From here, the decision to execute John the Baptist may have been made.

Dance floor where John the Baptist was condemned to death discovered, archaeologist says

By Owen Jarus

Archaeologists claim that they have identified the deadly dance floor where John the Baptist — a preacher who foretold the coming of Jesus — was sentenced to death around A.D. 29.

More than 100 mummy-filled coffins have been discovered so far at the Saqqara site.

The 10 biggest archaeology discoveries of 2020

By Owen Jarus

Despite the difficult year, many archaeological and historical discoveries came to light, including a sprawling geoglyph in Peru, a trove of mummies, the tomb of the legendary Romulus and more.