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 bas-relief of a golden eagle carved into the floor near the famous Aztec site Templo Mayor

Stunning eagle sculpture uncovered at sacred Aztec temple in Mexico

By Harry Baker

Archaeologists uncovered a bas-relief of a golden eagle at the foot of Templo Mayor. It's the largest of its kind discovered at the site.

Excavator Frances Gallart Marqués with the base of a monopod table in front of a wall painting of a painted curtain.

Puppy prints and wall illusions found in 1,500-year-old house in Turkey

By Owen Jarus

Two headless statues discovered at an ancient Greek burial site depict a dead woman in a seated position and possibly her servant.

Headless statues of a woman and her servant discovered at ancient Greek burial site

By Patrick Pester

Headless statues of a dead woman and her servant have been found in an ancient Greek cemetery.

The burial pit holding the remains of the toddler, dog and grave goods measured about 3.2 feet (1 meter) by 6.5 feet (2 m).

Puppy and toddler found in 2,000-year-old burial

By Laura Geggel

A toddler was buried with meal offerings and a pet dog about 2,000 years ago in what is now central France.

Using laser scans, archeologists discovered a previously unknown "cursus" monument on the Scottish Isle of Arran.

Ritual monument discovered in Scotland dates to the time of Stonehenge

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

A massive "cursus" monument, a site for ancient rituals has been discovered on the Scottish Isle of Arran.

The medieval hoard contained thousands of silver coins and ingots.

6,500 medieval coins and rare gold rings unearthed in Polish cornfield

By Laura Geggel

With the help of a priest, a medieval hoard containing silver coins and gold rings was found in Poland.

Historical drawing of the sapling fort by Y. Lisyansky.

Lost 19th-century Tlingit fort discovered in Alaska

By Mindy Weisberger

Archaeologists have located a fort in Alaska where Tlingit people fought a pivotal battle against invading Russian forces.

The stucco mask of Ucanha being worked on by archaeologists

Unique Mayan mask found in Mexico

By Patrick Pester

A giant Mayan mask sculpture has been revealed at an archaeological site in the Mexican state of Yucatán after undergoing restoration work.

One of the 154 Anglo-Saxon burials found at the site in Northamptonshire

Massive Anglo-Saxon cemetery and treasure unearthed in England

By Harry Baker

Archaeologists uncovered 154 Anglo-Saxon burials at the site in Northamptonshire which also contained a previously unknown settlement.

People in Zultépec tried to hide the remains of murdered Spaniards in the town cisterns.

16th-century ritual sacrifice, cannibalism and bloody slaughter revealed in Mexican city

By Mindy Weisberger

Conquistadors murdered hundreds of Acolhua people, a sister culture of the Aztecs, after members of a Spanish caravan in Mexico were captured, sacrificed and eaten.

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.