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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An example of one of the lidar scans of a Maya civilization discovered in Guatemala.

Lasers reveal massive, 650-square-mile Maya site hidden beneath Guatemalan rainforest

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

While conducting an aerial survey of northern Guatemala, researchers detected a sprawling Maya site.

The procession of Ancestors to their original resting place in the reinterment ceremony; individuals enclosed in reinforced boxes wrapped in indigo cloth were placed in a horse-drawn hearse and taken to the site, accompanied by an Egungun Masquerade, spiritual leaders, and members of the community.

Enslaved people were kidnapped from all across Africa, rare look at DNA from colonial cemetery reveals

By Kristina Killgrove published

In 2013, South Carolinians made the unexpected discovery of a Colonial-era cemetery holding the remains of enslaved people. Now, a genetic analysis of some of these individuals reveals their origins.

The bog skull, known as Porsmose Man, dates from the Neolithic of Denmark. He met a violent death, according to bone arrowheads found embedded in his skull and sternum.

Who were Europe's 'bog bodies'? Deep look uncovers the secrets of this mysterious practice.

By Laura Geggel published

A deep dive into "bog bodies" reveals that this practice started in southern Scandinavia during the Neolithic and spread throughout Northern Europe.

A bird's-eye view of the Viking hall.

Giant Viking hall, possibly connected to Harald Bluetooth, unearthed in Denmark

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

Archaeologists in Denmark have unearthed portions of a massive Viking hall, with more of the structure still buried.

Two cardboard boxes holding metal artifacts found in the Viking Age burial, including knives, a cloak brooch and the remains of a shield.

Rare, 'high-status' Viking burial unearthed in a garden in Oslo

By Owen Jarus published

Archaeologists have excavated a rare Viking burial in Oslo containing the remains of a high-status individual and a variety of grave goods.

digital image shows a man's face; he has dark, curly, shoulder-length hair, a fluffy black beard, brown eyes and a slightly wrinkled face

Look at the face of the 'Jericho Skull,' buried 9,000 years ago with shells for eyes

By Tom Metcalfe published

The 9,000-year-old Jericho Skull now has a new face, thanks to the latest reconstruction techniques.

detailed three-dimensional model showing the timbers of the hull of a ship

Quarry workers make 'unexpected' discovery of ship from Queen Elizabeth I's reign

By Tom Metcalfe published

Timbers from the hull of a 16th-century ship have been found in a flooded quarry in southeastern England.

A 21,500-year-old cave painting depicting an extinct cattle species known as an aurochs in the Lascaux caves, in France. Notice the four dots (in the digital yellow circle) which may have had a special meaning for ice age peoples.

20,000-year-old cave painting 'dots' are the earliest written language, study claims. But not everyone agrees.

By Kristina Killgrove published

Stone Age dots, lines and Y-shaped marks might represent a type of proto-writing created by hunter-gatherers who lived in Europe at least 20,000 years ago.

The facial reconstruction of the Cittiglio murder victim, who was killed sometime between the 11th and the 13th centuries in what seems to have been a surprise attack.

Medieval murder victim was killed by multiple sword blows to the head in 'case of raw violence'

By Tom Metcalfe published

Sword blows to the head of a medieval murder victim in Italy suggest "a case of overkill."

Mummy coffins on display in part in the permanent Egyptian collection and also part of the 'Queens of the Nile' Exhibition held at the National Museum of Antiquities or Rijksmuseum van Oudheden on November 30, 2016 in Leiden, Netherlands. With 350 prized Egyptian pieces, including royal portraits, statues of deities, sophisticated jewellery, amulets and precious utensils, plus the sarcophagus and grave goods of Queen Nefertari, from the Museo Egizio in Turin. This is the first time that such a large exhibition on the queens of Egypt has been organised in the Netherlands.

5 stunning archaeological discoveries that may finally be unearthed in 2023

By Owen Jarus published

Here are five predictions about what archaeologists may dig up in 2023.

The newfound Roman coin in Hungary features a bearded Emperor Volusianus on one side and Libertas, the personification of freedom, on the other.

10 dazzling gold and silver treasures dug up in 2022

By Laura Geggel published

Here are 10 stunning gold and silver treasures, dating from millennia to centuries ago, that came to light in 2022.

photo of the newfound shrine with a large carved stone in the foreground; the stone has human-like facial features carved into it

10 incredible archaeological finds from 2022

By Owen Jarus published

The top 10 archaeological finds of 2022 include ancient bronze Etruscan statues from Italy, a Roman-era mosaic in Syria and a prehistoric chalk sculpture in England.

A facial approximation of Saint Anthony of Padua.

Saint Anthony of Padua revealed in stunning facial approximation

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

A team of international researchers has revealed a facial approximation of what Saint Anthony of Padua may have looked like.

A close-up of an adult male cranium with applied hematite-based pigment that covers a fracture that occurred before the individual died.

People 'finger painted' the skulls of their ancestors red in the Andes a millennium ago

By Kristina Killgrove published

An analysis into finger-painted skulls found in Peru, some from individuals who died up to a millennium ago, reveals that people painted their ancestors' skeletal remains.

Bird’s eye view of the foundations of what is left of Salome’s cave and its forecourts.

Tomb of 'Jesus' midwife' excavated, revealing remarkable courtyard and oil lamps

By Tom Metcalfe published

Archaeologists in Israel have discovered new artifacts and carvings from the Cave of Salome, a place of pilgrimage for early Christians who thought that it was the burial place for Salome, the supposed midwife of Jesus.

About 20 burials were found in New Damietta, Egypt, near the Mediterranean coast.

Protective gold idols and 'rejuvenating' amulets found in ancient Egyptian burials

By Owen Jarus published

Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered about 20 ancient burials, some of which contain gold idols fashioned to look like the deities Isis, Bastet and Horus.

An aerial photo of a Nazca line in the shape of a hummingbird.

Nazca Lines: Mysterious geoglyphs in Peru

By Owen Jarus published

These huge earthen creations in a Peruvian desert depict animals, plants and fantastic creatures.

This processed image shows a geoglyph of what may be a person holding what looks like a club or stick as their head flies away in greater detail.

Aerial investigation reveals 168 previously unnoticed Nazca Lines in Peru

By Owen Jarus published

Archaeologists in Peru have discovered more than 100 "smaller and fainter" Nazca Lines, some of which were made by piling stones on top of each other.

This gold ring shows an engraving of Bes, the ancient Egypt god of fun, depicted as a dwarf.

Egyptian ring featuring 'god of fun' discovered in ancient burial

By Owen Jarus published

A mysterious burial from ancient Egypt contains gold jewelry, including three rings — one featuring the Bes, the god of fun — and a necklace.

Grave goods from the burial mound at Upton Lovell.

4,000-year-old 'shaman' burial near Stonehenge has a golden secret

By Tom Metcalfe published

Stone tools found in a 4,000-year-old grave near Stonehenge have traces of gold on their surfaces that indicate they were used to fashion gold ornaments.