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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The Beisamoun pyre fields, where the cremated burial was discovered, during the crepuscular hours.

Oldest human cremation in the Near East unearthed

By Laura Geggel

In 7000 B.C., a kiln-like pit became the site of the earliest know human cremation in the Near East.

Only one-third of the circle has been excavated so far but a projection was created to give a better sense of its size. The portion that has been excavated is shown at far left. Archaeologists estimate the circle to be about 20 meters (66 feet) in diameter.

4,500-year-old 'timber circles' discovered in Portugal

By Owen Jarus

The remains of several timber circles constructed over 4,500 years ago have been discovered at the Perdigões complex archaeological site in Portugal.

This lidar image shows the site at Navan Fort where the archaeologists did their survey work.

Massive ancient temple complex may lurk beneath famous Northern Ireland fort

By Laura Geggel

Archaeologists have found Iron Age temples and medieval structures in Northern Ireland.

The stone box, its cap and contents: a figurine made of shell, representing a llama or alpaca, and a miniature gold arm band.

1st intact evidence of Incas' underwater ritual offerings found in a lake in the Andes

By Mindy Weisberger

Spanish records dating to the 16th century hinted that the Inca people performed underwater ritual offerings, and archaeologists have finally found one that's still intact.

This head excavated recently by archaeologists at the site of Khirbet Qeiyafa in Israel may depict Yahweh.

3,000-year-old head may be face of God

By Owen Jarus

A clay head that dates back almost 3,000 years may be a rare depiction of Yahweh, or God. But other archaeologists aren't convinced.

The new research reveals the origin of most of the largest stones at Stonehenge, the Neolithic monument built on England's Salisbury Plain about 4500 years ago.

Returned chunk of Stonehenge solves long-standing monument mystery

By Tom Metcalfe

A restoration worker kept a chunk of Stonehenge more than 60 years ago. He returned it last year and now the stone has solved a long-standing mystery.

There is no evidence that Cleopatra is buried in the Ptolomaic ruins at Taposiris magna in Alexandria, Egypt, archaeologists say.

Where is Cleopatra's tomb?

By Owen Jarus

The chances of finding Cleopatra's tomb are pretty low, experts say, despite claims to the contrary.

The ancient Egyptian mummies of Horus (left) and Osiris (right) didn't hold what their museum notes indicated they did.

Little ancient Egyptian mummies hold surprises inside … and they aren't human

By Laura Geggel

One of these tiny mummies held the remains of a bird missing certain body parts.

Archaeologists explore the vast Chiquihuite Cave in the Chiapas Highlands of northwest Mexico.

First Americans may have arrived to the continent 30,000 years ago

By Laura Geggel

A cave in Mexico has human-made stone tools dating to about 30,000 years ago.

A digital rendering of the fourth-century B.C. Temple of Asklepios at Epidaurus (right). Notice the ramp on the temple's east side.

Ancient Greeks may have built 'disability ramps' on some temples

By Laura Geggel

Ramps built on some ancient Greek temples were likely placed there to aid the disabled, elderly, pregnant and very young.

Archaeologists found the remains of a basalt slab floor from the Aztec palace.

Archaeologists discover palace where Aztec emperor was killed

By Owen Jarus

The remains of an Aztec palace where emperor Moctezuma II was held captive by the Spanish and killed in 1520 has been discovered in Mexico City.

The ancient skeleton of a man, believed to be about 2500 years old, was found face-down with his hands apparently bound in front of him.

Iron age 'murder' victim unearthed outside of London

By Tom Metcalfe

Skeleton of man was thrown face-down into a ditch with his hands bound.

Archaeologists now think the Neolithic flint artifacts found at Kharaysin in Jordan are the earliest-known portrayals of real human beings in the Near East.

Lumpy flint figurines may be some of the earliest depictions of real people

By Tom Metcalfe

With only a flashlight to light the way, a CINDAQ diver explores the ancient ochre mine. At the end of the last ice age, these caves were dry, but would have been devoid of any natural light.

Ice age mining camp found 'frozen in time' in underwater Mexican cave

By Laura Geggel

Cave divers found a mysterious passageway that led to an ice age ochre mine.

Human skulls.

Looted skulls and human remains are being sold in black markets on Facebook

By Owen Jarus

Oscar Nilsson created this reconstruction by printing a 3D plastic skull based on the man's 8,000-year-old remains.

This Stone Age man's jawless skull was found on a spike. Here's what he looked like.

By Laura Geggel

Wild boar jaws found in this man's Stone Age grave inspired his recreated clothing and haircut.

This recreation shows the likeness of a man from a hunter-gatherer group who lived about 8,000 years ago in what is now Sweden.

Stone Age man, whose skull was found on a spike, gets facial recreation (photos)

By Laura Geggel

Here's how a forensic artist recreated the likeness of a Stone Age man whose skull was found on a spike.

The legless European glass lizard (Pseudopus apodus) was likely a part of the ancient human diet.

First evidence that ancient humans ate snakes and lizards is unearthed in Israel

By Mindy Weisberger

New evidence suggests that lizard and snake bones were common in sites linked to ancient Natufian culture because these animals were being eaten.

This map shows how the giant pits and the Larkhill Causewayed Enclosure circle around Durrington Walls and the smaller Woodhenge.

Biggest prehistoric monument in UK discovered just a stone's throw away from Stonehenge

By Laura Geggel

Radiocarbon dates from buried animal bones and shells helped date the pits to 4,500 years ago.

The oldest of the two Viking longhouses at Stöð dates from around A.D. 800, several decades before the commonly accepted date of the settlement of Iceland in A.D. 874.

Oldest Viking settlement possibly unearthed in Iceland

By Tom Metcalfe

Archaeologists have unearthed what may be the oldest Viking settlement in Iceland.