Archaeology

The latest digs, ideas, and discoveries about our past, from ancient cities to our prehistoric ancestors.

Latest in Archaeology

Part of Dead Sea Scroll number 28a (1Q28a) from Qumran Cave 1. From Qumran (Khirbet Qumran or Wadi Qumran), West Bank of the Jordan River, near the Dead Sea, modern-day State of Israel. The Jordan Museum, Amman, Jordan Hashimite Kingdom.

Dead Sea Scrolls possibly even older than scholars thought Dead Sea Scrolls possibly even older than scholars thought

Close up of gold pocket watch

Pocket watch from Great Lakes’ deadliest shipwreck returned to family Pocket watch from Great Lakes’ deadliest shipwreck returned to family

An Egyptian artifact with flecks of Egyptian dye being examined by researcher

Scientists recreate lost recipes for a 5,000-year-old Egyptian blue dye Scientists recreate lost recipes for a 5,000-year-old Egyptian blue dye

A painting scene of people suffering from the bubonic plague in the 15th century from the Toggenberg Bible.

How the bubonic plague has survived for centuries How the bubonic plague has survived for centuries

By Laura Baisas

a man holds a long projectile tool made from a whale bone.

Oldest-known whale bone tools discovered in a Spanish cave Oldest-known whale bone tools discovered in a Spanish cave

By Laura Baisas

Masted schooner ship at sea

Skull found on New Jersey beach linked to 19th century shipwreck Skull found on New Jersey beach linked to 19th century shipwreck

View from Viking clinker sail boat at sea

Archeologists are taking to the high seas in Viking ships Archeologists are taking to the high seas in Viking ships

testical dagger artifact

Medieval ‘testicle dagger’ lives up to its name Medieval ‘testicle dagger’ lives up to its name

Black and white image of large tugboat

Fisherman discovers century-old Great Lakes shipwreck Fisherman discovers century-old Great Lakes shipwreck

Fossil fragments on black background

These human ancestors weren’t as lonely as experts thought These human ancestors weren’t as lonely as experts thought

nails sticking out from wood

8-year-old kid with a metal detector stumbles upon a 19th century shipwreck 8-year-old kid with a metal detector stumbles upon a 19th century shipwreck

By Mack DeGeurin

Man comparing digitized Magna Carta on laptop to notes in book

Harvard paid $27 for a Magna Carta copy in 1946. It’s actually an original. Harvard paid $27 for a Magna Carta copy in 1946. It’s actually an original.

Partially excavated Roman floor mosaic

Smugglers busted near Turkish castle for trying to steal Roman mosaic Smugglers busted near Turkish castle for trying to steal Roman mosaic

CGI recreation of Athena statue in the Parthenon

View the Parthenon as it stood in 432 BCE View the Parthenon as it stood in 432 BCE

Archeologist working in Roman cellar dig site

Ancient Roman infant burials uncovered under Switzerland housing project Ancient Roman infant burials uncovered under Switzerland housing project

Aerial shot of Chavin de Huantar

Heavy hallucinogenic rituals solidified social castes in Pre-Incan Peru Heavy hallucinogenic rituals solidified social castes in Pre-Incan Peru

Doune flintlock pistols displayed in case

300-year-old ‘Doune pistols’ finally return to their hometown in Scotland 300-year-old ‘Doune pistols’ finally return to their hometown in Scotland

A Yangtze finless porpoise hunting in China’s Poyang Lake. Fish are jumping all around the porpoise as it leaps out of the water.

Poems spanning 1,400 years tell the tale of a revered porpoise Poems spanning 1,400 years tell the tale of a revered porpoise

By Laura Baisas

Mummified priest holding cross in coffin with skull blurred out

Mummified Austrian priest’s rectum played important role in preservation Mummified Austrian priest’s rectum played important role in preservation

Nut’s cosmological vignette on the outer coffin of Nesitaudjatakhet in the collection of Odessa Archaeological Museum OAM 52976 (C107). Nut’s body is covered in stars as well as a thick, undulating black curve that runs from the soles of her feet to the tips of her fingers. This curve, surrounded by stars on both sides, is reminiscent of the Milky Way’s Great Rift. Credit: Mykola Tarasenko; Odessa Archaeological Museum, NASU

Tomb art suggests Egyptian sky goddess wore the Milky Way galaxy Tomb art suggests Egyptian sky goddess wore the Milky Way galaxy