Archaeology news, features and articles
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Humans have left clues of our existence throughout time, leaving behind burials, artifacts and written records that hint at our evolution, beliefs, practices and cultures. Studying the archaeological record shows us that the oldest known bones belonging to Homo sapiens are 300,000 years old, or that the world’s oldest civilizations arose at least 6,000 years ago.
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Latest about Archaeology
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RomansAncient bullets reveal where a Roman camp hid in the Pyrenees of Spain before being ambushedBy Tom Metcalfe Published -
Astonishing ArtifactsRock crystal scraper: 45,000-year-old Neanderthal tool that shows they had an 'eye for beauty of form and color'By Kristina Killgrove Published -
Life's Little MysteriesDid Celtic women fight in battle?By Owen Jarus Published -
Human EvolutionScientists discover 2 new 'ghost' lineages that contributed DNA to modern humansBy Charles Q. Choi Published -
The Americas500-year-old Inca mummies prove that European colonists brought devastating smallpox to the AmericasBy Olivia Ferrari Published 4 Comments -
Archaeology40,000-year-old bird figurines the size of a thumbnail discovered in German caveBy Kristina Killgrove Published
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Explore Archaeology
Ancient China
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Ancient ChinaToxic plant on Ming dynasty-era surgical tools may be world’s oldest chemical evidence of topical anestheticBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
Ancient ChinaClimate disasters caused societal upheaval 3,000 years ago in China, study of 'oracle bones' hintsBy Kristina Killgrove Published 2 Comments -
Ancient ChinaLotus shoes: Tiny footwear for Chinese women whose feet were bound as childrenBy Kristina Killgrove Published 6 Comments -
Ancient ChinaMale human heads found in a 'skull pit' in an ancient Chinese city hint at sex-specific sacrifice ritualsBy Kristina Killgrove Published 7 Comments -
Ancient ChinaAncient 'hanging coffin' people in China finally identified — and their descendants still live there todayBy Tom Metcalfe Published 8 Comments -
Ancient China5,000-year-old skeleton masks and skull cups made from human bones discovered in ChinaBy Kristina Killgrove Published 2 Comments -
Ancient ChinaWorld's oldest mummies were smoke-dried 10,000 years ago in China and Southeast Asia, researchers findBy Kristina Killgrove Published 5 Comments -
Ancient ChinaWomen likely ruled in Stone Age China, DNA analysis of 4,500-year-old skeletons revealsBy Kristina Killgrove Published 2 Comments -
Ancient ChinaNewly discovered 'ghost' lineage linked to ancient mystery population in Tibet, DNA study findsBy Kristina Killgrove Published
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Ancient Egyptians
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Astonishing ArtifactsRelief fragment with vanquished enemies: A 3,400-year-old depiction of an Egyptian pharaoh crushing western Asian soldiers under his royal chariotBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
Ancient EgyptiansDid ancient Egyptian princesses use weapons? Controversial study claims they hunted or trained with the military, but not all experts agree.By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry Published 2 Comments -
Ancient Egyptians18 ancient Egyptian tombs with dozens of gold 'tongues' discovered along the Mediterranean coastBy Owen Jarus Published -
Excerpt'He looked like Ramses the Great': How experimental archaeologists used ancient techniques to mummify a modern-day personBy Sam Kean Published -
Astonishing ArtifactsBead net funerary shroud: A 2,500-year-old beaded veil from Egypt depicting the deceased's transformation into OsirisBy Kristina Killgrove Published 2 Comments -
Ancient EgyptiansGreat Pyramid of Giza is remarkably resilient to earthquakes — and it's due to the ancient Egyptians' 'extraordinary' engineering knowledgeBy Stephanie Pappas Published -
Astonishing ArtifactsLion's head pendant: An ancient Egyptian board game piece that was later repurposed into a magical religious object with baboonsBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
Ancient EgyptiansEgyptian mummy has part of the 'Iliad' in its abdomen, archaeologists discoverBy Owen Jarus Published 6 Comments -
Ancient EgyptiansArchaeologists discover perfectly circular ancient Egyptian temple that may have been used for sacred water ritualsBy Kristina Killgrove Published 4 Comments
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Human Evolution
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Astonishing ArtifactsRock crystal scraper: 45,000-year-old Neanderthal tool that shows they had an 'eye for beauty of form and color'By Kristina Killgrove Published -
Human EvolutionScientists discover 2 new 'ghost' lineages that contributed DNA to modern humansBy Charles Q. Choi Published -
Human EvolutionAncient human relative cannibalized both adults and children in a cave in Spain 850,000 years ago, fossils revealBy Kristina Killgrove Published 3 Comments -
Human EvolutionScientists show that DNA can last for up to 50,000 years in Africa — much longer than previously thoughtBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
Human Evolution100,000 years ago, one of the earliest Homo sapiens outside Africa was stabbed in the face, analysis findsBy Kristina Killgrove Published 3 Comments -
NeanderthalsNeanderthals and modern humans may have shared culture 59,000 years ago in Turkey, study findsBy Olivia Maule Published 3 Comments -
Human EvolutionDiminutive species 'the Hobbit' did not hunt or control fire, deepening the mystery of its ancestry, dwarf elephant bones revealBy Kristina Killgrove Published 8 Comments -
Human EvolutionEarly Homo sapiens may have lived in rainforests, new clues suggest — and it could overturn our understanding of human evolutionBy Sophie Berdugo Published 13 Comments -
NeanderthalsSome of the last surviving Neanderthals were remarkably diverse — suggesting inbreeding didn't doom themBy Charles Q. Choi Published
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Middle East
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Middle East6,000-year-old broken ribs discovered in Syria may be one of the oldest known cases of child abuse in the worldBy Olivia Maule Published -
Middle East1,200-year-old gold hoard discovered in Saudi Arabia may have been buried by a medieval pilgrimBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
Middle EastDark message warning enemy to 'learn your lesson' found inscribed on 2,000-year-old sling bullet from ancient Holy LandBy Tom Metcalfe Published 4 Comments -
Middle EastGender ambiguity was a tool of power 4,500 years ago in MesopotamiaBy Chaya Kasif Published -
Middle East'A huge surprise': 1,500-year-old church found next to Zoroastrianism place of worship in IraqBy Tom Metcalfe Published 2 Comments -
Middle EastRare 1,300-year-old medallion decorated with menorahs found near Jerusalem's Temple MountBy Tom Metcalfe Published -
Middle EastMagdala stone: 2,000-year-old carving from Jerusalem is world's oldest known depiction of a menorahBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
Middle East12,000-year-old figurine of goose mating with naked woman discovered in IsraelBy Kristina Killgrove Published 5 Comments -
Middle East5,000-year old 'cultic space' discovered in Iraq dates to time of the world's first citiesBy Tom Metcalfe Published
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Romans
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RomansAncient bullets reveal where a Roman camp hid in the Pyrenees of Spain before being ambushedBy Tom Metcalfe Published -
Romans'Extremely rare' Roman military camp found in Slovakia holds hastily buried remains of Marcus Aurelius' soldiers — with some dumped in wellsBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
Romans'Once we were like you': Striking reconstructions reveal the faces of 16 people from Roman-era HungaryBy Kenna Hughes-Castleberry Published -
RomansNot a housekeeper, but a 'vilica': The many responsibilities of Roman-era female farm managers were overlooked by historiansBy Tamara Lewit Published -
Romans2,000-year-old scrolls buried by Mount Vesuvius eruption finally deciphered with help from AIBy Olivia Maule Published 2 Comments -
Romans'The Romans were probably never going to go away': In new 'Almost History' podcast, listen to how history might have played out if Carthage had defeated the Roman RepublicBy Kenna Hughes-Castleberry Published -
Life's Little MysteriesHow did the Romans build such straight roads?By Owen Jarus Published 9 Comments -
RomansLavish Roman villa discovered outside Rome's walls may have been frequented by Hadrian and Marcus AureliusBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
Astonishing ArtifactsRoman bath clog: The world's oldest shower shoes were found at a fort along Hadrian's WallBy Kristina Killgrove Published
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The Americas
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The Americas500-year-old Inca mummies prove that European colonists brought devastating smallpox to the AmericasBy Olivia Ferrari Published 4 Comments -
The AmericasLasers reveal hundreds of geoglyphs made by a mysterious civilization in the Amazon rainforest thousands of years agoBy Kristina Killgrove Published 3 Comments -
The AmericasArchaeologists find 2,800-year-old burial of person clutching sea turtle vessel in El SalvadorBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
The AmericasSacrificed Inca children died very differently than we thought, study findsBy Tom Metcalfe Published -
Astonishing ArtifactsMummy mask with wig: A 1,000-year-old 'false head' found in Peru that was crafted with real human hair and toxic red cinnabarBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
The Americas'One of the oldest gravestones of a free Black person in America' discovered in BostonBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
The Americas'It's a huge deal': Archaeologists discover second cannonball from the Battle of the Alamo, and it was likely fired by TexansBy Kristina Killgrove Published 6 Comments -
Astonishing ArtifactsMask of Mictlantecuhtli: A 500-year-old mask of the Aztec god of the underworld, who tore apart the dead as they entered his realmBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
The Americas'Political motivations' of Inca emperor led to the sacrifice of 3 children on a snow-capped volcano over 500 years ago, study suggestsBy Kristina Killgrove Published
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Vikings
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VikingsDirty 'button' unearthed by metal detectorist turns out to be a rare 900-year-old coin from Norway's last Viking king, Magnus BarefootBy Kenna Hughes-Castleberry Published -
Vikings'Melted in a pot somewhere': Vikings used Islamic silver coins to make their early pennies, study findsBy Tom Metcalfe Published -
Vikings'Extremely rare' English coins meant to ward off Vikings found in Denmark — because the Vikings wore them as jewelryBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
Vikings'The detectors never stopped beeping!' Nearly 3,000 coins discovered in field are Norway's largest Viking hoard on recordBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
VikingsGold coin discovered by a metal detectorist in the UK may have been dropped by a Viking invader from the Great Heathen ArmyBy Tom Metcalfe Published 2 Comments -
VikingsDid the Vikings reach Maine?By Owen Jarus Published 3 Comments -
VikingsViking Age mass grave holds mysterious mix of dismembered human remains and complete skeletons, including a 'giant' who'd had brain surgeryBy Kristina Killgrove Published 4 Comments -
VikingsAsh Pendant: The only known depiction of a pregnant Viking womanBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
Vikings1,000-year-old 'king' game piece with a distinctive hairstyle is 'as close as we will ever get to a portrait of a Viking'By Tom Metcalfe Published 2 Comments
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More about Archaeology
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RomansAncient bullets reveal where a Roman camp hid in the Pyrenees of Spain before being ambushedBy Tom Metcalfe Published -
Astonishing ArtifactsRock crystal scraper: 45,000-year-old Neanderthal tool that shows they had an 'eye for beauty of form and color'By Kristina Killgrove Published -
Life's Little MysteriesDid Celtic women fight in battle?By Owen Jarus Published -
Human EvolutionScientists discover 2 new 'ghost' lineages that contributed DNA to modern humansBy Charles Q. Choi Published -
The Americas500-year-old Inca mummies prove that European colonists brought devastating smallpox to the AmericasBy Olivia Ferrari Published 4 Comments -
Archaeology40,000-year-old bird figurines the size of a thumbnail discovered in German caveBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
The AmericasLasers reveal hundreds of geoglyphs made by a mysterious civilization in the Amazon rainforest thousands of years agoBy Kristina Killgrove Published 3 Comments -
Human EvolutionAncient human relative cannibalized both adults and children in a cave in Spain 850,000 years ago, fossils revealBy Kristina Killgrove Published 3 Comments -
Astonishing ArtifactsRelief fragment with vanquished enemies: A 3,400-year-old depiction of an Egyptian pharaoh crushing western Asian soldiers under his royal chariotBy Kristina Killgrove Published -
The AmericasArchaeologists find 2,800-year-old burial of person clutching sea turtle vessel in El SalvadorBy Kristina Killgrove Published
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