Archaeologists have discovered over 50 well-preserved Viking skeletons at a burial site in Åsum, dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries. Michael Borre Lundø, an archaeologist at Museum Odense, noted the rarity of finding so many intact skeletons simultaneously, which will allow for extensive scientific analyses on health, diet, and origins. The site spans 2,000 square meters, and the skeletons are expected to yield … Continue reading 50 “exceptionally well-preserved” Viking skeletons unearthed in Denmark

Board games have been popular for millennia, and the ancient game “Hounds and Jackals,” also known as “58 Holes,” was previously believed to have originated in Egypt. However, a new study by Walter Crist and Rahman Abdullayev suggests it may have southwestern Asian roots. The researchers discovered six game boards at various archaeological sites in Azerbaijan, indicating the game’s widespread popularity across cultures, Fox News … Continue reading Archaeologists find several rock carvings of ancient board game dating back 4,000 years

Archaeologists have discovered the largest jade dragon from the Hongshan culture at a stone tomb site in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. This significant find, made by the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, includes over 100 jade artifacts and marks the largest stone tomb of the late Hongshan culture identified in the region. The jade dragon measures 15.8 cm long and is part of a unique … Continue reading Largest Jade Dragon from Hongshan Culture Unearthed in China

Egyptian archaeologists recently discovered a bronze sword marked with the cartouche of Pharaoh Ramses II, buried for over 3,000 years at the Tell Al-Abqain military fort in the Beheira Governorate. Ramses II, known as Ramses the Great, ruled from 1279 B.C. to 1213 B.C. and expanded Egypt’s territory significantly. The excavation site, which included barracks and warehouses, also revealed pottery, personal items, and a cow, … Continue reading Sword with markings of ancient pharaoh Ramses II unearthed in Egypt

Volunteers at an archaeological dig in northern France discovered a small glass vial containing a 200-year-old message from archaeologist P.J. Féret, who conducted a dig at the site in January 1825. The note described his work and membership in scientific societies, possibly intended as inspiration for future archaeologists. Guillaume Blondel, head of the local archaeological service, called the find “an absolutely magic moment,” CBS News … Continue reading Message in a bottle, written 200 years ago by an archaeologist, found on a French clifftop

Zahi Hawass, former Egyptian antiquities minister, is leading a campaign to repatriate the 3,400-year-old bust of Queen Nefertiti from Berlin’s Neues Museum to Egypt. The bust, discovered in 1912 at Tell el-Amarna, has been in Germany since 1913. Hawass argues that the bust, a masterpiece of ancient art, was taken illegally and should be returned to Egypt’s Grand Egyptian Museum. The campaign also targets other … Continue reading The campaign to bring Queen Nefertiti home

Archaeologists in Bulgaria have discovered five gold coins from the time of Emperor Justinian the Great (A.D. 527–565) on the floor of a 10th-century house in the village of Debnevo, suggesting the coins were kept as heirlooms. Found during ongoing excavations of a medieval dwelling damaged by fire, the coins date back around 400 years before the house was built. The coins are “tremissis” types, … Continue reading 1,500-year-old gold coins from Byzantine Empire discovered in medieval dwelling in Bulgaria

The Babylonian Map of the World, also known as the Imago Mundi, is the oldest known map of the ancient world, dating back to the sixth century B.C. It is a clay tablet from Abu Habba (Sippar), an ancient Babylonian city in modern-day Iraq. The map depicts the world as a disc surrounded by a ring of water called the Bitter River, with Babylon and the Euphrates … Continue reading Babylonian Map of the World: The oldest known map of the ancient world

Excavations in Hosh Issa district have uncovered mudbrick structures used as barracks and storage units for food, weapons, and other provisions. This find highlights Tell Al-Abqain’s strategic role as a key military outpost protecting Egypt’s northwestern borders from invasions. The well-organized layout showcases advanced ancient Egyptian engineering. Notable discoveries include a bronze sword with King Ramses II’s cartouche, large granaries, personal artifacts, and a symbolic … Continue reading Military barracks, weapons and food stores unearthed at Tell Al-Abqain archaeological site 

A University of South Florida geology professor has uncovered a 5,600-year-old stone bridge in a submerged cave on Mallorca, revealing that humans were on the island much earlier than previously thought. The discovery challenges previous beliefs that humans bypassed Mallorca in favor of more distant islands. The bridge, found in the Genovesa Cave, includes a 25-foot-long stone path and wall leading to an underwater lake, … Continue reading Human-built 5600-year-old underwater bridge found inside cave stuns scientists

The body of American archaeologist Karla Dana has been recovered from the sea off Norway after the replica Viking boat she was sailing in capsized during an expedition from the Faroe Islands. The incident occurred on Tuesday, while the six-member crew was participating in the “Legendary Viking Voyage” aboard the Naddoddur. The Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Centre rescued the five surviving passengers, but Dana, 29, … Continue reading American archaeologist drowns after Viking replica boat capsizes in Norway

A rare First Temple period stone seal featuring paleo-Hebrew script and an image of a protective demon has been discovered in Jerusalem. Found in the Davidson Archaeological Garden near the Temple Mount, the seal is about 2,700 years old and bears the inscription “LeYeho’ezer ben Hosh’ayahu” in mirror writing. The seal, which likely belonged to a senior official in the Kingdom of Judah, depicts a … Continue reading ‘Extremely rare, beautiful’ First Temple-era ‘genie’ seal discovered in Jerusalem

A 4-year-old boy accidentally broke a 3,500-year-old Bronze Age jar during a visit to the Hecht Museum at the University of Haifa in Israel. The rare, fully intact jar, dating back to between 2200 and 1500 B.C., fell when the boy, out of curiosity, slightly pulled on it. The museum director, Inbal Rivlin, acknowledged that it was an accident and assured that the response would … Continue reading 4-year-old boy accidentally smashes 3,500-year-old Bronze Age jar at museum

Archaeologists in Turkey have discovered a 3,500-year-old tablet inscribed with cuneiform writing, offering insights into life during the Late Bronze Age. The small tablet, found at the ancient site of Alalakh (now Tell Atchana), dates back to the 15th century BC and appears to be an itemized receipt for the purchase of a large amount of furniture, written in Akkadian cuneiform. The find, made during … Continue reading Archaeologists unearth tiny 3,500-year-old clay tablet following an earthquake

Archaeologists in Kazakhstan’s Turkistan region uncovered ancient treasures in a 2,000-year-old burial mound, believed to date back to the Kangyu Era. The finds, which include a Chinese bronze mirror, a Roman fibula, gold earrings, and other items, suggest the buried individual was of high status. The discoveries highlight the Kangyu state’s connections along the Silk Road with powerful empires like Rome and China. The artifacts … Continue reading Ancient treasure dating back thousands of years unearthed in burial mound

A Danish archaeology student discovered seven Viking-era silver arm rings near Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city, highlighting the area’s significance as a Viking hub. The rings, found by 22-year-old Gustav Bruunsgaard, date back to around 800 CE. Some of the rings have ties to Viking settlements in present-day Russia and Ukraine, while others are typical of southern Scandinavia and England. The total weight of the rings … Continue reading Archaeology student finds 7 stunning Viking silver arm rings, Danish museum says

Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority are excavating a large quarry at Mount Hotzvim in Jerusalem, uncovering significant artifacts from the Second Temple period. The site, covering 3,500 square meters, has revealed dozens of large building stones, tools, and pathways. The stones, some weighing 2.5 tons, were likely intended for major construction projects in Jerusalem, possibly including the paving of streets like the recently discovered … Continue reading Archaeologists uncover stones in Israel matching road where ‘Jesus walked’

Archaeologists in Iowa have discovered a well-preserved mastodon skull, believed to be around 13,600 years old, which could provide insights into human interaction with the ancient animal. Excavated over two weeks from a creek bank in Wayne, the site was first identified in 2022. The Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) plans to examine the bones for evidence of human activity, such as cut marks … Continue reading Archaeologists unearth 13,000-year-old mastodon skull in Iowa

Archaeologists excavating a cemetery in Suzdal, Russia, uncovered two medieval skeletons buried with battle axes and equestrian gear, suggesting they were high-status individuals. The site, known as the Gnezdilovo burial ground, has been under study since 2020. Among the discoveries, a burial of a 35- to 40-year-old man featured artifacts like a bronze lyre-shaped belt buckle and a metal battle ax popular in the 11th … Continue reading Battle axes unearthed in a cemetery in Russia may have belonged to 11th-century taxmen

Archaeologists in northwestern England have uncovered a beautifully preserved Roman mosaic in Wroxeter, once the fourth-largest city in Roman Britain. The mosaic, featuring vibrant colors and images of fish and dolphins, was likely part of a wealthy individual’s dining room designed to impress guests. This is the first mosaic found at Wroxeter since 1859. The mosaic’s preservation is attributed to being buried under building debris, … Continue reading Mosaic buried for thousands of years uncovered by archaeologists

Last week, Serbian authorities recovered a Nazi warship sunk in 1944 in the Danube near Prahovo. The ship, one of 200 intentionally scuttled by German forces to prevent capture by the advancing Russian army, was found laden with explosives. Serbia’s Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Goran Vesić, announced that this recovery is part of a broader effort to remove 21 sunken vessels, with plans to … Continue reading Sunken Nazi explosives-filled warship recovered after 80 years underwater

Artifacts discovered over 100 years ago in Iraq, dating back 4,000 years, have recently been fully translated and linked to astronomical events. These Babylonian clay tablets, housed in the British Museum since the late 19th century, contain 61 predictions, many warning of disasters like the death of a king or the fall of a nation, often associated with lunar eclipses. The Babylonians believed that celestial … Continue reading Scientists unlock secrets of 4,000-year-old Babylonian tablets

Colombia’s government announced the discovery of new artifacts from the legendary Spanish galleon San Jose, following the first robotic exploration of the shipwreck, which sank in 1708 near Cartagena. The San Jose, often called the “holy grail” of shipwrecks, is believed to hold treasures worth billions. The recent exploration, covering an area equivalent to 40 soccer fields, revealed new items including an anchor, jugs, and … Continue reading New artifacts found in “holy grail” of shipwrecks that sank 3 centuries ago with billions of dollars in treasure

Archaeologists may have uncovered evidence of a long-lost synagogue in the ancient Israeli city of Chorazin, where Jesus is said to have performed miracles. While excavating a third-century synagogue in Korazim National Park, they discovered the remains of an older temple beneath it, potentially dating back to the first century. The excavation revealed pottery, coins, and large boulders, suggesting the site could be the synagogue … Continue reading Archaeologists make ‘groundbreaking’ discovery at Biblical site where Jesus is said to have performed miracles

A Mexican pyramid used by the ancient Purépecha tribe for human sacrifices has partially collapsed after severe storms on July 30, leading descendants to fear it may be a “supernatural sign of impending doom” and a possible natural disaster. The Yácata pyramid, located at the Ihuatzio archaeological site in Michoacán, suffered significant damage due to heavy rainfall and prior drought conditions. The Mexican National Institute … Continue reading Ancient pyramid collapses in Mexico in ‘supernatural sign of impending doom’, warns tribe who built it