The discovery of a 4,000-year-old fortified town called al-Natah in Saudi Arabia’s Khaybar oasis reveals early shifts from nomadic to urban life. Archaeologists, led by Guillaume Charloux, uncovered a 14.5-km wall surrounding the town, suggesting a structured habitat that housed up to 500 people around 2,400 BC. Abandoned around 1,000 years later for unknown reasons, al-Natah challenges previous views of Northwest Arabia as a barren … Continue reading Bronze Age town with tombs full of weapons discovered hidden in Arabian oasis

Archaeologists in Poland uncovered the remains of a woman, referred to as Zosia, in August 2022, found in a gravesite with a sickle around her neck and a triangular padlock on her foot. This 400-year-old burial, discovered in an unmarked cemetery in the village of Pien, suggests the woman was considered a vampire, and the sickle was placed to prevent her from rising from the … Continue reading Archaeologists reconstruct face of 400-year-old “vampire” buried with iron sickle across her neck

A graduate student analyzing drone data in Campeche, Mexico, discovered a vast ancient Mayan city, named “Valeriana,” hidden beneath the jungle. The site, covering an area 1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C., contains 6,674 structures, including pyramids similar to those found at Chichén Itzá and Tikal. This significant find was made using LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology, which penetrates dense foliage to reveal … Continue reading Ancient Mayan city is found in a Mexican jungle

Restoration efforts at the Temple of Esna, an ancient Egyptian site located over 30 miles south of Luxor, are uncovering vibrant, previously hidden details in its decorations. Collaborating with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, experts from the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies (IANES) have been working to reveal the temple’s original colors and inscriptions, which had been obscured by soot from fires … Continue reading Archaeologists Uncover Long-Hidden Details in Ancient Egyptian Temple Art

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an Armenian church dating back nearly 2,000 years in Artaxata, making it the oldest known structure of its kind in Armenia and one of the oldest in the world. Conducted by Germany’s University of Münster and the Armenian Academy of Sciences, the excavation is part of the Armenian-German Artaxata Project, initiated in 2018. Experts believe the church was built … Continue reading Archaeologists uncover one of the world’s oldest churches

Archaeologists have uncovered a tomb containing at least 12 human skeletons and artifacts estimated to be over 2,000 years old beneath the Khaznah, or Treasury, in Petra, Jordan. Led by Dr. Pearce Paul Creasman of the American Center of Research, the team discovered the tomb after conducting ground-penetrating radar scans that revealed similarities to previously found tombs. This excavation, filmed for Discovery Channel’s “Expedition Unknown,” … Continue reading Secret tomb found under ‘Indiana Jones’ filming location in Petra

Archaeologists excavating the tomb of Jifai-Hapi, a governor of Egypt’s Asyut region during the Middle Kingdom, have discovered the burial site of his daughter, Edi. The find, announced by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on October 2, 2024, revealed a burial chamber located about 50 feet down, containing two intricately painted coffins, one inside the other. The larger coffin measured approximately 8.5 feet, while … Continue reading Archaeologists unearth well-preserved 4,000-year-old Egyptian tomb

Archaeologists have discovered over 100 ancient jade artefacts at the Yuanbaoshan site in Chifeng city, Inner Mongolia, offering insights into the origins of Chinese civilization. Among the finds are three jade dragons, each over 5,000 years old, with one being the largest of its kind found in northern China. These “pig-headed dragons” are linked to the Hongshan culture, known for producing some of the earliest … Continue reading Mysterious 5,000-year-old jade dragons could reveal origins of Chinese civilization

Archaeologists in Peru have uncovered the first known painted throne room of a powerful Moche woman at the site of Pañamarca, dating back to the 7th century. This “Hall of the Moche Imaginary” features intricate paintings depicting a Moche hero and numerous images of a powerful woman, suggesting she held significant authority in the society. Notable finds include greenstone beads and human hair on the … Continue reading Ancient throne room of powerful Moche woman discovered in Peru

Archaeologists have revealed new insights into the oldest tombstone in the United States, dating back to 1627, located in the Jamestown settlement and believed to belong to English knight Sir George Yeardley. A recent study published in the International Journal of Historical Archaeology found that the tombstone’s black limestone is of European origin, likely sourced from Belgium, rather than North America. This finding highlights the transatlantic trade … Continue reading Mysterious gravestone in Virginia reveals 400-year-old secrets

Dozens of medieval and ancient skeletons have been discovered in the basement of a home in Corbeil-Essonnes, a suburb of Paris, during an excavation by the preventive archaeology firm Archeodunum. The excavation began after a homeowner accidentally found a skeleton while renovating. A total of 38 graves were uncovered, indicating the site was used as a cemetery from the 3rd to the 10th century. Previous … Continue reading Accidental Basement Find Reveals Dozens of Centuries-Old Skeletons

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