12,000-Year-Old Native American Dice Rewrite the Ancient History of Probability
Ancient dice dating back 12,000 years suggest early humans understood chance and probability long before mathematics emerged.
Archaeology
Ohio’s Serpent Mound Still Fuels Debate, as Haunting Questions Remain About America’s Most Mysterious Earthwork
Ohio’s famous Serpent Mound has long remained one of America’s most iconic, mysterious, and hotly-debated prehistoric monuments.
2,600-Year-Old Shipwreck Reveals an Unexpected Discovery, Challenging Past Ideas on the Tools of Ancient Warfare
Raw chunks of iron and other artifacts recovered from an ancient shipwreck are challenging archaeologists’ understanding of trade and war in the Middle East 2,600 years ago.
“A Microcosm of Life Itself”: Archaeologists Use ‘Radioactive’ Method to Date Historic Coral Polynesian Structures
Scientists have revealed a new timeline for historic coral structures in French Polynesia thanks to the modern uranium-thorium dating method
Hidden Deep in a Polish Forest for Centuries, a ‘Lost’ Medieval Town Has Resurfaced
A medieval town vanished in the early 19th century, becoming another of history’s forgotten chapters that was ultimately lost to time; until now.
Bronze Age Artifact Made from ‘Space Metal’ Unearthed at a Sacrificial Site is Confirmed as the Oldest of Its Kind
A curious Bronze Age artifact unearthed at a ceremonial site in southwestern China has now been identified as the earliest known and the largest of its kind, according to newly published research.
A Mysterious Ancient Egyptian Text Reveals Evidence of Advanced Medicine 1000 Years Earlier Than Once Thought
An obscure ancient Egyptian text discovered in the 19th century led to discoveries that rewrote the timeline of early medical knowledge.
Ancient “Machine Gun” May Have Been Used in Pompeii Siege, Study Finds
New study suggests Pompeii siege damage may reveal use of an ancient rapid-fire weapon, reshaping views of Roman warfare.
Rujm el-Hiri, Israel’s Mysterious “Stonehenge of the East” Is Not Alone, New Research Reveals
Israel’s strange Wheel of Ghosts turns out not to be so unusual after all, as new research has uncovered many similar sites in the region.
Controversial Study Challenges Age of Famous Monte Verde Site, Reigniting One of Archaeology’s Greatest Debates
A new study questions the age of Chile's Monte Verde archaeological site, reigniting debate over when the first people reached South America.
Nearly Two Thousand Years After Romans Played an Ancient, Mysterious Board Game, AI Figured Out the Rules
Simulated gameplay by AI agents has finally decoded the rules of an ancient mysterious board game that has puzzled scientists for decades
“Profound Social and Cognitive Changes Were Already Underway”: 15,000 Years Ago, Humans Shaped Clay for Ritualistic Purposes
The discovery of ancient clay beads made by children and adults thousands of years before the use of pottery suggests a ritualistic purpose
New Evidence Shows Neanderthals Exploited This Versatile Natural Material for Multiple Functions
Experiments show Neanderthals extracted birch tar and used it for several applications, including its antibiotic wound healing properties
1,700-Year-Old Roman “Advanced Engineering” Unearthed in a Rare Archaeological Discovery
A rare 1,700-year-old discovery by archaeologists in Turkey highlights the use of advanced engineering of the Roman-era.
“Very Unusual” Underwater Structure in Norway Linked to 1,100-Year-Old Records Describing a Medieval “Whale Trap”
Divers investigating a mysterious underwater structure in Norway may have found the earliest known example of a medieval “whale trap.”
This Ancient Invention Reveals the Ice Age Technology That Propelled Human Expansion Against Earth’s Frigid Temperatures
New research reveals how the invention of a crucial Ice Age technology helped humans defend against extreme cold during ancient global migrations.
Ancient DNA Reveals Ice Age Forests in the Lost World of Doggerland
Thousands of years before the North Sea flooded the region, a vast landscape known as Doggerland once connected Britain to mainland Europe.
Ancient DNA Reveals How Bronze Age Europeans Adapted to a Changing World
An interdisciplinary study recently published in Nature Communications provides a clearer picture of life in Central Europe between 1300 and 800 BCE, during the Urnfield culture.
Mysterious Stone Structures in Southern Quebec’s Wilderness Spark Debate Over Canada’s Ancient Past
A Quebec landowner says huge stone formations on his property could point to evidence of a previously unknown chapter in Canadian prehistory.
Archaeologists Discover Ancient ‘King’s Order’ That Confirms a Semi-Legendary Nubian King Was Real
A rare ancient document from Sudan confirms the historical existence of King Qashqash, a Nubian ruler once known only from legend.
Source of Scandinavian Bronze Age Metals Traced to Mysterious Source Thousands of Miles Away
Six previously unknown Bronze Age mines discovered in Spain may be the missing piece in explaining ancient Scandinavian metalwork.
4,200-Year-Old Climate Crisis Forced the Abandonment of China’s Largest Neolithic City
An ancient climate event 4,200 years ago produced disruptions leading to the decline of major societies, offering warnings for the future.
Mysterious Greek Inscription Found in a Syrian Mosque Reopens Debate Over Roman “Temple of the Sun”
A mysterious inscription within the Great Mosque of Homs in Syria is raising new questions over the location of the Roman Temple of the Sun.
60,000-Year-Old “Highly Unusual” Etchings Could Point to Humanity’s Earliest Use of Geometric Design
Evidence of early human use of geometric concepts in prehistoric art has surfaced in Africa, pointing to complex patterns in ancient etchings on ostrich eggshells.
The Fabled “Lost City of Almanzor” Has Eluded Scholars for a Thousand Years—Now This Archaeologist Says He’s Found It
A new archaeological discovery could settle the longstanding debate about the location of the near-mythical "lost city of Almanzor."
40,000 Year Old Markings Reveal What Could Be a Mysterious Ancient Precursor to Writing
Researchers have discovered signs of a Paleolithic writing precursor in ancient tools and sculptures dating back 40,000 years.
Did Archaeologists Uncover Evidence of a Neanderthal “Skull Cult” in This Ancient Spanish Cave?
Archaeologists in Spain have discovered an odd collection of animal bones that may point to evidence of an ancient Neanderthal "skull cult."
A Mysterious Roman Artifact Covered in Odd Markings Puzzled Researchers for More Than a Century—Now AI Has Cracked Its Ancient Code
A curious ancient Roman artifact has drawn renewed attention as researchers report finally solving the mystery of its undeciphered markings.
Easter Island’s Enigmatic Collapse Was More Complex Than Past Theories Suggest, as Researchers Point to Compelling New Evidence
Researchers found that a severe drought began around 1550, leading to a significant drop in rainfall on Easter Island.
Recurring Drought Forced Ancient Bison Hunters to Abandon an 1,100-Year-Old Montana Hunting Ground
While bison still lived in the grasslands and the vegetation patterns remained unchanged, hunters stopped visiting the Bergstrom site, which had been used on and off for generations.
5,300-Year-Old Egyptian Artifact Confirms Existence of “Mechanically Sophisticated” Drilling Technology Before the Age of the Pharaohs
Researchers have identified the earliest known "mechanically sophisticated" drill found in association with ancient Egyptian archaeology.
This Remote Greek Peninsula May Preserve a Living Link to the Ancient World
A remote peninsula in southern Greece may hold a living genetic link to the ancient Mediterranean world.
Danish Cemetery Study Challenges Assumptions About Leprosy Stigma in the Middle Ages
Medieval Christian burials in Denmark were likely more influenced by money than supposed outward markers of sin, according to new research.
12,000-Year-Old Discovery in an Oregon Cave Reveals First Evidence of a “Complex” Ancient American Technology
A 12,000-year-old discovery offers a rare look at the emergence of complex technologies employed by America’s early inhabitants.
Modern CT Scans Are Helping Scientists Unwrap the Lives of Ancient Egyptians
Recent advances in medical imaging are providing new insights into the daily lives of ancient Egyptians.
4,700-Year-Old Discovery Reveals Clues to Cult of Ishtar’s Spread Throughout the Ancient World
Hidden beneath an ancient temple in Assur, Iraq, archaeologists have discovered key evidence of the Cult of Ishtar's origins.
14,000-Year-Old Alaskan Site Could Rewrite the Story of How Humans Reached the Americas
Finds at Alaska’s Holzman site show how Ice Age hunters, mammoths, and tools shaped the earliest journey into North America.
Zapotec Death Owl Sculpture Reveals Ancient Mesoamerican Beliefs in Immaculately Preserved Tomb
An exceptionally well-preserved Zapotec Tomb dating to around 600 CE, recently uncovered in Mexico, vastly expands archaeologists' knowledge.
Closer to Home: New DNA Analysis Reframes the Story of the “Beachy Head Woman”
For over a decade, the Roman-era skeleton known as the Beachy Head Woman has fueled discussions about the identity of the remains as well as migration in ancient Britain.
Early Humans in Asia Were Making Advanced Tools 160,000 Years Ago—Upending a Long-Held Assumptions
Ancient tools from China show early humans made complex, hafted technologies 160,000 years ago, reshaping views of innovation.
This Wild Potato May Rewrite What We Know About Life Before Farming
New research shows that a wild potato was carried across the region more than 10,000 years ago, helping it spread far beyond its natural range.
Previously Unknown Roman Villa Discovered Beneath a Welsh Park is Helping Unearth Britain’s Hidden History
A previously unknown and well-preserved ancient Roman villa complex has been discovered in Margam, Wales, using high-resolution magnetometry and ground radar.
Discovery of World’s Oldest Rock Art Reveals the Path Ancient Humans Took into Ice Age Australia
The world’s oldest known rock art, dating back at least 67,800 years, has been discovered in an Indonesian cave.
Stonehenge Discovery Reveals New Evidence of Mysterious Long Distance Transport System in Ancient Britain
A major debate over the construction of the mysterious Neolithic Stonehenge site in the UK may finally have been resolved.
Archaeologists: Half a Million-Year-Old Elephant Bone Hammer Wasn’t Made by Modern Humans
Archaeologists studying a nearly 500,000-year-old elephant bone hammer have determined the ancient tool was made by Neanderthals or another early human ancestor.
50,000-Year-Old Artifacts Unearthed at Controversial Archaeological Site Could Rewrite the Early Prehistory of the Americas
Discoveries at a controversial southeastern archaeological site could potentially push back the timelines for human arrival in the Americas.
Archaeologists Have Discovered an Ancient “Factory” That Could “Reshape What We Thought We Knew” About Roman Britain
A major ancient Roman industrial site on the River Wear may be the most important discovery of the last hundred years, archaeologists say.
A Remarkable 7th-Century Anglo-Saxon Discovery Has Been Unearthed at a Nuclear Site in the UK
Excavations at a nuclear power site in the United Kingdom have revealed evidence of a "high-status" Anglo-Saxon burial.
Ancient Teeth Reveal a Surprise That Challenges Our Ideas on Early Migrations Into England
A recent bioarchaeological study shows that human migration in England continued from the end of Roman rule through the Norman Conquest.
Massive Iron Age Hoard Unearthed in England, Revealing Rare Implements of Celtic Warfare and Ancient Ritual Artifacts
A massive hoard of Iron Age objects, including an ancient Celtic war trumpet, was discovered during a routine dig in West Norfolk, UK.