A “Magical” Ancient Curse Artifact Turned Up in an Unexpected Location—and in the Wrong Language
A cursed ancient Roman tablet, intended to invoke divine and demonic wrath upon one’s enemies, was discovered in the Netherlands.
ancient Egypt
“It Was Completely Shocking to Me”: Archaeologists Discover the Earliest Monumental Egyptian Hieroglyphs Written 1,000 Years Before the Pyramids
Yale Archaeologists have discovered the earliest monumental Egyptian hieroglyphs, predating the Great Pyramid of Giza by over 1,000 years.
A Single Jawbone From Egypt Is Changing How Scientists Think About Ape Origins
For much of the past century, fossils from East Africa have shaped our understanding of ape evolution. Now, a jawbone found in the Egyptian desert adds a new dimension to that story.
Great Pyramid Construction Theory Reveals New Link to Mysterious “Void” Within Egypt’s Largest Ancient Megastructure
New research into how the Great Pyramid of Giza was built may offer clues about a mysterious void within Egypt’s largest monument.
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 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.
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.
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.
Archaeologists Unearth Ancient Egyptian ‘Sun Temple’ Cult Site, Confirming Century-Old Speculations
An enormous ancient Egyptian sun temple from the Fifth Dynasty has been excavated by an Italian archaeological team.
Mysterious Jars Found in King Tut’s Tomb Have Perplexed Scholars for a Century—New Research Finally Reveals What They Held
King Tut’s alabaster jars have long held mystery. A new Yale study finds chemical evidence suggesting they once contained opium.
Radiocarbon Study Redraws the Timeline of Ancient Egypt’s First Pharaohs
New data from radiocarbon dating is offering deeper insights into ancient Egypt and its relationship with the volcanic eruption at Thera.
Ancient DNA Reveals Your Fur Baby Is a 2,000 Year Old North African Import
A new ancient DNA study argues that the familiar house cat is a relative latecomer, carried from North Africa into Europe only in 2,000 years ago.
Archaeologists Say Karnak Temple’s Builders Modified the Nile Landscape for Religious Symbolism
An analysis of the ancient Egyptian temple of Karnak suggests the site was selected and its terrain altered to honor the creation mythology.
This Unusual 4000-Year-Old Statue is Challenging Our Ideas on Ancient Egyptian Traditions
Archaeologists have unearthed a 4,000-year-old limestone Egyptian statue that's unlike any previously discovered.
12,000-Year-Old Evidence Reveals Smoke-Drying Mummies Preceded Egypt’s Pyramids
A new study suggests that the people of ancient southern China and Southeast Asia practiced mummification by curing bodies over low, smoky fires.
Shrouded in Mystery, Ancient Rock Carvings Offer New Insights into Egypt’s Enigmatic First Dynasty
A piece of ancient Egyptian petroglyph dating back to the First Dynasty offers new insights into the origins of the state.
Researchers Have Cracked the 4,500-Year-Old Genome of a Mummy From Egypt’s First Pyramid Age
An Egyptian genome has finally been unraveled, thanks to a sample from an at least 4,500 year-old mummy dating back to the pyramids.
5,000-Year-Old Missing Formula for ‘Egyptian Blue’ Reveals Unusual Optical, Magnetic, and Biological Properties
Scientists recreating the lost formula for 5,000-year-old Egyptian Blue affirm its unusual optical, magnetic, and biological properties.
Lost for 3,500 Years, Archaeologists Unearth Long-Missing Tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II
A Pharaoh's tomb belonging to Thutmose II, lost in the depths of the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, has been discovered.
Compelling Theory Suggests Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Builders Used This Technology to Lift Massive Stones
Ancient Egyptian pyramid builders may have used hydraulic technology to move the massive stones used in the monuments' construction.
Analysis of 4,000-Year-Old Egyptian Skull Reveals Something ‘Extraordinary’ That Leaves Researchers ‘Stunned’
Scientists studying a 4,000-year-old Egyptian skull say they were left 'stunned' when they found something 'extraordinary.'
This Long Lost Waterway May Hold the Secrets to How the Pyramids Were Built
New research sheds light as to how the pyramids were built, but also why they rest in the middle of a barren desert.
A 5,000-Year-Old Egyptian Tomb is Revealing its Secrets, and What Was Found Inside Could Rewrite Ancient History
A team of archaeologists studying a 5,000-year-old Egyptian tomb say their unexpected findings may dramatically alter previously held beliefs about the country's ancient history.