ancient Archives

Newly Discovered “Witch Croc” Reveals Dinosaur-Like Evolution in the Triassic

Austin Burgess·May 30, 2026

A newly described fossil from Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, belongs to the crocodile family tree, but unlike most crocodile-line archosaurs, it walked on two legs, had small arms, and a toothless beak.

A Subtle Shift in the Nile May Explain the Rise of an Ancient African Empire

Austin Burgess·May 6, 2026

Recent research from the University of Michigan now provides a geological explanation for why this part of the Nile became the foundation for Kushite civilization.

Scientists Propose Our Eyes Evolved From This Ancient “Cyclops” Organ

Austin Burgess·May 4, 2026

Deep in human evolutionary history, before anything recognizable as a vertebrate existed, one of our oldest relatives had a single eye sitting on top of its head.

Missing for 2000 Years, the “Lost” Verses from This Ancient Greek Philosopher’s Writings Have Finally Been Discovered

Austin Burgess·April 8, 2026

A papyrologist at the University of Liège has made a remarkable discovery in the archives of the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo.

AI Has Revealed Unexpected Connections Between Ancient Alphabets Across Continents

Austin Burgess·April 1, 2026

Historians have observed that some letters in the Armenian, Georgian, and Caucasian Albanian alphabets closely resemble characters in Ethiopic, the ancient script of the Horn of Africa.

Ancient DNA Reveals How Bronze Age Europeans Adapted to a Changing World

Austin Burgess·March 12, 2026

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 Greek Inscription Found in a Syrian Mosque Reopens Debate Over Roman “Temple of the Sun”

Austin Burgess·February 28, 2026

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.

This Ancient Chinese Mind-Body Exercise Has a Major Heart Health Benefit, New Study Finds

Austin Burgess·February 24, 2026

Recent clinical trials show that baduanjin, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, can lower blood pressure as much as brisk walking.

This Remote Greek Peninsula May Preserve a Living Link to the Ancient World

Austin Burgess·February 14, 2026

A remote peninsula in southern Greece may hold a living genetic link to the ancient Mediterranean world.

Closer to Home: New DNA Analysis Reframes the Story of the “Beachy Head Woman”

Austin Burgess·January 29, 2026

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.

This Wild Potato May Rewrite What We Know About Life Before Farming

Austin Burgess·January 28, 2026

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.

Ancient DNA Reveals a Virus That Learned to Live Inside the Human Genome

Austin Burgess·January 17, 2026

A virus that infects nearly all children early in life has, in rare cases, been present within human DNA for thousands of years.

A Jurassic-Era Discovery Reveals How Earth’s Orbit May Help Explain Why Some Shale Layers Are Rich in Oil

Austin Burgess·January 14, 2026

New research reveals the role of our planet's orbit in why some shale layers are rich in organic material.

Ancient Teeth Reveal a Surprise That Challenges Our Ideas on Early Migrations Into England

Austin Burgess·January 13, 2026

A recent bioarchaeological study shows that human migration in England continued from the end of Roman rule through the Norman Conquest.

Fossilized Bones Can Reveal Chemical Traces of Ancient Biology, New Research Demonstrates

Austin Burgess·January 12, 2026

A new study in Nature led by scientists at New York University reports that fossil bones as old as 3 million years still contain thousands of preserved metabolic molecules.

Archaeology in 2025: Here Are Several of This Year’s Most Fascinating Ancient Discoveries

Micah Hanks·December 27, 2025

Here’s a look at some of our favorite archaeological discoveries from 2025, and some of the greatest new insights we’ve obtained about the ancient world throughout the year.

4000-Year-Old Discovery Offers Breakthrough in the Mystery of What Fueled a Bronze Age Plague

Austin Burgess·December 16, 2025

Scientists have unraveled how an early form of Bronze Age plague that differed from the Black Death spread across Europe.

This Enigmatic Ancient Script Hidden Within the Dead Sea Scrolls Was Thought to be Indecipherable—Until Now

Micah Hanks·December 13, 2025

A researcher has solved one of the longstanding riddles of the Dead Sea Scrolls by deciphering a hidden script within the famous texts.

New Research Has Revealed a Big Surprise About Baby Dinosaurs, Upending Past Thinking About These Ancient Reptiles

Austin Burgess·December 10, 2025

Emerging research suggests that dinosaur babies didn’t just grow into adults—they transformed their environments.

Lost for 3,000 Years, an Ancient Babylonian Hymn Has Been Restored Using Artificial Intelligence

Austin Burgess·November 18, 2025

A team of researchers has used artificial intelligence to restore a 3,000-year-old Babylonian hymn inscribed on cuneiform tablets.

Oldest Alphabet Discovered in Ancient Syrian Tomb Redefines History of Writing

Chrissy Newton·November 21, 2024

A research team at Johns Hopkins University has discovered evidence of the world's oldest alphabetic writing, carved onto finger-length clay cylinders, outdating other scripts by 500 years.

Penis Worms Unseat Hermit Crabs as First to Live “Hermit Life”

Christopher Plain·November 12, 2021

Sorry hermit crabs, but you weren’t the first to steal other folk’s discarded homes and make them your...

Coronavirus Wrote Itself Into Our DNA 20,000 Years Ago, New Study Says

Studying Human DNA, Geneticists Found That There Was a Coronavirus Epidemic In Our Ancient Past

Raquel Santos·October 7, 2021

Researchers conducted a study discovering that a coronavirus outbreak occurred about 20,000 years ago, leaving traces in modern DNA.

ancient