archaeology Archives

Lost for 1800 Years, a Mysterious Altar Linked to an Ancient Roman Cult Resurfaces as Drought Drains Europe’s Rivers

Micah Hanks·August 22, 2026

An unexpected discovery by archaeologists has revealed an ancient cult object in the suddenly shallow waters of one of Europe’s longest rivers.

A New Discovery at Göbekli Tepe Could Reshape Our Understanding of One of the Ancient World’s Most Perplexing Sites

Micah Hanks·August 22, 2026

The enigmatic Neolithic site of Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, home to some of the world’s earliest advanced megalithic construction and sophisticated symbolic art, continues to surprise archaeologists.

Scientists Have a Plan to Detect Exotic Aliens, New Gamma Wave Glasses, and an Ancient Roman ‘Megastructure’ Resurfaces

Micah Hanks·August 18, 2026

In this week's stories from The Debrief, we look at how scientists have a plan that could help find alien life, and other science and technology stories in the news.

Archaeologists Have Unearthed a Rare and Mysterious Runestone at an Ancient Site in the Faroe Islands

Micah Hanks·August 15, 2026

An ancient runestone has been discovered on the floor of a structure being excavated by archaeologists at Sondum on Sandoy.

Mysterious Ancient Inscriptions Decoded, a Phobos Photobomb, a New Time Crystal, and New Evidence of Neolithic Technology

Micah Hanks·August 11, 2026

This week, we look at archaeologists decoding mysterious stone inscriptions, a rare cosmic alignment over Mars, and more stories in the news.

These Curious Ancient Greek Artifacts Have Extraterrestrial Origins—Why They Vanished 3000 Years Ago Remains a Mystery

Micah Hanks·August 9, 2026

New evidence suggests high-status individuals in ancient Greek society wore jewelry with origins that were literally out-of-this-world.

Mysterious Engravings on Rare 9,000-Year-Old Projectiles May Reveal a Forgotten Symbolic Tradition in Ancient Anatolia

Micah Hanks·August 8, 2026

A collection of unusual 9,000-year-old engraved projectiles reveal the existence of a mysterious ancient symbolic tradition.

Deep in a Spanish Cave, Archaeologists Discovered a Puzzling Set of Ancient Inscriptions—Could They Be Evidence of a Mysterious Subterranean Cult?

Micah Hanks·July 28, 2026

A remarkable collection of ancient inscriptions within a cave in eastern Spain is providing archaeologists with deep new insights into the ancient religious practices it once housed.

Antarctica’s Unusual Islands, 5,000-Year-Old ‘Sophisticated’ Egyptian Technology, and a 1.4-Million-Year-Old Fossil Surprise

Micah Hanks·July 28, 2026

This week in stories we're covering at The Debrief... recent NASA satellite imagery, archaeological discoveries, and more are in the news.

How Did Fish Suddenly Appear in the Empty Waters of Ancient Norwegian Lakes? A 7000-Year-Old Archaeological Discovery Provides the Answer

Micah Hanks·July 22, 2026

7,000-year-old fish traps reveal the clues to the longstanding mystery of when fish were initially placed in high mountain Norwegian lakes.

An “Impossible” Physics Breakthrough, Hannibal’s Elephants, and an “Unusual” Underwater Archaeological Discovery

Micah Hanks·July 21, 2026

This week in stories we're tracking at The Debrief, we look at an "impossible" physics breakthrough, the mystery of Hannibal's elephants, and more.

2000-Year-Old Evidence of a Cult Shrine to Odysseus, the Legendary Hero of Homer’s ‘Odyssey,’ Has Been Uncovered at Ithaca

Micah Hanks·July 15, 2026

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of an ancient cult site devoted to the legendary hero of Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey.

A Solution to a Famous Feynman Problem, ‘Psychedelic’ Breathwork, and an Odd Stone Sphere is Unearthed

Micah Hanks·July 14, 2026

This week, a famous physics problem is solved, along with new insights into psychedelic states and an archaeological discovery "unlike anything previously documented."

Mysterious Stone Sphere Unearthed at Ancient Site in Azerbaijan Baffles Archaeologists, Raises New Questions About Neolithic Technology

Micah Hanks·July 12, 2026

A stone sphere unearthed at an archaeological site in Azerbaijan is reportedly unlike anything previously documented in the South Caucasus.

Major New Study Uncovers “Hemisphere-wide Evidence” Challenging Past Views on How Ancient Americans Survived

Micah Hanks·July 9, 2026

A new study challenges the idea that ancient Americans were diverse hunter-gatherers, arguing instead that they were highly specialized big-game hunters.

Archaeologists Opened a Chinese Lord’s 2,600-Year-Old Tomb—and Discovered Dozens of “Deactivated” Metallic Artifacts

Micah Hanks·July 7, 2026

Why were dozens of bronze artifacts discovered within an ancient Chinese tomb "deactivated" at the time of their placement?

Surprising Evidence of a ‘Lost’ Ancient City is Emerging from Beneath the Sands of Egypt’s Western Desert

Micah Hanks·July 6, 2026

Archaeologists have found the remains of an ancient 'lost' city in Egypt’s western desert, Ministry of Antiquity officials have revealed.

One of the Ancient World’s ‘Seven Wonders’ Resurfaces, a Red Planet Photo Op, and an “Impossible” Artifact

Micah Hanks·June 30, 2026

This week, The Debrief looks at the rediscovery of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a stunning new image of Mars, and much more.

“We Don’t Have Any Records So Far”: Archaeologists Discover Ancient ‘Monolith’ in Mexico Unlike Anything Previously Seen

Micah Hanks·June 30, 2026

Archaeologists in Mexico report the “unprecedented” discovery of an unusual monolith and pre-Hispanic ruins unlike others in the region.

Ancient Romans Buried Secret Coin Hoards Across Europe and Never Retrieved Them—Now Archaeologists Finally Know Why

Micah Hanks·June 29, 2026

Scholars may have solved an enduring archaeological riddle: why ancient Romans concealed massive coin hoards and never returned for them.

Lost for Centuries, One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Has Been Rediscovered, and is Now Rising from the Mediterranean Sea

Micah Hanks·June 28, 2026

After more than seven centuries, the third-longest-surviving of the seven ancient wonders is rising again, offering archaeologists clues to the appearance and construction of this historic marvel.

2,700-Year-Old Assyrian Artifact Made from Odd Material Should Have Been “Impossible” to Craft with Ancient Tools, Archaeologists Say

Micah Hanks·June 26, 2026

Archaeologists have unearthed an artifact they say should have been "impossible" to craft using techniques available to artisans in the Near East nearly 2,700 years ago.

Tiny Artifact Found by Metal Detectorist Complicates the Story of Sutton Hoo, May Rewrite the History of Early English Metallurgy

Micah Hanks·June 23, 2026

A chance discovery is challenging archaeologists’ understanding of one of England’s most famous archaeological sites.

“This is Far from an Ordinary Burial”: Archaeologists Have Made Rare Discoveries in an ‘Elite’ Siberian Grave

Micah Hanks·June 17, 2026

A burial site uncovered by archaeologists in southern Siberia has revealed a series of unusual discoveries.

La Blanca artifact tab figurine Guatemala

This Unusual Artifact Resembling a TV Remote Could Reveal the Oldest Evidence of Numerical Calculation in Mesoamerica

Micah Hanks·June 13, 2026

Archaeologists have discovered an unusual artifact they say could represent the earliest known use of written numbers ever discovered in Mesoamerica.

2,600-Year-Old Underground Discovery Reveals a Mysterious Ancient Structure Hidden Below Egypt’s Nile Delta

Micah Hanks·June 10, 2026

A curious recent discovery has revealed a promising new underground archaeological find at the ancient site of Buto in Egypt’s Nile Delta.

An Explorer Vanished Searching for a ‘Lost Civilization’ in the Amazon—Now Archaeologists Think They May Have Found It

Micah Hanks·June 9, 2026

Advancements in archaeology made with LiDAR and other technologies are revealing evidence of a "lost civilization" in the heart of the Amazon.

Mysterious Artificial Islands in Scotland Have Long Perplexed Archaeologists—A New Discovery Reveals Clues to Their Ancient Origins

Micah Hanks·June 9, 2026

Scattered throughout Scotland’s ancient lochs, curious structures known as crannogs have long intrigued archaeologists and historians.

5,500-Year-Old Discoveries in a Remote Mountain Cave Reveal Evidence of Prehistoric Industry Linked to the Dawn of Metallurgy

Micah Hanks·June 6, 2026

Strange green stones, possible hidden burials, and other discoveries have been made in a remote cave high in the Pyrenees mountains.

4,500-Year-Old Discovery on a Remote Island Could Change Everything We Know About Ancient Nautical Technology in the High Arctic

Micah Hanks·June 5, 2026

A discovery by archaeologists on a remote island in the High Arctic could upend past thinking on ancient seafaring technology.

Stonehenge Mystery Deepens as New Study Reveals Altar Stone’s 466-Mile Journey Across Ancient Britain

Tim McMillan·June 4, 2026

New study reveals how Stonehenge's Altar Stone may have traveled hundreds of miles across prehistoric Britain before arriving at the monument.

A Massive 6000-Year-Old ‘Mega-Structure’ Unearthed by Archaeologists Reveals Links to a Mysterious Early European Culture

Micah Hanks·June 3, 2026

A massive discovery in northeastern Romania has revealed links to a curious ancient culture from ancient Eastern Europe’s Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods.

Hidden in a Croatian Cave, Archaeologists Have Made a Perplexing Discovery They Say “Remains Open to Interpretation”

Micah Hanks·May 28, 2026

Archaeologists in Croatia have made an unusual discovery at an ancient ritual site along the country’s southern coast.

An “Impossible” Crystal, 8000-Year-Old Lost Technology, and a Radical Approach to Solving Consciousness Mysteries

Micah Hanks·May 19, 2026

This week, an "impossible" crystal formed during a historic nuclear blast, 8000-year-old technology "lost to history," and radical approches to solving consciousness questions are in the news.