Hidden in a Croatian Cave, Archaeologists Have Made a Perplexing Discovery They Say “Remains Open to Interpretation”
Archaeologists in Croatia have made an unusual discovery at an ancient ritual site along the country’s southern coast.
archaeology
An “Impossible” Crystal, 8000-Year-Old Lost Technology, and a Radical Approach to Solving Consciousness Mysteries
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.
14,500-Year-Old Evidence of Human Presence in South America? Experts Fire Back at Controversial Study Challenging Age of Chile’s Monte Verde Site
Experts have responded sharply to a controversial study published earlier this year challenging the age of Chile’s famous Monte Verde site.
11,000-Year-Old Major Discovery in Canada Could Challenge “Everything We Thought We Knew” About North American Prehistory
A major archaeological discovery at Sturgeon Lake First Nation in Canada is challenging long-held ideas about life in early North America.
This Ancient Roman Artifact’s Weird Properties Point to Evidence of 1600-Year-Old Nanotechnology, Scientists Say
Scientists have revealed a precocious nanotech discovery involving an ancient Roman artifact that predates the modern development of nanotechnology by an astounding 1,600 years.
Webb Spies a “Super-Earth,” an Ancient Surprise in the Pyrenees, and the “Cyclops” of Our Evolutionary Past
This week from The Debrief, scientists have successfully characterized several surface features on a nearby "Super-Earth," along with other recent discoveries in science and technology.
A Mysterious 4000-Year-Old “Lost” Writing System Has Finally Been Decoded, in a Modern “Rosetta Stone” Breakthrough
An ancient mystery has been solved by a French archaeologist who successfully cracked the code to an undeciphered Iranian writing system.
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.
12,000-Year-Old Discovery at Karahan Tepe, “the World’s First Village,” Reveals an Ancient Key to Human Survival
New discoveries at Göbekli Tepe’s enigmatic sister site, Karahan Tepe, reveal a major clue to how these ancient Neolithic innovators thrived.
Time Mysteries, Radio Signals from Beneath Antarctica, and the Recovery of a “Lost” Ancient Manuscript
This week, time could hold the key to resolving quantum mysteries, researchers have determined the source of strange radio signals emanating from beneath Antarctica, and more.
These Weird Medieval Artifacts Are Helping Archaeologists Unearth the Hidden World of Human Senses in the Middle Ages
New research reveals how curious medieval artifacts are helping uncover the hidden world of sensory experiences in the Middle Ages.
9,000-Year-Old Structures Deep Beneath the Great Lakes Reveal Archaeological Evidence of an Ancient “Lost World”
Curious sunken features beneath the Great Lakes are helping to reveal clues to a lost chapter in the prehistory of the ancient Americas.
Webb Spots an Odd Ancient Signal, an 800-Year-Old Solar Storm, and Robot Dogs on Mars
This week, the Webb Telescope spots an unusual signal, China's ancient astronomers are vindicated, and robotic dogs could be headed to Mars.
A 2000-Year-Old ‘Lost Script’ Has Been Deciphered—Now It May Help Solve the Enduring Mystery of Ancient Teotihuacan
The meaning behind Teotihuacan’s enigmatic symbols is finally coming to light, revealing new evidence of an early Uto-Aztecan writing system.
The Ancient City of Mohenjo-Daro, a “Lost” Archaeological Enigma, Could Be Centuries Older Than Previously Thought
The enigmatic ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro is likely far older than previously believed, according to new geoarchaeological evidence.
A Titanic Cosmic Blast, Advanced Metallurgy in Ancient Egypt, and the Consciousness-Time Connection
This week, a gravitational wave discovery, the enigma Egypt's Middle Kingdom metallurgists, and the connection between time perception and consciousness are all featured.
Roman Sanctuary Found Beneath Frankfurt Could Transform What We Know About Religion on Rome’s Frontier
Archaeologists uncover a vast Roman sanctuary in Nida, revealing new clues about ritual life and religion on the empire’s frontier.
New Genetic Study of the Famous ‘Shroud of Turin’ Reopens Debate Over the Controversial Relic’s Origins
A new genetic study of the famous Shroud of Turin has revealed the complex interactions it has had with its environment over the centuries.
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.
Webb Telescope Makes an Odd Discovery, Mysterious Light Vortices, and Serpent Mound’s Mystery Deepens
This week, the Webb Telescope is peering at 3I/ATLAS, ligth wave vortices are breaking the universal speed limit, and an iconic American archaeology site's mystery is deepening.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Huge Stone Structures in Quebec, the Discovery of a “Space Laser,” and the U.S. Army’s New “Super-Foam”
This week, ancient stone structures in Canada, a "space laser," and the U.S. Army's "super-foam" are in the news, along with the latest developments in the U.S. campaign in Iran.
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.
NASA Issues an Artemis Update, a Teleportation Breakthrough, and Tardigrades in Martian Soil
This week, as NASA announces massive changes to its Artemis program, quantum teleportation, tardigrades, and space science are also making the news.
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.
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.
Hidden Human Senses, a “Sophisticated” Artifact Challenges Early Timelines, and a New Webb Telescope Discovery
This week, the discovery of "hidden" human senses, an ancient Egyptian artifact discovery that challenges existing timelines, and a Webb Telescope discovery are all in the news.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A “Master Regulator” in the Brain, Unearthing a Major Archaeological Find, and How the Body Brews its Own Alcohol
This week in stories we're covering at The Debrief, scientists have identified a "master regulator" in the brain, and an ancient Roman factory is unearthed.
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.
Secret ‘Sonic Weapon’ Claims, a New Astronomical Mystery, and a 2000-Year-Old Toxic Surprise
This week in recent news from The Debrief, we look at claims of a secret U.S. sonic weapon, an astronomical mystery, and a toxic archaeological discovery.
2000-Year-Old Grave Reveals Mysterious Red Toxic Surprise, Confirming Once Unknown Ancient Burial Practice
The presence of a mysterious red substance has revealed a toxic discovery in a 2,000-year-old grave in southern Ukraine.
Archaeologists Have Discovered a Massive Ancient Structure in Ireland—It Could Be the Largest Prehistoric Site of Its Kind
Archaeologists have discovered one of the largest settlements ever identified in Ireland's Baltinglass hillfort landscape.
Space, Archaeology, Consciousness, and the Science of Tomorrow: The Top Science Stories of 2025
2025 has been an exceptional year for discoveries, and we here at The Debrief have kept a watchful eye throughout the last twelve months as several major scientific discoveries and important technological achievements have occurred throughout the year.
Archaeology in 2025: Here Are Several of This Year’s Most Fascinating Ancient Discoveries
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.
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.