Archaeology
![The Great Pyramids of Giza - Khufu's on the right and Cheops's on the left, Giza Plataeu, Egypt](jpg/b44kc9cdps5m7tvdnosf2w-320-80.jpg)
Humans have left clues of our existence throughout time, leaving behind burials, artifacts and written records that hint at our evolution, beliefs, practices and cultures. Studying the archaeological record shows us that the oldest known bones belonging to Homo sapiens are 300,000 years old, or that the world’s oldest civilizations arose at least 6,000 years ago.
Whether you’re looking for facts about the ancient Egyptians, the discovery of an ancient human skull, a gold hoard dating to the fall of the Roman Empire or how the latest technology is helping us find hidden pyramids, Live Science's expert science writers and editors are here to give you the latest coverage on our past with archaeology news, articles and features.
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![An aerial view of the foundation of a building.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/syXhkMQyTmqJ6vEMJJQXzP-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/syXhkMQyTmqJ6vEMJJQXzP-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/syXhkMQyTmqJ6vEMJJQXzP-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/syXhkMQyTmqJ6vEMJJQXzP-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/syXhkMQyTmqJ6vEMJJQXzP-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/syXhkMQyTmqJ6vEMJJQXzP-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/syXhkMQyTmqJ6vEMJJQXzP-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/syXhkMQyTmqJ6vEMJJQXzP-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
1,400-year-old structure discovered near Sutton Hoo in England may have been a pagan temple or cult house
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
The site is part of a royal compound that archaeologists think may have been overseen by King Raedwald.
![We see a rectangular outline of what may be a burial pit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JT5BYY8v92U8iHkaNNFRuA-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JT5BYY8v92U8iHkaNNFRuA-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JT5BYY8v92U8iHkaNNFRuA-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JT5BYY8v92U8iHkaNNFRuA-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JT5BYY8v92U8iHkaNNFRuA-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JT5BYY8v92U8iHkaNNFRuA-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JT5BYY8v92U8iHkaNNFRuA-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JT5BYY8v92U8iHkaNNFRuA-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Possible Arctic graveyard may be northernmost Stone Age cemetery — but there are no human remains to prove it
By Kristina Killgrove published
Archaeologists in Finland have identified a 6,500-year-old site as potential cemetery with 200 graves.
![Two people inspect a collection of artifacts.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z9V8xrHPbx4akiGfKmvafN-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z9V8xrHPbx4akiGfKmvafN-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z9V8xrHPbx4akiGfKmvafN-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z9V8xrHPbx4akiGfKmvafN-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z9V8xrHPbx4akiGfKmvafN-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z9V8xrHPbx4akiGfKmvafN-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z9V8xrHPbx4akiGfKmvafN-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z9V8xrHPbx4akiGfKmvafN-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Nearly 8,000 medieval coins and 7 Bronze Age swords unearthed in Germany
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Volunteer conservationists in Germany have unearthed a collection of artifacts, including Bronze Age swords, medieval coins and jewelry.
![Hoard of copper coins tarnished green and fused together from centuries of corrosion into a single lump that weighs about 12 pounds (5.5 kg).](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3rV3pJJwkWXNctdi8qLXRU-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3rV3pJJwkWXNctdi8qLXRU-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3rV3pJJwkWXNctdi8qLXRU-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3rV3pJJwkWXNctdi8qLXRU-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3rV3pJJwkWXNctdi8qLXRU-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3rV3pJJwkWXNctdi8qLXRU-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3rV3pJJwkWXNctdi8qLXRU-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3rV3pJJwkWXNctdi8qLXRU-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
2,000-year-old coin stash discovered at ancient Buddhist shrine in Pakistan
By Tom Metcalfe published
Researchers think the coins are from a Buddhist shrine established amid much older ruins.
![Five tagged thylacine pelts against a white background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iAB9dsMvce5Jt2mFGAHVak-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iAB9dsMvce5Jt2mFGAHVak-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iAB9dsMvce5Jt2mFGAHVak-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iAB9dsMvce5Jt2mFGAHVak-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iAB9dsMvce5Jt2mFGAHVak-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iAB9dsMvce5Jt2mFGAHVak-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iAB9dsMvce5Jt2mFGAHVak-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iAB9dsMvce5Jt2mFGAHVak-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Stolen remains of Aboriginal people and Tasmanian tigers traced to grave-robbing Victorian naturalist
By Ben Turner published
Morton Allport earned his scientific reputation by grave robbing human remains and killing soon-to-be-extinct Tasmanian tigers before shipping them to Europe.
![A skeleton buried in Germany that is missing part of its skull.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BwhvHbKMUUCTQ3gjrGJq8j-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BwhvHbKMUUCTQ3gjrGJq8j-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BwhvHbKMUUCTQ3gjrGJq8j-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BwhvHbKMUUCTQ3gjrGJq8j-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BwhvHbKMUUCTQ3gjrGJq8j-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BwhvHbKMUUCTQ3gjrGJq8j-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BwhvHbKMUUCTQ3gjrGJq8j-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BwhvHbKMUUCTQ3gjrGJq8j-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
1,000-year-old skeleton of noblewoman with hollowed-out skull found buried next to 'husband' in Germany
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Archaeologists in Germany unearthed a male skeleton and a female skeleton. One was missing a significant chunk of the skull.
![Two wooden staffs with carvings depicting people wearing headgear.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/debSQcRpAh7xSPZKJUiNSk-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/debSQcRpAh7xSPZKJUiNSk-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/debSQcRpAh7xSPZKJUiNSk-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/debSQcRpAh7xSPZKJUiNSk-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/debSQcRpAh7xSPZKJUiNSk-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/debSQcRpAh7xSPZKJUiNSk-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/debSQcRpAh7xSPZKJUiNSk-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/debSQcRpAh7xSPZKJUiNSk-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
73 pre-Incan mummies, some with 'false heads,' unearthed from Wari Empire in Peru
By Owen Jarus published
Several dozen burials from the Wari culture, which prospered in the region before the Inca took over, were unearthed in Peru.
![We see a woman and a man looking at a long hand ax in the lab.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/65b8q44925qQrbXsfZQqi8-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/65b8q44925qQrbXsfZQqi8-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/65b8q44925qQrbXsfZQqi8-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/65b8q44925qQrbXsfZQqi8-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/65b8q44925qQrbXsfZQqi8-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/65b8q44925qQrbXsfZQqi8-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/65b8q44925qQrbXsfZQqi8-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/65b8q44925qQrbXsfZQqi8-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Ancient 20-inch-long hand ax discovered in Saudi Arabia may be world's largest
By Laura Geggel published
What may be the world's largest prehistoric hand ax, measuring over 20 inches long, was found in Saudi Arabia.
![Fragment of ancient Roman Alexander mosaic.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CFSd2eK3m7a5spBRPXvW7k-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CFSd2eK3m7a5spBRPXvW7k-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CFSd2eK3m7a5spBRPXvW7k-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CFSd2eK3m7a5spBRPXvW7k-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CFSd2eK3m7a5spBRPXvW7k-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CFSd2eK3m7a5spBRPXvW7k-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CFSd2eK3m7a5spBRPXvW7k-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CFSd2eK3m7a5spBRPXvW7k-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Why didn't Alexander the Great invade Rome?
By Owen Jarus published
If Alexander the Great had invaded Rome, would he have won?
![A red sandstone statue head unearthed at Melville House in Scotland in 1952.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kYuQRNto8T2V2T2EdpuGQX-320-80.png 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kYuQRNto8T2V2T2EdpuGQX-450-80.png 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kYuQRNto8T2V2T2EdpuGQX-500-80.png 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kYuQRNto8T2V2T2EdpuGQX-650-80.png 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kYuQRNto8T2V2T2EdpuGQX-840-80.png 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kYuQRNto8T2V2T2EdpuGQX-970-80.png 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kYuQRNto8T2V2T2EdpuGQX-1024-80.png 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kYuQRNto8T2V2T2EdpuGQX-1200-80.png 1200w)
Scottish boy digging for potatoes found 'masterpiece of Egyptian sculpture' on his school grounds. How did it end up there?
By Sascha Pare published
Archaeologists in Scotland may have finally solved the mystery of how ancient Egyptian artifacts that were unearthed in school grounds between 1952 and 1984 became buried there.
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