Regions & periods
Centuries-Old Runestone Discovered in Faroe Islands Chapel
Archaeologists uncover a rare runestone embedded in the floor of a medieval Faroese chapel, shedding light on early Christian-Norse traditions.
Regions & periods
Centuries-Old Runestone Discovered in Faroe Islands Chapel
Archaeologists uncover a rare runestone embedded in the floor of a medieval Faroese chapel, shedding light on early Christian-Norse traditions.
Methods
Ancient Skeletons Challenge Assumptions About Syphilis Origins
A new study suggests that congenital transmission of treponemal diseases may not be exclusive to venereal syphilis, challenging a long-held assumption in the field of archaeology.
Finds & material
Scientists Discover Evidence of Two Origins of Life on Earth
A recent study suggests that the first free-living cells may have emerged independently twice, with life sharing one ancient genetic code but undergoing two separate transitions into free-living existence.
Ethics & heritage
Lost Papal Letter Suggests England Backed Wrong Pope in 1066
New research from the University of East Anglia suggests that a lost papal letter could change how historians understand the events of 1066 and the Norman Conquest. England may have backed the wrong pope during a bitter religious power struggle, giving Pope Alexander II a political reason to support William the Conqueror's invasion.
Regions & periods
Ceremonial Poles Returned to Canadian Village Site
Monumental cedar poles carved by the Haida people have been returned to their ancestral village in Canada's Pacific Northwest.
Lead coverage
Methods
Ancient Skeletons Challenge Assumptions About Syphilis Origins
A new study suggests that congenital transmission of treponemal diseases may not be exclusive to venereal syphilis, challenging a long-held assumption in the field of archaeology.
Scientists Discover Evidence of Two Origins of Life on Earth
Lost Papal Letter Suggests England Backed Wrong Pope in 1066
Ceremonial Poles Returned to Canadian Village Site
New Ice Age Species Uncovered in La Brea Tar Pits Fossils
Tiny 1.7-billion-year-old fossils could reveal how complex life began
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More from the region
Regions & periods
Tiny 1.7-billion-year-old fossils could reveal how complex life began
Scientists are searching for tiny fossils in some of Earth's oldest rocks to understand how simple microbial life made the leap towards complex organisms. This knowledge could also help determine whether complex life could emerge on other planets.
Methods
Possible Bronze Age Grave Unearthed Beneath Viking Ship Burial
Archaeologists in western Norway have begun excavating a burial mound that may contain a previously unknown Bronze Age grave, buried beneath a Viking ship burial.
Finds & material
2,300-Year-Old Alcoholic Beverage Found in Ancient Chinese Cemetery
Archaeologists in China have discovered a well-preserved alcoholic beverage in a bronze vessel from a cemetery near the Great Wall, dating back to the Warring States Period. The drink, made primarily from broomcorn millet with traces of wheat and barley, was sealed with a double-layer technique that kept it intact for over two millennia.
Ethics & heritage
Forgotten Breakout: World War II's Largest Prison Escape
The Cowra breakout, which occurred in 1944, was the largest prison escape in World War II history, resulting in the deaths of over 200 Japanese POWs and 5 Australians.
Fieldwork & careers
Connecticut Teenager David Maltbie: The Forgotten Spy Who Outlived Nathan Hale
Newly uncovered documents reveal the story of David Maltbie, a 17-year-old Connecticut teenager who successfully spied on the British during the American Revolution in 1776, narrowly avoiding execution. While Nathan Hale's failed mission is well-known, Maltbie's contributions to Washington's intelligence efforts remained hidden until recently.
Finds & material
Fourth-Century B.C. Graves Found at Hattusha
Archaeologists have discovered three ancient tombs at the Hittite capital city of Hattusha in central Turkey. The graves date back around 2,300 years and are distinguished by their circular stone structures.
Finds & material
Colonial-Era Hospital and Church Excavated in Lima
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a 16th-century hospital and church in Lima's historic district.
Ethics & heritage
Possible Ancient Wrestler's Tomb Found in Turkey
Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered a 2,400-year-old grave lined with stones at the site of Aspendos, a Pamphylian city on the country's southern coast. The tomb contains locally minted coins bearing images of wrestlers, sparking speculation about the identity of the person buried there.
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