https://thepotsherd.com/2026-08-21https://thepotsherd.com/share-home.svg https://thepotsherd.com/news/neanderthals-may-trekked-through/2026-08-21https://thepotsherd.com/share-neanderthals-may-trekked-through.svgA man in a white shirt and gray hat looking at a rock with ancient petroglyphs.New research suggests Neanderthals may have lived in the Arabian Peninsula 55,000 years ago, farther south than previously thought (Source: Live Science) https://thepotsherd.com/news/pace-climate-change-threatens/2026-08-21https://thepotsherd.com/share-pace-climate-change-threatens.svgAn anchor partially submerged in water, with its chain extending from the bottom left corner to...New research suggests that the rate of global warming, rather than the overall heat, may determine the fate of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) (Source: Live Science) https://thepotsherd.com/news/genetic-data-challenges-traditional/2026-08-21https://thepotsherd.com/share-genetic-data-challenges-traditional.svgA stone carving of a woman standing in a doorway, surrounded by intricate carvings of people and...New genetic data is upending the long-held assumption that women in prehistory wielded no power, revealing a more complex pattern of gender roles in the past. (Source: Live Science) https://thepotsherd.com/news/ai-designed-chip-components/2026-08-21https://thepotsherd.com/share-ai-designed-chip-components.svgA close-up view of ancient Egyptian columns and arches, with intricate carvings and ornate details.Scientists use AI to design chip components 500 times smaller than previously imagined, paving the way for faster and more efficient photonic microchips (Source: Live Science) https://thepotsherd.com/news/readers-weigh-proposed-social/2026-08-20https://thepotsherd.com/share-readers-weigh-proposed-social.svgA close-up of a fish skull with its mouth open, revealing sharp teeth.A proposed ban on social media for children has sparked debate among readers, with some questioning its effectiveness and others raising concerns about enforcement and potential unintended... https://thepotsherd.com/news/cave-sanctuary-spain-yields/2026-08-20https://thepotsherd.com/share-cave-sanctuary-spain-yields.svgArchaeologists from the University of Trnava in Trnava discovered a medieval church in the...A cave in eastern Spain has revealed a treasure trove of Latin inscriptions, including references to a mysterious goddess known as 'the Lady' (Source: Live Science) https://thepotsherd.com/news/year-old-skeleton-uncovered/2026-08-20https://thepotsherd.com/share-year-old-skeleton-uncovered.svgA human skeleton lying in the dirt, with the skull, ribcage, and limbs visible.Archaeologists in Peru have discovered a 1400-year-old skeleton in an underground water channel, which may have belonged to a human sacrifice victim (Source: Live Science) https://thepotsherd.com/news/nasa-swift-telescope-rescue/2026-08-20https://thepotsherd.com/share-nasa-swift-telescope-rescue.svgThe remains of an ancient settlement, featuring stone pillars and structures, with a walkway and...A private rescue mission to save NASA's Swift telescope has failed, and the telescope is now expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere later this year (Source: Live Science) https://thepotsherd.com/news/tzi-iceman-microbiome-ancient-7a14b7ed/2026-08-20https://thepotsherd.com/share-tzi-iceman-microbiome-ancient-7a14b7ed.svgThe interior of a large, arched-roof structure with exposed wooden beams and a dirt floor...Researchers uncover a mix of ancient gut bacteria and cold-adapted yeasts on Ötzi's mummy, suggesting continuous microbial activity since his death. The findings offer insights into early human... https://thepotsherd.com/news/dinosaurs-missing-miniature-counterparts-cb93e3dc/2026-08-20https://thepotsherd.com/share-dinosaurs-missing-miniature-counterparts-cb93e3dc.svgA dinosaur skull and skeleton, with the skull positioned on the left side of the image and the...New research suggests that dinosaurs may have been prevented from evolving into tiny animals due to competition with early mammals. (Source: sciencedaily.com) https://thepotsherd.com/news/humans-dogs-evolved-together-03b2e0a3/2026-08-20https://thepotsherd.com/share-humans-dogs-evolved-together-03b2e0a3.svgAn ancient stone structure with a wall and a roof, likely a ruin or archaeological site.A new book by archaeologist Professor Peter Mitchell explores the history of dog domestication and how humans and dogs have been changing each other for 15,000 years. (Source: sciencedaily.com) https://thepotsherd.com/news/million-year-old-reptile-fe79b1b1/2026-08-20https://thepotsherd.com/share-million-year-old-reptile-fe79b1b1.svgA dinosaur skeleton with its mouth open, revealing sharp teeth.A 240-million-year-old reptile discovered in Brazil is revealing what evolution looked like just before the rise of dinosaurs and crocodiles. (Source: sciencedaily.com) https://thepotsherd.com/news/ancient-egyptian-tomb-evolving/2026-08-19https://thepotsherd.com/share-ancient-egyptian-tomb-evolving.svgA mummy lies in a large stone sarcophagus, surrounded by several smaller stone canopic jars.A study of tomb TT 209 in Egypt’s Theban Necropolis uncovers a structured evolution of burial practices over centuries, from individual coffins to stacked mummies, including a mummified dog... https://thepotsherd.com/news/giant-crocodylian-predator-dominated/2026-08-19https://thepotsherd.com/share-giant-crocodylian-predator-dominated.svgA dinosaur skull with a long neck and jaw full of teeth, set against a gray background.A new study reveals that the massive crocodylian *Purussaurus neivensis*, reaching up to 23 feet in length, was a dominant predator in South America's Miocene ecosystem, playing a key role in... https://thepotsherd.com/news/ancient-manuscripts-reveal-hidden/2026-08-19https://thepotsherd.com/share-ancient-manuscripts-reveal-hidden.svgA close-up of an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic wall carving, featuring various symbols and markings.Researchers have developed a non-destructive method to extract DNA from centuries-old parchment manuscripts, unlocking new insights into ancient trade, livestock history, and manuscript origins... https://thepotsherd.com/news/earliest-brass-production-found/2026-08-19https://thepotsherd.com/share-earliest-brass-production-found.svgA piece of molten metal being removed from a crucible with tongs.Chinese archaeologists have uncovered the oldest known evidence of brass production in East Asia, dating back to the ninth and tenth centuries, at a metal workshop in Guangzhou. The discovery... https://thepotsherd.com/news/centuries-old-runestone-discovered/2026-08-19https://thepotsherd.com/share-centuries-old-runestone-discovered.svgA close-up of an ancient stone structure with Latin inscriptions and carvings.Archaeologists uncover a rare runestone embedded in the floor of a medieval Faroese chapel, shedding light on early Christian-Norse traditions. https://thepotsherd.com/news/ancient-skeletons-challenge-assumptions-5aa1c64d/2026-08-18https://thepotsherd.com/share-ancient-skeletons-challenge-assumptions-5aa1c64d.svgA close-up of an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus, featuring a painted face and intricate designs.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. https://thepotsherd.com/news/scientists-discover-evidence-two-1868e67a/2026-08-18https://thepotsherd.com/share-scientists-discover-evidence-two-1868e67a.svgA close-up of a fossilized rock surface featuring several trilobite fossils.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... https://thepotsherd.com/news/lost-papal-letter-suggests-334c29a2/2026-08-18https://thepotsherd.com/share-lost-papal-letter-suggests-334c29a2.svgA man crouched in a muddy area, wearing a hat and a gray shirt, with a backpack on the ground...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... https://thepotsherd.com/news/ceremonial-poles-returned-canadian-f300f491/2026-08-18https://thepotsherd.com/share-ceremonial-poles-returned-canadian-f300f491.svgA group of people standing in front of ancient ruins, with a mountain in the background.Monumental cedar poles carved by the Haida people have been returned to their ancestral village in Canada's Pacific Northwest. (Source: Archaeology Magazine (Archaeological Institute of America)) https://thepotsherd.com/news/ice-age-species-uncovered/2026-08-18https://thepotsherd.com/share-ice-age-species-uncovered.svgA fossilized fish skeleton embedded in a rock surface.Scientists at the La Brea Tar Pits have discovered a previously unknown amphibian species, Spea labreae, which lived in Ice Age Los Angeles. The find is exceptionally rare, with only one other... https://thepotsherd.com/news/tiny-billion-year-old/2026-08-18https://thepotsherd.com/share-tiny-billion-year-old.svgA fossilized leaf embedded in a rock.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... https://thepotsherd.com/news/year-old-alcoholic-beverage/2026-08-18https://thepotsherd.com/share-year-old-alcoholic-beverage.svgA human skeleton lying on the ground, with the skull, ribcage, and long bones visible, and the...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... https://thepotsherd.com/news/possible-bronze-age-grave/2026-08-18https://thepotsherd.com/share-possible-bronze-age-grave.svgAn ancient excavation site with exposed stone walls and a metal roof.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. https://thepotsherd.com/news/connecticut-teenager-david-maltbie/2026-08-17https://thepotsherd.com/share-connecticut-teenager-david-maltbie.svgA worn, 18th-century wooden desk, lit by soft, natural light from a nearby window, fills the frame.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... https://thepotsherd.com/news/fourth-century-graves-found-83ea93/2026-08-17https://thepotsherd.com/share-fourth-century-graves-found-83ea93.svgThe ruins of a stone structure with a circular foundation, featuring several pillars and walls...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... https://thepotsherd.com/news/colonial-era-hospital-church-b3f52a/2026-08-17https://thepotsherd.com/share-colonial-era-hospital-church-b3f52a.svgThe ruins of an ancient Inca city, with stone structures and buildings, surrounded by lush green...Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a 16th-century hospital and church in Lima's historic district. (Source: Archaeology Magazine (Archaeological Institute of America)) https://thepotsherd.com/news/possible-ancient-wrestler-tomb-ef1aae/2026-08-17https://thepotsherd.com/share-possible-ancient-wrestler-tomb-ef1aae.svgA relief carving of a bull and a lion's head, likely from ancient Mesopotamia.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... https://thepotsherd.com/news/uncovering-story-world-war-b33771/2026-08-17https://thepotsherd.com/share-uncovering-story-world-war-b33771.svgA trowel lies partially buried in the earth, its blade still stained with damp soil, as the...A collection of over 300 love letters written by a World War II soldier has been discovered, but the identity of the soldier and his wife remained a mystery until recently. With the help of an... https://thepotsherd.com/news/drought-exposes-roman-bridge-5ead3d/2026-08-16https://thepotsherd.com/share-drought-exposes-roman-bridge-5ead3d.svgThe Colosseum, a large ancient Roman amphitheater with a distinctive elliptical shape and tiered...A Roman bridge in Bulgaria has been exposed by a heat wave in Europe, revealing its foundations and providing archaeologists with an unprecedented view of the ancient structure. https://thepotsherd.com/news/ancient-roman-wine-shipwreck-ca445e/2026-08-16https://thepotsherd.com/share-ancient-roman-wine-shipwreck-ca445e.svgA diver swimming over a shipwreck on the ocean floor.A 2,100-year-old Roman shipwreck carrying 500 amphoras, likely used for wine transport, has been discovered off Sicily's coast. The vessel, measuring 70 feet long and 20 feet wide, rests 150 feet... https://thepotsherd.com/news/pre-hispanic-farmers-built-551e31/2026-08-16https://thepotsherd.com/share-pre-hispanic-farmers-built-551e31.svgA stone structure with a red roof, situated on a hill overlooking a body of water.Archaeologists have discovered that a vast pre-Hispanic agricultural field network in Colombia was built and maintained by family groups working in cooperation. https://thepotsherd.com/news/moche-pottery-center-excavated-264845/2026-08-16https://thepotsherd.com/share-moche-pottery-center-excavated-264845.svgA large, ornate clay pot or urn with a wide mouth and intricate designs, situated in a rocky...Archaeologists have made a significant discovery at a Moche pottery center in Peru, uncovering a vast array of ceramics and other artifacts. https://thepotsherd.com/news/german-auxiliaries-revolutionary-war-fa870a/2026-08-16https://thepotsherd.com/share-german-auxiliaries-revolutionary-war-fa870a.svgA large stone pyramid with a staircase leading up to a platform, set against a blue sky with...Around 30,000 German troops, hired by Britain through subsidy treaties, arrived in 1776 with the promise of a swift end to the American rebellion. Instead, they faced a protracted conflict, high... https://thepotsherd.com/news/homo-antecessor-skull-fragments-dfc873/2026-08-16https://thepotsherd.com/share-homo-antecessor-skull-fragments-dfc873.svgA human skull is prominently displayed on a wall, accompanied by a label that provides...Researchers led by Rafael Gallareto-Sande have conducted a new study on Homo antecessor skull fragments, shedding new light on the hominin's cranial structure. https://thepotsherd.com/news/nile-delta-necropolis-used-e5d1d5/2026-08-16https://thepotsherd.com/share-nile-delta-necropolis-used-e5d1d5.svgA section of an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic wall, featuring a collection of symbols and images...Archaeologists have discovered a necropolis in the eastern Nile Delta, containing burials dating from the Predynastic period through the Greco-Roman era. The site, located at Kom El-Khelgan... https://thepotsherd.com/news/medieval-caravansery-uncovered-north-5a1d39/2026-08-16https://thepotsherd.com/share-medieval-caravansery-uncovered-north-5a1d39.svgThe remains of an ancient stone structure, likely a dwelling or ceremonial site, with a series...Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a medieval caravansery in North Sinai, Egypt. The structure, which dates back to the Mamluk Sultanate period, would have provided rest and shelter for... https://thepotsherd.com/regions-periods/2026-08-21 https://thepotsherd.com/methods/2026-08-21 https://thepotsherd.com/finds-material/2026-08-21 https://thepotsherd.com/ethics-heritage/2026-08-21 https://thepotsherd.com/fieldwork-careers/2026-08-20 https://thepotsherd.com/news/2026-08-20 https://thepotsherd.com/topics/sec-ethics-heritage/2026-08-21 https://thepotsherd.com/topics/sec-fieldwork-careers/2026-08-20 https://thepotsherd.com/topics/sec-finds-material/2026-08-21 https://thepotsherd.com/topics/sec-methods/2026-08-21 https://thepotsherd.com/topics/sec-news/2026-08-20 https://thepotsherd.com/topics/sec-regions-periods/2026-08-21 https://thepotsherd.com/about/ https://thepotsherd.com/sources-and-methods/ https://thepotsherd.com/corrections/