Archaeology

The Great Pyramids of Giza - Khufu's on the right and Cheops's on the left, Giza Plataeu, Egypt
The Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt (Image credit: Shutterstock)

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. 

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—What is archaeology?

—Amazing facial reconstructions

—What was the longest-lasting civilization?

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.  

Explore Archaeology

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Latest about Archaeology

We see a pieced together animal carving against a black background. It has a long neck, a curved back and legs on either side.

Missing 'body' of ice age animal carving finally found — but nobody knows what the animal is

By Laura Geggel published

The long-lost 'body' of mysterious ice age animal carving was discovered in German cave, but archaeologists aren't sure if it's a cave lion or cave bear.

Archaeology
We see a group of people standing around the ancient wooden planks of a boat in a desert-like place.

Ancient Roman boat from empire's frontier unearthed in Serbian coal mine

By Tom Metcalfe published

Coal miners found the remains of a Roman boat that likely supplied an ancient frontier city and military headquarters.

Romans
An aerial view of the ruins at Machu Picchu in the Andes mountains.

Machu Picchu: The Incan estate 8,000 feet high in the Andes

By Owen Jarus last updated

The royal estate built by the Inca in Peru went unnoticed for centuries.

Archaeology
An excavation site in England.

Subterranean crypt with empty tombs unearthed at medieval cathedral in England

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

Ongoing excavations at Exeter Cathedral in England reveal a possible medieval crypt, empty tombs and more.

Archaeology
An arrowhead made out of a meteorite.

Meteorite that crashed to Earth 3,500 years ago carved into arrowhead by Bronze Age hunters

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

A Bronze Age arrowhead found in Switzerland was made using meteoric iron.

Archaeology
A silver coin against a white background. The coin has two daggers and a hat between them. It says EID MAR for the ides of march.

Rare 'Ides of March' dagger coin minted by Brutus after Julius Caesar's murder goes to auction

By Kristina Killgrove published

Brutus minted the silver denarius as a way to pay his troops in the aftermath of Julius Caesar's assassination.

Romans
A medieval sword coated in shells at the bottom of the sea.

Crusader sword found in Holy Land was bent, possibly in naval battle, X-rays reveal

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

New X-ray imaging of a Crusader sword discovered underwater off the coast of Israel shows that it was damaged during battle.

Archaeology
Here we see the ugly face of Medusa with thick facial features and wings coming out of her forehead in a mosaic. She is surrounded by an octagon, geometric patterns and a peacock.

'Exceptional' winged Medusa discovered in Roman-era mosaic in Spain

By Laura Geggel published

The 1,800-year-old Medusa mosaic was discovered in the remains of lavish Roman-era house in western Spain.

Romans
A sword and mirror from the Iron Age.

Iron Age warrior woman was buried with a sword and a mirror

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

Archaeologists in England used a tooth enamel analysis to confirm that a 2,000-year-old burial contained a female warrior.

Archaeology
Side-by-side facial approximations of a woman.

See stunning likeness of Zlatý kůň, the oldest modern human to be genetically sequenced

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

Researchers created a facial approximation of a 45,000-year-old individual who is believed to be the oldest anatomically modern human ever to be genetically sequenced.

Archaeology
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