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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![We see a pieced together animal carving against a black background. It has a long neck, a curved back and legs on either side.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KmdiswXUsifgDxNEyAsyra-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KmdiswXUsifgDxNEyAsyra-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KmdiswXUsifgDxNEyAsyra-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KmdiswXUsifgDxNEyAsyra-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KmdiswXUsifgDxNEyAsyra-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KmdiswXUsifgDxNEyAsyra-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![We see a group of people standing around the ancient wooden planks of a boat in a desert-like place.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b7DJdywVSmfBj6vprtQ6Mm-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b7DJdywVSmfBj6vprtQ6Mm-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b7DJdywVSmfBj6vprtQ6Mm-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b7DJdywVSmfBj6vprtQ6Mm-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b7DJdywVSmfBj6vprtQ6Mm-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b7DJdywVSmfBj6vprtQ6Mm-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![An aerial view of the ruins at Machu Picchu in the Andes mountains.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WFJBpzs4J5x3uvbeKdnm3i-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WFJBpzs4J5x3uvbeKdnm3i-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WFJBpzs4J5x3uvbeKdnm3i-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WFJBpzs4J5x3uvbeKdnm3i-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WFJBpzs4J5x3uvbeKdnm3i-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WFJBpzs4J5x3uvbeKdnm3i-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![An excavation site in England.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dRsEv9t8RJzd2GMmYNvRwb-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dRsEv9t8RJzd2GMmYNvRwb-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dRsEv9t8RJzd2GMmYNvRwb-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dRsEv9t8RJzd2GMmYNvRwb-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dRsEv9t8RJzd2GMmYNvRwb-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dRsEv9t8RJzd2GMmYNvRwb-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![An arrowhead made out of a meteorite.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VQw2N8SmY3mSkvVyGZvLH7-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VQw2N8SmY3mSkvVyGZvLH7-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VQw2N8SmY3mSkvVyGZvLH7-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VQw2N8SmY3mSkvVyGZvLH7-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VQw2N8SmY3mSkvVyGZvLH7-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VQw2N8SmY3mSkvVyGZvLH7-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![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.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FSuyigf8fQYu5XES8UFfqP-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FSuyigf8fQYu5XES8UFfqP-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FSuyigf8fQYu5XES8UFfqP-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FSuyigf8fQYu5XES8UFfqP-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FSuyigf8fQYu5XES8UFfqP-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FSuyigf8fQYu5XES8UFfqP-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![A medieval sword coated in shells at the bottom of the sea.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3fky3MsV5T6ejn3ZzHoHPN-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3fky3MsV5T6ejn3ZzHoHPN-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3fky3MsV5T6ejn3ZzHoHPN-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3fky3MsV5T6ejn3ZzHoHPN-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3fky3MsV5T6ejn3ZzHoHPN-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3fky3MsV5T6ejn3ZzHoHPN-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![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.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uuQf22zETqB7HzRczrYc3-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uuQf22zETqB7HzRczrYc3-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uuQf22zETqB7HzRczrYc3-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uuQf22zETqB7HzRczrYc3-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uuQf22zETqB7HzRczrYc3-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uuQf22zETqB7HzRczrYc3-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
'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.
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