archaeology
The mysterious origins of human sacrifice
Human sacrifice appears to be as old as humanity itself. Still, experts disagree on how and where the practice first originated.
Ancient technology that was centuries ahead of its time
These astounding inventions show that civilizations of the past were a lot more advanced than we might have thought.
Found: Largest known Native American cave art, hidden in plain sight
A recent advance in 3D imaging techniques helped spark the biggest ever discovery of North American cave art.
Was there an intelligent civilization before humans existed?
Was there an intelligent, technologically advanced species long before humans existed? Could there have been a dinosaur civilization?
The forgotten paintings of ancient Greece and Rome
Paintings played an important role in these ancient civilizations. Unfortunately, pigment is not nearly as durable as marble.
Archaeologists find earliest known evidence of the infamous Mayan calendar
The Mayan calendar is revered for its impeccable accuracy. Now, a recent excavation in Guatemala reveals how the system developed over time.
The surprising reason Inca children were drugged before human sacrifice
A toxicological study shows that the victims of human sacrifice consumed coca leaves and ayahuasca before they were killed, but not for reasons we originally thought.
Archaeological site shows Nubian civilization that flourished in ancient Sudan
The underground burial tombs were used at least as far back as 2500 B.C.
Mysterious “population hub” was a starting point for ancient human migration
Archaic humans ventured into Eurasia in waves, not always successfully. They may have started their journey in North Africa or West Asia.
Ancient stone jars in India remain a mystery to modern researchers
The Assam stone jars were described as early as 1929. Almost a century later, archaeologists still puzzle over their placement and purpose.
The foul and the fragrant: what did the past smell like?
Most cities reeked of death, defecation, and industrial waste. Still, focusing only on stench means turning a blind eye (or nose) to the many other smells that helped shape human history.
Maps of Great Lakes shipwrecks detail one of North America’s biggest graveyards
There have been some 6,000 Great Lakes shipwrecks, which have claimed an estimated 30,000 lives. These maps show some of them.
Ancient fashion: 3,200-year-old pants on Chinese mummy are like modern-day jeans
The design was as intricate as that of modern-day, factory-fabricated denim jeans, and just as durable. The ancients had fashion.
An interactive map of Irish shipwrecks, littered with thousands of stories
We have a morbid curiosity about nautical disaster stories. The Irish "Wreck Viewer" offers a window into centuries of marine misfortune.
A tale of two shipwrecks: Endurance and Atlanta
At the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society in Michigan, retrieving sunken vessels is the order of the day. Here’s how they do it.
Derinkuyu: Mysterious underground city in Turkey found in man’s basement
A basement renovation project led to the archaeological discovery of a lifetime: the Derinkuyu Underground City, which housed 20,000 people.
“Once-in-a-lifetime” Roman mosaics found in South London
In the shadow of the Shard, the mosaics help paint a picture of Roman London.
Stonehenge: a giant cosmic calendar built with the help of ancient Egyptians?
Researchers speculate the famous monument was one of the world’s first solar calendars, possibly inspired by trade with ancient Egyptians.
Hopewell: Did a comet destroy one of the biggest ancient trading networks in North America?
A study proposes that an ancient trading network, called the Hopewell tradition, may have been wiped out by what is known as a cosmic airburst.
Out of Africa: Not just once, but many times
A new analysis of an ancient hominin fossil sheds light on the "Out of Africa" dispersal events that occurred more than one million years ago.
Identified: the oldest known remains of modern humans in Africa
Dating of volcanic ash suggests the remains are at least 230,000 years old.
Kunga: How Mesopotamian horse breeders created the world’s first hybrid animal
Hybrid animals emere when two different species from the same family reproduce. For many years, the kunga’s lineage was just another genetic mystery.
Dawn of Everything: What if the arc of history isn’t inevitable?
We are generally taught that there is an arc of history — an inevitable path of progress that leads to modern society. Maybe it isn't true.
Black or white? Ancient Egyptian race mystery now solved
A study describes how researchers conducted the first successful DNA sequencing on ancient Egyptian mummies.
Amenhotep I: CT scans get a glimpse inside the mummy
Scientists used 3D scans to analyze the corpse of Amenhotep I. They discovered that his brain was never removed and that he was circumcised, among other curiosities.
Why apocalyptic fantasies appeal to us psychologically
Just don't expect the apocalypse to look like it does in the movies.
Laetoli tracks: Are footprints alone enough to identify a new species of ancient human?
Bears, chimps, or humans? A track of five poorly preserved footsteps at Laetoli has puzzled paleontologists for decades. Now, a research paper from Nature claims to have solved the mystery.
Homo naledi: Archaeologists recover the fragmented skull of an elusive species of ancient human
Fittingly, the skull was found in the Rising Star cave of South Africa, itself located at a site known to UNESCO as the Cradle of Mankind.
The Tarim Basin mummies: retracing the ghostly origin of Xinjiang’s earliest known settlers
Though these ancient settlers of China were culturally cosmopolitan, their DNA turns out to have been completely distinct from the communities with which they interacted.
Hidden ruins revealed: Laser scans map out Olmec and Mayan urban planning
Looking with lasers, researchers discovered that many Olmec and Mayan ruins seem to have been constructed from the same blueprint.