1250 Items Tagged

Archaeology

The Petroteca.

Zacatecas, Mexico

Petroteca of San Agustín

Fragments of the former temple's lost facade are now displayed in a strange library of stones.

Permanently Closed

Vampire.

Wisbech, England

Fenland and West Norfolk Aviation Museum

Peek inside restored planes at this off-the-beaten-path collection of aviation archaeology.

Molcajete

The Mesoamerican mortar and pestle has been made, and used, the same way for thousands of years.

These 540-million-year-old critter prints are the oldest found tracks on earth.

Found: The World's Oldest Footprints, Made by Ancient Bugs

They are tiny but mightily impactful.

Christina Ayele Djossa June 7, 2018

The archaeological site of Hadar.

Shinile, Ethiopia

Hadar Archaeological Site

The skeletal remains of the famous hominid "Lucy" were found at this spot.

A male reserve head found in the shaft of a tomb c. 1915.

objects of intrigue

Dozens of Mysterious 'Reserve Heads' Were Sealed in Ancient Egyptian Tombs

Over 30 have been found, but their function is unclear.

Hadley Meares June 4, 2018

This elaborate jar once held olive oil.

Found: Evidence of Italy's Oldest Olive Oil

It was discovered on shards of pottery uncovered 20 years ago.

Anne Ewbank May 31, 2018

Nicopolis.

Preveza, Greece

Nicopolis

The ruins of this monumental city founded by the first Roman Emperor are strangely overlooked by most travelers.

Detail of the ceiling of the Great Vestibule

Dandarah, Egypt

Hathor Temple

One of the most well-preserved temples of ancient Egypt.

Entrance to the Cave of the Coffins.

Kiryat Tiv'on, Israel

Beit She'arim Necropolis

A sprawling ancient Jewish cemetery with over 30 rock-hewn burial caves.

The floor mosaic, with the zodiac in the center and the Torah ark above.

Tiberias, Israel

Zodiac Mosaic of Hammat Tiberias

The mosaic floor of a 4th-century synagogue features a pagan zodiac wheel alongside traditional images of a Torah ark and menorahs.

Two wooden Chugach masks.

After 130 Years, the Spoils of a Grave-Plundering Explorer Are Returning to Alaska

Righting at least one wrong from centuries of colonialism.

Megan Gannon May 18, 2018

The famous Towie stone still evokes much speculation and debate.

Does Anyone Know What These Knobbly Orbs Are For?

No one can figure out these Neolithic artifacts. We want your best guesses.

Christina Ayele Djossa May 18, 2018

Bean-shaped pillow with child design, Northern Song Dynasty.

Guangzhou, China

Ceramic Pillows at the Museum of the Nanyue King's Mausoleum

Three floors above a 2,000-year-old royal tomb is a rare collection of ancient porcelain pillows.

John Hale, local resident Fettah Anli, Matthias Zeithoffler, Jelle de Boer (left to right) at the site of the Plutonium.

The Scientific Detectives Probing the Secrets of Ancient Oracles

Geological features, toxic fumes, and visions of the future.

Kevin Krajick May 17, 2018

View of the ruins of the byzantine city of Mystras with the church of Pantanassa, only one active, among trees.

Mystras

The ruins of an abandoned medieval city where the last Byzantine emperor was crowned.

Sar Yazd Castle

Sar Yazd Castle

This ancient fortress in Iran was once the oldest and largest treasury in the world.

The main cave was almost 1,100 square feet in size, roughly equivalent to a small church.

For 78,000 Years, People Have Called a Kenyan Forest Cave Home

The layers of Panga ya Saidi reveal millennia of subtle cultural and technological change.

Natasha Frost May 10, 2018