Archaeology

WATCH: Norway recovers Chinese porcelain, European-made goods from 18th century shipwreck

The ship, coined "The Porcelain Wreck," is believed to have sunk around the mid-1700s, and was found at a depth of some 600 meters, the museum said. 

Chinese porcelain discovered in 18th century shipwreck in Norway, June 3, 2026.
Twelve-year-old Alon Horwitz who discovered an ancient gemstone at Korazim National Park in the Galilee, June 1, 2026.

Rare gemstone discovered by 12-year-old boy during archaeological dig in ancient Jewish village

An Israeli flag flies over the medieval Beaufort Castle, known locally as Qalaat al-Shaqif or Shaqif Arnoun, as seen from the Marjayoun area of southern Lebanon on May 31, 2026.

What is Beaufort Castle, the historic Crusader fortress Israel now holds in Lebanon? - explainer

Rupert van Der Werff from Summers Place Auctions with a rare skeleton of a long-extinct woolly rhinoceros in Billingshurst, England, March 5, 2019; file photo.

Neanderthals' ancient toolkit included hammers, blades made from rhino teeth, study finds


An ancient Egyptian temple was just found in Sinai after six years of digging

Analysis of the site also shows that the structure had been continuously used from the 2nd century BCE to the 6th century CE, with only minor architectural modifications happening during that time.

Aerial photo of the ancient temple discovered at Tell el-Farma in the  northern Sinai, April 15, 2026.

Ancient charcoal found in northern Israel sheds new light on how early humans lived - study

Within the charcoal, archaeologists found traces of ash, willow, oak, olive, pistachio, grapevine, oleander, and the oldest known evidence of pomegranate wood in the Levant.

A general view of the excavation of Gesher B'not Ya‘acov Acheulian site, April 14, 2026.

Early humans in South Africa used dedicated quarries for stone as long as 220,000 years ago - study

Based on this, researchers suggest that early homo sapiens planned for the long-term acquisition of resources earlier than previously thought.

Dozens of large and small stone flakes and production waste found at the  Jojosi excavation site in eastern South Africa, April 11, 2026.

Canada returns stolen manuscript pages to Turkey in first archaeological repatriation

According to Ersoy, seven of the pages date to between the 17th-19th centuries, two are from rare printed works, and two are pages of modern calligraphy.

Stolen manuscript pages being returned by Canada to Turkey in first archaeological repatriation, April 11, 2026.

Hezbollah rocket hits Byzantine-era church in Nahariya, damages protective structure

Originally destroyed by the Persians in 614 CE, the mosaic was painstakingly restored by the IAA over the course of two years, and officially opened to the public in 2022.

A man inspects the site of the remains of a Byzantine church, which was damaged after a barrage of projectiles was launched towards Israel from Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Nahariya, northern Israel, April 10, 2026.

Prehistoric children’s remains show syphilis-like disease spread through ancient Vietnam - study

Researchers have for decades believed that of these diseases, only syphilis could be transmitted congenitally, lending to the assumption that syphilis began with Christopher Columbus’ journeys.

Dr. Melandri Vlok and Ms. Minh Tran conducting radiographic analysis on child skeletons from Man Bac, April 11, 2026.

Ashes of Pompeii: New study confirms ancient city's role within Rome’s global trade route

Remnants of a “grape-derived product” was also found within one of the burners, the study noted, consistent with literary and artistic depictions of wine being used for ritual purpose in Rome.

Incense burner found in Pompeii, containing residue of local plants and imported resin, April 7, 2026.

How archaeologists used technology to rediscover ancient Egyptian city on the Nile Delta - study

The site holds three prominent mounds, known as Koms A, B, and C, with Kom C selected for investigation due to its history spanning the Predynastic period through the Early Islamic era.

Ruins of mudbrick buildings on the northern mound of Buto, April 7, 2026.

Clay cylinders found in Iraq bear writings of Babylonian king who besieged Jerusalem, study reveals

The translation appears to align with a description of Nebuchadnezzar from the Book of Daniel, which depicts him walking on his palace roof in Babylon while boasting of his construction projects.

3D scan of cylinder found in ancient city of Kish, Iraq, bearing inscriptions believed to have belonged to Nebuchadnezzar II, April 11, 2026.

Native American use of dice, probability predates known Old World dice by millenia - study

In total, archaeologist Robert Madden observed 659 sets of Native American dice from 57 archaeological sites across 12 different states. 

A series of Native American dice discovered at archaeological sites in the western US, April 9, 2026.