Extensive Marble Floor of Ancient Agora Uncovered in Turkey

A follow-up excavation at a site near Willersey in Gloucestershire where a pair of rare Roman cavalry swords from the 2nd/3rd century A.D. were discovered by a metal detectorist two years ago has uncovered the remains of an Iron Age settlement and what appears to be a grand Roman villa built over it. This opens … Read the full post →"Iron Age settlement, Roman villa found at sword find site"

The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) was a conflict between the United States and Mexico, sparked by the US annexation of Texas in 1845. Hoping to seize even more territory from Mexico, US President James K. Polk (served 1845-1849) used the Texas dispute to provoke a war, precipitating the US invasions of California, New Mexico, and the Mexican heartland. After the fall of Mexico City in September...

Massive blocks that were once part of the monumental gate of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, have been raised from the Mediterranean seabed. Twenty-two of the largest stone blocks, including door lintels, the threshold, base slabs and a pylon with a door crafted in the Ptolemaic era … Read the full post →"Massive blocks of Lighthouse of Alexandria raised from sea"

SARBAND, TAJIKISTAN—The Times of Central Asia reports that archaeologists from the National Museum of Tajikistan […] The post Unique Ancient Vessel Labeled with Woman's Name Unearthed in Tajikistan appeared first on Archaeology Magazine. News, ceramic vessels, Khalkajar, Kushan Empire, Sagkina, Tajikistan

BERGEN, NORWAY—The reddish mineral ocher was one of the earliest sources of pigment used by […] The post Researchers Discover Novel Use of Ocher for Stone Toolmaking appeared first on Archaeology Magazine. News, Blombos Cave, knapping, ocher, South Africa, stone tool technology

BACOLI, ITALY—Underwater archaeologists located the remains of a Roman-era breakwater at the site of the […] The post Remnants of Harbor Breakwater Found at Roman Navy Base appeared first on Archaeology Magazine. News, Bacoli, Bay of Naples, breakwater, classis misenensis, Misenum, Roman navy

Swahili on the Road JamesHoare Thu, 07/03/2025 - 08:00

Archaeologists have discovered a well-preserved Roman well made of woven wicker that still contains what appears to be the remains of a rung ladder. Oxford Archaeology has been excavating the site of a larger Roman agrarian settlement. This is one of several wells they’ve discovered so far, and it is remarkably intact, the organic materials … Read the full post →"Roman wicker well with ladder found in Norfolk"

DUMAT AL-JANDAL, SAUDI ARABIA—New research in northwest Saudi Arabia has identified the existence of a […] The post Network of Walled Oases Identified in Arabian Desert appeared first on Archaeology Magazine. News, desert, Dumat al-Jandal, Khaybar Oasis, oasis, Saudi Arabia

LAKE TITICACA, PERU—The switch to agricultural rather than hunter-gatherer-based societies is one of the most […] The post Ancient Andeans' Shift to Agriculture Wasn't Fueled by Need appeared first on Archaeology Magazine. News, agriculture, Altiplano, hunter gather, Lake Titicaca Basin, Peru

The Death of the Great Barnato JamesHoare Wed, 07/02/2025 - 08:00

The earliest known steel acupuncture needles in the world have been discovered in the archaeological wonderland that is the tomb of the Marquis of Haihun in eastern China’s Jiangxi Province. With a cross-sectional diameter of only 0.3-0.5 mm, it is comparable in fineness to modern acupuncture needles and attests to the high level of metallurgical … Read the full post →"Oldest steel acupuncture needles found in Marquis of Haihun tomb"

CARNAC, FRANCE—The southern coast of the French region of Brittany is home to one of […] The post Megalithic Stone Monuments in France May Be Europe's Oldest appeared first on Archaeology Magazine. News, Brittany, Carnac, France, Le Plasker, megalithic, stone circles

LAGO DO CHOCILA, BRAZIL—When a 50-foot Paricarana tree recently toppled in the Brazilian Amazon region […] The post Mysterious Ceramic Urns Excavated in Amazon Rainforest appeared first on Archaeology Magazine. News, Amazon, Brazil, Fonte Boa, funerary urns, pottery, rainforest

ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT—Built in the third century b.c., the Lighthouse of Alexandria was one of the […] The post Submerged Blocks of Alexandria's Ancient Lighthouse Lifted from Seafloor appeared first on Archaeology Magazine. News, Alexandria, Egypt, lighthouse, Pharos, seven wonders of the world

Plato’s Last Word to Dionysius JamesHoare Tue, 07/01/2025 - 08:00

A 2,000-year-old shipwreck with a cargo full of ceramic goods has been discovered off the coast of Adrasan in Turkey. Located at depths of 120 to 150 feet, the ship sank so tidily that thousands of nested bowls, plates and pots remained perfectly stacked. The plates and bowls are in excellent condition, their original colors … Read the full post →"2,000-year-old shipwreck with nested ceramics found off Turkey"

OBLAZOWA CAVE, POLAND—Boomerangs are today typically associated with the Aboriginal Australian culture and the oldest […] The post New Dating Suggests World's Oldest Boomerang Was Made 40,000 Years Ago appeared first on Archaeology Magazine. News, boomerangs, oblazowa cave, Paleolithic, Poland