Megalithic Stone Monuments in France May Be Europe's Oldest

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

GERMENCIK, TURKEY—Türkiye Today reports that Turkish archaeologists led by Gorkem Kokdemir of Ankara University at […] The post Extensive Marble Floor of Ancient Agora Uncovered in Turkey appeared first on Archaeology Magazine. News, agora, Magnesia, marble, Turkey

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"

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

‘The Big Hop’ by David Rooney review JamesHoare Mon, 06/30/2025 - 08:00

A sealed, intact tomb has been discovered in an Etruscan necropolis in the town of Barbarano Romano near Viterbo, central Italy. It dates to the last phase of the Orientalizing period, at the end of the 7th century B.C. The necropolis of San Giuliano was in use from the 7th century to the 3rd century … Read the full post →"Untouched 7th c. B.C. Etruscan tomb found"

The back façade and courtyard of Antonio Gaudí’s iconic Casa Batlló in Barcelona has been restored to its original 1906 glory. Visitors to the building will now have the opportunity to see it the way Gaudí created it for the first time in more than a century. Originally built in the late 19th century, the … Read the full post →"Back façade of Gaudí’s Casa Batlló restored"

Archaeologists have discovered a polychrome geometric mosaic floor in a Gallo-Roman home on a hill overlooking Alès in southern France. The mosaic features a crossword puzzle-like interlaced meander pattern in white and black tesserae, with rare painted accents in deep red and yellow. It dates to the 1st century B.C. A team from France’s National … Read the full post →"Geometric mosaic floor with rare painted tiles found in France"