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Archaeology
Excavations, artifacts, inscriptions, coins, and sites, with discoveries from digs and museums and what they reveal about ancient lives.
7 Ancient Lost Cities That Archaeologists Finally Found
From Egypt’s drowned ports to a Khmer capital under forest, seven ancient cities reveal what archaeology can recover and what “lost” really means.
How Did Europe’s Bog Bodies Survive for Thousands of Years?
Bog bodies can retain skin, hair and even last meals for millennia while their bones soften. Cold, acidic peat and Sphagnum moss explain why.
Riace Bronzes: How Two Greek Statues Survived the Sea
Found off Italy in 1972, the Riace Bronzes survived the loss of their weapons and centuries underwater. Their casting, corrosion and conservation explain why.
The Parthenon: How Athens Built It and Why It Was Destroyed
Built from Pentelic marble in 447–432 BCE, the Parthenon survived as a church and mosque before a Venetian shell shattered it in 1687.
Temple of Hephaestus: How It Still Stands After 2,400 Years
The Temple of Hephaestus retains its Doric columns because generations reused and maintained it. Its roof and construction history are more complicated.
9 Archaeological Hoaxes That Fooled the World
From Piltdown Man to the Cardiff Giant, nine notorious fake finds reveal how scientists and museums were deceived and how the frauds were exposed.
Ancient Garbage Dumps: What People Ate and Threw Away
From shell middens in prehistoric Latvia to a Roman sewer and Rome’s mountain of broken jars, ancient rubbish reveals diet, sanitation and trade.
How Did Ötzi the Iceman Die?
Ötzi was shot in the back around 3300 BC. His arrow wound is certain, but 2025 forensic studies challenge the claim that he bled…
How Does LiDAR Map Cities in the Maya Jungle?
LiDAR maps Maya cities by measuring ground elevation through gaps in jungle canopy. Learn how archaeologists identify houses, roads, terraces and reservoirs.
Roman Surveying Tools That Measured an Empire
How Roman surveyors used the groma, chorobates and measuring rods to lay out roads, aqueducts and land grids, and what the surviving evidence proves.
8 Archaeological Discoveries That Made Headlines in 2025
Eight major archaeological discoveries reported in 2025, from Thutmose II’s tomb and a Viking boat burial to Pompeii’s frescoes and Cyprus’s Apollo sanctuary.
5 Minoan Palaces of Bronze Age Crete
Five Minoan palaces reveal Bronze Age Crete through their courtyards, storerooms, workshops, writing and the mountain complex at Zominthos.
