archaeology

Mourners transport the flag-draped coffin of Iraqi archaeologist Lamia al-Gailani, seen in the poster, for burial during her funeral procession in the National Museum in Baghdad on Jan. 21. Iraq is mourning the loss of a beloved archaeologist who helped r

Remembering Lamia Al-Gailani, Pioneering Iraqi Archaeologist

8:02am February 02, 2019

by Jane Arraf

The noted Iraqi archaeologist died Jan. 18 in Jordan. She helped restore Iraq's national museum after it was looted in 2003 and specialized in the study of ancient cylinder seals.

This image shows Guda, a 12th century nun, and the inscription reads, "Guda, a sinful woman, wrote and painted this book." It's a rare example of a manuscript signed by a female scribe.

A Blue Clue In Medieval Teeth May Bespeak A Woman's Artistry Circa A.D. 1000

7:17pm January 09, 2019

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Analysis of fossilized dental tartar of a medieval woman buried in a German monastery reveals specks of blue to be lapis lazuli — a luxurious pigment used to create gorgeous illuminated manuscripts.

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A skull-like stone carving and a stone trunk depicting the Flayed Lord, a pre-Hispanic fertility god depicted as a skinned human corpse.

Mexican Archaeologists Discover Pre-Hispanic Temple of 'The Flayed Lord'

7:20pm January 02, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

Stone carvings dating back 1,000 years suggest gruesome rituals tied to beliefs about fertility and long life.

Visitors enter a newly-discovered Egyptian tomb at the Saqqara necropolis on Saturday.

World News

After More Than 4,000 Years, Vibrant Egyptian Tomb Sees The Light Of Day

3:54pm December 15, 2018

by Ian Stewart

Particularly striking are its well-preserved colors – light yellows, rich blues and a reddish-brown skin tone. Officials announced the discovery Saturday at the site in Saqqara, outside of Cairo.

American conservationist Jeff Allen (center) directs Iraqi technicians laying mortar between ancient bricks at the site of Babylon.

In Iraq, A Race To Protect The Crumbling Bricks Of Ancient Babylon

7:02am November 24, 2018

by Jane Arraf

A U.S.-funded conservation project is shoring up the brick walls of the ancient city. The hope is that Babylon will qualify for UNESCO World Heritage status.

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Assyrian artifacts are displayed at Iraq's National Museum in Baghdad in 2016. The $30 million sale of a 3,000-year-old Assyrian relief is sparking concern that similar artifacts will be looted.

World News

Record-Setting Sale Of An Ancient Assyrian Stone Relief Sparks Looting Fears In Iraq

7:48am November 04, 2018

by Jane Arraf

The 3,000-year-old relief fetched more than $28 million at Christie's, more than any other similar work. But some archaeologists worry the high price could trigger looting of other ancient artifacts.

The Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project says the intact shipwreck was discovered at a depth of more than one mile, where the scarcity of oxygen helped preserve the ancient vessel.

'Oldest Intact Shipwreck Known To Mankind' Found In Depths Of Black Sea

5:28pm October 23, 2018

by Colin Dwyer

The vessel dates back 2,400 years to the days of ancient Greece. "This will change our understanding of shipbuilding and seafaring in the ancient world," says archaeologist Jon Adams.

The Great Synagogue in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, was built in the 17th century. Vilnius served as a center of Jewish life in Eastern Europe before World War II.

Excavation Of Lithuania's Great Synagogue Highlights A 'Painful Page' From History

3:55pm October 16, 2018

by Lucian Kim

The synagogue is "very important," says an archaeologist, "not only for Jews but all people living in Lithuania." Just 3,000 Jews are left in the capital, compared to some 70,000 before World War II.

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This ancient piece of bread, more than 14,000 years old, is changing what archaeologists thought they knew about the history of food and agriculture.

Science

14,000-Year-Old Piece Of Bread Rewrites The History Of Baking And Farming

1:41pm July 24, 2018

by Lina Zeldovich

Breadcrumbs found at an excavation in Jordan reveal that humans were baking thousands of years earlier than previously believed. It may have even prompted them to settle down and plant cereals.

Roman marbles are on display in the San Giovanni metro station, part of Line C of Rome's subway, in 2017.

Rome's Subway Expansion Reveals Artifacts From The Ancient Past

9:41am July 22, 2018

by Christopher Livesay

Construction on a new subway line has uncovered marble busts, frescoes, mosaics, even ancient peach pits, dating back nearly 2,000 years. Archaeologists have also found an ancient military barracks.