Archaeology

The Great Pyramids of Giza - Khufu's on the right and Cheops's on the left, Giza Plataeu, Egypt
The Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Humans have left clues of our existence throughout time, leaving behind burials, artifacts and written records that hint at our evolution, beliefs, practices and cultures. Studying the archaeological record shows us that the oldest known bones belonging to Homo sapiens are 300,000 years old, or that the world’s oldest civilizations arose at least 6,000 years ago. 

Discover more

—What is archaeology?

—Amazing facial reconstructions

—What was the longest-lasting civilization?

Whether you’re looking for facts about the ancient Egyptians, the discovery of an ancient human skull, a gold hoard dating to the fall of the Roman Empire or how the latest technology is helping us find hidden pyramids, Live Science's expert science writers and editors are here to give you the latest coverage on our past with archaeology news, articles and features.  

Explore Archaeology

Editor's Picks

A facial reconstruction of Ramses II
Facial reconstructions help the past come alive. But are they accurate? DNA analysis is changing the science of facial reconstructions and making them more lifelike than ever before.
Illustration of ancient humans in White Sands.
The 1st Americans were not who we thought they were For decades, we thought the first humans to arrive in the Americas came across the Bering Land Bridge 13,000 years ago. New evidence is changing that picture.
Iceman Ötzi reconstruction
40 amazing facial reconstructions, from Stone Age shamans to King Tut New scientific techniques are helping us reconstruct people from the past in uncanny detail.

Latest about Archaeology

The four skulls that archaeologists found buried in a pit.

Headless skeletons in China represent the largest known headhunting massacre from Neolithic Asia

By Soumya Sagar published

Headless skeletons from a 4,100-year-old massacre in China are from victims of the largest known 'headhunt' from Neolithic Asia.

Archaeology
Photo of an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus with the engraving of the Egyptian god Banebjedet.

Ancient Egyptian tomb was filled with magical spells to ward off snake bites

By Owen Jarus published

An ancient Egyptian tomb just south of Cairo was filled with magical spells intended to protect the dead from snake bites.

Ancient Egyptians
A close up picture of a human head louse.

Head lice invaded the Americas alongside the 1st humans

By Sascha Pare published

A genetic analysis of head lice that have evolved in tandem with humans has revealed two distinct groups of lice that merged in the Americas as a result of Asian and European migrations.

Archaeology
An digital reconstruction of ancient Rome.

Soar over ancient Rome's temples, brothels and baths in epic new 3D reconstruction

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

A newly-launched 3D model of ancient Rome lets viewers experience the city as it was in its heyday in the fourth century.

Romans
Human or animal poop of brown color lying on yellow background.

8 times fossilized human poop dropped big knowledge on us. (Number 2 will surprise you).

By Laura Geggel published

Here's the scoop on ancient human poop.

Archaeology
Side-by-side facial approximations of a Neanderthal.

Weathered face of 'old man' Neanderthal comes to life in amazing new facial reconstruction

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

A new facial reconstruction depicts a Neanderthal whose skeleton was found by priests in a French cave.

Archaeology
Teratoma with Tooth A (lower) in situ and Tooth B (upper) retrofitted in crypt.

Rare tumor with teeth discovered in Egyptian burial from 3,000 years ago

By Kristina Killgrove published

An ancient Egyptian woman had an ovarian tumor with teeth and was buried with a possible healing object.

Ancient Egyptians
Iceman Ötzi reconstruction

40 amazing facial reconstructions, from Stone Age shamans to King Tut

By Christina Hughes last updated

New scientific techniques are helping us reconstruct people from the past in uncanny detail.

Archaeology
We see an orange sphinx-like mound with orange "erosion" lines going around it.

Sphinx may have been built from a natural rock feature eroded by wind, study claims

By Owen Jarus published

It's possible that wind erosion made a rock feature in ancient Egypt look something like a sphinx, and then the Egyptians further refined it into the iconic monument.

Ancient Egyptians
A facial reconstruction of Ramesses II

Facial reconstructions help the past come alive. But are they accurate?

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

DNA analysis is changing the science of facial reconstructions and making them more lifelike than ever before.

Archaeology
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