Archaeology
![The Great Pyramids of Giza - Khufu's on the right and Cheops's on the left, Giza Plataeu, Egypt](jpg/b44kc9cdps5m7tvdnosf2w-320-80.jpg)
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.
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.
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![The four skulls that archaeologists found buried in a pit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rKwLhUhrqr2Rqvn9avr29F-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rKwLhUhrqr2Rqvn9avr29F-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rKwLhUhrqr2Rqvn9avr29F-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rKwLhUhrqr2Rqvn9avr29F-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rKwLhUhrqr2Rqvn9avr29F-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rKwLhUhrqr2Rqvn9avr29F-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rKwLhUhrqr2Rqvn9avr29F-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rKwLhUhrqr2Rqvn9avr29F-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![Photo of an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus with the engraving of the Egyptian god Banebjedet.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRnbSpMkMtXvEKkXWxfoVh-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![A close up picture of a human head louse.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tTaLBNUhCNiCsUEFYV3jX6-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tTaLBNUhCNiCsUEFYV3jX6-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tTaLBNUhCNiCsUEFYV3jX6-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tTaLBNUhCNiCsUEFYV3jX6-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tTaLBNUhCNiCsUEFYV3jX6-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tTaLBNUhCNiCsUEFYV3jX6-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tTaLBNUhCNiCsUEFYV3jX6-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tTaLBNUhCNiCsUEFYV3jX6-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![An digital reconstruction of ancient Rome.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ATkBcNKTVoomdt57NYNWT9-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ATkBcNKTVoomdt57NYNWT9-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ATkBcNKTVoomdt57NYNWT9-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ATkBcNKTVoomdt57NYNWT9-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ATkBcNKTVoomdt57NYNWT9-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ATkBcNKTVoomdt57NYNWT9-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ATkBcNKTVoomdt57NYNWT9-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ATkBcNKTVoomdt57NYNWT9-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![Human or animal poop of brown color lying on yellow background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgwfyWY8f86iqjD3r94x2h-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgwfyWY8f86iqjD3r94x2h-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgwfyWY8f86iqjD3r94x2h-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgwfyWY8f86iqjD3r94x2h-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgwfyWY8f86iqjD3r94x2h-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgwfyWY8f86iqjD3r94x2h-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgwfyWY8f86iqjD3r94x2h-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgwfyWY8f86iqjD3r94x2h-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![Side-by-side facial approximations of a Neanderthal.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uEUnWSvsm68KiJgg7SfN4j-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uEUnWSvsm68KiJgg7SfN4j-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uEUnWSvsm68KiJgg7SfN4j-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uEUnWSvsm68KiJgg7SfN4j-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uEUnWSvsm68KiJgg7SfN4j-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uEUnWSvsm68KiJgg7SfN4j-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uEUnWSvsm68KiJgg7SfN4j-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uEUnWSvsm68KiJgg7SfN4j-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
![Teratoma with Tooth A (lower) in situ and Tooth B (upper) retrofitted in crypt.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-320-80.jpeg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-450-80.jpeg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-500-80.jpeg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-650-80.jpeg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-840-80.jpeg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-970-80.jpeg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-1024-80.jpeg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFSwna8gmMioQNoWPoCxEJ-1200-80.jpeg 1200w)
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.
![Iceman Ötzi reconstruction](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zGkZftd8H2ADEXmB9rdWcY-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zGkZftd8H2ADEXmB9rdWcY-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zGkZftd8H2ADEXmB9rdWcY-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zGkZftd8H2ADEXmB9rdWcY-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zGkZftd8H2ADEXmB9rdWcY-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zGkZftd8H2ADEXmB9rdWcY-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zGkZftd8H2ADEXmB9rdWcY-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zGkZftd8H2ADEXmB9rdWcY-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
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.
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