Archaeology

More than three thousand years after her burial in Ancient Egypt, the mummy of a noblewoman still appears to be screaming in terror, her mouth frozen wide open. Researchers using modern medical imaging have confirmed that this is not the result of poor embalming, but a rare muscle reaction that occurred at the exact moment of death.

Researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Hebrew University have developed a method based on the "magnetic memory" of pottery. It can expose modern forgeries and assist museums, archaeologists, and law enforcement in the fight against the illegal antiquities trade.

The Turkish government has granted unprecedented permission for excavation and research on a mysterious structure near Mount Ararat, as initial findings reveal an exact match to the biblical description and deep cavities in the ground.

Researchers from the University of Haifa have reconstructed an ancient vessel to understand how the inhabitants of Neolithic Carmel coast settlements, now submerged, navigated the sea.

A new study brings back to the headlines one of the most unusual archaeological discoveries found in the Namibian desert: a nearly 500-year-old Portuguese merchant ship, accidentally uncovered in 2008 during diamond mining, containing thousands of gold coins, dozens of tons of metals, and ivory. The study, published this month, examined the efforts to preserve the treasures since their discovery...

Archaeologists in Thailand have discovered two gold rings at a 2,000-year-old burial site in Phetchaburi province. One ring features an inscription in Brahmi script, an ancient Indian writing system. Experts believe the inscription translates to "protected by Pushya."

A comprehensive excavation project under the floor of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has revealed an ancient landscape of a quarry, agricultural plots, and rock-cut tombs - matching the descriptions in the New Testament amazingly well and confirming a 1,700-year-old tradition.

Archaeologists investigating the ancient Etruscan city of Kainua, near Bologna, have uncovered a 2,500-year-old well that appears to have been used for ritual purposes. In addition to bronze figurines and vessels, the skeletons of a man and a woman were found inside.

A large-scale archaeological discovery was revealed this month in Egypt: a mission on behalf of the Supreme Council of Antiquities exposed at the Kom el-Khilgan site in the Dakahlia Governorate, in the eastern Nile Delta, an ancient cemetery and remains of a residential area documenting human settlement for thousands of years. The earliest findings date back to the first half of the fourth...

Statues, amulets, and rare antiquities were returned to Egypt following an FBI investigation that determined they had been smuggled into the US. The main suspect is already dead, but the investigation continues. In the background, there is a broad international struggle to return looted antiquities worth a billion dollars.

More than 1,300 years after a ship sank off the coast of Croatia, the findings salvaged from it are beginning to reveal who might have been sailing on board. The Croatian Conservation Institute presented this summer the results of years of underwater excavations of a ship dating back to the late 7th or early 8th century AD. Among the remains, more than 600 grams of gold, Byzantine coins, and...

About four years after a mysterious 400-year-old grave was discovered near the village of Pien in northern Poland, researchers are publishing the first systematic study on the young woman found inside, nicknamed 'Zosia'. The grave featured unusual measures: a padlock on her toe and a sickle over her neck, intended to prevent her from rising from the dead.

The remains were discovered in a canal near an ancient pyramid at the Huaca Pucllana site, a former ceremonial center of the Lima culture. The body's position and the site's structure suggest he was buried as part of a ritual ceremony.

A study by the University of Haifa reveals that members of the Natufian culture on Mount Carmel systematically ate snakes and lizards. Cut marks found on reptile vertebrae prove that this was not incidental food.

An expedition of 16 researchers will set out in October to Nikumaroro Island following an object seen in satellite imagery on the edge of a lagoon. The researchers will try to determine if these are the remains of the Lockheed Electra in which the pilot and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared in 1937.

In 1911, explorer Hiram Bingham was convinced he had found Vilcabamba, the last Inca stronghold, at Machu Picchu. However, half a century later, Gene Savoy proved that the true capital of the resistance was hidden at Espiritu Pampa.

An unusual finding was accidentally revealed off the coast of France: during a routine military operation to survey the seabed in 2025, the French Navy identified an anomalous object using sonar. Subsequent checks conducted with the help of underwater vehicles revealed at a depth of about 2,500 meters a merchant ship that likely sank in the 16th century. The vessel, which is more than 30 meters...

Archaeologists have discovered a rare 2,400-year-old gold coin during emergency excavations at the Montedoro necropolis near Agrigento, Sicily. Minted in Syracuse in the late 5th century BCE, the coin provides a unique glimpse into the turbulent period of conflict between Greek cities and Carthage.

Archaeologists in Egypt have announced a discovery that could resolve a long-standing historical mystery. During excavations at Tel Abu Seifi, near the Suez Canal, a sandstone lintel fragment was found featuring an inscription that mentions the ancient city of Mesen. The artifact bears the titles of Ramesses II and documents the restoration of a statue of Horus.

In excavations at the Winter Stadium parking lot, planned streets, shops, warehouses, kilns, and industrial facilities were discovered. The complex was established in the 7th or 8th century and operated for about 150 years. Among the findings: dozens of coins, oil lamps, pottery, and glass vessels. Researchers: "The excavation results exceeded all expectations."

An extraordinary discovery in northern England: during a metal detecting event held in May near Carlisle, 48-year-old Allan Daniels and 34-year-old Andy Kermond located three gold ornaments from the Bronze Age. The items, known as "torcs," date back to around 1100 BCE and are reportedly worth a combined total of approximately $400,000.

A new study published in the "Journal of Archaeological Science" reveals an unusual detail about jewelry used by ancient elites in Greece: an examination of 91 iron objects found that 13 rings contained significant amounts of nickel, indicating the use of meteoric iron. Researchers determined that nine of these rings are highly likely of meteoric origin.

New archaeological findings at the Great Synagogue of Vilnius shed light on the Jewish life that thrived for centuries in one of Eastern Europe's most important centers. Excavations have revealed remains of the central Bima, the women's section, colorful floors, and personal items, including seat plaques with the names of regular worshippers and a plaque with the Ten Commandments.

Mount Ebal is the kind of site where one verse can turn into an archaeological question spanning decades. According to the Book of Joshua, after entering the Land of Israel, Joshua builds an altar on Mount Ebal. The event is presented as part of a significant change: a people who lived for forty years as nomads are now required to become a society of permanent settlements, families, agriculture...

A historic discovery in Egypt: archaeologists have uncovered an ancient settlement about 3,500 years old in the Ismailia region. The site, located in the heart of the geographical area identified with the "Land of Goshen" mentioned in the Book of Genesis, includes residential structures, storage facilities, and graves, providing fascinating evidence of the thriving life in the region that served...

Researchers in China have discovered a sealed bronze vessel in an ancient tomb containing nearly four liters of a well-preserved ancient alcoholic beverage. This rare find provides unique insights into ancient brewing techniques and social customs.

Workers at a brick factory found 34,000-year-old skeletons, but it took scientists decades to realize that a hunter-gatherer society was capable of such a ritual. With tens of thousands of hand-carved ivory beads, genetic deformities, and DNA tests that baffled researchers, the discovery at Sunghir is rewriting everything we thought about humanity.

A couple in England discovered a hoard of 17th-century gold and silver coins while excavating the floor of their old farmhouse.

Archaeologists in the ancient city of Sardis, Turkey, have unearthed a rare, two-meter-tall marble statue from 2,500 years ago. The figure of a young man holding a fruit features a unique combination of garments, challenging established notions of regional ancient fashion.

The Ministry of Heritage has approved a 113 million shekel investment to restore and develop over 70 historical sites in Judea and Samaria. The plan aims to strengthen Jewish identity and improve tourism infrastructure across the region.

Archaeological excavations at Qesem Cave near Rosh HaAyin reveal unique evidence of ancient life. Research suggests that a new human type developed here 400,000 years ago.

Researchers from the University of Granada have identified the oldest library on the Iberian Peninsula at the extensive Roman villa of Fuente Alamo near Cordoba. When the complex was first excavated decades ago, archaeologists mistakenly believed that the system of rooms belonged to a cult structure for the god Mithras, but a reinterpretation has revealed that it is an ancient literary archive.

Marine archaeologists in Greece have uncovered the remains of an ancient merchant ship carrying hundreds of amphorae off the coast of Andros. The discovery, announced by the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, sheds new light on maritime trade networks in the Aegean Sea during the late classical period.

A budget of approximately 113 million shekels will be invested in over 70 archaeological sites across Judea and Samaria. The initiative focuses on conservation, digitization, and infrastructure development.

A nailed sandal from Masada, high-heeled shoes for horsemen from Bukhara, and the Israeli design that reached the clip of one of the world's biggest pop singers. The "Shoe Stories" exhibition at the Israel Museum takes the whole family on a journey following the footsteps of humanity.

Without digging a single centimeter: innovative technology has revealed giant human-shaped stones in the depths of ancient burial mounds in the Brittany region. Now, all that separates science from final answers is a special excavation permit.

A Byzantine-era shipwreck discovered off the coast of Croatia likely carried a high-ranking official. Excavations have revealed over 600 grams of gold, including coins and a signet ring from the 7th or 8th century.

Thousands of years after the daughters of Shiloh would go out on Tu B'Av to find their match, a new love story was born at the site: two American archaeologists who came to uncover the antiquities found the love of their lives there.

In a joint operation by the Civil Administration, Border Police, and the IDF, a suspect was caught attempting illegal excavations in the Jericho area. His field interrogation led to a dramatic raid on his home, where investigators were stunned to discover thousands of items, including coins from the Persian, Hellenistic, and Hasmonean periods.

During excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority at the Tower of David Museum, a rare mold for casting a female figurine's face was discovered. This marks the first time such a production tool has been found in Jerusalem.

A fascinating archaeological discovery made in the autumn of 2024 near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, is set for auction. The hoard of 16 Iron Age gold coins, found by a history professor, is considered one of the most significant collections of Celtic gold ever unearthed in Britain.

While scanning the beach in Ashdod, Avi Chaparak discovered a 2,500-year-old coin. The Israel Antiquities Authority confirmed it is the first of its kind from Cyprus to be found in Israel.

Shipwreck fragments discovered more than a decade ago off the southern coast of Croatia date back to the 7th or 8th century AD. After years of analysis, archaeologists have determined that the vessel was carrying a high-ranking official and their entourage, revealing the largest gold hoard ever found on a shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

In honor of the 60th anniversary of the Shrine of the Book and the Israel Museum, the complete Great Isaiah Scroll — a 2,200-year-old biblical masterpiece — is being presented to the public. From its accidental discovery to the secret rescue operation, the secrets of the scroll are revealed in a special exhibition on display until September 15th.

The Palestinian Authority is promoting a vote today at UNESCO to define Sebastia as a Palestinian heritage site in danger, ignoring the Jewish history of the place. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar responded from an event at the City of David: "They are not just trying to rewrite history, but to invent a completely false narrative."