The latest stories, clear explanations and essential discoveries from Archaeology.
Explore ancient cities beneath Mexico City, Rome and Istanbul—and how archaeologists read layers, date evidence and work beneath living streets.
Sep 16, 2026 • 6 min readRead the discovery →New stories, explanations and research from Archaeology.
Papyrus survives best where dry, stable conditions slow chemical decay and biological activity, allowing conservators to recover fragile texts without erasing their history.
Sep 29, 2026 • 12 min read
Cuneiform was deciphered by comparing multilingual inscriptions, testing sign values across languages and using thousands of tablets to correct early hypotheses.
Sep 28, 2026 • 12 min read
Researchers identify ancient pigments by combining microscopy, spectroscopy, chemical analysis and historical context while accounting for fading, contamination and later restoration.
Sep 28, 2026 • 12 min read
Shipwreck survival depends on water chemistry, temperature, oxygen, sediment burial, biological activity, construction materials and disturbances at the site.
Sep 28, 2026 • 12 min read
Dendrochronology matches distinctive sequences of wide and narrow growth rings among trees and timbers, producing calendar dates and environmental records where suitable species and…
Sep 24, 2026 • 12 min read
Pattern analysis, repeated place names and linguistic testing revealed that Linear B recorded an early form of Greek used by Bronze Age palace administrations.
Sep 23, 2026 • 12 min read
Overlapping patterns of wide and narrow growth rings can build exact regional calendars, allowing wood from buildings and sites to be dated while preserving…
Sep 23, 2026 • 13 min read
Microscopic grains preserved in sediment reveal changing forests, wetlands, farms, fires and human land use.
Sep 21, 2026 • 12 min read
The changing ratio of carbon isotopes can estimate when once-living material stopped exchanging carbon with its environment.
Sep 21, 2026 • 14 min read
Microscopic grains preserved in sediment reveal changing forests, wetlands, farms, fires and human land use.
Sep 21, 2026 • 12 min read
The changing ratio of carbon isotopes can estimate when once-living material stopped exchanging carbon with its environment.
Sep 21, 2026 • 14 min read
Airborne lasers can map tiny differences in ground elevation through gaps in a canopy, revealing roads, terraces and monumental landscapes—but not replacing archaeology on…
Sep 14, 2026 • 4 min read
Corroded bronze fragments recovered from a shipwreck preserve an intricate geared model of celestial cycles—and a continuing archaeological puzzle.
Sep 13, 2026 • 8 min readOne remarkable idea at a time—nature, science, history and beyond.
