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The Dead Sea Scrolls are historic Jewish and Hebrew religious documents made of leather, papyrus, and copper. They were found in 11 caves near Khirbet Qumran, on the northwest coast of the Dead Sea, between 1947 and 1956. These manuscripts date back around 2,000 years.
In 1974, a group of peasants were excavating a well close to the Qin Shi Huang Emperor's tomb mound at Mount Li near Xi'an in China's Shaanxi Province. This discovery, which is considered as one of the most important in archaeology, consists of a terracotta army of 8,000 figures. These figures, including warriors, chariots, and horses, were been buried for more than 2,000 years to safeguard the emperor's afterlife.
On November 4, 1922, a team led by British Egyptologist Howard Carter (1874–1939) made a momentous archaeological discovery in the Valley of the Kings. They uncovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, one of the most significant finds of the 20th century. The iconic golden mask of the young pharaoh was found three years later in 1925 and has since become a globally recognized masterpiece.
Discovered in 1799 by a French soldier during Napoleon Bonaparte's Egyptian expedition, the Rosetta Stone is a piece of granite stone that contains three versions of a written decree issued in 196 BCE by a collective of Egyptian clergy. The upper and middle texts are written in Ancient Egyptian using hieroglyphic and Demotic scripts (which evolved from hieratic), while the lower text is in Ancient Greek. This compilation ultimately aided scholars in deciphering the hieroglyphic code.
In 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in volcanic ash and rock. Since 1592, the site has been excavated, but it wasn't until the 1920s that organized archaeological digs began unearthing the remarkably well-preserved ruins and the buried treasures.
In 1868, a cave system was found near Santillana del Mar in Cantabria, Spain. It contained an extraordinary collection of prehistoric rock art, consisting of charcoal drawings and polychrome paintings depicting local animals and human hands. The oldest of these artworks can be traced back 36,000 years.
In 2009, a metal detectorist found the biggest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork ever recorded. The discovery, made near the village of Hammerwich, Staffordshire, England, included over 4,000 items, one of which is a folded cross. Archaeologists speculate that these treasures had been concealed since 700 BCE.
Considered by many to be the most renowned ancient stone circle worldwide, Stonehenge has long been a subject of fascination for both historians and archaeologists. The Duke of Buckingham initiated the first documented excavation in the 1620s, but it was not until the late 1660s that the site received its first comprehensive archaeological study by John Aubrey (1626–1697). This mysterious monument continues to perplex experts.
The Varna Necropolis in Bulgaria was found by archaeologists in 1974 and is widely recognized as an important archaeological site from prehistoric times. It is known as the richest burial site from the 5th millennium BCE, with a significant number of gold artifacts discovered. These artifacts have been dated to 4560-4450 BCE, making them the earliest known examples of processed gold.
The pyramids of Giza are widely recognized as one of the most remarkable archaeological wonders unearthed on our planet. Throughout history, there has been speculation that these ancient structures were constructed through the use of enslaved labor. However, in 2010, the discovery of ancient tombs dating back over 4,000 years has brought this assumption into question. Experts in the field of archaeology now contend that these tombs belonged to the laborers who dedicated their efforts to building the revered pyramids of Khufu and Khafre. As free individuals, these workers were granted the privilege of being laid to rest in proximity to the sacred pyramids upon which they toiled.
Sutton Hoo, located in Suffolk, England, consists of two ancient cemeteries that date back to the 6th and 7th centuries. In 1939, Basil Brown (1888–1977), an amateur archaeologist, unearthed an impressive burial ship filled with exquisite treasures, including four intact Anglo-Saxon helmets.
During his expedition in Peru in 1911, American explorer Hiram Bingham III (1875-1956) unintentionally discovered Machu Picchu. This ancient Inca citadel was found while he was in search of another city called Vilcabamba, thanks to the assistance of local indigenous farmers.
In September 1991, a well-preserved natural mummy of a man, believed to have lived between 3350 and 3105 BCE, was found frozen in a glacier in the Ötztal Alps on the Austria-Italy border. The discovery of Ötzi, also known as the Iceman, is considered a significant archaeological find of the 20th century.
Indonesia is home to cave art that has survived for thousands of years. In November 2018, a painting depicting an animal, dated back 40,000 years, was found in concealed caves in the Sangkulirang-Mangkalihat Peninsula in East Kalimantan. It forms a section of a hunting scene and serves as both the world's earliest example of figurative artwork and the oldest known record of storytelling.
Knossos, the heart of Minoan civilization and the capital of Minoan Crete, is home to the largest archaeological site from the Bronze Age on the island. It is hailed as Europe's oldest city. British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans (1851–1941) initiated excavations at Knossos in 1900, uncovering not only the remains of a palace but also a collection of page-shaped tablets. These tablets, inscribed with the ancient Cretan writing system called Linear B, were used to write Mycenaean Greek, the earliest recorded version of Greek.
The remains of King Richard III, who reigned from 1483 to 1485 and belonged to the House of York, were discovered in 2012 underneath a parking lot in Leicester, England. After the excavation, he was laid to rest in Leicester Cathedral in 2015. Today, the site of his initial burial is safeguarded and forms a section of a visitor's center.
The Rapa Nui people refer to the monumental stone sculptures on Easter Island as Moai. These figures, crafted from volcanic tuff rock, were created between 1250 and 1500 CE to symbolize their revered ancestors. Europeans first encountered these statues when they visited the island in 1722.
The Borobudur Temple, located in Central Java, Indonesia, is the biggest Buddhist temple in the world. It dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries CE and was rediscovered during the 19th century.
Göbekli Tepe, also known as "Potbelly Hill," is an ancient site in Turkey. It is renowned for housing the world's oldest megaliths. These impressive stone pillars, totaling over 200, date back to approximately 9500-8000 BCE. The site was initially explored in 1963.
The Nazca Lines in Peru's Nazca Desert are large geoglyphs that depict animals and plants, only visible from the sky. These ancient creations were made between 500 BCE and 500 CE, with varying levels of intricacy. The Nazca Lines were first extensively studied by American scientist and historian Paul Kosok (1896-1959), yet their purpose continues to be an enigma. In a recent development, researchers utilizing drones have unearthed approximately 80 to 100 new figures.
Petra, located in Jordan, is a well-known archaeological site recognized for its rock-cut architecture. The intricate Al-Khazneh temple, depicted here, stands out among its structures. It is believed that Petra was built around the 5th century BCE but was later forgotten. It was rediscovered in 1812 by Swiss explorer Jean-Louis Burckhardt (1784–1817).
The remote Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania is known as a significant paleoanthropological site. It was at this location that the British-Kenyan paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey (1903–1972) and his spouse, Mary (1913–1996), who was also a paleoanthropologist, established and advanced their excavation and research initiatives. Their efforts resulted in the discovery of ancient hominines and the earliest hominins. In 1959, Mary unearthed the well-built Zinjanthropus skull at Olduvai Gorge.
Chichén Itzá is a popular archeological site in Mexico, known for its main attraction, the Temple of Kukulcán (El Castillo). This ancient city was hidden in the jungle but was later found in 1841 by American explorer John L. Stephens (1805–1852), who played a significant role in uncovering the Maya civilization.
In 1850, the Neolithic village of Skara Brae in Scotland's Orkney archipelago was uncovered by a powerful storm. Situated on Mainland, the largest island in the region, Skara Brae is a remarkably well-preserved Stone Age settlement. It thrived between 3200 and 2200 BCE.
The Acropolis of Athens remains as the most impressive and intact ancient Greek monumental complex that exists today. Constructed in the latter half of the 5th century BCE, this fortress is topped by the grand Parthenon. Restoration and conservation efforts for the site commenced in the early 1900s, led by researchers.
The ruins of Tikal, an ancient pre-Columbian Maya city located in the rain forests of present-day Guatemala, were excavated in 1956 by archaeologists from the University of Pennsylvania.
The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum in Paola, Malta was accidentally discovered in 1902 by a construction team. It is a Neolithic underground structure dating back to the Saflieni phase (3300 - 3000 BCE) in Maltese prehistory.
The grand Angkor Wat, a Buddhist temple complex constructed in the 12th century and situated in northern Cambodia, was uncovered in the 1840s by the French explorer Henri Mouhot (1826–1861).
In 2019, a previously unknown species of human that resided on an island in present-day Philippines approximately 50,000 years ago was discovered, adding a new branch to the human family tree. Named "Homo luzonensis" after the island of Luzon, where it was uncovered, this species is not directly linked to modern humans but represents an ancient distant relative. The image depicts the fossils and teeth of this early ancestor.
Established in 1979, Serra da Capivara National Park in Brazil has remarkable evidence of one of South America's oldest populations. The park is adorned with rock shelters containing numerous cave paintings, some dating back 25,000 years. This area, known as Serra da Capivara, boasts the largest and oldest collection of prehistoric sites in the Americas.
Located on the island of Santorini in Greece, the Akrotiri archaeological site from the Minoan Bronze Age is highly significant in the Aegean region. It was devastated during the Theran eruption in the 16th century BCE and subsequently buried under ash. Rediscovered in the 1960s, extensive excavations have been ongoing since 1967.
Imagine if the Roman city of Pompeii had not been found, or if Howard Carter had not come across King Tut's tomb. Thankfully, archaeologists have discovered these treasures and many other historic sites, impressive monuments, and valuable artifacts.
Take a look through the gallery and explore some of the most significant archaeological discoveries in history.
The most astounding archaeological discoveries in history
Explore the ancient treasures unearthed over the centuries
LIFESTYLE Archaeology
Imagine if the Roman city of Pompeii had not been found, or if Howard Carter had not come across King Tut's tomb. Thankfully, archaeologists have discovered these treasures and many other historic sites, impressive monuments, and valuable artifacts.
Take a look through the gallery and explore some of the most significant archaeological discoveries in history.