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Statue of Akhenaten (Reigned c. 1351-1334 BC). 18th Dynasty. One of a series of colossal statues that once lined a colonnade in the Precinct of the Aten at Karnak. — 29 lost burials archaeologists have yet to find (and 1 they did) The burials of famous people provide enduring archaeological mysteries. Here are 30 of the most acclaimed "lost" tombs.

A fragmented wooden tablet with Latin writing on it in charcoal ink on display against a neutral background — 2,000-year-old RSVP: A birthday invitation from the Roman frontier that has the earliest known Latin written by a woman This wafer-thin wooden tablet from a first-century Roman fort in the U.K. includes a heartfelt birthday party invitation.

Two people look at an ancient wooden lyre on display at a museum — Queen Puabi's lyre: A bull-headed music maker played for Mesopotamian royalty 4,500 years ago A lyre in a treasure-laden royal tomb discovered in Mesopotamia is the earliest stringed instrument ever found.

Latest about Archaeology

a close-up of a runic inscription on a silver armband

'Fascinating' Viking Age inscription reveals who owned immensely valuable 'Galloway Hoard'

By Tom Metcalfe published 10 February 25

A newly deciphered inscription suggests the immense "Galloway Hoard" found in Scotland over a decade ago was held in common.

Archaeology

A picture of a coin hoard with many gold and silver coins

Early-medieval stash of 'devil's money' found at cult site in the Netherlands

By Tom Metcalfe published 10 February 25

Researchers think the site in the Netherlands may have been used for pagan worship in reaction to the spread of Christianity.

Archaeology

A carved piece of walrus bone in the shape of goggles with narrow slits at the eyes and incised decorations sits on a thin cylindrical stand against a grey background

Thule snow goggles: 1,000-year-old Arctic eyewear carved from walrus tusks

By Kristina Killgrove published 10 February 25

These carved snow goggles were a necessary accessory for Arctic existence centuries ago.

Archaeology

On the left, a human jaw is shown in occlusal (chewing) view; only three molars remain in the back. On the right, a fragment of a left human scapula is shown within a white outline of the bone; there appears to be a label stuck to it.

Ancient Europeans ate the brains of their dead enemies 18,000 years ago, researchers discover

By Kristina Killgrove published 9 February 25

A study of skeletons from a cave in Poland has revealed widespread evidence of cut marks and fractures suggestive of cannibalism.

Archaeology

Skulls of two Australopithecus africanus specimens are highlighted against a black background. The left-hand skull is that of a young child with round eye orbits and smooth skull, while the right-hand skull is that of an adult, with wide orbits, a projecting jaw, and a rough skull.

In a 1st, ancient proteins reveal sex of human relative from 3.5 million years ago

By Kristina Killgrove published 7 February 25

Researchers have extracted ancient proteins from australopithecine fossils and determined whether they were male or female — a first for human evolution studies.

Archaeology

Two people standing in front of a cliff, looking at the different colored lines of soil running horizontally

11,000-year-old settlement in Canada could rewrite history of Indigenous civilizations in North America

By Kristina Killgrove published 7 February 25

The discovery of an 11,000-year-old village in Saskatchewan could rewrite Indigenous history in central Canada.

Archaeology

A photograph of the Herculaneum scroll, PHerc. 172, which was buried by Mount Vesuvius' eruption 2,000 years

'Incredible moment in history:' Particle accelerator and AI offer first peek inside 2,000-year-old Herculaneum scroll

By Patrick Pester published 6 February 25

A 2,000-year-old Herculaneum scroll buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius is filled with lost words that scholars can now decipher thanks to AI and a particle accelerator.

Romans

A researcher points to a fissure in the ceiling of a cave in Spain that held a Roman coin.

1,900-year-old Roman sanctuary and coin found in flooded Spanish cave

By Sascha Pare published 6 February 25

Archaeologists discovered ancient Roman inscriptions and a 1,900-year-old coin wedged between rock formations while exploring a cave called the Cova de les Dones in eastern Spain.

Romans

A set of off-white disk-shaped shell beads sits on a black reflective desktop

World's largest-ever bead stash found in 5,000-year-old 'Ivory Lady' tomb in Spain

By Kristina Killgrove published 6 February 25

More than a quarter million beads found in a tomb with female skeletons were used to decorate the women's ceremonial dresses, suggesting they were powerful leaders five millennia ago.

Archaeology