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A photo of medieval plate armor — Was medieval armor bulletproof? The metal suits worn by knights during the Middle Ages were originally designed to protect against weapons such as swords. But could medieval armor also stop bullets?

A small gold coin on a black background. The front has a lion and bull; the back has two squares. — Croesus stater: The 2,500-year-old coin that introduced the gold standard These 2,500-year-old coins are the origin of our monetary system.

Close-up of a wooden diorama showing five human figurines. Two are facing away from the camera, and three face the camera. They are carrying sacks of grain. — Ancient Egyptian 'granary with scribes' diorama: A miniature workplace found buried in a tomb from the Middle Kingdom A small, wooden diorama found in an ancient Egyptian tomb reflects the importance of grain in an agricultural society.

Latest about Archaeology

20,000-year-old evidence of ancient 'vehicles' discovered in New Mexico

By Patrick Pester published 28 February 25

Ancient footprints and drag marks at White Sands National Park in New Mexico suggest the earliest known Americans dragged wooden travois-like vehicles.

Archaeology

Mystery of how man's brain turned to glass after Vesuvius eruption possibly solved

By Tom Metcalfe published 27 February 25

The new study on the "glass brain" from Herculaneum is the latest episode in a long-running academic dispute.

Romans

Neanderthal 'population bottleneck' around 110,000 years ago may have contributed to their extinction

By Kristina Killgrove published 26 February 25

A study of the inner ear bones of Neanderthals shows a significant loss of diversity in their shape around 110,000 years ago, suggesting a genetic bottleneck that contributed to Neanderthals' decline.

Archaeology

Rare fresco discovered in Pompeii shows type of woman who 'breaks free from male order to dance freely, go hunting and eat raw meat in the mountains'

By Kristina Killgrove published 26 February 25

Archaeologists have brought to light an enormous fresco depicting a secretive cult practice in Pompeii.

Romans

Thutmose II tomb discovery raises new mysteries: Where is his mummy, and why wasn't he buried in the Valley of the Kings?

By Owen Jarus published 26 February 25

Why did Hatshepsut have her husband buried to the west of the Valley of the Kings, while she was buried in the valley itself?

Ancient Egyptians

'Have the cure and eat it' too: How cannibalism changed from a pagan rite to Christian medicine

By Abel de Lorenzo Rodríguez published 25 February 25

Cannibalism has been documented across Western Europe, from prehistory into the 1800s.

Archaeology

Ancient DNA reveals mysterious origins of the Huns who sacked Rome

By Kristina Killgrove published 24 February 25

The origin of the Huns in fourth-century Europe has long been debated, but centuries-old DNA has revealed their diverse backgrounds.

Archaeology

Croesus stater: The 2,500-year-old coin that introduced the gold standard

By Kristina Killgrove published 24 February 25

These 2,500-year-old coins are the origin of our monetary system.

Archaeology

'Nailed-head ritual' in Iron Age Spain was more 'complex than initially thought,' severed skulls reveal

By Kristina Killgrove published 24 February 25

An analysis of the origins of seven severed skulls with nails through them shows that some people treated this way in Iron Age Spain were local while others came from afar.

Archaeology