25 Most Incredible Archaeological Finds

Archaeology is not just a science, but also the study of history through all of the incredible finds that occur. Some of these finds are at regular dig sites, while others create dig sites with surprising ancient relics. The necropolis of La Lenehuela in Andalusia, Spain, has revealed to the world two dolmens that have been lost to time until now. With 13 similar dolmens uncovered so far, the area is dense with them, and the necropolis only covers a few hectares. The two newest ones are over 33 feet long and are structured in a way that is different from others. Altered layouts and burial styles can provide vast amounts of information to archaeologists over the changes that a society goes through as time passes, as well as why they would vary their burials or structures. Adding the two newest to the total, there have now been over 100 tombs accessed at this site, and in each the grave goods have been inspected and restored. With one smaller ring inside that marks the grave and another larger stone circle as a guide, the grave is well marked and easy to locate. Early observations dated the graves, including this one, roughly to 4000 to 3001 BC. Some of the grave goods included pottery, jewelry, tools, and others. Each tomb and artifact provide more information about the time they were placed and what life was like during that time. Evidence has been found that suggests the area was used for further burials during the Bronze Age, so there will be several different types of grave goods and artifacts from many different time periods. Used to enshrine elite members of the community, the two dolmens were originally built over 6000 years ago, and then rebuilt in the Bronze Age to accommodate these burials. A big tourist attraction in Alberta, Canada, is the Dinosaur Provincial Park and the fossils that have been found there. Ongoing excavations are normal and frequent, and an educational area has been created with museums and trails, campgrounds, and others to help everyone who wants to see the fossils and other artifacts. Special small digs are available to experience how fossils are extracted. An extraordinary new find of a fossil that includes the skin. While skeletons have been rebuilt after excavation are on display, there has been little to no information on the outer appearance of these animals, and this find is changing that. During the excavation, extra care is being taken to keep the skin as intact as possible. From the fossilized skin, paleontologists are hoping to learn about the color of the skin, the texture, environment and weather, and other aspects of life. Another factor that makes this hadrosaur fossil unusual is that it is a juvenile. Rarely are juveniles found, and especially not so well preserved, as the rock has remained intact around the majority of the fossil. Having access to a juvenile fossil will offer insight into their growth, size, and development. Through this information, it may be possible to fill in missing information about evolution, growth, and the development from birth to adult, filling out the picture of their life. It is expected to take several seasons to fully remove the fossil, which will then be cleaned, restored, and studied locally. Alkmaar, North Holland, has seen the a town home turn up an unusual archaeological find. Where the floor tiles were worn, they had been replaced, not with matching new tiles, but with tiles that were made from cattle bones. The metatarsal bones were cut to the same size, and then added into the floor in a pattern. Some were placed with the top side up, with others placed top side down, though it is not known why. The original tiles were earthenware, and it is so far unknown why they would not replace them with similar, and this unusual find has left more questions than it has offered answers. Dating one bone has them pinpointed to the 15th century, while the house itself was built in 1609, suggesting that the town home was built over an already existing foundation. Other similar floors that are also dated to the 15th century have been found in Holland, and they also have not shed light on why this decision was made. One consideration is that they may have been faster and cheaper to fix missing or broken tiles, but as tiles were not an expensive item at the time, it remains uncertain. Conservation work on the old monastery of Taxiarches in West Greece has led to a rare and important mural behind one of the walls. Constantine XI Palaiologos was the last Byzantine emperor, and it was his portrait that was found. This is believed to be the only portrait of him that was made during his reign in 1449-1453, and the last of any Byzantine emperor. Beneath a layer of new murals in the church of the monastery, the painting was discovered, while others were also being removed to be properly conserved. In the painting is a bearded man with a diademed crown, his head surrounded by the halo disc, with a scepter and wearing a purple cloak. Also represented in medals and other details are double-headed eagle which represents the Palaiologos dynasty, the crown worn by the eagle to represent the emperor, and other small details. Unlike the official imperial issue portraits, this is believed to have been personally commissioned and shows him as a real man rather than the idealized version. A tile workshop recently discovered is part of an early Iron Age settlement in Corsica. It is the first evidence of any settlement in the area and includes both residential housing and businesses. The city is a large one, with over 50 buildings being found so far. Remaining buildings have been built with stone and are better able to be reimagined, while others were built with materials that degrade over time, and only the post holes remain to show where they stood. Along with buildings, there has been an abundance of evidence of daily life both home and business, with ceramics manufacturing and remains of many of the ceramics they made there, imports from Etruscan which support what is already known about trade and the trade routes in the area. Large tools such as grinding wheels and many others have been found. While many of the sections are worn and still being excavated, the tile production workshop is easily identified and has evidence of each step of the process. Stations are seen for the decanting of the clay with a basin lined with tile. The kiln where they were fired had its own building, and a warehouse for the finished tiles to be stored. A disposal pit outside holds the remains of broken or misfired tiles, as well as any waste that was made. Next to the space, several funerary structures were found, each of them made with tiles or tiled roofs, with no evidence of skeletons or other remains. The pottery and glass that were found in them are dated to the same time as the workshop, and it is thought they may be connected. The excavations will continue, and with such a large city to investigate, it will be an extended dig. Roman burials follow a specific ritual and are easily recognizable. So, when a Roman-era skeleton was found in the ancient Assyrian capital that did not follow those expectations, it challenged archaeologists. The skeleton was found in a Gallo-Roman cemetery, within the abandoned city of Pomerul, Belgium. Upon excavation and study, it was discovered that the bones were from several different individuals from the Neolithic and the Cranium from the Roman era. It is an extremely rare occurrence, as even when bones are distributed, it is usually for a or to move them to another location, and this combining bones from other people is not common. The remains were found in a deeper layer than others at the cemetery and was buried on the right side with fixed legs, in contradiction to a normal Roman burial. Further study has determined through radiocarbon analysis that the bones were from the time range 2575 BC and 3333 BC. One working theory is that the grave was accidentally disturbed, and in order to try to correct the mistake, other bones were gathered and placed within the grave. At least five to ten different individuals are represented within the grave, both male and female, with some adults and others juveniles, as well as three badgers. A statue of a figure was found when preparing to construct a new highway in Munstokae, Lower Franconia, that is from the Hallstatt culture. It stands 7.5 inches high currently. The legs are no longer intact, and it is expected to have been about 11.5 inches tall before they were lost. Also missing is the front part of the statue, particularly the upper half, making it not possible to tell the gender it was created as. Detailed facial features are intact, with a border that has holes, which is believed to indicate that a head covering was in place at one time. The location at which it was found was used as a water source, resulting in the naming of the statue as the Water Goddess. Other artifacts that were found in the same area include pottery, vessel fragments, clay stamps, and tools. During an excavation near Heshitao Village in the Xinfu District 2 ruins, and a group of 66 tombs were found. The ruins dated to the Longshan and Warring States periods, while the tombs had a much broader range, with some found from the Han, Tang, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Xin dynasties all represented. The most stunning find in this excavation is a tomb from the Ming dynasty that, until this point, had been undisturbed. This 400-year-old tomb has two burial chambers and a large stone gate. The gate itself is intricately carved, with dragons and similar designs. Within China, a dragon holds great significance, and was the symbol of the emperor, giving great significance to the carvings on the door of the tomb. Within it runs over 80 feet long and includes an inscription reading, Epitaph of the Prince of Ming-Ru-Huan. In the primary chamber are two very well-preserved coffins that are made of painted wood. Stunning birds and flowers were still easily seen on the coffin, with little fading for its age. Many grave goods were also present in the tomb, including ceramic pots, tiles, bows, furniture, candlesticks, tools, calligraphy supplies, and wooden figurines. The back chamber also included many pieces of wooden furniture, both intact and broken. An assortment of large prehistoric handaxes was recently found in Kent, England. It includes over 800 stone artifacts, and the dating process sets them to be over 300,000 years old. Found in an area that was once a river channel and became a sinkhole that filled with sediment at some point, resulting in the preservation of the tools. In this assortment, two pieces stood out, both flint knives or handaxes. A handaxe is a stone that has been chipped down on both sides to create a long cutting edge and symmetrical shape. It is believed that it was held in the hand and used for cutting meat, and may have been used for butchering or other tasks. Generally, these are labeled as giant in size when they are over 8.6 inches in length. The largest in this find was over 11 inches in length, making it amongst the largest ever found. A second focus of this dig is a Roman cemetery that dated to the 1st and 4th centuries AD. The Lady of Coleta was discovered in an archaeological dig site near Coleta, Germany. She was in a 6th century burial ground that had 17 graves all dated to the 6th and 7th centuries. Excavations began for preparation of a plot of land around 20 hectares, and the resulting archaeological finds were each a surprise, with over 3,700 items found, as well as a town and burial grounds. Within the burial grounds were 11 horses and 7 pits, 17 graves that were deeper than usual and containing wooden chambers with the grave goods, and one burial that stood out from the rest. This grave was 13 feet beneath the surface and had one chamber directly above the other. The higher chamber was lined with large stones, and it protected the chamber below from being looted and other threats. The lower chamber was 15 feet and contained all of the grave goods for her, including jewelry, glassware, bronze basins, food offerings, and more. It was determined that she was 25 to 30 years old and was part of the upper class. Her burial was so different and well-protected that it is clear she was of high standing in her community. Quintana Roo, Mexico was a center of Maya civilization as far back as 300 BCE, and is the home of three recently unearthed stucco reliefs, found on the walls of Ballgame Court II, each of them dating to 500 to 600 CE. These were common courts to have as the game was both entertainment but also a ritualistic activity that held significant meaning for the community. Two platforms are in place and are 10 feet by 5 feet, and the first ever to be found. It is believed that they are intended to display the authority of the dynasty. The first is an image with two figures, one on each side of a pedestal with symbols referencing the ruler. The second is ancestral figures among stars and serpents. The third panel includes mythological animals, which are connected to the constellations. Snakes were a representation of the lineage of the dynasty and are used throughout all of the reliefs to bring attention to the succession line. Each are made with a lime-based mortar, and the colors of red, blue, yellow, and black can still be seen, though they are greatly faded. A 13-line inscription found in Mersin Province, Turkey, about a wrestler. It is located in an ancient port, Anamurium, found on a stone base that is believed to have once held a statue of Caecilianus himself. The inscription shares praises for Caecilianus's recent wins, while the statue that was on the base has been located in the local bath. Standing 47 inches by 19 inches, weighing over one ton, it is dated to 2,000 years ago. The city itself stretched 600 acres and can be traced back to the 1st century BC. While some burial goods and tombs are common and found often, it is rare to find a Celtic burial chamber, and even more so to find one that is intact. Only the second one of its kind to be found intact, a recent burial chamber found in Reidlingen, Germany. Though it is made of wood, it remained well-preserved even when removed from the burial mound in which it was found. It was located in the center of a very large burial mound, which had a 2,000-foot diameter and was over 200 feet high. Due to the size of the burial mound, it was determined to belong to a prince, and it was built between 620 and 450 BC. Solid oak timber was used to build the chamber, reaching 13 feet long and 11 feet wide. The floor is plank, walls interlock, and cross beams are used to support the ceiling that was made of two layers of oak planks. The large burial mounds were unfortunately easy to find, and this left the tombs vulnerable to looters, but the sturdy build helped to protect the grave. A recently rediscovered church in an ancient city in Armenia is the oldest church to be found so far, and with foundations over 1,600 years old, it may be one of the earliest churches in the world. It was built in the 4th century and is the oldest church to be documented in the country. Located within the ancient city of Artaxata, it is octagonal in the center, with four short extensions that make it appear as a cross from above. The main section is almost 100 feet across and is made of mortar and terracotta tiles. This design matches a common design in the eastern Mediterranean. Large support bases were found where columns would have stood, and they have been dated to 1,600 years ago, within the city that was built in 180 BC. Also found in the excavation were pieces of marble, suggesting that the church was decorated with imported marble. In Anatolia, in a field that was being planted with cherry saplings, a large ancient floor mosaic was found. It is near the village of Sulkaya and was found accidentally when a man was planting his field. Created during either the late Roman Imperial or early Byzantine periods, it covers 904 square feet and has stunning designs, including plants and animals. Around the borders are geometric patterns with squares, triangles, lozenges, and diamonds. Plants are mixed in with the animals, which include mountain goats, ducks, lions, boars, bears, geese, and deer. A tomb in the Dashing Shuang archaeological dig site in Shangdong province has revealed a sealed bronze vessel from 1600 to 1046 BC. Sealed against the years, a liquid inside was determined through testing to be a distilled liquor. The owl-shaped vessel was in one of the tombs that was excavated. This has changed the time that it was thought distilled alcohol was being created in China by 1,000 years sooner. That is the same time period during which it first appeared in Egypt, when previously it was believed that it was exported to China centuries after it was in Egypt. When found, it was sealed and several years passed before it was able to be opened. Upon opening it, was found not to have fermented fruit or rice that would make wine, but rather ethanol, ethyl acetate, and other distillation products. Los Milares, a Neolithic settlement from 3200 to 2300 BC, is the largest fortified Neolithic settlement in Europe. This archaeological site has both an extensive city and a cemetery that contains over 80 megalithic tombs. A citadel sits in the center with a fortified entrance, while three other walls are also in place to shield the inner areas of the city. Those walls are also encircling 80 passage graves. Beyond that are 13 near-circular enclosures that were protected by forts before they fell. Construction of the city was completed in three different stages, each one increasing the fortifications. Within the city, there are separate areas that were surrounded by inner walls, and one of them was found to have crumbled in 3025 BC, leaving the homes within exposed. The citadel walls are as thick as 20 feet, which offer a strong protection, as well as represent the importance that was placed upon the building. After large growth patterns, there was a decline within, and several people moved back towards or into the citadel, with others leaving. It is believed the site was finally abandoned in 2250 BC. Further inspection of the tombs determined that it was only those who were specifically and carefully chosen who were buried in the tombs, with the higher ranking being closest to the settlement. A construction site in Poland has unearthed mammoth tusks and other bones near the village of Labuni. With no specific date yet determined, they are from the Ice Age or Pleistocene era, which was between 2.6 million and 11,700 years ago. Mammoths at this time were over 9 feet and often 12 feet tall, and they could weigh up to 7 tons each. Early humans would hunt the mammoth for food, fur for warmth, and use their remains and bones as tools and other supplies. Other finds at the site included a middle-aged settlement that has residential buildings, a well, hundreds of ceramic pieces, and a potter's cup of clay from the Neolithic period. Another mammoth find that was originally located and assessed several decades ago has been found to be mammoth boomerangs. Two mammoth tusks found in Poland were dated to 40,000 years old, is believed to be the oldest boomerang in the world. It is also the first complex tool that has been found intact in Europe, and this will change the understanding of these items and when they were developed. The ivory pieces are curved into an arch shape and has flat, convex section and dimensions that are a perfect match for the traditional Queensland boomerangs. This style of boomerang does not return to the thrower, but is used as a weapon or other tool to travel one direction. Tools such as this were used for hunting, fighting, and even digging. Measuring 28 inches long, it stood out from the human remains, fox fang pendants, stone tools, and other items that were also found in the Oblazowa cave with it. After dating several of the organic remains, including the ivory, it was significantly younger than the other items at 18,000 years old, and this led to some concern the site was contaminated, so further investigation continues. The Roman fort Magna, located in northern England, has revealed a defensive ditch that holds several artifacts from the era. Part of a small grouping of forts that were built in Britain, Magna was also known as Carivoran and sits along Hadrian's Wall from 122 AD. In one of the defensive ditches, an ankle breaker was found, which is a thin, deep trench that runs along the inside of the ditch and will trip or break the ankle of attacking soldiers. Within the ditch were three shoes and some leather that remained exceptionally well preserved for their age. Of the shoes, two were well preserved enough that the nails are visible that attach the heel to the bottom of the shoe. This is showing a more detailed picture of how the Romans made their shoes. Another shoe that was found measured 12.6 inches and may be the largest shoe that has been found from the time period. It would be a modern-day size 14 and surprised those who were on the dig. The shoes have several layers of leather bounded together to form the sole and then the upper layers of the shoe was attached. In southeastern Poland, a bronze brooch was found that was created 2,500 years ago. It is larger than many others that have been found and it measures 2.7 inches long and at the widest is just under one inch wide. There are two noticeable sections to the brooch, one that is a smaller shape to a mushroom and another that is tapered on each end and whiter in the middle. Decorations that were found etched into the bronze have been dated to 550-400 BC, based upon their design and the time period that design was popular. It appears to be in the style of the Lusatia culture, which originated in eastern Germany and western Poland and is known for their ironworking and bronze casting. They also farmed, hunted, and fished, and their communities were advanced and well-developed. Further excavation will continue to determine if this was a cemetery with other relics to find or if it was just a misplaced piece. Two medieval weapons were also found by the same individual, a throwing weapon from 700 years ago and an axe that was dated to 500 years ago. A surprising find in Turkey may change what is known about the Tavasonli Mound. While it can be common to find skeletal remains in burial mounds and under burial mounds, to find any tissue or muscle remaining is quite rare due to the speed with which they degrade and disintegrate. That makes this find incredible and both brain and skin tissue have remained for over 3,700 years. It is the first time that skin has ever been found on an excavation in Turkey and it will provide additional information on the lifestyle of people from that time period. Small villages in the area began settlement around 8,000 years ago. As it grew, it became a capital city and continued to expand, offering many archaeological finds that will help to form a picture of their lives then and how the community operated. Excavating the Minoan Palace of Arkanis in Crete is offering a wealth of information through structures and artifacts. One of the finds, a sacred gate, is the first of its kind as it forms the main entrance and welcomes residents and visitors. A stone platform is pyramid in shape and forms an arm on each side of the entrance, with four altars being in place as well. Connected to the royal palace of Knossos where the labyrinth lies, it is only 5 miles between that palace and Arkanis, which was built in 1900 BC and is believed to be a satellite location. As it was dependent upon the other city, it may not have as extensive resources or services, and the excavation continues to determine what other finds are located at the site. Other building remains include a three-story building with a large main entrance, a theater, sanctuaries, and hundreds of artifacts and objects both of religious and non-religious design. Evidence of a fire has destroyed a portion of the city, and it was determined the fire occurred in the Mycenaean period, which was 1750 to 1050 BC, though the cause has not been determined. An effort was made to rebuild and repair the areas that were lost or damaged, but the evidence remains show just how bad the fire was. Keeping archaeological finds and local history accessible is an important part of the process, and the Cave of 100 Mammoths does just that. It is also known as Grotte de Rufnjak, and it offers 4.9 miles of cave to explore, 226 images and representations, and four of those are human figures. Over 100 of the images are mammoths, which is how the cave system got its name, 28 bison, 15 horses, 12 capricorns, 10 woolly rhinoceros, and a bear. It now operates as a tourist area, with tour guides and necessary amenities. The cave itself was carved from the rock by flowing water, and the corridors and galleries are extremely large and offer three levels. The river that created the caves was present millions of years ago and now is dry, with just the caverns left. It is believed that the first inhabitants of the caves were bears, and they left their mark with claw marks down the walls and other evidence that they were living there. Next were people, with evidence of people in the caves from several different time periods, from Neanderthal, Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, and the Bronze Age. With a clay floor, it can be uncomfortable to walk, but it is well worth the stunning walls of limestone with all the centuries of artwork. Ancient Egypt is known for seeing some animals as sacred, and for their deep-rooted beliefs. One of these animals is the crocodile, who was seen to be divine. A crocodile suit of armor was found and donated to the British Museum, who has dated it to the 3rd century AD. It was found in Europe in a grotto, which had preserved it very well due to the cold and dry environment that it created. This suit may have been worn by a Roman soldier, as they were shown the Egyptian culture, and would have learned the importance of the crocodile, or by a priest who would consider it a way to take on the aspects of the crocodile. With the age and lack of details on its location, there will likely never be a confirmed use or understanding about the background of the armor, but further research continues. It can be seen on display at the museum. A new program under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments has begun to translate and restore manuscripts that are written on palm leaf. This was a common way to record information, to write down poems and stories, and share other details with the future before paper was common. Of the 348 sets of literature, 21 copper plates and several palm leaf manuscripts, one stands out amongst the rest. Nineteen rare manuscripts were found in the Arulmiga Athinathar Azhar temple, and one of them holds an explanation of stanzas in the poem Thiruvaimotsi. The poem was written by Namazar, who was one of the twelve saints, and it has become an important part of the culture and history. Others held details on the running of the temple, expenses and rituals. This program is addressing many of the palm leaf manuscripts that have been found, and the restoration work is ensuring that they can continue to learn from the past, and that much of the literature of the time won't be lost.