Archaeology Current Events That Made the News This Year

From the discovery of an ancient city to the rediscovery of a pre-Hispanic mural, here are some of the biggest archaeology current events that made headlines this year.

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient pearl-fishing city on Siniyah Island in the United Arab Emirates. The find sheds light on a previously unknown chapter in maritime history.

1. The discovery of a 3,000-year-old city in the Tigris River

Archaeologists are always finding new treasures that reveal more about human history. But this year, a few discoveries stood out more than others.

During one of the most extreme droughts in Iraq’s recent history, water levels in the Mosul reservoir dropped rapidly, revealing a submerged city. German and Kurdish researchers scrambled to survey, document, and excavate the ruins before the waters rose again. The team thinks it could be the ancient Mittani Empire-era settlement of Zakhiku.

2. The discovery of a palace door threshold in the ancient Iraqi city of Nimrud

Archaeological treasures are sometimes more than mere scientific curiosities. They have political or religious significance to descendants of the ancient people who produced them, monetary value to collectors, or strong aesthetic appeal.

This year, those treasures included the discovery of a palace door threshold in the ancient Iraqi city of Nimrud (also known as Kalhu). This was the first major excavation at the site since it was occupied by Islamic State fighters.

3. The rediscovery of a pre-Hispanic mural

Archaeology is the scientific study of human culture through the recovery and analysis of material remains. Often, archaeological finds have religious or cultural significance to descendants of those who produced them or monetary value to collectors.

This mural was discovered in a pillared hall of the Panamarca complex in northern Peru. It is believed to depict Tepoztecatl, the god of pulque, an alcoholic beverage that was once served in the area.

4. The discovery of a 9,000-year-old burial of a female hunter

Archaeological finds are not always about scientific value, they can have political or monetary importance to descendants or collectors. They can also have strong aesthetic appeal as in the case of the terracotta warriors.

Archaeologists found a 9,000-year-old burial of a female hunter in the Andes in Peru. The skeleton was buried with big-game hunting gear suggesting she hunted and ate meat.

At first, the team thought she was male due to her slender, light bones. However, tests using proteins found in teeth revealed the remains belonged to a young woman between 17 and 19.

5. The discovery of a Roman tomb in Rome

The Mausoleum of Augustus is one of the most massive and complex tombs in the ancient world. It was commissioned in 28 B.C.E. by Gaius Octavius, the adopted heir of Julius Caesar and would eventually house his family and successors as Emperor of Rome.

This year, many archaeology discoveries – including a complete residential Roman city in Egypt and traces of a 19th century chocolate factory in England – offered deeper insights into past cultures. But a handful of discoveries stood out above the rest.

6. The discovery of a 9,000-year-old cave art site in Patagonia

Since prehistoric paintings were discovered in Spain’s Altamira Cave in 1880, they have become an essential tool for understanding human evolution. But now scientists have found a new type of cave art that could change the way we think about human history.

In Patagonia, an area that’s renowned for its severe landscapes and strongest winds, researchers have uncovered a site with 9,000-year-old cave paintings. The paintings are a unique window into the early lives of humans in this challenging region.

7. The discovery of Vittrup Man in Denmark

In a peat bog in Denmark, researchers discovered an ancient skeleton with at least eight blows to the skull. This man, dubbed Vittrup Man, died a brutal death 5,000 years ago.

Using revolutionary techniques, researchers have been able to map this man’s life in great detail. They found that he covered a large geographical area and shifted from being a hunter-gatherer to farming.

Genetic testing and oxygen and strontium isotope analysis of his teeth revealed that he was born in northern Scandinavia. Then, for unknown reasons, he migrated south.

8. The discovery of a 3,000-year-old circular plaza in Andean South America

Archaeologists recently discovered a circular plaza in the Cajamarca valley of northern Peru. This monumental stone plaza dates back to 4,750 BC during the Late Preceramic Period, making it one of the earliest examples of this type of construction in Andean South America.

Archaeologists also study people who are still alive, digging through present-day garbage bins to learn about what we consume, discard and waste. This kind of research can help us better understand how past societies grew and developed.

9. The discovery of a sealed coffin with mummies in Egypt

Using neutron tomography, which isn’t affected by metal, researchers scanned the coffins for the first time since their burial. They found mummified animal bones and a complete skull of a type of lizard that’s still alive in North Africa today.

Egypt’s ministry of antiquities plans to display the sarcophagi at its Grand Egyptian Museum, which will be the largest museum dedicated to a single civilization. It hopes the finds will help revive a tourism industry devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and local turmoil.

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