Summary

  • Recent archeological finds of all kinds, ranging from unexplained ancient monuments to Viking halls, continue to fascinate the world.
  • Noteworthy new ancient discoveries made recently include a dismembered hands ritual, a lost golden city, and a treasure-laden shipwreck in Colombia.
  • Recent digs highlight a Roman Colosseum replica, an ancient fast food restaurant in Pompeii, and a Buddhist temple in Pakistan.

New archeological discoveries around the world are interesting because they reveal more about the lives of ancient humans. Every discovery adds to the knowledge of the ancient past, leaving modern people hungry for more - and who knows just how much more there could be out there; incredible undiscovered ancient sites documenting the amazing achievements of people of the past?

Of course, over the last couple of hundred years or so, there have been seemingly countless archeological finds around the world, and some are older and even more mysterious than others. For example, the ancient site of Skara Brae in Scotland's Orkney Islands, which is a fascinating 5,000-plus-year-old example of a neolithic village, was found in 1850 after a storm and is home to other stone circles that predate Stonehenge. An incredible find it certainly was, but it isn't the most recent archeological discovery to change the course of known human history, though.

From ancient monuments with unknown purposes and mystery-rich archeological sites in the US to the most mysterious ancient discoveries in Asia, the many hundreds to thousands of years-old findings across the planet found very recently (as recent as the last one to several years) are a source of both knowledge and conundrum.

Many of the most interesting archeological discoveries might just be for curiosity's sake, but some might be the key to not only the past but also the future of humans - and they never seem to stop; there are always brand-new ancient sites being uncovered all around the globe at any given moment. While discoveries go on, here are a number of the latest archeological finds about the ancient world of humans.

UPDATE: 2024/03/14 00:03 EST BY REENA JAIN

The World's Most Recent Archaeological Discoveries

This list of the most recent archeological sites to be discovered has been expanded with one of the latest historical findings. Additionally, the list has been updated with more information and sources about each of the previous historical discoveries!

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20 Dismembered Hands

12 skeletal hands were unearthed in 2011 at Egypt's Tell el-Dab’a archeological site

Archaeologists have come across 12 dismembered hands in northern Egypt. Discovered at the Tell el-Dab’a site, the findings are believed to date to between 1620 and 1550 B.C.E and prove the existence of the 'gold of honor' ritual in which ancient Egyptian warriors would present the severed hands of conquered rivals to the Pharaoh. In exchange, they would be rewarded with valuables like gold necklaces and pendants.

Besides honoring the Paharaoh, the ritualistic amputation of enemy hands was meant to punish them by disfiguring their souls. This theory is supported by the fact that the discovery was made in shallow pits around the central palace.

Date of Discovery

2011

Historical Period

Dated to between 1620 and 1550 B.C.E

Site

Tell el-Dab’a, Egypt

19 San Jose Spanish Treasure Galleon

The wreck of a Spanish treasure-laden ship that sank in 1708 was discovered off the coast of Colombia in December 2015

San Jose has been touted as the mother of all shipwrecks. She was a 64-gun three-masted galleon that was launched in 1698. She sank in battle near what is today Colombia in 1708 while laden with gold, silver, and emeralds.

The San Jose was discovered in 2015, but endless legal disputes have held up the salvage of her many treasures. Her bounty is thought to be worth billions - perhaps as much as $17 billion. Wreck hunting and salvaging long-lost treasures is big business, and there are many ships dedicated to the finding and salvaging of ships like the San Jose.

Date of Discovery

December 2015

Historical Period

Sank in June 1708

Site

Off the Coast Cartegena, Colombia

As reported by the BBC, Colombian naval officials who were monitoring the sunken Spanish ship full of treasure have recently discovered two other 200-year-old shipwrecks nearby.

18 An Ancient Restaurant

A thermopolium, an ancient fast food restaurant dating back to 79 AD, was unearthed in Pompeii, Italy, in 2019

It's no secret what happened to the people of Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius' volcanic eruption. Pompeii is an entire ancient city to explore with many interesting ancient sites, from amphitheaters to the fascinating Villa of the Mysteries.

However, an ancient restaurant believed to have served juicy dishes was recently discovered in Pompeii in 2019. According to clues, this restaurant was a mecca for a dish described as "honey-roasted rodents".

Interestingly, there were excavations of goat, pig, and dog bones and snail shells, which shed more light on the restaurant’s meat-rich menu. The good news is that the restaurant is now open to the public, so explorers can discover the delicacies in the ancient Italian city; however, don’t expect honey-roasted rodents.

Date of Discovery

2019

Historical Period

Dating back to 79 A.D.

Site

Pompeii, Italy

17 Gladiator Arena

A Roman Colosseum replica dating back to 200 AD was discovered in Turkey in mid-2020

An arena believed to host armed Roman professional combatants has been unearthed in a Turkish location known as the ancient city of Mastuara.

The amphitheater was founded 1,800 years ago and is believed to have served the same purpose as the Colosseum in Rome - hosting massive gladiator and wild animal fights. It is said to be one of the most important archeological discoveries ever made in Turkey.

Many parts of this amphitheater are buried under the ground and the parts that can be seen remain largely intact.

Date of Discovery

Summer 2020

Historical Period

Dates back to around 200 A.D.

Site

Mastuara, Turkey

16 The Lost Golden Buried Egyptian City

The 3,000-year-old Egyptian "lost golden city" was found in September 2020 near Luxor

In Egypt, a lost golden city in Luxor was recently discovered and is among the world's buried archeological sites discovered recently. According to the discovery, this site was buried beneath the sand for thousands of years.

Despite its distant creation, the site remains largely intact and unspoiled. The interesting site is believed to have been built by Amenhotep III - Tutankhamun's grandfather. With many stone jars and many other structures largely intact, it is obvious that the city was abandoned rather than destroyed.

Date of Discovery

September 2020

Historical Period

Dating back to 3000 years ago

Cost to visit

Aten. Egypt

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15 Ancient Ceremonial Chariot

A ceremonial chariot dating back to almost 2000 years ago was discovered in Pompeii in January 2021

Satyr and nymph designs, ropes with flower decorations, and high iron wheels are all characteristics of the chariot recently found during an archeological exploration in Pompeii. The ceremonial chariot is considered a luxurious ride compared to others commonly seen during the time, about 2000 years ago.

According to Eric Poehler - a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst - in a statement to NPR, this ride is the "Lamborghini" chariot at the time used to transport the elite to ancient events and festivals. The luxury and the amazing preservation of the chariot on the site left archeologists amazed.

Date of Discovery

January 2021

Historical Period

Dating back to around 2,000 years ago

Site

Pompeii, Italy

14 A Hint Of Women's Power

The 4,000-year-old remains of a man and a woman were discovered in a big clay pot at La Almoloya, Spain in early 2021

Contrary to what many believe, women in the ancient world might have been powerful people in society who held top positions just like men. The 2014 excavation of a grave in Spain reveals that. The grave uncovered at La Almoloya - a grave site in Spain - consisted of a woman's remains and some silver jewelry. An important aspect of this finding is that a man was buried beside the woman but had no possessions that could have been described as luxurious.

Items in the woman’s possession included a silver diadem (still on her head), a necklace, and two bracelets. According to scholars, the artifact on the woman’s head must have been a symbol of power. Conclusions drawn with this is that she must have been a ruler or a prominent figure in the El Argar Society, which thrived in the region in 2200 - 1550 B.C.

Date of Discovery

Early 2021

Historical Period

Dating to 2200 - 1550 B.C.

Site

La Almoloya, Spain

13 A Dead Sea Scroll

Bible scroll pieces, many artifacts, and much more were found in the Dead Sea Cave of Horror in March 2021

The Cave of Horror is a place in Israel where the remains of 40 Jewish men, women, and children were first found in the 1960s. Perhaps the discovery was too terrifying for the excavators as there was no notice of anything until March 2021 (approximately 60 years later) when fragments of a Dead Sea scroll were discovered in the same cave of horror. Most of the writings on the scroll are in Greek letters with a few wordings in Hebrew - specifically the name of God.

These writings on the scroll are said to be parts of the Biblical books of Zechariah and Nahum. In addition to the scrolls, other recent archeological discoveries in the cave include a 6000-year-old mummified child believed to be in middle childhood and a basket dating back to approximately 8500 B.C., which was found in a nearby cave.

Date of Discovery

March 2021

Historical Period

2,000-year-old

Site

Cave of Horror, Israel

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12 Roman Shipwreck Discovered Near Sicily

A Roman shipwreck from the time of 1 BC to 1 AD was discovered in the Mediterranean Sea close to Sicily in July 2021

Another discovery that recently made headlines in archeology news is a shipwreck in the Mediterranean close to Sicily. The shipwreck dates as far back as 2,200 years ago.

Visual clues from the wreck reveal that the vessel was loaded with wine and flour. Since the Ancient Romans were believed to have traded olives, wine, corn, and spices, this ship must have been heading for a buyer.

Date of Discovery

July 2021

Historical Period

Dates back to 2,200 years

Site

Mediterranean Sea off Sicily

11 Ancient Roman Silver Coins

A huge number of Roman silver coins were discovered in Germany in October 2021

More than 5,500 pieces of Roman silver coins have been discovered in what is now Augsburg, Germany. According to archeologists, these treasures were buried about 2200 years ago.

The markings and design reveal that the coins were a type of standard Roman silver coin called denarii used from the first to the early third century A.D. The origin of the coins' abandonment is still a mystery; buried beside a river, perhaps someone left them there and forgot where they put them.

Date of Discovery

October 2021

Historical Period

Dating back to 2200 years ago

Site

Augsburg, Germany

10 The Tomb Of An Egyptian Treasurer

The tomb of a high-ranking ancient Egyptian official from 1213 BC was discovered in Egypt in October 2021

Ptah-M-Wiah was the royal treasurer of Egypt during the reign of Ramses II (also known as Ramses the Great), and his tomb was discovered in a large burial site called Saqqara Necropolis, located in Giza.

The discovery was made by a group of archeologists from Cairo University. The tomb contains some writings and drawings, which, of course, shed more light on the lives of the Ancient Egyptian people during the time of Ramses II.

Date of Discovery

October 2021

Historical Period

Dated back to 1213 BC

Site

Saqqara Necropolis, Egypt

9 A New Lost Roman City

An unknown Roman city dating between the first and second centuries was discovered at the foot of the Pyrenees in late 2021

New "lost" cities are being discovered all the time around the world (e.g. more ancient lost cities have been discovered in Egypt). One of the latest announcements of new archaeological discoveries has been a new lost Roman city in the Spanish Pyrenees.

No one even knows the name of this ancient Roman city lost to time, but it is currently being referred to as El Forau de la Tuta. It is believed to date from the first and second centuries AD when the Roman Empire was at its peak.

Date of Discovery

Late 2021

Historical Period

Between the 1st and 2nd centuries

Site

El Forau de la Tuta

8 Ancient Buddhist Temple

A 2,300-year-old Apsidal temple from the Buddhist period was unearthed in northwest Pakistan in December 2021

One of the most stunning and newest archaeological finds involves the remains of what may be one of the earliest remains of a Buddhist Temple ever found.

Located in Barikot, Swat Valley - the historical Gandhara region, where Hindo-Greek culture developed after the conquest of Alexander the Great - archeologists believe the temple dates back to the second century B.C. This would place its construction a few centuries after the death of Buddhism founder Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between the 5th and 4th centuries B.C.

What has been unearthed from the temple so far shows a sprawling, complex structure, with buildings reaching three meters high, rooms where the monks lived, and a stupa, typical of Buddhist temples. At the dig site, objects like statues, coins, pottery, and other artifacts have also been unearthed.

Date of Discovery

December 2021

Historical Period

Second century B.C

Site

Barikot, Swat Valley, Pakistan

7 Tombs From The Old Kingdom

Five tombs from the Old Kingdom, around 4000 years old, were discovered in Egypt in March 2022

Five tombs from the Old Kingdom were recently discovered in the Saqqara Necropolis.

The tombs, dating back to 4000 years ago, were beautifully decorated, and, according to the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, the tombs were designed for senior officials in Ancient Egypt, such as those in charge of Palace Supervision and regional rule.

Date of Discovery

March 2022

Historical Period

Dating back to 4000 years ago

Site

Saqqara Necropolis, Egypt

6 Ernest Shackleton Endurance Shipwreck

Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance shipwreck was discovered deep under the Weddell Sea in March 2022

Seeking to be the first man to cross the Antarctic by foot, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew of 27 men set out on a Trans-Artctic Expedition in 1912 on the ship Endurance. When the ship was caught on the sea ice and sunk in 1915, it sent Shackleton and his crew on a year-long odyssey back to civilization. Miraculously, the entire crew made it out alive through icecap camping and boat sailing across the challenging Antarctic seas.

The story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s foray into the Antarctic has fascinated people for a century. In 2022, it reached a new chapter; the Endurance shipwreck was found deep at the bottom of the Wedell Sea (and in astonishingly good condition) by the Arctic research team in a groundbreaking and spectacular find to become a monument under the protection of the Antarctic Treaty, a historic treaty that maintains the region as an International Peace Territory.

Date of Discovery

March 2022

Historical Period

1915

Site

Bottom of the Weddell Sea

5 Hidden Sarcophagi Found

Two sarcophaguses from the 14th and 17th centuries were discovered during reconstruction work at Notre-Dame in March 2022

Notre Dame in Paris has a long and interesting history that has made it one of France's most iconic attractions for many years. However, after the devastating fire that consumed the world-famous Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019, archeologists were called onsite to assess the depth of the damage; during Notre Dame’s long renovation process, an incredible new discovery was made; hidden lead coffins were found buried under Notre Dame's gothic spire.

In 2022, the responsible archeologists in France reported what the sarcophagi have revealed so far; one of them was Antoine de la Porte, a wealthy canon of the church; the other, dubbed “Le Cavalier”, could be a member of the elite and have lived anywhere between the 14th and 17th centuries. He seems to have been embalmed and buried with a crown of flowers, which is unusual. How and why these two men were buried in such prestigious locations remains unanswered.

Date of Discovery

March 2022

Historical Period

Between the 14th and 17th centuries

Site

Notre-Dame Cathedral

4 An Ancient Zeus Temple

An ancient temple of Zeus dating back to the late Pharaonic period was discovered in April 2022 on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula

While the worship of Zeus originated in Greece, it actually went past Greece and spread to other parts of the world - and as far as Egypt.

A recently discovered temple to Zeus in Tel Al-Farma, Northwestern Sinai Peninsula, reveals that the temple was indeed dedicated to the Greek god, as well as Kasios - a weather god related to Mount Kasios. In ancient times, this region was known as the city of Pelusium, and it was an important city during the Greco-Roman and Byzantine times.

Date of Discovery

April 2022

Historical Period

Late Pharaonic period

Site

Tell el-Farma, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

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3 An Ancient Viking Hall

A Viking hall from the era of Harald Bluetooth was discovered in Hune, Denmark, in December 2022

Archeologists have discovered a sprawling structure in Denmark that can be linked to the late Viking age, i.e. the latter half of the 900s to the first part of the 1000s. Due to the large size of the complex (40 meters by 8–10 meters), it is believed to have hosted some kind of political or communal gatherings, since it is much larger than standard houses of the time.

The structure is supported by several oak posts and served as a vital communal meeting point at the time. The discovery was made in December 2022, although the whole excavation process was expected to be completed in a year. The discovery made headlines as one of the most interesting recent historical discoveries.

Date of Discovery

December 2022

Historical Period

Harald Bluetooth's time (the latter half of the 900s to the very first part of the 1000s)

Site

Hune, Denmark

2 Dinosaur Fossil Returns To Brazil

The 110-million-year-old Ubirajara jubatus dinosaur fossil returned to Brazil in late 2023

Plácido Cidade Nuvens Museum of Paleontology
Shutterstock
Plácido Cidade Nuvens Museum of Paleontology, Brazil

Technically, not one of the latest archaeological discoveries, but certainly a new development in the same field, the fate of the Brazilian Ubirajara jubatus dinosaur fossil sparked controversy in the international archeological community in 2023.

After a German research paper detailing a stunning one-of-a-kind feathered dinosaur with speak-like talons, originally discovered in the Araripe Basin, was published, it sparked immediate controversy regarding the fossil’s acquisition among the scientific community, especially as selling fossils has been illegal in Brazil since 1942.

After months of debates, controversies, and negotiations (and hashtags), where discussions on the relationship between archeology and colonialism came to the surface, the paper was withdrawn, and the local German government agreed - after months of denying these claims - that the fossil was indeed acquired under unclear, unethical, and possibly illegal conditions.

In July 2023, it was announced that the 110-million-years-old Ubirajara jubatus would be making its way home to Brazil to be hosted either at the recovering Museu Nacional or back to its home in the UNESCO Geopark Araripe, one of the fascinating Brazilian chapadas.

Imported to Germany

April 2007

Historical Period

110-million years old

Museum

Museu De Paleontologia Placido Cidade Nuvens, Brazil

1 700 Civil War-Era Coins

A Kentucky man finds more than 800 Civil War-era coins in his cornfield in June 2023

A magnificent collection of Civil War-era gold coins was discovered by a Kentucky man in his cornfield. This remarkable find was made when he was digging in his field in June 2023, perhaps making it the most recent archeological discovery out of those that make the news.

The coins, referred to as "The Great Kentucky Hoard," are thought to be worth well over $2 million and date from 1840 to 1862, according to experts.

Date of Discovery

June 2023

Historical Period

Dated from 1840 to 1862

Site

Kentucky, USA