Archeology

Image caption: Dolmen at the Muree'at site in Jordan. Credit: Susanne Kerner, University of Copenhagen.

5,500-year-old ritual site uncovered in Jordan: dolmens, standing stones and megalithic structures

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University of Copenhagen excavations at Mariyat reveal Early Bronze Age ceremonial landscape—a clue to how communities coped with climatic and social changes after the decline of Chalcolithic culture
When archaeology and physics meet, new depths are revealed. Illustration courtesy of Tel Aviv University

Breakthrough: Using Muons from Cosmic Radiation to Identify and Map Underground Spaces at Archaeological Sites

A multidisciplinary team at Tel Aviv University has developed the technology that will enable "X-ray imaging" of the underground for archaeological excavations.
The ruins of the city of Popeye. The ash actually helped preserve the buildings. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Researchers used computed tomography to decipher scrolls burned two thousand years ago

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Using imaging technologies and artificial intelligence, scientists have managed to read charred texts from Herculaneum, written by the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus.
The straw that broke the dam: Archaeological samples of microscopic straw that was embedded in mortar during construction and paved the way for an extraordinary dating achievement. Photo: Dr. Johanna Regev / Scientific Archaeology Unit, Weizmann Institute of Science

Carbon-14 dating determines: The Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem was built in 800 BCE to deal with a climate crisis

New research by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Weizmann Institute dates the impressive dam wall from the time of the Judean kings Joash or Amaziah, which was built in Jerusalem some 2,800 years ago as a solution to the climate crisis and water shortage.
An Israeli family from 140 years ago, drawn using AI. On the left - the Neanderthal father, in the middle the mixed-race daughter and on the right the mother - Homo sapiens. Courtesy of Tel Aviv University

Earliest evidence of interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals discovered in Israel

For the first time in science, early biological connections between the two human groups that were considered two separate human species have been documented.
Image of a primitive scene with vessels and a ritual ceremony, ancient artistic inspiration.

Mysterious rock art reveals secrets of Egypt's first dynasty

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A new rock tablet near Aswan reveals a rare glimpse into Egypt's early elite, even before the pyramids were built, and raises questions about the formation of the pharaonic state.
Researchers examine the remains of a platform-shaped monument — the largest type of monument ever studied. Such monuments were usually built in one sitting, by multiple people. Credit: Ohio State University

7,000-year-old stone monuments reveal secrets of survival and social connections in the ancient world

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Research reveals how nomadic herders in southern Arabia adapted their monument building to changes in climate and social structure – and maintained a sense of belonging even in harsh conditions
Exodus from Egypt with elements from the Bible such as the Ten Commandments and Miriam's drum. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The Myth of the Exodus: Tradition, History, Propaganda – and Everything in Between. Reading List

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The story that never happened – but shaped the identity of an entire people and religions. Articles published on the Hidan website over the years
The excavation is changing historical knowledge about the site. Photo: Judean Desert Team at the Israel Antiquities Authority

A mysterious pyramid-shaped structure from the Ptolemaic and Seleucid periods was discovered in the Judean Desert.

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The excavation is changing historical knowledge about the site. Photo: Judean Desert Team at the Israel Antiquities Authority
Shuba Cave, from the Upper Paleolithic period, France (Photo: Prof. Jean Clottes, France)

A solution to the scientific mystery: Why are there no cave paintings in Israel?

Researchers estimate: The extinction of large animals in the Levant is the reason why early man did not paint on cave walls in Israel
Illustration depicting Homo sapiens and Neanderthals sharing technology and behavior (Credit: Efrat Bakshitz)

Contrary to conventional scientific belief: Homo sapiens and Neanderthals were not enemies and even cooperated

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New research conducted in the Tanshemesh Cave in central Israel reveals that ancient humans lived together, shared technologies, and even maintained extensive cultural and social ties * Prof. Yossi Seidman of the Hebrew University, lead researcher
Jaws of a wild goat from the Nesher Ramla hunting site. Credit: Meir Orbach.

Early humans did not take advantage of the variety of animals in the environment.

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A study by the University of Haifa reveals that early humans focused on a limited number of species and did not exploit all the animals in their environment. The findings provide a glimpse into hunting strategies and the interactions between humans and predators.
Human remains discovered in the Maszycka Cave dating back 18,000 years. (Credit: Antonio Rodríguez-Hidal, IAM (CSIC-Junta de Extremadura))

18,000-year-old human bones reveal disturbing signs of cannibalism

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New research in a cave in southern Poland reveals signs of autopsy and burial rituals from the Ice Age
While astronomers study the skies, the ground beneath them also holds wonders. The Pucara de Coitor Fortress in the Atacama Desert, an ancient fortress built centuries ago, stands against the spectacular backdrop of the Licenciado volcano – a site rich in archaeological and natural wonders. Like the ancient stones beneath our feet, the stars in the sky whisper stories from the past, reminding us that every glance is a journey through time. Credit: ESO/A. Ghizzi Panizza (www.albertoghizzipanizza.com)

900 Years of Stargazing: The Cosmic Legacy of a 12th-Century Fortress in Chile

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"A magical journey between earth and sky – an archaeological wonder and breathtaking desert scenery." In the Atacama Desert, near the giant ALMA telescope, lies the Pucara de Coitor fortress, created by local residents 400 years ago.
Papyrus, credit: Shai Halevi, courtesy of the Leon Levy Online Library of the Judean Desert Scrolls, Israel Antiquities Authority

Ancient papyrus reveals fascinating corruption story from the Roman period in the Land of Israel

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New research reveals a Greek document from the second century AD that documents a sophisticated tax fraud that took place in the years before the Bar Kokhba Revolt. The papyrus provides a rare glimpse into the Roman legal system and political processes that preceded the revolt.
Two Homo erectus individuals sitting around a campfire. Illustration: depositphotos.com

How Homo erectus survived in harsh desert conditions over a million years ago

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New evidence reveals that Homo erectus was able to survive in extreme environments like deserts as early as 1.2 million years ago, challenging the notion that only Homo sapiens was such an adaptable creature.
The body structure of Australopithecus afarensis significantly limits its running speed. Imaging of the Australopithecus skeleton, with and without muscles | From the article, Bates, KT. et al., Current Biology, 2024

Evolutionary race

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New study: An ancient species in the human lineage walked on two legs, but could not run as fast and efficiently as we do
Illustration of the rock-hewn rooms discovered in the City of David. Illustration: Shalom Kevlar, City of David

New research suggests: A special building in Jerusalem was used for worship when the Temple stood, during the First Temple period

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In the unique structure, which was uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority on the eastern slope of the City of David, in the Jerusalem Walls National Park, eight rooms carved into the rock were discovered, including an altar, a tombstone, a winepress, and a winepress for wine production.
Figure 2 - Stone tools and hand stones from site MW2, all made of volcanic raw materials. Photo credit - Arela Hubers.

The adaptability and thinking of early hominins in Ethiopia 1.6–1 million years ago was developed

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The study examines how ancient humans chose and used different types of rocks to create tools, focusing on the archaeological site of Malacca and Kena in the Ethiopian highlands, one of the oldest high altitude settlement sites in the world
Children make pottery. The image was prepared using DALEE

Disclosure: Children decorated pottery in the Syrian kingdom 4500 years ago

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On pottery discovered at Tel Hama in the Jordan Valley, the fingerprints reveal the work of children in the Bronze Age
Coins of Alexander Yanai. Photo: Haifa University

A rare hoard including 160 coins of King Alexander the Great was discovered in the Jordan Valley

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This cache is also one of the largest of its kind discovered in the Land of Israel. The discovery happened in the last few days during the Hanukkah holiday, which marks the Hasmonean rebellion in the Greeks
Dr. Shoki Kuriski, hosts podcast conversations about music and science and everything in between. Photo: Tel Aviv University spokesperson.

Podcast: Conversations about music, science and everything in between: music and the science of archeology (chapter 1)

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Tel Aviv University's Tel Aviv 360 podcast with the participation of astronomer Dr. Noah Barosh and Uzi Shalu from the Philharmonic Orchestra on the roots of music in the era of ancient man
"Ghost Wheel" Rojam El Hiri, in the Golan Heights. Photo courtesy of Tel Aviv University

A new discovery changes what we thought about the ghost wheel in the Golan Heights

As a result of geodynamic shifts in the area of ​​Rojam al-Khiri - the ground in the area rotated, so it is unlikely that the ancient site was used as an observatory
Excavations will be avoided. Photo: Tel Aviv University

Contrary to popular belief - the copper industry in ancient times did not create pollution on a large scale

According to a research team, the environmental pollution from the mining activity was spotty and minimal, and did not pose a danger to the residents of the area then or now
The painted rock of Kaltboori in south-eastern Finland. Credit: Julia Spinitskaya

Voices from the past: Finnish rock paintings reveal hidden soundscapes

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New research from the University of Helsinki reveals the unique acoustic properties of prehistoric rock painting sites in Finland, where echoes are created
A rock in the shape of a turtle shell with geometric engravings. Credit Clara Amit, Israel Antiquities Authority

Was religion born when humans lived in caves?

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In the Menot Cave in the Western Galilee, the first evidence in the Levant (and the first in the world) of public worship in caves and the development of religious ceremonies was discovered * The researchers: the ritual complex in the Menot Cave symbolizes the transition from random worship to the beginning of
Seasoned with animal fat experimentally baked in a recycled peel tray inside a dome oven. Credit: Sergio Taranto.

9,000-year-old focaccia: new discoveries reveal the secrets of ancient cooking

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Archaeological research on the Syrian-Turkish border reveals a complex Neolithic culinary tradition, including baking breads and spiced dishes in special trays, in the Fertile Crescent region
Tut Ankh Amon's tract where it was found in 1925. Griffith Institute/Howard Carter Archive

Researchers: Tut Ankh Amon's iconic death mask was originally intended for a woman

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University of York researchers uncover a hidden clue in the mask's pierced ears, suggesting the iconic piece was originally designed for a woman to rule, perhaps Nefertiti
Prof. Erez Ben Yosef with the Midianite pottery avoids. Photo: Tel Aviv University spokesperson

About 3,000 years ago, the Midianite ceramics were intended for ritual purposes in the thriving copper industry in Timna

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The researchers: "For many years, archaeologists have been trying to decipher the meaning of the 'Medina ceramics' found at sites in the south of the country. According to our findings, these are tools that were brought by potters from the Arabian Peninsula, and were used in worship
An example of a cylinder stamp (left) and its design impressed on clay (right) Credit: Franck Raux © 2001 GrandPalaisRmn (Musée du Louvre) CREATIVE COMMON

The origin of writing in Mesopotamia is related to designs engraved on ancient scroll seals

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A group of researchers from the University of Bologna identified a series of connections between the designs engraved on these seals, which date back about 6,000 years (4000 BC), and some of the signs in the proto-cuneiform writing that appeared in the city of Uroch, located today
Masada. Photo: Omer Zaevi, excavation expedition from Masada

Contrary to myth: the Roman siege of Masada did not last several years but only a few weeks

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The researchers: "According to the common myth, the Romans harassed the rebels in Masada for three years. An innovative survey using advanced technologies revealed that the siege by the Roman army was a focused and relatively quick operation."
Dr. Elena Kogan-Zahavi from the Antiquities Authority, who uncovered one of the graves about 30 years ago, in the graves after their preservation

Spectacularly beautiful wall paintings from the Roman period that were discovered in Ashkelon are being revealed for the first time and will be accessible to the public

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The paintings, which decorate ancient tombs of wealthy people, were discovered decades ago but few got to see them. Now, they are preserved by the conservation experts of the Antiquities Authority near the marina, funded by the municipality of Ashkelon.
Description: Drone image of cluster 27 in northeastern Mongolia. A red circle marks the location of the excavated burial. The additional map shows the location of cluster 27 in red and two additional compound sites along the long wall (clusters 23 and 24) in black. Credit: Dan Golan.

An elite tomb from the pre-Mongolian period was discovered in Mongolia

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This discovery provides vital insights into the local communities, their networks and organization during the 12th century AD - a period characterized by post-imperial instability and intense political competition
Principal - one of the panels with ancient rock paintings in Colombia. Photo: University of Exeter

12,500 Years: Ancient Art in the Amazon Reveals Secrets of Prehistoric Ecology

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The drainage canal from the days of the Second Temple. Photo by Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

Jerusalem - from prosperity to destruction.

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New findings from the ancient drainage canal that operated in Jerusalem 2000 years ago tell the story of the city in the days of the Second Temple - from prosperity to destruction
The engravings in Gobkali Tepa are considered to be the oldest calendar in the world. Credit: Dr. Martin Sweatman

A 12,000-year-old lunar-solar calendar - the oldest in the world, was discovered on a column at an archaeological site in Turkey

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Research at the 12,000-year-old site of Gobekli Tepe in Turkey suggests that the engravings on ancient pillars probably represent the world's oldest solar calendar, possibly created to commemorate a comet strike
A stone vessel identified with the Jewish population in Beit Shani, which was recently discovered in the excavation of a nearby quarry. Will be on display this summer at the National Archeology Museum of an island in Jerusalem

A huge quarry - one of the largest known in Jerusalem from the end of the Second Temple period, was discovered on Mount Hotzavim in Jerusalem

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A reconstruction of what might have looked like the structure of a hunter-gatherer community Credit York University Center Year

Household management 11,000 years ago: New study reveals hunter-gatherer homes were surprisingly organized

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Archaeological findings at the famous Mesolithic site 'Star Ker' in North Yorkshire suggest that hunter-gatherers maintained an orderly living space by allocating specific areas for different domestic activities
The "Moai" statues on Easter Island. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Exposing the Myth of "Environmental Self-Destruction": The True Story of Easter Island

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Recent studies disprove the long-held belief of ecological collapse on Easter Island, and show that the population has remained stable through effective resource management over a long period of time.
A study of medieval warrior monks at the castle of Zorita de los Canes has revealed their lavish diet and violent death, including the unexpected discovery of a female warrior among them, expanding our understanding of gender roles in historical military orders. A skull found at the archaeological site of Zorita de los Canes. Credit: Crema Risk, URV

Were women also knights? Archaeologists have made an unexpected discovery in the burials of warrior monks from the Middle Ages

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Of the 25 skeletons studied, 23 showed signs consistent with a violent death. By studying the proportions of the bones, she realized that among the warriors was a woman.
Archaeologist Shahar Crispin holds the hoard of coins after finding it. Photo by Yuli Schwartz

In Lod, evidence of the last revolt of the Jews of the Land of Israel under the Roman rule, about 1650 years ago, was uncovered

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In the excavation of the site, conducted by the Antiquities Authority with funding from the municipality of Lod, the remains of an ancient Jewish public building that was destroyed were discovered. A cache of 94 coins was hidden on the floor of the building, but no one returned to its collection until it was discovered now
The Nile and the pyramids of Aswan in the background. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The increase in water flow and the flood area of ​​the Nile was the catalyst for the flourishing of ancient Egyptian culture

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Recent research reveals that a significant change in the course of the Nile River about 4,000 years ago expanded the floodplain near Luxor, which could have caused the prosperity of agriculture in ancient Egypt and influenced the location of sites
The skulls were examined using microscopic analysis and CT scanning. Credit: Tondini, Isidro, Camaros, 2024.

A 4,000-year-old Egyptian skull reveals surgical attempts to treat cancer

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Scientists were amazed by the discovery of cut marks around cancerous tumors on an ancient Egyptian skull, which allowed them to better understand how the ancient Egyptians tried to treat the disease
A ship model discovered in the excavation of Rahat. Photo: Yuli Schwartz, Antiquities Authority

Ships in the heart of the desert: the remains of an ancient church, on the walls of which ships were carved about 1500 years ago, were discovered in the excavations of the Antiquities Authority in the north of the Negev

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The excavations were conducted as part of the expansion of a neighborhood in the city of Rahat, at the initiative of the Authority for the Development and Regulation of Bedouin Settlements in the Negev.
The water course of the ancient Akramat branch is bordered by a large number of pyramids from the Old Kingdom period to the Second Intermediate Period, which extends between the Third Dynasty and the Thirteenth Dynasty. Credit: Eman Ghoneim

Archaeology: The Egyptian pyramids were built along the forgotten branch of the Nile - Akramat

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These findings can explain why the pyramids are concentrated in what is now a narrow and hostile strip of desert
Excavation site in the City of David showing signs of the earthquake that occurred in 750 BC (photo: Yohana Regev)

Carbon Jerusalem: extensive and accurate dating of the city during the Kingdom of Judah

Weizmann Institute of Science scientists overcame a cosmic phenomenon that makes it difficult for archaeologists around the world and presented for the first time an absolute dating of Jerusalem in the Iron Age
Using artificial intelligence to decipher ancient texts. The image was prepared by DALEE and is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered a scientific image

Artificial intelligence will restore ancient Jewish texts

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Fourth-year students in the Department of Software and Information Systems Engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev decided to produce an up-to-date answer to the ancient writings and under the guidance of Prof. Mark Lest, developed an artificial intelligence system that completes the missing sections in the texts
A herd of elephants illustration: depositphotos.com

The mystery of the prehistoric quarrying sites has been solved: the connection between man, the elephant and the source of water

Why did the ancient man return again and again, over hundreds of thousands of years, to the same quarry sites? It turns out that the secret lies in the migration routes of the elephants
The box as shown in the archeology section of the Israel Museum. Photo: Zohar Shemesh, Israel Museum, Jerusalem

An enigmatic and rare stone box from the Second Temple period, which was discovered in the excavations of the Antiquities Authority in the City of David, is on display to the public for the first time at the Israel Museum

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Canaanite finds from Megiddo Hill (courtesy of Megiddo Archaeological Expedition)

Researchers have analyzed the genetics of the Canaanites and its relationship to modern populations such as Jews, Palestinians and Bedouins

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The DNA analysis showed that the Canaanites were created from the mixing of populations that migrated to the southern Levant mainly from the Caucasus region (or western Iran) with ancient local populations that stayed there, a process that lasted at least 1,000 years
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