Archaeology

MyHeritage's Scribe AI decodes world's oldest love letter, reveals 15th century familial tensions

Brews’ letter is part of the “Paston Letters” collection of correspondence between the Paston noble family and others iduring the 15th century, including state papers and other important documents.

Margery Brews "Letter to a Lover," April 16, 2026.
Illustration: The skull of an asian elephant.

Early humans may have begun eating elephants, large animals 1.8 million years ago - study

One of the sarcophagi found during archaeological excavations in the tomb of Seneb, April 15, 2026.

Over 20 sarcophagi belonging to ‘Chanters of Amun’ discovered during excavations near Luxor

Dolmen of Menga in Antequera, Spain, April 15, 2026.

DNA analysis reveals ancestry of man buried in ancient Spanish tomb, shows mixed heritage - study


Handgun fragments found near Germany's Kletzke Castle may date to 14th century, new research shows

If a connection between the "Kletzke Hand Cannon” and the siege is confirmed by archaeologists, this would make it nine years older than the Tannenberg rifle, which is dated to 1399.

A fragment of the handgun found in Brandenburg, Germany in 2023.

Polish archaeologists find evidence of legendary king hidden in south Sudan - study

Despite its origin, the decree is seemingly ordinary. Written by a royal scribe named Hamad, it instructs an individual named Khidr to exchange textiles for livestock.

Dongola. Qashqash Manuscript.

“Unbelievable”: Tourists smash 10,000-year-old, 90 kg mammoth tusk

The item was described as a "one-of-a-kind artifact". Investigators say one of the men allegedly climbed onto the other’s shoulders.

 Hunter discovers rare mammoth tusk in West Texas.

'Haters gonna hate': 1,500-year-old mosaic inscription in Turkey strikes surprisingly modern tone

The unusual phrasing has been described as bearing a protective function against the evil eye and negative energies.

The inscription. Haters are going to hate.

Funerary offerings, pottery, gold jewelry discovered in 1,000-year-old pre-Hispanic tomb in Panama

The tomb belonged to an individual of high status within their community, from an important lineage in the Rio Grande area, lead archaeologist Julia Mayo said.

Panama Culture Minister María Eugenia Herrera and archaeologists at the entrance to Tomb 3 at the El Caño archaeological site in Panama, March 19, 2026.

Dressed for the afterlife: What 7,000-year-old grave soil reveals about Stone Age clothing - study

The study uses the technique of microarchaeology to examine the soil collected from 35 graves at the Skateholm I and II cemeteries in southern Sweden.

 Study reveals Stone Age methods of extracting animal teeth for jewelry. Illustration

Ancient clay beads found in northern Israel rewrite timeline of cultural expression in the region

Researchers identified 19 different types of beads, whose shapes are reminiscent of plants that were harvested by Natufians, and were vital to their lives, such as wild barley, lentils, and peas. 

A butterfly clay bead from the Final Natufian period in Eynan-Mallaha, Hula Valley, colored red with ochre and marked with the fingerprints of an approximately 10-year-old child, March 18, 2026.

Ancient Egyptian scribes used 'Wite-Out' correction liquid to fix mistakes in sacred texts

While preparing a papyrus for the museum’s upcoming “Made in Ancient Egypt” exhibit, conservators noticed a thick white pigment lining the body of a jackal illustrated in one of the scenes. 

Scene from Ramose's Book of the Dead showing an illustration of a jackal corrected with "Wite-Out," March 18, 2026.

'Fat factories': Neanderthals orchestrated massive elephant kills 125,000 years ago

New findings show that they systematically managed resources and reveal what they hunted, something even scientists did not expect.

 World's oldest Neanderthal fingerprint found on 43,000-year-old pebble in Spain. Illustration.

Hiker finds 3,000-year-old bronze bull head on Mallorca trail

Authorities say the artifact dates to the late Bronze Age and has been handed to the regional heritage department.

A miniature bull's head.