Artifacts

Real-life Indiana Jones: British Museum to hire ‘treasure hunter’ to find stolen artifacts - report

Since the original 2023 announcement of the theft, the museum has recovered 654 of these, the most significant of which was 268 gems returned all at once by the United States.

London, England, General view of the British Museum with visitors, Bloomsbury, March 2025.
Pottery vessels, discovered alongside jewelry and other artifacts, inside Old Kingdom tombs at the Qubbet el-Hawa site in Aswan, Egypt, February 26, 2026.

‘Secrets of ancient Egypt’: Old Kingdom tombs, artifacts discovered on Nile's west bank

Ancient Crusader sword, dated to the 12th century CE, discovered off of Israel's Dor Beach in northern Israel, February 22, 2026.

University of Haifa student discovers 12th century Crusader sword off of Israel’s northern coast

An ancient Egyptian collar stolen from the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture, Australia, February 20, 2026.

Suspect charged for stealing Egyptian artifacts from Australia museum, citing church ties - report


Peruvian archaeologists unearth 30 pre-Inca era graves

Recent excavations in Peru unearthed new details about the Chancay people.

 An archaeologist from the University of San Marcos works at the site of a burial belonging to the Chantay pre-Columbian culture, which was found in a cemetery at Macaton mountain in the north-central Huaral valley, in Huaral, Peru

Centuries-old Book of Esther scrolls salvaged from Turkey earthquake rubble

A local elder of Antakya, Turkey's Jewish community handed the scrolls over to ZAKA rescuers, who are working on transporting them to safety.

 Chaim Otmazgin, commander of ZAKA's team in rescue mission to Turkey, with the ancient Book of Esther scrolls recovered among the ruins of Antakya, Turkey following devastating earthquakes

3,000-year-old sacrificial well uncovered in Germany

The researchers believe that artifacts found in the well were meant as sacrifices for the harvest.

Sunflowers are silhouetted during sunset in Germering near Munich, August 4, 2011.

US 'repatriates' rare Assyrian artifact to Palestinian Authority

It is one of a number of looted cultural objects from the Middle East that were recovered and returned to countries in the region, the US said.

 A man places a Palestinian flag on a fence surrounding the U.S. consulate during a rally in support of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' bid for statehood recognition in the United Nations, in Arab East Jerusalem September 21, 2011

Headless Maya statue discovered in excavation of ancient city

The limestone statue has been nicknamed "Yum keeb" - or the god of phallus and fertility.

 Workers of Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) talk next to a sculpture carved in stone representing the Mayan god of fertility Yum Kee, in the archaeological zone of Oxkintok, in Maxcanu, state of Yucatan, in Mexico, December 7, 2022.

Italian researchers discover ancient Roman villa with mosaic

The villa was built by Publius Vedius Pollio in the first century BCE.

Villa of Vedius Pollio in Naples, Italy

Egyptians demand return of Rosetta Stone from British Museum

Experts believe that as the global perception of history shifts, Western museums could continue to receive such requests.

 Front-facing Rosetta Stone

Ancient Egyptian amulet discovered in Turkey

The amulet features markings such as a hand holding a sword, letter characters and a pair of wings.

View of Amasra Castle

Thor's hammer discovered in Sweden, just a bit smaller

The amulet is described as a "one of a kind," by archaeologists, the report said. Coins dating back to the ancient Roman period have also been discovered at the site.

 A copy of the Thor's hammer from Skåne (Scania), Sweden. The original Thor's hammer is made of silver. It was created around 1000 AD and found in 1877.

Egypt calls for return of Rosetta Stone 200 years after it was deciphered

After 200 years of sitting in British custody, Egypt has officially called for the return of the Rosetta Stone.

 Front-facing Rosetta Stone