Buzz
Humans have always been captivated by history. From humble farmers uncovering remnants of ancient wars to experts painstakingly excavating Pompeii—our fascination with the lives of those who lived long before us remains strong.
Building on a previous list, here are ten more groundbreaking archaeological discoveries. In this context, 'importance' refers to the discoveries that offer the most insight into the past, not merely those that are awe-inspiring. For instance, the Terra-cotta Army is breathtaking, but it doesn’t provide as much historical information as the following finds. At least, that’s my argument . . . .
10. Ancient Burials
Animals as varied as dogs, geese, and elephants have been observed mourning their deceased. However, once their grief subsides, they abandon the bodies to decay and continue their lives. Only humans engage in burial rituals, reverently marking the burial site. But when did the simple act of leaving a deceased person’s body evolve into the ritual of burial?
The earliest definite evidence of purposeful burial in humans dates back around 100,000 years. In the caves of Mount Carmel in Israel, the graves of several early humans have been discovered. The bodies appear to have been buried with seashells, which must have traveled a great distance from the sea. These shells, unsuitable for food in the hot, unsanitary desert, were likely used as adornments and ritualistic offerings for the deceased.
Burials captivate us because they often require significant effort from the living—and since this labor doesn't contribute to survival, they may provide key insights into the evolution of societies.
It’s possible that modern Homo sapiens were not the first to bury their dead with respect. Neanderthals may have laid their dead to rest in the Pontnewydd Cave in Wales as far back as 250,000 years ago.
9. Tin Mines
The discovery of bronze is regarded as the second major advancement in metalworking. Only a few metals are malleable in their pure form—gold and silver, for instance. Bronze, a blend of copper and tin, is stronger than either of its individual components.
For the people of the Bronze Age, tin deposits were scarce across Europe. This scarcity, however, spurred trade between different cultures. Numerous sources mention the importation of tin from far-off lands. One such deposit, located in Cornwall, England, is noted by Herodotus, who refers to the 'Cassiterides,' or Tin Islands, as the source from which the Greeks imported their tin.
Archaeological evidence from the Cornwall tin mines reveals that they have been exploited for millennia. Artifacts from the Mediterranean found in these areas indicate that trade between distant civilizations was thriving during the Bronze Age. Even in ancient times, the world was more connected than we might have thought.
8. Troy
Up until the nineteenth century, nearly every educated individual would have dismissed Troy—the legendary city at the heart of The Iliad and The Odyssey—as nothing more than myth.
The ancient world believed the city of Troy and the Trojan War to be genuine historical events. It wasn’t until 1871, however, that the physical remnants of Troy were unearthed at Hissarlik in Turkey. This discovery was made by Heinrich Schliemann, who used references from Homer’s epics and other ancient texts to locate the city.
While modern archaeologists critique Schliemann’s excavation techniques as overly destructive, they were the best methods available at the time. Despite his carelessness in digging through historical layers, Schliemann uncovered a trove of treasures within the city’s imposing walls. However, the reason I include Troy in this list isn’t because of the gold—it’s because of what it teaches us. The rediscovery of Troy illustrates that oral traditions and folklore can serve as surprisingly accurate records of the past.
7. Polished Stone Tools
The earliest polished tools, particularly axes, were found in Japan and are estimated to be around 30,000 years old. These axes are believed to have played a significant role in the large-scale deforestation during the Neolithic period, as humans started preparing the land for farming. However, the true purpose of these tools may have been even more extraordinary than their practical function in clearing land.
The axes' great practical importance seems to have transformed them into symbols of social prestige. Some of them are so large and heavy that they are impossible for an individual to carry, which suggests that these axes were possibly created for no other purpose than to serve as objects of bragging rights. If this is the case, it would represent a major shift in the social evolution of humanity.
What's more, over time, these axes evolved from symbols of a man's achievements during his life to symbols of his legacy after death. It appears that men were buried with their axes as a sign of respect, and the axes eventually came to symbolize the collective memory of the individual within society, much like modern tombstones.
6. Vindolanda Documents
The debate continues over the true purpose of Hadrian’s Wall in northern England: was it built for defense, or was it simply a barrier for trade? The fort at Vindolanda provides a glimpse into the lives of those who lived there, as well as those who resided within the Roman Empire during its peak power.
The inhabitants of the wall would use thin wooden tablets to write on, as papyrus was far too costly to import from the southern provinces. These tablets didn't contain the grand proclamations of emperors but rather simple exchanges between soldiers and, in some cases, their wives.
One such tablet, possibly intended but never sent to Emperor Hadrian, contains a soldier's plea: “As befits an honest man, I implore Your Majesty not to let me, an innocent man, be punished with rods . . . .” These writings offer us a rare window into the daily life of common soldiers within the Roman Empire.
5. Oxyrhynchus Papyri
Oxyrhynchus was an ancient city located in the southern part of Egypt. There was nothing particularly remarkable about the city, and if not for a unique environmental feature, it is unlikely that anyone outside of Egyptology would know of it today.
However, many items have been preserved in the dry sands of Oxyrhynchus. When people in the city were done with their writings, they simply discarded them into garbage pits, much like we throw away old newspapers today. The people disposing of these texts had no idea that, centuries later, archaeologists would eagerly retrieve each fragment from the refuse.
So much ancient literature has been uncovered that its significance cannot be overstated. New texts are still being discovered regularly, so many in fact that archaeologists are turning to crowdsourcing to help transcribe the fragments. If you’re interested in archaeology, check out this incredible website. If you come across something amusing by Menander, make sure to let me know.
4. Library of Ashurbanipal
The library of Ashurbanipal, also called the Library of Nineveh, holds the distinction of being the oldest collection of written material that can still be translated. The ancient civilization that thrived between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is regarded as the first true civilization. In order to govern such a society, Mesopotamian kings needed an efficient means to communicate their decrees and keep records of their possessions.
It is believed that writing began as a form of accounting. The Library of Ashurbanipal (the King of Assyria) offers a fascinating glimpse into the development of writing. For those who wish to make a personal connection with the past, there is no more profound document than the Epic of Gilgamesh—the tale of a man who, grieving the loss of his friend, embarks on a journey to uncover the meaning of mortality.
3. Gobekli Tepe
Gobekli Tepe has completely changed the way archaeologists view the ancient past. Located on a hill in Turkey, it holds the title of the oldest monumental human structure ever discovered. The site is filled with large upright stones and intricate carvings of animals.
Some believe that Gobekli Tepe was constructed as far back as 12,000 years ago. This would place it before the establishment of early villages in the Near East—yet creating such a site would have required a degree of social organization. The carvings found there may even represent the earliest known form of writing. Although much work remains to be done at the site, it’s clear that humans began to form complex societies much earlier than previously thought.
2. Indus Valley Civilization
If an entire continent can be forgotten, why not an entire civilization? The earliest major civilizations all arose near rivers. While the civilizations of the Nile and Mesopotamia have never been lost to history, an entire flourishing of human achievement along the Indus River remained hidden until the twentieth century.
Along the Indus River, highly advanced cities once flourished. Evidence of science, writing, and technology can still be found in the remains of these long-lost cities. The reasons for the collapse of the Indus Valley civilization remain unclear, but archaeological findings reveal that many of these cities were frequently ravaged by the very rivers that had once sustained them. The artwork of the Indus Valley civilization is often interpreted as reflecting a remarkable level of social equality. If this interpretation holds, it suggests that societies might not always evolve from tyrannies to democracies, which has significant implications for historians.
1. L’Anse aux Meadows
“In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.”
This catchy rhyme is taught to countless students, and while it’s mostly accurate, it carries a subtle misconception. The issue with this mnemonic is that it encourages people to think of Columbus as the first European to reach the New World. In reality, Europeans had visited the Americas nearly five centuries before Columbus set sail.
L’Anse aux Meadows, located in Newfoundland, marks the site of a Viking settlement in the New World. Erik’s Saga, an Icelandic epic, recounts the founding of a settlement in Vinland, North America. Initially dismissed as mere legend, much like the tales of Troy, the site’s discovery changed the course of exploration history. L’Anse aux Meadows reminds us that monumental discoveries, like the identification of an entirely new continent, can sometimes be forgotten over time.
