Unequivocally Remarkable Archaeological Finds of 2024
Every year, we're blessed with fresh knowledges about the world's historical populations thanks to archaeologists. They unearth new discoveries, shaking up existing knowledge about groups of people and their interactions, cultural exchanges, and individual experiences. This year, we're showcasing some of the most intriguing archaeological discoveries and human genomics/paleoanthropology findings. You're welcome to share your favorite find in the comments.
Human markings near dinosaur prints
Image source: Troiano et al., Scientific Reports 2024
In March, archaeologists disclosed the discovery of human rock drawings near dinosaur footprints in Brazil. While some markings are abstract, others resemble dinosaur footprints, belonging to sauropods, theropods, and ornithopods. Although the researchers didn't directly date the etchings or the prints, their research published in Scientific Reports suggests that ancient humans in the area regarded the prints significantly. Notwithstanding the existence of birds, humans missed dinosaurs by about 65 million years. Clearly, these ancient creatures held some significance for the Brazilians, whether they knew the tracks' origins or not. A nearby site, Pedra do Alexandre, hosts burials spanning 9,400 to 2,620 years, potentially offering a reference point for the markings.
Space jewelry and potential weapon from a 3,000-year-old hoard
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
In February, researchers declared that a bracelet and a probable sword pommel within Spain's 3,000-year-old Treasure of Villena are crafted from meteoritic iron, transforming them into space adornments and weapons, respectively. Discovered before widespread iron metallurgy, the metal's origin presumably came from a meteorite. The Treasure isn't the first to contain such finds; a team concluded in February 2022 that a dagger discovered in Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb was made from meteoritic iron, possibly gifted to his grandfather, Amenhotep III, as a wedding present.
A 'special ritual deposit' by a ball court
Image source: Kåre Thor Olsen
In April, researchers reported the presence of medicinal and hallucinogenic plants buried beneath a ball court in the Maya city of Yaxnohcah. Environmental DNA analysis revealed that two plants had ceremonial uses, while others were associated with divination rituals. This serves as a reminder that even ancient sports enthusiasts and players indulged in a bit of superstition.
Pompeii doodles
Image source: Parco archeologico di Pompei
In May, the Pompeii Archaeological Park disclosed new archaeological findings from the long-lost Roman town, including the aforementioned doodles, depicting gladiators and hunting scenes. The exact age of the doodles was not specified, but they were created before 79 CE – the year of Vesuvius' catastrophic eruption – offering an unusual glimpse into the past.
Shackleton's last vessel found off Canada
Image source: Royal Canadian Geographic Society / X
In June, the Royal Canadian Geographic Society announced the discovery of Quest, the final ship used by Ernest Shackleton. While his more famous vessel, Endurance, was found at the bottom of the Weddell Sea in 2022, at a depth of 9,800 feet (2,987 meters), Quest was purchased and outfitted as an expedition vessel by Shackleton for around $650,000 in today's currency. The explorer had initially embarked on his trip with Quest, but unfortunately, he suffered a heart attack and passed away prior to completion. Subsequently, Quest sank in 1962, more than 40 years after Shackleton's demise.
The smallest-known 'Hobbit' fossils at 700,000 years old
Image source: Yousuke Kaifu
In August, anthropologists revealed the discovery of the tiniest-ever Homo floresiensis individual, even smaller and older than previously discovered ones of the species. First identified in 2004, H. floresiensis went extinct around 50,000 years ago, and usually grew up to about three feet and seven inches (109 centimeters) as adults.
This summer's study pushed back the existence of H. floresiensis to 700,000 years ago. The team estimated that the individual – an adult – was only 3.28 feet (one meter) tall. Additionally, the team hypothesized that H. floresiensis originated from Homo erectus based on the shared dental characteristics between the two species.
Archaeological Studies...in Space?!
Image source: Walsh et al., 2024, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0
In August, researchers published an unusual archaeological study: it was conducted 254 miles (408 kilometers) above Earth, on the International Space Station.
The squad explored the utilization of spaces on the space station. "We demonstrated that successful, fruitful archaeology can be conducted in space, despite investigators being based on Earth," one study's author shared with Gizmodo. "Furthermore, we unquestionably proved that areas within the space station are utilized in unforeseen manners, which is a very human trait."
These findings hold significant value in crafting future space infrastructure that will be required to enhance astronauts' efficiency. And let's face it—space archaeology sounds nothing short of thrilling.
The dissolution of the RMS Titanic
The Titanic's bow as observed in 2004. Image credit: NOAA/Institute for Exploration/University of Rhode Island
Moving on to news much more local—basically, submerged much deeper beneath sea level—the company possessing the Titanic's salvage rights published photos demonstrating the ship's breakdown at the Atlantic Ocean's bottom was continuing. Somewhere between 2022 and this summer, the Titanic's bow railing gave way under the intense pressure at 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) beneath the water surface.
The newly assembled survey team also rediscovered the Diana of Versailles, a bronze sculpture that once stood proudly in the ship's first-class lounge. When the Titanic struck an iceberg on April 15, 1912, the sculpture was displaced, landing in the wreckage when it was discovered in 1986. Although the statue's location within the debris field was lost until now—practically 40 years after it was found, and 112 years after the catastrophe itself.
Secret Neanderthal clan
Fossilized teeth from the Neanderthal 'Thorin'. Image courtesy of Ludovik Slimak
In September, a team of researchers revealed the genome of a 45,000-year-old Neanderthal. Nicknamed Thorin after a J.R.R. Tolkien character, the Neanderthal's remains highlight that the population Thorin belonged to had no genetic interbreeding with other Neanderthals for tens of thousands of years. It serves as a reminder that even in close proximity to one another, early human communities did not necessarily interact. The research showcased the remarkable information researchers can extract from ancient genomic data.
AI restores lost temple relief
A three-dimensional reconstruction of temple reliefs. Image credit: Pan et al., 2024
Recently, computer scientists employed artificial intelligence to make three-dimensional reconstructions of relief panels at a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The catch? The panels were covered up more than a century ago, and the team only had a black-and-white photo of the relief from 1890 to work with. Fortunately, their AI-driven method managed to decipher the intricate curves and overall depth of the relief from the old photograph. The research showcased how AI can be beneficial in archaeological research and conservation.
Misplaced Maya city rediscovered—complete with pyramids
A lidar scan of previously unknown Maya structures in Mexico. Image courtesy of Auld-Thomas et al., Antiquity 2024
In late October, an archaeology team utilized an old map of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula to uncover a lost Maya city. Encompassing thousands of buildings, including pyramids, the extensive site was discovered thanks to a lidar (light detection and ranging) survey that cleared through the dense undergrowth using aerial sweeps to uncover the structures hidden below. Other structures revealed in the survey included a ballcourt, terraces, and a dam.
Conceived 800-years-ago myth about man thrown in well confirmed true
The remains of a man who was thrown in a trench almost 800 years ago. Image credit: Åge Hojem NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet
This tale is my personal favorite. An archaeology team revisited the skeleton of a man found in the bottom of a middle-age well back in 1938. Surprisingly—as the team disclosed—the man dumped into the well 827 years earlier is the exact man referred to in the Sverris Saga, an 800-year-old text about a military assault in 1197.
The team is uncertain of the man's identity. In the study, the team studied the man's DNA, revealing details about his complexion and hair color. The DNA also shed light on his diet and ancestry; although his real identity remains a mystery, they are confident he is the same man mentioned in historical sagas.
AI survey doubles known Nazca lines
A geoglyph of a bird, seen from the sky. Image credit: Luis Rosendo/Heritage Images/Getty Images
A team of researchers trained a convolutional neural network on the Nazca lines, and then had the AI model analyze aerial images of Peru where the lines are found. The outcome? The number of recognized geoglyphs in the region doubled in just six months. At the time, there were approximately 430 known geoglyphs in Nazca, Peru. Thanks to the team's findings, there are now 303 additional figurative geoglyphs and 42 newly identified geometric glyphs identified. The study is a remarkable example of how AI is impacting the field of archaeology.
Outsiders discovered at Europe's oldest battlefield
A skullcap from the Tollense Valley pierced by an arrowhead. Image courtesy of Volker Minkus
An archaeological site in Germany, estimated to be from the 13th century BCE, is recognized as Europe's oldest battleground due to the massive number of individuals discovered there (over 2,000). These individuals appear to have been engaged in conflict when they passed away. Examination of arrows discovered at the site revealed that some of the individuals came from distant locations, challenging prevailing notions about the groups involved in combat in the area at that time.
Artificial Intelligence and the Lost Scrolls of the Roman Empire
A well-preserved Greek philosophical text, turned to charcoal by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79. Image: Antonio Masiello/Getty Images/Gizmodo
The carbonized scrolls in Herculaneum are not a novelty, but modern AI technologies are becoming increasingly adept at interpreting the scrolls without the need for manual unraveling. In August, Gizmodo interviewed participants in the Vesuvius Challenge, initiated in March 2023, who are striving to decipher the scrolls, which include some writings attributed to the Greek philosopher Philodemus of Gadara. If you're not familiar with AI or the circumstances that led to the loss of Herculaneum and Pompeii for over 1,500 years, this discovery is set to be an exhilarating journey.
The World's Most Ancient Cheese
An artifact from the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang. Photo: Wenying Li
Whenever an artifact is labeled as the "oldest", you can anticipate its appearance in an archaeological end-of-year roundup. In this instance, archaeologists discovered that a puzzling yellow-white substance found on the foreheads of 3,600-year-old mummies in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region was, in fact, cheese. Kefir cheese, specifically, which is prepared using yeast and probiotic bacteria to divide curds and whey. The team's investigation of this cheese enigma settles the query regarding its essence, although it raises a new question: what was the significance that prompted this cheese to be applied to loved ones?
Precisely Determining the Timeline of Coitus Between Humans and Neanderthals
An illustration of anatomically modern humans around 45,000 years ago. Illustration: Tom Björklund
Research into 50,000-year-old genomes published recently has brought about numerous revelations about the secret lives of early modern humans and Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis), our closest kin. One of the most significant findings, which were simultaneously published in Nature and Science, was the identification of the precise timeframe within which our two species interbred (engaged in sexual activities), leading to the Neanderthal DNA present in our species today. This genetic mingling took place about 45,000 years ago, as revealed by the research team. They also concluded that early modern humans who resided outside Africa more than 50,000 years ago belonged to distinct populations distinct from present-day humans.
- In the future, advancements in technology and science could potentially allow us to date the human rock drawings near dinosaur footprints more accurately, providing us with more insights into ancient human-dinosaur interactions.
- The discovery of meteoritic iron in a 3,000-year-old Spanish treasure hints at a future where technology and archaeology could collaborate to uncover the existence of extraterrestrial material in ancient civilizations, transforming our understanding of their technological capabilities and cultural exchange.
