Popular Archeology

Sterkfontein: A History of Evolution in the Cradle of Humanity
by Jesse Holth
Old and new finds come together to deepen the record of human evolution at the famous South African cave system.
Fortress on the Edge of Kingdoms
by No Author
The site of Ein Hatzeva stands out as a monumental reminder of where an ancient Judaean kingdom staked a strategic foothold.
Where Hominins Became Human
by No Author
Coastal cave systems in South Africa could hold keys to unraveling the mystery about when and where modern humans were born.
The Opulence Beneath: A Short Pictorial
by Dan McLerran
Archaeologists have revealed rich homes of ancient Jerusalem’s priestly upper crust, from a time when Caiaphas and Jesus walked the Old City’s streets.
King John’s Palace
by James Wright
What archaeology and research has revealed about a lost medieval royal palace in the heart of England's Sherwood Forest.
George Washington’s Forgotten Slaves
by Dan McLerran
A team of archaeologists and volunteers are now uncovering the traces of long-forgotten and nameless graves of many of George Washington’s enslaved servants.
Beings of Color: Following the Pigment Trail in Human Evolution
by Stephen J. Isaac
The prehistoric origins of pigment mining and the importance of mineral color-bearing properties in Africa.

Popular Archaeology is a quarterly online magazine exploring the human past, from prehistoric beginnings to the present day. See About Us for more details. Regular subscriptions are FREE. Access to all premium level content (our best articles, including all back-issue premium articles) is only $9.00 annually.

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Cover Stories

Humans have been driving a global reduction in mammal size for thousands of years

Study Sheds New Light on Neanderthal Anatomy

Surviving climate change, then and now

Unusual climate during Roman times plunged Eurasia into hunger and disease

Humans may have occupied Indonesian site earlier than previously thought

Researchers return to the site of Leang Burung 2 after 30 years to uncover new artifacts and revise early dating estimates.

Early modern human migration out of Africa more geographically widespread than previously thought

The first Homo sapiens fossil discovery from Saudi Arabia dates to nearly 90,000 years ago during a time when the region's deserts were replaced by grasslands.

Genetics of the modern heirs of the Incas sheds new light about their origins and lineages

The first study on families of documented Inca nobility ancestry shows at least two patrilineal clusters and their origins linked to the lake Titicaca and Southern Cusco region.

Smithsonian reports first evidence of live-traded dogs for Maya ceremonies

Spread of agriculture into central Anatolia

Scientists discover evidence of early human innovation, pushing back evolutionary timeline

Evidence of innovation dates to a period when humans faced an unpredictable and uncertain environment, according to three new studies.

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A wooden toe: Swiss Egyptologists study 3,000-year-old prosthesis

Multispectral imaging reveals ancient Hebrew inscription undetected for over 50 years

Military correspondence from the First Temple period discovered on reverse side of well-studied artifact at The Israel Museum, Tel Aviv University researchers say.

New research reveals earliest directly dated rock paintings from southern Africa

Scientists have pioneered a technique to directly date prehistoric rock paintings in southern Africa, which revealed dates much older than previously thought.