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From a 9,000-year-old precision-engineered hammer to evidence of the Trojan War and many more…
The year’s most captivating archaeological finds included an untouched Etruscan tomb, pristine Bronze Age armor, the legendary San José shipwreck treasures, and many more…
Every year brings a treasure trove of archaeological discoveries that capture our imagination and deepen our understanding of the past. The period spanning 2024-2025 proved exceptionally rich, revealing everything from opulent royal burials to humble Stone Age tools, from legendary battlegrounds to sacred sanctuaries. These finds, documented on Ancient Origins over the last year, span continents, millennia, and cultures, offering fascinating windows into the lives, beliefs, and technologies of our ancestors.
From the shores of the Baltic Sea to the depths of the Caribbean, from ancient Troy to medieval England, these discoveries remind us that countless secrets still lie buried beneath our feet, waiting to tell their stories. Here are some of the most remarkable finds revealed over the past year.
Warriors and Weapons
Archaeological evidence of ancient warfare continues to emerge from sites across the globe, from legendary Troy to the steppes of Central Asia. These discoveries reveal not only military technologies but also the social status, beliefs, and artistic sensibilities of warrior elites.
Fresh excavations at the legendary city of Troy in northwestern Turkey have uncovered what may be the most compelling evidence yet that Homer’s Iliad describes real events. Turkish archaeologists discovered thousands of 3,500-year-old sling stones concentrated in a small area outside the palace walls, along with arrowheads, charred buildings, and hastily buried human remains. The sling stones, smoothed to aerodynamic perfection, were among the Bronze Age’s most lethal weapons. “This concentration of sling stones in such a small area suggests intense fighting, either a desperate defense or a full-scale assault,” explained Professor Rustem Aslan. The destruction layer dates to around 1200 BC, precisely matching the period Greek historians assigned to the Trojan War.
In southern Bulgaria, archaeologists unearthed the treasure-filled burial of a Thracian warrior from the 2nd century BC. The warrior was interred alongside his horse and adorned with a ceremonial wreath symbolizing his elite status. Bronze and gilded harness decorations featuring scenes from the Labors of Heracles demonstrate exceptional artistry. The grave’s pristine condition allowed researchers to observe the original arrangement, revealing sophisticated burial customs that honored both warrior and mount.
Archaeological excavation of the 2nd-century BC Thracian warrior burial showing the ceremonial arrangement of grave goods. Source: Община Тополовград – Topolovgrad Municipality
A remarkable bronze warrior figurine emerged from the Oppidum of Manching in Bavaria, leading one of the most significant Celtic discoveries in recent years. The miniature masterpiece, standing just 7.5 centimeters tall, depicts a warrior in an unusual lunging pose with sword and shield. Most intriguing is the figure’s distinctive attire: armored chest protection combined with complete nudity from the waist down, possibly reflecting Celtic warriors’ service as mercenaries in Greek armies. The find was among more than 40,000 artifacts recovered during excavations between 2021 and 2024.
The Celtic warrior statuette after restoration, depicting a warrior in lunging pose with sword and shield. Source: Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation
In Kazakhstan’s Aktogay district, archaeologists discovered a completely untouched 2,500-year-old Saka warrior tomb containing a skeleton still clutching a remarkable bronze sword. The double-edged bronze akinaka, cast as a single piece, features intricate decorations of argali (wild sheep) horns and birds of prey – motifs deeply significant in Saka art. “This type of akinak, with such design, has not yet been found elsewhere in Kazakhstan,” noted archaeologist Arman Beissenov, highlighting the weapon’s exceptional craftsmanship.
A fragment of Bronze Age armor dating back over 3,200 years was identified among artifacts discovered in South Moravia, Czech Republic. The armor had been deliberately damaged and buried alongside a bronze spearhead, sickle, and needle in what appears to have been a ritual offering. Using advanced 3D scanning technology, researchers digitally reconstructed the bent sheet metal, revealing distinctive ornamental patterns. The discovery dates to approximately 1200 BC – the same period traditionally associated with the legendary Trojan War.
Two medieval swords from Northern Europe reveal the complex interplay of Christian and pagan traditions during the High Middle Ages. A thousand-year-old ritual sword unearthed from the Korte Linschoten River in the Netherlands bears sacred Christian sun wheel symbols on one side and an ancient Viking endless knot on the other, representing the fusion of worldviews characteristic of frontier regions. Meanwhile, an extraordinary sixth-century Anglo-Saxon sword discovered in a Kent cemetery features intricate silver-and-gilt designs and a ring-pommel symbolizing an oath to a king. Lead archaeologist Duncan Sayer described it as “in the top echelons of swords, an elite object in every way.”
Medieval sword from Linschoten, with knot symbol engraved on the blade. Source: Ruben de Heer / Landgoed Linschoten/ RMO
Imperial Treasures
Royal burials and imperial artifacts provide unparalleled insights into the wealth, power, and beliefs of ancient rulers. Several remarkable imperial discoveries emerged this year, spanning from ancient Egypt to feudal Japan.
Archaeologists in Japan recovered extraordinary artifacts from Emperor Nintoku’s tomb for the first time in over a century and a half. The treasures, including a gold-plated ceremonial knife and gilded armor fragments, had been missing since 1872 when they were secretly removed from Japan’s largest burial mound. Modern scientific analysis revealed sophisticated metallurgical techniques, including iron coated directly with gold rather than copper as previously thought. The knife features an iron blade in a Japanese cypress sheath, encased in extraordinarily thin gold-plated copper secured with silver rivets – representing unique 5th-century craftsmanship.
Parts of a gold-plated knife that have been recovered from Emperor Nintoku’s tomb. Source: Kokugakuin University
Submerged Secrets
Underwater archaeology continues to reveal ships, ports, and treasures lost to the seas centuries ago, providing unique perspectives on ancient maritime trade, warfare, and daily life.
The 2024 expedition to the Antikythera shipwreck marked a significant milestone in underwater archaeology. Between May and June, ideal weather conditions allowed for extensive excavation, yielding about 300 objects including 21 marble fragments, numerous structural elements of the ship’s hull, and over 200 pottery fragments. Most significantly, the team discovered evidence of a second shipwreck at the site, with Area ‘B’ yielding remains of another wooden ship beneath its cargo. The findings, documented with advanced remotely operated vehicles and 3D scanning, continue to illuminate the ancient maritime tragedy that occurred over 2,000 years ago.
Colombian scientists successfully retrieved the first artifacts from the legendary San José galleon, known as the “holy grail of shipwrecks.” Among the recovered items from nearly 2,000 feet beneath the Caribbean Sea were a bronze cannon, three gold coins, and a delicate porcelain cup. The 62-gun, three-masted galleon sank in 1708 during a British ambush while carrying an estimated 11 million gold and silver coins worth $17-20 billion today. President Gustavo Petro’s administration emphasizes that the expedition’s primary purpose is research rather than treasure recovery, with plans to display artifacts in a proposed museum in Cartagena.
Underwater archaeologists concluded a new phase of excavation at the submerged ancient Greek port of Asini near Tolo in Argolis, Greece. Working in the northwestern portion of a submerged artificial platform, researchers employed high-resolution photogrammetry to document substantial structural components including stone blocks and amphorae fragments. The discoveries confirm the presence of an expansive harbor that played a pivotal role in maritime trade throughout different historical eras, from the Bronze Age through the Roman period.
Exposing a large part of the Antikythera shipwreck’s hull. (Greek Ministry of Culture)
Tombs and Burials
Burial sites, from simple graves to elaborate chamber tombs, provide invaluable insights into ancient beliefs, social hierarchies, and funerary practices.
A Baylor University-led team made one of the most significant Etruscan discoveries in recent decades: an intact 2,600-year-old chamber tomb at the San Giuliano necropolis in central Italy. The sealed burial chamber contained four individuals surrounded by over 100 remarkably preserved grave goods including ceramic vases, iron weapons, bronze ornaments, and delicate silver hair spools. “This completely sealed burial chamber represents a rare find for Etruscan archaeology,” explained Dr. Davide Zori. The tomb dates to the 7th century BC and has remained completely undisturbed, a remarkable rarity in Etruscan archaeology where most tombs have been looted over the centuries.
In 1935, archaeologists discovered a mummified Egyptian woman whose mouth was frozen open in what appeared to be a scream. Recent studies using advanced CT scans have provided new insights into the “Screaming Woman” mummy. Dr. Sahar Saleem’s team found that despite being buried approximately 2,500 years ago, her body remains remarkably well preserved, with brain, internal organs, and even hair treated with henna intact. Her agonized expression may have been caused by cadaveric spasm – a rare phenomenon linked to violent deaths or extreme emotional distress that causes muscles to stiffen at the moment of death, preserving the deceased’s final expression.
Left; The Screaming Woman mummy, Right; CT scan of the Screaming Woman mummy, wearing her wig. Source: Sahar Saleem/Frontiers in Medicine
Sacred Spaces
Religious structures and ritual objects illuminate the spiritual lives of ancient peoples, from mysterious cults to biblical sanctuaries.
Archaeologists excavating at ancient Shiloh in Israel believe they have uncovered the stone foundations of the biblical Tabernacle, the sacred sanctuary that once housed the Ark of the Covenant. Led by Dr. Scott Stripling, the team unearthed a monumental stone building matching the exact dimensions and orientation specified in scripture, with an interior wall dividing it into two areas precisely as described in Exodus 26. The team discovered over 100,000 animal bones, predominantly from the right side of sheep, goats, and cattle – exactly matching the requirements outlined in Leviticus 7 for priestly offerings.
A stunning third-century fresco depicting Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” emerged from a chamber tomb in İznik, Turkey – the only known example of this iconic Christian motif in Anatolia. The fresco shows Jesus as a clean-shaven young man in a simple tunic with a large horned goat across his shoulders, flanked by pairs of goats. This Roman-style depiction contrasts with later Byzantine representations and illustrates the transitional nature of third-century religious art, where Christian iconography coexisted with pagan traditions.
The frescoed chamber tomb at Hisardere Necropolis in Iznik, showing the Good Shepherd scene on the back wall. Source: Arkeolojihaber
Excavations at Kurul Castle in Ordu, Turkey continue to uncover evidence of a royal Dionysian cult that flourished over 2,000 years ago. Terracotta figurines of young Dionysus, the pastoral god Pan, and distinctive goat-shaped ceremonial vessels point to active Dionysian cult practices within the castle walls. The discoveries take on extraordinary significance given that King Mithridates VI deliberately identified with Dionysus, with a crucial inscription from 94/93 BC explicitly referring to “King Mithridates Eupator Dionysus.”
Prehistoric Ingenuity
Stone Age discoveries demonstrate the remarkable technological sophistication and adaptability of our earliest ancestors.
During excavations in Horten, eastern Norway, archaeologists uncovered a rare 9,000-year-old shaft-hole hammer that demonstrates the precision and patience of ancient toolmakers. The hammer head features a meticulously drilled hole created from both sides using a hollow deer or moose bone combined with sand and water. “It’s nicely crafted,” noted archaeologist Silje Hårstad, emphasizing the level of skill required for such work 9,000 years ago. The discovery was among over 5,000 artifacts from what appears to have been a thriving settlement, providing crucial evidence of the cultural shift when hunter-gatherers began transitioning to more settled communities.
Deep in Poland’s peaceful Baltic shore countryside, a farmer unearthed a small beige sculpture that would rewrite northern Europe’s prehistory. The “Kołobrzeg Venus,” a 6,000-year-old limestone statuette measuring just 12 centimeters tall, features wide hips, prominent breasts, and no facial features, recalling the ancient Venus figurine convention. “This is the find of the century,” said Aleksander Ostasz, director of the Polish Arms Museum. Radiocarbon testing established it as one of the oldest known artifacts associated with settled agricultural communities in this part of Europe, previously unknown north of the Carpathians.
In southern Dagestan, archaeologists unveiled one of 2025’s most significant discoveries: a 7,000-year-old Copper Age settlement designated Dagogninskoe-2. The site reveals two distinct layers spanning millennia, with the lower Eneolithic stratum buried two meters deep. Among the most intriguing artifacts are obsidian tools, volcanic glass that could only have originated from the South Caucasus, hundreds of kilometers away. The discovery confirms that communities of the Shulaveri-Shomutepe culture spread northward into Dagestan, revolutionizing understanding of ancient migration patterns across the challenging Caucasus terrain.
Cities and Settlements
Urban archaeological sites reveal the complexity of ancient civilizations, from their architecture and infrastructure to their social organization.
Turkish archaeologists achieved a significant breakthrough at the renowned Kultepe archaeological site in central Turkey, uncovering private residences on the main mound for the first time in decades. The discovery of houses dating back approximately 4,700 years reveals that ordinary citizens lived alongside the monumental palaces and temples. Professor Fikri Kulakoglu explained that this challenges earlier assumptions that only grand structures occupied the summit. The residential quarter provides unprecedented insights into daily life in one of the ancient world’s most important trading centers.
Archaeologists working beneath London’s Palace of Westminster revealed remarkable prehistoric tools, medieval treasures, and architectural remains spanning six millennia. Over 60 worked flint tools from around 4300 BC were found in deep, undisturbed sands. Perhaps most spectacular was the discovery of significant remains from the medieval Lesser Hall constructed in 1167, which historians believed was completely destroyed in the 1834 fire. The discoveries demonstrate that Westminster’s history extends far deeper than previously documented.
Left; Palace of Westminster, Right; Remains of the medieval Lesser Hall uncovered beneath the Palace of Westminster, showing stone walls that survived the 1834 fire and World War II bombings, Inset; Medieval lead badge. Source: Left; Public Domain, Right; R&R Delivery Authority via Archaeology Magazine
Chinese archaeologists unearthed what is now considered the oldest known section of the Great Wall of China, dating back nearly 300 years earlier than previously estimated to the eighth century BC. The section known as the Qi Great Wall stretches around 400 miles across Shandong Province. Excavations revealed that the walls were built in phases, with the oldest sections measuring approximately 33 feet in width. Beneath the early walls, researchers discovered semi-underground dwellings with square foundations, suggesting local inhabitants lived in the area before fortifications were built.
Precious Metals and Treasures
Gold, silver, and precious artifacts reveal the wealth, artistry, and trade networks of ancient civilizations.
Amateur archaeologists in Poland’s Grodziec Forest District made an extraordinary discovery: a stunning 5th-century Gothic gold necklace weighing 222 grams, emerging from a ceramic pot buried over 1,500 years ago. The complete gold torc features a distinctive hook and loop closure mechanism and had been carefully bent and folded to fit inside the pot. This marks the first example of a Gothic torc discovered in Polish territory, providing valuable insight into trade routes and cultural exchange between Gothic communities and local populations during the Migration Period.
Left, the torc protruding from the vessel, Right, X-ray showing the torc in the vessel. (DENAR Kalisz – Stowarzyszenie Poszukiwaczy Śladów Historii)
A Legacy of Discovery
These thirty remarkable discoveries from 2024-2025 represent only a fraction of the archaeological treasures emerging from soil, sand, and sea around the world. Each find adds another piece to the vast puzzle of human history, revealing the ingenuity, artistry, beliefs, and daily lives of our ancestors.
From the warrior with his pristine bronze sword to the craftsperson who spent patient hours drilling a hole through stone, from the devotees who worshipped Dionysus in a mountain fortress to the early Christians who painted Jesus as the Good Shepherd, these discoveries remind us that the past is not truly past, it lives on in the objects, structures, and stories waiting to be uncovered.
Top image: Collage of images of finds in 2025. Source: AI Generated.
