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The year 2023 was marked by archaeological and historical discoveries, each more important than the last. From ancient forgotten cities in the remote plains of Egypt to imperial treasures in Chinese tombs, researchers from every continent have worked to unearth the most beautiful relics. They allow us to better understand past events, both human movements in prehistory and civilizational developments throughout history. A look back at ten major archaeological events of the last twelve months.
If history survives the war
Iraq's modern history is marked by war and violence. Between the invasion of the United States in 2003 and the disastrous outbreak of the Islamic State in the 2010s, research in the Middle Eastern country suffered numerous setbacks. However, operations at the excavation sites have gradually resumed since 2022. In February 2023, archaeologists discovered the remains of a Sumerian royal city in Girsu, north of Nassiriya. This site was one of the highlights of antiquity in the Fertile Crescent, particularly during the Ur III period, around 2,100 BC. BC
Further north, a few kilometers from Mosul, Iraqi scientists rediscovered a magnificent winged statue in November. This impressive figure, exhumed in Khorsabad around thirty years ago, was hidden in 2014 by residents of the region who wanted to preserve their historical heritage. The statue, called “Lamassu,” has not been altered and is expected to be added to the National Museum of Iraq in the coming months.
Italy, land of archeology
Italian archaeologists expect a significant harvest in 2023. In December alone, an ancient domus with magnificent decorations was explored before opening to the public in 2024, as Pompeii continued to reveal its secrets. In the “Regio IX” of the 79 city destroyed by Vesuvius, messages were found posted on the walls of a building during a political election campaign. A few weeks later, historians try to understand a strange building that has all the hallmarks of a bakery… A very special bakery, some elements of which are reminiscent of prisons. To researchers, slaves likely worked to produce bread and other foods for the city's citizens.
Treasure hunt in the Mediterranean
The Mediterranean has been an important maritime shipping area since ancient times. In November, Italian divers brought almost 50,000 ancient pieces a few kilometers from the coast of Sardinia. A priceless treasure from the 3rd century, a few years before the fall of the Western Roman Empire. With the added bonus of great artifacts from Africa and the Orient.
Still in the Mediterranean, but this time near the port of Toulon, French archaeologists found interesting objects from the 19th century. Trapped in the wreckage of a 200-year-old ship lying at the bottom of the water, scientists launched a real investigation to find out the place of origin of the recovered artifacts. These were made in France in the 19th century, about 130 kilometers from Toulon. A collection that strengthens an already rich historical local heritage.
The Jewels of Pre-Columbian America
In the summer of 2023, large-scale excavations revealed the existence of more than 130 pre-Columbian sites in Bolivia. In Carangas Province, on the border with Chile, dozens of sites documented by the first Spanish explorers have been located by modern archaeologists. To arrive at this record number, scientists used a clever mix of technologies that combined field surveys and the use of drones and satellite imagery.
In Mexico, archaeologists unearthed a warrior mask and several ritual artifacts while exploring the depths of a pyramid at the popular site of Chichén Itzá. This Mayan mask with unique jewelry rested under the feet of tourists and had been locked away since the 11th century.
The Secrets of Egyptian Antiquity
On the banks of the Nile, one of Egypt's most beautiful cities shows off its wonders to visitors and archaeologists. The city of Luxor preserves the magnificent monuments of the ancient city of Thebes. Traces of life during the Roman Empire can be found among the massive statues, imposing obelisks and more modern buildings. On the east bank of Luxor there is an entire residential area that archaeologists have uncovered for all to see. It dates back to the 3rd century and consists of classical houses, but also two dovecotes and workshops – in this case a blacksmith's shop – as evidenced by the artifacts preserved in the ground.
It took years of work for Egyptologist Victoria Almansa-Villatoro to confirm: Egyptians knew that certain irons came from space. There are no eccentricities here including aliens, but rather an applied study of hieroglyphic texts. And certain symbols in the Pyramid Text are unmistakable, meaning both “iron” and “sky.” An important discovery, because the correlation created by the scribes dates back to around 2,600 BC. Dozens of centuries before modern scientists really addressed the question of meteorites and their composition…
Understanding the Advances of the Neolithic
The weeks-long search for square kilometers of land in the Marne has finally paid off. At the end of August, the CNRS and Inrap announced the discovery of an enclosure and a 5,000-year-old dwelling on the site of Val-des-Marais.
A remarkable breakthrough in an area that has been studied since the 19th century, as explained by professor and archaeologist Rémi Martineau. The beginning of a multi-year adventure aimed at uncovering the entirety of this Late Neolithic habitat in order to understand a little-known period in the history of France.