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Dinosaur tracks in highlight and petroglyphs circled by dashed lines. Source: Troiano, et al., Scientific Reports 2024

Dinosaur Tracks in Brazil Found to Have Petroglyph ‘Companions’

A study of a site in Brazil known for its dinosaur tracks has revealed stunning new details about previously unexamined petroglyphs (rock carvings) that cover the very same set of rock formations as...
Rock art at one of the 16 new archaeological sites identified in Tocantins, Brazil.	Source: Romolo Macedo/IPHAN

16 New Archaeological Sites Identified in the Cerrado of Central Brazil

The archaeology team at the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan) in Tocantins, Central Brazil has identified and catalogued 16 archaeological sites in the Jalapão region, east...
Archaeologists discovered certain motifs in Patagonia, Argentina, dating back more than 8,000 years ago.	Source: Guadalupe Romero Villa/ Science Advances

Patagonia Rock Art Reveals Ancient Messages Transmitted Across Generations

Cave painting in the southern areas of South America may have started 8,200 years ago, several millennia earlier than previously thought. The cave art, located in Patagonia, Argentina, was thought to...
Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing, China . Source: rabbit75_fot/Adobe Stock

Guardians of History: How the Dazu Rock Carvings Captivate the World

The Dazu Rock Carvings are a series of Chinese religious sculptures and carvings located in the Dazu District of Chongqing, China. These carvings date back to the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD) and the...
Images of Mysterious Rock Art. Source: JSirlin/Adobe Stock; ©John Wombell; ©Salima Ikram; ©Amit Bhardwaj/Times of India; Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland

Ten Mysterious Rock Art Examples from the Ancient World

Rock paintings and engravings are among the world’s oldest continuously practiced art form and are as diverse as the wide-ranging cultures and civilizations that have produced them. Depictions of...
Some of the figures at Adamkayalar. Source: Oleg Znamenskiy/Adobe Stock

Treasure Hunters Damage Ancient Rock Carvings After Non-existent ‘Hidden Treasures’

The Adamkayalar reliefs, located in Mersin Province’s southern region, near the southern coast of Turkey, have recently suffered damage from treasure hunters and need urgent protection to avoid...
Andriamamelo cave art panel. Madagascar cave art is leading to curious conclusions. Source: Author provided

Madagascar Cave Art Reveals Captivating Africa-Asia Connections

David Burney / The Conversation Unique, prehistoric rock art drawings have been discovered in the Andriamamelo Cave in western Madagascar. I was part of a team that discovered and described these...
The Copper Axe Craft of Ancient Scotland. Source: YouTube Screenshot / AncientCraftUK.

The Copper Axe Craft of Ancient Scotland (Video)

In the captivating landscapes of Kilmartin Glen , ancient rock art reveals a fascinating chapter of human expression. Dr. James Dilley, an expert in prehistoric archaeology, unveils the mysterious...
The Yungang Grottoes are a UNESCO World heritage site in Datong, Shanxi province, China. Source: mijun/Adobe Stock

The Magnificent Yungang Grottoes Are a Testament of China’s Buddhist History

The history of Ancient China is full of different ethnicities, cultures, and religions. But Buddhism in China has deep and far-reaching roots. Throughout the centuries, it has left many famous and...
A team of international archaeologists discovered life-sized wild camel carvings on a rock outcrop near the southern Nafud desert border in Saudi Arabia. Carvings are outlined in white to enhance visibility.         Source: Maria Guagnin, et al/Science

Carved Camels Ready for Copulation in Saudi Arabian Desert: Unknown Origin

An international team of archaeologists studying ancient rock art in Saudi Arabia is celebrating a new and surprising discovery. On a rock outcropping near the southern border of the Nafud desert ,...
Weapons and defensive objects are evidence that show that hunter-gatherer communities in the Atacama Desert resorted to violence for conflict-solving. Source:  Standen et al., 2023, PLOS ONE/CC-BY 4.0

Hunter-Gatherers in the Atacama Desert Resorted to Brutal Violence

A couple of years ago, a study alluded to Neolithic farmers in Chile’s Atacama Desert engaging in violent battles over resources. Turn back the clock further, and a newer study points to ancient...
Ancient Cave Art at Mfangano Island, Kenya. Source: Avi Kumar

Ancient Cave Art at Mfangano Island Kenya, Revered For Generations

Mfangano Island in Kenya’s Lake Victoria hosts some ancient rock art that is an estimated to be 4000 years old. It consists of concentric circles built by a culture long gone but still revered. Lake...
Stone Age animal and human depictions in Doro! nawas mountains, Namibia. Source: Andreas Pastoors/PLoS ONE

Encoded Information Found in Stone Age Animal Track Engravings in Namibia

A trio of German archaeologists commissioned three indigenous trackers from southern Africa to analyze hundreds of animal track engravings made by Late Stone Age (25,000 to 3,000 BC) hunter-gatherers...
Partly-flooded chamber of Cova Dones cave complex where the Paleolithic art has been detected.	Source: © A. Ruiz-Redondo, V. Barciela & X. Martorell/ Antiquity Publications Ltd

Largest Collection of Cave Art Found in Eastern Spain Dated to 22,000 BC

A team of archaeologists from the Universities of Zaragoza and Alicante in Spain discovered a cave near the Eastern Iberian coast that is more heavily decorated with ancient artwork than any other...
The recently dated Malaysian rock art. Source: Andrea Jalandoni / CC BY 4.0

Malaysian Rock Art on Borneo Linked to Era of Conflict

A large cave known as Gua Sireh, which is located in the state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo in Malaysia, features one of the most extensive collections of recently drawn cave art found anywhere...
AI robot as an archaeologist, uncovering an ancient artifact.  Source: Hatia/Adobe Stock

Beyond Shovels and Brushes: The AI-driven Evolution of Archaeological Exploration

It seems pretty clear right now that AI is likely the “next big thing.” This exciting (and perhaps scary) technology seems set to change the world and revolutionize our lives in a myriad of ways. But...
Rock art on the ceiling of Altamira cave in Santillana Del Mar, Cantabria, Spain. Source:  bereta / Adobe Stock.

Exploring Europe’s Oldest Known Cave Paintings (Video)

Nestled in the enchanting landscapes of northern Spain, Cantabria stands as a testament to the ancient human quest for expression and understanding. The region boasts a remarkable treasure trove –...
Damaidi rock art at Helan Mountain in Ningxia, China. Source: Rita Willaert/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Is 8,000-year-old Damaidi Rock Art the Origin of Chinese Writing?

The Chinese writing system is by far one of the most complex in the world, and its origins are truly ancient. In fact, ​​Chinese characters are the oldest continuously used system of writing in the...
The Colossal Statue of Avukana Buddha in Kekirawa, Sri Lanka. Source: homocosmicos/Adobe Stock

Avukana Buddha - Sri Lanka’s Most Important Buddhist Pilgrimage Site

Relics of Buddhism are always magnificent to behold. They dot the East Asian world, and are the testament to the devotion and ancient history of its peoples. One such relic is the magnificent statue...
Chauvet cave art. Source: Claude Valette / CC by SA 4.0.

Mimicking the Ancients: France’s Chauvet Cave Replica (Video)

Deep in the hills of Southern France, concealed from public access, lies the remarkable Chauvet cave , adorned with ancient artwork dating back 30,000 years. With its exquisite cave paintings ,...

Deciphering The Meaning of Stone Age Rock Art (Video)

Prehistoric rock art presents a fascinating challenge for archaeologists seeking to decipher its meaning. Stone Age rock carvings in Scotland offer valuable insights into ancient cultures, including...
D-stretch image of the Australian rock art in which Moluccan warships have been identified.  Source: Darrell Lewis / CC BY 4.0

17th-Century Moluccan Warships Identified in Australian Rock Art

Archaeologists from Flinders University in Adelaide have finally identified the exotic watercraft featured in indigenous rock art found 50 years ago in a small cave in Arnhem Land in the Northern...
Trine Freiesleben and Jean-Claude discussing the fingerprints and where to take OSL samples. Source: Kristina Thomsen / PLoS ONE

Study Finds Oldest Ever Neanderthal Cave Engravings, Destroying Established Timeline

In recent years, interest in the subject of Neanderthal cave art has exploded, as new discoveries have illuminated the fascinating truth about the artistic abilities and advanced symbolic...
Remarkable Kville petroglyphs found in Sweden. Source: Foundation for Documentation of Bohuslän's Rock Carvings

Stunning 2,700-Year-Old Petroglyphs Found Hidden Under Moss in Sweden

Researchers combing through the countryside near the municipality of Tanum in the province of Bohuslän along Sweden’s western coastline were shocked to discover a set of approximately 40 petroglyphs...

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