Archaeologists dig to reveal the past. They meticulously preserve information that pieces together human history, but they also make choices about which histories they focus on in the sites they excavate. In contrast, looters dig for treasure and destroy context. But what about the collections that pre-date modern archaeology—the objects that have no recorded findspot—where the only real evidence we have comes from the object itself?
videos + essays
Underwater archaeology and the Antikythera Shipwreck
The discovery of the Antikythera shipwreck was the first of a series of ancient shipwrecks to be identified in the Eastern Mediterranean over the course of the 20th century.
Saved by shipwreck, The Antikythera Youth
A Late Classical Greek bronze remained on the seabed for 23 centuries.
The rediscovery of Pompeii and the other cities of Vesuvius
As people from all over the world visit Pompeii, officials juggle increasing threats to the deteriorating site.
Conservation vs. restoration: the Palace at Knossos (Crete)
Should archaeological sites be restored to how we believe they once looked, or conserved and left as is?
What is archaeology: understanding the archaeological record
The story of the past is hidden under layers of human residue, accumulated over thousands of years.
The importance of the archaeological findspot: The Lullingstone Busts
What do we gain when works come from a well-documented excavation?
When there is no archaeological record: Portrait Bust of a Flavian Woman (Fonseca bust)
Is this delicate female portrait what we think? Take part in a discussion of a masterpiece we know little about.
