1851 in archaeology

Excavations

• Some excavation at Susa by William Loftus, who identifies the location.

Publications

• J. Collingwood Bruce's The Roman Wall: a historical, topographical, and descriptive account of the barrier of the lower isthmus, extending from the Tyne to the Solway.
• Daniel Wilson's The Archaeology and Prehistoric Annals of Scotland, which introduces the word prehistoric into the English archaeological vocabulary.

Miscellaneous

• John Disney endows the Disney Professorship of Archaeology in the University of Cambridge, first held by John Howard Marsden

Births

• 29 June: Jane Dieulafoy, born Jeanne Magre, French archaeologist, excavator of Susa, explorer, novelist and journalist
• 8 July: Arthur Evans, English archaeologist best known for discovering the palace of Knossos on Crete