1866 in archaeology

Explorations

• Architect Thomas Drew draws attention to the significance of St. Audoen's Church, Dublin, Ireland.

Excavations

• Discovery and first excavation of Fertőrákos mithraeum.
• Amateur antiquarian John Mellor excavates at the site of Hyde Abbey near Winchester in England, finding bones which he presumes to be of Alfred the Great.

Publications

• Posthumous publication by Édouard Lartet of Henry Christy's Reliquiae Aquitanicae, being contributions to the archaeology and palaeontology of Perigord and the adjacent provinces of southern France commences.

Finds

• February 26 - The Calaveras Skull is discovered in California. Purported to be evidence of humans in North America during the Pliocene epoch, it turns out to be a hoax.
• The prehistoric sculpture Swimming Reindeer is found in France.
• The first copy of the Decree of Canopus is found at Tanis.

Births

• May 23 - Edgar J. Banks, American antiquarian.
• June 26 - George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, British Egyptological excavation sponsor.