1890 in archaeology
Below are notable events in archaeology that occurred in 1890.
Explorations
- Alfred Maudslay begins his documentation of the Maya ruins of Palenque.
Excavations
- Arthur Evans excavates a Belgae cemetery site at Aylesford.
- J.R. Mortimer begins excavations at Duggleby Howe.
- The Society of Antiquaries of London begins its excavations of Calleva Atrebatum.
- Merv.
- Flinders Petrie excavates at Tell el-Hesi, Palestine, the first scientific excavation of an archaeological site in the Holy Land, during which he discovers how tells are formed.
Finds
- Saltley handaxe excavated in Birmingham, the first paleolithic human artefact found in The Midlands of England.
- Hermes Criophorus statue found in Troezen, Greece.
Births
- April 21: Benno Landsberger, German Assyriologist
- September 10: Mortimer Wheeler, British archaeologist
Deaths
- July 14: John Clayton, English antiquarian
- August 2: Charles Roach Smith, British archaeologist; co-founder of the British Archaeological Association
- October 28: Jean Baptiste Holzmayer, German archaeologist
- December 26: Heinrich Schliemann, German archaeologist, excavator of Troy