2026 in archaeology

Finds

January

• 3 – Discovery of a pristine medieval gold ring adorned with intricate filigree was announced in Tønsberg, Norway.
• 4 – Traces of human modification beneath dense tropical forest canopy in the Andean Chocó region of eastern Panama was revealed by using LIDAR technology.
• 6
• * Byzantine-era monastic residential complex was unearthed in Al-Qarya bi-Al-Duweir, Sohag, Upper Egypt, revealing organised early Christian monastic life through well-planned mudbrick buildings, a central church, and Coptic-inscribed artefacts.
• * Late Roman mosaic floor featuring a central Solomon's knot motif was discovered in the ancient city of Smyrna, located beneath the modern city of İzmir, Turkey.
• 7– Norfolk Carnyx Hoard: Discovery of a near-complete bronze carnyx together with a metal boar's head flag standard among a 2,000 year-old Iron Age hoard in West Norfolk, England in summer 2025 was announced.
• 9 – Discovery of a rare 5th-century BC stylus crafted from animal bone was announced during excavations at the ancient Greek site of Gela in Sicily, Italy.
• 11 – A rare 3,300-year-old faience funerary mask from the Dilmun civilisation was discovered at Al-Hillah site in southern Bahrain.
• 15
• *Identification of Early Roman marching camps in Germania, providing evidence of Roman military advances into the region during the 3rd century CE.
• *Archaeologists announced the discovery of submerged remains at the El Huarco archaeological complex on Peru’s central coast, indicating the site’s ancient occupation and complex ritual landscape.
• 16 – New evidence for the intentional use of geothermal resources during the Neolithic period at Bagno dei Frati within the thermal complex of Terme di Sorano, Italy.
• 17 – Roman Republican-era tombs including inhumations accompanied by grave goods such as pottery, personal items and animal offerings were uncovered in Rome, Italy.
• 18 – Researchers from Sevastopol State University announced the discovery of medieval fortress site Isar near the village of Rodnoye in southwestern Crimea.
• 19
• *Ancient rock paintings on a sheltered rock face depicting geometric patterns, animal figures and abstract motifs were found near Kayseri, Turkey.
• *Remains of a Roman basilica dated to the late 1st century BC were unearthed during rescue excavations beneath Piazza Andrea Costa in the city of Fano, Italy.
• 20
• * 5,000-year-old human skull bearing evidence of intentional cranial surgery was found at the prehistoric site of İkiztepe Höyüğü, Turkey.
• * Recent epigraphic study revealed the interpretation of a previously unreadable inscriptions on an ancient Roman wooden writing tablet fragments discovered in Tongeren, Belgium.
• 21 – A Roman cemetery associated with the Roman frontier with several hundred graves, including both inhumation and cremation burials was discovered near Brougham, in northern Britain.
• 23 – A 1,400-year-old tomb from the Zapotec culture was discovered in the municipality of San Pablo Huitzo, Mexico.
• 24 – A bronze wheel cross dating to the 10th or 11th century AD was found in Havelland, Brandenburg, Germany.
• 29 – High-status Bronze Age tombs with multiple interments accompanied by rich grave goods, including finely crafted gold and bronze jewellery and pottery was found at the Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus.
• 30
• * Medieval tunnel as a type of Erdstall within a Neolithic ditch enclosure was found near Reinstedt in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
• * 4th Class Cross of Military Merit of the Order of St. George was discovered from a forested area near Chełm, Poland.
• 31 – Avar-period archaeological complex including a well-preserved early Avar cemetery with graves containing women’s gold and silver jewellery was found in Szeged, Hungary.

February

• 1 – Rediscovery of a lost metropolis on the Tigris River in modern-day Iraq, believed to be the ancient city of Alexandria was announced.