Archaeology
A Lost Library Holds Secrets to Our Past
Historian Selena Wisnom and New Lines’ Lydia Wilson discuss why ancient Mesopotamia is such an important, but underlooked, part of the West’s heritage.
Hypotheses on the High Seas
A reconstruction of a 4,000–year-old Bronze Age ship recently set sail in the Persian Gulf. Made possible by the information from one cuneiform tablet, the Magan Boat is helping scholars test theories about ancient seafaring and the United Arab Emirates to embrace its pre-Islamic heritage.
Who Invented Paper? A New Discovery in Egypt Upends the Consensus
A startling new discovery at a long-neglected archaeological site suggests the ancient Egyptians used paper more than 2,000 years before the Chinese, upending the scholarly consensus.
Climate Change Threatens Archaeology
For archaeological sites, climate change is a “force multiplier,” stressing endangered cultural heritage in unprecedented ways. Far more than war or terrorism, a shifting climate is itself beginning to be recognized as a threat.