These monumental discoveries left even the experts stunned.
The world of archaeology is not always as exciting as it is portrayed in films like Indiana Jones. But while researchers are rarely risking life and limb to uncover secrets of the ancient world, there are still countless new discoveries being made in the field each year. And these thrilling finds can fundamentally change our understanding of the past.
In this year’s archaeology news roundup, we’re revisiting some of the most fascinating archaeological discoveries from this year that we can’t stop thinking about. From a trove of Viking skeletons unearthed in Denmark to a message in a bottle uncovered at the remains of a historic village in France, these are our top archaeology news stories of 2024:
Mutilated Bodies Found Underneath The Wartime Home Of Nazi Leader Hermann Göring
Christian Kober 1/Alamy Stock PhotoAdolf Hitler’s Wolf’s Lair in Poland as it appears today. The complex once housed 2,000 Nazis, including Hermann Göring.
In April, archaeologists announced the discovery of five mutilated skeletons underneath the former wartime home of Hermann Göring in Poland, which was part of Adolf Hitler’s infamous “Wolf’s Lair” complex.
The remains included three adults, a teenager, and an infant, all of whom were missing their hands and feet. This gruesome discovery raised numerous questions about the circumstances of their deaths.
Piotrek Fundacja Latebra/YouTubeOne of the skulls found beneath Göring’s former home in Poland.
Although the skeletons were believed to date back to World War II, their identities and the reasons for their grisly mutilations remained unclear. Experts wondered whether these individuals had been executed or tortured during the Nazi occupation of Poland — or if the victims were perhaps murdered after the abandonment of the complex.
The Wolf’s Lair had been Hitler’s Eastern Front headquarters, and though it had been explored by archaeologists before, this chilling find suggested there were still dark, untold stories hidden beneath its ruins. Polish prosecutors opened a murder inquiry to uncover what had happened to these victims. So far, no new details have been released.
An Ancient Egyptian Sarcophagus Became Famous Across The Internet — Because Of Its Painting That Looks Like Marge Simpson
Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and AntiquitiesThe Marge Simpson-like painting found on the sarcophagus lid.
In October 2023, archaeologists in Egypt uncovered a sarcophagus lid from the New Kingdom period that later went viral in 2024 for its resemblance to The Simpsons character Marge Simpson. The lid, which is believed to depict the Egyptian goddess Nut, belonged to Tadi Ist, the daughter of a high priest.
The figure’s distinct yellow coloring and tall, blue hairstyle led to comparisons with the cartoon character after images of the lid were widely shared on Reddit. The find was part of a much larger excavation that also led to the discovery of canopic jars, which were used to store organs during the mummification process, as well as Ushabti figurines, which were small statues meant to honor the dead as they made their way to the afterlife.
Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and AntiquitiesThe mummy of Tadi Ist.
One of the most exciting discoveries was the first complete papyrus found in the Garifa area, with early studies indicating its length to be about 43 to 50 feet. It contained detailed writings from the Book of the Dead.
Although the original announcement of these discoveries had been made months prior to reporting, there’s no real indication why it took so long for the story — and the Marge Simpson resemblance — to blow up online.
A 600-Year-Old Castle With A Moat Was Unearthed Beneath A Historic French Hotel
Emmanuelle Collado, INRAPExcavation of the medieval castle began in 2023.
In March, archaeologists announced that they had finally uncovered the remains of the Château de l’Hermine, a medieval castle in Vannes, France, which had long been buried underneath an old hotel.
The castle, which dates back about 600 years, had been largely forgotten, but archaeologists knew its remains still existed beneath an 18th-century mansion built on the same grounds. Surprisingly, experts found that much of the ground floor remained intact, including walls nearly 20 feet thick, staircases, and even a plumbing system. The castle’s moat and artifacts like keys, coins, jewelry, and cooking utensils were also unearthed.
Emmanuelle Collado, INRAPRings discovered in the castle’s moat.
The Château de l’Hermine was originally built in 1381 by Jean IV, the Duke of Brittany, as part of his effort to increase his power through fortress construction. It became one of his favorite residences, but was abandoned by the 1470s when François II chose Nantes as his main home base.
By the 18th century, the castle’s ruins were largely destroyed and replaced by a mansion, and later a hotel. Archaeologists are still working to restore the site, which is set to house the Vannes Museum of Fine Arts.
