A spectacular stone head, possibly representing a bearded male deity, has been discovered in the archaeological area of the Tombe di Via Latina in Rome, during excavations at the Basilica of Santo Stefano. The Istituto Centrale per il Restauro (ICR) in Matera will now be in charge of its study and restoration. The stone-carved head […]
Sculpture
Posted inArt, Prehistory
The Adorant: The Ice Age Sculpture That Is the Oldest Figurative Representation of a Constellation
In the Geißenklösterle cave, located in the Swabian Jura near Blaubeuren, Germany, an exceptional piece of prehistoric art was discovered in 1979: a carved mammoth ivory plaque, dated between 35,000 and 32,000 years ago. Known as The Adorant (Der Adorant), this small work of art from the Upper Paleolithic is one of the most striking […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Monumental Funerary High Relief Discovered in Pompeii Depicting a Life-Size Couple
A team of archaeologists has brought to light a remarkable funerary relief depicting a couple—a man and a woman—at an almost life-size scale. This discovery took place during an excavation in the Porta Sarno necropolis, located in the ancient city of Pompeii, as part of the research project Investigating the Archaeology of Death in Pompeii, […]
Posted inAncient Greece, Ancient Rome, Art
A Study Reveals That Greek and Roman Statues Were Not Only Painted and Adorned with Textiles and Jewelry but Also Perfumed
A recent study published in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology has revealed a little-explored aspect of ancient art: the use of perfumes and aromatic substances in Greco-Roman sculptures. This research, led by archaeologist Cecilie Brøns, proposes a new way of understanding classical art, challenging the traditional perception of sculpture as a purely visual art form. […]
Posted inArchaeology, Pre-Columbian Era
5 Clay Figures with Dramatic Expressions Found Atop a Pyramid in El Salvador Could Be Ritual Puppets from 400 B.C.
A recent archaeological discovery in El Salvador could change the understanding of rituals and performances in Mesoamerica during the Middle Preclassic Period. A team of researchers, led by archaeologist Jan Szymański from the University of Warsaw, discovered five clay figures atop a pyramid at the San Isidro archaeological site. These figures, which feature striking facial […]
Posted inArt, Classical Archaeology
Five Impressive Roman Statues Found in the Ancient City of Perge, Famous for the Quality of Its Sculpture Workshops
As part of the Geleceğe Miras (Legacy for the Future) project, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced a significant archaeological discovery in the ancient Greco-Roman city of Perge, located in the province of Antalya. During excavations carried out in 2025, five sculptures of great historical and artistic value have been uncovered, shedding […]
Posted inAntiquity, Art
The Mystery of the Priest of Cádiz: An Iron Age Statuette Combining Phoenician, Egyptian, and Iberian Traditions
In 1928, the bustling city of Cádiz in southern Spain witnessed a remarkable archaeological discovery that added to those already made in previous years. During the foundation work for the Telefónica building, five meters deep, a small bronze and gold figure emerged, soon to be known as the Priest of Cádiz, an extraordinary object now […]
Posted inArchaeology
A huge marble head of a monumental statue from the Ptolemaic period, found in a medieval house at Taposiris Magna
A remarkable archaeological discovery has been made at Taposiris Magna, a historic site located 45 kilometers west of Alexandria, Egypt. A French archaeological mission led by Dr. Joachim Le Bomin, in collaboration with the University of Lyon and the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology (IFAO), uncovered a massive marble head belonging to a monumental statue […]
Posted inArt, Stone Age Archaeology
The Enigma of the Absence of Figurative Representations in the Neolithic of Northern Europe: Where Are the Figurines?
For centuries, the Neolithic has been associated with a rich artistic heritage, particularly in regions like Southeast Europe, where clay figurines have been abundant and representative. However, a new study published in the Cambridge Archaeological Journal reveals a stark contrast with northern Europe, where these visual expressions are practically nonexistent. The research, conducted by an […]
Posted inArchaeology, Art
Analysis of Fingerprints on Figurines Recovered in Heracleion Reveals Women and Children also Made them
An archaeological study published in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology by Leonie Hoff analyzes the fingerprints impressed on terracotta figurines found in the ancient city of Thonis-Heracleion in Egypt (located near Alexandria, with its ruins discovered 2.5 kilometers offshore and 10 meters underwater). This analysis, which combines advanced technology with traditional archaeological methods, reveals who […]
