Archaeology is a discipline that continues to surprise, revealing millennia-old secrets hidden beneath the surface of the earth. Every year, new discoveries enrich our knowledge about the past, allowing us to shed light on ancient civilizations, lost traditions, and historical events that marked the evolution of human societies. The year 2024 was no exception, bringing to light a series of finds that offer new insights into our past.

Findings in places already known but never fully explored, new sites revealing previously unseen aspects of ancient civilizations, curiosities, extraordinary discoveries in every corner of the world, new archaeological evidence: again, this year we did not miss anything. So in this article we explore the most surprising and interesting discoveries of 2024, a year that has proven that archaeology not only looks to the past, but continues to push the boundaries of our knowledge. Here is our selection below.

1. A jade mask in the tomb of an ancient Mayan king in Guatemala.

In January, a group of archaeologists in Guatemala discovered a unique jade mask, dating from 350 AD, in the burial of an ancient Mayan king. The discovery could expand our knowledge of Mayan society.

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2. A fragment of the Porticus Minucia in Rome.

Important archaeological discovery in Rome in February: during renovations of Palazzo Lares Permarini for its transformation into a Radisson hotel, a fragment of the Porticus Minucia was discovered that allows for an accurate reconstruction of this important building for the ancient Roman plebs.

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3. A hitherto unknown type of amphora in Mallorca

After studying the cargo of a Roman shipwreck discovered in 2019 off the coast of Mallorca, Spanish archaeologists have identified a new, previously unknown type of amphora. They have renamed it Ses Fontanelles I after the site of the shipwreck.

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4. A vast pre-Roman necropolis in Benevento.

In April major archaeological discovery in Amorosi, in the province of Benevento, called extraordinary by the superintendency: a vast pre-Roman necropolis resurfaced during construction work on a power plant.

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5. Children’s drawings in the Insula of the Casti Amanti in Pompeii

New discoveries have been made in the Insula of the Casti Amanti at Pompeii Archaeological Park. These include drawings probably made by children in charcoal on the walls of a service courtyard.

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6. A unique building resembling a labyrinth in Crete

In Greece, on the island of Crete, an exceptional building was discovered during an archaeological excavation: it is a monumental complex resembling a labyrinth. No similar examples are known on the island. Archaeologists will now study the structure and findings to understand what it was used for.

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7. The remains of Caligula’s garden in Rome.

In Rome, the remains of a portico from the Julio-Claudian era were discovered under Piazza Pia in July: they are what remains of the Horti di Agrippina, a vast garden on the banks of the Tiber that also belonged to Emperor Caligula, who received an ambassadorship here that is remembered in literature.

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8. The remains of the walls of the Patriarch built by Constantine in Rome

In Rome, wall structures belonging to the Patriarchus, the ancient house of worship that was built by Constantine, were discovered in the summer. The discovery was made during redevelopment work in Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano.

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9. An Etruscan temple in Tuscania

Also in July, important archaeological discovery in Tuscania where, in the necropolis of Sasso Pinzuto, an Etruscan cult building with a rectangular plan was found.

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10. The original colors of the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Egypt.

Important and rare discovery in September in Egypt, where a German-Egyptian team unearthed the original colors of the splendid decorations of the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Some of the figures were all covered in gold. The discovery expands our knowledge of ancient Egypt.

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The most interesting archaeological discoveries of 2024

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