2024’s Major Archaeological Finds from China and Beyond
Explore the top archaeological discoveries of 2024, featuring remarkable findings from China and around the globe. This article highlights significant artifacts, sites, and their historical implications, showcasing the latest advancements in the field of archaeology. Discover the stories behind these groundbreaking discoveries and their impact on our understanding of ancient civilizations.
TroibNews 
China Media Group has unveiled its list of the top 10 archaeological stories from both domestic and international spheres for 2024. Here they are:
**Top 10 Domestic Archaeological News of 2024**
1. The National Cultural Heritage Administration of China declared the return of 56 cultural relics that had been lost overseas, recovered from Italy. So far, China's efforts to recover artifacts have resulted in the successful return of 2,113 pieces across 48 batches.
2. Archaeologists have confirmed that Wuwangdun Tomb, located in Anhui Province, is the largest and highest-level tomb from the ancient Chu state, dating back over 2,200 years.
3. The Mengxihe Site in Ziyang City, Sichuan Province, has yielded a rare three-dimensional representation of a Paleolithic society scene, featuring various organic remains such as animal fossils, ebony wood, and plant seeds.
4. The discovery of the family tomb of Zhang Zhao in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, offers significant insights into the ancient tombs of Nanjing, once the capital of six dynasties. Zhang was a notable politician during the Eastern Wu State in the Three Kingdoms era.
5. A major find at the Dulan tomb complex in Qinghai Province revealed the largest and most prestigious tomb, potentially associated with a figure exceeding the previously discovered royal tomb of the Tuyuhun king.
6. In Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, large-scale building foundations dating back approximately 2,500 years have been found. These are the first confirmed Warring States Period structures within the city, aiding the search for the ancient Yue State’s capital.
7. A research team led by Chinese scientists has found evidence suggesting that East Asian hominins had advanced stone tool technology as early as 1.1 million years ago, indicating cognitive and technical skills on par with Acheulean hominins.
8. Human fossils estimated to be 300,000 years old were uncovered at the Hualongdong site in Anhui Province, representing some of the earliest evidence of the evolutionary transition to Homo sapiens in East Asia.
9. The Baliqiao archaeological site in Fangcheng County, Henan Province, dating back 3,700 years, exhibits significant resemblances to the Erlitou ruins, which are considered one of the capitals of the Xia Dynasty.
10. Two Tang-dynasty family tombs were discovered in Jiali Village, Xi'an City, with one reportedly linked to a concubine of Tang emperor Xuanzong.
**Top 10 International Archaeological News of 2024**
1. Human footprints estimated to be 1.5 million years old were found in northern Kenya, providing evidence of early human species living together.
2. DNA analysis of 475 ancient horses from various Eurasian locations indicates that large-scale horse domestication began around 4,200 years ago, significantly enhancing human mobility.
3. Greek archaeologists excavated a circular monument on Crete Island, unique to Minoan-era archaeology. This monument measures approximately 48 meters in diameter, covering about 1,800 square meters.
4. A fortified town dating back 4,000 years was discovered in an oasis in Saudi Arabia, shedding light on the gradual transition from a nomadic to an urban way of life during that period.
5. Over 4,000-year-old artifacts, including chariots, swords, and helmets, have been unearthed by Indian archaeologists in Uttar Pradesh, suggesting the use of such equipment in warfare during the Bronze Age on the subcontinent.
6. An extensive ancient city has been discovered in the Amazon region of eastern Ecuador, featuring a remarkable network of roads and canals, believed to have been built around 2,500 years ago and inhabited for nearly 1,000 years.
7. Archaeologists uncovered a 6th-century BC astronomical observatory in Kafr El-Sheikh, northern Egypt, thought to be one of the earliest and largest of its kind.
8. Research reveals that people began using the Nazca geoglyphs in Peru at least 2,000 years ago. In a recent study leveraging AI, 303 new figurative relief-type geoglyphs were identified within six months.
9. Advanced technologies such as airborne LiDAR and Deep Learning have enabled archaeologists to locate the remains of two medieval cities, Tugunbulak and Tashbulak, in eastern Uzbekistan, believed to have been part of the ancient Silk Road.
10. In Athens, the establishment of the Chinese School of Classical Studies marks the first institution founded by an Asian country in Greece. The aim is to foster global classical civilization research and exchange, while advancing the understanding of cultural heritage.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
**Top 10 Domestic Archaeological News of 2024**
1. The National Cultural Heritage Administration of China declared the return of 56 cultural relics that had been lost overseas, recovered from Italy. So far, China's efforts to recover artifacts have resulted in the successful return of 2,113 pieces across 48 batches.
2. Archaeologists have confirmed that Wuwangdun Tomb, located in Anhui Province, is the largest and highest-level tomb from the ancient Chu state, dating back over 2,200 years.
3. The Mengxihe Site in Ziyang City, Sichuan Province, has yielded a rare three-dimensional representation of a Paleolithic society scene, featuring various organic remains such as animal fossils, ebony wood, and plant seeds.
4. The discovery of the family tomb of Zhang Zhao in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, offers significant insights into the ancient tombs of Nanjing, once the capital of six dynasties. Zhang was a notable politician during the Eastern Wu State in the Three Kingdoms era.
5. A major find at the Dulan tomb complex in Qinghai Province revealed the largest and most prestigious tomb, potentially associated with a figure exceeding the previously discovered royal tomb of the Tuyuhun king.
6. In Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, large-scale building foundations dating back approximately 2,500 years have been found. These are the first confirmed Warring States Period structures within the city, aiding the search for the ancient Yue State’s capital.
7. A research team led by Chinese scientists has found evidence suggesting that East Asian hominins had advanced stone tool technology as early as 1.1 million years ago, indicating cognitive and technical skills on par with Acheulean hominins.
8. Human fossils estimated to be 300,000 years old were uncovered at the Hualongdong site in Anhui Province, representing some of the earliest evidence of the evolutionary transition to Homo sapiens in East Asia.
9. The Baliqiao archaeological site in Fangcheng County, Henan Province, dating back 3,700 years, exhibits significant resemblances to the Erlitou ruins, which are considered one of the capitals of the Xia Dynasty.
10. Two Tang-dynasty family tombs were discovered in Jiali Village, Xi'an City, with one reportedly linked to a concubine of Tang emperor Xuanzong.
**Top 10 International Archaeological News of 2024**
1. Human footprints estimated to be 1.5 million years old were found in northern Kenya, providing evidence of early human species living together.
2. DNA analysis of 475 ancient horses from various Eurasian locations indicates that large-scale horse domestication began around 4,200 years ago, significantly enhancing human mobility.
3. Greek archaeologists excavated a circular monument on Crete Island, unique to Minoan-era archaeology. This monument measures approximately 48 meters in diameter, covering about 1,800 square meters.
4. A fortified town dating back 4,000 years was discovered in an oasis in Saudi Arabia, shedding light on the gradual transition from a nomadic to an urban way of life during that period.
5. Over 4,000-year-old artifacts, including chariots, swords, and helmets, have been unearthed by Indian archaeologists in Uttar Pradesh, suggesting the use of such equipment in warfare during the Bronze Age on the subcontinent.
6. An extensive ancient city has been discovered in the Amazon region of eastern Ecuador, featuring a remarkable network of roads and canals, believed to have been built around 2,500 years ago and inhabited for nearly 1,000 years.
7. Archaeologists uncovered a 6th-century BC astronomical observatory in Kafr El-Sheikh, northern Egypt, thought to be one of the earliest and largest of its kind.
8. Research reveals that people began using the Nazca geoglyphs in Peru at least 2,000 years ago. In a recent study leveraging AI, 303 new figurative relief-type geoglyphs were identified within six months.
9. Advanced technologies such as airborne LiDAR and Deep Learning have enabled archaeologists to locate the remains of two medieval cities, Tugunbulak and Tashbulak, in eastern Uzbekistan, believed to have been part of the ancient Silk Road.
10. In Athens, the establishment of the Chinese School of Classical Studies marks the first institution founded by an Asian country in Greece. The aim is to foster global classical civilization research and exchange, while advancing the understanding of cultural heritage.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
