Archaeology Timeline Cheat Sheet by RainyMoons

c. 500 BCE

In Greece, Herodotus, often considered the "­Father of Histor­y," travels extens­ively and records descri­ptions of ancient sites and monuments, providing an early form of antiqu­arian interest.

c. 79 CE

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius buries Pompeii and Hercul­aneum, which would become critical sites for future archae­olo­gical study.

1453

The fall of Consta­nti­nople leads to the migration of Greek scholars to Italy, bringing with them ancient manusc­ripts that inspire European interest in classical antiquity.

1575

The excavation of the Domus Aurea (Golden House) of Emperor Nero in Rome sparks an interest in Roman archit­ecture and art, influe­ncing the Renais­sance style.

1600s

Antiqu­arians in Europe begin to system­ati­cally collect, study, and catalogue ancient artifacts, partic­ularly in Britain and Italy. This period sees the beginning of the organized study of ancient history and artifacts.

1699

The first recorded excavation in North America occurs at the Spiro Mounds in presen­t-day Oklahoma by French explorer Jean-B­aptiste Le Moyne de Bienville.

1738

Excava­tions at Hercul­aneum begin under the direction of Rocque Joaquin de Alcubi­erre, marking the start of the first systematic archae­olo­gical excavation in history.

1764

Johann Joachim Wincke­lmann publishes History of the Art of Antiquity, which is considered the foundation of modern art history and archae­ology, emphas­izing the importance of context in the study of ancient artifacts.

1808-1813

The Rosetta Stone, discovered by French soldiers in 1799, is translated by Jean-F­rançois Champo­llion, allowing for the deciph­erment of Egyptian hierog­lyphs and revolu­tio­nizing the study of ancient Egypt.

1824

The public­ation of John Lloyd Stephens' Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatán brings attention to the ancient Maya civili­zation, spurring interest and further explor­ation.

1839

Austen Henry Layard begins his excava­tions at Nimrud and Nineveh in Mesopo­tamia, leading to the discovery of the Assyrian civili­zation and its magnif­icent palaces.

1851

The discovery of the prehis­toric mounds in the Ohio Valley by Ephraim Squier and Edwin Davis leads to the public­ation of Ancient Monuments of the Missis­sippi Valley, the first book on American archae­ology.

1870

Schliemann begins his excava­tions at Mycenae, uncovering the famous "Mask of Agamem­non­" and other signif­icant artifacts, validating the historical basis of some Greek myths.

1882

The British archae­ologist Flinders Petrie introduces the concept of strati­graphy to archae­ology during his excava­tions in Egypt, revolu­tio­nizing the field by emphas­izing the importance of context in artifact recovery.

1911

Hiram Bingham redisc­overs Machu Picchu in Peru, bringing global attention to the Inca civili­zation and raising questions about preser­vation and excavation ethics.

1926

V. Gordon Childe publishes The Dawn of European Civili­zation, introd­ucing the concept of "­arc­hae­olo­gical cultur­es" and influe­ncing the develo­pment of processual archae­ology.

1941

The advent of radioc­arbon dating by Willard Libby revolu­tio­nizes archae­ology by allowing for more precise dating of artifacts and sites.

1954

The public­ation of Archae­ology from the Earth by Sir Mortimer Wheeler introduces the Wheele­r-K­enyon method of excava­tion, emphas­izing the importance of strati­graphy and grid-based excava­tion.

1960s

The rise of processual archae­ology, led by Lewis Binford, emphasizes a scientific approach to archae­ology, focusing on unders­tanding the processes behind cultural change.

1970

The UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohib­iting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property is adopted, addressing the growing problem of artifact looting and illegal trade.

1978

The adoption of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention leads to the design­ation of World Heritage Sites, promoting the preser­vation of cultural and natural heritage globally.

1986

The site of Çatalhöyük in Turkey, one of the oldest known human settle­ments, is excavated by James Mellaart, providing insight into early Neolithic life.

2003

The discovery of Homo flores­iensis, a new species of hominid in Indonesia, challenges establ­ished theories about human evolution.

2011

The Arab Spring leads to widespread looting and destru­ction of archae­olo­gical sites in the Middle East, highli­ghting the importance of cultural heritage protection during times of conflict.

2020

The COVID-19 pandemic forces archae­olo­gists to adapt to new methods, including increased reliance on digital tools, remote analysis, and virtual collab­ora­tion.

2023

Ongoing debates over the repatr­iation of artifacts, such as the Benin Bronzes and the Parthenon Marbles, reflect the increasing emphasis on ethical consid­era­tions in archae­ology.