Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Postal Service With These 15 Photographs
These shots from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest are truly a dream delivery
Archaeologists Unearth Treasure-Filled Tomb Belonging to the First Known Ruler of a Maya City in Belize
Te K’ab Chaak was a wealthy warrior king who rose to power in 331 C.E. His burial is the first royal tomb found in the ancient city of Caracol
This Museum Is Asking Visitors Whether It Should Continue to Display Mummified Human Remains
The Manchester Museum in England is inviting guests to share feedback on Asru, an ancient Egyptian woman whose body was unwrapped 200 years ago
How an Ancestral Peruvian Ceremony Is Saving the Once-Endangered Vicuña
Each year in the first weeks of June, Indigenous communities in the Andes form a human chain to corral the camelids and shear their valuable wool
Four Bewildering Bronze Lions’ Heads With Slightly Different Facial Expressions Found in Ancient Roman Grave in Israel
Similar examples of ancient lion artifacts appear to have been used as door knockers. But the newly discovered discs may have served a different purpose
Fishermen in the Brazilian Amazon Discover Enormous Funerary Urns Beneath a Toppled Tree
The ceramic vessels contained the bones of pre-Columbian Indigenous people, as well as fish, frog and turtle remains
This Young Woman With a Cone-Shaped Skull Died After Suffering a Severe Head Wound 6,000 Years Ago
Found in the Chega Sofla cemetery in Iran, the skull appears to have been struck by a blunt object. Archaeologists don’t know whether the incident was intentional or accidental
Go Behind the Scenes of the Running of the Bulls
An offbeat journey to the legendary Spanish festival 100 years after the life-changing trip that inspired Ernest Hemingway to write “The Sun Also Rises”
This Rare, 6,000-Year-Old Limestone Fertility Figurine Could Be Poland’s Archaeological ‘Find of the Century’
Dating back to the Neolithic era, the so-called Venus of Kolobrzeg is the first artifact of its kind unearthed in the European country
This Viking Woman Was Buried With a Small Dog at Her Feet 1,000 Years Ago
Archaeologists unearthed the burial site during excavations in Norway. They say the discovery provides unique insights into the bonds humans form with their animals
The History of Ma’amoul, a Middle Eastern Cookie That Is a ‘Love Letter’ to Our Ancestors
Stuffed with nuts or dates, the shortbread cookie is enjoyed around Muslim, Christian and Jewish holidays
This Bewildering Byzantine Bucket Stumped Archaeologists for Decades. Now, They’ve Finally Discovered Its Purpose
Fragments of the bucket were first found at England’s Sutton Hoo burial site in 1986. New research has revealed that the 1,500-year-old artifact was probably used as a cremation vessel
Would You Wear a Wedding Dress Made of Disposable Paper? These 1960s Brides Donned Them to Save Money—and Make a Daring Fashion Statement
Created with synthetic textiles, the “nonwoven” gowns could be shortened for the reception or easily packed away for the honeymoon
This German Town Carefully Reconstructed a 5,500-Year-Old Megalithic Monument
After years of excavation and study, archaeologists have restored the Küsterberg burial site to its original layout to celebrate the annual European Day of Megalithic Culture
Archaeologists Unearth Two Rare African Figurines in 1,500-Year-Old Christian Burials in Israel
The artifacts were buried in the graves of a young woman and child, who may have converted to Christianity in Africa before traveling to the region, researchers say
Archaeologists Say They’ve Discovered a Hidden Chamber Where Elites Used Hallucinogens 2,500 Years Ago
Unearthed in Peru, the small underground room may have been used for rituals involving psychoactive drugs. New research suggests these “exclusive” events were reserved for the elite
The New Pope Is Calling Himself Leo—Just Like 13 Other Pontiffs Who Came Before Him. Who Are They?
When Robert Prevost was elected pope this week, he chose one of the most popular papal names. The lives of the Pope Leos who preceded him may offer insight into his approach to the papacy
DNA Links Modern Picuris Pueblo Tribe to Ancestors Who Lived in Chaco Canyon Hundreds of Years Ago
Tribal leaders partnered with scientists to confirm their connection to the archaeological site in New Mexico
India Is Trying to Stop the Sale of Hundreds of Ancient Gems Associated With the Buddha
The 300 sacred jewels are part of a larger trove found in India in 1898. They’re scheduled to be sold by Sotheby’s Hong Kong, where bidding will start at roughly $1.3 million
Archaeologists Unearth 2,300-Year-Old Sword Decorated With Two Small Swastikas in a Celtic Necropolis
Found in France, the site featured more than 100 graves filled with ancient metal artifacts—including bracelets, brooches and two well-preserved swords
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