Forget shovels and brushes: Today’s archaeologists use cutting-edge tech to uncover ancient secrets. LiDAR sends laser pulses from drones or planes to map the ground and reveal entire lost cities hidden under forests. Advances in DNA sequencing now uncover shocking details about old bones and sacrificial practices. And AI is sifting through scrolls and deciphering text faster than ever. Sounds like a neat job!
485 years old
Age of a bronze cannon discovered in Arizona. It might be the oldest firearm ever found in the U.S. Researchers think it belonged to Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado but was never fired. The cannon is just 40 pounds and 42 inches long. Wonder if Francisco had a complex about that …
17,000 years old
The age of a baby boy’s remains uncovered in southern Italy. DNA analysis shows the child likely had dark skin, blue eyes and curly, dark brown hair. Scientists think he might have died from congenital heart disease. These archaeological findings always astound me.