In anticipation of the upcoming Indiana Jones film, what archaeological treasures could still be undiscovered?

Question

I am an archaeologist myself, based in south west England, with an emphasis of world archaeology from the perspective of mythology. Some call me a post-processualist, but I strongly disagree!

I'd be interested to hear what you think still lies out there, waiting to be a major discovery. Things rooted in at least supposition, as opposed to wild fantasy. Lost cities? Obscure trade routes? Inter-cultural relations? Buried loot?

What do you think will be the next great archaeological discovery?

Answer 1

I'm hoping for the discovery of ice age villages & artifacts beneath the Black Sea. This could put to rest the great flood myth & shed more light on prehistory development of civilization.  Far too much is hidden by the rising coastal waters & it is my hypothesis that human civilizations rose & declined many times before the bronze age.

What about a stone tablet with some prehistory writings on it.... something like the Rosetta stone or bronze tools dated to 15,000 yrs ago?

Answer 2

Something that would be a major find would be a reference to Jesus, written whilst he was alive, or in the days after his death (if in fact he existed).  Particularly if it referred to his crucifiction.

Something verifiable which by itself (say: correct text,  seals, etc) and also with its providence :- (say:  located in an excavated Roman records centre, just filed along with 200 other records of criminals executed in Judeah that month, nothing special about it)  :- but would tend to make it easy to authenticate.

Answer 3

How about King John's crown jewels? lost in the wash, apparently, though I've heard the theory it was all an insurance job!

Or in the South West, there is the lost treasure of Blackpool sands! Buried by an invading French Barron and never recovered!

Answer 4

Hitlers briefcase would be a good one

Answer 5

I've lost my mind...let me know if you find it. I need it to do my Soduko...also while your looking keep an eye out for my glasses too

Answer 6

Many things would be great---

how about finding another Stonehenge (with lintels.) Or deciphering the meanings of megalithic art of Ireland. Or interpreting the gold lozenge from Bush Barrow nr Stonehenge as some kind of calendar (sort of like the Nebra sky-disk.)

   I'd like to know what the gold 'basket earrings' worn by 'beaker people' symbolised (2 pairs in the grave of the Amesbury archer & his related companion, and 2 pairs in a similar but little known burial in Andover,less than 20 mi away, found in the 80's.)

   Who were the ancient people of Malta's megalithic culture? They are apparently not the ancestors of present day maltese. Can modern Dna testing match them to any other megalithic cultures &/or modern peoples?

On a slightly more fantastical note--how about finding the grave of King Arthur which would prove he really lived. Or Robin Hood.

Answer 7

Is there not a rumour of Royal treasure belonging to King John being lost in your neck of the woods....maybe you could find it....