Though archaeology as a "discipline" has its roots in the 17th and 18th centuries, it truly came of age in the Victorian era. The 19th century brought the first use of the trowel in digs (as opposed, presumably, to picks and shovels). It also saw the beginning of stratigraphy as a method of dating sites. One challenge Victorian archaeologists faced, however, was reconciling their discoveries with "historic Biblical fact"! This section gives one some idea of the breadth of Victorian exploration, with articles on Stone Age man, ancient shipwrecks, Central American glyphs, gold mines in Africa, an ancient Biblical fragment, and much more.

Persepolis: A Fragment (Godey's, 1833)

Notice of an Example of Decorative Coloured Brickwork in the Neighborhood of Rouen, by the Rev. J.L. Petit (Archaeological Journal, 1852)

Man Among the Mammoths (Leisure Hour, 1860)

An early look at Stone Age man in Europe.

Caricature Among the Ancients (Harper's Monthly, 1875A)

A City of the Dead (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1875)

The history of some ancient ruins of Ceylon.

The Stone Age in Europe, by Charles Rau (Harper's Monthly, 1875A)

The Stone Age in Europe: The Troglodytes, by Charles Rau (Harper's Monthly, 1875B)

Parts 3-6; includes "The Troglodytes," "Kitchen-Middens and Lake Settlements," and "Neolithic Implements."

The Supposed Site of Ancient Troy, by Professor D.T. Ansted (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1875)

Remains of Lost Empires, by P.V.N. Myers (Harper's Monthly, 1875A)

The Hieroglyphs of Central America (Century Magazine, 1882A)

The Temple of Diana at Ephesus, by J.T. Wood (Girl's Own Paper, 1882)

An account of archaeological excavations at the temple.

Primitive Fishhooks, by Barnet Phillips (Century Magazine, 1883A)

A look at a variety of types of fishhooks used by various cultures and in ancient times.

The Lorillard-Charnay Collection of Central American Antiquities, by Frederick W. True (Century Magazine, 1884A)

An exhibit displayed at the National Museum (Smithsonian).

Bishop Philotheos Bryennios, and the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, by Edmund A. Grosvenor (Century Magazine, 1885B)

The bishop's discovery and translation of a Greek manuscript of the Didache, an ancient text thought to have been written "shortly after the apostolic age."

What Dr. Schliemann Found at Tiryns, by Karl Blind (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1885)

The Temple of the Ephesian Artemis and the Ancient Silver Patera from Bernay by Charles Waldstein (Century Magazine, 1887A)

The Excavations at Susa, by Madame Jane Dieulafoy (Harper's Monthly, 1887B)

Treasures Under the Sea, by Sidney Preston (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1890)

Exploring ancient shipwrecks.

Christian Art in the 5th Century (Girl's Own Paper, 1891)

Who Was El Dorado? by Henry Rowan Lemly (Century Magazine, 1891B)

The author reminds us that originally, "El Dorado" was a person, not a place!

An Interesting Relic, by E.F. Bridell-Fox (Girl's Own Paper, 1892)

A representation of the seven-branched candlestick of Solomon's temple, found in a Carthaginian tomb.

The Mystery of Mashonaland (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1893)

The archaeological discovery of ancient gold mines in South Africa.

Bible Exploration, Past and to Come (Century Magazine, 1894A)

Discoveries in Biblical Archaeology.

The Bible and the Assyrian Monuments, by Morris Jastrow, Jr. (Century Magazine, 1894A)

On the results of excavations in Assyria beginning in 1842, with efforts to correlate the finds to Biblical history.

Archaeology for Girls, by H.W. Brewer (Girl's Own Paper, 1895)

A lovely overview of archaeology and history, with gorgeous illustrations.

Goddesses and Empresses: Coiffure and Character, by Charlotte O'Conor Eccles (Windsor Magazine, 1896A)

A look at hairstyles from ancient statues, and an attempt to assess character from same.

An Artistic Treasure from Spain: The Lately Discovered Bust of Elche in the Louvre, by Cornelia van Rensselaer Dearth (Century Magazine, 1898B)

The Seven Wonders of the World, by Benjamin Ide Wheeler (Century Magazine, 1898B)

A look at the historic seven wonders of the world, including the Pyramids of Gizeh.

See also

• Archaeology of Britain

• Archaeology of Egypt

• Archaeology and Ancient Life in Greece

• Roman Life & Archaeology