History is full of incredible discoveries, but sometimes, some of the best archaeologists aren’t humans. These four-legged friends can help us in more ways than we imagine.
1. Pigs Unearth Ancient Tools
A group of pigs foraging on the Scottish island of Islay accidentally unearthed a collection of Ice Age stone tools hidden beneath the soil for thousands of years. The pigs, rooting around as they naturally do, disturbed the ground enough to expose flint artifacts that experts later confirmed as evidence of human activity dating back over 12,000 years. “The initial discovery was more swine team than Time Team. Archaeology relies on expert planning and careful analysis – but a bit of luck is also very welcome.” according to Dr Karen Wicks from the University of Reading.
2. A Hungry Badger Hits Gold
During the harsh winter of 2021, a local stumbled upon a hidden treasure trove of Roman coins in a cave in northern Spain. The badger, likely digging through the soil in search of berries or insects, unearthed dozens of bronze and copper coins dating back to the 3rd and 5th centuries. When a resident later discovered the coins near the animal’s burrow, archaeologists were called in, eventually recovering 209 coins. “When we arrived, we found the hole that led to the badger’s nest, and the ground around it was full of coins,” Alfonso Fanjul told CNN.
3. A Welcome Place To Dig
At Hadrian’s Wall, one of Britain’s most famous ancient landmarks, a colony of moles has been unknowingly helping archaeologists by unearthing Roman artifacts buried beneath the soil. These industrious diggers, tunneling through the earth near the Roman fort of Epiacum, have brought up pottery shards, jewelry, and even fragments of old Roman Empire structures.
4. A Grave Uncovered
In a bizarre twist, a group of badgers burrowing near a church in Leicestershire unwittingly uncovered human bones believed to date back to medieval times. The animals, digging their setts in the churchyard of St. Remigius Church in Long Clawson, unearthed skulls and other skeletal remains, scattering them across the ground. The discovery prompted an archaeological investigation, revealing that the bones likely belonged to an ancient burial site.
5. Dog Digging For Bronze
In the Czech Republic, a playful dog named Monty made an astonishing discovery while digging in a field while walking. This pup found a stash of Bronze Age artifacts hidden for thousands of years. Monty’s owner alerted archaeologists, who confirmed that the relics dated 3,000 years to when ancient civilizations thrived in Central Europe.
6. Roman Coins Found By Sneaky Moles
This story began when a local farmer saw a few glimmering coins in a molehill and found more than just a little treasure with over 4,000 Roman coins over 1,700 years old. Experts believe they were deliberately buried during economic uncertainty in the Roman Empire, possibly as a safeguard against political turmoil.
7. When You Find What You’re Not Looking For
This discovery was made purely because a sheep wandered off from the herd. In 1947, a young Bedouin shepherd searched for a lost lamb near the Dead Sea. While exploring a cave in the Judean Desert, he threw a stone into the darkness and was startled to hear the sound of pottery breaking. Investigating further, he uncovered a set of ancient clay jars containing what would later be known as the Dead Sea Scrolls—nearly 1,000 biblical and non-biblical manuscripts dating back over 2,000 years.
8. A Dog Falling Into A Piece Of History
Robot, out with his owner Marcel Ravidat in the Dordogne region of France, accidentally led the way to one of the world’s most famous prehistoric sites: the Lascaux caves. While going for a walk, Robot fell into a hole, and Marcel had to investigate. They stumbled upon a hidden cave system adorned with thousands of intricate paintings dating back over 17,000 years.
9. When A Rat’s Nest Does Good
Rats aren’t usually welcome visitors in any house, but this time around, they were a blessing in disguise. In Oxburgh Hall, England, two giant rats’ nests were found that were formed centuries ago. Archaeologists have never been so grateful to these little critters, who dragged down over 200 pieces of textile that gave researchers a glimpse into life in the 15th century.
10. The Cat In Catacomb
This cat’s curiosity led to the discovery of a 2,000-year-old Roman catacomb in Rome. This ancient burial site was stumbled upon when the cat slipped into a small cliff opening, later leaving Curti and a friend to come to its rescue. Inside, they found niches carved into the rock, similar to those used by the Romans to hold funeral urns and human bones scattered across the floor.
11. Dig For Gold
Everyone might dream of finding gold buried somewhere, but you’d never think that a mole might be the one to discover it. At Dundonald Castle in South Ayrshire, a 500-year-old gold ring adorned with an oval-shaped purple stone was found atop a molehill on the castle grounds.
The Future Of Archaeology
Animals may not set out to be archaeologists. Still, their instincts and curious behaviors have led to some of history’s most remarkable discoveries, and we might have more in store. Who knows what other secrets lie waiting to be unearthed by our furry and feathered friends?
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