Top Ten Archaeology Stories of 2007

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December 20, 2007

The founders of Rome, the builders of Stonehenge, and ancient Egypt's "female king" were among the stars of this year's most popular archaeology stories from National Geographic News.

Bone up on 2007's biggest discoveries with our lineup of the most viewed articles from our tombs-and-ruins beat. (Related: Check out the year's most popular galleries.)

10. Ancient "Salt Cured" Man Found in Iranian Mine (July 3, 2007)
The mummy of a salt mine worker, naturally preserved in the mineral for 1,800 years, surfaced in Iran after heavy rains exposed the remains.

9. Photo in the News: "Unusual" Tomb of Egyptian Courtier Found (May 21, 2007)
Archaeologists got a royal surprise when they stumbled upon the in-tact tomb, replete with "realistic" statuettes, of a powerful official of the Egyptian court from 4,000 years ago.

8. Photo Gallery: Frozen Inca Mummy Goes On Display (September 11, 2007)
The mummified remains of a teenage girl who died more than 500 years ago went on public display for the first time in Argentina.

7. Photo in the News: Skeleton "Valentines" Won't Be Parted (February 13, 2007)
Archaeologists excavated two Stone Age skeletons locked in an eternal embrace not far from Verona, Italy, the setting for Romeo and Juliet.

6. Japan's Ancient Underwater "Pyramid" Mystifies Scholars (September 19, 2007)
Submerged stone structures lying just off Yonaguni Jima are the ruins of a Japanese "Atlantis"—an ancient city sunk by an earthquake about 2,000 years ago—a scientist said.

• See a photo gallery of the mysterious site.

5. Sacred Cave of Rome's Founders Found, Scientists Say (January 26, 2007)
Archaeologists announced that they unearthed Lupercale—the sacred cave where, according to legend, a she-wolf nursed the twin founders of Rome and where the city itself was born.

4. Jesus' Tomb Found in Israel, Filmmakers Claim (February 26, 2007)
A tomb that once held the remains of Jesus of Nazareth—and those of his wife and son—has been found in a suburb of Jerusalem, according to the makers of a controversial film.

3. Egypt's Female Pharaoh Revealed by Chipped Tooth, Experts Say (June 27, 2007)
A broken tooth became the key to identifying the mummy of Hatshepsut, the woman who ruled ancient Egypt as both queen and king nearly 3,500 years ago.

• See a photo gallery and video of the pharaoh's mummy.

2. Stonehenge Settlement Found: Builders' Homes, "Cult Houses" (January 30, 2007)
A major prehistoric village unearthed near Stonehenge likely housed the builders of the famous monument, archaeologists say, and was an important ceremonial site.

• See a photo gallery and video of the settlement.

1. Mass Plague Graves Found on Venice "Quarantine" Island (August 29, 2007)
Ancient mass graves containing more than 1,500 victims of the bubonic plague have been discovered on a small island in Italy's Venetian Lagoon.

• See a photo gallery of the mass graves.

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