The MindSparkle Brief: Tomb Raider Edition 🏺

What’s buried isn’t forgotten. Let’s dig in.

🌍 Lost Cities, Found Stories: Jordan’s Archaeological Gold Rush

In case you thought archaeology was all about crumbling temples and lost scrolls, think again. Over the past few weeks and months, Jordan has delivered blockbuster discoveries that show just how alive the ancient world still is – if you know where to look.

🧭 1. The City the Map Remembered

Archaeologists recently rediscovered Tharais, a lost Byzantine city near the Dead Sea, thanks to a 1,500-year-old mosaic map found in a church in the town of Madaba, Jordan.

• The Madaba Mosaic Map is the oldest surviving cartographic depiction of the Holy Land, created during the Byzantine Empire –  the eastern half of the Roman Empire that lasted from the 4th to the 15th century CE.

• The map itself dates to around 527–565 CE. (In case you’re wondering, “CE” stands for “Common Era”, the secular version of AD. It follows the same timeline as BC/AD but is more inclusive.)

• The map features 157 biblical and historical sites, and this one led researchers to a site that revealed: Colourful mosaic floors Glass artefacts and ceramic vessels Stone tools and signs of a small, thriving economy

• This wasn’t just a city; it was a self-sufficient Byzantine settlement, potentially lost due to earthquakes or shifts in trade and pilgrimage routes.

🏛️ 2. Skeletons Below the Treasury

In Petra, the ancient city famously carved into rose-red rock, a team of archaeologists used ground-penetrating radar to find something hidden beneath its most iconic monument: the Treasury (Al-Khazneh).

• What they found: A secret burial chamber holding 12 skeletons, buried roughly 2,000 years ago.

• Artefacts buried with the skeletons included bronze and iron objects and ceramics, notably, one figure was clutching a ceramic chalice, which prompted speculation about “Holy Grail” connections (not accurate - it’s just a classic Nabataean vessel).

• The tomb is believed to be from the Nabataean civilisation, a sophisticated Arab kingdom that built Petra and thrived from the 4th century BCE to the 2nd century CE.

• The discovery offers a rare glimpse into: Burial practices Social structure Trade connections and imported materials

• While the headlines are dramatic, experts note that Petra contains hundreds of tombs, and this discovery – while important – fits within a larger, ongoing excavation narrative.

🎓 Is Archaeology something you can study?

Absolutely. In fact, archaeology today is more dynamic and interdisciplinary than ever before. It's a field that combines science, history, technology, and public engagement. It’s perfect for students who are curious, observant, and love connecting past and present.

What can you study?

You can begin with an undergraduate degree in archaeology or related fields, and later specialise. Top universities offering excellent archaeology programmes include:

• University of Cambridge (UK) – Offers a flexible BA in Archaeology with specialisations in Classical, Egyptian, and Biological Anthropology tracks.

• UCL (University College London) – Known for its Institute of Archaeology, with fieldwork-heavy programmes in global archaeology.

• Stanford University, Brown University, University of Chicago (USA) – Strong liberal arts colleges with hands-on excavation opportunities and cultural archaeology.

• Leiden University (Netherlands) – Focus on Mediterranean and Near Eastern archaeology, particularly Roman and Egyptian periods.

• University of Sydney (Australia) – Offers robust programmes in Indigenous and historical archaeology.

In India:

• JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) – Postgraduate and MPhil options in Ancient History and Archaeology.

• BHU (Banaras Hindu University) and Deccan College (Pune) – Longstanding research centres for South Asian archaeology.

• Ashoka University – Interdisciplinary undergrad approach linking archaeology with history and anthropology.

🛠️ What can you do with an Archaeology Degree?

Let’s bust the biggest myth first: it’s not all about digging.

Here are some real-world roles that archaeologists can take on:

• Field Archaeologist – You conduct excavations, document artefacts, and often work with local authorities and global research teams.

• Cultural Heritage Manager – You oversee the preservation of monuments, buildings, or landscapes, often working in policy or conservation.

• Museum Curator – You manage collections, curate exhibitions, and educate the public.

• Academic/Researcher – You publish papers, teach students, and shape how we understand the past.

• Environmental or Landscape Archaeologist – You study the interaction between people and the environment using soil, pollen, bones, and other data.

• Underwater Archaeologist – You explore sunken ships, submerged cities, and coastal settlements.

• GIS/Remote Sensing Specialist – You use digital mapping and radar tech to locate ancient structures without lifting a single trowel.

And yes, sometimes you do get to hold a sword or wear a headlamp.

🎯 Can other degrees lead to similar careers?

You don’t have to major in archaeology to work in the field. Other degrees that often lead to archaeology-adjacent or supporting roles include:

• History or Ancient History – Strong contextual grounding in timelines, empires, and trade routes.

• Anthropology – Especially cultural or physical anthropology, crucial for understanding human behaviour.

• Geography or Geology – Ideal if you're interested in archaeological landscapes or soil science.

• Forensic Science – Increasingly relevant for archaeological digs involving human remains.

• Public Policy or Law – Crucial for heritage law, ownership of artefacts, and ethical issues in excavation and repatriation.

❓Is it all just Tomb-Raiding?

Let’s put that myth to rest in a carefully carbon-dated sarcophagus.

Archaeology is about much more than dramatic tombs. It includes:

• Studying ancient homes – Who lived there? What did they cook? What tools did they use?

• Trade and migration – Mapping how goods, people, and ideas travelled.

• Everyday objects – Buttons, coins, broken pots, graffiti – they tell stories textbooks don’t.

• Reconstructing past environments – Understanding how ancient societies interacted with their climate and landscape.

• Experimental archaeology – Rebuilding ancient kilns, weaving looms, boats, and tools to test how things were made.

• Working with Indigenous and local communities – Preserving oral histories and respecting sacred traditions.

• Ethics and access – Who owns history? How is it preserved? Who gets to tell the story?

✨ Why it matters in 2025

In a world obsessed with “what’s next,” archaeology reminds us of what came before, and why it still shapes our present.

Whether it’s learning from ancient water systems in drought-prone regions, understanding social collapse, or simply preserving human creativity, archaeology connects us across centuries. And with climate change, urbanisation, and war threatening heritage sites globally, there's never been a more urgent time to study and protect the past.

Thinking of archaeology as a study or career path? Wondering how it connects to history, climate, tech, or storytelling? 📩 Reach out and we’ll help you map your academic and career journey, one ancient layer at a time.

💡 Spark of the Week

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” — Marcus Garvey

📚 Dig Deeper – Further Reading

• NDTV on Madaba Mosaic Map & Lost City of Tharais

• TOI on Petra Skeletons Discovery

• NPR on Petra Tomb Below Treasury