This course explores a selection of the world's momentous discoveries in archaeology that have shaped our knowledge of the ancient world, discussing sensational finds and the remarkable stories behind the discoveries. The discoveries discussed and examined come from a wide array of different contexts, in terms of places, times, and culture (both prehistoric and historical), ranging from ice age cave paintings to Olduvai Gorge, from the mummified volcanic ruins of Pompeii to the great tomb of King Tut, from the Copan of Maya Civilization in Mesoamerica to Cahokia, the earliest city of North America. By learning about major archaeological discoveries, students are expected to know and understand how archaeology transforms ancient ruins and discarded rubbish into representations of the everyday lives of our ancestors; and to increase their appreciation of the importance of archaeological discoveries in shaping and transforming our understanding of the human past, and the relevance of archaeological knowledge to the contemporary world.