1866 in archaeology

Last updated October 01, 2025

Below are notable events in archaeology that occurred in 1866.

Explorations

Architect Thomas Drew draws attention to the significance of St. Audoen's Church, Dublin, Ireland.

Excavations

Discovery and first excavation of Fertőrákos mithraeum.
Amateur antiquarian John Mellor excavates at the site of Hyde Abbey near Winchester in England, finding bones which he presumes to be of Alfred the Great.^[1]

Publications

Posthumous publication by Édouard Lartet of Henry Christy's Reliquiae Aquitanicae, being contributions to the archaeology and palaeontology of Perigord and the adjacent provinces of southern France commences.^[2]

Finds

February 26 - The Calaveras Skull is discovered in California. Purported to be evidence of humans in North America during the Pliocene epoch, it turns out to be a hoax.
The prehistoric sculpture Swimming Reindeer is found in France.
The first copy of the Decree of Canopus is found at Tanis.

Births

May 23 - Edgar J. Banks, American antiquarian (d. 1945).
June 26 - George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, British Egyptological excavation sponsor (d. 1923).^[3]

Deaths

References

↑ Winchester Museums Service (2009-12-04). "Summary of Hyde Community Archaeology Project". Winchester Council. Archived from the original on 2010-07-13. Retrieved 2025-09-30– via Wayback Machine.
↑ Harrison, W. J. (2004). "Christy, Henry (1810–1865)" . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/5375 . Retrieved 2011-05-05.(Subscription, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)
↑ "George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th earl of Carnarvon - British Egyptologist". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 23 May 2017.

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[1] Winchester Museums Service (2009-12-04). "Summary of Hyde Community Archaeology Project". Winchester Council. Archived from the original on 2010-07-13. Retrieved 2025-09-30– via Wayback Machine.

[2] Harrison, W. J. (2004). "Christy, Henry (1810–1865)" . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/5375 . Retrieved 2011-05-05.(Subscription, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)

[3] "George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th earl of Carnarvon - British Egyptologist". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 23 May 2017.

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