9 discoveries that have fundamentally altered our understanding of human history

<p class="ingestion featured-caption">Humans have Neanderthal DNA as a result of interbreeding tens of thousands of years ago.Nikola Solic/Reuters</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Archaeologists study artifacts, monuments, and other remains to get a better sense of human history.</li><li>What they discover often rewrites humans' past and changes the way we think about our species.</li></ul><p>Over the centuries, our understanding of the human species has changed countless times through the discovery of <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-ancient-historical-sites-before-and-after-excavation-2023-8">archaeological sites</a> like the Altamira cave paintings in Spain, and through the use of new technologies like LiDAR that help scientists <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/laser-mapping-technology-uncovers-lost-mesoamerican-ruins-mexico-2021-10">rediscover</a> entire cities</p><p>A piece of stone can unlock a lost language, while a peculiar fossil can launch an entire new field of science. Here are nine of some of the most significant archaeological discoveries in history that changed what humans know about our origins and culture through time.</p>