Unexcavated
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Community Contribution

Help Document the Unexcavated World

Archaeologists, researchers, local guides, and curious minds — if you know of a site the world hasn't fully uncovered, this is where it enters the record.

Submit a Site

Every Submission Shapes the Map

The buried past is vast — and much of what exists has never been formally catalogued. Unexcavated exists to change that, and we rely on people with firsthand knowledge, field experience, or deep regional understanding to bring unknown sites into the light.

Global Visibility

Accepted submissions are published in the Unexcavated database, reaching researchers, institutions, and enthusiasts across the world.

Preservation Pressure

Documentation is the first line of defence. Recording a site's existence can help mobilise protective action before development or erosion destroys it.

Research Connections

Your submission may reach the right archaeologist at the right time. We actively share qualified entries with academic and institutional partners.

Credit & Attribution

Contributors who consent are credited on published site pages. Your discovery — formally documented, formally yours.

What Qualifies for Submission

We accept sites that are genuinely underrepresented in the archaeological record. A site does not need to be completely unknown — it must be understudied, underprotected, or under-documented relative to its apparent significance.

  • Sites with visible surface features, anomalies, or structures not formally recorded
  • Locations referenced in oral tradition or local knowledge but absent from academic literature
  • Areas flagged by remote sensing, LiDAR, or satellite analysis not yet followed up
  • Known but poorly documented ruins without proper archaeological assessment
  • Sites at immediate risk from development, conflict, looting, or environmental erosion
  • Submerged, underground, or forest-covered sites with circumstantial evidence of significance
  • Locations associated with anomalous artefacts, inscriptions, or architectural features
  • Sites in regions where political or logistical access has historically prevented study

We do not accept fully excavated sites, private property without owner consent, or speculative locations without any corroborating evidence. Quality over quantity — every submission is reviewed by a human.

Tell Us About the Site

Inspiring image of an ordinary person discovering something ancient

Every great discovery begins with someone paying attention.

Decimal degrees preferred. Approximate is fine — precision can be refined.

What Happens Next

Every submission is read by a real person. We do not use automated filtering — each entry deserves considered attention.

01

Acknowledgement

You'll receive a confirmation to your email within 48 hours confirming we've received your submission and it is under initial review.

02

Editorial Review

Our editorial team cross-references the site against existing records, academic literature, satellite imagery, and our own database. This typically takes one to three weeks.

03

Follow-Up (If Needed)

For promising submissions, we may reach out for additional detail, imagery, or sources. This is a good sign — it means the site is being seriously considered.

04

Publication or Referral

Accepted sites are added to the Unexcavated database with a full entry. Others may be referred to relevant institutions or held pending further evidence.

05

Credit & Notification

If you consented to attribution, your name appears on the published page. All contributors are notified of the final decision regardless of outcome.

Browse Recent Additions to the Database

Explore sites already documented — from Neolithic cities with thousands of unexcavated rooms to temple complexes swallowed by jungle.

Enter the Database Explore All Sites
Çatalhöyük Angkor Outer Temples Tartaria & Old Europe How We Find Them

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of sites can I submit to Unexcavated?
Unexcavated accepts sites that are understudied, underprotected, or under-documented relative to their apparent significance. This includes locations with unrecorded surface features, sites known only through oral tradition, areas identified by LiDAR or satellite analysis, ruins without proper archaeological assessment, and sites at immediate risk from development, looting, or erosion. Fully excavated sites, private property without owner consent, and speculative locations without corroborating evidence are not accepted.
How long does it take to find out if my submission has been accepted?
After submitting, contributors receive an email acknowledgement within 48 hours confirming receipt. The editorial review process — which involves cross-referencing academic literature, satellite imagery, and existing records — typically takes one to three weeks. Contributors are notified of the final decision regardless of whether the submission is accepted or not.
Will my submission be reviewed by a real person or an automated system?
Every submission to Unexcavated is read by a real person. Unexcavated explicitly states it does not use automated filtering, on the basis that each entry deserves considered attention. For promising submissions, the editorial team may follow up to request additional detail, imagery, or sources.
Can I get credit for a site I submit?
Yes. Contributors who consent to attribution are credited by name on the published site page if their submission is accepted. There is an opt-in consent checkbox on the submission form. All contributors are notified of the final decision regardless of outcome.
What happens to submissions that are not published in the database?
Submissions that are not accepted for direct publication may be referred to relevant institutions or held pending further evidence. Unexcavated states that all contributors are notified of the final decision, whatever the outcome, so submitters will always receive a response about their entry.

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