The thrill of archaeology comes from not knowing what the next shovel of soil will uncover, and over the past few years delighted archaeologists have reported stunning discoveries across North America. Some were found by experts applying new methods to old finds, others were the products of long-planned and careful excavations, and a few were the result of pure luck.

From fossilised footprints to barnacle-encrusted wrecks, click through this gallery to learn about the most important archaeological finds in North America since 2020...