1940 in archaeology
| 1780s . 1790s in archaeology . 1800 |
| Other events: 1790s . Archaeology timeline |
Explorations
Excavations
- Start of excavations at Tell Uqair by Iraqi Directorate General of Antiquities.
- Start of excavations at Ahichatra.
- Start of excavations in the Vatican Necropolis.
- Excavations at Brahmagiri by M. H. Krishna of the Mysore state Archaeological Department.
Publications
- Gisela M. A. Richter - Handbook of the Etruscan Collection.
Finds
- 12 September: Lascaux caves. Painted c. 15,000 BC - 13,000 BC. Closed to the public in 1963.
- After ten-year expedition at Tanis, "Silver Pharaoh" tomb uncovered by Pierre Montet. It is the first ever intact tomb found.
- Ferriby Boat 2 discovered by Ted Wright.
- Balline Hoard.
Awards
Miscellaneous
Births
- October 14 - Ruth Tringham, Neolithic household and feminist archaeologist.
Deaths
- April 25 - Wilhelm Dörpfeld, German archaeologist of Troy
- John Lamplugh Kirk, British archaeologist, collector and museum curator