1861 in archaeology

Below are notable events in archaeology that occurred in 1861.

Explorations

 * First scientific investigations of Nalanda Mahavihara in Bihar.
 * British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham identifies the ancient city of Vaishali with the present-day village of Basrah in Bihar.

Excavations

 * June - First modern excavation of the Neolithic chambered cairn and passage grave of Maeshowe on Orkney by James Farrer.
 * Excavation of Long Hole Cave in Glamorgan reveals prehistoric flint artefacts.
 * Excavation of Umm al-Amad, Lebanon, by Ernest Renan, abandoned when he finds that the ruins are only about two thousand years old.
 * Excavation of Vergina by Leon Heuzey.

Publications

 * Edward Burnett Tylor - Anahuac: Or Mexico and the Mexicans, Ancient and Modern.

Events

 * Archaeological Survey of India founded.

Births

 * October 6 - Gaston Cros, French army officer and archaeologist (killed in action 1915)