1888 in archaeology

Below are notable events in archaeology that occurred in 1888.

Explorations

 * Chaco Canyon is surveyed and photographed by Victor and Cosmos Mindeleff of the Bureau of American Ethnology.
 * Heinrich Schliemann attempts to locate the tomb of Alexander the Great in Alexandria, but is denied permission to excavate.

Excavations

 * May 22 - Augustus Pitt Rivers begins excavation of Bokerly Dyke.
 * Excavations of Hawara in Egypt by Flinders Petrie, finds including papyri containing parts of Homer's Iliad (the "Hawara Homer"), and the Fayum mummy portraits.
 * Excavations of Nippur sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania begin (continues through 1900).
 * Excavations of the Cadmea (Καδμεία, citadel) in Thebes, Greece, by the German Archaeological Institute at Athens begin.
 * Carl Humann directs new excavations in Sam'al and a trial excavation in Tralles (modern Aydın).

Finds

 * December 18 - Discovery of three villages by Richard Wetherill and his brother-in-law Charlie Mason while tracking stray cattle: Cliff Palace, Spruce Tree House, and Square Tower House; now part of Mesa Verde National Park.
 * Llantwit Major Roman Villa.
 * The Mourning Athena relief is found near the Acropolis of Athens.

Publications

 * American Anthropologist journal is founded.
 * Archibald Sayce, The Hittites: The Story of a Forgotten Empire.

Miscellaneous

 * January 13 - National Geographic Society formed in the United States.

Births

 * February 1 - Gertrude Caton Thompson, English archaeologist of Africa (d. 1985)
 * August 16 - T. E. Lawrence, British archaeologist of the Middle East, military officer, diplomat and author (d. 1935)
 * October 6 - Birger Nerman, Swedish archaeologist (d. 1971)

Deaths

 * March 10 - Lucy Wright Mitchell, American archaeologist (b. 1845)