Source
r/horrorlit•
greyetch

Archaeological Horror?

Recommendation Request

It doesn't need to be specifically archaeological, but horror where "experts" or "scientists" of some kind make a horrifying discovery.

I'm a big Lovecraft fan, so cross those off lol. I've read The Descent and really enjoyed it. It can really be any science, but I went to school for classics and so ancient history is fascinating to me. But that one Crichton book The Sphere also checks these boxes.

Anyway, I'd love to find some new spooky tales about long forgotten things.

Posted May 12, 2022, 5:58 PM UTC

19194
Pattergen•

Not necessarily straight horror, but you might check out Preston/Child collaborations like The Cabinet of Curiosities, The Relic, Riptide, and The Ice Limit. Child has a couple standalones that might fit the bill as well: The Third Gate, Deep Storm, and Terminal Freeze.

67
Kenni-is-not-nice•

Thunderhead is also an archaeology-based novel they did, which is super fun too.

26
Marsmoonman•

I also enjoyed thunderhead!

3
Kenni-is-not-nice•

It was actually my very first experience with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, and I’ve been reading most of their books since. It’s so fun!

1
greyetchOP•

Funny enough, finding these was what led me to make the post! I wanted something in this vein, but more horror. I'll still end up circling back to these, tho, thanks!

Any one you would call your favorite?

16
Pattergen•

Cabinet of Curiosities is probably my favorite out of all of them - and has horrific elements including a serial killer based plot. The Relic and Terminal Freeze both trend towards the horror genre more than the others.

9
RestillHabb•

I read Thunderhead last week. It was like watching a movie in my brain - I kept thinking about the book when I wasn't reading and had a really hard time putting it down when I was. I absolutely recommend it. I also started reading Relic this week. So far so good!

3
ughdoesthisexist•

The next ones in the Nora Kelly series are good too - Old Bones and Scorpion’s Tale. Diablo Mesa isn’t as strong but I still enjoyed it.

2
jrmiles1•

Came here to toss out "relic". 🙃🙃🙃

3
TudorTerrier•

The Anomaly by Michael Rutger. Archaeological and horrific.

3
Pattergen•

Ha yep no "the" in the book title.

1
Mr_Erdos•

The Pendergast series is highly entertaining, in my opinion. It has up and downs but it makes a fun reading.

2
Marril96•

Ararat by Christopher Golden?

36
greyetchOP•

I knew I should have added it to my comment! I've read that one, but thank you!

11
BroscipleofBrodin•

Ararat was almost what I wanted, but I'm just not a fan of possession stories. If anyone can recommend something very similar, I'm all ears.

7
Melitzen•

The Man in the Moss by Phil Rickman is about the discovery and extremely unfortunate subsequent digging up of an Iron Age body in the peat of Great Britain. Things go very badly for all involved who come to realise that the body - ritualistically killed by 3 methods then deliberately sacrificed to the earth - should have been let alone in the peat.

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greyetchOP•

Perfect. Thanks!

8
DaleCoopersWife•

The Anomaly by Michael Rutger is fun.

28
Stormborn170•

Came here to suggest this!

3
denvertebows15•

Christopher Golden has two books in this subject area. The first is called Ararat which is about a team of explorers that discover what's believed to be the biblical Ark on Mount Ararat. (I am currently on page 131 of 305 and it's good so far)

The second in the series is called The Pandora Room where a team of archaeologists discover what's believed to Pandora's Box.

I think both of those might be up your alley.

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greyetchOP•

I enjoyed Ararat but hadn't heard of Pandora Room - both are great suggestions, thank you!

7
Rob_Fucking_Graves•

The Reddening by Adam Nevill.

15
Cabrol78•

I was going to say that. I never suspected that prehistoric remains could lead to horrific results.

2
GolbComplex•

Personally that's what I went into The Reddening hoping it'd be. But I thought it ended up being a cult conspiracy thriller with a barely smidge of archaeology and folk horror scattered here and there.

2
Alataii•

I totally vibe with this, I think the first few chapters are awesome for prehistoric horror and I wish I could read the book those felt like they should lead into rather than the remainder of the book as is.

2
GolbComplex•

Exactly how I feel as well.

1
FoxMulderSexDreams•

I wish he'd gone more into the creature itself

1
The_chosen_red•

This

0
GolbComplex•

The Great White Space by Basil Copper is a decent pastiche of At the Mountains of Madness. Not a favorite of mine but I liked it.

14
Slug_Nutty•

I was immediately thinking of this. There is also a fan written pastiche sequel that was surprisingly good worth tracking down.

1
spookykitton•

Not experts, but maybe try The Ruins by Scott Smith? Or if you’re into space (which I’m not but still loved the book) try Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes. I wasn’t a big fan of it, but Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer fits this as well!

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greyetchOP•

I've read the area x trilogy, very good choice!

4
PrefersDigg•

Hive, by Tim Curran.

This one didn't fully click for me, but it's about uncovering some bodies in the Arctic that really should have been left alone. (The novel starts after the discovery)

Michael McBride has a few novels on this general theme, you might look into his works in general and see if any grab you. The settings vary - Amazon, arctic, etc though I think he tends more toward creature features than archaeology.

EarthCore, by Scott Sigler.

Mining company scientists go digging underground, find something they wish they hadn't... Fun book.

The Historian, by Elisabeth Kostova.

Tracing the ancestry of an ancient vampire, who apparently isn't thrilled at being investigated. A slow burn but very well written.

The Fold, by Peter Clines.

More science-y horrifying discovery, unique protagonist who has perfect recall to help solve the mystery. Goes some unexpected places.

I think Preston and Child are the very best at this, others have mentioned them already, I'll also add their book Riptide - a booby trapped treasure hidden under an island. More thriller than horror but I loved that book!

I dig this genre/subset too, enjoying this thread as a place for new suggestions.

13
sassubear•

Seconding Earthcore!

1
HotNatured•

We had a great thread on this 2 years ago with a top tier response from u/cjwithwolves. I've read so many from that post by now.

For a more recent one, I'm reading Colony by Benjamin Cross as recommended by u/shlam16 and am, so far, definitely digging (heh heh) it.

13
amberlyinviolet•

I’m also reading this right now—also digging it. Def recommend

3
shlam16•

I hope to see more of Cross in future. Always fun to find a good author on their first ever book.

Also - did you notice that the name of his main character, Callum Ross, is C.Ross? Little easter egg he's put in there.

2
HotNatured•

Callum Ross, is C.Ross

Well spotted! That didn't even occur to me

2
marco-esquondolas•

Quite a bit older, but the M.R. James short stories "O' Whistle and I'll Come to You" and "A Warning to the Curious" are the definition of archeological horror IMO.

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glimmerthirsty•

Yes!

3
Bwca_at_the_Gate•

Absolutely. James' work is made up almost exclusively of stories of academics/scholars who dig a little too deeply into the past and pay a terrible price for it. I fucking love M.R James lol

3
HvyMtlDinosaur•

I know this isn’t reading, but check out The White Vault podcast. It sounds quite a bit like what you’ve described.

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greyetchOP•

I enjoyed it! Well, the first 10 episodes or so. I cant stick with multi character audiodrama like that, gets too confusing. Still a good call!

4
Sir_Meowsalot•

I'm dying for the next episode after binging it!

1
timiddrake•

The Return by Bentley Little is about archaeologists digging up strange artifacts. I never finished the book because I wasn't vibing with it, but what I read wasn't bad. It just wasn't for me at the time.

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greyetchOP•

Wonderful, thanks!

3
mrbeefthighs•

Sphere by Michael Crichton

Team of scientists find something on the bottom of the ocean.

8
tealtime91•

I was looking for this one. Really enjoyed it

3
Higais•

Currently reading and enjoying Dark Matter by Michelle Paver and I think it ticks some of your boxes.

6
bedazzled_sombrero•

This may sound dumb, but there's a couple of Dead Space (yes the video game) novels written by neo-maestro Brian Evenson. The first one is pretty good, imagine archaeology + space horror.

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greyetchOP•

Not dumb, i love sci fi! I havent played the games, so it will be a new world to me.

1
Higais•

Woah had no idea. I always joke to myself that it seems Brian Evenson is in any horror short story collection/anthology, especially when I saw him in that new Christopher Bheulman medieval short story collection that's coming out soon.

Looks like he goes by B.K. Evenson with these stories instead

1
guitarandbooks•

James Rollins has some awesome books that may fit what you're after.

4
TudorTerrier•

The Sanguinist books!

1
helioslogos2022•

“The Mind Parasites” by Colin Wilson fits this bill pretty well, from my recollection.

3
Misfitsfan1•

Kachina by Kathryn Ptacek

3
gusu25•

As above so below, lots of jump scared

3†
Prince-Lee•

Jump scares? In a book? Please explain, I'm so curious!

2
gusu25•

Hahah yes. I didn’t check the subreddit i was replying in. It is a movie.

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JPKtoxicwaste•

I think they mean the movie.

1