The year 1986 in archaeology involved some significant events.

• Foundations of the Colossus of Nero in Rome.^[1]
• British Supermarine Spitfire Mark 1a fighter aircraft N3200 recovered from the beach at Sangatte in France.^[2][3]

• July 18 - First sacrificial pit at Sanxingdui in China found, leading to extensive investigation of the site.
• La Mojarra Stela 1.
• Wreck of HMS A1, the first British submarine casualty (1904), discovered in Bracklesham Bay by local fisherman.
• The second half of the Rogozen Treasure is found by archaeologists from the museum in Vratsa, Bulgaria.
• A fragment of Livy's Ab Urbe Condita Libri is found in Egypt.^[4]

• John McK. Camp - The Athenian Agora: excavations in the heart of classical Athens. London: Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0-500-39021-5
• Abraham de la Pryme (1672–1704) - A History of Kingston upon Hull. Kingston upon Hull City Council and Malet Lambert High School. ISBN 0-904767-12-4
• Pramod B. Gadre - Cultural Archaeology of Ahmadnagar during Nizam Shahi period, 1494–1632. Delhi: B.R. Publishing Corporation.
• Arlene Miller Rosen - Cities of Clay: the geoarcheology of tells. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-72626-6
• Henrieta Todorova (Хенриета Тодорова) - Каменно -медната епоха в България ("The Eneolithic period in Bulgaria"). Sofia.

• July 8 - Protection of Military Remains Act passed in the United Kingdom.^[5]
• November - First UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Great Britain designated: Durham Castle and Cathedral; Ironbridge Gorge; Studley Royal Park (including the ruins of Fountains Abbey); Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites; and Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd (Wales).

• January 10 - Emil Forrer, Swiss Assyriologist and Hittitologist (b. 1894)
• December 13 - Glyn Daniel, Welsh-born archaeologist (b. 1914)^[6]