The year 1931 in archaeology involved some significant events.

Explorations

Excavations

• Chinese prehistorian Jia Lanpo and archaeologist Bian Mienmien join the ongoing excavations at Peking Man Site in Zhoukoudian, China
• University of Pennsylvania project at Piedras Negras, Guatemala begins (lasts to 1939)
• Alfonso Caso begins 18 year project at Monte Albán

Finds

• 29 December: Calakmul rediscovered by Cyrus L. Lundell
• French archaeologist Henri Breuil visits the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian, China and confirms the presence of stone tools
• George Florescu discovers Vlad III Dracula's tomb in Snagov Monastery

Publications

Births

Deaths

• Alfred Maudslay, explorer, archaeologist and writer of accounts of the ruins of the Maya civilization