Below are notable events in archaeology that occurred in 1885.

• The British School at Athens is established.

• Explorations continue in many places, from Latin America to Italy to Japan.

• At Ostia Antica (near Rome), the Quattro Tempietti (Four Small Temples) are excavated in 1885-1886 by R. Lanciani (The square in front is excavated in 1911-1915 by D. Vaglieri and R. Paribeni).
• On the outskirts of Rome, Italy, the ruins of the Temple of Diana at Nemi are excavated by British Ambassador Lord John Savile of Rufford Abbey.
• In Wales, at Ffynnon Beuno Cave, Tremeirchion, Denbighshire, the cave complex is excavated: occupational evidence includes Aurignacian and proto-Solutrean flint work plus Pleistocene fauna (Palaeolithic, Old Stone Age).
• In Japan, the Katsutachi Pit is excavated in 1885 (Meiji 18) under the leadership of Takuma Dan, an American-trained engineer.
• At Susa, Marcel-Auguste Dieulafoy and Jane Dieulafoy begin French excavations.

• Désiré Charnay's account of his explorations in Mesoamerica, Les Anciennes Villes du Nouveau Monde, published in Paris.
• William Collings Lukis –
  • Prehistoric Stone Monuments of the British Isles: Cornwall with 40 tinted litho plates, accurately drawn to scale by W. C. Lukis and W. C. Borlase, published by the Society of Antiquaries.
  • "Report of survey of certain megalithic monuments in Scotland, Cumberland and Westmoreland, executed in summer 1884". Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries pp. 302–11.
• American Journal of Archaeology first published.

• September 13: John Beazley, British Classical archaeologist (d. 1970)^[1]
• October 29: Alfred V. Kidder, American archaeologist (d. 1963)^[2]