Hello and thanks for your interest!

I'm desperate to know if there are any manga that centers around people researching an ancient civilization in some ways. Something about "archaeology", but if possible a bit less realistic than Master Keaton. As I'm not sure how to describe it, here are some examples that pleased me:

- One Piece: the ultimate one for me, the whole world-building and story seems to be about this lost century and ancient civilization, with all the discoveries it's really interesting (Skypiea, never I would have though they'd go on in the sky in their quest, it's impressive), but it's taking too long overall and the story progression is too chopped by enemies, fights and all.

- Nadia and the secret of blue water: again a great enterprise, inspired by Jules Verne books, but I preferred Nadia, since I have a thing for anime/manga. They go on a quest and discover thing from another time that are mind blowing, sort of.

- Castle in the Sky: with the ruins on the floating castle, quite interesting even if anecdotal in the story.

- Jojo: Battle Tendency: greatly interesting part to me with these revelations about the stone mask.

Some people told me about Full Ahead Coco, but I'm not sure about it. Can someone confirm?

Also if you have more titles in mind, it would be great! Thanks again.

Last edited by Eremes at 9:35 am, Jul 3 2016

Munakata Kyouju Denkikou - is about archaeology, but it may be more realistic than you are looking for. I really enjoyed it, however. There are fantastical elements to it. It's a really unusual manga.
Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä - on one of your planning to read lists. The manga goes past the movie and delves more into these elements.
I kind of remember something along those lines in Kanata kara. But there is also a lot about the MC discovering the new world she has been transported to, so I may be remembering wrong.
Akatsuki no Yona has a bit of this as well (It's on your list, but I'm not sure if you've read it yet.)

There was a bit in the anime of Flying Witch, but I'm not sure if it's in or is expanded on in the manga. There was an ancient civilization that lived on the back of a whale.

I also saw Silver Diamond on your Not Interested list, and it actually does have this element to it (It was one of the things I liked about it, though there was a lot I didn't like too). I won't recommend it to you, just mention it, in case you are really desperate.

Thanks for the reply! I've read almost no manga so anything that crosses your mind is fine, really.

I haven't read nor watched Akatsuki no Yona, but it has interested me since the anime adaptation so I'll be sure to check it. For Nausicäa too and I love the art so I'll definitely read it soon. I didn't know those involved such things.

I've heard of none of the others, thanks for mentioning them.

Munakata seems quite interesting, I'll keep it in mind since you say you liked it (I'll trust you!) and it's by the renowned author of 2001 Night Stories. But the cover art seems a bit off-putting to me, I'll still see the inside content b'cause you can't judge a book by its cover (and I should be way past the stage where you are stopped by those kinds of thing).

Kanata Kara seems real nice, I had it in one of my lists but I don't remember why and when I heard of it. So, that increase my interest for it.

I've heard a bit about Flying Witch because of the anime but it didn't catch my eye till now, so I'll remember it can deal with those kind of themes.

Also about Silver Diamond, I don't mind checking it, I just made an uninterested list as I was trimming through the top list for each title but it's far from definitive (there is surprisingly a lot of well-rated yaoi and shounen-ai).

Thanks for your answer, again. Plus you seem to have taken the time to check if those were in one of the lists I made (though most of them are organized plan to read).

Last edited by Eremes at 3:26 am, Jul 4 2016

Perhaps:
Ouke no Monshou
NG Life
Meteor Methuselah