The Eternity Artifact

{{Short description|2005 novel by L. E. Modesitt, Jr}}

{{More citations needed|date=September 2009}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox book |

| name = The Eternity Artifact

| title_orig =

| translator =

| image = The Eternity Artifact.jpg

| caption = First edition

| author = L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

| illustrator =

| cover_artist = David Seeley

| country = United States

| language = English

| genre = Science fiction

| publisher = TOR

| pub_date = February 2005

| media_type = Print (hardcover)

| pages = 367 (first edition hardcover)

| isbn = 978-0-7653-5345-0

| oclc= 70173603

| preceded_by = Flash

| followed_by = The Elysium Commission

}}

The Eternity Artifact is a science fiction novel by American writer L. E. Modesitt, Jr., published in 2005. It is set in a future approximately 3,000 years hence, in a galaxy largely colonized by humans but divided into disparate polities who strive against each other in a manner similar to that of modern-day nations. Once such group, the Comity, discovers a planet that may be the first evidence of nonhuman intelligent life. The Comity mounts an expedition to investigate this world, and certain of the other groups attempt to interfere in various ways and for various reasons. The story discusses the expedition from the perspective of four viewpoint characters. It details the progress of the explorers and touches on the differences between the various human groups and how those inform their response to this discovery, and their goals regarding it.