Sporadically-discovered

Referring to something that is found or revealed at irregular intervals or in isolated instances, rather than consistently or predictably. The discovery process is characterized by a lack of frequency or pattern, appearing in a haphazard and often unexpected manner. This term implies an element of chance or serendipity in the finding, suggesting that the thing discovered might not be actively sought after or systematically searched for. The discovered item can vary from a lost artifact to a novel scientific concept, but the commonality lies in the uneven distribution of its revelation.

Sporadically-discovered meaning with examples

• During the archaeological dig, sporadically-discovered pottery shards offered tantalizing clues to the ancient civilization's daily life. The team wasn't expecting to find much due to the history of the site but the pottery pieces showed up at intervals to keep the team going. They provided snapshots of the culture.
• The researcher's study was based on sporadically-discovered historical documents. She found the records over several years, each one revealing new insights into the subject matter and changing the direction of her research, and these findings gave her a comprehensive view.
• In the vast database, sporadically-discovered anomalies required careful examination to determine their significance. These events didn't present a pattern and therefore had to be studied on an individual basis, so scientists could determine whether they had any value in a larger sense.
• The author's notes included sporadically-discovered passages that completed the original manuscript. Found after his passing, the notes were instrumental in giving fans and scholars the complete vision of the book. Their retrieval was a blessing.