General:
* Found
* Uncovered
* Unearthed
* Revealed
* Unmasked
* Identified
* Determined
* Located
* Found out
* Came across
* Stumbled upon
Focusing on the act of finding:
* Unearthing
* Exposing
* Unveiling
* Bringing to light
* Illuminating
* Coming upon
Focusing on the result of finding:
* Recognized
* Recognized as
* Established
* Proven
* Confirmed
* Demonstrated
* Ascertained
* Verified
Focusing on accidental findings:
* Stumbled on
* Came across
* Happened upon
* Bumped into
* Run across
Focusing on deliberate searching:
* Unearthed
* Dug up
* Uncovered
* Tracked down
* Sought out
* Gathered
The best synonym to use will depend on the specific context of your writing.