Indigenous Australians gathered whole grasses from the landscape and burned them in a cave for ritual practices dating back 25,000 years. The study found that people selectively targeted specific types of grasses for burning, with over 97% coming from temperate or cool-climate grasses.
Researchers analyzed DNA from 142 individuals buried in medieval graves, finding that close biological relatives were rare among those buried together. The study also sheds light on the lives of children in early Christian Scandinavia, suggesting gender identity was recognized early in life.
A study analyzing ancient DNA from 111 individuals across Sicily's archaeological sites reveals a genetic 'melting pot' where Christians and Muslims coexisted, challenging the idea of large-scale population change.
Researchers analyzed historical records and archaeological sites to discover moose were part of southern Rocky Mountain ecosystems long before modern reintroductions. They found evidence of moose being well-known and deeply integrated into traditional knowledge of Native people in the region.
The book 'Human Identities in the Archaeological Record' reconstructs past identities from evidence like skeletons, belongings, and material culture. Researchers investigate how people ate, grew up, and were affected by disease and inequality.
A new study reveals that Mohenjo-daro, the Indus civilization's largest city, became more egalitarian over time as it matured. The city's inhabitants worked together to ensure fair access to a good standard of life, with investment in practical things like drainage and street maintenance.
Researchers developed a new tool to track ancient climate from wetland sediments, revealing turbulent environmental past in the Mediterranean. People adapted creatively, developing new technologies and strategies, such as floodwater farming and herd animal management.
A millennium-old dingo was deliberately buried by Barkindji ancestors with great care, suggesting an ongoing relationship between local people and dingoes. The discovery provides new insights into ancestral dingo burial practices extending beyond southeastern Australia.
A new study published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology provides physical evidence of Peruvian hairless dogs from the Wari Empire site of Castillo de Huarmey. The site, located on the Pacific coast of northern Peru, yielded dog skeletal remains that were analyzed using standard zooarchaeological methods and isotopic analysis.
Researchers analyzed pollen trapped in Roman shipwreck coatings to identify plant taxa present during construction and repairs. The study found evidence of four to five distinct batches of coatings, suggesting the ship was patched up successively at different locations throughout the Adriatic Sea.
A study analyzing Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA sequences found evidence of a rapid decline in genetic diversity and geographic distribution around 65,000 years ago. This 'bottleneck' event is believed to have triggered the extinction of the species, with later populations emerging from refugia in southwestern France.
Researchers found evidence of Native American dice making and use dating back 12,000 years, with binary lots crafted from bone featuring markings for counting sides. This discovery challenges traditional views on the origins of probability theory.
Thirty previously unpublished verses by Empedocles have been discovered on a papyrus fragment from the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo. The ancient Greek philosopher's work reveals unexpected connections with other authors and philosophers.
Using data from the TYPHOON survey, scientists examined the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 1365 and achieved resolution sharp enough to separate individual star-forming clouds. The study reveals that the galaxy grew and merged with other galaxies over 12 billion years of cosmic time.
The 'leaky pipeline' metaphor oversimplifies the systemic barriers faced by women and marginalized scholars in archaeology. New research highlights multiple forms of inequity that diminish productivity, limit collaborations, and reduce future generations of archaeologists.
Researchers found our Sun joined a mass migration of similar stars 4-6 billion years ago, shedding light on galaxy evolution and the corotation barrier. The discovery reveals the time range over which the bar structure at the galactic center was formed.
Dr. Lindsey Cochran's work combines technical modeling with community conversation to protect cultural heritage sites along Florida's Apalachicola Bay. Her approach has earned a national honor and reflects ETSU's commitment to research that serves both academic inquiry and public need.
Researchers have discovered six Bronze Age mining sites in southwestern Spain, revealing extensive metal extraction and trade networks. The findings provide a concrete archaeological context for previous studies on the origin of Scandinavian Bronze.
A mysterious Greek inscription at the Great Mosque of Homs in Syria has shed new light on a longstanding debate about the Temple of the Sun. The discovery provides crucial evidence that may finally illuminate the origins of the sacred mosque, which began as a pagan temple and was later converted into a Christian church.
A new study from Bar-Ilan University identifies the elderly in Iron Age Israel through household artifacts, revealing their social status, influence, and integration within family structures. The research advances beyond traditional methods of identifying the elderly, providing a fresh window into their lived experiences.
The URBANK database aggregates and analyzes urban data to overcome fragmentation and variability in archaeological record. It offers a multidisciplinary platform for studying cities as dynamic networks of connected elements.
Recent advances in biomolecular archaeology enable museums to convert molecular data into accessible olfactory recreations. The Max Planck Institute research team developed a workflow for translating ancient chemical signatures into visitor-ready fragrances.
A newly uncovered Roman sanctuary in Frankfurt's Nida district will be studied for its significance in Roman Germania. The site features 11 stone buildings, 70 shafts, and 10 pits used for ritual depositions, yielding ceramic vessels and animal remains.
Researchers at UC3M have received grants from the Ramón Areces Foundation to develop projects using AI, digitization, and chronotope mapping in archaeology, history, and cinema. The projects aim to advance knowledge of the Castilian Middle Ages and the Spanish film industry.
This study provides direct evidence of nomadic groups' adoption and approval of agricultural economy in ancient China. The isotopic data show a shift from millet-based agriculture to wheat or rice agriculture, indicating a gradual social evolutionary process.
Dr Bandit Heeler, a celebrated archaeologist and Father of the Year, has been offered a professorial chair at Griffith University. His research on canine origins and language capacity will contribute to the university's commitment to academic excellence.
Researchers are studying the Cyclades using non-invasive methods like LIDAR and magnetometry, revealing signs of early human activity dating back thousands of years. The techniques help document sites without excavating, allowing for a more targeted approach to archaeology.
Scientists study ancient oyster populations to guide present-day restoration efforts. By analyzing shell size and breakage, researchers can interpret how intensively communities harvested oysters, shedding light on the challenges of rebuilding depleted reef ecosystems.
Researchers built a digital archaeology framework to learn about ancient humans creating finger flutings, which are marks drawn on cave walls. The study used tactile and VR setups to explore AI image recognition methods, finding promising insights but also limitations.
Neolithic farmers in Central Europe integrated new cereal varieties into their range of crops between the 6th and early 4th millennium BCE. This led to more resilient and flexible agriculture, enabling the cultivation of winter and summer crops and adapting to changing environmental conditions.
A study by Harvard University found that EurekAlert! press releases were 4 times more likely to receive U.S. media coverage than journal articles without press releases. The researchers analyzed 1,155 archaeology papers and found that over 90% of those published in top journals were covered by at least one major U.S. news outlet.
The TORF Research Unit studies medieval North Frisia's tidal flats, revealing archaeological remains and understanding human-environment interactions. Researchers aim to reconstruct the region's complex history and raise public awareness of coastline risks.
Archaeologists can now map hidden voids such as tunnels and channels using muon tomography, a method that detects changes in soil penetrability to cosmic radiation particles. The technology was successfully demonstrated at the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem.
A groundbreaking discovery of Paleolithic tools in Ayvalık, Turkey, reveals that early humans may have used the northeastern Aegean coast as a route to enter Europe. The find provides valuable insights into early human presence, technological variability, and raw material preferences during the Pleistocene era.
A new study argues that modern plastics form an important archaeological record of human impacts on planetary health. The researchers suggest using the 'Plastic Age' as a way to study people's relationship with the world, similar to how archaeologists study past relationships through material culture.
A new study has shed light on the metal trade in the Bronze Age, revealing that Sardinia was more connected to Scandinavia than previously thought. The research used a multi-proxy approach to analyze copper, tin, lead, and osmium isotopes, finding that bronzetti figures were primarily made from copper sourced from Sardinia.
A new study demonstrates that microscopic differences in iron can be spotted using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, allowing archaeologists to identify the origin of Spanish iron objects. This technique follows a quiet revolution in southeast archaeology, where metal detectors have been adopted for large-scale survey work.
The Dan David Prize is now accepting nominations for the 2026 award, honoring up to 9 early- and midcareer historians and humanists. The $300,000 prize supports their work and acknowledges achievements in fields like history, archaeology, and digital humanities.
A new analysis reveals US media coverage of archaeology research prioritizes certain regions, such as the UK, Israel, and Australia, over others like China and Taiwan. The study's findings raise concerns about cultural affiliation and identity groups being excluded from mainstream narratives.
A new study reconciles opposing views on the spread of Neolithic farming by combining archaeology and genetics. The research found that cultural changes occurred through both people migration and the spread of ideas, depending on the region and period.
A new investigation highlights the critical step of tooth extraction from animal skulls in ancient cultures. Experimental archaeology revealed that wet cooking and pit steaming were effective methods for extracting teeth without damaging them.
Prehistoric people used slow cooking to carefully extract animal teeth, challenging the assumption that they were scavenged. The most effective methods were pit steaming and wet cooking, which also allowed for meat consumption and bone tool-making.
AutArch, an AI-powered software, automatically extracts data from archaeological drawings and photographs, combining it with existing information to answer specific questions about the past. The open-source tool has the potential to fundamentally transform data access and analysis in archaeology.
Researchers propose that early humans used fire to smoke and dry meat to preserve it for extended periods, safeguarding large game from predators and scavengers. This new hypothesis offers a fresh perspective on the origins of fire use in prehistoric humans.
Research reveals Nubian women from the Kerma culture (2500-1500 BCE) carried heavy objects and children on their heads daily, using techniques like head straps known as tumplines. This study supports a growing perspective that sees the human body as a biological archive of lived experiences.
A groundbreaking database of over 55,000 housing measurements from around the globe supports research on correlations between housing size and inequality. The study examines patterns of inequality and their social consequences in human society.
A new study led by Amy Bogaard found that high wealth inequality emerged in regions with land-intensive farming systems, where a small number of households controlled productive land. In contrast, societies with more equitable governance practices avoided extreme wealth inequality.
A study suggests that children were involved in creating prehistoric cave art due to their unique mental and cognitive traits, which allowed them to communicate with entities from the beyond. Children were believed to be liminal beings, bridging the gap between worlds, and delivering messages to non-human entities.
Researchers extracted starch granules from bedrock metates, revealing insights into ancient Indigenous diets and traditions. The team used new techniques to recover the tiny structures within plant cells, providing evidence of plant processing on these ancient cooking implements.
A groundbreaking study by Bar-Ilan University reveals that ancient hunter-gatherers relied heavily on plant foods, particularly starchy plants, for energy. The findings contradict the prevailing narrative of animal protein-based diets and offer new insights into early human processing methods and social behaviors.
A new study from Tel Aviv University finds minimal environmental pollution resulting from ancient copper production in King Solomon's Mines, with pollution levels confined to smelting furnaces. Researchers also contradict previous claims of widespread industrial pollution, citing low levels of lead and other metals in soil samples.
A new research collaboration between the K’ómoks First Nation and Simon Fraser University highlights how Indigenous cultural heritage policies can protect archaeological sites threatened by development. The study found that the K’ómoks First Nation’s Cultural Heritage Policy provides a pathway to reconciliation and greater certainty fo...
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong are pioneering the interactive application of digital 3D scientific data in archaeological sites. By wearing MR/AR headsets while digging, they can virtually see removed walls and compare sections of ancient architecture.
Researchers analyzed the House of the Greek Epigrams in Pompeii using VR-based eye tracking and GIS. They found that varying light conditions and dynamic movement affected participants' relationship with artworks. The study reveals a complex visual palimpsest made up of moving views, interconnected journeys, and comings and goings.
Researchers from Hebrew University have identified 12,000-year-old spindle whorls at the Nahal-Ein Gev II dig site, providing key insights into Natufian culture's technological advancements. The discovery predates previous textile tools by 4,000 years and marks an important stage in human innovation.
Researchers used cutting-edge drone-based lidar to map two newly documented trade cities in Uzbekistan, revealing unprecedented details of medieval urban structures and economies. The cities, Tashbulak and Tugunbulak, are among the largest ever documented in the mountainous parts of the Silk Road.
Researchers at SWPS University recreated five outfits from the murals of the Faras Cathedral, shedding light on the evolution of royal and clerical attire in medieval Nubia. The study highlights the blend of Byzantine and Muslim influences, as well as the practical considerations of garment construction and dyeing.
A recent study has uncovered a previously unknown farming society in Morocco, dating back to the Final Neolithic period. The site of Oued Beht reveals extensive evidence of large-scale agriculture and deep storage pits, providing significant insights into the role of North Africa in shaping Mediterranean prehistory. This discovery chal...
Researchers found that horseback riding can subtly alter the shape of the hip joint, but these changes are not definitive proof of horse domestication. Human remains from various time periods show similar skeletal changes due to other activities, casting doubt on the Kurgan hypothesis.
New research reveals ancient dingo fossils are most similar to Japanese dogs, 'singing dogs' of New Guinea, and highland wild dog of Irian Jaya. Modern dingoes have evolved to become larger and leaner over 3,000 years.