The American Chemical Society reveals that quartz-crystal skulls, once believed to be ancient relics, are actually post-Columbian fakes created in the 1860s. Experts used scientific instruments to expose their authenticity, tracing back to French dealer Eugène Boban who sparked public fascination with the fakes
Research on ancient human skeletons reveals negative changes in oral bacteria due to dietary shifts, including the introduction of farming and processed sugar. The study provides a new record of dietary impacts and health changes over time.
New isotopic data shows that Neolithic farmers introduced agriculture to Central Europe from the Near East through colonizers. This discovery sheds light on the spread of farming across Europe and challenges previous theories about its adoption.
A new study recommends using air curtains and cooling layers to preserve China's Terracotta Warriors and other historic relics. The measures aim to prevent environmental degradation and protect the over 1,500 relics in large museums like the Qin Terracotta Museum, which attracts over 5 million visitors annually.
A new study in PNAS challenges the long-held theory that Neanderthals persisted in southern Iberia alongside modern humans. Researchers used a novel radiocarbon dating technique to date bone samples from two sites, finding that Neanderthal occupation occurred approximately 45,000 years ago, rather than later than previously thought.
A team of researchers from the University of York analyzed snail shells from Mediterranean caves to study past humidity levels. The findings show that the western Mediterranean was warmer and stickier when first farmers arrived in Italy and Spain thousands of years ago.
The study found that the Minoan civilization, known for its complex urban societies, had strong martial traditions and warrior culture. The research challenges the common view of Minoans as a peace-loving people, instead revealing war as a defining characteristic of their society.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have found intriguing parallels between modern-day Syria and Bronze-Age Syria, where urban decline, government collapse, and drought led to a regional government's downfall. The study, which used obsidian tools from the ancient city of Urkesh, suggests that climate change, militarism, and unsu...
Researchers discover engraved stone artifact in northwest China, providing evidence of human symbolic and cognitive capabilities during the Late Paleolithic era. The find, dated to approximately 30 ka BP, suggests that humans in East Asia may have possessed complex communicative systems, including language.
Researchers at University of Massachusetts Amherst used biomarkers from human feces to establish the first human presence, arrival of grazing animals, and population dynamics in a landscape. The method provides a strong human signal with excellent chronological control, offering valuable insights into past environmental changes.
Research suggests that the fine crafting of handaxes by Homo erectus/ergaster in the Lower Palaeolithic period was driven by a desire to prove trustworthiness rather than physical fitness. The 'trustworthy handaxe theory' proposes that attention to detail is about demonstrating emotional reliability and capacity for strong relationships.
Scientists discovered a species of South American bush cricket has hearing that rivals human hearing, using an entirely different machinery. The insect's auditory system performs all three stages of mammalian hearing and converts air-borne sounds into liquid-borne vibrations.
Archaeologists uncover unique sacred compound at Tel Beth-Shemesh, shedding light on early power struggles between Philistines and local populations. The site's desecration suggests a deliberate attempt to erase a sacred site by the invading Philistines.
A new radiocarbon dating method enables precise calibration of past ages, improving climate change understanding. The method uses seasonal layered deposits in lake sediments to date older objects up to 52.8 kyr BP.
Archaeologists from the University of Leicester have uncovered human remains consistent with battle wounds, but not fitting the Tudor description of King Richard III as a hunchback. The discovery marks a significant shift to laboratory analysis to confirm the identity of the skeleton.
The University of Leicester archaeological team has found the church of the Franciscan Friary, where King Richard III was buried. The location confirmed by a three-trench excavation reveals medieval architectural fragments and floor tiles.
A team of archaeologists and geologists have discovered a large quantity of skeletal remains at the Alken Enge site, including a fractured skull and thigh bone hacked in half, suggesting violent conflict. The remains are believed to be from hundreds of warriors who were sacrificed around the time of the birth of Christ.
The Neolithic Age saw a direct connection between the development of an agricultural society and the emergence of sophisticated carpentry. Archaeological evidence suggests that as humans transitioned from hunter-gatherers to farmers, they also developed heavier axes and woodworking tools capable of felling trees.
A colossal human figure, 1.5m tall, with intricate details and Hieroglyphic Luwian inscription, was discovered at the Tayinat gate complex in southeastern Turkey. The sculpture is part of a monumental gate complex that dated back to the Neo-Hittite Kingdom of Patina.
Researchers discover high genetic diversity in lichens growing on trees in Norway's boreal rainforests, challenging assumptions about species' ability to spread and survive. The findings suggest that even in small fragments of habitat, genetic material can be exchanged between neighboring populations.
A team of international researchers discovered evidence of pre-13,000-year-old non-Clovis cultures in North America, contradicting the long-held 'Clovis First' theory. The findings include Western Stemmed projectile points and DNA-profiling of human coprolites from the Paisley Caves.
Archaeologists are uncovering the secrets of a mass sacrifice of over 200 warriors in a bog near Alken, Denmark. The dig aims to clarify the circumstances behind the ritual sacrifice and analyze the remains to shed light on the Iron Age culture.
A new study of lake sediment cores from Sanak Island in the western Gulf of Alaska suggests that deglaciation occurred 1,500-2,000 years earlier than previously thought. This finding opens the door for re-evaluating coastal migration models for the Americas.
Jan Vicente, a graduate student at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, has been awarded a NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship to investigate how ocean acidification affects sponge skeletons. The research will focus on two common Florida Keys sponges and their bacterial communities.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered a mathematical system used by ancient Egyptians to measure the volume of spherical jugs. By linking units of length to units of volume, merchants could precisely determine the quantity of liquid within, allowing for accurate pricing and trade.
A new study by archaeologists from the Universities of Bristol, Cardiff and Oxford found that Neolithic farmers buried with distinctive stone adzes had access to better land than those without. The analysis revealed sex-biased mobility patterns and status differences among early European populations.
A new study combines archaeology and geoscience to reveal that climate change was a key factor in the collapse of the ancient Indus civilization around 4000 years ago. The research suggests that weakened monsoon rains led to reduced river dynamics, contributing to the decline of cities and the shift towards small farming communities.
The National Geographic Emerging Explorers program recognizes young trailblazers in various fields who are pushing boundaries of discovery, adventure, and global problem-solving. The 2012 class includes cyborg anthropologist Amber Case, digital storyteller Lucy Cooke, and behavioral ecologist Iain Couzin.
Archaeologists have uncovered a unique structure with paintings and hundreds of scrawled numbers at the ancient Maya site of Xultún in Guatemala. The discovery includes calculations relating to the Maya calendar, stretching over 7,000 years into the future.
Researchers used rare earth element analysis to determine that human remains found at Vero Beach dated back to the late Pleistocene epoch around 13,000 years ago. This discovery sheds light on the lives of early North Americans, who likely co-existed with extinct giant mammals like mammoths and mastodons.
Archaeologists are utilizing information from multiple disciplines to inform and enhance their data, providing new insights into social systems, economic processes, and political dynamics. The field has expanded beyond anthropology to include perspectives from sociology and other social sciences.
Researchers found that older and male dogs are more successful hunters in small-scale societies, with higher success rates than younger females. The study also revealed that early European farmers cast a wide net for food resources, diversifying their diet beyond crops and domesticated animals.
Researchers have found evidence of cereal-based agriculture and domesticated animals at Vashtëmi, a site in southeastern Albania that dates back to 6,500 BC. This discovery suggests that early farmers in the region preferred resource-rich settings, such as wetland edges, to establish pioneer farming villages.
Researchers at the University of Toronto and Hebrew University have identified evidence of controlled fire use by human ancestors dating back to one million years ago. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that Homo erectus may have begun using fire as part of their way of life.
Archaeologists have uncovered a slave burial ground on St Helena, containing the remains of around 5,000 enslaved people. Osteological analysis reveals that most victims were children or young adults, with scurvy and violence being common causes of death.
Scientists discovered 13,435- to 13,738-year-old marks on a Jefferson's Ground Sloth femur, indicating prehistoric humans hunted or scavenged the animal. The findings are the oldest evidence of human activity in Ohio and provide new insights into the lives of prehistoric Ohioans.
A UCR graduate student's research has rewritten the history books on Maya women, showing they played a central role in society before colonialization. Patel discovered artifacts and relics that reveal priestess oracles, female deities, and religious rituals, highlighting women's lost status under Spanish rule.
A new study by Mark Collard at the AAAS conference links climate change to human evolution by analyzing the impact of environmental variation on food-gathering tools. The research suggests that harsh environments led to more complex tool use, which can be used as a proxy for tracking climate change's impact on human evolution.
Researchers have found evidence of ancient popcorn in Peru, dating back 6,700 to 3,000 years. The discovery provides valuable information on the evolution of corn and its adaptation to different environments.
Researchers found that the loss of elephant bones at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov site may have imposed significant nutritional stress on Homo erectus. This led to a shift towards hunting smaller prey, which is evident in the physical appearance of modern humans and suggests their emergence in the Middle East 400,000 years ago.
Researchers have created an interactive map that reveals London's social history in unprecedented detail, mapping information from a vast array of sources. The website allows users to explore the capital's past, including crime and punishment, distribution of wealth and poverty, and ownership of consumer goods.
The EUROTAST project brings together young researchers to study the transatlantic slave trade's history and impact. The four-year project will explore captives' origins in Africa and physical quality of life, with a focus on interdisciplinary research and public dissemination.
Researchers discover intact Sex Pistols graffiti on a London flat's walls, arguing it's a powerful representation of punk rebellion. The find challenges traditional notions of heritage and suggests a new approach to conservation.
Researchers have unearthed a prehistoric bronze artifact made of cast metal found in an ancient Eskimo dwelling in Alaska, which likely originated in East Asia around A.D. 600. The discovery suggests long-distance trade between continents.
A British team has discovered over 100 fortified farms and villages with castle-like structures in Libya's south-western desert, uncovering new evidence of a lost civilization. The Garamantes were highly civilized, living in large-scale fortified settlements, predominantly as oasis farmers.
Researchers analyzed ancient pottery for signs of terrestrial, marine, and freshwater organisms, finding that fish and aquatic resources continued to be exploited after the advent of farming. This suggests a gradual transition from hunting to agriculture in Western Europe, challenging previous assumptions about the abrupt shift.
Researchers at Poggio Colla excavation site in Italy discovered a ceramic fragment with two images of a woman giving birth to a child, over 2,600 years old. The unique find is the first of its kind ever found in an Etruscan excavation, providing new insights into the culture.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have found evidence of advanced blade production during the late Lower Paleolithic period, around 200,000-400,000 years ago. The discovery of well-planned 'production lines' suggests a sophisticated tool-making system that rivals later blade technology.
A University of Colorado Boulder-led team excavated a Maya village in El Salvador and unexpectedly hit an ancient white road, known as a sacbe, that appears to lead to and from the town. The discovery provides valuable insights into the Maya's construction methods and daily life.
Researchers will examine how humans have responded to changes in surrounding forests over multiple centuries, focusing on New Mexico's Jemez Mountains and the intersection of climate change, drought, and forest fires. The team aims to understand how humans can live sustainably within fire-adapted ecosystems.
Research suggests that periods of rapid temperature fluctuation coincided with the appearance of distant human relatives and the spread of stone tools. Genetic modelling techniques revealed a correlation between climatic variability and key events in human evolution.
Researchers excavate Channel Islands, Isles of Scilly, and Outer Hebrides to understand the transition from hunting to farming in Britain. The study aims to answer questions about the processes and timing of this significant lifestyle change.
Archaeologists have uncovered a 3,000-year-old lion sculpture adorning a citadel gate complex in southeastern Turkey. The find provides valuable insight into the cultural sophistication of Iron Age states in the eastern Mediterranean.
Researchers develop new method to link climatic records with plant and animal responses to climate change, enabling precise dating of archaeological sites. This breakthrough enables detailed analysis of human occupation patterns in Britain during the Ice Age.
Modern humans arriving from Africa swarmed the region with over ten times the population of Neanderthals, leading to their sudden disappearance. The incoming group's superior hunting technologies, social contacts, and complex behavioural patterns allowed them to outcompete Neanderthals for resources.
Research in southern Norway found that sheep browsing had a significant impact on tree ring widths, with temperatures still visible in the records. The study highlights the importance of considering herbivore densities when estimating past climatic conditions.
A new UCLA study suggests that warfare likely shaped the development of civilization in the Titicaca basin of southern Peru. The researchers found evidence of massive fires, iconographic signs of conflict and agricultural decline after a devastating fire in Taraco state, indicating war may have led to the downfall of this early settlem...
Researchers developed a new technique to analyze whole genomes from different populations, revealing continued genetic exchange between African and non-African populations after 60,000 years ago. The study provides fresh insights into human history from 10,000 to one million years ago.
Researchers studied sediment transfer from land to deep sea using LiDAR and cosmogenic radionuclide-derived erosion rates. They found that sediment fluxes influence landscape evolution and geochemical cycling. Additionally, unique sedimentary desiccation structures were discovered in Bahamian ooid grainstone.
The Great Dismal Swamp was once a human refuge for Indigenous Americans, runaway slaves, and others. Researchers have uncovered evidence of maroon communities that thrived there from the 1600s to 1860, highlighting the swamp's role as a sanctuary since 1800.