A new study suggests that early agricultural methods may have altered the global climate by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Researchers found that earlier societies used more land for farming due to smaller populations and less incentive to maximize yield, leading to a large-scale burning of forests.
Researchers found that early human hunters in central Israel between 400,000 and 250,000 years ago were skilled at big-game hunting like later stone-age hunters, but shared meat differently. The earlier humans were less efficient and specialized when it comes to carving flesh from their prey.
A cache of cuneiform tablets dating back to the Iron Age period has been discovered in a 2,700-year-old Turkish temple by University of Toronto archaeologists. The tablets may provide insights into Assyrian imperial aspirations and highlight the imperial ambitions of ancient powers.
Researchers propose primate archaeology as a new field to study tool-use in humans and non-humans, integrating methods from both archaeology and primatology. This interdisciplinary approach aims to improve understanding of cognitive evolution and provide valuable data on human and non-human primate behavior.
Researchers argue that recent discoveries of tool use by wild primates force a re-think of traditional dividing lines between humans and other primate species. Julio Mercader's work, published in Nature, advocates for a new inter-disciplinary field to examine tool use in primates over time.
A team of experts, led by The University of Nottingham, has unveiled a new set of high-resolution images revealing the plan of the Roman town of Venta Icenorum at Caistor St Edmund in Norfolk. The survey confirms street plan, water supply system, and public buildings like baths and temples.
A University of Colorado at Boulder team discovered a large manioc field in the ancient village of Ceren in El Salvador, which was buried under volcanic ash around A.D. 600. The cultivation system is believed to be the first evidence of intensive manioc farming at any New World archaeology site.
Researchers have identified caribou-hunting structures and camps used by early hunters in the Great Lakes region. The discovery sheds light on the Paleo-Indian and Archaic periods, which are poorly known due to lost sites beneath the lakes.
A new study examines how past Caribbean communities coped with rising sea levels, crop failures, and extreme weather. Researchers found that people adapted by building houses on stilts, diversifying food production, and relocating to cave complexes during hurricanes.
Archaeologists are racing to preserve the ancient underwater town of Pavlopetri, off southern Laconia in Greece. The site, dating back to 2800 BC, offers major insights into Mycenaean society and its workings.
A UCLA archaeologist finds that eBay's online auction house has an unexpected chilling effect on looting of antiquities, diverting villages to producing fake artifacts instead. The proliferation of these copies reduces incentives to loot and depresses the market for real items.
The discovery of a well-preserved temple in Turkey's Tayinat site has revealed that ruling dynasties survived the Bronze Age collapse, contradicting traditional views. The temple's Luwian hieroglyphics and extensive remains suggest strong cultural connections with the Aegean world during the early Iron Age.
Researchers found evidence of maize and squash domestication in the Xihuatoxtla Shelter in southwestern Mexico, dating back 9,000 years. The findings contradict previous assumptions that maize domestication occurred in highland areas.
A recent study found that humans actively changed the coats of domestic animals through selective breeding, leading to diverse coat colors and patterns. The researchers discovered that domestic pigs with rare genetic mutations had altered proteins, while wild pigs lacked such changes due to rapid selection by predators.
Researchers found evidence of ancient chemical warfare in a Roman siege, with the Persians using bitumen and sulphur crystals to create choking gases. The discovery sheds new light on the tactics used by the Sasanian Persians during the 256 AD siege.
A recent study suggests that Neanderthals went extinct due to competition with Cro-Magnon populations. The researchers used a predictive method to analyze the distribution of archaeological sites and reconstructed climatic conditions during this period.
The team aims to create a visual archaeological database (VAD) to transform the documentation process of excavations. Using video cameras, digital scanning stations, and computer vision, they will analyze and reconstruct artifacts from the Apollonia-Arsuf site in Israel.
Archaeologists discovered starch grains on ancient human teeth in Peru, revealing the earliest consumption of beans and pacay. The findings suggest that New World people were committed farmers earlier than thought, dating back over 2,000 years.
The University of Leicester is presenting at the Online Educa 2008 conference, discussing new developments in e-learning and their impact on day-to-day operations. Professor Gilly Salmon is leading a discussion on the key challenges faced by universities, including the shift from control to teachers and learners.
Archaeologists discovered an 800-pound basalt stele at Zincirli, a major Iron Age site in southeastern Turkey. The stele features an incised image of the man Kuttamuwa and provides written evidence that people believed the soul was separate from the body.
Researchers found evidence of a mother, father, and two sons aged 8-9 and 4-5 years buried face-to-face with arms interlinked. The graves also showed signs of violent raids and injuries, indicating a tragic event in prehistoric Central Europe.
A 12,000-year-old Natufian shaman's skeleton has been discovered in northern Israel with a unique burial ritual. The grave contained 50 complete tortoise shells, the pelvis of a leopard, and a human foot, indicating a high social status and close relationship with animal spirits.
Researchers have found that small islands in the Caribbean were preferred by early settlers for their rich marine resources and fertile coastlines. These smaller islands offered better wind flow, fewer mosquitoes, and more abundant fish, making them an attractive choice for subsistence and economic benefits.
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of ancient copper-production center at Khirbat en-Nahas, dating back to the 10th century BCE, pushing back archaeological chronology by three centuries. The discovery supports biblical narratives and raises questions about the historicity of King David and Solomon's rule.
The discovery of burned flint at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov site pushes back the accepted date for man's fire-making ability by half a million years, indicating that early humans controlled fire from 790,000 years ago. This skill enabled ancient humans to leave their surroundings and populate new environments.
Researchers uncover clay bundle filled with metal objects, believed to be one of the earliest examples of African spirit practices in North America. The bundle, dated to around 1700, shows unique design and construction unlike other African-American spiritual practices.
A new study analyzing Oetzi's hair samples reveals his clothes were made from sheep and cattle fur, supporting the idea that he was a herdsman. The technique used could be faster and more reliable for checking animal hair products and aiding manufacturers in adhering to EU laws.
A team of Princeton University researchers has developed an automated system that can reconstruct wall paintings from fragments, reducing the time needed from years to months. The 'Griphos' system employs a combination of computer algorithms and mirrors traditional archaeological procedures, enabling archaeologists to use it as a tool.
Researchers used a genetic technique pioneered at Stanford to analyze Y chromosomes from men in Tanzania and southern Africa. They discovered a novel mutation shared by some men in both locations, implying a common ancestor, and found that pastoralists first tended sheep and cattle in southern Africa around 2,000 years ago. This new ge...
An IUPUI professor's early career decision to rebury Native American human remains earned him international recognition in world archaeology. Zimmerman's act paved the way for a generation of Native Americans to join the profession without sacrificing their moral beliefs.
Archaeologists have discovered a treasure trove of stone tools at a site in West Sussex, revealing a thriving and developed population of northern Europe's last Neanderthals. The tools, which date back to between 35,000 and 42,000 years ago, showcase the group's sophisticated hunting skills and technological prowess.
A team of Israeli and Palestinian archaeologists, guided by UCLA and USC experts, has reached the first-ever agreement on the disposition of the region's archaeological heritage. The 39-point document proposes repatriation of artifacts to their original state, protection of cultural sites, and equal access for scholars and the public.
A Russian-American research team has made significant discoveries about the origins of whaling culture in the Arctic region. The findings suggest that prehistoric cultures were hunting whales at least 3,000 years ago, with evidence found at the Un'en'en site on the Chukotka Peninsula.
Researchers have discovered evidence of maize consumption in tropical Ecuador dating back over 5,000 years. The findings suggest that corn was a vital food crop for villages in the region, contradicting previous theories that it was only used for ritual purposes.
MIT researchers used computer analysis and replica construction to demonstrate the feasibility of ancient Pacific trade routes using balsa rafts. The study shows that these rafts could carry up to 30 tons of cargo and had a complex steering mechanism.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has received a $822,000 gift from the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation to support the purchase of three high-powered electron microscopes. These microscopes will form the nucleus of a groundbreaking research unit, enhancing scientific research capabilities across various disc...
A team of archaeologists from the Field Museum and Shandong University have conducted a 13-year survey of southeastern Shandong Province using the regional settlement pattern survey method. This approach reveals the overall layout of settlements, providing insights into population density, trade, and other factors. The research sheds n...
A Queensland University of Technology researcher has discovered two new pigments at the famous Maya archaeological site in Honduras that would have had a lustrous effect. The pigments, including green and mica, were found on stucco masks and revealed that the Rosalila temple was built using over 15 layers of paint and stucco.
The University of Arizona's Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research will receive a $9M donation from Agnese N. Haury to build a new archive for its vast collection of over two million tree-ring samples, providing access to data on climate change and environmental issues. The lab has been instrumental in unlocking mysteries in archaeology, eco...
Researchers have pushed back the known use of cacao by 500 years, tracing it to fermented beverages made from sweet pulp and seeds between 1400 and 1100 B.C.E. This discovery sheds light on the early development of chocolate culture in the Americas.
Archaeologist Julie M. Schablitsky is leading an exploratory excavation of the grounds on John Paul Jones' boyhood home in Kirkbean, Scotland. The project aims to identify possible locations of outbuildings and cisterns using remote sensing techniques.
Researchers used CT scans to reveal a close-to-the-shoulder artery lesion in the Iceman, confirming his cause of death as a result of an arrowhead injury. The discovery sheds new light on life conditions in the past and the evolution of diseases.
The NWO Spinoza prize is awarded to Dutch researchers who make groundbreaking contributions to their field. This year's winners are Prof. Deirdre Curtin (law), Prof. Marcel Dicke (ecological entomology), Prof. Leo Kouwenhoven (physics), and Prof. Wil Roebroeks (archaeology), each receiving €1.5 million.
New evidence from Mexico's Central Balsas valley links crop domestication in the New World to local environmental history. Agriculture originated during a warm, wet period following the last ice age, and its effects on the environment are still evident today.
A team of Texas A&M researchers is recovering artifacts from a 200-year-old shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico, making it the deepest such recovery effort ever attempted. The vessel's identity and origin remain a mystery, but analysis suggests it was likely from the late 1700s or early 1800s.
Researchers propose a comet impacted the Laurentide Ice Sheet, causing a 1,000-year-long cold spell and fragmenting human populations. The theory suggests that this event led to the extinction of numerous animal genera and ecological shifts.
Researchers reconstructed the species' prehistoric geographical range using techniques from archaeology, biochemistry, and ecology. Prehistoric northern fur seals were year-round residents in California, nursing their young for much longer than modern fur seals.
Researchers use archaeology, biochemistry, and ecology to study the behavior and ecology of northern fur seals over 1,500 years. They find evidence of reproductive behavior in prehistoric populations that differs from modern populations.
Astronomers have measured the age of a star in our Galaxy using ESO's VLT, finding it to be 13.2 billion years old, nearly as old as the Universe itself. This discovery was made possible by a new technique that combines radioactive elements thorium and uranium to accurately determine a star's age.
A new grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities will support the development of an interactive Web site and a published Cultural Atlas of the Ancient Mongolian Altai. The project aims to document the region's archaeology, geospatial data, and cultural significance in the face of threats from mining, tourism, and climate change.
Scientists analyzed DNA and tooth shape in modern and ancient pigs to contradict longstanding ideas about Pacific colonist origins. The research suggests that ancient humans may have traveled between islands before reaching New Guinea and eventually landing on Hawaii and French Polynesia.
Researchers at Yale University and the University of Leicester have discovered an ancient solar observatory at Chankillo, Peru, dating back to the 4th century B.C. The site features a line of 13 towers aligned with the sun's position throughout the year, making it the oldest complete solar observatory in the Americas.
Ancient people in Panama processed domesticated plants like maize, manioc, and arrowroot at least 7,800 years ago, revealing an earlier practice of farming than previously thought. This discovery confirms the importance of starch grain analysis as a method for studying human subsistence practices in tropical forests.
Researchers have traced the earliest known evidence for chili pepper domestication to sites in Ecuador dating back 6,100 years. The analysis of starch microfossils reveals that common varieties of chili peppers were widely used in a region extending from the Bahamas to southern Peru.
Archaeologists have uncovered stone 'hammers' dating back 4,300 years in the Taï rainforest, used by chimpanzees to crack nuts. The discovery confirms that some of humanity's behavioral hallmarks were inherited from a common ancestor with great apes.
The discovery suggests that modern humans migrated out of Africa and occupied parts of eastern Europe as early as 45,000 years ago. The findings are based on the analysis of stone tools, beadwork, and other artifacts found at the Kostenki site in Russia.
Researchers used satellite imagery meshed with video-game technology to trace the movements of ancient people in present-day Costa Rica, who reused single-file paths for over 1,000 years. The project revealed that villagers viewed footpaths as 'living entities' and reoccupied them after devastating eruptions.
The discovery of Little Foot, an Australopithecus fossil, has been revised to be around 2.2 million years old, pushing it back from earlier estimates of 3-4 million years. The findings suggest that Little Foot is a distant cousin rather than a direct ancestor of humans.
Researchers discovered a new gene in the gulf pipefish that codes for an astacin protein, previously associated with kidney and liver function. This protein may have evolved to support male pregnancy in this species, a mystery in evolutionary biology.
Researchers uncover the secret recipe behind Hessian crucibles, a 500-year-old alchemists' lab kit component that was previously unknown to be used in their manufacture. The discovery sheds light on the skill and ingenuity of ancient craftsmen who exploited modern materials centuries before they were understood scientifically.