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.
A recent discovery in Syria has uncovered an ancient mortuary complex containing human and animal remains, gold, and silver treasures. The site, dated to the third millennium B.C., suggests a royal cemetery with signs of ritual sacrifice, including infant and animal remains.
The study reveals that plant genomes evolved from a far more dynamic structure than previously believed, with genes being lost, replicated or shifted over time. This challenges the notion of biotechnologists performing 'unnatural acts' when inserting genes into crops.
A University of Calgary archaeologist has proposed a new theory suggesting the First Nations of the Canadian Plains developed complex tribal social structures around 2,500 to 2,000 years ago. This finding contradicts the long-held view that European arrival and horse domestication led to the adoption of large tribes.
Researchers have discovered that beads date back between 100,000 to 135,000 years ago, indicating a sophisticated level of symbolic thinking in early humans. This finding has major implications for understanding the origins of behaviorally modern humans and their ability to use symbols.
Researchers have long wondered how Chaco rulers controlled outlying communities, but a new book suggests that the Southwestern skies played a crucial role in establishing a 'line-of-site' system. The book explores Chaco's economy, politics, and history, shedding light on the culture's architecture and settlement patterns.
Researchers found evidence of ancient fig domestication at Gilgal I site, suggesting humans selectively propagated a parthenocarpic mutant around 11,400 years ago. This marked the beginning of agriculture and a significant change in human history.
The study reveals that during periods of warm weather globally, the Pacific was cold and dry. Conversely, during cold weather elsewhere, the Pacific experienced warm and stormy conditions. This ancient climate data informs modern concerns about climate change in the Pacific region.
A new three-year project is investigating the earliest development of sea fisheries in Northern Europe, with a focus on the critical period between 950AD and 1050AD. Researchers are analyzing fish bones from archaeological sites across the region to understand the impact of intensive sea fishing on medieval trading patterns.
Scientists are using lead isotope analysis to study ancient copper artifacts from sub-Saharan Africa, providing insights into the spread of Islam and trade patterns across the Sahara Desert. The analysis reveals that merchants traded gold from regions like present-day Niger for copper from North Africa via camel caravans.
Researchers discovered ancient ship timbers at Wadi Gawasis site, dating back approximately 4,000 years, indicating a 2,000-mile round-trip voyage to Punt, a southern Red Sea trading center. The findings confirm the Egyptians had the naval technology to travel long distances by sea.
A new study compares handedness of medieval English villagers to modern-day sample, finding that active individuals display a high degree of asymmetry. Researchers used skeletal analysis to determine changes in hand preference over time, shedding light on the evolution of right- and left-handedness.
A new study examines the role of the 'showoff hypothesis' in social decisions among Hadza hunter-gatherers. Most participants chose to live with good hunters to gain access to more food and better nutrients, despite some men preferring poorer hunters to showcase their hunting prowess.
A study in rural Ethiopia found that a tapped water supply reduced the time spent carrying water, leading to improved child survival but also increasing birth rates and childhood malnutrition. The researchers suggest that development projects should be multisectoral to avoid long-term problems.
A novel autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) has photographed the ancient Greek shipwreck on the ocean floor, revealing detailed images of cargo remnants. The project marks a significant milestone in underwater archaeology, using advanced technology to survey and map shipwrecks with unprecedented accuracy.
A new study challenges prior models of behavioral and cognitive differences between Neanderthals and modern humans. Researchers suggest that the establishment of larger social networks allowed for more extensive division of labor and routine use of distant resources, potentially driving the replacement of Neanderthals in the Caucasus.
Researchers analyzed bone fragments at the Donner Family campsite in California's Tahoe National Forest, finding no conclusive evidence of cannibalism. The team discovered domestic and wild animals were consumed, but human bone was not identified.
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati have uncovered a significant ancient Greek temple in coastal Albania, dating back to the late 6th century B.C. The temple's discovery is expected to contribute substantially to the understanding of religious life in the Adriatic region during the Archaic and Classical periods.
Researchers Bocquet-Appel and Naji found a sudden 20-30% increase in birth rates worldwide during the Neolithic period, as indicated by an abrupt change in skeletal evidence. This finding corroborates a global demographic transition, with archaeological evidence showing parallels between Europe, North Africa, and the Americas.
A team of researchers assembled ancient gourd remnants across the Americas and found they matched modern gourds in Asia, suggesting a pre-pottery Asian origin. The findings indicate that people arrived in the New World with domesticated plants and tools, changing our understanding of the founding of the Americas.
The UK's top science stories highlight significant advancements in bone health technology, underwater archaeology, and superconductors. These innovations hold promise for improving human health, enhancing technological capabilities, and shaping the nation's future economic development.
Researchers suggest that modern human expansion in South Asia was a complex process, with evidence indicating diversity of behavioral responses and competition driving the demise of indigenous archaic hominids. The study challenges the idea of a sudden 'revolution' in modern human behavior 50,000 years ago.
A genetic analysis by Francisco Salzano and colleagues supports Rodrigues' suggestion of a close connection between Carib and Tupi, while Je and Maipure show more distant relationships. The study provides new insights into the complex history of South American Native languages.
A new study examines how publicly funded organizations used information and communications technologies to shape regional identities and overcome social, economic, and political problems. The research reveals the widespread adoption of ICTs in 'place-making' projects across Europe.
A University of Cincinnati team is interviewing Inupiaq elders to better understand and predict future environmental changes, combining western science with traditional knowledge. The research focuses on climate and environment on Alaska's North Slope, with unique findings on the impacts of global warming.
A recent archaeological comparison of genetic traits indicates that Moche sacrificial victims were not local elite, but rather warriors captured from nearby valleys. This finding suggests territorial conflict and competition among Moche populations in each valley.
Researchers Gary Urton and Carrie J. Brezine discovered that khipu, or quipu, were used as bureaucratic ledgers to track accounting data in the Inka Empire. The devices contained cumulative numerical data, suggesting a complex system of record-keeping and labor management.
Researchers used XRF imaging to analyze ancient stone inscriptions, detecting minute amounts of iron, zinc, and lead. The technique restored thousands of stones, including the law code of Draco, providing valuable information for historians and archaeologists.
The discovery confirms a long-term association between people and livestock in southern Africa, challenging the view that the Kalahari was isolated. The findings provide insights into the spread of domestic livestock throughout Africa, highlighting the role of diseases such as tripanosomiasis in delaying their introduction.
Researchers Jane Schneider and Peter Schneider uncover a diverse Sicily, where the mafia and antimafia have distinct values and practices. The study reveals Sicilians' ability to organize democratically for community goals, challenging established views on their culture.
The study found that freshwater mussel populations declined gradually between 5000 and 1000 years ago, but accelerated after large-scale maize cultivation started. This suggests human activities like land clearing have measurable effects on aquatic ecosystems.
Penn State researchers are using neutron activation analysis to measure gold in tree rings and link them to volcanic eruptions. By analyzing the rings' chemical composition, they can identify patterns and correlations with known volcanic events.
Researchers found well-preserved cedar timbers, curved steering oars, and limestone block-anchors from ancient Egyptian ships. The discoveries shed new light on Egypt's sea-faring past and provide insight into trade expeditions to the Red Sea region known as Punt.
Researchers have successfully cloned meat and milk from bulls and cows, showing no significant differences in quality compared to naturally bred animals. Meanwhile, a study suggests that early humans may have driven elephant extinctions on multiple continents.
Researchers from University of California at Santa Barbara explore traditional methods for making maize beer, barley and emmer wheat beer, and other ancient beverages. They find that operational chains of food and beverage production offered challenges and opportunities to sponsors, shaping feasting strategies.
Researchers found nearly half of ancient grains were rice, contradicting earlier theories. The discovery also suggests a rice-wheat complex developed before writing emerged in the region.
Archaeologists have discovered ancient sheep dung in the Negev Desert, revealing the earliest evidence of domestic herding in the region. The dung dates back an estimated 7,000 years and has preserved valuable information about the lives of early pastoral nomads.
The SAA's Book Award recognizes 'Ancient Mexico & Central America' for its impact on archaeological research and understanding of Mesoamerica's cultural history. The book, written by Penn State adjunct professor Evans, is an informative and fun guide to the region.
The 'Dig Manchester' project has seen the community come together to uncover history, with businesses donating goods in kind and a sense of community pride emerging. The three-year programme will also involve similar projects in Northenden and Wythenshawe, aiming to promote local heritage and regeneration.
Researchers analyze brain case of 3-foot-tall Hobbit, finding few similarities to microcephalics and pygmies. The findings support the theory that the fossil is a member of a unique ancestral species, Homo floresiensis.
Researchers Arkush and Stanish argue that the Andes were home to more frequent and devastating conflicts than previously believed. They contend that a better understanding of the archaeological signatures of warfare will clarify the course of war and peace in the region.
Researchers are developing a new prototype for retrieving 3D archaeological structure data from subsurface surveying, enabling the creation of an underground image of pre-Inca city Tiwanaku. This three-year project aims to overcome technological bottlenecks in processing and fusing large amounts of sub-surface data.
Researchers analyzed ancient liquids in bronze vessels from China, dating back to the Shang and Western Zhou Dynasties, and found evidence of fermented rice and millet wines. The discovery confirms a 9,000-year history of Chinese fermented beverages and sheds light on their role in ancient culture.
Researchers developed a method to reconstruct ancestral genome sequences by comparing them with modern species' genomes, revealing new insights into mammalian evolution and biology. The technique achieved an accuracy of over 98% in reconstructing the ancestral sequence.
Researchers at Harvard University have found evidence of ancient grain milling and baking 23,000 years ago in present-day Israel. The discovery provides insight into the transition from foraging to food production, revealing that humans first developed technologies to process wild grains around 20,000 years ago.
The INEEL's Ecological and Cultural Resources Department developed a computer program to integrate historical, archaeological, and anthropological research data. The Data Management Tool (DMT) helps archaeologists navigate detailed information, draw interactive maps, and predict where new artifacts might be found.
A team of archaeologists has uncovered a cooking hearth and bone fragments at Alder Creek Camp in the Tahoe National Forest, providing new evidence to locate the Donner Party camp and settle debates about cannibalism. The discovery includes broken china, bits of jewelry, musket balls, fragments of a wagon, and a chunk of a writing slate.
The project aims to discover how the integrated community worked, how families interacted with each other and their involvement in the Underground Railroad. The team has found artifacts consistent with the time period of New Philadelphia, including broken dinnerware, iron nails and hardware.
A team of archaeologists has unearthed conclusive evidence of early humans' control over fire in Eurasia, dating back to the Acheulian culture. The discovery, made at the Benot Ya'aqov site in Israel, reveals that ancient humans used fire for cooking and warmth, significantly impacting their diet and survival.
A team of archaeologists from Boston University has uncovered the story of life among rural Maya in Belize's Sibun River Valley during the Late Classic Period. The research reveals a community that practiced sustainable agriculture and maintained dense vegetation to support their trade product: cacao.
Corn's genetic origins have been revised after a study found it arose from a serendipitously viable cross between teosinte and gamagrass. Eubanks' research confirms teosinte was an ancestor of corn, with gamagrass contributing key genes.
Researchers have uncovered three new rock art depictions of armored horses on the Purgatoire River in southeast Colorado, shedding light on the Comanche's use of horse armor. The finds are significant as they provide a unique window into Comanche history and culture, dating back to the 17th century.
The Charleston earthworks, built in 1862-1863, are gradually eroding at a rate of about five millimeters a year. Researchers have been documenting the pattern and rate of this degradation to better understand natural hillslope evolution.
A magnificent Maya altar stone carved in 796 AD has been recovered from a looters' hideout, providing crucial clues about the wealthiest Maya kingdoms. The altar's recovery illustrates the importance of working with indigenous peoples to restore ancient ruins.
A study of fossil records at Grotte XVI found that Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon both hunted a wide variety of game, including reindeer and red deer. The researchers also discovered a sharp drop in cave bear numbers from Neanderthal to Cro-Magnon times, suggesting competition for living space may have led to their extinction.
A digital library is being developed to gather, preserve, and publicize historical and real-time data for archaeologists, humanists, and social scientists. The library will focus on ancient Near Eastern studies and include electronic tools like DigKit and DigBase to collect, record, and share data.
A recent archaeological discovery at a site in Colchester, Vermont, has shed new light on the presence of Native Americans in the region 9,000 years ago. The find includes fragments of Agate Basin points, which were used during the Late Paleoindian period and suggest that people from different regions shared cultural traits.
The book, written by Dr. Georges Stoops, provides a system of analysis and description of soil and regolith materials seen in thin sections. It aims to standardize descriptions of features found in thin section analysis, facilitating communication among scientists using micromorphology.
A team of archaeologists has confirmed the historicity of King Solomon's reign, citing evidence from excavations at Tel Rehov in Israel. The findings, published in Science magazine, provide a strong anchor for dating other sites with similar material culture to the time of the United Monarchy.
The EarthWorks project uses architectural software and high-resolution computer modeling to virtually rebuild ancient Native American monuments. The team has successfully recreated the location and appearance of many region's earthworks constructed by the Adena, Hopewell and Fort Ancient cultures from as early as 600 BC.