Researchers from the University of the Basque Country found that pyroclastic materials protecting Pompeii paintings also cause damage when exposed to air and humidity. The study identified fluorine ions in the salts responsible for damage, suggesting a link between volcanic origin and salt crystallization.
Research suggests Neanderthals used power 'squeeze' grips to hold tools, which provided greater stability and leverage. This finding contrasts with the preferred precision grip of modern humans, highlighting differences in thumb anatomy and tool use behaviors.
Researchers have identified small-seeded native plants that may have fed as many Indigenous people as maize, thanks to the presence of bison. By following bison trails and paths in tallgrass prairies, scientists were able to harvest seeds from continuous stands of these crops, including little barley, sumpweed, and maygrass.
An interdisciplinary team analyzed over 600 fossils from 82 archaeological sites in the Iberian Peninsula, revealing common presence at major sites and changes throughout prehistory. The study confirms the need for an interdisciplinary approach to analyze zooarchaeological records and sheds new light on fossil collection practices.
A study analyzing peat layers in Pawski Lug, Poland found that the transition from tribal to feudal living had a significant impact on the local ecosystem. The shift from small-scale forest burning to large-scale deforestation led to changes in plant composition and groundwater levels.
An international team has received a 10 million euro grant to investigate the evolution of human quantification. The QUANTA project will analyze quantification as a bio-cultural phenomenon, combining insights from anthropology, linguistics, archaeology, and cognitive science.
The Material Minds Project investigates how cultural artefacts shape our minds and processing information. Using a unique blend of archaeology, vision science, and cognitive philosophy, the project tests the hypothesis that materiality drives cognitive change.
A multidisciplinary team will assess the significance of marine life to human societies during the last two millennia. The 4-OCEANS project aims to understand the consequences of marine resource exploitation for societal development, with a focus on informing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the Decade for the Oceans.
A new study has uncovered DNA evidence of Bartonella quintana, the bacteria responsible for trench fever, in civilian remains dating back thousands of years. The discovery sheds light on the complex history of trench fever and provides insight into the lives of Christian citizens in Roman Syracuse.
Researchers from the University of Sydney have reconstructed ancient seasonal migration routes of Bronze Age herders in Xinjiang using satellite imagery and archaeological evidence. This innovative methodology provides new insights into how Bronze Age people adapted to life in the region and capitalised on available resources.
Researchers found that culinary traditions, such as boiling or steaming grains, influenced the adoption of novel crops like wheat and barley in central China. The north-south dietary distinction emerged around 8,000 years ago, with millet being a staple grain in the north and rice and other foods in the south.
A study revealed that individual differences can be detected in same-shaped pottery vessels, with greater variation during the formation process than in the finished form. Researchers used video footage and hand movement analysis to identify unique patterns, shedding light on how individuals adapt traditional skills.
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Georgia Tech used supercomputers to model the formation of the first stars, known as Population III or Pop III stars. Their simulations showed that these ancient stars forged heavier elements, such as carbon, which seeded the next generation of stars.
Archaeologists discovered a rare and unusual collection of artifacts at a Classic Maya sweat bath in Guatemala, suggesting the structure was embodied by an amphibian goddess. The offering included human remains, juvenile animals, and stone tools, indicating the community's attempt to appease the goddess for survival.
The study found that modern humans settled along the Mediterranean coast before expanding into the Sinai desert and eastern Jordanian Rift Valley. Favorable environmental conditions, including a freshwater lake known as Lake Lisan, enabled human settlement and spread throughout the region.
Researchers have discovered evidence of Byzantine and Early Islamic resource management practices through micro-geoarchaeological investigations of trash mounds in the Negev region of Israel. The findings provide insights into agricultural shifts during the Roman Imperial Period and Late Antiquity.
Fossils found in southeastern Yunan Province, China, reveal monkeys existed in Asia alongside apes, and are believed to be ancestors of modern East Asian monkeys. These ancient primates were well adapted for movement both on land and in trees, with a versatile diet that allowed them to thrive in diverse environments.
Researchers found that the loss of grasslands was instrumental in the extinction of many megafauna, including ancient humans like Homo erectus. Tropical forests dominated the region from present-day Myanmar to Indonesia, but began to give way to savannah environments around a million years ago.
Researchers have discovered 572 previously unknown rock art images in northwest Arnhem Land, dating back between 6,000 and 9,400 years. The images depict large, naturalistic humans and macropods with animals often shown more frequently than human figures.
Researchers have found two human skulls and a goat skeleton with unique features in Cueva de la Dehesilla, Spain. The site reveals new insights into the funerary rituals of Neolithic Iberian populations, challenging previous understanding of burials in the region.
Researchers at University College London have discovered that chromium steel was first made in ancient Persia, dating back to the 11th century CE. The production of chromium crucible steel marks a distinct Persian tradition, separate from Central Asian methods.
A recent study found that genomic adaptations to a rice-based diet may mitigate the risk of obesity and diabetes in some east-Asian populations. The researchers analyzed the genomes of over 2,000 subjects and identified genetic modifications associated with lower BMI and reduced insulin resistance.
Researchers have discovered evidence of the ancient disease yaws in skeletal remains from Vietnam, dating back 4000 years. The study suggests that yaws was introduced to hunter-gatherers by agricultural populations moving south from modern-day China.
A 48,000-year-old milk-tooth found in Veneto, Italy, is confirmed to belong to a child Neanderthal, providing valuable insights into human evolution. The study's findings suggest that Neanderthals were present in the area until around 45,000 years ago.
Viking identity was not limited to Scandinavian ancestry, with Scottish and non-Scandinavian ancestry found in some individuals. Gene flow from the British Isles, Southern Europe, and Asia also occurred during the Viking Age.
A recent paper in Nature Ecology and Evolution discusses the future of field-based sciences amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors outline epidemiological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, its effects on field sciences, and propose remodelled working practices to overcome challenges.
A study has discovered that unglazed ceramic cookware can retain the residue of not just the last meal cooked, but potentially earlier dishes, allowing for the reconstruction of ancient recipes. The research team analyzed chemical compounds adhering to and absorbed by the earthenware in which they were prepared.
Researchers at Tel Kabri in Israel discovered evidence that an earthquake may have destroyed a flourishing Canaanite palace around 3,700 years ago. The team found warping of plaster floors, tilted walls, and mud bricks that collapsed into rooms, suggesting a rapid collapse without fire or combat.
Researchers argue that cell-autonomous immunity, a ancient defense mechanism in human cells, plays a crucial role in shaping human evolution. Understanding this concept is essential for developing effective treatments for diseases like sepsis, as traditional approaches often fail due to the immune system's conserved mechanisms.
A year-long cooking experiment found that charred remains, inner surface residues, and lipids absorbed within the ceramic walls record cooking events across different time scales. This provides insights into ancient culinary practices, resource usage, and vessel lifespan.
A two-metre-long Atlantic sturgeon discovered in a 1495 shipwreck off Sweden's coast reveals insights into the Baltic Sea's ecosystem during the Middle Ages. The well-preserved fish remains were identified through DNA analysis, providing a unique link between the sturgeon and royal politics.
Researchers have discovered hundreds of massive stone structures in northwest Saudi Arabia, dated to 7,000 years ago, suggesting they were used for rituals and social bonding exercises. The structures, called mustatils, consist of two large platforms connected by long walls and lack obvious openings.
Research by Flinders University PhD candidate Matt Firth challenges long-held assumptions about the Royal Navy's origins, finding evidence that a tradition of defensive naval action existed before Alfred the Great's reign. The study also sheds light on medieval burial ships and cultural contact between England and Scandinavia.
Advanced X-ray imaging reveals details on ancient cat, bird and snake mummification, including possible causes of death and complex ritualistic behavior. The technique provides insights into conditions in which animals were kept and their relationships with humans.
The study found that the fetal skull and maternal pelvis show covariation to facilitate smooth delivery, contradicting previous hypotheses about bipedalism's role in this process. Researchers used CT scans to analyze the anatomy of rhesus macaques and found evidence of this adaptative relationship.
Researchers developed new international radiocarbon calibration curves, improving accuracy for dating artefacts and predicting future climate patterns. The updated curves provide previously impossible precision and detail, enabling scientists to study the demise of the Neanderthals and understand historic climate patterns.
A 480,000-year-old archaeological site in Sussex, England, has provided unprecedented insights into the life of a poorly understood human species. The site reveals that early humans engaged in cooperative activities and shared tools, suggesting highly social spaces for interaction and learning.
Two startup nonprofits in Jordan are documenting, conserving, protecting and making decisions about the future of Jordan's archaeological sites. Professor Allison Mickel is studying their progress to understand what works and what doesn't in engaging local communities in heritage management.
A team of astronomers discovered a stellar stream composed of the remnants of an ancient globular cluster torn apart by the Milky Way's gravity 2 billion years ago. The Phoenix Stream is distinct from other globular clusters and suggests that there may be no minimum abundance of heavier elements required for their formation.
A study published in PNAS reveals a significant economic downturn in the Byzantine Empire's arid Negev desert during a pandemic in the mid-6th century CE. The research analyzed seeds found in ancient trash mounds, including grape pips, which show a high frequency, suggesting an increase in viticulture and wine export.
A study from Washington University in St. Louis reveals that Indigenous people in Oconee Valley continued to live and resist European influence for nearly 150 years, reframing historical narratives of early colonial encounters. The research highlights the longevity and endurance of Indigenous Mississippian traditions.
New research reveals the oldest Indigenous site along Australia's longest river system, confirming a 29,000-year-old occupation timeline for the River Murray region. The findings provide deeper insights into how Aboriginal people responded to climate challenges and stress during the Last Glacial Maximum.
A team of archaeologists has discovered the earliest known domestic cat in northern Eurasia, dating back to the late 8th century AD. The well-preserved skeleton revealed that humans cared for the tomcat, suggesting a longer history of human-cat interactions than previously thought.
Researchers studied thousands of oyster shells to understand Native American harvesting practices, revealing a remarkable stability of oyster reefs prior to the 20th century. The study highlights the importance of Indigenous ecological knowledge for modern reef management.
A study using isotopic analysis reveals that ancient cats in Central Europe had a synanthropic diet, suggesting close human-cat relations. The findings indicate that cats first migrated to the region from the Near East around 4,200-2,300 BC.
Researchers found that a diet dominated by vegetables, cereals, beef, and mutton remained largely unchanged after the Norman Conquest. Only short-term changes were observed, with pork becoming a more popular choice and dairy products used less.
UW-Madison researchers have created a safer way to deliver mRNA-based therapy for cancer, liver disorders, and vaccination. Tiny mineral particles (MCMs) with pores on their surface can carry molecules like proteins or messenger RNA, mimicking ancient discoveries in archaeology.
The discovery of two underwater archaeological sites off northwest Australia dates back to when the current seabed was dry land. Hundreds of stone tools made by Aboriginal peoples have been found at these sites, providing new evidence of their ways of life.
A new study suggests that prehistoric people relied on shellfish to sustain them as they migrated out of Africa, particularly during periods of drought. The availability of these marine mollusks allowed for continuous harvests without major ecological impacts.
Researchers have found evidence of the earliest use of bow-and-arrow technologies in the tropical rainforests of Sri Lanka, dating back to ~48,000 years ago. This discovery challenges traditional assumptions about human innovation and cultural development in extreme environments.
New research at the 'Joe's Garden' site in Papua New Guinea reveals insights into past subsistence patterns, including the consumption of starchy plants like tree nuts and tubers. The findings confirm the long-term survival of these microfossils in an equatorial context.
A new study reveals that most cultural changes in the Near East had no lasting effect on the genetics of local people in Beirut. Only three periods - Iron Age, Alexander the Great's arrival, and Ottoman Empire domination - left a lasting genetic impact.
French prehistory saw two significant migration waves: Neolithic and Bronze Age, which mixed with native hunter-gatherers. The study found that 7,000 years of admixture between these groups still influences the genomes of French people.
A recent study has uncovered evidence of ancient cultivated rice in Central Asia, dating back to the Kushan period. The discovery sheds new light on the spread of rice agriculture and its role in early global trade.
Researchers discovered 188 engravings in a remote South Australian rockshelter that reveal traumatic period of European invasion and ongoing impacts of colonial settlement. A swastika symbol was found, etched in 1932, marking the first acts of trespass and desecration by police parties.
A global cooling event 4,200 years ago may have led to the evolution of new rice varieties and the spread of rice into northern and southern Asia. The study used genomics, archeology, and climate data to reconstruct the history of rice.
Fossilized footprints from Africa's largest human collection suggest a division of labor in ancient human communities. The 408 human footprints, dated between 19,100 and 5,760 years ago, indicate that females foraged together while males accompanied them or visited them.
Archaeological finds of Boa vertebrae on Martinique and Guadeloupe suggest the snake's cultural significance in pre-Columbian Lesser Antilles. The discovery also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research to reconstruct lost pasts.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered that three Göbekli Tepe structures were initially planned as a single project, showcasing early use of geometric patterns and architectural planning. The site's complexity contradicts previous assumptions about hunter-gatherer capabilities.
New discoveries at Bacho Kiro Cave in Bulgaria reveal the earliest evidence of Homo sapiens in Europe, with fossils dating back to 45,820 years ago. The findings indicate that Homo sapiens arrived in Europe and interacted with Neanderthals, bringing new behaviors and tools.