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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers analyze fossil teeth from Timor and Alor islands to study ecological adaptations of earliest Homo sapiens. The study shows that humans relied on coastal resources initially, but then adapted to tropical forest environments around 20,000 years ago.
A study has tracked the shift from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to early farming in prehistoric Europe. Dairy products were found in 80% of pottery fragments from the Atlantic coast of Britain and Ireland.
Researchers discovered the walls and artifacts of Fort San Antón de Carlos, a Spanish fort built in 1566 on present-day Mound Key. The fort is an early example of tabby architecture and confirms the location of the Calusa capital.
Researchers analyzed ancient pottery fragments from 61 sites in the Baltic region, revealing distinct food preferences and culinary practices among different groups. The study found evidence of dairy products in some vessels, suggesting cultural fusion with early farmers.
Researchers in Papua New Guinea have found evidence of early agriculture and trade routes dating back to 5050-4200 years ago. This discovery challenges previous assumptions of the Neolithic period and sheds light on the development of cultural diversity in the region.
A six-millimetre-long cord fragment discovered in Abri du Maras, France, dates back to between 41,000-52,000 years ago and features a three-ply cord made from natural fibres. The discovery suggests that Neanderthals may have possessed advanced cognitive abilities, including mathematical concepts and basic numeracy skills.
Researchers discovered evidence of cord making on a flint fragment from Abri du Maras in France, dating back 40,000 years. The remains showed twisted fibres made of cellulose, likely from coniferous trees, highlighting the cognitive abilities and knowledge of Neanderthals.
A new method of dating pottery allows archaeologists to date prehistoric finds with remarkable accuracy. The method, developed by the University of Bristol team, dates pots directly using fatty acids left behind from food preparation.
Researchers have uncovered surprising complexity behind ancient ostrich egg production, tracing origins to specific climatic zones and routes. The study also suggests eggs were taken from wild birds' nests despite evidence of captivity, adding luxury value due to risk and storage requirements.
The Calusa kingdom relied primarily on fishing due to the watercourts, which were built around A.D. 1300 and served as short-term holding pens for fish before consumption or preservation. The structure's design required an understanding of daily and seasonal tides, hydrology, and the biology of various fish species.
A Cornell University study re-dates Native American sites in the Mohawk Valley, revealing a more accurate historical timeline based on maize dating and statistical modeling. The findings challenge previous assumptions about trade practices and European contact.
A long-running ARC-funded project explores the recruitment and impact of Aboriginal men as native mounted police in Queensland, revealing ongoing psychological impacts of historical dispossession and frontier violence. The study argues that inter-generational trauma persists among Indigenous Australians.
A new study refines radiocarbon dating to better understand Mediterranean history, including the tomb of Tutankhamen and a volcanic eruption on Santorini. Regional variations in cosmic radiation lead to small but critical periods of variation in radiocarbon levels.
A study led by University of Arizona researchers challenges the long-held view of the Plaza Tree of Pueblo Bonito as a living tree in an otherwise treeless landscape. Dendroprovenance analysis revealed that the tree did not grow where it was found, suggesting it may have come from distant mountain ranges.
A unique rock carving with six limbs has been identified as a part man, part mantis, suggesting humans have linked mantids to the supernatural since ancient times. The petroglyph was discovered in Iran's Teymareh site and is believed to be between 40,000-4,000 years old.
A noblewoman from the Tang Dynasty was buried with her donkeys, indicating she wanted to continue playing her favorite sport, Lvju, after death. Researchers found donkey bones in Cui Shi's tomb, providing the first physical evidence of donkey polo in Imperial China.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE reveals that the people of La Bastida employed an intensive agricultural strategy, combining crops with animal husbandry to boost their food production and economic prosperity. This approach allowed them to feed a large population, increasing their productivity compared to other nearby communities.
A University of Michigan study reveals that ostrich eggshell beads were exchanged over long distances for at least 30,000 years, facilitating relationships between hunter-gatherer groups. The findings provide evidence of a complex exchange network used to share information on resources and landscapes.
A new study finds that domestication of plants fostered cooperation among people, but also saw the rise of organized intergroup violence. As farming developed, groups aggregated and lived cooperatively in high-quality locations, but this led to a spike in trophy-taking violence.
Researchers analyzed ancient teeth and rib bones to reveal significant dietary diversification at the onset of Mongolia's earliest empires. Millet-based foods increased in consumption, suggesting imperial support for agricultural efforts.
Researchers using big data analytics have identified over three quarters of Spanish-founded colonial settlements in the former Inca Empire, providing new insights into social life and population history. The use of high-resolution satellite imagery also raises concerns about individual privacy and national security.
Researchers used lidar technology to study the ancient Maya road, revealing over 8,000 tree-shrouded structures along its 100-kilometer length. The road connected two cities, Cobá and Yaxuná, and was built to incorporate preexisting settlements, suggesting a geo-political motivation.
A team of researchers combined genealogical information with genetic data from modern Quebecers to access the genetic profile of Quebec's historical population. The study successfully identified approximately 1.7 million individuals, but limitations in genetic coverage hindered full identification, leaving around 88% of men married bef...
Archaeologists have discovered a Canaanite temple in National Park Tel Lachish, featuring extensive ruins dating to the 12th century BCE. The excavation has yielded gold artifacts and cultic figurines, including the oldest known etching of the Hebrew letter 'Samech'.
Researchers have uncovered the articulated Neanderthal skeleton of Shanidar Z, which offers unparalleled opportunities to investigate mortuary practices using modern technologies. The find suggests that Neanderthals conducted funerary rites with flowers, challenging previous assumptions about their cultural sophistication.
A team of archaeologists has discovered the oldest known Australian example of a communal type of Irish settlement, uncovering a large and vibrant clachan settlement hidden beneath an empty farm paddock. The discovery highlights the sustainable way of life maintained by over 500 Irish migrants who created a community in marginal land.
A compact neutron resonance transmission analysis device can detect nuclear material in just one minute, reducing the need for kilometer-scale neutron beams. Researchers have optimized its design to minimize background interference, allowing for accurate detection of isotopes in various materials.
Researchers, including University of Arkansas archeologists Emily Beahm and Carl Drexler, aim to create safer and more inclusive field learning environments. Their project provides recommendations to prevent sexual harassment during undergraduate field-based courses.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a game-based virtual archaeology field school to make the archaeological experience accessible to more students. Students learn archaeological techniques, dig in virtual caves, and conduct laboratory analyses using realistic tools and simulations.
Human consumption and transportation drove Bahamian hutia population growth and distribution, shaping its diversity over 1,000 years. The species' unique genetic similarities between isolated populations suggest intentional human relocation.
Researchers found that Chagyrskaya Cave Neanderthals used tools similar to those made by Eastern European Neanderthals, suggesting a connection between the two populations. The discovery indicates at least two separate dispersals of Neanderthals into southern Siberia.
A Tel Aviv University study finds two writers composed 31 of 100 inscriptions from 8th-century BCE Samaria, providing insights into the logistical infrastructure of the kingdom of Israel and limited literacy rates in the early eighth century BCE.
Dr. Larry Mayer, a renowned expert in physical oceanography and ocean acoustics, has been selected as the first recipient of the Walter Munk Medal. His groundbreaking research and technologies have transformed various fields of ocean science.
A team of researchers from Binghamton University and Emerson College analyzed data from 14,000 years ago and found that Native Americans did not make large-scale changes to the environment. The study suggests that ancient native people thrived under changing forest conditions by adapting to them, rather than intensively managing the land.
Researchers analyzed skulls to uncover relationships between people groups, upending longstanding hypotheses about the Caribbean's colonization. The study reveals the presence of Caribs in Jamaica, Hispaniola, and the Bahamas, supporting Columbus' accounts of fierce raiders.
Researchers at the University of Kent and UCL found that early Stone Age populations selected raw materials for different tool types based on sharpness, durability, and efficiency. They made optimized tools by choosing materials suited to specific functional needs, maximizing performance and 'ease-of-use'.
Researchers suggest that Norse hunters over-exploited walrus populations for their tusks, leading to a decline in the animal's population and making it harder for the communities to survive. This finding sheds new light on the mysterious disappearance of Greenland's Norse colonies in the 15th century.
Researchers analyzed animal bones from Navan Fort to discover that communities in Iron Age Ireland were highly mobile and engaged in large-scale feasting events. The study found evidence of pigs, cattle, and sheep being brought from across Ireland, including as far as Galway, Donegal, and Antrim.
New research from Washington University in St. Louis reveals that two annual plants, goosefoot and erect knotweed, can produce yields comparable to those of maize when grown together with other lost crops. The study's findings challenge the assumption that maize was adopted as a staple crop due to its high productivity.
Researchers uncover the oldest known coastal defence system built by ancient settlers to protect against rising oceans. The ancient Tel Hreiz seawall in Israel was a temporary reprieve from sea level rise, abandoned and inundated over time.