Researchers used machine learning to identify previously unidentified cave entrances in a densely vegetated area of Belize. The computer program successfully picked up smaller caves that were invisible to the naked eye, and confirmed the existence of several large surprise finds, including a collapsed cave complex.
A Tel Aviv University study finds the kingdom of Edom flourished in the Arava Desert during the 12th-11th centuries BCE, with expert analysis revealing a copper 'high-tech network' led by an affluent society. The researchers attribute the sudden improvement in copper production to Pharaoh Shoshenq I's military campaign.
Researchers have found the earliest direct evidence of milk consumption in human teeth dating back 6,000 years to Neolithic Britain. The discovery suggests that dairy products were a widespread dietary practice among ancient farmers.
Research on dental calculus reveals a monotonous potato-based diet for the poor, supplemented by eggs and wheat when available. The study of 42 people's remains found evidence of corn, oats, and milk foodstuffs, shedding new light on the Great Famine's social disaster.
A new ancient DNA study reveals the complex origins of populations in Central Asia, combining archaeological and genetic expertise to illustrate nuanced mechanisms of genetic diversity and change. The research, published in Science, is the largest in the world to date and addresses a significant gap in the ancient DNA dataset.
Researchers have confirmed genetic ties among three individuals buried together after a 13th-century massacre by the Mongol army, shedding new light on the tragic event. The DNA analysis reveals a grandmother, daughter, and grandson were part of the same family.
The ArchaeoGLOBE project provides the first global assessment of land use changes since the last ice age, driven by humans over the past 10,000 years. This study reveals profound implications for understanding contemporary global changes in land use, climate, and biodiversity.
A new international study published in Science reveals that land use by early farmers and societies had a significant impact on global land cover by 3,000-4,000 years ago. The study uses crowdsourced archaeological data to assess long-term human impacts on the natural world.
A new map synthesizes data from over 250 archaeologists, showing that human activity altered the Earth's soil by 3,000 years ago. The study adds an archaeological perspective to historical land use models, challenging recent estimates of human behavior and environmental change.
Researchers analyzed ear ossicles from 20 juveniles excavated in 18th-19th century burial grounds to understand maternal pre-pregnancy and late pregnancy diets. The study provides a unique link between diet and early pregnancy health.
A new 8,000-year-old structure has been found next to the oldest known boat building site in the world on the Isle of Wight. The site features an intact wooden platform with split timbers, providing evidence of advanced woodworking skills and technological advancements.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin analyse fragile papyrus with nondestructive methods, detecting lead in blank patch and deciphering blurry image. A new technique allows them to study folded papyri without contact, opening doors for future studies on valuable finds.
Researchers found ancient parasite eggs in human coprolites at the Must Farm settlement, indicating that inhabitants were infected by eating raw aquatic animals. The discovery provides new insights into the intestinal diseases of prehistoric Britain and their possible connections to modern food trends.
A recent study found that ancient pigs in Europe lost their Near Eastern genetic signature due to hybridization with European wild boar. This suggests that pig management in Europe was extensive and that artificial selection had a limited impact on the development of modern European commercial pigs.
A recent study by Washington State University researchers found that women and professionals outside of university settings are underrepresented in high-impact, peer-reviewed archaeology publications. The authors suggest that structural barriers, lack of time and resources, and limited opportunities contribute to this disparity.
A team of researchers successfully reconstructed anthropic influences on sedimentation in the ancient harbour of Portus, a complex of harbour basins and canals that formed the hub of commerce in the Roman Empire. The findings suggest that the Romans were proactively managing their river systems earlier than previously thought.
Researchers analyzed ceramic vessels from Mont Lassois to determine ancient Celtic drinking habits. They found that the Celts consumed imported Mediterranean wines and local beers, contradicting the assumption that only elites drank foreign wine.
Researchers analyzed plant, animal, and human remains to reconstruct the diets of Portus Romae inhabitants. They found a shift from rich meat-based diets to more peasant-like diets after the Vandal sack in AD 455.
Researchers used LiDAR data to digitally recreate the geomorphology of Cordoba before it was built over. The images show how both Iberian and Roman cities took advantage of the land's shape to build their settlements. This new information sheds light on the historical city's development.
The study analyzed life conditions, demographic aspects, funerary practices and genetic data to conclude that male domination emerged in later periods. Archaeological evidence suggests men's association with violence and force played a key role in shaping social complexity.
Researchers have discovered over 100 massive stone jars in Laos, revealing more widespread use of these enigmatic containers than previously thought. The finds also include beautifully carved discs used as burial markers, showcasing intricate imagery including concentric circles, human figures, and creatures.
Researchers use cutting-edge techniques to extract ancient protein sequences from fossilized bones, revealing a common ancestor between two-toed sloths and giant ground sloths like Megatherium. The study challenges decades of scientific opinion on sloth evolution and provides new insights into the evolutionary history of animals.
A team of researchers has discovered intestinal parasite infection in ancient faeces from the Çatalhöyük village, dating back to 7,100 BC. Whipworm eggs were found in two coprolites, providing early evidence of human disease in the Near East.
Researchers found evidence of 'tool kit' at Qesem Cave that was created by reusing discarded flint tools. The tiny, sharp objects were used with precision to process animal products, vegetal materials, and plant tubers.
A unique bark shield discovered in Europe has revealed that prehistoric people used bark to make shields, a first for its kind. The shield, dated between 395-255 BC, showed evidence of being made with wooden laths, a woven boss, and red chequerboard decoration.
Researchers discovered charred food remains at the Klasies River Cave in South Africa, indicating early humans were roasting plant starches from tubers and rhizomes as far back as 120,000 years ago. This finding supports the hypothesis that the duplication of starch digestion genes is an adaptive response to a high-starch diet.
New research suggests that sudden and severe climate change caused widespread population decline across South America between 8,000 to 6,000 years ago. The study found that unpredictable rainfall levels had a negative impact on early populations until around 6,000 years ago.
A genomic tour-de-force identifies two extinct lineages and suggests speed was only selected for recently in horse evolution. The study sheds light on the complex history of horses, highlighting their diverse past and its impact on conservation and breeding practices.
A new reading of the Mesha Stele suggests that biblical King Balak may have been a historical figure, based on high-resolution images revealing three consonants in the monarch's name. The name is now believed to be 'Balak', a king of Moab mentioned in the biblical story of Balaam, rather than the previously accepted 'House of David'.
Scientists have traced a prehistoric eruption to the lesser-known volcano Campi Flegrei in Naples, which dated back 29,000 years. The research, published in Geology, used computer models and sediment cores to identify the ash layer's origin.
Researchers from James Cook University analyzed 40,000-year-old bat faeces for clues about the landscape's past biodiversity. The study supports the corridor theory, suggesting a savanna corridor divided the former continent of Sundaland.
A new review suggests that social communication played a significant role in shaping the modern human face. The study, led by University of York researchers, concludes that our faces evolved not only due to factors like diet and climate but also to facilitate nonverbal communication and establish large social networks.
The Science of Chocolate project uses storytelling to promote interest in scientific careers, particularly among girls, by highlighting the work of women researchers. The project has received funding from the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology and is published in Catalan and Spanish.
The research attributes the human-elephant relationship during the Pleistocene epoch to their mutual ecology and shared living environments. Both species likely hailed from ancestors that came to Europe from Africa and adapted to living conditions in Ice Age Europe, highlighting their genetic similarities.
A new study reveals that chromium on bronze weapons of the Terracotta Army is likely contamination from a nearby lacquer coating, not an ancient anti-rust technology. The excellent preservation of the bronze weapons may be attributed to the soil's moderate alkaline pH and low organic content.
Researchers found grains of barley and wheat on the Aland Islands and in Sweden, dating back 4,300-5,300 years. The discovery suggests that small-scale farming was adopted by the Pitted Ware Culture from farmers of the Funnel Beaker Culture.
Researchers have uncovered ancient ritual offerings near Lake Titicaca that pre-date the arrival of the Incas by several centuries. The findings suggest a more complex and ambitious spiritual system among the Tiwanaku people, who developed in the area between 500-1,100 AD.
Researchers from Polytechnic University of Valencia and Ingheritag3D have digitized the Nasrid sword attributed to Ali Atar, a 15th-century warlord. The study utilizes photogrammetry and 3D modeling techniques to document the intricate filigree and ornaments on the sword.
Researchers suggest that snail and clam shells found at Caribbean archaeological sites may indicate child involvement in foraging and grocery shopping. Children's contributions to their own subsistence were more efficient and meaningful than previously thought, changing the way archaeologists think about site materials and distribution.
The Sodré astrolabe is the oldest known mariner's astrolabe, dating back to 1496-1501. It has been certified as the earliest verifiable example of a transitional instrument between classic planispheric and open-wheel astrolabes.
The study analyzed 271 genomes from the Iberian Peninsula and found that a group of steppe descendants replaced almost all men 4,000 years ago. The research team also discovered that Basque genetics have hardly changed since the Iron Age, with a high frequency of the Y chromosome R1b.
A large-scale ancient DNA study reveals that local Y chromosomes were almost completely replaced during the Bronze Age in the Iberian Peninsula. Genetic variation among hunter-gatherers and intermingling with people from North Africa and the Mediterranean provide new insights into the region's history.
A study by Cardiff University reveals that people and animals traveled extensive distances to participate in prehistoric feasting rituals near Stonehenge. The research found that pigs were sourced from locations as far away as Scotland and North East England.
Researchers found that visual behavior follows evolutionary trends in complex societies and is influenced by cultural factors. The study uses eye-tracking to analyze the response of individuals to prehistoric ceramics, suggesting a close interaction between culture and brain plasticity.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that clam gardens along B.C.'s coast date back at least 3,500 years, nearly twice as old as previously thought. This ancient Indigenous food security system has provided sustainable seafood for thousands of years.
Researchers at Binghamton University used non-invasive methods to locate and assess historical remains beneath the Alcatraz Recreation Yard, discovering a 'bombproof' earthwork traverse and vaulted brick masonry tunnel. The findings offer insights into the island's former military role as a 19th-century coastal fortification.
A new UCL-led study has pinpointed the exact locations of two quarries in Wales that supplied the bluestones to Stonehenge. The discovery reveals how the stones were quarried and transported, challenging a popular theory about their transportation method.
Researchers found a way to reconstruct these indigenous communication networks, showing how they laid the groundwork for Native American political systems. The analysis utilizes sophisticated social network analysis to map social and political connections between dozens of Native American villages.
Archaeologists found evidence of household items, tools, and ceremonies that suggest Native communities in Marin County persisted outside of missions. These findings challenge the dominant narrative of cultural extinction and highlight the resilience of Coast Miwok communities.
Researchers have mapped how ancient cereal crops spread from isolated pockets of first cultivation, driven by peasant farmers' needs rather than cultural choices. The study shows that food globalization in prehistory had an equally dramatic impact on food cultivation as the Columbian Exchange.
The Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East laboratory, SESAME, has been recognized for its unprecedented scientific cooperation between political adversaries. The award honors the efforts of five scientists who made central contributions to its founding and development.
Archaeologists have dated the archaeological site of Denisova cave to at least 200,000 years ago, with stone tools suggesting human occupation may have begun as early as 300,000 years ago. Neanderthals visited the site between 200,000 and 100,000 years ago, interbreeding with Denisovans around 100,000 years ago.
A new study reveals that Neanderthals had the technological capabilities to hunt at a distance using advanced wooden spears, contradicting previous theories that they only hunted at close range. The spears, dating back to 300,000 years ago, were found to be effective in hitting targets up to 20 meters away.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen suggests that early dogs helped humans hunt smaller prey like hares and foxes, driving them into enclosures. This technique may have led to an increase in hare populations at the site of Shubayqa 6 in northeast Jordan.
Researchers examined pollen dispersal in traditional buckwheat processing, finding that pollen content reached over 70% during threshing and sieving stages. This study provides a scientific basis for identifying crop processing remains in archaeological sites and assessing human agricultural activities.
Recent studies have questioned the conventional dating of indigenous sites in Ontario, Canada, with new evidence pointing to a 50-100 year shift in dates. The findings suggest that early contact between indigenous people and Europeans may have occurred later than previously thought.
A study by University of Utah researchers suggests that grassland expansion, driven by falling atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, drove the decline of giant mammals over the last 4.6 million years. The research provides a convincing counter-argument to long-held views on human ancestors' impact on ancient African faunas.
A Rutgers-led study found that women invest more in daughters and men in sons, regardless of their socioeconomic status. This bias may have implications for rising income inequality and social mobility.
The University of Copenhagen has received a grant to upgrade its ALICE and ATLAS detectors, allowing for increased collisions and the discovery of new particles. The upgrades aim to unveil the remaining 95% of the universe's substances, which are currently provisionally understood.
Researchers have identified a shift in fishing behaviors on Indonesian islands Alor and Timor around 7,000 years ago, likely due to changes in sea levels and environmental conditions. The study used an analysis method traditionally used in biology to identify fish habitat in archaeological material.