Experts analyzed stone tools from the Klipdrift Shelter and Diepkloof Rock Shelter, finding similarities between them. The findings suggest a networked interaction between distant communities during the Middle Stone Age.
A medieval skeleton found in Spain's Balearic Islands revealed the first physical evidence of fern plant use for medicinal purposes. The fern leaf was likely used as an infusion to cure conditions such as dandruff, a common cold, and kidney stones.
A study by University of Seville researchers uses acoustic simulation to analyze the variation of sound perception areas within the Mosque of Cordoba. The findings reveal differences in acoustics due to successive expansions, with notable degradation in areas furthest from the qibla wall.
The Russian Foundation for Basic Research is supporting research projects in various fields, including electrochemistry, photonics, and archaeology, through grants of up to 20 million rubles per year. Established researchers will receive funding for their interdisciplinary fundamental research projects.
Researchers analyzed ancient animal bones using ZooMS to discover that people were herding sheep, goat, and cattle by at least 4300 years ago. This technique provides new insights into the human story across Central Asia and opens up a whole new world of archaeological research possibilities.
Infants born at home have more diverse bacteria in their guts and feces, which may influence their developing immunity and metabolism. The study suggests that revamping hospital environments for non-high risk births could be beneficial.
Researchers developed a computer model showing how climate change affected food production in ancient Asia, leading to crop diversification, trade networks, and the development of the Silk Road. The study suggests that adapting to climate change requires investing in diversity and innovation.
Researchers found biomarkers of nicotine in 1,200-year-old stone pipes from the Columbia River Basin, challenging the idea that bearberry was the main ritual smoke plant. The discovery establishes a history of ritual tobacco use in the interior Pacific Northwest, informing education and smoking abatement programs.
Researchers at Washington State University have uncovered evidence of ancient tobacco smoking in the interior Pacific Northwest dating back over 1,200 years. The study's findings challenge long-held views on the region's pre-contact smoking practices and highlight the sophistication of indigenous cultures in managing plants and animals.
Researchers from Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias have discovered a star with an atmosphere devoid of metals, which is believed to be one of the oldest objects in the Milky Way. The study provides valuable information about the origin of the universe and the formation of the first stars.
Researchers propose collecting beneficial microbes from remote populations with high microbiota diversity to prevent disease; treatment costs for obesity and diabetes surpass $1 trillion, linked to disturbances in the microbiota.
Research at the University of York suggests that Neanderthals had a well-developed system of care for injuries and childbirth challenges. The study of over 30 individuals with minor and serious injuries found evidence of healthcare dating back 1.6 million years ago, indicating a fundamental role in survival strategies.
Researchers found nutmeg residue on ceramic potsherds at a 3,500-year-old archaeological site in Indonesia. The discovery provides new insights into the early use of nutmeg and its impact on international trade.
A new digital platform DIME has been launched in Denmark to register and make accessible the growing number of metal detector finds. This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between amateur archaeologists and museums, allowing for a broader sharing of knowledge and promoting democratic cultural heritage management.
A Swedish study has successfully imaged the soft tissue of an ancient Egyptian mummy's hand using a novel CT technique called phase-contrast imaging. This technique enhances contrast and allows for detailed analysis of soft tissues, opening up new opportunities for paleopathology research.
A new evaluation of Panama's Playa Venado site reveals no signs of trauma at or near time of death, contradicting earlier interpretations of violent death. The burial site likely tells a more culturally nuanced story, with adults buried next to urns containing children and evidence of adult kinship practices.
A new study has revealed a significant rapid increase in growth across populations in Thailand, China and Vietnam 4,000 years ago. The researchers used human skeletal remains to measure prehistoric population growth and found a second subsequent rise in the Iron Age.
The Gaia satellite has detected substructures in the Milky Way's star disk, indicating a 300-million-year-old gravitational disturbance caused by the Sagittarius Dwarf galaxy. Researchers used precise data to analyze shapes and twisting patterns, leading to new findings on galactic archaeology
A team of international scientists used radiocarbon dating to examine human societies on a broader and longer-term scale, finding that societies often experienced booms and busts simultaneously. This suggests that early globalization was possibly a strategy for societies to grow through migration, trade, and conflict with other societies.
A new study reveals that humans may have cultivated plants as far back as 4,800 years ago in Southern Brazil. The analysis of ancient human remains found teeth and bones rich in carbohydrates, suggesting a diet rich in cultivated yams and sweet potatoes.
Researchers found that Sicilian amber traveled to Western Europe as early as the 4th Millennium BC, at least 2,000 years before Baltic amber arrived in Iberia. This challenges previous suggestions of direct trade between Scandinavia and Iberia.
A study of 22 skeletons found in Israel's Peqi'in Cave reveals a significant ancestry from northerners, similar to those living in Iran and Turkey, contributing to the development of the Chalcolithic culture. The findings suggest that waves of migration played a key role in shaping the unique culture of the region.
Researchers analyzed animal fat residues to link a 8,200-year-old climate shift in Greenland with changes in a human settlement. The study found correlations between the climate event and shifts from cattle herding to goat herding and changes in dwelling structures, ultimately leading to settlement abandonment.
Recent study analyzes chemical makeup of tools used to create giant statues, suggesting a sophisticated society where people shared information and collaborated. The results contradict the popular narrative that Easter Island's inhabitants ran out of resources and warred themselves into extinction.
A new study reveals that chimpanzees in the savannah consume tougher and less digestible food than those in the rainforest. The researchers found that the outer casing of certain fruits had higher toughness values, suggesting that the chimps' teeth evolved to handle these more challenging foods.
Men who believe they've won a competition experience increased testosterone levels, self-perceived attractiveness, and confidence in approaching women. This 'plasticity' allows their bodies to adapt quickly to suit a perceived change in social status.
Researchers reevaluate Madjedbebe site evidence, suggesting a revised human dispersal timeline for the region; the findings have implications for understanding human migration patterns in Southeast Asia and surrounding areas.
A University of Oxford study suggests that some people buried at Stonehenge had moved with and transported bluestones from the Preseli Mountains in west Wales. The research combined radiocarbon-dating with new developments in archaeological analysis to investigate the lives of those buried at the iconic monument.
A new study reveals that the aye-aye's large eyes, big ears, and thin bony finger evolved to produce a high bite force, similar to squirrels. The research shows how lifestyle and ecology can influence species' physical traits, overriding ancestry.
The Upper Guadiato Archaeological Ager Mellariensis project has analyzed 49 km2 of the territory containing ancient Roman city Mellaria using the COSMO-SkyMed constellation. The satellite technology has revealed invisible moist and floodable areas, groundwater flow, and lost medieval roads.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that southwest Amazonia was a key region for early crop cultivation, with evidence of manioc, squash, and other crops dating back over 8,000 years. The findings indicate that people in the region transitioned to agriculture before 6,000 years ago, leading to landscape modification.
A £340,000 research project is examining the history of farming in the Amazon region. Dr Bronwen Whitney and her team are reconstructing the long-term agricultural history of Llanos de Mojos using palaeoethnobotany and landscape archaeology.
A three-year study by researchers at BioArCh, the University of York, suggests that ceramic vessels were used by early hunter-gatherer ancestors to store and process fish, with an association remaining stable even after climate warming. The study reveals new insights into prehistoric food processing habits during the post-glacial period.
Human ancestors were scattered across Africa, with diverse habitats and shifting environmental boundaries leading to a staggering diversity of human forms. The mixing of these populations ultimately shaped our species.
The Valencina site, with 180 C14 datings, holds the most radiocarbon-dated sites in Recent Iberian Prehistory. The study reveals funerary practices and Megalithic monuments' construction and use between 3200 and 2300 BCE.
Research reveals that ancient American dogs disappeared rapidly following the arrival of Europeans, leaving little genetic signature in modern American dogs. A close relative of these dogs lives on as a transmissible cancer, with its genome mirroring that of the original dog.
A genetic study uncovers that pre-contact American dogs originated from Siberian ancestors, not native wolves, and were introduced to the region through Beringia. Meanwhile, ancient goat domestication in the Near East involved multiple wild sources and selective breeding for traits like color.
A new review of evidence suggests the brown bear may have gone extinct earlier than thought, with dates ranging from late Neolithic to early medieval periods. The study aims to clarify the unclear previous evidence and sheds light on the possible reasons behind their extinction.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a tiny synthetic material that can mix two laser pulses to produce 11 new colors, offering potential applications in fields such as archaeology, extraterrestrial life detection, and fiber-optics communication. The metamaterial's efficiency is currently low, but further work aim...
Researchers have scanned a four-million-year-old fossil cranium and found it shares similarities with that of modern humans. The study revealed the cranium's thick, spongy bone may indicate comparable blood flow to our brains, suggesting an important role in brain protection.
New archaeological findings at Lund University confirm that Swedes produced malt for beer brewing during the Iron Age. The discovery was made in Uppåkra, southern Sweden, and dates back to the 400-600s.
Researchers found that individuals living at high altitude have shorter lower arm segments but relatively similar upper arm and hand lengths compared to those living at low altitudes. This suggests the human body prioritizes energy allocation for growth, particularly in essential areas like manual dexterity.
Researchers have developed a new analytic method, Time Population Structure (TPS), to date ancient DNA by predicting time based on DNA mutations. TPS has shown results similar to traditional radiocarbon dating, with an average difference of 800 years in age predictions for samples up to 45,000 years old.
Researchers from Uppsala University have discovered evidence of large-scale whaling in north Scandinavia dating back to the mid-6th century CE. The production of whalebone gaming pieces reveals a regular supply of whalebone was needed, indicating extensive whaling practices.
A new study provides detailed 3D models of the USS Emmons, a US Navy destroyer that sank in 1945. The mapping technique using multibeam echosounding and photogrammetry will aid in preserving this World War II battle site for future research and education.
A special issue of Angewandte Chemie explores the intersection of chemistry, conservation, and archaeology in preserving cultural heritage. Research articles examine methods for analyzing antiques, classifying plastic artifact degradation, and conserving cannonballs from shipwrecks.
New research from Cornell University challenges widely accepted radiocarbon dating standards, potentially altering historical timelines for the southern Levant region. The study reveals variations in the radiocarbon cycle, causing offsets of up to 20 years in calibration, which could be related to climatic conditions.
Two ancient populations that diverged later 'reconverged' in the Americas, according to a new genetic study. The study challenges previous research suggesting a single ancestral branch for Native Americans.
A study published in Scientific Reports found microfossils of fish and plant remains in a Mesolithic skeleton, providing evidence of a varied diet that included both aquatic and terrestrial food sources. The discovery sheds light on the lifestyle of early people in the Mediterranean region during this period.
A 2.5 metre-deep excavation at Eastland Port uncovered moa bones and stone tools made of obsidian and chert, dating back to the early 1300s.
Researchers used historical aerial imagery and modern airborne laser scanning to locate and contextualize archaeological features in Jerash, Jordan. The study revealed previously unmapped structures and refined the city's water supply system, providing insights into ancient society.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have discovered that southern Africa was significantly wetter and housed a plant community unlike any other in the modern African savanna two million years ago. Human ancestors lived in environments other than open, arid grasslands during this time period.
Researchers found that construction of the Grand Caillou mound began around 800 years ago and was abandoned 600 years later, likely due to changes in the river channel. The site's architecture suggests a high level of environmental and engineering expertise among its builders.
Researchers studied the Grand Caillou mound in coastal Louisiana, uncovering a timeline of natural and human events that shaped its construction and abandonment. The study provides insights into how Native peoples selected their villages' locations, using methods such as sediment coring and radiocarbon dating.
Four young researchers from abroad receive EU Individual Fellowships to initiate new research projects in physics and palaeogenomics. They will investigate topics such as spin transport, Higgs boson interactions, population dynamics, and quantum physics.
The study identifies at least three major waves of human migration into Southeast Asia, shaping the genetics of the region to a remarkable extent. The research complements archaeological, historical and linguistic studies, illuminating another critical portion of the story of ancient population dynamics around the world.
Dr. Catherine Frieman's excavation uncovers intact 4,000-year-old cremation and evidence of unaccountable medieval activity on the same site. The team found a large mound over the burial that existed from prehistory to the middle ages, protecting the center of the barrow.
The discovery provides first evidence of the use of a bridle bit to control an animal in the Near East before the appearance of horses. The study reveals that early domestic donkeys were controlled using soft bits, likely made from rope or wood.
The study reveals a stunning relation between ceremonial sites and cemeteries, underpinning complex Andean concepts of death and renewal. It was discovered that the site's features can be related to the surrounding landscape, highlighting the importance of Kipia as a local huaca.
Researchers at the University of York found that individuals with 'detail focus', a trait linked to autism, led to realistic cave drawings across Europe. They argued that drugs were unlikely behind this art movement.