Research finds current Kyl-Bingaman Amendment limits US satellite imagery resolution, restricting scientific research opportunities in Israel and Palestine. An 'open-skies policy' is recommended to meet international standard of 0.5m.
Researchers used scanning transmission electron microscopy to reveal a filamentous pattern of long, curved crystals in bone. A previously unknown substructure was discovered: rose-shaped crystals arranged into left-handed helices.
Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have uncovered new evidence supporting the existence of Israel's united monarchy. The findings suggest that the Kingdom extended beyond Jerusalem's immediate surroundings, with a large residence discovered at Tel 'Eton in the Shephelah region dating back to the 10th century BCE.
Researchers used stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis to show that some individuals subsisted primarily on forest resources, while others relied on agriculture through trade. The study's findings are significant for the Wanniyalaeto people's battles to remain on their traditional hunting grounds.
Archaeologists discovered evidence of ancient Neolithic communities using fungi as tinder to start and transport fires at the La Draga site. Researchers analyzed a unique set of remains, finding six fungal species used for this purpose, including Daedalea quercina and Coriolopsis gallica.
A 3,000-year-old horse burial in Sudan has provided significant insights into the Kushite state formation and the role of horses in ancient Nubian culture. The discovery, dated to around 950 BC, reveals that horses were central to the state's identity and foreshadowed later developments in Nubian kingship.
Historian Prof. Dr Gerd Althoff argues that peace agreements have historically been successful when opponents establish genuine trust, rather than relying solely on confidence-building measures. This approach emphasizes forgiveness, mutual visits, and friendly conversation to create a foundation for long-term peace.
Astronomers have revealed the 'DNA' of over 340,000 stars in the Milky Way, tracing their ancestry and composition. The GALAH survey aims to make DNA matches between stars to find long-lost sisters and brothers of the Sun.
Scientists identified critical genetic changes that can lead to kidney cancer, with the first mutation occurring in childhood or adolescence. The findings suggest that early detection and intervention may be possible, particularly for high-risk groups.
Researchers at Leang Burung 2 rock shelter on Sulawesi island discovered archaic cobble-based cores and flakes indicating human occupation at least 50,000 years ago. The findings provide key insights into early human occupation and cultural evolution in the Indonesian region.
A Bronze-Age burial mound in Cornwall has been discovered, dating back 2,000 BC. The site will be excavated to uncover its secrets and shed light on the region's prehistoric past.
A new study suggests that Silk Road cities had limited and monotonous diets, while nomadic communities enjoyed a diverse smorgasbord of foods. Researchers used isotopic analysis of human bones to unlock information about ancient dietary regimens.
Research at the Ii Hamina cemetery found that the diet of medieval residents consisted mainly of fish, with 70% of protein consumption attributed to fish-based food. This suggests a strong reliance on waterways and an underemphasis on farming and dairying in the region.
Researchers have found evidence of early human trading, color pigments, and sophisticated tools in eastern Africa, approximately 320,000 years ago. These discoveries suggest that humans adapted to an unpredictable environment through innovation and social exchange networks.
New research reveals Neanderthal healthcare was widespread and effective, with a focus on caring for injured peers. Despite severe injuries, individuals remained part of the group, highlighting the social significance of healthcare in Neanderthal society.
Researchers from ANU have created a comprehensive study on the origins of people in Vanuatu, using DNA analyses and archaeological evidence. The results confirm that Vanuatu's first people arrived 3,000 years ago from South East Asia, with Papuan arrivals following shortly after.
A new study has found that Przewalski's horses are not the last wild horse species, but rather feral, descended from the earliest-known instance of horse domestication by the Botai people in northern Kazakhstan. The research also reveals that modern domesticated horses did not descend from these early domesticated horses.
The diffusion of bell beakers in continental Europe was driven by the dissemination of ideas rather than migration, according to a recent genetic study. This finding refutes the long-accepted theory that the spread of cultural elements was associated with significant migrant movements.
Researchers have found that the Botai horses from Kazakhstan are not the ancestors of modern domesticated breeds but rather the ancestors of wild Przewalski horses. The study also revealed that there are no surviving purely wild horses, and the earliest domestic horses gave rise to feral populations.
A new themed issue of the Royal Society journal explores human evolution through an interdisciplinary lens, combining biological, anthropological and cultural perspectives. Researchers found that English speakers' regional dialects influenced Sranan creole's development, shedding light on events in human history with few other traces.
A mass grave uncovered in Repton, Derbyshire, has been dated to the late 9th century, consistent with the Viking Great Army's presence in England. The graves contain a mix of men and women, including several with signs of violent injury, suggesting a possible ritual burial site.
A jawbone dating to 177,000-194,000 years ago has revealed that modern humans were present in the Levant at least 50,000 years earlier than previously thought. The discovery suggests an earlier demographic replacement or genetic admixture with local populations.
Researchers have recovered over 2000 artefacts from the edges of contracting glacial ice in Norway, dating back to 4000 BC. The finds suggest a pattern of increased activity in the Late Antique Little Ice Age and again during the Viking Age, likely driven by changes in climate and human migration.
Researchers uncovered the origins of domesticated turkeys in ancient Mexico, finding they were valued for their cultural significance rather than just for meat. The study suggests a thriving turkey trade along Mesoamerica's expanding trade routes.
The Goethe University Frankfurt's Nok research project has been awarded €1.5 million in funding to continue its 12-year study of the 2,500-year-old Nigerian Nok Culture. The project has uncovered significant insights into chronology, settlement, land use, and environment.
Christine Cave's new method reveals that it was not uncommon for people to live to old age in traditional societies. The study found that the most common age of death was around 70, similar across cultures.
Japanese researchers from Osaka University have developed a muon-based approach to non-destructive investigations for unique asteroid samples. The technique enables the study of extraterrestrial organics and major elements without destroying the samples, with potential applications in archaeology, material science, and social sciences.
Research suggests that larger wine glasses may be linked to increased drinking in England over the past two decades. The average capacity of wine glasses in England has increased from 66 mL in 1700 to 449 mL in 2017, a sevenfold rise.
A new study reveals that the original inhabitants of the Chachapoyas region in Peru remained genetically distinct from the Inca Empire, resisting forced assimilation. The research uses DNA analysis to challenge traditional accounts of the Incas' conquest of the area.
Researchers used a combination of advanced imaging techniques to examine a second-century Egyptian painting, revealing details about the artist's materials and techniques. The study provided insights into fashions and artistic methods popular at the time.
Rock engravings in Western Venezuela, dating up to 2,000 years old, have been mapped in unprecedented detail. The largest panel contains 93 individual engravings, including depictions of animals, humans, and cultural rituals.
A team led by Purdue University anthropology professor Erik Otárola-Castillo used 3D imaging, shape analysis, and Bayesian statistics to accurately measure animal bone cut marks with an 88 percent success rate. This technique improves upon existing archaeological methods, enabling a more accurate understanding of human evolution.
A new study reveals prehistoric women had up to 30% stronger arm bones than modern rowers due to activities like grinding grain and performing manual labor. The research suggests that the varied work of early agricultural women played a crucial role in shaping their physical strength.
A study analyzing heritage data from the Digital Index of North American Archaeology predicts that sea-level rise will destroy vast numbers of archaeological sites and cultural landscapes in the southeastern US. Over 13,000 recorded sites are at risk, including over 1,000 listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Archaeologist Alan Sullivan argues that prehistoric people used fire to promote the growth of edible plants such as amaranth and chenopodium. Lab analysis found ancient pollen from clay pots with only six out of 6,000 grains identified as corn.
New research from Washington University in St. Louis suggests ancient barley took a southern route to China, adapting to seasonal challenges along the way. The study, published in PLOS One, analyzed radiocarbon data and DNA evidence from ancient grains in China, India, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan.
The study found that hunter-gatherer societies had low wealth disparities, while larger agricultural societies saw increasing inequality. The researchers attribute this to the domestication of plants and large animals, which led to increased social organization and wealth concentration.
A new study of 311 hominin fossils spanning four million years shows that stature and body mass advanced at different speeds. Hominin bodies evolved in 'pulse and stasis' fluctuations, with some lineages even shrinking.
Researchers have discovered a method to identify Vitamin D deficiency through dental X-ray images. The study found that the shape of the pulp horn in a tooth can indicate prior deficiency, allowing for early detection and prevention of related bone health issues.
Academics uncover extensive and undocumented rock art deep inside Puerto Rico's Mona Island cave systems, featuring human, animal, and meandering designs. The team's multi-method characterization of the materials and practices reveals pre-Columbian artwork with dating and insights into artistic choices.
A team of University of Arizona researchers has discovered that a previously thought to be small turquoise mine was actually a significant source of the mineral, producing 25% more turquoise than previously estimated. The study uses both archaeology and geochemistry to gain a complete picture of operations at the mine.
A new report found that field site directors who fail to establish clear ground rules are more likely to tolerate or engage in harassment. The study also highlights the importance of positive leadership, mutual support, and inclusion for creating a safe work environment.
Research shows that Neolithic farmers in southern Scandinavia contributed to the development of Indo-European vocabulary before their own language went extinct. Words like 'pea', 'shrimp' and 'turnip' entered Indo-European from local cultures, highlighting cultural exchange between 2,800-2,600 BC.
A new study has pushed back the emergence of modern humans by an estimated 50,000 years to between 350,000 and 260,000 years ago. The findings were made possible by a collaboration between geneticists and archaeologists who reconstructed the full genome of a 2,000-year-old boy found in South Africa.
Researchers have demonstrated how aerial thermography is transforming archaeology by introducing a new realm of possibilities for collecting site data. The study showcases the potential of this methodology to reveal archaeological features, detect hidden structures, and analyze environmental conditions.
Researchers reconstructed African population structure using ancient DNA from 15 individuals, revealing a more complex history than previously thought. The findings show that populations related to indigenous people of southern Africa had a wider distribution in the past, contributing to ancestry of modern-day populations.
A large-scale study of ancient human DNA from sub-Saharan Africa has shed light on the identity of prehistoric populations, their movements and genetic adaptations. The research found evidence of a population replacement in Malawi and identified a mysterious group that spanned from southern Africa to the equator.
Researchers found that mobile women brought new cultural objects and ideas, which increased during the Bronze Age, promoting technological development. Genetic analysis revealed diversity of female lineages from outside the region, indicating integration into local communities.
Researchers from University of Helsinki explore pre-colonial geometric earthworks in southwestern Amazonia, finding them to be important ritual spaces where indigenous peoples communicated with environmental beings. The study highlights the interconnectedness of human life with nature and the significance of these sites as sacred places.
Researchers at the University of York discovered that ancient Engaruka's irrigation systems and terraces were built to capture eroded sediments, benefiting farming practices for centuries. The study highlights the importance of this method of farming in sub-Saharan Africa and its potential applicability to modern day farming techniques.
Research reveals citrons and lemons were first citrus fruits to arrive in the Mediterranean, prized for their rarity and symbolic value. The study highlights the crucial role of Muslim traders in dispersing cultivated citrus across Northern Africa and Southern Europe.
A vast ancient trading network operating in Vietnam from 4,500 to 3,000 years ago has been uncovered by archaeologists. The network included specialist tool-makers and technological knowledge, with items manufactured and circulated over hundreds of kilometres.
A 3,000-year-old female statue was discovered at the Tayinat archaeological site in Turkey, measuring over 1 meter long and 0.7 meters wide. The statue features intricate carvings and is believed to represent a prominent matriarchal figure, possibly Kubaba or Kupapiyas, wife of King Suppiluliuma.
Researchers use ancient pottery to study Iroquoian social networks and find that the Jefferson County Iroquoians played a key role as brokers between Haudenosaunee and Wendat groups. This discovery sheds new light on the importance of this lesser-known population in upstate New York.
A new study suggests a European stockfish trade existed for 1,000 years, with cod bones from Haithabu providing evidence of fish caught in northern Norway being consumed on mainland Europe. The findings support the idea that traded fish played a significant role in knitting the European continent together economically.
The study analyzed ancient DNA from remains of 19 individuals and compared their genomes to over 330 other ancient genomes and 2,600 present-day humans. It found that Minoans and Mycenaeans were genetically similar, descending mainly from early Neolithic farmers who migrated thousands of years prior to the Bronze Age from Anatolia.
Researchers have discovered pollen evidence of Chrysocoma ciliata dating back 4,000 years, suggesting it may not be an invasive species. The plant's ability to thrive under drought conditions and colonize degraded landscapes has led some to question its status as an invasive species.
The study reveals that communities with strong co-operation largely belonged to the same archaeological culture, providing a novel method for independent evaluation of the archaeological record. The researchers used modularity analysis on a comprehensive database of copper artefacts from the Balkans, dated from 6200 BC to 3200 BC.
A team of archaeologists discovered lipid-based biomarkers for whole wheat in a frozen Bronze Age container, providing new insights into the spread and exploitation of cereal grains. The finding has significant implications for studying early farming practices in Eurasia.
A new phylogenetic tree resolves key relationships among vertebrates, including the identification of lungfishes as closest living relatives of land vertebrates. The study uses a novel set of analyses for building large-scale genomic datasets.