Articles tagged with Neolithic Farming
The study reveals that genetic mixing with hunter-gatherers increased locally over time during the Neolithic expansion, leading to a complex colonization process. Early farmers had a demographic advantage, with an effective population size five times larger than hunters.
A new study reconciles opposing views on the spread of Neolithic farming by combining archaeology and genetics. The research found that cultural changes occurred through both people migration and the spread of ideas, depending on the region and period.
A new digital tool provides free satellite monitoring and analysis of vegetation and crop health across Kansas and the nation. The Sentinel GreenReport Plus combines satellite imagery with climate datasets to provide users with insights into vegetation greenness, changes in land cover over time, and climate abnormalities.
Researchers found that the grinding stones were used to prepare porridge or gruel from early cereal grains, contradicting the assumption that they were used to grind flour for bread. The analysis of microscopic mineral plant remains and starch grains also revealed no evidence of cereals being ground.
A recent study has uncovered a previously unknown farming society in Morocco, dating back to the Final Neolithic period. The site of Oued Beht reveals extensive evidence of large-scale agriculture and deep storage pits, providing significant insights into the role of North Africa in shaping Mediterranean prehistory. This discovery chal...
The study reconstructs agricultural techniques for growing cereals, suggesting an evolution of methods across Europe from the fertile crescent. Crops grown on La Draga included durum wheat, poppy, barley, and small amounts of spelt and corn.
Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from an 8,000-year-old sheep bone and found evidence of Brucella melitensis, a pathogen causing significant harm to livestock. The study suggests that brucellosis evolved around the same time as farming development, with early farmers creating conditions for pathogen host-jumping.
A new study from Uppsala University found that Stone Age hunter-gatherer communities in Western Europe deliberately formed distinct families to avoid inbreeding and maintain genetic diversity. The research analyzed the genomes of several individuals buried at iconic sites in France, dating back to around 6,700 years ago.
The first Neolithic farmers and shepherds in Andalusia settled permanently on the island of San Fernando, Cadiz, 6,200 years ago. They collected and consumed shellfish throughout the year, with a greater exploitation during the colder months of autumn, winter, and early spring.
A 5,900-year-old DNA analysis in Denmark found two nearly complete population turnovers, with the hunter-gatherer population being driven out by farmer populations. The researchers suggest that both violence and new pathogens likely contributed to the mass deaths.
Studies reveal subtle variations in time and geographical space between Sapiens and Neanderthals. The presence of about 2% of DNA of Neanderthal origin in present-day Eurasians varies slightly between regions.
A team of scientists has discovered and analyzed the oldest direct evidence of basketry among hunter-gatherer societies and early farmers in southern Europe. The esparto grass objects from Cueva de los Murciélagos date back to the Mesolithic period, between 9,500 and 6,200 years ago.
Early Dalmatian farmers specialized in sheep husbandry, demonstrating a common animal economy across the region. Most births were concentrated in winter, indicating an annual agropastoral calendar.
Researchers found that a large genetic region responsible for immune responses showed rapid evolution and more Mesolithic hunter-gatherer ancestry, suggesting that genetic variants already present in Europe were passed down preferentially. This suggests that diversity in immune genes may be just as important as adaptation to lifestyle.
Researchers have found evidence of cheesemaking and curd-enriching dairy processing in Late Neolithic Poland using ceramic residues. The study reveals the use of multiple dairy species, contradicting widespread lactose intolerance in Europe during this period.
New research suggests that violence and warfare were prevalent in many Neolithic communities across Northwest Europe during the period of farming adoption. Over 10% of skeletal remains from 180 sites dating back to 8000-4000 years ago showed evidence of weapon injuries, including blunt force trauma and penetrative injuries.