A recent study on the Maniq population found they exhibit high levels of genetic differentiation, similar to other isolated populations. The researchers also discovered that the Maniq retain a unique hunter-gatherer lifestyle and Hòabìnhian-related ancestry, setting them apart from other Southeast Asian groups.
Researchers found that hunter-gatherer groups in southwest Ethiopia have a distinct genetic profile and are related to ancestors who lived 4,500 years ago. The study suggests that the transition to agriculture is more complex than previously thought, with varying responses from different groups.
A new study suggests that mummification in prehistory was more common in Europe than thought, dating back to 8,000 years ago. The researchers found evidence of desiccation and hyperflexion in skeletal remains from the Sado Valley in Portugal.
Researchers discovered that mortars and pestles were preferred for processing rice and other plants in middle-late Neolithic China, while grinding slabs and rollers declined in use. The study provided solid evidence for the rise of mortar and pestle usage, revealing their high processing efficiency.
Researchers uncovered bone remains of a first-generation African individual from Senegambia, buried in a Portuguese shell midden 350 years ago. The genetic signature and dietary analysis indicate that he was forcibly translocated to Portugal via the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
A new study found that early human foragers and farmers adopted a high-risk, high-reward strategy to find food, spending more energy but bringing home nutritious meals that could be shared with their group. This allowed them to rest or engage in other activities while food was being acquired.
A 10,000-year-old female infant was buried with beads and pendants, indicating recognition of her as a full person in her society. The discovery provides insight into the early Mesolithic period and challenges previous assumptions about funerary practices during this time.
Researchers reconstruct Land of Israel climate at end of last ice age using plant remains, revealing significant temperature and precipitation differences that impacted the transition from hunter-gatherer to settled agricultural societies. The study provides insights into the region's flora and its response to past climate change.
A recent study by McGill University researchers found that hunter-gatherer societies were limited by the seasonal availability of food, with groups in short-growing seasons requiring a high percentage of meat in their diets. This finding is supported by ethnographic observations and simulations using a mathematical model.
Researchers found that 44.3% of the Mbendjele BaYaka population had hazardous alcohol consumption, associated with mental and physical health harms like high blood pressure and increased diarrhoea rates. The study emphasizes the need for community involvement and socioeconomic changes to address the underlying drivers of poor health.
A new model has been developed to help archeologists uncover new Pleistocene sites in Cyprus, revealing more evidence of historic hunter-gatherer activity on the island. The study suggests that there may have been more human activity on Eastern Mediterranean islands during the last ice age than previously thought.
Researchers used satellite data to identify areas in coastal southwest Madagascar where indigenous foragers altered their surroundings, showing a 17% human impact. The study found subtle but widespread changes in soil capacity to absorb water and vegetation distribution.
A new study by the ICTA-UAB establishes that populations of hunter-gatherer groups with strong seasonal dependence on meat had fewer people per square kilometer than those relying on abundant plant foods. This result is based on a complex set of calculations showing how diet composition influenced population density.
A new study reveals evidence of beer drinking 9,000 years ago in southern China, with ancient pots found at a burial site containing residues consistent with beer fermentation. The discovery suggests that ritualized drinking played a significant role in forging social relationships and cooperation among ancient communities.
Scientists discovered the oldest strain of Yersinia pestis in a 20- to 30-year-old man from 5,000 years ago. The ancient bacteria was less contagious and deadly than its medieval version, transmitted primarily through animal bites. This finding challenges long-held theories on the development of human civilization in Europe and Asia.
A team of archaeologists has discovered that the Chumash Indians in California were using shell beads as currency around 2,000 years ago. The team's findings, published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, challenge long-held assumptions about the origins of money in the Americas.
A study by Kristiina Mannermaa analyzed over 4,000 elk tooth ornaments found in graves across Baltic and Scandinavian regions. The results showed that practically all teeth had been processed identically, with only two instances featuring perforation for threading.
A 9,000-year-old female hunter burial in the Andes Mountains overturns the long-held 'man-the-hunter' hypothesis, revealing that female participation in big-game hunting was nontrivial. Statistical analysis suggests that 30-50% of hunters in these populations were female, contradicting recent societal norms.
A San group in Namibia faces malnutrition due to a dysfunctional local food system, with no agency over food sources and limited access to traditional foods. The researchers recommend context-specific solutions, including eliminating movement restrictions and supporting traditional foodways to supplement diets with key nutritional groups.
A genome analysis of an adult male from Newgrange passage tomb suggests he was part of a ruling social elite practicing first-degree incest. This practice is rare in human societies, typically found among elites with deified royal families.
Researchers found that parasite infection was strongly associated with the overall composition of the microbiome, which could accurately predict a person's country and lifestyle. The study also discovered that the presence of four soil-transmitted gut parasites tended to co-occur at a higher rate than chance.
A new study by UC Santa Barbara researcher Douglas J. Kennett and collaborators found that maize had become a staple grain in the Americas 4,700 years ago, exceeding what is considered a staple grain. By 4,000 years ago, maize was persistently used as a staple, continuing through the Classic Maya period until today.
A team of French and German researchers found higher levels of admixture between early Neolithic farmers and local hunter-gatherers in France, with genetic contributions averaging 31% in the south. The study provides new insights into the dynamics of biological interactions during the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in Western Europe.
Scientists found dairy residues in ancient pots from hunter-gatherer sites in Lesotho, dating to the 1st millennium AD, confirming contact with farming communities. The discovery suggests that hunter-gatherers adopted animal husbandry techniques from their lowland counterparts.
Hunter-gatherer societies had profoundly deep relationships with hunted animals, experiencing emotional and psychological connections after their disappearance. The study explores the impact of animal extinction or migration on human culture, revealing adaptations in material and social culture.
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.
A study of ostrich eggshell bead exchange reveals that relationships among hunter-gatherer groups existed across hundreds of kilometers in late Middle Stone Age southern Africa. The size of the network provided access to high ecological diversity and offered a social strategy against scarcity.
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 suggests that squatting and kneeling may be important resting positions in human evolution, as they involve higher levels of muscle activity. This could reduce the health risks associated with sedentary behavior, particularly cardiovascular disease.
A study of Agta hunter-gatherers in the Philippines revealed that their complex social networks accelerated cultural evolution and innovation. The researchers found that sharing knowledge and combining individual insights led to faster development of medicinal products, with an average of 250-500 rounds of interactions required.
A new study by UCL and University of Zurich found that hunter-gatherer ancestors developed cultural ideas in small social networks, regularly drawing on knowledge from neighboring camps. This social structure allowed for the co-existence of multiple traditions, leading to a higher rate of cultural evolution.
The study reveals new insights into the origins of Bantu languages, previously unknown populations, and human migration patterns. The ancient DNA sequences from west and central Africa enhance our understanding of the deep ancestral relationships among populations in sub-Saharan Africa.
A team of international researchers has discovered ancient DNA from West Africa, providing new insights into the deep past of humankind. The study reveals that West Africans are genetically closer to central African hunter-gatherers than Bantu-speakers today.
Researchers used modern technology to understand how ochre paint was created by hunter-gatherers in North America, revealing a temperature range of 750-850°C. The study, published in Scientific Reports, shows that individuals deliberately heated an aquatic bacteria to initiate color transformation.
A new study on hunter-gatherer children reveals that younger kids tend to play in mixed-gender groups, while older children imitate adults' gender roles. Context plays a significant role in shaping gendered behaviors, differing from Western societies.
Researchers found that Hadza hunter-gatherers in Tanzania agree on the importance of generosity and hard work in moral character, but disagree on who exemplifies these traits. The study suggests that this nomadic way of living may have driven the evolution of morality.
A recent study suggests that Mesolithic hunter-gatherers in Europe developed new hunting projectiles and changed their stone tool shapes in response to changing climate conditions. The research found frequent co-existence of different microlith shapes, which may have been used as symbols of group membership.
Researchers found that rising sea levels destroyed evidence of shell middens at many prehistoric coastal sites, affecting our understanding of past coastal subsistence. Coastal erosion changed little during a period of significant sea-level rise and drop, with shells being deposited mostly on the direct shoreline.
A study of Agta hunter-gatherers in the Philippines found that those who adopt farming work around 10 hours a week longer than their forager neighbours, impacting women's lives disproportionately. The research suggests that agriculture may not represent progress as previously thought.
A new study confirms that Anatolian hunter-gatherers adopted farming and were later descended by early Anatolian farmers. The findings provide genetic support for archaeological evidence that local hunter-gatherers developed agriculture independently, rather than being introduced by a large migration of farmers.
Researchers analyzed 2,400 languages to understand how human diets impact consonant prevalence. A biomechanical model revealed that a shift from hunter-gatherer to agricultural societies led to changes in bite configuration and labiodental sound distribution.
The study sheds light on the genetic legacy of European hunter-gatherers, showing a complex and diverse ancestry in southern Europe. The findings suggest that hunter-gatherer lineages survived in Iberia during the Last Glacial Maximum and later intermingled with Neolithic farmers.
Two studies analyzing ancient DNA from 300 individuals reveal two Paleolithic lineages in Iberia dating back to 19,000 years ago. The findings also show that hunter-gatherers contributed to the genetic make-up of farmers arriving from the Near East between 2500-2000 BC.
Genomic analysis reveals East Africa's hunter-gatherers diverged from a shared ancestry around 20,000 years ago, driven by infectious disease and dietary adaptations. This study provides insight into the genetic diversity of African populations, shedding light on the role of diet and disease in shaping human evolution.
A new study reveals that sambaqui societies living in coastal Atlantic Forest areas between 8,000 and 1,000 years ago consumed a range of plants and had a more diversified economy than previously believed. Analysis of their middens shows evidence of plant cultivation and high consumption of carbohydrates.
Researchers found genetic changes in Batwa and Andamanese populations that influenced growth factor binding pathways and cardiac muscle tissue development. This suggests a connection between short stature and cardiac problems in these populations.
A study conducted by researchers at the University of York found that cultures' emphasis on specific sensory experiences, such as music or pottery, affects their ability to communicate about different senses. This challenges the long-held assumption of a universal hierarchy of human senses.
A six-year study of Hadza hunter-gatherer people in Tanzania found that their willingness to share depends on the group they live with, with generosity clustering within residence groups. This suggests that sharing is driven by local group norms and behavior, rather than individual tendencies.
Researchers studied Hadza people in Tanzania, finding that an individual's propensity to share depends on how much the group shares. The study highlights humans' capacity to adapt to different social environments.
Researchers found charred remains of flatbread baked by hunter-gatherers 14,400 years ago, suggesting that bread production may have driven the agricultural revolution. The discovery provides earliest empirical evidence for bread production and sheds light on early food practices.
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.
Researchers found charred food fragments at a Natufian site in northeastern Jordan dating back to 14,600 years ago, exhibiting characteristics of bread-like products. The discovery suggests that bread was made 4,000 years before the emergence of agriculture, but noncereal foods remained a staple during the Natufian period.
Researchers found evidence of coalitional play fighting among hunter-gatherer societies, suggesting it was a universal feature of human psychology. This type of play involved coordinated action and non-lethal physical force, mirroring skills used in lethal raiding.
A study examines the relationship between alcohol and fertility in a hunter-gatherer society, finding low infant and juvenile mortality, slow growth, and high fertility at an early age. The Baka pygmy people of Cameroon exhibit a significant decrease in fertility since 2011, corresponding with the arrival of cheap alcohol.
A recent study found that Jahai speakers and Dutch individuals have similar emotional responses to odors, indicating universal perception. Despite their distinct vocabularies for smelling, both groups showed the same facial reactions to unpleasant smells, highlighting the universality of olfactory experience.
Researchers analyzed three Late Pleistocene human mandibles found in Borneo's Niah Caves, dating back 28,000-10,000 years. The oldest mandible suggests a diet rich in dried meats and palm plants to adapt to the challenging tropical rainforest environment.
A genomics study in Africa discovered that the genetic diversity and admixture of pygmies and Bantu-speaking farmers affected deleterious mutations. The researchers found similar burdens of mutations in both groups, despite different lifestyles.
The study confirmed two major migrations through southeastern Europe, with early farmers from Anatolia spreading westward and a steppe population replacing northern Europe's population. The region remained a genetic contact zone between East and West until the Bronze Age.
A new study using ancient DNA analysis has found that human populations have been migrating and mixing extensively throughout history, with the Yamnaya people from Central Asia expanding rapidly to Europe, Britain, and beyond. The research also reveals a biased genetic exchange between farmers and hunter-gatherers in northern Europe.
An international team analyzed ancient DNA from 38 northern Europeans, uncovering that Scandinavia was settled via southern and northern routes. Agriculture arrived in northern Europe through migrating farmers and pastoralists. The study provides new insights into population dynamics of prehistoric northern Europe.