Articles tagged with Neolithic Era
A recent study published in PLOS One analyzed DNA from 111 individuals across 19 archaeological sites in Sicily, revealing a complex demographic history. The results show that North African descent was present earlier than expected, and both Islamic and Christian burials had diverse ancestry patterns.
A genetic analysis of 132 individuals buried in a megalithic tomb near Paris found a sharp reduction in the local population followed by the arrival of new groups from southern France and the Iberian Peninsula. The study detected ancient pathogens, including the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis.
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 team of researchers discovered genetic evidence of a rare matrilineal community in Neolithic China dating back over 4,750 years. The study found that women stayed within their clan for life, while men often moved between clans, suggesting a relatively simple and egalitarian farming community organized around two matrilineal clans.
Researchers analyzed over 1,700 ancient grape seeds to discover that grape cultivation in Italy began during the Late Bronze Age, with gradual domestication taking place over centuries. The study reveals that Italian wine heritage dates back to Western Europe's broader landscape.
Archaeologists uncover evidence confirming Les Coves Llongues site was inhabited during Early Neolithic, highlighting the Bergantes River as a key route for early farming communities. The site's strategic location along a natural corridor connects the Iberian Mediterranean to the Ebro Valley.
Researchers from the University of Oxford discovered that rainfall in the Sahara Desert increased between 8,700 and 4,300 years ago, coinciding with a rise in Neolithic archaeological sites. This finding highlights the importance of a favourable climate on early pastoralist societies, which relied on rainfall for their livestock.
The study reveals a high degree of technical mastery in the use of animal tendons, reed wood, and birch bark pitch to create bows and arrows. The findings shed new light on Neolithic archery techniques and materials in Europe.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that 12,000-year-old stones from Israel may have been used as spindle whorls to turn fibers into yarn, representing a key milestone in the development of rotational tools including wheels. The stones feature a circular shape with a central hole, allowing them to rotate faster and more efficiently.
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...
A recent study suggests that fear of conflict significantly impacted the development of prehistoric European societies, leading to population declines and concentrations in safer locations. The researchers' computational model matches archaeological evidence, providing context for future refinements to modeling.
Researchers found the stone's age and chemical composition matched rocks from northeast Scotland, differentiating it from Welsh bedrock. The discovery suggests a high level of societal organization and implies long-distance trade networks along the British coast.
A study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports reveals that all members of a Neolithic agropastoral society in Switzerland, including non-locals, had equal access to food resources. The analysis of bone isotopes suggests that this egalitarian society was one of the oldest known in the western part of Switzerland.
The study reconstructed feeding practices of first Neolithic communities in the Cueva de El Toro cave site. Researchers found different breeding patterns and varied feeding schedules for animals, indicating adaptability to local resources and climate conditions.
A re-analysis of skeletal remains from a site in Spain indicates that many individuals may have been casualties of the earliest period of warfare in Europe. The study found a high percentage of males affected and a disproportionate number of injured individuals, suggesting a prolonged conflict.
In Southeast Anatolia, 11,000 years ago, early Neolithic settlers hunted a large spectrum of bird species, including small passerine birds and cranes, for meat and possibly ritual purposes. The extent of their bird-hunting activities varied between settlements, with some prioritizing certain species over others.
Researchers at the Complexity Science Hub found that periodic outbreaks of warfare can account for boom-bust patterns in population dynamics of early farming societies. The study suggests that social conflict played a crucial role in shaping the population dynamics of these societies, contrary to previous assumptions that climate chang...
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of ritualistic belief and economic factors intertwined for Neolithic people in northwest Arabia. Excavations at a mustatil east of AlUla revealed animal offerings, human interment, and suggest repeated pilgrimages, challenging previous understandings of the region's culture.
Researchers found remains of over 40 wood mice and numerous insects, including the grain weevil, in prehistoric wells in southern France. The discovery suggests that people developed resilience against pests by switching to more resistant grains like glume wheat around 4000 BCE.
The first farmers emerged from a population admixed between hunter-gatherers from Europe and the Near East, with a mixing process starting around 14,000 years ago. Genetic data from prehistoric skeletons were analyzed using novel demographic modeling techniques to reveal complex population dynamics.
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.
A team of researchers developed an enhanced version of a modern forensic test to solve a 5000-year-old cold case. The test confirmed the cause of death for a Neolithic man whose remains were found in a mass grave on the coast of Northern Chile, suggesting he died by drowning in shallow saltwater.
Ancient DNA study reveals Bronze Age women replaced local population in Orkney, contrary to historical assumptions about European expansion trends. Genetic analysis suggests a complex and varied process of negotiation between indigenous males and newcomers from the south over many generations.
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.
The Camel Site's life-sized carvings of camels and equids are part of a wider rock art tradition that depicted naturalistic animals. The reliefs were created using stone tools during the Neolithic period, approximately 6th millennium BCE.
Researchers in Papua New Guinea have found evidence of early agriculture and trade routes dating back to 5050-4200 years ago. This discovery challenges previous assumptions of the Neolithic period and sheds light on the development of cultural diversity in the region.
Artifacts at Waim show fixed domestic space and symbolic cultural practices, suggesting regional Neolithic Era began 1000 years before Eurasian counterparts. Radiocarbon dating confirms age of stone carvings and ground stone pestle fragments.
Researchers uncovered symbolic stone carvings and artifacts suggesting a fixed domestic space and cultural practices in highland New Guinea. The findings indicate the region independently developed hallmarks of the Neolithic around 1000 years before Lapita farmers arrived.
Researchers discovered chemical evidence of grape wine in Georgia as early as 5400-5000 BC, and radiocarbon age determinations confirm Neolithic hunter-gatherers innovated viniculture around 5800-6000 BC. The study also found abundant grapes in the region during this period, highlighting deep historical roots of Georgian wine culture.
Researchers from University of Toronto and Georgian National Museum discover 8,000-year-old wine production in ancient Middle East, dating back to early Neolithic period. The discovery confirms the use of domesticated grapes (Vitis vinifera) for winemaking, pushing back the origin of practice by 600-1,000 years.
Modified human crania from Göbekli Tepe provide the first evidence for a new form of Neolithic skull cult, featuring intentional deep incisions and drilled holes. These findings suggest that ancient individuals may have venerated ancestors or displayed recently dispatched enemies on display.
Scholars studied archaeological and paleoenvironmental records to understand the intensification of agriculture in northern China, revealing a significant impact on fire frequency and natural environments. The findings suggest that millet cultivation played a crucial role in the emergence of ancient Chinese civilization.
Excavations in the Jordan Valley revealed a prehistoric village with cultural characteristics typical of both the Old Stone Age and the New Stone Age. The site shows evidence of artistic tradition, size, and investment in architecture more typical of early agricultural communities.
A pioneering study has examined a collective grave in Spain, providing insights into the lives of people around 6,000 years ago. The research reveals a uniform community with strong familial relationships, a homogeneous diet, and evidence of ancestral worship.
A new study by archaeologists from the Universities of Bristol, Cardiff and Oxford found that Neolithic farmers buried with distinctive stone adzes had access to better land than those without. The analysis revealed sex-biased mobility patterns and status differences among early European populations.
A new study describes recent excavations in Jordan revealing the world's oldest known granaries, dating back to 11,500-10,550 B.C. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of food storage and its role in shaping Neolithic societies.