Articles tagged with Archaeology
Researchers used a multi-proxy method to analyze 296 burials from the Corded Ware culture in Bohemia, finding wealth differences emerged gradually over several centuries following migrations from the steppe. Social inequality increased in later phases, with growing gender inequality and increased competition for prestige items.
Researchers uncover earliest known clay figurines in the Middle East, depicting animals and people, dating back before the agricultural revolution. The discovery suggests that creativity and cultural knowledge were shared across generations, with children involved in making these objects.
A new study reveals that children and adults worked together to create miniature figures, with ancient fingerprints offering rare evidence of hands-on learning across generations. The discovery of 154 clay artifacts dating back to 15,000 years challenges the belief that symbolic expression emerged during the end of the Paleolithic period.
A study published in PLOS One reveals that the Trafalgar necropolis in Spain continued to be used for massive burials until the 2nd millennium BC, defying the trend of smaller individual burials during the Bronze Age. The discovery sheds new light on Iberian burial practices during this period and suggests that new monumental burial sp...
A Danish-Dutch research team re-examined the dating of 27 medieval skeletons and found that freshwater fish consumption can significantly distort radiocarbon dates, leading to incorrect age assignments. This phenomenon, known as the 'freshwater trap', affects not only Denmark but also potentially across Europe.
Scientists identified the culprits behind 8000 ancient frog bones discovered in a single ditch, finding most frogs died young after being eaten by birds of prey. The study revealed the Fen waters were retreating in the Roman period, creating ideal conditions for the frogs to breed, which were later hunted by birds.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University propose that early humans collected objects as personal keepsakes, influencing the evolution of autobiographical memory and self-awareness. Archaeological findings suggest that objects like colorful stones and fossils have been associated with memories for hundreds of thousands of years, supporting th...
AlphaOracle cuts analysis time by 64% and 78.7% of experts rate its usefulness; the system uses four stages to trace characters, including morphological analysis and contextual alignment, and is presented as a step for partially documented scripts
A new study has found that climate fluctuations during England's Industrial Revolution may have contributed to childhood vitamin D deficiency and related diseases. Researchers analyzed teeth from a centuries-old cemetery and found that individuals born after major volcanic eruptions or periods of low solar output were more likely to su...
The use of mercury by the ancient Maya spread the pollutant throughout the Yucatán region, contaminating lake cores and aquatic ecosystems. High levels of mercury were found in sediment cores, surpassing modern safety thresholds, and linked to the collapse of aquatic food webs.
Archaeological research at Bournemouth University reveals Verica, a key figure in the Roman Invasion of Britain, was a woman. Verica's female identity challenges the patriarchal mindset of 19th-century historians and sheds light on a powerful female leader in late Iron Age Britain.
A 7,000-year-old piece of leather from southern Spain has revealed that Neolithic people used domestic goats, not wild ibex, to make leather. The analysis also showed a close genetic link between the ancient goats and modern-day Bermeya breeds.
Researchers uncover new evidence explaining James Starkey's targeted assassination, shedding light on the complex relationship between archaeology, land ownership, and political violence. A Palestinian rebel commander is identified as the likely perpetrator in a locally organized operation connected to grievances against the excavation.
A new UV light-based technique has revealed that one-quarter of data centers are located in water-stressed areas, while analyzing mineral deposits in 37,000-year-old cave paintings. The technique, developed by researchers, has applications in forensic science and monitoring biofilms on the International Space Station.
A new study has reconstructed the genetic history of the Iberian Peninsula between the 1st and 8th centuries CE, revealing that Roman Hispania's genetic legacy survived the arrivals of the Suebi, Alans and Visigoths. The study found that Roman rule created an extraordinarily diverse society due to population movements across the Medite...
Researchers used palaeoproteomics to analyze ancient proteins in sediments from a 60,000-year-old archeological site in South Africa, revealing the presence of collagen from the common eland. The findings provide new insights into the complex technical and symbolic behaviors of early Homo sapiens.
The Roman skeleton found in Westminster Abbey's sarcophagus may belong to high-ranking medieval monk Aelfwig or his successor Wulnoth, according to new analysis. The bones were dated to between 987 and 1052 AD, and the skeleton was found to be around 5ft 9ins in height.
Researchers used drone-mounted laser scanning to identify three previously unregistered rock shelters containing rock art and stone artefacts in the Blue Mountains. The new methodology enables faster and more accurate location of sites in rugged environments, helping Aboriginal communities protect cultural heritage.
NYU researchers have developed an AI tool to piece together broken archaeological fragments, allowing archaeologists to reconstruct fragments and gain new insights into past cultures. The project aims to improve the efficiency of refitting, a process that is currently slow and labor-intensive, and will enable researchers to analyze mor...
A new international study found that population levels in Japan after the Kikai-Akahoya eruption were more complex than previously believed. The research team discovered that while populations declined in some areas, they actually increased in others, with survivors adapting to new social relations and economies.
A new study analyzing over 2,300 burials in ancient China finds that social-relational networks shaped inequality long before the rise of states. These networks controlled access to labor, resources, and symbolic capital, producing unequal social-relational networks that predated state formation.
New discoveries at Murujuga, Western Australia, reveal significant Aboriginal cultural heritage on the seabed, showcasing how First Peoples lived, transported goods, and used different places within a vast cultural landscape. The findings provide insights into a world that existed before rising seas reshaped Australia's coastline.
The discovery at Shég' Xdaltth'i' provides evidence for a trans-Beringian cultural link between Alaska and other western sites, dating back 13,800 years. The site's tools and artifacts, including hafted-biface forms and pre-Clovis material, suggest a connection between Beringian and Paleoindian cultures.
A team of researchers discovered an early base camp in Beringia, revealing life in the region 13,800 years ago. The camp featured a unique hafted-biface form, osseous tools, and well-preserved activity areas, showcasing human hunting of megafauna such as mammoth, bison, and caribou. These findings provide important insights into the ev...
Holocene precipitation in eastern China exhibited a clear north-south dipole pattern, influencing agricultural development and cultural evolution. Northern China became wetter while southern China became drier, supporting agriculture and driving cultural development from Neolithic to Bronze Age.
A study led by Lund University reveals that aurochs, the ancient ancestors of modern cattle, declined in Scandinavia due to genetic depletion, human pressure, and habitat change. The research found that the aurochs population became isolated from the main European population around 8,000 years ago, and was eventually driven to extincti...
Researchers discovered 20 coins, including a rare halfpenny, indicating a thriving Anglo-Saxon community in Rome's 'Little England' with special treatment from the Pope. The coins suggest a bustling hub of craft and trade, contradicting a long-held assumption that foreign currency was forbidden in the city.
Fossils discovered in southern Africa have confirmed the first appearance of Homo erectus, which is believed to be directly ancestral to modern humans. The findings also reveal micro-evolutionary changes in P. robustus, a species that lived in the same landscape as Homo erectus.
A new study analyzed 500 spear points to understand how early humans in the Tennessee River Valley region adapted to unfamiliar environments, using resharpening techniques to manage resources. The research found that the Clovis groups were more likely to resharpen spearheads, indicating a concern for resource management, while the Cumb...
A 1834 British silver sixpence shows severe deformation, favouring minting anomaly over wear, corrosion, or impact. Non-destructive microscopy and chemical analysis reveal abrupt changes, steep-sided troughs, and overlapping displacement structures.
Researchers found decorated pottery with high-quality clay, temper, and production method, indicating a secretive community of artisans with access to specialized knowledge and resources. This discovery sheds light on the connection between the Safety Harbor culture in Tampa Bay and the Mississippian heartland.
Researchers analyzed carbonate deposits in the Pont du Gard aqueduct to uncover historical water management practices and population decline. The study suggests that the Plague of Cyprian led to the depopulation of Nîmes, causing the city's water supply to become unnecessary.
Researchers have created a new method to read ancient scrolls damaged by the Mt. Vesuvius eruption, using AI and X-ray technology. By scanning for lead in the ink, they were able to virtually unroll and read some of the text on damaged scrolls.
Researchers replicate 2,000-year-old burned papyrus scrolls, test a new method to decipher Herculaneum texts using X-ray tomography and leaded ink detection. The study provides a simple way to identify scrolls with leaded ink, which can be virtually unrolled and read.
Researchers discovered intricate designs on 18,000-year-old female figurines inspired by mammoth tusk growth patterns. The study highlights a 1,000- to 3,000-year gap in figurine creation across Europe during the Last Glacial Maximum.
Researchers at Cardiff University and the University of Nottingham found that bear baiting was an established activity in England by the twelfth century, with bears imported from Europe. The study analyzed bear bones and archival records to show the prevalence of bears in England and northern France during medieval times.
Researchers analyzed fossilized remains from Troodontid dinosaurs, revealing changes in hip and leg bones over time, shedding light on the species' development and potential health issues. The study's findings support the designation of a specific subset of fossils as the primary representative of Troodon formosus.
Researchers discovered the stones were hauled from Brimham Rocks, 11 miles west, using 'Isotopic fingerprinting' to match the stones' mineral profiles. The study confirmed a missing stone is hidden in plain sight in Aldborough, proving local legends and 19th-century theories correct.
A new study using ancient DNA from seeds in southeastern China reveals that melons likely originated in South Asia, rather than being developed from wild Chinese plants. The study also found that these ancient melons had light-green flesh and yellow peel, and were likely consumed as vegetables or mildly sweet fruit.
A new study proposes that wildfires and erosion in the southern Levant may have inspired Neolithic communities to discover pottery-making. The study suggests that observing naturally baked clay during intense fires led to the development of ceramics.
A new study analyzing a large dataset reveals that cattle were initially more abundant than sheep, but sheep increased in the 7th century, driven by monastic farms and wool production. The economy shifted towards draught cattle in the 10th to 12th centuries, but then declined as demand for meat and milk grew
Researchers from Aarhus University developed a low-cost multispectral imaging system that uses LEDs at 16 different wavelengths to reveal differences in materials. The system was tested at Sorte Muld and Fredbjerg, revealing new layers and changes in the fill that were difficult to distinguish in normal color photographs. This technolo...
Researchers discovered plant bundles from the Wuwangdun Tomb, containing rice, millets, and other cereals, wrapped in oak leaves, with similar structures to modern zongzi. The bundles were likely used as funerary offerings, distinguishing them from their modern counterparts.
Researchers have discovered evidence of cacao consumption by the Mississippian people in the 12th century at the Etowah Site in Georgia. The findings suggest that cacao was a staple at feasts in the region during this time period.
Researchers used AI and geometric morphometrics to analyze 243 historic vessels, tracking changes in shape and function over time. The study reveals that Edo-period
Researchers studied Qurayyah Painted Ware ceramics, 3200-yr-old, with black-and-red geometric designs, and found that they may have been used to create a unique identity, or 'brand', for pottery producers in ancient Arabia. The study also explored how these designs were transformed and diffused across different regions.
Researchers found 16 mummified individuals, a dog, and disturbed deposits in Theban Tomb 209, indicating a spatial logic in reuse and a kind of funerary memory. The study suggests that cultural rites were reconfigured, but not lost, as the tomb was repeatedly reactivated over time.
A 4,000-year-old stone plaque discovered in Indonesia provides the first evidence of portable Austronesian painted art, showcasing a distinctive sun-ray design characteristic of the tradition. The securely dated context reveals that these designs were used to communicate shared identities and affiliations between island communities.
A new study has found evidence of potentially hazardous microbial growth on mummified human and animal remains sold online, posing risks to buyers. The analysis also highlighted non-compliance with postal regulations, putting delivery workers and others at risk. Stronger oversight is needed across online marketplaces and industries.
A new integrated isotope study reveals that environmental conditions, rather than human selection, drove the initial increase in cereal grain size in southwest Asia around 11,000 years ago. The research found that larger grains grew under wetter conditions, while smaller wild-sized grains grew under drier conditions.
Researchers argue that policymakers in Colombia can adopt a similar cooperative strategy to solve the country's current water management crisis. The pre-Hispanic field systems of La Mojana cover an astonishing 500,000 hectares and were likely built by local communities in a short period of time through cooperation.
Research reveals how dogs developed specialized forms in response to human needs, such as compact sled dogs for Arctic regions and lean hunting dogs for tropical forests. Genetic adaptations also emerged to cope with oxygen-poor air at high altitudes, mirroring human populations' genetic traits.
In a new study, researchers found that wild capuchin monkeys prioritize stones with proven track records of cracking nuts, even if they're not the mechanically optimal choice. This demonstrates that primates rely on durable physical traces to guide their tool selection.
A study of ancient DNA from over 500 mammoth bones found that Ice Age humans selectively targeted female woolly mammoths, unlike the sex ratio among naturally occurring remains. The research sheds light on how ancient humans and mammoths interacted across the Late Pleistocene.
In medieval Kazakhstan, people living in Dzhankent city employed diverse herding practices to ensure milk and dairy products were available year-round. The study found they bred sheep throughout the year, with most births occurring in spring months, to keep them producing milk during winters.
Researchers have uncovered the identities of three kings omitted from the Assyrian King List, shedding new light on early Neo-Assyrian political history. The discoveries suggest that the AKL may not be an impartial chronographic work, but rather a legitimizing canon of kings used to remove short-lived or parallel rulers.
Archaeic human parents likely had to provide constant parental care due to deformed head shapes in fossilized humans. Human babies are born less developed than other great apes, requiring specialized care, and this helps explain the origins of cooperative social behaviors.
Researchers estimate that Mesolithic foragers occupied Malta between 8,500 and 7,500 years ago, surviving on the island due to long-distance sea crossings. The authors predict a population size of up to 419 individuals, which dropped to 170 by 9,000 years ago, suggesting a temporary or seasonal occupation.
New evidence from Malta reveals that hunter-gatherers engaged in repeated long-distance sea journeys of at least 100km between Sicily and Malta for at least a millennium. This suggests that the Maltese Islands were part of a hitherto unknown, sustained long-distance sea voyaging network.
Researchers analyzed ancient burial records to understand why some societies practiced residential burials and how this practice changed over time. They found that residential burials were more common in older societies than expected, suggesting that cultural practices can shift significantly over centuries.