Articles tagged with Archaeology
Research suggests fish and shellfish harvests played a key role in the economic system of the Canary Islands. Archaeologists found specialized fishing tools, thousands of fish scales, and evidence of early food preservation techniques.
Researchers found that ancient hominins selected specific basalt sources for tool production, demonstrating advanced planning abilities and long-term technological traditions. This discovery highlights the ability of Acheulian hominins to plan, select, and exploit geological resources within a changing landscape.
A study published in PLOS One reveals that early bovines, such as Parabos tigneresi, inhabited a humid environment and weighed up to half a ton 4 million years ago. The discovery of well-preserved fossils at the Camp de Ninots site has shed new light on the evolution of large-bodied buffalo and cattle.
A new study found that excavated urban soils in South Korea emit measurable amounts of CO2 and CH4, highlighting a previously overlooked climate cost. Researchers suggest simple practices like soil capping and biochar amendment could be integrated into construction workflows to mitigate these emissions.
A study published in PLOS One analyzed microbial communities in well-preserved and degraded bones from medieval cemeteries in Norway. The researchers found distinct microbial communities associated with different levels of degradation, suggesting that microbes play a role in bone preservation and decay.
A new study analyzing ancient DNA alongside archaeological data suggests that population movement along Peru's Pacific coast began at least 800 years ago, centuries before the rise of the Inca Empire. Genetic evidence reveals mixed ancestry between people from different coastal regions over subsequent generations.
A new study reveals that Mohenjo-daro, the Indus civilization's largest city, became more egalitarian over time as it matured. The city's inhabitants worked together to ensure fair access to a good standard of life, with investment in practical things like drainage and street maintenance.
A new study reveals that humans in Sri Lankan tropical rainforests were consistently consuming plants and animal resources, with a gradual shift toward greater plant consumption over time. This trend begins in the Late Pleistocene and continues into the Holocene, far earlier than the first confirmed evidence for domesticated crops.
Researchers found significant erosion damage to graves in a 17th-century whaling site in Svalbard, with textiles nearly completely degraded over 30 years. The study reveals the physical cost of climate change on Arctic cultural heritage sites and the need for revised policies.
Archaeological studies of Roman-Byzantine villages in Syria reveal advanced construction techniques and domestic layouts that can inform future restoration projects. The findings offer an extensive analysis of building materials used in the construction of a village called Ba'ude.
Bronze Age people in southern Levant adopted more efficient metal tools for butchering marked the beginning of significant technological advancements. SEM analysis of ancient bones at Tell Aphek provided key evidence for this transition.
For at least 1,000 years, early herders in eastern Africa continued to fish, hunt, and gather alongside livestock, revealing a diverse diet that varied greatly from person to person. This strategy likely helped them adapt to a changing environment and ensured survival.
A millennium-old dingo was deliberately buried by Barkindji ancestors with great care, suggesting an ongoing relationship between local people and dingoes. The discovery provides new insights into ancestral dingo burial practices extending beyond southeastern Australia.
Researchers found ancient Chinese water buffalo feather decorations contained multiple bird species, including hoopoe, black-headed grosbeak, and yellow-bellied whistler. They also identified the adhesive as water buffalo glue, providing insights into cultural connections and species origins.
The discovery of complex stone tools at the Lingjing archaeological site in China suggests that ancient humans were capable of advanced technological thinking and creativity. The tools, crafted by Homo juluensis, show a high level of organization and planning, indicating a deep understanding of stone properties and fracture mechanics.
A new species of long-necked dinosaur, Dasosaurus tocantinensis, was discovered in Northeast Brazil and found to be a close relative of a European species. The dinosaur is estimated to have been around 20 meters long and lived approximately 120 million years ago.
Researchers from the University of Waterloo have identified four more members of Sir John Franklin's 1845 expedition using DNA samples extracted from skeletal remains. The new discoveries bring the total number of identified sailors to six, providing previously unavailable details about the circumstances and locations of their deaths.
Researchers uncover evidence of recurrent high-mountain occupation and systematic exploitation of copper-rich minerals in Cova 338. The site provides new insights into the role of high mountain environments in Pyrenean prehistoric societies.
Archaeologists uncover evidence of ancient copper smelting in a mountain cave, spanning over 2,000 years. Human remains and lost jewelry suggest the site may have been a burial ground, while fire played a deliberate role in processing the green mineral fragments.
A study of ancient genomes found that individuals from northern Europe were buried in cemeteries in southern Germany during the late Roman period, suggesting regional mobility. The research team reconstructed family relationships and showed how new structures emerged as people adopted Roman ways of life.
The University of Michigan study reveals that Napata, an ancient city in Sudan, benefited from the Nile's relatively stable flow and deposits of clay and silt. This landscape feature reduced flood risk while maintaining access to water, allowing for successful settlement and cultural development.
Researchers analyzed pollen trapped in Roman shipwreck coatings to identify plant taxa present during construction and repairs. The study found evidence of four to five distinct batches of coatings, suggesting the ship was patched up successively at different locations throughout the Adriatic Sea.
Researchers analyzed bone collagen peptides from avian remains found at the Gungok-ri site in South Korea, identifying the presence of chickens and their management during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period. The study's findings provide insights into Korean food culture, agriculture, and animal domestication.
The study reconstructs the genetic profile of a small group of Neanderthals from Stajnia Cave, Poland, providing a coherent genetic picture of Neanderthals in this part of Europe. The discovery sheds light on the distribution of a particular Neanderthal maternal lineage in western Eurasia.
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.
Early humans at the Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov relied on driftwood from lakeshore environments for fuel, suggesting a practical and efficient strategy. This approach may have been a decisive factor in their choice of location.
Global warming poses a significant threat to rice production, which has historically been heat-loving but is now facing its limits. Rice can tolerate temperatures below 82°F and 104°F, but rising temperatures will accelerate beyond these thresholds.
Researchers use ancient DNA and burial practices to show that family ties can be more than just blood-related. This challenges traditional views of kinship, highlighting the importance of cultural and anthropological perspectives in understanding family dynamics.
Researchers from UCO and IQUEMA laboratories analyze pigments in Domus of Salvius to reveal sophisticated understanding of materials and effects. The mixture of cinnabar and iron oxide was applied in a unique way, with a layer of goethite protecting the expensive cinnabar.
Researchers found cut marks on turtle shell fragments suggesting Neanderthals carefully butchered and cleaned the shells, which may have been reused as small containers or scoop-like implements. The study sheds new light on Neanderthal ecological flexibility and survival strategies.
A study of 12,281 adults from 673 European sites over 10,000 years reveals a male bias in high meat consumption deciles across all eras. The results highlight significant gender disparities in access to animal proteins, suggesting root causes in food taboos and social norms.
Researchers found evidence of Native American dice making and use dating back 12,000 years, with binary lots crafted from bone featuring markings for counting sides. This discovery challenges traditional views on the origins of probability theory.
Researchers have discovered a remarkably well-preserved iron-smelting workshop in eastern Senegal that dates back to the 4th century BCE. The site, which was used for nearly eight centuries, provides new insights into late prehistoric metallurgical practices in Africa.
A new study reveals excavated urban soils as a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide and methane. Biochar application and soil capping can dramatically reduce emissions by up to 96%, offering a practical climate solution for urban development.
A field study found that adding biochar to estuarine wetlands increased sediment carbon storage while suppressing carbon loss. Tidal dynamics amplified the effectiveness of biochar as a climate solution by stabilizing carbon in sediments and reducing microbial activity associated with carbon decomposition.
Researchers discovered imported aromatic substances from Africa or Asia in Pompeii's incense burners, indicating a far-reaching trade network. The investigation also found evidence of grape products and native plants used in domestic cult practices.
Rock art discovered in northwest Arnhem Land reveals up to 14 new images of the Tasmanian tiger, challenging the theory that it became extinct around 3,000 years ago. The artwork, created using red ochre and white pipe clay, provides rare insight into the cultural importance of thylacines in everyday life.
A team of researchers from Spanish universities has found a remarkably well-preserved 3,500-year-old loom that provides new insights into the textile revolution during the European Bronze Age. The loom's wooden structure and components made from wood and plant fibers have allowed the researchers to accurately determine how it worked.
A study from Stockholm University found a diverse population in medieval Ibiza connected to Europe, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa through trade and migration. Genetic analysis also identified the first confirmed case of leprosy in medieval Islamic Iberia.
A new deep learning model classifies Japanese Sue ware from 3D scans with high accuracy, using three-dimensional point clouds directly. The model achieved an overall accuracy of 93.2%, performing almost perfectly on visually distinct categories, while focusing on regions that may correspond to expert archaeologists' considerations.
A team of archaeologists used uranium–thorium dating to establish precise construction timelines for houses built out of coral in French Polynesia. The findings reveal previously hidden patterns of architectural development and cultural life in Pacific societies, challenging earlier theories about coral reuse.
A new study has uncovered the earliest genetic evidence of domestic dogs to date, finding that they were already living alongside Ice Age humans over 14,000 years ago. The research analyzed ancient DNA from archaeological sites in the UK and Türkiye, revealing a shared diet between early dogs and humans.
Historians have long believed that King Harold marched 200 miles to the Battle of Hastings in 1066, but new research from the University of East Anglia reveals this was a myth. The ships returned to London and remained operational throughout the year, challenging our understanding of the Norman Conquest.
The 'leaky pipeline' metaphor oversimplifies the systemic barriers faced by women and marginalized scholars in archaeology. New research highlights multiple forms of inequity that diminish productivity, limit collaborations, and reduce future generations of archaeologists.
The Monte Verde archaeological site in southern Chile is now believed to be 4,200-8,200 years old, rather than 14,500 years old as previously thought. This new age estimate supports an initial interior migration into continental North America as a viable colonization hypothesis.
The bow and arrow replaced the atlatl and dart as primary hunting technology in western North America, debuting around 1,400 years ago, with rapid adoption across the region
A medieval individual buried in the Menga dolmen in Andalusia has been found to have a mixed ancestry, with uniparental lineages typical of European populations and mitochondrial DNA shared with modern North African individuals. The study sheds light on the genetic diversity of Andalusian society during the Middle Ages.
Researchers discovered temperate trees, including oak, elm, and hazel, in Doggerland over 16,000 years ago, revealing a surprisingly hospitable environment. The study suggests that Doggerland may have supported early Mesolithic communities prior to flooding, shedding light on the region's ecological history and human settlement patterns.
A study by McKenna Litynski reveals that ancient needles and awls enabled humans to survive in cold climates through tailored leather clothing and provided a range of purposes beyond clothing production. The research, published in PLOS ONE, shows that needles and awls were widely used for medical suturing, fishing, tattooing, and cerem...
A study of charred food in pots reveals that prehistoric Europeans consumed a wide variety of plants, including grasses, berries, and leaves, alongside fish and seafood. The findings emphasize the importance of plants in early European diets and suggest that ancient cuisines were more complex than previously thought.
Indigenous people in pre-European Michigan cultivated maize more prominently than previously thought. The researchers found that burial mounds were built near lakes that warmed later in spring and cooled later in fall, suggesting an extended maize-growing season and a greater cultural role for maize.
Dr. Lindsey Cochran's work combines technical modeling with community conversation to protect cultural heritage sites along Florida's Apalachicola Bay. Her approach has earned a national honor and reflects ETSU's commitment to research that serves both academic inquiry and public need.
A new interdisciplinary study provides detailed insights into the lives of people living in Central Europe during the Late Bronze Age, revealing gradual changes in ancestry, dietary flexibility, and mortuary practices. The research suggests that communities participated in wider networks of interaction and incorporated change into exis...
Researchers have discovered a 3,000-year genetic link between the Old Irish Goat and ancient goats living in Ireland during the Late Bronze Age. The study sheds light on the breed's remarkable continuity and highlights its importance as a living piece of Ireland's ancient heritage.
Researchers have discovered six Bronze Age mining sites in southwestern Spain, revealing extensive metal extraction and trade networks. The findings provide a concrete archaeological context for previous studies on the origin of Scandinavian Bronze.
A recent study examining microscopic remains of clothing and burial items from 7,000-year-old graves in Sweden reveals the use of bird skins, furs, and feathers. The analysis method provides a fresh vantage point on Stone Age attire, shedding new light on the significance of soft organic materials.