Articles tagged with Archaeology
An international team led by University of Arizona archaeologists has discovered a large ritual construction, Aguada Fénix, dating back to 1,000 B.C. The monument measures nearly a mile long and features a cross-shaped pit with ceremonial artifacts, including jade axes and pigments associated with cardinal directions.
A team of researchers has discovered a 2.75-million-year-old site in Kenya with continuous evidence of Oldowan technology use over 300,000 years, despite major environmental changes. The study reveals that hominins persisted in using the same tool kit to access new resources and survive.
Scientists study ancient oyster populations to guide present-day restoration efforts. By analyzing shell size and breakage, researchers can interpret how intensively communities harvested oysters, shedding light on the challenges of rebuilding depleted reef ecosystems.
A study published in PLOS One mapped ancient tomb distributions across China to identify patterns influenced by socioeconomic factors and geography. The research found that tombs from periods of relative stability were more common than those during times of war and instability.
A multidisciplinary team identified a network of water tunnels carved into soft tufa rock at Nahal 'Amal, which powered sugar mills during the Mamluk period. Radiometric dating suggests these channels supplied water to sugar mills, highlighting local ingenuity and adaptation to scarcity.
Researchers analyze stone tool technologies, revealing a coastal route from East Asia to the Americas around 20,000 years ago. The findings provide strong evidence for the global Paleolithic connection between North America and Northeast Asia.
A study published in PLOS One identified genetic signatures of diverse gut parasites in ancient Mexican feces, revealing high prevalence of pathogens like pinworm and E. coli. The analysis provides insights into intestinal disease and sanitation practices of ancient cultures.
A new study using radiocarbon dating has pushed back the timeline for the Thera (Santorini) volcanic eruption, placing it prior to Pharaoh Ahmose's rule. The findings suggest a longer Second Intermediate Period and a later start to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt.
Classic Maya cities rose due to climate downturns, intergroup conflict, and strong economies of scale, while deurbanization occurred when environmental degradation outweighed urban benefits. The study integrates population ecology theory and resolves the paradox of why agrarian populations would aggregate despite high costs.
Researchers built a digital archaeology framework to learn about ancient humans creating finger flutings, which are marks drawn on cave walls. The study used tactile and VR setups to explore AI image recognition methods, finding promising insights but also limitations.
Satellite images reveal ancient stone mega traps, known as chacus, built by hunters and pastoralists in northern Chile. The structures were likely used to capture vicuña, a wild relative of the alpaca, and provide evidence of foraging populations that pre-date settled agricultural systems.
A study published in PLOS One reveals that ancient humans in central Italy butchered elephants for meat and raw materials, with a consistent strategy used during warm periods of the Middle Pleistocene. The site of Casal Lumbroso features over 300 skeletal remains from a single straight-tusked elephant alongside more than 500 stone tools.
Researchers analyzed the gut microbiome of a 1,000-year-old mummy from Zimapán, Mexico, revealing specific types of bacteria present. The findings expand knowledge of ancient microbiomes and may provide clues to the individual's life, including their diet, health, and lifestyle.
A new book by Peter Turchin analyzing data from over 800 societies reveals that warfare was the central driver of social complexity, leading to the development of institutions for cooperation and prosociality. The Great Holocene Transformation offers insights into the evolution of human societies over 10,000 years.
A new study has uncovered evidence that Jamestown colonists brought donkeys to North America, rewriting the story of their arrival. The horses and donkeys were likely butchered and eaten during the infamous winter of starvation.
Researchers analyzed ancient teeth from 71 people in modern Syria to reconstruct mobility patterns of Neolithic farming villagers. They found that most people stayed local, but women were more likely to move between communities, suggesting complex social dynamics.
Researchers used 3D modeling, field experiments to confirm how Rapa Nui people moved iconic moai statues. The team found that the statues were likely walked in a zig-zag motion along carefully designed roads using rope, with a physics-backed explanation.
The study establishes the earliest occupation at Karnak as around 2520 BCE, coinciding with the Old Kingdom period. Researchers also found a link between the temple's location and an Ancient Egyptian creation myth, where the high ground on which Karnak was built may have been seen as a manifestation of the creator god Ra-Amun.
Neolithic farmers in Central Europe integrated new cereal varieties into their range of crops between the 6th and early 4th millennium BCE. This led to more resilient and flexible agriculture, enabling the cultivation of winter and summer crops and adapting to changing environmental conditions.
A study by Harvard University found that EurekAlert! press releases were 4 times more likely to receive U.S. media coverage than journal articles without press releases. The researchers analyzed 1,155 archaeology papers and found that over 90% of those published in top journals were covered by at least one major U.S. news outlet.
The TORF Research Unit studies medieval North Frisia's tidal flats, revealing archaeological remains and understanding human-environment interactions. Researchers aim to reconstruct the region's complex history and raise public awareness of coastline risks.
Researchers discovered monumental camel rock art in northern Saudi Arabia, dated between 12,800 and 11,400 years ago. The engravings, including over 130 life-sized figures, likely marked water sources and movement routes, revealing insights into early desert communities' resilience and innovation.
Archaeologists at Aarhus University found traces of azurite on a stone artifact in Germany, challenging the assumption that Palaeolithic artists only used red and black pigments. The discovery suggests that early humans had access to a broader colour palette than previously thought.
Archaeologists can now map hidden voids such as tunnels and channels using muon tomography, a method that detects changes in soil penetrability to cosmic radiation particles. The technology was successfully demonstrated at the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem.
The study of Neanderthal footprints offers a unique window into everyday behaviour, providing insight into their physical presence, locomotion strategies, diet and social structure. The research suggests that Neanderthals were more versatile and ecologically adapted to coastal environments than previously believed.
Researchers uncover evidence of adzuki bean domestication in East Asia dating back to 9,000 years ago, expanding understanding of early Neolithic agriculture. The discovery reveals regional differences in bean size and utilization, highlighting the role of culinary practices in its domestication.
Researchers uncover pierced shells and pigments from Châtelperronian period, indicating a genuine workshop for jewellery manufacture. The findings suggest long-distance trade networks or significant human mobility, shedding new light on cultural variability of the time.
A groundbreaking discovery of Paleolithic tools in Ayvalık, Turkey, reveals that early humans may have used the northeastern Aegean coast as a route to enter Europe. The find provides valuable insights into early human presence, technological variability, and raw material preferences during the Pleistocene era.
Farmers in Middle East prioritized viticulture over olive growing due to irrigation, which maintained grape cultivation. This suggests that grapes and wine held cultural and economic value.
Researchers at Linköping University and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have discovered that lentils grown in the Canary Islands have a 2,000-year history, with genetic analysis revealing they originated from North African varieties brought by indigenous people. The study suggests these well-adapted lentil varieties may be...
A new paper highlights the importance of human historians in capturing emotional complexity behind world events as AI struggles to accurately represent Holocaust survivors' experiences. Historians possess skills that AI lacks, including the ability to capture human suffering and preserve fracture and silence.
A complete plano-convex ingot made of a copper-zinc-tin-lead alloy has been discovered in Sweden, rewriting the history of the region. The unusual composition challenges the initial dating to the Bronze Age, instead suggesting an Iron Age origin.
The study found shocked quartz grains at three North American archaeological sites, indicating extreme heat and pressure. This supports the Younger Dryas Impact hypothesis, which proposes that a fragmented comet exploded over Earth, leading to megafauna extinctions and Clovis culture collapse.
A new study has shed light on the metal trade in the Bronze Age, revealing that Sardinia was more connected to Scandinavia than previously thought. The research used a multi-proxy approach to analyze copper, tin, lead, and osmium isotopes, finding that bronzetti figures were primarily made from copper sourced from Sardinia.
Researchers uncovered evidence of ancient metal trading networks in Sardinia's Nuragic civilization through analysis of tiny metal figurines. The findings suggest widespread interaction and mixing practices between different cultures in the region during the early first millennium BCE.
Research on ancient rubbish heaps reveals that people travelled long distances to feast together at the end of the Bronze Age, with some events bringing animals from as far as northern England. The study found distinct patterns of animal remains in each midden, indicating local and regional economies.
The study reveals that Slavic groups originated in the region between the Dniester and Don rivers and migrated across Central and Eastern Europe. The genetic data show a mosaic of different groups adapting to local contexts, with no significant sex bias in migrations.
Researchers found that human selection and environmental changes led to a synchronous evolution of domestic and wild animal body sizes over the past 7,000 years. However, in recent centuries, human impact has intensified, causing wild species to shrink while domestic animals have grown larger.
A 2,800-year-old study using Carbon-14 dating reveals that the Siloam Pool and Dam were constructed as part of a comprehensive water management system for ancient Jerusalem. The findings point to early urban planning and impressive engineering skills in addressing climate change.
A new species of hypercarnivorous crocodyliform, Kostensuchus atrox, has been discovered in prehistoric Patagonia with a length of 11.5ft and weight of 250kg. This predator was likely one of the top predators in its ecosystem.
The Conservation Soft Box is an airtight, controlled environment case that preserves cultural heritage with minimal maintenance. It achieves similar results to expensive display cases but at a much lower cost, making it accessible to countries with limited resources.
Fossilized marine invertebrates accurately reflect past ecosystems' functional diversity, offering a powerful tool for understanding long-term ecological change and informing modern conservation efforts. The study supports the growing field of conservation paleobiology by validating the use of functional diversity metrics in fossil data.
Researchers found evidence of wild barley harvesting 9,200 years ago in Toda Cave, southern Uzbekistan, suggesting a more widespread transition to farming. The discovery contradicts the idea that agriculture developed independently in various parts of the world, instead revealing a more complex and interconnected process.
The study of Gribshunden's preserved artillery reveals insights into the technology and tactics used by European explorers in their quest for global domination. The discovery sheds light on why Denmark failed to compete with Iberian powers in colonizing the Americas, instead focusing on consolidating rule over the Baltic region.
The study reveals that victims had different dietary patterns and showed signs of higher mobility and physiological stress, suggesting they were outsiders. This finds supports a two-tiered ritual: local enemies killed in battle were dismembered as trophies; others, likely captives, were subjected to violent execution.
A 140,000-year-old child's skeleton from Israel reveals biological ties between Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens through unique morphological traits. The discovery confirms genetic exchanges between the two groups, with up to 6% of modern humans' genome originating from Neanderthals.
Researchers analyzed stone tools from Kenya's Homa Peninsula and found they were crafted from stronger, volcanic rocks brought from several miles away. This discovery pushes back the earliest known evidence of ancient humans transporting resources over long distances by 600,000 years.
A new study demonstrates that microscopic differences in iron can be spotted using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, allowing archaeologists to identify the origin of Spanish iron objects. This technique follows a quiet revolution in southeast archaeology, where metal detectors have been adopted for large-scale survey work.
Researchers at ETSU's Gray Fossil Site have discovered the first fossil deer in North America, dating back 5 million years. The newly described fossils reveal the likely ancestor of modern white-tailed deer and highlight the incredible diversity of life that once flourished in Tennessee.
Scientists have uncovered the remains of a vast animal community that lived in the European Arctic 75,000 years ago. The bones represent the oldest example of an animal community in the region during this warmer period of the ice age, providing valuable insights into how wildlife responded to dramatic climate shifts.
Researchers discovered traces of betel nut compounds in dental calculus from a 4,000-year-old burial site in Thailand, shedding light on the ancient practice. The study used new methods to analyze ancient teeth and found evidence of psychoactive plant use that was previously invisible to archaeologists.
Researchers found that people who experienced malnutrition early in life may have survived threats like plague at greater rates until young adulthood. However, this survival advantage could drop significantly when entering middle and late adult years.
Researchers reanalyzed ancient honey residue from Greek shrine jars using modern techniques and determined its likely origin. The findings suggest the presence of ancient honey, but other bee products may also be present.
A study published in Comptes Rendus Géoscience refines understanding of ocean levels, coastlines, and ancient migratory corridors in Africa and West Asia. The research uses improved glacial isostatic adjustment modeling and DNA data to explore alternative land and sea routes into and out of Africa.
The Seshat History of Moralizing Religion examines how societies across the world have answered ancient human questions about gods, morality, and the afterlife. The book reveals surprising insights into the development of religious traditions with a strong moral agenda, including Egypt's early adoption of divine punishment and reward.
Two Neanderthal groups living in Amud and Kebara caves in northern Israel butchered the same prey using similar tools but with distinct patterns of cut-marks on animal bones. These differences could represent cultural food practices such as drying or aging meat before butchering, which were passed down through generations.
Scientists think Neanderthals passed down different food preparation practices to neighboring groups, resulting in distinct butchery strategies. The differences in cut-mark patterns between Amud and Kebara caves may reflect unique cultural traditions of animal carcass processing.
The discovery sheds light on the complex connections between ancient Maya and central Mexican civilizations. Archaeologists found artifacts indicating early contact between the two regions around AD 350.
Researchers analyzed four complete donkey skeletons and remains to discover that Egyptian donkeys were incorporated into ritual burials during the Early Bronze Age in present-day Israel. Local donkeys were also part of the diet, according to the study published in PLOS One.
Researchers found that crab and clam species have remained stable in the Broken Group Islands for the past 3,000 years due to their resilience etched into shells. The study's novel approach uses repair scars on clam shells to assess historical crab populations, providing a tool for coastal conservation efforts.