Articles tagged with Archaeology
New multi-proxy analysis suggests llamas were domesticated in the region prior to the Incas' arrival. The findings shed light on the early history of camelid domestication in Chile.
Archaeologists uncover evidence of permanent habitation, agriculture, and cultural exchange along the Medieval Wall System in Mongolia. The study reveals that these walls served not just military ends but also administrative and symbolic functions, challenging traditional perceptions of nomadic societies.
Researchers developed a new method for extracting and identifying proteins from ancient soft tissues, providing insights into past lives and diseases. The technique identified over 1,200 ancient proteins from 2.5mg of sample, offering a window on human history.
The Gobi Wall, constructed from rammed earth and stone, played a central role in regulating trade and asserting territorial control. Its adaptive design utilized local materials to manage frontier movement and conserve resources.
Researchers identified the earliest known use of Peganum harmala, a medicinal and psychoactive plant, in fumigation practices and inhalation nearly 2,700 years ago. The study reveals ancient Arabian therapeutic and sensorial practices using native plants for bioactive and psychoactive properties.
A new study by Bournemouth University reveals that the 'war-cemetery' at Maiden Castle did not die in a single event, but rather experienced lethal violence spanning multiple generations. The findings question the traditional narrative of Roman conquest and highlight the need for reevaluation of other archaeological cemeteries.
A new study by Greer Jarrett reveals that Vikings sailed farther away from Scandinavia and took routes farther from land than previously believed. The research identified a decentralized network of ports on islands and peninsulas that played a central role in trade and travel during the Viking era.
A new special issue in Proceedings of the Royal Society B explores lesser-studied plants and animals, revealing diverse and context-dependent ways domestication occurred. Studies analyze cereal grain evolution across Eurasia, challenging conventional narratives and introducing new definitions for domestication.
Researchers analyzed a skeleton with a severe knee injury to uncover the complexities of social attitudes towards individuals with disabilities in medieval Europe. The study found that despite negative cultural views, some individuals with disabilities received long-term care and prominent burials.
New research finds that Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi used their hands for both tool use and climbing, with distinct patterns of finger bone structure indicating different grip types. The study reveals varying levels of dexterity and climbing abilities among ancient human relatives in South Africa.
Researchers analyzed personal names from archaeological findings to detect patterns of identity, openness, and change in ancient Hebrew societies. They found that the Kingdom of Israel had a more diverse naming landscape than Judah, indicating a more open and cosmopolitan society.
Researchers analyzed 788 obsidian artifacts from the Templo Mayor, finding diverse sources of obsidian used for both ritual and everyday objects. The study suggests a complex economy that relied on conquest and active trade with rival polities.
The study found direct evidence of psychoactive plant use in ancient Chavín de Huántar, Peru, revealing exclusive rituals that reinforced the social hierarchy. The use of hallucinogens created an air of mystique and control, convincing leaders of their mystical power.
Researchers analyzed a centuries-old Austrian mummy and found it remarkably well-preserved due to an unusual embalming technique involving wood chips, twigs, fabric, and zinc chloride. The mummy, of a local parish vicar, was identified through interdisciplinary analysis, including radiocarbon dating and stable isotope patterns.
The book argues that domestication began as a natural process, with humans unintentionally influencing the evolution of plants and animals through habitat creation. This perspective has significant implications for conservation initiatives today.
A Roman treasure hoard found in Thetford Forest indicates the town was a pagan cult centre until the 5th century. The hoard's diverse origins from across the Roman empire support this new chronology.
A new study reveals that the Neolithic Revolution in the southern Levant was triggered by catastrophic wildfires and climate-driven soil erosion, forcing early communities to adopt agriculture. Fertile soils formed in valley basins after hillslope degradation became hotspots for settlement and farming.
A specialized manufacturing process was used to produce a large-scale production of purple dye in ancient Israel's Tel Shiqmona. The discovery sheds new light on the Iron Age production of this valuable resource.
Researchers found that inequality is widespread but not inevitable, with varying levels of economic disparity across time and space. The study used house size distributions as a metric for wealth inequality, revealing patterns and trends that cross-cut time and space.
A study by Durham University found that unequal distributions of wealth correlated with longer-term human settlement over the last 10,000 years. However, this relationship was not causal, suggesting that humankind's survival is not linked to ever-increasing inequality.
A groundbreaking database of over 55,000 housing measurements from around the globe supports research on correlations between housing size and inequality. The study examines patterns of inequality and their social consequences in human society.
Researchers analyzed ancient stone tools found in the Robberg caves, revealing specific methods of core reduction that indicate shared ideas among prehistoric people. The study suggests that these ancient humans were more connected than previously thought, with similar tool-making techniques found across different regions.
A new study reveals that hunter-gatherers crossed over 100 km of open water to reach Malta 8,500 yrs ago, 1,000 yrs before the arrival of farmers. The researchers found evidence of stone tools, hearths, cooked food waste, and wild animal remains.
A study analyzing nearly 1,000 Syriac manuscripts finds that scribes played a key role in organizing knowledge, adapting texts for new purposes, and shaping Syriac literary culture. The research introduces a new metric, Excerpts Per Manuscript (EPM), to quantify how frequently non-authorial agents engaged in excerpting.
A mass mortality event occurred in Triassic Wyoming, where dozens of giant amphibians called metoposaurid temnospondyls died together on an ancient floodplain. The study provides a unique snapshot of a single population and doubles the known number of individuals of the species Buettnererpeton bakeri.
Researchers found clear evidence of air sacs in fossilized alvarezsaurian bones, which may have helped modern birds fly. This discovery provides new insights into the evolution of bird flight and the role of 'hollow bones' in this process.
A new genomic analysis suggests that human language capacity emerged at least 135,000 years ago, with regional groups spreading across the globe around 100,000 years after that. The study, which examined 15 genetic studies, provides increasingly converging evidence about the timing of geographic splits among early human populations.
Researchers analyzed fragments of glass in a Herculaneum skull and concluded that it likely formed when the individual died from a super-heated ash cloud. The brain was heated above 510 degrees Celsius before rapid cooling occurred as the cloud dissipated.
A study of Viking skulls using CT scans reveals a range of diseases including sinus and ear infections, osteoarthritis, and dental diseases. The results provide greater understanding of the health and wellbeing of the Viking population.
A recent study analyzed perforated beads from the Tholos de Montelirio tomb, revealing a collection of over 270,000 beads made from marine shells. The findings suggest that these garments held strong symbolic meaning, indicating the wearer's high social status and religious leadership role.
A McGill University researcher has discovered a 15th-century Zapotec site in southern Oaxaca, Mexico, was a sprawling fortified city with over 1,100 buildings. The city's layout suggests the Zapotecs had a well-organized social structure and level of agency in negotiating with the Spanish.
Researchers from Hebrew University have identified 12,000-year-old spindle whorls at the Nahal-Ein Gev II dig site, providing key insights into Natufian culture's technological advancements. The discovery predates previous textile tools by 4,000 years and marks an important stage in human innovation.
A recent study published in Antiquity has uncovered over 6,500 pre-Hispanic structures, including a large, previously unknown city with iconic stone pyramids. The research used lidar technology to survey 50 square miles of land in Campeche, Mexico, revealing a more complex and varied Maya landscape than previously thought.
Researchers found Vikings traveled extensively for walrus ivory, covering 6,000 km, including interactions with indigenous Arctic populations.
Researchers from University of Utah introduced Simulating Travel Rates in Diverse Environments (STRIDE) model to predict walking travel times with unprecedented accuracy. The model considers slope steepness, vegetation density, and ground surface roughness for efficient routes.