Articles tagged with Archaeometry
The adoption of millet in Bronze Age Europe led to a gradual shift in land use, with the new crop allowing communities to exploit previously marginal areas. This change was associated with increased food security and was not limited to specific social groups or ages.
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...
Ancient populations across six regions in the central-eastern Eurasian Steppe shifted their diets in near-perfect synchrony over 4,000 years. The study suggests that climate, mobility, and advances in milling technology drove these dietary transitions.
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 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.
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 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.
A new study reveals that knowledge of brick building in Denmark spread through the Cistercian monastic network, likely originating from northern Germany. The research analyzed 305 brick samples and found no evidence of Italian craftsmanship.
The study reveals that pottery production was organized in specialized workshops near clay deposits, indicating a hierarchical organization of the El Argar society. The findings suggest a structured economy with regional and economic interactions, contradicting previous ideas about local production.
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.
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.
Researchers propose that early humans used fire to smoke and dry meat to preserve it for extended periods, safeguarding large game from predators and scavengers. This new hypothesis offers a fresh perspective on the origins of fire use in prehistoric humans.
Researchers from Goethe University Frankfurt and LEIZA aim to analyze 4,000 stamped bricks from the Roman period to gain insights into brick production and use in ancient Trier. The study may reveal previously unknown construction projects and provide a model for integrating archaeological and archaeometric methodologies.
The study uses GPR and laser scanners to create a digital map of the Castle's sub-surface, revealing underground cavities and passageways. The technology provides a historical record and allows for immersive experience projects combining history and innovation.
Scientists use modern technology to analyze ancient ochre samples, revealing the material's origin and history. This helps them understand how human cognition and social networks developed alongside early technological innovations.
Researchers at University of Göttingen studied Bronze Age spear combat using multi-stage experiments to understand fighting styles and mark formation on spearheads. The study provides insights into wear formation, trauma, and combat contexts, benefiting future research and museum curation.
Researchers have identified James Fitzjames, a senior officer of Sir John Franklin's 1845 Northwest Passage expedition, using DNA and genealogical analyses. The identification was made possible by a DNA sample from a living descendant that matched the remains found on King William Island.
Researchers found the woman was embalmed with costly imported ingredients, contradicting traditional beliefs about mummification. The study also revealed she suffered from arthritis and had a unique facial expression that may be attributed to a cadaveric spasm caused by intense pain.
Researchers found enriched levels of trace elements, including tungsten and gold, on shards from the basement's alchemical laboratory. The study provides insight into the substances used by Tycho Brahe in his experiments.
A study published in PLOS ONE found cut marks on fossils of a glyptodont, a giant relative of armadillos, that are consistent with known marks made by stone tools. The placement of these marks indicates a butchering sequence targeting areas of dense flesh.
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of early plant farming in east Africa, revealing a pattern of gradual introductions of different crops that originated from different parts of the continent. The study found domesticated cowpea, sorghum, and finger millet seeds dating back to around 2,300 years ago.
A team of researchers identified an ancient white wine from a 2,000-year-old glass funerary urn in Carmona, Spain. The wine was preserved due to the tomb's exceptional conservation conditions, and its chemical analysis revealed it contained polyphenols typical of white wines from the region.
A new study reveals the continuous evolutionary history of rice from wild to domesticated over 100,000 years, with China identified as its birthplace. The research provides new evidence for understanding the development of human society and the origins of agricultural civilization.
A new landscape evolution model suggests that the first humans in Australia migrated rapidly across the continent following riverine corridors and coastlines. The study identifies areas of archaeological significance and provides insights into the impact of climate-driven geography on human dispersal.
Research at Schöningen reveals sophisticated woodworking techniques used by early humans to process spruce and pine wood. The findings demonstrate the importance of wood as a raw material in human evolution, with evidence of extensive processing and recycling.
Archaeologists and biomolecular scientists found evidence of chicken domestication in Central Asia, dating back to 400 BCE. The study suggests that chickens were widely raised for egg production and lost their seasonal egg-laying ability, driving dispersal across Eurasia.
Recent research connects biological domestication to early food globalization, proposing a new conceptual framework that challenges traditional narratives. Archaeological investigations have shown that plant and animal domestication entailed a more gradual transition spanning thousands of years across extensive geographies.
Excavations at La Marmotta, Italy, uncovered five Neolithic canoes dating between 5700-5100BC, featuring advanced construction techniques. The discovery provides invaluable insights into early navigation and the technological sophistication of ancient communities.
A new study has compiled a global archive of preserved human brains, challenging the notion that brain preservation is extremely rare. The archive reveals that nervous tissues persist in much greater abundances than traditionally thought, with many brains up to 12,000 years old and found in diverse environments.
A study published in PLOS ONE predicts that climate change will inundate over 4,200 archaeological sites along the US state's coast, with nearly 5,000 at risk by 2100. The authors used a predictive model to account for storm surge events, highlighting the need for cultural heritage managers to take action.
DNA analysis of ancient Bahraini remains shows the presence of a malaria-protective G6PD Mediterranean mutation in three samples, suggesting many people in ancient populations enjoyed protection from malaria. The discovery provides insights into human history and disease progression in the region.
A team of researchers found no biological matter in the brown layers, reducing the probability of a biological organism being responsible. The discovery also suggests that ancient paints were unlikely to have been used to preserve the marble surface.
Researchers found evidence of domesticated yak dating back 2,500 years in the southern Tibetan Plateau, revealing insights into animal domestication pathways and human adaptation to high-altitude environments. The discovery was made using a combination of ancient DNA sequencing and zooarchaeological analysis.
A new study published in PLOS ONE provides detailed insights into the timing of events in ancient Gezer, a city known from Egyptian, Assyrian, and Biblical texts. The radiocarbon dates suggest that some proposed correlations between the archaeological record and ancient texts are plausible.
A Dartmouth study analyzing declassified Cold War satellite imagery identified 396 previously undocumented Roman forts across the northern Fertile Crescent. The forts were constructed from east to west, contradicting Father Antoine Poidebard's north-south axis claim and suggesting a more complex distribution along Rome's eastern frontier.
A study using computational modelling reveals that Neanderthals required advanced cognitive traits to produce birch bark tar, including understanding, information processing, and communication. The findings suggest that prehistoric tar making likely involved complex upscaling techniques and group collaboration.
A new study in Science Advances uses pollen data to tell a compelling story of early human migration across Europe and Asia. The research suggests that warming temperatures supported forests that expanded into Siberia, facilitating human migration there around the same time as other regions.
Researchers used radiocarbon dating and time-series modeling to study the timing and causes of megafauna extinctions at Rancho La Brea Tar Pits. The team found that a sharp decline in population occurred between 13,070 to 12,900 years ago, coinciding with warming and drying climate change and increased fires sparked by humans.
In ancient California's San Francisco Bay Area, women played a crucial role in the economy, with mothers prioritizing their female offspring through extended breastfeeding. This practice may have led to female-biased wealth disparities, as older women were buried with greater wealth than men.
Researchers identified evidence of 39,000-year-old plant technology at Tabon Cave in the Philippines, revealing that prehistoric communities used fiber technology for textiles and cordages. This study pushes back the antiquity of fiber technology in Southeast Asia, highlighting the technological skill of prehistoric groups.
A team of researchers uncovered that the Neolithic Revolution in North Africa was a result of complex genetic and cultural exchange between European farmers and native hunter-gatherers. This discovery suggests that biological diversity played a key role in the success of Neolithization in the region.
A new study using thermoluminescence dating has challenged the prevailing theory about the early inhabitants of the US Virgin Islands. The research team found that multiple cultures coexisted on the islands simultaneously, contradicting the widely accepted theory of three major waves of immigration.
Scientists have used sub-surface imaging and aerial surveys to uncover the Red Lily Lagoon area in West Arnhem Land, revealing significant implications for understanding the First Australians. The study provides a new way to understand the rock art in the region, which is recognized globally for its significance and distinctive style.
A new study finds that modern-day Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish people share a common genetic heritage with ancient Pictish populations, contradicting long-held assumptions of exotic origins. The research also reveals surprising genetic similarities between Picts and present-day groups in the UK.
A recent study published in Science reveals that domestic horses transformed human life in North America following their reintroduction. The research used archaeological materials, historical sources, and Indigenous knowledge to understand when, why, and how horses were integrated into Native Nations' lifeways.
Researchers found previously unknown interactions among people in southern Africa between the 5th and 20th centuries, revealing a complex network of cultural exchange. The study used geochemical analyses on copper objects to reconstruct connectivity across the region, providing new insights into the history of the area.
Researchers at Flinders University discovered a previously unknown whale behavior, which may have been described in ancient Norse manuscripts. The
Archaeologist Dr. Melissa Baltus has received a five-year, $185,779 grant from the NSF to study neighborhoods surrounding ancient Cahokia and their impact on the city's creation. The study will focus on Indigenous people's lived experiences and social dynamics in two different neighborhoods.
Researchers are conducting on-site surveys and generating high-resolution damage maps for 20-square-mile region affected by the Category 4 storm. The goal is to inform protection efforts and help communities recover from the disaster.
Researchers developed a Sr-Nd isotope baseline for the Silk Road regions, enabling accurate provenance of plant-ash glass. The study confirmed multiple origins of the glass, including Central Asia and Mesopotamia.
Researchers found the skeletal remains of a 5-8 year old spider monkey in Teotihuacán, Mexico, which provides the earliest evidence of primate captivity and translocation. The discovery also reveals gift diplomacy between Teotihuacán and Mayan elite, challenging previous beliefs about Maya presence in the region.
In northern China, about 4,000 years ago, farmers adopted a practice of purposeful water management to grow new grains. The results showed that the majority of wheat samples had isotopic values above an optimal watering threshold, indicating their growth was not limited by water availability.
A joint study by TAU and Hebrew University accurately dated 21 destruction layers at 17 archaeological sites in Israel, using geomagnetic field reconstruction. The new data verify Biblical accounts of Egyptian, Aramean, Assyrian, and Babylonian military campaigns against the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
Researchers are using ancient DNA samples to study the relationship between humans and furbearers like beavers, mink, and muskrats. By analyzing genetic diversity lost due to the fur trade, scientists can inform current conservation efforts and guide future management schemes.
A research team at Kumamoto University has identified the separation of Japanese cockroaches in ancient pottery, dating back over 5,000 years. The study found that the smokybrown cockroach was native to western Japan and the Yamato cockroach was native to eastern Japan.
New research shows that Viking beadmakers in Denmark used sophisticated methods to upcycle old Roman glass mosaics into glass beads. The findings reveal a circular economy approach, where glassmakers reused valuable materials to reduce waste and conserve resources.
A new study reveals that declining agricultural yields due to climate change led to the rise of social shifts, militarization, and conflict in Palmyra around the middle of the third century. The research team used computer simulations to analyze ancient data, providing a new perspective on the city's history.
A team of researchers identified a shipwreck off the coast of Patagonia as the Dolphin, a 19th-century whaling ship from Rhode Island. The discovery was made possible by the analysis of tree rings in the timbers, which showed that the ship was built in New England and felled around 1850.
A team of scientists has confirmed that the earliest humans in Australia consumed eggs from a two-metre tall bird called Genyornis, which became extinct 47,000 years ago. The ancient proteins found in eggshell fragments provide conclusive evidence for this species.
The discovery of a 164,000- to 131,000-year-old Denisovan tooth in Laos provides significant insights into the species' geographic range. The ancient tooth's shape and similarity to teeth found on the Tibetan Plateau suggest that Denisovans inhabited Southeast Asia, particularly northern Laos.