Articles tagged with Archaeometry
Researchers discovered an additional active process producing nanodiamonds in sediments less than 3,000 years old, suggesting a possible extraterrestrial event. The study found no correlation between nanodiamond concentration and alternative processes, supporting the ET impact hypothesis.
A 300,000-year-old hearth discovered in the Qesem Cave provides conclusive evidence of repeated fire building over time, hinting at advanced social structure and intellectual capacity. The find suggests that early humans had a sophisticated understanding of space organization and social order.
Researchers developed a method to harden bones by growing aragonite on their surfaces, making them 50-70% sturdier. This technique has wide implications for preserving valuable remains and restoring cultural clues.
A new internationally agreed radiocarbon calibration curve will allow key past events to be dated more accurately. The research, led by the University of Sheffield and Queen's University Belfast, provides improved accuracy to archaeologists, environmental scientists, and climate researchers.
Researchers have uncovered a record of Neanderthal archaeology that was thought to be lost, revealing a key archaeological site with preserved geological deposits dating back 250,000 years. The discovery provides significant insights into the last Ice Age and Neanderthal behaviour.
A team of scientists has announced a new juvenile fossil cranium of the ancient ape species Lufengpithecus from Shuitangba, China. The discovery provides significant insights into the evolution and extinction of apes during the Miocene epoch.
A new high-tech analysis by University of Colorado Boulder researchers dated the oldest known petroglyphs in North America to at least 10,500 years ago. The Winnemucca Lake petroglyph site, located in western Nevada, features complex designs and vertical chain-like symbols carved into limestone boulders.
Valery Fokin receives $3.75M grant to establish laboratory at MIPT, focusing on biomarker development for inflammation, cancer, and immune diseases. The lab will facilitate collaborations between Scripps and Russian scientists and companies.
A team of scientists from the University of Houston and a filmmaker will share their discoveries about remnants of an ancient city in the Honduran rainforest, using light detection and ranging (lidar) technology. They will also showcase previously undisclosed images of apparent archeological sites.
The Teotihuacan civilization used cosmetics as part of an after-death ritual to honour their city's most important people. The analysis of cosmetic remains found in urns reveals the social status of the deceased, with only high-ranking individuals buried with these products.
A new study finds that most of the pipestone used to create ancient artifacts in Ohio came from quarries in Illinois, contradicting a long-held assumption. Researchers analyzed mineralogical signatures and found that over 65% of the pipes were carved from flint clay in northern Illinois.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University have improved the dating of early human settlement in the Polynesian triangle by applying uranium/thorium dating to coral artifacts. The study estimates that the first boats arrived between 880 and 896 BC, narrowing the previous timeline from 178 years to just 16 years.
The National Geographic Emerging Explorers program recognizes young trailblazers in various fields who are pushing boundaries of discovery, adventure, and global problem-solving. The 2012 class includes cyborg anthropologist Amber Case, digital storyteller Lucy Cooke, and behavioral ecologist Iain Couzin.
Researchers have discovered high levels of sulphur and iron compounds in shipwrecks off the west coast of Sweden, including warships and Viking vessels. The presence of toxic hydrogen sulphide poses a risk to wooden hulls and requires special conservation procedures to prevent damage.
Researchers from the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Florida have discovered a bone fragment with an incised image of a proboscidean, dated to around 13,000 years old. The engraving is significant as it provides evidence that people in the Americas during the last Ice Age created artistic images of animals they hunted.
The human super-brain is believed to have emerged in Africa no later than 75,000 years ago, fueled by the development of bipedalism and tool-making. This collective mind enabled the creation of complex thoughts, language, art, and technologies.
Three researchers conducted a first-ever US-led archaeological survey inside Iraq, exploring links between wetland resources and the emergence of Mesopotamian cities. The study shed new light on how civilization rose in the Near East, particularly in areas such as Hammar marshlands.
Baylor University researchers have discovered the oldest archaeological evidence of human occupation in the Americas at a Central Texas site. The findings, published in the journal Science, date the peopling of the Americas to around 15,500 years ago, contradicting previous estimates of 13,000 years.
Archaeologists issue call to action for scientists to assess and preserve archaeological sites at risk from sea level rise and urban development. A scientifically sound method has been proposed to measure vulnerability using quantifiable factors like shoreline change and geomorphology.
Archaeologists discovered remains of tortoises and cattle cooked for human consumption at a burial site dating back to around 12,000 years ago. The findings suggest that early humans practiced communal feasting as a social behavior unique to the species.
A team of Catalan scientists found remains of Egyptian blue in a 12th-century Romanesque church's altarpiece, challenging the understanding that this pigment fell out of use after the Western Roman Empire. The pigment's presence has sparked debate about its possible origin and transportation during Medieval times.
Researchers studying ancient human responses to climate change in the Arctic and Kamchatka regions provide insights into how societies adapt to environmental changes. Their findings can inform governments, scientists, and NGOs on how relationships between humans and their environments may shift due to global warming.
Researchers Gary Feinman and Linda Nicholas integrated textual information with archaeological research to provide a more holistic view of Shihuangdi's reign and its impact on eastern China. Their study reveals that the area was already inhabited before the emperor's colonization efforts, contradicting previous historical accounts.
Neuroscientists and computer scientists identified how the brain arranges noun representations, using a neural Rosetta Stone. The three basic features of the brain's dictionary concern physical interaction, eating, and shelter or enclosure. This discovery has implications for treating psychiatric and neurological illnesses.
Scientists are increasingly involved in preserving cultural heritage objects, using non-destructive analysis and innovative techniques. Conservation science research is funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, aiming to maximize the preservation of building materials and artworks.
Recent discoveries in Chinese archaeology are forcing scientists to reconsider the origins of ancient Chinese civilization, highlighting a more complex and diverse history. The findings also raise questions about the impact of looting and development on China's cultural heritage.
The study analyzed fossil remains of small vertebrates in the El Mirón cave, revealing seven periods of cooling and warming in the region's climate. The findings suggest that forest-dwelling rodents flourished during warmer periods, while cold-adapted species survived and migrated to northern Europe.
Scientists have developed a new dating technique using fire and water to determine the age of ceramic artifacts up to 2,000 years old. The 'rehydroxylation dating' method relies on the reaction between fired clay ceramics and atmospheric moisture, which causes weight gain over time.
The team aims to create a visual archaeological database (VAD) to transform the documentation process of excavations. Using video cameras, digital scanning stations, and computer vision, they will analyze and reconstruct artifacts from the Apollonia-Arsuf site in Israel.
A team of Princeton University researchers has developed an automated system that can reconstruct wall paintings from fragments, reducing the time needed from years to months. The 'Griphos' system employs a combination of computer algorithms and mirrors traditional archaeological procedures, enabling archaeologists to use it as a tool.
Researchers have discovered evidence of maize consumption in tropical Ecuador dating back over 5,000 years. The findings suggest that corn was a vital food crop for villages in the region, contradicting previous theories that it was only used for ritual purposes.
Scientists found that humans first hunted the flightless sea duck more than 10,000 years ago, but it persisted until about 2,400 years ago. The prolonged survival of the bird challenges the 'Pleistocene over-kill theory', which suggests that human arrival led to rapid extinction.
A team of archaeologists from the Field Museum and Shandong University have conducted a 13-year survey of southeastern Shandong Province using the regional settlement pattern survey method. This approach reveals the overall layout of settlements, providing insights into population density, trade, and other factors. The research sheds n...
New research suggests the Americas were colonized by approximately 1,000-5,000 people, with a 20,000-year layover in Beringia, where population size remained relatively stable. This three-stage colonization model provides a more complex scenario than previous theories, shedding light on the timing and scale of the initial migration.
The University of Arizona's Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research will receive a $9M donation from Agnese N. Haury to build a new archive for its vast collection of over two million tree-ring samples, providing access to data on climate change and environmental issues. The lab has been instrumental in unlocking mysteries in archaeology, eco...
Researchers have pushed back the known use of cacao by 500 years, tracing it to fermented beverages made from sweet pulp and seeds between 1400 and 1100 B.C.E. This discovery sheds light on the early development of chocolate culture in the Americas.
Researchers used CT scans to reveal a close-to-the-shoulder artery lesion in the Iceman, confirming his cause of death as a result of an arrowhead injury. The discovery sheds new light on life conditions in the past and the evolution of diseases.
The discovery suggests that modern humans migrated out of Africa and occupied parts of eastern Europe as early as 45,000 years ago. The findings are based on the analysis of stone tools, beadwork, and other artifacts found at the Kostenki site in Russia.
Scientists have deciphered the meaning behind mysterious faces on South Pacific artifacts, revealing that they may represent sea turtles. The research, published in the Cambridge Archaeological Journal, suggests that these ceramic portraits and wooden bowls display ideas about human origins and the divine.
The Cambridge Templeton Consortium has received $2.8 million to investigate the emergence of biological complexity through various fields, including molecular biology, social sciences, and philosophy. Researchers will explore questions about the development of intelligence, human self-awareness, and design in nature.
Curtis Marean aims to reconstruct ancient ecological factors influencing human evolution and understand the future implications for modern humans. He believes a team-based approach will provide more fruitful research than traditional specialist work.
Scientists from Bristol, The Open and Sheffield Universities have dated the engravings at Creswell Crags to over 12,800 years old, making them Britain's oldest rock art. The dating method used uranium-series dating, which measures minute traces of radioactive uranium in thin limestone crusts that formed over the engravings.
Researchers examined medieval and Renaissance manuals and art to understand gladiatorial combat tactics. They infer that battles typically had three critical moments: initial contact, wounding, and grappling before concluding without bloodshed.
Researchers analyzed ancient liquids in bronze vessels from China, dating back to the Shang and Western Zhou Dynasties, and found evidence of fermented rice and millet wines. The discovery confirms a 9,000-year history of Chinese fermented beverages and sheds light on their role in ancient culture.
Spanish scientists have developed a technique to determine the color of ancient wine, revealing that King Tut's wine was made with red grapes. The analysis is the first extensive chemical analysis done on a jar from King Tut's tomb and provides evidence of the color of wine in an archaeological sample.
A digital library is being developed to gather, preserve, and publicize historical and real-time data for archaeologists, humanists, and social scientists. The library will focus on ancient Near Eastern studies and include electronic tools like DigKit and DigBase to collect, record, and share data.
The book, written by Dr. Georges Stoops, provides a system of analysis and description of soil and regolith materials seen in thin sections. It aims to standardize descriptions of features found in thin section analysis, facilitating communication among scientists using micromorphology.
A team of scientists excavated a chimpanzee nut-cracking site in West Africa, uncovering new facets and confirming existing knowledge about chimpanzee tool behavior. The study suggests that some Oldowan sites may be re-interpreted as nut-cracking sites, providing new insights into human evolution.
A four-year interdisciplinary study has identified young faults at the Oracle site and pinpointed the emissions responsible for the Pythia's trance state as light hydrocarbon gases from bituminous limestone. The study also found ethane, methane, and ethylene in spring water near the Oracle.
Researchers use geophysical surveys and underwater explorers to discover two long-lost cities off the Egyptian coast. The cities are believed to have sunk due to earthquakes, with some evidence suggesting land subsidence or tsunamis as contributing factors.
A systematic study of Greek quarries may help archaeologists pinpoint the source of famous sculptures like the Elgin Marbles. The research used stable isotopic composition and geochemical structure to deduce specific origins for ancient marble, providing new dimensions to the growing field of marble studies.
A team of archaeologists led by Dr. Clark Erickson discovered a unique landscape-scale fishery operated by pre-Columbian native peoples in the Baures region of Bolivia. The ancient earthworks, built around 300 years ago, provided intensive aquaculture allowing for sustainable food production.
The Foundation for Exploration and Research on Cultural Origins (FERCO) has funded eight research projects on ancient civilizations in Asia, North America and Europe. These projects include studies of early maritime adaptations, trade networks and the distribution of obsidian, among others.
An international team is investigating archaeological sites in the Kuril Islands, searching for clues about early human migration to the Americas. The research aims to determine if seafaring people from the islands connected with Alaska's Aleutian Islands, potentially providing insights into the peopling of the continent.
The discovery of a new tomb at Teotihuacan's Pyramid of the Moon has provided critical evidence for reconstructing the city's 2,000-year-old history. The tomb contains human skeletons, animal bones, and offerings that differ from previous discoveries, suggesting a significant cultural shift between two phases of pyramid construction.
A psychologist proposes that cave artists, who painted sophisticated images 31,000 years ago, were actually people with underdeveloped minds. An autistic girl's unusual drawing skills inspired this theory, which suggests that artistic talents emerged due to mental deficiencies rather than sophistication.
A recent excavation at the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan has uncovered a skeleton and 150 surrounding artifacts dating back to approximately 100 A.D. The burial is suspected to have belonged to one of the city's rulers, providing critical information that could revolutionize modern understanding of Teotihuacan's culture and history.
A team of archaeologists has discovered a previously unknown mound complex in Louisiana built between 5,000 and 5,400 years ago. The site, Watson Break, consists of 11 mounds that predate other known complexes by 1,900 years and provide clues about the planned engineering behind their construction.
The discovery of an ancient Peruvian obsidian quarry provides evidence for long-distance trade in the Americas as far back as 2,500 B.C. The quarry, found by University of Wisconsin-Madison geographer Sarah Osgood Brooks, contains nearly 75% of artifacts identified as coming from a single source.
Researchers analyzed obsidian blades from workshops in Mexico, finding that the number and type of mistakes made can indicate a craftsman's level of skill. By ranking workshops according to their aggregate skill, archaeologists can better understand the economic complexity of ancient societies.