Articles tagged with Archeological Periods
Researchers analyzed pottery production and circulation to identify border dynamics between El Argar and neighboring groups. The study reveals asymmetrical relations between the core area of El Argar and its neighbors, with the latter maintaining less centralized social structures.
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.
Archaeologists reconstructed human land use and land cover over the past 12,000 years in South Asia, revealing hunter-gatherer practices as dominant across periods. The study provides critical information for modeling climate impacts of human populations.
Researchers have uncovered clay tablets with ancient cuneiform writing, game boards, and large structural remains at the ancient Mesopotamian site of Kurd Qaburstan in Iraq. The study sheds new light on literacy, urban development, and social inequality in this Middle Bronze Age city.
Researchers found that the grinding stones were used to prepare porridge or gruel from early cereal grains, contradicting the assumption that they were used to grind flour for bread. The analysis of microscopic mineral plant remains and starch grains also revealed no evidence of cereals being ground.
Researchers at University of Arizona discovered a spike in carbon-14 dating to 664 B.C., pinpointing the last known extreme solar storm event. The study provides crucial data for scientists studying sun's activity and offers insights into massive storms' effects on Earth's atmosphere.
Researchers from the University of Bologna identified correlations between ancient cylinder seal designs and proto-cuneiform signs in southern Iraq. The study, published in Antiquity, sheds light on the birth of writing and may help decipher unknown signs.
A team of archaeologists uncovered an elite grave in Dornod Province, Mongolia, dating back to the pre-Mongol period. The find provides crucial insights into local communities' networks and organization during a period marked by post-imperial destabilization and intense political competition.
Researchers at George Washington University found that fossil hotspots in eastern Africa, such as the East African Rift System, bias our understanding of human evolution due to their limited geographic representation. The study suggests that scientists must take this bias into account when interpreting early human history and recommend...
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 revised radiocarbon calibration curve for the period between 433-250 BCE has been established, allowing for improved date estimates on Greek shipwrecks. The study confirms the Kyrenia Ship's final voyage around 280 BCE, slightly later than previous estimates.
Researchers used modern technology to estimate the number of rock gardens on Easter Island and food production, revealing that the island couldn't sustain a large population. The study's findings contradict the long-held notion of an ecological catastrophe and instead suggest a more sustainable approach to agriculture.
A study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports reveals that all members of a Neolithic agropastoral society in Switzerland, including non-locals, had equal access to food resources. The analysis of bone isotopes suggests that this egalitarian society was one of the oldest known in the western part of Switzerland.
Researchers are using a hyper-diverse group of herbs called bellflowers to understand relationships between species, origins, and human activity. The project combines genetic data, archaeological records, and computer modeling to create a playbook for answering similar questions in other regions.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University discovered 400,000-year-old stone tools, Quina scrapers, used to butcher and process smaller game like fallow deer. The unique tools were made of non-local flint, likely sourced from the Mountains of Samaria, a calving area for the deer.
Early hunter-gatherers in central Chile regularly visited Tagua Tagua Lake between 12,440-12,550 years old to hunt ancient elephants and process other local resources. The discovery of the fossil remains of a gomphothere at the site provides insights into the subsistence strategies of early humans during the Late Pleistocene.
Researchers discovered a previously abandoned ancient village that surprisingly remained occupied and even thrived during the 8.2ka event, a period of global cooling and sea-level rise. The village's economy diversified from farming to include maritime culture and trade, allowing it to weather the climate instability.
A team of international partners has extended the earliest known human settlement of Curaçao by centuries, adding pieces to the puzzle of pre-Colombian Caribbean history. The study, published in the Journal of Coastal and Island Archaeology, places human occupation on the island as far back as 5735 – 5600 cal BP.
A new study finds that Neolithic peoples' wetland management created a habitat for birds, allowing them to stay year-round and breed in the area. This suggests that human activities can have a positive effect on biodiversity.
Researchers discovered a 4,750-year-old circular plaza with monumental megalithic stones in northern Peru's Callacpuma archaeological site. The structure dates back to the Late Preceramic Period and is one of the earliest examples of such architecture in the Americas.
A team of archaeologists led by University of Wyoming Professor Todd Surovell has discovered a 12,940-year-old bone bead made from hare bone at the La Prele Mammoth site in Converse County. The finding represents the first secure evidence for the use of hares during the Clovis period.
Researchers found evidence of seasonal vitamin D deficiency in ancient teeth, indicating that latitude and sunlight exposure played a major role. The study's findings provide insight into how past populations developed the disease, shedding light on its history and potential causes.
Researchers analyzed ancient fecal samples to assess what details of the ancient people's lives could be ascertained from these samples. The study found DNA fragments of human betaherpesvirus 5, adenovirus F, and other viral and bacterial genetic material from thousands of years ago.
Researchers have identified internationally significant rock art sites in Arnhem Land that were intentionally selected for their critical vantage points. The Flinders University research team used innovative methods to model the environmental conditions 15,000-28,000 years ago, shedding new light on the locations and roles of these sites.
A new tool called dahliagram enables cross-disciplinary collaboration to study past and present human-environmental interactions. The tool allows researchers to analyze and visualize diverse data sources, promoting nuanced understanding and testing hypotheses.
Researchers analyzed bones from 52 sacrificed animals at the well-preserved site of Casas del Turuñuelo, revealing a pattern of repeated mass animal sacrifice in Iron Age Spain. The study sheds light on ritual protocols and intentional selection of adult horses over young animals.
Recent studies by Cara Ocobock and Sarah Lacy found that prehistoric women engaged in hunting, with their female anatomy providing advantages such as endurance and fat metabolism. The research corrects the historical erasure of women from the narrative of human evolution.
Research reveals human occupation in Charco Verde II site from 21,000 to 15,000 years ago, defying the idea that Upper Palaeolithic humans avoided inland Iberia due to its cold climate.
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.
The discovery of well-preserved wood at Kalambo Falls in Zambia reveals that humans were building structures made of wood at least 476,000 years ago. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that Stone Age humans were nomadic, as they had access to a perennial source of water and food in the forest.
A USTC study reveals the Yangshao culture period's dominant crops were broomcorn millet, foxtail millet, and rice, with millets occupying a main position in agricultural structure. Climate change may have driven this shift around 6400 years ago.
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.
Researchers found stable antibodies in 800-year-old medieval human teeth that can still recognize viral proteins, allowing them to study the history of infectious human diseases. This discovery expands the field of palaeoproteomics and may enable experts to analyze how human antibody responses developed over time.
A recent study suggests that ancient Mesoamerican cities, such as Caracol and Teotihuacan, withstood environmental challenges like drought and earthquakes due to their advanced infrastructure and socio-economic systems. These cities' resiliency is often overlooked in historical accounts of their collapse.
Researchers analyzed a 300,000-year-old double-pointed wooden throwing stick from Schöningen, Germany, shedding new light on the woodworking skills of Middle Pleistocene humans. The study suggests that the tool was used for throwing during hunts, providing valuable insights into human evolution and early technology.
A team of researchers from the University of Cologne has successfully decoded a previously unknown ancient script, known as the Kushan script. The breakthrough was made possible by analyzing inscriptions found in caves, bowls, and clay pots in Central Asia, which provided key clues to deciphering the writing system.
Researchers have identified the oldest known true-to-scale construction plans in human history, dating back 8,000 to 9,000 years. The ancient engravings depict so-called desert dragons, kilometre-long megastructures used for trapping animals.
A new study reveals that the earliest Sapiens migrated to Europe in three distinct waves, sharing cultural traditions with ancient Lebanese and French artifacts. The findings challenge previous assumptions about human arrival in Europe and provide insight into the gradual replacement of Neanderthals.
The Ortiz site in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, has yielded five adult human remains with ages dating back to 1800BC, challenging simplistic assumptions about ancient culture. The mortuary practices and Strontium isotope analysis suggest standard burial practices over many centuries.
Conclusive evidence of chicken breeding in the Yayoi period of Japan has been discovered at the Karako-Kagi site. The study found that chickens were bred in the area during the middle Yayoi period, around 381-204 BCE, providing clear evidence that breeding occurred on the Japanese archipelago.
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.
The Manis bone projectile point is the oldest known weapon made from bone, dated to 13,900 years, and provides direct evidence of mastodon hunting in the Americas. Researchers used CT scans and 3D software to isolate and assemble the bone fragments, revealing a spear point made from mastodon bone.
Researchers found solid scientific evidence that Vikings transported animals, including a horse and dog, across the North Sea to Britain. The analysis of human and animal remains from the Heath Wood cremation cemetery revealed that these animals originated from Scandinavia.
A gold coin long dismissed as a forgery appears to be authentic and depicts Emperor Sponsian, who ruled Roman Dacia during civil wars. The study used scientific analysis to confirm the coin's authenticity, shedding light on Sponsian's history.
The discovery pushes back the timeline of pre-Neanderthal hominins in Europe by 200,000 years, with the site yielding over 300 well-preserved footprints. The findings have significant implications for our understanding of human evolution and dispersal in the Middle Pleistocene.
A study of the Skaftö wreck's cargo has provided new insights into 15th century trade routes. The research team mapped the origins of its cargo, including copper mined in Slovakia and Poland, and quicklime from Gotland, indicating that the ship took on cargo in Gdańsk before heading to Western Europe.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that high-status individuals in medieval Norway had higher bone mineral density and were taller than those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. This suggests that socioeconomic status may have played a role in shaping health outcomes over time.
Fossils of ostrich-like dinosaurs from Mississippi provide valuable insights into the diversity and distribution of North American ornithomimosaurs. The discovery reveals that these dinosaurs lived side-by-side with multiple species, including giant body sizes weighing over 800kg.
Researchers uncovered a unique story behind Marra Wonga rock art site, featuring animal tracks, lines, grooves, and hand-related stencils. The site's composition appears to be linked to the Seven Sisters Dreaming story, with designs spread across the length in a particular order.
Research at Abu Hureyra, Syria, suggests that hunter-gatherers may have tended small numbers of animals outside their dwellings between 12,800 and 12,300 years ago. This finding challenges the widely held view that crop cultivation began first.
Researchers analyzed 96 fired clay fragments across 11 islands to reconstruct ancient trade routes in the Caribbean. The study found that the cultural hub was centered on the northwest coast of Hispaniola, challenging previous assumptions about the region's historical significance.
Archaeologists discovered a critical storage site for food and items in the Mugharat al-Kahf cave, revealing how inhabitants adapted to a mobile lifestyle after a significant aridification event. The findings provide new insights into non-funerary characteristics of communities during this period.
Paleontologists have found the jaws of an Etruscan bear in a Crimean cave, dating back to 2-1.5 million years ago. The discovery suggests that early humans may have lived on the Crimean Peninsula around the same time.
The introduction of livestock and dairying to Bronze Age Mongolia may have driven social complexity, fostering the rise of complex societies. The spread of herds and horses into the Altai region had a significant impact on the development of these societies.
Researchers analyzed Châtelperronian tools in the Iberian Peninsula, finding evidence of local Neandertal extinction and replacement even before Homo sapiens arrived. The tool complex suggests older Iberian Neandertals disappeared, replaced by new groups using Châtelperronian technology.
New research reveals how medieval East African farming societies altered their island habitat through intensive land use, impacting shoreline modification and community decline. The study examines the effects of urban growth, trade, and waste on coastal sediments, shedding light on early globalization and maritime trade networks.
A team of researchers developed an enhanced version of a modern forensic test to solve a 5000-year-old cold case. The test confirmed the cause of death for a Neolithic man whose remains were found in a mass grave on the coast of Northern Chile, suggesting he died by drowning in shallow saltwater.
Archaeologists have found nearly 200 examples of human vertebrae threaded onto reed posts in the Chincha Valley, dating from AD 1450-1650. This distinctive treatment of the deceased has never been documented in the region and suggests a direct, ritualized Indigenous response to European colonialism.
A recent study challenges the idea that meat consumption drove major evolutionary changes in humans, suggesting instead that increased research attention may have skewed evidence. The research team analyzed data from nine sites across eastern Africa and found no sustained increase in carnivory after Homo erectus appeared.
A new study reveals that medieval warhorses were bred for success in various functions, including tournaments and long-distance raiding campaigns. The research, published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, found that breeding and training were influenced by biological and cultural factors.