Articles tagged with Archeological Sites
Researchers investigate links between wetland resources and city emergence, exploring archaeological sites from 5,000 B.C. to Islamic times. The study aims to understand the contributions of early-mid Holocene shoreline and marshes to Mesopotamian cities.
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.
A Texas A&M University-led research team has discovered evidence of human occupation in Texas and North America dating back to 15,500 years ago. This finding challenges the traditional Clovis-first theory and suggests that early Americans arrived earlier than previously believed.
Scientists discovered a link between ancient human sites and tectonically active landscapes in southern Africa. The research suggests that early humans were attracted to habitats created by tectonic movements near rivers or lakes, which provided food, shelter, and drinking water.
The discovery of Xaasaa Cheege Ts'eniin, a three-year-old child cremated around 11,500 years ago, sheds light on ancient burial practices and daily lives of Ice Age people. The site provides rare insights into the burial practices of Ice Age people and their daily lives.
The world's first skyscraper, discovered in ancient Jericho, was likely built as an earthly element connecting residents with the heavenly element of the setting sun. Researchers propose that its construction was related to primeval fears and cosmological beliefs.
The newly discovered stone monument features a central figure with an elaborate headdress and ornate accessories, dating back to the Early Formative period. The sculpture's design suggests a connection between corn cultivation and religion, supporting the idea of an early association between the two.
Researchers uncover eight ancient teeth in Israel that are similar to those of modern humans, sparking new questions about the origins of Homo sapiens. The discovery, part of a larger excavation at the Qesem cave site, provides valuable insights into early human evolution and migration patterns.
Researchers at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona have implemented a digital cataloguing system that uses data matrix codes to reduce manual registration errors in archaeological heritage. The system, tested on Spanish and African sites, demonstrates substantial advantages over manual coding in terms of speed and reliability.
Archaeologists propose that the Persian Gulf Oasis may have been home to humans for over 100,000 years, challenging current migration models. The region's fertile landscape and abundant resources would have supported early human settlements.
A new device can analyze samples thousands of years old in minutes, helping archaeologists determine ancient activities. It works by lifting off spectral fingerprints with infrared light and analyzing molecular peaks to tease out material origin differences.
Researchers have uncovered a rare find of an ancient royal garden at Ramat Rachel, which dates back to the 7th century B.C.E. The dig has revealed intricate irrigation systems, stone-carved gutters, and elaborate waterfalls, providing valuable insights into power dynamics and water management in ancient times.
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.
Researchers have found approximately 90 pre-Columbian settlements in South Brazil, contradicting traditional assumptions of sparsity in inland areas. The discoveries include fertile soils and round depressions that could be the remains of ancient water reservoirs.
Archaeologists Vance Holliday and David Meltzer argue that the Clovis comet impact hypothesis is not supported by archaeological evidence. They found no evidence of a sudden cooling of the climate or a post-impact gap in human occupation at Clovis sites.
A new study uses computer simulations to recreate the parting of the Red Sea, suggesting a strong east wind could have created a safe passage for fleeing Israelites. The research estimates that a wind of 63 miles an hour would have pushed back waters, exposing mud flats for four hours.
Mammoths, reindeer and woolly rhinos found in Iberia during cold climate periods, coinciding with global cooling in Greenland. The species' presence indicates a biological crisis as temperatures warmed up, leading to habitat loss.
A recent study published in Journal of Archaeological Science suggests that a species of shellfish, the humped conch, has increased in size over the past 3,000 years despite increased human activity. The average length of the conchs increased by approximately 1.5 millimeters, making them about 5% larger than they used to be.
Researchers at Brigham Young University have uncovered evidence of a new diet in the North Creek Shelter, a 10,000-year-old archaeological site on the Colorado Plateau. The study reveals that early humans in the region consumed small seeds, including sage brush seeds, as well as deer and other game.
Archaeologists have unearthed Britain's earliest surviving Stone Age house at the Star Carr site in North Yorkshire, dated to 8,500 BC. The 3.5m circular structure features a large wooden platform and post holes, providing evidence of early carpentry and domestic life.
A recent study suggests the Arctic climate system may be more sensitive to greenhouse warming than previously thought. The researchers used three independent methods to measure Pliocene temperatures on Ellesmere Island, finding that CO2 levels of approximately 400 parts per million can produce mean annual temperatures in the High Arcti...
TWAS has received the 2010 Premio Feltrinelli award for its unprecedented accomplishments in promoting scientific capacity in developing countries. The prize includes a Euro 250,000 cash award and recognizes TWAS's inspirational mission to advance global economic and social well-being through South-South cooperation in science.
A study analyzing ancient teeth found that it's possible to correctly identify species with a success rate ranging from 60% to 80%. Computer simulation was used to observe the effects of environmental changes on morphology of the teeth. The research suggests that the common ancestor of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens may still be unknown.
A diet rich in aquatic foods may have driven brain development in early humans. The discovery provides evidence that consistent amounts of fish were part of the human diet, around two million years ago.
A team of researchers found that early hominids in northern Kenya ate a wide variety of foods, including fish and aquatic animals, rich in protein and nutrients. This diet may have played a key role in the development of larger brains in early humans.
A perfectly preserved shoe, 1,000 years older than the Great Pyramid of Giza and 400 years older than Stonehenge, has been found in a cave in Armenia. The 5,500-year-old cow-hide shoe dates back to ~3,500 BC and was made from a single piece of leather.
A well-preserved village in China's Sanyangzhuang offers a unique glimpse into daily life in Western China during the Han Dynasty. The site features remarkable finds such as tiled roofs, brick foundations and metal tools, suggesting a relatively affluent community despite its remote location.
Researchers from the University of Central Florida used LiDAR technology to map the ancient Maya city of Caracol, detecting over 11,000 new structures and confirming its size. The technology revealed extensive agricultural terracing, showing the Maya were adept at 'building green' long before modern terminology.
An international team of scientists has described a new fossil find and the new species Australopithecus sediba, thought to be at least 2 million years old. The fossils are exceptionally well preserved, revealing unique insight into the period when the earliest members of the genus Homo evolved.
A team of scientists, including Indiana University's Kristian J. Carlson, announces the discovery of a new species of early man, Australopithecus sediba, which shares attributes with Homo but also retains some characteristics of earlier ancestors like Australopithecus africanus.
The excavation of Tell Zeidan reveals the emergence of an elite that possessed political power to facilitate trade and acquire luxury goods. The site also shows high-ranking elites sharing a common set of symbols and ideology across a broad region.
Archaeologists from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona discover evidence of modern human presence between 34,000 and 32,000 years ago at Cova Gran site. The study reveals distinct tool-making techniques and materials used by different species, strengthening the hypothesis of no overlap or interaction.
Researchers found a maternal East Asian ancestry in ancient mitochondrial DNA from 2,000-year-old bones in Italy. The findings indicate that at least one individual was of non-Italian descent, possibly a slave or worker from the Roman Empire.
Researchers from the University of Valencia confirm pine resin was used to seal a 2,000-year-old amphora found in Morocco. The vessel contained metallic fragments likely used for iron-working, suggesting it may have been reused as a protective container.
Archaeologists at Fernbank Museum of Natural History have discovered unprecedented evidence of De Soto's path in Georgia, including rare glass beads and metal artifacts. The findings suggest a probable stop near McRae, Ga., and provide a significant link to the infamous conquistador's journey through Native communities.
Spanish researchers found the last European hadrosaurs in the Iberian Peninsula, coexisting with evolved species and primitive members. The fossils, including a newly discovered lambeosaurine, suggest a connection between Asia and Europe during the Late Cretaceous period.
Researchers have confirmed that the Greater Noctule bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus) inhabited northeastern Spain during the Late Pleistocene period. The discovery of fossils at the Abríc Romaní site in Barcelona sheds light on the species' wider geographical range, which has declined due to vegetation reduction.
Researchers used photography and detailed geological mapping to identify 30 tombs on fracture traces, which can lead to flooding and damage. The team plans to use this information to stop flooding by diverting water away from tombs.
Researchers led by Williams College Professor Anne Skinner investigate the lifestyle of humans living near the Nile tributaries during the Middle Stone Age. The study focuses on water resources concentrated near riverbanks during seasonal dry periods, and the site may have been a refuge during climate stress.
Researchers have discovered a rich cache of plant fossils in Colombia, providing the first reliable evidence of how Neotropical rainforests looked 58 million years ago. The fossil record shows that many dominant plant families still exist today, indicating a relatively stable ecosystem.
A new research institute dedicated to the Bronze Age will be established at La Bastida archaeological site in Murcia, Spain. The project aims to shed light on European prehistory and cultural heritage through systematic research and scientific analysis.
A team of experts will dive into the sacred pools of Cara Blanca in central Belize to investigate their cultural significance and environmental history. The expedition aims to determine if these cenotes have similar sacred qualities as other Maya sites.
A team of researchers led by Mercyhurst College archaeologist James Adovasio has identified the most extensive delineation of submerged prehistoric river systems in the world. The team also found high-quality chert at three dive sites, which could be used to make tools by early Americans.
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.
A cache of cuneiform tablets dating back to the Iron Age period has been discovered in a 2,700-year-old Turkish temple by University of Toronto archaeologists. The tablets may provide insights into Assyrian imperial aspirations and highlight the imperial ambitions of ancient powers.
Researchers analyze dental wear of herbivorous animals hunted by Homo heidelbergensis to determine vegetation and way of life. The study confirms differing mobility patterns among hominid groups, with some sites showing high and low occupation periods.
A team of scientists, led by Dr. James Adovasio, is searching for evidence of human occupation in the Gulf of Mexico, dating back over 12,000 years. The researchers are exploring submerged sites using remotely operated vehicles and divers to collect artifacts and animal fossils.
A team of experts, led by The University of Nottingham, has unveiled a new set of high-resolution images revealing the plan of the Roman town of Venta Icenorum at Caistor St Edmund in Norfolk. The survey confirms street plan, water supply system, and public buildings like baths and temples.
A University of Colorado at Boulder team discovered a large manioc field in the ancient village of Ceren in El Salvador, which was buried under volcanic ash around A.D. 600. The cultivation system is believed to be the first evidence of intensive manioc farming at any New World archaeology site.
Researchers have identified caribou-hunting structures and camps used by early hunters in the Great Lakes region. The discovery sheds light on the Paleo-Indian and Archaic periods, which are poorly known due to lost sites beneath the lakes.
Archaeologists are racing to preserve the ancient underwater town of Pavlopetri, off southern Laconia in Greece. The site, dating back to 2800 BC, offers major insights into Mycenaean society and its workings.
A UCLA archaeologist finds that eBay's online auction house has an unexpected chilling effect on looting of antiquities, diverting villages to producing fake artifacts instead. The proliferation of these copies reduces incentives to loot and depresses the market for real items.
The Geological Society of America's South-Central Section Meeting will feature a presentation on the Arlington Archosaur Site, which has yielded over 95 million-year-old fossils including a new species of lungfish. The site is also home to well-preserved remains of a carnivorous theropod and a large herbivorous hadrosaur.
A new dating method has found Peking Man to be around 680,000-780,000 years old, pushing back its age by 200,000 years. The site's analysis revealed evidence that Homo erectus had adapted to the cold environment of a mild glacial period.
Researchers found evidence of ancient chemical warfare in a Roman siege, with the Persians using bitumen and sulphur crystals to create choking gases. The discovery sheds new light on the tactics used by the Sasanian Persians during the 256 AD siege.
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.
Archaeologists discovered an 800-pound basalt stele at Zincirli, a major Iron Age site in southeastern Turkey. The stele features an incised image of the man Kuttamuwa and provides written evidence that people believed the soul was separate from the body.
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of ancient copper-production center at Khirbat en-Nahas, dating back to the 10th century BCE, pushing back archaeological chronology by three centuries. The discovery supports biblical narratives and raises questions about the historicity of King David and Solomon's rule.
The discovery of burned flint at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov site pushes back the accepted date for man's fire-making ability by half a million years, indicating that early humans controlled fire from 790,000 years ago. This skill enabled ancient humans to leave their surroundings and populate new environments.