Articles tagged with Archeological Sites
Researchers have found that spinosaurid dinosaurs had rapid tooth replacement, with up to three generations of teeth developing simultaneously. This trait likely contributed to their overabundance in Cretaceous sites.
An archaeological study has confirmed that cowrie-shell artifacts found in the Mariana Islands were used as lures for hunting octopuses. The devices date back to approximately 1500 B.C., making them the oldest known artifacts of their kind in the world.
The New Mexico site provides conclusive evidence for early human settlement in North America, dating back to 36,250-38,900 years ago. The site's fossil record includes blunt-force fractures, bone flake knives, and signs of controlled fire, which were not typical of earlier archaeological sites.
A centuries-old tooth found on a Caribbean island yielded ancient DNA from a domesticated American horse, which was later discovered to be the oldest sequenced specimen in the Americas. The DNA analysis linked the horses to Spanish explorers who brought them to the mid-Atlantic region in the 16th century.
A study published in PLOS ONE analyzed the oldest domestic horse specimen from the Americas, revealing a genetic lineage linked to Southern Europe. The findings support the hypothesis that horses originated on the Iberian Peninsula and highlight the importance of ancient DNA in understanding cultural and historical processes.
Researchers analyzed ancient proteins in high-status Viking graves to identify beaver fur, supporting the idea that it was a luxury item. The discovery suggests that wearing exotic fur was an obvious visual statement of affluence and social status during the Viking Age.
A new study suggests that the north plaza in Cahokia, a major pre-Columbian city, was almost always underwater, blurring the lines between dry plazas and wetlands. The research, published in World Archaeology, reveals that water played a central role in the city's culture, trade, and cosmological beliefs.
Researchers have uncovered thousands of artifacts along Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, shedding new light on the ancient Maya people who lived in a dynamic interplay between social and natural processes. The project has provided valuable insights into how the Maya adapted to environmental changes, such as rising sea levels, and offers a m...
Fossils found in the 'Cradle of Humankind' in South Africa are estimated to be between 3.4 and 3.7 million years old, making them older than previously thought. This new age range places these fossils at the beginning of the Australopithecus era, challenging previous theories that they were near the end.
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 uncover layers of houses and various objects from the 10th to 13th centuries, including Hnefatafl pieces and glass. The most significant find is nine walrus ivory fragments that were later analyzed using DNA and isotopic analysis to determine their origin.
A new study suggests that the bones of fallen Battle of Waterloo soldiers were likely sold as fertilizer due to the scarcity of human remains found on the battlefield. The research, published in the Journal of Conflict Archaeology, is based on original data and visitor accounts from the time period.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University discovered charcoal remnants from olive trees at the Chalcolithic site of Tel Zaf, indicating intentional cultivation around 7,000 years ago. This marks the earliest evidence of domestication of a fruit tree worldwide.
Researchers from the University of Georgia Laboratory of Archaeology have discovered evidence of 'council houses' on the Cold Springs site, dating back to around 500 A.D. The findings indicate that democratic institutions associated with collective governance were present in the Americas for at least a millennium before European contac...
The Gloucester, a warship that sank in 1682 while carrying James Stuart, has been discovered off the Norfolk coast. The wreck is significant due to its age and political context, offering insights into 17th-century social, maritime, and political history.
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.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals Cueva de Ardales was a canvas for artwork and burial place for Neanderthals and modern humans from 65,000 to 35,000 years ago. The site provides a unique history of human activity in Spain and sheds light on the development of European culture.
Researchers uncovered intricate settlements in Bolivia's Llanos de Mojos savannah-forest, featuring elaborate structures and a vast network of reservoirs. The cities were built alongside nature, employing successful sustainable subsistence strategies that promoted conservationism and maintained rich biodiversity.
Archaeologists have discovered two remarkably large sites of 147 hectares and 315 hectares in a dense four-tiered settlement system using LIDAR technology. The largest site is as large as Bonn was in the 17th century, with modifications indicating a reasonable increase in population.
Archaeologists are leading excavations on the site of Leicester Cathedral, uncovering over 120 burials from the late Saxon period to the recent past. The excavations will reveal insights into the lives of people who lived and died in Leicester, including aspects of the Roman town that predated the Cathedral.
A new analysis of ancient faeces found at Durrington Walls has uncovered evidence of parasitic worms, suggesting the inhabitants feasted on cattle and fed leftovers to their dogs. The findings indicate that people ate raw or undercooked internal organs from infected animals, resulting in parasite eggs passing through the body.
The Powars II site in eastern Wyoming has been confirmed as the oldest documented red ocher mine in North and South America, dating back nearly 13,000 years. The excavation uncovered thousands of Paleoindian artifacts, including projectile points and shell beads.
Researchers uncover unique cremation site in Adige Valley, Italy, suggesting complex funerary rituals. Cremated remains were intentionally left in situ for multiple generations.
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.
Researchers investigated habitat conditions at Blick Mead site, finding partially open woodland conditions that would have supported large grazing herbivores. The study suggests hunter-gatherers used this space for 4,000 years before early farmers and monument-builders arrived in the region.
Researchers discovered that periods of drought were interrupted by wetter phases lasting several decades or even centuries, challenging the understanding of climate change in the region. The study's findings have significant implications for archaeological considerations and future climate scenarios.
A study of ancient shell remains found at El Mazo cave site reveals that prehistoric humans in Europe adapted to a 1,500-year cold period by exploiting different mollusc species and avoiding overfishing. This research provides insights into human responses to climate change and its impacts on marine environments.
Researchers explored Magdalenian engraved plaquette use at Montastruc (France) using experimental and digital techniques. The findings suggest that these ancient artworks were likely used to appear as if moving in the firelight.
A recent study published in PLOS One suggests that humans arrived in the Americas by at least 14,200 years ago in Beringia and approximately 13,000 years ago in temperate latitudes. The researchers' findings are based on an analysis of buried archaeological deposits using a new statistic called the Apparent Stratigraphic Integrity Index.
A study of isotopes found in bird samples reveals long-term patterns in the short-tailed albatross' foraging behaviour, which disappeared after hunting. The research suggests this hyper-specialised foraging could re-emerge as populations recover, highlighting the need for close monitoring.
A study found that mothers in a 19th century Dutch village had low rates of breastfeeding, likely due to their busy work schedules and easy access to cow's milk. Researchers analyzed the remains of 277 individuals and found little evidence of breastfeeding, surprising given the community's cultural associations with breastfeeding.
A new study by an international team of scientists links early human habitats to past climate shifts using a supercomputer model and fossil records. The research suggests that climate change played a central role in determining where different hominin groups lived and their remains were found.
In southern Anhui Province, archaeobotanical remains at the Jingshuidun site reveal early rice farming dating back to 4874-4820 cal. yr B.P., with millet cultivation emerging by 2667-2568 cal. yr B.P.
Researchers uncovered over 100 distinct taxa, including extinct species and vulnerable native species, at Ho‘oumi Beach on Nuku Hiva. The team's analysis suggests the strong possibility of human presence in the island around the mid-12th century AD.
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.
A new genetic study supports the Muwekma Ohlone tribe's assertion that they have lived in the area for over 2,500 years. The research found a thread of continuity between ancient genomes and modern-day Muwekma Ohlone people, affirming their ancestral connection to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Scientists analyzed ancient vessels from India and discovered that prehistoric people used a variety of ingredients, including foraged plants, cultivated crops, and traded goods. The study found no evidence of cultural change impacting food processing during the Copper Age to Indus Valley Civilization transition.
The study provides the first analysis of pigment use in funerary and architectural contexts at Çatalhöyük, a Neolithic site in Turkey. The findings show that red ochre was commonly used on adults and children, while cinnabar and blue/green were associated with males and females, respectively.
A new predictive model, LAMAP, assesses landscape variables to identify potential archaeological sites. The model was tested in Alaska's Tanana Valley and successfully predicted high-potential areas for hunter-gatherer campsites.
The discovery of Hanyusuchus sinensis, an extinct crocodilian species, sheds light on the evolution of modern crocodilians and their role in ancient ecosystems. Human migration and hunting led to its extinction, which may have influenced ancient Chinese myths and characters.
Researchers found that Monte Albán's defenseable hilltop location and collective form of government attracted people to the settlement. The study challenges the idea that fertile land was a primary factor in its foundation.
A new study suggests that mummification in prehistory was more common in Europe than thought, dating back to 8,000 years ago. The researchers found evidence of desiccation and hyperflexion in skeletal remains from the Sado Valley in Portugal.
Researchers from China, Germany, France and Spain uncovered the lifestyle of humans living in East Asia 40,000 years ago. The study found evidence of ochre processing, miniature stone tools and bone tools, demonstrating technological innovations and cultural diversification.
Archaeologists have uncovered a 40,000-year-old culture in northern China that showcases unique stone tools and ochre processing techniques. The discovery provides new insights into cultural innovation during the expansion of Homo sapiens populations.
A new analysis of human remains provides the earliest DNA from sub-Saharan Africa, outlining major demographic shifts between 80,000 and 20,000 years ago. The study reveals people moved and settled in other areas, developed alliances and networks to trade and share information.
Researchers uncovered bone remains of a first-generation African individual from Senegambia, buried in a Portuguese shell midden 350 years ago. The genetic signature and dietary analysis indicate that he was forcibly translocated to Portugal via the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
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.
Researchers analyzed a ceramic pot from Sicily and found eggs of whipworm parasites, confirming it was used as a chamber pot. The technique provides a crucial tool for identifying ancient pots with special purposes.
Climate change is threatening African cultural and natural heritage sites, with 56 of 284 sites identified as highly exposed to extreme sea levels and erosion. The number of affected sites is projected to triple by 2050 under high emissions scenarios, highlighting the need for urgent climate change adaptation measures.
A new study reveals that climate had a significant influence on diet in the Central Andes between 400 and 7,000 years ago. The researchers found that population size had little impact on dietary variation, except during the Late Horizon (~480-418 yBP), when diets became more similar due to the Inca Empire's centralized power.
Ancient DNA study reveals Bronze Age women replaced local population in Orkney, contrary to historical assumptions about European expansion trends. Genetic analysis suggests a complex and varied process of negotiation between indigenous males and newcomers from the south over many generations.
Researchers found evidence of a comet's fiery destruction at 11 ancient Hopewell archaeological sites across the Ohio River Valley. The study suggests that the event, which occurred around A.D. 252-383, may have contributed to the rapid decline of the Hopewell culture.
Researchers have identified locations of ancient Maya sacred groves containing cacao trees, which played a crucial role in rituals and trade routes. The discovery sheds light on the economic, political, and spiritual significance of cacao in Mesoamerican culture.
Researchers developed a software-based smoke dispersal simulation model to study prehistoric archaeology. They found that early humans placed their hearth at the optimal location in the cave, enabling maximum utilization of fire while minimizing smoke exposure. The study identified a 25sqm area as ideal for locating the hearth.
Researchers from Goethe University and the University of Bristol analyzed prehistoric pots and found complex distributions of plant lipids, indicating the processing of various plant species. The study reveals that leafy greens were first used in West African cuisine around 3,500 years ago.
Researchers found that a large Early Holocene cemetery in Northern Russia was used for only one to two centuries and reveals human stress caused by a global cooling event. The team believes the creation of the cemetery shows a social response to climate change, with abundant grave offerings indicating complex social systems.
A symmetrical, 2x3 km buried formation in Qatar suggests evidence of a sedentary civilization with advanced engineering skills. The site's unique soil composition and landscaping point to irrigation systems and crop cultivation.
Researchers analyzed 23,000-year-old fisher-hunter-gatherer camp remains near the Sea of Galilee, finding a diverse diet and lifestyle that defies previous expectations. The site's abundance of animal bones reveals a robust subsistence strategy that utilized varied food sources.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that changing climate conditions 23,000 years ago expanded food options for humans in Israel's Sea of Galilee region. The research analyzed animal remains at the submerged archaeological site of Ohalo II, revealing a diverse diet with multiple prey sources.
Researchers have discovered that participants in California's Gold Rush dined on salted Atlantic cod, highlighting the importance of global maritime trade. The findings were made possible through genetic analysis of 18 cod bones recovered from Thompson's Cove, which confirmed the importation of Atlantic cod during the late 1850s.