Articles tagged with Archeological Sites
A new study from the Journal of Near Eastern Studies presents evidence of Roman-era emerald mining in Wadi Sikait, Egyptian Eastern Desert. The excavation revealed religious artifacts and structures, highlighting the importance of cult spaces in mining settlements.
Researchers have found that prehistoric Pacific Coast people employed various dietary solutions to balance their diet and avoid 'salmon starvation'. They offset stored salmon protein with acorns, root crops like camas, and fat-heavy fish, and traded or processed bone marrow from caribou and elk.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis challenges the long-held theory that the collapse of Cahokia, a pre-Columbian Native American city, was caused by excessive tree cutting and deforestation. Researchers found no evidence of flooding issues or environmental missteps, contradicting previous narratives about ecocide.
A recent fossil discovery of four new snakefly species has deepened the mystery surrounding their evolutionary history and distribution. The ancient insects, dating back 50 million years, were found in British Columbia and Washington state, where scientists had previously believed they required cold winters to thrive.
Archaeological research at Ga-Mohana Hill rockshelter reveals a history of spiritual significance dating back to 105,000 years ago. The discovery of deliberately collected white calcite crystals and ostrich eggshell fragments indicates cultural use of the shelter linked to spiritual beliefs and ritual.
The Cultural Landscapes Scanner pilot project uses AI to analyze satellite images and detect hidden archaeological sites. Researchers aim to improve detection of cultural heritage sites at risk of looting.
The excavation of shell middens off two sites in the Gulf of Mexico and Northern Europe reveals new insights into the hidden history of submerged landscapes. The study challenges the current understanding of coastal life in these regions by pushing back the inhabitation timeframe by hundreds of years.
New research at the UNESCO-listed 'Plain of Jars' in Laos establishes that stone jars were placed in their final position from 1240 to 660 BCE. The study used Optically Stimulated Luminescence and radiocarbon dating to analyze sediment samples, revealing enduring ritual significance across historical times.
A recent discovery in Potocani, Croatia, has revealed the oldest documented site of an indiscriminate mass killing, dating back 6,200 years. The DNA analysis indicates systematic violence and execution-style killings of 41 individuals from an early pastoralist community.
Research reveals the Acheulean stone tool tradition persisted for tens of thousands of years longer than thought, overlapping with Neanderthal and early modern human cultures. The study used statistical techniques to reconstruct the end of the Acheulean period, shedding new light on the transition between technologies.
The Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology has received a €2 million Arcadia grant to document Mongolian archaeological heritage over five years. The project, MAPSS, will compile an open-access online database of heritage sites in English, Mongolian, and Russian.
Researchers discovered ancient Amazonian farmers built wooden palisades and earthworks to enclose valuable soils in Bolivia. This fortification demonstrates the importance of protecting investments in fertile land during social unrest.
An interdisciplinary team analyzed over 600 fossils from 82 archaeological sites in the Iberian Peninsula, revealing common presence at major sites and changes throughout prehistory. The study confirms the need for an interdisciplinary approach to analyze zooarchaeological records and sheds new light on fossil collection practices.
A fossil analysis reveals that 69% of Bahamian land bird species have changed their distributions in response to human activities and climate shifts. The study found that bird populations are at risk due to factors such as increasing hurricane severity, rising sea levels, and habitat loss.
A research team led by Steven Emslie discovered an ancient Adélie penguin colony at Cape Irizar, Antarctica, which has been preserved for thousands of years under the ice. The study found three occupation periods of the cape, with the last one ending around 800 years ago.
Researchers at University College London have discovered that chromium steel was first made in ancient Persia, dating back to the 11th century CE. The production of chromium crucible steel marks a distinct Persian tradition, separate from Central Asian methods.
Researchers at Tel Kabri in Israel discovered evidence that an earthquake may have destroyed a flourishing Canaanite palace around 3,700 years ago. The team found warping of plaster floors, tilted walls, and mud bricks that collapsed into rooms, suggesting a rapid collapse without fire or combat.
A multisensor drone survey has revealed a large circular earthwork at what may be Etzanoa, an archaeological site near Wichita, Kansas. The discovery suggests that undiscovered monumental earthworks may still exist in the Great Plains, and new archaeological methods allow us to see that people made these earthworks.
The Natodomeri fossil site in northwest Kenya is yielding a complete skull and partial skeleton of an early modern human, as well as extensive archeological material. The site's discovery provides a unique opportunity to compare early humans from the same time period but existing in different places.
Researchers have discovered hundreds of massive stone structures in northwest Saudi Arabia, dated to 7,000 years ago, suggesting they were used for rituals and social bonding exercises. The structures, called mustatils, consist of two large platforms connected by long walls and lack obvious openings.
A recent study of fossils from Eastern Europe's Olte? River Valley reveals a wide range of ancient species, including short-necked giraffes, saber-toothed cats, and pangolins. The findings shed light on early human migration to Eurasia and provide insights into past environments.
A team of archeologists reconstructed a ancient mammoth ivory carving technology used to create ornaments and sculptures around 24 thousand years ago. The team analyzed microscopic images and chemical composition to identify the tools and techniques used, revealing new insights into Siberian tribes' relationships.
A 480,000-year-old archaeological site in Sussex, England, has provided unprecedented insights into the life of a poorly understood human species. The site reveals that early humans engaged in cooperative activities and shared tools, suggesting highly social spaces for interaction and learning.
Distinctive fluted points were discovered on Yemeni and Omani sites, dating back to 7,000-8,000 years ago. The discovery of similar techniques in Arabia suggests cultural convergence without a connection between the populations.
Two startup nonprofits in Jordan are documenting, conserving, protecting and making decisions about the future of Jordan's archaeological sites. Professor Allison Mickel is studying their progress to understand what works and what doesn't in engaging local communities in heritage management.
Researchers find drastic bone and organic matter deterioration since the site's initial excavations in the 1940s, suggesting similar decline may be happening across equivalent sites. The study highlights the urgent need to preserve findings from Ageröd and similar sites due to environmental changes like drainage and pollution.
A study published in PNAS reveals a significant economic downturn in the Byzantine Empire's arid Negev desert during a pandemic in the mid-6th century CE. The research analyzed seeds found in ancient trash mounds, including grape pips, which show a high frequency, suggesting an increase in viticulture and wine export.
The discovery of two underwater archaeological sites off northwest Australia dates back to when the current seabed was dry land. Hundreds of stone tools made by Aboriginal peoples have been found at these sites, providing new evidence of their ways of life.
Researchers have identified two submerged archaeological sites off the Australian coast, dating back at least 7,000 and 8,500 years. The findings demonstrate the potential of new exploratory techniques for locating ancient cultural artefacts on the continental shelf.
Researchers discovered ancient crocodile footprints with evidence of bipedalism, similar to that of dinosaurs. The discovery suggests that these prehistoric creatures may have walked upright on their hind legs.
Researchers discovered large well-preserved footprints of a new species of crocodylomorph, which are ancestors of modern-day crocodiles. The tracks are more than twice as large as previously found batrachopodid tracks and indicate that the animals walked on two legs.
A miniature bird statuette carved from burnt bone is the oldest known Chinese work of art, dating back 13,800 years. The discovery pushes back the origins of animal sculpture in East Asia by over 8,500 years.
The newly discovered Aguada Fénix site in Mexico's Tabasco state is the largest and oldest known Mayan monument, constructed between 1,000 to 800 B.C. The site suggests that the Maya civilization developed more rapidly than previously thought and had less social inequality than later periods.
A recent study has uncovered evidence of ancient cultivated rice in Central Asia, dating back to the Kushan period. The discovery sheds new light on the spread of rice agriculture and its role in early global trade.
Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered the earliest evidence for symbolic behavior, complex pyrotechnology, and projectile weapons in South African archaeological sites. The study reveals that a vast plain, now submerged undersea, was a key foraging habitat for early modern humans during glacial phases.
Archaeological finds of Boa vertebrae on Martinique and Guadeloupe suggest the snake's cultural significance in pre-Columbian Lesser Antilles. The discovery also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research to reconstruct lost pasts.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered that three Göbekli Tepe structures were initially planned as a single project, showcasing early use of geometric patterns and architectural planning. The site's complexity contradicts previous assumptions about hunter-gatherer capabilities.
Despite regional hardship, ancient people continued their centuries-long tradition of meeting to socialize and feast on oysters. The persistence of these gatherings underscores the importance of community for the people affected by climate change and abandonment.
Researchers discovered the walls and artifacts of Fort San Antón de Carlos, a Spanish fort built in 1566 on present-day Mound Key. The fort is an early example of tabby architecture and confirms the location of the Calusa capital.
Researchers have discovered ancient monkey teeth in Peru that provide evidence of a now-extinct monkey species crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Africa. The site is dated to around 34 million years ago, and the monkeys are believed to have traveled on floating vegetation rafts.
A new method of dating pottery allows archaeologists to date prehistoric finds with remarkable accuracy. The method, developed by the University of Bristol team, dates pots directly using fatty acids left behind from food preparation.
The discovery reveals that early human inhabitants of the Amazon tamed wild plants to grow manioc, squash and maize, creating 4,700 'forest islands' in northern Bolivia. This study confirms South West Amazonia as a center of plant domestication around 11,000 years ago.
Researchers unveil 2 million-year-old Homo erectus skull, shedding light on three co-existing human ancestors in Africa. The discovery confirms African origin of Homo erectus and provides insights into childhood growth and development.
Artifacts at Waim show fixed domestic space and symbolic cultural practices, suggesting regional Neolithic Era began 1000 years before Eurasian counterparts. Radiocarbon dating confirms age of stone carvings and ground stone pestle fragments.
Spanish invaders depended on Mesoamerican copper smelting technology to produce bronze artillery pieces. Indigenous experts shared their knowledge with European colonizers, allowing them to smelt copper and create essential armaments.
Researchers uncovered symbolic stone carvings and artifacts suggesting a fixed domestic space and cultural practices in highland New Guinea. The findings indicate the region independently developed hallmarks of the Neolithic around 1000 years before Lapita farmers arrived.
Researchers found that ancient horse body sizes shrunk over time due to faster reproduction rates and shorter lifespans. In contrast, big tapir ancestors grew larger as they lived longer and had more resources for reproduction. The study provides new insights into mammal evolution using exceptionally preserved fossils from Germany.
Researchers found over 50 dinosaur footprints on ancient coastal mudflats, including stegosaurian and theropod dinosaurs. The discovery expands the list of known dinosaurs living in the region during the Middle Jurassic Period.
Researchers discover cosmic impact evidence at Abu Hureyra archaeological site in northern Syria, dating back to the earliest human settlement. The impact is believed to have caused destruction and burning of the settlement nearly 12,800 years ago.
The discovery of Vellbergia bartholomaei, a tiny Middle Triassic lizard from Germany, provides new information about the early evolution of lepidosauromorphs. The species' unique characteristics suggest it may be a common ancestor of modern lizards and tuataras, revealing key findings in reptile evolution.
A team of archaeologists has discovered the oldest known Australian example of a communal type of Irish settlement, uncovering a large and vibrant clachan settlement hidden beneath an empty farm paddock. The discovery highlights the sustainable way of life maintained by over 500 Irish migrants who created a community in marginal land.
Researchers applied the 40Ar/39Ar dating technique to young volcanoes in southeastern Australia, providing independent age constraints for sites older than 10,000 years. The study reveals that oral traditions surrounding volcanic activity may be among the longest-lived in the world.
Researchers have analyzed the polychromy of the Pachacamac idol using non-invasive techniques, revealing that red is not blood but mercury from cinnabar. The study also confirms the idol's age as around 731 AD, with local ritual importance before Inca rule.
New dates from Sangiran suggest early humans arrived between 1.3-1.5 million years ago, nearly 300,000 years after previous estimates, with implications for understanding human migration and settlement in Asia.
Researchers analyzed animal bones from Navan Fort to discover that communities in Iron Age Ireland were highly mobile and engaged in large-scale feasting events. The study found evidence of pigs, cattle, and sheep being brought from across Ireland, including as far as Galway, Donegal, and Antrim.
A research team has uncovered four new extinct turtle species from the Arlington Archosaur Site in Texas, including a river turtle and the oldest side-necked turtle found in North America. The discovery suggests extensive intercontinental migration of turtles during this time.
Melting of 'eternal ice' patches in northern Mongolia poses a significant threat to traditional reindeer herding and exposes fragile cultural artifacts to the elements. The study, published in PLOS ONE, highlights the urgent need to address global climate change's impact on Inner Asia.
Research by The University of Texas at Austin found that the presence of oxygen is necessary for fossilization, not its absence. Low-oxygen environments helped set the stage for fossilization once oxygen became available, preserving delicate marine specimens from the Early Jurassic period.
A study using ancient bone protein analysis identified green turtles as a primary target for human consumption in Florida and the Caribbean thousands of years ago. The technique, collagen fingerprinting, allowed scientists to visualize distinct chemical signatures in collagen that are species-specific.
Researchers discovered significant lead pollution at Kincaid Mounds site due to galena processing and use by Native Americans. Sediment core samples revealed higher lead levels during the pre-Columbian period, tracing back to galena deposits in Missouri and the Upper Mississippi Valley.