Articles tagged with Archeology
The discovery sheds light on the underappreciated role of ancient Mongolians in spreading horse riding technology, which had a profound impact on mounted warfare and culture. The saddle is believed to have originated from local craftsmen in Mongolia, who created it using birch wood and wooden nails.
Researchers analyzed skeletal remains of ancient Egyptian baboon mummies from the site of Gabbanat el-Qurud, finding lesions and deformations indicative of malnutrition and lack of sunlight. The findings provide insights into how baboons were kept in captivity before their eventual mummification.
Researchers analyzed skeletal remains from medieval Cambridge to recreate everyday lives of residents, revealing diet, activities, and bodily traumas. A new study investigates the hospital's inhabitants, showing how a medieval benefits system operated, with selection criteria based on material want, politics, and spiritual merit.
Researchers found a unique resonance phenomenon in the crevice cave that amplifies and lengthens sound at a specific frequency, which may have impacted beliefs associated with it. The study suggests that this resonance could be an exceptional sound phenomenon for the people living in the region centuries ago.
A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals the earliest known fossil of the modern European common hippopotamus, dating back to the Middle Pleistocene period. The analysis of a fossil skull from Italy confirms the identity of the species and provides insights into its dispersal history.
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.
The new AI system can reliably recognize symbols on cuneiform tablets, allowing for the search and comparison of multiple tablets. This breakthrough enables new research questions and access to ancient texts.
A new study published in PLOS ONE provides detailed insights into the timing of events in ancient Gezer, a city known from Egyptian, Assyrian, and Biblical texts. The radiocarbon dates suggest that some proposed correlations between the archaeological record and ancient texts are plausible.
A new alvarezsaurid dinosaur from Mongolia has provided insights into the sleeping behavior of non-avian dinosaurs. The discovery suggests that these ancient creatures may have slept in a similar position to modern birds.
Researchers have discovered a series of bird footprints from the Early Cretaceous period in Victoria, Australia, indicating that diverse birds lived in southern polar environments during this time. The discovery provides new insights into the distribution and dispersal of early birds across landmasses.
A re-analysis of skeletal remains from a site in Spain indicates that many individuals may have been casualties of the earliest period of warfare in Europe. The study found a high percentage of males affected and a disproportionate number of injured individuals, suggesting a prolonged conflict.
A Dartmouth study analyzing declassified Cold War satellite imagery identified 396 previously undocumented Roman forts across the northern Fertile Crescent. The forts were constructed from east to west, contradicting Father Antoine Poidebard's north-south axis claim and suggesting a more complex distribution along Rome's eastern frontier.
The discovery of ancient brittle star fossils in South Africa has revealed evidence of high-latitude life forms from the Paleozoic era. Fossil finds date back to over 410 million years ago, during the Pragian to earliest Emsian Baviaanskloof Formation.
A study analyzing ancient Cancun Island remains found that immigrants from the Maya lowlands were treated similarly to locals in terms of food and burial practices. The findings suggest whole families moved residence across Mesoamerica and integrated into new societies, challenging previous assumptions about foreign treatment.
Researchers discovered ancient shell beads stained with organic red pigment in an Israeli cave, dating back approximately 15,000 years. The findings represent the oldest known example of this type of coloration.
A study published in PLOS ONE found correlations between climate change and human population trends in Central European regions. During warm periods, populations increased due to improved crops and economies, while during cold periods, populations decreased, leading to cultural shifts and potential social inequality.
The study found that Iberian Copper Age communities produced goods with great variability and no signs of economic exploitation or social hierarchies. Researchers believe this 'cooperative affluent society' strategy generated material wealth without exploiting labor, challenging traditional thoughts on historical wealth production.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that pre-Columbian Caribbean cultures consumed a wide variety of plants, including sweet potato, chili peppers, and domesticated tomatoes. The analysis also detected tobacco and cotton, challenging the traditional staple food narrative.
Pre-contact agave species cultivated by early cultures like the Hohokam people continue to persist in Arizona's landscape. These domesticated agaves are distinct from their wild counterparts and offer a rare opportunity to study plant species unchanged since prehistory.
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.
Researchers analyzed grinding tools from Jebel Oraf in northern Saudi Arabia, revealing the processing of plants, pigments, and bones. Use-wear analysis showed that tools were re-used for different purposes, providing insight into the subsistence and economy of Neolithic populations.
Researchers have extracted ancient DNA from Caribbean parrots, revealing two species were more widespread and diverse in the past. The study helps explain how parrots became the world's most endangered group of birds, with many island populations gone extinct.
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.
Researchers found evidence of intentional post-mortem modifications to human remains, including fractures and scrapes, at a cave in southern Spain. These alterations suggest that the ancient humans reused and repurposed their own burial sites for practical purposes.
A study of 288 skeletons and rock art reveals a surprising consistency in rates of violence over time, with an increase in lethal violence during the Formative Period. The absence of centralized political systems may have contributed to these violent tensions.
The Aztec Empire's highly centralized tax collection system and extreme income inequality allowed Spanish conquistadores to quickly overrun the empire. The richest 1% earned 41.8% of total income, while the poorest 50% earned just 23.3%, making for a skewed distribution.
A study of a European pond turtle found in an ancient Polish grave provides insights into the Wielbark culture burial custom. The analysis reveals that turtles likely entered the graves after burial, contradicting previous theories of their role in rituals.
Researchers in Namibia analyzed prehistoric rock art engravings of animal tracks and human footprints, revealing surprising details about the diversity of species represented. The findings suggest culturally determined preferences in the depiction of animals, with a preference for adult male footprints.
Researchers have uncovered a major Palaeolithic cave art site in 'Cova Dones', Spain, with over 100 ancient motifs dating back at least 24,000 years. The site features a wide range of techniques and animal representations, including clay-based paintings.
A new study has shed light on the origins of St Helena's 'liberated' Africans, who were brought to the island between 1840 and 1867. The research reveals that they most likely originated from areas between northern Angola and Gabon in West Central Africa.
The analysis of balms used to preserve ancient Egyptian noblewoman Senetnay's organs reveals a complex composition with imported ingredients, indicating her high social status. The presence of specific compounds, such as larixol and dammar, suggests that different balms were used for different organs.
Two Late Bronze Age urn burials analyzed, uncovering animal bones and jewelry among cremated remains of a woman and child. The findings provide insights into prehistoric funerary practices and shed new light on the rituals surrounding death in ancient cultures.
A new fossil ape named Anadoluvius turkae, discovered in Türkiye, pushes the origin of African apes and humans from Europe to Asia. The findings suggest that hominines evolved in western and central Europe before migrating to Africa.
Bioarcheological analysis suggests Pompeii victims died from asphyxiation despite potential contamination from plaster casts. The study's findings challenge traditional assumptions about the preservation process in the ancient city.
Researchers successfully extracted ancient DNA from a 2,900-year-old clay brick, revealing 34 distinct taxonomic groups of plants. The most abundant sequences were from Brassicaceae (cabbage) and Ericaceae (heather), providing a unique biodiversity time-capsule for the ancient Assyrian site.
A new study demonstrates that atlatl weapon use by prehistoric females equalizes the division of labor while hunting. The results suggest that female and male interments with atlatl weaponry should be interpreted similarly, indicating women were likely active and successful hunters.
Researchers from Kyushu University discovered intentional cranial modification among the Hirota people on Tanegashima island, characterized by a flattened back of the skull. The practice, which predates written history, was likely used to signify group affiliation and preserve social status.
A new study reveals a 4,000-year-old system of ceramic water pipes in China demonstrates that neolithic people were capable of complex engineering feats without a centralised state authority. The discovery challenges earlier understanding in archaeological fields.
A new study reveals that extreme glacial cooling around 1.1 million years ago caused the extinction of early humans on the continent. The research suggests that the cooling pushed European climate to levels beyond what archaic humans could tolerate, emptying the continent.
A new study analyzed ancient DNA from Spanish settlements in the Caribbean and Mexico, revealing that cattle were imported from Africa early in the colonization process. This challenges previous historical records, which suggested cattle were only introduced by Europeans from Europe.
A groundbreaking analysis of historical DNA links tens of thousands of living individuals to enslaved and free African Americans at Catoctin Furnace. The study provides a new way to complement genealogical efforts and restore ancestral histories for African American communities.
A Neolithic necklace found on a child's grave in Jordan provides new insights into the social complexity of the time. The analysis of colorful stone and shell materials, amber beads, and other adornments reveals intricate craftsmanship and trade networks.
A newly discovered turtle fossil from the Upper Jurassic period provides valuable information on the species' limb taphonomy and habitat ecology. The fossil, Solnhofia parsonsi, was found in Bavaria, Germany, offering a unique perspective on the ancient environment.
A new study using ancient DNA found that workers buried more than 500 years ago came from different parts of the Inca Empire, including Amazonia. The analysis supports historical documentation and archaeological studies, providing insights into the genetic histories and lifeways of Machu Picchu's occupants.
Researchers reconstruct two massive family trees from ancient DNA data, shedding light on the lives of a prehistoric European Neolithic community. The study reveals a strong patrilineal pattern, large family sizes, and a potentially fluid exchange network comprising many groups.
Researchers suggest using geoarchaeological tools to study human migration in space, with a focus on preserving material records on the moon and Mars. The study aims to address concerns about accidental crashes and limited protections for space heritage.
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.
Researchers developed a model to estimate energy expenditure for thermoregulation on the first voyages from Tahiti to New Zealand. Results showed that larger body sizes helped colonizers survive harsher conditions, with males losing up to 13.3 pounds and females losing 5.9 pounds during a 25-day trip.
Researchers use portable devices to analyze paint composition and layering on ancient Egyptian paintings, revealing alterations made over time. Two paintings from the Theban Necropolis were studied, uncovering changes to a figure's arm and royal items depicted on a portrait of Ramesses II.
Researchers found osteochondrosis dissecans in fossil bones of Ice Age predators, with an incidence as high as 7% in shoulder and knee joints. The study suggests dwindling populations may have contributed to the disease's prevalence in these ancient species.
Researchers at UCL Institute of Archaeology discovered 800 stone artefacts, including giant handaxes, in deep Ice Age sediments. The tools are believed to have been used for butchering animals and cutting meat, with some exhibiting distinctive shapes and pointed tips.
The 'Ivory Lady', a Copper Age individual from Iberia, is re-dubbed as the highest status woman in ancient society. Peptide analysis revealed that she held a high social status through merit and achievements.
Researchers identified evidence of 39,000-year-old plant technology at Tabon Cave in the Philippines, revealing that prehistoric communities used fiber technology for textiles and cordages. This study pushes back the antiquity of fiber technology in Southeast Asia, highlighting the technological skill of prehistoric groups.
Early Dalmatian farmers specialized in sheep husbandry, demonstrating a common animal economy across the region. Most births were concentrated in winter, indicating an annual agropastoral calendar.
Researchers have identified finger-marks on a cave wall in France as the oldest known Neanderthal engravings, dating back to around 75,000 years ago. The marks were made using a plotting analysis and photogrammetry to create 3D models, confirming that they are deliberate, organized shapes created by human hands.
Researchers at the Complexity Science Hub found that periodic outbreaks of warfare can account for boom-bust patterns in population dynamics of early farming societies. The study suggests that social conflict played a crucial role in shaping the population dynamics of these societies, contrary to previous assumptions that climate chang...
Researchers have reconstructed the face of a 16-year-old woman buried near Cambridge with an incredibly rare gold and garnet cross, revealing she moved to England from Central Europe as a young girl. Analysis shows that her diet changed significantly after arrival, indicating a short and challenging life.
Researchers discovered that ancient Alaskans between 13,000 and 11,500 years ago relied on freshwater fish like burbot, whitefish, and pike for sustenance. This finding provides insight into how early humans adapted to environmental changes, using techniques such as nets and weirs.
The discovery of human fossils at Tam Pà Ling cave in northern Laos reveals that modern humans spread from Africa through Arabia and to Asia much earlier than previously thought. The findings confirm that early Homo sapiens did not just follow coastlines and islands, but also traveled through forested regions along river valleys.
A new species of dinosaur, Iani smithi, has been discovered in Utah's Cedar Mountain Formation, providing insights into how dinosaurs weathered ecological change during the mid-Cretaceous period. The discovery suggests that several major groups of dinosaurs survived into the early Late Cretaceous despite the changes.