Articles tagged with Cultural Anthropology
Farmers in Middle East prioritized viticulture over olive growing due to irrigation, which maintained grape cultivation. This suggests that grapes and wine held cultural and economic value.
A new study argues that modern plastics form an important archaeological record of human impacts on planetary health. The researchers suggest using the 'Plastic Age' as a way to study people's relationship with the world, similar to how archaeologists study past relationships through material culture.
A study of 40,000 users over 15 years found that musical taste becomes more refined and personal with age, with younger listeners exploring a wide range of contemporary music and older listeners returning to their youth favorites. Nostalgia is a strong driving force in middle age and beyond.
A new study found that 89% of children and young people play video games, with loot box purchases linked to enhancement, distraction/compulsion, and FOMO. The yRAFFLE scale validated the motivations of children and young people who buy chance-based items in games.
A new study found that vibrato is the most significant vocal attribute in determining an opera singer's score, while acoustic features like SPR and HNR have a greater impact than previously thought. The research provides objective insights into how judges evaluate performances and offers tools for vocal training.
The new book provides real-world strategies for arts leaders to navigate financial instability, advocate for equity and inclusion, and implement sustainable business models. With a focus on case study Bethesda's Imagination Stage, the authors examine leadership traits that drive innovation and long-term viability in nonprofit theaters.
Researchers found that individuals who met their partners online reported lower levels of marital satisfaction and experienced love less intensely. Factors contributing to these findings include similar social backgrounds, choice overload, and prioritizing physical attractiveness over thorough selection.
Researchers discovered traces of betel nut compounds in dental calculus from a 4,000-year-old burial site in Thailand, shedding light on the ancient practice. The study used new methods to analyze ancient teeth and found evidence of psychoactive plant use that was previously invisible to archaeologists.
A recent study from the University of California, Riverside, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison emphasizes the need for culturally responsive approaches to support healing among Latina college students who have experienced intimate partner violence. Resilient coping and social support were found to be strong predictors of well-being.
A cross-cultural study of 800 people from 37 countries found that tourists from rule-based cultures like China and India support green features in B&Bs more strongly. In contrast, Western cultures prioritize rooftop gardens over eco-friendly facilities. The study highlights the importance of considering cultural values when marketing s...
A team at HZB used 3D X-ray tomography to create a digital copy of a Mongolian scroll, then virtually unrolled it using mathematical methods, revealing the scripture and ink traces. The scrolls contained Tibetan script in Sanskrit language and traditional Chinese ink with metal particles.
The Seshat History of Moralizing Religion examines how societies across the world have answered ancient human questions about gods, morality, and the afterlife. The book reveals surprising insights into the development of religious traditions with a strong moral agenda, including Egypt's early adoption of divine punishment and reward.
A new study reveals the personal diaries of teenage boys in Stalin's Russia, offering insights into their daily lives, family struggles, and experiences under Soviet rule. The diaries, written between 1930 and 1941, provide a unique perspective on life during this tumultuous period.
A study found that evaluators' musical experience influences the sight-over-sound effect, reducing its impact for those with auditory expertise. The study used Japanese high school brass band competitions and found no significant evidence of the effect in musicians, but a stronger presence in non-musicians.
The discovery sheds light on the complex connections between ancient Maya and central Mexican civilizations. Archaeologists found artifacts indicating early contact between the two regions around AD 350.
A comprehensive analysis shows that sports fandom stems from evolutionarily ingrained tendencies which enhance social unity and therefore survival. The study highlights the role of cognitive biases, emotional connections, and heuristics in sustaining fans' beliefs.
Two 15th-century Orit books, the oldest found to date, were discovered by Tel Aviv University's Orit Guardians program. The books were written in Ge'ez and are considered 'living books' in Ethiopian Jewish communities, with their owners risking their lives to preserve them.
A new study resolves why male-female power asymmetries vary across primate societies, finding that contests between males and females are common. The research reveals that female empowerment often relies on alternative pathways, such as reproductive strategies to gain control over matings.
Researchers found that cool people have similar personalities, with traits such as extraversion, hedonism, and power being universally perceived. The study explored how cool people differ from uncool and good people, finding some overlap in traits but also distinct characteristics.
The discovery of thousands of animal bones at a remote garrison site in northeastern Mongolia sheds new light on the lives of soldiers and civilians who lived along the medieval Liao Empire's long wall. The analysis suggests a largely self-sufficient pastoral economy, with evidence of herding, hunting, fishing, and seasonal climate var...
Researchers have developed an open-access catalog of animal traditions to explore the role of social learning in shaping animal behavior. The Animal Culture Database features vocal communications, mating displays, play, and other social behaviors observed in dozens of species from around the world.
A new study reveals that US Muslims show moderate openness to psychedelics in mental health therapy, with higher education correlating with favorable attitudes. Providing education about psychedelic therapies may help lower barriers to considering this treatment.
Otago researchers have recovered ancient genomes from Papua New Guinea, shedding light on the genetic diversity of pre-colonial coastal communities. The study reveals that cultural groups did not intermarry for some time, suggesting a complex tapestry of different cultures and peoples.
The Philippine archipelago has been found to have a sophisticated ancient technology dating back over 30,000 years, with evidence of seafaring capabilities and specific fishing skills. The discovery highlights the region's significance in the narrative of human migration and adaptation in Island Southeast Asia.
Russian leaders use museums and digital collections to portray Ukraine as inseparable from Russia, framing the invasion as a fight against Nazism and NATO. Researchers urge prioritizing non-Russian sources for balanced approaches.
Researchers discovered a massive 330-acre ancient agricultural site in Michigan, featuring raised field systems and clustered garden beds. The site, dating back to the 10th century, reveals intensive farming practices by ancestral Native Americans, challenging previous estimates.
A new AI program, Enoch, has been developed to analyze ancient handwriting styles and estimate the age of undated manuscripts. The program, trained on radiocarbon dating data, was tested on 135 Dead Sea Scrolls and found realistic estimates for approximately 79% of the samples.
Researchers found that playing Dixit helped evoke emotions in autistic participants, covering three main themes: anxiety, social relationships, and sensory experiences. The study suggests the game could be an effective tool for bridging gaps between autistic and neurotypical people.
A new commentary highlights the social and emotional responses to environmental change as glaciers accelerate their loss. The authors argue that addressing climate change requires cultural understanding, public memory and collective action.
Archaeologists uncover evidence of permanent habitation, agriculture, and cultural exchange along the Medieval Wall System in Mongolia. The study reveals that these walls served not just military ends but also administrative and symbolic functions, challenging traditional perceptions of nomadic societies.
Researchers analyzed personal names from archaeological findings to detect patterns of identity, openness, and change in ancient Hebrew societies. They found that the Kingdom of Israel had a more diverse naming landscape than Judah, indicating a more open and cosmopolitan society.
Researchers analyzed 788 obsidian artifacts from the Templo Mayor, finding diverse sources of obsidian used for both ritual and everyday objects. The study suggests a complex economy that relied on conquest and active trade with rival polities.
Researchers found that wild chimpanzees use compositional and non-compositional call combinations to create new meanings, similar to human language. This suggests a highly generative vocal communication system in chimpanzees, challenging previous views on the evolution of language.
A University of California, Riverside-led research team adapted an intervention for childhood obesity prevention to better serve Latina mothers, non-maternal caregivers, and families of low-income backgrounds. The study emphasizes the importance of involving non-maternal caregivers in the adaptation process.
Researchers found no evidence of dancing or infant-directed song among the Northern Aché population in Paraguay. However, they do use playful speech and other methods to calm infants. The study suggests that dance and lullabies are learned behaviors that require cultural transmission.
MSU is developing a computer program called MOSAIC to create holistic biological profiles from skeletal remains, making the investigative process clearer and more efficient. The project aims to leverage relationships between various structures to provide estimates without biasing results by focusing on individual components.
Researchers found that inequality is widespread but not inevitable, with varying levels of economic disparity across time and space. The study used house size distributions as a metric for wealth inequality, revealing patterns and trends that cross-cut time and space.
A team of researchers conducted in-depth chemical analysis on three medieval bronze doors created by Barisanus of Trani. The study revealed that one door is the oldest and provided insights into its construction methods, showcasing the skill and expertise of medieval craftsmen.
Dr. Melissa Perreault's research combines cutting-edge science with Indigenous knowledge, pioneering sex-specific biomarkers, neuroethics, and psychedelics research in neuropsychiatry. Her work aims to promote inclusive methodologies that consider diverse worldviews and cultural understandings of health.
Researchers outline critical safeguards needed to balance public health benefits with Indigenous data sovereignty rights. The study highlights the risks of DNA persistence in wastewater samples, which can reveal sensitive information about community health.
Brondizio's work highlights the vital role of Indigenous peoples in conservation and connects large-scale structural processes to local communities. His research has transformed knowledge of the Amazon region and its socio-ecological issues.
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University discovered a large cavern in Manot Cave that was used as a gathering space for rituals, possibly enhancing social cohesion. The site features an engraved rock with a turtle-shell design, contemporaneous with some of the oldest cave paintings in France.
A genetic study of the beaked hazelnut reveals that ancient Indigenous peoples cultivated and traded this plant across British Columbia. The research challenges settler-colonial narratives by establishing a large-scale cultivation network dating back 7,000 years.
The exhibition, Fault Lines, examines interactions between Indigenous communities and colonial institutions in the Pacific region. It features newly commissioned artistic responses and historic artefacts to examine the enduring legacies of cultural extraction and destruction during the colonial era.
A new study led by University of Arizona researcher François Lanoë reveals that Indigenous people in the Americas interacted with early dogs and wolves as far back as 12,000 years ago. The discovery sheds light on how long humans have had relationships with the ancestors of today's dogs.
A new research collaboration between the K’ómoks First Nation and Simon Fraser University highlights how Indigenous cultural heritage policies can protect archaeological sites threatened by development. The study found that the K’ómoks First Nation’s Cultural Heritage Policy provides a pathway to reconciliation and greater certainty fo...
A new whole-genome study challenges the long-held belief that Armenians are descendants of Phrygian settlers from the Balkans. Instead, researchers found a genetic input into the region from Neolithic Levantine farmers, suggesting a large-scale post-Early Bronze Age migration wave across the Middle East.
A new study highlights the pressures human activities place on tropical marine ecosystems, with fishing techniques and tourism posing the greatest threat. The research provides insights into the impact of various activities on different habitats, shedding light on how to ensure sustainable management.
A recent survey found that Tennesseans value higher education, with 45% considering it very important for young people to succeed. The survey also showed that different generations and demographics have varying views on the roles of colleges and universities.
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.
Scientists use modern technology to analyze ancient ochre samples, revealing the material's origin and history. This helps them understand how human cognition and social networks developed alongside early technological innovations.
The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded a Preservation Assistance Grant to Texas A&M University's Anthropology Research Collections. The grant will help protect and improve access to the university's anthropological and archaeological materials, while also providing new learning opportunities for graduate students.
Researchers challenge U-shaped happiness theory, finding more variability in nonindustrialized societies, with happiness increasing into middle age and declining later life. Happiness is often tied to physical ability and social value, not a universal trajectory.
A new study suggests that being part of a 'civilization' reduces violence for women, but not men, in ancient Andes populations. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed data from 8,607 adults over 3,000 years and found that women experienced reduced lethal violence in organized states.
Researchers seek to identify Hispanic women at risk of developing chronic diseases through early screenings or interventions, aiming to improve health outcomes for millions in the population.
A new study shows that belonging to age-based groups affects finances and health, with kin-based societies experiencing significant improvements in child nutrition. Researchers analyzed cash transfer programs in East Africa, finding that pension payments to seniors reduced malnourishment by 5.5% in kin-based households.
A competition encourages magicians to craft mesmerizing sound-based tricks that evoke wonder and amazement without relying on visual cues. The initiative aims to make magic more inclusive for individuals with visual impairments, allowing them to experience the art in a new way.
New research finds that Dungeons & Dragons provides a friendly environment for autistic adults to engage in social interactions, build confidence, and feel included. The study shows that playing the game allows participants to relax without pressure and take on new personas outside of the game.
A study by Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology found that local food harvesting is more economically-efficient and less carbon-intensive than industrial food production in the Canadian Arctic. Replacing locally-harvested foods with market substitutes would cost over $3 million per year and emit over 1,000 tonnes of CO2-e...
The research integrated zooarchaeological analysis with rock art depictions, showing a diverse diet and exploitation of various environments. The findings suggest that the artists did not just paint what they ate, but also represented complex mythology and supernatural connections.