Articles tagged with Early Humans
A major change in human ancestors' movement took place between 3 million and 1.8 million years ago, combining regular tree-climbing with walking on two legs. Early human ancestors like Australopithecus used trees as much as modern chimpanzees and gorillas do today, but when on the ground, they walked on two legs.
Researchers found older infants carried for longer periods, suggesting strong social bond drives ICC. Cause of death, maternal bond, and maternal investment also played a role in ICC duration, with disease-related deaths being carried for longest.
Researchers analyzed fossil data from 7 human ancestors, finding Australopithecus had strong arms but human-like leg pattern, while early Homo had stronger legs and weaker arms, suggesting a major shift in movement and living habits around 2 million years ago. This finding supports the idea that bipedalism evolved gradually, with early...
A new study reveals that early humans' unique heel-strike walking style allowed for efficient foraging strategies like hunting and gathering, but came at the cost of higher impact forces on bones and joints. This adaptation may have required later anatomical changes to enable safe and consistent walking.
A review in Brain Medicine argues that industrialization changed sleep timing and regularity, not duration, with hunter-gatherers sleeping between 6.4 and 7.1 hours a night, less than the industrialized average. The distinction matters, as it highlights the importance of timing and regularity in sleep patterns.
Researchers compared Neandertal and modern human pelvises, finding that the male pelvis evolved a unique biomechanical shock-absorbing mechanism that stores energy and facilitates long-distance walking. This innovation likely arose from the need to cushion the impact of each step and release energy with every stride.
Research reveals how dogs developed specialized forms in response to human needs, such as compact sled dogs for Arctic regions and lean hunting dogs for tropical forests. Genetic adaptations also emerged to cope with oxygen-poor air at high altitudes, mirroring human populations' genetic traits.
Researchers have developed a new technique that pinpoints areas of human DNA inherited from two unknown, ancient ancestors. The study reveals that modern humans interbred with these 'ghost' ancestors and Denisovans in Eurasia around 1.8 million years ago.
Archaeic human parents likely had to provide constant parental care due to deformed head shapes in fossilized humans. Human babies are born less developed than other great apes, requiring specialized care, and this helps explain the origins of cooperative social behaviors.
A study of ancient human relatives' fossil footprints reveals that a previously thought smaller species was actually larger, while also showing evidence of group travel. The tracks, preserved over 1.4 million years ago in northern Kenya, offer insights into the behavior and interactions of these early humans.
Researchers discovered evidence of cultural exchange between Neanderthals and modern humans at Üçağızlı II Cave, including shared use of non-utilitarian materials like marine seashells. The findings suggest a deep level of interaction between the two species.
A team of researchers extracted and analyzed protein fragments from fossil teeth of Homo naledi, finding zero male markers. This discovery suggests a sex-bias in mortuary practice among non-human species, unlike observed in contemporary human cultures.
A new study found evidence of repeated fire use at Wonderwerk Cave between 1.07 and 1.79 million years ago, revealing that early humans brought naturally occurring fire into the cave and maintained it. The findings provide new insights into how our ancestors first began to harness fire.
For at least 1,000 years, early herders in eastern Africa continued to fish, hunt, and gather alongside livestock, revealing a diverse diet that varied greatly from person to person. This strategy likely helped them adapt to a changing environment and ensured survival.
Neanderthals collected shellfish throughout the year, but preferred colder months, demonstrating a well-planned strategy. This finding suggests Neanderthals had access to high-quality marine proteins essential for brain development and reproductive health.
A new study suggests that human right-handedness is rooted in how we evolved to walk upright and developed larger brains. This two-stage process freed hands for fine, lateralized manual behaviors and hardened the bias over time.
Researchers found evidence of successful Neanderthal hunting of a straight-tusked elephant in Germany, with cut marks preserved on the ribs and vertebrae. The find provides crucial insights into the diet and hunting strategies of Neanderthals, who likely hunted a range of animals using wooden weapons.
Researchers discovered temperate trees, including oak, elm, and hazel, in Doggerland over 16,000 years ago, revealing a surprisingly hospitable environment. The study suggests that Doggerland may have supported early Mesolithic communities prior to flooding, shedding light on the region's ecological history and human settlement patterns.
Researchers investigated which characteristics of crystals made them fascinating to early humans, using experiments with chimpanzees. The chimps showed a strong attraction to transparent and crystalline properties, suggesting that this attraction may have deep evolutionary roots.
The preference for feeding on humans among certain mosquito species evolved around 1.8 million years ago in response to the arrival of early hominins in Southeast Asia. This finding provides independent evidence supporting the limited fossil record of early hominin arrival in the region.
The Xigou site in central China has yielded evidence of sophisticated stone tool technologies dating back 160,000 to 72,000 years, revealing that hominins in the region were more innovative and adaptable than previously thought. The discovery challenges long-held views on early human technology in East Asia.
This study investigates how environmental variability and human migration influence the evolution of cooperation among humans. Simulation results reveal that cooperation is more likely to evolve when these factors are sufficiently high, hindering non-cooperative groups and encouraging cooperative groups.
Researchers assign a hominin foot fossil from Lucy's time to a different species, providing evidence that two ancient human ancestors coexisted in the same region. The Burtele foot belongs to A. deyiremeda, which retained an opposable big toe for climbing but likely pushed off with its second digit on two legs.
The study of Neanderthal footprints offers a unique window into everyday behaviour, providing insight into their physical presence, locomotion strategies, diet and social structure. The research suggests that Neanderthals were more versatile and ecologically adapted to coastal environments than previously believed.
A recent study led by Rice University anthropologist Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo challenges the long-held idea that Homo habilis was the first species to rise from being prey to predators. Using AI-powered analysis, his team discovered that early humans were still hunted by carnivores like leopards around 2 million years ago.
A new study found that a gene passed down from extinct archaic humans, Denisovans, is present in modern Latin Americans with Indigenous American ancestry and provides an adaptive advantage. The researchers also discovered the gene's presence in ancient individuals excavated at archeological sites across North and South America.
Researchers discovered that humans with Indigenous American ancestry are more likely to carry a variant of the MUC19 gene inherited from Denisovans, which may have helped them adapt to new ecosystems. The Denisovan gene variant is surrounded by DNA from Neanderthals, suggesting interbreeding between the two species.
A 140,000-year-old child's skeleton from Israel reveals biological ties between Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens through unique morphological traits. The discovery confirms genetic exchanges between the two groups, with up to 6% of modern humans' genome originating from Neanderthals.
UNLV anthropologist Brian Villmoare and an international team discovered new fossils in Ethiopia that indicate Australopithecus and Homo species coexisted between 2.6 and 2.8 million years ago. The findings suggest a more complex tree-like pattern of human evolution, challenging the traditional linear model.
A new study has coined the term 'scrumping' to describe great apes' fondness for eating ripe, fermented fruit from the forest floor. The researchers suggest that this behavior may have played a significant role in the evolution of human alcohol tolerance.
A new study found that early humans consumed carbohydrate-rich foods like grains and underground plant tissues before they had the ideal teeth to chew them efficiently. This suggests that behavior played a significant role in their physical evolution, allowing them to adapt to new environments despite physical limitations.
Researchers confirm human presence in the Americas between 23,000 and 21,000 years ago with a new study that uses ancient mud to date footprints. The findings contradict previous understanding of the peopling of North America and have sparked a reevaluation of archaeological theories.
Researchers developed models to study EV's influence on human cooperation, revealing regional variability promotes cooperation in resource-poor areas. The findings provide new perspectives for archeological inquiry and insights into modern society's cooperative behavior.
Researchers found that chimpanzees deliberately select plant materials with flexible properties for termite fishing, indicating an intuitive comprehension of material properties. This 'folk physics' ability has implications for understanding human technological evolution and tool use.
A new genomic analysis suggests that human language capacity emerged at least 135,000 years ago, with regional groups spreading across the globe around 100,000 years after that. The study, which examined 15 genetic studies, provides increasingly converging evidence about the timing of geographic splits among early human populations.
A recent study published in Nature has assigned a facial fragment, nicknamed 'Pink', to the species Homo aff. erectus, challenging the long-held view of early European human habitation. The discovery at Sima del Elefante sheds new light on the history of Western Europe's first inhabitants.
Researchers found a single young adult Paranthropus robustus fossil with evidence of habitual upright walking, weighing only about a meter tall and 27 kg at death. The species' small size made it vulnerable to predators like sabertooth cats and giant hyenas.
Researchers have discovered human habitation in African rainforests dating back approximately 150 thousand years, challenging previous assumptions that humans were absent from these areas. This finding highlights the complexity of human evolution and suggests that ecological diversity played a key role.
A research team led by Ohio University's Sabrina Curran has discovered new evidence of early hominin activity in Europe, suggesting that hominins were present on the continent at least 1.95 million years ago. This finding pushes back previous timelines and provides valuable insights into the behavior of early human ancestors.
A recent study found that both men and women with greater upper body strength tend to have more lifetime sexual partners. Despite theories suggesting men's strength is linked to reproductive success, the research suggests that physical strength may play a role in mating success for both sexes.
Researchers used computer simulations to model the running capabilities of Australopithecus afarensis, finding that Lucy's maximum speeds were significantly slower than those of modern humans. The study suggests that the human body evolved to improve running performance, with top speed being a more critical driver than previously thought.
A groundbreaking study by Bar-Ilan University reveals that ancient hunter-gatherers relied heavily on plant foods, particularly starchy plants, for energy. The findings contradict the prevailing narrative of animal protein-based diets and offer new insights into early human processing methods and social behaviors.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that 12,000-year-old stones from Israel may have been used as spindle whorls to turn fibers into yarn, representing a key milestone in the development of rotational tools including wheels. The stones feature a circular shape with a central hole, allowing them to rotate faster and more efficiently.
A new study in PLOS ONE reports on the contents of 25 coastal and underwater cave sites in southern Sicily, uncovering three new sites with potentially important archaeological sediments. The findings provide key data for understanding the early expansion of Homo sapiens into the Mediterranean.
A new study reconstructs cave conditions in Tam Pà Ling, Laos, identifying human activities and environmental changes over 52,000 years. The findings suggest that early Homo sapiens fossils were deposited in the cave during periods of heavy rainfall, with possible forest fires or human use of fire nearby.
Researchers analyzed ancient human bones to assess puberty stages in 13 Ice Age teens, ages 10-20. Most entered puberty at 13.5 and reached adulthood between 17-22 years old.
A new study by University of South Florida geologist Bogdan Onac and colleagues has found that humans settled the western Mediterranean much earlier than previously believed. The discovery of a 25-foot submerged bridge, dated to nearly 6,000 years ago, provides compelling evidence of earlier human activity on Mallorca's island.
Researchers at George Washington University found that fossil hotspots in eastern Africa, such as the East African Rift System, bias our understanding of human evolution due to their limited geographic representation. The study suggests that scientists must take this bias into account when interpreting early human history and recommend...
A Dartmouth study suggests that social rank determines whether animals prioritize short-term energy consumption over long-term health, with dominant monkeys consuming food quickly to maintain dominance, while lower-ranked monkeys invest time in washing their food to prevent tooth damage. The findings shed light on the disposable soma h...
A study on horse miscarriages revealed that 42% of cases were due to triploidy, a condition characterized by an extra set of chromosomes. This finding provides insight into the frequency of chromosome errors during early human pregnancy, which has been difficult to determine.
A study published in PLOS ONE found cut marks on fossils of a glyptodont, a giant relative of armadillos, that are consistent with known marks made by stone tools. The placement of these marks indicates a butchering sequence targeting areas of dense flesh.
Researchers found evidence of multiple waves of genetic intermingling between modern humans and Neanderthals, challenging previous theories. The study reveals a more intimate connection between early human groups than previously believed.
Researchers studied newborn baboon brain anatomy to predict future gestural communication handedness, finding that nearly 70% developed a right-hand preference. The study suggests a shared evolutionary heritage and potential clinical implications for brain surgery patients.
Researchers used climate models, genetic data, and archaeological evidence to understand how environmental conditions shaped early human migration. The study found that ancestors traveled primarily through warm and humid areas with a mix of forests and open spaces for resources and shelter.
Researchers have re-evaluated the route of early human migration to Australia, finding that ancient humans arrived on Timor Island at least 50,000 years ago. The discovery of thousands of stone artefacts and animal bones in a deep cave in Timor Island suggests that humans used New Guinea as a stepping stone for their crossing.
A new study reveals that competition between species played a major role in the rise and fall of hominins. The research found that the Homo lineage experienced an unprecedented number of new species emerging, contradicting traditional views on evolutionary patterns. Technology, such as stone tools and fire, may have driven this process.
Research at Schöningen reveals sophisticated woodworking techniques used by early humans to process spruce and pine wood. The findings demonstrate the importance of wood as a raw material in human evolution, with evidence of extensive processing and recycling.
Researchers crafted replicas of Early Upper Paleolithic stone age tools and used them for various tasks. They found that combining macroscopic and microscopic traces can help identify tool functions, potentially pushing back the timeline for woodworking innovation.
A new study of a 7–8-million-year-old extinct fossil ape from China, Lufengpithecus, offers new insights into the evolution of human bipedalism. The researchers found that early apes shared a locomotor repertoire ancestral to human bipedalism, and their analysis suggests a three-step evolution of human bipedalism.
Researchers found that the Asian summer monsoon's strengthening played a key role in Homo sapiens' dispersal from Africa to East Asia during the last interglacial period. The study integrated paleoanthropological data with high-resolution reconstructions of the monsoon, suggesting a link between climate change and human migration.