Articles tagged with Historical Archeology
A groundbreaking study finds that horses were raised, fed, and ridden by Indigenous Peoples on the American Plains over 700,000 years ago. Genetic analysis reveals a strong Iberian ancestry, contradicting the prevailing narrative of European introduction after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.
A team of international researchers has uncovered a more complex history of early horses in North America, suggesting they may have spread faster and earlier than previously thought. The study, published in Science, used archaeozoology, DNA sequencing, and Indigenous oral traditions to find that Native American communities were likely ...
The study confirms that a significant number of people from Southwest Asia moved to the Swahili coast in medieval and early modern times, having children with local populations. Hallmarks of the Swahili civilization predated these arrivals, contradicting previous scholarly views.
Researchers found previously unknown interactions among people in southern Africa between the 5th and 20th centuries, revealing a complex network of cultural exchange. The study used geochemical analyses on copper objects to reconstruct connectivity across the region, providing new insights into the history of the area.
Researchers discovered extensive use of iron staples in Notre-Dame's construction, dating back to the 1160s, making it a pioneering example of iron-based architecture. The study sheds light on the medieval Parisian iron market and its role in shaping the city's history.
A new German Research Foundation-funded project investigates the possibility that a Roman land ditch was created in the Hessian Ried in the 1st century AD. The research aims to find the canal's original course and study its relationship with nearby Roman settlement sites.
A Flinders University-led research team will explore Aboriginal cultural heritage sites in Limmen National Park using $800,000 ARC Linkage Funding. The project combines archaeological and anthropological data to understand Marra cultural history and inform the management of sensitive cultural heritage sites.
The Manis bone projectile point is the oldest known weapon made from bone, dated to 13,900 years, and provides direct evidence of mastodon hunting in the Americas. Researchers used CT scans and 3D software to isolate and assemble the bone fragments, revealing a spear point made from mastodon bone.
Researchers found solid scientific evidence that Vikings transported animals, including a horse and dog, across the North Sea to Britain. The analysis of human and animal remains from the Heath Wood cremation cemetery revealed that these animals originated from Scandinavia.
Researchers at Linköping University found that climate fluctuations and agriculture coincided with the rise and fall of Persian Empires in southeastern Iran. The study suggests that climate played a crucial role in shaping these civilizations.
A new study analyzes 48 ancient human genomes and over 16,500 modern Scandinavian genomes to reconstruct the region's genetic history. The research shows that ancestries introduced during the Viking period later declined, suggesting ancient immigrants contributed proportionately less to the modern gene pool.
Researchers are conducting on-site surveys and generating high-resolution damage maps for 20-square-mile region affected by the Category 4 storm. The goal is to inform protection efforts and help communities recover from the disaster.
An international team of researchers is exploring how human occupation and land use over hundreds of years affected the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most critically threatened tropical forests. The study aims to produce an 'atlas of human impact' using historical, archaeological, and ecological data.
Researchers at the University of Huddersfield used ancient DNA to reveal large-scale immigration in Early Bronze Age Orkney, contrary to popular belief. The findings also showed unusual female-dominated immigration during this period.
A new study has shed light on the lost medieval chapel of St Erasmus at Westminster Abbey, revealing its role as a royal burial site and its connection to the cult of a disembowelled saint. The chapel, demolished in 1502, is believed to have held relics, including a single tooth, and featured gruesome images of the saint's martyrdom.
Researchers analyzed metal ingots from a 14th century B.C. shipwreck to understand the origins of copper and tin used in bronze production. The study found that two-thirds of the tin came from Turkey, contradicting previous assumptions about its source.
The study found that the Erfurt Jewish community was more genetically diverse than modern-day Ashkenazi Jews, with at least two distinct groups. The research team discovered that the founder event, which makes all Ashkenazi Jews today descendants of a small population, happened before the 14th century.
A new study led by Stefani Crabtree reveals that sustainable practices are often hindered by the flow of information between humans and their environments. The research provides a framework to assess how societies interact with their environments for good or ill, guiding environmental decision-making.
A joint study by TAU and Hebrew University accurately dated 21 destruction layers at 17 archaeological sites in Israel, using geomagnetic field reconstruction. The new data verify Biblical accounts of Egyptian, Aramean, Assyrian, and Babylonian military campaigns against the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
Researchers are using ancient DNA samples to study the relationship between humans and furbearers like beavers, mink, and muskrats. By analyzing genetic diversity lost due to the fur trade, scientists can inform current conservation efforts and guide future management schemes.
A recent genetic study has shed new light on the Anglo-Saxon migration to Britain, revealing that around 75% of Eastern and Southern English populations descended from continental migrants. The integration of these migrant families with the existing British population varied by region and community.
A recent genetic study has found that three-quarters of the Early Medieval population in Eastern England was comprised of migrants originating from Continental regions bordering the North Sea. These migrants intermarried with local populations, but integration varied greatly from region to region.
A new record of past Indian monsoon drought history has been developed using oxygen isotopes in stalagmites, correlating with historical accounts of severe droughts and societal changes. Protracted droughts tend to occur in clusters within decades-long intervals of weaker monsoon rainfall.
Researchers identified a group of Ashkenazi Jews who fell victim to antisemitic violence during the 12th century, shedding new light on Jewish medical history in Europe. The study suggests that a bottleneck event shaped the modern-day Ashkenazi Jewish population prior to the 12th century, earlier than previously believed.
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.
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.
Scientists have discovered a new, extremely faint galaxy named Pegasus V, located on the outskirts of Andromeda. The dwarf galaxy is believed to be one of the oldest in the universe, with its stars forming over 13 billion years ago.
A multidisciplinary study of Roman period wine jars reveals the use of native grapes for wine production and foreign pine for waterproofing tar pitch. The analysis provides insight into the cultural practices of ancient winemakers in coastal Italy.
Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from over 400 equids in Celtic and Roman settlements, finding mule remains only in the Roman sites. Mules were valued by Romans for their pack and work capabilities due to their strength, endurance, and resistance to diseases.
Researchers found remains of over 40 wood mice and numerous insects, including the grain weevil, in prehistoric wells in southern France. The discovery suggests that people developed resilience against pests by switching to more resistant grains like glume wheat around 4000 BCE.
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...
Ancient DNA analysis reveals that an epidemic devastated a local community in Kyrgyzstan in 1338 and 1339, linked to the Black Death. The study suggests that the Black Death's ancestor originated in Central Asia, close to Lake Issyk Kul.
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 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.
The Uralic language family's history is reevaluated, with research suggesting the languages' westward spread began in western Siberia during the early Metal Age. The dispersal of the family is linked to three episodes: a natural environment shift, cross-cultural archaeological phenomena, and contact with Indo-Iranian languages.
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.
Research reveals high rates of parasitic worm infections in ancient British populations, particularly during the Roman and Medieval periods. The study sheds light on the lives and habits of past populations, providing insights into public health measures.
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.
A team recreated a 3D model of an ancient Roman house and tracked the gaze of participants as they viewed it, uncovering details about the owner's personal power and status. The study uses VR and eye-tracking technology to gain insights into the past.
A multidisciplinary team analyzed ancient DNA from the Carpathian Basin to reveal clues about the Avars' origins. The research found that the Avar elites had ancestry from Northeast Asia and the North Caucasus, suggesting a rapid trans-Eurasian migration
A new ancient DNA study has uncovered the 5,000-year population history of Xinjiang, China, revealing a complex mix of local northern Asian and western Steppe ancestry in Bronze Age populations. The study found that these early populations were broadly mixed with unique ancestral components from southern Siberia and Central Asia.
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.
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 analyzed 54,045 georeferenced pieces of building timber to track changes in building activity across Europe from 1250 to 1699. They found clear evidence for the Late Medieval Crisis, the Thirty Years' War, and economic boom periods, with building activity tracking historical price of grain and lead pollution.
A new study reveals that medieval warhorses were bred for success in various functions, including tournaments and long-distance raiding campaigns. The research, published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, found that breeding and training were influenced by biological and cultural factors.
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.
The article examines modern migration in the Mediterranean by analyzing abandoned fishing boats and their contents, revealing the impact of policy decisions on displacement. The study provides a nuanced narrative of human experiences during these journeys, highlighting inequalities and varying degrees of preparation among those onboard.
A groundbreaking study reveals early humans preferred to hunt the largest available animals to provide the greatest quantities of food. Over 1.5 million years, humans repeatedly overhunted large animals to extinction, and then shifted to smaller animals, improving their hunting technologies.
Researchers have discovered evidence of human habitation in the Faroe Islands dating back to around 500 AD, with signs of domestic sheep arrival at this time. The findings, based on lake sediments and DNA analysis, provide conclusive proof that humans inhabited the islands before the Vikings, who are thought to have arrived around 850 AD.
A novel 'virtual segmentation' method enables accurate visualization of microtomography imaging of Egyptian mummies. This technique helps researchers reconstruct detailed anatomical structures of ancient animals, shedding new light on their biology and evolution.
Researchers at UC3M have created an open laboratory for the population to participate in digitizing and analyzing archaeological heritage. Volunteers will receive training in archaeology, digital humanities, and software skills.
A Washington State University research team used advanced radiocarbon dating to determine the age of ancient stone monoliths in southern Ethiopia's Gedeo zone. The findings push back the construction date by a millennium, shedding light on the region's culture and trade networks.
Researchers at the University of Zurich have found a unique 2,700-year-old leather scale armor in Northwest China that originated in the Neo-Assyrian Empire. The armor's design and construction indicate a technology transfer between West and East during the first millennium BCE.
Archaeologists have unearthed a rare Roman mosaic and surrounding villa complex beneath a farmer's field in Rutland, UK. The discovery provides fresh perspectives on Roman era attitudes towards classical literature and the individual who commissioned the mosaic.
Researchers reconstruct Land of Israel climate at end of last ice age using plant remains, revealing significant temperature and precipitation differences that impacted the transition from hunter-gatherer to settled agricultural societies. The study provides insights into the region's flora and its response to past climate change.