Articles tagged with Human Remains
Researchers at Binghamton University have developed a new technique to extract usable DNA from bones of fire victims, allowing identification through dental records or DNA testing. The method uses two different techniques to extract DNA, one suitable for temperatures below 350 degrees and the other for hotter fires.
Researchers identified six cases of Down syndrome and one case of Edwards syndrome in ancient human remains from Spain, Bulgaria, Finland, and Greece dating back to 4,500 years ago. The individuals were buried with care and special grave goods, indicating they were appreciated by their societies.
A study of human-animal co-burials from ancient Italy suggests that the practice may have been related to enduring companion relationships or religious beliefs. Researchers found that the people buried with animals did not share common traits, leaving multiple interpretations for this phenomenon.
A new study of early Bronze Age examples from Luxembourg and Britain provides insights into family relationships in prehistoric communities. Genetic evidence reveals that children were buried with their biological mothers, suggesting a patrilineal descent system.
Researchers have discovered genetic material of the pathogen Treponema pallidum in ancient Brazilian bones, indicating that humans suffered from diseases akin to syphilis over 2,000 years ago. This finding challenges existing theories about the spread of syphilis by Spanish conquistadors and suggests that treponematoses were already pr...
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that Vikings in Sweden had a high prevalence of tooth decay, with many exhibiting severe caries and other dental pathologies. The findings provide insights into the lives of these ancient Scandinavians and their attempts to treat dental issues.
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.
A Victorian collector, Morton Allport, traded human and animal remains from Tasmania for scientific recognition. The research highlights the entwined costs of colonialism with practices of natural history, revealing a 'quid pro quo' arrangement to meet demand for these remains.
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.
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.
Researchers analyzed over 400 bone remains from a Spanish cave, finding marks compatible with a cleaning process for instrumental use. The study supports the idea that prehistoric societies used human bones in rituals and cultural practices, dating back to the Neolithic period.
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.
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 multidisciplinary team analyzed soil samples from underneath decomposing human bodies to understand the release of elements such as sulfur, phosphorus, and calcium. The study found unexpected concentrations of these elements in the soils, which could aid investigators in locating missing persons and estimating time of death.
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 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 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.
A new study by University of Arkansas researchers determines that hundreds of human skulls and mandibles at the Crenshaw site are local ancestors of the Caddo Nation. The findings use a novel dating technique to test lead and strontium isotopes in human teeth, revealing a multiregional pattern indicative of local ancestry.
Researchers discovered three 4,000-year-old cases of Yersinia pestis in human remains from mass burials in Somerset and Cumbria. The findings indicate the plague may have been easily transmitted across Britain, contradicting previous assumptions that it was brought by fleas.
A study of skeletal remains from 19th-century England found high incidences of growth delays, vitamin deficiencies, and respiratory disease among child laborers. The analysis suggests low-protein diets and harsh working conditions led to the health consequences.
A recent study published in Nature challenges traditional views on human origins in Africa, proposing that modern humans emerged from the interaction of multiple populations across the continent. By analyzing genomic data from diverse African groups, researchers found evidence of gene flow and mixing over hundreds of thousands of years.
The Ortiz site in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, has yielded five adult human remains with ages dating back to 1800BC, challenging simplistic assumptions about ancient culture. The mortuary practices and Strontium isotope analysis suggest standard burial practices over many centuries.
Researchers develop innovative method to analyze ancient bones, making collagen quantifiable and mapping possible. This technique supports the selection of samples for radiocarbon analysis, preserving valuable material and reducing destruction.
A revolutionary investigation has shed light on pioneering female migrants who arrived in Orkney during the Bronze Age. Ancient DNA analysis revealed a major influx of non-local people, dominated by women, challenging previous assumptions about the archipelago's influence during this period.
A new forensic science study investigates the decay of infant and juvenile bones, providing insights into decomposition rates and bone degradation. The research helps forensic scientists estimate the time elapsed since remains were at a location and identify suitable bones for DNA sampling.
Researchers analyzed human skeletons from burial mounds to determine if they were horse riders. A set of diagnostic criteria, known as the 'horsemanship syndrome', was used to identify traits indicative of riding activity. At least 24 out of 156 individuals can be classified as possible riders, with five being highly probable riders.
Archaeologists have discovered the earliest example of angular notched trephination, a type of cranial surgery, in the Ancient Near East. The discovery, made at Megiddo, Israel, suggests that one brother may have had leprosy, making them potentially among the earliest documented examples of the disease.
Researchers analyzed cremated bone fragments from burial mounds in Derbyshire, UK, finding evidence that Vikings crossed the North Sea with animals from Scandinavia. The study suggests that most likely, they were travelling alongside humans on ships.
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.
The 'Golden boy' mummy is a 2,300-year-old undisturbed body equipped with 49 amulets of 21 different types, including golden and semiprecious stones. CT scans reveal these amulets were placed to protect the body and give it vitality in the afterlife.
Researchers analyzed ancient teeth from Homo erectus and great apes to reveal annual cycles in tooth enamel, providing insights into their diets and seasonal food supplies. The study shows that humans and great apes had distinct dietary patterns, with humans exhibiting less pronounced peaks and lower Sr/Ca values.
Researchers advocate for descendant community involvement in ancient DNA research to ensure benefits and risks are shared fairly. Without such guidance, the science can be exploitative, perpetuating colonial practices and harming modern Indigenous groups.
An international team of researchers found evidence of cooked fish remains at the Gesher Benot Ya'aqov archaeological site in Israel, dating back approximately 780,000 years. This discovery predates previous knowledge by about 600,000 years and sheds light on the evolution of cooking techniques.
A 17th century child mummy was found to be malnourished and sick with pneumonia, despite being born into a powerful aristocratic family. The virtual autopsy revealed that the child's soft tissue showed signs of obesity, but his bones indicated severe rickets or scurvy due to lack of sunlight exposure.
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.
Three pre-Columbian South American mummies found evidence of lethal trauma, with two males dying from extreme intentional violence. The study used 3D CT scans to examine the mummies and provide new insights into the rate of trauma and violent deaths in prehistoric human societies.
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.
The study reveals that Sahelanthropus tchadensis, a 7 million-year-old species, had both ground-dwelling and tree-climbing abilities. This suggests that early humans acquired bipedalism very early in their history.
Researchers assessed facial structure of prehistoric skulls to determine extent of interbreeding between humans and Neandertals. The study found that the Near East was an important crossroads for human migration and interaction, supporting the hypothesis that much of this interbreeding took place in the region.
A study of medieval Cambridge's Augustinian friary and local cemetery found that friars were almost twice as likely to be infected by intestinal parasites. The researchers suggest that the high infection rates among friars may have been due to their practice of manuring vegetable gardens with human faeces.
Fossils from Sterkfontein Caves in South Africa reveal nearly four million years of hominin evolution. The new ages of Australopithecus-bearing deposits place the South African hominins as contemporaries of other early species, like Australopithecus afarensis, in east Africa.
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.
A study by Australian National University researchers found genetic evidence of ancient migration and intermingling between Austronesian peoples and local populations in Wallacea. The findings suggest a significant maritime migration occurred between 3,000 to 3,500 years ago.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals Cueva de Ardales was a canvas for artwork and burial place for Neanderthals and modern humans from 65,000 to 35,000 years ago. The site provides a unique history of human activity in Spain and sheds light on the development of European culture.
Scientists have successfully sequenced the first human genome from an individual who died in Pompeii, Italy, after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The study provides new insights into the genetic history and lives of the population, including evidence of high levels of genetic diversity across the Italian Peninsula.
A new analysis of ancient faeces found at Durrington Walls has uncovered evidence of parasitic worms, suggesting the inhabitants feasted on cattle and fed leftovers to their dogs. The findings indicate that people ate raw or undercooked internal organs from infected animals, resulting in parasite eggs passing through the body.
A new study published in Anglo-Saxon England suggests that Anglo-Saxon kings were mostly vegetarian, while peasants occasionally hosted lavish meat feasts for their rulers. The findings challenge historical assumptions about early medieval English history and the role of food-rent in sustaining royal households.
A recent study published in Genome Biology and Evolution found that ancient human remains from Bulgaria are more closely related to contemporary East Asians than Europeans. The researchers propose a scenario where an African population hub expanded into Europe and East Asia around 45,000 years ago, with the European representatives dec...
A new analysis of human remains provides the earliest DNA from sub-Saharan Africa, outlining major demographic shifts between 80,000 and 20,000 years ago. The study reveals people moved and settled in other areas, developed alliances and networks to trade and share information.
A team of researchers developed an enhanced version of a modern forensic test to solve a 5000-year-old cold case. The test confirmed the cause of death for a Neolithic man whose remains were found in a mass grave on the coast of Northern Chile, suggesting he died by drowning in shallow saltwater.
A new model using Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics has been developed to accurately determine the post-mortem interval (PMI) in human skeletal remains. This non-destructive technique provides valuable information for forensic medicine and anthropology, improving reliability and accuracy.
Researchers found that a large Early Holocene cemetery in Northern Russia was used for only one to two centuries and reveals human stress caused by a global cooling event. The team believes the creation of the cemetery shows a social response to climate change, with abundant grave offerings indicating complex social systems.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that changing climate conditions 23,000 years ago expanded food options for humans in Israel's Sea of Galilee region. The research analyzed animal remains at the submerged archaeological site of Ohalo II, revealing a diverse diet with multiple prey sources.
The Omo I fossils, found in Ethiopia, have been dated to be at least 230,000 years old, pushing back the known emergence of Homo sapiens by tens of thousands of years. This reevaluation was made possible through advanced geochemical analysis and a new understanding of volcanic ash layers.
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.
A study of Edo-era Japanese skeletons reveals a prevalence of periodontal disease similar to modern times, with distinct bacterial species. Researchers analyzed dental calculus from 12 human skeletons and compared their oral microbiomes to modern samples, shedding light on the evolution of the oral microbiome.
A team of international researchers has developed a globally-applicable ethical code for ancient human DNA research, aiming to address social and cultural implications. The code proposes cooperation with stakeholders, minimal damage to human remains, and respect for indigenous communities' perspectives.
A two-year project led by Dr. Kirsty Squires aims to analyze 41 mummified children from the 19th century using non-invasive methods. The study will provide essential data on juvenile health, development, and identity during this period.
Detailed analyses of cremated bone fragments from Tomb of Nestor's Cup uncovered at least three humans with varying life stages, alongside animal remains like goats and dogs. The study sheds new light on funeral practices and ancient Greek culture.
A 16,000-25,000-year-old jawbone from Sulawesi provides conclusive evidence of Pleistocene-era humans in the region. The fossil exhibit unusual dental wear patterns, offering insights into the daily lives and dietary habits of early Homo sapiens.