A study of ancient shell remains found at El Mazo cave site reveals that prehistoric humans in Europe adapted to a 1,500-year cold period by exploiting different mollusc species and avoiding overfishing. This research provides insights into human responses to climate change and its impacts on marine environments.
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.
Researchers analyzed engraved stones in France, finding patterns of heat damage suggesting they were carved near a fire. The study recreated the stones under firelight conditions, revealing a new understanding of prehistoric art creation.
Ancient artworks from Minoan civilization of ancient Greece depict domesticated saffron, suggesting cultivation around 1600 BCE. Genetic studies support this origin, placing the modern saffron crocus with its three genomes as a result of natural selection in Bronze Age Greece.
A new study suggests that mummification in prehistory was more common in Europe than thought, dating back to 8,000 years ago. The researchers found evidence of desiccation and hyperflexion in skeletal remains from the Sado Valley in Portugal.
Prehistoric plant remains found in a Lake Varese settlement match crops from oldest Swiss pile dwellings. The discovery suggests settlers from the western Mediterranean may have played a key role in spreading pile-dwelling culture north of the Alps.
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.
New research from the University of East Anglia and partner institutions highlights the need for locally led research and equitable funding to address the loss and damage of heritage from climate change. The study suggests that decolonial approaches can strengthen adaptation action globally and recognize the breadth of heritage.
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 1.5 million-year-old human vertebra found in Israel's Jordan Valley supports the theory of multiple migration waves from Africa to Eurasia, contradicting a long-held one-time event assumption. The discovery sheds new light on human evolution and dispersal patterns.
Researchers developed a software-based smoke dispersal simulation model to study prehistoric archaeology. They found that early humans placed their hearth at the optimal location in the cave, enabling maximum utilization of fire while minimizing smoke exposure. The study identified a 25sqm area as ideal for locating the hearth.
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.
Researchers analyzed ancient pottery fragments from the Central Nigerian Nok culture, revealing diverse and complex plant lipid profiles. The study suggests that leafy plants, grasses, pulses, and underground storage organs were an integral part of the Nok diet, providing cheap yet quality nutrition.
A team of archaeologists and geneticists analyzed DNA from 35 individuals buried in a Neolithic tomb, revealing a single extended family with 27 close relatives. The research provides new insights into kinship and burial practices in Neolithic times.
A new study from Australian National University challenges old assumptions about infant mortality in ancient populations. The research suggests that fertility had a greater influence on the proportion of deceased infants than infant mortality rate.
The study found that early Homo sapiens had an omnivorous diet in the tropical rainforest of Southeast Asia, consuming both plants and animals. The zinc isotope analysis revealed a mix of specialized adaptations to this environment, differing from previous assumptions about human diet.
Research in Saudi Arabia reveals multiple pulses of increased rainfall transformed the arid region into a hospitable route for human population movements. The discovery of thousands of stone tools shows changing human culture over time, documenting transition from Lower Palaeolithic Acheulean to Middle Palaeolithic technologies.
A team of archaeologists led by Paola Villa has uncovered an unprecedented array of bone tools crafted from elephant bones at the Castel di Guido site in Italy, dating back to around 400,000 years ago. The discovery reveals a high level of cognitive intellect and technological sophistication among early humans during this period.
Researchers have discovered three new species of ancient mammals in North America, hinting at rapid evolution following the mass extinction of dinosaurs. The creatures, which include the 'Hobbit'-named Beornus honeyi, differ from earlier known mammals and suggest that mammals diversified more rapidly than previously thought.
Researchers found a positive correlation between population pressure and higher levels of violence during the Middle Yayoi period in northern Kyushu, Japan. Despite peak population pressures in some regions, lower frequency-of-violence values were observed, suggesting other factors may have influenced violence levels.
Researchers conducted extensive analysis on the sandstone blocks at Stonehenge, revealing detailed information about their composition and origins. The study contributes to our understanding of the monument's construction and history.
New research reveals Bronze Age farmers in China prioritized cattle for their diets, utilizing byproducts like millet stalks for feed. This approach differs from other regions, where cows were raised closer to human settlements.
Hebrew University archaeologists found a rare 7,000-year-old seal impression with geometric stamps, marking shipments or silos. The discovery provides early evidence of commercial activity and long-distance trade in the Middle East.
Researchers reanalyzed the skeletal remains of 61 individuals from Jebel Sahaba cemetery, finding 106 previously undocumented lesions and traumas. Healed trauma suggests individuals fought and survived multiple violent assaults, rather than one fatal event.
A team of geologists and archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem confirms that ancient humans were making simple Oldowan stone tools inside the Wonderwerk Cave 1.8 million years ago. The discovery also dates the deliberate use of fire by prehistoric ancestors to 1 million years ago.
A new study published in Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory suggests that environmental pressures played a key role in the evolution of human tolerance. The research found that populations which shared resources were more likely to succeed and survive harsh environments, leading to long-term benefits for everyone involved.
Researchers analyzed human, animal skeletons and plant remains to study the evolution of the Swiss diet during the Bronze Age. They found no differences in diet between men, women, or children, but a shift towards more intense agriculture and the introduction of new cereals like millet.
Researchers have found two human skulls and a goat skeleton with unique features in Cueva de la Dehesilla, Spain. The site reveals new insights into the funerary rituals of Neolithic Iberian populations, challenging previous understanding of burials in the region.
Researchers have uncovered a 35-metre long triangular platform in northern Saudi Arabia, built in several phases between 6500 and 4500 BC. The discovery suggests that this monumental structure was used for ritual practices, including funerary and commemorative ceremonies.
A new method of dating pottery allows archaeologists to date prehistoric finds with remarkable accuracy. The method, developed by the University of Bristol team, dates pots directly using fatty acids left behind from food preparation.
A unique rock carving with six limbs has been identified as a part man, part mantis, suggesting humans have linked mantids to the supernatural since ancient times. The petroglyph was discovered in Iran's Teymareh site and is believed to be between 40,000-4,000 years old.
Research using ancient DNA from German farmsteads (2750 BCE to 1300 BCE) identified a complex family structure and kinship-based social hierarchy, with females often marrying nonlocal men. Wealth and status were inherited by offspring, suggesting social status was passed down through generations.
Archaeologists have discovered a rock shelter in Ethiopia dating back over 30,000 years, providing the earliest evidence of human habitation at high altitudes. The site, Fincha Habera, shows signs of Middle Stone Age foragers living and feasting on giant mole-rats at an elevation of over 11,000 feet.
A unique bark shield discovered in Europe has revealed that prehistoric people used bark to make shields, a first for its kind. The shield, dated between 395-255 BC, showed evidence of being made with wooden laths, a woven boss, and red chequerboard decoration.
Researchers from Penn and Harvard have created a tool to identify and access Cold War-era U2 spy plane imagery, revealing prehistoric hunting traps, irrigation canals, and marsh villages. The images provide valuable insights into ancient history, including the Assyrian canal system in northern Iraq.
Researchers used high-resolution satellite imagery to assess the destruction of archaeological heritage in a remote region. Over 74% of analyzed burials were found to be destroyed and plundered, highlighting the urgent need for site protection.
A new archaeological site in Tibet has pushed back the earliest known human habitation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau by 20,000 years. The discovery of Nwya Devu provides crucial evidence of human occupation and evolution on the plateau.
The Sunset Crater volcano in Arizona, USA experienced a highly explosive sub-Plinian eruption with pyroclastic fall deposits, lava flows, and associated effects on pre-historic inhabitants. The eruption is considered one of the most explosive monogenetic eruptions studied to date.
New archaeological evidence reveals extensive Mediterranean exchange networks for amber resources in Late Prehistory, with Sicilian amber arriving earlier than previously thought. The trade routes suggest Iberians engaged in significant exchange with the North and South, challenging previous hypotheses on amber origin.
Archaeologists discovered evidence of ancient Neolithic communities using fungi as tinder to start and transport fires at the La Draga site. Researchers analyzed a unique set of remains, finding six fungal species used for this purpose, including Daedalea quercina and Coriolopsis gallica.
A researcher is exploring the emergence, transmission, and intensification of mobile pastoralism across the Eurasian steppe. The project will analyze human and animal bones, teeth, pottery, and other remains to understand how people relied on sheep, goats, cattle, and horses for food.
A Bronze-Age burial mound in Cornwall has been discovered, dating back 2,000 BC. The site will be excavated to uncover its secrets and shed light on the region's prehistoric past.
A study by Binghamton University researchers suggests that Rapa Nui's people were part of a supportive community, with pukao weighing multiple tons placed on moai heads to honor ancestors. The analysis of 70 giant hats reveals more drawings than previously thought, highlighting cooperation and resource sharing.
The study reveals that communities with strong co-operation largely belonged to the same archaeological culture, providing a novel method for independent evaluation of the archaeological record. The researchers used modularity analysis on a comprehensive database of copper artefacts from the Balkans, dated from 6200 BC to 3200 BC.
Using lead isotope analysis, UF archaeologist Ashley Sharpe has created a map to determine the birthplace of ancient people and animals in Central America. This method can help track the movement of prehistoric Maya and potentially solve mysteries surrounding their origins and demise.
Archaeologists uncover evidence of domesticated rice in China, shedding new light on the history of human agricultural practices. The discovery suggests that rice domestication has been ongoing for much longer than previously thought, with characteristics consistent with japonica rice now cultivated in Japan and Korea.
Archaeologists have published scans of prehistoric animal paintings from Abri Faravel in the Southern French Alps. The site's rock shelter has seen human activity from Mesolithic to medieval periods, featuring unique high-altitude Bronze Age structures and artefacts.
The Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes Project has discovered hundreds of new archaeological features using remote sensing techniques and geophysical surveys. The project has revealed detailed maps of burial mounds, Bronze Age settlements, and Iron Age fields, providing a new understanding of the development of Stonehenge over 11,000 years.
Archaeologists at the University of Toronto and University of Cape Town have uncovered tens of thousands of Earlier Stone Age artifacts in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The site is estimated to be between 700,000 and one million years old, offering valuable insights into human evolution.
Archaeologists uncovered clay tokens used for trade records until the advent of writing, but found them again in use thousands of years later. The tokens were used alongside cuneiform writing to create a sophisticated record-keeping system.
Research reveals prehistoric Europeans consumed psychoactive plants and fermented beverages in rituals to connect with the spirit world. Archaeological evidence suggests socially controlled use of these substances, contrasting with modern hedonistic views.
A new €2.49m research study, led by Queen's University Belfast, aims to uncover Malta's prehistoric past and develop strategies for conserving vulnerable heritage sites. The project will analyze ancient pollens, snails, insects, and other environmental materials to reconstruct the changing ecology of Malta during prehistory.
A team led by Dr. James Adovasio and Dr. C. Andrew Hemmings will explore ancient coastlines in the northeastern Gulf to determine where early Americans might have lived over 12,000 years ago. The mission aims to shed light on the peopling of the Americas and may uncover new evidence that challenges current archaeological record.
Archaeologists discovered five non-native species introduced to Carriacou between 1,000 and 1,400 years ago. The remains suggest high-status food or ritual use, with pig-like peccaries, armadillos, guinea pigs, and small rodents found on the island.
A team led by Mercyhurst College archaeologists is on the verge of uncovering cultural evidence of early human occupation in the submerged continental shelf of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Using advanced technology, they aim to excavate archaeological materials from previously identified high-potential locations.
Researchers at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona have implemented a digital cataloguing system that uses data matrix codes to reduce manual registration errors in archaeological heritage. The system, tested on Spanish and African sites, demonstrates substantial advantages over manual coding in terms of speed and reliability.
Researchers at the University of York found that Neanderthals exhibited deep-seated commitments to the welfare of others, including prolonged care for injured individuals. The study proposes a four-stage model for human compassion, with ancient humans developing empathy towards each other dating back six million years.
Researchers discovered that trampling animals can push artifacts up to 21 centimeters into the ground, potentially altering a site's interpretation. This finding suggests that archaeologists should reanalyze some previous discoveries due to the significant impact of animal trampling on artifact context.
A team of archaeologists has uncovered new clues about a prehistoric society that formed the foundation of urban life in the Middle East prior to the invention of the wheel. The site, Tell Zeidan, reveals evidence of trade, copper metallurgy, and pottery production.
The excavation of Tell Zeidan reveals the emergence of an elite that possessed political power to facilitate trade and acquire luxury goods. The site also shows high-ranking elites sharing a common set of symbols and ideology across a broad region.