Researchers at the University of Bristol have made a surprising discovery that sheds new light on the early evolution of giant sauropods. The team unearthed evidence of a previously unknown ancestor – Thecodontosaurus antiquus – that defied expectations with its small size, bipedal stance, and surprising agility. Sauropods, the massive, long-necked herbivores that dominated the … Read more
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the north of Devon and Somerset, UK, unearthing remnants of the Earth’s oldest known forest. These fossilized trees, estimated to be a staggering 390 million years old, rewrite the history of terrestrial ecosystems and offer a glimpse into a bygone world. This ancient forest predates the previous record … Read more
Researchers at Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Germany, challenge our understanding of Neanderthal ingenuity. Their analysis of ancient birch tar used as an adhesive on tools reveals a far more complex manufacturing process than previously thought. The ability to create synthetic materials has long been considered a hallmark of human intelligence. However, the Tübingen team’s … Read more
An international research team has unraveled the mysteries surrounding the arrival of the Battle Axe Culture in Scandinavia, combining archaeological finds, genetic data, and stable isotope analysis. Their findings, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, shed light on the demographic processes that unfolded during this pivotal period. The Battle Axe Culture, identified by … Read more
A recent study published in Science Advances sheds new light on the enigmatic Clovis culture, the first people widely recognized as inhabiting North America. This research, led by Michael Waters, Professor of Anthropology at Texas A&M, challenges previous assumptions about their timeline. Utilizing radiocarbon dating techniques on bones, charcoal, and plant remains from ten Clovis … Read more
Recent archaeological research led by Nathalie Brusgaard sheds light on the profound influence that beavers have had on the Dutch ecosystem and its inhabitants for thousands of years. Contrary to popular belief, these industrious rodents were not newcomers to the region but rather integral components of its natural landscape, until their extinction in the 19th … Read more
Archaeologists have unearthed a treasure trove of more than 100 ornaments, shedding new light on ancient body adornment practices. Dating back approximately 11,000 years, these artifacts, found in adult burials in Türkiye, offer compelling evidence of body perforation, suggesting a ritualistic significance likely tied to coming-of-age ceremonies. Led by a team of researchers from various … Read more
In a groundbreaking archaeological discovery nestled within the rugged beauty of the Huescan Pyrenees, researchers have unearthed compelling evidence reshaping our understanding of early high mountain societies during the Neolithic period. Published in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology, a pioneering study has unveiled sophisticated livestock management strategies and feeding practices, challenging the conventional wisdom that these … Read more
Excavations at the desolate lake site of Papowo Biskupie in north-central Poland have unearthed a treasure trove of over 550 bronze artifacts, shedding light on the enigmatic rituals of the Chełmno group, a northern outlier of the renowned Lusatian culture. Spanning from 1200–450 BC, this group emerges as a distinctive entity within the broader tapestry … Read more
In a groundbreaking revelation, a collaborative team of researchers hailing from China, Australia, France, Spain, and Germany has unearthed a trove of advanced material culture in East Asia dating back a staggering 45,000 years. Published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, their study focused on an archaeological collection from the Shiyu site, nestled in the Shanxi … Read more
Recent discoveries in the realm of botanical history have shed new light on the ancient journey of the cacao tree, Theobroma cacao, whose luscious beans have long tantalized the taste buds of chocolate enthusiasts worldwide. A groundbreaking study published in Scientific Reports unveils a narrative of trade routes and cultural exchanges that facilitated the dissemination … Read more
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University embarked on a journey to unravel the secrets of Stone Age tools and the activities that shaped their edges. Through meticulous craftsmanship and experimental trials, they uncovered a wealth of insights into the utilization of stone tools in prehistoric times, shedding light on the evolution of woodworking technology among early … Read more
A multidisciplinary study has reconstructed the genomic history of the Balkan Peninsula during the first millennium of the common era, a time and place of profound demographic, cultural and linguistic change. The team has recovered and analyzed whole genome data from 146 ancient people excavated primarily from Serbia and Croatia—more than a third of which … Read more
Scientists from the Francis Crick Institute, Durham University, and MOLA Headland Infrastructure unveiled the remarkable origins of an individual who lived during the Roman period, shedding light on ancient migrations and societal connections. The man, referred to as Offord Cluny 203645, was unearthed in 2017 near Offord Cluny village in Cambridgeshire, within the scope of … Read more
Archery’s emergence in the Americas and its societal impacts have long intrigued anthropologists and archaeologists. Shedding new light on this debate, a study led by a University of California, Davis anthropologist, recently published in Quaternary International, offers fresh insights. Concentrating on the Lake Titicaca Basin nestled in the Andes, researchers analyzed 1,179 projectile points, pinpointing … Read more
An exploration of ancient culinary practices in the Taihu Lake region of eastern China has shed light on the dietary habits and subsistence strategies of people during the late Neolithic era, circa 4th millennium BCE. Conducted by a collaborative team of researchers from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), the Institute of Vertebrate … Read more
A special find has been made in the Alkmaar Regional Archive: A number of 17th-century book bindings contained pieces of parchment from a manuscript from the 11th century. The original manuscript may have belonged to a princess who fled England after the Norman Conquest. Many books were printed and bound in the 16th and 17th … Read more
Douglas Boin, Ph.D., a professor of history at Saint Louis University, made a major announcement at the annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America, revealing he and his team discovered an ancient Roman temple that adds significant insights into the social change from pagan gods to Christianity within the Roman Empire. “We found three … Read more
A team of international researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery, unearthing evidence of an exceptionally rare genetic condition that bestows men with an additional X chromosome. This remarkable finding, representing the oldest clinical case of Klinefelter syndrome documented to date, stems from an analysis of a 1,000-year-old skeleton found in Portugal. Led by Dr. João … Read more
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, working with University of Oxford, University of York and Oxford Archaeology, have developed a new technique to measure the number of chromosomes in ancient genomes more precisely, using it to identify the first prehistoric person with mosaic Turner syndrome (characterized by one X chromosome instead of two [XX]), who … Read more
