Recent advancements in the field of archaeogenetics have unearthed groundbreaking revelations about the genetic makeup of early medieval European populations. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, collaborating…
Category: Archaeology
Volcanic Winter and the Rise of Ritual Sacrifice in Neolithic Europe
Around 4,900 years ago, on the Danish island of Bornholm, a peculiar form of ritual sacrifice took place—hundreds of stones inscribed with sun and agricultural motifs were offered in what…
New Evidence Suggests Homo Erectus Successfully Inhabited Semi-Desert Environments in Africa
Homo erectus, an early ancestor of modern humans, is widely recognized for its ability to adapt to diverse environments. New research published in Communications Earth & Environment provides even more…
The Surprising Secret Behind Ancient Chinese Cooking
A groundbreaking new study by archaeologist Xingtao Wei and his team, published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, has revealed remarkable evidence of early human ingenuity in processing bones into…
Endoscopic Camera Unlocks Medieval Fragments Concealed in Early Modern Book Bindings
In a groundbreaking study, researchers used an endoscopic camera to uncover hidden medieval fragments concealed within book bindings from the 16th and 17th centuries. The unique discovery is part of…
Ancient DNA Reveals Complex Migration History of the North Pontic Region
The North Pontic region, a vast and historically significant area stretching across modern-day Ukraine, has long been recognized as a dynamic crossroads where multiple migration waves from diverse cultural and…
Ancient Humans Feasted on Giant Elephants in India
During the late middle Pleistocene, between 300 and 400 thousand years ago, at least three ancient elephant relatives died near a river in the Kashmir Valley of South Asia. Not…
Hallucinogens Found in Ancient Egyptian “Magic” Mug
A groundbreaking discovery made by a University of South Florida (USF) professor has shed new light on ancient Egyptian practices, confirming the use of hallucinogens in religious rituals that have…
Archaeologists Unearth Bronze Cannon Linked to Coronado’s 16th-Century Expedition
In a fascinating archaeological development, independent researchers in Arizona have uncovered a bronze cannon linked to the famous Vázquez de Coronado expedition, marking it as the oldest known firearm discovered…
Evidence of Long-Term Embalming Practices Found in 16th-17th Century French Aristocratic Family
In a remarkable discovery that challenges our previous understanding of ancient embalming practices, a team of bioarchaeologists from the Austrian Archaeological Institute, Université de Bordeaux, and Aix-Marseille Université has uncovered…
Exploring the Success of Europe’s First Mega Settlements
The U.N.’s Human Development Index (HDI), a widely recognized measure for evaluating human well-being and quality of life across nations, has recently been applied to the analysis of Europe’s first…
Roman Soldiers Recycled Armor on the Frontier
The discovery of a 14kg hoard of mail armor near the Roman legionary fortress of Bonn, Germany, has provided researchers with valuable new insights into the logistics of recycling and…
Early Humans and Neanderthals in Europe
The complex story of human evolution reveals an intricate web of migration, interaction, and interbreeding across continents. The migration of early modern humans from Africa to other parts of the…
7,000 Years of Interbreeding with Neanderthals
A new and more precise analysis of DNA from ancient modern humans in Europe and Asia has provided groundbreaking insights into the timing and extent of Neanderthal interbreeding with Homo…
Archaeological Evidence of a Brutal Massacre at Charterhouse Warren
The discovery of over 3,000 human bones and bone fragments at Charterhouse Warren, a site dating back to the Early Bronze Age in England, has provided archaeologists with an incredibly…
No Cleopatra Sister: Boy’s Remains Found in Ephesos Tomb
In 1929, an archaeological discovery in Ephesos, an ancient city in modern-day Turkey, set off a series of speculations and theories that have persisted for nearly a century. Austrian archaeologist…
Helen Gittos Reinterprets Sutton Hoo Burial Discovery
Helen Gittos, a professor of medieval history at Oxford University, has recently published an intriguing new theory about the identity of those interred at Sutton Hoo, a renowned burial site…
Ancient Italian Skulls Reveal Ancestor Veneration Rituals
Archaeologists Dr. Jess Thompson and her team have uncovered fascinating insights into Neolithic burial practices in southern Italy, shedding light on how ancient communities maintained connections with their ancestors. The…
Archaeologists Uncover Painted Dog Bone at Roman-Era Quarry Shaft
In a fascinating discovery that sheds light on the rituals of ancient Roman society, a bioarchaeologist from the University of Reading, Ellen Green, uncovered a remarkable artifact: a red-painted canine…
DNA Reveals Yemen’s Ancient Crossroads
Recent research, conducted by scientists at Khalifa University in Saudi Arabia, has revealed fascinating details about the genetic makeup of the modern Yemeni population. Working alongside regional and international collaborators,…
Archaeologists Uncover Evidence of a Female Warrior in 10th-Century Hungary
A significant and intriguing discovery made by Dr. Balázs Tihanyi and his team, as detailed in their recent study published in PLOS ONE, sheds light on a fascinating aspect of…