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It’s Time to Replace “Prehistory” With “Deep History”

Sapiens

A team of archaeologists working in Southeast Asia is pushing toward a deeper understanding of history that amplifies Indigenous and local perspectives to challenge traditional archaeological timelines. This approach to archaeological research places value on the continuous cultural and social development of humans.

History 143
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In Iron Age Britain, Descent Was Matrilineal

Sapiens

A scientific study with important implications for archaeology in Britain and France was published in January. was matrilineal and matriarchal based on her analysis of the archaeology, including the high number of female figurines. The findings offer essential clues about gender roles and social structures in ancient Europe.

educators

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Tracing Maize’s Roots: Evidence of Domestication in South America

Anthropology.net

Archaeological specimens of semi-domesticated maize (corn) were found in baskets buried in caves in Peruaçu Valley. Archaeological evidence indicates that maize spread to southwestern Amazonia approximately 6,000 years ago before eventually arriving in Brazil’s Peruaçu Valley some 1,500 years ago. Freitas, F.

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Unveiling Homo juluensis: A New Chapter in Human Evolution

Anthropology.net

Late Pleistocene Human Evolution in East Asia: Behavioral Perspectives Provides a behavioral perspective on hominin evolution, highlighting key fossil and archaeological findings in East Asia. Source: PNAS, 2012. Rabett, 2012. Source: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2018. Source: Current Anthropology, 2017.

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The Stone Blades of Jebel Faya: Rewriting the Story of Early Humans in Arabia

Anthropology.net

One such discovery has emerged from the archaeological site of Jebel Faya, a rock shelter nestled in the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Credit: Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2025). Credit: Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2025). Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences , 17:60.

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The Evolution of Cooking: A Defining Moment in Human History

Anthropology.net

While the answer remains elusive, a combination of archaeological and biological evidence provides clues, suggesting cooking may have begun as early as 2 million years ago. Archaeological Evidence: Fire Control and Cooking Sites The archaeological search for the origins of cooking hinges on evidence of fire control.

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Active learning as a pedagogical strategy to enhance the learning of anthropology

Teaching Anthropology

I first trialed active learning strategies while teaching at the University of Oxford, where one of the challenges of teaching anthropology is the diverse background of the students (Bastide, 2012). Anthropology modules appear in programs in three programs I have taught: Archaeology and Anthropology, Human Sciences, and Music.