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The Origins of Burial Practices in Human Evolution Around 120,000 years ago, both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals began practicing intentional burial in the Levant region, shaping a complex cultural narrative in human evolution. Been et al., 1 Been, E., & Barzilai, O. L’ Anthropologie , 128 (3), 103281.
In early 2024, Spain’s culture minister announced that the nation would overhaul its state museum collections, igniting a wave of anticipation—and controversy. It is crucial to understand that decolonizing efforts in museums do not equate to an immediate, wholesale return of cultural material. Unlike the U.K.,
By reframing prehistoric creativity as an inter-generational endeavor, this study reveals that children were not just observers but active participants in shaping their cultural landscapes. Children, Metaphorical Thinking, and Upper Paleolithic Visual Cultures Author : Nowell, A. Journal : Cambridge Archaeological Journal , 2015.
A groundbreaking discovery 1 from Prado Vargas Cave in northern Spain is reshaping perceptions of Neanderthals, highlighting their advanced cognitive and cultural practices. Instead, they displayed a deep appreciation for the natural world and engaged in complex social and cultural behaviors. Navazo Ruiz et al., Navazo Ruiz et al.,
But recent archaeological findings reveal that even domestic livestock were transformed to project power and control. This discovery reshapes our understanding of early animal domestication and its cultural significance in Predynastic Egypt. Credit: Journal of Archaeological Science (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2024.106104
The LaPrele Mammoth Site: A Window into Early North American Life Archaeological discoveries at the LaPrele mammoth site in Wyoming continue to shed light on the ingenuity and adaptability of Early North Americans, who lived in North America nearly 13,000 years ago. Source: Journal of Archaeological Science , 2019.
From Philosophy to Archaeology: The Capability Approach The HDI, widely used today to evaluate well-being through health, education, and living standards, traces its roots to the capability approach developed by philosopher and economist Amartya Sen. Philosophy of archaeology. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
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.
Such tasks likely involved collaboration and the transmission of knowledge within the group, suggesting that these skills were culturally shared over generations. This discovery supports growing evidence that Neanderthals possessed the cognitive abilities and social structures necessary for cultural innovation. Leierer, L., Knight, R.
Reprinted under a CC BY license, with permission from AFALULA-RCU-CNRS, 2024. 2024, PLOS ONE , CC-BY 4.0 While other Bronze Age cultures had advanced in terms of population density, specialized labor, and structured hierarchies, northern Arabian towns remained modest, indicating a more gradual cultural and social shift.
A recent study, published in the European Journal of Archaeology 1 , suggests these plaques may represent one of humanity's earliest attempts at recording genealogy—a non-verbal precursor to modern ancestry documentation. Journal : European Journal of Archaeology , 2004. Journal : Cambridge Archaeological Journal , 2009.
Photo by Marcello Canuto) The Power of Lidar in Archaeology Lidar, a laser-based detection system, allows archaeologists to scan landscapes by sending thousands of laser pulses per second and mapping the terrain based on how these pulses reflect off surfaces. .” 1 Auld-Thomas, L., Canuto, M. Morlet, A. Estrada-Belli, F., Chatelain, D.,
The results challenge long-held assumptions about how early humans controlled tool shape and suggest that the differences in Levallois core designs may be more influenced by cultural traditions than previously thought Why Levallois Technology Matters Levallois technology represents a milestone in human cognitive and technological evolution.
The Study of Ancient Alaskan Canids To explore this complex history, a team of archaeologists led by François Lanoë from the University of Arizona analyzed 111 sets of bones from canids unearthed at archaeological sites across interior Alaska. Journal : Journal of Anthropological Archaeology , 2019. lupus/familiaris ).
Their findings underscore the importance of Central Asia not only as a geographical way point but as a cultural and technological nexus where different human populations may have encountered each other over millennia. Artifacts suggest that the Zeravshan Valley was not only a migration route but potentially a place of cultural exchange.
Discovering Emotion in Ancient Mesopotamia From the flutter of "butterflies in the stomach" to the weight of a "heavy heart," emotions are often tied to physical sensations in modern cultures. Towards a Universal Understanding of Emotions This study opens new doors to understanding whether emotions are universal or culturally specific.
Ochre’s Role in Early Human Society Ochre, valued across cultures and eras, was more than a mere pigment; it was a cornerstone of symbolic and ceremonial life. In Eswatini, ochre remains significant in various cultural rituals, such as wedding ceremonies where brides are adorned with red ochre as a symbol of transformation and unity.
Found in different parts of Europe, these two industries have often been grouped together as “transitional industries,” implying that they might share a common technological or cultural origin. A new study published in the Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology 1 has upended this assumption. But do they? 4a) blade-like. (4b)
Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). Archaeological findings 2 have confirmed that axe-like tools date back over 44,000 years, making the kodj one of the most ancient weapons still known today. Australian Archaeology , 82 (1), 2–11. Its adaptability allowed warriors to strike in various directions, enhancing its versatility.
Credit: Science (2024). Insights from 130,000 Years of Climate and Human Impact The study tracked vegetation changes in southeastern Australia over the past 130,000 years, analyzing fossil pollen and archaeological data to determine how climate and human land use shaped the region’s ecology. ladder fuels). 1 Mariani, M.,
Wallacea, the sprawling chain of islands in eastern Indonesia that includes Timor-Leste, has long been a crossroads of cultures, languages, and genetics. Gludhug Ariyo Purnomo from the University of Adelaide, who led the research, noted that the findings emphasize the importance of West Papua as a bio-cultural hub. Kealy, S.,
They were the remains of animals deeply intertwined with the histories and cultures of Indigenous communities. That’s a problem, says William Taylor, curator of archaeology at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History and co-author of the study. Are they places where we treat archaeological objects as inanimate things?
In early 2024, a controversy swirled around filming for the Netflix series Ancient Apocalypse in the Grand Canyon and Chaco Canyon in the U.S. The producers also reportedly sought permits to film further in Chaco Culture National Historic Park and Grand Canyon National Park. Southwest, many Native leaders objected. Koyiyumptewa.
The researchers replicated stone tools resembling those found in early archaeological records to ensure their findings were rooted in realistic conditions. Understanding how early humans developed the capacity for precise tool use may shed light on the broader cognitive and cultural shifts that define human evolution. 1 Affinito, S.,
The Italian Peninsula before the rise of Rome was a tapestry of diverse ethnic groups, each with unique languages, customs, and material cultures. A recent study, The Genomic Portrait of the Picene Culture 1 , published in Genome Biology , attempts to decode their past through ancient DNA analysis. Ravasini et al.
Introduction A remarkable discovery in southeastern Australia has unveiled archaeological evidence of what may be the oldest known culturally transmitted human ritual. al 2024 Read more Ritual sticks uncovered in Cloggs Cave date back 10,000 to 12,000 years.
In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Human Behaviour 1 , researchers delve into the intricate world of ancient jewelry, unearthing evidence of nine distinct lost cultures that thrived across Europe between 34,000 and 24,000 years ago. Critics argue that archaeology has leaned too heavily on genetic evidence. Baker, Rigaud, et.
But was its use during the Upper Paleolithic purely practical, or did it hold deeper cultural significance? The research, published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 1 , presents compelling micro-archaeological evidence that fire was not just a survival tool but a defining cultural trait of the Gravettian tradition.
A Mysterious Ritual Resurfaces in the Archaeological Record In the rugged landscapes of northeastern Iberia, ancient fortresses once stood, their walls bearing silent witness to the turbulent rituals of Iron Age societies. And how did these practices compare to similar rituals in neighboring cultures? Journal of Archaeological Science.
Introduction: A Landmark Discovery in Qaleh Kurd Cave In a momentous archaeological breakthrough, French and Iranian researchers have unearthed compelling evidence of early human habitation in Iran's Central Plateau, pushing back the known timeline of human settlement in the region by an astonishing 300,000 years.
Recent archaeological findings suggest that the Bronze Age board game, Hounds and Jackals—also known as Fifty-Eight Holes—may have originated not in Egypt, as previously believed, but in Asia. 2024 A Global History of Ancient Games Board games have been part of human culture for millennia. Crist et al.,
The study, published in PLOS ONE 1 on December 11, 2024, uses bioarchaeological analyses to shed light on the diets, deaths, and cultural practices of this enigmatic population, linked to the Neolithic Cucuteni-Trypilla culture. Cultural Context The rarity of cremated remains in Trypillian burials adds another layer of intrigue.
Discovered in Poland, this artifact challenges our understanding of their cognitive abilities and symbolic culture. Tomasz Płonka, professor of archaeology at the University of Wrocław, “It is one of the quite rare Neanderthal objects of symbolic nature. Journal of Archaeological Science , 166 (105971), 105971.
Hosek said, “In archaeology, there are vanishingly few instances in which we can tie a particular activity unequivocally to skeletal changes.” in a culture known as the Yamnaya. This group is thought to have lived near the Black Sea and spread their culture and language as they rode on horseback across Eurasia.
PNAS, 2024) For decades, only 430 of these geoglyphs had been cataloged, leaving many questions unanswered. The Role of Technology in Unveiling Ancient Secrets The sheer vastness of the Nazca Pampa, covering an area of about 400 square kilometers (154 square miles), presents significant challenges for traditional archaeological fieldwork.
In 1994, the Schöningen open-cast coal mine yielded an astonishing archaeological treasure: remarkably well-preserved hunting weapons dating back 300,000 years. Spearheads and throwing sticks, discovered alongside animal bones, offered a glimpse into the sophisticated craftsmanship of early humans. 1 Leder, D., Lehmann, J., Vogel, M.,
Reassessing long-standing assumptions about early human diets, recent archaeological findings 1 from burial sites in the Peruvian Andes between 9,000 and 6,500 years ago suggest a surprising narrative. Dispelling Archaeological Biases The belief in early humans as voracious meat consumers is traced back to biases in archaeological records.
Archaeological discoveries in East Timor’s Laili rock shelter have unveiled evidence 1 of ancient human habitation dating back approximately 44,000 years. Archaeological evidence in Australia dates back at least 60,000 years, highlighting the ancient roots of Aboriginal cultures.
We are looking for stories about how communities, cultures, and individuals distinguish meaningful patterns from background noise, interpret disruptions, and find (dis)connection amid interference. We will accept pitches through December 1, 2024. What counts as signal versus noise, and who gets to decide?
Issued: January 29, 2024 Response deadline: February 23, 2024 Pitch responses: February 29, 2024 First drafts due: March 27, 2024 For our third issue of 2024, Anthropology News is delving into the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence (AI) and its intricate relationship with human reality.
The "Our Way Model": A New Tool for Understanding Human Migration The groundbreaking model, termed the "Our Way Model," was developed by a team from the University of Cologne's Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology and the Department of Prehistoric Archaeology. Plotted are also the archaeological sites as explained in Fig 1.
Image Credit: *Radiocarbon* (2024). This shift, associated with the emergence of the Funnel Beaker Culture, led to permanent settlements and the construction of houses, megalithic tombs, and other structures. Archaeological evidence for a neolithic subterranean construction from Nygårdsvej 3, Falster, Denmark. 1 Brinch, M.,
The rich archaeological context, combined with new genetic data, is revealing a long and stable genetic history of the region’s inhabitants. These newcomers began interacting with the indigenous hunter-gatherer populations, marking the start of more significant genetic and cultural shifts. 1 Gretzinger, J., Gibbon, V. Penske, S.
Recent archaeological findings 1 in West Papua have unveiled new insights into one of the most significant migrations in human history—the journey of early Homo sapiens into the Pacific Islands. This site, rich in archaeological deposits, provided a window into the lives of the early humans who inhabited the region.
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