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Jen Jacobs on Multidimensionality, Memorability, and Making History Come Alive A member of our EPiC grant in Michigan, Jen Jacobs, shared her journey into teaching and the impact that journey has left on her since. To teach history effectively, Jen incorporates intrigue, drama, and humanity into her lessons.
A Missing Chapter in Mesopotamian History Most of what we know about Mesopotamian irrigation comes from the Parthian and Sasanian periods, roughly a thousand years after the newly discovered Eridu canals were in use. This is a rare case where nature has preserved a vital piece of humanhistory. Water History, 7 , 397–418.
However, the journey to this unique bond between humans and canines was far from straightforward. A new study 1 suggests that in prehistoric Alaska, humans repeatedly domesticated and lived alongside not just dogs but also wolves, wolf-dog hybrids, and even coyotes.
Archaeology, the science of unearthing and interpreting humanity’s ancient past, is entering a transformative era. A Breakthrough in Armenia The HKU team tested their innovative approach at a field site in Armenia, a region with a rich Early Bronze Age history. “This is our game-changing innovation. 1 Cobb, P.
High in the Zeravshan Valley of Tajikistan, the Soii Havzak rock-shelter has provided researchers with an invaluable glimpse into early human migration routes and daily life in Central Asia. It contains layers of human occupation spanning the Middle and Upper Paleolithic periods, approximately 150,000 to 20,000 years ago.
One of the most intriguing chapters in human evolution is the story of the Denisovans, a mysterious, now-extinct hominin group that left a significant genetic footprint in the DNA of modern humans. Overview of the distinct Denisovan populations that introgressed into modern humans.
A recent study sheds new light on its humanhistory, highlighting the deep impact of migrations from New Guinea into this region approximately 3,500 years ago. The region, home to immense linguistic and genetic diversity, has often puzzled researchers seeking to untangle its complex history. Human Biology , 83(4), 587–607.
A collection of 15 marine fossils, deliberately transported to the cave over 39,800 to 54,600 years ago, reveals that Neanderthals may have been the first fossil collectors in human evolutionary history. Interestingly, parallels can be drawn with modern human behavior. Marine fossils from the Prado Vargas Cave in Spain.
A recent study led by researchers from London’s Natural History Museum and the KU Leuven Institute of Philosophy reignites the debate over whether Homo sapiens and Neanderthals ( Homo neanderthalensis ) should be classified as separate species. Neanderthals and Homo sapiens are both humans, but they differ in many ways.
This new analysis, published in the journal Antiquity 1 , sheds unsettling light on the darker side of prehistoric human behavior. Antiquity, December 2024. ” The Scene of the Massacre The story begins in the 1970s, when excavators first uncovered over 3,000 human bones and fragments deep within the Charterhouse Warren shaft.
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.,
A groundbreaking study 1 of ancient human DNA from the Oakhurst rock shelter in South Africa is shedding new light on population history in one of the world’s earliest regions of modern human activity. These new results from southernmost Africa are quite different, and suggest a long history of relative genetic stability.”
But how did ancient humans experience and describe these feelings? By analyzing one million words of Akkadian cuneiform, researchers unearthed fascinating connections between emotional states and specific body parts, offering fresh insights into human emotional experience through time. Credit: Modern/PNAS: Lauri Nummenmaa et al.,
“That’s why good teaching about citizenship involves students in an intentional study of human behavior.” Bryan Little, the 2022 James Madison Foundation Fellow for Kansas completed his MAHG degree in 2024. For Little, government class entails “constitutional study and human behavior study side by side.”
The Ancient Artistry of Ochre Mining in Eswatini The Lion Cavern at Ngwenya, Eswatini, holds groundbreaking evidence 1 of humanity's earliest intensive ochre mining practices, dating back 48,000 years. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating methods confirmed its use as the world’s oldest ochre mine.
What if collecting rare and beautiful objects wasn't just a uniquely human behavior? A recent study from the Prado Vargas Cave in Spain suggests that Neanderthals—long depicted as brutish, survival-driven beings—may have shared this deeply human impulse. 2024, Quaternary. Credits: Ruiz et al.
A Window Into Humanity’s Past Hunter-gatherer societies represent the foundation of humanhistory, defining how humans lived for 99% of our existence. These findings deepen our understanding of humanity’s shared history and highlight the enduring adaptability that has defined human societies for millennia.
Introduction: Uncovering Ancient Childhoods The long, extended childhood characteristic of modern humans may trace its roots further back than previously thought, according to new research. years, a timeline much closer to that of chimpanzees than humans. Her research suggests that the first molar emerged at around 3.5
Ancient Mud Unlocks 130,000 Years of Australia’s Fire Management History Australia’s relationship with fire extends back thousands of years, with Indigenous land management practices deeply shaping the continent’s ecology. Credit: Science (2024). ladder fuels). 1 Mariani, M., Herbert, A., Adeleye, M., Florin, S.
It offers a fresh perspective on the interplay between environmental adaptation and cultural development in humanhistory. By transforming wetlands into sustainable food systems, these early communities laid the groundwork for one of the most remarkable civilizations in humanhistory. 10,eadq1444(2024).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adq1444
NEH Grantees: April 2024 kskordal Mon, 05/06/2024 - 09:22 Image Congratulations to the following individuals and organizations announced as National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Grantees in April 2024, for their projects in classical studies and adjacent fields: David Danzig, Paige Brevick (Save Ancient Studies Inc): Increasing Humanities Engagement (..)
While we can't definitively say that these early humans crafted stone tools, our findings demonstrate that their hands were frequently used in ways that closely align with the actions necessary for human tool manipulation," explained Fotios Alexandros Karakostis, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Tübingen. afarensis , A.
Theres nothing like one-to-one interaction with a human being, Perez says. The 2024 results of the nations report card, released last week by the National Center for Education Statistics, show that for the third time in a row fourth and eighth grade reading scores have dropped on the biannual assessment.
Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). Biomechanics Testing: Unveiling Hidden Power Prior to this study, there was no existing research measuring human or weapon efficiency during strikes with hand-held weapons. While weapon design plays a critical role in efficiency, the ultimate factor remains the human behind the tool.
Yet the 2024 results of an important national test, released last month, showed that the reading scores of elementary and middle schoolers continued their long downward slide, hitting new lows. Over the past decade, a majority of states have passed new science of reading laws or implemented policies that emphasize phonics in classrooms.
A Glimpse into Europe’s Earliest Settlers Over 45,000 years ago, small groups of modern humans roamed the icy expanse of Ice Age Europe. Among these pioneers were individuals whose lives and genetic histories have now been reconstructed from the oldest modern human genomes yet sequenced.
The deserts of northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula have long been the focus of archaeological research, revealing their roles as cradles of early human civilization and migration routes through so-called “green corridors.” The Narabeb site showing location of former lake. Middle Stone Age lithics from Narabeb.
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. eyes, noses) weakens this claim. Book Chapter : Comparative Archaeologies: Prehistoric Iberia , 2011.
Cut marks on ancient fossils have been identified as evidence of human exploitation of large mammals in Argentina more than 20,000 years ago, according to a study published on July 17, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE 1 by Mariano Del Papa of the National University of La Plata, Argentina, and his colleagues.
The interbreeding of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals is a well-established fact, revealing a fascinating chapter in human evolution. This research has pinpointed the Zagros Mountains, a significant mountain range on the Persian Plateau, as a key region where these two human species overlapped.
A recent study 1 published in Nature Communications has unveiled a remarkable discovery of rare early human fossils from the Indonesian island of Flores. These findings offer critical insights into the evolutionary history of Homo floresiensis , the diminutive 'Hobbits' whose remains were first uncovered in 2003 at Liang Bua cave on Flores.
A new study 1 challenges long-held beliefs about the origins of horseback riding, casting doubt on the Kurgan hypothesis, which claims that humans first began domesticating horses as early as the fourth millennium B.C. Horseback riding can indeed leave subtle marks on the human body. Can Horseback Riding Change Your Skeleton?
This blog is jointly authored by Vic Crooks and Laura London based on a presentation we gave at the Historical Association Conference in May 2024. But how should we approach this in the history classroom? As history teachers we often problematise controversial issues to ‘see both sides of an issue’. Grosvenor (2000, p.157),
Unearthing the Artifacts: Traces of Human Presence Amidst the ancient bone piles and rocky alcoves, lies a treasure trove of human artifacts—a testament to the enduring presence of ancient inhabitants. These fossil-rich deposits offer a tantalizing glimpse into the fauna that once roamed Arabia's ancient landscapes. 1 Stewart, M.,
Neanderthal genes present in modern humans may have been introduced through an extended period of interbreeding starting around 47,000 years ago and lasting nearly 7,000 years, according to new research. Consequently, the genomes of contemporary human populations outside Africa contain about 1% to 2% Neanderthal DNA.
The genetic legacy of Neanderthals persists in modern humans, with 1-2% of non-African genomes composed of Neanderthal DNA—a determination made through comprehensive sequencing and comparison of ancient and modern genomes. “These beneficial traits spread rapidly in early human populations.”
Recent archaeological findings 1 in West Papua have unveiled new insights into one of the most significant migrations in humanhistory—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.
” Rethinking Easter Island’s History The traditional narrative of Easter Island has long been used as a cautionary tale, an example of how human societies can cause their own destruction by depleting natural resources. 1 Davis, D. DiNapoli, R. Pakarati, G., L., & Lipo, C.
There papers in Nature Ecology and Evolution 1 2 3 summarize findings at the Ranis site and showcase a Stone Age culture that predates previous estimates, shedding light on the coexistence of modern humans and Neanderthals. In the recent excavations at Ranis, a fragment of human bone was discovered. 1 Mylopotamitaki, D., Fewlass, H.,
Over the last 12,000 years, a pivotal shift occurred in the human genome, driven by the advent of agriculture and the shift to a carbohydrate-rich diet. This process allowed early humans to extract more energy from crops like wheat and grains, which became staples in post-agricultural societies.
Archaeological discoveries in East Timor’s Laili rock shelter have unveiled evidence 1 of ancient human habitation dating back approximately 44,000 years. This finding, led by an international team of archaeologists, contributes significantly to understanding the migration and adaptation patterns of early humans in Southeast Asia.
A submerged 25-foot bridge in a cave on the Spanish island of Mallorca has provided groundbreaking insights into the early human colonization of the western Mediterranean. Recent research led by geologists from the University of South Florida has revealed that humans settled in this region much earlier than previously believed.
Were humans or climate change responsible for these losses? The Role of Human Hunting Researchers from the Danish National Research Foundation's Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO) at Aarhus University have concluded that human hunting played a decisive role in these extinctions.
Researchers have developed an innovative population model 1 that sheds new light on the complex dynamics of human dispersal across Europe during the Aurignacian period, approximately 43,000 to 32,000 years ago. By examining these factors, the researchers have identified four distinct phases in the process of human settlement across Europe.
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