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Credit: Scientific Reports (2025). “Cannibalism was an integral practice within the cultural systems of these Magdalenian groups,” the authors write. “The presence of cultural modifications may be related in more cases than expected to the consumption of the bodies, in other words, to human cannibalism.”
Genomic Clues: Tracing Language Through Population Splits Unlike previous studies that relied on archaeology or comparative anatomy, this research examines how human populations began to branch off from one another. What Came First: Language or Symbolic Thought? This challenges the long-held view that language and symbolism arose in tandem.
Published in Archaeological Research in Asia 1 , the research introduces a computational approach that reveals unexpected complexity in the architectural development of Neolithic settlements. These sites span from the Natufian culture (15,000 years ago) to the early Neolithic period (8,500 years ago). 1 Goldgeier, H.,
In the 8th century CE, the Avars—an enigmatic group with roots in the East Asian steppes—settled in Central Europe, weaving a tapestry of cultural cohesion amid genetic diversity. Their findings reveal an intriguing story of cultural integration despite distinct genetic divides. ” Even weapons were rare in the graves.
Recent analysis of artifacts from two Lusatian Culture cemeteries suggests that early metallurgists were not only working with iron from terrestrial sources but also incorporating metal from ataxite meteorites—an extremely rare form of nickel-rich iron that originates in space. Journal of Archaeological Science, 92 , 30-39.
Using Bayesian chronological modeling and data from over 150 archaeological sites, the study examines how two major climatic events—the Antarctic Cold Reversal (ACR) and the Younger Dryas (YD)—influenced early human dispersal across the continent. The modelling work (e.g., <2,5000 masl = orange. ≥2,5000 masl = blue.
These instruments, linked to the Umm an-Nar culture, provide compelling evidence of a shared musical tradition between the ancient civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula and the Indus Valley. Al Rahbi Music has long served as a universal language, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. S., & Douglas, K.
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.
But beyond their everyday function of fastening and securing, knots hold something deeper: a story about the evolution of human cognition, the flow of culture, and the quiet persistence of shared technique across continents and millennia. Encoding Entanglement—How Math Helped Map Knots Knots rarely survive in the archaeological record.
Soldevilla, LDA A recent study, led by Erik Zamzow and his colleagues, explores the grinding stone deposits of the Linear Pottery Culture (LBK) in Central Europe, revealing a deeply symbolic connection between these objects and human life cycles. Grinding stone deposits of the linear pottery culture in central Germany. 1 Zamzow, E.,
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)
It serves as a critical archaeological site for understanding the transition from Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to Neolithic agriculturalists. This nuance suggests a more varied diet than previously thought, shaped by both ecological and cultural factors. The findings also raise broader questions about cultural practices.
The Acheulian culture, which emerged around 1.75 Using experimental archaeology, advanced 3D scanning, and photogrammetry, they recreated and analyzed the wear patterns on stone tools from Melka Wakena. ” Melka Wakena’s archaeological record offers a glimpse into these capabilities. PLOS ONE, 11 (9), e0161322.
Hussain from the University of Cologne, drew on a vast database of archaeological findings. The ROAD database, developed by the Role of Culture in Early Expansions of Humans (ROCEEH) project, contains data from over 2,400 prehistoric sites across Europe, Africa, and Asia. ” Journal of Archaeological Research. 1 Baumann, C.,
Bone tools found in Olduvai, photographed in the Pleistocene Archaeology Lab of CSIC. Credit: CSIC This finding changes the way we think about early human cognition, technological adaptability, and cultural innovation. Bone tools found in Olduvai, photographed in the Pleistocene Archaeology Lab of CSIC. Nature (2025).
Archaeology often deals with what remains—the bones, the stone tools, the charred remnants of ancient hearths. These stone grinding surfaces, found alongside rock art panels and other cultural features, are yielding the first direct evidence of plant processing in this landscape. 1 Wilks, S. Louderback, L. Simper, H.
Unlike many other archaeological sites that have been repeatedly excavated over decades, this cave has only recently been investigated systematically. Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports , 63 (105064), 105064. The radiocarbon dating places these tools firmly within the Early Epigravettian, aligning with known sites across Italy.
A new genetic and archaeological study 1 has revealed that leopard cats ( Prionailurus bengalensis ), small wild felines native to East Asia, lived alongside people in China’s early agrarian societies for at least 3,500 years—only to disappear from human settlements centuries before the arrival of domestic cats via the Silk Road.
The presence of this distinctive technology so far from its previously known origins raises new questions about ancient human migrations, cultural exchange, and independent innovation. If Denisovans were responsible, this would provide the first material culture directly linked to them. Independent Invention or Cultural Transmission?
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). What Comes Next?
The archaeological discovery of Preclassic clay figurines atop the San Isidro pyramid in El Salvador raises profound questions about the social and ritualistic lives of Mesoamerican cultures. Przedwojewska-Szymańska/PASI; Antiquity (2025) Could the San Isidro figurines represent something similar? Scale in centimetres.
Exposed section of archaeological sediments dated to to 110 thousand years ago at Tinshemet cave A new study, published in Nature Human Behaviour 1 , brings fresh insight into this question. For decades, researchers have debated the nature of their interactions. Did they coexist peacefully, exchanging ideas and technologies? 1 Zaidner, Y.,
Through a combination of archaeological surveys, petrographic analysis (studying the mineral composition of ceramics), and GIS-based spatial modeling, the research team identified distinct zones of pottery production and exchange. And in archaeology, they are often written in clay." In European Journal of Archaeology, 17(4), 602-633.
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?
Were they markers of social hierarchy, or did they reflect a deeper cultural transformation? 2025 A new study, published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 1 , examines these burial landscapes to better understand their significance. These contrasting burial customs have puzzled archaeologists for decades.
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.
The results paint a complex picture of migration, cultural blending, and long-distance connections. The Genetic Footprint of the Huns The study focused on 35 newly sequenced genomes from key archaeological sites, including a 3rd–4th century site in Kazakhstan and 5th–6th century burial contexts in the Carpathian Basin.
We are currently accepting letters of interest from potential candidates, due April 21, 2025. To Apply: To apply for the position, please review the position description and fill out the interest form by April 21, 2025. Interviews with finalists will be conducted in September and October 2025.
A recent study published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 1 takes a significant step toward answering these questions. The Engraved Stones of the Levant The researchers focused on five artifacts from four archaeological sites: Manot Cave, Amud Cave, Qafzeh Cave, and Quneitra. But at what point did this transition occur?
Issued: January 17, 2025 Pitches due: rolling until February 7, 2025 First drafts due: 3 weeks after pitch decision Submit Here Anthropology News invites submissions on the theme of signal/noise.
We invite proposals for individual papers, panels, and workshops/roundtables on any aspect of the Greco-Roman world, including but not limited to poetry (from epic, lyric, and pastoral to elegy, satire, and the epigram), drama, history, philosophy, archaeology, religion, and social life (from family and gender roles to slavery and prostitution).
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.
2025 Led by Dr. Sara Juengst, an international team of researchers analyzed the burial, comparing it to others from the region. Despite being primarily associated with the much older Valdivia culture (3750–1475 BC), Buen Suceso also contains later burials linked to Manteño occupation. World Archaeology, 24 (1), 82-102.
Call for Proposals: Symposium Vesuvianum 2026 kskordal Mon, 01/27/2025 - 08:36 Image Call for Proposals Symposium Vesuvianum 2026 The Vergilian Society seeks proposals for its annual Symposium Vesuvianum to take place at the Villa Vergiliana in Cuma, Italy in October 2026. Informal inquiries are also welcome at this email address.
We will accept pitches through May 1, 2025. Authors of accepted pitches will be asked to develop their pieces in collaboration with ANs editorial team, which will be published on a rolling basis on the AN website through September 2025.
Issued: September 30, 2024 Pitches due: rolling until December 1, 2025 First drafts due: 3 weeks after pitch decision Submit Here Anthropology News invites submissions on the theme of migration.
In what artistic, historical, archaeological, spatial, or cultural contexts do we see the deployment of narratives of violence, and what functions do such deployments serve? What function does art serve in communicating, reifying, or normalizing violence?
Later in life, she was one of the first women to work in Mexican archaeology and the first person to study the pre-Columbian site of Chalcatzingo. Impressed with her work, the national museum hired her as the director of archaeology. Her life proves women can not only break into male-dominated fields but excel in them.
Or were they deliberately placed in the river as part of cultural or religious practices? Archaeological sites across Britain and the Continent have shown that human bodies—sometimes whole, sometimes disarticulated—were deliberately placed in watery locations, possibly as offerings or part of funerary customs. 1 Arthur, N.,
In death, these women continue the work they performed while living – developing, transmitting, and embodying new ways of being within the shifting cultural landscapes and intersectional power imbalances of ancient colonies.
Cave art has long been a touchstone for understanding the cognitive and cultural worlds of ancient humans. Their simplicity belies their profound significance as one of the earliest forms of human visual culture. Journal : Journal of Archaeological Science , 2019. Journal : Journal of Archaeological Science Reports , 2021.
Tracing Europe’s Genetic Footsteps The early medieval period was a transformative era, shaped by migrations, trade, and cultural exchanges. Implications and Critique Redefining Migration Narratives The findings challenge linear narratives of migration and cultural diffusion. Read more 1 Speidel, L., Raffield, B., Anastasiadou, K.,
An archaeologist from Palestine is urgently working to assess archaeological sites in the West Bank devastated by destruction and looting amid Israels ongoing war in the region. SIGNS OF LOOTING appear everywhere at archaeological sites across the West Bank. to 10 meters wide and 0.4 to 7 meters deep.
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