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Tracing Ancient Networks: The Journey of Obsidian Artifacts into Alberta's Archaeological Record

Anthropology.net

Despite Alberta's lack of volcanic activity, numerous obsidian artifacts have been unearthed across the province, prompting questions about their origins and the prehistoric networks that transported them. Allan / Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper 43 (2024) 1-7. Field finds of obsidian flakes.

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Spain’s Move to Decolonize Its Museums Must Continue

Sapiens

DECOLONIZING SPAIN’S MUSEUMS In my work as a curator of archaeological assemblages at the British Museum and as a bio-archaeology researcher at the Natural History Museum in the United Kingdom, I have observed how nations and cultural institutions grapple with their colonial legacies. Unlike the U.K.,

Museum 124
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How and When Did Humans First Move Into the Pacific?

Sapiens

New archaeological research reveals insights into the first-known seafarers to brave ocean crossings from Asia to the Pacific Islands more than 50,000 years ago. Foraging in the Rainforest A key finding of the excavation was a tree resin artifact that was made at this time. Then the hardened resin was snapped into shape.

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Immersive 3D Technology Reshapes the Study of the Human Past

Anthropology.net

Archaeology, the science of unearthing and interpreting humanity’s ancient past, is entering a transformative era. A New Way to Study Ancient Artifacts For decades, archaeologists have relied on traditional methods to analyze artifacts and architectural remains. “This is our game-changing innovation.

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Early Copper Crafting Among Anatolia's Last Hunter-Gatherers

Anthropology.net

​ a) Location of early metallurgical activities in Anatolia and Gre Fılla archaeological site. Among the architectural remnants and everyday artifacts, researchers have uncovered compelling evidence of early copper use and production.​ b) The context where the vitrified material (GRE-VRF) was found. c) Chisel axe.

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Ancient Meteors and Early Iron: How Space Rocks Became Everyday Tools in Iron Age Poland

Anthropology.net

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. Pin fragment (E) from Częstochowa-Mirów (4).

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When Did Humans Start Talking? Genomic Evidence Pushes Language Back to 135,000 Years Ago

Anthropology.net

Traditionally, scholars have debated linguistic origins based on indirect clues—symbolic artifacts, brain size, or the complexity of tool-making. The genetic evidence suggests that Homo sapiens had the capacity for language long before the first clear signs of symbolic behavior appear in the archaeological record.