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NOVEMBER 30, 2024

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.

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Sapiens

JANUARY 29, 2025

This diffuse and varied culture inhabited a vast area from Yunnan, China, to Sumatra, Indonesia, from about 40,000 to 2,000 years ago. Sadly, these examples of a once widespread but still poorly known culture had been ploughed back into the earth. In addition to forests, these practices have destroyed archaeological evidence.

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DECEMBER 2, 2024

Researchers from the ROOTS Cluster of Excellence at Kiel University have introduced a groundbreaking way 1 to apply modern philosophical concepts, like the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), to ancient societies, offering fresh perspectives on how and why these communities thrived.

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DECEMBER 3, 2024

Researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) have identified semi-domesticated maize specimens from caves in Brazil’s Peruaçu Valley, revealing a unique chapter in the crop’s evolutionary history.

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MARCH 26, 2025

New research by Lorena Becerra-Valdivia, published in Nature Communications 1 , suggests that humans did not simply follow stable climates but adapted to fluctuating conditions, sometimes settling in areas experiencing severe cold. 2 ) takes different cultural components and specific lithic traditions/categories into account.

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NOVEMBER 26, 2024

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.,

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DECEMBER 19, 2024

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

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DECEMBER 19, 2024

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).

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OCTOBER 29, 2024

Recent groundbreaking research in Antiquity 1 has revolutionized the understanding of ancient Maya civilization. Utilizing cutting-edge lidar technology, researchers from Tulane University and Northern Arizona University have uncovered more than 6,500 structures hidden beneath the dense forests of Campeche, Mexico.

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FEBRUARY 17, 2025

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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JANUARY 18, 2025

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.

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DECEMBER 4, 2024

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.

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MARCH 25, 2025

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.

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MARCH 5, 2025

Researchers have uncovered a collection of systematically shaped bone tools at Olduvai Gorge, dating back to 1.5 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.

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DECEMBER 2, 2024

. “The structure aligns with theoretical models predicting the use of specialized heating techniques for birch tar production, a hallmark of Neanderthal ingenuity,” the researchers note. Journal of Archaeological Science, 117 , 105116. How Did Neanderthals Make Tar? Leierer, L., Pérez, L., & Lagunilla, Á H.

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NOVEMBER 8, 2024

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. Artifacts suggest that the Zeravshan Valley was not only a migration route but potentially a place of cultural exchange.

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Anthropology for Beginners

DECEMBER 20, 2023

style='mso-element:field-begin'> TOC o "1-4" h z u Archaeology of power and identity: the political use of the discipline. style='mso-element:field-begin'> TOC o "1-4" h z u Archaeology of power and identity: the political use of the discipline.

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MARCH 26, 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.

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DECEMBER 4, 2024

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 ).

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NOVEMBER 7, 2024

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.

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OCTOBER 31, 2024

New research, led by Guillaume Charloux and published in PLOS ONE 1 , focuses on the third-to-second-millennium BCE town of al-Natah, shedding light on Arabia's unique urbanization process during this era. Future archaeological work may reveal more about the timing and extent of urbanization in this region and its unique trajectory.

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FEBRUARY 19, 2025

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)

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MARCH 27, 2025

​ 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.

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Anthropology.net

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

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.,

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DECEMBER 4, 2024

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. However, researchers caution that linguistic descriptions alone may not capture the full scope of emotional experience.

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MARCH 10, 2025

Unlike many other archaeological sites that have been repeatedly excavated over decades, this cave has only recently been investigated systematically. As researchers continue to study the material from Grotta della Lea, the site promises to deepen our understanding of the people who thrived in Europe’s last great Ice Age.

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OCTOBER 30, 2024

Collaborating with the team behind First Weapons , a television series aired by ABC, researchers employed state-of-the-art biomechanical tools to measure the energy, speed, and overall efficiency of these tools in combat. However, the kodj was shown to be more efficient for rapid movement, particularly in one-on-one combat. 1 Diamond, L.

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JANUARY 19, 2025

It serves as a critical archaeological site for understanding the transition from Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to Neolithic agriculturalists. This approach minimizes ambiguities, allowing researchers to distinguish between protein sources with remarkable precision. The findings also raise broader questions about cultural practices.

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JANUARY 23, 2025

Data from Prehistoric Sites The research team, including Dr. Andrew W. Hussain from the University of Cologne, drew on a vast database of archaeological findings. For this study, the researchers focused on zooarchaeological evidence—animal remains—from European sites inhabited by humans. ” Quaternary Research.

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JANUARY 8, 2025

Wallacea, the sprawling chain of islands in eastern Indonesia that includes Timor-Leste, has long been a crossroads of cultures, languages, and genetics. Researchers analyzed 254 newly sequenced genomes, uncovering evidence of extensive gene flow from West Papua into the islands of Wallacea.

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JANUARY 17, 2025

“Melka Wakena’s unique high-altitude setting offers valuable insights into how early humans adapted to challenging environments,” the researchers wrote. The Acheulian culture, which emerged around 1.75 ” Melka Wakena’s archaeological record offers a glimpse into these capabilities.

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MARCH 11, 2025

For decades, researchers have debated the nature of their interactions. 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. Did they coexist peacefully, exchanging ideas and technologies?

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NOVEMBER 5, 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.

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FEBRUARY 6, 2025

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. Ravasini et al.

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Sapiens

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

A multidisciplinary team of researchers explains historical, cultural, and ethical issues they considered while developing a 3D scan of a South African site to be shared with the world online. This has led to numerous archaeological and heritage sites appearing online in interactive 3D platforms, such as Sketchfab.

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FEBRUARY 24, 2025

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.

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Sapiens

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

Like conspiracy theories about aliens building ancient monuments , Hancock’s views carry racist implications— explicitly championed by white supremacists—that Indigenous peoples were not the source of their own cultures, technologies, and monuments. CC These ancient practices in Chaco Canyon are a bridge to Hopi culture today?

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