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Namibia’s Ancient Human Habitats: How Desert Archaeology Sheds Light on Human Evolution

Anthropology.net

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.

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How Multiple Denisovan Populations Shaped Modern Human Genes

Anthropology.net

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.

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Where Humans and Neanderthals Interbred

Anthropology.net

The interbreeding of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals is a well-established fact, revealing a fascinating chapter in human evolution. While previous studies have focused on when these encounters occurred, recent research has turned its attention to where these interspecies interactions took place.

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The Evolution of Cooking: A Defining Moment in Human History

Anthropology.net

Cooking is often viewed as a significant turning point in human evolution. It not only provided the extra calories needed to support larger brains 1 but also transformed the way early humans interacted with their environment. Unlike other species, humans are biologically adapted to consume cooked food.

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Tracing the Origins of Horseback Riding: Insights from Human Skeletons

Anthropology.net

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?

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Tool Use and Brain Evolution: How Cognitive Advances Shaped Human Development

Anthropology.net

Tools as a Catalyst for Evolution The ability to create and use tools is a hallmark of human evolution. A groundbreaking study by researchers from the University of Tübingen, led by Dr. Alexandros Karakostis, provides fresh insights into how changes in brain function enabled early humans to wield tools with precision.

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Ancient DNA Illuminates South Africa’s Human History

Anthropology.net

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. It contained more than 40 human graves and preserved layers of human artifacts, such as stone tools, going back 12,000 years.”