Sapiens

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Archaeological evidence and Oral Histories show people in what is today Ghana lived sustainably for millennia—until European colonial powers and the widespread trade of enslaved people changed everything. I felt compelled to share this story as an example of the power of archaeology to shift perspectives. It’s the year 2065.

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Anthropology.net

APRIL 15, 2024

For eons, ancient human ancestors frequented specific stone quarries, leaving behind a legacy of stone tools and offerings. The answer, it seems, lies in the profound connection between humans, stone, and sacred space. Ancient humans, reliant on stone tools for survival, revered the quarries as sacred sites.

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Anthropology.net

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

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.

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Anthropology.net

APRIL 23, 2024

In the vast tapestry of human history, certain discoveries emerge as seismic shifts, reshaping our understanding of our origins and the paths we've traversed. Mithen's holistic approach, spanning disparate realms of inquiry, forms a tapestry of evidence that paints a vivid portrait of humanity's nascent linguistic capabilities.

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Anthropology News

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

I call this a “confession” because “ (bio)archaeologists ” like me—scholars who identify with archaeology, biological anthropology, or both—are not necessarily known for centering social theories like Intersectionality in our subdisciplines. Bio)archaeology is no stranger to its colonial baggage. Intersectional Anthropology.

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Anthropology.net

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

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. This gap suggests that burial practices may not have had an unbroken tradition across time and species.

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Anthropology.net

AUGUST 28, 2024

The Role of Fear in Shaping Population Patterns Since the end of the Ice Age, human populations have experienced cycles of growth and decline, with the underlying causes remaining only partially understood. ” The interdisciplinary approach of combining complexity science with archaeological evidence has proven fruitful in this study.

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Anthropology.net

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Testing the Hypothesis with Replicas To test this hypothesis, the research team recreated similar stones using local pebbles and a flint drill, then enlisted Yonit Kristal, a traditional craftsperson, to spin flax using these replicas. “It really changes the way you think about your archaeological finds.”

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Sapiens

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

The Wajãpi had invited me to map archaeological sites in their territory. The Wajãpi already knew of my “archaeological finds”—the footsteps of Creator Hero from the beginning of time. What could my archaeological knowledge possibly offer to such a vast cosmological wisdom? I was excited. We just draw from different backgrounds.

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Anthropology.net

NOVEMBER 7, 2024

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.

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Anthropology.net

OCTOBER 30, 2024

Archaeological findings 2 have confirmed that axe-like tools date back over 44,000 years, making the kodj one of the most ancient weapons still known today. 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.

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Anthropology.net

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Photo by Marcello Canuto) The Power of Lidar in Archaeology Lidar, a laser-based detection system, allows archaeologists to scan landscapes by sending thousands of laser pulses per second and mapping the terrain based on how these pulses reflect off surfaces.

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Anthropology.net

OCTOBER 9, 2024

The Discovery at Tunnug 1 In southern Siberia, archaeologists have uncovered a prehistoric burial mound—Tunnug 1—revealing evidence of human and animal sacrifices from the late 9th century. The excavation revealed fragmented remains of at least 18 horses alongside one human.

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Sapiens

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

. ✽ THESE DAYS, IF YOU want to visit remarkable archaeological sites, such as Great Zimbabwe or Petra in Jordan , you don’t even need to leave your house. This has led to numerous archaeological and heritage sites appearing online in interactive 3D platforms, such as Sketchfab.

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Anthropology.net

OCTOBER 16, 2024

The combination of architectural planning, strategic site selection, and food storage technology challenges the traditional view of early agricultural societies as rudimentary and disorganized. Such findings highlight the significance of ongoing archaeological research in uncovering the complexities of early human societies.

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Anthropology.net

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

The Role of Technology in Unveiling Ancient Secrets The sheer vastness of the Nazca Pampa, covering an area of about 400 square kilometers (154 square miles), presents significant challenges for traditional archaeological fieldwork. Some of the glyphs, interpreted as humanoid, or humans wearing headdresses. Sakai et al.,

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Anthropology.net

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

In contrast, modern shrub density in some forests is now higher than it was 130,000–115,000 years ago—a period with a similar climate to today’s but without human intervention. Researchers focused on key historical periods: pre-human Australia, periods of Indigenous habitation, and the era following British colonization.

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Anthropology News

JANUARY 29, 2024

Issued: January 29, 2024 Response deadline: February 23, 2024 Pitch responses: February 29, 2024 First drafts due: March 27, 2024 For our third issue of 2024, Anthropology News is delving into the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence (AI) and its intricate relationship with human reality. And is humanity shaping AI?

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Anthropology.net

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

The research, conducted by Kenji Itao and Kunihiko Kaneko from the University of Tokyo, Copenhagen University, and the RIKEN Center for Brain Science, delves into how competitive gift-giving practices contribute to the emergence of economic and social disparities within human societies. 1 Itao, K., & Kaneko, K.

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Mr and Mrs Social Studies

DECEMBER 7, 2022

Simulations have the opportunity to bring a historical topic to life in a way that more traditional activities cannot. Simulations can also present information in a new way that can be more exciting and engaging than traditional teaching methods. These are all game-based simulations that each cover a variety of rounds.

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Anthropology.net

MARCH 27, 2024

The unearthing of starch grains on obsidian blades from Rapa Nui's Anakena site represents a pivotal discovery in understanding the intricate web of cultural interactions and culinary traditions among the island's earliest inhabitants. The 20 obsidian blades found at the archaeological site of Anakena on Rapa Nui. 1 Berenguer, P.,

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Anthropology.net

JUNE 7, 2024

The New Timeline of Horse Domestication Recent research 1 has upended previous assumptions about the domestication of horses, revealing that humans first domesticated these animals around 2200 B.C., A new study finds that humans domesticated horses around 4,200 years ago. a full millennium later than traditionally believed.

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Anthropology.net

APRIL 20, 2024

European Journal of Archaeology 2024 Pondering Ötzi's Purposeful Ink The significance of Ötzi's tattoos transcends mere adornment, evoking intrigue and speculation. Unraveling Ancient Riddles While Ötzi's tattoos remain shrouded in mystery, their unveiling marks a pivotal step in understanding ancient tattooing traditions.

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Society for Classical Studies

AUGUST 9, 2024

Sexual violence, femicide, human sacrifice, slavery, war crimes, and forced marriage emerge as frequent patterns born out of gender inequality in these narratives. This session invites papers that explore points of interaction between art and systematic gender-based violence in the visual traditions of the ancient Mediterranean world.

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Anthropology for Beginners

NOVEMBER 28, 2021

It is also known as physical anthropology, which originally referred to the study of human biology within the framework of evolution and with an emphasis on the interaction between biology and culture. Physical anthropology is the original term, and it reflects the initial interests of anthropologists in describing human physical variation.

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Anthropology.net

JANUARY 19, 2024

This revelation stems from a meticulous examination of the archaeological collection at the Shiyu site in Shanxi Province, North China, as detailed in the latest publication in Nature Ecology & Evolution 1. This phenomenon arises from the interplay between societies and relocated peoples, blending inherited traits with novel innovations.

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Anthropology.net

DECEMBER 23, 2023

Credit: Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology (2023). 2023.1309907 The study, centered around the archaeological site of Coro Trasito in Sobrarbe, Aragon, revolutionized our understanding of livestock practices and feeding strategies in high-altitude regions during the Early Neolithic, approximately 6,500 to 7,500 years ago.

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Anthropology.net

MARCH 5, 2024

Archaeologists in Panama have made a remarkable discovery 1 at El Caño Archaeological Park, unearthing an ancient tomb believed to be approximately 1,200 years old. Unfinished Revelations and Enigmatic Burial Customs Despite the wealth of findings, the excavation is ongoing, leaving tantalizing questions unanswered.

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Anthropology.net

AUGUST 8, 2024

This diminutive species, with a brain about one-third the size of modern humans, was unlike any other hominin previously discovered. Instead of publishing their results in a traditional peer-reviewed journal, Berger and his team opted to release their findings through a series of unreviewed preprints on bioRxiv. 1 Berger, L.

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Anthropology.net

JUNE 23, 2024

Their findings showed no evidence of a significant population decline before European arrival, instead suggesting that the islanders maintained their traditions and population levels until contact. This pre-European collapse narrative simply has no basis in the archaeological record.” 1 Davis, D. DiNapoli, R. Pakarati, G.,

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Anthropology.net

APRIL 20, 2024

Recently 1 , an archaeological excavation at the site of Ucanal in present-day Guatemala has unveiled a remarkable find that promises to deepen our understanding of Maya ceremonial practices and shed light on the complexities of political transitions within this ancient society. 1 Halperin, C. Perea Carrera, M. Miller Wolf, K.

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Anthropology.net

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

In the heart of northeastern China lies the Shiyu site, a treasure trove of ancient artifacts that has recently rewritten the narrative of human migration. Unearthing Clues to Ancient Migration For decades, the Shiyu site has tantalized archaeologists with its rich deposits, hinting at a long and complex history of human habitation.

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Anthropology.net

AUGUST 23, 2024

This innovation, used during the Late Pleistocene, adds a new dimension to our understanding of early human survival strategies. Thousands of these points have been recovered, providing clues about the technology and skill of early humans. It’s an order of magnitude different.

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Life and Landscapes

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

And some of these celestial movements seem to mysteriously track human reproduction. The female cycle of menstruation and the duration of human gestation seemed to take on an added, special significance, when our distant ancestors looked up to the heavens and noted their similar movements. Freaky bright. And here we go again!

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Anthropology.net

JULY 5, 2024

Figurative artworks are those that clearly depict real objects such as animals, humans, or other identifiable subjects. Aubert said, "We, as humans, define ourselves as a species that tells stories, and these are the oldest evidence of us doing that.” It requires much smaller samples, reducing the impact on precious rock art.

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Anthropology News

JULY 15, 2024

Issued: July 15, 2024 Pitches due: rolling until November 1, 2024 First drafts due: 3 weeks after pitch decision Submit Here Anthropology News invites submissions on the forms of care that permeate human and nonhuman worlds. How do we care for objects, archives, words, history, traditions, animals, plants, ideas, and obligations?

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Strange Maps

JUNE 26, 2023

The massive complex, rebuilt in the 1950s in the traditional Mongol style, houses genuine relics and is an important sanctuary for the shamanic worship of the legendary Mongol leader. Some say the soldiers in the funeral cortege killed every living thing — human and animal — they came across on their 40-day journey.

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