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. and, in the context of international research, has United States citizenship.

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Anthropology.net

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

These stones, excavated by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, reveal early examples of rotational tools, predating the invention of the wheel by thousands of years. Instead, the researchers hypothesize that these perforated stones were spindle whorls, early tools used for hand-spinning yarn.

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Anthropology.net

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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Anthropology.net

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

However, the researchers caution that this type of skeletal change is not exclusive to riding; other activities, such as prolonged sitting or riding in carts, can also produce similar alterations. Hosek said, “In archaeology, there are vanishingly few instances in which we can tie a particular activity unequivocally to skeletal changes.”

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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.

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Anthropology.net

AUGUST 28, 2024

The reasons behind these fluctuations have long puzzled researchers. Traditionally, researchers have focused on environmental factors or direct social conflicts as the primary drivers of these changes. ” The interdisciplinary approach of combining complexity science with archaeological evidence has proven fruitful in this study.

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Anthropology.net

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

The Archaeological Indicators of Intentional Burial Determining intentional burial practices relies on distinguishing human-placed items from naturally occurring elements. For this study, researchers examined skeletal positioning, potential grave goods, and signs of deliberate excavation. Been et al., 1 Been, E., & Barzilai, O.

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Sapiens

MARCH 19, 2024

To uncover this past, a team launched the country’s first archaeological research. Edsiley Encarnação leads researchers through dense growth to the ruins of São Tomé’s oldest sugar mill. The Praia Melão engenho and estate is the first archaeological site identified in São Tomé.

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Anthropology.net

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

A team of researchers from the University of Cape Town and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology has reconstructed the genomes of 13 individuals who lived between 1,300 and 10,000 years ago, revealing crucial insights into human migrations and population stability in southern Africa.

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Anthropology.net

OCTOBER 14, 2024

Archaeological discoveries in East Timor’s Laili rock shelter have unveiled evidence 1 of ancient human habitation dating back approximately 44,000 years. Researchers documented a 45,500-year-old ochre depiction of a pig at Leang Tedongnge cave in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

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Anthropology.net

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. Australian Archaeology , 82 (1), 2–11. 1 Diamond, L. link] 2 Hiscock, P., O’Connor, S.,

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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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Anthropology.net

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Since their discovery in the 1940s, researchers have sought to decode their purpose and origins, with little concrete evidence as to why the ancient Nazca people created them. Sakai explained, “Because the Nazca Pampa is so vast, it takes a long time to conduct research using conventional archaeological methods.”

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Anthropology.net

OCTOBER 16, 2024

The researchers noted that “the discovery forces us to reevaluate our assumptions about the technological capabilities of Neolithic societies. The combination of architectural planning, strategic site selection, and food storage technology challenges the traditional view of early agricultural societies as rudimentary and disorganized.

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Anthropology.net

JUNE 13, 2024

Indigenous Knowledge and Science Unite Recent research has reshaped our understanding of when horses were reintroduced to North America. This interdisciplinary approach not only enriches our understanding of the past but also honors the wisdom and traditions of Indigenous communities. 1 Taylor, W. Librado, P., Shield Chief Gover, C.,

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Sapiens

MARCH 5, 2024

It is therefore not surprising that this time period—the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition—has been a focus of research for many archaeologists, physical anthropologists, and, more recently, geneticists. Using a method called proteomics, researchers determined this nondescript bone fragment from Ilsenhöhle Cave belonged to a human.

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Anthropology.net

NOVEMBER 7, 2024

The vibrant shades offered by ochre became instrumental in creating artwork that spanned the boundaries of the Stone Age, preserving a tradition that endures in many modern cultures worldwide. The Archaeological Process: Tracing Ochre’s Journey The analysis at Lion Cavern involved 173 ochre samples from 15 different sites across Africa.

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Anthropology.net

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. Discovered 1 only recently, this rock-shelter sits 40 meters above a tributary of the Zeravshan River, approximately 10 kilometers north of Panjakent.

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Anthropology.net

MAY 16, 2024

This 130,000-year-old relic captivates researchers, hinting at the cognitive prowess of our distant relatives. Tomasz Płonka, professor of archaeology at the University of Wrocław, “It is one of the quite rare Neanderthal objects of symbolic nature. Journal of Archaeological Science , 166 (105971), 105971.

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Anthropology.net

OCTOBER 9, 2024

The site also contained “Scythian-style” artifacts, including horse-riding equipment, linking it to the early horse-centered traditions of the Scythians—a nomadic people renowned for their horsemanship and animal-style art. Recent archaeological evidence, however, provides insight that goes beyond these ancient descriptions.

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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.

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Anthropology.net

APRIL 20, 2024

Through meticulous observation and digital microscopy, researchers unveiled striking similarities between Riday's ink and Ötzi's ancient markings, concluding hand-poking as the likely method. Researchers compared Riday's tattoos (A–F) with Ötzi's tattoos (G). European Journal of Archaeology , 1–22.

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Anthropology.net

APRIL 23, 2024

At the heart of this paradigm-altering revelation lies a confluence of interdisciplinary inquiry, drawing upon insights from archaeology, paleo-anatomy, genetics, neuroscience, and linguistics. The archaeological record offers tantalizing glimpses into the dawn of linguistic expression. million years ago.

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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.

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Anthropology News

JANUARY 29, 2024

In what ways does AI challenge traditional anthropological concepts, theories, and methodologies? How can we understand AI in the broader history of humans and technology? Where are there opportunities?

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Anthropology.net

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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Anthropology.net

APRIL 15, 2024

Areas of quarries and stone chopping tools made from Revadim, used to crack elephant bones for their marrow (Meir Finkel/ Archaeologies ) Thousands of quarries dotted the landscape, yet only a select few bore the marks of human activity. ” This ancient tradition spanned generations, shaping the landscape and human history.

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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., The research published in Nature shows that domesticated horses, identified by specific genetic changes, only appeared around 2200 B.C.

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Anthropology.net

JUNE 23, 2024

Further research 4 by Lipo’s team indicated that the statues’ locations were chosen based on the availability of fresh water sources, challenging the idea that massive populations were necessary for such construction. This pre-European collapse narrative simply has no basis in the archaeological record.”

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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. 1 Martínez, E.

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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

JANUARY 19, 2024

In a groundbreaking revelation, an international team of researchers, spanning China, Australia, France, Spain, and Germany, has unveiled a sophisticated material culture in East Asia dating back an astonishing 45,000 years.

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Anthropology for Beginners

NOVEMBER 28, 2021

Although we’ve continued to use the traditional term in the title of this textbook, you’ll find that all the major topics pertain to biological issues. Thousands of specimens of human ancestors (mostly fragmentary) are now kept in research collections. Indeed, as you will learn, some are very close to extinction.

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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. Dr Christina T. 1 Halperin, C.

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Anthropology.net

AUGUST 8, 2024

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. He argued that their work should be seen as a preprint—an ongoing piece of research—rather than a finalized published paper.

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Anthropology.net

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

A new study conducted by an international research team, including scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, has revealed that humans have dramatically increased their capacity to digest starches, marking a significant moment in human evolution.

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Anthropology News

NOVEMBER 3, 2024

Our experience as Contributing Editors over the past four years taught us that boundaries between different writing themes are often blurry: we published pieces based on fieldwork experiences, innovative research, and current events, as well as pieces that consisted of entries on both current events and hot topics in the profession.

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