Brenna Hassett is Science Report’s archaeology, human origins and bioarchaeology editor, covering ancient health, burial practices, archaeological methods and evidence from past populations.
Brenna Hassett
137 reportsEditor
Archaeology, Human Origins and Bioarchaeology Editor
Brenna Hassett is an archaeology and bioarchaeology editor covering human origins, ancient health, burial practices and the scientific methods used to study past populations. She focuses on what bones, teeth, artifacts and environmental evidence can reveal and where interpretation remains uncertain.
Latest articles by Brenna Hassett
New Survey Targets Central Grunwald Battlefield for Medieval Evidence
Archaeologists and metal detectorists are conducting a targeted survey at the Grunwald battlefield in Poland, aiming to clarify the distribution of medieval artifacts and better understand the events of the 1410 conflict through systematic fieldwork
Abandoned Medieval Settlement Excavated on Halberstadt's Outskirts
Archaeologists in Saxony-Anhalt have uncovered the remains of a deserted medieval settlement, revealing sunken buildings, wells, and a complex ditch system, but remarkably few artifacts, suggesting an organized abandonment
Ancient Greek Rings Reveal Use of Meteorite Iron in Elite Burials
Analysis of Bronze and Early Iron Age rings from Greece shows that some were crafted from meteoritic iron, suggesting the rare metal was valued by Minoan and Mycenaean elites long before iron smelting became common
Limestone Stela Reveals Maya Queen's Power in 7th-Century Guatemala
Archaeologists have reconstructed a monumental limestone stela from El Perú-Waka' in Guatemala, depicting Lady K'abel, a Maya ruler, and revealing new evidence about her political and military authority at the end of the seventh century CE
4,000-Year-Old Clay Tablet With Geometric Markings Found Near Lake Garda
Archaeologists working at Lucone di Polpenazze in northern Italy have uncovered a 4,000-year-old clay tablet inscribed with geometric patterns, deepening questions about the function and meaning of these enigmatic Bronze Age artifacts
Iron Shield Boss With Cremated Remains Found in Polish Scrap Yard
A corroded iron shield boss containing cremated human bone was recovered from a scrap yard in eastern Poland, offering rare evidence of a disturbed 2nd-century CE Przeworsk culture burial and highlighting the challenges of reconstructing lost archaeological contexts
Bronze Age Foals Buried Beside Ancient Mound in Germany
Archaeologists in Saxony-Anhalt have uncovered two young horse skeletons intentionally buried near a Late Bronze Age burial mound, offering rare evidence for the ritual deposition of valuable animals over 3,000 years ago
Medieval Chamber Tomb in Russia Reveals Elite Burial with Horse and Dog
Archaeologists excavating at Gnezdilovo near Suzdal have uncovered a rare 10th-century wooden chamber tomb containing the remains of a high-status individual, a horse, and a dog, offering new evidence for early medieval funerary practices in the region
5,500-Year-Old Megalithic Tomb Excavated in Western Poland
Archaeologists have begun targeted excavations of a large earthen mound near Wyrzecz, western Poland, revealing evidence for a monumental tomb built by early farming communities over five millennia ago using megalithic construction techniques
6,500-Year-Old Chleby Enclosure May Have Tracked Sun and Moon
Archaeologists have analyzed a vast Neolithic enclosure near Chleby, Czech Republic, revealing evidence that its entrances and features may have been aligned to solar and lunar cycles over 1,000 years before Stonehenge
Pre-Inca Metalwork in Peru Linked to Bolivian Ore by Isotope Analysis
Archaeologists have traced metallurgical waste from a Wari-period burial at Castillo de Huarmey in Peru to ore sources in present-day Bolivia, revealing long-distance movement of metal and technological knowledge across the Andes
Bear Claws in Early Medieval Burials Reveal Social Hierarchy in Baltic
Archaeologists have identified brown bear claws in cremation burials from the sixth and seventh centuries CE on the Kaliningrad Peninsula, offering new evidence for social status and ritual practices among the Aestii population
Ice Age Turtle Figurines Suggest Ritual Activity in Northwestern Türkiye
Archaeologists have uncovered 25 limestone turtle figurines at İn Cave in Bilecik Province, Türkiye, dating to 14,500-11,200 BCE, offering rare evidence for symbolic or ritual practices among Epipalaeolithic hunter-gatherers
Roman-Era Cave in Spain Yields Over 120 Latin Inscriptions
Archaeologists have recorded more than 120 Latin inscriptions in Cova de les Dones, a cave sanctuary near Valencia, Spain, revealing evidence of a Roman-period cult focused on a mysterious goddess known as 'the Lady.'
1,400-Year-Old Skeleton in Lima Water Channel May Indicate Ritual Burial
Archaeologists have uncovered a human skeleton in an underground water channel at Huaca Pucllana, Lima, Peru, dating to around 650 CE. The find may shed light on pre-Inca ritual practices and the use of water features in ceremonial contexts.
