Archaeology & Human Origins - Part 2
82 reports
Stone Tools Reveal Early Human Technology Beyond Homo sapiens
Archaeologists use the term lithics to describe stone artifacts found at ancient sites. Recent discoveries in Indonesia show that stone tool production predates Homo sapiens, challenging earlier assumptions about human technological origins
2,800-Year-Old Prone Burial With Sea Turtle Vessel Found in El Salvador
Archaeologists excavating in Antiguo Cuscatlán, El Salvador, have uncovered a 2,800-year-old burial featuring a face-down skeleton and a ceramic vessel shaped like a sea turtle, offering new evidence for mortuary practices in pre-Maya Mesoamerica
Byzantine-Era Twin Infant Burial Discovered Near Temple of Artemis
Archaeologists have identified a 1,200-year-old grave containing two premature infants near the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Turkey, revealing rare evidence of twin burial and a genetic anomaly in one skeleton
Submerged Roman Port at Puteoli Reveals Ancient Trade Infrastructure
Archaeologists are mapping the underwater remains of Puteoli, Rome's early commercial port, using advanced survey methods to document warehouses, workshops, and a rare Nabataean temple preserved beneath the Bay of Naples
Haughey's Fort Reveals Monumental Bronze Age Power Center in Ireland
A new study using lidar, geophysics, and excavation at Haughey's Fort in County Armagh has identified over 200 timber structures and a vast enclosure, challenging assumptions about prehistoric Ireland's social complexity
Heatwave Uncovers Ancient Monuments and Buried Sites Across Wales
Aerial archaeological surveys during an extended Welsh heatwave have revealed prehistoric barrows, Iron Age enclosures, Roman buildings, and First World War trenches as cropmarks and parchmarks, offering new insights into the region's archaeological landscape
Earliest Maya Calendar Writing Identified at Calakmul Mural
Archaeologists have reconstructed a deteriorated mural from Calakmul, Mexico, revealing the earliest known calendrical inscription at the site. The find offers new evidence for early Maya writing traditions and ritual practice in the Late Preclassic period.
Roman Military Camp in Slovakia Reveals Unusual Soldier Burials
Archaeologists have identified a large Roman military camp near Šurany, Slovakia, containing hastily buried remains of soldiers and military equipment, offering new evidence for Roman campaigns during the Marcomannic Wars
Assyrian Royal Stele Discovered at Nineveh's Sun Gate
Archaeologists working at the Sun Gate of ancient Nineveh have uncovered a monumental Assyrian stele inscribed with records of King Ashurbanipal's building projects, offering new evidence for royal activity in the seventh century BCE
Ancient Dams Near Egypt's Red Pyramid May Reveal Water Management
A new study reinterprets two large stone structures near the Red Pyramid at Dahshur as ancient dams, not ramps, using satellite imagery and hydrological modeling to propose a sophisticated water management system over 4,500 years ago
Isotope Evidence Reveals Maize-Based Farming in Ancient Brazilian Cerrado
Analysis of stable isotopes from over 100 individuals across 37 archaeological sites in Brazil's Cerrado shows that some large precolonial communities relied on maize-based polyculture, challenging assumptions about Indigenous subsistence in tropical South America
Facial Reconstructions Reveal Roman-Era Lives at Aquincum, Hungary
Researchers used DNA analysis, 3D-printed skulls, and forensic modeling to reconstruct the faces of 16 individuals buried near the Roman frontier city of Aquincum, offering new insights into population diversity and daily life nearly 1,700 years ago
Roman Republican Silver Coins Reveal Early Cross-Border Exchange
A newly documented hoard of Roman Republican silver denarii found near Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, offers rare evidence for early contact and exchange between the Roman Republic and communities beyond its northern frontier
Final Revolutionary War Cannon Fragment Recovered from Lake Champlain
Archaeologists have retrieved the last known fragment of a Revolutionary War-era cannon from Lake Champlain, closing a decades-long search and providing new evidence for the Battle of Valcour Island's archaeological record
Roman Siege Network at La Loma Larger Than Previously Known
Archaeologists have identified a seventh Roman military camp near the Iron Age hill fort of La Loma in northern Spain, revealing a more extensive siege network during the Cantabrian Wars than earlier evidence suggested
Indigenous Settlements in Guerrero Survived Spanish Conquest
Archaeologists in Mexico have identified two Indigenous settlements in Guerrero that remained occupied after the Spanish conquest, using ground surveys and drone mapping to document their survival into the late 16th century
Hellenistic Ritual Dining Complex Uncovered at Gradište in North Macedonia
Archaeologists have identified a rare Hellenistic ritual dining complex at Gradište, North Macedonia, revealing evidence of elite religious practices, imported ceramics, and extensive trade connections during the fourth and third centuries BCE
Possible WWII RAF Aircraft Remains Found Near Świnoujście Forest
Archaeologists are investigating a debris field in woodland near Świnoujście, Poland, where aircraft fragments and ammunition suggest a possible Allied wartime crash. The site's context and material evidence are now under formal examination
Chancay Mummy Mask Reveals Ancient Funerary Practices in Peru
A wooden mask with human hair and cinnabar pigment, crafted by the Chancay people between 1000 and 1450 CE, offers new insight into pre-Inca mortuary traditions and the use of symbolic 'false heads' in Andean burial bundles
Modeling Study Traces 1789 Smallpox Outbreak to British Arrival
A new modeling study uses historical and epidemiological data to argue that the 1789 smallpox epidemic among Indigenous Australians likely began with British medical material brought by the First Fleet, challenging earlier theories of northern introduction
Roman Mosaic Uncovered at Devon Villa Site After 16 Years of Investigation
Archaeologists have excavated a Roman mosaic beneath farmland in Devon, England, revealing a rare decorated floor from a villa complex. The find offers new evidence for Roman presence in a region where such sites are uncommon.
Archaic Necropolis in Southern Italy Yields Rare Organic Artifacts
Archaeologists have uncovered a 6th-century BCE necropolis beneath Gragnano, Italy, preserving organic materials and imported grave goods that reveal new details about elite burial practices and Mediterranean trade in pre-Roman Campania
Cypriot Gold Ornaments Reveal Ancient Mediterranean Connections
Archaeologists have analyzed a cache of 3,400-year-old gold ornaments from chamber tombs at Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus, uncovering evidence of local craftsmanship influenced by Egyptian, Mycenaean, Minoan, and Near Eastern traditions
How Archaeologists Trace the Oldest Known Weapons in Human History
Archaeologists have identified several contenders for the world's oldest weapon, including wooden spears and stone points from sites in Africa and Europe. Careful analysis of context, material, and wear patterns helps distinguish weapons from other ancient tools
Bronze Age Sword Recovered from Protected Wreck off Devon Coast
A 3,000-year-old Bronze Age sword has been recovered by volunteer divers from the Salcombe Cannon and Moor Sand sites off south Devon, offering new evidence for prehistoric maritime activity and trade in the region
Roman Female Farm Managers Oversaw Wine and Oil Production
A new analysis of Roman-era texts and archaeological evidence reveals that women known as vilicae managed large-scale wine and olive oil production, challenging the long-held view that their roles were limited to domestic tasks
Gold Tongues in Egyptian Tombs and a New Monkey in Congo
Archaeologists have uncovered 18 tombs in Egypt containing gold tongue amulets, while researchers in the Congo rainforest have identified a new monkey species. These discoveries highlight both the complexity of ancient mortuary practices and the ongoing potential for finding new species.
Digital Survey Reveals Medieval Bridge Remains at Chester Castle
Archaeologists using advanced digital scanning have identified the remains of a 13th-century bridge beneath Chester Castle in England, challenging previous assumptions about the site's medieval architecture and preservation
Ancient Egyptian Princesses Show Evidence of Skilled Archery
Bioarchaeological analysis of Middle Kingdom royal women from Dahshur reveals skeletal adaptations consistent with regular archery and hunting, challenging assumptions that weapons in their tombs were only symbolic
Muscle Marks on Egyptian Royal Women Suggest Weapon Use, Study Debated
Analysis of nearly 4,000-year-old skeletal remains from Egypt's Middle Kingdom reveals pronounced upper-body muscle attachments in several royal women. Researchers propose these changes may reflect archery or weapon training, but experts urge caution
Part 2 of 3