Archaeology & Human Origins - Part 4
130 reports
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
Ancient Human Remains and Maya Ceramics Found in Cenote Yaakun
Archaeologists have begun a research and conservation project at Cenote Yaakun near Playa del Carmen after the discovery of a possible young adult woman's skeleton and a cluster of Maya ceramics in a deep underwater context
Excavation at Costa Rica Airport Site Reveals Pre-Columbian Settlements
Archaeologists have completed a rescue excavation in the Diquís Delta, documenting residential areas and daily life from AD 800-1500, while confirming that Costa Rica's new airport will not disturb the region's monumental stone sphere sites
Isotope and DNA Evidence Trace St. Helena Burials to West Africa
Researchers have analyzed teeth and DNA from over 150 individuals buried on St. Helena after liberation from slave ships, revealing diverse childhood origins across West and Central Africa and highlighting the scale of forced displacement
Ancient DNA Reveals Bronze Age Metalworker Near Stonehenge Was Female
A 4,000-year-old burial near Stonehenge, long thought to contain a male shaman, has been re-examined using ancient DNA analysis, revealing the individual was biologically female and challenging assumptions about gender roles in Early Bronze Age Britain
Survey Reveals Monumental Maya City at El Yesal in Campeche
Archaeologists have mapped and documented El Yesal, a major Maya settlement in Mexico's Balam kú Biosphere Reserve, using field survey and excavation to clarify its origins, architecture, and occupation history
Gold Plaque Reveals Jupiter Dolichenus Worship at Apsaros Fort
A rare inscribed gold plaque recovered at the Roman fort of Apsaros on Georgia's Black Sea coast offers the first direct epigraphic evidence for the cult of Jupiter Dolichenus at the site, shedding light on religious practices among the garrison
Sanxingdui Bronze Figure Assembled From Separate Ancient Artifacts
A new analysis of a bronze kneeling figure from Sanxingdui, China, reveals it was constructed from components made in different regions and periods, providing evidence for complex trade and metalworking in the ancient Shu kingdom
Bronze Elamite Helmet Reveals Ancient Deities and Battlefield Symbolism
A rare bronze helmet from southwestern Iran, dated to 1500-1100 BCE, features gold-plated divine figures and a raptor motif. Researchers analyze its construction, iconography, and uncertain archaeological context to interpret its significance.
Iron Shackles at Allonnes Reveal Evidence of Celtic Slavery
Archaeologists have identified five pairs of iron restraints at a third-century BCE settlement in France's Loire Valley, providing rare direct evidence for the use of shackles and the possible presence of enslaved people in pre-Roman Gaul
Ancient DNA Survives 50,000 Years in South African Cave
Researchers have recovered DNA from a 50,000-year-old antelope tooth in Boomplaas Cave, South Africa, challenging assumptions about DNA survival in hot climates and expanding the potential for ancient genetic studies in sub-Saharan Africa
Roman Protective Deity Relief Found Beneath Vindolanda Barracks
Archaeologists at Vindolanda, a Roman fort near Hadrian's Wall, have uncovered a carved stone relief depicting a protective deity. The artifact was found beneath a fourth-century barracks floor, offering insight into ritual practices at the site.
Early Maya Mural at Calakmul Depicts Mythical Hero Juun Ajaw
A mural from Structure II at Calakmul, Mexico, has been identified as one of the earliest known depictions of the Maya figure Juun Ajaw. Researchers used digital reconstruction to analyze the mural's iconography and its architectural context
Part 4 of 5