Human Origins
8 reportsDating evidence and material remains form a case with different strengths and limits. Reports examine which evidence traces migration and what fossils reveal about behavior, comparing competing interpretations against the same artifacts and site records.
Neanderthal Rock Crystal Tool Sheds Light on Ancient Craftsmanship
Archaeologists have reexamined a rare rock crystal scraper from Abri des Merveilles, France, revealing how Neanderthals selected unusual materials and challenging outdated views of their cognitive abilities
Did Women Fight in Ancient Celtic Battles Archaeology Reveals
Archaeologists have uncovered weapons in some female burials across Iron Age Europe, raising questions about the roles of women in Celtic warfare. Recent genetic and osteological studies provide new insights but leave key uncertainties unresolved
Ancient DNA Reveals Two Unknown Human Lineages in Modern Genomes
A new genome analysis method has identified traces of two previously unknown extinct human lineages in the DNA of living people, offering fresh insight into ancient population interactions and the complexity of human evolution
Ice Age Bird Figurines Unearthed in Hohle Fels Cave, Germany
Archaeologists have identified two miniature bird carvings from mammoth ivory in Hohle Fels cave, Germany, dating to around 40,000 years ago. The finds expand evidence for symbolic art among early Homo sapiens in Upper Paleolithic Europe
Cut Marks on Homo antecessor Bones Reveal Early Cannibalism in Spain
Archaeologists have identified new evidence of cannibalism among Homo antecessor at Gran Dolina cave in Spain, with cut marks on adult and juvenile bones dating to around 850,000 years ago, expanding our understanding of early human behavior
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
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
Ancient Jaw Injury in Qafzeh 25 Sheds Light on Early Human Violence
A new micro-CT study of the Qafzeh 25 remains from Israel reveals a partially healed jaw injury, offering rare evidence for trauma and possible interpersonal violence among early Homo sapiens in the Late Pleistocene