ScienceDaily: Anthropology News

Light cast on lifestyle and diet of first New Zealanders

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:57:57 EDT

Scientists have shed new light on the diet, lifestyles and movements of the first New Zealanders by analyzing isotopes from their bones and teeth.

From ocean to land: The fishy origins of our hips

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:15:15 EDT

New research has revealed that the evolution of the complex, weight-bearing hips of walking animals from the basic hips of fish was a much simpler process than previously thought.

Oldest fossil hominin ear bones ever recovered: Discovery could yield important clues on human origins

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:43:43 EDT

Anthropologists could shed new light on the earliest existence of humans. The study analyzed the tiny ear bones, the malleus, incus and stapes, from two species of early human ancestor in South Africa.

Prehistoric ear bones could lead to evolutionary answers

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:40:40 EDT

The tiniest bones in the human body -- the bones of the middle ear -- could provide huge clues about our evolution and the development of modern-day humans, according to researchers.

Earliest archaeological evidence of human ancestors hunting and scavenging

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:44:44 EDT

A recent research study has shed new light on the diet and food acquisition strategies of some the earliest human ancestors in Africa. Beginning around two million years ago, early stone tool-making humans, known scientifically as Oldowan hominin, started to exhibit a number of physiological and ecological adaptations that required greater daily energy expenditures, including an increase in brain and body size, heavier investment in their offspring and significant home-range expansion. Demonstrating how these early humans acquired the extra energy they needed to sustain these shifts has been the subject of much debate among researchers.

Elephant's Tomb in Carmona may have been a temple to the God Mithras

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:55:55 EDT

The so-called Elephant's Tomb in the Roman necropolis of Carmona (Seville, Spain) was not always used for burials. The original structure of the building and a window through which the sun shines directly in the equinoxes suggest that it was a temple of Mithraism, an unofficial religion in the Roman Empire. The position of Taurus and Scorpio during the equinoxes gives force to the theory.

Justinianic Plague was caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis, DNA of skeletal remains shows

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:54:54 EDT

Ancient DNA analyses of skeletal remains of plague victims from the 6th century AD provide information about the phylogeny and the place of origin of this pandemic.

Cannibal tadpoles key to understanding digestive evolution

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:18:18 EDT

A carnivorous, cannibalistic tadpole may play a role in understanding the evolution and development of digestive organs, according to new research.

Genes show one big European family

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:56:56 EDT

From Ireland to the Balkans, Europeans are basically one big family, closely related to one another for the past thousand years, according to a new study of the DNA of people from across the continent.

Ice Age ancestors might have used words in common with us

Tue, 07 May 2013 07:46:46 EDT

New research shows that Ice Age people living in Europe 15,000 years ago might have used forms of some common words including I, you, we, man and bark, that in some cases could still be recognized today.

King Richard III archaeological unit discovers Roman cemetery under car park

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:41:41 EDT

The University of Leicester archaeological unit that discovered King Richard III has spearheaded another dig and discovered a 1,700-old- Roman cemetery -- under another car park in Leicester.

Is the humble fig more than just a fruit?

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:36:36 EDT

Figs and fig trees are familiar to a wide cross-section of human society, both as a common food and for their spiritual importance. What is less well understood is the global nature of this association between figs and humans, which is maintained across species, continents and societies.

Startling survival story at historic Jamestown: Physical evidence of survival cannibalism

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:18:18 EDT

A forensic analysis of 17th-century human remains proves that survival cannibalism took place in historic Jamestown, Virginia. The findings answer a long-standing question among historians about the occurrence of cannibalism at Jamestown during the deadly winter of 1609-1610 known as the "starving time" -- a period during which about 80 percent of the colonists died.

Fossil of great ape sheds light on evolution

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:21:21 EDT

An integrative anatomy expert says the shape of an 11.8-million-year-old specimen's pelvis indicates that it lived near the beginning of the great ape evolution, after the lesser apes had started to develop separately but before the great ape species began to diversify.

First land animals kept fishlike jaws for millions of years

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:11:11 EDT

For the first time, fossil jaw measurements confirm that land animals developed legs millions of years before their feeding systems changed enough to let them eat a land-based diet. The pattern had been hypothesized previously, but not really tested.

Archeologists unearth new information on origins of Maya civilization

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

A new study challenges the two prevailing theories on how the ancient Maya civilization began, suggesting its origins are more complex than previously thought. The findings are based on seven years of archaeological excavations at the ancient Maya site of Ceibal in Guatamala.

Ancient DNA reveals Europe's dynamic genetic history

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:40:40 EDT

Ancient DNA recovered from a series of skeletons in central Germany up to 7,500 years old has been used to reconstruct the first detailed genetic history of modern Europe.

Iron in primeval seas rusted by bacteria

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:07:07 EDT

Researchers have been able to show for the first time how microorganisms contributed to the formation of the world's biggest iron ore deposits. The biggest known deposits -- in South Africa and Australia -- are geological formations billions of years old. They are mainly composed of iron oxides -- minerals we know from the rusting process. These iron ores not only make up most of the world demand for iron -- the formations also help us to better understand the evolution of the atmosphere and climate, and provide important information on the activity of microorganisms in the early history of life on Earth.

Evolving genes lead to evolving genes: Selection in European populations of genes regulated by FOXP2

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:49:49 EDT

Researchers have designed a method that can universally test for evolutionary adaption, or positive (Darwinian) selection, in any chosen set of genes, using re-sequencing data such as that generated by the 1000 Genomes Project. The method identifies gene sets that show evidence for positive selection in comparison with matched controls, and thus highlights genes for further functional studies.

Towards the origin of America's first settlers

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:20:20 EDT

The international scientific community faces the exciting challenge of discovering the origin of America's first settlers. A new publication shapes some alternatives to the hypothesis of a single migration movement. The study also identifies lineage which has not been described to date in North and Central American populations

Findings confirm early South African hominins

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:43:43 EDT

Close examination of the lower jawbone, teeth and skeleton of the hominid species Australopithecus sediba proves conclusively that it is uniquely different from a closely related species, Australopithecus africanus.

Abuse of students doing anthropological fieldwork

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 09:48:48 EDT

College athletes are not the only ones who sometimes suffer at the hands of higher ups. A new report brings to light a more hidden and pernicious problem -- the psychological, physical and sexual abuse of students in the field of biological anthropology working in field studies far from home.

How 2-million-year-old ancestor moved: Sediba's ribcage and feet were not suitable for running

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:29:29 EDT

Researchers have described the anatomy of a single early hominin in six new studies. Australopithecus sediba was discovered near Johannesburg in 2008. The studies demonstrate how our 2-million-year-old ancestor walked, chewed and moved.

Fossilized teeth provide new insight into human ancestor: Species identified in 2010 is one of closest relatives to humans

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:29:29 EDT

A dental study of fossilized remains found in South Africa in 2008 provides new support that this species is one of the closest relatives to early humans.

How Au. Sediba walked, chewed and moved

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:29:29 EDT

The 2-million-year-old fossils belong to the species Australopithecus sediba (Au. sediba) and provides "unprecedented insight into the anatomy and phylogenetic position of an early human ancestor," one of the researchers said.

How human ancestor walked, chewed, and moved

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:27:27 EDT

Scientists have pieced together how the hominid Australopithecus sediba (Au. sediba) walked, chewed, and moved nearly two million years ago. Their research also shows that Au. sediba had a notable feature that differed from that of modern humans —- a functionally longer and more flexible lower back.

Walk this way: New research suggests human ancestors may have used different forms of bipedalism during the plio-pleistocene

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:27:27 EDT

According to a new study, our Australopithecus ancestors may have used different approaches to getting around on two feet. The new findings represent the culmination of more than four years of research into the anatomy of Australopithecus sediba (Au. sediba). The two-million-year-old fossils, discovered in Malapa cave in South Africa in 2008, are some of the most complete early human ancestral remains ever found.

Pottery reveals Ice Age hunter-gatherers’ taste for fish

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:11:11 EDT

Hunter-gatherers living in glacial conditions produced pots for cooking fish, according to the findings of a pioneering new study which reports the earliest direct evidence for the use of ceramic vessels. Scientists carried out chemical analysis of food residues in pottery up to 15,000 years old from the late glacial period, the oldest pottery so far investigated.

New light shed on ancient Egyptian port and ship graveyard

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 15:07:07 EDT

New research illuminates Thonis-Heracleion, a sunken port-city that served as the gateway to Egypt in the first millennium BC. This obligatory port of entry, known as 'Thonis' by the Egyptians and 'Heracleion' by the Greeks, was where seagoing ships probably unloaded their cargoes to have them assessed by temple officials and taxes extracted before transferring them to Egyptian ships that went upriver.

Shark tooth weapons reveal missing shark species in Central Pacific islands

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:02:02 EDT

The Gilbert Island reefs in the Central Pacific were once home to two species of sharks not previously reported in historic records or contemporary studies. The species were discovered in a new analysis of weapons made from shark teeth and used by 19th century islanders.

New clues in the search to rediscover the mysterious Maya Blue formula

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:11:11 EDT

The recipe and process for preparing Maya Blue, a highly-resistant pigment used for centuries in Mesoamerica, were lost. We know that the ingredients are a plant dye, indigo, and a type of clay known as palygorskite, but scientists do not know how they were 'cooked' and combined together. Now, a team of chemists has come up with a new hypothesis about how it was prepared.

Scientists provide a more accurate age for the El Sidrón cave Neanderthals

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:11:11 EDT

A study has been able to accurately determine the age of the Neanderthal remains found in the El Sidrón cave (Asturias, Spain) for which previous studies had provided inexact measurements. The application of a pre-treatment to reduce contamination by modern carbon has managed to lower the margin of error from 40,000 to just 3,200 years.

Tarsiers' bulging eyes shed light on evolution of human vision

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:25:25 EDT

After eons of wandering in the dark, primates developed highly acute, three-color vision that permitted them to shift to daytime living, a new study suggests. The findings challenge the prevailing view that trichromatic color vision, a hallmark of primate evolution, evolved only after they started getting up with the sun, a shift that gave rise to anthropoid (higher) primates, which, in turn, gave rise to the human lineage.

First migration from Africa less than 95,000 years ago: Ancient hunter-gatherer DNA challenges theory of early out-of-Africa migrations

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:48:48 EDT

Recent measurements of the rate at which children show DNA changes not seen in their parents -- the "mutation rate" -- have challenged views about major dates in human evolution. In particular these measurements have made geneticists think again about key dates in human evolution, like when modern non-Africans split from modern Africans. The recent measurements push back the best estimates of these dates by up to a factor of two. Now, however scientists present results that point again to the more recent dates.

Neanderthal brains focused on vision and movement leaving less room for social networking

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:36:36 EDT

Neanderthal brains were adapted to allow them to see better and maintain larger bodies, according to new research. Although Neanderthals' brains were similar in size to their contemporary modern human counterparts, fresh analysis of fossil data suggests that their brain structure was rather different. Results imply that larger areas of the Neanderthal brain, compared to the modern human brain, were given over to vision and movement and this left less room for the higher level thinking required to form large social groups.

Skulls of early humans carry telltale signs of inbreeding

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:04:04 EDT

Buried for 100,000 years at Xujiayao in the Nihewan Basin of northern China, the recovered skull pieces of an early human exhibit a now-rare congenital deformation that indicates inbreeding might well have been common among our ancestors, new research suggests.

Ancient rock art at risk, warn experts

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:43:43 EDT

Urgent action is needed to prevent ancient art disappearing, experts have warned.

Ancient Chinese coin found on Kenyan island

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:19:19 EDT

Scientists have unearthed a 600-year-old Chinese coin on the Kenyan island of Manda that shows trade existed between China and east Africa decades before European explorers set sail and changed the map of the world.

Earliest tobacco use in Pacific Northwest discovered

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:10:10 EDT

Native American hunter-gatherers living more than a thousand years ago in what is now northwestern California ate salmon, acorns and other foods, and now we know they also smoked tobacco -- the earliest known usage in the Pacific Northwest, according to a new study.

Genetic study of house dust mites demonstrates reversible evolution

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:34:34 EST

In evolutionary biology, Dollo's law states that evolution is unidirectional and irreversible. But this "law" is not universally accepted and is the topic of heated debate among biologists. Now a research team has used a large-scale genetic study of the lowly house dust mite to uncover an example of reversible evolution that appears to violate Dollo's law.

Light shed on ancient origin of life

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:06:06 EST

Researchers discovered important genetic clues about the history of microorganisms called archaea and the origins of life itself in the first ever study of its kind. Results of their study shed light on one of Earth's oldest life forms.

Siberian fossil revealed to be one of the oldest known domestic dogs

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:11:11 EST

Analysis of DNA extracted from a fossil tooth recovered in southern Siberia confirms that the tooth belonged to one of the oldest known ancestors of the modern dog.

Human Y chromosome much older than previously thought

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:58:58 EST

The discovery and analysis of an extremely rare African American Y chromosome push back the time of the most recent common ancestor for the Y chromosome lineage tree to 338,000 years ago. This time predates the age of the oldest known anatomically modern human fossils.

Ancient DNA solves 320-year-old mystery: Origins of now extinct Falkland Islands wolf

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:04:04 EST

Researchers have found the answer to one of natural history's most intriguing puzzles -- the origins of the now extinct Falkland Islands wolf and how it came to be the only land-based mammal on the isolated islands -- 460 kilometers from the nearest land, Argentina.

Alligator relatives slipped across ancient seaways

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:17:17 EST

The uplift of the Isthmus of Panama 2.6 million years ago formed a land-bridge that has long thought to be the crucial step in the interchange of animals between the Americas. However, scientists now describe fossil crocodilians that shed a surprising new light on the history of interchange and animal distributions between the Americas.

Louse genetics offer clues on human migrations

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:34:34 EST

A new genetic analysis of human lice from across the world sheds light on the global spread of these parasites, their potential for disease transmission and insecticide resistance.

Homeric epics were written in 762 BCE, give or take, new study suggests

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:33:33 EST

One of literature's oldest mysteries is a step closer to being solved. A new study dates Homer's The Iliad to 762 BCE and adds a quantitative means of testing ideas about history by analyzing the evolution of language.

Evolution and the ice age

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:52:52 EST

Scientists are discovering how the evolution of ecosystems has to be taken into account when speculating between different geological eras. Go back to the time of the dinosaurs or to the single-celled organisms at the origins of life, and it is obvious that ecosystems existing more than 65 million years ago and around four billion years ago cannot be simply surmised from those of today.

Maize in diets of people in coastal Peru dates to 5,000 years ago

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:31:31 EST

Scientists have concluded that during the Late Archaic, maize (corn) was a primary component in the diet of people living in the Norte Chico region of Peru, an area of remarkable cultural florescence in 3rd millennium B.C. Up until now, the prevailing theory was that marine resources, not agriculture and corn, provided the economic engine behind the development of civilization in the Andean region of Peru.

Has evolution given humans unique brain structures?

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:07:07 EST

Humans have at least two functional networks in their cerebral cortex not found in rhesus monkeys. This means that new brain networks were likely added in the course of evolution from primate ancestor to human.

Early human burials varied widely but most were simple

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:47:47 EST

A new study shows that the earliest human burial practices in Eurasia varied widely, with some graves lavish and ornate while the majority were simple.

Ancient teeth bacteria record disease evolution

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:41:41 EST

DNA preserved in calcified bacteria on the teeth of ancient human skeletons has shed light on the health consequences of the evolving diet and behavior from the Stone Age to the modern day.

'The Scars of Human Evolution': Physical fallout from two-footed walking

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:43:43 EST

From sore feet to backaches, blame it on human evolution.

Evolution helped turn hairless skin into a canvas for self-expression

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:42:42 EST

Hairless skin first evolved in humans as a way to keep cool -- and then turned into a canvas to help them look cool, according to an anthropologist.

Tree-ring data show history, pattern to droughts

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:30:30 EST

Researchers used more than 1,400 climate-sensitive tree-ring chronologies from multiple tree species across North America to reconstruct the Palmer drought severity index (PDSI), a widely used soil moisture index.

Is there a Neanderthal in the house?

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:29:29 EST

As we humans evolved over the millennia to walk on two legs, grow larger brains and shorter jaws, bear big babies and live longer, we’ve also experienced some negative consequences. But keeping our evolutionary history in mind can help us better deal with issues from obesity to difficult childbirth in a much more productive way, according to an anthropologist.

Humans and chimps share genetic strategy in battle against pathogens

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:16:16 EST

A search for long-lived balancing selection has found at least six regions of the genome where humans and chimpanzees share a combination of genetic variants. These human genetic variation dates back to a common ancestor with chimpanzees millions of years ago, before the species split.

Animal model of human evolution indicates thick hair mutation emerged 30,000 years ago

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:39:39 EST

The first animal model of recent human evolution reveals that a single mutation produced several traits common in East Asian peoples, from thicker hair to denser sweat glands, an international team of researchers reports.

Why good hair matters: First animal model of recent human evolution reveals that mutation for thick hair does much more

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:39:39 EST

Studies reveal genetic variation driving human evolution

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:39:39 EST

A pair of studies sheds new light on genetic variation that may have played a key role in human evolution. The study researchers used an animal model to study a gene variant that could have helped humans adapt to humid climates, and they used whole-genome sequence data to identify hundreds of gene variants that potentially helped humans adapt to changing environmental conditions over time.