ScienceDaily: Archaeology News

New archaeological 'high definition' sourcing sharpens understanding of the past

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:54:54 EDT

A new method of sourcing the origins of artefacts in high definition is set to improve our understanding of the past.

Agriculture in China predates domesticated rice: Discovery of ancient diet shatters conventional ideas of how agriculture emerged

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:57:57 EDT

Archaeologists have made a discovery in southern subtropical China which could revolutionize thinking about how ancient humans lived in the region. They have uncovered evidence for the first time that people living in Xincun 5,000 years ago may have practiced agriculture -- before the arrival of domesticated rice in the region.

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.

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.

Secret streets of Britain's 'Atlantis' are revealed

Thu, 09 May 2013 09:11:11 EDT

Archeologists have carried out the most detailed analysis ever of the archaeological remains of the lost medieval town of Dunwich, dubbed ‘Britain’s Atlantis’. Using advanced underwater imaging techniques, the project has produced the most accurate map to date of the town’s streets, boundaries and major buildings, and revealed new ruins on the seabed.

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.

Killer entrance suspected in mystery of unusually large group of carnivores in ancient cave

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:31:31 EDT

An assortment of saber-toothed cats, hyenas, an extinct 'bear-dog', ancestors of the red panda and several other carnivores died under unusual circumstances in a Spanish cave near Madrid approximately 9-10 million years ago. It now appears that the animals may have entered the cave intentionally and been trapped there, according to new research.

Lake found in Sierra Nevada with the oldest remains of atmospheric contamination in Southern Europe

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:23:23 EDT

Scientists found, in the Laguna de Rio Seco lagoon, at an altitude of 3,020 m., evidence of atmospheric pollution caused by lead and linked to metallurgical activities from 3,900 years ago (Early Bronze Age). Lead pollution increased gradually during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, coinciding with the development and expansion of metallurgy in southern Europe.

Museum find proves exotic ‘big cat’ prowled British countryside a century ago

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:24:24 EDT

The rediscovery of a mystery animal in a museum’s underground storeroom proves that a non-native ‘big cat’ prowled the British countryside at the turn of the last century. The animal’s skeleton and mounted skin was analyzed and Aberystwyth universities and found to be a Canadian lynx – a carnivorous predator more than twice the size of a domestic cat.

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.

Prehistoric metalwork discovered at Iron Age site, along with gaming pieces

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:09:09 EDT

Archaeologists from the University of Leicester in the UK have uncovered one of the biggest groups of Iron Age metal artefacts to be found in the region -- in addition to finding dice and gaming pieces.

Richard III may have gone through painful medical treatments to 'cure' his scoliosis

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:59:59 EDT

Richard III may have undergone painful medical treatments for his spinal curvature, according to new research.

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.

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.

Ancient Roman man hidden beneath famous painting at the Louvre

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:46:46 EDT

In the latest achievement in efforts to see what may lie underneath the surface of great works of art, scientists today described the first use of an imaging technology like that used in airport whole-body security scanners to detect the face of an ancient Roman man hidden below the surface of a wall painting in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Egyptian wedding certificate key to authenticating controversial biblical text

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:23:23 EDT

A scientist who helped verify authenticity of the fabled Gospel of Judas today revealed how an ancient Egyptian marriage certificate played a pivotal role in confirming the veracity of inks used in the controversial text. The disclosure sheds new light on the intensive scientific efforts to validate the gospel.

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.

Bronze warship ram reveals secrets

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:24:24 EDT

The Belgammel Ram, a 20kg bronze battering ram artifact dating to between 100BC and 100AD has been extensively tested and analyzed to ascertain how it would have been made in ancient times. The development of new techniques and analyses will assist future research on similar artifacts.

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.

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.

Fossil bird study on extinction patterns could help today's conservation efforts

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:48:48 EDT

A new study of nearly 5,000 Haiti bird fossils shows contrary to a commonly held theory, human arrival 6,000 years ago didn't cause the island's birds to die simultaneously. Although many birds perished or became displaced during a mass extinction event following the first arrival of humans to the Caribbean islands, fossil evidence shows some species were more resilient than others. The research provides range and dispersal patterns from A.D. 600 to 1600 that may be used to create conservation plans for tropical mountainous regions, some of the most threatened habitats worldwide.

Stone ships show signs of maritime network in Baltic Sea region 3,000 years ago

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:23:23 EDT

In the middle of the Bronze Age, around 1000 BC, the amount of metal objects increased dramatically in the Baltic Sea region. Around the same time, a new type of stone monument, arranged in the form of ships, started to appear along the coasts. New research shows that the stone ships were built by maritime groups.

Roman mausoleum tested for ancient earthquake damage

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:52 EDT

A Roman mausoleum was knocked off-kilter, and the likely cause was an earthquake, according to a new detailed model.

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.

Mummy CT scans show preindustrial hunter gatherers had clogged arteries

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 09:15:15 EDT

Like nearly 4.6 million Americans, ancient hunter-gatherers also suffered from clogged arteries, revealing that the plaque build-up causing blood clots, heart attacks and strokes is not just a result of fatty diets or couch potato habits.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Christianity influences meat taboos in Amazon

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:41:41 EST

The introduction of Christianity has changed the hunting habits of indigenous people in the Amazon. While some new practices could benefit animals, others could put populations at risk.

Excavation set to shed new light on London's Victorian past

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:27:27 EST

From a clay smoking pipe to Neolithic flint, a 19th Century garden has been revealing some of its secrets to an archaeological team from London's Kingston University.

New look at human fossil suggests Eastern Europe was an important pathway in evolution

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:46:46 EST

A fossilized bone fragment found buried deep in the soil of a Serbian cave is causing scientists to reconsider what happened during a critical period in human development, when the strands of modern humanity were still coming together.

Tropical rainfall patterns varied through time: Deeper understanding of drought cycles in Central America

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:59:59 EST

Historic lake sediment dug up by researchers reveals that oceanic influences on rainfall in Central America have varied over the last 2,000 years, highlighting the fluctuating influence the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans have on precipitation.

Discovery of remains of England's King Richard III confirmed

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:46:46 EST

The University of Leicester has confirmed that it has discovered the remains of England's King Richard III. At a specially convened media conference, experts unanimously identified the remains discovered in Leicester city center as being those of the last Plantagenet king who died in 1485. Rigorous scientific investigations confirmed the strong circumstantial evidence that the skeleton found at the site of the Grey Friars church in Leicester was indeed that of King Richard III.

King Richard III? World's first image of Grey Friars skull unveiled

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:24:24 EST

Did this head once bear the English Crown? Researchers have just unveiled the world's first photograph of the human remains found at the Grey Friars church -- which could be that of King Richard III.

Ovarian tumor, with teeth and a bone fragment inside, found in a Roman-age skeleton

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:14:14 EST

A team of researchers has found the first ancient remains of a calcified ovarian teratoma, in the pelvis of the skeleton of a woman from the Roman era. The find confirms the presence in antiquity of this type of tumor -- formed by the remains of tissues or organs, which are difficult to locate during the examination of ancient remains. Inside the small round mass, four teeth and a small piece of bone were found.

A relative from the Tianyuan Cave: Humans living 40,000 years ago likely related to many present-day Asians and Native Americans

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:18:18 EST

Ancient DNA has revealed that humans living some 40,000 years ago in the area near Beijing were likely related to many present-day Asians and Native Americans.

New study sheds light on the origin of the European Jewish population

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:53:53 EST

Despite being one of the most genetically analyzed groups, the origin of European Jews has remained obscure. However, a new study argues that the European Jewish genome is a mosaic of Caucasus, European, and Semitic ancestries, setting to rest previous contradictory reports of Jewish ancestry. This could have a major impact on the ways in which scientists study genetic disorders within the population.

War was central to Minoan civilization of Crete, contrary to popular belief

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 10:15:15 EST

Researchers have discovered that the ancient civilization of Crete, known as Minoan, had strong martial traditions, contradicting the commonly held view of Minoans as a peace-loving people.

What did our ancestors look like? Hair and eye color can be determined for ancient human remains

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 20:11:11 EST

A new method of establishing hair and eye color from modern forensic samples can also be used to identify details from ancient human remains, finds a new study. The HIrisPlex DNA analysis system was able to reconstruct hair and eye color from teeth up to 800 years old, including the Polish General Wladyslaw Sikorski (1881 to 1943) confirming his blue eyes and blond hair.

Archaeologists unearth more than 300 prehistoric clay figurines in Greece

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:22:22 EST

Archaeologists studying a Neolithic archaeological site in central Greece have helped unearth over 300 clay figurines, one of the highest density for such finds in south-eastern Europe.

How some medieval cultures adapted to rise of Islam

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:04:04 EST

New history research examines how border areas and frontiers of the past adapted to major political, cultural and social shifts, specifically in terms of the rise of Islam in Asia and the Middle East.

Terrace farming unearthed at ancient desert city of Petra

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:04:04 EST

New archaeological research dates the heyday of terrace farming at the ancient desert city of Petra to the first century. This development led to an explosion of agricultural activity, increasing the city's strategic significance as a military prize for the Roman Empire.

Is tomorrow the end?

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:35:35 EST

End-of-the-world predictions are common in human history, but believers in the Mayan Doomsday claim don’t understand the Mayan calendar system, an anthropologist says.

Crisis in Syria has Mesopotamian precedent, experts say

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:19:19 EST

New research has revealed intriguing parallels between modern day and Bronze-Age Syria as the Mesopotamian region underwent urban decline, government collapse, and drought.

Researchers find first evidence of Ice Age wolves in Nevada

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:11:11 EST

A research team recently unearthed fossil remains from an extinct wolf species in a wash northwest of Las Vegas, revealing the first evidence that the Ice Age mammal once lived in Nevada.

Tracing humanity's African ancestry may mean rewriting 'out of Africa' dates

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:23:23 EST

New research may lead to a rethinking of how, when and from where our ancestors left Africa. Explorations in the Iringa region of southern Tanzania yielded fossils and other evidence that records the beginnings of our own species, Homo sapiens. New research may be key to answering questions about early human occupation and the migration out of Africa about 60,000 to 50,000 years ago, which led to modern humans colonizing the globe.

Dead guts spill history of extinct microbes: Fecal samples from archeological sites reveal evolution of human gut microbes

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:56:56 EST

Extinct microbes in fecal samples from archaeological sites across the world resemble those found in present-day rural African communities more than they resemble the microbes found in the gut of cosmopolitan US adults, according to new research.

Australian multicellular fossils point to life on land, not at sea, geologist proposes

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:40:40 EST

Ancient multicellular fossils long thought to be ancestors of early marine life are remnants of land-dwelling lichen or other microbial colonies, says a University of Oregon scientist who has been studying fossil soils of South Australia.

Roman settlement and possible prehistoric site uncovered in northern Italy

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:35:35 EST

Using archaeological expertise and modern technology, archeologists recently discovered a Roman settlement and possible prehistoric site in northern Italy.

Ancient drawings in Peruvian desert: New light on the Nazca Lines

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 10:14:14 EST

Archaeologists gain insight into ancient desert drawings – by walking them. Archaeologists have completed highly detailed research into the Nazca Lines – enigmatic drawings created between 2,100 and 1,300 years ago in the Peruvian desert.

First harbor of ancient Rome rediscovered

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 08:06:06 EST

Archaeologists had unearthed the great ancient monuments of Ostia, but the location of the harbor which supplied Rome with wheat remained to be discovered. Thanks to sedimentary cores, this "lost" harbor has finally been located northwest of the city of Ostia, on the left bank of the mouth of the Tiber.

Native Americans and Northern Europeans more closely related than previously thought

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:16:16 EST

Using genetic analyses, scientists have discovered that Northern European populations descend from a mixture of two very different ancestral populations, and one of these populations is related to Native Americans.

Genome of the Black Death reveals evidence for an Antique Bubonic Plague pandemic

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:31:31 EST

Researchers have compared medieval and modern plague pathogens. In a comparison of more than 300 contemporary strains of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes bubonic plague, with ancient bacterial DNA isolated from victims of the Black Death (1347 -- 1351), a team led by researchers at University of Tuebingen obtained evidence suggestive of a bubonic plague outbreak in the late antique period (8th to 10th centuries AD). The study raises strong suspicions that the plague of Justinian, a massive pandemic that is thought to be in part responsible for the collapse of the East Roman Empire, may have been caused by the same bacterium implicated in the Black Death.

Skeletons in cave reveal Mediterranean secrets

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:29:29 EST

Skeletal remains in an island cave in Favignana, Italy, reveal that modern humans first settled in Sicily around the time of the last ice age and despite living on Mediterranean islands, ate little seafood.

Archaeologists discover shipwrecks, ancient harbor on coast of Israel

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:22:22 EST

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a fleet of early-19th century ships and ancient harbor structures from the Hellenistic period at the city of Akko, one of the major ancient ports of the eastern Mediterranean. The findings shed light on a period of history that is little known and point to how and where additional remains may be found.

Science of the search for Richard III

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:29:29 EST

The complexity of tests being performed on Grey Friars skeleton mean answers will not come overnight.