Our direct human ancestor Homo erectus is older than we thought
Fossil find at Drimolen palaeocave system in South Africa shows our earliest direct human ancestor existed perhaps as much as 200,000 years earlier than previously thought.
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Cover Stories
In South Africa, Three Hominins, Including Earliest Homo erectus, Lived During Same Period
Study offers new insight into the impact of ancient migrations on the European landscape
Modern humans, Neanderthals share a tangled genetic history, study affirms
New research adds to growing evidence that our ancestors interbred with Neanderthals at multiple times in history.
Skull scans reveal evolutionary secrets of fossil brains
Australopithecus afarensis ('Lucy') had ape-like brain organization, but prolonged brain growth like humans.
Oldest ever human genetic evidence clarifies dispute over our ancestors
Mesoamerican copper smelting technology aided colonial weaponry
Spanish conquerors depended on indigenous expertise to keep up their munitions supplies, archaeologists have found.
Research identifies regular climbing behavior in a human ancestor
Neanderthals ate mussels, fish, and seals too
International research team finds it wasn't just Homo sapiens who sourced food from the sea.
Prehistoric Artifacts Suggest a Neolithic Era Independently Developed in New Guinea
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Other Stories
Multispectral imaging reveals ancient Hebrew inscription undetected for over 50 years
Military correspondence from the First Temple period discovered on reverse side of well-studied artifact at The Israel Museum, Tel Aviv University researchers say.
New research reveals earliest directly dated rock paintings from southern Africa
Scientists have pioneered a technique to directly date prehistoric rock paintings in southern Africa, which revealed dates much older than previously thought.
Springs were critical water sources for early humans in East Africa, Rutgers study finds
Scientists show how groundwater-fed springs may have influenced human evolution.
Shared genetic heritage from Sicily to Cyprus
A new genomic study on southern Mediterranean reveals a genetic continuity across geographic and national borders.
Bonobos may be better representation of last common ancestor with humans
Study examined muscles of bonobos and found they are more closely related to humans than common chimpanzees.
Secrets of the paleo diet: Discovery reveals plant-based menu of prehistoric man
A collection of 780,000-year-old edible plants found in Israel is the largest and most diverse in the Levantine corridor linking Africa and Eurasia.
Bitumen from Middle East discovered in 7th century buried ship in UK
Presence of rare tar-like material may suggest trade between Middle East, British Isles.
Bone scans suggest early hominin ‘Lucy’ spent significant time in trees
Australopithecus afarensis arm bones were strong relative to leg bones; walking gait was likely inefficient.
A National Treasure Tells the Story of Hawaii’s Heritage
Archaeology meets the public at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.
Neanderthal inheritance helped humans adapt to life outside of Africa
Traits inherited for skin and the immune system may have helped buttress survivability through the ages, new study suggests.
Middle Stone Age ochre processing tools reveal cultural and behavioral complexity
Range of ochre processing techniques produced powder of varying color and coarseness.
The Once and Future Cobá
Best known for its Maya ruins, today’s living community of Cobá is set to get a major face lift.
Study finds earliest evidence in fossil record for right-handedness
Teeth striations of Homo habilis fossil date back 1.8 million years.
