Palaeolithic sea voyages to Japanese islands was choice, not chance
Palaeolithic people likely colonized the Ryukyu Islands intentionally.
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Cover Stories
African trade routes sketched out by medieval beads
An analysis of archaeological glass beads discovered in sub-Saharan West Africa brings to light the full extent of the region's international trade routes between the 7th and 13th centuries.
CU Anschutz researcher offers new theory on `Venus’ figurines
Investigators say humanity's oldest sculptures may be linked to climate change, diet.
Pyroclasts protect the paintings of Pompeii buried but damage them when they are unearthed
They may produce salts in artworks, the IBeA group of the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country has concluded.
Archaeology: Neanderthal thumbs better adapted to holding tools with handles
Finding suggests new insight into Neanderthal behavior as compared to early modern humans in prehistory.
First exhaustive review of fossils recovered from Iberian archaeological sites
An interdisciplinary team from several Spanish universities and research centers has analyzed more than 600 fossils recovered from across the Iberian Peninsula.
Ancient people relied on coastal environments to survive the Last Glacial Maximum
Native Californian rock art suggests hallucinogen use
Middle Stone Age populations repeatedly occupied West African coast
Excavations at Tiémassas, Senegal, indicate roughly 40,000 years of behavioral continuity, in contrast to other African regions over this period.
The microbiome of Da Vinci’s drawings
The microbial composition of art pieces can reveal interesting facts about their past and the journey they made.
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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.
