Archaeology is the scientific study of human history and prehistory through the excavation and analysis of artifacts, structures, and other physical remains. It provides invaluable insights into the lives of ancient peoples, their cultures, technologies, and interactions with their environments. Archaeologists employ a variety of methods, including field surveys, digs, radiocarbon dating, and DNA analysis, to reconstruct past societies and understand the development of human civilization over millennia. This discipline not only helps to preserve historical sites but also aids in interpreting the cultural narratives and evolution of different human groups. Archaeology’s findings are crucial for understanding our shared heritage and continue to influence fields like anthropology, history, and even policy-making regarding cultural preservation.
Research at the Mesolithic site of Star Carr in North Yorkshire shows that ancient hunter-gatherers organized their homes into specific activity zones, suggesting a structured…
An underwater excavation has uncovered evidence of human resilience during the climate changes of the Neolithic period. Around 6,200 BCE, the climate underwent significant changes….
Neolithic societies at Coro Trasito favored deer for making projectile tips, indicating a nuanced approach to species selection in their toolmaking practices. New research led…
New research shows earthquakes significantly contributed to Pompeii’s devastation during Vesuvius’s 79CE eruption. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Pliny the Younger wrote letters describing a shaking…
A study by ANU highlights a 42,000-year-old human settlement in Indonesia’s Tanimbar islands, offering insights into the advanced maritime technology and migration strategies of early…
Recent research reveals that Pacific cities like those on Tongatapu in Tonga were founded around AD 300, much earlier than thought, demonstrating that Pacific urbanization…
Tool marks might represent some of the earliest known signs of human presence in southern South America. Recent findings from Argentina indicate human presence and…
From stone tools that prepared animal skins for humans to use as thermal insulation, to the advent of bone awls and eyed needles to create…
Fungi and lichens threaten Negev Desert’s petroglyphs, eroding ancient artworks through chemical and mechanical means. Southern Israel’s Negev desert is famous for its ancient rock…
Located at Fuente Nueva-3, this Early Pleistocene archaeological site hosts some of the oldest traces of human habitation in Western Europe. Researchers at the University…
Recent findings indicate that Thule-Inuit settlements in Nunavut may date back earlier than previously believed. A new study sheds light on the ancient cultures of…
Geneticist Joshua Akey states that modern humans and Neanderthals interacted for a period of 200,000 years. New genetic research reveals extensive interbreeding and longstanding interactions…
Recent findings from Kenya’s Kakapel Rockshelter highlight the origins and development of ancient farming in East Africa, detailing the introduction of crops like cowpea and…
Ancient DNA extracted from bones and teeth suggests that the plague contributed to a decline in Stone Age populations. New research challenges earlier assumptions, indicating…
A new study led by archaeologists at the University of Auckland may have revealed the origins of hierarchical society in Sāmoa and throughout Polynesia. New…
Research updates radiocarbon calibration curve and reevaluates dates of Greek shipwrecks. Improved radiocarbon calibration techniques now offer more accurate date estimates for Greek shipwrecks, according…
Genetic research at Chichén Itzá has revealed the ritual sacrifice of related male children and local genetic adaptations to historical epidemics. The ancient Maya city…
Cornell researchers have refined the estimated sinking period of the Kyrenia shipwreck to between 286-272 BCE by overcoming dating challenges such as contaminant removal and…