Archaeology

Humans

Underwater caves once hosted the Americas’ oldest known ochre mines

Now-submerged chambers in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula contain ancient evidence of extensive red ochre removal as early as 12,000 years ago.

Genetics

DNA from a 5,200-year-old Irish tomb hints at ancient royal incest

Ruling families in Ireland may have organized a big tomb project, and inbred, more than 5,000 years ago, a new study suggests.

Archaeology

Clues to the earliest known bow-and-arrow hunting outside Africa have been found

Possible arrowheads at a rainforest site in Sri Lanka date to 48,000 years ago.

Humans

Lidar reveals the oldest and biggest Maya structure yet found

A previously unknown Maya site in Mexico, called Aguada Fénix, adds to evidence that massive public works may have preceded kings in the civilization.

Humans

The Dead Sea Scrolls contain genetic clues to their origins

Animal DNA is providing researchers with hints on how to assemble what amounts to a giant jigsaw puzzle of ancient manuscript fragments.

Archaeology

A biblical-era Israeli shrine shows signs of the earliest ritual use of marijuana

Chemical analyses reveal a residue of cannabis and animal dung on an altar from a biblical-era fortress in use more than 2,700 years ago.

Archaeology

50 years ago, explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s Atlantic crossing hit a snag

Explorer Thor Heyerdahl followed an aborted Atlantic voyage with a second trip that indicated ancient Egyptians could have traveled over long distances by sea.

Anthropology

The earliest known humans in Europe may have been found in a Bulgarian cave

New finds from Bulgaria point to a relatively rapid expansion of Homo sapiens into Eurasia starting as early as 46,000 years ago, two studies suggest.

Archaeology

Brewing beer may be an older craft than we realized in some places

Newly discovered microscopic signatures of malting could help archaeologists detect traces of ancient beer.

Archaeology

This is the oldest known string. It was made by a Neandertal

A cord fragment found clinging to a Neandertal’s stone tool is evidence that our close evolutionary relatives were string makers, too, scientists say.

Archaeology

Neandertals’ extensive seafood menu rivals that of ancient humans

Finds from a coastal cave in Portugal reveal repeated ocean foraging for this European hominid.

Archaeology

New Guinea’s Neolithic period may have started without outside help

Islanders on New Guinea experienced cultural changes sparked by farming about 1,000 years before Southeast Asians arrived, a study suggests.