https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/fossils_ruins/ancient_civilizations/ Archaeology news. Articles on ancient Egypt, ancient Rome, ancient Greece and other civilizations. en-us Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:48:56 EDT Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:48:56 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/fossils_ruins/ancient_civilizations/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260306224219.htm New research suggests seabird guano helped transform the Chincha Kingdom into one of the most prosperous societies in ancient Peru. Chemical clues in centuries-old maize show farmers fertilized their crops with guano gathered from nearby islands, dramatically boosting yields in the desert landscape. The resulting agricultural surplus fueled trade, population growth, and regional influence. Sat, 07 Mar 2026 19:02:30 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260306224219.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260225001301.htm More than 40,000 years ago, Ice Age humans were carving repeated patterns of dots, lines, and crosses into tools and small ivory figurines. A new computational study of more than 3,000 of these Paleolithic signs reveals that they were not random decorations but structured sequences with measurable complexity. Surprisingly, their information density rivals that of proto-cuneiform, the earliest known writing system that emerged around 3,000 B.C.E. Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:52:18 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260225001301.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260218031559.htm Ancient DNA from a Stone Age burial site in Sweden shows that families 5,500 years ago were more complex than expected. Many individuals buried together were not immediate family, but second- or third-degree relatives. One grave held a young woman alongside two children who were siblings—yet she wasn’t their mother. The discoveries hint at tight-knit communities where extended kin mattered deeply. Thu, 19 Feb 2026 01:47:07 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260218031559.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260218031502.htm Deep inside a Romanian ice cave, locked away in a 5,000-year-old layer of ice, scientists have uncovered a bacterium with a startling secret: it’s resistant to many modern antibiotics. Despite predating the antibiotic era, this cold-loving microbe carries more than 100 resistance-related genes and can survive drugs used today to treat serious infections like tuberculosis and UTIs. Sat, 21 Feb 2026 22:38:58 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260218031502.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260217005754.htm An Ice Age double burial in Italy has yielded a stunning genetic revelation. DNA from a mother and daughter who lived over 12,000 years ago shows that the younger had a rare inherited growth disorder, confirmed through mutations in a key bone-growth gene. Her mother carried a milder version of the same mutation. The finding not only solves a long-standing mystery but also proves that rare genetic diseases stretch far back into prehistory. Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:25:57 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260217005754.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212234220.htm A remarkable Roman mosaic found in Rutland turns out to tell a forgotten version of the Trojan War. Rather than Homer’s famous epic, it reflects a lost Greek tragedy by Aeschylus, featuring vivid scenes of Achilles and Hector. Its artistic patterns echo designs from across the ancient Mediterranean, some dating back 800 years before the mosaic was made. The discovery suggests Roman Britain was deeply plugged into the wider classical world. Fri, 13 Feb 2026 03:40:10 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212234220.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206012221.htm Fossils from a Moroccan cave have been dated with remarkable accuracy to about 773,000 years ago, thanks to a magnetic signature locked into the surrounding sediments. The hominin remains show a blend of ancient and more modern features, placing them near a pivotal branching point in human evolution. These individuals likely represent an African population close to the last common ancestor of Homo sapiens, Neandertals, and Denisovans. Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:58:14 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206012221.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260125083421.htm A Roman-era skeleton discovered in southern England has finally given up her secrets after more than a decade of debate. Known as the Beachy Head Woman, she was once thought to have roots in sub-Saharan Africa or the Mediterranean—an idea that sparked global attention. But new, high-quality DNA analysis paints a different picture: she was most likely a local woman from Roman Britain. Sun, 25 Jan 2026 10:04:57 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260125083421.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228074502.htm New research shows Karnak Temple was built on a rare island of high ground formed as Nile river channels shifted thousands of years ago. Before that, the area was too flooded for settlement, making the temple’s eventual rise even more remarkable. The landscape closely mirrors ancient Egyptian creation myths, where sacred land emerges from water. This suggests Karnak’s location was chosen not just for practicality, but for its deep symbolic power. Sun, 04 Jan 2026 19:45:57 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228074502.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251227004151.htm Scientists have uncovered ancient wolf remains on a small Baltic island where wolves could only have been brought by humans. These animals weren’t dogs, but true wolves that ate the same marine food as the people living there and showed signs of isolation and possible care. One even survived with an injured limb that would have made hunting difficult. The findings suggest humans once kept and managed wolves in ways far more complex than previously imagined. Mon, 29 Dec 2025 10:44:27 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251227004151.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251221043221.htm Sediments from a Roman latrine at Vindolanda show soldiers were infected with multiple intestinal parasites, including roundworm, whipworm, and Giardia — the first time Giardia has been identified in Roman Britain. These parasites spread through contaminated food and water, causing diarrhea, weakness, and long-term illness. Even with sewers and communal toilets, infections passed easily between soldiers. The discovery highlights how harsh and unhealthy life could be on Rome’s northern frontier. Sun, 21 Dec 2025 08:59:23 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251221043221.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251217082513.htm Traces of opium found inside an ancient alabaster vase suggest drug use was common in ancient Egypt, not rare or accidental. The discovery raises the possibility that King Tut’s famous jars once held opiates valued enough to be buried with pharaohs—and stolen by tomb raiders. Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:18:17 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251217082513.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251216081947.htm A museum visit sparked a revelation when a Roman glass cup was turned around and its overlooked markings came into focus. These symbols, once dismissed as decoration, appear to be workshop identifiers used by teams of skilled artisans. The findings challenge centuries of assumptions about how Roman glass was made. They also restore identity and agency to the anonymous makers behind these stunning objects. Tue, 16 Dec 2025 09:25:41 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251216081947.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251216081937.htm Over 8,000 years ago, early farming communities in northern Mesopotamia were already thinking mathematically—long before numbers were written down. By closely studying Halafian pottery, researchers uncovered floral and plant designs arranged with precise symmetry and numerical patterns, revealing a surprisingly advanced sense of geometry. Tue, 16 Dec 2025 23:26:36 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251216081937.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251212022244.htm Fossils from Qatar have revealed a small, newly identified sea cow species that lived in the Arabian Gulf more than 20 million years ago. The site contains the densest known collection of fossil sea cow bones, showing that these animals once thrived in rich seagrass meadows. Their ecological role mirrors that of modern dugongs, which still reshape the Gulf’s seafloor as they graze. The findings may help researchers understand how seagrass ecosystems respond to long-term environmental change. Fri, 12 Dec 2025 02:58:26 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251212022244.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251207031331.htm A new radiocarbon study has clarified the timing of the colossal Thera eruption, placing it before Egypt’s New Kingdom. Researchers analyzed artifacts tied to Pharaoh Ahmose, gaining rare access to museum materials. Their results favor a younger chronology for early 18th Dynasty Egypt. The revised timeline reshapes regional historical connections. Sun, 07 Dec 2025 10:34:09 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251207031331.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251205054731.htm An immense Bronze Age settlement has emerged from the Kazakh Steppe, revealing a surprisingly urban and industrial society where archaeologists once expected nomadic camps. At Semiyarka, researchers uncovered massive residential compounds, a possible ceremonial or administrative building, and an entire industrial zone dedicated to producing tin bronze—an extremely rare discovery for the region. The site’s strategic perch above trade routes and mineral-rich mountains suggests it was a major hub of exchange, craftsmanship, and power. Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:41:58 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251205054731.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251202052222.htm Archaeologists excavating the ancient Roman city of Gabii have uncovered a massive stone-lined basin that may represent one of Rome’s earliest monumental civic structures. Its central placement hints that early Romans were already experimenting with dramatic public spaces centuries before the iconic Forum took shape. The site’s remarkable preservation—made possible because Gabii was abandoned early—offers an unprecedented look at how Romans adapted Greek architectural ideas into powerful symbols of politics, ritual, and identity. Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:40:05 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251202052222.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251130205427.htm A newly identified crocodile relative from Egypt pushes back the origins of the marine-hunting dyrosaurids by millions of years. The fossil, Wadisuchus kassabi, shows a mix of primitive and advanced traits that mark a key evolutionary transition. Rare specimens of different ages reveal how these ancient predators developed. The find reinforces Africa as the center of early dyrosaurid evolution. Sun, 30 Nov 2025 20:54:27 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251130205427.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251130205421.htm Researchers exploring Bolivia’s Great Tectonic Lakes discovered a landscape transformed over centuries by sophisticated engineering and diverse agricultural traditions. Excavations show how Indigenous societies adapted to dynamic wetlands through raised fields, canals, and mixed livelihoods. Today’s local communities preserve this biocultural continuity, guiding research and conservation. Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:45:19 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251130205421.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251130050717.htm A high-resolution 3D model of Rano Raraku shows that the moai were created in many distinct carving zones. Instead of a top-down system, the statues appear to have been produced by separate family groups working independently while sharing techniques. Evidence of varied carving styles and multiple transport routes supports this decentralized picture. The results challenge old assumptions about how large-scale monument building worked on Rapa Nui. Sun, 30 Nov 2025 07:20:52 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251130050717.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251126095041.htm Researchers studying Classic Maya cities discovered that urban growth was driven by a blend of climate downturns, conflict, and powerful economies of scale in agriculture. These forces made crowded, costly city life worthwhile for rural farmers. But when conditions improved in the countryside, people abandoned cities for more autonomy and better living environments. The story turns out to be far more complex than drought alone. Wed, 26 Nov 2025 10:49:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251126095041.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251123115658.htm A Swedish plano-convex ingot once thought to be from the Bronze Age was revealed through chemical and isotopic testing to belong to the Iron Age. Its composition closely matches Iron Age finds from Poland, leading researchers to uncover new evidence of long-distance connections across the Baltic. The study highlights how collaboration and scientific analysis can transform isolated artifacts into clues about ancient trade and networking. Sun, 23 Nov 2025 14:57:15 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251123115658.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251122044340.htm Ideas about Vikings and Norse mythology come mostly from much later medieval sources, leaving plenty of room for reinterpretation. Over centuries, writers, politicians, and artists reshaped these stories to reflect their own worldviews, from romantic heroism to dangerous nationalist myths. Pop culture and neo-paganism continue to amplify selective versions of this past. Scholars today are unraveling how these shifting visions emerged and how they influence identity and culture. Sun, 23 Nov 2025 03:34:17 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251122044340.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251121090744.htm Hunter-gatherers at Poverty Point may have built its massive earthworks not under the command of chiefs, but as part of a vast, temporary gathering of egalitarian communities seeking spiritual harmony in a volatile world. New radiocarbon data and reexamined artifacts suggest far-flung travelers met to trade, worship, and participate in rituals designed to appease the forces of nature. Mon, 24 Nov 2025 13:14:54 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251121090744.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251114041220.htm Researchers digitally mapped ancient Chinese tombs and discovered that their distribution mirrors shifts in political stability, population movements, and natural geography. Peaceful, prosperous eras produced more elaborate and numerous burial sites, while wartime periods saw far fewer. Tomb clusters also tended to form in fertile, humid regions that supported thriving settlements. The findings lay groundwork for better preservation and protection. Sat, 15 Nov 2025 02:44:05 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251114041220.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251114041217.htm Genetic, isotopic, and forensic evidence has conclusively identified the remains of Duke Béla of Macsó and uncovered remarkable details about his life, ancestry, and violent death. The study reveals a young nobleman with Scandinavian-Rurik roots who was killed in a coordinated, emotionally charged attack in 1272. Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:05:03 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251114041217.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251110021048.htm In Peru’s mysterious Pisco Valley, thousands of perfectly aligned holes known as Monte Sierpe have long puzzled scientists. New drone mapping and microbotanical analysis reveal that these holes may once have served as a bustling pre-Inca barter market—later transformed into an accounting system under the Inca Empire. Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:46:48 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251110021048.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251104094150.htm After the collapse of the Chalcolithic culture around 3500 BCE, people in Jordan’s Murayghat transformed their way of life, shifting from domestic settlements to ritual landscapes filled with dolmens, standing stones, and megalithic monuments. Archaeologists from the University of Copenhagen believe these changes reflected a creative social response to climate and societal upheaval. Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:32:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251104094150.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251027023809.htm New research shows that the rise of Sumer was deeply tied to the tidal and sedimentary dynamics of ancient Mesopotamia. Early communities harnessed predictable tides for irrigation, but when deltas cut off the Gulf’s tides, they faced crisis and reinvented their society. This interplay of environment and culture shaped Sumer’s myths, politics, and innovations, marking the dawn of civilization. Mon, 27 Oct 2025 02:38:09 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251027023809.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251011105529.htm New research along Turkey’s Ayvalık coast reveals a once-submerged land bridge that may have helped early humans cross from Anatolia into Europe. Archaeologists uncovered 138 Paleolithic tools across 10 sites, indicating the region was a crucial migration corridor during the Ice Age. The findings challenge traditional migration theories centered on the Balkans and Levant, suggesting instead that humans used now-vanished pathways across the Aegean. Sun, 12 Oct 2025 09:04:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251011105529.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251010091557.htm Archaeologists in Saudi Arabia discovered over 170 ancient rock engravings that may be among the earliest monumental artworks in the region. Created between 12,800 and 11,400 years ago, the massive figures were carved when water and life returned to the desert. The art likely marked territories and migration routes, revealing social and symbolic sophistication. Artifacts found nearby show early Arabian peoples connected to distant Neolithic communities. Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:15:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251010091557.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251008030938.htm Researchers confirmed that Rapa Nui’s moai statues could “walk” upright using a rocking motion, aided by rope and just a few people. Experiments with replicas and 3D models revealed design features like a forward lean and curved bases that made movement possible. Concave roads across the island further supported this transport method. The findings celebrate the innovation and intelligence of the ancient islanders. Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:09:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251008030938.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251006051107.htm A sweeping new geoarchaeological study has revealed how Egypt’s famed Karnak Temple complex rose from an island amid Nile floods to become one of the ancient world’s most enduring sacred centers. By analyzing sediments and pottery fragments, researchers traced its transformation across three millennia and uncovered evidence that its placement may have mirrored the ancient Egyptian creation myth—where the first land emerged from primeval waters. Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:11:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251006051107.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250927031245.htm Ancient copper smelters may have accidentally set the stage for the Iron Age. At a 3,000-year-old workshop in Georgia, researchers discovered that metalworkers were using iron oxide not to smelt iron but to improve copper yields. This experimentation shows how curiosity with materials could have sparked one of history’s greatest technological leaps, turning iron from a rare celestial metal into the backbone of empires and industry. Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:45:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250927031245.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250924012246.htm Æthelstan, crowned in 925, was the first true king of England but remains overshadowed by Alfred the Great and later rulers. A new biography highlights his military triumphs, legal innovations, and cultural patronage that shaped England’s identity. From the decisive Battle of Brunanburh to his reforms in governance and learning, Æthelstan’s legacy is finally being revived after centuries of neglect. Wed, 24 Sep 2025 11:12:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250924012246.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250919085232.htm From the wreck of the royal Danish-Norwegian flagship Gribshunden, archaeologists have uncovered a rare glimpse into the naval power of the late Middle Ages. This warship, lost in 1495, carried an arsenal of small guns designed for close-range combat, symbolizing the technological leap that allowed European nations to dominate the seas. More than just a vessel, it served as King Hans’ floating castle, projecting both diplomatic influence and military might. Fri, 19 Sep 2025 20:06:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250919085232.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250911073143.htm Archaeologists studying the vast Zvejnieki cemetery in Latvia have uncovered surprising truths about Stone Age life. Stone tools, long thought to symbolize male hunters, were actually buried just as often with women, children, and elders. Some were deliberately crafted and broken as part of funerary rituals, revealing a symbolic and emotional dimension to these objects. The research overturns stereotypes about gender roles in prehistory and shows how simple tools carried profound meaning in life and death. Thu, 11 Sep 2025 20:57:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250911073143.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250828002415.htm Scientists have finally uncovered direct genetic evidence of Yersinia pestis — the bacterium behind the Plague of Justinian — in a mass grave in Jerash, Jordan. This long-sought discovery resolves a centuries-old debate, confirming that the plague that devastated the Byzantine Empire truly was caused by the same pathogen behind later outbreaks like the Black Death. Sat, 30 Aug 2025 04:47:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250828002415.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250821094434.htm Scientists have uncovered the world s earliest fossil showing both Neanderthal and Homo sapiens features: a five-year-old child from Israel s Skhul Cave dating back 140,000 years. This discovery pushes back the timeline of human interbreeding, proving that Neanderthals and modern humans were already mixing long before Europe s later encounters. Thu, 21 Aug 2025 09:44:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250821094434.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250814094654.htm Chemical evidence from a stalagmite in Mexico has revealed that the Classic Maya civilization’s decline coincided with repeated severe wet-season droughts, including one that lasted 13 years. These prolonged droughts corresponded with halted monument construction and political disruption at key Maya sites, suggesting that climate stress played a major role in the collapse. The findings demonstrate how stalagmites offer unmatched precision for linking environmental change to historical events. Sat, 16 Aug 2025 00:44:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250814094654.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250812234532.htm Advanced computer modeling suggests that by 2080, waves driven by sea level rise could flood Ahu Tongariki and up to 51 cultural treasures on Rapa Nui. The findings emphasize the urgent need for protective measures to preserve the island’s identity, traditions, and tourism economy. Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:44:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250812234532.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801020102.htm Scientists have discovered the oldest direct evidence of betel nut chewing in Southeast Asia by analyzing 4,000-year-old dental plaque from a burial in Thailand. This breakthrough method reveals invisible traces of ancient plant use, suggesting psychoactive rituals were part of daily life long before written records. Fri, 01 Aug 2025 03:12:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801020102.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250716000855.htm After baffling scholars for over a century, Cambridge researchers have reinterpreted the long-lost Song of Wade, revealing it to be a chivalric romance rather than a monster-filled myth. The twist came when “elves” in a medieval sermon were correctly identified as “wolves,” dramatically altering the legend’s tone and context. Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:10:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250716000855.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250711224326.htm A major breakthrough in Maya archaeology has emerged from Caracol, Belize, where the University of Houston team uncovered the tomb of Te K'ab Chaak—Caracol’s first known ruler. Buried with elaborate jade, ceramics, and symbolic artifacts, the tomb offers unprecedented insight into early Maya royalty and their ties to the powerful Mexican city of Teotihuacan. Sat, 12 Jul 2025 10:20:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250711224326.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250623233320.htm DNA from a skull found at Newgrange once sparked theories of a royal incestuous elite in ancient Ireland, but new research reveals no signs of such a hierarchy. Instead, evidence suggests a surprisingly egalitarian farming society that valued collective living and ritual. Mon, 23 Jun 2025 23:33:20 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250623233320.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250607231844.htm In the dense forests of Michigan s Upper Peninsula, archaeologists have uncovered a massive ancient agricultural system that rewrites what we thought we knew about Native American farming. Dating back as far as the 10th century, the raised ridged fields built by the ancestors of the Menominee Indian Tribe covered a vast area and were used for cultivating staple crops like corn and squash. Using drone-mounted lidar and excavations, researchers found evidence of a complex and labor-intensive system, defying the stereotype that small, egalitarian societies lacked such agricultural sophistication. Alongside farming ridges, they also discovered burial mounds, dance rings, and possible colonial-era foundations, hinting at a once-thriving cultural landscape previously obscured by forest. Sat, 07 Jun 2025 23:18:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250607231844.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250606171248.htm Bronze Age life changed radically around 1500 BC in Central Europe. New research reveals diets narrowed, millet was introduced, migration slowed, and social systems became looser challenging old ideas about nomadic Tumulus culture herders. Fri, 06 Jun 2025 17:12:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250606171248.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602154907.htm Researchers have recreated the world's oldest synthetic pigment, called Egyptian blue, which was used in ancient Egypt about 5,000 years ago. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:49:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602154907.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250526150359.htm Contrary to widespread assumptions, the largest shark that ever lived -- Otodus megalodon -- fed on marine creatures at various levels of the food pyramid and not just the top. Scientists analyzed the zinc content of a large sample of fossilized megalodon teeth, which had been unearthed above all in Sigmaringen and Passau, and compared them with fossil teeth found elsewhere and the teeth of animals that inhabit our planet today. Mon, 26 May 2025 15:03:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250526150359.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523120501.htm A new study uses metabolic profiling to uncover ancient knowledge systems behind therapeutic and psychoactive plant use in ancient Arabia. Fri, 23 May 2025 12:05:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523120501.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522162551.htm Researchers have analyzed ancient DNA from Borrelia recurrentis, a type of bacteria that causes relapsing fever, pinpointing when it evolved to spread through lice rather than ticks, and how it gained and lost genes in the process. Thu, 22 May 2025 16:25:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522162551.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250512153346.htm Researchers analyzed 788 obsidian artifacts from Tenochtitlan, revealing that the Mexica (Aztec) Empire sourced this important material from at least eight different locations, including regions outside their political control. While 90% of artifacts were made from green obsidian from Sierra de Pachuca (especially for ceremonial purposes), the diversity of obsidian sources suggests sophisticated trade networks rather than just conquest-based acquisition. The study tracked changes in obsidian use from 1375-1520 CE, showing how the Mexica standardized ritual obsidian sources after consolidating power around 1430 CE, providing insights into the empire's economic networks and political influence. Mon, 12 May 2025 15:33:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250512153346.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505170814.htm Snuff tubes uncovered at Chavin de Huantar in Peru reveal how leaders used mystical experiences to cement their power. Mon, 05 May 2025 17:08:14 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505170814.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423164221.htm Bite marks found on a skeleton discovered in a Roman cemetery in York have revealed the first archaeological evidence of gladiatorial combat between a human and a lion. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 16:42:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423164221.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423111750.htm Ancient DNA analysis challenges our understanding of the ancient Phoenician-Punic civilization. An international team of researchers analyzing genome-wide data from 210 ancient individuals has found that Levantine Phoenician towns contributed little genetically to Punic populations in the central and western Mediterranean despite their deep cultural, economic, and linguistic connections. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:17:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423111750.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250417145258.htm Three consecutive years of drought contributed to the 'Barbarian Conspiracy', a pivotal moment in the history of Roman Britain, a new study reveals. Researchers argue that Picts, Scotti and Saxons took advantage of famine and societal breakdown caused by an extreme period of drought to inflict crushing blows on weakened Roman defenses in 367 CE. While Rome eventually restored order, some historians argue that the province never fully recovered. Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:52:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250417145258.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250416151919.htm A study suggests that Homo sapiens may have benefited from the use of ochre and tailored clothing during a period of increased UV light 41,000 years ago, during the Laschamps excursion. Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:19:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250416151919.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414162044.htm Wealth inequality began shaping human societies more than 10,000 years ago, long before the rise of ancient empires or the invention of writing. That's according to a new study that challenges traditional views that disparities in wealth emerged suddenly with large civilizations like Egypt or Mesopotamia. Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:20:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414162044.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124705.htm Whether for cooking, heating, as a light source or for making tools -- it is assumed that fire was essential for the survival of people in the Ice Age. However, it is puzzling that hardly any well-preserved evidence of fireplaces from the coldest period of the Ice Age in Europe has been found so far. A group of scientists has now been able to shed some light on the mystery of Ice Age fire. Their analysis of three hearths at a prehistoric site in Ukraine shows that people of the last Ice Age built different types of hearths and used mainly wood, but possibly also bones and fat, to fuel their fires. Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:47:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124705.htm