Prehistoric Finds
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5,000-Year-Old Whale Harpoons Found In Brazil Could Rewrite History Of Ancient Whaling
This discovery sheds new light on understanding the lives and hunting practices of ancient people who lived along the coasts of South America thousands of years ago.
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Scientists Find 60,000-Year-Old "Poisoned" Arrows Showing Advanced Prehistoric Hunting Skills
According to the researchers, the poison used on the arrows came from the bulb of the local plant Boophone disticha.
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13,000-Year-Old Cosmic Airburst Triggered ‘Impact Winter’ and Mass Extinction, Research Suggests
New research points to fragments of a comet exploding over North America approximately 13,000 years ago, sparking firestorms and rapid cooling that could have contributed to the extinction of mammoths. Scientists report finding telltale “shocked” quartz grains at classic Clovis sites dating to the Younger Dryas boundary, evidence of intense he...
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7,100-Year-Old Skeleton Reveals Unknown Human Lineage in China
A groundbreaking study of a 7,100-year-old skeleton found in Yunnan, China, has revealed a "ghost" human lineage previously known only through genetic inference. The woman, named Xingyi_EN, belonged to a deeply divergent group called the Basal Asian Xingyi lineage, which may have contributed to modern Tibetan ancestry. This discovery, along with ev...
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Teeth Hurt? It Could Be Because Of A 500-Million-Year-Old Fish
Ever wondered why our teeth are so sensitive to pain or even just cold drinks? It might be because they first evolved for a very different purpose than chewing half a billion years ago, a study suggested Wednesday.
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Scientists Discover Three-Eyed Sea Moth From Half a Billion Years Ago
Paleontologists have discovered Mosura fentoni, a three-eyed, finger-sized marine predator from half a billion years ago, in museum fossil collections in Canada. Named after the Japanese monster Mothra, this ancient radiodont had a highly segmented body and unusually long gills on its rear, possibly adapted for breathing in low-oxygen environments....
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Ancient Europeans Retained Dark Skin, Hair and Eyes Until the Iron Age, Claims New Study
A genetic study analysing 348 ancient DNA samples reveals that most prehistoric Europeans had dark skin, hair, and eyes well into the Iron Age. Although genes for lighter pigmentation appeared around 14,000 years ago, they remained rare until about 3,000 years ago. Lighter skin may have been advantageous for vitamin D production, while lighter eyes...
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20,000-Year-Old Transport Marks in New Mexico Reveal Early American Mobility
Drag marks found at White Sands National Park indicate that early Americans used wooden travois to transport goods over 20,000 years ago. The markings, alongside human footprints, resemble structures later used by Indigenous groups. Experimental archaeology confirmed that similar marks could be replicated using wooden poles, reinforcing the idea th...
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Neanderthal Genetic Bottleneck 110,000 Years Ago May Explain Their Decline
A study suggests that Neanderthals experienced a population bottleneck 110,000 years ago, drastically reducing their genetic diversity. CT scans of their inner ear bones revealed a sharp decline in variation, indicating a drop in population size. This event may have made Neanderthals more vulnerable to environmental and competitive pressures, contr...
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Study Uncovers Evidence of Cannibalism in Ancient Europe 18,000 Years Ago
A study on 18,000-year-old human remains found in Maszycka Cave, Poland, has revealed strong evidence of cannibalism. Researchers discovered cut marks and skull fractures that indicate scalping, defleshing, and brain extraction. The findings suggest the practice was tied to warfare rather than survival, with human remains found alongside butchered ...
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5,000-Year-Old Whale Harpoons Found In Brazil Could Rewrite History Of Ancient Whaling
This discovery sheds new light on understanding the lives and hunting practices of ancient people who lived along the coasts of South America thousands of years ago.
-
Scientists Find 60,000-Year-Old "Poisoned" Arrows Showing Advanced Prehistoric Hunting Skills
According to the researchers, the poison used on the arrows came from the bulb of the local plant Boophone disticha.
-
13,000-Year-Old Cosmic Airburst Triggered ‘Impact Winter’ and Mass Extinction, Research Suggests
New research points to fragments of a comet exploding over North America approximately 13,000 years ago, sparking firestorms and rapid cooling that could have contributed to the extinction of mammoths. Scientists report finding telltale “shocked” quartz grains at classic Clovis sites dating to the Younger Dryas boundary, evidence of intense he...
-
7,100-Year-Old Skeleton Reveals Unknown Human Lineage in China
A groundbreaking study of a 7,100-year-old skeleton found in Yunnan, China, has revealed a "ghost" human lineage previously known only through genetic inference. The woman, named Xingyi_EN, belonged to a deeply divergent group called the Basal Asian Xingyi lineage, which may have contributed to modern Tibetan ancestry. This discovery, along with ev...
-
Teeth Hurt? It Could Be Because Of A 500-Million-Year-Old Fish
Ever wondered why our teeth are so sensitive to pain or even just cold drinks? It might be because they first evolved for a very different purpose than chewing half a billion years ago, a study suggested Wednesday.
-
Scientists Discover Three-Eyed Sea Moth From Half a Billion Years Ago
Paleontologists have discovered Mosura fentoni, a three-eyed, finger-sized marine predator from half a billion years ago, in museum fossil collections in Canada. Named after the Japanese monster Mothra, this ancient radiodont had a highly segmented body and unusually long gills on its rear, possibly adapted for breathing in low-oxygen environments....
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Ancient Europeans Retained Dark Skin, Hair and Eyes Until the Iron Age, Claims New Study
A genetic study analysing 348 ancient DNA samples reveals that most prehistoric Europeans had dark skin, hair, and eyes well into the Iron Age. Although genes for lighter pigmentation appeared around 14,000 years ago, they remained rare until about 3,000 years ago. Lighter skin may have been advantageous for vitamin D production, while lighter eyes...
-
20,000-Year-Old Transport Marks in New Mexico Reveal Early American Mobility
Drag marks found at White Sands National Park indicate that early Americans used wooden travois to transport goods over 20,000 years ago. The markings, alongside human footprints, resemble structures later used by Indigenous groups. Experimental archaeology confirmed that similar marks could be replicated using wooden poles, reinforcing the idea th...
-
Neanderthal Genetic Bottleneck 110,000 Years Ago May Explain Their Decline
A study suggests that Neanderthals experienced a population bottleneck 110,000 years ago, drastically reducing their genetic diversity. CT scans of their inner ear bones revealed a sharp decline in variation, indicating a drop in population size. This event may have made Neanderthals more vulnerable to environmental and competitive pressures, contr...
-
Study Uncovers Evidence of Cannibalism in Ancient Europe 18,000 Years Ago
A study on 18,000-year-old human remains found in Maszycka Cave, Poland, has revealed strong evidence of cannibalism. Researchers discovered cut marks and skull fractures that indicate scalping, defleshing, and brain extraction. The findings suggest the practice was tied to warfare rather than survival, with human remains found alongside butchered ...
