Prehistoric Finds
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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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Archaeologists Find Roman Artefacts in Spain’s Cova De Les Dones Cave
Archaeologists have discovered Roman-era inscriptions and a corroded coin inside Spain’s Cova de les Dones cave. The artefacts, dating back nearly 1,900 years, suggest the cave was used for ritual offerings. Previous research indicates human activity in the cave for thousands of years, with Iron Age ceramics and over 110 prehistoric paintings doc...
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7,000-Year-Old Arrow Poison Found in South Africa, Shows Ancient Hunting Skills
A 7,000-year-old antelope femur found in a South African cave has been identified as the earliest evidence of a multi-component arrow poison. Researchers discovered toxic compounds, including digitoxin and strophanthidin, revealing ancient humans’ advanced knowledge of plant toxins. The study suggests long-distance trade or travel for these ingre...
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1.95-Million-Year-Old Evidence of Hominin Activity Discovered in Romania
A discovery in Romania’s Grăunceanu site has unearthed evidence of hominin activity dating back approximately 1.95 million years, much earlier than previously believed. The find, including butchered animal remains with cut marks, reveals that early humans were adapting to temperate environments long before expected. This reshapes our understandi...
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Giant Horned Dinosaur Fossils Rediscovered in Egypt, WWII Lost Treasures
Researchers have uncovered long-lost photographs of giant horned dinosaur fossils from Egypt, which were destroyed during a WWII bombing. The fossils, originally discovered in 1914 in the Bahariya Oasis, have now been identified as belonging to a new species, Tameryraptor markgrafi. The newly discovered images revealed key differences from previous...
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12,000-Year-Old Wolf Remains in Alaska Show Early Signs of Human Interaction
A 12,000-year-old wolf leg bone discovered at the Swan Point archaeological site in Alaska has provided new insights into early human-wolf interactions. DNA analysis confirmed the animal was related to wolves, while chemical isotope testing showed it had a diet rich in salmon, suggesting possible human involvement. Researchers debate whether this a...
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Well-Preserved 50,000-Year-Old Baby Mammoth Yana Unearthed in Siberia
The remarkably well-preserved remains of a 50,000-year-old baby mammoth, named Yana, were discovered in Siberia's Batagaika crater. Unearthed from thawing permafrost in the Yakutia region, Yana’s carcass, weighing over 240 pounds and measuring about four feet long, is considered one of the best-preserved mammoth remains ever found. Notably, her h...
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5,700-Year-Old House Fire in Ukraine Reveals Mysterious Cucuteni-Trypillia Remains
Archaeological findings in Kosenivka, Ukraine, reveal the burned remains of seven individuals from the Cucuteni-Trypillia societies, dated to approximately 5,700 years ago. The victims, including children and adults, showed signs of violent head trauma, suggesting possible intergroup conflict. One skull fragment placed atop the burial a century lat...
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Neolithic Stone Circles Discovered in England Could Solve the Stonehenge Mystery: Report
Two Neolithic stone circles were recently discovered on Dartmoor, England. Alan Endacott, archaeologist, suggests these sites, one named Metheral and the other Irishman’s Wall, were part of a 5-mile ceremonial arc from 5,000 years ago. The findings highlight the cultural and spiritual significance of Dartmoor's uplands in prehistoric times. Simil...
-
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....
-
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 ...
-
Archaeologists Find Roman Artefacts in Spain’s Cova De Les Dones Cave
Archaeologists have discovered Roman-era inscriptions and a corroded coin inside Spain’s Cova de les Dones cave. The artefacts, dating back nearly 1,900 years, suggest the cave was used for ritual offerings. Previous research indicates human activity in the cave for thousands of years, with Iron Age ceramics and over 110 prehistoric paintings doc...
-
7,000-Year-Old Arrow Poison Found in South Africa, Shows Ancient Hunting Skills
A 7,000-year-old antelope femur found in a South African cave has been identified as the earliest evidence of a multi-component arrow poison. Researchers discovered toxic compounds, including digitoxin and strophanthidin, revealing ancient humans’ advanced knowledge of plant toxins. The study suggests long-distance trade or travel for these ingre...
-
1.95-Million-Year-Old Evidence of Hominin Activity Discovered in Romania
A discovery in Romania’s Grăunceanu site has unearthed evidence of hominin activity dating back approximately 1.95 million years, much earlier than previously believed. The find, including butchered animal remains with cut marks, reveals that early humans were adapting to temperate environments long before expected. This reshapes our understandi...
-
Giant Horned Dinosaur Fossils Rediscovered in Egypt, WWII Lost Treasures
Researchers have uncovered long-lost photographs of giant horned dinosaur fossils from Egypt, which were destroyed during a WWII bombing. The fossils, originally discovered in 1914 in the Bahariya Oasis, have now been identified as belonging to a new species, Tameryraptor markgrafi. The newly discovered images revealed key differences from previous...
-
12,000-Year-Old Wolf Remains in Alaska Show Early Signs of Human Interaction
A 12,000-year-old wolf leg bone discovered at the Swan Point archaeological site in Alaska has provided new insights into early human-wolf interactions. DNA analysis confirmed the animal was related to wolves, while chemical isotope testing showed it had a diet rich in salmon, suggesting possible human involvement. Researchers debate whether this a...
-
Well-Preserved 50,000-Year-Old Baby Mammoth Yana Unearthed in Siberia
The remarkably well-preserved remains of a 50,000-year-old baby mammoth, named Yana, were discovered in Siberia's Batagaika crater. Unearthed from thawing permafrost in the Yakutia region, Yana’s carcass, weighing over 240 pounds and measuring about four feet long, is considered one of the best-preserved mammoth remains ever found. Notably, her h...
-
5,700-Year-Old House Fire in Ukraine Reveals Mysterious Cucuteni-Trypillia Remains
Archaeological findings in Kosenivka, Ukraine, reveal the burned remains of seven individuals from the Cucuteni-Trypillia societies, dated to approximately 5,700 years ago. The victims, including children and adults, showed signs of violent head trauma, suggesting possible intergroup conflict. One skull fragment placed atop the burial a century lat...
-
Neolithic Stone Circles Discovered in England Could Solve the Stonehenge Mystery: Report
Two Neolithic stone circles were recently discovered on Dartmoor, England. Alan Endacott, archaeologist, suggests these sites, one named Metheral and the other Irishman’s Wall, were part of a 5-mile ceremonial arc from 5,000 years ago. The findings highlight the cultural and spiritual significance of Dartmoor's uplands in prehistoric times. Simil...
