Anthropology

Anthropology

A coronavirus epidemic may have hit East Asia about 25,000 years ago

An ancient viral outbreak may have left a genetic mark in East Asians that possibly influences their responses to the virus that causes COVID-19.

Anthropology

‘First Steps’ shows how bipedalism led humans down a strange evolutionary path

In a new book, a paleoanthropologist argues that walking upright has had profound effects on human anatomy and behavior.

Anthropology

Ancient humans may have had apelike brains even after leaving Africa

Modern humanlike brains may have evolved surprisingly late, about 1.7 million years ago, a new study suggests.

Genetics

Europe’s oldest known humans mated with Neandertals surprisingly often

DNA from ancient fossils suggests interbreeding regularly occurred between the two species by about 45,000 years ago, two studies find.

Science & Society

Parents in Western countries report the highest levels of burnout

The first survey comparing parental exhaustion across 42 countries links it to a culture of self-reliance.

Anthropology

How using sheepskin for legal papers may have prevented fraud

Removing fat is key to turning animal skin into parchment. With sheepskin, the process creates a writing surface easily marred by scratched-out words.

Anthropology

Riches in a Bronze Age grave suggest it holds a queen

Researchers have long assumed mostly men ran ancient Bronze Age societies, but the find points to a female ruler in Spain 3,700 years ago.

Anthropology

Finds in a Spanish cave inspire an artistic take on warm-weather Neandertals

Iberia’s mild climate fostered a host of resources for hominids often pegged as mammoth hunters.

Anthropology

Ardi may have been more chimplike than initially thought — or not

A contested study of hand and foot fossils suggests this 4.4-million-year-old hominid was a tree climber and branch swinger.

Anthropology

A body burned inside a hut 20,000 years ago signaled shifting views of death

Ancient hunter-gatherers burned a hut in which they had placed a dead woman, suggesting a change in how death was viewed.

Anthropology

Humanlike thumb dexterity may date back as far as 2 million years ago

A computer analysis suggests early Homo species developed a powerful grip, giving them an evolutionary edge over some other tool-using hominids.

Anthropology

Ice Age hunters’ leftovers may have fueled dog domestication

Ancient people tamed wolves by feeding them surplus game, researchers suggest.