Anthropology

Anthropology

Mental Leap

As scientists discover traits shared by human and ape ancestors millions of years ago, they try to fill in the gaps of human evolution.

Anthropology

Evolution’s DNA Difference: Noncoding gene tied to origin of human brain

Investigators have discovered a gene that shows signs of having evolved rapidly in people and of having made a substantial contribution to the emergence of a uniquely human brain.

Anthropology

Little Ancestor, Big Debate: Tiny islanders’ identity sparks dispute

New measurements bolster the 2-year-old claim that fossils of a half-size human ancestor found on an Indonesian island represent a new species.

Anthropology

Did small hominids have a genetic defect?

Miniature humans whose prehistoric remains were recently unearthed on an Indonesian island may have had a genetic disease known as Laron syndrome.

Anthropology

Mexican find reveals ancient dental work

A 4,500-year-old human skeleton found in Mexico represents the earliest instance in the Americas of intentionally modified teeth, apparently to create space for a ceremonial mouthpiece.

Anthropology

Variety spices up Neandertals’ DNA

A surprising amount of genetic diversity characterized Neandertals.

Anthropology

Hybrid-Driven Evolution: Genomes show complexity of human-chimp split

A controversial new genetic comparison suggests that human and chimpanzee ancestors interbred for several million years before evolving into reproductively separate species no more than 6.3 million years ago.

Anthropology

Cattle’s Call of the Wild: Domestication may hold complex genetic tale

A new investigation of DNA that was obtained from modern cattle and from fossils of their ancient, wild ancestors challenges the idea that herding and farming groups in the Near East domesticated cattle about 11,000 years ago.

Anthropology

Making sacrifices in Stone Age societies

A half-dozen burials at sites in Europe and western Asia dating to between 27,000 and 23,000 years ago provide clues to possible human sacrifices.

Anthropology

Digging up debate in a French cave

A scientific debate has broken out over whether a French cave excavated more than 50 years ago contains evidence of separate Stone Age occupations by Neandertals and modern humans.

Anthropology

Neandertals take out their small blades

Excavations of Neandertal artifacts have yielded a trove of thin, double-edged stone blades that researchers usually regard as the work of Stone Age people who lived much later.

Anthropology

Ancient islanders get a leg up

A new analysis of bones from a tiny evolutionary cousin of people found on a Pacific island indicates that these late Stone Age individuals carried a lot of weight on short frames and had extremely strong legs.