Archaeology

Archaeology

Humans first settled in Australia as early as 65,000 years ago

Australia may have said “G’day” to humankind thousands of years earlier than previously believed.

Genetics

Dog domestication happened just once, ancient DNA study suggests

DNA of ancient canines counters idea that dogs were domesticated twice, in Europe and Asia.

Archaeology

Copper in Ötzi the Iceman’s ax came from surprisingly far away

Copper for the ancient Iceman’s blade traveled about 500 kilometers to his northern Italian home region.

Archaeology

Pin-drop test pops Greek amphitheater’s acoustic claims

Analysis of an ancient Greek amphitheater’s ability to carry sounds reveals overblown tour guide claims.

Anthropology

Carved human skulls found at ancient worship center in Turkey

Visitors to an ancient ritual site may have carved human skulls as part of ancestor worship.

Archaeology

Sound-reflecting shelters inspired ancient rock artists

Ancient Europeans sought rock art sites where sounds carried.

Genetics

DNA reveals how cats achieved world domination

Analysis of 9,000 years of cat remains suggests two waves of migration

Anthropology

Oldest known Homo sapiens fossils come from northern Africa, studies claim

Moroccan fossils proposed as oldest known H. sapiens, from around 300,000 years ago.

Genetics

Mummy DNA unveils the history of ancient Egyptian hookups

A study of DNA extracted from Egyptian mummies untangles ancient ancestry and attempts to resolve quality issues.

Archaeology

Peru’s plenty brought ancient human migration to a crawl

Ancient Americans reached Peru 15,000 years ago and stayed put, excavations suggest.

Archaeology

Tool sharpens focus on Stone Age networking in the Middle East

Stone Age tool’s route to Syrian site covered at least 700 kilometers.

Archaeology

Chaco Canyon’s ancient civilization continues to puzzle

A dynasty may have risen from the dead in an ancient Chaco great house.