Archaeology

Archaeology

A biblical-era Israeli shrine shows signs of the earliest ritual use of marijuana

Chemical analyses reveal a residue of cannabis and animal dung on an altar from a biblical-era fortress in use more than 2,700 years ago.

Archaeology

50 years ago, explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s Atlantic crossing hit a snag

Explorer Thor Heyerdahl followed an aborted Atlantic voyage with a second trip that indicated ancient Egyptians could have traveled over long distances by sea.

Anthropology

The earliest known humans in Europe may have been found in a Bulgarian cave

New finds from Bulgaria point to a relatively rapid expansion of Homo sapiens into Eurasia starting as early as 46,000 years ago, two studies suggest.

Archaeology

Brewing beer may be an older craft than we realized in some places

Newly discovered microscopic signatures of malting could help archaeologists detect traces of ancient beer.

Archaeology

This is the oldest known string. It was made by a Neandertal

A cord fragment found clinging to a Neandertal’s stone tool is evidence that our close evolutionary relatives were string makers, too, scientists say.

Archaeology

Neandertals’ extensive seafood menu rivals that of ancient humans

Finds from a coastal cave in Portugal reveal repeated ocean foraging for this European hominid.

Archaeology

New Guinea’s Neolithic period may have started without outside help

Islanders on New Guinea experienced cultural changes sparked by farming about 1,000 years before Southeast Asians arrived, a study suggests.

Archaeology

The Nazareth Inscription’s origins may refute ties to Jesus’ resurrection

Chemical analysis shows the tablet’s marble came from a Greek island, challenging the idea the decree concerned early Christianity in the Middle East.

Archaeology

This is one of the largest Ice Age structures made of mammoth bones

A massive ring of mammoth bones, built by hunter-gatherers during the Ice Age, offers a peek at life 25,000 years ago.

Archaeology

An ancient ball court sheds light on a game made famous by the Aztecs

A 3,400-year-old ball court in the southern mountains of Mexico suggests many societies contributed to the development of an ancient, well-known Mesoamerican ball game.

Anthropology

An ancient social safety net in Africa was built on beads

A Stone Age network of communities across southern Africans was established using ostrich shell beads by around 33,000 years ago.

Anthropology

New fossils and artifacts show Homo erectus crafted a diverse toolkit

Ancient hominid made stone tools demanding a range of skills and planning, a study finds.