Archaeology
- Anthropology
Human ancestors threw stone-tipped spears at prey
African discoveries show that hunting weapons thrown from a distance appeared by 279,000 years ago.
By Bruce Bower - Anthropology
Ancient farming populations went boom, then bust
Agriculture’s introduction led to big falls as well as rises in numbers of Europeans.
By Bruce Bower - Astronomy
‘Space beads’ push back origins of iron working
Ancient Egyptians used advanced techniques to make beads out of 'metal from the sky.'
By Bruce Bower - Archaeology
Notorious Bones
South African finds enter fray over origins of the human genus.
By Bruce Bower - Anthropology
Agriculture’s roots spread east to Iran
Dig supports prolonged development of domesticated crops at ancient sites across the Fertile Crescent.
By Bruce Bower - Archaeology
Pre-Inca empire tomb found untouched in Peru
Gold jewelry, bronze axes and dozens of bodies were among the contents of the Wari empire ceremonial room.
By Bruce Bower - Humans
Aerial radar sizes up ancient urban sprawl
Angkor, the capital of Cambodia's Khmer empire, included carefully planned suburbs that spread across the landscape.
By Bruce Bower - Archaeology
Ancient Siberians may have rarely hunted mammoths
Occasional kills by Stone Age humans could not have driven creatures to extinction, researchers say.
By Bruce Bower - Archaeology
Italians taught French wine-making
Archaeology suggests Etruscans brought the grape to Gaul.
- Humans
Maya civilization’s roots may lie in ritual
Cultural exchanges in southern Mexico and Guatemala tied to ancient society's rise.
By Bruce Bower - Humans
Disputed finds put humans in South America 22,000 years ago
Brazilian site may have been home to people before the Clovis hunters.
By Bruce Bower - Humans
Ancient people and Neandertals were extreme travelers
Stone Age folk were built for journeying farther than even the most active individuals today.
By Bruce Bower