All articles tagged with #ancient humans
A genomics study reveals that early humans reached Australia around 60,000 years ago via two distinct routes, the northern and southern pathways, with most lineages arriving through the northern route, supporting an earlier settlement date than previously thought.
Archaeologists discovered the oldest stone tools on Sulawesi, Indonesia, dating back over 1 million years, suggesting early human ancestors may have inhabited the island and possibly influenced the evolution of Homo floresiensis, the 'hobbit' humans. The findings raise questions about how these early humans crossed oceans and their connection to other island populations, with ongoing research aiming to uncover more fossils and understand their origins.
A 140,000-year-old child's skull from Skhul Cave in Israel shows features of both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, suggesting it may be a hybrid, which could reshape our understanding of early human interactions and evolution.
A study suggests that genes inherited from Neanderthals may be linked to Chiari malformations in modern humans, with skull shape differences resembling Neanderthal skulls, highlighting a genetic connection that could influence diagnosis and treatment.
A new study suggests that inherited Neanderthal DNA may be linked to Chiari malformations in modern humans, with skull shape differences associated specifically with Neanderthal ancestry, potentially impacting diagnosis and treatment.
A Princeton-led study using AI and genetic analysis reveals multiple waves of interbreeding between modern humans and Neanderthals over the past 200,000 years, challenging previous models of human migration and suggesting Neanderthals were gradually absorbed into modern human populations rather than abruptly extinct.
Archaeologists in China have discovered 300,000-year-old wooden tools from the Old Stone Age, indicating that early humans in East Asia crafted sophisticated tools for digging and planned visits to exploit underground plant resources, challenging previous notions of technological conservatism in the region.
Ancient wooden tools dating back around 300,000 years were discovered in Gantangqing, China, revealing that early humans there were sophisticated woodworkers who relied heavily on plant resources and lived in a lush, lakeside environment, challenging previous assumptions about Paleolithic cultures that mainly emphasized stone tools.
DNA analysis of the Dragon Man skull has confirmed it as a Denisovan, providing the first clear physical link to this elusive human species and revealing their physical traits, geographic range, and genetic influence on modern humans, especially in Asia.
A 146,000-year-old skull known as 'Dragon Man' has been reclassified from a new species, Homo longi, to a Denisovan, based on protein and mitochondrial DNA analysis, making it the first complete Denisovan skull and providing new insights into ancient human relatives.
A new study reveals the existence of a previously unknown human species, Homo juluensis, in eastern Asia, challenging traditional models of human evolution. This research, published in Nature Communications, suggests that multiple human species, including the Julurens, coexisted and interacted in the region between 300,000 and 50,000 years ago. The findings highlight a complex evolutionary history, moving away from the simplistic "out of Africa" narrative, and emphasize the diversity of ancient human populations in Asia.
A nearly mile-long lava tube in Saudi Arabia, known as Umm Jirsan, provided shelter for ancient humans and their domesticated animals for at least 7,000 years. The cave, now inhabited by wolves, foxes, and snakes, contains hundreds of thousands of bones from at least 40 species, dating back to the Neolithic era. While not a permanent residence, the cave served as a crucial pit stop for herders along a pastoral route, offering shade and water for their flocks in the harsh desert environment.
Hunter-gatherers in Brazil created rock art next to fossilized dinosaur footprints dating back 9,400 years, as described in a study published in Scientific Reports. The petroglyphs, found at the Serrote do Letreiro site, were purposefully placed near the dinosaur tracks, with some appearing to illustrate the prints. The site, located near the Valley of the Dinosaurs, contains footprints from various dinosaur types, and the rock art is attributed to small seminomadic groups of hunter-gatherers who lived in the region between 9,400 and 2,620 years ago.
Microscopic glass shards from the Toba supervolcano eruption in Ethiopia suggest that early modern humans survived the event by adapting to extreme arid conditions, shifting their diet to include more fish. This challenges the idea that humans couldn't survive in such climates and offers an alternate theory for human dispersal out of Africa. The study also provides evidence that humans were flexible in their adaptations and could overcome environmental challenges, contradicting the popular belief that the Toba eruption nearly drove humans to extinction.
Researchers in Ethiopia have uncovered stone points dating back 74,000 years, believed to be the oldest known arrowheads, shedding light on the remarkably adaptive nature of ancient humans. The site, known as Shinfa-Metema 1, revealed thousands of bones with cut marks from various animals, indicating hunting activities. The discovery suggests that these early humans were able to adapt and survive a major volcanic eruption, showcasing their sophistication and providing insight into their successful expansion out of Africa.