Neanderthals were Europe’s first landscapers—long before farming began
Imagine Europe tens of thousands of years ago—thick forests filled with elephants, bison, aurochs, and small groups of humans armed with fire and spears.
A...
Humans evolved faster than any other ape, 3D skull study reveals
Humans evolved their unique skull shape—large brains and flat faces—at a much faster rate than any other ape species, according to new research from...
How eating dead animals may have helped make us human
A new study suggests that scavenging—the act of eating the meat of dead animals—may have played a much bigger role in human evolution than...
Why the Maya built—and abandoned—their great cities
Why do people move to cities—and why do they leave?
Today, the reasons might include jobs, lifestyle, pollution, or even a pandemic.
But these same questions...
Archaeologists discover 5,000-year-old ceremonial site in Jordan
Archaeologists from the University of Copenhagen have uncovered a fascinating 5,000-year-old ceremonial site in Murayghat, Jordan, that could reveal how early societies adapted to...
World’s first known butt-drag fossil trace was left by a rock hyrax in South...
Rock hyraxes, known in southern Africa more often as "dassies," are furry, thickset creatures with short legs and no discernible tails. They spend much...
Scientists reveal 1,000-year-old gut bacteria from ancient Mexican mummy
Scientists have uncovered remarkable details about the gut microbiome of a man who lived in Mexico around 1,000 years ago—long before the arrival of...
Early humans in Italy turned elephants into food and tools
New research has revealed how early humans living in what is now Rome skillfully butchered elephants for food and then repurposed their bones into...
Easter Island’s famous statues really did “walk,” and physics proves it
For centuries, the massive stone statues of Easter Island—known as moai—have inspired awe and mystery.
How did the ancient people of Rapa Nui, with no...
Ancient murals at Teotihuacan may reveal the language of a lost civilization
More than 2,000 years ago, Teotihuacan was one of the greatest cities in the world. Located in central Mexico, it was home to around...