Fossilized teeth discovered on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi reveal that humans were using psychoactive betel nuts between 16,000 and 25,000 years ago, according to a study published in Science Advances. Led by Griffith University archaeologist Adam Brumm, researchers found that hunter-gatherers left deep, distinctive grooves in their molars from a lifelong habit of sucking … Read more
Archaeologists surveying the Durupınar Formation in eastern Türkiye have found ground-penetrating radar anomalies and carbon-rich soil samples that researchers claim match biblical descriptions of Noah’s Ark. According to Professor Cenker Atila of Sivas Cumhuriyet University, an international team of 20 researchers began surveying the site on June 28 and expects to publish definitive results within … Read more
An Egyptian archaeological mission operating at the Sheikh Soby site in the Bahariya Oasis has unearthed three previously unknown tombs spanning the Late and Roman periods, according to an announcement by the Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry. The discoveries, which include a rock-cut family tomb and two Roman-era structures alongside limestone sarcophagi, pottery, and terracotta … Read more
A San Francisco couple unearthing a 150-pound limestone sculpture buried in their Russian Hill backyard has sparked a search for its creator, according to Fox News Digital. Greg Gatwood found the two-foot-wide artifact in May while doing yard work, initially mistaking the object for concrete before spotting lips and a nose peering through the dirt. … Read more
Early human ancestors systematically butchered extinct elephants for survival nearly 1.8 million years ago, according to a recent study conducted at Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains. Researchers discovered ancient stone tools alongside the bones of Elephas recki, indicating strategic exploitation of megafauna rather than opportunistic scavenging. Evidence of Elephant Butchery at Olduvai Gorge … Read more
Contemporary artist Philip Colbert has installed more than 30 monumental lobster sculptures across the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, marking the site’s first contemporary sculpture exhibition in 30 years. The exhibition, titled Philip Colbert in Pompeii: Pop Mythology, integrates stainless-steel and black steel robotic lobster figures into the ancient Roman city’s villas and streets, continuing through … Read more
According to researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, modern human genomes contain stretches of DNA inherited from previously unknown extinct populations, dubbed “ghost ancestors.” While Homo sapiens is currently the only surviving human species, genetic analysis shows our ancestors repeatedly interbred with multiple hominin groups, rewriting our understanding of human evolution as a complex … Read more
A rare meteorite that struck a Hillsborough, New Jersey, home in 2024 has been identified by NASA and the SETI Institute as a CM1/2 carbonaceous chondrite containing complex amino acids and organic compounds. Researchers suggest the rock, which originated in the asteroid belt, provides evidence that the chemical building blocks for life continue to be … Read more
A 2,700-year-old bronze sword, dating to the Late Bronze Age (900–700 B.C.), was discovered standing upright in the soil of the Gdańsk Forest District in northern Poland. Found by hobbyist detectorist Marcin Wiśniewski, the artifact was recovered by the Pomeranian Provincial Heritage Conservator using proper archaeological methods to ensure the preservation of the site. Recovery … Read more
Neanderthals and Homo sapiens may have shared a common culture for more than 20,000 years, according to a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Excavations at Üçağızlı II Cave in southern Türkiye reveal that both species occupied the site and utilized similar tools, survival strategies, and decorative objects, suggesting … Read more