Tag: archaeology

First Americans May Have Arrived by Sea Ice Highway as Early as 24,000 Years Ago

One of the hottest debates in archaeology is how and when humans first arrived in North America. Archaeologists have traditionally argued that people walked through an ice-free corridor that briefly opened between ice sheets an estimated 13,000 years ago.

But a growing number of archaeological and genetic finds—including human footprints in New Mexico dated to around 23,000 years old—suggests that people made their way onto the continent much earlier. These early Americans likely traveled along the Pacific coastline from Beringia, the land bridge between Asia and North America that emerged during the last glacial maximum when ice sheets bound up large amounts of water causing sea levels to fall.

Now, in research presented Friday, 15 December at the American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting (AGU23) in San Franciso, paleoclimate reconstructions of the Pacific Northwest hint that sea ice may have been one way for people to move farther south.

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31,000-YEAR-OLD ARTIFACTS REVEAL USE OF ADVANCED PROJECTILE WEAPON MILLENNIA EARLIER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT

A forensic examination of 31,000-year-old artifacts has revealed the potential use of advanced spearthrowers by Stone Age Europeans, according to the results of a controversial new study.

Archaeologists previously believed that spearthrowers, which are sometimes called atlatls, were first put into use sometime around 17,000 or 18,000 years ago based on evidence of their use found in European caves, primarily located in southern France.

However, the results of the recent study appear to put those original findings in doubt by showing that these advanced weapons may have been in use millennia earlier than previously believed.

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World’s oldest fortress discovered in Siberia: Defensive complex built 8,000 years ago could reshape understanding of early human societies

Archaeologists made a groundbreaking discovery in a remote area of Siberia, unearthing an approximately 8,000-year-old fortress built by hunters and gatherers.

The Amnya I and II fortress is believed to be the world’s oldest fortified settlement and could cause historians to reassess how complex societies evolved.

The Amnya fortress is located on a sandy area alongside the Amnya River, suggesting the hunter-gatherers chose the site to control abundant fishing spots.

Archaeologists found evidence that the site was burned to the ground several times from stratigraphy, or the collection of sediment, soil, and debris – and they discovered arrowheads in the outer ditch, indicating violent conflict in the region.

The team discovered wooden palisades indicating a fortified inner area when excavating the site from 1987 to 2000. 

“These things we think about now, like property ownership and social inequality—people have been thinking about since we became human,” Colin Grier of Washington State University told Science.org.

The remains of 10 pit depressions are located within the wall, making up Amnya I. 

Another 10 huts were found outside the fortified structure, suggesting a hierarchical structure of an inner fortified area and an outer, unprotected section identified as Amnya II.

Construction features like central elevated fireplaces indicated the structures were long-term dwellings, contradicting the belief that permanent settlements and defensive structures only emerged in farming societies.

In their study, the authors at Freie Universität Berlin state that the Amnya fort was built ‘many centuries before comparable enclosures first appeared in Europe,’ adding that although ancient hunter-gatherer groups constructed defenses throughout the world, ‘the very early onset of this phenomenon in inland western Siberia is unparalleled.’

Researchers and archaeologists previously operated under the assumption that competition and conflict didn’t exist in hunter-gatherer societies.

However,  using radiocarbon dating on collected samples, archaeologists could confirm ‘the prehistoric age of the site’ and establish it ‘as the world’s oldest-known fort.’

Radiocarbon dating is a technique that looks at the decay of carbon-14 isotope found in samples, which can accurately identify the age of materials dating as old as 60,000 years.

‘Through detailed archaeological examinations at Amnya, we collected samples for radiocarbon dating, confirming the prehistoric age of the site and establishing it as the world’s oldest-known fort. Our new palaeobotanical and stratigraphical examinations reveal that inhabitants of Western Siberia led a sophisticated lifestyle based on the abundant resources of the taiga environment,’ a Freie Universität Berlin press release said.

‘This finding reshapes our understanding of early human societies, challenging the idea that only with the advent of agriculture would people have started to build permanent settlements with monumental architecture and have developed complex social structures,’ it added.

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Archaeologists find 3,200-year-old ‘cursed tablet’ that features earliest inscription of God’s name – which was used to put evil spells on people

An ancient postage stamp-sized tablet could bear the earliest inscription of the Hebrew name for God: Yahweh.

International archaeologists believe the small folded sheet of lead found in the West Bank was created at least 3,200 years ago and features text calling on God to curse anyone who breaks their word.

If confirmed by future research, the discovery would make it nearly 2,000 years older than the previous find – The Mesha Stele slab, which dates back to 840 BC.

The team translated the 48 letters to read: ‘Cursed, cursed, cursed — cursed by Yahweh.’

The tablet was found at the Biblical Mount Elba, said to be in the Promised Land, and could feature writing older than any known Hebrew inscription from ancient Israel. 

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7000-YEAR-OLD PERISHABLE ARTIFACTS PRESERVED BY ICE ARE REVEALED IN ANCIENT VOLCANIC LANDSCAPE

Archaeologists say an undiscovered trove of ancient, perishable artifacts has been revealed by the thawing of ice in northern British Columbia, Canada, according to new research.

The discovery of the ancient tools, some from as early as 7000 years ago, is unique, given that many are composed of materials that otherwise would not have been preserved in warmer climates.

From crude containers made from tree bark and animal hide to ice picks and hand axes made from bone and obsidian, the discoveries were made near Canada’s Mount Edziza Provincial Park in 2019, based on a study published earlier this year.

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Unexpected Denisovan Fossil Location Reveals More 

In a surprising turn of events, Denisovan fossils have emerged in an unexpected location, challenging established notions of their habitat. Archaeologists recently uncovered a 160,000 to 130,000-year-old Denisovan tooth in the remote Annamite Mountains of northern Laos, far from the previously identified Siberian cave. This finding unveils a new chapter in the Denisovan story, showcasing their adaptability to diverse environments. These archaic humans, identified solely through DNA until now, not only endured the freezing climes of southern Siberia and adapted to high altitudes in Tibet but also thrived in the tropical caves of Laos—a feat accomplished a staggering 100,000 years earlier than modern humans.

The significance of this discovery extends beyond the individual tooth. The meticulous analysis of the enamel, lacking wear and tear, points to a young Denisovan girl aged between three and a half and eight and a half years. Despite the scarcity of Denisovan fossils, this solitary tooth challenges assumptions about their geographical range. While drawing conclusions from a lone find is risky, the revelation underscores the richness of surprises awaiting discovery in Southeast Asia’s fossil record. The Denisovans’ ability to cross significant biogeographic barriers, like Wallace’s Line, raises intriguing questions about their capabilities and interactions with other human species. The complexity of these interbreeding events, revealed through advanced genetic analyses, reshapes our understanding of the Denisovans’ place in the human family tree.

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Toxicology Identifies Cannabis in the Bones of Medieval Italians

Archaeologists excavating in a 17th-century hospital crypt in Milan, Italy, recovered the skeletons of nine people. Using tools of toxicology, they have now identified “the first archaeological evidence” of THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, in human bones from the Modern Age.

The cannabinoids from cannabis, such as tetrahydrocannabinol [THC], one of the psychoactive properties associated with the plant, are stored in various tissues in the body, including hair and bones. A 2013 a study published in the journal “Drug and Alcohol Dependence,” found that THC can be detected in human bones “several weeks” after the last cannabis use. However, the associated detection technologies have changed – a lot – over the last decade.

The exact mechanisms of how cannabinoids are stored in bones, and how long they remain detectable, varies from person to person, and greatly depends on frequency of use, dosage, and individual metabolism. Bones, essentially act like a reservoir for cannabinoids, and their detection can be used in forensic and clinical settings to assess past cannabis use. But now, a team of researchers have identified THC in the 17th century bones of people buried under a hospital in Milan, Italy.

In a new study, Dr. Gaia Giordano at the University of Milan said that she her colleagues excavated and tested the skeletons of nine people from a 17th century crypt at Milan’s Ca’ Granda hospital. The bone samples were powdered, separated and purified, before being liquified and subjected to mass spectrometry, to identify the chemical components.

The results were subsequently analyzed using the tools of toxicology, the study of chemical substances in living organisms including humans. Toxicologists analyze how substances are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, excreted, and their toxic effects. Whether eaten or inhaled, cannabinoids are trapped and preserved after being absorbed into the bloodstream, and they are ultimately stored in bone tissue.

The team identified THC and cannabidiol (CBD) molecules within the thigh bones of a young man and middle-aged woman, who were both buried between 1638 AD and 1697 AD.

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Why Did Homo Sapiens Take So Long to Leave Africa?

The lingering question of why modern humans took considerable time to migrate from Africa finds new dimensions in recent discoveries. Contrary to the conventional narrative, the roots of our species may extend much further back than previously thought. Fossils unearthed in Morocco challenge established timelines, suggesting early Homo sapiens roamed Africa 100,000 years earlier than believed. These findings, in the Jebel Irhoud cave, introduce complexity to the linear migration narrative, indicating a dispersed and diverse human presence across the continent. Anthropologists, grappling with the definition of Homo sapiens, acknowledge the challenges posed by these ancient remains.

The Moroccan specimens, around 300,000 years old, display both modern and primitive traits, prompting debates on the fluidity of human evolution. While some scientists question the classification, others argue for a broader view, emphasizing the continuous and branching nature of our evolutionary lineage. This discovery not only challenges preconceptions but also underscores the intricate tapestry of human evolution in Africa, where diverse populations coexisted, thrived, or faded away. The story of our origins remains a captivating enigma, with each revelation adding layers to the narrative, reshaping our understanding of the deep roots of Homo sapiens across the vast expanse of Africa.

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Vast Anglo-Saxon Pagan Temple Discovered in the Shadow of Sutton Hoo

Last year, archaeologists and community groups in Suffolk, England, unearthed the remains of a 1,400-year-old structure. Now, excavations have determined that the large timber hall was a Pre-Christian cultic temple, associated with Sutton Hoo.

Post holes from the mysterious structure were found last year by researchers from the Rendlesham Revealed community archaeology project, which is an ongoing investigation of the Deben valley. The discovery was made in Rendlesham, near Sutton Hoo, the legendary site where two magnificent Anglo-Saxon cemeteries dating from the 6th to 7th centuries, in Suffolk, England.

Suffolk Councillor Melanie Vigo di Gallidoro, Deputy Cabinet Member for Protected Landscapes and Archaeology, told Suffolk News that “over 200 volunteers from the local community were involved this year, bringing the total number of volunteers to over 600 for the three-year fieldwork program.” The member groups included the Suffolk Family Carers, Suffolk Mind, and also primary school children from Rendlesham, Eyke and Wickham Market.

Professor Christopher Scull, who led Suffolk County Council’s recent dig, said last year’s discovery of the “large timber hall” at Rendlesham, is “remarkable.” He added that previous excavations in this area identified an Anglo-Saxon settlement and royal hall, which were founded by the first Kings of East Anglia in the 6th century AD.

Measuring 10 meters [32.81 feet] long and 5 meters [16.4 feet] wide, the researchers determined that the structure is “unusually high and robustly built for its size” and that it was constructed for “a special purpose.”  Professor Scull said its dimensions are similar to buildings elsewhere in England, “that are seen as temples or cult houses.” Therefore, the site may have been used for “Pre-Christian worship by the early Kings of the East Angles,” concluded Scull.

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Archaeologists Discover Vast, Complex Prehistoric Society That Rewrites History

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of a highly complex prehistoric society in Central Europe that thrived in a region experts previously believed was abandoned in 1600 BC. This sophisticated society was one of the “major cultural centers of southern Europe” and exerted “regional scale influences across the continent and into the Mediterranean,” they report in a new study. 

The Pannonian Basin is a region that centers on modern-day Hungary and touches upon multiple nations in Central Europe. Thousands of years ago, Bronze Age humans settled there and built a complex and influential society that lasted for centuries before it was mysteriously abandoned in 1600 BC. Ancient sites examined by experts show signs of depopulation over several decades, leading to the theory of a “regional scale collapse” and a relatively “abrupt end” for this prehistoric social order. However, the authors of a paper published this month in PLOS One write, based on a remote survey and excavations “a fully opposite trajectory can be identified–increased scale, complexity and density in settlement systems and intensification of long-distance networks.” Rather than disappear, ancient people adapted. 

“In many ways it provides a missing link,” lead author Barry Molloy of University College Dublin told Motherboard in an email. “We know that societies in Europe in the later second millennium BC were interacting at a continental scale. We also knew that material and symbols from this area were influential within Europe, but we had not identified the kind of sophisticated society that would be a driver in those communication networks. This find changes this.” 

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