Anthropology: Cultures Archaeology: General
Published

The Southern Arc and its lively genetic history      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A vast paleogenetic study reveals insights on migration patterns, the expansion of farming and language development from the Caucasus over western Asia and Southern Europe from the early Copper Age until the late middle ages.

Anthropology: Cultures Archaeology: General
Published

Analysis of everyday tools challenges long-held ideas about what drove major changes in ancient Greek society      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A modern scientific analysis of ancient stone tools is challenging long-held beliefs about what caused radical change on the island of Crete, where the first European state flourished during the Bronze Age: the 'Minoan civilization.'

Anthropology: Cultures Anthropology: Early Humans
Published

Study of ancient skulls sheds light on human interbreeding with Neanderthals      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Research has established that there are traces of Neandertal DNA in the genome of modern humans. Now an exploratory study that assessed the facial structure of prehistoric skulls is offering new insights, and supports the hypothesis that much of this interbreeding took place in the Near East -- the region ranging from North Africa to Iraq.

Anthropology: Cultures
Published

Wood sharpens stone: Boomerangs used to retouch lithic tools      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new study into the multipurpose uses of boomerangs has highlighted the hardwood objects were used to shape the edges of stone tools used by Australian Indigenous communities.  The research demonstrated how boomerangs could function as lithic (or stone) tool retouchers by investigating the use-wear generated on the boomerangs' surfaces during retouching activities. It was found that these use-wear impacts on boomerangs comparable to those observed on Paleolithic bone retouching tools, which date back to more than 200,000 years ago.

Anthropology: Cultures Anthropology: Early Humans
Published

Taking your time makes a difference      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers find that stem cells in the developing brain of modern humans take longer to divide and make fewer errors when distributing their chromosomes to their daughter cells, compared to those of Neanderthals.

Anthropology: Cultures Archaeology: General
Published

High-status Danish Vikings wore exotic beaver furs      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Beaver fur was a symbol of wealth and an important trade item in 10th Century Denmark, according to a new study.

Anthropology: Cultures Anthropology: Early Humans Archaeology: General
Published

DNA from ancient population in Southern China suggests Native Americans' East Asian roots      (via sciencedaily.com) 

For the first time, researchers successfully sequenced the genome of ancient human fossils from the Late Pleistocene in southern China. The data suggests that the mysterious hominin belonged to an extinct maternal branch of modern humans that might have contributed to the origin of Native Americans.

Anthropology: Cultures Anthropology: Early Humans
Published

New genetic research on remote Pacific islands yields surprising findings on world's earliest seafarers      (via sciencedaily.com) 

New genetic research from remote islands in the Pacific offers fresh insights into the ancestry and culture of the world's earliest seafarers, including family structure, social customs, and the ancestral populations of the people living there today.

Anthropology: Cultures Anthropology: Early Humans Archaeology: General
Published

The heat is on: Traces of fire uncovered dating back at least 800,000 years      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists reveal an advanced, innovative method that they have developed and used to detect nonvisual traces of fire dating back at least 800,000 years -- one of the earliest known pieces of evidence for the use of fire. The newly developed technique may provide a push toward a more scientific, data-driven type of archaeology, but -- perhaps more importantly -- it could help us better understand the origins of the human story, our most basic traditions and our experimental and innovative nature.

Anthropology: Cultures
Published

Developmental dyslexia essential to human adaptive success      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers say people with developmental dyslexia have specific strengths relating to exploring the unknown that have contributed to the successful adaptation and survival of our species.