Ancient Romans were more closely linked to Middle East than Europe, DNA study shows
The inhabitants of ancient Rome genetically resembled the populations of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East at the height of its empire, according to a newly published DNA study. The paper is based on genome data of 127 individuals from 29 archaeological sites in and ...
Egypt on Thursday unveiled two archaeological discoveries in Luxor, including an industrial zone at the southern city's West Valley, also known as the Valley of the Monkeys. Egyptian archaeologists have discovered 30 workshops in the industrial area, the Ministry of Antiquities said in a statement. ...
Light brighter than the sun to virtually decipher ancient Herculaneum scrolls
Scientists at Britain's national synchrotron facility have harnessed powerful light beams to virtually unwrap and decipher fragile scrolls dating back 2,000 years in a process they hope will provide new insights into the ancient world. The two complete scrolls and four fragments — from the ...
First clear evidence that prehistoric humans weaned babies with specialized bottles found
Archaeologists have uncovered the first evidence that our prehistoric ancestors in Europe weaned their infants much the way we do now, using specialized baby bottles to feed them animal milk. The discovery casts rare light on childhood and child-rearing in ancient humans — an area ...
The unrestful dead: 'Body farm' scientists track how corpses move
An Australian scientist has proved that human bodies move around significantly for more than a year after death — and her findings could have implications for detectives and pathologists working around the world. After studying and photographing the movements of a corpse over 17 months, ...
Scientists follow Neanderthals' footsteps to learn how they lived
Like modern humans, Neanderthals — our closest evolutionary cousins — lived in groups, but their size and composition have been difficult to infer from archaeological and fossil remains. Now, though, scientists have reported the discovery of 257 footprints along the Normandy shore in France that ...
Ancient DNA study illuminates Indo-European language origins
For decades, researchers have debated how Indo-European languages came to be spoken from the British Isles to South Asia. Now the largest-ever study of ancient human DNA suggests that the answer may lie with a mass migration of Bronze Age herders from the Eurasian steppes, ...
What do surfers, kayakers and Neanderthals have in common? Research published Wednesday revealed that abnormal bony growths in the ear canal — often called "surfer's ear" and seen in people who take part in water sports in colder climates — occurred frequently in our ancient ...
Japan picks ancient Jomon Period sites as candidates for UNESCO World Heritage recognition in 2021
A government panel identified on Tuesday a set of Jomon Period archaeological sites in northern Japan as a potential candidate for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage designation in 2021. Tokyo will submit its formal recommendation by next Feb. 1 to the organization representing the ancient sites, ...
Archaeologists in Israel have discovered the remains of one of the world's oldest rural mosques, built around the time Islam arrived in the Holy Land, they said on Thursday. The Israel Antiquities Authority estimates that the mosque, uncovered ahead of new construction in the Bedouin ...
Egypt asks Interpol to trace Tutankhamun mask over ownership documents
Egypt has asked Interpol to track down a 3,000-year-old Tutankhamun artefact that was sold in London for $6 million despite fierce opposition from Cairo, government officials said. Christie's auction house sold the 28.5-centimeter (11-inch) relic for £4,746,250 ($5,970,000) to an unknown buyer in early July ...
Ancient Iraqi city of Babylon designated UNESCO World Heritage site
The ancient city of Babylon, first referenced in a clay tablet from the 23rd century B.C., was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site on Friday, after a vote that followed decades of lobbying by Iraq. The vote, at a UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in ...
