New basal bird from China reveals the morphological diversity in early birds
A new species, Chongmingia zhengi, reported in the journal of Scientific Reports on 25 January 2016, sheds light on the early evolution of birds.
Fresco in Transylvania is rare medieval Giotto copy
The fresco of a church in Romania, now almost destroyed, is a rare copy of Giotto's mosaic "Navicella".
Ancient papyri deciphered by armchair archaeologists
A project for the deciphering of ancient papyri found in Greco-Roman Egypt has recruited armchair archaeologists from around the world with amazing results.
When Egypt met Nubia in Tombos
Excavations in Tombos, North Sudan, reveal the transformation of Egyptian and Nubian culture in a way that explains the rise of the Black Pharaohs
Mutated gene associated with colon cancer
A new Tel Aviv University discovery suggests that a genetic predisposition to colorectal cancer preceded the advent of modernization.
520 million-year-old fossilised nervous system is most detailed example yet found
A 520 million-year-old fossilised nervous system – so well-preserved that individually fossilised nerves are visible – is the most complete and best example yet found, and could help unravel how the nervous system evolved in early animals.
Ancient Japanese sword bears an engraving of a shark
Researchers examining an ancient sword in the Tottori Prefectural Museum have discovered an engraving depicting a shark on the object.
Iron Age burial in Turkey with turtles discovered
Archaeologists in Turkey have unearthed the remains of two individuals buried along with several turtles.
Genetics show 50 thousand years of independent history of Aboriginal Australian people
The new study challenges a previous theory that suggested an influx of people from India into Australia around 4-5 thousand years ago.
3-D technology used to safely reveal the diet of ‘Chaucer’s children’
Biological anthropologists have discovered a new way of examining the fragile teeth of children who lived between the 11th and 15th centuries without damaging them.
Ancient figurine discovered by 7-year-old boy
A 3,400 year old statue was recently discovered in Israel by a 7-year-old boy while on an outing with friends.
11,000-year-old pendant is earliest known Mesolithic art in Britain
An 11,000 year old engraved shale pendant discovered by archaeologists during excavations at the Early Mesolithic site at Star Carr in North Yorkshire is unique in the UK, according to new research.
Middle Kingdom tomb discovered in Egypt
A joint mission of American and Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a tomb at El-Lisht in the Dahashur necropolis.
Fabric collection discovered dating back to Kings David and Solomon
Textiles found at Timna Valley archaeological dig provide a colorful picture of a complex society.
Evidence of early medieval Muslim graves found in France
Burial rituals, genetic analysis may indicate 8th century skeletons of North African descent.
Internal dissension cited as reason for Cahokia’s dissolution
The archaeologists claim internal conflict by social, political, ethnic, and religious factions are a more reasonable description of events that led to Cahokia's collapse than environmental causes, as is the popular theory.
Remains may be of Martha Brown, the real Tess d’Urbervilles
Human remains unearthed by archaeologists at Dorchester prison, Dorset, may be those of the woman that inspired Thomas Hardy in writing Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
The pyramid complex of a Nubian queen reopens for documentation
Now, almost a century since Reisner’ s work at Khennwua’s pyramid, QMPS has reopened her subterranean burial chamber to document it.
The Dead Sea Scrolls enter into the digital era
Computer scientists and Dead Sea Scrolls scholars are building a digital work environment for the scrolls, enabling the virtual joining of the "puzzle pieces" of thousands of ancient scrolls fragments found in Judean Desert caves.
Spanish conquest left its imprint on men’s genes in Panama
A new genetic study of 408 Panamanian men has revealed that only 22 percent of them carry Y-chromosomes of native origin.
Most complete Bronze Age wheel to date found
Archaeologists working at Must Farm, a Bronze Age site near Peterborough, have uncovered a 3,000-year-old wheel, the first and largest complete example ever to be discovered in Britain.
Fossil analysis pushes back human split from other primates by two million years
C. abyssinicus revealed answers about gorilla lineage but also provided fossil evidence that our common ancestor migrated from Africa.
Researchers trace peanut crop back to its Bolivian roots
Researchers have discovered that a wild plant from Bolivia is a "living relic" of the prehistoric origins of the cultivated peanut species.
Japanese earthenware time capsules contain 4,300-year-old cockroach egg case impressions
Impressions of cockroach egg cases from 4,300 year old Japanese potsherds (broken pottery fragments) have been found in southern Japan.