Despite Africa being the cradle of humankind, evidence of early burial practices on the continent has been scarce. A recent discovery at the Panga ya Saidi cave site in Kenya is rewriting history, revealing a 78,000-year-old child’s burial – the oldest ever found in Africa. The Panga ya Saidi site has been under excavation since … Read more
Researchers from China, Singapore, and the U.S. have made a groundbreaking discovery in northeastern China, pushing back the timeline for a fascinating cultural practice – cranial modification. Their findings, published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, unveil evidence of some of the earliest examples of this practice at a site called Houtaomuga, shedding light … Read more
Researchers led by Ron Pinhasi from the University of Vienna and Mario Novak from the Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb, have unveiled a recent archaeological discovery in Croatia shedding light on a fascinating practice from the past and the complexities of human migration. Their study, published in PLOS ONE, reveals evidence of artificial cranial deformation … Read more
A recent study published in PLOS ONE has ignited a heated debate among archaeologists and anthropologists. The focus? A human skull, nicknamed Cranium 17, unearthed from the enigmatic Sima de los Huesos site in northern Spain. The skull’s unique injuries hint at a potential homicide, raising the possibility of one of the earliest documented cases … Read more
The transition from the fifth to the fourth century BCE (Before the Common Era) in the Central Andes, an area now encompassing parts of Peru, appears to have been a period of significant turmoil. Researchers investigating this era, known as the Middle Formative period (1200–400 BCE), have uncovered evidence suggesting widespread violence, political disintegration, and … Read more
A remarkable archaeological discovery has come to light during the construction of the Moldova Highway in Romania. On the Ploiești-Buzău section, excavations revealed a magnificent princely tomb, believed to belong to a formidable warrior from the migration period (4th-5th centuries AD). The national highway company, CNAIR, announced the exciting find, which includes an array of … Read more
Archaeologists from the Odense City Museum, during a year-long rescue excavation on an ancient settlement site in the Danish village of Håre on Funen Island, unearthed a spectacular discovery – an ornately crafted sword dating back to the Bronze Age, roughly 3,000 years ago. The sword, considered “completely unique” by Chief Inspector Jesper Hansen, sheds … Read more
Imagine a lush, green landscape where camels roam freely. This wasn’t a mirage, but the reality of Saudi Arabia 8,000 years ago, when a civilization carved life-size animal reliefs into the rock face. These remarkable sculptures, initially thought to be Roman-era creations, have been dramatically aged by a new study, making them the oldest surviving … Read more
A team of archaeology students from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, unearthed a significant discovery during their excavation at the Philippi Kavala archaeological site. Amongst other finds, they brought to light a rare head of the god Apollo, dating back to the 2nd or early 3rd century AD. Led by Professor Natalia Poulos, a Byzantine … Read more
Burial practices around the world offer fascinating insights into the beliefs, traditions, and cultures of diverse societies throughout history. From ancient civilizations to contemporary cultures, the rituals surrounding death and burial reflect a profound reverence for the deceased and a desire to honor their memory. Prehistoric burial practices provide some of the earliest glimpses into … Read more