First Cranium of Australopithecus anamensis Challenges Theories of Human Evolution

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Australopithecus anamensis is the earliest-known species of Australopithecus, and widely accepted as the progenitor of Lucy’s species, Australopithecus afarensis. Until now, A. anamensis was known mainly from jaws and teeth. Yohannes Haile-Selassie of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Stephanie Melillo of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and their colleagues have discovered the … Read more

New Study Upends Theory of Human Evolution

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Competition among species has long been recognized as a driving force in the evolutionary journey of life on Earth, and a recent study from the University of Cambridge delves deep into how this dynamic shaped the rise and fall of hominins, our early ancestors. The research not only revises timelines but also reveals a fascinating … Read more

New Ichthyosaur Genus Identified from Massive Jawbone Fossils in Somerset

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The discovery of a colossal jawbone on a Somerset beach has unveiled the existence of a new species of massive ichthyosaur, shedding light on the ancient marine realm like never before. The jawbone, exceeding two meters in length and believed to have been part of a 25-meter-long oceanic titan, marks a significant breakthrough in paleontology. … Read more

New Techniques Reveal Black Death Victims in Individual Graves, Challenging Burial Practices

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The Black Death, an infamous epidemic that swept through Europe in the mid-14th century, remains one of history’s most devastating events, claiming an estimated 40 to 60% of the continent’s population. Its impact reverberated for centuries through subsequent waves of plague outbreaks, leaving a mark on societies and shaping historical narratives. While the Black Death’s … Read more

Study Pushes Back Origins of Kissing to 4,500 Years Ago in Mesopotamia

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The University of Copenhagen, through meticulous research, has uncovered fascinating insights into the origins of kissing, pushing back its earliest recorded instance by 1,000 years to around 4,500 years ago in the ancient Middle East. This revelation challenges previous assumptions and provides a deeper understanding of the widespread nature of this intimate gesture across diverse … Read more

Excavations at Cavustepe Castle Unearth New Urartian Tombs

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Excavations at Cavuştepe castle have unveiled fascinating insights into the burial practices of the ancient Urartians, revealing new information about their customs and traditions. Led by Professor Rafet Çavuşoğlu of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University’s Faculty of Letters Archaeology Department, the ongoing archaeological investigations have recently unearthed two new tombs from the Urartian period within the … Read more

Archaeologists Unearth 3,000-Year-Old Children’s Cemetery in Qazvin Province, Iran

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Archaeologists from the University of Tehran have recently made a fascinating discovery in the Segzabad region of Qazvin province, central-west Iran. During their excavations in an ancient cemetery, under the guidance of Dr. Mustafa Deh Pahlavan, the team unearthed the remains of children dating back 3,000 years, shedding new light on the ancient inhabitants of … Read more

Archaeologists Unearth Golden Coins in Carthage’s Tophet Sanctuary

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Archaeologists uncovering the ancient sanctuary of Tophet in Carthage have made a remarkable discovery, offering fresh insights into the religious practices of this historic civilization. Tunisia’s Ministry of Cultural Affairs recently revealed the findings in a news release, detailing the unearthing of five gold coins dating back to the 3rd century BC, alongside tombstones and … Read more

New Study Reevaluates Wing Evolution in Early Birds and Dinosaur Relatives

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In a groundbreaking study reported on November 21 in Current Biology, researchers Nicholas Longrich of Yale University, Anthony Russell of the University of Calgary, and Jakob Vinther from the University of Bristol delved into the evolutionary history of avian wings, revealing surprising insights into the origins and development of flight among early birds and their … Read more

115-Million-Year-Old Bird Fossil in Brazil Upends Theories on Early Avian Distribution

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The 115-million-year-old remains of a tiny toothed bird with a two-pronged tail resembling a pair of darts have filled significant knowledge gaps about feather evolution, providing profound insights into the early diversity and distribution of avian species. This groundbreaking discovery, reported by scientists, has unveiled a remarkable 3-D specimen from northeast Brazil, making it the … Read more