ancient humans
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Astonishing Denisovan Fossil Discovery Traced Back To Unknown Buddhist Monk
The archaeology world is abuzz today with news of the first Denisovan fossil found outside of Siberia. The 160,000-year-old jawbone was uncovered by a Buddhist monk in a Chinese cave nearly 40 years ago—an aspect of this story that’s as intriguing as it is frustrating.
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88,000-Year-Old Middle Finger Found In Saudi Arabia Could Rewrite Human History
It’s just a lone, bony middle finger, but the scientists who found it say it’s the oldest directly dated fossil of our species to ever be found outside of Africa and the Levant, a region that today comprises Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. But the new discovery is not without its critics, who say older…
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These Early Humans Prospered During What Should Have Been A Devastating Volcanic Winter
Around 74,000 years ago, a massive caldera erupted on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, triggering a prolonged and devastating volcanic winter. Scientists have speculated that the Toba eruption pruned back human populations to a considerable degree, but new research published today suggests at least one group of humans living in southern Africa not only managed…
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Ancient Humans Didn’t Turn To Cannibalism For The Calories
Humans have been eating other humans since the beginning of time, but the motivations behind this macabre practice are complex and often unclear. Some anthropologists say prehistoric cannibals were just trying to grab a nutritious snack, but new research shows that human flesh — as tasty as it is — doesn’t pack the same caloric…