An innovative multidisciplinary and international research project has shed new light on the origin and diversity of the populations that inhabited Central Europe between the late 4th and 6th centuries AD, during and after the Hun Empire. Through cutting-edge archaeogenetic analysis combined with archaeological and historical studies, the research has established direct links between some […]
Europe
Posted inScience, Stone Age Archaeology
Cause of Tooth Wear in Upper Paleolithic Children and Adults in Central Europe Discovered: They Used Oral Piercings
A team of researchers has shed new light on the cultural practices of the ancient Pavlovian peoples of the Upper Paleolithic, a society that flourished in Central Europe approximately 29,500 to 31,500 years ago. According to a recently published study in the Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, evidence suggests the use of facial ornaments, known as […]
Posted inArt, Stone Age Archaeology
The Enigma of the Absence of Figurative Representations in the Neolithic of Northern Europe: Where Are the Figurines?
For centuries, the Neolithic has been associated with a rich artistic heritage, particularly in regions like Southeast Europe, where clay figurines have been abundant and representative. However, a new study published in the Cambridge Archaeological Journal reveals a stark contrast with northern Europe, where these visual expressions are practically nonexistent. The research, conducted by an […]
Posted inAncient Rome, Science
Lead contamination caused a generalized decline in the IQ of Europeans during the Roman Empire
Lead contamination has long been recognized as a significant public health hazard, even at low exposure levels. A recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) sheds light on the extensive environmental and cognitive impacts of lead pollution during the Roman Empire. Researchers at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) utilized Arctic […]
Posted inIron Age Archaeology
Roman gladiator with Scandinavian ancestry found in York reveals unknown migrations before the Viking Age
A discovery in York, England, has shed light on a previously unknown chapter of human migration. Researchers identified a Roman-era gladiator or soldier with partial Scandinavian ancestry, offering evidence of significant migrations long before the Viking Age. Using an innovative DNA analysis method called Twigstats, scientists have revealed intricate migration patterns that shaped early medieval […]
Posted inBronze Age Archaeology, Culture
The Origin of Italo-Celtic and Graeco-Armenian Languages Discovered
A scientific discovery has unveiled one of history’s greatest enigmas: the origin of Italo-Celtic and Graeco-Armenian languages, fundamental pillars of Mediterranean civilizations. An international team of geneticists and archaeologists has reconstructed the migration patterns and cultural blending that gave rise to these significant linguistic families. The research, recently published on the preprint server bioRxiv, sequenced […]
Posted inArchaeology, Prehistory
Genome of the Oldest Modern Humans in Europe Reveals They Belonged to the Same Family and Had Dark Skin and Hair
An international team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology has sequenced the oldest known genomes of modern humans. These belong to seven individuals who lived between 42,000 and 49,000 years ago in the regions of Ranis, Germany, and Zlatý kůň, Czechia. The findings offer a unique insight into early human migrations […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Remains of a Family from the Enigmatic Prehistoric Culture That Left No Tombs and Burned Their Cities Reveal They Ate Cereals and Practiced Dental Hygiene
Between 4200 and 3600 BC, in the territories that today correspond to Moldova and Ukraine, the impressive mega-settlements of the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture emerged, considered among the earliest and largest urban concentrations of prehistoric Europe. These settlements, which could house up to 15,000 inhabitants, have intrigued archaeologists for decades, especially because of their habit of cyclically […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
A New Archaeological Approach Explains the Rise of the Enigmatic Prehistoric Culture That Cyclically Burned Its Villages
Archaeology, the discipline that deciphers the remnants of human history, often focuses on interpreting material objects such as ceramic fragments, structural remains, and bones. However, understanding the complex social dynamics, ideas, and emotions of ancient peoples requires more abstract tools. This is where philosophical concepts come into play. While traditionally confined to theoretical debates, they […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Neolithic Societies of Central Europe Had a Surprising Degree of Social Equality and Individual Freedom
The most recent genetic research has revolutionized our understanding of Neolithic societies, revealing a more complex and diverse landscape than traditionally conceived. Studies conducted by an interdisciplinary team from the universities of York, Vienna, and Harvard have shown that these communities were not only marked by mobility and interconnectedness but also by a surprising degree […]
