For centuries, historical and linguistic theories have shaped our understanding of the origins of the Armenian people. Among these is the assertion by Greek historian Herodotus, who observed that Armenians, while serving in the Persian army, dressed and carried arms in the Phrygian style. Furthermore, linguistic studies reinforced this theory by identifying similarities between the […]
Genetics
Posted inScience
Which came first the chicken or the egg? Scientists have found the answer in a species discovered in 2017
The classic question, “What came first, the egg or the chicken?” has intrigued philosophers and scientists for centuries. A recent discovery, however, may finally provide some clarity on this ancient dilemma. In 2017, researchers identified a unicellular species known as Chromosphaera perkinsii, found in oceanic sediments near Hawaii, which could hold the answer. Chromosphaera perkinsii […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
DNA Analysis Reveals the Origin of the Japanese
A team of researchers has made an important step in understanding the origins of modern Japanese people. Scientists were able to extract DNA from a Yayoi-era skeleton found at the famous archaeological site of Doigahama in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, and conduct a complete analysis of its genome. This study has revealed that the current Japanese […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Sequencing of the Oldest Human Genome in Southern Africa Shows Similarity to Current Ethnic Groups
A team of researchers, composed of specialists from the University of Cape Town, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, and the University of Valencia, has made significant advances in understanding the genetic history of humans in southern Africa. Through the analysis of human remains discovered at the Oakhurst rock shelter, these scientists […]
Posted inMedieval Archaeology
Genetic Analysis Reveals Post-Roman Elites United to Form Lineages and Power Groups across Europe
Recent genetic research led by Krishna Veeramah, an associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University, has shed new light on the social dynamics and community formation in post-Roman Europe. This international study of ancient DNA provides vital insights into how early medieval elites in Europe, composed initially of several […]
Posted inScience
How Wheat Bread Gave Rise to Civilization
A recent international study has shed light on how a simple wheat plant transformed the course of human history, becoming the foundation that sustains a global population of eight billion people today. This research, published in the journal Nature, reveals a critical event in the evolution of our civilization: the birth of bread. Professor Brande […]
Posted inIron Age Archaeology
Celtic Elites Passed Political Power Matrilineally, DNA Analysis Reveals
The pre-Roman Iron Age Celtic culture in Western and Central Europe has left behind numerous artifacts, including large burial mounds and impressive archaeological finds. Despite this rich legacy, much about this civilization remains shrouded in mystery. Recently, a collaboration between the State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments in Baden-Württemberg and the Max Planck […]
Posted inScience
Scientists have Solved the Mystery of where Baobabs Originated and how they Spread Around the World
Recent genomic and ecological analyses by a global research team led by the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, CAS, hosted by the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have shed light on the origins and dispersal of these iconic trees. The study reveals that Madagascar is the cradle from which all other baobab […]
Posted inBronze Age Archaeology
Analysis of Bronze Age Teeth Shows How Dietary Change Drove the Evolution of Caries Bacteria
New research has shed light on the evolution of oral health and the impact of dietary changes on the human mouth. A team of scientists has successfully extracted and analyzed microbial DNA from two remarkably well-preserved 4,000-year-old teeth discovered in a limestone cave in Ireland. Their findings, which include the identification of gum disease-causing bacteria […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
We Now Know Where the First Homo sapiens to Leave Africa Went
A recent multidisciplinary study has shed new light on a crucial period in the history of human migration, revealing that the Persian Plateau played a fundamental role as a hub for early Homo sapiens who expanded beyond their African homeland. This revelation, published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, challenges previous ideas about the spread […]
