A recent study published in the journal ‘Atiqot has revealed the discovery of an exceptional tomb at the Motza archaeological site in the hills of Jerusalem. The burial, dated to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B period, contained the remains of a woman who may have played a spiritual or shamanic role in her community. What stands […]
Neolithic
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 inArt, Stone Age Archaeology
Ancient Sunstones Found in Denmark Are Neolithic Sacrifices to Revive the Sun After a Volcanic Eruption
Throughout human history, volcanic eruptions have wreaked havoc on civilizations, causing drastic climatic shifts, failed harvests, and societal turmoil. One such event, in 43 BCE, saw an Alaskan volcano release massive amounts of sulfur into the atmosphere, plunging the Mediterranean into a period of agricultural collapse and famine. Recent evidence suggests that a similar catastrophic […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
The Oldest Neolithic Settlement of France’s First Farmers, Discovered on the French Riviera
Described as a rare find by the regional archaeology department, one of the oldest Neolithic settlements in France, attributed to the Early Cardial period, is currently being excavated by archaeologists from Inrap in Cavalaire-sur-Mer. It is the second known site of this period in France. Commissioned by the State as part of the city center […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Evidence of Early Forms of Pottery Production and 8,000-Year-Old Buildings Discovered in Iraqi Kurdistan
In the vast Navkur plain near the city of Rovia in Iraqi Kurdistan, a team of archaeologists from the University of Udine has made exceptional discoveries at the Asingeran and Kanispan sites. These excavations, carried out as part of the Asingeran Excavation Project in collaboration with the Directorate of Antiquities of Dohuk, have revealed valuable […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Neither Bread Nor Beer: What Did Early Farmers in Northern Europe Actually Eat?
An international team of researchers has shed new light on the use of grinding stones in early Neolithic Scandinavia. These stones, discovered at a settlement of the Funnel Beaker Culture on the island of Funen, Denmark, have undergone exhaustive analysis that reshapes our understanding of the dietary habits of the first farmers in Northern Europe. […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Stonehenge may have been built to unite the ancient Britons in the face of the arrival of peoples from the continent
Stonehenge may have been built to unite the ancient Britons against the arrival of new people from continental Europe, according to researchers in a study published in Archaeology International. The study highlights the discovery that the Altar Stone originated in Scotland, confirming that all of Stonehenge’s stones were transported to Salisbury Plain from faraway locations. […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
240 Dolmens of the Megalithic Landscape of the Gor River in Spain Formed a Territory Delimitation Network in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages
A recent archaeological study has revealed details about the fascinating and complex megalithic landscape of the Gor River valley, in the Spanish province of Granada, a site that hosts one of the largest concentrations of dolmens in the Iberian Peninsula. The results combine advanced technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and probabilistic analysis to […]
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
The Oldest Bowstrings in Europe, 7,000 Years Old, Found in a Cave in Granada, Spain
A recent study led by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) has revealed the sophistication of Neolithic archery equipment on the Iberian Peninsula (5300–4900 BCE). The analysis of remains found in the Cueva de Los Murciélagos in Albuñol (Granada, SpainCordage fragments from Cueva de los Murciélagos identified as possible bowstrings.) has not only reconstructed the […]
