An ancient strain of plague may have led to the decline of Neolithic Europeans

A team of researchers from France, Sweden, and Denmark have identified a new strain of Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes plague, in DNA extracted from 5,000-year-old human remains. Their analyses, publishing December 6 in the journal Cell, suggest that this strain is the closest ever identified to the genetic origin of plague. Their work also suggests that plague may have been spread among Neolithic European settlements by traders, contributing to the settlements’ decline at the dawn of the Bronze Age. Continue reading “An ancient strain of plague may have led to the decline of Neolithic Europeans” →

January 11, 2019 0

Neanderthal stone ring structures found in French cave (~175,000 years old)

Researchers investigating a cave in France have identified mysterious stone rings that were probably built by Neanderthals.

The discovery provides yet more evidence that we may have underestimated the capabilities of our evolutionary cousins. Continue reading “Neanderthal stone ring structures found in French cave (~175,000 years old)” →

December 29, 2018 1

Satellite data exposes looting

More than 2,500 years ago, horse riding nomads expanded their cultural realm throughout the Eurasian steppe from Southern Siberia to Eastern Europe. Continue reading “Satellite data exposes looting” →

December 24, 2018 0

Rethinking the history related to indigenous sites in northeast North America

After radiocarbon dating of plant matter, wood and wood charcoal, scientists estimate that the presumed histories of several key indigenous sites in Canada, as relates to first contact with Europeans, are incorrect by about 50 to 100 years. The findings suggest that European trade goods previously used to date individual locations are not in fact good chronological markers and that the history of notable “contact-era” events in northeastern North America during the 15th to early 17th centuries may need to be revaluated. Continue reading “Rethinking the history related to indigenous sites in northeast North America” →

December 24, 2018 0

Siberian ‘unicorns’ extinct much later than believed

Giant prehistoric ‘unicorns’ once wandered over the prairies of Central Asia. New research has shown that these so-called Siberian unicorns lived much longer than was believed, and probably did not become extinct until ‘just’ 39,000 years ago. Continue reading “Siberian ‘unicorns’ extinct much later than believed” →

December 19, 2018 0

An ancient Greek settlement was found in Crimea

Archaeologists excavating in eastern Crimea have discovered an ancient Greek settlement which had been previously unknown. Continue reading “An ancient Greek settlement was found in Crimea” →

December 16, 2018 0