A paleoecologist explains what pollen in fossilized mammal urine can reveal about past ecosystems and environmental change. This article was…
Forensic Methods Unveil Clues About Megafauna ExtinctionsAn archaeologist explains how novel applications of forensic methods—namely, blood residue analyses—have yielded evidence that Paleoindians hunted mastodons, mammoths, and…
Extinguishing the Idea That Hobbits Had FireResearch has overturned earlier claims that a diminutive human relative, Homo floresiensis, lit fires—but big stories die hard. SMOKING HOT…
My Search for the Origins of ClothingAn archaeologist uses climate data and tailoring tools to trace the invention and evolution of apparel in the world’s colder…
What Molars and Math Reveal About the Human BrainA paleoanthropologist explains what fossilized teeth—analyzed through a recently developed mathematical equation—can tell us about how brains have developed in…
Club-Wielding Ancestors: Myth or Reality?Inspired by pop culture depictions of cavepeople, an archaeologist searches for elusive evidence of ancient wooden clubs. ✽ Growing up…
Should Paviland’s Red Lady “Come Home”?Two archaeologists explore the complicated story of 33,000-year-old human remains—and calls for their repatriation to Wales. This article was originally…
Did Humanity Really Arise in One Place?New evidence is prompting researchers to rethink Homo sapiens’ origin story—and what it means to be human. ✽ As a…
Did Neanderthals Make Art?Experts continue to debate whether Neanderthals were painters and jewelry-makers. A paleoanthropologist explores the evidence for Neanderthal art and the…
What Ancient Stone “Swiss Army Knives” MeanAn archaeologist explains new evidence from stone tools that shows strong and wide social connections among our ancestors who lived 65,000 years ago in Southern Africa.
