Latest news with #JournalofArchaeologicalScience
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Advanced weapons built 80,000 years ago, unearthed in Russia, has no human connection
An 80,000-year-old bone spear tip, unearthed in Russia, challenges previous assumptions about Neanderthal capabilities. This discovery suggests they independently developed sophisticated hunting weapons, predating similar innovations by Homo sapiens. The artifact's advanced craftsmanship and well-preserved condition provide compelling evidence of Neanderthal resourcefulness and technological prowess, reshaping our understanding of their cognitive abilities. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs The world is witnessing the use of advanced and hi-tech weaponry in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the military conflict between Israel on one side and a host of terror groups on the other, as well as the recent confrontation between India and Pakistan that came to an end just a couple of days advanced weapons and modern warfare techniques, including drones, UAVs , and cyberattacks, have been used in these military between all this, a unique weapon has been uncovered beneath the ground in Russia , one that was not even made by a human. While the weapon is a masterpiece, it has no human connection, and that has baffled the has revealed that this ancient weapon is approximately 80,000 years old and was unearthed from a cave in Russia. While the weapon, a spear tip made of bone, seems to be a simple object in the first instance, its age, dated to be nearly 80,000 years old has shocked the had till now believed that these sophisticated early tools, especially those made of materials other than stone, were the hallmark of our species, Homo sapiens But this remarkable spear tip, discovered in Russia's Mezmaiskaya Cave back in 2003, throws a fascinating curveball into that of its age, it's clear that modern humans couldn't have been the ones who painstakingly carved and shaped spotlight now turns to the Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis), our close evolutionary cousins who roamed Europe for hundreds of thousands of years before eventually fading Liubov Golovanova, an archaeologist at the Laboratory of Prehistory in Russia and the lead researcher behind the new study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, explains the significance of this discovery. "This specimen suggests that at least some groups of late Middle Paleolithic Neanderthals in Europe had begun to develop bone-tipped hunting weapons," she and her team state in their makes this even more intriguing is the implication that the Neanderthals likely came up with this innovation on their own, "independently and without influence from early Upper Paleolithic modern humans that started to arrive on the continent much later."For years, these skills were largely attributed to Homo sapiens. However, this spear tip joins a growing body of evidence suggesting that Neanderthals were far more resourceful and technologically capable than we previously gave them credit discoveries of other bone tools crafted by Neanderthals, such as a 50,000-year-old collection from Siberia and 40,000-year-old tools possibly used for softening leather found in Europe, further support this evolving older bone tools, dating back as far as 400,000 years and potentially predating Neanderthals, have been found in Italy, hinting at a long history of bone tool use among early human researchers like Dr. Golovanova point out that the craftsmanship seen in this 80,000-year-old spear tip appears more advanced than some of these earlier fact that we don't find as many Neanderthal bone tools compared to their stone tools might simply be a matter of is more fragile than stone and requires specific environmental conditions to survive the relentless march of Cave, where the spear tip was found nestled amongst animal remains, stone tools, and traces of ancient campfires, seems to have provided that perfect researchers noted the "exceptional" preservation of the bone, with no signs of weathering or damage that would typically occur over such a long carefully examining the spear tip, Dr. Golovanova and her team even found cracks that suggest it was used to strike something soon after it was made and attached to a wooden shaft with tar. The bone itself likely came from a bison, a common prey animal of the discovery suggests that Neanderthals were not simply brutish cave dwellers but possessed a capacity for innovation and complex toolmaking that rivals our early bone tools are relatively rare compared to stone tools. However, this may be because bone decomposes more easily unless preserved in ideal conditions. Recent discoveries show Neanderthals used bone more often and more skillfully than once a mix of climate change, competition with Homo sapiens, small populations, and interbreeding. Some of their genes live on in us todayNeanderthals were shorter and stockier than modern humans, with large brow ridges, wide nostrils, and a robust, muscular build. Their faces were broad with a prominent nose, and they likely had pale skin and possibly red or light brown hair.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Famous tomb said to hold Alexander the Great's father actually contains younger man, a woman and 6 babies, study finds
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. An ancient tomb in Greece does not hold the remains of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, as some scholars think it does, a new study suggests. Instead, it contains the remains of a younger man who died before Philip II did, archaeologists propose. The study, published in the July 2025 issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science, also revealed that the tomb is the burial place of a young woman and six infants. Prior to this study researchers knew of the existence of the man, woman and at least one infant in the tomb. Archaeologists have long scrutinized the tomb, which was discovered in 1977 at the site of Vergina (also called Aigai), in northern Greece. Known as "Tomb I," it is located beneath a large tumulus (burial mound) that has a shrine on top. It's near several other tombs, which are thought to hold other members of Alexander the Great's family. Some scholars have suggested that Tomb I held the burial of Philip II, although many other scholars believe that he was most likely buried in Tomb II, which was not studied in the newly published paper. Given that Tomb I has no doorway and was sealed off in ancient times, it's likely that the man and woman were buried together, at the same time, the researchers noted. Radiocarbon dating of their remains indicates that the man and woman lived sometime between 388 and 356 B.C., the researchers wrote in the paper. An analysis of their bones and teeth suggested that the man in the tomb was between 25 and 35 years old at the time of his death. Philip II, in comparison, was assassinated in 336 B.C., at about age 46. This suggests that the man buried in Tomb I is not Philip II, the researchers wrote in their paper. The researchers also used radiocarbon dating to find that at least six infants were placed in the tomb sometime between 150 B.C. and A.D. 130, at a time when the Roman Republic or Roman Empire controlled the region. The dates mean that the infants are likely not related to the man or woman, the researchers wrote. "There is evidence that disposing dead infants in old tombs, wells or underground voids is not an uncommon practice in the Roman period," study lead researcher Yannis Maniatis, a researcher at the laboratory of archaeometry, of the National Center of Scientific Research Demokritos in Greece, told Live Science in an email. The tomb was robbed in ancient times, and the people who lived in the area would have seen the openings left by robbers and decided to use them for the burial of infants, the researchers wrote. The team's finds leave a number of questions unanswered. Namely, the researchers wondered, who are the man and woman buried in the tomb? To investigate, the team did a strontium and stable carbon analysis of the skeletal and tooth remains, which can provide information on a person's diet and where they lived as a child. The man likely spent his childhood away from the Macedonian capital of Pella, which is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Vergina, the isotopic tests revealed. The woman — who died between the ages of 18 and 25, according to an anatomical analysis — likely spent her childhood living in or near Pella. Although their identities remain unknown, the tomb's opulence indicates that they were elite. "We assume that he must be a Macedon King who ruled and died decades before Philip II's assassination," Maniatis said. It's unclear which king that was, but candidates include Alexander II (reigned circa 370 to 368 B.C.) and Perdiccas III (reigned from 365 to 359 B.C.), the team wrote in the study. Both rulers had tumultuous reigns that dealt with war and infighting within the ancient kingdom of Macedon. Maniatis said the team is not certain where Philip II is buried. Many scholars have suggested that Tomb II at Vergina holds his cremated remains. Previous research done by other scholars has shown that Tomb II is a "two-chamber vaulted tomb found unlooted, with all the grave goods intact, containing the cremated remains of a male" who was around 44 years old when he died, Maniatis noted. However, he emphasized that Tomb II was not studied as part of this paper. RELATED STORIES —How did Alexander the Great die? —Did Alexander the Great have any children? —Why didn't Alexander the Great invade Rome? Antonis Bartsiokas, a professor emeritus of physical anthropology and paleoanthropology at the Democritus University of Thrace and one of the researchers who has suggested Philip II is buried in Tomb I, told Live Science that he and other supporters of this theory will reply in a journal article of their own and don't want to comment further at this time. "We are going to answer first to the journal," Bartsiokas told Live Science in an email.
Miami Herald
06-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Pointy bone' found in Russia cave may be oldest of its kind in Europe. See it
World 'Pointy bone' found in Russia cave may be oldest of its kind in Europe. See it Deep in the Caucasus Mountains in southwestern Russia, a Neanderthal cave revealed a unique tool. Getty/iStock photo Tens of thousands of years ago, an ancient people left their possessions in a cave in the Caucasus Mountains of modern-day Russia. Centuries would pass before the site was found again — and a discovery would be made. Mezmaiskaya Cave, an area of more than 5,000 square feet, has been excavated since 1987, and the lower layers of sediment date to more than 70,000 years ago, according to a study published April 14 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Archaeological Science. Previous studies have identified Neanderthal remains from inside the cave, but in 2003, archaeologists made a more 'unique' find, according to the study. In a layer of sediment from the Middle Paleolithic period, they uncovered a 'pointy bone' near a hearth built into a natural hollow in the stone, researchers said. The 'unique pointy bone' was found in a Neanderthal cave in southwestern Russia. Golovanova, L. V., et al (2025) Journal of Archaeological Science The bone was near other artifacts like stone tools, flakes, limestone blocks and burnt bones, according to the study. The preservation of bones in this cave environment is 'exceptional,' researchers said, and the oddly-shaped stick-like bone was no different. Researchers called it a 'study piece of bone,' about 3.5 inches long and 0.2 inches wide, covered in cut and scratch marks, according to the study. Further analysis of the bone indicates 'that the bone tool from Mezmaiskaya cave is made from a thick cortical bone (probably, long bone) of a large animal (probably, bison). Several human-made modifications, including flat swaying and scraping marks, and deep cut marks, shape very marginally the basal part of the tool, probably to make it more straight,' researchers said. The tapered part of the bone had remnants of bitumen, and ancient resin, that suggests the pointed piece was attached to a shaft, likely wood at one end, according to the study. There was also tap damage and microcracks on the pointed end of the bone, researchers said. All together, the 'consistent evidence suggest(s) that the Mezmaiskaya specimen functioned as a bone tip of a hunting projectile weapon,' according to the study. The tip was carved into a point, making it the oldest known bone tip in Europe. Golovanova, L. V., et al (2025) Journal of Archaeological Science The spear tip was between 70,000 and 80,000 years old, predating when Homo sapiens, or modern humans, arrived in Europe, according to the study. This means just as Neanderthal bodies were found in the cave, they were also the likely craftsmen of the bone tip. Human-made pointed bone tools have been found in other regions of the world, including Africa and Asia, and date from further back in human history, researchers said. But because the bone tip was likely made by Neanderthals 'the results allow us to interpret this artifact as the oldest in Europe,' according to the study, and this kind of bone carving was likely in its infancy at the time. Mezmaiskaya Cave is located near the northeastern coast of the Black Sea in southwestern Russia, south of Ukraine and north of Georgia. The research team includes Liubov V. Golovanova, Vladimir B. Doronichev, Ekaterina V. Doronicheva, Galina N. Poplevko, Naomi E. Cleghorn, Alexander M. Kulkov, Nikolai N. Potrakhov, Viktor B. Bessonov and Nikolai E. Staroverov. Irene Wright McClatchy DC Email this person Irene Wright is a McClatchy Real-Time reporter. She earned a B.A. in ecology and an M.A. in health and medical journalism from the University of Georgia and is now based in Atlanta. Irene previously worked as a business reporter at The Dallas Morning News.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Discover Oldest-Known Neanderthal Artifact
Archaeologists working in Europe have found the oldest-known bone spear in Europe, dating back to the Neanderthal age between 70,000 and 80,000 years ago, according to a study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. The discovery of this 'unique pointy bone artifact,' in the words of those who found it, was made in southern Russia in the Mezmaiskaya Cave within the Caucasus Mountains. It recontextualizes the roles Neanderthals played in the innovations of the modern world and proves that the ancient civilization created their own materials rather than simply copying what they saw from humans. The bone spear was found encased in sediment and placed alongside a set of herbivore teeth which date back 70,000 years. It measures about 3.5 inches in length and 0.5 inches in width, dimensions which rule out its use as a 'stabbing weapon' and make it clear that the spear's purpose was as an airborne attack method. Researchers believe the carefully crafted spear was made from the bone of a bison's leg. Stone tools were then used to polish the spear before it was set in fire."To be an effective hunting weapon, the bone point does not need to have a sharply pointed (needle-like) distal end (in contrast to bone awls), but it needs to have a strong, conical tip, symmetrical outlines, and a straight profile,' the study's authors wrote. The spear had clearly been used, bearing microfractures indicating it struck several targets with great force. It also appears the tool was ground down by someone attempting to repair the damage, indicating this was a prized item to the people who owned it. The discovery indicates that, rather than being the primitive offspring of Homo sapiens, Neanderthals were in fact an innovative and driven species who devised many of their own tools and survival tactics.
Miami Herald
11-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Castle floor hid centuries-old vanilla pod. It's the oldest ever found in Europe
Hidden beneath the floorboards of one of Europe's oldest castles, a vanilla pod sat buried in a mixture of dirt and rubble. While it might not seem like anything out of the ordinary, this pod may predate every known written record of vanilla in Europe, according to a study published March 18 in the Journal of Archaeological Science. In 2008, restoration work began at Prague Castle's Vladislav Hall — a ceremonial space also used as a luxury marketplace centuries ago in current day Czechia, according to the study. During the removal of the hall's parquet floor, archaeologists searched for any artifacts and ecofacts (organic material) that fell between and collected beneath the floorboards over the centuries, according to the study. While sifting through the mostly 'grey-brown dusty' mixture of clay, pebbles, mortar fragments and wood, archaeologists discovered a vanilla pod. Researchers said the discovery is unique because written Czech sources do not mention vanilla until the end of the 17th century. Even when it did begin to appear in texts, vanilla was primarily found in pharmacy manuals and prescriptions that typically called for small quantities, according to the study. Researchers also note vanilla, originating in Mesoamerica, was likely introduced to Europe by Hernan Cortéz after his conquest of Tenochtitlan, Mexico, in 1521. The earliest known written record of vanilla is an illustration in the 'Aztec Herbarium,' written in 1552. Radiocarbon analysis dated the pod found in Vladislav Hall to 1513–1666, making it the oldest known pod ever found in Europe, according to the study. Curiosities at Prague Castle Prague Castle was the epicenter of central Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, and finding vanilla dating back to this period aligns with the castle's worldly influence, according to the study. Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, made Prague Castle the imperial court in 1583, making it a political, economic and cultural hub, researchers said. Valdislav Hall also served as a marketplace that offered luxury items, including art, exotic plants, books and other goods, the study said. Rudolf II was a supporter of art and science and a firm believer in religious tolerance, according to the Czech Center Museum Houston. He enabled the research of famed scientists, including Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe. His appreciation for artists and scientific pursuits made Prague 'a center of curiosity,' according to historians. The research team included J. Irmišová, J. Frolík, J. Tříska, N. Vrchotová, J.J. Garay-Vazquez, T. Velička, I. Světlík and J. Beneš.
