News
Neanderthal infants were enormous compared with modern humans
4+ hour, 46+ min ago (565+ words) A detailed analysis of the best-preserved Neanderthal infant skeleton ever found suggests that our ancient relatives grew much faster as young children Reconstruction of a family of Neanderthals Neanderthal babies may have physically dwarfed their Homo sapiens'counterparts, according to a…...
When we interbred with Neanderthals, they were usually the fathers
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (569+ words) Genetic evidence hints that there was a strong bias for male Neanderthals and female humans to mate, rather than any other combination Model of a Neanderthal man at the Natural History Museum in London When our species and Neanderthals interbred,…...
Ancient bones reveal vivid details of a Neanderthal elephant hunt
3+ week, 7+ hour ago (841+ words) Researchers have re-analysed a set of elephant bones and a wooden spear found in Germany in 1948, which provide compelling evidence of Neanderthals' big game hunting abilities Elephant bones from Lehringen, Germany, bearing marks of butchery by ancient humans VOLKER_MINKUS In the…...
Ancient elephant bones reveal vivid details of a Neanderthal hunt
3+ week, 7+ hour ago (841+ words) Researchers have re-analysed a set of elephant bones and a wooden spear found in Germany in 1948, which provide compelling evidence of Neanderthals' big game hunting abilities Elephant bones from Lehringen, Germany, bearing marks of butchery by ancient humans VOLKER_MINKUS In the…...
Genetic clues tell the story of Neanderthals' decline
3+ week, 2+ day ago (128+ words) The Neanderthal population shrank during a cold spell around 75, 000 years ago, and the loss of genetic diversity may have contributed to their eventual extinction Reconstructions of a Neanderthal man and woman at the Neanderthal Museum in Mettmann, Germany An analysis…...
Neanderthals may have treated wounds with antibiotic sticky tar
4+ week, 1+ hour ago (546+ words) Tar made from birch tree bark is commonly found at Neanderthal sites, and experiments show that it kills some bacteria that cause skin infections Viscous tar made from birch bark can be used as both an adhesive and antibiotic Tjaark…...
The ancient Goths were an ethnically diverse group
4+ week, 2+ day ago (638+ words) Ancient DNA reveals that the Goths of eastern Europe, some of whom would ultimately sack the city of Rome, may have been a mix of peoples from three continents An artist's impression of how Visigoth warriors may have looked in…...
Our extinct Australopithecus relatives may have had difficult births
1+ mon, 2+ day ago (355+ words) Simulations of Australopithecus hominins" anatomy suggest that when they gave birth, they may have exerted tremendous pressure on their pelvic floors, putting them at risk of tearing Illustration of a female Australopithecus sediba carrying an infant Childbirth was difficult and…...
Human populations evolved in similar ways after we began farming
1+ mon, 5+ day ago (514+ words) An analysis of ancient and modern DNA suggests the extent of convergent evolution in different peoples around the world is even greater than we thought The advent of farming led to new evolutionary pressures on humans A study combining the…...
We've only just confirmed that Homo habilis really existed
1+ mon, 6+ day ago (1064+ words) Their species name is well known, but until recently we've understood very little for certain about Homo habilis. Columnist Michael Marshall reveals what new fossils are telling us about the hominins that have been considered the first humans Homo habilis…...