archaeology
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Why Neanderthals Had Faces That Were So Different From Ours
Compared to modern humans, Neanderthals had heavy eyebrows, huge noses, and large, long faces that bulged forward. Using 3D computer models, an international team of scientists has analysed these facial features in detail, uncovering some likely explanations for these dramatic physical differences.
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Here’s What Protects Shipwrecks From Looters
On May 25, 1798, the HMS DeBraak was entering Delaware Bay when a squall struck without warning. The British ship that originally belonged to the Dutch capsized and sank, taking 34 sailors and a dozen Spanish prisoners down with it. Rumoured to contain a hoard of gold and jewellery, the DeBraak became a popular target…
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Ancient Climate Swings Forced Early Humans To Get Their Crap Together And Innovate
Our species made its debut some 300,000 years ago. During the preceding millenniums, our continent of origin underwent environmental shifts that very likely influenced the trajectory of human evolution. Archaeologists working in Kenya have uncovered new clues to support this assertion, showing the surprising extent to which climate change influenced the behaviour of early humans…
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5,000-Year-Old Mummy Is Earliest Known Tattooed Woman
A new analysis of two ancient Egyptian mummies has uncovered the earliest known examples of “figural” tattoos on human beings – that is, tattoos that are meant to represent a real things, rather than abstract symbols. What’s more, at around 5,000 years old, it’s the earliest evidence of tattoos on a woman.