early modern human
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Neanderthal Bones Reveal Presence of Ancient Human Viruses
Neanderthal remains from the Altai Mountains contain human viruses, a team of researchers has found, suggesting that infectious diseases may have been transmitted between anatomically modern humans and our closest (extinct) cousins. The team’s research, posted to the biology research preprint server bioRxiv last month, describes conserved segments of ancient viral genomes the team identified…
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Oldest Suspected Wooden Structure Predates Modern Humans
Archaeologists investigating cut logs and other wooden tools at a site near Zambia’s Kalambo Falls have found the settlement to be far more ancient than previously thought: the logs date back to nearly half a million years ago, before our species (Homo sapiens) appeared on Earth. Though some tools are less than 400,000 years old,…
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150,000-Year-Old Human Tooth Is Rare Evidence of the Extinct Denisovans
Paleontologists in Laos have uncovered an ancient molar that likely belonged to a young Denisovan girl. The discovery is a big deal, as the Laotian cave in which the molar was found is now one of only three spots known to host these enigmatic humans.
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Siberian Cave Yields Oldest Fossils Belonging to Enigmatic Human Species
The Denisovans, a mysterious group of extinct hominins closely related to Neanderthals, didn’t leave much fossil evidence behind. A fresh dig at their former stomping grounds in Siberia has now yielded three new fossils — the oldest yet found of this species.